“That’s why I’ve been so spacey, I guess,” Jessie said quickly, opening her bottom drawer to grab her handbag. “I’m just sick. I’m taking a sick day, Scarlet.”
“Do you want me to get you a cab? Maybe Fin’s driver is still downstairs.”
“No!” At the sharp retort and Scarlet’s surprised reaction, Jessie cleared her throat. “No, thanks. I just want to—I’ll go home and take something. I’ll be fine. I just need to take the rest of the day off.”
She was halfway out of the cube when, way down the hall near Lainie’s desk, she saw the door to Cade’s office open.
She could face him down or leave him cold.
Feeling completely chicken and desperate to be alone, she made her choice.
“Bye, Scarlet. I’ll call you.”
Cade fought the urge to shove the director of subscriptions out the door, instead of using every people skill he had to close the meeting diplomatically and quickly.
How long could that guy blow hot air about demographics and distribution? Couldn’t he read the edge in Cade’s body language? He didn’t want to sit and listen to a presentation on tip-in cards, for God’s sake. He wanted—no, he needed—to get to Jessie before the memo he’d signed was printed, distributed and discussed. But his assistant had scheduled the meeting in his only open block for the morning and he’d been yanked into the conference room before he could get to Jessie.
Hustling down the hallway, he prayed she kept lunch open. He had to explain, had to—
Was that Jessie’s auburn braid flying out the lobby?
As he turned the corner to her cube, all he could see was Scarlet standing there, hands on her hips and a look of utter dismay on her face.
He jerked to a halt and glanced at the empty chair at Jessie’s desk.
“Where is she?”
Scarlet’s eyes widened a bit at his demand. “She just went home sick.”
Oh, man. “What’s wrong with her?”
“Well, I would have chalked it up to lovesickness based on the fact that she got flowers on Friday and still looked loopy on Monday, but I don’t know.”
“Did she say what was wrong?”
Scarlet shook her head. “It was the weirdest thing, Cade. I told her about the shadow internship and she—”
“You told her?”
“Well, duh. She works for me. What is the problem with telling her?”
There would be no problem if he weren’t sleeping with her and making promises he hadn’t kept.
“Nothing,” he said absently, noticing she’d left her computer on and her desk in a state of disarray. He swallowed an angry curse at the director of subscriptions. If he hadn’t been delayed…
No, that wouldn’t have made any difference. He’d screwed up all by himself.
“She wasn’t that excited about the shadowing job,” Scarlet said.
No surprise there. “Would you do me a favor, Scarlet? Would you tell my assistant to cancel the rest of my appointments today?”
She frowned at him. “Yeah. But why?”
“I’m going home sick.”
He turned and headed for the lobby, but still heard Scarlet’s parting shot. “Does someone want to tell me what the heck is going on around here?”
There was only one person who would understand. One person Jessie could talk to. She prayed he wasn’t out riding or roping or ranching.
She needed her daddy. Mom would have been better, but she buried the ache that accompanied that thought and managed to get home on the subway without shedding a single tear.
She waited to call until she’d let herself into the cluttered studio apartment she and Lainie shared. It was only nine o’clock in Colorado, but Travis Clayton could be anywhere on the Silver Moon at that hour.
To Jessie’s relief, her father answered his cell phone on the first ring and admitted that he was still at the kitchen table drinking his coffee. With the time difference, that wasn’t so unusual. Except he was an early riser, a hard worker. Since her mother had died, however, Dad spent a lot of time in the kitchen, thinking. Travis wasn’t even fifty years old; he should start to think about a life. A new life.
But that wasn’t the purpose of her call.
In ten minutes, she’d explained the situation, leaving out the fact that she’d spent the weekend with Cade. Some things a father didn’t need to know.
“You shouldn’t have run off, Jess,” Travis said immediately. She knew that already. She’d decided that on the subway ride home. She should have confronted Cade. But what was done, was done, and now she needed to figure out a plan.
