"It's not a problem. I'll ensure your brothers are all brought to the Biltmore."
"And then you'll get Mitch to sign over his company willingly." Belle looked from her to Peter. "If possible, family should all get along.”
Tess felt like her simple strand of pearls choked her, but she refused to fidget. She lowered her gaze and wondered how she'd get Mitch to agree to anything. "I will try."
Belle’s brow winged upward. "I don't like the word try, Tess."
"I understand."
Her leg bounced nervously. She needed to get out of this café and away from their scrutiny. Belle intimidated her less than Peter, but she always wondered if her mother had told her boss all about how Tess had failed in the past. She lived in fear of being judged every day.
She stood and smoothed her skirt. "If Mitch doesn't sign willingly, I'll begin the hostile takeover."
Peter nodded. "Good. One second before you go, Tess."
She stilled and wondered if her shoulders were straight. After all, Belle had once been in the Marines.
Peter said, "I put Belle in charge of Mergers and Acquisitions, Tess, so please update her with your work."
She never blinked. Tess would not lose another account for another boss. She fixed her glasses with resolution.
"Absolutely, sir."
Belle smiled again. "Now, go get your potential investors to Miami. Oh, and let them know that Peter's mother, Isabelle, will meet with the boys to talk about a burial plot."
Isabelle would allow a meeting over it? She couldn’t even begin to understand that—but it wasn’t her place. "On my way."
Tess turned and walked out of the lobby. Though it was early still, she texted Mitch, who was awake and offered to send his car for her. The ride was uneventful as her stomach twisted into knots. She remembered the electricity from Mitch's kiss last night, and she craved another. The rational part of her brain thought about what happened this morning with her bosses at the café and how she couldn't fail. Not again.
The limo stopped at Mitch’s house and she stepped out. As she neared the steps, she fixed her skirt as best she could.
Before she could knock, the door swung open. Mitch stood there in his crisp blue business suit, the white button-down shirt only half done, giving her a view of the muscular body that made her pulse speed.
She swallowed down the heat that rose in her. "Mitch."
He seemed surprised to see her so early. He appraised her up and down as he held the door open for her. "Tess, are you okay?"
"Yes." Entering his house, she listened for his brothers, but silence hung in the air. She adjusted her glasses. "Are you ready?"
"Almost." He walked next to her into the living area. "Have you eaten breakfast?"
Her stomach growled. Perhaps food might make her feel better. She patted her belly. "Truthfully, no."
"This way."
He seemed stiff, but he took her hand. Her temperature climbed the moment he touched her. He led her through the living room and toward the kitchen. As they entered, it took her breath away. This room belonged in a showroom. All the metal pots and pans, which hung on a wall that was specifically designed for them, gleamed. The granite countertops and stainless steel appliances reminded her of Italian kitchens.
He pushed a tray toward her. "My chef made fresh beignets and chicory coffee. You can't escape New Orleans without having the coffee."
She sniffed. The warm, delicious smell comforted her. He handed her a coffee cup and directed her to sit at a table that was already set for six. Her mouth watered as she held the cup with both hands and took a seat.
"Thanks. I need this. Who else is coming?"
“My brothers will be here soon.” He sat next to her and the sense of belonging hit her hard. She sipped her drink, the unique flavor making the coffee slide smoothly down her throat. A sigh escaped her lips.
"So, where are your brothers?"
Mitch placed three beignets on a plate in front of her. The warm, sugary smell wafted to her, making her ache to taste the doughy treat.
"Axel stayed at Damien’s but woke up early to go see his ex."
She blinked. "Wife?"
"Girlfriend." He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "There is a rumor she had his baby."
Her lips parted. "What?"
His smile grew. "I've seen the boy in question. I don't think he’s my brother’s."
She didn’t think he’d have any idea. It wasn’t like he'd know his brother's habits in bed. "Why? How would you know that?"
"Because the boy has darker skin, but my brother and his girlfriend are both white."
