Seduced by Second Chances

by Reese Ryan

  He was handsome with creamy, light brown skin. His dark hair had a natural curl and he towered over her at well over six feet in height. His liquid brown eyes and gleaming broad smile were simply mesmerizing. No wonder the man had a reputation as something of a playboy.

  “I didn’t do it alone, of course. I have an incredible staff.” Teresa could barely contain her smile. After what she’d been through these past few months, it felt good to have everything going so smoothly and to receive such heartfelt acknowledgment from Matt Richmond and now Brooks Abbingdon, one of his high-powered guests.

  “I’m sure you still have lots to do tonight, Ms. St. Claire, so I won’t take up too much of your time.” Brooks stepped closer and lowered his voice. “I’d like to discuss the possibility of engaging your services for an upcoming event.”

  “Call me Teresa.” Her belly fluttered with excitement. A new, high-profile client like Brooks Abbingdon was exactly what Limitless Events needed right now. The success of the Richmond retreat and being tasked with planning an event for the popular bachelor could be just the thing to pull her company out of the sharp decline that began because of the recent scandal. “Thank you for considering Limitless Events. May I ask what kind of event you’re planning?”

  He grinned and his eyes, the color of dark, rich coffee, twinkled. “My wedding.”

  “Congratulations! I didn’t realize you were engaged.”

  Teresa liked to keep up with the latest on the wealthy and powerful of Seattle. Especially when the news meant that they might need her services.

  “I’d be honored to work with you to plan your wedding. If you give me the basics—your fiancée’s name, the time of year you’d like to get married, the date, if you’ve set one, and any ideas you have about your ideal wedding—my assistant will work up some preliminary ideas to present to you when we get together.”

  Teresa pulled out her phone and started typing an email to Corinne.

  “I appreciate your enthusiasm,” Brooks said. “But I realize how busy your team must be. This is Matt’s event, so I won’t impose on his time, but I’ll definitely be in touch.”

  Brooks flashed his megawatt smile and walked away before she could object. He was headed right for Nicolette Ryan, who had set up in a lovely area of the hotel lobby to interview some of the guests as background for her coverage of the retreat.

  Not surprising.

  The man could teach a master class on how to manipulate the press to one’s advantage and have them love you for it.

  Besides, he was right. She had a million things to keep watch over, beginning with making sure that Jessie had arrived in the staging area and would be ready to perform in less than an hour.

  * * *

  Liam stood by the bar and watched couples swaying on the dance floor to a big band song the musicians were playing. The retreat had been outstanding, and the announcement of the Sasha Project that morning had gone well, but the Saturday night gala was simply phenomenal.

  The decor was modern glitz and glamour that played upon the Old Hollywood feel of the hotel’s art deco style. And hiring a group to play big band songs and Rat Pack standards was a stroke of genius.

  The food Chef Riad prepared had surpassed his expectations and The Goblet’s private-label wine produced at the on-site vineyard was one of the best cabernets he’d ever had. It was so good that he’d forgone his usual Manhattan for the evening.

  Liam caught a glimpse of Teresa as she darted through the crowd in search of the next fire to be put out. He wasn’t sure how, but the woman seemed to get more gorgeous each time he laid eyes on her.

  The stunning blue dress she wore complemented the color of her eyes and fit her body like a glove. It was sleeveless with a low neckline, so it showcased her strong arms and provided just enough cleavage to make his imagination go wild.

  Only he didn’t need imagination. He’d seen the full show and it was spectacular. Memories of that body haunted him in the middle of the night when he lay in bed alone, wishing she were there beside him.

  Satisfaction washed over him when his gaze met Teresa’s from across the room. Her eyes danced and a soft, sexy grin curved one corner of her mouth.

  It took every bit of self-control he could manage to stay rooted in place when what he wanted more than anything was to pull her into his arms and kiss her. To remind her of what they’d shared earlier in the day when he’d made love to her in his cottage.

  In fact, as wonderful as the event had been, he couldn’t wait until it was over so he could take her back to his room and have her again.

  “She looks amazing in that dress, doesn’t she?” Nadia stood beside Liam. They both stared at Teresa as she dealt with one of the other guests.

  “She does.” Liam sipped from his wineglass and kept his response even. “As do you in yours.” He nodded toward his friend’s wife. “And nearly every other woman in this room, for that matter.”

  “Yes, but you are not staring at me or any other woman in this room.” Nadia gave him a knowing grin. “You’re staring at one woman in particular. And it seems that she is quite taken with you, too.” Nadia cocked her head, watching Teresa for a moment. Suddenly the woman’s eyes lit up. “Why don’t you ask her to dance?”

  “She’s working and I—”

  “The party is pretty much under control, and I know for a fact Matt wouldn’t mind. So ask her.” Nadia nudged him. “If you don’t, I have the feeling you’re going to regret it.”

  The woman sashayed off in her strapless red gown with her blond hair twisted up. Nadia was a beautiful woman and his best friend was a lucky man.

  Perhaps she was onto something with her suggestion.

  Liam finished the last of his wine and made his way to where Teresa stood near the back of the room monitoring the gala.

