Читать книгу Plain Jane's Prince Charming - Melissa McClone, Melissa Mcclone - Страница 9

“YOU’LL sponsor the benefit?” Jane asked, afraid to hope, afraid to breath.

“I will.”

What air remained in her lungs whooshed out. She un-crinkled the napkin on her lap. Talk about finding a knight in shining armor—make that denim.

No, Jane reminded herself, there was no such thing. No matter how much Chase Ryder helped, he was still just a man.

“I’ll provide everything,” he added. “You won’t need any other sponsors.”

Stuff like this only happened in dreams. Jane wanted to pinch herself. The tightness knotting her shoulders disappeared. “I don’t know what to say except thank you.”

“Don’t thank me yet, the work hasn’t even begun.”

“I’m ready. You won’t be disappointed.” She couldn’t stop smiling. Wait until she told Michelle. Maybe if the event went well, Jane could start a nonprofit group to assist other families. Wait. One step at a time. If she didn’t get her hopes too high, she wouldn’t be hurt. But there was one promise she could make. “I’ll do whatever it takes to make this a fantastic event, Chase. I promise you that.”

“Jane.” The way he said her name, his voice low and sexy, made her pulse quicken. Excitement, that’s all. “I’m not just writing you a check. I want to help you organize the event.”

Organize or take over? Chase Ryder didn’t strike her as a follower. “You want to help? Me?”

He nodded. “We can work together.”

Together? He had to be joking. The man ran a major company, no doubt he had dozens of social obligations. But the look in his eyes… “You’re serious?”

He nodded.

Uh-oh. This wasn’t good. Chase Ryder, philanthropist, thought he wanted to help. And he probably did until something more important came along or the workload got too heavy, and she’d be left to pick up the pieces and do it on her own. She didn’t want to go through that again. Jane straightened.

“Wow,” she said, making an attempt to sound enthusiastic. “That’s so generous of you.”

“I just want to help.”

But she didn’t want his help. She didn’t want to rely on anyone else again.

Jane needed him to realize that working together was not a good idea without offending him. She needed him to stick to just being the sponsor of the event. “Don’t you think we might drive each other crazy? It’s hard to work together when you know someone, but when you don’t—”

“I know I can work with you.”

Yeah, because we are so much alike. She managed to keep from rolling her eyes. “We just met.”

“I trust my instinct.”

Ever since her relationship with Mark had ended, so did Jane. Right now her instincts shouted, “Run away, run away.”

“Plus,” Chase continued. “I know what I see.”

“What’s that?”

“Someone with a passion to make this event a complete success.” He stared at her as if he could see inside her heart. “I hear it in your voice and see it in your eyes.”

He had her all wrong. “That’s not passion, it’s panic.”

“Whatever you want to call it, it’s there,” he said. “You know what you want to accomplish and that’s where I come in. I have the contacts, the experience and the money to fulfill your vision. Teaming together makes sense.”

It did. To a point.

She wanted the fundraiser to succeed, but at what cost? He might want control over all the decisions. He could change his mind and walk away. “What about the time commitment? You mentioned putting on an event like this takes a lot of work. You’re so busy with your company, can you do this, too?”

“I’m the boss. I can delegate.”

Delegate or shirk his responsibilities? If he could do that with his work, he might do that with the benefit.

“Besides, aren’t you busy, yourself?” he asked. “You have a job and your own life to live.”

“Well, yes,” she said. “But the extra work is only for a short time. Once the benefit is over—”

“We can both get back to normal,” he finished for her. “I understand the time commitment which is why sharing the workload makes sense.”

Darn. He was right. Jane should say yes and be done with it. This wasn’t about her. She had to think about Emma and Michelle, not herself.

He leaned over the table. “Don’t you want my help, Jane?”

Oh, man. She was going to ruin everything if she weren’t careful. Would she ever learn…? “I—I want your help. I appreciate your offer. I really do. It’s just…”

“What?”

She moistened her lips. Might as well tell him the truth. “You’ve caught me a little off guard.”

“I’m not one for big surprises myself, but sometimes the unexpected is just what a person needs.”

Chase Ryder was the last thing she needed.

But as he continued staring at her, the concern in his eyes seemed genuine. That confused her. He didn’t know Michelle or Emma, yet he wanted to help. Worse, a part of Jane—a big part—wanted his help.

Why was she hesitating?

He was offering her dream come true. And, she realized, her worst nightmare at the same time. Once she agreed, she couldn’t predict or control the outcome. It would be out of her hands. Just like with her father’s cancer. Or Emma’s. That scared Jane.

