His Tempest (2 page)

“Gloria will be disappointed if you don't join us for dinner.”

Damn.
Now Colin had to sit through a meal and entertain the daughter and her friend with a bunch of college talk. Probably just finished their first semester and come home thinking they were women of the world.

Colin had met with Brent several times, but he'd never met any of his four children.

The older two, he knew, worked at the radio station. When Brent retired, one of them would probably take over.

Colin had purposely chosen to stay in a Memphis apartment that Brent provided for business clients, even though Brent had offered him lodging in his home. Away from Virginia, Colin didn't have to worry about his actions being reported to his father, and Memphis had plenty of striking women. An old college buddy was taking him to some parties to meet a few of them. He'd planned to party hard for a few days, making up for having to toe the line when he returned home to his father's watchful eye.

Colin sighed inwardly. His call to George would just have to wait. So would his shot of bourbon. But he'd have to call his friend and tell him he couldn't make the parties, unless he could get away in time. He'd see how the cards played out.

“This way.” Brent pointed toward the back of the house.

They entered an entertainment room where a huge plasma TV over the fireplace took center stage. A pool table stood in one area, with a pinball machine in a corner and a poker table nearby.

“That's Cindy over there.” Brent pointed to the right.

Colin could see the family resemblance in the lovely female behind the bar. She had the same rich black hair as her mother, but the dark, piercing eyes were definitely Brent's. And even better, she was older than he'd thought she might be.

“Her friend Noelle is standing on the deck,” Brent said.

Noelle's back was turned to them, so all Colin could see was the back of her head. Rich auburn hair, dark and mysterious.

“I'm making drinks,” Cindy said. “Bourbon okay? I know you're thirsty after being cooped up in that office.”

“We are that,” Brent said. “Let's take a seat over here.”

Colin couldn't take his eyes off Noelle. She was dressed in an off-white sweater and a slim skirt that showed an amazing pair of legs and a nicely rounded butt. He couldn't wait to see the front view. He wanted to stand there awhile and watch her, but Brent was expecting him to sit. He turned away from the enticing view.

How lucky could a man get? he asked himself. His ship had just come in, he thought, twice in one day.

“Could you hand these drinks to the men?” Cindy asked Noelle as she came inside.

“Sure.” The bar was behind the sofa, and after retrieving the drinks and cocktail napkins, Noelle walked around to the other side to hand the drinks to the men. Brent was channel-surfing for a football game.

Colin stood when she approached him and she got her first glimpse of his face.

Oh my gosh.
He was the man she'd crashed into earlier. Her pulse started to beat erratically. Her insides jangled with excitement and dread.

The way Cindy had talked about Colin Mayes, Noelle had expected some forty-year-old still trying to act twenty. But Colin was no more than twenty-eight or twenty-nine. And he was drop-dead gorgeous. He wore an open-neck shirt with jeans that molded to his powerful thighs. And he was staring at her as if she was a piece of steak on his plate and he loved red meat.
What should she do now?

Suddenly he hopped back and swiped furiously at his shirtfront. Noelle glanced down at a huge wet spot. Then she looked at the glass. It was empty. Her mind was too fuddled to determine what had happened to the other glass.

Colin frowned. “I usually like to drink my bourbon, not wear it. What did I ever do to you?” he asked. He was just as irritated with her now as she'd been with him earlier.

“I'm so sorry. I don't know how that happened.” She was mortified. She swiped furiously at the wet spot with the ineffective, tiny napkin. “If you take off your shirt, I'll wash it and dry it.”

“I'll get you a clean shirt,” Brent said, bending to pick the other glass off the floor. “Cindy, fix us another drink. And maybe
you
should hand it to us this time,” he said, chuckling and patting Noelle on the arm.

Noelle wanted to sink into the carpet, or at least leave the room. She couldn't even look at Colin. She was wearing the bra he'd dangled on his finger earlier today, and it felt hot against her breasts.

Colin removed his shirt, revealing the most amazing chest, rippling with muscles. Deliberately taunting her, he dangled the shirt on one finger just as he'd dangled her bra.

Her face burning with embarrassment, she debated whether to take it or smack him with it.

I
n the laundry room, Noelle washed the stain out by hand and tossed the shirt into the dryer. When she passed the kitchen, Cindy handed her a tray of hors d'oeuvres.

“Can you take these with you? I have to get moving.”

Puzzled, Noelle asked, “Moving where?” Cindy was supposed to take her home later.

“Didn't I tell you I have an interview with Beyoncé for the station?” When Noelle shook her head, she said, “She's giving me just a few minutes before the concert.”

Suspicious, Noelle glared at her friend who was well-known for pulling fast ones. “You neglected to tell me that.”

Cindy smiled innocently, and Noelle knew something was up. “Do you mind entertaining Colin for me? Keep Dad from showing him all our baby pictures, will you?”

“You better be on your way,” Brent said, passing them. “Don't want to show up late and miss it. Anything with Beyoncé sells.”

