by Cadence Vonn
“Christopher, tell me.”
“Max, your mother is dead. Her housekeeper found her this morning. They think it was a heart attack.”
“Fuck.” His stomach churned with disbelief. He plopped down on the bench. “I’ll see you when you get here.”
He disconnected the phone and dialed his attorney.
“Maximilian, I’ve been trying to reach you.” The kind voice of Leonard Weller, a man who’d been more of a dad to him than his own father, spoke after the second ring. “Did Christopher get a hold of you?”
“Yes. Tell me what happened.”
“Your mother seemed fine yesterday afternoon at the club. Grousing as usual about how men were worthless. Then she went home, and her housekeeper found her this morning. The coroner is pretty sure it was a heart attack. There was nothing amiss, so they ruled out murder or suicide. But the final report won’t be back for a day or two.”
“I can’t believe she’s dead. What do you need me to do?”
“I spoke with her lawyer about an hour ago. There will be no viewing or funeral service. Apparently, she was in quite the snit last week when she visited the man. She changed her will and declared there wasn’t anyone she wanted at her funeral, so she decided not to have one. She wanted to be cremated and her ashes scattered off the coast of her house.”
“What other changes did she make to her will?”
“A few minor changes that affect her jewelry and her housekeeper’s pension. I thought she might have written you out of it.”
“Yes, she made it abundantly clear that I wouldn’t inherit anything, including her shares in Westfield Industries.”
“Surprisingly, that didn’t happen. Her lawyer said she made one change where you were concerned. It pertains to your marital status. There was nothing she could do about the house. It would always be yours, according to the agreement she and your father signed when you were born. However, she has put a stipulation on her money and shares of Westfield Industries.”
“Tell me what she did. I can’t believe it would be anything I’m willing to do.”
“It doesn’t seem too bad if you’re inclined to get married.”
“Not to Holly or anyone she named.”
“The new addendum to the will states that you need to be married at the time of the reading. There is no mention of whom you must marry. Your mother didn’t foresee dying so suddenly, of course. My guess is she assumed if you were married it would be to someone she approved. You have until Friday morning at ten to marry if you want to gain controlling shares of Westfield Industries and your mother’s millions of dollars.”
Max snorted. “That gives me four days.” The amount of time he would have taken if Tess hadn’t been injured.
“Stranger things have happened. I’m really sorry about this. I know you, and your mother never got along, but it’s still difficult to lose a parent. Don’t blame yourself like I’m sure you’re doing at the moment. You had no control over how she lived her life, and you need to live yours the way you want to. Did you find Tess?” Leonard had known the reason Max resigned from Westfield Industries.
Max let out a sigh. “Yes, and she agreed to marry me. But I almost lost her in a riding accident, and I don’t want to push her into a wedding so soon. She needs time to recover.”
“I’m glad you found her. Remember, you still have the house and all its contents. But I know how hard you worked over the last few years to bring Westfield Industries back to its glory. It would be nice if you gained controlling interest instead of having it divided among your uncles.”
“Thanks, Leonard. I’ll let you know what I decide. Talk to you soon.” Max hung up, dropped his phone on the soft ground and buried his face in his hands. He doubted there would have been a chance of reconciliation with his mother, but the finality washed over him nonetheless.
Chapter Sixteen
Tess stretched her good arm above her head. The warm sunshine coming in through her bedroom window reminded her of the day she met Max at his mother’s house. The other side of the bed was untouched, and she had no idea if he had returned. The blue diamond sparkled in the light. She was going to marry Max. Her worlds collided and nothing bad happened.
She gave a humor-filled snort. How could she forget her accident? The rigid cast on her wrist was a clear reminder of her fall. She padded toward the bathroom but stopped to look out the window at the well-manicured lawn and the trees beyond. Max sat on her favorite bench, hunched over like he regretted something. What made him so sad? Did the reality of what he did for her finally make him regret his actions?
Her need to use the bathroom forgotten, she slipped on her shoes and jogged down the stairs, ignoring the ache it caused in her shoulder.
“Tess.”
Chris and Julian hurried toward her.
“Can we talk in a minute, Chris? I need to get to Max.”
“You heard?”
“Heard what?”
Chris rubbed her good arm and said, “Max’s mother died this morning. Do you know where he is?”
Tess gasped. “I saw him sitting on a bench down by the trees. I’d better go see if there’s anything I can do.”
“He’ll be feeling guilty,” Chris yelled as she scurried away. “That’s what we Westfields do.”
