Книга - Corporate Cowboy

Corporate Cowboy
Pamela Bauer


What Austin Bennett needed was a good swift kick!The arrogant CEO had been driving feisty filly Kacy Judd crazy with his excessive demands, blatant disregard of procedures and toe-curling kisses. Someone needed to bring the corporate executive down a peg–and Kacy was just the gal for the job!So, when a minor accident landed Austin back at her ranch–with no memory of his former ill-tempered inclinations–Kacy knew her chance for revenge had arrived. But the passion that had once flared between them was suddenly so much more dangerous. For Kacy hadn't counted on courting an Austin who was a cowboy and a gentleman….









“I’m a man without a past.”


“I don’t care about your past, Austin,” Kacy told him, putting her hands once more on his chest. “I’m not a woman who plays it safe. I’m not going to let you play it safe, either.”

“That sounds like a threat,” Austin said, his breath a bit uneven.

“Think of it as a promise.” The look in his eyes sent a shiver of delightful anticipation through her. “And, I warn you, I always keep my promises.”


Dear Reader,

February is a month made for romance, and here at Mills & Boon American Romance we invite you to be our Valentine!

Every month, we bring you four reasons to celebrate romance, and beloved author Muriel Jensen has reasons of her own—Four Reasons for Fatherhood, to be precise. Join former workaholic Aaron Bradley as he learns about parenthood—and love—from four feisty youngsters and one determined lady in the finale to our exciting miniseries THE DADDY CLUB.

Some men just have a way with women, and our next two heroes are no exception. In Pamela Bauer’s Corporate Cowboy, when Austin Bennett hits his head and loses his memory, Kacy Judd better watch out—because her formerly arrogant boss is suddenly the most irresistible man in town! And in Married by Midnight by Mollie Molay, Maxwell Taylor has more charm than even he suspects—he goes to a wedding one day, and wakes up married the next!

And if you’re wondering HOW TO MARRY…The World’s Best Dad, look no farther than Valerie Taylor’s heartwarming tale. Julie Miles may not follow her own advice, but she’s got gorgeous Ben Harbison’s attention anyway!

We hope you enjoy every romantic minute of our four wonderful stories.

Warm wishes,

Melissa Jeglinski

Associate Senior Editor


Corporate Cowboy

Pamela Bauer






www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)


For two people who are very dear to me, Kathy and Bill Greising

And to Lois Greiman, a special thanks for answering my questions




ABOUT THE AUTHOR


PAMELA BAUER was born and raised in Minnesota where you need a sense of humor if you’re going to survive winter. That’s why she writes romantic comedies set in the Midwest with heroes who know how to warm a woman’s heart…and toes. She has received awards from Affaire de Coeur and Romantic Times Magazine and her books have appeared on the Waldenbooks romance bestseller list. She currently makes her home in Minnesota where she lives with her husband who is her real-life hero, her two adult children and a Bichon-poo who thinks he’s human. When she’s not writing, she enjoys watching foreign films, going to the theater and fishing.




Books by Pamela Bauer

MILLS & BOON AMERICAN ROMANCE


668—THE PICK-UP MAN

718—MAIL ORDER COWBOY

803—SAVING CHRISTMAS

814—CORPORATE COWBOY










Contents


Chapter One (#ua20d32e4-1285-563a-9096-2e921dc5dd1e)

Chapter Two (#ufd85094b-4ea9-5f6b-8687-1ec7b8b8941d)

Chapter Three (#uc2978654-3f70-5759-9908-c1b128ed4578)

Chapter Four (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Five (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Six (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Seven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eight (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Nine (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Ten (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)

Chapter Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)




Chapter One


“Uh-oh. You weren’t able to convince them, were you?”

Austin Bennett breezed past his secretary, ignoring the stack of messages she held in her outstretched hand. “Six to one in favor of the dude ranch.”

“Oh, my,” Jean trailed after him, distress adding more lines to her already creased face. “I thought at least Henry…” she trailed off.

Austin groaned as he sank into his leather chair. No, not even his father had been on his side. Not that Austin had expected paternal support on this—or any other—issue. He had learned long ago that if he was going to make it in the family business it wouldn’t be because his father had made it easy for him. Quite the opposite. Even after ten years working for Bennett Industries, Austin had never lost the feeling that he needed to prove himself to his father.

And lately Austin felt like a lone salmon swimming upstream. Even employees he had handpicked had suddenly became his father’s advocates and his adversaries.

Austin shouldn’t have expected anything different. Getting along with others had never been easy for him. According to his mother, the very first time he had crawled into a group of toddlers at the day-care center he had created a fuss. The results of grabbing a squeaking rubber hammer from a ten-month-old pacifist were all it took for him for him to realize the world didn’t always look favorably upon those who went after what they wanted in life.

And Austin did go after what he wanted, often with a relentless determination he had learned from his father. It was why the two of them had always been at odds. They were two of a kind and because his father had started in an entry-level position in the furniture manufacturing firm, Austin too—even with an MBA in management—had to work his way up the ranks. With a man like Henry Bennett at the helm, it had been an uphill battle. But he’d made it. He may have stepped on a few toes along the way, but he had done what was necessary to be a success.

There was no shortage of profits for the company or its employees. What Austin lacked in people skills he made up for in acumen. And if his employees grumbled about the long hours and demanding work schedule, they never complained when he handed them their paychecks.

Even his father was the first to admit that Austin had a talent for making money. His diversifying the family firm had increased profits enormously, allowing them to expand. Now instead of one plant in suburban Chicago there were five, scattered about the Midwest. Employees of Bennett Industries not only received good wages and benefits, but profit sharing in a company that was rapidly becoming one of the most successful firms in the country. Yet despite the monetary rewards, the turnover rate was high—so high that the board of directors had come up with a solution to the problem. A management seminar designed to teach Bennett employees cutting-edge team-building techniques.

Austin had argued long and hard against the idea when it had been originally proposed and he still lobbied against it. At today’s board meeting when he had been overruled in his objections to the plan, he had announced that he wouldn’t be able to attend the seminar. His father had told him, in no uncertain terms, that it wasn’t optional.

Austin swiveled his chair until he was facing the plate glass windows, looking out across the Chicago skyline. It didn’t matter that he had the title of CEO. His father still ran Bennett Industries.

“It’s a foolish idea,” he mumbled.

“It might not be as bad you think,” Jean consoled him in her motherly way.

“I understand the psychology of sending employees on a trip to get away from the office, but why would anyone turn down a chance to sip cocktails in the Cayman Islands to play cowboy on the prairies of North Dakota?” he pondered as he stared at the city. “The prairie!” he repeated in disbelief. He twirled around so that he was once again facing her. “Have you ever been to North Dakota, Jean?”

“No, but I hear it’s quite lovely.”

He grunted. “If you like flat land and grass. When I was a kid my aunt and uncle took me to visit a cousin in Montana. Six of us in a station wagon loaded down with suitcases and games, seeing the USA in our Chevrolet.” He chuckled sardonically. “We drove for hours and saw nothing but a couple of grain elevators and a few clapboard buildings.”

“It probably just seemed that way because you were a kid. Besides, that was a long time ago. I’m sure it’s changed since then. I believe I read recently that very little of the tall grass prairie remains.”

“Well, maybe the tall grass isn’t there, but the land is still flat.”

“At least you’ll have peace and quiet. And according to the brochure the accommodations are quite plush,” she said in her usual optimistic way. “The Triple J has an excellent reputation. You saw the profile they did on that news program.”

“Yes, and unfortunately so did George Harbison, which is why he brought the idea to the board. He says it’s just what we need. Team building.” The words were muttered with disgust. “I can’t believe that roughing it out on the prairie is going to foster anything but irritability.”

Jean hid her smile. “I wouldn’t call spending five nights in a private room with a hot tub roughing it. I’m sure it’s not going to be that bad.”

“It’s a ranch, Jean, not a hotel. And I don’t see how pretending to be cowboys is going to teach any skills useful in the corporate world.”

“I believe the brochure called it experiential learning. You learn to work with others in risk-tasking situations and ideally, learn about yourself.”

Again Austin shook his head. “We need management strategies, not this touchy-feely crap. If you ask me, it’s pouring money down the drain. Why can’t everyone else see it for what it is?”

“Oh, but it’s not wasted money. Didn’t you read the part about there being a money-back guarantee? They’re so certain of their results, they’ll refund your money if you’re not satisfied.”

“Time is not refundable. I’m going to lose a week of work and I don’t think it’s a good idea to allow fifteen of our managers to be away from the office at the same time.”

“You didn’t think it was a problem for all of them to be gone at the same time when they were all at the sales conference in Phoenix last winter,” she reminded him.

“That was different.” He loosened his tie and undid the top button on his shirt. “Thank goodness for laptops and fax machines. At least I will be able to stay abreast of things through the Internet.”

“Laptop? Isn’t that what this whole program is about—getting away from the phones and computers and fax machines? I thought I read that you aren’t supposed to bring any work with you?”

“Jean, you know I go nowhere without my laptop. Do you realize how bored I would be if I didn’t bring work?”

“I believe the Triple J has a full schedule for you.”

