A Merry Vested Wedding - Melanie Moreland Page 0,47
me.
“Nothing much to tell, really. I’m pretty boring.”
“I find that hard to believe.” He smiled, lifting one eyebrow. “You may be at the beginning of your story, Ms. VanRyan, but I doubt you’re boring.”
It slipped out before I could stop myself. “Gracie. My friends call me Gracie.”
He inclined his head, that crooked smile once again gracing his lips. “Gracie,” he repeated.
He sat back, not pushing the subject any further. He spoke of the firm, his history, and what he expected of me. We discussed some of the cases he was working on.
“Why corporate?” he asked.
“I’ve always been fascinated with it,” I confessed. “My father is in marketing, so he always talked about trademarks and copyrights. I loved it when I went into the office with him, and I always snuck into the legal department and asked a thousand and one questions.”
“VanRyan—VanRyan,” he repeated. “Richard VanRyan?”
“Yes.”
“I know his work.”
I smiled, unsure what to say.
He went over the hours, where I would work, and answered all my questions. He smiled at me, the gesture turning his stern face into one of warmth, filled with personality.
“Your enthusiasm is to be commended. I look forward to having you under me.”
My eyes widened, and he hastened to correct himself. “Work under me. With me. I have a feeling we’ll make quite the team.”
I had to push aside the thought of being under him. How his powerful body would feel against mine. The pleasure those large hands could bring. I felt my cheeks flush, and I had to lower my gaze before he noticed. There was silence, and then he cleared his throat and asked me a few more questions.
I shook my head to clear it, knowing I couldn’t have such thoughts about the man who would be my boss, and responded in the proper manner, my mind fixed firmly on business.
Finally, he stood, buttoning his jacket, indicating our time was done.
After confirming my hours for tomorrow, I left, already excited about working with him. Learning.
I had no idea the greatest lesson I would learn would be heartache.
I tried to tamp down the painful memories.
How the excitement led to pain. How I discovered his charm hid a selfish man intent on only his own pleasure. Realizing to my horror I had fallen in love with someone incapable of returning that love and who had lied to me with his sweet words and gestures. The future I envisioned was nothing but a lie.
The face he showed the world was nothing but a lie.
I had no choice but to work with him every day, hiding my pain. Wondering how love could become hate. I refused to let him see my inner turmoil. To beat me. I was determined to finish this internship, walk away, and never see Jaxson Richards again. I hadn’t wanted to come on this trip, but the partners, and Jaxson, had given me no choice.
I groaned as I shifted, the pain in my head changing from a dull ache to a constant pounding. As I moved, I stiffened as I realized the weight on my hip wasn’t that of the blanket, but of a hand.
My stomach rolled when reality hit me. Someone was in bed with me. I had slept with a stranger. I got drunk in Vegas and slept with a stranger. How clichéd.
Ignoring the ache in my head, I shot out of bed, yanking the blanket with me. I fumbled around, finding the light and switching it on. I squinted as the pain shot through my temple, and I gasped when I recognized the man lying in the bed beside me. Not looking upset at all, Jaxson pulled himself up into a sitting position and had the nerve to smile at me.
“Not a stranger,” he said, letting me know I had spoken my thought out loud. “How are you feeling, darling?”
“What the hell are you doing here?”
“Until a few moments ago, I was sleeping. You must need some Tylenol. Let me get it for you.”
“Don’t bother. I meant how the hell did you get into my bed?”
He smirked, lifting one leg up to his chest and reclining back with his hands beneath his head. He looked too handsome and far too comfortable for this situation.
“Since this is my room, you’re the one in my bed.”
I looked around, seeing he was right.
“What the hell happened?”
“I would think that was obvious.” He indicated the torn condom wrappers. “We had sex.”
I gaped at him. “Why did I have sex with you? I don’t like you!”
He leaned forward, his blue eyes bright in the dim light. His smile was wicked, and I wanted to wipe it off his face with my fist. “You really liked me last night. At least three times.”
We’d had sex three times?
“At least,” he confirmed. “I’m not counting the orgasm in the elevator, and I think I missed one other fuck. Against the wall, I think.”
I was stunned. I stared at him, horrified. I had slept with my boss. Again.
“I can’t believe I did that,” I mumbled, gripping the blanket.
“That’s not the only thing you did, darling.”
“What could be worse?”
He tilted his head, studying me closely. He indicated my hand gripping the blanket.
“You married me.”
A thin, too-tight band encircled my ring finger. He held up his hand, showing me a matching ring.
“How about that for cliché, Mrs. Richards?” He smirked.
The room spun, and my stomach heaved.
The last thing I remembered was his shout before the floor rushed toward me.
Unconsciousness had never been so welcome.
Preorder Book 1 of the new ABC Corp Series - My Saving Grace
Also by Melanie Moreland
The Contract Series
The Contract (The Contract #1)
The Baby Clause (The Contract #2)
The Amendment (The Contract #3)
Vested Interest Series
BAM - The Beginning (Prequel)
Bentley (Vested Interest #1)
Aiden (Vested Interest #2)
Maddox (Vested Interest #3)
Reid (Vested Interest #4)
Van (Vested Interest #5)
Halton (Vested Interest #6)
Sandy (Vested Interest #7)
Vested Interest/ABC Crossover
A Merry Vested Wedding
ABC Corp Series
My Saving Grace
Insta-Spark Collection
It Started with a Kiss
Christmas Sugar
An Instant Connection
An Unexpected Gift
Mission Cove
The Summer of Us Book 1
Standalones
Into the Storm
Beneath the Scars
Over the Fence
My Image of You (Random House/Loveswept)
Happily Ever After Collection
Revved to the Maxx
Heart Strings
The Boss
Acknowledgments
As always, I have some people to thank. The ones behind the words that encourage and support. The people who make my books possible for so many reasons.
Lisa—many thanks for being as awesome as you are.
Beth, Trina, Melissa, Peggy, and Deb—thank you for your feedback and support.
Your comments make the story better—always.
Kim—you are Karen’s dream come true. LOL!
Karen—you wanted this—you asked for it repeatedly. I hope it makes you smile.
You make me smile every damn day.
To all the bloggers, readers, and especially my promo team. Thank you for everything you do. Shouting your love of books—of my work, posting, sharing—your recommendations keep my TBR list full, and the support you have shown me is deeply appreciated.
To my fellow authors who have shown me such kindness, thank you.
I will follow your example and pay it forward.
My reader group, Melanie’s Minions—love you all.
Matthew—all my love—now and always.
About the Author
NYT/WSJ/USAT international bestselling author Melanie Moreland, lives a happy and content life in a quiet area of Ontario with her beloved husband of thirty-plus years and their rescue cat, Amber. Nothing means more to her than her friends and family, and she cherishes every moment spent with them.
While seriously addicted to coffee, and highly challenged with all things computer-related and technical, she relishes baking, cooking, and trying new recipes for people to sample. She loves to throw dinner parties, and enjoys traveling, here and abroad, but finds coming home is always the best part of any trip.
Melanie loves stories, especially paired with a good wine, and enjoys skydiving (free falling over a fleck of dust) extreme snowboarding (falling down stairs) and piloting her own helicopter (tripping over her own feet.) She's learned happily ever afters, even bumpy ones, are all in how you tell the story.
Melanie is represented by Flavia Viotti at Bookcase Literary Agency. For any questions regarding subsidiary or translation rights please contact her at [email protected]
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