CHAPTER 1

Jake Courtland stood beside the window, looking out at the vast stretch of land filled with well-tended grasses and cattle and horses when his real estate lawyer, Mike Gableton, strolled into his private study. He swung around when he heard movements behind him. The two men stared at each other.

"Yes, any success?" he said anxiously.

"I'm sorry, Jake! She rejected the offer," Gableton said, shaking his head miserably.

Jake's face twisted with anger.

"What do you mean she rejected the offer? That's bullshit!" His voice was harsh and trembling with rage.

Gableton made a helpless gesture with his hands.

"She doesn't want the money, Jake! She doesn't want it at all. I'm confused myself." There was a kind of bewildered expression on his face.

Jake drew in a long, slow breath and grimaced. He moved away from the window and sat down heavily into his armchair. At age thirty-one, he was tall, slim, broad-shouldered, and powerfully built. He was well tanned, with swept-back black hair, a square face, an aggressive jaw, an eagle-like nose, dark penetrating eyes, and pert lips which could easily curve into a smile or snarl. He was impressively handsome, a splendid-looking athlete. He stared at his lawyer for a long moment, and finally, he said, "Mike! What is wrong with that woman? For Pete’s sake, who the hell refuses five million dollars for a bunch of horses?" he said, a surprised note in his voice.

"Her horses aren't just a bunch of horses, and you know that, Jake," Gableton said calmly. "Lisa Wolfe horses are the best thoroughbreds there are in this whole town. Even the whole of Kentucky, I dare to say. She's aware of that fact, and hence, her reason for declining your offer.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"To hell with her and her stubbornness. I need those horses of hers. I've got great hopes for those horses, especially with the horseracing event coming up. I can make a whale of money with those horses under my care. Can't she understand that?" he said exasperatedly. He pointed a finger at Gableton. "I've got the feeling you weren't convincing enough. You didn't put enough pressure on her."

A look of pain flashed across Gableton's face.

He said in a small voice. "Jake, you know I really tried my best to talk to her. I did all I could to convince her. For God's sake, I've been talking to her for the past two months now, all in the name of getting her to accept our offer. She's just so adamant, that one. I've never met any woman as headstrong as she. I don't think anything can change her mind. Not even your money, Jake." The helplessness in his voice irritated Jake, and it showed on his face.

"Oh, don't talk like a gutless insect, man!" he said tightly. "Don't let her get to you. She's just like any other woman. A little high and mighty, of course, but she's no different from any other woman."

Gableton scoffed.

"You don't know her, Jake. I mean, you've not even met her in person."

"Does it matter?" Jake growled.

"Of course, it does. You should hear her talk," Gableton replied. "I used all the sweet persuasive words I could think of since the day I became a lawyer, and yet she didn't budge. This woman knows exactly what she wants, Jake. She doesn't beat around the bush."

Jake drew in a long, shuddering breath and grimaced. As far back as he could remember, he had heard about Lisa Wolfe, her ranch, and her thoroughbred horses. She's the wealthiest female horse owner in this town. Before he died, her old man had left her a large sum of money along with the ranch and horses. Jake had never met her, but he had heard stories about her. She was extremely beautiful, rich, young, tough as nails, and very good with horses. Some of the folks, especially the men in the town, hated her for her guts and strong will, but none of them dared to confront her.

Many suitors had asked her hand in hand for marriage, but she had rejected them all. Even though it was difficult to admit, Jake knew he was one of the men in town who loathed her. Not because of her wealth or guts but her stubbornness. He always steered clear of women who are stubborn and difficult. Women who will throw his own words back at him without blinking an eye. Women who always want to be in charge of things, making the man look like a wimp. He preferred women who swoon easily at his good looks, wealth, and prestige. Women who will do yield to all his biddings without a fuss. Regrettably, Lisa was not in the category of such a woman, and that fact made rage surge through his body. He turned his mind away from his thoughts.

"What's the next thing we should do?" he asked.

Gableton sighed heavily.

"We've got two options, Jake; we can go for old Bill Roswell horses, or we can forget about this whole thing."

Jake narrowed his eyes.

"Bill Roswell horses? What's so hot about his horses?"

"Well, Bill takes good care of his horses, just like any other rancher. I checked out his horses the other day. He's got some cool thoroughbred horses over there, horses born and bred in Kentucky just the way you like them, Jake. I told him about the offer. He's willing to sell his horses," Gableton replied.

Jake shook his head.

"I don't wanna do any deal with Bill. That man gave my old man a lot of trouble while he was still alive. Moreover, I wouldn't say I like his breeds. They can never be as good as Lisa Wolfe’s."

