Necessary Lies (Men of Phantom, #1)

by Jacki Renée

  In the room, I go straight to the closet and empty a suitcase. I hide the lingerie in there, the other bags I leave on the bed.

  My team meets me at the top of the stairs to celebrate completing a successful mission. Single-file, we march down to the family room.

  The girls have dolls and doll clothes scattered around the coffee table and floor. Bryan senior’s hair is in tiny pigtails and he’s holding a doll in his hands. I’m tempted to snap a photo. Jessi beats me to it.

  “What have you guys been up to?” Nancy asks.

  Kourtney and Emma fall over laughing.

  “We played a trick on grandpa.” Kourtney holds her sides.

  “I asked Kourty to call me grandpa if that’s okay with you?” He climbs to his feet.

  My eyes water at the thought. Kourtney has a grandfather in her life.

  “I’m taking my granddaughters to the Play ‘n’ Fun Center for dinner tonight. Who’s going with us?”

  Bryan walks into the room. “You’re not taking my girls anywhere looking like that.”

  ***

  Hawk family night is a fun adventure. We’re the last to leave. The girls are exhausted and fall asleep before we pull out of the parking lot.

  I fight the sleep battle all the way home.

  As I climb out of the Suburban, I watch the garage door coming down and a dark-colored SUV drive past.

  Bryan wakes me early in the morning to tell me he’s taking the girls out for the day. I roll over going back to sleep.

  Around noon, I take a shower and raid his side of the massive walk-in closet. Dressed in sweats and one of Bryan’s sweatshirts, I go downstairs to fix myself lunch. The house is quiet.

  He sends me a text message to let me know they’ll be home before dinner.

  I unpack my suitcases, then lounge on the sofa in the family room reading a book I ordered earlier this month.

  At five, I start warming up dinner.

  Bryan, the girls, and his parents return just as I turn off the oven.

  “Where have you guys been all day?”

  “I’m going to have a teddy bear room,” Kourtney says.

  “She wants a teddy bear theme bedroom. We went to see an interior decorator. They’ll start right after the New Year,” Bryan says.

  “This is how my room will look.” She pulls a brand new iPad from her backpack, slides her finger across the screen, taps it and turns it around, showing me the 3-D design of her bedroom.

  I shoot eye daggers at Bryan and he knows why.

  “I’m going to have a pony bedroom.” Emma also pulls out a brand new iPad from her backpack.

  Laser beams shoot out my eyes at Bryan.

  He raises his hands. “I didn’t buy them.” He points to his dad.

  I turn my glare on Bryan senior.

  He hands me a wrapped gift box.

  “You should see all the teddy bears Grandpa picked out for my room.”

  “I’m getting lots of ponies.”

  “Girls, I’m going to end up in the dog house with Danielle if you keep talking,” he whispers.

  “You and Mommy can’t be in the dog house. Where will Trevor sleep?” Kourtney frowns at him.

  “Who’s Trevor?” I ask.

  “Trevor is our Labrador Retriever.” Kourtney informs me matter-of-factly.

  Nancy laughs as Bryan senior turns red. My fists clench. And their son takes two steps away from me.

  “Ratted out by my granddaughters.”

  “We rescued him from the pond,” Emma adds.

  “You mean pound,” Kourtney corrects.

  “We pick him up tomorrow. The man said he’s house trained and everything. Huh, Kourty?”

  Bryan senior looks like he’s hoping the floor will open and swallow him, right now.

  “Excuse me.” Willis stands in the doorway. “Bryan you have a phone call.”

  He chuckles. “Saved by a call.” He follows Willis.

  “Well, will you look at the time? Girls, how about we go out back and see where Trevor’s dog house should go.” Bryan senior walks out of the family room tugging the girls along with him. “You two keep it up and I’ll be eating dinner in my room.”

  The side door opens and closes.

  Nancy plops down on the sofa laughing.

  “Is he for real?” I ask.

  “It’s his way of apologizing.”

  “He knows he can’t buy love?”

