Susan Mallery - Under Her Skin

“Should I ask where you got this?” John asked, waving the check.

“You can ask, but I won’t be answering.”

“Fair enough. I’m glad you were able to come up with the money.”

“Me, too. Thanks, John.”

“You’re welcome.” He rose and they shook hands. “I’m sorry the investor was such a problem. He’s funded quite a few businesses through the bank and there’s never been an issue before. I’m not sure what happened this time.”

“It’s fine,” she said, knowing none of this was about John. Whoever the mysterious investor was, he’d wanted to take her down. Or at least scare her. But it didn’t answer the question of who or why.

THE CORPORATE offices for Titan World Enterprises took up a full city block in the Dallas financial district. The main lobby had been done in dark wood and marble, with huge murals depicting historic Texas events on the three-story high walls. Security guards protected those within and kept out the unworthy.

As a child, visiting Jed’s office had been a rare treat, one which Lexi had treasured. She’d enjoyed how everyone knew her daddy and, by association, knew her. She liked feeling like a princess. For those few, precious hours, her father acted as if she mattered. There was pride in his voice when he said she was his daughter. Strangers smiled at her, thinking she had to be someone special.

Once home, Jed returned her to the care of the current nanny and disappeared into his study. But while in the tall, impressive building, she was more than a child her father seemed to forget.

After college Lexi had come to work here-parking in her space, riding the elevator up to the junior management level, bypassing the main level. But every now and then she’d had reason to walk through the lobby and she’d remembered what it had been like to walk in when she’d been a little girl.

Now she moved to the security checkpoint and prepared to show her driver’s license. One of the guards there waved her through.

“Thanks,” she said, thinking that her father wouldn’t be pleased to know that family was treated differently. In his empire, privilege had to be earned. It wasn’t supposed to be a birthright.

She took the elevator to the top floor, where she was again waved through by the receptionist. The big desk in front of the double doors leading to her father’s office was empty, so she knocked once, then let herself in.

Jed Titan turned when the door opened. “You won’t believe it,” he growled. “I don’t believe it. Goddamn sonofabitch.”

At sixty-three, Jed was still a handsome man. Tall, commanding and powerfully built, he dominated any room, even one the size of a basketball court.

“What happened?” she asked.

He picked up a file from his desk and tossed it back down. “Doping. Doping! It’s beyond insulting. It’s a goddamn impossibility. Do they think I’m that stupid?”

Lexi didn’t understand. “Are you talking about your race horses?”

Jed stalked the length of the floor-to-ceiling windows, then turned back. “Damn straight. Who cheats to win? I want to win outright.”

It wasn’t possible, Lexi thought. Jed took good care of his horses. They lived like kings in their fancy stables, with the best of everything. He would never cheat or allow someone else to cheat. He wouldn’t want the win tainted with the possibility. He would fire anyone who did differently. First he’d probably beat the crap out of him.

“What happened?” she asked.

“Some random testing came back yesterday.” He jerked his head toward the folder on his desk. “When I find out who did this, I’m going to rip him apart with my bare hands. Then I’m going to make him sorry he was born.” He faced her. “You know what’s the worst of it? I had some Chinese business folks visiting me. I took ’em out to the stables to show them what it’s like here in Texas. I wanted to impress them with my fancy horses and what we’re doing there with the breeding program. And right in the middle of that, I got the news.”

He swore again. “Ruined everything. I couldn’t understand a word they were saying, but I knew what they meant. They’re not interested in doing business with someone who cheats. I wouldn’t be, either. I lost the deal. Lost it right there.”

Lexi didn’t like the sound of that. The timing was too perfect. It was as if someone was trying to screw up the meeting for her father. Or was that her looking for trouble where it didn’t exist?

“I’m sorry,” she said.

He shrugged. “It happens. I don’t mind losing out for good reasons, but this…When I get to the bottom of it, I’ll make whoever did this wish his mama had drowned him when he was born.”

Or worse, Lexi thought, knowing Jed wouldn’t rest until the problem was solved.

He returned to his desk and sat down. “This isn’t why you came by, Lexi. What can I do you for?”

She took the leather seat across from his and knew she had no idea how he would react to her news. He wasn’t the kind of father to hug her and wish her the best, so she wasn’t expecting that. But the possibility of him throwing a fit seemed high. “I’m engaged.”

