Mr. Imperfect

chapter 55



All of Mike’s cameras were ready to roll. And if Mike did say so himself, his set-up was rather perfect—both for the exhibit and with Rori. He had planned on taking her to bed after the exhibit, but he was not going to balk at moving things up one day.

The woman had a mouth and body of a goddess, and now that Mike had felt the intensity in their simple foreplay, he wasn’t going to be able to sleep until he had all of her. He needed to look into her eyes as he sheathed himself inside of her, to feel her mouth as it whimpered against his, to feel her hands grip him as she came and screamed his name.

His name. No one else’s. Ever.

Mike had thought he would need to use logic to convince her to give him a shot. He’d memorized a speech and everything. But screw the speech. That level of chemistry spoke for itself. Once they were naked and in each other’s arms Rori would see that they were meant to be. Maybe he wasn’t what she had been planning on, but they belonged together. Of that, Mike had no doubt.

He glanced at his watch, noting that she should be back in the next thirty minutes or so. He needed to go back to their place, get cleaned up, and put out the champagne and strawberries. He should also be able to fit in a trip down the block to the flower vendor for some roses. He could use the petals on the bed to set the mood.

Taking one last look around the gallery to make sure he wasn’t leaving a mess, Mike turned and headed for the lobby only to see another man walking his direction. The guy was older and his dark, product-drenched hair had a very European look to it, as did his thin goatee. Still, he had the strut of a man who knew exactly what he was about and how to get his way. Once he reached Mike, he stopped and held out his hand.

“Mike Cannon, I presume.”

“Yes,” Mike replied, gripping the man’s hand. “And you are?”

“I’m Aurora’s step-father. Feel free to call me Jean.”

Mike gave the man a second look over. If this was what Rori’s step-father looked like then maybe that explained why she didn’t mind Anton’s greasy appearance. “Good to meet you.”

The man chuckled. “You may change your tune by the end of this, but please know that I am coming to you for the sole purpose of making your life easier. Because, from what I understand, you have feelings for my little girl. Is that correct?”

“I—ah,” Mike hadn’t been expecting a question like this. A least not so abruptly.

“You do,” he said with confidence. “She is an easy woman to want, especially when she holds the keys to so many doors that are currently locked to you.”

Mike felt himself bristle. “It’s not that—”

“Of course it is, son,” Jean said with a condescending smile. “But that’s not why I’m here talking to you.” He handed a file folder to Mike—the same folder Mike had seen on Rori’s kitchen table earlier that night. “You see, Rori is about to become engaged. Her fiancé will be arriving tomorrow, and when he appears you will see exactly what role you play in her life—which is, and always will be, to entertain her behind closed doors and away from the sight of the public.”

“That’s not true,” Mike snapped.

“It is,” the man countered. “You may not have accepted this fact yet, but you would do well to read this file, and the marriage contract in particular, and ask yourself how you feel about being a male mistress to a woman bearing another man’s children.”

Mike didn’t even know how to process those words. “Excuse me?”

“You may be asking yourself why I’m coming to you with this information, and coming to the conclusion that I’m here to separate you and Aurora. And that conclusion would be correct. Her mother and I would prefer that her lover not be close by as she enters into her engagement. It’s disruptive.”

“Look,” Mike said, handing the folder back. “I don’t know where you get your information, but I am not Rori’s ‘lover,’ nor is she engaged.”

Jean didn’t take the folder. “I see. So you’re not on your way to go see her this very moment?”

“Well, yes—”

“And that wasn’t you in her bedroom earlier this evening?”

Mike frowned. “It was.”

Jean nodded as if that settled it. “Look, Mike, I’m telling you this because I feel for you. Where you come from the passion you’re feeling right now means something. I have no doubt my little girl has feelings for you as well, but those feelings mean something very different to her. She’s not going to base the most important relationship in her life on something as transitory as emotions. Feelings come, and feelings go, no matter whom you marry. The key is to marry a person on the same track you’re on. Someone of similar values and with a similar background.”

“And someone with money,” Mike added bitterly. He thought the other man would deny it, but Jean nodded.

“Most certainly. Monetary issues is one of the top three reasons for divorce, and Aurora has taken great care to find a man she will never have reason to divorce. He’ll be here tomorrow, and you can trust me when I say that you’re not going to like how things change between you and my daughter once he arrives.” He glanced to the folder. “Which is why I’m arming you with information and offering you a choice.”

“Yeah? And what’s that?”

The other man’s smile was laced with pity. It made Mike want to punch him. “My wife believes you to be infatuated with Aurora, which means your behavior at seeing her with another man is unpredictable, at best. Given how publicized tomorrow’s event will be and some of the names who will be in attendance, we don’t like that level of uncertainty.”

“You think I’m going to cause a scene when she shows up with Anton?”

“We can’t rule out the possibility. Which brings me back to the choice I am offering you.” He gestured to the folder. “Read that file tonight. It outlines the life she wishes for herself and the man she has chosen to build that life with, including a detailed outline of their marriage.”

Mike’s hand gripped the folder in rage at the words he was hearing. Rori’s stepfather didn’t understand. Mike knew that. Maybe Rori had been willing to have a cold marriage before she’d met him, but there was no way she would be going back to Anton after the heat that they had shared earlier. Not a chance.

Jean regarded him thoughtfully. “Rori says you are a talented filmmaker.”

She had? He felt a blush of pride before suspicion replaced it. “What does that have to do with anything?”

“It has to do with the fact that I could help you meet some key, influential people in exchange for you quietly disappearing from Rori’s life.”

“Not happening,” Mike said without hesitation.

“It’s understandable that you say that now,” he said, giving Mike’s arm an unwelcome pat. “You are naïve, but twenty-four hours from now, I won’t seem like quite the a*shole I do tonight. You’ll understand that I know how a broken heart feels and that my offer to get you a directing job comes from the fact that I know a man with a broken heart needs to throw himself into work—”

“Or make me look like a gold digger who walked away from her the moment I saw a payoff,” Mike countered.

Jean smiled. “Not so dumb, are you?”

“She’ll think I used her.”

“News flash, Mr. Cannon. You already are using her. Just like she’s using you. It can’t be helped. The difference is that my Aurora understands that, and you do not. Her feelings will not be hurt when you accept my offer. I’m sure she will wish you the best in your endeavors even as she moves forward with hers.”

The way the man spoke…it was like everything had already happened just as he had described. It was all past tense. Written in stone. Only then did Mike realize that he was dealing with a man who got his way. Always. Without exception. Which was going to make it all the more fun to make him eat his words.

“Read it,” Jean said again, glancing at the folder. “Let me know what you think tomorrow night, and I’ll make arrangements.”

He didn’t give Mike time to respond this time, which was good since Mike was so mad he couldn’t think of a kind thing to say to this man who had allegedly raised Rori. Mike never would have guessed such a cold man to be her father figure. Not in a million years.

No wonder Rori didn’t trust in men or love. Not if this was her role model of who and what a father was. Well, that and her real father, who was quite the gem himself.

Watching Rori’s stepfather confidently stride away, Mike wished he could throw the file folder in his hand in the nearest trash can and never think about it again. But the problem was, he did want to know what it said. If Rori’s hopes and dreams were laid out on those sheets of paper, then Mike definitely wanted to read it.

So he compromised. He didn’t go back to the apartment, but he stayed in the lobby of the gallery and read. Then he re-read, all but certain he had never felt more ill in his life.