"Jake, this is business we are talking of. Old Bill is one of the few ranchers around here who would ever consider selling their horses. Every other rancher is gunning for the town's horse racing event. No one will dare sell their horses at this critical time." He paused and went on. "Old Bill is a remorseful man now. He has learned from his mistakes. His breeds are in excellent condition. Selling his horses to you is a great advantage for you. He's going to sell them cheap, and what’s more, you guys can use that opportunity to bury the hatchet."

Jake clenched his fists, making his knuckles white.

"I ain't burying any hatchet with that old-timer! " he said savagely. "That man was a thorn in the flesh of my father for years. He drove my old man crazy." There was a terrifying, dark look on his face now. "Even if his horses were the only ones up for selling in this world, I ain't touching them. No one can make me settle things with that old sack. No one!" he seethed.

"Relax, Jake! Relax," Gableton said soothingly. "No one is forcing you to settle things with old Bill. Hell, no one can force you to buy his horses either. I want you to realize that you don't have many options. So far, old Bill is still your surest bet to get yourself into the horse racing event. But if you don't want him, then…" He left the rest of the words unsaid.

Jake moistened his lips with his tongue.

"I wanna do some thinking," he said.

Gableton inclined his head.

"Sure! Do you want me to leave?" he asked.

Jake shook his head.

"No, stay! I won't take long" He reached for the platinum cigar case on his desk and opened it. He brought out two thick Cuban cigars and offered Gableton one. The other man took it, and they both lit up. Jake leaned back into his chair. He dragged hard on the cigar, inhaling a lungful of smoke and letting it spiral out of his mouth. As he smoked, his mind was busy with thoughts. After a long moment, he stubbed out the cigar in a gold ashtray and said to Mike, "I think the best thing is to go over to Lisa Wolfe's ranch."

Gableton stared at him as if he were crazy.

"Jake! Why do you want to go there?" he gasped.

"To knock some sense into her thick skull, of course," he growled. "I want her to know she's making a stupid mistake for not accepting the money!"

Gableton's mouth hung open in disbelief.

"For Christ’s sake, Jake, you've not met this woman before," he said. "What if you go there and say some things to her that could get her riled up? And I know you, Jake, you've got a bad mouth, and you can be spiteful when you want to be. And I know how irritable you can sometimes be. As your lawyer, I'm telling you not to go over there," he said firmly.

"I'm going over there, and no one can stop me," Jake said.

"Why don't you let us give this a day or two to think things through?" Gableton went on. "I'm pretty sure we'll come up with something nice."

Jake ignored him. He stood from his chair, picked up his jacket, and put it on. He opened one of his drawers and took out his hairbrush. He combed his hair neatly, tossed the comb into the drawers, and snapped it shut. His movements were swift and final.

"Don't tell me you are going over there now?" Gableton said, standing up from his chair.

"It's now or never, Mike," Jake said. "Tell Carl to get the Rolls ready."

Gableton looked dismayed. He knew pressing Jake further would be a waste of time. He walked out of the study, a gloomy expression on his face.

A few minutes later, Jake, dressed in a navy-blue shirt, tie, and loafers, walked into his vast living room and out of the house. He headed over to the garage, which housed a Rolls Royce Wraith, G-Wagon, Bentley Continental, and an Aston Martin Porsche. A powerfully built man, wearing a gold-colored uniform, stood beside the Rolls. His name was Carl Kindle, and he was Jake's valet. He was also a good cook, and he took care of all Jake's meals. He was discreet, efficient, and indispensable to Jake. He smiled and tipped his hat when he saw Jake.

"She's ready, sir," he beamed. "I just gave her a swift, good washing."

"Thanks, Carl!" Jake replied. He regarded the glittering body of the Rolls and inclined his head. "I won't be back until late in the evening. Prepare something light for dinner, alright, Carl?" The valet nodded his head, smiling ruefully. Jake got into the Rolls and drove out of the garage. Outside, he saw Gableton, his arms akimbo, waiting. He stopped the car and rolled down the side glass.

"I'm not going to take long," Jake said. "Will you wait for me till I get back? "

"Of course, I'll wait!" said Gableton. "I want to see how you wanna swing this."

Jake smirked.

"I'll swing it, alright! Just watch me." He pressed a button beside him, and the glass rolled up. Then, he stepped hard on the pedal, and the car surged down the ranch’s long dusty driveway and was out of sight.

*****************

Lisa stroked the body of Fiery gracefully, loving the way its soft, brown-black hair glistened. It was a beautiful mare. It was big, brown, and sturdy. Lisa had raised Fiery from when she was born to when it grew to be this beautiful mare. As she continued to stroke the mare, she raised her muzzle at Lisa. Lisa laughed softly and kissed the side of the mare's mouth. Then, she fed Fiery more hay, moved out of the stall, and rested her body against the wooden stall door. The mare shuffled forward, half-closed its eyes, and pushed out its muzzle as if to sniff her. Lisa smiled to herself. Fiery was telling her she enjoyed Lisa's company and wanted her to stay awhile longer. Lisa shook her head.

