Jason sighed. “I know she’s hot, but you should back away for the time being. What if she—”
A visceral rebuttal rose up within him. “Don’t finish that sentence,” he growled.
His friend frowned.
“Something might be going on here, but what’s developing between me and Lillian is real.”
It had to be.
Because for the first time in his life, his solitude wasn’t enough anymore. After a long, exhausting life, the runaway inside him was finally ready to stop wandering.
She has to be real.
There was no other possibility.
Because if she wasn’t, it wasn’t just his company she was going to tear apart.
It was his life as well.
…
Holly waited impatiently for the elevator to climb, staring at the numbers above the door. She’d see Julian in a few seconds, and it still seemed too long.
A smile tipped her lips.
Ever since they’d come back from their trip, everything had been different. Lately, she’d been spending more time at Julian’s home than her own and had loved every minute of it. This could be her life. Coming home to a man she couldn’t wait to see, not one she had to avoid. With Julian, she could breathe again, and she hadn’t even realized how starved for air she’d been before him.
The elevator dinged as it reached the top floor, and the doors slid open.
She slipped the keycard that he’d given her out of her purse and opened the door to his home. A part of her still hesitated over just walking into his place, but he’d assured her he liked having her here.
We’re like kids playing house.
Except in a few weeks, there’d be no playing about it.
There was still no word from Lillian, and her happiness dimmed. She needed her sister to come back with a solution so she could tell Julian the truth.
Then I beg.
She’d do whatever it took to earn his forgiveness. He wouldn’t hold trying to protect her workers against her. Would he?
Believe things will work out.
Everything was going to be all right in the end. She’d find a way to protect them both, and then, hopefully, she’d find a way for them to be together. Because the mark she’d been sent to entertain had turned into someone she could—
She slowed to a stop.
Someone I could fall for.
A chill went through her as she realized just how deep she was getting.
But what else could she call it? What else had such an electrifying force on a life? He’d turned her world upside down, and she loved every moment of it.
Just as she loved every second she spent with Julian. She missed him when he was gone. Thought about him when she should be focusing. Today she’d counted down the damn minutes until she could leave to see him again.
There was no denying how wrapped up in him she was getting.
And she didn’t want to escape these feelings.
A lightness filled her chest. She’d never been one to put herself out there or take chances. And caring about a man who could easily turn around and burn down her world was one hell of a chance.
She’d always assumed happily ever after was for other people. Luckier people. Who would bother with her by the sidelines when Lillian stood in the spotlight?
But Julian noticed her in a way no one else had ever bothered to try.
And it might put her life on a collision course with a heartbreak there was no avoiding.
It’s a risk.
But what they were developing was worth fighting for.
Wasn’t it?
“Julian,” she called, dropping her purse by the door. “Where are you?”
She wanted to see him. Touch him. Kiss him.
The kitchen was empty, so she wandered into the living room. The lights were on but there was no sign of her partner.
“Hello?” she called.
Maybe he wasn’t home yet.
The door to the patio slid open, and a man stepped inside. Julian was dressed in a tailored black suit that fit him so perfectly it made her mouth water.
“Wow,” she said. “Are we going out? You could have warned me.”
He smiled. “No, not going out. Come here.”
Curious, she crossed the room to his side, taking his hand. “What are you up to?”
He leaned down to give her a soft, welcome home kiss. “Something occurred to me.”
“What would that be?” she asked, leaning into him.
“Come with me.”
Taking her head, he led her out onto the wraparound balcony. Bemused, she followed his lead around the corner and stopped short.
Twinkly lights were strung up everywhere, creating a magical glow against the light. A table was set in the center, complete with champagne and strawberries. Two chairs waited for them at the heart of the romantic setting.
“Damn, Worth. I didn’t think you had something like this in you,” she said.
“You and me both.” He caught her hand, leading her closer to the table. “But I realized something I needed to correct.”
“Whatever it is, I’m a fan.”
He chuckled. “Enjoy the moment. I’m not doing something like this twice.”
She grinned at him. “Noted. So, what are we correcting tonight?”
He squeezed her hand. “I never actually asked you to marry me.”
“What?” she said, her breath freezing in her chest.
He pulled a small black box from his suit pocket. “Our engagement has been about papers and mergers. We were headed for the altar before we even met. I didn’t give a damn about that before, but now…”
Slowly, the man she’d once thought was cold as ice sank to his knee before her.
Her heart thundered in her ears. Nothing existed beyond this moment.
Nothing mattered but him.
“We’re more than a business deal,” he said. “I didn’t understand that before, but I do now. So, this time, it’s up to you. Will you marry me, Lill—”
She dropped to her knees, pressing a hand to his mouth. “Sweetheart,” she corrected before he could propose to the wrong woman.
He smiled beneath her palm before pulling her hand away. “Will you marry me, sweetheart?”
