Heartbreaker

by Claire, Grahame

  “Come here.”

  Her feet moved toward me probably before her brain had a chance to think on it, and that pleased me beyond measure. Somewhere deep down, she recognized when I asked her to do something it had nothing to do with taming her and everything to do with giving her reprieve.

  She settled between my legs, which I closed to cocoon her. I pulled the elastic from her hair.

  “I just put that up,” she protested.

  “Shh,” I whispered against her ear, delving my fingers into her hair.

  She moaned as I massaged, her stiff body relaxing immediately. I alternated between using my fingertips and fingernails, working my way over her scalp and down her neck.

  Her head lolled forward. “Shoulders. Do my shoulders.”

  I moved her long hair to one side and out of my way, the silky strands soft against my fingers. The back of her neck tempted me, but I refrained from kissing the exposed skin. I squeezed her tight muscles.

  “Stressed much?” I asked as I worked on a knot.

  She grunted and planted her hands on my thighs. They tightened under her touch, closing so she couldn’t escape.

  “Why didn’t I know you could do this?” she half wailed, half groaned.

  I leaned forward so my breath whispered across the back of her neck. “Because you never took the time to find out.”

  She scrambled from the chair. “We’ve got work to do.” She piled her hair up, looking around desperately for her hair tie.

  I offered it to her but didn’t let go when she reached for it. “Stop.”

  “This is a mistake.”

  “Don’t you ever say that again.” I’d had enough of her referring to us that way.

  “What are you going to do about it?”

  “This.” I yanked her back into my lap and did what I’d wanted to do again since a few nights ago.

  Kissed the daylights out of her.

  She kissed me right back . . . until her head caught up. Then it was her fists kissing anywhere on me they could land.

  “Easton, stop.”

  Two words. I would never ignore those words, and I knew in that moment she would fight me fiercely if I continued here. Did I want more with her? Yes, absolutely. She was intelligent, beautiful, strong. She delighted in her family and was who I wanted in my life forever. But not as fuck buddies. And not just as friends. So, I let her go and watched her scramble away from me . . . again. I wanted to fight. I wanted to fight for her, but why? I really wasn’t sure if she’d ever come around.

  She grabbed her laptop and moved toward the door, flicking off the light switch. The room was lit only by the glow from the bathroom.

  She climbed up to the top bunk, and it wasn’t long after that furious typing combined with the song “Beer Never Broke My Heart”.

  I settled in my own bed and found her choice in music ironic since she was the heartbreaker just as my phone chimed with a text. Right below the account number were words that nearly made me drop my phone.

  Didn’t say anything earlier. Red flags everywhere in the exploration division. More than I let on.

  That was Mulaney’s main division of the company even after she became CEO. Something strange had been going on with my father, but it never once crossed my mind she’d be up to no good. I reread Drew’s text. No question he was pointing the finger in her direction. Everything in me rebelled at that. Was I seeing what I wanted to or was it possible that the woman who had me tied in knots had screwed up the company I thought she loved as much as I did?

  Chapter Twenty-One

  Mulaney

  “Miss Jacobs, how on earth did you manage to get our things here this fast?”

  I peeked past Holly into her new apartment a few floors down. There were boxes scattered around the living room though the larger pieces of furniture appeared to be in place.

  “Kinda hard to see how it’s going from the hallway,” I said, making a show of trying to see around her.

  “Oh.” She jumped aside and motioned me in. “Would you like some coffee? I can put on a pot.”

  I waved her off. “No. No. I don’t have time. Just wanted to make sure your things arrived. Where is Firecracker this morning?”

  “Gabriel’s still asleep. He’s exhausted from all the excitement of the plane ride.” A slight smile lit her tired features. “Our things are here along with some other items that aren’t ours,” she said. I shrugged. “How did you manage to have our furniture beat us here? Over the Christmas holiday, no less?”

  I ran a hand over an unopened box on the counter. “You know how to make things happen when you want to as well as anybody.”

