A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess

His arms tightened around her. His kiss was even more devastating than she remembered. White-hot, melting, his kiss shook her. How could he be so incredibly sexy to kiss when she didn’t want to be drawn to him? She was annoyed with him, determined to guard her heart, yet barriers were dropping away, disintegrating from the onslaught of pleasure.

She ran her fingers through the short hair at the back of his head and then moved her hand across his broad shoulder.

Passion mushroomed, shaking her, driving her to wild kisses that blanked out everything except Tony.

He raised his head. “I want you in my life, in my arms in my bed.”

“Never,” she whispered, her actions negating her words as she stood on tiptoe and pulled his head down again to kiss him. She felt starved for his kisses, as if no time had passed between that spring night with him and now. Remembering his lean, muscular body, his broad shoulders and hard masculinity, she longed for what she could not have. A night she thought she was beginning to forget poured back, vividly clear.

“Tony, we have to stop,” she whispered, even though her actions denied her words as she pulled him close to continue kissing him.

“Why?” he responded before her lips were on his and they kissed again. Passion blazed, consuming protests and reason.

Tony’s kisses were beyond dreams, building excitement with lightning speed.

Dimly, she thought she should tell him again to stop, but the notion was fleeting. Giving herself, taking all he gave, she kissed him. She thrust her hips against him, feeling his thick erection, knowing he wanted her and was ready.

Feeling lost in a dizzying spiral, she finally summoned her willpower and stopped. “Tony, that’s it,” she gasped. She struggled for breath while her heart pounded and her body was on fire for his hands and mouth and loving.

With half-lidded eyes, he gazed at her, brushing long locks of her hair back from her face.

“That got out of hand,” she managed to say.

“Not really. We only kissed a few times.”

It wasn’t only. His kisses had been earthshaking, seductive.

He held her waist. “You’re special, Isabelle.”

Her heartbeat quickened yet more. Words to wrap around her heart and make it captive. “Tonight was a celebration, Tony. I had a wonderful time and thank you. I suppose I’ll see you at the office this week.”

“Not this week, because I leave town,” he said, his fingers caressing her throat.

“Thanks and good night,” she said softly, looking into eyes filled with yearning.

“It was a special evening,” he said. He swept her into his arms and kissed her hard. Startled, for an instant she froze. It was only seconds, and then she returned his kiss until he released her, watching her intently with both satisfaction and need.

“Until later,” he said quietly. He left, closing the door. The lock clicked in place. She looked out the window. Tony was already on his cell phone, his long legs carrying him swiftly to the limo.

“You’re a workaholic,” she whispered, thinking about the calls he had received. The head of an empire, wanting to keep in touch with his business at all times.

In seconds the limo’s red taillights disappeared around a curve in the driveway. She switched off the hall lights and stood in the darkened entryway. Her mouth was dry, and her body was on fire. She wanted him with an intensity that shocked her.

“Good night, Tony. Sexy man,” she said, relishing memories of the evening. For the next few hours she was going to pretend Tony was just another guy she worked with and enjoy replaying the night in her mind. Tomorrow she could return to reality. The man was her employer. He was obsessed with work, chasing a goal of billionaire by forty. His true love was power. He would avoid commitment. She had to refuse his next invitation or kiss her own dreams and goals goodbye. She had to resist his kisses, resist him, remember to keep up her guard. Too much was at stake to get deeply involved with him. She promised herself she would hold her own goals always in sight.

At least until her next encounter with Tony.

Four

Tony entered the walnut-paneled study at his parents’ mansion to greet his father, looking into brown eyes as dark as his own. It was a typical Sunday evening with a quiet house, the staff at a minimum, his mother at a friend’s playing bridge. “You called and wanted to see me. What’s up?”

“First, let me pour you a glass of wine. Have a seat.” “Make it a small amount,” Tony said, not interested in wine, but aware it would please his father if he would sit and have a drink with him. Tony took a business call while Grant Ryder poured two goblets with white wine from a crystal decanter. He carried one to Tony, who replaced his phone. “How was the Morris party?”

“Fine. Everything went smoothly. I think the transition will be easy.”

“You achieved the impossible, Tony, getting Morris to retire.” “I think he was ready and wanted to retire. I was in the right place at the right time.”

