The Marriage Project

by Leclaire, Day

  “It’s a standard retirement account, Harry. There’s nothing the least questionable about it.” She planted her hands on her hips and regarded him with acute suspicion. “If I didn’t know better, I’d swear you were stalling.”

  “Explain.”

  He folded his arms across his chest and fixed her with his best I’m-the-terror-of-the-business-world-and-you’d-better-start-trembling look. He also liked to chop up his words into hard demanding nuggets whenever he hoped to rattle her. On the whole it was quite unnerving. Perhaps it had something to do with his impressive height or the even more impressive shape stretching his suit to the limits. Not that any of that actually succeeded at unnerving her. Good heavens, no. She knew better than to allow such ridiculous tactics to work. Men like Harry Jones needed someone capable of standing up to them. And she was the perfect woman for the job.

  She shook Harley’s file under his nose. “You’ve gone over every portfolio, account, and record that I have in this office. Now you want to start at the beginning and do it all over again?” She slapped the file onto her desk. “There can only be one explanation.”

  “Which is?”

  “You’re stalling.”

  “Why would I do that?”

  “Gee, I don’t know, Harry.” Exasperation edged her voice along with a healthy dose of sarcasm. “I don’t suppose it has anything to do with keeping me from interfering with Sunny and Bartholomew’s engagement?”

  He lifted a single eyebrow, another of his cute little gestures. Actually, she found it irritatingly endearing. More often than not it expressed an element of wry humor. And more often than not she ended up dissolving into laughter. Maybe that’s why he did it. He seemed to like her laugh, a tender light filling his hazel eyes. She frowned. When had they developed such an intimate understanding of each other? She suspected it originated the day he’d held her in his arms while she’d told him about her childhood.

  “I’m shocked. You weren’t planning on interfering with your grandmother’s engagement, were you?” he asked.

  “Of course not.” At his continued silence, she shrugged, compelled to honesty. “At least, not much. I just want to make sure they’re not rushing into anything.”

  “That’s what I thought.” He picked up the folder she’d discarded. “Shall we take another look at your cousin’s investments?”

  “Not a chance. Not when there isn’t any point. I’ve done an incredible job these past four years. Admit it, Harry.”

  “You’ve done an incredible job.”

  “Then we’re through?”

  The tender light she’d noticed earlier warmed into something more passionate. “Not by a long shot. There’s still a lot left for us to accomplish.”

  “None of which has anything to do with Sunflower business, I gather.”

  A knock at the door saved him from having to reply and Rosy trotted into the office. “Hey, Jones. Some guy phoned who claims he’s a former client. He says it’s urgent and call him back right away. You gonna do what he says or should I tell him to go to hell for you?”

  “Does he have a name?”

  “Yeah. Bradford.”

  Her expression turned sly and Madison winced, wondering if Harry was familiar with that particular look or whether she should give him a heads up. Oh, why bother? It would be a lot more fun to watch him deal with whatever scheme her devious cousin had in mind.

  “I don’t suppose he’s related to the computer game people?” Rosy asked.

  “He’s not related to them, no.” Harry paused a beat. “He is the computer game people.”

  Rosy grinned. “I was hoping you’d say that.” She crossed the room and rattled a piece of paper in his face. “Here. This is for you.”

  Harry regarded it warily. “What is it?”

  “A list. When you go take care of his emergency, make him give you the games I wrote down. They’re not out yet, and I can’t wait any longer for them.”

  “Not a chance.”

  She narrowed her eyes, long mascara spears jutted fiercely in his direction. “So you’re sayin’ you’re a big shot, just not that big.”

  Taking advantage of Harry’s distraction, Madison twitched Harley’s file from between his fingers and buried it beneath a stack of papers on her desk. “I’m disappointed,” she baited in an undertone. “Here I thought you could do anything.”

  “Hell.” He snatched the paper from Rosy’s hand and glared at her. “If I didn’t owe you—” he muttered.

