Jason grimaced when he got his first look at the girl his son had brought home. They were still unloading their luggage from the seaplane that had stopped at his dock, so he had plenty of time to size her up. In denim shorts with tattered legs, slung low on her hips, a cropped black T-shirt, and with the ends of her short hair dyed an unnatural shade of purple-red, she practically screamed teenage rebellion.
The only problem with that theory was he knew her to be twenty-three, according to the information his son had relayed. Josh was a sophomore, and so was she. When Jason questioned why she was still in college at her age, his son had breezily explained Lanie spent a few years searching for herself. Judging from the appearance she presented, the girl would have been better off spending a bit more time looking, until she found someone remotely presentable.
His eyes widened when she straightened, stretching with her arms over her head. A dart of desire hit him like a fist in the stomach, and he shifted in his boat shoes, uncomfortable with the idea of finding Lanie attractive. At thirty-eight, he was too old to react that way to a nice pair of breasts in a tight T-shirt.
With a shake of his head, he cast off the unwanted spark of attraction, along with his discomfort, and walked down the dock. Excitement at seeing his son again put a slight spring in his step, and Jason resolved not to worry about the girl. At Josh’s age, the liaison was no doubt transitory. He was sure to have a string of equally unsuitable relationships before settling down. It would be pointless to worry about each one.
Josh gave him an enthusiastic hug, and Jason’s eyes smarted when he embraced him. For a second, he held the toddler version of his son in his arms. A parade of memories danced through his mind during the brief hug. It was like that every time he saw Josh after a separation.
When his son stepped back, Jason turned to Lanie, bracing himself to be polite. He drew in his breath sharply upon seeing her face. It was a marked contrast to her appearance. Soft and rounded, with full lips, a straight nose, and dark eyes, her countenance was sweet and innocent. If only she hadn’t marred the physical perfection with a piercing through her right brow and a tiny diamond stud through her nose, she would have been classically beautiful.
“Dad, this is Lanie DeShaw.”
Jason took the hand she extended, surprised by the firmness of her handshake.
“Lanie, this is my dad, Jason Masters.”
Her lips, bare of lipstick like the rest of her face was free from makeup, curved into what seemed like a genuine smile. “How do you do, Mr. Masters?” She had pierced her tongue too.
“Call me Jason.” The invitation came automatically, as his brain was busy processing the impulses elicited just from touching her hand. He dropped it quickly, not caring if he appeared abrupt. “Come into the house.” As they followed him in, he mentally shifted the bedroom arrangement he’d had the housekeeper prepare. His plan had been to facilitate the couple’s interactions by allowing them to remain discreet, but he had changed his mind. The room next to Josh’s was no longer an option for their houseguest. He didn’t want his son to have such easy access to his lover. He tried not to question why the idea of them having sex bothered him so much. Jason had enough self-preservation not to want to know the answer.
****
Lanie eyed her room with awe. Jason had opened the door for her and left with a nod after seeing Josh to his room farther down the landing. He hadn’t waited around for her to express her appreciation for the décor, but maybe that was for the best. She didn’t want to fall into a slobbering trance, so busy staring at him that she’d be unable to form a coherent sentence.
She had seen his picture many times in Josh’s room, but he’d been on the deck of a sailboat, with the sun shining brightly around him. It hadn’t been a very good picture, especially compared to the real thing. The sun had brightened his hair from a rich brown to a dark blond, and the way he’d squinted had obscured the impact of his bright blue eyes. She was still reeling from staring into them. What had been a halfhearted crush kindled by a picture in Josh’s bedroom was trying to become something more. She shook her head at the silly notion, knowing it wasn’t wise to let her emotions overrule common sense.
Lanie finally managed to move from the spot and drop her bags on the bed. She wandered the mini-suite, pausing to touch the gauzy peach curtains that coordinated perfectly with the silver and peach comforter. The wallpaper was an elegant foil for the rest of the room, and the white furniture matched everything. Compared to her dorm room, and any of the places she had ever lived, this room was four-star. What else would one expect to find in a large home perched on the cliff of a privately owned island? Josh’s family was wealthy, and it showed. She hoped she wouldn’t look as out-of-place as she felt.
Which brought her to her first dilemma. Jason had imparted dinner was in an hour, but hadn’t expounded on how she should dress. It seemed like a formal kind of place, and she tried to reconcile the Josh she knew from college, who lived in frayed Levis and T-shirts, to the way she imagined he would appear that evening.
