It's Only Temporary - The Complete Collection Page 24

  But mentioning Cole had given Maggie an enemy to engage with. To focus on. To spar with.

  Maybe an enemy wasn’t the best solution to the alone problem but Ginny knew her sister. Maggie needed someone who would push at her, irritate her, not coddle her.

  Cole would never coddle her sister.

  In the days since Ginny had mentioned his name, Maggie had become revitalized. Not only had Cole given her hope, his name had snapped her out of her funk. She might still fail but if Cole was watching her, she’d do it with her head held high.

  And now Ginny only had to worry about her husband again. Because if Maggie and Cole saved the business, Tanner would be the only failure.

  Ginny wasn’t sure he would survive that.

  She looked out the window again. Tanner wasn’t alone; he just wanted to be.

  “Oh, Daddy. What do you do when someone you love hates who he is?”

  She paused, waiting. But her father never answered.

  Maggie looked over at Cole glaring out the window of her Hyundai, his arms crossed. She said, “You’re pouting.”

  He looked at her. “You cheated.”

  “You cheated. I just didn’t let you win this time.”

  “You always pick scissors.”

  “Really, Cole. I always pick scissors?” She laughed, shaking her head. “Boys are so easy. Especially when they’re underestimating a girl.”

  “You’re telling me you did it on purpose the whole time? I don’t believe you.”

  It had started on accident but she’d found it useful. When she was a child.

  She said, “You let me win most of the time and it was interesting to see when you really wanted it.”

  “I figured if you won most of the time, you’d keep picking scissors.”

  She smiled. “You figured right.”

  The traffic into Dallas was busy and when Maggie got downtown she didn’t even bother looking for a parking space, just went straight to a garage.

  Oh, how she missed her dedicated spot at her old building.

  But that had gone awhile ago. They’d had to find cheaper rent on the outskirts of town, away from the central business district.

  She wasn’t sure if advertising their financial troubles had been the best idea but it had been necessary. To save a sinking ship, you had to plug holes and start bailing. Cut costs and increase revenue.

  Cole sat firmly in the cut costs category. Bankruptcy really was a last resort, for everyone involved, and if Cole Montgomery made her creditors think they could get more for her debt by sticking with her than the pennies they’d get after she declared bankruptcy, they’d work with her on the repayment terms. If she could cut her debt payments enough, she might stop going into more debt with every passing month.

  Maggie thought Cole might even sit in the increase revenue category, if he could be persuaded to take on a partner out in Midland.

  One step at a time. Maggie could only focus on one impossible mission at a time.

  Plus, she was pretty sure she knew what he would want in exchange for a partnership. And if she ever ended up in Cole’s bed again, it wouldn’t be because of a deal.

  Which meant she wasn’t getting back in his bed.

  Cole unfolded himself out of her little car and she said, “See. It’s bigger than it looks.”

  “I very nearly fit. But my truck is more comfortable.” He stretched and eyed her. “And it has bench seats.”

  “Oh, why didn’t you say so? We could have stopped for a little afternoon delight if we’d only had bench seats.”

  He matched her long stride easily, taking her free hand and pulling it through his arm.

  His muscles were hard against her fingers, his skin hot through his shirt. She stopped and turned toward him. Their bodies were close and she could smell his Irish Spring.

  Too many memories. Like he’d said, not all of them bad. But they were all distracting.

  She took a deep breath, not trying to pull her hand away. He was a predator, snapping at her heels, trying to make her run.

  And if she knew one thing, it was that you didn’t run from a predator.

  You pushed back. You made him run.

  And if it was anyone but Cole she would have closed that distance between them. Pressed her body into his, rubbed her hand up and down his arm, lowered her voice, and erased every thought in his head but the one she put there.

  She wasn’t above using everything she had to win.

  She just hated when it backfired. Because she still had the image of him lifting her onto his counter, his hands on her ankles.

