Back In Fortune's Bed. Bronwyn Jameson

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      “You’re not such a bad dancer, cuzz,” Sky teased. “For an Aussie cowhand.”

      “It became a lot easier when you gave up fighting me for the lead, Freckles.”

      She laughed and punched his arm lightly before resuming their comfortable two-step. “What do you think of our wedding, South Dakota style?”

      “I’m amazed they put this shindig together so quickly.” Only three weeks ago Case had stunned everyone by announcing his engagement to Gina Reynolds, yet they’d managed to pull off a smoothly run and stylish event with a seeming lack of effort.

      “When Case sets his mind to something, there’s no stopping him,” Sky remarked. “Plus it helps that he owns the venue.”

      Max grinned at that wry observation. “No doubt.”

      The venue was the spectacular ballroom of the Fortune’s Seven Hotel, part of the diverse portfolio of businesses put together by Nash Fortune and his father before him and his father before him. Since Nash’s early retirement, Dakota Fortune had been run from an impressive downtown office complex by Case and his brother Creed, who’d continued to build the company’s considerable assets.

      Creed, Max noted, had stood up as best man for his elder brother while Blake, the third of Nash’s sons, had been a conspicuous absentee from the wedding ceremony.

      In the weeks since their arrival Max and Zack had spent a lot of time jetting to and fro—sometimes with Skylar along to provide local expertise—inspecting stud complexes from Nebraska to Kentucky to Florida. In between trips Max had met all his cousins. He’d dined with them, shared early breakfasts and late suppers with those who lived at the big estate house, but until this evening he hadn’t picked up on all the underlying family tensions.

      Point in question, the current heated discussion between Creed and Blake, who had just arrived at the hotel. Creed’s date was attempting to conciliate. Max hoped her evening dress was flame retardant.

      “You’ve gone quiet,” Sky said. “Are you enjoying yourself?”

      “Let’s say I’m being entertained.”

      Noticing what had prompted his dry remark, she clicked her tongue in admonishment. “For Gina’s sake, I hope they don’t come to blows.”

      “Do they often?”

      “Not since Blake moved out of the house. He has some issues with the way Case and Creed cut him out of the family business.”

      “I hear he’s done very well on his own.”

      “Extremely well. His casinos are worth a bomb, which is all the more reason he should let this stuff go.” The frown puckering Sky’s brow deepened to a scowl.

      “Perhaps I should go and crack their stubborn male heads together.”

      “You’ll only draw more attention. Besides, Creed’s girlfriend looks like she has them in hand.”

      “Would you look at that? They’re walking off in separate directions, and I don’t think Case and Gina even noticed!” She breathed a sigh of relief and relaxed again.

      “I heard Sasha was very good at her job. Have you met her? She’s a public relations assistant at Dakota Fortune.”

      “I haven’t, but after that display I’d like to.”

      “I heard you had a rep as a lady’s man. ‘The Playboy Cowboy’, isn’t it?”

      Heard from Zack, no doubt. His friend thought the society columnist’s ridiculous tag was a real hoot. Max shook his head in mock disillusionment. “I can’t believe you’d take the word of that silver-tongued Kiwi over your own flesh-and-blood relation.”

      Oddly, she didn’t fire back her usual smart mouth response. Max noticed the slight flush creeping into her face. Uh-oh. “I should warn you about Zack….”

      “I should warn you about Sasha,” Sky retorted.

      “She’s with Creed.”

      “My interest is only in her PR skills.”

      “Sure it is.”

      Max chuckled and didn’t bother defending himself further. He did like women but his teasing banter with Sky was only that. A bit of fun that helped divert his attention from the only woman who had captured his interest tonight.

      That woman wasn’t Creed’s auburn-haired date, despite her impressive peacemaking performance.

      A tap on his shoulder brought their dance to a halt and he turned to find Maya Blackstone apologizing for the interruption. Maya was the daughter of Nash Fortune’s third and current wife, Patricia, with striking looks that affirmed her Native American heritage. From what he’d gathered while living at the Fortune estate, Maya was a close friend of Skylar’s but maintained a cool distance from the rest of her step-siblings.

      Maya turned a worried face to Sky. “Have you seen my mother? I’ve looked everywhere and can’t find her. She was so quiet earlier—I’m worried she may be ill.”

      “She wasn’t feeling well,” Sky confirmed. “A headache, I think. She said she was going home before it got any worse, but she didn’t want anyone to fuss.”

      “But that’s so unlike her,” Maya fussed regardless. “You know she hates missing any part of a family celebration.”

      “Well, СКАЧАТЬ