The Groom's Revenge (15 page)
“You’re not playing fair,” he said, moving his hand to the other side.
“This is a game—” her breath caught “—where you make up the rules as you go.”
He pressed his lips right below her ear, tasted her fragrant skin. “So are you naked under that dress?”
“Find out for yourself.” She turned her head, aligning their mouths. He groaned as hers opened, welcoming him, then he slid a hand under her skirt, along her thigh.
“We’re steaming up the windows,” he said.
“You’re fast.”
“Mollie.” His fingers touched the silky triangle of her femininity and then metal. He scraped the keys out onto the floorboard, then put his hand back, loving the damp warmth he encountered, devouring her mouth with his at the same time. His body was contorted over the console; she was holding herself at an odd angle. “When did you get rid of your bra and underwear?”
“Before we left the apartment.” With her tongue, she drew a hot, moist trail down his neck. Her hand came down to blanket him, tease him. “I was really offended that you didn’t notice,” she breathed. “I’m not
that
small.”
that
small.”
“I was anticipating getting home and getting you into bed.” He used his fingers on her until she lifted her hips high. “I can’t believe I’m doing this,” he muttered as he moved his thumb in a slow circle. She was moments away from climax. Moments—
Light streamed into the car. Gray took a second to look Mollie over. Clothes in place. All important body parts covered. Then with a sigh he snatched the keys from the floorboard, turned the ignition on far enough to activate the power switches, then rolled down his window. “Officer,” he said, wincing as the light hit his eyes.
“Aren’t you a little old for this, sir?”
“Dougie?” Mollie’s voice held surprise and laughter. She crouched low. “Is that you?”
The officer shifted the light. “Mollie? Damn it, what are you doing up here?”
“Necking with my husband. He never got to as a teenager. I felt his education needed completing.”
Gray wanted to sink under the steering column. Unlike Mollie, he didn’t find the situation amusing.
“You want me to send out a call to leave you alone?” the big, uniformed man asked.
“No, we do not,” Gray said, sending a look Mollie’s direction.
“I think we’re going home,” she said meekly. “Good to see you, Dougie.”
“You, too, Mollie. Nice to meet you, sir.”
He whistled as he walked away. Gray was stuck because the police car blocked his path. The second it pulled away, Gray was on the road.
“Gray—”
“Not a word.”
“But—”
“I mean it.”
Silence surrounded them all the way to the hotel and up the elevator. She matched him stride for stride as they walked down the short hallway to their suite. He rammed the keycard in the door, then let her go ahead of him. When the door shut behind them, he grabbed her hand and walked into the bedroom.
And then he kissed her, with gratitude for the adventure she’d brought to his life, with anticipation of everything she would bring to his future.
“You’re not mad at me?” she asked as he stripped off her dress, leaving her beautifully naked. Temptingly naked.
He yanked off his own clothes, then he moved her to the bed, following her down. A heartbeat later he was inside her. “I should be,” he murmured, angling down to suck a hard nipple into his mouth. “I damn well should be.”
“But?”
He moved inside her. “You were right It was dangerous.” He pulled back. “Exciting. I don’t know how far I would’ve gone if the cop hadn’t come along.” She moaned, arched, dug her fingers into his buttocks. He plunged, retreated, plunged again. “Is this what you want?”
She made sounds of acquiescence.
“Then take it all, Mollie. Take it all.” He could feel her doing exactly that, surrounding him, holding him deep inside, then convulsing around him, her whole body reacting, climbing, arching, soaring. When she slowed the rhythm he urged her to try again. “Don’t relax. Don’t let yourself come all the way down. Let yourself fly. I want you to.”
He heard her say his name, heard her say she loved him, triggering an explosion inside him, not physical release, but emotional. Life. Hope. Happiness. It filled him, overflowed from him, imprisoned him. He pulled her leg higher along his hip so that he could get closer. Impossibly closer.
“Are you with me?” he asked.
