by Paige Edward
I also had to figure out what the hell was going on with those books. I still hadn’t mentioned it to anyone, but the more I looked at them, the more I realized that they were different from what Jim had originally showed me when I acquired the company. I would have noticed the incongruities and the way too clean dates and invoices as would have my lawyers. So now I had to find those other books and compare them. And if not that, I had to figure out who had access to this information and the motive to cook them.
Of course I immediately thought of Hunter. How couldn’t I? But why would he want his father’s company to go down, the company his father had thrown his life into and built from scratch? Sure I owned it now, but it was still MORGAN Properties, he still got paid a handsome salary, and it was his dad’s legacy. Who could do something like that to their parent?
No, the only reason my mind immediately jumped to him was because I deeply disliked him. But I wasn’t going to go around blaming anyone until I had proof.
I was holed up in my office, making calls, when my secretary buzzed and said that Jason, a colleague who was in charge of electrics on the project, needed to see me. He walked in and cut to the chase.
“I can’t get going, of course, until we have the foundation set. But I’ve been researching solar panels, to keep costs down, and make the development ecologically friendly.” He showed me charts of investment versus costs over time. There was no doubt that solar was the way to go.
“Now, I’m just sourcing who to work with. Before you came on board, we’d never even considered doing something like this, so I don’t have vendors I’ve already worked with. It might take a little while to do due diligence.”
“Great work, Jason. And it will attract the right businesses to the project when we start leasing. Very forward thinking.” The man had seemed nervous when he came in, but talking about solar panels and charges got him going and now he was more at ease.
As he was about to leave the office, he invited me to a poker game that he and a few colleagues were going to that night. He gave me his number to call when I got there and mentioned that Hunter would be there, like that was an incentive for going. I wasn’t really a gambling man, but I’d always loved cards. My mom and I’d played many nights for peanuts. I didn’t want to seem the aloof boss, so maybe I would go. A few rounds, a few drinks, maybe it would take my mind off this fucking mess of a situation I was in.
CHAPTER 36
Amy
I went to the bathroom and quickly spruced myself up. Make-up is a miracle worker. After some blush, mascara, and a bit of lip gloss, I actually looked almost good. My eyes were still red, but I didn’t think Hunter would notice.
I sat on the couch, channel surfing as I waited for him to pick me up. He was never on time, so I was surprised when he was only ten minutes late.
Hunter came to the door and he seemed to want to come in, but there was no way I felt like having a nooky evening. I needed to go out, have a drink. Stat.
“Let’s go grab something to eat.”
We walked towards his car. I mentioned maybe we should go back to D Street, but he said he’d rather go on a little drive and eat somewhere in Escondido. I didn’t really care.
As we pulled away from my house, Hunter turned towards me, his large brown eyes serious. I hoped he wasn’t going to ask about our talk at the cove. I was done with emotional conversations for the night. Thankfully, he said, “So do you want a more burger and beer type place or something healthier?”
A burger and beer was perfect. Satisfy my need for comfort food. I told him and he said he knew the perfect place.
We walked into Red Robin, and sat down at a table by the window. Hunter glanced around the restaurant, and when he looked back at me, he seemed agitated.
“Hey Amy, I changed my mind. Let’s go eat somewhere else.” He stood up, and grabbed my arm.
“What’s wrong?”
“Nothing, just come on.” He was practically begging. I grabbed my purse from the booth and hurried along beside him. He looked pale, and was sweating. He seemed really nervous. I looked back around the restaurant and all I saw were regular people eating burgers, fries, and milkshakes. I didn’t know what had gotten into him.
We got into the car and he quickly pulled away. He was staring straight ahead and seemed really amped up. I gently rubbed his arm to help calm him down and wanted to encourage him to take some deep breaths. But he seemed too crazed even to listen.
“So sorry, Ames. I’m just under a lot of pressure at work. I saw some guys from the office who have been making me crazy, and I just overreacted.” He tried to smile, but it didn’t look real. “I’m so glad I’m with you. I don’t know what I would have done if I was by myself.”
