Damon [The Texas Senator's Sons 1] (Siren Publishing Classic) (2 page)

It didn’t take long until a story about her business was published in the
Dallas Business Journal
, and business boomed again, so much so that she had to hire extra staff to help her keep up. Weddings became the new bread and butter for the shop as modern brides wanted new and exciting flowers and not traditional arrangements like their parents.

Life couldn’t get any better for Regan, or so she thought. She was experiencing her dream come true and becoming quite wealthy, too. At twenty-nine, she was reveling in business, success, and embracing the single life…kind of.

“Sorry for the wait, sir, what could I do for you today?” Regan asked as she threw the last remnants of stems into the waste can.

“Hi, um…I need your help, and I…wow, I feel like an idiot here.” The man spoke nervously as he poked his hands into his pockets.

Regan smiled sweetly. She could sense what was coming. This particular man wanted a date with a woman and was too shy to ask. She had seen this, oh, about a hundred times in the last few years.

“You have come to the right place! And don’t feel like an idiot, at least not here,” she said, reassuring him. Regan couldn’t be sure but felt that, for some reason, her personality and eyes put men at ease when they came in.

The man at her counter now looked to be in his mid-thirties. He smiled and exhaled. He was nice looking, not a drop-dead-gorgeous guy by any means. But overall he was pleasant to look at, with his medium build, brown hair, and brown eyes. Nice bone structure, she thought as she tried to gauge his lineage. His olive skin hinted of Italian roots, but he lacked any other qualities.

“Well, I’m sure you have heard this before…” He started and took a quick glance around her shop to be sure they were alone. “There’s a woman that works in the same office complex as I do, and I would like to ask her out and…” he said, trailing off as his face reddened.

“I understand completely! Not to worry, the love guru is in!” Regan giggled as she reached for a pad of paper and a pen. She had some preliminary questions she liked to ask about the recipient of her creations so she was sure to dazzle them.

While she jotted down notes about the woman this man was so enamored with she didn’t notice another customer come in and sit down.

“Okay, let’s go over this.” Regan tapped her pen on the counter. Details, details. They went over her plan for him and how he was going to get her attention and keep it.

The man nodded and smiled at Regan as she offered her good advice. “Thank you…uh…”

“Regan, my name is Regan.”

“Well, thank you Regan.” His smile wasn’t forced anymore, and his nervousness had subsided somewhat.

“My pleasure, and if you get the date, drop a card in the mail to me. I love success stories!” She beamed, knowing her plan would work. This man would at least get a first date. After that, it was up to the two of them. It would either be a match and they would hit it off, or it would fizzle after the first date. There was only so much one woman could do, for crying out loud.

“I sure will.” He smiled as he paid her.

When the hopeful Mr. Lucky in Love turned to exit the shop, Regan noticed a gentleman sitting in the antique Victorian chair by the door. How in the world she didn’t notice tall, dark, and totally gorgeous walk-in, she didn’t know.

He sat quietly with a grin on his face as the hopeful man closed the door. His eyes were brilliant blue and spoke of confidence and control. But those weren’t the qualities that grabbed her attention right away. It was the starched Wranglers, expensive boots, and Stetson hat that did.

Underneath his cowboy exterior was a toned body built for sinning. His broad chest and thick arms told her he was no stranger to work. Yum. A strong jawbone, perfectly bronzed skin, and ooh-so–luscious, kissable lips called to her. Her eyes traveled his body extensively in seconds while the front door closed.
Oh heavens, look at the prominence concealed behind that denim.

Heat exploded inside her like a newly awakened volcano while her heart thudded in her chest
. Ooh, lawdy look what just walked through my door!

As he stood, Regan tried to calm the quivers that waltzed down her spine. After all, if he was in her shop, he was buying flowers for someone, and that someone was more than likely a woman.
Oh, the gods have a sense of humor, not!

“Good afternoon, sir!” Regan said after she cleared her constricted throat. “What may I help you with?” She had ideas about what she wanted to help him with and it wasn’t flowers.

