Fascination Series Boxed Set: Books 1-3 Read online

  We were left to make our money after we’d gotten an education. Our parents paid for everything except the perks. We were to pay for our own unnecessary shit, like expensive cars and expensive women, and in Jack’s case, men.

  I smiled looking down at Jack. We looked like my mother with her blue eyes, fair skin, and dark hair. My brothers were an assortment of my father and mother, and even Carter, who we couldn’t figure out who he resembled in the family, had been a mixture of all my brothers. However, my father said he looked just like his grandfather, which had been a comfort to Carter.

  I knew I should have taken the time to go to Carter’s home, but with the hospital visits, Jack, the work I hadn’t completed for Max, and thinking about Dorian, I didn’t have time left in the day.

  Now I had to make preparations for a child coming into a home that had been a bachelor pad of sorts, and I didn’t have that time either. I needed help and I hoped Jack would be there to assist me.

  Finally, I’d made up my mind to cut the umbilical cord from Carter. It was time he took care of himself until I could sit down and talk to him about his future and mine. Get him help if he’d take it. Only he could do that. But could he in the state he was in? I questioned. I would have to see him first to make that assessment, but I hadn’t heard from him or seen him since that night Lindsey had died.

  Closing the door to the spare bedroom, I headed for the kitchen. I’d laid my phone down there last night. Reaching for it, I swiped it and then texted Jack. When he got up today he’d read the message. I needed coffee now, I thought. Then the bell rang.

  “Who the fuck is it this time?” I asked the doorman.

  “He says he’s here to see your brother, Jack Westbrook.”

  “Yes. Jack’s sleeping. Ask him to come back later.”

  I heard the man say in a breathless stern-voice grumble, “I need to see him now, it’s an emergency.” His voice sounded as if he’d been running a mile and finally stopped for water.

  “Tell him to come up.” I turned on the coffeemaker, and before the coffee brewed, the bell to my door rang. Turning around, I marched to the door to see this man who couldn’t wait.

  Opening the door I stood there before he spoke and before I’d said, “Come in,” he nodded and walked past me looking around.

  “Where’s Jack?” His voice was gravelly, but he spoke in a low tone to disguise the tough tone that could come soaring out any moment.

  “Don’t you need coffee first?”

  “I don’t drink coffee,” he said, looking as if he’d push me aside if I tried to stop him.

  “Then tea?”

  “I’ll take it later. Can you wake Jack?” I walked ahead and opened the door to where Jack slept.

  “Jack. Jack. You have a visitor.” I shook Jack and he sat up in the bed, groggy, his fists clenched. He blinked twice to concentrate and clear his head, because he didn’t recognize me. When Jack’s eyes focused, they wandered to the door, and behind me stood the man who needed to see Jack.

  “Can you leave us alone, Jeremy?” I glanced over at the tall man with the large arms and hands. On his finger there was a tattoo. I recognized the tattoo, Jack had one. When Jack wasn’t looking, I’d seen tattoos above his knees, his back and on his biceps. Now that he’d been discharged from the Marines, and the tattoos could no longer be regulated, most of Jack’s body had been covered with tattoos.

  After leaving Jack’s mysterious visitor, and closing the door, I headed for the kitchen. The coffee was ready. I sat at the kitchen island and drank a cup, glanced out at my patio with the fire pit. It wouldn’t be long before I had to fire it up to sit out there and look over the city. I’d probably do that very soon. That terrace brought me peace and comfort, and with a young baby, I’d need all the peace and quiet I could get, and wherever I could find it.

  Drinking the last drops of my black coffee, I welcomed the start it gave me. I reached for my keys and turned to head for the door, when the door to Jack’s room opened. His friend marched out with Jack trailing behind him. They were whispering and both had a look of concern on their faces.

  I watched as Jack opened the front door, looked at the man, gave him a hug, and the tall burly man stepped out. Jack closed the door, and turned to see me watching him.

  “What was that all about?” I couldn’t help but ask.

