“Not Miss Armsworth.”
“What? She played you like a saxophone.”
Beck swallowed and looked out the window.
“No. You fell for her. Hard.”
Beck could only nod.
“I’m sorry.”
“Me, too.” He thought of the way Alyssa had looked as he’d sneaked around the back entrance of the bed and breakfast and seen her with her head down in the magazine, tears wetting the pages. She’d sent him multiple texts apologizing, professing her innocence, claiming that a friend of hers and the magazine were to blame and that she could explain about the pictures of him and his sister. Could any of it be true? His stomach clenched. No. He’d been fooled by beautiful women before. But he’d never fallen in love with any of them.
Alyssa thought she’d cried all her tears when Granny banged on the door to her room, hugged her, and demanded she tell her what happened, but the water works just seemed to keep coming. She finally worked up the courage to ask, “Are you dying?”
Granny inhaled sharply. “Beck let that one slip, eh?”
“Oh, Granny.” Alyssa crumpled into her arms and sobbed. She mopped at her face with a cloth napkin Granny handed her. “The cancer again?”
“Yes, love.” Granny squeezed her. “It’s all through me this time.”
“Can’t you do radiation and chemo? Please?” Her voice squeaked but she didn’t care.
“No. I’m done. It’s my time to go. I’m just worried about you.”
Alyssa hung her head and studied the pattern in the bedspread. She wanted to reassure Granny she’d be fine, but she was going to be so alone. Maryn had betrayed her. Beck thought she’d betrayed him. Her dad had obviously had some part in this mess and she’d never have a relationship with him or her mom. All she had were her friends from girls’ camp years ago, but most of them lived across the country and she wasn’t as close to them emotionally as she wished she could be. Granny couldn’t leave her. She couldn’t.
“That’s it! I’m done with this bull schmack.” Granny slammed her palm on the side table. “We are going after him and he is going to believe you didn’t do this. You need Beck. He promised me he’d take care of you.”
“Oh, Granny.” Alyssa shook her head. “He’ll never forgive me. I told you I took pictures of him years ago. He’s going to think that article is right and I have been stalking him for years and just waiting for this opportunity to snare him. I still don’t understand why he mentioned my dad. Is he somehow involved?” She had the magazine open on her bed. If nothing else, she had these pictures of the two of them. She traced a finger across Beck’s face.
Granny grabbed her hand and tilted Alyssa’s chin up. “Beck is too good of a man to not give you a chance to explain. If your dad’s involved, I’ll kick his butt myself.”
“I’ve tried to explain to Beck. I’ve sent texts, left voice messages. He’s,” she gulped, wiped at her face, and continued, “he’s not responding.”
“You have to do it face to face.” She stood. “Pack your crap. We’re flying out of here tonight.” Granny hurried from the room, slamming the door behind her.
Alyssa stood and retrieved her suitcases from the closet, sighing. There was no use fighting Granny, but she didn’t see how Beck would ever forgive her. Him being angry at her was awful enough, but the ache his absence created threatened to ruin her.
Beck’s oldest sister, Anna, stormed into his office and slapped several photographs onto his desk. Beck stared at the pictures of him and his sister leaving his parents’ funeral. He knew the paparazzi had exploited his situation after their deaths, but he’d tried to ignore the pictures. Especially this series that All About Truth magazine had used to claim the family was being ripped apart because the will named him as the executor of the estate. He studied the first one for a minute and knew by the way the grief had been captured on both of their faces, this was an expert photographer. He didn’t even have to ask who. It all tied in perfectly with what the recent magazine article about he and Alyssa had claimed.
“Looks like Miss Armsworth has been stalking you for some time.”
Beck shook his head. “Are you serious?” His voice cracked and he hated himself for it. Alyssa wasn’t the person he’d fallen in love with. It was almost like burying a loved one. His stomach had hurt less when he’d taken a jab on the ice. He glanced out the wall of windows at the view of Grand Park. Usually the glimpse of green and the wading pool was soothing, but not today.
