Alpha Billionaire’s Bride, Part Three (BWWM Romance Serial) (8 page)

She blinked, coming out of her reverie. “I don’t
understand.”

“What your father did was wonderful. You can’t imagine what
it’s like. Fathers don’t deny me their daughters; they throw them at me. As do
mothers and aunts and meddling friends. When you’ve got money, in my
experience, everything is for sale, and I do mean everything.”

“Oh. That’s ... so ... I don’t know. Wrong, I guess, and
sad,” Jada said.

“Yes, and frustrating for me. You’re a lucky woman, Jada.
Your father loves your right to make a clear-headed decision more than he loves
the idea of you snaring a wealthy man with your considerable charms.”

“Maybe,” she mumbled. “Or maybe he’s just a pushy old—”

“I was so pleased with him that there was no way I wouldn’t
agree to what he wanted. I’m flattered that he treated me like he’d treat
anyone else. And he accepted my word when I gave it. It felt good.”

“As good as this?” Jada wriggled her hips against his. “You
know, I didn’t agree not to seduce you.”

Ian moaned. “Stop that. You’re killing me.”

“You’re the one who’s holding me against the wall.” She
wriggled again. “And you promised you wouldn’t seduce me, not that you wouldn’t
be seduced.”

Ian hadn’t thought it possible to get harder, but there it
was all the same. “I have to honor the spirit of the agreement. My grandfather
taught me a man’s word is his bond. Besides, your father’s right. We should
hold off until things are settled, when the stress is off and everything
returns to normal.”

She looked like she was going to argue, then her chest
deflated from a lengthy exhalation. “Maybe you’re right. I can’t be sure of
anything with you all over me like this. Let me go before I embarrass myself
and actually try to seduce you.”

He leaned forward and kissed her earlobe. “Trust me, Jada.
You don’t have to try. You’ve already got me—tomorrow.”

She trembled and when she kissed his jaw, he released her
wrists and jerked backward. There was no way he could withstand her kisses.
Tomorrow, he told himself. He wouldn’t have to deny himself tomorrow.

She scanned the room. “I don’t think I can take more romance
tonight, not if you’re going to be such a mean tease.”

He was pleased to see her sense of humor returning.

“So,” she said with a shrug, “how about we check out the bowling?
I’m pretty good at it.”

“Are you? I’m not too bad. My grandfather loved it and
taught me everything he knew.”

“Is there all that much to know about bowling?” she asked
wryly.

“To hear him talk about it there was.”

“Come on, then. I’ll text that traitor Elly to start looking
for Ms. Kitty.”

He unlocked the door, held it open and met Jada’s gaze.
“Poor girl and lucky cat.”

As he followed her into the hall, he was proud of himself
for the decisions he’d made that night. Virtuous even. A spring entered his
step, and he thought that he ought to start calling it the Jada spring, he
experienced it so often around her.

He truly was the lucky one after all.

IT WAS ONLY NINE THIRTY the next morning when Elly rushed into
the breakfast room and delivered the message that Ian had big news. He wanted
all the guests to assemble in one of the larger sitting rooms. Jada’s heart had
been pounding ever since.

She sat on the edge of the rustic chair and glanced around
at the eager faces gathered in the sitting room. No one was missing, except
Ian, who was still holed up in his office as far as she knew. Anticipation had
her tapping her fingers on the armrest. The atmosphere was charged to
crackling.

It had been a long night, and Jada hadn’t slept very well.
Her brain wouldn’t shut up long enough for her to drift off, the main
preoccupation being what had happened in the ballroom.

She couldn’t believe how easily she’d capitulated to Ian’s
and her father’s stone age agreement. Something about Ian had Jada tying up and
gagging her inner feminist, tossing her into a dusty broom closet at the back
of Jada’s brain, never to be heard from again.

