by Shayla Black
“You doing okay?” I venture. “Surviving fatherhood so far?”
“Yeah. You stayed over again last night, huh?”
I nod. “Beth is still sleeping, so I thought I’d bring her coffee.” It occurs to me that maybe Maxon thinks I’m freeloading off of his sister—and therefore, off of him. “Look, I can pay for the room if you’d feel more comfortable.”
Her oldest brother scowls. “I don’t want your money. I gave my sister a place to crash. She can do whatever she wants while she’s here. Have you thought about what you’ll do when she moves out?”
“Technically, I’m staying with a friend.” Hell, if I wanted to get a place of my own, I could. “But I know Beth has plans to move out. She’ll find the right place eventually.”
Maxon raises a brow. “She told me yesterday that she’ll be leaving on Sunday.”
No shit? Where is she going? Why didn’t she tell me?
“She didn’t mention that.”
He gives me a judgmental arch of his brow. Since he’s not happy with me, I’m sure he thinks there are at least a dozen good reasons why Bethany didn’t loop me into her plans. But I can’t think of a single one. Despite telling me her secrets, is she pulling away?
Clearly, we need to talk.
I’m about to gather a carafe of coffee for Bethany, along with a plate of fruit, when Keeley enters the kitchen holding baby Kailani, who’s dressed in a white onesie that reads I FOUND MY PRINCE. HIS NAME IS DADDY. She’s also wearing a pair of pink pants and a matching flowered headband.
“Morning,” I say to break the tension. “She looks precious.”
Keeley smiles. “Isn’t she?”
Maxon kisses the baby’s head, then looks at his daughter with an adoring grin. “You would be cuter if you’d sleep more at night, but I love you anyway.”
His wife laughs. “Good luck, buddy. Britta assures me we have weeks, if not months, of two a.m. feedings in our future.”
“That sounds terrible.” But Maxon doesn’t look upset. He’s still wearing that loopy grin that says he loves his baby girl.
“Well, you signed up for it, big guy.” Keeley winks, then turns to me. “Would you mind holding her for a minute? I haven’t had a chance to say good morning to my husband yet.”
“Sure,” I mumble before Keeley hands me the infant and shows me how to support her fragile head. Once we’re good, the redhead wraps her arms around her husband and kisses him soundly.
They’re in love. It’s obvious she’s ecstatically happy with her life. Maxon looks damn smitten, too.
I want what they have. I mean, I always knew I would want a wife and kids eventually, but I saw that in my thirties, when my business was more established and I felt ready. Looking at the two of them, I feel the itch for that future now. I was ridiculous for imagining love would wait until it was convenient for me to fall.
Could Bethany ever let herself fall for me? Is happily ever after something she’s even ready for?
I stare at the pink-cheeked baby who peers at me with slitted blue eyes. She’s soft and smells good. She yawns as if she’s already ready for a nap her parents won’t be getting. She sticks her tongue out, lunging toward Keeley as if she’s seeking her mother for some breakfast. But she wraps her little fingers around one of mine. Her nearly translucent fingernails are sharp as hell but she’s absolutely adorable. I’ve never spent much time with a newborn. Suddenly, I’m fascinated—and a little envious.
Does Bethany want children someday? And why am I thinking about this before I even know whether we could possibly have a future?
Keeley ends the kiss with a squeeze of Maxon’s biceps and a saucy grin, then picks up a little remote on the kitchen counter. Suddenly, Pharrell Williams’s “Happy” floods the room. Bethany’s older brother gives his wife a smile full of devotion. My parents used to look at one another like this.
When Keeley cradles her daughter in her arms again, I load up a tray with the hot coffee and bites of breakfast.
“Want some vegetarian quiche to take with you? I can also whip you up a watermelon-kale smoothie that’s amazing.”
She means well, but that sounds terrible. “No thanks. This will be plenty for now. We’ll grab something more substantial before we head into work.”
“Okay. Well…if you change your mind—”
“He won’t, sunshine.” Maxon wraps an arm around her. “Just like I’m not going to. Most men want more than seeds and sprouts for breakfast.”
