Secrets of the Tycoon's Bride (13 page)

“I don't have a hundred thousand dollars!”

“Your husband does.”

“Our accounts are separate. I can't touch Adam's money.”

“Then I'm talking to the papers.” He turned as if to walk away.

Lauryn grabbed his arm. She couldn't let him go, couldn't let him destroy Adam's plans. “Tommy, I'm not lying. I don't have that kind of money and I can't get it.”

“Then how much you got?”

If she low-balled him he'd walk. But it galled her to have to reward his evil streak. “Twenty-five thousand.”

“Not good enough.” He tried to shake her free, but she dug her nails deeper into his biceps.

She couldn't believe this was happening. “I can get my hands on forty thousand dollars. That's it. I swear it.”

His eyes narrowed as he appraised her, and he must have seen the truth on her face. “Let's take a walk to your bank. But remember, babe, one peep out of you and I go to the press.”

“Lauryn, you okay?” Adam called out as Lauryn passed his open office door.

“Yes,” she replied quickly—too quickly—and kept walking.

Tell him.

But she couldn't. Not yet. Not until she fixed this disaster. She dumped her purse in her desk drawer and pressed cold fingers to her temples.

“You were gone longer than usual,” Adam said behind her, startling her into whipping around and lowering her hands.

“I…had a…headache and I took a walk on the beach to get rid of it.” She was lying. Sort of. Tommy was a headache and she had taken a walk to get rid of him. But she hated twisting the truth.

“You're pale.” With concern in his eyes Adam crossed the room, cupped her shoulders and examined her face. “Need to go home?”

She needed to wash off the stench of Tommy and to come up with a plan. How could she get copies of the documentation she needed? She didn't even know the name of the attorney her father had used back then. Susan would know, but her mother would be gone six more days. Was there a way to call her onboard the ship? But even if she did get a name most offices, public and private, would be closed for the holidays until Monday.

Lauryn's chest tightened. She could lose Adam over this. And she wasn't ready to let him go yet. Who was she kidding? She'd never be ready to end this marriage.

“Lauryn?”

“Hold me. Just hold me.” She wound her arms around his waist and pressed her cheek to his shoulder over the steady thump of his heart.

Adam shifted. She heard the click of her office door closing, and then his arms banded around her. His lips brushed her hair.

She lifted her head, chasing his mouth until her lips covered his. His hands tightened on her waist, but he didn't push her away. His mouth opened over hers, his tongue seeking and stroking hers. Lauryn kissed him back with every ounce of love she had in her, and for a moment he almost made her forget the disaster her life had become, the disaster she could make of his.

She shaped him with her hands, memorizing the curve of his skull, the sharp angles of his jaw and the breadth of his shoulders. Her palms flattened over the muscles of his back, his waist, his tight behind. Adam sucked in a sharp breath.

She drew back and looked into his eyes, the eyes of the man she loved. The man she would lose if she couldn't make this right. “If we don't stop we're going to violate part of the employee handbook.”

His nostrils flared and his eyes flashed. Streaks of arousal darkened his cheekbones. “Who are they going to complain to? I'm the boss. Where's your purse?”

“My desk drawer. Why?”

“Because I'm too old to carry condoms in my wallet.”

“I don't have any, either.”

“Give me your bag.”

Alarm shot through her. Her copy of the bank withdrawal slip was in her purse. “Why?”

“I put a condom compact in there last week.”

She'd never heard of a condom compact, but it didn't take a genius IQ to figure out what one was. “I'll get it.”

While she retrieved her bag and searched inside, Adam locked the office door.

Her fingers closed around a metal square she hadn't noticed before today, but then she rarely had to go into her purse. Adam paid for everything and her keys, lipstick and cell phone went in an outside pocket. The brushed gold lid had her initials engraved on it.
LLG.
Lauryn Lowes Garrison.

Her heart hitched. How long would she bear that name?

She pushed the button and the top opened to reveal a cellophane packet. “What will they think of next?”

“Come here, wife.” He took her purse and the compact, dropping the first back into the drawer and the second on the desktop. “Remind me to buy a sofa for your office.”

And then he yanked her close and kissed her. Lauryn soaked up his barely leashed desire and reveled in his hurried caresses. His heat, his scent, his taste, she stored them all away in her memory bank. Just in case.