  “Yes, he knows, but he’s fallen in love with your beautiful little girl. We both have and we’ll spoil her like we spoil Emm. He asked what she wanted for Christmas since we didn’t get her anything.”

  “Bryan, Max and I purposely vetoed pets and expensive tablets.”

  “Take solace in knowing my son put his foot down with the electric scooters.”

  I collapse on the sofa with my unopened gift still in my hands. “Why couldn’t he put his foot down for the dog?” I close my eyes. “I don’t indulge Kourtney’s every whim. Do I want to know what’s in here?” I set the box on my lap.

  “I’ll give you a hint. The girls have one too.” She laughs harder when I glare at her.

  “Baby, I’m going out of town.” Alpha male stands at attention in the doorway.

  “Is everything okay?” I ask, rising from the sofa.

  “Business.”

  “When are you leaving?”

  “Now.” He does an about-face and marches toward the stairs.

  I follow.

  “Can I help?”

  He doesn’t answer.

  “Do you want me to help you pack?”

  He keeps marching up the stairs.

  “Bryan!” I raise my voice.

  He stops and turns around.

  “I asked you a question.”

  “I’m sorry, baby. I didn’t hear you. My mind is elsewhere.”

  Something’s off!

  “Is everything okay?”

  “Yes, baby.”

  I don’t believe you.

  “Baby, go get dinner on the table. I’ll be down in a minute.”

  I turn around and go back down the stairs. There’s more to this business trip than he’s saying.

  Nancy helps me set the table in the kitchen. We’re already eating when Bryan comes in, dressed in a designer business suit.

  “You’re leaving?” Bryan senior asks.

  “Urgent business trip.”

  “How long will you be gone, Dad?”

  “Not long, honey.” He kisses the top of Emma’s head. “I’ll be back by the thirty-first.” He kisses the top of Kourtney’s head and his mom’s cheek. He walks around the table and shakes his dad’s hand. “Keep an eye on my girls.”

  “You know I will.”

  “Baby, walk me to the garage.” He holds out his hand.

  I excuse myself from the table.

  We walk down the hallway without speaking. At the door he turns to me.

  “Baby, I’m asking you to please stick around the house while I’m gone.”

  I blink at him, tilting my head to the side. “I made plans to take the girls to the spa with Max and Penelope tomorrow.”

  “Call the spa and have someone come here, baby.”

  That’s the seventh time he’s called me baby. Not once has he said my name since announcing he’s going out of town.

  My lips twist. “Fine, I’m sure I can improvise.”

  He pulls me into his arms. “Thank you.” His phone vibrates in the hand against my back. “I’m leaving now. I’ll be in the air within the hour,” he answers, then pulls his mouth away from the phone to give me a quick peck on the lips. “I have to go.”

  He walks to his truck talking on the phone. Before he climbs into the driver’s seat, Bryan turns around. “You may not be able to get in touch with me, but if anything comes up, call Vin.”

  “What about Anthony and Ignacio?”

  “They’re pulling double duty. But Vin is off work, baby.”

  He still hasn’t called me Dani or Danielle.
r />   Bryan quickly backs out the garage.

  The front door opens. Jessica walks in. Her eyes are red and puffy like she’s been crying. “Was that Bryan?” she asks.

  “Yes, he’s leaving for an urgent business trip.”

  If I wasn’t trained to notice body movement, I would have missed Jessica’s slight pause in step.

  “I forgot I was supposed to call a patient today. I’ll be in for dinner in a few minutes.” She walks back out of the house.

  I tiptoe to the door, pressing my ear against it.

  “What’s up, Bry?” Pause. “Really? When?” Pause. “Do you think it’s him?” Pause. “Yes, I’ll keep an eye out.”

  If the holster I felt hidden under his jacket when I hugged him isn’t enough to convince me, that cryptic conversation does. I know this is more than an urgent business trip.

  ***

  I toss and turn in the big empty bed before giving up trying to sleep. Not wanting to leave the sanctuary of the warm bed to get my laptop, I pick up the one Bryan left sitting on his nightstand. It’s slow to load, but thankfully, not password protected. The laptop makes a sound like the bell at a boxing match and the driver drawer opens on its own.