Tess reached Max’s side and sat next to him so she could caress his back. “Christopher told me what happened. I’m so sorry, Max. I know you didn’t like your mother, but she was still your mother. Please don’t think it’s your fault. Even if you’d been back in Boston and still working for Westfield Industries, you couldn’t have anticipated her death and done anything about it. No one has that power.”
He sat back and gave her a sad smile. “How am I so fortunate to have you? I’ll owe Christopher until the day I die for bringing you to Mother’s party that Sunday. You enchanted me and saved me from myself.”
He pressed a kiss to her forehead, settled her against his body, and continued. “My mother was not a very nice person. From the first time she and my father allowed me to join them for dinner, I knew there wasn’t a kind bone in her body. Lucky for me, growing up I avoided her as much as possible. I went to summer camp and then off to boarding school. My friends looked forward to holidays—I didn’t.” Max hesitated, lost in thought, and Tess cuddled a little closer to provide a hint of comfort.
A moment later he continued, “When I started college I always managed to go somewhere else for the holidays instead of tolerating my parents’ disdain for each other. She tried to gain control over my life when my father died, and I was too busy trying to save Westfield Industries to care. I never thought there would be anything I wanted more than building an empire until you came along. I’ll never do anything to make you unhappy with me.”
“Max, I love all of you. There is no way you’ll ever disappoint me or make me unhappy. I’m not like my mother or father either. I think we’re together for very different reasons than our parents had for marrying. Tell me what’s happening back in Boston.”
“Nothing for you to worry about. It’s all being handled.”
“Max, no lies or secrets between us. Ever. Now tell me.”
He let out a resigned sigh. “I spoke with my attorney. I’ll inherit the house and its contents.”
“Ah, we can recreate our first kiss whenever we feel in the mood.”
“You want the house?”
“Of course. Our children will love the third floor nursery, and who wouldn’t want the beautiful view of the ocean? Not to mention that wonderful library. We’ll make it a happy house.”
“You want children? We never talked about it.”
“You don’t?” Tess bit her lip and looked up at him with concern.
“Of course I do, with you. I hope we have little girls who look like you.” He gave her a gentle hug.
“And little boys who look like you. I’ll be Mom, and you’ll be Dad. None of this Mother and Father stuff. Now finish telling me what’s happening. What
about Westfield Industries?”
“Leonard informed me if I want my mother’s shares and her millions I must be married before the will is read next Friday.”
“Really? That’s all? She didn’t change her will to make sure you married Holly?”
“Tess, it doesn’t matter. It’s Sunday. Friday is five days away, and I refuse to force you to marry me before you’re ready.”
“I’m ready. I have no desire for a large wedding. We can fly to Boston in the morning. Pack our things and head to Las Vegas. Remember my mother and I were born in Boston, so I have dual citizenship. There won’t be a problem with it being legal. Maybe my father will even loan us his jet.”
“Oh shit, your father.” Max ran his hand through his hair, clearly frustrated.
“My father will understand the urgency of the wedding.”
“If I regain control of Westfield Industries, I’ll probably get my job back. How do you think your father will react to me not taking the job he offered me?”
“Mm. He might pressure you to merge Westfield Industries with his company. But in the end, he’ll understand if you refuse. He’ll have to find someone else to run his North American office. I’m not worried. I’ll intervene if he tries to challenge you to a duel.”
Max laughed. “How did you know he mentioned a duel to me?”
“An educated guess. He loves his dueling pistols. His collection is extensive. You’ll have to get him to show them to you sometime when we return for a visit. But now we need to get around and persuade everyone to head to Vegas.”
Tess stood and held out her hand. “Come on, play a game with me. I’m not taking any chances on losing you, so you must follow all my commands. I promise you’ll love every minute.”
“Ms. Staffordshire. I can’t wait. Lead on—I’ll follow you to the ends of the earth.”
Epilogue
The clouds floated by the windows, moving quickly on the stiff breeze off the ocean. Making love on the widow’s walk would always be her favorite place to have Max between her legs. His warm tongue teased down over her breast and she couldn’t hold back the whimper escaping her lips.
“Tess, I promise we won’t be late for the wedding. Relax. Let yourself go. I want to hear you scream my name the way you did the first time you called me Max.”
She closed her eyes, relished the teasing twirl and nip of her nipple as he worked them into stiff peaks. In the next instant, warm oil dripped down her cleavage, and his hands massaged it into her breasts. The smell of vanilla wafted up around her, and she inhaled a deep breath.
