On her way to the elevator, she called down to have her car brought around to the entrance. The expansive marble lobby was empty and sterile feeling. Rooster would find nothing to eat here. She nodded to the doorman and hastened outside for a breath of air. The heat was a wall that slapped at her, and she hurriedly upped the AC in her Mercedes. At SunView, she parked in her reserved spot on the first level close to the elevators and keyed herself in with her ID card. She didn’t know the people in the elevator, and when she reached the executive level and walked through the central hall to her corner office, she passed only a handful of people who even knew she’d been gone. This had been her universe, her province, and now she was a stranger here too. Had she really been so rootless and never noticed?

Her desk was neat and orderly, just as she’d left it. She sat down, let the receptionist who handled calls when Carrie was away know she was in, and confirmed she had a meeting with Preston in an hour. She was about to call Jeff Cohen, her inside man, to catch up on the latest power moves among upper management, but stopped before she’d picked up her phone. She didn’t really care. The politics and personal agendas seemed shallow and petty to her now. But then, what made her any different than Preston? Her goals were the same as his—to one day head the company, to walk in her parents’ footsteps, to finally have them notice her, value her. Didn’t all children want to please their parents? She thought of Harper and Flann and Carson and Margie—individuals all and yet each confident in the pursuit of her goals. She didn’t doubt for a second, and neither did they, that they would be loved regardless of their choices, and not because they succeeded in something their parents valued. What did she value? What did she want?

She picked up her cell phone and quickly tapped in a number. The wait was interminable, but she knew it could only be a few seconds. She didn’t really expect an answer.

“Harper Rivers.”

“Harper,” Presley said, caught as she always was by the smoky timbre of Harper’s voice. She couldn’t think for a second why she had called. Hearing Harper’s voice suddenly seemed enough. Everything.

“Presley!” Harper’s voice warmed, heavy with pleasure. “Where are you?”

“At my desk. In Phoenix.”

“How was the trip?”

“No problem. How’s Jimmy?” Presley pictured Harper at the nurses’ station, leaning against the counter, sleeves rolled up, hair tousled, looking relaxed and confident. The image made her think of home.

“He’s looking good this afternoon.”

“Oh, that’s good news.”

“Are you okay?”

“Well, I—” Presley took in her surroundings again. “Yes. Fine. But I miss…a lot of things.”

“Me most of all, I hope.”

“Most assuredly,” Presley said, delighting at the playful note in Harper’s voice, “you most of all.”

“Good. I like when you miss me.”

The sexy tone was back, and Presley’s heart jumped. “Then you should be happy.”

“I will be when you’re back,” Harper said. “When will you be home?”

Home. She was already home, wasn’t she? Why didn’t it feel that way? The condo was more like a hotel room than home. Her parents’ home hadn’t been hers since she’d left to go to college, and even before that, it had been a little like living in a resort where her parents entertained between trips. This office was home, but the view when she looked out the window was of a land in which she had no place. “I’m not sure.”

“You are coming back, aren’t you?”

“Yes, of course.”

Harper sighed. “I really miss you.”

“I miss you too.”

“I’m glad you called. You beat me to it. There’s something I wanted to tell you.”

“I’ve read the proposal—”

“No, not that.” Muffled voices rose in the background and Harper murmured, “I’ll be right there.”

“I’m keeping you,” Presley said. “I’m sorry. I know this is your busy time—”

“Yes, but look, I’ve only got a minute…I want you to know no matter what happens, the way I feel about you, it’s not going to change, no matter what you do.”

Presley’s throat tightened. “How can you be sure?”

“Because that’s not how love works.”

Presley squeezed her cell phone, the blunt edges biting into her palm. “Harper. I’m not very good at this—”

“You’re great at it. Come back, and I’ll remind you.”

“All right…” Presley laughed, the sky opening inside her. “Yes, I will.”

“Hurry home,” Harper said. “I’ve got to go. Call me.”

Presley murmured good-bye, disconnected, and sat for a moment thinking of Harper, of family, of belonging. She had no reason to wait until her appointment with Preston. She gathered her papers and strode across the hall to his corner office opposite hers. She nodded to Marjorie, his personal assistant, and passed by without waiting for her to call in and announce her. She opened the inner door, walked through, and closed it. Her brother, tall, lean, tanned, and with the same sun-gold hair and blue eyes as hers, looked at her from behind his sleek glass-and-steel desk with the same cool appraisal that she often turned on others.

