Lex was beginning to lose his patience when the door opened and Jillian stepped out. From the way she gripped the duffel bag to her pale face, he knew something was wrong.
“Okay, boys and girls, we are about to take off. Go back to your mommies and daddies,” Lex said as he pushed away from the helicopter and went to meet Jillian. Her eyes were empty, yet her chin trembled. She bit hard on her lower lip. “Are you—?”
“Don’t ask, please,” she whispered, her voice shaking. “Let’s just go.”
He rushed her into the helicopter. Her niece called Jillian’s name several times, but Lex doubted Jillian heard her. Instead, she stared at her hands and twisted the straps of the duffel bag. Lex lifted Sophia from the front seat and forced the little girl to focus on him.
“I’m going to set you down now, princess, and I want you to run to the house,” he said.
“Why?” Sophia asked, her eyes volleying between his face and Jillian’s.
“Because the blades of the helicopter are very dangerous and they whip up everything in the air, even little girls.
Her eyes widened. “Is Aunt Jillian sick?”
“She’s not feeling too good, but she’ll be okay after I take her home.” Their front door opened, and a man around Jillian’s age stepped out. He wore the same shell-shocked expression as Jillian. He stared at Lex and Sophia, then the helicopter and saw Jillian. Determination settled on his face as he cut across the lawn.
“Daddy, Aunt Jillian is sick,” Sophia said, wiggling from Lex’s arms and running to the man.
Her father scooped her up, his tortured eyes going back to Jillian, who stared straight ahead. Lex cleared his throat, drawing the man’s attention.
“Oh, hey,” the man said, but he didn’t make an effort to introduce himself or focus on him.
“I’m Lex, Jillian’s friend,” Lex said.
Once again, the man spared him a brief glance before his eyes sought Jillian. Lex wasn’t used to being ignored. Something bad had happened inside the house to make brother and sister look like their world was falling apart.
“Jilly,” he said tentatively, and she flinched. She didn’t even look at him.
Okay, time to go.
“We have to leave,” Lex said firmly and slid beside Jillian. Sophia’s father finally looked at him, his eyes narrowing. While Jillian was fair in complexion, this man was dark-haired with tanned skin and piercing green eyes his daughter had inherited.
“You’re the dude with my sister in the papers?” he asked, stressing the words my sister.
Jillian stiffened beside Lex. Lex nodded. “Yes.”
The younger man swallowed, his eyes begging. “She deserves the best, so treat her right.”
“I intend to. It’s been nice meeting you…”
“Patrick Finnegan,” the man said and shifted so he could see past Lex to Jillian before adding, “Jillian’s brother.”
“Let’s go, Lex,” Jillian whispered. She leaned forward and glared at Sophia’s father. “Ricky, we have to go.”
Her brother scowled. “I’ll come visit—”
“Don’t bother,” Jillian snapped.
“As soon as we’re done here,” Ricky finished as though she hadn’t spoken. “I mean it, Jillian. I’ll come find you.” He waited expectantly for her response, but she had leaned back in her seat and closed her eyes.
Ricky shook his head and stepped back, then turned and carried Sophia to the safety of their porch. Just before they took off, several men and women joined them. The Finnegan family must have had one hell of a meeting, because from the look on their faces, it hadn’t gone well.
Jillian was tense, her knuckles white on the strap of the bag. Lex reached out and covered her hand. She cringed, but he didn’t let go. Tremors shot through her body, making him want to gather her in his arms. Halfway back to L.A., her hand opened and gripped his. He angled his body in case she wanted to rest her head on his shoulder. Her body stayed stiff and unyielding despite their clasped hands.
“Can Mathews drop me at home?” she asked.
“No.” There was no way he was letting her out of his sight. “You promised me the weekend, except Friday when you’re doing something with your brothers.”
“That’s been canceled.”
“So I get Friday, too?” he asked.
