Chapter 20
Clayton
“What?” I snapped as I connected the call.
“Damn, brother, what’s got your boxers in a twist?”
“Lachlain, I’m not in the mood for you or your attitude today.
” I hadn’t been in the mood for anything since I’d woken up, ready and more than willing to have a repeat performance of the previous night, only to find Reese missing from the bed and the whole damn apartment.
I’d checked every fucking room, and she was nowhere to be found.
The same had been true at the bed and breakfast because, once again, one tiny woman managed to elude me at every turn.
Hours later I was frustrated, horny, more than a little angry, and nowhere near capable of dealing with my brother’s usual sarcasm. Funny how his attitude could grate on my nerves, but Reese’s felt refreshing. I wasn’t sure what that said about me exactly.
Sliding into a parking spot in town, I sat there waiting for Lachlain’s more than likely smart-ass comeback. Logan had pointed me to Millie’s Cafe, telling me I needed to try it out, when all I wanted to do was find Reese and talk to her.
Last night had been a fucking revelation.
I’d known we’d be explosive together. With the constant tug of war we had going on, I couldn’t even imagine it being any other way.
Still, nothing had prepared me for the way it felt to have her come on my tongue.
To have her body take hold of mine, all her heat and slickness coating my dick, made me never want to leave.
Except it wasn’t only the sex. Everything about the night had felt different. Because it was, jackass.
Because it wasn’t just sex.
“Clay,” Lachlain’s shout brought me back to the present.
“Did you call for a reason?” Talking to my brother was not high on my priority list right now. I wanted to be out looking for Reese. I wanted to find out more about this town because I had a feeling it would tell me a lot about Reese, and I wanted to know every damn thing about her.
“First of all, speaking with your favorite brother should be reason enough, but obviously since you don’t think so, then yes, I am calling for a reason.” I could hear his “woe is me” sigh clearly through the line.
“First of all,” I threw his words back at him, “you’re my only brother, unfortunately. Second, are you going to tell me this reason or simply give me grief?”
“Giving you grief is so much more fun, but fine. I started doing some digging like you asked, and something’s not right.”
I sat up straighter as Lachlain brought up the one thing that could get my mind off Reese, if only for a few minutes. “What’s not right?”
“That I don’t know yet.” Clacking of computer keys accompanied his words. “I’m sending you some files to look at and see what you make of them.” He quieted, which for my brother was not a good sign. “What do you know about Montgomery at the moment?”
I didn’t really want to admit to my brother that it wasn’t much, but I didn’t have much of a choice.
“Only cursory stuff, why? I’ve had my hands full with keeping Reginald’s grand ideas for Conti from exploding in our faces, so I’ve been a little preoccupied.
Montgomery hasn’t opened or built anything new in years, since before Mother died, so I haven’t kept as close of an eye on it as maybe I should have. ”
I felt called out, and I didn’t think that was his intention.
“I know it’s not doing well.” It wasn’t something I was proud of—that I’d let Father’s legacy languish because of Reginald’s disdain for him—but I couldn’t do much about it.
I had no power and no backing from the Board.
My hands were essentially tied. It was the primary reason I’d agreed to his deal.
Not only would I get part of my family company, I’d finally be able to resurrect the brand.
“Yo, I’m not blaming you, Clay. I'm just asking.”
The problem was I blamed myself. Leaning back in my seat, I waited for him to continue.
“Hell, it’s not like I was monitoring it either.
Sort of figured I didn’t have to given there was nothing new happening.
Everything should have been running like a well-oiled machine.
” From his pause, I knew I wouldn’t like what he said next.
“Now it reminds me of a Reginald-soiled machine. There are contracts in place Montgomery doesn’t need. ”
My blood boiled in my veins. I didn’t know who I was madder at in the moment, my stepfather or myself. “Like what?” I spat out the words, furious I was even having this conversation.
Shame coursed through me as I thought about what Father would think of the way I abandoned everything he and his family built up. I let one part of our business wither away while trying to protect the other from drowning.
At this rate, I didn’t deserve to lead either company, let alone both of them.
“It’s all in what I sent, but, for instance, when was the last time Palm Cove needed construction work?”
