by Cindy Kirk
Introductions went quickly and it wasn’t long until Jeanne Marie was settled on the sofa next to Victoria, a cup of coffee in her hand.
“I want to thank you all for giving me such a warm welcome.” The older woman glanced around the room. “I wasn’t sure how you’d feel, under the circumstances.”
Because they’d decided ahead of time that Shane would take the lead in grilling Jeanne Marie for details, all eyes turned to him.
“Well, that’s the thing.” Shane forced himself to stay seated, despite the almost overpowering urge to pace. “Our father hasn’t been exactly forthcoming about any of those circumstances, including how you fit into his life. We hoped you’d be able to give us the details.”
A look of dismay crossed Jeanne Marie’s face. “I thought for sure James would have told you.”
Several heartbeats of silence passed.
“Told us what?” Shane prompted.
“Well,” she hesitated, “that I’m his twin sister and—”
Victoria gasped.
“His sister,” Asher blurted out, his eyes wide.
“You didn’t even know I’m your aunt?” Jeanne Marie looked at Shane.
He slowly shook his head.
“Oh, my stars.” Jeanne Marie took a sip of coffee, her hand trembling. “I didn’t think that was a secret, too.”
“What else don’t we know?” Somehow Shane managed to not stumble over the words.
His father’s sister. Not his mistress.
She paused and clamped her mouth shut. “I don’t think I should say more until I speak with James.”
“Why not?” Shane glanced around at his brothers and sister and smiled, hoping to ease the sudden tension in the air. “We’re all family.”
“Yes, but why didn’t your father tell you about me?”
“I don’t know,” Shane said honestly. “It doesn’t make sense.”
Although Shane felt relieved to know his father wasn’t cheating on his mom, the relief was tinged with anger. His father talked about the importance of family, yet he hadn’t even told them he had a twin sister?
If Jeanne Marie was telling the truth, there could be a whole other family of Fortunes out there. More importantly, why hadn’t she been in their lives before now?
Several times over the next hour, Shane and his siblings tried in various ways to wheedle more information out of Jeanne Marie. But finding out they knew nothing about her had spooked the woman and she refused to share any other information of substance.
Despite her perceived need to watch her words, Jeanne Marie agreed to stay on for a few days so they could all get better acquainted.
Shane had the sinking feeling that they were going to have to wait until his father returned to the country before they could fully unravel the mystery of Jeanne Marie.
* * *
Lia placed her phone on the kitchen counter, feeling oddly melancholy. Perhaps it was the fact that Shane was busy all weekend with an old family friend he didn’t want her to meet. Or maybe it was because she’d spent the past ten minutes on the phone laughing and talking with her once best friend, Steph Roberts, wishing they kept in closer touch. Granted, they met twice a year to celebrate birthdays, but was that really enough time to give a woman who’d been her roommate all through college as well as one of her dearest friends?
Then she reminded herself that the distance between them had been deliberate on her part, a self-preservation thing. After living with Steph for a year after graduation, Lia had seen no option but to step away before the fast-paced, extravagant lifestyle began to seem normal. Before she forgot how she was raised and did things she knew she would forever regret.
Making herself a cup of herbal tea, Lia took it with her to the sofa and, with nothing better to do, she let the memories of those days wash over her. If she had to pinpoint where the problems between her and Steph started, she’d have to say with Kimber Delano, a San Antonio society matron and wife of a prominent business owner and city councilman. Because of their friendship with Kimber’s daughter, Angie, she and Steph had been invited to parties and cookouts at the Delano mansion in the exclusive Hill Country Village area.
Shortly before graduation, Kimber had approached them with a job offer. Lia had been flattered that such a prominent civic leader would seek her out. Later, she’d look back and wonder if they’d been sought out not because she and Steph were the prettiest of their group of friends but because they were the only two who didn’t come from money.
Lia had been impressed with the salary Kimber had quoted, but curious as to which of Mr. Delano’s companies they’d be working for....
