Private Lies

by Cat Johnson

  “We can’t do this here.” Jax lived with her parents so her place was out. That left his apartment as the remaining option. “Come home with me.”

  She appeared hesitant. Smart girl. Women shouldn’t go home with men they barely knew. Unfortunately, as his hard-on strained against the zipper of his black pants, he really hoped she’d agree to do just that.

  “How far away do you live?” she asked, and he nearly did a happy dance.

  “Just in town.” He realized his heart was beating faster at the thought of her in his bed.

  “I’ll follow you in my car.”

  “Sounds good.” He dipped his head for one more kiss, then regretfully, groaned and let her go.

  They separated and got into their own vehicles. Shane barely got his key in the ignition, he was so anxious to get to his apartment and into Jax Monroe. He kept his eye on the rearview mirror, reassuring himself her fancy, overpriced car remained behind his SUV as they wound through the deserted streets. When he parked, thank God there were spots, she parked right behind him.

  He lived above the office space he rented. It was cheap and convenient and he didn’t require much space. However, he didn’t particularly want her associating Shane the bartender with Shane Reynolds of Reynolds Investigations. At least, not yet. It was dark. Maybe she wouldn’t see the lettering on the office door as he dragged her past. He kind of stopped caring about anything as he pulled her up the stairs to the second floor and they got nearer to his final destination—his bed. He fumbled with the lock in his haste but got it open.

  Their lips crashed into each other the minute the door slammed shut. Her hands worked frantically on his shirt, sending one button flying to bounce on the hardwood. She moved next to paw blindly at his belt while still in a lip lock. He had reached to help her free him from the polyester when he remembered… His ankle holster. Bartenders at posh country clubs most likely didn’t go to work packing heat.

  Shit. He grabbed Jax’s hands just as she was about to push his pants down his legs. “Hang on. I have to go to the bathroom quick.”

  She nodded.

  Shane turned toward the bathroom, then, beginning to fear this whole thing was too good to be true, spun back. “Don’t go anywhere. I’ll be right back. Okay?”

  Jax smiled. “Don’t worry. I’m not leaving.”

  Locked in the tiny room, he ripped off first his pants, then the gun in its leg holster, hiding it in the cabinet beneath the sink. Not real secure, but he wasn’t expecting anyone to break in and attack him tonight anyway. He was working white-collar crimes at the moment. You didn’t get much hired muscle kicking in your door in the middle of the night with those. While under the sink, he grabbed a strip of condoms out of the box he kept there. His supply had been sorely underused for longer than he’d like to admit, but not tonight.

  Suitably armed with the only protection he’d need that night, Shane flung open the door and found Jax standing before him in high heels, a thong, and nothing else. His mouth went dry.

  “You’re overdressed.” She came close and traced the elastic band of his boxers. His breath caught in his throat when her finger brushed the spot where the tip of his erection peeked out.

  He swallowed hard. “Maybe you can help me with that.”

  “Definitely.” While he watched with rapt attention, she whipped the boxers down his legs and he sprung free. He was shaking as badly as she’d been when she took the condoms from his hand, tore one open and stretched it over him.

  With no more doubt of her willingness, Shane reached down and hoisted Jax up. With a squeal, she wrapped her arms and legs around him, her heels digging into his ass. Separated by only the scrap of lace covering her, he groaned as his cock pressed against her heat. Backing them towards the bed, he hit the mattress first with Jax on top of him.

  With his gaze locked onto hers, he rolled them both over and wasted no time pulling her barely-there panties off. With barely controlled lust he sunk himself inside her.

  Not in any rush now that he was ensconced balls-deep in heaven, he kept his pace slow and deliberate. Each stroke sent a tingle through him.

  Jax closed her eyes. When she opened them again, they glistened too brightly. “I can’t handle gentle, Shane. Please. I need hard and fast.”

  That request had his pulse quickening. “My pleasure.”

