“You mean you didn’t kn-,”
Kara cut him off and slammed a manila envelope down on the desk in front of him. “Here are the divorce papers, again. You can sign them now and I’ll file them on my way back to the salon.”
“No.” He crossed his arms and stuck his nose in the air like a petulant child.
“Excuse me? What the hell do you mean no? Sign the damn papers, River!”
Dean chuckled and they both cast a death look in his direction. “Sorry,” he held his hands up, a smile still stuck to his face.
“I’m not signing anything. I need you for my meeting with Bobby Lee and-”
“What a ridiculous name,” she mumbled and shoved a pen in his hand.
River let the pen slide from his fingers. “And you might be pregnant.”
“What!” Dean leaned forward and glared at River. “What’s wrong with you?”
Kara scoffed. “You’re related to him so you must already know, so please enlighten me.” She picked the pen back up and closed his hand around it.
Dean laughed. “I like her. I like you, you’re funny.”
“Yeah thanks.” She rolled her eyes. The Harwood family definitely grew men tall and handsome, and Dean was nowhere near as annoying as River. Or as hot, dammit. “River, sign the papers. I told you I went to the pharmacy in Loving to get the morning after pill.”
He dropped the pen again. “Yeah, well, I happen to know they were all out.” At her stunned look he told her, “No pharmacist-customer confidentiality.”
“Jackass.”
Dean stood and placed his hands on his hips. “I have an idea. River, you sign the papers and I’ll hang on to them until Kara has dinner with you and Bobby Lee.”
“And I’m supposed to trust you?” Kara looked back and forth between them. She was sure they were both up to something, but what? Being married to her wasn’t really a boon to his career, so it made no sense.
“I’m a trustworthy guy, ask anyone.”
She laughed but it held no amusement. “Sure I’ll ask someone in this building, ‘hey can I trust either of the Harwoods?’ I can imagine how that’ll go.” She put on a fake high-pitched voice, “Oh yes, they sign checks in the most delightful way. I’d give’em my kidney if I could!” She shook her head to let them know she was unimpressed. “Sign the damn papers, River.”
“No.”
She picked them up and slid them back in the envelope. “Suit yourself. I can file them anyway and they’ll be on the record. Contest them or sign them then, I don’t give a shit. Nice to meet you, Dean.”
“You too, Kara. Can I ask you one question? Why won’t you go to this one dinner with him?”
“For starters, I don’t want to. Then there’s the fact that your dear cousin is a dick. He tried to bully me, then he accused me of extortion and then fucked me and left me with a business card like his dick was supposed to magically change my mind. And finally, he told me we definitely can’t get divorced if I’m pregnant, like I’ve won some kind of lottery by having unprotected sex with him.”
Dean tried to stifle his chuckle. “Oh okay. I understand now. Sorry, River.”
She grunted and turned on her heels, slamming the door behind her.
“Well the good news is that she likes you. The bad news is: she doesn’t care that she likes you.”
“How does that help me with Bobby Lee?”
“It doesn’t.”
“Thanks, Dean. Thanks a lot.”
~
“Sign the papers and leave them with me, and then I’ll go to this one dinner with you and,” she shuddered, “Bobby Lee.”
River crossed his arms and looked at her skeptically. “And why would I do that? Once you sign the papers, you have no reason to come with me.”
Her stance matched his. “And if I go without your signature, you have no reason to sign them, although I can’t figure out why you’re resisting this so much.”
“Fine. I’ll sign the damn papers.”
Her smile brightened and she stepped back. “Come on in, then.”
His face fell into a confused frown. “Okay.”
He sat on the sofa and she went straight to the kitchen.“Do you want anything to drink?”
“No thanks,” he called out to her and removed his jacket.
“Too bad. We’re sealing this deal with a drink.”
He accepted the glasses from her. “I was hoping you’d say seal it with a kiss. I’m a really good kisser.”
She shivered, remembering all the lovely things he could do with his mouth. “I don’t think that’s a good idea, River.” Even though her body was already telling her it was a brilliant idea.
