The Lost Tycoon (Baby for the Billionaire #5)(41)
Author: Melody Anne

“Because Joseph would have somehow known and then strung me up as an example of what happens to men who defile the Anderson women,” he said with a chuckle. “And, Misty, you are an Anderson.”

“Maybe by blood, but I wasn’t raised with them, and apparently my father was the black sheep of the family, so while they may be greeting me with open arms right now, that could all change in an instant. I’ve decided just to enjoy it while it lasts.” She wasn’t upset, just realistic.

“You will gain trust the more you get to know them. They’re the good kind of people to have in your life,” Bryson assured her.

“I think you’re right about that. But I don’t think I’m exactly an asset to their superior blood,” she said with a laugh, though her own words stung her.

“You are more of an asset than you could ever realize,” Bryson said as they reached the back door.

“No more talk of this. I want to enjoy the next couple of days with this perfect family, and then, when I get back home — if you have time — I want to finish what we started down there on the beach.” Misty sent him a flirtatious smile. Or at least what she hoped was a flirtatious smile. She’d hardly had a lot of experience handing those out.

“I’ll move our flights up,” he growled, cornering her on the porch.

“I wouldn’t complain.” She whimpered as his lips touched hers again and she melted against him.

“Well, I sure as hell would.”

The two of them jumped apart quicker than a frog’s tongue catching a fly as Joseph looked out at them from the doorway.

“We were just taking a walk,” Bryson said, his cheeks slightly pink.

Misty was fascinated by his nervousness. Edginess from a man who seemed so confident all the time was fascinating to behold. But she could certainly understand it. Joseph was one heck of an intimidating man, especially standing in the entryway to his castle.

“Yeah, I’ll just bet you were,” Joseph grumbled, and he sent a warning look Bryson’s way. Then a gleam appeared in the old man’s eyes as he looked back and forth between the two of them. “Of course, a nice morning walk isn’t such a bad thing.”

Misty and Bryson gaped at him.

“Why don’t we have breakfast and visit?” Joseph walked inside, absolutely certain the two of them would follow immediately.

And they did.

For the next few hours, Misty felt as if she were in an interrogation room. When Damien and Sierra joined them, she sighed in relief.

“Don’t worry about Joseph. He just loves to be in charge,” Sierra said as the two women escaped to a couch, leaving the men to chat among themselves. Soon, Katherine joined them, and Misty found herself really liking the soft-spoken woman.

The topic of Joseph and his wild schemes came up eventually. He thought he was being secretive, but it seemed that his antics were very well known.

“I can’t figure out what Joseph’s doing. He keeps talking about school, and marriage and kids, then he looks from Bryson to me. We’re not a couple. We’re just…” she trailed off, not knowing how to define their relationship.

“Yeah, I was just…” Sierra got a big smile on her face. “…just nothing with Damien, too,” she finished with a giggle as she looked pointedly to the sleeping baby lying in her husband’s arms as he talked with Joseph and Bryson.

Damien was so natural with his daughter, cradling her protectively in one arm while he rubbed along her soft bald head or patted her back gently with his free hand. He would look at her every few moments just to assure himself she was comfortable. Awwwww, Misty thought.

“Don’t try to fight it, Misty. Just grab it while it’s hot and then hold on for the ride,” Sierra advised.

Though Misty blushed, she looked across the room at Bryson, and when their eyes met, a spark shot through her. Maybe her newly found sister-in-law was right — maybe she should just hold on and see where this all led.

She sent Bryson a wink. Would this work as a sexy gesture? Yesss! She felt immediate warmth when she saw him stiffen. Mmm, flirting was becoming a new favorite pastime of hers.

“You go, girl,” Sierra said with a chuckle.

“I just might do that,” Misty replied, leaning back and enjoying herself.

By the end of her second night at the Anderson mansion, she’d been talked into meeting the rest of the family. The Anderson Foundation was throwing a fundraising party and it sounded like too much fun to miss. Her last night there promised to be an adventure unlike anything she’d experienced before.

Bring it on, she thought with a new optimism.

Chapter Twenty

“You look stunning,” Sierra gasped after circling around Misty slowly so she could take in the entire effect of the gauze dress.

Misty clutched at the top of her gown and tugged, and Sierra jumped over and grabbed her hand. “Don’t do that. You’ll rip it and then be showing far more of your goodies than you are now,” she said with a laugh.

“I can’t wear this, Sierra. It’s beautiful — the most beautiful gown I’ve ever even seen, because I certainly haven’t ever worn one this stunning. But I can’t wear this. Not in front of strangers.” Misty turned back to the mirror in dismay.

Gazing back at her was a woman who certainly looked as if she belonged in this magical fantasy the Andersons had created, but it wasn’t Misty. Her dark hair shone as it tumbled down her back, the bright sparkle of her green eyes was accented by expertly applied makeup, and her body…well, her body looked curvy and sensual, and…

“Nope. Can’t do it,” Misty sighed. “You have to have something more…more…I don’t know, something that shows less?”

“It’s a Cirque du Soleil theme,” Sierra told her. “Just wait until you see what Joseph has planned!” She was practically bouncing on her feet as she held out a beautiful necklace and placed it around Misty’s neck.

“Please tell me this isn’t real.” Misty brought her finger up and ran it over the large blue stone in the middle of a cluster of other brightly colored gems.

“Okay, it’s not real.” Sierra turned away to fasten her own jewelry around her neck and her wrists.

“What if I lose it?” Misty asked. This was getting to be too big of a deal. Maybe she shouldn’t have agreed to go to the fundraiser.

“Don’t worry; it’s insured. Besides, if you lost it, someone would find it and take it to Joseph or Katherine,” Sierra replied.