BARBARA DUNLOP writes romantic stories while curled up in a log cabin in Canadas far north, where bears outnumber people and it snows six months of the year. Fortunately, she has a brawny husband and two teenage children to haul firewood and clear the driveway while she sips cocoa and muses about her upcoming chapters. Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website at www.barbaradunlop.com.
The Ryders:
Jared, Royce
and Stephanie
Seduction and
the CEO
In Bed with
the Wrangler
His Convenient
Virgin Bride
Barbara Dunlop
www.millsandboon.co.uk
Table of Contents
Cover
About the Author
Title Page
Seduction and the CEO
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
In Bed With The Wrangler
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Eleven
His Convenient Virgin Bride
Dedication
One
Two
Three
Four
Five
Six
Seven
Eight
Nine
Ten
Epilogue
Copyright
Seduction and the CEO
Barbara Dunlop
For my amazing husbandcowboy, pilot and businessman
One
Journalist Brandon Langards blunder was the talk of the bullpen at Windy City Bizz. The odds-on favorite for a promotion to feature writer, hed struck out in his attempt to get an interview with Jared Ryder.
Melissa Warner and the rest of the sixth-floor magazine staff watched the fallout with morbid fascination. The managing editors door was closed tight, but through the interior window, it was obvious Seth Strickland was shouting. His eyes snapped fire, and his face had turned a mottled purple. Brandons head was bent and still, his shoulders hunched.
Theyve already designed the cover, photographer Susan Alaric stage-whispered over the low barrier between her and Melissas desks.
Thats because Brandon swore it was a done deal, said Melissa, remembering his swagger last week when hed announced the plum assignment.
Nothing wrong with that mans confidence, Susan returned with an eye roll. Brandons habit of bragging, flirting and ogling the female staff had long since alienated them.
I was sure hed pull it off, Melissa had to admit. Brandon might be obnoxious, but he was also driven and hardworking. And like all the journalists at the Bizz, he knew an in-depth article on Chicagos most elusive entrepreneur and bachelor would clinch the promotion to feature writer.
That Jared Ryder had made a fortune in the Chicago real estate market fit Windy City Bizzs mandate for business news. That he was the heartthrob of half the citys female population suited the magazines new focus on circulation numbers.
Seth became even more animated, gesticulating with both arms as he rounded his cluttered desk to confront Brandon face-to-face. The occasional word filtered through the closed door. incompetent unreliable reckless
Ouch. Susan cringed.
Melissa experienced a fleeting twinge of pity for Brandon. But then she remembered how hed eavesdropped on her conversation with the Women in Business organization last month and presented the story idea as his own. She still owed him for that one. Or rather, he still owed her.
She paused on that thought.
It was true. He did owe her one. And maybe it was time to collect.
It would serve him right if she swooped in on this particular story. And why not? Seth clearly needed the Jared Ryder interview. And Melissa would kill for a chance at that promotion.
Through the window, Seth stopped talking. His breathing went deep, his nostrils flared, as he set his jaw in a grim line. Brandon bolted for the office door, and Melissa saw her chance. She quickly came to her feet.
Susan glanced up quizzically, assessing the determined expression on Melissas face. She obviously came to the right conclusion.
Do it, she begged with a grin. Oh, please do it.
Melissas heart upped its rhythm. She swallowed hard, trying not to think about the career-limiting consequences of failure. If she promised the interview and didnt deliver, shed be in more trouble than Brandon.
Still, as Brandon yanked Seths door open, she tamped down her fear and made her move.
Her colleagues gazes hit her from all sides as she made a beeline for the editors office. Some probably guessed her plan. Others would be simply shocked to see her approaching Seth before he had a chance to calm down. His tirades were legendary. They normally sent the staff scurrying for cover.
Brandon peeled off to the right, studiously avoiding eye contact with anyone.
Melissa rapped on the still-open door. Seth?
What? he barked, without looking up, rustling through a pile of papers on his cluttered desk.
She took a couple of steps into the office, clicking the door shut behind her.
His round face was flushed all the way to his receding hairline. There was a sheen of sweat above his bushy brows. His white shirt was rumpled, sleeves rolled up. And his tie was loose and dangling in two sections over his protruding belly.
I can get you the interview, she stated outright, standing tall, her three-inch pumps giving her a slight height advantage.
What interview?
The Jared Ryder interview.
No. You cant.
I can, she insisted, voice firm with the confidence shed learned facing down five older brothers. I will. Whats the deadline?
Ryder left Chicago this morning.
No problem. Whered he go?
