Something else troubled Kat, though, questions that demanded answers.

"What was in this for the Collins family? Why would Grant ever agree to such a thing?" Sarah remained mute, her eyes wandering along the details of the Oriental rug beneath their feet. "It doesn't make sense. Grant is a handsome, successful man. A good man. He certainly doesn't need any help, from either family, to find a woman." Sarah fidgeted, her discomfort palpable. Kat gasped at the flash of insight, the sting of clarity. "Unless he does." The puzzle came together. "Because he doesn't want a woman at all, does he?" The recent conversation with Kyle pushed to the front of her mind.

Fury knotted like a ball in her chest. "You knew! You all knew!" Charlie wouldn't look at her. Parker, on the other hand, couldn't seem to tear his eyes from her.

Sarah regained composure, squared her shoulders, and lifted an accusatory finger. "That man you brought with you this evening is not welcome back in my home."

"Want to change the subject, huh? Sweep it under the rug." Kat's arms locked across her chest before her hands could encircle her mother's throat. "How can you live with yourself? Play with people's lives this way. You're pathetic, disgusting. And I want nothing to do with you." She leveled her rage at the duo seated behind the table. "Any of you.

"I'm going to clear my calendar of any future family dinners, social events, photo ops, and any other pointless shit you have planned." Sarah's mouth dropped open, her hand clutched to her chest. "Lose my number."

Kat took a few steps back, passed judgment on the conniving trio, then settled on Parker and aimed a finger at him. "You have always had a problem with me, and I am going to find out why."

Tucker didn't know what to make of the current situation, or Kat's odd behavior in the elevator. She'd grilled Kyle about Grant, had seemed unusually relieved to hear Kyle hadn't met the guy until tonight; only knew what she'd told him in phone conversations. Then the tension between them had escalated when Kyle refused to talk about the problems in Nebraska. He'd escaped his sister as fast as he could once the doors had slid open.

Now she sat strangely quiet in the cab, away from him, not next to him and touching him, as she had on the ride to the penthouse earlier in the evening. He couldn't read her right now, which unsettled him. He liked feeling connected to her. Hell, he needed the connection. Headlights and streetlamps flickered across the shadows on her face, the strain obvious. She was probably evaluating whether he was worth the fight, the aggravation.

The past few hours rewound in his head. The night had been a near disaster until Henry James had pounded his fist and stunned his family. Tucker bet if given a fair chance, the two of them could get along.

Would he get the chance?

He watched storefronts and people pass by his smudged window. He'd have to convince her he was worth it, that they were worth it. He'd make her understand, somehow, what he'd done tonight was necessary. He'd had plenty of experience with this. Knew he couldn't appear weak when pushed. Even more important, he'd had to show them he wasn't afraid to push back.

They climbed silently up to Kat's apartment. She tossed her keys on the kitchen counter and dropped her bag next to them, keeping her back to him. Then she braced her hands against the counter and lowered her head. Tucker angled back against the door, his heart pumping wildly. He wanted her to say whatever she needed to, then he'd tell his side after he knew how much damage he'd done.

"I've made a decision, Tucker." Her voice was quiet but firm.

He stiffened from head to toe, ready to deflect whatever she was about to fling at him.

"I want to go to Montana with you for a while." She lifted her head, scanned the world lit and in view through the panes across the street. "I'll need three or four days to get some things cleared up at the office. I should be able to do most things remotely." She finally faced him. "We could leave next week, if you want."

His mouth hung open but nothing came out; he couldn't comprehend what he'd just heard.

Kat strode toward him, hands hooked at her hips. "What the hell?" Her expression shifted from uncertainty to amusement. "Have I rendered Tucker Williams speechless?" Her arms crossed in front of her. "Holy crap. I have. I'm marking this on my calendar. Probably never happen again." She moved closer, teased him with her scent. "What did you think I was going to say?"

He tried to get his foggy brain in gear. "I thought," he stammered, "you were pissed. The things I said tonight ..." He searched her face.

Before he could utter another garbled word, her mouth claimed his, her tongue demanding entry, as her body rocked against him. He groaned and his skin lit on fire when her soft, warm hands skimmed underneath his shirt, pushed it up, and pulled it off. Her nails scraped across his nipples, traveled down to his belt buckle.

