Owned by Fate (Serve #1)(20)

He’d left that morning without a thought, Renee passed out in a jumble of sheets. And he hadn’t heard from her since, until she’d visited New York six months ago with her boyfriend and ran into Jonah when they both tried to hail the same cab. One minute later and he might never have known.

The news had knocked him on his ass. That same day, before she’d found out what he did for a living, Renee had emailed him a photograph of Gabby. There had been no mistaking her resemblance to him. She was his daughter. And she’d spent the first eight years of her life without any knowledge of her father.

To a man whose own parents had left their child to be raised by an indifferent uncle, Jonah had been beside himself. He’d contacted Renee the following day and asked if he could meet her, but she’d adamantly declined, having Googled his name and found out about Serve. After months of sending Renee money and trying to reassure her that he wasn’t a moral threat to their daughter, he’d broken down and hired a lawyer. It had been a last resort. For one, he sensed Renee didn’t have the money for legal expenses and that financial burden could negatively affect Gabby. But he couldn’t continue to send money when he didn’t even know if the money was benefitting her. And money didn’t make him a part of her life. When he’d been Gabby’s age, he would have turned down a million dollars just to have a father to take him fishing like the other kids at school.

Jonah’s phone vibrated in his pocket. When he saw his lawyer’s name pop up on the screen, he answered. “Winston.”

“Are you playing decorator again?”

“Funny.” Jonah tossed the paintbrush into a metal tray. “Fat lot of good it’s doing me.”

“One step at a time.” Winston hesitated a moment. “The apartment doesn’t guarantee visitation. I’m having a hell of a time just getting Renee to meet with you.”

Jonah’s brow furrowed. “I’m aware. Just keep trying.”

“Will do. Listen, I’m sending over a messenger tonight with the finalized deed and some information about visitation rights.”

He acknowledged the lawyer’s words absently, knowing Serve’s manager would see that he got whatever the messenger delivered. “Fine.”

After discussing a few more details about the purchase, Jonah hung up.

Not quite ready to return to the demands of his club just yet, he picked up the remote and pointed it at the forty-inch flat screen hanging over the brick fireplace. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d watched a screen for anything other than customers misbehaving at Serve, so when he saw Caroline’s smiling face looking back at him from the television, he had an odd sense of déjà vu. But she wasn’t sitting at the bar in his club; she was ringing the goddamn bell for the New York Stock Exchange, her father standing behind her looking proud.

Damn, she looks beautiful. That was actually his first thought, when it should have been, What the hell am I doing, trying to change this girl’s mind when she’s so obviously cut from a different cloth? This woman, the one being applauded by some of the most powerful financial minds in the world, would be in his bed tonight. That is, if she didn’t back out at the last second. Something told him she wouldn’t, though. He hadn’t spent a lot of time with her, not nearly as much as he’d have liked, but she didn’t seem the type to waver once a decision had been made.

He just hoped she hadn’t come to a final decision yet about his club.

Jonah took a few steps closer toward the television, squinting at what he couldn’t possibly be seeing. But there it was. Just beneath her skirt was the outline of the garter. She was wearing it underneath her smart, tailored business suit. At the damn stock exchange.

Setting aside thoughts of opening bells and pink paint samples, Jonah walked back toward the subway, allowing a ribbon of anticipation to curl in his gut. What would she wear tonight? Something he’d have to work to remove or a dress he could slip his hands under? Would he find the lacy black garter, or would she remove it before tonight, not wanting him to know she’d worn it?

If he thought for one second she would accommodate him, he would have sent her something red to wear. To set off those green cat eyes. This unholy fixation he had on Caroline was something he couldn’t explain. Almost as if someone upstairs was having a laugh at his expense, putting a disapproving woman in his path he couldn’t seem to resist.

She thought their connection could prove unhealthy for her? Right now, while he was in the process of being denied parental rights because of his lifestyle, the least healthy situation would be subjecting himself to even more criticism. But God, the way she came alive under his hands…it felt like the furthest thing from censure. She appeared unable to resist him, either, and something about that fact made his pulse hammer. Being with one woman, inside one, had never felt essential. It unnerved him.

He needed to remember that their meeting wasn’t just about him slaking his growing need for her—it was about introducing her to something she didn’t understand. Giving her a reason not to slam his club, the way he lived, in her article. He needed to think about his professional goal here, not just his personal one. Otherwise this family-friendly apartment, all he’d done in an effort to meet his daughter, could be thrown away for one night with Caroline.

Jonah’s jaw went tight when a voice in his head whispered that she’d be worth it. No. He needed to keep his head with her tonight, remember what he wanted to prove. The dominant side of him that flowed out, easy as smoke, only came on stronger around Caroline. He’d barely managed to keep a leash on it that night at Serve. Tonight, it would be paramount. By coming to his home, even with her wealth of doubt about his character, she’d placed her trust in him. He had no intention of showing her she’d misplaced that trust.