Married in Name Only

by Jules Bennett

  “No, I don’t.” He made his way to the sofa across from her and took a seat. “Angela and I may have quarreled over Ryder and her seeing each other, but she wouldn’t do that to me. I wouldn’t put it past Roarke, though.”

  Lavinia’s brows rose. “Your son? I never would’ve thought of that.”

  Which was precisely why he was bringing it up now.

  “Can I tell you something?” he asked, leaning forward for more of a dramatic effect.

  “Of course. I’m here for you, Sterling.”

  “I think Roarke is Ryder’s son.” He let the words settle between them before he went on. “Tamara had an affair with Ryder Currin when he was just a stable hand. The timing fits for Roarke to be their love child, but I never said anything.”

  Lavinia gasped, her hand to her mouth. “You think Roarke set you up because he wanted you out of the way for his dad to be the club president?”

  Sterling leaned back against the leather cushion and nodded. “I can’t confirm this, but why else would he not stand by me when I needed my children the most? All of my kids have rallied around me, even Angela, and we’ve had our differences lately. Still, she believes in my innocence.”

  Lavinia pursed her lips. “This is all just so much to take in, but I see your point. I believe you were framed, but proving by whom will be difficult.”

  “I won’t rest until the person behind all of this is found and punished,” he vowed. “No matter who that turns out to be.”

  Even if that turned out to be the man he’d always considered a son.

  Nine

  Lucas attempted to go through the boxes Paisley had given him from her mother’s house, but all he found were old, useless receipts, some baby pictures of Paisley and a few past due notices on bills that were dated a few weeks before her death.

  Nothing. The search so far had turned up absolutely nothing.

  Everything Lucas had attempted had resulted in a dead end. But he wasn’t done exploring avenues. He still had a few calls out, one being to the hospital where Paisley had been born. It was another long shot, but perhaps there was a nurse who remembered...hell, he didn’t know. A wealthy man visiting a barmaid? Not the best description, but Lynette’s photo might help.

  Every aspect had to be touched on, no matter if it already seemed like a dead end. Exploring every part of people’s pasts was what distinguished Lucas from other investigators.

  Lucas prided himself on seeking justice and the truth. When he was a teen and Sterling Perry had taken advantage of his father, Lucas had vowed never to allow himself to be that vulnerable, that open to letting someone dupe him. He also knew one day he’d get revenge on Sterling...especially now that Lucas’s late father wasn’t around to do so himself.

  And the timing of his plan revolved around Paisley. If she turned out to be Sterling’s daughter, that would roll perfectly into getting close to the man and destroying him...all while not getting emotionally involved with his wife.

  Lucas checked the time on his phone, noting there was no message from Paisley. She’d gotten up early and had gone to the boutique, but her shop had closed three hours ago. He absolutely hated that he cared, that he wanted to know where she was.

  He hated even more that he let it bother him that she didn’t consider this a real relationship. If she did, she’d be considerate enough to let him know where she was.

  Damn it. Lucas stalked to his bar nestled in the corner of his penthouse. The wall of one-way windows gave him a picturesque view of their charming city, but right now, he didn’t care. He was too pissed at himself for sliding into the role of doting husband a little too easily. He shouldn’t care where she was; they had no real ties or expectations other than sex and him digging into Sterling. That was all they’d agreed upon.

  Yet here he was brooding like a loser.

  Sex could seriously cloud the vision. But even great sex with Paisley couldn’t prevent him from destroying Sterling.

  For completely selfish reasons, Lucas wanted him to be Paisley’s father. That connection would certainly make the revenge that much sweeter since Sterling wasn’t a fan of Lucas, either.

  But for reasons he didn’t want to delve into, Lucas almost hoped Sterling wasn’t Paisley’s father. She deserved so much better than an arrogant asshole whose every move was methodically thought out to what would benefit him most.

  Lucas slammed back the bourbon and clanked his glass onto the mahogany bar top. He really should sip and enjoy the bourbon, but he was too on edge. His description of his potential father-in-law’s actions could be applied to his own greed lately.

  Wasn’t that how he landed a pewter band on his finger?

  Selfishness and greed. He’d never been lumped with those terms before, but he was sure as hell owning them now.

  The elevator chimed, indicating a key card had been used to access it.

  Lucas poured another two fingers and curled his hand around the stemless glass. No way did he want to appear like he’d been waiting. She was free to come and go as she wanted, right?

  Hell, he didn’t know the rules to this type of marriage. He’d given her one—that she would be in his bed like a real wife and she’d more than obliged.

  He was still holding his tumbler when the elevator door slid open and Paisley appeared. The topknot she’d left with this morning had come down and her hair tumbled around her shoulders.

  She looked sexy as hell in that short, button-up navy dress with matching belt and a pair of nude heels that made her legs appear as if they went on for miles.

  Lucas clenched his teeth as she set her stuff down on the table near the elevator. She hadn’t even looked his way, as if she didn’t care if he was here or not.

  Another niggle of irritation slid through him.

