Текст книги "The Seduction of Alex Parker"
Автор книги: Sandi Lynn
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The Seduction of
Alex Parker
Sandi Lynn
The Seduction of Alex Parker
Copyright © 2015 Sandi Lynn
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods without the prior written permission of the publisher.
This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used factitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.
Cover Design by Cassy Roop @ Pink Ink Designs
Photography by Sara Eirew @ Sara Eirew Photography
Models: Philippe Lemire & Jennie Lyne
Editing by B.Z. Hercules
Urban Dictionary Definitions:
Douchebag: NoMerci366
Bye Felicia: pimpin’817
Love: jo813
Books by Sandi Lynn
If you haven’t already done so, please check out my books. They are filled with heartwarming love stories, some with millionaires, and some with just regular everyday people who find love when they least expect it.
Millionaires:
The Forever Series (Forever Black, Forever You, Forever Us, Being Julia, Collin, A Forever Family)
Love, Lust & A Millionaire (Wyatt Brothers, Book 1)
Love, Lust & Liam (Wyatt Brothers, Book 2)
His Proposed Deal
Lie Next To Me (A Millionaire’s Love, Book 1)
When I Lie with You ( A Millionaire’s Love, Book 2)
A Love Called Simon
Then You Happened
Second Chance Love:
Remembering You
She Writes Love
Love In Between (Love Series, Book 1)
The Upside of Love (Love Series, Book 2)
Table of Contents
Books by Sandi Lynn
Chapter 1
Chapter 2
Chapter 3
Chapter 4
Chapter 5
Chapter 6
Chapter 7
Chapter 8
Chapter 9
Chapter 10
Chapter 11
Chapter 12
Chapter 13
Chapter 14
Chapter 15
Chapter 16
Chapter 17
Chapter 18
Chapter 19
Chapter 20
Chapter 21
Chapter 22
Chapter 23
Chapter 24
Chapter 25
Chapter 26
Chapter 27
Chapter 28
Chapter 29
Chapter 30
Chapter 31
Chapter 32
Chapter 33
Chapter 34
Chapter 35
Chapter 36
Chapter 37
Chapter 38
Chapter 39
Chapter 40
Chapter 41
Chapter 42
Chapter 43
Chapter 44
Chapter 45
Chapter 46
About the Author
Chapter 1
Emerson
Never stay in one place too long. That was my motto. There was so much of the world to see on what little time we had left, and that was exactly what I planned to do. Until my money started to run out. Sitting in my box of an apartment in Texas, I picked up my phone and called my brother, Adam.
“Hello, Emerson.”
“Hey, big brother. Listen, I need some more cash.”
“Em, you’re done. Your money is pretty much depleted. You told me you were going to settle in one place and get a job.”
“I had a job. I quit. It’s time to move on. I’m over Texas, Adam, and I need to leave.”
I heard him sigh. “Emerson, you’re twenty-six years old. It’s time to stop what you’re doing and settle down somewhere. Make a place your permanent home. I thought we talked about this already.”
“Adam, I need some money to leave Texas. I can’t stay here anymore.”
“What happened to that cowboy you were seeing? I thought things were serious between the two of you.”
“Nah. He was nice and all, but he was getting too serious. He started talking about marriage and kids. Do you see now why I need to leave?”
“You can’t keep going on like this, Em. The answer is no. You’re not getting any more money because there isn’t any. I warned you about this a year ago. Damn it. It’s time you grew up.”
“I am grown up. Just because I don’t like to be stuck in the same place and live a boring, ordinary life like most people do, doesn’t mean I’m a child.”
“It’s always the same argument with you.”
“Fine, Adam. Leave me homeless.” Click.
I threw my phone down on the couch and paced around the room. I was going crazy here in Texas and I needed to leave ASAP. I had other places to go. He didn’t understand. He couldn’t understand. No matter how many times I tried to explain it, he didn’t want to hear it. Just because he was happy being cooped up in an office working a nine to five job didn’t mean shit.
The next morning, as I was drinking my coffee and dodging calls from Billy, my phone rang. It was Adam.
“What?” I answered in a huff.
“Watch that tone of yours, little sister. Listen, I’ve been thinking that you need to come back to California for a while. We need to sit down and have a talk.”
“You mean you need to sit down and lecture me? And I don’t want to go back there.”
