by HELEN HARDT
I ought to get a medal for this. But strangely, as beautiful and enticing as she was, I still had no desire to take advantage of her. Odd.
I left the room, leaving the door open just a crack. Then I walked to the door of the apartment to leave.
“Crap,” I said out loud as I looked at the door. I didn’t have a key, and if I left, I’d have to leave the deadbolt unlocked. I knew enough about New York to know that was never a good idea. I could take Lacey’s key, but what if she didn’t have another?
No way was I leaving her unprotected.
I sighed, eyeing her living room. Her brocade couch looked mildly comfortable. Good thing, because that was clearly where I’d be spending the night. A crocheted afghan was folded on a nearby recliner. Hmm. That might be a better place to sleep. I removed my shoes, jeans, and shirt and settled in, pulling the afghan over me.
Sunlight streamed in through a window, waking me. For a moment I was disoriented. Where was I? Then I realized, as I cracked my neck. Lacey’s living room. Her recliner. I stretched my arms over my head and yawned. I felt good. I’d slept strangely well for being on a recliner all night. I checked my wrist. Six a.m. Lacey would probably be up soon.
I stood and pulled my jeans on and then made my way into her small kitchen. A coffeemaker sat on the countertop. I ground some beans and started a pot, and then I looked around for something to make her for breakfast. She’d no doubt be achy and tired and still a little nauseated. Maybe just a piece of toast and some scrambled eggs. I got what I needed out of the refrigerator and began, when Lacey walked in, wearing nothing but her lacy red panties.
Her tits looked luscious, and her hair was a mass of unruly waves. She didn’t seem to notice me at first as she ambled toward the coffeemaker and grabbed the carafe, nearly dropping it.
“Easy.” I eased it out of her hands.
She jumped, nearly losing her footing. I steadied her.
“Why are you here?” She rubbed her temples. “Oh, God. We didn’t…”
“No. We didn’t. No offense, honey, but you weren’t in any shape to do much of anything.”
She looked down and clasped her arms over her chest. Too bad to cover up such great tits.
“Nice try, but I’ve seen them before.”
“Just…leave, please, Rock.”
“After I just made you a breakfast of champions? That’s no way to treat me.”
“I never asked you to—”
“Hey. There was no way for me to leave and to lock your deadbolt, so I stayed.”
“Where did you…” She rubbed her temples again. “God. My head.”
“In the recliner.”
She eyed me. “You look so…”
She was staring at me like I was a side of prime beef. I couldn’t help flexing my pecs just a little.
Then she turned around and ran back into her room.
Maybe I didn’t look so great after all.
I set two plates on her small table and poured myself a cup of black coffee. The only way to drink it. After I cleaned my plate and she hadn’t returned, I stood and walked into her room to check on her.
The bathroom door was shut. I knocked softly. “Baby? You all right?”
“Fine. Just go, please.”
“You need some breakfast.”
“Not hungry.”
“It will make you feel better.
“Ugh. No, it won’t.”
“How about some strong coffee?”
“No. Please. Just go.”
I didn’t want to leave her alone, but what choice did I have? It was daylight now, so I didn’t feel quite as bad about leaving her without deadbolting her door. She had a regular lock as well.
I went back out to the living room to gather my clothes, when my phone buzzed against my thigh.
26
Lacey
I wasn’t nauseated. Just embarrassed with a hammering headache.
He looked like a god standing in my kitchen, spatula in hand, with nothing on but wrinkled jeans.
He’d been a perfect gentleman last night, which went against what I assumed to be his nature.
Maybe I was wrong about him.
Probably not, but I could hope.
I couldn’t believe he’d seen me at my worst. There’d be no more passionate romps with Rock Wolfe. He’d never come near me again. Probably just as well. He was a complication I didn’t need in my life. I was beginning to develop feelings for him, and he was not the type of man to fall in love with any woman. Plus, he had his work cut out for him at his father’s—his—company.
I swallowed several ibuprofen tablets and turned on the shower. While I was waiting for it to heat up, I went back to the kitchen and poured myself a cup of the coffee Rock had made. My breakfast sat on the table across from his clean plate. I smiled. Just like a man. Couldn’t be bothered to take his plate into the kitchen. I picked up both plates and inhaled. It actually smelled good. I took a bite of the eggs.
Cold, but nice. Rock didn’t strike me as much of a cook, but then again, he’d lived alone in Montana for years. A man had to eat.
I took a few more bites and downed the coffee. Time for the shower. I had a freaking nine o’clock appointment.
I drank two more cups of coffee once I got to the office, only to have my nine o’clock cancel on me. A wave of relief swept through me. I told Charlie to hold all my calls and decided to take the day to catch up on emails and other stuff. No billing today. I didn’t have it in me.
I’d answered my fourth email when Charlie peeked her head in. “Sorry, Lacey, but there’s a Detective Morgan here to see you.”
I groaned. “What for?”
“Something regarding the Derek Wolfe investigation.”
There went my headache again. Derek Wolfe was determined to haunt me from beyond the grave. “Very well. Send him in.”
