Page 10 of The Tycoon

She turned in the seat, held her dress down, and then lifted both feet into his lap.

Cole took one of her feet in his hands and massaged it.

She moaned.“Oh, my goodness, that feels wonderful.”She closed her eyes, leaning back against the side of the limo.

He worked her left foot for a while and then he took her right foot and did the same thing.“There, do you feel better?”

“I do, thank you.”She lowered her feet to the floor and sat up.Regan looked at the man who had her moaning and feeling almost better than she ever had during sex.“How did you learn to do that?”

Cole shrugged.“When I was growing up, our grandmother lived with us for a while before she passed.She got terrible cramps in her legs and her feet.I would rub them.All of us did, at one time or another.She taught us how to do it to provide the most relief.With six of us, we each got one night a week, and then we’d rotate Sundays.I’d have done anything for her.She was an amazing woman, and we were so lucky to have her with us for as long as we did.”

“You were lucky.”Regan turned and looked out the window as the city passed by.She realized that even the potholes in the road were smoothed out by the seats in the limo.She was the most comfortable she’d ever been…in a vehicle.When she turned back to Cole, she thought he’d been lucky to have both parents still living.Then she realized she was lucky to have the mother she did who was still alive and kicking, feisty as ever.“She taught you well and I’m sure she appreciated every one of you.It sounds like you were good kids.”

“We tried.I guess when you love someone you’ll do anything for them.What about you?Do you have family here?”

She dropped her gaze to her lap.“My father died when I was five.My mother raised my little brother and me by herself.”She looked at Cole.“She didn’t have it easy.I made her promise she’d never replace my daddy, and she never did.My older sisters were pretty much gone from the house by then.Gena was there until she was eighteen, then she got married.Charlene got married just before dad died.

“When I was about sixteen, I asked Mom if she’d never remarried because of me and what I made her promise.”Regan smiled at the memory.“She told me I was an idiot.That she couldn’t remarry unless she found someone like my dad, but she couldn’t live with someone like my dad ever again.She valued her independence too much.

“Apparently, my dad ruled the roost when he was alive.He wasn’t a mean man, but he expected certain things done and had certain ways to do them.My mother grew up believing that was what a woman was supposed to do.That a good wife saw to her husband’s comfort above all else.”She chuckled.“My grandparents were very old-fashioned and taught her that.They were completely wrong, of course, but Mom didn’t know that at the time.”

Cole reached over and squeezed her knee.“I’m sorry for your loss.Your mother sounds like an amazing woman.Where does she live now?”

“She is amazing.She lives alone in the foothills, west of Golden.That’s where I grew up.I wanted to be home, or at least close to home, which is one reason I ended my career here.”

“Don’t you worry about her being alone in the mountains?”

She leaned back against the side of the limo and chuckled.“Let me tell you a story.A true story, by the way.When I was young, they could still burn trash, so we had our trash in a big fifty-five gallon barrel.Well, this bear knocked it over again and again and spread trash all over the hillside.Mother grew tired of always having to pick it all up, so when she caught the bear doing it again, she went after him with a broom.The bear ran away, and we had no more trouble.I know that sounds like a made-up story, but I swear it’s true.”She crossed her heart.

Cole threw his head back and laughed.“I don’t believe that for a minute, but if it is true, your mother is a very brave or a very crazy woman.But what if the bear had turned on her?”

Regan shrugged.“She said she was too mad to think about that.”

“You said you have a brother.What does he do?”

“He’s a mechanic and a darn good one.He runs his own shop and always has cars backed up for repair.I can’t even get my car into him and expect it back in less than a week.”

“What’s his name?Maybe he needs some help.I could send some very good mechanics to help him out.”

She shook her head.“He doesn’t have the space for anymore.He only has four bays and they are always full.”

“Then maybe he needs a bigger shop.I could arrange it.”

“You’d have to talk to him about it.He’s the only one who makes decisions about his business.He doesn’t even consult his wife, Stacy.”

“I think you said he’s younger than you.Does he have any kids and what is his name?”

“His name is Randy.He’s a year-and-a-half younger than me.He’s been married to Stacy, his high school sweetheart, for nine years.They have three kids: Robbie, Rochelle, and Jamie, who are eight, six and two.”She chuckled and kept the grin on her face.“Jamie was a bit of a surprise.A happy one, but a surprise, nonetheless.Randy got a vasectomy soon after she was born.He and Stacy decided three kids were enough.”

The limo turned on to Regan’s street and then pulled up in front of her apartment building.

“If you’ll wait just a moment, I’ll grab my go bag, and we can get underway.I understand you have both a house and an apartment.Where do you prefer to live?”

“The ranch down by Castle Pines.It has a helipad if I need to go somewhere, and it’s close to Centennial Airport.I’m sure you’ll be happy in one of the guest rooms.”

“Sure.I’ll sleep on the couch or floor if I need to.I’m not picky.”

Cole chuckled.“Glad to hear it.I’ll come with you to get your bag.”