“Opportunity for what? To be dissed by a hateful rich old man?”
Senior’s jaw tightened. “You’ve got quite a mouth, don’t you?”
Kelly shrugged. “Your son thinks so, too.”
“And my son is a great ‘catch,’ isn’t he?” the old man asked, making quote signs in the air around the word. “The world’s most eligible bachelor and all that media nonsense?”
“You can’t be serious.”
“You may resemble his dead wife, but you are not anything like her.”
Kelly looked down at her plate. She’d been starved fifteen minutes ago. Now she felt nauseated. She pushed back her chair and came to her feet.
“Well, good luck with the interviews,” she said, striving for disinterested. “I don’t want to keep Hans waiting.”
“That is his job.”
Shaking her head, she moved toward the door.
“Let me give you a piece of advice, Officer Jenkins.”
She kept walking. She didn’t want to hear anything more that this bitter old man had to say.
“Don’t fall in love with my son.”
Kelly closed her eyes, wishing she could block out the condescending voice.
“I’ll admit he appears to have an affinity for women with a little dirt under their fingernails, but you will never get your hooks in him.”
* * *
LATE THAT AFTERNOON, Trey rose from his desk and stretched his arms high overhead. After an early morning game with Mac, he’d spent most of the day on the phone either talking to child psychiatrists or lining up coaches for his tennis camp. God, it felt good to actually have a project again. He missed that feeling of accomplishment.
It was time to revisit the agreement he’d made with his father and take an active role in Wentworth Industries. Although he hadn’t attended a board meeting in years, he followed the various companies from a distance, and it was apparent Senior was slipping.
Trey thought back to the day at the stud farm when he and his father had argued so violently and then struck their deal. He’d agreed to bow out of Wentworth Industries to protect his mother, so Senior would leave her alone in the private sanitarium. His visits agitated her to the point of hysteria. She didn’t recognize anyone for months afterward.
As long as Trey generated positive press as the PR face of the companies, Senior left his fragile wife alone. Trey had told himself he didn’t mind. He couldn’t stomach working with his father anyway.
One reason he’d holed up in his office all day was to avoid the man. That wouldn’t be possible when he became more involved with WI.
His pleasant mood trashed, Trey walked to the window. Changes needed to be made. He wanted to move the companies in a different direction. He wanted the Wentworth name to stand for something more than just pure profit. He wanted to do some actual good in the world.
At least he’d had some success today. The pros he’d contacted had jumped at the opportunity to participate in the project, wanting the positive publicity certain to be generated by teaching kids from the inner city.
Trey shook his head. Less than twenty-four hours with his father, and he was becoming as cynical as the old man. No question some of the pros he’d spoken to had gotten on board because they liked the idea of helping disadvantaged children.
On another front, one Dr. Edward Barth, highly recommended by Carico and several other physicians, had agreed to come to the island and meet with Jason tomorrow. What would Dr. Barth think about Jason’s condition? Would he recommend that Kelly leave, as Carico had?
Jason liked Carico. Had he missed his session with her?
Trey had eaten lunch with his son by the pool—mainly because he knew his father would refuse to join them there. Jason had spent most of the day with Maria and the new bodyguard. Jase had seemed happy, accepting of the fact that his “mother” had to work every day.
But she would be home soon. Trey looked in the direction of the ferry landing, noting the pleasure generated at the thought of Kelly’s return. He’d tried to put on the brakes on his attachment to her, but Kelly Jenkins was like a breath of fresh air in his life. She’d shaken him out of a lethargy he hadn’t even known he’d been mired in.
Trey turned when the door burst open without a knock. The only person with the gall to do that was his father.
“We have guests,” Senior announced. “You might want to change.”
“Guests?”
“I invited the Gallaghers for dinner. They were on the last ferry.”
“You arranged a dinner party without bothering to inform me?”
“The Gallaghers are some of my oldest friends,” Senior said. “I was certain you’d realize I would reach out to them during this visit. I handled everything with your cook.”
Trey stared at his father. “This is my home.”
“I am well aware of that.”
“What if I had plans for the evening?”
“I thought you were staying in to be with Jason.”
Trey shook his head. His father deliberately kept him in the dark about his plans so he couldn’t interfere until too late. This was the way it always went.
He heard voices at the front door. The Gallaghers weren’t bad people, just as boring as a long baseline rally with no net shots. Even worse was their daughter, a gorgeous but vapid redhead he’d once escorted to a benefit at his father’s request. Their first and last date. God, he hoped she wouldn’t accompany her parents.
Forget a pleasant evening with Kelly. Damn.
Kelly.
What would she think when she returned home and found the Gallaghers? They’d be soused beyond logic by dinnertime, apt to say anything. Outrage ignited in his gut as he understood this dinner party was a calculated move by his father to keep Kelly on the outside. To put her in her place.
“When are you leaving?” Trey demanded.
Senior raised his eyebrows. “I haven’t decided.”
“Tomorrow,” Trey said. “You’re leaving tomorrow.”
