Page 5 of The Tycoon

Chapter2

Regan’s apartment at four-thirty in the afternoon

She finished spraying her thick,wavy hair, which she’d rolled into a sleek chignon.Taking the diamond studs she’d bought herself with her first paycheck as an Army Ranger, she placed them in her ears.Her makeup was stylish, with slightly smoky eyes and pale pink lip gloss.Gazing into the full-length mirror in her bedroom, she turned to see her back.The red, backless dress was made of a clingy material that sparkled like it was covered with tiny diamonds.The garment hit her leg a couple of inches above the knee and was perfect.It showed off the muscles she’d worked so long to make strong but not bulging.The dress moved with her, so if she had to fight, she could do so easily.

Her doorbell sounded.

He was early, as she’d expected.She slipped on the black patent three-inch heels and walked out of the bedroom.Pasting on a smile, she opened the front door.

Cole’s jaw dropped.

He’d clearly not been expecting to see her like this.She thought he might have been expecting some boring black velvet dress with a bow on the back above her butt.

“Regan.”

“Cole.Would you like to come in?Can I fix you a cocktail or get you a glass of wine or perhaps a beer?”She turned and walked into the room.Then she turned to face him.His scent, a mixture of sandalwood, amber and musk, walked with her, surrounded her, yet it wasn’t overpowering.It reminded her of power and was perfect for the man before her.

He entered, blinked several times, and cleared his throat before finding his voice.“You look very nice.”

She almost laughed at the look on his face.“Thank you.So do you.”

“I think I will take that drink.Scotch and soda, if you have it.”

“I do.Make yourself comfortable.I’ll just be a minute.”She walked into the kitchen, which, since it was a one-bedroom apartment, was clearly visible from the living room.

Cole sat in the only chair.A Queen Anne chair covered in cream-colored satin with pink roses.It was a gift from her late grandmother and went everywhere with her.

Her apartment was devoid of pictures.She never knew how long she would be anywhere, so she rented furnished apartments on a month-to-month basis.This one came with a sofa, coffee table and bedroom suite.The soft material was cream-colored and, by lucky happenstance, matched her grandmother’s chair.The sofa was so comfortable, she’d been known to sleep on it all night.The rental came with a television mounted on the wall.The sofa faced the television, but since she never watched it, she’d put her grandmother’s chair in front of the TV facing the couch, so it formed a conversation area.

She prepared his drink and poured herself a small glass of sparkling water.Then she sat on the sofa, leaned back, and slowly crossed her legs.

His gaze followed her every movement, which pleased her.

“Have you seen the movie ofWicked?”She took a sip of her water.

“No, have you?”

“I have.It was wonderful.The music is fantastic.I’m eager to see the stage version that the movie was based on.”

“I’m glad to take you.”He looked down at her shoes.“Will you be able to fight or run in those things?”

She laughed.“They come off rather easily.I’ll be fine.Can you fight in that jacket?”

“Quite well, as a matter of fact.I was wearing something similar this morning and did fine.”

“That’s true.What time do you want to leave?Depending on traffic, the trip to the theater will take at least thirty minutes.”

“We should leave now, then.”He set his drink on the table next to his chair and stood.

After setting her water glass on the end table.She grabbed her small, black satin evening bag from the tall table by the door.Inside she had her keys, lip gloss, credit card and a my Walther PPK 380 caliber handgun.The gun was the smallest she had and so far, except for target practice, she’d never had to use it.She hoped that would still be the case tonight.

After locking her door, she took his offered arm, settling her left hand in the crook of his right elbow.She lived on the seventh floor of an eight-story apartment building on the southeast side of Lakewood, so they took the elevator to the ground floor.

She walked with him through the lobby and out the door to the waiting limousine.All along the way, and even when they reached the limo, she kept her gaze moving, ready for anything that might be a threat.

The driver held the back door open.

Regan glanced in and then stood to the side so Cole could get in.Then she slid onto the soft leather seat behind the driver and buckled her seat belt.