Seduced by Second Chances

by Reese Ryan

  She needed to remember what was at stake tonight for her career rather than obsessing over Gideon. What he meant to her then. The mistakes they’d both made fifteen years ago. How he’d react if she proposed a weekend tryst.

  Jessie sucked in a deep breath, her head spinning as her hands moved across the keys. She hit the wrong note, then banged on the piano keys in frustration.

  She couldn’t lose focus, lost in thoughts of Gideon. It was a cruel catch-22, because the song she hoped to wow Chase and Dixon with was one that had been inspired by Gideon’s rejection that day. Born of all the pain, hurt and anger she’d felt and the realization that it was time to let it all go and move on.

  It was ironic that he’d waltz back into her life after she’d written that song. The universe had one hell of a sense of humor.

  “Okay” was the most raw, emotional song she’d written to date. She needed to tap into the pain and loss she’d felt that day. And she had to transport the audience to that place where they could connect to their own experiences of love and loss.

  It had been unnerving to perform with Gideon in the audience last night. Especially when she’d introduced the song that had clearly been about her feelings for him. But tonight, most of her planned set featured songs that would force her to relive those intense feelings. She’d be playing them all out in front of the man who’d inspired them.

  She couldn’t hold back any of those raw emotions. Her authentic sound and poignant delivery were what set her apart from her pop diva peers. So she would lean into whatever feelings arose and ride the wave of those emotions.

  A piece of her hoped Gideon didn’t show tonight. Then she could lay her heart out on the stage for everyone except him to see.

  She doubted she would be that lucky.

  The only thing that mattered was that Chase and Dixon would be there for the performance. They needed to understand what she was capable of. If she could manage that, she wouldn’t need to convince them. They’d be clamoring to work with her.

  “Jessie, is everything all right with the piano?” Teresa approached her with a platter containing a mug of tea and a saucer. “You’re certainly deep in thought.”

  Jessie hadn’t realized she’d stopped playing. She was sitting there as if the entire world weighed on her shoulders.

  No wonder Teresa was worried.

  “Everything is good. Thank you.” Jessie took a sip of the warm chamomile tea the woman handed her. “In terms of attention to detail and anticipating the needs of the guests, you’re one of the best event planners I’ve worked with. If you weren’t on the West Coast, I’d hire you to plan the album release party once I’m done.”

  “Thank you, Jessie.” Teresa beamed. “And thank you for agreeing to do this event. After the disaster at The Opulence, I wouldn’t have blamed you if you’d turned me down.”

  “Well, you did sweeten the deal.” Jessie laughed. “I can’t thank you enough for getting Chase and Dixon in the room for tonight’s performance.”

  “I’m glad we could make it happen. If you give them even half of what you gave us last night, they’ll both be begging to work with you.” Teresa looked up when the banquet manager called her name. “I’d better go. Call me if you need anything. We want to build up the drama of your performance tonight, so don’t mingle with the guests beforehand this time. Let’s save it until after your set. If you could arrive in the staging area about an hour before go time, we’ll make sure everything is ready.”

  Jessie thanked Teresa. Then when she had the space to herself again, she closed her eyes and let her fingers travel over the keys.

  Sixteen

  Teresa stood at the back of the auditorium late Saturday morning as Matt and Liam sat at the center of the stage concluding their talk on their new joint AI venture, the Sasha Project. The room was nearly filled to capacity. At the end of their presentation, they were greeted by thunderous applause.

  The retreat was going better than either she or Matt had expected. More than half of the guests invited to the original retreat were able to attend, despite the short notice. They’d expanded the guest list to tastemakers and change agents in other industries. People like Chase Stratton and Dixon Benedict, both of whom had finally arrived and were seated in the auditorium.

  After a quick update from Corinne and two other members of her team, Teresa’s next stop was the kitchen. She consulted with the chef on the gala dinner menu. They also reviewed all of the special meal requests of various guests. It seemed that nearly a third of the attendees had dietary restrictions, but the chef and his staff had everything well in hand.

  Chef Riad offered to prepare her a lovely pasta and chicken dish so she could have a quick, early lunch. It would probably be her only chance to grab a bite until later that evening.

  Since it was such a gorgeous day, he suggested that she enjoy her lunch on the patio beside the pool, where he’d have it delivered.

  It was the perfect suggestion. She could get a little sun, enjoy the gardens and inspect the pool to ensure that everything was as it should be. As she approached the large heated outdoor art deco pool, Liam emerged from beneath the water.

  She nearly dropped her cell phone at the sight of him.

  The man is a ridiculously perfect physical specimen.

  He strode in her direction, his lips pressed into a subtle smirk. The black Versace swim trunks he wore were imprinted with a gold Barocco scroll print and the iconic Greek key print at the waist. The length of Liam’s swim shorts showed off his strong thighs, while the band at the waist highlighted his firm abs.

  Liam ran his fingers through his dark hair, plastered to his head. His light blue eyes beamed in the sunlight.

  “Good morning,” he said finally, obviously pleased by her reaction to his barely clad body.

  A tingle of electricity ran down her spine and she involuntarily sank her teeth into her lower lip. Thoughts of when she’d last seen him wearing that little filled her brain, and her body ached for him.

