The Queensbay Series: Books 1-4: The Queensbay Box Set

by Drea Stein

  “Did you get your money?”

  “Eventually.”

  Chapter 28

  It wasn’t until after Sully had left, to be driven home by Henry, that Adriana really came after her.

  “Thank you for coming over here, Caitlyn.”

  “It’s not a problem,” Caitlyn said as she took her last sip of coffee.

  “Are you sure?”

  “What are you asking, Adriana?” Caitlyn looked at her.

  “Something that is none of my business. I’m old; it’s my right. I am just wondering why you’re here with me, instead of someplace else.”

  Caitlyn put her cup down in her saucer. “There is nothing going on between Noah and me. It was over a long time ago. One chance meeting, if that’s what it was, isn’t going to change that.”

  “I see.” Adriana looked Caitlyn over carefully, and she braced herself for whatever might come next.

  “You know,” Adriana said, “I remember when you were younger.” Caitlyn looked up, about to say something, but Adriana rushed on. “I remember that summer quite well. Where had you been?”

  “I went abroad for a term, in high school. To Paris.”

  “Yes, I think you needed that time away to fully emerge. I mean, you had changed slowly, but we all needed that time apart to realize how much you had grown, how much of a young lady you had become. It was hard for your grandfather to accept that. You weren’t a little girl anymore, and your mother, I believe, was away.”

  Caitlyn nodded. Her mother had decided to spend part of the summer in an artists’ colony in Maine. Once again, it had been just Caitlyn and her grandfather, an arrangement they were used to and perfectly happy with.

  “Noah Randall was home from college, deep in it with his father, trying to convince him that he would never be just a banker, trying to get the money to start his company. He came to ask me for advice. Did you know that?”

  Caitlyn shook her head. She hadn’t known that.

  “I told him I didn’t understand what it was about – all that computer stuff was never my thing, but I was impressed by the amount of energy and passion he had for it. I still wasn’t sure if it would work, but I could see how he deeply he was committed to the idea, so I did manage to find him opportunities to meet people, see people, telling him it had to be a secret. I didn’t want to openly come between a father and a son.”

  Caitlyn wondered where this was leading. She ran her finger over the smooth rim of the coffee cup, looking around Adriana’s sitting room.

  “I saw a great deal of him that summer, and it was clear to me – I think it was clear to everyone else – that he fell in love with you. Yes, he had known you all of his life, but he described you to me the same way he spoke about his passion for his company. They were all intertwined for him.”

  “Really?” Caitlyn said, her voice faint. A rush of memories came back to her, but it wasn’t the old Noah that she thought of now; it was the new Noah, the one she saw every day at the office, the one she tried to ignore and avoid.

  “I saw you as well, and while you were never quite as romantic as he was on the subject, I don’t think I have seen two young people so much in love.”

  “It was a wonderful summer,” Caitlyn agreed.

  “Your grandfather worried that you might go in the same direction as your mother, even though he thought Noah was a much better choice for you than your father had been for your mother. I told him to trust you, that you weren’t your mother.”

  Caitlyn looked down at the carpet, felt herself blushing. She’d never thought of herself as a prude, but it had been awhile since she had talked to anyone about it.

  “I hope I was right?” Adriana asked quietly.

  “For the most part. We spent a night together, but nothing happened, at least not that. Noah wanted to, but I said no, that I wasn’t ready. Part of me felt if I said yes, I would be letting my grandfather down, even though we were prepared, we would have been safe. We settled for something more innocent.”

  Caitlyn took a deep breath. This was where it got painful for her. “We also fought that night. He told me he was going to tell his father he was going to drop out of college and head to California with his friends, to start up his company. Instead of being supportive, I told him he would regret disappointing his father. He thought I was being a snob, that I wouldn’t like him if he didn’t follow the tried and true path. I suppose you could say that killed the mood as much as anything.”

  “But you didn’t go home that night?”

  “No. I’d told my grandfather I was staying at a friend’s house, so I wound up going there, and then the next morning when I finally did come home, the police were waiting for me.”

