Destined for Power
Kathleen Brooks
Copyright Page
All Rights Reserved. No part of this book may be used or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without written permission, except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. The names, characters, places, and incidents are products of the writer's imagination or have been used fictitiously and are not to be construed as real. Any resemblance to persons, living or dead, actual events, locale, or organizations is entirely coincidental.
An original
work of Kathleen Brooks.
Destined for Power
copyright @ 2015 by Kathleen Brooks
Cover art by Calista Taylor
http://www.coversbycali.com
Acknowledgments
I have been blessed with some wonderful friends through writing. I want to thank Robyn Peterman, Heather Sunseri, Jennifer Probst, Ruth Cardello, Kris Calvert, Melody Anne, Cali McCay, JS Scott, Liliana Hart, Jana Deleon, Donna McDonald, JM Madden, Solease Barner, Laurel McKinley, Sandra Marton, Chrisite Craig, Lynn Raye Harris, and so many more wonderful ladies who are truly women of power.
But, the most important women of power are my mother and daughter. My mother taught me to be fearless and that there was nothing I couldn’t do if I just tried. And as my daughter types
The End
to each of my stories, I hope she’s learning to follow her dreams. For nothing can stop them women when they reach for their dreams.
PROLOGUE
Windsor Academy, seventeen years ago . . .
Mallory let go with a mixture of sadness and excitement. Her dark green graduation cap flew into the warm summer air. One hundred thirty-three caps filled the blue sky as cheers erupted from the students of Windsor Academy’s graduating class.
Her best friend, Elle Simpson, wrapped her arms around Mallory and laughed joyously. Mallory smiled at her, but sadness filled her, knowing they would be away from each other after this one last summer. She and Elle had been inseparable for years. Mallory was closer to the Simpson family than to her own. Case in point, Mr. and Mrs. Simpson and their other children, Reid, Bree, and Allegra, stood by clapping as the graduates celebrated. On the other hand, Mallory’s family was absent. She didn’t even remember where they were this weekend.
Her father, Senator George Westin, was too busy campaigning for reelection to the United States Senate and her mother, as always, was by her husband's side. It had been two months since she’d seen her parents. Luckily, she had the Simpsons, or she would have been alone in a huge mansion with no one except a cook, two housekeepers, and a driver. One thing Mallory had learned from an early age—money didn’t buy happiness.
No, but money bought you four years at the best private high school in Atlanta and four more years at a premier Ivy League college in the Northeast where she was expected to set up a political marriage. Her father didn’t even let her pick her own school. Her happiness and feelings certainly didn’t matter to money. And since money and power were the only thing her parents cared about, her happiness didn’t matter to them either.
Mallory held her hands in the air as her cap came back down to earth. She caught the fabric-covered cardboard and brought it to her chest. Two more months of freedom, and it was time to stop living according to her parents’ expectations. She’d rebelled some in high school, but there was no one around to notice. Now she was eighteen. Now she had access to a small portion of the trust fund set up by her grandmother. Now she could rebel enough that her parents in Washington, D.C., would notice.
Mallory felt for the pearls at her throat. The family attorney brought them by this morning with a note from her grandmother who had passed away more than six years ago. It was her note that was sparking the rebellion. Her grandmother expressed her love and hope that Mallory would find happiness in her life—no matter the cost.
Mallory looked over to where Elle was hugging her mother. Mallory’s electric blue eyes connected with Reid’s, and she felt a blush creep up over her face. It didn’t feel right to have a crush on Elle’s older brother, but she was helpless to stop it. They had been flirting since their first meeting. She knew he didn’t take her seriously, but maybe now he would. After all, she was no longer a high school student. And legally, she was now an adult. It was time he started seeing her like one.
Reid was two years older than Mallory, was in college, and was sinfully handsome in a bad-boy way her parents would never approve of. He’d grown up poor, from the wrong side of the tracks, literally and figuratively, and had zero political ambition. What Reid did have were muscles in places the men she danced with at her coming-out party didn’t even know existed. His chestnut hair was trimmed short along the sides of his head while the top was slightly longer with an I-don’t-care mess to it. His smile made her heart speed up and had an edge to it that led her to believe he was more than just a sexy face. His face was covered in a sexy scruff that had her imagining it scraping against her delicate skin in a moment of passion, and his forest green eyes pierced her heart and soul. It was love.
