The Tycoon and his Honey Pot (3 page)

“Yes
sir, you have a meeting with Jason Green and his team in thirty minutes in the
boardroom for feedback on the wellness project that is scheduled to last the
rest of the afternoon.”

He
nodded.  “You don’t need to attend that.  The analysis is more important. That
will be all, thank you, Zita.”

He
watched her go, his eyes dropping to her hips that swayed naturally seductive,
even noticeable within the oversized pants she wore.  He grabbed his cell
phone, and searched for Michael’s number.  This was the third time he tried to
reach him since the weekend and was becoming irritated. 

“I
don’t hear from you for months, and all of a sudden I can’t get rid of you! 
Howzit, Admiral?”

“Mickey,
still as eloquent as ever.  Why the hell did you not return my calls?”

“Because
I have a sneaky suspicion I know why you are phoning and I am not so sure I am
comfortable with it.”

Mason
cursed softly and Michael laughed.  “And that there, is exactly why!  I have
never seen you react to a woman the way you did with Bee, Mace.”

“So
you should also know me well enough to know that I do not give up.”

“Exactly
when did the two of you meet?”

Mason
groaned.  This was turning into veritable torture.

“Saturday.”

“Saturday! 
Bullshit, Mace!  The air around the two of you was so charged, it singed Lucas
and me.  And we were only onlookers.”

“Then
you should know it is something worth pursuing.  There was instant attraction
the moment we met, and I can vouch for your sister that it was mutual.”

“Exactly
how can you vouch that?”

“I
don’t think you really want to know.”

Michael
growled.  “You’re right, I don’t.  So, what exactly do you need from me?”

“Her
address.”

“No
way!”

“Cell
number.”

“You
did not get it from her on Saturday?”

“She
sort of disappeared on me.”

“Aha
… you irritated her and she huffed away.”

“Something
like that. Come on Mickey. The sun is drawing water!”

Michael
laughed.  “I’ll text you her number.  Just a fair warning Mason.  Platoon
Admiral and friend or not, you hurt my baby sister and you will have to deal
with me.”

“Fair
enough. Thanks Michael and let me know when you guys are coming for a visit one
weekend.”

“Yip,
will do.”

The
moment the text with Bee’s number came through Mason dialed it and waited for
her to answer.  He cursed when her husky voice indicated she was unavailable
and to leave a message.  He dropped the call, not intending to give her warning
of his call.

“Mr.
Sheppard, it is time for your meeting with Jason.”

He
gathered his iPad and rising asked her irritably, “How is it that you call our
Personnel Director and for that matter my brother by their first names, and me
sir or Mr. Sheppard.”

She
blushed.  “You are my boss, sir.”

“Yeah
and as your boss I instruct you to call me by my name from now on.”

“Yes
sir.”  Her blush deepened when he threw his irritated glance her way again and
took the file from her she held out to him.

“It
is Mason, in case you did not know.”

“Yes si …,” she shut
her mouth when his ink blue eyes shot back at her and quickly skirted around
him to plunk down in her chair.

By the time
she got home she was bone tired and moaned in ecstasy when she untied her hair
and shook her dark blond tresses loose. She switched her cell phone on and
carried it with in case her mom phoned. She drew a warm bubble bath and settled
back against the tub with a glass of dry white wine in her hand.  She took a
sip and moaned as the smooth flavor rolled on her tongue.

“Uhm
… tonight I really deserve this!”  Her cell phone rang and she lazily picked it
up, swiped to answer and put the phone against her ear.

“Hello,
Brooklyn speaking.”

“Bee?”

The
unexpectedness of his deep voice in her ear had her scramble upright and she
nearly dropped the glass of wine in the bath.

“Shit!”

“Well,
that is an interesting response … what are you doing, Bee … Brooklyn?”

“Taking
a bath.”  She was so shocked about his call; she did not even think to lie.

He
was silent for so long she thought the connection was lost when she heard him
release a slow breath.

“A
… bath … naked?”

She
gave a throaty laugh and his arousal intensified twofold.

“I
am sure there are some cultures which take a bath fully dressed, but I
generally bath … naked … yes … a bubble bath.”

