Expecting Fortune's Heir

by Cindy Kirk

  “Smart move,” Sawyer said with an approving smile. “For a second I thought you’d lost your edge, but once again you proved me wrong.”

  Shane cocked his head.

  “You knew she’d be on her guard,” Sawyer continued, “thereby limiting the amount of information you’d be able to get from her. But in a new friendship, the emphasis is on getting to know each other. A brilliant strategy, but then I wouldn’t expect anything less from you.”

  Shane quickly considered his options. He could tell his brother that he’d gotten this all wrong. But then Sawyer might decide Shane had lost his good sense and refuse to let Lia off work. As dedicated as she was to her job, he knew she’d never take the time off if Sawyer didn’t approve.

  Shane pushed back his chair and simply smiled.

  Chapter Twelve

  The German restaurant on Main Street in Fredericksburg had both indoor and outdoor seating. Though Lia was hot from their excursions to several peach orchards, when the hostess asked if they wanted to sit outside, she blurted out yes before Shane could even ask her preference.

  “We’ll sit outside,” he told the hostess, who’d been eyeing him with an appreciative gleam in her eye.

  Lia could completely understand. Although beads of perspiration had run down her cheeks while they’d filled buckets with peaches, Shane had looked as if he’d been sitting inside an office all day.

  His khaki shorts were still crisp and his blue polo shirt looked as if he’d just taken it off a hanger. Lia was happy she’d paired a black top with tiny white stars to go with her yellow shorts. At least the black didn’t show the dirt...as much.

  “Are you and your...wife enjoying your time in Fredericksburg?” the tall blonde hostess asked.

  Really, Lia wanted to say to her, you’re hitting on a guy who’s out with a pregnant woman?

  She caught the woman glancing first at her left hand, then at Shane’s, but Lia had never thought she’d be so bold.

  Shane rested one hand lightly on Lia’s back and pulled out her chair with his other. “We’re having a wonderful time.”

  The blonde’s face fell. “Good to hear.”

  Once they were seated, Shane lifted the menu.

  “Does that happen to you often?” Lia asked.

  “What?”

  “Women throwing themselves at you?”

  He gave a humorless chuckle. “Let’s just say it’s not an infrequent occurrence.”

  “How do you feel about it?” Lia leaned forward, resting her elbows on the table. “Do you find it annoying or flattering?”

  The waitress arrived then and it wasn’t until after she’d taken their order and brought their drinks—water for Lia and a stout German beer for Shane—that he answered her question.

  “When you grow up in a family like mine, people often like you for your money. Or for what they think you can do for them.”

  Though his tone gave nothing away, a tiny muscle in his jaw jumped.

  “Isn’t it easy to spot them?” she asked.

  He took a sip from the mug. “Not always.”

  “How do you find out the truth?”

  “Things become clear.”

  “C’mon, that tells me absolutely nothing. When was the first time you knew a woman was with you more for the money than for you?”

  “Ah, that would have been my first girlfriend.” Shane’s lips twisted in a semblance of a smile. “Amber was fifteen. I was sixteen. We were classmates at Choate. She was there on scholarship.”

  “Choate?”

  “A private school in Connecticut.”

  “What happened?”

  “I fell head over heels for her. She told me she loved me. We became intimate,” he explained in a voice devoid of emotion. “Then her mom went to my father and threatened to charge me with statutory rape.”

  Lia gasped. “But it had been consensual.”

  “Didn’t matter.” The flash of pain in his eyes was so brief, Lia wondered if she’d only imagined it. “Our attorney discovered that in Connecticut, having sex with anyone under sixteen is illegal. My father paid her off—which is what her mother wanted all along—so I wouldn’t be charged.”

  “Could they have even proved you’d had sex?”

  “She was a day student and lived in Hamden. We did it one time in her bedroom while her mom was at work,” Shane continued in a matter-of-fact tone. “Her mother had hidden a camera in the room. She got it all on tape.”