  The truth was, I’d paid what it took to get it done. When I’d been Gabriel’s age, I couldn’t imagine being uprooted in the middle of the night from my home. I wanted their transition here to be as seamless as possible, and having their things here when they arrived last night seemed the least I could do. I’d had some help from Vivian and Muriella to fill me in with what they didn’t have so we could have those items delivered on time for their arrival too.

  “This place is too much.” She looked toward the wall of windows at the city skyline.

  “You don’t like it?”

  This apartment was one that had recently been refurbished and the finishes were top of the line. Maybe Holly had wanted something simpler, though once she finished unpacking the place would be more like a home.

  “I love it,” she said earnestly. “But it must cost a fortune.”

  “Honestly, I don’t have any idea. Muriella insisted you take this one, and I really wasn’t in a position to argue.” I slapped the cardboard box twice then sat on a stool in front of the counter. “Speaking of, she’s on her way here to meet you and discuss Gabriel’s schooling and care.”

  Holly stiffened. “I might need to work from here until that’s settled.”

  I admired her protectiveness. “Whatever you need to do.”

  “I looked over the list of schools you emailed me, but they’re out of my price range,” she said hesitantly.

  I gave her an unimpressed look. “The list didn’t have prices. And if you find one you and Gabriel like, we’ll work it out.”

  “I can’t let you—”

  Knock, knock.

  “That’s probably Muriella,” I said as she walked to the door to peer out the peephole. “Petite, dark hair.”

  Satisfied with my description, Holly opened the door. Muriella presented her with a basket of the muffins she’d been taking out of the oven when I left to come downstairs.

  I introduced the two of them. Holly took the basket and set it on the kitchen counter before offering both of us one. I’d already had breakfast but snagged a blueberry muffin anyway.

  Muriella appeared a cross between irritated and pleased as she grabbed a chair to sit next to me. “If these disappear, I’ll bring another batch.” She flashed me a look like Mama did when I ate the stuff she made for company before they arrived.

  “I hear I not only have you to thank for the schooling recommendations but also for the apartment,” Holly said, fidgeting with the handle on the basket as she stood off to my side. “Gabriel and I appreciate your kindness.”

  “It’s difficult moving to a new place,” Muriella said as if she understood all too well. “Have you had a chance to look at the list? They’re all wonderful and highly ranked academically, but I have to admit I’m partial to Saint Pius where I’m a teacher’s aide. Plus we can tour their facilities any time you like.” She grinned, and Holly seemed to relax a fraction.

  “I’d like to do that as soon as possible.”

  “Do what, Mama?” Gabriel dragged his feet as he walked into the kitchen, rubbing his eyes.

  “Go visit some new schools,” Holly answered brightly. “Sounds like fun, right?”

  “Sure.” He yawned and climbed up on the barstool between us. She kissed the top of his head. “Hi, Miss Jacobs.”

  “Hey, Firecracker. How was the plane ride?
” I reached over to ruffle his hair.

  Instantly awake at the mention of the plane, he turned toward me, little legs swinging from the barstool. “It was cool. I’m gonna be a pilot one day. They even gave me wings.” He pointed toward the pin fastened to his pajamas.

  “Let me see,” I said. I leaned forward and touched the plastic set of wings. “Pretty awesome. I’m gonna have to call you Captain instead of Firecracker.”

  “I’d rather be Firecracker.” He cocked his head when he looked at Muriella. “I’m Gabriel.”

  He shot out his hand, and she reached over and shook it. “I’m Muriella. I live upstairs.”

  “Cool.” As if just noticing the scent of blueberry muffins, he unfolded the cloth, plucked one out, and took a bite, crumbs falling all over the place. “These are yummy.”

  “Want some milk with that, Firecracker?” I got up to open the refrigerator.

  “We don’t have anything yet. I haven’t been shopping,” Holly said.

  “Looks like you do.” I pulled out a carton, unscrewed the cap, and set it on the counter in front of Gabriel.

