High-Society Seduction (11 page)

It was clear to everyone now that Dominic and Cassandra were meant to be together. Adam was convinced Liam had known it when he’d secretly asked Dominic to supply sperm to give her a baby. Poor Dominic had suffered a great deal because of that, knowing he had fathered a child he’d been unable to acknowledge until after Liam had died. But now everything was fine and out in the open, and Adam knew that Liam would be happy up there in heaven with the way things had turned out. For Dominic anyway. For himself, he was wondering what the hell Liam had dragged him into.

“Adam, what are you doing in here?”

Startled, he turned around, glad of a respite from his thoughts. “Nothing, Mum. I just had the urge to come up here, that’s all.”

His mother’s face softened as she took a few steps inside the bedroom. “You miss your brother, don’t you? We all do, darling.”

He searched her face. “Are
you
okay?” he asked with concern. “It hasn’t been that long. Not really.”

“Three months. And I miss him with an ache that leaves a hole in my heart, but I think I’m finally accepting that he’s gone.” She eased into a smile. “I have so much to be thankful for.”

He watched her. She was right, yet his heart still ached for her. To lose a child…

“And you, darling?” she said gently. “This week is going to be hard on you.”

His chest tightened. “You remembered.”

“Of course. Maddie’s death left a big hole in all our hearts, but none more than yours. We wouldn’t forget her, not on the fifth anniversary of her passing, not even on the twenty-fifth anniversary. She’s in our hearts, darling.”

“Thanks, Mum,” he said gruffly. He was aware his mother didn’t know the full story, and he was glad she’d been spared. For his mother to know she had lost an unborn grandchild as well as a beloved daughter-in-law wasn’t something he’d ever let her discover. He’d keep that from her forever.

“And now you have Jenna,” she said gently.

His head went back. “Why do you say that?”

“I like this one. I think she’s a keeper.”

He didn’t want to get into this discussion. He didn’t need this right now. Yet he couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Why?”

“She’s a brunette.”

He raised an eyebrow. “So?”

“You always go out with blondes.” She hesitated. “Ever since Maddie, that is.”

He stiffened. He hadn’t realized. “Don’t make the mistake of thinking there’s more than there is. Jenna and I aren’t serious. Everything else is a mere coincidence.”

“Darling, you—”

“Mum, don’t try and marry me off,” he snapped, then saw her flinch. He winced. “Sorry, I don’t mean to sound harsh, but I don’t intend to marry again. Not for a long time, if ever. I’m happy with my life these days. I intend to keep it that way.”

She stared then slowly nodded. “Whatever makes you happy makes me happy, Adam.”

He cleared his throat. “I know.”

There was a burst of laughter from downstairs and he was grateful for the interruption. He turned back to look out the window, seeing Dominic’s contented face as he chased his toddling daughter around on the lawn.

Then his gaze slid over to where Jenna and Cassandra were laughing as they watched the little girl and her father, and something lurched against his ribs. He knew Jenna would keep her word and not say anything to his sister-in-law about the money, but it hit him then how hard it must be
not
to say anything. Jenna was as protective of her family as he was of his. He admired that in her.

“I’d better get back downstairs,” his mother said behind him. There was a pause. “Are you coming?”

“Give me a few more minutes. I won’t be long.”

He heard his mother leave but he was more tuned in to Jenna right now. She was so beautiful it made him catch his breath.

Yet it was more than that gorgeous smile and that tinkling laugh floating up to him. He’d been watching her over lunch and she seemed to fit right in with his family. She didn’t gush at anyone, like one or two of his women friends had when they’d run into members of his family while out on a date. Jenna had even been a little on the shy side with them at first, but his mother and Cassandra soon had her discussing jewelry designs and it was like a flower opening, the petals peeled back to reveal the warmth of the woman inside. A warmth that held a true sincerity as she in turn asked questions of them that indicated a real interest in others. Her warmth melted something hard inside him.

Oh, hell.

Mentally, he pulled himself back at the thought and reminded himself that as much as he was coming to admire Jenna…as much as he wanted to keep on spending time with her…their being together was mostly about Chelsea, and about the money. Everything else was a bonus.

And that reminded him what his contact had said yesterday. So far there had been no hint of the money that Stewart Branson had said Liam had conned from him. It was still a mystery. And that meant no one could discount anything just yet. They had to continue trying other avenues. The money may well be tied up somewhere less obvious.

Yet as he turned to go back downstairs, he found himself wishing that he and Jenna had some sort of future together. One that was longer than his usual relationships anyway. He’d be more than happy with that.

His mother had slipped inside shortly after that, and Jenna had to wonder if Laura had gone looking for him. The other woman had only been away ten minutes or so, and on her return Laura had smiled at her, but there had been a suggestion of worry in her eyes. For Adam? And was
she
the problem? Or was she being too sensitive because Adam hadn’t wanted her here today? She had to admit that if
her
family was at risk of being thrown a bombshell, she’d be on edge, too.

And yet it still hurt. Did he really think she would tackle Cassandra, his mother, or any of the other family members about Liam? She had as much to lose by doing that as he did. Besides, she’d taken a shine to Cassandra today, and would have to think hard before spoiling the other woman’s happiness. Cassandra wasn’t to blame for her late husband’s actions.

Just then Adam came to sit beside her, and a new apprehension began to gnaw at her stomach. Surely this couldn’t only be about the money? He wouldn’t have left her alone with his family if that were the case. He’d have stayed by her side without fail, making sure she said nothing out of place.