  Adriana was silent for a moment before saying, “I thought that might have been what happened. I saw the two of you at his funeral, but you weren’t together anymore. Something had been broken.”

  “I pushed him away. I felt guilty. If only I hadn’t gone out of the house, if only I hadn’t been with Noah.” Caitlyn, her eyes wet with tears, turned to Adriana. “Why did he have to kill himself? I would have taken care of him.”

  Adriana answered, her face sad, “He didn’t want to be a bother to anyone. He knew your mother wouldn’t do the right thing, and he didn’t want you to stop your life to take care of him. Especially when he knew that recovery was almost impossible. It was a timing issue for him.”

  Adriana wasn’t looking at Caitlyn, her eyes focused off in the distance, as if she too could reach out and touch those times. “He pushed me away, too, and I let him, let him say it was for the best, that we couldn’t go on lying to my husband, the people we loved, setting a bad example. And I let him go.”

  “And that’s it. He didn’t want to be a bother to us? To the people who cared most about him?” Caitlyn asked. Her grandfather had left behind a tidy estate, all the loose ends wrapped up. Except for Queensbay Capital. Somehow that had all gone to Maxwell.

  “I don’t know. I never thought Luke could do such a thing. He was always so full of life.”

  “There’s more to it,” Caitlyn said and waited.

  “No,” Adriana disagreed. “There isn’t. Sometimes it just is what it is. Caitlyn, your grandfather loved you. He probably thought that, by ending it how he did, he made it easier for you. I know it’s hard for you to understand. It was hard for me, but your grandfather expected you to get on with your life. And you should. Look to the future; think about what you want for yourself. Don’t worry about what’s right, or what other people think. Do what you want.”

  Chapter 29

  Noah had been watching her for a week. He had fought the childish urge to storm into her office when her note came back marked no and demand a yes. Instead, he’d decided to play it cool. He had listened to her patiently at staff meetings and, oh, so subtly brushed against her in the hall. And then there had been that moment at the coffee maker where she’d taken pity on him and helped him figure out which button to push. She’d had to get close to him, and he could tell she hadn’t been oblivious to the feelings between the two of them. And if they hadn’t been interrupted, he was sure she would have kissed him.

  So when he saw the light on in her office long after the rest of the floor was dark, he paused, considering. It was time to stop playing games. He couldn’t stop thinking about her, yet she was doing her best to appear unmoved by him. He walked down to her office and found her, high heels on, black pencil skirt, light gray blouse, pacing as she looked at some papers.

  “Are you mad at me?” he asked. She was focused and intent, and his voice made her jump.

  She looked up, startled, as if pulling herself back into reality.

  “I’m not mad at you,” she said, finally, watching him carefully.

  “Then what is it? You barely talk to me,” he pointed out, taking a step into her office.

  “I didn’t realize we had anything to talk about.”

  “Is that why you almost kissed me over the hazelnut cream coffe
e?” he asked, trying to keep his voice light.

  “I think you must be imagining things. And I’m not mad, I’m avoiding you,” she said, moving a fraction of an inch away from him. Noah moved closer.

  “Why would you want to do that?” He found that his voice had dropped and his tongue was thick, as if it were tied in knots.

  “Because we’re no good for each other. Because of what happened. Because you’re my boss. And that is never a good idea.” Her voice too was low, and he felt a ripple of desire twist through him. Chase had been right. He was so not over Caitlyn Montgomery, and this time, he wasn’t going to let her get away from him. But then he saw the look in her eyes – not panic, not fear, but sadness, pain, and he pulled back.

  “Think of me more as an absentee owner. Sam’s the day-to-day guy, and soon you’ll barely see me. Besides, isn’t sucking up to the new boss what you’re supposed to do?” Noah asked, trying to force some lightness into his voice.