"Do you think I'm pissed now?" she said, her words a sultry tease next to his ear.

Her tongue grazed down his neck as a storm cloud swirled inside his head, and then vanished with the clatter of his buckle against the floor, his pants pooled around his feet.

"I'm gettin' the feelin' you're not." His voice was raw with need, his hands fisted in her hair.

Her fingers slid around his neck and untied the blond knot.

She whispered a breath away from his lips. "You were magnificent tonight."

She dropped to her knees, took him in her hands and then into her mouth. His head landed against the door with a thud, followed with a groan. She worked her magic on him, did things that made him a true believer, a devoted follower for life.

Kat James was all the proof he needed that heaven existed on earth.

Right here.

Right now.

When her big green eyes opened to his, he was done for. He lost it. Gave her everything he had, knowing he would never be free again. She owned him. Lock, stock, and barrel.

She rose with confidence, with the presence of a woman fully aware of her power. She was the sexiest damned thing he'd ever laid eyes on. With a seductive shimmy, her dress floated to the floor, bared the scanty black lace cupping her curves. The blush of arousal colored her skin, her eyes dark with desire.

"It's my turn now, Williams."

He smiled knowingly as she flaunted her rear and strutted away.

Tucker knew he had two options but only one real choice. After what she'd just done to him, he wanted nothing more than to slide down to the floor and sleep. But one look at her ass in that black thong, baiting him, hooking him, and he knew right then and there: a man's job is never done. And this woman made him damned glad to be a man.

A devilish grin slipped onto his whiskered face. Then he pushed off the door and headed for his piece of heaven.

"Feelin' more relaxed now, sweetheart?"

His husky voice permeated the haze of her lingering bliss, pulled her back into the present. Kat had never had a spanking in her life. She'd had no idea until tonight how much fun she'd been missing. Her cheeks still stung a bit, but it was all good. Tucker Williams was a man full of surprises, and she couldn't wait to see what he'd come up with next. Her life had become so much more fun, so much more interesting, with him in it.

"What're you grinnin' about?" His finger swept the hair from her face, his self-satisfied tone indicating he already knew the answer to the question.

She lifted one lid, then closed it. Her grin spread wider.

"I always thought spankings were meant as punishment for bad behavior, not a reward for good behavior."

"It's only a punishment if it's done wrong." He pulled her closer. "You surprised me tonight, so I thought I'd return the favor. I wasn't expecting what happened after we walked in the door earlier." He pressed a kiss to her temple. "You have no idea how happy I am you're willin' to come to Montana. It means a lot."

She decided to show more of her hand; he'd earned it. "You know how much I enjoy giving you a rough time, but I'm in a weakened state right now, so I'll come clean. You've been a really good sport staying here for so long. I know it can't be easy for a man like you, used to open spaces and fresh air. I really do appreciate all the time you've spent here, Tucker. I mean it." She lifted her head and planted a grateful kiss on his lips.

"It hasn't been as hard as you think. I don't care where I'm at, Kat, as long as you're there." He drew the covers up over their cooling, naked bodies. "I just hope you know you're not gonna run through me, that's all."

"What?" She shook her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"What your brother, Charlie, said tonight about runnin' through men."

Indignation blazed on her face. "If that's your way of fishing for remorse, or an apology, you can forget it. Not happening in this lifetime."

"Apology for what?" He seemed genuinely bewildered.

"For sowing my oats like every other twenty-something college girl, and guy, that's what. That ridiculous double standard has always pissed me off." Kat turned her attention to the ceiling. "You would've thought I'd committed some heinous crime when my mother found out I wasn't the lady she'd raised me to be."

"A lady?" He stifled a chuckle. "I can't picture that at all."

"You son of a-" Kat giggled when she read the amusement in his eyes. "Well, suffice it to say I grew up and became more respectable. Once I became a businesswoman, I certainly didn't want to negotiate a deal with a man I'd had a one-nighter with-hours earlier." Her recriminating stare made him flinch. Good. He should feel bad.

