by Cat Schield
It was both a request and a plea for him to treat her well. But her declaration tempered Paul’s all-consuming drive to possess her. He eased his grip, second-guessing everything.
“Why is that important before I kiss you?”
“I don’t think this time we’ll be able to stop there,” she said. “And after whatever happens you’ll be even less willing to trust me.”
“It’s not that I don’t trust you...” It was more that he didn’t trust himself around her. The feelings she aroused messed with his head.
“You trust that I’m good for your grandfather. But I don’t think you’ll ever trust that I could be good for you.”
With his gaze locked on her lips, he rasped, “That’s not true.”
But he recognized the reason for her apprehension. He approached decisions with logic; she believed a deck of cards could predict what was to come. She took leaps of faith with little regard for her own safety. He rarely made a move without knowing in advance what the outcome would be. Yet at the moment he felt driven beyond wisdom and sense by his need for her.
“You won’t believe that I don’t want anything from you,” she persisted. “Even when nothing I’ve done gives you any reason to suspect me.”
It should’ve bothered him that she had him all figured out. Well, maybe not all figured out. But her grasp on what made him tick surpassed what he understood about her.
“I don’t have all the answers,” he admitted. “You’re not like anyone I’ve ever known before and frankly, you scare the hell out of me.”
Her eyes widened. “I don’t see how.”
“You’ve brought magic into my life.” He braced his hip against her kitchen counter as his admission caused something inside him to snap. Light-headed and reeling, he closed his eyes.
“You don’t believe in magic,” she murmured.
“I believe in you.”
He dropped his head and let his breath flow over her lips before easing forward to taste her. Anticipating a powerful jolt of desire, he was unprepared for the way his entire body lit up like he’d backed into a high-voltage generator marked Danger.
Drinking deep of her sweet, sinful mouth, Paul savored a kiss that reminded him of a quality bourbon, warm and complex. Heat spiraled through his veins. Her moan gave him the signal to take the kiss deeper. Lost in the liquid slide of their dancing tongues, Paul sucked on her lower lip and smiled as an eager groan broke from her throat. Their teeth clicked and he slanted his head to adjust the angle of the kiss so he could continue to devour her unhindered.
Lia’s questing fingers dove beneath his shirt and an electrical storm flashed behind his closed eyes. He crackled with wild thrumming energy.
He came up for air long enough to whisper, “This is going to complicate things.”
“Oh.” The anguish in her murmur made him hate that he’d voiced his concerns. But then she kept going and it was her throaty yes that sealed both their fates.
He breathed in her laughter, capturing it in his lungs before crushing his mouth to hers. A needy whimper broke from her as she ground herself against him, her movement becoming more frantic by the second. She rocked her hips, as if she’d given herself over to what her body needed and to hell with pride or consequences.
Paul couldn’t get enough of this woman. The chemistry between them was born of Lia’s romantic optimism and his surrender to everything caring and earnest about her. Even knowing this stolen moment couldn’t last and despite recognizing her sweetness might shatter his defenses and leave him open and exposed, Paul could no more stop or pause than he could fly.
He lowered his lips to hers once more. As her tongue, hungry and seeking, stole into his mouth, setting him on fire, he reached up and released her hair from its clip. Threading his fingers through the espresso waterfall of silky strands, he savored the spill of softness against his skin. He breathed in her vanilla scent as she roped her arms around his neck and murmured her appreciation. The sound popped a circuit in his brain, turning his thoughts into white noise that drowned out all things rational.
They tumbled onto her bed, hands skimming beneath the fabric of their clothes to the hot skin beneath. Groaning and panting, they deepened their kisses. Clothing fell away. Paul cupped Lia’s breast and pulled her tight nipple into his mouth. With a wordless cry, she arched her back and shifted her hips in entreaty. He wanted to take his time, to put his mouth between her thighs and taste her arousal, but his hunger for her burned too hot. His hands shook as he slid on a condom and shifted her until she straddled him.
Her blissful expression transfixed him. Then she tossed her head back and lowered herself onto his erection. Engulfed by the heat of her, Paul forgot how to breathe. No woman he’d ever known had blindsided him like Lia. She aroused impulsive cravings that couldn’t be denied and he’d long since lost the will to resist.
When her orgasm slammed into her, Paul felt the impact shake his soul. In the aftermath, he skimmed his palms over her flushed skin until her lashes lifted. Her eyes glowed with naked joy and absolute trust. At the sight, something rattled loose in his chest, stopping his heart.
“I...”
With a tender smile she set her fingertips against his lips. “Come for me. Please. I need you so much.”
Keeping them locked together, Paul flipped Lia onto her back and began driving into her tight heat. With an ardent moan she drove her fingers into his hair and met his deep thrusts with a hunger and enthusiasm that turned his desire into something reckless and unstoppable. He locked his lips to hers and surged into her over and over, feasting on her pleas. She was on the verge of coming again when his climax built to a point of no return.
With her legs wrapped around his hips, her teeth grazing his neck, he held off until a series of tremors detonated through her body and she yielded a soft, keening cry of pleasure. Only then did he let himself be caught in the shattering brilliance of his orgasm.