Unpacking didn’t take long, and her possessions barely filled two drawers of the dresser. When she hung up the few items in her wardrobe that might wrinkle, Lanie laughed at the pathetic sight. Her clothes took up half a rack in the walk-in closet. The built-in shoe organizer could hold at least twenty pairs of shoes, and she wondered how it would be to have that many pairs as she stowed a pair of black flats and her sneakers. Other than the sandals on her feet, they were the only shoes she owned.
Lanie settled on a sundress she’d picked up in Miami before they boarded the seaplane Jason had reserved for them. The background of teal embossed with large, pink flowers probably wasn’t dressy enough, but it was the only dress she had.
A quick shower and grooming session left her with twenty minutes before dinner. She slipped on the fake silk dress, eyed herself in the mirror, and decided the print clashed with the shade of her hair. Maybe she would dye it. She was getting tired of this color anyway. Not right then, of course. She didn’t have time.
Wandering aimlessly around the room didn’t appeal to her, and neither did the LCD TV tucked into an armoire, so she decided to head down to the main level. It might take her that long to find the dining room anyway, since the house was huge.
She left her room, hoping she would later remember which one was hers from the myriad choices, and strolled down the hall. Artwork drew her eyes, ranging from original priceless oils and acrylics to portraits that were probably members of the Masters family.
Halfway down the stairs, she looked back at the sound of her name. Josh was bounding down the steps, two at a time, and she was relieved to see he wore khakis and a polo shirt. Her estimation of a painfully formal dinner seemed to have been wrong, thankfully.
When he drew level with her, Lanie linked her arm through his. “I’m glad you’re here. I thought I might need a map to navigate this place.”
Josh laughed. “Imagine growing up here.”
She couldn’t fathom what it had been like for Josh, to have everything. It was amazing, and likely a credit to Jason, that he was humble and down-to-earth instead of a spoiled brat. “What was it like?” she asked, eager to fill in the gaps in her imagination.
They continued down the stairs as he said, “I used to have a hundred places to hide from my nanny. It was great to be able to go to the beach whenever I wanted, but the downside was friends couldn’t just drop by.”
She knew he had been homeschooled by Jason for several years, before going to a boarding school for high school, and a pang hit her chest as she imagined how lonely the little boy must have been. It must have been difficult for Jason to decide to send his son away to school, even if it had been a good decision.
“Are you crying?” asked Josh.
Lanie shook her head, swiping at her cheeks. “Nah, I’m just feeling maudlin today, I guess. I was thinking how lonely you must have been as a kid.”
Josh surprised her by shaking his head. “Not at all. Dad employed a lot of people back then and tried to make sure they had children whenever possible. It wasn’t like one of those Victorian scenarios where I was little lord of the manor and couldn’t fraternize with the help. Hell, I’m still in contact with some of the kids I grew up with.” His cheeks turned slightly red as he lowered his voice to confide, “Chaz Donner is Mr. and Mrs. Donner’s son, and he was my first romance.”
“Ah.” She paused. “Who are Mr. and Mrs. Donner?”
“They’re the couple who live on-site now and manage the household. Dad has downsized since I left for school, and they’re the only ones left, other than a few gardeners and landscape staff that live on the other side of the island.”
“Interesting.” She broke off when Josh led her into a semiformal dining room. She could tell the cream carpet and black furniture were supposed to be casually elegant, but it seemed too stiff and fancy for her. Lanie knew the basics of etiquette and could eat without embarrassing herself, but the room was stifling, making her wonder if she would be able to swallow anything past the lump in her throat.
