Nine Rules of Engagement (Barrington Billionaire's Series Book 9)

by Jeannette Winters

She pulled out the photo he’d given her and handed it to him. Then she pointed to the little girl holding the teddy bear. “This is her. Audrey.”

  He looked at the picture and asked, “Who is she with?”

  “Her younger brother.”

  As far as he knew, Audrey didn’t have any siblings. But something could’ve happened to him when he was young, and that’s why no one ever knew of his existence.

  “What’s his name?” Roger asked.

  “Charles Lawson. And you’ll never guess where he spent most of his life.”

  “New York City.”

  Gia huffed. “Well that was a letdown. How do you know?”

  “Because Charles Lawson was the owner of C. J. Lawson Steel. His company built half of this city. It was a family business. Charles’s grandfather had started building the skyscrapers in the late 1800s and then his father continued and so on. Hell, it’s still a family business.”

  “Let me guess, you’re a history buff too.”

  “No. My parents were architects for that type of construction. Lawson was talked about a lot when I was growing up.”

  “So you knew him?” Gia asked.

  “I’m forty-two, not a hundred and two.”

  Gia laughed. “I just thought you looked good for your age.”

  “Keep it up and I’ll eat your burger too,” he teased.

  “I’m starving. It might not be a risk worth taking,” she joked back. Then she returned to the business at hand. “Do you still have any of their old contacts?

  “No. I wasn’t interested in the business when they were alive. Even though they wanted me to follow in their footsteps, I didn’t.” The more they had pushed, the faster he’d run. “I knew a few names, but I never kept in contact with any of my parent’s associates once they were gone.” Gia stared at him for a moment as though she was going to continue questioning him about his past. He tapped the picture again. “Tell me more about what you learned.”

  “This is where it gets weird. No one ever spoke about Audrey. There was a rumor about her abusing Charles to the point he was hospitalized. Then from that point on, she was gone. Never seen in another photo, and never mentioned again.”

  “Then how do you know Audrey Henderson was Audrey Lawson? I mean, the Hendersons would’ve been able to put those facts together without any help.”

  “And that is why I do it old school. There was a newspaper article, just one, about finding a young girl wandering the streets. She didn’t know her name or where she’d come from.”

  “There is no way the police or media back then didn’t know she was Audrey Lawson. They were so well known in New York.”

  “Yes, but they weren’t so well known in a small town in Massachusetts. All they knew was her first name because it was on a paper in her pocket. When no one claimed her as theirs, she was placed in an orphanage. She lived there until she was sixteen. Then she left and went to work in a mill. I’m sure you know the rest of the story.”

  He did. Audrey married the owner of the mill after his wife had been found murdered. There had been an age difference, and it was questionable why they were together, but back then no one spoke their minds. Everything was hush-hush when it came to dealing with the rich and powerful.

  “I still don’t know how you know for sure this is the same girl,” Roger said.

  Gia turned her laptop around and showed him the scanned picture from the news article back in Massachusetts. “It was taken only days after the one we’re researching. There is no question. That is the same girl.”

  He compared the two photos, and Gia was right. “You’re correct.”

  “Yet no one claimed her. It’s as if she’d been intentionally sent away.”

  There wasn’t anyone alive as far as he knew who could tell them that. “I can’t imagine Charles would’ve passed on that story to anyone. If he even knew. He was so young himself. Maybe six and she was maybe ten?”

  “Audrey was eight,” Gia said. “And here is the newspaper article about Charles being hospitalized.” Gia shook her head. “She might have been eight, but she was a cruel child. Not only did she beat him with a baseball bat, but she tried setting the house on fire afterward. One of the nannies caught her in the act.”

  And that psycho raised a child? No wonder James Henderson was such a fucked-up individual. Caydan had filled him in on some of the things James had suffered at the hands of his mother. Roger was sure there was more no one knew about. That didn’t, however, give James a free pass for all the cruelty he inflicted on the Tabiqian women and their children.

