The Mistresses Collection

Twelve

They went out the back door where his car was parked and waiting. A few minutes down a winding private road then he was opening her passenger side door again and they were hurrying like teenagers into his private villa overlooking the water.

The moment they were inside and the door was shut, he took her in his arms and, running his hands over her bare shoulders, down her back, he kissed her again like he’d been dying to do all evening. When his mouth finally left hers, his breathing was labored. So was hers.

“It killed me to play polite host all night and not drag you away sooner.”

“You were so sure that I’d come.”

He unclasped the strap at her nape. “I knew I could convince you.”

When the gown dropped to her feet, her eyes glittered up into his before she stepped out of the silky puddle at her feet and kicked it aside. Naked but for a pair of skimpy silk panties, she smiled like a cat about to get her cream.

She murmured, “So start convincing.”

Every drop in his veins heated to a point long past stable. He swept her up off her feet and strode to the main bedroom.

He’d left instructions for the bed to be turned down and candles to be lit at midnight. She was looking adoringly into his eyes, curving her palm around his cheek as he set her purposefully down on the bed. But unlike the last time, she didn’t lie back quietly. Rather she brought herself upright until she was kneeling on the side of the bed before him. Then she reached up and stud by stud undid his shirt while he tried to keep it together enough to roll his shoulders out of his jacket and tossed it aside. He heeled off his shoes at the same time she concentrated to release the cummerbund then the catch at the top of his trousers.

And every second, he watched from above… . The way her beautiful body moved and swayed as she worked to undress him. How her soft skilled hands drove up over his bare chest once his shirt was set aside. All night her scent had near driven him wild…light and flowery and at the same time sensual. Sexy. While she’d spoken with guests, he’d imagined her getting ready for tonight, dabbing pulse points with a long, thin stick of perfume…behind her ears, on her wrists, between her breasts, across her bikini line.

When he stood before her wearing nothing but socks, she crouched in front of him and, without fair warning, guided his heavy erection into her mouth.

He was no stranger to sex. He’d enjoyed many women and in every way possible. But he’d never been lifted to this bonemelting place before. As her nails dragged up over his scrotum and her head bobbed down farther, he couldn’t be certain he’d last the distance. Closing his eyes, he combed his fingers through her long, silken hair while, second by second, both their movements grew—and to a crucial point where all too soon he had to ease away.

“I like what you do to me.” He groaned. “In fact, I like it a little too much.”

Her eyes in the muted light were liquid. Her smile was nothing short of pure sin. As she rolled back, he caught the slim bands of her panties and silently thanked her when she lifted her legs so he could peel them off the rest of the way. When she put out her arms to him, he positioned himself between her open, bent knees. Holding onto her thighs, he drank in the sight of her while the tide inside him swirled and climbed even higher.

He found the condom wrap on the side table. When he was sheathed, he cupped the back of her neck and claimed another kiss while he pushed forward and at last entered her. He forced himself to go slow and build the rhythm. But the way she was kissing him back—so hungry and deep—it wasn’t long before he was left balanced on the brink. He murmured against her lips, “God, I missed you.”

“I didn’t think you’d call.”

“I was an idiot to wait this long.”

She smiled against his lips. “Your invitation arrived two days after I got back.”

“Like I said…” He nipped her lower lip. “Too long.”

When she gripped his hips and wound her legs around the back of his thighs, his every thought and fiber zeroed in on raw, scorching sensation. He felt on fire, inside and out, and as his rhythm increased, she let him know with her sighs and her moves that she was already almost there, too.

The burn was too good. Her mouth nibbling his, too sweet. As she began to tremble and clutch around him, Zack’s mind fogged then went a perfect high-pitched blank. The earth began to shudder as he stilled, and in that stellar, precise fragment in time, he knew.

If he ever fell in love, he’d want it to feel just like this…just like Trin…“I love your family.”

They were lying quietly, enjoying the afterglow of their lovemaking while Trinity drew aimless patterns through the hair on Zack’s chest. The occasional distant blow of a ship’s horn and the wash of ancient branches over the roof were lulling. But she’d enjoyed her evening so much, she’d simply had to let him know.

Now he asked, “You didn’t feel overwhelmed?”

