Читать книгу Billionaire Wolf - Karen Whiddon - Страница 8
ОглавлениеAs usual, the throaty purr of the Corvette’s engine soothed her. One finger at a time, Maria loosened her death grip on the steering wheel. That done, she squared her shoulders and inhaled deeply. She wished...
No. If wishes were fishes, this dragon would eat. She’d made an error, plain and simple. Her foolish, rose-colored glasses had made her see something that hadn’t been there. One hot man and she’d nearly melted. There’d be someone else. There had to be. She had a destiny to fulfill. And soon. She couldn’t permit herself to make this type of mistake ever again.
Not only had she allowed herself to believe a notorious playboy might be The One, but she’d risked becoming a public spectacle, and there was a certain person who could not know where to find her. Even though Doug Polacek had been imprisoned, no one knew if he had people working for him on the outside.
For right now, she’d consider herself safe unless she learned differently. She thought of the life she’d built here in Galveston, the business she’d started and loved. She’d worked hard to make her wedding chapel successful, and she knew if she had to leave the area, leaving her business would feel like ripping out a big piece of her heart. Not to mention her need to live near the ocean.
But just as she always did, she’d continue to do what she had to do. This thing with Ryan Howard would blow over quickly so she could go back to her simple and quiet life.
Pulling into her driveway, she sighed. Her tidy frame house on a quiet residential street seemed the opposite of everything she’d just endured. After clicking the opener, she pulled into her garage, killed the engine and closed the door.
One more deep breath. As she removed the keys from the ignition, she realized her hands were shaking. Of course they were. She never, ever gave in to impulse like that. Until last night, she’d had her lists and her reason and had lived her life accordingly. Responsibility had always been her hallmark. How awful to think the one single time she’d veered from this course and acted spontaneously, she’d made such a horrible mistake.
Mentally berating herself, she got out of her car. High heels clicking on the concrete, she headed inside.
She dropped her keys onto a dish on the kitchen counter, headed into the bathroom and eyed herself in the mirror. With her color high, her normally smooth olive skin looked flushed. Her eyes were suspiciously bright, making her appear as if she might be on the verge of tears, even though she wasn’t. Maria never cried if she could help it. Crying was for wimps.
Shaking her head, she washed her face, pulling her wild mop of dark hair back into a semitidy ponytail. From now on, she’d go back to ticking things off her list.
Despite her resolve, her thoughts kept returning to the night before. The lovemaking had been...sublime. And Ryan had been just as gorgeous and sexy as he appeared on TV or in the tabloids. A Shifter too, part of the Pack, which put him a notch above a simple human, at least in her book.
Ah, well. Best to put him from her mind and continue her search. If she wasn’t successful in finding a man to father her child on the island, she might have to broaden her parameters.
Never again would she allow lust to overrule reason. Too much was riding on this for her to make another mistake.
* * *
Up until the moment the sultry temptress bolted, Ryan Howard hadn’t been entirely sure what to think of Maria’s declaration of ignorance. In his experience, ever since his face had been plastered over numerous magazines and television interviews, women had been dreaming up increasingly inventive ways to get into his bed. There were, according to his research, only 513 billionaires in the United States. He figured he was part of a tiny percentage of them who were single. Women, usually attracted by his money, flocked to him. He’d grown so weary of the tall tales they told to get close, he’d begun to use the quality of the story as a criterion to send the woman away.
Maria’s beauty combined with her lack of guile had ignited a slow burning fire inside him. He’d actually allowed himself to think that once, just once, he could enjoy a casual relationship with a woman without artifice or deviousness.
When she’d recoiled at the sight of his face on the cover of Persons Magazine, he’d realized she’d been telling the truth. She really hadn’t known who he was. She’d based her decision to leave the bar with him on something else, and the idea so astounded him that he understood how truly jaded he’d become.
