“Did you find the transactions, Jessa?” Tina asks.
“I found the initial one that started all this. There’s been a team on it to audit the accounts.”
“I was in denial when we were in Vegas.” Cross pulls Jessa’s hair as he walks behind her and makes his way to the couch. She laughs when he sits and balances his plate on his lap. “Can’t ignore it, though. Old Frank has been up to no good.” He stares at his plate, his mouth turned down. “I might never have found out if Jessa hadn’t taken an interest in that article she saw. Speaking of which, what did we decide to do? Are we going for more secrets, or are we letting the unmasking take its course?” He chews, his eyes moving to each of us around the room.
“Hey, Merek, do you need another toilet visit?” Sayer nods his head toward the window. “She’s busy, but Jillian could take you.”
“Err… no, Jillian can’t.” Everett is quick to veto those plans. “Don’t try to change the subject, Sayer.”
Jillian laughs. “You know what I do all day, don’t you Everett? I’ve seen it all before.”
“I’m not best friends with anyone you have to nurse. Let’s not make things weird by having you help Merek unless it’s a matter of life and death.” He turns to me. “Merek, make sure Mindy doesn’t leave before we do tomorrow.”
I laugh and Jillian chuckles. She slides her hand across Everett’s cheek and says, “Don’t you worry, you big baby. I only have eyes for you.”
“Aww, that’s nice. Now, back on topic, please.”
The last thing I remember from this conversation is Cole leaning into Melody and saying, “Can you remind me to call Patty, later? I need to talk to Jemima Chase before this gets out.”
“Merek! Hello!” Danny clicks his finger in front of my face, and I pull my gaze away from the window.
“What?”
“I asked you when you’re likely to be up and about properly.”
“Oh. Weeks as far as I know. Legs don’t heal overnight.” My eyes flick to the window again, then I grin and turn to Danny. “Do you have some new plan we don’t know about? Some reason I need to be fighting fit?”
He laughs and for a second he seems like he might drop something unexpected into the conversation. But Danny is nothing if not predictable. “I just want to make sure you’ll be right to travel for the trip.” He nods his head over his shoulder toward where Mindy sits outside on the other side of the window. “And whether you’ll have time to woo her like you want to before then.”
“Oh, very funny.”
“I’m not joking. Before I snapped you out of it you’d been staring at her for a good five minutes. She’s got you hooked.”
“No. She doesn’t. Stop trying to match me with every female within a hundred-mile radius. Also, please don’t make her uncomfortable.”
“What’s she doing out there, anyway? How can she sit on that bench for hours on end?” Kent hands me a drink and the three of us take up my previous position, watching Mindy’s straight back, her shoulders occasionally moving as she types on her laptop. She takes a sip of her drink, then settles back, her head tipped to the left.
“She’s a writer. I’m letting her stay here to get her book finished.”
“What kind of book?”
“No idea. I didn’t ask.”
“I bet it’s erotica. She’s so sexy in that swishy skirt, it has to be that.”
“Guys. Enough.”
“Maybe she’s writing a great piece of literature. She seems pretty smart.”
“She sure has a smart mouth,” I mumble under my breath and Kent laughs and pats my shoulder.
“She’s under your skin already, huh?”
“No.”
“Yes,” says Danny.
“Don’t worry.” Kent pats my shoulder again. “I can relate. When you meet the one, you just know. I wish my one was sitting out there, close enough to tell her how much I’ve thought of her since December.” He sips his drink, his eyes glazing over so he’s not seeing Mindy anymore.
“I’m sorry it didn’t work out for you, Kent.”
“Me too.” He drains his glass and turns away. “Make sure you don’t make the same mistake.”
I look back to Mindy, who has both hands dangling behind her head now. She wiggles her fingers and stretches, before moving them back to the computer on her lap. The curve of her neck has my full attention just like it did when I stared at her a few minutes ago. I want to call her inside and tell her she can’t be my medical assistant, since I want to take her out to dinner.
