Just weeks before the wedding, Ben insisted on the paternity test at the time of his birth. JoAnna had no qualms. She’d not been with another man. Never could she conceive how far Benjamin Montgomery would go to win his point. Paying to have the results tampered with was out of her range of thinking. Anger started to well up in her belly and she blew out short breaths to calm herself. It had been a pleasant day so far, why let Benjamin’s interference spoil her mood?
Joey wandered around the space, found herself intrigued with his collection of chess boards. Some were wood, others marble. One was a brass and silver replica of the Knights of the Round Table. Another was oriental, contrasting green jade and white marble, another was black onyx and white marble. The biggest one was a civil war theme. The thing was huge, taking up an entire shelf on the far wall. Each game was set up and ready to play. She wondered who kept them all clean.
She realized James was watching her from the hallway, wrapped in a toweling robe, using a second towel to dry his hair. He wandered toward her, and touched her shoulder. The action heated her immediately, her breasts growing heavy with the need of his lips, her pussy lips throbbing with anticipation his cock would soon be buried inside her. Glancing around she realized she didn’t want to make love here. She was relieved when he started to gave her a brief description of each game and where he’d found it. Taking her by the hand, he led her into his bedroom. On top of the far dresser was the game she’d given him as an early wedding present. The board and players were made from mahogany and cherry woods. A simple version, but the wood gave it a special beauty.
“Why would you keep it?” JoAnna asked, surprised. She figured the game was long gone, probably burned in a fit of anger.
“You gave it to me,” was all he said. The intercom from the lobby interrupted them. “Did you call for food?” he asked, obviously confused. Dread and tension fill the space around her immediately.
“Not me. Answer it, James. The doorman knows we’re here.” He disappeared while she stayed in his room, holding the wooden pieces, remembering how she’d hunted for just the right present. Several minutes later she heard voices and knew it was Pilar. From the bedroom doorway she could hear bits of their conversation, moving further into the living area where she could see them but didn’t think they could see her.
“I didn’t expect you to be here today. I was just dropping off a few things.”
Through the crack in the door JoAnna noted the names on the shopping bags Pilar held, all trendy lingerie boutiques.
“Why would you do that, Pilar? I made it quite clear weeks ago we had no relationship, nor was I willing to continue the escort arrangement we’d had in the past.”
“But James, really, you can’t be thinking straight right now. I just want you to have some time to think this all through.”
“How did you get a key, Pilar? I’ve never given you one.” She had the good grace to blush and turned away.
“I see. Ben gave you one. Have you been here before without me?”
“No, he just gave me the key this morning.”
“And you decided to move in some of your things. Let’s see, could it be because Ben’s aware JoAnna is due in town tomorrow and might, for some reason, wind up here?”
“He loves you, James, and so do I. When you calm down you’ll realize where your future lies.” Pilar dropped the bags in the hallway and advanced toward James. “Don’t think about it now, James. You’re here, and I’m here and I’m way too overdressed.” She started to pull off her black leather gloves, wrapping her arms behind James neck. “Let’s just forget the rest of the world and…”
James took her arms in his hands and dropped them from around his neck. “Pilar, I’m not interested, haven’t been interested in the past and that’s not going to change. The sooner you and Ben understand and accept the idea, the better off we’ll all be.”
Pilar gave him a shocked look, buying time to think up another excuse.
JoAnna didn’t know quite what got into her. Her head ached at the woman’s scent. She pulled the banding from the bottom of her braid, fluffing the curls loosely around her face. As the other woman spoke, she found herself stripping off her clothing, her slacks and shoes, tights and sweater. Grabbing the first shirt she came to in James’ closet, she buttoned most of the front and was rolling back the extra long sleeves when she entered the conversation.
“Is the food here finally? I’m starved!” Joey gave James a quick wink and turned to look Pilar straight on. “Oh, it’s her again,” she said, hoping to annoy Pilar a bit further.
JoAnna decided whatever little hellish tidbit of trouble it would cost her, it would be worth it in the end, just to see the look on Pilar’s face when she came from the bedroom, wearing only James shirt, and her hair tussled. Pilar’s normally pale complexion went white. She stumbled over several words, not managing to get a coherent sentence together. “What are you doing here, Pilar? Let me guess.” She turned to James who watched her intently. “Somehow Ben found out I was supposed to come to town tomorrow and he didn’t want to leave any details to chance. If I came here with you for whatever reason,” Joey gave him a suggestive lift of her eyebrow, “her things would be carefully placed around the apartment. Let’s see.” JoAnna wandered closer to Pilar, giving her the long once over look. Today she was in black, all black with just a hint of a white scarf at her throat.
“I’ll wager there are cosmetics and perfumes, hair and tooth brushes, some feminine products and suggestive lingerie. All brand new, with the tags still on.”
Pilar stood speechless, glaring at JoAnna as she pulled a black piece of lace that was supposed to be a teddy up for display. “James, are you sure you don’t want her? Apparently she comes with this!” JoAnna laughed aloud, a full, healthy laugh before dropping it back in the bag.
