Indulge

by E. B. Walters

  She grinned. “How long have you known him?”

  “Since elementary school. He was the smart aleck who caused trouble a lot and always managed to get away with it.”

  “Teacher’s pet?”

  “A hundred percent. After freshman year in high school, he disappeared. We didn’t reconnect until college when we ended up in the same frat house. An incident during spring break sealed our relationship.” He’d managed to distract her in the elevator, but tension stiffened her shoulders when her grandmother’s man opened the door.

  “Good evening, Mr. Fitzgerald. Ms. Finnegan, your grandmother is expecting you. She’s been very worried.” He stepped back and opened the door wider to reveal a roomful of people speaking in Armenian.

  Mrs. Petrosian wasn’t in the room. Those closest to the door noticed them first and became quiet. The silence spread. Lex counted around sixteen men and women of various ages, including an older man dozing in a wheelchair and a boy who looked like he’d barely hit puberty. All were dark-haired with swarthy complexions. Animosity mixed with curiosity was apparent in their eyes as they stared at Jillian. As though she felt it too, she moved closer to Lex. His hand tightened around hers.

  “Ms. Jillian Finnegan and her fiancé, Lex Fitzgerald,” Narek announced as though they were at a formal gathering. No one moved. Then one man with a Van Dyke beard and gray hair put his drink down and came toward them.

  “Jillian, I’m Dareh Petrosian,” he said in a heavily-accented English. “I want you to meet my father, your grandfather’s youngest brother. When he heard about you, he insisted on coming to meet you,” Dareh explained, pulling Jillian toward the now alert old man in the wheelchair.

  “Closer,” the old man said, peering at her. “You have your grandmother’s eyes.”

  “I like to think of them as my father’s eyes,” she corrected.

  The old man chuckled. Then Dareh introduced his wife, Margarit, a tall, skinny woman with a long nose and beady eyes. “Lucine and Ruben wanted to be here too, but they were away on business when Alin called,” he added.

  “Lucine is a fashion designer,” Margarit said, eyeing Jillian’s jeans with distaste. “She and Dareh run Petrosian Clothing Company in Yerevan. They’ve done it the last ten years. Ruben manages the Vineyard.”

  “I hope I get to meet them some day,” Jillian said, but her smile was strained. Lex wanted to buffer her from the woman’s malice, but he knew she wouldn’t appreciate it.

  “Eight years and ten months, Margarit,” Alin Petrosian said, entering the room. Everyone’s attention shifted to her. The animosity Lex had glimpsed on faces melted away. “No need to exaggerate.” She searched Jillian’s face. “How is Douglas?”

  “He’ll be okay,” Jillian said.

  “I’m happy to hear that. Have you met everyone?” She waved to indicate the gathered relatives, but she didn’t look happy. “I wanted to surprise you.”

  “Thank you, Grandma,” Jillian said, sounding wooden. “Having them here for my wedding means a lot.”

  If Alin noticed her stiffness, she didn’t show it. “Good. We will have a family luncheon tomorrow and get to know each other. Your father and the rest of the Finnegans will be here, too.” She patted Jillian’s shoulder. “May I borrow your young man while you get to know everyone?” Alin waited until Jillian nodded before she turned. “Come with me, Mr. Fitzgerald.”

  Lex was reluctant to leave Jillian. As far as he was concerned, the pool of possible accomplices had just expanded. When did they arrive in the country? Or maybe he was becoming paranoid. His eyes met Margarit’s. She gave him a once-over and smiled. Lex nodded. He didn’t think he was going to like any of these people.

  He left the room and closed the door behind him. On the balcony, Mrs. Petrosian stood by the rail and stared at the view without speaking. Lex joined her and waited.

  “I called the hospital, and I was told about the poison. I don’t think Jillian should check into this hotel tomorrow,” Mrs. Petrosian said. “Estelle, Finnegan, and I discussed it, and we all agree it’s not safe. Do you agree?”

  “Yes.” He’d thought she would fight him on this.

  “Estelle also suggested we move the wedding to your family’s home.”

