Czytaj książkę: «A Deal Made In Texas»

Chapter One

“I love weddings.”

Gavin Fortunado glanced at his sister Schuyler, who stood next to him in the ballroom of the Driskill Hotel in downtown Austin, her long blond hair pulled into an elaborate braided updo. The understated opulence and elegant decor of the historic venue only made the starched collar of the tuxedo he wore feel even stuffier.

“I know you do.” Gavin drained the glass of bubbly champagne he’d raised after his father’s toast to another sister, Maddie, and her new husband, Zach McCarter. The fizzy liquid churned in his stomach, and he looked toward the crowded bar, mentally calculating how long it would take to get to the front of the line and order a whiskey neat. He had a feeling he’d need something more substantial than champagne to make it through this evening.

He placed his empty glass on a nearby table as Schuyler wrapped her elegant fingers around his arm. “Maddie is a beautiful bride,” she said as she leaned against him, dabbing at the corner of one eye with her free hand.

“Yep.” He patted his sister’s hand. “You were, too.” Schuyler had married Carlo Mendoza, vice president of Mendoza Winery, last spring in the sculpture garden at the winery in the Texas Hill Country outside the city. Just as he had this weekend, Gavin had flown in from Denver for Schuyler’s big day. He loved his three sisters and appreciated that two of them, who were now married, had picked great guys. He liked and respected both of his brothers-in-law. Any guy who was man enough to take on Schuyler or Maddie was definitely ready to join the family.

Speaking of Schuyler’s husband, where was Carlo now? Gavin could use a diversion before Schuyler started in on him.

Too late.

“I’m sure you’ll find a beautiful bride, as well.” Schuyler gave his arm a squeeze. The touch was gentle, but somehow Gavin felt like an animal caught in a steel trap. Sweat beaded between his shoulder blades and rolled down his back. He groaned inwardly as he noticed the line at the bar had gotten longer.

“You did a great job with all the wedding planning,” he said, ignoring his sister’s comment. “I know Maddie appreciated it since she’s so wrapped up in the Fortunado Real Estate Austin office right now. I don’t know how you convinced Mom to allow another wedding to take place here instead of in Houston. I thought she’d pressure Maddie and Zach to get married closer to home.”

“It’s only a couple hours’ drive from Mom and Dad’s house, but Maddie couldn’t spare any extra time. She and Zach are burning the real estate candle at both ends these days.”

Gavin loved all his sisters and brothers, but he and Maddie were only nine months apart in age, so they’d always been especially close. Her relationship with Zach had gotten off to a rocky start last year, as both of them had been vying to be named the new president of Fortunado Real Estate, the company Kenneth Fortunado had founded and devoted his life to for years.

Of the six Fortunado children, Maddie was the one most invested in the family business, although the baby of the family, Valene, was quickly coming into her own as a real estate agent. Their oldest brother, Everett, was a successful doctor. Connor worked as an executive at a corporate search firm in Denver so Gavin hung out with him on a regular basis. Ever since coming to Austin last year, Schuyler had joined the staff of the Mendoza Winery, heading up branding for the company. Gavin had spent his entire career with a corporate law firm headquartered in Denver. He knew his parents were proud of all of them, but Maddie had the same passion for real estate as Kenneth, and she’d gone toe-to-toe with Zach until they’d fallen in love.

It made Gavin smile to see his practical, pragmatic sister head over heels, especially since Zach was the perfect partner for her, as driven and dedicated to the business as Maddie.

“Maybe you’ll be the one to tie the knot in Houston,” Schuyler suggested cheerily. “I could see it at—”

“Stop.” Gavin managed to extricate himself from his sister’s grip without having to resort to chewing off his own arm. “I’m not getting married. What is it with everyone and this obsession with weddings? Mom and Dad have been dropping not-so-subtle hints since I stepped off the plane.”

Schuyler sighed. “We want you to be happy.”

“I am happy,” Gavin insisted.

She arched one delicate brow in response. “You could be really happy.”

Gavin rolled his eyes. He wasn’t about to get into an argument about his level of contentment. Of course he was happy. Why wouldn’t he be? He had a great job working with a prestigious law firm and was on track to be named partner within a year. He owned a fantastic loft in the bustling Lower Downtown neighborhood. The city was a perfect mix of urban and outdoorsy, with enough cowboy left to appeal to his Texas heart. Plus, Colorado offered almost limitless opportunities for the adrenaline-pumping adventures Gavin couldn’t seem to get enough of during his downtime. He rock-climbed, mountain-biked and skied every weekend throughout the winter. Well, not this January weekend since he was at his sister’s wedding, being subjected to the third degree by his well-intentioned family.

“Look at Everett,” Schuyler continued, pointing across the room to where their brother stood talking to a friend of their parents’. His wife, Lila, was at his side, Everett’s hand on her back. “He’s happy.”

