Neither was a good choice, so sleeping pills won out. She hated that at her age she was still plagued by nightmares of being alone in an unfamiliar place. Therefore, she’d deal with the grogginess until the house felt familiar and she could sleep all night.
The door to the library opened. Ashiya didn’t glance up. Brianna had been coming in and out for the last few hours bringing her more paperwork to review, coffee to drink, and updates from the board in preparation for the next meeting in a week.
“I don’t understand the reports from the marketing division,” Ashiya said, still going over the numbers. “The promotional campaigns they launched went well, but something is bothering me after reviewing the last three quarterly reports.”
“What’s bothering you?” Russell’s deep voice answered.
Ashiya jerked upright. The pages of the report fell to the coffee table as her eyes flew to his. He wore a light gray suit with a blue shirt and dark tie. The suit’s fit made her want to trace her hands over his broad shoulders and taunted her gaze to linger on his long legs. He was dressed as if he were going to have a day in the office instead of helping her review reports.
“Why are you so dressed up?” Ashiya asked.
Since she’d barely dragged herself out of the bed, she’d thrown on a pair of gray leggings and an oversized T-shirt. She’d put on makeup and wrapped a colorful scarf around her hair to try to look decent, but that was it. Sure, Russell was there in a professional capacity to help her, but she hadn’t expected full suit and tie to start.
Russell looked down at his clothes then back up at her. “Why are you so underdressed?”
Her shoulders straightened. “We’re just going over reports.”
“But we’re still working,” he said dryly. “You look as if you’re going to a slumber party.”
Ashiya put a hand to the scarf over her hair. “No, I don’t. You’re the one dressed as if you’re going to a funeral,” she shot back.
He ran a hand over his tie. “I dress like this every day.”
And if he dressed like that daily, then she’d have a hard time not jerking on that tie to pull him in close for a kiss. Russell was too sexy when he dressed up. Then again, Russell sitting across from her in basketball shorts and a T-shirt wouldn’t be much better. He was just as sexy in them as he was in a suit. She loved the way the mesh material clung to his ass and, when they shifted just right, hinted at the girth of his perfect penis.
She pulled her mind away from thoughts of Russell’s nether regions. She’d gotten him to stay. If he caught her salivating over him, then he’d leave faster than she could blink. She had to convince him to give them another chance carefully and delicately.
“You dress like that to go to the office at Robidoux Holdings. We’re meeting here in the study.”
“You’re saying you want me to put on pajamas like you?” he asked, sounding dubious.
Ashiya crossed her arms over her chest and glared. She started to give another sly remark but held back. The ridiculousness of their conversation struck her, and she laughed. “You’re right. I’m underdressed. I woke up late and didn’t feel like getting all dolled up for this. I’ll do better next time.”
His lips twitched as if he were holding back his own laugh before he finally let them lift in a half smile. “And I’ll admit I’m a little overdressed.” He came further into the room and sat in the wingback chair next to the couch.
“Where did you go?” She tried to keep her voice light even though she was dying to know where he’d been. “Brianna mentioned you were going out somewhere.”
“I had to see someone.” He picked up one of the papers on the desk and looked at it.
Ashiya could tell by his dismissive tone that he didn’t want to tell her exactly who he had to see. That didn’t mean she would give up. “That still doesn’t tell me where you were.”
He glanced up at her. “Not here.”
“Who did you meet?”
“Nobody you would know.” He looked back at the report.
Her eyes narrowed. Did he know someone in Hilton Head already? Was it a woman? Had he agreed to come here just so he could spend more time with her?
“You don’t know who I would know. Besides, you’re here to help me. Not to go off and meet up with someone.”
He dropped the report and gave her an irritated look. “Are you saying I need to report who I’m seeing to you?”
She leaned her elbow on the arm of the couch and propped her chin on her hand. “Yes,” she said with a smug smile.
Russell shook his head and focused back on the papers on the desk. “I wasn’t aware that was part of the requirements of this assignment.”
She didn’t like the way he dismissed her request. His reporting his every move to her wasn’t a requirement, but she didn’t like the idea of him sneaking off to meet some unknown person without telling her. What if he really was seeing someone else?
“I’m just making make sure you’re not meeting someone behind my back who wants to get rid of me.”
The look he gave her said he knew she was being ridiculous and he wasn’t amused. “Really, Ashiya, why would I do that? I’m here to help you, not to undermine you.”
She smiled sweetly. “Then tell me who you’re meeting.”
“You don’t need to know all that.”
“Yes, I do. If you won’t tell me, then I’ll ask Jeanette to get one of the private investigators at her firm to find out, so you might as well let me know now.” Jeanette owned Lady Eyes Private Investigations and had worked for the Robidoux family previously.
She cocked her head to the side and gave him a try me smile. She really wouldn’t get a private investigator. She knew Russell wouldn’t undermine her efforts with the Legacy Group. The dubious look he gave her said he also knew she wouldn’t go that far, but the way he shook his head said he realized wasn’t going to stop bugging him.