  “Unbelievable.”

  “It was my introduction to the real world,” he said with a cynical laugh.

  “That’s a crazy example,” Lia said. “And really more of the mother being out for what she could get, than the girl.”

  Shane shrugged. “Amber seemed to like the new clothes and convertible they bought with the money. I doubt she missed me at all.”

  A heavy pall settled over the table.

  “I’ve never had that problem.” Lia gave a laugh. “But I have had a few guys come on a little strong. They seemed to think the poor little Latina would give them anything they wanted just because they had a nice car or were on the football team.”

  “Jerks.” The muscle in Shane’s jaw jumped again.

  Lia took a sip of ice water. “I knew how to say no and make them believe it. If they persisted, I had an older brother who didn’t like anyone messing with his baby sister.”

  “You grew up poor?” he asked after a long moment.

  She nodded. “The strange thing is, until I reached high school, I didn’t realize it.”

  He lifted a questioning brow.

  “I had my own bedroom. How can you be poor if you have your own bedroom?” Lia saw no need to mention her brothers slept on a pullout sofa bed in the living room. “Our neighbors were hardworking people living the American dream. Like us, they owned their own home. There were barbecues in the summer and Christmas caroling in the winter. When I’d hear things on the news about the disadvantaged, I never thought it applied to me. Then I went to high school.”

  “What happened?”

  “Lots of rich kids.”

  “You envied them.”

  “What? No.” Her lips twisted. “Well, maybe just a little. I envied the clothes and cars and the fact that they didn’t have to clean houses after they got home from school. But I had a loving family and lots of friends.”

  “And your own bedroom.”

  Lia smiled. “I was rich in all the ways that matter.”

  “How was college?”

  “It was harder because I was away from my family for the first time.” Lia’s lips lifted in a wistful smile. “But my college roommate became my best friend. That made all the difference. She was also there on a scholarship, so she understood how to scrimp. But she hated doing without. If anyone was driven to obtain the finer things in life, it was her.”

  “Where is she now?”

  “In San Antonio.” Lia thought of the road Stephanie had taken and sorrow filled her. “We still see each other twice a year for our birthdays. She was the one who called the other night. Her birthday is this month and we’re trying to find a date and time to get together to celebrate.”

  “My brothers have always been my closest friends,” Shane said. “You know you can trust family.”

  The waitress brought their food and for the next fifteen minutes or so the conversation became more casual. The sauerbraten was so good Lia had to force herself to eat slowly. Shane appeared to enjoy his Wiener schnitzel.

  She learned that Shane had been sent to board at Choate when he was fourteen. He discovered that she’d played the flute and still had it in her apartment. But the last time she’d brought it out and tried to play it, her neighbor had called the police.

  They laughed and talked, and didn’t leave the table until the sun had begun to set. He took her hand on the way to the truck. She laced her fingers through his because it felt so right.

  But as pleasurable as the evening had been, by the time he pulled to a stop
in front of her apartment, Lia was having difficulty keeping her eyes open.

  “I think I kept my new friend out too late,” he said with a smile.

  “I hardly think ten o’clock qualifies as late.” She covered a yawn with her hand. “But I’m ready for bed.”

  “I could pretend that I’m one of the guys from high school and take that as an invitation to join you,” Shane said with a teasing smile.

  “And then I’d have to slam the door in your face,” Lia shot back, “and call my brother.”

  He laughed out loud then gave her a warning glance as she reached for the door handle.

  “Wait.” Shane shut off the truck and pocketed the keys. “I’ll open that for you.”

  “You don’t have to—” Lia began but stopped. The look on his face told her protesting was pointless.

  After he helped her out of the truck, he walked to the back of the vehicle and pulled out two buckets filled with peaches.

  “I don’t need two,” she protested. “One is plenty.”

  But he just smiled and when they reached her floor, he stopped at the door across the hall.

