Ruthless (26 page)

Marisa didn’t expect a fifteen year-old girl to be so insightful, nor did she expect her to call her to task without blinking an eye. She was definitely her father’s daughter. “Luc wants a casual relationship and I don’t. It’s as simple as that.”

“Is that why he put everything on hold so he could hop a plane to be with you?”

How could Marisa tell his daughter that he’d flown there to seduce her and stake his claim, not to profess his love for her?

“And if you’re thinking he was only interested in getting you into bed on that trip, you’re stupider than I thought.”

Marisa’s mouth dropped open, partially because of the insult, but mainly because her assessment was so accurate. “You don’t know me, little girl. In fact, you don’t even know your own father.” Marisa clamped a hand over her mouth when she realized the callousness of her words. “I’m so sorry. I shouldn’t have said that, Nikki.”

The girl shrugged, feigning nonchalance, but Marisa could tell the truth cut deep. “You’re right. I don’t know him. But I’m trying to get to know him, and I think you should, too.”

Marisa laughed without mirth. “Honey, I’ve known your dad for years. Hell, I probably know him better than he knows himself.”

“If that were true, you’d know how much he loves you, how much he wants to be with you.”

Marisa’s heart rallied, wanting to believe her words. “If that were true, he wouldn’t have let me end our relationship. He would have wanted to marry me, have a family with me...”

Nikki shook her head, seemingly appalled by her ignorance. “You still don’t get it, do you? He didn’t want to let you down the way he let us down. He wanted to marry you, to be a good father, but because of what happened with me, he didn’t think he had what it took to be there for you the way he wanted.”

Nikki’s words made perfect sense, but Marisa wasn’t ready to believe them. “But anyone can see that he loves you, that he’s trying hard to be a good dad. He wouldn’t check out of your life again for anything, Nikki.”

She smiled. “I know that, and so does he, now. That’s why he finally feels like he’s ready to be the kind of man you need, Marisa.”

“I don’t understand.”

Nikki rolled her eyes. “He went to see you because he wanted to propose to you.” She laughed at Marisa’s stunned expression. “He had a ring and everything. He loves you. He wants to be with you and only you.”

“But, but...”

“But you broke his heart when you lied to him, so what are you gonna do to make things right?”

Marisa pulled Nikki into her arms. “I’m gonna go and find him and beg for his forgiveness.” She squeezed the girl too hard, giggling when she moaned in response. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough, honey.”

Nikki laughed. “Sure you will. You can ask me to be in the wedding party.”

Marisa kissed her cheek. “Consider it done.”

Luc thought little of it when, in the middle of his conversation with Trey, a woman slipped her arms around his waist. Having opportunistic women proposition him was par for the course in his business. It wasn’t until she pressed her luscious curves into his back that he recognized her familiar scent.

He gripped her wrists as he turned around to face her. “Marisa, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

She glanced at her brother, looking mortified by Luc’s reaction. “Uh, I’m sorry to interrupt. Could I have a word with you in private?”

He released her, taking a step back to put some distance between them. “No, this is an important night for Trey. I don’t have time for your games.”

Trey slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry about me, buddy. You two go. It looks like you have some things you need to work out.”

When he would have argued the point, Trey walked away. Luc sighed. “What the hell is this about? You made it pretty clear where we stand. I don’t want to talk about it anymore.”

She looked up at him, her eyes pleading. “Please, just give me five minutes. That’s all I ask.”

“Fine, five minutes. That’s it.” He grabbed her hand and led her down the hall. “We’ll use my office. No, wait, we can’t. Avery’s in there with Ty.” He knew his bedroom was the worst possible venue for their little chat, but with people invading every square foot of his house, they had few options. “Let’s go upstairs.”

Once they were inside, he closed the double doors, trying not to think about what had happened the last time they’d been alone in his bedroom.  

She glanced at the four-poster king size bed in the center of the room, and he knew she was thinking about that night too.

“Okay, so talk. What was so important that you had to drag me away from the party?”

She walked toward him, slowly, purposefully, and he tried to ignore the hitch in his breathing. She reached for his shoulders and eased his blazer off, letting it fall to the ground.

He didn’t know where she was going with this, but he couldn’t find the words to object.

She reached down to pull the shirttail out of his pants, never taking her eyes off his.

He closed his eyes, trying to find the strength to push her away, but he couldn’t. “Why are you doing this?” he whispered. When she said nothing, he opened his eyes to look at her. “You haven’t been drinking, have you?”

She reached up and fisted her hand in his hair, pulling his head down until his mouth met hers. “You tell me.” She didn’t just kiss him, she devoured him.

Finally, he broke away, panting and desperate to throw her down on the bed so he could finish what she’d started. Her motivation didn’t matter anymore. He’d worry about the consequences tomorrow; tonight he needed her just one more time. He slid the zipper down her back, walking her backwards until the back of her legs hit the edge of the bed.

“Just like that?” she whispered. “You’re willing to let me back in your bed just like that, even after the way I hurt you?”

He slid her straps down her shoulders to reveal a strapless black bra. He leaned down to kiss the abundance of soft skin spilling out over the edge of the lace. “I don’t wanna talk about that tonight, baby. I just need to be with you tonight, please.” He knew how needy he sounded, but he would gladly sacrifice his pride for just one more night with her.

She unbuttoned his shirt and spread it open, taking a moment to admire him. “I can understand why every woman at the party was coming on to you tonight,” she whispered.

He kissed her neck from the sensitive skin below her ear to the hollow of her collarbone.

She caressed his chest as she tipped her head back to invite his exploration. “I hated knowing that you could disappear with any one of them and I couldn’t do a damn thing to stop you.”

“I wouldn’t do that. I wouldn’t make love to another woman while you were under the same roof.”

