Revenge of the Second Son

He nodded, but his gaze remained on her. With an effort, she pulled her attention from him. Breathless, she left to get distance between them, stepping out into sunshine and fresh air, wanting to fan herself and knowing that her warmth wasn’t caused by the weather. Also knowing that his brief phone conversation revealed how important winning was to him.

She moved to the railing and let the wind tangle her hair as a fine spray blew back over her. She watched gulls circling, swooping down to scoop something from the water. A jellyfish, a pale transparent blob, occasionally floated near the surface and then vanished from her sight. She thought about yesterday afternoon when she had gone to see her granddad, asking him directly if he knew anything about the fire on the Ransome oil rig.

His blue eyes had widened. “No, I don’t know anything about a fire.” He scowled. “Why would you think I’d know? Did Ransome or some of his people accuse us of that?”

“Nick Ransome thought we might have been the reason for the fire. As of now, the cause is unknown.”

“That bastard. He’ll say or do anything, just like his father.”

“Forget it, Granddad. I just wanted to hear you say that we had no part in it.” She had wanted to be sure, but now wished she hadn’t brought up the matter.

Reassured, she looked down at the blue-green water sweeping against the yacht and hoped the fire experts learned exactly what had caused the blaze. Would Nick admit to her that he had been wrong to accuse her granddad? She doubted if he would.

She glanced over her shoulder and could see Nick inside at the wheel. They were alone on this boat for the weekend. She hoped she could hide her stormy emotions from him.

The Gulf was smooth and the breeze was cool, a perfect day that appeared peaceful and gave no hint of the turmoil churning inside her. She enjoyed the ride, but knew if she wanted to win Nick over, she wouldn’t succeed by avoiding him. She wondered how many women he had brought on board that had wanted all his time and attention.

She returned to the pilothouse and when she reached his side, he stepped away slightly. “Want to take the wheel?”

“Sure,” she said, taking it, aware of their hands brushing before he stepped aside. Spreading his feet, he placed his hands on his hips as he watched her.

“So you’ve been sailing since you were five,” he commented. “Is this one of your favorite pastimes or are you doing it to be nice to your granddad?”

“I enjoy sailing. I’ve grown up doing it. Look out there,” she said, waving her hand toward the stretch of blue-green water and the lush green. “This is another world and I can forget the office.”

“There are all sorts of ways to forget the office,” he said in a husky voice, moving closer.

“Careful, you’re coming on again,” she said, smiling at him.

“Nothing wrong with that,” he said, smiling in return, a devastating, knee-melting smile that made her draw her breath. Creases bracketed his mouth and, with an effort, she tried to concentrate on the boat cutting smoothly through the water. “What else have you been doing, besides sailing? I don’t know much about you,” he said, leaning his hip against the bulkhead and giving her his undivided attention. It made her heart race.

“I went to Rice, returned home to go to work for Granddad. I bought my own home and I sail on weekends. A simple life. That’s about it.”

“No special man in your life?”

“No, there isn’t,” she said, turning to look into his dark eyes, wondering about the women in his life. His mouth was wide, his lower lip full, sensual. What would it be like to kiss him? She struggled to get her thoughts elsewhere.

“Was there an important man?” Nick repeated.

She shook her head again. “Not really. No, there never has been anyone.”

“Ah, you’re particular.”

She smiled. “Or busy.”

“The ice princess,” he said softly, his dark gaze filled with speculation. “With your heart sealed away. Who will melt your heart of ice and turn you into a warm, passionate woman?”

She laughed. “Are you trying to offer yourself for that role? If so, save your breath.”

“I know better than to do that,” he replied lightly. “Besides, whoever melts the ice princess then has a responsibility.”

“So, Nick Ransome, you have some old-fashioned ideas lurking.”

“I keep them locked away rather well,” he replied.

“I imagine you do. What about you? I don’t know much about you, either.”

“My life is an open book. I like closing a deal that I’ve worked hard to get, making money, flying, sailing, swimming, passionate women, fast horses and faster cars, long, wet kisses, making love in the moonlight and touching. Pretty predictable, I’d say.”

“Right, just the guy next door,” she remarked facetiously, but her pulse quickened at his answers and the thoughts his remarks conjured up. If only business didn’t stand between them, she thought and then realized the dangerous direction of following what-if thoughts.

“What big goals do you have?” he asked. “To be CEO of Holcomb Drilling? To destroy Ransome Energy? To fight with me and win?”

She laughed. “I think you’re answering your own questions. Except I don’t have ambitions to be a CEO. As for ruining Ransome Energy,” she said, looking at him, “that’s a tempting one. Especially when you’re out to smash us. Now if we can settle our differences peacefully, I’ll be quite happy. Otherwise—” She broke off and gazed out at the water, watching waves come up to meet them.

“But if we don’t, you’re threatening me, aren’t you?”

Meeting Nick’s gaze squarely, she felt the contest of wills. “We’re like two sharks circling each other, part of the time swimming together, part of the time eyeing each other as dinner.”

He leaned closer. “You would be the tastiest morsel I ever sunk my teeth into,” he drawled in a low, husky voice.

“Careful, Nick, I might bite back,” she said seductively, unable to resist dallying with him in return.

“This weekend gets to be a better idea by the second,” he said, leaning closer.

She placed her hand against his chest. “You stay right where you are.”

He grinned with a disarming flash of white teeth. “I’ll check over the place and be back shortly,” he said, leaving her at the wheel. She was surprised he trusted her because he didn’t know whether she could handle his yacht. Yet in the calm sea, there would be few problems and he was probably counting on that.

Soon he returned, making her heart race as he walked up to her. “I’ll take the wheel now,” he said, his hands brushing hers lightly. She tingled, aware of the warmth of him as he stood close beside her. “I have a favorite cove,” he continued. “It’s sheltered, has a beach and we can swim.”

“Sounds marvelous,” she said, barely knowing how she responded as she watched him.

“See,” he said waving his hand and she watched as they followed the shoreline in a sweeping curve.

“It’s beautiful,” she said when she saw his destination, animosity momentarily forgotten as she turned her attention to the breathtaking view of blue water, white sand and tall, swaying palms. “Your cove is paradise,” she said quietly, wishing she were with a companion to share the beauty of the place and make it a weekend of warm memories instead of a chess match with high stakes.

“This is a special escape. I’ve been sailing here for several years.”

“I’m surprised there isn’t anyone else here.”

“That’s part of the charm. Most of the time, this inlet is secluded. And in a few minutes, we can drop anchor,” he said, taking the wheel from her and brushing his hands over hers. “I’ll give you a tour of my boat and then we can swim,” he said.

A few minutes later, he took her arm to go down the companionway to show her the cherrywood and stainless steel galley that opened into the saloon. The galley held a refrigerator, a freezer, a four-burner stove, a built-in table and bench.

“Hopefully, everything we need or want.”

“That’s your life, isn’t it, Nick,” she declared. “Everything you need or want at your fingertips. You have to get your way.”