"Another time, Fiery, I've got things to do," she said softly, patting the mare softly on its head. She looked around the stable and sighed heavily. It was massive, clean, and tidy. All the horses in each stall were in good health condition. Lisa loved all the horses. They were her family. Since her father died, she had no one to talk to. She had no friends or close relatives. She was a loner. The only people she ever talked to were Sally, her housemaid, and the wranglers who came in during the weekdays to care for the horses. For that reason, and for the fact that her father had left all these horses in her care, she had come to see them as her family.

Lisa regarded the stable for a long moment, a feeling of pride and happiness surging through her, then she walked out into the patch of late afternoon sun. She entered the house, walked into her bedroom, and took off her clothes. Naked, she walked into the bathroom and took a quick shower. Then, she dried herself thoroughly and put on a red striped shirt, tight-fitting pants, and brown boots. She left the room, and just then, the sweet aroma of sizzling meat hit her nostrils. She hastened her steps and entered the kitchen. Sally, the housemaid, was bent over the gas cooker.

"Hey, Sally," she said. "What are we having this afternoon?"

"Fried chicken with mashed potatoes," Sally replied in a thick Creole accent. She had silver onyx hair, and a warm, sultry smile that could make even the coldest heart melt. She was born in New Orleans and had worked as a maid for the Wolfe family since the time Lisa was little.

"Wow! I can't wait to eat it," Lisa said breathlessly.

"Don't worry, missy," Sally said. "It won't take any longer. Just go wait outside, alright?" she beamed at Lisa.

Lisa nodded happily and sashayed out of the kitchen. She walked into the living room and headed toward the bar. Just then, she heard the sound of a car. She crossed the room to the window and lifted the blinds. A car was coming up the dusty driveway at a breakneck speed. Her face creased up into a frown. ‘Was it that damn lawyer again?’ she wondered.

From behind the curtains, she waited, watching the car drive through the gateway and pull up right in front of the house. There was a brief pause, then she saw the car door open, and she felt a sudden sexual stab go through her when she saw the most magnificent man she had ever seen step out of the car. It was not the lawyer, she told herself. But who is this man? What does he want? She was angry at herself for feeling so sexually moved.

He was looking around the ranch house now, a sardonic, arrogant expression on his handsome face. She studied him closely. By the hard set of his mouth and the bold features of his ruggedly handsome face, she knew that he was going to be a hothead. A man who would like to have his say, whatever it was, and whether or not the listener would like to hear it. Well, we'd see about that. She remained motionless until she heard him walk up the porch, then she turned slowly away from the curtains when she heard the sound of the knocker.

*************

Jake lifted the knocker, regarded the old oak door and the wooden reclining chairs on the porch, and grimaced. How could the richest woman in this town be living in an odd-looking place like this?

The door opened. He looked at the woman who stood in the doorway, regarding him with large, hard blue eyes, and he felt his blood rush through him. The woman was of medium height; she had broad shoulders, a small waist, and solid hips. Her shapely breasts were defined by the shirt she wore, and her auburn-colored hair was caught back with a blue ribbon. Her complexion was creamy white, and it blended well with the color of her hair. She was the most sensational and sensual-looking woman he had ever come across. And at that moment, he felt blood rush into his loins, but his face did not reveal any of those things he was feeling at that moment. For a long moment, they regarded each other, then Jake pushed the wandering thoughts out of his mind and became all business.

"Good afternoon! I'm here to see Lisa Wolfe." His voice was deep, and Lisa had to admit it was very pleasant.

She rested her hips against the door, her arms akimbo, her eyes on him in a searching stare. She examined his well-tanned complexion, his eyes, and the shape of his well-proportioned body the way any farmer will look at some cattle he was thinking of buying. He was so goddamned attractive, she thought, her heart was beating hard against her ribs. She saw his face turning slightly red under her scrutiny, but she didn't care.

"And who are you?" she replied in a toneless voice.

The question hit Jake across the face like a punch. He had expected her to answer him right away. The harshness in her voice irritated him.

"I'm Jake Courtland," he said.

"Oh, the billionaire?" There was an undertone of mockery in her voice that infuriated him. "So, you finally showed up? That's nice. So happy you graced us with your presence." The spite in her voice was noticeable.

"What do you mean?" Jake replied, hating the way she was controlling the conversation.

"I mean, you are the one who has been bothering me for the past two months to sell my horses," she said sharply.

