Millionaire's Wedding Revenge / Stranded with the Tempting Stranger
- -
- 100%
- +
Four years ago, he’d been happy to live in the moment. Yes, he’d given a passing thought to the fact that Megan was the one woman he could settle down with, but he hadn’t taken any concrete steps in that direction. The truth was he’d have been blown away to discover he was a father.
Now, though, he thought about the little girl he’d seen yesterday. She looked like him, and he’d felt an instant connection.
He knew he wanted to be a father to Jade.
“It was unbelievable,” he said, his gaze moving from the ocean to his brother. “She looks just like a Garrison, and the protectiveness automatically kicked in.”
In fact, he was mad as hell at being shortchanged on the past three years.
“I’ve heard having a daughter changes everything for guys,” Adam commented. “Suddenly you can’t look at women the same way.”
Tell me about it, Stephen thought, his mind traveling over all the women who’d blended into his past. Adam was right. He wouldn’t want Jade to grow up and fall for the kind of smooth operator he’d been for most of his adult life.
“So, you’re going to publicly acknowledge her?” Adam shook his head doubtfully. “I hope you know what you’re getting into. As much as I hate echoing our mother, what do you know about Megan Simmons?”
“Enough,” he said shortly.
“I remember meeting her when you dated four years ago,” Adam went on. “Think she’s one of those women who believes getting knocked up by a rich guy is like hitting the jackpot?”
“Shut up, Adam.”
“No, really,” his brother pressed.
“You don’t know anything about it. She was hiding the kid’s existence from me. I found out accidentally when I showed up at her house unannounced.”
Adam whistled. “Well, that puts a different spin on things. I won’t bother asking why you showed up at her house without an invitation.” His brother gave him a sly look. “Still carrying a torch?”
“Shut up,” he said, and downed some more of his drink.
It was late Sunday afternoon, and she and Anna Cross—no, Anna Garrison now, Megan corrected herself—sat at her dinette table enjoying some coffee and sinfully good Tres Leches cake.
Jade was playing in the living room, where they could hear and sometimes see her.
The house was big enough for Jade to play in, but small enough for just two people. Megan was glad now she’d taken up Anna’s lease when she’d moved back to Miami. At the time, Anna had no longer needed the house in Coral Gables because she was marrying Parker Garrison.
Jade’s uncle.
Of course, that meant Anna was Jade’s aunt.
She really needed to ’fess up, Megan thought, looking at her friend.
She steeled herself and took a deep breath. “I have something to tell you.”
“Mmm?” Anna responded, cutting off another piece of cake with her fork. “I shouldn’t, but this is so—so yummy—”
“Jade is a Garrison.”
Anna stilled for a moment, then her fork clattered against her plate. “What?”
Anna stared at her in disbelief, a dozen questions flitting across her face.
Megan rubbed clammy hands against her shorts. “Before you came to Miami four years ago, I dated Stephen Garrison.”
“Stephen—?”
Megan nodded.
“I didn’t even know the two of you had been involved!”
“It wasn’t a long relationship.” Though it had left its permanent mark. “It ended badly, and once it did, I was reluctant for a long time to share the details with anyone.”
Now, though, she decided to fill in Anna on her past relationship and recent conversations with Stephen. Once she was done, she said, “He’s threatened to go public. And he demanded I marry him.”
“I can’t believe you didn’t tell him about Jade,” Anna said. “Not that I’m passing judgment. It’s just that I think I’d have found it hard to keep it secret.”
And that was why, Megan thought, she hadn’t confided in her closest friend about the details of Jade’s paternity. She knew Anna would be working at Garrison, Inc. headquarters, and she didn’t want to burden her friend with an explosive secret about the boss’s brother.
Of course, she’d been tripped up by not having confided in Anna.
Anna looked thoughtful now that she seemed to have recovered from the initial shock. “I knew there was something between you and Stephen. I got some hints from Stephen’s reaction when I mentioned you at dinner once. You also seemed to have a funny reaction at my wedding when he was heading our way.”
“Actually, Stephen discovered I was back in Miami when you mentioned it to him,” Megan said.
Anna’s brow furrowed. “Oh, Megan, I’m so sorry! I didn’t know how it would cause problems! All I wanted to do was send some business your way.”