Seth glared at her without answering.
I can do it, Seth.
He turned Langard down flat.
Im not Langard.
Youre not, Seth agreed in a tone that told her shed never be as good as Brandon Langard. Then he picked up his phone and punched in a number.
Give me a chance, Melissa insisted, closing the space between the door and his desk. What can it hurt?
Were out of time.
A week, said Melissa. Give me a week.
Is Everett available? Seth asked into the phone.
Everett was publisher of the Bizz, the head honcho, the guy who approved the lead headlines and the cover copy.
Can we at least talk about it? she pressed.
Nothing to talk about. Ryder ran off to Montana.
That information took Melissa by surprise. Whats Jared Ryder doing in Montana? Surely he wasnt building a skyscraper in Butte.
Hes holed up at his ranch.
Melissa hadnt known he had a ranch. Sure, there were rumors he was once a cowboy. But there were also rumors he was once a spy.
Seth gauged her confused look and raised his bushy brows. You didnt know he had a ranch.
She couldnt argue that one.
Its the foundation of the entire Ryder conglomerate. Howre you going to save my ass when you didnt even know he had a ranch?
Because I will, said Melissa with determination. Just because she didnt happen to know Jared was a cowboy didnt mean she couldnt get an interview. Ill fly to Montana.
He hates the press. He really hates the Bizz. Hell probably run you off his land with Seths attention went to the telephone. Everett?
I can do it, Melissa said, feeling her big chance slip away.
I have a situation, Seth said to Everett.
Ill get on the ranch, she pressed in an undertone, her mind scrambling. Ill go undercover. I will get you the story.
Seths attention never left the telephone. Its the Jared Ryder interview. He paused, face flushing deeper, while Everett obviously voiced his displeasure.
Have I ever let you down? Melissa went on. She hadnt. But then, shed never tackled anything this big, either.
Yes. I know I did, Seth said to Everett.
Please, said Melissa, leaning forward. Ill buy my own plane ticket.
Seth shoulders tensed. Langard was the best I
While Everett obviously weighed in again, Melissa searched her mind for fresh arguments.
I grew up with horses, she blurted out. Well, one horse, really. It had lived in a field, on the edge of suburbia, across the street from her new house. Shed nicknamed it Midnight. Ill
Seths glare warned her to shut up.
get a job on the ranch.
Seth smacked his palm over the mouthpiece. Do you know who this is?
She gave a small nod.
Get out.
But
Now.
Melissa pursed her lips.
Seths gaze glittered dark with warning as he went back to Everett. The Cooper story can take the cover.
Melissa debated a split second longer. But bravery was one thing, stupidity quite another. Shed pushed Seth as far as she dared.
She retreated, and Seths voice followed her back to the bullpen. Ill get a photographer on it right away.
Like Brandon had done only minutes before, she avoided eye contact as she made her way to her desk.
Susan, Seth bellowed from behind her.
With a darting look of pity at Melissa, Susan rolled back her chair, came to her feet and headed for the editors office.
Melissa dropped into her own chair and stared at the randomly bouncing colored balls of her screen saver. She could have gotten that interview. She knew she could have gotten that interview.
Its Lorne Cooper on the cover, said Susan as she slipped back into her seat.
Melissa nodded with resignation. The sports-gear king. There was a new megastore opening on Murdoch Street, and Cruisin Cooper was sponsoring a bicycle race to celebrate.
The articles written. All it needs is an update and some new art.
Melissa pulled herself closer to her computer screen and hit the space bar. It was written by R. J. Holmes, she pointed out, voice laced with self-pity. R.J. was one of the newest journalists on staff, and he was beating her out for a cover.
I guess Seth wasnt feeling charitable toward Brandon.
Or toward me. Melissas screen powered up on a search engine.
Whatve you got ready?
Myers Corp. or the Briggs merger.
Susan didnt answer.
I know, Melissa conceded, randomly poking the H key. Theyre even lamer than Cooper. Not that any old cover story would clinch the promotion. There was only one story that would catapult her into the feature writers job.
She backspaced to erase the H and typed Jared Ryder into the search engine.
In a split second, it returned a list of options that included the home page of Ryder International, Jareds speech last month to the Chamber of Commerce, contact information for his new office tower and a link to the Ryder Ranch.
Curious, she clicked the ranch link.
A brilliant green panorama of trees, meadows and rolling hills appeared in front of her. The sky was crackling turquoise, while a ribbon of pale blue meandered through the meadow, nearly kissing a two-story, red-roofed house surrounded by pens and outbuildings.