He grunted. “I’m not going to do this cowboy number. If I have to get on a horse and take a trail ride to show everyone I’m a team member, fine. But while they’re all out mending fences or rounding up cattle or whatever else it is they’re going to rope people into doing, I’ll be in my room with my laptop.”

Jean arched one eyebrow. “But the point of the getaway is to do just that—get away from the stress of your regular work.”

“Work isn’t a stress for me, Jean. It’s people who give me stress. And I’m taking them with me.”

“Well, hopefully you’ll come home with a better understanding of those people.”

He sighed and leaned back in his chair. “You think this corporate retreat center is a good idea, don’t you?”

“It’s not my place to advise you, Austin. But I do know that I’ve been with this firm for almost forty years and never have I seen a man who works as much as you do. Even if you get nothing else out of this, at least it will be time away from the office.”

“I’d rather be here.”

“Austin, you can’t work twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Everyone needs a break from the office,” she chastised him gently in a tone only she could use. “Working the hours you do leaves little time for recreation. You haven’t had a vacation in four years—and don’t tell me that trip to Hong Kong with that fashion model was a vacation. You would have never gone had you not been able to close the deal with the fabric suppliers.”

“I went to Jamaica last month.”

“Business.”

“London last April.”

“Business. Austin, you need to give your mind a rest. You know what you should do? Take a few extra days when this retreat is over and visit those cousins in Montana. Forget about work. Forget about people. Just be free.”

Austin rubbed his chin thoughtfully. “I’m not sure I know how not to work, Jean.”

“Then maybe it’s time you learned. Wouldn’t it be nice to retrace that car trip you took as a child—go visit those cousins, see how they’ve changed? I bet they’d love to hear from you.”

“I haven’t seen them in over twenty years,” he said wistfully. “I’m not sure they’re even in Montana anymore.”

“Want me to do some checking?”

“No, I shouldn’t even be gone for the week at the ranch.”

Then, as she had done so often since his mother had died, Jean sat down across from him and leaned her arms on his desk, her voice taking on a familiar maternal tone. “You’re working too hard the way it is, Austin. I’m afraid one of these days I’m going to get a call saying you’ve worked yourself to exhaustion. Why don’t I look up the names of those cousins? At least you’ll have it with you and after the visit to the ranch if you find you want to take some extra time, you can do it.”

He reached across the desk to gently squeeze her arm. “All right. Get me their phone numbers.” He gave her a smile, then flipped open his daily planner. “About my plane reservation…”

“Jan in travel said everyone’s leaving at one-thirty on Sunday afternoon.”

“I don’t want to go that early in the day.”

“You’re supposed to arrive as a group.” There was admonition in her voice.

“A few hours shouldn’t make a difference.”

“But the idea is to begin this training as a team. That’s the key to success.”

“And when has anything I touched not been a success?” he retorted with a devilish grin. “Book me on the last available flight that day.”

Before Jean could protest, the door flew open. Austin knew there was only one person who would be brave enough to enter without knocking. He glanced up to see Daphne Delattre sweep into the room in her usual dramatic way. She moved with the grace expected of a runway model, not a hair out of place, not a smudge in her perfectly made-up face. She ignored Jean and went straight to Austin, brushing her lips across his cheek.

Austin didn’t miss the way his secretary cringed at the action. After a polite greeting, Jean exited, leaving Austin alone with the high fashion model, but not before casting him a disapproving look. Ever since the day his father had introduced him to Daphne, Jean had felt it was her duty to warn Austin of the dangers of a woman like Daphne Delattre.

Austin had told his secretary on several different occasions that the model was his father’s choice of companions for him, not his. Judging by her attitude, she didn’t believe him.

Daphne perched herself on the corner of his desk, deliberately exposing the slender thigh of one leg. “Why are you scowling? Aren’t you happy to see me?”

“I’m not scowling,” Austin answered. “I always look like this when I’m working.”

“Then you should stop working and take me to lunch.”

Austin ignored the flirtatious pose and glanced at his daily planner. “Can’t do that. Schedule’s full.”

“You must be able to get free for at least an hour?”

“As long as I’m in the building I’m never free,” he answered, grimacing as he ran a hand around the back of his neck in an attempt to work free a kink that was cramping a muscle.

She immediately hopped down off the desk and pushed away his hand, replacing it with hers. “Here. Let me.”

Austin didn’t protest. If there was one quality he appreciated in Daphne it was her therapeutic touch. “You know you went into the wrong profession. You should have been a masseuse.”

She harrumphed in disagreement. “So are you going to tell me what has these muscles as hard as a rock?”

“No.”

She made a sound of disgust. “What you need is some time away from this place.”

“You sound just like Jean today.”

“Well, for once I agree with her. You need a break.”

“Well, you’ll be happy to hear that’s exactly what I’m going to get.”

Her fingers stopped massaging and she turned to face him. “You’re taking a vacation?” Hope danced in her eyes.

He chuckled. “No, a business trip.”

“When is it? I have some time coming up. Maybe I could arrange my schedule and come with you.”

Austin never mixed business and pleasure. “No, that won’t work.”

She stopped her kneading. “You don’t want me there?”

There was a little catch in her voice, a ploy that was becoming very familiar to Austin. Daphne was not above using every feminine wile she possessed to get her way. At first Austin had found it amusing, but lately it had begun to annoy him. She played games, which was the kiss of death for any relationship with a woman as far as Austin was concerned.

About the only good thing he could say about a trip to this ranch in North Dakota was that it would put a little distance between him and Daphne. Lately she had started assuming their relationship was more serious than it was. It didn’t help that his father encouraged her.

Neither one of them wanted to accept the fact that Austin wasn’t ready to settle down with any woman. His father and Daphne had become a tag team whose goal was to get him to the altar.

Austin sighed. Maybe getting out of Chicago for a week wasn’t such a bad idea.

KATHLEEN CHARLOTTE JUDD was not a stubborn person, although she had every right to be. It was in the Judd genes. Her grandfather, her father and both of her brothers had stubborn streaks that could try the patience of a saint. Fortunately, Kacy took after her mother’s side of the family and although she could be a bit headstrong at times, the folks around Cavalier, ND, knew she had a sweet disposition which was difficult to undermine. She was also good under pressure and enjoyed working with people, which is why the Judds had put her in charge of public relations for the Triple J.

Only today she was not feeling very sweet. It had rained six of the last seven days. If the sun didn’t shine soon, she would get downright cranky and not just because she needed its rays to boost her endorphins. The creeks were swollen, the ground was muddy and fifteen people were expecting to spend the next four days in the outdoors, riding, roping and rounding up cattle. It was enough to make any cowgirl edgy.

Kacy, born and raised on the ranch, was accustomed to working through not only rain, but snow, sleet and ice. The guests at the Triple J, however, didn’t have her years of experience with the elements. They were urban cowboys who wanted to experience life on the ranch, which was why unless the rain stopped, the upcoming week would be one big muddy challenge.

Because it was wet, the opening dinner was served in the dining room instead of outside around a campfire. All of the staff at the Triple J wore western wear, including Kacy and her sister, Suzy, who had on long denim skirts and fringed leather vests.

Halfway through dinner, her brother Dusty said, “Someone has to go back to Grand Forks to pick up the last guest.”

“What last guest?” Kacy asked warily.

He didn’t so much as blink. “The one that’s coming in at nine-thirty.”

“This isn’t the entire group?” she asked, surveying the crowd in the dining room.

“Nope. There’s one more coming and someone has to go get him at the airport.”

She set her fork down and fixed him with an inquisitive glare. “Since when do we make special trips for one?”

“Since it’s the CEO—Mr. Austin Bennett himself.”

Kacy groaned. “You should have told him to rent a car and drive out here if he couldn’t come with the others.”

Dusty clicked his tongue. “That’s what Dad said.”

“Well, for once I agree with Dad.”

He rested his arm along the back of her chair and said, “Aw, come on, Kacy. You know you don’t mean that. If you did you wouldn’t be in charge of PR around here. You’re the one who’s always telling me how important it is to be accommodating.”

Normally, Kacy wouldn’t have argued with her brother, but today she was feeling in no mood to cater to anyone, especially not a man in a suit. “I’m sorry, Dusty, you’ll have to forgive me, but I just don’t feel very accommodating today.”

“Aw, Kace, I know it’s been a bad day, what with you getting that letter and all,” he sympathized. “But you can’t blame all the suits for what one man did.”

She didn’t. But getting a Dear John—or a “Dear Joan” letter, as her sister Suzy had called it—made her feel as if she were entitled to be just a bit irrational today. “Gran always said that on any given day you’d find at least one Judd holding a grudge against someone or something. I guess today’s my day.”

Dusty groaned. “Dad should never have encouraged you to go to New York.”

But her father had urged her to go. Since childhood she had dreamed of living anywhere but on the ranch. She had been consumed with a need to explore the world outside of North Dakota, to soak up all the excitement she knew had to be happening in the big city. As soon as she had graduated college with her degree in art history, she went in search of that dream.

She took a job in an art gallery where she discovered that the life she had fantasized was not all she expected it to be. As she gradually became less enchanted with the bright lights of the city, she began to realize that although she loved art, what she really wanted was to be with her horses in the wide open spaces of North Dakota. After three years she had packed up her things and moved home. Her only regret about leaving the city was that she had to leave the man she loved.