Jake stared at her for a long moment, bemused; then, understanding crept up his face.

"You are Lisa Wolfe?"

"Damn right, I am, Mr. Courtland," she jeered at him. "What do you want showing up here? And how the hell did you find this place?" There was contempt in her voice.

Jake stared at her for a long moment, wondering why she was so harsh to him. Then, he remembered what Gableton had said to him about her, and he smiled to himself. She was deliberately goading him to get him angry with her, thereby losing the chance of discussing anything with her. He knew that was what she was trying to do, and he was sure he would never let anyone deliberately goad him into being angry.

"Google Maps," he said casually. "Can I come in? "

She stared at him for a long moment as if deliberating within herself. Then she shrugged indifferently.

"Of course… Do come in."

Jake followed her through her well-lit hall and into the living room. He stared around the big, comfortably furnished room. The room was decorated with strong woods with solid colors. She waved him to one of the sofas. He sat down.

"I was going to have a drink before you came here. Do you care for a glass?" she said, walking over to the liquor cabinet. It was more of a question than courtesy.

"That would be nice," Jake said, his eyes moving over his body. His eyes stripped her, inch by inch, curve by curve. This woman was red hot dynamite. A beautiful virago. How come he had never seen her all this while? He felt another stirring in his loins, and he was furious with himself for feeling this way. She fixed the drinks and came over to where he sat, giving him a glass. He collected it, nodded his thanks, and sipped it. It was a rare, expensive brandy. It tasted excellent. Lisa sat on a sofa opposite him and crossed her legs.

"Now, tell me, Mr. Courtland, what can I do for you?" she said coldly, twiddling the glass in her hands.

"Drop the formality and call me Jake," he said solemnly.

"No, thank you. I'll stick with the Mr.," she said, leaving no room for argument. "I know why you are here. So, we might as well cut through the whole formality bullshit and get straight to the point."

"Alright," Jake said curtly. "I know you know why I am here. I'm just here to let you see reason concerning the sale of your horses."

Lisa's lips parted in a grin. But the smile did not reach her face.

"There's no reason to see, Mr. Courtland. You only came here, wasting your time. I'm not selling my horses. Your lawyer came by this morning. I told him all that. So, I don't know what exactly you are doing here." The finality in her voice angered Jake. He felt that if he were not careful, he would never reach any compromise with this woman.

"Will you hear me out first?" he said through locked teeth. He was not going to grovel at her feet just because of her horses, but he would make her listen to him.

She drew in a long, slow breath and regarded him for a long moment.

"Okay. I'm listening."

"Thanks," he said tightly. "As you well know, the town's horseracing event is fast approaching. This event is important to me. My father, when he was alive, always participated in it, just like his great grandfather. I intend to continue with the tradition. The only problem is that my horses are not thoroughbreds like yours. Mine are only raised for fun riding and breeding, but not for horseracing. Your horses have been reputed in this town as one of the best thoroughbreds any horse owner could ever wish to have." He paused to see if she was listening to him; seeing the calm expression on her face, he went on. "Ironically, you've never been known to allow your horses to participate in any horseracing events, which is quite absurd, if I might say. Thoroughbreds are meant for racing, not to be kept in a stall all day, eating and fattening up for nothing." He knew his emotions were getting a hold of him now, but he did not care. "They've got to work for the good foods they are fed. That's the way it should be. I've got an excellent English horse trainer who can train these horses of yours. All I have to do is call him on the phone, and he'll be in America in the blink of an eye. These horses can be trained to participate in racing events like the Derby. Chester and I intend for my horses to emerge as a winner in any of those events when the time comes. That's why I'm willing to pay five million dollars for all your thoroughbred horses. I know you must be thinking I am stupid for paying such an amount for some horses, but believe me, it's worth it." He finished, believing his words had hit home.

Lisa sat there, staring hard at him. All that time when he had been talking, she had not listened to anything he had being saying. Not because she didn't like what he was saying but because she enjoyed watching his face as he talked. There was a virile aura coming from him as he spoke, his dark eyes blazing with irresistible magnetism that seemed to reach over her where she sat. She looked at him now and saw his eyes staring hard at her, expectation written all over them.

"No!" she said.

Jake stared at her, bewildered.

"What do you mean by no?" he asked in a cold tone.

"I mean, I'm not interested in your money. I'm not selling any of my horses," she said sharply.

Jake's face twisted with anger.

"What the hell is wrong with you, woman?" he burst out uncontrollably. "For God's sakes, didn't you understand everything I'd been saying for the past few minutes?" His eyes were glittering like two pellets of ice.

Lisa gave him a cold smile.

"I understand what you are saying, alright, Mr. Courtland, but I ain't selling my horses." She paused and went on. "Can I ask you a question?"