“Let’s have that drink and I’ll try to convince you it’s a wonderful idea.” He pulled her down next to him and wrapped an arm around her.
Kara poured two fingers of Jameson into each glass. “Alright, lover boy, drink up.” She tapped her glass to his and took a healthy sip. “Yeah, that hit the spot,” she groaned.
River moaned and turned to face her. “I’m sorry.”
“For what? I mean it’s not your fault that you’re an-”
River cut her off. “For this,” he whispered and then he kissed her. This time he took his time, exploring unknown depths of her mouth and tasting those plump lips. His hands snaked around her waist and pulled her close until she straddled his lap.
“Damn you, River,” she moaned and joined the kiss, tasting his tongue and running her fingers through his hair. The man did something to her brain, scrambled it so the only thing she was capable of was responding to his kisses, his scent and the sensual way his body moved. Kara grabbed a handful of hair and yanked it back, her tongue sought out the strong column of his neck. She licked and bit and kissed until his fingers dug into her hips. She broke contact and stared at him. “Damn you, River,” she said again, and lifted her sweater over her head and tossed it aside. The bra went off next and she felt a swell of feminine pride at the way his blue eyes darkened to near-black.
“I can’t get enough of you, Kara.” His hands went to her large breasts, kneading them and worrying the buds between his fingers. “You feel so good.”
Kara groaned and leaned back to undo his pants. She stood and shoved her jeans down her legs, then went back to his pants.
“You weren’t wearing underwear this whole time?”
“Nope,” she smiled at him and groaned when his pants were around his ankles. “Now that’s what I like to see,” she said, her eyes laser focused on his erection. She bent over and took him in her mouth and deep down her throat. Her tongue swirled around the tip and River’s hands found their way to layers of silky red hair.
“Kara, enough! I need to be inside you.”
She released him with a pop and a coy smile. “And I need you to be inside me,” she said and crawled back into his lap. She bit her bottom lip as she lowered herself onto his impressive length. He was thick and long, curved slightly to hit her sweet spot. “Yes,” she groaned when she was fully seated. “God, River, you feel amazing.” Those were the last words she said before please overtook her body. Up and down with a hip swirl, she did it over and over, moaning loudly above River’s grunts. Her body tightened and he hardened even more inside her. “River,” she told him and she cried out again when one hand went to her clit. “Yes, baby,” she whispered in his ear right before she tightened and went over the edge. “River!”
He groaned as she milked him and his fingers dug into her hips. “Kara, sweet, Kara,” he groaned and moved her hips up and down faster and faster until he stilled on a grunt and she felt his orgasm fill her body. “Kara.”
I’m an idiot. A big, stinkin’, stupid idiot. Kara’s head fell to his shoulder as little quakes shook her body. She bit down on his neck and he groaned and slapped her ass. Her feelings for her husband were creeping back into her heart and she needed to banish them. For good. “You feel so good, I don’t want to get up.”
River wrapped his arms arou
nd her tight. “You don’t have to, you know. I’m perfectly happy where I am.”
God how she wished that were true. “I need to take a shower.” She pulled back and slowly separated their bodies. “You’ll let me know about the dinner?”
River nodded, an odd sense of disappointment pooled in his chest. “Yes. Bobby Lee is traditional, so maybe don’t wear that killer white dress. Plus, I’d hate to kill him before we close the deal.”
She laughed. “Noted. I have plenty of proper wife clothes to appease the old boy, River, don’t worry.”
He pulled her back down to him and planted a hot, steamy kiss that had moisture pooling between her legs again. “I’m not worried, just happy I won’t have to beat up an old man.” He dropped another, short, sweet kiss on her forehead. “I’ll pick you up like a real date.”
“Okay, River. See you soon.”
Chapter Three
“River, how did you manage to land a stunner like that?” Bobby Lee’s eyes were bugged out like a cartoon character as he took in the beauty that was Kara Harwood.
River took a step back to admire his wife once again. “Bobby Lee, I wish I knew.” Kara looked stunning in a pretty green dress that matched her eyes and showed only a hint of cleavage. It was to be expected with a body like hers, but still he couldn’t take his eyes off her. She wore sexy gold heels with a sweet little locket around her neck. “She is a beautiful woman.”
