Yours Completely: A Cinderella Love Story (Billionaires and Brides #1) (11 page)

“Allison will help you,” Delores offered. She smiled, but it was carnivorous. “You can use my office. It's really quite important.”

Jace's hesitation was his downfall. Before he could protest, Delores hooked his arm in hers and propelled him inside the small office. The thin older woman was certainly stronger than she looked. Allison was right beside her and before he had a chance to say a word, the door was closed, Delores gone, and the two of them were alone.

Jace glanced around the room. The chairs meant for visitors were pushed up against the wall, leaving what little space there was in the office clear. Jace clearly remembered multiple picture frames sitting on the large wooden desk, but those were cleared off and the desk bare. A series of vanilla scented candles burned on the windowsill and the soft, deep tones of Barry White drifted through the office.

His eyebrow raised as Allison bent over the desk, pretending to get a pen but clearly sticking out her very shapely ass at him. The attempts to seduce him had been numerous, but he'd never had one quite this blatant. He straightened his jacket, remembering that he was wearing a tux rather than his usual suits.

They were trying to seduce him at his sister's wedding.

“Mr. Connor, could you help me with this pen? I think the cap is stuck.” Allison turned around and batted her eyelashes, biting her lip as she handed him a heavy fountain pen.

The cap was most definitely not stuck, and it was easy to undo and hand back.

“Thank you so much,” she purred, putting the pen to her mouth and smiling. Jace couldn't help but look at her as she slowly moved the pen in and out from between her lips. It was slow and sensual and she pushed out her chest as she did it, making the gesture even clearer. She had a great body, but as she licked her lips, she couldn't have been more obvious if she had turned on a red neon sign with pricing and hours.

It could have been sexy had it not been so absurd. Jace sighed. He knew a lot of men that would completely take advantage of that offer. Hell, two weeks ago he would have taken the offer without a second thought. But that was before he met Ella. That was before Ella had stole his heart and his brain and made it impossible to think of anyone else.

“Allison,” Jace said, gently putting his hand on her wrist to stop the pen from bobbing up and down. “I'm not interested.”

“What?” The pen stopped and her expression fell.

“It's not you. You are very attractive and seem intelligent and definitely motivated,” he explained, letting her hand go. “It's that there's someone else and I can't get her out of my head.”

“Sure.” The hurt was evident as she turned away.

“Any other time and you'd be on that couch screaming my name right now, but...” Jace scrubbed his hand through his hair, feeling lost around a woman for the first time in years.

“But she's got your heart,” Allison finished, turning around slowly. Her green eyes appraised him, searching for the truth of his words. While they were the same shade as her mother's, they had a richness that Delores's did not. “You're in love with someone.”

“I think I might be,” he admitted slowly. He wasn't ready to actually say it out loud, though. He'd only talked to Ella a handful of times and they hadn't even kissed, but yet, somehow, he knew. Love at first sight did exist.

“Well, I'm glad it's not just me, then.” Allison let out a sigh of relief, her hurt features transforming into a companionable smile. Her shoulders relaxed and her body language shifted into something less sexual. “Don't get me wrong, you seem like a lot of fun, but...” She shrugged.

“Thanks.” Jace frowned, suddenly feeling a little less virile. “Wait, seducing me wasn't your idea?”

“I like my men more lumberjack and less suit.” Allison hopped up on the desk and sat facing him. Now that she wasn't actively trying to seduce him, her manner was relaxed and calm. He found he was liking her a lot more this way.

“You mother put you up to this.” Jace shook his head and he put the pieces together. “Your mother is having you be the miner in this gold-digging operation.”

“It's not really her fault,” Allison replied quickly. “This is how she got her husbands, or should I say ex-husbands, and all her money. She doesn't know any other way and she expects me to follow in her footsteps.”

Jace gave her a skeptical look. “That's no excuse.”

“That's Mom. I gave up trying to defy her a long time ago.” Allison shrugged, defeat hanging heavy on her shoulders. She put the pen back on the desk, the metal clicking against the wood. “There isn't any paperwork for you to sign. It was obviously all a ruse to get you alone. But, if you could just stay in here for a few more minutes, she'd at least get off my back and I'd really appreciate it.”