  Damn him.

  “Good morning,” she stammered. Get a hold of yourself, girl. “The Sasha Project announcement went well.”

  “It was great to finally make it public. But as soon as we were done I needed to clear my head. So I went for a swim.” He accepted two towels from the pool attendant and thanked her.

  Liam wrapped one towel around his waist and hung the other around his neck, drying his hair.

  “You know Nicolette Ryan, don’t you?” Liam nodded toward a beautiful woman stretched out on a lounger beside the pool with her bare legs crossed.

  Liam collapsed on the chair beside her and she offered him one of the two drinks that a poolside server had just delivered.

  The muscles in Teresa’s back and neck tensed. Her free hand clenched in a fist at her side.

  Nicolette Ryan. The reporter. What the hell was Liam doing cozying up with her?

  Had Liam been the one who’d leaked the photos and information about Teresa to the press? Was he playing some sick game to drive her away before she could liquidate her shares in Christopher Corporation?

  “Good morning, Teresa.” Nicolette waved cheerily. The woman’s brown eyes sparkled and her dark hair was smoothed back into a low bun. Her creamy, light brown skin shone. “Thank you so much for granting me a press pass for this event. The grounds are remarkable and Jessie Humphrey’s show last night was one of the best live performances I’ve ever experienced.”

  Teresa forced a smile, despite her tense shoulders. “Glad you could make the retreat on such short notice.”

  Nicolette gave her a knowing smile. “I wouldn’t have missed it.”

  She lay back, stretched out in the warmth of the sun and closed her eyes.

  Teresa gritted her teeth. She looked for a patio table that would allow her to eat in peace without seeing or hearing Liam and his new friend.

/>   She plopped down in one of the wrought iron chairs at a patio table beneath a large umbrella and sulked.

  No, she and Liam weren’t a couple. And she had no right to dictate what activities he engaged in and with whom. Still, she couldn’t help the churning in her gut, thinking of Nicolette and Liam doing God knows what together.

  She cast a sideways glance in their direction. Heads together, they were engaged in a private conversation. One to which they obviously didn’t want her to be privy. She could barely hear them whispering in hushed tones. For a moment, she regretted selecting a table so far away.

  “Here you are, ma’am. Chef Riad’s special chicken Alfredo, just for you.” The server set down her plate and laid out her silverware. He poured a bottle of sparkling mineral water in her glass.

  Teresa wished he’d shift just a little to the right so she could see exactly what Liam and Nicolette were doing.

  Spying on Liam wouldn’t help her sanity with all that was already going on. What she needed was distance.

  “I’m sorry, but would you mind if I moved to the cabana the hotel gave us access to for the weekend?”

  The server politely gathered everything up on his tray again before heading over to the cabana.

  Once he was gone, Teresa ate her meal in peace, trying hard not to wonder about Liam or his newfound interest in the beautiful reporter.

  * * *

  “I feel terrible about the photos that leaked after the blackout at The Opulence.” Nicolette Ryan sipped her piña colada. “And those awful headlines. They weren’t fair to you or Teresa.” She nodded toward the woman who’d moved to the other end of the pool.

  Without turning his head, Liam glanced in Teresa’s direction in time to see her get out of her seat and follow the server to one of the more secluded cabanas.

  “Liam.” Nicolette called his name impatiently, as if it wasn’t the first time she’d had to say it.

  “Yes, I’m sorry. I was just...thinking.” He took a gulp of his Manhattan. He turned to face her fully. “So you think someone has it out for me?”

  “At this point, I’m not sure if their grudge is against you personally or against your father’s company. It’s even possible that Teresa is the real target of this cruel game someone is playing.”

  Liam frowned, glanced involuntarily over his shoulder at the cabana that Teresa occupied. If someone had it out for her...why? Had she done something questionable in her past that would make someone want revenge? If so, just how far would they go to make her pay?

  “Teresa could be in danger.”

  “I don’t know.” Nicolette shrugged. “But I’d suggest that you both operate on the side of caution. Someone has definitely been asking around about the two of you and inquiring about her history with your father.”

  Nicolette adjusted her lounger, sitting upright. “People often discount me because of the topics I cover. Celebrities, fashion, Hollywood and society gossip,” she said bitterly. “But I operate with integrity. Always. I don’t want to see you or Teresa get hurt. Nor do I want to see either of your reputations ruined. Watch out for unscrupulous reporters and paparazzi. They’re like sharks, circling in the water, sniffing out blood.”

  “Who has been asking about me and about my father? If you know that someone is asking, surely you know who it is.”

  “I don’t have all of the details.” She shifted her gaze from his and sipped her drink.

  “There’s something you know, but aren’t telling me.” Liam studied Nicolette’s face.

  Her brown eyes wouldn’t meet his. “I have to protect my sources. I’ve already told you too much. In fact, I’d better go and get ready for lunch. Mr. Richmond doesn’t want his guests hounded by the press this weekend, but a few have agreed to talk to me. I have some interviews lined up.”

  “Wait, Nicolette.” Liam placed a hand on her arm. “Surely there is something else you can tell me.”

