He was as handsome as he could be. It would have to be enough. It would be enough. His money alone would be all he needed. Sabela wouldn’t be able to resist that.
Everything was set up for his success. He held all the cards while Sabela’s hands were empty.
Did she gasp when she set her gaze upon the chalet for the first time? Was it short and abrupt, almost hitched, or longer and deeper, grabbing at the thinner mountain air, oxygen deprived from altitude and anticipation?
There was no way she wouldn’t be impressed.
Would she recognize him? Of course not. Despite the connection to her family, Sabela would never clue in to who Colin was.
Their home town of Brent Grove wasn’t a huge city, yet Sabela wouldn’t remember who Colin used to be.
Colin himself could barely remember.
He headed to the front, hitting a switch along the way and turning on the stereo system. A soft cello concerto filled the otherwise quiet space, romantic and broody.
He stepped in front of the main doors just as they swung open.
Sabela walked inside, hesitant and frightened, her pretty face strained from the stress of travel, and undoubtedly from the situation itself.
Her long, wavy dark hair was slightly tousled, sexy, and her makeup practically nonexistent. She didn’t need it. High cheekbones stood out prominently on her heart-shaped face. Her golden-toned, brown skin glowed in the light, and her long slender neck was so smooth and flawless, he felt an immediate urge to kiss it. And then the rest of her.
His cock throbbed once, hard. Another unwelcome development. He scowled, displeased.
Sabela barely met his gaze before glancing away. Marie rushed forward, greeting the young woman, shutting the doors, and clucking around her. The housekeeper took Sabela’s coat and commented that she hoped Sabela liked it, since Marie had picked it out for her and sent it to be waiting at the airport for Sabela’s arrival.
Sabela mumbled a distracted thanks. Her gaze flickered around the hall, never pausing on one spot for long. She looked as impressed and overwhelmed as he’d hoped she would.
Though he tried unsuccessfully to avoid it, Colin surveyed Sabela’s body. She was just his type: small-waisted, long-legged, and curvy in all the right places.
The pastel pink uniform and white apron she’d been wearing in the pictures from Pinkie’s Diner didn’t do her justice. Long, shapely legs were shown off through her ripped jeans, and the sweater she had on hugged her breasts in just the right way.
He looked back up at her eyes, deep brown and sparkling as she surveyed her surroundings. A tiny worry line ran between her expressive brows. It was good she was worried. She should be. That had been the plan, after all.
Once more, his cock gave a throb of appreciation.
Sabela was breathtaking in a way that not even the Swiss mountain ranges could compare.
Marie continued to mother the girl, asking her if her trip went well, if she’d been taken care of properly, if she’d wanted for anything, explained how Colin had demanded her every comfort be seen to. On and on.
Time to put a stop to all the fussing. Sabela Vaughn was there for one purpose and one purpose only, and that was to fall madly in love with Colin. There was nothing in the plan about reciprocation, and there never would be. Marie best get over the notion that Sabela might be around for long.
Sabela was a tool, and she would never be anything more.
“I like the music,” Sabela said to the housekeeper, her voice low but steady.
She had expressed a preference for the cello during her initial interview with the representative of the false charity. Colin had been pleasantly surprised. The sweet, low notes of the cello had always appealed to him. And he hadn’t been forced to snoop out new music as he’d anticipated.
And that wasn’t the only thing he and Sabela had in common, according to her answers.
He shook those kinds of thoughts from his head.
Marie stood between them, looking from one to the other, her stance and features expressing an awkwardness. There was silence.
Colin finally stepped forward. “Ms. Vaughn. Welcome,” he said in his deepest, most commanding tone.
He expected her to hesitate, perhaps stutter a response. Maybe she’d whisper, she’d be so frightened. She wouldn’t be able to meet his eye.
Instead, she met his gaze and spoke in an appealing, bell-like tone. “I won’t say that it’s a pleasure, Mr. Morgan, but I’ll thank you for your hospitality all the same.”
What was this? Had she really dared to stand up to him?
She eyed him carefully, studying his face in particular. “Don’t I know you from somewhere?”
