“They weren’t?” Melissa struggled to understand what he was saying.

“My grandfather told me. Before he died. I guess he thought…” Jared drew a ragged breath. “I don’t know what he thought. I wish he hadn’t told me at all.”

“Somebody killed your parents?”

“My mother’s affair started a chain reaction, and three people ended up dead.”

“Three?” Melissa squeaked.

Jared’s tone turned warning. “Stephanie and Royce don’t know. I have to pretend everything is normal.”

Melissa nodded her understanding. “You went to the graveyard to keep the secret.”

“Yes.”

And he’d come to her afterward. She had no idea how she should feel about that.

He suddenly pulled her close, his face getting lost in the length of her hair, his arms and legs imprisoning her against his body.

“It’s stupid,” he told her. “I barely know you. But when I think of another man…” Jared drew another breath. “For a second tonight, I understood why my father shot him.”

Melissa reflexively stiffened. “Your father shot your mother’s lover?” “Yes.”

She swallowed a sickening feeling. “And the man died?”

“Yes. And that same night my parents’ truck went off the cliff. But my grandfather didn’t know that. So he threw the gun in the river. Two accidental deaths and a homicide with no clues. Nobody ever made the connection. I never made the connection.”

Melissa’s heart went out to Jared. What an incredible burden. And he was bearing it all alone.

“You should tell Stephanie and Royce,” she advised.

Jared scoffed out a cold laugh. “Why?”

“They could help you cope.”

“I’ll be fine.” His voice grew stronger. “Today was the worst. It’ll get easier now.” He gave a sharp nod. “I’ll be fine.”

Melissa wasn’t so sure. “Do you think maybe they deserve to know?”

“Nobody deserves to know this.”

She wasn’t going to argue further. She barely knew the family. Who was she to give them advice?

“I wish I could stay here,” he said.

“Me, too.” She’d like nothing better than to sleep in Jared’s arms. The morning might be awkward, but at the moment she was willing to risk it.

His hug loosened. “I leave for Chicago tomorrow afternoon.”

“Oh.” She thought he was talking about staying the night. But he meant he was leaving the ranch. She backed off, slightly embarrassed by her presumption. She forcibly lightened her tone. “Of course. I know you have a big company to run.”

“Come with me.”

“Huh?”

“Come to Chicago. I have a Genevieve Fund event Tuesday night. We could go together. Spend a couple of nights in the city. Afterward, I’ll buy you a plane ticket to Seattle. You’ll be right back on schedule with your trip, and you won’t have to worry about the bus.”

Nine

There were a dozen reasons Melissa should have said no. Not the least of which was Stephanie’s resultant excitement and Royce’s knowing grin. There was also Melissa’s deception and the article and, though she hated to admit it, the very real possibility she was falling for Jared.

She glanced at his profile across the aisle in the compact private jet. Royce was in the pilot’s seat, while the two cream-colored, leather seats facing Melissa and Jared were empty. Four others behind them remained empty, as well.

Jared had offered her a drink and snacks after takeoff, but her stomach was too jumpy for either. Was she crazy? What if there were press at the charitable event? What if somebody recognized her?

As the jet began its descent, Jared reached across the aisle for her hand. “The ball’s at the Ritz-Carlton, so I booked us a suite. Royce is staying in my apartment.”

Melissa nodded. She’d have loved to see Jared’s apartment, but she understood he wanted them to be alone. And so did she. She wanted a night with him to herself-no Stephanie up the hill, no ranch hands next door and definitely no Royce in the neighboring bedroom.

Maybe heartache would hit her afterward. And she might be weeks recovering. But she knew a stolen fling with Jared would be worth it.

“You have a spa appointment tomorrow,” he continued. “And we can wander down North Michigan Avenue and find you a dress.”

“You do know how to spoil a girl.” She had several perfectly acceptable dresses at home, but she couldn’t admit that to Jared.

She felt another twinge of guilt over the deception. But it would end soon. And Jared might never read the article. Even if he did, he’d have to be pleased with it, she told herself. She intended to show him in a very good light.

His gaze was warm. “I’ll spoil you for as long as you want.”

“You don’t need to spoil me at all.” She brought his broad hand to her lips. “What I want from you is free.”

“I’d rather give it to you at the Ritz-Carlton.”

She affected a deep sassy drawl. “You can give it to me anywhere you like, cowboy.”