  He’d painted a picture, dammit. And she couldn’t get it out of her head

  She looked down at her arm entwined with his and said, “I don’t need an escort.”

  “I’m not escorting you. I’m accompanying you.”

  “You don’t need to be touching me to be accompanying me.”

  He was the one that closed the distance between them. He was the one who pressed his body against hers, who lowered his voice.

  He said, “I’m just playing the part, Maggie. And if this was real, I’d be touching you.”

  She whispered, “You’re going to push this as far as you can, aren’t you?”

  “Yep.”

  “You’re really starting to irritate me.”

  Cole said, “I know. I like you irritated.”

  “You think I won’t take it out on you?”

  “I’m hoping you will.”

  A laugh escaped, her belly pulsing against his, and then she narrowed her eyes. “Are you distracting me?”

  He put his lips on hers, making her stomach wobble, her breath hitch.

  She kept her eyes open, her lips shut.

  He pulled back and smiled. “Is it working?”

  She did step back then. But she kept her arm linked through his.

  “I don’t need your help, Cole. You’re only here to look pretty.”

  He chuckled and covered her hand. “I’m only here for the show. And I want to see a tigress hunting her dinner, not a lamb afraid of the slaughter.”

  She stopped again. “Do I look like a lamb?”

  “I can see if etched between your eyes. There was no if when you came to see me and I’ll be damned if this yahoo gets an if.”

  “There was no if with you because I didn’t want you to go along with my plan.”

  He started walking again, dragging her along with him. “And you don’t want this yahoo to go along with your plan either.”

  She walked beside him in silence, her heels clicking loudly in the garage.

  She finally conceded defeat. “I’m not following you.”

  “It’ll come to you.”

  She turned her head to glare at him. He didn’t look at her but he did smile.

  If she wasn’t a lady she would tell him where he could shove it.

  But she was a lady. Which meant she could think it all she wanted, she just wouldn’t say it.

  Cole lost the smile before they entered the gleaming glass building. He strode in with her on his arm, his jeans clean and neat but still jeans, his boots minus the mud but still boots. His expression said that they would accommodate him, not the other way around.

  It had been a long time since she’d felt like that. A long time since she’d strode into any building knowing she owned it.

  Did she have an if etched between her eyes?

  With Cole she’d been fearless. But he was Cole. And a Montgomery.

  You didn’t if a Montgomery. They’d play you along just for the fun of it.

  She wouldn’t if Cole. She wouldn’t give him the satisfaction.

  They rode the elevator up in silence. As the doors opened, he turned to her. His blue eyes clear, cold, calculated.

  She knew no one would see the humor. No one ever had.

  He waited for her to exit, waited for her to lead.

  She handed her card to the woman manning the front desk and said, “Margaret Caldwell and Cole Mo
ntgomery. Gary Irvine will see us.”

  She looked at Cole beside her. Quiet. Unsmiling. Fearsome.

  Ruthless.

  In that moment, it clicked.

  He was the tiger and she was the one who held the thin leash.

  She didn’t want this yahoo to give in now. She’d wanted him to make arrangements with her months ago.

  Now she wanted Cole to eat him.

  She turned back to the secretary. And she smiled.

  They hadn’t bothered to sit, just waited to be escorted back.

  The secretary had made one short call and then taken them down the hall where they were met by Gary’s personal administrator and escorted straight into his office.

  Maggie had said, “I brought my fiance, I hope you don’t mind,” with a smile that said all too clearly she hoped he did.

  Cole had practically heard the silent oh, shit from across the room.

  He knew Maggie on her game would be entertaining.

  He knew linking their names would strike terror into the heart of Dallas.

  And he knew, the second they left, that Gary here would be calling everyone he knew to pass on the news.

  The Montgomerys and Caldwells had teamed up. And they were out for blood.

  Christ almighty, this was going to be fun.

  Cole stayed silent, letting Maggie have her way.

