Would you like some more? asked Derek
Candice shook her head and leaned away from the sparkling dinner table. Wish I could.
So?
What? She feigned confusion, hoping that hed forgotten their bet of a kiss for every point out of ten that he earned with this meal.
How many points are we talking? He cocked an eyebrow and grinned.
I couldgive you a zero.
You could. He gazed at her knowingly.
Oh, man. Candice closed her eyes and raised a hand to her forehead. She couldnt believe she was about to do this. Her nemesis, her archrival, and she was going to have topay him a compliment, not to mention
Zero to ten, Derek said softly.
Ten, she whispered, and puckered her lips.
Note from the editor
An Evening To Remember Those words evoke all kinds of emotions and memories. How do you plan a romantic evening with your guy that will help you get in touch with each other on every level?
Start with a great dinner that you cook together. Be sure to light several candles and put fresh flowers on the table. Enjoy a few glasses of wine and pick out your favorite music to set the mood. After dinner take the time to really talk to each other. Hold hands and snuggle on the sofa in front of the fireplace. And maybe take a few minutes to read aloud selected sexy scenes from your favorite Harlequin Temptation novel. After that, anything can happen.
Thats just one way to have an evening to remember. There are so many more. Write and tell us how you keep the spark in your relationship. And dont forget to check out our Web site at www.eHarlequin.com.
Sincerely,
Birgit Davis-Todd
Executive Editor
High Stakes
Barbara Dunlop
www.millsandboon.co.uk
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Dear Reader,
Heres the final story of the Reeves-DuCarter brothers. From the moment brother Derek appeared in Next to Nothing! to give his baby brother hell and his middle brother sage advice in Flying High, Ive known that when Dereks turn came, he was going to fall fast and he was going to fall hard.
Sure enough, Candice Hammond, the daughter of his archenemy, rocked Dereks world. Hes used to being in charge, yet she challenges him at every turn. The woman is his intellectual and emotional match, and shes going toe to toe with the millionaire entrepreneur until he gives her everything she wants. Which is also everything he wants, though he doesnt know it yet.
I truly hope you enjoy the Reeves-DuCarter brothers. Theyve been a delight for me to live with and Im thrilled to be able to share them. Id love to hear from you at www.barbaradunlop.com.
Best,
Barbara Dunlop
Books by Barbara Dunlop
HARLEQUIN TEMPTATION
848FOREVER JAKE
901NEXT TO NOTHING!*
940TOO CLOSE TO CALL
1006FLYING HIGH*
HARLEQUIN FLIPSIDE
22OUT OF ORDER
HARLEQUIN DUETS
54THE MOUNTIE STEALS A WIFE
90A GROOM IN HER STOCKING
98THE WISH-LIST WIFE
To Dad.
With appreciation, admiration and love.
Contents
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
1
YOURE ALWAYS THE BEST MAN, but never the groom. Derek Reevess brother Tyler propped his elbows on the terrace guardrail outside the ballroom of the Quayside Hotel. Orchestra music and muted laughter from their middle brother, Strikers, wedding reception wafted through the open French doors into the clear September night.
Derek grinned to himself. Hed admit to feeling a little smug about being the Reeves familys sole remaining bachelor. He turned his back on the rose garden, the marble fountain and Lake Washington and imitated his brothers pose. Jealous? he asked.
Tylers gaze strayed through the open doors to where Jenna, his wife of three months, chatted with the other bridesmaids. There was a thread of incredulous laughter in his voice. Not hardly.
Derek took a swig of his ice water. He had to admit that Jenna was great. So was Erin, Strikers new bride. But they were still wives. They had needs, demands and agendas. Derek was planning to be his own man for a long time to come.
Tyler nodded at the water. You the designated driver or something?
Derek shook his head. Im expecting a call from Tokyo.
You brought your cell phone to your brothers wedding?
I turned it off during the ceremony.
We have got to get you a life.
By life, Im assuming you mean a ball and chain of my own? Misery may love company, little brother, but I dont think so.
Tyler raised his glass of Scotch in a mock toast. Come on in, the waters fine.
The wind picked up off the lake, bringing with it the scent of roses, as Derek slid his brother a skeptical gaze. Uh-huh.
Im serious.
Im perfectly happy on my own.
How do you know?
Derek frowned. What kind of a question is that?
Whens the last time you had a steady girlfriend?
Define steady.
Longer than eight hours.
The frown turned to another grin. It had been a while. Which meant Dereks life was ticking along exactly the way he liked it. Few months. Maybe a year.
We need to find you a nice girl to bring home to Mom.
Derek let out a chopped laugh at the sappy expression on Tylers face. Theres nothing worse than a reformed bachelor.
Hey, Im being serious here.
So am I. If I want a woman, Ill find a woman. No offense, bro, but I dont need your help on the romance front.
Tyler snorted. Romance? I think theyre called one-night stands.
And your point is
My point is, youre hanging out with the wrong kind of women.
Well, the right kind of woman sure isnt going to hang out with me.
Derek had been in Europe three times this month. He had to be in Japan on the fifth. And if he didnt figure out a way to salvage that electronics deal theyd just lost to Hammond Electronics, hed be drumming up wireless business in rural Brazil. He somehow suspected most nice girls would insist he spend at least half his life on the North American continent.
