She made a tsk sound with her voice. “He won’t see it that way, and I don’t care about his opinion anyway, but we can visit my parents tonight for dinner. I’m sure Gabe and Megan are coming, though I think Olivia is still out of town.”
“Conner has a country to run and your sister to protect at the same time.” He had no more knowledge about her dark-haired sister, but he could assume Scarlett would speak to her parents about Navid. He’d be there for her. He traced her thigh.
Scarlett emanated goodness and beauty, and she lit up the car with her presence beside him. He looked at the curves of her body, but skipped her gaze. “Gabe still insists we all protect you,” he said. “If you hadn’t shown up at the hospital, I was going to find you and not tell you how I feel.”
“I would have cried.” He looked at her. She knew exactly how to get his attention. She winked. “So, since we’re already married, I was thinking I need to see where you live and get my things moved in. Take me home before we go see my parents?”
Star Island was home to movie stars, basketball players, and a few elites, like the Morgan estates and his own. The driver stopped in front of his twenty-bedroom mansion and a moment later opened the door for them. James held out his hand and helped her out. “We’re here.”
“So this is your estate in Miami.” She turned around and glanced at the quiet street. With a nod of approval, she turned on her heels and followed him inside. “My parents are in Coral Gables, near University of Miami.”
He was about to answer that she’d grown up in New York, and moved to the old-guard community with standards, but his butler called his attention and pointed toward the library. He curled his fingers with Scarlett’s. “Strange. Someone is waiting for us.”
The butler gave him a business card and he read it, then led Scarlett to the library.
His lawyer Sienna, who they’d met on the day they married, stood near the door. She held out her free hand and shook his. Then she nodded at Scarlett. She clutched a few folders in the other hand. He stayed with Scarlett, but asked, “Sienna, how are you?”
“James, it’s great to see that you’re happy and healthy,” she said, and winced at his arm that was half covered under his dark blue t-shirt.
A second later, he reached for his wife. “This is my wife, Scarlett.”
“I remember. You were beautiful at the courthouse.” She held out her hand and shook Scarlett’s as well. “Nice to formally met you. I’m James’ estate attorney.”
Scarlett nodded politely. “Nice to meet you officially.”
“Is there a problem?” James asked. The sooner they were alone again, the better. He had plans to help Scarlett out of her pink dress.
Sienna handed him one folder she held. “I received an offer from a Mr. Shepard that I found strange and wanted to bring it to your attention as it concerned your new bride.”
“Thanks,” he said, then opened the folder to read what was there.
Sienna quickly waved and showed herself out. “Nice seeing you both. Goodbye.”
Once the hall stopped clanking from high heels on his bamboo floors, and the butler closed the door, Scarlett wrapped her arms around his. “What does it say?”
He handed her the file with possible contracts, but pointed to the section Sienna had highlighted. “He wants to know if I’d oppose his takeover of your company, as buying you out would be a more long-term solution for his company.”
“What!” She crossed her arms and glanced toward the ceiling. “And here I thought I could trust him.”
He walked her out of the library and into the main house, where there was a huge ballroom with a view of the intercoastal waterways behind grand doors.
He’d prefer to strip her of her clothes and claim her body, but they should probably talk this over first. “Scarlett, I know you value your makeup brand. I’d rather we merge and let people like Shepard find other people to prey on.”
She went on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. “I trust you’ll put in writing an amazing contract where we both find an agreement.”
“I’ll get Serena to draw that up, tomorrow.” He walked her forward, nearer the staircase that led upstairs to his bedroom and the balcony that reminded him of Romeo and Juliet’s in the play his middle school teacher made them all see. “What do you think of my house?”
With a soft sigh, she brushed her hands against the stubble of his cheeks, and leaned forward for a kiss. Encouraged, he wrapped his arms around her and claimed her offer.
Her kiss was like a magic spell.
As it ended, she said, “I think you need to get me to the bedroom. Now.”
“Yes, ma’am,” he said, and led her up the stairs.
They had hours to be together, before dinner, and if she loved him then he’d have to find a way to keep her forever. Hopefully her brother would forgive him.
CHAPTER 12
So much had changed so fast.
Scarlett held her breath and took James’ hand as they stood outside the fiberglass and composite front door designed to look like cream wood. Her parents had paid top dollar for their fancy doors. James stood beside her in a pale blue button-down shirt that he had worn for her.
The maid finally answered the door and Scarlett led him to the living room, where her parents usually entertained. The moment they saw everyone, James’ hand stiffened. She squeezed it a little to offer encouragement and then let go as her mother came to hug her. The second her mother stopped hugging her, Scarlett pointed to her husband. “Mom, Dad, Gabe, Megan. This is James.”
Gabe refused to move from his seat on the couch, but said, “Yes, we know.”
He whispered something to Megan.
“No, you don’t.” Scarlett crossed her arms and glared at her annoying older brother.