He’d known immediately from her aura her true nature as Shape-shifter, though he hadn’t been able to tell what kind. All he knew was that whatever she might be, she wasn’t Pack. When the flashbulbs had gone off, for a split second she’d fought her inner beast to keep from shifting. Watching her instead of the paparazzi, he’d been curious to see what manner of creature she’d reveal.
At the last minute she’d gotten herself under control, of course. This mechanism was one of the first things all Shape-shifters learned as soon as they were able to change. Living among humans, secrecy had become paramount. The last thing any of them needed was to be caught on television morphing into something else. In fact, to do so was a sentence punishable by a swift and violent death.
Shaking his head, he drained the last of his water and picked up her still-full bottle. Why had she run away? What exactly had scared her the most—who he was or the attention he garnered?
Briefly, he considered going after her, but the knowledge that the reporter-wannabes would have a field day stopped him.
Hopefully, once she’d gotten over the shock and calmed down, everything would be okay. He definitely planned to give her a call. Because, despite the mind-blowing sex they’d shared the night before, he still wanted her. Craved her, in fact. The knowledge that she’d wanted him, too, until the paparazzi had ruined it, made his blood boil with frustrated desire. They could have gone to breakfast and then returned here. Right now, they should have been wrapped in each other’s arms, making love again.
Instead, he found himself alone in his new vacation house, a virtual prisoner of the paparazzi.
Which meant he’d either need to get used to it or find another place, which would be stupid since he’d just paid cash for this one. So he’d adjust, like he always did. Still, being located so quickly was pretty damn disappointing.
When he’d bought this house, he’d been careful. Everything had been done under the name of an LLC he’d formed for real estate investments. Only he or his personal assistant Timothy had dealt with the Realtor and title company. Accordingly, he’d been pretty confident he could live here for a few weeks completely under the radar. He still had no idea how they’d found him.
Walking into that nightclub with the cool name—the Sea Dragon—might have been a mistake. Since he’d been recognized there, someone must have alerted the media. He and Maria had one peaceful night. Those damn flashbulbs and video cameras had been waiting here in the morning. Pacing the length of the living room, he considered how they’d found him. His office only knew he’d gone to vacation at the coast—he hadn’t even told them what city. The only person who knew the details, his personal assistant, was someone Ryan trusted with his life. Timothy had worked for him since the beginning. These days, Ryan made sure Timothy was well compensated for keeping his life running smoothly.
He cursed. That meant there were now two mysteries to be solved. He called Timothy, even though the clock showed it wasn’t yet eight, and filled him in on what had happened. A sleepy sounding Timothy promised to take care of everything that morning once he got to the office. Ryan knew he would.
Satisfied, after ending the call, Ryan focused on deciding what he wanted to do about Maria. Ever since his meteoric rise to fame, there had always been women wanting something from him. Maria Miranda was the first one who’d taken off as soon as she learned who he was. This was unusual enough to give him pause.
Why? Why had she run away? One thing he knew for sure. He would find out. He knew her name and she’d told him she owned a wedding chapel here in Galveston. It wouldn’t be that difficult to find her.
After getting another water and aching for coffee, he clicked on the TV and tried to relax. But he couldn’t stop thinking about her. Puzzles had always intrigued him. Figuring out where the pieces fit had enabled him to develop the software company that had made him rich. The apps and games his talented designers developed had made his business into a billion-dollar enterprise, especially when his company had gone global. Recently he’d turned down offers from both Microsoft and Apple. Even Google had approached him, especially once he’d branched out to Europe and Australia. But he’d refused to even consider selling. He loved his company, had a great staff, and wouldn’t know what to do without it if he sold. Plus, he had enough money. What would he do with even more?
Though he’d planned this extended vacation with the thought that he’d do as little as possible besides relax and unwind, the prospect of untangling the mysterious Maria’s secrets filled him with exhilaration and a fresh sense of purpose. He hadn’t felt this excited about anything in a long, long time.
First up, though, he needed to hit the grocery store. What good was a beach house without the basic amenities like coffee and food? Once he’d gotten the necessities taken care of, he’d turn his attention to the delectable beauty.
