I stopped tapping the pen. My needs might actually be the answer. If I could get Erin to accept me, there was a good chance she could speak to her family. With her dad the retired sheriff and her brother the acting sheriff, the Maxwell family was the key to unlocking the city council. With the Maxwell family on our side, I was confident we could get the zoning laws changed and Western Energies could begin operations.
I grimaced, thinking back to the last words Erin had said. She said we couldn’t see each other again. However, the situation with Western Energies might actually work in my favor. Erin worked for Larry. If he sold the company, there was no reason for him to stay in town. He’d likely sell the mansion and move back to Dallas. I knew that’s what his wife was angling for. There would be nothing to keep him or his family in the small town if he couldn’t make any money. He was a wealthy man for a reason. He didn’t sit around waiting for money to fall into his lap. He went out and found a way to make it. I knew she would likely give me some resistance, but I could be persuasive. I was looking forward to persuading her. At least it meant I would get the chance to see her again.
I grabbed my keys, wallet, and phone and headed out of the office without saying a word. Things were a little slow right now; I doubted anyone would miss me. I drove out to the Welsh mansion, hoping Erin would be working. With the kids out of school, there was a good chance she was home. I was going to pitch my idea of working together. I wasn’t expecting it to be accepted right off, but I was hoping I could convince her it was a way for both of us to keep our jobs.
I rang the bell, looking forward to seeing Erin. It wasn’t Erin’s face I saw when the wide door opened, however. “Hi,” I greeted Mrs. Welsh.
Her face broke into a huge smile. “Well, hello there, handsome. You’re certainly a sight for sore eyes.”
I chuckled. “Hello, Mrs. Welsh. You look beautiful, as always,” I said with a wink.
A little innocent flirting always worked wonders for a woman’s self-esteem. I didn’t mind giving her a little boost. She seemed a little needy, the type that needed to be told she was beautiful—a lot.
She wrinkled her nose. “Call me Ivy. Mrs. Welsh is Larry’s mom. I’m not that much older than you.”
“Will do, Ivy,” I said, stressing her name and keeping my smile in place.
“Does my husband know you’re sneaking over here in the middle of the day?” she asked, laying on her Texas drawl pretty thick. “But if you don’t tell him, I won’t,” she whispered.
“Actually, I’m here on assignment,” I answered. “It’s kind of important.”
She looked me up and down before reaching out and running the tip of her index finger down my blue silk tie. “I know how you can get an A on that very important assignment,” she cooed.
I laughed, my nerves making it a little higher than usual. She was making me very uncomfortable. “Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind. I was actually here to see your nanny, Erin. She’s got some connections to town that might make this plan a little easier if she was on our side.”
Ivy stuck out her lip, pouting like a little girl. “I’d be happy to be on your side, or other places. I didn’t grow up here, but I’ve made plenty of friends around town.”
The woman was laying it on quite thick. “Is Erin here? It is kind of urgent I speak with her.”
She rolled her eyes. “Yes, she’s here. She’s in the kitchen. Follow me.”
I followed her through the foyer. Ivy obviously liked to dress to impress. She was wearing a pair of shorts with heels that made her legs look very long, despite her petite figure. I looked away. I didn’t know what kind of marriage she and Larry had, but I did not want to get accused of messing around with my boss’s wife. Maybe that’s how they did things back home, but it wasn’t the way I did things. Besides, the blonde hair and blue-eyed thing wasn’t for me. I had eyes for only one woman.
“Erin?” Ivy called out, stepping into the massive kitchen.
“I’ll be right there,” I heard her call out.
A few seconds later, she emerged from a small room off the kitchen carrying a bag of flour. She froze when she saw me. I was glad as hell Ivy was looking at Erin with her back to me. I didn’t want her to know how attracted I was to Erin. I stared at the woman who had been dancing through my dreams for years. She was wearing a pair of cutoff jean shorts that showed off long, tanned legs, a simple tank, and sensible tennis shoes. It was the polar opposite to Ivy’s little getup and about a million times sexier.
