Irresistibly Played

by Victoria Pinder

  Logan immediately patted him on the back and asked, “Roy, what’s going on? You and Caitlyn are having a baby?”

  “I guess.” Dread filled his stomach like lead.

  Logan gulped his drink. “Hmm, that’s usually a yes or no question that we follow with an offer of a cigar.”

  He’d never lied to his family. But then his mother had never once mentioned his sister’s weight and usually said a woman was worth more than that weight in gold. He already understood Caitlyn’s mother wasn’t the same. Roy preferred the truth even if it hurt and even if the person lying thought it was for the best. He’d spent his adult life seeking the truth, no matter its form, but maybe this once, he understood. Caitlyn looked amazing in her green dress, with her hair up. His fingers itched to zip that dress off her and worship every morsel of her sexy self. But as he saw Caitlyn’s parents across the bar, he simply pressed his lips together and said, “Logan, it’s complicated.”

  “Complicated calls for drinks.” His brother held out his finger and signaled the bartender.

  Roy said, “Sure does.”

  Logan told the bartender, “One whiskey neat for my brother here and one whiskey sour for me.”

  With family they didn’t need to ask what they wanted to drink—they knew each other’s favorites. When it came to Caitlyn, he honestly didn’t know her drink preferences and if she was his wife, he should. Or was that an excuse to talk with her more?

  His brother nudged his shoulder. “I didn’t think you and Caitlyn were getting along enough for baby making.”

  Clearly, he spoke too much to his family. Tension built at the top of his spine and worked its way down like a snake. He needed to talk to Caitlyn about this, but for now he said, “Technically, you don’t have to like a woman to get her pregnant.”

  Logan made a hmm sound but stayed silent as the bartender delivered their whiskey. Once the bartender left, Logan handed Roy his drink and then clinked it as he said, “But you like her now.”

  Roy sipped his whiskey sour and admitted, “Caitlyn is unlike anyone I’ve ever known.”

  Logan motioned toward the women, who seemed to be breaking their huddle over dresses. “Well, you never dated or looked at a good woman so it must have taken you a while to figure it out.”

  Perhaps that’s why he was unprepared for how he’d reacted toward Caitlyn. If she was one of the women in his past, he’d have stripped her and taken her to bed already and forgotten all about her while he dove into his workload. But there was something about Caitlyn he respected so he was now lost. He sipped his drink again. “I idolized being single for too long, yeah. And you’re right. I wasn’t prepared.”

  “Congrats.” Logan lifted his whiskey neat.

  Roy took the last sip and once he finished, he put his glass on the table and said, “Thanks.”

  Caitlyn had left the conversation she was in, so Logan walked across the ballroom and met her near the dance floor.

  Harry and Roxy decided to dance, and the DJ transitioned to a slow song for the bride and groom, though other couples were already dancing.

  Roy brushed his hand against Caitlyn’s bare arm and asked, “Caitlyn, can you talk?”

  She bit her lip as more couples passed them. She motioned with her head. “Everyone else is heading to the dance floor.”

  Fair. His mother made him take lessons in case the royal court was ever reformed. He held out his hand in a formal move. “Then let’s dance.”

  She followed his lead effortlessly though she seemed surprised at his strong grip on her waist. She’d obviously had lessons and they danced as if they’d been partners for years.

  A minute into the song, she took a deep breath and said, “I’m really sorry that just came out of my mouth.”

  That referenced the baby story, clearly. He spun her and once she was in his arms again, he asked, “So I’m not about to be a father?”

  Her face turned red and she missed a step but then caught up and said, “Yeah, that was really stupid on my part.”

  His mind focused in on her story earlier. Perhaps this also fit into what he didn’t understand about her. “Why did you tell your parents that lie?”

  “They still get to me.” She responded right away though her dance moves were now stiff as she spoke. “It wasn’t just that they picked everything in my life. It was always their attitudes that bothered me more. They should have shaken your hand. It was beyond rude!”