He pursed his lips and hissed a drawn-out exclamation. “I sure hope Royce plans to entertain himself after we land.”

“What are you doing now?” Stephanie’s voice came through Jared’s cell phone while he sat in a comfortable armchair by the window in St. Jacques boutique overlooking the lake.

“Watching Melissa try on dresses.” He’d made three overseas calls and consulted with his finance department while Melissa had paraded past in about a dozen dresses. She looked great in them all.

“I bet she looks gorgeous.”

“She does.”

Melissa walked out of the changing room in a short gold sheath with spaghetti straps and a diaphanous scarf. He wasn’t crazy about the scarf, but he liked the dress.

He held up four fingers. He’d been giving rankings out of five, since he’d been holding his PDA to his ear through the entire fashion show.

Melissa leaned forward and pointed to a looped gold-and-diamond necklace the salesclerk had fastened around her neck. He simply gave a thumbs-up to that.

“Did you have fun last night?” Stephanie asked.

“None of your business.”

“It’s quiet here. I miss you and Royce.”

“We miss you, too. Come to the party. Royce will pick you up.”

“I can’t.” She sighed. “We’ve got our first junior elite rider starting tomorrow. He’s been blowing them away on the young rider circuit.”

“That’s a good thing, right?”

“It’s a great thing.”

“Then quit your whining.”

Melissa pranced back into the changing room, and he wished he’d thought to comment on the shoes. Black, sleek and high, with flashing rhinestones around the ankles. He definitely wanted her to keep the shoes.

“Is this tough love?” Stephanie asked.

“Absolutely.”

“What’s going on with Melissa?”

“She’s going to blow them away tonight.”

“Will she blow you away?”

“Don’t get your hopes up, Steph.”

“You have to fall in love sometime.”

“Not necessarily.”

But then Melissa appeared again. This time she was wearing an emerald-green strapless party dress. The bodice was tight satin, stretched snugly over her breasts, while the skirt puffed out around her thighs, showing off her toned calves and sexy ankles. It was perfect for a late-night club. It was also dress number thirteen, and he realized he wanted to take her out in all of them.

“Gotta go,” he said to Stephanie, needing to end the conversation.

“Keep an open mind,” she called into the phone.

“Don’t worry.” No point in Stephanie worrying. Jared was the one who needed to worry.

He was starting to think about jobs for Melissa again, jobs at Ryder International. Or better still, jobs at affiliated companies in the city, so she wouldn’t work directly for him. But she’d still be around to date him.

He was starting to think about her skill set and who owed him favors. They had one more night together, then maybe half of tomorrow. But he knew that wasn’t going to do it for him. And that was a very worrisome development.

“She’s a knockout,” came Royce’s voice as he dropped into the armchair beside Jared. “No kidding.”

Melissa gave Royce a welcoming smile and a little wave.

Royce’s long lecherous look at her legs irritated Jared, worrying him all over again. Just how deep had he let himself fall?

“You serious about her?” Royce asked.

“Why?” Jared demanded, wondering what might have given him away.

Royce gave a smug grin. “Guess that answers my question.”

“She leaves for Seattle tomorrow.” And that was the disappointing truth. He’d suggested she stay longer, but she’d insisted she had to get back on her trip. Whatever feelings might be building inside Jared, this was the time to shut them down.

“You want me to fly her out?”

“No.” Jared did not. He might not be pursuing anything with Melissa himself, but that didn’t mean the field was open to his brother.

Royce’s grin widened. “This is fun.”

“Back off.”

“Not a chance.”

Melissa floated out in a calf-length ivory gown. It had snug, three-quarter-length, flat lace sleeves and a sweetheart neckline gathered with a line of jewels at mid-bust. There was a wide ribbon waist band and a two-layered, flowing skirt that flirted with her legs. She grinned and gave a twirl. Her diamond earrings twinkled under the bright lights.

Jared felt a tightening in his chest. A small bouquet of flowers, and she’d be the perfect bride. Her open smile told him she was oblivious to the image, but he wasn’t, and he drank in the sight for several long minutes.

He gave the dress a five, and she turned to walk away.

“Do I need to say it?” asked Royce.

“No.” Jared kept his focus on Melissa until she disappeared again.

“So how’re you going to keep her here?”

Jared gave up lying both to himself and to Royce. “I haven’t decided yet.”