by Desiree Holt
He held out his hand? “Would you like me to look through them? I can advise you on the ones I know. The others Carmen can fill you in on and we can decide how to proceed.”
“Yes. I think that’s a good idea.” When she slid them into his hand and their skin touched, Taylor thought hers had caught fire. Her nipples hardened at once and moisture flooded her panties. She hoped her dark suit and silk blouse would effectively camouflage her body but what would people see in her eyes?
“We can discuss these at lunch.” His eyes were smoldering when he looked at her. “Carmen, why don’t you order lunch for the three of us and we can eat and work here in the office.”
She let out a breath she didn’t even know she’d been holding. Another lunch like yesterday would have killed her composure altogether. Especially after last night, which they hadn’t even addressed yet. What a complex man Noah Cantrell was. She wasn’t sure she’d ever find the key to unlock that mystery but she damn sure planned to try.
“That’s sounds good.” She turned back to Carmen. “Kate Belden’s first this morning, right?”
Carmen nodded.
“Then I’d better get ready for her.” She looked at Noah. “Tell me about the ice queen. Not what’s in her folder, either.”
Noah dropped into one of the chairs in front of the desk. “Forty-four years old. Graduate of the University of Texas and Wharton School of Finance. Ten years with an overseas corporation in the Middle East and Mexico. Josiah hired her nine years ago and gave her an unbelievable amount of authority. All the division heads report to her.”
“She must have something. Is she married? Have a lover? Partner? Significant other?”
“Not married and her love life is a blank page, although I suspect she keeps Paul Hunter in line by gracing him with her body now and then. No one knows anything about her. Yet.”
She looked up at him. “Yet?”
He shifted in his chair and crossed his legs, one ankle resting on the opposite knee. “I think it’s time to do a deeper background check on our Miss Belden.”
“I agree. How soon can you get on it?”
“Now.” Noah pulled his cell phone from his pocket and punched in some numbers. “Yeah. Me. Restart on Kate Belden. Don’t leave me hanging on the updates.” He snapped the phone shut. “The man I have on this doesn’t work for Arroyo. I didn’t want any leaks or accidental discoveries. But I’ve known him a long time and he does a lot of work off the books for me.”
“That’s good.” She chewed on her lower lip, wondering if she should bring up last night when the intercom buzzed. “Yes, Carmen?”
“Miss Belden is here.”
“Okay. Send her in.”
Taylor couldn’t miss Kate Belden’s displeasure at finding Noah in the room. When she entered he rose from the chair he was in and moved to the couch against the wall, leaning back in a deliberately relaxed pose, the ankle of one leg on the knee of the opposite one, as he’d been sitting before.
“Don’t you think we’ll get much more done with just the two of us?” Her tone of ice could have chilled water.
The look she gave Noah made Taylor look unconsciously to see if he was bleeding. It only made her more determined than ever to keep Noah in the room.
“Mr. Cantrell will be sitting in on all my meetings. With everyone.” She smiled politely. “Is that a problem?”
“Kate looked at Noah then back at Taylor. “All right. I’ll be very frank here. Josiah had a great deal of confidence in me. He turned over supervision of all the division heads to me. But for the last few years Noah has worked to erode that confidence and probably to get rid of me.”
Taylor put her elbows on the desk and leaned her chin on her folded hands. “And what makes you think that?”
“You can’t be that naïve. He moved in on the…your father. Wanted the power for himself. And I can’t imagine why since he’s hardly qualified.”
Taylor opened her mouth to say something but Noah’s voice interrupted her.
“Kate. Taylor may look like she’s green but I assure you she’s not. Don’t try to create scenarios for her. She’ll see right through them.”
Kate’s face reddened slightly and she turned in her chair so her back was to Noah. “Fine. Then let’s get on with it. I guess you’ll have to find out things for yourself.”
