The Ultimate Seduction

by Janelle Denison

  Because Chad Freeman was a deranged son of a bitch who didn't deal well with rejection, Noah thought bitterly. But he kept his own personal theory to himself, instead revealing to Natalie what he'd discovered from her landlady, Vivian. He explained how Chad had become more domineering of her and mentally abusive, and how his temper had exploded when she'd taken on a job as a showgirl to earn some extra money. When she'd broken off the relationship he'd stalked her and finally physically attacked her one night after work.

  Disbelief and horror flashed in her gaze, and she abruptly stood up, her entire body stiff. "Why don't I remember any of this?" she demanded, her tone high and shrill and near hysterical.

  Concerned that the overload of information he'd given her, all of which she couldn't recall, would cause her to have a nervous breakdown, he stood, too, ready to catch her if she fell apart. "According to the doctor who treated you the night of your accident, he explained that your retrograde amnesia could have been caused not only by a head injury, but by something traumatic you might have suffered before the accident, and that might have been Chad following you that night. As a result, your memory is blocking out your past with him and other recollections you might not want to remember."

  "But I do want to remember," she insisted angrily through clenched teeth, "because I can't go on like this much longer!"

  Unable to help himself, he gathered her into his arms, holding her close to soothe her anxiety and fears. "I've got Bobby working the case, along with me and Cole. We're going to find him, Natalie," he said fiercely. "And in the meantime, I'm going to do everything in my power to protect you."

  Unfortunately, despite his best intentions and resources, he knew she wouldn't be completely safe until they caught Chad.

  "By the power vested in me, I now pronounce you man and wife," the minister said, closing his Bible and looking up at Cole and Melodie with a smile. "You may now kiss your new bride."

  Sighing wistfully, Natalie watched as Cole lifted Melodie's veil, gathered her into his strong embrace and gave her a kiss that had the congregation of family and friends applauding their new marital status. Flanking the happy bride and groom as best man and maid-of-honor were Cole's two siblings, Noah and Joelle, who were beaming with pride.

  Joelle's husband, Dean, had opted out of the wedding party in order to take care of his daughter, and he sat next to Natalie in the second pew from the front with five-month-old Jennifer perched on his lap. During the ceremony he'd kept the baby quiet with a bottle, but now the little girl seemed to know it was time to celebrate the joyous occasion and wanted to add to the good cheer. She waved the rattle her daddy had put into her pudgy hand, shaking the noisemaker with enthusiasm and squealing delightedly for good measure.

  Natalie laughed, completely charmed by the sweet baby and the obvious affection between father and daughter. Dean was a doting daddy, and she felt so fortunate to be a part of the close, loving dynamics of the Sommers family.

  After the upsetting day she'd had yesterday since discovering that a sadistic ex-boyfriend was stalking her, and after experiencing vague recollections of her past with Chad throughout the afternoon and evening, Natalie was grateful for the reprieve of Cole and Melodie's wedding. Despite the occasional concerned glance Noah cast her way to make sure she was doing okay, the day was filled with joy, laughter and an abundance of smiles, and the cheerful atmosphere made her forget about her own problems for a little while.

  With the ceremony over, the wedding party and guests poured out of the church and followed the bride and groom to a nearby country club for the reception. The ballroom was huge, filled with white streamers, iridescent balloons and lush, fragrant floral bouquets on every table. Cole and Melodie sat up on a higher platform, just the two of them, while the bridesmaids and groomsmen were able to sit at a reserved table up front with their significant others.

  Finally, after all his best-man obligations were fulfilled, Noah settled into the chair beside hers, looking breathtakingly handsome in his formal black tuxedo and lavender bow tie that matched the bridesmaids' gowns. His striking blue eyes glimmered with enjoyment, and he wore a bad-boy grin just for her that jump-started her pulse.

  He dipped his head close to hers, and his warm male scent added to the desire settling low and deep within her. "Have I told you how incredibly sexy you look in that dress?" He trailed a finger along the line of her shoulder, bared by the design of the outfit.