"Got it." She bit into her beignet. The fried dough melted like butter, the powdered sugar sweet on her lips. She'd gain a hundred pounds if she lived here. She took another bite. "This is really good."
He placed his hand on hers. "Tess, I’m not sure going to Miami is a good idea."
"You need to bury your mother and fulfill her wishes, if possible. Isabelle is going to meet you at the burial grounds which sounds promising to me." She pushed her hair behind her ear and prayed he couldn't read her thoughts. She looked at the beignet, not him. "So what’s bothering you this morning?"
"I could ask you the same thing. You were jittery and pale at the door, but you seem to be getting better." He sat so close. His hand on hers made her ache, and her face felt hot. She glanced up at him and met his stare. "I hope you don’t regret last night."
"No. Last night was awesome." She removed her hand from under his. It was easier to think without touching him. She bit into her beignet again and let the sugar high hit her. She licked her lips. "Wow. This tastes delicious."
"Awesome?" He winked at her as he sipped his coffee.
She wiped her face with a napkin to ensure no powdered sugar was on her lips. She nodded. "Yeah. The longer you know me, the more you'll realize I don't have a filter. You'd win at any poker game."
"That’s strange. I thought you were supposed to be a shark who works in mergers and acquisitions?"
Her body stiffened. Right. She had a job to do. She straightened her spine to find her courage. Finally, she asked, "Speaking of that... Are you interested in merging United Trust with Morgan Enterprises?"
"No." He never blinked. Either he was the excellent poker player he claimed or he’d expected the question.
"Oh."
The one word dropped like a weight on her shoulders and her gaze went to the table. There was nothing she could do. She'd have to draft the execution of a hostile takeover. It was what her boss had demanded. She couldn't screw up her last chance in her career and go back to scooping ice cream.
Mitch leaned closer. "I am interested in kissing you again, though."
"I don't know..." If she kept kissing him, she'd lose her edge. However, heat coursed through her and made her ache. Her lips begged for another.
"So, you don't want to kiss me?"
His words raced through her like a drug she had to have. The taste of him washed through her. "I didn't say that."
His eyebrow arched. "So you are interested?"
She moved her chair so she faced him. "Mitch, I need you to kiss me and make me believe the rest of the world doesn't matter."
"Done," he wrapped his arms around her waist and tugged her closer.
His lips met hers. The feeling of belonging overcame everything else.
"Wow,” she whispered the moment he pulled away slightly. Her hands ran through his hair, and her heartbeat grew faster. Once wasn’t enough. She brought him to her again. He tasted delicious.
8
The doorbell rang.
Mitch ignored the sound as he lifted Tess onto the kitchen table in front of him. His calloused hands brushed against her soft skin. She made him forget about Miami. She tasted sweet and innocent, not like she was playing a game.
His mind already imagined Tess naked and writhing beneath him. The fantasy seemed likely with her in his arms. Her face was flushed from his kisses, while her lip
s begged for more.
Again, the doorbell rang and broke through his thoughts. The sound was like a cup of water thrown on his head. A vision of punching whomever was at the door rushed through him, although he'd never do it. Instead, he peeled his hands away from her. Tess sighed with regret, indicating they were on the same page.
His white shirt was untucked. What might have happened shot through him. He ignored his baser instincts, straightened, and pretended the hardness between his legs wasn't there. He helped her off the table.
"Sorry, Tess."
"Don't be." She tucked in her shirt as best as she could, although her mussed hair betrayed what they were doing.
He took a deep breath and tried to ignore his body’s need.
For a third time, the bell rang. He nodded at her. "I should get that."
"Wait." She smoothed her hair.
He didn't dare touch her. Instead, he kept his distance and lifted his eyebrow. "Yeah?"
She adjusted her pearl necklace. "I wouldn't have stopped you, Mitch.”
Every part of him wanted to claim her and not go anywhere. The physical pain he currently felt compelled him. He tilted his head and stared into her brown eyes. "Tess, I can always ignore the door."