Charlie led in a balding blond man.
“Ms. Ward, I’m Detective Hank Morgan.” He held out his hand. “Thank you for seeing me.”
“Not at all. Have a seat. What can I do for you?”
“I’m investigating the murder of Derek Wolfe. I understand you were his attorney?”
“One of them. I’m a trusts and estates attorney. I wrote and am in the process of probating his will.”
“Did you think it was odd that he mandated that his oldest son move to New York to run his company?”
“I didn’t think it was the best decision. I tried to talk him out of it.”
Detective Morgan laughed.
“What’s funny about that?”
“Just the idea of you trying to talk Derek Wolfe out of anything.”
“Did you know Mr. Wolfe?” I asked.
“No, ma’am. I’ve just heard a lot about him. I imagine talking him out of it didn’t work.”
“I assume you’re aware of the contents of the will, so you already know the answer to that question.”
“I meant no disrespect,” he said. “You’re just…”
“A woman? A young woman?”
“Well…yeah.”
“Mr. Wolfe trusted me with the writing and execution of his will. I was a woman when that happened.”
His cheeks reddened. Typical male chauvinist cop. Probably been on the force for thirty years or more.
“I meant no disrespect,” he said again.
“Why are you here, Detective?” I rubbed my temples. The sooner he left, the sooner I could see if I could get an appointment this afternoon with my massage therapist.
“We’re questioning anyone who might have had a motive to kill Mr. Wolfe.”
Say what? “Surely you don’t think I had any motive. What would I have to gain?”
“That’s what I’m here to find out.”
Really not the day for this. My brain was throbbing. “In that case…” I picked up my phone. “Charlie? Could you see if Dane Richards is available? I’ll need him to come in here. Thanks.” I put down the receiver.
“Who is Dane Richa
rds?”
“I’m surprised you don’t know. He’s one of my partners. He’s also the best criminal defense attorney in the state.”
“Ms. Ward, I think you’ve got the wrong idea. This isn’t a formal interrogation. There’s no need for you to have an attorney present.”
“I see that a little differently than you do. If Mr. Richards isn’t available, we’ll be tabling this discussion for now.”
My phone buzzed, and I picked it up. “Yeah, Charlie?”
“Dane’s in a deposition, Lace.”
“Okay. Thanks.” I hung up and turned back to Morgan. “Mr. Richards isn’t available, so I won’t be answering any questions today.” At least not until the jackhammer inside my head calmed down.
“Ms. Ward, as I told you, there’s no need—”
“That determination is mine to make, Detective, not yours. I’ll be happy to assist you in any way possible…when my attorney is present. Now, if you don’t mind, I have work to do.”
He made no move to stand.
Seconds passed.
“I can have you removed.”
“By calling the police? I am the police, Ms. Ward. And by not cooperating—”
“I have told you I’m perfectly willing to cooperate, Detective Morgan. Just not right now. If this is not a formal interrogation.”
“But—”
“Am I under arrest?”
“No, but—”
I stood, walked to my door, and opened it. “Then good day, Detective.”
That finally got him. He stood and walked toward me. “This isn’t over.”
“It is for now.”
As soon as he was out the door, I shut it, and then slid down the wood panel until I was sitting, my back against the door. My head continued to pound. I pulled my hair out of its ponytail and massaged my scalp, to no avail.
Never again was I drinking bourbon.
I understood why the police wanted to talk to me. I would be considered a “person of interest” in the case, since I’d had contact with the victim in the days right before his murder. I’d written his will. I had no problem being questioned. But in my current state, I wasn’t about to answer anything without an attorney present. In fact, I’d be talking to Dane as soon as he was available to make sure he could attend any further meetings I had with Detective Morgan.
I made my way back to my desk and buzzed Charlie. I didn’t usually ask her to do personal stuff for me, but today I needed it. “I need a spa day,” I said. “Book me for the afternoon anywhere that’s available.”
27
Rock
After getting Reid’s call while I was still at Lacey’s, I ran back to my hotel for a shower and barely made it to an impromptu meeting with marketing.
After that, I had an appointment with Dieter in my office. One suit was ready—money definitely talked—so that would be my uniform until the rest of my clothes were complete.
Oddly, there was a full-length mirror in my father’s—my—office. Derek Wolfe must have spent a lot of time looking at his own reflection. Narcissus himself. The man was so busy being in love with himself that he couldn’t see that the rest of the world hated him. I didn’t envy Detective Morgan. Figuring out who might have offed my father wouldn’t be like looking for a needle in a haystack. More like a needle in a landfill.
I stared at myself in my new and custom-tailored gray pinstripe.
It was no leather vest and chaps, but I didn’t look half bad.
I walked toward my desk when my door opened abruptly.
I rolled my eyes when I saw who it was. “Hello, Mother.”
“We need to talk, Rock.”
“How did you get past Carla and Jarrod?”
“I ignored them, as I always have.”
“From now on, you won’t ignore them. This is my office.”
“Only because your father insisted you be in charge. I have no idea why.”
