One Way or Another: A Friends to Lovers Contemporary Romance (The Sisters Quartet Book 1)

by Mary J. Williams

  Adam seemed completely entranced.

  "Whatever you need—short of murder—I'm in." Adam paused, his expression thoughtful. "Though, if you ever need to dispose of Ingo Hunter's body, let me know. Since I have no doubt self-defense will be involved, I'll be happy to help."

  Bryce, silent until now, clutched at her heart.

  "To quote the late, great David Cassidy? Adam Stone? I think I love you."

  Surprise sparked in Adam's eyes, followed by a deep, robust laugh. Nerves Calder hadn't wanted to acknowledge, fell away. Bryce's opinion? Andi's and Destry's? They mattered. A lot. Her sisters were the most important people in her life. True, she was her own person. Able to make decisions. She didn't need anybody to tell her who she could or couldn't get involved with.

  However… Her sisters' opinions mattered.

  "I like him," Andi said. Direct. To the point.

  Calder smiled.

  "So do I."

  ~~~~

  ADAM TOOK A seat next to Calder. Andi, Bryce, and Destry sat across from them. The preliminary interview might be over. Pleasant and friendly, he had no illusions. They looked at him with hyper-critical eyes.

  The meeting wasn't simply a job interview. Calder's sisters wanted to see if he was good enough to date one of their own. He'd passed muster. So far.

  "We need a private investigator," Calder began. "Emphasis on the private. Thorough, yet someone who can get the information quickly."

  "You want to investigate Ingo Hunter?"

  Calder exchanged looks with her sisters. A silent, secret message passed between them. One Adam couldn't read. When Calder nodded, he assumed a decision had been made. Sort of a collective thumb's up go-ahead.

  "We can't dictate who our mother dates. Or marries—God forbid things go that far with Hunter. However, he's by far the most predatory man she's ever been involved with."

  "You don't think they're in love?"

  Destry snorted. Bryce rolled her eyes. Andi slowly shook her head.

  "Billie falls in love at the drop of a hat. I doubt Hunter is quite as sentimental." Adam could read the concern in Calder's eyes. "Maybe he'll enjoy Billie's company for a while before he moves on. No harm done. Or, he might be after more. We want to know."

  Names ran through Adam's brain as he looked for the right fit to the Benedict sisters' needs. The way his mind worked, he easily continued the search and asked questions.

  "Money, obviously. How much of your mother's fortune could Hunter potentially access?"

  "Everything. Billie has her own money. In her own name. We all do. Thanks to our grandfather's gender-specific will, only a male heir can inherit the bulk of the Benedict fortune. We, as lowly women, have trust funds. The money is ours outright when we turn thirty."

  "Or we get married," Destry sneered.

  Adam didn't blame her. He always tried to keep his emotions out of any job he took on. Not this time. Neutrality had flown out the window the first time he looked into Calder's eyes.

  "No offense. But your grandfather's head was filled with antiquated bullshit."

  "We agree." Andi nodded. "None of us can touch the bulk of the estate. However, we do have discretionary access beyond our trust funds."

  While the notion of a trust fund was as foreign to Adam as Sanskrit, he understood the concept. As for some of the terms? He needed a bit of clarification. He turned back to Calder.

  "What exactly constitutes discretionary?"

  "The executor of the will has the power to give us money not included in our trust funds. If we want to buy a big-ticket item—something everyone in the family can use—he'll consider the request. Then, decide yes or no."

  What kind of big-ticket item? Adam wanted to ask. He really did. He ran the question through his head. Rude. Invasive. A big, fat no.

  "Money aside, do you think your mother is in danger? Could Hunter hurt her?"

  "We don't know." Calder exchanged another glance with her sisters. "We don't trust him. Unfortunately, Billie trusts everyone. Information is power, right? The more we can find out about Hunter, the better prepared we can be."

  Sensible didn't always accompany smart. Calder, her sisters, were both. Billie Benedict wasn't as blessed. Obviously, they felt they had to protect the woman from herself as much as from Ingo Hunger.

  "Have you tried talking to your mother? Sharing your fears? Cautioning her?"

