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The Case For Temptation
Robyn Grady
“We can’t see each other again…and you know why. ” After an impulsive one-night stand with Jacob Stone, Teagan Hunter is shocked to discover he’s the lawyer intent on suing her brother. They’re done. But Jacob is relentless…and Teagan is tempted. Is Jacob actually the man for her, or is this a star-crossed scandal waiting to explode?
Will a passionate fling
spell trouble for a family dynasty?
“We can’t see each other again...
and I think you know why.”
After an impulsive one-night stand with Jacob Stone, Teagan Hunter is appalled to discover he’s a lawyer intent on suing her media mogul brother. They’re done. But Jacob pursues the understated heiress…and Teagan is tempted. Could the powerhouse attorney be the one to give Teagan the new lease on life she desperately needs? Or is this a star-crossed scandal waiting to explode?
ROBYN GRADY was first contracted by Mills & Boon in 2006. Her books feature regularly on bestseller lists and at award ceremonies, including the National Readers’ Choice Awards, the Booksellers’ Best Awards, CataRomance Reviewers’ Choice Awards and Australia’s prestigious Romantic Book of the Year.
Robyn lives on Australia’s gorgeous Sunshine Coast, where she met and married her real-life hero. When she’s not tapping out her next story, she enjoys the challenges of raising three very different daughters, going to the theatre, reading on the beach and dreaming about bumping into Stephen King during a month-long Mediterranean cruise.
Robyn knows that writing romance is the best job on the planet and she loves to hear from her readers! You can keep up with news on her latest releases at www.robyngrady.com (http://www.robyngrady.com)
Also by Robyn Grady (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
Losing Control
Temptation on His Terms
One Night, Second Chance
Discover more at millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk).
The Case for Temptation
Robyn Grady
www.millsandboon.co.uk (http://www.millsandboon.co.uk)
ISBN: 978-0-008-90412-8
THE CASE FOR TEMPTATION
В© 2020 Robyn Grady
Published in Great Britain 2019
by Mills & Boon, an imprint of HarperCollinsPublishers 1 London Bridge Street, London, SE1 9GF
All rights reserved including the right of reproduction in whole or in part in any form. This edition is published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, locations and incidents are purely fictional and bear no relationship to any real life individuals, living or dead, or to any actual places, business establishments, locations, events or incidents. Any resemblance is entirely coincidental.
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Note to Readers (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
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This story is for Joan,
Teagan Hunter’s biggest fan!
Contents
Cover (#u6e171a2e-f690-51b3-9a00-b4172d0677e3)
Back Cover Text (#u9b02dd86-d915-5269-a659-25427e191bee)
About the Author (#u0cc6956e-17b6-573b-a1f8-ac8a98d45fbc)
Booklist (#udce38733-c4d3-57df-b0ae-38e24a0d31c1)
Title Page (#ueefbb162-bc00-5f42-9fcb-ef85267d9f9a)
Copyright (#ud1471151-efe2-5234-90d9-905a8f8563b2)
Note to Readers
Dedication (#u9ee211e8-c0b8-5087-9fca-2e24b86c3d62)
One (#u5e3ecd8d-fbc8-5c71-b624-c14acd102e0d)
Two (#u0fe9304c-fa63-52c0-b04f-1844dd27d2cf)
Three (#u4edea63d-d481-5eb7-99de-2dc29ba293d9)
Four (#uac982b18-1361-59cb-8209-e70cda5650b4)
Five (#u95f5f41d-99a6-5be5-bf00-5845f8bd1ed0)
Six (#litres_trial_promo)
Seven (#litres_trial_promo)
Eight (#litres_trial_promo)
Nine (#litres_trial_promo)
Ten (#litres_trial_promo)
Eleven (#litres_trial_promo)
Twelve (#litres_trial_promo)
Thirteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fourteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Fifteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Sixteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Seventeen (#litres_trial_promo)
Eighteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Nineteen (#litres_trial_promo)
Twenty (#litres_trial_promo)
Twenty-One (#litres_trial_promo)
Twenty-Two (#litres_trial_promo)
About the Publisher (#litres_trial_promo)
One (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
As the private elevator continued its climb to the hotel’s presidential suite, Jacob Stone couldn’t help but admire the woman standing beside him. Forget the wow factor of endless waves of silken blond hair. Her beaded off-the-shoulder number must have cost a small fortune, and on that body, it was worth every damn cent.
No one was breaking the law but, if put on the stand, Jacob would have to admit—there was way more than just looking on his mind.
Finally, she glanced across at him. “You know you’re staring, right?”
“This’ll sound crazy...” Lame even, but he’d put it out there. “This is a first for me.”
“If you’re saying you’ve never had anyone back for a drink before tonight,” she laughed, “sorry. I’m not buying.”
Jacob’s teeth skimmed his lower lip as he propped a jacketed shoulder against the mirrored wall of the elevator and crossed his arms. This wasn’t about a nightcap after the party. He’d be more specific.
“We’ve known each other three hours. Four max.”
As her gaze eased away from his to the opening doors, one eyebrow hiked up. “Chickening out?”
His turn to laugh.
Not on your life.
Six weeks ago, Jacob had received a wedding invitation from an old friend, a lawyer who’d recently relocated to the West Coast. Marcus Lane had found The One and bought a ring. So Jacob had booked a first-class ticket from New York to LAX and attended today’s extravagant garden wedding. After the ceremony, which ended with the traditional release of doves, he followed the trail of pinging crystal flutes to a ballroom more elaborate than any set from a Hollywood blockbuster. Impressive, and he was happy for Marcus and his bride.
But Jacob had been thinking more about the multimillion-dollar lawsuit waiting back home than being in the moment. Then this woman had appeared, seemingly out of nowhere, and his mind-set had done a one-eighty.
When she had stopped at his table, Jacob wasted no time getting to his feet and pulling out her chair. As wine was poured and introductions exchanged, he’d been struck by her eyes—the most sensuous, slumberous green he’d ever seen. He apologized when she’d needed to repeat herself.
Her first name was Teagan. He hadn’t caught the last bit.
They’d been so busy talking that he couldn’t recall what they’d eaten or who had said what in a run of formal wedding speeches. And that juicy case back in New York? All but forgotten. After the bridal waltz, when the atmosphere dipped into low misty light and hold me close music, he’d taken Teagan’s hand and led her to the dance floor. Resting his cheek against her sweet-smelling hair—one hand holding hers, the other caressing the warm lower scoop of her back—he’d felt as if they were alone, or sure as hell ought to be.
Jacob never made assumptions, but with his senses homed on her body brushing his and her lips near enough to taste, he’d already decided how this evening would end. When he suggested a nightcap, she’d slid her palm down his lapel and curled two fingers into the fabric. Her exact words had been, “Let’s do it.”
And yet now, out of the elevator and opening the door to his suite, Jacob saw Teagan hesitate, which, of course, made him hesitate, too.
Earlier conversation had revolved around general interests, politics, business. She was into health and fitness, and owned a business in Seattle called High Tea Gym. He’d opened up about the law practice he’d inherited, but hadn’t elaborated on his reputation, which was cutthroat. Where litigation against the big guns was concerned, Crush or Be Crushed was the only motto to live by.
