Chapter One

4 years after the truth is revealed…

“Come back to bed.”

DJ turned away from the view of the New York skyline to the ruffled bed with a naked lady in it, evidence that there had been a night of mindless fucking. DJ’s eyes caressed her body once more, tracing all the places his hands had been just hours before. Her slender ankles, the soft curve of her calf, her thick thighs, the round of her ass, and soft back. Andrea was a crazy blonde that he had met at a frat house during a pre-graduation party. She had been more than willing to take their celebrations to a more secluded area, the lady’s bathroom, the alley of a bar, the back of his car then finally the hotel they were in now.

DJ loved sex, and he more than anything loved women who enjoyed sex. But he never spent more than a night with one woman. It was the only way he could make sure that he wouldn’t get trapped into something that he didn’t want to be in, a relationship.

“Come to bed,” Andrea called for him again.

DJ picked up his wallet from the bedside table and took out a box of pills. He used condoms but he needed to be sure. In no way did he want to end up in the same position his father found himself in over two decades ago, with children he could not take care of.

He handed the pill and a glass of water to Andrea. Still laying on her stomach she looked at the pill and was about to protest when DJ said, “These are my rules. I remember last night you said you’d do anything I told you,” DJ sat beside her on the bed and stroked her inner thing. A whimper of need told him that Andrea was more than ready for another round. But the sun was up, and her time was over. His playful fingers reached higher; Andrea’s back arched into his touch. “Take it.”

She was stalling. Who could blame her? Opportunities to trap billionaires didn’t come every day. But DJ was good at using sex to get what he wanted. He stroked her warm center, earning him a tremble.

Andrea took the pill, turned back and opened her mouth to show him.

“Good girl. Let’s reward you,” DJ hissed. His thumb stroked her clit as he dove two of his fingers inside of her. DJ stroked her hard and fast. Andrea wasn’t the type to want things gentle. He moved his fingers faster until he felt her clinch his finger tighter. She whimpered in protest when he withdrew his fingers but scream and shattered when he pinched her clit. Pain and pleasure the best way to draw out what would have been an ordinary orgasm.

DJ stood and got dressed, leaving her on the bed to bask in her release.

“You didn’t take my number,” Andrea said.

“I don’t need it,” DJ answered.

“But how are you going to call me? When are we going to meet again?” Andrea sat up in her bed, a little panic edged into her voice.

“Never,” DJ said. “The only women I see more than once are my family. You and I are done. One night is all I could give you.”

“No!” Tears flowed freely down her cheeks. “You don’t know how long I’ve waited for you to notice me. You don’t know what I had to go through to become the type of woman you’d date.”

“You still aren’t, because I don’t date,” DJ tried to keep the annoyance out of his voice.

“I love you!”

“Then you’re foolish,” DJ didn’t spare her a backward glance as he walked out of the hotel room. Shutting the door on the sounds of Andrea loud cries.

Foolish!

****

DJ walked into his godfather’s Hamptons home. He could hear the loud screeches of his sister and boisterous laugh of AJ. They had pulled another prank on Danny, he thought.

“DJ, you and I need to talk,” his father called from behind him.

“Don’t you think we’re all talked out. I’m going to Nice for a year. You’re not going to change my mind about that,” DJ said. His father didn’t understand why DJ ran way to Nice every chance he got, but Reno understood and that was enough for DJ.

“Why do you always run to the South of France each time you have vacation. You should spend this time with your family. Your sister is recovering, your brother just had another baby and Catalella, she’s finally happy. Don’t you want to be here for AJ’s wedding?”

“I’ve been here for all those things and will be here for AJ’s wedding. Just because you didn’t see me doesn’t mean I wasn’t here,” DJ said hoping that he wouldn’t have to listen to anymore of his father’s requests.

He rushed to the backyard and caught a glimpse of Catalella and Daniela. The most precious and gentlest of their two families had been to hell and back. DJ’s heart ached when he thought of how hard they had both fought to get past their darkness to laugh and smile the way they did now.

