Mr. Hyde’s Assets

by Sheridon Smythe

  “I—I do. I mean, it’s unusual, but then—” She stopped before she added it’s just like you, realizing he might be offended by her comment. There had been so much misunderstanding between them already.

  “I’ve missed you.” He took a step forward, closing in. His voice was rough as he repeated, “I’ve missed you like hell.”

  Candice swallowed, tingling with anticipation. Another step and they would be touching. “I’ve missed you, too.” Without thinking, she took the final step that brought them together. Her pulse leaped at his harsh intake of breath when her nipples, already hard and thrusting, grazed his chest.

  How could she have been so blind? His reactions to her had been too spontaneous, too heartfelt, to be faked. No, what sizzled between them had nothing to do with the baby.

  And everything to do with love.

  Their lips met in a welcoming, yearning kiss that quickly deepened to burning desire.

  Candice trembled from the force of her need, and when she slipped her palms to his chest, she found that he, too, trembled.

  Brazenly, she began to back him in the direction of the patio doors and her room. She wanted—needed—the reassurance of his love.

  Austin caught her shoulders, breathing harshly, caressing her face with hot, glazed eyes. “What about reporters?” As he asked the question, he searched the area behind her.

  Candice smiled, running a teasing tongue across her bottom lip. Her smile widened as he groaned. “Does it matter? Besides, there isn’t much they don’t already know.” She grabbed his hands and moved them to cover her breasts, closing her eyes at the burning contact.

  With a soft growl that weakened her knees, he took her nipples between his fingers and squeezed gently. Candice began to walk them backward again, reaching around him to slide the doors open. Austin lifted her into his arms and carried her to the bed, then returned to close the doors and dim the lights.

  Candice watched him, stunned by the urgency she felt to have him inside her. When he returned to the bed, she wasted no time removing his clothes, while he did the same to her.

  “I want to make love to you all night,” he whispered huskily, sliding his mouth along her belly as he rolled her shorts over her hips and thighs.

  “No.” The denial startled Candice, coming from her own lips as it did. “We’ve got the rest of our lives to make love slowly. I want you now.”

  Austin didn’t argue. He stripped the rest of her clothes off in a frenzy, then finished discarding his own. As hot flesh melded with cool satin, he cupped her face and looked into her eyes.

  Candice held her breath, awed by the powerful love she saw shimmering in his gaze.

  “I love you, Candice. I want to marry you and have many, many babies—the old-fashioned way. I want to wake up beside you every morning, make love to you night and day, and grow old with you.”

  She smiled. “I love you, Austin Hyde, and I want to do all of those things, too. But right now…” She lifted her hips in a silent plea and pulled his mouth to hers.

  Austin eased inside her, filling her so completely, she feared she would burst. Instinctively, he set a frantic pace that exploded into a starburst of pleasure.

  They managed to stifle their mingled cries in a sealing kiss as they drifted back to earth, shaken and exhilarated.

  ———

  For the first time in his life, Austin was having benevolent thoughts about Jack. If not for Jack, he wouldn’t have met Candice and fallen in love. If not for Jack, he wouldn’t be feeling so sated and content with Candice, he hoped, feeling the same as she lay in his arms. If not for Jack, there would be no baby—this special baby.

  Austin’s joy faded a little as he thought of something he had failed to mention to Candice. Tightening his arms around her, he said, “There’s something I need to tell you.” He felt her stiffen and couldn’t resist a chuckle. “It’s not that bad.”

  She lifted her head from his chest and looked at him apprehensively. “Tell me.”

  There was no easy way to say it, Austin thought, so he just blurted it out. “I paid Pete Clancy fifty thousand dollars to keep his mouth shut.”

  “My stepfather?” Astonished, Candice sat up. “But how did he know?”

  “He was hiding in the closet at my apartment, and he heard me and Jack talking.”

  “So he blackmailed you.” Her lips twisted slightly. “It doesn’t surprise me. But I am surprised you paid him.”

  “I didn’t want you hearing the news from anyone but me.”

  She relaxed against him again, feathering her fingers across his chest in a way that made it hard to concentrate on anything else. “So you gave away your inheritance for me.”

  “Uh, not exactly all of it.” Austin prepared himself for one more confession. He had no idea how she would react when he told her. “I’ve got a few million left.”

  “A few million?” she squeaked out.

  “Ten, to be exact. Minus fifty thousand. It’s been sitting in the bank for twenty-two years.” When she didn’t respond, he squeezed her. “What are you thinking?”

  “I’m trying to figure out how much interest ten million dollars would draw in twenty-two years.”

  As Austin struggled against disappointment and tried to understand, he felt her shoulders begin to shake.

  No doubt about it; she was laughing!

  “What?” he growled, flipping her onto her back and looming over her. “What’s so funny?”

  “You!” she gasped between guffaws. “You thought I was serious, didn’t you?”

  Austin slowly pinned her arms above her head. It was hard to stay focused with Candice squirming beneath him. “Do you have any ideas about what to do with ten million dollars?”

  Candice was silent for a moment, her face already flushed with anticipation of what he was about to do to her. Suddenly her eyes flared wide. “Why don’t you open a drug rehabilitation clinic for those who can’t afford to pay? That way you’d be helping to reverse some of the damage your father did.”