“Don’t be modest. It gets you nowhere.” Grant sipped his drink and lowered his glass. “Where’s your sister? Your mother and I haven’t been able to get in touch with her and she hasn’t returned our calls.” Grant turned to face his son.

“I think Sydney is studying,” Tony said.

“When did you last talk to her?”

“Yesterday, as a matter of fact.”

“She has as much told me that she doesn’t care what I threaten, she’ll see who she wants to see,” Grant said, his thick dark eyebrows emphasizing his frown. It always surprised Tony that he was over four inches taller than his father. When he was a child, he thought his father was extremely tall.

Tony nodded. “I’m not surprised.”

“She’s talked to you, hasn’t she?”

“Yes. You know she usually does,” he said, knowing from past experience his father was growing more angry. His words became clipped.

“Six months ago I would have urged you to try to persuade her to drop that Dylan person. Now I suspect it might be useless to try to ask you to do anything you don’t want to do.”

“You’re right,” Tony remarked with a faint smile, surprised his dad was even hinting at defeat in his attempts to control.

“So, it comes to that. I was afraid it might because you’ve always been strong-willed.” His father sat in a chair and swirled his wine, looking at it for a long time before he sipped.

“Well, you’ve acquired sufficient wealth to ignore my influence in your life,” Grant continued. “I could threaten to disinherit you as I have Sydney, but I’m afraid at this point, you would pay no heed. You’ll do as you damn please because you don’t need my money.”

“That’s right, Dad. It’s worth every hour of work I put in,” Tony admitted, relishing the feeling of being free from his father’s attempts to dominate his life. He sat relaxed, enjoying the moment he had relished for years.

“You don’t need to look so smug,” Grant grumbled. He shook his head. “I’ve met my match in my son. If I have to meet it, I can’t think of anyone else I would prefer to best me.”

“I wasn’t trying to ‘best you.’ I just want to live the way I want to live.”

“So what do you think of this artist, this Dylan ‘someone’ your sister thinks she is in love with?”

“First, my sister probably knows whether or not she is really in love with Dylan. Next, my opinion of Dylan—he’s a nice guy. From all indications, he’s good at what he does. What’s more important, I trust Sydney’s judgment, Dad. Dylan hasn’t had the advantages I had or you had. Sydney is bright and sharp. Frankly, if I were you, I would trust Sydney’s judgment.”

“Love is blind, Tony. We don’t want Sydney to ruin her life.”

“Chances are, she won’t.”

“How do you know this fellow isn’t after Sydney’s money? Someday she will be immensely wealthy. That may be his reason for showering his attention and affection on her. Have either of you considered that possibility?”

“Again, I trust her judgment. Besides, Dylan has told her he doesn’t want to ruin her life, so he doesn’t think they should see each other anymore. He’s sticking by that and he wants to cut all ties. Sydney does not want him to. You’ll have to admit that’s someone who is putting Sydney first.”

“Damn smoke screen. I doubt if he means it. It sounds good, but wait and both of you will see. My guess is that he will let her talk him into coming back into her life.”

“Maybe,” Tony said. “Time will tell on that one.”

“I’m glad he’s done this for now, but I don’t expect it to last. She can’t put herself through medical school,” his father remarked dryly. “I do have leverage with her even if I don’t with you.”

“No, Sydney can’t put herself through school, but I can help her,” Tony said, savoring the moment. His father’s head whipped around and his eyes narrowed.

“Damnation. You’ve already told her you would, haven’t you?” He didn’t wait for an answer. “So you nullified one of my immediate threats.”

“Yes, I did, because I love my sister. And I’m not cutting her out of my life. You and Mom can spend your holidays together as you see fit. I’ll see Sydney.”

“I never thought I’d see this day. I knew it was possible. Especially these last few years when you’ve had success after success. Dammit, Tony.”

Tony smiled and sat in silence, still reveling in his triumph, recalling dreams as a boy of moments like this.

“So you’ll help Sydney. Therefore, my threats are losing their punch. No wonder she’s not taking my calls. Dammit, Tony,” he repeated.