  “Yeah, yeah.” She swaggered across the room, her microscopic skirt swishing against the tops of her thighs. Turning at the door, she puckered her purple-coated lips and blew him a kiss. “Save the huffing and puffing for someone whose house blows down easy, Jones. Big bad wolves don’t scare me.”

  “How about lions?” he shot back. “Do they make you nervous? Because I have it on good authority that I have an excellent roar.”

  Her only response was a gurgling laugh better suited to a schoolgirl than the smart-mouthed hard-case she preferred to impersonate.

  Madison waited until the door closed before confronting Harry. “Okay, spill it. What do you owe her and why?”

  Instantly, his business mask slammed into place. “It’s a personal matter.”

  “What sort of—”

  “I have a suggestion,” he interrupted smoothly. “Why don’t you come with me when I call on Bradford?”

  She wasn’t about to let him get away with that one. “Are you asking in order to change the subject?”

  “The subject has been changed. You just haven’t realized it yet.” The lion had definitely taken over, his roar loud and clear. “I’m asking you to come along for another reason altogether.”

  Madison reached a decision. She’d let her questions about Rosy go for now. She could always bring it up when she required a quick change of topics herself. Besides, this sounded far more interesting than another day spent analyzing spreadsheets and financial plans. “All right, I’ll come. Although I’d like you to explain why you’ve suddenly decided I should.”

  “This has been a good week. We’ve had a few squabbles, sure. But you have to admit there’s something happening between us.”

  She didn’t bother denying it. They couldn’t look at each other without wanting to touch. And they couldn’t touch each other without needing to kiss. Soon the kisses would lead other places, places she wasn’t certain she could resist. “What does our relationship have to do with Bradford?”

  An odd tension filled him, stealing some of the grace from his movements. “I want you to know who I am. I want you to see the whole man, not just various aspects.”

  It took her a minute to realize what he was saying. “Oh, Harry,” she murmured in dismay. “Are you worried that my opinion will alter once I see you on the job? That my feelings for you might change?”

  His demeanor turned even more intense. “Something like that.”

  “But I’ve seen that side of you. We’ve spent the last week working together.”

  “Not quite. We’ve spent the last week playing at work.”

  “How can you say that?” she demanded indignantly. “You call what you’ve put me through playing?”

  He flashed a quick smile. “I’ve been having fun. Haven’t you?”

  “Not really.” Though spending time with him had been wonderful. “Okay, maybe a little.”

  “I can show you the difference between work and play.” He held out his hand. “All you have to do is come with me.”

  It was unquestionably a challenge. She took his proffered hand, unable to resist lacing her fingers through his. “You’re on.”

  “Let me call Bradford and tell him we’re on our way.”

  “And then I’ll see the real Harry Jones?”

  He didn’t laugh as she’d intended. “You’ll see a big part of him.”

  “A big part, huh?” She couldn’t resist teasing him a little more. “You say that like you have a small part. If so, you’ve
kept it well hidden.”

  “Anytime you want to see it, feel free to ask.”

  She shook her head. “You disappoint me, Harry. I thought everything about you would be larger than life.”

  “Can it, Adams, or I’ll give you a preview right here and now and you can offer your professional opinion on the matter.”

  “There’s only one problem with that,” she informed him seriously.

  “What?”

  “I can’t promise it would be a professional opinion. But it definitely would be the opinion of an interested party.” She snatched her hand from his and sauntered to the door in a perfect imitation of Rosy. Once there, she paused long enough to shoot him a wicked grin. “A very interested party.”

  “Madison, I’d like you to meet Kent Bradford, President and CEO of Bradford Software.”

  Madison offered her hand, hoping her astonishment wasn’t too apparent. The kid Harry introduced didn’t look old enough to have climbed out of a sandbox by himself, let alone run a major software company. “A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Bradford.”

  “Call me Kent.” A quick, infectious grin slid across his face. “And I’m twenty-two.”