“We’ll figure this out,” he vowed, out loud, even though no one else could hear him. He wasn’t giving up on her, not yet.
* * *
Wedding Chapel Near the Sea. Just the name made Maria smile. Even if she hadn’t been able to manage an ocean view, the salty scent of the waves permeated the air. She loved her business and had spent long hours restoring the old Victorian house until she had it exactly the way she’d envisioned. Romantic, nostalgic and tranquil.
And it worked. Even catching sight of the pale peach paint with beige trim made her happy. Every morning she drove to work and went inside with a smile on her face. Today would be no different. She refused to let what had just happened ruin her day.
“You’re way too chipper for this early,” her receptionist, Kathleen, groused, her usual response to Maria’s cheerful “Good morning.”
Maria merely smiled, just as she always did, and continued on into her tiny office. She’d painted the walls bright yellow, just because the color reminded her of sunshine, and decorated with pictures and statues of pigs, because they made her laugh.
“What do we have on the schedule today?” she asked.
“The Thompson wedding is coming by to talk dates.” Kathleen appeared in the doorway, reading from a ledger. “They’ll be here at ten. And the Woodards are bringing the balance of their deposit at two and will want to go over the final details.”
“Anything else?”
Kathleen started to shake her head, but turned when the front door opened. “Can I help you?” she asked, heading toward the reception area. “Are you here to discuss planning a wedding?”
At that point, Maria turned on her computer, waiting for it to boot up. Kathleen was good at her job and wouldn’t let a potential customer get away without being made aware of all they had to offer.
“I’m here to see Maria.”
The sound of the familiar deep voice sent fire through Maria’s body. She froze, hands on her keyboard, wondering how on earth he had found her and what he wanted.
“Do you have an appointment?” Kathleen asked, sounding slightly breathless.
“No, but I don’t need one. She’ll see me.”
Exhaling, Maria stood. “That’s okay, Kathleen,” she said, pitching her voice loud enough so she could be heard. “I have a little time to talk to Mr. Howard.”
At the name, Kathleen let out an audible gasp. “I’m so sorry,” she gushed. “Forgive me. I wasn’t entirely sure it was you. Of course, let me show you Ms. Miranda’s office.”
Before she could, Ryan appeared in Maria’s doorway. He looked so rugged and masculine, so out of place in the pointedly delicate decor, Maria had to suppress a smile.
Instead, she put on her best professional face, praying he couldn’t tell how her heart practically pounded in her chest. “What can I do for you?” she asked.
Stepping into her office, he closed the door. His sheer size made the space feel three times smaller. “Why’d you run away?” he asked. The quiet question felt much more dangerous than it would have if he’d showed anger.
Again, she couldn’t help but marvel at the clean-cut lines of his face and the self-confidence he radiated. Her heart jolted, her pulse hammered, and her mouth went dry.
Nope. Not going there.
Carefully, she shrugged. “I changed my mind. And I have to say, the fact that you’ve shown up here, at my place of business, confirms I did the right thing.”
He glowered, his dark eyes still far too beautiful and seeing way too much. “I’m not stalking you, for Chrissake. You told me you owned a wedding chapel. There are only two on the island proper—yours and The Wedding Chapel on Broadway. I figured this one would be yours, and I wanted to talk to you, so here I am.”
Crossing her arms, she carefully titled her head. “And, again, what can I help you with?”
Her impersonal tone had him coming closer, dragging a hand through his hair, which only made him appear sexier. “I like you,” he said, his expression serious. “And I thought the feeling was mutual. How about this? Go to dinner with me tonight. No strings. Just a nice meal and some conversation.”
She didn’t have to feign her horror. “No, thank you. Wherever you go, there are cameras and paparazzi. That’s not my thing. At all.” She flashed him her most detached smile. “I’m sure you won’t have trouble finding someone else to accept your invitation. At least, judging from the admirers following you around the club last night.”
