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  Casey shook her head. “What you’re not getting is that you don’t have to be an expert at all of their jobs. The CFO and his accounting department don’t expect or need you to be a CPA. Just like I don’t need you to know how to market Maverick Western. We’re good at our jobs. That’s why we have them. What we need you for is to remind us why we’re there. To help us and the customer remember the philosophy and the example that John Maverick set a hundred years ago. I can’t think of a man more perfect to take Jake’s place in that.”

  Wow, she really was good at her job. She even had him believing he could do it. “That’s what Jake said too.”

  She frowned. “Did you know he was leaving control of the company to you before he died?”

  Bonner shook his head and let out a short laugh. “No, not even close. But that brings us to what I wanted to talk to you about.”

  Casey nodded slowly. “Okay.”

  Bonner drew in a deep breath. She needed to know all of it. There was no doubt in Bonner’s mind Casey would keep his confidence about his birthright, but it was important she be prepared with the truth. If Jocelyn and J.J. decided to go public with this information sometime down the road, it would be Casey and her department doing damage control and trying to save the company’s reputation.

  He swallowed away the dryness in his mouth and launched into the tale that he was still having trouble believing himself.

  CHAPTER 18

  His hands were sweating. His armpits too. Thank God the suit jacket would hide that, even though it felt more like a straight-jacket at the moment.

  Bonner ran his finger between the collar of his shirt and his throat.

  In the privacy of Jake’s, now Bonner’s office, Casey pressed her palms to his face and stared directly into his eyes. “Listen to me. You’re going to be great and they’re all going to love you. Trust me.”

  He braced his hands on her waist, wishing they could give up on all this and just go back to her place. “I do trust you.”

  “Good.” She nodded, looking full of the confidence he wished he felt as strongly as she did. “You ready?”

  He swallowed hard. “Yes.”

  She led the way toward the boardroom. It was all he could do to not reach for her hand for comfort, because waiting inside was everyone of any importance in this company. Jake’s company. Now, his company.

  Dean, who was as young as Casey had described but hopefully also as capable, stood outside the closed door of the room. “They’re all inside, Mr. Boyd. Another copy of the seating chart listing their names and positions is in the folder at your seat, in case you need it.”

  “Thank you.” He’d spent an hour trying to memorize it last night at Casey’s place, right after she’d shown him how to get into his new corporate email account from her computer and download a PDF file, whatever the hell that stood for.

  Heart pounding, Bonner drew in a breath and nodded to Dean.

  He had a strange feeling of transcending time, as if he was on the back of a bull in the chute nodding to the gateman, the adrenaline surging through his veins making him feel superhuman. He embraced the long forgotten feeling.

  As the door swung wide, Bonner stepped aside and motioned for Casey to go in first. Her lips twitched with a smile. She walked to the head of the long table inside the room.

  He strode in after her with more confidence than he’d known he could muster.

  She faced the assembled executives. “Ladies. Gentlemen. It’s with pleasure I introduce to you the new president of Maverick Western. He was Jake Maverick’s right arm for ten years at the family ranch and it’s only fitting he step up to fill his shoes at Maverick Western. I give you Bonner Boyd.”

  Casey stepped to the side and to his amazement the group began to applaud.

  Hell, they more than clapped, they got to their feet. His gaze swept the men and women standing for him.

  Bonner swallowed away the lump in his throat and waited for the applause to start to die down. “Thank you. Please, take your seats.”

  He waited as they did, hoping he remembered what he wanted to say. The words he’d been up most of the night working out in his head.

  The other half of the night he’d been awake burying his fears and frustration inside Casey. He shot a glance at her, then looked back at the faces of each and every person seated at the table.

  “Jake Maverick told me something years ago, but it always stuck with me. He said, ‘Bonner, you’ll find there are two kinds of men in this world. There are doers, and there are talkers, and the interesting thing is, a man is never both because the doers are too busy doing to be talking, and the talkers are too busy talking to be doing.’”

  He glanced down the table and noticed smiles and nods, and a particularly proud look on Casey’s face.

  He cleared his throat and went on. “You’ll find I’m not a man who has a lot to say, but I guess that’s a good thing according to the old man…uh, I mean Jake—”

  There were chuckles throughout the audience. Bonner smiled at his own slip. “I never called him that to his face, mind you, but I don’t think he would have minded. He always called things the way he saw them, just like I do. Anyway, I’m a good listener. I appreciate a good day’s work. I’m not the most educated man you’ll ever meet, but I’m smart enough to know a person never stops learning, even if he lives to be a hundred. And lastly, if you need anything from me, just ask. Whether I’m here in New York or in Colorado, Dean will know how to get in touch with me. Otherwise, quite honestly, as long as you all keep up the values and the mission Maverick Western has represented for the past hundred years, I’m smart enough to know to stay out of your way and let you do your jobs. You all know what you’re doing or Jake wouldn’t have put you where you are. So, that’s it. That’s all I’ve got to say.”

  The applause resumed, louder than before.

  He glanced at Casey for help. She stepped forward and the room got silent.

