Saved by the Salsa

by Barbara Barrett

  Lacey had never seen her boss like this. He seemed so defeated and lost. She wanted to reach out to him. “Wouldn’t you rather we stay here with you, Cam?”

  “You! How dare you try to comfort me when it was your own brother who cut us off at the knees?”

  “We don’t know that for sure.” She could barely get the words out through her cotton mouth, but until she talked to Brian, she wasn’t ready to condemn him.

  “Really? Bonneville said the guy he talked to was Brian Rogers. Your brother’s name is Brian Rogers. The guy was a local accountant. Your brother’s a bean counter here in town, yes?”

  “Well, yes.” She couldn’t deny those points, but they didn’t necessarily add up to her Brian.

  “Bonneville described him as the epitome of buttoned-down conservatism, even though the guy was in his early thirties.”

  She sucked in her breath. “Okay. That does sound like my brother. But I can’t believe he’d deliberately undermine our business. There must be another side to this.”

  “Then you find it, because I’m fresh out of angles.” Cam collapsed in one of the conference chairs and jerked his necktie loose.

  Jack motioned for her to accompany him out of the room. In the hallway, his face screwed up in a frown. “I thought you were going to let me do the talking?”

  “I had to defend my brother. Do you think Cam will fire me if it turns out my Brian was Bonneville’s Brian?” The thought hadn’t occurred to her until then, because she’d been so caught up in the drama.

  “Probably not. But I’d keep a low profile for a few days, if I were you.”

  Not what she wanted to hear. She’d hoped he’d reassure her, tell her no, her job was safe.

  She had to get to the bottom of this business. If she was to keep her distance from Cameron Mackenzie, she might as well use her time tracking down the facts. “I’m taking off for a few hours. I’ve got to talk to my brother and get to the bottom of this.”

  Brian barely made it inside the door of her apartment before Lacey confronted him. “Since when have you become an architectural consultant?”

  He dropped his briefcase on a side chair, then settled on the living room couch. “Got any tea?”

  “No.”

  “No? You always have hot water going when you’re home.”

  “I do. I’m just not offering any. Now answer my question.”

  “What question?” His expression remained bland.

  Lacey glared back at him.

  “You mean your offhand comment about architectural consulting?” He shrugged. “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I leave building design to you.”

  Lacey continued to stand. She took several deep breaths, attempting to slow her rapid pulse before proceeding with her interrogation. “Jack and I presented our design concept to the client this morning. You know, the hush-hush one we’ve been working on night and day?”

  Brian nodded but remained quiet.

  She planted herself in front of him. “Imagine our surprise when we learned our client had changed his mind. He no longer wants to proceed with the project because he’s been advised he could do it much cheaper as a high-rise.”

  He blinked. He did know something!

  “Said he received this advice from an accountant friend he’d run into recently. None other than one Brian Rogers.”

  Brian was off the couch in a flash, nearly knocking her over, a look of guilt clearly reflected in his eyes. “That was your project?”

  She tapped her foot. “I’m waiting.”

  He scrunched his forehead, apparently connecting the dots. “Your mysterious client turned out to be Jake Bonneville, the singer?”

  She didn’t say anything.

  “I ran into him in a bar a week or so ago.”

  Her stomach clenched as the truth of the situation became crystal clear. How was she going to explain this to Jack and Cam? She felt like she’d personally let them down.

  “I was at loose ends, so I didn’t go right home. I found myself downtown at this bar and grille, and who should sit next to me but Bonneville.”

  “This superstar entertainer shows up in town and seeks out your company?”

  Brian shook his head. “No, of course not. I don’t know why he was there. Never said. He was in my class at Roosevelt, although we didn’t run in the same circles. He had a band, I was in math club, but he actually recognized me from back then. He didn’t strike it big time until you were away at college or in Europe.”

  “So he said, ‘Why, hello, Brian Rogers. What’s your opinion of my building a retirement community outside town?’”

  “Not immediately. He asked what I was doing these days, so I told him. Then I asked what brought him to town. He hedged at first, instead started asking me about real estate investments around town. I shared some of my views. Eventually, he got around to residential developments. Told me he was considering putting one up outside of town.”

  “Uh-huh.” So far, his recollection seemed innocent enough though still difficult to take in.

  “He described his plans in broad terms. Asked if I thought they sounded like a wise investment. How was I supposed to know it was your project? He never mentioned your firm.”

  She could think of a dozen red flags he should have seen, but she remained silent.

  “So I gave him my opinion.”

  “Which was?”

  “I was flattered to be asked. I probably laid it on a bit thick.”

  She knew all about Brian’s tendency to expound when it came to finance. “A bit thick?”

  “I suppose I spoke with more expertise than I actually possessed. You know how I feel about urban sprawl, especially digging up the countryside, wasting good farmland. I couldn’t resist the opportunity to make a pitch for responsible urban development. Building up rather than out.”

  She was well aware of his opinions about responsible expansion. They’d argued more than once about her role gentrifying previously undeveloped properties. She’d countered by spelling out how many green features she incorporated into her single-family designs.

