The Billionaire's Son

by Sharon Hartley

  He nodded. “Yes.”

  “Do you want to tell me?”

  “I don’t know.” He focused on her suitcase behind her on the bed.

  “Is it about Maria?” she asked.

  “No.” He picked at the hem of his T-shirt. “It’s about you.”

  “Is it a good secret or a bad secret?”

  He shrugged. “I know you’re not my real mommy. You’re Kelly.”

  She blinked. So she and Trey had been right. “That’s right, Jase,” she said carefully. “I’m Kelly.”

  He gazed at her with incredibly sad blue eyes. “My mommy is dead,” he said in a tiny voice. “The angels took her.”

  “I’m so sorry, sweetie,” Kelly said.

  “Me, too,” he whispered, looking away. “I got mixed up.”

  “How long have you not been mixed up?”

  He shrugged again. “A while.”

  “Why didn’t you say anything? Why keep it a secret?”

  “Because I knew you’d go away. Are you?”

  “Yes,” she said.

  “But I want you to stay. Can’t you stay?” His voice was pleading.

  “This isn’t my home, Jason. It’s your daddy’s home.”

  “He won’t mind. I’ll ask him if it’s okay.”

  “But I have a different home somewhere else.”

  His eyes widened. “You do?”

  “Yes, a little apartment.”

  “Where is it?”

  “Not on this island, but not too far.”

  “Could I come visit you there?”

  “I hope you do.”

  He smiled for the first time. “I have a new doctor.”

  “I heard that. Do you like him?”

  “He’s okay. Will I get a new nanny, too?”

  “Probably. Yeah, I think so.”

  He entwined his fingers with her. “I wish you could be my new mommy.”

  So do I. The thought came out of nowhere. Was that what she wanted? To be Jason’s replacement mother?

  Or did she want to be Trey’s replacement wife?

  Wishing for the moon never did anyone any good. She’d learned that a long time ago. The cold reality was now there was no longer any reason for her to remain. Trey wouldn’t even try to persuade her.

  Jason had accepted the truth. He was sad, naturally, but otherwise okay with the fact that his mother was gone. Certainly no more hysterics. He had a new doctor and would soon get a new nanny.

  And maybe he’d even get a new mommy someday.

  She closed her eyes. She suddenly knew she’d follow Trey in the tabloids like some obsessed fan girl. She’d have to know what he was doing, where he was, if his tennis clinic ever came to fruition. How Jason was.

  “Come on, Jason.” Still holding his hand, she stood. “Let’s go talk to your daddy. He needs to know you’re not mixed up anymore.”

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  TREY TUCKED THE sheets around his son and kissed his forehead. “Sweet dreams, buddy.”

  Jason’s eyes were wide open, however, and boring into his. “Do you miss Mommy?”

  After a moment’s hesitation, Trey said, “Of course,” and sat on the edge of the bed. Did Jason want to talk about Darlene? Maybe the fact that he’d remembered his mom was gone lessened the impact of Maria’s absence, which he’d explained by saying she had to help out her own family for a while.

  He was beyond relieved that Jason had realized the truth on his own. Of course that meant there was no longer any need for the ritual good-night kiss. With Barth’s approval, Kelly wasn’t even in the room. She was packing.

  He hadn’t quite processed the fact that she was really moving out. This house was going to feel like a museum without her.

  “I like Kelly,” Jason said.

  Startled at the change of subject to his own thoughts, Trey said, “Me, too.”

  “Can we go visit her at her real home?”

  “I’m sure she’d love to see you.”

  “You can come, too.”

  Trey laughed. “Thanks, buddy. Is there anything you want to talk about? Do you have any more questions?” He and Kelly, along with Dr. Barth, had spent a lot of time after dinner explaining about Maria, why she wasn’t here, why Kelly had to leave. Jason was sad, but had accepted the changes.

  “No,” Jason said. “I love you, Daddy.”