“Thanks.” She reached out and patted Anna’s hand soothingly. “I know you had the best intentions.”
“And you know,” Anna went on, “you can help Stephen. The Jefferieses are pressing hard, helped along by what Parker thinks is a corporate spy within the Garrison organization.” Her lips twisted. “For a while, Parker—and, I guess, Stephen, as well—thought I was the spy.”
“Yes, you explained it to me.” She withdrew her hand and waved it around vaguely. “But now look at you. You’re the glowing newlywed.”
Anna laughed self-consciously, then murmured, “Parker…”
“Believe me, I’m very familiar with the charms of the Garrison men.” Megan nodded her head toward the front room. “I have a daughter to prove it.”
“But you don’t regret Jade, do you?”
“No, of course not. She’s wonderful. But now I have Stephen to deal with.”
“All the Garrison men are alike,” Anna observed obliquely. “What are you going to do?”
Megan sighed. “I’m not sure. Any suggestions?”
“Why don’t you agree to marry him?”
“Are you serious? I can’t!”
Obviously, Anna’s eyes were clouded by love, Megan thought.
“Why not?”
Two simple words, and yet they dredged up a wealth of emotion, Megan thought. She was dangerously weak where Stephen was concerned, despite everything.
She’d seen that herself since he’d walked into her life again. It had been the same old feeling of excitement and overwhelming awareness—as if she couldn’t stop arguing with him, and the only way to deal with it was to give in to the itch to jump his bones.
“He’s a cheat,” she contented herself with saying.
“Are you sure?” Anna pressed.
“You mean, am I sure I saw a woman with disheveled clothing emerging from Stephen’s yacht, claiming to have seen more of him than his famous cleft chin?” Megan asked sarcastically. “Then, yes, I’m sure.”
Anna cocked her head. “Well, even if he did cheat, that was four years ago. Now you have a child together. Think about Jade.”
In fact, she had been thinking about Jade. Until now, Jade hadn’t had a father in her life—though her own parents and family had been around in Indianapolis to shower her with love.
“You know,” Anna went on, “being married to Stephen might not be so bad. It would take away some worries. Jade would grow up with everything money has to offer. You wouldn’t have to worry about arriving at some complicated arrangement with Stephen for him to see her.”
Yes, she thought, but she didn’t know if she could take living under the same roof with Stephen. Sharing his bed…
Just being in the same room with him made her tense, jittery, and acutely aware of herself as a woman.
And she definitely couldn’t risk her heart again. She’d cried for days, heartsick, when she’d discovered his betrayal four years ago.
At the time, she hadn’t told him she was pregnant because she was sure a marriage between them would have been a disaster: he’d have cheated—he’d already proven himself capable of it—and she’d have wound up divorcing him to save herself.
There was no way she could marry him.
No way…no way…no way…
Unless…unless, of course, she could marry him without risking her heart again.
She paused.
Now, there might be a way out of her dilemma….
Six
Stephen stepped out of the elevators at Garrison, Inc., and the receptionist gave him a wide smile.
“Hi, Sheila.”
“Hello, sugar.” Sheila batted her eyelashes at him, and purred, “Come to make my day?”
He laughed. “I wish I could, honey, but duty calls.”
Sheila pretended to pout.
The blue-eyed, blond, ex-Playboy bunny was his type, but this time, he knew his heart wasn’t in their customary banter.
Damn Megan.
“Parker in his office?” he asked.
Sheila nodded.
“Thanks,” he said, then walked down the hall.
He greeted Mario, who was pushing a mail cart and had been with the company since John Garrison’s day, then a human resources person named Roberta, who was a recent hire.
All the while, he keenly observed every employee he passed. Someone in the firmament at Garrison, Inc. was passing along information to the Jefferies brothers, and until they discovered who it was, he and Parker and every other executive had to be careful about what they said and did within range of others.
Just last month, someone had accessed Parker’s office computer and forwarded an e-mail they’d planted to Jordan Jefferies.
At his brother’s partially closed office door, he rapped with his knuckles.
When he strode in, Parker said, “I hear congratulations are in order.”
