The Winner Takes It All

by Jennifer Dawson

  She cringed and Maddie yelled, “Shane! What the hell?”

  “Well, she does.” He refused to say he was sorry.

  Cecilia’s face twisted before smoothing over, and she touched Maddie’s arm. “It’s okay.”

  Fury roiled inside him. “Don’t fucking apologize for me, Cecilia.”

  Her storm-blue eyes snapped. “I wasn’t. I was merely telling Maddie not to defend me.”

  The sane, rational part of his brain took a backseat as the anger he’d been carefully containing came to a scalding boil. “I’ll say whatever I damn well please.”

  “Nobody’s stopping you,” she said, her tone ice-cold.

  God he was sick of it. Sick of her sleeping at Gracie’s. Sick of her slinking away whenever they were in the same room. Sick of that vacant expression she tried to pass off as calm.

  Mitch stood, holding out his hands as though in surrender. “Let’s all calm down.”

  “Why don’t you fuck off?” Shane shot back before shifting his gaze to Cecilia. “I’m not going to apologize. You look like hell. If you’re so goddamn happy, why do you look like that?”

  Cecilia’s expression flashed and she crossed her arms.

  Satisfaction pinged through him. Yes, now he was getting somewhere. He jutted out his chin, fully aware he sounded like an arrogant ass but unable to stop himself.

  He needed a reaction. Needed to prove the woman he loved was still there, fighting to break free.

  “Stop it,” Cecilia hissed. “You don’t look so hot yourself.”

  Maddie stepped between them. “Hey, come on, please. We only have a couple days before the wedding. Can’t we just keep it together until then?”

  He looked at Mitch and Maddie and said in a deadly voice, “Leave.”

  Maddie shook her head, casting a worried gaze at Cecilia. “That’s not a good idea.”

  Cecilia gave him a look that would have shriveled his balls if he didn’t know her so well. “It’s fine, Maddie. I can handle him.”

  Maddie opened her mouth but Mitch took her arm. “Come on, princess.”

  “But—”

  Mitch ushered her out of the room before she could continue, leaving Shane alone with Cecilia for the first time in three days.

  All logic, all rational behavior fled with the closing of the swinging kitchen door. He had only one thought.

  One driving need.

  He stalked over, grabbed her by the arms, pushed her against the refrigerator and slammed his mouth over hers.

  It was like all hell breaking loose.

  He hadn’t touched her in days and he devoured her. Feasted on her like a glutton. So desperate for the taste of her, he kissed her hard enough to bruise.

  And she was just as hungry.

  A low, mewling sound left her throat, and she plastered herself against him.

  Their mouths melded together. Full of tongue and teeth, and gnawing lust.

  He gripped the sides of her blouse, ripped it apart, sending the buttons flying.

  On a moan, she rose onto tiptoes. Her hands curled around his neck to bring him closer.

  He palmed her breasts, flicking open the front clasp of her bra and peeling away the cups to free her. He stroked her nipples with his thumbs and she purred deep in the back of her throat.

  He couldn’t stop kissing her. It was like a maddening itch he couldn’t scratch and his mouth became more demanding.

  More arrogant.

  Rougher.

  Faster.

  Harder.

  Deeper.

  He pushed her skirt up her thighs and she hooked her leg on his hip.

  His cock ached and he rocked against her. She cried out, the sound vibrating against his mouth as she met his strokes. He was so damn hard. So damn crazy. He gripped her hips and ground his erection between her legs.

  And then they were moving together, fully clothed, dry fucking like a couple of desperate teenagers. His fingers clasped her thigh. The muscles moved and flexed under her smooth skin as she rocked her hips.

  He growled low in his throat.

  He fumbled between their bodies, unzipping his jeans and fisting his cock, which throbbed in his hand. He pulled the fabric of her panties aside and slammed inside her wet, waiting pussy.

  God yes.

  He tore his mouth away and thrust deep.

  “Shane, please, yes.” Her words half wail, half moan.

  It was like coming home.

  He gripped her thigh and thrust again.

  And again.