"No." She straightened her skirt as the color faded from her cheeks. "We should go. Fate wasn't on our side this morning."
Fate was named Fiona Dupree and her overly dramatic way to find out if she might be buried next to his father. A simple flight and a knock on the door would have been easier than faking her death. The logic of this entire plan made zero sense.
He leaned against the wall to keep himself from touching Tess and trying to convince her to pick up where they left off. "I don't believe in fate."
“Your mother’s last wishes are important.”
He’d been knocked for a loop last night. Once again, his mother’s dramatics were over the top. The fact that his mother was alive, that he’d had a service at the church for a live person, rocked him. At least his mother had gone with Damien and hadn’t stayed here because he’d have said how her plan was idiotic. Mitch pushed off the wall and walked toward the door. Maybe his mother was here and he could introduce Tess. Again, the bell rang as he threw open the door.
Damien, Galen, and Axel all stood there. Their mother was nowhere in sight. Morgan checked the sidewalk for any signs of her, then called over his shoulder into the house. "Tess, my brothers are here."
All three filed past him, smirking. Axel asked, “Did you call her to come back after mom left you last night?”
“No.” He answered quietly, not wanting Tess to hear the conversation. “Where is Mom today?”
Axel answered fast. “She’s flying commercial and will meet us at the hotel as it makes no sense for the band to come now.”
Tess greeted them as they sauntered into the kitchen, her hair in place.
They took their seats in the kitchen and she poured everyone coffee. "The plane is fueled and waiting, whenever you are ready."
Mitch and Tess met each other's stare. He prayed none of them mentioned their mom. “Let’s enjoy our breakfast."
She sipped the rest of her coffee. "This was good. We don’t have this in Miami, but Cuban coffee has a unique taste to it that you’ll have to try."
Tess got up and put her cup and plate in the kitchen sink, rinsing them out. “Leave it,” he said. “I have someone coming in to clean.”
He watched her every move. Part of him wanted to be a caveman and drag her back to him. The moment she returned, he placed his hand on the small of her back until she sat next to him.
The fact that she worked for Peter Morgan of all people didn’t want to add up in his mind. "We'll see your boss on the plane?"
"No. It's just me and you four.”
He’d been prepared to have a business conversation with Peter. “What could be so important that he’s not coming?
"Mr. and Mrs. Morgan are needed at a meeting in California, but they will fly back to Miami as soon as they can."
Once breakfast was over, Tess smoothed her ponytail and stood. She walked ahead of them, as if she were a tour guide. Near the door, she picked up her pocketbook.
Good. The less people who saw their mother show up at her own burial discussion, the better and if he had to, he’d buy a plot near his father and hope his mother allowed herself to be near him without being in his actual mausoleum. However, he needed Tess to know he kept up with the news around the world when it came to banking. As the four of them filed out the door, Mitch said, "California. Let me guess. I read the filings. McMillion Bank was underperforming and in danger of losing its CEO after the forced merger with Morgan Enterprises."
He’d also read a report last night that Tess used to work on Wall Street, but he kept that to himself. She bee-lined toward the limo. "Right. Let’s get going. Miami will be happy to have all the Morgans back."
"Tess, wait," Mitch said and quickly locked his front door.
She stopped and turned as his brothers handed the driver their bags and climbed into the limo. "Yes?"
He waited until his brothers were inside and out of earshot. Tess stood on the sidewalk like a sexy librarian. His breath caught in his throat. "I hope my not choosing to merge with Morgan Enterprises doesn't stop us from pursuing a...personal relationship."
A flush stained her cheeks. She couldn’t meet his gaze, instead staring at the buttons on his suit jacket. "Business is business. Personal is personal. If you can keep the two separate, Mitch, so can I."
He placed his hand on the small of her back to walk beside her. "Sounds great."
Whatever embers her eyes held had him in a trance—until his phone dinged. He saw his mother’s number on the screen and his blood grew cold. Somehow, he knew Fiona’s secret would ruin his life. Tess’s phone also beeped and she looked at it.