“Maybe a little, but only in a nice way. Do you mind me asking…? How did Dylan lose his arm?”

“A car knocked him off his bike when he was twelve. His right arm was caught beneath the tire. The main nerves were severed. He lost all movement and the limb withered. The arm’s still attached but he can’t use it.”

“So Rhian met him after the accident… .”

He craned up to give her an odd or protective look. “It doesn’t make Dylan any less a human being. In fact, if anything, it makes him more a man. He still plays ball with his kids, makes them dinner, chases them around the yard. And he’s a whiz with the company books. None of us even think about his arm anymore.” He relaxed back down. “Dylan and Rhian will be together forever.”

She believed him.

“Your mom was so welcoming,” she said then. “And your dad’s so funny. I know where you get your storytelling abilities from.”

“They suit each other. That’s what I think anyway.”

“Who doesn’t think that?”

“They’re in the middle of discussions.”

“About?”

“Whether to split.”

“What? I don’t believe it.”

“It’s been coming for a while. He’s always spent a lot of time at the office, away on business. Last straw, she booked a Mediterranean cruise for just the two of them. At the eleventh hour Dad said he couldn’t make it. Mom went on her own and when she came back, she wanted a separation. She brought us all together and explained that she’d raised her family and was beyond happy to be a grandmother but she also wanted some time with her husband before they were too old to enjoy one another. If he didn’t agree, it was time to go their separate ways. Dad didn’t think she was serious until she moved into their city apartment. She’s made the social pages quite a few times on her own recently.”

“So it’s too late for a reconciliation?”

“I only know the writing was on the wall years ago.”

“Personal and business don’t mix?”

“Not when there are kids involved and the onus is placed on one parent to raise them. Not when you’re talking billiondollar turnovers that need to be met.” He squeezed and tugged her up against him. “But that doesn’t apply to you and me. We both have careers. Neither of us have kids.” An awkward moment in which they both must have remembered Bonnie passed between them before he went on. “I want to see you again.”

Trinity felt every one of her emotions condense and begin to glow. She’d enjoyed this evening. Even more, she’d enjoyed sharing Zack’s bed again. But, unfortunately, that didn’t change anything.

She moistened her lips. Took a breath.

“Zack, I can’t see you after tonight.”

His chest stopped moving then he asked, “You want me to prove how much you mean to me?” He rubbed the tip of his nose with hers. “I’ve been told I choose excellent gifts.”

“You know that’s not it.”

“Then you liked the globe?”

“Of course I did. I meant to tell you a dozen times tonight only we never seemed to be alone. But I’m not here now because of a gift. I came because I needed to see you again.”

He nuzzled against her neck. “And I needed to see you.”

Her eyes began to burn. She thought she was ready for this conversation. But ready or not, she had to go on.

“I’ll never forget those two days away. They changed me, Zack. Changed how I think about the world. About the future.”

He rolled her over. “This is getting entirely too serious.” But when his head slanted over hers, as difficult as it was to deny them both, she wound away and sat up.

He scratched his cheek and thought a moment.

“Okay,” he finally said. “You want to talk. Let’s talk.”

She clutched the cover under her neck and admitted, “I don’t want to hide from who I really am anymore. I had a tough time as a kid but I’m not going to let that beat me. I’ve decided. Someday I want a family of my own.”

“A family…?” His brow and voice lowered. “Is this supposed to be some kind of ultimatum?”

“No. Never. You do whatever you want to do. Although I have to say, after seeing you tonight with your family, I think you might be hiding at least a part of who you really want to be, too.”

He huffed. “Why is it so difficult to believe a man wants to commit to a career?”

She lifted a brow. “Some say careers are overrated. In fact, I quit my job when I flew back from Colorado.”

His six-pack crunched as he sat up. “You love that job.”

“I do. I did. But we get just one life. I want to work with kids. Maybe in counseling or shelters—”

“You’re doing this to get in touch with Bonnie again,” he cut in.

Her temper spiked. “Her name’s Belinda. And you’re wrong. I’m doing this because it’s right for me, and I hope Bel and her mother find what’s right for them, too.”

His gaze held hers. “I don’t believe you never want to feel this again.”

