Crown Jewel by Fern Michaels Read Free Book Online Page A

into plastic surgery, he’d been surprised and disappointed until she’d explained that it was reconstructive plastic surgery. Then he’d beamed and hugged her. “Good choice,” was all he’d said.
    Reba looked around the lavishly decorated room. It was all done in peachy pink. Even the carpet was peach-colored. The draperies, to break up the color, had silver-and-gold thread running through them. The furniture was antique white trimmed in gold. The walk-in closet was bigger than her whole apartment in New York. The bathroom, designed to look like a grotto, was something she’d only seen in magazines. It wasn’t for her. She had better uses for money.
    She looked around to make sure she hadn’t forgotten anything because she knew she wouldn’t be coming back. Satisfied, she picked up her suitcase. “I will miss you, Philip,” she whispered. She swiped at the tears in the corners of her eyes, feeling acutely the loss of one man who had come close to being the father she’d always dreamed of.
    It was time to move on. Time to figure out a way to get back at Ricky Lam for destroying her dream.

    Ricky had sent a car to the airport to pick up his sons and bring them back to his house. The main reason was that he wanted privacy, not some jammed airport, when he finally made contact with the two young men who carried his name. He hadn’t earned the right to call himself their father. Not yet. Maybe never. He leaned back in his comfortable chair and closed his eyes.
    â€œJesus, Philly, I wish you were here. I know I’m going to flub this one. The last time I was this nervous was when you gave me that ultimatum way back when. All of a sudden I’m full of what-ifs.” He was mumbling to himself and that wasn’t good. Get a grip, he cautioned himself.
    The doorbell chimed. Ricky woke up with a start. Had he dozed off and dreamed he was talking to Philly? It had happened before. He felt groggy. He hated the dreams where he talked to his brother. Really hated them. A cold chill ricocheted up and down his arms.
    The doorbell rang a second time. Obviously, Ellie wasn’t going to answer it. He walked to the door and opened it wide. He stared at himself…twice. He took the initiative. “I’m your dad, but I don’t think I deserve that title, so you can call me Ricky. Which one is which? Come in.”
    They were as tall as he was, six-two. They both looked like they tipped the scales at his same weight, which was probably 180.
    â€œI’m Tyler,” the one on the left said.
    â€œI’m Max,” the one on the right said. “We met in the limo. Imagine our surprise when we realized we’re half brothers.”
    The one named Tyler walked around, his face full of awe. He turned. “That was a pretty shitty thing you did, Pop . What’s with this command performance? Are we supposed to bow, genuflect, what?”
    â€œHow about sitting down? If there’s one thing in this life that I hate, it’s a wiseass and a smart mouth. You’re wrong, you know. It wasn’t a shitty thing I did, it was unconscionable. I was only twenty when I fathered you both.”
    â€œIs that supposed to impress us?” Max asked. “You want to be a father now, is that it? Where the hell were you when we were in the hospital with broken bones or when we were sick? We compared notes in the car on the ride here.”
    â€œProbably shacked up with some bimbo or drying out along the way. I don’t have total recall, but if you can be specific about those times, I might be able to give you a passable answer. As to being your father, no, I gave up that right twenty years ago. Did your mothers tell you about me?”
    Tyler bit down on his lower lip. “She said my father was a no-good bum, and she hated his guts. You want absolution now? Forget it! She never told me your name because she said she wanted to forget she even knew