ONE NIGHT STAND (A Billionaire Bad Boy Romance) Read online

  Quin smirked. “I’m not like you.”

  “Maybe you should be.”

  “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “I mean you should not just follow along with whatever Mommy dearest wants.”

  “And why not?” their mother snapped as she appeared in front of them. Her dress was tailored perfectly to fit her form and her hair was professionally done, as were her dark red nails and make-up. Braydon glanced down at her tapping toe wrapped in leather pumps that she most likely paid a few hundred dollars for. “What is so wrong with what I’m trying to do for your brother?”

  Braydon bit back the word ‘step’ he usually threw in her face. Quin wasn’t the bad guy here. “You’re trying to set up an arranged marriage. It’s a bit medieval.”

  “Families of our stature have been doing it for decades. It’s not like we’re inbreeding,” his mother replied, annoyed.

  “No, but close enough.”

  “What is wrong with wanting to set up a marriage that will do some good for this family?”

  “The woman doesn’t even know what you’re up to. How does that not bother you? You want her and Quin to have a loveless marriage like you and Da did?”

  Her hands curled into fists at her sides, but Braydon wasn’t about to back down, not yet. “Our marriage was not arranged.”

  “Close enough. You barely knew each other when you got pregnant with me and your folks made you marry,” Braydon snapped as he jumped to his feet. “Then, when you decided you just couldn’t love the man, not even a bit, you left us for dead and moved on to find a more suitable match and another arranged marriage.”

  “Mom’s marriage to my dad wasn’t arranged,” Quin stated, looking between Braydon and his mother, the latter starting to twitch a bit. “Mom?”

  “Quin, would you please excuse us?” Meredith asked tightly.

  He didn’t want to, but he was too much of a good son to argue with her. He shot Braydon a pleading look and headed back to the house. For a long minute, Braydon and Meredith stared each other down until she finally blinked and looked away.

  “Why would you fill his head with nonsense like that?”

  “It’s not nonsense. I’m not a blind fool. People talk, Mother. They talk quite a bit when their mouths are given the right motivation,” he sneered. “Quite a few of your close friends spilled everything there was to know about you and dear Frederick.”

  Her face paled as she smoothed the front of her dress. “It doesn’t matter. I am happy.”

  “Yes, because Fredrick is rich. Do you even love him at all?”

  “Don’t throw my past decisions at me, not after what you did.” She smirked when Braydon’s gaze lowered. “You are here to support your brother in a rather large decision. If you cannot be a civil guest, then I will ask you to leave.”

  Braydon sat back down in the chair, crossed his legs and arms, and shrugged. “Then I shall be a civil guest.”

  His mother glared at him one last time and stalked away through the grass. He watched her heels sink with each step and hoped she’d get stuck in the mud, maybe fall on her perfectly done face. That would certainly make his day.

  ***

  Charlotte held the bouquet of flowers as her mother knocked on the front door of Quin’s home. Well, his parents’ home. He, like Charlotte, still lived with them, as did many people their age. It was how their society functioned. She’d never second-guessed her decision until that morning when all she’d wanted was to kick her mother out of the bathroom. No, better yet, out of the house.

  “Stand up straight,” Victoria hissed.

  Charlotte tried to readjust her posture while not dropping the flowers. “Yes, Mother dear.”

  Her mother opened her mouth just as the front door swung wide and Quin’s mother, Meredith, greeted them both. “Ah, ladies, so good of you to come.”

  “Of course,” Victoria said as they kissed each other’s cheeks. “Charlotte has brought you something for the house.” She gave her daughter a gentle nudge forward and ignored the look she got in return. “We know how much you enjoy fresh flowers.”

  Meredith thanked them and motioned for them to follow her inside. Others were already there, trailing through the foyer and outside onto the lawn. The garden was magnificently tended, as always. At least Charlotte had one thing to occupy herself with while she was there. Roaming amongst the flowers brightened her day.

