“I’m afraid it’s short notice, you see we had planned to hold the gala here at the club but there has been such an outpouring of interest, we are looking at a much larger facility. We will need the room on the twentieth of next month, it’s a Thursday night, it should be available in the middle of the week.”
“I’ll check, Mother and get back to you.”
“Thank you, dear. Oh, by the way, I told the girls you would be happy to provide the floral arrangements, I’ll have Trudy fax over our requirements.”
Travis chuckled at his mother’s request, normally she asked him to supply the spirits for the open-bar. I’m sure that will be the next call, he thought.
Carter Moss, Travis’s assistant, walked into his boss’s office. “How’s your mother today?” he asked.
“Mother is fine, she’s in her element when she’s talking about her charitable works. She and her friends seem to think they are saving the world as they nibble on cucumber sandwiches and sip their strawberry daiquiris.”
“They do raise money for good causes, if it makes them happy, what’s the harm?”
“You’re right, Carter. I shouldn’t judge. For her newest venture, she is asking for the banquet room on the twentieth, check to see if we have anything scheduled. I doubt we do, I don’t advertise that room like I should. Mother wants me to donate the decorations. I know we always use the florist in mid-town, maybe I’ll see what that place on the first floor can do for us? I understand the manager is attempting to buy the place. We’ll see how willing she is to work with her landlord.”
“Sounds like you’re getting restless again, Travis. You know what happened the last time you experienced boredom.”
“I remember, this time it’s only a flower shop and I won’t be making any drastic changes in my life.”
Carter was skeptical as he walked out of the office.
The banquet room was indeed available on the evening Pamela requested. Travis called his mother and gave her the good news. He then took the elevator to the first floor and entered the flower shop and was impressed with what he saw. He didn’t know much about flowers but knew what he liked, and he liked what he saw. He ordered an arrangement for his mother and then asked for the proprietor.
He was surprised when a very attractive young woman introduced herself as Molly Ryan, manager of Buds and Blooms Emporium.
“Ms. Ryan, are you aware of the connotation of the word buds in the name of your little shop? Are you finding your clientele is often mistaking your establishment for a place to buy pot? Why would you choose the word emporium, that hasn’t been used since before my grandfather’s day?”
Molly displayed a confidence she didn’t feel. “I’m fully aware of the meaning of the word buds. I believe our customers think of rose buds when hearing it and not what you are referring to. Buds and Blooms Emporium was established long before you and I were born, and I don’t have any intention of changing it. I’m sorry if you don’t approve, however, I didn’t realize the name of my establishment was a provision in our lease agreement.”
Travis smiled, he liked a feisty woman and Molly wasn’t a pushover. He didn’t have a good argument for demanding a name change and he thought the name had a good ring to it.
“The reason I’m here is to give you an opportunity to bid for the Kincaid organization’s business. You can show me what you can do with the banquet room upstairs, I will be fair with compensation and I expect the same from you.”
He told her of his mother’s plan and the date. “As there isn’t much time, I need a bid before the end of the week. Is that a problem for you?”
“No, Mr. Kincaid, I will work up some ideas and deliver them to your office within twenty-four hours.”
Travis considered asking Molly to dinner but thought it best not to mix business with pleasure. He also had the feeling she would turn him down flat and his ego didn’t like rejection. Maybe I came on a little too strong with the name thing, I figured I’d find out what kind of stuff the girl was made of before I offered to do business with her.
“Elizabeth, I hope I haven’t bit off more than I can chew. Travis Kincaid is the most intimidating character I’ve ever met. I need to have a look at that banquet room, will you come with me?”
Elizabeth Carpenter is Molly’s right hand at Buds and Blooms. They met when Molly attended Elizabeth and Brad Carpenter’s wedding with her friend, Brooke Hartley. The wedding is where Molly met her twin sister, Stephanie for the first time.
“Molly, you handled yourself extremely well with that gorgeous jerk. He was baiting you and you didn’t fall for it.”
