Cameron, Paige - The Billionaire Rancher Buys a Wife [Wives for the Western Billionaires 2] (Siren Publishing Everlasting Classic) (3 page)

Janice shook her head. “You’re hallucinating.”

“Nope, dreaming.”

The door opened with a creak. “I guess I’m not using this room enough. I’ll get Keoni, our driver and Ulani’s husband, to oil the hinges.”

She ignored him. She was too busy absorbing the beauty of his room. It was large. Windows wrapped around, giving views from three directions. A wide expanse of sea shone from every angle, giving the effect of being on a ship. The light blue walls only added to that impression. The large, round bed sat in the center. To the left, next to the windows, was a partially opened door. She could see a bath done in soft yellows. The sound of a quiet motor had her looking around.

“Look up,” Drake said.

Above the bed, part of the roof had pulled back, exposing another window.

“At night all the stars twinkle down on you.”

Janice took a deep breath, trying to settle her body. Heat had flashed along every nerve. She could visualize the darkness, Drake’s hard, hot body against hers, and the cool sky above.

“A room for seduction,” she said in a hoarse whisper.

Drake stepped behind her and brushed her auburn hair to the side. He kissed the side of her neck and sent shivers across her body. One hand slid into the opening of her shirt, and his fingers caressed the tip of her breast. With his other arm, he pulled her tight against him.

Deep inside, her pussy throbbed with desire. She clenched her inner muscles. He surrounded her, his body, and his musky, masculine scent. His teeth nipped at the edge of her earlobe, and she thought she’d melt in a puddle at his feet.

Janice licked her dry lips. “We mustn’t do this.” Her words came out in a whisper.

“Why not?”

She swallowed and gulped for air. “I want a committed relationship, and you want a fling.”

He turned her and held her head between his hands while his mouth ravished hers. His tongue did a sensuous dance inside her mouth, touching, tasting, demanding her to respond.

Drake raised his head and ran his finger across her swollen lips. “What’s wrong with having a fling?”

“Nothing, if that’s where you are in your life. I’m ready to find the right man and settle down. You’re ready to fly away at the drop of a hat. I have to protect myself from men like you.”

A frown crossed his lean, hard face. He dropped his arms to his side. “Shall we go to the veranda? Ulani will be waiting with her delectable hors d’oeuvres.”

Janice walked around him, down the hall, and waited in the living room for him to show her the way outside. He’d stopped to close the rooftop view. He came to her side and motioned for her to go out the doors on the right side of the room.

It was dusk, and tiki lights had been lit around the edge of the veranda. Moonlight had begun to cast a silver glow over the waves rolling lazily to the shore. On the next terrace down, Janice saw the pool, its multicolored lights reflected under the water.

Ulani brought out a tray of mixed hors d’oeuvres—bacon-wrapped shrimp, stuffed mushrooms, cheese, and grapes. She left and returned with tall, frosty glasses filled with a rose-colored drink.

Janice took a cautious sip. “It’s delicious.”

“Ulani’s mixture of fruits. She doesn’t tell anyone her recipe. And, don’t worry. There isn’t a drop of alcohol in the mix.”

“I wasn’t worried,” Janice protested.

“You worry about everything. I’d like to show you how to quit worrying and enjoy life, but to be honest, you’re right. I am only looking for a fling. I haven’t the time to get serious, nor can I see myself settling down, not just yet anyway.”

Janice’s heart dropped at his words.
Well, what did you expect him to say, that he’d fallen madly in love with you? Be real, girl.

“I appreciate your honesty.” She forced a smile, and hoped the dim lighting hid her heart’s disappointment. She sampled all the different snacks, and drank the rest of her drink.

Drake had gone quiet, and stared off into the distance. He looked at her. “I’m being a poor host. Let’s walk through the gardens, and then Ulani will have our dinner ready.”

He surprised her with his knowledge of the flowers, knowing their names and other interesting tidbits about them. He stopped her under a wide-spreading tree with gorgeous red flowers.

“I saw one of these trees and loved the beauty of the blooms. It’s native to
Madagascar
, and named
Delonix regia
or Royal Poinciana. I’ve also seen them in
Florida
. I had this one flown here and planted. It’s done very well.”

“It fits in your tropical garden.” Overhead, a million stars had come out to shine in the velvet black sky. A wonderful scent of flowers, cinnamon, and good food wafted through the air around them.

In slow motion, Drake bent and gave her a gentle kiss. “You are a lovely lady, Janice Dedrick. It’s too bad we met at the wrong time for us.”

He put his hand on the curve of her back and directed her toward the veranda. Ulani immediately brought out salads and rolls. She poured a white sparkling wine in their glasses. Hungry, they ate with little conversation between them. When they finished with the salads, Ulani served the main course. She brought the dishes out on a cart. Fresh fish lay on a bed of rice with a side of buttered carrots. A large bowl of fruit was set in the center of the small table. More rolls and wine were added.

“This is absolutely the best food in the most beautiful surroundings,” Janice said.

