Unwrapping Mr King Read online

  I lingered in place, not really sure what to do. I didn’t want to come off as rude, and I wasn’t certain what Jameson would expect from me in this situation. But this was his brother, and he seemed harmless enough, so I agreed.

  “Okay.” I sat down on one of the stools. “But just one.”

  He poured us a couple glasses of milk and set a plate of cookies between us, gobbling his down like he hadn’t just eaten two hours before.

  “So how did you meet my brother?”

  “More questions?” I cringed “I thought we were done with the inquisition today.”

  He laughed and shook his head. “Don’t worry, I’m not like my father. I’m genuinely curious.”

  “Why is that?” I tried to deflect his curiosity. I didn’t have a story lined up yet for how I’d met Jameson either. We really needed to get our facts straight.

  “I don’t know.” He shrugged. “He always brings women to family events and stuff, but he’s never brought anyone home for two weeks before.”

  “He always brings women home?” I probed.

  He grimaced at the expression on my face and I mentally slapped myself for even asking.

  “Yeah, I mean sometimes.” He waved his hand around flippantly. “But nothing serious. They’re like the type of women you only take to look good on your arm if you know what I mean.”

  I frowned, and he winced again. “Oh God, I’m totally digging myself into a hole here, aren’t I?”

  “It’s okay.” I shrugged. “Jameson’s a very handsome man. I’m not surprised that he’d date beautiful women too. Apart from me that is.”

  “You’re gorgeous,” Lleyton countered, but a moment later it looked like he wanted to take the words back. “I mean, you’re perfect for him. Someone I could actually see him with. Those other women never seemed like his type at all.”

  I folded my hands in my lap and nodded. I had to wonder if Jameson had so many women at his beck and call why he’d asked me to do this. Surely one of them would have done it for free.

  “My brother’s a good guy,” Lleyton continued. “I just want to see him happy.”

  I didn’t get a chance to answer, because a moment later, the man himself wandered around the corner.

  He stopped short when he saw me sitting there with Lleyton, and something dark passed over his features. He was behind me in three long strides, and I was utterly shocked when he wrapped his hands around my waist possessively and pulled me back against his chest.

  “There you are, vixen,” he murmured the words into my hair.

  Oh shit. I was totally not prepared for this. He wanted me to take things up a notch, in front of his brother?

  This was an interesting new development, but one I didn’t have time to think of just then. I spun in my chair and leaned into him until I was looking up into his eyes. And I did the only thing I could think of.

  I reached up and clasped his face in my hands, stroking him the way I’d imagined I wanted to. “Hello, handsome.”

  My voice was nothing more than a whisper, and Jameson’s hands were growing bolder as he clutched me tighter.

  He seemed a little surprised by my move, and I wondered if I’d done the right thing. Did he want more? Less? I didn’t know. But then he was leaning closer, his lips only an inch from mine. His breath skated across my cheek, and I closed my eyes as I shivered.

  My hands ran through his hair of their own accord, pulling him closer. And then his lips were on mine.

  Everything else around us ceased to exist. Somewhere in the back of my mind, I knew Lleyton was still there, watching this little show. But I didn’t care. I was burning up with desire like I’d never known. Silently praying that Jameson would never take his hands off me. That he would want more than what he said.

  Lleyton cleared his throat, and the moment was gone.

  Jameson pulled away reluctantly, brushing his thumb over my lips before meeting his brother’s gaze.

  “That was a nice little display,” Lleyton said in an odd tone. “But there’s no need to perform on my account, Jameson. I have no desire to lose you twice.”

  I tried to make sense of his words, but I couldn’t. After another moment of silence on Jameson’s part, his brother just stood up and walked out of the room. I was left with a pensive fake boyfriend, who seemed to have forgotten all about the kiss we shared. His body was tense, his eyes cold as they fell on my face.

  “For future reference,” he snapped. “I want you to stay the hell away from my brother.”