“Neither does anyone else, but you’ll give me the same respect he commanded. You’ll go through Carla or Jarrod the next time, or I’ll have you banned from the building.”
My mother smiled, and saccharine oozed from her lips. “I’m your mother. You won’t ban me.”
“My mother? In a biological sense only, Connie. You stopped being my mother the day I found out you were letting Derek Wolfe molest your only daughter. Your baby daughter.”
“I never knew anything about that. Rock, whatever you think you saw—”
“What I know I saw,” I said icily. What I also overheard. Apparently she wasn’t aware of the latter.
“Whatever you think you saw,” she repeated. “But the man was a bastard. You’ll get no argument from me.”
“Don’t come in here all high and mighty and act like you don’t know what went on. Why I got sent away. You not only sold out your only daughter, you sold out your oldest son.”
Saccharine smile again. “Please, Rock. I didn’t come here to argue with you.”
Of course she hadn’t. I already knew why she was here. Money. Her gravy train had ended with my father’s death. “Spit it out, Connie. How much will it cost to get you out of my hair?”
“Really, do you think—”
“How fucking much?” I said through gritted teeth.
She sighed. “Half a million a month. I deserve no less for putting up with that man as long as I did.”
I rolled my eyes. Well worth it not to have to deal with the one and only Mrs. Wolfe. “I’ll have to run it by Reid and Roy.”
“You’re in charge here. Not them.”
“Really? They like you a lot more than I do, Connie. I’d think you’d want their input.”
The wheels were cranking in her head. I could almost see the cogs interlocking and then disengaging.
“Actually, Rock, I’d rather Reid and Roy didn’t know about this arrangement.”
I cocked my head. Interesting. “All right. Then why should I consent to give you anything? This business belongs equally to them and to Riley.”
“I’m not asking for you to pay me out of business assets.”
I lifted my eyebrows. “So this is to be between you and me. It’s not Derek’s money you want at all, is it? It’s mine.”
She smiled. Again with the saccharine. “Why should I care where the money comes from? Green is green. It all spends the same.”
“Then why wouldn’t you want your other children to know? You’re confusing me, Connie, and I’m loath to give out money when I don’t have all the facts.”
“I really didn’t want to resort to this, Rock.”
“Resort to what?”
One more saccharine smile. “Let’s just forget about it. Give me what I came for, and you won’t hear a peep from me again.”
“Not so fast. First you’re going to tell me why you don’t want my siblings to know you’re asking for money. Surely they wouldn’t find any of this surprising.”
Connie Wolfe was up to something. Something that was no good.
“Rock…please.”
“You come to me. The child who probably hates you the most, except possibly for your only daughter, whose father you let molest her.”
“Leave your sister out of this.”
“I’m sure Riley despises you as much as I do. Reid and Roy are your only hope, but you don’t want them to know you’re here asking me for money. What are you up to?”
I’d been away too long. Or maybe it wouldn’t have mattered. I’d never be as hateful and devious as my mother. Reid and Roy knew something. Something they were going to tell me.
“Get out!” I spat.
“Rock, I—”
“You won’t get a penny from me, Mother. At least not until I know what you’re hiding.”
“I’m not hiding anything.”
“Sell it to the Air Force. Do you really think I’m going to hand over money without consulting my brothers? I don’t know shit about this business. I don’t even know where all the assets are. I have zero in my bank a
ccounts right now. Anything you get would have to come from the business funds.”
“Rock—”
The phone on my desk buzzed. “We’re done here, Mother.” I punched the button. “Yeah?”
“Mr. Wolfe,” Carla said, “Sergio is here.”
“I don’t know any Sergio.”
“Your stylist. He’s here to do your hair and eyebrows.”
My eyebrows? No one was touching my eyebrows. “Tell him I’m busy.”
“Mr. Wolfe made the appointment.
“Which one?”
“The other one. Reid.”
“For Christ’s sake,” I muttered. “Send him on in.”
Someone tapped on my door. “Yeah. Enter.”
A more masculine man than I expected entered. He was tall and broad with blondish hair in a ponytail. Looked mildly normal. Except for the nose ring.
Another man, this one a little more flamboyant, and a skinny woman with pink hair followed him, carrying large bags.
“Mr. Wolfe,” the large man said. “Pleased to meet you. I’m Sergio of Manhattan Hair Design. It’s my pleasure to be of service to you.”
“Yeah, yeah. Whatever.” I turned back to my mother. “If you’ll excuse me. Apparently I have a haircut.”
“A cut and style. Plus a shave. Full grooming,” Sergio said. “Mr. Wolfe’s orders.”
“Mr. Wolfe doesn’t have a say in what I do, but that’s fine. I could use a trim.” My hair fell a little below my shoulders. Probably not the best look for the CEO of Wolfe Enterprises, according to my esteemed brother.
Not that I gave a shit, but at least it would get rid of my mother.
Connie Wolfe rose, turned abruptly, and then looked over her shoulder at me. “This isn’t over, Rock.”
“It is for now.”
She harrumphed and left my office.
My office.
Still couldn’t quite wrap my head around that one.
