His Stolen Bride (Chicago Sons) (14 page)

“This is better,” he said. “So much better.” And then he claimed her mouth.

Their naked bodies pressed tight together. She could feel every ripple of his chest, every shift of his thighs. His palms moved down her back, over her rear, smoothing the backs of her thighs.

She moved her feet apart, arching against him, a throbbing insistence growing at her core.

“Oh, Crista,” he moaned, burrowing his face in her neck, kissing the tender skin, his hands kneading her fluid muscles.

“I can’t wait,” she told him.

He produced a condom.

Seconds later he cupped her rear and lifted her up. She twined her legs around his waist, reveling in the friction between them. He kissed her, his tongue teasing her mouth. Her hands tightened around him, gripping hard as he pushed inside, completing them.

She moaned at the instantaneous raw sensations. This wasn’t merely pleasant. It wasn’t merely nice. It was brilliant and intense, breathtakingly wonderful. Ripples of ecstasy radiated through her. He’d barely begun, and she was flying away, flying off in a million directions. Colors exploded in her mind, and she cried out his name and catapulted over the edge.

He stilled, giving her time to breathe.

“I’m sorry,” she managed, embarrassed at her hair trigger.

“For what this time?” he rumbled.

“I didn’t mean… I don’t know what happened. I’m not…” She wasn’t usually like this.

He stopped her with a kiss. “That was amazing. I’m honored. And we can start all over now.” There was a chuckle in his voice. “Maybe you’ll do better next time.”

She was about to tell him next time never happened. It never had. When she was done, she was done. But she’d be patient with him. He didn’t need to—

His thumb brushed her nipple, and her body zinged back to life. Then he kissed her mouth, and the glow grew inside her.

Curious, she touched her tongue with his.

“Oh, my,” she muttered.

He flexed his hips, moving against her.

Arousal teased her stomach, moving along her thighs.

She answered his thrusts, losing track of time all over again. Their lovemaking went on and on, and he took her to unimaginable heights, all but shattering her soul.

Afterward, they fell onto the bed together, him on top, her tangled around him. She couldn’t move. She wasn’t even sure she could breathe. She certainly couldn’t talk, even though she wanted to tell him he was fantastic and she’d never had lovemaking like that.

Minutes slipped past while they both dragged in deep breaths.

He finally broke the silence.

“That,” he said, “was all of my dreams combined.”

Crista’s chest went tight. Warmth radiated within her. She didn’t know what happened next. She’d worry about that later. For now, all she wanted out of life was to bask in the glow of Jackson.

* * *

As Crista nestled against his shoulder, Jackson kept her held tight. All he could think about was how close he’d come to missing this moment. If he’d hesitated outside the church, if he’d let her walk through the door, if he hadn’t grabbed her in that split second, she’d be married to Gerhard by now and forever out of his reach.

He’d settled a blanket around them, his instinct to cocoon them together. Faraway shouts from the pool below made their way through the window. He watched as the fan blades whirled slowly above them, dispersing the fresh outside air.

He wanted to order some champagne, maybe some strawberries. He wanted to lounge in her bed for hours, laughing with her, teasing her, asking about her childhood, her friends, her jewelry designs. But he knew he didn’t have that luxury. He’d put this conversation off too long already.

She needed to know she was a multimillionaire and that Gerhard was after her money.

“The Borezone Mine,” he whispered in her ear.

She tilted her head to glance at him, blinking her gorgeous eyes as her lips curved into a smile. “That wasn’t what I expected you to say.”

He brushed a lock of hair from her forehead. “You need to hear again that you were fantastic? Because you were fantastic.”

She shook her head, her hair brushing his chest and shoulder. It felt good.

“But we have to have this conversation. Have you ever heard of the Borezone Mine?”

“No.”

“I’m not surprised. A few years ago, some shares of the Borezone Mine were put into your name.”

She didn’t answer. Instead, she propped her head up on her elbow, looking curious. “Was it an accident?”

“I doubt it. But that doesn’t really matter. The point is you own them.”

“How do you know that?” she asked.

“Mac discovered it.” Jackson hoped he wouldn’t have to mention her father.

“Okay.” Her tone was searching. “Should I give them back?”

“No.”

“I don’t understand your point.”

Jackson pulled himself into a sitting position. “Thing is, Gerhard knows about your shares.”

Her forehead wrinkled. “How does he know about them?”

“I’m not sure,” Jackson answered honestly.

She sat up, tucking the blanket around her. “I think I know what must have happened.”

“You do?” Jackson braced himself.

“It had to be my father.”

Jackson was surprised at how quickly she’d worked it out.

