Michael said, “Thanks.”
My nephew was right next to his dad. I ruffled his hair and said, “This is their son, Jeremy.”
Jacob shook his hand and said, “Nice to meet you.”
Jeremy asked, “Is it true you’re richer than my dad?”
My eyes widened. I’d no idea my nephew was, well, more like me than I realized. Jacob winked at the boy like they shared a secret. “Yes, but your dad has more than anyone, because he has you.”
Good answer. Down to earth. And it matched that secret of his, that he wanted a real wife and family after our marriage, and after he succeeded in his goal to wrest control of his father’s empire from him. Part of my stomach twisted like I wanted to be the woman he saw in his future. I met his brown-eyed gaze and my skin warmed as I said, “That’s sweet, Jacob.”
His shrugged off the compliment, like I’d sworn at him. “Again with that word.”
“Right.” I laughed. As my sisters were all standing near the wall, I pointed and said, “Ridley, Nicole, Olivia, this is Jacob.”
Jacob went and shook everyone’s hand as he said, “Nice to meet you all.”
Olivia, the teacher, smiled. “At least he’s handsome, Indigo.”
I checked out his profile. His muscular frame, square jaw and flawless skin made him the perfect man. My heart jumped as electricity shot through me and I said, “He is.”
I then hugged my cousin, who’d been staying in the shelter. “And this is Mary and her son, Bruce.”
No visible sign of being punched in the face remained around her eyes. Good. She left my side and shook Jacob’s hand as he said, “Pleasure to meet you.”
Her face showed a blush. “The others are right about you.”
He flashed a smile that showed his perfect pearly whites in a goofy-for-the-baby grin and my heart did a double patter. He said to Mary, “I’m more than just a pretty face.”
“I’m Joseph.” Her brother stood and shook hands.
Jacob stared at me like I was a computer that should give him more information, but he told Joseph, “Nice to meet you.”
“Mary’s brother,” I quickly added. My stomach twisted like this was all real and he was here to meet my family because he loved me.
Joseph sat down and added some ketchup to his plate. “I’m just a temporary family member who won’t be here anymore when I go to jail.”
My heart sank. I’d hoped today’s meeting wasn’t about his future. I asked, “For what?”
He dipped a fry in his ketchup and said, “For beating the crap out of Arthur for touching my sister.”
Mary’s face turned white, but she stared at the table and didn’t move.
If something happened to her brother, she’d internalize it as her fault. I squeezed her hand and said, “We’ll find a way to help Joseph.”
Joseph held his hand out like he’d say “stop,” and once he finished his fry, he said, “Don’t worry about me.”
Tonight I’d look up lawyers. He might not listen, but he had a good future in developing automation software with mechanical robotics. He couldn’t throw that away.
Then I said, “Last is Phoenix and Maggie. Are you here on tour?”
Phoenix held out his hand to shake, “We came to meet Michael. Now we get to meet you too.”
Jacob’s shoulders lowered and he relaxed a little. He shook hands and said, “You performed at my eighteenth birthday.”
Phoenix snapped his fingers like he remembered and said, “That was you. Your father shelled out a lot of the money to the studio.”
Jacob’s lips thinned at the mention.
I patted his back. The event must have been at least ten years ago if Phoenix was still on the air at the time. Jacob told him, and all of us, “My father was all about appearances.”
His father sounded horrible. Maybe he deserved the moniker Mr. Ruthless. I’d have to research more about him. Phoenix pointed to the counter and said, “Got it. Well, grab a burger and whatever beer you want.”
Michael and Georgie had already squeezed chairs for us next to them as Jacob said, “Thanks.”
We ate in silence for a few minutes. The burgers were well done on the backyard grill and tasted delicious on the buttered and fried buns.
When we’d finished, Michael, Phoenix and Joseph stole Jacob away and they all headed into the basement together.
He’d kissed my cheek as he joined the men.
Once they were gone, Georgie smiled at me and said, “He’s getting along with everyone.”
In some small way he was like our dad, who was a secret softie. But I just said, “Jacob is a people person.”
“And handsome. And pretty perfect for you.” Nicole brought out a loaf of her healthy no-sugar banana bread that she bragged about in a recent post and served the women.
Olivia poured the tea we’d grown up on and still consumed.
Ridley asked, “So what happened? You were so dead set against getting married, and now, here you are. One roll in his bed change your mind?”
My cheeks burned.
My sister the nurse always joked about sex, but, honestly, I’d never seen her with any actual guy. Georgie held up my bare hand and asked, “Where is your ring?”
Fuck. Married people wear rings. Georgie and Michael had rings, and she also wore his jersey number on a baseball necklace. They were in love and happy. I met her gaze and lowered my head. I’d never be like her. I coughed and said with a snap of my fingers, “It’s been ordered.”
I’d buy one online tonight and get one day delivery, or have it sent to his beach house.
Ridley asked, “Indigo?”
More questions. My spine tingled, but I squared my shoulders, ready to take on the world, and took charge. “Right. I married Jacob because we’re alike and on paper we make sense.”
“And you married him for money?” Ridley asked.
Pins and needles took the place of my skin, all over my body.