At least she thought she had been in love with Steven Delancey. Now she knew that she should have ended their relationship when she had told him she was quitting her job and moving back to North Dakota.

He hadn’t tried to convince her to change her mind. Instead he had acted relieved that she had made the decision to leave New York, telling her he would be able to get more work done if she wasn’t around to distract him. Kacy knew now that that’s all she had been—a distraction. An up-and-coming lawyer wanting to make partner in his law firm, Steven was focused—too focused. For him, work was more than a way to earn a living. It was an obsession.

No woman would ever be number one in Steven’s life. Work would always come first, because his whole life centered around his profession. A wife and children would always take a back seat.

It was not the kind of life Kacy wanted—to be second fiddle to a job. And she did want marriage and a family—something she wasn’t sure would ever be on Steven’s agenda.

Six months ago she hadn’t wanted to admit that it was over. Now she could hardly believe it had taken her this long to let it go. The only reason their relationship had lasted as long as it did was because she had made it work, not because of any effort on his part. That’s why when his Dear Joan letter came she felt so angry. He was the one calling it quits when she was the one who had done all the work.

Kacy had not been happy in New York, not just because of what had happened with Steven. She knew now that it had been foolish of her to think that working in a concrete and glass world would make her happy. She needed open spaces and fresh air. For that’s what was in her blood—the smell of leather and dust, the sight of cattle bunched in the corner of a pasture, waves of buffalo grass and sage, and sunsets that seemed to go on forever making one realize just how small a speck anyone is on this earth. Give her a man in jeans and boots any day over any of the suits pressing the city pavement. She preferred to live in a world of Levi’s and leather rather than wool and silk.

“Didn’t anybody tell this suit that the reason the program works is because it’s a team effort? I say let him rent a car and drive out here himself,” she grumbled.

“Kacy, be reasonable.”

“Reasonable as in get in the van and go get him?” she asked dryly.

“Doesn’t it beat reciting poetry around the campfire?”

“It’s too wet for a campfire,” she reminded him.

“Then we’ll have to have poetry around the fireplace.” He grinned. “Come on. Be a sport. Other than the orientation meeting, you won’t be missed this evening.”

Kacy knew what he said was true. She was the public relations person at the Triple J which meant she usually saw to it that guests were comfortable at all times. Her other job was to give riding lessons and lead trail rides.

“Please say you’ll do it,” he begged.

She tried to give him the stubborn look the Judds were noted for, but failed. “All right. But I’m not taking that big old honkin’ van. I’ll drive my pickup.”

“You can’t pick up a CEO in that beat-up old pickup!”

Kacy didn’t appreciate anyone referring to Bertha as either “old” or “beat-up.” “Do you want me to do it or not?”

Dusty handed her a white placard with “The Triple J” written across the front in large black letters. “You probably won’t need this, but better take it anyway.”

“You’re lucky I have such a strong sense of family duty,” she mumbled as she took the placard from him.

On her way out she grabbed a slicker from the coat room. It was a good thing because before she had reached the airport, rain fell in a steady downpour. She pulled up in front of the terminal in the loading zone, looking for signs of a suit. No one waited near the entrance.

She felt her muscles tense. For three years she had made airports a regular stop on her agenda. Her clothes had spent more time in her suitcase than her closet. Buying art for the gallery, arranging for showings, traveling cross country had all sounded glamorous to her at one point in her life.

Now she knew better. She was grateful she was no longer earning frequent flyer miles. There were no more long hours spent trying to convince a temperamental artist to agree to a showing, no more frustrating conversations with fussy patrons with outrageous demands, no more dates with men whose only goal in life is to get ahead in the business world.

Instead of worsted wool and linen, she could wear denim and leather. She was done trying to be a sophisticated city woman. In her heart she was a cowgirl and there was no point in pretending to be anything else.

Not that it mattered. Her days of doing what she was supposed to do were over…except of course when it came to the ranch. To keep the Triple J in the family, she would do anything, including cater to stuffy businessmen who didn’t have a clue what it really meant to be a rancher.

Knowing she couldn’t stay in the loading zone indefinitely, she drove into the parking lot. Before getting out, she buttoned up the slicker, cursing the fact that she had to get out in the pouring down rain to go find this guy. She grabbed the square Triple J placard and made a dash to the door.

It was nearly deserted inside the airport except for a couple of airline personnel. Kacy’s eyes scanned the small waiting room and saw a man leaning up against the wall, his back to her as he spoke on the telephone. He wore a suit and carried a briefcase. Kacy figured it had to be Austin Bennett, the CEO of Bennett Industries.

As she walked toward him she could hear the heels of her boots clack against the floor. She expected the sound would cause him to turn around and look to see who was walking toward him. It didn’t. He just kept on talking, loudly enough so that anyone in the area could have heard his end of the conversation. It didn’t take Dr. Ruth to figure out that he was having a lovers’ quarrel.

When she heard him say, “Of course I care about you, Daphne.” Kacy’s boots came to a halt.

Before she could take a step backward, she heard, “It’s not a question of my feelings for you…Please don’t cry. Daphne, stop. Do you think I want to spend a week with people who say yee-haw more than they do hello? Daphne?”

He pulled the receiver away from his ear and stared into the earpiece. “Damn,” he muttered, then hung the phone up.

Without even seeing the man’s face or speaking to him Kacy knew she wasn’t going to like him. In a few phrases he seemed to have confirmed her worst feelings about men in suits. She couldn’t help but wonder if Daphne was his girlfriend or his mistress.

She glanced at his hands. No rings on any of his fingers. A flash of gold showed beneath a crisp white cuff whenever he moved those hands. Probably a Rolex watch. It would go along with the Italian leather shoes and the Armani suit. And then there was his fragrance. Kacy had walked past the men’s counter in Macy’s department store enough times to know that it was not a cheap bottle of splash-on from the drugstore.

No, this man had money. And as much as she hated to admit it, he did smell good. Damn good. A man to avoid, Kacy thought pragmatically, although she didn’t think she needed to worry about Mr. Bennett tossing his charm her way. She didn’t exactly attract the corporate type nowadays.

Suddenly aware of her presence he turned and gave her an intense stare that told her he wasn’t the least embarrassed that she had overheard his conversation. If anything, that gaze accused her of invading his privacy. Some women might have blushed or looked away. Kacy might have, had she been in New York City or Chicago or some other corporate metropolis, but not here. Not on her own turf.

“Yee-haw.” She held up the placard with the Triple J logo on it.

His eyes—deep blue and penetrating—narrowed, making a very thorough appraisal of her figure, from her head covered by her felt cowboy hat down to her booted toes. As they traveled down the rain soaked slicker, she was grateful that he couldn’t see the open slit in her skirt, for she was certain those eyes would have lingered a moment on the expanse of leg it revealed. She hadn’t reached the age of twenty-six without learning how to recognize what was in a man’s eyes. As much as she’d like to give him an icy glare, she stepped toward him, hand outstretched.

“You must be Mr. Bennett. I’m Kacy Judd. Welcome to North Dakota.”

He took her hand, his blue eyes continuing to pierce hers with an intensity that made every red curl beneath her hat want to straighten. Just as quickly as he had clasped her hand, he dropped it, causing Kacy to wonder if he had experienced the same jolt as she had when their skin had touched.

“Where’s your luggage?” she asked.

He made a sound of derision. “It’s lost. Apparently it didn’t make the connecting flight in Minneapolis.”

“Oh.” Inwardly, Kacy smiled. It served him right. “No need to worry. I’m sure someone from the airlines will bring it to the ranch when it gets here. Until then, you can pick up a few things in the Triple J’s western wear shop.”

From the look on his face she doubted that he wanted to wear anything that had the word “western” connected to it. He didn’t look happy and as they passed the baggage claim area Kacy gave the clerk a sympathetic glance. No doubt Mr. Austin Bennett had made sure she understood his predicament.

Judging by the look on the CEO’s face, Kacy thought it would be wise for anyone to avoid talking to the man if possible. Not a friendly word had dropped from his lips yet. She could only imagine what the long ride back to the ranch was going to be like. Everything about his body language told her he didn’t want to be here.

When her father and brothers had announced they wanted to convert the ranch to a conference center for professionals, Kacy had laughed out loud. Despite the fact that one of her brothers had a business degree and the other had one in psychology, neither one excelled in the public relations department.

Which was why they needed her to be a part of the family business. When it came to smoothing ruffled feathers, Kacy was a pro. After three years in New York and encountering what she thought had to be the crankiest people on the face of the earth, working with professionals hoping to find better methods of communicating was a piece of cake.

Only this piece of cake looked as if someone could break a tooth if they tried to do anything but stay out of his way. He was going to be a challenge and although it would be easy to avoid Austin Bennett, Kacy was not one to run away from a job she was supposed to do. One way or another, she’d get this city slicker saying “yee-haw” before the week was over.




Chapter Two


“I don’t suppose you have an umbrella in that, do you?” Kacy pointed to his briefcase. “It’s coming down pretty good out there.”

Austin thought pretty good was an understatement. The road out front looked like a river. “It wasn’t raining when I left Chicago.”

“I take it that’s a no.”

“Considering the prices your facility charges, Ms. Judd, one would expect that umbrellas would be provided for guests by the Triple J.” Austin didn’t mean to snap at the woman, but he didn’t care for the censure in her tone. After his conversation with Daphne, he wasn’t in the mood to be defending himself to any woman.

