That night when she’d gotten home, she’d been mortified that she’d allowed their encounter to unravel. A kiss she could blow off, but she’d allowed him to take liberties with her body. To touch her. Make her orgasm. And what made matters worse was that now her body craved more. Her traitorous body wanted to feel him buried deep inside her, wanted to feel that gut-clenching, overwhelming sensation she’d felt when he’d made her come.
Naomi blinked several times as she pulled into her parents’ driveway next to her brother’s minivan and her sister’s scooter. It was bad, really bad. She was developing feelings for Lucius Knight again when she should be on her guard. The man didn’t just want her. He wanted her company, too.
Turning off the engine, Naomi reached for the apple pie she’d made earlier that afternoon and exited the vehicle. She used her key and entered her parents’ house moments later.
“Thanks, sweetie.” Her mother, Ava Brooks, a petite woman with Naomi’s same naturally riotous curls, greeted her in the hall with a kiss and relieved her of the pie. “You know you didn’t have to make anything.”
Naomi shrugged as she removed her jacket and hung it up on the coatrack in the foyer. “I know, but I wanted to. Where’s everybody?”
“You know your dad and brother are in front of the tube watching football. Audrey’s in the kitchen.”
Naomi waved at her sister-in-law, Audrey, and rushed toward her father sitting in his recliner in the adjoining family room. “Dad.” She gave him a squeeze around the neck.
“How’s my baby girl?” Benjamin Brooks asked, glancing up at her with eyes as dark as midnight. With her caramel coloring and small frame, Naomi favored her mother, while her father had chocolate skin and a football player’s build and was six feet tall.
“Just fine, Daddy.” Naomi smiled as she came over to give her brother, Timothy, a hug.
“What’s up, sis?” Timothy said, barely taking his eyes off the screen, not wanting to miss a play.
“Where’s Gemma?” Naomi glanced around for her sister. As the youngest in the family at twenty-four, Gemma was the baby, but she was also the troublemaker and resident screwup. Naomi suspected by the time her parents got to Gemma they’d lightened up their parenting style dramatically. If Timothy or Naomi had done half the things Gemma did, they would have gotten in trouble or been kicked out of the house.
“Outside, I think,” her father said. “Wanna beer?” He motioned to the cooler he kept by his side on game day.
“Sure.” Her father opened the cooler and handed her a can. “Thanks.” She popped the top and left them to find her sister.
She slid the door next to the family room open and found Gemma on the patio whispering on the phone. “Hey, Gemma,” Naomi said from the doorway.
Startled, Gemma glanced up. “Oh, hey. How long you been here?”
“Not long. What’s going on?”
Gemma placed her hand over the receiver. “Wrapping up a call. Can we talk later?”
“See you inside.” Naomi wondered what she was up to but went inside anyway. She couldn’t clean up any more of Gemma’s problems. Her sister couldn’t keep a steady job, but it was time Gemma stood on her own two feet.
She returned to the kitchen, where her mother and Audrey were making dinner. “Need any help?” Naomi asked, sitting on a bar stool at the breakfast bar.
“No, we have it under control,” her mother replied. “So why don’t you tell us what’s new with you, such as the wealthy businessman who’s interested in acquiring Brooks and Johnson? I ran into Kelsey’s mom and she mentioned it.”
Naomi rolled her eyes. She wanted to strangle Kelsey’s mom. The last thing she wanted to do today was discuss Lucius Knight, but it looked like fate was not on her side. “Yeah, actually I went to high school with him back in the day.”
Her mother stopped stirring whatever she was cooking in the pot to glance at her. “Really? Were you friends?”
We definitely were not friends, Naomi thought. “No, I didn’t really know him.”
“And now he wants your company?”
Naomi nodded. “I’m not selling.”
“Kelsey’s mom told me that she might be,” her mother replied.
Naomi took a swig of beer. “With the new baby, she’s considering it, but I told her to let me know before she makes a final decision so I can buy her out.”
“Can you afford to do that?” her brother asked. Timothy leaned against the breakfast bar behind her and reached across into the popcorn bowl sitting on the bar. He tossed a few kernels in his mouth. “You would need to come up with a lot of capital, and that’s after you’d finally cleared all your debt with the IPO. It wouldn’t be advisable.”
Naomi knew this was right up her accountant brother’s alley. “I don’t know,” she answered honestly. It was the first time she was admitting she might have a hard time raising that kind of money.
“Perhaps you need to give the offer some thought as well,” her mother chimed in. “I mean, what you’ve done is amazing, but are you really ready to take B and J to the next level?”
“Thanks a lot, Mom.” Naomi took another swig of beer.
“I’m sure your mom didn’t mean anything by it.” Her father came to her mother’s rescue as he joined everyone in the kitchen. “We both believe in you, Naomi—always have. We wouldn’t have given you the start-up money if we didn’t.”
Her parents and Kelsey’s had loaned them the money for the initial investment in Brooks and Johnson until they could pay them back. Naomi would always be grateful for their help, but this was something she would have to figure out on her own.
“I wish you guys would help me out like you helped Naomi,” Gemma said, closing the sliding door to the pool.
