Take Me. Cherry Adair

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      “Anything.”

      Lust at first sight. The attraction she felt for this man was undeniable. But then what was not to attract? He was unbearably handsome, strong, powerful, wealthy and, most dangerous of all, he needed her. The attraction was obviously not reciprocated in the least. However, Cinderella hadn’t complained when her prince whipped her out of the kitchen.

      “How do I know you’re on the level?” Oh, please, be serious.

      He pulled a business card from his wafer-thin leather wallet and a cell phone from his overcoat pocket. “Here’s my lawyer’s card. Call him, confirm who I am, ask about my uncle’s ultimatum.”

      Jessie took the card. She was nuts, she was crazy, she was out of her mind for even considering his proposition…. What did she have to lose?

      She reached for the phone and began punching in the numbers before she thought to ask, “What’s your name?”

      “Joshua Falcon.”

      The man on the other end of the phone was not happy to be woken by a lunatic stranger at midnight. Jessie stumbled through enough questions to confirm that Joshua Falcon was who he said he was, and was richer than Croesus.

      The lawyer wanted to talk to Mr. Falcon. Right now. Jessie handed him the phone and slumped back, openly eavesdropping.

      Watching her, he spoke into the phone. “You’re damn right I’m serious.” He listened for a while. “In a diner on the California-Nevada border.” He looked over at her, his pale eyes narrowing. “Why wouldn’t she? She’s probably getting minimum wage and living in a cramped apartment with her cat. I’ll fax a copy of the marriage license and bring the original to your office later.” There was a short pause. His laugh made Jessie shiver. “No honeymoon. I’ll have her call you back to make arrangements for the settlement.”

      Joshua listened. “No need for sarcasm. She’s worth more than her weight in gold. Oh, and Felix? Call Simon as soon as you get my fax.” There was a long pause as he listened. “All right,” he agreed with some reluctance. “Take the Lear and meet us at the courthouse in Reno at nine. You can hand deliver the marriage certificate to my uncle.”

      He folded the compact phone and stuffed it into his pocket.

      “I don’t have a cat.”

      “I beg your pardon?”

      “I said I don’t—”

      “That was rhetorical. Get your coat,” he said, impatiently buttoning his own. He tossed a twenty on the table.

      “I don’t have a coat, either.”

      “You don’t have a coat?”

      “Gee, is there an echo in here?”

      Scowling, he removed his coat and tossed it to her. “Put this on and let’s get this over with.”

      “Wow, you certainly know how to bowl a girl over with sweet talk.” The wool coat smelled of him. It was thick and dark, and held the scent of potent male and fresh citrusy cologne. Jessie’s insides turned to mush. She had that standing-on-the-highest-diving-board feeling. Exhilarating, thrilling terror.

      “Christ.” He watched as she turned off lights. “I must be more tired and desperate than I thought.”

      Jessie froze with the keys in her hand. “Listen, bub, I didn’t come in here on my knees begging you, did I? Make up your mind.” The keys dug into her soft palm. “Well?” She glared at him. “Do you want to marry me or not?”

      He looked down at her. “God help me. Yes.”

      AT 9:45, Joshua slapped the marriage certificate into the hands of his lawyer, Felix Montgomery.

      At 9:46, he walked out of the courthouse.

      He did not look at Jessie once.

      Prince Charming didn’t even kiss the bride.

      1

      December

       Seven Years Later

      PARTY GUESTS, dressed in holiday finery, ebbed and flowed through Simon Falcon’s home. From a safe distance, Jessie watched her husband scan the festive throng with pale, bored eyes. Born to wear the stark black tux and crisp pleated shirt, every immaculate inch of him screamed wealth and bone-deep self-confidence. With his aristocratic features and go-to-hell eyes, he was like a king surveying his kingdom. And the dangerous edge of his sex appeal was universal enough to make every female head turn.

      Seven years hadn’t changed him. But she’d changed considerably. No way would Joshua recognize the woman he only knew as his absentee waitress-wife, Vera. And only she knew her sophistication was nothing more than a thin patina. Her standards were now extremely, and friends told her, unreasonably, high. So be it. She was perfectly content with her life just the way it was, thank you very much. There was only one thing she wanted from Joshua Falcon.

      Their marriage had given him control of Falcon International. Now it was her turn to get something she desperately wanted from their marriage.

      More than anything on earth, Jessie wanted a child.

      And Joshua was going to make that dream come true.

      He’d promised to give her whatever she wanted more than anything else in the world.

      Now she was collecting.

      A couple of months ago Jessie had instructed her lawyer to inform her husband she was ready to make her request. Joshua had complied immediately. He’d offered to pay for the insemination process at the in-vitro fertilization clinic of Vera’s choosing.

      Jessie wasn’t sure what she’d expected him to do. But sending her off to a clinic to accept some stranger’s donation wasn’t it! The whole point here was that she wanted her husband’s baby.

      The good news was he obviously had no interest in children, nor did he want anything to do with any progeny. Which was fine and dandy with Jessie. What he didn’t want, he wouldn’t take away.

      She squared her shoulders and took a fortifying sip of wine. Exhilaration made her heart pump harder. She resisted the urge to run her hands over her hips to make sure the silk jersey wasn’t bunched anywhere, then righted the circlet of holly she’d woven into a wreath for her hair. Feeling like a gunslinger checking his holster, she choked back a laugh.

      The smile died on her lips as she caught Joshua’s gaze, holding it, although it took every ounce of her newfound sophistication to do so. Her chin lifted a notch and she saw his lips twitch. Their eyes locked as he started across the room toward her. Blood pounded in her ears. Forty feet…thirty feet…don’t talk to him, lady!…eighteen feet…

      Joshua was taller, fitter, better looking than any other man in the room. Her heart pounded so hard she barely felt the individual beats. Everything about him assaulted her senses as he moved inexorably toward her. Adrenaline raced in effervescent bubbles through her bloodstream. The wine was СКАЧАТЬ