  "Billie is…" Bryce shrugged.

  "She's hard to explain, even if you've met her." Calder's smile was filled with affection tempered by exasperation. "Where men are concerned, her memory is short. Her optimism, boundless. Which, after six failed marriages and countless relationships, is extraordinary."

  Extraordinary wasn't the word Adam would have used. Delusional, bordering on crazy was more accurate. Seemed smart and sensible skipped a generation in the Benedict family. Though, from what he'd gleaned, Calder's grandfather had his own issues. Different, yet just as disturbing.

  "Think you can help us?" Calder inquired.

  "Dee Wakefield." Adam should have thought of her immediately. "She's everything you specified. And more."

  "How long have you known her?" Bryce asked.

  "Where did you meet?" Andi wanted to know.

  "Does she carry a gun?" Destry demanded.

  Adam didn't hesitate, directing his answers to the proper woman, in order.

  "Ten years. The Navy. Yes."

  "Make and caliber?"

  Destry seemed to think her follow-up question was perfectly reasonable.

  "I have no idea." Why the hell would he? "I'm certain Dee will be happy to provide you with whatever you want to know. If you agree, I'll call her and set up an interview."

  "As soon as possible." Andi stood. One glance had Bryce and Destry on their feet. "I think we've settled everything. At least for now. Nice meeting you."

  Bryce patted Adam's arm on her way out of the room. Destry, her smile as sweet as molasses, stopped in front of him.

  "Don't mess with Calder."

  "I won't."

  "We'll see. Just remember. I know where you live." A glint of steel entered her gaze. "Taking out snakes is my specialty."

  Adam didn't move until the library door shut, leaving him alone with Calder. He let out a low, slow whistle.

  "Small package. Scary as hell."

  "Destry is an original." Calder radiated with pride.

  "I'd say the description applies to all the Benedict sisters."

  "Would you?"

  The business portion of their day was definitely over—if the smile on Calder's face was any indication. She moved into his arms, smooth as the silk covering her long, lean body.

  Something about the feel of her next to him. All at once, she excited Adam's senses. And calmed his soul. Beautiful. Inside, and out.

  Adam nuzzled Calder's neck. A happy sound slipped from her lips, the perfect combination of a sigh and a moan.

  "Any chance I can talk you into moving up our date time?"

  "Sorry." Calder snuggled closer. "I have a meeting in an hour with a rather tightfisted media mogul. I'm so close to wresting a donation from Alton Stevens, I can't risk giving him the brush off."

  A few more hours. A day. A week. Adam knew Calder was worth any wait. He wanted her to feel the same. To think of him with the same anticipation. The same need.

  "Are you tempted?" Adam bit the curve of her neck. "Just a little?"

  "You have no idea."

  Yes. He did.

  "Where's your meeting?"

  The office building Calder named was downtown. Adam did the math, traffic factored in.

  "Just about enough time."

  Calder tilted her head, a question in her dark eyes.

  "For…?"

  Adam dropped his gaze to perfectly positioned lips.

  "This."

  Kissing Calder. The thrill was new, but he would bet almost anything the touch of her mouth against his
would never grow old. He wondered how he'd lived so long without knowing the sensation of her long, supple body molded to his.

  "We keep starting something we can't finish," Calder said, half laugh, half gasp.

  "Next time? Locked doors. No phones. Just you and me."

  Adam swooped in for another kiss. Arms wound tight around his neck, Calder held on as if she'd never let go. Too soon, she reluctantly stepped away.

  "Remind me why I have to go?"

  "Donation." Adam cleared his throat. "A hefty one, from what I understand."

  Calder's thoughts weren't as sharp as usual—much to Adam's delight. She could scramble his brains. Seemed only fair he return the favor.

  "Right. I need to change." Calder paused at the door. "First, I'll walk you out."

  "I can find my way. Go. Make your tight-wad cough up a few bucks."

  "More than a few when I've finished," she called out as she hurried toward the back staircase. "See you at seven. What do you like on your pizza?"

  "Everything. But don't bother. I'll make dinner."

  "Wait." Two steps up, Calder stopped. "You cook?"

  Adam didn't want to prime her expectations.

