by M. S. Parker
He didn’t say anything as he began to move, his thrusts deep and unhurried. The carpet was rough against my back, my ass, but I didn’t care. All I cared about was the hot pleasure that every stroke sent through me, the desire in his eyes as he looked at me.
“Stay with me,” he whispered. “Stay with me this time.”
I nodded. “I’m staying.”
“Just us,” he said. “No one else. Please.” There was a note of longing in the last word.
I reached up and put my hand on his face. “I’m here, Jas. It’s just me and you.”
His eyes darkened and my heart twisted. How many times had we been together and he’d worried that I’d been thinking of Allen? Had he wondered, every time my eyes closed, that I was thinking of someone else?
“I can’t say I love you,” I said.
“I know. It’s—”
“But I care about you, Jasper.” I kissed his chin. “I want you. And you’re the only one I’m thinking about.”
“That’s more than enough.” He surged forward and I gasped as he hit a spot deep inside me.
Our bodies moved together, with each other, against each other. I lost all sense of time. It was as if we’d been like this forever, our bodies joined as intimately as two people could be joined. We were in our own world and nothing else mattered. Only him and me and what we were to each other.
When I came, it wasn’t the explosive climax I’d experienced before, but something quieter, and yet somehow more intense. And when he followed just moments later, the sensation of him emptying into me sent another wave of pleasure through me. I held him to me, running my fingers through his hair and telling him how grateful I was that he was there.
This wasn’t the life I’d pictured for myself, but I was starting to realize that it might be possible that something just as good might still exist for me. Something that I never would have imagined before. With someone I’d never expected.
Chapter 13
I didn’t look for Allen’s things the rest of that night. After Jasper and I finally managed to get up, we showered and ate, then spent the rest of the night just holding each other on the couch. The next morning, he told me to wait until he came home and we’d start looking for something of Allen’s together. I didn’t think there was much point of searching anymore, but I agreed. The court date wasn’t until the beginning of December so we had more than a month before a judge would hear it, but we needed to find DNA for a paternity test or things were going to get complicated.
By the middle of the week, I was forced to admit that complicated was going to be my new life.
There was nothing. Nothing of Allen’s left in the house aside from a couple books and other things we’d shared. While getting a fingerprint from a lot of those things would’ve been possible, none of them had what I needed.
Finally, at dinner Thursday night, I said what I’d been thinking all day.
“I have to go talk to the Lockwoods.”
Jasper swore under his breath and set down the beer he’d been drinking. “There has to be another option.”
I sighed and took another drink of my own beer. I rarely indulged during the week, but this hadn’t exactly been a normal week.
“I can’t think of anything. Can you?”
Jasper scowled. “No. Dammit.”
“I already talked to Sanders and booked a flight to Texas. I leave first thing in the morning. I figure if I just show up, they’ll be more likely to at least listen.”
Jasper raised an eyebrow. “You really think they’re going to just give you something of their precious baby boy’s because you flew all the way down there to see them.”
I winced and he immediately looked guilty.
“I’m sorry. The Lockwoods just get to me.”
“Me too.” I reached across the table and covered his hand with mine, squeezing to let him know I wasn’t angry. “But if I had another option...”
“I’m going with you.”
The expression on his face said he was steeling himself for an argument. When I smiled, it shifted to confusion.
“I was hoping you’d say that. I booked two tickets.” I let my relief show on my face. “I don’t think it’s a good idea for you to come to the house with me, but I don’t want to be down there alone.”
I could tell he wanted to argue about me going to the house by myself, but he didn’t. We had a plane ride for him to do that, and there, I’d be a captive audience. Sure enough, the moment we settled in our seats, he started in, explaining all of the reasons why he should come with me. Halfway into the trip, I dragged him back into the bathroom and ‘convinced’ him to let me do things my way. The flight attendant on our way back gave us a knowing look as we walked the narrow aisle back to our seats, a slightly smug smile on Jasper’s face.
We landed in Texas just after noon and I took a rental car straight to the Lockwood house. The longer I waited, the more anxious I’d become. Our flight home wasn’t until Sunday because I didn’t believe the Lockwoods would give me what I needed. I figured I’d need most of the weekend to work on them. Jasper was going to the hotel to check in and I planned to meet him there when I was done.
The drive was forty of the longest minutes of my life. I almost wished I’d let Jasper come with me. It would’ve been nice to have someone to hold my hand while I thought about what to say, how to approach them. How do you tell the family of your late husband that he might’ve fathered a child with an ex-girlfriend almost a decade ago? Especially when said family despised you and had already made it clear that they’d be looking for any possible children just to contest their dead son’s will.
I felt like my life was a daytime soap. All that was missing was some amnesia and a dead twin.
I pulled up the driveway and sat there for a minute, remembering the last time I’d been here. I hadn’t come very often, but there had been a couple of times where I’d decided to go rather than wait at home alone. The last time had been about six months before Allen’s death. His father had gone into the hospital for tests and the whole family had gone with him. Nothing had come from the tests, but I’d spent hours listening to Allen’s mother and siblings sniping about me.