When they’d discussed friends, he’d shared a couple of tales about Griff and Ajax Rawson, two of his best friends whom he counted as family and vice versa. He had avoided the subject of blood relations and found it interesting that Teagan had done the same. Not a word.
Now listening to the beads of her gown rustling as she moved into the spacious, lavishly appointed room, Jacob had to wonder. Everything about her announced poise and class, but there were plenty of ordinary folk who had learned to master the nuances of the privileged, himself included. So was it possible that Teagan’s background was similar to his own? Vastly different from all this glitz and best filed away?
Best forgotten?
As she turned, and then smiled again...hell, what did it matter? Closing the distance separating them with a few easy strides, Jacob set questions and doubts aside. What counted now was finally claiming that first kiss. Everything else—including that defamation case against Hunter Publications—would have to wait.
Jacob Stone was so not her type.
As Teagan turned to see him close the door, she reminded herself again, I like blue eyes. Lively and ocean-deep. Tender and kind. The preference went as far back as her first crush freshman year.
Mr. Stone’s eyes were the kind of focused amber gold that, combined with the jet-black hair, reminded her of a panther—a mesmerizing, muscled male who hadn’t eaten in a week. As Jacob slid the key card onto a marble side table and headed over, that hungry gaze locked onto hers and Teagan’s jaw almost dropped. He even moved like a big cat. Completely captivating, and she was a dog person!
As he drew nearer, Teagan puzzled more. In relationships, she wanted openness and honesty. As much as they had talked this evening, she’d gotten the impression that Jacob was more about control and charm—subtle when need be, direct when the time was right. For instance, she could bet he wouldn’t stop his approach until he stood squarely in her space, as close as he’d been on the dance floor earlier. Then, of course, he would offer the same confident smile he had used when he’d suggested a drink here in his suite.
At that moment, with his mouth a hair’s breadth away from hers, her body had tingled in all the right places. Caution had melted away. Again, not her usual reaction. True substance, real feelings, including the sizzling sexual kind, needed time to grow, didn’t they?
Now, as if he’d read her mind, and just to prove her wrong, Jacob stopped more than an arm’s length away. No confident smile, either. Instead his eyebrows knitted while that amber-gold gaze penetrated hers. She felt the tingling again and way more than before.
“Teagan? Are you all right?”
She gathered herself, shrugged it off. “Um, last time I looked—sure.”
One side of his mouth tugged higher. “You seem...uncertain.”
Tearing her gaze away from his, siphoning in much needed air, she glanced around and made an excuse. “I was just taking this place in.”
It was Italian marble everywhere, gold-plated everything, along with perfectly lit artwork that might belong in the Louvre. The excess reminded Teagan of her father’s home after his new wife had remodeled. Yes, he was a billionaire but, for Teagan’s taste, over the top.
None of the “children” were happy about their dad’s second marriage. For starters, stepmom Eloise was more about the almighty dollar than anything else. Nevertheless, they had all supported their father and, of course, their new little brother and baby sister. Family stuck together, no matter their differences—and this clan had a few. But if anyone was in trouble, there was no question, no pause. They closed ranks, now more than ever before.
Jacob was crossing to the suite’s phone extension. “I’ll order up champagne.”
“Actually, I’m good with juice or water.”
Without missing a beat, he veered toward the bar’s long, gleaming counter. “I’ll whip something up.”
While eyeing some side shelves, Jacob removed his tie then unfastened the shirt buttons at his throat. Teagan caught a tantalizing glimpse of upper chest. It took her back to their time on the dance floor...to sensations of grazing the hard length of his body and soaking in all that delicious masculine heat.
As he shucked off his jacket, Teagan drifted closer. Beneath the white dress shirt, his chest was strong and chiseled. He folded each sleeve back, revealing two powerful, summer-tanned forearms, then turned to the refrigerator to check out the contents. Teagan told herself not to ogle the lines of his tailored pants then went right ahead and did it anyway.
Long, solid legs.
Even better buns.
Grabbing a stool, Teagan cleared her throat.
“I usually stay clear of alcohol,” she said. “The last time I had champagne was at my brother’s wedding.”
Jacob turned back around and slid a container of chilled berries over the counter toward her. “Nice day?”
“The ceremony was beautiful.” It had been a smallish affair held on the estate grounds in a marquee. “Not quite as glam as this one, of course.”
His chuckle was a deep rumble. “Of course.”
No need to go into how that day had ended—with an actual bomb going off. That incident had been the latest in a string of attacks targeting their father. While the authorities were on the case, the madman responsible was still at large.
Nothing you can do about it, so deep breath. Focus on the good stuff.
“I caught up with a friend there,” she said, selecting a cold berry. “Our families holidayed together one Christmas. Grace Munroe and I became pen pals, but we lost touch over the years. When I found out she was dating my brother, I almost fell off my chair.”
“You mean the brother who got married?”
“Another one,” she said, and popped the berry in her mouth.
“So, you have two brothers?”
“My parents had four children, me and three older boys. When my father remarried, he had two more—another son and a girl.”
“Did your mom remarry, too?”
“She passed away.”
Jacob stopped laying drink ingredients on the counter. “I’m sorry.”
Teagan nodded. Thanks.So am I.
“My friend and brother got engaged Christmas Day,” she said, getting back to the main thread while Jacob found two chilled martini glasses. “Funny because when we were young, those two hated each other.”
Seeing them together now, those two were so obviously in love—so meant to be. Teagan knew Grace and Wynn were destined to grow old together, with gray hair and stooped backs, blissfully content, surrounded by a clutch of grandkids. She was happy for them. Envious, in fact. Commitment, marriage, children...everyone seemed to be doing it. But Teagan couldn’t see that kind of scenario in her own future. It simply wasn’t in the cards.
Jacob found pineapple juice, vanilla syrup, crushed ice and a shiny silver shaker while Teagan drank in the show. Watching this man move made the nerve endings under her skin quiver and snap alive. And he was just getting started. After tipping in an ounce of syrup, he flipped the shaker into the air and caught it in the same hand—behind his back. Not a single drop spilled.
She laughed. “Hey! Good party trick.”
“Bartending paid the bills through law school.”
Teagan sat straighter. Interesting. He came from money—earlier he had mentioned inheriting a law firm—but he hadn’t necessarily relied on it. Maybe Jacob Stone was more her type than she’d thought.
Unlike her older brothers who had accepted jobs with the family company, Teagan had decided to go it alone. The boys had dubbed her The Wild Child, but there was more to her opting out than that. Lately, however, she’d thought about going back. Everyone was on tenterhooks waiting for the next attack. She should be there for her family now.
Jacob was pouring juice into that shaker like a pro.
“Working and studying full-time was a challenge,” he said. “But I loved every minute. Passing the New York State Bar was always my dream.”
“Do you have a specialty?” Remembering the situation back home in Australia, Teagan leaned closer. “Like criminal law?”
“I deal in reputations. Defamation. Libel.”
“Oh, like that case in the news a while back.” She recalled the details. “A big-name movie director sued a magazine after they claimed he had indecently assaulted someone.”
“The magazine lost.” He smacked the juice bottle down like a gavel. “We won.”
Get outta here. “That was your case?”
“Done and dusted, Your Honor.”
Congratulations were in order. But there was a downside. “The amount that director wanted was insane. The magazine worried it would ruin them. That people would lose their jobs.”
Jacob studied her before adding a scoop of ice to the shaker. “Not my responsibility.”