“If you try to cause Sydney trouble when she graduates—and I imagine you will—all you’ll succeed in doing is driving her to move away. You’ll lose her completely—and any grandchildren she might give you. She is already looking into where she can live when she finishes school. The places she’s considering are far from here.”

“I have to hand it to you. I’m impressed. I never thought I would see the day you could successfully tell me what to do and I would have to think about doing it.”

“Learned how from you,” Tony remarked casually. Silence fell and Tony sat swirling the glass of wine he had barely touched. He let his father ponder the transfer of power.

“Well, it’s a new concept to think I might have to back off. You know it’s a notion I don’t like. Your mother may be another matter. She doesn’t want this young man in our family.”

“Does she want Sydney in our family?”

“Of course she does.”

“I’ll repeat—if you keep this up, you two will never know your grandchildren. You’ll cut Sydney out of your life. Dad, for years to come, I have no intention of getting tied up in the demands of marriage, so don’t think I’ll give you grandchildren. You better make that clear to Mom.”

A muscle worked in his father’s jaw. He clenched his fists and walked to the window to stare outside. As silence filled the room, Tony recalled Isabelle informing him that her goal was to marry by thirty and have children. Her goal would have nothing to do with him except make her reluctant to have an affair, but he expected to get beyond that easily. And soon.

Finally Grant turned around. “You present a good argument. I don’t like it one damn bit, but I have to be proud of you. You’ve outfoxed me, Tony. I suppose I’ll have to consider your suggestions. With your opposition, I assume I’ll lose a lot if I keep Sydney from marrying this fellow.”

“That’s good news, Dad. Frankly, I think in years to come, the whole family will be much happier if you accept Sydney’s choice.”

“If this young man doesn’t break Sydney’s heart.”

“If he does, she will have only herself to blame. Not you or Mom. I better go, but I’m glad you’re at least listening. Sydney’s your child. You two will really miss her if you go ahead with your threats.”

“Even if I capitulate, I don’t know that your mother will.”

“She will if you talk her into it.”

“Go celebrate your victory.”

“It isn’t a war, Dad,” Tony said. “Sydney and I just want to live our own lives now. We’re adults. It’s time you let go a little.”

“If you ever are a father, Tony, you’ll understand.”

“I hope to hell I learn to let go when any kids I might have reach adulthood, much less in their thirties,” Tony said quietly, feeling the clash of wills. He saw the flash of fire in his father’s eyes and red flooding his face. “Don’t let thoughts of losing control cause your blood pressure to rise,” Tony added. “Just let go a little and trust us to make good decisions. Sydney is plenty smart.”

“This Dylan person knows nothing of how we live. No telling what kind of life he will give her. I hope you remember that when you look for a wife and get someone from your own kind of world.”

“Dad, as far as Sydney is concerned, she has told you what she will do. I’ve told you no marriage for me for years. You and Mom have to decide what you’ll do. We all live with our choices.” Tony looked at his watch. “I’ve got to run. I’m meeting my friends for dinner.”

Grant followed Tony across the room. “Think about Sydney, Tony. You may be helping your sister to lose a lot.”

“Sure. I’ll think about her.” Tony left the room in long strides, already making a call by the time he reached the back door, thoughts of family forgotten as he talked to one of his vice presidents about the coming trip.

After he finished his call and drove away, images of Isabelle returned. What was she doing now? He was tempted to contact her, but he expected another business call soon. When he talked to Isabelle, he didn’t want interruptions. He called his pilot to arrange to fly to San Diego next Friday. He would surprise Isabelle Friday evening. Next weekend couldn’t come too soon.

Twenty minutes later he entered the country club where his family had had a membership since the club’s founding. Crossing the thick red carpet in the darkened bar, he joined his closest friends, men he had known from childhood, Jake Benton and Nick Rafford, who greeted him. “Where’s your brother?” he asked Jake.

“Gabe should be here any minute. We might as well get our table,” Jake said as the two shook hands briefly.

Tony turned to Nick. “Thanks for coming. I know this takes you away from Michael and Emily, as well as Grace.”

“Actually, Emily fell asleep early, and Michael will soon. With the kids asleep, my wife will probably be happy for some solitude.”

