Free The Tycoon's Tender Triumph by Elizabeth Lennox

animals, Chloe.”
     
    She didn’t like that anyway , even though his laughter made her tingle with awareness .  “It just seems barbaric.”
     
    He acknowledged her feelings with another nod.  “Okay, I suspect you’ve made up your mind about the business you want to be in but you’re not completely sure that you’re ready.  So what can I do to help you?”
     
    “ Ideally, I’d just like to be content.”
     
    He looked at her with his dark, intelligent eyes and Chloe knew that she’d revealed too much in that one statement. 
     
    “And are you content with your life in New York and your boyfriend?”
     
    She looked out the window and thought back to what she’d been only a week ago.  “No.  I know that’s not the future I want.”
     
    “And do you know what you want?”
     
    Chloe shrugged.  “Despite the cold in the winter, I always loved it here.  The air is so much cleaner, I can see the stars at night and I love horses.”
     
    “Especially Nutmeg?”
     
    She  laughed softly.  “No, not especially but Nutmeg has a different personality.   A bit more demanding that the others, but they’re all wonderful. ”
     
    “He’s a bit of an autocrat, isn’t he?”
     
    She smiled at him cheekily. “Takes one to know one.”
     
    “ Touché ,” he came back.  “So, you want a small business that keeps you…content.”  He watched her face.  “And happiness is out of the question?”
     
    She looked away again , all laughter gone from her face.   Just thinking about moving here to Texas where she would watch Sam, see him fall for some other woman and marry her, most likely have children with him was a painful thought.  But she hadn’t had much success getting over him in Boston, New York and the other few places she’d briefly lived over the past few years .  Besides, none had been a really good “fit” for her.  Texas seemed to be more of a home to her than any other area she’d ever tried to settle.   “Let’s stick to what’s achievable,” she replied, not wanting to go any further down that road. 
     
    “Fine.  You’ll need dresses and suits if you’re going into any kind of business .  Can you afford them?  And you’ll need to keep the five beauties in my stable .  Forget about building your own, you’re going to be too busy here.”
     
    She didn’t like the sound of that.  “What do you mean?”
     
    “I mean, you’re going to have to be here with me, learning about making contacts, getting an office or supply chain, asking me questions about taxes and benefits , exercising the horses and coming to social events with me.  I have the contacts you’ll need to get the word out about whatever you’re going to start but make the contacts first so you have a pipeline of re sources to rely upon once you’re confident enough to market you’re idea .”
     
    “I don’t want to take up your time,” she started to argue, not wanting to be in his company at all, much less in a social situation. 
     
    “It’s not a waste of my time.  I’m going to be at these events anyway, and having a beautiful woman on my arm won’t hurt.  Besides,” he interrupted when she was about to say something, “You’ll be doing me a favor, too.”
     
    “How’s that?” she asked, her voice dripping with wariness.
     
    “These people are le e ches.  Each time I go, the women lean against me and slip room keys in my pockets…”
     
    “Poor dear.  And I’m sure you give them all back, don’t you?” Chloe hated the jealousy that ripped through her at his words.
     
    His only acknowledgement of her comment was a sarcastically raised eyebrow , which only made her jealousy intensify.  She would have been happier if he’d told her he actually did give the keys back, even if he was lying. 
     
    “And the men are trying to snare insider information on whatever business I’m currently investing in.  It becomes pretty irritating.  So if you’re on my arm, the