Chapter 5

Taj felt a frisson of unreality sweeping over him as he leaned against the door jamb taking in the scene. The producer had obligingly told him and the rest of the family that they were welcome. At first, he had been reluctant, but his fascination with the lead actress was getting to be something he could not ignore.

He felt his pulse picking up the beat when she came from the direction of one of the bedrooms. She was clearly in character. The shirt she was wearing was form-fitting revealing the lacy white bra and she had a multi-colored scarf wrapped around her throat.

Her thick dark hair was brushed ruthlessly back from her face and secured into a neat chignon at the nape of her neck. She had barely any makeup on and her ash-gray dress pants were cinched in at her small waist by a hammered gold belt. Discreet earrings were in her ears and a slim gold watch at her wrist.

She did not seem to notice him standing there as she walked towards the man seated in a high-backed chair by the mantle.

"Now Dani, you were summoned in by William who granted you an audience because you have something pressing to talk to him about." The director instructed.

"You are supposed to be walking in timid, not striding in like you own the damned room." He grumbled. "I know you are not submissive, but you are going to show us that awesome talent of yours by being just that."

Taj almost grinned at the derogatory look she threw at the hapless man.

"I don't need you to tell me what my role is Harry. Just do your damn job." Before their eyes, she transformed from a woman who was clearly in charge to a simpering female who needed a man to survive. The transformation was so stunning, that it had Taj blinking in amazement. He could hardly believe she was the same person.

"You wanted to speak?"

"Yes, father." She nodded, her hands clasped demurely in front of her, a blank expression on her exquisite face.

"It's about Alex."

"What about him?" The man playing her father had a brusque tone as he lit the pipe in his mouth. He was not even looking at her.

"I overheard you telling him to sabotage the neighbor's well- "Her voice petered off abruptly as cold gray eyes snapped at her.

"You were eavesdropping?" There was an ominous tone to her voice had that her hands shaking.

"I was in the main parlor- "

"It's none of your goddamned business." He growled.

Twisting her hands in front of her, she lifted her chin as if determined to have her say.

"He is my husband- "

"And my son-in-law. Moreover, he is my employee, and he knows better than to defy me."

"I don't like the fact that we are at odds with the neighbors- "

A bark of laughter had her stuttering to a halt.

"Odds? Girl, you have a quaint way with words. Those precious neighbors of ours are sitting on a patch of land we desperately need. Ah Alex," his gaze swung to the man striding into the room. "Has it been done?"

The beautiful dark-haired man nodded, barely glancing at the woman in the room.

"Poisoning their livestock was a breeze." He announced triumphantly.

"And you made sure it will not come back to us?"

"While Jack sneaked the poison in the water supply, I was having a very friendly conversation with Rancher James."

"Ver good." The older man nodded in approval. Heaving his bulk out of the chair, he jerked his head to his daughter. "Talk to your wife and keep her in check, will you?"

Alex waited until the man had departed before turning to her.

"What was all about?" he demanded.

"You poisoned their water supply?" The stark look of horror on her lovely face almost had Taj applauding.

"Yes. Harry gave me a job to do, and I did it." He started to leave the room when she clutched at his shirt sleeve, forcing him to stop. "What?"

"I wanted better for us." Her lips were trembling, her eyes swimming with tears. "You promised me that you would not fall in with my dad. You promised- "

"What the hell do you expect me to do? He is my father-in-law and the man paying my salary. I am supposed to take over from him when he retires- "

"That's never going to happen!" She cried, her grip tightening on his sleeve. "He is using you- "

"You are being hysterical." He told her coldly, raking her with a contemptuous gaze. "It must be your time of the month- "

"I am pregnant!" She blurted.

For a second there was a surge of emotion on his face before it was quickly schooled. "How far along?"

"Two months." The hopeful expression on her face was plain to see and the desperation to get through to him poignant. "We have to get it right for our child. I never had a good example growing up and I want to do the right thing. Please, it's not too late- "

"You are even stupider than you look," he said scathingly. "We are in this thing deep and even more than that, I happen to love what I do. It makes me feel powerful and that power is addictive.

Your father is ruthless and does not allow anything to stand in his way and I admire that immensely. I just hope I can be half the man he is when I take over from him."

"Alex, please!"

Shaking off her hand, he stepped away from her. "Go and do whatever the hell you do around here and leave these things to the men."

"I love you.' She told him quietly, a woman who knew she was outnumbered by the vicious men in her life, but who was trying to find the courage to stand up for what's right. "You said you loved me. When we met, you promised to take care of me and that you would be different- "

"I said all sorts of things." He told her with a sneer. "I would have said any damn thing to get you to marry me. I had my eyes on this ranch and would have married a toad if it meant getting a way in."

She stepped back, the tears falling down her cheeks. "You used me?"

"Think of it this way darling." He said carelessly. "I get to warm your otherwise cold bed every night and I get to do what I want. Mutually beneficial arrangement."

He stepped back a little as she flew at him, fingers raised to slash at his face. Clamping one hand on her wrist, he hauled her against him, and with a cruel hand on her chin, he pressed his lips cruelly on hers.