The house was absolutely gorgeous, just like the vineyard, but unlike my home, this one had no warmth. I’d never felt welcome here and Allen being gone just made it worse.
I was hoping that the timing would mean I’d only need to talk to May and Gregory. While Allen’s older brother and his family lived in the family home, Marcus would most likely be out working with Alice’s husband and the Lockwood business partner. The kids would be in school and Celeste would probably be out doing one of her charity things. She wasn’t too bad to deal with though, so if she was home, it wouldn’t make too much of a difference.
I knocked on the door and, a minute later, the door was opened by an older gentleman in a full suit despite the fact that it was in the eighties. November in Texas was much warmer than it had been back home.
“I need to speak with May or Gregory.” I gave him the most pleasant smile I could muster. “I’m Shae.”
Based on the way the man’s mouth tightened, I didn’t need to explain any further who I was. He nodded briefly and stepped aside, indicating that I should come inside. He showed me to the front sitting room and then left to go get May. The fact that he’d put me in there spoke volumes about how the Lockwoods viewed me. I wasn’t family. I was a guest.
“Shae.” May’s voice was cold. “What are you doing here?”
I gave her a small smile, just as icy as hers. “You may want to sit down for this.”
She scowled, but did as I suggested. Her posture was stiff and straight, lips pursed and knees primly crossed, every inch of her telling me that my presence wasn’t welcome.
“Do you remember a young woman named Aime Vargas?” I began. “She dated Allen before I met him.”
“Yes, I remember.” May gave me a smug look. “I liked her.”
I ignored
the insult.
“She came to my house earlier this week.” I tried not to let May see me twisting my fingers together. “And she had a little girl with her. Eight-and-a-half years-old, named Jenny. Aime’s claiming that Allen is Jenny’s father.”
Predictably, May’s lips curved up into a smile. “That must’ve been quite a shock, to know that Allen had loved someone enough to have a child with her.”
A pang went through me, but I pushed it aside. “She’s filing a lawsuit and wants a portion of Allen’s estate.” I figured the money part of it might get her attention.
Apparently, I was wrong. She cared more about hating me than she did about the money.
“She should have it. As Allen’s daughter, she’s entitled to far more than you are.” She sneered at me. “Thank you so much for bringing her to our attention. We’ll make sure we provide Jenny with the best lawyers available so she can get everything she deserves.”
I could feel my temper starting to rise and again wished that Jasper was here with me, if only to help keep me calm. I could manage it myself, but it wasn’t easy, especially when I was dealing with the Lockwoods.
“We don’t know for sure that Jenny is even Allen’s. That’s why I’m here.” I took a slow breath. “I need someone in the family to donate blood for a paternity test.”
“We will do no such thing!” May snapped as she stood. “In fact, we will support Jenny’s claim in every way we can, even if it means standing by her with no proof.”
I stared at her as I stood. “You really hate me that much that you won’t even bother doing a test to see if she really is Allen’s daughter?”
“Don’t you dare act like you care about this family.” Two spots of color showed high on May’s cheeks. “Not after you’ve been shacking up with Jasper Whitehall not four months after my son died.”
Shit.
“For all I know, you and that worthless piece of trash were fooling around behind my poor boy’s back.”
I wanted to scream at her that I never cheated on Allen, that my relationship with Jasper wasn’t any of her business, that Jasper was a good man and Allen had known that. I wanted to tell her every nasty comment I’d swallowed over the years.
Instead, I turned and walked out without a word, ignoring her shouting after me about what an ungrateful whore I was.
Chapter 14
I drove half a mile before finally pulling over to the side of the road and giving in to the tears. I pounded my hands on the steering wheel and screamed in frustration. How could she do this? How could she sit there and say that she would rather let some stranger claim to have had a child with Allen than take a simple blood test. If Jenny truly was Allen’s, I would give her everything. I didn’t care. And I felt bad for the girl either way. But I didn’t want everyone to think that Allen had abandoned his daughter. I didn’t understand how May could want that for her son’s memory.
I yelled and cursed, let myself vent everything until I finally had enough control to trust myself driving again. I didn’t bother texting or calling Jasper as I headed towards the hotel. He’d know soon enough how badly it went. Not that either of us had expected it to go well.
He took one look at my face and wrapped me in his arms without a word.
I didn’t cry again. It seemed I’d used up all my tears today, but I accepted the embrace for the support it was meant to be. Once I shared with Jasper what May had said, we both needed it.
I’d booked us a fairly expensive hotel, figuring we’d appreciate the comfort after dealing with the Lockwoods. The best part about it was the massive tub that was big enough for both of us. We didn’t make love or even do anything remotely sexual, just held each other as the hot water cooled around us.
It wasn’t until we were wrapped in the soft cotton of the hotel robes, lying side-by-side, that I spoke again.
“What am I going to do?”