“You’re just stubborn and have the palate of a four-year-old.” She looks my way. “Come on. Back me up. You like kale, don’t you?”
I wince. “Sorry, no. I have to side with your husband.”
She gives me a mock huff. “Then out of my kitchen. Both of you! Neither of you are welcome back until you try my smoothie.”
“Does that mean I don’t have to do the dishes anymore?” Maxon teases. “Hot damn.”
As I head for the back door, I see Keeley swat Maxon with her free hand, then both of them dissolve into laughter as their daughter falls asleep, cocooned between them safely.
Yeah, I definitely want that. Bethany and I need to talk.
At the top of the stairs, she surprises me by opening the door, wearing that robe that keeps me from her naked body too often. Not that I didn’t enjoy her last night—more than once. But every time I’m with her, it’s like I’ve never had her. Or like I’ll never have enough of her.
“Coffee. Thank you!” She pours two quick mugs. After doctoring hers up in seconds, she sucks down half the mug in big, caffeine-deprived swallows.
Her moan of enjoyment is almost comical.
“Like that, I take it?”
“I need it. Someone kept me awake half the night.”
“Are you complaining?”
“Not right now. Ask me how I feel at midnight.”
We’ll both be dragging ass then, but being with her was totally worth it.
Since I like my java black, I start gulping it down, savoring the hint of bitterness and burn on my tongue. “So…Maxon says you’re moving on Sunday?”
She quickly turns sheepish. “I forgot to tell you, didn’t I? My bad. Stephen called me yesterday morning. While he was looking for a rental on the island for himself, he found one within walking distance of the bar. It’s not what he wants, but he sent me pictures. I checked it out yesterday on my way into work.” She searches around until she finds her purse, then digs inside, finally pulling out an envelope. “I’m going to sign the lease today. It’s only a three-month term. Granted, it’s not a great place, but if I’m frugal, I should be able to afford it. I hope. But Maxon and Keeley will have their inn back. I can’t impose anymore.”
Everything she says makes perfect sense. But I’m not happy. I don’t like that she intends to walk to and from work alone. And I don’t like that she intends to live there without me. I want to be closer to her, both for my investigation and our future. If I’m with her nearly twenty-four seven, she’ll keep feeling closer to me and open up even more, right? It should also give me the perfect opportunity to tell her the true reason we met. After that…I’m hoping she’ll be able to forgive me.
But if, like the cynic in my head suggests, she’s actually guilty of playing a role in stealing her clients’ money… Well, if I’m living with her, she’ll be hard-pressed to hide it for long. Then I can figure out how to make sure justice is served—without hurting her more than she’s been hurt.
“What if we pooled our resources and moved in together?”
“Seriously?” She looks stunned. “Y-you want to live with me?”
“Hell yeah. I mean, first off, I need a place to crash, too. When I’m at Ash’s apartment, my bed is his sofa, which could double as a torture rack. Making rent on your own in Maui can’t be easy. Hell, I remember months in North Dakota when I was first starting out. Despite working multiple jobs, I could barely afford rent there, where it’s way less expensive. We both need a place to crash, and it w
ould be good to save some money.” I set my mug down and approach, wrapping my arms around her and brushing my lips over hers in a kiss of good morning. “And I’d get to spend a lot more time with you. That’s a bonus in my book.”
“Are you sure?”
After everything she told me about her past, that’s what she’s asking. Does she somehow think that whatever her dad conned her into doing makes her less worthy or less desirable?
“Yeah. Admittedly, I’ve never moved in with anyone, but I think we’d do better than all right, Beth.” I stroke her cheek and stare into her eyes, hoping she sees my sincerity. “In case it’s not clear, I’m falling for you.”
She sucks in a shocked breath and stares mutely.
I understand. It’s the first time we’ve said openly that what we have is more than a fling. That there’s more involved than our bodies.
“I’m falling for you, too,” she finally murmurs. “Hard. Fast. It scares the hell out of me. But I don’t want to stop.”
