We make a good team, you and me.
Youre drunk, Evan.
Maybe a little.
Your judgment is impaired.
My judgment is perfect. Youre incredible, Angie. And I wanted you just as badly sober as I do now.
Before she realized what was happening, his lips were on hers. Magic exploded inside her brain, colors flashing, music playing, the taste of Evan overwhelming her senses. The kiss went on for long minutes before he finally pulled back.
She was breathless, and not nearly as horrified as she ought to have been. She had to get it together here.
That did not demonstrate good judgment, Evan, she told him tartly, holding out her hand for the car keys.
He just grinned and dropped the keys into her palm. Sure it did.
* * *
Reunited with the Lassiter Bride is a Dynasties: The Lassiters novel: A Wyoming legacy of love, lies and redemption!
Reunited with the Lassiter Bride
Barbara Dunlop
www.millsandboon.co.uk
BARBARA DUNLOP writes romantic stories while curled up in a log cabin in Canadas far north, where bears outnumber people and it snows six months of the year. Fortunately she has a brawny husband and two teenage children to haul firewood and clear the driveway while she sips cocoa and muses about her upcoming chapters. Barbara loves to hear from readers. You can contact her through her website, www.barbaradunlop.com.
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For my sisters, with love.
Contents
Cover
Introduction
Title Page
About the Author
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Epilogue
Extract
Copyright
One
There were days when Evan McCain wished hed never met the Lassiter family. Today was definitely one of them. Thanks to J. D. Lassiter, at thirty-four years old, Evan was starting his professional life all over again.
He pushed open the door to his empty storefront office building in Santa Monica. By rights, he should have sold the compact building two years ago after moving to Pasadena, but it was only a block from the beach and the investment value was solid. As things turned out, he was very glad hed kept it.
He had no intention of touching any of the money left to him by J.D. The bequest in his former bosss will felt like a payoff for Evans unwitting participation in J.D.s complex scheme to test his daughter Angelica, Evans ex-fiancée. Shed eventually passed the test, proving she could balance her work and her life, and replaced Evan at the helm of Lassiter Media. But shed failed Evan in the process, ending both their romantic relationship and his employment at Lassiter Media.
He dropped his suitcase in the reception area, hit the overhead lights and moved to the counter to test the telephone. He got a dial tone and mentally checked off two steps in his implementation plan. He had electricity, and he was connected to the outside world. Those were the basics.
The blinds on the glass door rattled as someone opened it behind him.
Oh, how the mighty have fallen. It was the voice of his long-time friend Deke Leamon.
Evan turned, blinking against the streaming sunlight, baffled to see Deke silhouetted in his doorway. What on earth are you doing on the West Coast?
Deke grinned, dropping a red duffel bag on the vinyl reception seat beside Evans suitcase. He was dressed in faded jeans, a Mets T-shirt, and a pair of scruffy hikers. We did it before. We can do it again.
Evan stepped forward to shake his former college roommates hand. Do what again? Seriously, why didnt you call? And how did you know Id be here?
Educated guess, said Deke. I figured thered be too many memories in Pasadena. This seemed like the logical place. I assume youre going to live upstairs for a while?
Good guess, said Evan.
The upstairs apartment was small, but hed make it work. He needed an immediate and total change of scenery. Luckily, despite its proximity to downtown L.A., Santa Monica had a personality all its own.
Figured you might be feeling sorry for yourself, Deke continued. So, I thought Id wander over and give you a kick in the ass.
Im not feeling sorry for myself, said Evan.
Life was what it was, and no amount of complaining or wishing would change it to something else. It was a hard lesson, but hed learned long ago that he could roll with the punches. On his seventeenth birthday to be exact, hed realized just how resilient he could be.
And you dont wander, he finished.
His friend was contemplative and deliberate in every action he undertook. Deke didnt do anything on a whim. Now, he dropped into one of the vinyl chairs and stretched out his legs, crossing them at the ankles.
Okay, so I flew here on purpose. He glanced around the empty office space. Thought I could probably lend a hand.
Evan leaned back against the reception countertop, bracing himself and raising a challenging brow. Lend a hand doing what, exactly?
Whatever needs doin. Deke glanced around the office. So, whats the plan? What happens first?
The phones are up and running. Evan realized that he was still holding the cordless receiver, and he set it down.
Good start. You got any leads? Got a website?
Evan was both touched and amused by what he knew Deke was doing. You dont need to be here.
I want to be here. I left Colby in charge at Tiger Tech. Told him Id be back in a month or so.
Colby Payne was a young, innovative genius whod been Dekes second in command for two years.
Thats ridiculous. Evan wasnt about to let Deke make that kind of sacrifice. I dont need your pity. Even if I wanted you herewhich I dontyouve got a business to run.
Dekes massive technological prototyping facility in Chicago was filled with everything from computerized lathes to 3D printers. It helped budding innovators turn their ideas into commercial products. His unique brand of savvy and entrepreneurship had launched dozens of success ventures.