Jasper pulled me back more tightly against his chest. I had to admit, I wasn’t really in the mood for sex at the moment, but I wouldn’t have minded if there had been fewer clothes between us, just so I could feel his skin against mine.
“You mean what are we going to do,” Jasper corrected.
“We?” I echoed, feeling the warmth of the word spread through my heart.
“I told you, Shae, I’m with you.” He pressed his lips against my temple. “Even if it means I have to deal with the Lockwoods.”
I smiled, but there wasn’t any real humor in it. I put my hands on his, lacing my fingers between his.
“All right, then. What are we going to do?”
“I guess we have two choices,” he said. “We can either give up and go home empty-handed, or we can try to figure out a way to get what we need.”
I was silent for a few minutes, but I wasn’t really considering going back without at least trying to do something. The problem was, the idea I’d had bouncing around in my head for the last couple hours was absolutely crazy.
“Allen told me once that his mother kept all sorts of things from his childhood.” My fingers tightened around his. “Including his baby teeth.”
“Teeth that would have his DNA.” Jasper immediately knew where I was going. “We could get a subpoena for them.”
I shook my head. “The Lockwoods would tie us up in court for years.”
“And there’s no way they’ll give the teeth to us.”
“That goes without saying.”
He was quiet for a moment, but when he spoke again, his voice was firm. “Then we’ll just have to steal them.”
I didn’t say anything, but I didn’t have to. That was exactly what I’d been thinking we’d have to do.
I’d always been a level-headed person, I liked to think. The kind of person who could be counted on, who never did anything impulsive or spontaneous. Well, except for sleeping with Jasper, but it seemed like he brought out something inside me that was a little more reckless.
Case in point, I was currently sitting next to him as we parked the rental car far enough down the driveway that the house’s security cameras wouldn’t catch us. We were both wearing dark clothes and I had a hat to tuck my hair up in. On the console between us were a few pieces of wire, paperclips and a few other odds and ends Jasper had spent the day collecting. I’d known about his less-than-legal pastimes as a teenager, but I’d still been surprised at how easily he’d put together lock-picking tools.
We’d come to the house this morning for two reasons. One, to make one last legal attempt to get what we needed. And it was we, not I. Jasper was with me on this. It was good to feel that support again, the kind that could only come with being part of a couple.
We’d gone together to the door, not even bothering to try to hide the fact that we were together. If anything, I’d needed the strength that holding his hand gave me to face that door again. Then the door had opened and the butler had been standing there, the expression on his face even more disapproving than before.
I hadn’t been sure whether or not I should’ve been relieved or disappointed when he’d informed us that the Lockwoods had decided to take a bit of a holiday for the rest of the weekend. They would be unreachable for the unforeseen future.
And then he’d shut the door in our faces without another word.
Whatever lingering doubts I’d had about breaking into the house vanished the moment that door closed. I’d known their absence had been intentional, a way to completely avoid me. It wasn’t meant to simply be hurtful either. It had been insulting as well.
Part of me wanted to be careless about it, to trash their house, destroy things that I knew they cared about more than they did me. Which was pretty much everything, including the dust bunnies under the beds. It would be stupid and petty and childish, but the idea of imagining them coming home to all of their precious artwork torn, fine things broken, I’d have been lying if I’d said the thought of it didn’t make me smile.
I wouldn’t do it though. The Lockwoods would know it was me and file charge
s. I’d be arrested and most likely convicted. I’d lose the vineyard. I wished I could make them suffer, but I wouldn’t do it at the price of my own happiness. And I meant to be happy again.
Even if I had to commit B&E to do it.
Dammit.
When we’d gone back to the hotel, while Jasper had done his thing, I’d called Henley to talk in hypotheticals about my options. He’d confirmed what I’d already suspected. We could try to force the Lockwoods to turn over anything with Allen’s DNA – I hadn’t been specific – but aside from the near certainty that they would bury us in legal work and try to drag things out, there was also the possibility that they’d simply say they didn’t have anything. It was only my word, based on a conversation with Allen, that his mother even had kept such personal possessions.
“I can do this myself,” Jasper said, reaching over to take my hand. “You can stay here. There’s no need—”
“Together,” I reminded him, pushing aside my thoughts. “We’re doing this together.”
He smiled at me and leaned over to kiss my cheek. “All right. Since I get to introduce you to the world of criminal activity, follow this very important rule: don’t leave my side.”
I smiled. “I don’t intend to.”
There was a moment of heat between us, and then we were out of the car and heading for the house.
The second reason we’d gone earlier today had been to observe the property. That had actually been more Jasper’s thing and it had apparently gone well. He’d noticed a small side door that was out of view of the main security cameras. Between the both of us, we’d been able to remember that it had been an old servants’ entrance, one that the Lockwoods most likely still made their servants use. It would also lead to a back staircase that would prevent us from having to go around the front and risk being seen. The butler lived in a small guesthouse behind the main house, but I knew the Lockwoods had at least one live-in housekeeper or maid. They wouldn’t be wandering around at night, but if they heard an odd noise, they might call the butler or the cops.