“Meaning, you’d done your job.” Had brought down the kill.
“Meaning, if you turn your back on the truth, spread malicious lies, and you come up against me—prepare to pay the price.”
Jacob didn’t seem agitated. Rather, he looked determined, like Teagan’s oldest brother Cole when he was stuck in commander in chief mode. Wynn could be the same way. Focused, Grace called it. Even Dex, the chilled middle brother, could switch on that don’t mess with me trait when need be.
Frankly, the entire family—and their goliath media and news corporation—was known for keeping its eye on the target. Never letting a prize get away. Way too intense for The Wild Child, even if Teagan’s father reminded her every chance he got that she shared the same name. That the same blood ran through her veins. He’d said that she couldn’t hide from who she was. DNA didn’t lie.
While Jacob screwed on the shaker’s lid, Teagan joined him behind the bar. “Mind if I try?”
He handed it over. “Be my guest.”
She gave the shaker a few slow rotations before going to town. As ice clinked and liquid swished at warp speed, Jacob’s eyes widened.
“I’m all about protein shakes, not cocktails.” She put a hand on her heart. “I swear.”
After she poured the mixture into their glasses, he proposed a fitting toast. “To the truth, the whole truth.”
Teagan touched her glass to his. “So help me, God.”
She sipped then sighed. Fresh and light and...yeah...
About that toast.
“I need to come clean,” she said, setting her glass aside. “I have a confession to make.”
“Well, if you need a good lawyer...”
She returned his lopsided grin then admitted, “This is actually a first for me, too...being here with you like this tonight.”
His smile changed. The look in his eyes, as well. “As in, two people who just met leaving a party together?”
She nodded. “Needing to be alone for an hour or two.”
That amber gaze turned ravenous again. When he stepped closer and a hot palm skimmed beneath the back of her hair—when his head deliberately angled and lowered over hers—it didn’t matter that he wasn’t what Teagan thought she wanted, needed, maybe even deserved. As his mouth covered hers, there was only one certainty that seemed to shine through. One truth that couldn’t be denied.
She was indeed her father’s daughter. A Hunter by name. In many respects, a Hunter by nature. And tonight, damn it all, she was hungry, too.
Two (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
There were times when things felt good. Felt right. There were others when forces conspired or stars aligned and what happened was out of this world.
Like now, Jacob thought, being here with this woman who had come out of nowhere and left zero doubt as to what she was thinking. Where they were heading. Her words alone would have sufficed. The definite yes in her gaze was the icing on the cake.
Let’s do it.
As Jacob claimed the first kiss, he felt her dissolve, her two arms coiling around his neck. After blindly setting his glass on the counter, he caressed the curve of her hip while his tongue swept the seam of her lips and they parted. Then she craned up on her toes and pressed her breasts against his ribs. As the kiss deepened and her fingers knotted in his hair, he only grew more certain.
They would need way more than an hour or two.
When Jacob drew away, he kept his gaze on her lips. “Things aren’t going too fast?”
A smile played at the corners of her mouth as those gorgeous green eyes drifted open. “Not for me.” As she nodded, a waterfall of blond hair cascaded over her shoulder. “How about you? All good?”
So good. Particularly now that she was flicking open every shirt button down to his belt and tracing arcs over his pecs with her nails. Needing to keep up, he found the zipper at her back and eased that baby all the way down. As the gown slipped and rustled into a glittering puddle around her heels, he worked the shirttails from his pants and cast his shirt to the floor. Then he brought her close and claimed her mouth again.
Only now that wasn’t nearly enough.
He bent at the knees and caught her around the waist. Then, inch by inch, he lifted her until her silver heels fanned the air a foot above the ground. And that’s how he carried her to his bed. Step by step.
Kiss by kiss.
From the minute Jacob had held her on the dance floor—like they’d been the only ones in the room—she had looked forward to this moment. Getting her out of that dress so fast had been a pleasant surprise. When he’d lifted her up against him, his mouth fused to hers the whole time, Teagan wondered just how good this could get.
She was vaguely aware of leaving the light behind...of moving into the bedroom. He adjusted his hold on her waist to throw back the covers. Then, he laid her down on the cool, crisp sheet.
As his lips left hers, she let her arms fall and curl around her head. Siphoning a giddy breath, she took in the sight of him crouched above her. Light filtered through from the main room. In the soft shadows, the strong angles of his jaw and Roman nose looked more pronounced. Those lidded amber eyes seemed to glow. When he smiled, the thrill of anticipation shot straight to her core.
His voice vibrated through to her bones.
“There’s something I need to do.”
She plucked at the sheet above her head. “You don’t need to ask permission.”
He came closer. “Are you sure about that?”
She felt a rush of heat. The need to groan. Arching toward him was pure reflex, one that didn’t seem to surprise him at all. When he didn’t move, she told him again as she bent her knee and brushed her leg against his.
“Yes, Jacob,” she said.
Yes, yes, yes.
He eased back, slipped off one heel, then the other, and dropped both her shoes to the floor. When he flicked on a bedside light, the glow was warm and teasing—perfect for taking in his cut torso. But he was still wearing pants while she was pretty much naked. Not a whole lot to hide, including the scar she’d seen reflected in bathroom mirrors half her life. The jagged line was too long and high for an appendix op, and too prominent to go unnoticed for long, particularly given the way Jacob’s lidded gaze was devouring her now.
If he frowned and asked—What the hell happened there?—she would tell him straight up. Fell off my bicycle when I was a kid. Moving on. But he didn’t seem to notice, even when he knelt over her again and his head gradually went lower.
While the tip of his tongue slid along her panty line, one big hand skimmed up her side until his thumb came to rest under her breast. When his mouth slid even lower and he nuzzled her through the patch of white silk, that thumb brushed higher, grazing and flicking and teasing her nipple.
Teagan gripped the sheet, closed her eyes and arched up again.
Sparks were flying, the majority of them having a party under his lips. Then—dear God!—he used his teeth. Every pulse point in her body instantly contracted and hummed.
His next words were matter-of-fact.
“This has to go.”
Her underwear?
She was ready to rip her panties off herself when he lifted her behind with one hand and eased down the silk with the other. He kissed that part of her before the tip of his tongue delved deeper, tickling and twirling until she was wound up so tight, she could barely think. When he raised her hips higher and slid a finger inside, she gripped his hair as a warning.
Don’t stop.
She imagined she felt him smile against her before he eased away, taking that final scrap of clothing with him—down her thighs, past her calves, off her feet. After finding his wallet, he set a foil packet on the bedside table then ditched his shoes and pants while she pressed back into the sheet and took in the show.
He braced his long, rock-solid legs so they were slightly apart. His hips were lean and mean, but it was where the lines converged that drew her gaze like a magnet. As he came forward again, setting one knee on the mattress, one hand on the sheet, she pushed up and met him halfway. Their mouths came together as his free hand curved around her back and she held on for all she was worth.
When his mouth finally left hers, he hummed out a breath then looked into her eyes, smiling.
“You said something earlier.”
She grazed her toes up the back of his calf. “You mean about not needing to ask?”
“About needing to be alone for an hour or two.” He tasted her lips again and stayed close. “Not long enough.”
She traced a fingertip around the shell of his ear. “Are you watching the clock?”
He grinned. “I’m watching you.” He dropped another lingering kiss at the side of her mouth. “Stay till morning?”
