Insatiable Hunger (Dynasties: Seven Sins Book 3)

by Yahrah St. John

  The dinner went exactly as planned. The food was delicious, and his mother was genuine happily to be surrounded by her sons and their women. Later, they retired to the main dining room where a table had been set aside so they could listen to the solo artist for the evening.

  Ryan was on his way to sit down when he ran into a familiar Falling Brook couple, Joshua Lowell and Sophie Armstrong. He’d met Joshua Lowell at his first interview for the CEO position. There was no way to forget him. With his angular face and stone-hewed jaw, the six-foot, broad-shouldered, dark blond with sharp hazel eyes looked more like a model than he did the CEO for an investment firm.

  “Ryan?” Joshua was the first to speak.

  “Mr. Lowell.”

  “Joshua, please. I didn’t realize you were in town,” Joshua said.

  “I don’t live here. It’s Mom’s birthday.” Ryan glanced behind him to see that his parents were already seated. “We’re—” he inclined his head to Jessie at his side “—here to celebrate.”

  “I’m sorry, I don’t believe we’ve met.” Joshua extended his hand to Jessie.

  Her eyes narrowed and she didn’t accept his hand. “I know who you are, Joshua Lowell.”

  He frowned. “My reputation. Or shall I say, family’s reputation, precedes me.”

  “It’s a small town,” Jessie responded.

  Ryan glanced at Jessie and her expression was not one of warmth, like it usually was. Did she blame Joshua for what his father had done? It wasn’t like her to be unfair. Changing the subject, Ryan opted for happy news. “Congratulations on your engagement.” He smiled at Sophie.

  Joshua beamed down at the petite reporter whose wavy, highlighted brown hair fell in waves to just below her shoulders. She was in a tailored dress that suited her slim figure. “Thank you,” Sophie responded. “I was certainly surprised when he announced to the world we were getting married, but I couldn’t be happier.”

  “That’s quite a ring,” Jessie commented, and Sophie was eager to show off her diamond ring.

  While Sophie gushed about her ring, Joshua whispered, “I want you to know, I was very impressed with your credentials, Ryan. You are very high on our list of a few select candidates. I look forward to our next interview.”

  Ryan grinned. “Thank you. I appreciate you saying that.”

  “No, I absolutely mean it,” Joshua said. “You have a passion for what you do, more than I ever did. Although I majored in economics in college, art has always been and will always be what wakes me up in the morning.”

  “Why did you stay so long at Black Crescent?”

  “I felt responsible to clean up the mess my father made. To try to make amends as best I could. And I’ve done that. Or at least, all I can. It’s time for me to hand the baton off.”

  “Are you men talking shop?” Sophie inquired.

  Ryan could see the wheels of her journalistic mind churning, thinking up another story.

  “C’mon, honey, let’s leave these two to their evening,” Joshua said. “Ryan...” He shook his hand. “We’ll talk soon.”

  The couple left, but Jessie was still staring at them. “Omigod. She’s the reporter who wrote the Black Crescent anniversary article.”

  “One and the same.”

  “I’m surprised he could forgive her, given he didn’t come out smelling like a rose in the story.”

  Ryan shrugged. “Opposites attract, right?” He and Jessie were certainly at opposite ends of the spectrum when it came to him accepting a job at Black Crescent. He wanted the challenge and she wanted him to forget about it. They were never going to agree, so he held out his hand. “Let’s dance.” She accepted and took his hand.

  On the dance floor, he pulled Jessie into his arms. “I know this is rather public,” he said. “You okay?”

  She tilted her head to look up at him.

  “I’ve never had a more fantastic night. Your family...” He saw tears in her eyes. “They’re amazing. So warm and inviting. They made me feel like I belong. I’ve never felt that way with my family. I’ve always felt like I had to put on a show and do what’s expected. It’s a relief to just be myself.”

  “That’s because you belong with me.” And before he knew what he was doing, he was kissing her. He hadn’t meant to, but she was looking at him so adoringly and with the songstress crooning “At Last,” Ryan forgot where he was.