  Trey swallowed hard, wanting to remember this moment forever, the first time his son had expressed any love for him since Darlene’s death.

  “I love you, too, Jase,” he said in a hoarse whisper. He blew his son a kiss, and Jason blew one back.

  At the door, Trey took a last look at his son, thankful that the long nightmare was finally coming to an end. They’d have to remain in Florida awhile longer so Jason could begin treatment with Dr. Barth, but that wasn’t exactly a hardship. He already had feelers out for a new nanny. He looked forward to working on the tennis clinic. He’d soon take his position on the Wentworth Industries Board of Directors. It was time.

  Plus, thanks to Kelly’s detective skills, Jason’s kidnappers should soon be in jail.

  Yeah, and there was the only rub. Kelly. Everything in his life was under control except for his feelings about Officer Kelly Jenkins. The fact that she was moving out overshadowed all the other good news.

  She was good for him, had somehow dragged him out of the funk he’d been in since the disintegration of his marriage, making him want to rejoin the productive world instead of hiding behind a life of parties. She’d given him the motivation to defy his father.

  She was also good for his son. She’d taught Jason more about sharing and good manners in a week than Darlene had in all their time together. Darlene had loved Jason, but didn’t have the faintest idea about parenting and had had no interest in learning.

  Trey quietly closed the door to Jason’s room and went to find Kelly. This would be the last night she spent under his roof, and he wanted to make the most of it. Yeah, he wanted her in his bed, but that wasn’t all he wanted. He wanted her respect.

  For the first time in his life, he wasn’t sure how a woman felt about him. Understandable, of course. He hadn’t exactly been at his finest when they’d met.

  He didn’t want to lose contact with Kelly, but could they have any kind of relationship? They came from such different worlds. Was it possible to even try?

  He stepped outside into a clear, cool night and found her hanging onto the edge of the pool, lazily kicking her legs. He kept the water at the exact temperature she preferred. She’d finished her workout and was waiting for him.

  When she noticed his presence, she smiled and exited the pool. As far as he was concerned her body was perfect. He held out the robe for her, encircling her with his arms as she stepped into the terrycloth. She leaned against him and sighed.

  “I’m going to miss this pool,” she said.

  Will you miss me? “You don’t have to go.”

  She stepped away. “You know I do. For Jason’s mental health if for no other reason. Dr. Barth agrees.” Gesturing toward the lounge chairs she said, “Can we stay out here a few minutes? It’s such a perfect evening. I think I want to soak it up.”

  Trey followed and sat on a lounge next to her.

  “How is Jason?” she asked. She pulled a large comb from a pocket in the robe and used it to untangle her wet hair. “Any problems putting him down?”

  “Out of nowhere, he told me he loved me,” Trey said. “On a day filled with loss, he decided to forgive me.”

  “Kids are amazingly resilient,” she said. “They can recover from all kinds of trauma.”

  “Like you did?” Trey asked.

  She paused combing and looked out over the pool. “My childh
ood was way different than Jason’s.”

  “Your mom had a drug problem, didn’t she? That’s how you recognized it in Maria.”

  “Yes, a bad one. She couldn’t keep a job because of her addiction, so often resorted to the world’s oldest profession.”

  “Where was your dad?”

  She shrugged. “Who knows?”

  “Did your mom give you that burn mark on your shoulder?”

  “No.” Kelly swung her gaze back to his. “She never harmed me, but couldn’t stand up to a man who wanted to. Mr. Roy Brown.” She spat out the name.

  “Did he rape you?” Trey asked, holding his breath for the answer.

  “Oh, he tried, but it didn’t go that far.” She shook her head.

  Trey reached for her hand and intertwined their fingers. He wanted to know everything about Kelly. But did she trust him enough to confide in him?

