Deceive (Declan Reede: The Untold Story #2) (26 page)

When I poked my head into Phoebe’s room, she beamed at me. I wondered if she’d thought I’d be gone when she woke. She stood on her bed and held out her arms. “Cuddles!”

I walked over and collected her into my arms. “Did you have a good sleep?”

She nodded and snuggled into my chest, and I carried her out into the living room. When she saw Ruth she almost squealed the house down.

“Nana!” She wriggled out of my arms and was across the room and into Ruth’s an instant later.

Ruth gave me an apologetic look, but I waved her off. If she made Phoebe happy, I was happy. The fact that Ruth was smiling and hadn’t ripped me a new arsehole like I’d thought she might, helped to keep me in a good mood.

HOURS LATER, the three of us were set up on the floor in the living room playing with Phoebe’s toy cars, car mat, and her dollies when Alyssa came home.

When she walked in the door, her eyes widened in surprise as she caught sight of us. “Mum? What are you doing here?”

“I decided to drop in and see you, to find out how your date went, considering you never called me.”

Alyssa blushed scarlet and I chuckled.

“Are you two all right then?” Alyssa asked warily as she glanced between us.

“Thick as thieves,” Ruth answered as she cast a conspiratorial glance in my direction.

Alyssa looked over at me and I smiled and nodded. She breathed an audible sigh of relief. “Well . . . all right then. Shall I set the dinner table for one more?”

“No, sweetie, it’s all right. I’ve gotta get back and feed your dad. You know how he can get if he doesn’t eat.”

Alyssa laughed, but I made a mental note to ensure Killer Curtis was well fed before I met him again. Ruth hugged everyone goodbye and was gone within ten minutes of Alyssa’s arrival. Although a slight paranoia built that Ruth had only hung around because she didn’t trust me, the truth was she’d never once made me feel like I couldn’t take care of Phoebe.

While I kept Phoebe entertained, Alyssa set about preparing a meal in the kitchen. I felt like an arse for not even thinking about dinner before then, but Ruth, Phoebe, and I had been getting along so well that nothing else had crossed my mind.

I snuck up behind Alyssa while she was at the sink washing some vegetables and wrapped my arms around her from behind. She leaned back against me and gave a small, delectable moan in response. I used one hand to brush the hair away from her neck and began trailing small kisses along her skin. The things she inspired in me. Every nerve ending sang with a need to be closer to her. I spun her around and captured her mouth. She kissed me back ferociously. If I hadn’t been hyperaware of the little ears in the next room, I would have taken her then and there.

I released her lips, but held her waist. “I was thinking, maybe I could stay here for a few days. I mean, that is if you don’t mind.”

She let out a shaky breath and shook her head. “I don’t mind.”

Moving one of my hands around her body, I caressed her crotch through her pants. “That’s good. Because I have a number of plans and it might take some time to work through them all.”

I pressed her into the bench so that she knew what she’d done to me. I was solid as a rock.

Alyssa breathed into my ear, “I like plans.” She grabbed my erection and it was my turn to groan. Her skilful fingers wrapped around it even through my shorts. God, I was so ready for her. She knew it and she smirked as she dropped her hand. “Unfortunately, I have to prepare sustenance for everyone and then get a certain little someone off to bed first.”

I blinked but was unable to do anything more. Not with the promise of hot sex burning in my mind. I wanted her so badly, even more after the little things I’d learned today. Gritting my teeth, and breathing through my nose, I willed away my erection. I just had to wait a few short hours. Finally, I gathered up enough strength to move my mouth and ask how her day was.

The night ran smoothly from there. We all ate and then watched a bit of TV. Phoebe—the little Judas—ratted me out to Alyssa, telling her about the ice-cream lunch, but thankfully Alyssa didn’t seem too upset. She cast me the evil eye for a moment, but then smiled and shook her head a little in a slightly mocking way. As if that was what she’d expected to happen. It should have made me feel like a failure, only it didn’t.

Fuck, she was good for me.

Alyssa bathed and dressed Phoebe again, and then at bedtime we both read Phoebe some stories until her eyes shut, and we left the room in silence.

