Desiree Holt

Chapter One

Shea Prescott tugged on her short jacket—power red, of course—to straighten nonexistent wrinkles and brushed imaginary lint from her black skirt. Glancing around her office yet another time she assured herself that everything was in place, the client chairs properly placed, her pad for note-taking centered on her desk with freshly sharpened pencils and her computer set to produce her standard Power Point slide show with the touch of a button.

It wasn’t as if this was her very first appointment ever. No, Shea Randolph Prescott had acquired quite an impressive list of clients, not just in San Antonio but throughout Texas. But it wasn’t every day a man worth millions and known as much for his sexual prowess as his business acumen walked into her office.

Miguel Cruz Castillo was definitely a legend. Descended from Castilian Spaniards who had come to the New World six generations before, he had grown up in wealth and privilege. Yet once he’d gotten his college degree, he’d walked away from it all to build his own empire. He’d purchased land in both the Hill Country and central Texas before the big land boom and developed them into parcels for smaller ranches that sold for seven figures. The latest article she’d found on him discussed his recent purchase of a software company and an electronics manufacturer.

Two years ago he had added a cattle ranch south of the city that spread over ten thousand acres and was hugely profitable despite dips in both the economy and beef prices. The golden touch, everyone said.

He also appeared regularly on the society pages, a different woman on his arm each time. And in the cocktail lounges and on the party circuit the story of his conquests could almost fill an encyclopedia.

She was curious as to his reason for choosing to meet with her. Surely there were architects used by his friends and associates who would be more logical choices for him. She’d needed two days just to get over the shock of the call from his secretary. Word had it the man was dangerously sexy but Shea planned to put on her invisible armor and keep things strictly business.

She hoped.

As she looked at her watch yet again, the intercom on her desk buzzed and the voice of Marta, her secretary, said, “Señor Castillo is here.”

Willing herself to calmness, she pressed the talk button and said, “Please show him in.”

When Marta ushered him in, Shea rose to greet him but on very shaky legs. “Dangerously sexy” didn’t half begin to describe him. Miguel Cruz Castillo was the ultimate alpha male, power surrounding him like a cloud. But it was the aura of rich masculine sex appeal that turned her legs to water and set every pulse in her body to thrumming. His lean runner’s body was expensively clad in dark linen slacks, a cream-colored silk shirt and a light grey blazer. Dark hair like a thick pelt swept back from an olive complexion accenting an aquiline nose, high cheekbones and a sensuous mouth. And eyes a woman could drown in. She felt her armor melting away.

Taking a deep steadying breath, Shea leaned across her desk to extend her hand, hoping her smile didn’t look as frozen as it felt.

“A pleasure to meet you, Señor Castillo.”

He moved forward and took her hand in a warm, firm clasp. The electric jolt that shot through her arm and spread heat throughout her body stunned her and she did her best to conceal her reaction. As politely as possible she withdrew her hand but the flare of light in his eyes told her the same reaction had hit him.

“Please.” He gestured with his hand. “Call me Cruz.”

The smile he flashed her made everything tingle from her nipples to her cunt.

Not good, Shea. This is business. And besides. You are so far out of his league.

“After all,” he continued, “if we’re going to be doing business together, I find it always helps to be less formal. Especially since we’ll be working so closely.”

“About that.” Shea sat back down in her chair and gestured for Cruz to take one of the client seats. “I’m very curious as to how you happened to pick me for whatever project you have in mind, rather than an architect recommended by one of your friends.”

His eyes studying her face were like liquid pools of melted chocolate that she could easily fall into.

“Are you saying you don’t want to take me on as a client? I know you are a busy person,” he said in a mild tone, “but surely not so busy you have no free time, especially for someone who is prepared to spend a great deal of money.”

Shea did her best to return his stare, folding her hands in front of her on the desk. “I’m not saying that at all. I’d just like to know what made you choose me. I don’t travel in your circles, nor have I designed homes for any of your friends. So I’ll ask you again. Why me?”

Cruz took his time answering, his eyes still watching her carefully. “I saw the new wing you designed for the library,” he said at last. “I was impressed with your ability to adapt the architecture to the original style. And I think after that fait accompli you are more well-known than you imagine.”

“I think you may be exaggerating a little.” The library had been her best work so far but she was still young and earning her stripes. Getting that contract had been a major step forward.

“Someone pointed you out to me at the opening,” he continued. “I would have offered my congratulations but you were swept away by your admirers.”

Shea allowed herself a small self-deprecating laugh. “I think you exaggerate,” she repeated, “but thank you for the compliment. I did work very hard to maintain the historic feel of the building. The committee didn’t want the new wing to stick out like a sore thumb.”

“And that brings me to why I’m here.” He uncrossed and recrossed his legs. “That night, seeing your work, I could tell immediately you would have the vision for what I want to create.”

“And that is?” she prompted.

“Some time ago I purchased a large ranch about three hours south of San Antonio. The ranch is thriving, the pastures are very fertile. But the buildings…”He shook his head. “Serious victims of neglect. Even the buildings that house the hands. I’ve made temporary repairs and upgrades so everything is more than livable but what is there does not suit my needs.”

“And you think I’m the person who can produce the designs you want?”

He nodded. “Without a doubt.” He looked around at the framed sketches on her office wall. “Everything I see here only convinces me more.”

If I have a sane thought in my head, I’ll turn him down. This man is dynamite on the hoof and more than I can handle. Without a doubt.

Shea kept her hands folded in front of her, as much to still their trembling as to give herself some measure of control. Cruz Castillo made her very nervous with his blatant sexuality and his confident manner.

“At a first meeting I usually like to talk my clients through what they have in mind.” She pulled the yellow pad of paper and a pencil toward her. “Let’s start with some basic questions.”

“I’d rather show you,” he said in his warm drawl.

Shea put her pencil down slowly. “Site inspection usually comes later, Mr.…Cruz. After I get some idea of what you’re looking for and agree to take the job. Also, I’d better warn you, I don’t come cheap.”

Cruz uncrossed his legs again and leaned forward, arms resting on his knees. “As I indicated earlier, price is not a problem. And whatever I’m doing, I always go for the gold. The best. As to the site inspection, I’d prefer to do that first, so you can get a real idea of what I’m looking for. As a matter of fact, I am giving a party there this weekend to celebrate an unusually successful year. It will be a perfect opportunity for you to tour the ranch and get a feel for what I want.”

“A party?” She raised an eyebrow. “I suppose you had this all planned out before you came here today. That’s why you wanted the appointment now.”

One corner of his full mouth turned up. “Are you accusing me of being devious?”

“Are you?” she fired back.

He placed a hand over his heart in a dramatic gesture. “You wound me, señorita. This is a business situation, is it not?”