"I wasn't fishing for an apology." His knuckles brushed the side of her face. "I can't imagine you as anything other than wild and free," he said, admiration apparent in his tone. "A part of me wishes I'd known you back then, but you probably wouldn't have given me the time of day anyway. And even if you had, well ... No, I'd rather be here right now than to have been one of those boys you ran through back then. I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have liked that much."

The emotion in his eyes and thick in his voice made her belly flutter with excitement. It also made her uncomfortable. She wasn't ready for this conversation, or these feelings. She dodged all of it.

"What do you know about what's going on in Nebraska?"

He looked disappointed at the change of subject. With a heavy sigh, he rolled to his back, one arm flopped above his head.

"After I screwed things up with you the last time I was here, I went back home and found out everything I could about you-and your family."

Kat shifted to her side and waited for him to shed some light.

"Your brothers don't appear to have the same business model as your father did, or his father for that matter. They're fans of the by-any-means approach."

"What're you talking about?"

He rounded his head on the pillow, scrutinized her. "You really don't know anything about your family's business?"

"No." She didn't appreciate the insinuation. "I've been way too busy with my own to keep track of theirs. And they've never discussed anything of substance about the company around me."

"Well, this deal in Nebraska has been goin' on for quite a while now. Some nasty chemicals leached into the soil and found their way to the Platte River. Some NGOs think it was on purpose. Not as costly to pollute the land and water as it is to dispose of toxic runoff the right way-that is if you don't get caught. So far no one can prove it was anything other than an accident." Tucker gave Kat a sidelong glance. "But I think their actions go a long way in proving their intent. Like setting up shop where there aren't any regulations. And where workers can be paid pennies on the dollar."

Kat rolled to her back. "I wonder how much Kyle knows."

"Kat, you know as well as I do, Kyle has to know everything. He's general counsel. Hell, he's flyin' all over the place to put out fires, seein' what needs to be done to keep people quiet. And you also know, sister or not, he can't legally tell you anything. You're not even a principal in the company."

"It's not just Nebraska?" Kat asked. Tucker shook his head. "I can't believe my father would allow this. He's still the majority shareholder." A hard realization punched her in the gut. "Well, at least, I think he is. Shit! I should've been more involved. If nothing else, I could've been a major pain in the ass for Charlie and Parker."

Kat ripped the covers off and stormed out of the room.

Tucker looked on helplessly as her bare ass disappeared from sight. He fished around for his pants before following after her. The lit display from her cell phone highlighted the angry planes of her face in the dark kitchen. He grabbed her phone and ended the call before it completed.

She whirled around. "What the hell, Tucker!"

He placed her phone on the counter, then gripped her wrists, held them in front of her before she could scoop up the phone again.

"What do you think you're gonna accomplish callin' people after one in the morning? Besides pissin' 'em off."

"I want answers."

"You're not gonna get 'em like this, Kat." He looked pointedly at her, said the words she didn't want to hear. "You're probably not gonna get any at all-even from Kyle."

She deflated in front of him.

"I fucked up, Tucker." Her voice was filled with regret. "I didn't want to be involved in the business because I didn't want them running my life, manipulating me." Her mirthless laughter bounced off the walls around them. "But they found a way to do that anyway."

"What do you mean?"

The wave of her hand dismissed his question. She didn't want to talk about Grant.

"It doesn't matter now. I should've just sucked it up back then. I never would've let this happen. I can't believe they have. And how could my father allow it? I know he's not active in the company like he was in the past, but ..." The unfinished thought left her staring at some unseen worry in the distance, only to shake it off.

"Now they could run the James legacy into the ground. Ruin what had been a well-respected company. Destroy everything my father and grandfather worked for all their lives, not to mention the hurt my brothers have apparently caused other people now too." Her thoughts drifted, refocused on one person. "I know it's Parker. I feel it in my gut. I've never trusted him. And Charlie is weak, always has been. He may be the president and CEO, but I guarantee you, Parker is the one calling the shots." She shook her head in aggravation. "I'm going to get to bottom of this one way or another."

"I'll help you any way I can, Kat. Charlie's right about me, you know. I do hug trees. I think I may even have a bumper sticker like that on my truck." He winked and the stress on Kat's face shed away with a chuckle. "Now, c'mon, it's late. We need to get to bed. And I think I'm just tired enough that even your snorin' won't keep me awake tonight."

