The Reluctant Heiress

by Sara Orwig

  He had to stay and confess his ties to the Delaneys to Sophia.

  Not one thing about meeting Sophia had turned out the way he had expected. The most certain thing he knew, though, was that he wanted her with him. He missed her and wanted her in his arms and in his bed right now. He conjured up the memory of her spinning around in the snow, big flakes on her silky black hair and lashes and coat, her smile, her bubbling enthusiasm and zest for life. He ached to hold her again and he would remember the weekend all his life.

  Would the truth destroy his budding relationship with Sophia? Or could he make her see how much he wanted to be with her even though he had kept this secret from her?

  He had basically lied to her about who he was. How could he make it up to her? Would she even let him try?

  * * *

  Sophia tossed restlessly in bed. She missed Garrett, but she was annoyed with herself for reacting in such a manner. The weekend still dazzled her, memories bubbling up constantly that enveloped her and carried her away. Garrett had changed her feelings about intimacy. Had her feelings for Garrett become so strong, she was changing her basic views of life?

  They would be together again in less than twenty-four hours. He would have stayed tonight if she had let him. Those two things made her wonder: Was she rushing headlong into a life like her mother’s? Had Garrett so easily demolished all the barriers she kept around her heart?

  Realizing that she needed a distraction from thinking about Garrett, she switched on a light and got up to paint, losing herself in her task and driving all thought of him away until morning came.

  Monday night she dressed eagerly, trying various outfits and finally selecting a red crepe blouse with a low-cut rounded neckline and straight skirt that had a slit on one side. She pinned the sides of her hair up, letting it fall in the back.

  Her pulse raced with anticipation and she was impatient to see him.

  When she greeted him, he stepped inside and swept her into his arms. Words were lost as he kissed her. She locked her arms around him and kissed him in return.

  Finally she stepped back. “Another minute and I won’t look presentable to go out to dinner.”

  “That’s impossible.” He held her waist and stepped back to look at her. “You’re beautiful, just perfect.”

  “I think you’re the perfect one,” she said, thinking his charcoal suit made his gray eyes appear darker. “I’m ready.”

  “So am I,” he said in a husky voice, referring to more than just dinner.

  “We’re going to dinner. You promised,” she reminded him.

  “Yes, I did. We’ll go eat and then we’re coming back here and I’m going to kiss you the way I want to.”

  His words made her tingle and she smiled at him.

  He took her arm to escort her to a sleek black sports car. She was surprised it wasn’t his chauffeur and his limousine, wondering why he preferred driving. Was it because he expected to stay at her house a long time tonight when he took her home?

  She wasn’t exactly sure how she felt about that, despite the desire for him that had been burning through her since they’d last made love.

  They drove through posts and a wrought-iron fence, winding up a drive past splashing fountains and tall pines with lights high in the branches. As they stopped in front of a canopied walk and he gave the keys to a valet, he took her arm. Lights twinkled in all the bushes and over the restaurant, creating a festive atmosphere.

  Inside, a large bouquet of four dozen red and yellow roses in a sparkling crystal vase on a marble table stood in the center of the entryway. A maître d’ met them, talked briefly to Garrett and led them to a table in a secluded corner that overlooked the dance floor on one side and a terrace on the other. Beyond the terrace were sloping grounds to a well-lit pond with more lights in the trees. Soft piano music played and a few couples were already on the small dance floor.

  “I’ve never eaten here before, Garrett. I’ve heard of this place, but just haven’t been here. It’s lovely.”

  “The food is great. I think you’ll like it.” A candle flickered in the center of the linen-covered table. Garrett reached across to take her hand. Candlelight was reflected in his gray eyes and her gaze dropped to his mouth. “The weekend was special,” he said in a husky voice.

  “It was for me, you know that,” she replied breathlessly, studying him as he watched her. He had one of the most interesting faces and she wished he would let her paint his portrait. The only problem was that she would want to keep it, and that was the last thing she needed in her house right now, especially if she was trying to slow things down.

  “I brought you something to remind you of the weekend and to let you know that it was special for me,” he said, handing her a small package.

  Surprised, she looked up and smiled. “How sweet you are. You know you didn’t need to do this.”

  She untied a silver ribbon and then unwrapped blue paper on a small box. When she opened it, another velvet box was inside. She removed it and took out a thin gold filigree bracelet.

  “Garrett, it’s beautiful,” she said, touched and surprised. She looked up at him and then took it out to slip it on, turning her wrist as the candlelight highlighted the gold. “Thank you. It’s lovely and I’ll treasure it.”

  “Enjoy it, Sophia, and remember the fun we had.”

  “Of course I will,” she said, picking up his hand and leaning forward to brush a light kiss across his knuckles. He inhaled, his chest expanding while desire burned in the depths of his eyes.

  All through dinner and later as they danced, desire kept her tingly. Dancing with him was as much fun as everything else. She enjoyed the fast dances; the slow dancing was sexy, tantalizing, making her want to love again. When they stopped and she looked up to meet his gaze, he appeared to be thinking about the same thing she’d been thinking about.