Was he kidding?
Of course she would stay.
He rolled on their protection and positioned himself above her. When he pushed inside, she quivered and lost every bit of her breath. In the shadows, he studied her for a long moment before he started moving and slow-kissing her lips.
As he caught her thigh and wrapped her leg around the back of his, she gripped his neck and surrendered it all. And when his thrusts grew faster—when the friction turned white-hot—she squeezed him tighter, bit her lip harder, and came apart like she’d known she would.
Like she never had before.
Three (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
The smell of fresh coffee woke her.
Blinking open sleepy eyes, Teagan remembered she wasn’t in her own room. The bed looked like a tornado had torn through. Shoes and clothes were strewn all over the place. Jacob Stone was gone from the bed, but his musky scent, and the memories, were everywhere.
Burrowing back into the bedclothes, she circled her head with her arms. What an amazing night! The most intense, and beautiful, of her life. From the instant they’d met, those dark, dreamy looks had grabbed her. Accompanying him from the wedding reception to this suite...
Well, it was always going to end this way—with them twined up together, naked in bed. The decision might have been impulsive, but the reality of making love with Jacob Stone had proved to be more than spur of the moment. It was breathtaking, liberating, and she would do it all again in a heartbeat.
Grinning, Teagan caught her lower lip between her teeth.
Exactly how long was it before her flight?
Getting to her feet, she picked up on the aroma of pancakes and was suddenly so hungry, needing to refuel. But if Jacob walked through those bedroom doors this minute, she would happily snack on him instead. This was—he was—the wake-up call she’d needed.
She’d always prided herself on being strong. Resilient. Then a few months ago she’d suffered a miscarriage, and a relationship she had valued died, too. Now, heading for the attached bath, she felt relief. She could finally look back on that time as a hard lesson learned.
Years after the childhood accident that had left that scar, she’d been told she would likely never conceive. Following her recent loss, however, that prognosis had been modified. Should she become pregnant again, the probability of an early first-trimester spontaneous abortion was high, which had made her feel even worse.
But this time spent with Jacob had helped her turn a corner. She would always remember the pain—physical, mental and emotional—but she had grieved long enough. She could still live a meaningful and happy life.
Just not the one she would have chosen if she’d had any say.
Jacob heard the shower shut off and waited for Teagan to stroll into the main room. When she did, she was wrapped in an oversize hotel robe, long, damp hair free of salon curls and her beautiful face scrubbed squeaky clean. She took him in, too, in his gray T-shirt and weekend drawstring pants, before studying the room service feast he’d ordered up.
She laughed. “Well, someone’s hungry.”
His gaze lowered to her mouth. “Always.”
They each moved forward until he was close enough to repeat the scene that had gotten things started last night. After sliding a hand around the back of her neck, with great purpose and pleasure, he tasted those sweet lips again.
But this kiss was different. Because it would be one of their last? Or the start of something more? Something new?
He gradually broke the kiss but didn’t step away. Being this close again, he felt recharged. Ready for anything, including finding more time to please this woman in every conceivable way.
But first...
“We need coffee.” He reached for the silver service pot. “At least I do.”
As he poured two cups, she held up a hand. “No sugar for me.”
He handed Teagan’s cup over then dropped two lumps into his own, as well as an inch of cream. Chugging back a mouthful, he pulled out a seat for her before grabbing a strip of crispy bacon.
Let the feast begin!
After pulling in her chair, Teagan inspected a glass-covered dish. “Is that steak?”
“Filet mignon. Goes great with hollandaise.”
There was grilled tomato, smashed avocado, sautГ©ed mushrooms, a pile of golden hash browns and more. It smelled so darn good. But she only reached for the muesli container and shook a modest helping into a bowl. Tacking his smile back on, Jacob helped himself to the smorgasbord. This morning, he could eat enough for two.
Earlier, he’d laid her gown over the back of a couch. She caught sight of it now before eyeing the door to the suite.
“This’ll be interesting.” She set down the container. “My first walk of shame.”
“If anyone can get away with wearing that evening gown this time of day, it’s you.”
She was busy searching the room-service spread again. Really looking this time, like she couldn’t find what she wanted. Impossible.
He put his fork down. “Are we missing something?”
“Plant-based milk?”
“Like soy?”
“Or almond.”
He got to his feet. “I’ll order some up.”
Waving him off, she reached for the pancakes. “This is even better.”
No trouble, but he wouldn’t push. If she was happy, so was he. And after breakfast, before they thought about jetting back to ordinary life, there might be time enough to revisit what they had discovered in each other the night before. Frankly, he wanted to slip the robe off her shoulders, taste every inch of that incredible body, and then do it all over again.
She was looking at his plate. He looked down, too. Ha. He’d forgotten all about the food.
As he pushed a loaded fork into his mouth and Teagan poured syrup over a pancake, she said, “I suppose you need to check out soon and get back.”
He chewed and swallowed while pouring them juice. “My flight’s not till one.”
“Mine’s around that time, too.”
“You need a lift to the airport?”
“No, no. I just don’t want to hold you up.”
“I’m in no hurry.” Watching how she was downing that juice, he asked, “Are you?”
She set down her empty glass. “It’s Sunday.”
Right. “The weekend. Time to relax. Forget about work.”
Although tomorrow would be a day and a half. He had depositions to sort, background notes, too. There was an afternoon meeting scheduled with that defamation client—former Londoner, Grant Howcroft. Hunter Publications was in for a very public kick in the corporate pants. Making up tales might sell magazines but—moral of the story, boys—dishonesty does not pay.
“It must be full-on being a big-name lawyer,” Teagan said as she cut into her syrup-soaked pancake.
Was he looking preoccupied?
“It can get busy,” he said, loading his fork again.
“Even on weekends?”
Remembering how her legs had dug into the back of his thighs as she’d bucked up against him, Jacob gave her his word. “Not this weekend.”
“Are you sure?”
He wanted to laugh. “Absolutely.”
“It’s just... I’ve seen that expression before. The gotta get back to the grind look.”
Sure. “There’s an element of that. You’d know, with a business of your own.”
“A small business. That’s more than enough.” She hastened to add, “Of course, people should make their own choices. Ambition isn’t necessarily a bad thing.”
Ambition was a very good thing, particularly when someone had a past like his: a legacy of poverty, despair and why the hell bother.
“I had a weird upbringing. Guess that’s where I get my drive.” He put a little more sugar in his cup and listened to the tinkle of the spoon as he stirred. “How about you?”
“As far as drive goes? I want my business to do well.”
“It’s important to you?”
“Of course.”
He looped back to the heart of the question. “And your upbringing?” Her childhood?
“I wouldn’t say it was weird. More filled with challenges, I suppose.”
The previous night, they had learned so much about each other, and not all of it purely physical. And yet now, in the morning light, Teagan still seemed largely a mystery.
They both had flights to catch. Nevertheless, he wanted to know more—feel more, which was a big step for him. It was the right time, right place.
Certainly right girl.
After she’d finished two pancakes and Jacob had put a decent dent in his generous helping, he dabbed the corners of his mouth with a linen napkin then tapped back into that question.
“So, where did you grow up again?” When they’d met, he’d asked about the accent, which wasn’t always noticeable but definitely cute.