Mollie managed to tell him yes. He wasn’t hurting her—he could never hurt her—but he dominated. Controlled. Pleased. “Why are you doing this?” she asked, as she responded again, shocked by how much she loved this side of him, knowing somehow she’d caused it—which filled her with power and satisfaction.
“Because I need you.” He kissed her violently. “I need you.”
Her world blasted apart with his words. It was more than a beginning. It was a huge, huge step for him. Love poured out of her as he groaned the words again, at the same moment following her into the explosion of light and sound that got brighter and louder every time they made love. He grabbed her to him, his body going stiff and still, his chest vibrating with sound, then he collapsed on her, holding her as if she would disappear, when nothing could be further from the truth.
Mollie came slowly aware of his weight against her, of his face burrowed against her neck. Floating on her memories, she brushed his hair with her hands, again and again, until he relaxed, rolling to his side and pulling her along. Their legs entwined. She leaned back just far enough to see his face. “We’re going to have a baby,” she said into the peacefulness.
Gray felt his heart stop.
What? What had she said?
“We’re having a baby?”
What? What had she said?
“We’re having a baby?”
She nodded. “I’ve known for six hours. It was the hardest secret I’ve ever kept. I had intended to tell you at the lake. I figured that would make everything really memorable.”
“This whole evening is written in indelible ink in my mind.” He could see expectation in her eyes. How could he tell her how he felt when he couldn’t put it into words himself? Every protective mstinct doubled. Nothing and no one would hurt her or their child. He brushed her hair from her face and kissed her gently. “I thought you were going on the Pill.”
“I was supposed to start them when my period came. It never came, so I went back to the doctor today. We pretty much figured out when I conceived.”
“When? We were careful after the first couple of days.”
“Remember the second time you came home from California. The last time, when everything was settled and the announcement made?”
He smiled at the memory. “Oh.”
“Which means I’m about four weeks along. Are you okay with this? I know it’s sooner than you wanted.”
“I didn’t do much to prevent it, did I? I must have wanted it as much as you. How do you feel?”
“Happy. Fine. My breasts are a little tender.”
God. He’d been rough with her. Made her climax twice. Would that hurt the baby?
“Are you happy?” she asked.
“Yes.” He stroked her back, his hands shaking a little. He had to call the doctor, swallow his embarrassment and ask if he could have hurt the baby. “I’ll take good care of you, Mollie. I swear.”
“Well, of course you will. We’ll take good care of each other.” She pressed a kiss to his chest. “Now, let’s call your parents.”
He knew he didn’t stand a chance of talking her out of it, so he dragged the phone onto the bed and dialed. After he shared the good news, he passed the phone to Mollie, then rubbed her back as she talked and smiled and laughed.
“She sounded emotional,” Mollie said after she hung up. She curled like a kitten against him, enjoying the massage he hadn’t stopped giving her.
“Do you think so?”
“I know so. There was a little catch in her voice. And she was very concerned that I take good care of myself.”
“Is that when you told her that I would take very good care of you, too?”
“Mmm-hmm.”
“Just when I think she won’t surprise me.”
“I told you there was hope.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I remember, Sunshine.”
“Grandchildren are second chances.”
Gray considered that. Would his mother try to make up for all that had gone wrong before?
“I’m so happy,” Mollie whispered, then her body relaxed against him completely.
A terrible sense of dread came over him, unnamed but real. Within touching distance. Happiness never lasted long.
He pulled up the blankets and wrapped his precious wife close to him, a barrier against whatever threat hovered. His fear didn’t fade. His heart thundered with it. Then he lay awake all night, keeping it at bay. Keeping her safe.
