One of a Kind Read online

  Kent planted kisses above her breasts. Her hips bucked forward, guiding him to touch that sensitive spot deep within her cavern. She squeezed her muscles and released to suck him in further, then her cries grew louder and wild. They’d surely test the thickness of the hotel’s walls.

  On the edge of the bed, their bodies were locked in a writhing mass. Kent fell onto his back and she naturally fell with him. They rolled to the middle of the bed, their bodies caught up in the sheet. Then, they were sliding headfirst off the bed onto the floor.

  Kent reached over her and pulled down the comforter, then lifting Dana and setting her down on it. She saw so much strength, not only in his face with its strong jawline, not only in the planes of his body’s athletic build, but within his being. She placed her hand over his heart. Inside there was a calming disposition.

  Right now, she wasn’t looking for calm. She bit his shoulder. He bucked hard against her pelvis. Her fingers dug into his back, while her hips torqued from the hot flames of desire. For a second time, this man had taken her to new heights, like an expert guide sharing beauty and passion with her. Gladly, she accepted the invitation with more than a little fervor until her inner walls quivered, flooding the intimate space between them with her natural juices. Like a good partner, Kent answered her call with his own release. She wasn’t the type to one-up someone, and, for a second time, she came. Her body didn’t disappoint him, with its reaction matching his, beat for beat. Every ounce of their energy was expended.

  “Mr. Fraser, it’s been a pleasure.”

  “I look forward to doing this again.” He kissed her forehead.

  “Stop doing that. I have to get back to the meeting. I’ve already compromised quite a few brain cells thanks to that wicked mouth of yours.”

  “I’ll try to restrain myself.” He slid his mouth down her torso.

  “Damn it, Kent.” Dana sighed. “Not the tongue.” Her eyes rolled up in her head as if she was under the influence.

  * * *

  After the meeting resolved satisfactorily, Dana returned home, while Kent went to England. The reports from the divisions, during the meeting, had been fairly positive. While some executives were more restrained in their support of Dana, it wasn’t due to a lack of confidence in her leadership. The most confidential part of the meeting allowed them to air their concerns about the way Meadows Media would continue to be structured. Dana understood their concerns. Though she wasn’t of the mindset to blindly promise anything, she could provide the necessary support and resources to continue business as usual.

  Now to prepare for the board meeting.

  One week passed with no word from Kent. Then the second week passed excruciatingly slowly. The only correspondence from him was the survey results he sent to her and Grace. By the third week, another work email arrived with the preliminary work needed for the business analysis. Dana was ready to bite her nails in anticipation of any note of a personal nature.

  She’d called once, left a message, and waited. That was the worst. Holding on, waiting, like a sad puppy waiting to be stroked. It was the reason why she refused to make a second call or leave another message.

  This unsettling position prompted her to put work aside for a brief time and to do something—anything—to shut out Kent. That’s why she was in her casual clothes with a glass of wine in one hand and a box of chocolates in her lap. Her cousin, Belinda, wasn’t amused with Dana’s unannounced drop-in at her home or that she’d raided her stash of munchies.

  “I know that I’m not always the best listener. But I am sensing that something is on your mind. I’m here if you want to talk.” Belinda motioned for her to speak.

  Dana had never relied on girlfriends outside of the family when she wanted to confess her private business. She had learned that the hard way, through too many wayward social media posts about her private goings-on, which made her withdraw and trust more in her cousins’ advice. “I met someone.”

  “Yeah? Special?”

  Dana nodded. “Still feeling a little raw about it.”

  “I won’t push. So, what do you want to talk about?”

  “You know we’ve got to talk about Grace’s party.” Dana was grateful for the reprieve. She bit into a piece of chocolate and inspected the caramel center.

  Belinda raised her hands in protest. “I’m not on the organizing committee.”

  “All of the cousins are supposed to do it.”

  “Um...you know that’s not true. Grandma wouldn’t trust anyone but you with that assignment.”

