by Reese Ryan
* * *
Jessie returned to her room on Sunday afternoon to gather some of her toiletries and fresh clothing. Gideon sat on the sofa watching the stock market news as he made calls to his assistant Landon.
There was a knock at her hotel room door.
“Gideon, would you get that, please?” Jessie called from the bathroom as she packed up her makeup and facial cleanser.
“Sure thing,” he replied.
She’d expected him to call to her that it was the hotel staff or maybe Teresa or Matt looking for her. But there was silence in the other room.
“Gideon, who is it?” Jessie walked out into the main living space of the suite. She was stunned to see a face that resembled her own.
“Geneva, what are you doing here?” Jessie stammered. “I thought you were still in Amsterdam.” Her voice faded and she wrapped her arms around herself.
“I was, but I thought I’d surprise my little sis. You said I should come to visit, so I thought I’d pop into Napa first and catch your performances. But my flights were delayed and I got in after your set ended last night.” Geneva took a few steps closer to her sister. “But I saw the videos. Jessie, you were incredible. How is it that I didn’t realize just how talented my sister is?”
Geneva opened her arms and Jessie stepped into them, hugging her sister tightly. Neither her parents nor Geneva had supported her decision to go into music. So it felt good to hear her sister’s validation. It wasn’t something she needed, but she hadn’t realized until now how much she’d wanted it.
Her sister cupped her cheek and smiled, then turned to Gideon. She gave him what Jessie knew to be a forced smile.
“Gideon, it’s good to see you.” Geneva nodded toward him, awkwardness lingering between them.
“You, too, Geneva.” He shoved his hands in his pockets, not moving toward her.
“So...you two, huh?” Geneva glanced from Jessie to Gideon, then back when neither of them responded. “Since when?”
“Since this weekend.” Gideon pulled one hand out of his pocket and threaded his fingers through Jessie’s. He squeezed her hand. “We hadn’t seen each other in a really long time. We got a chance to get reacquainted during the retreat.”
Jessie breathed a sigh of relief. She hadn’t told Geneva or anyone else about the day she’d gone to Gideon’s apartment. Maybe she’d tell her sister someday. But there was already enough tension between them. She wouldn’t add to it.
Gideon wrapped an arm around Jessie’s waist, as if he knew she needed his reassurance that he had no regrets about choosing her.
“I know you missed Jessie’s show, Geneva, but there’s lots to do here in Napa. Why don’t I take you ladies to lunch later?”
“Great idea, Gideon.” Jessie smiled at him gratefully. She turned to her sister. “What do you say, Gen? The food here is amazing and so is the wine.”
“I’d like that.” Geneva put on her biggest smile as she wiped dampness from beneath her eyes. “Can I meet you at the restaurant in say...an hour?”
“Geneva, I’m sorry if me being with Gideon feels uncomfortable right now. You’re my sister and I love you. I’d never intentionally hurt you.” Jessie took both of Geneva’s hands in hers. “But... I love him. I think I always have.” She glanced over her shoulder at Gideon. He grinned and mouthed the words, I love you, too. Jessie turned back to her sister. “And I did see him first.”
“Yes, you did, Squirt.” Geneva called Jessie by her childhood nickname through a teary-eyed laugh. “I guess technically I stole him first.”
“You totally did.” Jessie laughed, her eyes damp, too.
“Oh, Jessie.” Geneva cradled her cheek. Her sister’s smile seemed genuine, despite the tears that spilled down her face. “I’m so happy for you. For both of you.” She turned to Gideon. “I’ve only ever wanted the best for both of you. I’m glad that the two sweetest people I’ve ever known eventually found happiness together. Things are just as they should be.”
Geneva hugged Jessie again. Then she hugged Gideon. “You’ve always been a great guy, Gideon. So whatever happens between you two, I know you’ll be good to my little sister.” She turned to leave. “I’ll see you two downstairs in an hour.”
Jessie sighed with relief when the door closed behind Geneva. She turned to Gideon. “I’m sorry to have said that here, like this. I know it’s only been a weekend and I wouldn’t possibly expect you to—”
“Jess, breathe.” Gideon pulled her to him. “Spending time with you this weekend reminded me what a rare gift it is to have someone in my life who believed in me from the beginning, when I had nothing. You were always in my corner, Jess. I want that again, and I want to do the same for you.”
He pressed a soft kiss to her lips and stroked her cheek. “And when I said I love you, too, I meant it. I wanted to say it earlier, but I was afraid I’d scare you off.”