But instead of angry, her tone turned worried. “Is it an illegal mine?”

“No. It’s nothing illegal. The mine is in northern Canada. It’s perfectly legitimate.”

“If my father is involved in something, it’ll be a scam.”

“We need to talk about Gerhard.”

She was clearly becoming impatient. “Do we have to? Really?” She spread her arms. “Right now?”

“He knows about the mine, Crista.”

“So what?”

“So, he wants to get his hands on your shares. That’s what this is all about.”

She blinked for a moment, clearly parsing through the information. “Are you suggesting Vern was marrying me for a mine?”

“I—”

“Are you saying he felt nothing for me?” She suddenly sounded angry. She bounced from the bed, draping the blanket around herself. “Why would you say that?”

“I want you to be safe.”

“It was something, Jackson. I’m not that naive. He wasn’t faking our entire relationship.”

Jackson realized he’d made a colossal error. He couldn’t have picked a worse time to have this conversation.

“Let me start over,” he said. “Or better still, forget it for now. We can talk about this later. I am starving.”

“Oh, no.” She vehemently shook her head. “I want you to finish telling me how my fiancé suckered me and strung me along for a year to get his hands on a few shares in some mine.”

“I want you to be safe,” said Jackson. “This is all about you staying safe.”

“Since the wedding’s off—thanks to you, by the way—I don’t see how I’m not safe.”

“Gerhard is not a nice man.”

She lifted her chin but didn’t answer.

“And neither is his father. The entire family is shady. We think they tried to bribe city councillors for building permits. Mac is checking into it now. And as long as you have shares in the Borezone diamond mine, you could be a target.”

“It’s a diamond mine?”

“Yes.”

“It has to be a mistake.”

“It’s not a mistake,” said Jackson. “It’s easily verifiable.”

Her anger seemed to switch back to confusion. “But the Gerhards don’t need money. The last thing in the world that family needs is more money.”

“I can’t say I disagree with that.”

“So why would they care about anything I have?”

“They do.”

“That’s your theory.”

“You’re right,” he said. “It is a theory. But I know I’m right. They won’t go away. They’ll try every trick in the book to reacquire you.”

“
Reacquire
me?” Her tone was incredulous.

“You have to trust me.”

She sat down on the edge of the bed. “Why did you make love to me?”

The question took him by surprise. He wasn’t sure what she was driving at, so he didn’t know how to answer.

He went with the truth. “Because I couldn’t stop myself.”

She frowned. “You tried to stop yourself?”

“Not today I didn’t.” He reached for her hand, but she tugged it away.

“Are you after the diamond mine, Jackson? Is that why you’ve stuck around all this time?”

“I am not after your mine.” He hated that she had to ask. “The mine has nothing to do with you and me.”

“Apparently it has everything to do with you and me.”

“I’m here to keep you safe, full stop.”

“You don’t even know me.”

“That’s not true. I didn’t know you. That day at the church, I didn’t know you. But now I know you. And I care about you. And I am not about to stand by and let the Gerhards get their hooks into you.”

“They can have the stupid mine,” she snapped. “I don’t want it. I don’t care.”

“You should. It will help you get your business back.”

“How? Why is this so important?”

“They’re criminals, Crista. And they have absolutely no right to that mine or—”

“I don’t care,” she cried.

“Crista.” His tone was hard, but he needed to get her attention.

“What?”

“That mine is worth a hundred million dollars. And you own 40 percent.”

The color drained from her face. Her shoulders dropped. Then her arms wrapped protectively around her stomach.

Silence ticked by, but he was afraid to speak. He didn’t know what to say, and he didn’t want to make it any worse.

“That’s not possible.” Her voice was small.

He wrapped a gentle hand over her shoulder. “To Gerhard, you represent forty million dollars.”

The words sank in. “He didn’t want a prenup.” She tipped her chin to look at Jackson. “I thought that meant he trusted me.”

Jackson gave in to his urge and pulled her protectively into his arms. “That’s what he wanted you to think. You’re a kind, trusting person.”

She smacked her hand ineffectively against Jackson’s chest. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just did.”

“Why didn’t you tell me before?”

“You wouldn’t even believe he was cheating on you. I needed you to trust me first.”

“I don’t trust you now.”

“I know, but I couldn’t wait any longer. When I saw him out there at the pool, I knew it was time for some hard truths.”

“It’s been two hours since you saw him at the pool.”

“I know that, too.” Jackson spoke huskily, tightening his embrace. “But I figured you were safe with me.”

“Plus, you wanted to get me naked before you confessed.”

“Should I apologize for that?”

