by T L Swan
Joshua and I walk into the house and into the kitchen to see Cam.
He is on the phone and his anxiety is obvious. Joshua frowns as he listens. Cameron hangs up the phone and drops his head into his hands.
I frown at Joshua in question. He shrugs.
“What’s up mate?” Joshua asks quietly.
Cameron’s haunted eyes meet his. “The blood tests came back,” he whispers.
“And?” Joshua replies.
“I’m not a Stanton,” Cameron whispers.
Table of Contents
Acknowledgements
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Acknowledgements
So many thank yous for today: where do I start?
My mum, thank you Mum. You have read every chapter of the Stanton series as I have written them and love my story—I love you. To my beautiful friend Vicki. Vicki, you are my friend, my confidant and my most valuable critic—your incessant question “why” makes me always strive to be better. Thank you so much for everything you do. To Amanda, you were one of my first readers that contacted me through my Facebook page. There are no words to express how much I appreciate everything that you do for me and how much I value your friendship. You are one of the most thoughtful people I know. Thank you. To Rachel, you were a reviewer from the other side of the world that contacted me after reading Stanton to see if I needed help, and it turns out I did. You have become an amazing caring friend and along with Amanda you make me laugh every day. Thank you.
To the awesome girls from the Tee Swan’s Troops gang, a bunch of girls who have banded together to support me with my writing and shout Stanton from the rooftops to anyone who will listen. Never in a million years did I think that writing a book or three would lead me to such beautiful caring women and I can’t thank you enough for all that you do.
To my beta readers, Jodie, Brooke, Rachel, Nicole, Sharon, Anne, Carly, Ainslie, Charlotte and Renee thank you.
To the awesome bloggers and reviewers who have supported me. Authors like me would not have a career if it wasn’t for the huge amount of work you all put into your pages and blogs. Thank you for your support, advice and for the new friendships I am making along the way.
And last but not least, my wonderful family. My three children and husband are the ones who have had to sacrifice the most for my passion… my time. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all so very much and I could not have done this without your support.
I did it.
Completely
I am completely in love with you
I completely trust you
But can you keep me safe?
Chapter 1
Seven days earlier
Light bulb moments
In what state does the subconscious mind need to be for one to be able to experience an awakening like this?
Is it the conscious mind? Does it need to be openly receptive to the information it had before? And why now? Why only now does this make sense? Why does it seem so real that it can’t possibly be true?
I knew Joshua Stanton was wealthy. The houses, the lifestyle, the security.
Why the hell am I sitting here dumbstruck, peering out of the car like a child in a chocolate factory movie?
My name is Natasha Marx, I have thirty million dollars in my bank account.
I am in love with a billionaire.
And my life will never be the same.
The car slowly pulls into the driveway and tall black metal gates block the entrance. We are at the Kamala house in Thailand. The driver enters a code into the pinpad and I watch them slowly open. My stomach drops at the sight of the huge stone fence surrounding the property and Joshua picks up my hand and kisses it as he smirks at my bewildered face.
“This is it? This is your house?” I ask.
“Yes.” He smiles softly.
Holy crap. The large lawn is at street level but I can see it drops off to a cliff at the back of the property, and cobblestones line the driveway which winds its way through the tropical oasis. I can’t see what’s ahead and I crane my neck as excitement fills me. We drive past a waterfall, through the gardens to a circular bay. “This is your house?” I repeat again as I frown. The main house is in front of us with driveways to the other houses on the property veering off to the side.
He leans over and kisses me gently as if sensing my inner freak-out mode. The car comes to a stop and parks in the undercover area and other cars pull in behind us. My eyes explore the opulence surrounding me.
“Holy shit!” Abbie yells and I smile as I nod my head in agreement.
“Is this a house?” Bridget gasps. My god, I did not expect this. I expected a holiday shack on the hill, this is over the top frigging… I don’t even know what… ridiculously extravagant money. Five men in traditional Thai dress come out of the house to the left, stand in a line and then simultaneously put their hands together, as if to pray, and bow.
“Sawas Dee Krab.” Joshua smiles as he and the boys bow their heads in reply. Oh shit, I didn’t know about the bowing head and my eyes flick around to the others and I quickly bow my head to try not to be rude.
“Sawas Dee Krab, Joshua,” they all say and then burst into conversation.
Joshua and Cameron instantly reply in fluent Thai.
Joshua then turns and pulls me by the hand to the front of the men. “This is Natasha.” He smiles as he picks up my hand and kisses it. They all smile and laugh at something he has said and then bow their head at me again. What… he can speak Thai? Oh jeez, I’m so punching above my weight here. Joshua smiles warmly. “Boys, can you show the girls to their house.” He grabs my hand and pulls me up the steps towards the house through two oversized carved timber doors.
“Oh my god!” I hear the girls scream excitedly as they disappear up the path to go next door and I shake my head in disbelief as Joshua pulls me into the house.
“Joshua,” I whisper as I stop dead in my tracks.
“Welcome to our home, my precious girl.” He bends and kisses me gently.
