Free Kept by Jami Alden Page B

satisfied as a one-woman man.
    Danny made a whip-crack sound, followed by a high-pitched meow.
    “Say whatever you want,” Ethan said. “I’m the only one in this room who’s gotten any in the last month.”
    Not entirely true, but Derek wasn’t about to correct his twin. He didn’t even need to close his eyes to remember howher hot, smooth skin had felt against his hands, the salty sweet taste of her nipples in his mouth. The gripping wet heat of her pussy milking him to climax.
    Christ. All the more reason to make sure he never got within ten feet of Alyssa ever again.
    “What do they need us for? Doesn’t the company have its own security personnel?”
    “Since Oscar Van Weldt was killed, the company has been having internal issues that have somehow made their way to the press. His brother, Harold, has taken over as CEO and wants us to find the leak.”
    “Clients like this need a lot of ass kissing and hand-holding. You know I’m not the right guy for this,” Derek said, grasping at straws. “Put Alex on it. He’s better at making nice with clients, and you know it.”
    Danny shook his head. “They want a partner on it. Because loverboy here”—he gestured at Ethan—“is still benched for the time being, that means you. Besides”—he held up his hand when Derek would have protested—“I get the feeling Harold Van Weldt is a real hard-ass. He cuts to the chase, doesn’t put up with a lot of bullshit, and wants someone who won’t be impressed with the fame of certain family members.” He cocked his dark eyebrow. “Something tells me you’ll be perfect.”

C HAPTER 4
    A LYSSA WALKED INTO the boardroom of Van Weldt Jeweler’s San Francisco headquarters, chin up, shoulders thrown back in her best approximation of a confident, in-control woman. She’d chosen her outfit carefully this morning. Nothing said professional like black tailored slacks and a crisp white shirt. Five-inch black boots added height and confidence, and she’d styled her hair in a sleek chignon with a deep side part. She had no idea why her uncle Harold wanted to meet her this morning but hoped it was to discuss the holiday marketing campaign about to hit. If that was the case, she wanted to make sure she dressed the part of savvy executive.
    She felt her hopes dwindle as soon as she met Harold’s icy blue glare, his disapproval a near tangible force. Then again, Harold always looked like he smelled something rancid when he looked at her, so why should this morning be any different.
    Kimberly, seated at Harold’s left, offered her an encouraging smile. Alyssa locked on that smile as she slipped her hand inside her oversize shoulder bag and made sure her folder of notes and ideas for the campaign was still there. She placed her bag in a seat across from them, next to Richard Blaylock, who was already seated and drinking coffee outof a heavy mug emblazoned with the silver and blue Van Weldt logo.
    She got herself a cup of coffee from the silver service on the mahogany side table, stirring until every last granule of sugar dissolved. Anything to stave off confrontation with Uncle Harold, if only for a few more seconds. As she turned to take a seat, her gaze snagged on a portrait on the wall above the head of the table. Rendered in oil and surrounded by an ornate gold frame, Oscar Van Weldt looked upon them, a benevolent smile in his pale blue eyes. Coffee sloshed over the rim of her cup as her step faltered.
    She risked a glance around the room to see if anyone had noticed, but everyone was busy shuffling papers and going over notes. Oscar had been dead only three weeks, yet everyone seemed back to business as usual.
    Maybe she should take a tip from them. Now wasn’t the time to wallow in her painful relationship with her father. Nothing could come of dwelling on the fact that just as she had started to have a real relationship with him, just when he’d finally found something in her to be proud of, he’d been taken from