“Oh, Dad, you never let up. I'm not going to be late. Oh, I forgot, Mama wants you in the kitchen.”

“You entertain Colin until I get back,” Brent said to Noelle, carrying his drink with him as if he was going to be a while.

Cindy started out the door. “Don't worry about your ride home. I've already taken care of that.” She waved a hand. “See you later.”

When Noelle made it to the game room, Colin was watching the game. “Your shirt is in the dryer,” she said, trying to figure out a way to fix the mess she'd gotten herself into.

Colin nodded with a weary grimace. His bourbon glass was on the table in front of him.

He frowned. “Have we met before today? Have I done something to you? I don't
think
we've met, because I would have remembered. I just want to duck in time to miss the grenade you'll probably toss at me the next time.”

“A gentleman wouldn't have mentioned my clumsiness.” Noelle checked the impulse to smooth her skirt.

“Well, now. I never said I was a gentleman.”

Brent's shirt, she noticed, looked as good on Colin as his own had. She resisted the urge to stare and said, “Look, I admit we got off to a rocky start. And it's all my fault.”

Collecting his drink, he approached her and extended his hand. “Colin Mayes. It's a pleasure to meet you, ma'am.”

Noelle's hand was enveloped in his calloused and much larger one, and she found the contrast stimulating and unnerving. “Noelle Greenwood. The pleasure is mine.”

He eased onto the barstool beside her as if he belonged there as comfortably as he'd belong in any space he occupied. “This is better.”

They both laughed, easing the tension in Noelle's chest.

Colin swallowed a sip of his drink and enjoyed the slow, pleasant burn down his insides.

“You don't have that natural Southern accent.”

“I'm a transplant from L.A. I used to visit Cindy here on some of our college breaks and decided to settle here when I graduated. My parents live in Monterey now.”

“Brent tells me you're moving to Virginia.”

She nodded. “I used to go to summer camp at my grandparents' place when I was young. The last summer was when I was six, but I remember it vividly. The horseback-riding, swimming in the lake, campfires and the ghost stories that scared the daylights out of me. It was wonderful. I want to bring that joy back. But my focus will be on computers and teaching the principles of investment. I want to teach teens how to analyze stocks and have them create mock portfolios.”

“Computers, investments? Sounds like a lot of work and no play.”

“They'll have plenty of time to play. It's a camp, after all.”

The thrill in her eyes glowed like diamonds, Colin thought, making them sparkle with vitality. He knew what it was to want something so badly you could taste it. “Wow. I couldn't pick a losing stock from a winner.” The truth was he never had enough money to invest. Every spare cent went back into the farm. “Pretty expensive venture. The computers alone will cost plenty.”

“Brent talked the owner of a high-tech company into donating their used computers. They're updating. Their current ones already have more power than we'll need.”

Colin nodded. “So when will you be moving to Virginia?”

“The end of the week. I'm driving a moving truck down.”

“A moving truck?”

“With my furniture and things.”

Enjoying himself, Colin leaned back in his seat. “
You're
driving it.”

Put out, she tipped her head to the side. “Yeah.”

Her spine stiffened and Colin played along just to see the fire in her eyes again.

“By yourself?”

She nodded, all but bristling at him. “I can drive, you know.”

“Yeah, but…”

“I'm not going to bench-press the truck, just drive it.” She raised her eyebrows.

Holding his hands up, Colin chuckled. “Okay, okay. Don't throw your drink at me.” She looked way too pretty with her ire up. He wanted to tease her some more, but decided to forgo the bourbon on his chest again.

“So tell me about Virginia,” she said, relaxing.

“I'll do better than that. I'll show you when you arrive.”

“Is that a promise?”

He nodded. The mischievous tilt to her lips dazzled him. “Let's take a look at Maggie Girl.” They left the house and he cupped a hand around her elbow as they walked the short distance to the barns.

“You want to ride her?” Noelle asked.

Colin grinned, unable to contain his pride of ownership of such a fine animal. “I just bought her.” They passed several stalls before they reached the horse. Colin watched Noelle stroke the mare's head and wished she were stroking him.

“I'll miss her,” she said. “I ride her when I'm here. Actually I exercise her.”

He was watching her, not the horse. “Feel free to come to River Oaks any time you want to ride her.”

Her gaze flickered to his. “Are you sure I'll be able to get in?”

“Of course.”

At that moment, Brent called them to dinner.

So far so good, Noelle thought. Although Colin was still a little wary, he was beginning to loosen up. She'd seen his eyes skim her legs and her cleavage several times. So what if his gaze set her heart to racing? It was more than a passing thing.

Noelle was surprised when, an hour after dinner, Colin told her he was taking her home. They thanked Gloria for the fabulous dinner, and Colin assured Brent they'd meet the next day.

In the car an R&B station played in the background as quiet estates gave way to the dark roads to town. They drove Poplar Avenue most of the way.