  “You look stunning.” He stood beside her, both of them watching the band on the stage. Liam placed a discreet hand low on her back and whispered in her ear. “But I happen to know for a fact that you’d look even better out of it.”

  Her cheeks flushed and she grinned. “You look pretty good yourself.” She gave him a quick, sideways glance. Her grin deepened. “In or out of the tux.”

  Teresa surveyed the crowd, as if she was worried about who might be watching the two of them together.

  Liam hated that it had come to this between them. They both needed to protect their business interests and their reputations. He realized that. But by allowing some shadowy figure to control their actions, they were giving the person power over them. Emboldening him to do who knew what next.

  On the other hand, if they behaved as if the rumors had no effect on them, perhaps the culprit would realize he hadn’t succeeded and just move on.

  “I’d better go,” Teresa said, pulling away from him.

  He tightened his grip on her waist. “Don’t. At least, not yet.”

  “Why not?” She turned to face him, a look of panic in her eyes.

  The band played the opening chords of Frank Sinatra’s “The Way You Look Tonight” and Liam smiled.

  Perfect.

  He removed his hand from her waist and extended it to her. “Dance with me.”

  “What?” She looked at him as if he’d lost his mind. “You want me to dance with you? Here? Where everyone can see us?”

  “Yes to all of the above.” He smiled. “This is my favorite song, and I can’t think of anyone I’d rather dance to it with tonight.”

  “That’s sweet, Liam.” Her expression softened into a dreamy smile for a moment, but then she glanced over to the spot where Matt and Nadia stood. “But aside from all of the other reasons it isn’t good for us to be seen dancing together, I’m working, remember?”

  “Let me worry about Matt, okay?” He nodded toward the dance floor. “Come on. Just one dance. That’s all I’m asking.”

  “One danc
e.” She slipped her hand in his. “But don’t expect me to kiss you in the middle of the dance floor this time.”

  Liam burst into laughter, remembering when Teresa kissed him for the first time on the dance floor at Gideon John’s party. It had been completely unexpected, but not unwelcome. He’d gladly kissed her back.

  “Well, you never know. Maybe I’ll kiss you this time.”

  They found a place on the dance floor not far from where they’d been standing. He took her in his arms and swayed to the music, singing along softly so only she could hear.

  It felt right to hold her like this. To stop hiding and pretending that he didn’t care for this woman as much as he did. It was obvious that they couldn’t stay away from each other, no matter how hard either of them tried. So maybe they should stop fighting the growing feeling between them.

  What was the worst that could happen if they just admitted that what they felt for each other was more than either of them had expected? That it was powerful and intense and worth exploring more fully, rumors be damned?

  “This is one of my favorite songs, too.” She tipped her chin to look up at him. There was a mixture of happiness and sorrow in her glistening eyes. “My mother listened to it when I was a kid. She and my dad danced to this song the first night they met. She plays it often, particularly when she’s really missing my father.”

  “I’m sorry, sweetheart.” He stopped singing and swaying to the music. “I didn’t mean to make you sad.”

  “You didn’t.” She widened her smile and swiped the dampness from her eyes. “I hadn’t heard the song in a long time. And I’ve never been serenaded with it before. It just struck me because...well, my mother always told the story of how my dad did the same thing the night they met. It just made me a little nostalgic.”

  “Happy memories, then?” Liam stared into her eyes, fighting the overwhelming desire to kiss her.

  He wanted to articulate all of the feelings for her he’d been struggling with. But Teresa was here in a professional capacity, and he needed to respect that. Even if his body didn’t.

  “Happy-ish.” She forced a smile.

  “You haven’t said much about your father,” Liam noted, taking her in his arms again and slowly swaying.

  “I guess I haven’t. It’s not something I talk about very—” Her phone rang and she gave him an apologetic frown. “I’m sorry, Liam, but I need to take this.”

  “Of course. You’re working.” He released her from his grip and shoved a hand in his pocket. “I understand.”

  She pulled the phone from her purse and read the screen. “It’s Evelyn Montague. I’d better see what she wants. Besides, there are a few things I need to confirm about the farewell breakfast tomorrow morning. I have to go, but we’re still on for later, right?”

  “Nothing could possibly keep me away.” Liam grinned. “I’ll see you then.”

  Liam hated that Teresa had to go, but he thoroughly enjoyed the view as she sashayed across the room in that fitted blue gown, the fishtail hem swishing in her wake.

  His body ached for this vibrant, brilliant, beautiful woman. In his head, they were already back in that cottage where his biggest problem would be finding the zipper so he could strip her out of that dress.

  Liam went to the bar to order himself a Manhattan. As he sipped his cocktail, he silently assessed the crowd.

  He felt secure in his decision not to allow the coward hiding in the shadows to dictate his life. But a small part of him hoped like hell he hadn’t just thrown gasoline on the fire by pissing off whoever had an ax to grind with either him or Teresa.

  Nineteen

  Jessie paced the greenroom as she warmed up her voice and reviewed the final changes she’d made to both the lyrics and the musical arrangement of the song she’d be singing for the audience. Tonight’s performance had to be absolutely perfect.

