To Have a Wilde (Wilde in Wyoming) (3 page)

“Thanks, Walt,” she replied, smiling up at the large man. “Maybe some other time. I’ve got some work to do in my room before I hit the bed.”

“Well, anytime you change your mind, let me—us—know.”

She saw the disappointed look enter his dark eyes before he nodded his head and turned with the others to leave.

She nodded and smiled before she dismissed her crew, after giving final instructions for the next day’s filming.

“It will be a light day tomorrow, everyone. I don’t expect us to go past noon, and after that, the next few days are yours!” Her response elicited the expected pleased reaction from her staff, bringing a genuine grin to lift the corners of her lips.

She watched the group leave and drew in a deep breath. She knew who she now had to face.

“Looks like it’s time to saddle up,” Tricia murmured, and Sonia bit back a groan in reply.

She didn’t have to turn around to know whom Patricia was talking about. And her assistant’s reference to saddling up didn’t help
at all....

Sonia sighed and closed her eyes briefly. She remembered the way Keanu had spoken the heartfelt words to her over the phone after he’d finally agreed to do the show and allow her and her crew on his land.

“The new generation, our generation...we all need to come together and work on the environment to survive. Not just in Hawaii but all over the world. If the Kealoha Ranch can help in any way...we’re ready to saddle up, ma’am.” His deep baritone had washed over her like a hot shower.

As the producer of several hit shows, when she’d been approached about filming a reality show, her first response had been a hearty “hell no!” Not a fan of reality TV in general, she’d always found herself cringing whenever she’d watched it. Even though she had secretly watched a couple, she would never consider producing one.

After viewing the footage the network had provided, her thoughts had changed. They had sent a small film crew over to the island to secretly take film footage of the Kealoha Ranch, located on the beautiful Hana, Big Island, Hawaii, and after viewing, despite herself, Sonia had been intrigued with the idea of a Hawaiian ranch, something she hadn’t ever associated with Hawaii.

Within days she’d booked a flight.

The footage hadn’t done the island justice. After her first night staying at one of the luxury resorts, she’d risen early, unable to stay in bed. Coffee in hand, she’d walked over to the large window and stood staring out in awe, taking in the breathtaking view.

The scene could have been plucked from a blockbuster movie, it was so surreally beautiful.

The beautiful eucalyptus and ohia trees, lolling hills in the distance and the vividly blue wide-open Pacific all made for a magnificent backdrop to the incredible scene.

Sonia had then taken a ride out to the Kealoha Ranch and her fate had been sealed. The unique blend of emerald-blue water, tranquil skies and ranching assured her the project would be a winner.

The ranch and island had captured her imagination and Sonia had eagerly accepted the gig.

But it had taken a lot more than a simple phone call to convince the reclusive rancher to agree. Originally A’Kela Kealoha had agreed to do the show; however, there were production challenges and the show went on hold.

The producers had decided to try again and had contacted Alekanekelo Kealoha, only to learn of the elder Kealoha’s illness and the family’s need for privacy after the death of his wife. Disappointed, Sonia and the others had begun to believe the show wouldn’t be able to be produced.

When they learned there were two other men, the twin sons of Alek Kealoha, Keanu and Nick Kealoha, who were equal partners, they’d approached them in a final effort. With Nick they’d been elated when he’d agreed...only to laughingly tell them it was his “big” brother they now had to convince. His identical twin, who was older than Nick by a full five minutes.

And that had been the beginning of a six-month
courtship
between Sonia and Keanu, via email, Messenger and iChat.

When she’d learned of his involvement with a local volunteer group that sought to bring awareness about preserving Hawaii’s natural habitat, as well as the foundation his mother had started to help those in need, she’d quickly devised a new angle and brought the proposal to his attention.

When the new angle seemed to appeal to him, she’d barely held her excitement in check when Pat had come into her office, nearly bursting with the news that the fuddy-duddy, as she’d dubbed him, was on line one, waiting for her.

Sonia had taken a deep breath, closed her eyes and prayed to the Almighty for patience before putting a smile on her face and answering the phone. She found that when she smiled while dealing with irritating, overbearing men who thought they knew it all, it helped center her, even if they couldn’t see her fake smile.

