Seduced by the Bachelor Page 11

  Markos hid a grin, couldn’t refute his brother’s claim. He adored his sister and would do anything to make her happy. When Francesca visited LA, he gave her money, treated her to shopping sprees on Rodeo Drive and introduced her to his celebrity clients. Francesca had lost her child, and as her older brother, it was his job to support her, to help her heal, and he wasn’t going to shirk his responsibilities. “That’s because she’s smart, beautiful and perfect.”

  “Yeah, a perfect pain in the ass!”

  The brothers laughed.

  “Sometimes people do the wrong thing for the right reasons,” Dante continued, wearing a sympathetic expression on his face. “It doesn’t make them evil, Markos. It makes them human.”

  Markos drummed his fingers on the table. Considering his brother’s advice, he decided Dante was wrong about Tatiyana and dismissed his words. Markos wanted nothing to do with her.

  Sure you don’t, said his conscience. That’s why you’re obsessing about her!

  Consulting the background check once more, he shook his head in disbelief, shocked by Tatiyana’s long list of accomplishments. She had a bachelor’s degree in Communications, a stellar résumé filled with years of charity work and a perfect credit score. Thanks to his brother’s report, he knew Tatiyana had lost her job at Pinnacle Microsystems last month, and was working at a staffing agency. His father had always advised him to befriend his enemies—then destroy them—and that’s what Markos was going to do.

  “Be smart,” Immanuel advised, rising to his feet. He opened the fridge, searched around for several seconds, then took out the ricotta pie on the bottom shelf. “Go to the authorities. They’ll know what to do. They’re the experts, so let them handle it.”

  “And have my business end up in the papers? No thanks, Immanuel. I’ve got this,” he said confidently. “Tatiyana messed with the wrong person.”

  “Don’t keep us in the dark.” Dante straightened in his seat. “What are you going to do?”

  A sly grin curled his lips. “Fight fire with fire, of course. That’s the Morretti way.”

  Chapter 12

  Van Nuys Park, Tatiyana’s favorite hangout spot in Sherman Oaks, had a colorful jungle gym, wooden benches, tennis courts, a field overrun with pint-size soccer players. Pushing the stroller along the walkway, soaking up the sunshine, Tatiyana noticed the park was noisy and crowded. Joggers ran along the trail, cyclists sped through the park, children flew homemade kites, and couples lazed under palm trees, listening to music on electronic devices.

  Smelling barbecue, delicious aromas tickling and teasing her nose, Tatiyana licked her lips. The park was filled with families, couples and sports enthusiasts. Their animated voices floated on the evening breeze. Tatiyana nodded in greeting at everyone she passed, couldn’t stop smiling. Yesterday, after returning home from her shift at the medical clinic, she’d persuaded Jantel to attend a group therapy session at the women’s shelter, and afterward they’d gone to a nearby coffee shop. Her sister didn’t say much, had seemed perfectly content sipping her black currant tea, and admiring the mosaic paintings hanging on the pale blue walls. Today had been an even better day. For the first time in months, Jantel had eaten dinner with their family and had even given Allie a bath. Her sister still wasn’t her old self, but it was a step in the right direction, and Tatiyana was so happy she felt as if her heart would burst with happiness.

  Thoughts of Markos—her dreamy crush with the piercing gaze, rock-hard body and sex-me voice—consumed her mind. On Thursday, Tatiyana had gone to his office, thinking he’d be sympathetic to her story, but no such luck. He’d insulted her, accused her of trying to destroy the mayor, riling her anger. She’d stood in his office, clutching her tape recorder, prepared to play the incriminating tape for him, but thankfully she’d come to her senses. Markos was a good man, and she didn’t want to hurt him or his family. Not even to save her own.

  “Hi, Tatiyana! Give your mom my love!” shouted a male voice with a Spanish accent.

  Laughing, she waved at the gregarious widower with the toothy smile.