  His mother never failed to amaze him, but Lex wasn’t ready to celebrate yet. “I’ll talk to Jillian about staying at the mansion tomorrow night. I’ll spend the night at the penthouse.” Like his penthouse, Douglas had wired the security system at the family mansion in Palos Verdes. There were cameras and motion detectors in most rooms and around the compound.

  Mrs. Petrosian turned to face him, her gaze direct. “It’s not often I admit to being wrong, Mr. Fitzgerald,” she said, speaking softly. “I’m always right in my assessment of people. But in your case, I must confess I was a mile off. You love my granddaughter.”

  It was a statement, but Lex nodded anyway and said, “Yes, I do.”

  “Will you protect her?”

  “With everything I have.”

  She frowned. “I figured as much, which is why I called you out here. I was also wrong to ask Jillian to come to Armenia with me. She would not have been safe there.”

  Now that was an interesting confession. Lex had assumed she would use the snake incident to prove that he couldn’t protect Jillian. “What caused you to change your mind?”

  “My husband’s relatives.” She waved to indicate the people inside her suite. “I inherited them when I got married, and I support them the best way I can.” Anger flashed in her eyes, and her voice shook as she continued. “They arrived yesterday and today someone tried to poison Jillian. Tomorrow they might succeed.” She glanced at Lex. “I don’t have a lot of faith in the police in this country. They’ve failed me before.” Her face grew pale. “I will not have history repeat itself.”

  For the first time since they met, Lex felt sorry for Alin Petrosian. Her son Jivan—Jillian’s father— had died years ago, and she was convinced someone had murdered him.

  “Douglas looked into the death of your son, Mrs. Petrosian. There was no sign of foul play. His death was an accident.”

  She nodded. “I know. I’ve had an investigator looking into it since I arrived here, but I’d rather use your resources, Mr. Fitzgerald, to find the person who tried to hurt Jillian. Can you do that for me?”

  Lex nodded. “Yes, ma’am.”

  CHAPTER 10

  “Did you enjoy meeting your relatives?” Lex asked as soon as they pulled away from the Montage’s entrance.

  “Enjoy is not a word I’d use. Most were nice, considering. A few of them…” Jillian shuddered, remembering Margarit. “I would have been fine not knowing we were related. What did my grandmother want?” She tried to sound nonchalant and failed. “You two spent a lot of time out there.”

  “She wants me to track down the person who tried to hurt you.”

  Jillian frowned. “She knows?”

  “She called the hospital and put two and two together.”

  That meant she had nothing to do with it. Though she hadn’t thought so, it relieved her to hear evidence to that fact. But someone had done it. And the person hadn’t cared about hurting other people. Fear coursed through her. Lex could get hurt if he looked into it. “Why you?”

  “She doesn’t trust the police to find out the truth.” Lex let his left hand control the steering and took her hand. He brought it to his lips. She’d noticed he did that when he was about to give her bad news. Jillian braced herself. “She thinks one of your relatives might be behind it.”

  A hollow feeling settled in Jillian’s core at hearing her suspicions confirmed. She just discovered she had relatives and already one of them wanted her dead. Probably Margarit. She had a Cruella DeVil vibe going on. “Let me guess, they think I want the family fortune.”

  “That is a possibility.”

  “Stupid reporters and their stupid hashtags. What part of I’m a stuntwoman don’t they get? Maybe I should have a billboard with hashtag Not-
an-Heiress next to my name.”

  Lex chuckled. “Where will we put it? On my helipad or on my office building?”

  She glanced at him and grinned. He was such an enabler sometimes. “Nah, too tacky. I love your building the way it is. Subtle and not Trump Tower-ish. We can tell them I’m marrying you and your money is mine. You said so yourself, and you can’t take it back.”

  “I never say anything I don’t mean.”

  True. He was the real deal and she loved him for it. She sank against his side again and sighed. “Do you really believe my grandmother had nothing to do with the venom?”

  “Yes. She was angry that someone wanted to hurt you. No one can fake that kind of anger.” He pressed a kiss on her temple and stepped on the gas when the light turned green. “She even apologized for trying to interfere in our relationship and wanting to take you to Armenia for her royalty revival program.”

  Jillian shuddered just thinking about it. “Good, because I don’t wear pearls or kiss babies.”