And especially not this one. His gaze slid over her again, wondering just what kind of a place would send a woman wearing cowboy boots, a cowboy hat and a yellow rain slicker better suited to a two-hundred-pound firefighter.

“Oh, but we do provide umbrellas, Mr. Bennett. All of your employees who came on time were greeted with an umbrella escort. We carry them in the vans.”

“But you didn’t come in a van?”

“Uh-uh. I drive that orange pickup that’s in the front row of the parking lot.”

He glanced outside and noticed an orangish blur which he knew had to be the truck. Running even a short distance would leave him with a drenched suit. Not a pleasant thought especially since he had no change of clothes.

“I think it would be more prudent to wait a few minutes,” he advised.

“Don’t want to get your fancy suit wet, eh?” She gave him an understanding grin. “All right. You wait here. I’ll bring the truck to the door.”

“That won’t be necessary. I can walk out with you, although I don’t see why we can’t wait until it isn’t raining quite so hard.” He could feel his patience slipping away.

She shrugged. “It’s only water, but if you want to wait, that’s fine with me. I should tell you, though, that the way it’s been raining here lately, who knows when it’ll clear. And the longer we stay here, the less time you’ll have to spend with your employees when we get back.”

“I’m sure my employees can get along without me this evening,” he retorted smoothly.

“That may be true, but it is a long drive back to the ranch, Mr. Bennett, and it’s already late.” She reached for the door. “You’re the guest, I’m the driver. You wait here. I’ll get the truck.”

“I’m not having you pick me up at the door!”

“Why not?”

“Because I’m not.” He unzipped his briefcase to get a section of the newspaper to use as protection from the rain.

“Is that a laptop?” Kacy asked, peering over his shoulder.

“Yes.” He pulled out the business section of the Chicago Sunday Times, aware of her eyes watching him closely.

“Now that’s a shame.”

“What is?”

“That you brought your PC in that carry-on. You could have packed a change of clothes. Most people do that—pack an extra set of clothes just in case the luggage goes astray.”

Austin wondered if she was deliberately trying to annoy him or if he was simply in a bad mood because number one, he didn’t want to be here and number two, he had just argued with Daphne. “I’m not most people and I happen to need my laptop.”

“Not at the ranch you don’t. You’re going to be unplugged while you’re there.”

“Unplugged?”

“Yes. No telephones, no faxes, no PCs. This isn’t a working vacation, Mr. Bennett. It’s a team-building workshop that requires all of your attention and concentration.”

He sighed impatiently. “Ms. Judd, I am the CEO of Bennett Industries. I have responsibilities. It would be not only foolish, but inconsiderate, for me to lose my connection with my office.”

“Well, that may be, Mr. Bennett, but I think it would be even more foolish and inconsiderate of you to waste company money—which is what you will be doing if you don’t give your one hundred percent to the program.”

“Excuse me?” Did she honestly think that running around playing cowboy was more important than running one of the country’s most successful manufacturing industries?

“This whole concept is based on teamwork. You and your fellow employees are going to have to rely on each other. You’re not their CEO while you’re here, just another member of the team. And as a member of the team you need to work hard so that the others will know that they can count on you. Your attention needs to be with them, not with a bunch of suits in Chicago.”

Austin could only stare at her in disbelief. He ran one of the most successful manufacturing companies in the country and he was being given a lecture on management by a woman wearing cowboy boots, a yellow rubber slicker and a ten-gallon hat. What had his father gotten him into?

She peeked her nose out the door, then turned back to him and said, “I think there’s a slight lull in the rainfall. We’d better leave while we can.”

If this was a lull, he shuddered to think what a downpour would be. By the time Austin reached the pickup he was soaked. His hair, his face, his hands—everything dripped with water, including his briefcase. The section of the Times that had acted as an umbrella was a soggy mess and had done little to shield him from the driving rain. Now it fell apart, clinging to his wet fingers as he tried to shake them free.

“Do you want me to put the heat on so you can dry off a bit?” she asked as she climbed in beside him.

“I’m not cold. I’m wet,” he said stiffly.

Again she shrugged. “Very well.” She stuck the key in the ignition and started up the engine. “Fasten your seat belt. Next stop the Triple J.”

As she let out the clutch, the truck lunged forward.

“Sorry. Sometimes the pedal sticks,” she explained with a sly grin which only raised Austin’s suspicions about the sincerity of her apology. “You ever been to North Dakota before Mr. Bennett?” she asked once they were out of the parking lot and on their way.

“Once.”

“And?”

“It was a long time ago.”

“Well, what did you think?”

“That there’s a lot of flat land,” he said dully.

She chuckled. “Don’t tell me you’re one of those people who think the two best things about North Dakota are the east and west ends of Interstate 94?”

“Is that supposed to be a joke?”

“Of course it’s a joke. Interstate 94 runs smack dab through the middle of the state from Minnesota to Montana. It implies there’s nothing in between the borders, which couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s true that much of the state is flat farmland, but if you haven’t been to the northeast corner, you’re in for a treat. There’s the Pembina Gorge which is a beautiful river valley and there’s even a ski resort. Most people…”

He quickly cut her off. “You can save yourself the bother of giving me the guided tour, Ms. Judd.”

“You don’t want to hear what your colleagues already heard?” she asked in an annoying innocent tone.

“I’m sure North Dakota has an abundance of natural wonders, but right now I’m wet, I have no change of clothing and I don’t feel up to hearing a travelogue of your state,” he snapped.

“You should have let me pick you up at the door.” She had the audacity to scold him cheerfully.

Before he could utter another word his cellular phone rang. As he pulled it out of his pocket, he heard Kacy click her tongue in admonition. He shot her a nasty look before answering the call. “Yes?”

It was Daphne, hoping to continue the phone conversation he had started at the airport.

“I can’t believe you hung up on me like that!” Her voice was so loud Austin had to wonder if Kacy didn’t hear it, too.

“This isn’t a good time for me to talk. Go to bed. I’ll call you in the morning,” he said quietly into the pocket-sized phone.

“I’m not going to let you cast me aside like some used piece of furniture,” Daphne continued to shout into the phone.

“I’m not doing that. All I’m saying is this is not a good time to talk.”

“But we need to discuss our feelings.”

Feelings were something Austin rarely discussed with anyone. And certainly not in the presence of a cowgirl.

“Daphne, please,” he pleaded, but she refused to be deterred. Fortunately, they were driving out of range of the transmission and her voice became weaker. Finally he said, “I can’t hear you, Daphne. I’m going to have to hang up and talk to you when I’m not in transit.” He said goodbye and tucked the phone back into his pocket.

A glance told him Kacy sat with a smug smile of satisfaction—as if she knew he wasn’t going to be able to get any reception on the phone and was pleased about it.

“Satisfied?” he asked churlishly, wondering what it was about the woman sitting next to him that made him want to reach across and kiss that smile right off her pretty little face.

And it was a pretty face. At least what he could see of it. Cute bow lips highlighted with just the faintest of red lipstick, a pert little nose, a dainty but determined chin. And green eyes that he swore sparkled with mischief. She didn’t have the kind of looks that made the runway models famous, but she was pretty.

Of course he couldn’t see her forehead. Maybe she had one of those apelike brows that would erase the beauty of the rest of her face. That could be why she wore the hat—to cover up a bad hairline.

He chuckled. Who was he kidding? She was cute, in a country sort of way. Not that it mattered to him. He hadn’t come to North Dakota looking for Daphne’s replacement. At the thought of the model he sighed. He should have broken it off with her weeks ago. The relationship was going nowhere. Kacy Judd must have mistaken the meaning of his sigh.

“If you need to make emergency calls, we do have phones at the ranch,” she said politely.

“Do I have to be bleeding to use one?” He couldn’t keep the sarcasm from his voice.

“We don’t want to completely isolate you, Mr. Bennett,” she continued in her annoying calm voice, “but the team approach is much more effective if there are no phone interruptions. Of course we understand that there are times when you may need to touch base with your family.”

Family? What he needed to keep in touch with was work, not family. Although in his case, the two were unfortunately connected. If there was anything positive to be said about the trip to North Dakota it was that he would get a break from people who seemed hellbent upon making his life stressful.

He leaned his head back and closed his eyes. He really was tired. Maybe a week at a ranch wouldn’t be so bad after all. He could get some much needed rest as well as work without any interruptions. Mentally he prepared the upcoming week, assessing the pending reports, letting the sounds of the tires rotating over the pavement lull him into a state of relaxation.

How long they traveled in silence he wasn’t sure. His peace was shattered at the sound of tires squealing on pavement and a horn blaring. Austin’s eyes flew open to discover they had come to a stop only inches in front of the biggest moose he had ever seen. Actually, it might have been the only moose he had ever seen.

The creature seemed to be in no hurry to move from the highway. It was almost as if it took a wicked pleasure in blocking the road.

Kacy leaned her head on her steering wheel and let out a long gasp of air. “That was too close for comfort.”

Much too close thought Austin, watching the moose sniff the hood of the pickup, as if expecting to find dinner. It snorted, causing Austin to sit back as far as possible in the truck.

Kacy again tooted the horn, but the animal seemed oblivious to the noise.