“Are you sorry?”

“I’m not remotely sorry for making love with you.”

“The mine has to be a scam,” she said with conviction. “It’s my father. He wants people to believe it has a lot of value, but it will turn out to be worthless.”

Jackson knew differently, but he didn’t want to fight about it. He could show her copies of the share certificates, but she might think they were faked. It was better to wait and have Reginald take her to an official government office.

“Even if it is a scam,” he said. “Gerhard believes it’s true. That’s the problem.”

“He can’t steal something I don’t have.”

“He can hurt you while he tries.”

“I’ll stay away from him,” she said.

“Good decision. Give me the benefit of the doubt, and I’ll show you final proof when we get back to Chicago.”

“All right. I’ll believe it when I see it,” she said.

“Fair enough.”

Her brow furrowed. “I think that means your job will be done.”

“My job will be done,” he agreed.

“Will you leave?” She tipped her chin to look up at him, obviously struggling to be brave but seeming vulnerable.

“I’m not leaving.”

He was very, very far from leaving. His job might be done, but that didn’t mean he was ready to walk away. Not from Crista. Not by a long shot.

CHAPTER NINE

“A
ll I need to do is to find a new normal,” Crista said from where she stood on the edge of the green on the resort’s par-three golf course. Her life might be in chaos, but with a little effort she could sort it out.

“I’m normal,” said Ellie, lining up her long putt. “And you can stay with me as long as you like.”

“Concentrate,” Mac told Ellie.

They were on the fifth hole. Jackson and Crista were ahead by four strokes. Their lead was thanks to Jackson. Crista could putt fairly well, but her drives were terrible. Conversely, Ellie could send the ball arcing beautifully down the fairway, but her accuracy on the green was abysmal.

“I am concentrating,” she said to Mac.

“You’re giving Crista life advice.”

“I’m multitasking.” Ellie hit the ball, sending it wide past the hole to the far side of the green.

Mac groaned.

“Don’t know my own strength,” said Ellie. “Not sure why you’d be in a rush to find a new place to rent,” she said to Crista.

“Why rent?” asked Jackson as he placed his ball. “The market’s good right now. You should buy.”

“Why is he allowed to give advice and putt?” asked Ellie.

“Because he knows what he’s doing,” said Mac.

“And he’s not your partner,” said Ellie with a saucy smirk.

“That’s true,” said Mac.

Jackson sank the putt.

“But mostly it’s because he knows what he’s doing,” Mac finished.

“And I don’t take orders from him,” Jackson joked, removing his ball from the fifth hole.

“Neither do I,” said Ellie.

“That much is clear,” said Mac.

Crista moved to her ball marker, replacing it with her ball. “I’d take orders,” she said. “If they were good ones. It’s not like I’ve made great decisions on my own lately.”

“Buy a house,” said Jackson. “A fixer-upper with good long-term property value. It won’t cost much now, and you’ll make a nice profit in a few years.”

“I don’t have a down payment,” said Crista, eyeing the line to the hole and the slope of the green.

“She gets to talk while she putts,” Ellie stage-whispered to Mac.

“Because Jackson doesn’t care if they win.”

“You’re way too competitive.”

“Jackson’s a wuss,” said Mac.

Crista couldn’t help but smile at the exchange. On the golf course or anywhere else, Jackson was anything but a wuss.

She drew back and hit the ball. It bobbled through a hollow but then sank straight into the hole.

“Nice,” said Mac.

Ellie elbowed him in the ribs.

He grabbed her, spun her to him and kissed her soundly on the lips. “Keep quiet while I putt.”

Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes dazed. “Yes, sir.”

“You’re killing me.” He kissed her again.

“You own a multimillion-dollar mine,” Jackson said to Crista as Mac tromped onto the green. “A down payment is not going to be a problem.”

“I’m not going anywhere near that mine,” she said with a definitive shake of her head.

“You’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m being smart. Everything my father touches turns to garbage.”

“It’s legit,” Mac called out.

“It might look legit,” said Crista. “Trust me, the FBI will be at my door soon enough.”

“Reginald can confirm its authenticity,” said Jackson.

“Reginald is doing enough for me already. Besides, asking a bunch of questions will only alert the authorities that much sooner. I’ve got enough to worry about right now without getting involved in one of my father’s schemes. I’m ignoring the stupid mine, and I want you to do the same.” She stared hard at him, waiting for his confirmation.

His expression stayed perfectly neutral.

“Jackson,” she pressed in a warning tone.

“Fine. No Reginald.”

“He’s in jail.”

“Reginald?” asked Jackson.