It still surprised Tony that Nick and Jake were married. They had been as committed to bachelorhood as he was. Both men seemed wildly in love and happy with their wives. Nick amazed him the most because he now had two small children. He thought well of Grace, but he saw no plans for any kind of serious commitment in his own life.

As soon as they were seated at a large, linen-covered table, Nick reached into his blazer pocket. “I know you’re a confirmed bachelor, Tony, and you’re a newlywed, Jake, but you’re both going to see Michael’s and Emily’s latest pictures.”

As pictures were passed around of his toddler girl and son, who was almost two, Gabe Benton walked up to join them, sitting across from his older brother with the family resemblance showing in the firm jaws, straight noses, thick brown hair and startling blue eyes. Gabe stood out from the others because he was the only one wearing Western hand-tooled boots with his slacks and dress shirt. All of them paused when a waiter arrived to take their drink orders. As soon as they each had a glass of wine, Tony raised his. The others gave him their attention. “You look like the cat that ate the mouse,” Nick remarked to Tony.

“I’ve already made arrangements with the maître d’,” Tony stated. “This dinner goes on my account. We’re celebrating because now we have all ended our controlling fathers’ manipula tions. Nick, you have because you gave your dad the grandchildren he wanted. Jake, you have because you married and settled, and Gabe, you have the good fortune to have escaped, thanks to your older brother.”

“Amen to that,” Jake said as he exchanged a look with Gabe, who grinned.

“So what’s happened with you?” Nick asked Tony. “You just said all of us.”

“That’s right. I’m including myself. Dad has admitted he has to stop interfering with me,” Tony said.

There was mild applause and low cheers. “I’m set to make more money than he has—in short, I don’t need his money, so I can do as I please and he has no leverage to use on me. Tonight he admitted it.”

“Congratulations!” Gabe and Jake said together, as Nick reached out to high-five Tony.

“Way to go, Tony!” Nick said, raising his goblet. “Here’s to freedom from interfering fathers.”

“We’ll all drink to that one,” Jake remarked dryly. “Mine threatening to disinherit me if I didn’t marry—that is the biggest interference of all.”

Nick lowered his drink. “I think Tony’s dinner should be on us.” He paused while Gabe and Jake agreed. “We want to treat you because you’ve earned it. That’s tremendous. Something the three of us have wanted since we were about nine years old.”

“Younger than that,” Tony remarked and the discussion momentarily ended while the white-coated waiter took their dinner orders.

“I figured we’d celebrate your acquisition of Morris. That’s probably what turned the tables with your dad,” Gabe said.

“He realizes he no longer has any hold. He can suggest, but not threaten. Unfortunately, now he’s focused on my sister.”

“Don’t tell me that,” Gabe said. “Our dad has always concentrated on Jake. I hope he doesn’t switch to me. So far, he hasn’t.”

“I don’t think he will,” Jake stated. “No habit established. Your investments are going so well, Dad has to be impressed.”

“I’ve never said a word to him about them,” Gabe replied.

“I have,” Jake said. “I’ve told him you’re handling my personal investments and some friends’ investments.”

“That probably shocked him.”

“Besides, you’re the baby and they’ve always spoiled you,” Jake said with good nature, and Gabe’s smile widened.

“Don’t think I haven’t enjoyed it, brother,” he said, and the others laughed.

“Will Morris pan out like you expected?” Jake asked Tony.

“Far better,” Tony replied, thinking about Isabelle and wanting to cut the dinner short and call her. Tossed green salads were placed in front of them.

While they ate, Nick lowered his glass of water. “This is a monumental day. A time we’ve dreamed about and I began to never expect to have happen. I insist you let this dinner be on us,” Nick continued. “You’ve accomplished the miracle with your dad and you recently hosted us at a tropical retreat because of the bet you won as the last holdout for marriage.” Nick glanced at Gabe. “You would never even enter the bet, so your bachelorhood doesn’t count.”

“I know that. I didn’t want any part of the bet.”

“My tag-along brother won’t think about marriage,” Jake remarked.

“I have no regrets about my lack of participating in the bet,” Gabe said.

“Besides, Gabe, you would have had a distinct advantage since you are younger than the rest of us.”

“We insist, Tony, on buying dinner,” Jake added. “Since we were little kids, all of us have dreamed and schemed to rein in our control freak fathers and we’ve finally succeeded.”

