Banks knew every step to the waltz and he effortlessly guided his partner around the ballroom floor. His mind wasn’t on the task but on the governor’s bodyguard he’d noticed not a hundred feet away.

Rick Warner was going to become a liability. Unfortunately, there were a lot of liabilities stacking up against him lately.

Including those he actually cared about. He shoved aside the stab of grief he felt for the friend he had lost just a few months ago. The two had truly understood each other; to lose him the way he had had been devastating.

He would grieve him for a long, long time.

The other losses he’d experienced were far less personally devastating, but had a major impact on his business.

Marc was around, smoozing with the crowd. He had no doubt the other man would succeed in jobs or crops or equal rights or whatever other concern and cause was the initiative of the month.

Or that damned bill Marc was pushing to regulate experimental drugs in the state of Texas. That bill was yet another problem Banks was struggling to deal with. That meant converting far too many politicians to his side of things as he could get. He didn’t have time for that.

Too much else was at stake.

He had no real respect for politicians. Most could be bought. Marc couldn’t, though. Yet. Banks had been trying for years to get a handle on Marc Deane.

He’d known Marc for years, at least a decade and a half at this point. He’d yet to see how to get to that man. Banks had a few ideas how. So far.

It involved Marc’s family; no doubt about that. The other man hid all weaknesses extremely well—except for his family. His sources reported no call girls, no drug use, no sudden changes in wealth, no damned sex scandals or erratic behavior. Nothing usable at all. All the governor did was work, be with his kids, or spend time with those asshole brothers of his.

Tonight, the governor was flying solo; he usually was, unless his sister-in-law was at his side. Banks bit back a sneer; he and Rayne were definitely not friends.

Marc was working the crowd like the professional politician that he was.

He didn’t know why Marc had always rubbed him the wrong way. Marc personified the good-ole-boy all-American-hero type. He always had. Perfect grades, perfect way with women. Though Marc had met his wife shortly after graduating from FCU and hadn’t strayed even once.

That Banks had ever been able to find.

Now the man was the picture of perfection for the entire damned state. No governor in the history of Texas had had such a huge percentage of votes as Marc Deane.

It was sickening, to be honest. One man shouldn’t be that virtuous. Mere mortal men couldn’t compete.

He should know—he’d been trying to for fifteen years. And had always lost.

Banks had come damned close to losing everything when his connection Albright had been killed. He’d been scrambling ever since to reestablish a hold.

A man in his position would always need others to funnel him information. Information was how a clever man truly succeeded. It didn’t matter what product he was selling, information made it all possible.

Banks looked for Marc again. It was hard not to watch Marc in action.

Marc was back with that crowd around Houghton Barratt’s wife again.

He studied her for a moment. Talk about a stunner. Melody Beck Barratt appeared as down-home Texas wholesomeness ninety percent of the time, but when she dressed to kill, the woman was a looker. As were her sisters, but he didn’t see them around tonight. Some in his social set had problems with the Becks appearing everywhere Barratt did since his marriage—including Banks’ two sisters—but he personally didn’t.

They were beautiful women who were entertaining to talk to. He’d indulged in a few fantasies involving some of the Beck sisters over the past year or so.

Rumor had it one of the sisters was now engaged to Marc’s brother Rafe. It figured. They were all interconnected, after all.

None of the Becks except Barratt’s wife were anywhere to be seen tonight. But Davis Lucas was.

Banks smiled. The more encounters with that man he had, the greater the chance Lucas would give him exactly what he needed.

Lucas’ sister was at his side tonight. Banks almost swallowed his tongue, seeing the way the black dress outlined her small curves.

Ariella Avery was perfect for his ultimate future plans. Well-dressed, well-educated, gorgeous, biddable, and—most importantly—highly connected to two of the richest men in the Western hemisphere.

Marc headed for her like a damned magnet. Banks bit back a curse. That was the last thing he needed. Marc would turn her head without effort.

He wasn’t the only one who wanted the beautiful Ariella for himself, it seemed. Marc no doubt saw exactly what he did.

What utter perfection she was.

Marc was practically salivating down the front of her evening gown. Pitiful. Absolutely pitiful. A woman like Davis Lucas’ sister would need a hell of a lot more finesse than Marc was showing.

Soft music, roses, candlelight. Jewelry. A man who showed her what they could accomplish together, who helped her form common goals for their future. Showed her what kind of life, what kind of pedestal he could put her up on.

She needed gentleness, and guidance, and the soft niceties of life. Women like Ariella were made to be kept and pampered and indulged.

A man like Marc Deane, who was a rough primitive in sophisticated clothing, was not the kind of man who could give her the type of life she needed.

Marc didn’t deserve her, either.

But Banks did. He’d worked hard to accomplish what he had. While his wealth didn’t compare with her brother’s—and he had plans to rectify that soon—he was more than ahead of his competition. Because of how he had taken his father’s company and worked with it. Made it better.

And the resources from that company would help his side business with Opal Joy make him millions. If Marc Deane and his public initiative and that damned secret task force he wasn’t supposed to know about didn’t ruin it all first.

He had plans. Marc wasn’t going to get to ruin them any longer. Starting with her. That was the woman he needed, and he was going to get her.