by Lexi Blake
She turned and walked away, her movements lacking her normal grace.
“You’re such an ass.” Miranda started to go after Isla.
“She wants some time alone, Miranda,” David said, his voice deep. “And I would like to know why you think your mother was seeing someone. I need to know everything. Your brother might not care what happens to your father. From what I can tell he doesn’t care about anything at all, including himself, but I rather thought you were concerned.”
He was worried about Isla, but he couldn’t run after her. He didn’t think she would want that given the distance she’d kept today. They were back in a professional setting and he would honor that, but oh, how he wanted to take Trey Adams’s son and show him a thing or two about respect and behaving like a gentleman.
But first he needed to get every bit of information he could out of the little ass and his sister because there was zero doubt Royce Osborne would be out here very soon. David had to know what they would say so he could figure out how to turn it to his advantage. Or at least mitigate the damage.
“I care about things,” Oscar said. “I certainly care more about my mom than anyone else does. All you people want to talk about is Dad. My mother is dead. Does anyone care about that? My aunt is no help. I haven’t seen her sober since we got here. The only one who seems to give a shit about my mom is Uncle Carey’s gold digger.”
“Her name is Amber,” Miranda said between clenched teeth.
“I don’t care. She’s using Mom’s funeral as some kind of social stepping-stone,” Oscar replied flatly. “Shouldn’t you be dealing with that?”
“I can’t when I’m spending all my time keeping my asshole of a brother in line,” she spat back. She turned to David and visibly calmed herself. “As to why I think my mother was having an affair, well, the last few months she’s had a weekly appointment at the Algonquin in Midtown. My mom was obsessed with planners. Not the online kind. She was old school.”
“She would get excited when it came time to get a new one.” Oscar sounded softer than before. “She kept a couple actually. One for business. One for family stuff. One for the personal appointments.”
“Which one did she mark the meetings at the Algonquin in?” He would need those planners, though they were likely already in police custody.
“The personal one.” Miranda wouldn’t look him in the eye. She was focused on the carpet in front of her. “I only saw it because I was dropping off some stickers I’d had custom made for her. She liked to decorate the planners. She would start each week by reviewing what she’d written down and then she would decorate. She had stickers for everything. Little coffee mugs for coffee dates. Stickers for doctors’ appointments. Stuff like that. I made some travel ones. We were supposed to go to London next month after Dad’s party. I snuck up to her office and I saw the appointment on the calendar. It’s not a hotel she would use for a function. It’s nice and historic, but not Mom’s style. I was curious and I spied on her a little. I noticed she’d been there every Thursday for a month.”
“Did you ask her about it?”
She shook her head. “No. I didn’t want to know. I left the stickers and I went back to my dorm. I tried not to think about it, but I understood. It can’t be nice having your happily ever after turn into a nightmare. My parents are young. They shouldn’t have to deal with this now. In my mind if Mom was getting something she needed, then I was okay with that.”
“Mom wouldn’t cheat on Dad,” Oscar insisted. “No matter how miserable he made her.”
“He wasn’t trying to make her miserable,” Miranda argued. “He’s sick. Why can’t you understand that?”
“It doesn’t matter.” Oscar sat back. “I know Mom wouldn’t cheat. If she was going to a hotel, she was meeting a friend there.”
“I’ll put an investigator on it,” David promised. “Can you tell me when you last saw your mom?”
“I was at her place that morning,” Oscar admitted. “We had breakfast. Well, I had breakfast. I had to force half a grapefruit down her throat.”
“She seemed out of sorts, or did she normally skip breakfast?”
Oscar seemed to think about that for a moment, or perhaps he was thinking about how much information he wanted to give up. He finally sighed and seemed to settle in. “Mom always stopped eating when she was upset about something. I would have to make food myself to get her to eat. She wouldn’t turn me down if I put it in front of her. It was obvious to me that she was upset, but she wouldn’t tell me what it was about. I figured it was about Dad. It almost always was. I wondered if she’d found out about Isla.”
David had to stop himself from cringing. “You know, talking that way about your father won’t help his case. Unless you have serious evidence that your father was having an affair, you shouldn’t mention rumors.”
“Fine. He’s probably too crazy to have an affair. I just don’t like how Isla hangs around all the time,” Oscar admitted. “She’s bossy and she pretends she’s like my big sister or something.”
“She’s been a big sister to you,” Miranda replied. “You pretend like she’s never done anything but lawyer crap for us. She’s the one who stayed with us when Mom and Dad were traveling. She would order pizza and play games with us. I don’t understand why you hate her now.”
“She’s trying to help.” It seemed obvious to him.
“She sticks her nose in where it doesn’t belong.” Oscar wasn’t having it. “And who hired you? Shouldn’t that be my and Miranda’s decision? Obviously dear old Dad can’t make one since he’s crazy. I don’t know that you would be my choice.”
“Unfortunately, Isla is the one making the decisions here. You don’t have power of attorney,” David replied. “Do you know what that means? Your mother set it up in the event that she was incapacitated or died. Isla makes the decisions for your family now and for the foreseeable future.”
