Last Tailored Suit

by Pierce, Nicolette

  Dear Mr. Miller,

  I find that I am unable to perform the job that I was hired for. Please accept this as my resignation, effective immediately.

  Thank you for the opportunity.

  Sincerely,

  Jenna Newman

  It wasn’t as flowery as she wanted, but it should at least appease his demands.

  Liar.

  Jenna stared at the single-word reply. She was going to kill him! She bounded up the stairs and threw open his bedroom door.

  “Liar?” she demanded.

  “You said you were unable to perform the job. That’s a lie.” Greyson stretched with an appreciative sigh and tossed back the covers.

  Jenna jumped back and squeezed her eyes shut. “What are you doing?”

  “I’m getting up. It’s not like I can sleep with you yelling and slamming doors. Very unprofessional.”

  She bit back a retort. Hazarding a glance at him, she found he was wearing boxer briefs. They were snug enough that they didn’t leave much to the imagination. She slapped a hand over her eyes to block the view since her wayward eyes couldn’t be trusted to stay closed.

  “This is unprofessional too! If you’d let me leave, you could sleep. And would you please cover yourself!”

  “You barged into my room, Jenna,” Greyson said. He stood and crossed the few feet to Jenna, dragging her hand away from her face. She squeaked and squeezed her eyes shut. “Look at me,” he said.

  “Get some clothes on and I will.”

  “I’m not going to dress only to have to then undress to shower.”

  “Then I’m not opening my eyes.”

  Greyson was silent. Too silent. She could feel him next to her. What was he doing? She cracked her eyes open and immediately shut them again. He was still there.

  A wisp of air moved past her, and then the shower turned on moments later.

  “What are you doing?” Jenna asked a little on the high-pitched side.

  “I’m taking a shower so I can get dressed. Otherwise, you’ll be standing there all day with your eyes closed.”

  “Close the bathroom door!”

  “Too late,” he said.

  Damn the man!

  Jenna guarded her eyes with her hands and looked down at the floor, navigating her way to the exit. The last thing she needed was to see her boss naked. Correction, ex-boss.

  Muttering to herself, she made her way back to the kitchen.

  Jenna yanked out ingredients to make pancakes. She was starving. If he was going to keep her captive until he was done showering, then she was going to eat his food.

  Who knew when her next meal would be anyway.

  By the time the pancakes were done and she took her first bite, Greyson entered the kitchen. Fully dressed, thank goodness.

  “Smells good,” Greyson said with a hungry gleam.

  “I made pancakes,” Jenna said, stuffing a large bite into her mouth.

  “Do you have more?”

  “No.”

  Greyson eyed her plate.

  She had three extremely large pancakes stacked on her plate. They smelled and tasted delicious. His loss.

  Jenna saw him closing in on her, and she wrapped her arm around the plate, guarding her food. Not that she could eat all of it, but he didn’t deserve any.

  She cut a piece of pancake and was bringing it to her mouth when Greyson’s hand shot out and stopped her. He dragged her fork, which was still stuck in her hand, to him. She watched as the pancake disappeared between his lips. Jenna quickly let go of the fork.

  Greyson smiled and sat down next to her, pulling the plate over to himself.

  “It’s bad enough I’m trapped here; you’re not stealing my food too!” Jenna barked, yanking the plate back.

  “But I still have the fork,” Greyson said smugly.

  Jenna knew if she left the pancakes undefended to get a new fork, Greyson would confiscate them.

  Greyson reached over and cut a piece. He was bringing it to his mouth when he stopped and dangled it in front of her mouth instead. “I share,” he said, taunting her with her own pancakes.

  Was he really trying to feed her?

  Jenna shoved back from the table, her hands flying to her hips. “What the hell is going on? Your actions are completely confusing. First, you yell and make me quit, and now I’m forced to stay and you’re trying to feed me pancakes.”

  Greyson gave a careless shrug and popped the pancake bite into his mouth. “These are really good,” he mumbled.

  “Mr. Miller!”