These pictures were just more proof that Alyssa and her dad were as shady and corrupt as his family believed. He’d reported the threats by Alyssa’s father to the FBI and they had Beck’s phone tapped, hoping Gary would try to collect the money he’d demanded and they could catch him in blackmail. The FBI admitted the guy had never been caught, but he’d been on their radar for a while. Peter had already succeeded in forcing him out of the magazine ownership, so there was that small victory.
Beck kept trying to push away the memories of Alyssa’s sweetness, her laughter, her kiss, but at night he struggled. She visited his dreams and haunted him. He still couldn’t believe that the Alyssa and Ellie he thought he knew could do this to him.
Anna came around the desk and rested her hand on his shoulder. “I’m sorry.”
Beck stood and hugged her. He cleared his throat and muttered, “Thanks for always being here for me.”
She nodded. “You’re taking this really hard.”
“I know.” He pulled away and sat back down, stacking the magnets in some desk toy Shelby had given him for Christmas. “I thought she was different.”
“Oh, little bro.” Anna stroked his hair like his mom used to do.
Beck was afraid he was going to cry. He missed his mom. He missed Alyssa. Thank heavens for his sisters. For a moment, he wondered if Ellie was still with Alyssa. She’d played him, but he didn’t like the thought of her being alone and hurting.
“We’re barbecuing tonight at my house,” Anna said brightly. “You in?”
“Sure.” What else was he going to do after work? He’d already lifted so many weights this morning he was going to be sore for days.
“Bring potato salad.”
“From the deli?”
“Don’t tease me. Your homemade. With extra pickles.”
“Are you expecting again?” She always craved his potato salad when she was pregnant.
Anna reddened and walked away. “Just bring it.”
The door slammed and Beck found a genuine smile on his face. She obviously wanted to wait for the barbecue to announce. He was thrilled at the idea of another niece or nephew. The smile left his face as he thought of Alyssa and her desire for a houseful of boys. He wondered what she was doing right now. He glanced down at the picture of him and Anna and his stomach tightened. Everything had been an act. Alyssa had known who he was from day one, and she’d probably connived a way to stay at the same bed and breakfast as him. Someone had stolen his itinerary, after all. The bed and breakfast wasn’t on it, but if hackers could steal that, they could get the real plans somehow.
Could Ellie really have been in on it? The thought sickened him, but she had to have been. She could tell if a man was worth his weight in gold? She wanted him to take care of her granddaughter because she was dying of cancer? Ha. Everything they’d said had been a lie.
He stood and stalked to his office door, slamming his way out. “Linli, I’m leaving for the day.”
Her dark brows arched. “At two o’clock?”
He nodded, but couldn’t explain. The drive home passed in a blur of pain. Alyssa and Ellie’s betrayal. How much he missed his parents and his little brother and wished they could be here for tonight’s barbecue. Why couldn’t they be here, be a part of Anna and Shelby’s children’s lives? Sadly, he’d never have children of his own. Darkness washed over him and he found himself in the enormous shop his dad had built under the suspended five-car garage. The motorcycles gleamed. The cleaning service did a nice job.
He ran his hand over several handlebars. He hadn’t ridden since the day of the accident with his brother. He’d told his dad to get rid of the motorcycles, but they seemed to soothe his father, not bring the awful memories they did to Beck.
He climbed on a Lauge Jensen and shook his head. He should sell all of them. This bike alone was worth half a million dollars. Ridiculous when that money could be used to help so many. He’d held onto these in memory of his dad, but maybe it was time to let them go. Let go of the pain and the memories of the crashes.
For some reason, he couldn’t resist starting the motorcycle. It purred underneath him and he eased it toward one of the garage doors. The door slid open automatically. Beck slowly rode through his Laguna Beach neighborhood, the coastline at his side. He reached the highway and reveled in the potency beneath him. It seemed to make all the pain go away. As always, he understood his dad more than he wanted to admit. He revved the engine, just to feel the power, the lure of nothing being able to stop him while on this bike.
