“Okay, you have a point. I have a temper. You were young and wanted to have fun. Maybe I was jealous. I had all these responsibilities, money struggles, and you and your rich friends didn’t seem to have anything to worry about.”
“If these last few months have shown anything, it’s that you don’t always know what was going on behind closed doors.”
Billy realized he’d never taken the time to see her point of view back then. Yeah, they’d both been immature and impulsive.
“Anyway, after that night, you left and I didn’t see you again until we’d both graduated and were back in Houston. You were friends with Dylan MacKenzie so I saw you at parties with him from time to time.”
“He was important to my career. I used him.” Billy stared down at his hands. “I’m not proud of that, but my connections with your rich friends helped me establish my law practice.”
“Cut it out. You like Dylan, I know you do. You two are genuinely friends, right?” She touched his leg.
“Sure. Now. But it started as a calculated move. I couldn’t afford to do anything back then that didn’t work into my plans for the future. After you dumped me, I was determined to focus solely on success.” He smiled at her, a crocodile smile her daddy had called it, cold and merciless. “You gave me that, baby. Motivation to succeed. After that night, the worst of my life, I was on fire to become the best damned lawyer Houston had ever seen. I dreamed of the day you’d need me. Do something heinous and call me from jail.” He stared at the ceiling. “Oh, yeah. I had some dark revenge fantasies.”
Tears filled her eyes. “Tell me about our last night. I should know.”
“Nope. It’s history.” He shook his head. “Shit. I don’t want to go back there. Because when I stopped hurting, I realized I still loved you. That you’d always hold a piece of my heart, broken or not.” He reached out and wiped a tear off her cheek. “That’s why we kept trying again. But it was never the right time.”
Shannon’s feelings for Billy had always scared her. He was so sure of himself, while she was never sure of anything. How could she measure up to his impossible standards in the long run? So when she’d seen his disgust, his disapproval of her, she’d hurt him before he could hurt her.
“Now here we are. I’ve reached the place in my career where I can relax a little. I’ve made it. I have everything I want except a woman to share it with. And, fuck me, but there’s only one woman who will do. And here she is.” He pulled her in.
“Are you sure? After what I put you through?” She wrapped her arms around him, a little of the fear that he’d realize she wasn’t enough for him still there. No, he kept coming back. That meant something. “I’m older, but am I wiser? I want to be, but I’m only human. Maybe you should run like hell.”
“No. We’re going to work this time.” He studied her, then nodded. “Will you try?”
“Yes, of course. But can you forgive and forget?”
“Forgive? Done. Forget? Never. But that’s on me, not on you.” He pulled back the sheet and looked down at her bare thighs. “Enough of this. I’ve been showered, fed, and even rested a little. We should celebrate being alive.” He nuzzled her neck. “Held at gunpoint, slapped around, shot at. I never want to see you in danger again.”
“Me either.” She leaned into the press of his warm lips. It would be easy to just move on. But then…he’d never forget. Well, how could she ask him to? But what she could do was prove to him that she really had changed. She couldn’t ever revert to that selfish party girl again.
“One more thing.” She bit her lip.
“What?” He eased them both down so they were lying side by side. “I have other things on my mind.”
“Come on, humor me. We needed this, this dialogue. And I have a question.” She hummed with pleasure when he slipped a clever hand under her T-shirt.
“What now?” He pulled the shirt up and off her. “Look at you. Perfect.”
“Quit distracting me.” The sear of his hot lips over her breasts was distracting. “Naomi said something about your last name. Pagan. That the chief wasn’t crazy about it. That’s when I realized I know nothing about your father. What happened to him?”
“I don’t have a father.” He laid his palm on her stomach. “Pagan is a name Great Grandfather took when he left the Tribe. Priests called the Indians heathens back in the day. The old ways were ‘pagan’ rituals that are still practiced today, though there’s a church on the reservation grounds and I’ve attended it all my life. No one will ever erase our heritage. Great Grandfather really didn’t like stereotypes. He was a rebel and didn’t want to be under federal control or live on a reservation. So he took off as soon as he could.”
