“All right. That’s good. Nothing hideous, nothing too small—so completely not like Mother would have bought, then.”
The words echoed in her head. She flushed when she realized that was what had upset her the night before. There was a kind of simpatico between what her husbands had done in ordering clothing for her, and the way her mother had always purchased all of her clothing without consulting her.
The actions are similar, but what about the motivation behind those actions? That was a question for which Anna didn’t have a good, firm answer. The uncertainty churned her stomach and put a dull throb in her temples.
You don’t have an answer for that question? Really?
Anna sighed. Everything came down to the whirlwind events of last Friday. She didn’t understand why Craig and Jackson Jessop had asked her to marry them in the first place, let alone why they’d rushed her to Las Vegas without giving her time in which to change her mind. She didn’t, in fact, know a lot of things when it came to those two deceptively laid back men.
But she did know them well enough—not only from the time she’d spent with them over the last few weeks, but also through the files documenting their history as businessmen that she’d read and organized—to know they weren’t sneaky or manipulative. They didn’t have a vindictive or malicious bone in either of their bodies. Neither did either man put his own interests ahead of all else.
They really didn’t have very big egos at all.
Anna knew in her heart they didn’t have a hidden agenda where she was concerned.
So then, what they’ve done here is not at all the same thing as what Mother did. Acknowledging the truth in that thought made her feel a whole lot better.
The intrusive sound of the phone ringing startled her. She had no idea who might be calling. A quick glance at the bedside clock assured her she still had plenty of time to get ready and head into the office, so it wouldn’t be either Craig or Jack wondering what was keeping her. Just answer the thing. Anna walked over to the bedside table and picked up the receiver.
“Hello?”
“Ah, so there you are, then. I was half afraid my sons had already done something stupid to scare you off.”
Anna’s lips spread into a grin as she recognized the voice of her mother-in-law. “Yes, I am here, and as for your fear—well, I can only tell you, so far, so good.”
“Yes, I was afraid of that. I just spoke to Craig, who sounded very pleased with himself. He said—and I really was worried when he said it—that the two of them had purchased clothing for you, including evening gowns.”
Madison had sounded downright horrified. Her tone alone gave Anna more comfort than she would have thought possible.
“I have to admit, I was worried as well, which was why I wanted to have a good look at them on my own this morning, without either of them present.”
An inelegant snort traveled from Lusty to Dallas. “Wise decision, that. You gave yourself time and space to come up with a gentle, but effective response.” Madison sighed. “My husbands know better than to buy me clothing. But they, too, had to learn that lesson the hard way. All I can do is repeat an expression I’ve learned from living so many years here in Texas. Bless their hearts.”
Anna laughed at Madison’s attempt at a Texas drawl. Her Irish came through, making the expression something very interesting. “Craig and Jackson really did fairly well, Madison.” Anna was pleased with her tone.
“I hear a ‘but’ in there, Anna. I can’t blame you for it, either. They’re my sons and I love them with all my heart. But you’re my daughter, now, too. I hope in time you will know that you can confide in me, and whatever you say will go no further. If you ever need to talk, I’m here for you, lass.”
Kindness shaped Madison’s words, and Anna fought back tears. That tone of voice, that emotion, was what Anna knew instinctively “mother-love” sounded like. She recognized it because she’d longed for it from her own mother’s lips all of her life.
“Thank you. I...I look forward to spending some time with you when we come home.”
“Darling, I’m looking forward to that, too.” Madison sighed. “I’ll go now, and let you get back to your chore of clothing evaluation. We’ll see you soon.”
“Thank you for calling, Madison. I’ll see you soon.”
Anna replaced the receiver and reached for a tissue. Oh, she was acting like such a spoiled brat! Craig and Jackson had showered more affection and attention on her than she’d ever known, and here she was comparing their kind, if awkward gifts to another’s pointed manipulation.
Anna didn’t doubt that in her way, Clara Cooper loved her. It was just that Clara’s way wasn’t Anna’s way, and it certainly was not her men’s way.
