Conquering King's Heart / Montana Mistress: Conquering King's Heart

“How many of you are there?” she asked, amazement coloring her tone.

“Dozens and dozens. And probably more out there we haven’t met!” Jesse laughed, obviously enjoying himself. “You can’t kick a rock in California without turning up a King.”

“It’s…”

“Too much?” he offered, still smiling. “Way too many Kings running around?”

“It’s wonderful,” she finally said, and her voice was a little poignant. A minute or so ago, she’d been furious with him, trying to steamroll her into giving up the most important thing in the world to her, her business.

Now that anger was pretty much gone, swamped by a tide of envy so thick she could barely breathe. She couldn’t even imagine what it would be like to have so much family. As a kid, she’d hungered for parents. Or for a single brother or sister. Someone to whom she was linked. Jesse really was rich and she wondered if he even realized that the King family’s real wealth wasn’t in banks, but in each other.

Jesse’s smile faded. “Are you okay?”

She nodded and pointed to another photo. She didn’t want to talk about herself. “Who’s that?”

“My eldest brother, Jefferson. He runs the King Studios. Makes movies and runs himself ragged because he doesn’t trust anyone but himself to handle the details.”

Jefferson King’s photo made him look like a dangerous man. He was wearing a white shirt, black slacks and giving the camera a hard glare, as if he resented being captured on film.

“How many brothers do you have?” Her voice was a whisper now and even she heard the yearning in it.

Softly now, he answered, “Three.”

“Three brothers. And so many cousins…who is he?” she asked. “The marine?”

Jesse grinned even more broadly. “My brother Jericho. Now there’s a pampered, lazy rich guy. A gunnery sergeant. Didn’t want to be an officer. Said he’d rather serve with real marines. He’s done two tours overseas,” Jesse said and frowned when he added, “and he’s about to be shipped out again.”

Bella sighed, folded her arms beneath her breasts and looked at the man who still filled far too much of her thoughts. He wasn’t what she’d expected. His whole family wasn’t what she’d expected. Hardworking ranchers. Marines. And apparently they were all so close that it felt natural for Jesse to hang family photos in his office.

She envied him that connection. That solid base with so much family. Lives intertwined, bonds strengthened by years of love. What must it be like, she wondered, to have so much? To know that it was simply there whenever you needed it?

“Bella? You okay?”

“Yes,” she said and looked at him. His blue eyes were narrowed on her and he was watching her as a soldier might keep a wary eye on a live grenade. “You just…surprised me, that’s all.”

“Why? Because I have a family?”

“No, because you love them so much.”

“It surprises you to know that I love my family?” His features were as taut as his voice.

“You just never seemed…” She broke off, shook her head and said, “Never mind. It was nothing.”

“Uh-huh,” he said, moving in closer to her. “Well, if these pictures impressed you, you should know I have more.”

She laughed shortly. “More?”

“Lots more pictures of everyone at home,” he said, smiling again. “I ran out of wall space in here.”

“This isn’t fair,” she said, looking from him to all the photos.

“What?”

“I thought I had you pegged,” she admitted. “A modern-day robber baron stomping his way through life, taking what he wanted and making no apologies.”

“You weren’t completely wrong,” he said, “I do go after what I want and I don’t let anybody stop me.” He moved in even closer until all that separated them was an inch or two of space and Bella’s own firm resolve.

Which was weakening, darn it.

She felt the heat of him sliding off his body, reaching for her, and it was so tempting to stand her ground, let him close that last inch or two of space so she could feel his tall, lean body pressed against her. Her memories of their one night together were still so vivid, it was all she could do to keep from flinging herself at him. But if she did that, then she’d be lost and she knew it. So she did the only thing she could. She stepped back—mentally and physically.

He sighed. “You don’t have to be afraid of me, Bella.”

“I’m not. Afraid I mean. Just…cautious.”

“Cautious is okay,” he allowed, giving her a small, wicked smile. “It just means that you take your time. But once you’re sure of your footing, you’ll move ahead.”

She knew what he was talking about. There wasn’t much subtext there. He wanted her. And oh God, she wanted him, too. But she’d wanted him three years ago, too. And what had that gotten her? One night of glory and three years of misery. Was she really ready to set herself up for that kind of pain again?

Jesse King wasn’t the “forever” kind of guy. Bella wasn’t the “temporary” kind of girl. So never the twain should meet.

“Why don’t you go to dinner with me?”

“What?” Okay, that offer had come out of nowhere.

“Dinner,” he repeated. “Usually considered the last meal of the day?”

His smile really was a weapon all its own. At least, for her, it was. “I don’t know if that’s a good idea.”

“It’s a great idea,” he said, and closed the distance separating them again. “Look, you’ve been on a tour of the business. You’ve seen for yourself that the place isn’t a sweatshop. Happy, well-paid employees, I must be a halfway decent boss, yes?”

“Yes…”

“And I’m not that hard to spend time with, am I?”

“No…”

“So we have a meal. We talk. We…”

“Jesse, I’m still not going to sell my business to you.”

He cut her off, laid both hands on her shoulders and she felt the heat of his skin seeping through the fabric of her shirt and down, deep into her bones.

“I’m not talking about the business right now. I want you, Bella. I’ve wanted you for three years.” His gaze moved over her like a warm caress. “Hell, I’ve dreamed of you for three years. You want me, too. I can feel it every time we’re together.”

“I don’t always do what I want,” she told him, and kept thinking, Strong, Bella. Be tough. Be strong. Don’t give in. Unfortunately, her body wasn’t listening.

“You should,” he said with a quick grin. “But that’s a talk for another time. Right now, I’ve got a deal for you.”