“Give
me your address.”  He demanded in a strained voice and she was so tempted it
frightened her.

“Not
happening.”

“Honey,
it is inevitable.  You know that, as well as I do.  Why punish us both?”

“I
said it before, you are extremely presumptuous!”

“No,
I am honest and once I decide I want something, I pursue it and I don’t stop
until I get it.”

“I
assume in this case the something you want is me.”

“You
have no idea how much!”

She
chose not to answer and bit her lip as her groin tightened in response to his
passionate plea.  The heat of her arousal gushed down her body.  She moaned
softly and gasped when he responded.

“You
are killing me, woman!  Tell me where you live!”

“No,
Mason … this is … I can’t.  I have to go.”

“Don’t
you dare hang up on me!  Bee … Brooklyn!”

She
ended the call and immediately switched her phone off.  She closed her eyes and
leaned back against the bath tub.  She dreaded facing him the next day. 
Knowing he wanted her and desired her and were completely open and honest about
it.

It
was going to be torture to sit across from him, listening to his deep, sexy
voice.  She just knew she would remember this conversation, and if her body
reacted in the same way it just did, she was not going to survive very long or
give her true self away in no time!

She
did not even try to dissect her heated response to a man she hardly knew. 
Worst of all, she knew she would have no defense against a full onslaught of
seduction from him.  Rather … would he be in danger of her pouncing on him!

Chapter Three

Mason arrived
at the Bethel Motor Speedway race track, located near the site of the original
Music Festival in White Lake, New York, just after Brooklyn’s race started.  He
had a hard time keeping his temper in check.  Since he spoke to Brooklyn on
Wednesday evening he has been unable to get hold of her again. Her phone went
to voicemail every time and she has yet to bother responding to any of his
messages.

He
managed to coerce Michael to tell him where she raced this weekend.  His mouth compressed
when he searched the racing pits for team Hadley. Michael was the master owner
of a global Auto shop Franchise called Expert Auto.  He also owned and headed
up the Hadley racing team.  He was one of the best speedway racers on the
circuit today and was expected to win the Dakar Race in October. It was his
name in the racing industry that generated the massive success he had with the
franchise.

Lucas
waved at Mason from the extended platform where they stood to monitor the races
and he headed that way.  Michael grinned when he noticed Mason.

“I
expected you a lot earlier, especially after you blackmailed me for
information!”

“Me,
blackmail?  Never!”  Mason slapped Michael on the shoulder in greeting and
shook Lucas’ hand.  Michael turned back to the track and shook his head.

“One
week she is an absolute maniac on the track, the next week she is a tortoise! 
What the devil did you do to my sister, Admiral?”

“Nothing
… yet.  She seems to make a point of avoiding … and aggravating me.  I only
managed to speak to her once.”

Michael
flashed him a smile.  “Maybe that should tell you something.”

Yeah,
it does.”

Michael
looked at him, noticing the tight jaw and glittering near black eyes. He
smiled, not really concerned for his sister.  Secretly he always thought they
would be an ideal match, which was why he lent his friend a helping hand in his
pursuit of his sister.  He knew Mason had a reputation with the ladies and never
had any interest in settling down, nor has he ever had any desire for a long
term relationship.

Somehow,
he had a feeling his sister was the one to change that. He has never seen Mason
react to any woman like this and it clearly affected him quite strongly.

“Exactly
what would that be?”

He
stood glaring at the track, his eyes glued to the red Camaro racing around the
track, at a much more subdued speed than the previous week.

“That
she needs a man to take her under hand.”

Michael
and Lucas laughed so hard, they nearly fell of the platform.  Mason glared at them.

“Oh,
my friend, do yourself a favor and don’t tell her that.  It will take you twice
as long to get any closer to her as you are now!”

“Since
when do I need seducing tips from you?  I am not daft, but nor am I very
patient and the sooner she realizes I am not one for playing games, the better
for both of us.”

He
took the earpiece and speaker microphone from Michael and put it to his ear and
flipped the switch.