  She shivered at his seductive touch and welcomed his playful charm, immensely pleased that he liked the sleek, wine-colored dress she'd chosen with him in mind. "You've told me, oh, only about a dozen times."

  Beneath the table, he flattened his hand on her knee and skimmed his hot palm under the hem of her dress and up her thigh. "But what I haven't told you is that I can't wait to find out what you're wearing beneath it."

  His boldness caught her off guard, considering they were seated with four other couples and his baby niece was nearby. She clamped her legs together before he could discover that the only things separating his searching fingers from her flesh were thigh-high stockings and bikini panties.

  She caught his wrist, and a playful, arousing game of tug-of-war ensued beneath the linen table cloth. "Behave yourself," she murmured, her cheeks heating with a blush.

  A sinful grin canted the corners of his mouth. "Now, what's the fun in that?" Withdrawing his hand, he winked at her, then turned his attention to his sister and brother-in-law. "Hey, Dean, how's the consultation work going?"

  While other guests seated themselves and black-jacketed waiters circled the room to take drink orders from the tables, Natalie listened with interest as Dean and Noah discussed the free-lance business Dean had recently started. Since he'd been the CEO of a traffic-control business in Seattle before selling his company, he now offered his expertise to construction firms with bids and estimates on high-dollar projects. Natalie was amused to discover that Dean also accompanied his wife on the occasional bail-recovery assignment she took on through the investigative agency.

  As the conversation continued between couples and the band struck up some light dinner music, Jennifer was passed around the table to familiar faces to keep her amused and occupied. When it came to Noah's turn to take her, he did so without hesitating, his big hands easily fitting around her little waist.

  He held her up in the air and wiggled her until she gave him a big, toothless smile. "How's my favorite niece?" he said, his tone deep, but infinitely gentle.

  "She's your only niece, Noah," Jo said wryly, pointing out the obvious.

  "Which makes her my favorite," he said, never taking his gaze from the little girl in his arms. "Isn't that right, princess?" He blew a raspberry on her neck, making her squeal with delight and clasp his cheeks in her hands.

  Natalie laughed as Jennifer tugged at his bow tie and grabbed at the flower on his lapel, and Noah fended off each of her attempts with a tickle or something equally distracting. And when she drooled on his crisp white dress shirt he didn't so much as blink twice.

  Natalie didn't know, or perhaps didn't remember, that he had a such a soft spot for kids, but there was no denying how full her heart felt at the sight of Noah with the baby girl, and just how comfortable he was playing with her. The man would make a great father one day, and the thought made her own stomach flutter at the notion of being the one to carry his child.

  The salads arrived, followed by dinner, then pure celebration took precedence for the rest of the evening, along with traditional wedding customs. The bride and groom shared the first dance, then cut the big, elaborate four-tiered cake, which was then served to the guests.

  Melodie tossed her bridal bouquet to the small group of unmarried women, and while Natalie had joined in on the festivity with Joelle urging her on, she'd never expected to be the one to catch the bundle of flowers. She stood off to the side, and no one was more surprised than her when the bouquet hit her in the chest and dropped right into the hands she automatic shot out in front of her
to protect herself from the floral slingshot.

  She was rewarded with cheers and congratulations, and her gaze sought out Noah, who was watching her with a smile. Their connection was intimate and soulful, but she detected a deeper reserve about him, as if the fact that she held the flowers in her hand was a trick of some kind. Yet they were engaged, which meant there was just as much reality attached to the tradition as wishful thinking.

  As the single men gathered out on the dance floor,

  Cole removed the garter from his wife's leg and shot it out to the crowd of bachelors. Aggressive and competitive, Noah jumped high to snatch the garter out of the air and claim it for his own. The men around him clapped him on the back, seemingly grateful that they weren't next in line to slip on the old ball and chain. When Noah started toward her with his prize in hand and a predatory, determined light in his eyes, excitement took hold.