  Garrett had a thick steak while she had lobster tail with white wine. Her appetite fled as she watched him in the flickering candlelight. Garrett had ensnared her heart. There was no way she could keep things light with him or hold to her resolution to avoid a relationship. He was important to her and he turned her insides out just looking at him.

  By ten, when Garrett asked her if she was ready to leave, she nodded.

  At her house, she invited Garrett inside.

  “You’ve had the tour, so would you like a drink—a cup of hot chocolate, soda?”

  “If you have iced tea, I’ll take that.”

  “Two iced teas it is,” she said, heading for the kitchen. She crossed the room to get out glasses.

  “Have a seat and I’ll get our drinks. We can go where it’s more comfortable.”

  Garrett moved closer and turned her to face him. “Sophia,” he said in a husky voice, and her heart skipped. He leaned down to kiss her while his arm held her waist tightly.

  The moment he touched her, her insides clenched and her pulse jumped. She hugged him tightly in return while her intentions to say no to making love vanished.

  Nothing seemed as important as kissing and loving him.

  “Now you’ll have to show me a bedroom,” he said, kissing her throat.

  “There’s one down the hall on this floor,” she said, taking his hand to lead him to the bedroom where he stood her on her feet as he continued kissing her. His hands moved deftly over zippers and buttons, and her skirt floated to her ankles where she stepped out of it.

  “This time we’re taking it nice and slow,” he said, taking time to shower kisses on her. He loved her with deliberation, trying to pleasure her and heighten desire every way he could until she was writhing beneath his touch, aching for him.

  “Garrett, come here,” she whispered, reaching for him.

  He slipped on a condom and lowered himself, slowly filling her, withdrawing and entering again while she arched beneath him.

  His loving was slow, a sweet torment that fanned the fires he had already ignited.

  He was beaded with sweat, trying to
maintain control until finally he let go and loved furiously.

  She cried out as she climaxed and in seconds he shuddered with his release.

  Gradually her heartbeat returned to normal and her breathing grew quiet. They helped each other up and went to shower together, drying each other off only to return to bed. He pulled her into his embrace, holding her while he combed her hair with his fingers.

  “Garrett, I didn’t know it could be this way,” she confessed. “I couldn’t say no to you.”

  “I hope you never can,” he whispered, kissing her temple while he held her against his heart with his arms wrapped around her. “This is perfect, Sophia.”

  “You might as well stay tonight. There’s no reason not to.”

  “I’m glad to hear you say that. I’m surprised you asked me.”

  “I surprised myself, but it seems logical. And my bracelet is beautiful. Thank you again.”

  “Just remember our weekend together.”

  “I will always. There’s no way I can forget it.”

  He gazed into her eyes. “I hope you don’t. It was special to me.” He kissed her lightly. Though he’d told her many times before, his words thrilled her. She ran her hands over his shoulders, relishing being with him.

  At two in the morning, he partially sat up. “I’m ready now for that cup of hot chocolate you offered. Is it still in the offering?”

  “Of course. You have to wait a minute because I’m putting on a robe.”

  “That takes away the fun.”

  “Otherwise, we’ll never get to the hot chocolate.”

  “True enough.”

  She stood, wrapping herself in a comforter and going to get a robe. “I’ll meet you in the kitchen.”

  He grinned and waved, his gaze roaming over her as if mentally peeling away the comforter.

  “You look gorgeous.”

  “It’s my beautiful gold bracelet,” she replied, holding out her arm and letting the bracelet catch glints of light. Smiling, she left to go upstairs and get her best robe, a black velvet robe with a silk lining. She brushed her hair and went down.

  When she entered the kitchen, Garrett already had mugs with steaming cocoa on the table. Dressed in his white shirt and slacks again, he gazed at her, then walked to meet her and place his hands on her waist. His white shirt was unbuttoned halfway and she wanted to run her fingers through the hair on his chest. He had turned the fancy French cuffs back and he looked sexy.

  “You look far too gorgeous for that to be called a bathrobe. And far too sexy for that to not be for the benefit of some man.”

  “You know absolutely there hasn’t been a man—until now. It’s my best warm and comfy bathrobe.”

  “I’m glad you said ‘until now’ and I hope it stays that way.”

  “Garrett, I’ve warned you about that from the beginning.”

  He leaned down to kiss her long and hard. Her heart raced as if it were the first time. She couldn’t get enough of him. Fighting an inner battle between what she wanted and what she thought she should do, she shifted away.

  “We’re going to drink hot chocolate, remember?” she said breathlessly, placing her hand against his chest.

  He still held her. “Sophia, you’re important to me. I know we haven’t known each other long, but that really doesn’t matter. You’re essential and I want you in my life.”

  While her heart drummed, his words held her enthralled. “Saturday night wouldn’t have happened if you hadn’t been very important to me.”

  “I’m glad. Don’t forget what I’ve said.”

  “Garrett, you’ve said that to me before. What am I missing?”

  “Before we sit to drink our hot chocolate, I want to talk to you and I hope you’ll listen to everything I have to say.”