Chapter 2To make the room even more intimidating, Jason sat at the table, clicking the keys of his laptop and speaking into the microphone of a headset he wore. He looked up, lifted a finger to indicate he’d be a moment, and finished his conversation. As he spoke, she drank in the sight of him, resisting the urge to squirm as she took a seat. Jason was fit and tanned, with handsome features that had a rougher edge than Josh’s still immature facial appearance.Get a grip. It was crazy to lust after Josh’s father. She reminded herself he was fifteen years older than she was and unlikely to find her at all appealing. He was too virile and male to seem like anyone’s father, especially since he could pass for someone in his early thirties. No doubt, Jason had his pick of women, so why would he want someone like Lanie?When he’d finished his conversation, he looked up. His gaze encompassed both of them, but she couldn’t help feeling as if his eyes were boring directly into her, probing her
Chapter 3“The stud is one of her pieces.”Jason leaned closer to examine it, bringing his face inches from hers. Lanie had the mad urge to bridge the distance and press her lips to his. She jerked back abruptly to avoid giving in to the impulse.“It’s lovely. I like the serpentine design.”“Thanks.” She didn’t bother to enlighten Jason about the special texture the tongue stud provided for extra stimulation when used during oral sex. It was one of the products two adult shops in Miami purchased from her on a regular basis. Sex jewelry wasn’t her primary niche, but it helped pay the bills so she could work on more traditional pieces.To her relief, the conversation shifted back to Josh, and she was able to sit quietly throughout the rest of the meal, needing only to give an occasional reply. When dinner ended, she rose to her feet with relief once Josh did. As they strolled from the dining room, she realized they were all heading for another destination. She grimaced, having hoped the
Chapter 4After leaving Lanie at her door, Jason detoured into the study instead of going through to his suite. He sat down behind the massive desk, analyzing the last few moments. No, he wasn’t imagining it, he decided. Lanie had definitely responded to him on a physical level.This offered a new option for dealing with the unsuitable girl Josh had dragged home. He might be a little rusty when it came to sex, but it wouldn’t take much to seduce Josh’s fiancée. He didn’t even have to sleep with her. All it would take was revealing her for what she really was.Not that sleeping with her would be a hardship, he conceded. She had a hot little body he could easily imagine sinking into. His cock twitched at the thought, and he shifted restlessly.Now, all he had to do was get Josh out of the way for a few days. Within a week or two, he’d certainly be able to get her to switch her supposed affections to him—or his bank account—instead of Josh. Pondering a strategy gave him the same thrill i
Chapter 5Lanie set down her fork, trying to analyze her friend’s tone. Excited? Anxious?“Do you remember when I applied for the internship with Senator Garvey?” At his father’s nod, he said, “I didn’t get a spot, but they have an opening now.”“Really? That sounds exciting,” said Jason. His bland expression revealed nothing about his true feelings.“Yeah. It’s only two weeks, for a special project. I have to let them know later this morning.”Jason looked surprised. “You didn’t accept right away?”Josh glanced at Lanie, and she gave him a small smile. “I had to check with Lanie first.”“Excuse me?” Jason cleared his throat. “Do you need your fiancée’s permission to take advantage of such a promising opportunity?”“No,” Lanie said, a little louder than she’d intended. “Josh should do whatever he wants.”Jason nodded. “I’m glad you feel that way. When are you supposed to arrive in D.C.?”Josh chewed on his bottom lip for a second. “That’s the thing. They want me to start tomorrow.” He
Chapter 6Lanie had chosen a black cotton skirt and red sleeveless top for dinner, along with the black flats, sans hosiery. Having braced herself for Marla, it was a surprise to find no one in the dining room. Thinking they were on the patio, she headed that way, coming to an abrupt stop when she saw Marla and Josh standing in the foyer.“There you are.” Josh came forward to sweep her into a hug. “I have to go now, but I couldn’t leave without telling my best girl bye.”“Gag,” she said against his ear, making both of them laugh. He dipped his head, and she lifted her cheek, expecting a parting kiss. At the last moment, Josh turned, bringing his lips against hers. Her first instinct was to push him away, but she endured the embrace, assuming this show was for his father’s benefit.When Josh stepped away, she saw Jason out of the corner of her eye. Maybe he had been there all along, but she hadn’t noticed him at first. His tight lips and narrow-lidded gaze expressed his annoyance. As i
Chapter 7Awaking in her own bed, still dressed, left Lanie confused for a second. The last thing she remembered was the movie. What had happened after that? Forcing herself to focus, she got the vague impression of warmth and safety, but nothing else. So, how had she ended up in her room? Jason had seen to it, but had he carried her, or had he gotten her to walk?The question plagued her through a quick shower, and she was awkward when she joined Jason in the breakfast room. He was finishing up, so there wouldn’t be much of a need to converse.“Good morning. Did you sleep well?”Was there a hint of mocking in his tone? No, it was more like teasing. “I did.” She left it at that, biting back the urge to ask how she had made it to her bed.“Do you have plans for today?”Lanie shrugged. “Not really. I was just going to relax.” She had a suitcase of work awaiting her, but it wasn’t urgent. She was trying to get ahead on some of her orders, but they weren’t due for delivery just yet.“I ha