The instant Alyssa had pulled Phoebe’s door shut, Alyssa attacked me. Her hands were in my hair, then tugging at my pants, and then pulling at my shirt. Even as her fingers worked their way over my body, her lips touched my lips, then my neck where she nipped and sucked at my skin. Her whole being was in constant motion in my arms. I held her as close as I could, grinding myself against her as we connected. She turned to head toward the bedroom, but I stopped her. There was something else I wanted to do.

The thought of screwing her near the kitchen sink, of finishing exactly what she’d started earlier, had been playing through my mind, and I wouldn’t be satisfied with anything less.

Leaving the light off, I moved her into position and worked my zipper down, leaving the button done so my shorts didn’t fall around my feet. Then I pushed down my boxers just far enough to release my erection. I propped Alyssa up on the bench, pulling her skirt up and pushing her undies to the side. Lining myself up, I drove hard into her.

She cried out a little, her voice thick with lust. “Oh, fuck me, Dec.” She bit her lip and dropped her head as her hands gripped my shoulders, holding me as I followed her instruction.

Reaching down between us, I rubbed my thumb along her clit while I continued to slam against her. Before long, she came around me, and I followed just moments later.

Without breaking our connection, I started to love her the way she deserved. First kissing her lips, and then trailing my mouth along her neck and shoulders. I pulled her shirt open and caressed her breasts softly.

“God, I can’t help myself around you. I need you so bad,” I whispered.

“It’s okay. I needed that too.” I could see her small smile even in the darkness. “More than you could know,” she added in a whisper.

Lifting her off the bench, I carried her to the bedroom where I would spend all night loving her if she allowed me to.

CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR: DO-OVER

AFTER A LONG sleep-in and pancakes for breakfast, Alyssa, Phoebe, and I finally emerged from the house around noon. The doctor called my phone while I was in bed, but recalling his words of doubt, I didn’t want to talk to him so I let it go to message bank.

When our day finally got underway properly, I took them both to Ben and Jade’s. I had, despite Alyssa’s concerns, organised for the pair to watch Phoebe for the evening while Alyssa and I had our date in the city—the one I’d planned with the concierge at the Suncrest Hotel. Phoebe, for her part, was overjoyed by the idea of staying somewhere new. When she saw their baby, her eyes lit up with excitement. It was an un-fucking-real experience.

I stayed for about an hour with them all, but then I had to leave—there was still too much to be arranged. When I left Alyssa with everyone else, it was with the promise of arranging a car to pick her up and bring her to me when everything was ready. It meant that she and Phoebe had to stay with Ben and Jade for the better part of the afternoon, but that played perfectly into my plan.

Alyssa still had no idea what I’d arranged. The only clue she had was that it required dressing up, and that was only because I’d arranged to have a dress delivered to her a little after three.

The truth was, I was as nervous as fuck about my plan, but I was also determined not to fuck up the opportunity. If I could, I would have actually rewritten history.

Because that was impossible, I was instead going to try replacing it with something a little happier.

When everything was nearly ready, I glanced around the room and surveyed the handiwork of the team of staff who were still running around doing the final preparation for the night. Fairy lights covered almost every inch of the ceiling; they were the only thing lighting the room. Sheer white curtains enclosed the dance floor, making it into a private oasis. Satisfied, I walked around the table and dance floor one last time, greeting everyone personally. I could tell the racing fans from the others—they were the ones with a star-struck look when they shook my hand.

Finally, I called everyone together for a quick explanation of how the night would run. I ensured the DJ had the playlist I had created as well as strict instructions not to play a single damn song that wasn’t on that fucking list. Everyone nodded and agreed, and I smiled.

It was going to be perfect or heads were going to roll.

With nothing else left to do, I pulled out my phone for the fifteenth time. Ben was supposed to call me the instant Alyssa left their house so that I would have time to change without being dressed too early, and he hadn’t called yet. For a few more minutes, I watched the screen, before throwing the phone in my pocket again and heading to the toilets to get changed anyway. It wouldn’t matter if I was in the monkey suit for a few minutes longer than absolutely necessary. For the night, I’d gone all out and bought a proper tuxedo, with a bowtie and all. The suit was sharp lines of black and white, but the bow tie was bright red and matched the dress I’d bought for Alyssa. Or more specifically, the dress the shop assistant had assured me would be perfect based on the photo I had of Alyssa.

I was halfway through doing up my shirt when my phone finally rang. I stumbled around after it, pulling it loose from the pocket of the pants I’d cast off moments earlier. “Hello?”