“What?” Oscar stood up. “Why? We’re freaking adults.”
“I told you,” Miranda said under her breath. “I told you Mom wouldn’t leave it in my hands. She certainly wouldn’t leave it in yours.”
Oscar turned to her, his face flushing. “What about the money?”
She shrugged.
It appeared he would have to explain all the legal ramifications to them. “Isla controls it until such time as your father can handle it again. That’s highly unlikely. Or until you reach the age of twenty-seven, and even then all you get is the trust they set up for you. If you were expecting an inheritance, try to remember your father isn’t dead. The money all went to him.”
“But he could go to jail.” Oscar couldn’t seem to understand.
“That’s why Isla is there to make sure the money is properly taken care of and everyone gets what they need.” It was kind of fun to watch the little shit squirm. Not that he would squirm for long. The sad part was he was certain Isla wouldn’t abuse her position in order to squeeze someone out of pettiness.
“I thought she would leave the power to Aunt Cressida.” Oscar sat back like he’d lost something. “She’s Mom’s sister.”
“She’s also an alcoholic,” Miranda replied. “Aunt Cressida would spend it all. Mom did it to protect us. You’re not going to lose your apartment.”
“Unless that bitch decides I don’t need one,” he shot back.
And he’d had enough of Oscar. “All right, you can leave. I need you to understand that if you decide to go public with how much you hate your father, there’s a clause in your trust fund that covers drugs. If you’re caught with drugs or arrested for any violent offense, you can potentially lose your trust fund.”
His eyes went wide. “I can lose my money for smoking weed? You know it’s not even illegal most places.”
“I didn’t write the trust, son. However, I will use it to fuck you over if you continue to behave like an angry toddler,” he p
romised. “It’s my job to make sure your father gets the best outcome possible. If you get in my way, I’ll deal with you. And I’d be kinder to Isla because she’s the one who holds your balls in the palm of her hand. You don’t want her to have to make a fist, do you?”
Oscar stood. “We’ll see how long you last, asshole. And tell Isla I can get a lawyer, too. I’ll fight her over this. I won’t let her steal everything.”
He stormed out, his sneakers squeaking on the stairs.
Miranda sighed. “Well, that went well. He can’t break the trust, can he? Mom was right to structure it the way she did. He would blow through it all and then come asking for mine, and I would be a dipshit and help him.”
“No, he won’t be able to break it unless he can prove Isla is using it to serve herself. What he can do is cause an even worse scandal.” It was time to head back. They had a long drive ahead of them. “Will you at least let me know if you’re contacted by the press or the DA? It’s never a good idea to talk to police without a lawyer present.”
“Someone will come with us? Because I know they’ll want to talk,” Miranda said.
“Yes, I’ll have someone from my firm go with you and advise you,” he promised. “And your brother. I’m worried about him intentionally incriminating your father.”
“I’ll talk to him.” Miranda glanced back to the door where Isla had disappeared. “He’s not usually this nasty. He doesn’t handle change well. And I’ll make sure he studies up on the disease Dad has. Maybe it will help him understand. Is my dad okay?”
“He’s safe in the hospital. I’m going to try my hardest to ensure he stays there.”
“But he’s going to die from this thing, right?”
There was only one answer to that. “Yes.”
“I’m going to be an orphan soon.” Her voice had gotten soft. “That sounds silly since I’m an adult and orphans are kids who can’t feed themselves. I can take care of myself. I’ll have all that money waiting for me. But I would give it back to have my mom. She won’t watch me get married or hold her grandchild. My dad won’t walk me down the aisle. I wonder, if he could go back, would he do it again?”
His heart clenched because he thought he knew what she was asking. “Play football?”
“Yeah.”
“I think it depends. For some of us, it was the only way out of poverty. I think it was that way for your father. If he had to choose between where he is now and not having you and your brother, I bet he would do it all over again.” How many times had he asked himself the same question?
“What does any of it mean if they’re not here?” She sniffled and stood. “Please tell Isla I’m sorry. I’m sorry I said the things I did. If she says she didn’t have an affair with my dad, I believe her. And please let her know I don’t feel the same way my brother does. I always considered her a big sister and I . . . I’m going to need her badly. Will you do that?”
He nodded, sympathy welling inside him. She was young, and such a burden had been placed on her shoulders. “Yes and, Miranda, if you need anything, anything at all, call me. I mean it.”
“Thank you. Do you mind letting yourself out? I think I’ll take a nap. I didn’t sleep much last night.”
He watched as she walked up the stairs, his heart heavy.
* * *
• • •
“Are you all right?”
It was the first time he’d talked to her since she’d gotten into his Audi and they left Oscar and Miranda behind. She watched the shoreline as he drove, the waves rolling in. She’d sat outside while David talked to the kids, but she hadn’t cried, wouldn’t cry. She’d done enough of that. “I’m fine. I always knew I wasn’t Oscar’s favorite person, but he surprised me today. It won’t change the way I do my job. You don’t have to worry about that.”