Russell leaned back in the chair and met her eye. “Fine, I went to the police station. I had to meet with the detective in charge of my brother’s case. A new person was assigned, and now I want to make sure they don’t just ignore his file like the seven before him.”
All playfulness seeped out of Ashiya. While her imagination had run wild having her believe he’d met up with a woman who would make it harder for her to get him back, he’d been doing something that had to be difficult. His brother’s disappearance was a wound that would never heal as long as his family didn’t have answers.
Ashiya sat up straight and placed her hand over her heart. “I’m sorry.”
His brows drew together. “For what?”
“For pushing. I didn’t mean it when I teased you about potentially selling me out. I know you wouldn’t do that. I was trying to be silly.”
The tension around his mouth and shoulders eased. He shifted in the chair. “I knew you were teasing. You know I couldn’t stab you in the back like that. I said I would help you, and that’s what I’m here to do.” His full lips twisted into a wry smile. “I also forgot you could be nosy as hell.”
That was the third or fourth smile he’d given her this morning. The slow melting of his defenses around her was like a love shot to her heart. Maybe, just maybe, the easy teasing that used to be between them would come back.
“I am nosy. It’s part of being a member of the Robidoux family. You always have to know what’s going on in case someone comes for you. Maybe that’s why trust is hard for me.”
“You trusted me once.”
She had. With everything in her. She’d never doubted a word Russell said or an action he took. He’d never betrayed her trust, but she’d shattered his.
“I still do. I messed up your trust in me. I said I would do better this time. I won’t tease you about going behind my back again.”
He glanced away. “Don’t apologize. I was being intentio
nally vague about where I went.”
“Your brother’s case is here?”
He nodded. “This is where he came for his spring break trip.”
He’d told her his brother never came back from spring break his junior year of college. He hadn’t said where the trip was, only that he continued to press the police to find out what happened to his brother. When he’d told her, she hadn’t pushed for more information because she’d stupidly been trying to hold back a piece of her heart. Her relationship with Russell was supposed to have been a bridge in the gap in yet another breakup with her ex-boyfriend, Stephen. Too late she realized her heart had decided to go against her brain’s original plan.
“I’ll talk to the police,” she said.
Russell’s head jerked back. “What? Why?”
“Because I now have some level of pull with all of the shares I’ve inherited. It’s the least I could do with this power and money I’ve gotten.”
It was also the least she could do considering how she’d hurt him. She didn’t just want a second chance with Russell. She wanted to make him happy. She might not be able to bring his brother back, but if there was anything she could do to help him find answers, then she’d do it.
“You don’t have to do that.”
“I want to do something.” She reached over and placed her hand on his knee. The gesture was an automatic reflex from the days when they were together, and she’d reach out to touch him for comfort or in support whenever she wanted. “You’re helping me. At least let me help you. Maybe when they see that the head of the Legacy Group is also behind the investigation, they’ll do more.”
His leg shifted. “But—”
She pulled her hand away. “No buts. I’m doing this.” In his conflicted gaze, she saw his need to not believe in her fight with the gratitude for her offer. He might not want to accept her help, but he was smart enough to use every advantage available to him. She changed the subject before he could let his doubt in her convince him to continue to refuse her offer.
“Now, help me look at the marketing groups’ spending reports and compare them to the overall quarterly reports.” She picked up the last report she’d reviewed. “I think the numbers are off, but maybe I’m missing something.”
Russell stared at her for several seconds. Ashiya glanced back at him and smiled. His brows drew together before he pulled off his suit jacket and slid forward in his chair. “Show me what’s bothering you.”
CHAPTER NINE
TWO DAYS LATER, Ashiya had to admit that she and Russell worked well together. Before, their relationship didn’t include discussions about work. He might ask her about her day at the shop, and she’d ask how his day went, but other than that they’d spent their time meeting in small intimate restaurants, going to late-night movie showings, and making love until the early morning.
She knew they were compatible personally, but she was surprised by how compatible they’d turned out to be professionally. No one looking in would have been able to tell Russell could barely look at her just a few weeks ago. He helped her review the quarterly reports and spending statements and answered any questions she had with patience.
“So, I’m not wrong about the numbers looking funny?” Ashiya asked after they’d finished reviewing the last three years of spending statements out of the marketing division.
Russell frowned at the paper in his hand and shook his head. Since their first day, he’d discarded the suit and now met her in the library wearing a polo shirt like the gray one he wore today and slacks. He always kept the top button of his shirt unbuttoned, and frequently Ashiya caught a glimpse of the gold chain he wore around his neck. A cross hung from the chain. She knew that because she’d love watching the cross swing against his chest whenever he walked around with no shirt on.
“No,” he said. “But whoever is behind the spending reports hid this really well. The numbers on the spending reports don’t match up with the revenue statements. In each report, the slight shift in profits is explained. Individually you wouldn’t think anything is wrong, but when you look at it as a whole, there are thousands of dollars missing. Again, not enough to draw a lot of attention in an organization this big.”