  If someone had treated his sister, Elle, badly, he’d have planned the man’s murder. He didn’t view her parents’ actions as that out of line, considering their daughter had married a stranger—who had been in jail. Luckily Elle was planning her wedding to someone he actually liked. “They love you, though they were wrong about how you look in that dress.”

  “How do I look?”

  “Prettier than the bride. You’re the prettiest woman here.”

  “No, but thank you.” She shook her head and held him a little tighter. “My parents love the idea of me. And I tried to disappear rather than be like them.”

  Her life in DC had that hole in it that he didn’t understand. “You aren’t at all like them.”

  She lifted her chin and relaxed back into the dance, moving more flawlessly as she said, “I think I like hiding out from the world and not having to worry about anything.”

  Interesting. She was happy with him because she didn’t need to see her parents. The thought gnawed at what he knew. “So, my problems are your safe harbor.”

  Her cheeks flushed again as she said, “That sounds really bad.”

  “It doesn’t if it’s true.” Lies were for other people as the truth mattered more than anything else.

  Caitlyn patted his arm and her face whitened though she shook her head. “I don’t think like that. I want you to clear your name so you can figure out who set you up.”

  Ice went through him. He wanted Caitlyn. He knew he shouldn’t, but that didn’t matter. He met her clear blue eyes and was lost. “The danger with clearing our name is that the police stop following us around. That’s been useful on a few occasions.”

  Her eyebrow lifted as the song ended and he let her go. “But then you get your freedom, which is what you wanted.”

  “Yes.” The music shifted to something faster. He led her off the dance floor as other people jumped around to the song. Once they were standing on the sidelines, he said, “And no. It changes you needing to hide out in the condo. I get to run my law firm again which I can’t while being out on parole. My staff knows I’ll be back, but right now it operates without me and it’s driving me crazy.”

  The music changed and a few people left the dance floor, heading toward plates that were served. Neither one of them moved. She hugged her waist and asked, “And you might not need a wife anymore?”

  “Having one can also be a good thing.” His hands held her tighter. Caitlyn was his and he needed to prove that to her, even if doubts clouded his mind. For now, he massaged her shoulder until she dropped her arms. “But I’m looking forward to being a father. When do we find out the gender of our baby?”

  Her lips curled into a smile. “Stop. That’s not funny,” she said on a small huff of a laugh.

  “You’re laughing.”

  Waiters left the kitchen with dinner trays and she looked up at him, making him feel good. “I’m happy with you.”

  “Then we’re agreed.” Caitlyn accepted his hand and they walked to the other side of the ballroom where their dinner was about to be served. “So it’s not the end of us if I succeed in finding the responsible party?”

  They passed the bride and groom table in the middle as he imagined sitting there with Caitlyn and the image didn’t scare him. She hadn’t glanced at Harry once all evening. She’d focused on him. His stomach churned as Caitlyn said, “We’re going to have to take it day-by-day. Let’s just see what happens.”

  Logically she made sense, but her words made his chest tighten. He squeezed her hand. “You can just say you
want to be my wife.”

  They made it to their seats. She looked down and asked, “If I do want that, would you?”

  Part of him wanted to believe she was just shy, but his mind swirled there was a secret to be uncovered. He ignored that question, pulled out her chair and held it for her. “Yeah, as long as you know you’ll have to go to a few firm events. Naturally, I’ll be home less during the day and back in my office for work.”

  She sank down to her seat and he pushed her in as she picked up her napkin with a shrug. “You spend your days in your home office already—you might as well be a ghost for all I see you.”

  “It could be even more,” he warned, sitting beside her.

  He was silent as Michael Marshall, someone his brother Logan considered brilliant on the stock market, and his wife Calliope joined their table.

  Caitlyn didn’t seem to know them and asked Roy, “So you want a wife you never see?”

