The Billionaire's Scandal (The Blank Check Series Book 3)

by Jeannette Winters

  “They’d probably be rolling over in their grave thinking about how irresponsible we are with our money. I never thought I’d be so thrilled to be a disappointment before.”

  Alex laughed. “You and me both. Well, let’s give some work to these good people and disappoint our grandparents even more.”

  When he and Alex arrived back at New Hope, they were approached by someone whose hands were covered in grease and looked like he just crawled out from beneath a car.

  “Hi, Alex. Janet called me and said there was a broken pipe. Do you want me to take a look?”

  “Vinny. I was about to call you. How do you feel about giving us a hand again? We are going to use as many people from Tabiq as possible, but most likely you will know most of them from before,” Alex stated.

  “So it’s not just a pipe?” Vinny asked. Alex shook his head. “Janet is horrible when it comes to describing what is broken. She always makes it seem better than what it really is.”

  “I wish she was right,” Gareth said. “We’re going to need all the pipes ripped out and replaced.”

  “I’m a mechanic by trade, but I’ve worked enough construction to make the place look pretty again afterward. How are you getting everything here that quickly? It’s not like we have that much industrial material lying around here.”

  Alex answered, “I’ve got connections. I only need the hands to do the work. Glad I can count on you.”

  “Always. Besides, the longer the kitchen is down, the more stressed Janet will be. You know where that will trickle down to, right?” Vinny laughed. “They say, ‘happy wife, happy life’ for a reason.”

  Alex nodded. That was one thing Gareth couldn’t relate to. “I’ll take your word on that. Now what do you say we get inside and start ripping shit out.” He still had a lot of pent-up frustration from that kiss earlier. A good physical workout would hopefully ease some of that tension. Just not in the way he’d like.

  “You seem to be in a rush to get this done,” Alex said. “Should I assume you have plans tonight?”

  “I do. But don’t worry, Alex, I’m not going to walk away from this. You have my word.” Gareth knew Alex had taken a huge step in trusting him, now he had to prove that wasn’t a mistake.

  “Good. Because the staff at New Hope needs you right now,” Alex stated.

  And I’m the one Brooke called.

  7

  Brooke wasn’t surprised when she received the text message from Gareth needing to delay their dinner date. Everyone at the resort knew there was a major project going on in the kitchen. Somehow she knew Gareth was there, working with the others. It made sense. He was friends with Alex. And that is what friends do.

  But that didn’t mean she wasn’t disappointed that they weren’t having their night together. Gareth’s time on the island seemed to be going by so quickly. If she wasn’t careful he’d be gone and she wouldn’t have seen him again. It really sucked, but what could she do? If she went to the kitchen, she’d only be in the way. She didn’t know how to shut the water off, never mind fix the problem.

  Sitting in her room waiting to hear from him wasn’t her style either. If he was working, he was probably hungry. The other kitchen, the one they used for outdoor events, was still functional. She could easily slip inside and make him a sandwich and take him a cold drink. The longer she thought about it, the better the idea sounded.

  So she slipped on her sandals and headed out to the event kitchen. There was very limited staff on at night, mostly for room service orders. But she knew where most everything was. When she opened the fridge her first thought was make something simple, like peanut butter and jelly. But then she noticed lobster, grilled with garlic butter, sitting there like it was calling her name. Tabiq had the most amazing seafood and Gareth seemed to enjoy it.

  Might as well do it right.

  She cracked the shell and pulled out the sweet pieces of meat. Then she grabbed a large roll, sliced it and loaded it up with butter. Slapping in on the hot grill, she waited until it was toasty brown. Taking it off, she slathered it again with butter, which melted immediately. Then she carefully laid out each piece of lobster in the long roll. Brooke had to admit, it looked as good as when the chefs made it.

  She placed it on the tray with a bottle of water and headed back toward the main kitchen. Once she was close she could hear the banging of tools. Brooke peered inside the doorway and right away Alex saw her.

