by Helen Lacey
He laughed. “Have you been practicing that perfectly eloquent backpedal, Valene?”
Val’s skin heated. “You’re such a horse’s ass, Jake. I’m not going to incriminate myself any further. Are you accepting the invitation to meet my parents or not?”
“Of course.”
Val drank her latte and then wiggled a little in the booth, indicating she was ready to leave. “I’ll text you my parents’ home address.”
“I’ll pick you up and we’ll go together.”
She wasn’t about to let him have his own way. “That’s the offer, Jake. Meet me there or don’t show.”
His mouth flattened. “Okay, I accept your terms.”
She nodded. “See you Friday. Seven o’clock.”
And then she left as swiftly as her legs allowed.
* * *
The Fortunado estate is impressive, Jake thought as he pulled in the driveway. He spotted Val’s Lexus immediately and parked the Sierra behind a white Volvo and a red BMW. He got out, strode onto the wide front porch and then knocked on the huge wooden double doors. A few minutes later, the door opened and a middle-aged woman appeared. She was tall and attractive, and he recognized Valene’s brown eyes.
“You must be Jake,” she said, her voice soft and cultured and very southern. “I’m Barbara Fortunado. It’s lovely to meet you.”
Jake shook her hand and was politely ushered inside. The house, as expected, was well appointed and tasteful, and the floors gleamed with polish. “Thank you for inviting me.”
Barbara smiled. “My daughter is quite taken with you.”
Jake chuckled. “Yeah, but I don’t think she likes me very much at the moment.”
“She’s stubborn,” the older woman said quietly. “She gets that from her father. She’s also unwaveringly honest. She gets that from me. We’ve spoiled her, of course, but I imagine you know that. That being said, she has such a kind and forgiving heart, I don’t imagine she will stay angry with you forever.”
He grinned. “I hope not.”
“For the record, when one of my cubs is hurting, I do tend to get a little lioness about things.”
“Oh, God, Mom, let him at least get in the house before you start giving him the talk.”
Jake heard Valene’s voice and then spotted her when she appeared in the hallway, her heels clicking over the floorboards. Bruce was bounding behind her, followed by a fluff ball that he suspected was Maddie’s pet, Ramona. Valene had told him all about her sister’s very pampered pooch the day they’d spent volunteering at the animal shelter.
He met Valene’s gaze, wanting desperately to haul her into his arms and kiss her. But he didn’t. For one thing, Barbara Fortunado was watching them keenly, and for another, he was certain Valene would take a swing at him if he tried.
“Valene has told me about the good work you’re doing with the Fortunado Foundation,” he told her mother. “I’d like to talk with you about it sometime.”
“You’re interested in charity work?”
He nodded. “I’m interested in learning more about your foundation. I support a few local charitable organizations, but if I can help with your charity, I will.”
Valene was frowning. “Yes, Mom, he is perfectly serious. Jake’s a born do-gooder. You two will get along famously.”
He passed Valene the two bottles of wine he’d brought, and she grabbed his arm. She looked so good, so sexy in a short red tunic dress and black boots.
“Cute outfit.”
She gave a wide smile. “You don’t look so bad yourself.”
He glanced down, pleased he’d ditched his usual jeans and Western shirt for taupe cargos, a white shirt and a leather aviator-style jacket. “I can tone down the cowboy thing every now and then.”
“So I see,” she said and moved closer, leading him into the kitchen. “But you know, I’ve kinda gotten used to that cowboy thing you’ve got going.”
Before he could reply, the room erupted in a series of greetings and introductions. Kenneth Fortunado was naturally reserved at first, but the rest of her family was friendly and talkative. Her brother Everett and his wife, Lila, were nice people, as were Gavin and his fiancée, and Maddie surprisingly kissed his cheek.
Before dinner, Kenneth cornered him, but Jake didn’t mind. He figured he’d be equally suspicious if he had a daughter. Which only made him imagine what it would be like to have a child with Valene. Which was, he realized, something he genuinely wanted.
“My daughter spoke very highly of you,” the older man said.
Spoke. Past tense. “She’s quite a woman.”
Kenneth nodded. “Of course, she told you I had an investigator check out your history. I had to, you understand, as there have been attempts to sabotage my business, and with everything that is going on with the Robinson family and the Fortunes—” He paused. “I suppose you know about that, too?”
“Valene mentioned it.”
“If I had my way, I would forget the Fortunes exist, particularly the fact that I’m related to them. But I have to protect my family.”
“I understand,” Jake replied, trying not to feel too outraged at the blatant invasion of his privacy. “I trust Valene has explained to you some of the details of my divorce?”
“She said enough,” Kenneth replied. “She’s still very upset with you for deceiving her.”
“I know,” Jake said as he caught her laughter from the other side of the room.
“My wife and I have overprotected her,” Kenneth admitted. “Naturally, with the last child, you try to learn from the mistakes you made with the others. Not that she needed it. But we indulged her and tried to make things as easy as possible for her. But she’s stubborn—she gets that from her mother,” he said and grinned. “Anyway, I wanted to apologize for digging into your past.”
