Son of Scandal Read online

  “Dance with me?”

  Sometimes desire has wicked consequences...

  A member of Savannah’s most influential family, Paxton McLemore has his life planned out. Until one dance at a masquerade ball leads to a night of passion with his assistant, Ivy Harden. Now Ivy is pregnant, and Paxton is falling hard. But the masks are coming off...revealing Ivy’s true identity and rekindling a blood feud that will rock Savannah society!

  “I’m not very good at secrets.”

  Paxton advanced on Ivy carefully, step by step from across the room. Each move made her heart pound.

  How could a simple walk be sexy enough for her body to react?

  “Are you lying?” he asked, drawing out each word.

  Nerves caused her throat to close up, refusing to let out the words. She shook her head. She couldn’t let Paxton find out about her family. Not yet.

  “I think you are.” His voice deepened, taking on a sexy, teasing tone that she’d thought she’d never hear again. “What do I need to do to get to the truth?”

  He couldn’t ever know the truth.

  Danger seemed to shimmer between them. Ivy knew she shouldn’t mess with the undercurrents she felt, but this game wasn’t in her hands anymore.

  Paxton kept moving forward, holding her gaze, until he came close enough to bury his hands in her hair.

  His husky voice sent shivers over her body as he asked, “Are you sure there’s nothing you want to tell me?”

  * * *

  Son of Scandal is part of the

  Savannah Sisters series from Dani Wade.

  Dear Reader,

  My heroine in Son of Scandal, Ivy Harden, ends up with a world of heartache after a one-night stand with her boss, Paxton McLemore. Her dreams of falling in love with him and having a family are quickly dashed the morning after.

  Ivy has some pretty tough choices to make in this book, but I’m proud of her for never completely letting go of her dream—even when it doesn’t turn out quite the way she expected. I hope you enjoy the final installment of my Savannah Sisters trilogy!

  I love to hear from my readers! You can email me at [email protected] or follow me on Facebook. As always, news about my releases is easiest to find through my author newsletter, which you can sign up for from my website at www.daniwade.com.

  Enjoy!

  Dani

  Dani Wade

  Son of Scandal

  Dani Wade astonished her local librarians as a teenager when she carried home ten books every week—and actually read them all. Now she writes her own characters, who clamor for attention in the midst of the chaos that is her life. Residing in the Southern United States with a husband, two kids, two dogs and one grumpy cat, she stays busy until she can closet herself away with her characters once more.

  Books by Dani Wade

  Harlequin Desire

  His by Design

  Reining in the Billionaire

  Unbridled Billionaire

  A Family for the Billionaire

  Milltown Millionaires

  A Bride’s Tangled Vows

  The Blackstone Heir

  The Renegade Returns

  Expecting His Secret Heir

  Savannah Sisters

  Taming the Billionaire

  Son of Scandal

  Visit her Author Profile page at Harlequin.com, or daniwade.com, for more titles.

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  This book is dedicated to everyone

  who helped me through one of the hardest times

  in my life, also known as January 2018.

  My sister, Ella (as always!). My mother.

  My husband and children. My coworkers.

  The Playfriends. My editor.

  And all the readers and author friends

  who reached out to me on Facebook to offer

  encouragement and prayers.

  This book would never have been

  finished without you!

  Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  Chapter Ten

  Chapter Eleven

  Chapter Twelve

  Chapter Thirteen

  Chapter Fourteen

  Chapter Fifteen

  Chapter Sixteen

  Chapter Seventeen

  Epilogue

  Excerpt from Hot Texas Nights by Janice Maynard

  One

  “Dance with me?”

  Ivy looked at the outstretched hand, surprised and nonplussed at the same time. Her own fingers clenched over the itch in her palm. The itch that told her to reach out, to take what she coveted.

  After a year and a half of carefully keeping Paxton McLemore at arm’s length, did she dare step in close for a waltz?

  They were at a masquerade ball, after all. The most glamorous charity event of the year, planned by her sister Jasmine Harden, Savannah’s most noted event planner. Dancing with Paxton would be a natural action. One that wouldn’t be judged by those around them, even though he was her employer. But she would know. Could she successfully hide how she felt when she was that close?

  Though he wore a traditional black mask, she’d recognize his brilliant amber eyes anywhere—not just because of the intense color, but also the ever-present flash of intelligence and intuition she observed every day as his executive assistant.

  It was just a dance... Why did she hesitate?

  Suddenly he wiggled the fingers of the hand she had left dangling by her indecision. She smiled; the silly gesture was a charming reminder of the lighthearted moments they shared every day at work.

  Ivy finally reached her hand out to his.

  “You know, there’s been a change in my office,” Paxton said as his warm fingers curled around hers. “This new assistant came to work for me, and she makes me smile every day.”

