Nine
“Stop fidgeting,” Jared said when he and Morgan stood outside the door of his grandmother’s estate the following evening.
“I’m not.”
“Yes, you are.” He grabbed her hand and Morgan felt the frisson of electricity go up her arm as it always did when Jared was near. Tonight was no different. He not only looked impeccably gorgeous, but he smelled divine, like citrus and spice.
He rang the doorbell and a uniformed butler greeted them. “Antoine, this is my girl, Morgan. Morgan, meet Antoine. He’s been with my grandmother for years.”
“Lovely to meet you.” Morgan offered her hand and Antoine brought it to his lips.
“A pleasure, madam. Allow me to show you the way.”
“You know I don’t stand on ceremony, Antoine, even with my girlfriend here. Where’s grandmother?”
“In the living room.”
“C’mon,” Jared said. “It’s time to meet the queen.”
Morgan walked on leaden feet down the marble corridor. She knew it was nothing for Jared to be around such opulence, but this home put Henry’s estate to shame. Morgan could feel the history.
Jared led her to a room where a slender woman about five-foot-eight was sitting. Her blondish gray hair was in a sophisticated bob and she wore a killer designer sheath.
“Jared, you finally arrived. I was beginning to worry,” she said, then her glance flickered to Morgan at his side. “And you must be Jared’s girlfriend?”
“Grandmother, this is Morgan Stewart. Morgan, this is my grandmother, Ruth Robinson.”
His grandmother’s brow furrowed. “Stewart, did you say? Come over so I can have a look at you.”
Jared released her hand and Morgan pasted a smile onto her face and moved closer. “Mrs. Robinson, it’s a pleasure to meet you.”
“And you, my dear, are definitely one of Henry’s offspring. You have his trademark hazel eyes and his coloring. But why is this the first I’m hearing about you? If I recall, Henry only has one daughter. Fallon, I believe her name is.”
“Grandmother, you’re being indelicate,” Jared admonished.
“I’m merely speaking the truth.” She glanced at Morgan. She could tell the woman missed nothing. It was why Morgan had splurged and gone to the salon to have her hair and makeup expertly done. She couldn’t afford any mistakes. “You can appreciate that, can’t you, dear?”
“Honesty is always the best policy,” Morgan stated with a tight smile. “And to answer your question, yes, Henry Stewart is my father, but you might want to remind him of that fact.”
“Is he being difficult?” Ruth inquired.
“He downright refuses to acknowledge my existence,” Morgan responded. “But that didn’t stop me from taking Stewart as my rightful legal name.”
Ruth smiled. “Good for you. I like a woman with chutzpah.” She turned to Jared. “However did you find Morgan? She’s not one of the usual bimbos you traipse about town with.”
Morgan noticed Jared’s jaw clench and she sensed he wanted to rebut, but he said, “Morgan and I met through Dane.”
“Ah, the young man who used to be a troublemaker. I’m glad to see he’s married and settled down with a family. Dare I hope you could do the same?”
“Don’t push your luck,” Jared responded.
“I beg to differ. Morgan is a breath of fresh air and I’m going to claim her,” Ruth said, eyeing Morgan. “Come.” She patted the seat beside her. “Sit beside me. Jared, be a dear and fix us a drink while we get to know one another.”
They chatted about inconsequential topics until dinner. Jared was the consummate date. He drew Morgan’s chair out and waited for her to sit down before lowering his tall frame into the seat across from her. She supposed he sat there on purpose so he could focus his full attention on her.
Over the next couple of hours, Ruth was direct, gently quizzing Morgan on her background—where she came from, where she went to school and where she worked. And just as Jared told her to do, Morgan was honest.
But nothing could stop the intangible spark of sexual attraction shooting back and forth across the table or the predatory hunger in Jared’s gaze. Morgan wondered if he looked at every woman that way. Did he make them all feel as if they were the most beautiful woman in the world? His simple gesture of asking if she’d like more wine made Morgan feel the sizzle. Her eyes darted to his grandmother but she was none the wiser.