Taylor studied the woman as they talked. Kate was well-kept for forty-four, with her makeup, hair style and clothing calculated to take five years off her age. She wore a simple sheath that Taylor recognized as part of a high-priced designer’s collection and no jewelry except diamond studs at her ears and a Cartier watch. Her hands were still in her lap and she didn’t change positions frequently.
She’s used to being in the power seat. She knows self-control. Noah better kick that investigation into high gear.
An hour later nothing had been accomplished except for the two women to size each other up and Kate Belden to understand she wasn’t going to run roughshod over the new kid on the block. She’d answered all of Taylor’s questions on exactly what she did and how she did it politely but without giving out any real information.
As soon as she was out the door Taylor looked at Noah.
“I know. I’ll goose the investigation. I get the same feeling you do.”
“She spent ten years on foreign soil. Who knows what contacts she still has or who she could be working with. I wish you hadn’t let things drop when Josiah was killed.”
Noah stood up and paced the office. “Yeah, well, me too. But we were a little busy with a lot of other things. Like trying to keep this whole ship afloat until you decided to talk to me.”
Taylor bit back her reply. “Just get it done.”
Chapter Eight
Paul Hunter was no more or less than she expected. She’d dealt with men like him at Clemens James, the older investment counselors who had an inflated assumption of their image and worth. He was gray from head to foot—hair, suit, shirt, ties, socks. Only the black shoes and the tiny black stripe in the tie provided any relief.
Like Kate, he stated his preference that Noah not be included in the meeting. And again like Kate, he was unhappy with Taylor’s rejection of his request but there the similarity ended. Where Kate had been all ice and arrogance, Paul tried every approach from avuncular uncle to experienced executive. He too, was unprepared for Taylor’s firm hand and reluctance to accord him special status.
“Your father and I were friends for many years,” he protested, when she mentioned bringing in another attorney. His eyes skittered, unable to meet hers head-on and a thin layer of sweat appeared in his forehead.
“I’ve learned in this business there isn’t room for friendships,” she told him.
“I think you’ll make a huge mistake if you listen to Noah Cantrell in all of this. He’s looking out for himself.”
“Isn’t everyone?” She gave him a humorless smile. “I’ve been thrust into a situation with a steep learning curve and not much time to climb it. It’s my decision who I choose to help me with this.” Her eyes dropped to the folder open on her desk. “And frankly, Paul, I can’t see exactly what it is you do that necessitates a place on the executive staff. Filing papers and checking points of law can be done by any young attorney.”
Dark red suffused his face. “I helped Josiah keep this ship on the right course, dotting all the I’s and crossing all the T’s. Don’t make hasty decisions, young lady.”
Taylor tamped down on her anger. “Mr. Hunter. Paul. I am the CEO of this leviathan. And your boss. And Noah Cantrell, not you, is the one chosen by Josiah as my connection. Let’s keep this in mind, shall we?”
By the time she’d finished with him she’d added him to Noah’s list for further investigation.
Noah studied her with great care as soon as Paul walked out. “Well done. More spine than they expected.”
These were the first words he’d spoken to her all day except to give orders or ask questions. She felt an unreasonin
g thrill of satisfaction and immediately tried to suppress it. “I think there’s a lot about me they don’t know.” She looked directly at him. “You too, you know.”
“You may surprise all of us, little girl.” His gaze scorched her. “Maybe the things I want wouldn’t shock you so much after all.”
Her nipples felt as if they would burst through the fabric of her clothes. The idea of exploring new sexual boundaries with Noah Cantrell made her so aroused she was sure if he merely touched her she’d come right there.
For her own sake she deliberately ignored him implication. “I want you to do the same kind of investigation on Paul Hunter you’re doing on Kate Belden. Let’s see if, in addition to everything else, we can tie them together personally. And I want to know what he really does here, what his job consists of.”
“He wasn’t high on Josiah’s list,” Noah told her. “Kate was in a much better position to put the screws to him.”
“But Paul’s the corporate counsel.”
