Roping the Wind (19 page)

Jay shrugged. ‘Grayson’s hardly that. He’s put up with you for years and that takes guts.’

‘Or stupidity,’ Grayson added, his blue eyes fixed on Beau. Jay bit back a smile.

Beau’s dismissive stare swept over Grayson and settled on Jay. ‘I should’ve known you’d come crawling around Grayson’s skirts when you finally figured out your pathetic rodeo career was over.’

‘He didn’t need to crawl. I offered. He’s my brother.’

Beau swung around to face Grayson. ‘He’s your half-brother. His mother was a weak-willed bitch who drank too much.’

Jay took a step forward. ‘Don’t say a word about my mother. The only weak thing she did was taking up with you, and, hell, she regretted it for the rest of her life.’

Grayson laid a gentle hand on his arm. ‘Don’t let him get to you. You know what he’s like.’

Jay took a deep breath. This was always his father’s way, to come at you like a raging bull and attack everything you held dear.

‘You didn’t come here to fight with Jay, Beau, so back off.’

Beau exposed his small even teeth in the famous smile that had captivated a football-crazy nation. ‘No, I didn’t. I came to tell you, you are a fool. But I want to make one last offer before I wash my hands of you.’

Grayson shrugged, his hands in his pockets. ‘Offer away. It won’t make any difference.’

Jay could only admire his brother. Grayson looked almost relaxed as he leant back against the countertop.

‘If you come back and work for me, I’ll retire and make you president within a year.’

‘Bullshit.’

Beau’s face turned an alarming shade of purple. ‘Are you calling me a liar?’

‘Yeah, I guess I am. The only way you’ll stop being president of that company is when you’re buried six feet under.’

‘How about I put it in writing? Make it all legal?’

Grayson sighed. ‘I’ve worked with your lawyers, they’re a bunch of crooks. I wouldn’t trust anything they gave me to sign. And I’m just not interested.’

‘Not interested in your own family’s company? The business I created from nothing and intended to pass on to my firstborn son?’

Grayson straightened up, his expression grim. ‘I don’t want it, Beau. You tricked me into coming back to work for you once and it was a mistake. I’m not about to be fooled again.’ He picked up his Stetson and jammed it on his head. ‘I have a plane to catch. Jay, I’ll be in touch when I need the rest of my things.’ He turned and held out his hand. ‘Thanks for today and give my best to the good doctor.’

Jay shook his hand. ‘Good luck, bro, you’ll need it.’

Grayson picked up his bags, pushed past Beau and headed for the door. Jay couldn’t help grinning as the door shut behind him with a final-sounding click.

‘Never mind, Beau. I’m sure you’ll find another son to carry on your good work. How many kids do you have now? I can’t remember.’

Beau’s blue eyes narrowed. ‘Well, it sure as hell won’t be you. You’re thirty and you’ve never done a decent day’s work in your life.’

Jay shrugged. ‘I’ve done what I set out to do.’

‘Yeah? You set out to be a wannabe, almost-ran loser?’

‘I wanted to get away from you and find a life that didn’t revolve around your inflated ego.’

Beau shoved past him and opened the refrigerator. He popped open a beer before Jay had time to blink, took a long slug and then slammed the can down on the counter.

‘So what are you going to do now that your big brother isn’t protecting you?’

‘I’m working on it.’

Beau gave a coarse laugh. ‘You’d better take those good looks and find yourself a nice older woman who’ll pay good money to fuck you.’

Jay got a beer too and saluted his father. ‘What a great idea, Beau. I like it. I’ll get a T-shirt that says, “Fucks for Food”. That should do it.’

His father finished his beer in one more swallow. ‘That’s always been your problem, boy, you’re conceited and lazy just like your mother. You expect everything to be handed to you on a silver platter.’

Jay gripped his beer so hard the sides began to buckle. ‘Right, that’s me and my mom, gold-diggers through and through.’ He met his father’s contemptuous stare with one of his own. ‘One of these days I’ll surprise you.’

Beau readjusted his large gold belt buckle. ‘I doubt it. Once a loser, always a loser.’ He glanced around the pristine apartment. ‘Enjoy your stay here, because when I’m finished with Grayson, you’ll be back to sleeping on the streets where you belong.’