  Curiosity gets the better of me and I search the hard drive for files. Bryan doesn’t have anything saved on this laptop. What does he use it for? It’s very old.

  After connecting to the Wi-Fi, I open the web browser and research ideas for a home spa day. I’m not calling in professionals.

  Why would Bryan ask me to stay home? Something has him spooked. If he’s not going to tell me what it is, I’ll find the answer on my own.

  A plan develops in my mind.

  I shut down the laptop after writing out a list of supplies needed and lie back, allowing my plan to come together.

  I set the alarm for six thirty. Phase one of my plan begins over breakfast. I smile to myself and hug Bryan’s pillow.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

  While Nancy helps me prepare breakfast, I tell her about a romance series I read last year. Just like I guessed, she loves to read and the series I’m telling her about will capture her attention the second she reads the first paragraph. It has erotic elements and it’s written by one of my favorite authors. I give her the first book in the series. Before I put the food on the table, Nancy goes to their room.

  Phase one complete.

  Jessica declines my invitation to join our home spa day. I can cross the second phase off the list. She takes her breakfast to go.

  I hand Bryan senior a list and sweet-talk him into going shopping and taking the girls with him.

  With everyone distracted, I can search Bryan’s home office for clues about his trip. I close the door behind me and start with his desk.

  My hand touches the mouse pad and his computer turns on. A hawk glides onto the screen, talons out ready to strike.

  Unfortunately, this computer is password protected. After the third attempt, I stop trying to guess his password.

  Next, I try to snoop through the drawers of his desk.

  They are locked.

  I move to the file cabinet and storage cabinets.

  They’re also locked.

  I try the closet.

  It’s locked too.

  The search of his office is starting to frustrate me. The drawers, cabinets, and closet have no key slots or keypads. They don’t even have knobs.

  I could try to pry them open.

  My hand rests on the mouse pad while I reach for the letter opener. The hawk on the screen disappears and the image of a handprint slowly loads.

  In my peripheral, a light slides up and down near my left hand. I look. The mousepad is a scanner.

  After snatching my hand away, the image stops loading and an error message pops up on the screen across the partial scan of my palm. At the moment, I stop trying to play super-sleuth before I do something that I can’t undo. I leave Bryan’s office.

  In the kitchen, I start making the red velvet cake.

  A little before one o’clock, Max and Penelope ring the doorbell and our spa day begins.

  First on our list is a light lunch followed by the cake.

  We put on swimsuits, robes, and slippers. With towels wrapped around our hair, we give each other hand and foot treatments using a homemade scented sugar rub.

  Next we do manis and pedis.

  “Where’s Mr. Tall-And-Sexy?” Max asks, guiding the nail brush over my toenail. I chose neon green.

  “Last minute business trip.” I’m polishing his toenails royal blue.

  “Why aren’t we relaxing at the spa, letting professionals pamper us?”

  “Bryan asked me to stick around the house while he’s gone.”

  “Stick around the house, huh?” He twists his lips. “So you’ve decided to be a good girl and play nice?”

  “I thought it would be fun to do it ourselves. The girls are having fun.”

  “You worked things out and now wittle hawk’s making you his wittle house-woman?”

  I smack his foot. “It’s not like that, Maxie.”

  “Tell me what it’s like, Danikins?”

  “The break-in at my apartment shook him up. I told you he was carrying a gun.” I sneak a peek at the girls. They’ve gone neon crazy on their toes and nail art crazy on their fingers. “Bryan needs to know we’re safe while he’s away.”

  “What will he do after the holidays?”

  “We’re not going back to the apartment. He asked us to move in with them.”

  “That was fast.”

  I don’t reply.

  “Do you love him, Danikins?”

  My shoulders rise and fall. I don’t meet his gaze.

  The nail brush in his hand pauses mid-stroke. I watch him from underneath my lashes.

  Maxie smirks. “He loves you.”

  The nail brush finishes the trek down my toenail.

  “How do you know?”

