by Malone, Nana
As energy traveled from her toes to her fingertips and back, she could feel the walls of her pussy clenching around him.
She felt him trembling behind her as her body gripped him. “Jai!”
Heat and pleasure swamped her body as the orgasm rolled through her. Unable to wait for him, she drove her hips back, taking all of him that she could, her whole body shaking in ecstasy.
He wasn’t far behind as his hands tightened on her hips and he drove into her once more, twice more. “Jesus, Christ.” He bore down on her with his weight as his whole body quaked. As he came, he covered her body with his, holding her against him, making them one.
***
Alec couldn’t take his eyes of Jaya as she lounged on the settee, wearing nothing but his robe. He’d been so exhausted, he was partly inclined to stay in that booth forever, their bodies still joined. But he wanted to take care of her, so he’d carried her naked to the elevator. Through their ride up and their shower, he’d worked very hard to behave himself. He was so worried he’d hurt her. But there she was, wrapped in this rob looking fine. Better than fine.
“So, can I ask you a question?” Jaya chewed on her bottom lip in that habit of hers that drove him nuts.
“Knock yourself out.” He tossed his towel in the hamper and crossed his arms in preparation.
“I know it's none if my business. I’m just that chick who—well, you know.”
“Now you have me curious. What is it?”
“I've watched you.”
He put on his usual bravado and swagger. “I've been watching you too.”
She frowned. The tiny creases marring that smooth forehead. “Why do you do that? The moment I ask you to be serious, you start to play around. You're smart. Scary smart. Certainly smart enough to run a business. People like you, you’ve got charisma and charm. You could be running your own place or something. Instead, you're running around playing Guy Friday and Personal Assistant. It just doesn’t jive.”
The war that went on inside him was a quick one. Not sure what to reveal, he sighed. “When my mom died, I tracked my dad down. Before that, we'd never been in one location longer than six months or so. When I used to ask her about my father, she couldn't tell me much about him. Just that he'd been the adventuresome type. When I met him, he was married and couldn’t stay still if you'd paid him money. And there was nothing he liked as much as he liked money.”
Alec shrugged. “I'm sort of like him, I guess. I don’t like the idea of being pinned down. Every time I have to stay anywhere permanent, it makes me itch. I have a hard time working at any one place for too long. I've been working for the Westhorpe's in one capacity or another since I was sixteen. Usually, I can work and nobody asks me questions or expects me to stay.” At least that much was the truth. He was leaving in a day or so. What would be the point in telling her everything?
“But why not get a job or something you can travel with or put down roots? Aren’t you a little worried about your future? I've got ulcers just thinking about how the heck you'll pay for retirement.”
He shook his head. Of course she would worry about his retirement. The little voice in his head begged, screamed for him to take her seriously. She cared about him and what happened to him.
“Honestly, I’m fine.”
“You might be fine, and good at your job. I just think you could be better.”
And here it came, the proverbial shoe drop. “So I can’t be just a bartender.”
She slid off the settee. “I don’t give a shit what you do if you’re a bartender or CEO as long as you have fun and do what you want to do. You just seem like you’re supposed to be doing so much more than taking orders from Adele. Like for you, this is the easier route to where you’re going. If you’re challenged, then great. But I doubt you can tell me you’re challenging yourself.”
“It's honest work.”
“Of course it is. Honest work you can do. But I've talked to you. I know you’re not being challenged, making sure Bambi and Trina show up on time for their shift. I see you frustrated with every part of this job. I see you frustrated having to take every call from Adele.”
The lady had a point. But he couldn't concede that easily. She’d have his head when she found out he lied to her. “So you’re telling me you wish I were more?”
She frowned. “What I’m telling you is that when I’m with someone I want that person to be happy. I want him to push to be the best versions of himself. I aim for that every day. Some days I succeed at it. If someone were ‘just’—” she used air quotes to emphasize her point. “—a personal assistant or whatever, if he was happy, I’d be happy. You’re just going through the motions as if this is the next stop to somewhere else. You’re marking time. Not just with me, but with Adele.”
That last verbal dig lanced his side, sending white-hot pain of truth through the open wound. She’d hit the nail on the head without even knowing anything real or true about him. “Maybe I just haven’t found anything important enough to make me challenge myself.”
She moved toward him and planted a kiss on his lips. “Like I said, I’m just some girl you’ll forget in two weeks. But I wonder if maybe you’re not looking hard enough.”
Chapter Twenty-Two
Jaya fiddled with the strap of her dress. Alec would be here any moment to pick her up. They’d agreed to meet in the lobby, but he was late. She checked the understated silver Timex on her wrist. He was exactly three minutes later than the last time she checked. She’d worn this wholly inappropriate dress. The one-shoulder vermillion red number smoothed over her hips and curves. It was beautiful and she loved it. But red. Her father would have a fit. But no one will be looking at your sister.
The two halves of the argument cancelled each other out. Impatient, she sent Alec a text. Where are you? Before she could check her watch again, she saw him stride through her lobby in a tailored three-piece suit that looked like it had been made for him. She could only stare. He stopped as soon as he saw her. For several beats, neither of them moved an inch and Alec's mouth hung open.