"The pilot texted. The plane is ready."
Had his mother changed her mind and chosen to ride with the rest of them? He stilled near the limo as his mother had always been unpredictable. "Yeah?"
Tess reached for her door. He beat her to it and opened it for her. She scooted in, then addressed everyone. "Your mother's remains have boarded. We're all that's needed to leave Louisiana."
"Sounds good," Mitch murmured. How far had Fiona gone? He hoped nothing was in the casket. How could he simply say, “Our mother is actually flying commercial and that’s an empty casket, unless she shows up on the tarmac,” without sounding completely ludicrous?
His brothers all had fierce expressions on their faces as they looked at each other. At least they held their tongues on the truth about their mom. Mitch asked Damien, who was the closest, "What's going on?"
Damien must have understood Mitch’s silent plea to not talk about their mother’s plans. "Axel is bringing his keyboard to the burial."
Tess smiled, completely unaware of the meaning. "That's sweet."
Galen tried to diffuse the situation. "While we're in Miami, there is a construction company in trouble. I’m hoping to take it over."
"Construction company?" Tess asked, oblivious to any tension. “I wasn’t aware that you had any interests in new building.”
Galen smiled. "Damien and I rip companies apart...and also run a real estate business."
"G. D. Buildings," Tess said as she pieced together the puzzle. “Now I know why your bank,” she eyed Mitch, “invested heavily in their work.”
Galen nodded. "Good insight, Tess."
Tess smiled her thanks then looked to Axel. “Will the other members of Indigo 5 be joining you?”
Axel said, "My band wanted to play a memorial for Mom’s burial. I set that up before we knew..."
The potential for the proverbial bomb to explode thickened the air. Mitch straightened. Damien curled his lip and spoke first. "Let’s not talk about that."
"What's going on?" Tess asked, studying them all. “What didn’t you know?”
Mitch took her hand in his, staring at Damien, warning him to k
eep his mouth shut. "Axel dedicates every performance to Catherine."
"Who’s Catherine?" Tess asked, completely unaware of the dynamite she could ignite. “And what did you find out?”
Mitch swallowed as Galen said, "Our sister."
Tess’s eyes widened. "You have a sister?"
"She died," Mitch said as the limo came to a complete stop.
Tess’s eyes misted as she gazed at him. "I'm so sorry."
Mitch scooted closer to her, like she was the light he needed in the darkness. Soon, she’d know the truth about their mother and hopefully understand, but right now, he felt like a fraud. "Axel hasn't played any instrument without thinking about her every day since... He feels guilty over something that...” He looked at his brother and prayed he believed him this time, “wasn't his fault."
"Don't downplay my part in what happened." Axel sat back and rolled his eyes. Galen opened the door and hopped out, Axel following. “Mother wouldn’t do these extreme stunts if I hadn’t—”
“Stop,” Mitch said and patted his brother’s back on his way out. The rest of them filed out, then Mitch repeated what his mother always said. "You took her to the park. You playing in a group ten feet from the playground did not get her kidnapped."
Axel nodded, but didn't say anything. He walked toward the small private plane containing the blue-and-gold Morgan crest. Mitch twirled his father's ring, which he’d put on earlier with the same symbol.
Tess stayed close to him. She made the air smell like raspberries. "How old were you all?"
"Catherine was the youngest at six. I was fourteen. Axel was twelve, Damien was ten, and Galen eight." Mitch took her bag from her and carried it.
Tess kept pace and walked next to him. "I'm so sorry."
They continued to the plane in silence. Mitch handed the bag to the steward to place underneath, then helped her up the steps. At the top, Tess said, “Your mother would be proud of you. You’re a good older brother.”
He was a horrible son, though. Mitch placed his hand on her lower back to guide her to two seats. Axel had chosen the window seat so he could sit by himself. As soon as they chose their seats, Galen and Damien turned theirs so they could sit in a group.
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