“Of course, it’s always about you, Gemma,” Timothy said, glancing in her direction. “We were talking about Naomi.”
Gemma made a face at him, and they all laughed.
“Dinner is ready,” her mother stated. “Now, how about you guys help me and Audrey bring everything to the dining room?”
Ten minutes later, the entire Brooks family was seated at the dining room table. Benjamin said grace before they dug into the roast and sides Ava and Audrey had prepared.
“Looks good, Ma,” Timothy commented.
Ava smiled. “Thank you, baby.”
“So.” Timothy turned to Naomi, who was seated on one side while his wife sat opposite him with Gemma. “Who is the businessman that’s interested in B and J?”
Naomi had hoped the conversation was over. No such luck. “Lucius Knight.”
“Knight, did you say? Isn’t he that guy you used to fawn over in high school?” Timothy inquired.
Naomi blushed. “I did not fawn.”
Gemma chuckled from across the table. “Liar. Look at how she’s blushing.” She pointed in Naomi’s direction.
Naomi shifted uncomfortably in her seat as everyone at the table stared at her. “Fine. I may have had a crush on him, but for Christ’s sake, I’m a grown woman now.”
“Have you seen Lucius lately?” Gemma asked. “He was recently featured in Black Enterprise magazine as a rising star in the business world because of his shrewdness in takeovers. And he’s simply gorgeous.”
Naomi cast her eyes upward. Trust her sister to keep track of these things. “I hadn’t noticed.”
“So you’ve seen him?” Gemma picked up on what she hadn’t said.
“Yes, I met him at the conference in Anaheim.” Naomi figured that tidbit would be enough to appease her family.
“And was he as sexy as all the photos?” Gemma inquired.
“Gemma!” her father cautioned her sternly.
“C’mon, Dad. He’s a known womanizer. I’m just asking if he’s made a play for Naomi.”
“This t
opic of conversation is extremely inappropriate,” their mother scolded Gemma.
Gemma shrugged.
“If Gemma’s right,” Timothy said from her side, “then it might be wise to start reviewing your finances to be sure you can raise the capital if Kelsey wants to sell. A man like Lucius might not have any scruples about driving a wedge between longtime friends and business partners.”
Naomi turned to stare at her brother. He had a point. She’d never thought about just how far Lucius might go to get what he wanted.
“If you want, I can help you look over your books and your finances to see what we can come up with.”
“I would love that, Tim.”
“Consider it done.”
“Then let’s move on to a new topic,” her father said as he gave her a wink. She was thankful that he’d sensed her unease and she could get off the family hot seat, because Naomi suspected that she was far from out of the fire. In fact, she suspected that now that Lucius smelled victory, he would keep coming on strong.
* * *
Lucius would have loved to focus on business, Naomi or anything else other than deal with his mother, but he’d promised Grandma Ruby. His mother had already been back for a week and hadn’t taken kindly to the fact that he hadn’t spoken to her on the phone or come for a visit.
What did she expect, for Christ’s sake?
She’d been MIA for most of his life. And just because she wanted to play the mommy role now did not mean he was about to roll over.
When Lucius arrived early that evening to Jocelyn Turner’s penthouse, which she kept for her visits to Long Beach, she was happy to see him.
“Lucius, my darling.” Rather than a hug, his mother kissed him on both cheeks and ushered him inside. “I’m so glad you finally decided to visit me.”
Lucius heard the derisive note in her voice as he headed for the formal living room. He didn’t intend on staying long. Time with his mother always got under his skin, and he wanted to keep it to a minimum. “I have a busy schedule, Jocelyn. Perhaps if you would schedule these visits I could put you on my calendar.” He walked over to the wet bar on the far side of the room. He took the top off the decanter of scotch and poured himself a drink.
“I’m your mother, Lucius. I shouldn’t have to be put on your calendar.” She followed him in the room with her arms folded across her chest.
Lucius glanced backward at her. She was dressed in a silk lounge set that clearly was designer and quite costly. Her shoulder-length hair was in a loose chignon, and several expensive baubles adorned her neck, ears and fingers. Whoever she was seeing was quite wealthy and kept her in jewels. And had for years.
As for her face, his mother was a stunningly beautiful woman. He’d inherited her smooth café au lait–colored skin and dark brown eyes. A flaw could not be seen on her impeccable complexion, and her figure was just as impressive. Even at fifty-four, Jocelyn Turner was still a head turner.
Lucius sipped his scotch before responding to her last comment. “You haven’t earned the right to make unannounced visits. I owe you nothing.”
“I’m still your mother, Lucius.”
“Only when you seem to remember it and aren’t traipsing the globe and hanging as an adornment on some rich man’s arm.”
“Lucius!” His mother covered her mouth with her hands and rushed out of the room and onto the terrace several feet away.
As soon as he said aloud the words he’d been thinking, he regretted them. Why did Jocelyn bring out the worst in him? Ever since he was a little kid, he’d been angered by her refusal to tell him who his father was. And because of it, he’d hardened his heart toward her. So much so that whenever they were within a few feet of each other, his claws came out.