“Thanks. It’s a great feeling to finally get free and to best him. Don’t ever put Michael in competition with you, Nick,” Tony said, thinking about Nick’s son.

“Don’t worry,” Nick said. “I don’t think any of us will ever do that to our sons.”

“Or daughters,” Tony added with his own sister in mind.

All agreed. After dinner they left the dining room to go to a club lounge, where they sat and talked until ten. Finally, it was time to head home. Nick was parked the nearest to Tony and before they parted he turned to clasp Tony on the shoulder. “Congrats, again. I never thought we’d see this day come for all of us. When we were kids we never thought it would happen.”

“I enjoyed myself tonight. Maybe a little guilty for doing so, but damn, it was satisfying to hear my father admit he couldn’t try to run my life any longer.”

“I know it was. With Jake and with me, it all ended peacefully—at least I assume it’s ended. I feel sure my dad won’t ever interfere again. Besides getting older, he’s wound up in Michael and Emily, the grandkids he finally decided he wanted. Who knows with Jake and Gabe? You’re in the clear now. Sorry your sister isn’t.”

“I hate it. I’ll pay for medical school for Sydney and I’ll see her on holidays, but I can’t do anything if Dad goes ahead with his threat to cut her out of his will. I can share what I get, but she’ll fight taking it.”

“Don’t worry about it now. Your dad may change. My life with my dad is so different. Sometimes I can’t believe he’s the same man.”

“Actually, my dad doesn’t give up easily. I expect him to think about our conversation and come up with a new threat, but he knows he’s lost any real leverage. If I help Sydney, I think he’ll threaten to cut my inheritance. I won’t be in the least surprised.”

“That doesn’t worry you?” Nick asked.

Tony shook his head. “I don’t like losing a huge fortune, but I’ll get along without his money and so will Sydney. He can do what he wants. I’m doing what I want.”

Nick shook his head. “I admire you for deciding to stick by your sister no matter what. If it comes to losing your inheritance, let her know what you’re sacrificing.”

“The realization that I’m free to live my life the way I want to is like freedom to someone who has been imprisoned for a lifetime. No way am I giving in to him. His fortune isn’t worth yielding again.”

“Maybe it will never come about. Gotta run. See you, Tony.”

“Night, Nick. Thanks again for dinner. I really think all of you should have let me treat.”

“Forget it. You earned it.” While Nick walked to his car, Tony climbed into his.

Tony wanted to call Isabelle, but it was late. “To hell with it,” he whispered, and pulled out his cell phone to make the call before driving. The minute he heard her voice, his pulse jumped. He wanted to be with her. Next weekend seemed eons away.

Isabelle planned to spend the week trying to finish projects carried over from Morris. Tony left town after the Monday morning staff meeting and she didn’t expect to see him until the following Monday.

She worked until nine Monday before going home. To her surprise Tony called. Several times she started to end the call, but he would always draw her back into talking. In spite of her better judgment, he kept her on the phone for over an hour with his humorous stories about work and interesting conversation. When she finally ended the call, she stared at the phone, looked at her watch and shook her head. “Isabelle, you’re losing it. Say no to him,” she whispered in the empty room.

Tuesday night when she arrived home, she found a large heart-shaped basket with a mixed assortment of spring flowers on her doorstep. Smiling and shaking her head, she carried them inside to read a card that was simply signed, “Happy Valentine’s, Tony.”

He called a short while later. “Thank you for the gorgeous flowers.”

“Happy Valentine’s Day,” he said. “Wish I could be there to take you out.”

“I’ll enjoy my flowers immensely.”

“That isn’t the reply I was hoping for.”

“That’s about as personal as it will get, Tony. We don’t know each other all that well.”

“I beg to differ,” he said. “I remember clearly—”

“Stop right there,” she said, laughing. “I walked into that one.”

“I do wish I were there.”

“I’m sure you could come home if you really wanted to,” she said, amused because he owned the company and could get someone else to take his place. She glanced at her watch, remembering she was going to cut him short.

“You’re right, probably. Maybe I micromanage. I hope to hell I don’t though. My dad did enough of that when he ran the business before it passed on to me.”

“Tony—” she said, starting to tell him goodbye.