  “I’m pretty busy with the company.” Dana popped the rest of the chocolate in her mouth and licked the remnants off her fingers. Her cheek bulged as she chewed, part of her attention on her next choice.

  “Stay within the dotted lines and you’ll be fine.”

  “Stop being sarcastic.” Dana chose a chocolate-covered coconut piece. Not her favorite, but when the chocolates cost as much as these and hailed from a small European country, somehow she felt it was a sacrilege not to eat every piece.

  “Where do you plan to hold the party?”

  “At the house, of course.”

  “Every function is at that house. The place might as well be turned into a state house with the amount of official visits and parties that are held there.” Belinda was known for coming up with excuses not to show up to family events.

  “Or we could have it here.” Dana looked over the surroundings to imagine a do-over.

  “Are you crazy? My horses would object.”

  Dana rolled her eyes. She wasn’t a horse person. Belinda had grown up with animals around her and training Thoroughbreds fit in line with her career. But, more than that, Belinda had land. A few tents here and there and they could have Grace’s birthday party on the grounds.

  “Rent out a museum. It’ll give the classy atmosphere that Grandma likes. You can have caterers and a string quartet,” Belinda offered, now aware that Dana had some ulterior motive for dropping in.

  “That sounds boring.”

  “Like I said, stay within the lines.” Belinda motioned with her head toward the kitchen—and the exit—indicating Dana should follow.

  “Do you think the entire family will come?”

  “Probably not, but only deal with one thing at a time.” Belinda waited for Dana impatiently. Her cousin was tossing—or escorting—her out.

  “Planning Grace’s party is just as hard as taking up the reins at Meadows Media,” Dana said.

  “Because there’s the same pain in the you-know-where in the mix.”

  Dana stopped following Belinda. “You know that is wrong. Grandma is tough, but she had to be to raise our mothers and work at the same time.”

  “Oh, stop with the public service announcement. You’re the favorite. You don’t get to preach.” Belinda had led her to the stables. Clearly, she wanted to get back to work.

  Dana pondered Belinda’s comments. Dana had always been considered the favorite, not that she could prevent the privilege or curse after being left at her grandmother’s. The rest of her cousins had always had their mothers in their lives. In order to have had those precious moments with her mother, Dana would exchange the label as Grace’s “favorite” in a minute. Now that her mother was back in her life, everyone expected that she had gotten over it. Some days, Dana thought she had. It was those lonely times when she didn’t have anything to hold her attention or tax her energy that she thought about the day her mother left for five years.

  In her Sunday best with shiny black shoes, hair neatly combed, Dana thought they were going on a car trip with her mother’s boyfriend. She’d heard them talk about going to see some guru who was touring the country. Finding themselves was the order of the day. However, that mission didn’t include an unnecessary addition—Dana.

  Sitting in the backseat, barely a
ble to see out the window, she’d watched the familiar landscape of her hometown flash by, wondering when they would get on their way. Instead, they pulled into the Symphony Woods neighborhood. Even then, wealth hung over mansions with little regard for those who didn’t have much.

  After a heated discussion, Dana was left with her grandparents. They were furious with their daughter who always marched to the beat of her own drum. Thankfully, they never turned their anger and frustration onto their granddaughter.

  Dana snapped back to reality.

  As they strolled near the stables, she remarked, “I can’t do this on my own. And yes, I do want to do this right. I want all of the family to attend.”

  “Honey, there aren’t enough days in the calendar for the amount of work that will entail.”

  “Grandma asked me to do this.”

  “I doubt that it was a question.” Belinda held up her hand against Dana’s objections. “I have a show in three months. There’s only so much that I will be able to do. But I don’t want to see you burdened.”

  Dana stroked the nose of a sedate pony. She wished all creatures could have this calm temperament. Grace had insisted that she learned to ride, calling it a good exercise to induce a sense of refinement. That claim was exaggerated. As a bonus, though, Dana had enjoyed riding, which gave her an escape into her own imaginary land, where she was an abducted princess rescued by a fearless knight. Only no one came to her rescue in real life. Eventually, she learned not to look for help, not to expect it, finally settling down and surrendering to her grandmother’s will.