  Nicolette scanned the space before returning her gaze to his. “I’m not one hundred percent sure who is behind this, but it’s quite possible that the source is much closer to you than you think. If I were you, I’d be careful about who I trust.”

  “I will.” Liam ran a hand through his damp hair. “Thank you for sharing what you could.”

  Nicolette slid on her shades, gathered her things and headed inside the hotel.

  A source close to him?

  The number of people he could trust not to keep secrets from him steadily decreased, starting with his parents. His father had pulled the rug from underneath him by leaving Teresa 25 percent of Christopher Corporation stock. Then there was the even bigger secret...

  When Linus Christopher lay dying in the hospital, Liam had caught a glimpse of his father’s medical records. Linus’s blood type was listed as AB. He hadn’t given it much thought at the time. But later it occurred to him that his own blood type was O. If the information in his father’s chart was accurate, there was no way Linus Christopher was his father.

  Parents were often hesitant to reveal to their children that they were adopted. But he wasn’t a child. He was a thirty-two-year-old man who needed to know his medical history. So if he was adopted, why hadn’t his parents told him the truth?

  After his father’s funeral, Liam had asked his mother, Catherine, about the discrepancy. She insisted the hospital chart had been mistaken. And she assured him he was their biological son.

  Still, he couldn’t stop thinking about it.

  Maybe his mother was right and the admitting staff had made an egregious error. But then there was the emotional distance he’d always felt between himself and his father. It had never made sense to Liam. But if the medical chart was to be believed, his father’s resentment suddenly made sense.

  Then his father had gone and left a quarter of the company’s shares to Teresa—a virtual stranger. It only fueled his suspicion that he may not be a Christopher after all.

  Seventeen

  The Richmond Industries fifth anniversary event was going off without a hitch. The accommodations and food were fantastic. The guests were all well-behaved and seemed to really be enjoying the experience. And the hotel staff’s customer service was unparalleled. Teresa couldn’t have asked for anything more.

  Liam had been a genius for suggesting this venue and a saint for using his pull to secure the hotel for her on such short notice.

  Teresa closed her eyes against the memory of Liam and Nicolette whispering together beside the pool. Despite her growing affection for the man, he didn’t trust her, and without that, they had no future.

  She needed to get her head in the game and focus on her work at Limitless Events and the Christopher Corporation. That should be enough to keep her busy so she didn’t think about Liam or how incredible his body had looked dripping wet.

  Her phone buzzed. She lifted it and checked the new text message.

  Speak of the devil.

  Urgent. Meet me in my cottage in ten minutes. Need to speak with you in private.

  Teresa frowned. Why couldn’t Liam have asked her to meet him at the bar or even beside the pool?

  Because none of those areas offered true privacy. And from the sound of his urgent text, the issue was sensitive and meant only for her ears. Still, going to see Liam Christopher in his cottage was a profoundly bad idea.

  Teresa dialed Liam’s phone, but the call rang until it went to his voice mail. She called it twice more and got the same.

  Teresa frowned and tucked her hair behind her ear as she made another sweep of the lobby to ensure everything was fine. She gave a few quick instructions to the staff setting up lunch in the banquet hall and followed up with Corinne and Evelyn Montague. Then she made her way across the property to Liam’s cottage.

  She knocked on the door, but there was no answer. Teresa knocked again, miffed that Liam had sent her such a cryptic text but n
ow wasn’t answering his phone or the door. She was just about to turn and leave when Liam answered.

  “Sorry, I was in the shower. Got sidetracked by an unexpected call.” He answered the door with a towel slung low on his waist. Droplets of water from the shower still covered his body. “Come in.”

  Liam stepped aside to allow her into the room, then he glanced around the courtyard.

  “Liam, what’s going on?” Teresa demanded, her arms folded. “Were you checking to see if I was being followed?”

  “Yes.” He took the towel draped around his neck and dried his hair.

  “By whom?”

  “That’s what I’d like to know.” He went into the kitchen and pulled out a bottle of water, offering her one.

  “No, thank you.” Teresa went to the window and peeked outside. She pulled the curtains closed once she was convinced no one was there.

  The man was seriously making her paranoid.

  “Then why would you think someone is following me? And what’s up with the cryptic text? I have a million things going on right now. So spare me the drama and tell me what’s happening.”

  Liam excused himself to go into the bathroom and change, leaving her to pace in the living space, which opened to the bedroom. She found herself staring at the bed. Thoughts of the nights they’d shared filled her brain. For one happy moment she had truly believed that they could have something more. Something real.

  But there was so much baggage between them. Her history with his father. Liam’s inability to trust people, ingrained in him by his mother. The terms of his father’s will and the suspicion and animosity that had created between them. The rumors that threatened both of their reputations and her livelihood.

  “Is everything all right?” Liam placed a gentle hand on her arm, startling her. She hadn’t even realized that he’d emerged from the bathroom. “I called you a couple of times but you were in a daze.”

  “I’m just running everything about tonight’s gala through my head. Trying to make sure I didn’t forget anything.” There were enough secrets between them. She hated adding an inconsequential lie to the mix. “So you were going to explain the text.”