Beautiful Deception

by Morgan James

  About the Book

  Beautiful Deception is the second book in the Deception Duet. Though best read in order, each book can be enjoyed as a standalone. This dark romance contains sexual situations, as well as scenes of abuse (though not between the hero/heroine). If such material is offensive to you, this book may not be for you.

  Happy reading! xoxo

  Beautiful Deception

  Deception Duet, Volume 2

  Morgan James

  Published by Morgan James, 2020.

  This is a work of fiction. Similarities to real people, places, or events are entirely coincidental.

  BEAUTIFUL DECEPTION

  First edition. September 29, 2020.

  Copyright © 2020 Morgan James.

  ISBN: 978-1393934103

  Written by Morgan James.

  Table of Contents

  Title Page

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  One

  Two

  Three

  Four

  Five

  Six

  Seven

  Eight

  Nine

  Ten

  Eleven

  Twelve

  Thirteen

  Fourteen

  Fifteen

  Sixteen

  Seventeen

  Eighteen

  Nineteen

  Twenty

  Twenty-One

  Twenty-Two

  Twenty-Three

  Twenty-Four

  Twenty-Five

  Twenty-Six

  Twenty-Seven

  Twenty-Eight

  Twenty-Nine

  Thirty

  Thirty-One

  Thirty-Two

  Thirty-Three

  Thirty-Four

  Thirty-Five

  Thirty-Six

  Epilogue

  Unrequited Love | Chapter One

  Also by Morgan James

  One

  Giuliana

  I stood at the counter and peered out the kitchen window into the bright morning light reflecting off the heavy layer of snow that had fallen last night, turning the backyard into a winter wonderland. Without warning, a pair of strong arms slipped around my waist.

  “Morning, beautiful.”

  I leaned into Eric’s warm body and tipped my head to the side, allowing him to drop a kiss on the slope of my neck. “I missed you last night.”

  “I know.” I could hear the regret in his voice. “The Johanssons were at it again.”

  As sheriff of the small town of Pine Ridge, Eric took his job seriously. He was often called out in the middle of the night and though he had several deputies beneath him, he’d told me once that he felt an obligation to personally see to the citizens’ safety. There was no doubt in my mind that he knew every single resident of Pine Ridge by name, and his protective and caring nature was evident in the way he handled his duties.

  “I’m sorry.” I snuggled further into his embrace. “I’d say I hope they’d learned their lesson, but...”

  He chuckled, and his warm breath wafted across my cheek. “If they haven’t figured it out yet, I doubt they ever will.”

  I wiggled my hips against his and felt the hard ridge of his arousal pressing into my bottom. His hands left my waist and slid down to the curve of my hips, his fingers curling into my flesh and pulling me close. I glanced at the clock and bit my lip. “Don’t start something you can’t finish.”

  He growled low in my ear, then nipped the soft flesh, making me jump. “I always finish, and so do you.”

  “But I can’t take time to appreciate it properly,” I complained without heat. I shivered as his mouth moved downward, his teeth skimming the cords of my throat.

  “Only because I want to make sure you’re properly taken care of.”

  It was true; he was notorious for spending an inordinate amount of time ensuring I derived as much pleasure from our lovemaking as possible, as many times as possible—and I loved every second of it.

  “I would,” I said regretfully, “but I have a meeting with Tony and Mia this morning to go over plans.”

  I loved my job at Briarleigh Lodge and Resort, a beautiful retreat for vacationers situated at the top of Mount Washington in northern Montana. Jack and Mia Prescott, the owners, were amazing to work for. Barely ten years older than myself, they were more like friends than employers. When I’d suggested the addition of a spa a couple months ago, they’d immediately hopped onboard. Since then, Mia and I had been working nonstop to get everything ready for its grand opening. It had taken a lot of research and the application of multiple licenses, but everything was finally starting to fall into place.

  “What time will you be done?”

  I shrugged. “Probably normal time, as long as nothing crazy happens between now and then.”

  “Tonight then.” Eric spun me in his arms and stared down at me for a moment. “But I’m not letting you go without this.”

  He took my mouth in a hard kiss, his tongue sliding over mine, and my knees went weak like they did every time he touched me. I’d never felt so cherished, so loved, as I did with him. I would forever be grateful that he found me on the side of the road that day nearly three months ago.

  Born into the Capaldi crime family, I was a mafia princess and only daughter of the capo of the Chicago outfit. When my father was killed three years ago, my uncle took over, and things changed drastically. In an attempt to align the Italian and Russian families, Uncle Massimo arranged my marriage to the Bratva captain, Nikolai. My uncle was abusive and cruel, often locking me away in the dark, stifling closet for hours at a time, but I’d heard the swirling rumors that Nikolai was worse; his first three wives had disappeared without a trace, and I refused to be another statistic. With little more than the clothes on my back, I ran and never looked back. As I stood in the circle of Eric’s arms, I had never been more thankful for anything in my life.

  He broke the kiss, and I stared up at him, studying his features. He was a hard man, stronger than anyone I knew, but he would never hurt me. He’d saved me more times than I could count, not only from external threats, but from myself as well. In those early days, I’d been tempted to flee at the first sign of trouble. Eric had slowly coaxed me out of my shell, urging me to believe in him. And I did—I trusted him with my life.

