The Secret Son's Homecoming. Helen Lacey

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СКАЧАТЬ and life on the big O’Sullivan ranch. And through all those years, they knew nothing about him. He was a guilty secret. A side note to his father’s perfect life. Until Liam had eloped with Kayla Rickard and everything had been blown out of the water in spectacular fashion.

      Now, he was a part of them, drawn into their lives without his consent and feeling resistance with every fiber he possessed. Tied by blood but always the outsider, destined to be the illegitimate and unwanted son of J. D. O’Sullivan.

      He shook off his thoughts and headed down the hallway and into the front living room. He’d been inside the house a couple of times, and since Gwen had decided she wanted to get a place in town and Kieran and his new bride planned on moving in, he figured his invitations would soon become more frequent. Nicola had custody of her two orphaned nephews, and Jonah had to admit the ranch would be a great place for the kids to grow up.

      Jonah came to a halt in the doorway, spotting Connie by the window. She was staring out, clearly looking for some time alone. He was about to turn and leave when she said his name and turned slightly.

      “I didn’t mean to disturb you,” he said quickly. “I was looking for some—”

      “Downtime?” she suggested, cutting him off. “Me, too. Don’t get me wrong, I love weddings, but once everything is done and the bride and groom are relaxed and happy, I always seem to need a little time-out.”

      He took a couple of steps into the room. “How many of these things have you helped organize?”

      Her mouth twisted in a smile. “A few.”

      Jonah let out a breath and took another step. “Don’t you ever get tired of it?”

      “Tired of what?”

      “Doing things for everyone else.”

      She turned fully to face him, and he was struck by how effortlessly beautiful she was. Even with her tightly coiffed hair, purple dress and perfect makeup...there was a naturalness about her that affected him on a kind of primal level. He tried to ignore it, tried to deny it—but there was no denying the truth. He was hot for Connie Bedford. Raging hot. And he didn’t know what the hell to do about it. He’d never been at the mercy of his libido before.

      “I’ve always considered it a privilege to do things for others.”

      He laughed humorlessly. “God, you’re naive.”

      “Because I like to help people?”

      “Because you let people walk all over you.”

      She moved, taking a couple of long strides. “Like who?”

      “Liam,” he said pointedly.

      “He’s my employer,” she shot back.

      “Didn’t you look after his kid last night?” Jonah reminded her. “Is babysitting in your job description, too?”

      “They had trouble finding a replacement sitter on short notice and the whole family was at the rehearsal dinner.”

      “I know,” he said and moved to stand behind the couch, watching her, fascinated as her cheeks scorched with color. “I was there.”

      “So, you know the whole story.”

      “I know my brother takes advantage of you. I know you pick up J.D.’s dry cleaning. I know you do errands for Gwen O’Sullivan.”

      She moved closer, until there was only the sofa between them, her chest heaving. Jonah tried his best not to stare, but she was damned impossible to ignore. He’d had his fair share of relationships and lovers, but he couldn’t ever remember wanting a woman the way he wanted Connie.

      “Obviously you’ve never done an unselfish thing in your life.”

      “It’s not unselfish to refuse to become someone’s doormat,” he offered.

      Her hands jerked to her hips in dramatic fashion. “I think that’s the most insulting thing anyone has ever said to me.”

      “Then you’ve lived a sheltered life.”

      “I’d rather that than be mean-spirited and unpleasant. I can’t believe you’re actually related to the O’Sullivans.”

      Jonah rocked back a little on his heels. “You’re not the only one.”

      “You’re not fit to wipe their boots.”

      Irritation kerneled in his chest and Jonah was suddenly all out of patience. Her blind faith in the O’Sullivans was astounding. “No need to...not when you’re at their beck and call day and night.”

      She glared at him. “I don’t know how I ever...ever...”

      Her words trailed off. “How you what?” he shot back. “Ended up in my hotel room with your tongue in my mouth and—”

      “You’re such a jerk,” she said, cutting him off. “How do you sleep at night?”

      He raised a brow. “If you’d stayed in my bed that night, you would have found out.”

       Chapter Two

      Connie shook her head. “You’re such a conceited ass. Bailing was the smartest thing I’ve ever done.”

      He scowled, clearly not liking the fact that she was laughing at him. “Speaking the truth doesn’t make me conceited, Con—” He stopped and she knew he fought hard to check himself. “I mean, Miss Bedford. Your dedication to the O’Sullivans might seem honorable, but it also makes me wonder why. Money doesn’t appear to be your motive. Or power, since you’ve worked for Liam for five years and the old man before that. I don’t know...maybe you’re infatuated with one of them.”

      Connie took a moment to absorb his words. And then she laughed. “Really? That’s your theory on my loyalty?”

      He shrugged, then tugged at his collar. “It makes sense. You and Liam spend a lot of time together,” he said quietly. “It explains your devotion and utter compliance to everything he says and does.”

      If she didn’t know better, she could have sworn that he was actually jealous. But that made no sense. They were nothing to one another. “Beside the fact that he’s married and that Kayla and your brother are very happy together, Liam is my boss. And my friend. But since you probably don’t have any friends, I wouldn’t expect you to understand.”

      Now he laughed, a soft, deeply resonant chuckle that affected her deep down. She hated that he could do that. In fact, she despised everything about him, deciding that sexual attraction definitely had nothing to do with actually liking someone.

      “Have I pushed a button?”

      “I wouldn’t let you close enough to push my buttons.”

      “Now, we both know that’s not entirely true,” he said quietly, his dark hair shining beneath the light, his blue СКАЧАТЬ