She'd have to tell him about Tommy and when she did Adam would probably hate her. He'd asked her if she had any more skeletons in her closet and she'd said no. He'd never believe she'd honestly thought her past a nonissue. How naive of her.

But she wanted to get through Thanksgiving dinner at his mother's first and maybe even his mother's birthday party, which Adam was hosting at the club. And then she'd tell Adam the whole sordid truth and pray he understood. Pray he wouldn't hold her youthful indiscretions against her. Pray he wouldn't throw her out.

Adam's mouth traced the cords of her neck while his hands found the zip of her dress. She tore at the buttons of his shirt, his belt, his pants. He had them both naked in seconds. His hot flesh burned her palms, her lips, her tongue. She couldn't get enough of him. She dropped to her knees and took him into her mouth.

“Lauryn,” he groaned and speared his fingers her hair. Far too soon he tugged her to her feet and kissed her hard. “I love what you do to me, but right now I need to be inside you.”

He backed her toward her wooden two-drawer lateral file cabinet, lifted her onto the cool surface and stepped between her legs. With movements as frantic as hers, his hands shaped her breasts, tweaked her nipples, found her center.

Conscious of employees on the other side of the door, Lauryn shoved a knuckle into her mouth to stifle a cry. She curled the fingers of her other hand around him and stroked his erection. Adam's muffled groan vibrated against her breast, increasing the heavy desire boiling like lava in her center.

He straightened, hooked his hands beneath her knees and pulled her toward him. As soon as she'd rolled on the condom she guided him home and gasped as he filled her. Again and again, he thrust hard and fast.

His hands on her breast and where their bodies joined rushed her toward completion.
Too soon. Too soon. Wait.
She wanted to make it last, to savor the rising heat and the building tension, but climax broke over her like a bursting levy, and she couldn't hold back the waves of ecstasy roaring through her.

His mouth swallowed her cries, and then he fed them back to her as his own orgasm shuddered through him. His head fell to her shoulder. The sound of their labored breathing filled the room and his back heaved beneath her hands.

Her eyes stung. She pulled him closer until not even a piece of paper could slip between their sweat-dampened torsos.

A sense of loss welled within her. She couldn't give this up. Couldn't lose him.

And she'd be damned if she'd let Tommy Saunders ruin this for her without a fight.

“I
want more money.”

Tommy.

Lauryn nearly dropped the bedroom phone. She turned and saw Adam just yards away in the bathroom shaving in preparation for Thanksgiving dinner with his family.

“I don't have more,” she whispered.

“Don't mess with me, Lauryn. I'm looking at your digs right now. If you don't believe me look out the back window. The place is worth millions.”

She walked to the window, looked out at the canal and spotted a small fishing boat with Tommy at the helm. A wave of dizziness reminded her to inhale. “I can't get more.”

“Hock something.”

“No.”

“Then give me that rock on your finger. Tell moneybags you lost it. He'll buy you another one. Hell, the ring's probably insured. He won't even miss the dough.”

She glanced at her engagement and wedding rings and curled her fingers into a fist. She may have come into the rings in an unorthodox manner, but she wasn't giving them up. She checked the bathroom and found Adam scraping away the last of the white foam. “I can't do that.”

“Then this canary is gonna sing.”

“Don't. Please. Give me a few days. A week.” By next Tuesday her mother would be home and Lauryn could fly to California and get the paperwork she needed. She wasn't about to give Tommy more money. Because she realized now he'd just keep coming back.

“You say something, sweetheart?” Adam said from the other side of the bedroom.

“Don't call again,” she said into the phone and hung up. “It was someone wanting a donation.”

Another twisted version of the truth.

There's a price for every lie you tell. Before you open your mouth, be sure you're prepared to pay it.

She faced Adam. He strolled toward her with his chest bare above his trousers, his face smooth and his eyes searching hers. She couldn't believe how much she loved him. She'd never felt anything even remotely close to this for Tommy.

“Ready for another meal with the Garrisons?”

She didn't think she could eat again until the Tommy issue was resolved. “Can't wait.”

“Liar.”

The blood drained from Lauryn' head with dizzying swiftness. He had no idea how right he was.

