“I’m amazed at the woman you’ve become, Mia, considering you were so young when your parents were killed.”
Mia nodded, rubbing her scar. “Yeah. I was five.”
He slid a finger alongside hers. “And that’s where this came from?”
“I only had minor injuries, but my parents were killed. Sometimes life isn’t fair,” she murmured. “I may not be the best mother, but I will love this baby with every fiber of my being and always put her needs before my own.”
Bronson moved in front of her, taking her hand in his. “I have no doubt you’ll be a fantastic mother, Mia. I’m not worried about that one bit. You go into everything in life with excitement at full throttle and give 110 percent.
“That’s one of the reasons I brought you on a getaway.” He leaned forward, placing a soft kiss on her lips. “I want you to know that I believe you, that I trust you and that I want to see where this thing between us will lead. That’s all I can offer, but I hope you’ll be patient with me.”
Love speared through her, nearly bursting to get out. She’d never, ever felt like this—so alive, so happy. She wrapped her arms around Bronson, choking back tears.
“Love is patient,” she whispered in his ear. “I’m not going anywhere.”
She eased back, noting the desire in his eyes, knowing hers matched his. Sealing the new milestone in their journey was logical, and Mia hoped every time they made love he could see, feel, just how much she did love him.
Bronson’s strong hands slid up the skirt of the tunic-style dress Victoria had made for her. Warmth spread through her as he leaned in to capture her lips again, massaging her thighs.
Mia broke the kiss, coming to her feet. Gripping the hem of the garment, she pulled it over her head and tossed it aside. Desire shot straight through her as Bronson’s gaze slid up her body, pausing at her matching yellow bra-and-panty set.
“You always have the most amazing things on under your clothes,” he told her, coming to his feet.
Mia slid his polo shirt off as he worked his jeans down and kicked them aside. He palmed her shoulders and tugged her toward him until she fell against his hard, solid chest. Mia looked up just as his lips came crashing down on to hers.
The swell of her belly brushed against him as their bodies molded together. Mia poured her emotions, her desires, her love into the kiss.
Bronson eased back, bent down and picked her up to carry her. “Where to?”
“Bronson, I’m getting too heavy for you to carry,” she scolded. “Put me down.”
“You’ve barely gained anything, and if I want to carry my family, I will.”
Mia’s eyes stung as she stared back at him. “Your family? In that case, take me anywhere you want.”
Hope sprang to life within her. He thought of them as a family. Did he intend to make them a family in the legal way?
Oh, God. Her dreams of a family, a real unit, could come true and with a man she was totally in love with. She realized she’d never want a family with anyone but Bronson.
He carried her down the narrow, stone hallway out one of the back doors. “I want to make love to you outside, in the open, under the stars.”
Mia knew there was no one around to see since the castle sat on a huge lot and they were the only residents.
He set her on her feet, wrapping his arms around her. “Look at me, Mia.”
She lifted her face, knowing her love shone in her eyes.
“Know that I care for you, know that what is between us is real to me and that I’m giving all I can emotionally.”
Mia smiled, holding his face between her hands. “I know, Bronson. I know more about you than you know about yourself. Make love to me.”
With soft, tender touches, he kissed her as he rid her of her bra and panties. Once she stood wearing only a kiss of the moonlight, Bronson placed his hands on her belly. He leaned down, kissed her stomach and murmured, “I love you” to the baby.
Mia choked back tears, knowing he was taking a giant leap outside his comfort zone by declaring his feelings aloud. His vulnerability was now out in the open for her to see. Which told her right there that he trusted her—and possibly loved her, too.
Bronson came up to his full height, framed her face with his hands and kissed her, backing her up until her legs hit the outdoor sofa. He spun them around and took a seat, urging her down to straddle him.
Mia hovered with her face above his, looking into his eyes, needing him to know that her love was genuine. “I love you.”
As they became one, Bronson’s eyes closed. Mia leaned down to kiss him as he stroked his hands up and down her bare back. The crisp night air pricked her skin, sending even more sensations surging through her.
She tilted her hips, arching her back as she lifted her face to the night sky. Bronson’s talented hands found her breasts and sent Mia over the edge. She cried out and let the climax spread through her.
In no time Bronson’s body stiffened as he grabbed her shoulders and pulled her back against him, capturing her mouth.
Mia held on to his shoulders as their tremors merged into one and knew that this was the man she was meant to spend her life with. There would be heartache, she had no doubt about that, but she intended to fight for him, for their family.
He loved her. Now she just had to pray that love was strong enough to get them through the next few days.
Fifteen
Once Bronson’s jet landed back in L.A., Bronson dropped Mia off at her cottage because his mother had called his cell and told him to come to the house before going anywhere else. She assured him her health was fine, but they urgently needed to talk in private.
He hadn’t told Mia about the message because he didn’t want to alarm her. What else could be wrong? If her health was fine, what else could she have to discuss that was so important?
Even though his mother was a Hollywood icon, she’d never been one for personal drama. Twice in one week she’d needed to see him in private—that made him a bit nervous.