“I come from humble beginnings, Mrs. Robinson,” Morgan said once they’d retired to the sitting room for coffee. Jared opted for something much stronger. “But I’ve prided myself in always being able to support myself.”
Jared had been quiet for most of the night, content to let the two women dominate much of the conversation. Occasionally he put in an anecdote here or there. But all the while, he’d openly stared at her when he thought she wasn’t looking.
An involuntary tremble went through Morgan at his searing gaze. What would it be like if she allowed herself to do more? If she ran her hands down his back, touched the corded muscles of his arms, felt the warmth of his skin? If she laced her fingers around his head and pulled him down to taste the sweetness of his mouth?
“Morgan?”
She blinked rapidly. Oh God, she’d been caught daydreaming. Morgan turned her gaze to Ruth and forced her expression not to betray where her thoughts had strayed.
“You were stating how you supported yourself,” Ruth offered.
“Oh yes, I put myself through college, working two, sometimes three jobs to cover the books and expenses my scholarship didn’t.”
“See, Jared.” His grandmother pointed to him. “This is what it’s like when you’ve earned what you have.”
“Thank you, ma’am.” She’d rather enjoyed having someone older to talk to.
“You’ve impressed me, Morgan, and that’s not easy to do.”
“Believe her,” Jared said. “I’ve stopped trying.”
“No, you haven’t,” Morgan replied. “Right now, you’ve been working day and night at Robinson Holdings to show your grandmother and the board you’re no slacker.”
Ruth clapped her hands in glee. “Bravo, dear girl. You not only silenced him, but had my grandson’s back.” She looked at Jared. “You must do all you can to keep her.”
The possessive look Jared bestowed on her caused a hard shiver to rock Morgan’s body. “Oh, I intend to.” He glanced down at his Rolex. “In the meantime, it’s late. I should be getting Morgan home.”
His grandmother rose to her feet and gave Morgan a spontaneous hug. Morgan glanced at Jared and his eyes were wide with surprise. “I’m happy you came this evening,” Ruth said. “My family and I are going to our compound next weekend. We usually go boating and ride horses, skeet shoot and picnic. It’s rather bourgeois, but I would love for you to join us.”
Morgan didn’t have to worry because Jared answered. “Of course. We’ll be there.”
A broad smile spread across Ruth’s lips. “I look forward to it.”
As they walked to the car, Morgan felt like the evening was a resounding success. She’d convinced Ruth she was Jared’s legitimate girlfriend, and she suspected the older woman had taken a liking to her. So why as he helped her into the Porsche did Morgan feel like she’d done something wrong?
Jared reflected on the night as he settled into the driver’s seat. He couldn’t put his finger on what made Morgan different from any of the other women he’d dated, only that she had charmed his grandmother of all people. Ruth had a genuine affection for Morgan and her ability to battle against the odds and come out on the other side. And she’d given Morgan a hug. She didn’t even hug Jared.
“Jared?” Morgan touched his arm. “What’s wrong?”
“Nothing.”
“Tonight went great, don’t you think?”
He sighe
d and hazarded a glance at her. Morgan had looked incredible tonight. Her makeup was flawless and she was more beautiful than ever. Her cheekbones were defined, her eyes smoky and sensual and that wide, pretty mouth of hers had captured his attention all night. White-hot desire gripped him when he allowed his gaze to linger on the soft mounds displayed in the low-cut neckline of the simple black jersey dress she wore. He’d tried hard not focus all evening on her décolletage.
“You’re a charmer,” Jared finally answered. “You won my grandmother over.”
“That’s good, right?”
“Yes, it is.”
“Then why do I think I’ve failed you in some way?” she asked, her face twisted in consternation.
“You haven’t, Morgan.” Jared started the engine to effectively end the conversation. He would drive her home and go back to his place and take a long hot shower. The problem was, he didn’t know how long he could keep dating Morgan and not ease the permanent sexual ache he had whenever they were together. How was he going to survive a weekend at his family’s compound?