  He wrapped his small hands around it, but Holly grabbed it before it reached his lips. She fired me a perturbed look. “Let me get you a glass.”

  “Why dirty them?”

  “Have you been drinking out of the carton?” Muriella asked, appalled.

  I shrugged. “We’re all family, right?”

  Holly put the carton back and moved to the opposite side of the island. Gabriel picked it back up and took a big drink. I held up my hand for a high five.

  “Miss Jacobs,” Holly scolded.

  “What?” I didn’t see the harm, but apparently I was the only one. “Better use a glass before we get into more trouble,” I said to Gabriel in a low voice.

  Holly’s cell phone rang from its place on the countertop. She snatched it up before I could see the caller ID. “Excuse me,” she said before she answered and rushed from the room.

  Gabriel watched her disappear. Lines creased his forehead.

  “What do you think of this view?” I asked in an attempt to distract him.

  He stared after his mother for another moment before his face brightened. “It’s awesome. We’re almost in the clouds.”

  Muriella laughed. “We sure are.”

  He swallowed a bite of muffin and washed it down with milk straight from the carton before he jetted toward the windows. “There’s still Christmas lights.” He pointed down below.

  Muriella and I joined him in front of the glass where decorations still adorned a few businesses at the street level.

  “I don’t have the money.” Holly’s shout startled all three of us.

  The worried expression that had painted Gabriel’s face earlier returned. Never in all the years I’d worked with Holly had I ever heard her speak in a tone like that.

  When she returned to the living room, her face was red and some strands of hair had come loose from her headband. The second she saw Gabriel’s concern, her features transformed. She went straight to him and tugged him into her arms as if she was afraid he’d disappear.

  Muriella pulled out her phone. “I’ll text you so you have my number. As soon as you’re ready to visit the schools, I’ll set it up,” she said kindly, as if she knew Holly wasn’t up for company any more.

  Holly recited her number and in seconds, her phone chimed with the incoming text. “I appreciate this.”

  Muriella returned her phone to her pocket. “You can call me for reasons beyond that too. Having people you can count on in a new city is important.” She held Holly’s gaze, who nodded once.

  “I’d like to go this afternoon if that’s possible. The sooner we’re settled in, the sooner I can get back to work.”

  “Are you already leaving?” Gabriel asked. “I haven’t shown you my Lego plane. We just started building it.”

  “I’d love to see it,” Muriella said, though she looked to Holly for permission.

  “Let’s go show her,” Holly said, trying to be gracious though she looked like she wanted us out of there.

  Gabriel took off and Muriella wasn’t far behind. I lagged, letting some distance get between us and the two of them.

  “Everything okay?” I asked Holly.

  “Fine,” she said tightly.

  “Doesn’t sound like it.”

  “Nothing I can’t handle.” She straightened her shoulders and quickened her step.

  I caught her by the arm. “If you need more time to get settled and take care of—”

  “We’re good.” She leveled me with a gaze most people wouldn’t dare to.

  I knew a lie when I saw one, because I’d been telling them to myself for months. Typical me, I couldn’t let it go. “This have anything to do with Gabriel’s father?”

  She recoiled. “No. Absolutely not.” Her voice took on a harsh edge. So that much was true.

  I nodded once. “I’d better head out once I say bye to Gabriel.”

  She checked her watch. “You’ll be late if you don’t.” As if she’d flipped a switch, Holly was back to her normal self. “I’ll look over those reports you emailed me tonight to see if I can find any discrepancies.”

  “I need another set of eyes on it. If that money came from the exploration division, I want to know how it happened,” I said, growing irritated all over again at the situation with Carter Energy.

  “We’ll figure it out,” Holly said with certainty.

  “I damn sure hope so.”

  * * *

  “Why the hell are there two desks in here?”

  I blasted past Easton into the office that was larger than average but nowhere near big enough for the two pieces of furniture. They were positioned so the occupants would be face to face. Who could work like that?