  A glow warmed Ivy’s core as he lifted her hand to graze her knuckles with his sculpted lips. She glanced down at their clasped hands as Paxton led her toward the dance floor in Keller House’s renovated ballroom.

  Though she should be focused on doing her part to make sure the incredible masquerade ball her sister had orchestrated ran smoothly, Ivy let thoughts of caterers and fund-raisers and responsibility fall away. But with a single touch, the struggle to breathe became real. It took her a moment to realize the truth—Paxton had never touched her before this.

  Oh, she went out of her way to make him smile at the office, to soften the strain of his intense focus on work. Though her crush had intensified since she’d been working for him, she’d kept her actions and words strictly professional.

  No touching. Until tonight.

  Before she could register what was happening, they’d moved onto the dance floor and Paxton had turned to face her. He opened his arms, inviting her in. Ivy blinked—once, twice.

  This is dangerous.

  She chose to ignore her mind’s warnings. Ivy stepped forward, and they took the waltz position, but didn’t move. Instead Paxton’s eyes widened at the initial contact, as if he, too, could feel the electric shock as they embraced.

  Then his eyelids lowered to half-mast, taking on a slumberous, sexy look. A look she’d only seen in her fantasies
.

  Her heartbeat sped up, thrumming at the base of her throat. He took the first step, leading her in a modern-day version of the traditional dance.

  Even though the warning bells she’d been silencing for a year were back full force, Ivy let his arms close around her, pull her closer. As they danced under the crystal chandeliers, amid dozens of other couples in the impeccably restored ballroom, the moment felt surreal. Out of time. His black tux was classic. The striking contrast between it and her emerald-green ball gown caught her eye as they glided past the wall of ornately framed mirrors.

  The decadent illusion was dangerous—just like him.

  She’d tried hard since her parents died to be practical, independent. But a small, hidden part of her still clung to the fantasy of fairy tales and Prince Charming.

  Tonight, that part of her refused to be denied.

  So she let him lead her, turn her, bend her to his touch. The touch that she’d fantasized about for the last year and a half she’d worked for him. During their daily routine, she’d resisted the pull of attraction, attempted to distract herself with clients and travel arrangements and meeting preparations. She’d thrown herself into the busy schedule of the head of the manufacturing division of his family’s shipping conglomerate. But at the most unexpected of moments, she’d find herself immersed in far more intimate thoughts than she should have about her boss.

  Tonight, he was that dream come to life. His touch and the intensity of his gaze made her feel beautiful, wanted. Her body tingled whenever he pressed close. This far surpassed her simple fantasies. The feelings were intense. Impossible to ignore.

  They moved through the sea of people as if alone. The way her heart raced and her skin tingled with every brush of his hand was pure magic.

  Every time logic attempted to assert itself, the intensity of his stare pushed it back. She wanted nothing more than to be his entire focus and let reality melt away.

  He drew her closer, cocooning her in his arms. His gaze turned hungrier. His body grew harder.

  Somewhere in the intensity, Ivy’s resistance evaporated and she knew she’d go wherever he led her.

  Even when the song was over and she had left him to do her hostessing rounds for her sister, she caught glimpses of him nearby. No matter how close or how far away, she could sense exactly where he was in the crowd. And it wasn’t long before they found each other again in the muffled quiet of the front foyer.

  Ivy held her breath, uncertainty washing over her. “Paxton...”

  “I know,” he said, reaching out to rub a finger over the velvet ribbon that held her mask in place. “I didn’t expect this either. But I can’t deny that I want you...very much.”

  He leaned into her, his mint-scented breath making her mouth water.

  “We shouldn’t...” she whispered, though her eyelids were already fluttering closed.

  “I know...” He groaned.

  Then his mouth covered hers and all protests were lost.

  His kiss was just this side of demanding. Her body melted in acquiescence. He pressed closer, as if to absorb her surrender and claim his victory.

  She knew how the night would end, and couldn’t find an ounce of hesitation in her mind or body. Not even when he had paused, giving logic an opening to fracture the fantasy.

  “I know I shouldn’t ask you, that I have no right,” Paxton said, the intensity of his stare making her shiver. “But, Ivy, will you go home with me?”

  In that moment fantasy ruled. Though she’d denied it for over a year, Ivy had never wanted anything more than she wanted to spend tonight in Paxton’s arms. “Yes. Yes, I will.”

  The happiness and excitement Ivy felt left her in a very surreal place, as if she couldn’t quite grasp the reality of the decision she’d made.

  Still she forced herself to be practical for one moment and made a quick call to her sister Jasmine. Hunting her down in the throngs of people would take too long. As she waited for Paxton to get the car brought around, Ivy heard the hesitation and concern in her sister’s voice. Her tone escalated to alarm as Ivy told her where she was going but Ivy couldn’t bring herself to care.