  Lifting her hips off the bed, Shane adjusted the angle, sped to an enthusiastic rhythm, and took her on a wild ride that didn’t end until he had shaken Jax to the core. More than once, he noted proudly.

  *****

  Shane woke to an empty bed and a ringing phone.

  Groaning, he checked the time. Nine in the morning. Shit. He never slept that late. Of course, he usually wasn’t awake half the night having the hottest sex of his life. He had to get out of bed, shower, do some research online and then get to work at the club by eleven to open the pool bar for the lunch crowd.

  This working two jobs sucked, and not in a good way. Jax, on the other hand, had proven during round two last night that she was definitely good at that particular activity. A few more thoughts like that, and he’d have to deal with his renewed hard-on before work to take the edge off or risk embarrassing himself at the club should Jax happen to walk by.

  As the relentless noise continued, Shane added answer the phone to his ever-growing To Do list. He found it in the pocket of the pants he’d discarded on the bathroom floor in his frenzy to get naked the night before.

  Frowning at the caller ID, Shane didn’t recognize the number. “Hello?”

  “This is Jackson Monroe.”

  Oh, shit. Monroe must be using a different phone. Possibly one in his house where he’d most likely just found his freshly fucked daughter sneaking back in.

  “Yes, sir. What can I do for you?” Shane kept his voice deliberately business like. Me and your daughter? No, sir. Never.

  “For one, you can finish the job before the bastard gets away with it. How much longer do you think this investigation is going to take?”

  Shane breathed a sigh of relief. It was about the assignment. Disgruntled clients he could handle. The angry father of the woman whose scent still clung to his sheets was another story entirely.

  “I understand the urgency and I’m working on it as we speak.” So it wouldn’t be a lie, Shane wandered over and powered on his computer. If old man Monroe would let him get off the phone, he might actually be able to get some work done this morning. “I’ll keep you updated, Mr. Monroe. I promise.”

  “See that you do.”

  “Yes, sir. I have to get back to work. I’ll call you.” Shane flipped the phone shut without waiting to hear more.

  He headed for the bathroom to quickly release the sexual tension thoughts of Jax had caused. A nice soapy shower, then he’d begin his two jobs.

  Chapter Four

  Jax woke in her old childhood bed and stretched, feeling the pull of muscles that brought memories of the events from the night before immediately to the forefront of her mind. She wasn’t the type to pick up men and sleep with them the same night. Shane had been worth breaking type for. Letting herself go, making the decision to do what she’d wanted with him and to hell with the consequences had been incredibly empowering.

  She would have loved to lie in bed longer and relive every minute of the incredible romp they’d taken together, but she had work to do. Bastard husbands to divorce. Mothers to placate. Control of her life to take back. Priority one on the agenda, getting out of her parents’ house, which meant she had to get Gio out of hers.

  Her stomach let out a loud, angry grumble. First things first. Good sex, and wow had it been good, worked up an appetite. Breakfast now, all the rest would wait until after.

  Pulling a silk robe over her pajamas, Jax headed downstairs. In the breakfast room, she nodded to Gerald, the butler, and took her seat, allowing him to lay the napkin in her lap.

  Her mother was already at the table, but the sight of Cook’s freshly baked cinnamon
buns alleviated that disappointment.

  “Hmm. I wondered when you’d finally get up.”

  “Good morning to you too, Mother.” Shane had made her feel so good last night that even her mother would have trouble ruining the afterglow.

  “I wanted to tell you that I’ve found a wonderful new doctor.”

  “Plastic surgeon?” That would figure. It had been what? A good six months since the last little “tune up”, as her mother liked to call them.

  “No, a gynecologist. He’s Missy Rumsford’s grandson. He just moved his practice here from LA and he’s rumored to be the best in the country.”

  “I’m so happy for you.” Did this really need to be the conversation at the breakfast table? There must be a serious lack of other worthwhile news in the world.

  “Oh, he’s not for me. I made an appointment for you. It’s for this Tuesday.”

