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boards that his acquisitions would ultimately benefit them, even if corporate stock prices were more
depressed just at first. Jason s acquisitions, notably the new software company in California, were
risky investments in these tough economic times. He had to be aggressive in his explanations, he had
to make promises that he only hoped he could keep. The software the two computer geniuses had
created would revolutionize the video game industry, which was one of the fastest moving sectors of
the high-tech economy. It would allow actual tactile contact with characters and objects in the games,
through a new technology that he had to struggle himself to understand, despite his excellent college
education. He wasn t a gamer himself.
Then there was the computer company in Germany that he was trying to buy out. His new laptop
computer offered innovative modules that plugged in to interface with all sorts of multimedia, and it
was at the top of the market for the next generation of mobile technology. But the German company
had improved on his design and added a new computer chip, and was under-cutting his prices. It was
absorb them or lose to the competition and watch his market advantage drop like a rock. The owners
of that German concern were now saying that their stockholders wouldn t approve the deal. Jason was
resigned to a hostile takeover, which was now in the initial stages.
He d seen Kittie once or twice while he was away. He d been in London on a layover and he dropped
by the photo shoot at Dover to see how she was doing. She was going to finish sooner than she d
expected, she told him, because they d canceled the Russian shoot. She was going home. She d asked
if she could stay in the San Antonio mansion and do a little remodeling. Nothing drastic, she
promised, teasing him. She just wanted to update his curtains and d�cor, and she had a friend in
interior design in San Antonio who would love to help her. Just a little project, she coaxed. Wouldn t
he like to change things around, just a little?
He d agreed absently, his mind still on the German deal, making her promise not to upset Gracie
anymore, or the staff. Why, of course, she d promised, they were going to be family, after all, weren t
they? He hadn t replied. He was already sick of the engagement. The photographer who was shooting
the layout for a prominent fashion magazine seemed to be very intimate with Kittie, touching her at
every opportunity. She almost purred when he slid his hand right over her bottom. Jason wasn t
surprised to find that it didn t disturb him at all. He might be engaged, but he felt nothing for this
woman. He was more determined than ever to break the engagement. It might be easier, if she was
already in San Antonio when he got home. They d have time to talk. He didn t want to think how
Gracie was going to take the woman s sudden arrival, but he was certain that she d find her stride. She
was polite, no matter how angry she might be.
He d tried to phone her a couple of times on his way back to Texas, but she hadn t answered her cell
phone. Probably, he thought miserably, she d recognized his number on the caller ID and was
ignoring him. He regretted the way he d behaved. He was going to have to make it up to her
somehow. If he couldn t have her the way he wanted her, perhaps they could at least go back to a time
when they d been friends and not enemies. He was desperate to have her back in his life, in any
capacity. The weeks apart from her had been agonizing. His eyes ached to see her.
JASON HAD PARKED HIS big Jaguar at the airport in a secure long-term area before he flew
overseas the second time. He d planned to drive on down to Comanche Wells and check on his ranch,
but he gave way to an impulse to stop at the San Antonio mansion first. He wanted to see Gracie and
make sure that Kittie hadn t upset her or Mrs. Harcourt. He also wanted to make sure that Kittie hadn t
gone overboard with changes. He was already sorry he d agreed to allow her to do any remodeling.
That was just going to upset Gracie more.
He d meant to phone the women from London and tell them that Kittie was coming, but he d gotten
busy and forgot. He was sorry, but it was too late now. He only hoped Kittie was being diplomatic. But
judging by the past, that wasn t really likely. He was resigned to playing peacemaker.
The first thing he noticed when he walked up onto the porch was the absence of the planters where
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