Her Perfect Pleasure

by Lindsay Evans

  So it was fine to take the afternoon off and do something fun. Like watch two people who were obviously head over heels in love with each other get married.

  Adah floated down the cobblestoned path like a fairy, delicate and ethereal in the eggshell dress with bright yellow butterflies sewn into it. So gorgeous.

  A beauty enough to make anyone jealous. But Jade was only glad for her.

  Jade’s parents had suffered through their marriage. She’d had enough of seeing that up close even while her father kept telling her his way of being and loving was the proper and right way to be.

  But she’d seen more beautiful aspects of love, devotion and commitment here with Carter’s family than she’d seen her whole life.

  Her eyes burned with sympathetic tears of happiness. Long after she got back to San Diego, she’d remember this day, remember the love here in Miami, like she was part of it.

  “Do you take this man...”

  Behind Kingsley, Carter stood, tall and big and proud. Like he was protecting their marriage-to-be from any interlopers. Jade shook her head. No. It didn’t do her any good to think of him that way. Despite the incredible sex they’d had, he was part of her life that had to stay in the past.

  Then why are you at the wedding he invited you to?

  Why are you with his family?

  Annoyed with herself and the voice that had plagued her since she woke up, naked, in the bed her parents had left for her, Jade shook her head and focused on what was happening in front of her.

  “I now pronounce you husband and wife,” the minister declared. “You may now kiss your spouse.”

  Kingsley and Adah stared at each other as if they were the only ones who existed in all the world. Jade felt the heat from them radiate and rush through the entire lawn. She sneaked a peek at Paxton. The girl fanned her face with an exaggerated movement of her wrist but a bright smile shaped her lips. Tears of happiness brightened her eyes.

  After staring at each other for what seemed like forever, the newly joined couple shared a scorching kiss. The entire lawn burst out in loud applause and wolf whistles.

  “Save it for the honeymoon!” someone shouted out.

  “All right, now!” came another voice.

  The whistles and laughter and well-wishes floated through the bright sunshine, sweeping over Jade and carrying her along with them.

  “Come on, let’s go congratulate my brother and new sister!” Before she could protest, Paxton grabbed Jade’s hand and dragged her through the milling crowd and up to the line of well-wishers. Grinning and dropping the occasional excuse me!, she pushed her way through the line and threw her arms around Kingsley and Adah both.

  “Finally, huh? Now you can have church-sanctified sex instead of being fornicating heathens all over Miami.”

  “Pax!” Adah laughed and grabbed Paxton into a rough hug. “You’re terrible!”

  “And you’re part of the family now. Officially!” Paxton squeezed her new sister-in-law then reached back and grabbed Jade’s hand.

  “You look amazing,” Jade said, aware of the receiving line she and Paxton had cut through and trying to make it quick. “I wish you every happiness.”

  Adah’s hug was strong and sincere and scented with a sweet, powdery perfume. Already, she smelled like a faraway place of happiness and endless sunshine. “Soon, it’ll be your turn.”

  What? Jade hugged her back even as she frowned in confusion. Within seconds, she was passed on to Kingsley for a hug from him, then towed away from the front of the line by an excited Paxton. She only had a moment to share a smile with Carter who looked from her to Paxton with amusement glittering in his eyes.

  “Weddings are the best!” Paxton said with a grin. “The food is the best part but it’s nice seeing the happy couple too.” She grabbed Jade’s hand again and pulled her along, down the cobblestoned path the bride had come in on and across the lawn, weaving between the beautifully dressed people who’d come to wish the couple well. “Come on. Let’s get to the buffet before too many more people get there.”

  As they walked through the crowd, she chattered on. Saying how happy she was that her brother hadn’t insisted on starving the wedding guests until the new couple was ready to sit down for their first toast.

  “And that’s why my brother is awesome!” Paxton chattered.

  They got food from the buffet, which was being tended to by white-suited waiters, and found a table with their names printed neatly on seating cards. At least Paxton found her name. She moved the card for whoever was supposed to be sitting next to her off someplace else and dragged Jade down next to her.

  Jade’s head spun from being turned here and there by the excited girl. But she was surprised that she didn’t mind. It felt good to be wanted. To be welcome.

  Paxton babbled on and Jade fell into the rhythm of their conversation with a smile she felt all the way inside.

  “I hope our next wedding will have a buffet too.” She looked meaningfully at Jade like she was trying to tell her something, but Jade didn’t get it. What did she have to do with the next wedding? She wasn’t going to be in it. She wasn’t even going to be in Florida. Once the job for Diallo Corporation wrapped up, it was back to the West Coast for her.

  A dull pain thumped behind her chest at the thought.

  But she ignored it.

  “Pax!” Jaxon appeared out of the crowd, looking handsome and wicked in his groomsman’s tuxedo. “I’ve been looking all over for you.” He gave Jade a dismissive glance and she smiled coolly at him. The little bastard.

  “It’s not like I’ve been hiding.” Paxton frowned at her brother with a bite of food still in her mouth.