“Were you and Joanie listening at the door?”
“Of course, we were, it isn’t every day the notorious Travis Kincaid visits our little flower shop.”
“He is handsome although I hate to admit it. I can see why women fall all over him. Too bad he’s so despicable,” said Molly.
Molly called her sister who often helped with floral arrangements and her friend, Brooke, who had an eye for design to help her with her proposal.
“Travis, your flower girl, and her friends are looking around the banquet hall now. There isn’t an ugly one in the bunch.”
“What kind of landlord would I be if I ignored my tenant, I think I’ll check in with the beauties.”
“Forget about Ms. Ryan, I heard her talk about some guy named Luke. You might want to check out the blonde, she’s a real looker.”
“Carter, you’re gay, what do you know about good- looking chicks?”
“I’ve got eyes, sir and I do appreciate beauty in all genders,” he laughed.
“Well, Ms. Ryan, I see you have come with reinforcements.”
“Hello again, Mr. Kincaid, I told you I would get a proposal to you in twenty-four hours.”
“Are you going to introduce me to your friends?” he said eyeing Brooke.
Molly made the introductions and wished he would leave so she could inspect the room. When he didn’t budge, she went back to her clipboard making notes as though he wasn’t there.
“Brooke Hartley, have we met before?”
Brooke could feel her cheeks redden. Men didn’t often make her lose her composure but this one was an exception.
“I don’t think so, Mr. Kincaid, we run in entirely different social circles.”
“Shall we rectify that tonight? Have dinner with me in my suite? I’ll expect you at seven o’clock, Rawlings will open the elevator for you.”
“No thank you, Mr. Kincaid, I have plans this evening.”
“Break your date and call me Travis.”
“I can’t change my plans, Travis. Maybe some other time.” She turned to Molly and the others attempting to concentrate on her work.
Brooke’s attitude intrigued Travis making her his next quest in relieving the boredom that was taking over his privileged life.
He turned and walked out of the room smiling as he contemplated his seduction. He didn’t know Brooke was watching him out of the corner of her eye and admiring the turn of his muscular back and derrière.
“Brooke, you turned down Travis Kincaid; do you know who he is?” asked Molly.
“Everyone knows Travis Kincaid, he’s the best catch in Hillsboro and now I know I have a shot with him. He’ll call me again and he’ll want me even more than he did today,” she laughed.
“Brooke, if there was a way to turn your ego into a product we could sell, we would all be millionaires,” Stephanie said shaking her head.
“Hey, I just make the most of what I’ve got,” Brooke answered as she sauntered across the room pointing out areas where lavish floral decorations would look best. Molly liked all the suggestions and would be working into the late evening to put together her proposal.
Chapter Three
“Carter get me anything you can find on a Brooke Hartley.”
“The blonde, sir?”
“How’d you guess?” Travis asked.
“I don’t know, sir, she had the look you li
ke. She’s sure of herself and it shows. Her face is flawless, and that body is perfection.”
“Are you sure you’re gay, Carter?”
“I told you before, I appreciate beauty.”
Travis found it difficult to concentrate for the rest of the afternoon. His thoughts were on Brooke with her flowing blonde hair. I want to know everything about her, I should have her followed to find out who she’s with tonight. Will he spend the night making love to her? Travis knew his thoughts were borderline obsessive. He was accustomed to getting his own way and having people do what he wanted them to do when he wanted them to do it. If only she’d agreed to meet tonight, I would have chalked it up to a temporary lapse and not felt guilty about bedding another woman. If I call her, it means I will plan to end up in the sack and I don’t feel right about cheating on Adele. Not that she cares. Travis’s logic didn’t make sense, even to him.
“Brooke, I know you don’t have a date tonight, you said you were going to stay in and binge watch that television show you like so much.”
“That’s exactly what I’m going to do, I didn’t lie to Travis Kincaid, I have a date with my television set. He’ll call me again, I’m sure of it.”