  He was just about to say something—what, he wasn’t sure—when Paisley rested her hands on the table where she’d dropped her purse. With her back to him, her head tipped down between her shoulders...shoulders that were shaking.

  Ignoring the drink he’d poured, Lucas crossed the penthouse, his shoes clicking across the hardwoods. Just before he reached her, she jumped and spun around, her hand to her heart.

  “I didn’t see you here,” she told him. “You startled me.”

  Clearly, she’d been in another world if she hadn’t known he was in the same room. The smudged mascara beneath her eyes was like a punch to the gut. He never wanted to see tears on her, never wanted her to suffer for any reason. Despite their past and their messy present, that was one thing he couldn’t handle.

  “What happened?” he asked, swiping her damp cheeks. “Are you hurt?”

  She shook her head. “No, just angry.”

  Angry tears. That was something he could work with, though he wished he didn’t have to deal with tears at all.

  “What happened?” he asked, ushering her into the living area.

  “Just this bride who stiffed me for a bill that I can’t possibly cover.” She raked her hands down her face and sniffed. “It’s ridiculous, really. I should’ve demanded payment in full before ordering such an extravagant gown, but she put down 20 percent and we had a contract for the rest. But the wedding got called off and she says the dress is just too painful to think about. She’s refusing to pay the remainder.”

  Lucas listened as he eased her to the sofa beside him. He took one of her hands in his and squeezed it for silent reassurance.

  “That was all via email, mind you,” she went on. “Each call I’ve tried to make has gone unanswered, my messages ignored. I spent this evening after I closed calling the bridesmaids that came in with her and ordered their dresses, but none of them was any help...other than the fact they had actually paid in full for theirs. Apparently the groom chose one of the bridesmaids, so they’re all arguing.”

  And here he’d been getting irritated because she was
n’t home when all she’d been doing was trying to save her business. He certainly couldn’t fault her for that and he’d be a complete ass if he tried. Just because this marriage was based on revenge and blackmail didn’t mean he was heartless. Lucas cared for her once, and he cared for her now, but in a completely different way.

  Now he had his eyes open and his heart shut. He was well aware of what this was and what it wasn’t.

  Still, he’d vowed to help her with her business and he wasn’t going to sit by and just let her be taken advantage of.

  “Give me all of the information you have,” he told her.

  Paisley jerked her focus to him, her brows drawn in. “Why?”

  “Because I track people down for a living. What do you mean why?”

  “This isn’t your battle to fight,” she explained, pulling her hand from his. “I’m not asking for your help. I just told you all of that because you asked why I was crying. I tend to cry when I’m mad.”

  “I remember,” he murmured, recalling a moment someone had stolen her purse when they’d gone to the movie theater. She’d burst into tears because her favorite lip gloss had been inside. “But I’m offering to help because that’s what I told you I would do. I’m not going to let your business take this financial hit. When that woman ordered the dress, I’m sure you had her sign a contract, so she’s liable. If you want, you could sue her. Just the threat might scare her into paying.”

  Paisley swiped beneath her eyes and came to her feet. “The financial hit you’re helping me with is the blow I took from the Ponzi scheme, not only from jilted brides.”

  She paced to the wall of windows and crossed her arms as she glanced out onto the city. Lucas remained on the sofa, watching her from across the room. Something churned in his gut, something he didn’t want to put a finger on, didn’t want to recognize.

  The emotions he’d had for Paisley in the past hadn’t completely died. A bond that strong couldn’t, no matter how abrupt and shocking the ending had been.

  That didn’t mean he’d let himself get wrapped all around her again. Paisley didn’t deserve some of the things that had happened to her, though. He wasn’t about to just sit back and watch her livelihood destruct. That was one thing they still had in common—their drive to be the best at their careers.

  She’d always wanted a bridal boutique. She’d always fantasized about their wedding when they’d been dating. He used to buy her hordes of bridal magazines back in the day and she would pore over them for hours.

  “I just want her to pay,” she finally stated, turning back to face him. “I’ll give you her name and the contract she signed when she ordered the dress. Threaten legal action if necessary. I just want my thirty-five thousand dollars.”

  Lucas jerked. “For a dress? What the hell is it made of? Gold blocks?”

  Paisley smoothed her hair over one shoulder and rolled her eyes. “Actually, it was hand sewn and the beading is from Italy. The designer is quite popular among celebrities and only a select clientele can even think about purchasing a Bella gown.”

  “Is that why you went with scraps of lace?”

  Paisley’s eyes narrowed. “Don’t think it didn’t cross my mind to stick you with a giant bill for a Bella gown. She’s my favorite designer, but I opted to be spiteful in another way.”

  Lucas came to his feet and slowly crossed to her. Those eyes remained locked on him and the way she looked at him, like she used to seconds before she ripped his clothes off, had his body already stirring to life.

  “By driving me out of my mind?” he asked as he closed in on her.

  “Exactly.” She tipped her chin and smiled. “Don’t act like you didn’t love seeing me. I know you, Lucas. Things might be different now, but you’re still a man with basic wants and desires.”

  He snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her body to his. “There’s nothing basic about my wants and desires for you, Tart. Never has been. You know exactly what buttons to push to make me ache for you even when you’re not here.”