"What! I do not snore!" Indignation mixed with the doubt on her face.

"Oh, really? So no one's ever told you that before?" Tucker rubbed at the back of his neck. "Hmm. Guess that explains why you're still single." He braced for the incoming slug to his shoulder.

"I'm single because I choose to be, damn it!"

"Sure you are, darlin'." He tentatively herded her toward the bedroom. "It's okay. I wouldn't say you're at the sawin' logs point-yet. But we may wanna plan for separate bedrooms in our later years."

"Oh hell, you'll be deaf by then anyway; it won't even matter."

Tucker chuckled and pulled his hellcat back into his arms as they happily reconvened under the covers.

A full belly and a smile on her face, Kat's morning started out perfect with a steamy quickie in the shower, followed by ham and eggs prepared by her favorite Montana horse rancher. Kat could definitely get used to being spoiled.

While she worked, Tucker planned to reserve two one-way seats to Helena. They wanted to leave early next week for Big Sky Country. And after last night's fiasco with her traitorous mother and brothers, Kat needed the change of scenery. Her heart warmed, recalling Tucker's excitement about taking her home with him. His usually calm exterior hummed with raw energy. The man knew how to deliver a great sales pitch, and he'd swept her up in his contagious enthusiasm over the upcoming trip.

She'd have plenty of time over the next few days to make all the arrangements necessary to ensure her remote access worked reliably, and to leave Cassie feeling confident in her absence. How long would she be gone? The answer depended on the continued progress with Tucker, and her level of homesickness too. Her calendar hadn't been marked off with a real vacation in years, so leaving New York made her a little nervous.

Helena versus New York City. Talk about a monumental change. Yet, Tucker had made the transition admirably and without complaint. And she refused to disappoint him by perpetuating the stereotype of the whiny city girl unable to hack country life. She'd learn to bite her tongue and smile-for him.

She blinked back the shock. What the hell? Where had that come from? Kat James never pandered to anyone.

What kind of kowtowing spell had Tucker Williams put on her? How had he managed to get her to think in a way no one else had? Without even asking, or insisting ... Then her face lit up in fresh understanding. He never tried to control her-his secret weapon. He acted as if he liked her exactly as she was-snoring and all. She snickered.

Her heart tickled inside with a fuzzy warmth, but her head stayed the course. She'd have to be careful with him. Men had always disappointed her, tried to change her, mold her into wife material, hoping to push her into the mommy-mode shadows, all while they presumably enjoyed the glory and accolades of their achievements.

Tucker's approach, though certainly novel, probably amounted to a short-term strategy on his part. At some point, he would make the same mistake the others before him had by focusing on the things she would need to change in order for the relationship to work.

She shook her head resolutely. "Not going to happen."

The elevator pinged its arrival, returning Kat's focus to the matter at hand: Charlie. She stepped out and headed down the hotel hallway until she found his secret love nest. The sordid details of her brother's arrangement had come to light years ago when she'd overheard a private conversation. Sarah had set up an account at the Four Seasons, had had the bill charged to her each month, no paper trail back to Charlie. The charade had been masterminded in an effort to appease Charlie, who'd become increasingly unhappy in his arranged marriage to Cecily. And the deception also served to mollify Sarah, who would hear no talk of divorce.

Kat wondered if her mother also paid for a room at a competing hotel for Cecily.

When Charlie's staff couldn't locate him at company headquarters earlier in the day, Kat had made an educated guess he'd be indulging at his luxury suite. A do-not-disturb sign hanging askew and two half-eaten trays of food on the hallway floor rewarded her instincts.

She knocked, loudly. "Open up, Charlie!" She stood back and waited.

Silence.

This whole situation pissed her off. Talking to Parker would be pointless and Kyle hadn't, or wouldn't, return her calls today. And after several unanswered calls to her father, a man notoriously difficult to reach, she'd decided to confront Charlie. She scanned the narrow passageway, impatiently tapping her toe, and then pounded the living shit out of the door, her rant echoing down the hall. The door flew open and she was yanked inside.