So what about her being here was troubling him? It didn’t take long to come to the conclusion that Adam didn’t like her keeping company with his family. She was his temporary mistress, after all. And his family was the highest echelon of Australian society.

It made sense now. Hadn’t he been a little remote from the moment he’d collected her before lunch? His cousin had held the door open for her, but Adam hadn’t even kissed her hello when she’d slid onto the passenger seat. She’d put that down to Logan being with them. Logan Roth was another male in a family that seemed to produce men with extra good looks, charm and money, and she’d suspected his presence might have curbed Adam’s actions. At least, that’s what she’d told herself.

As quickly as her thoughts rushed at her, they bounced confusingly back in the other direction. She knew Adam fairly well by now. He was a man who wouldn’t let anyone stop him from doing what he wanted. If he’d wanted to kiss her in front of Logan, he would have. If he had minded her being here as his mistress, he’d have refused to let her come. No, there was something not quite right going on here.

“And now I want you all to join us in a celebration,” Dominic Roth said, popping open a bottle of champagne, drawing Jenna from her thoughts.

“This sounds interesting,” Michael Roth teased, smiling as his eldest son began filling some glasses on a tray and passing them around.

“It’s more than interesting, Dad.”

“The suspense is killing me, Dominic,” his mother said.

“Hang on, Mum.” He finished pouring the last drink, snatched up his own glass and gently tugged a glowing Cassandra to her feet. He slipped his arm around his wife’s waist. “We’re going to have another baby.”

It had been clear what the announcement would be, but there was still a moment’s delightful surprise. Much congratulations and lots of toasts followed. Jenna felt moved that she’d been here to see all this. For all their money and connections, Adam’s family was as close as her own family and with the same values. It was a comforting thought that no matter who you were, the old-fashioned ideals of love of family were still so important.

And then Jenna glanced at Adam. He seemed as glad as everyone else, yet she got the strongest feeling he was off balance about the news. Why? He loved his family more than anything. She only had to see how instinctively he’d defended Liam, and how protective he was about them not knowing about the money.

On the way back to her apartment a few hours later, he kept up an emotional distance. Logan had stayed behind, so it wasn’t that his cousin was in the way this time. She felt hurt that he was putting up walls. As far as she knew, nothing had changed between them. He’d seemed happy enough yesterday before his mother’s visit, but now it was like part of him wanted to keep her close, another part didn’t. As if something—she didn’t know what—was holding him back and it was so deep, so intense, he couldn’t let himself face it.

In a way, she understood. There was something about Adam that touched an elemental piece of her, drawing emotions she didn’t want to acknowledge. Her feelings were strengthening for him and she’d crossed the line, but she wasn’t in love with him, thank heavens. Yet. It would be a blessing when this was finally over. Perhaps now was even the time to suggest that very thing….

Back at her place, she started edging to what was on her mind. “I’m sorry, Adam. It might have helped the situation with Chelsea, but I shouldn’t have gone with you today. You didn’t want me there. I know it and so do you.”

There was an interminable pause. “It’s not that. It’s…” The line of his jaw flexed.

“Yes?”

“I’ve got some stuff on my mind, that’s all.”

“Maybe I can help?”

He stood there a moment longer, then, “Come here,” he muttered, pulling her into his arms to hold her tight.

“Adam, I—”

He silenced her with a kiss.

And she let him.

They made love, but during it all he still kept up some sort of barrier between them. She tried to reach him on an emotional level, but he was in a place she couldn’t follow. He was satisfying her, no doubt about that, yet it was like he was being driven to take her, not driven to make them one, like the previous times they’d made love.

Afterward he went into the bathroom and she tried not to think at all. She needed to regain her sense of balance, but she couldn’t do that when thoughts of Adam and this demon that suddenly seemed to be riding him were on her mind.

When he came back out of the bathroom, his face was as white as the towel he’d wrapped around his hips.

She sat up. “What’s the matter?”

“The condom was broken.”

“What! How?”

“I’m not going into bloody detail. It broke.”

“Oh, my God,” she whispered.

He just stood there.

Then it started to hit her. She was terrified and yet…she felt the tiniest of thrills. “I could be pregnant already.”

“Don’t say that,” he grated harshly, throwing off the towel and reaching for his pants, bringing her back to reality. His movements were jerky. He was clearly upset.

Jenna got off the bed and went to him. “Look, don’t worry about it,” she said, trying to stay calm herself. “It’ll be fine.” She put her hand on his arm.

He tossed it off like he’d tossed away the towel a minute ago. “You know that, do you?”

She was taken aback. “No, I don’t know that,” she said firmly, aware one of them had to keep their cool. “But I do know that panicking about it won’t help the situation.”

He gave a hesitant pause that was so uncharacteristic of him. “You’re right, of course,” he muttered, then continued to finish dressing.

Clearly he was going home and she had no problem with that. But was he going because he had something to do? Or because he wanted to get away from her? The latter filled her with dismay. Did he think so little of her that he’d hate her to have his baby? The reminder that she was only a warm body in his bed brought a hard lump to her throat. She’d been a fool to think it had been anything other than sex. God, she shouldn’t be surprised.

“I’ll call you,” he said, giving her a brief, hard kiss with a slight lashing of gentleness, as if he just couldn’t quite let go of her…yet.

After he left, she sat there and wondered if he really would call her this time. And would it be because he wanted to? Or because she could stir up trouble for his family?