I was glad I could help him, but surprised at how open he was being about his feelings. He must be really upset.
“Why don’t you come back to my house? I’ll make us something and we can just watch TV?” It wasn’t a let’s-make-out invitation, but I couldn’t see him sitting in a restaurant again tonight. He was so jumpy.
He drove us back to my house and immediately turned on some action movie, while I rummaged through my refrigerator and cabinets. I could hear what must have been some major explosions coming from the TV. It was like Luke was back home.
I came out and brought Hunter a beer which he took gratefully, and then sat on the couch.
“You’re sitting so far away.” He looked at me with those puppy-dog eyes. I laughed.
“I’ll be back in a minute, I don’t want to overcook the spaghetti.”
It was definitely a night to eat on the couch. I brought both Hunter and me a plate of spaghetti with marinara sauce, and a fresh salad. Paper towels would have to do for napkins and the coffee table in front of the couch worked as a sort of low dining table. I ran back into the kitchen for a few more beers so I wouldn’t have to get up again.
“What should we watch?” I asked, scrolling through the On Demand choices.
“Remember how we would watch TV right here while waiting for Luke to fall asleep?” He raised his eyebrows suggestively.
I kept clicking through our options so I wouldn’t have to answer. We decided to watch another stupid action movie. I didn’t really care—I just wanted not to think. Hunter patted the couch beside him. He was sitting on one end, and I was near the other. I hesitated. It felt like too much, too easy to misunderstand, but it would feel good to curl up in someone’s arms right now and his were familiar.
I scooted over and sidled up next to him. He put his arm around me and we continued to watch the movie as I rested my head against his chest. He seemed pretty into the movie, which was good, since I didn’t really want anything too involved. I was tired from the week, from the stuff with Ryan, my mother, everything.
I felt Hunter gently rubbing my hair, and I realized with a start that I’d fallen asleep.
“Hey Amy, you want to go to bed?” I couldn’t tell if he meant me alone or together… I decided I’d take it as me alone, because that is what I needed.
“Yeah, I’m gonna hit the sack. I’ll call you tomorrow?”
“That’s not exactly what I had in mind,” he said, putting his arms tighter around me. My heart stirred at his interest but I couldn’t do it. It would be so easy to lose myself in him, to have him follow me into my bedroom, and get naked, and blast away any other thoughts. I wanted to do it just so I didn’t need to think. But I knew I’d feel worse tomorrow morning. I’d put myself out so fast for Ryan, and I couldn’t handle doing the same thing again.
I gave him a kiss on the lips, which he deepened by slowly gliding his tongue into my mouth. It felt good, but I didn’t want it to get too far. I pulled away. It just made me miss Ryan more.
“Not right now,” I murmured.
“Why?”
“I just can’t right now.”
He looked upset, but was trying to gather himself. “Okay. I’ll call you tomorrow.” He got up from the couch and I followed him to the do
or. He hugged me and then left.
I slowly shut the door. Maybe I should give him a shot. He’d taken great care of me at the bar, and was obviously trying hard to show me how much he’d changed. We’d had some really special times when we were younger. And he seemed so sincere about trying again. But I just didn’t know. What I really needed was to go to bed. I hoped sleep would come fast.
CHAPTER 37
Amy
After the disastrous dinner with Miranda, I hadn’t spoken to her once. Unfortunately that streak had to end. First thing the next morning, the phone rang. I picked up just to get it over with.
“Wasn’t dinner fun?” she asked. Of course paying no attention to my almost meltdown. I wonder if she’d even noticed.
I paused. I couldn’t really answer that question honestly so I decided to bypass it all together. Two could play at this game. “Have you seen Luke?”
“On no not yet. So busy with the new business partnership. Wasn’t that Ryan delicious? I don’t know why you ran out so fast. If I were your age, faced with a man like that, broad shoulders, eyes like, well…” She trailed off.
