Winning Over Skylar

by Julianna Morris

  “What’s up?” Karin asked as they packed their general science textbooks in their backpacks.

  Melanie shrugged. It was probably too late now to worry about it, and she didn’t want to jinx anything.

  * * *

  ON FRIDAY, AARON hurried to the post office shortly after lunch. He had gotten a notice at the house the previous evening saying a registered letter was waiting, but he’d had meetings that morning with sales reps from two of the large corporate farms which supplied raw materials to Cooper Industries.

  They weren’t thrilled that he was considering extending his contracts with the local growers, but Skylar had made a valid point about quality. Cooper Industries might be in trouble because they were antiquated and needed more efficient management, but their products sold well—keeping up with demand was a chronic issue. The trick was updating without destroying the reason they’d survived this long.

  He’d called Skylar a few days before to see what the local farmers thought of her idea to form an agricultural cooperative. It would be a big improvement over the current situation and make it easier to continue doing business with them. Apparently the suggestion was generating interest, and she’d promised to update him once they met as a group.

  There was a long line at the post office, and as he waited, Aaron wondered what he could do to encourage a growers’ association. At the minimum they’d need office space and other facilities—perhaps he could donate a building to support the effort. Yet as the thought formed, he could practically hear Skylar’s voice asking, “With how many strings attached?”

  Aaron made a face.

  He was cynical about people with good reason, but Skylar had a skeptical attitude herself when it came to him and his family. While he wouldn’t impose any conditions if he supported a growers’ association, he was honest enough to hope it would improve his relations with Cooperton in general.

  At the counter he showed his identification to the postal clerk and signed for the registered letter; the return address was from a local attorney. That seemed odd. Any issues with the company or the employees should be coming to Cooper Industries, not his home address. Frowning, he opened the envelope and read the letter inside, his face darkening with each sentence.

  Couched in cautious legal language, the lawyer stated that his client, Melanie Elizabeth Hollister, had consulted with him, asking about a parent–child divorce. The attorney went on to say that as her temporary guardian, Aaron might avert a court request for emancipation by seeking parental approval for Melanie to live in the household of her choice. The letter further pointed out that since she had a trust fund to provide monthly support payments once she was legally responsible for herself, there were no financial barriers to emancipation.

  The household of her choice? Aaron knew exactly which household his sister wanted to live in; the same one she’d asked about last Saturday.

  Hell and damnation.

  A parent–child divorce? Was Melanie out of her mind? The lawyer, too, for that matter. His sister wasn’t abused or neglected; there was no basis for emancipating her, despite her trust fund being available for support.

  Skylar had to be behind this nonsense. After all, she’d already given permission for Melanie to move in with her, and it just didn’t seem appropriate for her to do that without talking to him first. She’d also made it clear she didn’t approve of the way he was handling his sister. It was ironic considering Skylar’s early history as the wildest troublemaker in Cooperton.

  Aaron pressed a finger to his temple.

  He didn’t have much faith in women. His own mother was spoiled and demanding and cared more for herself than anyone else. In his experience the opposite sex was inordinately interested in money. The one time he’d flirted with the idea of marriage was as a dumb twenty-three-year-old graduate student, only to discover his prospective bride was a compulsive spender with a lover on the side. His ego had gotten more damaged than his heart, but it reinforced his opinion about relationships. They weren’t worth the trouble.

  Aaron jumped into the Mercedes and swung into the flow of traffic around the city hall square, still too angry to wonder if he was being unreasonable about Skylar. He had to stop this idiocy. Five minutes later, he slammed the car door and stomped up to the Nibble Nook.

  “I need to talk to you,” he growled when Skylar appeared at the ordering window. “In private.”

  “In case you haven’t noticed, Melanie isn’t here right now,” she said. “You have nothing to complain about.”

  “In private.”

  A curious expression flickered in her eyes and was gone so fast he couldn’t read it. “Unlike some people, I don’t have a private office.”

  “We can talk in my car.”

  “Yeah, right.”

  “Your truck, then.”

  The employees inside the hamburger stand had ducked their heads and were casting them sideways glances. But one, a lanky young man with shoulders that seemed too big for the rest of his body, stepped closer.

  “Is there a problem, Skylar?”

  “Everything’s fine, but will you take over for a while, Greg? I’m going to step into my truck to speak with Mr. Hollister.” She gave Aaron a sweetly false smile that turned into a glare as they climbed inside the cab of the old pickup in the rear of the hamburger stand. “This better not be about city council business, Aaron,” she hissed after she slammed the door. “I warned you about that.”

  “It’s about this damned letter you put Melanie up to having sent to me.” He waved it in her face. “Are you insane?”

  “I have no idea what you’re talking about. I didn’t put Melanie up to anything.”

  “Don’t expect me to believe she came up with this nonsensical notion on her own. She’s around you and your daughter every day, even though you know I don’t approve of her being at the Nibble Nook. She rarely goes anyplace else. It must be your idea.”

  “What idea? And watch what you say about me. I don’t have to worry about my daughter being around my employees the way you worry about Melanie being around yours.”