  A chuckle escaped him. “We also think you shouldn’t check into the Montage as previously planned. You and your bridesmaids will spend tomorrow night at the mansion. It’s the new venue for the wedding and the reception. My mother is already taking care of the arrangements.”

  “Oh. How is that going to work? The invitations have already been sent.”

  “New ones will be re-sent by special couriers tomorrow. My mother already talked to your father and grandmother so everyone is on board. Troy will contact Chris and your stunt friends. I was supposed to talk to the guys tonight but after what happened, I think we should stay put. They’ll get their invitations tomorrow.”

  She rolled her eyes. “I’m not going to hide at home because some relative thinks money is better than blood. I’m hanging out with the girls tonight, Lex. And before you go all ape-man on me, the Petrosians are new here and have no idea where we’re going tonight. And you”—she rubbed his thigh, loving how his muscles flexed under her palm—“are going to Sloan’s. Which reminds me, it wasn’t fun taking on Douglas earlier today. Next time you want him to play bodyguard, check with me first.”

  “So you can say no?” he asked, entering the street to their building.

  “That’s right. I don’t like fighting with Douglas. He is mean. I could tell he wanted to lock me in the bedroom.”

  “I would too.”

  “But you’d stay in with me.” She squeezed his thigh and sat back in her seat. “I think the girls and I will be okay tonight. I’ll be careful.”

  He frowned. “I can come and stay invisible.”

  “Are you kidding?” First, he wasn’t a man women could ignore. Jillian wasn’t sure where they were headed, but chances were there would be other women. Second, his cousins and sister would not be themselves with him around. “You are going to Sloan’s, Lex. End of story.”

  “Then take Troy with you.”

  Jillian opened her mouth to say no, but she backtracked. It was time to compromise. Troy had hit it off with Faith, and being gay, he should be able to hang out with the girls. “If he doesn’t mind.”

  “Call and tell him he is accompanying you tonight,” he said.

  “Ask him, sweetheart, not tell him,” Jillian corrected him. “When are you going to learn you can’t bark orders at people?”

  “When it comes to your safety, I don’t compromise. I give orders and expect them obeyed.”

  His attitude was such a turn on. If they weren’t in traffic, she’d jump him. “Tyrant.”

  “I have enemies that could hurt you, Jillian.”

  “So you keep saying. I don’t see Troy stopping them. He’s the fun, gay best friend slash assistant, and I like him that way.” The way she saw it, she was more likely to rescue Troy if someone became physical than the other way round. She pulled out her phone and called him.

  Lex was entering his building when she hung up.

  “He is in.”

  “Good.” Lex’s headlights hit two women standing by a red coupe in his reserved spot by the elevators. She recognized Faith in white leggings and a duster top. The woman with her had her back to them, so all Jillian could see was an asymmetrical haircut that was now the rage. As they got closer, the woman turned.

  Deidre Noelle.

  Lex rolled down his window and said, “You parked in my spot, Deedee.”

  “You own the damn building, Lex. Park anywhere.” She walked toward the SUV after Lex parked, her eyes zeroing in on Jillian. “Hey, bride-to-be. I told you to wait for me, and you two almost got hitched behind my back.”

  “We, uh, Lex sent you an invitation,” Jillian said. She still wasn’t sure why the girl decided to be chummy with her. As a socialite, Deedee must have plenty of friends.

  “So my brother told me once I landed. But no harm no foul. I’m here now.” She spread her arms and hugged Jillian. Then her hand strayed and patted Jillian’s stomach. “Hmm, flat, but then again, it could still be too early for it to be showing.”

  The assumption that she was rushing into marriage for nefarious reasons was seriously beginning to piss her off. Lex was a catch. Any woman would be lucky to marry him. Her eyes met with Faith, who was trying hard not to laugh.

  Deedee turned toward Lex and playfully smacked him in the arm. “How come you never introduced me to your cousin? She’s gorgeous, and talented, and in my line of business.”

  “What are you doing here, Deedee? We thought a certain tennis player was keeping you busy,” Lex teased.