  She didn’t say anything for a moment as she stared at the lit pool, its water now calm. “My mom was working as a maid in a no-tell motel, and I was in a room doing my homework when Roy came in high on something really nasty. Whatever it was made him super strong. I couldn’t get away from him, but screamed my fool head off and got lucky. A police officer intervened, Officer Ricardo Morales, who became my savior in more ways than one.”

  “How so?”

  “Ricardo was a dinosaur, a few years from retirement, and took an interest in me and my mom. He couldn’t stop Roy from killing her a few months later,” Kelly said bitterly, “but he watched over me in the system, made sure my foster homes weren’t abusive.”

  “You said he moved to Daytona Beach?”

  “He’s in an assisted living facility near where his own kids live. He’s got dementia. I used to visit him every now and then, but he no longer remembers me.”

  “I’m sorry.” He gave her hand a gentle squeeze.

  “Thanks. Ricardo is one reason I became a cop.”

  “You love being a police officer, don’t you?”

  “I really do. I’m totally jazzed that Ballard invited me along on the takedown of Adam.” She stared at her comb. “My lieutenant cleared it even though I’m riding a desk these days.”

  “You’re on desk duty?” he demanded. “Why?” Kelly would hate desk duty.

  She sighed and looked out over the pool. “Because one of the tabloids suggested I’m a dirty cop.”

  Trey went still. “Based on what?”

  “Because I’m living here.”

  He stared at her. “Surely your superior officer doesn’t buy into that nonsense.”

  “Maybe not, but Internal Affairs opened an investigation.”

  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  She shrugged. “We’ve got a lot going on.”

  Stunned, Trey dropped her hand. Kelly was under investigation because she’d agreed to remain in his home, and that was on him. “Is there anything I can—”

  “No!” She pointed the comb at him. “Stay out of my career, Trey. If you try to pull strings, you’ll only make it worse.”

  “Okay, okay.” He held up his hands in surrender. She must not have heard about Joe Schwartz’s press release where Wentworth Industries denied any romance between himself and one Officer Kelly Jenkins. Would she consider that interfering?

  “Anyway, this op in Homestead in a few hours will be the real deal,” she said. “Maria claims Adam’s house is like an armory, loaded with guns, even an assault rifle.”

  An assault rifle? And Kelly was looking forward to this operation with the FBI?

  “But you’ll stay back as an observer, right?” he asked. “You won’t be rushing into the structure with the federal agents?”

  “Hell, yes, I’m going in with them. I’m not hanging back anywhere.”

  “Don’t go,” Trey said before he could stop himself. “You could be hurt.”

  “Don’t worry,” she said. “I’ll be wearing my vest.”

  He’d noticed how bulky her upper body was under her uniform. Jason called it lumpy. That meant she wore a Kevlar vest, but the reality of that fact, what it actually meant, hadn’t truly registered.

  Kelly was a law enforcement officer doing a job she loved, maybe a job she was meant to do—and he understood why, now that he knew her history.

  But this beautiful new light in his life could be extinguished in a matter of hours. What would that loss do to Jason?

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

  KELLY PEERED CLOSELY at Trey. He looked like he’d just seen a ghost. Or maybe that he’d just learned Santa Claus was a big fat myth.

  “What’s wrong?” she asked.

  He shook his head. “Nothing. Not really. It just hit me how dangerous your job is.”

  “I’ll be fine, Trey.”

  He nodded and ran a hand through his hair, something she’d recognized as a tell that meant he was anxious.

  Was he worried about her? She ducked her head to hide a smile. She shouldn’t want anyone to worry about her, but the thought that this sexy and powerful man might care about her safety on the job created a warm glow in her chest.

  Pathetic. Really pathetic. The sooner she got off this island the better.

  “Have you finished packing?” he asked in a tone that told her he’d accepted the fact she was leaving.

  “Yes,” she replied. “Listen, can I borrow a car for a few days until I can make other arrangements?”

  “Of course,” Trey said. “Keep it as long as you like. How about an Italian sports car, maybe a convertible?”