  “Be careful if you come inside,” he called out. She looked around, still holding the tray, and stepped inside. Alex walked over and said, “That looks amazing. But I’m guessing you didn’t bring it for me.”

  She hadn’t planned that very well. How could she make something for Gareth and not think of the others? Simple. I was only thinking of him. “I’d be happy to go and make you one too.”

  “That’s okay. Ziva delivered something for me to eat earlier. Guess you ladies think alike. Keep your men well fed.”

  He’s not my man. “I figured he wouldn’t stop to eat.” She looked around but didn’t see Gareth anywhere. “He doesn’t seem to be here right now. Maybe someone else would like the sandwich.”

  “Don’t you dare,” Gareth’s voice boomed from behind her. “I step out for one minute and you’d give my dinner away?”

  She turned to him to defend her actions but was met by a huge grin and then a brief kiss on the lips. Brooke was so stunned she almost dropped the tray. Not great for someone who viewed themselves as a top-notch waitress. Quickly she steadied the tray, which was easier than steadying her nerves. What was Gareth thinking kissing her like that in front of Alex? And it wasn’t just Alex either. There were other men working in the kitchen.

  She looked around, but no one seemed fazed by the interaction between them. That didn’t mean it was right. Brooke handed him the tray and said, “I thought you might need something to eat.”

  He took the tray and asked, “Where is yours?”

  “I only made one for you.” And that was one too many.

  “Come and sit with me. We can share this one,” Gareth said as he ushered her to the side of the room where no one was working.

  Once alone, she said, “I didn’t come here to eat. Just to make sure you did.”

  He smiled. “Thank you, but I have a feeling you haven’t eaten either, am I right?” She nodded reluctantly. He picked up the sandwich and tore it in half. “I cut, you choose.”

  “What?” She looked at him holding both pieces.

  “Sorry. I forgot you are an only child. It’s the only way we ever shared anything equally. One cut and the other got to pick first. So you never took more than your share.”

  “I would think with all the money the Lawson family has, there would be plenty to go around.”

  “There was, but my mother taught us it didn’t matter how much you had. And by doing it this way, it’d always keep us honest.”

  She cocked her head. “Did it work?”

  He held up the sandwiches and asked, “You tell me.”

  Brooke took a closer look at each half. “I think she taught you well.” Then she graciously took the one on the left, leaving him the one on the right. “But I have no idea how you expect to split that bottle of water,” she teased.

  “That might be more difficult.”

  “Then I suggest you drink it. Since you’ve been working all day, you need to stay hydrated,” Brooke stated.

  “And you haven’t worked?” he asked.

  “Not like you have. Look at all this.” She reached up and pulled some debris out of his hair. “You’re really hands-on, aren’t you?”

  He nodded. “Feels good. Alex is too. I never would’ve thought he and I would be doing this together.”

  “Not the vacation you planned?”

  He laughed. “Not even close. It’s actually much better.”

  “Good. Maybe you could extend your stay and enjoy it a bit longer.” She hoped that wasn’t as obvious as it sounded.

  “I’d like
nothing more, but I have an obligation I can’t get out of.”

  “Oh,” she said softly. It was going to end very soon, whether she liked it or not. And she didn’t.

  Gareth added, “Trust me, I’d stay if I could, but my brother Dylan is getting married and I’m his best man.”

  That actually made her feel slightly better. It wasn’t just another job or another place to be. Family was important to her, and she was glad to know it was to him as well. “I’m sure you’re going to look fantastic in a tux.”

  “Funny, I have no idea what I’m supposed to wear.”

  Her eyes widened. “Are you serious?”

  “Unfortunately, I am. I guess that is stuff women normally take care of, and if you haven’t noticed, I’m single. Maybe I’ll wear jeans.”

  She huffed. “Now I know you’re joking. I can’t believe I almost believed you.”

  “Sadly, part of that is true. Sofia, the woman he’s marrying, wants something small. Her mother on the other hand, is going to want something—”

  “Fancy?”