“It’s not moving,” Austin stated inanely.

“No foolin’.”

“Why isn’t it moving?”

“Because moose don’t move for anyone or anything. They don’t have to.”

He hoped she was joking, but he could see by the caution on her face that she wasn’t. “Now what?”

“Now we wait until it moves out of our way.”

“You can’t just back up and drive around it?”

“It’s best not to try to outsmart a moose.”

“You’re pulling my leg, right?”

She shot him a sideways glance. “Messing with a moose is no joking matter, Mr. Bennett and it’s something you should remember should you find yourself face to face with one while you’re here. Bullwinkle may be sweet and lovable, but the moose out here can be mean, nasty creatures.”

As if to prove her point, the large animal nudged the front end of the truck with his rack, causing Kacy to cuss. “Damn! I hope he doesn’t dent my front end.”

Austin wasn’t so much worried about the truck as he was about the two of them inside. He wasn’t sure if humans could outrun moose.

Finally, after what seemed to Austin to be an eternity, the animal backed away from the pickup and sauntered over to the shoulder of the highway where he paused to give them another look before ambling away. Kacy put the truck in gear and her foot on the gas pedal. As they sped down the highway she hummed as if she hadn’t a care in the world.

After a few minutes, Austin asked, “Does that happen often?”

“What? Moose blocking the road? Every now and then. It’s a good thing we weren’t talking, otherwise I might not have noticed it when I did.”

Austin decided it would better not to engage her in conversation and went silent. She, however, didn’t seem to be as concerned.

“You ever see the damage a deer can do when it hits a car?” She didn’t wait for him to respond but continued on, “Well, that animal weighs about twice as much as any deer, maybe even three times. And moose have longer legs which means a higher center of gravity so they often come right through the windshield. Did you ever see that movie with Geena Davis where that deer came crashing right through the windshield? It’s not a pretty sight.”

And one Austin didn’t care to visualize. He wondered where help would come from if they were to have an accident or even break down. In the entire time they’d been driving, they hadn’t passed a single car. “Is it always this dark along this highway?”

“You’re not in Chicago, Mr. Bennett. This is North Dakota. You’re lucky we have a paved road…and that’s coming to an end before long.” Was that pleasure he heard in her voice?

Austin wasn’t sure which was worse—riding with his eyes wide open and watching for a critter to leap out of the darkness or sitting with his eyes shut and waiting for her to slam on her brakes. In the beam of the headlights he could see all sorts of flying insects and occasionally one would plop against the windshield.

What was he doing here? he asked himself, growing more restless by the minute. He wasn’t a nature lover and he certainly had no affinity for the wide open spaces. He was a city boy, born and bred, and while other people complained of the congestion and noise, he thrived on it.

“You know, you look awfully tense sitting there clutching your briefcase. You can lean back and close your eyes. I won’t run us off the road.”

Easier said than done, Austin thought. “How much farther is it?”

“We’re almost there.”

A short while later Austin realized that almost in North Dakota was not the same as almost in Chicago. Just as she predicted, the pavement gave way to a gravel road which she drove across at an alarming speed. He could hear rocks hit the underside of the pickup and was tempted to plead with her to slow down. Instead he gritted his teeth and sucked on his horehound drops.

By the time they reached the ranch the rain finally stopped. As she drove through an iron gate arched with the words “The Triple J,” Austin could see a smattering of lights in the distance.

“Am I going to be able to get a change of clothing at this hour?” he asked.

“My sister Suzy runs the western wear shop. She’s probably still hanging around the lodge, but even if she isn’t there, I can let you in.”

The closer they got to the conference center, the less apprehensive Austin became. The building she referred to as the lodge was made out of logs, giving it a very rustic look. At first glance it appeared to be long and narrow, but as she drove around the side he saw that it was actually L-shaped.

“Here we are. Welcome to the Triple J Guest House,” Kacy said as she pulled up under a large canopy. “We’ll check you in at the front desk, get your room key and then we’ll go look for Suzy to see about getting you some clothes.”

Austin nodded and followed her inside where the decor was definitely a style befitting a dude ranch. Dark paneling, thick beams and coach lanterns on the walls gave one the feeling of stepping back in time to the old west.

Kacy walked ahead of him, sliding her arms out of the slicker as she moved, thereby giving Austin a bit of a surprise. The body beneath the rubber rain coat was as near perfection as any he’d seen. She wore a long denim skirt that was unbuttoned to the knees revealing a most attractive pair of legs. But it was the leather vest that garnered his attention. It clung to her bosom in a most delectable manner and brought to his attention that despite the initial tomboy impression she had given him, she was all woman.

She hung the slicker on a wooden coat tree that had antlers for hooks, then led him to the front desk in the lobby. In keeping with the decor, a hitching post separated the guests from the employees.

“Normally there’s someone working here, but I think everyone’s in the lounge listening to Wild Bill Bordon. It’s not often we get a man of his fame here.” Slipping behind one of the posts, she unlocked a drawer and pulled out a ledger, flipping through the pages until she found what she was looking for.

“You’re in number ten—a private, as you requested.” She had him sign several forms, gave him a folder containing the schedule for the upcoming week, then handed him a key.

She checked for messages in the row of wooden boxes behind her on the wall, pulling out a stack of pink slips which she handed to Austin. “Someone’s been trying to reach you. A Daphne Delattre. I guess you didn’t tell her that you’re not supposed to get phone calls here, did you?” Her delicate brow arched with a hint of impatience.

He shoved the messages into his pocket without any explanation, knowing perfectly well that she had heard his phone conversation in the truck.

“The first thing I’d like to do is get a change of clothing,” he stated in no uncertain terms.

“Suzy is probably at the campfire…or I should say in front of the fireplace. We had to move the cowboy poetry reading that should have been outside around a campfire indoors.”

“Oh, what a shame that I missed it.” He didn’t try to hide his sarcasm.

“You don’t like poetry, Mr. Bennett?”

“I’m just wondering what makes poetry cowboy poetry?”

“Why, when it’s about the life of cowboys,” she said with an engaging grin. “And tonight we have one of the best poets in the West—Wild Bill Bordon.”

A man named Wild Bill reading poetry? He had never been a fan of poetry readings when they were done by literary figures, but to listen to a cowboy reading poetry? Austin could feel his discomfort level rise.

“Wild Bill puts so much energy and emotion into his readings his poems become quite powerful,” she told him. “If you’ve never been to a cowboy poetry reading you’re in for quite a treat.”

Austin studied her face to see if she was being facetious. She wasn’t. She truly thought that some guy sitting around reciting rhymes about horses and cattle would be an engaging experience. “I’ll pass on the poetry reading,” he told her.

He saw a flicker of annoyance cross her face, but it was quickly replaced with a cajoling grin and a wagging of her finger at him. “Uh-uh-uh. That is no way to start the program, Mr. Bennett. Come on. This is a great way to get into the western theme of the conference.” She steered him down a corridor lined with portraits and landscapes, all featuring cowboys.

“You like art, Mr. Bennett?” she asked, noting his interest.

“As a matter of fact I do.” He paused in front of a painting of an elderly man wearing a buckskin jacket. The brass plate at the bottom of the frame read James Judd. “Is this your grandfather?”

“Great-grandfather. He was eighty-nine when that was done.” He would have liked to ask her who the rest of the faces were on the walls, but she again was nudging him along.

“You’ll have more time in the morning to look at these. Right now we need to find the rest of your group. Your employees will be eager to see that you’ve arrived safely. Besides, it’s where we’ll find Suzy and you do want to get a change of clothes for tomorrow, don’t you?”

She had him over a barrel. Reluctantly he allowed her to escort him to a lounge in which one entire wall was a huge rock fireplace. Several leather sofas and large overstuffed recliners provided comfortable seating while a large wagon wheel chandelier glowed overhead, giving off just enough light so that the room had a warm glow.

Everyone was silent except for the toughened old cowboy who sat on a stool in front of the fireplace reciting poetry. Although a few guests chose the leather furniture, most sat on the floor forming a semicircle around the poet. Instead of their usual business clothes all of them wore western wear.

To Austin they looked like a bunch of dimestore cowboys in their stiff jeans, yoked shirts, leather boots and straw hats. What was even more surprising was that every one of them appeared to be enjoying the verses the old man recited in a voice as raspy as sandpaper. The only other sound in the room was the crackling of the wood in the fire.

As soon as the poem came to an end, Wild Bill looked over at the newcomers and nodded. All the cowboy hats turned in Austin’s direction and suddenly Austin felt like the odd man out. Not only was his suit wet and wrinkled, it was totally out of place in this setting.

“Well, now. It looks like the head honcho has finally arrived,” the weathered-looking old man commented.

The circle opened with several guests motioning for Austin to come sit beside them. “Are you going to join us?”

“I’d like to, but I need to get something to wear. My luggage is somewhere between here and Chicago.”

A collective sigh could be heard and a blonde jumped up. She was dressed like Kacy Judd in a long denim skirt and a leather vest.

“It won’t matter. We’ve got plenty of things for you to choose from, don’t we, Kacy. You want me to open the shop?” she asked Austin, confirming his suspicion that she was indeed another one of the Judds.

“I would appreciate it.”