  “Because we’re sharing an office.” He shut the door, and I spun around. “With all this shuffling, there aren’t any empty ones. I told them we’d be fine in the same one.”

  “You did what?” I planted my hands on my hips. “And who is ‘them’?”

  “You know. Them.” He waved his hand back toward the rest of the office floor as if that explained everything.

  “I want to talk to them. We are not sharing an office.”

  “I’m sure it’s temporary. Have you seen the slate of meetings? We won’t be in here much anyway.” Easton seemed far too calm about this situation.

  “I am not stupid.” I pointed at him. “I know you finagled my sister-in-law into letting you stay with them. All the doors to their spare rooms are locked. Remodeling, my ass.”

  “I did no such thing.”

  “You don’t find it the least bit coincidental that we’re stuck sleeping in the same space and now we’re stuck working in the same space?” I demanded.

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “Not particularly.”

  His nonchalance was maddening. “Where is Holly going to fit?”

  “She got her own office just down the hall.” I was going to strangle him. That’s all there was to it. He leaned against the door. “I’m kidding, Heartbreaker. We’ll have to figure it out when she gets here.”

  I tapped my foot. There had to be a way out of this. I wasn’t built to withstand twenty-four hours a day with Easton Carter. He’d whittle my resolve until the only thing I could do was say yes to whatever he wanted.

  “I get the desk facing the window.” I tossed my stuff on it.

  His heat was immediately at my back. “Suits me.” Then he moved to his chair.

  I settled into my seat and froze when I looked up. My pick was a mistake. Easton, the image of power and framed by the New York City skyline, was too much. No work would take place as long as that was my view.

  Like an immature little girl, I bolted. “I, uh, forgot a pen. I’m going to see if I can find one.”

  “I’ve got an extra,” he offered, but I was already halfway out the door.

  After a little exploration, I found a supply closet to hide out in. This was
the best place I’d found to escape from Easton, but I still couldn’t breathe.

  There seemed to be nothing I could do that he wouldn’t forgive me for. The way I’d behaved over the last several months was nothing short of awful. Necessary, but terrible nonetheless. He’d stroked out over the pregnancy tests and gotten over it nearly as quickly. Had the roles been reversed, I’d have shot his dick off, plain and simple. The icing on the cake was Drew all but accusing me of shady shit when it came to my business dealings.

  Easton hadn’t questioned me any further, his expression at the time Drew planted the seed unreadable. I’d stayed up combing through every figure and document I had access to. All the numbers aligned on my end. I couldn’t figure out what figures Drew was talking about.

  I’d messaged the Houston office to send me that binder of approvals I kept for all my projects, but it wouldn’t arrive until morning. Until I got my hands on whatever Drew had given Easton, I wouldn’t make much progress because it had become apparent that the information I had was strikingly different than what Drew had.

  As much I wanted to avoid Easton, I had to state my case.

  “Are you looking for something, sugar? Or just avoiding work?”

  My skin crawled at the sound of Drew’s voice. He stepped inside the small closet and stood next to me. I wanted to take a step back to get him out of my personal space, but I held my ground, refusing to give him an inch.

  “Unfortunately, I found more than a pen,” I said, plucking one from the nearest box.

  He appeared more than pleased at my annoyance before he canted his head, that disingenuous smile flattening out. “You and my brother are awfully cozy. Wonder what our new colleagues will think of that?”

  “You have no idea what you’re talking about.” Although I wasn’t completely sure of that. He’d been over to the apartment last night, but it was practically impossible for him to know I was sharing bunk beds with Easton.

  “Should we let them in on the little fact that you were CEO when Carter Energy failed? Wouldn’t take much for them to connect that a ride to the top is much more comfortable on your back.” His words raised the hair on my neck. “It’s no wonder we went down. After all these years in the business, one would think you’d know how to procure funding for projects. Or maybe you were too busy lining your own pockets.”