“I’m sure of my decisions. And Pilar realizes now her future lies at another mans doorstep, my home is full. Don’t come back. And leave us alone up at the mountain too. Already you’re not coming off as the most well-liked creature.”
“What? Why? It had to be what she’s said about me.”
“Actually, you made your own impression with everyone you encountered. Spoiled, I believe was the general consensus, a bit too uptight to be a mountain fan.”
James moved beside Joey and tugged her in front of him, his arms clasped around her middle. “Pilar, you and I both know we never would have dated if Ben hadn’t set it up. Perhaps you and Ben would make a better couple. You’re both of the same mind set.”
“She’s just after your money.” Pilar had gotten her second wind and decided to have her last say. “She’s nothing but low class trash. If she hadn’t trapped you and gotten pregnant our lives would be so different now. James, it’s time for you to grow up. She’ll bring you nothing but heartache and steal you blind.”
“That’s enough. And so as there’s no further discussion, you know nothing about my relationship with Joey or what our financial arrangements are. Ben doesn’t know either. So any information you have is tainted by an old man vindictive enough to try and get his way no matter who he uses or who gets hurt. He’s using you too. Would you be here right now if he hadn’t given you the key with a well-placed suggestion? Would you have driven up to Hunter to check out my condo if Ben hadn’t mentioned it? It’s the final outcome he wants and isn’t going to get.”
“You’re not strong enough to go against him, James. You never were or you wouldn’t be in this situation now. You’ll always be his second, locked away at age sixteen when your mommy left you. You stopped growing that very day. Ever since, you’ve let Benjamin take care of things. Only now, with her back in the picture, you’ve got a spurt of character back. You’ll lose it again when she takes you for all she can and leaves you. Just like your mother did back then. Took the money and ran for a new life.”
“Shut up. You don’t know anything about the situation.” Joey clasped her hands tighter over James’.
“You have n
o idea what I know. Is it your goal to get the big payoff and leave your son behind too? It will be history repeating itself all over again. The wrong woman blinds the boy, uses him and walks away, leaving the next generation behind.”
“That’s enough.” JoAnna shocked the other woman with her tone. “Pilar, get out. Don’t come back. Whatever happens between James and his son is none of your business. What happens between James and myself is even less your business. But know this, today you crossed the line. I’ll not tolerate you talking about my son or James’ mother the way you did today. I’ll make sure you don’t again.”
“Ha, the lady from the mountain tries to make me quake. This is sickening.” She turned to James. “It’s your loss to let me go. You’ll never know what we would have been together.”
“I do,” Joey said with a laugh. “Annoying and benign.”
“Leave, Pilar. It would be best for us all to let history be just that. Joey and I are together, and we wish you good luck in your future.” There was nothing left to be said. Pilar took her time pulling her gloves back on before giving them one last look.
“The key, please?” JoAnna stepped forward with her palm extended.
From her purse, Pilar fished out a key and with a definite hesitation, she dropped in into JoAnna’s hand.
“Don’t forget your purchases. No need to make a second trip back.” Joey gave her a full smile.
With a glare, she slipped her hands through the handles of her purse and left quietly.
Once she was in the hallway, JoAnna didn’t refrain from following her to the door, adding, “Ben’s two floors up. Better run and tell him what’s happened here today before you forget the details.” JoAnna closed the door quietly and locked it.
James wasn’t used to having confrontations with women. These last weeks were different. For the first time in years he dared. He didn’t mind the teasing banter he had with Joey, but finding Pilar about to move in was a kick in the side. Hearing Joey defend his mother, watching her strut into the room semi-naked to handle Pilar was enlightening. Joey still had balls, and he liked her more for it. He’d had an unexpected swell of pride when she went to his side, ready to take on his problem.
Whatever Pilar really knew about his mother and her situation was a dead end. All of her information had come from Benjamin, as had all of James’. Not for the first time since the good Dr. Harris dropped into his life, he began to wonder just what had happened with his mother and her convenient rejection of him.
JoAnna quietly slipped past him and grabbed her clothes from his floor, heading into the bathroom to dress. She didn’t come out until she was put back together. He was sitting on the side of the bed, tying on a pair of walking boots. He’d pulled on jeans and a heavy sweater. An overnight bag lay on his bed half full.
“So, how was your afternoon, James?” JoAnna tried to keep the laughter from her voice but couldn’t. He only glared. “Oh, come on, relax. We foiled one of their well thought out plans.”
James shook his head at her perspective.
“Look, if I’d come tomorrow as planned, you’d have been short to explain away her belongings in your bedroom.” She made eye contact, forcing him to deal with her.
She was trying to make the best of a bad situation. He needed to lighten up. “How would you have known it was Pilar?”
“By the funeral perfume. Can’t you smell it on her? Her scent gets to you three steps before she does.”
James laughed heartily, having thought something similar several times in the past. He knew Joey’s description was a bit bitchy but accurate. Blunt as Joey always was, he shouldn’t have been surprised.