  I opened my mouth to speak, but nothing came out. It was just as well because he turned and left me sitting there alone anyway.

  9

  Jameson was up and out of the room before I even woke the next morning.

  I took my time getting ready, trying to remember my role as I slipped into another sexy dress and heels. It was ridiculous to be parading around like this twenty-four-seven, but this was what Jameson wanted. I did my makeup just like Franco had shown me and spent extra time on my hair before wandering downstairs.

  To my surprise, none of the men were anywhere in sight. I found Julia and her daughters in the kitchen, chatting over coffee.

  “Good morning.” Julia pulled me in for a hug as soon as I came into the room.

  It was warm and genuine, and for a moment I remembered the way my aunt used to hug me.

  “Where’s Jameson?” I asked, tugging on the hem of my dress. It was too short, and I felt way underdressed.

  “Oh, his father took him and Lleyton to the office to discuss some business,” she explained. “They’ll be gone for the day.”

  “Yes,” Lily cut in. “Which means he’ll be coming back extra crabby tonight. So you better make him a damn good cookie.”

  “Sorry?” I blinked in confusion? “A cookie?”

  “She could just give him some nookie.” Amelia laughed. “I’m sure that’s the only way to calm someone as high strung as Jameson.”

  “Ugh, I do not want to know these things about my brother,” Lacey grumbled.

  “Just ignore them.” Julie grinned, gesturing to a stool by the island. “I tried to raise them to be ladies, but I got a bunch of dirty talking debutants instead.”

  I grinned as I watched her pour me a cup of coffee and set a muffin in front of me before she pulled it away.

  “Oh, I’m so sorry,” she said. “You’re probably one of those low-carbers, aren’t you?”

  “No.” I laughed. “Definitely not.”

  “Oh thank God,” Lily said. “I could not handle another one of those.”

  “Jameson,” Amelia whined in a nasally voice. “There are like sixteen carbs in that cheese, do you seriously expect me to eat it?”

  They all laughed before Julia scolded them, and I was beginning to realize exactly why they weren’t so welcoming to Jameson’s girlfriends.

  “I’m sorry,” Lily explained. “Please don’t feel like we’re laughing at your expense, Harper. You are such a nice change of pace, believe me. We are thrilled to have you here.”

  “Thanks.” I brushed it off. “Lleyton filled me in on some of Jameson’s dates, so I can understand where you’re coming from.”

  “Oh those women were nothing.” Julia waved it off. “He didn’t look at them the way he looks at you. I can tell he’s taken with you. Call it a mother’s intuition.”

  I brought the cup to my lips to hide my frown. There was a very small part of me that kind of wished that were true.

  “Anyway, back to more important things,” Julia changed tack. “Like Christmas cookies.”

  “Right.” Lily clapped excitedly. “This is my favorite part of Christmas.”

  “It’s a King tradition that we make our partners a giant Christmas cookie every year, Harper. I’m so happy you get to join in this year. I don’t think Jameson’s had one in… well, it’s been a very long time.”

  A strange sort of silence fell over the room, and it was hard not to notice.

  “Speaking of,” Am
elia said quietly. “Just a little heads up that you’ll be meeting Jameson’s ex tonight at the party.”

  “Oh.” I blinked.

  Of course he hadn’t bothered to mention this little tidbit.

  “Do you think it’s going to be awkward?” Julia asked aloud, to nobody in particular. Then she shook her head. “No I don’t think so. Katherine is such a lovely girl, she would never stir up trouble.”

  “That’s what you like to think,” Lily muttered beneath her breath.

  Amelia took pity on me and explained the situation before I succumbed to any more confusion. “Our family has been friends with the Redfords since we were still in diapers,” she said. “Dad and Mr. Redford went to med school together. They’ve both racked up quite the list of accolades since then. And every year they love to get together and have a total pissing contest over it.”

  “Ah, I see.” I laughed. “Sounds like a good time.”

