Tempting the Texas Tycoon

By Sara Orwig

He'd bought her fair and square. The charity auction gave millionaire Noah Brand the perfect opportunity to sweep Faith Cabrera off her feet. Now the cool beauty could no longer avoid him. For one day…and night…he had his competitor at his mercy. And it was both their pleasures.

But Faith knew one evening could not lead to a lifetime of happiness. For Noah was hell-bent on dominating his industry, and her family's company was next….

• Language: English
• Publisher: Harlequin Desire
• Release date: Jan 1, 2010
• ISBN: 9781426846274

Sara Orwig

Sara Orwig lives in Oklahoma and has a deep love of Texas. With a master’s degree in English, Sara taught high school English, was Writer-in-Residence at the University of Central Oklahoma and was one of the first inductees into the Oklahoma Professional Writers Hall of Fame. Sara has written mainstream fiction, historical and contemporary romance. Books are beloved treasures that take Sara to magical worlds. She loves both reading and writing them.

Book preview

Prologue

"Here’s to you, Dad," Noah Brand said, raising his glass of Dom Pérignon in a toast.

Happy birthday. Jeff lifted his glass, too, a mirror image of his twin with thick black hair, gray eyes, a firm jaw. Both were three inches over six feet tall and their builds were similar. Jeff’s distinct personality showed in his preference for Western suits and boots.

Thank you, boys. We’ll go join the others, but I wanted a private moment while the two of you are here. Knox sipped his drink, holding their attention in typical fashion.

Worry fluttered in Noah because his father’s health, although not terrible, wasn’t as good as it once was. A slight breeze came through open French doors. It was the fourth of March and already Dallas had signs of spring.

You’re thirty-four years old now, Knox continued, looking directly at Noah, who suddenly felt as if this talk were directed to him more than Jeff. I see no deep female relationship happening for either of you, Knox said, and Noah relaxed, knowing his father was just going to try to meddle in their lives. Once again Jeff would tune out the rest of the conversation.

You’re in the prime of life. My biological clock is ticking as well as your mother’s. We would like to see both of you married and more settled.

Dad, damn, Jeff said, and Knox waved his hand.

Hear me out. I know I can’t dictate when either of you will marry. I know you both like women and have had close relationships, but they never get too deep and never, ever last. Neither of you even asked to bring a woman to the party tonight.

This is a family deal, Jeff said, and Noah wondered if Jeff would go all his life butting heads with their dad. There were better ways of managing people. And much faster ones.

All I want to do is make you both at least think about the possibilities. Tell you what, if either of you marries within a year from tonight, I will give you a present of five million dollars.

Noah couldn’t resist a smile, and Jeff laughed aloud, shaking his head as he stood.

Sit, Jeff. I’m not finished. As a bonus, the first one of you to marry will get an additional two million.

Jeff’s smile vanished. So you’re pitting us against each other again, he said in disgust while Noah held back any comment.

It’s just an additional incentive. Two million will not make or break either one of you. You’ve both done well for yourselves.

Well, thanks, Dad, Jeff said, the cynical note clear in his tone of voice as he stood. I’m going back to the party. In long strides he was out of the room, letting the door swing shut behind him. Noah and Knox looked at each other.

You expect me to get that extra two million, Noah said.

I know you’re competitive, as well as cooperative, and I know Jeff is a rebel.

Noah swirled the drink he held and stood. Dad, I’d like to keep you and Mom happy, but marriage isn’t even on my horizon.

In many ways marriage is a small part of life, Noah. Our leather business is where you’ll spend your time. You have enough wealth to do as you please and keep a woman happy. You’ll find children are a blessing—they’re important. Find a woman from your friends, someone you can get along with, and start a family. You’ll never regret it.

I’ll think about that, Noah said. Your guests may be missing you by now, Dad. Let’s rejoin the party.

Knox strode across the room and walked out with Noah, joining the crowd in the great room where they held parties. Noah saw Jeff standing alone and strolled over to him.