When they pulled into the W, Jared left the car idling and came around to Morgan’s door. He helped her out, but when he made no move to go in, she looked at him expectantly.
“It’s best we say good-night here,” Jared said. He couldn’t go up to her apartment, not when all he wanted to do was strip the dress from her body and sink deep inside her. He moved toward her and rubbed her arms, which felt chilled, then leaned forward placing his forehead against hers. “Thank you. I appreciate everything you did tonight.”
“You do?” She sounded as if she was surprised.
“Absolutely, but you should go inside now so I can do the honorable thing.”
“What if I don’t want you to be honorable?”
“Morgan…” he murmured, but his resolve was gone, especially when she went on tippy toe to sweep her mouth over his, tantalizing him with a promise of sweeter delight. Jared cupped her neck and drew her to him. This time, he kissed her and when he felt a tremor run through her, he didn’t stop. He continued moving his lips over hers, seeking, tasting and enticing. When she parted her lips, his tongue slipped inside and tangled with hers in an urgent frenzy.
It was only the sound of the valet clearing his throat that reminded Jared they were outside the hotel in a public place. “I have to go, Morgan. We’ll talk soon.”
With effort, considering the tightness of his groin, Jared made it back inside the car and pulled away. In his rearview, he saw Morgan still standing there, touching her lips.
Ten
The last couple of days since the dinner with Jared and his grandmother had been marvelous. Was it because their relationship had taken a turn? Morgan had not only convinced Ruth of their blossoming romance, but Jared had taken her to meet his grandfather.
Yesterday, she’d surprised Jared at his office and whisked him away for lunch. Sure, it was a sandwich in the park, but it was something a girlfriend, someone who cared for him, would do. And Morgan cared. She was trying hard not to get carried away by this fake relationship, but she couldn’t act as if she hadn’t developed feelings for him.
The deeper they got into this arrangement, the harder it was to pull back. There was a palpable sexual attraction between them that could no longer be ignored, though they were giving their best impression it didn’t exist.
Morgan was thankful when Fallon and Ayden invited her for coffee. Morgan hadn’t seen Fallon since the day at the mansion when she’d told Fallon she didn’t want anything to do with the Stewarts. It wasn’t her finest moment, so Morgan was determined to make an effort.
When she arrived, however, another Stewart was waiting for her. Someone she’d been hoping not to face.
Dane.
She saw his two bodyguards chatting with each other as she went into the deserted coffee shop, where the workers stood mesmerized by her movie star big brother. She was unfazed by his good looks—smooth tapioca coloring, strong jawline, dark brown eyes and bushy eyebrows. Dane wore sunglasses and his usual dark jeans, T-shirt and old leather jacket. But when Morgan entered, he ripped the sunglasses off to glare at her. “You have a lot of explaining to do.”
Morgan gulped as she walked toward him. “When did you and Iris get back?”
“Day before yesterday,” Dane replied. “And we came back to a firestorm about my illegitimate baby sister. So I left Iris and Jayden and came straight here. What the hell, Morgan? You’ve been working for me for over a year. Why on God’s green earth didn’t you tell me we’re related?”
“I’ll explain, but I don’t appreciate being ambushed.”
“Fallon was worried you wouldn’t show if she told you I was coming.”
Morgan folded her arms across her chest. “What about her and Ayden? Are they coming? Or was this all an elaborate ruse so you can give me the business?”
“Sit down, Morgan,” Dane ordered.
Morgan recognized his boss voice and rather than argue took a seat at the round table beside him.
“Of course they’re coming, but we, you and me,” he pointed between them, “need to clear the air.”
Dane was right. She owed him an apology. “I’m sorry.”
“Was that so hard?” Dane inquired, his brown eyes narrowing on her.
“No. I was wrong to keep my identity hidden from you.”
“So why did you?”
Morgan shrugged. Why was it so hard to face Dane? She’d told this story several times since, but to him, the brother she idolized, she felt like she had cotton in her mouth.