  “Whatever, I’ve gotta talk to you,” Jaxon said. He obviously wasn’t about to go anywhere.

  Paxton glared back at him. “Talk, then.”

  Jaxon gave Jade another look, this one pointed and unmistakable. He wanted to talk to his sister alone. There was something vaguely twitchy about him, uneasy. A pleading look directed briefly at Paxton like he didn’t want anyone else to see. It was such an unfamiliar look to Jade, so vulnerable, that she sat frozen in her chair, watching them.

  Maybe it was a twin thing.

  She stood up, wiping her mouth with the cloth napkin. “I’m going to grab a drink. Would you like something, Paxton?”

  “Sure.” The young girl looked up gratefully at her. “Anything. Just surprise me.”

  As dismissive as she was of her brother, she must have sensed his unease too.

  With a single squeeze of the girl’s shoulder, Jade got up and left the two of them alone. She didn’t go far before she saw Carter across the lawn. Her belly tightened at the same time that a familiar warmth rushed through her.

  No. Not again.

  But the feeling was unmistakable.

  Crap.

  She clenched her teeth and veered away from him. The bar was just behind him but she headed toward another that was farther away. It was safer that way.

  Damn. I knew it was a bad idea to come to this wedding.

  “You know I never liked the idea of going public with the company anyway. We should keep it private and in the family.”

  The words slowed Jade’s feet. She turned to see where it was coming from. Two women stood near the water, pretty in their wedding dresses. The man with them looked enough like Carter and Kingsley for Jade to know this was another Diallo.

  “Why didn’t you vote no, then? You’re on the board after all, or did you forget?”

  “Don’t be an ass. Of course I didn’t forget. I just know that’s what Mama wants, so I figured why not.”

  “But it’s turning out to be more trouble than it’s worth.”

  “Amen,” the other woman muttered.

  The corporation’s board didn’t all agree on the company going public? This was news to Ja
de. The way Kingsley had presented it, the only person standing in the way of Diallo Corporation going public was Jaxon, and that was only because he was an ass and wouldn’t behave himself in public.

  Interesting. And problematic.

  A few eyes flickered her way. Yes, she must have looked suspicious as hell, standing by herself and apparently staring into space. She forced her legs to move in the direction of the bar. Maybe this was the right time to talk to Carter after all. The business she was there for was more important than any of her uncomfortable feelings.

  Of anyone, Carter was sure to understand that. He’d put his duty before his own desires before.

  At the bar, Jade ordered a sparkling water with lime for herself and a virgin piña colada for Paxton. Drinks in hand, she was heading back to the table where Paxton and her brother were having their private conversation when her watch vibrated with a notification. Then another. And another. Until her wrist was vibrating continuously. What the hell?

  Once she found an empty table to unload the drinks, she checked her watch.

  They were notifications from the alert she’d set up for Jaxon Diallo’s name.

  “Damn.”

  The last was a message from Corrie.

  Jaxon Diallo is all over the news, and for nothing good. Now the whole world is convinced it knows all about “Pirate Jax.” You need to do damage control ASAP!

  What the—

  Jade looked up through the crowd to see where Jaxon was talking urgently to his sister. He no longer acted like the same careless bastard she’d met a few weeks ago. Sitting on a chair next to her, he leaned in, desperation all over his face. But he was a little bit too late.

  As notification after notification about Jaxon flashed across Jade’s phone, she wasn’t sure if anything could help them now.

  Chapter 11

  He couldn’t stop looking at her.

  Jade in what she obviously thought was a prim dress suitable for a wedding where she wasn’t meant to be the center of attraction. The dress was an electric blue and skimmed her figure like water. Clinging here, flowing there, showing off her small, high breasts, the dip of her waist, the hips and thighs he’d caressed and bitten the night before. Maybe it was because he knew what was under the dress. Maybe it was because he’d finally admitted he was in love with her. Again.

  Whatever it was, he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  During the entire time they’d been at the wedding, he kept her in his sights. Watched her during the ceremony when she was sitting on the groom’s side of the aisle. When she’d wandered off with Paxton for food and trouble. And even now, when he was sure she saw him then ran off in the opposite direction.

  Even though they’d come to the wedding together. Even though they’d made love one last time before he’d left to come stand up for Kingsley, she was skittish around him. She was avoiding him.

  “Carter! I’ve got to talk to you.”

  Only years of practice stopped him from straight jumping out of his skin when Jade came at him out of nowhere. One moment, she’d been at the bar grabbing two drinks, and the next she was practically about to tackle him with her empty hands.

  Where did the drinks go?

  “What’s wrong?” Because there was no other reason for her to have that look on her face. Part worry. Part irritation. Part regret.

  “The press got a hold of the story about Jaxon.”

  He cursed. “How bad is it?”

  “Bad enough.” She swept a quick gaze around the backyard, the wedding decorations, the people, before finally landing on Kingsley and his new wife. “We need to talk. All of us. Right now.”

  “And by right now, you mean...?”

  “Before Kingsley goes on his honeymoon.”

  His brother and Adah were supposed to leave for Aruba tonight.