As if on cue, Everett glanced down at Lila, and the tenderness in his gaze made Gavin’s chest ache the tiniest bit. Lila smiled up at him, practically glowing, and he drew her in closer. Gavin studied the couple, high school sweethearts who’d reunited last spring after years apart. There was something different about them tonight, a new kind of energy to their already strong connection.

Schuyler nudged him, drawing his attention back to her. “Don’t you want a woman to look at you like that?”

“What I want is a drink,” he told her. “And for you to drop the subject of my love life.”

“When was the last time you had a serious girlfriend?”

Never, Gavin thought to himself. He only dated women who wanted the same things he did: fun, adventure and a good time. “Would you like a glass of wine?”

“You didn’t answer my question.” Schuyler placed her hands on her slim hips. As Maddie’s matron of honor, she wore a burgundy-colored cocktail dress and matching heels that gave her a few extra inches of height. At six feet two inches tall, Gavin still towered over his petite sister. Her classic features and tiny frame made her look like any other beautiful young woman, but Gavin knew underneath the subtle makeup and coiffed hair beat the heart of a tenacious fighter. Once Schuyler latched on to a cause, she gave “dog with a bone” new meaning. It had been that determination that had led the Fortunados to the discovery that they were actually part of the famous Fortune family.

Schuyler loved a challenge and a quest, and Gavin didn’t relish being her next one.

“Who says I don’t have a serious girlfriend?” he countered, willing to say just about anything to make her drop the subject. “Maybe I just didn’t want to subject her to my crazy family.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Doesn’t make it less true. If you all weren’t such true-love tyrants, I would have told you about it before.” Gavin smiled to himself. That should be enough to keep her occupied for a while.

He realized his mistake as her eyes lit with excitement. “Who is she? How long have you been dating? Why didn’t you bring her to the wedding?”

“I’m heading to the bar,” he said, invoking his big-brother selective hearing. “I’ll get you a glass of Chardonnay. Oh, and it looks like Maddie is having trouble with her train. You have work to do, sis.”

“Gavin, I want to hear about your lady.”

“Maddie needs you. Gotta go.” He moved around her, dodging like he was back on the high school football team when she reached for him.

“Valene can help. Wait... Gavin.”

He waved over his shoulder and called, “Back in a sec,” having no intention of returning to his sister. She’d regroup soon enough, anyway. Another glance over his shoulder showed Schuyler following him.

He tugged at his collar and glanced around, catching the eye of the slim redhead standing near the corner of the bar. Not exactly catching her eye, as he got the impression that she’d been watching him approach. Either way, she was a friendly face and he’d take it.

“Christine,” he called, not daring to check on Schuyler’s approach. He wrapped an arm around Christine Briscoe’s shoulders. “Great to see you. How have you been? You look lovely. Shall we dance?”

“Um...” Christine, who’d worked for his father’s real estate agency in Houston for close to a decade, seemed at a loss for words. That was fine. Gavin didn’t need her to speak. As long as she came with him.

The man standing next to her, average height with dark hair and the start of a paunch that indicated he’d done too many keg stands back in college, frowned and made to step forward. Gavin took an immediate dislike to the guy but flashed a grin and held up one finger. “You don’t mind if I steal Christine for a dance, right?”

He didn’t wait for an answer. He grabbed Christine’s hand—soft skin and fine-boned, he noticed—and tugged her toward the dance floor, breathing a sigh of relief as he saw that Schuyler had been waylaid by a distant cousin on their mother’s side of the family.

The music changed from an up-tempo dance number to a slow ballad. Automatically, he wrapped his arms around Christine’s waist, careful to be respectful of her personal space since he’d basically hijacked her for this dance.

She lifted her hands to his shoulders and glanced up at him.

“Hi, there,” he said with his most charming smile.

“Hi,” she breathed. “You, too. Well. Thanks. Yes.”

He felt his mouth drop open and closed it again. “I think I missed part of the conversation.”

She tugged her bottom lip between her teeth and his mouth went dry. He’d known Christine for years, but how had he never noticed the way her mouth was shaped like a perfect Cupid’s bow, the lower lip slightly fuller and damned kissable, if he had the inclination?

Which he didn’t. He couldn’t. She was a cover to save him from his sister’s meddling in his private life. Clearly, Schuyler had messed with his head because he’d never thought of Christine as anything more than a casual friend before this moment—never gave her much thought at all if he had to admit the truth.

“I’m responding to your comments,” she answered, somewhat primly. “It’s great to see you, too. I’m well. Thanks for the compliment. Yes, I’d like to dance.”

“Ah.” He felt one side of his mouth curve. This time the smile was natural. Why did it feel so unfamiliar? “You’re precise.”

She frowned. “Oh, you weren’t looking for a response? The questions were rhetorical.” Color flooded her cheeks and it fascinated him to watch the freckles that dotted her skin almost disappear against the blush. “I should have figured.”

