Tiger Lily: Part Three

by Duncan, Amélie S.

  Table of Contents

  Dedication

  CHAPTER 1

  CHAPTER 2

  CHAPTER 3

  CHAPTER 4

  CHAPTER 5

  CHAPTER 6

  CHAPTER 7

  CHAPTER 8

  CHAPTER 9

  CHAPTER 10

  CHAPTER 11

  CHAPTER 12

  CHAPTER 13

  CHAPTER 14

  CHAPTER 15

  CHAPTER 16

  CHAPTER 17

  CHAPTER 18

  CHAPTER 19

  CHAPTER 20

  CHAPTER 21

  CHAPTER 22

  CHAPTER 23

  Epilogue

  Acknowledgements

  About the Author

  Published by Amélie S. Duncan

  Visit Amélie S. Duncan’s official website at

  http://www.ameliesduncan.com

  for the latest news, book details, and other information

  Copyright

  Copyright © Amélie S. Duncan, 2015

  Cover Design by Sarah Hansen, Okay Creations.

  Copyright © 2015 Sarah Hansen.

  Ebook Formatting Design by Pink Ink Designs

  All rights reserved. Except as permitted under the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, no part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means or stored in a database or retrieval system without the prior permission of the author or publisher. This book is a work of fiction. Any references to real people or real places are used fictitiously. Other names, characters, places, and events are products of the author’s imagination, and any resemblance to actual places or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental. All books, songs, song titles, mentioned in the novel Tiger Lily are the property of the respective songwriters and copyright holders.

  ALSO BY AMÉLIE S. DUNCAN

  Little Wolf

  Dedication:

  To My Family

  Thank you for the late night

  singing and dancing

  JONAS CRANE. I SAT on his lap, crushing yet another one of his designer suits. Normally, I would be worried about it, but not today. He had placed me here the second he sat down in the car. I was exactly where he wanted me to be.

  He was dressed for work, which he missed yesterday and would probably miss this afternoon as well. Something unheard of for him, a renowned workaholic. I knew he thrived on structure and order. Nonetheless, I had somehow become the chink in his armor. He had chosen me.

  I positioned myself to stare up at his face, and I couldn’t help but gape. He was a gorgeous man, from his dark, wavy hair down to his polished leather shoes. High, sculpted cheekbones, a square jawline, and thick lashes that framed a set of sea blue eyes. If that wasn’t enough, he had full sensual lips that I knew to be as soft as silk. And a muscular frame built for sin, which he wielded at every turn. Potent, masculine perfection.

  He had beauty as well as brains, a savvy business mogul and a legend in his field.

  Jonas was sought the world over to impart his wisdom or provide his golden touch to new ventures. That was how we had originally met. My company, Arch, wanted him. He wanted me. Still wanted me, after I had disappeared from his life, believing I could protect all I cared for, and myself, by being alone. But in the end, I fell apart, and Jonas came for me.

  Just one of the many reasons that I love him.

  A grin spread across my face, and Jonas’s took on a suspicious glint. I didn’t blame him. Mischief was on my mind. I leaned up and gave him a noisy kiss on the cheek, interrupting his phone call. He responded with a reproving shake of his head and mouthed, “Behave.” A cute little pucker appeared on his brow.

  I leaned up again and kissed his moving lips in apology.

  “That won’t save you,” he whispered. A dark promise crossed his face and I shivered, such was his effect on me. Not because I thought he would hurt me physically. He had gained my trust there. And with that awareness, I decided to kiss him loudly once more, adding a giggle.

  “I’ll phone back,” he said, ending his call.

  He captured my chin and gazed at me intently. “What are you doing to me?” he asked.

  My pulse sped up as I stared back at him.

  His eyes glimmered and he used his free hand to caress the side of my face. He liked asserting his will, but also gave affection freely, which was one of the many reasons I loved him. He winked and tucked me back against him.

  His warmth and the smooth ride through Manhattan traffic had me stifling a yawn. I closed my eyes and nuzzled his neck, inhaling his fresh scent. I loved the way he smelled. I loved everything about this man.