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
KELLY WAVED GOODBYE to Hans and trudged up the marble stairs of Wentworth Villa, dreading the thought of running into Wentworth Senior. She’d already had one hell of a day—including one particularly nasty domestic call—and was too drained to fend off the old man’s energy suck. Plus, the entire precinct remained abuzz over the allegations of fraud in their department. It was all anyone could talk about, even brass, and she was sick of the whole subject.
She just wanted some downtime. Maybe she could read to Jason after dinner and get lost in a silly story.
Over the gentle splash of the fountain in the loggia, she detected voices drifting from the direction of the dining room. She inhaled a delicious aroma that smelled a lot like sirloin and moved toward it. She could eat a good steak.
She slowed her steps as she got closer, hearing the clink of silverware on plates, boisterous laughter. She could make out two distinct women and two men that weren’t Trey. One was likely Senior, but who were the others? Trey hadn’t held dinner for her tonight, no doubt because he had guests.
She paused, not wanting to make her presence known. Deciding to go into the kitchen and fix herself something to take up to her room, she turned and almost bumped into Maria.
“There you are, Miss Kelly,” Maria said. “Thank goodness.”
“What’s going on?” Kelly asked.
“Mr. Wentworth’s father invited friends for dinner. You should go on in.”
“No,” Kelly said, registering how jittery Maria appeared. Again. Her hands actually trembled as she smoothed her skirt.
“I don’t want to interrupt the party. I’ll just fix myself a plate and go to my room.”
Maria frowned. “But Jasonito is refusing to eat until you do.”
Kelly closed her eyes. Just when she thought she could escape more drama. “I’ll bet Senior loved that.”
Maria nodded. “I feared he would strike the child, but they placed him in his booster chair and went on with the meal.”
Trey had allowed that? Although ignoring the kid was probably the best thing to do. Jason truly did need a mother to teach him how to behave. Kidnapping or not, he couldn’t continue to be treated like a little prince.
“Let me change out of my uniform first.” Get rid of my weapon.
“No, Miss Kelly.” Maria shook her head. “The longer it goes on, the more upset Jasonito becomes.”
Kelly looked toward the door. “I really don’t want to go in there.”
“Please,” Maria said. “For Jasonito?”
“Do these people know about Jason’s amnesia?”
Maria shrugged. “I don’t know.”
“Great.” Kelly repositioned the heavy gun belt on her hips and walked into the dining room. This could be awkward.
“Ah, here is Officer Jenkins now,” Senior proclaimed in a booming voice.
“Mommy!” Jason raised his arms toward her.
She gave Jason a hug and took the open seat next to him.
“Kelly,” Trey began, “I’d like you to meet Carol and Jack Gallagher, and their daughter, Courtney.”
Kelly forced a smile and nodded at the Gallaghers, all three of them, including a stunningly gorgeous woman of about her age with thick, shining red hair.
“Pleased to meet you,” Kelly said.
“And this of course is Kelly Jenkins,” Trey continued.
“Jason’s savior, I understand,” Jack said.
“She’s my mommy,” Jason stated.
Kelly caught Jason’s eye and placed a finger over her lips to quiet him. He giggled and began to eat the food on his plate.
Greta bustled into the room and served Kelly while Courtney narrowed her eyes on Jason. Was this one of Trey’s girlfriends? According to Patrice, the number of old flames was staggering.
“The Gallaghers are some of our oldest friends,” Senior said.
“And my father invited them to dinner,” Trey said. “He wanted to catch up.”
Kelly met Trey’s gaze. So he hadn’t extended the invitation? Maybe he hadn’t even known about it.
“It had to be tonight,” he continued, “since Father is leaving tomorrow.”
The tightness in Kelly’s gut released a little.
“Tomorrow? Oh, no,” Carol Gallagher wailed. “Can’t you stay a few more days, Alex?”
Suppressing a smile, Kelly cut into the grilled steak Greta had placed on her plate. Medium rare. Perfect, just like the fact Senior was leaving.
“I was hoping for a round of golf on this fabled course,” Jack said. “I need revenge.”
“Better not, Daddy,” Courtney drawled. “You know Mr. Wentworth always beats you.”
“What do you say we take it up to a thousand dollars a hole?” Jack asked.
Senior shrugged and took a swallow of an amber liquid in a crystal glass.
“How long have you been a cop?” Courtney asked just as Kelly had started to chew.
Kelly swallowed and took a sip of wine. “I’m a rookie.”
“What department?” Jack asked.
“Miami-Dade County.”
“Oh, my,” Carol said, eyes wide. “Weren’t they in the paper today, Jack?”
“Yes,” Courtney said. “Something about secret payoffs?”
Jack nodded at his wife and daughter. “That was a disturbing report.”
“Nothing but allegations at this point,” Trey said. “Don’t believe everything you read.”
Courtney’s huge green eyes swept Kelly’s uniform. Wearing a superior smirk, she lowered her gaze, and Kelly suspected she was searching for her service weapon. Courtney wore a lovely emerald silk blouse that matched her eyes, and Kelly again wished she’d changed.
“Have you ever seen a cop take a bribe?” Courtney asked.
“Absolutely not,” Kelly stated. “Every officer I know is honest.”
“Still,” Carol said, “where there’s smoke, there’s usually fire.”
