A Tough Man to Tame

One
 
“Why Louis Benoit?” Gunner asked.
 
“It has to be Benoit,” Mariana said. “I won’t accept anyone else.”
 
“Lord, you’re stubborn.” Gunner frowned. “It’s not smart, Mariana. If you won’t let one of our people handle the production end of your business, then let me go to Sheikh Ben Raschid and have him put it in the hands of one of his corporate executives.”
 
“Which would be the same as using the Clanad.” Mariana rose to her feet and moved restlessly to the casement window across the study. “I don’t want Muggins, Inc. to be connected with either the Compound or Sedikhan. There have been too many rumors already.”
 
“Which we’ve managed to squelch very efficiently,” Gunner said. “Your argument doesn’t hold water. There are ways we can control the flow of information, as long as we use our own people and are on home territory. Louis Benoit is an unknown quantity.”
 
She glanced over her shoulder and wrinkled her nose at him. “How can you say that? You compiled a dossier on him that must be a foot thick.”
 
“Well, half a foot perhaps.” Gunner grinned. “And you said you wanted to know everything. Benoit has a checkered past. Didn’t you find that his dossier made interesting reading?”
 
“Not really.” She avoided his gaze and looked out at the charming bridge arching over the brook in the Chinese garden. “It was just curiosity. I actually knew what I had to know after reading about him in the Wall Street Journal and Business Week. He’s a brilliant financial wizard who made his first million by the time he was twenty-five and became a billionaire by the time he was thirty. He’s reputedly honest, doesn’t mind taking chances, and is somewhat unorthodox in the way he runs his business. That’s what I want for Muggins.”
 
“He’s also pure steel and tough as hell if you go against him. The man likes to be in control.”
 
“Like you.” She turned and smiled affectionately at him. “The pot calling the kettle black?”
 
“Maybe. But you know this particular pot is on your side.”
 
“Benoit will be on my side too. He’d be a fool not to be, when I’m about to offer him the deal of the century.”
 
“I don’t like it. It’s too damn dangerous.” Gunner turned to the man sitting quietly in the easy chair in the corner. “She’s your sister, dammit. Talk to her, Andrew.”
 
“You’ve hardly let me get a word in edgewise.” Andrew’s quizzical smile lit his fine features as he looked at her. “Why, Mariana?”
 
Mariana braced herself, carefully closing him out. She always had more difficulty with Andrew than Gunner—not only because of Andrew’s strength but also because of the bond of affection between her and her brother. “I just told you why. I chose the man who would do the best job for me.”
 
“No other reason?”
 
She met his gaze and sensed the probing gentleness, the loving concern. “What other reason could there be? I’ve never even met the man. You know I’ve never been out of Sedikhan.”
 
“That’s why I find it odd you didn’t want to be surrounded by your own people on your first journey into the unknown.”
 
She tried to smile jauntily. “Maybe I feel the need to try my wings.”
 
“After burying your head in the sand all these years?” Andrew shook his head. “It’s hardly logical that you’d want to kick up your heels and set out to conquer the world. You’re afraid even to let me near you.”
 
She immediately bristled. “I’m not afraid of you. Don’t be ridiculous.”
 
“Aren’t you?” He stood up and strolled toward her. “Then let me—”
 
“The hell I will!” She glared at him, her hands clenching at her sides. “Back off, Andrew.”
 
“Easy.” He reached out and cupped her cheek in the hollow of his palm. “I’m not pushing you, little ostrich.”
 
She relaxed and turned her head to lightly press her lips to his palm. “Then stop worrying about me.”
 
“It goes with the territory. You’re the only sister I have. And I’ve told you before, you can’t fight it forever, Mariana. It’s a part of you and it could be more dangerous to repress than accept.”
 
“There’s nothing to repress.” She laughed shakily as she backed away from him. “I’m not like the rest of you. I’m the cuckoo in the nest.”
 
“The ostrich in the nest,” Andrew corrected softly. “A frightened, lovable ostrich who doesn’t realize that the fear is worse than the malady.” He stepped forward and kissed her on the forehead. “If you get tired of hiding, you know I’ll be here for you.” He turned. “Let’s go, Gunner. I’m sure Mariana has packing to do if she’s leaving in the morning.”
 
“That’s it?” Gunner rose to his feet. “A great help you were.”
 
“I’m just her brother.” Andrew’s blue eyes twinkled. “A brother’s job is merely to support and comfort. You’re the one who’s supposed to protect and offer sound advice.”
 
“Which everyone blithely ignores,” Gunner said glumly. “You won’t reconsider and stay in Sedikhan?”
 
Mariana shook her head.
 
“You’re not making my job any easier.” Gunner gazed at her a moment and then chuckled. “But what the hell. Easy is dull most of the time anyway. Maybe I need a little excitement to get my adrenaline flowing. Quenby says I’m getting stodgy.”
 
“She’s joking,” Mariana said dryly. “After being married to you all these years she has to know if trouble doesn’t come to you, you go out looking for it.”
 
“Brat. No one understands what a peaceable man I am. Remember to call Quenby and say good-bye before you leave.”
 
“I planned to stop by your house and Mom and Dad’s tomorrow on my way to Marasef airport. I should arrive in Paris by ten in the morning and it will take me about an hour to get to Benoit’s chateau. You’ve arranged to get me past the gates at Darceaubeau?”
 
Gunner nodded. “And, according to our information, Benoit spends most of the afternoon in the garden, so if you go directly there you won’t have to deal with the servants. I’ve told our man to make sure you have a clear field from one until three tomorrow afternoon.” He frowned. “But Benoit’s got a damn good security team at the chateau. He’s going to be suspicious as hell. Why the devil couldn’t you just make an appointment at his office in Paris?”
 
“He wouldn’t have seen me. When he comes back to France from New York it’s usually because he’s so exhausted he needs to be recharged. Darceaubeau is his sanctuary.”
 
“Which won’t make your intrusion any more welcome.”
 
“I still prefer the chateau. I wanted the meeting to be informal. Business offices intimidate me.”
 
“All the more reason for you to forget this nonsense and let us handle it.” Gunner waved his hand as she started to speak. “Okay, okay, it’s your project. I won’t interfere as long as you call me every other night once you’re inside the chateau.” His face hardened. “If you don’t, you can expect hell to pay.”
 
Andrew followed Gunner to the door but paused to look searchingly at her. His voice was soft as he asked the same question Gunner had, “Why Louis Benoit?”
 
He had obviously seen through her explanation. She started to speak, but thought better of it. She had always hated lies and evasions, and it was far worse to lie to the people you loved.
 
“No?” Andrew nodded understandingly. “Then all I can say is be careful. He’s not a man you can program for your own convenience and, from what Gunner says, there’s a good deal of volatility beneath his cool control.”