  Carter cursed again.

  “Okay. Let me get everyone together.” He turned to get to work but she put a hand on his arm.

  “The current corporation board members. Are they all here?”

  “Should be. It’s family.”

  “Okay. Get them all together, as well.”

  What the hell was going on?

  But she was off like a shot before he could ask, heading straight to Jaxon who looked like he was begging Paxton for something.

  That damn kid...

  It didn’t take long to do what needed to be done. All the board members and corporation officers in one of the many rooms in the mansion.

  Once everyone was together in the opulent room filled with sofas, cozy chairs and a view of the bay, Carter shut the doors and gave Jade the signal to begin.

  The room was more suited for an after-brunch get-together than a business meeting, with glasses of champagne, water and other drinks available at the bar and Kingsley, tie loose and draped around his neck, sitting on the burgundy velvet sofa with Adah perched on his lap.

  They looked like they were ready for a photo shoot.

  The casual groom and his beautiful fairy bride with all her yellow butterflies and the glow of adoration still on her face. But Adah was a businesswoman too and had a look of extreme attention on her countenance even with her arm casually draped over her new husband’s neck.

  “Thanks for cutting the party short to meet with me,” Jade said from the center of the room, immediately jumping into why they were there instead of celebrating Kingsley and Adah’s wedding.

  Her gaze swept the room. “First of all, sorry for the impromptu business meeting in the middle of this beautiful occasion. Second of all, how many of you want Diallo Corporation to go public?”

  Everyone in the room drew a collective breath of surprise.

  They didn’t need to do this. Everyone agreed long before this. There was no need to have another vote.

  “This isn’t really necessary, Jade,” Carter said. “We agreed to this long before now.”

  “Let the woman conduct her business, Carter,” his father boomed from his cross-armed place by the largest window.

  Kingsley only looked at each face in the room, the eight board members and five officers of what had become the life work of Carter’s parents. A few of the officers and board members looked uneasily at each other.

  “Okay, let me put this another way in case you’re too shy to say out loud and up front what you think...”

  Shoulders twitched and unease flashed across most of the faces in the room. No one wanted to essentially be called a coward.

  “I don’t want the company to go public.” Carter’s sister Adisa spoke up first. “But I know everyone else wants it, so I voted yes.” Then she shrugged. “Or I didn’t vote no.”

  Pax raised her hand but spoke up before Jade gave her permission. “I voted no but everyone overruled me.”

  That was two out of the eight board members. All family except for Nala who was the best friend of Wolfe’s wife and practically family anyway.

  Carter’s own position as chief security officer often felt honorary to him. Yes, he was the fixer and controlled most of the public information about the company and about the family, but he didn’t think the title was necessary. Especially since it made him more public than he was comfortable with.

  Diallo Corporation going public wasn’t something he thought they needed. The family, company or members weren’t strapped for cash; his father had always been vocal about not having to worry about public shareholders or quarterly reporting. When his mother brought it up last year, it didn’t seem necessary, but most of the board and family embraced the idea. So had their chief financial officer. Wanting to focus his attentions on keeping the corporation and his family safe, Carter had gone along with everyone else’s wishes. It was simple enough and either decision meant less than nothing to him.

  In the lull in the room, he spoke up. “I’m not completely in favor.”
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  “I thought you didn’t care,” his mother said with a question in her voice. She frowned. “That’s what you said before.”

  “Not caring isn’t the same thing as thinking it’s a good idea. I said yes, because you seem to want it so badly. But quite frankly, I think it would be more of a hassle than a boon for us.”

  Conversation rumbled through the room. Carter was hyperaware of Jade pacing back and forth in the room’s center, moving between the small gathered groups, obviously eavesdropping on the different conversations, sometimes adding a comment here and there.

  “Okay,” she said finally to the room at large. “Now that I got that question answered, to add to Carter’s point of the IPO offering being a hassle—” she paused until she got everyone’s attention and all the small side conversations dried up “—the bigger papers got a hold of Jaxon’s history with Nessa Bannon. At least some of it.”

  From across the room, Jaxon crossed his arms and clenched his jaw. He already knew about this. It was clear as day. Next to him, Paxton pursed her lips and settled a hand on her brother’s knee. They both knew.

  A wall in the room flickered to life.

  Somehow, at the wedding, Jade had gotten her hands on a projector and laptop.

  A headline flashed on the wall. Then another. Each more damning than the last.

  “Son and Board Member of Diallo Corporation Steals Million-Dollar Idea from Scholarship Student”

  “Jaxon Diallo, So-Called Genius, and Thief?”

  “Just How Legitimate Is Beauty Giant Diallo Corporation?”

  “Working-Class Girl Screwed Over by Rich Diallo Boyfriend When He Steals Her Million-Dollar App”

  “Man Linked to Multibillion-Dollar Diallo Corporation Questioned for Intellectual Property Theft”

  “The Diallo Corporation: a Den of Thieves?”

  The last headline had a photo of the Diallo siblings, all of them good-looking and well dressed, walking into the corporation’s downtown Miami building.