“Be careful, he’s not your usual type. He’s a billionaire and has a terrible reputation with women. You didn’t ask me, but I think you should turn him down if he does call.”
“Molly, you worry too much. I can handle the guy; I don’t have any intention of being his plaything for a night. If he wants me, he’ll have to work at it,” Brooke said fluffing her hair with her hand.
“Here’s the preliminary scoop on Brooke Allison Hartley, Boss. She’s twenty-seven years old; has lived alone in Balsam Lake Apartments for five years. She’s never been married and has no children. She has, however, been involved with several men while living in Hillsboro. She doesn’t date married men or men with children. Age is not a factor, although she is seldom seen with anyone over fifty.
“She was born in Wilton, about two hours from Hillsboro. It’s a small community with railroad tracks separating the haves and the have-nots. Ms. Hartley, although not impoverished, did reside on the wrong side of the tracks. Her father worked for the railroad and her mother worked in the local bakery where Brooke also worked after school and on weekends.
“Despite her family’s economic standing in the town, she was popular in high school. She was head cheerleader and dated the captain of the football team. She excelled in her studies and received a scholarship to the state college which she declined. She was voted most likely to snare a rich husband in her senior year. She has three brothers, all of whom have remained in Wilton.
“Her favorite color is lavender, her favorite wine is chardonnay, not necessarily the highest priced, her favorite ethnic food is Mexican, and her favorite holiday is Fourth of July.”
“You’re amazing, Carter, I don’t know how you got all this information in less than three hours.” Travis reached into his pocket, pulled out a hundred-dollar bill handing it to Carter. “Go buy yourself something nice.”
Carter happily accepted the cash. It was one of the rewards of pleasing the boss.
Molly worked in her shop until the wee hours of the morning. “Luke, I’ve got to make this right, if Kincaid approves of my ideas, he might throw more business my way.”
“Molly, the shop is doing well without him. I hate to see you tearing your hair out because this guy intimidates you. From what I know of Travis Kincaid, nothing is good enough for him.”
“I know, I’m probably going to fail but I have to give it a shot. Can you understand that?”
“I can, and I will miss you tonight. I’ll bury myself in my computer and write another chapter in my best seller.”
“You do that, I’ll see you when I get home. I love you, Luke.”
Brooke introduced Molly to Luke Sullivan after she discovered she had a twin sister who, like her, had been abandoned as an infant. Luke is a reluctant newspaper reporter whose hope is to write novels. He’s a reporter who refuses to invade people’s privacy making him unpopular with the bosses at the newspaper office. Since failing to exploit Molly and her influential family last year in a local murder investigation, Luke’s assignments have been more in line with human interest than hard news.
Luke and Molly’s attraction to each other was clear to everyone who knew them. Although Luke was tempted many times to take Molly in his arms and kiss her passionately, she was forced to settle for a peck on the cheek.
“The man doesn’t see me as a woman, his only interest is the mystery involving my sister and me,” Molly lamented to her friends.
Luke’s interest was much more than her mysterious past. He felt the same way as Molly did but with his future being uncertain, he didn’t feel right about committing to a relationship. Eventually, he couldn’t help himself, he told her how he felt; they have been together ever since.
The following morning, a sleepy Molly forced herself out of bed. Luke poured her a cup of coffee while she showered and dressed.
“How about some breakfast to get you going this morning. I’ll scramble some eggs.”
“Thanks, Luke, I’m too nervous to eat. Why don’t we meet for lunch after I see Attila the Hun? I’ll need your shoulder to cry on.”
“You’ll do fine, you underestimate your talent and Attila won’t be able to resist you. If he does, I’ll write a scathing report of the event for my society page assignment,” he winked while patting her bottom.
“Don’t you dare, if he blackballs me, we will need all your salary just to eat.”
Carter Moss called Molly as she was finalizing her floral sample to present to Travis Kincaid.
“Ms. Ryan, Mr. Kincaid is available to see you in fifteen minutes. Rawlings has been instructed to allow you to enter the private elevator to Mr. Kincaid’s suite.”