Jake stared at her for a long moment. Then, he drew in a long, shuddering breath.

"Shoot," he snapped.

"What do you know about horses, Mr. Courtland?" she asked.

Jake regarded her, the muscles in his face tightened.

"You can ride them to anywhere you wanna go, and they can be trained for horse racing events," he said casually, wondering where the conversation was heading to.

"Is that all? "Lisa said, a surprised tone in her voice.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"Yeah! They've got no other use than that."

Lisa stared at him, stunned.

"When last did you ride a horse?" she asked.

"Twenty-six years ago. I was five years old then," he replied in an even voice.

This time, Lisa's mouth jerked open in utter disbelief.

"You mean to tell me the last time you rode a horse was when you were five years old?"

Jake nodded vehemently.

"Yes! That's correct! Please, where are all these questions leading to?" he fired at her, hating the surprised expression on her face.

"May I ask the reason for this?" Lisa continued.

Jake shook his head.

"Something terrible happened, alright. But I'm not telling you anything. It's personal to me. You've got to understand that." He shifted uncomfortably on the seat.

Lisa stared at him, a bemused expression on her face. What had happened to him that he was so afraid to tell her?

"Mr. Courtland," Lisa began. "At this point, I can definitively say you know nothing about horses," she said blandly.

Jake's face went dark with rage.

"What the hell do you mean by that?"

"I'm saying you don't know any goddamn thing about a horse," she said, ignoring the dark look on his face. "The only reason why you are for my horses is because of the money you could make from them. That's what brought you here. You don't care about those horses. You are only thinking about the money." Her words stung like him like a wasp.

"And is that a bad thing?" he fired back. "Money's got to be made, you know."

"Yes, money’s got to be made, but not out of my horses," she said. "Let me tell you something you might not know about horses. Do you know they've got similar traits as humans?" When Jake did not say anything, she went on. "They've got feelings and emotions too. And they are good listeners. Those horses in my stables are the only family I've got. They've been my companions all these years. I've been taking care of them since I was little. And I will never let you or anyone take them away from me because they were meant for some damn horse racing bullshit." Abruptly, she stood up from the sofa. "Mr. Courtland, this conversation is over. I think you should leave now."

Jake stared at her, his eyes hard and cold. The expression on his face could have frozen an ice cube. He was like that for a long moment, staring at her, not believing he had wasted his time coming to meet her. He knew there was nothing he could say to change her mind. The hardness in her eyes told him he would only be wasting his time trying to convince her to sell her horses. Gableton was right. This woman was a hard nut to crack. He felt rage surge through him at this realization, and the only thing that came to his mind was to spite her. He knew she loved those horses of hers, and that is what he was going to use to spite her. Slowly, he got to his feet and pointed a thick finger at her.

"You know you must be damn crazy for tossing away five million dollars for some damn horses that ain't worth shit," he seethed.

Lisa turned white. She felt a sudden rush of fury sweep her. Jake saw the angry glint in her eyes and smiled to himself. It was working.

"I'm not crazy!" she spat out. "And those horses are not damned. Don't ever say that. You can call me anything, but don't talk about my horses that way. Got it?" Her eyes were glittering at him like wet pebbles.

Jake shrugged indifferently.

"Nope! I don't get it at all," he said blandly, and he went on, ignoring the cold tightness of her face. "For me, I still believe you are crazy. I wasted my time coming over here. Who gives a shit about some damned thoroughbreds that don't even know jack about racing anyway? To hell with you and your damned horses."

He didn't even see the slap coming. Her palm exploded on the side of his cheek, and the sound was like the bursting of a paper bag.

"Get out!" she yelled, pointing to the door. "Get out, you big-headed fool, or I won't be sorry for what happens next! Get out! "

“You are no different from any other woman,” he growled. “You are just so goddamned stubborn, that’s all. Other than that, you are no different.” Then, he did something Lisa would have never expected him to do, something which shocked her. He pulled her against his chest, his arms sliding around her, holding her tightly in his arms. “I could kiss you senseless right now, and you wouldn’t do a damn thing,” he said, his dark eyes twinkling with amusement.

Lisa felt her color rise. The heat of his palms burned through her shirt into her flesh, and she shivered violently.

“You wouldn’t dare...” she said breathlessly. “You wouldn't do such a thing.”

“The hell I can’t,” he said, and he moistened his lips with his tongue.

That action made her legs go weak. The look in his eyes told her he meant to kiss her, and he was going to do it. She tried to say something, but her throat was paralyzed. Her heart was pounding hard against her ribs, and the muscles of her thighs were fluttering. She would have loved to push him away, but at that moment, her hands felt as heavy as lead. All she could do was stare back into his eyes, holding on to him. He bent his head, and as she braced herself, they both heard movement. Automatically, their heard turned toward the direction. Sally had come into the living room. In her hand was a tray filled with plates of food. Jake and Lisa pulled away from each other instantly.

