Brenda Jackson - What a Westmoreland Wants

C allum Austell sat in the chair with his legs stretched out in front of him as he stared at the man sitting behind the huge oak desk. He and Ramsey Westmoreland had become friends from the first, and now he had convinced Ramsey that he was the man who would give his sister Gemma the happiness she deserved.

But Callum knew there was one minor flaw in his plans. One that would come back to haunt him if Gemma Westmoreland ever discovered that the trip to Australia he would offer her would be orchestrated for the sole purpose of getting her off familiar turf so that she would finally come to realize just how much he cared for her.

I hope you know what youre doing, Ramsey said, interrupting Callums thoughts. Gemma will give you hell when she finds out the truth.

Ill tell her before then, but not before she falls in love with me, Callum replied.

Ramsey lifted a brow. And if she doesnt?

To any other woman Callums intense pursuit might seem like a romantic move, but Ramsey was convinced his sister, who didnt have a romantic bone in her body, wouldnt see things that way.

Callums expression was determined. She will fall in love with me. And then the look in his eyes almost became one of desperation. Damn, Ram, she has to. I knew the first moment I saw her that she was the one and only woman for me.

Ramsey took a deep breath. He wished hed had the same thoughts the first time he set eyes on his wife, Chloe. Then he would not have encountered the problems he had. However, his first thoughts when hed seen Chloe werent the least bit honorable.

Youre my friend, Callum, but if you hurt my sister in any way, then youll have one hell of an angry Westmoreland to deal with. Your intentions toward Gemma better be nothing but honorable.

Callum leaned forward in his chair. Im going to marry her.

She has to agree to that first.

Callum stood. She will. You just concentrate on be coming a father to the baby you and Chloe are expecting in a couple of months, and let me worry about Gemma.

G emma Westmoreland lifted a brow after reading the note that appeared on her computer after shed booted it up. Immediately, two questions sailed through her mind. Where was Niecee when she should have been at work over an hour ago and what was Niecee apologizing for?

The hairs on the back of Gemmas neck began standing up and she didnt like the feeling. She had hired Niecee Carter six months ago when Designs by Gem began picking up business, thanks to the huge contract shed gotten with the city of Denver to redecorate several of its libraries. Then Gayla Mason had wanted her mansion redone. And, last but not least, her sister-in-law, Chloe, hired Gemma for a makeover of the Denver branch of her successful magazine, Simply Irresistible.

Gemma had been badly in need of help and Niecee had possessed more clerical skills than the other candidates shed interviewed. She had given the woman the job without fully checking out her referencessomething her oldest brother, Ramsey, had warned her against doing. But she hadnt listened. Shed figured that she and the bubbly Niecee would gel well. They had, but now, as Gemma quickly logged into her bank account, she couldnt help wondering if perhaps she should have taken Ramseys advice.

Gemma had been eleven when Ramsey and her cousin Dillon had taken over the responsibility of raising their thirteen siblings after both sets of parents had been killed in a plane crash. During that time Ramsey had been her rock, the brother whod been her protector. And now, it seemed, the brother she should have listened to when hed handed out advice on how to run her business.