Bound and Determined by Sierra Cartwright Page B

computer and moved a table into position to spread out a pile of papers. He ignored her. That annoyed her as much, if not more, than his constant attention and demands.
    Jaysus. Was she fickle?
    The flight attendant had been nowhere around while Jack accosted her, but now that they were settled, the man refreshed Jack’s Bloody Mary and brought her a cola in a proper glass. Sugar and caffeine in one handy package.
    Jack’s fingers seemed to move nonstop over the computer keyboard. She glanced over to see that he had a web browser open. “E-mail? You’re looking at e-mail?”
    “Wi-Fi,” he explained.
    “Have you thought of everything?”
    He turned in his seat and looked at her. “I’m thinking about little save having your sweet cunt.”
    She blushed and sucked her cola through her straw.
    What was it about him that could turn her insides molten with only a few words?
    “I’ve a conference call,” he told her, reaching for the phone. “Shouldn’t take more than half an hour. I’ll try not to disturb you.”
    She nodded
    She’d always seen him as the hated enemy, if not a devil, then maybe a grotesque stone gargoyle, but never as a real person with an empire to run. Truthfully it didn’t endear him to her.
    She and her family worked hard, and they’d had to make compromises along the way. Their lands were now shared with anyone who booked into one of the cottages, and she worked diligently to keep those places rented. She and her cousins were the handymen, the marketing department, the reservations department, gardeners and the cleaning crew when needed while Jack Quinn commanded his parts of the world from the Earth’s atmosphere with fresh coffee at his disposal.
    She put on a set of headphones he provided and reclined her seat slightly. Even the sound from the in-flight television and addition of the headphones weren’t enough to drown out the deepness of his voice.
    She flipped through all the channels and there was an obscene number of choices. When nothing intrigued her, she started over again. She had a difficult time focussing on anything except her emotions. She generally read or slept or composed music while flying. But her thoughts were turbulent, and she was having trouble clearing her mind.
    Since the devastatingly handsome and determined Jack Quinn had shown up at the pub last night, her life had been turned on its axis. If he had his way, it would be a permanent state. And what in the hell was she supposed to do about it?
    She debated calling home and letting them know she was on her way back from America. But what would she say? That the Quinn had kidnapped her? Wouldn’t that go over well with their bad blood. And they’d certainly not endorse a marriage if they knew the truth of it.
    If she said she cut her tour short because she was worried about the comb, her mother would scoff. Her cousins would be supportive. But damn it, they needed the money.
    If Jack were telling the truth, that she wouldn’t have any financial worries if they were married, where did that leave her?
    She’d be a whore to a man whose family she hated. Some choice.
    Amazingly fast, they landed in New York. The flight attendant told them there would be a layover, hopefully of less than two hours while they refuelled and refreshed the cabin.
    She and Jack were warmly welcomed at his private club where they were plied with more food and alcohol.
    Everyone travelling was dressed posh, and she was beginning to regret her choice in T-shirt. Still, Jack didn’t order her to change. Of course, if he had, she probably would have dug in her heels.
    “Would you like to go for a walk?” he offered. “We can get outside for a few minutes.”
    She wanted to object on principle. “You could go alone.”
    “Not on your life.” He smiled at her as if her motivations were transparent. “We’ll sit here and have another round, then. Getting you slightly drunk has some pleasant implications.”
    She sighed. Did he always