  “Oh it is.” She rolled her eyes. “And of course, princess Katherine will be there too. The belle of the ball, I’m sure.”

  “They really aren’t that bad,” Julia said in her motherly tone. “You’ll see tonight, they are a lovely family.”

  Once I finished my muffin, Lacey slid a cookbook in front of me. “Enough about the party. Harper still has to decide what kind of cookie to make Jameson.”

  I stared down at the book with a smile. It wasn’t even necessary. I already knew what he wanted.

  10

  The afternoon passed in a haze of delicious aromas and laughter as we made our special Christmas cookies.

  I was surprised how much fun I was having with Jameson’s family. Even Evelyn seemed to be warming to me throughout the afternoon, and I thought I might actually make it through the next two weeks with no problems.

  But then there was the other part of me that was ashamed for lying to these lovely women. They’d accepted me into their home and believed the story I spun for them without much question. I should have been happy about it, but the guilt was weighing on me heavily.

  I could only hope that when my time there was up, they wouldn’t hate me for disappearing. On one hand I wanted to believe it didn’t matter because I was sure Jameson would find someone else to fill my shoes quickly. But on the other hand that very idea made me feel something strange. Something I had no right to, and it felt very much like jealousy.

  * * *

  At three o’ clock Jameson and Lleyton arrived back at the house, and just as his sisters predicted, he didn’t look happy.

  “How did it go?” Julia asked nervously as he strode into the kitchen.

  “The same as it always does,” he replied in a flat tone.

  “Aw c’mon bro.” Lleyton slapped him on the back. “It wasn’t that bad.”

  “Not for you,” Jameson grated. “But then it never is for the golden child.”

  I detected a hint of bitterness in his tone, and again I wondered what was going on between him and Lleyton. Julia looked worried, and she was prepared to do anything to salvage Jameson’s time here. That plan apparently included me.

  “Jameson,” she said quickly. “Harper made you something special.”

  His gaze swung to me, travelling over my body as though he couldn’t help himself. My designer dress was now covered in flour, and I was certain it made quite the comical display. But there was no humor in his eyes, only a flash of hunger. It disappeared just as quickly as it had arrived when he spoke.

  “What is it?”

  Julia urged me to show him, and my nerves threatened as my eyes darted around the room. It was strange to be doing this in front of everyone.

  “You want me to give it to him now?” I squeaked. “I thought we were doing that tonight?”

  “No.” Julia grinned. “We usually just do it as soon as the cookies are done.”

  Everybody’s eyes were on me, and I knew I had to do it. I swallowed and walked to the counter where my giant heart shaped pumpkin spice cookie sat. The shape was Julia’s idea, as was the message written in icing across the top. She told me to write something from my heart. Easier said than done in my situation. I ended up settling for:

  * * *

  To my handsome Jameson,

  Merry Christmas!

  Your vixen x

  * * *

  It seemed in keeping with our game at the time I wrote it, but looking at it now, I wasn’t so sure. Would he read more into it? Would he think I was trying to send him some sort of secret message?

  God, this was confusing. This was exactly why I didn’t date. Well, that and the fact I hadn’t really had time for the last two years.

  I walked back across the kitchen and offered up the cookie with shaky hands. Jameson glanced down at it for a long time without speaking. The room was so quiet you could literally hear his family breathing.

  I fidgeted while I waited for his reaction. And then his eyes met mine, his voice hoarse as he spoke.

  “Thank you, Harper. This was really nice of you.”

  “It’s no problem.” I gave him an awkward shrug.

  “Give her a kiss,” Julia encouraged. “She worked really hard on that. She even knew what your favorite cookie was.”

  Jameson set the cookie on the counter and smoothed his palms up and down my arms for a brief moment. I shivered and closed my eyes when he leaned closer. This kiss was not at all like the one he’d given me last night in front of his brother, and I was both thrilled and disappointed at the same time.

  Just a soft, gentle brush of his lips and then he pulled away again.

