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Chapter 24
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Taken by Surprise Chapter 25
"I understand." Shea took another sip of coffee. "Not that it's any of my business but exactly how many companies do you own?"He chuckled. "If I tell you, will your fee go up?""Don't be ridiculous. I charge what I charge. I was just curious."They had reached the stage by this time. Cruz sat on the edge of it and motioned for her to join him. "I could have walked into my father's business, you know. I'm sure you heard the story. But I've always had this obsession to earn whatever I got. So I took money I'd saved and began flipping houses."She nodded. "Buying old ones, rehabbing them and selling them for more money.""That's it. But other things began to interest me, so I went after companies that fit the bill. Now there are ten separate entities under the Castillo Corporation banner. Is that enough information?""I wasn't prying," she said hastily. "Just trying to understand the man you are.""The man I am is busy getting ready to wow his clients tonight." He waved his hand b
Taken by Surprise Chapter 26
Cruz showered and dressed first, needing to be ready out front to greet his guests."Take your time, cara," he told her. "No rush. Look for me at the entrance to the tent when you're ready."Shea took him at his word, soaking in the tub, then washing her hair and carefully blow-drying it. Tonight she left it long and loose, a riot of dark blonde curls around her face. She took extra pains with her makeup and sprayed herself from a new bottle of expensive cologne. Finally she dressed in the outfit she'd brought-a long printed skirt that swirled around her ankles and a white peasant blouse that she wore off the shoulders.She'd had no idea what other women would be wearing and Cruz had been absolutely no help. She'd finally decided to dress for the environment and hope she wasn't laughed out of the place. Stepping into the sandals next to the dresser, she took a final look at herself in the mirror, fluffed her hair one more time and headed through the house for the backyard.She esti
Taken by Surprise Chapter 27
If they gave medals for kissing, Shea thought, this man would take the gold. His tongue swept in, tasting every inch of her, pressing against the roof of her mouth, running his tongue over her teeth then plunging it deep, deep, deep. He shifted the angle of his head to go even deeper, then dragged his tongue out and licked a pattern around her lips. By the time he moved to other parts of her body, she felt as slick and heavy as molten nickels.Cruz's hands were warm on her breasts, squeezing them gently, licking the nipples and grazing his teeth across them."So beautiful," he told her in a thick voice. "So gorgeous. A man could feast on these forever."Every touch sent spikes of electricity through her, straight to her throbbing pussy. His tongue flicked and retreated, teasing her nipples into an even more distended state. Shea moaned, a low sound in her throat and shifted her body beneath his, trying to urge him to more aggressive activity."Don't rush me," he murmured in a hoars
Taken by Surprise Chapter 28
Shea sat at the small table under the umbrella Cruz had asked the hands to set up for her. Texas heat could be devastating and he worried that she spent too much time in it."Use the trailer," he urged constantly. "That's what it's for, cara. Please."But now that she'd made the commitment she liked to eyeball everything personally.Cruz had loved her designs, not only for the new hacienda set high on a hill but for the remodel of the existing one as well as the small homes for the foreman and the married hands and a modern new bunkhouse for the others."You really meant it when you said you planned to spend a lot of money," she'd teased him when he'd signed the contracts. Exactly how rich are you?"His face had tightened and an unfamiliar expression had come over it. "Is it important to you?" he'd snapped."No, not at all." She'd shaken her head. "It was just a joke, Cruz. I don't give a damn how much you have. Okay?"His face had relaxed again. "Sorry, Shea. I just have a lot
Taken by Surprise Chapter 29
"She is lying," Safina said, placing a glass of iced tea in front of Shea.John Reston had called a halt to all work until they could get this mess straightened out. Lorena Castillo had waved a marriage license under their noses and everything had shut down. Shea had hightailed it for the hacienda in the golf cart, barely making it into the kitchen to give Safina a bare outline before she heard the Mercedes pull up in front.High heels tapped on the terra cotta tiles as Lorena Castillo made her way to the kitchen. The look she gave Shea was a mixture of disgust and hate."What are you doing in this house?""Getting ready to leave. Don't worry.""Please don't tell me you've been staying here," she spat. "I consider that an outrage."Shea counted to ten before she spoke. "I have a question for you. If you're really Cruz's wife, where have you been all this time? Not anywhere around where people could see you.""Where I've been is incidental. I'm back and you're out. Along with any
Taken by Surprise Chapter 30
Although she buried herself in as much work as possible, even pulling potential clients out of the call-back file, the days seemed to drag by. Saturday was the expected date of Cruz's return. Before she went to bed Friday night she turned off her cell phone, unplugged the land line and finished off a bottle of wine.When she awoke late Saturday morning, for a moment she thought the pounding she heard was in her head, a present from the empty wine bottle. But after stumbling into the bathroom and swallowing three aspirins with a glass of water, she realized the pounding not only continued but was accompanied by the furious ringing of her bell.Pulling on a robe and pushing her disheveled hair back from her face, she went to the door and hollered, "Whoever you are, go away. No one's home.""Open the damn door." Cruz's voice was loud and angry."Go away," she shouted again. "I have nothing to say to you.""Well, I have plenty to say Do you want me to stand out here and yell so all th
Taken by Surprise Chapter 31
Cruz ignored her and kept walking until they reached the cabin. Once inside he tossed her onto the bed, straddled her and captured her hands before she could hit him again."We are going to get all of this out," he told her, "so you might as well simmer down.""Go to hell," she spat."Tsk tsk. Such language from a lady. But I promise you, I'm not moving until I tell you the truth. The real truth.""Answer one question for me." Her anger was so hot she wondered she didn't incinerate herself."I'll answer all the questions you want," he agreed, "if you promise not to hit me.""Depends on your answers," she grumped. "Okay. Are you married to that witch?""Yes. And no."Shea tried to struggle up but Cruz had her effectively imprisoned."What the hell is that supposed to mean"He sighed heavily. "This is very embarrassing, cara. Ten years ago I was young and wild and horny. I was busy making money and living in the moment, tasting everything life had to offer. Lorena was the devil
Taken by Surprise Chapter 1
Part One: Taken by SurpriseHow was it possible my life can suck this much?Jessie Coford stared at her reflection in the bathroom mirror and asked herself that question for perhaps the hundredth time. Had she pissed off the gods of fate? Was Mercury in retrograde? Had she fallen into an alternate universe? All in all, as far as she was concerned, life was a bitch. Today was just the culmination of a runaway train of bad luck.Six months ago, everything had seemed to be going her way. Her fifteen-year plan was on target to build her reputation and finally open her own place. She'd been saving and scrimping and putting money aside from the day she graduated from culinary school and got her first job. She even knew exactly what kind of place it would be-a trendy café with interesting but excellent food that people stood in line for.She was a talented chef employed in one of Houston's upscale restaurants, with a growing reputation and expecting a significant raise. And in a fantast
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