  Without warning or hesitation, he wrapped a strong arm around her waist, hauled her close and kissed her, staking a claim on her in front of family and friends in a way no one could misinterpret.

  She was his.

  By the time he lifted his head and grinned down at her, she was completely breathless, aroused and flushed from his very public display. As she met Noah's tender, affectionate gaze, her heart swelled with love for him, so full it felt near to bursting with emotion.

  And for the moment, for the night, the feelings between them were all that mattered to her.

  By eleven that night, the wedding revelry had died down considerably, leaving the last of the die-hard party guests to bring the evening's celebration to a close. A couple of dozen people remained, milling around and conversing with friends, and taking advantage of the music the band was still playing.

  Since Cole and Melodie had slipped out of the reception an hour earlier to get a head start on their wedding night, Noah had taken it upon himself to issue goodbyes and thank-yous to the guests as they left the dwindling party.

  After bidding Melodie's father and his date a goodnight, Noah headed back inside the ballroom to see how Natalie was holding up and if she was ready to go, too. It had been a busy day and evening for both of them. From across the room he spotted her sitting at their table with no other adult company. His breath caught, and his heart seemed to lodge in his throat at the sight that greeted him.

  Wearing that sexy dress with her hair in a fancy knot atop her head, Natalie was beautiful enough to stop him in his tracks. But it was the picture of her holding a sleeping Jennifer snuggled in the crook of her arm that gave him a jolt he felt all the way to the depths of his soul. Natalie's expression was serene as she gazed at the baby girl, her features reflecting awe and contentment.

  And that sense of security and peace would soon be shattered, he knew. Maybe not tonight, but there was a man out there determined to wreak havoc on Natalie's life, who would also put in jeopardy the tenuous relationship they'd forged. Sooner or later, the truth would be revealed.

  Pushing the disturbing thought aside, he strolled across the room to Natalie. He sat down in the chair next to her, and she looked up at him with a soft smile.

  "I see you got roped into baby-sitting," he commented, amazed that the baby could sleep through the loud music blaring out of the speakers.

  "I offered my services." She glanced down and drifted her fingers over the soft tufts of blond hair on the little girl's head in a loving gesture. "Jennifer was getting fussy and I thought I'd give Jo and Dean a break so they could enjoy a few dances without worrying about the baby."

  "That was nice of you." Then again, he wasn't surprised. The woman had a generous, giving heart.

  She shrugged. "Considering the very busy day she had, all it took was a few sips of milk from her bottle and she was out like a light."

  Noah highly suspected that Natalie's maternal instincts had a lot to do with why his niece was cuddled so trustingly in her arms, as well. He experienced a twinge of envy as he took in the way Jennifer's cheek was pressed to Natalie's soft breast. He knew from personal experience just how comfortable those twin pillows could be.

  He looked out toward the dance floor, finding his sister and brother-in-law enjoying the tunes being played. Jo was obviously teasing Dean over something that made the other man unexpectedly grab her around the waist and twirl her around in a series of fancy dance moves, which made Jo laugh out loud. Her blue eyes sparkled, and Noah loved seeing his sister so happy, and no longer allowing past mistakes to dictate her future. Both Noah and Cole had Dean to thank for Jo's transformation, and considered him as much a part of the family as another sibling.

  "Jo and Dean seem to be having a good time," he said, speaking what was on his mind.

  "Hmm, so am I," Natalie replied, her gaze never leaving the baby in her arms. She pressed a finger against Jennifer's tiny palm and the little girl instinctively clutched Natalie's ringer in her sleep. Natalie sighed, the sound rife with longing. "Isn't she just the sweetest thing you've ever seen?"

  Leaning close, Noah nuzzled Natalie's neck, inhaling deeply of her warm, feminine fragrance tinged with the scent of baby powder. "After you, yes."

  She shivered and cast him a look filled with sensual promise-for later. "You know how to say all the right things, don't you."

  He grinned rakishly. "I speak the truth."

  She rolled her eyes and returned her gaze to Jennifer. "Just look at her, Noah. She's so perfect."