  Greyson sighed and pushed the plate back to Jenna’s spot, along with the fork. “Stop with the Mr. Miller nonsense. It’s weird sitting at home and being called Mr. Miller.”

  “I have other names I’d be happy to call you,” Jenna snarled.

  The corners of Greyson’s mouth kicked up. “How about if you just call me Greyson?”

  “Fine. Greyson,” she gritted. “What the hell do you want from me?”

  “Eat your breakfast, and then we’ll talk.”

  “I’m not hungry.”

  “Jenna, if you don’t sit down and eat, I’ll force feed you myself.”

  Jenna eyed him, wondering if he’d really carry out his threat.

  “I will,” Greyson said, reading her mind.

  She sat down with a huff and snatched the fork. She may as well eat. She didn’t know when her next meal would be, and they were her pancakes.

  When she finally swallowed the last bite, she leaned back with a groan. She’d eaten all three giant pancakes. She hadn’t wanted Greyson to eat any of them. Now, she realized her mistake. The only miserable one here was her.

  Greyson lifted a brow as she sprawled back in the chair.

  “Let’s get this over with,” Jenna complained.

  “I hired you to do a job,” Greyson stated. “I expect it to be done.”

  “I don’t want to work for you,” she replied, wondering what his angle was. She did want to keep the job and stay here. She was terrified to leave these gated walls. If she was smart, she’d shut up and take whatever he offered. “I tried to quit, and you won’t let me.”

  “Last night you said you wanted to start over.”

  “That’s when I still thought you were the gardener, not my boss.”

  “What does it matter?” Greyson asked. “Listen, we both realize we started off on the wrong foot, and we are equally to blame.” He paused, most likely waiting for her to argue. When she didn’t, he continued, “I’d like for you to continue to work here. If you feel you want to leave because of a different reason, I won’t stop you. You have my word.”

  “Why?”

  “Why won’t I stop you?”

  “No, why would you want me to continue?”

  He leaned back and crossed his feet. “You were excited to open this bed and breakfast. I could see it in your eyes. You like it here, and you want the business to be successful. That’s the person I hired; that’s the person I want to stay.”

  “I was excited. And I do like it here,” she added. “But things are rather awkward between us.”

  “If that is your only concern, then we’re good,” Greyson said. “This is only a project for me. Once the business is up and running and the garden is complete, I’m going to sell it. You won’t have to see me again.”

  “Sell it?” she repeated. “Why would you want to sell this place? It’s your home. And it’s beautiful.”

  “This is my one last project, then I’m moving on.”

  “To where?”

  He gave a small shrug. “Anywhere. Nowhere. It doesn’t matter. My life as a businessman is over.”

  “You can’t be serious. You’re the best in the business.”

  “I was. And now I’m discovering that there’s life beyond a suit.”

  “You didn’t know that before?” she asked incredulously.

  He grinned. “I’m a late bloomer. In any case, I found that I forget about life and people when I work. Until I can find a
happy medium, I’m taking a break. Probably for good. I’m not asking for you to understand; I’m asking you to continue as the manager.”

  She gave a tight nod. “I will.”

  “Good,” Greyson said, looking relieved and flustered at the same time. “I’m heading out to the garden.”

  “Wait, I’ll make you pancakes.”

  “No need. But if you could make lunch, I’d be grateful.”

  “It will be ready at noon,” Jenna said.

  “Eleven,” Greyson countered.

  “Eleven thirty.”

  “See you then,” Greyson said with a smile that left Jenna’s conflicted heart sputtering.

  * * *

  Jenna worked harder than she ever had before. She didn’t need Greyson’s kudos, but she didn’t want him to regret his decision to let her stay either. She’d even thought of the perfect name for the bed and breakfast, but she wanted to come up with a few more options for him to choose from.

  It was eleven o’clock when Jenna finally broke away from the computer to fix lunch. She glanced out at the garden to see Greyson working on the maze. If the design laying on the patio table was any indication, it was only a tenth complete. He had many long days ahead of him to finish Nadia’s maze. At least that’s what she thought he’d named it. It was handwritten next to the design.