“This is Sonia Brandon, may I help you?” she’d asked, infusing more than a little bit of confidence into her voice. Another thing she did while dealing with the aforementioned group.

“The new generation, our generation...we all need to come together and work on the environment to survive. Not just in Hawaii but all over the world. If the Kealoha Ranch can help in any way...we’re ready to saddle up, ma’am.”

With those words, he’d gotten under her skin. Those words issued in that deep, sexy-as-sin velvet voice...

She’d blown out a long breath as soon as she’d severed the connection, with a deal tentatively reached.

God...she hadn’t even had to meet the man for him to get her hot and bothered.

Or maybe it had been too dang long since she’d had a man.

Whatever it was, he’d caught her attention from that moment on...and it had only gotten worse.

After a round-table discussion with key players from the network, the executive producer and Sonia, they’d decided to try once more and had been surprised when he’d agreed. And as soon as they’d all met the reclusive rancher, Patricia had soon stopped calling the handsome rancher “fuddy-duddy.”

“Ms. Brandon...a word.” The sinfully deep voice sent her heart skipping, brought her back to the present with a rush.

“Patricia, why don’t you—” Sonia stopped and cleared her throat from the frog lodged firmly in the back. She kept her cool, her smile firmly in place. “Why don’t you take the rest of the evening off. We’re done here.” She ignored the spark in her assistant’s eyes as she ran them back and forth between Sonia and the man behind her.

Although Patricia never said anything, Sonia knew the woman suspected Sonia was attracted to the rancher. However, she’d prudently refrained from asking, instinctively knowing that although they were close it would be crossing the line.

“Are you sure? I could—”

“Patricia...yes. Please,” she interrupted, still trying to hold it together. Before Patricia could leave, Sonia remembered that she’d forgotten to advise the crew about the change in meeting time. “Patricia, could you let the staff know that I’d like to meet with them tomorrow, at lunchtime?” Sonia hoped that giving Patricia the right to relay information to the staff would mollify her and remove the suddenly wooden expression from her assistant’s face. Normally, she wasn’t so abrupt with Patricia, but lately...well, chalk it up to overactive hormones and Keanu Kealoha, she thought, mentally drawing in a deep breath.

“Right away, boss,” Patricia replied, her voice slightly cooled.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to offend,” she began, placing a hand on her assistant’s arm.

Although she was sincerely sorry if she had offended Patricia, at the moment, her assistant’s feelings were not primary in her thoughts.

“Don’t worry about it, Sonia. I understand,” Patricia replied, her expression lightening.

“Ms. Brandon.” The deep baritone had a distinctly irked quality, reminding her that Keanu Kealoha wasn’t a man accustomed to having to wait on
anyone.

She suppressed a ridiculous shiver. His voice warned Sonia that she and the irritating man attached to the sexy, drop-your-panties voice were going to have yet another...
uncomfortable
encounter. The thought brought a shiver, again, to run down her spine.

She straightened her back, mentally reminding herself that, no, she was most definitely
not
looking forward to any type of encounter with him. Unless it was business. Strictly business.

She ignored the self-mocking inner laugh.

She drew in a breath, subtly tugging down the hem of her casual tank top back inside the waistband of her jeans, realizing that it had ridden up, exposing her stomach. She had no intention of him even
thinking
she was doing anything to get his...attention.

It was strictly business with Keanu Kealoha, she reminded herself, again.

Sonia drew in a breath. Despite her every intention of not letting him know
just
how much he affected her she knew he’d guess in a heartbeat if she didn’t get it together. Placing a faux look of confidence and casual smile on her face, she turned to face him.

But damn...really? Did he have to be
so
ridiculously fine?

Sonia mentally groaned, her helpless gaze raking over his tall, muscular body.

“I think it’s long overdue that you and I got to know each other, Ms. Brandon.”

It wasn’t just what he said that made her legs threaten to buckle, although that alone caused her heart to hiccup with the implication of his words. More than that, it was the way he said it that caused the queasiness to settle in her gut, the kind of queasy feeling a woman got when a man turned her on so bad she didn’t know the last time she’d felt so hot and bothered. It was the
way
he said it, and the way his bright eyes raked her over, head to toe, that made her feel naked, exposed.