Bronson entered the main house, smiling at one of the staff as they passed each other on the wide, curved stairs. As he entered the grand study where his mother spent nearly all her time, he noticed two things right off the bat: one, his mother had been crying and two, Anthony Price stood right next to her.
“What the hell is going on?” he demanded.
Olivia gestured toward the sofa where his sister sat. “Please, Bronson, sit with your sister. There’s something you both need to know”
Remaining on his feet, Bronson eyed Anthony. “What’s he doing in your house? Did you go around me and hire him for the project? We were supposed to discuss this when I returned.”
Olivia’s eyes, now misting back up, turned to Anthony. “No, this has nothing to do with the film.”
A sickening pit bottomed out in his stomach. Nothing, absolutely nothing good was going to come from the next few minutes. Of that he was certain.
“Why are you upset?” he asked, fear of the unknown gripping at his chest.
“These are tears of joy,” his mother assured him. “And a little of fear, I must say.”
“Come sit, Bronson.” Victoria shifted on the sofa and smiled. “I’m sure whatever Mom has to say is very important.”
“If it’s that important, maybe just family should be here.”
Why was Anthony looking so…comfortable? What the hell did the man have to do with anything that his mother could have to say?
“Actually, that’s precisely what I need to talk to you both about,” Olivia said. “Family. Bronson, I want you to promise not to speak until I’m done talking.”
He never, ever liked the sound of that, especially coming from his own mother. Who wanted to give up the right to interrupt when the conversation wasn’t going in a satisfactory direction?
“Bronson?” she asked.
“Fine.”
Olivia came to her feet, crossed the room to stand in front of the French doors that opened on to
the patio. Silence settled into the room and Bronson knew his mother was having a hard time voicing her thoughts. Whatever she wanted to say obviously upset her.
And there was no script to follow in real life.
Olivia smiled. “I never thought this day would come. I dreamed of how I’d handle it, but I never thought it would be a reality.”
Victoria reached over and grabbed Bronson’s hand, and honestly he wanted that connection. Who knew what was going to come next from his mother’s lips.
“I was at a pivotal point in my career nearly forty years ago,” she went on. “I had one of the biggest roles of my life handed to me without an audition. The industry adored me. I had never been so alive, so happy. I was only twenty years old, and I was pregnant by a man I didn’t love enough to marry.”
Bronson drew his brows together, biting his tongue because that wasn’t right. His mother was twenty-five when he was born, and he knew she’d loved his father.
“I panicked because I was not ready to be a mother. I was still working on my career and knew that if I had a baby, I wouldn’t put his needs before mine. I admit I was selfish, but I also admit that an abortion was out of the question. I wanted this baby to have a good life, and I was wealthy enough that I could buy a private adoption and pay any lawyer and judge to keep this from leaking to the press.
“And I did.”
Victoria squeezed Bronson’s hand. Whether she was scared or because she wanted him to keep his promise of silence, he didn’t know.
“Anthony is the son I gave up for adoption.”
“This is preposterous.” Bronson came to his feet. “Price, what have you told my mother? Did you dig up this dirt on her about an adoptive child and now you’re blackmailing her?”
Anthony shook his head. “What would I blackmail her for, Bronson? I have everything I want and I could buy anything else.”
“Then what the hell do you want?”
Olivia stepped forward. “Bronson, calm down. I’ve known Anthony was my son from the moment I gave birth to him. I gave him up for adoption and kept track of him all this time. He’s not lying, and quite honestly, I’m shocked he found out and came to me. I paid a lot of money to keep this hidden.”
Anthony sighed. “It wasn’t easy. I’ve had my attorneys and a detective looking for my birth parents for well over a year. I didn’t think they’d uncover anything, but about nine months ago they did.”
Nine months?
“You’ve known for all this time?” Bronson clenched his fists at his side. “Why wait this long to come forward?”
Bronson stared at the man he’d loathed for so many years. Now that he knew the truth, he noticed they had exactly the same eyes and facial structure…just like their mother.
Anthony ran a hand through his hair. “Honestly, my home life hasn’t been the best, as I’m sure you’ve heard. I’m trying to work on my marriage, and I’m fumbling through assistants since mine came to work for Olivia.”
Mia. Another time line perked Bronson up even more.
“Does Mia know about this?”
Anthony stared without saying a word, and dammit, Bronson knew.
How the hell could she keep something like this from him? Maybe this really was some scheme devised by Anthony and Mia.
The mother of his child.
One crisis at a time.
“So now what?” Bronson asked, turning to his mother. “I hope you don’t expect me to accept him as my brother. I never liked him before, and I sure as hell don’t like him now.”
“Bronson,” Victoria’s soft, smooth voice cut through his anger. “Nobody is asking you to do anything. The truth is out there, now we just have to deal with it.”
“The truth?” He laughed. “If Mother had been so worried about the truth, she would’ve told us years ago.”
“And disrupt the only life Anthony had ever known?” Olivia interjected. “I made my choice to give him a better life, and I wasn’t going to push my way back in. I couldn’t afford to tell anyone.”
“All these years Bronson and I feuded were hell on you, I’m sure,” Anthony said to Olivia.
Olivia’s eyes filled, and one tear slid down her aged cheek. “It was torture to see my children always at odds.”