“I know, Dad. But it’s complicated.” Complications. Didn’t Cade say they could avoid them? Then, wham. One big, fat, nasty complication called deceit.
“In this man’s defense, honey, he doesn’t know the situation. He doesn’t understand why you wouldn’t want a job that is—what did that woman call it—the brass ring of internships? And the ticket to a paying job?”
“Daddy,” Jessie sighed and curled deeper into the secondhand sofa she and Lainie had recently recovered in shiny polished cotton. “I told you why I came here. It’s not about the money.”
“You shouldn’t have gone there without telling me why.” She heard the note of gruffness in the reprimand. The note that usually meant his heart felt something different than what he was saying.
“You would have tried to stop me.”
“For good reason.” In the background, porcelain clinked and she imagined her father drinking from his favorite white mug, surrounded by a country kitchen that overlooked the most beautiful valley and mountains in the world. “There’s nothing to be gained by dredging up that lady’s history, Jessie. She was a fifteen-year-old girl when she had you. I’ve no doubt the last thing a woman running a big New York City magazine wants is a twenty-three-year-old reminder of her past.”
“All the more reason for that past not to shadow her around for half the day.”
“Honey, listen to me. She has no reason to suspect you are her daughter.”
“Daddy, listen to me.” She stood as though it would help her make the point to him. “I am the daughter of Travis and Lauren Clayton and no amount of irrefutable DNA can change that.”
“Aw, angel, I know that.”
“But, Daddy, it’s just that…” Mom’s gone. “If there’s any chance Fin and I could have a relationship…well, I’d really, really like that.”
“Do you feel any kind of connection at all to this woman, this Fin?”
Jessie sighed. The only thing connected to Finola Elliott was Charisma magazine and Elliott Publication Holdings. She didn’t seem to have any other life. “Well, there’s definitely a resemblance. Maybe you’d have to be looking for it, but it’s there.”
“That’s not the kind of connection I meant.”
“I know. Well, no. I’ve just watched her, and stayed out of her way.”
He was silent for a moment. Then he sighed and said, “Maybe you need to get in her way.”
He was right. “Dad, she registered her name on an adoption Web site. Don’t you think that might mean she’s hoping to find me? Hoping for the same relationship I want?”
“I don’t know, honey. She’s living in a different world and from what you say, she’s a Type A workaholic. She’s never had children, Jessie. She doesn’t sound too maternal.”
You got that right. Unlike Jessie’s mother, who had doted and adored her daughter. “She’s not,” Jessie acknowledged wistfully.
“I just don’t want you to get hurt, sweetheart. By any of these people.”
Too late for that. But Jessie didn’t want to cloud the issue by discussing her relationship with Cade. That romance wasn’t going to last anyway. She couldn’t trust him. He didn’t even tell her about the decision. She squeezed her eyes against the pain that seared her every time she thought of it.
“You’re probably right, Daddy. You usually are.”
She heard his soft chuckle. “Listen,
if there was some way you could find out that she is looking for you, more than just registering on a Web site, but really looking, then I’d feel better about you telling her who you are.”
“Yeah, I would, too. This is like living a lie.” Jessie paced from one end of the tiny studio to the other. “I hate it.”
“I bet you do. And maybe the shadowing thing is just the ticket, Jessie. You can really get to know her and maybe you could find out if she’s willing to face her past.”
She paused by the door and flipped through some envelopes that Lainie had left in the bill basket they’d hung on the wall. “I guess you’re right. The shadowing would give me the perfect opportunity to do some digging.”
“She won’t be suspicious of you,” her father reassured her. “Just be yourself and take advantage of what they’ve offered you.”
“I know, I feel so bad acting all creepy about the assignment. It’s a vote of confidence and, you know, I may have started this little secret job for one reason, but I really like the business. And I’m good at it.”
“I have no doubt about that. Does that mean you’re never coming home?” He couldn’t hide the note of disappointment in his voice.