  “No. Her parents own a restaurant. I’m guessing it’s going to take place there. You’d think by now someone would’ve clued me in as to where to be. But don’t worry. I can put together a bachelor party in a matter of minutes.”

  Strippers. Ugh. “Please, spare me the details.”

  “Hey, we know how to have a good time.”

  “I’m sure you do. But no woman wants to hear about it.”

  “Do you really think I’m going to hire strippers? I was actually thinking about flying out to Vegas and gambling. I mean, hell, he’s getting married, how much more of a gamble can you take than that?”

  “So you’re not a fan of marriage?” she asked.

  “I am. For other people. I can’t picture myself settled down.”

  “But you’re the one who was born and raised in New York. Sounds pretty settled to me,” she teased.

  He laughed. “You’re right. Maybe I need to try your lifestyle for a while.”

  She handed him her dirty dish and napkin. “Here you go.”

  “What’s this for?”

  “My lifestyle.” She got up and started toward the door but added, “I’m a waitress remember?”

  She could hear him still laughing as the door closed behind her. She really should’ve cleaned up and taken the tray back to the other kitchen, but she could do that in the morning. The look on his face was priceless. Brooke knew she’d hear from him tomorrow when things quieted down a bit. But tonight, it felt good getting in the last word. With Gareth, that wasn’t an easy thing to do.

  Gareth finished the last bite of the sandwich then set the tray on the vacant chair. He’d been tempted to chase after her, but his work was far from over tonight.

  When he walked back over to Alex he said, “You don’t have to stay if you have something else you’d like to be doing.” I sure as hell do. “If we keep at this, the piping will be done tonight, and Vinny can come in with the crew and put it all back together.”

  “You know this isn’t your issue. You’ve done plenty by getting the materials here so fast.”

  “I know, Alex, but if we’re doing this, we might as well jump in with both feet.”

  “Are you sure you’re not doing this so Brice doesn’t flip out later?” Alex asked.

  Gareth chuckled. “If you haven’t noticed, I’m not quite the rule follower in my family either. So if I don’t give a shit what my brothers are going to think about this, then I sure as hell don’t care about what your brothers do.”

  “I bet you’d get along great with my kid brother, Dean. He’s a lot like you. Or at least he was until he met Tessa, his wife. Funny what family will do to a man.”

  “Makes him weak?” he asked.

  Alex shook his head. “Actually I think it has made all of us much stronger than we were before. Maybe not as fierce, which is also a good thing. But if it weren’t for the women we have in our lives, I’m not sure what we are doing in Tabiq would be taking place. It’s crazy, but they keep us . . . grounded, in a good way.”

  Gareth had noticed that with Charles and now saw the changes in Dylan. Before Rosslyn, Charles could only see things one way, his. Had marriage opened him up to listening to others? He wasn’t sure. It wasn’t that Charles gave in, but at least he let you finish what the hell you were trying to say. And Dylan, well he seemed to be enjoying home-cooked meals and being home at night. Neither change was bad, just . . . different.

  “You seem to be getting along with Brooke. Is it . . . serious?” Alex asked.

  That was none of his business. He wouldn’t have answered his brothers if they asked. “I’m not the serious type.” That was all Alex was getting, and actually the truth. But there was no doubt Brooke was the kind of woman who deserved someone more . . . steady. Yet she had said several times that she liked her no-ties lifestyle. He assumed that meant in relationships as well.

  “Too bad. I don’t know her very well, however Janet, Vinny’s wife, speaks very highly of Brooke. But if you’re not interested, I’m sure she will find someone who is.”

  Gareth might not want a serious relationship, but the thought of her with someone else didn’t sit well with him either. “Oh there is no doubt she could do a hell of a lot better than me.”

  “That’s exactly how I feel about Ziva. But for some reason, she loves me anyway. So what do you say we get back to work so I can get home to her before morning?”

  “You do know you don’t have to be here,” Gareth said.

  “Actually, I do. If anything goes wrong, this was my call. I don’t want anyone else taking the blame. Besides, you never know when I’ll need to know how to change a pipe in my own house.” Then Alex laughed. “Yeah, Ziva won’t ever let that happen.”