He was on Laguna Canyon Road almost before he realized it, taking the turns, remembering the awfulness of that night, but also realizing how freeing it was to ride. The wind rushing through his hair. The sheer power of the bike making him feel like he could conquer anything.
Flying over a hill, he noticed a few seconds too late the two cars racing toward him. The MDX was in his lane and there was nowhere for Beck to go. He swerved to the side, his tires caught the gravel and spun out. The motorcycle screamed toward the edge of the road. He gripped the handlebars between his slick palms before deciding, his only chance was to jump. He pushed off with his feet and hands, airborne and not sure if he was going to fly over the cliff with his motorcycle or eat gravel. At that moment he realized, he’d never put a helmet on.
It took them a day and a half to get a flight to Los Angeles and then it was a miserable all through the night traveling experience. After Alyssa forced Granny to admit she needed to rest from their redeye flight, they slept until late afternoon at a Four Seasons Hotel on the south end of Orange County. Granny woke starving and ready to go to battle for Alyssa.
“First of all we’re getting some food, then we’re going to rip Maryn’s head off and she’s going to tell us where to find Beck, then we’re going to get your man.”
Alyssa called the concierge and asked for sandwiches and fruit to be sent up and a taxi to be ready in half an hour. She knew how Granny liked things done and she still got nauseous thinking of Granny losing her battle with cancer. Alyssa would do anything for her.
Maryn had sent numerous apologetic texts, claiming it wasn’t her fault. Alyssa hoped it wasn’t. She had too few close friends to lose the one she’d been through so much with, but at the same time she knew what Maryn was willing to do to succeed.
They arrived at Maryn’s apartment in Echo Park. Alyssa had liked living in this area. Maryn hadn’t found a new roommate since Alyssa left for Hawaii. They’d talked about living together again, but now who knew what would happen.
Granny tottered up to the door and pounded on it.
Maryn swung the door open wide and held her arms wider. Her blonde hair was in a messy bun but she would look gorgeous with no hair. She was closer to Granny’s size than Alyssa’s. “Friend! I’m so happy you’re here. I’m so sorry about this nightmare.”
Alyssa shook her head and took a step back. The betrayal was still too strong to just forgive, forget, and air kiss.
“You’re not sorry yet,” Granny said, sticking her face in front of Maryn.
“Granny!” Maryn squealed. “I haven’t seen you in forever.”
“Well, you’re not going to be happy to see me now,” Granny declared.
Maryn frowned. “Come on, we can all think positive thoughts and be happy to see each other. Crap happens, but we can get past it.”
“No happy thoughts and no getting past the crap. You’re going to tell us where Beck lives and then get the heck out of our lives.” Granny tucked her arms under her surgically-assisted bosom and thrust her small chin out.
“Granny, Alyssa.” Maryn hung her head. “Don’t be cruel to your girl. They tricked me too.”
“Like we’re going to believe that,” Granny said.
Alyssa was torn. Maryn had been her best friend for so many years. Deep inside, she didn’t believe Maryn would do this to her, but the proof was right in the magazine that she had stuffed in her purse. She just never thought Maryn would offer her best friend up as a sacrifice to advance her career.
“You want Beck to believe you’d never spear him in the back like that, right?” Maryn stared straight at Alyssa with her wide jade-colored eyes. Alyssa cringed at the reference to Beck. He probably hated her.
“Well, then give me a chance to explain so you can explain it to him. And maybe you’ll realize that I’m the victim here.” Her mouth drooped.
“How much did you get paid to be the victim?” Alyssa spat out.
“I didn’t take it and I quit working for that magazine.”
Alyssa straightened. She studied her friend. Maryn’s eyes were clear and full of compassion. She was telling the truth.
“Please.” Maryn stepped back from the door. “Come in so we can talk.”
Granny stalked past Maryn. “Fine, you’ve got five minutes. We’ve got to get to Beck and fix this mess. So make it snappy!”