That was when they learned they’d be working for Mrs. Delano and not her husband. Kimber had explained that she ran a small, very discreet “matchmaking” service for highly placed politicians, community leaders and prominent businessmen throughout Texas.
Although she’d couched the duties in all sorts of flowery language, Lia’s mother hadn’t raised a fool. She remembered how the woman’s eyes had narrowed when she’d blurted out that she’d never be a prostitute. According to Kimber, there was a big difference between what the women who worked for her did and prostitution.
But Lia couldn’t see the difference and immediately turned down the offer. Steph, on the other hand, had been intrigued. It wasn’t long until her friend began working for Kimber, embracing the expensive clothes and travel perks that came with the position. Almost immediately, Steph was able to afford a luxury condo in Canyon City.
Lia had accepted an entry-level position at a San Antonio accounting firm. For a year, Lia had shared Steph’s condo, paying a tiny fraction of the rent, hoping to convince her friend she deserved better.
But for the pretty blonde girl from the trailer courts, the money was seductive. Not to mention the chance to rub elbows with the wealthy, attend their parties, even jet off to Paris for a weekend. After a while Lia realized she couldn’t change a mind that didn’t want to be changed.
They’d parted amicably and tonight they’d set a time and place to celebrate Steph’s hitting the quarter-of-a-century mark.
A knock at the door had Lia’s head jerking up. A second, louder rap sent her hurrying across the floor, her heart giving a leap. She knew only one person that impatient.
Lia glanced through the peephole. With her hunch confirmed, she slowly opened the door. “Shane. I didn’t expect to see you this weekend.”
He stepped inside and glanced around. “I hope I’m not interrupting.”
“The plans with my friends fell through.” She locked the door behind him then turned to him.
After what had happened, she’d told herself she wouldn’t be too welcoming when he came around. But the lines of strain around his eyes and the harshness of his features worried her. She couldn’t remember seeing him so upset. Except maybe when she’d told him about the baby. Something bad must have happened.
“Did your family friend arrive safely?”
Shane gave a jerky nod, crossed the kitchen and stared out the window, the sound of a police siren seeping through the glass. “I don’t like you living here.”
Lia crossed the room and stood behind him, placing her arms around his stiff shoulders. “Tell me what you need.”
In retrospect, it was probably a silly question. Yet, the words had barely left her lips when he turned, pulled her to him and buried his face in her neck.
“You smell so good.” He inhaled deeply. “Like baby powder.”
“Supersexy, huh?” she whispered against his dark hair, stroking his arm with the tips of her fingers.
“Works for me.” Even before the words left his lips, he was unfastening her gown, pulling it over her head and tossing it on the kitchen table. He backed her up against the wall and began kissing her fiercely. “I need you, Lia.”
“Ah, Shane,” she said as desire exploded inside her. “I need you, too. But we really have to move this to the bed. Hard floors, tabletops or walls don’t work so well
for me now.”
Without a word, he lifted her effortlessly into his arms and carried her across the room to the Murphy bed already pulled out of the wall.
Lia sensed the pent-up passion humming through him as he deposited her on the bed then lay down beside her. She slipped her fingers under his shirt. “Someone on this bed is overdressed and, for once, it’s not me.”
The first real smile she’d seen since he arrived tugged at his lips. His clothes soon joined hers on the floor.
There was a desperation to his movements. Whatever had happened today had really upset him.
And he came to me for comfort.
Emboldened by the knowledge, Lia reached for him. The lovemaking that followed was fast and furious. She knew his body as well as he knew hers. And if he thought this was all in his hands, she proved him wrong, playing him like a musician played an instrument, drawing him out until they both came together in a crescendo of passion.
Afterward, Shane propped up the pillows and talked. About everything but the family friend who was visiting and what had caused his distress. Lia told herself that eventually Shane would tell her what had upset him.