Chapter 8Hoping he hadn’t noticed her lapse, she quickly rubbed in the oil, coating his skin wherever she saw bare spots. It was almost as pleasurable to rub the oil over him as it was to have him put it on her. They were both breathing faster by the time she finished. Lanie lay down beside him, her arm resting against his on the too-small blanket. To her relief, Jason didn’t try to engage her in conversation.It was more than an hour later when he rolled away from her to sit up. “Let’s swim.”“No, I—” She protested when he pulled her upright, fighting the urge to cover her breasts in the miniscule triangles. “I’m not in the mood to swim.”He frowned, though he seemed to have trouble keeping his eyes level with hers. “Do you know how?”“Yeah, of course. I was just enjoying the sun.”“It’s hot out here. Let’s have a refreshing swim, eat some lunch, maybe more sunbathing, and do a little snorkeling before we call it a day?”Lanie really didn’t want to get in the water with him. The tho
Chapter 9Over dinner, he asked, “Have you been to Miami before?”Lanie skewered a piece of shrimp on her fork and brought it to her mouth to chew before answering. “Not really. I saw the airport.”“Not the most charming side of Miami.” He sipped his wine before continuing. “I have a suite at a hotel in Miami Beach at Bal Harbour. I thought you might enjoy exploring the city for a couple of days?”She licked her lips. “That’s kind of you, but you don’t have to entertain me, Jason.”He shrugged. “It’s no bother. I had arranged a chunk of free time to spend with Josh. I had planned to take him to Miami, so everything is set.”“I hate to put you out.”Jason smiled over the rim of his glass. “You’ll actually be doing me a favor. I have a very boring party to attend, and I could use a companion.”Lanie arched a brow. “You want me to go with you?”He cocked his head. “Is that so strange?”Self-consciously, she touched her brow piercing. “I won’t fit in with your friends. You’d have a much b
Chapter 25“I’m an idiot,” he said again, with a marked lack of amusement. “From the moment I saw you, I had a strong reaction. I thought it was because you weren’t good enough for my son, but I knew, deep down, there was more to it. I wanted you for myself.”She managed a ghost of a smile. “Yeah, I’m just irresistible.”“You were…are.” He leaned forward a bit more, his hand hovering just within reach of hers. “I overheard you telling Josh you would make the rings, but he had to tell me about the wedding. I didn’t know—”She groaned. “Of course. You assumed our wedding was on again.”“And when he forgave you for sleeping with me, how could I possibly get him to drop you?” He looked defeated, as if unconsciously mimicking how he had felt at that moment.“That was Mark, obviously. He had a fling while Josh was out of town, but he confessed, and your son forgave him.” Lanie glared at him. “Why didn’t you just ask me about the wedding? If you cared about me at all, how could you think I w
Chapter 24Anger emanated from Jason in almost visible waves as he dragged her through the Mall of America and out into the parking lot. It was a short walk to his hotel, and she didn’t try to break the silence, too afraid he would explode in public. Going with him alone to his hotel room was also daunting, but it was better than making a scene.She had little time to appreciate the elegant beauty of his spacious suite as he pushed her inside, slamming the door behind them. He had maintained a firm hold on her until now, and she took advantage of him releasing her to shrug off the heavy apron to set it on a table in the entryway.His gaze settled on her distended stomach. “Is it mine?”Lanie resented the question, but understood why he asked it. She had taken the emergency contraceptive and had what she had thought was a period during her time with him. Not to mention his low opinion of her in general would make him predisposed to seeing her as the slutting-around type. Damn her abili
Chapter 23Lanie squinted through the jeweler’s lens as she put in a replacement diamond to repair the ring she held. She knew enough about the market to know this rock would have bought her a nice little house and allowed her to stay home for at least a year after the birth. Instead, she would be returning at six weeks postpartum, but what choice was there? She couldn’t risk telling Jason until she was able to prove she could give her daughter a secure life too. Otherwise, his money and power would facilitate him walking all over her and taking their child if he chose to.She stifled a sigh and tried to push her worries out of her head. It did no good to rehash the same concerns over and over. The course of action was set, and she had to follow it.“Lanie, you have a customer here.”She looked up at Ned, managing a smile as she removed the magnifying lens. “For me? I work in the back.”“He said you came highly recommended.”She shrugged. “Okay.”“Shall I send him back here, or do you