  "I can fry a steak. Bake a potato. Like most people. Nothing fancy."

  "Compared to me, you're a four-star chef."

  With a grin, Calder blew Adam a kiss and disappeared from view.

  Adam was in his car, halfway home before he remembered the stark condition of his refrigerator. Glancing right, he changed lanes, and headed down the street to where he always shopped.

  Calder was the most important thing on tonight's menu. However, he didn't want her to catch him in a lie. Not even about something as seemingly insignificant as a steak.

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  ~~~~

  WHOEVER SAID THE best sex was spontaneous hadn't spent an afternoon with Adam Stone on her mind.

  Calder wiggled in her seat, anxious to get from point A to the point where she could rip the clothes off his mouthwateringly sexy body. Right now, she was stuck behind a delivery truck. No way forward, honking cars to the rear.

  She understood their frustration.

  The reason Calder owned her sweet little Porsche was that she enjoyed the adventure of New York City traffic. Unlike her sisters who used a regular car service—or in a pinch, public transportation—she preferred to be in control.

  Tonight was the perfect example. If she were in the backseat, helpless, with nothing to do but fume? Her patience wouldn't last long.

  Behind the wheel, Calder couldn't move any faster. However, all the options were at her disposal. She could honk the horn. Pound her hand on the dashboard. Roll down the window and scream her frustration.

  Calder chose none of the above. Instead, she listened to the drivers in front and behind her spew words colorful enough to make a dockworker blush. And laughed. Lordy, she loved New York.

  The chaos around Calder calmed her mentally—not physically. The need for Adam had reached a critical level.

  Professional—always—Calder breezed through her meeting. She charmed. She cajoled. She wheedled. In the end, the man didn't know what hit him. A savvy businessman, Alton Stevens had greeted her with a smug smile, certain he would win the day.

  An hour later, Calder had turned smug into stunned. She left Alton's office with a sweet smile—no need to gloat—and a hefty check in her purse.

  Calder carefully packed a change of clothes before she left home. Something casually chic. Something alluring. And easily removed. After the lengthy meeting, she didn't have time to do anything but get in her car and head to Adam's apartment.

  Traffic had been on her side, until now. With each block, each mile, she thought about tonight. About Adam.

  He made her think. Feel. Want. He sparked a fire inside Calder she'd almost forgotten. Or, if she were honest, hadn't existed until now. She'd channeled her energy toward business. Happily. Sex was usually an afterthought.

  Calder would have sworn nothing was missing from her life. She didn't live at the office. She was active socially. If the men she dated weren't terribly exciting, she put the blame on herself. She picked from what was available. Didn't force herself outside the familiar.

  Honestly, Calder couldn't have said what she wanted in a man. She hadn't been interested in looking when out of the blue came Adam. Different from any man she'd ever met. Yet, somehow, wonderfully familiar. Dangerous and safe. Edgy and smooth.

  Exciting. And exciting. And exciting.

  "Come on!" Calder cried out, her eyes narrowed on the offending delivery truck. "Move already."

  Grabbing her phone, Calder pulled up Adam's number.

  "Calder." He never made her wait long before he answered.

  "I'm stuck in traffic."

  "Have to love New York."

  As if by magic or the power of frustration, the truck pulled away, the cars started moving. And her anticipation skyrocketed.

  "Finally." Calder hit the gas. "My ETA is five minutes."

  "Perfect timing. I'll put the steaks on. Dinner will be ready when you get here."

  "Hold off on the steaks."

  "Why?"

  Calder didn't want to explain over the phone. She wanted to show Adam what she had in mind.

  "Because dinner will have to wait."

  Five minutes turned into four. Foot heavy on the gas, Calder held her breath the entire way, praying she wouldn't be pulled over. She probably deserved a speeding ticket—okay, definitely—but she wasn't in the mood for another delay.

  No police. No more traffic. Even the parking gods were on her side. Just as she approached Adam's building, a car pulled out. Calder took just enough time to grab her bag from the trunk.

