Taking Home the Tycoon (Texas Cattleman's Club: Blackmail 9)

“I just said I’m staying at her place. In fact, she generously offered a room to thank me for helping out with the investigation.”

“Uh-huh, okay, Max...”

The rest of his friend’s words droned in his ears as he couldn’t tear his eyes off Natalie. She’d exchanged her flour-flecked clothes for a simple, long sundress that grazed her curves. She was still earthy but fresh, and her hair swung free.

As if she could tell he was entranced, she turned, looked straight at him. His breath caught in his chest. Like a fist right to the sternum. There was no denying the impact.

He turned off his car. “Chels, I gotta go.”

Time to check in to his new digs.

And check out his new landlady.

Two

Concentrate, Natalie sharply reminded herself, looking into the dark eyes of Miss Molly, the golden retriever puppy who had a very specific purpose within their family unit. Natalie wanted to make sure her autistic son had every advantage in the world. And so she’d hired a trainer to help transform Miss Molly into the model service dog. Miss Molly had a lot of potential to help her son.

But not if her mind kept wandering during training sessions like this. Max’s handsome face drifted in and out of her mind. He’d unnerved her, caused a rupture in her day-to-day routine—a routine she had carefully constructed since losing her husband. The daily structure was everything she had—it gave her a sense of stability and power.

Enter Max. A big, bad, devilishly handsome tech billionaire. So much for humdrum. For a moment, Natalie couldn’t believe she’d offered for him to stay at the bed-and-breakfast. Under her roof. She took a deep breath, pushed him from her thoughts and tried to mirror the movement Margie, Miss Molly’s wiry dog trainer, was making.

The sound of an SUV engine mingled with Lexie’s giggling at their golden retriever’s head tilting at Natalie’s command. Lifting her eyes to the road in front of her, she saw him.

Max St. Cloud.

Even from their limited interaction, she’d recognized his features. The door of the black SUV opened and he slid out. His booted feet thudded on the ground, causing dust to encircle him ever so slightly.

Colby nudged her with his foot, causing her to stop gaping for a moment. Her son didn’t look at her and didn’t touch her outright, but instead kicked the ground with his sneaker, and fidgeted with the plaid shirt he wore.

As if sensing his unease, Miss Molly bounded over to him, planting a wet kiss on his cheek. He smiled slightly, but lines of caution still colored his stance.

Margie knelt beside the dog and Colby. Her sharp blue eyes looked up to meet Natalie’s. “New guest? The cyberdetective in from Seattle, right?”

“Yep. That’s him,” she answered, taking in his slow, confident gait, the ease and appeal of his plain white T-shirt. Natalie’s stomach tumbled. With a deep breath, she smoothed her hair, tried to build the wall back up around her emotions.

He was a boarder.

A guest.

Nothing more.

And the butterflies in her stomach damn well needed to listen.

But what could happen with her kids here?

Nothing. Because they were her whole world.

Her daughter, Alexa, bolted from her side, a flurry of kicked-up leaves trailing behind her. She stopped as Max clicked open the picket-fence gate, her little dress still filled with rippled motion. Lexie pulled on the sleeves of her light jean jacket and smiled at him.

“Mister, wanna pet my dog?” Lexie’s spritely voice cooed. She pointed back to where Natalie, Margie and Colby stood together.

Natalie rushed to her daughter, then smoothed back her outgoing child’s hair and tucked her close. “Lexie, Mr. St. Cloud has had a long day. He needs to go to his room.”

“His room?” Lexie glanced up with wide eyes and long lashes. “For a time-out?”

“No, sweetie, he isn’t being sent to time-out. He hasn’t misbehaved.” Although the gleam in his eyes indicated he was open to the option. “He is a guest and we need to be polite.”

“Yes, ma’am.” She turned to Max. “You hungry? We got pastry, Mr. Cloud.”