  “That’s yesterday’s news, gorgeous,” Deidre said airily, then she reached up, cupped his face, and planted a kiss on his lips. “Talk to my brother, please. He is running to Mommy dearest’s château after the wedding again, and I can’t stop him. The evil bitch has her claws so deep in him I keep praying she croaks under her latest boy toy and frees him.” She glanced over her shoulder and caught Jillian’s eyes. “Family skeleton. We have one, and she’s determined to outlive us.” She laughed as though enjoying a private joke, but Jillian saw pain in her eyes as she stepped away from Lex. “Are we going upstairs or what?” Deedee hooked an arm through Jillian’s and the other around Faith’s. “Faith and I have been plotting. We have big plans for tonight.”

  “What big plans?” Lex asked.

  “None of your business, darling,” Deedee said. “Yours is on the island. Sloan has planned something decadent and scandalous in your honor.”

  Jillian shot Lex a quick glance and cocked a brow.

  “Let him get his last lap dance, sweetie,” Deedee said, squeezing Jillian’s arm. “You and I will have ours, too.”

  “Don’t include Jillian in your craziness, Deedee,” Lex warned.

  “Decadent?” Jillian asked, her eyes on Lex.

  Deedee’s eyes volleyed between them, and then she chuckled. “I was just kidding.”

  “Causing trouble, you mean,” Lex said, activating the private elevator to the penthouse.

  Deedee laughed. “How come Douglas didn’t open the elevator for us? I had to wait down here to be beamed up, and you know how I hate waiting. I tried his phone, and it went unanswered. He always answers. He could be on the moon and still answer. That’s how efficient he is. Faith’s timely arrival saved me from calling 9-1-1.”

  “Douglas is in the hospital with food poisoning,” Lex said. His eyes were reassuring when they met Jillian’s. “He should be home by tomorrow. Where are you ladies going tonight?”

  Deedee and Faith just laughed. They wanted to know about Douglas, but Lex deflected their questions, which Jillian appreciated. She didn’t want them feeling sorry for her. She went into selective listening as they rode the elevator, her thoughts shifting to her Armenian family.

  She couldn’t decide which one of them was greedy enough to want to hurt her. Even though Margarit had openly shown she didn’t welcome Jillian into the family, Jillian doubted the woman would be stupid enough to hurt her in such a public manner. Margarit was like Alin. She spoke her mind and didn’t care h
ow people perceived her. It’s the attitude she’d seen among the privileged. Whoever poisoned the tea was sneaky. The kind who smiled in your face and stabbed you in the back. Maybe Lex’s enemy was behind this.

  If only she’d met her family under different circumstances. She would have enjoyed knowing them. They’d wanted to know everything about her life, the younger ones more interested in her career as a stuntwoman and performances in the circus. They’d watched every video posted online after learning about her existence. The older ones had wanted to know how much she remembered about her father, sharing anecdotes from his visits to Armenia when he was growing up.

  She loved a big family. The day her mother became a Finnegan had been the happiest day of Jillian’s life. She hadn’t just gotten a father. She’d gotten instant brothers, cousins, an aunt, and an uncle. In fact, the entire circus had become part of her family. They’d never missed a birthday or holiday. Thanksgiving was huge and loud. Christmas bright and crazy. They weren’t her blood yet they’d been more of a family than the people she’d met today at the Montage.

  Upstairs, she left Lex entertaining Deedee and his cousin, and went to shower and change. She’d just finished blow-drying her hair when Lex entered their bedroom.

  She watched him through the mirror as he unbuttoned his shirt. Her eyes went to his broad chest and drifted lower to his rock-hard abs. Her stomach clenched and desire pulsed through her. He had such a beautiful body. She lifted her chin, and their eyes met. The heat in his eyes said he’d been aware of her scrutiny. He didn’t tease her about it.

  He closed the gap between them, his eyes caressing her face. Her insides softened. How she loved this man. He was her shelter from all the pain and the hurt the world inflicted.

  “You look beautiful,” he said, stroking her hair. He tilted her chin and dropped a kiss on her lips. “When do you think you’ll be back?”

  “I don’t know. Midnight? You?” she asked.

  “Before.”

  “I’ll try to make it back earlier. We can watch a movie. It’s my turn to choose.”

  “As long as it is Jack Black, not Lifetime.”