  Faster and harder.

  He set a dirty, angry rhythm.

  She worked her hands under his shirt, her nails digging into his lower back.

  He fisted her hair, jerked her head. “Look at me.”

  Her lashes fluttered and lifted, her storm-blue eyes glassy with lust.

  He twisted her hair around his palm. “Mine.”

  She came, her orgasm rippling down his shaft, tearing his own climax from him.

  The roar welled in his throat and he kissed her, swallowing her cries, and his, as they shook and came together in a mad, frantic rush of heat and lust and sheer fucking madness.

  He pressed his forehead against hers, panting for breath. Shaken, emotion flooded through him, making his chest ache and his skin grow tight.

  “Shane.” His name a drawn-out, whispery plea, she tangled her fingers in his hair.

  He jerked back. A strange rush of panic he hadn’t felt since his father died made his heart beat too fast. He stepped away, shoving his cock back in his pants.

  She looked completely undone. Her white blouse gaping open, her full breasts a rapid rise and fall, her skin flushed pink, mouth swollen.

  He’d done that to her. Any man looking at her would know what she’d been doing. That she’d been thoroughly taken.

  But no matter how hard he took her, no matter how frantically he tried to claim her, he couldn’t.

  She stayed stubbornly right outside his grasp.

  “Shane,” she said again, stepping toward him.

  He stiffened, shaking his head. “I’m sorry. I don’t know what came over me.”

  She blinked, her eyes going bright, turning an electric blue. “I . . .” She trailed off, looking as lost as he felt.

  “I won’t touch you again.”

  Cecilia felt sick. Since this afternoon, when they’d been so reckless, a bad feeling had settled into the pit of her stomach. Maddie wasn’t making it any easier as they stood in the empty kitchen where Shane had made such ruthless love to her.

  Everyone was outside. Maddie had lit the yard with twinkle lights, which glittered like fairies, transforming the backyard into a wonderland. But instead of enjoying it, she fretted over Cecilia.

  Cecilia hugged herself. “I’m fine. Trust me, go out and enjoy yourself. You’re getting married. Please, focus on that.”

  Maddie twisted her engagement ring, her grandmother’s ring, on her finger. “I will, it’s just I don’t feel right keeping this from Shane.”

  When Mitch and Cecilia had concocted their plan, he had one condition. It wasn’t even a condition, more a requirement. He absolutely refused to keep what they were doing from Maddie.

  Cecilia had protested, but on this he wouldn’t relent.

  And since he held the contacts and information she needed, she’d had no choice but to agree.

  The Donovans were a loyal bunch, and that made Maddie a wild card.

  Cecilia pressed a finger to her temple. “We talked about this. I cannot tell him. If he finds out, you know what he’ll do.”

  “But he’s so unhappy,” Maddie said, glancing out the window.

  Frustrated, Cecilia gritted her teeth. “Please, give me time. I can do this. I know I can. There’s something there. And Mitch’s friend will find it.”

  “Actually, Logan is Shane’s friend. He’s the one that helped break your father’s blackmail scandal.”

  The knot of tension curled into a tight ball. “Great. How do we
know he won’t tell him?”

  Maddie waved a hand. “Mitch took care of it. Logan’s a professional. He wouldn’t break under torture.”

  It didn’t ease Cecilia’s mind. There were too many balls in the air, and she had no control over the situation.

  Penelope walked in, closing the back door quietly behind her. She looked back and forth between Cecilia and Maddie, her blue eyes sharp behind her glasses. “All right, what’s going on?”

  Maddie shook her head. “Nothing. Everything’s great.”

  Penelope’s lips thinned into a firm line. “Don’t give me that, I’ve known you since kindergarten. Something is wrong.”

  Cecilia’s phone beeped. She pulled it out of her pocket as Maddie and Penelope argued about something that happened on the playground when they were in third grade, which lost Cecilia completely.

  It was a text from Logan. Still nothing on Fletcher, but we’re good on Jackson.

  She took a deep breath. At least they were getting somewhere. She typed out, Thanks, keep me posted.