  “Does anyone have any questions?” When no one stepped up to ask him anything, she nodded. “All right. Then I guess we’re done here. Dean has scheduled meetings between Mr. Boyd and each department head over the next week so you’ll all get to speak with him one on one and familiarize Mr. Boyd with your particular department. Thank you.”

  There were lots of hands to shake, as Bonner tried to connect names to faces, then the room cleared except for him, Dean and Casey.

  She smiled. “You did really well.”

  “Thanks. They were really…receptive.”

  “Of course they were. I’ve been building up to this for the past week. Press releases. Daily blog posts. All about you. I wanted everyone to know you and appreciate what a good choice Jake made before they met you.”

  “Wow. Thanks.” Bonner itched to touch her, but Dean being there stopped him. He glanced at his assistant. “So, what next?”

  Dean whipped a piece of paper out of his folder. “I’ve printed out your schedule for today, then I have the rest of the week mapped out, both daily and a weekly overview. It’s all printed out in here. You know, I could order you a tablet. Then you can see any updates in the schedule in real time.”

  Dean held up a device that matched the one tucked under Casey’s arm and Bonner laughed. “Can we stick to paper for now?”

  “Sure. Anyway, you’ll see your next meeting isn’t for an hour, so you have a break.” Dean pointed to the paper.

  “Good. Thank you. I, uh, think I’d like to go over some marketing things with Miss Harrington as long as I have the time. If she’s available?” Bonner shot Casey a hope-filled look.

  “I have some time.” She smiled.

  “Okay.” Dean nodded. “I’ll come to your office in time to show you to your next meeting.”

  “Thanks, Dean.” Bonner barely noticed the man leave. He only had eyes for Casey. The moment the door closed behind his assistant, Bonner stepped forward and pulled Casey into his arms. “Thank you.”

  “For what?”

 
“For everything.” He pressed her close and then laughed. “Is it horrible the only thing I can think about is bending you over that table and loving you until we both can’t stand?”

  Casey laughed. “Funny. I was just thinking about the same thing.” She glanced behind her. “We could lock the door.”

  Damn, now he had a hard-on. “Stop tempting me. I can’t do something like that my first day.”

  “That’s fine. I can wait until your second day.” She looked devilish.

  “Thanks. I appreciate that.” He laughed. “How about a compromise. I’m willing to go back to my office and maybe make out for a little while.”

  She grinned. “Sounds good.”

  He felt lighter. As if the weight of a world of worry was slowly lifting off his shoulders.

  Could it be possible this whole thing was really going to work out? That he actually could pull off being president?

  Bonner was afraid to even think it.

  CHAPTER 19

  Bonner moved above Casey, slow, easy, in the early morning light of her bedroom. He dipped lower and kissed her mouth.

  She felt the new grown stubble on his face that made him look so rugged. Unlike at the ranch, he shaved everyday here. She missed seeing the shadow on his chin. She missed his cute ass encased in jeans too, since he’d worn a suit every day.

  But she sure hadn’t had to miss his sexy as hell body. They’d been like teenagers the past week, having sex in every room of her apartment, both day and night. Though he hadn’t given in to her teasing and done it in the office…Yet.

  After having him in her bed every night over the past week, the thought of being alone tomorrow night brought a tear to her eye. She brushed it away and he stilled.

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing.”

  “Casey. Tell me.”

  “You want to talk now?” She forced a laugh, and glanced down to where they were joined.

  “Yes. You’re crying while I’m making love to you. Something’s wrong.”

  “There’s nothing you can do about it so just ignore me and keep going. Okay?” She swiped at another tear as it escaped and ran down the side of her face.

  “No. I’m not going to keep going while you’re crying.”

  “You have to because this time tomorrow you’ll be at the airport. It’s now or never.” Her voice cracked on the last word.

  “It’s because I’m leaving.” He sighed and pulled out. He rolled to lie next to her. “I don’t know what to say, Casey. I have to get back to the ranch. Tell me how to fix this.”

  “There’s nothing to fix. You live in Colorado. I live here. I’ll see you when you’re here for your meetings or when I’m there for my work. If you want to see me, that is.”

  “Of course I want to. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t. Is that what you want? To…do this when we can?”

  “Yes.” She said yes even though she meant no.

  Casey hated the idea of only being with Bonner a few days a month. She hated the thought of saying goodbye to him, over and over again. If they continued like this, she’d be saying it a lot. And what if he met someone there in Colorado and got serious with her?

  He reached out and brushed a hand over her cheek as another tear trailed down. “Then why are you crying?”

  Good question. Casey Harrington didn’t cry over men. Hell, she didn’t cry about anything…well, except that final scene in that one Christmas movie.

  “I don’t know. PMS?” Getting her emotions in check, she grabbed his hand and kissed the palm, then rolled over on top of him. As she slid him inside her, she leaned low. “I bet you can cheer me up though.”

  His eyelids drifted partially closed. “I’ll surely try.”

  He flipped them over and loved her, long and slow until they both forgot her tears as first Casey, then Bonner reached completion.

  Still shaking and breathless, with Bonner’s weight heavy on top of her, Casey decided she could do this. They could do this. They would have to.

  They’d enjoy each other when they were in the same state, then concentrate on their respective jobs while they were apart.