She’d never go for that, though. She’s here because her friend begged her and because she needed something in return.
Mindy isn’t meant for me.
Chapter Twelve - Mindy/Merek
MINDY
“Is everyone having eggs?”
We’re gathered around Merek’s enormous breakfast table, while Sayer takes requests from each of us. Sayer and Kent have taken over the kitchen, since they’re the only ones, besides me, who don’t look worse for wear this morning.
Yesterday’s lunch turned into pizza delivery for dinner, which turned into a night of board games interspersed with shouting and laughter. Merek’s friends are fun, and the group of women I’m now sitting amongst have accepted my presence without question. Even Jillian, who seemed to analyse my every move at first, warmed to me by the time we all went to bed. I had planned to write for a few hours after dinner, but I couldn’t resist the hilarious sounds coming from the other room, and I soon returned to join in.
“I think I’ll just have cereal,” Merek says.
I slide from my seat. “I’ll get it.”
“No,” Sayer says. “Stay there.” He points his spatula at me. “You’ve endured a lot with our group so far. You deserve to sit and recover.”
“I’ve had fun. Your crazy little club is easy to get along with. Although my favourite part was definitely Jessa and Tina wrestling for that Monopoly property.” I snort as I remember them rolling on the floor, each demanding they deserved to own it. “I don’t know whose rules you were using but they’re not any I’ve ever read.”
Tina giggles, then hisses and lays her head on the table. “Ow. My brain is going to explode.”
“Guess you should have let me have that card.” Jessa nudges her, and Tina groans, not lifting her head from the cool stone. “You’ll know for next time.”
“There won’t be a next time. You had to give that property up so we knew you were one of us. It was an initiation of sorts.” Tina lifts her head and gives Jessa a gentle shove. “We’re good now.”
“I’m glad.” Cross leans back in his seat, the delicate movement telegraphing the pain in his own head. “I’d hate my girlfriend to be a social outcast.”
“Did you have a lot to drink, Tina?” I could have sworn she only drank juice last night.
“Nope. But I had four pieces of chocolate cake and the sugar has given me an almighty headache.” She lifts her head and sighs. “I guess I better get used to having no self-control when I’m feeding…” She stutters to a halt, staring at Danny across the table. Her mouth opens and closes, then she says in a whisper, “Umm. Feeding two?” She says it like a question, a smirk creeping onto her lips as Danny’s eyes widen.
The silence at the table doesn’t last long after her last words fall into the void. Everett gapes at Danny and then everyone speaks at once.
“You dirty dogs keeping that secret.”
“What do you mean, two?”
“Congratulations!”
“Danny is gonna be a father?”
Tina laughs and Danny beats his chest, a grin stretching wide across his face. “You heard it here first, folks. Though I thought it was a secret for a few more weeks.”
“Sorry,” Tina mouths at him. To the rest of us she says, “We’re only seven weeks so we were waiting a little longer to tell.”
“Welcome to the mother’s club,” Jillian says. “Call me anytime, okay? Now or once you have a squirm
ing bundle in your bed.”
“Thanks. I’m a bit freaked out, but Danny is doing a stellar job of reminding me I’m not the first woman to give birth. Can we eat now?” She laughs. “I’m actually starving.”
“Get used to that, Danny,” Kent says as he places a plate of eggs and a pile of toast on the table, and Sayer drops a clatter of cutlery onto one corner. Everyone groans and Cole puts his hands over his ears.
“Make it stop. Why aren’t we still in bed?”
“Because you and Melody have a flight to catch.” Kent laughs as he opens the refrigerator and pulls out two bottles of juice. “Merek, your house is so well stocked,” he comments, before returning to the table. “When’s the flight?”
“We have to be there by four,” Melody says, reaching for a piece of toast. “Flight is at six.”
“I can’t believe you came all this way for me. And for just a few days.” Merek shakes his head as a bowl of cereal appears in front of him. “You sure you can’t stay longer?”