But before that could happen, she closed her eyes and felt herself begin to drift off. Her lids flew open when he slipped from the bed and began pulling on his clothes.
“You’re leaving?” Her brows pulled together in a frown. “I know my bed isn’t as comfortable as yours—”
“I want to stay, but I have...other obligations.”
Ah, yes. The mysterious family friend.
His gaze dropped to a piece of paper on the bedside stand. “Are you planning a trip to Boston?”
“My mom wants to come and help me for a few weeks after the baby is born.” Lia covered a yawn with her fingers. “We were trying to figure out flights. Are you sure you can’t stay tonight?”
She cringed at the hint of a whine in her voice.
“I can’t.” He sat beside her on the bed, his eyes dark and searching. “I didn’t mean to come over here and treat you like some booty call.”
Lia tilted her head. “Well, if you had your way with me, I certainly had my way with you, too.”
He laughed and pulled her close, kissing her soundly.
“I’ll give you a call,” he promised.
“See that you do,” Lia told him. “Or next time I’m keeping my clothes on.”
* * *
Even though it wasn’t that late by the time Shane returned home, he hadn’t expected Sawyer to be downstairs when he walked through the door. But his brother called out and Shane joined him in the living room.
“How did it go with your baby mama?”
Shane shot his brother a hard look. “Her name—as you well know—is Natalia and she sends her regards.”
“I’m surprised you came home tonight.” Sawyer took a sip of bourbon.
“If you have a problem with Lia and me, just say it.”
Sawyer gazed at Shane. “I know what the attorney said, but I’m not convinced you getting so close to her is smart.”
The evening’s events with Jeanne Marie had left Shane’s emotions raw and too close to the surface. Being around Lia had calmed him and planted his feet back on solid ground. She had so much faith in him. When he was with her he felt as if he could handle anything.
Still, he didn’t want to discuss Lia with his brother. The depth of his feelings for her went far beyond logic. Shane glanced at the amber-colored liquid in his brother’s glass. “Got any more of that?”
Sawyer gestured with his head toward a crystal decanter on a side table.
“Where’s Jeanne Marie?”
“Upstairs.” Sawyer’s lips pursed. “She said she was tired from the flight. Personally, I think it was the shock of finding out Dad had never told us about her.”
“There’s something more going on that neither of them is telling.” Shane poured two fingers of bourbon into a glass. “Why all the secrecy?”
“That’s what we’ve been trying to find out all along,” Sawyer said with a snort. “I’m sick of these mysteries.”
“Mysteries?” Shane turned and lifted a brow. “I thought we only had one.”
“I spoke with Tom. He has another report on Natalia from the private investigator and wants to go through it with us tomorrow.”
Shane lifted the glass to his lips but didn’t drink. “Us?”
“If she goes after you, it’s going to affect the family.” Sawyer added more bourbon to his glass. “Plus it’ll be good for you to have someone objective there.”
Shane tightened his fingers around the glass. “Are you implying, little brother, that I can’t be objective?”
“Of course not.” Sawyer downed the last of the liquor in his glass. “I simply think it’s good for both of us to hear what he has to say.”
Shane shrugged. “Be there if you want.”
“Tell me, what’s really going on between you two?”
What was going on with him and Lia? A couple of things, really, neither of which his brother would probably be happy to hear. Like, he’d never felt closer to a woman than he did to her. And he loved her. More than he’d ever thought possible.
Chapter Sixteen
The next day Shane rose early. His goal was to have breakfast with Jeanne Marie and his other siblings before she and Victoria left for a tour of Red Rock and an afternoon of shopping.
Jeanne Marie was as cordial—and as closemouthed—as ever. As he sat across from her at the breakfast table, Shane couldn’t shake the feeling he’d met her before.
The attorney was set to arrive at ten o’clock, but Shane got caught up on a long-distance phone call from the Atlanta office and didn’t get downstairs until almost ten-thirty.