  “Not funny.” Aaron thrust the letter from Jeremy Newman into Skylar’s hands and clenched his fists as she read it.

  * * *

  PARENT–CHILD DIVORCE?

  Skylar blinked as she read the phrase. Was that possible outside of a Hollywood movie? Yet she had a sinking feeling she knew who’d come up with the idea...her own daughter.

  “This is the first I’ve heard about it,” she said.

  “The same way you know nothing about Melanie asking if she can move in with you and Karin, I suppose? I know you’ve already given your permission. Hell, I didn’t think even you would try to alienate a child’s affections from her family. But you’re not getting anything, Skylar. Just forget whatever extortion scheme you’ve got in mind. What is it? A kickback for approving my expansion plans, or maybe a generous monthly check from Melanie’s trust fund for taking care of her?”

  “Extortion? Alienating her affections?” Skylar said in disbelief. “You are really out there, Aaron. Do you know that? You’ve completely lost touch with reality.”

  If she had wanted anything from the Cooper or Hollister families, she would have taken the money his father tried to give her to keep quiet about having Aaron’s baby. Of course, maybe Aaron didn’t know about the money. Maybe he didn’t know about Karin. But it didn’t matter, because he was a complete and utter frigging jackass.

  “And for your information, I couldn’t have given permission to Melanie, because I was never asked,” she added.

  Aaron snatched back the letter from the lawyer and crumpled it into a tight ball. “My sister—”

  “Your sister is a lonely teenager,” Skylar interrupted. Loudly. “Alienation of a child’s affections? Hah. Her mother and father and the rest of your so-ca
lled ‘family’ have done an excellent job of that already. I’d say sixteen years of alienation and making her feel as if she’s less important than a trip to Paris or Bali or wherever the idle rich spend their time.”

  “You don’t know anything about my family.”

  “I know they think child rearing is someone else’s responsibility. Melanie deserves better. And if she wants to live with us, she’s welcome any time she pleases, no strings attached,” Skylar announced impulsively. “At least that way she’ll be with people who notice whether she walks in the door at night.”

  “Damn it, Skylar. Don’t you dare suggest I’m neglecting my sister.”

  “That’s right—you’re always willing to stop by the Nibble Nook and complain because she’s here doing her homework and eating nutritious after-school snacks.”

  “I haven’t complained about her snacks.”

  “It’s a good thing, because I’d have to remind you that pizza and salad don’t make a balanced diet for anyone, much less a child her age.”

  They were both breathing hard, and for some unfathomable reason, Skylar was reminded of the last time they were in a car together. It had been...what...February, nearly fifteen years ago? They were both still seventeen at the time, and Aaron’s father had given him a bright red Mustang for Christmas to replace the bright yellow one he’d totaled the month before.

  Having sex in a Mustang was a challenge, but they’d managed it. Aaron’s experience in that area had greatly outstripped her own, though he obviously hadn’t noticed—randy boys didn’t have a reputation for being overly observant. And considering the contorted positions required to connect in a sports car, it wasn’t any wonder that the condoms he’d used had either failed or been worn incorrectly.

  An unwelcome twinge went through Skylar’s abdomen. Their last time together he’d handed her the condom and she had unrolled it over him, fascinated by his reaction to her touch. All that pulsing heat, and soon it would be inside her... What a stupid idiot she’d been to think she meant more to him than his other girlfriends.

  Sex with Aaron had been the greatest mistake she’d ever made, yet how could she regret having Karin—the smart, funny, terrific kid who was the light of her life?

  “I’m trying to do better with her food,” Aaron muttered. “I don’t cook. And I have to be better for her than a stranger.”

  He gave Skylar an annoyed look that said he still thought she’d influenced Melanie out of some unknown, underhanded motives. That was Aaron. He didn’t trust anyone and thought the whole world was out to get him.

  Yet a chill went through her. If he got upset enough, would he try to get custody of Karin?

  Surely not.

  It was hard to imagine him caring after so long—he hadn’t even mentioned Karin except in connection to Melanie. Besides, Skylar had kept the proof that S. S. Hollister had tried to pay her off, and it was damning evidence that Aaron and his family had neglected Karin for fourteen years. The awful part would be Karin learning everything in such rotten circumstances. She may have heard rumors about her mother’s behavior in high school, but she believed Jimmie was her biological father and had adored him. They ought to have told Karin the truth, but time had slipped by, and then Jimmie was gone.

  “We don’t have anything more to discuss,” she told Aaron, ice in her voice. “Frankly, I don’t care if you believe I’m behind that letter from the attorney. And I had nothing to do with my daughter becoming friends with your sister. That was entirely her own doing.”

  “You didn’t discourage her from coming to the Nibble Nook or stop them from spending time together.” Though Aaron still seemed annoyed, he didn’t sound as belligerent.

  “Yeah. Unlike you, I don’t see the Nibble Nook as a den of iniquity. My daughter lost her father a year ago this past August and misses him desperately. Having Melanie as a friend makes her happy, even though they mostly just study together. And as for the studying, you ought to be pleased your sister’s grades are improving.”

