Free He's the One by Jane Beckenham Page A

into the abyss, leaving Taylor to follow.
    Cade circled the vast space and then walked to the nearest wall. Reaching out, he ripped a piece of tattered wallpaper off in one long, single tear. He held the shabby strip in one hand. “Welcome to my empire. What do you want to know?"
    Taylor's insides pitted themselves in a conflict for control. She hid her hands behind her back, locking her fingers to prevent their shaking. Eyeing the room, she slowly counted to ten, knowing she needed to remain calm.
    "What game are you playing, Cade? One minute you're all hot..."
    "Hot, as in sexy?"
    "Don't put me off. You know exactly what I mean. You're playing sex games."
    "And you have a problem with this?"
    Yeah, but she wouldn't admit to him she was scared witless.
    "The next, you're as cold as ice—in the emotional sense. I don't know if I'm up to this any more. Let's forget the deal."
    "No!” Cade's shout echoed through the derelict building. “You can't. We can't."
    "Of course we can,” Taylor reasoned. “It's not a legal deal, nothing formal."
    Cade reached out and caught her elbow, turning her to him and pulling her close—so close she could hear his breathing, see the flicker of gold in his darkened gaze.
    "But how can you disappoint your clients?” he challenged.
    "Low blow, Cade.” And damn it, she felt cornered. One part of her wanted to run for the hills, while the other part of her wanted to jump his bones, right here, right now. Her thoughts returned to the repeated phone calls, the desperate pleas of nervous brides.
    Her knees wobbled beneath her and she sank down on to an upended crate, dust and cobwebs tangling with her bare legs. She looked up at Cade. Dark semi-circles shadowed beneath his eyes, and the rake-like hair that had seen his hand brush through too many times made her heart skip several beats.
    You can do this.
    Keep things business-like, she reminded herself.
    Fingers twining behind her back to prevent them from shaking, she spoke.
    "What have you got in mind, Cade?"
    "That would be telling, but from the look of you,” he said and gave her a direct stare, “I think, business before pleasure."
    Taylor's jaw dropped. “Can you read minds?"
    "Depends on what you're thinking. If it's as wicked as what I'm thinking, we could be in for lots of fun,” he said, winking. “Come on.” He grabbed her hand, lacing his fingers through hers and tugged slightly when she resisted.
    But only a fraction. She could never resist him too long. And that scared her more than she cared to admit.
    "The building,” Cade informed her as he offered a guided tour “consists of about half a dozen rooms. The main one will be used for the cocktail bar, while several of the smaller ones, for private parties and corporate events."
    "Do you have a theme?"
    Cade frowned, then his expression turned to horrified, and Taylor choked back a fit of laughter.
    "You mean like those weddings you plan?"
    "Don't panic. I won't cover the place in miles of pink tulle or too much frou frou."
    "Who said I was panicking?"
    "Your face says it all."
    "You mean you can read me like a book?"
    She wished.
    "If that's the case, I better watch out. A man's gotta have some mystery."
    The playful banter was fun—as if she'd known him for years, not a couple of days.
    "Come on, there's more.” Cade directed her towards a staircase to the right of the main door. As they drew alongside it, Cade ran a hand over the carved mahogany banister.
    "This is beautiful. True craftsmanship,” he said, brushing the dust aside to reveal the still smooth ambience of the dark wood.
    "See,” Taylor joked, “there is an itty bit of romance in that heart of yours, after all."
    He shrugged and gave her one of those smiles again; the ones that set her heart thumping and her body wanting. “Could be."
    An hour later, Taylor closed her folder on the screeds of notes.
    "You got enough information?"
    "I hope so. I can always come back."
    "Sure. Anytime."
    Cade might have