He’s going to claim his child and the woman who got away…from USA TODAY bestselling author Naima Simone. Will they ever learn that giving in to desire is playing with fire?
After discovering he has a secret son, oil heir Ross Edmond isn’t letting Charlotte Jarrett walk away again. He proposes they move in together—to share their son…and a bed. But Charlotte has secrets, and Ross doesn’t know the real reason his family’s former chef left town three years ago—and they still have a powerful enemy who could bring them both down…
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Love.
Russell “Ross” Edmond Jr. sipped
his scotch, relishing the smoky flavor with hints of caramel, fruit and a bite
of salt, while staring out the window of the Texas Cattleman’s Club meeting room
at the beautiful couple currently wrapped around each other in a passionate
embrace.
Ezekiel Holloway and Reagan
Sinclair—Reagan Holloway now—had caused quite a scandal in Royal, Texas, some
months ago when they’d eloped to Vegas against her family’s wishes. Especially
since Zeke’s own family had been embroiled in a dirty criminal investigation
that involved embezzlement and drug smuggling. But that had all been cleared
up, their reputation restored, and now the newlyweds were living out their
happily-ever-after.
Ross barely contained a derisive
snort. Sure, the two appeared enamored and, yes, happy. The married couple
kissed as if Ezekiel was heading off to sea for a months-long absence. Ross
would say they were in love. Or, at least, they believed they were.
Unfortunately—or fortunately, in
his opinion—he wasn’t a devout disciple at the altar of the emotion that seemed
like a convenient excuse for people to lose control, validate idiotic behavior
or justify satisfying any impulsive desire.
What did he believe in?
Raising his glass to his mouth
again, he turned from the view of the couple and surveyed the elegantly appointed
room. Due to recent renovations at the Club, the design was less dark wood and
stone, and now boasted brighter colors, larger windows and higher ceilings.
Yes, the hunting trophies and historical artifacts still adorned the walls, and
the stables remained, as did the pool and tennis courts. Yet, now the Club had
a day care and sported painted murals, as well. The whole effect exuded a
warmth that had been missing before.
But it all still conveyed
wealth. Influence. Exclusivity.
And those ideals he trusted.
Money and power. They could be
counted, measured, handled, manipulated, if need be, and were unfailingly
consistent.
They’d never let him down.
Unlike people. Unlike love.
Hell, he couldn’t even keep the
sneer out of his inner voice.
“Ross, get over here,” Russell
Edmond Sr. boomed as if Ross stood farther out in the club’s entryway instead
of just several feet away from him. “Do that brooding shit on your own time. We
have business to attend to.”
Rusty. Oil mogul. Texas
Cattleman’s Club member. Tycoon. All
things people called Russell Edmond Sr. Whereas Ross considered him brilliant,
ruthless, domineering. And, on occasion, manipulative bastard.
They all fit.
With his tall, wide-shouldered
and athletic build that had only gone a little soft around the middle, dark
hair dusted with silver at the temples and intelligent, scalpel-sharp gray
eyes, Rusty still possessed a powerful physique and commanded respect. Ross
strode over to the long, cedar conference table, his gaze fixed not on his
father but on the thin stack of documents in the middle of the table. His heart
thumped against his sternum in anticipation. To others, those ordinary sheets
of paper might seem innocuous. But to him?
Independence. Autonomy.
Identity.
Yes, this deal included the
financial and marketing backing of The Edmond Organization, but this
project—the luxury food, art and wine festival called Soiree on the Bay, which
was to be held on a small, private island—was his baby. Well, more aptly, it
was a baby that belonged to him, his siblings, Gina and Asher, and his best
friend, Billy Holmes. But for the first time, he wasn’t a figurehead wearing
the Edmond name and the ineffectual title of executive. Wasn’t a puppet tasked
with carrying out Rusty-given orders. Wasn’t just the useless playboy son
riding the coattails of his daddy’s success and reputation.
With this project, this event,
he would finally step out from under his father’s shadow and show everyone he
hadn’t just inherited the Edmond name—he’d earned it. Ross would play an
integral role in raising the bar, in solidifying and expanding their legacy as
he elevated The Edmond Organization from the national stage to the
international one. Something even Rusty hadn’t managed to do in the company’s
history.
But Ross would.
And in the process, maybe earn
that thing that had eluded him the entire twenty-eight years he’d been Rusty’s
son—approval.
Again, not love. Men like his
father believed in that emotion even less than Ross did. Just ask Rusty’s four
ex-wives.
Just ask his children.
“So this is it? The final
contract?” Ross set his tumbler down on the table, trying not to stare down at
the documents as if they were the Holy Grail and he a Texas version of Indiana
Jones.
“This is it,” Billy Holmes, his
college friend and future business partner, said, grinning. “The last step before
Soiree on the Bay moves from dreams to reality.”
“Dreams,” Rusty scoffed. “Dreams
are for men who don’t have the balls to get out there and pursue what they
want.”
About the Author
USA Today Bestselling author Naima Simone's love of romance
was first stirred by Johanna Lindsey and Nora Roberts years ago. Well not that
many. She is only eighteen...ish. Published since 2009, she spends her days
writing sizzling romances with heart, a touch of humor and snark. She is wife
to Superman--or his non-Kryptonian equivalent--and mother to the most awesome
kids ever. They live in perfect, sometimes domestically-challenged bliss in the
southern US.
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