  “You didn’t get your nap. You’ll take one after we eat lunch and talk.” Jonas brushed his lips against my forehead.

  The words “I’m not hungry…” were out of my mouth before my brain connected to them. Jonas gave me an empathetic, though critical, look. His body tensed underneath me. “I’ll speak with Dr. Steinman. See what we can do.”

  My trip to the doctor’s office yesterday had convinced me that I did have an issue with eating, as I was now underweight. A side effect of the extensive exercise routine I had cultivated in an attempt to exhaust my mind. Dr. Steinman ran some tests and I was waiting for the results. Or, we were. Jonas had included himself in the knowing.

  He was taking me over and I wasn’t certain how I felt about it. Though I was certain, no matter what happened, I wouldn’t leave him again.

  “I’m not sure how hungry I am.” I corrected myself. He brushed his lips to my forehead again and slowly rubbed my back. “We’ll eat lunch when we get there.”

  My brows rose as I looked past him out the window. We had long passed through Midtown and were halfway through Downtown Manhattan now.

  “Where are we going?” I asked.

  “We’re staying temporarily in a furnished loft apartment in Tribeca,” he replied. “I’d prefer to move closer to Central Park and the Upper West Side when we can. Dani is going to help search for a place.”

  I licked my lips. “I know you offered for me to stay with you, but you really don’t have to do that. The locks have been changed at my apartment and I’ll be finding a new place in a month.”

  “If he got in once, he could get in again. I’m furious no one told me,” Jonas said, his tone sharp. He was talking about my ex, Declan, who had recently broken into my home and stolen photos and my prized possession—the Peter Pan book given to me by my father who, like my mother, was gone to me forever in a tragic car crash.

  I curled my chin under in shame. If it had been my choice, Jonas would never have known what happened or seen me at my weakest.

  He reached out and stroked underneath my chin, tickling the soft skin there, though I didn’t feel like laughing. “You’ll stay under my watch until we fix that piece of shit ex of yours,” he said in a softer tone.

  I swallowed hard. Generally, I would have told him that Declan getting inside again wasn’t possible, but this time I just couldn’t. He had assaulted and stolen from me. I had given him my word I wouldn’t bother him if he didn’t bother me, but he still harassed me. All he did was continue to find ways to hurt me. Most recently, he sent me nude photos I hadn’t even known he had taken, the implicit threat being that he could easily post them on the Internet. He had the power to destroy my reputation and to hurt anyone else associated with me.

  Even though I didn’t want to further my embarrassment, I decided to remind Jonas of that much and added, “You can’t. I told you what’s at stake.”

  “You think I give a fuck about his threats to you?” he said, raising his voice. “I’ll destroy him.”

  I flushed and closed my eyes. “I
care. I’ll be ruined. And your reputation, along with mine.”

  “Look at me,” he said.

  I raised my head slowly.

  His eyes were steady and determined. “That isn’t going to happen. I have people combing through his whole life right now. Trust me, he’ll be shitting his pants when I’m done with him.”

  My pulse sped up. I was happy and terrified at the same time. Jonas’s nature was to fight. He was a warrior in business. He crushed his opposition—and worse, based on what he had shared with me. And from where I sat, it was evident he had declared war on Declan. From the set of his jaw, there was little I would be able to say to make him change his mind now.

  Truthfully, I no longer believed Declan would do the right thing. I knew I needed help dealing with this, but I worried for Jonas. “I don’t want you, or anyone else, to get in trouble,” I pleaded.

  He grinned and kissed me lightly on the lips. “We won’t,” he said confidently.

  I touched my lips and stared off, wishing his words were enough.

  “What are you most scared of?” Jonas asked in a gentle tone.

  I cast my eyes down. “I don’t want anyone to see my body,” I said, just above a whisper. The truth, without sensor or process.

  “I don’t either,” he admitted.

  I flicked my eyes up to him and my stomach lurched as my old, negative tapes chimed in. He’s embarrassed of me.