  She grimaced. “Was I that obvious?”

  “Nah. You were real subtle. Hardly even blinked. The only one who’s never reacted was this guy.” He balled up a fist and actually had the nerve to sock Harry’s arm. Not that it made any impression. Instead, Kent winced, shaking his bruised fingers. “Don’t think anything rattles him.”

  “So what’s the problem, Bradford?” Clearly, Harry didn’t intend to waste his breath on pleasantries. “I thought we had you all straightened out.”

  In an instant the joking boy turned into a grim-faced man. “I thought so, too. But over the past three months something’s gone wrong. Major league wrong.”

  “What?”

  “I’m not sure. That’s why I called you.”

  “Give me the short version.”

  Kent shrugged. “Okay. I’m losing money. Lots of it. And I don’t know how or why or where it’s going.”

  “That’s not my department. My job is to tell you what to do with your money once you get it, remember? Not where to find it when it goes missing.”

  “I know, I know. But there’s no one else I can trust.”

  “Hire an auditor.”

  “I did. They couldn’t find anything.”

  “Was it one of the firms I recommended?”

  “No,” Kent admitted. “They weren’t available right away. I went with a smaller, local outfit, instead.”

  “Then I suggest you quit wasting my time and call in the big guns. If they can’t find anything, I’ll come back and take another look.”

  Madison winced. If this was the side Harry wanted to show her, she could live without it. “We’re here now,” she cut in. “What would it hurt to spend a day poking around?”

  Kent turned to her, his relief palpable. “Thanks, I’d really appreciate anything you can do. You see, my company took off a bit ahead of schedule and I wasn’t ready for it. That’s when I first called in Harry. He told me how to handle the explosion before someone decided to take advantage of my stupidity.”

  Harry shifted his stance and that was all it took. Kent fell silent. Score one for the lion, Madison thought. “Since it would seem we’re staying—courtesy of Ms. Adams’s compassionate nature, I might add—I suggest we get down to business. Tell me specifically what changes you’ve made in the last three months that might correspond with the time frame we’re talking about with the missing money.”

  “For starters I’ve divided the company like you recommended and hired people to head each division from that list you gave me,” Kent began. “We’ve subcontracted the manufacturing. The game revenue is being divvied up the way you advised and we’re getting ready to go public with our stock. Just recently, I hired a bunch of pencil pushers to keep the records straight, money guys to make sure the funds go where they’re supposed to, and lawyers to take care of all the necessary lawyering.”

  “Sounds like you’re on the right track.”

  “Yeah, you’ve turned me into a real businessman.” Kent scowled. “And I will get even for that.”

  Harry managed a brief smile. “Okay, Bradford. You’ve got me for one day. Just make sure you’re extra nice to Madison since she’s the one who’s convinced me to stay.”

  Kent nodded. “Anything you want, Harry, it’s yours.” Then he winked at Madison. “You’re a sweetheart. I promise I’ll find a way to make it up to you.”

  She immediately thought of Rosy’s request. “I may have the perfect means for you to do that. Remind me before we leave.”

  Once again Harry shifted his stance and once more he gained instant attention. “Time’s wasting, so I suggest we play this low key,” he advised. “First, I’ll need a secretary—someone smart enough to keep his or her mouth shut about why we’re here. I’ll also need a computer terminal and any passwords necessary to access your various departments and systems.”

  “Five minutes and you’ll have that, along with some of the best coffee your taste buds have ever encountered,” Kent promised.

  The next several hours proved a revelation for Madison. It didn’t take more than fifteen minutes of laboring alongside Harry to realize just what he’d meant when he’d claimed to be “playing” at work this past week. She’d never seen anyone with such focus and drive. One by one, he progressed through the various departments, showing her how to analyze the information before moving on. She’d expected him to call in the heads of each division. When he didn’t, she questioned him about it.

