Secrets of the Tycoon's Bride by Emilie Rose

Author:Emilie Rose
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Silhouette
Published: 2007-04-14T16:00:00+00:00

The tension throughout dinner was of the clichéd thick-enough-to-cut-with-a-knife variety.

Beneath the superficially polite conversation Lauryn sensed undercurrents between the members of the Garrison clan, but especially between Parker and his soon-to-be brother-in-law, Emilio Jeffries. She’d have to ask Adam to explain the family dynamics later. But for now she was glad the ordeal was almost over. The staff had served the dessert, poured the champagne and left the room.

“Anna’s pregnant,” Parker announced.

Lauryn lifted her gaze to the brunette sitting directly across from her. “Congratulations.”

Anna’s eyes shone with happiness. “Thank you. You can see why I for one would have been thrilled if you were pregnant. We could have compared notes.”

Lauryn ignored the derisive snort from Bonita and shifted in her chair. “Sorry.”

“Perhaps soon,” Adam said. He captured Lauryn’s hand and carried it to his lips for a tender kiss topped off with one of those charismatic smiles that made her heart flutter irregularly. “I’d like to make a toast to my beautiful bride, the only woman to ever make ‘forever’ sound like a promise instead of a life sentence.”

Lauryn almost knocked over her stemware. She had to remind herself Adam was acting, and that she had no reason whatsoever to turn warm and mushy when he looked at her that way.

“Here, here,” and “Congratulations,” echoed around the table. Adam leaned forward and whispered a kiss across her lips.

He was good. Very good. And she almost regretted him drawing back. Their gazes remained locked and tendrils of need spiraled through her.

He’s your husband. Sex with him would be okay.

No, it wouldn’t. You don’t love him and he doesn’t love you. Wait for someone who matters. Someone who cares about you and not just about getting off.

But she wanted him. More than she could ever remember wanting anyone.

“Well, since we’re making announcements…” Brooke’s hesitant statement startled Lauryn back into awareness of her surroundings. She blinked and looked away from Adam’s mesmerizing blue eyes. Brooke paused, inhaled deeply and then said in a rush, “I’m pregnant, too.”

Shocked silence filled the room, and then Bonita barked, “By whom?”

“I’m sorry, Mother, that’s none of your business.”

“It is my business if you are going to shame this family like your father with another bastard,” Bonita bit out.

Lauryn winced, thinking of Cassie. No, her new friend definitely wouldn’t be welcome here.

“Who’s the father, Brooke?” Adam sounded fierce. Angry. Protective. Lauryn filed that surprising facet to her new husband away.

“I’m a grown woman, Adam. I don’t need my brothers to fight my battles for me. Suffice to say, the father is not going to be a part of my baby’s life or mine and leave it at that.”

Bonita slammed her glass on the table, sloshing half the clear liquid—she’d refused the champagne—onto the damask cloth. The smell of gin filled the air. “Don’t expect Garrison money to support your mistake.”

She rose unsteadily and left the dining room in a huff with Lisette hot on her heels.

Adam broke the uneasy silence. “Brooke, how are you going to manage the

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