And wanted.

Dear God...

Suddenly all kinds of forbidden, delicious images came to mind.

Images of how...
what,
she could do to convince him to allow the series to continue. A slow, warm heat flushed her entire body at the thought, an unknown grin creasing the edges of her full lips upward.

She turned to face him.

Chapter 3

W
as he the cause for the sexy little grin on her face? Key wondered, feeling a jolt in the region of his heart at the glint in Sonia’s dark brown eyes, and the mischievous-looking smile on her full lips. Everything about her appealed to him on levels he never knew existed.

As she stood before him, doe-eyed and staring at him with a sexy glint, it was all he could do not to fulfill every one of the erotic dreams he’d had of her over the past few months. Hell, the dreams, although hot as any of the active volcanoes around the island, would look like a cartoon compared to what he wanted to do to her.

But he knew better than to make good on those dreams. She would be gone soon, leaving him, the ranch and the island, like all the rest. And that smile of hers was one he shouldn’t trust, he knew that, no matter how damn sexy it, or she, was.

“So glad you could make time to speak to me, Ms. Brandon,” he began, and immediately saw her reaction to his words. The smile dipped and waned before she forced it to remain. But it wasn’t the same. Although brighter, it was less authentic. She lifted her chin just a fraction higher, her back stiffening. For a moment, Key wished he could retract his words.

Although she was of average height, the top of her head reached him midchest and, in order for her to make eye contact with him, she had to take a step back as well as lift her chin. The fact that he was trying to convince himself that that was the reason for her stepping back from him, he ignored.

“Such a hard-ass,” she mumbled, but he caught the words.

“Excuse me?” Key asked, shock warring with genuine humor.

Her eyes flew to his and she covered her mouth, her eyes wide. “You, uh, heard that?” she asked.

“Yeah. But it’s okay. I’ve been called worse,” he replied, shrugging a shoulder.

“I’ll bet you have,” she returned, and he caught the red flush stain her creamy brown cheeks.

“Oh, God, I’m sorry, I didn’t mean—”

“It’s okay. Like I said, I’ve been called much, much worse,” he replied, cutting into her apology.

When she grinned again, it threw him off guard and he felt himself responding to her gamine expression.

She had a smile on her face that reminded him of Nick. Although he and Nick were identical on the outside, when it came to women they were as different as night and day, with Nick playing the role of playboy rancher to the hilt. Her smile was about as sincere as his twin’s avowals of devotion to any one of his girlfriends.

In other words, bogus.

Even as her snappy answers and overall sassy attitude aggravated him, Key couldn’t deny the effect her curvy body and cute ass had on him. His eyes fell to her full lips. The bottom curve poked out just a hint, giving her a natural pouty expression, one that played hell on his libido, wondering what it would taste like.

He’d thought about it, tasting that full, luscious lip of hers, drawing it into his mouth to suckle and kiss.

Each time he did, he remembered that she was only in his life for a while. She, like all the rest, would be gone once her season was over.

He’d do well to remember that. It was only physical, his reaction to her. Once she and her crew had left the island, his life and his libido would return to normal.

He drew in a breath, remembering what he had recently discovered.

Did she have information about what he’d discovered somehow? Had she or someone in her camp found out that he and Nick were the sons of Jedediah Clint Wilde, whose adoptive sons were the legal owners of the Wilde Ranch, one of the most profitable family-owned-and-operated ranches in the United States? Was that the reason she’d approached his brother about extending the season?

The idea had plagued him since he and his brother had spoken days ago and Nick had casually informed him about the request to continue the show. Even before he could continue, Key had already begun shaking his head.

“Not only no, but hell no,” he’d said, his jaw tightening. “Look, you know the only reason we agreed to do this was to honor Mom’s last request. Well, we’ve done that. We’ve helped raise awareness and with that Mom’s foundation for the preservation of Hawaii has tripled in donations. As for the rest...the attention from the show, attention I sure as hell am damn sick of—”

“Well, I’m not,” his brother had cut in. His arms were crossed as he leaned against the kitchen table, one big booted foot crossed over the other, a half grin on his face as he observed his brother’s rising anger, no doubt enjoying the hell out it while calmly munching on an apple.