“One day, you’ll have to forgive me,” his father said.

“One day,” DJ echoed. “But that day isn’t today.”

“I’ll find your sister, I promise,” Dennis swore.

His twin. Born on the same day but lived a different life than DJ had. He missed her, in a very odd way. They never met, never shared a womb but something inside of him longed for her. Plus, his guilt wouldn’t let him rest. He felt guilty for being born. His birth ruined five lives and he couldn’t fix it.

“You’d better. Or I’ll never forgive you,” DJ issued his ultimatum and walked over to where his big brother stood. Not one to shy away from his brother’s affections or over protectiveness, DJ relaxed in his brother’s embrace hoping that Reno could quieten the restlessness in DJ’s soul that was driving him crazy.

* * * *

DJ stared into his coffee, enjoying the French summer at his favorite café in Nice. He allowed his thoughts to drift to the only place it ever went to, Rhyne.

The lead in Hawaii about Rhyne had gone cold, but they weren’t giving up. They had hired a second private detective, one with contacts in Hawaii, and he and Reno had briefed the man before he’d left. The waiting was the worst part—especially since Reno had assumed much of the responsibility for the company, leaving DJ with more free time than he knew what to do with. And, with relations still strained between him and his father, the whole situation seemed set to blow at any moment.

DJ felt selfish running away too Nice with no one but Reno knowing how to contact him. He pushed the emotion aside, reminding himself that Reno had understood that he needed this time to himself. His parents were going through a separation, and he wanted to stay out of it. There was enough tension without him adding his resentment into the mix. In fact, both he and Reno also wanted to keep Danny out of it. She was finally doing better and had decided to stay in Hawaii, the lifestyle and warm weather agreeing with her.

Having Reno around was the only thing that allowed him to take this time to himself, and although he’d never said the words, DJ guessed that Reno knew how relieved he was to have the responsibility shouldered by someone other than himself. DJ had even put his law career on hold, mainly because it seemed that everything, he’d taken for granted had been snatched away. He needed to figure out if it was something he wanted to do, or if it was still about his father. So far, though, he’d given less thought to his future than he had to his present. Life was for living, and he was going to enjoy every last minute.

DJ’s phone buzzed and he scowled when he saw it was Ava. He stared at the phone, wondering whether he should pick it up or not. He had met the redheaded beauty at a nightclub two weeks back. She had just arrived from America and needed someone to show her the sights. Of course, DJ offered his services, and the first thing she saw was the view of the beach from the bedroom of his little cottage. Since then, he couldn’t shake her off. Ava was hooked, either by his talents in bed or his credit card. DJ didn’t know which one and didn’t particularly care. In Nice he had changed his rules when it came to women. He kept a few of them, each one knowing that there were dozens of others. He had many playmates in the town and, as long as none of them demanded an exclusive relationship, he was all right with buying them whatever they wanted. He smiled when the ringing stopped and didn’t bother to listen to the voicemail

Kono was the love of my life, the only woman I would love…I broke her…my love, the love I took from her, destroyed her…one day you will know how it feels to insanely love and I hope you never lose it like I did.

His father’s words played back in his head and made DJ shiver. It sounded more like a curse than a blessing. DJ couldn’t imagine himself loving that hard. Look at what that kind of love had done for his father, and for the innocent children who still carried the scars. “I most definitely don’t want to fall in love.”

“That is sad.”

DJ looked up and found himself staring into the most incredible emerald eyes he had ever seen. He labored to find words to describe them and her, but his brain seemed utterly frozen. So, he just sat there and stared like a fool.

* * * *

“Evie! He is back, your handsome Américaine.”

Eyvette Ross wrung the towel cloth in her hands. Nervous didn’t begin to describe how she felt each time the man came to the café. Eyvette’s reaction had always been to hide behind the counter, listen to him order, and let his deep baritone melt her in her own piece of heaven. His voice was rich and deep, and it poured over her like warmed syrup.