“You’re a married woman, Anna Jessop. Never mind wondering why those two men married you. They married you, and that is that. Now pull up your socks, and get ready for work. And, for the love of all that is holy, start acting like a wife. And in this case, a grateful one.”
Wise words—words that she’d do well to heed. And that other voice inside her, the one that whispered caution, could just shut the hell up.
* * * *
“I’d like to propose a toast.” Carl Sanders couldn’t have wished for a better circumstance than this. He’d been an observer of people long enough to know one thing without question. A man on his honeymoon only had one thing on his mind, and that was pussy.
Since Carl had figured out at their very first meeting that Craig Jessop was the one of the two brothers with the most on the ball—the brains, as it were, behind C & J Jessop Inc.—the news that the blonde bombshell who’d accompanied his marks to lunch today was that man’s bride was welcome news indeed. He didn’t have to feign a smile when he lifted his glass. “To Mr. and Mrs. Craig Jessop. May you enjoy a long and happy life together.”
The lady blushed prettily as both men made noises of agreement and they all drank to the sentiment.
The waiter came and took everyone’s lunch order. It was hard to keep rein on his excitement. Carl felt in control of the meeting—he usually did whenever he’d gotten together with these particular marks—and so he sat back and gave the appearance of a man who had nothing but celebrating the Jessop’s happy union on his mind.
There’d been hints, as they’d arranged this appointment, that the brothers Jessop were ready to give him their decision. Usually he knew well in advance if a con was going to go his way or not. But Carl hadn’t felt fully positive about this one until Craig Jessop had introduced his wife just a few minutes ago.
“Now I feel guilty that you’ve had to interrupt your honeymoon for our lunch meeting,” Carl said.
“No need,” Craig said. “We understand the timing constraints you’re under, this close to the New Year. Plus, this allows us to fully clear the decks so we can take some time off for our honeymoon.”
Mrs. Jessop continued to blush. He wondered at the way she looked not only at her husband, but his brother, too. From the look in her eyes, one would think she’d married both men.
“I hear from my husband that your brother is a genius in the new science of computer applications, Mr. Sanders,” Mrs. Jessop said.
He usually didn’t deign to answer questions from women unless they were integral to his plans. Despite her recent marriage to his chief mark, Mrs. Anna Jessop had no role in his scheme. However, since it appeared her husband was proud of her opening her trap, Carl shelved his natural resentment and began the inner transformation that had made him so good at what he did. He was a chameleon, and he knew that in moments the woman would be convinced that he was nearly as enamored of her as the other two men at the table appeared to be.
“Yes, ma’am. Our parents would be very proud of the man Gareth turned out to be.” He slipped into his role, his adaptable persona making the change in as natural a fashion as drawing a breath. “Gareth will be disappointed he missed the opportunity to offer you his congratulations in person. He said he was in an extremely intr
icate phase of his program writing and asked me to give you his apologies for not being able to attend lunch.” Carl reached for an expression that was a cross between embarrassment and pride. “When my brother is in research mode, it’s almost as if the rest of the world ceases to exist. He’s happiest buried in his work. I guess that’s why it’s a good thing he has me looking out for him—believing in him.”
“That’s the mark of true genius.” Jack Jessop nodded. “Craig and I have encountered a few like-gifted individuals in our careers. That is almost always the hallmark of greatness—that absolute absorption into that which is one’s passion.”
Carl gave a self-depreciating smile. “I must confess that there are times when I allow my frustration to get the best of me.” He spread his hands in supplication. “But how can I begrudge that small flaw in my brother’s personality? It really is all a part of the package, isn’t it?”
“Indeed it is,” Craig said.
The waiter was prompt in his service. Carl imagined the Jessops to be unimaginative enough that they always brought their business associates to this restaurant for lunch meetings. It was the only reason, he could see, for the deference paid to them by the staff.