It was inexplicable, and yet ... it happened over and over
again. Because of Ian. It was his fault. Jada couldn’t help but feel that
anyone who thought she shouldn’t like how Ian acted, had never been with such a
powerful man. His presence overwhelmed her, his sexuality, his strength of
will. He made her want to submit.

She shuddered at the idea of submitting to a man. Any man.
Not good. Not good at all. She’d never done such a thing before, and she
shouldn’t be doing it now. It made no sense.

And so she’d spent much of the night hashing and rehashing
the situation, raking herself over the coals for constantly giving in to Ian’s
wishes with hardly a peep of protest.

She also spent some of the night recalling what it was like
to be swept around the dance floor in the arms of a confident, handsome suitor,
who waltzed like a pro and smelled good enough to lick like a lollipop.

She relived the moment when Ian pushed her against that
wall. The look in his eyes. The greedy hunger that blazed out of those gorgeous
eyes. The sensation of need and being at his mercy was delicious torture—

She shook herself out of the memory. She was in public, and
waiting on what would likely be the news that would free her and Ian to give in
to all those base instincts she’d worried over during her sleepless night.

The door swung open and Ian strolled into the room, a satisfied
smile stretching his sexy lips. Jada’s heart leapt. Everyone leaned forward in
their seats. This was it. Finally.

“Well?” Agatha asked in her most demanding, nasal voice.
“Why has the lord and master beckoned we gather at his pleasure?”

“Gawd, Agatha,” Sasha said, her eyes rolling so quickly it
was a wonder she didn’t get dizzy. “Obviously the man has something important
to tell us.”

“Like what? Has the lake been infested with sea monsters?”

Marina leaned over and whispered to Jada. “Where does she
come up with this stuff?”

Jada shrugged. Better yet,
why
did Agatha come up
with this stuff?

Ian stood in front of the fireplace and silenced everyone
with a look, including the annoying publicist. “Thank you all for coming. I
have news I’m sure you’ll want to hear.”

Jada’s breathing quickened.

“The case of the fake marriage license is officially
solved,” Ian announced proudly. “CGTV did it.”

Marina gasped, Agatha scowled, Sasha’s brows shot upward,
Sullivan nodded sagely and Trey looked unsurprised. Jada wanted to applaud
first, then go find someone in charge at CGTV and tell them off.

“What’s this about, Ian?” Agatha asked. “I haven’t heard
anything about CGTV being involved.”

“Me either,” Marina joined in. “But you don’t look
surprised, Jada. Why is that?”

“I haven’t had a chance to tell you who Ian thought did it.”

“I can explain everything,” Ian said. “I suspected all along
that CGTV had invented the story for ratings and the usual reasons gossip shows
do what they do. When they wouldn’t turn over a copy of the marriage license no
matter how my legal team threatened them, my suspicions became near certainty.”

“This morning,” he continued, “I sent someone to the
Springers Glen Courthouse to request a search for the original license that
says I married Jada. I just heard back from them.”

“And?” Marina asked.

“And they found nothing. It explains why CGTV refused to
hand over a copy of the document that would support their claims—the marriage
license doesn’t exist. This is the proof I needed to sink CGTV good and proper.
Case closed.”

He beamed at Jada, who beamed back at him. She knew what
would happen from here on out. He’d force CGTV to retract their story and
hopefully some of the dirt they flung at her, too. And she wouldn’t have to
worry about her reputation anymore. And, of course, she and Ian could explore
where their mutual attraction might take them.

It all made sense, and it was so reassuring, knowing that
the clean-up was in Ian’s capable hands.

Marina looked nothing short of astounded. “Why didn’t I think
of that? CGTV was behind it. It makes perfect sense, doesn’t it?”

“That’s what I thought, too,” Jada said. “Everything makes
sense.”

“Damned ballsy of them,” Trey said. “Someone must be nuts at
that network.”

“It’s probably that Piper Sandy. She was seriously bitchy,”
Sasha said.