  “What about Fiona? Can she help?” Belinda didn’t seem to mind making suggestions, even if she didn’t want to host the party.

  “Oh, good grief. That’d be like waiting for the Easter Bunny to pop in during Thanksgiving.”

  Belinda laughed. “Our cousin isn’t that bad. It’s not like she’d be deliberately unreliable.”

  “She might as well be married to that detective job.”

  “Working in the Missing Persons Unit is important to her.” Belinda and Fiona were closer than Dana was to their cousin. When family arguments were underway, divided loyalties could prolong the skirmishes longer than anyone wanted.

  “I know. I know. I just wish that I could see her more often. ’Cause when we do, she looks so exhausted. The job is eating her alive.”

  “Well, well, looks like you wenches can’t stop talking about me behind my back.” Fiona’s voice came out of nowhere.

  “Fiona! We didn’t expect to see you.” Dana winked at Belinda and went over to hug her cousin.

  “Let’s go for a ride,” Belinda stepped in, as usual ready to defuse any tension.

  “I’m only here for an hour. Gotta get back to—”

  “Work.” Both Belinda and Dana filled in with the usual excuse.

  “Don’t give me a hard time.” Fiona did look drawn and worn around the edges.

  Dana still had her arm around her cousin’s shoulders. “Don’t mean to. We’re all busy.”

  “Yeah.” Fiona touched her forehead to Dana’s. “So what’s up? When you called me earlier, you said that you wanted to talk about Grandma’s birthday party. Why not hire a party planner?”

  “I will, but that’s not the problem.” Dana wished her family didn’t have so much drama.

  Belinda led the way back to the house. “Seems like I’m not going to get any work done today with both of you bickering. Let’s go sit on the patio. Dana, I have your favorite drink made.”

  “I can’t drink sangrias while I’m on the clock.” Fiona hooked her arm through Dana’s as they headed toward the back of the house. “I’ll take a virgin whatever you’ve got.”

  Dana offered up one of her old excuses. “Call in sick. Tell them you ate something bad at lunch.”

  “Don’t you need to be at work ruling the media world?”

  “Yeah, but I’m also the rogue heiress who lacks discipline and stamina. Plus, I can’t seem to hold on to the one man who got a hold of me.” Dana felt ready to spill.

  “Do tell.” Fiona got comfortable.

  “Wait, don’t start talking.” Belinda showed up with fruity drinks in tall glasses with tiny umbrellas decorating the tops. “And stop quoting those jackasses.”

  Dana couldn’t stop. Her constant critics, both at work and in her own family, had managed to infiltrate her brain. Their every command flooded her system. Chin up—not high enough. Shoulders back—like Grace. Dress to impress—not likely.

  “Who is the bastard?” Fiona sniffed her drink before taking a sip. “This is good.”

  “Told you I know what I’m doing.”

  “Those bartending classes paid off.” Dana tasted hers. “And he’s British.”

  “Okay, a British bastard.” Fiona shrugged.

  “I like him,” Dana defended.

  “And...?” Belinda was tentative with her questions.

  “He doesn’t like me.” Dana explained the details, trying not to color the story with too much anger.

  “Doesn’t sound to me like he doesn’t like you,” Belinda offered. “Maybe he’s not the type to talk about his feelings until he’s in front of you.”

  “Did you give up the goodies?” Fiona made a face. “He might have thought, ‘Well, my coaching job is now complete. Cheerio!’”

  Belinda slapped Fiona’s shoulder. “You are not helping.”

  Dana had already thought about all the sordid scenarios. The more she mulled it over, the worse the scenarios her imagination produced became. What if he did have a girlfriend back at home? She let out a loud groan.

  “Enough. Let’s leave...what’s his name?” Belinda asked.

  “Kent.”