  It was the wrong thing to say. She whirled on him. “I don’t need your charity, Noah Randall. Just because you waltz back in here, after all these years, with enough money to buy anything you want doesn’t mean you can.” Caitlyn moved away from him, anger lacing her words. “I’m not for sale, Noah. I don’t know what you think you heard about me, but I’m not a gold digger. If you think you can come back here and dangle your money in front of me and make me swoon at your feet, you’re mistaken. I don’t know what you heard about me, but I worked hard for everything I achieved. I did in London, and I will do it here. With or without you, or the firm.”

  She was quivering with rage. He’d hit a nerve, so he held up his hands and said calmly, reasonably, “Caitlyn, I know you can’t be bought. I know you were loyal to my father. I am sorry things didn’t work out the way you planned. I know you. You may think I don’t care, but I still do. You must have had a plan when you came back here, and I’m guessing that right now you don’t know which way you’re supposed to turn. I just want to help you, be there for you.”

  Caitlyn shook her head and asked simply, “Why?”

  Noah stood and crossed the room to her, standing close to her, putting his arms on her shoulders. “Because I wasn’t there before. I regret that. I want to be your friend.”

  Caitlyn laughed, but it was bitter. “Friends. We’re too complicated to be friends, Noah. And I’m a big girl. I don’t need to be protected by anyone.”

  Noah shook his head, trying to clear away the frustration. Things were always complicated with Caitlyn. But that was what made her so compelling.

  “We never tried to just be friends, did we?” His fingers seemed to leap to her without his being conscious of it, his hands twirling a strand of her dark hair. He felt the silky texture, caught the sudden flash in her eyes as her breath caught. “We just raced right onto the horny teenager part, didn’t we? Can’t we have a do-over?”

  “Noah, stop. You’re my boss.”

  Noah leaned in closer, his lips hovering above hers, his arms moving around her, pulling her closer to him, so he could feel his body next to hers, feel the swell of her breasts, see every freckle on her nose.

  “So? I’m lots of people’s boss,” he murmured, letting his lips feather across her cheek. Her eyes opened wide, and he knew that she was feeling, that he had gotten to her.

  “Noah…” It was more of a moan than a whisper.

  “Shh, I know you’re not after my money. Just shut up and let me…”

  Kiss you. And he did, their lips touching. Softly at first, so he could taste her, smell her perfume, something spicy, and her shampoo, something fruity. She moved in his arms – not away, but closer – and he took that for an invitation, an invitation that his attentions were wanted.

  He deepened his kiss, letting his tongue explore, letting his hands slide from her shoulders down to the v of her neck, skimming lightly over her breasts, feeling the fabric of her bra, then the hard nubs of her nipples, which sprang to attention under his caress.

  She moaned, answering his kiss, her hands running through his hair, pulling him towards her as their embrace deepened, grew more passionate, his hands roaming, feeling, possessing her.

  Until. “Stop, Noah, stop.” She broke free, her head moving away from him, her hands still twined in his hair. She lowered her eyes and leaned against his shoulders.

  “What, what is it?” His voice was husky, raspy, and he could feel desire, the sheer wanting of her flowing through him, all the way through him. She felt it, too, and took a step back.

  “Noah, you’re my boss. This could get me fired. And we barely know each other. I mean now. I just can’t get involved right now.”

  She took another step back, almost all the way across her office, next to the window. Her eyes were shrouded, hurt, and she was biting her lip.

  “Is this really about me being your boss … or is it about something else?” he asked, remembering her evasiveness when he asked about her engagement.

  “Noah, it’s too complicated. There are too many people watching me. I just can’t.” Sam Harris was watching her. He had made that clear, and even though she was kissing Noah, she couldn’t have him stepping in to save her.

  He moved closer, and she stepped even farther back, keeping the distance.

  “Can’t or don’t want to?” he asked, demanding the truth.

  “Can’t … not sure…” She was breathing heavily.

  Noah nodded slowly. He never needed to force himself on a woman. And when he’d left Caitlyn, he’d been, what? A bit of a jerk, feelings hurt, blaming her for not wanting him, when she’d only asked for more time. He’d been young, but she had been even younger, inexperienced, and looking back, he knew he’d been pushing her.