“Shh. You just admitted he was handsome. And let’s be honest, he’s cuter beside her.” Nicole settled in her seat and took a bite of her food. I couldn’t breathe, but then Nicole finished eating and said, “Stop pretending you’re all hard and only care about the billions, Indigo. You’re home, with us, and we know you have a heart.”
That was true. It was also my greatest weakness. What if I was like our mom and started to depend on Jacob so much, I fell apart without him? My heart sped up. And what happened if we did have children and I couldn’t help my daughter pick out a dress for the eighth-grade dance?
A quick memory flashed in my eyes of trying on dresses in a changing room of a store and my mother running out on me. Georgie had told me to change, and I put the dress on hold until our father showed up and collected us in the mall food court. He’d bought my dress that day, and then we all went out and found my mom, who’d been wandering the streets, crying her eyes out.
If I ever did anything like that, I’d be mortified.
My throat tickled from the lack of oxygen and I blinked. My family had been the only people who knew everything about me. They’d all been there that day. I slowly unwound and said, “I married Jacob, because when he kisses me, he makes me forget I have to be hard and mean to the world.”
Georgie elbowed me playfully and said, “Now that’s great. I’m happy for you.”
Georgie had always been like my annoying second mom. I’d hated that I needed her. But now I loved her. I turned toward her. She easily smiled now as I said, “Thanks, Georgie.”
The men’s laughter echoed up the stairs. Georgie said, “Better go save Jacob from more talk about the playoffs if you’re planning a quick escape, in your usual style.”
I hugged everyone at the table and lingered with Mary. I wish I could protect my cousin more, but I let her go.
Then I slowly descended the stairs and poked my head into the huge TV area and called out, “Jacob, we should get going.”
“Right. See you later.” He shook hands, put h
is beer in the recycle bin, and then came upstairs and shook hands with my sisters.
A few minutes later, we headed back to the car and I ignored how my body was hopped up, like I was intoxicated, though I’d not had a drink at all.
On the street, we walked beside each other and Jacob said, “So your cousin Joseph codes for Highhall.”
My mind raced to make the connection. His recent trust acquisition snapped into my mind while he opened my door for me. “Yes … You own that, too.”
He closed my door and once he’d climbed into the driver’s seat, he said, “Well his hearing is in the morning, and he’ll have the best legal team money can buy.”
I hadn’t realized the court date was so soon. We’d been too late to hear the details, but Jacob asked the right questions.
I tilted my head as he headed out and asked, “Why do you care enough to ask?”
“They are your family. So it’s like having one of my own, which honestly felt surreal.” He drove toward my condo and I was on edge as he said, “And besides, if my mother had had family like all of you, she might never have married my dad. Or been alone, with nowhere to go, when she took me and ran, like Mary did. Your cousin, defending his sister … I always wanted to help my mom that way, but never could.”
I blinked. My family was solid, and I knew they loved me. I said, “Yet you ended up living with your father.”
“He ignored me for the most part, as long as I didn’t do anything to stand out. I studied him closely, though.” He shrugged and met my gaze in the mirror for a second. “But I always wished I’d been born with a strong family.”
We neared my condo building in Shadyside. It was a cork factory once, but now it was a luxury residential building. I directed him to the guest parking spots as I said, “I can’t believe I thought you were ruthless.”
“I am.”
No. Maybe on paper, yes. But Jacob … he was a good man underneath his calculations, and one day he intended to settle into a family life. Part of me missed being a girl, knowing that my dad watched out for me. And while I love my sisters, it’s not the same thing as that trusting belief of youth.
Jacob’s nearness made me ache for him, like he could provide shelter for me. But I wasn’t a fool. His future didn’t include me. I shook my head as he turned off the engine. “No. You’d not have that heart of yours if you were.”
“Another secret for you to keep.” He leaned closer to me and our foreheads met.
Goosebumps grew all over me as I closed my eyes and my lips went up for a kiss, but I said, “They asked me about a ring.”
No kiss then. He pulled back and opened his door. “What did you say?”
I got out and walked beside him as I crossed my arms in front of me. He grabbed our bags and carried them all. I never lied to my family, and I was on pins and needles as I said, “That it was being ordered. I didn’t know what else to say. I’ll order one right away once I get upstairs and get to my computer.”
He paused and our eyes met. “Show me a picture of your dream ring set and I’ll get it.”
Right, this was a business deal. I’d agreed to a contract. So romantic fantasies weren’t going to start washing through me now. I wasn’t the girl who believed in anything more than lust, which was all this was.
The doorman opened for us and we stepped into the lobby as I said, “I’ll research and let you know.”
We went up in the elevator to my floor with a view. I tapped my hands in front of me on the ride and avoided looking at him.
I’d have to figure out how to please us both and let out the tension that now racked through my body. The doors opened and we stepped off.
“Now, which way? I’m curious to see your place,” he said.
I pointed to the end of the hall as I had the corner unit.
“Are you okay carrying all the bags?” I felt bad that I hadn’t asked before.
He held them tighter, like I might fight him for them, and said, “This is nothing.”
No one was in the hall and we walked in silence. When we reached my door, I took out my key and said, “Then come on in.”