“I like your last name. It suggests a wild man under your custom-made suits.” She ran a fingertip across his muscular chest. “The way you were in command while we were in the woods… I loved it.”
“Then we should go out to the woods more often.” He groaned when her hand drifted down his body.
“What about your father? Was he a sperm donor?” Shannon didn’t know why she was bringing this up now. Not when he’d leaned down to make her body sing with his mouth and hands.
He looked up. “You could call him that. When my mom was in college, she got an internship in Washington, D.C., to work for a legislator. Part of a program to help minorities.” He swiped his tongue around her navel. “Mom was smart, tops in her class. But she was away from home for the first time and obviously did something stupid during her summer in D.C. She would never tell anyone—not even my grandmother—who she had the affair with. But she came home pregnant. Gran always thought it might have been a married man. Someone in the government.”
“Wow. That’s quite a story. Did she get to finish college?” Shannon gripped his hair when he headed south. “Single mom. That’s not an easy road.”
“No, she had to drop out. Gran helped with childcare while Mom got a job. She never married. Guess the man in D.C. was either the love of her life or hurt her so badly she swore off men forever. She wouldn’t talk about it and rarely dated, though she liked going to bars at night. Guess she found companionship there. Ruined her liver in the process.” He shifted Shannon so he was between her legs and began to kiss the inside of her thighs.
She ran her hands through his hair, trying to imagine his life in that tiny house. His family obviously loved him but there were secrets. What would it be like not to know such an important thing? Of course, knowing who your father is, was, could bring you pain. Billy was so smart and successful. Some of his intelligence and drive had to come from the man who’d sired him. Was there a way…? She felt his eyes on her and he’d stopped kissing her.
“Shannon? Let it go. I did, a long time ago.” He rested his head on her thigh. “I didn’t need a father. I had a stern but loving grandfather and women who spoiled me. Gran was always there to make sure I knew right from wrong.” He pulled her legs over his shoulders. “And then there were the Indians.”
“Yes. It’s obvious that you had lots of people who made sure you turned out to be the man you are today.” She smiled. “The man I love.”
“There you go.” He leaned in, exhaling a puff of warm air that made her shiver. “Now, can we stop talking? Because I can think of much better things to do with my mouth.”
She laughed and released his hair. “Oh, go ahead.” Shannon lay back, her eyes closing when he showed her just how much better. “Billy!” She moved her hips, the pleasure growing almost unbearably. He held her still when she lost her mind. Then he slid up her body and pressed inside her.
“I love you, William Pagan.” She stared up at him, pretty sure she would never feel this way about anyone else, ever again.
“And I love you, Shannon Calhoun.” He began to move.
“Will you do the grass dance for me later?” She laughed when he stopped and stared down at her.
<
br /> “Never in a million years.” But he did move faster.
As always, pleasure pushed all other thoughts out of her head in the moment. But later, when he’d finally fallen asleep by her side, Shannon stared at him. He hadn’t thrown even a sheet over his gleaming body while she was huddled under a blanket in the chilly cabin.
He’d never answered her. Why did he love her? A smart woman would leave it alone. Too bad that, for once, it was her mind that wouldn’t be quiet and let her sleep. Was he setting her up for a brutal payback? Revenge for the humiliation and pain she’d dished out all those years ago? She stared at his back, rising and falling with each breath. She knew why he couldn’t stand to see her drink. His mother, his aunt. He’d grown up surrounded by alcoholics. And he’d fallen for her, a woman who couldn’t seem to have a good time without a drink in her hand. God, it must make him crazy. She moved closer and pressed against him. She didn’t want to wake him, just needed to touch him and let his strength seep into her. He didn’t play games, did he? Most men who got hurt, wanted to hurt back. And he was a lawyer, expert at manipulating juries into believing whatever story he told them. Guilty or not guilty? She was guilty as sin and deserved to be punished. Loving him and losing him would be unbearable. Oh, God, was she being set up for the worst fall of her life?