“I didn’t expect you back so soon,” Preston said.

“Really? There wasn’t all that much to do up there.”

“It’s all wrapped up, then, is it?”

And there it was. She could be done with it all, have a quick kill, and get back to the business of winning her father’s seat. Then she’d have everything she ever wanted. A month ago she wouldn’t have hesitated, and she didn’t now. She knew what she wanted.

She sat down in the chair in front of her brother’s desk and crossed her legs. “I think it’s time you and I came to terms.”

“Are you sure you want to do this now?” Preston steepled his hands beneath his chin in a delaying gesture very reminiscent of her father. He wasn’t her father, though. He wasn’t quite as quick, quite as ruthless, or quite as able to generate the same loyalty. That wasn’t her problem. She was quick and ruthless and she understood power.

Presley smiled in anticipation of the coming battle. “Quite sure. And long overdue.”

*

Harper woke at dawn to the sound of a car slowly crunching over the stones in her driveway. She checked out the window, saw Presley’s car, and quickly pulled on sweats and a T-shirt. She found her sitting on the top step, her shirt rumpled and her dark trousers uncharacteristically creased.

Harper sat down beside her. “I guess you flew all night.”

Presley leaned against her shoulder. “Yes. I’m afraid I look it too.”

“You look beautiful.” Harper wrapped an arm around her waist. “Been home yet?”

“In a way,” Presley said, her voice thoughtful.

Harper entwined their fingers and kissed the top of Presley’s hand. “Glad you came here. Nice way to wake up.”

Presley smiled, half-whimsical, half-wistful, and her eyes sparked. “I rather thought you liked waking up with me next to you even better.”

Harper’s belly tightened and a wave of lust momentarily short-circuited her brain. When she could draw breath, she sucked in air and let it out slowly. “I wouldn’t have minded if you’d come upstairs instead of stopping on the porch.”

“Really?”

Harper leaned forward and braced her arm on the railing, caging Presley with her back against the post. She kissed her long enough to bring Presley’s arms around her neck and a soft moan from her throat. When she pulled away, she whispered, “Really.”

“I could use a shower.”

“How about I wash your back.”

“How about you wash all of me.”

Harper tugged Presley up by the hand and pulled her close. Hunger clawed at her insides, and she kissed her again. Presley’s taste fed her craving. “I could live on you forever.”

“Let’s see you try.”

“Quick shower,” Harper muttered and hauled Presley laughing through the house. She found clean towels while the water was warming and by the time she stepped into the bathroom, Presley was naked under the spray. She yanked off her T-shirt and sweats and got in with her, crowding her up against the wall and kissing her again. When she cupped Presley’s ass, Presley pushed her away before she could get seriously involved.

“I want to be in bed when you make me come,” Presley said.

Groaning, Harper had to lock her knees to stay upright. “I’ll do anything you want. Anywhere, anytime.”

“Good.” Presley stroked two fingers along the edge of Harper’s jaw, down the center of her throat, and between her breasts. “That sounds perfect.”

Harper twitched. Presley’s voice was cool, calm, with the kind of control Harper had seen the first day. She loved Presley’s power, loved her fire, loved the command in her voice every bit as much as the softness of her mouth and the welcome of her body.

“I need you now.” Harper slowly slid to her knees and pressed her cheek to Presley’s middle. She closed her eyes. “Please. Don’t make me wait.”

Presley tugged her up with a fistful of hair and kissed her. Smiled. “I’m ready.”

Harper twisted off the water, grabbed a towel, and wrapped Presley in it. She quickly dried off and, naked, led her into the bedroom. She yanked down the covers the rest of the way, took Presley’s towel and tossed it toward the bathroom, and muttered, “Sheets are clean.”

Presley laughed. “I couldn’t care less as long as you’re in there with me.”

“I might never get out.”

Presley grabbed Harper’s hand and tumbled into the bed. They landed in a tangle of arms and legs, Harper on top. Presley moaned and wrapped her arms around Harper’s shoulders. Her mouth was close to Harper’s ear. “Inside me. Right now. I’ve been thinking about you there all night.”

Harper pushed up on one arm and slid the other between Presley’s legs, gliding into her in a long, smooth stroke. Presley cried out. Harper’s breath stopped. She thrust, slow and deep. Presley tightened around her, hot and slick. Harper’s heart thundered in her ears, the rush of blood through every cell as primal as the sea crashing to shore. The world condensed to the depths of Presley’s eyes as she filled her, again and again.