“Australia. Sydney.” She chose a fat strawberry from the fruit platter. “My family’s still there. Well, my father and his wife and their kids. My oldest brother and his wife, too.”
“And the rest of the clan?”
“My other brothers are in the States now. Actually, the middle one lives here in LA. He’s engaged to someone who grew up in Oklahoma so he spends a lot of downtime there. The other brother’s in New York.”
“Hey. Small world.”
“Wynn’s a dyed-in-the-wool workaholic. Although, now that he has Grace in his life, I’m sure that’ll change. Or I hope that it does.”
In the middle of topping up coffee cups, Jacob hesitated as a chill rippled over his scalp. He shook it off. Found a smile.
“Wynn? That’s an unusual name. I’m putting a case together at the moment. The defendant, if it gets that far—” which it would “—his name is Wynn.”
“Wow. How about that.”
He nodded. Smiled again. Yeah. “How about that.”
Seeming to read his mind, Teagan laughed. “Don’t worry. It couldn’t be my Wynn. He keeps his cards close to his chest, but a libel suit? He’d have said something about that. Social media would be all over it.”
“We haven’t submitted yet. No one knows.”
Teagan reached for another berry while Jacob finished his second cup of coffee. She hadn’t spoken about her family the previous night and hadn’t gone into much detail now, not that he’d been particularly forthcoming in that area, either. Admitting that his background was weird was the tip of a Titanic-size iceberg. His childhood had been beyond toxic.
But right now he was more interested in Teagan. And Wynn.
“So what does your brother in New York do? We might know each other.”
“How many Wynns have you met again?”
He grinned and conceded. “Only one, and that’s on paper.”
“So you couldn’t know my brother.”
Ha. Right.
Still...
“What did you say he does for a living?”
Teagan gave him an odd look, like, “maybe drop this.” And he would, as soon as this was squared away, because the back of his neck was prickling now. Could be nothing, but he’d learned the hard way to always pay attention to that.
“Wynn works for my father’s company,” she said. “Or an arm of it. All the boys do.”
The prickling grew.
One arm of a family company? “Sounds as if your father runs a big enterprise.”
“It’s big, all right. Out of college, I decided to do my own thing. I didn’t want any part of the drama.”
“You’re not estranged from your family, though.”
Her eyebrows snapped together. “God, no.”
“Everyone went to that wedding?”
“Everyone was there.”
“So you’re all close.”
“We’ve had our differences, between my brothers and father particularly. Too much alike. Although, as they get older, it’s not as intense. And, yes. We are close. Protective.” She pulled the lapels of her robe together, up around her throat. “That’s the way it is with our family. We can say what we want about each other, but anyone throwing shade from the outside needs to brace himself for a smackdown.” She set her napkin on the table. “What about you?”
Jacob was still thinking about Wynn and family companies with arms in Sydney, LA and New York.
He tried to focus. “Sorry? What was that?”
“Your family, Jacob. Do you have any siblings? Nieces or nephews?”
“No siblings.” As far as blood went, anyway.
“So, it’s just your parents and you?”
He rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s complicated.”
Her laugh was forced. “More complicated than mine?”
Shrugging, he got to his feet. Teagan got to hers, too.
There were questions in her eyes. Doubts about where he’d come from, who he really was. Okay. Let’s see.
His A-hole father had jumped ship before Jacob was in school, right before Mom had screwed up monufreakingmentally. As a teenager, he’d gone off the rails and literally crashed before lucking out and finding a buoy at just the right moment.
But that was a lifetime ago. So forget about the past and concentrate on this. On now.
Jacob took her hands and stated the glaringly obvious.
“I had a great time last night.”
Her expression softened. “Me, too. Really nice.”
When he lifted her hand and pressed his lips to her palm, every fiber in his body sat up and took notice.
“You smell so good,” he said. Like vanilla.
“It’s called soap.”
“I skipped the shower. Didn’t want to wake you up.”
She tilted her head and gave him a teasing look. “I’m awake now.”
His gaze roamed her face...the thousand different curves and dips he’d adored and kissed long into the night. Then he considered their backgrounds again, and that yet to be filed libel suit. He thought about his Wynn, and he thought about hers.
It didn’t matter. At least, it didn’t matter right now.
Leaning in, he circled the tip of her nose with his and murmured, “That robe needs to go.”
Her beautiful eyes smiled before she unraveled the bulky tie at her waist. A second later, the robe lay pooled on the floor and they were headed for the bedroom again.
Four (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
All six shower nozzles were well placed and set to warm and ready. Add two large, soapy hands indulging every part of her body, and Teagan was riding the fast track to Take Me Now. Or was that Take Me Again? Evidently, Jacob Stone’s sole purpose in life was to leave her feeling completely satisfied. Totally adored.
Who was she to complain?
But there were things she wanted for him, too, and precious minutes were flying by. There was no time to lose. So she slid a palm down over that ripped six-pack and curled her fingers around the part of him that so badly wanted to play.
His jaw grazed her temple as he groaned.
“Please say we’re not leaving today.”
“We have maybe an hour.”
When she tightened her hold and slid her hand all the way down his shaft, he groaned again—deeper this time.
“An hour’s not enough.”
She grinned. “We’re not doing that again.”
But when he backed her up to the marble wall and slapped his palms against it high on either side of her head, Teagan seriously wanted to reconsider.
As she continued to work his erection, he lowered his head and tasted a line from the slope of one wet shoulder to her neck. By the time he reached her earlobe, he’d begun to move along with her, falling into the rhythm, his pelvis slowly rocking in time with her stroke. When she’d built up the tempo enough, he gripped her hand and buried his face in her hair.
“Tea... Christ...you’re killing me.”
“Oh. Sorry.”
Not.
“You know I’ll get you back.”
She whispered in his ear, “You’d better.”
Being naked with Jacob Stone set her on fire. As long as their bodies were touching, she felt completely consumed. It was helping to elbow out some of those memories from breakfast.
She didn’t care that she was a vegetarian and Jacob loved his meat, or that he wanted to save her from walking out this morning wearing an evening gown. What hadn’t sat well was their conversation about family.
He’d asked questions, which she’d answered. But he wouldn’t let up about Wynn. Yes, it was an unusual name, and she was certain Hunter Enterprises’ lawyers had dealt with libel suits before. Sometimes reporters needed to dig around in the dirt to uncover the truth.
Of course, the media should be responsible when sharing information, but Wynn was the poster boy for ethics—thorough and principled to the point of driving people nuts. Nothing anyone might say, or try to bring against him in a court of law, could ever change her opinion on that.
But now, as Jacob’s mouth began working its magic again in a feverous kiss, Teagan pushed all that other stuff from her mind. This slice of time was about filling the well. About being human and truly feeling again.
When his lips left hers, he took his time searching her eyes while she pledged to memory the chiseled angle of his jaw and how water dripped off the tip of his nose. She wanted to remember the way he was looking at her now, like he would do anything to never let her go.
“We wasted too much time sleeping last night.” Droplets fell from his black lashes as his gaze burned into hers. “I need to be inside you.”
It was a statement of fact. A heartfelt plea.
Yes, I want that, too.
Just one problem.
As compelling as this moment was, safety came first.
Obviously, Jacob agreed. “Condoms are in the bedroom,” he said.
“So we should turn off the faucets.”
“Or we could go with something else.”
She grinned. “Something new?”