  “Oh, Charlotte, Quin is out back somewhere if you’d like to find him.”

  She nodded and hurried away, feeling both sets of eyes watching her the whole way.

  ***

  Victoria frowned as her daughter disappeared outside with the other guests and rubbed her forehead, trying to fight off a headache. “Did you find out what she was up to last night?” Meredith asked as she headed into the kitchen with the flowers.

  “Yes and no. She’s hiding something.”

  “Quin was quite upset when he wasn’t able to ask her last night on her birthday. He had everything planned out so well.”

  Victoria nodded. “I know. But she’s here today, so he will have his chance.”

  “Do you think she will say yes?”

  “I can see no better match for either of them. And it will help both our families. Perhaps she will be able to assist him when the time comes to move up in Fredrick’s company,” Victoria mused. “Husbands always need strong wives in positions such as those.”

  Her mind started to wander as she watched her daughter through the window. It was strange, seeing her this old, as if it happened overnight. Maybe it was just the realization that soon, her daughter would be engaged, then married, officially out from under her mother’s wing.

  “Victoria, are you all right?”

  But she didn’t hear Meredith say her name. Everything started to get a little fuzzy around the edges as she reached out and held the counter tightly. Suddenly, she was angry at Charlotte all over again and about to go out there and yell at her when a hand fell on her shoulder.

  “Victoria, maybe you should sit down.”

  She turned and smiled slowly. “No… no, I’m all right. Just a headache.”

  Meredith nodded, but Victoria felt her watching her as the two women headed out into the garden to mingle with the rest of the guests.

  ***

  Charlotte tried to keep a smile on her face as she stood amongst the other guests and listened to them talk about whatever it was they talked about. She honestly didn’t care much until someone mentioned orphanages.

  “I do feel sometimes they are a waste of money,” Peter—one of the oldest sons of some rich man or other, Charlotte could never keep them straight—muttered. “I mean, honestly. What good does it really do the children? They still have no parents, no way to become a proper citizen of society.”

  “And what would you know about that?” Charlotte snapped.

  Everyone turned to stare at her, wide-eyed. Peter cleared his throat as he turned to face her. “I know a great deal. I have seen what these children grow up to become.”

  “Every single orphan? You’ve seen every single one? My, my, how do you find the time between your golf games and cocktail hours? Excuse me,” she muttered and backed away before she lost it.

  What is wrong with me? She usually got annoyed with the way some of these people spoke about the children but had never spoken so loudly out of turn. She needed to get a grip on herself before she mouthed off to the wrong person. Or her mother overheard her. She found an empty table at the edge of the garden and sat down, hoping everyone would just leave her alone for a while. But sadly, someone had seen her head that way.

  “Charlotte, I’m glad you made it today,” Quin said, smiling a bit nervously as he sat down. “Are you having a good time?”

  “Quin—hi. I’m sorry about last night,” she said. “I just… I’m not really sure what came over me.”

  “Your friends wanted to take you out,” he said, trying
to shrug it off, though obviously hurt. “Helen and Prudence have always been a bit crazy.”

  “Tell me about it,” she muttered as she remembered the lap dance that started the evening and how it had ended. Every time she closed her eyes, she saw only one man, and it certainly wasn’t Quin.

  He took her hand and laughed. “Are you all right? Don’t tell me the champagne is getting to you already. Your face is bright red.”

  Charlotte laughed to cover the images that had been flashing through her mind. “Oh, no, I’ve barely had one glass. Think I might need another few to get through this party, though.”

  “Are your friends coming?”

  “I thought they were, but for all I know, they’re still sleeping off last night.”

  He frowned and shook his head. “Those two worry me.”

  The way he said it made Charlotte sit straighter as she sipped her champagne. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

  “Nothing, just the way they act. One day their behavior might land them in a world of trouble. They can’t keep ruining their families’ names like that. Eventually, it will catch up with them, and then where will they be? Out on the street.”

  “No, they would not, because I wouldn’t let them,” she snapped, jumping to her feet.

