Luc was away at college and then medical school, he’d loved coming home. Of course, there were good times as well as many arguments. But although his dad had supported his desire to go to medical school and encouraged him to find his own passion, he knew the older man was disappointed. With Rafe being more creative than he was business focused, it had fallen onto Gabe’s shoulders to become the heir apparent. Part of Luc resented his cousin, while another part was eternally grateful. Not that he’d ever tell him that. Gabriel Santiago was an arrogant, moody pain in the ass. His best friend who had become his greatest rival. Now they barely tolerated each other. He put up with seeing Gabe when he visited his parents, and that was all the involvement he needed or wanted.
He got out of his Mercedes-AMG, beeped the lock device and headed for the front door. He was about to open up when the door opened and there she was.
Vanessa...
The one woman he wanted. The one woman who kept him at arm’s length.
They’d met the first day she’d started working at Casa Cat. Luc had just arrived back in California after a stint working with Doctors Without Borders and it had been a particularly challenging couple of months. Even though he did find the work fulfilling, it always took him a few days to recharge after such a trip, so he’d decided to spend a few days at the estate instead of returning immediately to his plush apartment in L.A.
Dropping his bags in the hall, he’d bounded up the stairs to shower off the travel grime and change and had collided with Vanessa on the landing. She’d been carrying a basket of laundry that had tumbled from her grasp and Luc made a clumsy attempt to help her, which had only made things worse. The clothes ended up at her feet and as she bent down to retrieve the garments he had the same idea and their heads had collided. For a second he saw stars and she swore...loudly. The kind of curse that he didn’t expect to hear from the new housekeeper. Not that she looked like any kind of housekeeper he’d seen before. She was so damned beautiful she took his breath away. Brown hair, caramel-colored eyes, incredible curves.
And a potty mouth to beat even his own.
He couldn’t help but laugh. And then she was laughing. It had been such a relief to just feel so easy with someone... And as he quickly started to help her pick up and refold the laundry, blaming himself for the mess, she put him off, trying to take the blame. And moments later he laughed again when she mistook him for another of the hired help. But he supposed that in his creased cargo pants, rumpled shirt, sleep deprived eyes and airplane hair, he probably didn’t look like he belonged in any of the upstairs rooms. He didn’t correct her mistake though, because he wanted to hear her lovely laugh again and suspected she would clam up the moment she realized who he was.
But then several minutes later he slipped, suggesting that he grab some fresh towels from the refolded pile and put them in his room.
“Your room?” she said, raising an eyebrow. “Just who do you think you are? One of the Marshalls?”
“Actually, yes. I’m Luc, the older son,” he said with a grin. “It’s nice to—”
Before Luc could finish his sentence, she’d gotten to her feet, brushed off the skirt of her uniform and practically jumped back six paces. “I’m so sorry, Mr. Marshall. I didn’t mean to take up your time. I’ll finish cleaning up these things and get out of your way.”
No matter what he tried to say to recapture the relaxed conversation they’d just shared, she was horrified and apologetic and moments later, she raced off, laundry basket in hand. But like a damned bolt of lightning, Luc had been struck. He was a goner.
He’d been surrounded by beautiful women all of his life, but none had ever been able to compare to Vanessa, the most intoxicating woman he’d ever met.
And it confused him. Luc thought he knew women. And believed he saw something in Vanessa’s eyes that indicated she was as aware of him as he was of her. Even in that damned ugly housekeeper’s uniform his mother insisted the staff wear, Vanessa looked beautiful, almost...regal.
He couldn’t help the way he felt about her. Sure, he wanted her, but it was more than that. He’d never shared laughter so easily with any woman before, and he longed to be with her again, to be able to talk and laugh with someone who seemed to really get him.
Yes, Rachel was also beautiful and well connected and would make him a good wife, but...something was missing. He didn’t love Rachel. He desired her. He enjoyed sex with her. He found her amusing and liked her company. But his heart wasn’t invested in their relationship.
Because his heart was wrapped up in the woman in front of him.
And now, she’d called. After saying she wouldn’t.
“Hi, Vanessa,” he said and smiled. “I left as soon as I got your message.”
She nodded and opened the door wider. “Thanks for coming.”
“Everything okay?”
“Of course.”
Luc’s body trembled with the need to get closer to her. She smelled so good. Like lavender. Not like the expensive perfume Rachel used. Vanessa was a natural beauty. Perfect in every way. “Anyone else around?”
She looked around nervously as he stepped into the hall. “Please keep your voice down.”
“Why...what’s going on?”
“Nothing... I just—”
Luc took a step forward and grasped her hand, drawing her close. “Vanessa...what’s wrong?”
She pulled her hand from his and stepped back. “Nothing, like I said. And please don’t do that.”
“I can’t help it,” Luc admitted and grinned, stupidly happy that she’d called him. “I’m so glad to see you.”
She looked over her shoulder and then frowned. “Luc, I called because I needed to talk to you. I said it was important.” She took a long breath. “I didn’t say it was about us.”
Us...
God, he wished there was an us. But she fought him at every turn. Deep down, he knew her excuses were all too valid. She worked for his parents. It wouldn’t be right. She might lose her job. Luc had heard all her reasons. Only a fool would keep pining for her. But something kept dragging him back to her. Something he couldn’t quite define. He only knew he had to wait. Vanessa was worth waiting for.
“Then why am I here?”
“We need to talk.”
“So you said,” he shot back. “Just not about us. I don’t get it, Vanessa...what is this about?”
She looked around again and then motioned for him to follow her down the hall. She entered the front living room, ushered him inside and then quietly closed the door.
“We shouldn’t be disturbed in here.”
“Why all the secrecy?” he asked.
“I need to tell you something,” she replied.
Dread licked up his spine. “Are you leaving? Is that what this is about? Because if you are, I think that’s a damned great idea.” He snapped his fingers. “Leave and come and live with me.”
Her dark brows shot up instantly. “Won’t your fiancée have something to say about that?”
“I’m not engaged,” he stressed, moving a little closer. “And I would ditch Rachel in a heartbeat if you would agree to be with me.”
She shook her beautiful head. “You’re such an asshole, Luc.”
He laughed softly. “Maybe...but I’m an asshole who is crazy about you.”
She stepped back. “You don’t even know me.”
“I know enough,” he quipped. “I know you’re beautiful and too smart to be wearing that damned ugly uniform and doing my family’s bidding. I hate