Jed leaned back in his chair. His dark blue eyes didn’t flicker. “Anyone I know?”

“Cruz Rodriguez. He owns Cruz Control.”

“Rich?”

“Yes.”

“Mexican?”

“He was born in this country.”

Jed grunted. “You know what I mean and the fact that you avoided the question means yes. If he’s the one you want, I’ll check him out and make sure he can afford you.”

Which was just so typical. “I’m hardly a financial burden. My business is very successful.” At least it was now that she’d paid off the loan.

“I don’t want you marrying some jackass who’s only in it for the money.”

She thought about Andrew and understood her father’s concern. “I don’t want that, either.”

“Then as long as you’re happy, I’m happy.”

Seriously? That was all he was going to say?

“I’m happy.” Or at least content. The deal was for six months. She could endure anything for that amount of time. Then she remembered how Cruz had kissed her and knew enduring wasn’t really the right word.

“I thought you might be angry,” she said, still surprised everything had gone so smoothly. “You arranged Skye’s marriage.” Jed enjoyed making things work out the way he wanted. He wouldn’t let a little thing like his daughter’s personal feelings for a man get in the way.

“You’ve always been more independent than your sister. Would you marry anyone I told you to?”

“No.”

“So why would I waste both our time?”

She was surprised he knew her that well.

“Business is good?” he asked.

“Yes.”

“You still think you made the right decision, walking away from my company?”

“While I was here, I was only ever Jed Titan’s daughter. I needed more than that. I would think you would understand.”

“I do, little girl. Don’t get your panties in a bunch.”

“My panties aren’t in a bunch.”

He grinned. “Have you told your mother?”

“I’ll send her an e-mail.”

“What will her skinny-assed Yankee self think of her daughter marrying a man like Cruz Rodriguez?”

“I have no idea.” Lexi figured her mother had given up the right to offer opinions or suggestions when she’d left her only child and never once looked back. Lexi had been three at the time.

“Wish I could be there to see the explosion.”

“There won’t be an explosion. There won’t be anything.” That would require emotion and feelings. Two things her mother discouraged. It made Lexi wonder why Cruz had any interest in society like that.

“You’re right,” Jed said. “Congratulations. Tell my secretary what you want for an engagement present and she’ll order it.”

A familiar echo of all those years when she’d been growing up. Jed had instructed his daughters to tell the nanny what they wanted for Christmas so his secretary could order it. Santa hadn’t been on the agenda at Glory’s Gate.

Lexi wondered why she had to love her father. Jed wasn’t especially loveable. Her life would be a whole lot easier if she could simply see her father for who he was and not care beyond that. Wanting the impossible-him to love her back-made everything complicated.

“I’ll check with Cruz,” she said as she rose. She walked around the desk and kissed her father’s cheek. “Goodbye, Daddy.”

“’Bye. I’ll let you know when I’ve checked him out and seen whether you’ve picked a good one.”

“Oh, joy.”

He laughed, and she walked out.

Once in the thickly carpeted hallway, she released the breath she’d been holding. Her father had accepted the news more easily than she’d anticipated. Now she had to explain her make-believe engagement to her sisters, and that wasn’t going to be so easy.

LEXI REVIEWED THE contracts from John, releasing her from the loan. She was free…at least of financial debt. There were other bills coming through and time was ticking. She was going to have to move into Cruz’s house soon.

She opened her top desk drawer and looked at the plain white envelope tucked inside. There was a key and an address, nothing more. She had no idea what his house looked like and she’d been too chicken to drive by. She would see it soon enough…and putting off the inevitable seemed like a good idea.

It wasn’t the living with him that had her waking up in the middle of the night-not that she’d ever lived with a man. It was sleeping with him. Or rather, not sleeping.

She was both terrified and excited. Terrified because of what had happened before and excited because no one had made her feel the way Cruz did. Just thinking about his hands on her body, his tongue driving her to madness, was enough to melt every cell in her body.

On the other hand, it had been ten years. Maybe she was simply imagining how good it had been. Maybe it had been ordinary. As that night had been her first time, she hadn’t been able to compare it to anything. Maybe being with Cruz wasn’t all that.