by A. C. Arthur
Had she been hurt by his leaving?
He doubted that. A week later he’d had a close call when leaving the campus library later than usual one night. He’d seen her in the arms of another man smiling happily up at him as they walked. No, Jade Vincent was not pining over him at all. He silently thanked his instincts and made an even more concerted effort to never see her again.
In the morning he faced the fact that she’d probably been right to stop them. This was about money for her. Every woman’s bottom line was money where he was concerned. She’d agreed to be his date, not to sleep with him. As she’d made perfectly clear last night, if she slept with him it would be because she wanted to.
He amended that statement. When she slept with him, it would definitely be because she wanted to. He wouldn’t have it any other way. As far as her terms, well, he wasn’t willing to think about them right now.
In an hour they would leave for his parents’ house. That thought soothed him a bit. Fifteen years ago Henry Donovan had acquired a stretch of land in the Pahranagat Valley, just ninety miles northeast of Las Vegas. Initially he was going to sell it until his wife had seen it and fallen in love with the rich scenery. Henry had had a mansion built there instead and about five years ago added horse breeding to his repertoire.
Linc continued to think of his parents and of the forty years they’d been together. Henry and Beverly were the epitome of love and happiness. Funny how their sons avoided the same things like the plague. But lately Beverly had begun hinting at the fact that she had no grandchildren and that her sons were sorely disappointing her. Sure, she loved them, would do anything for them, but she wanted them married and settled. It was that simple. At least in her mind it was. Linc knew differently.
In the past months he’d grown tired of the women his mother not so discreetly sent his way. They simply didn’t appeal to him on a long-term level. Up until a week or so ago he hadn’t even thought he wanted someone on a long-term level. While he still wasn’t entertaining thoughts of marriage, he had begun to think that his discontent centered around his lackluster personal life.
His mother would love to hear that and Linc had no doubt she would have more than enough women at the house this week to perk up that personal life of his. She had a surprise coming.
The first half hour of their ride passed in virtual silence after a brief breakfast of fruit and coffee. Jade’s stomach growled and she coughed to muffle the sound. Linc had offered to order a full meal but she’d been stubborn, and anxious to get this show on the road. She’d barely slept last night and was having second thoughts about this deal with him. Maybe she would have been better off applying for a personal loan herself to pay Noelle’s debt. But she had enough overhead right now. Another bill wasn’t the answer.
With a sigh she decided she’d have to find some way to deal with this attraction to Linc and the business deal they’d struck. He fully expected her to sleep with him. She had no intention of getting her feelings tangled up in him again. Linc had broken her heart once and she wasn’t about to give him the opportunity to do it again.
Last night she’d wondered how she considered the one-night stand with Linc a lost relationship while her six-month engagement to Charles was written off as a fatal mistake. She’d liked Charles well enough—Grammy had liked him more—but she had to admit to feeling a small sense of relief when she opened his e-mail that fateful morning. There was no love lost where Charles was concerned. Anger was more likely the emotion of choice when she thought of him. Her fists clenched at the memory. If she ever saw Charles again she’d…
Linc reached over, touched her hands, slowly pulling her fingers out as he stared at her. “What are you thinking about over there?”
“Huh? Oh, nothing. I wasn’t thinking about anything,” she said, embarrassed that he’d obviously been watching her.
“It must have been something. You were about to draw your own blood.”
She shrugged. “Just something that’s better left in the past.”
“Did somebody hurt you?”
Jade stared at him blankly then quickly turned away. “No. Nobody hurt me.”
“They made you angry?”
She opened her mouth to speak then clamped it shut again. Why did he care either way? “Let’s just say my life’s been full of lessons learned.”
He folded her hand in his and Jade felt the familiar heat stirring inside.
“I’d be interested in hearing about those lessons.” He smiled and then held up a hand to stop her when she would have spoken. “But for now I’ll settle for hearing about what you’ve been doing for the past eight years.”
Making one mistake after another, pining for you, losing a fortune… Where should she start? Jade shifted in the seat. What was it about him that made her want to scream one minute and melt into his arms the next? At any rate, telling him about her past mistakes was definitely out of the question. Switching the subject would be better. “I have a better idea. Why don’t you give me the rundown on your family? Since I’ll be spending a week with them I should probably know some basics.”
Linc gave her a half smile. She hadn’t admitted it but he was sure there was someone in her past who she was still pretty angry with and he was willing to bet the person was a man. He looked into warm hazel eyes and wanted instinctively to protect her from all hurt and harm. She had secrets, ones that caused her great pain. He wondered how long it would take her to tell him, then decided it didn’t really matter. At least he didn’t want it to.
“I am the oldest of three boys. I have two brothers—Trent and Adam. Trent’s an ex-Navy Seal and Adam’s into real estate. My parents, Henry and Beverly, have been married for forty years and will invite every living member of the Donovan family to the house this week to help them celebrate.”
“Hmm,” she sighed. When her mother had died it had been just her, Noelle and Grammy. She’d always longed for a big family. “What do your parents do?”