He sighed. “My job is relocating me to Tennessee for the next three months to try and save a company that’s going under. I’ve bought a plane ticket for you and you’re going to stay with a friend of mine. His name is Alex Parker.”
“Why can’t I stay at your place? If I decided to come back.”
“Because it’s being renovated while I’m gone and it will be unlivable.”
“So you want me to stay with a guy friend of yours? What brother does that to his sister? Tells her to move in with a total stranger?”
“Trust me. You have nothing to worry about with Alex. Besides, he owes me a favor and I called it in last night. Three months, Em, and then I’ll be back and we’re going to talk. But, within those three months, you are to figure out your damn life and decide where you’re going to plant yourself in this world and stay. Alex’s house is huge and he’s never home, so you’ll barely see him.”
“I don’t know about this, Adam. I don’t want to come back and you know that.”
“Do you want to get out of Texas or not? This is your only option,” he spoke with seriousness.
“Fine.” I sighed. “I’ll come to California. When is my flight?”
“Tomorrow morning at eight a.m. So get packing.”
“Will I see you tomorrow?”
“No. I’ll be gone before your flight gets in. I’ll text you Alex’s address. Just take a cab there and get yourself settled. I’ll be back in three months.”
I rolled my eyes. “Okay. Since you have my life all figured out for me, I guess I have no choice.”
“Have a safe flight and I’ll talk to you soon.” Click.
I loved my brother. He was all I had left in this world, but sometimes, he could be a real asshole and he was being an asshole now by making me come back to California.
****
Alex
I met Adam for dinner and a drink before he left for Tennessee. I couldn’t believe I agreed to let his little sister stay at my place while he was gone.
“Thanks again for letting Emerson stay with you, man.”
“No problem. What are friends for? Right?” I gave an unsure smile.
“I think I should warn you about her. She’s kind of a free spirit. She can be very mouthy and defiant. But she has a heart of gold and she can cook. I already told her you’re never home, so the two of you probably won’t see each other anyway.”
“True. Don’t worry. I’ll make sure she feels at home. Actually, I’ll have Jenna make sure she feels at home. It’s only for three months, right?”
“Yes. As soon as I get back, I will come collect my sister, and I apologize in advance for anything crude or rude she may say to you.”
I chuckled. “I’ll let you know when you get back if I accept your apology.”
****
“Jenna, we will be having a house guest for the next three months. Her name is Emerson and she’s my friend Adam’s little sister. Please make sure one of the guest rooms is fixed up for her, and when she arrives, show her around. Her flight gets in this afternoon. I’ll be at the office and I’m not sure when I’ll be home. Also, please make sure she doesn’t touch anything valuable.”
“Of course, Mr. Parker.” She nodded.
I climbed into the back seat of the Bentley and told my driver, Phillip, about Emerson.
“If you’re not driving me around and Miss James needs to go somewhere, please see to it she gets to her destination safely. If she asks you to take her somewhere absurdly far, consult me first.”
“Not a problem, Alex. I must say that I’m really surprised you’re letting her stay with you. That isn’t like you to have house guests.”
I sighed. “I’m doing a favor for a friend. Trust me. I won’t be doing this again.”
He smiled and drove me to my office. I was feeling unsure about this situation and I forgot to ask Adam how old his sister was and he never mentioned it. But he warned me about her being mouthy and defiant, so I guessed she was around eighteen. Just what I needed: a kid hanging around the house. I’d have to set some rules and she would follow them or else. The weird thing about Adam was that he never spoke of his family. I’d known him for three years and this was the first I heard about a sister. He was a good guy and did me a huge favor a year ago. When he called me and asked me if Emerson could stay with me, I couldn’t exactly turn him down.
Chapter 2
Emerson
As soon as I stepped off the plane and my feet hit the ground in California, my breathing became restricted. I needed to find a bathroom and get myself under control. The memories here were bad and I had left for a reason. Damn Adam for bringing me back. I had the tiniest bit of hope that being away for eight years would have made things easier. But I was wrong. Dead wrong.