Once again he’s played us against each other, Jeff repeated. Well, bro, this is one time you have my permission to win. I’ll step back out of the way.

Noah laughed. Frankly, I was going to let you win this time. All seven mil. I’m not in the marriage market, and as good as it seems to have seven mil tossed in my lap for nothing, I don’t see marriage happening. You know I’ve always said I don’t want to marry until I’m in my forties. I don’t want to take Dad’s advice and just find someone to marry because I can afford to keep her happy, and I’ll be busy with work.

Jeff had been taking a drink and almost choked with his laughter. Son of a gun! He’s got it all planned for you. What a prospect! Of course, that’s what he and Mom have and they’re both happy. Mom can shop and travel to her heart’s content. We grew up with nannies—that isn’t what I want in my life and I am not getting married to please Dad or for some bonus. He always has to try to control our lives. I don’t know how you stand working with him constantly. Makes me love my ranch twice as much.

Dad and I are so busy with our leather business, acquiring more stores, upgrading products, adding lines. We hardly see each other. Noah set down his champagne flute. We better mingle with the company. Let’s have lunch soon, Jeff.

Sure, if you can tear yourself away from Brand Enterprises. I’ll be here three or four more days for a cattle auction. How about Monday noonish? Jeff suggested as Noah agreed and walked away, his thoughts turning to those men in the crowd it would be advantageous to talk to for business. He wasn’t marrying soon. At present there wasn’t even a woman in his life.

One

Emilio Cabrera smiled broadly as he greeted his granddaughter Monday morning and received a hug from her. Faith Cabrera felt a rush of love for him, wishing she could do more to help him.

Good morning, she said.

Ah, how did I ever get such a beautiful granddaughter?

She smiled. Thanks, Granddad. Could it be you’re a little prejudiced? She smoothed a wayward tendril of blond hair back in place.

So what’s happening in our world this morning? Emilio asked.

Faith waved a piece of paper she had received from their receptionist-secretary, Angie Nelson. For one thing we’ve had another call from someone with Brand Enterprises. I’m not taking any more calls from those people.

Emilio nodded. They can’t get it through their collective heads that I won’t sell our family business. They think I’m old and need to give it up.

That’s not it, Granddad, she said, always hating to hear him talk about getting older. I’ve always been told that they’ve been after this company since it started. I have never known if that’s what started the feud between the two families or if the feud came first, causing them to try to buy us out.

The feud goes so far back, even I can’t answer your question completely. What I do know is that my grandfather and my father both fought the Brands. There were buildings and trucks damaged. We have some bullet holes in the back of this building from Brands shooting at our family. No one was ever sent to their grave, but it was bad. Trucks run off the road, all sorts of things. The violence ended with my father and there’s never been any that involved my generation. Now it’s bitter feelings. Of course, the Cabreras blame the Brands. Just as the Brands said they were here first and blame the Cabreras. Don’t you worry over it. I don’t mind telling them no again.

I intend to see that you don’t have to deal with them. I’ll handle the Brands. Or rather, avoid the Brands. They’ve wasted enough of our time.

When I walked in, I saw you poring over the books. How did we do last month?

I haven’t gotten it tallied, she said, trying to avoid getting specific until she checked thoroughly, but their sales were still slipping.

You don’t have it tallied, or you don’t want to worry your grandfather? he asked with a twinkle in his dark eyes. Even though he would be seventy-nine this year, he still had some dark hair sprinkled with the gray curls that covered his head. He was a master craftsman and once again, she regretted that there weren’t any family members left to carry on the craft.

I know you can handle the truth about Cabrera Custom Leathers, and we’re still in the black, I’m sure.

Nodding, he stepped away. I don’t know what I’d do without you, but I wish you hadn’t given up your own job running that department store.

We’ve been over that, Granddad, she said with a smile.

He left the room and she straightened her shoulders.

As she ran her hand along the antique mahogany desk, she touched scratches from years of wear. In a corner of her office an ancient saddle was mounted on a wood stand, her great-great-grandfather’s saddle that he had made and then used for years. This office was part of her grandfather. He was the most important person in her life and she intended to protect him from the Brands.