Eventually, he moved woodenly toward her. His sandalwood scent enveloped her and she knew she was home. Don’t try and hold onto this one. He'll break your heart.
Alec leaned in to give her a brief hug and she wanted to do nothing more than stay there. “Jaya, you look beautiful.”
She smiled up at him. “You know how to flatter a girl.”
He didn’t return the smile. “I swear to God, if you ever go back to wearing grey, I'll tan your hide.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “My hide's already tanned.”
The sexy smile of his flashed over his lips. “You’re magnificent, do you know that?”
She ducked her head and whispered a thank you. “We need to go if we're going to make it up to La Costa in time.”
He escorted her out of her building, hand placed lightly at the small of her back and she pretended for just the briefest of moments that this was real. That he was a real date and he loved her.
“I've got the perfect ride for the trip.”
Jaya paused when she saw the Rolls Royce, complete with driver. “Oh Alec, are you serious?”
His smile was tight and she scrutinized him, trying to figure out the nuanced layers of what was wrong with this picture.
Alec's jaw ticked. “Jaya, I'm sorry.”
Something unpleasant rolled in her belly. Something icy, and rotten and slimy. He did not have a good news face on. “What's wrong?”
He brushed a hair off her cheek. “Look, I'm really sorry to do this to you. I couldn't leave without telling you to your face, but I have to go. Tonight.”
The hollow wound of another shoe dropping pounded in her head. “What do you mean you have to go? Where are you going?”
“I can’t really explain right now. But I didn’t want to just not show up. I'm on my way to the airport now. I didn't want you waiting around for me.” He indicated the car. “I wanted to do something to make up for
it.”
No, this wasn't happening. She'd gotten dressed. She could see her father's face when she walked in without Alec. She needed him. He was leaving her. Rage coursed through her veins. Her voice chilled to frigid temperatures. “What the hell is so important you'd break our deal? An emergency expedition to Africa? Or maybe this mysterious project you've been working on? Or an emergency bartending project?”
The last one was a low blow. He didn't deserve that. She knew it. But she didn’t care. She'd known what to expect from him, but she hadn't paid attention. This was her fault. Not his. Hers alone. She’d failed again. How the hell was she supposed to walk into that wedding now? She may play brave well, but at the core of it, she was a coward.
“Jaya, you have to know I’m sorry. But you know, you don’t even need me.”
“Can you hear yourself? If you were me, would you believe what you’re saying?” something struck her. “Does this mean the gala job goes away as well?”
He frowned. “What? No. Adele hired you. I have nothing to do with it. Just because I have to leave right now doesn’t mean I don’t care about you. I wish it didn’t have to be this way. You—”
“You know, I find it interesting that the moment you have to make the barest of commitments to something, you up and bail.” She folded her arms. “You’ve never stuck to anything in your life. I was naive enough to think you'd stick with me.”
“I know you’re upset, but there is literally nothing I can do. It really is a matter of life and death.”
She shook her head. “You’re right. I don’t need you. But this was a big deal to me. Maybe you're so used to bailing that you can’t see that. You know what? Just go. Go on your mysterious adventure. I'll handle tonight by myself. Just like always.”
Chapter Twenty-Three
Alec braced himself as the car took him from the airport to the Menlo Park area in San Francisco. Like it or not little brother, I'm coming to take you home. The car pulled up to the townhouse with Alec having no clue what the hell he was going to say to his brother. Lucky for him, when he knocked, Max opened the door without even checking to see who it was.
“I've been expecting you. Adele is very determined.” He swung the door open and staggered back into the living room area.
Alec entered into the dim hallway of the townhouse and closed the door behind him. A quick whiff and glance of the place told him all he needed to know. Max had been on a serious binge. The whole townhouse reeked of alcohol. It emanated from brother’s body. Stepping over a discarded T-shirt, he swore. “Shit, Max, you smell like a bar.”
His brother plopped onto the couch. “Yep, and I look like shit, right?” He took a swig of some amber liquid. “I feel like it too.”
Alec braced himself in the doorframe of the living room. “Get your shit. We're going back.”
Max chuckled. “The fuck I am. You think you're the only one who can run away from your responsibilities?”
Ouch. Alec erected a mental wall to keep himself from seeing the image of Jaya standing there in her red dress as he told her he wouldn’t be her date. “Nope. But my responsibilities don’t include a wife-to-be and a kid. I didn’t sign on for all that. But you, you’re an ass.”
Max made an attempt to get out of his seat, but flopped back down, blond hair falling away from his face. “So what you’re saying is you were an ass when you left Sue five years ago?”
Alec breathed out a sigh. “Yeah. At least a little bit. But I wasn't engaged to her. She wasn’t carrying my kid.” He crossed his arms over his chest, hoping the action would keep him from wanting to pummel his brother. “To make matters worse, you’ve left her and the kid with a pile of shit to deal with. Drugs, Max. Seriously, did you think no one would find out?”
“It wasn’t supposed to go like that. It was supposed to be a one-time deal. But after a couple of transactions, they wouldn’t back off. I was just supposed to launder a fixed amount. Then they started to think I worked for them.”