You never know, said Tyler, making a show of sizing Derek up. They might be able to get past your looks.
Nice try, pretty boy.
Tyler laughed.
The rest of you shareholders should be grateful Ive stayed single.
Why?
The minute I have a little woman at home, the bottom lines going to suffer.
Tyler clicked his teeth, shook his head and gave Derek a pitying look.
Dont get sarcastic with me, said Derek. Women dilute a mans focus. They want him to cater to their little whims, bring home presents, talk about their feelings.
Not all women are like that. Jennas not like that.
Yeah? Whens the last time you two spent an evening apart?
Tyler glanced toward the ballroom again.
A week? asked Derek. A month? Anytime since the wedding?
Its not because I cant
Right, Derek drawled, knowing hed easily won the round. Time to move the conversation along. So while you were busy cuddling and whispering sweet nothings, did Jenna happen to say anything about the Lighthouse renovations?
The Lighthouse Restaurant was a showpiece on the top floor of the family-owned Quayside Hotel. It was being renovated by Jenna and Candice Hammonds company, Canna Interiors.
She says you and Candice have been fighting again, said Tyler.
How could I fight with Candice? Ive been in London for the past three days.
Candice obviously didnt notice you were gone. She kept right on fighting.
Only way she can win, Derek muttered.
You do realize that you two are driving Jenna nuts.
So get Jenna to talk to Candice. It wasnt Dereks fault that Candice was impossible.
Candice says youre micromanaging.
Like hell. Im making sure Candice Hammond doesnt blow three and a half million of my dollars.
Theyre a reputable company.
Shes out for revenge.
Why?
Because you and I lied to them.
Jenna and I are happily married. Candice isnt mad anymore.
She may not be mad at you, but shes still plotting against me.
Youre paranoid.
Derek took another swallow of his water. Paranoia was a highly underrated quality in a corporate executive. It had saved Dereks ass more than once. Just because Im paranoid, doesnt mean shes not out to get me.
GET IT, CANDICE! cried Jenna as Erin tossed the bridal bouquet over her head toward the middle of the Quayside ballroom.
Candice cringed when she realized it was coming in her direction. She faded to the back of the pack, vowing to thank Jenna later for calling even more attention to her single, relationship-less, dateless status. Cream-colored roses and pale orchids arced gracefully toward the domed ceiling, far above the heads of young women whod gathered in a cluster.
That Erin had some arm on her.
Candice took another step back, then another and another. The women in front of her stretched up, their fingertips just missing the ribbon streamers as the bouquets trajectory brought it back toward earth.
They were all missing, turning, frowning
Candices eyes widened in disbelief. Who would have thought Erin could toss that puppy thirty-five feet? Despite her efforts to avoid it, the huge bouquet zeroed in on her like radar. It plunked against her chest, and her arms automatically went around it.
Jenna dashed over from the sidelines, cheering madly in her apricot bridesmaid dress and high heels. Tiny sprigs of babys breath jiggled in her upswept hair. Great catch, she sang.
Gee, thanks.
Jenna laughed. Now all we need to do is find you a man.
Candice quickly shifted the bouquet to one hand, lowering it and tucking it behind her thigh, trying to shake the feeling that all eyes in the room were on her. Why didnt somebody just write up a big Loser sign and paste it to her forehead?
It wasnt that she had any particular interest in getting married. It was more that the world at large seemed to think twenty-seven was too old to be single. Like she was some kind of wrinkled spinster.
Jenna scanned the room. Lets see. Not too tall. Somebody with good career prospects. We want patience and a good sense of humor, since you can be She abruptly snapped her mouth shut.
Since I can be what? asked Candice, eyeing up her friend and business partner. Even wearing a satin gown and babys breath, Jenna still managed to look calculating.
Jenna didnt answer.
Are you suggesting Im grumpy? asked Candice.
Testy.
Testy?
The single men lined up for the garter toss, and Jenna took Candice by the arm, pulling her aside. Only sometimes.
Candice was more than happy to vacate center stage. She looked around for a nearby table to abandon the bouquet. If she was lucky, one of the eager, single ladies would steal it. Im never testy, she said.
Jenna patted her arm. Im thinking about you and Derek.
Candice rolled her eyes at the mention of Dereks name. She and Jenna had been working on the Lighthouse Restaurant renovation for three months now, and hed been her shadowlike she couldnt be trusted. Well, she had news for him. Hed lied to her, not the other way around.
Hes the testy one, she said to Jenna.
Only when youre around.
Oh, sure, like it was Candices fault. Hes arrogant, overbearing, bossy and conceited.
Jenna smiled. Yeah. But in a good way.
A roar rose from the crowd of men as Erins garter sailed through the air. A hand shot up and snagged it. The successful man let out a whoop and made a big show of twirling it around his index finger. At least somebody was happy about being publicly tagged as next.
Jenna tilted her head and checked out the garter catcher. Maybe you just need to get laid.
Candice wasnt sure shed heard right. Excuse me?
After three months of marriage, I can highly recommend it.
Over-sharing, said Candice.
Jenna grinned, nodding toward the group of men. I bet any one of them would be willing
Candice took a backward step. Think Ill go up and check on the Lighthouse.
Whats to check? Youre off duty, and were setting you up here.