  When he lifted his head, Jessie was staring at him intently. It was a turning point. They’d just announced to everyone in the country club that they were a couple.

  * * *

  Jessie was overcome and immediately excused herself to go to the ladies’ room. She hadn’t expected Ryan to kiss her like that, out in the open where anyone could see them. But now that he had, didn’t she feel a little bit relieved?

  They were no longer a secret. And soon everyone in Falling Brook would know. Jessie was under no illusions word wouldn’t get around. It was a town of two thousand people and many of them knew the O’Malleys and would no doubt be telling them they’d seen her kissing Ryan Hathaway. Although she and Hugh were on a break, their parents didn’t know that.

  Once again, Jessie was repairing her lipstick in the mirror when the door to the restroom opened. Ryan’s mother entered. “There you are. I was wondering where you’d escaped to.”

  Jessie laughed nervously. “I needed to use the restroom.”

  “Aww, honey, we both know that’s not the real reason you’re in here. You’re running away from what’s going on between you and my son.”

  “I’m not running away.”

  “I’m not blind, Jessie. You and Ryan used to be so close, the best of friends, but then your father fell on hard times. There were rumors you and your brother received a scholarship from O’Malley Motors. Suddenly, you and that O’Malley boy were thick as thieves and you and Ryan were no more. And I never understood how that could happen because I always felt you and Ryan might grow into more one day. And I was right.”

  Jessie shook her head. “Mrs. Hathaway, you don’t understand...”

  “Oh yes, I do.” His mother reached for both of Jessie’s hands and clasped them in hers. “I understand you’ve been fighting your own heart for some time and doing what others expect of you because you think you owe them. When are you going to allow yourself to do what you want to do? Life is too short, Jessie. You have to grab your happiness when it comes. With whomever it comes.”

  “Thank you, Mrs. Hathaway.” She squeezed her hand. “I appreciate your sage advice. And let me say, happy birthday.”

  * * *

  “So the cat is out of the bag,” Ben said when he and Sean found Ryan outside, interminably pacing the terrace.

  “I was wondering how long you were going to be able to resist telling the whole world.”

  Ryan chuckled. “Whoever knew my brother could be a comedian. I crossed the line out there. I told Jessie we would keep our relationship private until she was ready to go public, and I go and blow it.”

  Ben came toward him and grasped his shoulder. “Don’t be so hard on yourself. You dig the girl. And you wanted to show it. There’s nothing wrong with that.”

  “And the idea of you two staying private was ridiculous,” Sean stated, “when it’s so obvious by looking at the two of you that you’re crazy about each other.”

  “You’re seeing things,” Ryan responded. “Jessie doesn’t feel that way about me. We’re compatible in the bedroom.”

  “TMI,” Ben said. “And we both have two eyes. If we can see it, so can everyone else in that room.” He pointed to the ballroom.

  Ryan stared through the double doors. Could he believe Jessie was developing feelings for him? He was afraid to think it, let alone believe it. For months, he’d vowed to keep his distance after pining away for years, but now he was getting in deeper than ever.

  No, he had to keep
his feelings to himself. Act as if he didn’t care until Jessie was ready to say those three words.

  * * *

  The return limo drive was a bit more subdued. Jessie didn’t mean to be a buzzkill, but she’d listened to what Mrs. Hathaway’d had to say and knew she had a lot of thinking to do.

  When they made it to the Hathaway residence, she wished them all good-night and walked in silence with Ryan the short distance to her parents’ front door. She fumbled her keys out of her clutch and dropped them on the front step.

  “I’ve got it.” Ryan bent to pick them up. He handed them to her and a fizz of electricity sparked between them. “Jessie, I’m sorry about tonight. If I embarrassed you in any way.”

  She shook her head. “Well, you did. I thought we agreed to keep our relationship between us? I thought you understood that. Now everyone in Falling Brook will know. Word will get back to my parents, to Hugh.”