His gaze flicked to the sparkle radiating from Mrs. Jessop’s left hand. That was no dime store bauble of paste and glass sitting on her finger. He knew his gems. His gaze met hers and he smiled. Now she looked like she came from money.
Maybe Craig Jessop was pulling a little con of his own—marrying the pretty Anna for her fortune.
Having made his business overtures, Carl steered the conversation toward innocuous topics—the holiday just passed, the one about to come, and the possible participants in Super Bowl XIV, coming up on January 20th.
“Let’s hope the Cowboys pull it off against the Rams tomorrow,” Craig said.
“After last year’s disappointment, they need to if the sponsors hope to have many televisions tuned in to the big game from Texas,” Carl agreed. He looked at Mrs. Jessop. “I don’t imagine you enjoy watching the sport, Mrs. Jessop.”
She was taking a sip of her wine when he said that. She looked at him, and he had no idea whatsoever the thoughts that might be going through her head. Then she gave him a smile, and he had the sense that he hadn’t quite won her over. “Well, it is all rough and tumbling and dirty, isn’t it? Sweaty men, rolling around on the ground, fighting over a silly ball.”
Her face gave away nothing, and for one moment he wondered at the woman’s emotions behind her somewhat plastic smile.
Carl wasn’t sure what the messages were being passed between the Jessops, but he decided to steer the conversation away from sports, and onto something they could all, hopefully, agree on—their meals.
“I owe you a debt of gratitude for introducing me to this wonderful restaurant,” he said to Craig. “The food is quite excellent.”
“It is,” Craig responded. “The service is good, too. The staff never disappoints.”
Carl kept his smirk to himself. He was seldom wrong about people. He and Gareth had hosted the pair at a small deli near the campus, the first time they met. Gareth was affiliated with the college, after all, and that choice of venue had lent credence to the con. The other meeting had been for coffee and pie at a shop close to the Jessop’s office.
When the plates were cleared and coffee served, Craig reached into his pocket and pulled out an envelope. He handed it to Carl. “Here is the contract that details the investment we’re prepared to make in your fledgling company. You and Gareth both need to sign it and get it back to us as soon as possible.”
“When we receive the signed contract,” Jack said, “We’ll immediately courier the check to you.”
Carl took a moment to open the document. He pretended to read the entire thing but in fact only had eyes for the dollar amount. Five hundred thousand dollars would let him live well where he planned to go.
He looked up and met Craig Jessop’s gaze. “Thank you. Thank you for believing in us. I’ll get our lawyer to drop by and I’ll pry Gareth away from his work long enough to sign this. Then I’ll have it couriered to your office. Since we’re in the same city, I hope to have this in your hands very quickly.”
“That sounds like a plan,” Jackson said.
It was a plan—Carl’s plan. By this time next week he should be digging his toes into the sand of a Caribbean island, with nothing on his mind except his next drink and his next lay.
Chapter 17
Anna clutched the handful of mail she’d picked up from the mail room downstairs as they’d returned from lunch. The pile waiting for her was a much larger stack than usual, a fact she easily attributed to their having been away from the office all of last week.
“So, what did you think of Carl Sanders, Bella?” Jackson stopped at his desk and removed his suit jacket, hanging it over the back his chair. He met her gaze. “I couldn’t help but notice that you became...quiet during lunch. Edgily so, if you don’t mind my saying.”
“No, I don’t mind you saying that at all because you’re exactly right.” Anna sighed, and took a moment to marshal her thoughts. Then she faced her men and though she felt her face heat, decided to let them know what she’d really thought. “I’ve been dismissed most of my life by a woman who could win a gold medal if it were an Olympic sport. So when someone uses those tactics, or exudes that attitude, I notice right away. And, I’m not ashamed to say, it raises my hackles. In the case of Mr. Sanders, I would bet he takes on that subtle attitude of dismissal with all women.”
“Damn near choked when you made that comment about football,” Craig said. “Hell of an impression of Marilyn Monroe. Well done, sweetheart.”