  “Whatever you’re thinking, stop,” Jonas said, breaking my thoughts as he assessed me. “Your body is beautiful, but I don’t want anyone else to admire it. Only me.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “You need confirmation of this again? You’ll make me tell you.”

  A crease appeared on my cheek. Ever the general, Jonas. Commanding me to get him to remind me that I was beautiful.

  My heart skipped a beat over just the thought, though I didn’t see the beauty he referred to. Sure, my spa treatment had invigorated my skin. And Dee did wonders with my hair. I was pampered smooth all over. Some surface cosmetics to mask the darkness. But that wasn’t enough. And the more I thought along those lines, the more worries arose. “But you haven’t seen…”

  “What haven’t I seen?” Jonas asked. He stroked the side of my face, letting me know he wanted me to continue. But I didn’t want to. “You need to tell me,” he implored.

  “He showed people at his job. He sent photos to my cell, with messages…” I stammered.

  Jonas’s facial expression turned lethal. “Show me.”

  I absently reached into my pocket and fumbled with my cellphone. Then I realized I didn’t want him to see them either, and started to put my phone back. His hand closed on my wrist.

  “No secrets. This, I will break you of. We won’t work if you continue to hide things from me. Now, give me your phone,” he said, releasing my wrist and holding out his hand.

  My own hand shook as I placed the phone in his open palm. “That goes for both of us,” I mumbled.

  “I know this is hard for you, but you will learn to trust me,” he said, kissing me on the cheek. A tear escaped the corner of my eye as I watched Jonas look through my cellphone history and the images Declan had sent of me. One, apparently new, had me naked in the shower. I could pinpoint the timeframe of most of the photos he had. They were taken right after I sank into a depression following my parents’ death. I had gained weight, which he made fun of, and shortly after, he broke off our engagement. I covered my mouth to try to still the wave of nausea that went through me. The bile rose in my throat and I motioned to Jonas frantically.

  “David. Pull over,” Jonas called out. The car cut across traffic and double-parked. Jonas quickly opened the door and I climbed out just in time to expel what I hadn’t digested from breakfast. Jonas took his handkerchief out and wiped my chin.

  I took in a few quick breaths as I waited for the queasiness to pass. Once I was certain, I glanced at Jonas.

  He handed me a bottle of water and I rinsed my mouth out, trying my best to pour the remainder over the piece of curb I had spoiled.

  “I’m sorry,” I said hoarsely.

  “Shhh,” Jonas said, as he helped me back inside the car. Another vehicle pulled up behind us and started blaring its horn, but David sat there for a few extra minutes before pulling out. That distraction broke the well of my thoughts. That, and Jonas placing me back on his lap, cuddling me close. After a few minutes passed without us speaking, I tilted my head up to look at him. His mouth was thin, but his eyes were kind as they connected with mine.

  “I need my phone to call Mary. I have to tell her what’s going on, but I don’t want to over the phone…I don’t want her to see me like this.”

  “I’ll get you a phone to use and you can invite her down to visit when you’re ready,” he said.

  I opened my mouth, poised in protest of him keeping my phone, but he held up his hand to stop me.

  “You don’t have to do everything at once. Your doctor said no stress. Let me handle it. I’ll take care of things for you,” he said.

  “Like I’m a child,” I stammered.

  “No, like you’re a woman I care for,” he replied in a gentle tone. He kissed my parted lips and a flutter went through my stomach. Letting him take care of me was something I had tried my best to resist before, out of fear I’d come to rely on him too much and wouldn’t know what to do with myself when it all inevitably ended. I worried he would only be caring for me out of pity, but we both agreed to put aside our fears and try to work on our relationship.

  I had him and I was not leaving.

  I gave him a small nod in agreement. The smile he returned didn’t reach his eyes, but he kissed me lightly on the lips and tucked me back into the warmth of his arms before making another phone call.