  “Is Hugh all you care about?” She could see he was visibly angry at her mentioning his name.

  “I’ve told you how hard it’s been living up to my parents’ expectations, and I intended to talk to them in my own time, but you’ve forced the issue.”

  “Maybe it needed to be forced, so you can finally make a choice.”

  Jessie ran her fingers through her hair. “Why do you do this? Why do you always push me?”

  “Because if I don’t, who will?” he responded hotly. “You’ll keep doing as everyone expects instead of being true to you. Wake up, Jessie!”

  “I have to go,” Jessie said, turning on her heel. “Are you still going to give me a ride back into the city?”

  He nodded. “Of course. That hasn’t changed. Have fun with your family at Top Golf.”

  She glared at him. She didn’t know how that was going to be possible when word would get back to her parents that she was dallying with Ryan.

  Using her key, she opened the front door, stepped inside, closed it and leaned against it.

  “Is something going on between you and Ryan Hathaway?” She heard her mother’s voice in the darkness.

  “Not now, Mama.”

  “I thought you were with Hugh.” Her mother moved out of the shadows. Her arms were folded across her chest, looking as if Jessie had disappointed her. She was in her pajamas, which meant she’d waited up after Jessie told her not to. “I got a call from one of my friends that she saw you and Ryan kissing at the country club.”

  “I said not now, Mama,” Jessie bit out and then rushed up the stairs to the guest bedroom. She wouldn’t stand being Twenty Questioned about her love life by her own mother. She had a right to make decisions for herself. To choose whom she wanted to love.

  Love.

  Was it possible she’d fallen in love with Ryan?

  If so, she’d done it unconsciously. She’d assumed their sexual chemistry was why she’d felt so close to him, but perhaps she was wrong. Perhaps Mrs. Hathaway was right and Ryan was who she was supposed to be with all along. But it had taken the reunion to show her that the man of her dreams was right in front of her face the entire time.

  Thirteen

  Ryan worried Jessie would be upset with him when they drove back to Manhattan, but she wasn’t anything other than her usual self. When he’d picked her up, he’d thought he’d glimpsed something resembling a frown on Mrs. Acosta’s face. But in an instant it was gone, so Ryan figured everything had gone well. “Did you have a good time at Top Golf?” Ryan asked once they were out of Falling Brook and settled on the interstate.

  “We did. Daddy absolutely loved it,” Jessie said. “It was the first time I’d seen him animated in a long time.”

  “That’s great.”

  “Yeah, it was nice to go out as a family and not be about doom and gloom. Today was about the Acostas having a fun day out. We need more of them.”

  “If there’s anything I can do to help, let me know,” Ryan stated. “The Hathaway clan was very excited to have you share Mom’s birthday with us.”

  “I’m glad I went.”

  “Are you sure about that?” Ryan asked, glancing in her direction. “We haven’t had a chance to really talk about what happened at the country club other than a few minutes last night.”

  “You mean the kiss you planted on me?” Jessie’s cheeks pinked.

  “I was completely out of line. All I can tell you is that I got caught up in the moment. Having you in my arms, it seemed like the most natural thing to do.”

  “But we’d agreed to keep our relationship between us,” Jessie responded evenly. “Do you have any idea what you did? My mom cornered me last night, then again at Top Golf about us, wanting to know when we became more than friends. She suggested the kiss was you staking your claim so everyone in Falling Brook knows we’re together.”

  Ryan frowned. That’s the last thing he’d been thinking. “That wasn’t why I kissed you. How could you think that?”

  “When you say one thing and then do the opposite, it does leave me to wonder.”

  Ryan tensed and his fingers clutched the wheel. He hadn’t realized how upset Jessie would be, but he supposed it was naïve on his part to think this would blow over. “So you’re okay to be on my arm as a friend, but nothing more. Heaven forbid anyone sees us as anything else and upsets the apple cart.”