  It really was perfect. She was focused on her career right now anyway. She couldn’t have designed a better arrangement.

  So why did her heart hurt so badly at the thought of him leaving tomorrow?

  CHAPTER 20

  The line moved. Jody and Casey, with Jenna and Courtney ahead of them, took one step forward. They stopped and Casey sighed. “We could come back later.”

  “Patience, Aunt Casey.” Jody sent her a smile. “We’re almost there.”

  Attempting to see the holiday windows at Saks Fifth Avenue on the day before Christmas Eve had not been a good idea. There had to be a hundred people lined up within the maze of ropes and stanchions set up on the sidewalk in front of the store to keep them orderly.

  This might be fun for tourists, out-of-towners like her sister, but for Casey, who walked these streets daily, it was simply annoying.

  “Fine.” She sighed. “But we better keep our eye on the time so we don’t miss our reservation.”

  High tea at The Plaza and then a shopping trip to FAO Schwartz had been a holiday tradition for Casey and her sister since her nieces had been infants in a stroller.

  “We won’t miss it.” Jody sent her a sideways glance. “Why didn’t he just stay for Christmas and then fly back?”

  The question would have seemed totally out of the blue if Casey didn’t know for a fact she was acting like a miserable bitch today, and the reason was because she’d dropped Bonner at the airport this morning before meeting her sister at Grand Central.

  Her chest felt so tight, it hurt to even breathe deeply. “He can’t be away from the ranch for too long. And he knew I had plans with you for Christmas.”

  Besides, Casey knew he considered Mrs. Jones, Dakota and Justus family too. Of course he’d want to be home with them for the holiday.

  “You know very well you could have brought him to any family event, including our girls’ day out today. You know at least one of them would have freaked out to meet a real cowboy in person.” Jody glanced at her daughters.

  The girls were occupied with counting the number of people in front of them so Casey could speak freely. “Yes, I know. But no way in hell was I going to subject Bonner to Mom. And it’s not like we’re dating. We’re just…”

  There was no way to hide it. Casey had canceled Bonner’s reservation at the hotel the first night knowing he’d be in her bed every night and he had been.

  “Yeah, I know.” Jody raised a brow. “What I don’t understand is why?”

  Casey laughed. “Why? Have you seen him?”

  Jody rolled her eyes. “That’s not what I meant and you know it. I meant why aren’t you two more? Why can’t you have a relationship? You’re obviously compatible. He seems more than interested in you. You’re practically glowing when you talk about him. So why not?”

  “Um, hello? Do you realize how many miles there are between Colorado and New York?”

  More than just miles separated them. Bonner and Casey lived in different worlds. City and country.

  Though Bonner had made the transition to the corporate world beautifully this week, she knew a part of him would die should he ever move to the city permanently. And he was in charge of the ranch too. He needed to divide his time.

  Casey glanced between the buildings and spotted the huge evergreen set up at Rockefeller Center. Its colored lights and the star on top twinkled in the grey December light.

  She loved this city, especially at Christmas time. The line advanced another foot. The pushy group of people behind them bumped into Casey and she realized there were things she didn’t love about it too, especially at Christmas time.

  “Plenty of couples make a long distance relationship work. Some are even bi-coastal. At least Colorado is only half-way across the country.” Jody continued talking. “I don’t know. I just think you should at least talk about
it. And you should have planned to spend Christmas together. You still could.”

  “He’s already in the air by now.”

  “So? Join him. I can’t think of a more beautiful place to spend the holiday than on a snowy ranch in the Colorado mountains. You should just go.”

  Casey frowned at her sister. “Are you crazy? It’s the day before Christmas Eve.”

  “Exactly. You can be there by Christmas. Get yourself to the airport and on a stand-by list.”

  She shook her head. “Every flight is going to be packed.”

  Jody waved her hand dismissively at that. “You can’t tell me every single seat on every flight to Colorado will be booked. You’re one person. They’ll slip you in. Now, when Kent, the girls and I fly to the ranch to visit you for the holidays next year, of course I’ll make reservations well in advance. I wouldn’t expect them to accommodate a family of four on a last minute flight.” Jody smiled.

  The scene she’d set of what Casey’s life could be like this time next year had her heart fluttering. She hadn’t known it until now, but she wanted that. A real home. A family. Bonner. Even kids of their own.

  “What if he doesn’t want the same thing? What if he’s happy with what we have? You know, just—” Casey glanced to see where the girls were before whispering “—casual sex.”

  Jody let out a laugh. “From what you’ve told me, this man is anything but casual. Just go. What will it hurt to spend the holidays together and see how things feel? I’m not saying you should give up the lease on your apartment and change your driver’s license to Colorado. Just go and see.”

  A sense of urgency pressed like a physical weight upon Casey. “I should get to the airport as soon as possible if I want to have any hope of getting there by Christmas.”

  “Then go.”

  She paused. “You and the girls—”

  “—will be just fine. I may not be the city girl you are, but I can get us to the Plaza and then back to Grand Central.” Jody pulled Casey into a hug. “Say good-bye to them and then get the hell out of here. Go get your cowboy for Christmas. You’ve been waiting a long time for him.”