Thinking about money made her sad. Cruz had already paid off one pregnancy. Was he going to do that again? Was there any way he cared about her, or was she still nothing but a means to an end?

THE IMPULSE CAME without warning. Lexi drove into Dallas and parked in the underground structure of the impressive high-rise. She rode the elevator to the top of the building, where the executive offices were located, then told the snippy receptionist that, no, she didn’t have an appointment with Garth Duncan, but she was sure he would see her.

“Mr. Duncan doesn’t do drop-ins,” the woman told her.

“I’m sure that’s true, but he’s going to make an exception for me.” She handed over her card. “I’m Lexi Titan.”

As a rule, she didn’t play her last name very often, but every now and then, it came in handy. The woman glanced from the card to her, then stood and disappeared behind a large, carved wooden door.

Five minutes later, she showed Lexi into an office nearly as big as Jed’s, with a view of the city and the surrounding counties. Garth’s desk was the size of a basketball court, obviously custom-made. Equally massive sofas sat by the window. The architecture of the building was such that it appeared one could step off the edge of the carpeting and fall into space. It wasn’t a sensation Lexi found comforting.

Garth rose as she entered. He’d tossed his suit jacket aside and rolled up his shirtsleeves. He was handsome and powerful-the kind of man who made women wonder if there was someone special in his life or if the position was open.

How would things have been different if they’d known about each other from the start? If they’d grown up together, like a family?

“Ms. Titan,” he said, stepping around the desk and shaking her hand. “An unexpected pleasure. We met recently. Do you remember?”

She stared into his dark eyes. Did he think she didn’t know?

“I know exactly who you are, Garth. And you should call me Lexi.”

“Thank you.” He motioned to the sofas. “How can I help you?”

She took a seat. “I thought we should talk.”

He sat at the other end of the couch and smiled. “I always enjoy a conversation with a beautiful woman. I was hoping we could spend more time together before.”

“You should have called. We could have done lunch. Or were you planning to ask me out?”

She watched carefully, but he gave nothing away. “I thought you were engaged.”

“I am. I’m just curious as to your intentions. Purely business or is there something more personal going on?”

“Personal? I don’t understand.”

So he was going to play dumb, was he? Fine. “Then allow me to make things more clear. You’re Jed Titan’s son.”

Garth raised an eyebrow. “You’ve been doing some checking.”

“I have. It’s been interesting.” She waited, but he didn’t say anything. “You and I are related. We’re brother and sister.”

“Half brother and sister. We have one parent in common.”

“We’re still family,” she said. “So you’re not denying the relationship?”

“I’ve never denied it. I chose not to acknowledge it.”

“How long have you known?”

“All my life.”

Simple words, easily spoken. Was there pain behind them? A hint of sadness? Or was she reading emotion where none existed?

She couldn’t escape the image of a kid with his nose pressed against the window of a candy story. But was that just her? Was she giving herself and her sisters too much credit? Had Garth wanted to be a part of the family and been rejected or did he consider himself fortunate not to have grown up with Jed?

Except if he was so well-adjusted, why was he out to hurt them?

“You never contacted us,” she said.

“I could say the same about you and yours.”

“We didn’t know about you. Jed never said anything.” She wondered what he was thinking and decided to press on the most obvious points. “You’re angry.”

“No.”

“You’re looking for some kind of revenge.”

He leaned back in his chair, as if perfectly relaxed. “You have an imagination. Cruz must enjoy that.”

“If you’re not interested in hurting us, why all the sabotage?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” The words sounded good, but he was practically smiling as he spoke.

“Oh, please. The loan you called? Jed’s horses? Skye’s foundation being investigated? The insider trading? It’s an impressive list.”

“Yes, it is.”

And there’s more.

He didn’t say the words-he didn’t have to. They hung in the air like smoke, making her throat tighten.

“How much more?” she whispered.

He shrugged.

“I know about the lawsuit.”

“Are you being sued?” he asked. “I’m sorry to hear that.”

“It’s not news. You set it up. She works for you.”

“Who?”

“The woman suing me. Ann. You’re using her. What do you care if she’s breaking the law, right? It’s just the cost of doing business. Except it’s her life you’re playing with.” And her own, Lexi thought, only Garth wouldn’t care about that.