The second surprise came when he told her he was staying in Brent's apartment, which shouldn't have shocked her at all. She was trying to figure out how she was going to get to see him again when he spoke.

“Since you've been here awhile, you'll know the places a guy like me would like to see.”

“I'm not sure about that, since I don't know your taste.”

“You can start to get to know me at dinner tomorrow night.”

He doesn't waste time,
Noelle thought, which worked in her favor. This was just the opening she needed.

He parked his car and they took the elevator to her apartment, but he didn't enter. “I'll pick you up at five,” he said, and left for the elevator without even trying to steal a kiss.

He was smooth, Noelle thought. His unexpected actions kept a woman on her toes.

After shutting the door, she twisted the lock in place. Leaning against the solid surface, she thought of Colin, but the sight of boxes piled in the corner reminded her that her time would be better spent packing than dwelling on Colin Mayes.

Colin was thinking about Noelle so much that he almost forgot to get off the elevator on his floor. The vibes between them were strong and he wanted to explore them further. But he wasn't going to try to get her into bed quickly. After all, she was going to Virginia, so he'd have plenty of time. But she was a friend of Brent's family. That alone was enough to keep her off his list of available women. Relationships never lasted anyway. But friendships, well, they could last.

It was all such a shame because he really wanted to know if the excitement he felt was nothing more than a quick flash in the pan or something that would flower out into a beautiful bloom.

Colin sighed regretfully and took out his key to open the door.

The red message light on the phone was blinking. George had called him five times. It was ten Memphis time, eleven Eastern Standard Time, but he knew the old man would still be up. He rarely slept more than three or four hours.

Since his son's death, George Avery took little interest in River Oaks, which he now owned with Colin's father. Colin hoped the acquisition of a new filly would lift his spirits somewhat.

“Took you long enough to call,” George said when he answered, as if he'd been waiting by the phone. “How did it go?”

“We got the deal we were hoping for.”

Colin could almost picture the man's terse nod before he proceeded to grill Colin on every last detail.

“What took you so long getting back?”

“Brent and Gloria invited me to dinner. Then I had to drop a guest off home.”

“Your father called. Wanted to know what was happening.”

Colin couldn't get any peace even when he was out of town. “I'll call him first thing tomorrow.”

“When are you coming back?”

“Four or five days.”

“You toe the straight and narrow. I'm not in the mood for a new partner.” Then he sighed. “Whatever happens you'll still be manager of the place.” They disconnected. But Colin didn't want to be just the foreman. He didn't want to work with new owners, either. An owner could make decisions a manager couldn't. As much as his dad stayed on his back, he allowed Colin to make the decisions.

His dad hounded him about everything, including settling down and getting married. Images of Noelle flashed in his mind. He saw her as a wife, a mother. She was the one woman who—
whoa. You've only been with her a few hours,
he told himself.
Come tomorrow evening you'll probably have a totally different perspective.

But something deep in his gut told him he wouldn't. Noelle was real. She was the kind of woman he stayed away from. She was a woman he couldn't keep his mind off.

Colin arrived at Noelle's apartment at five sharp the next afternoon. He'd been so eager to be with her again, he'd counted the hours and kept wondering why. Then he gave up. She was ready—for something and so was he. But ready for what? No complications. Not now.

And although she was dressed casually in jeans with a pretty green sweater, she was every bit as astonishing as she'd been the day before. He couldn't fathom it. A friend had told him love would hit him that way. But this wasn't love, he told himself. It was lust, pure and simple. He understood lust.

“You're going to have to get rid of that jacket if you don't want barbecue sauce on it,” Noelle said.

“So it's ribs.”

“The best ribs you've ever wrapped your lips around. We're going to Neely's.”

“Well, lead the way, ma'am.”

She directed him to Neely's and in no time they were both greasy with sauce that was so delicious Noelle always had to diet for two days after going there. She only hoped there was a good rib place in Virginia.

“Tell me about your farm. How long have you worked there?”

“I don't own it personally. My father owns half, now that my grandfather is gone. He owned half the farm and his friend of many years, George Avery, owns the other half. At one time the Avery family owned the whole thing until my grandfather bought half of it. Racing was always in his blood. He's originally from horse country in Kentucky and worked with horses to help pay for college.”

They finished their meal and drove along the picturesque Riverside Drive, then sat near the Church by the River and watched boats go by.

“There was a yellow fever epidemic in 1807 that killed most of the people in Memphis. The black burial ground is here.” They sat quietly for several moments thinking of the devastation. It was still, and winter birds soared across the horizon.

Soon evening slipped in and they walked along Beale Street. Lively blues music was seeping out of the doors of several brightly lit clubs, still, peace settled over Colin. He glanced at Noelle. Her hair was windblown, her face fresh and lively. He was amazed at how much he was enjoying himself.

Then his cell phone rang and he glanced at the number. His dad.

“George told me about the horse you bought,” Leander Mayes jumped right in. “You didn't get my permission to pay good money for a mare.”