  Every night, Tatiyana and Lena took Allie for a walk, but since her mom had a date with a firefighter, Tatiyana was on her own. She didn’t mind. Needing time to think, she appreciated being alone with her thoughts. That afternoon, she’d taken Jantel to see Dr. Chopra, and her therapy session had been an eye-opener. Her sister had spoken about her feelings, and hearing about her struggles made Tatiyana more determined than ever to help her.

  Sitting at a picnic table, she unbuckled Allie and picked her up. Cradling her to her chest, Tatiyana marveled at how big her niece was. It seemed like just yesterday Jantel had brought her home from the hospital. God, I love this little girl. Before her family came to live with her, her life had consisted of work, university and dates with a variety of successful, accomplished men. Tatiyana thought she was happy, often bragged to her girlfriends that she had a perfect life, but she’d been deluding herself. Spending quality time with her family, and taking care of her niece, had given her life meaning, and Tatiyana was thrilled they were all living under the same roof.

  Bouncing Allie on her lap, she beamed as the nine-month-old cooed and giggled. It was a sweet, joyous sound, music to her ears, and Allie’s gummy smile warmed her heart. “Who’s the smartest baby in the world?” she said, making her eyes wide. “That’s right, Allie, you are!”

  Brushing her nose against Allie’s cheeks, she inhaled her clean, sweet scent. It was moments like this that Tatiyana lived for. She didn’t have a husband, or children of her own, but she had a loving family, and they were her greatest gifts.

  “You have a daughter?”

  Startled by the voice, Tatiyana glanced over her shoulder. “Markos?” she said, convinced her eyes were deceiving her. Her head was spinning, and she felt woozy, but she masked her features and spoke in a casual, relaxed tone. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’m the one asking the questions, not you.”

  His tone was sharp, and his eyes were dark with anger.

  “Why didn’t you tell me you had a daughter? Do you have a husband, too?”

  “No, Matlock, this is my niece, not my daughter.”

  A frown wrinkled his smooth brow. “And that’s the truth?”

  “If Allie was my daughter, I’d want the world to know.” Staring longingly at her niece, she stroked her tight, black curls. “She’s a sweet baby, and I’d be honored to be her mom...”

  A commotion on the basketball court startled her, and she trailed off speaking. Players from opposing teams, in oversize jerseys and sneakers, were pushing and shoving, but a burly security guard with dreadlocks arrived on the scene and the fighting stopped.

  “We need to talk.”

  Her body was tingling, desperate for him, and she couldn’t stop staring at his broad, sensuous mouth. Markos looked sharp in his fitted, T-shirt, knee-length shorts, and leather sandals, but his eyes were his best feature, and when his gaze zeroed in on her, goose bumps flooded her skin. Tatiyana wanted Markos to leave her alone, but since she didn’t want him to know he was making her nervous, she said, “Go ahead. I’m not stopping you. It’s a free world.”

  Exhaling deeply, as if he had the weight of the world on his shoulders, Markos sat across from her, took off his sunglasses and clasped his hands. Hands he’d used to please her. Tatiyana tried to wipe the naked images of Markos from her mind, but they remained, reminding her of their weekend tryst.

  “You told me you were an executive secretary at Pinnacle.”

  His statement surprised her, catching her off guard. Thinking about her former job and her colleagues saddened her. They were more than just her coworkers, they were friends, and she missed them dearly, especially the interns she’d taken under her wing last summer. “Markos, what do you want? I don’t have time for games—”

 
“You lied,” he said, cutting her off. “You were fired three weeks ago.”

  “So? People get axed every day. Big deal.”

  “Everything you told me about yourself was a lie.”

  Dread churned in the pit of her stomach. “Have you been spying on me?”

  “It’s only fair. I need to know who you are, and what I’m up against.”

  For some reason, the smug I’m-the-man expression on his face tickled her funny bone, but since there was nothing funny about Markos showing up at her neighborhood park, Tatiyana swallowed her laughter. “Why are you here? What do you want?”

  “I don’t get it. How could you smile in my face, share meals with me and sleep in my bed, all the while plotting against me and my family?” he demanded. “Who does that?”

