‘I haven’t had a chance to wrap it properly,’ she apologized, handing him the flat package wrapped in brown paper.Matt began tearing the wrapping off. The phone rang, and Sierra went to answer it.He heard the distant sound of her voice as he uncovered the oil painting, a portrait of Sam in his younger, vibrant days, the glory of Texas’s vast blue sky and open spaces in the background.Staring at it, he swallowed a thick lump in his throat. His normally steady hands were shaking.Sierra returned. ‘That was someone wanting to rent the carriage for a party tomorrow night,’ she reported brightly. As she glimpsed his solemn expression, her tone dropped. ‘Like it? The newspaper had an old photo of Sam on file and let me borrow it. It’s the first thing I’ve done in a long time, and I’m afraid it’s not my best work.’‘It’s fine. Sierra. Real fine. Thank you. I didn’t think there was anything I wanted for Christmas until I saw this. I love it. When did you start working on it? This must have
Damn it, he should have guessed. Sierra had been wrong, but he knew this was his fault as well. And he couldn’t blame this one on his father. He’d been too quick to believe Sierra had been trifling with him, when he’d known in his heart she loved him. Instead of uncovering the reason behind her hasty marriage to Ben, he’d nm off.He cradled his forehead in his palm. The air here smelled of the woods, and it was a scent he would always associate with Sierra’s body and the sweetness of making love to her.Shifting, he raked a hand through the soil. Here he was, thirty-two years old, and nothing belonged to him. He should have made something of himselfby now instead of drifting from town to town, never building anything or forming any ties. Sam had started out with little education and no money and built an empire by devoting himself to a place.Thirty-two years and he had nothing to show for it, except the money he’d saved. Living as he did, his expenses were minimal, so he’d had a bro
The acrid smells of the hospital burned in Matt’s nostrils. He looked down on Sam, small and shrunken in the bed, plugged into monitors and bottles. Pain was etched in the old rancher’s weathered face despite the barrage of drugs intended to mask it.‘I knew you’d come,’ Sam said, his voice barely audible, fading out.‘You should have let them call me sooner, Sam. I wanted to be here.’‘I don’t want a lot of moanin’ and cryin’. I had a good life. Matt.’‘I don’t know where I would have been without you.’‘Thank you for bein’ a part of it. I want ya’ to know you’ve never let me down.’‘Yeah, I did, Sam. I stayed gone so long . . .’‘Don’t make no difference. You’re here now. Matt, I lied when I told ya I didn’t care what ya do with that land. You take it and make yourself a home. Show this town what you’re made of.’‘Sam, I don’t know . .‘I won’t make you promise. Wouldn’t be fair. I’ve always believed in you. Matt. Enjoyed watching you grow into a man. But I’m gonna have to give it
'You were never in touch with any of us. We were like little toys you played with when you were at home. I don’t think we were ever a part of your life,’ Matt said, tossing his cigarette to the ground and crushing it out with his boot heel. ‘All I ever wanted to do was be able to love you, and you gave me reason after reason not to. Well, yes, you won. I don’t love you. God knows why, but Ma did. All I can do is believe there was something good in that.’‘Things were tough when you kids were growin’ up, Matt. There’s things you can’t understand.‘No. The problem is, I always understood too much.’Lester pulled a box of cigarettes out of his shirt pocket. He flipped it open, offering one to Matt. Matt shook his head. ‘Lost my taste for ’em. Do you have a pen? I want to go ahead and sign this check over to Leeann so I can leave first thing in the morning.’ He glanced at his father’s face and saw nothing of himself in it. ‘You should be with your family tonight. If you’d asked me, I coul
SYNOPSIS ‘I want you to have my baby. Give me an heir and I’ll offer Petros a deal which will save his skin!’‘You must be mad! ’ Carrie floundered for words; she was so shocked by his proposition. ‘I couldn’t marry you!’As he raised a dark, sardonic eyebrow Alexis’s low voice drifted across to her,‘I want an heir, not a wife!’But Petros had other ideas and Carrie and Alexis soon found themselves bound for a wedding neither of them wanted...CHAPTER 1A grey shadow of doubt settled unceremoniously onto Carrie’s slim shoulders. Was she doing the right thing? There zvas no other alternative. She’d gone over this with a fine-tooth comb since her return to Greece, and each time she’d come up with the same answer. Alexis Stephanides held the key; he was the only man rich enough!‘Miss O’Riordan, Mr Stephanides will see you now,’ said the pleasant dark-haired girl, in heavily accented English, as she emerged from the office with CHAIRMAN engraved on the gold plaque of the heavy mahogany
Alexis spim aroimd, his frown warning her, his voice threatening her to be silent. ‘Shut up! Stop your screaming: you know what I do to screaming children.’ He moved towards her like the sleek hunter he was and she backed away as if his touch would burn her.‘You touch me if you dare. I’m not a child any more,’ She spat the words out like an alley cat, wild and hurt.Alexis gave her a look full of contempt as he walked swiftly past her to the door. There, he turned slightly, throwing over his shoulder, ‘Then stop behaving like a child.’ He glanced down at the gold watch on his wrist. ‘I have a meeting. Friday is the deadline, Carrie. At noon!’Carrie stared open-mouthed. Eventually she foimd her voice. ‘That’s too soon.’His gaze travelled her full length. ‘If you truly love Petros, having my baby will be a worthy sacrifice!’ With that he left, leaving her shocked and devastated.***Petros was sitting by the pool when she reached the island. His tired face was gaunt with worry and ag
‘You are, Carrie, Why, I think it’s the first time I’ve ever seen you drunk,’ he admonished softly, amusement lifting his voice slightly.‘I am not drunk! I’m ill!’Urging her to move, he ignored her remark, keeping a tight hold around her waist as he hailed his limousine.The cold night air almost knocked Carrie off her feet. She shivered and looking around the illuminated street in a hazy stupor, she suddenly felt much worse.Alexis opened the car door, ordering her to get in. Feeling faint, she caught the heel of her shoe on the curb and would have fallen had he not come to her rescue again. Once inside the comfort of the expensive car he rapped out orders to the driver. ‘My hotel!’Carrie couldn’t understand why she felt so light headed. Her legs looked perfectly capable of moving, and yet they felt numb. She prodded one in sheer horror and fascination.‘Like I said, it’s called being drunk, my sweet, little Carrie,’ he admonished teasingly; he wasn’t annoyed, there was amusement
Alexis snorted angrily. He jumped up from the bed with a Greek oath, and delivered a message that chilled her soul. ‘I will make you eat those words one day my wicked Irish fireball. No one insults a Stephanides!’‘I just have.’ She always pushed him to the limit.He stood there, all muscle and tanned bare flesh but for the briefs. He was magnificent in his anger, and he was very, very angry with her, she had no doubt. For the second time in her life Carrie thought she had pushed him too far.His expression frightened her as his fingers clasped into fists at his side. Instead of reaching for his prey, he had thankfully reached for the telephone, crisply ordering a car to take Carrie home.Alexis turned on her, whispering dangerously soft words. ‘I want you out of my room by the time I finish my shower, or by heaven, girl. I’ll teach you a lesson you’ll never forget!’ He strode into the bathroom, closing the door behind him with a definite click.Within minutes a shaking, confused Carr