  “Maybe not. Do you have anything a little less showy?”

  “An SUV?”

  “That’ll work. Thanks.” She’d need to disguise herself, put her hair under a cap and wear sunglasses when she drove off the ferry. She’d be in an unfamiliar vehicle, and the paparazzi—if they were even waiting—would ignore her.

  A silence fell between them, and Kelly followed his gaze to look out over the stunning elegance of his lit pool deck. She breathed in the sweet fragrance of Trey’s night-blooming jasmine, a scent she’d always associate with these amazing nighttime swims. She really would miss this place.

  And its owner.

  Feeling a chill now that she’d stopped moving, Kelly tightened the robe around herself. She’d fallen into the luxury of Trey Wentworth’s life far more easily than she could have imagined. Would she ever see him again? Yeah, in a tabloid or maybe on an entertainment television show.

  She switched her gaze to his profile. What was he thinking? With a sinking feeling she understood he wasn’t going to say anything about them hooking up after she’d moved out. Or even about her spending tonight in his bed.

  Of course she’d planned to refuse that offer, if it came—it would only make her leaving harder—but damn if she hadn’t wanted the invitation.

  God, she was such a loser. She’d actually been holding out the ridiculous hope that Trey Wentworth would want to see her again. Would want to make love to her again. He might not want her standing in front of a bullet, but that was just common decency. It didn’t mean anything more.

  “Well, I’d better turn in,” she said. “I’ve got an early morning.”

  “I’ll make sure there’s something for you in the breakfast room,” he said.

  “That’s not necessary.”

  Trey shot her a look, which only confused her. Why was it so hard to say goodbye to this man?

  “About that car?” she prompted.

  “I’ll instruct Hans to leave the SUV in the driveway for you. The keys will be in the ignition.”

  “Perfect,” she said, coming to her feet. Should she stick out her arm and shake his hand? No, she’d just pretend this was like any other night, even though it was likely the last time she’d speak to him.

 
She took a deep breath, hoping to get away without him noticing she was fighting tears. He’d read too much into that, want to know why. If she did, she could always tell him she’d miss Jason. That was the truth.

  “Good night, Trey.” She couldn’t bring herself to say goodbye.

  Trey reached out and gently pulled her into a hug. “Promise me you’ll be careful tomorrow,” he said, his voice sounding muffled and far away.

  “I promise.” She held herself stiffly, afraid to release into his warmth, afraid she’d never want to exit his embrace, terrified she’d raise her chin and beg for her good-night kiss. She closed her eyes telling herself she could get through this. She’d certainly gotten through worse.

  He released her and ran a gentle hand down her cheek, staring into her face with eyes that spoke of loneliness and regrets.

  “Thank you, Kelly.”

  “For what?” she whispered.

  “For being you.” He kissed her then, his lips meeting hers with a brief feather light touch. But his face remained close, his breath hot on her chin. She had the distinct impression he wanted to say something. And then his mouth was on hers again, kissing her as if he didn’t want to let her go, pressing his body into hers. She couldn’t help but lean into him and slide her arms around his waist. Yes, this was what she wanted, what she needed.

  But when she heard moans of pleasure rumbling in her throat, she pulled back, a hand to her lips, knowing those little noises gave her away as surely as a signed confession. Their gazes locked and understanding passed between them. Yes, he did want to make love to her.

  But it would be the last time. There’d never be anything else but one more night of mind-blowing passion, and that wouldn’t be enough. Not for her anyway. Still, she hesitated for a moment, tempted, wanting to open his shirt and place her cheek against his bare chest and feel his heart race, even if it would be the dumbest thing she’d ever done.

  No way. This parting was already too hard.

  Without saying a word, she turned and fled to the safety of her room. Trey didn’t follow her.

  * * *

  “ADAM CHANDLER, THIS is the FBI.” Ballard’s voice boomed into the quiet dawn. “You are surrounded. Come out with your hands up.”