Deke shrugged. I was getting bored. I havent taken a vacation in two years.
Go to Paris or Hawaii.
Deke grinned. Id go stir-crazy in Hawaii.
Youve seen the tourism photos, right? The surf, the sand, the girls in bikinis?
There are girls in bikinis right here in Santa Monica.
I can take care of myself, Deke.
Sure, it was a blow, summarily losing his job with Lassiter Media when J.D.s will codicil kicked in and gave control of the company to Evans ex-fiancée Angelica. But he was already on the road to recovery.
Dont you remember how much fun we had? Deke asked. You, me, Lex, holed up in that crappy apartment in Venice Beach, worrying about student debt while we tried to build a business?
It was fun when we were twenty-three.
Itll be fun again.
We failed, Evan noted.
Instead of getting rich, the three of them ended up going their separate ways. Deke went into technology, Evan into business management, while Lex Baldwin was rising fast in the ranks of Asanti International, a luxury hotel chain.
Yeah, but were way smarter now.
Evan couldnt stop a chopped laugh. All evidence to the contrary?
Okay, Im smarter now.
I want to be completely on my own this time, said Evan.
Hed enjoyed working with J. D. Lassiter. The man was a genius. But hed also turned out to be a manipulative old schemer. Family came first for J.D., always. And since Evan wasnt family, hed ended up as collateral damage when J.D. had set out to test the loyalty of his daughter.
Not that Evan blamed anyone for supporting their own family. If hed had a family, hed have supported them through thick and thin. But he had no brothers or sisters. And his parents had died in a car accident the day he turned seventeen.
Hed planned to have children with Angelica. He wanted a big family, big enough that none of them would ever have to be alone. But that obviously wasnt going to happen now.
Ive got your back, Deke told him, his tone low and sincere as he scrutinized Evans expression.
I dont need anybody to have my back.
Everybody needs somebody.
I thought I had Angie. As soon as the words were out, Evan regretted them.
But you didnt.
I know.
Angie had seemed like the woman of Evans dreams. But shed bolted at the first sign of trouble. Shed turned her back on him and everybody else, isolating herself, refusing to trust him or her family.
Better you found out before the wedding.
Sure, Evan agreed, because it was the easiest thing to do.
Secretly, he couldnt help but wonder what might have happened if J.D. had passed away after the wedding. As his wife, would Angie have tried any harder to trust him?
Shes out of your life, Evan.
I know that.
You dont look like a man who knows that.
Ive got my head on straight. Its over. I get that. Im here in Santa Monica because its over.
Maybe Evan would find someone else someday. Not that he could imagine when, how or who. If Angie wasnt the real thing, he couldnt fathom who was.
Im going to hold you to that, said Deke, coming to his feet, rubbing his hands together. Okay, first up, we get your business back on its feet. At the very least, your accomplishments at Lassiter Media will impress future clients.
They will be impressed, Evan agreed. Theyd be impressed with what hed accomplished there. Some might even be impressed that hed walked away.
* * *
Angelica Lassiter needed a fresh start. If there was a Reset button for life, shed press it right now.
Shed fought with her family over her fathers will for five long months, only to discover J.D. had a master plan all along to test her ability to balance work with life. Although hed first seemed to hand it to Evan, in the end, her father had given her exactly what she longed for: control of Lassiter Media. But she wasnt proud of the way shed fought for it. And she wasnt proud of the way shed treated Evan.
It was bad enough that shed pushed her ex-fiancé away while she fought for her heritage. But shed accused him of lying to her, of betraying her and conspiring to steal her inheritance. Shed been wrong on all counts, but there was no way to take it back.
Ms. Lassiter? Her administrative assistant appeared in the doorway of the empty boardroom.
Yes, Becky. Angelica turned from where she was gazing across the heart of downtown L.A.
The decorators are here.
Angelica squared her shoulders and gave her assistant a determined nod. Thanks, Becky. Please show them in.
Angelica knew her decision to renovate the top floor of the Lassiter building and relocate the CEOs office was going to cause a lot of talk within the company. But she also knew it was her only option.
Maybe if the power transition had gone smoothly she could have moved directly into her fathers office. After all, shed been at the helm in all but title prior to her fathers death. But with the original will leaving control to Evan, the transition had been anything but smooth. And now she needed to put her own stamp on Lassiter Media. Shed decided to convert the top floor boardroom into her own office and turn her fathers office into a boardroom.
Angelica. Suzanne Smith entered the room first, followed by her partner Boswell Cruz. Its so good to see you again.
Suzannes expression and tone were professional, but she couldnt quite hide the curiosity lurking in her eyes. The Lassiter familys troubles had been all over the media these past months. Angelica couldnt really blame Suzanne for wondering what would happen next.
Thanks for coming on such short notice, said Angelica, moving forward to shake both of their hands. Hello, Boswell.
Nice to see you again, Angelica, he returned.
Tell me how we can help you, said Suzanne. Her expression invited confidence.