Noah shrugged. “You had him pegged. Basically he’s just a paper pusher. Gets paid far too much money for filing forms and making sure the tax returns get in on time.”
“Still, if there’s funny business going on, he’s in a position to help make it happen.”
“He thought I should report to him, you know.”
Taylor couldn’t help laughing. “That would have been a disaster. All the way around.”
“Didn’t matter. Never would have happened.”
She stared at him, still in his position on the couch, the caged panther lying in wait. “Are you ever going to tell me about you and Josiah? And why you seem to have a relationship no one else even comes close to?”
“No.” He rose from the couch. “I’ll go tell Carmen to have lunch brought in.”
Taylor fidgeted at her desk, opening and closing folders without really seeing what was in them. She’d had an unsettled feeling since this morning and she knew she could trace it right back to Noah’s attitude. When she reminded him it was important to keep their sexual activities hidden from the world she hadn’t meant for him to treat her like a leper.
And she was having a hard time reconciling all the many faces of this man. But whatever he was doing beneath it all he was the same, the jungle animal surviving in a civilized world, ready to attack at any moment if the situation called for it. She suspected he could be a formidable enemy, that people who crossed him regretted it badly. He was as good as his word shepherding her through the Arroyo minefield. And he was a demanding lover, driving her across boundaries, demanding things of her she didn’t know she had to give. Her body had been his to do with as he wished since that first night. That was a given.
If she could only figure out what was going on now.
“Here’s something you need to put on your calendar.” Noah walked back in with yet another handful of messages. “There’s a combination fundraiser and birthday party for one of your board members tomorrow night at the Alamo Country Club. You’ll have to go.”
Taylor gaped at him. “Go? To some party? But…”
“He’s right.” Carmen was right behind him. “Sherry LaForte’s birthday is always used to raise money for her foundation and Josiah was a big supporter. You’ll be expected to attend, host a table and bid outrageous prices for the auction items.”
“Host a table? I don’t even know anyone.”
Carmen smiled. “Not a problem. We made the reservation and sent in the check for the table before Josiah was…before his death. Sherry selects the people for the table and faxes us a list, so that’s already done. You just have to show up with an escort.”
“An escort.”
Carmen laughed. “Josiah had a number of women happy enough to accompany him to something like this but I don’t think you’d want any of them as your date for the evening.”
“I’ll be taking Miss Scott.” Noah’s voice was firm. “She can tell people I’m her security.”
Carmen frowned. “But you don’t like to…”
He cut her off. “This isn’t about liking. It’s about what has to be done.”
Taylor looked at him. “I’m not sure about all this.” Facing San Antonio society in on e large gulp wasn’t something on her list of pleasurable expectations.
“You don’t have to stay all evening,” Carmen told her. “Sometimes Josiah just stayed for part of dinner, gave Sherry a large check and left before the auction and dancing.”
Taylor blew out a breath of relief. “Then that’s what I’ll do. But I don’t know any of these people, or what else is expected of me.”
“I can go over…” Carmen started to say.
Noah interrupted her. “Give her all the details and I’ll brief her. Where’s lunch?”
“Right here.” Carmen stepped aside.
The waiter from the company dining room wheeled in a table with covered dishes on it. Behind him came another waiter pushing a cart with a coffee urn and a tray of pastries. Tomas, who had again been her shadow, ate his lunch in Carmen’s office and then quietly patrolled the halls and checked the surveillance e cameras. Taylor, Noah and Carmen began the wearisome task of sorting messages and reviewing Josiah’s upcoming schedule.
The afternoon was a parade of the balance of the executive staff. Some were pleasant, some obsequious, some outright hostile. She was very conscious every moment of Noah in the room watching her, studying her, analyzing her. Her skin prickled under the constant scrutiny. Each time she raised her eyes to him and met his gaze she felt as if every piece of clothing had been stripped from her and she sat before him naked. She had to drag her eyes back to the work before her or the person sitting in front of her.