Fourteen
M
ollie picked up a black teddy in the Sheer Pleasure lingerie shop and examined it critically. Gray had not made love to her in a week, ever since he’d found out she was pregnant She wasn’t putting up with it for one more night. In her van was a bouquet of carnations—his favorites—and a lamb’s wool duster she intended to sweep along his entire body. The image made her smile. He’d thought she was a hard woman to resist before. Wait until he walked into the scene she was setting.
ollie picked up a black teddy in the Sheer Pleasure lingerie shop and examined it critically. Gray had not made love to her in a week, ever since he’d found out she was pregnant She wasn’t putting up with it for one more night. In her van was a bouquet of carnations—his favorites—and a lamb’s wool duster she intended to sweep along his entire body. The image made her smile. He’d thought she was a hard woman to resist before. Wait until he walked into the scene she was setting.
She returned the black teddy to the rack and selected a rich, royal blue one, a little lacier than the black, definitely a change of pace from the unimaginative stuff she’d never gotten around to replacing. He would be pleased that she would finally use her credit card, too. He’d been after her about that. “Splurge a little,” he told her repeatedly. Well, she just might invest in a few more sexy garments while she was in the mood.
“Mollie?”
Mollie stifled a groan. The very first time she tries to do something sexy, she gets caught. And by Marie Fortune, Stuart’s wife.
The sixtyish woman offered the slightest of smiles. “I thought that was you,” Marie said. “Still on your honeymoon, I see.”
“Hi. Just taking your advice.”
“Mine? What would that be?”
“At Kelly’s baby shower, you gave her lingerie, remember?” Mollie asked. She was so uncomfortable around Marie, knowing what she knew about Stuart. And Gray. And Knight Star Systems.
“I remember.”
“You also said something about us young girls today, how we don’t know how to keep a husband interested.”
Marie did smile then. “I recall that now. Someone asked if that was how I kept Stuart from straying.”
“You said you’d murder him if he tried.”
“And he’s still quite alive.” Mane fingered the blue teddy. “This should go a long way toward keeping your new husband interested.”
“I keep wondering if I should go with black. Or red.”
“Try this little test, why don’t you. Right before you go to sleep tonight, ask him what color the teddy was.” She tucked her purse close to her side. “You look very happy, Mollie.”
“Oh, I am. I love my husband, and we’re going to have a baby.”
“Are you? How exciting for you. Well, better take advantage of that little bit of lace while you can.” She studied Mollie a few seconds. “It was nice seeing you.”
“Thanks. You, too.” Mollie shivered. That woman made her so nervous.
Armed with her tools of seduction, she headed for the hotel suite a half hour later. She was tired of him treating her like glass. His fears were just that, and she intended to annihilate them tonight.
Gray curved his hand over the telephone after he hung up, wondering whether he should be glad he’d returned from his meeting early. Stuart Fortune had just called from the hotel lobby. He wanted to meet with Gray. Now.
He glanced at the clock. Mollie wasn’t due home for at least two hours. Time enough to have a face-off with Stuart and deal with the aftermath.
The knock was strong, sharp. Authoritative. Gray took easy strides across the living room, around the privacy wall, then opened the front door. Like the rest of the family, Stuart Fortune wore power well. He was dressed in a custom-tailored, immaculate suit that emphasized the tall, broad-shouldered frame he’d passed on genetically to his sons, Jack and Garrett. But there was a certain aura all his own, too. One of a man comfortable with who and what he was.
“Come in,” Gray said, not offering his hand, not expecting Stuart to offer his. He led the way into the living room.
“You’re sure your wife won’t interrupt us?” Stuart asked, sitting in a wing chair.
“She’ll be at the shop until six. If she’s going to be early, she’ll call.” Gray remained standing.
“We’ve never had a conversation, but I’ve had the occasion to observe her recently. She’s a nice young woman. Full of life.”
“Her mother did a good job raising her,” Gray said, appalled at Stuart’s nerve, at the utter disconnection from Mollie as his own flesh and blood. “Shall we get down to business?”
“I would appreciate it if you would sit down, Mr. McGuire. If not, I’ll stand. I don’t believe this needs to be confrontational.”
