Chapter 1
“What the hell is she doing here?” Scott Holland muttered as his gaze took in the stunning brunette sauntering across the Connecticut Auction House like she owned the place. Considering her daddy’s money, maybe she did.
“Hey, isn’t that the heiress to that fancy clothes fortune?” Pete, another contractor here for the auction, was looking for cheap houses to flip. Not him. Scott had his eye on a nice mill building he could renovate into condos and sell for big money.
“Her name’s Heather Silva. Her father owns Silvaggio’s.”
“Yeah, that’s it. I’ve seen her picture in the paper. She looks damn good in those fancy clothes.”
Eyeing her slim skirt and fashionable blouse, Scott agreed, but in his opinion, she looked even better without them. Not that he’d share that information with Pete. It had been one night, but the memory still played through his mind of her long, slender limbs tangled with his as he explored all her lush curves and secrets. Why was she here? She sold real estate. She didn’t buy it. Representing a client maybe.
Pushing back a strand of caramel-colored hair that had escaped from the twisted bun at her nape, she scanned the room, freezing when she saw him. He lifted an eyebrow then grinned before she could turn away. Nope, not today, princess. Your snub isn’t going to work this time.
“Think I’ll go say hi,” he told Pete and pushed away from the wall he’d been holding up.
“How do you know her?” Pete’s eyes widened. “She doesn’t exactly run in your circles.”
“No, but her best friend is married to my cousin Jack. We’ve known each other for years.”
Years that they’d pretended to be together so he could keep an eye on Callie and her son, Jonathan, while Jack was on the run. But Victor Cabrini, the mob boss who’d put a hit out on Jack, was now dead. He couldn’t hurt them anymore. There was no reason for Scott and Heather to pretend any longer. They still saw each other because of Jack and Callie, but she’d been avoiding him lately. She must have been slumming it the night they’d been together.
But, hey, sex was sex. He sure wouldn’t complain about having that time with her. As he strolled up from behind, her floral perfume filled his nostrils causing more memories to stir, and he had to tamp down his desires. Yeah, keep convincing yourself it was only sex and that it didn’t affect you in any way.
“Princess, this is a little far from the castle, isn’t it?”
Her lips twisted at his gibe but then the two of them had always been a little heavy on the sarcasm. It was part of their pretense for several years.
“Scott.” Her prim tone wafted toward him and a hint of a smile found its way to her pretty face. “I didn’t expect to see you here.”
“It’s not like we chat on a regular basis anymore, so no, you wouldn’t.”
“Are you in the market to buy? Don’t people usually hire Holland Construction to work for them?”
“Typically, but I know a good deal when I see one. There’s an old mill I want to purchase and renovate.”
“A mill?” Her eyes narrowed. “Please tell me it’s not the one on Prescott Street in Menatuck by the river?”
Shit. What was her interest?
She trailed a finger down the list of buildings for auction and her tight smile disappeared. “There’s only one mill building on the block today.”
“And I plan to get it,” Scott said, pissed at the thought she might also be bidding. Heather was tenacious when she wanted something. Of course, she’d grown up with a silver spoon in her mouth.
Crossing her arms over her nicely endowed chest, she raised one eyebrow at him. “Can you really afford it?”
He focused his eyes on her face to avoid the memories of her body and what he’d done to it. “Don’t think you can scare me off. I want that building.”
“So do I. And I’m guessing I might have more funding than you.”
She might be right, but no way in hell would he admit it to her. He’d fight her tooth and nail until the end.
“What could you possibly want with an old run-down mill building?”
She cocked her head. “Maybe the same thing you do. To renovate it into something better. That neighborhood hasn’t been great in the past, but a few blocks over they totally rejuvenated some of the old buildings and this one has perfect placement.”
“Isn’t your office in Waterbury?”
“Yes, and it’s only a half hour from the building. Not a long drive.”
“You’re a real estate agent, not a contractor. What do you know about renovating buildings?”
A tinge of doubt entered Heather’s eyes and Scott pounced on it. This woman was too freaking confident in most areas.
“You have no experience with structures like this and what they need. Take my word, this won’t be the cake-walk you think it is. I’ve been inside. The work is extensive. Leave this to the people who know what they’re doing. If you’re real nice to me, maybe I’ll list the property with you when I finish with it.”
“What are your plans? You’ve been redoing mostly college dorms and office buildings lately.”
Scott slid his hands into his front pockets trying to move away from her tantalizing scent. It was playing havoc with his thought process. “Which still makes me more qualified than you to take on the renovation. I plan to make it into high-end condos.”
“That’s great, but not the most feasible plan for the area.” Shuffling the file in her hands, she peeked inside then shut it again. “Be nice to me and maybe I’ll contract your company to do the renovations into upscale shops and offices.”
Conversation halted in the room as several people stepped up on the podium to begin the auction. When Heather moved to sit in a row near the back, he followed, dropping into a chair next to her. Not the smartest thing if he wanted to focus on the proceedings. His common sense always took a hit when she was near.
“It’s not exactly the typical location for Silvaggio’s.”
Narrowing her eyes, she frowned then faced front and whispered, “I don’t plan to put a Silvaggio’s in there. That’s my father’s company, not mine.”
The buzzing up front grew louder and Scott moved his focus to the auctioneer. There were several buildings on the auction block today. He didn’t want to lose out on his chosen one because he wasn’t paying attention.
Heather pushed her shoulders back, ignoring him as the first property was described. He took the opportunity to glance at her peripherally. The updo left her long, slender neck exposed. Imagining his lips skimming along the soft skin was not helping his case. The fact he knew exactly how sweet she tasted, remembered that long hair, loose and tickling his chest, almost made him walk away and let her have the building.