Her mother, always the pacifist, said, “What don’t we know?”
Right. This was the time for truth. She swallowed, stood closer to James, who hadn’t moved a muscle, and said, “Mom, this is James Clancy, my husband.”
Gabe stood up, with his eyes wide open. “James, you were supposed to guard my sister.”
James’s face went white. She stood in front of him and shook her head. Gabe had no business in her life. “I insisted the only way he could come with me to guard me was if he married me.”
Her father covered his mouth with his hand.
“Scarlett, why would you do that?” Gabe asked.
James looked sick, but stayed still.
Her gaze flickered to her father, who lowered his hand. She needed to explain. “I wanted to impress Max Shepard and prove that I was smart in business without my parents or my brother I wanted to prove to myself and to you that I was savvy and could make my own way, without family money. My reputation is someone who shops all the time, and I needed to show the world that I was stable and trustable.”
Her father said, “Scarlett, you could have asked me or your brother to invest. You don’t need a snake like Shepard.”
“I understand that now.” She lowered her head. Her father had always said the only people she could ever depend on were her family, but she had been so determined to make it without them that she almost signed with someone out to steal from her. “And I also get that James and everyone in this room are the ones that truly matter.”
Gabe shook his head. “How did this transformation happen?”
Again, sometimes it seemed like Gabe cared, and other times it was like he always wanted to judge her, and this conversation was going down the wrong path. She clasped her wrist in front of her. “Max went behind my back and asked James’ permission to try to take over my company, which was always his plan.”
Her father said, “Honey, we would love to help you.”
Right. Love. She loved James and needed her parents back on that conversation. She licked her lips and glanced at James, who was holding his hands together like he was in the military. “That’s just it. I didn’t want help, and I forced James into marrying me.”
Her mother sat in her chair and fanned herself. “Oh, honey.”
“Wait.” James stepped forward and stared at Gabe. “Scarlett is the most amazing woman I’ve ever met. Gabe, I know I was just supposed to babysit her, but I fell in love with her, and I want to ask you if you can forgive me.”
“I love him too.” Scarlett squeezed his hand.
Her mother and father both had wide eyes, and huge smiles grew on their faces.
Her brother ignored her. “Forgive you for what?”
“I betrayed your trust,” James met Gabe’s eye contact but waited for a reaction..
Her mother stood up.
Finally, her annoying brother, Gabe walked toward them and circled them like they were prey. James held her hand a little firmer so she knew he was tense, but then her brother held out his hand. “You saved my life. James, there is no one I’d like better for Scarlett than you, now that I think about it. You even out each other’s edges.”
“So we’re good?” James shook his hand.
“I’m great, though marriage to my sister might end in disaster for you,” Gabe said. “So good luck!”
“Stop!” Scarlett said.
James put his hand on her back and she felt they were whole. Not even her brother could destroy the news.
Then Gabe called out for the dark-haired Megan. He held her shoulders and brought her forward. “Scarlett, this is Megan. She was shy to meet you after what her brother did.”
Scarlett froze.
Megan kept her head down and her face was red. “He’s in jail again and this time he won’t get bail.”
No judgment. Scarlett reached out and hugged her. Megan hugged her back, and she saw how her brother breathed a sigh of relief. When the hug ended, she saw the glance between her brother and Megan, and realized they were in love. Scarlett said, “That’s good. Megan, the way my brother looks at you makes me think we should be best friends. I know exactly how to annoy him and I’m willing to share the knowledge.”
Megan smiled. “Scarlett, I would love for us to be friends.”
“Yeah.” She did her little victory dance for when she won.
James whispered in her ear, “Navid.”
Right. They had something else to discuss. Something big. They all walked into the living room, and she waited for her parents to claim the love seat that they’d sat on together for years now. She and James chose the chairs opposite them, and Gabe poured wine. Then she pushed her hair out of her face and said, “Mom, Dad, when we were in Grand Bohemia and escaping with our lives, we met Navid Barampour. He said he was my brother and that’s why he wanted to help me.”
Her father’s face went white. “Navid Barampour?”
“The man in the desert years ago, who fought you and then helped you, Gabe, is the same Navid,” James added.
“You’re joking.” Gabe handed James his glass of wine.
Scarlett saw her mother’s face went red and her father grew pensive. She waited and hoped that what happened years ago shouldn’t matter anymore.
James continued, “Gabe, Navid said he helped Maddox steal from you but never used that information and refused to let anyone die. The day you met him in the desert, he helped ensure that you were safe after fighting with me.”
“Navid must have been young, and angry at our father,” Scarlett added.
Her mother glanced at her father and squeezed his knee, and then said, “Your father had an affair with Jasmine Barampour before Olivia was born.”
So she’d guessed correctly and put the pieces together. She lowered her lashes to not look directly at her father, and said, “Dad, is it possible that Navid is my half-brother? It wasn’t a lie?”