“Mon Dieu, Evie, if you do not go out there and stake your claim, I will.”

Eyvette watched the petite blonde as she salivated over her man. She was sure, once Sophie went out there to introduce herself, there would be no chance for her. Her well-endowed breasts, slim waist and wide hips were every man’s dream. That is why she often pulled Sophie down with her when the man entered the café.

“He ordered a coffee,” Philippe, her boss and one time boyfriend, said as he worked the cash register. “He is not going to be alone for long. I am sure one of his bimbos will be joining him soon.”

“Hate is a choice, Philippe, and jealousy is an ugly emotion,” Sophie sneered.

“I am not jealous. Evie and I parted ways on good terms. And the only thing I hate is how many women he has.”

“And if Evie plays her cards right, she could be one of them.”

“Evie isn’t as loose as you.”

Eyvette wasn’t a lot of things. The main reason she had broken up with Philippe was because he called her safe, wife material. He didn’t want her to work or pursue her dream of owning her own restaurant. Evie loved food, both eating and making it. She had just completed culinary school and was working her way to owning her own little place. Everyone thought her dream was crazy, her mother too. Elizabeth was only interested in getting her daughter a rich husband. According to her mother, the only good thing about her were her exotic looks, something she could thank her black father for. Her mother’s fiery red hair and beauty also imbued Evie’s beauty with the flecks of red in her dark curly hair that brought out her green eyes.

However, Evie wanted to be more than the nice, exotic-looking homemaker. She wanted to be daring. And her first chance had just presented itself. It was a tanned man, with a body and a face to die for. Evie walked out of the café, Sophie and Philippe’s voices dogging her heels. She walked up to him, and he didn’t seem to notice her at all, a reaction she had never received before. Usually men watched her from afar, and each time she would approach they would be on their feet, offering her their chair. This man was stirring his coffee, deep in thought.

“I most definitely don’t want to fall in love,” he said.

And, before she could stop herself, Evie answered, “That’s sad.”

The man looked up at her and the awestruck look she was used to getting from men registered on his face. It had to be her green eyes and the russet tones in her hair, a rare sight in biracial children.

Their eyes met, and Evie felt a kick in her chest that knocked the wind from her lungs. “May I get you something else?” Her voice trembled on her lips. Evie inhaled and tried to still her nerves, which were now on hyper drive.

“Non, merci.” The man looked away from her and, instantly, Evie’s heart dropped to her belly.

It wasn’t like her to push, but Evie wouldn’t give up. “Are you sure, monsieur?”

“Yes.” The man smiled at her before looking away once more.

“All right. If you need anything, just ask for Evie.”

“Merci.” He smiled before turning back to his coffee, effectively dismissing her.

Evie walked back into the café, more confused than ever. She sat down at a booth and looked out through the glass doors, staring at the strange man. There was something between them, an electric current that seemed to transfer through their eyes. The way he looked at her…it was like a soft touch during lovemaking. Something she had no experience in. However, she knew that when she made love to a man it would be that man, and he would look at her just as adoringly as he had a few minutes ago.

“So?” Sophie asked.

“I found it.” She smiled as she ran out of breath. Her heart beat out of her chest as tears stung her eyes. “I found him.”

“Who?”

“My one.”

“What nonsense!” Philippe barked.

“My mother is bitter, probably because she has gotten married more times than Elizabeth Taylor. She doesn’t know love, but I think she is searching for it.”

“Or for the wealthiest man she can find,” Sophie put in. “But go on, you found your one.”

“The way he looked at me.” Evie stroked her cheek with the back of her hand. “It was like he had reached into me. No one has ever looked at me like that, no one has ever made me feel so…wonderful.”

“And you knew that from one look. From where I was standing, he seemed to be avoiding you,” Philippe cut in.

“He’s afraid. I heard him say that he doesn’t want to fall in love.”

“I have a feeling you are going to change his mind?” Sophie asked.