“So, here you are,” Tall, Dark and Handsome spoke with his hat in his hand. “The one and only Regan O’Conner.” His voice was smooth and slow, like his vocal cords were coated in thick, dark, sinful chocolate.

Regan stood confused but yet on high alert. His body radiated sex on a grand scale, and her body registered it. Heat built in her pussy as his words vibrated in her ear. All the glorious ideas she had racing through her mind in mere seconds were phenomenal. She stood like a deer in headlights while he strolled toward her counter at an excruciatingly slow pace.

“Guilty,” Regan stuttered when he stopped a few inches away. Her breathing had hitched, and she fought for control.
Get a grip, Regan!

He smiled wickedly as he ran his fingers around the brim of his hat. Regan’s eyes focused on his large hands and nimble fingers as she fought to regain her composure. Such strong-looking hands, she thought, then bashed herself mentally for thinking so.
Gosh, all the places I would like to have his hands glide.
Ooh, mercy!

“Then you’re just the person I have been looking for,” he drawled and gave her a wink.

“I–I am?” Regan stuttered again. Damn, she sounded like an idiot, she thought, and cleared her squeaking voice.

“Damon. Pleased to meet you,” he said as he extended his hand.

Regan slowly reached out. “Nice to meet you?” A question and statement melded into one.

If he was any other customer, she wouldn’t have been alarmed. But none of her other customers could even rank in the same category of hotness as Damon did. She was confused and inexplicably horny as hell instantly. Why was he looking for her? And why the need to introduce himself? Was he with the IRS or county license commission or something? Nah, couldn’t be, not dressed like that anyhow.

“I guess you’re wondering what I want from you?” His eyes danced in a dreamy shade of blue as he watched her.

Sex?
Regan’s mind blasted.

“Well, that would be nice to know. If you’re here for anything except flowers, I’m sure I can’t help you.” Regan regained her wits, her bewilderment getting the better of her.

“I’m not here for flowers, and yes, you will help me.” His easy smile fell to a solemn look, one of determination.

Regan couldn’t believe what she was hearing.
As if! He may be the most stunning looking man to ever walk through my door, but I’ll be damned if he thinks he can waltz in here and tell me what to do!

“Huh, really?” She copped an attitude. “You don’t know me too well, then.” She turned her back on him and began the arrangement for her previous customer. She needed to get it completed and sent via courier by five to the recipient’s office and show Tall, Dark, and Handsome that she didn’t respond well to direct orders.

“As a matter of fact I do.” He gave a lighthearted chuckle. “You, my dear, are a hopeless romantic…”

Regan turned as he plucked a flower from a vase and held it under his nose. “I have read many articles about your business, and I must say…I’m impressed.”

Regan held a handful of brilliant hot pink tulips in her hand. “Listen, mister, I don’t understand your angle here…if you want me to send flowers to the little lady at home or at the office I can oblige, but other than that, all the flattery you can dish out won’t help whatever cause you have.” With a quick snip, her shears cut the stems without fault and they fell to the floor.

Damon simply stared at her with his heart-stopping smile.

An uneasy quiver rolled over Regan. Apparently the guy was a stalker of some sort, which really sucked because he was completely tweaking her insides to a new level. Her pussy throbbed in hunger. The gods did have a sense of humor, she thought, and returned to her bouquet. It was really a shame.

“Oh, but, sweetheart, you can and will,” he said, his voice cut through the silence again as she turned her back to him

Regan counted to three calmly before she turned. This could get ugly quick. He needed to leave and now. “Sir, I think you should go,” she stated calmly with her shears held tightly in her hands.

Damon chuckled. “You don’t really think I’m some sort of weirdo, do you?”

Regan reached for her phone on the counter, and Damon covered her hand and phone quickly with his. His smile diminished in an instant, and his blue eyes glimmered. “I’m not a bad guy, really. But you need to help me with a situation that you caused…it’s that simple.”

Damon’s eyes never wavered as he stared at her. His icy blues studied her, and she gasped. One part of her said run, while the other part told her that she was safe. It must have been the ungratified sexual part of her that craved him, sending her brain mixed signals. But something in his eyes revealed a gentle, warm man. What was a girl to do?

