Runaway Heir

by Cardello, Ruth

  “Room and board will be fine,” Nicolette said. I’ll make it work somehow. Maybe I can go without a phone. Or find something part-time in town.

  Looking around the room, Paisley said, “I’m sure you’re used to much better than this . . .”

  “It’s perfect, Paisley. Truly warm and welcoming.”

  The smile returned to Paisley’s face. “Thank you. That means a lot to me. Sorry about Tera. We’re all pretty sure she’ll be the town administrator one day.”

  “I have a niece like that,” Nicolette said. Spencer’s adopted daughter was similarly spirited. She hadn’t spent much time with her, but once she got herself back on track, she might see about changing that. No matter how things shook out, Spencer would still be her brother. “Her name is Skye.”

  “Will it be hard for you to be away from your family?”

  Nicolette shrugged. “I don’t see them much.”

  “Oh.” Paisley looked uncertain about what to say next.

  “Thank you for bringing my food up,” Nicolette said.

  “You’re welcome.” Paisley took the door handle in her hand. “There’s an office downstairs that I cleared out when I heard you were coming. Consider it exclusively yours while you’re here.”

  “I will. Thanks again.”

  There was an awkward pause before Paisley said, “You don’t know how much it means to us that you’re here. The state is considering closing our high school and busing the kids to other towns. That might not sound like the end of the world to someone who hasn’t grown up here, but it’s the beginning of the end of our community if it happens. If there is anything you need—anything at all—don’t hesitate to ask. We don’t have much, but we pull together and make amazing things happen when we have to.”

  Nicolette didn’t doubt that for a second. Paisley also deserved the truth. “I thought this was just about taking some photos and building a website.”

  Paisley looked away, then back. “You’re a Westerly. Just being here has people talking about MacAuley. And you must know everyone who is anyone. I can’t wait to see what you can do.”

  “Me too,” Nicolette said with a forced, bright smile.

  “See you in the morning.” With that, Paisley closed the door.

  Returning to her spot on the bed, Nicolette picked up her phone and turned it on. The list of messages matched her expectations. Her mother said she was too old to be acting this way. Nicolette didn’t bother to answer. She wouldn’t write what she wanted to say—that in the race for maturity, she was still ahead. Rachelle apologized. Nicolette responded with the same. Brett offered to send her cash. She lied and said she didn’t need it. Spencer offered to fly her home.

  Home? Where is that? I used to know.

  She thanked him for the offer and promised to visit him soon.

  The next message surprised her.

  Hey, tiger. Hope you’re having a better day. —Bryant

  She almost deleted it but instead read it again—and again.

  Tiger.

  Not “Hey, sexy.”

  Or “Hey, hot mama.”

  Just tiger.

  “Easy, tiger.” His voice still rang clear in her memories.

  She flopped back on the bed, closed her eyes, and let herself be on the balcony with him again. In the middle of what had otherwise been a disaster, there had been a sweet spot when she’d felt—happy?

  The alcohol had started to sweep through her, just enough to quiet her demons and let her enjoy being a woman flirting with a handsome man. He can’t be ugly. I didn’t imagine those eyes, those abs, that killer smile.

  The night might have gone very differently if her buzz had leveled off there, but she’d guzzled those drinks, and when their effects hit—they’d hit hard.

  Was I really in a bathroom barefoot? Eww.

  At least it wasn’t a public one with stalls.

  In her mind, she used Delinda’s voice to mock herself. “A lady would never lower herself to that.”

  Was that the moment Bryant decided not to stick around?

  I have some ego, don’t I? Did I think I’d wake up and find a man like that just hanging around, making me breakfast?

  She opened her eyes and read his message again. Hey, tiger. Hope you’re having a better day. —Bryant

  Her fingers poised over the phone screen. What do you say to a man you threw yourself at while drunk? Thanks for folding my underwear instead of taking advantage of me?

  Hope you’re having a better day as well?

  How about: Please stop writing to me because it only reminds me of how badly I handled myself at Eric’s wedding?

  I didn’t come to Iowa to waste my time thinking about a man who probably believes I always act that way.

  Luckily, that’s not something I need to feel bad about. He’s not part of my life.

  I don’t even want to know how he got my number.

  She deleted his message.

  Bye, Bryant Taunton.

  Trust me, I just did you a favor.

  She was about to drop the phone beside her when it rang. My mother. Great. What was the likelihood that she would get the hint if Nicolette didn’t pick up? Zero.

  Nicolette put her on speakerphone. “Hi, Mom.”

  “I was worried when you didn’t answer my text,” her mother said.

  “I didn’t know what to say.” That was honest enough.

  “This weekend was a celebration, not a funeral. You couldn’t wait one more day to start your new job? Everyone was disappointed.”

  “I apologized to Eric. He understood.”

  “Well, I don’t, so explain it to me. We just went through hell with Eric. There’s no shame in admitting you have a problem. That rehab in Vandorra did wonders for him.”

  Oh my God. “No, Mom. I don’t have a drinking problem.” I only drink when I’m with my family. No family, no problem.