  She looked at him and realized that whatever it was he was about to tell her, it wasn’t good. “What is it, Garrett? Go ahead and tell me what’s troubling you,” she said, puzzled, wondering what he wanted to talk about.

  “We’ve become friends, haven’t we?”

  “Yes, of course. But more than friends, Garrett. Lovers.”

  “Good. I want to keep it that way.”

  “What are you getting at?” she asked, growing chilled. What had he been keeping from her that might change her feelings for him? “What do you want to talk about?”

  “I want you to promise me you’ll listen and keep an open mind.”

  “I’ll listen and I’ll try to keep an open mind unless you’re going to tell me you’re married with a family,” she said stiffly. Suddenly, all her fears about rushing into intimacy with him came back to her. All her life she had been cautious, but she threw caution to the wind when Garrett came into her life. And she had a feeling she was about to find out that she’d made a terrible mistake.

  He shook his head. “Nothing like that.”

  Relief was slight because whatever he intended to tell her, it was serious. “I’ll try to keep an open mind,” she said, though she could already feel the walls closing down around her heart. “But I can’t make any promises.”

  Six

  Garrett framed her face with his hands and she watched as he took a deep breath. “I was asked to meet you and get to know you. I was hired to do so, actually, but I’ve told them I won’t take the money. I swear I never expected it to turn out this way at all. I didn’t dream I would get any closer to you than I had to in order to talk to you.”

  “You were hired? To meet me? I don’t understand,” she said, confusion flooding her. Garrett was struggling with his words, and he wasn’t giving her information fast enough. “Answer me, Garrett! Who hired—” She stopped speaking and stared at him, her confusion changing to burning fury. There was only one group of people in the world who would have to hire someone to try to get her to meet with them. “No! It’s the Delaneys, isn’t it?”

  “Yes, it’s the Delaneys. Please, Sophia, you have to believe me. I never thought I, we would—”

  “Damn you, Garrett,” she said, astounded at his pretense and the advantage he had taken of her. She was furious with herself for letting down her guard. “I promised to listen and keep an open mind, but I’m not going to now. Everything you’ve done has been a sham. You’ve been conniving and false from the start,” she accused. “All that asking about my family, listening while I told you about my father—you’re as bad as he was,” she said, shaking with rage. “You knew! You knew all the time who Argus was and what he had done! You knew how I grew up. You knew everything when you met me and passed yourself off as a Houston businessman.”

  “I am a Houston businessman. I own that business.”

  “How are you connected with the Delaneys?” she blurted, startled to hear he actually had the Houston business.

  “I’m the CFO of Delaney Enterprises.”

  She felt as if he had delivered a blow to her. “So the best friend you talked about, the family obligations—that’s all the Delaneys, isn’t it?” She clenched her fists. “I’m not going to listen to you. Everything you’ve done has been underhanded and low. How could you?” she cried.

  “Sophia, by denying your heritage and your inheritance, you’re hurting innocent people and you’re hurting yourself.”

  “You can’t possibly justify your actions.” She thought of what had happened between them in Colorado, devastation washing over her like a crushing wave. “How you must have laughed after this weekend. You seduced me for the Delaneys,” she said, grinding out the words, tears of anger and hurt threatening, adding to her fury.

  “No, I did not. I meant what I’ve said to you, Sophia. I swear. I meant what I said about how special this weekend was for me—about how special you are to me.”

  “Oh, please,” she snapped, hating him for what he’d done and angry with herself for tossing aside all caution where Garrett had been concerned. She was shaking and hurting all over, and she wanted nothing more than to get rid of him and make sure she never had to lay eyes on him again. “You c
an get out, Garrett. Out of my house and out of my life.”

  “I’m not going until you listen to me and hear my side of the story.”

  “Get out of here,” she cried. “I don’t want to see you or talk to you. I want you out of my life.” She tried to slip the bracelet off her wrist, her hands shaking as she fumbled. She finally succeeded, throwing it at him. He caught it and slowly put it into his pocket, never taking his eyes off her.

  “I just want you to listen for a moment,” he said, speaking quietly. “You’re harming yourself as much as you’re hurting them and they haven’t done any more than you have. All they did was end up with Argus Delaney as their father. You can’t select your parents, and neither could they. So why are you doing this to them, Sophia?”

  “I already told you. I don’t want anything from Argus Delaney. He never gave me love or attention or even acknowledgment that I was his daughter. Never,” she declared bitterly, tears over Garrett’s betrayal blinding her eyes as they spilled faster than she could wipe them away. “My father gave us money as a man gives cash to a prostitute. I’m not turning down the money to hurt my half brothers. I’m refusing it because it’s the only way I can reject Argus Delaney. He gave it out of guilt at the end of his life, and I will do nothing to exonerate the way he treated me or my mother.”

  Garrett reached out to touch her and she jerked away from him as if he had scalded her with his touch.

  “This isn’t about them,” she said. “It’s about him. All those years from the time I was born until I was in my twenties, he treated me as if I was nothing. I’m not trying to hurt them.”