A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess: A Lone Star Love Affair / Falling for the Princess

“Tell me what you know about the new ad campaign that was started just before I stepped in. The one regarding the East Texas hotels.”

She told him how the campaign was going, what her department had done. She was on familiar ground. Eventually talk shifted away from business and she listened to Tony as she kicked off her shoes and took down her hair.

“You can tell me all about the San Diego opening when I see you. That’s a great town.”

“I’m looking forward to it.”

“Better than where I am in the frozen north. Now if I had you here to keep me warm—”

“Tony,” she interrupted, smiling and feeling tingles in spite of trying to avoid them.

“I’m just telling you what’s on my mind. It really isn’t ad campaigns or hotels. I don’t want you hanging up on me when I’ve waited all day to get to talk to you.”

“I know better than that,” she replied, remembering all the business calls he had taken the night they had been together. It was over an hour later when she finally ended the call. She stared at the phone a moment, thinking about him. She should firmly end the calls from him. Or even avoid them in the first place, because she had caller ID. She took the call tonight to thank him for the flowers he had sent. But once she was on the phone with him there was no hope of cutting it short, because he always talked her into listening or answering.

Flowers, phone calls, a terrific job so she would stay. Where was she headed with him?

Wednesday night Isabelle waited for her close friend, Jada Picard, a Morris attorney, for their plans to work out at their health club.

When Jada climbed into Isabelle’s car, she shook short, straight black hair away from her face and turned gray eyes on Isabelle. “Sorry, I got delayed.”

“It’s fine. I did, too. I’ve just been in the car a minute or I would have driven to the door to pick you up.”

“After the workout, let’s go eat. You can pick the restaurant so we can also celebrate your new job with Ryder Enterprises. How was your dinner last week with our new boss?”

“I’ll have to admit, it was a great evening.”

“Now that he remembers who you are, I imagine you’ll have more excellent evenings,” Jada remarked.

“No, I won’t.” Isabelle stopped for a red light and glanced at her friend. “I’m not accepting another invitation from him. So far, he’s been out of town and when he returns this weekend, I’m away on business in San Diego. I’m staying an extra day just to enjoy the city.”

“You’ll have a wonderful time. I love San Diego. When you return, I predict you’ll go out with Tony again,” Jada said.

“A relationship with Tony won’t happen,” Isabelle said, remembering his kisses and being held in his arms, not mentioning the flowers and phone calls.

“Sounds like it could easily happen.”

Isabelle moved in traffic, keeping her eyes on the road. “No, it won’t. He’s not for me,” she said, despite how she had been dazzled by his kiss and unable to forget him ever, still recalling the long-ago night in as vivid detail as the recent evening with him. “I just couldn’t resist the invitation to celebrate and it was beginning to sound like a big deal if I refused to go out with him. Otherwise, it was nothing and I won’t go out with him again,” she stated, trying to convince herself that she could say no to him.

“Doesn’t sound like ‘nothing’ to me,” Jada remarked.

“He’s not my type,” she added. “Jada, we’re both twenty-eight this year. We’ve both agreed we want marriage and a family. For me, the time has come. Our new boss definitely does not want marriage or a family to interfere with his ambition. He’s already married to his work. Friday night he had calls all evening long.”

“Calls are not a big deal. His not wanting to get married—there you may have a stumbling block.”

“I promise you, the man’s work comes far ahead of anything else in his life. He’s every inch the workaholic. I don’t ever want to tie my life to one of those. Growing up, I watched my best friend’s dad live that way and her mom had to cope without him. He was practically a stranger to his family. That’s not for me.”

“Yeah, if you grew up around a workaholic, you know what it means.”

“Lucy’s dad never saw her at any of her games, at recitals, at anything. She had nicer things than I did and a fancier home, but she would have traded some of the comforts for having her father around. My family was really close and she saw that. She loved to come to our house and she told me that was one reason why.”

“How sad,” Jada said.

“The quality of life is important. Fortunately, Tony is supportive of his sister. Their parents are giving her grief over the man she’s been seriously involved with. They don’t think he’s good enough for her. I’ve told you about him—my friend Dylan.”