“Honey
pot, at the speed you’re going this race is going to last the whole damn day. 
Get your butt in gear and kick some ass.”

“Mason?”

“Yes
honey, it’s me.”

“I
told you to stop calling me honey.”

“Hmm,
and I told you that you tas …”

“Mason! 
Is my brother there as well?”

“Yes
honey, he is.”

“Then
shut your mouth!  Do you want him to give you a blue eye?”

“It
does my heart well that you care so much, honey.”

“It
is not because I care, you daft man.  Get out of the way … don’t you dare say
another word until I am there.  I do not want my brother in my face the whole
day!”  She cursed the other racers as she sped up to get to Mason to prevent a
major disaster.

“Your
wish is my command, honey.”

“Oh
… you are the most infuriating … move asshole … man I have ever met!”   She
increased her speed and waved between the cars.  Mason gasped when she aimed
for a small gap between two cars and then relaxed when she whizzed between them
safely.

He
glared at Michael.  “Why the hell did you ever allow her to start racing?”

Michael
laughed.  “Let that be a lesson, Mace.  Never upset her when she is behind the
wheel.  She tends to take it out on the car.”

“She
needs a hand on her butt to take her willfulness out of her.”

“Mason! 
In case you forgot, I am on the other end of this mike!”

“No,
I didn’t.  See it as a fair warning, honey.  Take chances on the track and I’ll
take every missed heartbeat of mine out of your body!”

She
was quiet for a while and he noticed with increased anger that her speed had
increased yet again.  His arousal slammed against his pants when her husky
voice breathed into his ear.

“Is
that a promise, Mason?”

“Don’t
play with fire unless you are prepared to put it out, honey. Now slow the hell
down!”

“Speed
up, slow down.  Make your damn mind up, baby!” 

Michael,
Lucas and him gripped the sides of the platform, all three holding their
breaths at her recklessness on the track.  Mason tried to keep his voice as
controlled and calm as possible.

“Brooklyn,
speeding is one thing, but recklessness is unacceptable.  If you do not drive
properly from this point forward, I promise you honey, this WILL be your last
race.”

“Do
not presume to think you can tell me what to do Mason Sheppard!”

“By
tomorrow morning, you will know exactly how much control I will have over you. 
I am not going to warn you again, Brooklyn!”

She
cursed, but took his threat to heart and drove with the care and precision her
brother ingrained in her from the first time she got behind a wheel of a car.

All
three men watching sighed in relief.  Michael looked at Mason where he still
stood frowning at the track.  Whatever was going to happen between the two of
them, he was sure it was exactly what his sister needed.  Moreover, what Mason
needed. He reached over and switched the speaker phone off.

“What
exactly did you mean by tomorrow morning and control, Mace? Don’t make me
regret assisting you.  She is not going to become a notch on your bedpost!”

Mason
glared at him.  “Name one woman I have ever shown this much interest in or even
one that I have bothered to pursue!”

“You
never had to.  They are always only too eager to line up outside your door.”

“Exactly,
and just for the record, it has never been a matter of counting notches on my
bedpost!”

“Granted,
but you know what I mean.”

“I
do and rest assured I will never force anything on your sister.  Whatever
happens, will happen, because she wants it too.”

“I’m
not so sure I am comfortable discussing you planning on bedding my sister.”

Mason
looked at him; his expression earnest and open.

“How
old is she, Michael?”

“She
is twenty seven.”

“Therefore
old enough to make her own decisions.  Are … you saying she is still a
virgin?” 

“I
don’t really know.  It is not something she has ever openly discussed with me.
I do know she has never had any serious relationships.”

“Michael,
will it ease your mind if I tell you that your sister has totally taken over my
mind from the first time I saw her.  I have not been able to get her off my
mind, and no, it is not just physical, I have this desire, this need to protect
her, to keep her from harm … and wring her neck when she races like a maniac!”

 They
swung their attention back to the track and was amazed that Brooklyn has worked
her way up to second place in the short time they had the discussion.  As
usual, when she was in second place, she drove very aggressively, and Mason
ground on his teeth.  He switched the speaker phone back on.