  “Charlotte, lower your voice,” he said, glancing around as several people stared.

  She apologized and sat back down. “They will never go that far, and it is horrible for you to think they would. Not everyone can be as prim and proper as you.”

  “I didn’t mean that. I just wish they would grow up.”

  “So what I did last night was childish?” Charlotte wasn’t sure why she was so upset. A few days ago, she never would have considered going out and partying. Ever. It was horrible that she’d let a naked man sit on her lap. Then she’d had a one-night stand with a stranger! Her head started to spin as she told Quin she needed some more to drink. He offered to get it for her, but she’d already stormed off.

  Charlotte felt everyone watching her, but she didn’t care what she looked like. Things were changing, and she wasn’t sure why or how. She wasn’t even sure it was for the best. Last night had done something to her. She was about to go find her mother and tell her she was going home when Helen and Prudence emerged from the house.

  “There she is,” Helen said as she gave her friend a hug. “You don’t look hung over in the slightest.”

  “Will you keep your voice down?” Charlotte hissed, even as a small smile lifted her lips.

  “Why? You didn’t like your time last night? You know…out?”

  Charlotte turned her glare on Prudence, not that she could keep it for long. “Remind me to give you the details later when no one’s around. But really, I think something happened to me last night.”

  “Yeah, you had fun for once.” Prudence laughed as she took one arm and Helen the other. “So, do we know what this ghastly party is about?”

  “Haven’t the slightest idea,” Charlotte said as they meandered and grabbed more champagne. “I saw Quin, though. Looks a bit devastated still from last night. You’d think I pulled his heart out and stomped on it repeatedly.”

  “Maybe you did. You know what his parents have been grooming him for, just like you’ve turned a blind eye to what you really know,” Helen mused. “You can’t tell me you really don’t pay attention that much.”

  Charlotte hadn’t thought about that issue in a long time and had hoped it had been swept under the rug when her father died ten years ago. No one had said anything to her about it since. But as she stared around at all the people, a horrible, sinking feeling overwhelmed her as she gulped her champagne.

  “No, they wouldn’t,” she hissed. “My mother wouldn’t!”’

  “Why wouldn’t she? How mad was she about last night?” Prudence asked.

  “She was pissed this morning when I got home…” Charlotte stopped and smiled as Helen and Prudence started to laugh. “Yes, I stayed all night.”

  “’About time you had some fun,” Helen muttered.

  “Yes, fun. Wonderful, enjoyable fun that will never happen again because my mother will kill me.”

  Prudence shrugged. “Could always be worse.”

  Charlotte wanted to ask how, but Meredith was calling everyone’s attention to the center of the garden for some grand announcement. The three women hurried over with the rest of the group, whispering and pointing at the hideous outfits some of the older crowd was wearing. By the time they made it, they were trying hard to silence their laughter as Meredith shot them a dirty look and started to speak.

  “I am so glad all of you were able to attend our garden party today,” she said, turning a circle as her arms opened wide. “We are here today for a very special announcement from my son. Quin, if you would come up here?”

  Quin hurried over to his mother, holding something small in his hands. Charlotte squinted, but he kept turning in the wrong direction. He spoke with his mother for a long moment, whispering back and forth until the smile disappeared from her face and she gave him a little shove forward.

  “Welcome, everyone,” he said after clearing his throat. “As many of you know, I have come a long way in the past five years, moving up in my father’s company. Soon, the day is going to come when he will retire… Or try to.” Quin laughed and a few others joined in. “However, there is one aspect of my life I have yet to fulfill, and that is finding a wife.”

  Charlotte, along with everyone else, grew still. Her heart thundered in her chest as she glanced around, wondering what he was up to.

  “I am happy to say that, as of this moment, I have found this woman and would like you all to share in my moment of joy as I ask her the most important question of my life.”

  Charlotte glanced around, looking for the mysterious woman. He headed in their direction as everyone else moved out of the way. Her face went blank as Helen and Prudence slowly stepped to the side, whispering to each other as Quin stopped right in front of Charlotte.