Gray sat, tasting victory.
“A few months back I was made aware that you’d been buying stock in Knight Star Systems,” Stuart said “And now you’ve amassed the largest number of shares owned by an individual other than myself.”
“Yes.”
“I bought Knight Star twenty-five years ago. Since then it’s shown a steady rise in orders and profits.”
“You maneuvered a takeover of Knight Star twenty-five years ago, Mr. Fortune, not a buyout.”
Stuart shifted slightly. “Of course. Which doesn’t negate the success of the business. Until recently.”
Gray waited.
“As the second-largest shareholder, you might be interested n knowing that the business has taken a few hits lately.”
“What kinds of hits?”
“Vendors suddenly can’t manufacture the components we need to produce the security systems. Repair parts aren’t available when a piece of equipment breaks down in our factory. Orders are canceled for no good reason. Projects are underbid )y large percentages. Profits are in decline.”
“What do you intend to do about it?”
“I should be asking you that question—as the source of the problem.”
Gray smiled slightly. “Am I?”
Stuart leaned forward. “One of the people you contacted happens to be an old friend of mine. He told me you offered him a better deal than I was giving him if he’d sell his chips exclusively to McGuire Enterprises. When I put some of my other vendors on the spot, they finally admitted similar circumstances.”
“Nothing illegal in that.”
“No. It’s business. However, it’s taking profits out of your pocket, since you stand to lose almost as much as I. What’s really baffling is that you resigned at McGuire Enterprises. So, increasing their profits at the expense of mine—and yours—confuses me. I can only deduce, then, that this is personal. You’re out to ruin me.” His gaze never wavered. “In the mean-ime you’re going to force people into unemployment. I need to ay off twenty percent of my workforce. They know it. Are waiting for the pink slips to be handed out, even though I’ve always promised them job security. Morale is extremely low. I don’t understand why you’re doing this. I’ve never heard a negative word about you. You’re a tough, sound, fair businessman.” He made a gesture of bewilderment. “Enlighten me, please.”
The moment of truth. Gray had waited so long that he almost couldn’t speak. “My father died when I was eight,” he said at ast. “My mother remarried, and her husband adopted me. My irth name is Knight Grayson Knight.” There. He’d said his name out loud for the first time in twenty-five years. He had thought it would feel good. But it only felt different.
Stuart blinked. Stared. He dragged a hand down his face, the his body sagged. “Charlie Knight was your father.”
“Yes.”
“I guess I’ve been waiting for you to show up someday.”
“Have you?”
Stuart rose from the chair and moved to the fireplace. H leaned his palms against the mantel. “I’ve lived with the con sequences of what I did. If you think I haven’t suffered, you’r wrong.”
“Small payment for the death of a good, kind, happy-go lucky man, who loved that company and its people. Who loves his family.” Gray approached him. “He was my father. You destroyed him. I want you to know what that feels hke.”
“What do you intend to do?”
“I want Knight Star. It’s my inheritance.”
Stuart shook his head. “I won’t give it up. I made a promis after your father died. I would make that company the best o its kind. I would treat the employees fairly. We would be family. They would never be in danger of losing their jobs. didn’t even shelter the business under the Fortune Corporation because I wanted to be sure that no one would make decision except me. I’ve changed. I’m not the power-hungry man I was Ask anyone.”
“Oh, you’re universally admired,” Gray said. “As are all th Fortunes. Reigning royalty.”
“I’d say you’ve created a fine kingdom for yourself, as well.’ He straightened his spine. ”You think you can convince the res of the shareholders that I can’t run this business responsibly and profitably. I’m here to tell you, they won’t give up on me that easily.”
“They gave up on my father. If
you
could convince them there’s no reason why
I
can’t.”
you
could convince them there’s no reason why
I
can’t.”