I had to interrupt her and fast. I didn’t need her to go down the checklist of all of Ryan’s good attributes. I knew them myself, intimately, and I was trying very hard not to think of his sculpted body, his talented hands, his… I zoned Miranda out, focusing on my own thoughts of Ryan.
“Miranda, I have to get going. I’ll be late to the store.”
“What store?”
Why do I even bother? She can’t even remember that I opened a store. Sometimes I’m not sure I’m related to this woman. She is so self-centered, it still seems impossible to me that she could share any DNA with me, let alone my sweetheart of a brother.
“So I hope all goes well.” I was trying to be polite, but what I really wanted to do was hang up on her.
“Amy, just one minute. I’d love to have you and Luke to dinner. I will be back in town for a while, John is completing a project in Colorado, but will be visiting soon. So perhaps you two can spare some time? Friday.” It wasn’t a question.
“Have you asked Luke? I think he is really busy with classes. Let me know what he says and we’ll figure out a time.” I sure hoped Luke was busy. In fact I’d call and warn him before Miranda could get to him.
“Well okay, talk to you soon.” She finally got the hint and let me off. I pressed end and immediately dialed my brother.
“Luke,” I said when he answered, “maybe you can come over this week? Bring Matt, or that lucky new lady of yours? I miss you. And I can’t bear to see Miranda this week. So you come up with an excuse when she calls asking about having dinner on Friday.”
“Matt and I will be there. How about tonight? And I’ll deal with Mom.” My brother almost always refused to call her by her first name.
Sounded great to me. We’d have another night in and watch dumb movies, and I wouldn’t have to worry about putting anyone off. I needed time to think about Hunter too, without being near him. This morning, I was feeling like I should give him a chance. He was really changed from high school and maybe it was time to let bygones be bygones. He’d apologized for hurting me. What else did I expect from him?
I just wished there was some way of foretelling my future. If I made a choice to try things with Hunter, where would I end up? I knew if Ryan was still a possibility I wouldn’t even be entertaining these thoughts. But he wasn’t.
I wanted to chart my course, to keep it safe, figure out my next move by thinking down the line. I knew that wasn’t really possible, and was the opposite of how my father had wanted me to live. He would want me to go with my gut and challenge myself by not just using my brain, but by following my heart. Daring to live with courage.
I got dressed as quickly as possible, in a comfy cotton blouse that was white with delicate blue flowers, and a pair of light skinny jeans. I wet my bangs down since they were looking a bit wild from sleep. I must have slept on my face, the way they were standing straight up. After dabbing on a tiny bit of lip gloss, some peach blush and mascara, I was ready to go.
I was so happy to have the store. Between all the jobs I had to finish by the end of the month, keeping up with ordering, helping customers who walked in, I’d be plenty busy and wouldn’t have time to obsess about all this mess. I wouldn’t have time to think, which was nice, since thinking obviously wasn’t getting me anywhere.
CHAPTER 38
Ryan
I didn’t really want to go to Jason’s game, but I shouldn’t renege after committing. Plus, everything was such a bloody mess at work that I needed to get out of there. I’d taken a run early in the morning, so I worked till just past 8:00, and then drove over to the address Jason had given me. I didn’t recognize it as one of my employees’ homes, but presumably it was one of Jason’s mates.
Hopefully a few beers and the game would take me away from ever present thoughts of Amy. I’d tried to make her see sense. To at least try to make us work. I wanted to yell at her. How could she not see sense? She was letting something go that was incredibly rare.
I parked the car and walked into the lobby to take the elevator up to the 10th floor. I was already in a shit mood. When I got to the door, there was a bouncer. Who in bloody hell’s flat was this anyway?
I told him that Jason Evans had invited me and he opened the door. I couldn’t hide my surprise when I saw what was inside. This was not some blokes getting together, sitting around, shooting the shit, playing poker. This was a blooming card house.