His hands tightened on the steering wheel. “I wasn’t worried about you doing your job.”
He fell silent again.
She hated the tension between them, hated how the whole afternoon had gone, hated that she hadn’t been able to take his hand when he’d offered it to her. He’d walked out onto the back porch and held a hand out to help her up. She’d wanted to take that hand and let him pull her until she was against his chest, his arms around her. Instead she’d stood on her own and tried not to think about how hurt he’d looked.
Now he was staring at the road, and the distance between them was her fault.
The worst part was the guilt descending on her as she seriously considered what she’d done. Carey had told her some things he’d heard about David and she’d simply believed him. Or perhaps she’d taken his advice so he wouldn’t think poorly of her. No matter what he said, she would always be his son’s fiancée in his mind.
She felt guilty about David because he was different. Her feelings for him were stronger, more compelling than anything she’d felt in years, and she was coming to him as a woman, not the hero-worshipping girl she’d been. If Austin had lived, that worship would have been tested. They would have evolved as a couple, but because he’d died, he remained perfect in her mind, and guilt swamped her at the thought of truly giving herself to another man.
Was she willing to live the rest of her life like this? Being alive and yet not truly living?
David had heard a lot of gossip about her and how she’d had an affair with Trey, and yet he’d been warm and open. She wasn’t giving him the same consideration. She’d heard that word—cancer—and it triggered a reaction. She’d pulled in on herself. She’d judged him for not behaving the way she thought he should, and it was wrong of her not to give him a chance to explain.
“Do you think I had an affair with my client?”
His eyes were steady on the road. “No.”
“Why?”
“Uhm, because you told me you didn’t. I assume you don’t have a reason to lie to me. I’m fairly good at knowing when someone’s lying. It’s a criminal defense skill. Unless you’re telling me something different now.”
“No. I’ve never had an affair with a married man. I’ve barely had affairs with single men.” She was a heinous bitch. She’d soaked up his faith and given back none of her own. “Carey had a talk with me. He thinks it would be a bad idea for me to get involved with you—and not on a business level.”
He nodded slowly, not looking her way. His tone was even as he spoke. “I assumed there was a reason for the sudden chill factor. It’s okay. We don’t have to be superfriendly to work together. I hope whatever he said doesn’t make you worried about my skill. If you’re trying to find another attorney, I’d like to know now. We’re already spending money on the case and we’re a small firm.”
A small firm funded by a billionaire, but she wasn’t going to argue with him. “Not at all. He thinks you’re absolutely the best man for the job and I’ll send you a sizable retainer when I get back to my computer. I’m sorry I haven’t done that yet.”
“I know you’re good for it. I was merely trying to figure out what Kendrick’s problem is with me. Now I know it’s personal,” he replied. “Well, like I said, we’re adults. I think we can handle a civil working relationship. I appreciate you coming out with me today, but I’ll take it from here. I’ll keep you up to date on everything.”
He wasn’t going to make this easy on her. “That’s not what I want. I know the smart thing would be to take Carey’s advice and pull away, but I’ve hated sitting beside you and not talking.”
“You want to be friends?” His tone was perfectly bland, polite.
“Are you going to make me say it?”
“Oh, yes. You’re definitely going to have to say it.” He slid a long look her way. “I’ll be honest, I’m not sure what it is.”
She took a deep breath. In for a penny . . . “I’m very attracted to you and I don’t know what to do about it. Well, I do know what I should do, but I’m findin
g it hard to follow through. It’s complicated.”
His eyes back on the road, he smoothly turned toward the city. “How about you start by asking me about whatever it was that Carey told you.”
She was quiet for a moment, feeling like a complete idiot. She’d kind of laid herself bare and he hadn’t said anything. Was that some form of punishment? Or was he being supercareful?
“I’m attracted to you, too,” he said quietly. “And you’re right. It’s very complicated.”
Something settled deep inside her and she knew she owed him an honest explanation. “Carey talked to me about your wife.”
“He knew my wife?”
Wow, they did not need the air conditioner. His tone alone could chill the car. “I believe he was telling me what he’d heard.”
Another beat of chilly silence passed. “And you didn’t think to ask me about it?”
“David, I was wrong. I’ll be honest, I’m a little turned around and I’m not making the best decisions right now. It’s been a hard couple of days.” And that was an excellent reason to not go through with this. She should take what he’d offered, a civil working relationship, and maybe that could change somewhere down the line when they’d put some distance between themselves and the case.
His hand came out, covering hers. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. It’s a touchy subject, but I shouldn’t take it out on you. You’ve had a rough afternoon. I don’t want to make it worse. Do you want to hear my side? It’s okay if you don’t. You need to understand that you’re in control of this. I’m not going to push you. Even if I want to.”
Why couldn’t she have met him at some other time? He was the absolutely perfect combination of smart and sexy, confident enough in himself that he didn’t need to always be in control. She flipped her hand over and tangled her fingers with his for a moment, letting the warmth of his skin sink into hers. And then she pulled away. “Yes, I would like to hear your side. Carey talked about how she got cancer. I know a little bit about that.”