“You’ve taken on a cause for someone you don’t know? Interesting.”

She couldn’t walk away, not yet. “It’s one thing to come after us. We’re Titans. We can take care of ourselves. But Ann isn’t one of us. She’s an innocent party. She could be charged with extortion and fraud.”

He shrugged. “She could, but would you do that to someone like her? I don’t think so.”

“You’re assuming I’ll protect her?”

“Do you have it in you to go after her?”

Lexi didn’t want to answer that. The truth was she wouldn’t hurt Ann. She would take the hit herself before destroying another person’s life.

“When did you get to be a bastard?” she asked bitterly.

Garth smiled. “I was born one.”

“I walked into that one,” she muttered. “Why are you doing this?”

“Because I can. Because I’m good at it.”

Fear nestled in her stomach. “To what end?”

“You’ll have to wait and see.”

Not exactly a comforting response. “Why now?”

He didn’t answer.

She was sure he had a plan and reasons why he thought this timing was better than it had been, say a year ago. There was something. Either he had more money or something had happened.

“I understand why you’re angry with Jed,” she said slowly. “But why us?”

“You’re part of the family.”

“Exactly. We’re connected. We have a bond. Doesn’t that mean anything to you?”

“No.”

There was no emotion in his eyes. She wasn’t sure why she hadn’t seen it before, but it was clear now. The lack of anything. He’d been amused before, but little else. She didn’t scare him or threaten him. She was nothing to him.

“Does your attack on us have anything to do with your mother?” she asked.

A muscle tightened in his cheek. “Not at all. Why do you ask?”

Was Kathy the way in? Was she a vulnerability? Not that Lexi was the type to exploit her, either. “We’ve met a couple of times. She’s very nice. What happened to her?”

His expression didn’t change, but she felt the anger radiating from him. He wanted to warn her away. To tell her she couldn’t go there. But to do so meant showing a vulnerability. At least that was Lexi’s interpretation of things. It was hard to be sure when all she had to work with was a cheek twitch and a blank stare.

He rose. “While I’ve enjoyed our conversation, I have a meeting.”

“Right.” She stood.

They walked to his door.

“We’ll have to do this again,” he said, his tone mocking. “Maybe the four of us could get together.”

“You won’t win. We’re Titans.”

“So am I,” he said softly. “And I never lose.”

“You will this time, Garth. No matter how hard you try.”

He gave her a cold smile. “I plan to do a whole lot more than try.”

CRUZ WALKED INTO the bathroom and waited while Lexi finished in the shower. He supposed the polite thing to do was to announce himself or wait outside, but polite wasn’t his style. Besides, he never got tired of the show.

The water turned off, then the door opened. Lexi appeared in a cloud of steam, like an otherworld princess. She reached for the towel, saw him and jumped.

“You scared me,” she said, with a smile. “I’m going to have to put a bell around your neck.”

“I enjoy surprising you.”

He was talking about the previous night when he’d arrived home late from a meeting. She’d already been in bed, asleep. He’d slowly peeled back the covers, then drawn down her nightgown. He’d awakened her with his kisses on her breasts.

She’d responded fully, pleasing him with her words and her body. Touching her was like touching sunlight-unbelievably exciting and not for mortal man. She could make him hard with a single glance, bring him to his knees with an invitation. Not that he would ever confess the latter.

Now at the mention of their lovemaking, she turned her head, but not before he saw her blush.

She’d said that her other lovers had found her wanting, but he didn’t believe it. She was erotic and beautiful, with a mind and wit that was just as arousing. He could talk to her for hours. He enjoyed making her laugh and how she teased him. She saw beyond what he’d become to the poor boy who still lurked inside. And still she wanted him.

She wrapped the towel around herself. “Are you just here to gawk?” she asked.

“Mostly, but I also have news.”

“Which is?”

“Ann Paul is gone.”

Lexi frowned. “What do you mean?”

“She’s moved. She turned in the keys to her apartment, packed up her things and left.”

Her eyes widened. “Oh my God. Did he kill her?”

Cruz held in a laugh. “No. She’s alive and living in Phoenix. She’s also dropped the lawsuit. Apparently you had some effect on her.”

“You mean my threats worked.” She didn’t sound happy.

“You didn’t threaten her. You told her the truth.”