Maryn nodded and looked at Alyssa. Alyssa slowly walked to the micro-suede couch and sat down next to Granny. Maryn perched on the edge of a recliner next to them and started talking fast, “I wrote my article without your names in it or any clues that would bus-roll you or Beckham, most of the article was quotes from Nikki and Holly about their richy relationships, but I guess the magazine had done some investigative work of their own. They knew about our friendship, they had the information on Beckham that I had, and they must’ve dug up our connection to those pictures of Beckham and his sister.”
She sighed and continued. “They sent a photographer to Hawaii. He took a bunch of pictures and used a parabolic microphone to listen into a couple of conversations at night. They pieced it all together, made you into some stalker, and voila.” She hung her head. “Apparently your dad is involved. From what I could find out, he’s part-owner of the magazine now. Since I’d already quit I couldn’t get the dirt I needed to see how involved he is. I’m so sorry. I would never scum-slam you like that.”
Alyssa gave herself a few seconds to sort out what she felt. Granny went on a tirade about how she was going to kick Gary’s butt all over California for a few minutes then fell miraculously silent. Alyssa reached over and covered Maryn’s hand with hers. “I believe you.”
Maryn looked up with tears cresting her tanned cheeks. She stood, pulling Alyssa up, and hugging her tightly. “I needed to hear that so bad. You’re my best girl and I am going to make this all up to you, I promise.”
Granny gave them a few seconds then interrupted, “Okay, okay, enough of the blubbering. So how do we find Beck and how do we convince him that Alyssa’s innocent?”
Maryn and Alyssa pulled apart. Maryn bit her lip. “I have all his dirt, work and home addresses. What if I come with you and show him the correspondence from the magazine?”
“Sounds good.” Granny stood and pulled her phone out. “First I’m going to set Gary straight. Then we’ll go to battle, girls.”
Beck remembered the pain. The every inch of your body aching kind of pain that he’d had after the accident with his brother all those years ago. This time there wasn’t the guilt to go along with the cuts and bruises. He would’ve preferred this recovery, if he could stop thinking about Alyssa. He’d gone the rounds with his sisters. They were like a couple of overprotective hens, pecking away at everything Alyssa had done as if by ripping her apart they could protect their baby chick. Beck really didn’t want to be their baby chick and he found himself sticking up for Alyssa. Even though he didn’t have much hope that she was innocent, he missed her every minute of the much-too long hours of
sitting in a hospital bed.
Anna swept into the room, looking perfectly put together as usual in a silky blouse and fitted skirt.
“How does a mom of wild boys dress nice?”
“I only doll up when I leave the house. At home it’s sweats and T-shirts.”
Beck laughed then held his chest to stop the movement he’d created. Luckily, he held in the ouch.
“Oh, bud.” Anna came over and swept the hair from his forehead. “You’re hurting bad.”
“I’m fine. Doc says I can go home tomorrow.”
“Really?” Anna glanced over his battered body. Luckily the concussion had been the worst of his injuries. Everything was bruised and scraped, but the only broken bone was his left arm. He could live without a left arm for a bit.
“He said the CAT scans are looking good, told me if I walked to the nurse’s station and back he’d release me tomorrow.” He grinned. “I walked it a few times to prove I was ready.”
“Good boy. Peter will take great care of the boys and I’ll come stay with you for a few days.”
He shook his head. “No, you won’t. I’m not a child.”
Anna raised an eyebrow. “Prove that by wearing a helmet next time.”
Beck groaned. “There won’t be a next time. I’m selling the motorcycles.”
“I’m surprised you held onto them this long.” She nodded her approval.
“They reminded me of Dad.” Beck’s lips twisted and he focused on the monitors next to his bed.
“I know. It’s hard to let go of anything that keeps them alive.” She sat carefully on the edge of his bed. “Any other drastic plans you have?”
The Resilient One: A Billionaire Bride Pact Romance Page 13