‘Grayson has his own money. He’s not worried about you.’

Beau stopped at the door, his hand wrapped around the handle. ‘And you think he’ll keep taking care of you?’

Jay crossed his arms over his chest. ‘Soon he won’t need to.’

‘We’ll see about that.’ Beau pointed a finger at Jay. ‘You’re a parasite, son, a pretty, useless parasite. You always have been and people don’t change.’

Jay strolled toward him, jerked the door open and maneuvered his father outside. Two large bodyguards lounging against the lobby walls immediately came to attention.

‘Thanks, Beau. Good to see you as usual. Give my love to step-mom number four, or is it five now? I forget.’

Jay slammed the door and leant against it. God, he hated that man. He closed his eyes and thought of his mother, struggling to keep him fed and clothed as Beau’s lawyers tied up her pitifully small child-support payments in pointless appeals and lawsuits.

She’d died when he was fourteen, worn out by the constant pressure to beat her addiction to alcohol and keep them off the streets. During her last days he’d had to sit by her bed and watch his ex-quarterback father on TV, advertising every product under the sun and smiling all the way to the bank.

He made his way back to the kitchen and grabbed another beer. Beau always made him feel so fucking useless. He glanced over at the dining table, where the belt he’d designed for Helen was now finished. Did he really have the talent to start again or was his father right? Would he always be dependent on handouts from his family? He’d had enough of that with his poor mother.

He sat in the big leather recliner and turned on the TV. At least he hadn’t punched the guy. Last time they’d met, he’d ended up being manhandled onto the street by one of his father’s bodyguards. He’d landed a good solid punch in Beau’s smug face before they’d dragged him off, though. He flexed his fist. Boy, it had felt good. But somehow it felt even better to have kept his cool and sent his father away without a scratch. Maybe he was growing up after all.

His cell rang and he checked the number. ‘Hey.’

‘Jay, I was wondering if you’d like to go out with me tomorrow.’

The sound of Helen’s cool, crisp voice made him relax into the soft leather seat. ‘Where are we going?’

‘A barbecue, so there’s no need to dress up, just come as you are.’

‘Are you sure about that? I might be naked right now.’

‘Are you?’

His body reacted to the slight breathy hitch in her voice. ‘Nope, but I could be.’

‘Jay, you are incorrigible.’

‘Incorra-what?’

‘Don’t start that again. I’ll pick you up about two.’

‘Yes, ma’am.’

There was another short pause.

‘Jay? The barbecue is for the candidates for my boss’s job. Is that still OK?’

‘Yeah, that’s fine, honey. I’ll see you tomorrow.’

It wasn’t until he put the phone down that he remembered one of the other candidates was her ex-husband. He smiled at his beer. It would be interesting to meet the bastard who had cheated on the oh-so-perfect Dr Helen face to face and even more interesting to watch how Helen dealt with him. He definitely put his money on his doc.

Chapter Sixteen

Helen smiled as Jay shut the door of his apartment behind him and joined her in the elevator. He wore a new blue shirt, his usual jeans and well-polished cowboy boots. He tipped his brown Stetson back with one finger so that he could look down at her.

‘Hey.’ He kissed her forehead, his lips warm against her skin. She inhaled the unique scent of young virile cowboy. ‘You told me not to dress up.’

‘That’s right, I did.’

He stroked the silk bow at the back of her neck. ‘But you’re all fancy.’

‘My boss, Professor Hart, told me to look pretty.’

‘And do you always do what he says?’ Jay leant back against the elevator wall and studied her blue silk halter-neck dress. ‘And I wouldn’t call your choice pretty. It makes my balls ache. I want to rip it off and fuck you hard against the wall.’

Helen nodded. ‘I don’t do pretty. And thank you. That’s exactly the impression I wanted to make.’

His eyebrows rose. ‘You want this Professor Hart to fuck you?’

Helen stepped out of the elevator. ‘Why not? Everyone already thinks he has.’

He caught her up in the underground parking lot and yanked on her arm, all the amusement gone from his face. ‘And have you?’

‘Have I what?’

‘Fucked him.’

She glared right back at him. ‘If I have, it has nothing to do with you. Unless you’re one of those men who thinks that any woman who’s successful must have slept her way to the top?’

