Agatha shrugged in her way that meant she wasn’t going to say what was on her mind.
“It was Evelyn.”
“Then she must have had good reason, sir.”
Liam frowned. “Send Ramona a bouquet of roses. Not red, or pink, with an apology note for my rudeness.”
“Hyacinths would be more appropriate for an apology.”
“Fine.”
Agatha nodded. “Are you all right? You seem stressed. Did she call off the engagement?”
“Why would you assume she would be the one to call it off? Because I’m such a dick?”
Agatha’s rosy cheeks deepened to an apple red. “No. I… it’s just that you seem upset. If you’d made the call, I think you would be calm. So she called it off?”
“No. She didn’t.”
“Perhaps the rush of the wedding is bothering you? You don’t have to rush.”
“Actually there is a reason to rush. It’s a financial matter for my family but nonetheless, we will be proceeding. I’ll be in the meeting. If Joan calls put her through.”
“You never allow disturbances during your meet—”
“Just put her through and get me a log of who has been calling her.”
Evelyn jogged up and the look on her face solemn. “Genevieve nor Westley have heard from Alise since the benefit. I’m starting to get worried.”
“Let’s talk in my office.” Liam walked to his office and shut the door behind Evelyn. “She obviously knows someone else in Scottsdale.”
“No. She has no one who we haven’t already been in contact with.”
Liam sat down behind his desk. “Scottsdale has impeccable security. Pull strings, find out what she was doing there and where she went.”
“Yes, sir. What are you going to tell Mr. Crenshaw? He gave you a deadline of today, didn’t he?”
“I don’t have much choice. I’ll have to go to Scottsdale and find out who is hiding her.”
Evelyn shook her head. “No. I’m on this, we’ll find out where she is. You deal with Crenshaw. Put him at ease, Liam. He’s going to think you’ve done something to his daughter if he doesn’t hear from her soon.”
***
This is how I am going to die. They’ll find me wrapped naked in a bed sheet at the end of Liam’s bed. And that’s how I’ll be remembered. Who cares that I’ve dedicated my life to medicine and healing?
Joan fought again against the tightness of the sheets only adding to the sweat on her face and gaining absolutely no ground.
All right, All right. I’ve got to just own up to this. When Liam’s stepmom knocks again, I’ll tell her to come in and she can witness my most embarrassing moment by freeing me.
Almost as if summoned there was another knock on the door. “Come on in,” Joan called out.
The door opened but Fran didn’t speak.
This would only happen to me, I swear.
“I’m over here.”
Sweat from her efforts to free herself dripped down her face, that she was certain had to be red by now and Fran was going to see her in her birthday suit on top of seeing her rolled up like a sausage in a pancake.
Footfalls were the only sound she heard but couldn’t see around the bed because of the tenting of the sheet. “This way, on the floor,” she said hearing Fran walking around the room.
“What’s going on here?” Tatum asked tilting his head so that she wasn’t facing him completely upside down. The smile that spread across his face as he said, “You’re stuck, aren’t you?” made her want to sock him.
“A regular Sherlock, good for you. Can you help me get out of this straight jacket please?”
Tatum nodded but made no further movement. “This might be a good time for us to talk.”
“Nope, not a good time.” Joan shook her head. “I need to use the bathroom. You’ll be stuck with a nasty mess if I don’t get to a toilet soon.”
“Even better.” Tatum grinned. He sat on the bed looking down at her. “Urgency will make your answers more truthful. Why are you and Liam getting married?”
Joan’s teeth snapped together. “We’re in love.”
Tatum scrunched his nose. “Isn’t that sweet? I heard your little speech on TV. You like talking to the press?”
“Not especially. Don’t you think Liam will be upset if he learns you questioned me like this?”
“He might be, yeah. Oh well.” He waved a hand. “It’s funny how this all happened, isn’t it? You just happened to show up when Cole needed rescuing, then said you didn’t want to be rewarded but ended up spending the night with Liam.”
Joan shook her head. “Spent the night in a room by myself is more accurate.”
