Billionaire's Matchmaker (Titans)

by Sierra Cartwright

  Since Lillibet was an adult and there were no overt signs of foul play, and considering she hadn’t been gone long, he doubted they would do more than take a report. And they might interfere with Celeste’s investigation.

  “I’m going to launch a search of the water, and we’re checking the security logs for the dock. Not that they are reliable. Any number of cardholders hold open the gate for others.”

  Rafe had witnessed exactly that. People hauled coolers, pool toys, party supplies. Holding the door was a cordial, polite thing to do. “Are there video recordings?”

  “We’re checking that too.”

  With a nod, he returned to his father.

  Gabriella was leaning forward with an inviting smile. “Mr. Sterling. I appreciate that this is difficult, but we need to know everything you know about Lillibet, no matter how small. Anything she said about her childhood. Friends. How she got the job at your club.”

  Rafe schooled his impatience as his dad sat with a clenched jaw.

  Showing her calm professionalism, Gabriella persisted. “There’s a picture of you two in the aft cabin. She’s very beautiful. Is that why you asked her out?”

  Theodore turned his phone over and over again, as if the action could make it ring.

  “Dad,” Rafe snapped. “If you don’t want to answer, fine. We’ll pack everything up and leave you to figure it out on your own.” He watched a man slip over the side of the boat without even a small splash.

  “It wasn’t like that. We talked when I went to the club. One evening when I was leaving, she was outside crying. Her boyfriend had broken up with her and hadn’t picked her up after work.”

  Rafe and Gabriella exchanged glances.

  “I took her for a coffee and then drove her home. Christ. The apartment was a dump, and I didn’t want to leave her there.”

  “Apartment?” Rafe demanded. “Where? We need the address.”

  Theodore went through old records on his phone’s GPS until he found it. Then Rafe conveyed the information to Travers. Maybe they could get a real name from the lease.

  Over the next half hour, Theodore outlined how the unnamed boyfriend had abused her, how desperate she was to feel safe.

  Theodore had procured an apartment for her and the two began spending more time together. Rafe could see how the relationship had been built, even though the altruistic way it had begun didn’t excuse his father’s behavior.

  Over time, she’d confessed to not wanting to ever be apart. Rafe was surprised Theodore had fallen for it. But wasn’t that what love was? Blindness? Loss of good judgment? Jesus, the drama his father had opened them all to.

  Rafe stood and paced, shoving aside his annoyance. He needed to focus on solving the problem.

  The diver returned to the boat. Rafe shot a glance toward Travers. He shook his head, which was both a relief and a frustration.

  Rafe’s thoughts turned over and over, trying to make sense of one piece of the puzzle. Why would Lillibet leave now?

  If she married Theodore, she would gain tremendous wealth as well as power. The missing money and jewelry represented a fraction of what she could get her greedy little hands on in the next year or two. As much as he hated to admit it, Rafe was starting to think that maybe something untoward had happened to the woman. A small, nasty part of him didn’t want to care.

  Even though he thought Lillibet’s story about her boyfriend was part of the insidious web she had woven around Theodore, Rafe signaled to Gabriella to check it out.

  Hours later, when Celeste arrived, they were no closer to answers.

  Rafe took Celeste aside to show her the Greek Z carved into the wood.

  “It could be something to throw us off,” she cautioned.

  “Yeah,” he agreed. “And it could be Noah. Or someone else who wants my dad to believe the Society was behind it.” The partial moon peeked from behind a cloud. “It could be the Zetas.”

  “We don’t do things like that, Rafe.”

  “Never?” Members of the Society took care of one another, as they had since the very beginning. “I have to ask…”

  “Fallon and Associates had nothing to do with it.” Celeste’s spine was stiff, her chin firm.

  Such a thing was within the scope of her work if necessary, and they both knew it. He recognized how stupid his question was. Would she admit she’d been hired to remove Lillibet from his father’s life?