  “He said he agreed with me. Something about the land he planned to develop having been in the family for years and a promise he made to his grandfather to be a wise steward. He questioned whether developing the property would be in keeping with his commitment.”

  She’d heard enough. One bar conversation and more than a little exposition from Brian and their project and futures went down the tube. “How could you?” she charged, grabbing his forearm. “You’re not an expert in those areas. That was pure proselytizing.”

  He pursed his lips. “I had no idea he’d take me seriously. We had dinner together. Well…shared a couple burgers at the bar. For as much as I knew, he was simply passing time before he could get back to the Coast and all his high-priced consultants.”

  “Your passing time with him caused Mackenzie and Associates to lose the account! Probably our biggest project ever.”

  He swiped at a few stray beads of perspiration dotting his forehead. “Gosh, Lace. I’m sorry. I never realized.”

  Though he sounded contrite, his apology wasn’t enough. The disappointment was still too new and too raw. “My boss and Jack know you’re the one responsible, which makes me look bad.” She held back from sharing her fear of losing her job.

  “Look, sis—”

  “How could you do this to me, Brian? I’ve spent several weeks trying to help you get your life back in order, and now you’ve turned mine upside down.”

  He cocked his head, squinted. “Helping me? Get my life back in order?”

  Damn! She hadn’t meant to get into the business with Celia, but now she had no choice. “I couldn’t bear to see you so miserable without Celia, so I fixed things so you could get her back.”

  He retreated a step, his expression incredulous. “You what?”

  “I thought you’d come running back to her if you saw her with someone else.”

  At first, Bria
n simply stared, like he didn’t comprehend what she’d said. Then a pinkish tinge inched its way up his neck to his ears. She’d witnessed a similar reaction several times in her rebellious teen years but had rarely seen it since.

  “You played matchmaker with her and Dalton?”

  Her heart caught in her chest. Although her plan hadn’t worked, she never meant for him to find out.

  Her brother drew himself up to his full six-foot stature. “Since when did you become an authority on love? You’ve chased away every guy who ever showed the slightest interest!”

  Ouch! Though he was correct, their situations were completely different. She wasn’t about to capitulate, because she’d acted in his best interest. “You were so tight-lipped about why you broke things off with her, I thought all it would take to get you back together was for you to see her with someone else and realize what you’d done.”

  His eyes flashed. “Does Celia know about this?”

  “I, uh, worked it all out with Jack, but Celia agreed.”

  “Dalton’s in on this?”

  “Uh, yes. They sort of broke things off after the Euchre night at your apartment.”

  “Why didn’t she say anything when I ran into her at the cemetery?”

  This was getting complicated. “Obviously, she didn’t want you to know. Guess she was embarrassed.”

  “How could you accuse me of sabotaging your life when you’ve been so busy making me look like a fool?” Brian nudged past her, retrieved his briefcase and made for the door. “I’ve looked out for you ever since our dad disappeared. This is how you repay me?”

  Before she could answer, she was staring at the door as the harsh sound of it being slammed penetrated her ears.

  He’d turned the tables on her. For Pete’s sake, she was the injured party.

  Lacey debated whether to go after him. She couldn’t bear to be at odds with Brian for long. He was her only living relative and the person she trusted most, despite her developing relationship with Jack. Brian’s part in all this was unintentional, although he certainly hadn’t helped. But before she went after him, she needed to bring Jack up to speed.

  ****

  Jack spent the rest of the day holed up in his office, unsuccessfully attempting not to dwell on the demise of Project Veronica. He idly considered how they could convert some of their ideas to a high-rise environment and heaved a big sigh as he cast a look at the pile of rejects. The old Jack, the guy who could charm almost any client with his wit and ability to convince them they liked his designs, seemed to have disappeared. This new Jack, one half of the team of Dalton and Rogers, was having trouble putting two and two together.

  He didn’t blame Lacey for her brother’s indiscretion. The guy was a self-important know-it-all. Even Lacey had conceded as much. But it sure did beat all, his being the one who undercut their project. Had Lacey inadvertently revealed too many details to the guy? Nah, she’d been just as surprised by Bonneville’s mention of her brother as the rest of them. At least, she appeared to be. What could she possibly gain from their losing the project? It wasn’t like she planned to go after the high-rise on her own.

  The sounds of a commotion coming from the hall punctured his self-recrimination. Jean’s raised voice called out to someone. Within an instant, he got the rest of the picture as Brian Rogers burst through the door.

  Unsmiling, his unexpected visitor announced, “You and I have some issues to settle, Dalton.”

  “I’m so sorry, Mr. Dalton. I couldn’t stop him,” Jean said from behind the intruder.

  “That’s okay, Jean. I have a few things to say to Mr. Rogers as well.”

  Once Jean hesitantly retreated from her post, Jack motioned to one of his visitor chairs. Brian continued to stand, so Jack rose as well.

  “Celia Fairchild is very dear to me. I don’t care to see other men take advantage of her vulnerability.”

  “What?” Jack had anticipated hearing something about the Bonneville fiasco, since he was sure Lacey had by now found her brother and raked him over the coals. The subject of his dating Celia came as a surprise.

  “I didn’t like it when you started seeing her. Your reputation as a ladies’ man reached beyond your firm. But she seemed to see something in you, so I kept my peace.”

