Master of Fortune / Marrying the Lone Star Maverick: Master of Fortune / Marrying the Lone Star Maverick. Katherine Garbera

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      “I’ve never heard of them,” Henry said. He glanced over at Astrid to see if she were familiar with the company, but she shook her head.

      “It’s actually my older brother and one of his mates,” Angus said a little sheepishly. “No one wanted to talk to us unless we had a big deal going. So Bryan went to the library and got a few books…. Ah, man, you don’t want to hear all that, do you?”

      “Yes, we do, Angus,” Astrid said, stepping forward. “At Everest Groups, we like to know everything about the artists we sign.”

      “That’s why we are here,” Henry said. “Do you have another set or can you guys come with me to talk?”

      The other band members had wandered over to their group and milled about exchanging glances. Henry decided he should step away and let them talk.

      “Here’s my card. I’m going to be out in the club for another hour or so. If you have time to talk tonight, great, if not, no problem. Call tomorrow and we will set up something.”

      He led Astrid back to the VIP area, but he was restless and didn’t want to sit and wait. He ordered drinks for both of them and Astrid put her hand on his.

      “I can feel the energy crackling around you. What are you thinking about?”

      Henry didn’t like to share his most intimate thoughts so he kept silent until he realized that Astrid would give him the distraction he needed. “That you still haven’t told me your secrets.”

      “Well, that will have to wait for another time. A noisy nightclub is no place for an intimate conversation.”

      “I disagree. This is the perfect place. There’s a feel of anonymity to being here. The background noise keeps others from hearing.”

      She tipped her head to the side and then leaned forward so that their noses almost touched. “It wouldn’t keep you from hearing.”

      He arched one eyebrow at her. “Good. Tell me your secrets, Astrid.”

      She shook her head. “Not unless you tell me yours. Not the stuff I can read in Hello!, but the real Henry’s secrets. Why are you so restless right now?”

      Henry didn’t want to share that with her. He was reluctant to let anyone know about the impulses that had always driven him—the need for immediacy in every area of his life.

      Astrid was still almost high on her new sense of self. She had always let the men in her life … well, Daniel, set the tone and the pace of their relationship. And she knew if she was going to have any chance at making any kind of relationship with Henry work, she needed to change.

      Instead of focusing on hiding her own secrets, she wanted to know about his. What had shaped Henry into the man he was today?

      He wrapped his arm around her shoulder and drew her closer to him. “I’m not restless, love. I want to be alone with you so we can finish what we started on the dance floor.”

      She shivered as he spoke straight into her ear. The warmth of his breath against her neck sent electric pulses flooding through her body. She wanted him, too.

      And that scared her. Lust she could deal with but this was more than lust. She liked Henry. Liked the man who was more than his press bio. And she was afraid to trust that gut-deep feeling about Henry. She thought he was different, but there was no guarantee any relationship between the two of them was going to last more than a few months.

      “What’s that look for?” he asked her.

      “I’m scared that I’m in over my head,” she said in a moment of candor. She might regret it later, but if she’d learned anything it was not to pull her punches. There was no “safe-route” in any relationship.

      “My first year as a professional rugby player I was constantly terrified. My stepdad was the coach and I knew that if I screwed up, he’d come down on me. And I played from a place of fear for the first three games, before one of the guys said to me, ‘I heard you were good, but now it looks like that was all bullshit.’”

      “That wasn’t very nice.”

      Henry shrugged. “I was giving in to the pressure from every avenue, so I made a decision that I was going to play for myself. Not for Gordon or for the crowd. Just for myself.”

      “Did that work?” Astrid asked.

      “Yes, it did. My playing started improving and eventually I was made captain.”

      “Good job,” she said.

      “I used that same theory off the pitch. I live my life on my terms.”

      “I’m trying to do the same, but there is always a fear—”

      “Stop worrying, Astrid.”

      He glanced over her shoulder and stood to greet someone else—a tall dark-haired young man whose shaggy hair reached his shoulders.

      “I’m Bryan Monroe. I represent XSU.”

      “Glad to meet you. This is Astrid, my assistant. Would you like to sit down and join us for a drink?”

      “Love to.”

      Astrid sank back into her seat and just observed Henry doing his thing. People came and went from his table, which was the norm for Henry, but he kept his attention on everyone. He always had a glass of seltzer water on the table in front of him. She’d quickly realized that her boss didn’t drink on these long nights out. And he had a work ethic that would put anyone to shame.

      Daniel had often used other people to make things happen. She had observed him leaving clubs early with groupies while his underlings stayed and talked details. Every minute she spent with Henry made her like him a little more.

      She started to get tired and fought to keep from yawning at about two in the morning. She signaled to Henry that she was going to leave.

      “Wait for me,” he said to her.

      Thirty minutes later, they walked out of the club together. “I think we’re going to get XSU.”

      “Definitely. Bryan sounded very encouraging. I’ll follow up with him first thing tomorrow.”

      “I’ll give you a ride home,” Henry said.

      “Not necessary. I drove Bethann’s car today.”

      “Why?”

      “I didn’t want to take advantage of you. I appreciate the fact that you are always giving me a ride but it seemed important to have my own way home.”

      “Why is that?” he asked.

      “Because I always want to invite you up to my place and that’s not a good idea, is it?”

      Astrid didn’t regret her candor. They both knew the attraction between them was growing. There was nothing they could do about it.

      “I think inviting СКАЧАТЬ