  “Don’t put words in my mouth.” Jessie mouth firmed in a straight line. “We’d agreed on this before we left Manhattan and you blatantly went against my wishes.”

  Ryan glanced in her direction and found her gaze focused on him. “I didn’t do it blatantly.”

  Her eyes narrowed as if she didn’t believe him.

  “How long have you known me? Have I ever given you a reason not to trust me, Jessie?”

  “No.”

  “Then don’t pick a fight. I said I’m sorry and I am. I would never want to put you in an awkward situation. You know that.”

  She nodded, folding her arms across her chest.

  Ryan wanted to know what she was thinking, but she was closed off and doing a good impression of ignoring him. And he hated it. He wanted her to feel like she could talk to him about anything, like she always had. “Whatever is bothering you, you can talk to me about it.”

  * * *

  “I can’t.” She turned her head and stared out of the window. Jessie wished she could talk to her dearest friend about what she was feeling, but she couldn’t. He was the reason she was in such turmoil.

  She suspected she’d fallen in love with Ryan.

  She’d never expected their relationship to take the turn it had and it scared her. She’d only ever been with Hugh and theirs hadn’t been a normal relationship. And her parents’ certainly wasn’t an example. Their lack of affection or passion couldn’t be healthy. Jessie didn’t know how to do this love thing, which made it difficult to confide in Ryan. If she wasn’t sure of how she felt, how could she possibly talk to him?

  Her mother already recognized their relationship wasn’t what she’d led her to believe. She’d cornered Jessie at Top Golf when they were in the restroom, asking her when their relationship had become romantic, but Jessie had remained mum. Not only was she trying to keep her word to Hugh, but she’d pointed out to her mother that their relationship was none of her business. Her mother hadn’t been happy with her answer.

  Jessie had never had a close relationship with Angela Acosta. She’d always been a daddy’s girl, which was why she’d always wanted to do what her parents asked—to please him. She’s supposed that’s why it hurt so much to see her father in such pain over what happened fifteen years ago. She wanted him to move on with his life, but he was mired in the past. No matter how well she did as an attorney and gave back to her parents, in her father’s mind, it would never be what he once had.

  That was why she didn’t want Ryan to take the job at Black Crescent. The company’s legacy was painful for so
many people, her father included. Jessie was certain when the time came, Ryan would do the right thing.

  “We’re here,” Ryan said, turning off the engine and jumping out of the vehicle.

  Jessie glanced up and saw that Ryan had parked in front of her brownstone. She hopped out and found him pulling her overnight bag from the trunk. “I’ve got it.”

  She tried to take the bag from him, but he glared at her. “I’ll walk you up.”

  They were quiet as they climbed the stairs and Jessie opened the door to her apartment. Ryan deposited her bag in her bedroom and turned to face her. “Whenever you want to talk, I’m a phone call away.”

  “You’re leaving?”

  “That’s what you want, isn’t it? You’re clearly still upset with me, so I’m giving you some space.”

  “Ryan...”

  He held up his hands. “It’s okay. Take some time, but then call me later.”

  Jessie heard his footsteps on the hardwood floors and then the door closing on his way out. She wanted to stop Ryan, to tell him to stay, but she didn’t. She couldn’t when she was so conflicted. And then it hit her: she had some unfinished business to sort out before she could move forward with Ryan.

  * * *

  “Ryan, we can stop at any minute,” Dennis, his trainer, said after he’d completed two grueling hours of physical activity.

  “It’s all right. I can keep going.”

  “Well, I can’t,” Dennis said, laughing. “I have another client coming in. I agreed to come in early because you said you needed to burn off some excess energy, but you’ve done enough for the day.”

  He tossed Ryan a towel, which he caught. Wiping the sweat from his face, Ryan reached for a Powerade and drank the entire bottle. He’d pushed himself physically as far as he could go because he hadn’t wanted to think about Jessie. But it was hopeless. He’d fallen hopelessly, irrevocably, in love with her. He’d known it since the Hamptons, had tried to fight the inevitable, but there it was.