She didn’t smile at his attempt to lighten things. Instead, she sighed. “Lex, I just want to wash all the gunk off me, crawl into bed, and sleep for days.”
She’d showered before they left the set. Why shower again? What the hell had happened at her house?
“I have a big tub and an even a bigger bed,” he said.
Earlier, she would have laughed or made a sassy retort. Now, she rested her head on his shoulder and closed her eyes. Different scenarios popped into his head, but he couldn’t reach any based on what Sophia had revealed and Jillian’s behavior. All he knew was that she was in pain and he was going to do everything in his power to make it go away.
By the time Mathews landed on the helipad, Lex had a plan.
Inside the house, he showed her the bedroom and the bathroom. The look in her eyes made his chest ache. There was so much pain and despair. Did she need more money? It was obvious they must owe quite a lot for the guys to come to their house and threaten her father. And earlier she’d said it was her fault. How?
He rubbed her arms. “What happened at your place?”
Her eyes narrowed. “It’s not my place. Not anymore.”
“What do you mean?”
She shook her head.
“Talk to me, Jillian.”
“I, uh…” She sighed. “There’s nothing to talk about. I have my own home now, and it’s not with them.” She wiggled out of his grip and started for the bathroom. He watched her go, then heard the water running. The door was still open, and he caught her reflection as she undressed.
Heat shot to his groin.
Lex ignored his raging libido. He needed to focus on Jillian. Of course, that didn’t negate the fact that she could look like road kill and he’d still want her.
He left the bedroom. Their lunch was still on the table. He threw the rest away and was about to go check on her when a ding came from Jillian’s jacket. He fished her cell phone from the pocket. She had several messages from her brother Ricky and someone named Cian. The other brother? Possibly.
He took the phone to the bathroom, but the room was empty. Where the hell was she?
“Jillian?” The water in the tub rolled, and he realized she was completely submerged under the bubbles. He swept the bubbles out of the way, a bad feeling washing over him. Her eyes were closed, and there were no bubbles floating from her nose. No! He dropped to his knees, dove inside the water, and dragged her out.
She came up fighting. Water sloshed over the side of the tub.
“What are you doing?” she yelled.
“I thought…” Of course, she couldn’t kill herself by drowning in the damn tub. “You okay?”
She started to nod, then shook her head.
Her grief seemed to have deepened. “Your brothers texted you.”
She took her phone, dropped it in the water, and leaned back against the tub pillow. Okay, this went beyond thugs and money. She was angry with her family.
He stayed seated on the edge of the tub, but she ignored him. Whatever happened, she’d tell him when she was ready. She’d have to before the anger hit her. He knew about the grieving process. He reached out and stroked the wet strands flowing to her shoulder.
“I’m here when you need to talk.” She closed her eyes, shutting him out. “Do you want remote control for the TV?”
Her eyes opened. “That’s nice, but I just want to be alone, Lex.”
He got up, picked up the remote control from the rack under the TV, and placed it by the soaps and conditioner. She watched him without saying anything.
“I’m going to pick up a few things from the office, but I’ll be back in a few minutes.”
/> “Uh, Lex. Maybe I should check into a hotel or something. I’m not going to be good company.”
“We’ve already closed that subject. You’re staying here.”
“Why do you care? I’m nothing to you.”
But she could be everything to him, if she gave them a chance. “I always keep an eye on my investments.”
Her eyes narrowed. “You know I can walk right out of here, and there’s nothing you can do about it. I mean, you can’t force me to stay.”
He cocked his eyebrows. “You want to bet?”
“Ass.” She splashed him. “Go away.”
“I’ll be back. Don’t do something you’ll regret.”
A glimpse of the old Jillian appeared as amusement flickered in her eyes. “Like what? Ignore your arrogance and leave? Possibly. Drown myself? Not over them.”
Them who? Her family or the thugs?
CHAPTER 14
“Do I have any appointments tomorrow?” Lex asked Paula as she followed him into his office.
“I rescheduled them all before you left for St. Martin. Most of them were okay with next week.”
