Page 77 of Tempted and Taken

“It’s a very generous offer,” Matt began.

“It is indeed. So should I have my lawyers call yours? Get the ball rolling? Patricia has her heart set on a June wedding.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” Matt said. “It’s a generous offer, but I’m going to have to refuse.”

This time, the silence came from the other end of the line, but it didn’t last for long. “You can’t refuse!” Richard roared. “I’m offering you the chance to inherit billions. How dare you?—”

“Richard,” Matt interjected, aware this phone conversation was only going to go downhill from here. “I know you and Patricia like the idea of expanding your empire and your fortune, but I have more money than I can spend in a hundred lifetimes. I don’t need or want any more.”

A billion dollars was nowhere near enough to shackle himself to Patricia for the rest of his life, but Matt left that part unsaid.

“Are you refusing because of your affair with the Moretti woman?”

Once again, Richard had taken him by surprise, something Matt hated. He wasn’t sure how Richard knew about Liza, but obviously someone, somewhere, had talked.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.” Hell would freeze over before Matt exposed Liza to the likes of the Eddingtons.

“You know exactly what I’m talking about. Don’t let your dick do your thinking for you. That woman is a gold-digger and nothing more.”

“This conversation is over,” Matt said, ready to disconnect the call. He’d had enough of the Eddingtons to last him a lifetime.

“You’re making a big mistake,” Richard growled.

“Perhaps, but my answer remains the same. Good day, Richard.”

He hung up before Richard could continue to berate him.

Matt sighed, aware he should probably fire off an email to his brothers to warn them he’d just made an enemy of the Eddingtons. Gage did the tech for a lot of the Eddington Group properties, and Conor had been in negotiations to open a restaurant in a new casino Richard was building in Atlantic City. Matt wasn’t sure how much pull Richard had within the company, but the man was certainly vindictive enough to kill those contracts and deals if he could.

Leaning his head back, he pushed all thoughts of the Eddingtons from his mind.

Instead, he let himself think back to this morning, to waking up with Liza in his bed. She was as warm and soft as a kitten, curled up in his arms.

Then he recalled his earlier desire to celebrate every single season with her.

Picking up his office phone, he hit the button for his PA.

“Yes, sir,” Henri said, answering promptly.

“I’m thinking of taking a weekend ski trip to Vermont. I need you to arrange for the jet to be fueled up and ready to leave this evening, returning Sunday. Then see if you can find a nice cabin to rent, one bedroom is fine so long as it has a big bed. You know what I like. Oh, and make sure it has a fireplace.”

“Of course. Will you be traveling alone?” Henri asked.

“No. I’m taking a date. Speaking of which, I’m going to send you some women’s clothing sizes as well as a shopping list for toiletries—the brand names and scents are noted. I need you to buy a complete ski ensemble for her, as well as jeans, sweaters, and boots.” He intended to pick up Liza straight from work and whisk her to the jet, keeping their destination a secret until they arrived.

“Very well. Should I also purchase a gift for your companion?” Henri was very accomplished when it came to buying baubles for his “dates.” Matt never thought of them as gifts as much as insurance policies, an easy way to extract himself after sex. Diamonds went a long way toward buying him an easy exit.

“No, thank you.” Matt intended to be the only man who bought Liza gifts from now on.

“I’ll make the preparations now.”

Matt hung up, then spun his chair back to the large windows, grinning to himself as he planned out the rest of the day. He and Liza were going to make the most of what was left of winter. Then when spring hit, they were going to do the same. Maybe he’d fly her to Paris in April, to Bora Bora in the summer, to the Scottish Highlands in the fall.

Matt glanced at the clock. Only six more hours to kill until their spontaneous weekend trip began. He couldn’t wait to see Liza’s face.

Matt signed the paperwork in front of him as Henri listed off what each page consisted of. He listened with half an ear, too busy basking in the afterglow of his incredible weekend. Liza had been thrilled by his surprise, so thrilled, the two of them had added quite a few scandalous acts to their mile-high club list while flying to and from Vermont.

After a great day of skiing on Saturday—Liza was a natural and she enjoyed the activity as much as he did—they made his dream of making love on a bearskin rug before a fire come true in spectacular fashion.

---