“You've survived two Sunday dinners. You can handle today.” Adam pulled her into his arms and nuzzled a kiss below her ear. “Next year we'll have everybody over here.”

She prayed there would be a next year, but at the rate she was going that seemed unlikely.

The ring of his cell phone jarred Adam out of a deep sleep Friday morning.

He forced open a leaded eyelid and looked at the clock. Eight. He'd only been home two hours and the sheets had barely had time to cool after he'd made love to Lauryn. She stirred beside him. He kissed her temple. “Go back to sleep. I got it.”

The phone bleated again. Adam slid out of bed and stumbled to the dresser. He snatched up the cell phone and started toward the study so as not to disturb Lauryn as he punched the Receive button. His eyes were too bleary to read the caller ID. “Adam Garrison.”

“Have you seen the paper?”

Parker.

“No. I was asleep. We had a big bash at Estate last night. You know I keep vampire hours.”

“Your wife made the front page.”

Adam's steps stalled in the hall. He turned back to stare at the curvy mound in the bed. “Lauryn? Why?”

“Her husband is claiming she's a bigamist.”

“I did no such—”

“Not you. Her
first
husband.”

A DEA raid would have been less shocking. “Her first husband? Lauryn's never been married.”

The woman in question bolted upright with her eyes wide and something in their depths that soured Adam's stomach.

“That's not what this guy says,” Parker continued. “What's more, he's claiming she's a tramp who stayed just this side of the law. You're in deep shit, little brother. I've already put a call in to Brandon for you. You'd better ask your wife who the hell Tommy Saunders is and if she's still married to him.”

The dial tone sounded.

Adam lowered the phone and stared at Lauryn. Her face was as pale as the white sheets. “Who is Tommy Saunders?”

She closed her eyes and swallowed. A pained expression crossed her features. “My ex-husband.”

“You said you'd never been married.”

“I haven't. Technically.” She clutched the sheet to her collarbones, reminding Adam of his own nakedness.

The burn of betrayal lit his skin. He yanked on his robe. “Explain
technically.
”

“I ran away with Tommy soon after I turned eighteen. To Tijuana. For spring break. He asked me to marry him. I said no, but I woke up married. He'd drugged me. I don't even remember the ceremony. And then he told me he wanted to make us rich by using me as his drug mule to ferry cocaine out of Mexico. I freaked and ran and called my father. Daddy came and got me, and he handled the annulment.” The words poured from her in a rush, but the meaning was clear.

“You were married.”

“No. An annulment means the marriage is erased. Like it never happened.”

“But it did happen.”

“Yes, but—”

“You lied.
Again.
” Something inside him curled up and died.

“Adam, please—”

“How many other lies are there, Lauryn? How many more ways do you plan to screw me?”

“I didn't think my past mattered.”

“According to Parker, it's front-page news. I told you I needed a conservative wife.”

“And that's what you got. I'm not the selfish girl I was back then.”

“No. Now you're the woman that girl turned into. One who set up, used and lied to her husband. If we're even legally married.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Are we?”

She bit her lip. “I think so.”

Damnation. “What the hell does that mean?”

“Tommy claims our annulment never went through. I think he's lying. I paid him to be quiet—”

“You paid him? Paid him how much?”

She curled her knees into her chest. “He asked for money and threatened to go to the press if I didn't pay him. I gave him forty thousand dollars to keep quiet until I could find the paperwork and prove he was lying. But then he wanted more and I couldn't give it to him.”

“That's who called yesterday?”

Her hesitation nearly crippled him. “Yes.”

Another lie.

She climbed from the bed. The sight of her naked body hit him low and hard before she dragged on the robe she'd left draped across the end of the bed two hours ago. How could he still want her when he knew she was a liar?

“My father was detail-oriented in the extreme and a control freak. I know he wouldn't be sloppy like Tommy claims. If the annulment was denied Daddy would have pushed for a divorce. But I never had a copy of the annulment, so I can't prove Tommy's lying. Not yet. My father's papers are locked in a safety-deposit box in Sacramento, and my mother is away on a cruise. I'll fly to Sacramento and as soon as she gets home and I'll get a copy of all the documentation.”

She'd ripped his guts out. Personally. Professionally.

“Adam. Please. Let me explain.”

“I think you've said more than enough.”

