Revenge of the Second Son. Sara Orwig

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СКАЧАТЬ me name a woman. If you can seduce her within the next two weeks, the car is yours. If you can’t, the horse is mine.”

      Nick laughed. “You’ve lost it!”

      “Listen to me. I’ll pick someone likely—she has to be under thirty, healthy, single, a knockout, unattached and a woman of my choice.”

      “You’re nuts. You’ve had enough wine. Let’s go,” Nick said and stood. “We’ve done a lot of crazy things, Ty. This is one you’re not talking me into.”

      “Since when do you balk at seduction of a beautiful woman?” Tyler said, standing and walking out beside Nick. “Scared to risk your horse? You might get my Ferrari.”

      Thinking about the prize car, Nick glanced at his friend. “You’d really bet your car?”

      “Yes, I will. I want that horse. I think I can name a woman you can’t seduce.”

      “Maybe. Maybe not.”

      “C’mon, Nick. It’ll make life interesting. Matter of fact,” Tyler said, getting a brisk, businesslike tone back in his voice, “here’s your chance to make your revenge really sweet. Miss Julia Holcomb.”

      “To hell with that one,” Nick said.

      “Scared of her? That would be the ultimate revenge, Nick. Absolute. I know your negative answer is not because she isn’t attractive enough. Sparks were flying between the two of you tonight.”

      “Forget it, Ty. I’m not eighteen anymore, and you’re not talking me into something crazy like you used to do.”

      Tyler kicked a small rock as they crossed the parking lot. “There goes my horse.”

      Nick laughed. “C’mon. I’ll take you home and Gina can bring you back tomorrow to pick up your car.”

      As they crossed the parking lot Nick remembered Julia and their encounter. How long was it going to take him to forget her? Or his pulse to stop jumping at the mere thought of her? Seduce Julia? Just the suggestion made his breath catch. But he wasn’t getting into a crazy bet with Tyler, even though it would be both a challenge and sweet revenge to seduce her.

      After depositing Tyler at his house, Nick headed to his condo. While he drove, he thought about dinner and his fiery exchanges with Julia Holcomb, the sparks he could feel every time he locked gazes with her.

      Beautiful, sexy, pure poison because of her family. He knew she viewed him as a monster.

      I guess if I hadn’t stepped in front of you, you would have run right over that poor old dog. As her words rang in his ears, Nick clamped his jaw shut. He might be ruthless at work, but he didn’t run down helpless animals. He knew she’d said it to aggravate him, and his annoyance increased that she’d succeeded.

      Nick drove to his condo that was the entire top floor of a twenty-story building. He moved around in the dark, enjoying the lights of the city, still unable to keep memories of Julia from tormenting him. He stood by the window and looked down on the sparkling city lights that sprawled in all directions. She was somewhere out there, probably in bed asleep. That thought made him groan, and he turned away, switching on lights as he shed clothes. He wished he were out on his ranch where he could go for night ride. Restless, he crossed to his desk and pulled out a ledger to think about work and get his mind off big blue eyes, long legs and the fiery tension between him and Julia Holcomb.

      It was after three in the morning before he fell asleep, but within thirty minutes, the ringing of his phone awakened him. Immediately alert, Nick stretched out a long arm and picked up the receiver. His first thought was that something might have happened to his dad, whose health wasn’t the greatest.

      “Nick.”

      He heard Tyler’s voice. “Is Dad okay?”

      “Yeah, sure. Sorry. I’m not calling about your family.”

      Relief swamped Nick and he flopped down in bed again. “That’s good. What are you calling about?”

      “There was an explosion on one of our rigs in the Gulf. Now there’s a fire.”

      “Dammit!” Nick swung out of bed. A tight knot of anger curled in his stomach. “Was anyone hurt?”

      “Two men have been evacuated to a burn center.”

      “Get the helicopter to meet me in Galveston. I can be there within the hour,” Nick said, grabbing jeans.

      “Just hold tight and I’ll keep you posted. You don’t have to be out there fighting the fire. That’ll just worry your dad more. You’re going to have to break the news to him because he’s going to hear it in the morning anyway.”

      “Tyler, you find out exactly what happened, down to the tiniest detail,” Nick said, anger burning him. “If there is anything that points to the Holcombs, I’m going to sell off that company of his bit by bit and wreck what I can’t sell.”

      “I’ll get back with you.”

      “I’ll call Dad in the morning. He doesn’t get up as early as he used to. The more casual I can be about it, the less concerned he’ll be. Maybe by that time, you’ll know more.”

      “I’ll keep you posted.”

      Nick replaced the receiver, staring at the phone speculatively. He stepped out of bed, because sleeping again was impossible. Remembering clearly Julia’s and Rufus’s threats, Nick doubled his fists. Had she been behind the destruction? Or had her grandfather?

      At eight o’clock the next morning, Nick’s intercom buzzed and he listened to his secretary’s voice. “Julia Holcomb is on the phone and would like to see you today, if possible. Your calendar is clear in an hour and at two this afternoon.”

      Surprised, he stared across his office and seethed with anger.

      “I’ll see her in an hour,” he said flatly, his mind racing over what he wanted to do while he was curious about what she intended. He picked up a remote, switched on the news on the flat-panel television mounted on a wall across the room, and looked at images of what had been a productive Ransome oil rig only twenty-four hours earlier.

      He stared while his anger climbed. Switching off the television, he tossed down the remote, picked up his phone and dialed Tyler’s cell number. In seconds, Tyler answered, static crackling.

      “Any more news?” Nick asked.

      “The fire expert is looking into the cause.”

      “Remember that offer of a bet? Is it still on?”

      “Bet?” Tyler sounded perplexed momentarily. “Ah, the horse and the car.”

      “You’re on,” Nick snapped. “If the Holcombs want a fight, they’ll get a fight. If I seduce Julia within two weeks, I win your prize car.”

      “And if you don’t, I want your horse,” Tyler replied, his voice fading.

      “Keep me posted.”

      “What? I’m losing СКАЧАТЬ