Must Love Sidney

MUST LOVE SIDNEY

By

Mary Eason

© copyright by Mary Eason, January 2011
Cover Art by Alex DeShanks, January 2011
ISBN 978-1-60394-476-2
New Concepts Publishing
Lake Park, GA 31636
www.newconceptspublishing.com

This is a work of fiction. All characters, events, and places are of the author's imagination and not to be confused with fact. Any resemblance to living persons or events is merely coincidence.

Chapter One

Since I was thirteen years old, I've wanted only one thing from life. To become an attorney. I didn't have any interest in fairy tales or love stories. I only wanted the dream, and I was determined to make it happen no matter the cost.

Of course, Genna and Serena, my two best friends since grade school still held out hope for me. They believed, with every new boyfriend, I would find someone who was going to knock me off my feet and change all my plans. When Ben Riley came into my life, they were certain of it. I didn't have the heart to tell them it was impossible. Not even with Ben.

My future was the law.

Unfortunately, Ben had a slightly different opinion of where our relationship might be heading, in spite of my attempts at getting him see the friendship was all there could ever be between us.

Of course, Ben's outlook on life was a wee bit desperate due to the fact his Uncle Jackson was forcing him to learn the finer points of his company's business by sending Ben off to the further most reaches of the world. Paris of all places. Since his uncle announced this piece of news, Ben had been working overtime trying to find a way out of going. Jackson was the epitome of 'evil uncle' in Ben's eyes.

"Guess what, my uncle wants to meet you tonight." Ben announced when I opened my door to find him standing there.

I couldn't tell him, I had no desire to meet his uncle. I really didn't want to give Ben any more ammunition for his cause.

I kept that piece of information to myself. "Ben, I'm sorry but I can't. I have to study, remember. I have finals." Never mind it was Friday night and I hadn't been studying when Ben knocked on my door. I'd been immersed in one of those juicy little romance novels I would have denied right up to the death of ever possessing much less actually enjoying.

"Maggie this is important. You know I need your support. Can't you take a break just this once for me? I really want him to meet you. I'm certain once he does he'll understand why I can't go to Paris. Please-it's important."

When Ben looked at me with those sad eyes, I could almost forget that little uneasy feeling in the pit of my stomach that was always there in the face of Ben's determination to make more of our relationship than friendship.

I pressed the heel of my hand against my forehead, knowing I would give in. "Okay, but only for a little while." Too late, I remembered I was dressed in faded jeans and a plain white tee shirt. I probably wasn't going to help Ben's cause out all that much. "I should probably change first, though."

Ben smiled down at me, took my hand, and whisked me out the door. "No time, we're late."

When he stopped the car in front of Standards-one of the most exclusive restaurants in town I turned to him in shock. Standards clientele consisted of all the ultra rich people in Austin.

"I can't go in there. Not dressed like this." I vehemently shook my head. Ben simply grinned again and my stomach did another uneasy flip.

"Are you kidding? You look wonderful. Besides, you're with me. And I'm with my uncle. So relax." At this point, my panic turned into all out alarm. "Come on Maggie, stop worrying. You'll be fine." He gave the hostess our name.

"Right this way. Mr. Riley and his guest are seated already." The uneasiness in the pit of my stomach kicked up another notch.

"Why didn't you mention we were meeting your uncle's friend and which one is your uncle anyway?"

"I didn't tell you because I thought you might refuse. He's the one over there with that stunning brunette."

Over there, seated next to a stunning brunette, was not the uncle I'd pictured so many times in the past. At least, not from everything Ben had told me about Jackson Riley.

This man wasn't old like I'd imagined. I was expecting someone seventy, possibly eighty. Jackson Riley looked anything but. In fact, he couldn't have been more than thirty-five.

"He's not old and decrepit?" I blurted out before I could stop myself. The moment Jackson looked my way I knew he'd heard everything.

The most amazing blue eyes slid over me, assessing me from my clothing to my words. I stopped dead in my tracks from sheer reaction to those eyes. Ben turned back to me smiling with a somewhat uncertain expression on his face.

"I didn't say he was old. Come on, he's waiting on us. It won't be so bad, I promise," Ben whispered for my ears only.

Jackson stood just as I came to a halt next to his table. From the amusement in his eyes, I knew he'd enjoyed my little show. It was going to be a very long evening for me.

"Uncle, this is Maggie Monroe, the girl I've told you so much about. Maggie this is my uncle, Jackson Riley."

Jackson took my hand and held it for a moment. From the second I looked into his eyes I knew, my life was never going to be the same again. Just like that, just as I knew the sky was blue and Texas was hot.

This man represented nothing but trouble for me, for my future, for everything I held dear. If I were smart, I would walk right out of the restaurant without ever meeting his date.

"Sorry to disappoint you, Miss Monroe, but although I may be old by some standards, I can assure you I'm not decrepit-or deaf for that matter."

Not only was Jackson not decrepit or anything like what I'd pictured him to be, he looked nothing like his nephew. Ben was blond like me, and somewhat classically handsome. Jackson was just the opposite.