His grimace spoke volumes. “Yes. But not long ago.”
“Why don’t you go upstairs and lie down? You can forward your cell to the phone here. I’ll come get you if it’s anything urgent.”
Even hurting and not at his best, Jonathan Tarleton was handsome and charismatic. He carried an aura of absolute control. Seeing him so vulnerable was both shocking and unsettling.
“An hour,” he said gruffly. “No more. I’ll set the alarm on my phone.”
* * *
Jonathan climbed the stairs slowly. Reality began to sink in. This situation wasn’t going to improve. He could get another opinion, but what was the use? He’d been to multiple doctors. This last set of tests was the first time he had received a definitive answer.
In his large, well-appointed bedroom, he cursed beneath his breath and admitted to himself that he needed the pills. He had to think clearly, and right now his head felt like someone was using it for a bongo drum.
Once he was sprawled on his comfortable mattress, he lay very still and waited for the meds to work. Knowing that Lisette was downstairs helped. Though he didn’t doze, he let his mind wander. Slowly his body relaxed. Stress was a killer. The irony of that didn’t escape him.
Thinking about Lisette was both comforting and arousing. She had been a part of his life for a long time now. His personal, rigid code of ethics meant that he never acted on his attraction to her. They were work colleagues. Nothing more. He had regretted that at times, but now he should be glad. He was going to need someone in his corner who could be objective about what was to come.
Lisette was a soothing personality. Her competence and complete ability to handle any and every crisis were what had won him over in the beginning. He trusted her with any number of confidential work details, everything from high-level negotiations to financial secrets.
Some men might overlook her. Her brown hair and quiet personality were unremarkable. She had a feminine shape, but she didn’t dress to impress. Her sexiest trait was her brain. She challenged him, kept him on his toes. The truth was, she was as capable as he, though she was always careful not to overstep her position.
Jonathan wouldn’t have cared even if she had. He knew she could go to any company in the country or even abroad and land a prestigious job. For that reason, he had increased her salary in regular bumps to show her how much she was appreciated. And he had given her more and more responsibilities as she proved her loyalty to Tarleton Shipping.
Gradually the tension in his muscles began to ease. The pain in his head subsided to a dull ache instead of stabbing torture. As he began to feel more like himself, an idea bubbled to the surface.
What if he negotiated with Lisette to sub for him over the next few months when he wasn’t able to function? He never knew from one day to the next how he was going to feel. If Lisette was deputized to make unilateral decisions, Jonathan would be able to mentally relax.
Better still, what if she could be the one to save Tarleton Shipping for the next generation? She had the brains and the people skills. And he knew she cared deeply about the company.
It would also mean he could postpone telling his family for a little bit longer. The prospect of hurting the people he loved flayed him. How could he dump that kind of news on them? It might kill his father. Mazie and J.B. were struggling with fertility. They sure as hell didn’t need grief on top of that.
The doctor had said he might have longer than six months. Eating well and getting plenty of rest were supposed to be key. Jonathan was willing to fight, but the odds were definitely not in his favor. If a cure was out of the question, then all he could hope for was time enough to secure his legacy and the company’s future. The more he contemplated the next few months, the more he became convinced that Lisette was the key to it all.
At last he stood and raked his hands through his hair. After splashing water on his face, he studied his reflection in the mirror. He’d taken some hard knocks in his life, but this was the worst. Grimly he weighed the cost of bringing Lisette in on the secret. He couldn’t stand to be pitied or coddled.
There would have to be ground rules. And she had to know this new role was optional. If she said no, he would go it alone.
By the time he padded back downstairs in his stocking feet, almost two hours had passed. Both offices were empty. He found Lisette perched on an ottoman chatting with his father. She always went out of her way to make the old man feel special.
Gerald Tarleton had become a father late in life. Which was why Jonathan, at thirty-one, now bore the sole responsibility for running a mammoth enterprise. He strode into the room, watching both of their faces. Lisette’s was serene. His father tried to give him a hard time.
“Napping in the middle of the day, son? That’s my job.”
Jonathan ruffled his father’s hair and perched on the arm of the sofa. “I had a devil of a headache, but I’m feeling better now.”
“Are you really?” Lisette asked, her gaze troubled.
He nodded. “Really.” After a moment of chitchat about the weather, Jonathan stood. “You’ll have to excuse us, Dad. Lisette and I have a few things to wrap up before she goes home.”
“Of course. Besides, I’ve got to make sure the housekeeper has all the food ready. The boys are coming over for poker at six.”
The “boys” were all Gerald’s age. Jonathan was happy to see his father pursuing social interests. Both Mazie and Jonathan had been encouraging him to get out of the house more. He’d been depressed over the winter, but things were improving.
Lisette followed Jonathan back to the offices. “I took care of everything you sent me so far. Is there anything else you need today? If not, I’ll see you downtown in the morning.”
Jonathan stared at her intently, allowing his customary reserve to dissolve for a moment. Lisette was everything he liked in a woman and more. Beautiful, insightful, funny. And subtly sexy in a way some men might miss. Was he hatching this plan to save his family’s business, or was his libido steering the ship?