Walking to baggage claim, I grabbed my two large suitcases and got into a cab. Showing the driver my phone, I asked him to take me to the address Adam sent me. I was surprised that the address was in Malibu. Who was this Alex Parker? Time to google him and find out. My eyes literally popped out of my head when I searched him. He was the Alex Parker. A well-known, world-famous real estate developer. He owned just about everything. Hotels, mortgage companies, apartment buildings, condos, restaurants, and a couple resorts around the world. Fuck! He was a billionaire and he was only thirty years old. Was that even possible? Damn, he was sexy. Holy shit. How the hell did Adam expect me to stay in the same house with that fine-looking man? But he did say I would have nothing to worry about with Alex, so I bet he was an asshole. An uptight, rich playboy who thought he owned the world type of asshole. As long as he stayed out of my way, I’d stay out of his, and judging by the number of different women he was photographed with, I bet he was a commitment phobe. If he was, at least we had that in common.
Pulling up the long winding driveway, we were stopped by a black wrought-iron gate. The driver pushed the button and the gates opened, allowing him to pull up to the house. He got out and fetched my suitcases from the trunk. I paid him his fare and, when he left, I stood there and stared at the mammoth home, which was situated on a hill. The front door opened and a woman stepped outside. She looked to be in her early thirties, petite, and she wore her black hair in a bun.
“Hello, you must be Miss James. I’m Jenna, Mr. Parker’s housekeeper.” She gave a warm smile.
I held out my hand. “I’m Emerson. It’s nice to meet you.”
She took one of my bags and led me inside. Stopping dead in my tracks in the foyer, I looked around at the beautifully decorated home of Mr. Parker. Jenna led me to a bedroom on the first floor towards the back of the house.
“Umm, Jenna. How big is this house?” I asked.
“It’s seven thousand square feet.”
“Jesus. Who needs a house that big?”
She laughed. “This is your room. You’ll have more privacy here and it’s the biggest guest room in the house. Plus, it has the best view.”
As she opened the door, I gasped. The room was bigger than my apartment back in Texas. Hell, it was bigger than anything I’d ever stayed in. The vaulted ceilings, taupe walls, and white crown molding gave the room a look of pure elegance. A king-sized sleigh bed sat on one wall with a fireplace and a built-in TV sat above it on the opposite wall. There were French doors that opened and led to a patio that was furnished with a couple of chairs and a table. The curtains were made of silk and hung elegantly to the floor. But it was the view that caught my attention and caught it fast. It overlooked the Pacific Ocean.
“Over here is your closet,” Jenna spoke as she opened the double doors.
I lost my breath as I stepped inside the double walk-in closet that housed a beautiful, large, white vanity. Shit, even the closet was bigger than my apartment. It was truly its own living space.
“This is amazing.”
Jenna smiled. “Wait until you see the bathroom.”
Stepping out of the closet, we walked down a small hallway that led to the bathroom. I’m not kidding when I say I think I had an orgasm. It contained a large, sunken jet tub that was big enough for at least four people, a large glass-encased walk-in shower, and a huge counter with double sinks. The entire bathroom was done in a beige marble and decorated to perfection.
“He didn’t decorate this house, did he?” I asked.
“No. Mr. Parker hired an interior decorator to decorate as he built the home.”
“How long has he lived here?” I asked out of curiosity.
“About five years. Come with me and I’ll show you the rest of the home.”
As we walked through the house, Jenna led me to the kitchen and orgasm number two happened. This kitchen was a chef’s dream. Holy shit. With the double ovens, the double stove, the large granite island that sat in the center, and the biggest stainless steel refrigerator I’d ever seen, I could see many elegant meals being prepared here. The dark cherry wood cabinets and moldings graced the entire kitchen, framing a large bay window with a cushioned window seat that overlooked the ocean.
After the tour, we stepped outside into the back yard. I had to tighten my legs from orgasm number three. The view, the tree-lined area, infinity pool, hot tub, and many furnishings—all were unbelievable.
“If you go down those steps right there,” Jenna pointed to the side, “they will lead you down to the beach.”
“This is beautiful. Truly beautiful.”
“I know. It’s an honor to work here.” She smiled.
I looked up to the second story and noticed the wraparound balcony. “What’s up there?”
“That floor is where Mr. Parker’s bedroom and home office is.”
I arched a brow at her. “His bedroom and office is the entire floor?”
“Yes. That floor is off limits. Nobody is allowed up there unless you have permission from Mr. Parker.”
“And you?”
“I have to clean up there, so I’m pretty much the only one allowed.”
“I see. I have a question. Is Mr. Parker uptight?”
She let out a light laugh. “Yes. Just a bit.”
“Great. Well, at least he’s never home. So I won’t see him much, right?”