  Mrs. Martinez, the older woman who’d so soundly chastised them for talking too loudly the other night, cracked her door open in response to his knock. “Yes?”

  “We brought you some fresh peaches, ma’am.” Shane held out the buckets. “Natalia and I thought you might enjoy them.”

  The woman’s eyes widened at the sight of the plump, sweet-smelling fruit. She smiled, actually smiled, at Lia. “Well, thank you very much. I certainly do enjoy fresh peaches.”

  “They’re from Fredericksburg,” Lia told her.

  “Then I know they’ll be good.” The woman shifted her gaze to Shane. “You both have a nice evening. Thank you, again.”

  When she shut the door, Shane and Lia exchanged a smile.

  “I’m embarrassed I didn’t think to reach out to her before.” Lia glanced curiously at him. “Yet you did, even after how she acted the other night.”

  He shot her a wink. “Being around you seems to bring out the best in me.”

  A warmth wrapped itself around Lia’s heart. “I can’t remember receiving a nicer compliment.”

  “Then you’re hanging out with the wrong people.”

  She unlocked her apartment and pushed the door open before turning back to Shane. “Want to come in for a few minutes?”

  “I’ll put the bucket in the kitchen,” he said, stepping inside. “It’s too heavy for you to carry.”

  After he’d deposited the peaches, he was almost to the door when she grabbed his hand. “What’s the hurry?”

  He smiled. “You need your sleep.”

  “Don’t I get a good-night kiss?”

  Desire flared in his eyes but he hesitated.

  “There’s nothing wrong with a little kiss between friends,” Lia said in a throaty whisper that, even to her ears, sounded surprisingly sensual.

  Shane slipped his arms around her shoulders and pulled her close. “Since you put it that way...”

  His mouth closed over hers in a gentle, sweet kiss that ended all too soon. “Sleep tight, Lia.”

  She followed him to the door. “Shane?”

  He turned back toward her. “Yes?”

  “I had a nice time tonight.”

  “So did I.” He smiled. “Sleep tight.”

  From the doorway, Lia watched him until he disappeared from view. Then she returned to her apartment, making sure to lock the door behind her.

  She’d meant what she said to Shane. Today had marked a shift in their relationship. From the moment she’d first seen him in that deserted courtyard, she’d been attracted to him.

  Not only was he good-looking, there had been something about his quiet confidence that drew her to him. When she was with him, she felt safe and protected.

  But physical attraction on its own, no matter how compelling, wasn’t enough for a relationship. She had to like the person, had to enjoy their company and had to know what made them tick.

  Tonight she’d found that with Shane. Granted, they’d barely scratched the surface. But it was a good start and she found herself humming as she headed to the shower, wondering just where this friendship would take them.

  * * *

  Shane brought the rest of the peaches into the house and left a note for the cook before heading for the stairs. Once he reached his room, he realized it was too early for bed. Besides, there were too many emotions and thoughts tugging at him. Even if he was tired, he knew sleep would not come easily. So he pulled on his running shoes and headed outside.

  Running in the dark held its share of risks but there was a full moon out tonight and the driveway up to the ranch house was familiar terrain.

  He’d just stepped off the porch when he heard Sawyer call his name.

  He muttered a curse under his breath. The last person he was in the mood to speak with tonight was his brother. But he obligingly turned around and headed to where Sawyer waited on the porch. “Need something?”

  “You’re spending a lot of time lately with Ms. Serrano.” Sawyer’s tone made it clear he didn’t approve.

  “I’m getting to know her better.” Shane smiled. “Wasn’t that the plan?”

  “You need to be careful.”

  “If you’ve got something to say, bro, just say it.”

  “She’s an attractive woman. All that dark hair. Those big brown puppy-dog eyes.” Sawyer’s eyes met his. “It would be easy for a man to fall for her.”

  “Is that what this is about?” Shane scoffed. “You think I can’t handle myself? You think I don’t know the score?”

  “I think we can know the score and still be tempted to believe in a person, to think they’re different than they are...”

