“You think this is funny.”
“Yes, and I’m enjoying every minute of it. Oh, and consider this your invitation to Christmas at my house. Cruz and I are hosting. We start early with breakfast.” She hesitated. “Kathy would be welcome, too.”
Kathy at a Titan Christmas? There was irony.
“I’m not pushing,” Lexi added. “I don’t know if the crowd would frighten her or not. She’s met most of us.”
Now it was his turn to hesitate. “She usually goes to a special program Christmas morning. It’s through one of the churches.”
“Then maybe dinner? We’re one of those families who has a big meal around two.”
“That she could make.”
“Good. We’d love to have you both.” The smile returned. “And I’ll give you a sisterly warning. There are lots of presents under our tree. They’re not always fancy, but they are plentiful. Everything from socks to sticky notes to chocolates. Usually one or two special gifts. I’ve seen the wrapped pile in Cruz’s closet, so I happen to know I’m in for a spoiling. Both Nick and Mitch have called me for suggestions, so I know they’ll be overdoing it. I’m not saying you have to participate, but if you don’t want Dana to feel left out, you might want to get her something.”
Because he would be spending Christmas with Dana. She would be part of the Titan celebration. And they were together. Involved. Whatever the hell that meant.
Was it him, or was it getting hot in here? He resisted the urge to loosen his tie. Damn.
“There’s the face of a man looking to bolt,” Lexi said. “Want to tell me why?”
“I don’t make a big deal about Christmas,” he said. “I see Kathy and then I go away.”
“That sounds lonely.”
“I go to five-star resorts and stay in the best room in the hotel. There are plenty of parties and women.” It was his world-a world he liked very much.
“Still sounds lonely.”
It had been, not that he would admit that to her. But he’d accepted the feelings. Or rather he’d ignored them. Because being by himself meant being in control.
“I didn’t spend Christmas with Fawn when we were engaged.”
“Hmm, that’s pretty telling, but not relevant here. Don’t think you can escape us, Garth.” We’re your sisters. We’ll hunt you down and make you beg for mercy.”
It wasn’t just them, he thought. It was Dana. It was the image of them waking up together on Christmas morning. Of coffee in front of a tree and opening presents. He could get her something lacy and sexy in red velvet and lace. She would hate it and mock him, but then she would put it on.
He imagined her in that and then he thought about her in diamonds and nothing else. He could see them together and that scared him more than his months of being tortured in the jungle.
“No,” he said, taking a step back.
“Men,” Lexi said with a sigh. “Take a deep breath. Everything will be fine. You’re worried because you’re falling in love with her and you’re not the kind of man who does that easily. It’s okay. She’s prickly, too. You can take it slow. It’s probably better if you do.”
She kept talking, but he wasn’t hearing anything else. He was stuck back on “you’re falling in love with her.”
The panic was as ready and immediate as the passion had been. Love? No way in hell. Not him, not ever.
“I don’t love her,” he said flatly.
Lexi looked more pitying than surprised. “It’s okay, Garth.”
“It’s not. If that’s what you all think, you’re wrong. I don’t love Dana. I don’t do love. Ever.”
He spoke with a certainty that left no room for doubt, Dana thought as she paused just outside Lexi’s office. She’d been in the area and had stopped by to have lunch with her friend. She’d been happy enough to risk sticks and twigs passing for bread and something vaguely slimy made into a sandwich. She’d wanted to talk about her newly discovered feelings for Garth and maybe, just maybe, have someone show her how to wear eye makeup. She’d been floating with hope and promise because she was in love for the first time in her life.
In love with a man who obviously wasn’t going to love her back.
GARTH WALKED INTO THE Titan World building. It was one of those great, old high-rises, with old-fashioned elevators and murals in the lobby.
His mother had brought him here when he’d been ten or eleven. She’d never said why. As they often drove to interesting buildings in the city, he hadn’t thought anything of it. Not until he’d found out that Jed Titan was his father.
He looked around at the grand old structure. Ever since Jed had kicked him out on his ass nearly twenty years before, he’d promised himself one day he would own every inch of this place. Now that the day was nearly here, he waited for the feeling of accomplishment and elation. Surprisingly, there was only a faint sense of disappointment- he’d thought Jed Titan would be a more worthy opponent.
He crossed to the guards and got a visitor pass, then made his way to the executive floor. Jed’s office was in the back. It would be the grandest, with the best view. The building was worth saving, Garth thought as he approached Jed’s assistant. It would survive even as the Titan empire crumpled around it.
He gave the woman his name, then added, “I don’t have an appointment, but he’ll see me.”
She looked doubtful, but picked up her phone. “There’s a Mr. Garth Duncan here to see you, sir.” She paused, then nodded. “Of course.” When she hung up, she pointed to the closed door. “Mr. Titan will see you now.”
The last time Garth had been in Jed’s office, Garth had been all of fourteen. He’d come to beg for his mother’s life. He hadn’t wanted to go to the old man, but there hadn’t been anyone else with enough money to save Kathy. He’d been young enough to assume that when someone asked for help, he got it. He’d never thought that Jed would tell him no.
Now, as he crossed the thick carpet to the man who was his father, he remembered being stunned when Jed had refused him. He’d tried explaining again, thinking that the other man simply hadn’t understood. He hadn’t made his case well enough. Then Jed had interrupted him, saying Kathy’s brain tumor wasn’t his problem and that if Garth didn’t leave, he would have security throw him out on the street. Jed made it clear he would have Garth arrested if he ever showed up again.
Time bent and blurred. For a second Garth wasn’t sure if this was the past or present, then decided it didn’t matter. The journey had been long and hard, but he had finally won.
“I’m glad you stopped by,” Jed said from his place behind his big desk. “I’m celebrating.” He pulled out a box of cigars and offered one.
Garth shook his head. “Why?”
“Did you see the closing price of the stock? Titan World is up nearly fifteen percent.”
“You’re buying shares, I’m buying shares,” Garth said. “The stock market likes it when shares are in demand.”
Jed picked up a cigar and sniffed it appreciatively. “You gave me a good run, son. I’ll give you that. You’re a slick player and a worthy opponent. With a little more seasoning, you might have had a chance.”
“You think you’re winning?” Garth asked, amused.
“Sure. Even with the recent jump in prices, the rumors have caused the price to drop enough that I’m buying up double and triple the amount of shares I could have picked up three weeks ago. In a couple of days I’ll own enough to drive you out. You shouldn’t have offered me the loan. But I suppose you couldn’t help yourself. It took you full circle. You started by offering Lexi money and you end it by offering it to me.”
Garth took a seat. “But here’s the part that confuses me,” he said. “You’ve spent more than I’ve loaned you.”
“You’re not the only one interested in helping me, Garth. I still have friends. With a loan from a few of them, I have the cash I need to buy back Glory’s Gate. So call the note any time you want. I’m covered.”
Garth pulled a piece of paper out of his jacket pocket and passed it over to Jed. “Would these be the friends and the amounts? I’m asking because I know they’ve all promised you money, but they haven’t given it to you yet. And I’m thinking they’re not going to. I do business with every one of them. Once they got word of your illegal dealings, they weren’t so anxious to be associated with you. Still, they were willing to do me a favor by pretending they were. Those loans you’re depending on? They’re not coming, Jed. And tomorrow, when the Securities and Exchange Commission expects you to make good on your stock purchases, you’re going to have a problem.”
Jed’s face went white. He sprang to his feet, knocking over the box of cigars. “You goddamn sonofabitch,” he