Contentment settled over Paul as he buried his face in Lia’s silky hair and waited for his breath to level out. Trailing his fingertips across her delicate shoulders and down her slender back, he stared at the tin ceiling, then turned his head and took in the cozy pillows they’d knocked to the floor with their passion. Reality intruded, banishing the hazy glow of satisfaction.
They’d agreed she would stay for two weeks. Seven days had already passed. The proof that she would soon depart was all around them. The truth in his heart was that Paul wasn’t ready to let her go.
* * *
With the wedding Paul had invited her to only two days away, Lia took inventory of her closet and found nothing suitable for an evening wedding featuring a Charleston socialite and a multimillionaire. Dallas had described the private event as a “simple affair,” but Lia guessed Charleston “simple” wasn’t a barefoot bride in her momma’s backyard with a barbecue picnic to follow. No, this wedding would be elegant and classy with a guest list that included the town’s elite.
Lia wanted something that would let her blend in with the rest of the Southern women in attendance, but had no idea what that would be. Her best bet would be to reach out to Poppy and Dallas to see if they had recommendations. Once Lia had shot each woman a text, explaining her dilemma, their immediate and enthusiastic response left her second-guessing her decision. In just a few days she’d be bidding them goodbye. Growing closer to the twins was only going to make leaving harder. Not for her. She was all too accustomed to parting ways with those she’d grown fond of.
On the other hand, the Watts family was a tight-knit group who’d been devastated when Ava left. Of course, Grady’s daughter had spent her whole life embraced by her family and naturally when she’d fled Charleston, her absence left a void. By the time the story came out that Lia wasn’t actually Ava’s daughter, they would only have known her for a couple weeks. The loss wouldn’t be as profound.
While Lia was ponde
ring her eventual break with the Watts family, she’d received a flurry of group texts. Dallas listed the names of several boutiques in downtown Charleston while Poppy chimed in with her opinion on each one. Lia read the messages with a growing sense of turmoil. At last she jumped in and asked if either one would be available later that afternoon to come shopping with her and give her some tips. An enthusiastic yes from both women left her overwhelmed with fondness and riddled with guilt.
At three o’clock Lia slid into the back seat of Dallas’s large SUV while Poppy rode shotgun. The two women exchanged animated opinions as to what would be suitable for the wedding as Dallas drove.
At the first store the twins took her to, Lia could immediately see she was in the wrong place. The clothes had a sexy vibe that she might have explored if her goal was to stand out. When she said as much, the twins exchanged a puzzled look.
“But you’ve got the perfect body to rock all of this,” Dallas said, indicating a short red-orange number with a plunging neckline.
“I don’t see why you wouldn’t want to show off what you’ve got,” Poppy contributed.
“That’s not the first impression I want to make,” Lia said carefully. “I was thinking that I wanted to blend in.”
“But that’s so boring,” Poppy cried.
“I think boring is just fine when it comes to a wedding,” Lia countered.
“But we’re already here. At least try on two things,” Dallas said. “Even if you don’t buy anything, it’ll be fun to try some stuff on.”
“Dallas and I will each pick something for you and you can see which you like better.”
Poppy’s enthusiasm quashed any further protest. What would it hurt for her to indulge the twins? But even as Lia nodded her acceptance, she reflected on their growing camaraderie. Usually her nomadic lifestyle kept her from diving too deep into friendship, but the twins were engaging and endearing. From the first they’d made Lia feel like a part of their inner circle. The fact that she didn’t belong, combined with her part in the deception, shadowed Lia’s enjoyment of the outing. Still, the twins were a formidable distraction when they combined their persuasive powers and soon Lia surrendered to their enthusiasm.
They didn’t allow her to do any browsing of her own and Lia could see that they’d played this game often with each other. Although they were identical twins, their personalities and styles couldn’t have been more different. Where Dallas preferred pastel tones and floaty, ruffled dresses that moved as she walked, Poppy adopted a more casual style with bright fabrics that hugged her body and showed off all her assets.
Selections made, the twins herded Lia toward the dressing room. She entered the enclosed space and surveyed each outfit. The first was a strapless bedazzled dress in cobalt blue. While it was beautiful and would no doubt look great with her coloring, it screamed look at me. The second dress—a body-skimming red halter with high side split—was no better. If she walked into the party wearing this, everyone would see her and want to know who she was.
Still, Lia had agreed to try both on. She stepped out in the cobalt blue dress first.
“What do you think?” she asked, turning before the three-way mirror.
“I think all Paul’s friends will be drooling over you,” Dallas said.
That was the last thing Lia was looking for. She didn’t want anyone singling her out.
“It’s beautiful,” she said. “But not exactly what I’m looking for. I feel a little too...” She tugged up the neckline, and then down on the hem. “I would feel a little too exposed in the dress.”
“Try the red one on,” Poppy said.
Lia returned to the dressing room and swapped dresses. Although the red halter was a little better, she still felt like she was trying too hard to send a message. She came out and had mixed reactions. While Poppy nodded vigorously, Dallas shook her head.