Jake wondered if Kenneth would have been less apologetic had he not discovered Jake’s net worth, but he shrugged off the thought. He didn’t want to resent Valene’s family, and he was genuinely interested in helping the Fortunado Foundation, about which he’d heard great things. It was time he got back to living a full life and started doing things that were important to him. His work at the shelter was important, but with his resources, Jake knew he could do so much more.
“No sweat,” he said and smiled. “Are you any closer to finding out who is behind all of the trouble?”
Kenneth shrugged. “Not yet. But I know one thing—there are a few too many coincidences for it to be mere chance. And I’ll tell you, when I find the person or persons responsible, they will regret the day they took on my family and expected to win.”
“Well, if you need someone in your corner, let me know.”
“Thank you, son, that’s very generous.”
Dinner was served in the dining room, a delicious meal of selected meats and vegetables. Valene was on one side of him, Barbara Fortunado on the other, and he was complimenting the chef when Schuyler Mendoza spoke.
“So, you’re, like, some kind of mega-rich beef magnate?” she asked Jake.
Jake felt Valene’s arm press against his, and since it was the most intimate contact they’d had in weeks, he didn’t flinch. “Something like that.”
“You’re well off the social media grid. I’m not sure how you’ve managed to do that.”
He wasn’t about to admit that he’d avoided all social media since his divorce because he knew Patrice would try to keep track of his movements.
“I don’t do the selfie thing.”
Valene’s brothers groaned in agreement, and Schuyler shrugged when Valene made a protesting sound. “Well, of course I tried to find out what I could about you, since my sister has old-fashioned ideas about a person’s right to privacy and all that.”
Jake pushed back in his chair, aware that everyone at the table was waiting for his response. Bu
t Valene had told him enough about her beloved sister to know the other woman was simply good-natured and nosy. Even though her husband was giving her a cautious glance.
“What would you like to know?” he inquired.
Both her brows rose high. “How old were you when you made your first million?”
“Twenty-six.”
“How much are you worth now?” she asked.
“A lot.”
Everyone laughed, and Jake did his best to keep a straight face. Only Valene looked outraged. He touched her hand reassuringly, making it clear he was very capable of handling a few inappropriate questions.
“Really, Sky, is this necessary?” Valene demanded.
“No,” her sister replied. “But I’ve got a curious nature. What else do you do besides sell really expensive steaks?”
Jake smiled. “I donate to charity. I invest in some property development. I buy overpriced horses. I’m currently renovating my home. Anything else?”
The mood shifted, laughter rang around the table and he urged Valene to relax once everyone continued eating their meals.
“Stop being such a worrier,” he said softly so only she could hear.
“I’m sorry Schuyler is such a pain. She doesn’t have a filter and thinks that—”
“Wait until you meet my sister,” he said, cutting her off. “She’s the pain of the century.”
“I’d like to meet her.”
“I’m sure she’d like that, too.”
“Jake.” Gavin Fortunado said his name and diverted his attention from Valene for a moment. “I believe you know a client of mine. He mentioned you the other day. Karl Messer? From the Messer Group? He does those high-rises and shopping malls.”
Jake’s back straightened, because even though people around him continued to chatter, Valene was suddenly as still as a statue. He looked directly at Gavin as he replied. “We went to school together.”
“You know Karl Messer?”
Valene’s voice was ice-cold.
“Yes.”
He watched as her throat rolled convulsively. “Are you one of his silent investors?”
“At times.”
She jumped to the obvious and correct conclusion. “Are you the reason he called me?”
Jake knew there was no getting away from the truth. “I gave him your number.”
She was on her feet in a microsecond, tossing her napkin on the table. “I’ve lost my appetite.”
She stormed off, leaving everyone at the table sitting in stunned silence. Until Schuyler spoke again.
“Um, what just happened?”
Maddie sighed heavily, Kenneth was shaking his head and Zach shrugged.
“I should go to her,” Maddie said and started to get up.
Jake stood immediately and held out a hand. “It’s my medicine,” he said as he pushed the chair in. “I’ll take it.”
He left the room and headed for the kitchen. Valene was by the sink, a glass of cold water pressed against her temple, her eyes closed. But she clearly sensed his presence, because she spoke first.
“I don’t want to talk to you.”
“I’m pretty sure you do,” he said and moved around the counter. “Because I know you want an explanation.”
She harrumphed. “Oh, I think I can figure this one out for myself. You called your old school buddy Karl and asked him to help me out because I’m such an utter failure at what I do and clearly unable to do my job without interference from my knight in shining armor. Does that about cover it?” she asked him, opening her eyes and spearing him with a look.
“I gave him your number,” Jake insisted, “and that’s all. Any business agreements that were made between the Messer Group and Fortunado Real Estate were made because of you, not me.”
She didn’t look convinced. “You gave him my number? You asked him to call me. Told him, is probably more to the point. Do you think I can’t read between the lines here, Jake?”
“Read what?” he shot back. “Karl and I went to school together. We sometimes do business together. He’s a trustworthy and successful operator. Having him as an exclusive client will be good for your business.”
