A Cowboy in Disguise (18 page)

Alexandra grabbed the other boot and a rag. “We really are going to talk after the presentation, aren’t we?”

“I don’t think we have a choice. I know you’re trying to hold me off because we work together. But, Alex, I’d quit my job at D. W.
Songstram
and work full-time building the dude ranch next month if it would make you take me seriously.”

“I take you seriously, Scott. I do. I also know you’re probably not looking to get serious with me right after the presentation. That these things take time. You have a lot to deal with.”

“You know this for a fact, do you?” he said with great amusement showing on his face. She was conveniently leaving out the cabin, the supply closet … Not to mention that he’d wanted to marry and spend his life with the right woman so much that he’d almost rushed into a mistake with the wrong one.

“I’m not explaining this right,” she said. “I think some of Joe’s coffee concoction is still swimming around in my brain. And that’s exactly why we shouldn’t talk about this subject any more tonight.”

“Let’s talk in hypothetical generalities, then.” He sat the boot in front of the fireplace to let the oil soak in for a while. “Describe your idea of the perfect man. What would he look like, first?”

“Okay. Well, he’d look something like you. But don’t attach any great meaning to that.”

“Of course not.” He couldn’t stop smiling for some reason. “What qualities would he have?”

“He’d definitely have to value family life. He’d have good business sense, but good common sense, too. Obviously, he’d have to think I’m the most stunning woman in the universe.” She laughed and set down the boot she’d been working on. “He’d want to grow old together and he’d ooze honor, integrity, loyalty, fidelity. A sense of humor wouldn’t hurt if he’s going to be around me. Oh, and patience. Lots and lots of patience.”

“Haven’t thought this through a bit, have you?”

She ignored him. “What about you?”

“She’d be about five feet, nine inches tall. She’d have a stunning wit, a body to die for, auburn hair, green eyes …”

“Careful, Scott,” she warned.

“Look at Miss Conceited thinking she’s stunning and irresistible. We’re talking in generalities, remember?”

Alexandra blushed furiously. She hated that he could make her do that. “You set me up.”

“And it was easy, too. Forget the part about stunning wit. I guess I can do without that.”

Alexandra grabbed a pillow and threw it at him. When he ducked she said, “And I guess I can add fast reflexes to my wish list.”

He finished laughing and said with all sincerity, “Can I ask a really personal question, Alex?”

“Not a random question? I’m not sure I’ll answer it, but you can try.”

“That’s fair. I want to know why you’ve made everyone you do business with think you’re invincible.”

She looked straight into his eyes. “Because that’s all that got me through. I could have slinked away with my tail between my legs after what Duncan did to me, or I could make it look like I’d only emerged stronger. I couldn’t let anyone see a lapse in judgment. I couldn’t let them see a chink in the armor. It’s just me in the world, Scott. I don’t have any living family. Mary comes the closest. When you’re fending for yourself, you tend to put up walls.”

Scott nodded. “But don’t you know why those people at the Rio Safari gala flocked to you? That had nothing to do with your putting up a front. The business world thinks you’re amazing. All the men in that room thought you were amazing, business or no.”

“That’s the second professional compliment you’ve given me.”

“And are you going to accept this one?”

“I’ll think about it.” She paused and picked up his boot again. “After the presentation.”

Scott got up from the floor and stood with his back to the fireplace. “I’ve almost got the draft business plan for the dude ranch finished.”

“That’s wonderful,” she said. Her mind still reeled from the way she could have such a personal conversation with him and have it feel so natural.

He crossed his arms over his chest. “What do you really think of the dude ranch idea? Would you do anything with the rest of the land?” This was the test, he thought. He had suddenly been overwhelmed with the need to know how Alexandra Hunter would answer such a question.

She didn’t hesitate. “As I said before, I think the idea is brilliant. But I wouldn’t touch the rest of the ranch. I mean, I wouldn’t develop it or add anything to it just to satisfy guests. You’d kill the atmosphere of the place, I think. Your guests are going to want the closest thing to a real ranch experience they can get. And forgetting about the guests for a minute, you have something really special here, Scott. Something you can keep in the family for generations. You don’t know how rare that is. You don’t know how rare just having generations of family is!”

Scott hadn’t realized he’d been holding his breath awaiting her response. She understood him and the ranch. He suspected if he’d asked the same question of Mackenzie, she would have instantly whipped out sets of blueprints for a Western-themed amusement part. Alexandra was so much the polar opposite of Mackenzie that Scott wanted to reach out, grab her up in his arms, swing her around …

The dreamy look on his face gave away his changed stream of thought and Alexandra shot him a wide-eyed look of concern. “Are you feeling okay?”

He smiled with that sexy, sweet, lopsided grin of his. “I’ve never felt better. Really and truly. The world seems just about perfect tonight. But we’d better get some sleep while we can. It’s a long trip back to D. W.
Songstram
.”

“But it’s not that long until our presentation,” Alexandra called down from the stairway. She paused on the steps and watched Scott pile his paperwork into a briefcase. She knew he’d be upstairs as soon as he straightened up the mess he’d made in his father’s living room. Now that she’d admitted her feelings to herself and promised to talk to Scott about having a relationship, the anticipation of after the presentation bubbled over in her. For once, she had more than a career victory to look forward to. She had her heart on the line. If this feeling was coffee-related, she hoped it would never wear off.

“We’re in the home stretch,” he whispered to himself. “Sweet dreams, Alex.”