“Correct. He does pop in during the day every once in a while. As for night, I really don’t know. I leave every day at five. He is a very social man who spends a lot of his time at charities and events, so he’s really not home much.”
“What a waste to have a house like this and never be able to enjoy it.”
She softly nodded her head. “If you’ll excuse me, I have to get back to work. Mr. Parker said to make yourself comfortable. There’s plenty of food and beverages in the refrigerator if you’re hungry.”
“Thank you, Jenna.”
“You’re welcome, Miss James.”
“No formality. I hate formalities. Call me Emerson.”
“All right, Emerson. If you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”
****
Alex
I arrived home at seven o’clock to meet my houseguest, take a shower and to change for a dinner date I had. When I walked through the door, the most incredible aroma filled the air. I set my briefcase down and walked into the kitchen, where I found a woman wearing extremely short jeans shorts standing over my stove.
“Ahem.” I cleared my throat.
She didn’t turn around, so I did it again. “Ahem.”
I sighed as I walked over to her and tapped her on the shoulder. She jumped and turned around.
“Jesus Christ, you scared me,” she said as she took her earphones out.
What the fuck? She was no eighteen-year-old. I stared at her ocean blue eyes as she placed her hand over her heart.
“I tried to speak to you, but obviously, you couldn’t hear me.” I pointed to her earphones.
“You must be Alex Parker. I’m Emerson James. Adam’s sister.” She extended her hand.
“Nice to meet you. How old are you?”
“Excuse me?” she asked with a narrowing eye.
“It’s just the way Adam talked about you. I thought you were around eighteen. Obviously, by looking at you, you’re not.”
“I’m twenty-six.”
“I see. Okay. Welcome to my home, Miss James, and please make yourself comfortable. I’m assuming Jenna showed you around the property.”
“Yes, she did. She was very nice. And what exactly did Adam say about me?” she asked with a furrowed brow.
“Not much. I just assumed you were younger. What are you cooking?” I leaned over and looked in the pot that was sitting on the stove.
“Pasta with a homemade palomino sauce.”
“It smells delicious. Adam told me you are quite the cook.”
“Would you like some?” she asked with a smile.
Placing my hand in my pocket, I politely told her no.
“I have a dinner date that I need to get ready for. So if you’ll excuse me.”
“Oh, sure. Have fun.”
I turned away and began walking out of the kitchen. Stopping, I turned around and looked at her one last time before heading upstairs. “Thank you.”
Fuck oh fuck. Adam’s sister was beautiful, extremely beautiful. Her brown hair with blonde highlights that she wore in a ponytail complemented her tanned skin and ocean blue eyes. From what I could see, her body was perfect. She was fit, lean, and toned in all the right places, and the tank top she was wearing clung tightly to her large, round breasts. I shook my head and successfully stopped my cock from getting hard. I was a man, after all, in the presence of a beautiful young woman, and it couldn’t be helped. As I stood in the shower, I kept thinking about my cock’s reaction to her. Normally, I don’t get hard just by looking at a woman like that. I see beautiful women every day and this had never happened before. What the hell was going on?
Chapter 3
Emerson
Alex’s pictures didn’t do him justice. That man was just as delicious-looking in person as he was online. He stood a little over six feet tall with short, sandy-brown hair and brown eyes. His chiseled cheekbones and strong jaw made him very handsome, not to mention the five o’clock shadow that he sported gave way to perfection. Shit. And yes, I did look down to his man area to see if he was perhaps sporting anything big. It was too hard to tell in his black suit pants. I’d have to see him in a pair of jeans or maybe a pair of khaki shorts.
As I put my pasta on a plate, and before I stepped onto the patio, I heard the front door open and then shut. That smell. I caught a whiff of man scent that drifted into the kitchen. I knew that smell. He had put on Dolce & Gabbana, my favorite man scent of all time. I sighed, grabbed my plate, and took it outside on the patio. It was a beautiful night. The sun had set and the stars were coming out. The warm breeze that swept across my face made me remember how much I used to love living in California. As I was eating, my phone rang. It was Adam.
“Hello.”
“Just making sure you arrived safely. How are things going?”
“Fine so far. You didn’t tell me that Alex Parker was the Alex Parker.”
“To be honest, I didn’t think about it. Does it matter?”
“No. But his house is like a mansion.”
“Yeah. It’s pretty cool, isn’t it? Hey, are you okay being there? I mean, back in California?”
