Brenda Jackson - Wed to the Texan / Taming Clint Westmoreland - Wed to the Texan

Wearing one of his dark suits, he was at his most appealing …and formidable. Her mouth went dry and her pulse raced. She couldn’t keep from glancing at his sensual, sculpted lips and thinking about his kisses. Trying to gather her wits, she inhaled. Jake looked confident and in control.

“You look gorgeous,” he said.

“Thank you,” she replied, walking away from him to put distance between them. She needed to stay on her toes, because she could feel a battle coming.

“How’s the hotel? My friend’s is just down the street if you care to move. I can get you a luxury suite.”

“I’m comfortable where I am,” she replied, wondering how long they would deal so courteously with each other. A moment of tense silence stretched between them.

“Have you decided? Do you accept my offer?” Jake asked.

“I’ve given it a lot of thought. I stayed up all night.” She raised her chin. “You said you’re always open to negotiation. You told me to learn to salvage what I can from a bad situation.”

Amusement flashed in his eyes. “I did offer that advice.”

“I hope I took it,” she replied, trying to look calm. She didn’t want to let him discover her palms were already damp. “You also advised me to always listen to the offer and weigh my options.”

“I may have extended a bit more advice than I should have for my own good,” he remarked dryly.

They were sparring, and at the moment she enjoyed it. But she also knew she was out of her league. Jake was an old hand at one-upmanship, and she felt as if she were tiptoeing through a verbal minefield.

“I’ve thought about everything, considered the possibilities and the future. I want the million you promised. I can’t give that up,” she said, and he smiled.

“I’m glad you faced reality. I hope you’ve calmed down,” he said with satisfaction in his voice.

“I’m composed enough. I’ll stay for the six months with a definite agreement that there will be no marital privileges. This will be a marriage on paper only.”

“Agreed,” he declared. “It sounds as if there’s a condition coming. What are the terms? I have a feeling there’s something you want besides the million dollars.”

“You’re astute as usual,” she said, her pulse quickening as she braced for the storm she knew would follow. “I recall you saying to me, ‘Do you think I’ll miss it?’ referring to the half a million you first offered me. No, you won’t miss the money. It’s pocket change to you. In your world, it’s a paltry sum, so you’re really not out anything on this so far, Jake.” Her heart raced as he stared at her.

“I’m beginning to think I should stop offering you advice. A million dollars isn’t exactly ‘pocket change.’ How much more do you want?” he persisted, watching her more intently now.

“I don’t want more money,” she replied, taking a deep breath. “Your world revolves around money. Mine doesn’t. Mine is wound up with people and their needs.”

“So?” he asked when she paused to take a breath. “What else do you want?”

“You. I want you to give four hours a week of your own time to coach some kids in football on Saturday afternoons.”

“Hell! I’m not spending my valuable time with a bunch of kids,” he snapped, his eyes flashing. “No way. Can’t they get football coaching at school?”

“They could use some personal attention.”

His dry laugh held no humor. “I’m not coaching any kids. Forget it, Emily! I don’t want to deal with kids!” he exclaimed, losing his poise.

She’d stayed awake until four in the morning contemplating her future and weighing options. This was an opportunity to get what she wanted from him and at the same time to shake up his world and exact payment for his deception. Never again would she have such leverage with him. She didn’t intend to back off now even if it cost her the million and the marriage, which was doomed, anyway.

“I don’t imagine you do. But then, I don’t want to move back in with you,” she replied, trying to sound nonchalant and indifferent. In addition to getting back at him, she wanted to help the boys. And deep down, she knew Jake was still the person who was good to his family and good to friends. She suspected if she could reach him and make him really look at some of the world’s problems, he’d do more to help solve them. Right now, she knew she was in for a battle.

“No,” he said flatly. “That’s an unreasonable demand. I use my time in far more productive ways.”

“Productive to you. If you don’t want to meet my terms, okay. We’ll get our lawyers and dissolve our marriage,” she said, her heart drumming. The air crackled with static as they clashed.

He stared at her and she stared back. She was glad she was across the room from him, because her heart was racing violently. Never in her life had she threatened anyone, but she was desperate and furious.

Silence stretched between them, taut sparks of friction flying. Silence and indecision was so unlike him, and her edginess grew. She knew he was trying to think of something—anything—to get what he wanted and avoid meeting her terms. He was a formidable adversary. That was the only way she saw him now—as an opponent.

She waited, uncertain whether to keep quiet or urge him to give her an answer. He stood as still as a statue, his expression impassive. She heard a car horn honk far in the distance, disrupting the silence that enveloped them like fog.

“Well?” she asked finally, certain he could hear her hammering heart.

“Dammit! I’ll give you two million if you cut my coaching the kids,” Jake bargained. “That’s a damned good offer.”

As elation bubbled in her, she tried to remain expressionless and composed. He wanted to bargain and he hadn’t come up with anything that gave him an advantage.

She shook her head, hoping she continued sounding nonchalant. “My offer is firm—no coaching, no deal,” she said.

“I won’t do it, Emily. You’ll lose the million.”

“So be it,” she answered, and prayed that she remained firm.

He glared at her and she knew he was thinking over options. “I won’t be any good at working with a bunch of teens.”

Again she had another surge of exhilaration. He hadn’t turned her down. “You know a lot about football,” she reminded him. “They’re kids. You know more than they do. You’ll be very skilled at it. You’re successful at everything you do.”

“I know nothing about teenage kids.”

“Not so, Jake. You were one, once. You had friends. If nothing else, you’ll muddle through somehow. Coach them or I walk out of your life,” she threatened, praying she seemed confident. “It’s only a handful of kids. You don’t have a qualm about standing in front of a boardroom filled with executives who want to tear you to pieces. You thrive on competition. These kids will look up to you. I’ll even go with you the first time and introduce you.”

“Let me get this straight—if I give in to your demands, you’ll stay the six months in my house as my wife in name only. People will think we have a regular marriage, but you and I will know better. In turn, I pay you one million dollars and coach four kids. Is that correct?”

“Yes,” she agreed.

Another silence stretched between them, and time passed while they stared at each other. Six months earlier, Jake’s withering look would have terrified her into yielding to whatever he demanded. But all she had to do was think about his deception and she found the strength to face him unruffled. She didn’t actually think she’d win, but she was curious to see just how money hungry Jake was. She had nothing to lose either way. She was leaving him sooner or later. How badly did he want the inheritance?