“We want different things. I want more. Eventually marriage. A family. It’s not a crime. Ask your brothers and sister.” She sighed but didn’t trust herself enough to touch and soothe away the crease cut between his brows. “It’s just the way it is.”

In the candlelight, she saw the determined glint in his eye. He didn’t accept it. But for once, the decision wasn’t up to him.

What she didn’t say—what hurt the most—was in these few short days, she’d gone and done what, looking back on their time together, now seemed inevitable. She’d fallen in love.

As she’d lain awake at night thinking of all they’d shared during such a small vacuum in time, the realization had only grown. She was yet another Zack Harrison victim. She’d never feel for someone else the way she felt for him. If she wanted to fool herself, she could think about taking up his offer to continue their affair and hope that she’d be the one he’d end up with. Have a family with. But no matter how convincing this evening had been, truth was he must have been convincing with scores of other women before her.

“You’ll spend the night,” he finally said.

“Until dawn. I don’t want to have pancakes with your family and give them the wrong impression.”

“That we slept together?”

“That we’re serious. Besides, I don’t think a red evening gown is suitable attire for breakfast fare.”

“I have sweaters in the closet.”

She shook her head—was about to say the words—No, Zack. No—when his cell on the side table buzzed.

“You should answer it.”

He growled. “I don’t give a damn who it is.”

“Maybe it’s one of your brothers. Or your mother or father.”

“They wouldn’t call at this time of night—”

Her stomach pitched and she finished for him. “Unless something was wrong.”

Turned out that the caller wasn’t any part of his family. Wasn’t work. It was the last person on earth either of them expected to hear from, particularly this late on a Saturday night.

Thirteen

On the other end of the line, Zack’s caller took a halting breath then continued to explain her unhappy situation. When she was done, Zack asked, “Is there a motel nearby?”

He was given an establishment’s name—she could see the motel’s neon sign from where she stood making the call. Zack said he’d organize a room—not to worry about needing a card or cash—and he’d be there as soon as he could.

Already on his feet, heading for the walk-in closet for some jeans and a shirt, he terminated the call. He was thrusting his arms through the first button-down shirt he could grab when Trinity’s shaky voice filtered across the room.

“Zack, you’re scaring me. Who was that? What’s wrong?”

“That girl. Bonnie’s mother. Her name’s Maggie. Maggie Lambert.” He zipped up while collecting some running shoes. “She has the baby at a truck stop outside of Denver.”

He heard something fall to the floor as she scrambled out of the bed. “Why? What happened?”

“I’ll explain on the way. Here.” He tossed her a shirt. “Put this on. Hurry.”

After stopping at her apartment so that she could change into traveling clothes, Zack called in a favor and organized a private emergency flight to Colorado. They arrived in the early hours of Sunday morning. The predawn was eerily dark and despite her overcoat, Trinity shivered as she alighted from the black Mercedes rental before he’d even shut down the purring engine.

Huddling into her coat, Trinity surveyed the motel, a rundown building with an erratically blinking blue neon sign. She flinched. “Are you sure this is the place?”

“Hardly five-star but better than hanging out in the early hours with an infant at a truck stop.”

But when Zack roused the sleepy caretaker and the man rang through to Maggie’s room—not once but three times—no one answered. Belinda and her mother were gone.

The long flight from New York to Denver had been nerveracking enough. Now Trinity held her roiling stomach.

“What do we do now?”

“Call the police.”

Trinity perked up. She’d half expected Zack to say there was nothing they could do. But if he hadn’t offered to call the authorities, she would have phoned them herself. She couldn’t rest without knowing that those two were safe. From the set of Zack’s jaw, he felt the same way.

Moving out from the motel foyer back in the misty morning light, he stopped, found her gaze and firmly took her hand.

“We’ll find them,” he told her. “We won’t leave until we do.”

Unable to speak over the tears stinging her throat, Trinity nodded then gazed despairingly up and down the neon-blue-tinged road. Across the way was that truck stop. If Maggie had decided to catch a ride, she could be anywhere by now.

Zack had found his phone, presumably to contact the police, when a call came through. He frowned down at the screen before pressing the phone to his ear. “Hello?” He paused a moment then demanded, “Where the hell are you?”

A few seconds later, Zack ended the call.