  “It doesn’t concern you,” Jack said, his voice strong.

  “It does fucking-well concern me. You’re at my home, we’re identical twins, and soon I will have a baby to take care of. I can’t keep on having your boys coming here. You will have to go.”

  “I can’t go, and he’s not one of my boys.”

  “Well, then one of your men. What difference does it make if I call him a boy? Maybe you’re his boy.”

  “Don’t talk about things you know nothing about, Jeremy.”

  “I know more than you think, Jack. Just like you, I’ve been around, dealt with men all over the world.” I stood and locked eyes with my brother and damned if we didn’t have the same mannerism, not to mention there was hardly any way of telling each other apart, except I didn’t have tattoos covering my body.

  “I suppose you’re an expert on the matter of boys and Daddies? Speaking of which, I visited your boy last night.”

  “You did what?”

  “Weren’t you leaving for work?”

  I turned and followed Jack into the kitchen, hoping that he’d tell me what happened between him and Dorian. But, I wanted to know first of all, why it was so important that the Marine see him, and just who the fuck was he anyway?

  I’d hoped that Jack would tell me he didn’t have sex with Dorian, especially since I’d warned him not to because Dorian was mine, and I just needed more time to work up to what I wanted to tell him. I knew I should have been concerned with that mysterious man knowing where I lived, and that Jack was living with me too, but that was the last thing on my mind.

  Dorian had been the first thing on my mind today.

  “Did you?” My voice gave me away. It trembled when I asked the question. By the look in my eyes, I thought Jack took pity on me, but I didn’t want his pity, I needed the truth.

  “No, I did not fuck Dorian?” I sighed with relief. I believed him. “After all, I do respect your wishes and boundaries, even if you don’t respect me.”

  Turning away from Jack, I drew in a large shaky breath and immediately breathed out. Turning back to face him I apologized, “Jack, I’m sorry. I’m having a hard time with all of this. I asked Annalisa to marry me and she refused.”

  “Did she discover that you were hiding your sexual preferences?” Jack questioned after heating the water for his tea, searching the cabinet, to find tea bags. He held the tea caddy up. “I’m glad you bought some real tea, not like that shit you gave me the last time I was here.”

  I pretended that I didn’t hear him. “Nothing like that. She doesn’t want children and I suspect she got tired of waiting for me to announce our engagement. I’ve taken her through enough with my indecisions.”

  “Well are you ready to say it.”

  “Say what?”

  “That you’re gay, so you can stop dicking around with Dorian. Tell him that you want him. He’s hot and ready for you. He may not know it right now, but there’s heat there, and he’s a bottom waiting to be mounted by my big brother. Are you sure you don’t want me to do it? I don’t know how long he can wait around for you. And I might make a mistake one night with him.”

  Consumed with my thoughts about the baby, I didn’t hear much of what Jack had said about Dorian. “I don’t know what I want right now.” I bit my lip and shook my head, looking past Jack. “All I know is that I need someone to help me with my child, and I almost forgot, I sent you a text.”

  “Well, what’s it about?”

  “Have you checked on Carter?”

  “How can I do that when you send me on errands? And I had business of my own to take care of. Carter is a grown man and he’s the one w
ho walked away from his responsibilities, leaving you to clean up everything. Have you notified Lindsey’s parents? He can wait longer.”

  “I have and they’ve taken possession of the body. They wanted the baby, but I wouldn’t give her up.”

  “That was your chance, Jeremy. Now you have to own that responsibility, just like you have to own up to being gay.” Jack had said a lot, but I didn’t have time to digest everything. I had to leave.

  “I’m going to be busy all day. I have to see Max about some important business.”

  Jack’s eyes flashed. He took a sip of his tea, then looked up at me. “Will Max have his husband with him?” I glanced over at Jack to see a closed smile.

  “I hope you’re not thinking about seeing him. I have enough on my hands without you trying to ignite some old flame that died out years ago.”

