Secret Heir

by Victoria Pinder

  Mitch’s breath hitched.

  Before he could explain, another voice came from behind them. “It’s good to meet every one of you.”

  He turned and his gaze fell on an older woman about his mother's age. His throat constricted. This was it. In a few seconds, his mother—in a bright yellow dress—would walk into the crowd. After a year of suffering, this could be the final disaster.

  For now, he walked over to the woman and lifted his chin. He met the gaze of his brothers who must all wonder too. This was the woman their father married, leaving their mother heartbroken. "You're Isabelle Morgan?"

  "Yes. I had no idea Mitch would hurt your mother this way.” She looked at the grave with her nose curled, but then stood next to the empty casket and softened. She stared at Catherine who held Axel still and she wiped a tear from her eye. "I thought all my life that Mitched loved your mother. But kidnapping babies from their mothers seemed to be what Mitch did to all the women in this family. I spent years without my own children. I thought your mother would be the exception."

  Coldness enveloped him. All her life, Fiona had wanted to be in Isabelle's shoes. She had wanted the ring, but even when the world thought Isabelle dead, Mitch Morgan Senior hadn’t offered his mother anything. Now, all the women in his family were back from the dead. He just had to wait for Fiona’s grand entrance.

  His collar tightened as he asked, "Why would my mother be the exception?"

  Isabelle said, "Because he always said he loved her."

  Mitch looked down at the grass, waiting.

  His mother walked out of the limo with her shoulders sagged and her step was softer, weaker, than before the heart attack, but she still wore her bright yellow dress, her silvery blonde hair styled with a flower above her ear. "Mitch stole my baby, too. I can’t believe this. Catherine?”

  “Maman!” Catherine cried.

  Fiona held her arms open as Catherine ran into them.

  Isabelle walked toward his mother. The two women stood across from one another—each a pawn in Mitch Morgan’s elaborate game. “You are alive. Why did you do this?”

  “It was the only way I thought you’d see me.” Fiona kept Catherine at her side. “I’m not in the best health anymore, and I spent my entire life wanting to be with Mitch.”

  As Fiona held Catherine, Mitch saw his mother cry. He hadn’t seen that in years. He watched in awe.

  “You can have him, and that spot next to him in that horrible mausoleum. I certainly don’t want it.” Isabelle said, but then asked, "Can I ask a question?"

  "Sure." His mother wiped the tears from her cheeks.

  "Before your Catherine went missing, did you intend to leave Mitch?"

  Catherine stepped back and toward Axel, who wrapped his arms around her. His mother lowered her head. “Yes. Mitch refused to marry me, even though he was supposedly free. He didn’t tell me you were alive and that he had you under house arrest.”

  Isabelle relaxed her shoulders. “I had told him I wanted a divorce, so he kidnapped me and told my children I had died.”

  Galen finished his cigarette and smashed it under his foot and into the dirt. "My mother went through an awful lot to talk to you, Mrs. Morgan.”

  Isabelle adjusted her shawl. "I’m listening."

  Fiona’s hands trembled as she faced her old adversary. Mitch waited and watched his mother, ready to step in if she needed assistance. “I came to say I’m sorry.” Mitch rocked back on his heels. Pride filled him.

  “He always said he was forced to marry you. When I was young, I believed every word he said, including that he loved me."

  Isabelle's face twitched, but she reached out to grasp his mother’s arm. "I wanted you to have him. My father and his made an agreement, but I never had the chance to love him. He also told me he loved you, and that I would never have his heart."

  Damien met Mitch’s gaze and Mitch said, "Isabelle, my mother has a sense of...theatrics. She shouldn’t have come to you like this.”

  “Nonsense,” Isabelle answered, waving her hand through the air as his mother held onto her like she was a crutch. “I hope you come to my house so we can talk more.”

  “I’d like that,” Fiona answered.

  Mitch glanced around, not seeing Tess either on the grounds outside or in the foyer of the building at the front of the burial ground. When did she leave? His hands itched to hold her close, but she was gone.

  Axel asked, "Catherine, will you go out to dinner with us?”