  “Hi,” he said.

  “Uh… Hi,” Charlotte replied tightly as her brain worked to catch up.

  “So, about earlier… I’m sorry for what I said.”

  “No, no it’s fine, really.” She glanced around, looking for a way out, but there wasn’t an escape. Everyone had closed in fairly tightly. Suddenly, she had trouble breathing, but no one seemed to notice. Her eyes danced from face to face, then she froze. “Leprechaun?”

  “What?” Quin asked, confused.

  “Nothing. I just… I’m sorry, what did you want to ask?”

  Charlotte couldn’t stop staring at him. He was here. Her one-night stand was here, watching from just twenty feet away from her. He looked like he wanted to laugh but was keeping it in as he watched. His eyes shone with mirth, and all Charlotte wanted to do was run over to him and either smack him or kiss him.

  “Anyway, I would like to know,” Quin was saying, and Charlotte realized she just missed a huge chunk of his words, “if you would do me the honor of being my wife?”

  Charlotte’s eyes widened as everyone around her held their breath, waiting for her answer. She swallowed hard, glanced once more at the man she’d just had sex with less than twelve hours before, and said: “No.”

  Chapter 7

  “No?” Quin asked as he laughed, a bit unsure. “Charlotte, you just said no.”

  Braydon tried not to laugh out loud as he heard the answer and watched his stepbrother fumble.

  “What… What I meant was that I’m not sure right at this moment.” Charlotte tried to cover. “I just… This came out of nowhere, and I don’t think I can give you a definite answer right at this second with everyone watching.”

  As she struggled to find words, Braydon sipped his brandy and found his mother in the crowd. She looked pissed, her face pinched as she glared at Charlotte. This was not how her perfect day for her perfect son was supposed to go. Braydon loved it when her plans didn’t turn
out and watched the rest of the drama unfold.

  “Okay… Okay, well… Why don’t I give you some time to think about it? Is a week okay?” Quin asked, trying to keep it light.

  “Yes, that would be most helpful, thank you.” Charlotte glanced around, her face bright red from embarrassment, and gingerly pushed through the crowd and disappeared inside the house.

  Immediately, the muttering began. Braydon hurried to his brother before their mom reached him. “Well, dear brother, I’m assuming that did not go according to plan?”

  “No, not exactly. I thought… I thought she would say yes.”

  Braydon had to admit he’d been shocked to see the woman from last night standing in front of his brother. The fact that she hadn’t said yes made him feel good—maybe even great. When they’d locked eyes, he’d fought the urge to go to her and break up the conversation but had forced himself to stay put.

  “Because you’re such good friends?”

  “Well, yes. It made sense. That, and her father.”

  Braydon stilled. “What about her father? I thought you said our mother had the idea for the arranged marriage. Her parents were in on it, too?”

  “A long time ago, it was set up as a possibility that we would wind up together. Benefits for both families,” Quin said as he tucked the small, velvet box back in his suit jacket pocket. “I know she knows that. I guess I just don’t understand.”

  Braydon patted his brother on the shoulder, confused about what was going on inside his head. Charlotte—his Charlotte from last night—was betrothed to Quin? How the hell had that even happened?

  “I guess I should go and speak with Mother.”

  “That might be a good idea before she strangles Charlotte for embarrassing her.” Braydon watched Quin wonder off, then hurried in the opposite direction towards the house. Charlotte was probably hiding somewhere. He wanted to find her.

  It was her eyes—that’s what it was. The way they’d zeroed in on him when Quin was trying to plead his case. The way he saw her lips twitch in a smile. He saw her start to move toward him before she mentally stopped herself and focused on Quin. Braydon had seen it all, and instead of feeling elated that someone had indirectly put his mother in her place, he was thrilled that Charlotte clearly wanted him. He wound through the house, asking the servants if they’d seen a woman. They pointed him in the same direction—the library.