Romance in Dallas - Tycoon! (11 page)

"Damn," she said, standing, after untangling
her legs "did it hurt you? Damn it, I just wasn't thinking."

He grinned but still held his back at the
same time, gasping "It was worth every minute of pain I might have,
sweet pea. Don't even worry yourself. I'll just take an extra pain
pill."

She quickly donned a robe and set up her PT
table. "Ram, I'm set up in the living room," she called. But her
brows furrowed as she watched him limp in from the bedroom just
wearing underwear. "Not a good way to start your day," she told
him.

"That's okay darlin' I'll start my day that
way anytime."

But, she wondered about that, as she felt the
muscle spasms in his hard back. "It's not good, Ram." And she
worked on him steadily for fifteen minutes, wondering all the while
whether he could ever live a normal life.

He sighed and sat up on the table, grabbing
her hands and drawing her close to his chest. "I have a surprise
for you," he whispered in her ear.

Laughing, as the sensation tickled her, she
told him, "You've had your surprise for the day, which was me alive
and kicking this early in the morning."

Drawing her back, smiling now and looking
more relaxed, he said, "After you sunbathe and frolic in the water,
have a leisurely lunch on me, I have some boutique owners coming
here at four o'clock to show you dresses. We're attending a rather
formal gathering, and I thought you probably didn't bring any
floor-length dresses. Just call the phone number written on the pad
over there and tell them your size."

She looked pensive. "I couldn't do that, Ram.
I wouldn't know how to act at a formal gathering. Besides, I can't
afford that type of dress."

With his hands on either side of her face
now, he said, "The dress is on me. And, tonight, just act like
yourself, Jace. You're a beautiful person, graceful, soft-spoken."
He slid down from the table and walked towards the bedroom to
dress. "Oh," he added, over his shoulder, "I love you. Did I
mention that last night?"

She smiled. "Several times."

Ram's meetings ran for hours and during the
last one, he sent a text to Warren. 'Tld her I love her.'

A few seconds later, his friend text him
back, 'Dude, congrats.' And Ram smiled, as a second one came
through, 'Getting married?'

Ram pondered that for a minute, and thought
what man wouldn't want her? Beautiful, sexy as hell, talented,
independent. But the image of Susan just wouldn't leave his mind.
What if something were to happen to Jace? What then? He'd be left
alone again, with just memories.

Later in the day, Jace stood in the bedroom
surrounded by all sorts of floor length dresses on the bed, each in
a stunning color, and it was a hard decision. She finally went with
a strapless form fitting gold gown with a gold-beige off center
stripe on the skirt and a slit up the front. And, after the women
from the shop had left, she dared to look at the price tag. "Five
thousand dollars?" she said out loud, while she shook her head. And
she thought she must speak with Ram about this, as it was just too
much to pay.

And later, when the delivery of matching
shoes came to the penthouse, she didn't dare look at the tag on
those. "I'm like Scarlett, I'll think about that tomorrow," she
muttered.

She sat in front of her computer researching
the item she was going to ask Doctor Truman about after she had all
her ducks in a row, because he was not a man to hypothesize on a
whim. She needed to get all her facts down pat before she called
him with her theory on Ram.

Victoria barely said hello to Marley as she
let him in her room at the hotel. Of course, she always stayed at
Ram's hotels, even if it pinched her budget.

"My dear, how are you?" Marley said politely,
smoothing back his brown hair, and fixing her with his haughty cool
brown-eyed stare.

"I just cannot believe this," she told him,
as he sat in a chair. "Ramsey apparently is fixated on this woman."
And, she threw him the society section of the local newspaper.

He smiled sardonically. "The great Ram got
taken down I see." He paused. "You knew it would happen eventually,
Vic."

"Please, Marley," she said in exasperation,
"I've asked you to call me Victoria."

He sat back, still observing her. "Aside from
the money, just exactly what attracts you to him?"

"You must be joking, Marley. Just look at him
for God's sake. He's a hunk."

"Yes, I suppose so."

