To Catch a Man (In 30 Days or Less) (The BAD BOY BILLIONAIRES Series) (5 page)

Stone was still pondering the
enigma that was Indiana Lane when she returned.  And just like before, he had
to do a double take.  Where was the siren who had just left the table?

Indie was approaching but this was
a different Indie from the one who had arrived at the restaurant over an hour
earlier.  The gold eye shadow was gone and so was the pink blush that had
highlighted her already lovely cheekbones.  And the ruby lips she’d pursed and
pouted earlier?  Gone.  In their place were the soft pink lips that had
chastised him the evening before.

When Indie got to the table she
didn’t even give him a chance to get up and pull out the chair for her.  Cheeks
flushed, she sat down and dropped her purse on top of the table.  She let out a
deep sigh.  “I can’t do this.  It’s just not me.”

He smiled and leaned forward. 
“What?  The makeup?”

“Yes,” she said, giving him a
crooked grin.  “And the high heels.  I was trying to make a good first
impression…or second…but my face felt like some kid had plastered watercolor
paints all over it.  And not to mention these darned high heels.”  She
chuckled.  “Not exactly everyday wear for me.  Let’s just say it’s been a while
since I had to fit myself out in this kind of get-up.”  She gave him a rueful
smile.  “Sorry.”

That made him laugh.  “I’m not. 
I’m glad the old Indie is back.  She’s the one I want to talk to.  As beautiful
as she maybe, I don’t think a fashion pot can do the job I have in mind.”

Then it was her turn to laugh and
her eyes sparkled with amusement.  “Fashion pot?  Who the hell says ‘fashion
pot’?”  Then she put her hands to her lips.  “Oops, sorry,” she said, but she
didn’t look sorry at all.  “I meant ‘who the heck’.”

Serious as a judge, he replied,
“Yes, of course you did.”

Then they both ended up laughing
and with that the tension was broken and they relaxed.

“Indie,” Stone said, “as I mentioned
to you, I would love it if you could join my team in South Africa.  I’ve
adopted an orphanage there.  It has nothing to do with Hudson Broadcasting
Corporation.  This is a personal project of mine.”

“I love the idea already,” she
said, her face eager.  “When can I start?”

Stone sat back, surprised.  “When
can you start?  That sounds like you’re available right away.”

“I am.”  She spoke without
hesitation.

Wow, could he be so lucky?  She
hadn’t required any convincing at all.

“My only question is…”

Stone held his breath, knowing an
objection was coming next.  It had been too easy, of course.  There had to be
an issue somewhere.

“…will you be there, too, at the
orphanage?  Or will I be heading out there on my own?”  She looked him straight
in the eyes.  “Because the only way I’ll take the job is if you come to South
Africa with me.  At least, for the start.”

“Well, I did plan to go with you
and get you established,” he said, rubbing his chin, “probably stay a couple of
weeks until you're comfortable.  But then I’d have to head back-”

“Deal.  That sounds like a plan to
me.”  She sat back in her chair, a look of satisfaction on her face.

Well, that was easy.  They hadn’t
even discussed remuneration or benefits but already she was accepting the
offer, accepting a position she didn’t even have the full details on.  Her only
concern seemed to be whether he’d be there at the start or not.  All his hiring
should be this easy.

There was something about the whole
thing that puzzled him, though.  She didn’t strike him as the fearful,
dependent type.  In fact, it was her air of independence and decisiveness that
had drawn him to her.  Why, then, did she insist that he go with her?  It just
did not add up.

And then there was the fact that
she’d been so available.  Immediately.  Not that he minded.  Like Jenna had
said, he needed her like yesterday.  But didn’t she have a family or
obligations?  He hadn't seen a ring so he guessed she wasn’t married and
probably didn’t have kids but she had to have parents.  She would certainly
want to see them before leaving for a country so far away.  And what about…a
boyfriend?

“Now it’s my turn to ask you a
question,” he said, and although he was dreading the answer he plunged right
in.  “Aren’t there people you need to say goodbye to?  Your parents or…anyone
else?”

“Nope,” she said, her voice firm in
its finality.  "Don’t have any parents, don’t have any pets, and don’t
have a boyfriend.”