Kacy then introduced the woman as her sister, Suzy Judd. As she smiled at Austin, he could see the resemblance between the two. Although their coloring was quite different, they had the same green eyes and a bone structure that many women would envy.

“As you can see, most everyone’s already done some shopping,” Suzy said with a grin, waving her hand in the direction of the other guests. Then she turned to Kacy and asked, “Are you going to come along or do you want to stay and listen to Wild Bill?”

“I’ll stay here. I need to talk to Dusty anyway.” Kacy extended her hand to Austin, giving him all the polite phrases, but he could see that she was about as sincere as a con man. She couldn’t wait to pass him off to her sister. And that thought annoyed him.

He didn’t know what role Ms. Kacy Judd was going to play in his life for the next five days, but of one thing he was certain. If she thought she was going to tell him what to do and when to do it, she was sadly mistaken.

THE FOLLOWING MORNING Kacy was up bright and early. On mornings when there were no guests at the lodge she began each day with a ride. Today she would be giving riding lessons so she would wait to have the pleasure of taking out one of her own horses.

Horses were Kacy’s passion and she never grew tired of being around them. Riding was an experience that satisfied all of her senses. She could feel the wind on her face, smell the grass beneath her and hear the sounds of silence. The steady rhythm of her horse’s hooves was like music to her ear and it was what she had missed most when she had lived in the city.

Riding was like breathing—she needed to do it regularly or she was in trouble. On the North Dakota prairie she could ride without worry that she’d encounter some unsavory character around the next bend. Living in New York she had discovered what it meant to feel unsafe. The two-legged animals walking the streets were much more dangerous than the four-legged kind she encountered on the prairie.

She thought of how startled Austin Bennett had looked at the sight of the moose on the highway and smiled. His visit to North Dakota had not gotten off on a very good start. Losing his luggage, fighting with his girlfriend, getting soaked in the rain. She should have had more sympathy for him, but he was a suit. And an arrogant one at that, judging by last night. Thinking everyone in North Dakota ran around saying “yee-haw.” Daphne Delattre was welcome to him.

Kacy couldn’t help but be curious as to what kind of woman would be attracted to a man like Austin Bennett. Sure, he was good-looking, but he didn’t have a personality. That much was obvious. And no sense of humor. And he liked to tell women what to do. Go to bed? Geesh! What did he think? That he was Daphne’s father?

At the direction her thoughts were taking, she chastised herself, annoyed that he aroused the least bit of curiosity in her. Just because he had a couple of physical attributes that might make a woman’s heart beat a little faster didn’t mean she had to fantasize about the man’s love life.

Maybe some women went for the arrogant type, but she wasn’t one of them. She didn’t mind a man with a “take charge” attitude, but she didn’t need anyone telling her what to do. She pushed all thoughts of the CEO aside and prepared for the day ahead.

By the time she had showered and dressed, blue skies and sunshine alleviated her worries that they would be troubled by rain again today. Normally she would have had a quick bite of breakfast in her own kitchen, but because it was the first day of a new session at the ranch, she joined the rest of the staff for breakfast in the lodge’s dining room.

Suzy, besides running the clothing shop, acted as hostess for all meals, arranging the seating and welcoming guests as they arrived. It came as no surprise to Kacy to find that her sister’s place card was next to Austin Bennett’s. What did come as a surprise was to see the CEO in blue jeans, a shirt with pearl snaps and a pair of oxfords. Kacy had to stifle a giggle. Dress shoes with blue jeans?

When his eyes met hers, he nodded. It was the only sign that he noticed her presence. Even though he appeared to be listening to Suzy, Kacy thought he looked detached, almost bored by everything that was going on around him. The impression only increased her antagonism toward the man.

When breakfast was over, Kacy found herself face to face with him as she left the dining room. “Good morning, Mr. Bennett. Did you sleep well?”

“Yes, I did.”

“And is the room to your satisfaction?”

“The room is quite nice. Thank you.”

One point in our favor, Kacy thought. She looked down at his shoes and asked, “Didn’t they have boots in your size?”

“I didn’t ask.”

“You have some in your luggage, is that it?”

“No.”

“Then what are you planning to wear for riding? You’ll ruin those expensive Italian leather shoes if you wear them.”

“I’m not getting on a horse, Ms. Judd.”

“Riding is part of the program, Mr. Bennett,” she explained calmly.

“That may be, but I am not riding. Now if you’ll excuse me.” Before she could say another word, he had turned and was walking down the corridor leading to the guest rooms.

She had been dismissed! Kacy could feel her blood pressure rising and she was tempted to go after him and let him know just who was running the show. But she didn’t. She simply smiled to herself.

Let him think what he wanted. There was no way some city guy in a suit was going to get the upper hand on her. He’d learn that soon enough.

BENNETT INDUSTRIES HAD enrolled fifteen employees in the program. That meant Kacy and her brothers each worked with a team of five. When it was time for the first scheduled activity—the riding lessons—Kacy only counted four people in her group.

“Who’s missing?” a man named Ed asked, shading his eyes as he glanced to the opposite corners of the corral where the rest of the participants sat on bales of hay awaiting instructions.

“It’s Mr. Bennett,” Kacy answered, looking at the slip of paper Dusty had handed her only minutes before.

“I didn’t think he’d be out here with the rest of us,” another man chipped in.

Kacy looked toward the lodge and felt a twinge of irritation which quickly escalated into a knot of anger when she saw a man walk out of the lodge and head for the pool. She didn’t need a pair of binoculars to know that it was Austin Bennett. Why had the man even bothered to come to the ranch?

Determined to stay cool with the situation, she said, “Maybe Mr. Bennett doesn’t need a riding lesson.”

“It’s more likely he doesn’t want one,” someone supplied.

Ed grinned. “Rumor has it that he wasn’t too gung ho about coming here.”

“Really?” Kacy stated innocently, knowing perfectly well Austin Bennett didn’t want to be anywhere near the ranch. “But we’re going to have so much fun.” She wiggled her eyebrows as she grinned.

“Some of us are a little shy around horses,” another guest admitted.

“There’s no need to be,” Kacy assured everyone. “Riding is an essential component of the work you will do here. And it’s fun. So, I’ll go have a little chat with Mr. Bennett. In the meantime, you can admire Harriet.” She walked over to the fence and lovingly stroked a chestnut mare tied to fence. “She’s a real sweetie. Wouldn’t hurt a fly.”

“Is everyone going to get a horse to ride?” Ed asked as she started for the pool area.

“Oh, yes. We’ve enough horses for everyone. Even Mr. Bennett,” she said with confidence before heading toward the lodge.




Chapter Three


Most guests at the ranch used the pool area for relaxation. Not Austin Bennett. In the time it had taken Kacy to walk back from the corral he had set up a portable office on one of the round glass-topped tables in the shade of an umbrella and appeared to be hard at work.

“Mr. Bennett, what are you doing?”

He lifted his head to glance at her briefly, a pair of dark sunglasses masking his penetrating blue eyes. “I’m working, Ms. Judd.”

“You’re supposed to be part of a group riding lesson. Your team members are waiting for you.”

“I believe I already told you I’m not getting on a horse.” He kept his eyes on the computer screen, continuing to punch keys while they talked.

She felt like snatching that laptop from his hands and tossing it into the pool. Instead she took a deep breath and counted to ten. “Then you’re going to have trouble keeping up with your employees. Nearly every activity at the ranch involves riding.”

The gentle breeze sent a whiff of his aftershave in her direction, teasing her nostrils, increasing her awareness of him as a man. Not that she needed the heady scent to remind her of how masculine he was. He was one of the sexiest men she had ever encountered. It was a good thing he was a suit. Otherwise she could find herself easily distracted from the job at hand.

He stopped typing and glanced up at her. “Looks like I’ll get more work done than I expected,” he said evenly, then he smiled at her.

The smile caused her heart to skip a beat and Kacy knew she was wrong about not being distracted. “The program’s been designed for fifteen people.”

“Surely you can make it fifteen minus one.”

“No, everything’s already set up.”

“Then you’ll have to adjust to one less.”

She had heard that tone of voice often when dealing with difficult customers at the art gallery. It said, “I’m the customer and I’m always right.” Kacy could feel her patience blowing away with the wind.

“Why did you choose the Triple J for your team-building sessions if you had no intention of taking part in the program?” she asked, her hands on her hips.

“I didn’t choose it.”

So he had been strongarmed by bigger brass to attend. He didn’t want to be at the ranch and was only there because he had no other choice. Kacy should have realized that last night when he had shown so little interest in anything she said.

Well, it wasn’t the first time she had a reluctant guest at the ranch. Usually with a bit of cajoling and patience, she could get even the crankiest to join in the group activities. However, Austin Bennett didn’t appear to want to have his mind changed. He looked as if he had already decided what his morning was going to involve and it wasn’t horses.

“I know this isn’t a typical business conference setting, but experience has shown us that often the most skeptical of guests leaves as the biggest proponents of the program,” she said cheerfully.

“You’re telling me that everyone leaves here a happy cowboy?”

“Yes. I know a trip to North Dakota doesn’t sound like much of a perk, but if you’ll just give us a chance, we’ll see that you leave with a sense of accomplishment you never expected you’d find on the prairie,” she promised.

“That’s fine. You do your job with my employees and I’ll take back a group of contented employees,” he said smoothly.