“For all that’s happened you’re in a very good mood. I’m not sure why.” He watched her openly waiting for her response.
“Because being upset is what they wanted. They wanted me to question your trust if I found her things in your apartment. We shut that down before it started. One point for our side.”
“Is that how you see this?”
“To a point, yes. It’s a fight for my son’s…our son’s quality of life.”
“I never looked at it from that perspective before. How stupid a man am I?” While his words didn’t ask for an answer, he got one.
“I’m not the best one to ask unless you want an honest answer!” She laughed at his discomfort.
.
For an instant he thought to take her back to the bed and show her the man he’d grown into but as he pulled a deep breath, Pilar’s funeral fragrance reached him and he shut down. “Let’s get out of here. Suddenly I feel the need for some clean mountain air.”
“I’m right with you.” James knew there was no chance of spending quality time alone with Joey in his apartment making love in the afternoon like they used to.
“I’m sorry she came here, that you had to deal with her.” He continued to stuff the bag until he was sure he had everything then zipped it closed.
“If not here, it would have been at the shop or in public at the mountain. At least here there were no bystanders.”
“We should head out,” he said, disappointed and relieved.
“Traffic and all that,” she finished for him.
They were waiting for the elevator when Ben stepped out, stopping their progress. He walked with determination to James’ apartment door. James and Joey waited in the hallway beside the elevator. He stalked back towards them.
“You know the only reason she’s here again is for the cash.”
“I’ve taken no money nor have I asked for any. And I resent you implying anything different to Pilar or anyone else.”
“Yeah, so far. It will come, mark my words, James. She’s just a female using her tricks to get to your money. Using your son against you to get what she wants.”
James studied his grandfather for a moment before dropping his bag to the carpeted hallway. “All right, Benjamin, let’s start there. Just who used my father against you? From all your accounts, your wife had her baby and ran away, never to be heard from again. You raised my father by yourself. What did my mother do? Did she dare to love your son? Did he dare to love her back? Is that what he did to displease you all those years ago? Because I certainly remember there being no love lost between the three of you.”
“Leave your father out of this.”
“No,” JoAnna said. “It’s his history. Tell him the truth, Ben. For once in your life, tell him the truth.”
“Nobody knows the truth.” Ben pushed the button for the elevator and turned his back to them. Just before the cab arrived, he glanced over his shoulder at them. “Just you watch your step, missy. I’ll be watching you and my grandson, and if I don’t like how you’re raising him, I’ll get custody myself!”
The elevator came and as he stepped on, neither James nor JoAnna made a move. James spoke, calm and clearly. “Don’t ever presume to threaten JoAnna or myself with Daniel’s future again, old man. Don’t cross me on this. I’m not my father. I’ll fight you and win. Don’t make the situation any worse than it already is.”
Once they’d left the city traffic behind, it was James who finally spoke. “There really is some of the Joey I knew left inside you. I though for sure I’d killed that side of you years ago.”
“Today, I just couldn’t resist. I’d love to be a fly on the wall when Pilar relates her afternoon to Ben.” Joey was very relaxed and composed. She’d made a stand with Pilar and a start with Benjamin. She’d come close to sleeping with James this afternoon. She was relieved and disappointed it hadn’t happened.
“I should have figured he’d make an appearance. I’m sorry about this afternoon. I figured we’d celebrate Daniel’s name correction and head back here. All I wanted was a few clean clothes for the rest of the week.”
“Ah, your first mistake. Benjamin’s not used to you taking vacation time, especially a whole week at once. He was pissed before Pilar got to him.”
They managed to discuss the afternoon from several perspectives and wound
up laughing at the whole situation.
“For a few minutes, I thought we might have spent some time there this afternoon. Now I’m glad we didn’t. We’d have been interrupted for sure.”
James glanced toward Joey and back to the road. “Excuse me, just what are you saying? Were you prepared to seduce me this afternoon? I can turn back and we can start over.”
She gave him a vague stare and he didn’t change direction. Rather his posture straightened in the drivers seat.
“I don’t know, I guess when you said you needed to go to the apartment, I figured you were going to try something.” She blushed, feeling the heat rise to her cheeks.
James’ hand dropped over hers, and held it tight.
“It annoys the hell out of me to want you this way, James, but it’s a fact. So, do I keep fighting you or give in and take a chance?”
“I was trying to figure out what to do. Before I had a chance to decide, we had company.”
“There’s a part of me that misses you, physically and emotionally. Yet I know we have to keep Daniel first in our minds.”
“The devil on one shoulder and the angel on the other? What will you do, Joey? You must believe I want you, have from the moment I walked into that conference room. Hell, being honest, I’ve never stopped wanting you. And even more truthfully, it used to piss me off regularly.”
Joey laughed, tightening her hand over his. “So, Mr. Montgomery what do we do?”
“I say we let nature take its course.” They drove for several miles before Joey resettled in her seat and squeezed his hand.
“James, I’m not protected. There’s been no reason.”
Deceptions Revealed (Siren Publishing Classic) Page 11