“Oh, I’m sorry, Miss Wolfe. I didn’t know you had a visitor. I only came to tell you lunch is ready,” the old maid babbled, a worried expression on her face.

Lisa felt her throat thicken, and she swallowed hard.

“Don’t worry about it,” she said quickly. “Mr. Courtland was just about to leave.” She glanced at Jake. She was surprised to see his face calm and expressionless. It was as if nothing had happened in the last few minutes or so. Who the hell is this man? Jake was saying something now, and she quickly turned her mind away from her thoughts.

“I'll be on my way now. Please, do think about our discussion. My offer still stands,” he said, staring hard at her.

“Mr. Courtland, I…” Lisa began but stopped abruptly when she noticed he was no longer paying attention to her. He was looking at Sally now.

“ That sure smells nice, ma’am.” He beamed at Sally. “I'd have loved to have a taste, but I gotta run. Got some things to do.” And without even looking at Lisa, he turned and walked out of the house in easy, long strides.

Lisa watched him go, and she swallowed hard. When he smiled at Sally, he had looked even younger and more handsome than ever.

“Oh Lordy, Miss Wolfe,” Sally gasped. “Who is he? From the day I’ve been on this ranch, I’ve never seen a fine specimen of man on two legs as that one. Who is he?”

“Jake Courtland!” Lisa answered in a small voice. Slowly, she walked towards the window and lifted the blinds. She watched as Jake slid into his car, whipped the car around with the expert skill of a good driver, swung the car onto the dirt road, and drove hard and fast out of the ranch. She remained motionless until the sound of the car engine had died away. Then slowly, as she turned away from the window, a plan was already forming in her mind.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx The time was past nine. Jake was inside his office, in his armchair, a thick cigar burning anxiously between his fingers, his face expressionless. Earlier that day, he had woken up early, took a quick shower, and breakfasted on a sumptuous meal prepared by Carl. And now, as he sat inside his office, he was thinking hard about what had happened at Lisa Wolfe's ranch the other day. The way things had turned out had shocked him.

All he had had in mind was to go out there and convince her to sell her horses to him. Unfortunately, she had rejected his offer, and worse still, he had found himself attracted to her. He remembered how he had held her in his arms and the way her smoky blue eyes had stared at him. Damn! He could never forget that look in her eyes. He had never wanted any woman the way he had wanted her at that moment. He put the cigar between his lips, dragged hard on it, and exhaled a thick smoke that spiraled to the ceilings. He knew if the maid hadn't come in when she did, he would have kissed her. Not because he could do it but because he had really wanted to. But why? Why would he want that? For Christ's sake, he just met her, and with everything he had heard about her, he knew he could never love that kind of woman. The look he had seen in her eyes came into his mind again, and he shifted uncomfortably in his chair. Damnit! Why was she so goddamned beautiful? He was angry at the way he was feeling. Sexual desires… feelings… love… he didn't want that! A woman would never have any permanent place in his life.

Right now, all he wanted was some good thoroughbreds, which would help him win in the horse race events, add more respect to his name in the town, and bring more money to his coffers, he thought. The thought of loving a woman, especially a tight ass, strong-headed woman like Lisa Wolfe, riled him up. He shook his head. It could never work. The other night, when he had returned to the house and had met Gableton waiting for him patiently in the living room, the look on his face had told the lawyer the meeting with Lisa had been unsuccessful. Gableton did not say anything to him. He had only smiled knowingly and gave him that look that said "I told you so" before walking out of the house.

Jake had muttered a curse. He hated it when he could not have his way with things. Why was Lisa so stubborn about selling her horses? Why couldn't she see things from his point of view? He sighed heavily, took the cigar out of his mouth, and stubbed it out in the ashtray. Well, there's nothing I can do about it. If she's not going to sell her horses to him, he can forget participating in the horse racing events. He shrugged indifferently. He would rather forget about keeping up with his family tradition and the money he was going to make from the racing events than grovel at the feet of a woman all for the sake of some horses. He leaned into his armchair, a thoughtful expression on his face.

Just then, Carl came into the room, beaming. Seeing the demure expression on Jake's face, the smile disappeared. That was one thing about Carl. He always knew when his boss was in his happy mood or no-nonsense mood.

"Mr. Courtland," he said in a calm voice.

Jake looked up.

"Yes, what is it, Carl?"

"There's someone who would like to see you," he said.

Jake narrowed his eyes.

"See me?" he said. "Who is it?"

"A Miss Wolfe," Carl said.