“I remember meeting Dylan. He’s a nice guy with a good job. What kind of parents does Tony have? In spite of his looks and money, I’d say two strikes against Tony. A workaholic guy with a snobby family. Be careful.”

“Don’t worry. I’ve seen the last of evenings out with Tony Ryder.”

“I’d still say to watch out. Sounds as if he might be a heartbreaker. He has the looks for it.”

“That he does,” Isabelle agreed, envisioning Tony’s sexy dark brown eyes and his thick, curly hair. “Have you ever gotten your interview appointment with him?”

“Not yet, but I’m not anxious about it. I’ve got really good offers now,” Jada said. “I won’t mind moving on.”

“That’s the way I felt. Having a place to go makes the future look much rosier. I knew you would get some promising job offers,” Isabelle said, turning into the fitness center parking lot. “I need this workout.”

“So do I,” Jada said, climbing out of the car and getting her things to walk inside with Isabelle.

Soon they were both running on treadmills and conversation was impossible. Then each moved on to other machines. After they had showered and dressed, they left to drive to an Italian restaurant.

In spite of the workout and Jada’s company, Isabelle couldn’t keep memories of Tony from distracting her.

After a leisurely dinner she dropped Jada off at the office parking lot, where Jada could get her own car.

“Thanks again, Jada. The dinner was delicious.”

“Have a super time in San Diego. I’ll see you next Monday. Bring back pictures.”

“I intend to. I haven’t had many trips.”

Isabelle waited while Jada climbed into her car and then she drove home. As she unlocked her door, her cell phone rang. When she answered, she heard Tony’s voice. With a racing heartbeat, she shook her head while she listened to him, even though each phone call involved her more deeply with him.

“How’s my most beautiful vice president?”

“Tony! That is so politically incorrect,” she chided with a smile.

“First of all, I’m talking to you. Secondly, this isn’t a business call and you surely never considered it as such. Third, it’s definitely the truth.”

She laughed, unable to be annoyed or take the question seriously. “So for now this call is not one between an entrepreneur and his employee.”

“Definitely not. A man calling a woman he wants to be with, take out, make love to …”

“Stop right there. You always move too fast,” she complained breathlessly, imagining his dark eyes holding their seductive look, aware for this moment she had his full attention.

“Always? Is everything too fast?” he asked, changing her meaning and stirring memories of standing in his arms while he kissed her slowly and thoroughly. “I’ll have to work on that one,” he said as if talking to himself.

“You know not always and not everything,” she replied, knowing she sounded even more breathless than before. “Sometimes I would describe you as slow and deliberate,” she said in a sultry voice, drawing out her words and enjoying flirting with him in return, even though she knew better and even though he was far away and not as much a temptation.

She heard his intake of breath. “We would have hundreds of miles between us,” he said in a thick, husky voice, echoing her thoughts.

“You began this,” she replied sweetly. “Maybe we should talk about business. Or far more safe, end this call that I really never intended to take.”

“Business is the last thing on my mind now,” Tony replied. “I have appointments tomorrow or I’d fly home earlier. Unfortunately, I can’t. Why wouldn’t you take my call?”

“We’re headed nowhere, Tony. This friendship should not be pursued for some basic reasons.”

“A minute ago you were enjoying our conversation.”

“It was nothing but harmless flirting that you started.”

“Harmless is not a good description. You set me on fire.”

“You brought it on yourself.”

“I tried to call you earlier when I had a break in my meeting. I missed you.”

“Sorry, I switched the phone to vibrate and had it in my purse. I worked out and then ate dinner with Jada, one of my friends from work. You probably don’t know a lot of the people yet.”

“I know some. Jada Picard, lawyer?”

“Right,” she said, surprised and wondering how many of the employees he could identify and if he learned only the names of those he planned to retain.

“I’m glad you weren’t working late again.”

“You did,” she reminded him.

“That’s also different. If I can get out of here a little earlier tomorrow, I’m going to. Snow is predicted and I don’t want to get snowed in.”

“No danger on my Dallas to San Diego flight,” she said. She kicked off her shoes and carried the phone to a favorite chair to sit and relax while she talked, taking her hair down and combing her fingers through it, promising herself she would end the talk in ten minutes as she glanced at her watch.