“I love you,” she whispered.

Another lie. But this one hurt worse than all the rest combined.

Because he loved her.

He'd fallen in love with his beautiful, lying wife.

And right now he couldn't stand the sight of her. Adam stormed into the closet, yanked down his suitcase and started throwing clothes into it.

“What are you doing?” she whispered.

“Getting away from you. I'm moving back to the condo.”

“I'll make it right. I'll fix it. Please just give me a chance. All I need is time.”

“You've run out of chances with me, Lauryn. Save it for the next sucker.”

She silently watched him dress. A lone tear streaked down her cheek before she dashed it aside.

He returned to the bedroom and thrust a pen and pad of paper at her. “Write down everything you know about your boyfriend. His name. A physical description. Where he's staying. I'm having him arrested for extortion.”

She hesitated. And that brief moment combined with the regret and worry in her eyes shattered what was left of his battered heart. She must still have feelings for the jerk.

And then something bitter and ugly coiled inside him.

How blind can you be, Garrison?

“Did you call your lover the minute I proposed and cook up this scheme to get more cash?”

“No. And Tommy isn't my lover. He hasn't been for nine years.”

“Forgive me for having a little trouble believing you.” He slammed the suitcase closed. “You and the bastard deserve each other.”

“Adam, you're wrong.”

“Forget your big plans. You won't get another dime out of me,
sweetheart.
”

She flinched at his acidic endearment.

He grabbed his suitcase and his keys and headed for the front door. When he reached the bottom of the stairs he couldn't help but look back.

Lauryn stood on the landing, both hands clutching her robe. “Adam, I'm sorry. I never meant for you to get hurt.”

“Sorry? You're
sorry?
Lauryn, you have destroyed everything,
everything
that matters to me. Sorry doesn't cut it.”

He turned on his heel, went out the front door and slammed it behind him.

Paparazzi milled on the other side of the wrought iron gate, circling like vultures around the corpse of his marriage.

“I don't want any more surprises,” Adam said to Brandon. “I want to know every single detail Lauryn neglected to mention.”

“Then you need a good private investigator. Ace Martin is the guy for the job. He's discreet and fast.” Brandon pulled a business card from his wallet.

Adam knocked back his bourbon. “Hell, for all I know Lauryn could be the Jefferies brothers' spy.”

Brandon's head jerked up and his eyes sharpened. “Is that likely?”

As the Garrison, Inc. lawyer Brandon knew about the troubles the company had been having with info being leaked. “I don't know. Maybe. She keeps to herself. She has access to a lot of confidential financial information, but more from Estate than Garrison, Inc. I'll ask your P.I. friend to look into it.”

“Do you think she's involved?”

“I hope not.” Because if she was Garrison, Inc. would have to prosecute, and while he was furious, and yes, hurt, dammit, he didn't want to send her to jail.

Brandon extended the business card to Adam.

Adam rose from the sofa and crossed the library to take it, but at the last second Brandon snatched it out of reach. “You fell for her.”

Adam recoiled. “Wrong.”

“You did. You fell for Lauryn Lowes. Even Cassie saw and commented on the sparks between you.”

“That was lust.” He'd never lied to Brandon before, but Adam refused to admit Lauryn had completely duped him. Hooked him. Duped him. And given him the best sex of his life.

“You've been lied to by women before, and it's never bothered you this much.”

Adam crossed to the drinks tray and helped himself. He was as at home in Brandon's place as Brandon was in his. In fact, he was more comfortable at Brandon's than at his brothers'.

“I'm not bothered. I'm pissed off. Everything I've been working toward has been destroyed. Bigamy, for godsakes.”

“She would be the one guilty of a crime
if
her ex is telling the truth. Not you.”

“I hope to hell he's not. And you're wrong. I haven't been screwed over like this before.”

“That's your third drink. One of the things I respect about you, Adam, is that you're around liquor all the time, but you don't abuse it. Are you planning to change that tonight?”

Adam splashed a finger of Booker's into his glass. “I'll take a cab home. You won't be sued for negligence for letting me drink and drive.”

“That's not what worries me. And you have been screwed over. What about that redhead who was secretly having an affair with Parker and you at the same time? Or the brunette who faked a pregnancy to try to get a wedding ring out of you. Or—”