Chapter Nine
COLIN HARDENED HIS STANCE. IF Sabela wasn’t going to be distracted by the scenery or his body, he was going to have to be firm in his redirection. The rest of his plan hinged on her cooperation, and if she pieced together who he was too soon, it would spell disaster.
Colin wouldn’t allow that to happen. A little flattery would do the trick.
“No,” he said. “I would have remembered meeting such a stunningly beautiful woman as yourself.”
He longed to twirl that pink and gold matchbook between his fingers to ease some of the anxiety away.
Sabela hesitated, clearly taken by surprise. According to the research that had been conducted, it had been a long time since she’d received any attention from the opposite sex beyond the crude come-ons she got at the diner. He knew that what he said wouldn’t be taken lightly.
“Why don’t the two of you have something to drink?” Marie asked, breaking the tension.
Colin rather wished she hadn’t, but there was no help for it. “Ms. Vaughn, would you join me for a drink?” he asked.
He followed behind her as they made their way into the lounge, carefully keeping his gaze from the sultry curves of her gently swaying hips and ass.
In the lounge, he let Sabela wander over to the big windows. He watched with pleasure as she reacted with all the admiration he’d have wanted. He offered her a glass of champagne from the new bottle Marie had put on ice before the young woman’s arrival.
Sabela hesitated. “I don’t drink much,” she mumbled. “And I’m a little tired … and cold.”
Marie bustled forward. “Of course you are. And I expected as much, so I made you a lovely pot of hot chocolate just in case. It’ll warm you right up. We’re all about chocolate here in Switzerland, you know. Nothing like it the world over.”
Sabela smiled for the first time, her teeth flashing as sparkling white as new-fallen snow on the surrounding mountain peaks. “Oh, yes please. That sounds perfect.
Colin didn’t appreciate that Marie had anticipated Sabela’s needs better than he himself had. He did admit that it was good to see Sabela more relaxed as she watched Marie pour out the hot chocolate into a delicate porcelain cup.
Before Marie could serve the chocolate, Colin stepped forward, took the cup and dismissed her. She hustled out of the room after saying a brief farewell to Sabela.
He handed the cup to the waiting Sabela.
As she took it, her fingertips brushed against his. A spark shot through Colin, and he pulled his hand away quickly.
Sabela Vaughn ignited a part of him that had long been suppressed, and she was dangerous for it. Why her? Yes, she was beautiful, but he had known many
beautiful women. The answer had to be —
Of course, the answer was that she was the most important piece of his carefully constructed plan. Naturally, his reaction to her would be different, heightened. She was as crucial right now as she would eventually be dispensable.
He’d have to manage his attraction. He would need to accept that the next week might be more challenging than he’d originally anticipated. Plans might need to be altered slightly to account for it.
“Thank you, Mr. Morgan,” she said.
There was a cautious tone to her voice that fascinated him, as though she suspected he might bite. All the better.
“Please, call me Colin,” he said, smiling casually. “You’re my guest. Can’t have you standing on ceremony while you’re under my roof.”
“Then call me Sabela, not Ms. Vaughn,” she replied. “So we’re even.”
She was trying to get a feel for him. Colin was a master negotiator and knew all the tricks. As young and inexperienced as she was, she wouldn’t get far with him.
Now that Marie was gone, they could get to business. To Colin’s surprise, Sabela took the initiative and started the conversation for him.
“With all due respect, Colin, why am I here?” she asked bluntly, the question strained and tinged with anger.
“Is a vacation to the Swiss Alps not reason enough?” Colin asked.
“No. I know better. This is about my so-called obligation to you … for the money.”
The sound of cellos navigating complex musical scores filled the pause. Colin took his time, strolled over to the bar and poured himself a few fingers of bourbon. He tipped his drink to his lips and savored the taste.
Sabela would wait until he was ready to answer. She watched his every movement, more patient and put together than other women he’d known.
He stepped out from behind the bar. “I think you might already know the answer to why you’re here.”
“Do you expect me to sleep with you?”
Colin almost spit out his drink. He hoped his surprise hadn’t shown on his face, and he tried to be casual as he swirled the bourbon around in the glass.