“Your heart is racing.” Jessie could feel Gideon’s heart thumping against her palm, pressed to his chest. “Are you sure you’re not the one who’s terrified by this?”
“I haven’t opened myself up to anyone like this in a really long time. So yeah...it feels a little scary. But I have never been so sure about what I want. And what I want is you.”
“This weekend has been so amazing. What happens when we try to translate it into an actual relationship?” Jessie frowned, her eyes searching his. “I’m in New York and you’re in Seattle. You’ll be traveling to the Middle East and, eventually, I’ll be out on tour.”
“I know it seems insurmountable, but we don’t get many do-overs in life. So I don’t intend to take this second chance for granted.”
“You know how long I’ve wanted this, Gideon. But I’ve worked really hard for my career, too. I don’t want to give that up, either.”
“I’d never ask you to.” He kissed her forehead. “Look, no one said this would be easy, but for you, I’m willing to make sacrifices. I’d always planned to open an office in New York. Looks like I’ll be opening it sooner than I thought.” He kissed her again as he hauled her against him. “And I already own a penthouse in Manhattan with the perfect space to install a recording studio.”
“You’d move to New York for me?” Jess pulled back to gaze up at him. “Are you serious?”
“I really do love you, Jessie Humphrey.” He smiled. “And I look forward to making a life together. I don’t know what the future holds, but I promise you, as long as you’re all in, I am, too.”
Jessie’s eyes stung with tears and her heart felt full. She honestly couldn’t ever remember being happier than she was right now. Lifting onto her toes, she kissed the man she’d loved for as long as she could remember.
Epilogue
An insidious grin spanned Catherine Christopher’s face as she counted out a stack of crisp one-hundred-dollar bills. Liam’s mother handed the stack to the man standing beside her desk.
“That went even better than expected.” The woman snickered. “Everyone believes that Joshua St. Claire was out of his mind drunk or worse, high on something vile. What did you give him, anyway?”
The man opened his mouth to speak, but Catherine held up a hand and turned her head.
“On second thought, it’s better if I don’t know. The only thing that matters is that the little bitch got exactly what she deserves,” Catherine announced gleefully.
“St. Claire probably won’t even remember that he was drugged.” The man counted the bills for himself before shoving them into his pocket.
“Perfect.” Catherine smiled as she looked out the window and surveyed her vast estate. “His sister won’t see what’s coming, either. Just wait until Teresa St. Claire finds out what I have planned for her next.”
* * *
What does Catherine have planned?
Will Liam and Teresa ever find their happy ending?
Don�
��t miss a single episode in the Dynasties:
Secrets of the A-List quartet!
Book One
Tempted by Scandal by Karen Booth
Book Two
Taken by Storm by Cat Schield
Book Three
Seduced by Second Chances by Reese Ryan
Book Four
Redeemed by Passion by Joss Wood
Available August 2019
Keep reading for an excerpt from One Night, White Lies by Jessica Lemmon.
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One Night, White Lies
by Jessica Lemmon
One
London-born Reid Singleton didn’t know a damn thing about women’s shoes. So when he became transfixed by a pair on the dance floor, fashion wasn’t his dominating thought.
They were pink, but somehow also metallic, with long Grecian-style straps crisscrossing delicate, gorgeous ankles. He curled his scotch to his chest and backed into the shadows, content to watch the woman who owned those ankles for a bit.
Reid might not know women’s brands or styles, but he knew women. He’d seen quite a lot of women in high heels and short skirts, but he couldn’t recall one who’d snagged his attention this thoroughly.
From those pinkish metallic spikes, the picture only improved. He followed the straps to perfectly rounded calves and the outline of tantalizing thighs lost in a skirt that moved when she did. The cream-colored skirt led to a sparkling gold top. Her shoulders were slight, the swells of her breasts snagging his attention for a beat, and her hair fell in curls over those small shoulders. Dark hair with a touch of mahogany, or maybe rich cherry. Not quite red, but with a notable amount of warmth, the way a tree ended its journey from burnished gold to deep russet in the fall.
He sipped from his glass, again taking in the skirt, both flirty and fun in equal measures. A guy could get lost in there. Get lost in her.
An inviting thought, indeed.
When the opportunity to attend a technology trade show in San Diego, California, arose, Reid leaped at the chance. He’d been on high alert for the past two years, ever since his best friend, Flynn, survived a divorce, his dad’s death and elevation to president of his company all within a relatively short period of time. Reid worked at said company, liked his job, respected the hell out of Flynn and wasn’t willing to step away until the situation was sorted.