  “Someone who’s desperate to save her sister!” Tatiyana shouted. “You don’t know what it’s like to watch someone you love waste away. I do. My sister’s in a dark place right now, and I’ll do anything to help her. I can’t lose her. She’s my world. My best friend.”

  His expression softened, and Tatiyana knew her words had hit home.

  “Tell me everything, from the beginning, so I know exactly what happened.”

  “My family did that already, but it got them nowhere. You called Jantel a liar, kicked her out of your office and gave her a three-hundred dollar bill she can’t afford to pay—”

  Hearing someone shriek, Tatiyana broke off speaking.

  “Oh, my goodness, what a precious baby!” exclaimed an elderly woman with stringy hair and a leather fanny pack. “Your daughter is beautiful. What a precious family!”

  Markos erupted in laughter, startling them both, and the senior rushed off.

  “What’s so funny?” Tatiyana asked, puzzled by his outburst.

  “The idea of us having a child. You hate me.”

  His words pierced her heart. “Markos, I don’t hate you.”

  “Then why deceive me? Why didn’t you tell me who you were from the beginning?”

  “Because I knew if I told you the truth you wouldn’t give me the time of day. Jantel wants to meet with the mayor face-to-face, and you’re the only one who can help us.”

  “Why me?”

  “You’ve been friends with Kassem Glover for years, and from what I’ve read, he has a great deal of respect and admiration for you. If anyone can convince him to talk to us, it’s you.”

  “You didn’t have to lie to me, Tatiyana. You could have just asked.”

  “That got my sister nowhere, so I decided to take matters into my own hands.”

  “Did you deceive your former boss, too? Is that why you got sacked?”

  The question was an insult, a slap in the face, and Tatiyana was so shocked by it that she couldn’t think of a comeback. “I’m out of here.” Jumping to her feet, she grabbed the stroller and set off down the path. To her surprise and dismay, Markos fell in step with her, matching her stride for stride. Damn! Was he going to follow her home? No. No. No. Tatiyana didn’t want him to know where she lived. Not because she was ashamed of her neighborhood, it was because she didn’t want Markos showing up unannounced at her house, giving her grief about her deception.

  “Where are we going?”

  “We’re not going anywhere,” she shot back, speed walking past the basketball court. “Don’t you have plans with one of your girlfriends tonight?”

  “Nope. No plans. I’m chillin’ with you.”

  Tatiyana smirked. “Chillin’ with me, huh? When did you start using slang?”

  “What’s that supposed to mean? Don’t let the Rolex fool you. I get around—”

  “No, you don’t. You’re an acclaimed attorney at a prestigious law firm, not a boy in the hood, so drop the act. You came from money, were educated at the best schools and this is probably the first time you’ve set foot in this middle-class neighborhood.”

  “Wrong again. I’ve spoken at several of the elementary schools in the area for career day,” he explained, sliding his hands into the pockets of his shorts. “Don’t be so quick to judge, Tatiyana. My family’s wealthy, but that doesn’t mean I think I’m better than the people in this neighborhood, or anywhere else. I don’t.”

  Shame burned her cheeks. Damn. Markos was right. She was judging him because of his last name, because of his lucrative career, and it was wrong, but Tatiyana couldn’t bring herself to apologize. He’d picked apart her sister’s story line by line, then insinuated Jantel was a liar. Asking for his forgiveness was out of the question.

  Exiting the park, Tatiyana turned left, in the opposite direction of her house. Deciding to do some window-shopping, she headed toward the nearby plaza on Wilmington Avenue, hoping to shake Markos once they reached the busy shopping complex. Checking on Allie, she noticed her niece was sleeping and pulled down the plastic visor to shield her from the hot, searing sun.

  “Tatiyana, I’m going to be straight with you. I don’t believe your sister. She’s lying.”

  Her hands gripped the stroller handle, but she imagined it was his neck. “No, she’s not.”

  “She never told me she’s a stripper, and her story had huge gaping holes in it,” he continued, putting on his black, Ray-Ban sunglasses. “Jantel couldn’t answer any of my questions, and she burst into tears whenever I pushed her for details.”

