Alpha Billionaire’s Bride, Part Three (BWWM Romance Serial) (7 page)

She laughed. “Silly me.”

“Exactly.”

She glanced around the spectacular, sparkling room and let
the scents of the candles and the music fill her senses. “What you’ve done here
makes a convincing argument in your favor. This is incredible.”

“I’m glad you like it. Now, are we through with our
confessions? Do you have anything else to tell me? Have you been fibbing about
liking Mrs. Best’s cooking or something equally as shocking?”

“Nope. My conscience is clear.”

“Wonderful. Mine, too.” He stood up, bent down slightly and
held out his hand. “Then may I, finally, have this dance?”

“I thought you’d never ask.”

And they swept out onto the dance floor like the fairy tale
prince he was, and the fairy tale princess she’d never believed she could be.

IAN DIDN’T WANT THE MUSIC to stop. Jada fit in his arms so
perfectly, he never wanted to let her go. He guided her around the dance floor,
entranced with her lightness, the intuitive way she followed his lead, her
grace and style.

Her perfume jumbled his senses and her soft hair tickled his
cheek. She’d worn her hair down again, curly and half-wild, and he wanted to
think she’d done it for him, because he liked it that way. Surely, she had done
it for him.

Dance after dance, they lost themselves in a dreamy
other-world, where they were the stars in a scene from a classic love story
which would culminate in his bedroom, on his big bed that had been empty of the
beautiful Jada Howarth for far too long.

Soon, the final act would begin and he’d twirl her out the
door, down the hall, and carry her up the stairs. Soon. One more dance. Just
one more.

A buzzing sound broke into the dream. Was it coming from the
string quartet on the dais? No, it was closer than that. Buzz. Buzz. Like a
phone. He’d turned his phone off. Jada shifted in his arms, pulled backward and
they stopped in the middle of the dance floor.

“Sorry,” she said, her delicate brows furrowing. “I forgot
to turn off my phone.”

She slipped her hand into a small pocket hidden on the side
of her full skirt. Ian hadn’t even realized the pocket was there. Jada pulled
out her phone, glanced at it, touched the screen then tucked it back in her
pocket.

“Who was it” Ian asked.

“Nobody. It’s fine. Never mind.”

“You had a look on your face when you saw it. Who was it?”

“My parents.”

Inside, he asked, “Why me?” Outside, he told Jada, “You
should call them back.”

“No way,” she said. “They’re not interrupting us again.
Whatever they want, it can wait.”

“Probably, but we don’t know that for sure. What if it’s
important?”

“If it’s important, they’ll send a text.”

He enjoyed a moment’s hope. “Okay then.”

“Except,” Jada said with a sheepish expression, “they
usually don’t think about texting. It’s a generational thing, I guess.”

“Call them back so your mind’s at ease. I don’t know about
you, but I could use a break anyway, and a drink. Would you like one?”

She smiled, her sexy lips so plump and kissable he could
hardly restrain himself. “Thanks.”

She followed Ian over to a small bar that had been set up
for the evening in one corner of the room. While he put together some
refreshments that had been pre-prepared by Mrs. Best, Jada sat down nearby and
called her parents. He couldn’t help but overhear her side of the conversation.

She asked if everything was okay and Ian was pleased to hear
her relief, which must mean everything was fine. She was quiet for a long
while, obviously listening. She sighed quietly several times, making Ian grin
and sneak the occasional look at her long-suffering expression.

“Why are you in Springers Glen?” she asked loudly, sounding
surprised. “I told you to stay away because of the press.” There was a pause.
“Since when do you care about decorating family graves for Memorial Day?”
Pause. “I don’t know. Sounds fishy to me.” Pause. “No, Dad, I’m not calling you
liars. Bending the truth-ers. That’s what I’m calling you.” Pause. A big sigh.

Ian handed her a glass of champagne punch, one of Mrs.
Best’s creations. Jada accepted it and closed her eyes as she took a long
drink. Ian sat down beside her and sipped his own.

“I’m fine,” she said, opening her eyes again. “Everything is
fine. You don’t need to be here. I have it on the best authority everything
will be straightened out tomorrow.” Pause. “Ian. Ian is the authority. Who else
would it be?” Pause. An alarmed expression washed over her face. “No. Not going
to happen. Forget it.” A longer pause. Jada shook her head. “I’m telling you
no. There’s no reason for it.”

Ian had a hard time pretending he wasn’t listening in and
wondered what had her so concerned.

Jada’s mouth thinned into a straight line. “I’m a full-grown
woman and I don’t need your interference. Mom, make him back off.” Pause. Pause
again. “I love you, too, but it’s not going to happen.”