  What a self-righteous prick. Jack couldn’t help inserting, “Like you did at Mackenzie’s birthday party?”

  Rogers sniffed. “I’m still very fond of her. Now I hear you were only dating her to make me jealous.”

  Foiled. How’d he find out? “Look, I don’t know what Celia told you, but…”

  “My sister told me.”

  “Lacey?” He’d made Celia promise not to tell Lacey.

  Rogers straightened. Pulled at his collar. “While my sister was busy chewing me out for advising your client to drop your project, which I knew nothing about, she let it slip how she’d arranged with you to make it look like you and Celia were an item. Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”

  What a cliché, but then, the guy was the cliché type. “You rejected a really special woman, who for reasons I still don’t understand wanted you back, so I agreed to be her fake boyfriend. But you’ve got things wrong. It wasn’t Lacey who arranged this. It was Celia.”

  “Celia? No, Lacey told me she talked you into it.”

  Why would Lacey tell him such a thing? To protect Celia? “Maybe you should check with Celia.”

  Lacey’s brother stomped toward the door. “We’ll just see who told who what.”

  After Rogers departed, Jack realized they never once discussed the guy’s role in their losing Project Veronica. Damn!

  Then he recalled the part about Lacey setting him up with Celia. Could it be true? If it was, no wonder Celia agreed not to tell Lacey. She already knew.

  Had it really been Lacey who pulled the strings behind his so-called courtship of Celia? Made more sense than sweet, straightforward Celia orchestrating things. Why hadn’t he seen it before? Because he’d just started working with Lacey when Celia approached him and wasn’t yet aware of his partner’s facile brain. She definitely was capable of putting such a plan together.

  Even though he’d asked Celia not to tell Lacey, why hadn’t Lacey confided her part in the scheme once they got closer? It didn’t make sense. She’d made such a big deal about them sharing, being able to trust each other. If she hadn’t told him about something as innocuous as her role in his fake courtship, what else hadn’t she told him?

  His copy of the portfolio lay on the desk, abandoned, forgotten. It couldn’t be more than three-quarters of an inch thick, and yet within it, he thought he’d seen his future. No longer. Its only future now was the wastebasket.

  He studied the other name on the cover sheet. Then it came to him. “The project!” She made no secret about wanting to jump-start her career. With Janice’s help, she’d put together a great concept. But he’d been the one to deliver on the design segments, his forte, which she’d readily admitted. Had she invited him into her bed just to assure the success of the project? Used him, just like Jorja had years before?

  She was beautiful with a fabulous body. An inspired lover. Helped him deal with his parents when they invaded his space. He’d liked her enthusiasm and dedication from the start, but he’d also come to like her as a friend.

  Doubt fought with his growing belief in his partner. Had she duped him? He’d learned of Jorja’s betrayal too late to confront her. But Lacey was still around. Only one way to find out. He moved over to where the portfolio landed, retrieved it, smoothed the cover and set it gently back on his desk. Then he exploded from the room.

  ****

  “Jack! I was just about to come see you,” Lacey said.

  He couldn’t bring himself to sit once he’d entered her apartment. He concentrated on framing the right question. Ah hell! Just spit it out. “Are you the brains behind my squiring Celia around town?”

  “I…why do you ask?”

  “Not that it matters, b
ut I heard it from your brother. He just left my office after telling me what a low-life I was. Seems you told him my pretending to be the new man in Celia’s life was your idea.”

  “Brian came to see you?”

  He nodded. “I’m surprised my head is still attached to my body because he sure wanted to chop it off. Didn’t even touch on how we’d lost Bonneville as a client thanks to him.”

  Her eyes took in everything in the room except him. “I’m sorry he came to see you.”

  “Sorry because it wasn’t the most pleasant experience or sorry because he gave you away?”

  “Sorry because I let my own personal fears interfere in others’ lives, including yours.”

  Unexpected response. “Huh?’

  “I haven’t had a traditional two-parent family since I was six, like I told you, so having my own family has become a driving force in my life. The irony is, thanks to my father’s desertion and my fiancé jilting me, I don’t trust any man to stay with me long enough to make my dream happen. Brian’s the only man capable of that kind of loyalty, so I was counting on him to give me my family through my nieces and nephews.”

  Her words slammed into his chest. All the pieces, all the clues had been there just waiting to merge into the simple truth she’d just revealed.

  She continued, “When Brian broke things off with Celia after almost two years, I panicked. If he couldn’t make himself commit to someone as perfect for him as Cee, he was never going to find someone. Which meant I was never going to get my family. Since Celia was as devastated as I was, well, you know the rest.”

  “Well, yeah, but why me? When he let me have it earlier, your brother pointed out how he’d worried from the start I’d hurt her because we traveled in such different circles. Why not someone who would’ve been a more believable suitor?”

  She wandered across the room and picked up her stuffed bull. “Because you were too great a temptation for me.” She raised her eyes and gazed directly at him.

  “Temptation? We hardly knew each other when I agreed to Celia’s scheme.”

  “When we were trapped under that tree trunk, I knew instinctively you were going to be trouble.”