  The doorman greeted Calder with a welcoming smile.

  "Miss Benedict?"

  "Yes."

  "Go right up. Mr. Stone is expecting you."

  Calder's heels clicked as she crossed the lobby. She looked like any other young woman, home from a day at the office. Her outfit—one of Andi's designs—was a modern take on the power suit. Warmer than white. Not quite cream. The moment she buttoned the jacket, she felt confident. Ready to take on the world and win.

  All Calder cared about at the moment, was one man. Taking him on would be a pleasure. If things went as planned, they'd both come out on top. And the bottom. And all positions in between.

  The elevator ride was swift. Calder strode down the hall. She barely had time to ring the bell when the door opened. Adam smiled, his expression puzzled.

  "You hung up so quickly I didn't have time to ask. Why does dinner have to wait?"

  "Anything in danger of burning?" Besides me?

  Shaking his head, Adam stood aside to let Calder in.

  "Lock the door."

  Bemused, Adam followed her instructions.

  Calder dropped her bag onto the floor. As she slipped off her shoes, she placed her hand on his bare forearm for balance, just below his rolled-up sleeves. The feel of Adam's warm skin, the tickle of soft hair against her palm, the bunching of muscles, was a nice bonus.

  Holding his gaze, Calder unbuttoned her jacket.

  "Turn off your phone, Adam."

  Awareness flared in his deep, blue eyes. No more questions, Adam turned into a man of action. In one compact, breathtaking movement, he swooped Calder off her feet.

  "About damn time," he muttered.

  "What about—?"

  "The hell with the phone. I'll shut the door."

  Calder didn't have time to enjoy the novelty of the moment. When his lips covered hers, everything else ceased to matter. She threaded her fingers through his thick hair, slanted her mouth to a different angle. The taste of him was intoxicating.

  Calder landed on his bed. Before she could do more than gasp, Adam covered her body with his.

  "Too many clothes," she complained.

  "Me, or you?"

  "Both."
/>   More than willing to help remedy the situation, Calder unzipped Adam's jeans. She fumbled with the button, but determination won out. Past the waistband, under denim and cotton. Just as she reached the curve of his butt, he moved, dislodging her hand.

  "Hey," she protested.

  "Soon."

  Adam left her with an all-too-brief kiss. Quick and efficient, her skirt hit the floor. Then her jacket. The knit tank was next.

  "Sexy underwear." He sighed, his gaze hungry. "My dreams didn't lie."

  Dreams were good. In Calder's opinion, reality was better. Adam's shirt joined the growing pile of discarded clothing. She itched to touch his lean, muscled torso. Kiss his impossibly flat, rippling stomach.

  A teasing glint entered Adam's eyes as if he could read her mind.

  "Age before beauty, gorgeous."

  On his knees, Adam rested her foot on his chest. He ran a hand up her calf in one slow, prolonged caress. The blue of his gaze intensified as he divided his attention between his progress and Calder's reaction to his agonizingly sensual touch.

  Calder licked her lips, clutching at the bed. She entered the apartment ready for a fast, wild ride. Adam had something else in mind. When his hands made her feel so good who was she to complain?

  The look in Adam's eyes was reverential. Worshipful. His touch? Pure sin.

  "I could spend hours getting to know every inch of your legs. So strong. Do you run?"

  "Every day." Calder let out a moan of pleasure when he found the sensitive skin at the back of her knee.

  "I can tell."

  Adam's lips replaced his fingers.

  "So sexy. They go on forever. Then end at the perfect spot."

  He left her, just long enough to remove the rest of his clothing. Adam lay beside Calder, his hand on the inside of her thigh, his lips pressed against the exposed curve of her breast. Through the layer of silver lace, he licked her hardened nipple, drawing the bud into his mouth.

  She wanted these moments to go on forever. Yet, she needed more.

  "Adam."

  Calder didn't try to keep the yearning from her voice.

  "I know. I know."

  No more time for teasing. When Adam moved toward the bedside table, Calder wiggled out of her underwear. She watched as he rolled on a condom, and said a prayer of thanks. He wanted to protect her. Even when her brain was too muddled to protect herself.