  Michael and his wife stared at them openly. Clearly, Caitlyn’s comment had been overheard. His face felt hot and he spoke with his back to them. “I need to make sure the firm returns to the top with my leadership.” He’d like to finish this conversation when they were alone.

  The waiter brought their plates and Eva Bishop, the newest movie star, and her husband Brandon, the Hollywood producer, sat next to her. Caitlyn lowered her voice. “Would your brother’s practice need a nurse?"

  “You said you wanted to hide away.”

  “From my parents; and I don’t want to go back to per diem. Working at an ob-gyn’s office would mean surrounding myself with new moms and babies. It sounds fun.”

  “We can talk to him.” The others at the table started a conversation and now ignored them. Roy picked up his salad fork and poked at the greens on his plate. “Oliver said he liked how you both worked with our mother.” His brother had exacting standards.

  She patted his lap like everything had been decided. “Then we have a plan for our future.”

  “One without love,” he mumbled, unsure what else to say as the future sounded hollow without emotion, though he’d never sought out feelings.

  Caitlyn heard him and sighed. “There’s that, but that’s not half as bad as living with my parents’ judgment anymore.”

  “Shall we shake on this?” His gut twisted. Being a means to her goals left something out that he knew was missing though he wasn’t sure what to label it.

  She offered her hand and said, “Okay, but we still need to figure out the baby and then we’ll be straight and clear with each other.”

  Her lie. His body whispered they could make her lie real but that was probably just his lust talking. He wanted her. Somehow he had to find a way for his heart and mind to relax. Caitlyn was too good to let slip away because he always suspected everyone until he thoroughly knew everything about them. He kissed her palm and intended to figure everything out fast and claim her.

  Perhaps tonight he’d show her how he felt.

  Caitlyn let out a long sigh of relief the moment they entered the condo and she slipped her high heels off. Her feet were sore from the four inch Pradas that she was no longer used to wearing.

  Roy closed the door and checked the lock. She stretched out her arms and said, “Tomorrow’s the wedding. I’m already exhausted.”

  “You are?” He took off his loafers. “I was hoping we could stay up and talk a little.”

  The way his brown eyes gazed at her gave her tingles. She played with her diamond pendant. “Talk?”

  He came closer and she smelled his cologne that made her senses melt into butter. “Yes. We’re finally alone.”

  First, she had to clear her mind because this closeness made her forget the world. However the thought that she had betrayed him buzzed in her mind like an annoying fly. She swallowed nervously and shook the thought away. The police had nothing on them as Roy was a good man.

  She stepped back and stared at his strong jaw and broad chest that made her body ache in ways she shouldn’t think about as she said, “Ah. I see. Okay, let me change out of this dress. Give me two minutes.”

  He tugged at his tie to take it off. “I’ll open a bottle of Pinot Grigio.”

  “Sounds good.” She waved at him but then dropped her hand, feeling silly at the action. She hurried into her bedroom.

  As she closed the door, her heart raced. She wasn’t sure what she’d change into that made sense. She’d never strut out in her lingerie. Roy’s interest sent a jolt of energy throughout her body. Caitlyn decided against one of her beach cotton cover ups that didn’t flatter.

  She unzipped her green dress and picked out one of her cotton dresses she wore about the condo every day. Simple and feminine without clinging.

  Not sure this was enough, she dashed on a small amount of perfume and said a little prayer.

  Somehow she’d survive that stupid lie she’d told earlier—she never should have said that. The comments on her weight gain had irritated and she’d reacted.

  For now, she squared her shoulders and headed out so Roy might help her fix the mess she’d created.

  She left the sanctuary of her bedroom and saw him outside on the balcony, his body silhouetted against the string of lights.

  She trekked across the condo and peeked outside. Their wine glasses were on the table, but Roy stood staring out into the ocean. His broad shoulders and tight butt made him the hottest man she’d ever seen.

  Off in the distance she could make out the dark shadows of cruise ships on the ocean. She took a breath, but as she stepped outside, Roy turned toward her and flashed her that gorgeous killer-watt smile of his as he said, “You look great.”