  Teresa had confirmed that both Chase Stratton and Dixon Benedict were out in the crowd mingling. Dixon had even mentioned to Teresa that he was eager to hear Jessie perform live. In addition to the two dream producers for her project being in the audience, Teresa had informed her that entertainment reporter Nicolette Ryan would be broadcasting her performance live from her show’s website and social media pages.

  The live broadcast meant that tonight’s performance had the potential to either be a viral sensation or a hot, flaming mess that could spawn a dozen memes and make her an industry joke.

  Jessie preferred to believe it would be the former, not the latter. She just needed to showcase her songwriting and voice together in a way the syrupy pop album hadn’t permitted her to.

  Even if Chase and Dix passed on her project, maybe the live broadcast would capture the interest of another producer on her top ten list.

  No. Don’t think that way.

  Jessie released a deep breath to drain the tension from her body. Tension in her jaw, chest and throat would make her voice tight and strained. In the bigger moments of the song, she’d sound like she was trying too hard instead of singing from deep down in the bottom of her soul. So she had to relax. Let go of all of her anxiety about the big moment ahead.

  She smoothed her hands down the ethereal one-shoulder floor-length Laylahni Couture gown. Jessie had fallen in love with the dress the moment she’d laid eyes on it. She loved the contrast of the pale pink silk chiffon against her warm brown skin. And there was something so Old Hollywood about the twisted tulle overlay, embroidered skirt and bodice, and short but elegant train.

  The gown made her feel beautiful, but also strong. She was a woman who was completely in control of her destiny. All she had to do was give an honest, raw performance. Leave it all out there on that stage for everyone to see.

  Jessie continued her vocal exercises and warmed up her wrists and fingers.

  With her entire future riding on this performance, Jessie tried not to think about Gideon being in the audience. Nearly impossible since her brain had been flooded with thoughts of Gideon all day. She couldn’t help wondering how he felt about her and whether he was truly over her sister.

  A mood which matched the raw, personal song she was unveiling tonight. “Okay” explored the pain of being in love with a person who loves someone else.

  She wasn’t a starry-eyed teen anymore and she now had a renewed understanding of their past. So why did this song still sum up exactly how she was feeling? And how would she react to singing those words with Gideon just a few yards away?

  Lean into it. Use it as fuel.

  Jessie drilled the words in her head again and again. She tried to release the apprehension rising in her stomach. To ignore the lingering feelings for the man who clearly still wasn’t over her sister.

  No matter how deeply she’d buried her feelings for Gideon over the years, they kept resurfacing. Maybe it was the same for Gideon where Geneva was concerned.

  Even if he did have feelings for her, what did she expect to come of it? He had his life back in Seattle and she had hers in New York. She’d seen what happened to other female artists when they’d gotten serious about a rich and powerful man. It meant the death of their careers. And when the relationship was over, and it inevitably was, the woman was left to resurrect her career from the smoldering ashes.

  That wasn’t the fate Jessie wanted for herself.

  Choosing Gideon meant not choosing her career. A career she’d worked for her entire adult life. One she wouldn’t walk away from just because she’d reunited with her old crush.

  * * *

  Gideon had moved from his table near the stage and taken a seat at the bar at the back of the room. He didn’t want to be a distraction to Jessie. He understood how much was at stake.

  He sipped the whiskey he’d ordered neat. Gideon welcomed the heat building in his chest as the smooth liquor with a fiery bite washed down his throat. It’d been fifteen years since that incident wit
h Jessie, and the shock of her kissing him felt as fresh now as it had then. But now he found himself in a completely new dilemma.

  He felt something for Jessie. Something deeper than friendship or physical attraction. Something he wanted to explore. Yet the prospect of getting involved with his ex’s sister gave him pause.

  How would Geneva react to him and Jessie being together?

  The last thing he wanted to do was cause animosity between the sisters. Nor did he want anyone to think this was some sick attempt to get back at his ex.

  And what if things did work out between him and Jessie? He’d have to find a way to let go of his resentment of her parents.

  Gideon took another swig of his whiskey. He should be celebrating right now, not agonizing over his feelings for Jessie.

  Despite all of the drama, they’d secured the remaining funding for the project in Dubai and managed to pull the deal off. Construction would begin on time.

  This was when he normally celebrated with a perfectly aged bottle of bourbon and the warmth and comfort of a beautiful stranger. But he hadn’t looked at another woman since he’d laid eyes on Jessie.

  It had driven him crazy to watch the men here fawning all over her last night. Most of them had no real interest in her other than the bragging rights of having slept with a celebrity.

  He’d wanted to tell her last night that the tables had turned. That it was him who desperately wanted her. For a moment when they’d danced together, he believed she wanted the same thing. That she would be open to spending the evening with him, even if all they did was catch up on each other’s lives.

  But then Jessie had started asking questions about Geneva. Fishing to see if he had any lingering feelings for her sister. He’d answered her questions honestly. That included admitting he’d gone to Zurich ten years ago with hopes of rekindling what he’d thought they once had.

  The evening had quickly gone off the rails from there.