Taj felt a surge of jealousy and anger through his body as he watched the man's mouth lock on hers. She struggled for a bit, shoving her hands against his chest hard. But he held her and within minutes, had gentled her.

He heard the sharp intake of breath and realized it was his own as the kiss turned passionate. Her arms went around his neck and the man clamped his arms around her waist, pulling her against his body.

He was about to turn away when the director yelled. "Cut!" the man beamed at the couple as they pulled apart. "Excellent work guys. We are calling that a wrap."

And just like that, the couple came out of character. "You have bristles," Dani complained, rubbing her chin.

"And you had that awful wheat toast for breakfast."

"With onion rings." She told him loftily with a smile.

Looping his arm around her shoulders, he pulled her against him. "So, how about we go and grab something to eat, my darling wife?"

"We are no longer in acting mode, and you were an asshole to me, so no." They both looked up to see Taj standing there, his amazing green eyes fixed on them.

"I think he is here to take you to lunch or take off your clothes," Jason whispered in her ear.

Pushing him away, she walked over to the tall man standing inside the doorway.

"Hi."

"Hi." His eyes went toward Jason who was already harassing one of the cast members.

"You are here."

"I hope you don't mind." He was still reeling from the kiss he had witnessed and trying to hide his emotions.

"I don't." Reaching behind her, she removed the pins to allow the heavy tresses to tumble down her shoulders. "You should have told me you were interested in seeing the scenes- "

"I just decided before I came. And to invite you to dinner- "His eyes flickered to Jason again before looking at her. "Unless you have other plans."

"I don't. And dinner sounds lovely. What time?"

"Is seven all right with you? I could come and pick you up "

"Or I could make my way there."

"No." He shook his head. "We will not be having dinner at the ranch."

"Oh?" She lifted her brow at him.

"No. It's somewhere private, don't worry."

"Now I am intrigued. How should I dress?"

"Something casual. I will see you at a quarter of." With a slight nod, he walked away, leaving her to admire his sloping walk and whipcord leanness of his body.

"He does look very delicious."

She had been so preoccupied looking at him that she had not heard Jason come up next to her.

"You are going to have to tell him that we are not a couple. I swear he was looking at me as if he wanted to drive a dagger into my heart."

"You are being fanciful as usual."

"Am I?" he cast her an amused look. "He witnessed that very hot locked lips between us and I am also guessing he has read the rumors about us as well. If you want him to climb on that delectable body of yours, you would do well to clear things up." He advised.

"Have I told you that I am starting to dislike your trend of conversation?"

He merely grinned at her. "I am the only one with the authority to talk to you that way without getting blown away." Kissing her cheek, he pushed her towards the room where they were waiting for her to change.

*****

"Ah, Taj. Just the man I wanted to see. I was thinking of inviting that very lovely young lady over for a meal. Just her, mind you." Thomas looked up from the ledger he was going over as his grandson strode into the library.

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Thomas gave him a withering glance. "Do I look unwell? Before you answer that and end up pissing me off, I want you to invite that lovely girl to dinner again. Just her though. I can't say I can stand that mincing director and that spineless producer. The others all get on my nerves."

Taj laughed softly, eyes twinkling. "I have already invited her to dinner."

"Oh." His eyes were warm with approval. "Let me just ring to the kitchen to let them know we are expecting an extra- "

"She is having dinner- with me."

"Oh." His grandfather gave him a speculated look as he leaned back in the chair. "Where?"

"At the cottage at the far east of the land."

"For privacy." Thomas gave an approving nod.

Taking a seat on one of the chairs in front of the desk, Taj eyed him for a minute. "You like her."

"I do. She seemed like a charming and forthright young lady and the corrupt career she is involved in does not seem to have done her any harm."

"What are you up to?" Taj asked him wryly.

"More to the point, what are you up to?"

"I am just having dinner gramps." He shifted somewhat restlessly. She seems to be involved with that- that actor."

His grandfather hid a smile at the disdainful note in his voice. "And she accepted your invitation."

"She might think there will be others there," Taj said with a shrug. "Dad does not like her."

"And there is a reason for that."

"Jacinth."

"That poor excuse for a woman led you on a merry chase and wanted you to leave the ranch so that she could jet set around the world."

Taj nodded, trying to shy away from that painful episode in his past. Jacinth Munroe had been a model who had come to Southern to relax and recuperate from a bad case of pneumonia.

She had taken a shine to Taj and saw her ticket out. They never knew that her career was washed up and she was looking for a wealthy husband to cushion her flagging fortune.

The woman had been witty and beautiful. Moreover, she had pretended that she loved the place and had no problem settling there. It wasn't until Taj had declared his intentions to make her his wife that she had told him that she could not possibly live here. She wanted lights and action, and this place did not offer anything like that.

"I would die and wither on the vine if I made my home here. We could live anywhere darling. And if you loved me, you would want to make me happy."

"I was wrong about her," Taj said grimly, eyes reflecting his pain. "That's not going to happen again."

"I am sure it won't. I am a very good judge of character, and my instincts tell me that Dani Matthews is a straight shooter."