  “You did what?” Jax nearly choked on her mouthful of cinnamon bun at that.

  “You really should be checked thoroughly. God knows what sort of diseases that philandering husband of yours could have passed on to you.”

  Jax glanced at Gerald. She had to hand it to him, he hadn’t even blinked an eye at the conversation. The steady stream of coffee he poured flowed smoothly into her cup without wavering.

  Her mother had been right about one thing in her life at least. Good domestic help cost money. Jax knew for a fact, because she’d seen her father write his check, that Gerald made a hefty salary, but at least she was certain she’d never have to read about this breakfast conversation in some supermarket tabloid. Working for her mother, he earned every cent plus more.

  “Thank you, Gerald.”

  He nodded and moved silently on. She’d love to discover what other sordid Monroe family secrets lay harbored deep inside his stony façade.

  “Make sure you’re particularly nice to this doctor during your appointment, Jacqueline. Missy said he’s having marriage troubles and will most likely be separated by Labor Day.”

  Flirt with her gynecologist. Sure, why not? Jax would get right on that. While she was in the stirrups perhaps so she knew all of his attention would be focused solely on her.

  Jax couldn’t even think of a suitable response to her mother’s absurd suggestion, but she did know one thing. Two actually. First, she’d be canceling that appointment at the first opportunity and second, she would have to put her newly hatched plan with Arthur into action today or her mother would be throwing her at every “suitable” man she could find. Even apparently the rumored unhappy but still technically married ones.

  She finished breakfast as fast as possible and escaped the breakfast room as her mother called after her, “We have an appointment with the lawyer in one hour.”

  “Yes, Mother.” She had an hour to get dressed and ready, and put her plan to deflect her mother’s matchmaking in motion.

  It was going to be a busy day. Too bad. A side trip to the club to sneak a peek at Shane over a nice cold Mimosa would have been nice. As it was, she’d have to make the necessary phone calls while she got dressed and put on makeup for the appointment with the lawyer.

  With a bogus excuse about having to cancel a golf date with him, Jax stealthily procured Arthur’s cell phone number from an overly helpful club employee who answered the phone at the first tee. Then, while carefully applying mascara, she called Arthur, who she hoped would be her new partner in crime. After which she chose an outfit appropriate to wear for a visit to a divorce lawyer, which proved the hardest of her tasks.

  *****

  “He’s agreed to not seek compensation, if you agree to continue to pay the rent on the art studio as well as the apartment for the next year as settlement,” the lawyer said flatly, as he perused the sheath of paper in his hand.

  “Settlement? He cheated on me!” Jax couldn’t believe her ears. She was obviously the injured party here, and yet she would be supporting Gio for a year. That was longer than their entire marriage had lasted.

  Killing her with his calm demeanor in the face of such injustice, Jax’s legal council shook his head. “Unfortunately, that’s of no consequence. This is a no fault state and you are the spouse who financially supported the household during your marriage.”

  Only because Gio was apparently accepting sexual favors from his art patrons in lieu of a cash payment

  The lawyer continued, “It’s a good deal. He isn’t asking for any piece of your trust fund.”

  Her mother sniffed. “You’re lucky your father and I took steps to preserve your equity.”

  Jax snorted at that. A very unladylike reaction, but she didn’t really care at the moment. “Took steps to preserve my equity? You mean cut me off without a cent, don’t you, Mother?”

  She would have sold her soul to the devil if only this divorce could have been accomplished without her mother’s knowledge. But if she wanted the help of her father, or more accurately his team of lawyers, it couldn’t remain a secret from her mother. Too bad.

  “We were protecting you. Someone had to. You refused to even consider a pre-nuptial agreement. The fact you eloped proves you weren’t in your right mind.”

  After that comment, Jax supposed she had been lucky her mother hadn’t managed to have her declared insane and locked away in an asylum somewhere. Then she could have fixed her up with one of the doctors there.