  Finally, something was going her way. It wasn’t Miles, but right now she’d take anything, and the city planner would have to do. For now.

  She tucked her cell back into her pocket.

  “You’re not doing anything rash, are you?” Penelope asked, crossing her arms.

  “No!” Maddie said.

  Before they could go any further, Cecilia stepped in. She knew the mayor personally but didn’t have any contact with the planning office, and she didn’t want to raise suspicions. The last thing she needed was the mayor calling her father to figure out the political reason for her visit. That left the woman in front of her. “Penelope? Since you’re Maddie’s best friend, can I ask you a favor? A favor I’d need you to keep from Shane.”

  Penelope’s back stiffened and one perfectly arched brow rose.

  Maddie pressed her hands together as if in prayer. “Please, Pen, I’m evoking the girlfriend code.”

  Penelope frowned. “From third grade?”

  Maddie nodded solemnly.

  Penelope sighed and turned her attention to Cecilia. “What do you need?”

  Cecilia didn’t hesitate. “A meeting with the city planner tomorrow morning.”

  Penelope instantly bristled, gaze narrowing. “Why?”

  “Because I need to speak with him urgently.”

  “What about?” Penelope crossed her arms. “Clearly there’s something going on here. I’m not letting you near Shane’s project without knowing.”

  Cecilia understood the mistrust, but it still stung. “I can’t tell you now, but I will as soon as I can.”

  Maddie put a hand on her friend’s arm. “Pen, it’s okay.”

  Penelope’s jaw turned into a stubborn line. “Listen, I don’t know what’s going on, but I do know whatever fling you and Shane had is over. And it sure as hell didn’t end well. Do you honestly think I’m going to set up a meeting with the guy holding up a multimillion-dollar contract and a hard-on to screw over Shane, without knowing why?”

  Well, when she put it like that, she had a point. Cecilia sighed. “There are people out there right now who are willing to crush the deal and damage Shane’s reputation. But when I walk out of that office tomorrow, you will get an e-mail saying Jackson agrees to the terms. I promise you.”

  “How?”

  “I prefer not to say. But I have Shane’s best interest at heart.”

  Maddie nodded. “She’s telling the truth, Pen. I’m vouching for her.”

  Penelope crossed her arms. “Why?”

  Maddie looked at Cecilia and smiled. “Because she’s family.”

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  At eleven thirty sharp, Cecilia strode into David Jackson’s office.

  The head of city planning was an older gentleman, in his midfifties, with salt-and-pepper hair and blue eyes. He was a nice-looking, distinguished man, but there was a hardness to his face. A meanness in his eyes. He nodded, not getting up from his desk to greet her.

  “Mr. Jackson,” she said, her voice cool and professional. She gestured to a seat. “May I?”

  Another nod. He leaned back in his leather chair, steepling his fingers. “How may I help you, Ms. Riley? Or should I say, how can I help your father?”

  Keeping her expression impassive, she smiled. “Actually, this isn’t about him.”

  “Then what is it about?”

  Cecilia had had a lot of unpleasant conversations in her day, and she always thought it best to get straight to the point. “Your contract with The Donovan Corporation.”

  “What does that have to do with your father?”

  Nothing. But he didn’t need to know that. She tilted her head to the side. “Why don’t you let me worry about that? I understand you’ve had some contractual disagreements.”

  His lips formed a thin, stubborn line. “I’m not at liberty to discuss them with you.”

  “We’ll have to see about that.” She pulled out a manila envelope. Since he was caught in the crosshairs between her and her father, she should feel bad, but his actions were so despicable she couldn’t work up a lick of sympathy. She tossed the envelope on his desk. “Maybe this will change your mind.”

  She thought she detected a hint of a tremble in his fingers as he reached for the package, but couldn’t be sure. He opened the sealed envelope, looked at the contents, then put the package back on the desk.

  She smiled sweetly. “I never understood why, in this day and age, people are still taking pictures.”