He was about to find out.
Two
Jonathan knew this was an opening he couldn’t pass up. But he had no idea how Lisette would react. He’d never felt uncomfortable around her before today. Then again, he’d never faced the prospect of shifting their relationship to a different footing.
She was the one person outside his small family circle whom he trusted completely. Not only with his secrets but with the future of his company and his personal legacy.
In order for such a fledgling plan to work, Lisette would have to be personally invested in what he was about to propose. She would have to be confident in her power and autonomy.
His burgeoning idea was a lot to dump on a woman. He would have to ease into it.
Maybe this was a stupid idea.
Lisette eyed him with curiosity in her gaze. Perhaps he wasn’t as stoic as he had hoped. Or as guarded.
“I need to speak to you,” he said carefully. “But not here. And it’s not about work. Or at least not entirely.”
Now her curiosity turned to confusion. “I don’t understand.”
Jonathan felt his neck heat. “If you would feel more comfortable, I could ask someone from HR to sit in on this conversation.”
Her eyes widened. “Are you firing me?”
He gaped. “God, no. Are you insane? Why would I fire the best employee I’ve ever had?”
“Then what is this about?”
Jonathan swallowed. “Will you come to dinner with me?” he asked quietly. “We’ll drive up the coast. Where we won’t be seen. The matter I want to discuss with you is sensitive. I don’t want to take advantage of your kindness, though, so feel free to say no.”
Lisette shook her head slowly, her expression wry. “I’ve known you for a very long time, Jonathan. Dinner is fine. And we don’t need a chaperone. Clearly, wha
tever you have to say is important. I’m happy to listen.”
“Thank you.”
She glanced down at her khaki skirt and sleeveless top. “Is what I’m wearing okay?”
He nodded slowly. “We might even take a picnic instead of going to a restaurant.” There would be more privacy that way. No chance of anyone overhearing the conversation.
Though Lisette was clearly flustered, she didn’t quibble over the plan. “I’m ready whenever you are. Do I need to drive?” she asked. “Because of the meds you took?”
“No. Not this time. I would never do anything to endanger you.”
After quick goodbyes to Gerald, they exited the house. Jonathan tossed a couple of beach chairs into the back of the SUV. Being in the car together was definitely awkward. Her body language said she was uncertain of his intentions.
It didn’t help that he was not big on small talk.
As he drove up the coast, he formulated a plan. Thirty minutes later, he pulled into a small fishing town and parked near a shed adjacent to the pier. This particular spot was more popular with locals than tourists. They ordered two shrimp baskets with large lemonades and took it to go.
Lisette teased him. “I pegged you as more of a beer than lemonade guy.”
He shrugged. “Can’t drink with the headache meds.”
She winced. “Ah. Of course. Sorry.”
Jonathan remembered a stretch of beach that was not particularly crowded. And this was the time of day that families headed inside to shower and clean up for dinner. As he suspected, there was plenty of open sand to be alone.
He carried the chairs. Lisette brought the food and drinks. The tide was headed out, so they picked a spot near a tidal pool and set up camp.
A light breeze blew in from the water. The sea was gunmetal gray, the sky streaked with golds and pinks, though sunset was a couple of hours away. Neither of them spoke as they opened their bags of food.
Jonathan sat back with a sigh. He’d lived near Charleston his entire life. The water was a part of him. The sand. The steady inexorable pull of the tides. Why did he spend so much time inside working?
It was human nature, he supposed, to take things for granted. After all, the sea would always be there. What had never occurred to him was that he wouldn’t. He was measuring his life in months now, not years. Soon the parameters would be smaller than that. Weeks. Days.
Choking anger swelled in his chest. He didn’t want to die. It wasn’t fair. He felt as if he had only begun to live. But if he had to go, he wanted Lisette to protect his reputation and everything he had worked so hard to build.
Beside him, she ate her meal in silence, her gaze trained on the horizon. What was she thinking?
He had to speak his piece. But how? Even now, the words seemed ridiculous. Overly dramatic. By the way, I’m living on borrowed time. Thought you should know.
Part of him wanted to take off running down the beach and never stop. Perhaps if he ran fast enough and far enough, the grim reaper couldn’t keep up. Perhaps this was all a bad dream.
Lisette leaned forward and set her cup in the sand, twisting it until it stayed upright. She tucked her trash in the bag and sat back, eyes closed. “That was lovely,” she said. “I should have dinner at the beach every day.”
“Not a bad idea.”
The silence built between them, but it wasn’t unpleasant. The ocean lulled their senses, washing away the stresses of the day.
Lisette reached out one leg and dabbled the tip of her sandal in the tidal pool, not looking at him. “So what’s this big secret? Talk to me, Jonathan.”
His stomach clenched. His jaw tightened. “I have a brain tumor,” he said flatly. “Inoperable. Terminal.”
