Barbara Dunlop - Seduction And The Ceo

“You’re saying I’m a close second to your brothers?” The pride was gone.

She opened her eyes and managed a grin.

“Still feisty,” he said.

“Even when I’m beat.”

“Tell me about these burly construction-worker brothers of yours.”

“What do you want to know?”

“If they’ll have my name on a hit list when I get back to Chicago.”

“If I was eighteen you might be in trouble.”

“If you were eighteen, I wouldn’t be in this bed.”

She chuckled. “But they’ve mellowed over the years. Caleb wouldn’t hurt a fly. Eddy’s head over heels for a kindergarten teacher right now. He doesn’t even call anymore. Adam, Ben and Dan are married with little kids and more important things to worry about than their sister’s virtue.”

“It’s strange to hear all that,” said Jared. “I keep picturing you as an orphan. How does such a big family let you wander off on the bus system without money? It doesn’t make sense.”

“It’s my pride. I don’t talk to them about money.”

“Still, if it was Stephanie-”

“What about you?” Naked in Jared’s arms, Melissa really wasn’t in the mood to have to lie to him. “Extended family? Niece and nephew prospects?”

“No niece and nephew prospects. Stephanie’s too young, and Royce…well, you haven’t had a lot of time to spend with Royce. It’s hard to picture him with a wife and a white picket fence.”

“And you? Do you really want four kids?”

“I like kids,” said Jared. “But I wonder…”

“It’s not like you can’t afford them,” she put in. And he’d certainly have his pick of women. She could give him a list right now if he was interested.

His hand stilled on her stomach. “Money isn’t everything.”

“Said like a man who has plenty.”

“There’s love, affection, fidelity.”

“Fidelity?” she questioned.

He didn’t respond.

“Aren’t you getting a little ahead of yourself?” she asked. He might want to marry the lucky woman before he planned the divorce.

Jared shifted. “It’s not a given.”

She tipped her head so that she was looking at his face. “Maybe. But you don’t go into something planning for failure, either.”

He was gazing through the open window at the near-full moon. “You can love each other, or appear to love each other, and your marriage can still crumble.”

“You’re a cynic.”

“I’m a realist.”

A sudden unease came over her. “Jared? Have you been divorced?”

He shook his head. “No.”

But she could tell there was more. She waited as long minutes ticked by.

“What’s wrong?” she finally asked.

Tension radiated in waves from his body. “Jared?”

“My mother was unfaithful.”

The admission hit Melissa with the subtlety of a brick wall. She was too shocked to speak.

“The old cabin,” Jared rasped. “That bedroom.” His hand raked through his messy hair. “Until I saw it, I’d hoped Gramps’s memory had somehow…”

Melissa’s stomach clenched around nothing. “Oh, Jared.”

He met her gaze, his irises dark with the depth of his pain. “My whole life, I thought their deaths were an accident.”

“They weren’t?” Melissa struggled to understand what he was saying.

“My grandfather told me. Before he died. I guess he thought…” Jared drew a ragged breath. “I don’t know what he thought. I wish he hadn’t told me at all.”

“Somebody killed your parents?”

“My mother’s affair started a chain reaction, and three people ended up dead.”

“Three?” Melissa squeaked.

Jared’s tone turned warning. “Stephanie and Royce don’t know. I have to pretend everything is normal.”

Melissa nodded her understanding. “You went to the graveyard to keep the secret.”

“Yes.”

And he’d come to her afterward. She had no idea how she should feel about that.

He suddenly pulled her close, his face getting lost in the length of her hair, his arms and legs imprisoning her against his body.

“It’s stupid,” he told her. “I barely know you. But when I think of another man…” Jared drew another breath. “For a second tonight, I understood why my father shot him.”

Melissa reflexively stiffened. “Your father shot your mother’s lover?” “Yes.”

She swallowed a sickening feeling. “And the man died?”

“Yes. And that same night my parents’ truck went off the cliff. But my grandfather didn’t know that. So he threw the gun in the river. Two accidental deaths and a homicide with no clues. Nobody ever made the connection. I never made the connection.”

Melissa’s heart went out to Jared. What an incredible burden. And he was bearing it all alone.

“You should tell Stephanie and Royce,” she advised.

Jared scoffed out a cold laugh. “Why?”

“They could help you cope.”

“I’ll be fine.” His voice grew stronger. “Today was the worst. It’ll get easier now.” He gave a sharp nod. “I’ll be fine.”

Melissa wasn’t so sure. “Do you think maybe they deserve to know?”

“Nobody deserves to know this.”

She wasn’t going to argue further. She barely knew the family. Who was she to give them advice?

“I wish I could stay here,” he said.

“Me, too.” She’d like nothing better than to sleep in Jared’s arms. The morning might be awkward, but at the moment she was willing to risk it.

His hug loosened. “I leave for Chicago tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh.” She thought he was talking about staying the night. But he meant he was leaving the ranch. She backed off, slightly embarrassed by her presumption. She forcibly lightened her tone. “Of course. I know you have a big company to run.”

“Come with me.”

“Huh?”

“Come to Chicago. I have a Genevieve Fund event Tuesday night. We could go together. Spend a couple of nights in the city. Afterward, I’ll buy you a plane ticket to Seattle. You’ll be right back on schedule with your trip, and you won’t have to worry about the bus.”

There were a dozen reasons Melissa should have said no. Not the least of which was Stephanie’s resultant excitement and Royce’s knowing grin. There was also Melissa’s deception and the article and, though she hated to admit it, the very real possibility she was falling for Jared.

She glanced at his profile across the aisle in the compact private jet. Royce was in the pilot’s seat, while the two cream-colored, leather seats facing Melissa and Jared were empty. Four others behind them remained empty, as well.

Jared had offered her a drink and snacks after takeoff, but her stomach was too jumpy for either. Was she crazy? What if there were press at the charitable event? What if somebody recognized her?

As the jet began its descent, Jared reached across the aisle for her hand. “The ball’s at the Ritz-Carlton, so I booked us a suite. Royce is staying in my apartment.”

Melissa nodded. She’d have loved to see Jared’s apartment, but she understood he wanted them to be alone. And so did she. She wanted a night with him to herself-no Stephanie up the hill, no ranch hands next door and definitely no Royce in the neighboring bedroom.

Maybe heartache would hit her afterward. And she might be weeks recovering. But she knew a stolen fling with Jared would be worth it.

“You have a spa appointment tomorrow,” he continued. “And we can wander down North Michigan Avenue and find you a dress.”

“You do know how to spoil a girl.” She had several perfectly acceptable dresses at home, but she couldn’t admit that to Jared.

She felt another twinge of guilt over the deception. But it would end soon. And Jared might never read the article. Even if he did, he’d have to be pleased with it, she told herself. She intended to show him in a very good light.