“There is nothing new. There’s only better.”
He edged them both around, swapping places while coaxing her to about-face. With his shoulders propped against the wall and that rock-hard body cradling her back and behind, he began nuzzling her neck, caressing her breasts, while one hot palm slid down her front. But when he reached her scar and stopped, she pressed back against him and stiffened.
He kissed the crown of her head. “That’s been there a while. Must have hurt.”
“I fell off my bike in middle school.”
“We should compare battle scars sometime. I’ve got a couple of whoppers.”
As he talked, his hand slipped lower and a finger curved between the apex of her thighs.
Jacob was back to his old tricks, concentrating solely on her. And as he began to tease and gently rub, she forgot about childhood accidents, the fact that time was running out, or anything else that might interfere. She only wanted to concentrate on the outgoing tide and look forward to being carried away.
All too soon, she was trembling and contracting inside. There was a sense of friction building...of everything else blurring and fading away.
His words were warm at the shell of her ear.
“This was a good idea.”
“Don’t...” She swallowed, caught her breath. “Don’t talk.”
Pinpricks of heat were flying together, joining and compressing until finally her hips bucked forward, her head rocked back. And before all that intensity came close to burning out, she climaxed again, higher and brighter and, yes, just that bit better. Still touching her, loving her, he wrung out the last spasm until she couldn’t stand. Couldn’t think. She was officially mindless.
Unreservedly his.
But as he scooped her up and carried her to their bed—curled up in his arms, dripping wet—Teagan knew this wasn’t over yet. Jacob Stone wasn’t done with her. Not even close.
Nothing was ever perfect, but if Jacob had to come up with something darn close, these hours spent with Teagan would be it. And as much as he had enjoyed the previous night—the talking, the dancing, the mind-blowing sex—this morning’s installment in the shower had blown that all clean away.
Now, after making love again, they were lying together, face-to-face, nose to nose. As she looked into his eyes and he looked back, he could only think of the slice of time they had left. Bottom line: he wanted to see her again. But, unless his guess was wrong—and that wasn’t likely—this liaison was about to wind up, not for now, but for good.
The finality of that goodbye hinged on something he needed to say. Something she wouldn’t be able to look past. And, frankly, neither would he.
“We need to go,” she said, her gaze lingering on his lips. His insides gave a kick that was a whole lot of desire but even more regret.
He exhaled. “How are we going to do that?”
“We get off this bed and say goodbye at the door.”
“I don’t like that plan.”
“Okay. You stay here and I’ll pick up my things on the way out.”
“That won’t work, either.”
Her eyes glistened as she smiled. “I think we’re out of options.”
He came closer and brushed his lips over hers. “Not quite.”
Drawing back, she gave him a playful, admonishing look. “We don’t have time for another shower.”
“No?”
She laughed softly. “No.”
“Okay. Get ready for Stone’s option number two.”
He leaned up on an elbow, resting his jaw in his palm as she pushed to her feet and turned to face him.
Waiting, she cocked her head. “I’m listening.”
Looking at her awesome nakedness, he was stuck.
“Yeah. I forgot.”
Smiling, shaking her head, she headed for the bathroom. “And don’t you dare follow me.”
He spoke to her through the open doorway. “The walk of shame.”
She called back. “What about it?”
“I, for one, would love to see you in that gown again. But we can call one of the boutiques in the lobby and have something in your size sent up. Shoes, too.”
Easy. Done.
“That’s sweet, but I don’t need an Edward Lewis.”
Jacob was on his feet, still figuring that out—Edward who?—when she returned to the room. She was wearing the T-shirt he’d peeled off before they’d flipped on the shower faucets. It almost came down to her knees.
Striking a hands on hips model pose, she asked, “How do I look?”
“Like a goddess.”
She blinked and then laughed, but he’d never been more serious in his life. Which made this even harder...what had to be done. They needed to have one more conversation. Better that she found out now, and from him.
While Teagan searched for her shoes, he pulled on his drawstring pants and then rummaged around in his bag for a shirt, which turned out to be a starched business number. Even when he headed off to chill with the Rawsons for a couple of days, he packed one—along with a dark blue jacket and dress pants. That’s what lawyers did. Those who ran a firm on Lexington Avenue, at least.
Teagan had slung her heels over her shoulder. She was ready to go. But before she could say another word—It’s been nice...see you next wedding—Jacob spoke up.
“I’ll walk you to your hotel room.”
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to.” He looked down at himself, his mismatched clothes, his bare feet. “We can do the walk of shame together.”
“I’m a big girl. I don’t need anyone to hold my hand.”
“Then hold mine.” When she gave a maybe not look, he added, “I won’t beg. Unless I have to.”
She surrendered a smile. “Okay. But remember, we have flights to catch.”
He held up one hand and put the other out, horizontal and palm down. “I swear on the Bible. Best behavior.”
Her brows pinched and for a moment he thought she was going to say he was trying too hard. Maybe, but not to make an impression or to cling. He liked Teagan, more than any woman he’d known, but he didn’t have a stalkerish bone in his body. When he finally said what needed to be said, he wanted Teagan to be in the position of power. In her own space. Closing the door in his face if need be.
Moving out of the bedroom, she collected her gown and evening bag while he found the key card. They took the elevator to her floor and made their way down the hall. After she’d swiped and stepped inside, he did it.
He came clean.
“I need to ask you something,” he said. “Confirm...something. Your surname. It’s Hunter, isn’t it?”
Her smile was tight. “Jacob, I told you that last night when we met.”
“I, uh, didn’t catch it.”
“It’s okay. All’s forgiven.”
Rubbing his temple, he muttered, “I wish.”
“What was that?”
“I didn’t realize it until we spoke over breakfast. About your family. About your brother. Wynn Hunter.” All your cards on the table now, bro. “He’s the Wynn I’m looking to sue.”
Teagan’s shoulders slumped. Finally, she exhaled. “What a crap note to finish on.”
Crap was right. “I’m sorry.”
“Sorry that you want to take down my brother? Or sorry that you didn’t share this with me before the shower?”
“The last one.”
“That’s what I figured.”
But she appeared calm, as though he’d admitted to liking baseball more than hockey. Where was the name calling? The face slapping? He wanted to sue the pants off her brother, for Pete’s sake.
“I thought you’d be more cut up about it,” he said.
“Oh?”
Maybe he hadn’t been clear. “I intend to decimate Wynn when I get him on the stand.”
“I assume that’s what clients pay you for.”
He dragged a hand down his face, shifted his weight. “You told me how close your family is. When news of this hits, when your brother receives the verdict...it will affect the entire Hunter conglomerate.”
Again. Totally unruffled.
He lowered his voice. “I don’t play around in a courtroom, Teagan.”
“Thanks,” she said. “Got it.”
Then it hit. Her reaction.
Well, of course.
“You’d already worked it out,” he said.
“When you said the case hadn’t been filed yet. Before we shared that shower.” Her mouth hitched to one side. “I didn’t want to spoil things, either.”
“So you’re not mad?”
“I told you. I grew up with the constant drama of big business. Everything’s about control and making sure you’re top dog. Kill or be killed.” Leaning against the doorjamb, she sighed. “No, I’m not mad. I’m just over it.”
So... Okay, then.
This didn’t have to be goodbye. Of course, they would want to be completely transparent from now on. No more misunderstandings. No holding things back.