  “No, it’s nothing like that. I just want to see him. I want to see how he looks, and ask him if he’s happy.”

  “If that’s all you want, then Max will be in my office around lunchtime. If you do any more, then I’ll change the locks after I put you out of my home.” I walked away and picked up my satchel, then turned. “And try not to let my people see you come into my office. Take the back door. Here’s a key.” I took it off my chain, tossed it to Jack and he caught it.

  Jack saluted me. “I think you’re late for work, Jeremy?”

  “You’re right. I’m late. I’ll have to work through lunch.” I rushed out and drove to my office, but I had a feeling that Jack had more on his mind when it came to Max than he was willing to divulge.

  WHEN I ARRIVED AT THE firm, I headed straight for my office. Max had texted me and said that he could meet with me, but it would have to be early. When I walked into the office, the secretary hadn’t arrived. She usually made it in by eight. However, there was nothing to keep Max from arriving early. Max and I had been early risers in school and didn’t need much sleep. That’s how he’d managed to build his company, under his father’s tutelage, to a trillion-dollar conglomerate. No sleep and plenty of coffee.

  This law firm that I handled and had hoped to buy some day, was just one of Max’s many companies. He owned banks and hotels, and now movie companies, and he’d been successful in everything he’d touched over the years. He knew how to hire the best men and women from prestigious universities. I’d been one of the lucky ones. Maybe because I had been a friend and he could trust me, or maybe because he’d known I was gay and was hiding it, the way he had until he’d gained control of his company and his own destiny.

  He trusted me, because I’d never let him down, and would go anywhere to make sure that everything in his company worked like clockwork.

  What I had to tell Max today would throw a wrench into the well-oiled workings of his company. I sucked in a deep breath and opened the door. Max sat on the sofa with his legs crossed. I dropped my satchel on my desk and glanced over to him. He looked up.

  “I’ve been reading this contract.” There wasn’t an expression that I could read. Nor did his body language tell me anything. Then, he smiled and said, “This is great. You got just what I wanted.” I didn’t remember anything because I’d been too busy lately. I must have worked it out before Carter and Lindsey, before the baby, and before Dorian.

  “So, you like it?”

  “Yes. You got me everything I asked and a little more, I must say.” He pulled out his Montblanc and signed it.

  “You didn’t have to do that.”

  “I want to keep the original one for my purpose.”

  “Would you like coffee?”

  “No. I’m having breakfast with my husband and twins.”

  “You seem happy now.”

  “More than I could ever tell you, Jeremy, and that’s because of you. I’m going to raise your salary so you can purchase this firm. I don’t need a company any longer when I have a personal attorney like you.”

  “That’s what I need to talk to you about.” I sat across from Max and leaned in. “Do you want a drink?”

  “Not this early. What is it you want to tell me, Jeremy? You’re making me nervous. I’ve never known you to drink this early.”

  I told him about Carter, about the baby, and then I waited and sprang it on him about how I couldn’t go to Europe anymore. He stared at me and remained silent, after which a slow smile made its way across his lips into a wide pleased smile.

  “Is that all, Jeremy? This isn’t fatal. I have just the man to replace you in Europe. He’s wanted your job for years. He’d been lobbying me since you returned, and I figured I owed you something for all the times I’d called on you at the last minute, and you never complained. I guess you and Annalisa will be getting married now that you have a baby.”

  “It’s not as easy as you think. She turned me down. Now I’m a single dad.” I gave out a nervous chuckle. “Who the fuck would have thought I’d end up a single dad? Who would want me now? I don’t blame Annalisa for saying no to me. I understand completely.”

  “What about the man you met at the country club? Have you talked to him? You seem to like him a lot, and I know he likes you. Perhaps you two can come to some kind of agreement.”

  “I haven’t had time to concentrate on another relationship. I’m trying to navigate being a dad, and the baby will be coming home soon. I have to buy another house because what I have is not for a baby, or a family. It’s a bachelor pad. I can’t raise the baby in that apartment, I need something larger, like a home.”

