by Ray, Francis
“If you were so in love with Daddy why did you marry Jim the month he died?” Lance asked, his voice tight.
She looked up at her husband. His face was stoic. “For reasons that will remain between us. I loved your father, but he was gone. I thought we both needed a man in the house. I thought it would be a new beginning.” Her head momentarily bowed. “I was wrong.”
“We’ll be outside.” Jim opened the door and placed his hand in the small of his wife’s back.
“Good-bye, Lance. Thank you for coming and listening,” his mother said. Jim closed the door behind them.
* * *
Fallon had heard the argument and confession of Lance’s mother and stepfather. She’d tried to shield Lance and ended up hurting him instead. Fallon asked his aunt to let her see him alone. Gladys went out the front door to go around the back.
Lance stood in the kitchen with his fist clenched. Fallon saw the edge of blue paper—the savings account book. He looked up. His eyes were dazed.
“Lance.” Quickly she crossed the room and curved her arms around his waist, placed her head on his chest. “It will be all right.”
His arms were slow to hold her, and when they did they were loose.
A chill ran through Fallon. His mother and stepfather’s revelation shook all of Lance’s beliefs to the core. Everything he had believed about them was wrong.
“I need to get out of here.”
Fallon straightened and took his hand. “Let’s go.”
He glanced toward the back door, then down at her, and started for the front of the house. He stopped briefly to open her car door. Once they were inside the car, he pulled off.
Fallon ached for him. He’d just been blindsided. He needed to talk, but that wasn’t the way Lance handled his problems. He kept them caged inside him. Perhaps it was time someone opened that cage door.
“We weren’t trying to, but we heard everything,” she told him, trying to find her way.
He stopped at a signal light. He stared straight ahead.
Her cell phone rang. She saw it was his aunt. “Hello.… I’m not sure. I’ll call you later.” She ended the call. “Mrs. Youngblood wanted to know how you were doing. After your mother helped Kayla slather the sauce on the ribs, she said she had a headache and went inside.”
Lance turned into the driveway of his home.
“You both are hurting,” Fallon said. “Perhaps, in time, you can help each other heal.”
Lance stopped in front of the house. Fallon got out of the car, expecting Lance to get out as well.
The front passenger’s automatic window slid down. “I’ll be back.” The car took off. Fallon was left staring at it.
* * *
Lance went back to his previous thinking spot, Richard’s ranch. This time Lance saw the man taking care of the livestock while Richard was away. Since he’d seen Lance helping Naomi and Kayla move and at the wedding, he waved at Lance and continued to the barn.
On the patio, Lance took a seat under the shade of a gnarled tree, clasped his hands, and stared downward. He had been so sure his mother had chosen Jim over him, that she’d stopped loving him. He’d been wrong. So, where did that leave him? He honestly didn’t know. If he’d misread his mother and Jim, could he trust his judgment with Fallon?
He had some tough decisions to make. If he chose wrong, he risked not only his heart but his sanity as well.
* * *
Fallon tried not to agonize about Lance. He’d texted her three times since he’d been gone. Each time it had been the same message. Don’t worry. It was impossible not to. His mother had called twice, concerned that by getting Lance to see her, she might have caused problems for them.
Although Fallon wasn’t sure, she’d told his mother and Mrs.Youngblood that things were fine between them. With all her heart, she prayed that was the truth. She tried to occupy her mind for a bit with catching up their baby’s journal but found she couldn’t concentrate. Somehow she knew that if Lance didn’t come to terms with his past tonight he never would, and it would be over for them forever.
The doorknob twisted and she was across the floor. As soon as Lance opened the door, she was in his arms. “You’re finally home.”
“Sorry if I worried you.”
She tried to keep the smile on her face. His arms loosely held her. “That’s all right. Let’s go to bed.”
“We have to talk first.” He led her to a Queen Anne upholstered chair.
Fallon’s apprehension grew. “What about?”