“I would like your help. I…I probably need it.” What if it didn’t work out? What if you’re not sincere? What if…? “But have you thought this over? I mean, really considered what’s involved in organizing an event? What if something came up and you couldn’t help? Where would that leave…?” Me. “The benefit?”

He reached across the table, covered her hand with his and gave a gentle squeeze. “I won’t let you down, Jane.”

How many times had she heard those words or something similar before? Just once she wanted to believe that someone would follow through. That someone cared enough. That someone wouldn’t leave her alone.

So all alone.

She stared at his hand, large and warm over hers. His palm and fingers were rough, callused, as if he labored outside instead of working in an office. She didn’t mind his touch. She liked it. Uh-oh. Jane tugged her hand away and grabbed her drink.

“So what do you say?” Chase asked.

What other choice did she have? She wanted the benefit to be successful. That was the only goal. She might have the “passion” to put the event together, but she couldn’t do it without a sponsor. She’d be stupid if she said no. “Yes.”

“Great, because I have an amazing location.”

Jane held her iced cappuccino in midair. She should have known. He’d just gotten involved and he wanted to choose the venue. So much for any warm and fuzzy feelings about working together. She might as well get used to it. “Where is that?”

“My winery.”

The cool glass nearly slipped from her fingers. She placed the cup on the table. Okay, maybe this wouldn’t be so bad after all. “You have a winery?”

“In Stafford.”

Better yet. Stafford, an upscale area south of Portland, consisted of rolling hills of green covered with estates, farms, equestrian centers, golf courses and wineries. A benefit there would draw more attention than one at the Hearth. And Chase couldn’t drop his involvement if he hosted it, since his name and reputation would be on the line.

“How many guests can the winery accommodate?” she asked.

Chase raised a brow. “How many do you want it to accommodate?”

Right answer. “And we can just…use it?”

“All you have to do is pick the date.”

This sounded too perfect. And that gave her pause. Nothing could be this easy. “That’s all?”

He nodded. “Surprised?”

“Yes,” she admitted. “I hope I don’t sound rude, but what do you get out of this? Publicity for the winery?”

“No.” He thought for a moment. “But that’s not a bad idea. Publicity would help both of us out.”

Until what he needed interfered with what she needed for the fundraiser.

“But all I really want to do is to help a little girl and her mother.” An upside-down V formed above the bridge of Chase’s nose. “What do you get out of all of this?”

“I get to help someone I care about,” she said, feeling guilty for thinking he had ulterior motives. “Someone who’s in no position to do it all on her own.”

“We’re not so different, Jane Dawson.”

She begged to disagree, but couldn’t. Not when his sincere tone told Jane he meant every word. And that meant she had not only found a sponsor, but real help.

Realization that she’d succeeded pummeled her with the force of a howling blast of icy wind from the Columbia River Gorge. She had everything she wanted. Everything plus more.

Thanks to Chase Ryder.

“What?” he asked.

“I…I’m…” Feeling inadequate, yet grateful, she shifted in her chair. Wrung her hands. Tried to remain seated so she wouldn’t run over to Chase and hug him. Not that she wanted to hug him. Just thank him. “Is your name really Kris Kringle?”

“No.” Chase laughed. “Though I dressed up like Santa Claus for my sister’s kids last year.”

“That doesn’t surprise me.” Jane pictured Chase wearing a white beard and red suit and being surrounded by laughing children, but then she imagined herself kissing Santa, rather Chase. That would definitely complicate matters. Blinking the image away, she resolved to remain strictly focused on the benefit. No more daydreaming and no more handholding. “So when can I see this winery of yours?”

He glanced at his watch. No doubt he had to get back to the office. “How about now?”

She gulped. “Sure.”

Driving south on Interstate 5 with the pounding bass from a rock and roll song filling the Escalade’s interior, Chase glanced sideways at Jane. She stared at the passing scenery—concrete, buildings and billboards—her mouth tightly closed.

So much for putting a smile back on her face and a sparkle in her eyes. He had assumed offering his assistance would do the trick, but that had only upset her more. He didn’t get it. Or her. Most women watched his every move, tried to impress him or boost his ego. But not Jane.

“If you want to listen to something different—” he drove onto the I-205 off-ramp “—let me know.”

“Thanks,” she said. “But this music is fine.”

Another mile went by. Another song played. Jane continued gazing out the window. No forced conversation trying to find common interests. No name-dropping trying to show she belonged in his world. No…anything.