  His last lingering, shameful doubt about Candice melted away, leaving Austin whole and secure. He slowly lowered his body onto hers, his voice unsteady as his mouth drew closer to hers. “That’s a hell of a good idea.”

  “I’ve got another one,” she mumbled, her eyelids drifting down.

  “What’s that?”

  Her lashes flew upward, revealing passion and a hint of mischief. “How about a swim?”

  Austin smiled, remembering their last encounter in the pool. “Think you can handle the sea creatures?”

  “Absolutely.”

  “Find your swimsuit. I’m afraid my briefs will have to do.”

  Moments later, they were ready. Grabbing her hand, Austin opened the sliding patio doors and started to pull her through.

  The reporter standing on the other side shrieked in surprise.

  Candice let out a startled scream, and Austin growled, recognizing the familiar face. Then all hell broke loose. The reporter stumbled backward, trying to run while keeping his terrified gaze on a bellowing Austin.

  He forgot about the pool.

  There was a mighty splash, quickly followed by a piercing scream as the reporter caught sight of the sea animals that seemed to be moving all around him. He scrambled to the side and leaped out of the pool, slipping and sliding in his attempt to run for his life. His ruined camera hindered his progress, popping him in the chin. By the time he reached the woods, he was sobbing.

  “Should I let Tiny go?” Austin asked, restrained laughter rumbling from his chest.

  Candice shook her head, her lips twitching. “I think he’s suffered enough.”

  Their gazes locked. They collapsed against each other, tears of laughter streaming down their faces. Finally, Austin recovered enough to grab her and tumble them into the water.

  They came together, hip to hip, mouth to mouth.

  “I love you,” Austin gasped.

  “And I love you.”

  Locked in a
lover’s kiss, they sank slowly to the bottom.

  Epilogue

  “So you see, Your Honor, Howard Vanausdale was the mastermind behind this unusual scheme to give his wife the child she so desperately wanted, and Mrs. Vanausdale, his wife, was completely innocent and unaware of his plans to acquire an anonymous donor. It was an act of unselfish love on Howard Vanausdale’s part and surely proves that we should honor his last will and testament, which clearly states that after a generous bequest to each of his sons, the remainder of his wealth goes to Candice Vanausdale.”

  Bravo, Austin inwardly applauded, deciding he liked Luke McVey after all. And Mrs. McVey.

  What a nice woman she was, a perfect wife for the distinguished lawyer. He glanced at Candice, his eyes softening as he took in the breathtaking sight of his wife and daughter. No matter how much time he spent watching them, he could never get enough.

  At six weeks, little Jacklyn Suzanne Hyde already showed signs of taking after her mother. She had the ability to bring Austin to his knees with merely a look, a smile, a gurgling coo.

  Candice glanced up and caught her husband watching them, as she often did. Right now he was staring at Jacklyn, his expression one of total absorption. When he finally lifted his gaze to hers, his eyes instantly darkened with love, edged with an unmistakable hunger.

  It was a mutual feeling.

  Sitting behind them, Jack leaned forward and patted Candice on the shoulder. “Well, congratulations!”

  She was only aware of Jack’s words as Austins gaze held hers, reminding her of past heated moments, of urgent lovemaking. It had been well over six weeks since…

  Without taking his gaze from the promise in hers, Austin asked Jack, “What happened?”

  Jack looked from one to the other, releasing an exasperated breath. “Well, if you two guys would pay attention, you’d know. Candice won. She’s rich again.” He squeezed Austin’s shoulder. “And you, big brother, are a sap.”

  Austin smiled, and Candice’s heart did a funny flip-flop.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Yeah, well, if you guys need a baby-sitter—”

  “No!” they both said hastily.

  Jack affected a hurt look. “She’s my niece! My namesake! What do you think I’d do to her? I’m learning a lot back in medical school. No way would I need to experiment on my little Jacklyn.”

  People were exiting the courtroom, Candice realized, finally tearing her gaze from Austin’s. She placed Jacklyn into his willing arms, then pulled something out of her purse. Together, they stood and joined the flow of people moving down the aisle.

  When they drew even with Raymond and Donald Vanausdale, Candice held out the diamond-studded watch Austin had found beneath her window many months ago. “I believe this belongs to one of you?”

  Raymond glowered at her and snatched the watch from her hand, his mouth open to snarl something nasty. He clamped it shut as Austin’s shadow fell over him.

  But Austin wasn’t watching Raymond. He was watching the enticing swing of Candice’s fanny in the short hunter-green skirt that hugged her waist and outlined her hips.

  “Ooooaahhh,” Jacklyn cooed softly.

  Startled, Austin glanced down at his equally gorgeous daughter. He grinned. “Oooaahhh is right, sweetheart. How about a nice long visit with Nanny Merryweather tonight?”

  “Bllllaaah.”

  “Great. I’m glad you don’t mind, because Mommy and I have to… talk. Yeah, we need to talk about your future. You don’t want to be an only child, do you?”

  Candice cleared her throat. Austin jerked his head up with a guilty start, grinning sheepishly at her narrow-eyed, amused expression. He had one pure thought among the erotic fantasies filling his mind: Thank you, Jack.