Hearing the name Wolfe, Jake's eyes bulged out of its sockets in shock.

"Are you kidding me, Carl?" he said huskily.

"Not at all, sir," Carl affirmed. "I could never kid about such a thing."

"Where is she?" Jake said anxiously.

"Right outside the house, sir. She said she wouldn't come in unless you came out to see her."

Lisa? Here? What the hell was she doing here? Had she changed her mind about selling her horses? A feeling of excitement surged through him. Yes, that must be it. She had given in after all. Excitedly, he stood up from his chair, came around the table, and followed Carl out of the study, through the stairs, then out of the house.

Lisa Wolfe sat astride a mare. She had on a blue striped shirt tucked neatly into tight-fitting white slacks and black boats. A cowboy hat sat elegantly on her head. She looked tough and sexy as she sat on the mare, and Jake felt a sudden tightness across his chest.

"Miss Wolfe, this is a surprise," Jake said, a suppressed excitement on his face. "I knew you were going to change your mind. You changed your mind, right?" he said, not as a question but as a matter of fact.

"Of course, I changed my mind," she replied in a hard, clipped voice. She turned her head away to scrutinize the ranch house, then with a nod of approval, she turned her eyes back on him. "But there's a catch."

A little frown creased Jake's face.

"A catch?" he said bemused. "Are you talking about the money I am offering?"

She gave him a cold, blank stare.

"This is not about the money, Mr. Courtland. This is about something else."

Jake stared at her for a long moment. He had a feeling he was not going to like what she was going to say.

"Look, Miss Wolfe, I think it would nice if we discussed this in the house," he said.

"Of course!" She dismounted from the horse.

Carl, who was standing beside Jake and had been watching his boss and the woman the whole time, moved towards the horse. Lisa offered him the reins. He took them and led the horse towards a big orange tree to tether her to it.

Jake led her into the house, then into his study. He waved to the client's chair. She sat in it, took off her hat, tossed her glossy mane of black hair from her shoulders, and crossed her legs. Sitting in the chair, she had the air of a woman who was very sure of her beauty.

"Would you care for a cup of coffee?" Jake asked her.

"Yeah, that would be nice," she answered.

Just then, Carl came into the room. Jake turned to him.

"Would you get Miss Wolfe a cup of coffee, please?" Jake said. Then, he turned to Lisa. "How do you want it?"

"With lots of cream and sugar," she answered calmly.

"You heard that, Carl," Jake said.

"I'll get it right away, sir," Carl said, and he went out of the room.

Jake settled down on his armchair. He took out a cigar from a platinum case, lit it, drew in smoke, and exhaled deeply. Then he looked at Lisa. Her blue eyes were staring hard at him, scrutinizing him.

"Miss Wolfe," he began. "I'll like to know what this catch is all about."

"I might say you wouldn't like it when you hear it," she said casually.

Jake grinned.

"Let me be the judge of that," he said. "I want to be certain of something. Do you mean to say you really wanna sell your horses?"

Lisa nodded her head.

"Yes," she replied.

Jake stared at her in disbelief.

"Forgive me, but I find that hard to believe." He took the cigar from his mouth, letting it burn between this fingers. "I mean, my lawyer has been disturbing you for the past two months now. I believe the money am offering was too good to refuse, is that it?"

Lisa laughed, and her eyes told him she was genuinely amused.

"I don't need your money, Mr. Courtland. You should know that already." She sighed. "After you left yesterday, I did a lot of thinking. And I came up with a deal. A deal that would favor the two parties, which is you and I."

"What deal is that?" he asked.

Just then, Carl came into the room. He settled a tray on the table and slipped out of the room. Lisa picked up the mug and sipped the coffee. Jake watched her, impatience gnawing at him.

"Mr. Courtland," Lisa said, placing the mug back on the tray. "I want you to understand something. The only way you can get those horses of mine is only if you agree with the decision I came up with. If you agree with it, I won’t collect the money you are offering for the horses. I don't need your five million dollars. Are you listening?"

Jake sat up in his chair instantly, his interest piqued.

"I'm listening, alright," he said solemnly.

Lisa examined her well-manicured fingers for a moment.

"I want a child, Mr. Courtland," she said finally. "Most importantly, a son. You are going to give me a child."

Jake's mouth jerked up. If he was shocked by what Lisa had said, he couldn't hide the surprise expression on his face.

"You want a child?" he asked, leaning forward in his chair, his eyes bulging out of its sockets.

"Yes, a son precisely," Lisa affirmed, staring back at him defiantly.

Jake's face lost its color. He stared at Lisa as if she were crazy, then seeing the defiant glint in her eyes, he knew she had meant what she had said. At first, he wanted to tell her to get out of his office, but he stopped himself. His instinct warned him to be careful and to take things easy with her.

