The Tycoon's Seductive Revenge Read Online Free Page A

the engraved letters. Rose Stratton . A name that encompassed sweetness and sacrifice, and the proud woman she was.
    Twelve letters. Back then that was all he could afford to put on her grave.
    He placed a dozen pink roses beneath her name. “Sorry it’s been so long.”
    In the years since she’d passed away, and he’d made a fortune ten times over, he considered trading the headstone for something more impressive, with an engraved passage from her favorite poet, Emily Dickenson.
    In the end he chose to keep her simple headstone with only her name to remind him of his roots, and the sacrifices they’d both made so he could become the man he was. While he admired his mother’s determination to raise him on her own, Carter was done making sacrifices.
    “I wish you could see...”
    How far I’ve come .
    The last part didn’t quite make it.
    Taking a deep breath, Carter stood up. Silent within, feeling a sense of stillness all around him, he bowed his head. “I miss your smile,” he whispered.
    The beautiful vision of her face haunted his memory as he exited the cemetery. After closing the gate he headed toward town. He descended the old stone steps wedged into the hillside and his shadow spread before him with the setting sun.
    Guilt drenched him for not visiting her grave sooner. Were she still alive, she wouldn’t agree with his purpose for returning to the island. She’d tell him to cut the line and let the big fish he had to fry swim away into the deep waters of the past. But he hadn’t made it this far in life to let such a perfect opportunity slip by.
    Whenever he and his mother had walked the beaches when he was young, she would pause and gaze at the Montgomery Hotel like a small-town actress dreaming of Hollywood fame.
    Since he couldn’t make her wish come true then, he would buy the Montgomery Hotel in her honor. And for his own damn satisfaction.
    In less than a week he would own the ruins of a rich man’s former passion. Then, Carter would redesign the hotel according to his personal tastes. At last he would achieve a level of success internally that matched his external accomplishments. Frank Montgomery would turn over in his grave if he knew Carter’s intentions. The thought made him smile.
    Approaching the ritzy café that used to be a family restaurant when his mother worked there as a waitress, he looked forward to a low-key evening of dinner and a few glasses of scotch. No relationship problems. No business issues. Plenty of time to appreciate the luxuries he’d only fantasized about while growing up here.
    When he walked through the door, the cute redheaded bartender flashed him a smile. The night was looking better already.
    “What can I do for you?” the girl asked when he approached the counter.
    “Give me a double Johnny Walker on the rocks. Blue Label, if you’ve got it.” She raised her auburn eyebrows at his expensive request. “And your phone number, so I can call you when you finish your shift.”
    Her green eyes glittered at the proposition. “How long are you planning to stay on the island?” She made small talk, leaning over the bar to give him a nice view of her cleavage.
    “Long enough.” He winked.
    A snort interrupted their flirting.
    Carter turned to the source. Ellie sat at a corner table pretending to ignore him. Her dark hair was still swept back in a ponytail, a few loose strands framing her face. The red cashmere sweater she wore contrasted with the pale orange sunset beyond the window, defining her silhouette. She flipped through a hospitality magazine, sipping a glass of white wine.
    “Put her on my tab.” When pointed at Ellie, the redhead frowned. Once she finished pouring his drink, Carter said, “Keep ‘em coming.” He exhaled a longsuffering sigh. “Depending how this goes, I might need as much alcohol as I can get.”
    The bartender giggled. Carter set his black American Express card on the counter.
    When she reached for it, he slid his fingertips