  “What are you going to tell Brice?” Gia asked.

  “Hell if I know. I’d like to have more proof than just newspaper clippings.”

  “You could get a DNA test done.”

  Roger laughed. “You want me to ask two very rich and power families for a sample of their DNA to prove they are long lost cousins? Hell, I’m not sure either one would want to know how that came about.”

  Gia reached over and touched his hand. “Roger, it was an ugly time. The war had taken a toll on a lot of people. But that’s all in the past now. Brice must’ve had his reasons for asking you to look into this. You have to tell him,” she said softly.

  He nodded. “I know.” The problem wasn’t the Hendersons being related to the Lawsons. It was two families now having to live with what had been passed down through the generations. And I just hope this sick behavior ended with James.

  “Do you want to head back tonight so you can talk to him about it tomorrow?” Gia offered.

  There was a knock on the door and a voice said, “Room service.” The woman came in, set the table, and left. Only then did Roger reply to her.

  He smiled and said, “They have gone this long without knowing. What will a few more days do? Besides, I’m excited to find out what you have planned for our stay.”

  Gia giggled. “Then we better eat quickly, because we’re going see the Empire State Building.”

  “I’ve seen pictures.”

  “No. From the tippy top.”

  He wasn’t about to tell her that was one of the first places his parents had taken him when they wanted to show him New York. He’d been there, and most major cities, by the time he was ten. Not only had he visited them, his parents explained how they were all designed for success. That’s why he hated the city. The building that people stood and admired for their unique design, only reminded him that his parents weren’t alive any longer. And when people told him their memory lived on in the buildings they designed, Roger wanted to rip their tongues out. The buildings were made of cold steel. His parents had been warm and loving people. How dare anyone compare the two?

  “You don’t seem too excited about it,” she said softly. “I told you you’d regret letting me plan it.”

  “It’s fine. I was just thinking how beautiful it’s going to be up there tonight. Not a cloud in the sky.” He refused to let her know the pain it brought back, thinking about taking that elevator up.

  “Think we’ll see any shooting stars?”

  He wasn’t about to crush her dream. New York was so bright at night that no one could see stars. Instead he winked and said, “You don’t have to wait that long if you want another kiss.”

  She tossed her linen napkin at him. “How dare you suggest I would plan a romantic trip to the top of the Empire State Building just to get one of your kisses?”

  Leaning closer he whispered only inches from her lips, “Would you rather stay here and play truth, dare, or double dare? Because I’d dare you to kiss me right now.”

  Gia licked her lips, and he fought like hell to hold back. Fuck it. It’s just a game. He claimed her lips. That at least got a moan out of her.

  When he kissed her a second time, he felt her tongue lick his lips. Roger wasn’t sure how far she was willing to go, but he wanted her. All of her. Pulling back slightly, he felt her arm reach up and wrap around his neck.

  “Not yet. I’m enjoying this dream.”


  Roger pulled away a bit more. “If we don’t stop now, you won’t get that kiss on the Empire State Building.”

  Her eyes were heavy with desire as she looked up at him. With a wicked smile she said, “You’re right. Besides, we have all night to dream.”

  Roger put more distance between them. Not if you keep looking at me like that. He picked up his burger and said, “Then we better eat so we can go. I’m looking forward to calling it an early evening.”

  Sweet dreams coming our way.

  Chapter 8

  It wasn’t really a letdown. The view was spectacular. The only problem was, all the other spectators thought so too. Gia recalled a movie where a couple planned to meet at the top and the girl had waited until closing just to see him again but he didn’t show. She had given up on getting that kiss and seeing her love again. But like any good romance, when all looked bleak the hero showed up and swept her off her feet.

  But Roger was by her side the entire time. There wasn’t a time when he wasn’t so close she couldn’t touch him.

  “Are you enjoying yourself?” he asked.