She slipped his shirt off and began kissing his chest, slowly, seductively, until his eyes drifted closed. “That’s just it, Luc. I don’t want you to make love to another woman again, ever.”

Her words took a moment to infiltrate his lust induced haze, but when they finally did, he opened his eyes to see tears spilling down her cheeks. “What are you saying? You still want to be with me?”

“I never stopped wanting you.” She sniffled. “I never stopped loving you. I’m so sorry I said those things.”

He eased her back on the bed, climbing on top of her. He framed her face with his hands. “Are you sure about this, baby? ‘Cause I can’t go through this again. It almost destroyed me—”

She touched her fingertips against his lips. “Luc, will you marry me?”

He felt compelled to get down on his knees and give thanks for whatever he had done to deserve another chance with this woman. “You’re sure this is what you want?”

“I want to be your wife more than anything. So, will you marry me?”

He grinned. “On one condition.”

“What’s that?”

“Tell me you still want to have my baby.” He waited for her to respond, terrified of her answer. He had given her every reason to doubt his commitment to being a father. “If you need more time to think about it, I’ll understand.”  

“You’re already a dad.”

Her response shook him to his core. She wanted to be his wife, but she still didn’t trust him to be the father of her children. Not that he could blame her. “I want a chance to make up for the mistakes I made with Nikki. I want a chance to be there for all the milestones I missed with her.”

She hesitated before responding. “You don’t have to do this for me because you think this is what I want.”

“Is this still what you want, Marisa? If you think you can’t trust me to be there for you and our baby...”

She touched his cheek. “Is that what you think? God, you couldn’t be more wrong.”

“What is it then? Why don’t you want to have a baby with me, sweetheart?”

She smiled and kissed his lips tenderly. “I’ve wanted this forever, but you’ve always been so opposed to the idea of having kids. I understand why now. I just don’t want you to do this because you think it’s what I want.”

He nuzzled her neck before pulling back to look her in the eye. “It’s what I want.” He stroked her cheek with his fingertip. “Don’t ever doubt that.”

Her eyes filled with tears. “Seriously? You mean it? You really want to have a baby?”

He watched her tears disappear into the hair at her temples. “Would you really sacrifice something you’ve wanted forever just to be with me? I mean, if I told you I didn’t want to have a baby, you’d still want to marry me?” He hated that he had ever questioned her love for him.

“Of course I would. I love you, Luc. I can live without a baby, but I can’t live without you.” She kissed him repeatedly, smiling when he kissed her nose.

“I love you so much. I don’t know what the hell I did to deserve you.” He pulled her into his arms, wishing they didn’t have a houseful of people to entertain. “I want this, Marisa,” he whispered in her ear. “I want you, a couple of kids, and a lifetime to love you. I want it all.” He let her go and slid off the bed.

“Where are you going?”

“I’m gonna do something I should’ve been smart enough to do a long time ago.” He walked into his adjoining dressing room and opened his jewelry drawer. He took her engagement ring from its velvet cushion and fisted it in his hand as he walked out of the room.

She sat up, perched on the edge of the bed. “I guess we should get back downstairs, huh?”

“Not yet.” He walked over to her and dropped down on one knee in front of her.

She covered her mouth with one hand as he claimed the other.

“I tried to talk myself out of falling in love with you.” He kissed her hand when she started to cry. “I told myself you were too young, you were my best friend’s sister, you deserved better, and you needed more than I could ever give you.” He cleared his throat, determined to tell her everything he should have told her years ago. “It didn’t matter how hard I fought against it, Marisa. You were meant to come into my life. Loving you has made me a better man. I finally have the courage to face my fears because I know that no matter what happens, you’ll be there to help me pick up the pieces.”

“Always,” she whispered.

“I can’t promise I’ll always be the perfect husband or father, but I can promise that I’ll love you guys with everything I am until my dying day, sweetheart.”

She squeezed his hand and smiled. “I know.”

“I need you in my life, more than I need my career or money or power. You’re the reason I want to get out of bed in the morning. Without you, nothing makes sense.”

“I feel the same way.”

He held the ring up, raising her left hand. “Marisa, will you be my wife?”

She slid down to join him on the floor. “I thought you’d never ask.”

He laughed as he slipped the ring on her finger. 

About the Author

To learn more about this author or the rest of the books in the Nashville Nights series, visit
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Coming Soon

Reckless

Book Four in the Nashville Nights Series

Nashville Nights Series

Shameless – Book One

Trey Turner may be topping the country music charts, but his life has been going downhill since his wife left him five years ago. He’s desperate to make amends for the mistakes he’s made and convince Sierra that their love deserves a second chance.

Sierra Brooks is happy for the first time since her divorce. She has a career she loves and a man who loves her. Unfortunately, her fiancé isn’t the only man professing his love. He may be able to offer her safety and security, but will she decide to risk everything for another chance with the man who broke her heart?

Fearless – Book Two

Lexi Brooks has overcome adversity to build a successful real estate business that will enable her to live life on her terms. The life she envisions includes travel, fun and excitement, not marriage, kids or commitment. But will Trey’s sexy bodyguard throw a wrench into her plans?

Being a cop has taught Josh Cooper to take calculated risks, but he’s tired of living with the daily threat of danger. He’s ready to settle down with someone who wants to be a step-mother to his two teenage sons. Too bad Lexi isn’t that woman. She’s sexy, smart, head-strong, and they’re totally in sync in the bedroom , but she isn’t willing to settle for a life of domestic bliss. Or is she?

Ruthless – Book Three

Marisa Turner has wanted Luc Spencer forever, but she also wants a baby and it seems Luc isn’t up to the challenge. She has to choose between the man she loves and the family she hopes to have. Fortunately, there’s another man waiting in the wings who would love to make her baby fantasy a reality.