His mocking smile sent a shudder down her spine. “I don’t want anyone else. I want you.”
Instant heat. Right there, in between her legs. Her entire body, in fact. Still, she held her ground. “I’m sorry, Mr. Howard. The answer is no.”
She thought he might argue with her at the very least, or maybe say something charming, in the hope of coaxing a smile. After all, if one believed his press, he was a player of the highest degree, used to getting what he wanted, when he wanted it.
Instead, he crossed the distance between them, cupped her face with his large hand and kissed her.
Stunned and shocked, she froze. Truth be told, she didn’t resist. In fact, as he slanted his mouth over hers, kissing her as if she were a precious treasure, she went with it and opened her mouth so she could properly kiss him back.
Desire spooled low in her belly, and dimly she registered there was a reason Ryan Howard was good at getting women.
That thought had the effect of ice water dashed on her. She gasped and jerked away. “Out,” she ordered, her voice shaking. “Get off my property right this instant.”
Hands up, he backed away, nearly to the still-closed door. “About dinner...”
“No.” Sucking in air, she let a trace of her anger show in her eyes, which should have been a warning. Even though Ryan was a Shape-shifter, when he saw the red glow in her eyes, he should realize he’d better stay away. To most other Shifters, the Drakkor were only legends. Few knew they still existed. Her people had formed an alliance with his, the Pack Protectors, in order to help keep the Drakkor safe. She didn’t know how many of the Pack had been informed. At this moment, she didn’t actually care.
“You have a fiery temper,” he said softly, the intensity in his gaze telling her he knew his comment would be like throwing kindling on the embers. When she didn’t respond, he dared to prod. “Dinner?”
“Out.”
Nodding, he turned to go. As he grasped the door handle, he glanced back over his shoulder and tossed a business card on her desk. “Here’s my number in case you change your mind. I would never have pegged you for a coward, Maria Miranda.”
And with that, he left.
More shaken than she’d like to admit, even to herself, Maria dropped back into her desk chair. Coward? Had he known he’d just issued the worst insult one could to her kind? Had his choice of word been intentional, just to draw her into his sensual web?
If so, well played. She nearly ran after him. Only Kathleen’s breathless appearance in her doorway stopped her.
“Oh, my goodness, how do you know Ryan Howard?” Kathleen gushed. “I couldn’t help overhearing—you know how thin these walls are, and it sounded like you and he had already met. Are you going to be in the tabloids? What do you think about him? He’s every bit as sexy in person as he is on TV.”
“Stop, please.” Maria wearily interrupted her employee and friend. “I just met him in a bar last night and we went for a walk on the beach.” She carefully omitted everything else, including the fact that they’d spent the night together. “I took off when the paparazzi showed up and started taking pictures.”
“Paparazzi! Oh my goodness, you are going to be in the tabloids!” Kathleen squealed. “I don’t believe it. I can tell all my friends I’ve met Ryan Howard, Persons Magazine’s Most Eligible Billionaire Bachelor.”
Maria groaned, sinking lower in her chair. “I can’t believe I...” Luckily, she caught herself in time.
Unfortunately, Kathleen had a sharp mind and good ears. “Oh, my! Did you really?”
“No.” Well aware her color was high, Maria gritted her teeth and held her ground. “No, I didn’t. Let’s talk about something else, please.”
“But—”
“It’s nearly ten. The first wedding party of the day should be here soon. We need to make sure everything is ready for them.”
Taking the hint, Kathleen nodded and returned to her desk.
Alone again, Maria opened her email and tried to concentrate. Her rapid heartbeat finally slowed and she gathered her scattered thoughts and made herself focus.
Who knew Ryan Howard would have such an effect on her? She’d never been one for the pretty men. However, Ryan was more than easy on the eyes. He radiated masculinity, something her dragon side required. Masculinity, sex appeal and confidence. Everything she wanted in a man.