Her focus moved back to his hands. First one breast then the next, they moved in a slow sensuous motion. He touched every inch of her chest, moved to her abdomen, and played a swirling game around her navel. More oil drizzled over her skin, and he spread her legs, dragging the slick liquid over her smooth bare flesh.
“I’m not sure which I like better. You completely bare, or with a small tuft of your hair to point the way to your pleasure,” he said, rubbing the place that was now smooth and hair free.
“It looks better this way with a bathing suit.”
“I suppose, but I can’t wait until we’re back from our trip and you let the cluster of curls grow back in.”
“Fine. I didn’t realize you had a preference.”
“No preference. This is just new. Let me see if its sweeter.”
Max swept his tongue up Tess’s wet crease. She moaned, squirmed on the window seat, and enjoyed the view of Max’s head between her legs. He knew right where to touch to make her shiver. He teased her. Lifted his head, and nipped her bare flesh before he became more aggressive and attacked her clit with his tongue. His fingers delved inside her heat, rubbing the spot that would send her into oblivion. She grabbed his hair, his name filled the space as fire surged up her body. One final swish of his tongue and her hands fell to her side.
“Satisfied?” he asked, as he licked her sensitive bundle of nerves.
“Very. We need to get ready to leave?”
“We have time, and you’re not going to get away from me now and leave me aching like the first time we met.” He shifted on his knees and pulled Tess lower. He hovered over her. Took one last taste of her nipple before he plunged inside her. She released the scream surging up her throat. His hard cock sank to the hilt. It reached the deepest part of her core. She clenched her muscles and made him groan.
“Sweetheart, I’ll never tire of being inside you.” Max bit her shoulder, and pounded into her, as their oiled bodies moved to the frantic rhythm of the wind blowing outside. “Oh God, Tess, you’re perfect. I love you.” He froze, his climax pulsed inside her. With a groan, he collapsed on top of her, trying not to crush her. He placed gentle kisses up her neck, and she sighed.
“I can’t believe it was a year ago when I first kissed you here,” he whispered. “You rocked me to my bones. The moment we made love I knew I could never live without you. Remember, I told you, you were mine? I meant it then, and I mean it now. Mrs. Westfield, I love all of you. Especially when you have that gleam in your eye like you want more sex.” He teased her lips with his tongue.
“Max, we need to go and shower. If we’re late for Chris and Julian’s wedding, they’ll never forgive us. Now come on. It’s going to take a lot of hot water to get rid of all this oil. There will be plenty of time this weekend to have another go.”
“With as much sex as we’re having, one of these days you’re bound to get pregnant.” He kissed her and helped her stand. Tess froze next to him, and he took her in his arms and looked down at her face. “What’s wrong? I thought you wanted children.”
“Would you mind if we had them so soon? We’ve only been married for ten months.”
“Not at all.” He caressed her breasts again and hesitated. Were they bigger? He looked into her eyes, and she gave him a shy smile.
“This time next year you’ll be sitting up here with your son or daughter in your arms,” she murmured, “showing them where they were conceived.”
“You’re really pregnant?” When she nodded, Max swung Tess up in his arms and spun her around with a “whoopee!”
“You’ve made me the happiest man alive. Maybe your father will forgive me for not taking the position he offered me if we give him a grandchild.”
“He forgave you the moment we said ‘I do’ and he saw how happy you made me. Besides, Chris is working out fine in the position, and he likes the fact he’ll be moving to New York next week. He agreed with my father that the office is better there than Boston. But I’ll miss him terribly.”
“Uncle Chris and Uncle Julian will always have a room here at the house when they want to visit. And we’ll go to New York. We have the apartment your mother gave us as a wedding present. We’ll see them as often as you like. Let’s go. I can’t wait to tell them we’re pregnant.”
“Maximilian Westfield, I love you. Now you’ll have to learn a whole different line of games to play with our baby.”
“Maybe, but the special games I’ll reserve for you.”
About the Author
Cadence has a BFA in photography and silversmithing. She is an accomplished doodler and daydreamer who discovered she enjoys writing down the stories that dance in her head. At present she lives in Pennsylvania with her husband, but hopes to someday live near the ocean.
~*~
Visit Cadence at
www.CadenceVonn.com
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To chat with Cadence Vonn and other Wild Rose Press authors of erotic romance, join us at www.groups.yahoo.com/group/thewilderroses.
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