  She thought of the pictures Shane had taken of her. Pictures she never should have allowed, considering her background, but had allowed to be taken with abandon. Of course, she’d done that with the man she loved, not a barely legal prostitute wearing nothing but white stockings, pigtails, and Mary Janes.

  He folded his hands on his desk. “What do you want?”

  She leaned forward. “Only what’s right. Those contracts signed. I trust Shane and his legal team will receive an e-mail agreeing to the terms within the next hour?”

  Before he could speak there was a knock on the door and it swung open.

  The mayor of Chicago stood in the entry.

  Well, she couldn’t have timed his entrance better herself. Cecilia stood, beaming at him, and opened her arms. “Teddy, it’s lovely to see you.”

  “I heard you were in the building.” Theodore Lombardi looked like a cross between Tony Soprano and Santa Claus as he walked over and hugged her.

  When she stood back, she said, “How’s Marion? Is she feeling better?”

  “Yes, much,” he said, rubbing her arms. “Your mother’s visit cheered her considerably.” He looked past Cecilia to a pale-faced David. “I trust everything is okay here.”

  She looked pointedly at the city planner. “Yes, I was just making some rounds. It’s been awhile since I visited.”

  The mayor winked at her. “Getting ready for your wedding?”

  “Something like that,” she said, noncommittal.

  He smiled at Jackson. “I trust you’re taking good care of my girl.”

  David swallowed hard. “Yes, sir.”

  Teddy gave her a kiss on the cheek, patting her arm with affection. “Stop by after you’re done and we’ll catch up.”

  “Of course, I wouldn’t leave without saying good-bye.” She picked up the envelope from David’s desk and smoothed her finger over the edge.

  “Wonderful,” Teddy said, closing the door behind him.

  With her best smile, Cecilia turned back to David. “I trust you have no further objections to the terms.”

  He shook his head. “And all this will go away.”

  “The handshake deal will certainly put you in my good graces, but nothing goes away until those contracts are signed. So I suggest you hurry.”

  “How do I know you won’t renege on the deal?”

  “You don’t.” She picked up her briefcase. “I’ll give you the pictures and the flash drive, but you and I know digit
al lasts forever. Rest assured, I have no interest in you or your extramarital activities. I just want those contracts signed and the deal put to bed. Understood?”

  He nodded and she left.

  Other than putting her one step closer to ensuring Shane’s safety, she wasn’t pleased with herself. She didn’t relish blackmail the way her father did.

  Besides, there was still work to be done.

  Shane sat in the farmhouse’s office staring blankly at his computer screen, while Penelope rattled off a list of pending action items he needed to take care of but couldn’t work up the energy for.

  Cecilia was gone, again.

  Where, he hadn’t a clue, but she’d left by herself in the wee hours of the morning and hadn’t been seen since.

  “Are you even listening?” Penelope asked, startling him from his thoughts.

  “Yeah,” he said, playing with the mouse sitting next to his laptop. “The Kramer project.”

  Penelope put down her tablet and sighed. “That was five minutes ago.”

  He shook his head, straightening in his chair. “Oh.”

  She looked at him, her blue eyes steady and assessing. “You’ve really got it bad for her.”

  He pointed to her iPad. “Your list.”

  Someone knocked at the front door. It swung open and his brother Evan sauntered into the foyer like he owned the place.

  Shane called to him, “Hey, in here.”

  All six-foot-five-inch of gridiron badass, Evan glanced over at them. A cocky grin slid over his face, and he plopped his bag in the middle of the floor before strolling over to lean against the door frame.

  “What’s up?” He glanced at Penelope. “Hey, little Penny, still working for the man?”

  Penelope’s mouth curved into a disapproving frown. “Pen-el-oh-pee.” She drew out her name very slowly, like Evan might be too dense to understand.

  Another shit-eating grin. “Where’s my baby sister?”

  Shane sat back in his chair and laced his fingers behind his head. “She’s out. Where’s Mom and Aunt Cathy?”

  Evan tilted his chin toward the front door. “They stopped to talk to Soph.”

  Penelope shifted in her chair and pointed to the bag. “Are you going to take care of that? There’s no maid here.”