“I was lucky to find this place right when it went up for sale. When I need to refuel myself, I come here. Every time, I wonder why I haven’t come back sooner. Thank you for giving me the excuse to return today. I wouldn’t have otherwise. I’m going overseas tomorrow.”

“Ah, another adventure,” Janice teased.

He only smiled and turned his attention back to his food.

Drake was a mysterious man. He had many facets himself. Perhaps she’d misjudged him in some perspectives. She tried to brush away the tinge of sadness that had flavored the evening ever since he’d admitted he only wanted a fling.

Drake got up and went inside. She heard him speaking softly to Ulani and then soft music filled the space around her.

“We’ll have dessert, and Keoni will drive us back to the plane.” He glanced at his watch. “I’ll have you home by early morning. It will be Sunday, so you can sleep in.”

Dessert was flaming baked
Alaska
served in individual dishes. Ulani brought their coffee, and then went to tell her husband to bring the car around.

Shortly after they finished eating, they were on their way down the curving road toward the landing strip. The stewardess greeted them, and in minutes they took off.

“Put your seat back and rest,” Drake said. “Sleep if you can.”

“I probably will. I’m full of wonderful food and wine.” She smiled at him and closed her eyes.

* * * *

He knew when she went to sleep. Her sweet, curvy body totally relaxed in the chair. The stewardess had dimmed the lights, but still her red hair glowed.

Her rosy mouth parted slightly, her skin had a golden tan both on her face and along her neck and arms. She had sleek lines, but was rounded in all the right places. He remembered his first glimpse of her standing at the top of the stairs to the plane. A goddess with dark red hair. He’d wanted her then, and he did now, but her words had brought him to a stark reality.

She wasn’t a woman to trifle with. She wanted more than he was ready to give. When he held her in his arms in his bedroom, the scent of violets in her hair, her soft breast in his hand, and her sweet ass against his rock-hard cock, all his blood went out of his brain and straight down. The caveman wanted to throw her on the bed and sink deep inside her softness. He could almost taste her sweet pussy. Then, she gave him the ultimatum.

He had kissed her, hoping she wasn’t serious, but when he looked into her greenish brown eyes, he’d glimpsed the brief flash of hope. When he told her the truth, his words hurt her. She hid it well.

Seeing her subdued surprisingly hurt him. Why? He’d had to be honest about his situation with several women over the past eight years, ever since he’d gotten involved with trying to help the government. His present career stood in the way of any meaningful relationship.

He was tired. He’d like nothing better than to pick her up and cuddle on his bed. But he didn’t trust himself to just cuddle with her, and she didn’t trust him at all.

Drake stretched. Lucky he was leaving tomorrow, leaving temptation behind.

Chapter Three

Two months later

The phone rang, waking Janice from a sound sleep. Her clock showed the time, two thirty. She picked up the receiver. “Hello?”

“Whores and whoresons suffer the consequences of their actions.”

“Who are you? What do you want?” Janice screamed into the phone.

“Retribution is coming soon.”

She slammed the phone down. This was the first call in three weeks. She’d thought whoever the prankster was he’d stopped and gone away. There’d been several calls the week after she’d received the first one, similar words and threats. After the third call, she’d gone to the police and made a complaint. They’d tried to track where the calls were originating from, but each time it was a cell phone bought and discarded, never to be found. She’d received four or five more calls before they abruptly stopped, and she had sighed with relief.

Sitting on the side of her bed, Janice pushed her hair out of her eyes. She didn’t know what to do. The police had been little help. She walked around the dark house, peeking out windows. Nothing.

She’d be tired tomorrow, and grouchy. Truthfully, she’d been grouchy since she’d returned from her dream date. No matter how hard she tried to forget Drake and get her life back on an even keel, it hadn’t worked. These phone calls hadn’t helped, either.

Today was Friday. She’d have the weekend to rest and figure out whether she had any other recourse to end these calls. The police had hit a dead end.

Unable to sleep, she curled up on the sofa with a book. Her alarm clock ringing in the bedroom woke her at seven. Last time she’d looked at the clock, it had been four thirty. After a quick, cold shower, she dressed and drove to work.

By nine o’clock she was yawning. She’d reported the call to police and got little reassurance they could do anything.

Maybe if I changed my phone number, whoever he was would quit calling. Still, I’d have to contact so many people the number wouldn’t be secret for long.

She took a big swallow of her coffee and then closed her eyes. Her phone rang almost immediately.

“Hello?”

“What’s the matter?” Drake asked.

“Are you back, or is this a call from the outer limits of space?”

“I’m home. Got in last night. I’m hoping I can convince you to go to dinner and a play with me tonight?”

Her heart had jumped a beat at the sound of his voice. She wanted to see him, and yet it wouldn’t help her get over him.

“I’m really tired. I plan to go straight home and climb into bed.”

“I don’t suppose you want company?”

She heard the teasing note in his voice. “I might, but I don’t like to share.”

“Ah, that damnable commitment phobia you have.”

Again, she heard the teasing note. Why did he want to see her? She didn’t dare let herself hope.