I’m overwhelmed, this is bullshit. High carved timber cathedral ceilings adorn the large room, the walls are rendered in a cream colour, and dark timber floors are throughout. A wall of glass looks out to sea over the massive infinity pool and the backyards of the four properties are fenced individually for privacy. An island in the middle of the pool has a circular cabana, a thatched roof and lounge chairs are surrounding a fire pit. My eyes flick to Joshua. This is a visual sensation if ever I saw one.
“Are you serious?” I raise my eyebrows in question.
“Do you like it?” he asks.
I frown. “Ahuh,” I whisper as I put my hands on top of my head. I walk through the room and around to the left to an extravagant kitchen with every luxury appliance known to man. In front of it is a sixteen-seat dining table.
“How have you been happy to stay stuck in my tiny dump for the last month?” I frown. “This kitchen and dining area is the size of my whole apartment.” I shake my head in disbelief.
He pulls me into an embrace. “I love your apartment. I feel more at home there than I do in my own home,” he whispers into my forehead. “Money doesn’t make you happy Natasha, I know that first hand.”
We c
ontinue up the hall and through another set of double doors and my stomach drops. Dear god. A huge all-white bedroom with a massive four-poster bed in the centre, fine white mosquito netting adorning it, and with yet another glass wall looking out to sea.
I burst out laughing. “This is the fucking bedroom?” I gasp. “Are you serious?”
He smiles broadly. “Look around while I go and get our bags.” He leaves and I walk over to the window and put my hand on the glass as I stare out to sea. This place is unbelievable. Over to the left is another set of doors. I investigate and my eyes widen again. A white marble bathroom with a ridiculously large white stone bath sits in the centre with a triple shower to the right. Bloody hell, Joshua Stanton, you are a mind fuck. I walk back out to the bedroom and run my hand up the beautiful thick timber of the post on the bed and stare up at the delicate netting. This is the most beautiful place I have ever been in. Stupid crazy rich. My eyes roam over to the bedside table and my heart stops… tears instantly fill my eyes. One lone white photo frame sits on the side table, a photo of Joshua and me. A selfie that he took of us on the beach one day all those years ago. We look so young. I am laughing at the camera and he is kissing my cheek. We look so happy… so in love. I have never seen this photo before and I instantly pick it up as a lump of emotion forms in my throat. I turn to see Joshua standing in the doorway watching me silently.
“I love you,” I whisper.
He nods as his eyes search mine.
“I’m so sorry,” I whisper. How could I have put him through all this nonsense?
He nods again, unwilling to speak.
“I’m here now.” I smile softly.
He nods again.
“I’m not leaving again, I promise you,” I whisper.
He drops the bags and rushes to me, burying his head into my shoulder and I smile. I’ve died and gone to heaven. I am in the most beautiful place on earth with the most beautiful man on earth. And he loves me—he’s always loved me.
“The wait is going to be worth it baby.” I smile into the top of his head. “I am going to make you so happy.” I start to shower his forehead with kisses.
He pulls back to look at me with darkened eyes. “Good.” He smirks.
I smile broadly. “Good?’ I question.
He smiles and nods again. “Because I am about ten minutes off blowing in your mouth, my beautiful slut.”
I laugh out loud and run into the bathroom. “You will have to catch me first,” I squeal.
“One-way ticket,” he growls as he runs into the bathroom and tackles me so that I fall onto the huge mat on the floor.
“You’re going to pound town.”
The flicker of the flames shadows my face as I stare into the fire. It’s 10 pm and we are sitting outside on the lounges surrounding the fire pit. Joshua showed me around this afternoon. This place is beyond heavenly. We went to the beach for a swim and his chef has just cooked us an amazing dinner. The others have headed off out on the town for a night of partying. I could think of nothing worse. How times change, I smile to myself. I am seated on one end of the long bench seat with my feet up on the ottoman and Joshua has his head on my lap and is fast asleep. He’s exhausted. He didn’t sleep last night because of the break-in at my apartment. I run my fingers continually over the top of his head and down his arm as I sit deep in thought watching the flames flicker. Who broke into my apartment? And what was the significance of my vibrator? I know I should believe that it’s Coby Allender, but I don’t. I think that was just a stupid coincidence that he mentioned it. It has something to do with Joshua, but what? My mind goes back to when it was taken—when was that? I rub my forehead as I think. It was when he came back to Australia and we were breaking up, not long after the hit on him. What was that hit about anyway? Was it an attempted hit or just a scare tactic? Somebody is trying to scare us. You don’t steal a vibrator in a robbery and then return it unless you are specifically trying to scare the shit out of someone. It worked. I had the first nightmare I have had in weeks last night. I run my hands over the top of Joshua’s head as he sleeps on my lap. He’s different here. The security has been dismissed. Max is staying in the last house on the block with the other guards and he has chosen not to go out tonight, although Joshua wouldn’t have cared if he had wanted to. It’s weird having all this privacy. My mind goes to Margaret and the horrible secret I am keeping. What a nightmare that situation is. Now that I know how Joshua has felt about me all along I am riddled with guilt. He doesn’t deserve to be deceived by the two people he cares about the most. I’m as bad as Margaret and I make myself sick. I’ve made the decision to tell him as soon as we get back to LA. It’s going to be hard but I have to do it because this guilt is eating me alive.