“Sure.” He gave her a smile and nod. “You insist you don’t want to be rewarded again. Then Liam comes to see you and suddenly you’re in love? That’s quite a story.”
“I’m glad you’re a fan.”
“I’ve noticed you shying away from my mom. She’s a warm friendly woman, isn’t she?”
“Yes, very kind. She also threatened me on Liam’s behalf so….”
Tatum nodded. “I figured she would. That’s not what has you shying away though is it? You’re feeling guilty, and I have the solution for you that will make this guilt-free.”
“Is it scissors?”
He laughed. “You’re funny. No, not scissors. It’s the debt. Your family owes about four hundred thousand dollars. Then if I add in your school loans we’re looking at close to a half million dollars. I’ll write you a check for a million five if you call off the wedding.”
“How are you people even rich? It’s like, look a stain on the carpet, better throw money at it. Quick, there’s a woman drowning. Fill the pool with cash so she can climb out.”
Tatum laughed, which surprised her since he’d had such a mean expression on his face. “I hate it that I like you.”
“Because?”
“You’re going to hurt Liam.”
Joan snorted. “Are you serious? I’m not going to hurt him.”
“Not on purpose maybe but you will. The press, the invasion of privacy, the pressure of being Mrs. Liam Wainwright, his temper, or maybe it’ll be your family’s disapproval. One of these things is going to be too much for you and you’re going to back out.”
He’s got a point.
“You don’t have to worry about Liam. I’m not going to hurt him. I promise. You, on the other hand, are going to be signed up for a complete body wax in Evelyn’s torture chamber on wheels if you don’t get me out of this.”
“Okay, okay, don’t tell Evelyn on me. She’ll have my balls split like an atom.” Tatum began lifting her without accounting for how tightly the sheet was tucked under the mattress and Joan was yanked out of his hold in a spinning whirl.
When she hit the floor on her stomach, her bare legs met carpet. The cold air across her backside confirming this as her new most embarrassing moment. “You’re looking at my naked ass right now. Aren’t you?”
“Yes.”
Joan turned her head to the side to look at him and saw that he was indeed staring at her ass. “Get me the hell out of this sheet, Tate.”
“Right, sorry.” He bent and yanked the sheet from the mattress.
She thought he’d leave, but he was checking out her ass again. “Get out, Tatum!”
“Yep, yes. That’s what I’m….” The door closing cut off the rest of what he said.
Joan scrambled free of the sheets and then crawled over to the luggage. The need to have something covering her naked rear end before all the Wainwright brothers were privy to it had her fingers moving fast.
She unzipped the big bag, throwing back the lid. The suitcase was full of clear packages with notes on them.
“What the hell kind of packing is this?” She snatched the first package. The note taped to it read For evening dinners with the family or out with Liam.
“Okay so I just need to find the note that says stranded with no pants. Perfect.”
&
nbsp; Tennis.
Swimming.
Tanning.
Dancing.
“She really saw this week going differently, didn’t she?” Joan set aside the next two packages labeled horseback riding and sexy as hell. Truthfully if Joan wasn’t so desperate to be dressed she would have checked out the sexy as hell.
Confidence.
“Ding, ding. We’ve got a winner.” Joan dumped the package on the bed. A hot pink push-up bra and matching panties caught her eye and she put them on. The number two pencil gray skirt ending just below her knees fit like a glove but what made it drool worthy was the feminine gathering at the left hip and the half bow half swag ruffle that went down the side of the skirt.
The red blouse with a boat neck and barely there cap sleeves was a bright cherry red that matched the underside of the black heels. A small blue bag held black earring studs and a tiny bottle of perfume.
“This may be the first time in my entire life that I wish I was this rich just so I can keep Evelyn.” Joan sighed as she looked at herself in the mirror. “I look like a woman who’s really got her shit together.”
The clock on the wall reflected in the mirror.
Ten fifteen? How long was I stuck in those sheets?