It was half-past twelve when she wondered why she couldn’t bring herself to cut him short on his calls. Even though she wasn’t seeing him, they were getting to know each other better with the long phone calls.

“Tony, I have to say good-night. I was only going to talk a few minutes. It’s after midnight.”

“So you’re enjoying this call as much as I am. We have a great time together, Isabelle. Let me hear you admit it.”

“Not now or tomorrow or anytime after that,” she replied, laughing.

“Just wait, I’ll prove it to you. Let me tell you how—”

“Good night,” she interrupted and broke the connection, laughing again. “Unfortunately, Tony Ryder, you’re right,” she admitted to no one.

Before dawn Thursday she was at the airport, looking for her colleagues in the waiting area at the gate. Since joining Morris she had worked closely with Nancy and George and she looked forward to traveling with them.

It was easy to spot Nancy’s red hair and tall George’s thick, wheat-colored blond hair. As they waited for their flight to board, she listened to them talk about their kids, thinking about Tony’s determination to avoid marriage, preferring his work to a family.

“Lucky you,” George kidded her, “you slept peacefully last night while Nancy was up at three with one of hers and my Billy had a basketball game, then dinner, then homework which included a project he needed help with so I had four hours’ sleep.”

Isabelle smiled with them. “What was the trouble with Molly?”

“Nightmares. She’s going through a stage,” Nancy replied.

“That’s one thing—it should be quiet in the hotel. Nancy and I have dreamed of the few hours we’ll be the only one in our rooms and absolutely no demands after midnight,” George said.

“Once we’re free tonight, I’ll bet both of you spend the evening calling home and talking to your families,” Isabelle said, knowing they kept in close touch. Their smiles confirmed her statement.

“After a call home,” Nancy said, “I’m taking a swim in the pool. We’ve seen a hundred pictures as they built the hotel and the pool looked gorgeous. Either of you want to join me, feel free to do so.”

“I will,” Isabelle said, thinking how much a swim would be welcome as a relief in her busy schedule.

While they flew, Isabelle went over appointments and brochures, names of California people she would meet. When they came into San Diego she gazed eagerly at the blue ocean below. Her anticipation grew. She looked forward to this trip for several reasons, business and personal, thankful for the experience and excited to see the city, the hotel and the ocean.

It was an opulent hotel, with a glassed-in lobby that had glittering crystal chandeliers, a plush deep blue carpet and a waterfall that spilled into a pool made of black marble. They went to the VIP lobby to check in, then headed to their rooms.

She spent the rest of the day touring the hotel, meeting the hotel executives, attending a meeting with them and then having dinner and enjoying a reception that included some VIP guests from the area who got a preview before the next day’s activities.

It was eleven when she returned to her suite from the pool. The luxurious suite opened onto its own beachfront. When Tony called, she settled in a chair on the deck, switching off the lights so she could see the whitecaps while they talked for the next two hours.

Later, in bed, she gazed into the darkness while she thought about seeing Tony again Monday. She fell asleep thinking about him and dreamed of him.

Friday, her schedule was booked and included a dinner with media people that ran until after nine. They finally broke up and people left the banquet room.

In her suite she changed to her swimsuit, slipping into a T-shirt, shorts and flip-flops. She headed up to the grand rooftop pool, stepping out onto a well-lit deck with a bar beyond the crystal blue pool. A man near the bar played a guitar, the music clear in the night air.

She put her things on a beach chair and slipped into the water. When she reached the opposite end she turned to see a man enter the area. Her heart missed beats as she paused breathlessly because Tony stood at the other end of the pool.

Five

She was shocked to see him. She watched as he walked along the side of the pool. Her gaze drifted over him, his broad, muscled chest covered with a mat of thick dark curls. His biceps bulged with muscles and his narrow strip of black swimsuit left the rest of him bare, reminding her too clearly of their night of love and his magnificent body.

Feeling hot even though she was in cool water, she continued her perusal. His legs were long, lean and muscled. When he reached the deep end, he jumped in to swim toward her. Her excitement heightened the closer he came until he stopped only inches away.

