by Tori Brooks
Tim stood ready to keep Sara from approaching Teri and glanced at Kyle. Both long time friends and colleagues of Paul, Kyle and Tim knew each other well and could work together. Kyle was Paul’s attorney; Tim was off the clock.
“Sara,” Tim spoke firmly to draw her attention from Teri. “You know very well Paul wrote his will to make a point. You denied him a divorce and a chance for happiness. He didn’t want you to have the money. He didn’t want to reward you for being a bitch.”
“She barely knew him. Not like I did. He would have left her in the end.”
“You can justify your actions any way you like, but I’ve seen Paul’s will rewritten a few times over the years, you were never going to inherit more than you did. At one point he cut you out of the will entirely.”
“But to leave it to her, not even his own children.”
“Blaine recently convinced Paul that they needed to become contributing members of society and not having to work for living proved contrary to that goal. Be grateful he left them what he did.”
Tim turned to Kyle. “I don’t think anything more needs to be said. I believe we’re done here?”
“For now. The actual dispersals will take longer and, as you know, there are questions regarding the handling of Teri’s share.”
Tim nodded. He turned to Nicholas and motioned for him to take the children out of the room.
“We’ll take Teri out of here now.”
“Of course. That concludes the affairs of Paul Lovett. Thank you, Ladies and Gentlemen,” Kyle announced formally.
Tim walked over to Kayley and whispered in her ear. She nodded and took Flynn’s free hand, leading him and Teri out of the room. Kyle had a conference room set aside for them to retreat to so Teri could have a chance to recover. One of the interns should be setting up a lunch in there right about now. Tim retrieved Kayley and Teri’s purses and followed them out, closing the door behind him.
Chapter Three
“Dev, give it up,” Kenny sighed in irritation. Dev’s pacing was getting on his nerves. First he paced and stomped through the house because Paul was living with them, now the same thing because he wasn’t. Kenny was pretty sure he wasn’t this annoying at fifteen.
“Where’s Bryan?”
Kenny should have predicted that response. Whenever Dev felt unusually stressed or overwhelmed, he turned to Bryan. As far as Kenny could tell, Bryan didn’t do much besides be a good listener. It was enough of a habit now that Bryan’s mere presence seemed to calm Dev.
“It’s just,” Dev paced for a moment more, then settled on the edge of Kenny’s desk. “Mom’s upset. She’s depressed over losing Paul. It’s not fair, she lost Dad. I didn’t like Paul, but I wanted her to be happy.”
“Give her time,” Kenny said.
When Paul moved in, Dev was in a foul mood for a week. Even Bryan started avoiding him. The same thing when Paul started planning his retirement. Worse actually. Now any mention of Paul got Dev going all over again, but for an entirely different reason. Paul talked Kenny into taking a few psychology classes to help handle Jess and Dev. It was time he started using it.
Dev leaned against the wall, his back to Kenny, and sulked. Kenny steeled himself for the attempt.
“Listen, apparently being a pain in the ass didn’t mean anything to him. I mean, Paul left you five mil. He obviously didn’t hate you. You’re a pseudo-stepson. He understood.
“He also understood some things we needed to do to get the band going.” Kenny tried to change the subject and pull Dev out of this dark place he was in.
“Yeah, he bought us a rock star for a mentor.”
“Yeah,” Kenny hesitated. He wasn’t so sure this particular rock star was a good idea. Flynn competed with Paul for Teri not that long ago. That was going to bring back memories. Not to mention Flynn’s history with women. Dev clearly didn’t know and Kenny didn’t want to be the one to tell him. “Yeah, he did. So settle down and help me with Jess so we still have a band for Flynn Peterson to help us with.”
“Fine, you do your crazy classes and I’ll handle Jess.”
Dev walked out and Kenny didn’t get more than a few pages read in his psychology book before Bryan and Jess walked in, somehow missing Dev.
“Jess, I’m just saying to take it easy on him. He shy and really suffering with this modeling thing,” Bryan said in his reasonable and easy-going manner that made him so effective at handling Dev.