“Good.” He walked around the desk and pulled open a drawer. “I’ll be working from home, so send me the files on Valley View Towers and Calaveras Estate.”
“Mr. Calaveras is not returning our calls. He’s out of town and his assistant refuses to confirm it, but I know someone who knows someone in his office.”
Paula and her sources never ceased to amaze him. He was convinced she belonged to a secret organization of personal assistants who traded information. David Calaveras owned the property adjacent to Valley View Towers, a high-rise they’d acquired last year but hadn’t started restoring. It was an old building in Culver City with an interesting history. He planned to restore it, not dismantle it, but he needed the land around it to make that happen.
“Calaveras is in Vegas,” Paula continued. “He won’t be back for another week.”
“Get him on the phone.” Lex sat and plucked his private cell phone from his waist.
Paula moved closer, furrows on her brow, honey-brown eyes apologetic. “I’ve tried. He’s not in any of the hotels or resorts. Maybe he’s staying with a friend.”
That was possible. The man had a serious gambling habit. High rollers like him always had friends arranging private lodgings and games.
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll find him. Just place the files on the shared folder and mark them so I can find them easily.”
He dialed his mother’s number. He’d hoped to tell her to start planning his wedding, but he wasn’t sure where things were headed with Jillian. He was pleased she’d agreed to come home with him, but that didn’t mean jack. She might have done it to avoid her brothers.
“Lex. This is a surprise,” his mother said.
“I have to cancel tonight, Mom. Something came up that I have to deal with.”
“Is everything okay?” Concern laced her words.
“Yes, nothing for you to worry about. I’ll take care of it, and we’ll be back on track.” He and Jillian. He must find a way to gain her trust.
Estelle chuckled. “Work and more work. That’s all you ever do, my darling. If I hadn’t met Jillian, I’d be convinced you never date. Don’t worry about me. I have plenty to keep me occupied.”
“I still need your help with a project, Mom. Do you remember David Calaveras? He used to play golf with Uncle Sean when I was young.”
Estelle laughed. “Of course I remember Calaveras. He cut quite a dashing figure in those days. A confirmed bachelor. Flying here and there on a whim. He owned a few horses and would place the most outrageous bets on them.” She laughed. “He had an eye for horseflesh and always won.”
“Would he talk to you if you contacted him?”
“I don’t know, dear. He and I haven’t spoken since your father died. What is this about?”
He explained about the property and the difficulty he was facing contacting Calaveras.
“Leave him to me. I heard he built a magnificent house in Vegas, and I just happen to know who can get him to talk to me. What do you want me to do? Get his number or close the deal?”
Lex grinned. He’d known she would bite. “Close the deal.”
“Send over the contract and everything you have on the property,” she said, Estelle Fitzgerald businesswoman taking over. She gave him a few more directions, reminding him of the days he’d worked under her. “I still have that sharing software your people installed on my laptop. It’s full of folders of pictures of my grandchildren now, but I’m sure I’ll recognize a new folder when I see it.” Silence followed, but Lex knew what was coming. She was about to slip back into Mom-mode. “It would be nice to have a folder with your name on it too, Lex. I hate to push, but I’m not getting any younger and I don’t want to miss out on knowing your children.”
Lex imagined little girls who looked like Jillian. Pretty. Stubborn. Opinionated. After seeing Jillian with her niece, he was convinced she’d make a wonderful mother. “Soon, Mom,” I promised.
“I hope so, dear. Okay, send the files. Calaveras will not know what hit him.”
Lex chuckled at the excitement in her voice. “Give me a second. And thanks for helping with this.” He hung up, grabbed his tablet from the drawer, and started to stand up when it dinged. He swiped a finger across the screen and went through the files.
“They are all there,” Paula said, entering his office. For the next half hour, she pointed out a few things various departments had sent her, but Lex was impatient to leave. If she said the file was complete, it was. Until he knew what had happened at Jillian’s house, he was uneasy leaving her alone for too long.
