Free A Somers Dream by Patricia Isabel Page B

better man than that” Lynesse walked over to a chaise and sat back. She was out of the bag, as it were, and she needed to know what he was going to do about it. Holten looked her over with much dislike. When Shane first brought her home he knew there was something about her he just didn’t trust. He made a call to his attorney and had him look into her. What he found out wasn’t encouraging. “Lynesse, I’m going to make you an offer. Shane will never believe what I have found out about you so I’ve decided to take matters into my own hands. I have a proposition for you, my dear. If you decide against it, word will be put out of your ‘indiscretions’, among other things, and you will never be accepted in any social circle again” Holten knew this was her life blood. Lynesse felt a cold chill and it wasn’t because of her lack of clothing. “If you accept my offer, your secret will remain a secret” Lynesse was curious “Alright Holten, I’ll bite. What is this offer?” Lynesse hadn’t realized she was holding her breath until she noticed she was beginning to feel lightheaded. She was nervous about hearing his proposed proposition and was worried it wouldn’t be in any way conducive for her. She was wrong.  What he proposed was far from what she could imagine but it gave her what she wanted. “You will marry me instead and receive all that you are accustomed to and expect according to your upbringing. I will not have you destroy my son because you are too obsessed with money. My lawyer can draw up the paperwork by tomorrow” Holten stared at Lynesse waiting for her to either object or agree. Lynesse wasn’t going to object, it’s what she was aiming for when she walked in here in the first place. But conditions needed to be applied “I see. And if I do agree to these terms of yours, what happens with me? You’re not going to live forever, darling. How am I safe and financially secured when you’re gone?” If Lynesse was going to do this, she needed to be sure it was to her benefit. “There will be a clause in the agreement that you will inherit when I die”. Lynesse liked the sound of that and agreed to the terms and three days later, they married. She did care for Shane and she had hoped that although she was married to another man, they would continue their ‘relationship’. She was shocked when he walked away from her. For years she had tried to get him to come to the house so she could talk with him and use her wiles on him. He ignored her and his father’s invitations and had never stepped foot inside his childhood home since. She had kept tabs on him, though. Keeping track of everything he did and everyone he saw, business and intimately. After five years of not committing himself to anyone, she read the hidden meaning and believed that he still wanted her. So, Lynesse came up with a brilliant scheme to get him back. She will be there for Shane, when he arrived from overseas, in his bed. He couldn’t keep his hands off her before and Lynesse believed he wouldn’t be able to once again. Their first encounter was a setback, she will admit that but it had been a long time since they have seen one another that she is willing to overlook it. He was in shock seeing her out of the blue and he didn’t want her to know that he still longed for her. She knew that was the case so this time, she would be ready. He, once again, won’t know she will be there but this time she will let him know she meant what she said and she did want him back. Lynesse saw no fault with her plan. She knew Shane still loved her and he just needed a push to see it himself. She was more than happy to give that push. Smiling to herself, she began to make preparations for a weekend and packed a bag.
    Penny had looked forward all week to this day and finally, it was here. After Cathy dropped her off at the airport two hours early (she really did need to stop asking her for rides), she took out a book and sat in the lounge