“If you’re worried about Dev, go spend some quality time with him. Break him out of this guilty mood. Elsewhere,” Kenny suggested, waving them away before they could sit down.
Kenny wished he could talk to Paul again. Dev’s guilty depression was over Kenny’s head and he knew it. Teri was only half there now. She got up and made breakfast, sometimes. Frequently she was in pajamas or sweats, with no more done to her appearance than running a brush through her hair. He supposed it was better than when she briefly broke up with Paul and wouldn’t leave her room. Kenny just wished she didn’t remind him of an extra in a zombie movie. Maybe he’d get lucky and it’d make Flynn change his mind about chasing her after all.
• • •
Flynn arranged to come by Teri’s house for the first time before the kids were out of school. Kenny and Jess already graduated so Nicholas said he’d try to get them out of the house too. Flynn wanted to talk to Nicholas before meeting the boys and Nicholas appeared to want the same thing.
Tim confirmed Nicholas wasn’t included in the planning of Flynn’s unofficial invitation back into Teri’s life, and suggested feeling out the situation before telling him. Flynn didn’t think Nicholas would be fooled for a moment about why Flynn was there, and didn’t see him as the problem Tim did. They met before and Flynn felt they understood each other. Still, it was best to get these things taken care of in private.
Nicholas answered the door when he rang. “Come in,” he backed out of the way to let Flynn inside. “I managed to get Jess out the door but not Kenny, he’s in the basement. I swear he’s developing that extra sense Teri accused Tim of having.” Nicholas took Flynn’s coat and gestured for him to follow him into the kitchen. Flynn sat on one of the bar stools while Nicholas returned to putting away groceries.
“Teri’s upstairs asleep for the moment. She hasn’t been sleeping very well at night.”
“How’s she holding up?” Flynn asked.
“She’s getting there.” Nicholas stopped, walked over to look out at the living room and down the stairs for a moment before returning to stand opposite Flynn. He leaned forward and continued in a quieter voice. “Want to fill me in on what’s going on here? Don’t give me ‘developing the band’ either.”
“Not buying that one?” Flynn grinned.
“Paul could have found any number of musicians to do this. You’ve still got an active career and no time for this project. That’s setting aside the glaringly obvious fact that you two were in direct competition for Teri.”
“You know Paul knew he was dying?”
“We discovered that after the fact, yes. He told you before?”
“Just between us?”
Nicholas nodded and glanced over Flynn’s shoulder again. Keeping an eye out for Kenny, Flynn decided.
“Yes. He wanted as much support in place for Teri as he could. The project wasn’t completely a set up; he did want to give the kids a hand. Rather than adding a stranger to the mix, he called me.”
“You still want her.”
“In the long term, yes. More importantly, she knows me and I have an interest in helping her recover.”
“It came to my attention you were still married when you started chasing Teri.”
Flynn didn’t expect that, but nodded to concede the point. “My marriage was suffering before I met her. I was waiting for Wendy to file, she had more cause than I did. I lost Teri, but it didn’t change anything. I finally filed myself.”
“Your third I believe Paul said?”
“It was. You’re rethinking
whether I’m such a good thing for her.”
“It’s her decision, but yes. You made her laugh, she seems to like you, but you’re a little weak in the commitment department. Chasing her while you were still married doesn’t look good.”
“I can’t argue that. I can’t even tell you where the problem comes from. I promised Paul I’d take care of her even if things don’t work out between us, and I will. You’re a shoulder for her to lean on. I can be too, but mostly I’ll get her back on her feet.”
“Of course you will, women can’t resist you,” Nicholas sighed. “I have to trust Paul knew what he was doing and go along with it. I assume Tim’s in on this?”
Flynn nodded. “If things do work out, Tim will probably be watching me even closer than you will. I know it. It’s part of the price for getting a second chance.”
Nicholas nodded in agreement of Flynn’s assessment.
