Cindy Kirk - The Tycoon's Son

Visitors to the island were always awed and amazed at its beauty. If they’d had time, he might have even taken her up into the mountains and shown her the wild horses…

“I understand there are wild horses on Kefalonia,” Trish said.

Theo jerked back slightly. It was as if she’d read his mind.

“I don’t know if I told you,” Trish said. “But I’m a huge animal lover.”

Theo tilted his head. It confused him when women switched conversation topics midstream. Usually he could follow their logic…but not this time.

“Is that right?” He wrapped his hands around the steaming cup of espresso.

“I’m involved with Paws and Hands Together,” she said. “It’s a shih tzu rescue organization.”

Theo pulled his brows together, trying to place the breed. “Are those the dogs that look like mops?”

Trish laughed. “They’re the ones.”

“What do you do with the organization?” He liked the way her eyes lit up when she talked about the dogs.

“I maintain the Web site,” she said, the tension which had tightened the corners of her mouth easing. “And I take in foster dogs, ones waiting to be adopted. I also do some fund-raising. Finding good homes for these animals takes some serious cash.”

The passion in her voice was contagious and suddenly Theo found himself telling her all about the wild horses of Kefalonia and his plans to save them from extinction.

“I can’t believe that the government isn’t doing more to protect them.” Outrage filled Trish’s voice and her hazel eyes flashed.

Theo had to smile at her vehemence. He felt the same way but had learned anger without action accomplished nothing. “I know what you mean. We continue to lobby for a ruling to protect wild horses on public and National Park lands. But we can’t wait for that to happen. We need to focus on making changes happen ourselves.”

“That can get expensive.”

There was something in her voice that caused him to look up. But all he saw on her face was concern.

“It is,” Theo admitted. “We need to improve the watering facilities and provide shelter, as well as developing nature watch facilities and protection safaris. It all costs money.”

He leaned forward and his love for these abandoned creatures welled up and spilled over into his voice. “The wild horses of Mount Ainos have no one else. If my foundation doesn’t help them, who will? They are on the verge of extinction.”

His grandfather had taken him to Kefalonia for the first time when he’d been but a small boy. They’d hiked the mountain above the village of Arginia and it was there that Theo had gotten his first glimpse of the ponies.

When his grandfather had told him that no one wanted the proud, spirited animals, Theo had felt an instant affinity. Though he knew his grandparents loved him, sometimes he felt as if no one wanted him, either.

Way back then, when he’d been but a child, he’d vowed to help the horses.

Now his childish dream had become a reality.

“Where do most of your donations come from?”

Trish’s voice pulled him back to the present.

“Ironically, from tourists.” Theo gave a little laugh. “When we do our tours…when the visitors watch the horses gallop across the steep, rocky slopes of the mountain, they fall in love. And when they learn of the precarious fate of these beautiful animals, they dig into their wallets.”

The generosity of the Americans, in particular, continued to amaze Theo.

Trish’s finger traced an imaginary figure eight on the tabletop. “It sounds like fewer tours to Kefalonia could mean less money for your foundation.”

There was something in her way-too-casual tone that sent red warning flags popping up in Theo’s head. “What are you trying to say?”

Trish looked straight at him. “By refusing to contract with Liberty, it would seem that you are also cutting off a large source of potential donors to your foundation.”

The statement hung in the air, bold and raw, for several heartbeats. Theo tightened his grip on the cup. “I’m not contracting with Liberty.”

Trish leaned back in her seat and expelled a long breath. “If you look at this rationally—”

“I’ve said all I’m going to say on the matter,” Theo told her, not bothering to hide his irritation. He’d given her his answer. The subject was not up for discussion.

To his amazement, Trish didn’t back down. She leaned forward and rested both elbows on the table. “Hear me out,” she said, raising a hand when he started to speak. “I really want you to sign that contract. It will be good for me, good for you, and—”

“I told you—”

“—and good for your foundation,” she continued without missing a beat. “As a bonus for signing I will donate the following sum of money to your foundation—”

Theo’s jaw dropped open at the amount she named. It was at least a year’s worth of tourist donations. For a second his mind jumped ahead to what they could do with the money. They could start work on some additional self-filling watering facilities, they could—

No. He shut down the wishful daydreams playing in his head. Even if he was interested in signing—which he wasn’t—there was something about the offer that didn’t ring true.

“What do you say?” she asked, her eagerness making her words come out fast. “The way I see it, this deal is a win-win for everyone.”

She looked so pretty sitting there with the sunlight from the window dancing across her hair and a hopeful gleam in her eyes that Theo was hard-pressed not to give her everything she wanted.

“This money you would donate,” Theo said, “where would it come from?”

She paused for a half heartbeat before answering. “From my company.”

The momentary hesitation confirmed Theo’s suspicions. Still he pressed onward, wanting to hear her admit that his father was behind this offer. “It’s a large sum.”

“My business is important to me. Keeping clients such as Liberty happy and satisfied is essential.” There was an earnest look on her face and a ring of truth in her words. Still, Theo wasn’t convinced.

“Stamos gave you the money, didn’t he?” Theo suddenly leaned forward, crowding her, trying not to be distracted by the intoxicatingly sweet scent of her perfume.

She averted her gaze, her hair hiding her eyes from view. “I told you,” she said, “I will be the one writing the check.”

He wasn’t fooled. She still hadn’t answered his question. “But the money will come from him.”

“How many times do I have to tell you.” A hint of desperation crept into Trish’s tone. “I will be—”

“The money is coming from him.” Equally determined, Theo hammered his point.

“Do you really care who it comes from?” Trish gazed at him over the top of her glass of ouzo, a splash of red coloring her cheeks.

Disappointment coursed through Theo’s veins. It was as he’d thought. The redheaded American was in league with the devil. She didn’t care about the horses…or him. All she wanted was to get him to bend to his father’s will. Theo pushed back his chair. “Our business is concluded.”

“You didn’t give me your answer,” Trish protested.

“I’d sooner strike a deal with Satan himself than enter into an agreement with Elias Stamos,” Theo said, keeping his tone low, aware of the curious glances directed their way.

Confusion clouded Trish’s gaze. “But why? I’d say in this instance he’s being more than fair.”

“I don’t like to be manipulated,” Theo said. “And I don’t like lies.”

Her cheeks reddened as if she’d been slapped. She lifted her chin and her eyes blazed, but when she spoke her words were carefully measured and conciliatory. “I’m sorry you feel that way. That’s certainly not the intention of the offer.” She leaned forward, resting her forearms on the table. “I want to help you and the wild horses. At least consider the possibility.”