“I don’t know. I kind of liked her,” Agatha said, her thumbs
flying over her phone even faster than usual. Jada wondered who she was
spreading the breaking news to.

Marina, too, was glued to her phone, and Jada suspected she
was sending emails to the agents she’d been harassing for the past twenty-four
hours, telling them she didn’t need to speak to their clients after all.

“Sullivan has already instructed the Buckley Holdings legal
team to begin action against CGTV,” Ian said. “It won’t be long before CGTV
will be begging for their lives. Keep an eye on the television. I expect
something within the hour.”

The hubbub increased, but Jada hardly heard it. She only had
ears and eyes for the man of the hour, and she wasn’t too modest to admit that
he only had ears and eyes for her, too.

He came over and sat in a chair beside her. “So, what do you
think?”

“I think you’re pretty wonderful.”

“I wasn’t begging for compliments, but I don’t mind getting
them.”

She grinned. “You deserve it. You figured it out. I’d love
to be a fly on the wall at CGTV when they get the call from your lawyers.”

“Should be any time now. I’m hoping for much pulling of hair
and rending of clothes.”

Jada laughed. “Imagine Piper doing that. Ha!”

They chatted merrily, the conversation growing increasingly
silly as their minds wandered to what was going to happen next. Jada wondered
if it was too early to drag Ian upstairs. She wondered if he was thinking the
same thing, except about her, of course.

Someone plucked at her sleeve. She brushed it off. It
plucked again.

“Jada. Hey, Jada.”

“Uh-huh,” Jada answered, realizing it was Marina and wishing
she’d quit bothering her while Jada was making eyes at Ian.

“Oh my gawd, Jada. Seriously. We need to find a television,”
Marina said.

“Okay. Go ahead,” Jada said.

Marina raised her voice and called, “Is there a tv hidden in
this room somewhere? Where is it?”

Jada snapped to, finally noticing the strained desperation
in Marina’s voice.

Sullivan stood up. “Above the fireplace. Behind the
painting. Hold on and I’ll find the remote.”

“What’s going on?” Jada asked Marina.

“Just turn on the TV. Damn. I don’t know. I just don’t know.
It’s on Twitter. It has to be on TV too.”

“What’s on TV?” Ian asked.

“I’m not sure. Turn it to CGTV,” Marina said.

Jada knew her sister well enough to know that whatever was
happening, it wasn’t good. Was that dread she saw on Marina’s face?

Sullivan found the remote and the painting over the
fireplace slid aside to reveal a large, flat screen television. He turned it on
and Marina gave him the correct channel number. CGTV appeared on the screen and
Sullivan raised the volume.

Everyone waited in silent anticipation as a commercial for
lipstick ended and regular CGTV programming resumed.

Piper Sandy smirked out at them, her blonde hair perfectly
coiffed, her clothing immaculately fitted and at the height of fashion as
always. She sat behind a desk as if she were a proper news anchor, an
overly-groomed male co-host sitting beside her, who also seemed to be a professional
smirker.

“Welcome back everyone,” Piper said. “If you’re just joining
us, we have exclusive breaking news here at CGTV. You simply won’t believe the
latest in the Buckley-Howarth wedding saga.”

Jada glanced at Ian who watched the blonde announcer with
his upper lip curled in disgust.

Breaking news. Were they going to retract their story
already? What was happening?

“If you haven’t heard the news, here it is all you
lovelies,” Piper said, her voice slick with glee. “Today, we got our hands on a
new marriage license involving the Buckley/Howarth/Sasha triangle. That’s
right, a triangle of the most risqué sort.”

She reached down, picked up a piece of paper on the table
and waved it in the air. “This is it, what everyone’s talking about.”

“Quit teasing!” her co-host squealed. “I’m sure they already
know.”

“I can’t help it, Dirk. You know how I am.”

Dirk mugged for the camera. “Do I ever, Piper-girl.”

Jada didn’t think they could get more revolting. She was
wrong.