  She crossed her long legs, her skirt sliding up, and Cole thought he was going to have to buy the woman some longer skirts. He didn’t mind her using those kind of tricks on him, but God help him, he couldn’t sit here watching her do it to someone else without wanting to break something.

  Gary’s eyes flicked down and then over at Cole. Gary paled just a bit and sat back in his chair, his eyes widening. Cole decided that as long as the man kept his eyes north of Maggie’s neck, they wouldn’t have any problems.

  Maggie smiled as if she knew exactly what was going on and Cole knew this was what happened when you gave a woman the reins. She led all the men around by the balls.

  Gary cleared his throat. “Um, congratulations. I hadn’t heard the happy news. What can I do for the two of you?”

  “I wanted to personally let you know that circumstances have…” Maggie turned to look at Cole, her lips still curved in a man-eating smile. “Changed.”

  And damn if the brain in Cole’s pants didn’t sit up and take notice.

  He couldn’t help it, he smiled back at her.

  He looked back at Gary and stopped smiling.

  Maggie said, “It’s no secret that Caldwell Holdings is in trouble. But I think, as does Cole, that with a little time, a little leniency, we can save it. And that it would be better for all of us if bankruptcy could be avoided.”

  Gary nodded slowly, looking between the two of them. “I see. Yes. Of course we have always hoped things would turn around for you.”

  “Of course.”

  There was a long, pregnant pause. Maggie sat there smiling, Cole sat there not smiling.

  Gary finally said, “I think we may be able to work something out. Give me a few days to see what I can do for you.”

  Maggie nodded, no if in her eyes. “I’m looking for new payment terms. Fair and equitable to the both of us, of course, but a substantial reduction in cash outlay.”

  Cole stared at Gary, his gaze clearly saying that fair and equitable were not the terms Cole was looking for.

  Maggie had always been big on fair. Cole hadn’t.

  Gary nodded, looking again between the two of them. Clearly wondering just how much Cole was willing to pay to tie himself to the Caldwells. Wondering if MOC would guarantee Caldwell Holdings debt.

  Wasn’t going to happen. Gary here was going to offer a new contract with a longer term along with an interest rate reduction, and what he’d get in return was keeping Cole’s accounts.

  Cole rose slowly. “We’ll be back next week to work out the specific terms. But I will tell you this, whatever you’re thinking of right now, it’s not good enough.”

  When they entered the elevator, Maggie raised her eyebrows at him.

  He said, “He didn’t say thank you. It pissed me off.”

  She squeezed his arm and leaned into him. She sighed. “That was fun. I’d forgotten it could be.”

  He smiled at her. “And now you must be hungry.”

  She shook her head. “I’m full. Bacon and banker.”

  He laughed and turned towards her. “Don’t tell me that after all that bacon and banker, a nice tangy salad isn’t exactly what you want right now.”

  She pulled away from him. “It does sound surprisingly delicious.”

  “During the week, I eat shit out of a microwave. I make up for it on the weekend.”

  “It’s Friday.”

  “Thanks to you, this weekend started a little early.” He eyed her briefcase with its Texas-sized stack of papers inside. “Thanks.”

  She laughed.

  He said, “And I need to refill before we go see the next one.”

  She did, too. Every time he got his hands on her, he felt her bones. She felt frail, and it punched him in the gut.

  Whether it was stress or just the need of every woman today to be as thin as she could, Cole didn’t know. All he knew was he didn’t like it.

  He could tell his mission for the next few weeks was going to be fattening Maggie up.

  He took a step towards her, edging her into the corner of the elevator.

  He said, “And then we’ll need to stop and buy you a new skirt. This one doesn’t fit.”

  She put a hand on his chest, pushing. She said, “It fits just fine.”

  “Then how come every time you sit down it rides up?”

  “That’s what skirts do. And you can see maybe an inch more skin. I’m not flashing the room.”

  He took another step forward, trapping her hand between them.