Needless chatter bothered Chase, but he found her silence both refreshing and bewildering. Other women would have talked his ears off. Why wasn’t Jane doing the same?

Sure she wasn’t his usual type. He dated professional women—lawyers, executives, venture capitalists—who weren’t clingy and who had their money, though that hadn’t kept most from wanting his, too. But Jane was still a woman. And he was a man, a rich, handsome man considered to be a “catch” if he believed his own press. Shouldn’t she be flirting with him at least a little? Was she not interested in him or playing hard to get?

He would get the chance to find out.

Maybe that would compensate for the work he’d volunteered for with the fundraiser. He wanted to help the little girl, but now after the reality had set in, Chase had no idea how to make this work. He had projects to oversee, an upcoming merger and a two-foot stack of papers on his desk.

Wait until his best friend found out what he had done.

You’re a sucker for a pretty face.

Sam’s words had been dead-on this time, and he would never let Chase live it down.

“Nice car.” Jane ran her hand along the edge of her leather seat. “It’s more comfortable than my couch.”

He noticed her trimmed but unpolished fingernails. Practical, like Jane herself. “That’s a Cadillac for you, but you should see how it handles off-road.”

“Why would you take a luxury car off-road?”

He picked up the disapproval in her voice. His normal answer “because I can” wasn’t going to cut it. He would settle for the truth.

“I tried a shortcut once and ended up on forest service road then found myself on a logging road.” He patted the dashboard. “It was a little hairy, but the car came through fine. I doubt I’ll do it again, though.”

“Smart move.”

“You’re right.” Finally he had her attention. Good. Now he had to keep it. “That’s why I bought a four-wheel drive truck. And a couple of dirt bikes.”

“How many cars do you have?”

“Six,” he said proudly.

“Six.” She didn’t sound impressed.

“Not counting the dirt bikes, a motorcycle and two race cars.” He focused on the road. A white pickup pulled a horse-trailer ahead of them. “The race cars aren’t street legal.”

“So do you spin a wheel to see which one of the six cars you’ll drive each day?”

He couldn’t decide if she was being sarcastic or humorous. He would try funny. “No, I reach into a bag and pull out a key.”

Her grin reached her eyes, but no sparkle. Damn, he was hoping to get both with one shot.

“You could use a dartboard,” she said.

“My throwing precision would remove the element of Fate.”

“Not if you closed your eyes.”

There. Not quite a sparkle, but he glimpsed a twinkle in her eyes. Something stirred inside him. Something good, but unfamiliar. “Is that what you would do?”

She laughed, and the warm sound sunk into him. “If I thought I had six cars, my eyes would be closed because I would be dreaming.”

The more he learned about Jane, the more he wanted to know. He exited on Stafford Road and turned right. “What do you drive?”

“I take Metro, either the bus or the MAX train depending on where I am, where I need to go and when.” She touched the leather seat once again. “It’s not so bad.”

Not bad at all. Chase wondered what it would feel like if Jane stroked him like that with her fingertips and hand. The scene forming in his mind sent his temperature rising.

She glanced over at him. “Not as nice a ride as this, but it gets me there.”

“With the scrape of brakes and the crunch of bodies.”

“It’s not that crowded, but…” She pursed her lips. “How did you know?”

He hadn’t always driven a Cadillac. “In college, I didn’t have a car so I relied on public transportation.”

“Sure you did.”

“I’m serious.” Chase didn’t want her to think he was patronizing her. “On weekends, I would take get on the Red line at Kendall Square and ride the T, similar to a MAX train, to Park Street. I’d transfer to the Green line and get off at Kenmore Square.”

“Where was that?”

“Boston.”

“Harvard?” she asked.

“MIT.”

Her eyes widened. “MIT?”

“Massachusetts Institute of Technology.”

“I know what MIT is. A top science and engineering school,” she explained. “I just forgot about you being hi-tech.”

“Hi-tech. Guess that’s better than geek,” he said. “Though it makes me sound like a robot or something.”

“You mean a robotic shark that’s not afraid to bite anything.”

“Now that would be intimidating.” He glanced her way. “Except you forgot one thing.”

“What’s that?”

“I don’t bite. I nibble.”

She looked out the window and adjusted her glasses.

Chase grinned, but said nothing, enjoying the graceful, yet nibble-worthy curve of her neck.

“What does Cyberworx do?” Jane asked.

“Lots of different things.” He loved talking about his company. “Our newest division has been working with quantum dots, photonic crystals and carbon nano tubes.”