“It is done. Finished. With the foundation having a higher profile, donations will continue. I’ve been the
good son,
” he’d said, turning away from Nick.

He knew that his brother was in tune with him, more than anyone. And keeping his thoughts and emotions hidden from Nick for too long was damn hard to do.

But Key had to do exactly that, at least until he figured out how...
when
he’d share what he’d learned about who they were with his brother.

The role his father had had in the deception was not far from his mind, either. Hell, he didn’t have a clue how he’d approach Alek Kealoha, the only man he or his brother had ever called Father.

For now, regarding their parents’ dishonesty, he would hold his tongue, as well as his emotions, firmly in check.

He’d turned to face Nick.

“Look, Kaikaina,” he’d begun, not realizing that in his distress he’d called his brother by his Hawaiian nickname. “The only reason I agreed to this invasion of our home in the first place was because of Mom and the foundation. Now that we’ve accomplished that goal, there’s no way in hell I’m going to agree to a second season. One was pushing it. But it was for Mom, so...” He shrugged and paused, ran a hand through his hair and allowed the sentence to dangle.

Even through his anger, his feelings of betrayal, he loved his mother, as did his brother. And, even knowing what he now did, he would have still allowed the crews to film because the foundation had meant everything to her.

“This was for Mom, yeah, man, I get that. Dad and I agreed with you, remember? I’m not the bad guy here.”

“Hell, Nick, I never said or thought you were. You’re my brother. You’re family. And family comes first,” he’d said.

There’d been a pause, as both men grew serious.

“Yeah, I get that. I also get that you don’t want them here—”

“But you and Dad do. So for that reason, I’m cool with it, bro.”

There was another small silence before Nick broke in, his voice gruff. “Mom would have wanted it. I know you could have persuaded Dad that you were against it. But I think it’s a good idea, Key.”

“Hell. I guess,” Key had replied as he’d glanced away from his brother. When Nick shoved away from the doorway and clapped his brother on the back he turned back to face him.

“Dad, yes...but you know damn well a part of the reason you want this is for the women. Damn player,” Key said, a small grin on his face.

“Well, what can I say, big brother...gotta give ’em what they want,” he said, and flexed large biceps.

“Man...whatever,” Key responded before he shoved his brother away, and both men laughed.

“And if some high-society producer thinks she can go around me and get the answer she wants, she has another damn think coming. Discussion over,” he’d replied firmly, humor evaporating as the image of Sonia came back to his mind, his thoughts.

His jaws tightened.

“Somebody’s got his shorts in a knot over said high-society producer, I see,” had been his twin’s laughing retort.

To which he’d given him the anticipated single-finger salute answer. Looking at his brother was like looking at a mirror image of himself. So, when his brother lifted one brow and laughed, Key found himself hoping he didn’t look like a damn laughing hyena, as well.

Key had left the room, ignoring Nick’s taunting laugh.

Although they were identical twins, the two men played women very differently. Yet for all of their differences, Nick knew him, just as Key knew Nick, better than anyone else.

Key knew that Nick was aware that Sonia Brandon had gotten under his skin, but he didn’t give a damn. He would take pleasure in telling her no and had been waiting for nearly a week to do just that.

He stared down at her, rubbing the back of his neck.

That was before he’d discovered who and where...he and his brother were linked to. And with that, he wondered if Sonia Brandon knew about the big-ass skeletons in his closet, skeletons he was determined to keep exactly where they belonged, deep in the closet.

And if they didn’t know, Key was determined that the sexy producer and her staff would not find out. He knew if they did, they would do everything to exploit his family. His family had been through enough with the death of his mother and his father’s massive stroke soon after...life had been rocky. They were all just recovering from the loss, moving on and living, and he was damned if he’d allow anyone to come in and destroy that.

The fact that he himself had just learned about the Wildes, in particular his and Nick’s birthright, gave Key some confidence that he was the only one outside of his father who knew. But no mistake about it, it was a rocky confidence.