This trip to California was looked upon as a break by Reid and a necessity by Flynn. They’d implemented a lot of changes in the past twelve months, and Reid was intent on making the tech side of the company shine. He was the self-appointed King of Information. Data made sense to him.
So did women.
The brunette spun around, her skirt swirling, her smile a seemingly permanent feature. She was lively and vivid, and even in her muted gold-and-cream ensemble, somehow the brightest color in the room. A man approached her, and Reid promptly lost his smile, a strange feeling of propriety rolling over him and causing him to bristle.
The suited man was average height with a receding hairline. He was on the skinny side, but the vision in gold simply smiled up at him, dazzling the man like he’d cast a spell. When she shook her head in dismissal and the man ducked his head and moved on, relief swamped Reid, but he still didn’t approach her.
Careful was the only way to proceed, or so instinct told him. She was open but somehow skittish, in an outfit he couldn’t take his eyes from. And he wasn’t the only one looking. Upon a second glance around, he saw that there were, in fact, many men looking at her.
Most were in clusters with one another, clinging to their own. The company Reid worked for had sent him alone, atypical since he worked closely with his best friends from college, but he didn’t mind flying solo. He was a Singleton, after all.
At Monarch Consulting, they shared the goal of helping other businesses grow and perform better. Flynn Parker—the aforementioned inheritor of the firm—was in charge and, while a bit straight-edged, definitely the best man for the job. Gage Fleming was in charge of sales, a good fit since he leaked charm like a noxious gas. Reid fancied himself a blend of both men, which was why they got on so well. The fourth musketeer, Sabrina Douglas, had been the bestie and plucky sidekick for years but recently became Flynn’s wife-to-be. A kick in the nuts since Flynn was the one who initiated a pact with Gage and Reid never to wed in the first place.
But Reid couldn’t deny that Sabrina and Flynn were meant to be together. It was obvious that they were in love, even to a cynic like Reid. Gage had agreed and they’d released Flynn from the pact, leaving Reid and Gage to hold strong.
Until Gage met Andrea Payne, a consultant superhero with strawberry-blond locks and a cunning smile. They were quite the dynamo couple, Andy and Gage. Their wedding was scheduled for next June. Flynn and Sabrina hadn’t set an official date, but Reid guessed that announcement was forthcoming.
Weddings, weddings everywhere.
No matter. The breaking of the pact by both Flynn and Gage wasn’t something Reid took personally. He’d decided a long time ago never to be married for a mountain of reasons he wasn’t going to turn over in his head now. Gage’s and Flynn’s saying “I do” weren’t going to change his mind.
Another swish of the brunette’s skirt paired with her stepping from the dance floor. She aimed those tall shoes right for him. Reid reached up to straighten his tie, forgetting he’d tossed it on the bed in his hotel room along with his jacket. He settled for tugging his collar instead.
In his beige slacks, pale blue shirt, brown belt and brown leather shoes, he resembled every other man in the room save for a few slight differences.
Reid was thirty-one, not in his forties or fifties. He had a head full of wavy dark hair, no signs of male pattern baldness whatsoever. He also had a face that was perplexingly handsome, or so he’d been told. It was a face that aided him in bedding the many women who’d graced his sheets over the years, and he’d made it his mission to show them not just a good time but the best time while they were there.
Sabrina had once joked about Reid sleeping his way through their college campus. He’d responded that he’d been performing a service for women who otherwise wouldn’t have known good sex if it showed up at their dorm room door wearing pasties on its nipples.
A joke, sure, but he hadn’t been completely joking. He prided himself on his prowess as much as his service. He might be Clark Kent by day, glasses on when screen fatigue became too much
, but at night he morphed into Superman in the bedroom.
Man of Steel, he thought with a smirk.
For those reasons he hadn’t been in a rush to approach the goddess in the Grecian-style high heels like some of the other men in the room. Reid had already decided to carefully choose his moment, but as she made eye contact, he realized he wasn’t going to have to approach her.
She was coming to him.
Copyright © 2019 by Jessica Lemmon
Special thanks and acknowledgment are given to Reese Ryan for her contribution to the Dynasties: Secrets of the A-List miniseries.
ISBN-13: 9781488046667
Seduced by Second Chances
Copyright © 2019 by Harlequin Books S.A.
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