“Thank you. I must confess I was so stunned that he’d actually said what he had out loud, I didn’t know what to say. My inner smart-ass took over.”
“We like your inner smart-ass. The truth is that we don’t always personally like the people we do business with.” Jackson stepped over to her. He cupped her face, leaned down, and gave her a light kiss. “Liking them isn’t the issue—believing in their vision is. If it’s any comfort to you today’s lunch should pretty much be the last face–to-face contact we have with the man.”
“That is a comfort, thank you.” She walked over and gave Craig a quick kiss simply because he looked so sexy standing there. “Now, if you’ll excuse me, gentlemen, I’ll just go to my office and deal with this mail. I’ll also check the answering service for any phone messages.” That was something she’d meant to do when she’d arrived that morning—but her husbands had distracted her.
“Perfect. We have some reading we’d like to do, in preparation for another business venture that’s come to our attention.” Craig checked his watch. “Let’s call it a day around three-thirty, shall we?”
“Sounds good to me.” She took two steps then stopped. “I took advantage of the concierge and ordered some groceries to be delivered to the penthouse. I’ll be making dinner tonight.”
“I’d like to help you with that,” Craig said. He grinned. “And when we decide we’d like to eat out, well on those nights Jack can cook our dinner.”
Anna laughed. “That sounds good.” She wasn’t a very accomplished cook—not yet. But Mrs. Moody had been happy to teach Anna a few things. She was looking forward to using that knowledge, and expanding on it.
In her office, Anna put aside the ambivalent feelings she had about Carl Sanders and his company. She chalked her reaction to the man—a reaction she could only call instant dislike—up to the fact that her emotions had been all over the place in the last few days.
She’d seen the evidence in the files she’d read and sorted. Craig and Jackson Jessop had a very impressive track record when it came to ferreting out good, solid investment opportunities. She was their wife, and their office manager. She would trust them to know what they were doing business-wise, and so would focus her energy where it belonged. As both office manager and wife, she believed her best role was to make their day
s as navigable as possible. She would gladly take on the minutia of home and office, and give her husbands the freedom they needed to exercise their business genius.
That would be her contribution to the family business, and she believed it would be a valuable one.
Anna got comfortable in her chair and began to open the mail. It was her custom to give a quick perusal to each item as she took it out of its envelope, sorting each into the categories most often encountered—accounts receivable, accounts payable, proposals, and general correspondence.
Despite the high dollars involved in C & J Jessop Inc., the accounts payable pile was generally the smallest. Anything to do with governments—as in taxation, fiscal regulations, and the like—was mailed directly to Martin Kendall. She smiled when she recalled the discussion she and the lawyer had gotten into on Christmas Day about the business, and better ways to deal with the paperwork. Mr. Kendall—Uncle Marty as he insisted she call him—handled most of the paperwork for the Lusty Town Trust, which included a couple of other businesses operated by family members as well.
Anna opened another envelope and pulled out the very nice check within. Accounts receivable usually took the form of checks that arrived attached to copies of quarterly or monthly statements issued by the remitting company.
Proposals generally were invited submissions, only. Craig and Jackson explained that they didn’t advertise, but that word of mouth sometimes brought inquiries. Any that sounded interesting usually received an invitation to submit a full proposal. There would be, of course, the occasional blind application. Craig and Jackson were far too savvy to ignore those completely.
General correspondence could be just about anything. This time of year, of course, it contained a plethora of Christmas cards and a host of invitations. The latter she set aside for her husbands to consider. They knew better than she which ones were important, business-wise.
Not being a social maven, Anna readily admitted that she would be perfectly happy to stay as far from the Dallas, Houston, San Antonio, or Austin social scenes as humanly possible. Give her a nice in-home casual party like she’d experienced at Christmas in Lusty any day over the catered, glitzy, see and be seen gatherings of the nearly rich and almost famous.
A Very Lusty New Year [The Lusty, Texas Collection] (Siren Publishing Ménage Everlasting) Page 15