“Us.” He rubbed the back of his neck, then began to pace in front of her. “I thought I had the answers where my mother and stepfather were concerned. I didn’t. I misread both of them.”
“That wasn’t your fault,” Fallon said. “They didn’t tell you everything.”
He nodded. “Despite their good intentions, I had a rough childhood after I lost my father.”
Her heart went out to him. “Your mother called twice. She’s worried about you. You need to call her.”
He blew out a breath. “Yeah. Well. It can wait.”
“Lance, what’s more important than helping your mother?”
“Figuring out where we stand.” He took her hands. “Mother’s confession made me realize that trying to shield someone isn’t always the right thing to do. It also made me realize you have to be honest even if it makes you vulnerable. I finally figured out what it is you want from me.”
Fallon’s heart thudded in her chest.
“I woke my lawyer up. He’ll be here tomorrow. I’m writing out a new will that leaves everything to you and our baby,” he said.
Her chest felt tight. “I don’t care about the money.”
His smile was sad. “I know you don’t, but after hearing about the financial problems my father and yours left behind I don’t want to make the same mistake. Regardless of what happens to me or how things turn out between us, I want you and our baby to be safe and secure.”
“You sound as if you won’t be around regardless.” Misery echoed in every word.
“That depends on you and how much faith you have in me.” He brushed her hair from her face. “The doubts are gone. I’d trust you with my life, and to care for our baby.”
“Always.”
“Here goes.” A ragged breath shuddered over his lips. He took her hands in his, his gaze direct and penetrating. “I love you, Fallon. I want to be a part of your life and the baby’s life. I want us to get married. To be a real family.”
Her eyes widened. She opened her mouth and nothing came out.
His world tilted. His hands flexed on hers. His resolve strengthened for her and the baby. He’d make this work. He loved them too much to lose them. “You don’t have to love me back; just don’t leave me. Let me be with you. Always. You and the baby are all that I need.”
“Oh, Lance. You did it.” Tears streamed down her cheeks. She sniffed, palmed his cheeks. “I could never leave my heart.”
Finally able to breathe normally, he kissed her tears away. This time they made his heart beat with joy instead of fear.
“I love you.” Leaning forward, she kissed him gently on the lips. “If I hadn’t, I wouldn’t have gone to bed with you when I came back.”
His heart thumped in his chest. “Then you’ll marry me?”
“Yes! Oh yes!”
His world righted itself. He’d picked right. Laughing, he gathered her in his arms and kissed her until his head swam. “Who do we tell first? Your parents or mine?”
Her smile grew. He was finally free. The past was where it belonged, in the past. “Let’s do a three-way telephone call and tell them both at the same time.”
“Later.” He scooped her up. “First, I’m taking you to bed.”
Read on for an excerpt from Francis Ray’s next book
All That I Desire
Coming soon from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Prologue
Skylar Dupree, Event Director for Navarone Resorts and Sp
as, had never been impulsive. But now as she watched the approach of two couples and one lone man from the second-floor turret window of Navarone Castle, Skylar contemplated taking the biggest gamble of her life.
As the pampered only child of divorced, overprotective parents, Skylar had wanted for little in her life. What she now desired—what she’d longed for, dreamed of, the past two years—might be impossible to attain. And cost her a job she loved.
Unlike her highly successful parents in Boston, she wasn’t cut out to be a lawyer. When a family friend showed her an ad for an assistant to the events director for the Navarone Resorts and Spas headquartered in Tucson, Arizona, she had jumped at the opportunity.
Six weeks after she’d been hired, she met Blade Navarone at the grand opening of his latest resort. With him were his two personal bodyguards. One in particular, Rio Sanchez, caught her attention the instant she’d seen him.
He was tall, fallen-angel handsome with razor-sharp cheekbones, long curly black hair that he wore tied at the nape of his neck, and flat black eyes. Much to her surprise, since she had loads of male friends but nothing serious, Rio piqued her curiosity and heated her body.