  "Sounds great. All my life, I wanted to be with my brothers again.” She took Damien's hand. “And now I have everyone I ever loved, all here with me.”

  Isabelle hugged Fiona. "You are all Morgans and part of the House of Morgan. I invite you to join my family."

  Mitch could have sworn Tess was close, but he couldn’t see her anywhere. Her mother Tanya stayed with them. He crossed his hands in front of him as Fiona said goodbye to Isabelle. Shaking his head, he led the group to the limo.

  Axel held their sister's hand as he patted Mitch on the back. "Where’s Tess?"

  "I don't know. She was just here."

  His family piled into the limo, including his sister, Fiona, and Tanya. All that was missing was Tess. He wanted her with them. Without her, something was missing.

  14

  Once Mitch and his family all drove off in the limo, Tess left her hiding spot by the main house near the exit of the cemetery. This was all too much. Tess swayed on her feet as her heels pressed into the brick path that would bring her to the car she’d ordered. She whispered to herself, "What to do now?” Her feelings for Mitch, watching the love he had for his family, made her assignment to destroy him seem impossible.

  No birds chirped. The sun blazed down on her and the humidity felt like it boiled her skin. She had stepped away to give them privacy and question her next step and he’d left—but not without searching the area for her. He even had her mother seek her out, before offering her dinner too. Now Tess walked to the front of the cemetery and hopped in the cab.

  A few minutes later, she was home. Nothing stirred, besides the busy highway in the distance. Her shoulders stayed slumped as she continued up the stairs, but stopped midstride near her door.

  The hair on her arms stood straight as she stared at the brown-haired, brown-eyed man. He shouldn’t be here. She swallowed and tried to walk around him. "Kevin, what are you doing here?"

  He placed his hand on her wrist, his brows furrowed. "Mitch Morgan... Is it serious?"

  If only. She tugged her wrist free and unlocked her door. "Maybe. Maybe not. I don't know right now."

  "I came here hoping you'd forgive me."

  Forgive? Hot air burned through her, and she almost slammed the door in his face. It was one thing for Isabelle to forgive Fiona, and that forgiveness had made her cry. She shouldn’t hold onto her own hate either. She stood in her doorway, her arms crossed. "I don't want to stand out in this heat. If I let you in, don't get the wrong idea. It's just to talk."

  "Fair enough.” He slipped into her apartment.

  She glanced at her and Jess’s coffee mugs sitting on the coffee table and scolded herself for not cleaning earlier. But what Kevin thought shouldn't matter. She picked up the empty mugs and headed toward the kitchen.

  "Where were you?" he asked.

  The second he’d canceled the wedding, he lost the right to ask questions. Instead, she thought about how to ask her own as she washed the first cup. "You said I’d ruin your future."

  He followed her into the kitchen and leaned against the wall. His face was slightly red. "I was a fool and a jerk."

  “Agreed.” She rinsed the ceramic mug. The action helped clear her head. "I'm confused as to why you are here at all. You made it plain that you could never marry me because I'd ruin your good name. I can’t ever forget that."

  He lowered his head. "I was a jerk and you should hate me."

  "You said that already. My relationship with Mitch shouldn’t matter to you."

&n
bsp; She washed Jess’s cup, scrubbing at the pink lipstick.

  He came closer and brushed her hair out of her face. Again, the hair on her body stood on end. "Tess?"

  "Yes?" She placed the mug on her drying rack, then stared at him and fixed her glasses.

  He kept his voice low. "I'm hoping things are not serious with your new boyfriend and that, somehow, you'll find a way to take me back."

  She shook her head. "Kevin—”

  He gently brushed his hand on her arm. "I miss waking up with you there. I miss you making me coffee in the morning.”

  Mitch had made her a cup yesterday, which tasted even better than what her machine made. She took a step away. "It's one button, one coffee pod, and about thirty seconds of time."

  Kevin reached around her, pressed closer, and whispered in her ear, "It was thirty seconds that you gave me. I took you for granted."

  Her heart beat erratically. Yes, she’d wanted him back at first—but not now. If she hadn't met Mitch, it might be different. She sighed and placed her hands on his chest to push him away. "Kevin, I don't know how I feel anymore. It's been almost a year."

