Chapter 12Bewildered, Jason paid for her shoes while wondering what exactly had happened. She had been upset, no doubt about it. The shoes, which should have brought her pleasure, had seemed like a burden or something. As he walked down the corridor in the direction of the ladies’ restroom, he tried to figure out what had gone wrong.He was confused about why she was upset, and she also confused him. Shouldn’t she have been eager to take his money? When the shoe broke, his first assumption had been sabotage, so she would have to get a new pair. To a woman like her, it would be natural to let the man pay.Except it wasn’t that simple. He pinched the bridge of his nose, feeling a bit of a headache forming. Her actions didn’t mesh with what he’d expected, what her background had led him to expect. Was it an elaborate con? Did she think she could convince him of her suitability for Josh by pretending not to want his money? Yet, she had been so intrigued by the hotel when she thought Josh

Chapter 14By the time they reached the suite, Lanie’s body ached with need. It was all she could do to ball her hands into fists instead of using them to strip his clothes and run her hands over his body.He closed the door behind them and turned to her, his expression revealing nothing. “Would you like to join me for a drink before bed?”It was stupid. She should say no. “Yes.”Jason nodded. “Let’s meet on the balcony in ten minutes. The cityscape is gorgeous at night.” He took a few steps away before turning back to her. “Feel free to get out of that gown. It looks uncomfortable. I’m going to slip into a robe.”She inclined her head, standing still until he disappeared into his room. Slowly, she walked down the hall to the guestroom, letting herself in. When the door closed, she leaned against it, heart racing and hands trembling as she fumbled with the zipper. Her nerves sang, and she knew he was going to try to seduce her. Not that she needed much persuasion. Lanie shed the dress

Chapter 16A few hours after the worst of the nausea passed, Lanie was ready to get out of bed. Jason had made her stay there since that morning, though he hadn’t done anything pleasurable to keep her there once she had the urge to vomit. She sighed, annoyed. “I’m fine. Let me up, you barbarian.”He cocked his head, an unsettling gleam in his eyes. “On the condition you do something not too taxing.”“Like what?” She couldn’t keep a trace of suspicion out of her tone.“I think you could manage some shopping.”She groaned. “No, thanks. We’ve been through this. I don’t need anything.”Jason leaned closer, stroking her cheek. “What I have in mind would be for me too.”“Huh?”“I’m thinking frilly, lacy things and sexy shoes.”Lanie nibbled on her lower lip. It wouldn’t be a hardship to let him buy her a little lingerie, especially if it got her out of this bed. “Okay.” She took his hand as he lowered it from her face. “Within reason, right?”“Of course,” he said with a bland smile.****“T

Chapter 18Later, they laid together in his bed, where he’d taken her the first night they had returned from their vacation and she had slept ever since. Lanie was on the verge of sleep, and he pressed a kiss to her forehead, moved to the tender gesture by the open sweetness of her sleepy expression.“Jason?” His name was a little slurred from a combination of sleepiness and the tropical drinks she’d had a while before they’d come to bed.“Yes, Lanie?” He kissed her closed eyelids.“Thank you.”“For what?”“Everything. Being with you is so amazing.” She yawned. “The cave today…it means a lot to me, knowing you’ve never shared that with anyone before.”He grimaced, still uncomfortable with his decision to do so. It had been spontaneous, and he didn’t regret the experience. It was just knowing he had given her a glimpse inside him by sharing something so personal made him nervous.“Don’t freak out.”He sat up a little straighter, gaze on her face. Her lids blinked several times, and she

Chapter 20Jason had spent the night in a guestroom on the other side of the house, but had not slept. He waited until Lanie left his bedroom the next morning before slipping inside to retrieve the file Marla Meyers had brought. Was it only two weeks ago? It seemed like a lifetime. No matter. It was time to disillusion his son about the gold-digging slut and to destroy her ability to further damage his family.He found them together in the breakfast room. Josh was chattering away as usual, but Lanie looked wan, with purple bruises under her eyes. He should have relished proof of her agitated night, but he had to suppress a wave of remorse instead. She deserved what he’d done to her, and what he was about to do, he reminded himself.“Good morning, Dad,” said Josh, sounding too damned cheerful. “You slept late, huh? I’m not used to you being the last one down.”Jason dropped into his chair, careful to avoid Lanie’s probing gaze. “I had a lot on my mind.”“Me too.” Josh took a deep breat