Something in his voice made Victoria look up.
Marley wasn't bad looking, in his own way, slim and nicely built,
but common brown hair and eyes, plus she knew he existed on an
allowance like she did. He had the 'old money' descriptor, and was
often written up in society pages, but his was, she thought,
ancient money. No airplanes, yachts, hotels or anything. Just the
money. And two nasty parents, who were still alive.

However, he was good as an escort to Ramsey's
social events, so she didn't stick out like a sore thumb. Good for
a roll in the hay, although not very exciting, purely missionary
and too damn quick. Then she found herself, as she looked through
her dresses, wondering idly what Ram was like in the sack.

Jace had Mari do her hair in an upsweep,
complete with a tropical flower, at Mari's insistence. And Jace,
while dressing for the event, decided she would leave off the
garters and stockings, as the dress was too form-fitting for that.
She applied her make-up and waited for Ram.

He came in ten minutes later, calling for
her.

"In the bedroom," she said, as she perused an
internet site with interest.

"Hello, darlin'," he drawled, leaning now on
the doorjamb and holding his jacket slung over his shoulder. He
whistled softly. "Damn, you are a sight for sore eyes, honey
pie."

She looked up then quickly, but still seemed
preoccupied with whatever it was she was working on, as her gaze
went back to the laptop on the table. He thought she was a vision
in strapless gold lame with just about all her legs showing, with
gold heels, and carelessly upswept curly brown hair. Complete with
flower.

Finally, she stood, and smiled at him. The
dress was, he thought, absolutely made for her, showed off her
figure to perfection. Plus, today she wore a faint, fresh perfume
which wound around his senses.

"I need to shower," he told her, not really
wanting to be away from her, but thinking he needed a cold one
after seeing her. "Be right back."

They left for the event, which was, Ram
explained, a supper and benefit and fundraiser for autistic
children in the hotel ballroom.

Jace entered the crowded room, and thought
Ram must have invited all his friends, as he went from one group of
people to the next, politely introducing her. And Jace thought Ram
looked extremely handsome and elegant in his black tux.

There were the ever-present paparazzi,
snapping unknown quantities of pictures while they ate and
danced.

After all the sun she'd had earlier, and the
rush of everything, Jace found herself leaning into Ram as they
danced to a slow tune.

"The orchestra is lovely," she said softly,
as his grip tightened on her.

"You're the lovely one," he whispered in her
ear, "and so sexy sweet pea. Mmmm, are you my sweet pea?"

She thought of the night before, and warmth
spread through her body, just at the thought of him touching,
teasing, caressing, his hands warm and tender. She couldn't answer
him, and he teased her now, almost as if he could read her
mind.

"Darlin' sweet pea, I felt you tighten around
me. Mmmm, did you come last night?"

She nodded then sighed, wished she could get
rid of the intense feeling before someone noticed.

"Don't worry about them," he whispered softly
by her ear, "I just need to know…did I satisfy you, then?"

She drew a shaky breath. "Yes," she said
softly.

But he persisted. "You ever feel like that
before?" he asked.

Hesitating, she said, "I suppose not."

Laughing softly now, he countered, "Suppose?
It wasn't like lightning striking then?"

"Well, I wouldn't put it exactly like
that."

Spinning her around now deftly, he said, as
he pulled back to look at her with his turquoise eyes, "Who's
Ralph, darlin'?"

The question caught her off guard.
"Ralph?"

"Yes," he said, with his arms still tight
around her waist.

"Why do you want to know about him?"

"Because he's still calling you. Is he your
boyfriend?"

She stiffened. "He's like a fly on the wall.
You shouldn't concern yourself with him."

Pulling her even closer, he replied, "I want
to know everything about you. And I noticed you never talk about
him at all. I just…just don't want to lose you."

But the song ended, and she excused herself
to the posh restroom where she sat on an overstuffed chair, while
women came in and out and memories of their disastrous marriage
assaulted her.

"Well," one said, looking her up and down,
"if it isn't Ramsey's latest."