  "Eleven months and twenty-three days since I made the biggest mistake of my life."

  "Wow." Her heart skipped. Seriously? She thought only guys in movies ever did that. Her body trembled. Maybe Kevin still loved her.

  He inched closer. "Tess, I'm serious about that second chance."

  A loud knock echoed through the apartment. Jess had gone to lunch with everybody, so she had no idea who was here. She pushed out of Kevin’s arms. "Someone's at the door."

  Once she straightened her black dress, she rushed and opened it while Kevin called behind her, "Tess..."

  She ignored him and opened the door. The world tilted as she stared at the man with massive muscles, light blond curls, and blue eyes that made her think of heaven. "Mitch? What are you doing here?"

  His gaze narrowed as he looked behind her. She pressed her lips together as Mitch asked, "What's going on, Tess?"

  Her heart practically fell into her stomach. She clutched the door handle. "Why are you here?"

  His eyes widened. "We have dinner plans."

  Good. Yes. She waved him in and gave him a small smile as a flush warmed her body. She ignored Kevin as she closed the door. "I thought you needed time with your family."

  Mitch crossed his arms and glared at Kevin. "I'll see them tomorrow. Now, why is your ex here? Is he bothering you?"

  "He wanted to talk to me and apologize." She glanced at Kevin, then deliberately took Mitch’s arm. "Apology accepted, Kevin, and thank you."

  He sucked in a breath. "Tess, if you want me to stay..."

  She shook her head and held Mitch’s arm tightly. "No. Mitch and I have plans. Kevin, you and I are the past. There is no more than that."

  Mitch kept quiet. Kevin passed them. Tess unhooked her arm and opened the door. She felt Mitch’s stare, but held the door and stood straight until Kevin left.

  “Goodbye, Kevin.”

  The moment she closed the door, she turned and faced Mitch. If he was here, he might actually care about her, at least a little, so he'd wonder what happened to her. She nibbled her lower lip, wishing she’d told him goodbye properly.

  Mitch widened his stance. "Why didn't you stay today?"

  There it was. The room seemed smaller. Her reason now sounded stupid before she even said it out loud. "I thought you needed to be alone with your family and I was more than a little confused. You knew your mother was alive?"

  “Yeah.” He crossed his arms. “I was so sure her plan was going to be a disaster, but Isabelle was nicer to her than I expected.” Mitch came closer. Her body was on high alert, and adrenaline coursed through her while her lips tingled for his kiss. "I wanted you there, knowing that this entire mess was going to blow up—because you give me strength to deal with all the drama."

  Her lips parted. If she did her job, she’d lose her chance with Mitch. She couldn’t hold hands with him and stand with his family if she was going to destroy him. She pressed her hand to his heart. "I never should have left. I’m sorry.”

  He nodded and wrapped his arms around her. "Don't do it again. I missed you."

  “Me, too.” In his embrace, the rest of the world no longer mattered. She was in a bubble where only the two of them existed. When his lips met hers, she felt like she had everything.

  He pulled away and looked around. "You live here?" He winked at her. "This reminds me of college."

  Clearly, he wasn’t feeling amorous. Too bad. She stared into his eyes. "Where did you go?"

  "Harvard."

  Of course he did. She shrugged. "The condos here are either small one bedrooms or you share a bigger unit with roommates. I bought a one bedroom so I can live alone. No roomies."

  He reached for her hand. "Tess?"

  A flutter in her heart spiked through her. "Yes?"

  His eyebrows drew together. Her pulse quickened and she felt heat stirring in her heart. "I didn't like seeing your ex here."

  "Understood." She placed her hands on his chest and instantly he let out a sigh, his body relaxed. "I didn't invite him. He was here when I came home."

  He gently pulled her closer. "But you invited him in.”

  Her face flushed and she lowered her lashes. "It's ninety degrees outside. Inside has air conditioning."

  "I didn't like it," Mitch said again.

  She lowered her head. He had to believe her. Kevin was becoming a problem, while Mitch smelled like home. "You don’t have to worry. I don’t want him. I want you."