“That was Maggie. Belinda woke early and wouldn’t settle again so they went for a walk and ended up back over there.”

He gestured toward the stop at the same time Trinity let loose that pent-up breath. They were here after all. Thank God.

Hand in hand, they strode across that road and in through the entrance of Big Bill’s Burger Stop and Gas.

Inside, the café’s chairs and booths were covered in worn red vinyl. The Formica tabletops shone, the aroma of coffee permeated the air and in a far corner a bereft young woman sat, waiting, a baby carrier perched beside her on the floor.

Trinity and Zack rushed over. She wanted to hug the girl, tell her they’d been so worried. But the words would sound judgmental and Zack had sounded annoyed enough just now on the phone. So instead Trinity forced a shaky smile and peered down at the baby while her heart leaped and sank at the same time.

The baby looked so peaceful, wonderfully oblivious to the turmoil surrounding her young, precious life. With all her being, Trinity wanted to lift her out of that carrier, hold her close to her heart and never let her go. Perhaps that was wrong. Bel wasn’t hers but that maternal drive was so strong, she felt as if she were breaking inside.

Zack waited for her to slide into the booth then followed.

“We came as quickly as we could.”

Maggie’s face was drawn and her eyes glistened with unshed tears. She looked as if she’d trudged a thousand miles and had a thousand more to go.

“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean for you to come all the way back out here. It’s just—” Maggie shrugged those too-slim shoulders in her denim jacket “—I didn’t know what else to do.”

Zack prodded. “Tell us what happened.”

“I spoke to Bel’s dad on the phone late last week,” Maggie began. “He said there were some great opportunities out where he was. That I should come out, too, and bring the baby. The people at the shelter were nice. We’d talked about me going to college. Getting a degree. But I thought he was inviting us. I thought he wanted to help take care of us.”

When tears slipped down both Maggie’s cheeks, Trinity felt her own throat throb with emotion. She reached across the table and held the girl’s hand tight.

“I put together what money I had,” Maggie said. “I left the shelter and called my mom to say we wouldn’t be back. Then I phoned Ryan, Bel’s dad, to set up times and stuff. He sounded…different.” She seemed to look inward before her gaze lowered to her sleeping child. “I should’ve known. I got such a terrible feeling, but I went ahead and bought the ticket anyway then phoned again to tell him what time we’d be getting in. I so wanted it to work out.” She bit her lower lip as her mouth bowed and more tears fell. “He hung up on me, but before he did, I heard a girl’s voice in the background.” Tears were spilling down her face now, curling around her quaking chin. “That’s when I remembered your offer to help, Mr. Harrison—”

When he interrupted, Zack’s voice was hoarse but also gentle. “Call me Zack.”

Maggie nodded. “And Ms. Cassidy…She said what a lovely couple you were.”

Zack blinked. “She did?”

“Uh-huh. But I already knew that. She had your number, the same one you told me that day when I got Bel back.” A look of uncertainty and fear shuttered over her face. “I hope I’m doing the right thing.”

Trinity squeezed Maggie’s cool, bony hand. “Of course you are. We’ll make sure you’re both safe.”

“But there’s more,” she said. “I’ve had so much time to think.”

Trinity took a breath and waited.

“You both looked so torn up when I left with her that day,” Maggie said, “and here you are, just like that, after a thirty-second phone call. I know you care about Bel. She’s so easy to love.” Maggie squirmed in her seat then, elbow on the table, she held her head. “This is the hardest thing I’ve ever had to say, to do, but I know in my heart that it’s right.”

Zack prodded. “What’s right, Maggie?”

A look of irreversible calm stole over her tearstained face. “I want you to step in. Will you adopt my baby?”

The sensation was akin to having a heavyweight’s glove belt him in the solar plexus. Zack lost his breath, instantly felt physically ill. At that moment, a waitress with a row of silver studs lining the shell of her left ear appeared at the table.

“You folks want coffee? Breakfast menu’ll be out soon if you’re hungry.”

Trinity said something, Zack didn’t hear what. His ears were ringing and he realized he was staring at the baby, looking so tiny and needing someone to rescue her. He’d rescued her once—was it only a week ago? He’d been edgy about that decision. If he’d known how events would play out, would he have left Trinity to sort things out while he’d followed his more basic, less flattering instinct and taken that cab home?