She dashed into the bathroom and wound her hair into a librarian bun to hide the mess that her hair truly was. Not about to waste time looking for makeup, she washed her face carefully salvaging yesterday’s mascara and gave her cheeks a pinch.
“I’ll just eat a little something with Fran, and then get the hell out of dodge,” she told herself in the mirror.
Purse and heels in hand she shot out the door and right into Fran. “I’m so sorry. Are you all right?” Joan asked already breathless.
“Yes, I’m fine. Where are you off to in such a hurry?”
“I didn’t want to keep you waiting, and I have an errand to run afterward.”
Fran put her arm around Joan guiding her back down the hall. “Eating in a rush and then dashing off? You can’t run off. We have a wedding to plan. It’s the day after tomorrow and you don’t even have a dress.”
“Right. Don’t worry though. We think simple is best. I’ll pick up a white dress while I’m out.”
“Then I’ll come with you. You shouldn’t be alone when you pick out a wedding dress.”
Joan forced a smile. “I don’t mind being on my own. I’m used to sit.”
“Nonsense. I’ll take you to Chandra’s Boutique. Don’t worry, honey, you’re not going to be doing this on your own.”
“Perfect. Wonderful. Thank you.”
Say something. You can’t let her waste her time and money on a fake wedding.
“Liam and I insist on paying for the wedding ourselves.”
Fran laughed. “Just try to stop me spending money on my new daughter.”
I am!
“Morning, sweet cheeks,” Tatum said around a mouthful of toast.
“Sweet cheeks?” Cole repeated.
“Hey, tater tot.” Joan responded refusing to blush at his naked ass reference. “Morning, heartbreaker.” She winked at Cole as she sat down next to Tatum in the place where her breakfast was laid out. Eggs, bacon, toast, yogurt, fruit, oatmeal, orange juice, and coffee were all on the table. “Wow, this is a big breakfast.”
Fran nodded. “You’ll need it. We’re going to be shopping and planning all day. Don’t worry it’s going to be fun and perfect.”
“Liam insisted we marry at the courthouse. So, all I really need is a simple dress, it doesn’t even have to be white.”
“I don’t care what Liam said. You’re not getting married at the courthouse. We’ll plan it at his mother’s home.”
“Yeah, buttercup. Don’t try to fight her. She’s not going to give an inch on that one.”
Joan cut Tatum a look but he just smiled.
“You were joking last night about being religious but seriously do you have a preference as to the ceremony?”
“No. No preference.” Joan took a bite of the oatmeal and noticed that Fran was waiting for her to finish the mouthful before asking her another question. As soon as she swallowed the oatmeal, she took a huge bite of toast.
Fran smiled then turned to Cole and began asking him about his new friend Athena.
Sweet freedom.
Joan plucked a biscuit from the basket in the center.
“Want some butter?” Tatum grinned.
She crossed her eyes making a face at Tatum and both he and Cole laughed, which brought Fran’s attention back to Joan.
Damn.
“Do you think your sister will be able to make it for the wedding?” Fran asked.
“No. She’s on her honeymoon.” Joan took a big bite from the unbuttered biscuit. While it was warm, it was also dry.
Fran nodded. “Do you have a friend to come and stand in as your maid of honor? Or a few bridesmaids?”
Joan shrugged shaking her head. At this point, she couldn’t have spoken if she wanted to. The biscuit soaked up all the moisture from her mouth and swallowing was not going to happen without some needed moisture.
“Bet you wish you had some butter now,” Tatum said. He drank from his glass of orange juice, taunting her dry mouth.
Joan lifted her glass. Puckering her lips forward around the biscuit she was only able to make a tiny opening. Tipping the glass, she pulled in the OJ. The tangy citrus soaking the biscuit and altering the dry consistency to a goopy, orange juice flavored dumpling.
The texture was troublesome. Her throat seemed to close and tighten as if refusing the lumpy raw pancake mixture entrance to her stomach.
Maybe it was the look on her face. Maybe Joan missed a question posed to her. Whatever the case, the three Wainwrights were watching her. Cole’s frown and scrunched up nose mirrored Joan’s feeling on what was in her mouth.