“Young Declan,” a female voice I didn’t immediately recognise said. It had a certain calm menace to it.

“Who is this?” I asked.

The voice laughed and a shiver ran down my spine. The cougaresque tones gave away who it was. “I’m hurt, Declan.”

“Ms. Wood,” I said coolly.

“Please, I’ve told you before, call me Paige.”

“What do you want, Ms. Wood?” Calling her by her first name would indicate comfort and familiarity. Despite the moment between us at Bathurst, I felt neither.

“I’m calling to see if I can borrow your star power.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose. “Why?”

“There’s a little fundraiser in town tomorrow night and I’m trying to drum up some extra interest.”

I was confused why she was calling me, and for more reasons than just the obvious—that I’d turned down every offer she’d ever made to join her team. Bathurst hadn’t exactly been the first, it had just been the first I’d even partly stopped to listen to her. “Aren’t you supposed to be in Bahrain?”

“Ah, see my boy, that’s where the problem comes. I promised I would front a driver for this charity thing in Brisbane, but I didn’t realise how close it was to the Bahrain race. Unfortunately, Hunter has already left the country and is unavailable to attend.”

How the fuck is that my problem?
I remained silent.

“Then it occurred to me that you had some spare time on your hands, and I wondered if you might like to go in his place?”

I blinked, uncomprehending. “You want me to go to some charity event to represent you? I drive for Holden and Sinclair, not for Ford or Wood.”

“I know,” she said, her voice almost soft and musical. Her attempt at seductive. Once, it might have worked on me. Now, it had nothing on Alyssa’s voice, which was sexy without her even trying. “Alas, you are my last resort. I hate to let down a charity. They wanted to raffle off signed ProV8 merchandise to raise vital funds.”

I closed my eyes and rubbed my thumb and forefinger across my eyelids. I was getting tired of this dance of hers. “Look, Paige,” I relented, using her name in the hope she’d think I’d seriously considered her request. “I’d love to help. I really would. But I’ve got my own stuff going on right now, and frankly, I don’t think they’d like a Holden driver signing Ford merchandise.”

“Young Declan,” I could hear the condescension in her voice, “I will ensure they have ProV8 materials only, nothing to reference either Ford or Holden.”

“I just don’t think I can make it, I’m afraid.” I was still trying to be polite, but my voice was cold.

“Oh, that is a shame. Especially when it’s such a worthy cause. Those poor sick children.”

I knew I was going to regret it as soon as the thought came to mind, but I had to ask. “What kids?”

“The money is for the children’s hospital. They’re raising money to help save the lives of children and babies. You know Danny loves that it when you show your support for those sorts of causes.”

I pulled the phone away from my face and let loose a stream of vitriol. With a growl, I banged the fist that held my phone against my forehead. How the fuck was I supposed to say no to something that would help the people who helped my baby? Who had saved her life? “Fine,” I murmured into the phone. Generally I would have ran this past Sinclair’s PR team, but I was certain they’d be too busy with the Bahrain race to worry about what I was doing. Plus, how could they disagree? So long as it was generic ProV8 items, there wasn’t any bad publicity that could come from a fundraiser for a children’s hospital.

“Wonderful news,” Paige said, her voice full of quiet confidence, as if she’d expected that result all along. She probably had. Manipulative bitch. “I have two spare tickets at the table. I’m sure, based on your
reputation
, that you shouldn’t have too much trouble finding someone to attend with you. We can’t have our leading man turn up alone, after all.”

I gritted my teeth. “First, I’m not your ‘leading man,’ and don’t worry I won’t be alone. Just send the details through to my phone.”

“Absolutely,” Paige’s delighted voice was as soft and creepy as her persuasive tone.

“Is that all?” I asked.

“Yes. Although I do wish you would reconsider my offer? I know you’d be very happy here, and we would definitely benefit from your unique talents.”

“Thanks, but no thanks. I’ll help out for charity, but that’s it. I’ve told you, I’m still Sinclair through and through.”

“Such loyalty.” She chuckled before disconnecting the call.

“Fuck!” I shouted into the empty room, my temporary state of undress forgotten. My phone beeped and I noticed I had a missed call from Ben’s number. Ten minutes earlier. He must have called just as Paige had.

Shit. Fuck. Damn.