Because, although he dismissed the possibility that Sonia knew, he was going to cover all of his bases. He would be the one to figure out not only how to tell his brother, but if and when they would make contact with the Wildes. And if that happened, something so private damn well wouldn’t be broadcast before millions of people.

He was determined she or anyone in her crew would not discover his and Nick’s connection to the Wildes. To that end, he kept in mind there was an outside chance that particular egg was already out of the basket.

After wrestling with the decision, and not knowing for sure in the end, Key relied on one of his father’s favorite sayings: keep your friends close and your enemies closer. Not that she was exactly his enemy, but Key wasn’t trustful of the industry to which she belonged.

So if he had to make a deal with the devil...he glanced down at the beautiful woman who had been playing around in his mind from the moment they met. In all truth, from the moment he’d heard her husky, low, sexy voice, something about her had...intrigued him.

He would play her for a little longer. Until he found out exactly what, if anything, she knew about the skeletons in his family closet.

To that end, he knew he’d have to promise her something—himself.

“I’d like to make a proposition, Ms. Brandon,” he said, keeping his face neutral. He carefully examined her features, searching for any signs that would clue him in to what she was up to, let him know if she had inside knowledge of his family.

“And what would that be, Mr. Kealoha?” Sonia asked, her dark brown, clear gaze locked with his, her face devoid of any telling emotions, anything to alert him that she was hiding something.

The woman was good.

She definitely knew how to play her cards close, Key thought in admiration. She had a poker face that would give the reigning poker champ a run for his money. But her voice...the natural husky timbre in her voice sounded nearly breathless. It was her weakness. He knew she had no idea that her voice was so telling, as he’d witnessed.

She’d had his ranch workers eating out of the palm of her hand from the first moment she spoke to them. Just as he had, they’d sat up straight, their attention closely given to the small woman with the sexy voice.

Not that it had only been her voice that the men had reacted to.

Uncontrollably his glance fell to the crest of her breasts. Each inhalation and exhalation he watched with a focused, helpless stare, as though he was caught by some invisible traction and couldn’t look away.

“Ahem...I’m waiting,” she said, and coughed.

Damn.

Embarrassed that he’d been gawking at her tits like some overgrown adolescent, the crazy spell was broken and his glance met hers.

One delicate brow was lifted, her lips pursed as though she was pissed to the max. Which only served to make his cock even harder. She was so damn sexy, even mad she turned him on.

If possible, Key felt even more like the overgrown kid she reduced him to whenever he was in her presence.

He tightened his jaw and mentally ordered his cock to
stand down
and act like the grown man it was attached to.

“I would like to propose that you stay close to me. I’m extending an invitation for you to be my ‘right hand’ so to speak,” he began, lowering his voice, hoping to seduce her into feeling...comfortable around him.

If she was for him, she couldn’t be against him.

“Allow me to show you why I agreed to the show, initially. Allow me to demonstrate to you why I love this ranch.” He turned, extending his arm out to encompass the ranch. “Why I love this land.”

“And in exchange for that...?” she asked, allowing the sentence to dangle.

Key held his grin of satisfaction at bay. He could tell that he’d gotten her attention.

Good.

Her dark brown eyes lit with interest, and her small pink tongue came out to swipe across her full bottom lip. Just like her voice, the small action was a giveaway for her. One he was sure she hadn’t realized she did whenever she was...intrigued.

His gaze zeroed in on the sexy movement. Damn, just when he was getting control of the situation she got him.

His cock thumped against the zipper on his jeans in direct response to her nipples, which had, as though on cue and defying the confines of her bra, proudly pressed against the tank top she wore. As though reaching for him.

Before he realized his own intent, he took a step forward. Taking her hand in his, he brought it up, forcing her into closer contact with him.

“I give you me. I will be more involved in the show, make more of an appearance on the show,” he began, and held up a hand when he saw a light enter her beautiful dark eyes. “To a degree,” he cautioned. “I want the audience to come to love the land as we do. For them to understand why we feel the way we do, they have to believe it. You have to believe it. Do you believe, Ms. Brandon?” he asked, tilting her chin forward.