Smiling, I draw her closer. “Good. Don’t. I’m right here. I’m not going anywhere.”
The tremulous smile that lights up her face enflames my body. An hour later, our coffee is cold, but I don’t care. In the most eloquent way possible, she said yes.
In the back of my head, I know our cohabitation will be good for a lot of other reasons I haven’t already considered. I can watch over her in case Paul Daniels comes around again, because the asshole still hasn’t let up. Of course, once we move in together, I’ll have to figure out what to tell my brothers. It’s been three days since Bret hung up on me. I need to deal with that soon, and he’ll flip shit when he finds out that I’m doing more with the “enemy” than sleeping. But I can’t live my life to make my brother happy, and he doesn’t know Bethany the way I do.
I’ve got so many reasons why this move is a great idea. But if Bethany found out who I actually am, would she see it as anything other than an epically underhanded betrayal?
No.
Shit, my subterfuge is getting deep and difficult. I’m not sure I know how to dig my way out anymore. I’ll have to figure it out soon. I don’t have a choice because, for us to have any sort of future, I’ll eventually have to tell her the truth.
CHAPTER NINE
My feet ache like a bitch. I’ve worked five straight days slinging drinks, each day seemingly busier than the last. Finally, our Saturday night shift is blessedly over. So is the New Year’s rush. Most people who lingered this holiday week will be flying home later today.
In a few hours, Bethany and I will be moving in together. Despite all the secrets and lies between us, I can’t wait to be closer to her.
“Hey.” Ash slaps me on the back as I make my way out of the bathroom, shaking my hands dry because Andy has been too busy playing Candy Crush to order paper towels.
“Hey.” I nod his way. “Crazy night, huh?”
He falls in beside me as we trek down the employees-only hall. “Yeah. I’m really hoping next week isn’t so insane.”
“I’m with you on that, man. You heading out with Samantha for the night?”
“Yep.”
“How’s that going?”
“Well, I’m not getting any, but—”
“Really? Even though you’ve spent the last few nights with her?”
He nods. “Crazy, right? But we talk. A lot. About anything and everything. It’s not like being with Montana. She only wanted to fuck. I actually like that I’m getting to know more about Sam than her erogenous zones.”
This is the first time I’ve ever heard Ash say that waiting for sex isn’t a deal breaker.
“That’s cool. So it’s going well?”
“Yeah. Once she got past the shyness, I found out she has this quirky sense of humor I dig. Her mental Wikipedia of movie knowledge is damn impressive, too. What about you and Beth?”
“We’re moving in together today, so I’ll be off your sofa. Sorry I haven’t had a chance to tell you before now. It happened fast.”
He turns and blocks my path, stopping me. “Are you getting information from her? Or falling for her?”
I can’t bullshit Ash. He’ll see right through me. “Dude, I already fell. I never realized what I wanted or needed in a woman until her.”
“How does she feel about you?”
“She says she’s falling, too. I think she feels something. We haven’t put labels on it yet.” I blow out a breath. “I sound crazy, don’t I?”
“Sound?” He barks out a laugh. “We both know you are.”
I give him a good-natured grin. “True enough.”
“I’ve known you awhile, bro. You wouldn’t have feelings for Beth if she wasn’t worthy of them. Does she know…everything?”
“Who I am?” I shake my head. “I need to figure out how to tell her without killing her trust. She’s been through a lot.”
“What happened to finding your dad’s money and figuring out her role in the scam?”
“I don’t know anything right now.” And I need to for our future. For my brothers’ sanity.
“You can’t just forget about it. I get that you’re really into Beth, but she’s your only hope of learning—”
“The truth. I know, and I’m not letting that go. But if I don’t handle this situation right, I’ll lose her.” I rake a hand through my hair. “I’ve wedged myself between a rock and a hard place, and I don’t know how to get out. Any ideas?”
“No. Just be sure you know what you’re doing. But if it turns out she’s innocent and you want a future with her, my advice is to be as honest as possible—quickly. Every day you wait is just another day she’ll think you’ve betrayed her.”