Stuart was silent a long minute. Then he sighed. “You ob viously don’t know what really happened. No one wanted t give up on your father. He made a mess of the company fi nances, and he borrowed against his shares, putting the company in further danger of bankruptcy. Not to mention that he wa headed for personal bankruptcy, as well.”
Gray’s lifelong beliefs twisted into a tight, painful knot. His mother had refused to speak of what had happened The public details of the takeover were sparse, but specific, with no mention of bankruptcy. He’d read every newspaper article written about it. Maybe what hadn’t been written in the articles was what mattered, not what
was
there.
was
there.
Gunnar Swensen had filled in the blanks for Gray. Although demoted soon after the takeover, Gunnar was head accountant during the transition of power. He knew that Stuart Fortune had paid off Mollie’s mother, had proof to that effect, having cut a check to her out of company funds, but recorded as a loan to Stuart. The paperwork Gray had in his possession proved Karen had been paid a substantial amount of money. And the resentful Gunnar had made it his business to know who the very-married Stuart Fortune was having an affair with. Information was power.
“My father was a good man,” Gray said, hearing the defensiveness in his voice, wishing his emotions weren’t so involved. He reached for the cool neutrality that was usually there for him to grab, but he couldn’t find it. He’d changed. Because of Mollie.
“Charlie Knight was one of the most likable people on earth,” Stuart said. “But he was an incompetent businessman. He took too many risks. Foolish risks. I’m sorry if I’m telling you something you didn’t know, but you need to hear the truth before you destroy something good. Your father gambled. And he lost. We did whitewash a lot of the details for the press, so that you and your mother wouldn’t suffer so much.”
“I don’t believe you.”
You’ve lied about other things.
You’ve lied about other things.
“Some community leaders came to me, afraid the business would fold. It was at a time in my life when I had something to prove—to myself and my family. I’d ridden on the Fortune coattails for too long. I was at that critical midlife point of crisis in almost every man’s life, and I rebelled. Perhaps you can understand that. I don’t know why you resigned from McGuire Enterprises, but perhaps you’re looking for validation of your own abilities, your own worth, as I was.”
The accuracy of Stuart’s words stung, but Gray focused on the most important issue. “You’re saying my father had already destroyed the company?”
“Yes. I’m sorry, but yes. I’ve tried to make amends for the way I handled everything in the beginning. I made mistakes.” He came up to Gray. “You’re young. When you’re my age will you be able to look back without regrets? I know I would regret not fighting you for Knight Star. I’ve learned that much about myself. I won’t give it up.”
Gray raked his fingers through his hair. What was he to believe? His memories—or the man who’d stolen his father’s company, who’d taken his livelihood away, leaving him a failure. “If you’ve changed, if you’ve really become a better man, why haven’t you acknowledged your daughter?”
Silence fell like a velvet theater curtain, bringing a stunning, deafening absence of sound.
“My what?” Stuart asked, his voice a mere rasp.
“Mollie. Your daughter.”
Stuart shook his head. Blinked his eyes. “Your wife?” “The way you took over my father’s company is nothing compared to how you’ve treated her.” He listed Stuart’s crimes. “You ignored her all these years. Lived in that grand home, while she shared a tiny apartment with her mother. Gave your sons everything, while she had so little. You’ve been idolized by the community, placed on a pedestal of admiration. Maintained a sterling silver reputation—except for one little spot of tarnish that can’t be rubbed away but can be forgotten somehow, right? A little nuisance called a daughter, who was growing up in near poverty while you lived in luxury.” The more Gray thought about the injustice, the angrier he got. “You say you made mistakes and made amends. I guess only for things the public could see. Frankly, I don’t know how you sleep at night.”
“Who—” Stuart stopped, swallowed. “Who is her mother?”
“Give me a break.” Gray turned away.
Stuart grabbed his arm, forcing Gray to face him. “Who?”
His arm hurt where Stuart was crushing him. He refused to show it. “You know who. Karen Shaw.”
“I don’t know a Karen Sh—Simmons? Was her name Simmons before?”
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