Katie collapsed into one of the chairs facing his desk. "And is that what I'm about to do? Disappear off the face of the earth?"
"Nothing as dramatic as that." He studied her for a moment. "We're going to say that we ran into each other in Redwood Falls and one thing led to another and we started seeing each other. It escalated from there."
Katie thought about it. "Nobody will buy it. Everyone knows you hate me."
"I don't hate you, Katie, and you damn well know it."
"Since when?" Katie sneered.
His eyes searched hers. "A long time ago. Since I figured out that I want to sleep with you more for my pleasure than for your punishment. Since I figured out that your pleasure means more to me than my own."
Katie broke eye contact and looked down at her hands in her lap.
Zach came to stand over her and said in a low voice, "It won't be all bad, sweetheart." His arms moved down to cage her in the chair, and his manner became persuasive. "All you have to do is please me, and I'll treat you like a princess, I promise. No more talk of hatred, no more talk about debts being owed. It will be just you and me, and I guarantee you, it'll be good."
Katie continued to look down at her lap and mumbled. "It's not fair. I don't have that money. My family doesn't have the money. I won't be able to get a teaching position in five years. How will I explain the missing time on my resume?"
"I agree you don't have the money. But your family has the land. The land that my money bought." His hand moved to her silken cheek and then down to her trembling chin. "Don't flatter yourself thinking I'm going to keep you for five years, Katie. It will be more like five months."
She looked up with hope in her eyes. "But I--I thought--don't I have to stay with you for five years for the debt to be cleared?"
Zach was annoyed with himself for being irritated by her question. Women weren't supposed to want to get away from him. And for some inexplicable reason, even though his motives were supposed to be revenge and punishment, he wanted her to want to be with him. He'd always wanted her to want him, but he hadn't been able to achieve that. In a deepening, curt voice he said, "No. That's what the contract says, but that's a worst case scenario. You be a good girl and play fair with me, and I'll cancel the rest of the debt when I let you go. You'll have to trust me on that, but it will happen."
She studied him, her heart in her eyes. "Please, Zach, can't you just forget about this?"
"No." His answer was short, concise, adamant.
She worried her hands together, twisting her fingers. "I--I won't be any good at this. I won't be able to please you, to give you what you want."
His dark gaze looked her up and down, running over the lines of her face and body. "You'll be plenty good at it."
She continued arguing. "You're so rich, just extend the loan, give us more time--"
He snorted. "Don't even think about it. Do you think I've gone to all this trouble just to let you go now? Do you have any idea how much that contract cost me? Getting it done in two days?" His voice hardened even more. "You're right. I'm rich. The amount of money your family owes is negligible to me. It's you I want." He heard her gasp at that, but continued. "I want you." His voice softened slightly and he grimaced at the confession he was making. "I always fucking have."
Chapter Nine
Katie took a shaky inhalation of breath as Zach's statement hit her full force. "So what now?"
Zach reached down and fastened his hands on her and bodily lifted her from the chair. "Now you're mine." His voice dripped satisfaction.
Katie stood still in his arms, letting him support her weight. "I mean, what happens now?"
"Tomorrow we catch a plane to Harlingen and we'll drive to South Padre from there. I have a few loose ends to tie up here, but I need some time alone with you. We're leaving for the coast in the morning."
South Padre Island, Texas
Late the next night, Zachary and Katie landed in Harlingen where he had a rental car reserved. It was nearing midnight when they drove over the Queen Isabella Causeway that connected the barrier island with the mainland. They were, for all practical intents and purposes, at the southernmost tip of Texas.
The lights of the bridge lit the sparkling waters of the Laguna Madre below and even as tired and nervous as she was, Katie still felt a small thrill of excitement. South Padre Island was reputed to be one of the most beautiful beaches in the United States, and she had never been here before.
Growing up, her parents never had any extra money for vacations. She could count on one hand the times she had been to the beach, and it had always been to Galveston Island. The prospect of visiting a locale new to her was the only thing responsible for keeping total panic at bay.