Chapter 11
“All right, Albert, what did you find out about Rupert Billingsley?” Billy forked up eggs cooked perfectly and realized the restaurant did deserve more publicity. Two other diners were across the room, out of earshot, so he was confident they couldn’t be overheard above the noise from the nearby casino. Early morning gamblers were hard at it already.
“Give me a minute, okay?” Albert held onto his coffee cup like it was the only thing keeping him together. He’d obviously enjoyed the casino himself for quite a while the night before. “I guess it was a mistake to give you a phone. Don’t you ever sleep in?”
“It’s eight o’clock. Late, as far as I’m concerned.” Billy grinned.
Albert leaned back in his chair and it creaked under his weight. “Where’s your lady this morning?”
“Still sleeping. We had a rough day yesterday. She needed the rest.” Billy took a bite. He’d slipped out of bed only hours after falling asleep beside her. Of course, she’d stirred and tried to get him to come back to bed. He couldn’t do it, his restless nature making it impossible. So he’d worked his phone, caught up on e-mails, and finally sent a text to Albert to meet him here so he could get breakfast.
“Come on, man. What did you find out?” He didn’t need to think about Shannon, still warm in their bed, or he’d blow off this meeting and head back to the cabin.
“I found out I’m a piss-poor gambler. I’m giving it up.” He waved over the waitress and held out his cup. “At least Simon won last night. But that’s probably a bad thing.” He smiled at the waitress. “The lumberjack special. Thanks.” He waited until she had cleared the door into the kitchen. “I liked Shannon.” Albert smiled. “Seems like a nice lady.”
“Yeah. But we have a history.” Billy’s gut tightened and he set down his toast. Was he nuts for involving himself with Shannon again? Last night he’d finally let those memories come rushing in. God, but she’d twisted him up inside when she’d tossed him away all those years ago. Boring. Dull. Uncouth. Those were the kindest words she’d tossed at him when she’d finally gotten sick of his trying to get her to quit her drinking games and leave a party.
Back then he’d been afraid that the novelty of having a serious boyfriend would wear off for her but, when it had, he’d still been blindsided. Stupid. That was the one word she’d screamed that had fit him to a tee. He’d been an idiot for thinking a woman like Shannon Calhoun, from her world of high living and big money, could ever see herself permanently with a man like Billy Pagan. Nope. He’d been a diversion. He’d lasted just a few months before one of the pretty boys with deep pockets had taken his place. A guy who fit in with her people.
He should have seen it coming. Even Dylan had warned him. But he hadn’t listened, too dazzled by her beauty and the way she could make everything else in his life seem drab.
It had killed him back then when she’d casually toss aside her bikini top and let those worthless losers look at her, reach for her. He’d wanted to club them all to death and take her away. But he’d known better. Because she would have mocked him for his territorial instincts. Been shocked by his violent urges. Yeah, he had them. And she’d brought them out in him when she’d been her most outrageous. Even yesterday, when that bitch had slapped her, he’d wanted to kill. Didn’t matter that it was a woman who’d put a hand on her. Hell, no. You touch Shannon and you’re dead meat.
“Bill?” Albert put down his coffee. “Hey, man, I think I’m seeing a little PTSD here. You two really did have a rough time yesterday, didn’t you?”
“You could say that.” Billy shook his head. “A woman fucking hit Shannon. Slapped her across the face. If I hadn’t been tied down, I swear to God…”
“I get it. You want to borrow a bike? And a gun? I’ll go with you, right now.” Albert jumped to his feet. “We can go after them. I don’t have a problem with squaring things. Not when it comes to the women we love.”
“No, no, sit down.” Billy took a breath. Shit. For a moment, he’d been tempted. But that wasn’t his way. He was a man who used the law. “The Feds have already been called. I expect them soon. Let them handle it. I look forward to seeing that whole bunch locked up for a good long time. Plus, I’m not sure where the hell to find them.”