“I have to, my happiness depends on it.”

* * * *

DJ had never run away from anything in his life, until this moment. He couldn’t explain it, but his heart had kicked into gear when he looked into those deep, emerald eyes. She was trouble, and DJ couldn’t afford that kind of trouble at the moment. He was here trying to find himself, not his heart. He took out his phone and called Ava. “Change of plans. Meet me at my cabin instead.”

DJ gave one backward glance and instantly regretted it. Now he knew why they said once you decide to move on never look back. Evie, that was her name, it had to be creational. She was standing at the window, watching him with a look in her eyes that he hoped didn’t mean more than a normal crush. DJ knew how to handle girls with crushes. He gave them a kiss, a night of sex, a piece of jewelry and it was ci vediamo mai, as they said in his mother’s language. And for those who didn’t understand, see you never. However, emerald didn’t look like the type a man had fun in the sack with and waved goodbye to. Not without taking a serious blow to the heart. That was damage he couldn’t take at the moment. Falling in love was definitely not an option.

Then walk away. Stop staring at her. Don’t notice how perfectly the sun illuminates her glowing face. Look away from her thick hair that you would love to bury your fingers in as you kiss her. And, for the love of God, do not look into her enchanting emerald eyes.

“Mio Dio, don’t do this to me now.” DJ wasn’t a religious man, but when he came across a woman like Evie, it was hard not to believe in divine intervention. He put on his sunglasses and half-ran, half-walked away.

A night with Ava, followed by a binge of sex with a few willing names he had in his phone directory, and in a few days, he wouldn’t remember Evie. Deciding never to go back to the coffee shop was also a decision he had to make in the name of self-preservation. If he didn’t see the object of his…desire…no, torture, he wouldn’t think about her. Out of sight, out of mind.

DJ walked down the path that led to his beach cabin. It didn’t help that it was only a hundred yards from the café. He would have to look into moving. DJ stopped in his tracks and laughed at himself. He couldn’t believe that he was willing to go through so much to avoid an attraction… that’s what it was. Love at first sight was saved for little children and their fairy tales. This was real life. Kono knew that, so did Reno and now Rhyne. He needed to focus his attention on helping his big brother with their sisters. Thinking about the love he had for two of the most important girls in his life was bound to overturn the…fascination, for lack of a better word, he had with Evie.

For the moment, burying himself deep into a vivacious redhead with the talent of making a man buck in bed like a fish out of water would have to do. DJ stepped into his cottage and stripped off his shirt and jeans. He poured himself a glass of whisky and sat by the window, waiting. The moment he looked at his watch there was a knock on the door. Even though Ava regularly dropped by for sex, he never gave her a key. A key symbolized more than he was willing to give. It meant walk into…no, invade…my life when the need arises. Come snoop in my things. Put my drawers in disarray as you arrange yours. And in DJ’s bathroom there was definitely no room for two toothbrushes.

DJ opened the door and Ava greeted him with a smile and a bikini top that showed more than it should. Her bare legs peeked from under the sarong she was wearing. With one sweep of his gaze, he took her all in. That was the moment he knew he was fucked, screwed, done for. Instead of pulling Ava into his arms and devouring her sexy body, he got the urge to shut the door in her face. His survival instincts kept him from doing it. Instead, he stepped back and let her walk in.

“Hallo, darling.” The sway of her hips seemed more exaggerated with each step she took. “I had to change my outfit since you changed our rendezvous place. I thought you liked the coffee there. It is morning.”

Ava swirled around and, by the frown on her face, DJ knew they were about to get into it.

“Whisky, this early in the morning? I know it is happy hour somewhere, but that somewhere is not here.” She looked down at her watch. “It’s barely ten o’clock, for Christ’s sake. I will not have an alcoholic for a beau.”

“Then it’s a good thing I am not your beau.” DJ threw back the contents of his glass and sat back in an armchair. “Take your clothes off.”

“I see you got a head start.”

“Stop talking and start stripping.”