  Her brow quirked as her gaze darted to his lips.

  “I missed you tonight.” Damn it. He hadn’t meant to let that slip.

  “You mean I didn’t check in?” she asked. “Are we back to those archaic rules of yours?”

  “That’s not what I meant.” When she gave him another eye roll, he corrected himself. “Okay, fine. Maybe that’s what I meant, but is it wrong that I want to know what’s going on with my wife?”

  She shuddered in his arms, and he wasn’t sure if it was from anger over his words or if she was turned on.

  “Is that the type of marriage we have?” she asked, still staring at him, her eyes searching for answers. “We check in with each other and discuss dinner or grocery lists and schedules? Because that’s not the impression I had.”

  Lucas clenched his jaw and reached up to toy with the ends of her hair. He stared at the strands between his fingertips and weighed his next words. Every time she brought up their marriage she made him sound like a lovesick husband from the ’50s. And damn it, she was right.

  Not the lovesick part. But they did need some sort of boundaries before moving forward.

  “Maybe we need to discuss what each of us expects,” he stated, pushing her hair back over her shoulder and trailing his hand down the column of her neck. “Besides me saving your business and finding out about Sterling.”

  “Oh, so the baby is off the list now?”

  Her mocking tone had him biting the inside of his cheek as he stared into her gaze. “No, actually it’s not. But I thought we could keep this a little more...”

  “Simple?”

  Lucas nodded and circled her waist with both hands. He couldn’t be this close and not touch her. He wanted to unfasten each of those little buttons and expose whatever sexy lingerie she wore beneath the dress, because he knew Paisley. She loved lace and satin.

  “How about if I make dinner three nights a week and have it ready when you get home?” he suggested.

  Paisley’s brows rose. “Are you joking?”

  “I don’t want to make your life with me miserable.”

  She shook her head. “I’m just surprised you offered to cook. What about the other four nights?”

  Lucas shrugged. “We’ll order out or I’ll take you wherever you want.”

  Her gaze narrowed and she pursed her lips. “Do you think all of this is going to make me give in to being your baby mama?”

  Lucas couldn’t help but laugh at her. “No, I didn’t think things would be that simple.”

  Hell, he sounded ridiculous now, but seeing her so upset, well...damn it. He’d wanted to help. Was that absurd for her to believe?

  “I don’t have to be the enemy here,” he defended.

  Paisley stared at him for a moment before surprising him by wrapping her arms around him and burying her face in his neck.

  “I don’t know what you are, but right now I need you,” she murmured before easing back slightly. “I don’t have many people I can count on and I don’t know what your angle is quite yet, but I have to trust you. For now, anyway.”

  He didn’t like that niggle of guilt. He sure as hell didn’t like that she doubted him and how much she could trust him. His revenge wasn’t on her, but Sterling. Yes, he was using her to get to the old bastard, but he didn’t want her hurt.

  Lucas couldn’t help but worry that no matter the outcome, a part of Paisley would be crushed. She wanted to have a father, especially since her mother was gone, but did she truly want one who was so deceptive and slimy?

  “What do you say you get me that information on the bride and I’ll call for takeout?” Lucas suggested.

  Paisley tipped her head. “I can’t believe you’re not trying to get me out of my clothes.”

  Lucas laughed and started working on that top button. “I never said anythi
ng to the contrary. In fact, I say we have a naked picnic.”

  “At some point I really need to resist you,” she grumbled.

  Lucas moved down to the next button. “But not now.”

  “No.” She took a deep breath, her breasts straining against the next button. “Not now.”

  He finished the trail of buttons and parted the material. When Lucas took a step back, he thought about forgoing dinner and the bride and just getting to his wife.

  She stood before him in a nude lace bra and panty set and those heels, and she wasn’t even trying to be sexy, she simply was. The woman was absolutely breathtaking after a bad day and a crying jag.

  Would he ever get to the point he didn’t want her?

  “If you keep looking at me like that, we won’t get dinner.” She sauntered around him and headed toward the hallway. “And I do believe it’s your night to cook.”

  Yeah. She was definitely going to be the death of him.

  But what a way to go.

  Ten

  Paisley just finished a consultation with a bride renewing her vows when her cell rang. She glanced at the screen, surprised to see Lucas’s name. He typically only texted or he would just pop in.

  She swiped the screen and answered.

  “Sterling is out on bail,” Lucas declared.

  The bomb he dropped had her knees weakening, her heart beating fast, her head spinning.

  Paisley eased down into her desk chair and pulled in a deep breath. “When did he get out?”

  “Apparently last night on several millions in bail,” Lucas stated. “I wanted to tell you as soon as I found out.”

  She glanced to the antique clock on her desk, more for decoration than functionality. She calculated how much time she had left until her boutique closed, and how soon she could make it to Sterling’s estate when she left.

  “Don’t even think about it,” Lucas warned.

  “You don’t know what I’m thinking,” she countered, gripping her phone tighter.

  “Tart, I know you and you’re trying to figure out how to go talk to him without me knowing.”