“Okay, so here it is,” Piper said, still holding up the
piece of paper. “This is a marriage license and it proves, without a doubt,
that Jada Howarth isn’t only married to Ian Buckley.”

Dirk gasped and goggled at the camera.

“That’s right,” Piper said. “Jada Howarth is a bigamist!
Married to two people at the same time. And you’ll never guess who husband
number two is!”

“It’s so unbelievable!” Dirk gushed. “Tell them! OMG!”

“Jada Howarth is also married to none other than the
formerly-jilted fiancée herself—supermodel Sasha!”

Jada’s mouth dropped open. She heard a gasp from someone
else in the room. She couldn’t look away from the screen, though, and the two
gloating hosts.

“That’s right, America.” Piper oozed with false outrage.
“While the rest of us are normal, law-abiding citizens, the rich play by their
own depraved rules. Both Ian Buckley and Sasha have married a bigamist nobody.”

“Tell them the rest,” Dirk urged.

“I am,” Piper said. “And when I say depraved, I mean it.
Prepare yourselves for this next one. Right here on the marriage license that
proves Jada and Sasha are legally married, there’s a line for witnesses. And
you’ll never guess who witnessed the wedding.”

“Who?” Dirk’s voice was a piercing treble.

“Jada’s husband, Ian Buckley, and Sasha’s brother and
billionaire hottie, Trey Russell. They both signed the marriage license as
witnesses! They were there! Hashtag freaky-deekies, huh?”

Pandemonium broke out in the sitting room. Jada hardly heard
the roar, hardly felt Marina taking her arm and asking her something. Hardly
noticed Trey and Ian jumping out of their seats. Hardly understood Agatha’s
howl of outrage or Sasha’s string of curses.

It washed over her like it was happening to someone else. It
must not be true. How could CGTV do this if they didn’t have proof? What the
hell?

Everyone in the country now believed Jada was a bigamist.
No, wait. She read the words popping up on the text box inset behind Piper’s
talking head. It said:

“Who’s the victim? Jada Howarth, bisexual bigamist and
plaything for the rich and famous? Or is she using her sexuality to suck her
two wealthy spouses dry?”

Bisexual bigamist and plaything? Her phone vibrated and she
pulled it out without thinking. It was an email from work, the accounting firm
of Talleyrand, Dilling, Stifferton and Associates. She’d sent them a message
earlier telling them she needed to use a few days vacation in order to
straighten out her personal situation. She hadn’t heard back until now.

The email was short, and came from Mr. Talleyrand’s account.
Not good. The message was short and simple: “Take all the time you need. With
the latest news, we’re going to have much to discuss before we can consider
your return. Please keep in mind that this is a conservative firm.”

He might as well have come straight out and fired her.
That’s what was going to happen anyway.

Ian told Sullivan to turn off the television. Jada finally
looked at Ian. She’d never seen anyone look more ferocious. And it wasn’t
because he was ranting or raving; it was because he was unearthly calm and
quiet, the only sign of his fury being the fire raging behind his eyes. The
juxtaposition was unsettling.

He regarded Jada. “Don’t think about what you saw.
Everything will be fine. I’m going to make sure of it. Promise me you won’t
worry. I’ll take care of this if it’s the last thing I do. Do you believe me?”

She nodded, unable to speak, her throat and mouth gone
desert dry.

“It will be fixed, I swear it.” He reached down and gently
squeezed her shoulder, then he turned and strode away, calling for Sullivan to
follow and saying something about if you wanted something done right you had to
do it yourself.

Trey asked Sasha if she was okay, then he too followed Ian
out of the room.

Jada didn’t know where to let her gaze settle, or who to
listen to. Marina kept talking, trying to comfort her, no doubt. Agatha and
Sasha were arguing. All Jada wanted to do was disappear.

What did it all mean? How could this have happened?

Ian told her to believe in him. He said he’d take care of
everything, that all she had to do was sit and wait for him to fix it.