It meant that Alyssa was already on her way and I had about twenty minutes to finish getting ready. I spent another couple of minutes giving Ben a quick call back to apologise and thank him for helping out. I ended the call asking how Alyssa was when she’d left.

Ben laughed. “She was a bit pissed about the car you got.”

I joined in with his laughter, easily able to picture the look on her face when the hot pink stretch Hummer rolled up in front of Ben and Jade’s house.

“And can I just say wow! You should see her. If I wasn’t married . . .” He gave a low whistle. I heard Jade laughing in the background.

After hearing Ben’s words, I was even more excited to see Alyssa. She was beautiful to me anyway, but I had a feeling tonight she would look extra special. I pulled on the tuxedo as quickly as I could. Then I checked everything in the ballroom one last time before walking down the stairs to the lobby. My original intention was to wait near the staircase, but because I was so anxious to see her, I soon moved just outside the entrance to greet her there instead. As the minutes dragged on, I kept edging closer to the road until I was standing right next to the bellhop who was helping people from their vehicles.

Fidgeting with my suit, playing with the bowtie around my neck, and raking my hands through my hair, I counted the seconds as I waited for her. When the huge pink monstrosity turned off the street to head to the hotel, I couldn’t stop myself from leaping forward, knowing that my heart rested inside. I had the door open the instant it stopped.

When I saw Alyssa, my breath caught. She was too beautiful for words. As I helped her from the Hummer I noticed just how soft and silken the floor-length dress was. The colour made her skin appear almost luminous. The material clung tightly to her body, showing off her curves and leaving nothing to the imagination. I could already envisage peeling it off her later. Her hair was swept up into a loose bun, some curls falling loosely around her face. Her make-up was light and natural.

Once we were both on the footpath, I guided her into my hold before sweeping one hand from her shoulders to her thighs. “Fuck, Alyssa, you look—” I struggled to find the appropriate sentiment. “Fuck.”

She flushed a deep shade of crimson before she looked me over. “You look great too, Dec.” She eyed the hotel apprehensively. She whispered, “What are we doing
here
?”

“I’m exorcising my demons, and humbly requesting a do-over.” I held out my arm to her. When she linked her arms around it, I led her into the hotel.

Ignoring the looks from the staff and other visitors, I headed straight for the stairs and walked her into our private function in the ballroom. As soon as the doors opened the sounds of Chicago’s “Hard for me to Say I’m Sorry”
filled the room.

She glanced around her in awe. “What is this?” she asked in a hushed tone.

“I wanted to tell you what you mean to me. To show you what you’ve
always
meant to me.”

“What do you mean?” She looked up at me, her eyes soft and trusting. I led her to the enclosed dance floor, pushing the curtains out of the way. They fell back in place around us, wrapping us in their soft cocoon. I pulled her close and began to slow dance with her while the words I needed to say played around us.

I looked into her eyes. “I never told you that this is what it felt like when we danced at the school formal.”

She cocked her head to the side but remained silent.

“Just the two of us. In our own little world. Everything else around us just . . . faded away.” I pointed to the gossamer curtains, explaining their relevance.

“I . . . I don’t know what to say,” she whispered. Tears deepened the brown in her eyes, but she was smiling widely.

“You don’t have to
say
anything. Let’s just dance for a while, shall we?”

She nodded and then rested her head on my shoulder.

I tucked her even closer into me, until her hair brushed softly across my cheek. The song ended and the next one began. Song after song came on as we danced in our own little circle, never breaking contact. I didn’t know if Alyssa realised the significance of the playlist. Each song was a message of apology, or a promise that I wasn’t going anywhere.

We swayed to our own unique beat regardless of the tempo of the music. I closed my eyes and allowed everything else to fall away. The rhythm of our synchronised breathing was more beautiful than any sounds musicians could compile.

Finally, it was the time in the playlist for “The Reason” by Hoobastank. It was the message I wanted to deliver more than anything else. I whispered the lyrics against Alyssa’s hair, trying to impart to her exactly how much I meant them. I felt small sobs wrack her body as the words reached her. When I got to the chorus, I pulled back and stared into her eyes.

Our bodies stopped moving as we pulled back and stared into each other’s souls. I felt that some part of me was repairing slowly. That some place that had gone dark years ago was filling with light. I could only hope Alyssa felt the same way.