“Morgan?”
She inhaled deeply. “I was afraid to tell you. What if you didn’t believe me? Henry doesn’t. I thought I’d get to know you first, but the more I did, the more I liked and respected you. How could I not? You accepted Jayden and Iris into your life when you could have lost everything. I was impressed by your valor.”
“I’m no hero, Morgan,” Dane replied. “I’m a man with flaws like everyone else. Don’t go putting me on some pedestal. It’s hard to meet folks’ expectations from up there.”
“That’s what I love about you, Dane. You give it to me straight.” Morgan covered her mouth. “I didn’t mean love. I…” Her voice trailed off when she saw the amusement in his eyes.
He reached across the table and placed his rather large hand over hers. “It’s okay, Morgan. I’ve always looked at you as the little sister I never had, so I have no problem accepting you into the family. I just wish you would have gone about this another way.”
“I’m sorry for bringing you and Iris back into the spotlight after Jayden’s illness,” Morgan replied. “I didn’t think ahead. I just wanted Henry to claim me as his own.”
“My father is a stubborn man,” Dane responded. “I’m not sure if he ever will, but I’ll support you, kid.”
Morgan beamed, and despite herself, happy tears slid down her cheeks. Dane leaned across to wipe them away with his thumbs.
“Oh, Lord,” a female voice said from behind them, “please tell me you didn’t make her cry, Dane.”
Morgan knew that voice and spun around to see Fallon and Ayden at the door.
“Welcome back, bro.” Ayden managed to lift Dane off his feet even though he was six feet tall, because Ayden had a few inches on him.
“How was the honeymoon?” Fallon asked, winking at Dane.
“Nothing I care to comment on with my big sis,” Dane responded good-naturedly. “Come here.” He wrapped his arms around Fallon. “How’s Nora?”
“Still furious with Daddy,” Fallon replied. “At least she’s moved back home, though they are sleeping in separate rooms.”
“He deserves it,” Dane said. “He cheated on her. Though she shouldn’t necessarily be surprised. He did the same to Ayden’s mom.”
“Don’t be heartless, Dane. She should at least expect loya
lty from her husband.”
“I don’t disagree, but this is our father we’re talking about.”
Morgan was overwhelmed watching their interaction. These were her siblings. She shrank back from the three of them. They were already a trio. Where did she fit in?
“And where do you think you’re going?” Ayden asked. He quickly lifted her off her feet too and into his embrace.
Morgan couldn’t resist releasing a big laugh. “Put me down, you big lug.” She swatted him on the arm and he set her on her feet.
“It’s nice to have the four of us together in one place,” Fallon said, and her eyes went to Morgan. When her sister smiled, Morgan felt relieved Fallon wasn’t holding a grudge.
“Let’s have a coffee.” Ayden looked around the room and noticed the store was empty. “What’s the deal? Where is everybody?”
“My team paid the shop to close for the afternoon,” Dane responded.
“Don’t you think that’s a bit extra?” Fallon replied.
“Nope. They even made everyone sign confidentiality agreements.”
“It must suck to be you sometimes,” Ayden commented.
“Hey, don’t hate on my brother.” Morgan didn’t realize she’d spoken aloud until three curious sets of eyes landed on her. “I mean…” she attempted to backpedal.
Fallon walked over to Morgan and wrapped her arm around Morgan’s shoulders. “He’s your brother too. You can defend him.”
Morgan mouthed Thank you.
“Well, I’m going to have a frozen coffee concoction,” Fallon stated and headed to the counter where an attendant waited silently at the register.
“I’ll join you.” Ayden stepped away to look at the menu.
“Please tell me you’ll join me for a real coffee.” Dane looked at Morgan. “Or are you going to have your usual, a café mocha?”
Morgan’s brow furrowed. “You know what coffee I like?”
“Why wouldn’t I?” Dane asked, peering at her. “You’ve worked for me for a while now.”
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