  “Don’t worry about me, little brother. My eyes are wide open.”

  Shane figured he must have been convincing because Sawyer went back inside.

  Eyes wide open, he’d told Sawyer.

  He swore and started running.

  * * *

  Over the next two weeks, Shane saw Lia every day. The soup fundraiser that Saturday was only the beginning. They had lunch together by the pool, explored several other small towns in the area and danced in a variety of honky-tonks to some good and not-so-good music. One night he took her to hear the San Antonio Symphony. The performance was in the historic Majestic Theatre, a 1920s theater that had been carefully restored to its original splendor.

  Shane had suggested they get dessert afterward at one of the restaurants in the area. But when Lia told him she was craving strawberry ice cream, they ended up having cones instead.

  They spent one Sunday just strolling through the Botanical Gardens. Last night, he and Lia had gone to the San Antonio Rodeo and it had been almost midnight by the time he’d dropped her off.

  He whistled as he bounded down the stairs for breakfast. Sawyer was already at the table, a plate of food before him. He looked up when Shane entered the room.

  “What’s for breakfast?” Shane asked his brother.

  “Peaches.” Sawyer groaned. “How many buckets of those blasted things did you bring back from Fredericksburg?”

  “Shh,” Shane said as Carmen, the cook, brought his plate and set it before him.

  “This looks very good,” Shane said politely. “What is it?”

  “It’s a peach-and-sausage breakfast square, sir.” The older woman beamed. “I made the crust out of a pancake mix. It’s my own recipe.”

  “It looks delicious,” Shane said, giving her an approving smile.

  “Suck-up,” Sawyer muttered under his breath, low enough for only Shane to hear. He forked off a piece and took a bite. He chewed thoughtfully for a second or two. “It is good. Though after all the peaches are gone, I don’t think I’ll want to see anything with fruit for a long, long time.”

  “I have a conference call at ten,” Shane said. “I’m going to invite Lia to the house for lunch. She’ll need the break.”
>
  “I’ve noticed you’re very—” Sawyer paused as if searching for the right word “—solicitous of her.”

  Shane added a dash of cream to his coffee. “She is pregnant.”

  “Odds are it’s not your baby.”

  Shane tightened his fingers around the coffee cup. “We were out late last night and yet she was here bright and early this morning.”

  “She’s not your responsibility.”

  “She may not be my responsibility, but I care for her as a person,” Shane said through gritted teeth. “Is that a crime?”

  “It is if you aren’t careful. We’ve both seen how women can pretend to be something they’re not to try to land themselves a Fortune. The obvious gold diggers are easy to spot. The pros look very much like the real deal.”

  Shane took a sip of coffee. He hated his brother for bringing his doubts back to the forefront. But most of all he hated himself for believing that Lia was exactly who she appeared to be.

  Chapter Thirteen

  The PB and J that Lia had brought with her to the office went back in the brown bag when Shane invited her to join him at the ranch house for lunch. Instead of the kitchen, they’d taken their meal in the dining room with Carmen, the Fortunes’ cook, serving them.

  “This side dish was fabulous,” Lia told the woman as she picked up their plates. “A perfect accompaniment to the grilled chicken.”

  “Thank you.” The rotund woman, her black hair streaked with gray and pulled back in a single braid, beamed. “It’s a new recipe. It’s called Grilled Peaches Jezebel.”

  The sweet yet tangy taste lingered on Lia’s tongue. Though she liked to cook, she didn’t often take the time. And it was never as much fun cooking for one. “I’m having difficulty pinpointing the ingredients. Honey? Maybe a little mustard?”

  Carmen nodded approvingly. “The marinade is a mixture of honey, mustard and horseradish.”

  “Horseradish.” Lia shook her head. She’d never have guessed that one. “Odd, but it works.”

  “You should make it for Sawyer,” Shane told Carmen, an odd glint in his eyes. “He loves anything with peaches.”