“Hi,” I said when she said nothing.
“Uh, hi,” she answered.
Ivy turned to look at me, a scowl on her face as she looked back at Erin. The tension in the kitchen was palpable. There was no way Ivy didn’t feel it. Erin moved to the counter and set down the bag of flour next to a large mixing bowl.
“Well, I suppose you two need to talk. Behave yourselves,” she quipped before sashaying out of the kitchen.
I turned to look back at Erin, drinking in the sight of her and immediately wanting to touch her, kiss her again. She was staring at me with what I sensed was anger. She thought I was stalking her. I was—but I had a good excuse.
12
Erin
Despite my shock at seeing Jacob standing in the kitchen in front of me, I also felt relief. Ellie and the Welsh kids were at day camp, which meant I didn’t have to worry about Jacob seeing her. Even without Ellie being present, there was a chance Ivy might mention my daughter. That would be awkward.
“What are you doing here?” I asked, slightly irritated by his presence.
I didn’t want Ivy finding out about us. I didn’t want anyone finding out. It would only lead to more questions that I didn’t want to answer. Things were best left in the past.
“I have a proposition for you,” he said in that smooth, deep voice as he walked toward me.
“I thought there was a no solicitor sign on the gate,” I retorted.
He grinned. “Trust me, you want to hear this. It concerns you and your job here.”
I raised a brow. “My job?”
“Can we sit?”
“Fine.” I gestured to the table where the box of crayons was still sitting from earlier. “If it’s about the other night, that has nothing to do with my job, and I would really rather not talk about it, especially here,” I added in a low voice.
He looked around before leaning forward. “Western Energies is getting stonewalled. The city council won’t let us move forward.”
I shrugged a shoulder. “And what has that got to do with me and my job?”
“Because if Western Energies can’t get the oil Larry moved here to get, he’s going to close up shop and move on to another business venture. You and I both know there is nothing keeping them here. Burning Butte does not offer the type of life Ivy and Larry are accustomed to. If they pull up stakes and leave, you’re out of a job and so am I,” he said, completely serious.
“And why do you think I can help?” I asked.
“Because you’re from here. You’re the town princess. Your family is Burning Butte royalty. If you are on board with Western Energies drilling, others will fall into place. Your dad still has a lot of influence around here. If you convince him, he’ll convince the others,” he explained.
I wrinkled my nose. “Why don’t you convince them it’s so great? Isn’t that your job?”
He grinned. “Turns out a lot of people still don’t like me much around here.”
I tried to hide my reaction. I knew why a lot of folks held a grudge against him. Everyone knew he was Ellie’s father. I never came right out and said it, but everyone knew, and everyone knew he wasn’t around. They assumed he knocked me up and then ran off. Few people knew the truth.
“Jacob, I think you just need to try and ask nicely. That stuff happened a long time ago. I’m sure people will be fine with you,” I encouraged, knowing it was bullshit.
“I need your help, please,” he insisted.
“I don’t know what you w
ant me to do. You know my dad isn’t going to listen to me. He’s stubborn and set in his ways,” I reminded him.
He took a deep breath. “If you can’t get your dad, you can at least try talking to some of the locals. Erin, this is serious. It seems like you like your job here. I know I sure as hell like my job. I need your help. I honestly don’t think I can do this without you. Larry is counting on me, and I feel like I’ve hit a brick wall. No one is willing to give me the time of day let alone listen to anything I have to say about a company they’ve already decided they hate,” he said.
The pleading in his voice was pulling at me. I had a feeling he knew it and was using it to his advantage. Before I could tell him I would help, Ivy’s heels clopping across the marble floor interrupted us. When she appeared in the kitchen, my mouth nearly fell open, then I remembered she was my boss and hid my reaction. The woman was wearing almost nothing, strutting across the room in a tiny string bikini with all of her assets on display.