She struggled to stay positive and not let him upset her. “But we want you to be content, too.”

That remark brought him to his feet. He pulled off his sunglasses and pinned her with his blue eyes. “And you think you know what makes me content, Ms. Judd?”

This time Kacy’s heart didn’t just skip a beat, it darn near turned over in her chest. There was no mistaking the look in those eyes. It was a challenge, and not just a professional one. Ever since she had met him at the airport last night there had been a tension between them. And she’d have to be as dumb as dirt not to recognize that it wasn’t solely based on his reluctance to come to the Triple J.

The fact that he could produce an wanted physical reaction in her made her lose a bit of the self-control she had always took great pride in maintaining. “I know my job, Mr. Bennett, and I know the results we achieve at the ranch. Now if you’d rather not join the rest of your employees, that’s your choice. But I do think you should remember the agreement you signed.”

That caused his brow to crease. “What agreement?”

“The one that says by enrolling in the program you agree to be a willing participant in all activities unless for medical reasons you are forced to abstain. Is there a medical reason why you can’t get on a horse, Mr. Bennett?”

He chuckled. “I never signed such an agreement.”

“You wouldn’t be here right now if you hadn’t. Want me to get your registration form from the office?” she asked, giving him a smile that said “I got you on this one.”

He took a step closer to her. “Maybe I did sign your form. So?”

So she didn’t have him. They both knew the contract was done more in good faith than anything else. Again there was that same challenging look in his eyes, the one that sent a shiver of excitement down Kacy’s spine. She forced herself to remember she was representing the Triple J, that the only reason she was standing next to this man was because of her work.

“Being a successful executive, you know that the success of any program depends on the cooperation of the individuals involved. What we do is to create original, out-of-the-ordinary experiences that bring people together. The key is to work together as a group or you defeat the purpose of being here.”

She could see by the expression on her face that she hadn’t convinced him. She tried another approach. “Mr. Bennett, you’re obviously a hard-working, dedicated man. You wouldn’t have brought all of this with you if you weren’t.” She waved her arm over his makeshift workplace. “All I’m asking is that you put that dedication and hard work to use here at the ranch. These are your employees. Some of them weren’t exactly crazy about coming here, but they’re all here and they’re giving the program a chance to succeed.”

He didn’t speak for several moments, but looked toward the corral, where the other team members sat on bales of hay waiting to begin their lessons. Seeing the direction of his gaze she said, “The Triple J doesn’t force its guests to do anything they don’t want to do, but I really do encourage you to give the program a try.”

“And if I don’t?”

“You’re not cheating me, Mr. Bennett. Just them.”

“I’d hardly call not riding a horse cheating my employees. I’m sure they can play cowboys just fine without me,” he said dryly.

“There’s a little bit more to this program than playing cowboys. It’s about building better people skills and judging by the way you’ve behaved ever since you arrived, I’d say you could use a little help in that direction.” The moment she said the words, she regretted them. What she didn’t need to do was insult a guest.

Only Austin Bennett wasn’t insulted. “And just how do you plan to help me with my people skills?” he asked with a bit of amusement in his eyes.

Before she could answer his cell phone rang.

“If you’ll excuse me, this is an important call,” he said as he reached for the pocket-sized phone.

Once again he was dismissing her. Kacy could have cheerfully given him a swift kick with her boot. Fortunately, sanity prevailed and instead of saying more things she’d regret, she swallowed back all the nasty things she wanted to say and told him, “Very well, Mr. Bennett. However, if you change your mind about the riding lessons, you know where to find us.”

Fortunately, the walk back to the corral dissolved her anger. And within a few minutes of doing what she loved best—working with the horses—she forgot all about her encounter with their difficult guest.

As soon as everyone had learned how to saddle a horse, Kacy demonstrated the basics of mounting and dismounting. None of her students had ever ridden, which actually made it easier for her, since there were no bad habits to correct. They were all eager to learn which made her realize how different the session would have been had Austin Bennett been a part of the group. His very presence would have created tension, since she couldn’t get within five feet of the guy without having every nerve in her body aware of him.

As soon as the riding lessons were over, the three teams became one large group with Kacy’s brothers in charge. The first team-building assignment was fence building. As everyone worked together digging post holes and setting timbers in place, Kacy thought about the man back at the pool. Not only was he missing the pleasure of riding, but the physical exertion of working together with his employees.

Even if he hadn’t wanted to be a part of the program, Kacy could hardly believe that he would write off its merits without so much as even giving it a try. Without participating in even one activity he had decided it wasn’t worthy of his attention.

By lunchtime she was feeling less than charitable toward the man and she sensed that his employees weren’t exactly thrilled that they were dusty and sore while he looked as cool as a cucumber. Not that it mattered to Austin. He said little at lunch and Kacy wondered if his thoughts weren’t on the mysterious Daphne, whom Suzy informed her had called at least half a dozen times that morning.

For the afternoon session the group was to be divided in two groups. One half would ride fence, checking for downed wire. The other would ride to a neighboring ranch where they would learn to sheer sheep. As soon as lunch was finished, Kacy approached the CEO.

“You’re assigned to group two, Mr. Bennett. That’s the one doing the sheep shearing,” she told him.

“Do I look like I want to even get near a sheep, Ms. Judd?” he asked and Kacy’s blood pressure again soared.

“Then I guess you’re going to be one hungry man.”

“What does sheep shearing have to do with eating? Don’t tell me hunt and kill is part of the lesson,” he said with a chuckle of disbelief.

“No, it isn’t,” she denied vigorously. “What I meant is that if you’re not with us you’ll miss dinner because it’s served at the chuckwagon out on the range. That’s why you need to come along this afternoon. We won’t be returning to the lodge until after we’ve eaten.”

His look was guarded. “I’ll think about it.”

“You have about forty-five minutes. That’s when we meet outside.”

As she expected, he was nowhere around when they met at the corral. Kacy pursed her lips and looked back at the lodge. He wasn’t outside at the pool. She figured he was probably sitting inside the air-conditioned room talking to Daphne on the phone.

Kacy didn’t understand why it should bother her at all. Whether or not he took part in the activities was no reflection on her skills as a facilitator, yet she felt as if he were affronting her by not showing up. The less she saw of him, the more he seemed to irritate her. Yet when she did see him, he irritated her, too. The only way she was ever going to get any peace of mind was for him to be gone. Four more days and she would never have to see Austin Bennett again. It was a thought she kept foremost in her mind.

“WE’RE SORRY, but all circuits are busy.”

Austin slammed down the receiver of the telephone and sighed. He was beginning to wonder how many long distance circuits they had in North Dakota. Every time he tried to make a long-distance call he got the same recorded message. Or was it simply a gimmick orchestrated by the Triple J to keep guests from using the phone? After all, he was supposed to be “unplugged” at the ranch.

Austin paced about his luxurious room. With the exception of the phone service, the accommodations were on par with any five-star hotel. The problem was, he was hungry. He should have gone with the group today just to get dinner. Irritation also gnawed his insides at the memory of how Kacy Judd had returned wearing that smug look on her face, boasting of the two-inch-thick steaks they had enjoyed. His mouth watered at the thought of a slice of beef right now.

It was barely nine o’clock, yet the Bennett employees had turned in for the night. Austin didn’t blame them. They had looked dog-tired when they had returned and he had felt a twinge of guilt. He probably should have gone with them, but he had a stack of reports needing his attention—reports that would make a difference for the future of Bennett Industries.

Again pangs of hunger rumbled in his stomach. There was only one thing to do. Invade the twenty-four-hour kitchen. He grabbed his room key and headed for the cafeteria.

One fluorescent bulb beamed a welcome sign at the entrance to the dining room. Austin walked through the vacant room until he reached the swing doors separating the kitchen from the dining room. As he stepped inside, he flipped a switch that created a glow overhead illuminating chrome appliances and working tables. He opened the refrigerator and practically salivated at the plate of sliced roast beef sitting on the top shelf. In a matter of minutes he had made himself a sandwich stuffed with meat and cheese. He was just about to turn off the lights and return to his room when a set of footsteps echoed on the floor.

Coming toward him was Kacy Judd. She wore a tiny white shirt made of lacy cotton and a pair of cut off jeans showing off long, slender legs. But it wasn’t the legs or the top that caught Austin’s eye. It was her hair.

It was bright red but Austin was quite certain the color didn’t come out of a bottle. It fell to her shoulders in long springy curls that bounced when she walked. When that hair was tucked up beneath a hat it was easy to assume she was a tomboy. But when it hung loose, it made her look all woman. When she saw Austin, she smiled, looking like a cat ready to pounce on a canary.

“Well, lookee who’s here. Hungry?” she asked with an arch of one brow.

He felt as guilty as a kid who was caught skipping school by the teacher…which irritated him. This woman wasn’t his mother or his teacher or anything to him. And he had a perfect right to get something to eat. After all, the ranch advertised its twenty-four-hour kitchen as a selling point.

“There’s nothing like a sandwich at midnight, is there?” she said saucily, then quickly added, “Unless it’s a thick juicy steak at dinner.” Her grin was devilish.

“All right. You’ve made your point,” he said dryly and started to leave.

“You don’t need to eat in your room. I’ve already seen you.”