* * *
Icy disbelief swept over her body and through her veins as if she’d been doused with winter rain and left to shiver and convulse in a stark landscape. No. It couldn’t be true.
Slowly she turned to face him. Her shaking hands twisted in her lap. “Are you positive?” It was a stupid question. No one tossed around statements like that unless they were sure.
His bleak profile matched his body language as he stared at the water. “Oh, yeah.” His low laugh held no humor. “The latest test results came in this morning.”
“I’m so sorry,” she whispered.
“I don’t know how long I have,” he said. “And I don’t know what to expect. Which is why I’m having this conversation with you. I don’t want to tell my family yet. I thought you could be an impartial...”
He trailed off, clearly searching for a word.
“A friend? A colleague?” The impossibility of what he was asking staggered her.
“You’re more than that,” he said huskily. “I trust you implicitly. I want to give you the authority to step in and make decisions if I’m having a bad day. I realize this is asking a lot of you, but I’ll change your title and compensate you accordingly.”
“Shouldn’t Hartley be the one to fill this role?” She had never quite understood why he disappeared.
Jonathan’s expression turned glacial. “My brother is gone and he’s not coming back. It’s not something I can discuss with you.”
“But surely your other family members need to know. You can’t keep this a secret, Jonathan.”
“I realize that.” His fists were clenched on the arms of the chair. “But I have to find the right time. I’ll wait as long as I can.”
She wanted to argue with him. For everyone’s sake. But once Jonathan Tarleton made up his mind, you’d have better luck moving a giant boulder than changing his decision.
The enormity of what he had told her began to sink in. Her heart was raw and broken. She loved him. That’s why she had planned to leave. How could she stay with him day after day and witness the unthinkable? It would destroy her. But how could she say no when he needed her?
“I’d like to think about it overnight,” she said. “I’m not sure I feel comfortable trying to insert myself into company politics. There are a lot of people who won’t take kindly to this setup.”
“I’m the boss. What I say goes.”
“But what about the board of directors? And your father, Gerald? And what happens when you become too ill to work?”
Her throat tightened with tears, tears she couldn’t shed. He thought she was an impartial bystander. How much more wrong could he be?
“I need to walk,” she said.
“Okay.” Jonathan stood as well, shrugging out of his sport coat and rolling up the sleeves of his crisp cotton dress shirt.
They took off their shoes and headed down the beach. Jonathan matched his long stride to her shorter one, because he topped her by six inches. His chestnut hair was burnished by the setting sun. The dark brown eyes, which could be fierce or good-humored, were hidden behind sunglasses.
His arms were deeply tanned, his hands masculine.
He was a beautiful human being. It was almost impossible to imagine that vitality and charisma being snuffed out.
At last, after half an hour passed, the tension dissipated and re-formed into something else. Awareness.
At least on her part. Being with him like this was a physical pain. When had she first realized he was the one? Long before she became his assistant. The fact that he was completely out of her orbit had kept her crush in check. But working together day after day had turned her fluttery feelings into something far deeper and more real.
She not only loved him, she admired and respected him. In a world where men in power sometimes abused their positions, Jonathan Tarleton had never treated his employees, female or male, with careless disregard.
If he had any faults at all, and he surely did, the most visible was his careful aloofness. He kept to himself, never blurring the lines between his authority and those who worked for him.
That fact made today�
��s revelations all the more stunning.
They were walking shoulder to shoulder, so close she could have reached out and touched his hand. The beach was almost deserted now, the daylight fading rapidly as the sun kissed the water at the horizon.
Taking a deep breath, she halted and waited for him to follow suit.
He turned when he realized she had dropped back. “Time to go home?” he asked lightly.
“I’ll do it,” she said recklessly. “I’ll do what you asked.”
“I thought you needed to think it over.”
She shook her head. “You and your family have been very good to me. It’s only right that I should return the favor.”
Jonathan removed his sunglasses and tucked them into his shirt pocket. “We sent flowers and gave you time off when your mother passed.” He frowned. “It’s not the same thing at all. What I’m asking you to do is nebulous and tricky and burdensome.”
Burdensome. The word made her want to laugh, but not in a good way. Walking beside Jonathan for the next weeks and months would tax her emotional strength and her acting ability.
“I’m honored,” she said slowly, trying not to give her secrets away. “I care about you, Jonathan. You’re facing some very dark days. So, yes, I’ll help you any way I can.”
She saw his chest rise and fall. Had he been so uncertain that she would agree to his proposal?
His throat rippled as he swallowed. His gaze held a bleak acknowledgment of what he faced. “Thank you.”
The two words were little more than a croak.
Tears stung her eyes. Without overthinking it, she went up on her tiptoes and kissed his cheek. Then she wrapped her arms around his stiff body in a brief hug. “I’m so very sorry,” she said.
He might as well have been a statue. “I have rules,” he said gruffly.
“Oh?” She shoved the hair from her face. Standing with the wind at her back made her feel disheveled.
“I won’t be coddled.” He snapped the words. “And I don’t want your pity. Understood?”
A Contract Seduction Page 2