  THE CAR JOSTLED DOWN a cobblestone street in the West Village, finally stopping before a five-story gray brick and granite warehouse. A stocky man with a dark brown crew cut and navy business suit stood poised outside the building with a notepad. Jonas opened the door and helped me to stand on the sidewalk. He walked over and greeted the man.

  “Samuel,” Jonas said.

  “Mr. Crane,” Samuel replied. He handed a key ring and a folder to him. “Everything is in order.” I turned and thanked David, accepting my handbag. When I reached for my backpack, he smiled and stopped me, walking over and handing it to Jonas.

  “Thanks, David. I’ll see you later,” Jonas said, ignoring my loud sigh and holding out his outstretched hand for me to take, which I did. “Samuel, this is Ms. Salomé.”

  “Lily,” I said, awkwardly holding out my hand for him to shake. He smiled at me as he grasped my palm.

  “Nice to meet you. We’ll have some of your clothing from your old apartment brought over later today. The rest will come tomorrow. I’ll need you to make a list of things you would prefer to remain in storage…”

  My mouth went dry. “You’re done? I’ll need to go over and organize. I need to clean and prepare it for my final walk through. I still have about six weeks and I have to find a new place—”

  “Let’s not overwhelm her,” Jonas said with irritation in his voice. “We’ll work it out later. She needs to eat lunch. Is Lin here?” He pressed his hand in the small of my back and guided me toward the building.

  “Of course. Apologies, Mr. Crane,” Samuel said and adjusted his tie. “Yes, Lin is here and she confirmed lunch is ready.”

  We walked as a group toward the backside of the building, stopping in front of a freight elevator. Samuel pulled the gate and then climbed inside. We rode to the top level. Once the doors opened, I was surprised to find we were already inside the apartment. It was a renovated penthouse loft with exposed brick walls, six floor-to-ceiling windows, and polished mahogany wood plank flooring.

  The décor was contemporary, with mahogany and steel custom bookshelves, full of an array of leather and hardcover books. There was a closed, carved cabinet with a flat-screen TV and stereo that took up a third of the height of the fourteen-foot
ceilings. A mix of brown leather and antique seating surrounded the centrally located fireplace.

  “Your office is set up,” Samuel said.

  “Show me,” Jonas said before turning to me. “I’ll be right back.”

  I watched him walk away and couldn’t help but admire the way his body fit his suit. Or the lean muscle perfection I knew was underneath. This temporarily distracted me, though I wanted to know more about his plans. I turned away and walked over to the black Steinway piano and lifted the case, pressing lightly over the keys and smiling. In tune. Of course.

  I sat down and played “Alouette.” When that didn’t sound too bad, I played Brahms’s “Lullaby.”

  “I was happy this place had one,” Jonas said, walking up behind me. I stopped playing and smiled. “We used to have an upright piano in our house on Franklin Street. My dad would play and my mom would sing. I learned a few songs but, as you can see, I’m rusty.”

  “Paul plays, as you know. I was hoping to get him to play for us. Of course, that is if I can stop him from horsing around.” His smile was wistful.

  “Yeah, there’s that,” I said and laughed, but Jonas didn’t join me. I reached out and took his hand. “I’m really sorry for what he overheard today.”

  Jonas’s eyes glazed over. “Melissa was right, he’s heard worse.”

  I pressed my lips together at the mention of her name. I wondered how he had left things with her.

  Jonas cleared his throat. “Dani and I made some decisions in raising him that I now regret. I was under a strict regimen with my father. We kind of went overboard in trying to give him the opposite by exposing him to adult behaviors too early. Letting him have a lot of freedom. And, well, now I’ve got a lovable smartass.”

  I covered my mouth, stifling my laugh. “Well, he’s a teen. We all push boundaries at that age. He’s also kind and thinks very highly of his dad, I might add.”

  His brows rose and a ghost of a smile appeared on his lips. “Oh does he?”

  “Yep. He told me as much,” I said, and grinned when I saw the light in his face.

  “Still. Melissa…I just don’t understand her.” He let go of my hand and ran his own through his hair.