He answered in a soft voice. “Yes, but Jasmine never said anything.”
“True.” Her mother linked her arms with her father. “But we paid her two million dollars to disappear. It’s enough to raise a child.” Her mother met Scarlett’s stare. “If she told your father, he’d have never left a son. You know he cares about children.”
“I’d like to meet my son,” her father said.
The room went quiet. Her parents stayed close to each other in their chairs, and neither said a word. Everything remained calm.
Scarlett broke the silence. “Navid said he’d try to come by for Christmas.”
Gabe held Megan’s hand. “Dad, if what James said about Navid is true then he’s a fighter. I never saw anyone with that much skill. I want you both to be safe, in case his intentions are not a family reunion but revenge.”
Her brother still believed the Maddox threat would continue in the near future. She swallowed. “Gabe…”
“I want our parents to be safe,” her brother finished.
Scarlett shook her head. “You, James, and all of us will do everything, but Navid saved me. We always have each other and there’s room for one more. Gabe, trust me.”
“I do.” Megan stroked Gabe’s knee. He glanced at his girlfriend and nodded at her. Then he turned his attention back to Scarlett. “So, let’s celebrate your wedding. You do realize that Mom is going to insist on throwing a big wedding celebration.”
A huge wedding with all the trimmings played out like a fairy tale in her mind, including James in a nice suit—preferably the gray one he hated, but if he insisted then black was fine. She squeezed his arm and stared into his blue eyes.
The love she had for him wouldn’t change, with or without the fantasy, but the fantasy was fun. She returned her gaze to her parents. “For one-on-one time with Mom, I’d love it. And I’m so happy you all accept James, because I love him. Dad, James is going to help with my company but I’d love for you to back my makeup too. It’s organic and we’re really growing fast.”
“Between the two of us and your vision, there’ll be no stopping you, Scarlett,” he replied.
James then joked, “Is there a way to stop Scarlett from doing anything she wants?”
“No,” Gabe answered.
She stood up and James followed, then kissed her forehead. The world was right, and it felt like Christmas, even though it wasn’t. She had James and her life was complete. His lips on her skin made her ache for the lifetime of togetherness.
Gabe passed out champagne glasses and found a bottle of champagne in the cabinet. Once everyone had a glass, he said, “To James and Scarlett. May they live happily ever after.”
James kissed her and the world faded away. They were together and happy, and life was working out. With her family and the man she loved, Scarlett had everything.
ALSO BY VICTORIA PINDER
Returning for Valentine’s (FREE if you go to my website)
The House of Morgan
Secret Crush
Secret Baby
Secret Bet
Secret Wish
Secret Dad
* * *
A Frosted Game of Hearts
Winter Peril
Stormy Peril
* * *
The Collins Brothers
Chaperoning Paris
Borrowing the Doctor
Electing Love
Keeping the Spy
Keeping the Captain
* * *
The Marshall Family Saga
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Crush
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Mistake
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Sin
Favorite Coffee, Favorite Scandal
* * *
The Hawke Fortune
Tempting Gabe
Tempting James
Tempting Conner
Tempting Harry
Tempting Navid
* * *
Royals of Avce
Forbidden Crown
Forbidden Royal
Forbidden Prince
* * *
Then if you also like Science Fiction/Fantasy Romance:
* * *
Hidden Dragon Series
Call of the Dragon
Dance of the Dragon (Coming Soon)
* * *
The Queen Gene
Whispers of a Throne
Storm of the Throne (coming soon)
* * *
Earthseekers Mission
Makeup May Change Your Life
The Zoastra Affair
* * *
Ancient Greek Heroes
Mything You
Mything the Throne
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
USA Today Bestselling Author, Victoria Pinder grew up in Irish Catholic Boston then moved to Miami. Eventually, found that writing is her passion. She always wrote stories to entertain herself. Her parents are practical minded people demanding a job, but when she sat down to see what she enjoyed doing, writing became obvious.
* * *
Please contact her at :
http://www.victoriapinder.com
[email protected]
and download a free novella: https://www.instafreebie.com/free/q21sO
RIDER’S FALL
A VIPER’S BITE MC NOVELLA
LENA BOURNE
Rider
* * *
I never had a home, and the one I found with my MC is gone now too. But I will go on, I always have. I’ll just ride like I’ve done since I got my bike. Ride as far as the road takes me. This time, it took me to the jungles of Brazil, and then it stopped dead. But not because it ran out.
* * *
I stopped for a girl named Chloe, a do-good volunteer at an orphanage who is clearly running from something, but she won’t tell me what. She’s not letting me get very close to her either, which won’t stop me trying. Her curves and her pretty face were enough to halt my ride, but that’s not why I’m staying. That’s because being with her is being home—the kind of home I never had nor even wanted until she crossed my path. Now she’s all I want, and I’m a guy who takes what he wants.
Tropical Tryst: 25 All New and Exclusive Sexy Reads Page 17