  Around eleven, Celeste notified him that the apartment was in a man’s name and that her organization was attempting to track him down. She’d ordered surveillance on the building. An hour later, Celeste left for home. Her team stayed behind, with Travers remaining on the boat with Rafe and his father.

  After showering, Rafe headed for a small room containing an even smaller bed. He stretched out and tucked his hands behind his head. The day’s events marched through his brain in precise reverse order, ending with saying goodbye to Hope.

  He grabbed his phone to call her, then realized it was after one. For a few seconds, he debated what to do. Then he sent her a text, saying he hoped she’d made it home safe and saying he’d call when he returned to Houston.

  For an hour, he scrolled through messages and took notes, killing time, hoping to hear from her. Since it was the middle of the night, he hadn’t expected an answer. But that didn’t stop the bitterness of disappointment from crawling up his throat.

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  “How was your weekend?”

  Hope glanced up from her computer screen to give Skyler a fake smile. There was no reason for Hope’s disappointment and foul mood to ruin everyone’s workweek. Skyler had thoughtfully arrived with gifts, coffee, and a pastry box bearing a name Hope didn’t recognize.

  “After a lot of internal debate and much gnashing of teeth, I went with cupcakes,” Skyler declared. “I figured if the trip was wicked awesome, we could celebrate. And if it sucked, you’d need something more than a doughnut.” She walked in and placed the treasure on Hope’s desk. “How did I do?”

  “You’re a savior.”

  “Does this mean it didn’t go well with McHottie?” Skyler removed both coffees from their holder, then flipped up the top of the bakery box. Ooey-gooey sweetness wafted on the air, fresh with the promise of making her forget her sorrows. Hope hadn’t eaten all day Sunday, and now she was ravenous.

  She picked up two napkins—one to use as a plate, the other to wrap around the tallest, thickest devil’s food cupcake topped with so much frosting that she didn’t think it could stand up on its own. Recognizing that it would make a mess unless she corrected the geometry to make it smaller, she did the sensible thing and took an enormous bite.

  Deep inside, the sugar rush hit her, firing all the neural pleasure centers. She moaned in appreciation. Saturday evening, she’d arrived back in Houston during a torrential downpour. Even after a hot shower, she’d been unable to sleep. Her phone had been in her hand when Rafe’s text arrived.

  She’d fought the temptation to answer. Instead, she’d blocked his number.

  Sunday had dawned gray and dreary, ripe with humidity. The condensation running down her bedroom window had matched her mood.

  Around noon, she’d forced herself from bed. After a cup of coffee, she’d checked her phone. There was a message from Skyler, saying the Saturday evening event had gone well. After that, Hope had morosely wandered her apartment.

  Being so alone magnified her grief at leaving Rafe. Feeling as if a part of her heart had been ripped out, she’d forced herself to dress and leave the house. She’d dragged herself through the grocery store and managed her laundry through bleary eyes. Then she’d spent the afternoon on the couch, binge-watching television and shutting out the world.

  After eleven, she’d hoped exhaustion would help her sleep well. Instead, she’d tossed and turned. At four a.m., she’d given up all pretext of getting any rest, worked out in her apartment building’s gym, then taken a long hot shower. She’d been at the office since six thirty, but
she hadn’t gotten any work done. The cupcake sent her into a welcomed state of bliss. If she was lucky, she could stay there the rest of the day.

  It wasn’t until she’d finished her second bite that she realized Skyler was staring at her. “What?” Hope asked around a mouthful of frosting.

  “I’m waiting to hear what happened,” Skyler prompted.

  “He’s not for me. Or I’m not for him.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “I’m more invested in him than he is in me.”

  “Did you fall in love with him?”

  Her hand shaking, she placed the sweet on the desk so she didn’t drop it.

  “Oh no, Hope. He doesn’t return the feeling?”

  Hope blinked back tears. “Better to find out now, right?” Before she’d become one hundred percent ensnared. Hope brushed her hands together.

  “He’s a rat-fink prickwomble. Wait. No. He’s a coward, rat-fink prickwomble.”