Closing the door, Stephen made for one of the leather chairs positioned before his brother’s desk. “Thanks, but save it for after the wedding.”
He was here because he and Parker had a Monday-morning appointment scheduled with Brandon Washington, the Garrison family lawyer. Brandon was always punctual, so Stephen knew he’d be here soon.
He caught his brother’s raised eyebrows as he settled into his chair. “Somehow I knew the news would reach you one way or another.”
Parker leaned back in his mesh swivel chair and tapped his fingertips together. “Maybe not the way you expected. Anna.”
That caught his attention. “Anna?”
“I guess it’s all right to disclose this now, since I also discovered you’ve been letting the news be known yourself.” His brother paused. “Anna was over at Megan’s place yesterday afternoon, and they had a little powwow.”
Stephen felt his nostrils flare. “Tell me the wife encouraged Megan to do the sane thing.”
Parker chuckled. “Define sane.”
“Stuff it, Parker.”
“Whoa, whoa, go easy here. I just discovered I’m an uncle.”
Stephen let go with an expletive.
Parker eyed him. “You know, I should have known the minute I hired Megan four years ago that you’d find her irresistible. Of course, a redhead with flashing green eyes would send you down for the count.”
“Yeah, well, I’m up again, and I intend to win this match. Why the hell didn’t you tell me Anna and Megan were friends?”
His brother shrugged. “I had no idea myself until recently. It never came up. In fact, the first time I saw Megan again was at the wedding.”
“You haven’t reacted to my news with the same suspicion it’s been greeted with in other quarters,” Stephen observed.
“Well, I did hire Megan, and I am married to Anna.”
Just then a knock sounded, and both brothers turned to look at the door.
“Come in,” Parker called.
Brandon walked in. “Good morning.” He shut the door behind him. “I’m glad to see you’re both here.”
Stephen and Parker stood, and the men all shook hands.
Brandon took the other chair facing Parker.
“So what do we have, Brandon?” Stephen asked, as he and Parker sat back down.
“Cassie Garrison is still refusing to deal,” Brandon stated matter-of-factly.
Stephen suppressed a snort of disgust.
At the reading of his father’s will two months ago, he, along with the rest of the family, had discovered John Garrison had fathered a daughter during an extramarital affair with Ava Sinclair, a local he’d met in the Bahamas.
On top of it all, it turned out that the daughter was Cassie Sinclair, the manager of the Garrison Grand-Bahamas hotel, and that she, along with the five legitimate Garrison siblings, had inherited shares in the family business.
Stephen’s lips twisted. Cassie Sinclair now chose to go by the name Cassie Sinclair Garrison.
Something had to be done.
So far, Cassie had resisted Parker’s overtures and refused to turn over her shares in the Garrison empire.
“She apparently just wants to be left alone to run the Garrison Grand-Bahamas,” Brandon said.
“No dice,” Parker responded.
Brandon sighed. “I’m not getting anywhere by phone. Frankly, our best option is if I go down there and try to negotiate in person for a deal to buy her out.”
Parker laced his fingers together. “I have no problem with that plan.” Parker glanced over at Stephen for his assent before looking back at Brandon. “We’re willing to pay—within reason.”
Brandon named what he’d offered as a reasonable price for Cassie’s shares, and Stephen’s hand flexed on his armrest.
“You lowballed her first?” Stephen heard himself ask.
“Of course,” Brandon said.
Stephen trusted Brandon like a brother. The Washingtons—Brandon and his father before him—had been the family legal advisors for years. Still, it was vitally important they get this problem with Cassie wrapped up soon and to their satisfaction. They couldn’t let the future of the Garrison empire rest with an unknown quantity—a potential loose cannon.
“And if she still refuses to sell after I approach her in person?” Brandon asked, voicing the question on all their minds.
“Everyone has their price,” Parker said grimly. “We’ll have to think about how much more we’re willing to offer.”
Stephen arched a brow. “Or we can borrow a page from the world of celebrity.” He looked over at Brandon. “When you get down there, why don’t you first see if you can dig up some dirt on Cassie’s past? It’ll give us some leverage to force her hand.”
Parker nodded thoughtfully. “With stakes like this, I’ll take any ammunition I can get.”