“I’ll be back,” she promised. But then she thought of Cade. Not only did she love working at the magazine, she loved being with him. But that feeling might not be mutual, and her father sounded like he needed a little reassurance, too. “Hey,” she said with a heavy injection of warmth in her voice. “You know how much I love you.”
“I just want you to be happy, sweetheart.”
“I know.” And she was happy…yesterday.
Cade stood with his knuckle in midair, about to knock. He’d raced to Jessie’s apartment, charmed his way in the front door when another tenant left, found her apartment number on the mailbox, and bounded up the four flights of stairs two at a time.
His heart hammered steadily, but not from tearing up the stairs. Through the thin wooden door, he heard her voice.
And froze at the sound of her words.
This is like living a lie. I hate it.
What was like living a lie? He leaned an inch closer to the door.
I guess you’re right. The shadowing would give me the perfect opportunity to do some digging.
His gut clenched as he listened to her describe a “secret little job.”
I’ll be back. Hey, you know how much I love you.
The words punched him so hard, he almost reeled right down the stairs. Without ever knocking, he turned and got as far from Jessie Clayton’s door as he could.
Chloe Davenport looked up from the filing cabinet that took up part of the long wall that ran along the sides of Cade and Fin’s executive offices.
“He’s not in, Jessie,” Chloe said. “And Diana’s not here either.” Although the two assistants were technically assigned to each executive, they often stepped in for one another.
“Is he expected in today?” Jessie asked, adjusting her glasses out of habit as she looked at the lovely brunette and mentally noted that she’d never seen Chloe wear that shantung silk dress before. Of course she hadn’t. As Lainie noted long ago, Chloe never repeated.
“He should be in shortly. Do you have a meeting scheduled with him, Jessie?”
“Well, no, not really.” Maybe she should get on his calendar. That might be the only way he’d ever talk to her again. She still couldn’t believe he hadn’t called her all afternoon or all evening. She’d checked to see if the phone was working so many times that Lainie started to tease her.
Even though it had been no teasing matter. To avoid the discussion, Jessie had gone to a movie alone, relieved when her roommate crashed early. Jessie had risen at five, and was out the door to work before Lainie had stirred.
“I’ll have him call you when he gets in,” Chloe said, then she narrowed her blue eyes. “Are you feeling better, by the way? Scarlet said you went home sick yesterday.”
“I am, thank you.” Jessie took a deep, steadying breath. “And I’m ready to start my shadowing assignment today.”
Chloe’s face brightened. “Yes! Congratulations on that. Fin is usually in way before eight, but she had to run an errand this morning. I’ll buzz you when she’s here, so you can get started.”
“Great. I can’t wait.”
“You can’t wait for what?”
Jessie’s legs threatened to give way at the sound of Cade’s voice. Mustering more indifference than she could have imagined possible, she turned to see him strolling toward his office.
“Shadow intern, here.” She gave him a sassy mock salute. “Reporting for duty.”
His eyes narrowed so imperceptibly she was certain Chloe hadn’t noticed. But then Chloe hadn’t spent forty-eight straight hours memorizing every expression on his face.
“Glad you’re feeling better,” he said, just pointedly enough to make the hair on the back of her neck stand up. He paused at his assistant’s desk and picked up a few pink message slips, and when he looked down to read them, instead of at her, Jessie cursed the disappointment that kicked her as hard as Oscar’s hind leg.
“Cade.” The word was out before she could check herself in front of Chloe.
He looked up. “Hmmm?” Speaking of indifference. What was going on with him?
“No complications, huh?” Forget Chloe. This was too important.
He drew back at her words, searching her face. “Jessie,” he said slowly, indicating his office with one hand, “why don’t you come in here so we can talk?”
He let her wait for a few minutes alone in his office while he looked through the same messages that had been on Diana’s desk since the night before.
Two could play this game, Jessie Clayton.