Linc chuckled. “Not much of anything anymore. My father was a third generation rich kid, following in his father’s footsteps. He ran the family oil company for about twenty years before deciding to retire. Now he finds hobbies. For a few years he was a racing sponsor, then he dabbled in marine biology and right now he’s into horse breeding.”
“He sounds like an interesting man,” Jade said wistfully.
“He is. Mom comes from money. Her father was an oil tycoon. Now she has her charities and her clubs. But her main job as of late seems to be finding a wife for me.”
Jade’s heart skipped a beat. “A wife?”
His thumb continued to move absently over the back of her hand. “Yeah, she’s pretty focused on the task.” Then he looked at her. “That’s why I needed you this week.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I don’t need my mother to find me a wife. My life is just fine as it is but Mom is stuck on the idea that I need a wife and kids to make me complete. She’ll have a bunch of women that she believes are good enough for me at the house this week trying to make a match. With you along as my date, she’ll have to back off. Appearances are everything to her. She’d never embarrass you or me by pushing another woman on me in your presence.”
She blinked, appearing to be digesting his words. “So my purpose is to stand in the way of your finding the love of your life.”
“There is no love of my life. I’m just a man, doing man things.”
“Oh,” she said simply, not completely sure how she felt about those “man things.”
Mario drove up to black gates and pressed a combination into the security box to gain entrance. Jade’s attention shifted to her surroundings. It looked like Southfork Ranch, from the hit series Dallas, had been thrust into the twenty-first century. Lush green lawns surrounded a huge fountain that sat in the middle of a circular driveway. Just beyond the fountain was a house that looked like it would easily accommodate a hundred or so residents. An all-brick structure with black shutters and whi
te columns sat comfortably amidst huge trees and an awesome blue sky. It was picturesque to say the least.
Before she had a chance to get over the splendor her door opened and Mario was reaching inside for her hand. Linc had released her other hand and was scooting along the seat behind her. He was so close now she could smell his cologne mixed with the fresh spring breeze coming in from the outside. Taking Mario’s lead she stepped out of the car onto the gravelly walkway and immediately looked around again.
Linc stepped out behind her placing a hand at the small of her back. “I’ll give you a tour then we’ll go in and meet my parents. I’m not sure if Trent and Adam are here yet.”
Jade was silent, still trying to take in her surroundings and the fact that Linc was close and touching her again. There was a light breeze and blooms from a nearby tree scattered about the ground just as the front door to the house opened and a couple stepped out.
The woman was beautiful, her hair perfectly styled, her summer suit a flattering shade of mint green. The man wore slacks and a polo shirt. He looked just like Linc except his hair had started to thin on the top, but the build and coloring were exactly the same. She suspected they were in their early sixties but they both appeared as youthful and healthy as twenty-year-olds. They smiled in her direction and she dutifully smiled back.
“Lincoln, darling,” the woman cooed. “We were wondering when you’d get here.” Coming up on tiptoes the woman hugged him.
Jade watched as Linc embraced her, feeling the love between mother and son.
“Good morning, Mom. I told you I’d be driving up this morning.”
“I know, but you could have come yesterday like your brothers,” she said, stepping aside so that Linc could likewise hug his father.
“Son, it’s good to see you.” The older man clapped Linc’s back as they embraced.
Jade felt out of place and took a step back to give them time for their mini reunion. Just as she was moving out of the way the woman grabbed her hand. “And who, might I ask, is this?”
Jade froze. Linc said that appearances were everything to his mother. She wondered how the woman would feel about her being here. She wasn’t exactly a socialite, although she knew how to act in front of company, compliments of Grammy’s upbringing. She hadn’t noticed Linc returning to her side until his hand snaked around her waist. She should have pulled away, should have left him and this silly charade and returned to her normal, bad-luck life. Considering that wasn’t an option at this point she simply smiled and leaned closer to him.
“It’s very nice to meet you both,” she managed in a nervous voice. “Happy anniversary.” Jade was beyond nervous but prayed it didn’t show. She’d never met a man’s parents before. Charles’s parents traveled a lot, or so he’d said. Now she figured any-and everything that man had told her had most likely been a lie.
Beverly looked from her son back to Jade with undeniable questions in her eyes. Still holding Jade’s hand she surveyed her yet again. Jade didn’t know whether she’d made the right choice of clothes this morning but she felt certain that Beverly was surmising that very point.
“Please excuse me for staring, but Lincoln has never brought a young lady home to meet us before. I’m a little surprised,” she said.
Mrs. Donovan was more than a little surprised but Jade decided that was not her problem. She only needed to be polite, to get through the next seven days and then she’d never have to deal with any of the Donovans again. “I look forward to spending the week helping you and your husband celebrate.”
“Oh, dear, we have so much planned. You are simply going to enjoy yourself. Now come along. Let me give you a tour and we can get to know each other a little. Lincoln is so rude, he’s never even mentioned you.”