  He said, “Pants. We’ll get you some pants.”

  “It’s a leg, Cole. I don’t know why you’re getting so worked up about it.”

  He put his hand on her hip, running his hand down to the bottom of her skirt and slowly began pulling it up.

  “It’s not a leg. It’s a tease and a hint and a whiff.”

  She whispered, “Is it distracting?”

  It wasn’t distracting. It was lust-inducing, rage-inducing. He didn’t know whether he’d wanted to punch Gary and pull her skirt down, or shout at the guy to get out and pull her skirt all the way up.

  He said, “Yes, it’s distracting,” and she smiled.

  “Good thing then that all you have to do is sit there and look menacing. You said you wanted to play the part; I’m just helping set the mood.”

  He muttered, “You’re setting some kind of mood.”

  The elevator dinged and the door slid open. Cole stayed where he was a long moment, then sighed.

  He smoothed her skirt back down and pulled her hand back through his arm. He turned to find a handful of people waiting to get in the elevator. They just stood there, and let the elevator doors slide shut again.

  Maggie chuckled. “See? Menacing.”

  “How is it, Maggie, that I can scare everyone but you?”

  She squeezed his arm. “Oh, Cole. It’s never going to happen. I grew up with the scariest man in Texas wrapped around my finger.”

  He turned to look at her, menace oozing from every pore. “Just remember you don’t have this one wrapped around your finger.”

  She laughed and said, “Where were you thinking of going for salad?”

  Megan BryceSome Like It Ruthless

  Four

  Tanner Beaumont’s membership to the country club had lapsed last month. He had to wait for the man he was meeting to arrive before they let him in. He smiled and lounged in his chair but inside it roiled. He’d tried to time it just right but the man he was meeting was late.

  Late to meet Tanner Beaumont.

  That roiled even louder, drowning out the chatter of the room.

  It shouldn’
t hurt. If he was honest with himself, Tanner hadn’t had a membership for the last eleven years. His wife had.

  And no one would have cared if they were late meeting Tanner Beaumont for the last eleven years if it hadn’t been for Ginny.

  He’d married Ginny the summer she’d graduated, tying himself to the Caldwell fortune.

  Sam Caldwell hadn’t been thrilled to marry his youngest daughter off at eighteen, saying she was too young. But Ginny had loved Tanner, wanted him. The Caldwell girls always got what they wanted.

  Even if it was bad for them.

  Jackson Harwood walked in, his phone to his ear. When he saw Tanner he made a beeline straight to him.

  Jackson glared at Tanner and said into the phone, “I want to know every account, every penny, for both of them. Send it to me.”

  He hung up and Tanner leisurely stood and nodded to him. “Jackson.”

  “Tanner. I hear Margaret got herself engaged. To Montgomery.”

  Tanner breathed in. Then nodded.

  “I could have used a heads-up.”

  Tanner realized he should have worked that news himself, should have made himself an intermediary.

  He’d just been hoping it had been a hallucination brought on by cheap scotch.

  Tanner said, “It was sudden.”

  Jackson stared at him a long moment, then jerked his hand, inviting Tanner inside the club with him.

  Jackson went straight to the bar and ordered two Glenmorangie, neat. A little warning bell went off in the back of Tanner’s brain.

  He watched the bartender pour liquid into two glasses. He stared at his drink, already tasting it, already wanting it. Knowing if he reached for it, it would be gone the second his fingers touched it. Knowing if he reached for it, he would reach for another and another.

  Jackson tossed his back. “I’m not saying I was enjoying having Margaret Caldwell over a barrel.” He grinned. “But I was enjoying it.”

  Tanner took a deep breath, still looking at the drink.

  Jackson ordered another and downed it. “She’s a cold bitch and her father was a bastard. I figured it would take a miracle for her to dig out and it wouldn’t hurt any to have some fun with her. Make her beg for once.”

  Tanner stuffed his hands into his pockets. “Did she? Beg?”