  She nodded. “It’s more beautiful than I imagined, but . . .”

  “But?”

  Gia turned around and said, “I liked the beach better.”

  Roger smiled. “Me too. Are you ready to call it a night?”

  “I am,” she replied. Roger held her hand as they waited in line for the elevator to go back down.

  “You look disappointed,” Roger said.

  “I guess when I planned it I thought it would be less crowded. I know people are all cuddled up and taking pictures while kissing, but that’s not me.”

  “If you want romantic, you need to find someplace not on everyone’s radar. Would you like a few suggestions?”

  Although she could use the help, there was no way she was about to admit that. So she turned the tables and said, “So when you complained about watching Hallmark movies with me, you were just joking.”

  “Hell no!”

  “But you just offered to plan something romantic with me.”

  “Trust me; I don’t have a romantic bone in my body.”

  She looked up at him and smiled. “I think you do but you’re afraid to let it out. The walk on the beach was pretty romantic. And the pizza and beer too.”

  “Okay, don’t make me regret doing any of those things,” he said flatly.

  She snuggled up closer to him and added, “And the kiss on the couch. That was pretty romantic too.”

  When he looked down at her his eyes were dark, but not with anger. “Keep it up. All these people aren’t going to be around when we get back to the hotel.”

  Letting her tongue slowly lick her top lip she said, “I know.”

  Just before they got in the elevator, Roger’s phone rang. She watched as he checked the caller ID and answered. “Hey Caydan, everything all right?”

  She couldn’t make out what was being said, but the guy sounded upset. A few minutes later Roger added, “Caydan, I have told him a million times, I’m not interested in running a resort. Not now, not ever. There are enough of you guys. Take turns staying there. I’m not a Henderson.”

  The call lasted a few more minutes and when it ended, Roger didn’t have the same playful relaxed look on his face. “Things not going well with your friend?”

  They were almost at the bottom when Roger said, “There’s a lot more going on than that resort. I’m not sure, but somehow I think he knows I’m working with Brice.”

  “I swear, I didn’t say anything.” Actually that was easy because she just found out today that Roger was helping Brice, and she had never met Caydan.

  Roger must’ve sensed her concerns and said, “I know you didn’t. I’ve been in Boston too long, and Caydan knows me well enough to suspect something is up.”

  “Why don’t you tell him it’s because of me?” The words were out of her mouth before she could stop them. I’m getting as bad as Vickie. “I mean you . . . you know . . . helping me find work.”

  Roger put his arm around her waist and pulled her into him. “You’re brilliant, do you know that?”

  Nope. Because if I had a brain in my head, I wouldn’t be siding with you over the Hendersons. Although she wanted to work for them, everyone in Boston knew they weren’t a family to mess with.

  Instead of getting off the elevator, he said, “Let’s go back up.”

  “Why?” she asked puzzled.

  “A picture speaks a thousand words.”

  “I took a bunch on my phone. I’ll send them to you.”

  “I’m talking about that kiss.”

  “Oh. You want them to think that we’re—”

  “Exactly. But if you don’t want to, I’ll understand.”

  The kiss was what she had wanted, had planned. But at no point had she been thinking of it as a cover-up. It would be easy to go along with what he suggested. No real harm done, right? It was a kiss. Not like they hadn’t kissed before. Yet she couldn’t bring herself to do it. It would make the other kisses feel cheap. Not special any longer.

  “Roger, I want to help you, and I think you know that. I’m willing to let you use my name and say you’re dating me. But I’m not going to kiss you to defuse some situation with your friend.”

  He looked at her, grabbed hold of her hand, and hustled her out of the building. She could feel the tension in his body. He was upset. That wasn’t going to change the fact she was standing her ground. I’m not for sale.

  When they were far enough from everyone Roger stopped and turned to face her. “I’m sorry. I cannot believe what an insensitive fucking asshole I just was. You have every reason in the world to demand I take you back to Boston tonight.”