“That is a problem.” Albert dropped into his chair again and squirted ketchup on the scrambled eggs that were set down in front of him.
“Now, I need to get back to work.” Billy forced himself to put his anger aside. “What did you find out about Billingsley?”
“That he has a chunk of Greenespace stock too. He’s also named in his dear Evelyn’s will.”
“Yeah, I knew that. It was in the discovery I got from the DA. Leads to motive.” Billy slathered his toast with peach preserves.
“What I bet you didn’t get was a copy of Evelyn’s new will. One she hadn’t signed yet.” Albert looked pretty proud of himself.
“How the hell did you find out about that?” Billy dropped his toast. “Never mind. I’m sure I don’t want to know.”
“You’re right. I’m also working on the financials for the two Greenes.” Albert smiled as he buttered a biscuit. “They’re named in Evelyn’s old will, but not the new one. How’s that for motive?” He took a bite and chewed. “Damn, that’s good.” He stuffed the rest of the biscuit into his mouth then attacked his eggs.
“I like it.” Billy figured the timing of Evelyn’s death was no accident. He could subpoena the new will. Get it into evidence.
“Evelyn must have put the stepkids in the old one right after her late husband died. He’d left her a pile of money and stock in Greenespace. She added Rupert to her will when she married him.” Albert looked up when the waitress refilled his coffee cup. “Thanks, darlin’.” He ate his eggs until she moved on. “She had her lawyer start work on the new will so she could sign it before she and Rupert were to leave on their big cruise.” He had cleaned his plate and sat back with a sigh. “Great food here.”
“Yep. Come on, Albert. What else?” Billy knew this would make or break Rupert’s motive.
“First, the old will stands since she hadn’t signed the new one yet. Which means the Greenes will have enough stock now to control the company. You’ve got a solid reason to point the finger at them. They’d want to get rid of Evelyn since she was lobbying to remove them from management. Talked to several insiders who verified that she was pushing hard for a clean sweep.” Albert wiped his mouth with his napkin.
“The new will?”
“Rupert was still in there. Set to inherit a nice chunk of change.” Albert leaned forward. “He
re’s the kicker. Evelyn had decided to leave the bulk of her estate to the M.D. Anderson Cancer Research Center. Seems she had the big C and her time was running out. I’m sure you can take a look at her autopsy report and confirm that.”
“Holy shit. I have it, that report. Didn’t look past the gunshot and ballistics.” Billy shook his head. He’d been sleepwalking through his cases lately and it showed.
“Poor lady. Had been in remission for years, but this time, when the cancer came back, it was everywhere. The handwriting was on the wall. The person I talked to claimed Evelyn planned to spend her remaining few months travelling. No more chemo or radiation. Just pain meds.” Albert frowned at his empty plate. “You think Rupert knew about it?”
“He sure didn’t mention that to me.” Billy shook his head. Damn. What would he do if the woman he loved had been given a death sentence? That cruise would be a great way to spend Evelyn’s last days if Rupert loved his wife as he claimed. But if he knew about the new will and resented her giving away her money? “Seems like the Greenes have the strongest motive. So you need to look really hard at those financials. For a payoff to a hitman.”
“You have no idea how easy it is to hide shit like that.” Albert pulled out his phone. “I can look for cash withdrawals. Unusual phone calls. Offshore accounts and transfers.” He glanced at Billy. “What do you think about Rupert?”
“I can’t get past the fact that he was right there with the opportunity to take out Evelyn. I was tied up yesterday and I’ll be damned if I could get loose—but then again, Shannon worked her way free with a freaking nail sticking out of a wall. He claimed he had a straight razor that he could get to in a drawer in the bathroom. I call that damned convenient.” Billy realized he’d finished his breakfast except for one piece of bacon which he popped into his mouth. He chewed and swallowed, but his throat closed. Had Rupert made a fool of him? Killed Evelyn to save her from a slow and painful death? No one had actually seen this “hit man.” No one except the grieving husband. The security cameras had been conveniently disabled.
Texas Pride Page 17