She smiled hopefully. He could only imagine what it would be like having Delores for a mother. Poor Allison, being forced to seduce a man for his money, despite wanting something else. What kind of mother was that woman? He could only imagine what Allison had to go through on a daily basis with her. He could give the girl a few minutes.

“I can do that,” he said, leaning against the far wall of the office. The smile that lit up her face was worth the extra time.

“Thank you. You have no idea how much you're saving me right now. You have no idea how much she's been pushing.” Allison's shoulders relaxed and her smile was genuine and soft. “So, who's the lucky girl? She must be pretty amazing to have captured you so completely.”

Jace chuckled. “I certainly think so,” he agreed.

“If you need any help setting up a romantic date, let me know. The inn is at your disposal.” Allison buttoned up the loose two buttons of her shirt. “I'd love to be able to return this favor you're doing for me right now.”

The idea of a romantic date, perhaps out in the small gazebo, with no interference from Delores was too good to pass up. “You think you could get Ella the day off tomorrow?”

Allison's hands stilled. “Ella? You mean the
maid,
Ella?”

“Yes.” Jace did not appreciate the way Allison twisted the words “maid” and “Ella” into something that sounded low. His shoulders tightened, wanting to protect Ella from words she'd never even hear.

Allison dissolved into laughter. Her shoulders shook with mirth and she nearly fell off the desk. Jace stared at her until she caught her breath, completely at a loss as to what was so funny.

“Oh, Mother's going to be so pissed,” she gasped, holding her sides and wiping tears from her eyes. She took a deep breath, noting Jace's confused and concerned expression. “I'm sorry. It's just that Mother
hates
Ella. More than hates. Hates isn't even close to the loathing Mother feels.”

“She hates Ella? Why?” Jace asked.

“Something to do with Ella's father. I've never really understood it,” Allison shrugged, some of the laughter fading from her eyes. “She blames Ella for everything wrong with her life. Ella doesn't deserve any of it.”

That certainly explained why Delores had told him Ella was engaged. He had to wonder what Delores wasn't capable of.

“So I should cancel my plans to ask Delores for her permission to date Ella, then?” Jace asked with a wink.

“Oh, that would be priceless. Mother would flip!” Allison dissolved into another fit of giggles. “It's basically her worst nightmare and she would deserve it. Especially after all this.”

Jace couldn't blame her for the slight bitterness in her voice. She had every right to be angry with her mother for what Delores had demanded she do. He decided to ignore the small slight to his ego.

Allison checked her watch and jumped off the desk. The heel of her shoe landed crooked and she stumbled instead of landing. Jace reached out for her, pulling her to him and keeping her from falling. Her perfume was too sweet for his taste, but it wasn't awful.

“You okay?” he asked, making sure she had her feet firmly on the ground before letting her go.

“Yeah.” Allison blushed a deep crimson, but pushed him away. She was done trying to seduce him. “Thank you.”

“Thanks.” He turned for the door, pausing to look back. “Do you want me to storm out angrily or just walk out looking incredibly pleased?”

“You'd do that?” Allison asked, her face lighting up.

“Sure,” Jace said with a smile. “It'll get your mother off your back and mine. If she thinks you've succeeded, then we're both off the hook.”

“Then looking pleased would be great,” Allison replied. A little more tension melted out of her shoulders and the worry in her eyes lessened. “I can't thank you enough.”

She pulled out a tube of lipstick from her pocket and held it up. She waited to put it on, making sure he nodded before she did it. The kiss on his cheek was chaste.

“We good?” Jace asked, loosening his collar and running his hands through his hair.

“We're great.” Allison nodded, tangling her own hair with her fingers and skewing her clothing to make it look freshly put on. “Good luck with Ella. I'll make sure she has the day off tomorrow.”

A
t least the kitchen fire was out. It had only been a small grease fire and nothing serious.

Ella pulled her hair back into a ponytail and hurried down the hallway. She still wanted to check the chairs one last time and needed to make sure the florists had the centerpieces set in the reception area. Then she was due up in the Bridal Suite to check on Madelyn and make sure everything was going well upstairs before the ceremony.