  Hope tried to summon a smile and failed. Again and again, she asked herself how she could have been so stupid to allow herself to fall for him. He’d given her dizzying sexual encounters, and he’d offered marriage, but he’d been clear there wasn’t a happily ever after in her future.

  “We shall crown him King of the Bastards.”

  “And leave him to the annals of history.” Why the hell did that thought hurt so damn much? She took a drink of coffee to swallow the lump in her throat. “Damn!” Hope’s pulse raced from the hit of caffeine.

  “I made it a quad,” Skyler confessed. “I figured the King of the Bastards would have kept you awake late at night…for good reasons and not sucky ones.”

  She took another drink. How had she been lucky enough to hire Skyler? She was more than an excellent employee, she was a thoughtful human being. Hope felt as if she’d won the lottery, and it was time to show her appreciation. “You know, I’m going to miss having you as an assistant.”

  “What?” Skyler choked on her drink, and Hope reached across to grab the cup before it tipped over. “What do you mean? Am I…?” She twisted a hand into her hair. “Did I do something wrong?”

  “You’re too damn good at what you do.”

  “Hope, you’re scaring me.”

  Why hadn’t she done this months ago? “You’ve been doing a lot of the work as an associate.” She paused to build the tension. “It’s time you were promoted.”

  “What?” Skyler leaped from her chair, twirled around, then gave her butt a great big shake. “I’m going to be an associate, like Tony? I mean, I don’t dress as well, but, like I get to do the magic hocus pocus by myself?”

  “You do.” Skyler’s enthusiasm was contagious. “Unlike Tony, no purple ties required.”

  “He wore mauve on Saturday night. And a matching flower in his lapel. Women swooned all over him.”

  “Including you?” Hope narrowed her eyes. Had there been love blossoming that she hadn’t seen?

  “Ick. No. He’s like a brother…”

  Tony entered the front door and walked quietly across the reception area. In a few steps, he stood in the doorway and pressed a finger to his lips. Hope hid her smile.

  “Or a cousin. Maybe a father figure. Or something. But no. No. Eww.”

  “Thanks a lot,” Tony said, a hand over his heart. He exhaled a huge, shuddering sigh. “My soul is crushed, fair maiden. It’s a good thing the engagement ring came with a thirty-day money-back guarantee.”

  Skyler’s face drained of color. “Uhm.” Shit, Skyler mouthed before facing him.

  Enjoying herself for the first time in days, Hope sat back with her latte. Her personal life might suck, but she had the best possible colleagues.

  “I’ll do my best to get over you,” he promised, adjusting his baby-blue tie.

  “You weren’t supposed to hear that.”

  “I gathered that.”

  “Really, I think you’re the greatest. The best. I mean, wow. All that…baby-blue…and…pinstripes?”

  Hope laughed.

  “And wingtips. How debonair and old-world. Any woman would be lucky to have you.”

  “Except my daughter, was it? Or are you my sister? I’m confused.”

  She tucked a purple strand of hair behind her ear. “You’re far too young to be a dad. Well, my dad, anyway.”

  “Thanks. I think.”

  Hope’s mood lightened, and she invited them both to come in and grab a seat.

  “Cupcake?” Skyler offered, sliding the box Tony’s direction.

  He sat back as if the treat were lethal. “I don’t eat sweets.”

  “Oh. That’s right, Dad,” Skyler replied, reaching for her chocolate goodness again.

  “I want to hear about Saturday night,” Hope prompted. As she took another drink, Tony began speaking.

  “My daughter was brilliant.”

  Skyler lifted her treat in a silent salute.

  “I didn’t need to go with her. She handled the room like a pro, talking to single ladies, collecting their cards, and she even got a special invitation. Tell her,” he prompted.

  “I met a producer for a local television station,” Skyler said. “They have a breakfast meeting once a month where people pitch ideas for features on their morning news show.” She grinned. “We got a five-minute slot on Thursday morning.”

  “Congratulations!” Hope lifted her cup.

  “I thought you might want to handle it.”

  “No.” Hope shook her head. “You did all the work.”

  “Me?” Skyler squealed.