Regan’s eyes flashed in fear and sympathy. “Listen, if you want my help with something, then tell me what it is. This cryptic nonsense is getting you nowhere.”

“Really? Seems to me it’s getting me exactly where I want to be.” He gave a quick and appreciative glance over her body. His eyes told of pent-up desire and passion.

Regan stiffened. The guy was intuitive. She’d give him that. “I don’t believe I know what you’re talking about,” she lied.

“You want me…” His lips parted slightly then turned up cocksure to the side.

Regan’s body reacted with tiny shocks that hit her tingling clit. Warmth spread between her legs and threatened to unravel her on the spot. She felt her nipples harden underneath her bra, but she wouldn’t let him know that. “I think you’re mistaken!” She acted as though she was shocked and appalled at the same time.

“No, I’m not…your body is revved and primed…it’s craving me, and I can feel it here,” he said, moving his thumb over her wrist where her pulse throbbed. “I see it when I look into your eyes…they are wild, feral…it’s been a while for you, hasn’t it?” His eyes roamed while his thumb lightly brushed over the pressure point on her wrist. His large hand continued to lightly caress her skin. It felt wonderful to be touched, and especially by a man like him. He made her nervous and feel out of control. She didn’t know whether to be scared of him or not.

Regan couldn’t speak. He was correct. She wanted him, period. How did one respond to that sort of logic anyway? How could she lie when her body rhythm was erratic, her pulse thundering, and her breathing heavy? She lied anyway. “No, you’re wrong. You’re scaring me.”

Damon released her hand slowly then lightly wetted his lips. A wide grin curved over his mouth in amusement. “Here’s the deal, sweetheart. Your matchmaking mumbo jumbo has caused somewhat of a situation for me…” He paused and began to stroll through her shop like he was interested in what she had to offer. “The thing is…I came here today anticipating on telling you off.” He laughed as he walked back to the counter. “I was sure I would hate you, and that would make it so much easier for me to sue your ass off when this situation with my brother goes bad.”

Fury built slow as Regan processed his words. Did he just threaten to sue her? It didn’t matter anymore that her body craved him, and it didn’t matter that he was exceptionally gorgeous either. And it didn’t matter that she’d like to have his tongue pleasuring her clit, her breasts… “Listen, asshole, you have five seconds to remove your ass from my shop before I call the police!” She shuddered at her words, her body defiantly opposing her as she said them.

Currently she was enraged, and she wasn’t sure whether it was because he nailed her spot-on with his remarks or that her body wanted nothing more than to be invaded by him or because he mentioned suing her. None of it mattered. She’d be damned if Damon, Mr. Tall, Dark, and Handsome, would come into her business and threaten her.

“Easy, baby,” Damon coaxed as he smiled from ear to ear. “I’m not going to sue you…I have to admit, it was a thought.” He scrubbed his jaw, deep in thought with a quirky smile playing on his lips.

“Why in the world would you want to sue me anyway?” Regan’s words were sharp, sharper than her shears that she picked up again.

“Whoa, baby, put those down!” Damon held his hands up and backed away from the counter. “I didn’t say I was going to sue you! I said it was a thought…if that stripper has her way with my brother and has skeletons in her closet, we’re screwed in more ways than one, and we have no one to thank for that but you.”

“Stripper? What in the world are you talking about?” Regan kept hold of her shears, pointing them in his direction.

“Huh, funny, Ms. Matchmaker!” Damon barked out a sarcastic laugh. “I sat here and listened to how you
help
men…and I’m not saying it’s a bad thing 99.9 percent of the time, but you, sweetheart, nailed that point-one percent and everything is on the line now.”

Regan dropped her shears in disbelief. No way did she create a recipe for disaster. No. No way. Good things came from good deeds, right? She remembered a guy six months ago, and he’d wanted a date with a stripper from one of the exclusive gentleman’s clubs in Dallas. Couldn’t be, could it? “I don’t know what you are talking about,” she commented flatly and began to clear her mess.