2. Jordan
2
JORDAN
Standing on the doorstep of my mother’s new home is surreal. Wealth is nothing new to me, not at all.My father had a few million in the bankandwhenhe passed, he left it all to me.I’ve turned the funds into well over a billion dollars in assets and yet an oversized mansion on the ocean can still take me by surprise.
The place is rather modern, not a soulless white boxwhichgives me hope.
Mom met Sam and three months later, a wedding went down.I worry even though she sounds happy.But a part of me relaxeswhenthe door opensup andI see my mother’s smiling face.“Jordan, my baby!” She steps out, wrapping me in a fierce hug. “I’m so happy you’re here, honey.”
I pull back with a gentle smile. “You’re looking as beautiful as ever, Mom.”
“Oh, stop. Come in, come in! Dinner is almost ready. Sam and I are just having cocktails.”She tugs me inside andthere’sSamlookingat ease with life.
“Sam. Good to see you again. How’s business?”
“Strong and thriving,” he answers and shakes my hand in greeting. “You?”
“We’re introducing a few new lifestyle products this year so things have been chaotic. That’s part of what brings me to town.” I chat business with Sam but my gaze wanders the rooms under the guise of exploring…but there’sone person missing.
My stepsister . The girl starring in all my dreams and fantasies.
Footsteps soundandI turnbutit’s just the housekeeper with a tray of drinks, refills for Sam and Momanda tumbler of whiskey for me.“Thanks.”
She smiles politely and shuffles off just as another set of footstepssound, this time on the marble flooring.
Cassi. She looks even more beautiful than I remember with her long brown hair falling around her shoulders in sexy, touchable waves. Her big green eyes enhanced by dark liner and the pale green dress clinging to her curvesbring it all together.She’s wearing tall nude heels that make her long legs look endless.
My cock twitches behind my zipper at the sight. “Cassi. Good to see you again.”
Her full lips part into a breathless smile. “Jordan. It’s good to see you too.” She licks her lipsandI can feel the swipe of it across my cock head. “Dad says you’re here on business?” Her gaze sparkles with the same desire I saw on the dance floor months ago.
“I am. I have a few meetings that are in need of my attention on a more personal level.” My glare sweeps over her bodyandmy heart kicks like a donkey in the chest. “In fact,I’m hoping you have a spare room for me here?” The idea may have been in mind this whole time, who knows. “All the hotels are booked or just too crowded.Apparentlymy visit coincides with several conferences this week.”
“Absolutely,” Sam offers with a deep voice.
“Of course,” Mom agrees with a nod. “Cassi will show you to one of the rooms after dinner, won’t you?”
“Sure thing,” she whispers as if she’s indifferent. “Be happy to.”
“Okay then,” Mom claps her hands and motions for us to follow, “let’s eat!” We all follow to a large formal dining room where everything around screams wealth.
Itake a seatacross from Cassi—atleast the view ismesmerizing—and prepare for a stuffy, formal dinner.
“Cassi, have you taken a look at the local universities? Classes start in a couple of months.”
Cassi’s nostrils flareandit’s the only sign ofwhat she’s feeling.“No, Dad. I’m not going, not right now anyway. I have an interview.”
For some reason this makes Sam furious. “For what?”
She grins all too proudly.“Tobe an assistant to Lola Wanders, she’sthe number two travel blogger right now and I want to learn everything I can from her before I start my vlog.”
“No!Absolutelynot, Cassi. I told you to find a local school.”This isthe most emotion I’ve seen from this man.
“Dad,” she sighs. “I’ll be fine. The job paysandI’ll get to travel and learn all the tricks to keep me safe.”
“Safe?” Sam mocks her. “You mean the way Claudia was safe?Saidshe would be fine and cautious and she nevercameback!”
Cassi stiffens at his words. “I am not her , Dad. Just because Mom died doesn’t mean I will.” She turns to my mother. “Roni, can you please tell himthat itwas a fluke accident and not carelessness?”
“Sammy,” Mom purrs and lays a hand ontop ofhis. “She’s right, it was an accident. You told me so yourself. If you don’t loosen thereins, you’ll risk losing her forever.”
Sam tries to cool itbuthis anger is still alive just beneath the surface as he turns to his daughter. “If you take the job, I’ll cut you off. And I’d consider finding another place to live if I were you.”
Mom gasps but Cassi doesn’t seemat all surprised.She nods and pushes her chair back,spine tallandshoulders square.“That’s your choice, Dad.But if I get thejobthen I’mtaking itandyou won’t see me again.Thanks for dinner, Roni, but I’ve lost my appetite.” She casts a longing look my way before leaving the dining room, hips swinging and a sultry scent lingering in her wake.
“She’ll change her mind,” Sam bellows.
“Who are you trying to convince?” Mom questions, brows arched in concern.
“Cassi has never lived away from home. She doesn’t know how to take care of herself.”
“And who’s to blame for that?” Mom shoots back. “All you’ve done is make it so that she has to learn the hard way when you have the means to make it easy for her.”
“She needs to stay closeforcollege and find a husband totake care ofher.”
“Whether she wants to or not?” Mom sighs. “Too bad we’re going to lose her. She’s such a lovely girl.”
Wellthis visit just got a lot more interesting.