“And as a bonus,” Flynn added with a smile, “I might just get this struggling new band on their feet.”
“Get Bryan on task with his so-called drum solos and Teri will be thrilled.”
Flynn and Nicholas talked about Teri’s talent as Lexi Frost while waiting for her to wake up or the boys to come home from school. The impromptu photo-shoot that first brought Teri to Flynn’s attention produced fantastic photos.
“She always was good at improvising,” Nicholas agreed.
“Is she retiring? She seemed to love it.” Flynn couldn’t quite see her giving it up.
“Taking a break officially. Maybe she’ll continue at a reduced pace. Money’s not an issue anymore, but she’s made a name for herself photographing nudes and she enjoys it. She used to do what now may be called accidental porn.”
“I know. Drew showed me some of her early work as Lexi, then when I learned her real name I found what I could.”
Nicholas laughed. “Stalker.”
“Not as bad as Paul was.”
“Or Allen either. He was relentless.”
Flynn smiled. “Well, then I must be onto something.”
They were silent for a moment, both lost in memories. “We kept postponing that studio appointment, she never did shoot the band again,” Flynn said.
“I understand Charlie’s left the band now.”
“Yeah. We’ve done a couple of gigs with a new guy, it just didn’t have the same chemistry. Zane brought Hayden Cross into the studio to record with us, that didn’t go over. His style’s just too different, we couldn’t work together.”
“Too bad, that would have been an interesting mix.” Kenny’s voice from the dining room startled Flynn and Nicholas and they turned to see Kenny lounging at the dining room table, head resting on his crossed arms.
Nicholas frowned. “How long have you been there?”
“Don’t worry, I already knew Teri had a split personality.”
“Keep it to yourself,” Nicholas warned.
“Seems to be the house motto. Maybe that’s what we should’ve named the band.” Kenny sighed, “I always do, Nicholas, chill.” He turned his hazel eyes on Flynn.
“Hi.” Flynn gave him a casual wave.
“I appreciate the help, don’t get me wrong, but I know you and Paul didn’t get along,” Kenny said.
“So you’re wondering why I’m here,” Flynn finished and glanced at Nicholas.
“Don’t look at me.” Nicholas shook his head.
Flynn turned back to Kenny. “Paul and I reached an understanding. He had a choice of who to bring in to give you guys a boost, he offered it to me.”
“Consolation prize, keeping the enemy close, or what?”
“Because if it wasn’t for the personal connection he wouldn’t have chosen me?”
“It’s pretty much acknowledged Zane makes the decisions for In Like Flynn. No offense.”
Flynn nodded with a chuckle. “None taken. Zane’s a control freak, however, he doesn’t do it single handedly. We all have a part in the process. I actually am qualified to do this. Officially.”
“Unofficially?”
“Kenny, quit prying,” Nicholas warned.
“No, it’s okay. It’s better if we have an open enough relationship that Kenny can ask questions. Although the ‘keep it to yourself’ motto might be worth considering. Paul,” Flynn hesitated, looking for the best way to phrase what he wanted to say. “Paul implied you might have questions or concerns that fell outside the subject of the band. So, on a personal level, you’re right, Paul and I didn’t hit it off. In fact, the first time I met him I dearly wanted to deck the man. Also, the second time.”
“You were after Teri.”
“Yes, and Paul was pretty determined I wouldn’t win that particular competition. Once they hooked up, I looked at the relationship, decided she was happy, and I let it go.”
“Really?” Nicholas asked.
“No choice, mate.” Flynn answered Nicholas and turned his attention back to Kenny. “Teri told me about your band on a flight once, Paul knew that.”
“And we would have been your in with Teri.”
“It crossed my mind. Paul probably knew that.”
“So why invite a wolf to the party?”
Flynn hesitated. “Look, Kenny, is anyone else going to be asking?”
Kenny shrugged. “Teri maybe. She’s got to wonder what the hell he was thinking.”
“Teri I can handle. I meant Cassie or Dev specifically.”