  She’d spent the past year ignoring her family’s secret connection to Paxton’s. She justified taking the position with him by telling herself that he never had to know who she really was. Becoming his assistant had been a dream job for someone her age. With her drive to stand on her own two feet, there was no way she could have passed up such an incredible opportunity to advance. Or the temptation it had presented. Yes, it was a foolish hope. But maybe, just maybe, this was the right thing.

  She glanced at the teardrop emerald on her right ring finger, swearing it actually twinkled in the subdued lighting on the front stone steps, where she waited. The piece of jewelry handed down to her and her sisters through generations of their family, who believed its magic would guide them to find their true love.

  The professional Ivy wanted to scoff at the notion that the ring had anything to do with what was happening tonight. But the princess wannabe she hid deep down inside regarded the ring with a smile before she glanced up to see Paxton step out of the back of the company limo.

  “Come with me?” he asked, reaching his hand out to her.

  She knew what was happening. Knew he was giving her a way out at the same time that he made his preference known. He was a gentleman, through and through. Tonight, she wanted him to be hers.

  He quickly handed her into the dim interior, which got even darker as he closed the door behind him. The driver pulled away from the curb right away. Paxton wasn’t wasting time on niceties. His urgency mirrored hers—much to her relief.

  Paxton immediately distracted her from thoughts of rings, sisters and the fact that he was her boss. In the private world of the back seat, he embraced her without hesitation. Their decision was made.

  He cupped her head in his large, warm hands, holding her steady for his kiss. In the tight space, every breath, every gasp, every moan was amplified. Then his hands traveled downward, heating up her neck, collarbone and the tops of her breasts. The air stuttered in her lungs as she ached for him to slip his hand beneath the edge of her dress. Instead his mouth followed the trail, creating a heated path of sizzling nerves. She arched into the pull of his lips and tongue and teeth against her skin.

  Then he was slipping away from her, pulling back from the grip of her fingers around his upper arms. But the disappointment was quickly replaced by a thrill of both fear and need as he insinuated his big body between the V-shape of her thighs.

  The thickly layered skirt of her ball gown proved no match for Paxton. She felt his long fingers close around her ankles in a firm grip, tight enough to let her know he was there without leaving a mark. Her thighs clenched as everything inside her tightened. She needed to surrender to that touch, to let him do with her what he chose.

  His fingers traced down over her four-inch heels, a rumbling groan rolling out of his chest. A half smile escaped her, one he might see in the occasional streetlights they passed. They were nearing the city now.

  Slowly his palms traced upward, beneath the layers of material. Cupping her calves. Rubbing her knees. Massaging her thighs. Ivy panted as she grew wet with need. Would he touch her there? Or would he leave her to wait?

  His fingertips found the line of her garters. “Heaven help me, Ivy.” Without warning, he bunched up the heavy skirt and disappeared beneath it. His hands curled around her knees and pulled her forward. She felt open and vulnerable. She swallowed hard, wishing now for just a hint of the logic that had made a brief appearance earlier.

  But it was nowhere to be seen.

  His mouth met the tender skin right above the top of her thigh-high stockings, sucking hard as if he could swallow her into him. Her muscles tightened as if to push him away, but the move was merely instinctual. Truthfully, she wanted him to taste her there...
wanted him to taste her more. His tongue flicked firmly along the upper lace edge, then along the garter, until he buried his face in the crook between her thigh and hip. She felt the breath he drew with every nerve ending in her body.

  Abruptly the car halted, the brakes applied with a little more force than necessary.

  But it was enough to bring Paxton to his senses. Thank goodness, because any mindfulness she had was long gone. Paxton made quick and careful work of returning her skirt to its original modest position. Then he opened the door and stepped outside. She heard him speaking with the driver, but when he reached in to help her out, the man was back behind the wheel. The car was speeding down the drive before Paxton had her halfway up his front walk.

  Now they were alone together. No audience. Just the night and the two of them. The perfect ingredients for her own incredible fairy tale.

  * * *

  Paxton woke to incredible warmth.

  The sun shining through the half-closed curtains heated the cool room. The tangle of his legs with the woman asleep beside him heated his skin. His body was alive with urgent need.

  Then his brain kicked into gear.

  Where it had been last night, he wasn’t sure. His body tightened as images rose from his memory. The full impact of what they’d done hit him in a rush.

  His assistant. He’d spent the night with his assistant.

  An incredible night...

  He breathed deeply, attempting to mitigate the odd mix of desire and panic. To slow his racing heartbeat, cool his body’s ardor. Because they couldn’t do this again.

  He’d been such a fool.

  Paxton glanced over at Ivy. She faced away from him, but the smooth curve of her shoulder and waterfall of tangled blond hair drew him. Her beauty made him reach out to touch, but he clenched his hand into a fist instead to stop himself.

  Last night he’d been blindsided by the need to bury his hands in that silky blond hair. He licked his lips as he remembered the taste of her skin last night, of her full lips, plump breasts and soft thighs. And that garter!

 
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