“Very funny. My father is in jail for fraud and forgery.”

“I know. We did our research. Nice shot, Mac.”

Mac headed off the green, while Ellie returned.

“It doesn’t give you pause,” Crista asked Jackson, “that my father’s a forger and a con artist?”

“My dad’s done time, too,” he said, his gaze on Ellie as she lined up.

“Seriously?” Crista had never known anyone else with a criminal parent.

“Embezzlement. He was arrested when I was thirteen. I don’t visit him. I don’t really like to talk about it.”

“Does it bother you?”

“Not on a day-to-day basis.”

“Do you worry you might be like him?” Crista worried about that for herself. She had half Trent’s genetics. The other half was from her mother, who had married a con man. And now Crista had almost married a con man. That might be the most unnerving part of all.

“Do I seem like a criminal to you?” Jackson asked, an edge to his voice.

“I guess not. I mean, you’re on the other side of crime. You fight it. Then again, that’s still a bit of an obsession with the criminal world.”

“Your confidence is inspiring.”

“I’m only trying to be honest.”

“I’m not a criminal, Crista. And neither are you. Our fathers made their own choices—bad choices, obviously. But we’re not them.”

“My mother married him,” she pointed out.

“You didn’t marry Gerhard.”

Ellie missed the putt but got a little closer to the hole.

“I’m not buying a house,” said Crista.

“I hate to see you spend your money on rent, especially since you’ll be trying to build your business.”

“I’ll manage.”

“Every penny you spend on rent is a penny you can’t plow into Cristal Creations.”

“It’s still the most practical solution,” she said.

“It might be a solution, but it’s not practical.”

“It’s every bit as practical as buying a house.”

“Real estate is a capital asset,” said Jackson.

Ellie sank her putt. She let out a whoop and hoisted her putter in the air.

Crista grinned at her joy.

“See what happens when you concentrate,” Mac called to Ellie, loping toward her.

Crista started for her clubs.

Jackson suddenly grasped her hand and pulled her back. “Hang on.”

“What?”

“I have a better idea.”

“I don’t want to hear about it.”

“It’s a very good idea.”

She turned, letting out a sigh of exasperation. “Can’t we just golf?”

“Come live with me,” he said.

She blinked at him in astonishment, certain she couldn’t have heard him right.

“I’ve got three bedrooms.” His expression turned reflective. “I mean, not that I’m suggesting you’d need your own bedroom. I like sleeping with you. In fact, I love sleeping with you. I’d seriously like to continue sleeping with you, Crista.”

She replayed his offer in her head, looking for the punch line.

“It’s a great plan,” he said, his gaze darting around her expression. “Gerhard would absolutely leave you alone if I was in the picture. And, really…you know…” His eyes lost focus. He had obviously gone deep into thought.

“Jackson?” she prompted.

When he didn’t respond, she waved her hand in front of his face.

“I’ve got the solution,” he said. “It’s so simple.”

“I’m not moving in with you.”

They barely knew each other. Jackson had wandered ridiculously far afield in his ramblings.

“Marry me,” he said, grasping both of her hands, his expression turning earnest.

She opened her mouth. Then she closed it again. “Uh, earth to Jackson?”

“It’s perfect,” he said in what looked like complete seriousness.

“Mac,” she called out. “Something’s gone terribly wrong with Jackson.”

“What is it?” asked Mac, immediately starting toward them.

“Vegas,” said Jackson, still looking straight into Crista’s eyes. “We can take Tuck’s jet to Vegas.”

“Has he ever done this before?” she asked Mac.

Mac halted next to them. “Done what?”

“I’m proposing to her,” said Jackson.

“Then, no,” said Mac. “He’s never done that before.”

Ellie arrived in the circle. “What’s going on?”

Mac answered, “Jackson asked Crista to marry him.”

Ellie’s face broke into a bright smile. “
Really?
”

Crista turned on her. “Be serious.”

Ellie schooled her features, lowering her tone. “Really?”

“No, not really,” Crista snapped. “He’s joking. Or he’s gone round the bend. At the moment, my money’s on round the bend.”

“Are you all done?” asked Jackson, looking normal again.

“Is it over?” asked Crista. “Your fit of insanity or whatever that was?”

“It’s a perfect plan,” said Jackson. “If you’re married to me, then Gerhard is forced to give up and go away.”

Neither Ellie nor Mac disputed the logic.

“Perfect plan,” Crista drawled sarcastically. “What could possibly go wrong? Oh, wait. I’d be
married
to a man I barely know.”

“For a good cause,” said Mac.

Crista turned on Mac. “You’re actually going to encourage him?”