  Who is Nadia?

  Jenna opened the refrigerator and pulled out cold cuts and cheese. Sandwiches would be okay for lunch. Greyson had to be really hungry. She would cut up some fruit too. There was leftover pasta that’d make a decent cold pasta salad. That should be enough.

  As she finished preparing lunch, Jenna wondered if Nadia was a relative. Perhaps the maze was a memorial for a deceased grandmother.

  “Is lunch ready?” Greyson asked from the doorway.

  Jenna jumped, clutching her hand to her heart. “You scared me,” she gasped.

  Greyson smiled. “Sorry. I thought you heard me. So . . . lunch?”

  “It’s ready,” she said. “Help yourself.”

  Greyson strolled over and popped a grape into his mouth while he built a sandwich. When his plate was filled, he grabbed a beer from the refrigerator and settled at the table.

  “Are you going to join me?” he asked, biting into the sandwich.

  “I’ll sit with you, but I’m not eating,” Jenna said, taking the chair across from him.

  A grin formed. “Still full from breakfast?”

  “Don’t remind me,” Jenna said, feeling the large lump of pancake sitting in her stomach.

  Greyson’s eyes twinkled, but he must have decided against teasing her. “Have you made any progress on the list?”

  “Yes. I already have a few items completed,” she said, happy to go over some of the details. When she was nearing the last item, she blurted, “Who is Nadia?”

  Greyson stilled, a grape held in midair. “Where did you hear that name?”

  “It’s written on the garden design,” she answered.

  He gave a small nod. “She’s a friend.”

  “She must be a good friend if you named a maze after her.”

  Greyson rubbed the back of his neck and pushed back from the table. “I should go. I have work to do.”

  Jenna felt a change shift through him. “Did I say something wrong?”

  “No,” Greyson muttered as he escaped from the kitchen, leaving Jenna puzzled.

  Chapter 8

  Greyson avoided Jenna for the rest of the day. He knew she was hard at work and most likely didn’t even notice his absence, but he kept his distance anyway.

  From the maze, which was starting to take shape, he could see her at the kitchen table. The late-afternoon sun streaming through the window cast her in a warm glow.

  He became immediately uncomfortable in the region that had no business feeling as such while looking at Jenna. Never going to happen, he thought, dragging his phone from his pocket.

  David answered the phone on the first ring. “It’s about time.”

  “Have you been waiting for me to call?” Greyson asked.

  “You have to get me out of here.” David hissed the whispered plea.

  “Is the nursery not going according to plan?”

  “You know damn well the nursery is beyond any normal plan,” David retorted gruffly, his voice becoming muffled. “Frankie and Mark are involved. Do you have any idea what I’m going through?”

  “Did you just hide in the closet?”

  “Just get me out of here,” David stated.

  “I was calling to see if you wanted to go out tomorrow night,” Greyson said.

  “Why not tonight?”

  “I want to get the outer walls of the maze planted,” Greyson answered. “I have a few hours left.”

  “Do you need help?”

  “I wouldn’t say no to help.”

  “I’ll be there in fifteen minutes,” David said and then added, “and we’re still going out tomorrow night. Call Remy and tell him. And have a beer ready for me.”

  Greyson, thoroughly amused, slipped the phone back in his pocket. If he had known it was this easy to get help, he would’ve called David days ago.

  * * *

  Jenna scooted back from the table, stretching as she stood. She had put a major dent in the list and desperately needed a break. She also needed to get away from the window before she looked out of it for the billionth time. The last thing she wanted was for Greyson to think she was some sort of love-sick calf.

  It was his own fault. If he wasn’t such an enigma, she wouldn’t have to stare at him in confusion. What happened to make him give up everything? What was he running from? She wondered if it had anything to do with Nadia. From his reaction to her name, maybe it did.

  Jenna cautiously sat back down and poised her fingers over the keys. Could there be something on the Internet about her?