Why love and not just lust? There was definitely lust involved, but it was the love that held her hostage. Love for the way he watched out for her and his sisters, the way he and his father seemed like best friends with a healthy dose of mutual respect, the way he hugged his mother, and the way he helped others who were not strong enough to help themselves. He stood up for kids who were bullied and asked the wallflowers to dance at prom. That’s why she loved him.
“Come on, Mallory,” Elle called as she held out her hand.
Mallory smiled and hurried to put her arm around her best friend. Would Elle care if she liked Reid? Mallory cringed a bit.
Like
wasn’t the right word. She’d fallen for him with the wild abandon of young love. For years, she’d sat next to him at the dinner table, hoping he would shift so his leg would touch hers. For years, she’d wished upon every fallen star that Reid would realize she was a woman. For years, she’d desired . . .
“Mom has made all of our favorites for dinner,” Elle said excitedly as she put her arm around Mallory’s waist.
“Even the chocolate torte?” Mallory asked.
“Especially the chocolate torte.” Reid winked. “We all know your secret desire . . .” Mallory felt her face heat up again. How did he know what she’d just been thinking? “… for chocolate.”
“Oh, yes, chocolate.” Mallory stumbled over her feet and Reid’s hand shot out to take hold of her elbow. She looked up into his eyes and saw for the first time they were lingering on her lips and then moving downward.
“I can’t believe you’re throwing a graduation party for the whole class.” Bree’s comment interrupted Reid’s perusal down her body. “I wish I could go.”
Margaret, Elle’s mother, shook her head. “Two years isn’t that long to wait for your own graduation party. But, Mallory, are you sure you should be doing this? Did you ask your parents?”
Mallory shrugged. “As if I could get hold of them to ask. Besides, I’m having it out at the farm. We won’t bother anyone out there.”
“As long as you promise me you’ll be safe, be aware, and call me if you need anything. I expect a phone call at midnight to check in. Got it?” Margaret stared at Mallory and Elle.
“Yes, ma’am,” they both said before sharing a sly grin with each other.
* * *
Music poured from the outdoor speakers. The paddock closest to the large old plantation house was filled with people dancing. Some were holding beers, some were holding each other, but most were just letting loose after four years of working hard. Elle had her head thrown back, her red hair whipping to the music as she danced with a group of their friends. Mallory sat on the flagstone patio watching them as thoughts held her in place. She was serious as she contemplated her already-planned-out future.
Rebellion surged through her as she took a drink of cranberry juice and vodka she had just gotten from the locked house. She was smart. She controlled every aspect of this party. There were bathrooms in the barns. The horses were at the other end of the property. The house was off limits. There was food and plenty of water in the outdoor kitchen. The gates to the farm were locked. Keys to all the cars were in a bowl locked inside the house. It seemed to be working. Everyone was happy. Everyone except her. Even when she wanted to rebel, she couldn’t. She was too practical, too logical, too reasonable, to completely let loose.
“What are you doing sitting here? Shouldn’t you be dancing?” A deep voice behind her caused her to jump.
“Reid! What are you doing here?”
“I promised Mom I would make sure everything was going well. I just called to let her know it was well-in-hand.” Reid took a seat next to her on the stone steps and reached for her cup before taking a tentative sip. “Vodka?”
Mallory nodded. She didn’t know what to say. The whole side of his body was pressed up against hers. She felt her breathing hitch and a warmth pool in a very delicate place her nanny had describe as a “woman’s pearl” Reid took a generous drink and then handed the cup back to her. When she took it, their fingers touched, and Mallory’s eyes shot to his.
“Would you like a drink of your own?” Mallory asked.
“Sure. Let’s go inside.” Reid stood up and held out his hand. She placed hers in his, and he pulled her up.
Mallory closed her eyes as she stopped in front of the door and dug the key from the pocket of her jean miniskirt. Reid was not acting brotherly, right? Was this her chance? What happened if it didn’t work out? Oh, nonsense, it would work out. They were so perfect together. She loved him and knew everything about him—his good points and his bad ones. They didn’t matter. She loved them both, the good and the bad. He was her dream come true, and now he was paying attention to her. Mallory was breathless as she unlocked the door and walked inside. She heard the lock click behind her, and then he was there.