  Aaron’s mouth opened and closed, then opened again. “Of course I’m pleased.”

  “Think about that the next time you gripe about Melanie doing her homework here a couple of hours a day. Now, if you don’t mind, I have a business to run.”

  Stomach churning, Skylar got out of the truck and walked back to the hamburger stand. Years ago she had stopped hating Aaron for what he’d done, the feeling swept away by the love Jimmie and his parents had showered on her and Karin. Unfortunately, now Aaron was giving her whole new reasons to hate him.

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  AARON PARKED AND stormed to his office, ignoring Peggy’s raised eyebrows. He kicked the corner of his desk, mostly by accident, and spent five minutes cursing as his foot throbbed and his temper cooled.

  One of his faults was jumping to conclusions, and he didn’t actually know that Skylar had encouraged Melanie to see a lawyer, though he was convinced she was hiding something.

  But what?

  And did it even matter?

  Skylar couldn’t take Melanie away from her parents. What’s more, he had probably blown any chance she would approve his plans to expand the factory. When it came to business he always kept a level head—it was critical to be dispassionate, particularly when hard decisions had to be made. Now Skylar had turned him into a raving lunatic.

  What was it about her that triggered such irrational behavior? Despite having dated her on a bet, he’d liked Skylar when they were teens, and her defiant bravado had fascinated him. She’d broken the rules and damned the consequences. But she hadn’t been the kind of girl he could have taken to meet his grandparents. Their impossible standards had driven him crazy, yet he’d bought into them at the same time.

  Dragging a deep breath into his lungs, Aaron began counting to a hundred in French. It was a method he’d employed when his grandfather was lecturing him about some damn thing or other. Losing his temper with George was as pointless as arguing with a granite boulder.

  Perhaps his real issue was being back in Cooperton, making him lose all sense of proportion. He’d hated his childhood here, being shuffled off to live with people he hardly knew...people who didn’t approve of energetic small boys. As the years had passed and he’d gotten older, he had spent as little time as possible with the Coopers, hanging out with his friends and doing after-school sports—anything to put off walking into that formal, unfriendly house.

  The funny thing was, as much as he’d resented his grandparents as a kid, he’d also craved their approval.

  But Melanie’s situation wasn’t the same as his. Perhaps he’d seemed unreasonable about the Nibble Nook, but she’d kept going there, anyhow. What’s more, he didn’t assign chores, he gave her money for whatever she wanted and he was trying to get involved in things like the school carnival, though he wasn’t a parent and never planned to be.

  Oh, God.

  The carnival.

  Aaron grimaced as he recalled the debate between the principal and president of the Parent–Teacher’s Association over whether he should take a turn at the carnival’s fund-raising dunk tank. He’d finally pointed out that he hadn’t brought a change of clothing, which put an end to the discussion. Instead he’d given a donation to the cause and wandered around, trying not to pay attention to how inseparable Melanie and Skylar’s daughter appeared to be.

  Yet with so many people there, he should have been glad the girls were using the buddy system. Besides, Karin was a nice kid—funny and smart and mature beyond her years. And she didn’t take guff from anyone...a trait she obviously inherited from her mom.

  Aaron stood by his window and gazed at the land beyond. The administrative offices were at the extreme edge of the factory complex. While the view wasn’t particularly beautiful, it was better than looking out on a sea of buildings. If he adjusted his plans to suit one of Skylar
’s suggestions, all the new buildings would be constructed in that direction and the vista would change to a vast expanse of concrete.

  Of course, if she didn’t approve his plans, he might have to move the company to another county—Cooper Industries owned a good deal of land north of Sacramento, and properties in the state capitol and San Francisco, as well. He planned to sell some of the holdings to obtain financing, but he could also build elsewhere.

  Yet as Aaron thought about the alternate sites, he recalled Skylar’s accusations the night of the city council meeting...that nobody knew what he’d do to protect his priorities. If she found out that he was considering building a whole new facility away from Cooperton, she’d probably stick a knife in his chest, because ultimately it would ring a death knell for the local plant.

  A tap on the door jolted him from his darker thoughts, and he turned around. “Yes?”

  Peggy stepped inside. She was an iron-ramrod sort of woman, with short, no-nonsense gray hair and a mouth perpetually drawn in an expression of disapproval. Not unlike his grandfather, Aaron mused.

  “Mr. Hollister, I’ve prepared a file of messages Mr. Cooper issued to the employees, along with other paperwork pertinent to the company,” she said, extending a folder.

  Aaron raised an eyebrow as he took it. “I didn’t ask to see these.”

  “I felt it was a good idea.”

  A muscle tightened in his jaw.

  Peggy’s biggest fault was trying to get him to return to his grandfather’s way of doing things. This must be her latest salvo in the battle. What she didn’t understand—or anyone else apparently—was that the company couldn’t survive if it kept doing things “George Cooper’s way.” Sure, they could go on for another decade, their place in the market slowly diminishing. Yet sooner or later the costs of outdated manufacturing equipment and facilities would become greater than their profits.