“Excuse me, miss...”

Ella turned to see a man in a dark suit with a thin tie. She recognized him from the other day when the billionaire family arrived. She was in a hurry, but she would always make time for customer service.

“How can I help you, Mr....?”

He ignored her attempt at a name. “Do you know where I could find Delores Phillips? She is the owner of this inn, correct?”

“If she's not in her office, I'm not sure where she is. If you give me a message, I'd be happy to deliver it for you,” Ella offered.

“Thank you. I've been unable to get in contact with her,” the man explained. “If you could please give her my card and inform her that it is of the utmost importance that I meet with her, I would appreciate it.”

Ella carefully took the card from the man's hand. The IRS logo was stamped large and black in the upper corner.

“I will do so. Is she in some kind of trouble?” Ella asked, uncertainty twisting in her stomach. For the millionth time, Ella wished Delores would let her handle the finances. Ella handled everything else, but she knew Delores would only hand over control of the inn's money over her dead body. And probably not even then.

“I just need to speak with her as soon as possible,” the man said with a clipped tone. “Please let your boss know.”

“I will. Anything else?”

“My air conditioning isn't working. Room 332.”

“I will have maintenance look at it right away,” Ella promised. “And I'll get Delores your card.”

The man nodded and continued down the hallway with large, assured steps.

Delores's office was on her way to the reception hall. Ella considered taking the long way around to avoid running into her stepmother, but it would take extra time and she should give the IRS man's card to her. Delores was the last person Ella wanted to see today. Today was stressful enough without Delores looming over her, but Ella was in a hurry, so she was going to risk running past the office. If she was there, she could give the card. Or just wait until later.

The door was cracked open. Delores needed to get that fixed. The damn thing was always opening up when it was supposed to be closed. Ella glanced inside, hoping to see Delores hard at work. Instead she saw something entirely else.

Jace. With Allison's lips planted firmly on his cheek.

Ella gasped, ducking quickly around the corner. Her cheeks heated and her clothes suddenly felt too tight. She must not have seen what was going on properly. No, not Jace. Not on his wedding day. He wouldn't cheat on Madelyn with Allison. Not today. Not him.

The level of hurt coursing through her veins surprised her. It wasn't just that he wasn't Ella's. It was that he apparently wasn't Madelyn's either. He wasn't who she thought he was at all. He was a man who would cheat on his wedding day.

The office door squeaked as it opened completely. Jace strode out, re-tucking his shirt into his pants and smiling. A huge red lipstick kiss stood out like a brand on his cheek. Ella stared after him as he walked away, nearly missing that Allison followed him out. Her clothes were in an even greater disarray than Jace's.

Ella's heart sunk through the floor. There was no way that it wasn't exactly what it looked like. Jace had cheated on Madelyn with Allison.

A small chuckle caught her attention. Ella looked up to see Delores' smirking at her, green eyes gleaming. The smug smile that spread across the older woman's face made Ella's skin crawl. Ella looked away, her stomach feeling like it might come up at any moment and luckily when she looked back up, the older woman was gone. Most likely off following her daughter and making sure Allison had pleased the groom.

Ella's nostril's flared. Of course Delores had something to do with this. It was Delores that had seduced and ensnared Jace, not Allison. Allison was just the puppet that Delores used to get her way. The old crone was looking for a way to snag a billionaire, and was willing to do so at any cost.

Ella checked her watch. She didn't have time to check the chairs or the florists now. She was due up at the bridal suite to check on the bride.

The bride.

A cold sweat broke out over Ella's forehead. What the hell was she going to tell Madelyn? Ella's steps were slow as she made her way, feeling more like she was heading to a funeral than to greet a bride.

She had just seen the groom cheating. How was she supposed to tell Madelyn? Should she even say anything? Telling her would ruin the entire day and it wouldn't be that difficult to just stay quiet and let Madelyn have her fairy tale wedding. She would find out the truth about her husband soon enough. Maybe it was just a one-time, last-minute, cold-feet kind of thing...