  “British bastard,” Fiona repeated, moving her shoulder out of reach of Belinda’s assault.

  “Well, let’s leave Kent on the backburner for the moment.” Belinda raised her glass and the others joined in. “To the Meadows clan and its colorful, living history. But don’t get your hopes up that you’ll get all of us Meadows women together.”

  “Especially Great-Aunt Jen. She’ll come, but she’s bound to make a scene.” Fiona laughed.

  “That’s why I’ll need you guys to help me.” Dana clasped her hands to plead her case. “Time is precious. Grace isn’t going to live forever. We need to do right by her. We need to come together and celebrate—I mean, really celebrate—all that she has done.”

  “Well, is Grace going to make amends with her daughters first? It’s not a one-way street, Dana. Our mothers have their baggage from being her kids and, like we said, Great-Aunt Jen isn’t feeling her sister. What the heck happened with those two, anyway?” Belinda shifted to get comfortable in her chair.

  Dana didn’t answer. She’d heard some tidbits of what had caused animosity between Jen and Grace. Not only had Grace become the star in the family, she had been accused of stealing Jen’s fiancé. Dana found that it was hard to think of Grace as a hot, sexy mama. But if her cousins didn’t know the details, she certainly wasn’t putting them on the table.

  “Dana? What happened?” Belinda pushed. “I hate it when you hold back on good gossip.”

  “That’s not important. We’ve got to get busy with the planning.”

  Fiona drained her glass. “Okay, we’ll drop the matter...for now.” Her phone chirped its incoming message. “Ladies, I’ve got to go.”

  “We didn’t get anything accomplished.” Dana wished that she could toss out Fiona’s constantly ringing phone.

  “We never do.” Belinda sounded miffed that she hadn’t gotten anything juicy out of this meet-up.

  “Look, I can’t afford not to do this right,” Dana said. “Let’s meet up again. Next weekend. My place?”

  “Why do you make it sound as if you really have a separate home? An
d then, if we do it at your place, we’ll have to stop in to say hi to Grandma.” Belinda was up on her feet, ready to push both cousins out the door.

  “Actually, she did complain that no one visits,” Dana said.

  “Because you have to come dressed as if you’re going to church.” Fiona fixed her standard black pantsuit, white shirt, and sensible black shoes. Even her hair was worn in a classic style, pulled back in a ponytail and wound around into a bun. She wore no makeup except for her lip balm during the winter months.

  “I’m always in her crosshairs to meet someone,” Belinda said. “According to her, I’m like a spinster cat lady, except I have horses. Either way, I’m doomed to be a lonely woman who has let life and love pass me by.”

  “That sounds awful and sad.” Fiona jingled her keys. She always seemed on the verge of sprinting off. “But kind of true, Belinda.”

  Dana snorted. Fiona did know how to be blunt.

  Belinda flipped her off and stalked off toward her beloved horses.

  Dana was left alone with half a glass of sangria, as Fiona headed toward her car. She pulled out her cell phone and checked for a message from Kent. Nothing.

  She headed back to the patio, settled back in a chair, and continued sipping the sangria. If she was keeping a tally of things on her to-do list that she had accomplished, she had to declare her momentum akin to spinning wheels in mud. She pulled out her phone again. “I left a message,” Dana said.

  “This one matters?” Belinda asked.

  Dana nodded. Her cousins had all heard about her dating wars. In all previous cases, she was the one to send the guy packing. Never had she lingered or second-guessed herself. When the feeling came that she needed to cut them loose, she did.

  Now, Fate had seemed to intervene, turning the tables on her. She didn’t like it one bit.

  “Call him again. Until he says that he’s not interested, you should call him.”

  “Sounds stalker-ish. Not my style.” Dana shook her head with a definitive shake.

  “Then move on. No man is worth you sitting here looking like you’ve got issues. It sounds like I have got to meet this dude. But you need to snap out of it.” Belinda came over and hugged her. “Now let my bad-ass cousin back into her body. Meadows women don’t lose their minds over any man.”