  “You’re not mad at me?” Gia asked.

  “Hell no. I’m pissed off at myself. I got so damn caught up in this shit, shit that is not even mine to worry about, that I totally forgot about your feelings. I crossed the line, and I’m sorry.”

  Everything about him said he was sincere. She hadn’t expected such an apology. It was nice. “Roger, thank you. That means a lot to me. But I don’t want to go home. Not tonight at least.” Stepping closer, she said, “I’m not opposed to the kiss, just the reason behind it.”

  He pulled her into his arms and said, “Then know that this one is for one reason only. Because I find you utterly irresistible.”

  The kiss started slow and gentle like the others but quickly changed. Roger kissed her hungrily, his tongue tracing her lips, his teeth nipping them. Her body begged for more. His lips left hers and kissed their way across her jaw to the curve of her neck. She could feel her pulse race. She whimpered softly, “Roger, please. I . . . you . . . please.” Her hands dug into his biceps as she clung to him. “People are . . . watching.”

  He pulled his head up but didn’t release her. “Gia, I meant what I said. I’ll take you back to Boston tonight if you don’t want this.”

  She let her hand slide down his arm and entwined her fingers with his. “We have a dream you promised to complete.”

  He kissed her forehead and said, “Honey, it’s a dream neither of us are going to want to wake from.”

  At least not tonight. She had no idea where this was going or how long it was going to last, but she wasn’t going to let this time slip through her fingers.

  Good thing I packed some not so casual things. For once she was glad she’d listened to Vickie and purchased the red lace bra and panties. Let’s see if red really is your favorite color.

  The walk back to the hotel seemed to take forever, but there was something nice about walking the streets holding hands. It was late enough that the crowds had thinned. She even talked him into stopping for an ice cream on the way. He wasn’t sure if it was to torture him or if she really wanted ice cream. It was difficult not watching her tongue curl as she took long licks. And when there was a drop on the corner of her lips, he wanted to claim it, tasting all of her sweetness.

  But no. She didn’t
seem in any rush. He got it. It was a beautiful night, but his mind wasn’t on the weather or window shopping. Gia didn’t seem to have changed her mind, so he assumed she was trying to make a lasting memory.

  He was tempted to scoop her up into his arms and carry her back to the hotel. But he’d already fucked up once tonight and she was sweet enough to forgive him. He wasn’t going to go for broke.

  As he opened the door to their suite, she said, “I can’t believe how late it is. Guess they mean it, New York never sleeps.”

  “Like all big cities, it has good things and bad.”

  “Well tonight, I only want to remember the good things.”

  He closed the door behind them. “Anything in particular come to mind?”

  Gia smiled at him, “Oh a few things, but I’m thinking the highlight of the night has yet to come.” She brushed past him and said, “It’s been a long day so if you don’t mind, I’d like to freshen up.”

  He was left standing in the living room as she entered her bedroom and closed the door. His body reacted to her closeness. What was it going to be like when he actually touched her? Ran his hands all over her silky soft flesh? Fuck. Stop thinking about it.

  Was it his imagination or had her bedroom door been left ajar? He walked over and pushed it gently, causing it to open wider. He had rules about entering a woman’s bedroom. Never go in unless he was clearly invited. But looking at the floor, it was as though she’d left bread crumbs to lure him in. First her shirt and not far off, her jeans. Outside the bathroom door was a pair of red panties and hanging on the open bathroom doorknob was the matching red bra.

  Gia, you are driving me crazy. Even though the invitation seemed obvious, he stopped at the bathroom door and knocked. She was already in the hot steaming shower when he heard her answer.

  “There’s room for two.”

  Roger quickly removed his clothes, opened the glass door, and stepped in behind her. Damn she’s beautiful. Gia wasn’t like those plastic women. She was curvy in all the right places. Stepping closer, he reached around her and grabbed the foamy sponge from her.

  “Allow me,” he said.