Part 1 (1/2)
The Donovan Dynasty.
BIND.
Sierra Cartwright.
Only one man can help her. Is she willing to pay his price?
Faced with the potentially overwhelming loss of her family's fortune, Lara Bertrand turns to the one man who can help her, the gorgeous and powerful Connor Donovan.
She knows he's dangerous to her on every level. Only desperation would drive her to make such a risky proposition. After all, she knows all about his ruthless nature and relentless determination to succeed.
When the cla.s.sy, elegant Lara walks into his office with an outrageous proposal, Connor is stunned and more than a little intrigued. Ever since he first met her, he's been attracted to the cool beauty, but she's more than kept her distance.
Connor is absolutely willing to help her out. For a price. He not only wants her hand in marriage, but also her total submissive surrender...
Dedication.
For Sierra's Super Stars. You are simply the best!.
Chapter One.
”Let me help you with that.”
At the s.e.xy, intimate sound of a man's voice, Lara stopped shrugging into her coat and turned to glance over her shoulder. Her pulse slammed to a stop. Connor Donovan.
When he'd entered the hotel's ballroom an hour earlier, she'd immediately noticed him. Even at an event attended by Houston's power elite, the man had commanded attention.
Her friend Erin had introduced her to Connor, her older brother, and president of Donovan Worldwide.
He'd been polite, though courteously distant, as if his attention was focused elsewhere. She'd found that his icy demeanor was the perfect complement to his cool, intimidating gray eyes.
In spite of herself, she'd continued to watch him.
After only fifteen minutes, he and a couple of other men had made their excuses and left the ballroom. Since all were moguls, their absence had been noted.
Connor had been the first to return, and she'd seen the delicious way that he'd adjusted one of his starched, white cuffs.
And now, he was standing only inches behind her.
”May I?” he prompted.
His voice was friendly, but his implacable tone sent a shudder through her. She realized it wasn't really a request. ”I'd appreciate that,” she said.
When his fingers brushed hers, she felt his touch as if it were a sliver of lightning.
Their proximity felt intimate, making her aware of how devastatingly handsome he was. She made a conscious decision not to let him know how much he fl.u.s.tered her. She'd grown up around authoritative men, but he possessed a unique aura of command.
He continued to hold the jacket until she'd settled into it.
”Thank you,” she said as she turned to face him. Though she was tall and wore cripplingly high stilettos, she had to tip her head back to meet his gaze.
He looked at her without blinking, and for a moment, she was the focus of his attention.
”It's my pleasure to help a beautiful woman.”
She told herself not to take him seriously. The man hadn't been named president of Donovan Worldwide at such an early age without learning to consider the impact of his words. Still, his genteel Southern manners impressed her. No one could have faulted him for walking past the coat check area. But he hadn't.
He turned his hand palm up, indicating she should precede him through the revolving gla.s.s door.
Outside, a cold rain fell in wind-whipped torrents. Thank goodness the portico was covered but, of course, there were no vehicles waiting in the taxi lane.
A sedan pulled up, and Connor said, ”I'll give you a ride.”
”That won't be necessary.”
Just then a valet hurried over. ”Taxi, ma'am?”
She nodded as she brushed her hair back from her face.
The valet went to the curb and blew a whistle to summon the cab.
”Are you certain?” Connor asked.
The idea of being in the back of a vehicle with him even for a few minutes gave her s.h.i.+vers in a way that had nothing to do with the outside temperature. ”I promise you, Mr. Donovan, I'll be okay.”
The cab arrived.
Connor waved off the valet. Despite the weather, he opened the door to the taxi and handed her into the vehicle.
”I'll see you again soon,” he said. The words were laced with promise.
His gaze lingered. His eyes no longer seemed as cold, yet they appeared ten times more dangerous.
With a decisive move, he closed the door then walked away, each stride purposeful.
In the scant few minutes they'd spent together, she'd felt the vortex of his authority. She knew she could have refused his help, but there had been something mesmerizing-something seductive-about the way he'd instinctively taken control of the situation.
She gave the driver her destination and tried to shake off Connor's effect.
”You should ask my brother to marry you.”
Shocked by the statement, Lara jerked her hand, causing wine to slosh over the rim of her gla.s.s. ”What?” Even the thought of suggesting such a thing made her heart stop before rus.h.i.+ng on in a fury. Absently, she reached for her napkin to blot at the red stain that was seeping across the white tablecloth.