Oh, now he asks.
“No. Not really, and to be honest, I’m really pissed at you for making me come back here.”
“You need to put the past behind you, Em. I know it’s hard, but you have to move on with your life.”
“I have moved on, Adam! I just chose not to move on here. This conversation goes the same way every time. I have to go.” Click.
I was getting tired, so I cleaned up and headed to my bedroom. After changing into my pajamas, I opened the French doors to let the breeze blow into the room. Climbing into bed, I pulled the sheet over me and stared out into the night, listening to the waves as they crashed against the shore.
****
I had always been an early riser. As far as I was concerned, there wasn’t one minute of the day to be wasted. Climbing out of bed, I slipped into my crème-colored, short silk robe and stepped outside on the patio off my room, breathing in the fresh morning air and looking out into the ocean. A smile crossed my face when I saw two dolphins in the water.
I went into the kitchen and started a pot of coffee. I jumped when my phone started to ring. Who the hell would be calling me this early? Oh. It was Billy. Shit. I answered it and put it on speaker as I took the eggs from the refrigerator.
“Hello.”
“Where the hell are you, Em? I went to your place last night and you were gone. I tried calling your phone, but it went straight to voicemail.”
“I’m in California and I turned my phone off last night.”
“California! What the hell are you doing there and why didn’t you tell me you were going?”
“I had to come here for my brother and I forgot to mention it.”
“Baby, please don’t lie to me. I’m sorry for the other night. I didn’t mean to upset you.”
“You didn’t upset me and I’m not lying.”
I cracked the eggs in the pan, put a piece of bread in the toaster, and began to slice up some avocados.
“Baby, when are you coming home? We need to sit down and have a serious talk.”
Alex walked into the kitchen and looked at my phone and then at me.
“I’m not coming back to Texas, Billy.”
“What the fuck do you mean you’re not coming back to Texas?!” he yelled.
“Do you not understand English?”
I saw Alex smirk.
“It’s over between us, Billy. I’m over Texas. I told you to begin with that I probably wasn’t staying very long.”
“But, Em, what about us? We had plans, damn it!”
“You had plans, Billy. Plans that you were making without talking to me first. You were just assuming a whole lot of things.”
“So you’re just going to walk away from our relationship? Do you have any idea how bad I’m hurting right now, baby?”
“For god sakes, stop calling me ‘baby’ and I’m sorry if I hurt you. I’m moving on, Billy, and I suggest you do the same.”
“But, Em, I love you. Please don’t do this to us. What can I do to make things right?”
“Billy, it’s too early for this and I haven’t even had my coffee yet. There’s nothing you can do. I’m not coming back and it’s over. You deserve better than me. I have to go. I’m sorry.” Click.
“Coffee?” I asked Alex, who was leaning up against the counter.
“Yes. Coffee would be nice. You’re quite the little heartbreaker. I was feeling sorry for Billy.” He smirked.
I rolled my eyes as I handed him his coffee cup. “Billy will be just fine. Eggs?” I asked.
“No. I don’t have time. I have a meeting. Have a nice day, Miss James.”
“Enough with the formalities, Alex. Call me Emerson, Em, Emmie—whatever you want. Just not ‘Miss James.’”
He cocked his head and smiled. “I think I’ll call you ‘heartbreaker.’”
“Ugh.” I put my head down on the counter and I heard him chuckle as he walked out.
****
Alex
I guess I didn’t need to make any rules since Emerson was a grown adult. A beautiful, grown adult, which ultimately could lead to trouble for me if I wasn’t careful. Damn Adam for not telling me how hot she was. Hot or not, she was my friend’s sister and I couldn’t cross that line. Plus, she wasn’t my type. She wasn’t... how could I put this nicely? She wasn’t upscale enough. The women I dated and fucked were of high society. They were classy, something Emerson seemed to lack. I had standards and, unfortunately, she didn’t meet them. Which was a good thing. I couldn’t help but wonder, though, why she left Texas the way she did. Listening to her conversation with Billy was quite entertaining and the way she just blew him off was ballsy. The women I’d known weren’t like that. They were the Billys of the relationship. Begging and pleading me to stay and always trying to change themselves for me. There was a story behind Emerson James and I couldn’t help but wonder just what her story was. Was I going to find out? No. It was none of my business. She was here for three months and three months only. As long as she stayed out of my way and life, I would stay out of hers.