  Max reached inside his wallet and pulled out a card. “Here, it’s to an architectural firm. Those architects are great, and they can draw up plans for homes. You can tell them what you need and make your choice from their plans. You’ll probably get something great. This firm come highly recommended.”

  I took the card and placed it on my desk. “I’ll have to get that done soon before the nurse gets there. Jack said he knows someone and she’ll be flying in soon.”

  Max stood. “I guess, my friend, that’s all I can do here. I still have time to get to LA and rescue Jami.”

  I was happy Max was leaving soon. I didn’t want him running into Jack, nor did I want my staff to catch me and Jack together, as then I couldn’t implement my plans.

  We stood at the door. I knew I wouldn’t see Max for a long time. “When are you getting back to the west coast, Max?”

  “Hopefully not for a quite a while. I don’t like to uproot my family, and Jami can’t wait to get back to New York. It snows this time of year and he loves it when the season changes, and now the twins are ready for school.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen you. I hope I can get to the East Coast this year, but I don’t think so with the baby and all.”

  “You’re getting in the habit of saying baby. I can tell.” I smiled, when in reality I tried saying it as often as possible, because that was as foreign to me as going to Mars.

  Max extended his hand, and when I took it, he brought me into his arms. “I’m going to miss you. I’m glad you offered to have your ass sold at the auction. Brought in a ton of money. Maybe next year?”

  “I don’t think so.” I hugged Max and said, “See you.”

  “Tell Jack—”

  The door opened wide and in stepped Jack. “Tell Jack yourself. How the fuck are you Max?” Max stood and looked at Jack. I saw the current that flowed between the two of them, but Jack would never cross that line. He would wait for Max and that wasn’t happening. Max’s eyes swung to Jack and then back to me.

  “As you two get older, I can’t tell you apart,” Max said.

  “Good, because you weren’t hugging me, you were holding Jack. Did you feel his cock get hard?”

  Max narrowed his glance.

  “Jack is fucking with you, Max.”

  “It’s time for me to go. I think I did feel your cock when I brought you in for a brotherly hug,” Max joked. I tightened my jaw. “Just kidding, Jeremy. Please, lighten up. I did.”

  “Yeah, big brother. Lig
hten-the-fuck up.” Then Jack turned to Max. “Can I buy you breakfast before you leave?”

  “I have to get back to Jami and the twins.” The two occasional lovers locked eyes with each other.

  When Max made a move to leave, Jack stood in his way. “Where’s my hug?”

  Max turned and looked at me, maybe to make sure he had the right brother, and then he brought Jack into his arms and pulled away quickly.

  Jack smiled. “Yeah, that was my cock twitching. You still have it, if you’re wondering. Give my regards to Jami and tell him that I’ll be waiting in the wings if ever he slips up.”

  Max shook his head, smiled, turned, and walked through the door, closing it behind him.

  “You can’t talk to Max that way. He’s still my boss—”

  “And he’s still the man who fucked me the night he married his ex-wife.”

  I walked to my desk and sat behind it. Jack had a way with the truth.

  “What do you want, Jack? I’m not in the mood. I need some good news.”

  “You’re going to have to wait for that. It appears Carter left town and no one knows when he’ll be back. I finally got a chance to talk to Thomas and Jarrett. They cursed me and you for not telling them about Lindsey dying, and Carter going off the deep end.”

  “Yeah. He left everything for me to take care of, including the baby. I called her parents to have them claim the body, and they cried, then yelled at me for not telling them sooner. They said they knew Carter wasn’t stable and how could I let him marry their daughter? And that they had warned Lindsey, but she was headstrong, and she did what she wanted to do. She loved Carter and she wanted him, no matter what.”

  “Do you need me today?” Jack asked.

  “No. Why?”

  “That boyfriend of yours, well, I never know what to tell him, and I get you in trouble all the time. I’m going to go over to his office and try to apologize to him.”