  “I was in love, Mother.”

  “Yes, so you said. We saw how well that worked out, now didn’t we.” Her mother’s gaze traveled from the tips of Jax’s French manicured fingers down to the tops of her new Italian shoes as one perfectly-shaped brow rose skeptically. “And access to your trust fund or not, you don’t exactly look destitute to me.”

  At that Jax’s father, Jackson Edward Monroe III, suddenly became very interested in looking anywhere except at the two women in the room. Her mother directed an accusatory glare at him, knowing exactly who had been bankrolling their daughter’s treats over the past year. Her father met his wife’s glare guilelessly. Hollywood stars could take a few lessons from Jackson Monroe when it came to playing the innocent.

  Meredith Courtland Monroe simply shook her head. Jax loved how her father never rose to her mother’s baiting. Unfortunately, now her mother’s ire turned to an easier target. Jax. “Jacqueline, you will of course live at home. You can’t afford to live elsewhere while you continue to support that fortune hunter I warned you about.”

  She hated that her mother refused to call her Jax, her father’s pet name for her since she was born. She hated even more the thought of moving back home permanently even though that had been the first place she fled to the night she found Gio cheating.

  Jax crossed her arms defiantly. So what if her father had continued to secretly pay a few of her accounts in town, like at the salon and her favorite boutiques. She’d already proven she was capable of supporting herself, in spite of her mother’s opinion. She paid her and Gio’s living expenses herself with the meager salary she made in her position as Fund Development Director for the Children’s Foundation. All of the bills had been her responsibility once she defied her mother and married Gio. Cable, electricity, food, phone, gasoline, car insurance, even Gio’s paints and canvases and the rent on his studio, as well as their apartment.

  Memories of all she’d done for Gio and what he’d done to her in return angered her all over again. She’d paid for the rent on that studio, dammit. In turn, he’d used it to bang that woman, or perhaps women, right beneath Jax’s surgically sculpted nose.

  “No. I’m moving out of the house again as soon as I find a place to rent.”

  The lawyer cleared his throat tactfully. All three pairs of Monroe eyes turned in his direction. “Mrs. Scarpelli…”

  “Ms. Monroe.” Her mother made the unsolicited correction on Jax’s behalf.

  He nodded and continued. “Of course. Ms. Monroe, I have your financial statements here. You can’t afford a second apartment, not even an inexpensive one.”

  The bane of Jax
’s existence nodded her coifed head smugly.

  The rage Jax felt since her world had fallen apart grew, gathering and coiling until it focused itself on one single point—the woman who had given her life and was determined to control that life until one or the other of them ceased to exist. Somehow Jax suspected that she, herself, would be the one to give up the lifelong battle and die first. Her mother was simply too mean to die.

  “And you will come to dinner at the club again tonight. Monroes do not go into hiding in the face of adversity. That is exactly how it will appear if you don’t present a smiling face in public.”

  “I’m really not in the mood to go tonight.”

  “You’ll get over it. God knows you’re not the first twenty-six year old divorcee in the history of the esteemed Canton Country Club.” Her mother sniffed. “It’s the perfect time of year, actually, to put yourself back on the marriage market. The best families will have returned from their winter homes and haven’t left yet for their summer vacations.”

  The marriage market? Good thing she’d already called Arthur, but they’d set things in motion for next weekend. It looked like she’d have to move up the plan unless she could get out of tonight.

  “Mother, I loved Gio and he broke my heart. I need time by myself to heal.”

  Of course, her mother, having no heart of her own, wouldn’t understand that concept.

  “Heal? Honestly, Jacqueline. You’re acting like it’s a surprise he was sleeping around. You really should have expected it.”

  Jax straightened her spine against that attack, although whether it was directed against her or Gio she wasn’t sure. “And why is that, Mother?”

  “Because he’s Italian.”

  This conversation was absolutely surreal, yet Jax couldn’t seem to let it drop. “What does that have to do with anything?”