  “You okay?”

  His brows drew slightly together as he stared down at me, and a smile slowly spread over my face. “Perfect.”

  He stared at me dubiously, and I tightened my hold on his shirt where it was still clenched in my fists. “I was just thinking about how lucky I am.”

  His expression softened, and he pulled me infinitesimally closer. “You’ve got that wrong, babe.” He dipped his head and brushed his lips over mine, soft and sweet. “I’m the lucky one.”

  I leaned into him for a long moment, soaking up the heat and solace his large body offered. His touch was like a balm to my soul. Sometimes in the still darkness of night, when I found myself feeling lost and adrift, I would reach for him. The second my skin touched his, my heart calmed, and my mind relaxed, the connection between us potent and undeniable.

  I’d never before believed people who said their partner completed them; now I knew what they meant. It was the physical closeness, that deep level of trust I’d never found with another person. Eric was everything to me, literally the other half I hadn’t known I was missing.

  Peeling myself away, I peered up at him. “I should get going.”

  “I know.” He framed my face with his large hands and dropped another soft kiss on my lips. “Have fun. And don’t forget about dinner tonight.”

  A grin spread over my face. It was our first real date, and I was more excited than I sho
uld be. Though we’d been dating for almost two months, things had been hectic and I was glad the holidays were over so we could focus more on our relationship. There was a restaurant at the resort, but Eric had decided we deserved something special, so tonight we were headed down to a steakhouse in Kalispell to relax and unwind.

  “I can’t wait.”

  I stretched up on my toes and stole one more kiss before pulling away and grabbing my keys from the small table near the front door. Eric’s searing gaze watched me the entire way, sending tendrils of heat curling through me.

  God, I loved that man more than anything.

  A smile on my face, I hopped down the two wide porch steps and bounded through the powdery layer of snow to my car. The little Cavalier had served me well, but I’d recently considered upgrading to an SUV. Eric had tried to buy something for me a few weeks back, but I’d turned him down. It wasn’t that I didn’t appreciate the gesture—I did. But he’d already done so much for me, and I didn’t want to feel indebted to him more than I already did. I wanted him to know that I was with him because I loved him, not because of what he could offer me. More than that, I wanted to prove to myself that I could do it on my own. For the first time in my life, I had a job—one that I loved and that paid well—and I was determined to forge my own path through life.

  I hummed a happy little tune as I navigated the short drive down to the lodge, then pulled into the employee lot and put the car in park. For the past couple months, ever since the incident at Eric’s house, we’d been staying in a cabin that had once belonged to Mia’s late father, Bruce. It was empty and they had offered it up, not wanting to part with it. It was one of only a handful of homes high up on the mountain, and Jack and Mia’s place was only a few miles away. It was private and peaceful, and an added bonus was that it was only a few minutes’ drive to the resort.

  My gaze lifted and I froze in place as an Escalade slowly drove down the narrow lane of parked cars. The sight hit me with the force of a freight train, bringing with it a thousand memories I thought I’d buried. Horror replaced my earlier joy, turning my blood to ice in my veins. I grabbed the steering wheel, holding on for dear life, ready to throw the car in drive and race away. All black with tinted windows, the huge SUV was the same high-end vehicle my uncle had chosen for himself and his men.

  Heart banging against my ribcage, the sound echoing in my ears, I resisted the urge to slump down in my seat and hide away. Had Uncle Massimo finally found me? I held my breath as I studied the driver through the darkened side window. Dressed in what appeared to be a casual long-sleeved shirt, it wasn’t the pristine suit I was expecting of the soldiers who worked for my uncle. Sunglasses and a ballcap obscured most of his face, but he didn’t look familiar.

  Thank God.

  The Escalade rolled past, and my eyes darted to the license plate affixed to the back of the vehicle. South Dakota. I relaxed my hold on the steering wheel and slowly let out a relieved sigh. I’d half expected to see an Illinois plate on the bumper, some indication that the man had come all the way from Chicago to find me.

  I watched as the Escalade stopped at the end of the row. The driver hesitate for several interminable seconds, then turned left toward the visitor parking lot. He was just lost, then.

  My lungs deflated as I let out the breath I’d been holding and I pressed one hand to my chest, willing my heart to slow its rapid pace. I briefly closed my eyes and swallowed down the last of my fear. Uncle hadn’t found me yet; he wouldn’t. I’d left literally everything behind—clothes, cell phone, credit cards. I was untraceable and living in a remote mountain town. My fear was unfounded; I was safe.

  Shaking off the lingering chill that clung to my spine, I slipped the keys from the ignition then climbed from the car and headed inside. A glance at my watch told me I had approximately forty minutes until our meeting with the supervisor. I jingled the keys as I walked, and I opened the pro shop first.

  The manager Jack and Mia had hired would be here shortly, but I enjoyed opening each morning, getting everything ready in the peace and quiet before the bustle of the day began. Once it started, it wouldn’t stop again until after midnight when the restaurant bar closed down.