Putting down his drink on the table, Lucius joined her on the terrace. He placed his hands on her shoulders, and they sagged at his nearness. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”
She patted his hands and turned around to face him. Her eyelashes were wet with tears. “Why do you despise me so? Haven’t I given you everything?”
Lucius swallowed. He hated to see the hurt in her eyes, but he also wouldn’t act as if she hadn’t kept the truth from him his entire life. She was no mother of the year. “You haven’t given me the one thing I want most, Mother.”
He didn’t use the title often, but in this instance he was trying to make amends as best he could.
“You know I can’t do that.”
And just as quickly the sentiment passed and Lucius stepped away from her. “You mean you won’t.”
“It’s not the same.”
“Like hell it isn’t,” Lucius stated. “How long will you continue to keep me in the dark? My whole life? What if I have a family of my own someday? Don’t I have the right to know who I came from? My genetic makeup?” His investigation into his paternity had included researching men in his mother’s past. He’d even researched men with the last name Knight, but had come up empty.
“Family?” She spun around to face him. “Have you gone and gotten one of the social climbers you associate with pregnant?”
“Of course you would think that,” Lucius responded with an eye roll, “but I wouldn’t want to end up like you. I suppose that’s why you wish you’d never had me.”
He turned to look out over the city. The sun would be setting soon.
He felt Jocelyn’s hand on his arm, tugging him around to face her. “I’ve never regretted having you, Lucius. I love you. But I do worry about the women you choose to spend time with. Some of them would love to trap a man of your considerable wealth into a loveless marriage, and it would cost you a fortune to get rid of them. I would never want that for you.”
Lucius regarded her quizzically. “Is that why my father never left his wife for you? Because he chose his money over love?” His mother turned away and didn’t answer him. It seemed she’d been talking from personal experience. “I’m right, aren’t I?”
“You don’t understand, Lucius.”
His fingers curved around her arm. “I don’t because you’ve never helped me to understand. You’ve always kept the truth from me. What can it matter now? I’m a grown man. I don’t need or want anything from my father. I just want to know who I am.”
She stared at him with fresh tears in her ears. “I’m sorry, Lucius.”
Lucius frowned and clenched his teeth. Yet again, as soon as he got too close, she shut him out. “So am I, because I can’t continue to do this.”
“What do you mean?”
“I won’t be coming to visit you again.”
“You can’t mean that.”
“I do mean it. I’m tired of playing this merry-go-round with you, Jocelyn. Either you tell me the truth of my parentage or you can consider yourself childless.”
“You’re giving me an ultimatum?”
“Damn right. So what’s it going to be?” He folded his arms.
She shook her head as if she couldn’t believe it was happening. “Please don’t do this, Lucius.” She rushed off the terrace and back into the living room, where she began pacing the floor.
“Do what?”
She stopped pacing momentarily to say, “Make me choose.”
“I would think the choice is pretty clear. You can choose to have a relationship with me, your son. Or you can choose to continue to be his side piece. Always living in the shadows. Never his top priority. Never coming first.”
She turned away to face the mantel that held several pictures of Lucius at various stages of his life. Stages she’d missed. There was one of him in his Boy Scout uniform with his grandma Ruby, another when he played football during the seventh grade and another with him in his cap and gown standing next to her and Ruby. Jocelyn had managed to make his high school graduation.
“Lucius, I kn
ow you can’t understand this, but I vowed I would never reveal your father’s identity, and I’ve honored it all these years. It hasn’t been easy, I promise you that. Each and every time you’ve asked me, begged me—” her broke voice “—pleaded with me, I’ve wanted to tell you, but it was my choice to have you, not his and I have never regretted giving birth to you. My biggest regret is that I haven’t been the best mother and can’t give you the one thing you want most.”
Lucius was stunned, and tears bit at his eyes, but he refused to let her see she’d finally broken him. He didn’t know why, but he’d always held out the hope that one day she would tell him the truth. One day, she would put him first, but now he realized how foolish he’d been. She would never do that. He would always be last on her list of her priorities.
Lucius would never understand it. He walked toward the wet bar and chugged the scotch remaining in the glass. “Then consider this the last time we’ll meet.” He placed the glass back on the bar and strode toward the door.
She reached him at the door and tugged his arm. “Lucius, please forgive me. I’m so sorry.”
He shrugged her away. “I’m finished with you. And this time for good.”
Chapter 7
Lucius could use another stiff drink. It was usually how he felt after an encounter with his mother, but instead he chose a long walk on the beach to clear his mind. The sun in shades of red, orange and yellow was already setting in a half-moon shape on the horizon. Plus, it was an unseasonably mild evening, and he could use the fresh air. He discarded his jacket in the car and removed his shoes and socks, rolled up his trousers and headed to the ocean.
Why did he always wish for the impossible? Jocelyn was never going to tell him who his father was. She was always going to act like she was the put-upon, long-suffering mother and he was the ungrateful son. He shouldn’t play into the role, but Jocelyn had a way of bringing out the worst in him.
Taming Her Tycoon Page 6