  “Bryan looks at you the way I look at my husband. And I’m deeply in love with Thomas.”

  “It’s too soon to talk about love...”

  “Where is it written that love comes with years? Why can’t love be instant and unexpected?” He points the nail brush at me. “Why can’t you love him after only knowing him a few minutes? I’ve known Bryan for a long time, Danikins. He’s in love with you.”

  I glance over at his daughter. She’s animated as she talks to her friends. She has inherited so many of his mannerisms.

  “Bryan’s dad got the girls iPads,” I say to change the subject.

  The Maxie tangent begins. I’m not telling him about the dog yet. That information will be my next subject changer if the conversation goes back to my feelings for Bryan.

  Once our polish dries, we ditch the robes. Apply an avocado face mask. Put cucumber slices over our eyes. And relax on the chaise lounge chairs in the family room in our swimsuits.

  Sounds of a tropical island play on the surround-sound speakers. I turned up the heat in the family room. We sip fresh-squeezed lemonade from coconut cups with colorful umbrellas. Floor lamps give the illusion of sunshine.

  Someone clears their throat. I lift a cucumber slice off one eye. Vin’s standing in the doorway, his arm in a navy blue sling.

  “Good afternoon. Would you like some lemonade?” I ask.

  “I would love some,” he chuckles, pulling at the collar of his sweater.

  I pick up the bell resting by my hand, giving it a shake. Tingle-ling-ling-ling.

  Bryan senior walks into the room wearing flower print board shorts, a dark tank top, and flip-flops.

  “Yes, Ms. Danielle?”

  “Please bring our guest some lemonade.” I reapply the cucumber slice.

  “Yes, ma’am. Right away.”

  Vin laughs. “You made him your mitch?”

  “He’s earning the right to spoil the girls.”

  “Will I have to serve you dinner for bringing their dog home?”

  I sit up, peeling off the cucumber sli
ces.

  The full-grown Labrador retriever sits by Vin’s leg, panting.

  “Bry asked me to pick him up.”

  Kourtney and Emma jump off their chairs, cucumber slices falling to the floor. They run to the dog.

  “Welcome home, Trevor!” Kourtney hugs him.

  He’s licking the avocado off their faces, barking and wagging his tail.

  Emma looks over her shoulder. “Penny, come meet Trevor.”

  “You got them a dog?” Max yells at me.

  “Blame that man.” I point to the culprit walking through the door carrying a coconut cup on a tray.

  “Daddy, can we go to the shelter and get a doggy like Trevor?” Penelope’s little voice rings out over the barking dog. Trevor’s licking the avocado off her face too.

  Home spa day is interrupted by the newest member of the household.

  Yippee.

  Before I lie down for the night, I go back to Bryan’s home office to see if the partial handprint is still on the screen. Thankfully it’s gone. I don’t know what explanation I could have come up with if it was still there. Unplugging the computer was my backup plan.

  I fall asleep dreaming about a hawk’s eye following me.

  ***

  After breakfast, Bryan senior and the girls go outside to put together Trevor’s doghouse. A waste of time if you ask me, he wouldn’t sleep in the laundry room for one night.

  I spend the rest of my morning cleaning the house and doing the laundry. It’s not a task I feel obligated to do, these are chores I’m happy to do. I’m fulfilling a secret desire, taking care of my man and our children.

  Nancy curls up in a chair in the sitting room reading the second book in the series. I doubt she slept last night.

  While I wait for the clothes in the dryer, I research local shelters. I find two I want to donate our furniture and old clothes to, once we move in here.

  Bryan senior and the girls pick up take-out for dinner.

  As expected, Trevor shuns his doghouse and falls asleep in the family room while Nancy sits on the sofa still reading.

  I sleep on Bryan’s side of the bed, missing him. His scent on the sheets is like phantom fingers caressing my inner thighs. Softly. Sensually. Sexually.

  Just the smell of him brings on the phantomlike feel of him sliding into me. He seeks the spot that makes my inner walls quake.

  The scent of him caresses my throbbing clitoris. My toes curl. My hips circle. My back arches off the sheets. I moan his name.