  I booted up the computer and glanced through yesterday’s sales, making quick note of anything that needed to be restocked or reordered.

  “Good morning!”

  Jenn’s happy voice cut through the still air, and I smiled at her as she approached the desk. “Morning.”

  I moved out of the way so she could use the computer to clock in, then she turned to me. “How was it yesterday?”

  I handed her the papers. “Pretty decent for a Tuesday.” I checked the clock on the computer. “All right. I’m off.”

  With a smile and a little wave, I headed down the long hallway toward the spa. Tony, the supervisor for the addition, stood outside the large oak doors, and he threw a smile my way. Somewhere in his late sixties, he was still handsome, salt and pepper flecking his dark hair. I wasn’t terribly comfortable around most men, but Tony put off a fatherly vibe that had immediately set me at ease.

  Mia joined us and for the next two hours, we discussed the progress of the spa. Each room of the facility had been framed in and plumbing and electricity had already been run. They planned to start the drywall next week, then the flooring would go in. The tile we’d chosen for the salon was backordered, but it wasn’t a huge concern, according to Tony. All of the other materials were in the back waiting to be installed, so they could finish the salon once everything else was done.

  We thanked Tony, then Mia turned to me, her eyes bright. “I have a surprise for you.”

  “Okay...” I drew out the word, confused.

  “Close your eyes.” I did as she asked, then her hands landed on my shoulders. “Now turn around three times.”

  “What? Why?”

  “So you won’t know where we’re going.” Her tone was tinged with exasperation, and I let out a little laugh.

  “How will that help? I could just open my eyes if I really wanted to know.”

  Mia paused, and her hands lifted away from me. I could just imagine her gesticulating wildly as she spoke. “Whatever. You know what I mean. Baby brain.”

  A low chuckle met my ears, and my eyes popped open as Jack approached. “Don’t let her fool you. That started long before she got pregnant.”

  I pressed my lips together to hide my smile as Mia leveled a haughty glare at her husband. “Are you intentionally trying to pick a fight?”

  “Never.” His expression never changed, but I could see the teasing glint in his eyes as he stared at her.

  Mia lifted one brow at him. “Mhmm.”

  He stepped close as if to pass us by, then dipped his head and spoke low in her ear. Mia’s cheeks turned pink, and she licked her lips as Jack straightened. He took her chin between his thumb and forefinger, then looked deep into her eyes for several long seconds. Finally, he released her and nodded toward me.

  “Try to keep her in line.”

  I shrugged helplessly, a smile pulling at the corners of my mouth. “No promises.”

  “You’re telling me,” he murmured. With one more meaningful look at Mia, he turned and strode down the hall. My gaze drifted toward Mia as she watched her husband, a hungry look of longing etched on her face.

  It was always interesting watching those two interact. Mia was perpetually bubbly while Jack was so intense. And yet it just... worked. I could feel the desire, the love crackling between the two of them, despite the fact that they were rarely—if ever—affectionate in public. I knew part of that was Mia’s choice. Since she was partial owner of her late father’s company, Hamilton Construction, I knew she felt she had to try twice as hard to be taken seriously in what people still considered a man’s role.

  “If you’d rather wait...”

  Mia’s head snapped toward me, and her eyes cleared. “No! I’ve been waiting all day for this.”

  I barely suppressed a smile. “
It’s barely eleven o’clock.”

  Pretty blue eyes rife with mock condescension glared at me. “You know what I mean.”

  I laughed, and she cracked a smile. “Seriously, this kid’s killing me. I’m tired and hungry all the time, and I swear I’d forget my head if it wasn’t attached.”

  “I’m sure that’s normal,” I assured her. Playing along with whatever scheme she’d concocted, I turned around and closed my eyes. “All right. I’m game.”

  Her hands fell to my shoulders once more, and she guided me forward. “No peeking.”

  “Okay, okay.” Curiosity tugged at me as we passed the kitchen, the sounds of clanging pans giving away our location. Another minute later, Mia pulled me to a stop. “Okay... Open!”

  I blinked my eyes open and came face-to-face with... A door? “Ummm...”

  Mia moved to my right side and tipped her head toward the plaque hanging on the wall which read “Special Events Coordinator.”

  I whirled toward her. “What is this?”

  A huge smile lit her face. “Your new office.”

  I turned back toward the oak door, emotion clogging my throat.

  “I know we haven’t talked about it,” Mia spoke up, “but I wanted it to be a surprise. Even if you don’t want the position, the office is still yours.”

  I swallowed hard and blinked away the tears of gratitude that had formed while she spoke. “Mia, I... I don’t know what to say.”

  She lifted her hands and spread her fingers wide. “I’m not an expert, but “yes” seems as good a response as any.”

  I covered my face with my hands, grinning like a fool. “Yes!”

  “Yay!” Mia’s arms came around me in a huge hug, and I held on tight.

  Never in my life had I felt happier, more accepted than I did here. Months ago I’d arrived in Pine Ridge alone and scared, and badly in need of funds to keep me going. Eric found me on the side of the road when my car ran out of gas, and he’d called in a favor to Jack to hire me on. Now I had a man who loved me and friends and coworkers whom I adored.