She swallowed.
The sound erupted much louder than should be humanly possible. Following it up with orange juice, forced the ball of goop down but didn’t stop the tremor of disgust that shook through her.
“Are you all right, dear?” Fran asked.
Not really. I’m… not well?
“I do feel a bit under the weather.” Joan pressed the back of her hand to her forehead. “I must be coming down with something.”
“Maybe it was a chill to your undercarriage that has you ill at ease.”
Fran stood and bent toward Joan pressing her lips to Joan’s temple. Logically Joan knew she was testing her temperature but emotionally she was floored by Fran’s actions. She was treating Joan as if she truly were one of Fran’s own children. Complete acceptance and caring without holding anything back was what she was doing.
Joan blinked rapidly trying to clear the moisture swelling in her eyes. Lying to Fran when she was so open and loving was wrong. It was cruel even.
“You’re not feverish,” Fran said. “But you are under a lot of stress. I shouldn’t have been pushing you for answers when you’re still trying to wrap your head around getting married so soon.”
Joan smoothed her skirt, wiping her sweaty palms on the expensive material.
What am I doing? What the hell am I doing? I’m dressed up like someone’s Barbie doll, lying to good people, lying to my family, everyone.
“I’m sorry, Fran. I... I have to make a call. Please excuse me, won’t you?” Joan stood so fast the chair shot out behind her, sliding across the floor. She wanted to run from the room but with the heels she had to walk at a slower pace.
Kicking off the heels in the hallway, she snatched them up and ran to the only other room in the house besides Liam’s that she knew its location. The study.
As soon as she cleared the doorway she shut the door and pulled out her phone. She found Liam’s name in her contacts and hit send. “I can’t do this. I can’t do this.” She breathed as the phone rang in her ear.
“Liam Wainwright’s private number, this is Agatha speaking. How may I help you?”
“This is Joan. Is Liam
available please?”
Agatha was quiet a beat before she answered, “Is this an emergency, dear? He’s currently in a meeting, I can get him for you though.”
This feels like an emergency.
“Will he be long, do you think?”
“Usually they take the full morning but they break in an hour.”
Joan bit her lip and stomped her bare foot on the carpet.
Agatha continued in her cheerful tone. “Can I take a message?”
“Yes.” Something he’ll understand… “Ah.” She eyed the huge study doors in front of her. “Oh, I know. Tell him that I think it’s going to be Ms. Taylor in the study with the guilty noose. It’s my accusation for the game of Clue we didn’t finish last night.”
“Ms. Taylor isn’t a character in Clue.” Agatha mused.
“Right. We named the characters after the guests at the dinner party. He’ll get it.” I hope. “Will you tell him?”
“Ms. Taylor in the study with the noose.”
Joan pressed her fist to her chin. “No, guilty noose.”
“Right. Ms. Taylor in the study with the guilty noose. What do you call the dagger?”
“Pardon?”
“You know if the rope is called the guilty noose what is the dagger and the revolver called?”
Seriously?
“It’s called… vengeful knife and… payback pistol?”
“I like that! What a fun new twist on an old classic.”
Yeah, you’re getting to be a good liar, Joan. That’ll impress the angel at the heavenly gates.
“Thank you, Agatha.” Joan pressed “End” and leaned against the door, knocking on it with her forehead. Maybe it would wake up her common sense.
“Trouble? Ms. Taylor?” A male voice sounded from behind her within the study.
Oh shit.
CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE
“Testing proved successful.” Liam read the results and the board members applauded waking Liam from the Joan bubble encircling his brain.
This is a big moment. It worked. It really worked!
He smiled as he scanned the results again. This was huge and he couldn’t wait to tell Joan all about it. She would appreciate what his invention could do for mankind. For peace.
“I think that’s a great way for us to end today’s meeting. Let’s get back to work.” The board members began gathering their things as Liam took his stack of paperwork from the tabletop and exited the conference room.
An I.O.U. from a Billionaire Page 25