“His suite?” she questioned, “I thought we would meet in his office.”
“Mr. Kincaid is receiving guests in his suite today, take it or leave it, Ms. Ryan.”
“What a nasty man. I’ll take it, Mr. Moss.”
I wonder if I should ask Elizabeth to go with me, I don’t feel comfortable being alone with Kincaid in the privacy of his home. I’m being ridiculous, the man isn’t a rapist, just a jerk. I’m playing in the big leagues now and had better get used to some uncomfortable situations.
Molly waited until fourteen minutes had passed before she walked to the lobby and the penthouse elevator.
She knew Rawlings as the doorman to the building and was glad he was awake when she approached. She thought he did more sleeping on the job than watching the door.
“Hello, Rawlings, Mr. Kincaid is expecting me.”
“Yes, ma’am, those are some pretty flowers you have there, my wife would love a nice bouquet of fresh flowers.”
“Why don’t you stop by the shop later, I’ll fix you up with something your wife will enjoy.”
“Thank you, Molly, that would be so nice of you,” he smiled as he inserted his passkey allowing the door to open.
“Wish me luck, Rawlings.”
“You don’t need luck, Miss Molly, those posies are the prettiest I’ve ever seen.”
Molly was nervous as the elevator rose to the top. The doors opened sooner than she expected; she was startled when she saw Travis standing there glancing at his watch.
“Right on time, you passed that test.”
“Ms. Ryan, this is my mother, Mrs. Pamela Kincaid, it’s her party and I thought she should have a say in the floral arrangements.”
“Oh, Travis, I love what Ms. Ryan has done, please set this beautiful arrangement on the table so I can get a better look.”
Long stemmed hydrangeas in shades of lavender and burgundy were in an attractive, classic vase. The arrangement stood tall while allowing for conversation and eye contact across a table. Strands of crystal chains with larger crystals on the ends were placed between the large blooms. Molly handed Mrs. Kincaid drawings of her head table
designs.
“Mrs. Kincaid, your son didn’t specify your color choice, I chose lavender as an example, however, we can make the arrangements in any color you wish.”
“No, dear, I don’t want you to change a thing. Do you mind if I take this along with me, I’m meeting with the other committee members this afternoon and I’d be delighted to show them your superior work?”
“Of course, Mrs. Kincaid.”
Carter Moss appeared out of nowhere and lifted the arrangement carrying it to the elevator with Mrs. Kincaid following behind.
“There, that wasn’t so bad, was it?” Travis said with a smirk. “My mother isn’t the easiest woman to please, you made her happy and that makes my life more peaceful. Let’s get business out of the way and then let’s talk about why you dislike me.”
Molly’s eyes widened. It was true, she didn’t like him but didn’t know the reason. She didn’t like his arrogance, but he was more pleasant today.
“I’m sorry if I gave you that impression, Mr. Kincaid. I only met you yesterday and don’t know you well enough to form an opinion.”
“Call me Travis, Molly. I think you have heard I’m a sleaze, especially when it comes to women and you don’t want me to become involved with your friend, Brooke Hartley.”
“Brooke is her own woman and will do as she pleases. It’s none of my business but I’d hate to see her hurt. She isn’t as strong as she thinks she is.”
“Why do you assume I will hurt her? I think you are prejudice against me because I’m wealthy. Although I loved my father, I’m not blind to the fact that he wasn’t always honest in his business dealings. I have tried to be a better man than he is but people like you don’t make it easy.”
Molly’s instinct told her to keep her mouth shut but it went against her nature not to speak out.
“I don’t begrudge you the money your family has accumulated. If that’s what floats your boat, more power to you. What I object to is your treatment of women. Your face is often all over the national news rags with a different woman on your arm. I’m thinking of my friend and I’d hate to see her picture staring at me when I go through the grocery checkout next month.”
Murder in Kincaid Towers Page 2
