“I’ll bring another pitcher out in a minute, Mom,” Brandon said.
“Thanks, sweetie.” Sally began pulling knives and forks out of the drawer, then glanced around at each of the men. “What are you boys cooking up in here?”
Brandon gave her a look of complete innocence. “Chili, Mom.”
Sally eyed him suspiciously, then looked at Adam. “Is that all?”
“I was just bringing them up to speed on Fantasy Mountain,” Adam said. “We’ll be out in a minute.”
“I hope so.” She grabbed napkins from another drawer and crossed to the backdoor. “It’s a beautiful day outside and I don’t want you spending it inside talking shop.”
“Yes, Mom,” all three men said in unison.
As soon as the door shut, Cameron said, “Where were we?”
“Mom’s diabolical plot to take over the world as we know it,” Brandon said, and pointed his beer bottle at Cameron. “You were saying it’s impossible, but Adam still thinks it’s a little too coincidental.”
“Maybe I’m just being paranoid,” Adam said.
“You can blame that on Brandon,” Cameron said, grinning.
“Hey,” Brandon said, straightening up. “I’m not paranoid, I’m just vigilant.”
Cameron’s smile faded as he leaned against the stove and crossed his arms. “I want to be clear. When I said it was impossible, I meant that there’s no way Mom or Marjorie could’ve convinced Cheryl to quit. But we all know how determined Mom can be, so it’s entirely possible that she had Marjorie scoping out the scene at DDI for possible replacements that might come up at any time, in any of our offices. They could’ve planted Trish in the floater pool with the intention of using her on any of us.”
“And they got lucky with Cheryl,” Adam finished.
“Exactly,” Cameron said.
“I told you Mom was recruiting her friends to help her,” Brandon reminded them. “This is sounding more and more plausible by the minute.”
“Dammit.” Adam looked at his brothers, each in turn, then said, “Somehow, some way, Mom’s behind this. And if she is, then Trish is a willing participant. Which means, my brothers, she’s fair game.”
Brandon laughed. “You’re gonna turn the tables on her.”
“That’s my plan,” Adam said. “I figure if she’s looking to seduce me, I’m going to head her off at the pass. I’ll seduce her. Then, I’ll let her know I’m in on her scheme with Mom just before I cut her loose.”
“It’s good,” Cameron said with an approving nod. “I like it.”
“It’ll work,” Brandon agreed with a look at Adam. “As long as you don’t slip up.”
Adam pierced him with a look. “Please.”
“Hey, it’s not just you on the chopping block here, bro. If Mom succeeds with you, the two of us are next. You’re fighting this battle not just for the Dukes, but for all mankind.”
“Amen,” Cameron told him.
Brandon stared out the window at their mother and her friends laughing and talking. “They’re probably toasting their victory as we speak.”
Cameron snorted. “A bit premature to be celebrating, don’t you think?”
“Trust me,” Adam said through gritted teeth. “They’re doomed for disappointment.”
Five
“We’re cleared for takeoff, Mr. Duke.”
“Thanks, Pamela.”
As the older flight attendant disappeared behind the partition that separated the passenger compartment from the galley, Adam glanced at Trish sitting next to him. Her face was pale but still lovely. She wore a severe navy business suit with a plain white blouse, yet still managed to appear feminine and sexy. His fingers itched to peel that suit off her as soon as humanly possible. “All buckled up, Trish?”
“Um…” She rechecked the buckle she’d checked six or eight times already. “Yes.”
“Good.” He glanced at his watch. “We should be there in an hour or so. We can use the time now to discuss the opening-night situation. Did you bring your notes?”
“Yes.” She licked her lips as the jet engines began to roar and the powerful Gulfstream G650 moved into position on the runway. “But if you don’t mind, I need a minute or two.”
“Why? What’s wrong?”
“Nothing,” she said, closing her eyes. “I just need a minute.”
She gripped the armrests tightly as the jet picked up speed.
“I thought you weren’t afraid of flying,” he said.
Her jaw clenched. “Not afraid, just alert.”
“If you were any more alert, you’d be spinning.”
“My seat belt’s on,” she pointed out. “I won’t spin very far.”
He leaned in and whispered. “I hope not. I need you right here next to me.”
Her eyes sprang open and she glared at him. “Are you trying to distract me?”
“Maybe. Is it working?”
She closed her eyes and settled back. “No.”
“I could try harder,” he said softly.
“Please don’t,” she murmured, biting her lower lip. “I’m trying to concentrate.”
“On what? Keeping the plane up?”
“Yes,” she admitted. “Do you mind?”
“Not at all,” he said as he leaned his head back against the headrest. “In fact, I appreciate it.”
“You’re welcome,” Trish said. Her eyes remained closed but a ghost of a smile formed on her lips.
Without thinking, Adam touched her hand to gauge how tense she really was. She immediately grabbed hold of his hand and held on for dear life.
He watched her face as the luxurious private jet soared to cruising altitude. Her demeanor remained serene but her grip on his hand grew more taut until he thought she might cut off the circulation to his fingers.
Then she licked her lips again and he felt his throat grow dry as his stomach tightened in a knot of arousal. He wondered if she would bring this same level of focus to their lovemaking. When he slipped inside her, would she grip him so tightly, he wouldn’t know where he left off and she began? Would she call out his name as she reached her peak? Would her eyes flutter closed or would she watch him watching her as they both flew over the edge? He would have his answer soon, of that he had no doubt.
A few minutes later, Adam saw Pamela, the flight attendant, leave her seat. He took it as an indication that the plane had leveled off enough that they were free to move around.
“You can open your eyes now,” he said. “Mission accomplished.”
She blinked her eyes open and glanced around, then abruptly released his hand. When she realized he was staring at her, she sighed. “I suppose you think I’m nuts.”
He smiled indulgently as he unlatched his seat belt. “Not at all.”
“Right,” she said acerbically, then muttered, “I’m not sure why you needed me to come along anyway.”
She might not have seen the point of her presence here today, but Adam did. The point was seduction. He intended to keep her very close to him from now on. He was on a mission of his own and there was no doubt whether he would accomplish it or not. She would be his. His for as long as he desired her. Eventually he would let her know he’d guessed her true intentions and he’d send his sexy gold digger packing.
For now, he sat back in the streamlined chair and assumed a relaxed pose.
“I’ll need you to take notes as we survey the problem areas of the parking structure. We’ll have to turn those notes into a joint agreement with the lawyers. But I also want your point of view on things in general. You haven’t been to the resort so I’d like to hear your first impressions of everything you see.”
She thought about that for a moment, then nodded. “I’ll do my best.”
“I expect nothing less.”
She smiled hesitantly. “Thank you.”
Pamela arrived with a basket of muffins and croissants with butter and jam, then poured coffee and juice.
He watched Trish choose a flaky croissant, then slather it in butter and jam.