I’m sure he hasn’t, Jade thought, tossing Linc a baleful look. He hadn’t said she’d be spending time alone with his mother. What was she supposed to say when they were alone? She prayed the woman didn’t ask her questions about her relationship with Linc. Jade didn’t like lying—omitting certain parts of the truth was one thing, but outright lying about a nonexistent relationship with a man who only had a passing interest in her was crossing the line. But before another word could be said Beverly had shuffled her off leaving Linc and Henry alone. They both looked on as the women departed.
“Pretty good-looking woman,” Henry said.
Linc grinned. “You’ve been with her for forty years and you’re just realizing that.”
Henry chuckled. “I know my woman’s fine. I was talking about yours.”
His woman? Jade was not his woman. Then he corrected himself. She was for the week at least.
Chapter 4
Jade walked into the huge dining room and all talking ceased. She’d toured the estate with Mrs. Donovan before being led to her room—the room she and Linc were expected to share in the east wing of the house—and directed to wash and change for lunch. She’d never changed for meals before but figured now was not the time to bring that point to Mrs. Donovan’s attention.
The woman was the epitome of style and grace. With a slim figure and knowing eyes, Mrs. Donovan had talked of general things like education and career goals but Jade knew she’d been sizing her up. Which was exactly what Jade herself was doing. A little self-evaluation never hurt. As a result, she’d come to the conclusion that she was definitely not in Linc’s league.
These people had ten cars in their garage, a tennis court, a golf course, an indoor and outdoor pool and a solarium. Oh, and she hadn’t even mentioned the stables, which were magnificent by the way. She’d ridden a horse once when she was a little girl and had instantly fallen in love with the chocolate pony that had taken her around in circles. But then she’d never given another thought to riding a horse since that day, no matter how much she’d enjoyed it. That just went to show you what type of people she was dealing with.
Mrs. Donovan informed her that she rode every day when she could, that it was like an obsession to her and her husband. In Jade’s average, but basically happy, life, even as the owner of a spa, she never anticipated owning horses or a stable that she could walk to at any time to ride.
But this was their life. A life that she was painfully aware she’d never fit into. Jade decided not to think about their difference in social status anymore. There would be no misguided daydreams about her presence in Linc’s life this time. Accordingly, what Mrs. Donovan thought of her was no big deal. Or at least it shouldn’t be.
She’d changed into another pair of slacks and a silky halter top and prayed that this would be appropriate. Actually, she prayed that this would be the quickest week of her life.
“That’s a beautiful color on you, Jade.” Mrs. Donovan motioned for her to take the seat left empty to the right of her when she’d finally made it downstairs. Mrs. Donovan sat at one end of the long oak table while her husband sat at the opposite end. The brothers, Adam and Trent, sat on either side leaving two chairs, one to the right and one to the left of their mother. Presumably those seats were for her and Linc, who was nowhere to be found.
“Thank you,” Jade said with a wavering smile. She was here as Linc’s date, as his convenient arm piece for the week, so why was she at this family luncheon and he wasn’t? “Is Linc coming?”
“We were just about to ask you the same thing,” Trent commented dryly.
Noting his tone, but deciding to dismiss it, Jade took her seat and reached for the napkin centered on her plate. “Nope. I haven’t seen him since we arrived.”
Mr. Donovan, who had been staring at her since the moment she’d walked in, took a sip from his glass then spoke. “He’s in the den making a few calls.”
“He’s working? He hasn’t eaten anything all day,” Jade exclaimed.
“He’s a big boy. I’m sure he knows when it’s time to eat.” This was from Trent, who, Jade noted again, spoke to her in clipped tones. What the hell was up with him?
“Still, he should join us,” Mrs. Donovan interrupted.
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Mr. Donovan shook his head. “Let him get his work done now. You know how important it is to him. Then he’ll be free for the rest of the week.”
A small woman dressed in a neat gray-and-white uniform had slipped quietly through a door at the back of the room. She carried a tray and proceeded to stop in front of each of them placing a bowl before them. Jade inhaled and thought she’d died and gone to heaven. She loved crab soup but hadn’t eaten it since Grammy died. Without another word she picked up her spoon and dug in. It was a few minutes before she realized she was the only one eating.
Heat infused her cheeks. She wasn’t slurping nor had she spilled any on the gorgeous linen tablecloth, so why was everybody staring at her…again? She looked around and noted that the nicely dressed server was placing a plate laden with sandwiches in the center of the table. So it was to be a soup and sandwich meal? Well, she could eat the sandwich later, she thought and continued happily with her soup.
“So what do you do, Jade?” Adam smiled at her.
Jade found herself smiling back. Adam was the youngest of the Donovan men; his laughing brown eyes and dimpled cheeks said he was also the happiest. He eagerly lifted not one, not two, but three half-sandwich portions from the serving tray and dropped them onto the plate beside his soup bowl. Adam was built quite nicely. As a matter of fact all three of the Donovan brothers were exceptionally handsome and well built. But to Jade, none of them quite measured up to Linc. Still, Adam possessed the kind of carefree attitude Jade was normally attracted to. Trent, on the other hand, needed to take a chill pill.