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      MILLS & BOON

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      With many thanks to Melissa Jeglinski,

      to Jessica Alvarez and to Maureen Walters.

      Contents

      Chapter One

      Chapter Two

      Chapter Three

      Chapter Four

      Chapter Five

      Chapter Six

      Chapter Seven

      Chapter Eight

      Chapter Nine

      Chapter Ten

      Chapter Eleven

      Epilogue

      Coming Next Month

      One

      “Time for the kill,” Nick Ransome whispered to himself. Anticipation made him eager for his dinner meeting with a corporate rival he had worked years to smash.

      Steering his sleek black sports car from busy Dallas traffic into the restaurant parking lot, Nick raced toward a space along a line of cars. It was still hot in the early July evening, and waves of heat shimmered up from the pavement. Suddenly, a brown shaggy dog emerged from the row of parked cars and trotted in front of Nick’s car.

      A woman followed, rushing toward Nick and waving her arms.

      Swearing, Nick slammed on his brakes. Tires screeched when his car skidded to a stop within a foot of the female while the aged dog ambled across the drive and disappeared behind a purple crepe myrtle bush.

      Nick’s annoyance melted into appreciation. Dressed in knee-length, sleeveless black, the woman was a gorgeous blonde with wide blue eyes. When she walked around to the driver’s side of his car, Nick watched the sway of her hips while his pulse accelerated. With interest, he lowered his window.

      “I’m sorry if I startled you, but I didn’t want the dog run over,” she said, leaning down to talk to him. Her voice was low, as appealing as the rest of her.

      “Don’t worry about it. I’m happy to stop for a beautiful woman anytime.”

      “Thank you.” She laughed, revealing even white teeth and a warm, enticing smile that jumped his pulse. Her full, rosy lips made him wonder what it would be like to kiss her. When she waved her hands, he saw there was no wedding ring. “The dog looks old, and I imagine he’s deaf,” she continued. “I don’t think he heard your car. As long as you avoided hitting him, I’m happy.”

      “Anything to oblige, but you ought to take care. The next person might not stop in time.”

      One eyebrow arched, and her eyes twinkled. “I doubt if the next person will be driving as fast. You’re a man in a hurry.”

      “I’m meeting people. Just in case you hurt something when you stepped in front of my car, if you’ll give me your phone number, I’ll check on you later,” he offered with a smile.

      “You’re coming on to me with the same speed you drive,” she remarked.

      “Not really. If you want to see coming on to you fast, you give me your phone number. Or go to dinner with me tomorrow night.”

      When she laughed again, he smiled, but he was curious about her answer. His pulse quickened at the thought of dinner with her. She was stunning with flawless skin and enormous, thickly lashed blue eyes.

      She placed both hands on his open window and leaned closer until she was only inches away. “I’m not injured. I’m not giving you my phone number. Although I’m tempted, I’m not going to dinner with you,” she said in a deep-throated, sexy drawl that sent his temperature soaring. She was inches away, flirting with him, and her mouth looked enticing.

      A car drove up behind him, and she stepped back.

      “You’re blocking traffic,” she said in a breathless voice.

      “You’re meeting a man for dinner, aren’t you?” he asked, not caring that he held up a car behind him.

      “Yes,” she replied. “A man I love very much.” She turned and walked away as the waiting car honked. Nick watched the sway of her hips and then took his foot off the brake and drove to a parking space.

      “You may love him, but you flirted with me,” Nick said quietly to no one. Nick arched an eyebrow and wondered about her.

      By the time he had reached the entrance, she had disappeared inside. He wanted her name. She was dining with a man tonight, but if she wasn’t married or engaged, then that was no hurdle to getting to know her. She couldn’t be truly in love and act like she had. Unless the man she loved was her father. The last possibility made Nick smile.

      Nick vowed he would get to know her. He laughed at himself. Why bother? Texas was filled with beautiful, sexy, interesting women. Still, when the maître d’greeted him and turned to lead him to his table, Nick scanned the room for sight of her.

      “Your party is waiting, Mr. Ransome,” Darrell said, threading his way across the room. Nick glanced again at well-dressed people seated at tables, adorned with white linen cloths, candles and roses in crystal vases, in one of Dallas’s finest steak houses. A piano player’s soft, background music was a complement to the inviting ambience. It was Wednesday, the first week of July—Nick decided it had been a very good way to start the evening.

      Darrell stepped out of the way, motioning Nick to a table with three people. Both men stood, but Nick’s gaze went to the blonde who remained seated and gazed back impassively.

      His pulse jumped and for the second time in the past fifteen minutes, she gave him another jolt. If, in turn, his identity surprised her, she hid it well. And he knew any dinner involving just the two of them was off. His interest in her cooled to a glacial temperature.

      Distaste and dull anger made Nick’s throat tight as he shook hands with Rufus Holcomb, CEO of Holcomb Drilling. The white-haired man gave Nick a firm handshake and Nick gazed into calculating blue eyes beneath shaggy white brows. The old man was shrewd, scheming and stubborn; Nick could feel the invisible tangle of wills as he greeted Rufus, their smiles belying what he knew each of them felt.

      “Rufus, I’ve been looking forward to this,” Nick said, wondering why Rufus had wanted to meet for dinner.

      “I can imagine,” Rufus answered dryly and turned to the blonde. “Julia, this is the infamous Nick Ransome,” he said. “Nick, meet my granddaughter, Julia Holcomb.”

      She extended her hand and smiled coolly. “We’ve met,” she said, gazing steadfastly at Nick as she gave him a firm handshake. The moment he clasped her slender hand in his, his pulse jumped another notch and he couldn’t resist a glance at her full, pouty lips.

      “So we have. Protector

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