Kara’s smile was so bright, River saw that Bobby Lee fell under her spell when she turned it on to him. “You must be Bobby Lee, I’ve heard plenty about you.” She looked over at River. “He’s not nearly as old as you said, honey.”
River stiffened in horror but Bobby Lee took her hand and laughed until he was doubled over. "Not nearly, huh?”
She shook her head. “Well he said you’d been running that resort for four decades, so I was expecting a man with a foot in the grave, not a robust man like yourself.” She turned to the younger blonde. “You must be Molly, it’s a pleasure to meet you and I have to say those shoes are divine.”
Molly’s smile brightened. “Thanks! I saw them and fell in love with them at once. It’s a new designer from Italy, Kara, and these shoes, they’re as comfortable as sneakers!”
“Then I’ll have to convince River to get me a pair.”
Bobby Lee cleared his throat. “Just promise to wear’em in the bedroom and he won’t care how much they cost.” He laughed at his own joke.
Kara joined in. “I see someone has been telling tales out of school,” she sent River a scolding look.
Bobby Lee started a hacking cough and laugh that lasted for several minutes until Kara offered him a glass of water she stole from a waiter. “Thanks, dear.”
River stood stunned and how quickly Kara had won over both of the Wigglesworths. She was charming and funny, completely at ease with them. They were seated in a private room at a high-end surf and turf restaurant so when the time came, they could talk business privately. “Tell me what’s good here, Molly.”
She blushed prettily. “I always get a seafood and pasta combination, but Bobby Lee loves the steak.”
“Please tell me you have it medium rare or I’ll have to instantly dislike you,” Kara smiled at him with her hand over her chest.
“Is there any other way, sweetheart?”
“Not according to my daddy, rest his soul.”
“Then let’s have a toast to a good man who knew how to eat steak properly.”
She beamed at smile at him. “That’s sweet. What do you say, Molly? You pick the toast drink.”
River leaned over and kissed her cheek. She knew how to flirt without pissing off the wife and including her in everything. “You’re wonderful,” he whispered in her ear. She winked and he felt his slacks tighten uncomfortably.
Dinner passed quickly and soon they were enjoying after dinner drinks and getting ready to talk business. “Where’s your ring?” Bobby Lee looked suspiciously at her empty ring finger and River cringed.
Kara playfully slapped River’s arm. “You didn’t tell him?” She shook her head and turned to Bobby Lee and Molly. “I own a salon. I’ve been doing hair since I was a little girl and after Daddy died, I went to school and rented a booth wherever I could. Eventually I had enough saved to buy my own place, but I love doing hair so I still do it.” She took River’s hand in hers and kissed it. “This guy bought me a big ring, Molly, you know the kind that you just stare at all day like all your dreams have come true?” Molly nodded knowingly. “Well, he insisted I wear it to work and I did. One day it got stuck in a vat of perm and I got mild chemical burn trying to dig it out. After that, he understood why I stopped wearing it to work. Problem is,” she lifted up her bare hand, “is that I forget to put it back on.” Bobby Lee looked appeased but not happy. “So I keep it here,” she pulled the other gold chain from inside her dress to reveal a large diamond hanging from it.
River relaxed but he burned with jealousy. Where had that ring come from? Was it real? “I still contend she did it on purpose,” he joked.
Bobby Lee’s face softened and he addressed Kara. “Do you plan to keep working?”
“I do. I’ll revisit it when children enter the picture, but until then there’s no reason I can’t work.” Kara could tell Bobby Lee wasn’t thrilled with her answer. “Bobby Lee, unlike you all, I grew up poor. Dirt poor. Working is second nature to me. I get hives just thinking about not working every day. I mean imagine if this guy kicked me to the curb, then what would I have?”
He nodded thoughtfully. “I understand that honey. I really do. Now tell me, what do you think of your husband’s idea for an eco-smart resort?”