  "That's because she's sleeping," he said, a teasing inflection in his tone. "You obviously haven't been on the receiving end of her crankiness. Jen takes after her mother. When she's in one of those moods she reminds me of Jo when she's ticked off." He shuddered for effect.

  Soft laughter escaped Natalie. "You are so bad." She met his gaze, suddenly growing serious. "Holding her in my arms, I realize that I want a big family someday, especially since I was an only child and didn't have any siblings. I want that, for me and our children."

  Our children. Oh, wow. Her reference to them having babies together struck him square in the chest, toppling him a bit off balance emotionally. He wanted things with Natalie that he'd never dreamed possible, never allowed himself to believe could be his. A wife. Babies. A family of his very own. It all seemed so close, so within his reach-yet they were living a lie, and their relationship was still precarious at best.

  "What about you, Noah?" she asked, her question definitely calling for an answer, especially since she believed they were engaged to be married and a discussion about kids would be perfectly normal. "Do you want a big family?"

  He swallowed hard and dredged up the most honest response he could put together. "Yeah, when the time is right, I would love a big family."

  She gave him a soft, lingering kiss on his lips. "I'm glad we agree on that."

  Minutes later, Jo and Dean came up to the table, breathless and looking like newlyweds themselves, and Noah was grateful for the interruption, which distracted Natalie from more talk about babies.

  "I think us old married folk are going to head home and put the little one to bed," Dean said.

  Noah witnessed a shared look between the couple, and saw Dean's excuse for what it was-the chance to spend a romantic evening with his wife. Noah understood, because he couldn't wait to get Natalie alone, either.

  Natalie brushed her lips over Jennifer's brow, then glanced up at Jo. "If you ever need a baby-sitter, just let me know. I absolutely adore her."

  "Thank you for the offer. And judging by how content she looks, I think the adoration is mutual."

  Dean gathered up his sleeping daughter while Jo collected the baby paraphernalia on the table and dumped it into the diaper bag. With one last goodbye, the trio exited the party, leaving Noah and Natalie sitting alone at their table.

  Just as the band switched to a slow ballad, Noah picked up Natalie's hand and caressed his thumb over her knuckles. "How about one last slow dance before we head home, too?"

  She nodded and stood. "I would love that."

  He led her out
to the parquet floor where only a handful of other couples were enjoying the music, and pulled her tight into his embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and flowed into him, breasts to chest, thighs to thighs. He splayed a hand at the small of her back and aligned their hips, too. Their bodies brushed with every movement, heightening the awareness between them.

  Natalie looked up at him, her gaze searching his in the dim lighting. "Noah-when are we getting married?"

  Her unexpected question startled him for a moment. Then frustration settled in. It was getting more and more difficult to keep up the pretense between them, to continue to let Natalie believe something that just wasn't real, no matter how much Noah wished otherwise. "We haven't set a date yet."

  "Maybe we should," she said, smoothing her hand beneath his suit jacket, her palm coming to rest over his rapidly beating heart. "That way I can have something to look forward to and start planning."

  He hated denying her anything, but refused to put such a life-altering change into motion when their engagement was based on fabrications. And more and more he wanted their relationship based on reality, truth and trust. "When your memory returns we'll talk about it," he said, giving her at least that much. "I promise."

  She released a soft sound teeming with impatience. "There you go again, coddling me."

  He allowed a slight smile to make an appearance. "I'm not coddling you. I just think that discussing a wedding date isn't as important as making sure you're better and your memory is back to normal."

  It was obvious by her determined expression that she disagreed. "All right," she finally relented. "But just for the record, I don't have to like your way of thinking."

  He chuckled at her bit of defiance and tucked her head against his chest. "I didn't expect you to, sweetheart."

  As the music played, she softened against him, as much a part of him as the steady beat of his heart. And that's when he knew that he couldn't go on Like this, deceiving her with their relationship, playing with her emotions. The complete truth had to be told, their circumstances and feigned engagement explained, even at the risk of losing her.