Ian couldn’t restrain himself any longer. He touched her arm
and raised his eyebrows in an “is everything okay” gesture.

Jada covered her phone. “My father wants to talk to you.”

“I don’t mind speaking to him.”

“No way. He’s going to pull the overprotective father crap
on you like you’re a teenage boy taking me to the prom. Forget it. He can just
get over his old self.”

She only made Ian more curious about the man who’d sired and
raised someone like Jada. “I really don’t mind.”

“Well, I mind it,” she said.

She uncovered the phone and said, “Dad, I’m fine. That’s the
end of it. Mom, I’m going to hang up now.” Pause. “I’m going to hang up. I am.”
Pause. “You’re driving me crazy.”

Ian stifled a laugh. “Let me talk to him,” he said.

“You don’t have to.” Pause. “No, Dad, I was talking to Ian.
He said he wants to talk to you.” Pause. “Fine. You two can work it out.”

She held the phone out to Ian pinched between two fingers,
like she’d dug it out of a pile of something unsavory. “I won’t be held
responsible for the man, just so you know.”

“Understood,” Ian said, taking the phone. “Hello? Mr.
Howarth? This is Ian Buckley.”

The voice resonated deeply in the speaker. “Nice to meet
you, young man. I’m Jada’s father, Montpelier Howarth. I’d—”

A bright and cheerful woman’s voice broke in. “And I’m her
mother, Kenya. We’re on speaker phone. I think you’re supposed to tell people?
When you’re on speaker phone?”

“I think so,” Ian said. “Thank you. And it’s nice to meet
you both, Mr. and Mrs. Howarth.”

“Oh, call me Kenya,” Jada’s mother said. “And you can call
him Monty. We all do.”

“We all do not call me that,” Jada’s father said. “Mr.
Howarth will do fine ... for now.”

Ian understood what wasn’t said. He’d be Mr. Howarth until
Ian passed muster. Seemed reasonable enough to Ian. “So, Mr. Howarth, you
wished to speak to me about something?”

“Indeed I did. I wanted to make sure you aren’t taking
advantage of my daughter. She’s in a vulnerable place and—”

“Monty!” Kenya broke in. “I can’t believe you said that.
Ian, dear, don’t listen to him. He’s a caveman sometimes.”

“Dammit, Kenya, don’t gainsay me. I have a duty as a father
to protect my daughter, and I’m going to do that duty.”

“She’s a grown woman and can take care of herself,” Kenya
said. “Ignore my husband, Ian. He’s ... hey, what are you doing? Monty, don’t
pick up that phone, you’ll mess—”

There was a click and then a change in the tonal quality,
less hissing on the line and when Jada’s father spoke again, his voice was
clearer. Ian could hear Kenya speaking in the background, but he couldn’t make
out what she was saying.

“We are no longer on speaker phone, Ian,” Mr. Howarth said.
“Now, man-to-man, I hope you realize the position my daughter is in. She’s on
unfamiliar ground, and overwhelmed by it, though she’ll never show it on the
outside. She’s stubborn that way, like her mother.”

“I see,” Ian said.

Jada mouthed silently, “What is he saying?”

Ian held up a hand and gave her a reassuring smile to take
the sting out of his telling her to wait. Jada didn’t look impressed, but she
didn’t argue either.

Jada’s father continued. “And because of all that, it
wouldn’t be right for a man to take advantage of the situation when he’s got
Jada all alone in a fancy house, showing off his wealth, and her being
vulnerable and open to suggestion because of the stress she’s under.”

All alone? The man had no idea how completely
not
alone they were. And Jada open to suggestion? Unlikely.

“Yes, sir,” Ian said. “I assure you that I would never want
to harm Jada in any way. I respect her completely.”

“Harm me?” Jada squeaked. “What is he saying to you? Dad,”
she called out, leaning toward the phone, “What are you telling Ian?”

“Ignore her,” Mr. Howarth said. “The bottom line is this,
Buckley. You’re a powerful, wealthy man, and men like you are used to getting
everything you want. I know I can’t stop you from pursuing my daughter if
that’s what you’re determined to do. However, I think we could reach a
compromise.”

Ian couldn’t have been more curious. “Go on.”

“I’d like your word that you won’t put my daughter in a
compromising position until this affair is settled, until everything is
straightened out and Jada has a clear mind to go about making decisions
properly. What do you say?”

Ian only hesitated for a moment before answering, “Agreed.
You have my word.”

“Good, excellent,” Mr. Howarth said, surprise evident in his
tone. “I expected you to argue.”