“Nope,” Cole says. “I promised I’d go back as soon as I knew you were okay. We can’t hold up production any longer.”
“Sorry you missed that big party. Rushing to my side cost you a lot more than covering the daily losses from the film.”
“We’ll live.” He takes Melody’s hand and kisses the back of her fingers. “At least I wasn’t alone.” She smiles at him, her eyes twinkling with an unspoken promise. It’s so romantic that I can’t look away. I want that for myself one day.
“When are you two coming back?” Merek asks. “Come back for the Labor Day weekend.”
“Oh, you have Labor Day, here?” Melody’s face lights up. “That’s my favourite holiday weekend. Sunshine, and the grill going. Labor Day holds all my best Summer memories from when I was a kid.” She smiles at Cole. “Will we be finished filming in time? Originally we should have been finished mid-August.”
“We could manage it if you want. You sure you’ll still love me by then?”
“I’m certain.” She leans forward to kiss him and the men start up a subdued cheer.
“I should warn you, Melody. September in Melbourne is not Summer. It’s the start of Spring, and sometimes it’s cold.”
“That’ll be a new experience, then.”
“And we don’t actually celebrate Labor Day in September. But Merek planned a get together here that weekend to show off Becky.”
I look at Merek and his eyes skate away, giving me the impression he was staring at me. He laughs and says, “Well, I’ll be dateless, but the party is on. How about you, Mindy? You game for Labor Day?”
Now everyone is staring, and I feel my face heat up, even as I caution myself to stay calm. “Melody makes it sound tempting. I’ll check my diary and let you know.”
“Promise us, Mindy.” Melody claps her hands. “I’ll put myself in charge and I’ll make it a party to remember. Y’all will wish you had this tradition once I’m done with you.”
“Okay. I’ll come.” I stare at Merek and he keeps my gaze, making my insides flood with warmth. Between my swirling stomach and my red-hot face, I barely have any appetite left. Kent and Sayer sit at the table and he finally turns his attention back to them.
Eggs and toast are distributed to everyone and there’s several minutes of silence as we eat. I watch them, the boys so comfortable in their own skins, the women friends again, after some initial prejudice against Jessa. When each person has eaten their fill, I rise to clear the plates, ignoring their protests. “Let me. It’s fine.”
“I hate to be the one to harp on the same subject, but before we go, we need to decide what we’re going to do about the media.”
Wyatt crosses his hands over his belly. “I vote we let it play out and deal with the consequences.”
“I still don’t like that idea.” Danny frowns at the centre of the table. “Only because I’ve seen how it was for Tina.”
“If you get on the front foot, can’t you control the narrative?” Melody tilts her head to the side. “Get in first, brush off the importance of it, and maybe it will take the wind out of the sails of any big revelatory story.”
“Maybe.” Cross taps his chin. “I don’t have any major issues if people know. I’ll just deal.”
“How would Jack react?” Everett looks at Jillian. “Can you imagine his face when we pick him up later and say, oh by the way, you might hear I’m going to inherit a billion dollars?”
“He’s fourteen. He’ll immediately ask you for one of those virtual reality gaming consoles.”
“Smart kid.” I can’t help but laugh. Did he just say a billion dollars? “I’m going to excuse myself if that’s okay. I have some writing to do so I’ll leave Merek in your capable hands. Call me if you need anything.” I squeeze his shoulder and immediately blush.
Shoulder squeezing is way more intimate than I should be with this man and I need some time away to build up my defences. Soon we’ll be alone in the house again, the tension that’s been building between us since yesterday left unsupervised.
I’m excited, and worried, all at the same time.
MEREK
I watch her go and I can’t decide whether to call her back or kick my friends out early so we can have the house to ourselves again. Last night when I watched her laugh with everyone, I had the crazy notion that I might like to keep her. When she squeezed my shoulder just now, I entertained the idea that maybe she feels the same. If not, I have time to convince her.