She returned to her desk to get back to work until the next person knocked at her open office door and she looked up to see their tall, sandy-haired receptionist. Come in, Angie, she said, wondering what was causing Angie’s panicked expression.

Faith, I stepped out to pick up our mail and I saw a limo parked out front. A tall man in a suit was getting out.

A limo in this old industrial part of town? Even rarer than the suit.

That’s what I thought, Angie said. It’s not exactly jeans and overalls.

Chances are the Brand company again, Faith snapped while her mind raced. Thanks, Angie. I’m slipping out the back. I have errands anyway. I don’t want to talk to another Brand employee, not even Noah Brand himself, she said, still surprised that a week earlier, after two calls from a vice president, the COO of Brand Enterprises had called her. She hadn’t taken his call.

Stall him briefly while I leave. I’ll have my cell phone. You can honestly tell him that I’m not here. They quit long ago trying to talk to Granddad, so they won’t ask for him. As she grabbed her purse and a book, she rushed for the door. Thanks a million.

Stepping into the shaded alley, Faith let the door swing shut behind her. When a shadow moved, she spun around. With a gasp she looked into thickly lashed, dancing gray eyes that appeared filled with amusement. Slight creases bracketed his well-shaped mouth. Startled, she knew she was facing Noah Brand.

Miss Cabrera, he said in a deep voice, I’m Noah Brand. He offered his hand.

Mr. Brand— she said, hating to shake hands with him, but unable to avoid the polite gesture. The minute his warm hand closed firmly around hers, a tingle raced from his touch. She was held as much by his grip as his steady gaze that drove all thoughts of business out of mind.

Sorry if you’re late for an appointment, he said. You seem in a big rush.

I am. I—

I’ve tried to contact you, but of course, I had no idea how beautiful the youngest Cabrera in this business is. Had I known, I would have been here sooner.

Mr. Brand— she tried again, feeling her face flush.

It’s Noah, Faith, he said, both names rolling off his tongue, stirring a flash of warmth in her. She made an effort to break the unwavering stare as she removed her hand from his.

With families that go back for generations—since the Cabreras first settled here—I’m surprised we haven’t crossed paths before now. The Brands go as far back as the Cabreras do.

And the Brands have been trying to buy out their competition since the beginning. Your family has always been after mine. Unsuccessfully, I might add, she said, causing a faint smile.

Are you saying your family is stubborn? he teased.

No, I’m saying we like what we do and aren’t worried about our competitors.

To her chagrin, he chuckled.

As I understand it, you’re handling the business side for your grandfather. I’d like to talk to you about the future of your company and present an offer we have. It never hurts to listen.

Exasperated, she faced him, even though it was difficult to keep her mind on business. The man was drop-dead handsome and she could feel an unwanted, fiery chemistry sending her pulse racing. She fought an urge to smooth her hair. Of course, she said without thinking, and realized she had just succumbed to his mesmerizing spell. Just not at this moment, she added hastily. What had gotten into her to be so dazzled by the man’s mere appearance?

How about over dinner tonight? he asked, moving a step closer. She could faintly detect an enticing aftershave. You might be pleasantly surprised by what I have to say. It would benefit your grandfather tremendously.

He was smooth, she’d give him that. He’d hit on the one reason she might possibly listen to his plans. In these circumstances, isn’t a dinner invitation an unorthodox way to present a business deal? she asked. Your family has been after my family’s leather business for generations and it’s always been no. That hasn’t changed.

You don’t even know what I’m going to say. Don’t you at least want to know what we have in mind?

I can well guess. I doubt if it’s changed much from the last time you talked Granddad into seeing you, she said.

It might be worth more to you now, he said. And your granddad has worked a long time. He’s bound to have considered retirement.

Granddad is far from wanting to retire. He’s doing what he loves, she said, letting her animosity show with a harsher tone. Thank you for the dinner invitation, she said, inching toward