Kara’s face brightened. “It’s pretty cool, don’t you think? I mean he hasn’t told me much about specifics yet but I saw one of those smart kitchens from some Swedish company and they tell you what you have left in your fridge, or if you need more carrots in your diet. It’s like the place takes care of you and saves you energy!”
“It does all that?” He turned his attention to River, and they spent the next hour discussing the resort while Kara and Molly sampled different cocktails and looked at shoes online. “Well this old goat is tired, but it’s been nice meeting you Kara. I hope to see you at the resort next week with your husband.”
River was impressed with Kara. She didn’t show her shock and she had to be because he hadn’t mentioned it. They agreed on one dinner. She wrapped Molly and then Bobby Lee in a hug. “I can’t wait, although I wished you’d reminded me I needed to fit into a bikini before I ate half a cow.”
He laughed, shook River’s hand, and walked out of the restaurant.
“Kara you were fantastic. I don’t know how to thank you.”
She gave him a look that told him she was not impressed with his deception. “You can start thanking me when you drop me off and I’ll let you know when I’ve been properly thanked.”
He laughed. “Alright. Does this mean you’re going to the resort and holding off filing the divorce papers?” River’s heart stopped and started several dozen times in the time it took her to answer him.
“Well I kind of have to, don’t I?” She sounded annoyed, but he saw the amusement in her eyes. “Fine, River, take me to a fabulous resort for a few days and pay for it all. Goodness, life is so tough!”
~
Kara had a problem. She was in love with her husband. Under normal circumstances, it wouldn’t be a problem, but when divorce was imminent it could be quite problematic. River had stopped by her house every single night after work with flowers and takeout and two sexy bikinis. He’d asked her to cut his hair and he fell asleep twice on her lap during a movie.
They were dating. There was no other explanation for it. She didn’t mind it--she kind of liked it, actually--but she had to remind herself it was completely temporary. River didn’t want to be married and most especially not to her. If not for Bobby Lee, they would’ve been divorced weeks ago. She was an adult and she knew that great chemist
ry and amazing sex didn’t equal love for men, particularly men like River who had their choice of women.
When he picked her up this morning for the airport, he’d looked so handsome with his sleep-rumpled hair and dimpled smile she could’ve cried. She’d realized with glaring clarity that she had fallen in love with the insufferable man. He was handsome, arrogant and funny. Add in the way he made her body sing, and she was surprised it had taken so long. She sighed heavily and looked out the window at the clear blue skies and calm ocean waters.
“You okay, sugar?”
“Yep, just thinking.”
“Me too. Harwood Industries is having a party, a Christmas ball actually. Would you go with me?”
She frowned in confusion. “Will Bobby Lee and Molly be there?”
He laughed. “No, I’m asking you to be my date for the hell of it. For the fun we have together. If you’re nice, I might even sleep with you.”
“Do I have to wear panties under my ball gown?”
“I hope you don’t.”
She smiled. “In that case, I’d love to go with you.”
“Good because I have one more question.”
She raised a brow at him. “Oh, do you now?”
He nodded. “How would you like to spend an hour, give or take, joining the Mile High Club?”
She laughed and stood. “As it happens, I know the secret handshake.”
~
River was screwed and not in the way he and Kara had screwed yesterday on the Harwood Industries jet. Nope, this was the type of screwed he’d never been, had never hoped to be and laughed at others when they found themselves on this side of screwed. He was pretty sure that he’d done the worst thing possible: he had fallen in love with his wife. His temporary wife. The worst of it was he had no idea if she was interested in changing the temporary nature of their relationship. Hell, was he ready?
River didn’t do relationships. Not ever. He’d been abandoned by the one woman who was supposed to love him, a gypsy mother who refused to settle with her husband rather than her ‘family’. He was one when she left, and a few years later he moved in with Uncle Oliver when his father died in the same crash that had killed Dean and Rory’s parents. Rory was the only woman he’d ever loved and probably ever would, and she was a sister to him.
BILLIONAIRE ROMANCE: The Unforgettable Southern Billionaires: The Complete Collection Boxed Set (Young Adult Rich Alpha Male Billionaire Romance) Page 55
