by Joss Wood
“I promised to reward you if you helped me pick out my dress for tonight.” Rachel sat on his lap, straddling him, her knees pressed into the chair on either side of him. She leaned in and kissed him.
The woman was insatiable.
He’d been dating Rachel Franklin for several months. Things had been hot and heavy between them from the very beginning. When he’d given in to her constant hints and asked her to move in, he’d expected their love life to slow down considerably.
After all, it was the biggest complaint of his buddies who were either married or living with someone. But that hadn’t been the case with Rachel. If anything, her sexual appetite had grown more ravenous.
Rachel was always ready to satisfy him, and she did so with a genuine enthusiasm that would make any man feel like a god.
“We need to get there early or my mother will have a fit. She’s being really anal about this engagement party.”
Rachel’s eyes lit up at the mention of the word engagement. It was the very reason Luc had seldom used the word in reference to tonight’s event. Distracted by the slow, seductive motion of her hips, he’d slipped.
“Don’t worry. We’ll get there on time.” She planted kisses along his jaw, her hands pressed to his bare chest. “But I’m a woman of my word. I promised to take care of you, and I will.”
She tugged his earlobe between her teeth and nibbled on it before tracing the outer shell of his ear with her warm tongue.
Desire rippled in his chest as Rachel increased the movement of her hips. She rode the outline of his cock, her wet heat teasing the increasingly evident ridge beneath his underwear.
“Fuck.” He breathed the word into her ear as he gripped her bottom, pulling her tight against him. They should be getting ready for the party, not contemplating round three.
Rachel gasped, her mouth still pressed to his ear. She dug her fingers into his shoulders and moved her hips more insistently.
Luc carried Rachel to the bed, her legs wrapped around his waist. He set her on her feet and she stripped off her bra and panties. She lay back on the bed and sank her teeth into her lower lip as she let her legs fall open.
Her forest-green eyes twinkled as a mischievous grin curved the edges of her mouth. She curled her index finger, beckoning him forward.
Luc stripped off his underwear, grabbed another condom and climbed onto the bed. He slowly buried his length inside her sweet, warm slit, pleasure rolling up his spine. Filling his limbs with a delicious heaviness.
He squeezed one of her firm breasts and lifted her leg over his shoulder as he moved against her, harder and faster.
Rachel wasn’t a delicate flower who wanted him to be gentle and make love to her. She liked it rough. And to feel that she was in control of every single thing she’d enticed him to do.
Impatient, she slipped her hand between her legs until she cried out his name, cursing and writhing. His desire for her kicked into overdrive.
He pumped his hips harder until, finally, he reached his release. Luc fell onto the bed beside her, panting. “I would’ve gotten you there if you’d just been patient.”
“I know.” She grinned, kissing his chest. “But like you said, we have to hurry and get to the engagement party or Mariella will freak.”
They were both silent for a moment, then Rachel’s eyes met his. “You shouldn’t be so hard on your mom about the engagement party. She loves you all, and she worries about you. I’m sure nothing would make her happier than seeing all her children happily married with families of their own.”
Luc tensed. Rachel had become an expert at weaving in talk of engagement, marriage and babies since they’d first learned of Elana’s impending nuptials.
“We’ve got bigger issues to worry about right now. We don’t know if my father is going to survive.” Although he understood his mother’s insistence on continuing with the party, it just didn’t feel right.
“Harrison Marshall is one of the toughest, most determined men I’ve ever met. If anyone can survive this, it’s him.” Rachel kissed him sweetly. “So just for tonight, stop worrying and be happy for your sister. In just a couple of weeks, she’s going to be married.”
Elana, married? He still couldn’t think of it without disbelief. His sister was flighty, immature and most definitely not in love with Thom Scott.
Luc had been holding his breath, expecting another scandal that would lead Thom to call off the wedding. Which would be a shame. Thom was a good guy, from a good family. He and Elana had been friends for years. By all accounts, they should be the perfect couple.
He sighed. Maybe in light of their father’s accident, Elana would finally grow up. Take her status as a member of such a respected family seriously and stop embarrassing them.
Each of them had secrets. But his little sister hadn’t yet mastered the art of being discreet and keeping those secrets hidden.
“I’m going to take a shower. Care to join me?” Rachel trailed a hand down his belly.
He grabbed her wrist just before she took him in her hand. “If I do, we’ll never get out of here.” He kissed the side of her face. “You go first.”
Rachel pouted, then stood, her head tilted and her lips pressed into a naughty grin. “Guess it’ll just be me and that new, pulsating showerhead I had installed.”
She strolled to the master bath in all her naked glory.
Luc shook his head. Rachel was sexy and beautiful. She was ambitious, from the right family, and had all the right connections. Connections that could be useful to his plastic surgery practice and his family’s many businesses.
Rachel could be a spoiled brat when she didn’t get her way, but it was nothing Luc couldn’t handle. At least she was focused and determined. Something he wished his sister would learn.
Rachel Franklin would be the ideal wife for someone like him. A man who envisioned a prestigious future. To that end, Rachel’s father, Congressman Nick Franklin, could be a great asset.
