Chapter 10She fought a blush. “Oh, of course. Is that the tour?”With a nod, he said, “For the most part. There’s a kitchenette on the other side of the living room.”“Oh.” Based on the rest of this place, the kitchenette probably had all the modern appliances and a dining room suitable for twelve.“Would you like to freshen up before we hit the shops?”Lanie pulled lightly at the collar of her dress. “Yeah, thanks.”“Can you be ready in half an hour?”With a nod, she scooted away, turning back to return to her room. Lanie managed a casual wave as she entered, but collapsed against the door when it closed behind her, her cheeks hot. She pressed her hands to them, as though trying to hide the evidence. She had nearly followed him into his room. He hadn’t seemed put out, but she couldn’t help being embarrassed. Why not paint an “Open” sign on her crotch? Knowing she was being ridiculous didn’t ease the shame as she went into the bathroom.Her soaking tub turned out to be a huge oval su
Chapter 11Her first impression of Bal Harbour Shops was one of lush greenery, giving it a wild air. Her next impression was one of confusion, as she paused by a statue. “What is this?” It looked like a clock had melted into an oddly shaped tree limb.“Damned if I know,” said Jason, his mouth twitching, “But it makes the shoppers feel like they’re in a sophisticated wonderland, right?”She grinned at his mocking tone. “Of course.” With a tilt of her head, she tried looking at it from another angle. “I’ll never understand modern art. My professor said I was a philistine.”Jason laughed. “If you ask me, the people who pretend to get this stuff are pretentious fools.”She turned her critical gaze to him, assessing. “How is it that you’re so down-to-earth, just like Josh?”Jason shrugged, looking faintly embarrassed. “My mother wouldn’t let me be spoiled to the point where I lost touch with reality. She made me do volunteer work, help with charities, and even had us all serving a meal at
Chapter 12Bewildered, Jason paid for her shoes while wondering what exactly had happened. She had been upset, no doubt about it. The shoes, which should have brought her pleasure, had seemed like a burden or something. As he walked down the corridor in the direction of the ladies’ restroom, he tried to figure out what had gone wrong.He was confused about why she was upset, and she also confused him. Shouldn’t she have been eager to take his money? When the shoe broke, his first assumption had been sabotage, so she would have to get a new pair. To a woman like her, it would be natural to let the man pay.Except it wasn’t that simple. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a bit of a headache forming. Her actions didn’t mesh with what he’d expected, what her background had led him to expect. Was it an elaborate con? Did she think she could convince him of her suitability for Josh by pretending not to want his money? Yet, she had been so intrigued by the hotel when she thought Josh
Chapter 13Lanie stood with her back to him, quivering slightly with anticipation. She heard a clicking sound as he opened the box, and then nothing for a few seconds. Something cold slithered around her neck, and she gasped, looking down. A gold collar with a single emerald in the center rested around her neck. Diamonds surrounded the emerald.Reflexively, she tugged at it. “Take it off.”“Relax.” He pulled her hand away, holding it at her side. “It’s just on loan from the Harry Winston store in the hotel.” Jason caressed her wrist. “Besides, it has a theft-proof clasp. You’ll never be able to take it off yourself.”She turned around, giving him a half-hearted glare. “All right,” she said with something less than graciousness. “Since it’s a loaner, it’s beautiful.”He grinned. “But it wouldn’t be beautiful if it was a gift?”Lanie found a small smile. “It would always be beautiful, but it would certainly exceed the within reason limits we set.”“These would definitely do so then.” He
Chapter 14By the time they reached the suite, Lanie’s body ached with need. It was all she could do to ball her hands into fists instead of using them to strip his clothes and run her hands over his body.He closed the door behind them and turned to her, his expression revealing nothing. “Would you like to join me for a drink before bed?”It was stupid. She should say no. “Yes.”Jason nodded. “Let’s meet on the balcony in ten minutes. The cityscape is gorgeous at night.” He took a few steps away before turning back to her. “Feel free to get out of that gown. It looks uncomfortable. I’m going to slip into a robe.”She inclined her head, standing still until he disappeared into his room. Slowly, she walked down the hall to the guestroom, letting herself in. When the door closed, she leaned against it, heart racing and hands trembling as she fumbled with the zipper. Her nerves sang, and she knew he was going to try to seduce her. Not that she needed much persuasion. Lanie shed the dress
Chapter 15Lanie glared up at him. “Fine, fuck me now, give us both an orgasm, and then take your time.”He grinned. “Such language from a nice young girl.”“Fuck nice.” She tossed her head when he lowered his head to lick her nipple again. “Oh.” Jason extended his tongue, carving a path down her belly, heading straight for the core of her. She lost her hold on his shaft as he bent lower, while lifting her rear higher. Lanie gasped when he pushed her backward, until she realized he wanted her to part her thighs and brace her feet on the table. She barely noticed the hard surface as she assumed the position he wanted.With tentative strokes, he parted her lips, again exploring her with his hand and fingers before his mouth settled on her pussy. She held her breath when he lowered his head. He penetrated her quickly, his tongue sweeping over her slit in long, broad strokes. Lanie cried out as he dipped into her opening before gliding back to her clit. His tongue circled and teased, work
Chapter 16A few hours after the worst of the nausea passed, Lanie was ready to get out of bed. Jason had made her stay there since that morning, though he hadn’t done anything pleasurable to keep her there once she had the urge to vomit. She sighed, annoyed. “I’m fine. Let me up, you barbarian.”He cocked his head, an unsettling gleam in his eyes. “On the condition you do something not too taxing.”“Like what?” She couldn’t keep a trace of suspicion out of her tone.“I think you could manage some shopping.”She groaned. “No, thanks. We’ve been through this. I don’t need anything.”Jason leaned closer, stroking her cheek. “What I have in mind would be for me too.”“Huh?”“I’m thinking frilly, lacy things and sexy shoes.”Lanie nibbled on her lower lip. It wouldn’t be a hardship to let him buy her a little lingerie, especially if it got her out of this bed. “Okay.” She took his hand as he lowered it from her face. “Within reason, right?”“Of course,” he said with a bland smile.****“T
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
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