Joshua stirs, slowly wakes and sleepily smiles up at me. The honesty in his eyes cuts through me like a knife.
“Time for bed?” I smile softly.
He nods as he slowly stands. “Bedtime presh,” he murmurs huskily as he grabs my hand and leads me to our bedroom. “I will be asleep before I hit the pillow,” he sighs.
“Same,” I murmur, but my mind is far from a restful sleep. I’m preoccupied with betrayal and paternity and vibrator-stealing thieves and wondering if the man I love more than life itself will ever forgive me for keeping this secret and deceiving him.
It’s our second morning in Kamala, the boys are in the gym at the end house and the girls and I are making breakfast. Actually, let me rephrase that. I am making Spanish omelette while the lazy girls watch. Abbie is lying on the kitchen bench and Didge is sitting on a stool at the island bench. Apparently they went to a karaoke bar last night and embarrassed themselves. What a surprise.
“I saw you on the dance floor, Bridget. Don’t try and deny it.” Abbie raises her eyebrows in question.
I look up from the frying pan. “Saw what?” I ask.
“Ben and Bridget had a moment.”
“Did not!” Bridget snaps.
I frown as I continue to flip the omelette. “Do you like him Didge? You can tell me you know, I don’t care.”
Bridget bites her bottom lip as she thinks and shrugs her shoulders. “Not really,” she mutters under her breath.
“Oh please.” Abbie rolls her eyes. “You are so into him.”
“He’s just a nice guy that’s all. I like spending time with him but it’s not romantically charged.”
“Oh my fuck, did you just say it’s not romantically charged?” Abbie frowns in horror.
I smile broadly and Bridget shakes her head as she smirks.
“It’s sexually charged imbecile, not romantically charged.” Abbie scoffs. “If you are waiting for an attraction to be romantically charged you are going to be waiting for a lifetime. Shit doesn’t happen like that.”
“Does too.” Bridget widens her eyes at Abbie to accentuate her point.
I nod as I agree. “It does Abbie. With nice guys it happens.” I start to lay out the cutlery and hand the bottle of juice to Bridget who starts to fill the glasses on the table.
“Blah, blah, blah, nice guys are boring. I want a bad boy to bend me over and I want sexually charged. Bang the romance shit you two go on about,” Abbie replies.
“Nice guys bend you over,” I mutter.
“Really?” Joshua coos from his spot at the doorway. I throw him a smirk. How long has he been standing there listening?
“You are a nice guy and yes I am bent over regularly.” My eyes hold his and he smiles sexily. He walks around behind me and kisses my temple as he wraps his arms around me.
“Stop it. You’re all sweaty.” I swish him away.
“You like sweat,” he whispers darkly
“Eww, yuk, stop it,” Bridget frowns. “You two are gross,” she adds.
Joshua picks up an apple and takes a bite. “My house.” His eyes dare her to reply.
She whips him with the tea towel and shakes her head.
“I’m having a shower.” Joshua kisses me gently on the lips and disap
pears out of the room.
My eyes flick to the two girls as their eyes meet.
“What?” I ask.
“You two are really happy.” Bridget shakes her head in disbelief. “I never thought I would see the day.”
I smile warmly and nod. “Yes we are.” I have never been more in love with my beautiful man. Here he is how I imagined he would be if we hadn’t had to put up with all of the crap in our lives. We are in a love bubble, one I don’t want to pop.
“Who would have ever thought you would fall in love with a guy who is this rich?”
Abbie mutters as she takes a sip of her juice. “This whole resort thing going on here.” She gestures around the room at our surroundings with her glass. “Could be half yours.”
“It’s Joshua’s,” I frown.
Her eyes hold mine. “Semantics.”
“Anyway, so what happened last night?” I turn my attention back to Bridget to change the subject.
“Ben and I were dancing,” she answers.
“Yes.” I take a sip of my juice.
“And then the song changed so we were slow dancing.”
“Ahuh.” I turn and start to butter the toast. “Then what?”
She goes silent and my eyes flick up to her from my buttering toast duties to see Ben standing at the door. Oh shit, did he hear us?
“Breakfast will be about five minutes Ben.” I smile.
Ben’s eyes hold Bridget’s and she smiles softly at him. Oh, she does like him. I have seen that look before.
“Ok, thanks,” he answers in his husky South African accent.
“Shall we go and wait on the deck?” Bridget smiles up at him.
He nods and smiles back gently. Oh, he likes her too. This is so frigging cute and I feel my heart flutter a little as they leave the room.
Abbie gets up and walks over next to me. “This is stupid—how can she date Joshua’s bodyguard?” she whispers.
I frown. “What do you mean?” I ask.
“Think about it. Every time Joshua needs him to go out at night, Bridget is going to want him to go out with her.”