  Feeling a little like a cyber stalker — but not enough to stop — she typed in a search for Greyson Miller and Nadia in Las Vegas.

  There were several hits, but the one that caught her eye was a news video clip on a casino caught laundering money. Both Greyson and Nadia were pinged in the search. Jenna clicked on it to watch.

  “Lost City Casino was caught with dirty money,” the news anchor announced. “A printing press in the Las Vegas casino was found pumping out millions of dollars worth of counterfeit money. Assistant Director Jason Biggs has been arrested on counterfeit and attempted murder charges. Greyson Miller, CEO of Rotunda Casinos, found the printing press late last night in a storage room at the casino. He was shot by Jason Biggs moments later. Sources say Miller is already out of the hospital and recovering. Workers who were the last to see Miller say he was planning on marrying professional poker player Nadia Wolf this weekend. No word on if the wedding will proceed.”

  Jenna sat back and took a breath. The news clip wasn’t that old. Where was Nadia? Why weren’t they married? Greyson had been shot?

  Jenna nearly turned away, feeling queasy with this new information, but something tugged her back. She typed in Nadia Wolf and sat back to scroll through. There were only a couple of results that pinged with Greyson and several that came up with another name. Caleb Usher.

  Jenna began reading the stories one by one. She couldn’t help herself. This poor Nadia woman seemed to be a magnet for bad luck.

  Stumbling upon a picture of Nadia, Jenna paused. She was beautiful with dark hair and emerald-green eyes. And then it became clear. Greyson loved her. He had to. Why else would he work on a garden dedicated to her? But where was she now? Did she die?

  Jenna continued her quest, knowing that if Greyson decided to poke his head in the kitchen at this moment, she’d feel like the worst sort of busybody.

  She glanced outside just to make sure he was still out there. He was. And there was someone else out there with him too. The man who stood next to Greyson had a strong build and was close to the same height as Greyson. She wondered who the other man was. Jenna watched as the newcomer stripp
ed off his shirt and picked up a shovel.

  Oh. She was definitely going to have to get a better view of that.

  But first things first. She’d finish her search, and then she’d go see the sights.

  Ten minutes later, Jenna read enough to feel very sorry for Greyson. The articles and pictures of Nadia and Caleb showed them to be very happy and quite rich. Nadia had won three European poker tournaments back to back, which had never been done before, and especially not by a woman. Her winnings were well over two million dollars. The press stated she stole her fiancé’s luck right out from under him. From the picture, he didn’t look as if he minded.

  Jenna had a brief twinge of jealousy.

  No wonder Greyson was cranky.

  Speaking of Greyson, she might as well say hello to his friend.

  * * *

  “Why are you doing this to yourself?” David grumbled, stabbing the ground with the shovel. It clanked on a stubborn rock for the fifth time. “How can you possibly think this is fun?”

  “Maybe not fun,” Greyson said. “But it’s rewarding.”

  David leveled a flat stare. “Rewarding?”

  “If you don’t like it, you can always go home,” Greyson said.

  David’s brows furrowed. “I’m not going back. I’ll stay here until the baby comes.”

  “You’d miss Mya, and you know it.”

  “Yeah.” He kicked at loose dirt. “I would.”

  “What’s this really about?”

  “Nothing.”

  “You can lie to me for the rest of the day if you want, but keep digging while you do,” Greyson said, patting soil around a newly planted hedge.

  “Stop ordering me around. I’m still your older brother,” David stated.

  “There’s no extra credit for that. In fact, being stuck between you and Ian was a nightmare. You purposely scared my friends, and Ian stole my girlfriends.”

  David smiled so fondly at the memory that Greyson couldn’t resist the urge to fling a moist ball of dirt at him, smacking him dead center in the chest. He had wanted to do that, or something like that, for quite some time. As kids, David always had the bullish strength behind him to flatten Greyson with just one charge. And as adults, well, Greyson had learned long ago not to succumb to the temptation. That, and he’d always had way too much work to do. However, now . . . now was a different story.