“Zack? Are you all right? Did you hear what Maggie said?”

He pushed back in his seat and the room began to tilt. “Of course I heard.” His voice sounded gruff to his own ears and when Maggie recoiled, he summoned up a shaky smile. “Maggie, you do know that Trinity and I…Well, we’re not married.”

Maggie nodded. “Ms. Cassidy told me. But you’re obviously committed to each other.” Her hopeful smile shone out. “You’re both here, aren’t you?”

But, God knows, he hadn’t come here for this.

“Excuse me a minute.” Feeling crowded, Zack fell upon a weak excuse. “I left my cell in the car.”

He got to his feet and made his way toward the exit, winding between tables, feeling as if he were moving across the deck of a lilting ship. At the main entry/exit, he put out his palm, crashed through the swinging glass door and out into blessed fresh air. But his stomach was still churning and his legs felt as if they might collapse beneath him. Setting his hands on his knees, he propped himself against the outside brick wall and bent slightly over as his head went into a spin.

He couldn’t adopt a baby, not even Bonnie. He was a sworn-to-uphold-the-code bachelor. Cold, hard fact was he didn’t have time to worry about a child full time. And Maggie had said she wanted them both to adopt. She thought they were committed to each other. Did that mean he was supposed to marry a woman he barely knew? Didn’t matter that the woman was Trinity.

He couldn’t do it. It might seem like an easy fix for young Maggie, but he was old enough to see on down the line. He wasn’t the marrying, settling-down-with-a-brood kind of guy. He’d never professed to be. He was a career man, pure and simple. No blurred lines or people got hurt. This request—the unique situation—changed nothing. And if that sounded harsh, then so be it.

The door swung open. Sucking down another gulp full of fresh air, Zack straightened. Slipping her hands into her coat pockets, Trinity crossed over.

“A bit of a shock, huh?”

He cleared his throat. “Just a bit.”

“I think Maggie’s really thought this through. She wants to get to know us better. Make a hundred percent sure it’s the right thing for the baby.”

His head pulled back. “You sound as if you’re actually considering this. That it’s a done deal.”

“If I can help them, I will.”

His laugh was clipped. “Well, don’t count me in.”

She blinked several times. Then a wry, sad grin hooked up one side of the mouth he’d kissed so thoroughly the night before.

“I guess this news has knocked us both out of the ballpark, especially given what I said earlier.”

“That we want different things,” he reminded her.

She gave a contrite nod. “I’m not sure what it will take to make sure Bel gets everything she deserves. I only know I can’t walk away. I truly thought you’d be on board, too. Or would at least consider it.” Her beautiful eyes filled. “I honestly thought you loved that little girl.”

His jaw clenched. “If I loved her, isn’t that all the more reason not to set her up like this? I’m not father material.”

“You’re wrong. You’d make an excellent dad. You’re just too stubborn to give up even a smidgen of who you were.”

His temper flashed. “Who I am.”

She folded her arms. “Well, I’m going to help Maggie and Bel.”

“With no job?”

“I have savings.” Her brows knitted. “Besides, money isn’t everything.”

“It goes a long way to helping. In fact…” The solution exploded in his head. If he hadn’t been so blindsided by Maggie’s surprise announcement, he would have thought of it sooner. He couldn’t adopt but he could certainly help financially.

“I’ll transfer money into Maggie’s account. As much as she needs.”

“So her mother or deadbeat ex can get to it?”

He growled. At times Trinity was so damn difficult. “No. So she can get a place, go to college.”

“Who’ll look after the baby?”

“Sitters. Even my brothers have sitters.”

“I think Maggie is looking at the baby having a stable upbringing, with people who will be there for the long haul rather than a string of girls after a few dollars an hour.” She gave him an evaluative, ultimately disapproving look that made him feel about five years old. “I’m going back inside to tell her I’ll be there for them both, and if Maggie wants me to take on that child on my own, if there’s a way, you can bet I’ll do it.”

“Trinity, you don’t have any support.”

That disappointed look turned to jaded pity.

“With that attitude, I think you might be right.” She firmed her bottom lip. “That baby’s better off without you.”