“And good for me, right?”
Jake sighed, exasperated. “Why are you getting so worked up?”
“Why?” she shot back. “Because I don’t need help to be successful. I don’t need to be spoon-fed to do my job.”
“That’s hardly what I did.”
She was glaring, her beautiful cheeks scorched with color. “What about Otis McAvoy? Did you send him to me, too?”
Jake nodded. “He was a friend of my dad’s.”
“Ha,” she said sarcastically. “I guess I need to screen every single client I’ve taken on in the last month to make sure they weren’t setups by my stupid, thoughtless, controlling, multimillionaire boyfriend!”
Jake rocked back on his heels. “At least you’re calling me your boyfriend.”
She glared at him, her hands on her hips. “Is that all you got from that? Can you not see why I’m so angry?”
“I know why, but I think you’re overreacting.”
She moved around the marble island, her chest heaving. “I guess you would. That’s the standard reply from a control freak.”
“I’m not a control freak, Valene. I saw that you were in trouble and wanted to help you.”
“I don’t need help. Don’t you get it, Jake? For the first time in my life, I actually believed I had done something on my own, without my father or my family making things easier. But it was just a lie,” she said quietly. “Like everything with you.”
Jake sighed heavily. “Valene, this is just your pride talking. If you take some time and think about—”
“This isn’t pride,” she insisted. “It’s respect. Self-respect. I don’t want to be another notch on your charity bedpost, Jake. I’m not like one of those homeless puppies at the animal shelter who need you to fix things. I don’t need fixing. Like you, I want to make my own way in the world. I want to be successful and make a difference. But I won’t do that on the coattails of someone else’s influence.”
She inhaled deeply, and Jake noticed how much her hands were shaking. He desperately wanted to take her into his arms, to make her see sense, to show her that anything he did, he did because he cared about her.
“My intention wasn’t to—”
“Your intention,” she said hotly, cutting him off, “is to get whatever you want, in whatever way you can get it. I’ve been around men like you all my life. Money and success is a breeding ground for that kind of arrogance. But I don’t want to be a part of that environment. I never have. Perhaps that’s why I’m below par in the successful career department. Why I’m mediocre at best at what I do.”
Jake couldn’t believe what he was hearing. “You’re not mediocre, Valene.”
“No? I guess I’ll never know, since everyone around me thinks I need propping up. Well,” she said, laughing humorlessly, “I’m over being treated like the weak link. I guess in a way I should thank you. If it wasn’t for you, Jake, I might have continued to walk in the shadow of everyone around me for the rest of my life.”
He frowned. “What does that mean?”
“It means that we’re done,” she said and walked past him. Jake followed her back down the hallway and into the dining room. He noticed the startled expressions on the faces of everyone in the room. And Valene—vibrant and passionate and unbelievably sexy as she strode around the table, her shoulders back, her chin held at a defiant tilt—wasn’t finished yet.
“Dad, Maddie, Zach,” she said and took a deep breath. “I quit!”
Chapter Thirteen
It was day five of #CowboyGate, and the Fortunado Real Estate office was still in a kind of vibrating shock.
Val had dropped her
resignation letter on Maddie’s desk first thing Monday morning, before she’d headed to Austin to meet with a client and also to cool off for a day or so. Now it was Wednesday and she was back in Houston.
And the place was still in an uproar.
But she held her resolve. Val had no intention of being swayed from her decision. She was about to embark on a new and totally independent phase in her life and wasn’t allowing anyone to change her mind.
Of course, “anyone” hadn’t made contact.
Jake had been unusually quiet since the drama that had ensued at her parents’ home the previous Friday. Naturally, her family all thought he was quite wonderful. Both Schuyler and her mother thought he was Mr. Romance of the Century, Maddie told her she was overreacting, Gavin said he shouldn’t have made any comment about Karl Messer, and her father told her not to be hasty. But Val wasn’t backing down. Jake had gone too far. She wasn’t anyone’s charity case, particularly for a tall, good-looking cowboy who believed he owned enough of the world to ensnare her in his web of deceit and lies and manipulation.
Yep, she had made the right decision calling things off.
It wasn’t as though she still loved him or anything.
It had been a passing phase. Just sexual chemistry. She had been in love with the idea of being in love. And now she was completely over her fleeting infatuation. Besides, the lying, underhanded rat didn’t deserve her.
Val got up from her desk and headed from the office, making her way down the hall to Maddie’s much larger office that overlooked the street. Her sister was on the phone, but she beckoned her into the room the moment she spotted her in the doorway. She ended the call and gave Val her complete attention.
“Hey, Val, what’s up?”
Of course, everyone was being extra nice to her, extra sensitive, extra understanding.
“I sent through the Messer file to your email. You can decide what you want to do with it.”
Maddie sighed. “You’re sure that’s what you want, Val?”
“Positive.” She lingered for a moment. “And the McAvoy account is on Zach’s desk. Where is Zach, anyway? I’ve called him twice this morning. And his office door is closed.”