Chapter Eleven

The day of their big presentation to Rio Safari had arrived at long last. Alexandra sat in her office and let the sensations she’d felt with Scott in Montana rush over her. She could scarcely believe how her life had changed since the morning she’d been so angry with David for forcing her to share her project. She smiled to herself. David didn’t know he’d given her a blessing in disguise that day he’d let Scott Falconer into her project. He’d given her a cowboy in disguise, too.

After the few days she’d spent with Scott on his family’s ranch, Alexandra’s heart overflowed with love and longing for the man. She knew without question he desired her, but did his feelings tip over into love? After all their time together, she couldn’t imagine anything that could make her doubt him again. She wasn’t sure if she was more nervous about the presentation or the discussion she knew they would have after it.

Alexandra pinned her hair up in the most sophisticated style she could arrange and smoothed the wrinkles out of her sharp, black suit. If all went well, she would secure the biggest contract of her career and the greatest love of her life all in one day. She drew in a shaky breath of anticipation and excitement.

As Alexandra drove toward Rio Safari headquarters, she didn’t even care if she’d have to face Duncan Phelps and Mac Stevens. They seemed insignificant compared to the emotion running through her. All she could imagine were Scott’s laughing blue eyes, his strong hands, his kind smile …

•

Scott arrived early outside the locked conference room doors at Rio Safari. He’d gone over the materials one final time that morning with a feeling of joy. Whether Alexandra was allowed into the room with him or not, he would have her support and that special flair of hers with every slide and every line he spoke.

He was somewhat troubled by the expression he’d seen in David’s eyes when he had handed him the list of real estate research they had gathered in Montana. Scott had the keen sense David was hiding more than he was letting on about the purpose behind that trip and the presentation itself. Were the two connected?

Scott had never told Alexandra the extent of Mackenzie’s deception while they were dating. If Mac’s business tactics ran true to form, he was developing an inkling about what David had stumbled upon. He hoped Alexandra would arrive early enough for him to share his suspicions with her before the presentation.

“Hello, darling.” The familiar, sugarcoated voice pulled him out of his thoughts. The platinum blond with her too-red lipstick sauntered over to him and placed her hand on his arm as if they were the closest of friends.

“Mackenzie.” He nodded, happy to leave the conversation at a simple greeting.

“I’m so glad I ran into you before the others got here. I wanted to give you a little insider advice before going into that great big room.”

Scott removed her hand from his arm. “I don’t want any ‘advice’ that isn’t given to the other team, too. You know the rules.”

“You hurt my feelings, darling. But I’m going to tell you anyway.”

“With your take on business ethics, I’m somehow not surprised.” He tried to walk away, but Mac stepped in front of him, posing to emphasize her prized curves.

“Scott Falconer,” she purred, “there’s only one way D. W.
Songstram
is going to win this contract, and believe me, it has nothing to do with the dog and pony show you put on in there.”

Scott felt anger rising and tightening in his chest. “What are you saying, Mac? That you’ve rigged the whole thing? Because if that’s what you’re admitting …”

Mac wiggled a step closer, uncomfortably invading his space. “No, silly. There’s nothing that sinister to admit. It’s just that the rest of the board of directors and I have been talking. No matter how good your numbers are on this project, what we really need is customer service first and foremost.”

Scott wasn’t following her and wanted to end the conversation. “Then our approach will go over very well with all of you. Excuse me.” He gently moved her aside and took a step away when her voice stopped him again.

“You’re not understanding me.” She narrowed her cat-like eyes, knowing she finally had his attention. “You see, we want personalized care. We want someone on site—one of your team located right there in Rio Safari’s office.”

Her meaning slowly sunk in on him. Her argument made no sense for this project. What Mac Stevens wanted was either Duncan Phelps or himself seated in an office next to hers. Business was obviously the farthest thing from her self-indulgent, spoiled mind.

“I won’t be anyone’s puppet, Mackenzie. And you have some nerve even suggesting it.”

•

Alexandra walked briskly down the empty hall, shoes sinking softly into the short, cushiony carpeting. She’d seen Scott’s car parked in the lot outside, and couldn’t wait to see him before the review panel and the competition arrived. It was hard to go even a day without hearing his voice, seeing his face …

As she neared the corner, the hum of heated whispers reached her ears. She leaned quietly against the wall and slowly peeked around the corner. The first thing she saw was Mackenzie Stevens with her exaggerated posture leaning toward Scott. Decked out in a scarlet red suit, Mac’s aggressive body language was enough to make Alexandra want to rip the woman’s white-blond hair out. Alexandra almost revealed herself when it looked like Scott could use some help. But then Mackenzie’s next words drifted toward her.

“Scott, my darling. It all boils down to this. You need to change your presentation and fast. If we don’t hear that you’re committing to relocate to my office, you won’t win. It’s that simple. I want you at my disposal, day and night. If I don’t hear you making yourself available to my—to Rio Safari’s needs, the contract goes to Duncan. I think we can bring new meaning to ‘it’s a pleasure doing business with you,’ if you know what I mean.”

Alexandra couldn’t believe she had heard the words she’d just heard. Was Mac Stevens for real? She was still seething when she heard muffled footsteps coming toward her. She composed herself quickly and pretended she had just come from the restroom.

Duncan walked past her with a smug, contemptible look on his face. “Eavesdropping, Ms. Hunter? How unladylike.”