Yet, despite all the reasons Rachel should be the perfect woman for him, she appealed only to his mind and body—not his heart.
The door clicked shut, and the shower started. Luc waited a moment, then retrieved his phone from the nightstand and dialed.
“Hey, it’s me,” he said, his eyes firmly on the bathroom door. “I tried to reach you earlier. We need to talk, and I don’t have a lot of time.”
Chapter Three
The Fixer paced the floor.
Great lengths had been taken to protect the Fixer’s identity and the Marshall family’s safety.
But now Harrison was laid up in a hospital bed, clinging to life. The victim of an increasingly suspicious accident.
The Fixer wasn’t sure about anything anymore.
That included Thom’s promise not to reveal the secret to Elana or the rest of the family until after the engagement party.
If Thom was smart, he’d take the offer of money. Live the life of his dreams—with or without Elana.
Thom was generally a good guy. But was he an idealist who wouldn’t be able to live with keeping the truth from Elana?
The Fixer wasn’t willing to gamble on Thom being sensible.
Maybe I should just tell them.
The Fixer had always hated being forced to keep this secret from them. Now that they were aware, they’d never stop trying to uncover the Fixer’s identity, whether Thom revealed the truth or not.
Their reaction would be shock and anger—and they’d blame the Fixer for Harrison’s accident.
Perhaps they should.
Maybe getting involved in the fixing business had been a mistake. But then, a lot of good had been done, too. They’d helped people out of tough spots. Given a few their lives back when one mistake could’ve cost them everything.
Then there were all
the little things done on behalf of the family. Things they’d never know about.
The Fixer groaned, pacing the floor. There were always questionable jobs. The kind that paid handsomely but siphoned away a little bit more of the soul. The kind of jobs that made a person want to come home and take a hot shower.
Taking a seat on the office sofa and pouring a shot, the Fixer turned up the glass before returning it, empty, to the table with a thud.
If the family was told, it would likely mean the end of the business. Mariella wouldn’t want to be involved with anything shady or indelicate. That was a reality the Fixer wasn’t prepared to face.
Harrison had trusted the Fixer, the partnership resulting in the most sensitive and lucrative arm of Marshall International.
What would happen if it all suddenly came to an end?
The Fixer couldn’t take that chance. Which meant a different approach was required to convince Thom to accept the offer.
With a sly grin, the Fixer pulled out a cell phone and dialed. “I’ve got a situation. Remember that favor you owe me? Well, tonight I’m cashing it in. Here’s what I need you to do.”
* * *
Thom handed his key to the valet at El Acantilado and buttoned the jacket of his charcoal-gray Kiton tuxedo.
Mariella had gone all out for the party tonight. El Acantilado had never looked lovelier. Strings of lights adorned the pillars and pergola outside the restaurant, giving the entire space an ethereal glow. Fresh rose blooms bursting with the rich, lush colors of fall adorned every square inch of the two tall columns outside the restaurant.
A white runner with a black border bore his and Elana’s names and the date of their upcoming nuptials rendered in elegant black script. The runner led guests inside through two tall, heavy ivory silk curtains, tied back on either side. Fresh flowers, aromatic candles and lanterns of various sizes and configurations filled the space.
It was a beautiful night, and the event promised to be memorable. So why did he feel as if he were marching in front of a firing squad rather than attending his own engagement party?
Thom stepped inside the restaurant and surveyed the space. The effort Mariella and her team had put into the outside of El Acantilado was nothing compared to how extravagantly they’d decorated the inside.
Tall, elaborate floral centerpieces adorned each table, and the chairs were covered in ivory linen. The room was drenched in soft blue lighting that gave the room a celestial haze, like the night sky punctuated by stars.
Strings of lights suspended vertically from the ceiling gave the room a hazy glow befitting a fairy tale. Cinderella coming to marry her prince.
What a joke.
This was no dream wedding for either of them.
Thom sighed, suddenly feeling sick at the thought of going through with the whole charade.
He made a beeline for a secluded corner of the bar and ordered a scotch and soda.
The party began in little more than an hour, and he still hadn’t decided whether or not he’d tell Elana and her family what he knew about the Fixer.
“Everything okay, Mr. Scott?” The bartender set his drink on a napkin.
“Just a little case of nerves.” Thom forced a smile, then gulped from his glass to abate the queasiness that made the room feel as if it were swaying. “I’ll be fine.”
If a man who knew little more than his name recognized his anxiety, there was no way he’d make it through the entire night without Elana or Mariella suspecting something was wrong.
He needed to tell Elana the truth.
Elbows on the bar, Thom took another healthy sip of his drink and chuckled bitterly to himself.
Suddenly he felt the pressing need to be honest with Elana?
The truth was something neither of them seemed capable of addressing.
This whole thing was crazy. He was marrying a woman who he was fond of but didn’t love to avoid facing the truth about his sexuality. A woman who didn’t love him and barely bothered to pretend that she did. He was simply a stand-in for the man she really wanted to be with—Jarrod Jones. Elana didn’t think he knew, but he did.