“This isn’t happening,” Bronson muttered to himself. “This cannot be happening.”
“I assure you,” Anthony said. “I’m no more thrilled that we’re related than you are.”
Bronson walked to his mother, angry at her for keeping something so…life-altering from him all these years, but at the same time heartbroken because he couldn’t imagine giving up a child.
“Mom.” He wrapped his arms around her. “I honestly don’t know what to say here. I want to be angry with you, but I can see you’re at war with yourself. I can’t welcome him into the family. I just can’t.”
Olivia sniffed against his polo and nodded. “I know, son. My only wish is that you two will cease this feud and at least try to get along.”
Bronson doubted that would happen, but he’d appease his mother. “I’ll do my best.”
He eyed Anthony over his mother’s shoulder. The illegitimate brother stared back, a knowing look passing between them. Anthony wasn’t any more eager to have Bronson for a brother, and that was perfectly fine.
Because this whole brother thing was a non-issue as far as he was concerned. What was a concern was Mia. The woman he’d made a baby with, trusted and started falling in love with.
She’d betrayed him even more than his mother—though he hated to call what his mother had done betrayal. She’d given up the child nearly forty years ago and had reasons for keeping it a secret.
Mia, though, had known from the second she’d stepped out wearing only a towel that he was Anthony’s brother. And she’d never said a word. Never even hinted at the fact.
Bronson eased back, keeping an arm around his mother’s shoulders. “What did you promise Mia for keeping silent about this?” he asked Anthony.
“Nothing. I asked her to keep this to herself until I had a chance to talk to Olivia.”
Bronson laughed. “And she just agreed to it?”
The muscle in Anthony’s jaw ticked, his dark eyes narrowed. “And here I thought you knew her. You know nothing about Mia if you have to ask that.”
That’s exactly what Bronson was beginning to see. Just how well did he know Mia?
He knew her body better than she did. He knew she lit up like a child at green M&M’s. Her culinary skills were amazing, and she kept the locket with a picture of her parents around her neck at all times so she could always have them with her.
That much he knew.
What he didn’t know was how deep her love for Anthony ran—platonic or not. He didn’t know if she truly had an agenda as far as he and his family were concerned and the pregnancy threw a wrench in her plans.
At this point he knew nothing except his life had just done a one-eighty and now his worst enemy was his brother and a woman he thought he knew was carrying his child.
“Leave Mia out of this,” Olivia said. “If she knew, then I’m even more impressed with her for keeping this to herself.”
“Impressed?” Bronson wasn’t impressed at all right now. He was angry, hurt, betrayed. “After all she and I have been through, she should’ve told me.”
“Loyalty is something Mia prides herself on,” Anthony said. “And even though right at this moment you’re angry with her, she’d be just as loyal to you if you asked her to keep something to herself.”
Bronson turned toward Anthony. He was the dead last person Bronson wanted to have a conversation with regarding Mia.
“This changes nothing.” Bronson narrowed his eyes. “You want to spend time with my mother and try to form some sort of bond, that’s up to her. I’m not feeling very brotherly.”
“Bronson.” Victoria came to stand beside him, placing a delicate hand on his arm. “Don’t say things right now that you don’t mean. We’ve all sus
tained a shock. Let’s just think this through, let it all settle and then we’ll decide how to proceed.”
He glanced down at his sister who had a loving heart for everyone. “Tori, my feelings won’t change for him just because we share a mother. I’ve never trusted him, and I’m not going to be buddies with him. You and Mom are free to do what you want with this newfound relationship, but I want no part of it.”
Unable to stay in the same room with the tension, the lies and the hurt, Bronson turned to leave.
“No,” Anthony said. “I’ll go.”
Bronson looked over his shoulder. “What?”
His illegitimate brother crossed the room. “I’ll go. You three have a lot to discuss and you don’t need me here. I realize I’m not part of this family, and it’s certainly not my intention to break anything up. I know this will take a lot of time to deal with.”
Bronson was shocked at Anthony’s gracious action, volunteering to leave. He wouldn’t have thought the man would step aside at a time like this. Bronson was grateful…though he wouldn’t admit it.
He nodded to Anthony, who then turned to Olivia. “I hope I can call or stop by again soon.”
Olivia’s face lit up as a smile spread across her face. “Anytime, my darling.”
“Goodbye, Anthony,” Victoria said with a tender smile.
Anthony spared Bronson one last look before leaving.
Bronson turned back to his mother. “You’ve always known?”
Olivia lifted her chin. “Yes, and I’m not ashamed of my actions because I’d do the same thing again to give my child the best start at life.”
Anger, confusion and hurt spread through Bronson. He wished he had somewhere to place the blame, but he didn’t want to castigate his mother. In his heart, he knew his mother had made the hardest decision of her life, and making her pay for it nearly forty years later wouldn’t fix anything.
“Oh, Mother, I wish you’d said something.” Victoria wrapped an arm around their mother’s shoulders. “The pain you must’ve felt all these years with all the turmoil between Bron and Anthony. Why didn’t you at least tell us? We never would’ve told a soul.”
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