Funny how that name popped up again. Fortuitous. “They reached out when they had some damage after a hurricane hit the island a couple of years ago. I authorized the funding because that’s part of the agreement Father made with them, but if I remember correctly, it was not that significant.”
“Twenty million.”
I blinked. “Excuse me?” Something must have happened to the connection because I did not hear my brother correctly. “What did you say?”
“There’s a contract for twenty million, signed by you I might add.”
“What the fuck?”
“My thoughts exactly. I looked at the invoicing and that adds up. We paid what was invoiced.” I opened my mouth to speak, but Lachlain cut me off.
“Before you ask, yes, I looked into it more. I’m not a total slacker.
Numbers intrigue me, so I pulled the thread to see what I could unravel.
The owners say they asked for about two million and, based on the pictures they sent of the damage, that looks about right.
It’s sure as shit not twenty million dollars’ worth.
To quote some president or somebody, something is rotten in the State of Denmark. ”
I groaned. “Shakespeare, you fool. Not a president.”
“Sue me. English literature wasn’t my forte.
You’re lucky I’m good with numbers though.
” An influx of background noise over the phone suggested someone had opened the door to Lachlain’s office and the cubicle chatter filtered in.
“Shit. Adam reminded me of a meeting in ten.” The noise quieted, and he continued, “Clay, Palm Cove is not the only resort with highly suspect contracts. I’ll keep looking, but take a look at what I’ve sent, and we can talk later.
Now, on to far more important things. How’s Reese? ”
“A menace to my sanity.”
“So you really like her then.” I could almost hear his smile taunting me. “Fucked her yet?”
“Lachlain.” The way I bit out his name should have told him I meant business. Unfortunately, my brother didn’t always take the hint.
“Oh, my bad.” I should have cut him off before he spoke again. “Have you made love to her yet?”
“I have not ‘made love’ to her.”
The word felt odd coming off my tongue, but I refused to consider why.
“Damn, you’re going to be a tough nut to crack, aren’t you?
You have had sex with her, though; I can tell.
A player can always tell, bro.” Rustling over the line suggested he was slipping into his suit jacket.
Lachlain took it off as soon as he walked into his office and rarely wore one if it wasn’t called for.
So different from myself. He’d be a lot more comfortable here in Henley Falls, though the town was beginning to feel a little more right to me. It’s amazing what relaxation, fresh air, and the best sex of my life could do.
“You don’t have to tell me, and even though I’m not exactly a relationship kind of guy, I can tell you like her. Don’t fuck up just because you think you should.”
“What the hell is that supposed to mean?” Sometimes my brother made absolutely no sense.
“It means that you’re going to get fixated on business when you could be doing so much more. I've gotta go.”
“There’s nothing more I could be doing.” Well, I could be doing Reese some more. Knowing that’s exactly what my brother meant didn’t alleviate my worries. “We’ll talk about Montgomery soon.”
“Call Grandmother. She asks me every damn day what’s going on with you. I can’t keep lying and telling her you’re fending off bears and shit. She doesn’t believe me anymore.”
I disconnected the call, stepped out of the car, and headed toward the main street. Exploring Henley Falls would give me some insight into the town. And Reese.
And Reese.
Pulling on the door of Millie’s Cafe, I stood at the threshold, taking in the place.
It gave off the vibe of an old-time diner—red vinyl covering the booths and stools at the counter, gleaming silver tables and chairs, music from at least fifty years ago, if not longer, playing softly in the background.
This was a place for locals to come together, a fact made decidedly clear by almost every table being taken, leaving only a few seats at the counter, one of which I approached.
“You must be that rich guy sniffin’ around the Henleys.”
Turning to my right, an older man sat two stools down, a cup of coffee set in front of him.
Figuring there was no way to deny it, I nodded. “Yes, I am.”
He gestured toward the stool next to him. “Take a load off.”
Glancing around, there were other seating options that wouldn’t crowd the man, but I didn’t want to be rude, so I slid onto the vacant seat.
“Name’s Wally.”
“Clayton,” I replied, extending my hand.
Wiping his fingers on a napkin, he met mine. “I know. I know everything that goes on ‘round here. ‘Course, most everyone in town could say that. We’re pretty nosy and good at gossip. None better than Reese. That girl loves her gossip.”
“Does she now?” I couldn’t say I was surprised; something told me Reese did not like not knowing things.