“You can divorce me if it doesn’t work out,” said Jackson.

“It’s not going to work out,” she said, an edge of hysteria coming into her voice. “Because it’s never going to happen.”

He continued as if she hadn’t spoken. “Just like they do in a regular marriage.”

It occurred to her that she was being had. She glanced from one man to the other. “Is this a joke? Are you messing with me? Do you guys do this kind of thing all the time?”

They looked at each other.

“No,” said Jackson. “I don’t make a habit of proposing to women. I’d sure never do it as a joke.”

She tugged her hands from his. “Fine. Whatever.” She paced away and called back over her shoulder, “I’m going to tee off on six. Anybody coming with me?”

“I’m coming,” called Ellie.

In a moment, Ellie was walking beside her.

“What was that?” Ellie asked.

“We were talking about rent and real estate. Next thing I knew, he was off the deep end. I should buy a house. No, I should live with him. No, I should marry him.”

Ellie giggled.

“This isn’t funny,” said Crista.

“It is a little bit funny.”

“No…” said Crista. “Okay, sure, it’s a little bit funny.” And there was some in the idea of marrying Jackson to keep Vern out of her life. “In an ironic way,” she allowed.

“He must like you.”

“Sure, he likes me. And he likes sleeping with me. Who wouldn’t—” Crista stopped herself. She had been about to say the sex between them had been mind-blowing, both last night and again this morning.

“It was that good?” asked Ellie, a thread of laughter in her voice.

“We wouldn’t get tired of the sex anytime soon,” Crista admitted.

“I wouldn’t get tired of Mac, either.”

Crista stopped. “You had sex with Mac?”

“Why do you think he was there for breakfast?”

“I thought he came by this morning looking for Jackson.”

Crista and Jackson had fallen asleep last night before Ellie had come back to the suite.

“You’re not the only hot one, you know.”

“I didn’t mean—”

But Ellie was laughing. “Mac’s pretty great. And he thinks the world of Jackson.”

“Jackson seems pretty great, too,” Crista said honestly.

“But you’re not going to marry him?”

“What sane woman would do that?”

“Will you live with him?”

“No.”

“It could be platonic.”

“It wouldn’t be platonic.” Of that, Crista was certain.

“I’ve only got a sofa for you.”

“Your sofa will be fine.” They came to the sixth tee box, and Crista stopped. “Your sofa will be perfect. I am putting this crazy week—no, this crazy
year
—behind me. As soon as Reginald works out the details, I’ll get to work on rebuilding Cristal Creations, and then I’ll find myself a new apartment.”

She selected the three wood, pushed a tee into the grass and proceeded to hit the longest drive of her life.

* * *

“The marriage proposal was out of left field,” Mac observed the next day. They were back in Chicago at Jackson’s house. Crista had moved in with Ellie, her belongings going to a storage unit in the morning.

“It wasn’t the worst idea in the world,” Jackson countered.

“It kind of was.”

Maybe.
But had Jackson pulled it off, it would have solved a whole lot of problems. And, truth was, the more time he spent with Crista, the more time he wanted to spend with Crista.

“You barely know her,” said Mac.

“I know her better than she knew Gerhard.”

“I’m not sure I see your point.”

“My point is, she agreed to marry him, and he was lying to her from day one.”

“That logic borders on the bizarre,” said Mac. “You do know you’re getting a little too close on this one.”

“You think?” Even now as Jackson glanced around his living room, all he could think was how Crista would look good in the leather armchair, or on the sofa, or at the dining room table.

It wasn’t clear what happened next between them. He was leaning toward inviting her over for dinner, a simple date. He’d break out the candles and wine, maybe order some flowers, do by stealth what he couldn’t do with candor and get her to spend a night, or two or three.

“It may be time to move on,” said Mac.

“It’s not time to move on.”

“She knows the score. She’s not going to give the guy the time of day.”

Jackson would agree on that front. But he still didn’t trust Gerhard. And his gut said they didn’t yet have all the pieces.

“It you want to date her, date her,” said Mac. “But stop pretending you still need to protect her.”

Jackson’s phone rang.

He answered. “Hey, Tuck.”

“We got it done,” said Tuck.

“Cristal Creations?”

“Yes. They drove a hard bargain. Vern Gerhard would have walked, but the old man took double the estimated market value.”

“Good.”

“I hope she’s worth it.”

“She is,” said Jackson. “Does she know yet?”

“Our Bahamian guy is calling Reginald right now.”

“Reginald won’t know Tucker Transportation’s behind the purchase?”

“He won’t. Do you want him to know?”

“No. And Dixon’s okay with this?”