There were somewhere between fifteen and twenty tables set up, men sitting around drinking and placing bets. On the walls there were at least ten flat screen TVs, all on some sport or another, muted so there wasn’t any sound. Nobody spoke either. The only thing I heard was the swish of cards shuffling and chips flying. I looked around, searching for Jason or another familiar face, but the only person I recognized was Hunter. He was sitting at the far table, frowning, his eyes narrowed in concentration. I wish the man would pull out that kind of focus at work. I walked over to say hello and shook his hand. It felt sweaty. Knowing he had been Amy’s high school sweetheart, all I really wanted to do was punch him hard. I’d gotten a reputation in Brighton for being the one not to fuck with. I guess Hunter didn’t get the memo. Fortunately, for him, I’d grown-up and could resist the impulse.
“Hey, mate.”
“Hey,” he said without looking up at me. “Didn’t know you’d be here.” There was a sneer in his voice. What a nice lad.
“Jason invited me,” I told him.
Hunter glanced up at me. He looked sort of grey around the face. Bloody hell. How much did he have on this bet?
He turned back toward the table, not outright dismissing me, but nearly. I’d leave the man to his game, find Jason, sit a few hands and be off. After the past couple of days I’d had, this was not my scene. I spotted Jason by the bar and strolled over to him. After saying hello, I got a Scotch on the rocks and followed him back over to Hunter’s table where some seats had opened.
Poker is my game. It’s the one game where my background really helps. Having to read the blokes on the street growing up, who was up for a fight, who was just posturing, who was a scared tosser, years of deciding in an instant where some boy stood, and playing out the best course of action in five seconds, made reading these bullshitters around the table an easy feat. If they talked too much, they probably had a bad hand. If they dressed too neatly, they were probably conservative and only played on great cards. A lot of bling, maybe more of a risk taker.
Some guy at the table over next to us was getting a rub down from some hot masseuse, and wouldn’t shut up. “Listen, here's the thing,” he said in a deep smoker’s voice. “If you can't spot the sucker in the first half hour at the table, then you are the sucker.” What a wanker—were we in some fucking Rounders movie?
I hadn’t played in a card house in years, and not ever in America. But I wasn’t worried. I threw in a $5 chip when the deale
r got to the table. Hunter was sitting in the cutoff, one seat to the right of the dealer. Jason and two other guys were at the table. I sat all the way down the table. Hunter had the best seat--he could take advantage of being last in each round.
When the dealer slid my cards to me, I glanced down at them. Ten of Clubs and Eight of Diamonds. It was a decent hand—if the flop was in my favor, it could turn out to be spectacular. I watched Hunter as he looked down at his cards. He was a seasoned gambler—I could tell that right away. His face remained impassive: he must have learned to avoid all of his tells years ago. But something about the gleam in his eye told me he was feeling confident.
The two guys to my left folded. I looked at Hunter whose face was still trained on his cards. I wondered what he had. It was worth betting just to see how he followed through. I raised $25. Jason and his mate next to him folded as well.
I leaned back. So it was the two of us. Somehow that felt entirely appropriate. Hunter looked from the dealer to me and raised $100.
I leaned back in my seat. He must have thought he could win the pot right there. Fat chance. I wasn’t going to back down now. Or Hunter thought the flop would give him a big advantage. Either way, I was in to go head to head.
“$75,” I called.
The dealer drew the chips into the middle, and took out the $4 house rake, dropping it in the slot to his left. Then he spread the flop.
Queen of Clubs, Jack of Spades, 9 of Clubs.
I quickly counted up the chips in our stacks. I had $350 remaining and Hunter had $225.
“All in,” Hunter said, a confident smile spreading across his face.
I kept my face impassive as I slid in enough chips to call him. With an infuriating smirk still on his face, Hunter flipped over his cars. The Jack of Hearts and the Jack of Diamonds. It was a great hand—he had three of a kind.
