Forbidden Lust by Jaden Sinclair Page A

you.”
    “I’m fine,” she said once she pulled out of his arms. “Miss you guys.”
    His face dropped. “Yeah, well that can’t be helped.”
    “Yes it can.”
    She watched his blue eyes dart around the room and knew she had him. By Dane not accepting her getting married, it meant he wasn’t going to forgive Darius for what he did.
    Dressed like all the men, Makayla had to admit that her brother in law was a very attractive man, and she could see why her sister was deeply in love with him.
    “I’m fine,” she said. “Promise.”
    His eyes once more landed on her. “Yeah, unfortunately, I can see that.” The young man to whom Dane had been speaking snickered. “Oh you haven’t met this one. Makayla, this is Nicolai Simoncic, Blaine’s stepson?” Dane asked the boy.
    Nicolai nodded. “The adoption went through last week, so in a way I can use the name of Cedric, but I’m going to keep my mother’s.” He smiled at Makayla with his hand out. “A pleasure to meet you.”
    Nicolai Simoncic looked to be no more than twenty at the most. He stood tall with broad shoulders and had dark brown hair. His eyes were a bit dark, gray or brown, she couldn’t really tell. They did have life in them and that seemed to be all that mattered.
    “And this is one of my only good friends, Zander Vanzant,” Nicolai said. “We met in collage.”
    “And he’s my only friend.” Zander smiled, taking Makayla’s hand. “A pleasure to meet you.”
    “Zander and his father just moved to Cane,” Dane said. “His father is one of the major contractors in town, and a big contributor here.”
    “Yeah, daddy has lots of money that the people here want,” Zander said and snickered. He gave them all a dry smile that didn’t reach his eyes. “Sorry. I don’t get along with my father too well. He doesn’t know how to deal with me, as he would say.”
    “I understand,” Makayla said. “Had one of those fathers myself. Oh, does that mean you are the ones breaking ground on the hotel?”
    “That would be my father, yes,” Zander nodded. “He’s built a five star hotel and I think he plans on announcing it’s opening tonight.”
    “Well we don’t have one,” Dane stated.
    “Yeah, but do you really need one?” Zander asked in a dry tone. He raised his glass to them all, turned and walked away.
    “Sorry about him.” Nicolai blushed. “There has been tension between him and his father since his mother died three years ago. They don’t talk. His father prefers to send him away instead of spending any time with him.”
    “Couple of us sort of know what that’s like,” Dane mumbled under his breath.
    “Yeah, well it’s made Zander a bit bitter and a big loner,” Nicolai replied. “I was told by a few of the other guys at school that he didn’t have any friends, before I came, so when he said I’m his only one it’s the truth.”
    “I bet Blaine doesn’t think he’s good for you,” Dane said.
    “Blaine thinks I’m good for him.”
    “And I think I’m going to keep looking for Samara,” Makayla said.
    She left the two talking, smiling while she looked around for her sister. She grabbed a glass of champagne while she walked, downed half of the glass and decided to find a restroom since she couldn’t find her sister. Like the rest of the place, the restroom was grand as she expected it would be. She washed her hands, not even noticing that another woman joined her until she tried to leave and found the door blocked.
    “Oh, excuse me,” Makayla smiled. “Didn’t see you there.”
    “Yes, but I saw you,” the woman stated. Her words slurred a bit, clearly meaning she’d had one too many drinks besides the one in her hand.
    The woman was a striking blonde in an elegant silk white gown that reached the floor with a slit halfway up the front. Her hair trailed down over her shoulders in waves and curls, her blue eyes were cold as ice. Makayla nearly shivered at the hatred she saw in them and she