He combed his hair back with his fingers to get the curls away from his face. While he treaded water to stay afloat in the deep end, she held the side of the pool. Drops glistened on his broad shoulders and she was aware of every inch of him.

Even the spacious hotel pool seemed dominated by Tony, his dark gaze holding hers as if she were magnetized.

“This is a surprise,” she said

“I intended it to be, although I didn’t expect to find you in the pool.”

“I love to swim, but get few chances. The pool is convenient, so I’ve been swimming both nights,” she said, feeling giddy. “You flew here from Chicago?” she asked, still wondering if he had come to look at his newest hotel or if he had a more personal reason.

“By way of Dallas first,” he said. “How was your day?”

“Successful. I think they’ll have a terrific opening and between our publicity and the media interest, we should get dream coverage. If you came to talk to any of the media, they’re scattered all over the hotel.”

Tony smiled at her, his eyes dancing. “Isabelle, I didn’t fly out here to talk to the media or the hotel people.”

She drew another deep breath, finding the air had grown rarefied and she was having difficulty breathing. “You’re not here for business?”

“No. That’s handled by you and others. I don’t have to.”

“You may have wasted a trip,” she said, seeing red flags of warning waving. He had circumvented her plan to avoid being with him again.

“I don’t think so,” he said. “We’ll swim and then let’s go have a drink. We can talk about it.”

“Are you trying to complicate my life?” she asked.

“Not at all. You had planned a swim, so we’ll swim. Want to race the length and back? You can call go.”

Momentarily caught between consternation and excitement, she stared at him in silence until she realized he was waiting for an answer.

“I’ll race you. Go,” she said, splashing away from him and swimming with long strokes, aware he was beside her.

She relished the physical action, for a few moments trying to avoid thinking about the rest of the evening, yet she kept recalling the vision of him standing at the end of the pool, almost naked except for the strip of black, appealing, sexy, breathtaking.

She pushed herself while he was even with her until the return. Near the end of the pool she gave an extra spurt and beat him, bobbing up as he did.

“You win.”

“You let me,” she accused, smiling. “Do it again and stop holding back.”

“I held back very little. You’re a good swimmer. Especially if you haven’t been swimming often this year.”

“I haven’t been in a pool since last July. Race again? For real?”

He smiled. “Sure. You call go.”

“Go!” she exclaimed, plunging away from him and stretching herself. He stayed alongside her until they turned in the shallow end of the pool and headed back. Then he pulled away to win handily and wait for her while she swam up to him.

“You won easily as I expected. I concede. I suspect that last race was one of the few times you’ve allowed someone to beat you at something.”

“You’re saying I like to win,” he said.

“Yes. You’re competitive, perhaps controlling.”

He hit the water with the palm of his hand, causing water to splash her. “Controlling—I don’t want to be that. I’ve fought that all my life in my dad.”

“All your life?” she asked, treading water. “Surely you exaggerate.”

“Hardly,” he remarked. “That’s one thing that drives me to make money when I already have a fortune. If I have more than he does—or he sees I will have, he’ll get off my back.”

“I can’t imagine,” she said truthfully.

“It’s getting to be less a problem,” he said dismissively and she guessed he didn’t care to discuss it further.

She broke away from him, swimming lazily, and he joined her as they swam leisurely together.

When she stopped, treading water, he faced her to slip his arm around her waist and pull her closer. Her heart thudded because he was warm, wet, touching in so many places, legs, arms. “Tony—”

“I missed you this week and I’ve wanted to see you,” he said. His brown eyes were dark as night with desire in their depths. Her breathing became difficult again and her pulse raced as she placed her hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat. She wanted to stop fighting him, to wrap her arms around his neck to kiss him. The attraction between them was mutual and strong, but she saw that as a swift road to disaster. Resistance to Tony was her only hope for avoiding entanglement, which meant heartbreak. Yet right now, she was captivated once again, unable to break away, too aware of his hands on her.

“I wasn’t going to do this again,” she whispered.

“You want to. I can see it in your eyes,” he whispered. He leaned closer. Without thought, she turned her mouth up to him and then his lips were on hers, her mouth opening at the first hot touch of his tongue. Their bodies pressed more closely together and she could feel his hard muscles, his warmth, his masculinity.

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