That comment really annoyed him. “I’m not a man who hides from anything, Ms. Judd.”

“No?” She turned her back to him and walked over to the refrigerator. Austin watched her pull out the same plate of beef. “You could have fooled me.”

She sat on a stool at the island counter and began to make herself a sandwich. Instead of leaving—which he knew she would interpret as him feeling guilty—he took a stool across from her and plunked his plate down with a thud.

“Just because I don’t want to play cowboys with you doesn’t mean I’m a coward,” he stated in no uncertain terms.

She didn’t answer, but gave him a quick glance then continued smearing salad dressing on her bread.

Silence stretched between them until he said, “If this is how you treat your guests I’m surprised you have any sort of reputation left.”

This time she was the one who slapped something down on the counter. A knife. It clanged and he saw a spark in her eye that made his heartbeat increase.

“This is not a hotel, Mr. Bennett. It’s a ranch. A working ranch and guests who come here do so because they want to be a part of that work. Our job is to provide them with that opportunity, not to cater to self-indulgent, egotistical suits who have little respect for anybody else’s property but their own.”

By the time she had finished her eyes were flashing, her cheeks red, her chest heaving. It was the heaving chest part that held Austin’s attention. There was stress on the buttons of her shirt. And it wasn’t only caused by her posture, which was one of agitation. No, that skimpy little shirt of hers was a bit too tight across the bosom. He suspected that it was a deliberate maneuver on her part. He had yet to meet a woman who didn’t use her physical attributes to get her own way.

Yup, Ms. Kacy Judd knew exactly what she was doing when she got dressed every morning. If any of the guests were a bit reluctant to get on one of her horses, she could just mosey on over to him, press that knockout of a body next to his, stretch her arms so that those buttons were strained to the max and that little gap would allow the ever-so-tiniest of peeks at the lacy undergarment.

He felt himself growing hard. Damn. She was so good it was working on him. He forced his eyes to her face, but it didn’t help. The curve of those cherry lips was just as tantalizing as the peek at her breasts. Maybe he should have gone for the riding lesson after all.

The direction his thoughts were taking made him stop short. What was he thinking letting a cowgirl distract him from the issue—which was his right not to participate in the experiential learning program. For a minute he had almost been ready to concede that she had a point. He reminded himself that he was a paying guest, not a prisoner on the ranch, and he was not a man to endure insults.

He leaned across the counter until his face was only inches from her. “You think I’m self-absorbed because I care about the success of a firm which employs thousands of people? Is that what hard work is to you, Ms. Judd? Self-absorption?”

To his surprise, she didn’t back away, but held his gaze and even moved a bit closer to him. “Hard work? You call pencil pushing hard work, Mr. Bennett?” She chuckled sarcastically. “I doubt you’d be able to do a hard day’s physical labor if your life depended on it.”

He knew she was baiting him. She was trying to get him to prove to her that he could handle the work at the ranch. Against his willpower, every macho nerve screamed for him to prove he could. He was ready to flex his muscles and show her that he was not an office potato but a well-conditioned, athletic, tough guy. Only he knew he wasn’t. It had been years since he had been to the gym. With the schedule he worked, there was no time for health clubs.

“I don’t need to do your ranch work, Ms. Judd. I make money everyday using this.” He tapped his finger on his forehead.

“You think money’s the answer to everything, don’t you?”

“It’s the reason why you’re running this ranch as a corporate retreat center,” he shot back at her.

He knew he had hit home with that barb. She lowered her eyes as if to compose herself.

“We’re just trying to keep doing what we love to do,” she answered quietly.

“You can call it anything you want, but you have the same goal as we do in Chicago. To make money. You’re entrepreneurs.”

“We’re ranchers,” she stated firmly.

He shrugged. “Whatever.”

“We are,” she insisted vehemently. “This isn’t the city. We’re not conjuring up ways to make a fast buck. We want people to understand the connection between the land and life, to show them that what they do in the office has its roots back here on the prairie.”

He rolled his eyes. “Spare me the altruism.”

She could only shake her head. “How did you become so jaded, Mr. Bennett?”

“I’m not jaded, Ms. Judd. I’m a realist.”

“If that’s the case then you might want to think about the reality of what you’re doing here. Put a little more thought to the morale of your colleagues and a little less about your girlfriend back in Chicago, who by the way has been making a nuisance of herself by leaving countless messages at the switchboard.”

Daphne’s persistence annoyed Austin, too, but he wasn’t about to let this woman know that. His frustration at not being able to make long-distance phone calls surfaced.

“She wouldn’t have to pester your switchboard operator if your local phone company had more than one line for long distance. Do you realize how long I’ve been trying to get a connection to Chicago?”

“Just can’t stand being away from your girlfriend, can you?” she said snidely. “What I can’t figure out is why you just didn’t bring her with you? You two lovebirds could have cuddled poolside while the rest of your employees worked their butts off building fences.”

Gosh, he hated her tone of voice. She had to be the most irritating woman he had ever met. He was just about to retaliate with a rude comment when he realized what was happening. This woman was getting to him. Why was he even standing here arguing with her?

He picked up his sandwich and started to walk toward the door saying, “There’s no point in discussing this subject with you. I’ll have a word with your superior.”

“You mean my dad?”

It was said with such a smugness Austin knew that she was thinking, Go ahead. It won’t do you any good. He turned around to look at her. “Why should it matter to you whether or not I take part in the activities?”

She shrugged. “I told you. It doesn’t mean a thing to me. But your employees…well, maybe you should ask them how they feel. You might be surprised by what you hear.”

He chucked sardonically. “I’ve no doubt they want me to be as miserable as they are.”

She looked as if he had dealt her a personal blow. “Riding is not misery, Mr. Bennett. It’s the most glorious, wonderful….” she trailed off, looking a bit embarrassed by her enthusiasm.

“I’ll tell you what. You know the way you feel about riding? That’s how I feel about the work I do.”

“I don’t think so.”

“And how would you know? Have you ever experienced the rush of excitement you get from finalizing a deal you know will allow your employees to enjoy the profits of their labor?”

“No, but…”

“Well, until you do, Ms. Judd, I suggest you not try to get me on a horse and I won’t ask you to speak at our stockholders’ meeting.” He thought he had put her in her place but good.

As he walked out of the kitchen he heard her call out to him, “We’re rounding up cattle tomorrow at 7:00 a.m. Be there.”

KACY SHOULD HAVE known that her talk with Austin Bennett wouldn’t produce any results. The following morning he was not with his team members when they went out on the range to round up the cattle. By late afternoon, everyone was tired, dusty and in need of a shower…everyone but Austin, that is.

Dinner was served in the dining room. The atmosphere was a bit subdued, but in a good way. Kacy sat with several members of her team, but noticed that her sister chose to sit next to Austin.

The younger woman flirted shamelessly with the CEO. As hard as Kacy tried not to notice their light-hearted banter, she couldn’t keep her eyes off the two of them. It irked Kacy that Suzy was being so friendly to the guy when he was completely ignoring the efforts of everyone involved with the program. She wanted everyone at the ranch to shun the man.

Although there was no planned activity for that evening, one of the assignments was to fill out a questionnaire which was a leadership pretest. Kacy didn’t expect Austin to answer any questions. While everyone else sat with pencil and paper in hand, he disappeared. She guessed he had gone back to his room, since it was where he spent most of his time. Kacy sat in the lounge watching as one by the one the guests finished with the test and handed her their papers. When she had collected everyone’s but Austin’s, she decided to pay him a visit.

At first she thought he wasn’t in his room, for no one answered her knock. However, as she was about to leave, the door opened. Standing with only a towel around his waist, his hair dripping with water, he looked as surprised as she felt.

The sight of his bare chest had her shifting from one foot to the other. Of their own volition, her eyes traveled down the length of torso, following the fuzzy light trail of hair extending from his belly button down to…She jerked her eyes upward. What was she thinking? Looking down as if she were curious about what was beneath the towel.

She must have stood there speechless for several seconds because he said a bit impatiently, “Well?”

She waved the stack of papers in the air. “I need yours.”

“My what? I take it it’s not an evaluation form otherwise you wouldn’t be asking me for it,” he drawled.

“It’s called a pretest. You fill it out this evening and we go over the answers tomorrow. It’s a way for you to assess what you know about leadership.” He stood there giving her a blank look. “I don’t have yours.”

“Because I didn’t do it.” His voice was flat and disinterested.

“I know.” He smelled like soap and something else…maybe a designer shaving cream. It was a combination that had the awareness hairs prickling on Kacy’s skin.

“So?”

“So would you please get yours done?”

He sighed. “I really don’t have the time.”

“It’s a simple little exercise that we’ll be using tomorrow at the meeting. It’ll take you fifteen minutes max.”

He shoved his hands to his hips. “What’s the point?”

“The point is we’re going to use them tomorrow. You can at least attend a meeting that’s held by the pool, can’t you?”

Again he sighed. “Where is this paper?”

“They were passed out at dinner.”

“I must have left it in the dining room.”

“No problem. I have an extra.” She flipped through the stack only to discover she didn’t have an extra. “I guess I don’t have one. I’ll tell you what. I’ll read you the questions and you can give me your answers. I’ll mark them on a blank sheet of paper and transfer them to a form when I get back to the office.”





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