A moment later, we were standing inside. My place amazed most of my friends, with its modern sophistication and luxuries—things most of the people I loved didn’t have. However, I held my breath as Jacob took it all in. This was nothing compared to the places he must normally stay in.
I closed the door behind us and hoped he didn’t hate the place entirely. My heart was even beating faster, which was funny. Usually, I didn’t care what anyone thought at all, but Jacob wasn’t anyone.
He was my husband, and a surprisingly good one to have.
Maybe I was lucky for once. Who knew?
Chapter 8
Jacob
A family. Earlier I’d told Indigo how I’d wanted to have my own one day. The idea always played in my mind, but now that I was married to her, I had a face for my wife. And it was her face stamped on the little children in my mind’s eye, too.
Today, her family had included me as one of their own. My mom and I had never had anyone who’d go to bat for us. So, hell yes, I’d send Frank and his team to help Joseph.
They were already researching the case and approaching him as the legal team for his work.
All that took was a few texts.
I put my phone on the bathroom vanity and washed my face.
A few minutes ago, Indigo had directed me to the bathroom that led off her bedroom. I’d glanced around the room to see if I see anything of hers that seemed out of the place, but she’d told the truth. Her place could double as a hotel. The closest thing to a personal touch was her bed, which had a simple blue comforter and white sheets.
I’d bet money she hadn’t picked it out herself, but just had someone stock her place with the basics.
There wasn’t much on the walls that pointed to anything personal, either. Even the bathroom lacked any individuality. With its generic white towels, it felt like temporary housing. As I left, I wandered into her closet to get a peek at her style when not working.
Every piece of clothing hanging in the closet were black or navy business suits, with a few light shirts.
I probably shouldn’t be snooping, but Indigo didn’t talk much, and she set me off course. I wanted to figure her out, find out what made her tick. I opened a drawer and discovered she owned one pair of jeans that seemed well worn and a stack of black t-shirts.
None of this would work in Florida, where it was hot and humid. I grabbed my phone I’d left in the bathroom and in that same moment, it vibrated. I read my right-hand man’s name and stood by the bedroom window as I answered.
“Russ, what did you find?”
“You read the email?”
No. I silently did while he waited, and my eyes widened. Indigo wasn’t a good girl at all. She was a fucking saint. I put my hand in my pocket and said, “I have now, but I need you to clarify this.”
Russ asked, “What part?”
I reread the financials and said, “She literally doesn’t keep a penny, if your analysis is right. It’s one hundred per cent for her business and her shelters.”
Russ coughed, which meant he’d triple-checked and thought I should already believe him, but he explained in more detail. “The shelters had a few years of balloon payments that were missed. Indigo refinanced, but she must have done the math for internal funding, mortgage, and long-term viability of the buildings. She needed twenty-five million to ensure the shelters had a future, and to start her own business.”
Outside the door, I heard her humming. My heart raced more as I said, “Okay, I have to go.”
Now adrenaline rushed through me. Her black underwear that I never actually saw, but guessed through her white blouse, had caught my attention. I figured underneath she’d be feisty.
With the news about her financial situation, I wondered if she ever did a damn thing for herself.
I headed out and saw her in the kitchen, cutting fruit, as she aske
d with a bright smile, “Did you finish your business call?”
I pressed my hand on hers to get her to stop and said, “Indigo.”
She put the knife down and asked, “What’s going on?”
I stared deep into her blue eyes and wished I could see straight into her soul as I said, “I found out why twenty-five million is your number.”
Her face twitched, but she shrugged and said, “Okay.”
I didn’t move a muscle. She avoided me for a moment and I said, “I want to hear it from your lips, though.”
She let out a sigh and met my gaze. Her blue eyes seemed to darken to gray as she moved my hands and continued to chop her apple. “The money will mostly go to my shelters. And I can start my business, too.”
If she didn’t want anything else, then she was nothing like any woman I’d met in recent years.
Caring women were never available in my world. They were spoken about like their very existence was a fairy tale. With her welcoming family and her warm heart, Indigo wasn’t just a good choice for a fake wife, but for a real one.
I stilled that thought. I wasn’t ready. I’d thought she was very different from other women, but not fucking perfect. The doorbell rang as I said, “Let me cover your start-up costs at least.”
She walked away from her plate without touching a slice. I took one and let the crisp, clean, tart flavor burst in my mouth as she said, “That wasn’t the deal.”
She opened the door to a food delivery person, took the take-out from him, and nodded. I hadn’t even heard her order, so she must have used an app. As the door closed, I walked over and took the brown bags from her and said, “I understand—”
“Then don’t interfere.” She tugged the bags from my grasp and placed them on the counter herself. “I’d calculated everything.”
I believed that, but I didn’t have to charge her if she used whatever I already owned. But she wasn’t going to make this easy. I’d have to uncover new ways to help her rather than writing out a check. Honestly the check-writing was my father’s method, so it might be fun to treat Indigo differently. I tapped the marble counter, “Fine, but I still want you to represent me professionally, and I want to throw in handling the Tulsa Sooners’ PR.”
Ruthless Financier (Steel Series Book 3) Page 7