A bittersweet pang shot through her. Cupping his cheek, she stared into the face of an honest man. One as different from her father, from the world she’d always known, as night was from day. And here he was, a man who never bent, on his knees for her.
Something infinitely gentle swept over her as she brushed her thumb over his bottom lip. If she had her way, she’d choose him in a heartbeat.
“This is usually the part where the woman answers,” he teased, no doubt in his eyes.
“As if you don’t know what I’ll say.”
He smiled. “Tell me anyway.”
Saying yes should be simple. It’s what Lillian would have done had she been here because as sweet as this was, they both knew it still boiled down to business.
But even knowing what she should do, the words wouldn’t come.
This time there was no escaping. Facing the truth head on, she forced herself to think about this marriage, really think about it, for the first time. Marry Julian. Not Lillian. Not for gain. Not for business.
But because she willingly wanted her future tied to his.
What would I say if I could answer honestly?
If he was really asking the right woman?
Her fingers ghosted along the edge of his jaw. “I never really thought much about marriage,” she said honestly. “But you have me questioning everything.”
He laughed. “You’re not the only one.”
Her heart clenched. If she could make whatever decision she wanted, a lifetime with him sounded far better now than it had when her father had first forced her into his charade.
“Say yes,” he teased, taking the ring out of the box.
“Yes,” she said, unsure if she was answering fo
r herself or for Lillian. She leaned forward and pressed a soft kiss to his lips. “But I’m going to need you to ask me this question again before we make it to a church.”
His brow arched.
“Secrets,” she whispered.
He looked down at the ring in his hand before sighing softly. “Something isn’t right.”
She froze, her heart rate kicking up for an entirely different reason.
His dark gaze rose to hers, a seriousness in his expression she’d rarely seen. “Tell me now,” he said. “If we let the rest of the world go to hell, would you want to be with me?”
“If there was nothing but you and me?”
He nodded.
“Without hesitation,” she said, sincerity in her voice.
The tension in his shoulders relaxed.
“Then that’s what we’ll do,” he said. “You and me versus everyone else. We’ll find a way through.”
He slipped the ring on her finger without another word.
Her chest was tight as she looked down at the sparkle and wished, with all her heart, that they’d be able to keep the promise they’d just made.
Chapter Fifteen
“Please tell me you have something juicy to share to go with that look on your face,” Charlotte said.
Holly snapped to attention, realizing her mind had gone wandering when she should have been looking at Charlotte’s spreadsheet.
“Sorry. Can you go over the lead acquisition numbers from last quarter again?”
“Nuh-ah. Sharing is caring. Spill first, analytics second.”
She rolled her eyes. “I happen to care about analytics.”
“And I happen to care about living vicariously through your sex life. And given the way you’ve been glowing these past weeks, I’m going to bet it’s going well.”
There was no stopping her guilty grin. “So. Freaking. Well.”
“The man looks like he knows what he’s doing,” Charlotte agreed. “Does he have any great tricks? Give me something to try with my next partner.”
“Knowing how adventurous you are, I doubt you’ll struggle with coming up with new ideas.”
Charlotte sighed. “So true.”
She, on the other hand, was normally the one living through her friend’s stories. But this time, she got to experience her fantasies in real life.
And boy, was Julian committed to helping her live them out. The damn man was nothing if not creative.
Holly grinned. She was having the time of her life, and she knew it. The last parts of her trying to separate who she was from what she had to do had been defeated. Her Lillian facade had crumbled beyond salvation and she’d thought if she dropped her sister’s mask, all that would be left would be quiet, wallflower Holly.
But maybe she was becoming something new.
Someone who didn’t shy away from taking what she wanted.
And these days what she wanted was Julian.
“World rocking aside, how is the rest of it going? The wedding date is coming up fast, and Julian still thinks he’s walking down the aisle.”
Her face fell. When she was with him, she tried to ignore the realities of their situation, but she couldn’t run forever. The clock was ticking, and Lillian was still nowhere to be found. Her father was growing more and more unbearable, to the point where it was easier to stay away from home than cross his path.
Not that the task was hard to accomplish. Julian didn’t seem to mind when she turned up on his doorstep most nights. Hell, she even had an extra toothbrush by his sink and a shoebox of toiletries in his cupboard.
“I don’t know,” she confessed, glancing around to make sure she wasn’t overheard. “Father isn’t budging, and Lillian is gone. I haven’t seen the financials myself, but Father says we’re still in danger of having to cut jobs.”
Charlotte sighed. “Okay, big picture question here. Julian has to find out your real name eventually. Can’t you just tell him?”
It was a suggestion that had been increasingly on her mind. They slept together most nights. Julian didn’t seem to have any qualms about tying his life to hers. They even agreed on the future they both wanted.
So, what happens if I tell him the truth?
Would he forgive her? Or would she destroy both her company’s salvation and her own heart in the process?