  “You can practice on me,” Tony said.

  “Excellent idea,” Hope agreed.

  “But—”

  “You’ve listened to my elevator speech dozens of times,” Hope interrupted. “You’ve got this.”

  “Swoon. You mean you think I’m ready?”

  “I do.” Hope grinned. “Tell Tony your news.”

  “Turns out I’m the newest associate at the Prestige Group.” Skyler jumped up to repeat her butt wiggle. It was impressive enough for Tony to blush.

  “Well deserved,” he managed.

  And if they kept growing, Hope may have the opportunity to open a second branch, perhaps in Dallas, or even New York City. There was nothing—and no one—stopping her from moving.

  A tremor of loneliness echoed inside her. She forced herself to ignore it. She had her dreams and her business, and she took tremendous pleasure from that.

  “Hope?”

  Realizing the world had gone on without her, she put down her cup and refocused on Skyler. “Sorry?”

  “Tony had a great night on Saturday too. We make an excellent team.”

  He outlined his evening’s results. He’d met a gentleman who might be a potential match for one of their female clients, and he’d had a discussion with a successful career woman who was seeking a wife who wanted to be a stay-at-home mom.

  Interesting. “Is she wanting to sign an agreement with us?” Hope asked.

  “I wasn’t sure if we can be helpful.”

  She nodded. “If you want to spend some time on it, that’s fine, but I wouldn’t invest a lot of energy into it.”

  “Agreed.”

  They all shared their schedules for the upcoming week, including a mixer for a man who’d made millions in the oil business and had three ex-wives, something they would warn their candidates about.

  Hope suggested Tony take Friday off as compensation for working Saturday, and she offered Skyler a vacation day the following Monday.

  “And miss all the weekend gossip and pastries? No chance. Can I keep it as a floater, maybe add it to my vacation? I’m thinking I may want to go to a sunny beach somewhere with a hot guy to peel my grapes and bring me cocktails.”

  “A stake through my heart,” Tony said.

  “Perfect,” Hope replied.

  Tony raised an eyebrow.

  “I wasn’t referring to your demolished feelings, Tony,” Hope reassured him. “I meant that would give us time to hire a
replacement for Skyler.”

  “There is no replacement for Skyler,” Tony countered while Skyler shimmied a shoulder.

  “Can you contact the employment agency?” Hope asked, fearing he was right. Skyler was unique. For the next fifteen minutes, they brainstormed a job description and work hours for the upcoming new hire.

  “If she has bookkeeping experience, that would be a plus,” Skyler added. “Save us some time with the accounting service.”

  “What if she’s a he?” Tony asked.

  Hope and Skyler blinked.

  “I’m feeling like men are underrepresented here.”

  “True story,” Skyler agreed. “Maybe someone younger than Tony, you know, less like a dad. But he needs to have a nice phone voice. Sultry, you know? Think of how he could invite intimacy when he answers the phone. Or on voicemail. Pres-tiiiiiiige Group.”

  “I think I’ve been insulted,” Tony chimed in. “Was I insulted?”

  “Not everyone does sultry well,” Skyler reassured him. “Don’t worry. You have many talents.”

  “Go ahead and let the employment agency know that’s a must have,” Hope said.

  The meeting broke up, leaving Hope alone once more. Spending time with her employees should have made it easier for her to get on with her day. It hadn’t. Instead it reinforced how she had no one to share the intimate details of her day with. Rafe would have laughed along with her at Skyler’s antics.

  The thought of Rafe had Hope reaching for her phone.

  But she’d removed his messages and contact information.

  No matter how much she tried to make herself believe that was a good thing, she failed. His absence left her heart shattered.

  Blocked?

  Rafe’s phone call went straight to Hope’s voicemail again. She had a compassionate heart, and there was no way she would be able to swipe through every one of his relentless calls on the first ring. Which meant she must have cut herself off from him.

  He alternated between anger, frustration, and despair. Goddamn it, this woman got to him to the point of obsession.

  “Hey, Rafe. We might have something.”