Finally, he strolled in and closed the door behind him. Just in case the resolve he’d swore he’d have around her melted and she ended up in his arms.
“So what made you change your mind?” he asked, purposely keeping all emotion out of his voice. “I hadn’t expected enthusiasm.”
She turned from the window. In the time he made her wait, she’d taken off her glasses. So she really wanted to play dirty.
“I don’t see that I have a choice,” she said, her voice unnaturally bright. “And I think I’ve acted foolishly. Of course I want the opportunity to shadow Fin.”
He nodded thoughtfully, but didn’t make a move. The only sound in the room was the soft ticking of the brass clock on his desk.
“What is the matter with you?” she finally asked. “Why are you acting so weird?”
He released a little breath he hadn’t realized he’d been holding. “Why don’t you tell me how mad you are that I made that decision after you asked me not to?”
He’d give her a chance to tell him the truth. Maybe she would.
She waved her hand casually. “Oh, I’m over it.”
Or maybe she wouldn’t. “Really? That was easy.”
“Cade.” She took a step closer, as though physically unable to keep this far away from him. He knew the feeling. “You’re the one who broke my trust. I wish you had told me first, but—”
He held up his hand to stop her. “Just tell me the truth, Jessie. What changed your mind?”
She shrugged. “I realized it was a good opportunity and I should take it.”
“Uh-huh.”
“And what changed yours, Cade?”
“Mine? Honestly, it was Fin’s decision to choose you. But I never had a chance to tell you that.”
She looked dubious. “You had a chance, but that’s not what I mean. What changed your mind about me? Why are you acting like a different man than you were Sunday afternoon?”
“We’re at work,” he said coolly.
“I thought you weren’t ashamed.”
The crack in her voice squeezed his heart. “I’m not,” he said, forcing a casual tone. “I figured you’d be so angry at me that—”
“I’m not, Cade.” She moved closer, her fresh floral scent torturing him. �
�I’m going to make the best of the situation. It’s a great opportunity and I’ll take advantage of it.”
Take advantage being the operative phrase.
Well, two could take advantage of a situation. Let her think she was getting inside information. She wouldn’t find out anything that would help one of their competitors; he’d make sure of that.
And, in the meantime, he could take advantage of the situation, couldn’t he? His arms already itched to hold her and he could taste her kiss.
As though her mind was on the same wavelength, she closed the space between them and looked up at him. Her arms slid around him and no force of nature could keep him from embracing her.
“I missed you,” she whispered, looking up with nothing but total sincerity in those lovely green eyes.
“I missed you, too,” he said. And that was no lie.
As he covered her mouth for the kiss she offered, the torture just increased. Sweet, blissful, achy torture.
Her tongue slipped into his mouth and he took it, pulling her into him to feel the response he couldn’t fake under any circumstances.
As much as he tried to think of this as taking advantage of an opportunity, he knew he couldn’t make love to Jessie anymore.
That would be a huge mistake.
Seven
Jessie arrived in the empty Charisma conference room a few minutes before eight-thirty. Fin would be in any moment for the morning meeting she held with various staff members every day. This would be the fourth session Jessie had attended as Fin’s shadow intern, her fourth day in her new assignment.
And although he’d done everything he could to avoid anything resembling personal contact, Cade McMann was scheduled to be the only staff member in attendance at this, a management meeting, so she’d see him, too, in a matter of minutes.
She took a slow, deep breath at the prospect of being in the room with both Fin and Cade. Because the only thing more perplexing than the cool shoulder she was getting from Cade was the contrasting impression Fin had been making over the past few days.
Finola Elliott was tough, driven, smart, patient and strategic. She wore exquisite clothes and hid a small sprinkling of freckles with a light coat of makeup, but by the end of the day, the dusting of delicate pigmentation was visible. She always had an easy smile, and a very subtle sense of humor.
Dynasties:The Elliots, Books 7-12 Page 37