“Sawyer has been telling me that you and Ms. Serrano have become good friends.” Tom took a sip of coffee, a look of approval in his blue eyes. “Smart move.”
Shane saw no reason to tell the lawyer that his relationship with Lia had little to do with strategy. “My brother didn’t seem to think it was a smart move last night.”
“I was concerned it could give her some advantage,” Sawyer said.
“The only thing that matters is what the DNA test shows.” Tom lifted a peach scone from a dainty china plate and smiled. “Kudos to your cook. These are magnificent.”
“Sawyer said you’ve received a preliminary report from the investigator.” The more Shane got to know Lia, the more he believed hiring a P.I. had been a waste of everyone’s time and money. He couldn’t imagine there were any skeletons in her closet.
“We did.” Tom glanced at Shane. “You have more of these delicious scones?”
Sawyer lifted the platter and let Tom choose another one.
“You were saying...” Shane prompted.
“Ah, yes.” Tom’s gaze grew thoughtful. “Your, er, friend didn’t get off to the best start when the father left the household—”
“She told me about that,” Shane said.
“She’s come a long way and done a fine job building a good life for herself.”
Just like Shane thought. No skeletons.
“There’s only one area that appears to have some possibilities and the investigator is concentrating his efforts there.” Tom’s lips twisted as though he’d tasted something bitter. “Unfortunately, we’re being stonewalled.”
Shane set down the coffee cup he’d just raised to his lips, a cold chill traveling through his veins. “What kind of possibilities?”
“Shortly after Ms. Serrano graduated from UT San Antonio, she moved into a very expensive condominium. You may have heard of the Mansions at Canyon Springs?”
Sawyer looked at Shane and he shook his head. “We’re not from around here.”
“It’s a wonderful area, many amenities, but way beyond what a young woman fresh out of college could afford.”
Shane thought of the place where Lia currently lived and the one Tom described. “Did she have a lot of roommates? Could that be how
she was able to afford the rent?”
“Only one.” Tom pulled a file folder from his briefcase. “A Miss Stephanie Roberts. Is the name familiar?”
Shane shook his head. “Could she have been the one paying the rent?”
“Perhaps.” Tom shrugged. “But both of them were on the lease.”
“How much was rent?” Sawyer asked.
Tom named a figure that made Sawyer whistle.
“Exactly.” Tom slid the file into his briefcase and shut it with a snap. “I apologize for how long this is taking. I have my suspicions on what went on, but I prefer not to say until we know for sure. I’ll be back in touch.”
Tom rose to his feet and Shane and Sawyer followed.
“Thanks for keeping on top of this,” Sawyer said.
“If Miss Serrano mentions anything about Stephanie Roberts, be sure and let us know. Any information will be helpful.”
“Will do.” Shane felt as if he had let Lia down by simply listening to what the attorney had to report.
“I can let myself out.” Tom smiled and disappeared down the hall.
“Since you’re having lunch with Lia today, that will be a good opportunity for you to bring up college days and her time in San Antonio,” Sawyer said.
Shane cocked his head. “What gave you the idea I’m seeing Lia today?”
“She asked this morning if I minded if she took a long lunch. I assumed she was meeting you.”
“No, we don’t have plans.” Shane thought for a moment. “She may be having lunch with Selina or Dori.”
“Perhaps she’s meeting Stephanie.” Sawyer’s expression seemed to brighten at the thought.
“C’mon, Sawyer. What would be the odds of that happening?”
His brother shrugged. “Long shots do come in. I won fifty thousand dollars on one just last week.”
“That’s horses, not people.”
“Well, since you’re obviously available, why don’t you join Nick Lamb and me for lunch? I’m meeting him at the club at twelve-thirty.”
Shane thought of all the work he had to do. With his father out of the country, the burden of running JMF Financial had fallen on his shoulders. Because of the Jeanne Marie thing, most of his siblings had already walked away from the company that his father had founded.