  “Are you behaving this way because you want to punish us? Me? Or is it a cry for attention? Is that why you hooked up with Bryant Taunton? You know your grandmother is furious that you did that. If you were trying to piss her off, you found her button.”

  Nicolette threw an arm over her eyes. Breathe. “I’m tired, Mom. Can we continue this conversation later?” Like never?

  “What are you doing in Iowa, Nicolette?”

  “A job. I told you.”

  “What kind of job?”

  “Does it matter? I’m working.”

  “Are you lying? You’re not with—him, are you? There are many things I don’t side with your grandmother on, but that family is trouble. I’m sure you’ll tell me you don’t care, but Maddox Taunton, Bryant’s father, is a horrible human being.”

  “According to you, isn’t that everyone with money?”

  “Nicolette.” What else could her mother say? “You don’t know the history our family has with theirs. You need to be careful around them. I don’t know why Eric invited Bryant, but he was wrong to. The Tauntons would love to strike back at Delinda and your father. Ask Brett—he’ll tell you that Maddox never stopped trying to make trouble for our family. I wouldn’t put it past him to have Bryant use you in some sick revenge plot.”

  Those types of problems hadn’t been a topic of discussion until recently. What happened to the mother whose greatest concern was whether Nicolette was practicing piano enough? That’s the mother Nicolette missed. Not this one. And how could she worry about ancient history when the present was still in chaos? “You’ve been spending too much time with Delinda, Mom. You’re beginning to sound like her.”

  “I’m worried about you. We all are. Do you want me to fly out there?”

  “No,” Nicolette said in a rush. “Mom, I’m fine. I’m not drinking. I’m not hanging out with a Taunton. I’m taking photographs for a website about a town. Please. I asked you for space, and that’s all I need. Just time to think some things through.”

  “I do love you, Nicolette.”

  “I know you do, Mom. I love you, too. I
just need time.”

  Nicolette hung up after promising to call soon. She lay there on her bed for a long time simply looking up at the ceiling.

  What the hell was between the Westerlys and the Tauntons?

  She went back over the whole night with Bryant. If he’d really wanted to get back at her family, he would have slept with her.

  Or maybe he didn’t sleep with me because he wanted to gain my trust so I would go along with his revenge plot.

  Mwah ha-ha.

  My family is fucking crazy.

  Back in New York, Bryant returned from a jog and took a long shower in an attempt to fill some of an evening that was dragging. When he was toweling off, his phone beeped with a message from Lon. He’d sent the view from a VIP section of this month’s hottest club. The floor was full of beautiful women, but Bryant wasn’t tempted.

  He threw on some lounge pants, grabbed his phone and laptop, and crashed on his leather couch. Despite his productive intentions, he sat there staring at the dark screen of his computer without turning it on.

  Nicolette hadn’t responded to his text. She might simply not want to talk.

  Or she could be upset with him.

  Or having another rough day.

  He needed to know, so he texted Alessandro. Anything new with Nicolette?

  He prepared himself for what Alessandro would most likely say—that she was fine and out with some new guy. His phone rang.

  Alessandro said, “I hate texting. So. Nicolette didn’t answer you?”

  “She did not.”

  “That’s a shame. I thought the two of you had a real connection. I was hoping you’d tell me she’s safe.”

  “Wait. Why wouldn’t she be safe?”

  “She was supposed to spend the day with her family but didn’t show. Instead, she sent her mother a text about starting a new job and flew off to Iowa.”

  “Iowa? I thought she worked with international organizations to promote their causes.”

  “She did. So what is she doing in some small town where she knows no one?”

  “Starting a job?”

  “But what kind? We don’t know these people. She’s vulnerable right now. For all we know, she was lured out there by some wacko who’s going to hold her for ransom—or worse.”

  The mere thought of either had Bryant’s full attention. “What do you need, Alessandro?”

  “Fly out there, check out the people who hired her.”

  “Like a background check?”

  “We’ve done that. No, I mean look them in the eye. See what your gut says about them. I’d never forgive myself if anything happened to her.”

  “What are you not telling me?”

  “I may have admitted to Delinda that Nicolette left the party with you. She called me, asked how her granddaughter was, and how I ended up being the one to take her home. I couldn’t lie to her the way Elise did. A stretch of the truth is one thing, but she’s known me too long for me to be able to sustain a lie.”

  “And you think that caused trouble for Nicolette?”

  “I underestimated how deep this goes for Delinda. Oliver was her world. When the deal he and your grandfather entered into tanked, Oliver killed himself. Your grandfather lost a fortune; Delinda lost her husband. What others see as Delinda being overbearing, I understand as her response to fear. Oliver didn’t come from money. He was thrown into the family business—sink or swim—and he sank. She blamed herself for not preparing him for the responsibility of it. She pushed her son and still pushes her grandchildren because she fears that if she doesn’t, they’ll fail—and she’ll lose them the way she lost Oliver.”

  “Tough love.”

  “Tougher than Nicolette can handle right now. I thought if you were the one to bring a smile back to Nicolette, Delinda might see that the past should be put to rest. I’d hoped the same would be true for your father. The Westerlys and the Tauntons have both done wrong, and they’ve both suffered. I wanted to make things better, but I may have made them worse.”