The other man, Shane Elliott, might socialize, but Rio never did. He always kept himself apart, always watching. He seemed unapproachable. Hard. She’d observed more than one woman start toward him only to stop a few feet away, then beat a hasty retreat. She well understood why.
Rio was handsome enough to draw women, but the unblinking flat eyes made any sensible woman feel as if she might be getting in over her head. Skylar felt that way herself.
In the two years she’d known Rio, she’d caught him watching her a couple of times. The problem was she couldn’t be sure if it went deeper than just doing his job.
Skylar wanted to know the man behind the unreadable façade that never smiled, to make him stop looking through her, calling her Ms. Dupree. It was more than her wanting him to notice her or treat her differently than he did all of the other people, besides Blade and Shane. She didn’t think Rio had anyone.
Blade and Shane had wives, but who comforted Rio? With his broad shoulders, quick reflexes, and reported skills as a fighter, Rio acted as if he didn’t need or want anyone.
She might have believed that if she wasn’t looking at Rio with Blade and Shane and their wives. As always, Rio walked apart, unsmiling as the two couples laughed and held hands. She didn’t know there were tears on her cheeks until Ruth Grayson, Blade’s mother-in-law, handed her a tissue. “No man should walk this earth alone,” she said, and excused herself.
Skylar might have been embarrassed, but she liked Mrs. Grayson and knew she could keep a confidence. Skylar looked out the window again and came to a decision; Rio wouldn’t walk alone any longer if she could help it. It would be risky, emotionally and professionally.
If Rio felt she’d crossed the line professionally, she’d be out on her ear. She would be risking everything for a man who had never smiled at her, had never given her any indication that he felt anything more for her than the stones surrounding the castle—except for those two occasions.
Suddenly Rio looked up at her. She felt the familiar leap of her heart, the warmth curling through her, the need to touch, to soothe. She smiled. He didn’t smile back, just continued inside behind the others. He was a tough man. That was all right. She turned from the window.
One day he would smile back.
Chapter 1
Skylar Dupree wasn’t the risk-taking type, but neither was she the type of woman to falter once she’d made up her mind. The only other time in her twenty-six years she had dared to do anything remotely defying tradition was leaving law school. Yet that had been more for self-preservation. Her parents were pragmatic; she tended to be more easygoing and laid-back.
Skylar paused on the curved stone staircase of the thirty-five-room castle. Easygoing wasn’t going to cut it this time, not if she wanted to grab Rio’s attention.
Just the thought sent her heart rate skittering out of control. Rio could look straight through you with hard, unblinking black eyes. He exuded danger. Nothing seemed to bother him. She could count on one hand the number of times she’d seen him smile, and those times had been when he was with his closest friends, Blade and Shane. As far as Skylar knew, he’d never bestowed a smile upon anyone else, let alone his laughter.
The task she’d chosen for herself was scary. Since Shane’s marriage, Rio was now head of security for Blade’s business as well as Blade’s personal bodyguard. Even Rio’s security team had a healthy fear of the man reported to be deadlier than a viper, and just as stealthy. She’d heard one of his men refer to him as “smoke” because of his elusiveness.
Skylar had flown in that Sunday afternoon from Navarone Resorts and Spas’ headquarters to go over the final preparations for a charity auction and ball to benefit the music department of St. John’s College, where Mrs. Grayson was the department chair. The auction was two weeks away. The big draw to get the right people to come was that the auction would be held in Navarone Castle, a place heretofore off limits to anyone but close family and friends.
Much had been speculated about the home of the billionaire, which had a real moat, a working drawbridge, a helipad, and a lake. Sierra, Blade’s wife, might have owned the castle before her marriage, but Blade ensured their privacy by buying up all the surrounding property within fifty miles. A person might get on the property, but with constant patrols, they were quickly escorted off, giving Navarone Castle even more of an air of mystique.
Continuing down the stairs with her iPad clutched to her chest, Skylar stepped into the open room. Sitting in the comfortable great room with sky-blue leather chairs and love seats were Blade, Sierra, and her mother on one side. On the other were Shane and his wife Paige. Rio, arms folded, standing by the immense stone fireplace, looked up. Her heart did a fast jitterbug.