“The color is good on you and it really shows off the muscle tone in your arms, but that slit...”
“Agreed,” Lia said. “Let’s try somewhere else.”
King Street was lined with boutiques and Lia soon learned that at some point, the twins had shopped them all. At the next store they went to the dresses were more in Dallas’s style, with lace and ruffle details in pastel fabrics that made Lia look as if she was trying too hard to be someone she wasn’t.
“I’m looking for something between these two stores,” Lia said, worrying that she was never going to be able to find anything that suited her.
“I have a place in mind,” Dallas said.
Lia changed back into her regular clothes and the three women departed for yet another boutique. As soon as they entered, Lia knew this was exactly where she needed to be. This time, instead of letting the twins choose, Lia intended to be part of the search for something she liked. There was a lot for her to pick from, but she settled on one dress in particular.
The gorgeous long-sleeved, ankle-length sheath fit her perfectly. A subtle sparkle ran through the blush-colored fabric that helped define her slender curves without drawing too much attention.
“This one,” Lia said, exiting the dressing room to show off her pick.
“It’s elegant and understated,” Poppy said, but her expression reflected doubt. “Are you sure you don’t want something with more pizzazz?”
“Elegant and refined is what I was going for,” Lia said, gazing at her reflection in the mirror. “Unfortunately, I can’t afford this dress. But you get the idea of what I’m going for.”
“You shouldn’t worry about the expense,” Dallas said, highlighting the stark difference between how the twins lived and Lia’s reality.
Despite the fact that both women held down jobs and paid their own expenses, they came from a wealthy family and this gave them a financial edge. Where Lia lived simply and sometimes had to scrape the bottom of her piggy bank when something unexpected happened, she knew all the twins had to do was dip into their extensive reserves.
“It’s too much money to spend on something I can’t imagine having the chance to wear again,” Lia said, pretending not to see the look the twins exchanged.
Since the first day she’d met them, Lia had been dropping hints that she’d soon be leaving Charleston to get back on the road, preparing everyone for the moment when the testing mistake was revealed. Each time she mentioned leaving, one or more of the Wattses deflected her assertion, making it perfectly clear they didn’t want her to go. Even though she recognized their affection for her was based on their belief that she was Ava’s daughter, Lia had begun to dread the moment when she was no longer part of this family.
She’d always downplayed her need for an emotional support network. Her mother had instilled self-reliance in Lia from an early age. But looking at this way of life through the eyes of the Watts family, she’d started to see its limitations.
Bidding a determined farewell to the blush sheath, Lia settled on a markdown dress in black that skimmed her slim figure and highlighted her shoulders. Both Poppy and Dallas approved the sophisticated style, but best of all, the price was just inside her comfort zone. It wasn’t the dress of her dreams but it would definitely do, and she couldn’t wait to see Paul’s expression when he saw her in it.
* * *
Ethan was heading home after another long day at Watts Shipping when he spied the open door to his father’s large corner office and stepped inside. Instead of finding his father behind his large mahogany desk, Miles Watts stood near the windows, a drink in his hand, his gaze aimed toward the Cooper River, his mind far beyond the space he occupied.
“Wasn’t Mom expecting you home hours ago?” Ethan asked, struck as always by how much Paul resembled his father with their matching tall frames, the family’s distinct green eyes and wavy blond hair.
“No,” Miles replied, shifting his gaze to his younger son. “She had book club tonight.”
“I’m s
urprised you didn’t take the opportunity to head to Chapins.”
Chapins was a favorite of the Watts men. An upscale cigar lounge in the heart of downtown Charleston, it offered a large selection of rare and vintage brands.
“I had too much to do here,” Miles said, gesturing toward his desk with the crystal tumbler. “Are you heading out?”
“I thought I’d swing by the gym before heading home.” But instead of bidding his dad good-night, he advanced into the room. “Is everything okay? You seem distracted.”
“Your mom brought one of her lemon pound cakes over to Grady today. You know how he loves her baking.”
Ethan smiled. “We all do.”
Miles nodded. “She ran into Taylor English while she was there.”
While it wasn’t unusual for Grady’s attorney to visit him, something about the encounter had obviously prompted Ethan’s mother to comment on it.
“And?” Ethan asked.
“And nothing.” His father threw Ethan a dry look. “You know she wouldn’t discuss her business with your grandfather.”
“But Taylor must’ve said something that got you thinking, otherwise you wouldn’t mention it.”
“It wasn’t what she told your mother, it was the questions she was asking about Lia, her background and if Paul had checked her out.”
Ethan began to feel uneasy, but kept his tone neutral. “What did Mom tell her?”
“That she assumed Paul had vetted her.” Miles glanced toward his son for confirmation before continuing. “But Taylor had all sorts of questions.”
“Like what?”
“She pointed out the holes in Lia’s adoption story. Would a court really give a baby to a woman who moved around so much? Isn’t there a whole process that happens where she’d have to be evaluated for stability?”
“I’m sure that happened,” Ethan interjected, wishing they’d concocted a more run-of-the-mill backstory instead of using Lia’s actual past.