“No reason to. You’re absolutely right.”

“Good, good.”

“So if there’s nothing else, I’ll hand you back over to
Jada. She’s asking for the phone.”

“Uh, well ...” for the first time, Jada’s father sounded
less than assured, “... that’s okay. I think we’ve covered everything. Tell her
we’ll talk to her tomorrow. She said you plan on sorting everything out then,
correct?”

“Yes, sir. I have every reason to believe our mystery will
be solved by lunchtime.”

“Good, good. Then goodnight, and thank you for being
reasonable.”

“Yes, sir. It’s been my pleasure. Goodnight to you, too. And
to Kenya.”

The line went dead and Ian ended the call. “Your father said
goodnight and he’d talk to you tomorrow.”

She didn’t look pleased, but she slipped the phone in her
pocket. “So what did he say? He didn’t tell you about his shotgun, did he? He
used to do that to my dates in high school. That’s why I stopped bringing guys
home.”

“No, nothing about a gun.”

“So, then ...”

“So he asked me not to try to seduce you until our fake
marriage fiasco is sorted out.”

“He what?” she half-yelled. “That’s a load of—”

Ian interrupted. “Just a second.” He glanced over at the
four musicians on the dais who were taking a break from playing. “Thank you,”
he said to them. “You played beautifully. That will be all for tonight. Our
chef has some refreshments prepared for you in the kitchen. Lydia’s in the hall
and will show you the way.”

He and Jada waited while the two men and two women made
their way out of the room. Ian followed them to the door and locked it behind
them.

Jada walked over and stopped, hands on hips. “Am I to
understand that you gave my father your word that you wouldn’t sleep with me
tonight?”

“Yes. That’s what I did.”

“I can’t believe it. That’s so wrong I don’t even know where
to begin explaining it. I’m not an underage girl who can’t look out for
herself. And neither one of you are my keeper. What a load of crap.” She threw
her hands in the air. “I’ve got no use for either of you right now.”

Jada was just getting started. Ian saw it all over her. He
couldn’t blame her for not liking what had happened. Hell, he wasn’t all that
thrilled with it either, but what was done was done.

And then there was the old cliché of a woman looking sexy
when she was angry. It certainly was true of Jada. Her dark eyes flashed in the
candlelight, and her chest stuck out, a pleasing result of her indignation.
With her curly hair framing her face, backlit like an out-of-control halo, she
was an avenging angel calling the devil to task. And Ian was the devil. Damn.

She simply didn’t understand how it was with men. It was his
job to explain it.

“Unlock that door. I’m leaving,” she said. “I’ve got to find
Ms. Kitty because come hell or high water, I’m not sleeping alone tonight and I
guess a cat is all I’m gonna get!”

Ian was swamped with regret that he’d agreed to her father’s
demands. He wanted Jada now more than ever. Need settled in and chewed away at
his good intentions. She didn’t understand.

He moved forward, taking her by surprise and pushed her
firmly, but gently up against the wall. He took her wrists and pulled her arms
over her head, effectively pinning her in place, and he pressed his body
against hers, all the while capturing her startled gaze in his determined one.

Her chest heaved, making it difficult to stay on task.

“You’re right,” he said, his voice low and gruff. “We don’t
have the right to make decisions for you. And I damned sure don’t want you
thinking it was easy for me to agree to what he wanted.”

She licked her lips, a quick darting of the tip of her
tongue that sent a lance into his belly. “Seemed pretty easy,” she said,
half-breathless.

He made a slow perusal of her body. He shifted both her
small wrists into one of his hands, and used his other hand to trail fingertips
down the side of her face and neck, and around the side of her rounded breast.
She shivered and her eyes shuttered, anger morphing into desire.

“You don’t believe that,” he said. “You know exactly what
you do to me. And I know what I do to you. I’ve been wanting to rip your
clothes off since I first saw you. And what about you?”

“The same.”

Ian’s heart thumped powerfully. “And I had every intention
of finally getting what I wanted tonight.”

“You can still get it.”

“Nope.” He nuzzled her neck until she shivered and sighed in
pleasure. “I only get the tease. And that’s okay. You want to know why?”

Glassy-eyed, she exhaled. “Not really. Do that again. My
neck’s tingling.”

Oh hell, Ian thought. He needed to get away or he was going
to break his word to her father. And yet, he couldn’t release her.

“We’re going to wait,” he said, “until everything is sorted
out before we take the next step and I finally get my way with you. And we’re
doing that because tonight, for the first time in my life, I was spoken to as
if I weren’t a billionaire, as if I were just like any other man trying to
seduce a father’s daughter.”