When Megan walked into Stephen’s office at Garrison, Inc., she had some design plans in hand. But more importantly, she had a decision.
Stephen stepped around his desk and strode toward her.
“I’ve drawn up some preliminary plans,” she said. “You can take a look at them at your leisure, and then we can discuss them. Anything can be changed, of course.”
He took the plans from her and dropped them on a nearby table. Then he shut his office door and braced his arm there. “Well?”
They both knew the real topic of this meeting.
She told herself she wasn’t afraid of him. She wasn’t afraid of the vast Garrison family wealth and influence. But she had to face reality.
She chewed her lip. “I’ve thought about your proposal.”
His proposal had been a far cry from her girlhood dreams, but those she’d buried along with their relationship four years ago.
“Good. I expected you to.”
She walked farther into the room, and he followed.
Stephen’s immense office had a view of the beach and endless blue water. His desk stood in front of floor-to-ceiling windows, and off to one side were a sofa and chairs arranged around a low table.
Like the rest of the hotel, the office was light and airy. The only thing she’d change was the abstract artwork. Though she was sure it was all very valuable, she’d prefer to see something less geometrical and more soft, maybe impressionist.
But more importantly, the view from Stephen’s windows said everything, and that she couldn’t change. She watched as a toned blonde walked past to head into the hotel.
She turned toward Stephen.
His too-handsome face gave nothing away.
Nervous energy thrummed through her. She rubbed a palm against her taupe linen skirt. “I’ve decided to accept your proposal.”
His eyes shot dark fire, and she could read the triumph in them. “We’ll have the wedding next weekend.”
Her stomach flipped over. “Next weekend? That’s not enough time!”
She’d thought she’d have more time to adjust to the idea of being Mrs. Stephen Garrison.
“You’ve already had four years,” he said in a clipped voice, as if he’d read her mind.
“A week is not enough time to plan a wedding—”
A grim smile slashed his face. “It is if we have it here at the Garrison Grand, where conveniently I’m the boss. In fact, I just put together Parker and Anna’s wedding in a short time.”
“I have a job I just started,” she began.
“You won’t need to do anything but show up.”
She stared at him doubtfully.
“Let’s seal the deal.” He looked at her innocently. “I hope that’s okay?”
Then before she could react, he pulled her into his arms, and his lips came down on hers.
First there was the warm pressure of his mouth, then he slipped inside, his tongue touching and coaxing hers.
Hot, sweet sensation flooded her, and a rainbow of colors danced behind her eyelids.
When he eventually pulled back, he gave her a heavy-lidded look. “Just like I remembered,” he murmured.
She touched her fingertips to her lips, feeling him there still.
Ordinarily, the stolen kiss might have sparked her ire, but under the circumstances, it reminded her of what she had to do.
She dropped her hand. “I forgot to mention something,” she said hoarsely.
“What’s that?”
She took a breath. “I have a couple of conditions of my own.”
His look turned guarded. “Shoot.”
“I want to wait until after the wedding to explain to Jade that you’re her biological father.”
He looked ready to argue, so she rushed on. “I want to give her time to adjust. It’s enough for the moment that I’m springing this wedding on her.”
“Aren’t you just drawing this out when it would be better to explain the whole thing at once?”
She shook her head. “I want her to get used to you…get to know and—and like you, first, without putting any sense of obligation on her three-year-old shoulders.”
“Fine,” he said, though she knew he still wasn’t thrilled with her idea.
And now for the hard part, she thought.
“I’m agreeing to this marriage for Jade’s sake,” she said. “I know there’ll be lots of advantages to growing up a Garrison and with you there to help raise her.”
He nodded, as if he was glad she saw reason.
“That’s why,” she went on, her chin coming up, “this will be a marriage in name only. I’m doing this for Jade. I won’t sleep with you, Stephen.”
Something in his eyes flared, and his lips curled. “Strong words from a woman who just melted into my kiss.”
“Those are my conditions,” she repeated.
Their eyes held for one drawn-out moment.
“You’ll get your own bedroom,” he said finally.
She relaxed. She was thankful for the walls of a bedroom. Now she just had to work on shoring up the ones around her heart.