“The Sandovals have been looking for you. It’s only a matter of time before they find you. You put Adele in danger, Sue, the hotels. Most importantly, your kid.”
Max blanched. With a shaky hand he took another swig, and when his hand didn’t stop shaking, he chugged again. “Yeah, well, my point exactly. That kid is better off without me. I can promise you that.”
His brother's lackadaisical attitude set Alec's blood to simmer. “Oh yeah, had a conversation with the little one already, have you? God, you're such a self-important fuck-up. You have no concern for their safety? What if Sandoval and his thugs get a hold of Sue or the baby? You think they’re going to play nice and wait for you to deliver what they think you took? They already paid Adele a visit. What that kid needs is his father to stand up and be a man.”
“What do you know about it?” Max took the last sip out of the bottle and let it clatter to the ground.
“You’re such a spoiled little shit. The spitting image and soul of the old man. You can't just run around doing what you want in life. You have to accept responsibility. You need to go back and deal with the Sandovals. Face Adele. She’s been covering for you, but time’s up. You really screwed up here.” He shoved a hand in his hair.
Max pushed himself up off the couch, weaved, and then staggered to confront Alec toe to toe. “Look, this isn’t your melodrama, okay? I just need some time to think. I couldn’t think with everyone in my face all the time. I’ll talk to Sandoval, tell him I don’t have the transaction list he thinks I took.”
“You really think it will be that simple? If Sandoval doesn’t get what he wants, he’ll take it out on Sue. Or at least, that’s what he threatened her with.”
Max swayed as he squeezed his eyes shut tight. “What do you mean threatened? Is-is she okay? Th-the baby?” His hands scrubbed his face. “I thought I had more time,” he slurred.
Alec shoved him back on the couch. “I can’t believe I gave up on Jaya to come and fetch you.” He shook his head. “You don’t have to worry. I'm not going to be Adele's errand boy anymore.”
“I need to fix this.”
“Finally, we’re on the same page. Problem is, You say you didn’t take what they’re looking for. Caleb thinks it’s one of his lieutenants making a play by taking that transaction file. But they’ve pinned it on you for sure and they don’t forgive that kind of fuck up.”
“I’ll take Sue and we’ll run.”
“Now is not the time to dick around. If you run, they’ll find you. Caleb pulled some strings at the FBI. You’ll talk to the feds and figure it out from there. You and the family might have to lay low for a bit, but Caleb is working on a solution.”
“I’m a moron for getting into bed with them. I don’t know what the hell I was thinking. It was so easy at first. Money Adele didn’t control, didn’t have a hawk eye on. Then they started asking for bigger and bigger cuts. Next thing I knew, I owed them money rather than the other way around.”
Alec worked his jaw. “It could be worse. You just need to get home and fix it.”
Max screwed up his face then mumbled a curse under his breath. “The night I left, I took the money out of my trust. I put half in a numbered account that couldn’t be traced back to me. I paid part of the money I owed the Sandovals and planned to use the rest to take Sue away.”
He blew out a breath. “I detoured to the office to talk to Adele, but she was closed in with the board. I hadn’t planned to leave without saying anything to her. Even I’m not that callous. When I went back to my place, it was being searched. I figured something had come back to bite me in the ass so I’d better get lost for a minute. I didn’t call Sue or Mom because I figured it would blow back on them.” He shook his head.
“So you ran.”
“I did it for their own good. It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
Chapter Twenty-Four
Be brave, Jaya. You can do anything. In the last two weeks she'd done everything from standing up to her father, to leaving an o
ld job for an even more terrifying new job, to skinny dipping, to seducing a man and having sex in all kinds of places she never thought about before. It was more than she'd lived in the ten years since her mother's death. If she could face those things and the new gold in her bedroom, she could face a room full of family, friends, and clients.
The clients she'd never had a problem facing. But somehow knowing she was going to hijack Tamara's thank you and welcome-to-my-wedding speech made the butterflies in her stomach jump and wiggle. She wished for Alec. But he was a crutch. She knew it. He was the force that propelled her, but she didn’t need him.
He’d already changed her more in two weeks than anything else had. Love could do anything to someone. She inhaled a deep breath. Along the way to her table, she made stops, greeting those she knew. Her target in sight, she kept moving forward. All she needed was ten minutes with Brett James and she'd be done.
The loudspeaker went off and Tamara's jaunty lilt addressed the crowd.
Moving faster, Jaya worked through the crowd. If she could just get him aside for five minutes.
“Ladies and gentlemen. Thank you for joining us on this special occasion. Over the course of the week, we've played a little and laughed a little, and now on the day I take the next phase of my journey in life, I wanted to recognize the people who have helped me get here.”
Jaya slipped into the seat next to James. “Hello. Mr. James. Nice to see you again.”
He turned to face her surprised. “Oh, yes. Jaya isn't it?” His gaze flitted back to Tamara and to her again. “The resemblance really is uncanny, you know.”
She gave him a beatific smile. “Yes, we’ve been told that from time to time.”
He chuckled. “What can I do for you?”
“You know, you’re a hard man to get a hold of. I must have called your secretary a dozen times.”