But he wouldn’t give in to some spoiled, pampered princess no matter how hot the sex had been. Besides, that night with Heather had been three months ago. He’d put himself out there but no response. When he’d called several times and they’d seen each other at Jack and Callie’s wedding and a few other occasions, she’d always brushed him off. Was his blue-collar status that much of a turn off?
“Is Daddy giving you the money to buy this?”
She glared at him but remained silent. He couldn’t help but throw that at her. Being the daughter of the man who owned the Silvaggio’s empire, Heather probably had some big cash behind her. Must be nice having easy access to that kind of money.
Even though his business was debt-free, it had been a lot of work to convince the bank to loan him the money for his new project. They were taking a risk on him. He’d never tried something like this before. Every project he’d done in the past had been paid for as he went along by whomever he was renovating for. It would take some work as the building hadn’t been updated in ages, but he was willing to put in the time and effort. Once it was done, he could turn a tidy profit selling each unit for a hefty fee.
Heather straightened in her chair so Scott snapped to attention. They were starting bids on the mill building. The auctioneer called out an opening bid and it climbed higher much faster than Scott had wanted. Several hands flew up and down. Shit. He’d hoped there weren’t too many bidders.
Sitting up straighter, Heather flipped through the papers she had in her lap. More bids were called out and Scott waited. He didn’t want to tip them off that he also wanted the property. He’d slip in when they got to final bids.
“Damn, this is higher than I thought.” She shifted in her seat and glanced at him. “Why aren’t you bidding? I thought you wanted this building.”
He clenched his teeth. “I do. I thought it would go for lower than this also. You aren’t bidding yet either.”
Her mouth turned down at the corners as another bid shot the price up again. Her fingers tapped nervously against the file she held.
“What’s the matter? Daddy give you a limit on this? His pockets aren’t deep enough for his little girl’s whims?”
“Shut up. My father isn’t giving me any money. He doesn’t even know my plans. It’s my project and my financing.”
“You got some banker on a string then? What do you have to do for him?”
The look she threw at him should have left him in ashes.
“Heather, I—”
“Screw you.”
His mouth turned into an automatic smirk. “You already did. Must not have been satisfying since it wasn’t repeated.”
* * * *
Heather’s head snapped up at Scott’s words. Not satisfying. Hardly what she would have called their one night stand. Too satisfying if she was being honest. So much so that she’d avoided the man if she could. The emotions that had filled her when they’d had sex had been too intense, too needy. She didn’t ever want to need someone that badly. Her independence was the most important thing she had.
She ignored what he’d said and focused on the bidding going on in the front of the room. This project would make her father finally see that she could make it on her own, and didn’t need the family money. Okay, most of the money for the building was from the trust fund her maternal grandmother set up for her, but she would be the one to arrange for renovations and turn the old mill into something amazing.
“Shit,” Scott swore under his breath and his face tightened even more. Anxiety was zapping through her too. This was the only building that was situated in that urban renewal neighborhood. It was almost out of her range. Sounded like it was out of Scott’s too.
The price rose again and disappointment flooded her. She couldn’t go any higher. Not without some other funding. Where was Scott getting his money? His construction company did well, but she knew he wasn’t pulling in millions. Too bad they couldn’t pool their money.
Pool their money? What the hell. No, that would be crazy. He purposefully egged her on. Taunted her every chance he had. She’d strangle him before they got any of the renovations done. As he shifted, she got a whiff of that manly scent he always exuded. When did the smell of sawdust become an aphrodisiac? Maybe when you let the man go down on you and he sent you into the stratosphere? She had to stop her mind from going back there.
His shoulders rose then fell and he clenched his jaw. Was he getting ready to leave? Give up? There had to be a way for them to get this building. She must be crazy to consider working with him.
They had managed to get along the last few years when they’d been helping Callie and Jack. But the excuse for them to be together was married, living in suburbia. Could they work with each other now? It would be business, plain and simple.
The price went up and the auctioneer started toward the final countdown. Damn, and double damn. She needed this building, this project. When Scott made to stand, she grabbed his arm pushing him back down.
“What if we went in together? We pool our money and outbid the others?”
His eyebrows went up and he scowled. “You and I work together?”
“We did it for two years. We can do it if we really want this.”
“I do want this, but a whole building of offices and stores won’t make us as much profit.”
If they rented them, in the long run they might. She needed the stores there. It was part of her plan.
“Going once.” The voice of the auctioneer rang out like a death knell in her head.
Compromise. You’ll both lose if you don’t. “Stores on the ground floor, offices on the second. Condos on the third and fourth. Deal?”
Scott paused and Heather wanted to slug him. Now wasn’t the time to debate. Opening her file, she showed him her bottom line.
“Going twice.”
His eyes flicked back and forth between her and the auctioneer.
She shook his arm. “We can do this. It’s the only way we both get what we want.”
Throwing his left arm over her shoulder, he raised his right and called out a price above what the others had bid. The auctioneer looked at the men who had been bidding and they both shook their heads.
“Sold to Holland Construction. Please see the clerk outside for details.”
“We did it!” Her excitement bubbled over and she jumped up, pulling him along behind her to exit the room.
Her heart raced as she thought about the project. Once they were in the hallway Scott turned and she slipped right into his arms. He’d done this with her.
Leaning into him she pressed her lips to his. He stiffened for a second then his hands slid up her back. Pulled close to his chest, she could feel his heart beating. Fast like hers. The kiss deepened and the memories of touching him this way surfaced and swarmed over her like cicadas. Too intense.
Easing away, she looked up. His eyes devoured her like the night they’d had sex. Shit. Had she just made the biggest mistake of her life?