  “I don’t understand how I’m not the last person you think should go after Nicolette.”

  “Because she needs someone on her side, someone she can trust. Someone who won’t leave her at the first sign of trouble. You’re that kind of man.”

  “It sounds like what she needs is a friend.”

  “Then be that to her. Make sure she’s in a safe place. For me.”

  Bryant sighed. How could he say no? “Did I mention she didn’t answer my text? She might not want to see me.”

  “Pretend to be there on business.”

  “Sure, because I go to Iowa all the time. That’s believable.”

  “If you don’t want to do it, just say so,” Alessandro said, and the sharpness of his tone caught Bryant’s attention. Alessandro was an even-tempered, easygoing person. His patience was endless. For Alessandro to lose his cool even a little meant he really was worried.

  “Of course I’ll go. I don’t know how I’ll explain my presence there, but—”

  “You’ll think of something.”

  “Send me copies of the background checks you’ve had done and any info you have about anything else regarding where she went. I’ll fly out first thing tomorrow.”

  “Thank you, Bryant. This is the right thing to do.”

  Is it? Bryant wasn’t so sure, but that wouldn’t stop him from going. Like Alessandro, he’d never forgive himself if something happened to her.

  After ending the call with Alessandro, Bryant texted Lon. I won’t be in the office tomorrow. I’ll probably be back the day after.

  Lon texted back, Everything okay?

  Bryant: Yes, I need to take a quick trip to Iowa.

  Iowa? Wtf? Before Bryant had a chance to answer, Lon continued on. She’s in Iowa, isn’t she?

  Bryant: Yes. Alessandro asked me to make sure she’s okay.

  Lon: Why?

  Bryant: He’s concerned and that’s enough for me.

  Lon: Sure. We are so fucked.

  Bryant didn’t answer because he knew it didn’t make sense to see Nicolette again. Lon’s concerns were based on the real possibility that Delinda would try to blackball him, just as she had his father. The difference? Tech giants didn’t care about what was said on the society page. They made their billions digitally and their connections very differently.

  Sure, some might decide not to work with him so they could stay in Delinda’s good graces, but many more would rather follow the holy dollar than be invited to a gala.

  Let her come for me. She’ll see what my father did—threats don’t work on me.

  An email came in from Alessandro that had all the information Bryant required to plan his trip. Nicolette was staying in a small bed-and-breakfast in MacAuley. A quick phone call confirmed there was a room free.

  Perfect.

  There was a small airport just outside town. He arranged for a pilot as well as a car and closed his laptop.

  Iowa, here I come.

  Chapter Five

  Long after speaking to her mother, Nicolette had gone over what she’d said. One message resonated—her family was worried about her.

  I’m a little worried about myself. I wouldn’t have agreed to come if I’d known what they thought I’d be capable of doing. I take pictures—some would say not even that well.

  What the hell do I know about promotion?

  She’d considered taking Paisley aside and confessing everything. That I came here because I was looking for a place to hide out. That I’m a big, fat fraud.

  Somewhere around midnight, she started to push back against those insecurities. Westerly or not, I’m a reasonably intelligent person. There’s no reason I can’t take photos, build a website, and figure out a way to promote it. People probably do it all the time—regular people, like me.

  I’m sure I haven’t pissed off everyone I know. Once I get the website up, I’ll call in some favors.

  I can do this.

  The next morning, Nicolette show
ered, dressed, and set up her laptop on a rolltop wooden desk in the small first-floor office Paisley had said she could use. Paisley had left a note with the name and number of a woman who’d offered to show Nicolette around. Nicolette arranged to meet her early in the afternoon, then tucked her hair up into a loose bun that she secured with a pen, and cracked her knuckles.

  Any good plan starts with gathering information.

  The history of MacAuley was similar to many of the towns in the area: once booming with industry, now a shell of what it once had been. With a population of just under six hundred, it was definitely small. Still, many towns of that size were not only surviving but thriving in Iowa. Nicolette was determined to understand what they were doing that made a difference.

  What would need to change for young people to decide to either stay or return?

  There had once been two grocery stores, three restaurants, a bank, a movie theater, and a bar. Tourism came to this area of Iowa, but not to this town. Nicolette pored over traffic routes, travel sites—everything and anything she could find online about the area.

  What did people come to Iowa looking for? How were other towns making themselves visible to tourists? Nicolette took notes on the websites she came across, looking for anything MacAuley might have in common with them. By lunchtime, she decided MacAuley wasn’t known for anything and had nothing that stood out as different from anywhere else.

  There must be something here that is unique.

  I need to go see more of the town, meet those people Bruce said are willing to open their homes to me. That’s the only way I’ll find out what makes this town special.

  She stood and stretched. Her stomach rumbled, reminding her that in her haste to begin, she’d forgotten to have breakfast. Although she’d heard Paisley moving about the house, she hadn’t yet run into her.

  As if on cue, Paisley appeared at the door with an apologetic smile. “I missed you for breakfast, and then I didn’t want to disturb you. I should have asked you last night if you wanted me to bring something to your room.”

  “No worries. I usually skip breakfast anyway.”