By the time she was ready to leave she had all her notes arranged for clarity and easy reference, her head was throbbing and she was more than ready to get out of the office.
Noah was silent as he handed her into the helicopter, speaking only to tell Greg they were heading to the airport and where to land. Last night still lingered in her mind. He’d been a strange combination of tenderness and lust, one minute caring for her, the next murmuring the way he’d really like to fuck her, the things he wanted to do. Today he’d watched her with the smoldering look that said he wanted to consume her in whatever fire raged within him. The complexity of his actions gave her the first tiny feeling of uncertainty. She was glad for the distraction John Martino provided when they landed to pick him up.
The good-looking blond-haired man, looking elegant as always, was waiting at the private terminal, with one of Noah’s men standing beside him.
““I didn’t realize you’d be sending a bodyguard, Taylor,” he grinned as he climbed in next to her.
She glanced at Noah who inclined his head a fraction of an inch. “Just taking extra precautions,” she told him. “We’ve had some…challenges lately. In any event, it’s very good to see you again, John. Thank you so much for coming. You can’t know how I appreciate it.”
He laughed. “I may write a book about this. What happened to my conservative investment counselor? How did you get mixed up with bodyguards and shotguns and cloak and dagger?” He looked at L.Q. poised in the outside seat. “And what’s with the guy and the rifle?”
“I’ll tell you all about it when we get to the ranch.”
She noticed the men constantly scanning the skies as they flew, LQ never relaxing his grip on the rifle for a moment. Taylor focused entirely on John throughout the ride, mentally putting as much space as possible between herself and Noah. Something had shifted between them and she wasn’t sure if it was a good thing or not.
Yet when they landed, it was to him she whispered, “No mishaps tonight.”
“Don’t let your guard down. They’re just regrouping.”
“Nice digs, Taylor,” John said, when she showed him to his suite. “Let me guess. A rich relative died and left you a bundle.”
She made a face. “Not so far from the truth. A month ago I discovered Josiah Gaines was my father. Y
ou can imagine the shock for both of us, even more for him, I think. We can get into details later but he changed his will and made me his sole heir.” She felt a stab for a moment for the father she never knew. “When he was murdered everything came to me.”
John whistled. “Gaines is legendary in the world of international corporations. That’s some responsibility to have handed to you.”
“No kidding.”
He squeezed her shoulder. “My money’s on you, though. With your mind you can handle anything.”
“Thanks. I think.”
Rey brought in a tray with a pitcher of sangria and hot tortilla chips. “Lupe says save room for dinner.” He smiled and left as quietly as he’d come.
Silently asking her approval, John dispensed with his jacket and tie, and rolled up his shirtsleeves.
“You can take time to change, if you’d like,” Taylor told him. “Informality’s the key here at the end of the day.”
“Later. Let’s talk first.”
Taylor was just as happy to have something to concentrate on, a subject that would divert her mind from Noah. Just being in the same room with him now rattled her senses.
Stop it! This is why you shouldn’t have gone to bed with him in the first place. Get over it.
When they were settled with their drinks, Taylor and Noah laid everything out for John, from Josiah’s suspicions and murder to the insurance policies and financial reports. They had nearly finished the explanation when Tomas and Greg brought in a computer and began setting it up.
“We’re hooking you into a secure satellite line, since out here broadband is practically nonexistent,” Noah told him. “Josiah’s link was separate from the rest of the house, so we’ll use that one. I didn’t want to do it before you got here, so you could supervise and also set your password.”
John nodded. “Good. It’s dangerous to be on a shared connection with sensitive information.”
“After we eat I’ll show you how to access each division. Start first with the farm equipment. Those are the plants Josiah visited on his last trip. They’ve pretty much flown under the radar until now. Look for anything that seems the least bit out of sync that could have prompted that trip” He paused, looking from John to Taylor and back. “Let me add my thanks to Miss Scott’s. Josiah was a very good friend. I’d like to catch whoever’s behind all this.”