Except Ryan was entirely too famous and popular. And a playboy as well, she reminded herself, just in case she weakened. As if she could. Anyone who dated Ryan Howard would be immediately thrust into the spotlight. She couldn’t afford that. Not only would it endanger her, but her future unborn child, as well.
She laughed at herself. As if. She couldn’t get pregnant with him. The other thing she needed was a man who would love her. As in, forever and always. Judging from his reputation, Ryan Howard was not capable of such a thing.
The day went quickly, as they always did. Doing work she loved ensured no days ever dragged. She booked two new weddings, finalized the details on another and had a couple of other interested parties.
All in all, a good day.
At six o’clock, when Kathleen got ready to go home, Maria decided to leave, too. Her receptionist waited while she locked up, a hundred more questions in her eyes. Maria gave her a quelling look, letting her know she had no intention of answering them.
“We’re done talking about Ryan Howard,” Maria said when Kathleen opened her mouth. “Seriously. I have no intention of seeing him again.”
Appearing reluctant, Kathleen nodded. “I can’t say I understand, but I’ll try. I have to say, though, most women would give their right boob for a chance to go out with him.”
Unlocking her car, Maria smiled. “But then, I’m not most women, am I?” She got inside and closed the door without waiting for an answer. Lifting her hand in a quick wave, she started the engine, loving the throaty roar, and headed for home.
That white van...
Giving another quick glance in her rearview mirror, she made an impulsive turn down a side street without signaling.
The van did the same.
Concerned, she tried to remember everything she’d heard about what to do when being followed. She knew she couldn’t go home. She had to go somewhere public. The police station on 54th? Or just a crowded gas station or maybe a grocery store. A&M Grocery was only a few streets away. Decision made, she swung around and headed toward 39th.
Of course, the van kept up.
A million thoughts ran through her mind. She, along with the few other remaining Drakkor females, had one enemy. Doug Polacek, a male Drakkor rapist and serial killer who’d bragged he was to be the savior of their race. He’d been arrested and locked away. Had he somehow escaped prison? If so, how had he found her? Should she call her father? Though why worry him, when there was nothing he could do from so far away.
Heart pounding, she calculated what she’d do when she reached the store. Park, jump out, and run inside? Or stay in her car, with the doors locked and the engine running, just in case she needed to take off?
Based on what she’d heard about Polacek, he was all about capturing and holding a prisoner. So he wouldn’t try to kill her, though she wouldn’t put it past him to shoot a tranquilizer dart or something to immobilize her so he could throw her in the van.
On second thought, maybe the police station would be the better option, despite having it drilled into her not to involve humans in Shifter business.
There. Muttering a quick prayer, she swung into the grocery store parking lot and pulled up in front of the store, in a no-parking zone. This would be high visibility and easy escape.
And here came the van. One foot on the brake, she kept the car in drive, ready for anything.
Instead of pulling up behind her or alongside her, the van pulled in to one of the empty spots reserved for the disabled. Strange. Still, she didn’t relax, watching to see who’d emerge.
The driver’s-side door opened. A second later, so did the passenger side, and then the rear sliding door swung open, disgorging a man with a video camera, another with a microphone. They rushed over to her car, the man with the mic clearly a reporter of some sort.
Relieved and irritated, Maria took her foot off the brake and stomped the accelerator. Screeching out of the parking lot, she traveled the back roads, taking a convoluted route toward home.
Only once she was sure they hadn’t followed her did she turn down her street.
Safe inside her garage with the door closed, she sat in her car, teeth clenched, shaking. She’d only been with Ryan Howard once, and because of that, reporters were hounding her?
Slowly, she climbed out of her car and headed into the house. Should she cut her hair, change the color, make some attempt at disguising her appearance until this blew over?
Even having to consider such nonsense made her even madder. Why should she have to deal with this? Ryan Howard needed to make it stop. She suspected he had the power to fix it.
Digging his business card from her pocket, she decided to give him a call. She wanted this harassment to end, right now. The sooner she could go back to her normal life, the sooner she could get on with her quest to fulfill her destiny.