When she pushed back the tissue paper, Megan felt the breath leave her.
A short while ago, a messenger had delivered several boxes. She’d taken the delivery, puzzled but knowing from the sender’s information that it came from Stephen. She’d wondered why he hadn’t bothered to bring the boxes himself, since he was due to arrive in a short time.
Now, Megan let her fingers stroke over the smooth white satin revealed when she’d opened the first box.
A multitude of conflicting emotions stormed her.
She understood now why Stephen may have chosen to send the boxes by messenger before he arrived. Once she’d seen what he’d bought for her, he’d known she’d find it hard to resist.
Carefully, she lifted the gown from the box and examined it.
It was a backless sheath dress with a small swallowtail train made of satin overlaid with lace. The bodice, which had a sweetheart neckline, was held up by two spaghetti straps.
Simple but sexy, it would be spectacular with her flaming red hair, as well as show off her generous chest to advantage.
Stephen knew her so well. And that, she realized, was part of the problem.
She’d told Stephen she’d be wearing something practical—something she already owned—for the wedding. Instead, he’d overridden her.
He’d sent her this dress, and its message was clear: she was being served up as a delicious dessert he intended to savor.
Still, the dress was so beautiful, it brought tears to her eyes.
She’d once wished for happily-ever-after. Instead, she was getting an illusion.
A sham wedding leading to a fake marriage.
Tamping down a sudden well of emotion, she forced herself to open the rest of the boxes.
One box contained a pair of stylish stiletto sandals. Another held an adorable sleeveless flower girl’s dress with a high ribbon waist and matching white sandals.
Her heart squeezed as she thought of Jade and how delighted she’d be.
When she opened the last box, however, her reaction changed, and she felt heat course through her.
The box contained a white bustier, matching lacy underwear and thigh-high hosiery.
Unbidden, images of modeling the sexy concoction for Stephen went through her mind.
Then, annoyed with herself, she let her hand drop away from the box.
Of course, Stephen had no trouble picking out her size. He was a connoisseur of the female form, she reminded herself. A playboy extraordinaire.
She was torn from her thoughts by the sound of the doorbell.
Moments later, she heard the sound of running feet.
“Mommy, there’s someone at the door!” Jade called out.
“I’ll be right there.”
She and Stephen had agreed he’d come over on Wednesday night in order to ease the transition for Jade to the upcoming marriage.
She’d already explained to Jade as well as she could that she’d be getting married to Stephen and they’d be known as Megan and Jade Garrison.
Now, she prayed Stephen’s get-to-know-you session with his daughter went well.
When she opened the door, with Jade peering around her, she was presented with an incongruous sight. Stephen held a bouquet of flowers in one hand, and a large brown-haired, brown-eyed baby doll in the other.
As annoyed as she’d just been with him, she couldn’t help reacting with a laughing gasp.
His eyes met hers, and she saw laughter lurking within them. “She rode in the front passenger seat.”
Wide-eyed, Jade stared at Stephen.
Megan covered her mouth.
Not a word, Stephen’s eyes mockingly warned her. Then he stepped forward. “Hello, honey.”
Megan stared at him—dressed as the consummate corporate executive in a charcoal business suit—before he bent forward and kissed her on the lips.
“We need to make this good for Jade,” he murmured as he straightened.
She gave him a startled look, then closed the door behind him. What was he up to?
But Stephen was already looking down at his daughter. He smiled. “Hello, Jade.”
Jade edged closer to her, and Megan put a comforting arm behind her.
“Hi,” Jade said hesitantly.
Megan realized with a start that Jade was uncharacteristically shy. Apparently, it was one thing to enthusiastically point out a stranger—as Jade had done when Stephen had appeared in their backyard on Saturday—and another to welcome someone more permanent.
Megan prayed again or all their sakes that tonight went well.
Stephen held out the baby doll, which was dressed in pink and purple and wore a headband. “I have a present for you. This is Abby, and she’s looking for a home.”
Jade eyed the doll, then looked back at Stephen.
Megan saw a flicker of uncertainty in Stephen’s eyes, and her heart went out to him. He was clearly lost.
“Stephen bought a gift for you, isn’t that nice?” she said to Jade.