“No... I...” He shook his head. “I’m a little bit off my game tonight.”

“Your game,” she murmured.

“Not that this is a game,” he amended quickly. “It’s a wedding.”

“Your sister’s wedding,” Christine agreed, sounding amused.

“The Fortunados are dropping like flies,” he said, glancing around for Schuyler, whom he thankfully didn’t see in the vicinity. “Schuyler seems to think I’m next. Can you keep a secret?”

Christine nodded solemnly.

“I told her I have a girlfriend.”

“But you don’t?”

“No, and that’s how I like it.” He pulled her closer to avoid a couple trying some sort of complicated spin and tried not to notice the feel of her soft curves pressing against the front of his tux. This dance was about avoiding Schuyler. Nothing more. “For some reason, my sister can’t seem to accept that. It was easier to lie, although I’m not sure she believed me.”

“I’m sure you could find a girlfriend if you wanted one.”

He grimaced. “But I don’t want one. Not even a little bit.”

“Oh.”

He had the strange sensation that he’d disappointed her and didn’t like the feeling.

“How’s Denver?” Christine asked quietly after a moment of awkward silence between them.

“Good,” he answered and struggled to come up with something better to say. Something interesting. Charming. Gavin was well-known for his charm. He had an easy way with women that made him popular, even with his ex-girlfriends. Where was that legendary charm now?

He couldn’t figure out what the hell was wrong with him. Had he allowed Schuyler to rattle him that much? Hell, he came from a family of six kids. Good-natured teasing was nothing new.

“Did you cut your ski trip short to come to the wedding?”

He blinked. “I did, actually. How did you know?”

“Your sisters talk about you a lot,” she said. She stiffened in his arms, making him regret questioning her. He liked dancing with Christine. She was just the right height and her body fit against his perfectly. She smelled clean and fresh, like strawberries or springtime or sunshine. Okay, that was stupid. Sunshine didn’t have a scent.

He needed to get a hold of himself, but all he could manage was hoping she’d relax into him again. The song ended and another ballad began. Gavin would have to tip the bandleader later for his sense of timing.

“Do you ski?” he asked, tightening his hold on her ever so slightly, splaying his hand across her lower back.

She laughed, low and husky, and his stomach flipped wildly. He hadn’t expected that kind of laugh from straitlaced Christine Briscoe. “No skiing for me. I’ve never even been to Colorado.”

“You’ll have to visit,” he told her. The way her eyes widened in shock was like he’d invited her to have wild monkey sex on the hood of his car. The image did crazy things to his breathing, and he pushed it out of his mind.

“Th-things are b-busy,” she stammered, “at the office right now.”

“That’s right. You moved to Austin to manage the new branch. My dad mentioned that.”

“I’m originally from Austin, and it was a great opportunity,” she confirmed. “Of course, I loved working for your dad in Houston, too.”

“Of course.” He felt the sensation of someone staring at him and glanced toward the bar. The man Christine had been standing next to was still there, shooting daggers in Gavin’s direction.

“Did I steal you from your boyfriend?” Even though it was no business of his, he didn’t like the idea of this woman belonging to another man.

She shook her head, her full mouth pursing into a thin line. “Maddie and Zach invited everyone from the Austin office to the wedding. Bobby and I work together, but that’s all, despite his best efforts. He’s a good real estate agent but can’t seem to understand that I’m not interested in dating him. In fact, you kind of rescued me.”

“So then I’m your hero?”

Christine blushed again, and Gavin couldn’t help but wonder what it would take to make her whole body flush that lovely shade of pink.

“I don’t know about that,” she murmured, her gaze focused on the knot of his bow tie.

He forced a chuckle, ignoring the pang of disappointment that lanced his chest at her words. What was going on with him tonight? He didn’t want or need to be anyone’s hero. “Already you know me too well,” he said as the song ended.

Her eyes darted to his like she’d been caught with her hand in the cookie jar. “I should get back to...um...the bar.” She squeezed shut her eyes then opened them again and offered him a lopsided smile. The first strains of a popular country line dance song started. “I’m not much for this kind of dancing.”

“We have that in common,” he told her then led her through the crowd. “Thanks for helping me out,” he said as they stopped at the end of the bar. At least the guy from earlier was nowhere to be seen. He waited for her to say something, oddly reluctant to have this strange interlude come to an end.

She crossed her arms over her chest and nodded, barely making eye contact. “Enjoy the rest of your night.”

“You, too,” he said and took a step away, to be almost immediately stopped by an old family friend.

He glanced over his shoulder to see that Christine had already turned toward the bar. She was well and truly done with him.

Gavin didn’t have much experience with being blown off by a woman, but he recognized the signs just the same. Christine Briscoe obviously wasn’t having the same reaction to him as he was to her. He was more disappointed than he would have imagined.