Texas Ransom. Amanda Stevens

Чтение книги онлайн.

СКАЧАТЬ grinned as he opened the door and climbed out, then briefly turned to say over his shoulder, “I’ll be in touch. Have your man ready to leave at a moment’s notice.”

      Leo watched him walk back to the other car. The headlights came on, and the vehicle turned, heading down the road in the direction from which it had come.

      The front doors of the SUV opened and Hector and the driver got in. Hector glanced at the laptop on the seat beside Leo.

      “It’s done then?”

      “It’s done.” Leo drew a long breath, settling into the corner of his seat as his gaze went back to the river.

      God help him, it was done.

      Chapter One

      “It feels a little like heaven up here, doesn’t it?”

      “Only a little?” Graham Hollister teased as he surveyed the city lights from the rooftop of the PemCo Tower, an eighty-five-story glass-and-granite monolith that was now the tallest skyscraper in the Houston skyline.

      The building would soon become the oil company’s world headquarters, but for now, tonight, it was the culmination of all Graham’s dreams.

      When he closed his eyes, he could feel the building sway beneath them, and a wave of dizziness washed over him. He fought it off. He didn’t want anything to spoil this night.

      He tightened his arms around his wife’s slim waist. “Only a little like heaven,” he mused. “Damn. I must be doing something wrong.”

      She pulled away and shot him a look over her shoulder. “Will you stop fishing? I told you earlier the earth moved. What more do you want?”

      “Tell me again. I’m feeling insecure.” His hand trailed down her bare arm. “Or better yet, show me.”

      She slapped at his hand. “Up here? No way! I’m not an exhibitionist.”

      “Tell that to Myron.” Myron was the stray tabby they’d adopted a few months ago when he’d crawled over the fence one day and caught them skinny-dipping in the pool. He’d gotten quite an eyeful before either of them had noticed him stretched out on one of the loungers.

      “Different situation entirely,” Kendall said. “And besides, Myron doesn’t have a judgmental bone in his body.”

      “And I do?”

      “You’re not the one I’m worried about. Getting caught in flagrante delicto by the Mexican ambassador is not my idea of a fun evening.”

      “No, but I bet it would be his,” Graham said as he drew her back against him.

      Her shampoo smelled like flowers, but her perfume was something darker, headier. That was Kendall. Always a dichotomy. Insecure, dauntless and perfectly flawed. A woman he found endlessly fascinating, even after seven years of marriage. More like five, though, if you counted the long separation.

      But Graham didn’t want to think about that tonight. He and Kendall had never been happier, so what did it matter that she’d once left him? He hadn’t tried to stop her. The truth of the matter was he’d been relieved when she walked out on their marriage.

      That had been a long time ago. Things were different now. They were different.

      And yet there were times, such as earlier tonight before they’d left the hotel, when Graham sensed that maybe everything between them wasn’t as perfect as he wanted to believe. Sometimes, when Kendall didn’t know he was around, he’d see a look come over her face. Sad, pensive…lost. Graham tried to chalk it up to her past. She didn’t talk much about her family, but he knew she’d had a difficult childhood and a troubled adolescence. He’d never pressed for details. He wasn’t keen on airing his dirty laundry, either, but at times, he still felt as if he’d barely scratched the surface of who she really was.

      “I love you. You know that, right?”

      She turned. Was it his imagination or did her smile seem tentative? Wistful? “I love you, too.” She lifted her hand to trace his jawline. “It’s going to be okay.”

      His heart did a funny little somersault against his chest. “What is?”

      “Tonight,” she said, but there was a slight hesitation before she answered.

      He nodded and managed a smile although suddenly his mouth had gone dry. Something was going on with her. Something she didn’t feel she could share with him.

      “Kendall?”

      “Yes?”

      “Are you sure the earth moved?”

      She punched his shoulder. “Forget it. We’re not having a quickie on the rooftop to stroke your ego when there’s a whole roomful of people waiting downstairs to tell you how wonderful you are.”

      “Not the same thing at all.”

      “Seriously, Graham. I’m so proud of you,” she said, her eyes suddenly glistening.

      That was another thing that had Graham a little concerned. Kendall had been so emotional these past few days. He had no idea what that was all about, and she didn’t seem to want to tell him.

      “All right,” he said reluctantly. “You’ve convinced me. I suppose we should go downstairs and at least make an appearance.”

      She nodded. “I need to freshen up first. My hair must be a mess.”

      “You look beautiful.”

      “I never look beautiful,” she said with a resigned shrug that always broke his heart.

      He resisted the urge to trace one of the scars on her face with his fingertip, but she wouldn’t like that. Since the last surgery, the imperfections were barely even visible, but she knew they were there. And even after all this time, she was still a little self-conscious in social situations.

      To Graham, though, she would always be beautiful.

      She started for the elevator, but he caught her arm and she turned back. “What is it?”

      He gazed into her eyes. “Are you happy? With me, I mean.”

      Her lips trembled and for a moment, he thought she was going to cry. Instead she smiled and lifted herself on her tiptoes to remove his glasses before she kissed him.

      “Being with you is like being in heaven,” she whispered.

      “YOU’RE ONE lucky bastard, Graham. I hope you know that.”

      Graham nodded as he surveyed the glittering crowd that had assembled to celebrate the post-construction phase of the PemCo Tower. “I’m doing okay.”

      “Doing okay?” Michael Barron, his best friend since their college days at Rice University, clapped him on the back. “I think most folks would say you’re doing a little better than okay. Gorgeous wife. Big house. Your own company. And now this…” His blue eyes twinkled. “You’re living the dream, СКАЧАТЬ