I looked at Jacob to judge his reaction and was relieved to see he looked more uncomfortable than excited. Ivy craved attention and didn’t mind getting it wherever she could, even if it was with a younger man who happened to work for her husband. I watched as she strutted to where we were sitting at the table, standing very close to Jacob, which put her boobs almost directly in line with his face. I had to fight to keep from curling my lip with disgusted rage. The string bikini covered next to nothing. As if the damn thing weren’t ridiculous enough for a backyard swim, she was wearing gold bangle bracelets and a necklace with a large medallion that rested between her ample cleavage. It was meant to draw the eye. I wasn’t quite so naive I didn’t recognize a seduction when I saw it.
“Did you happen to bring a suit?” Ivy cooed. “We could take a little dip and cool off.”
“No, ma’am,” Jacob replied, looking at me.
“I could go find one of my husband’s suits. You’re a little taller, but I think we could make something fit, although you do seem to be a bit broader around the chest. I suppose that wouldn’t matter though, would it?” she tittered.
“I’m fine, thank you,” he said, looking up at her face and completely ignoring the boobs at his chin.
“It’s a beautiful day for a swim,” she continued.
“I have a lot of work to get done. Thanks for the offer, but maybe another time.”
Ivy pouted. “Fine, but if you change your mind, you know where to find me.”
She walked away from us, heading for the glass doors, sashaying her perfect hips and her pert ass that was the result of hours on the spin bike and a little bit of liposuction. Ivy had nothing to do other than work on staying beautiful. I felt jealousy race through me and tried to push it away. I didn’t want what Ivy had. I liked my life, but I damn sure didn’t want her to have Jacob.
“Will you do it?” Jacob asked.
“What?” I blinked, trying to tamp down the jealousy so I could focus.
“Will you consider working with me to try and win over the town? Larry wants this. He will likely ask you himself.”
The idea of working with Jacob on anything was disturbing. I couldn’t spend time with him. I couldn’t be in close quarters with him on a regular basis. He was a distraction. Even then, sitting with him, talking to him, and having to look at him was making me feel fluttery. He had been right about the attraction never fading. It hadn’t. I wanted his body. The rest of him, I wasn’t as sure, but there was something about his body that I craved.
My eyes drifted to the large clock hanging on the wall. “Um, I’ll think about it.”
“We don’t have a lot of time here, Erin.”
He wasn’t kidding. I had to leave to pick up the kids from camp in about fifteen minutes. “I can’t work out of the house.”
“That’s fine,” he said, holding up a hand. “Why don’t you come by the office when you’re not watching the kids.”
I bit my lower lip and nodded. “The kids have day camp for the next two weeks. I suppose I could make a little time. However, I need something from you.”
He grinned and I rolled my eyes. “I will give you anything you want,” he said in a husky voice.
“I need you to keep a low profile. Don’t go around pissing anyone off. Mind your own business and quit reminding people about who you used to be,” I lectured.
He scowled. “I’ve done no such thing. I’ve been a good boy. People around here just can’t seem to realize I’ve grown up.”
“Yeah, sure. You have a natural knack for pissing people off. I’ll come by the office tomorrow after I drop the kids off,” I told him, looking at the time again.
He nodded. “Perfect. Thank you. Larry will thank you as well. This is a big deal. I know with you on board we can at least get the people around here to listen. I’m not expecting them to jump up and down with excitement or roll out the red carpet, but a little leeway would be huge.”
“I’m making no promises. You know how stubborn these people can be. You know how stubborn my dad can be,” I said with a grimace, already imagining how that conversation was going to go.
He smirked. “And Philip. Good ol’ Philip would probably prefer to burn us down, but if we go, you’re out of a job.”
“I can get a job elsewhere,” I retorted.
He looked around the kitchen. “One like this? You’ll be stuck working next to Marianne.”