  “If money’s disappearing, someone’s responsible,” he explained. “If I start calling people in, the guilty party is going to get wind of the investigation and take off. If I can surprise him, we have a chance of recovering some of the money. I’m hoping the fact that he survived a preliminary audit may have made him cocky. If we’re really lucky, it’ll also have made him careless.”

  Late that afternoon, Kent showed up again. “Anything?” he asked with a hint of desperation.

  Harry shook his head. “I have to tell you, Bradford, nothing’s jumping out at me. I’m not a professional auditor, but on the surface everything looks clean. Whoever’s doing this has covered his tracks well. I have accounts receivable and payable left to go through and that’s about it.”

  Kent appeared utterly dejected. “That’s Linc’s department. I don’t expect you’ll find anything there.”

  Madison’s head jerked up. “Linc?”

  Kent managed a hint of his former joviality. “Linc Smith. He’s even more of a kid than I am. Real smart, despite being a snot-nosed brat. Never saw a number he couldn’t crunch.”

  Madison fought to draw breath. No. Please, no. “And this Linc… He writes all the checks?”

  “Most of them, I guess. At least, that’s what I hired him to do. Why?”

  She glanced toward Harry. “I know you don’t want to involve any of the department heads, but I think we should pay Linc a visit.”

  He didn’t even hesitate. “Fine. Let’s go.”

  Kent reached for the phone on Harry’s desk. “I’ll give him a quick call and tell him we’re on our way down.”

  Madison took the phone out of his hands and gently returned the receiver to the cradle. “Why don’t we make it a surprise visit,” she suggested. “And why don’t we do it now.”

  Nodding in agreement, Kent crossed to the door. But Harry hung back. “What’s wrong?” he murmured.

  She kept her voice low, as well. “Could be nothing.”

  “But you don’t think so.”

  She shook her head. “I’m pretty sure we’ll be able to clear up Mr. Bradford’s problems today. But I doubt he’ll be happy with what we find.”

  “I’m willing to bet he knew that even before he called us in.”

  Madison touched Harry’s arm and the biceps bunched beneath her fingers, warning of his sensitivity to her tou
ch. It would seem she affected him as keenly as he affected her. “Harry?” He simply waited, his gaze watchful, and she forced herself to continue. “You’re not going to be happy with what we find, either. In fact, you’re probably going to be very angry.”

  “Why?”

  He was biting off his words already. She peeked uneasily at Kent who stared at them with open curiosity. “I’d rather not explain until I’m certain of my facts. Just don’t say I didn’t warn you.”

  Accounting was on the lower level of the building and the three of them took the elevator without speaking. Kent had picked up on her anxiety and an unnatural strain settled on his youthful features. The door to Linc’s office was closed and Harry took the lead, opening it without knocking.

  Madison stepped into the office first. One glance confirmed her worst fears. “Hello, Lincoln,” she greeted her younger cousin. “I was hoping I wouldn’t find you here.”

  “Madison!” A variety of emotions swept across his face—astonishment, followed by anxiety, before a blustery panic set in. “What’s going on?”

  “I think you know.” She fought for calm. “I see Dad’s brought you into the family business.”

  “I’m an accountant, if that’s what you mean.”

  She began to tremble and nothing she tried would stop it. Not balling her hands into fists, nor gritting her teeth, nor using the silly mantra that Aunt Dell intoned whenever she got lost and was on the verge of panicking. Not even having Harry at her back helped. Instead, it only seemed to make it worse. “Accounting isn’t the family business and you know it. At least, it’s not the real one.”

  “And what is the family business?” Kent bit out.

  Hot color blazed in Madison’s cheeks and she couldn’t bring herself to look at him. “Embezzlement.”

  In desperation, Linc addressed his employer. “Mr. Bradford, you have to listen to me. This woman is crazy. I’m an accountant. A number cruncher. I write checks and balance accounts. That’s it, I swear.”

  “I hope that’s the case,” Kent said with surprising equanimity. “But I think we’ll examine some of those checks and accounts to be on the safe side.”