  “Fine.” He held up his hands, then ran one through his hair. “I understand.”

  “You do?” she said, surprised.

  “Yes, we’re adults, professionals. As you said, I’m your boss. It is complicated.”

  “So that means…” she started to say.

  “That I won’t try to kiss you again?” Noah walked over to her, stood next to her at the window, but not too close, and let one finger trail along her cheek, watching her eyes darken with desire, with memory. “No, I’ll try. But I’ll wait until you ask me.”

  “What makes you think I will?” she said, defiance in her voice.

  He smiled and was rewarded when he saw her swallow thickly. “Oh, you will. Because you and I have unfinished business, Caitlyn Montgomery, and I won’t be leaving until we sort it out.”

  He let his hand linger, running it along the edge of her jaw, while she watched him with dark, steamy eyes. “I’ll see you around.”

  Chapter 30

  “So it’s a straight hand flush?” Heather asked, squinting at her cards. Caitlyn sighed, and Adriana gave something that could only be described as a giggle.

  “No, there’s a flush, a straight and a straight flush,” Caitlyn explained patiently while appraising her own cards.

  They were sitting in Adriana’s game room, which was unchanged since her first husband. Green baize table, leather chairs, dark paneling, a crackling fire and lots of dark reds and greens. For this game, there was white wine and Cosmos, and potato puffs and veggie dip instead of sandwiches and beer.

  Heather had seen Caitlyn’s lucky poker chip and said she wanted to learn. A casual mention to Adriana and a full-blown ladies night was created. Marion had promised to feed them if they dealt her in, and Adriana had broken out Trip Randolph’s cocktail shaker and his old poker chips. Darby came, too, bringing along her most famous creation, The Golden Pear’s chocolate chip cookies. All of them had made her promise to play only for chips, not real money, but Caitlyn was still having a hard time not cleaning the others out.

  “A flush is when all of your cards are of the same suit, but not in sequence. All hearts for instance. A straight is when they’re all in the same sequence but not the same suit.”

  “And a straight flush is when they’re the same
suit and in order,” Heather said, taking a sip of her Cosmo. Caitlyn wasn’t sure how many of those she’d had, but as her playing was getting worse, rather than better, she suspected it was more than a few. It was fine, since Caitlyn had offered to be the driver and was now sipping club soda rather than something stronger.

  There was a pause while Caitlyn watched as Heather reasoned it out. “Isn’t that hard to get?”

  “Yes,” Adriana and Caitlyn said in unison, while Darby giggled and shook her head.

  “How do you keep all of this straight, four of a kind, full house, two pair, deuces wild?”

  “Practice,” Caitlyn said wryly, putting her cards down. Heather did as well and looked at Caitlyn expectedly.

  “You should have folded,” Caitlyn told her.

  Heather sighed and reached out to clutch Adriana’s arm. The two had hit it off immediately, when Adriana had admired Heather’s vintage Louis Vuitton purse. From there, they had become fast friends, sharing notes on the best places to score fashion deals. Caitlyn had even seen Adriana jot down the name of an online auction site.

  “You’re our last hope. Please tell me someone can beat her,” Heather said.

  Adriana smiled, and Caitlyn watched her levelly. Adriana had been playing a good, but not great, game. Caitlyn suspected it had been part of her ploy all along, trying to lull Caitlyn into a false sense of security.

  “I believe it’s what you call a straight flush,” Adriana said mildly, laying her cards on the green baize of the table.

  “Wow, doesn’t that beat her, what do you call it, four of a kind?” Heather pointed out, taking a big sip of her wine.

  “Yes, it does.” Adriana could barely contain her glee as she raked the chips towards her.

  “Well done,” Caitlyn conceded. Sometimes you just couldn’t beat the cards.

  Adriana looked at her shrewdly as she stacked her chips.

  “You let me win.”

  Caitlyn shrugged and let a trace of a smile ghost across her lips. “If that’s what you want to believe.”