“I
am going to bloody wring her neck! Brooklyn Hadley … if you want this
relationship to start with a bloody clobbering of your behind, keep up the way
you are driving!”

“So
if we have not started on the relationship as yet, what was that in the garage
last week?”

He
grinned at her sassiness.  “I wonder if you are going to keep up this
brazenness once you come face to face with me.  How many laps left, honey?”

“Two,
why?”

“I
can’t wait to taste you again … and I have no intention of waiting until we
find a secluded spot either!”

“Mason
… Michael will kill you?”

“Does
that worry you, love?”

“No
…”

“Besides,
I already cleared the air with your brother.  He knows exactly what my
intentions are.”

“Oh,
he does, does he?”  It sounded like she was gnashing her teeth and he grinned,
noticing that her aggressive driving has subsided, and she was once again
driving with perfect precision and skill.

“Now
please keep quiet, you are distracting me!”

He
did just that and his heart filled with pride when she took the last turn,
outmaneuvering her opponent to cross the winning line by nearly a car length.

Michael
and Lucas looked at each other, amazed at the look of pride in his eyes when
she won, and then at the eagerness as she drove the car towards the pit where
they were waiting.  He was the one that pulled her out of the car and removed
her helmet. He immediately folded his arms around her and pressed her back
against the car.

Their
eyes met, Brooklyn’s shocked at his open display of desire for her and she
gasped.  “Mason, what are you doing?”

“Greeting
you … I missed you honey!”  His head lowered and his lips closed over hers, softly
moving from side to side.   His strong lips soft and warm … oh lord, so warm
against hers.  His tongue prodded for entrance and she opened eagerly, and the
kiss became passion, desire, heat … and totally unacceptable for a public
place!

Brooklyn
desperately ended the kiss, noticing his breathing echoed her haggard breaths. 
She realized her arms were tight around his waist and she held him close. 

“Stop
… everyone is watching.”

The
look in his eyes was filled with promises of what was to come and he said in a
husky voice.  “I don’t care.  I want everyone … especially those gawking jocks
to know you belong to me.”

She
gasped and drew her arms back to push against his muscled chest.  Instead her
hands explored further down to test his strong torso, which tightened at the
same time his breath caught in his throat.

“I
am my own person … I belong to no one.”

“Maybe
not yet … but after tonight …”

Her
eyes narrowed and spit fire at him.  “I am sorry to disappoint you, but I
already have other plans.  You should have told me earlier.”

“If
you bothered to return my calls, we would not be having this discussion now …
you would already be mine.”

“And
therein lays the problem, Mason Sheppard!  You assume too much!”

His
eyebrows lifted and his gaze moved over her face to appreciate the slightly
swollen lips from their passionate kiss.  He glanced down to her breasts, which
even through the racing suit she wore were tightened in hard nubs.  He flexed
his hips hard against hers and she gasped, heat flushing like an arrow to pool
between her legs.

“At
least your body already knows and has acknowledged mine … and that is the only
permission I seek.  You trying to deny it are nothing but postponing the
inevitable.”

Michael
cleared his throat loudly for the fourth time and added a hard cough for good
measure.

“I
say, Sister dear, this is a sight I am not used to seeing.  You normally
clobber anyone that dare grab you for a hug, let alone make out in public.”

She
moaned and managed to push Mason away and turned to face her brother, her
cheeks flushed a bright red.  Mason, the fiend, obviously paid him no heed as
he pulled her back against him and folded his arms around her waist, his hands
clasped together over her belly.

Lucas,
as usual laughed himself to the ground and Brooklyn growled at him.  “Stop
laughing before I clobber you!”

“And
you, Mace.  I thought you treasure your privacy and here you openly seduce my
sister in public!  You do know we are also hounded by paparazzi and you being
the Wall Street Tycoon you are … be prepared for some unwanted publicity.”

Brooklyn
paled and glanced back at him, but he just smiled warmly and briefly kissed
her, hugging her tight.

“You
don’t seem to be too concerned about it?”

“Why
should I be?  At least this time their speculation might have some truth in it.
Besides, it will keep those pesky women from my door.”