He told her, “We won’t be able to see each other while I’m working on that case.”
“Conflict of interest.”
And then some. “But sometime in the future...” Finally giving in to a smile, he edged forward. “We really need to see each other again.”
When he moved in to seal it with a kiss, she stepped back.
“I’m afraid that isn’t possible,” she told him, “and I think you know why.”
Jacob looked like he wanted to laugh, but Teagan wasn’t joking. Now that they had reached the crossroads, this was as serious as it got.
“You said you weren’t angry,” he said. “You said you understood how things work in the corporate world.”
“Right. You’re trying to bring down my brother. His company. My family’s name. I understand perfectly.”
“So you are mad.”
“You have principles. So do I.”
Standing in the hall in those smoking sweatpants and an overly starched business shirt, he looked so blindsided—for once, so not in control. The moment he’d realized that the man he wanted to sue was her brother, he should have spoken up. But, to be fair, that wouldn’t have changed her decision now. She couldn’t continue to see someone who was determined to use a courtroom to destroy a member of her family.
However, given the circumstances, she obviously didn’t hate the guy. She wanted to show some understanding. Soften the blow.
“I really enjoyed our time together. It was exactly what I needed.” More than Jacob, or anyone else, could ever know. “But this is where it ends.”
He cocked a brow. “In a hotel hallway?”
“That was your choice.” She would have much preferred to have this conversation in private.
“Would you ever have said anything? That you knew?”
“I thought I would if you asked for my number and called.”
He ran a hand through his drying hair and scrunched his toes in the carpet. “There’s no way around this?”
“Not unless you drop your client. Drop the case.”
His jaw tightened. “You know I can’t do that.”
Sure. “I understand.”
Jacob studied her like he was sizing up an opponent. Then he squared his shoulders and summoned a nondescript smile. “I’m glad we did this face-to-face.”
“Me, too.”
He nodded and then nodded again. “This isn’t going to end with a kiss.”
“Afraid not.” When he nodded a third time, her chest squeezed and she added, “Put yourself in my place. You’d do the exact same thing. Family is family, Jacob. Blood is blood. You can’t turn your back on that.”
His eyebrows hitched and his gaze dropped to the floor.
“You can if your family sucks.”
Teagan blinked. She must have heard wrong.
“Can you say that again?”
“Nothing,” he muttered. “Forget it.”
“Jacob, did you actually say what I think you said?” That my family sucks? The idea was too juvenile, too spiteful, to comprehend.
He only exhaled and wrapped it up. “I should go.”
Before she could think to pull back, he dropped a quick kiss on her cheek and left, striding back down the hall, disappearing into the elevator. It was all she could do to stop from calling him back to bawl him out.
What a jerk. And to think she’d practically fallen for that guy. Who was one hundred percent definitely not her type.
A week later, when Jacob Stone tracked down her business number, Teagan was still fuming. But she’d gotten over her urge to let him know how childish his parting jab at her family had been. She preferred to simply never hear from him again. So she told her receptionist to let Mr. Stone know that she was preparing for an overseas vacation. And a trip was indeed penciled in. So she wasn’t lying.
And dealing with the likes of him, so what if she was?
Five (#ucfb3a503-4c39-598c-bbb8-a3aaa488dfdd)
Jacob slammed the phone down, which wasn’t like him, or hadn’t been in a long while. He’d learned to control his temper, roll with the punches, get his frustrations out in other ways. And, hey, what he’d heard just now wasn’t exactly a surprise.
The receptionist at High Tea Gym in Seattle had politely but firmly stated that Teagan was unable to take his call. Ms. Hunter was about to head out of the country and hadn’t scheduled a date for her return. She’d be sure to pass any message along.
Translation: Move on, pal.
The night he and Teagan had spent together in LA had ended with a massive twist. She was related to the defendant in an upcoming defamation suit. The bigger reveal? They had both been aware of the fact before diving in for an even steamier shower/bedroom finale the next morning.
Jacob swung his high-backed chair toward the window, set his elbows on the armrests and steepled his fingers under his chin as he took in the incredible view of the Chrysler Building. When they’d met, Teagan couldn’t have known that a Hunter lawsuit was in his pipeline. She would never have feigned interest purely to gain an advantage...to glean some inside information on her brother’s pending case, perhaps. She definitely wouldn’t have sex to hold the incident over his head. Nevertheless, a headline had built up in his mind’s eye: Sleazy New York Lawyer Sleeps with Defendant’s Sister.
But, conspiracy theories aside, Teagan refusing to speak with him now was more about how they had parted than why. She had said no one should turn her back on family. He’d responded with a dig about doing just that if the family concerned didn’t deserve loyalty. He might have used the word “sucked.” But he hadn’t meant her family. He’d been talking about his. He was a master at keeping any residual feelings about his background and not being good enough at bay, but at the worst possible moment that old serpent had reared up to bite him in the balls.
The office intercom buzzed. Jacob ignored it. He needed time to cool down, get a grip.
He’d had relationships with women before and, other than one he refused to think about ever again, he’d always been the party to walk away. Everyone got dumped sometime.
Grow up, Stone. It’s water under the bridge.
He heard a tap on the door, then his secretary’s voice.
“Mr. Howcroft is here,” Waverley McCune said in a subdued tone. “He knows he doesn’t have an appointment.” Her voice lowered to almost a whisper. “He says he’s tired of �all mouth and no trousers,’ whatever that means.”
Jacob continued to glare at the view, biting his thumbnail now, which he hadn’t done since ninth grade, but whatever.
“Jay? What would you like me to tell him?”
Jacob swung his chair around at the same moment Grant Howcroft strode into the room, hands fisted at his sides.
“This bloody well has to stop! I’ll see that bastard on his knees before this is through.”
Tamping down the air with his hands, Jacob pushed to his feet. “Take a seat, Grant.”
The older man threw himself onto a tufted leather couch while Waverley pressed the bridge of her Mr. Magoo eyeglasses back up her nose and quietly closed the door.
“Have you seen social media this morning?”
Jacob moved to the front of his desk, leaned against the edge and folded his arms. “You mean the small-time blogger opinion piece?” Yeah. He’d seen it. The other pieces concerning Howcroft, too.
“I want them shut down.” The older man dabbed at his brow with his jacket cuff. “I want them shut up!”
“These things take time.”
“While my career goes down the bloody toilet?”
“We’ll get compensation.”
“Tattered reputations don’t mend that easily, Jakey boy.”
“When the truth comes out they do.”
Howcroft scratched at his wiry ginger-gray hair. “According to this latest piece, I’m a sodding drug lord now!”
“It’s a piggyback small-time troll.”
Grant wasn’t listening. “How do I come back at that? I ask you. How?”
“By addressing the heart of the lies. By going after the one with the money.” Wynn Hunter and his big-time “untouchable” media arm. “We only need to meet the standard for actual malice and prove the accusations are unfounded, which they are.”
Then the wrong would be righted and Hunter Publications could kiss both sides of Howcroft’s butt.
His client’s brow was beaded with sweat. Jacob poured him a glass of water and brought it over.
Howcroft downed half and then closed his eyes at the same time he grit his teeth and his trembling lips turned white.
“I want to see Wynn Hunter destroyed. The rest of his blood-sucking family, too.” An image of Teagan flashed into Jacob’s mind while Howcroft took another mouthful then eased out a shuddering sigh. “How far away are we from getting this done?”