  “Doesn’t trust you?” Gareth asked.

  “She knows me too well. I have been known to lose my temper at things that break around the house. So now she makes me call a repairman. She said it’s easier to fix it than replace it when I’m done.”

  “I wish you’d have told me that before you started to help. Should I double check your work?” Gareth joked.

  “No. I didn’t say I couldn’t fix things. I said I don’t have a lot of patience with things that break. Guess that’s why I was great at ripping those fucking broken pipes out.” Alex laughed.

  “Great. Now comes the fun part. We put it all back together.” If Gareth didn’t believe Alex could do it, he’d have told him so. It didn’t matter whose place it was, it needed to be done correctly.

  They spent most of the night doing exactly that. But it was worth it. The guys Alex brought in were hard workers. Unfortunately not all of them spoke English. If there were questions, another interpreted for him. Surprisingly, this was one of the smoothest jobs he’d seen in a long time. The Tabiqian people sure as hell weren’t lazy and were eager to prove their worth.

  It was almost midnight when he realized he hadn’t texted Brooke to thank her for dinner. He could do so now, but she probably was in bed. Her shift would start in a few hours, and if she was half as tired as he was, she was beat. His part of the repairs was complete, and tomorrow he would make it up to her.

  For a guy who said I’d never stand her up, I seem to do it a lot. Valid excuses were still excuses.

  “You saved my ass today, Gareth.”

  “No. I’d say Brooke did. She was the one who called me when no one else knew how to shut off the water.”

  “Brooke did that? Why is it I’m just finding that out now?” Alex asked.

  “Probably because we had bigger issues to address.”

  Alex looked at him and asked, “Are you still planning on leaving in a few days?”

  “I am. Dylan is getting married and—”

  “Wow. I didn’t know. It’s kind of crazy that we’re related but really know nothing about what is happening in each other’s lives. And really, I’m not sure that’s going to change.”

  “There’s a risk
if it gets out, you know. I’m not saying I agree with Brice, but he kept his mouth shut for a reason. It might be wise for us to keep doing so.” Gareth was going to talk to his brothers, but he wasn’t sure if he would include everything.

  “Then I guess I’ll keep your name out of the conversation when I talk to Brice tomorrow. Speaking of tomorrow, what are your plans?” Alex asked.

  He’d leave now if it weren’t for Brooke. He had only forty-eight hours left on the island and wanted to make every moment count. “Not that I don’t enjoy spending time with you and your family, but I’m hoping to spend some time with Brooke before I go.”

  “I guess I owe her for her quick thinking this morning. What do you say I give her a couple days’ vacation?”

  “That’d be awesome,” Gareth said.

  “Don’t get too excited. I didn’t say she’d want to spend them with you,” Alex joked.

  Gareth snorted. “Good point. When are you going to tell her?”

  “I’ll have Janet text her first thing in the morning. Why?”

  “You wouldn’t happen to know of any place else besides New Hope on the island that is secure to stay at, would you?” Gareth asked.

  “My mother runs a small inn. It’s not fancy at all, and usually only the locals go there on special occasions. No pool or Jacuzzi, but what you get is a place on a hill with the view of the ocean.”

  “I didn’t know your mother was here,” Gareth said.

  “She’s Tabiqian. Yet another story for another time. Do you want me to message her tomorrow as well?”

  “That’d be great. And, please don’t tell Janet. I’d really like to surprise Brooke with this myself.”

  “You’ve got it. Now if you don’t mind, I’m going home to sleep. One of us still has to work tomorrow.” Alex extended a hand. “Gareth, if I don’t see you again before you go, it was really nice getting to know you. Like I said, our door is always open and you’re welcome any time.”

  “Thanks, Alex. If you find yourself in New York, give me a call.”

  Gareth headed up to his room to take a long hot shower. He was exhausted, but he knew sleep wasn’t going to come easily. There was unfinished business, and he needed to resolve that. I promise, tomorrow is all about you, Brooke.