"I beg your pardon?" Jace replied, looking up
at the woman. She looked around thirty, Jace thought, with a tight
face, enormous breasts almost spilling out of her blue gown and an
arrogant look.

"Oh, darlin' I just wanted to see who Ram was
left with. My, isn't he just a thrill in the sack? All those nice
muscles, dear, and they don't call him 'the ram' for nothing you
know. Yes, I'm sure you know by now."

Jace was speechless, as she stared at the
woman.

"Oh, he didn't tell you about me?" the woman
said flippantly. "Isn't that just like Ram. He doesn't share much
information does he? You almost have to read the society pages to
catch up with him."

Jace looked at the woman coolly. "I don't
believe I caught your name."

"That's because I didn't offer it up,
darling. You take care now, and just remember, you're getting
sloppy seconds."

With that, the woman left the restroom, and
Jace sat back, stunned. And, the thought occurred to her that Ram
hadn't really said anything about girlfriends. She'd just run under
the assumption that he'd been celibate since his wife's death. He
hadn't mentioned this woman, and Jace wondered who on earth she was
and where she came from.

When another woman approached her, she looked
up in a daze.

"My name is Char Boyette," the petite woman
said. "Ramsey asked me to check on you." Her blue eyes searched
Jace's. "Are you all right, then?" She cocked her blonde head.

Jace said, "Yes, thank you. It's all just a
bit much, I don't usually dress this formally or attend events like
this."

Char sat in the chair next to her. "Yes, when
I was first married to David I was a bit shocked to see the
lifestyles of the rich and famous. I was just a little country
bumpkin from Louisiana."

Jace smiled at her. "Thought I detected a bit
of southern accent."

"Not like Ramsey, though. He's such a
charmer…" she paused, "I hope Victoria hasn't been spreading her
rumors again."

"Rumors?"

Char sat back and said softly, "When David
and I were first married she did everything in her power to come
between us. And she seemed to know just when we were having a fight
or something. She'd just insinuate herself and come on to
David."

"And," she continued, "she's been after
Ramsey for years. I think the woman is really obsessed with Ram.
And, poor guy, he's just so unfailingly polite to everyone; he just
can't seem to tell her to buzz off."

"That sounds like Ram," Jace responded, "he's
such a lovely person. Very kind and gentle." But, for some reason,
she couldn't get the other woman's words out of her mind.

"Shall we go?" Char said. "He told me you're
his physical therapist. I've always been interested in that line of
work. Why don't you tell me about it?"

And the two walked back into the ballroom,
their presence keenly noticed by Victoria and Ram both.

Chapter 10

The rest of the evening passed in a blur for
Jace. She met all types of people, and even fast danced with a few
men, with Ram watching her and grinning appreciatively.

At the end of the night, when the elevator
doors closed, he pulled her close to him. "I have another surprise
for you, sweetie pie," he whispered in her ear.

She grew hazy as he whispered, then kissed
her neck. "What? By the way, I need to speak with you about this
dress, Ram."

He pulled away and looked down at her. "It's
beautiful on you. Don't you like it?"

"It's not a question of like. It's the
expense involved."

He smiled, pulling her closer again. "Don't
you worry about money. That's for me to address." And while his
hands roved her backside, he said, "Aren't you curious about the
present?"

But, she just gasped as his wandering hands
worked their magic before finally her eyes met his.

Pressing his hardness against her, he said,
"That's one present, sweet pea, just for you." And he took her
hands in his. "I've got another right here."

He reached into his pocket and produced a
large multi-carat ruby ring, surrounded by diamonds, and placed it
on her right hand ring finger.

"Oh, Ram," she exclaimed, "I couldn't accept
it. It must be worth a fortune."

"As am I," he countered, smiling down at her.
"What's the next problem?"

The elevator door opened, and they walked
into the penthouse.

Jace took the ring off. "Really, Ram. I just
can't take this. I'm one of your employees."

His brows furrowed and he looked at her
curiously. Slowly, he said, "Do you love me, Jace? I haven't heard
you say it yet."