They turned left when they hit the main drag that ran down the center of the barrier island, and had only driven a few miles when Zachary maneuvered the car into a driveway and cut the engine.
A new dose of trepidation coursed through Katie. She couldn't think of anything she could say or do that would put off the inevitable. They had eaten at the airport in Dallas while they waited for their flight to be called, and as late as it was, there was no excuse she could think of to delay going to bed right away.
Zach grabbed their bags from the trunk and ushered Katie in through the garage.
He turned the switch on at the door, and the room was lit up with bright light. Katie caught her breath. The house was beautiful. A narrow structure, it was built up high to capture the views of the ocean, and the bottom floor they were on now was almost entirely made up of glass walls. It was a large, open room, and the living room had a wall of windows that showcased a breathtaking view. The kitchen was connected via a bar and the open space it created gave a feeling of warmth and space to the medium-sized house.
She didn't know what she had expected, but something as cozy and functional as this certainly wasn't it. Surprise made her turn and say the first thing that came to mind. "It's gorgeous, Zach. How can you stand to leave?"
Zachary was pleased with her honesty; he was glad she liked his house. All the way on the plane, he had been experiencing sharp feelings of unease at what he was doing. It wasn't until he had the appropriate documents signed, and her fate was sealed and she was in his hands, that the guilt had started eating him alive. It had started again at the airport, while they sat and waited to board the plane. Katie had nervously begun picking at one fingernail. First, she'd ripped all the polish off, then she'd started tearing into the nail itself. Her hands and nails were beautiful, slender and white, and seeing her tear up that one finger had sent flames of punishing fire through his guts. He knew she didn't even realize what she was doing.
It wasn't right that she should be so nervous. At twenty-three years old, a teacher and a woman full grown, she shouldn't be so distressed. And it was his fault. And the guilt was eating at him. He began questioning his motives, and not for the first time, considering his right to implement his plans for her.
For one thing, she was correct when she said she was innocent of anything that had gone before. She had no control over anything her uncle had done, she had no control over what his wife had done, and she was being made to pay the price in full.
Secondly, when he thought about the reasons he should do this to her, he only came up with one answer. He wanted her. He wanted her. That was it.
That's all he could come up with.
He also admitted to himself that it was telling that he wouldn't let himself think about any of it until the documents had been signed. He wanted her, and the only way to get her was through the contract. His subconscious mind refused to acknowledge his guilt or her innocence until he had her signature on the paperwork.
He shouldered his way into the room with the bags and endeavored to answer her question. "I do like it here. Other than the ranch, this is my home. The apartment in Dallas is just a place to sleep."
He moved to the stairway, and took the steps two at a time. He stood at the top landing, expecting her to follow him up.
She stood at the bottom and looked up at him.
"Come up here and let me show you your room." He turned down the main hallway and began opening doors. Katie slowly followed him up the stairs.
He stood in the doorway of the second room and Katie slowly walked to him. "My room?"
He had already put the luggage down, and he reached out a long finger and ran it down her smooth cheek. "Unless you want to sleep in my bed? I don't have a problem with that. You're going to be there soon anyway."
She closed her eyes and shook her head no, and her dark hair shimmered around her face and shoulders like silk.
"Somehow, I didn't think you would." He picked up her hand and her eyes opened. "Come on. Choose a room. That one by the door is the master and all my crap is in there, but you can pick from either of these." He ushered her into the first room and Katie looked around. It was neutrally decorated and beautiful beyond belief. She walked through to the connecting bathroom. It was a small room, but had a tub and separate shower and everything a person could possibly need for an extended stay.
Her eyes found his. "Can I see the other room?" she asked in a hesitant tone.
"Sure." He turned and walked out of the door and down the hall to the third and final room. Katie walked in and saw that the bathroom was about the same size as the one in the first room, but the bedroom itself was a bit smaller. Beautifully appointed as well, but it didn't have as much space. Katie didn't care. It was farther away from his bedroom.