“But enough over time to make someone a nice bit of extra money.”
Russell dropped the report in his hand and nodded. “Any indication that your grandmother knew about this?”
“Not that I know of. Brianna hasn’t mentioned anything, and she worked with my grandmother every day. If my grandmother knew about this, then she might not have let Brianna know.”
Russell rubbed his chin and eyed the reports spread out before them. “But your cousin Levi was also taking over and handling things for your grandmother.”
“He was,” Ashiya said with a sinking feeling in her stomach. She didn’t want to think Levi would do this, but it wasn’t as if he’d left the best impression on her.
“When did he start taking over?”
Brianna answered from the door. “He started taking over for her two years ago.” Brianna came into the room. “That’s when your grandmother stepped down from being directly involved and let Levi handle everything.”
Ashiya sat up straighter. “That’s around the time the numbers started fudging.”
Brianna pressed her fist against her chest. “You can’t believe Levi would play around with the numbers. He wouldn’t.”
Russell grunted and pointed to the reports. “He had to have noticed this. If it’s been going on for two years and he didn’t notice, then that’s even more reason to fire him.”
Brianna stepped forward. “I know he didn’t start out on the right foot with you all, but despite his...personality flaws, he does care about the company. Almost as much as your grandmother.”
“If he cared then he wouldn’t let things go on this long,” Russell countered. “He needs to go.”
Ashiya let out a deep breath. “I really don’t want the first thing that I do is to fire my cousin.”
“Talk to him first,” Brianna said. “Ask him directly. Levi won’t lie.”
Ashiya raised a brow. “He might if it means not going to jail for embezzlement.”
Brianna shook her head. “It’s not him. I know it’s not.”
Russell stood. “Everyone lies.” His eyes flicked to Ashiya quickly, then away.
Ashiya’s face heated as she met his gaze. They might be working well together, but since that first day, Russell had kept things professional and hadn’t softened any more towards her. They’d come to a resolution that day, but it didn’t mean he trusted her. He was right—everyone lied at some point—but she hadn’t lied to him. She entered their relationship with the wrong intentions, but her feelings were real, and she’d never cheated on him.
“Maybe so, but we should also hear both sides to the story,” she said firmly. “Otherwise we could make rash assumptions.”
Russell had never given her the chance to tell her side of things. He’d come to see her once after they’d split up, but Stephen had been at her place while she was out. The look on Russell’s face, full of pain and betrayal, when she’d arrived had twisted her heart. He’d left without talking to her. Stephen refused to tell her what he’d said to Russell. His only comment was that he’d told Russell the truth, that they belonged together. The smug smile on his face had made her stomach churn.
Russell’s jaw tightened. He glanced out the window. The sky was still bright, but it was late afternoon. “It’s getting late. We should call it a day.”
“I’ll order dinner,” Brianna said.
Ashiya nodded. “Do that. We can talk some more about the upcoming board meeting while we eat.”
“You want to keep working?” Russell asked.
Not really. She was tired of looking at the funny numbers and wondering what they meant for the Legacy Group, but for the past two nights, Brian
na had ordered dinner, and Russell made up an excuse to leave. Once they were done with work, he didn’t want anything else to do with her. At this rate, she’d never get the chance to thaw the block of ice around his heart. If she had to use work to entice him to eat dinner with her, then she would.
“I do. The board meeting is in a few days. I don’t want to just be prepared; I want to be overly prepared.”
He lifted a shoulder. “Fine. We’ll talk more while we eat. I’ve got to use the bathroom, so order whatever you want.”
Ashiya let out a breath and bit her lower lip to keep from smiling. He hadn’t argued. He wouldn’t be running away from her tonight.
“This morning you said you planned to stop at six.” Brianna looked from her watch to Ashiya.
Ashiya jumped up from her chair and went over to Brianna. She lowered her voice even though Russell had walked out. “I am, but I want him to stay for dinner. If I hadn’t brought up work, he would have left to eat somewhere else.”
Brianna frowned and pointed over her shoulder toward the door. “Is there something going on with you two that I need to know about?”
Ashiya shook her head. “Nothing that you need to worry about. Not right now, anyway. But I will need you to find an excuse to leave either right after the food comes or in the middle of dinner.”
“You do realize I’m hungry and you’re asking me to miss eating.”
Ashiya gently tugged on Brianna’s arm. “You can take your food with you. I just need a reason to eat with Russell without someone around.”
Brianna’s eyes narrowed, but she smiled. “Nothing going on that I need to worry about, huh?”
“Seriously. Just do this for me.”
Ashiya needed time with Russell that didn’t revolve around reports or her inheritance. He was doing his best to make sure he only interacted with her when it came to the Legacy Group, which wasn’t giving her much of an opportunity to rekindle his feelings. She tried to be patient, but that wasn’t her best trait. Plus, his “everyone lies” comment struck a nerve. She had to find a way to talk things out about what happened between them.
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