Chapter 22“I came to apologize.” Jason tugged again at the tie, impatiently unfastening the knot. “It’s asking a lot, but I hope you can forgive me. You and Lanie,” he added, finding it difficult to speak her name. “I shouldn’t have tried to interfere in your relationship. It wasn’t my place to try to protect you from making a mis—” He broke off when Josh’s eyes narrowed. “Anyway, I realized I didn’t behave well, and I’d hate to miss your wedding.”Josh maintained a cold expression for another minute before it collapsed into one of annoyance. “Ah, hell.”“What?”“I promised Lanie I’d make up with you. Dammit.”Jason flinched. “That was generous of her.” His cynical thoughts immediately jumped to the idea that she wanted a reconciliation so he would restore his son’s allowance. That was one thing Jason had no intention of doing. If Lanie really loved Josh, she would stand by him without a penny to his name. If not, his son would still see what kind of person she was, hopefully before
Chapter 21“Are you sure you want to do this?” asked Josh for probably the hundredth time in the past month, since she’d told him a few days after they’d returned to Atlanta that she was going to leave.Lanie nodded. “I need to get away for a while.”“I’d feel better if I knew where you were going at least.”His expression of worry tugged at her heart, and she ruffled his hair. “I’ll let you know as soon as I settle somewhere.”Josh frowned. “I don’t like this. What’s wrong with your life here?”She shrugged. “I just need a change.” And she had to get away from Josh, as much as she loved him, before her presence permanently wrecked his relationship with Jason. There was another reason, but she wasn’t going to confide it.“You’ll be back for the wedding?”“Of course,” she said, trying not to appear evasive. Even if Jason didn’t come—and she hoped he would, for Josh’s sake—it was unlikely she’d be there, but she couldn’t explain why. It hurt her to lie to him, especially since he expect
Chapter 20Jason had spent the night in a guestroom on the other side of the house, but had not slept. He waited until Lanie left his bedroom the next morning before slipping inside to retrieve the file Marla Meyers had brought. Was it only two weeks ago? It seemed like a lifetime. No matter. It was time to disillusion his son about the gold-digging slut and to destroy her ability to further damage his family.He found them together in the breakfast room. Josh was chattering away as usual, but Lanie looked wan, with purple bruises under her eyes. He should have relished proof of her agitated night, but he had to suppress a wave of remorse instead. She deserved what he’d done to her, and what he was about to do, he reminded himself.“Good morning, Dad,” said Josh, sounding too damned cheerful. “You slept late, huh? I’m not used to you being the last one down.”Jason dropped into his chair, careful to avoid Lanie’s probing gaze. “I had a lot on my mind.”“Me too.” Josh took a deep breat
Chapter 19Jason still experienced a hint of anxiety when the helicopter landed the next afternoon. Would Josh be as carefree about the canceled wedding that supposedly never was as Lanie thought? Or would he react with anger? He had to admit to a small bit of worry about her reaction to Josh as well. It seemed unlikely she would change her mind after admitting she was falling in love with him, but he still didn’t know if he could trust her.They met Josh at the landing pad. His son looked tired and a little pale, along with completely happy. After he’d received a hug, Jason watched through narrowed eyes as Josh hugged Lanie, seemingly with nothing more than friendly affection. She pressed a kiss on his cheek before stepping away from him. He waited to see if she would acknowledge their relationship. When she leaned against him casually, as though she hadn’t given it a second thought, he breathed a small of relief. He put his arm around her waist, watching Josh’s reaction.Josh’s mout
Chapter 18Later, they laid together in his bed, where he’d taken her the first night they had returned from their vacation and she had slept ever since. Lanie was on the verge of sleep, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead, moved to the tender gesture by the open sweetness of her sleepy expression.“Jason?” His name was a little slurred from a combination of sleepiness and the tropical drinks she’d had a while before they’d come to bed.“Yes, Lanie?” He kissed her closed eyelids.“Thank you.”“For what?”“Everything. Being with you is so amazing.” She yawned. “The cave today…it means a lot to me, knowing you’ve never shared that with anyone before.”He grimaced, still uncomfortable with his decision to do so. It had been spontaneous, and he didn’t regret the experience. It was just knowing he had given her a glimpse inside him by sharing something so personal made him nervous.“Don’t freak out.”He sat up a little straighter, gaze on her face. Her lids blinked several times, and she
Chapter 17Three days later, she was excited to see the helicopter on the roof of the hotel. The trips around Miami and southern Florida had been fun, but she was eager to return to the island. It seemed like home. Since nowhere had felt like home in seven years, Lanie didn’t know whether to embrace the feeling or to try to deny it. So much depended on what Jason wanted from her—and for how long.She had nearly forgotten how much she hated the helicopter, but remembered within minutes of being in the air. Lanie squeezed Jason’s hand, keeping her eyes closed.“You need a distraction,” he whispered in her ear.She opened one eye a slit. “What?”“A little something to take your mind off the flight.” As he spoke, Jason moved his hand up her thigh, under the short skirt of the flirty dress he’d asked her to wear. “I’ve been thinking about this all morning,” he said softly. Moving his hand higher, he breached the side of her panties, his finger sliding along her slit. “And this. Your pussy