Workaholic millionaire meets feisty single mom! Only from USA TODAY bestselling author Catherine Mann!
Sexy cybersecurity guru Max St. Cloud’s trip to Royal, Texas, is strictly business: he’s here to expose a tech-savvy blackmailer. Falling for Natalie Valentine, the captivating widow who runs the local B and B, isn’t on the agenda. Plus, Max isn’t daddy material and she comes with two kids too many. So why does he rethink his bachelor status after one red-hot kiss?
Max’s heart is damaged goods, yet Natalie can’t deny her growing feelings. But will the recently widowed single mom go to any lengths to show the reluctant family man where he belongs?
Determined to put a hint of space between them even if she couldn’t will herself to just walk away, Natalie flattened a hand to his chest.
The hard, muscled wall of his chest.
“I’m complimented you want to kiss me, but that’s not included in the bed-and-breakfast package.”
Max chuckled, the rumble of his laugh vibrating against her hand. “That’s the nicest put-down I’ve ever received.”
Gaining strength, she let out her own low laugh, eyebrows arching, taking him in, trying to focus on the crisp September air instead of his musky scent. Or the way the shadows played up his bad-boy mystique. “I imagine you don’t get told no often.”
“Another compliment. For someone who is rejecting me, you’re doing it very nicely.” His voice was still throaty, and he swallowed, eyes fixed on hers.
“So you hear me saying no to your advance?”
He nodded his head, the line of his lips growing taut. “I hear you. No is no. I just want you to remember I still feel the same way. I want to kiss you. Very much. And if you decide you want to act on this attraction, I’m not going anywhere anytime soon.”
* * *
Taking Home the Tycoon is part of the series Texas Cattleman’s Club: Blackmail—No secret—or heart—is safe in Royal, Texas...
Taking Home the Tycoon
Catherine Mann
USA TODAY bestselling author CATHERINE MANN has won numerous awards for her novels, including both a prestigious RITA® Award and an RT Book Reviews Reviewers’ Choice Award. After years of moving around the country bringing up four children, Catherine has settled in her home state of South Carolina, where she’s active in animal rescue. For more information, visit her website, www.catherinemann.com.
To Vee, Sharon, Tiffany and all the volunteers who make such an incredible difference through the Sunshine State Animal Rescue.
Contents
For self-made cybersecurity billionaire Max St. Cloud, his life as a teen on the unforgiving streets of LA—panhandling, Dumpster diving for his next meal and hot-wiring cars for cash—seemed like a distant dream. Fifteen years later, hotshot Max enjoyed the hell out of his life in Seattle.
He adored his fleet of fast cars and hangar full of planes. His state-of-the-art modern marvel of a home was any techie’s wet dream. He had his pick of women equally as committed to their professions. And he was married to St. Cloud Security Solutions, his corporate computer and building security firm.
So why in the hell was he sitting here in small-town Royal, Texas, sporting one helluva hard-on for a scrubbed, fresh-faced woman wearing mom jeans?
The ginger-haired beauty seated in the wingback beside him seemed unaware of his dilemma. A good or bad thing? He wasn’t sure.
Digital tablet on his knee, he shifted in his leather chair, one of a pair by the fireplace in a meeting room at the Texas Cattleman’s Club’s lodge. Given he’d been called in as a security expert, he should be focused on this latest interview into a cyberwar being waged on the citizens of Royal.
Those were the key words: should be. He stole another glance at the woman beside him.
Clearing his throat, Max forced himself to take notes on his tablet because the odds of him remembering the details of this conversation with Natalie Valentine were next to nil. He stared at his notes about her: twenty-nine years old, war-widowed mother of two, wedding-dress designer, owner of the Cimarron Rose Bed and Breakfast in the center of town.
The simple facts didn’t come close to revealing how damned appealing he found her.
“Mrs. Valentine—do you mind if I call you Natalie?”
“That’s fine. Of course.” She scratched a finger along the flour stain on her denim-covered thigh—her empty ring finger. “Actually, I prefer it.”
The flash of pain in her eyes made him feel like an ass for jonesing over another guy’s wife. Even a dead guy. Especially a dead guy. “I appreciate your taking time from your business day to speak with me.”
“I’m