A Lone Star Love Affair Page 6

  “You’re beautiful, Isabelle,” he whispered as he straightened up and they danced together. “I’m glad I bought out Morris. I never would have found you otherwise.”

  “Tony, let’s keep this an impersonal friendship.”

  “Sure,” he said, his expression telling her something else. When the ballad ended, they returned to their table.

  After the waiter finished taking their orders, Tony asked, “Where do you go on vacations?”

  “I don’t take them much. Last summer I kept putting it off and suddenly the year was gone.”

  “We have to change that. When is the last time you left the country?”

  “Tony, I’m tied up in work. I grew up in an ordinary, working-class, blue-collar family. I haven’t been out of the country.”

  “Definitely has to change. When was the last time you left Texas?”

  “I did go to a grand opening of one of the Morris hotels in Atlanta two years ago,” she said, sipping her champagne. “Unless you’ve made changes, the company is sending me to a preview before the official opening of an elegant new Morris luxury hotel in San Diego the weekend after next,” she said, wondering whether he already was aware of her trip.

  “Excellent. San Diego is beautiful and I’m sure the hotel will be grand. What day do you leave?”

  “Thursday morning. Three of us are going, two of the Morris vice presidents—Nancy Wrenthorp and George Franklin—and me. On Thursday night hotel officials will show us around. Friday, guests will arrive—mostly media, friends and families of some of the hotel officials. We’ll fly out Sunday morning early.”

  “Do you have any time to yourself?”

  “Yes, on Saturday. Friday, I have appointments with media representatives. Nancy and George will deal with hotel officials and look over the hotel and see if everything is ready and running smoothly.”

  “You should enjoy your trip.”

  The waiter appeared with their salads, crystal dishes holding greens and slices of tomatoes. Her appetite had diminished and she still felt excitement fizzing in her as steadily as the bubbles in her champagne.

  It wasn’t long before their lobster and steak entrées appeared, more than she could possibly eat, yet all of it looking delicious. Again, Tony’s phone buzzed and she waved her hand dismissively.

  “Take your call,” she said, understanding that as CEO and owner of multiple companies he was on call all the time. She surreptitiously studied him until he put away his phone.

  “I couldn’t help overhearing you, Tony. There was a fire on an oil rig you own. I didn’t know you had anything besides hotels and the trucking line.”

  “Ryder Enterprises incorporates a variety of businesses. The oil company is a small but profitable subsidiary.”

  “Do you need to go? It sounded serious.”

  “It’s serious and costly, but thank heaven, no one was hurt and they’re getting it under control already. No, I don’t need to go. I just need to be kept informed.”

  She smiled. “No danger of that not happening.” She wondered if years ago he would have gone dashing out. Every moment spent with him drew her back into memories and heightened the attraction to him.

  They both ate little and when their dinners had been removed, Tony took her hand to dance again. She went eagerly, wanting to be close in his arms while reminding herself to avoid getting too involved.

  They danced to another ballad, followed by a fast number. Tony’s coat swung open and his dancing was sexy, bringing back more memories. When they returned to a slow song, he held her closer. “This is great, Isabelle. Thankfully, I’ve found you again.”

  “I was never more than a phone call away, Tony,” she said, stirring the simmering anger over Tony’s buyout of Morris and his not contacting her again. Her anger with him had lost intensity. There were moments now when he charmed her and she let go her past feelings.

  “You’re in my life now and I’m in yours and I intend to keep it that way,” he said and her heartbeat quickened. He wrapped her in his arms and gazed at her, his attention shifting to her mouth and making her heart thud. He would try to kiss her tonight and she wanted him to, but that’s a line she couldn’t cross. He had been building to that all evening with his flirting, his dancing, his compliments, his casual contacts. Everything he said or did fanned flames between them, even though this was supposed to be just a dinner celebration regarding work. Not a big deal, she reminded herself.

  Shortly after midnight she told him she should go home. Tony didn’t try to persuade her to stay out later.

  When the limo arrived at her condo, Tony walked her to the front door. His phone buzzed again. When he ignored it, she said. “Go ahead and take your call.”

  “I’ll get it shortly. Not now. Give me your key and I’ll get your door.”

  She handed him the key, watching as he unlocked and waited for her to enter. Every second that ticked past heightened her worry. Her insides fluttered.

  “Do you have an alarm?” he asked as he followed her inside and closed the door behind him.

  She turned to switch off the alarm and then faced Tony. “It’s off. This has been a wonderful evening that truly was a celebration,” she said, looking up into dark eyes that kept her heart racing. Her words were polite, somewhat impersonal. She intended to keep it that way in spite of wanting to be in his arms, to kiss and be kissed again.

  She held out her hand to give him an impersonal handshake. “Thank you, Tony.”

  “That won’t do.” He took her hand and pulled her toward him, reaching out to comb his fingers through her hair, carefully removing first one pin and then another. She felt the faint tugs against her scalp, which made her tingle. While her heart drummed, her gaze was locked with his.

  “This is the way I remember you and like to see you—with your hair down. Preferably naked in my arms in bed.”

  “Tony, that night is definitely over and it was very long ago,” she whispered, trying to hang on to common sense and avoid getting more entangled with him in spite of her racing heart.

  “But unforgettable. You’re a warm, passionate, beautiful woman, and extremely appealing.” As he talked, he removed more pins and more of her long, blond hair fell freely across her shoulders until all strands were loose.

  “Ah, Isabelle, you’re gorgeous.” He wound both hands in her hair and then his arms slipped around her waist and he drew her to him.

  When he looked at her mouth, her lips parted and she was certain he could hear her thudding heart. “We’re not ending this night on a handshake. Since I saw you at the reception and realized you were Jessie, I’ve wanted to kiss you.”

  “Tony, don’t,” she whispered, her heart beating wildly. The moment she had intended to avoid was happening. While his arms tightened to draw her closer, he brushed his lips over hers, a faint touch, but it changed the entire evening. Sparks spun from his kiss, transforming a casual evening into something more, making her forget any handshake. Tony brushed her lips lightly again, then returned to cover her mouth with his.

  Isabelle’s insides clenched and heated. As his tongue went deep into her mouth, longing swept over her, demolishing worries, igniting fires and rekindling desire. Memories of a night long ago bombarded her. Wrapping her arm around his neck and an arm around his waist, she clung to him, pouring herself into the kiss.

  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?”