I hate it, but he’s fucking right.
After he sends me an apologetic shrug, he turns to find Samantha, purse in hand, waiting by the back door.
As Andy shoos everyone out, I notice Montana looking cozy with a buff tourist. Apparently, he’ll be filling Ash’s vacancy beside her tonight. Terry is finally back at work, but his energy flagged as the evening wore on, and he spent the last couple of hours in the back, rather than behind the bar.
I don’t see Bethany anywhere.
With a frown, I poke my head into the break room. Her locker is open and empty, so she probably grabbed her purse and went outside. Sure, it’s a nice evening, but I’ve warned her that Paul Daniels is likely coming back for his pound of flesh. Andy finally addressed the issue today and forced Montana to wait on him, but I worry that roadblock only motivated Bethany’s former client more.
She shouldn’t be alone outside.
Fishing my buddy’s car keys from my pocket, I jog out to the sultry night. Ash and Samantha are already in her car and heading out of the lot. Andy locks up behind me, then makes a beeline for his truck. Montana and the tourist have disappeared already, probably on foot to his hotel nearby. Terry slumps to his beat-up VW, looking nearly ready to fall over in exhaustion.
No sign of Bethany.
Alarm sets in. I’m just about to shout for her when I hear her voice drift around the corner of the building. “What do you want?”
“To see you. I’ve been trying to find you for weeks. Why did you come to Maui?”
She’s talking to some guy, and it’s definitely not Paul Daniels. I’ve never heard this low, polished voice before.
I creep closer, careful not to alert them I’m listening.
“You’re here, aren’t you?” Bethany responds, her voice sounding as hard as armor. I’ve never heard her talk in this assertive, rapid-fire tone. “Besides, I had to get away from the bad press back home. Too much negative attention.”
“And I guess you’re working in this shithole to lie low. Good cover.”
Is that why she’s working here? I’ve been wracking my brain for an explanation that made sense…
“Where are you staying?” he goes on.
“With a guy I met last week.”
Technically, she’s spent her nights with me, but we’re not stayi
ng at my place. Did she misunderstand the question or is she trying to mislead this guy?
“And saving your money since your accounts are still frozen. Good. You’ve always been the smart one. Now I need you to do something for me.”
“Tell me.”
“We’ve taken a lot of damage. But you can put a stop to Reed Financial’s bleeding and make this whole case against me go away now.”
I freeze. Is she talking to Barclay Reed? He’s here? Holy shit. Why does he think he has any right to talk to Bethany? He must have balls the size of fucking Jupiter.
Since he knows what happened to the money people invested with him, I have no compunction about eavesdropping. Besides, if Bethany needs me, I’ll be here to protect her.
“What’s your plan?” she snaps.
“Bring me that video, Bethany. You know the one I mean. It’s critical. Tell me you were thinking ahead and got it out of the office before the feds descended.”
“Where’s the money?”
“Safe. I can’t get to it now, but you know me…”
Is that supposed to be some kind of assurance? From a man who would cheat his clients and use his own daughter for profit?
“But it’s accessible?”
“Are you second-guessing me?” he snarls. “I’m your father. I paid for your very private, expensive education, including that Harvard MBA. I gave you a position as my right hand in one of the most profitable organizations of the last decade. I’ve never doubted you. Don’t you dare repay me like this. Do you have the video or not?”
God, he just laid an ugly fucking piece of manipulation on her. I want her to give him a verbal beatdown or, better yet, punch his damn face. She doesn’t.
“Of course,” she assures.
His sigh of relief is audible. “This is why I handpicked you to work by my side. Brilliant, brilliant girl. I need you to make a copy of it, then return to San Diego and deliver it to the AUSA.”
“Timeframe?”
“What kind of question is that? Tomorrow. Hell, now. And I don’t mean pop it in the mail, Bethany. I mean deliver it, along with a very personal reminder. You’ve never disappointed me. I know you won’t start now.”