His grip tightened. ‘One, I don’t share. And two, I don’t go around believing sexist crap like that.’

She stamped her foot. ‘How can you even put those two sentiments in the same sentence?’

He stared at her for a long moment. ‘Wanting to be the only guy in your bed makes me sexist?’

‘You can’t deny it, Jay. You get a big macho thrill out of being the dominant male.’

‘And you don’t like it?’

He bent his head, kissed her mouth until she couldn’t think straight. When he drew back, she was panting. He rubbed his thumb over her lower lip.

‘You like me just the way I am, honey. Don’t try to pretend otherwise. If I wanted, I could have you right now up against the side of the car.’

Her nipples tightened as she pictured him thrusting inside her, oblivious to anyone walking through the shadowy parking lot. With a shake of her head, she found her keys and hurried to get into the car. Jay took his time strolling around to the passenger door and settling himself in the seat.

She glanced at his lap; saw the bulge of his erection taut against the worn denim of his jeans. He caught her right hand and pressed it against his cock.

‘Jay, I need that hand to start the car.’

‘OK, but give it right back.’

Helen started the engine and released the handbrake. The navigation system sprang to life, indicating her next route change. She headed for the sunlight, all too aware of Jay’s presence on her right and the sexual tension that filled the space. Keeping her attention on the road, she dropped her hand back onto his shaft and squeezed, enjoying the way his breath hissed through his teeth.

‘Is that good, babe?’

Jay frowned. ‘Don’t call me “babe”. I’m not that much younger than you.’ He rolled his hips, increasing the pressure of her hand against his flesh.

‘I’m five years older than you. That’s a lot.’

‘Does it bother you, doc?’

She turned a corner and slotted the car neatly into the right lane for the upcoming freeway entrance. ‘Sometimes.’

‘I don’t even think about it.’

‘Well, it’s all right for you. No one’s going to be calling you a cradle robber, are they?’

He laughed. ‘I’m not sixteen. And who’s going to do that?’

‘We’re about to find out.’

He turned toward her. ‘You think the folks at this barbecue are going to get onto you about it?’

‘Maybe.’

‘Then why did you ask me to come?’

Helen gripped the steering wheel more tightly with her left hand.
Why indeed?
‘You were the one complaining I never introduced you to my friends.’

Jay snorted. ‘These guys sure don’t sound like your friends, doc.’

They sped along the freeway in silence. After a while, she exited and began the long climb up into the Oakland Hills. Jay turned his attention to the strongly scented eucalyptus and pine trees that edged the roads. She took her hand back to negotiate the sharp twists and turns of the ever-narrowing streets.

‘We’re here.’

‘Shit.’

For once, Helen was in complete agreement with Jay’s cursing. The pink and white house, which nestled at the end of a long driveway, must have been at least ten thousand square feet. A large marbled fountain sat in front of the house, surrounded by cars.

‘Is this your boss’s house?’ Jay asked as they got out of the car.

Helen smiled at him as she took his hand and started up the shallow steps. ‘Nope, worse.’

He hesitated as the door swung open to reveal David in superbly pressed designer jeans and a pink polo shirt. Sunlight glinted off the bronzed highlights in his perfectly coiffed hair.

‘Helen, baby, you came!’

‘David.’

Helen stepped back until she bumped up against Jay’s chest. ‘How come he gets to call you “baby”?’ Jay murmured in her ear. Undeterred, David continued to advance, his smile radiant.

‘And who’s your friend?’

‘David, this is Jay Turner.’

‘It’s a pleasure.’ David grasped Jay’s hand and shook it. ‘Are you one of Helen’s little cousins from the valley?’

‘He’s my boyfriend. You did say I could bring anyone I wanted.’

David’s mouth hung open. ‘Your boyfriend?’

Helen grabbed Jay’s hand. ‘Is that a problem?’

‘No, of course not.’ David winked. ‘I’d forgotten your strange attraction to cowboys. Come on in. Peter’s already here.’

Jay tugged Helen’s hand, pulling her back. ‘Don’t tell me, that’s your ex?’

‘How did you guess?’

‘I dunno, doc. Perhaps it’s his winning personality. The only other person who can make me feel so dumb so fast is my father.’

‘It’s OK, he does it to me, too. That’s one of the reasons I left him.’