“How about you?” Courtney asked with a laugh. “Have you ever taken a bribe?”
Kelly put down her fork. “Did you really ask me that?”
“Just making conversation,” Courtney said, looking away.
“Why don’t we let Kelly eat?” Trey said.
“Well, yes,” Carol said. “The poor thing had to work all day. She must be exhausted.”
Kelly took a sip of wine. Too bad the “poor thing” had just lost her appetite again. She doubted either of these women had ever worked a day in their lives. And Jack had probably inherited his fortune. She didn’t know that, of course, but from the looks of all three of them, they had all the cash they wanted.
Pushing away useless resentment, she glanced at Jason to check on his progress. He grinned at her, mouth full. She smiled back and indicated he should chew with his mouth closed.
“Eat your dinner, Jason,” Senior barked.
Jason looked at his plate and put down his fork.
Silence fell over the table for several long minutes.
Jack cleared his throat. “Anything exciting happen at work today, Kelly?”
“Well, let’s see,” Kelly said, deliberately making her tone as light as his had been. “I arrested a man.”
Carol leaned forward. “What did he do?”
“Punched his wife in the face. Broke her nose.”
Carol gasped, and Kelly regretted her inexplicable need to shock these people out of their white bread lives.
“He hit her?” Jason asked in a thrilled voice. “In the face?”
Oops. How could she have forgotten about Jason? Kelly shot a glance at a stunned Trey. Well, at least she hadn’t mentioned all the blood.
“Yep,” Kelly told Jason. “And that’s illegal.”
“What’s illegal mean?” he asked.
“Wrong,” Kelly explained. “The man did something wrong, so he’s going to jail.”
“Jail?” Jason’s eyes widened. He knew what jail was. “For how long?”
“That’s up to a judge.”
“When you do something wrong, son, you’re punished,” Trey said.
Jason screwed up his face as he thought about that, then nodded and began eating again.
Kelly worked on her own food. Did Jason even know what punishment was?
“Are you planning to attend the Parkinson’s benefit at Vizcaya next month?” Courtney asked Trey.
“No,” Trey said.
“You should fly back down,” Carol said to Senior. “That’s always such a fun event. They’re bringing in an acrobat troupe this year.”
“Fabulous,” Jack continued. “And we’re taking the Bertram to Cat Cay for a week afterward. Why don’t you and Trey join us for a few days at least?”
“Please do,” Courtney said. “Jason would adore the big boat.”
“I doubt if I can find the time,” Senior said with a frown. “But Trey should go.”
“Sorry,” Trey said. “I’ve got a lot going on right now.”
Kelly tuned out the voices as the Gallaghers tried to convince the Wentworths to join them on their upcoming cruise to the Bahamas. She forced herself to eat, but the food lodged in her belly.
When dinner was finally, blessedly at an end, Kelly pushed back from the table with everyone else and rose.
“Let’s move out to the patio for after-dinner drinks,” Senior suggested.
Kelly suspected the location was chosen so she couldn’t enjoy her nightly swim.
“Please excuse me,
” she said. “I have to get up early.”
“Oh, that’s too bad,” Courtney said in a saccharine-sweet voice.
She felt eyes on her back as she marched toward her room. She squared her shoulders and lifted her chin high.
Sixty-foot yachts, fancy-schmancy parties at the most beautiful house in Miami, thousand-dollar-a-hole golf games. If she needed more proof that she didn’t belong on Collins Island, the evidence had just been deliberately flung in her face.
There’d be no good-night kiss tonight. Trey could tell his kid whatever he wanted.
This charade had gone on long enough.
* * *
THE NEXT EVENING, nursing a glass of aged whiskey, listening for Kelly’s return, Trey waited in the bar. He checked the time again. After midnight. Where the hell was she?
He hadn’t seen her since dinner last night. The meal had been brutal, deliberately choreographed by his pretentious father to demonstrate what he considered the difference between her and his friends, and she’d clearly been aware of what he was up to. Trey took a healthy swallow of whiskey.
At least the son of a bitch had gone back to New York.
He’d put his son to bed alone, explaining that his mommy didn’t feel good. Jason had fussed only a little. The child had always sensed the tension when Senior was around.
Trey had expected Kelly to emerge for her nightly swim, but she’d remained in her room. He’d wanted to knock on her door, but instinct told him to leave her alone. So, reluctantly, he had, fully intending to speak with her first thing this morning.
But according to Hans, she’d caught the 6:00 a.m. ferry. He’d called her numerous times, but she hadn’t picked up and hadn’t answered his messages. She’d sent a text at 4:00 p.m.: I’ll be late. Don’t wait for me.
But this late? And why hadn’t she returned his calls?
Had she been injured? He couldn’t even imagine Jason’s reaction if Kelly were killed or hurt on her dangerous job. His fragile son couldn’t handle more loss. She’d made an arrest yesterday of a man who had punched out his wife, for God’s sake.
Her department had made a media-worthy arrest today in a series of robberies at local electronics stores. He’d searched for her in the footage from the scene, but didn’t see her. According to the live report, shots had been fired during the confrontation, but nothing about an officer down.
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