  “That’s because she doesn’t remember. She was drunk. The party’s a blur—”

  Markos scoffed. “How convenient.”

  “You can’t expect her to remember every minute detail. She has a lot on her plate right now, and she’s stressed out.”

  “Mayor Glover didn’t hook up with your sister or anyone else that night. I’ve known him since law school, and he’d never do the things you’re accusing him of. He loves his wife, his job, this fine city and he’d never do anything to embarrass himself or his family.”

  “Good, then he won’t mind taking a DNA test.”

  Markos barked a laugh, but Tatiyana didn’t let the noise rattle her. “We didn’t grow up with money like you,” she said, glaring at him. “Jantel and I had to fight for everything we have, and we’ll do whatever it takes to ensure Allie receives everything she’s entitled to.”

  “Yes, of course.”

  His tone was so cold and sarcastic, Tatiyana wanted to push him off the sidewalk.

  “I have nothing against exotic dancers. I have a problem with people who lie and try to deceive me.”

  “My sister isn’t an exotic dancer. She was a bartender who made an honest living to pay her bills.”

  Markos paled and scratched at his cheek.

  “Jantel has a learning disability, and never got the help she needed in school,” she explained. “She dropped out in tenth grade, but she was in the process of getting her GED when she slept with the mayor and got pregnant with his child.”

  “Stop saying that. It isn’t true.”

  “Yes, it is,” she argued, ready to go toe-to-toe with him. “My sister’s telling the truth.”

  “Mayor Glover is a man of morals and integrity, and I can assure you nothing nefarious happened at his bachelor party. A few of the guests got rowdy, but security handled it swiftly and discreetly.”

  Her feet slowed. “Oh, so you were there that night?”

  “No, I was out of town on business, but several of my business associates attended the party, and they said a wonderful evening was had by all.”

  “So?” she shot back, annoyed by his comments. “They don’t know what happened behind closed doors, and neither do you, so quit bad-mouthing my sister.”

  The mood was terse, strained, and tension polluted the air.

  “You’re right,” he conceded. “I wasn’t there. I don’t know what happened.”

  Feeling bad for shouting at him, she joked, �
��Of course I am. I’m a smart, perceptive Capricorn who can out-argue anyone, even a famed attorney with a winning record.”

  He cracked a smile, and Tatiyana did, too, sensed it was the right time to apologize.

  “Markos, I feel horrible about lying to you, but I didn’t know what else to do. I was desperate, and I let fear cloud my judgment,” she confessed. “I’m sorry for deceiving you, and I hope one day you’ll find it in your heart to forgive me, because I meant everything I said in Tampa. I think you’re a great guy, and I enjoyed spending time with you and your family.”

  “Thank you, Tatiyana. I appreciate that. And I accept your apology.”

  They stood in silence, staring at each other for a long moment.

  His eyes bore into her, piercing her flesh, and Tatiyana gulped. Images of him—on top of her, inside her—flashed in her mind. Their romance was over, a thing of the past, but she wanted him, longed for his touch. They had a connection, incredible chemistry, and he’d always have a special place in her heart. I wish we were still in Tampa—

  “If your sister agrees not to speak to the media, I’ll help her.”

  Breaking free of her thoughts, she stared at him in disbelief. “What did you say?”

  “I said I’ll do it. I’ll arrange a meeting with the mayor.”

  Tatiyana felt her jaw drop. His words knocked the wind out of her, leaving her speechless, and when Markos took her hand in his, her heart stopped.

  Chapter 13

  Tatiyana wanted to do cartwheels along Lennox Avenue and shout for joy. The unthinkable had happened, a miracle in Sherman Oaks, and she couldn’t wait to get home and share the good news with her family. After two years of frustrations and disappointments, Jantel would finally have the opportunity to introduce Allie to her father, and Tatiyana knew her sister would be thrilled.

  “People think I’m a heartless jerk, but I’m not. I grew up in a large, loving Italian family, and we were raised to not only look out for each other, but our community as well...”