Rio looked incredibly handsome in a long-sleeved white shirt with the cuffs rolled back to show strong wrists. He had a silver watch on one arm and a wide silver band on the other. His jeans delineated the long, sleek muscles of his thighs and made Skylar’s mouth go dry.
In Tucson he’d always worn tailored clothes, the same as Blade. Here, Rio was more casual. The curly black hair she’d dreamed of running her fingers through was held at the base of his neck with a silver clip. His bronzed, hard body was honed to perfection.
There was nothing in his midnight-black eyes that indicated he desired or felt anything at all for her. Skylar stared back at the flat eyes that seemed to see right through her and stiffened her spine.
One day he’d look at her with desire.
“Hi, Skylar.” Sierra rose from her seat and went to greet her. “I’m sorry we weren’t here to meet you.”
“That’s all right.” Skylar smiled. She and Sierra had hit it off immediately. “I enjoyed looking around the castle again. You have a beautiful home.”
“Thanks.” Sierra glanced back at Blade. “We like it.”
Skylar’s smile increased. One place she’d bet was off limits was the grotto downstairs that was Sierra and Blade’s secret place.
“Please have a seat.” Sierra took the other woman’s arm. “Can I get you anything?”
“No, thank you,” Skylar said, and then greeted everyone as she took a leather chair. Everyone spoke. Rio nodded his head.
“Is everything going as planned?” Ruth asked.
Skylar knew Ruth could have asked that question earlier but hadn’t. Mrs. Grayson also didn’t let on she’d seen or talked with Skylar earlier. She smiled her thanks.
“Yes, Mrs. Grayson. In fact, we’re ahead of schedule. As planned, the auction will be by invitation only. Thanks to Lance’s help, a printed color catalog with the starting bid for each item has already been sent out.”
“Good thing,” Sierra interjected. “Because he and Fallon are off on their honeymoon.”
“Still discussing if she’ll be able to go scuba diving due to her pregnancy.” Bl
ade glanced at Sierra. “She’s almost as strong-willed as another woman I know.”
“Aren’t you and Lance the lucky ones?” Sierra grinned and kissed Blade on the cheek.
Skylar cut a sideways glance at Rio. His arms remained crossed, his gaze somewhere over her head. He wasn’t going to make this easy. Back to the business at hand.
“I personally called everyone to ensure they received the catalog and still plan to attend.” Skylar pulled out the guest list and stood to give it to Rio. “This week, four of the invitees asked if they could bring a guest. It was to be expected that some would ignore the one-month time limit to invite a guest. I know you’d want to check the people out before I committed.”
Rio crossed to her in his effortless stride that reminded her of a stalking cat. Long, lean fingers took the list without looking at it. “Thank you.” His voice held no inflection.
Trying not to sigh, Skylar retook her seat. She needn’t have bothered wearing a tangerine-colored dress that complemented her complexion and hazel eyes. However, she wasn’t giving up.
“The items will be arriving by special courier or delivery service starting Tuesday. I’ll be here to check and sign them in. I’ll return each day until we have all the items in place,” Skylar told them. “We’ve already selected the room where they’ll be displayed.”
“That’s too much trouble,” Sierra said. “It would be easier and make more sense if you stayed here.”
“I couldn’t agree more,” Blade said.
“I couldn’t,” Skylar said, surprised by the invitation. While they were planning the auction, she’d always flown in and out of Santa Fe.
“We have plenty of guest rooms.” Sierra leaned against Blade. His arm immediately circled her slim shoulders. “We’re leaving for a new Navarone property in the morning; you’re welcome to stay here.”
Skylar didn’t know what to say. She was very aware that a lot of trust had gone into the invitation. If Rio stayed, she might run into him more. The thought no sooner materialized than she discarded it. She was not going to impose on Blade and Sierra’s kindness to go after Rio.
