Blurb:
Lesson Learned
Adrian Matsakis is a
successful businessman with terrible luck in personal relationships. His
ex-wife wrecked him, and when he tried again with Jessie Brandt, she too
betrayed him.
He is shocked and outraged to learn he has a son with her and is determined to take custody. He’s never forgotten Jessie but can’t forgive her, especially now.
Forewarned of Adrian’s intent, Jessie preempts him by inviting him to co-parent, and he reins himself in. He can’t resist reminding her of her perfidy, however, just as she continues to maintain her innocence.
They struggle against the chemistry—and more—sparking between them, and when Adrian double checks the facts around Jessie’s supposed betrayal, he’s staggered to learn the evidence was planted.
He sets out to make amends, and Jessie must decide if she’ll allow him back into her heart, and give Adrian a place to finally call home.
He is shocked and outraged to learn he has a son with her and is determined to take custody. He’s never forgotten Jessie but can’t forgive her, especially now.
Forewarned of Adrian’s intent, Jessie preempts him by inviting him to co-parent, and he reins himself in. He can’t resist reminding her of her perfidy, however, just as she continues to maintain her innocence.
They struggle against the chemistry—and more—sparking between them, and when Adrian double checks the facts around Jessie’s supposed betrayal, he’s staggered to learn the evidence was planted.
He sets out to make amends, and Jessie must decide if she’ll allow him back into her heart, and give Adrian a place to finally call home.
Excerpt
Lesson Learned
We
believe you know Jessie Brandt. Please see the attached picture. Come for
dinner tonight. Mikhail
Adrian
Matsakis shoved back from his desk with such strength the back of the chair hit
the wall, and the resulting shudder made his teeth clack together. The distance
from his computer monitor didn’t make it less true. The attachment he’d clicked
on nearly filled the screen with a picture of a sturdy, little toddler,
laughing up at a woman who crouched beside him, holding an enormous balloon.
It was
like looking into a mirror of his youth, pictures of him as a child festooning
most available surfaces, compliments of his doting mother. She’d been unable to
have other children, and thus lavished every maternal ounce of her being upon
him. His father created a balance, or Mama might have driven him crazy.
Maybe
he was crazy, seeing something in that image that was wishful
thinking. It couldn’t be. Rolling back to his desk, he clicked to reread the
email from Mikhail. Nothing changed.
After
opening up the image again, he soaked in the two faces featured there, noting
how little Jessie had changed over the three years since he’d last seen her,
the golden-blonde hair and laughing brown eyes, clear, ivory skin, long,
slender hands, and a lithe body with all the requisite curves.
His
son—for he had no doubt the child was his—was still exhibiting baby roundness,
but his arms and legs were long like Adrian’s, and the riot of black curls that
would be the bane of his existence unless fads changed, and maybe even then,
waved wildly about the boy’s head. Olive skin set off the tiny white teeth
visible in the wide smile. He thought his son’s eyes were gray like his own,
but perhaps they were a velvety brown like Jessie’s.
Adrian
finally allowed the cacophony of emotions churning in his gut to be labeled. He
was furious, firstly. Furious to learn he had a child after all this time, and
curious about the boy. Elated too. He wouldn’t deny it. He had badly wanted a
child, children, and learning that his ex wife Sharon terminated not one, but
two of his babies still sent shards of agony throughout his being.
But he
now had a child, and it must be love, if not intense affection flooding his
system as he stared at the little boy. He purposely narrowed his gaze, keeping
it directly on the toddler, because he didn’t want his confused emotions toward
Jessie to spill over, even within his own head, onto his son.
His son.
Why hadn’t she told him? Contacted him as was his right? Especially when she
knew how much he wanted children? Because I threw her out. He
shook the vaguely remorseful thought away.
He’d
thrown her out for good reason. She’d been lucky he hadn’t pressed charges,
although she’d challenged him to do so even as she accepted his edict and
marched away down the hall, her spine erect and her head held high.
Out of
sight, out of mind. He’d made certain she left with nothing. Except she left
with something. And if she’d really wanted my money, then
why hadn’t she used the child? He decided to ignore that inconvenient
niggle as well.
He shot
an email to Mikhail, accepting the dinner invitation when what he really wanted
to do was phone the man and demand an explanation. But he hadn’t climbed to
where he was in his business by flying off the handle. He’d attend the dinner
tonight armed with all possible information and pool it with what his friend
knew. And plan.
He
closed down his computer after carefully saving and printing several copies of
the toddler and then obtained the number of an experienced investigative
agency. He’d head out and pick up some wine and flowers for the hostess—and
begin the plan of retrieving his child. Anything this important would take
great care and strategy.
Allyson Young lives in
cottage country in Manitoba, Canada with her husband and numerous pets. She
worked in the human services all across Canada and has seen the best and
worst of what people bring to the table. Allyson has written for years, mostly
short stories and poetry, published in small newspapers and the like, although
her work appeared in her high school yearbooks too! After reading an erotic
romance, quite by accident, she decided to try her hand at penning erotica.
Allyson will write until
whatever she has inside her is satisfied- when all the heroes man up and all
the heroines get what they deserve. Love isn’t always sweet, and Allyson
favours the darker side of romance.
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