  If only this was just the two of them like it had been last night and she hadn’t messed up today. She joined him at the railing and stared out into the ocean too. “I like you without the tie and jacket. You’re quite handsome, Roy.”

  “Thanks.” He patted her back as he pulled away. She turned toward him, but he returned with two wine glasses. He handed her one. “Here you go.”

  They both sipped and let the distant sound of the ocean fill the air. Her heart felt lighter already. “What do you want to talk about tonight?”

  He lowered the glass, letting it rest on the balcony as he said, “Our conversation at the wedding.”

  Boom. She held the glass tighter in her grip. “Oh, you mean about the baby? I’m going to eventually have to fess up to my parents.”

  He nodded like that was exactly what he intended to say and added, “And everyone we know.”

  The sting in his words hit her hard. She’d been stupid and careless and completely wrong. “Yeah. It shouldn’t have flown out of my mouth like that. I ordinarily don’t lie.”

  He picked up his glass and turned so their shoulders were touching as he said, “There is another option.”

  Her heart beat a little faster and her eyes widened as she glanced up at him and asked, “There is?”

  He then pressed into her and said, “We can go for it and try to have a baby.”

  What? She almost dropped the glass as her entire body jolted. She took a sip to cover the fact that she’d almost spilled it. “Really? I thought we were a business deal.”

  He set their glasses the balcony. “So, we can negotiate for this.”

  “Negotiate?” She reached up for her necklace, but she’d taken if off. She wished she had something to grab but instead she licked her lips and waited. What did he mean by negotiate?

  Roy asked, “What would you want?”

  Want? Right now? Her pulse zipped so fast she couldn’t even settle on this conversation but she reached out and brushed her hand on his shoulder. “Let me think first.” Think. Yes, she needed to focus. She didn’t want anything really other than Roy. He was sweet, kind, sexy, determined, and desirable all built into one perfect body, but rather than answer and make herself vulnerable she asked, “What exactly do you want, Roy?”

  His bulging biceps went on either side of her as he held onto the railing.
He then leaned closer, so their mouths were inches apart. “I want you in my bed and for us to have a baby.”

  Yes. Yes. Oh yes. No other words wanted to come out of her lips, but he didn’t kiss her. He stared at her and her skin was all jittery. She ached to reach out and hold him tight, but she couldn’t. Not until she understood that she’d be with Roy forever. It wouldn’t be fair to bring a child into the world, otherwise. “Any gender?”

  He shrugged but still didn’t move away or come closer to take a kiss. “Doesn’t matter. I need someone to take over my law firm one day.”

  Wait. Her eyes widened in surprise. This wasn’t what she expected and what if her progeny opted for art or science or any other discipline. “So our baby must be a lawyer?”

  He laughed, reached beside her for the wines and handed hers back. He then held up his like he’d toast as he said, “No, but they’ll inherit the cash and my shares of oil profits.”

  He clinked their glasses and sipped. She watched and glanced down his body to his unbuttoned shirt that showed off his six pack abs.

  Heat coursed through her. She sipped like the wine might cool her down but then she said, “And you want this baby with me?”

  He nodded. “You are my wife and we’ve talked about staying together.”

  Fair. True. But they hadn’t had this conversation. She hadn’t considered that he might want children at all. Her hand pressed against her lower stomach and imagined herself pregnant at the moment. The image was so vivid and in color that she agreed, swept away by the vision. “Okay. But I want a say in our baby’s life. We’re even in this.”

  “Fair.” He took her empty wine glass, setting them back on the balcony.

  The need for Roy grew inside her but she hugged her waist and looked up at him. If she was a mother, she’d be nothing like her own. “And we’re not going to tell him or her what to do every second of their lives.”

  Roy returned to facing her and both his arms went around her again as he said very clearly, “Once they are old enough to make decisions for themselves. Anything else you want?”