It’ll be like reverse Misery. The patient keeps the nurse hostage until he gets what he wants.
Except what I want can’t be written into a story, unless that book is very, very long. Detailed, too. I’m being tortured by the details any time I think about the early morning rescue and that lacy outfit.
Chapter Thirteen - Merek/Mindy
MEREK
Mindy and I wave goodbye, me confined to the top step in my wheelchair, while each of the cars make their way down the long driveway. When they’re finally out of site, and the symphony of car horns has died down, Mindy turns me around and moves us inside.
“What plans do you have? Do you want to go back to bed, or stay up?”
“I think I need to lie down. My ribs are on fire.”
She wheels me toward my bed which is still in the sitting room. “Why didn’t you say something?”
“Because I’m not allowed more pain medication for an hour. I decided to ignore it. Plus, I didn’t want the guys fussing. We had a nice time and I didn’t want them to talk about my injuries all the way home.”
“I’m sure they wouldn’t. They do seem worried about you, though.”
“It’s funny. It seems like just a few days ago we were worrying about Cross being taken advantage of by Jessa. Now, she’s in the friendship club, and they’re all worrying about me.” Mindy helps me into bed, me doing my best to keep my face averted so it doesn’t end up pressed into her cleavage. “I saw you give a book to Melody. Do you have another one of those?”
“I do, but I’m not sure it’s your type of reading material. Are you into romance and happy endings?”
“Yes.” I grin. “Isn’t every guy a romantic at heart?” She snorts and I bat my eyelashes at her, enjoying the fact that we’re alone again. I love my friends, and I appreciate them driving all this way to see me, but I’m beginning to see there’s something special in the air when Mindy and I are alone. “So, you have a book for me, then?” My voice lilts up at the end and I shake my head. I’m a confident thirty-year old man with a billion-dollar fortune and a successful construction company. Why do I sound so meek trying to get a simple book out of her?
“Aren’t you in construction?”
“That doesn’t mean I’m not romantic.”
She clears the coffee table and laughs. “Oh, yeah? What’s the most romantic thing you’ve ever done?”
“Well.” I stop and think. What have I done that’s romantic? Who’d I do it for? I’ve sent long stemmed roses to my mother on Valen
tine’s day, but I don’t think that counts. I’ve bought my secretary a present on her birthday every year for eight years—probably not the type of thing Mindy wants to hear. “Hmm,” I say. “I don’t have a particular moment of heroics to share. I’ve never had a person to be romantic for.”
“Not ever?” She turns to me and frowns. “How is that possible?”
“I’ve had girlfriends, of course. But I think I’ve been single every Valentine’s Day for as long as I can remember. Which is when you’re expected to be romantic. How weird is that?” I’m digging through my memories, but I can’t remember ever having a girlfriend on days of the year where a gift or special gesture was expected. Did I subconsciously make sure we broke up before I’d be expected to show how much I cared? Or am I a serial dater who doesn’t hang around long enough to make a connection? What kind of a man am I? Thoughts like this rarely trouble me and I frown at my feet as Mindy moves around tidying the room.
“Well, maybe my book will give you some pointers, so you don’t wait for a special occasion next time. Have you ever wondered why those relationships didn’t last? You have to pay attention on birthdays, Christmas and Valentine’s. Especially if you’re with a person who values those things. Not doing that is what’s weird.” She disappears into her room and reappears carrying a glossy red book. “Here. Now, do you need anything else?”
I hold up the book with a grin. “I’m good for a bit. You go write.”
“Thanks.” Mindy doesn’t wait for a second invitation, disappearing again to collect her laptop. The front door closes quietly, and I watch through the window while she makes herself comfortable on the outside bench overlooking the yard. She opens her laptop and her shoulders relax as I start to read, my attention drawn to her again and again.
The Billionaire's Club: Secret Billionaire’s Club Book Six Page 6