Her eyes glossed over. “I’m not going to attempt a comment.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Don’t apologize,” she said. “It’s not your fault I’m about as non-technical as they come. Want to know a secret?”

“Sure.” Now they were getting somewhere, but he doubted she would share her favorite places to be kissed. “And I promise not to tell.”

“I don’t own a computer,” she said.

“Not everyone owns a computer.” Something wasn’t adding up about this conversation, and then Chase remembered. “Didn’t you offer to e-mail me information about the benefit this morning?”

“I use the computers at the library.”

This complicated matters. “Do you go there every day?”

“No.”

“I rely on e-mail to get things done,” he explained. “It’s the easiest way for me to keep in touch and contact you.”

“I’ll stop by the library every day and check my e-mail.”

Not good enough. “I have a better idea. You can borrow one of my laptops.”

“Thanks, but um…don’t you need some sort of Internet access or something?”

“Yes.” He recognized the flash of panic in her eyes. No car, no computer, no money. But that didn’t mean she had no pride, either. He understood that. And he was beginning to understand Jane a little better. “But I have a special wireless deal. It won’t cost you anything.”

He waited for her reply. A beat passed. And another. She was going to say no. Somehow he would have to convince her to change her mind. For both their sakes.

“Thanks,” she said instead. “That would make things easier.”

He hadn’t seen that one coming. She had pride, but practicality had won out. “Great.”

“As long as it’s no problem,” Jane added.

He turned left and drove past an alpaca farm. “It’s no problem.”

And it wasn’t. Chase got the feeling working with Jane was not going to be a problem at all especially if they could mix a little pleasure—not to mention nibbling—with business.

As Chase punched in a security code to open the double wrought-iron gates, Jane stared at the grapes growing over trellises in neatly spaced rows behind the stone wall paralleling the road. To the left sat a big building where Chase said the wine was produced. Up on the hillside, sunlight reflected off the copper roof of a grand-size house. At least she thought it must be copper. The structure looked old, built of some sort of stone or brick, like a castle or villa. She leaned forward for a better view.

The gates opened, and Chase drove inside.

Anticipation built. She felt as if she were Cinderella arriving at the castle on the night of the ball. Jane had no idea what to expect and couldn’t wait to see everything. Until she remembered. Once the clock struck midnight it would be all over. She settled back against the comfortable leather seat.

A paved driveway wound up the grape covered hillside. Antique-looking lights were strategically placed along the roadside to illuminate the way at night. As they gained elevation, the house—more like a mansion—came into clear view. Jane gasped. “It’s as if we’ve been transported from Oregon to Italy or France.”

“A château in Bordeaux inspired the estate.”

“The designer did his research.” She truly felt as if she were part of a fairy tale. She expected to see white horses gallop by. And a prince. She glanced at Chase. “It’s beautiful.”

“Thanks,” he said. “The first time I saw this place I had to have it. No matter what the cost.”

His world was a hundred and eighty degrees from hers. She couldn’t afford to rent an apartment by herself, buy a car or replace lost contact lenses. “Must be nice to be able to have whatever you want.”

His gaze met hers, and her heart skipped a beat. “It doesn’t suck.”

Jane smiled. “If I lived here, I would never leave.”

“You haven’t seen the inside of the house yet.”

“True,” she admitted. “But I’m sure it doesn’t suck.”

“It doesn’t.” His smile crinkled the corners of his eyes. “But I don’t live here.”

“Why not?”

“It’s too far from work,” he said. “Too much traffic to deal with.”

“You own a piece of paradise, and you’re worried about traffic?” The question slipped out. Of course, he couldn’t live here. It wouldn’t be practical. She could appreciate that, especially in someone who had everything. Still it bothered her.

“I don’t have patience when it comes to wasting time.” He studied her. “Don’t tell me you like being stuck in traffic?”

“Traffic means I can read longer.” And study and do more homework. “Doesn’t it seem a little sad to leave this place empty?”

“I have staff living on site.” He parked the car. “I spend an occasional weekend here. And my family uses it, too.”

But it didn’t seem enough to Jane. She slid out the front seat and went to Chase, who had removed his sport coat and left it in the car. No need for a jacket on the sunny September day.

He pointed to a large, boxy building perched below the main house. “I want you to see the barn where we’ll hold the event.”

Barn? She didn’t see any red paint or smell anything that suggested animals lived nearby.

As Jane followed him down a wide cobblestone path, the sun glimmered off Chase’s hair. She imagined curling the ends with her fingertips. Unfamiliar warmth flowed through her veins. She needed to stop thinking about touching the man.