  "Good, because I’m falling hard for you."

  Her eyes widened as she looked at him. Adrenaline rushed through her. "You are? You want me? I mean, other than sex."

  He wrapped his arms around her. She held tight. "You're the best thing to happen to me, Tess. I don't want to lose you because I didn't tell you that."

  Too many layers existed between them. She tugged his suit jacket off. "Mitch, forget about going out. We'll just order pizza."

  "Tess..." His hands brushed against her face. She stared at his mouth.

  As his lips descended to meet hers, her eyes fluttered closed. Being with him was like finding out there was a secret heaven she craved. Forever, starting right now.

  15

  A phone’s ring echoed through the apartment. They had made it to the bed, but it was like they were cursed with interruptions. Mitch’s body was hard, and he had Tess’s dress almost off.

  "Your phone is ringing," Tess murmured.

  Mitch stared at the tip of her breasts as his hands brushed them. They were seconds from him helping her out of that dress, but she scooted off the bed.

  He reached for her hand and tugged her back to him. "Doesn't matter. Let the world fall apart without us."

  Her kiss had a sigh in it.

  She ran her hand over his chest and pushed him back. He stopped instantly. “Just get the phone so we don’t have any more calls. Your mom and sister both came back from the dead today. What if it is important?”

  “You’re what’s important.”

  “I’ll turn mine off. Please, do the same to yours.” Reluctantly, he complied. His painful walk to her living room made him curse whomever was on the phone.

  She buttoned the top of her dress and followed him to the hall. "Mitch, all I have in my house is coffee. I don’t have any food in the fridge."

  “I don’t care.” He turned off the ringer and carried his phone back to the bedroom. “I don’t want food. I want you.”

  He dropped his phone on the table next to the bed, then joined her. This time, his hands traced her legs and lifted her dress. She let his hands go higher on her thighs.

  "Your taste is enough." Her lips met his and the fire inside him grew. She let out a soft moan and reached for the buttons of his shirt.

  He took her glasses off and placed them on the nightstand, then lifted her dress over her head.

  She had a beauty mark just under
her right breast. He kissed the sexy spot and his body became hard and needy.

  "Mmm,” she moaned and leaned back to give him better access.

  Again, his phone rang. Tess sighed and sat up. “I thought you turned it off?”

  He kicked himself when he realized he must have denied the earlier call instead. He held up one finger and reached for his phone. This time, he glanced at the caller ID. An instant cold hit him. Martin Stanley never called unless it was an absolute emergency.

  Tess fixed her bra and asked, "Who is it?”

  "Stanley, my CFO."

  She nodded and scooted off the bed. "I'll give you a minute. Can I offer you coffee?”

  “No, thanks. You naked in this bed is all I want.” His fingers brushed his phone, but then he ignored the call again. If something were wrong, he needed to be in a position to fix it. Right now, he craved Tess.

  Again, his phone rang. Something must really be bad at the office. He closed his eyes and cursed their luck. “I have to go. Can we meet for dinner in an hour?"

  She wrapped her arms around his waist and pressed in for a hug. He ran his hands through her messy, “just in bed” hair and sighed. It would be nice to come home to her every day. He kissed the top of her head as his phone rang again.

  She ended the hug. "I should go check on something at work myself. Let’s say two hours?"

  "I'll send a car for you." At least this part of his life made sense. Tess made him feel good and he liked himself better with her next to him. Dinner was the least he could do. He'd take her someplace nice.

  He walked to the living room and gathered the rest of his things. He buttoned up his shirt and put his shoes on, as she jogged to her kitchen to make coffee.

  When he walked in, she set her coffee cup down and wrapped her arms around him. He hugged her and held her close. "Goodbye for now, Tess."

  She whispered, “Goodbye, Mitch.” She walked him to the door. The moment he reached for the knob, she put her hand on his. "Before you go..."

  She closed her eyes as he leaned forward to kiss her. The moment he did, his body yearned for her again. Her lips tasted like his favorite treat. He pulled away and pushed her hair out of her face. "Did you want to say something?"