  “C’mon.” He threaded his hand through mine. “We should go upstairs and get ready for the party.”

  Jameson was in the middle of adjusting his shirt collar when I walked out of the bathroom. I glanced at him and tugged on the hem of my dress. It was the sexiest one in my suitcase, and he’d picked it especially for tonight.

  He said he needed me to really sex it up, so I’d gone all out. I wasn’t at all comfortable walking around the party in this second piece of skin. It was a red bandage dress that hit me mid-thigh and showed off my ample chest. I could only imagine what his mother was going to think of me when she saw it.

  But I had to keep reminding myself this was a job. This was what I was being paid to do. I was curious whether his request had anything to do with his ex-girlfriend being there tonight, but he still hadn’t mentioned it. I guess he didn’t plan to.

  “You look perfect.” He gave me a tight nod, his gaze lingering on my lips before dipping down to my chest. “Exactly what I had in mind.”

  “Thanks.” My skin heated under his appraising eyes. “You look really nice too.”

  And he did. He was wearing dark wash jeans and a navy blue dress shirt that complemented his eyes perfectly. I almost told him as much, but then I thought that was being too forward. This was just a business arrangement, I reminded myself for the hundredth time.

  He couldn’t hide his nerves as he turned and gestured towards the door. “You ready to go?”

  “As I’ll ever be.” I nodded.

  11

  The party was already in full swing when we got downstairs. The entire first floor was filled with guests, and by the look of enjoyment on their faces, the alcohol was flowing freely.

  Gorgeous gowns and designer dresses draped every female figure in the room. The men were all smartly clad in casual designer labels. The entire room screamed money and refinement, and I was so far out of my league I may as well have been on another planet.

  Several of the women shot me curious looks as Jameson ushered me into the fray. I wondered if any of them were some of his past companions. Not that I should care.

  “There you are,” Julia exclaimed the moment she saw us.

  She was a vision in an emerald green dress that was the very embodiment of class. I swallowed the lump in my throat while she took in my outfit.

  “Harper, you look…”

  Like a tramp? My subconscious supplied.

  “Abs
olutely beautiful,” she finished. “Every woman in here is going to be envious of you tonight.”

  Her words seemed to please Jameson for some reason, but they only made me more doubtful.

  “Thanks,” I croaked.

  “And you my son.” She squeezed Jameson’s cheeks and made them flame in embarrassment. “You look so handsome, doesn’t he Harper?”

  “Indeed, he does,” I agreed. “He’s very dashing.”

  He flashed me his dimples quickly before retraining his smile into the flat and unaffected expression he often wore.

  “Oh.” Julia perked up. “Here comes Robert, Jameson. He’s been looking for you already.”

  Jameson turned around and greeted another man around his age, slapping him on the shoulder with the most genuine smile I’d ever seen on him.

  “How have you been man?” Robert asked. “It’s been way too long.”

  “I know,” Jameson apologized. “I’ve been busy.”

  “So Forbes tells me,” Robert chuckled.

  His gaze fell on me, and he let his eyes wander unashamedly for a moment. I felt like a piece of meat being dangled in front of a lion, and Jameson’s expression hardened at his friends ogling, but he said nothing.

  “Who’s the hottie?” Robert wiggled his eyebrows.

  “Robert this is Harper. Harper, Robert.”

  I reached for his hand to shake it, but he pulled it up to his lips for a kiss instead. “My, my Jameson. I’ve really got to get to New York one of these days and see where you keep finding all these honeys.”

  I groaned inwardly and pulled my hand away the moment it was appropriate to do so.

  “Speaking of honeys,” Robert whispered. “Here comes Katherine now.”

  I glanced in the direction he was staring to see the woman I’d been wondering about all day. She was beautiful, as expected, with a perfect cast of Nordic features. Her hair was pale blonde, and her eyes looked like they’d been cut from the finest crystal. Her skin was porcelain and everything about her was dainty and beautiful. She was the complete opposite of me.