Page 1 of Daddy's Desire

Chapter One

Courtney stood beside her mother as she talked with an older couple she had known for years. It was like any other day in her life—standing next to her motherat one of the functions she hated, being seen and not heard.

It was something her mother cautioned her about so many times over the years after her father had passed away from a heart attack when she was thirteen. She was to stand as a beautiful mannequin but nothing else.

His death had been a huge blow to the family, and her life had changed from a fun-loving little girl into a figure her mother had turned her into. Her mother’s obsession was making her the perfect little daughter, one that wouldn’t embarrass her and help the older woman climb the ladder in social groups.

Courtney’s father hadn’t wasted time on what he called nonsense. He didn’t care if he was friends with the Fitzgeralds, Hammonds, orRoosevelts in their community. Her mother had been almost giddy when her husband died, and she could finally be involved with them.

The fact that her mother hadn’t so much as grieved when her husband died made Courtney angry.

Courtney looked around the huge room, where at least a hundred people stood, sat, or danced. The people she knew in the room were snooty and cold, and Courtney could think of twenty other things she’d rather be doing than attending this fundraiser.

She glanced down at herself and sighed. Her mother had dressed her in a shimmery blue gown. Courtney thought it was too tight in the chest, but her mother waved her comment away.

Courtney knew she had large breasts, and the gown didn’t seem to fit with her very slim body, and she hated drawing attention to them.

A waiter walked by with a tray of appetizers, and she wanted to grab a few because she was so hungry. She could feel the hollowness in her stomach and should be used to it since her mother hadn’t let her have a full meal, absolutely no sweets or junk food since her father had died. She had to have the perfect figure.

Her mother wanted her to look perfect, and Courtney hated it. She wanted to be able to go outside in the sun, but her mother didn’t want her to lose the alabaster skin, which Courtney would call deathly pale. The fact she used to freckle made her mother even more uptight about the sun.

When her mother mentioned plastic surgery to make her cheekbones more prominent and a dimple put into her chin, Courtney lost it. It was one of only a few times she’d rebelled against her mother, and although it made her mother furious, Courtney stood firm.

Her mother patted her arm to get her attention.

“Dear, you know the Suttons, but I don’t think you’ve met their son, Neil.”

Courtney shook his hand. “It’s nice to meet you.”

Neil stared at her. “Hell, Father, you told me she was pretty, but she’s gorgeous.”

Courtney saw the pleased look on her mother’s face and the hopeful one on the older couple. She just didn’t understand why they seemed so happy.

“Would you like to dance?” Neil asked, pulling her toward the dance floor without waiting for an answer.

Courtney looked back at her mother to see the huge, excited look and how all three talked enthusiastically as they stared at them.

The emotions were not only confusing her, she was also starting to feel sick about the situation. Neil pulled her tightly against his chest, making her extremely uncomfortable.

“Sir, please. You’re holding me too tight,” Courtney said.

Instead of giving her space, he tightened his grip and grinned.

“It’s fine, dear. You really are beautiful, and you dance very well. My parents told me so much about you and so far, you’re surpassing my expectations.”

Courtney stopped struggling to get free from his tight hold. “What are you talking about?”

Neil chuckled. “You haven’t heard about our engagement?”

Courtney felt her stomach twist into a knot. “Whose engagement?”

Neil laughed out loud. “Ours. I had to agree to it once I met you.”

She shook her head. “No.”

Neil nodded. “Yes. Our parents are making the final decisions about our future.”

No! God. She couldn’t imagine what her mother was thinking. The thought of marrying this stranger made her physically sick. Not that he wasn’t handsome in a preppy kind of way. His body was slim and only a few inches taller than hers. His skin was as pale as her own, and his hands were soft andclammy. She felt no attraction to him at all.

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