The confidence in his voice buoyed Taj's spirit. He had a plan in mind. He was going to come straight out and say it to her during dessert. He wanted to take her to his bed, and he was going to ask her one question first. If the answer was what he hoped, it was going to ease his mind.

"I sense that too." Rising with pantherlike grace, he smiled at the older man. "If things go as planned, I won't be home tonight."

"Well then, see you in the morning." His grandfather beamed at him in approval.

*****

He wanted to make sure that everything was perfect. He had stopped off at the kitchen and issued instructions for the meal to be sent over to the cottage. A few itinerant ranch hands had been housed there for the winter and had left two weeks ago.

The place had been cleaned and fresh linen put on the two beds. He wanted a white linen tablecloth to be spread on the table and fresh flower arrangements on the dining table.

He had taken fresh clothing from his closet to wear for tomorrow. He had already informed his foreman that he was probably going to be late, and he was desperately hoping he would be. There was a bottle of excellent vintage cooling in the bucket in the small kitchen. And he had stocked up on condoms. He was leaving nothing to chance.

He wanted her and that kiss she had exchanged with that pretty boy was bothering him a hell of a lot. He was jealous, so much so that he wanted to smash his fist in the man's face.

He was going to give the guy the courtesy of finding out from her if they were involved before he moved ahead.

He was striding out with his duffel bag on his shoulder when he met his father at the door. Theodore eyed the bag before turning his gaze on his son. "Staying out tonight?"

Taj just managed to stop himself from shifting from one foot to the other.

"Yes."

"Isn't it a little too soon for you to be jumping in with a stranger?"

Taj stifled a sigh. "That is not something I want to discuss with you."

Theodore's mouth tightened. "I warned you about that Jacinth woman- "

"And I certainly don't need you flinging it in my face every few seconds."

"That's an exaggeration and you know it. I love you and I hate to see you hurt. I am just-

"Looking out for me, I know."

"Precisely."

"You must allow me to make my own mistakes, Dad. And as well-meaning as you are, it's none of your business who I see."

"Taj- "

"No." He shook his head firmly. "I have some things to attend to before I get ready for my date, and I don't want to hear what you have to say." Without waiting for a response, he turned on his heels and walked out the front door.

*****

Leaning on the door jamb of her bedroom, Jason watched as she applied lipstick skillfully. She was wearing a black silk blouse over black dress pants and her hair was flowing past her shoulders. Her eyes met his in the mirror, one tapered brow lifted.

"Need something?"

"Where is this dinner taking place?"

"He would not say." She capped the lipstick and picked up a bottle of perfume she had endorsed, one that had been wildly successful in sales and bought mostly by males who had salivated over her television ad where she was draped in a silk male's black robe, with a seductive smile curving her lips.

"That means in one of those many cottages scattered on the property. I would recommend you bring a change of clothing and sexy lingerie." He strolled into the room and without invitation, opened the top drawer of her dresser and started pawing through the silks and lace.

"What the hell are you doing?"

"This one, I think." He held up a skimpy black teddy with a plunging neckline. "I have a feeling you expected to get laid coming here."

"I have only sexy undies and get the hell out of my drawer."

Ignoring her, he went to get an overnight case. Putting it on the bed, he popped the lock and dumped the lingerie in. Dani watched in irritated amusement as he went to get a t-shirt, jeans, and sneakers from the closet and then went into the bathroom for her case which had her toothbrush, toothpaste, and makeup.

"I will cover for you of course. Not that anyone would dare ask where you have gone." He grinned at her as he closed the suitcase.

"It's just dinner."

Sitting on the edge of the bed, he gave her a wry look. "And that is the first time I have ever known you to lie to me and yourself. You know very well that you agreed to not only dinner but dessert as well. I have seen the way the man looks at you and if any man looks at me like that, especially one as fine as he is, I would not hesitate."

"I don't want to complicate things." Shaking back her hair, she sighed in resignation.

"You complicate things?" he grinned at her dirty look. "Darling, I know you. Your career comes first, and you always let a guy know that first and foremost. That said, you have a right to have some fun. All work and no play make things very dull."

"You are one to talk," She grumbled. "I did not come here looking for romance."

"But sometimes it finds us. Run with it. Who knows? You might that this is what you have been looking for all your life."

She laughed softly. "You are being fanciful again." She rose gracefully and went to select a pair of black ankle-length boots from the shelves in the closet. "I have no intention of letting it get out of hand."

Sitting on the bench, she dragged on her boots. "And you might be right. Nothing is wrong if I decide that I am going to have some fun. We are both adults and unattached, at least, I think he is – So- "She rose and left the sentence hanging.

"There is a little matter you need to clear up before the evening commences." He rose from his position and came forward to pass one hand over her smooth cheek.

"Which is?"

"Tell the man that we are just friends. He thinks we are more than that, which is fair. We are two very gorgeous people, and the press has painted us as such. He needs to hear otherwise, and he needs to hear it from you." Tilting her chin up." He kissed her lightly on the lips.

"It's things like that which makes people think what they do about us." She offered wryly, embracing him, nonetheless. "Will you be, okay?"

He laughed at her. "I think I can survive one night without you, darling."

"I am not so sure about that." Blowing him a kiss, she picked up the case and headed out.