Well, that answered that.  The
boyfriend part at least.  But no parents?  "Forgive me for asking but...did
your parents pass away?"    

“My mom died,” she said, her face
gone thoughtful and her voice quiet.  “And my dad, well, let’s just say he’s
been missing in action since I was three.  That’s when my parents got
divorced.  I haven’t seen or heard from him since the day he moved out.”

Stone frowned.  A deadbeat dad.  No
wonder Indie seemed so strong and self-sufficient.  She’d had to be, surviving
without a father.  She’d probably had to fight her own battles all her life.

“Sorry to hear that.”  What he was
saying was inadequate but he couldn’t think of anything else that would show
her that, to the extent that he could understand her life, he felt her pain.

She shrugged.  “That’s okay.  It
was the best thing he ever did for us, walking out like that.  At least I
didn’t have to watch my mom crouching by the wall with blows raining down on
her.  Damned alcoholics.”  She spat the words out in disgust.

Stone was feeling disgust, too – at
himself.  He’d gone and stirred up all sorts of bad memories with his stupid
questions.  The cross examination would end right here.  He’d done enough
damage for one night.

“Be ready to fly out day after
tomorrow,” he said.  As she opened her mouth to speak he put up a hand,
stopping her.  “I know you’re available as early as tomorrow but I need a day
to tie up some loose ends before I move again.  And besides,” he said, “you
need the day to get your police record and drop into the clinic to get your
shots.”

“Oh.”  Her face fell.  “Forgot
about that.”

“There’s no great rush,” he said,
trying to reassure her.  “The day after tomorrow will be good enough for me.  A
lot earlier than I expected, actually.  I thought you would tell me you’d need
at least a few weeks to get ready for such a move.  To tell the truth,” he
shook his head, “I’m in shock.  Your being ready to move right away seems
almost too good to be true.”

For some reason that made her look
flustered.  “Oh, it’s just lucky timing, I guess.”  She shrugged.  “Maybe it’s
fate.”

Stone chuckled.  He could believe
that.  Everything was falling into place so easily for him, the stars must be
lined up just right.  And he wasn’t complaining.

Around a half hour later, after
they’d gone through the details of the job, Stone walked Indie to her vehicle. 
As she turned toward him he looked down at her, at the lips that looked so soft
and inviting.  He kept that thought to himself.  This had been a business
meeting and he’d best remember that.

He put out his hand to her.  “Thank
you for agreeing to work with me on such short notice,” he said.  “I really
appreciate it.”

She looked down then slid her hand
into his.  Her fingers were warm, her handshake firm, and again that
comfortable feeling flowed through him.  This was a woman he could trust.

She jumped into the Land Rover and
just like last time she gave him a wave.  “See you in a couple of days.”  Then
she was off.

As she drove out of the parking lot
he stood there staring after her.  If Indie’s chameleon act was anything to go
by, this trip to South Africa promised to be an interesting one.  He was
looking forward to what this mystery woman would do next.

CHAPTER
FIVE

“You have to find lots of
opportunities to catch him alone.”  Tessa’s eyes twinkled with excitement.  “If
you can’t find opportunities, create them.  Just do anything you can to get him
alone with you.”

Skeptical, Indie shook her head. 
“I’ll do my best but there’s just so much you can do in four weeks.  No, three
and a half.”

“Just use the strategies I gave
you,” Tessa pressed her.

“Yeah, like last time?”  Indie
grimaced.  “I almost broke my behind walking in those high heels you put me
in.  It was darned embarrassing, too.”

“This is different, Indie.  This
time I’m not going to try to make you into something you’re not.  No more makeup
or high heels, I promise.  You just have to remember these three little
things.”  She went and sat on the bed next to Indie, her face earnest.  “If a
girl wants to snag a man in the shortest possible time she has to use frequent
proximity, inviting body language and attitude.”

Indie leaned back against the
headboard and stared at her friend.  “I get the frequent proximity and the body
language part,” she said as she folded her arms across her chest, “but give me
that attitude part again.  I thought I had more than enough of that.”

“You’re not listening, Indie.”  Tessa
punched the bed with her fist.  “I’m going to explain this one more time and
you’d better listen because I’m not going through it again.”  She scowled at
Indie.  “I swear, whenever I speak you have a filter in your head that holds on
to some of the stuff and the rest, it just leaves by the wayside.”