Jacob went into the fundamentals of where they were with the case. Today was only Thursday, so there wasn’t much to add since Monday when they had spoken last. But when a person’s life was falling apart, Jacob understood—minutes could feel like years.
Howcroft pushed back into the couch as his eyes darted around the room. “Maybe I should do a runner. Hole up somewhere in Mexico until this thing blows over.”
Jacob’s chin went down. What happened to wanting to see Wynn Hunter destroyed? “We agreed. This is a process. Now we need to hold our course.” Then go for the jugular.
“You know I was born a charwoman’s son,” Howcroft said, like Jacob didn’t research the shit out of his clients’ backgrounds. “My first job was as a filing clerk. Respectable, but rubbish pay. I got into theater and climbed the industry ladder from assistant stage manager to walk-on parts. Those first few years were brutal, mate. Young people nowadays don’t know the half.”
Jacob disagreed. There were lots who did.
“There were a few TV appearances,” Howcroft went on, “the move to Hollywood, then the role that launched my career. Instant overnight success, the papers said. There were parties, marriages... And, yes, I made mistakes.”
Jacob saw how Howcroft’s eyes were edged with moisture and worried he might cry. But his client found his feet and tried to square his hunched shoulders instead.
“I don’t know if I can...”
Jacob felt a prickling at the back of his neck. “Know if you can what?”
Putting up his hands like he’d heard and said enough, Howcroft headed for the door. “I’ll be in touch. One way or another. Probably another.”
Which was code for what exactly? “Are you saying you want to put the lawsuit on hold?”
“I’m saying I don’t know if I want to continue, period.” Howcroft swung open the door. “In fact, drop the whole bloody thing. I need time to get away. Clear my head.”
“You want to drop the lawsuit?”
But Howcroft was already gone, which left Jacob wanting to slam the door the same way he had slammed down the phone earlier. He wasn’t pissed at his client. The guy had every right to be upset. If he wanted to put a brake on things, it was his time and his dime.
The thing that stuck in Jacob’s craw was the situation with Teagan. If it hadn’t been for this lawsuit, their time together would have ended on a very different note. She’d have taken his call today...if the time they had spent together had meant more to Teagan than simply letting loose. If she hadn’t planned to somehow set him up.
After thinking that all through again, Jacob made another call. Not to High Tea Gym this time. To people who had never let him down before and weren’t about to now.
The moment the image popped up on her laptop screen, Teagan knew why her eldest brother and his bride were video calling. Good news. The best. And when they actually said the words, Teagan promised herself to look happy for them both because she was. Genuinely thrilled.
Attending their wedding last year, hearing their vows and seeing the love they so obviously shared, Teagan had no doubt that Taryn and Cole would last until death do them part. Now, her brother looked proud, but also calm. A huge difference from his former everything depends on me demeanor—as if the fate of Hunter Enterprises rested solely on his shoulders. But Taryn’s appearance struck Teagan even more. With her long hair draped around her shoulders like a thick, glossy mantle, she looked radiant. Blissfully content.
The couple said it together. “We’re pregnant!”
“Ohmigod! Congratulations!” Teagan sucked down a breath and bolstered herself. “When did you find out?”
With an arm around his girl, Cole replied, “Four months ago. Taryn wanted to keep it under wraps for a while.”
“I figure I’ll be showing soon,” Taryn added. “So time to let the cat out of the bag.”
The newlyweds looked into each other’s eyes like life would always be this way. Bright and wonderful. Never a tear. Although they had been grounded enough to delay the announcement.
Teagan could recite the statistics in her sleep: more than eighty percent of miscarriages occurred in the first three months of pregnancy. When fertilized eggs that failed to implant were also factored in, around seventy-five percent of all conceptions didn’t go full term.
But this one absolutely would.
Teagan shored up her smile. “So, too early to know if I’m getting a niece or a nephew?”
“We’re not sure we want to find out,” Cole said.
“We’ll be happy no matter what,” Taryn added.
“Whichever it turns out to be,” Cole said, “we want another one.”
Teagan’s smile held firm.
More than one. Imagine that.
“How does Dad feel about being a grandfather?” she asked.
Cole’s eyebrows pinched. “We haven’t told him yet. These past months... It’s been tough, particularly recently.”
Teagan’s heart beat faster. “Has something happened?”
“No more attempts on his life. Unfortunately, no new leads, either.” Cole’s eyes grew darker. “I don’t think he’d care if that madman ever got caught as long as he could stop looking over his shoulder.”
“How’s Tate?” Teagan missed her youngest brother so much. He was cute and loving, and such a brave little soul.
“We have him over a lot,” Taryn said. “The baby, too. It’s easier now that Honey’s a little older.”
Teagan asked, “And Eloise?” His father’s young wife.
Cole grunted. “That woman is worse than ever.”
Eloise had a problem with the bottle—any bottle she could lay her hands on. She also had a problem with men. She’d come onto their father right after their mother’s funeral in her hometown of Atlanta. Eloise had been after a rich man, and Guthrie Hunter was certainly that.
But clearly being the new Mrs. Hunter wasn’t enough. Last year, hours before Honey was born, Guthrie learned that Eloise had tried to seduce Cole in the past. He’d been crushed. But, thinking of the children, he’d given her another chance.
After wrapping up the call, Teagan sat back in her office chair, thinking of how happy Taryn must be. But she wouldn’t let her thoughts spiral any further down that rabbit hole. She had Tate and Honey, and would be a first-time auntie very soon.
Wasn’t that blessing enough?
Pushing out of her chair, Teagan began packing up. She was due an afternoon off. Later she might call some friends. A new restaurant around the corner had rave reviews. Then again, she hadn’t had much of an appetite lately...not since those syrup-soaked pancakes the previous Sunday.
A moment later, Teagan said goodbye to the receptionist and left through the gym’s main sliding-glass doors. But while she was walking to her car, something caught her eye. A man was climbing out of a cab. Around six-two, killer build, wearing jeans, a casual pale blue button-down and the sexiest pair of shades on the planet.
Teagan’s heart hit her throat.
What the hell was Jacob Stone doing there?
He saw her, headed straight over and, in that instant, all the memories came flooding back. Talking, dancing, making love, and suddenly she was tingling all over again, ready to melt.
His clean-shaven jaw tensed as he stopped a short distance from her and removed his sunglasses. “We need to talk.”
“So you just dropped in from New York?”
“You wouldn’t take my call.”
“There’s a good reason for that.”
“Because of how we said goodbye. I can explain.”
Teagan’s heart was pounding against her ribs. Her legs felt as weak as cooked noodles.
I can explain.
Seriously?
Continuing on to the parking lot, she gave him the bird then retorted over her shoulder, “And stay away from clichés.” So lame.
“I grew up with a mother who believed her drug addiction was more important than her only kid,” he called after her. “My father was a grifter. He specialized in taking down the elderly and people with special needs.”
Teagan pulled up. Slowly turned around. “What did you say?”
“He would fix their pipes, mend broken furniture, but he was really casing their homes, making plans to break in and take anything of value. Cash was best, but jewelry, power tools and TVs worked, too. When I was six, he pulled a Houdini. Never heard from him again. His lousy bones could be rotting on Hart Island for all I know.”
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