“Welcome to the barn,” he said.

She forced her attention on the big rectangular building that resembled another château only this one was single-story. Chase pulled open one of the two sizable wooden doors.

She stepped inside. Her mouth gaped. Forget animals. No four-legged creatures would ever be allowed inside such an elegant space with hardwood floors and a vaulted, wood-beamed ceiling. “This isn’t a barn.”

“No, but that’s what I call it.”

“I’d call it perfect.”

He laughed. “The winery’s original owners designed the space as a reception and event site. Since wedding planners are so picky, they made sure everything was, in a word, perfect.”

Chase showed where bars or drink stations could be set up. He turned on the lights to show her the kitchen with professional grade stainless steel appliances.

Back in the main room, she took in every inch of the lovely space. This was so much bigger and so much nicer than she imagined. “I can’t believe anyone complained when they got married here.”

“I bought the estate before any weddings took place.”

“Let me guess,” she said. “You made them an offer they couldn’t refuse.”

“Let’s say I made them an offer they accepted on the spot.”

“Sounds more like a gobble than a nibble or bite.”

“Guilty.”

Charming and kind, but still a shark. She was going to have to be careful around him. “I knew it.”

Chase grinned. “Emma’s benefit will be the first event held here.”

She loved how he called it Emma’s benefit. And then she realized what he’d said. “The first event here? Ever?”

He nodded. “The curiosity factory should bring people in.”

The news sunk in. Okay, it actually smacked her brain and bounced off. “This is a great place for a party or dinner or a million other things. Why haven’t you used it?”

“I like my privacy,” he said. “My nieces and nephews run around in here when it’s raining.”

She tried to match the public Chase Ryder—the one who according to Ally appeared regularly in Sunday’s society page—to the man standing in front of her. Tried and failed. “Thank you for allowing Emma’s fundraiser to be the first event here. I’m…we’re honored you’d open your home, I mean, this place to us.”

“Would you like to see the rest of the estate?” he asked.

She toured the operations facility and received a glass of the winery’s award winning Pinot Noir to sip while they strolled the grounds.

He showed her a dirt lot where guests could park. “We can have valets and shuttle guests up the hill to the barn.”

As he pointed out where a tented waiting area could be installed, Jane tried to understand the logistics of it all. She hadn’t considered parking an issue. Why should she? She no longer owned a car.

With the wineglass in hand, she followed Chase through the artfully designed gardens surrounding the mansion. Lavender scented the air. Low clipped hedges divided beds of flowers and greenery. An arbor of roses anchored one end, a fountain surrounded with colorful flowers and rosebushes the other.

“Do you know what floral arrangements you want?” he asked.

She hadn’t thought that far. Not that she knew anything about flowers except the names of the most common ones. “No.”

“I have two florists I use regularly, but if you have your own florist, that’s fine.”

A florist of her own? Jane nearly choked on her wine. The last time she’d received flowers was when her father died. “Feel free to talk to your florists.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes.” Getting Chase involved would take the benefit to a higher level. That’s what she needed to do to bring in the big donors. Whereas he knew exactly what needed to be done and how to do it, she knew nothing. She felt completely inadequate and totally insecure.

As he led her through the tastefully decorated Architectural Digest-worthy interior of the château, those feelings threatened to swamp her. By the time they reached the balcony and stared at the unobstructed view of Mount Hood, the emotions overwhelmed her. Jane couldn’t enjoy the scent of flowers—bougainvilleas if she wasn’t mistaken—from nearby flower pots. She fought the urge to down the remaining wine in her glass.

The estate and Chase were something out of dream, but not her dream. She knew better than to reach for the golden ring or buy a lottery ticket or wish for something that would never happen. The sinking feeling in her stomach matched the slump of her shoulders. She leaned against the railing.

“Is something wrong?” he asked.

She didn’t know where to begin. Because Chase wouldn’t understand. He couldn’t understand.

“Jane?”

She bit her lip. Took a deep breath. Exhaled slowly. “I’m feeling a bit…a lot overwhelmed right now.”

“That’s normal.”

Nothing about this situation was normal. She fit in at Chase’s château winery as well as a barefoot, homeless orphan peddling matchsticks at Buckingham Palace. Okay, slight exaggeration. She wasn’t that bad off. Jane owned shoes, lived in an apartment and had a job. But that wasn’t the worst of it. She didn’t have a clue what to do when it came to the benefit. That had become clear today.

What was she going to do?

She and Chase lived in completely different galaxies. Light years away from each other. How on earth could she pull this off?