It was a puzzle she might never solve. Because as much as she was growing to adore the man in her bed, people’s jobs were still on the line here. How did she decide which one deserved her loyalty more?
I want to trust him with my secrets. I want to believe in him.
The instinct was so new she wasn’t sure what to do with it.
Just call me Ms. Conflicted.
“I don’t know,” she answered Charlotte.
“I’m sorry. It’s so nice to see you happy, but I feel like you’re headed for a cliff without a parachute.”
So do I.
“Thanks for your support. One way or another, I’ll probably need more of it soon.”
“Pah, I’m not going anywhere. Let me know when it’s time to start drinking. I’m so there.”
“Thanks,” she said drily.
Rising to her feet, Charlotte patted her shoulder. “I’m headed out for the night then. Text me you if need me.”
“It’ll be a slow evening,” she said. “Julian has some business to do, so I’m on my own.”
“You mean you don’t get to climb your tasty man like a tree tonight? So sad.”
She rolled her eyes. “Bye, Charlotte.”
“Ciao.” With a wave, she headed out.
Holly looked back at her spreadsheet and sighed. She was done for the day, too. She packed up quickly, wishing she was driving to Julian’s home and not her own. But he had a late night tonight with an early start in the morning, so it didn’t make sense to crash at his place.
Swinging her purse over her shoulder, she switched off the last of the lights in the marketing department and left the office.
She drove home on autopilot, looking forward to a quiet night.
That is, if I can avoid Father.
Then again, he seemed more focused on dollars than on her recently.
What is he up to?
Whatever it was, she doubted it’d be anything good. Julian had stopped mentioning the records he kept trying to get from their accounting team. In fact, no one had mentioned anything related to financials to her in weeks.
Weird.
And when John Abbott got cagey, nothing good came of it.
I need to do some digging. Figure out what game he’s playing.
She pulled into the massive garage on the estate grounds and jogged around to the front door.
Sylvie was waiting in the entrance hall when she walked in, wringing her hands.
“Holly,” she said, her voice hushed.
“What’s happened?” she demanded, instantly on alert.
“You need to go into the living room.”
“Why?”
Sylvie gave her a look so filled with sympathy it chilled her heart.
“Lillian’s back.”
The world tunneled around her. Her sister was back? Joy flooded her. It was over. Lillian was back with her solution. Everything would be all right.
I can tell him the truth.
“I need to go,” she said, rushing past Sylvie.
“Wait,” the maid said, but she was already running for the living room.
She burst into the room, her gaze zeroing in the one person who was a carbon copy of herself.
“Holly,” her sister said, rising from her seat.
She flew across the distance, wrapping her arms around her sister. “Are you okay?” she demanded.
“Fine,” Lillian replied, returning the tight hug. “I’m so sorry.”
“You left. Without a single word. How could you?” she asked, stepping back.
“She was protecting you.”
Her gaze jerked to her father and the smug expression on his f
ace.
“What’s happened?” she asked.
“Barrens found your sister,” he said, gesturing to the man in the corner she hadn’t even noticed.
Her father’s PI stood with hands folded in front of him, not saying a word.
“Where?”
“San Francisco,” Lillian said.
“What?” she asked. “Why would you go there, of all cities.”
“Because Dominic St. Clair is there,” John said. “And your delightful sister planned to use my worst enemy against me.” He pushed to his feet and stalked toward them. “Lillian here figured she’d sell out the family. How’d that go?”
She glanced at her sister, who was staring stonily at the ground. “Lil?” she asked.
Eyes so similar to hers rose. “I failed,” she said, her voice gruff as if she’d been crying. “I’m so sorry, Olly. I couldn’t find the money.”
Adrenaline surged through her. “I don’t understand.”
“Don’t you?” John said. “Your sister’s grand plan to bring me down is gone. There’s no way out for the company except one.”
The blood in her veins turned to ice, and she stumbled a step back from her sister.
“Marriage is the only option now,” he continued. “And the right Abbott has finally returned.”
The one with the fortune. The one who could ensure Julian got something out of merging with a company heading toward the weeds.
Whereas she had nothing to offer to balance the scales.
Horror rushed through her.
“You can’t,” she denied. “You told me he was all mine. I have a relationship with him now.”
“Had,” John corrected. “Now Lillian does.”
Like hell she does.
“No. No, I won’t let this happen. I’ll tell him the truth before—”
“And what will happen, Holly?” her father asked. “What makes you think you have any more choice now than you did the first day you met?”
This can’t be happening.
Not now. Not when she’d finally found a man who appreciated who she was. How could she ever be his sister-in-law when she’d been ready for a lifetime with him?
“There’s another way,” she said slowly, not sure if it was a choice she could live with. “We go through with the layoff, cut our costs and get our company back on track. Then you merge with Julian when both companies are financially stable.”
Betraying the Billionaire (Abbott Sisters) Page 12