Indie smiled at her sheepishly.  Tessa
was right.  Half of the stuff she said, she didn’t listen to anyway.  It wasn’t
that she didn’t want to.  It was just that if you absorbed all of Tessa’s
chatter your head would explode.  “Okay, okay,” she said, releasing her arms
and putting her hands up to defend herself from Tessa’s wrath. The girl had
been known to punch with very little provocation and a punch on the arm from
that little fist could leave you in pain for days.  “I’m listening now.  Give
it to me again.”

Tessa heaved a sigh.  “Okay, one
more time.  When I talk about attitude I mean that you should carry yourself
like a princess.  Never ask yourself if you’re worthy of him.  Ask if he’s
worthy of you.”

“Okay.”  Indie drew out the word
which made her sound doubtful which, of course, she was.

“Let him know he’s the one who’ll
have to work for your favor.  Let him do the chasing.  And never, ever, come
across as desperate.”

Indie cocked an eyebrow.  “Even
though I am?”

Tessa sighed.  “Yes, Indie, even
though you are.”  She touched her friend’s arm.  “The fastest way to send a man
running is to let him know how badly you want him.” 

“Got it,” Indie said and hopped off
the bed.  "Now come help me finish packing.”  Then she grinned.  “If all
goes well, the next time you see me I’ll be a married woman.”

“That’s the plan.”  Tessa grinned
back and slid off the bed.  Then her face went thoughtful.  "One more
thing.  Please be helpless every once in a while.  I know you always love to do
everything by yourself but men love to help a maiden in distress.  It makes
them feel manly.”

Indie straightened from where she’d
been digging in her suitcase.  She held up her hand.  “One maiden in distress,
coming up.”

“Indie, I’m serious.”  Tessa
swatted at her.  “You joke around about everything.”

“All right, all right, I’ll try to
be more helpless if you want.  I pledge to do everything in my power to charm
this man, even if it means acting like a wimp.”

“Good.  Remember, this is not for
you.  It’s for the clinic you plan to build in Haiti, and the home in-”

“Got it, Tessa.  I said I’m going
to give it my best shot and I will.  Now come and help me pack before I have to
throw you out of my house.”

Next day at the airport it was an
emotional Tessa who hugged and kissed Indie goodbye.

“What are you crying about?”  Indie
asked as she hugged her close.  “It’s not like I don’t go off on these far away
trips every few months.  This one is no different.”

“I know,” Tessa said, “but you’ve
never gone so far away before.  It’s like the other side of the world.”

“I’ll be back in no time.  You’ll
see.”

They gave each other one last hug then
Indie pulled away and headed off toward her gate.  At the security check point she
turned to give Tessa one last wave and then she went toward the security guard
beckoning to her to proceed.

She always hated this part, when Tessa
dropped her off.  Like her, Tessa was an only child and they’d come to value
their friendship so much that they were more like sisters than friends.  Which
was the amazing thing because they were so different in both looks and
personality.  But from the day they’d met four years ago something had clicked
and they’d been a big part of each other’s lives since then.

Indie collected her shoes from the
bin, put them on then gathered up her carry-on items and headed for her gate. 
She had a whole hour to spare before boarding time and she planned to use it to
catch up on her reading.   It seemed that these days the only time she could
find the time to engage in that favorite hobby was when she was sitting in an
airport.  She headed for the lounge where she’d wait for the boarding of
Stone’s private jet. 

She was absorbed in a nail-biting
scene in her suspense novel when she felt a weight on her shoulder.  She jumped
then looked up and there was Stone, smiling down at her.

He lifted his hand from her
shoulder.  “Sorry to startle you.”  He dropped his garment bag on an empty seat
then relaxed onto the chair across from her.

“Wake me when the pilot calls us,”
he said with a groan.  “I’ve had a long day.”  It certainly looked like he
had.  Within seconds he was breathing deeply, obviously dead to the world.

Indie raised her eyebrows.  And
she’d thought she’d been busy these last two days, getting ready for the trip. 
But if Stone’s plunge into slumber was anything to go by, he’d had a heck of a
rough time since she’d last seen him.