“Keep talking and I won’t help you. Don’t come in here and act like you’re all high-and-mighty because you’re wearing a fancy suit. Not everyone needs to earn big bucks,” I told him, my irritation evident.
“I’m sorry,” he quickly apologized. “I didn’t mean it as an insult. I was only saying you look good in this kitchen. This lifestyle suits you. I don’t want you to have to leave a job you obviously like. I’m sorry,” he said again.
“I don’t either. I said I’ll be there tomorrow. I need to get going,” I told him, rising from the table.
He nodded, getting to his feet. We stood facing each other, looking at one another without talking. He was so damn handsome!
“I’ll see you tomorrow,” he said, his voice low.
“You know where the door is.”
He chuckled. “I do,” he said and walked away.
I let out the breath I had been holding, relieved he was gone. He was hard to look at and not want. I was treading on very dangerous ground. Being around Jacob was risky. If anyone saw us together, they would assume that he knew about Ellie. I was hoping by keeping our meetings at his office, no one would suspect I was there to see him.
Rumors were only half the problem. I needed to figure out how I was going to convince my dad that Western Energies was a good thing. I knew he loved his sleepy little town just the way it was and wouldn’t be thrilled to have things shaken up by some big company. Then there was Philip. He hated Jacob and wouldn’t care that the Welsh family moving hurt me. He’d want to run Jacob out of town again. He’d sent me a few text messages saying as much.
I grabbed the keys to the SUV and headed out the door to pick up the kids. I was definitely in one of those frying pan over the fire situations. Both options sucked. But I liked my job. I needed my job. If that meant sleeping with the enemy, so to speak, then I would do it. I knew I couldn’t hide Ellie from him forever, but if we were on good terms, that would help soften the blow—I hoped.
I grimaced thinking about how all of that would go down. Would he rage? Would he run away? Would he be sad? I honestly thought I would never see him again. I didn’t think he could be hurt by something he didn’t know about. Now that he was back and claiming to want to be with me, the hurt and anger was inevitable.
13
Jacob
I could smell her. Her scent was fruity and flowery and reminded me of walking through a farmer’s market on a lovely spring day. I was trying my hardest not to lean over and inhale deeply. I had to play it cool. If I pushed too hard, she was going to run in the opposite direction. I leaned back in the cha
ir I had moved into my office to create a nice conversation area without the stiffness of the desk between us. Erin was sitting across from me in an identical chair with a large coffee table between us. It was a large enough table for a body to lie on. I had to quit thinking like that, or I was going to get myself in trouble.
“If we can make a bullet list of benefits, I think that would make it easy to understand and cut out a lot of the questions,” I said, watching her reaction.
“My brother isn’t an idiot. He doesn’t need or want an idiot’s guide to Western Energies,” she retorted.
I grinned. “I didn’t mean to say he was an idiot. It’s just an easy way to get the information out there. A lot of people are quick to stop listening when they sense long explanations coming. Concise and to the point is the way to go. We can have flyers made up and put around town.”
She shrugged a shoulder. “I suppose, but how is that going to convince Philip?”
“Philip is the sheriff, and I bet he would love to be able to buy new cars for his deputies or upgrade that rickety old building the sheriff’s department is in. With the revenue generated by Western Energies and the people that come to live here to work at the company, he is going to have more money to work with,” I explained.
“More people, more crime,” she replied.
I laughed. “Not necessarily. More development means the people here are going to be working and earning more and ultimately spending more. And, there have been studies that prove there is lower crime when there is less poverty. A rising tide lifts all boats,” I said with a smile.
She nodded. “More people living here means more kids in the school. We’re not a booming town, but our schools are already struggling. How would they ever be able to meet the needs of bigger class sizes?”
I nodded, happy to offer a solution. “More revenue, more taxes, easier levies and bonds passed. And money to hire more teachers. Which again leads to jobs, taxes, more money spent in the community.”
Bad Boy’s Secret Baby Page 7