Thom downed the rest of his scotch and soda.
Did everyone know the truth? He was Elana’s consolation prize, and unbeknownst to her, she was his beard.
They were users. Both of them.
So why not use the opportunity he’d stumbled upon to get what he wanted more than anything else?
Freedom.
That’s what the Fixer was offering him. But could the offer be trusted? Or would he become the victim of an unfortunate accident one day soon?
“Another scotch and soda, please?” Thom got the attention of the bartender, who signaled that he acknowledged the request.
Keeping the Fixer’s secret provided a golden opportunity for him. But perhaps staying silent about what he knew was also in the best interest of Elana and Mariella.
They’d both be shocked and devastated once they learned the truth. More importantly, revealing the truth might put them in danger from the Fixer’s enemies, and perhaps the Fixer as well.
Keeping the burden of the Fixer’s true identity to himself would be a kindness to the Marshall family.
Thom thanked the bartender when he brought his second scotch and soda. He heaved a sigh as he gripped his glass, then took a deep sip.
He set the glass down and mumbled under his breath, “What the hell am I going to do?”
Perhaps the answer to his dilemma was simpler than he suspected.
He could get up, retrieve his car and drive away. Away from this over-the-top party. Away from the wedding that was turning into a circus. Away from Elana. And away from the whole damn Marshall family. Then he needn’t tell Elana the truth. They could just go their separate ways.
Thom rubbed a hand over his head and groaned.
Walking away isn’t an option. I need this wedding.
His fortune was tied to that of his parents. If they ever learned the truth—that he’d much rather be with Rafe than Elana—his parents would disown him. He’d lose everything.
“Hey there. It’s Thom. Thom Scott, right?” A handsome man with creamy café au lait skin, curly salt-and-pepper hair, and a neat beard sat two seats away from him. When Thom regarded the man warily, without response, he continued, “I’m Lane Devereux. I’ve been Mariella’s hairstylist since your fiancée was just a baby. Known the entire family forever.”
“Oh, right. I’ve heard Mariella mention you.” Thom forced a smile and shook his hand. “Nice to meet you, Lane. You’re here early.”
“There’s an open bar.” Lane grinned. “Thought I’d better get here before all the lushes show up and clean the place out.”
Thom laughed. It was his first genuine laugh of the evening.
“Looks like one of them already beat you here.” Thom took a swig from his glass, then smiled warmly at the man. “Don’t worry. I left plenty.”
Lane chuckled, his dark eyes twinkling beneath the lights. There was something about his genuine smile and the deep, heartfelt sound of his laugh that tugged at Thom’s chest and made him feel at ease.
“What are you drinking?” Lane asked.
“Scotch and soda.”
“I’ll have one of those, too, please.” Lane signaled the bartender, then turned back to Thom, surveying him. “You started the party early. Everything all right?”
“I’m fine.” Thom drank more of his scotch and soda. “Why wouldn’t I be? I’m joining the incredible Marshall clan.”
“Got a case of prewedding jitters? I don’t think there’s a man alive who didn’t experience them before his wedding day. You’ll be fine. Elana’s a beautiful girl, and the two of you will be very happy together.”
“I hope so.” Thom smiled sadly. If only h
e could be as sure about that as Lane seemed to be. “But things don’t always work out like we planned.”
“True.” Lane nodded sympathetically, then thanked the bartender for his drink. “Joining forces with a family like the Marshalls is not without its challenges.”
Thom snorted his agreement and finished his drink. Lane knew the Marshalls well.
“Still, this is your engagement party, Thom. You and Elana should both be floating on a cloud of happiness tonight.” Lane reached across the empty chair and squeezed his shoulder. “Whatever you’re worried about right now will probably seem inconsequential tomorrow or a few days from now. So just live in the moment. Enjoy your special day.”
“I wish it were that easy.” Thom groaned. “I wish I’d never learned the truth. Then I wouldn’t have to keep it from her.”
“What are you talking about?” One of Lane’s neatly arched brows rose. “Are you in some sort of trouble?”
Shit.
Thom blinked, trying to clear the slight fogginess that had settled over him. The warmth of the liquor he’d consumed and Lane’s reassuring demeanor had made him too comfortable. He’d said too much.
“No, I’m fine. I’m just...” Thom signaled the bartender. “Nothing another drink or two won’t soothe.”
Lane waved off the bartender, turning back to Thom. “Mariella would kill me if I sat here and let you get tanked before your engagement party. Maybe you and Elana aren’t as excited as Mariella about the party, but with Harrison laid up right now, this is what the family needs.”
Thom pressed his palm to one eye and groaned. His shoulders were tense with stress.
Suddenly Lane was behind him. He squeezed Thom’s shoulders, and some of the tension there eased under his touch.
Lane leaned down, his voice quiet. “It’s beautiful out tonight. Why don’t we step outside and get some fresh air? You’ll feel better. I promise you.”
Thom studied Lane’s warm gaze for a moment. He was right. Sitting there trying to drown his sorrows wouldn’t help anything. It was only delaying the huge decision he had to make and robbing him of the clarity he needed to make it.