“Send a copy of the Calaveras Estate file to my mother. In fact, give her everything you have on the project. She’s taking it over. I’m officially on vacation starting now.” She didn’t seem surprised that he was taking work with him. He always did while she ran his office in his absence and acted as the liaison between him and his employees.
“I’ll be back on Monday.”
“Going anywhere special?” she asked, following him out of his office.
“Yeah, upstairs.” This time, he got her. Her eyebrows rose in question, but he didn’t explain. He’d never worked from home before, but there was a first time for everything. He was sure the entire executive floor already knew Jillian had picked him up from the airport last night. Paula was just too discreet to openly bring up Jillian’s name. “I don’t want to be disturbed unless it’s absolutely necessary.”
He headed for the elevator. The house was quiet when he entered. Too quiet. He expected Jillian to still be in the tub, but as he started across the bedroom, he noticed the bump under the blanket. He changed directions.
It wasn’t even five and she was fast asleep, curled up with her arms tucked under her chin. He couldn’t help thinking she was warding off blows. Fury built up inside him. Life could be cruel, but a loving family made it bearable. Hers was hurting her instead. Why?
He leaned down and pressed a kiss on her forehead. She sighed and shifted, and that was when he noticed the tears slipping under her eyelids.
His hands fisted, the urge to punch something blindsiding him. What the hell had her family done to her to make her cry? Lex pulled up a chair from the reading area, sat by the bed, and gently stroked her face until she calmed down. Something else registered as he covered her. She’d borrowed one of his T-shirts. His favorite. He’d bought it the first time he skied K2.
Reluctantly, Lex left her side and peeked into the bathroom, but she’d drained the water and tidied up. Even her clothes were nicely folded and placed on the lounge. Her cell phone was now in the garbage.
Whatever her family had done must have hurt her deeply to make her not want to talk to them. But how did the thugs who’d paid her father a visit and hundreds of thousands of dollars fit into it?
For the rest of the evening, Lex stayed on the deck and worked on the new Valley Towers p
roject. He checked on Jillian periodically. The tears didn’t restart, but she still didn’t wake up.
He called Eddie later in the evening and spoke briefly with his wife before Eddie came on the line. Lex listened to his cousin and grinned. Jillian’s assessment of Low Rider had impressed him.
“I want to meet her, Lex,” Eddie said. “Maybe she could consult for Leeds.”
“You can meet her next weekend at the family dinner. Whether she agrees to consult for Leeds is up to her.” Actually, he had a feeling Jillian might enjoy that. He could talk to her, but she might be more receptive if the offer came from Eddie. Jillian didn’t trust easily and he didn’t want her questioning his motives, especially after his reaction to her present job. “Ask her when you two meet.”
“Why can’t you do it?”
Eddie wasn’t a people person, which was why he needed Lex. “Because Leeds is yours, Eddie. As soon as you say the word, I’ll step down and remain in advisory capacity only. Consider my shares a gift to your daughter and son.”
There was silence, then, “Are you serious? You’re talking about millions of dollars, Lex.”
Lex chuckled. “I never joke about money. Besides, if you offer Jillian a job and she accepts, I wouldn’t want her working for me.” The hypocrisy of his statement didn’t escape him. As long as they had the fake-wife contract, she was working for him. “You can drop the name Leeds and go back to FMC if you like.” FMC stood for Fitz Motorbike Company.
Eddie laughed. “Damn, man. That’s generous, but Leeds is catchier.”
“No, it’s not. I’m hoping you’d make a one-of-a-kind bike for Jillian as a wedding present and agree to stand by my side with Chase and Baron.”
This time, Eddie whistled. “Wedding? You found the one?”
Lex grinned. “I did. Now I just have to convince her.” Amy had a tough time convincing Eddie that she loved him because his cousin had some fucked up pre-conceived notions about love. Lex hoped that wasn’t the case with Jillian.
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