"I still don't understand you, Miss Wolfe," he said gently.

"What's there to understand?" she said impatiently. "All I want is for you to give me a child. This is not about marriage or anything that has to do with happily ever after. This is purely business. That's all."

Jake stared at her, puzzled.

"But surely, there are many ways you could go about this," he said with an encouraging smile. "For instance, you could adopt."

Lisa shook her head.

"No! I want my own child," she replied curtly. "My flesh and blood. All I want is your seed in exchange for those horses. It sounds absurd, but I prefer that to taking money from you. As you know, those horses are the only family I've got left, and since I am going to be giving them out, then I need someone to love and cherish so that I won't be lonely. I need someone to take their place in my heart. That's how I came up with the idea of a child. And that's all there is to this business. I'm gonna take care of the child. You needn't worry about the upkeep or anything. I'll handle everything myself." There was a fierce determination in her voice now. "All I want is your seed, that's all."

Jake dragged his finger through his thick hair.

"How are we going to do this?" he asked.

"How? Do you even need to ask that?" she blurted out, staring hard at him. "You are going to have sex with me, of course. See yourself as a kind of sperm donor. Only this is not about sperm donation. There would be consummation in this. I want you to look me in the eyes when you pour your seed inside of me. I want that," she said, her blue eyes glittering.

Jake shook his head, still confused. He had heard all sorts of crazy stories, but this was the winner for him.

"But why me? Why not someone else?" he said.

Lisa moistened her lips with her tongue.

"You are good-looking, sophisticated, and a billionaire. What’s more, you come from a wealthy and highly respected family. I couldn't settle for less. That's why I choose you."

Jake drew in a long, slow breath.

"What if the child turned out to be a girl? Have you considered that?”

"Yes, I've thought about that," she replied. "You don't need to worry. If it turns out to be a girl, I'll take care of her all the same."

Jake sighed.

"I'm sorry, Miss Wolfe. But you are talking with the wrong man. I don't wish to have a son, especially with that kind of arrangement. It's like saying you want me to father a bastard proudly. If I want a son, I will get myself a woman I'll love and cherish with my whole heart. That woman would be the mother of my child." He shook his head. "I'm sorry, but your idea isn't my way of going about that."

"Don't stupid, Mr. Courtland. This is your only chance of getting those horses you wanted so much," Lisa said harshly. "Do you think I wish to go ahead with this? I would have talked about you getting married to me; that way, the child would know his father, but the idea of settling down with a man has never entered my head."

"Don't you think you being selfish here?" Jake said tightly. "You are only thinking of your own selfish needs. What about the needs of the child? Any child would want to know his or her father. Moreover, any good father won't like the idea of having a child somewhere without not wanting to perform his fatherly duties."

Lisa bit her lip.

"I've thought of all that. But there's nothing that I can do about it," she said.

"What if I don't want you as I woman?" Jake growled. "What if I can't bear the sight of you?" he said bitingly. "What if the thought of making love to you repulses me? Have you thought about that?"

Lisa smiled, and it angered Jake that she could be so nonchalant about an issue like this.

"I've thought of all that too. But surely, you can't resist a woman like me," she said, her eyes scrutinizing him.

"Who says?" Jake fired back. "Before you came into this room, I've taken my mind of those damned horses. What’s more, I don't like you. I hate everything about you, so deal with it."

Lisa's face became hard as a rock. She stared at him for a long moment, then her lips curved into a sensual smile. Slowly, she pushed back her chair, rose to her feet, and came around the desk.

" What are you doing?" Jake said stiffly, a bemused expression on his face.

Lisa did not say anything. She came near him and leaned into Jake, catching him off guard. She slid her arms around his neck and kissed him hard on his lips. Jake wanted to throw her off him. But her lips touching his had aroused a wild feeling in him. He was violently stirred. They were, for some time, kissing, and he found himself holding her luscious body and kissing her back with wild pent-up longing he never knew he had in him. Suddenly, she pulled away from him. Her face was flushed with desire, her breasts rising and falling, and her breath coming out rapidly.

"Why the hell did you stop?" Jake growled, feeling his hands clammy with sweat and his penis hard and throbbing in his pants.

"I only wanted to prove you wrong," she said huskily. "You want me, and you can't deny it." She moved away from him and picked up her hat. Jake watched her the way a tiger would look at a rat about to sneak away from its cage. Lisa sashayed to the door and turned to look at him. "The offer still stands, billionaire. Think about it." And with that, she walked out of the room.

Jake watched her go in utter disbelief. He sat there for a long moment, his mind busy with thoughts. Then slowly, he picked up his phone and dialed Gableton's number.