Reid’s firm hands grasped her shoulders from behind. His lips nuzzled her neck as he pulled her against him. “This is crazy. I shouldn’t be doing this. You’re my sister’s best friend.”
“I know, but I want it too,” she whispered as her heart pounded.
“Do you know how long I’ve wanted this? How hard it has been sitting next to you every night for dinner? And dear God, woman, were you trying to kill me when you slept over? Those tiny shorts . . .” Reid kissed her neck and Mallory let her head fall back against his shoulder.
“I wanted you to notice me. I thought you only saw me as a little kid.”
“I never saw you as a little kid. I always saw you as a strong woman who was making the best of a bad situation. I just had to wait. Regardless of how I felt, I knew I had to wait for you to grow up. But now, I’m tired of waiting.”
Mallory turned around in his arms and looked up at him. He brushed a lock of her blond hair from her face and cupped her cheek. “You’re so beautiful,” she heard him whisper before his head came toward hers. Their lips touched gently as they took their time getting used to the feel of each other. Reid waited patiently as Mallory brought her hands to his chest and leaned in closer.
She felt dizzy as she put her arms around Reid’s neck and pressed her body against his. She opened her mouth to him, and soon the kiss turned to something more than gentle. It was filled with desperate longing.
Someone knocked on the door, and Mallory jumped back. Her fingers touched her lips as she looked dazedly at Reid. Had this really just happened? The knock sounded again. Reid turned and opened the door.
“Hey, where’s the ice?” a guy from her class asked.
“Over by the refrigerator. It’s the black thing. It’s full of ice,” Mallory muttered. Her classmate gave a smile and headed for the outdoor kitchen.
“Was that . . .?” Mallory stuttered.
“Completely amazing? Yes, it was. Mallory, what are we going to do?” Reid asked as he ran his hand over his head.
“I don’t know. I’m only here for two more months. Oh, Reid, we could have been together this whole time if only one of us had said something.”
Reid took Mallory in his arms and squeezed her tight. “It wouldn’t have worked. It would have been unfair while you were still in high school and I was away. It would be selfish to make you wait. I needed you to experience life, dating, and not jeopardize your friendship with my sister. Elle, Mom . . . there wouldn’t have been any sleepovers. And Elle would be wondering if you were there for her or me. Let’s not focus on the past, but on the now.”
“Should we tell Elle? Wait, what would we even tell her?” Mallory scrunched her nose as she thought. What were they exactly?
Reid let out a long breath. “I don’t know what we are. But, I think it’s time to see what’s between us now that we’re both adults.”
“Well, I think we got kissing covered,” Mallory teased.
“Let’s see how we do with dancing.” Reid shot her a sly smile and took her hand in his. “And it will give us a chance to gauge Elle’s reaction and see how secretive we have to be.”
Mallory let him lead her to the dance floor where she nervously waited to be called out by her best friend. Elle noticed them immediately. Her eyes narrowed, and she gave them a hesitant wave as she danced. Mallory didn’t care about Elle’s response as Reid pulled her closer. She swung her hips seductively to the music and felt Reid’s chest vibrate with a groan. He slid his fingers up under the loose white peasant top she wore to caress her bare back.
Mallory gasped and looked around, but no one was paying attention. They were all celebrating and it was so dark it would be hard for others to see much detail.
“God, Mallory. We’re like lightning together. It’s a high I might become addicted to,” Reid said low enough for only her to hear. He ground his hips against hers and she lost her ability to think. Her body felt on fire.
“Mallory! Come dance with us. You don’t want to be stuck with my brother all night,” Elle shouted as if the thought were revolting.
Reid’s hand slid out from under her shirt, and he let her go after one last suggestive push of his hips. “Tonight’s your night. Enjoy it. We have all summer. I’ll sneak out of the house tomorrow. How about dinner and a movie?”
“Sure. Pick me up at eight.” Mallory smiled at him. He stepped back, and she went to dance with her friends. Mallory watched until he disappeared into the night. Tonight her dreams had finally come true.
* * *
Mallory slammed the door shut without breaking Reid’s kiss. Her summer was almost over, and tonight had been magical. Reid had told her he loved her as they shared a horseback ride at her farm. Passion overtook them on the hot summer night.
“I think it’s time,” Mallory had said breathlessly as she and Reid lay in the grass with the horses eating nearby. The sound of the bubbling brook filled the brief silence after her pronouncement.