“Only Kenny knows about you and Teri,” Nicholas confirmed. “Go ahead and tell him.”
Flynn slipped off the bar stool and took a seat at the table by Kenny.
“Listen, Paul knew he was dying. He was looking for someone to work with you, but he also wanted to build a support network for Teri. He knew this would be rough on her. He called me in because I chased Teri. I have an interest in making this band work for you that has nothing to do with the job. And I have an interest in getting her through the mourning stage.”
“Please tell me you’re joking.” Kenny sat back in his chair, a look of disbelief on his face.
“No. I didn’t have to be at the reading of the will. Paul put me there to have more friendly faces for her.”
“She’s not some vase or chair that he can just leave you in a will!” Kenny snapped.
“No, she’s not. Teri knows I was interested before, we didn’t get very far because . . . well because Paul had a head start and was better prepared.”
Kenny’s eyes flicked briefly to Nicholas and Flynn smiled.
“Don’t worry about Nicholas, we understand each other. Although I’m not sure how Teri’s going to react to my presence. On one hand, she’s hurting and she knows me. We got along okay. On the other hand, she loved Paul and lost him unexpectedly. And she knows that I was romantically interested. That Paul invited me here knowing the same thing is going to occur to her eventually.”
“Like an endorsement.”
“Think of it in a broader sense: he’s gone and he’s telling her it’s okay to move on. Offering a suggestion maybe, but it’s ultimately her decision. For now, I’m not here to replace Paul as much as be her friend. If she wants to cry and avoid me, that’s fine. Nicholas is here for her to lean on too.”
“Then why does she need you?”
Flynn shrugged and smiled mischievously. “I’m a hell of a lot of fun and very persuasive. Don’t worry, I won’t trick her. Okay, that’s not true. I may trick her, but not about anything important. I just want to get her out of the house and smiling again.”
“Fine, but I’m watching you.”
“Join the party.”
Kenny still looked apprehensive. Flynn smiled again.
“Feel free to tell Teri my dastardly plan if you like. Nothing I told you is going to be a surprise, assuming she’s stopped to think about it.”
“So, later then,” Nicholas hinted. “She hasn’t really thought much through yet.”
Chapter Four
“I haven’t thought what through?” Teri asked as she finished c
oming down the stairs. Nicholas and Kenny looked at her with guilty expressions. She didn’t expect Flynn to be here and stopped short.
Nicholas mentioned Flynn was in town and wanted to meet the boys. She didn’t pay attention to most of what Nicholas told her lately, although if she was going to get surprises like this she was going to have to start. She was wearing pajamas for crying out loud! And it was nearly three in the afternoon. And she’d been crying, so her eyes were probably puffy. Plus her hair was just hanging there because she didn’t do anything with it today. Okay, this week.
Teri’s self consciousness magnified when Flynn smiled at her. That impish, I’m-up-to-something smile. She wanted to reach for a camera for the first time since . . . she couldn’t remember.
“Your little boys are going to be rock stars.” Flynn didn’t seem to notice her appearance, which made her even more uncomfortable.
“You haven’t even heard them.”
“I don’t have to. Teri, you told me about them yourself on the flight to L.A., remember?”
“I’m biased. They could suck.”
“Hey!” Kenny sat up straight. Teri ignored him.
“You’d be amazed at what good editing can do to a song,” Flynn grinned as Kenny huffed and slumped in his chair.
“Then why are you here?”
“Refinement. Help them put it all together and make them successful.”
“Well, you know how to do that,” Teri admitted. She knew Paul wanted to help the boys out, but didn’t expect him to draft the only musician he knew to do the job. Surely he could have hired someone else.
Not that she was upset, Flynn was good. He was hot and successful when she was a teenager. He still was now that she had teenagers. Considering that, why would Paul choose another artist? The younger musicians might relate to the boys better, although she suspected Flynn and Jess were cast from similar molds. Plus, Flynn had more experience under his belt and that experience would be invaluable.
Having him hanging around felt weird. It was strange Paul didn’t consider that.
