Bedazzled (The Beguiling Bachelors Book 1)

by Madison Michael

  “That easy to tell?”

  “Maybe not to everyone, but I could see you hurtin’. Want to talk about it?”

  For the next thirty minutes, Keeli poured her heart out to Sarah. She told her how brilliant and funny Wyatt was, how sweet and caring, how incredibly good looking and sexy.

  “So you slept with him?”

  “Oh yeah,” Keeli responded with a candor and expression that told the whole story.

  “What the hell happened?”

  Once the story of the star-crossed lovers had been relayed, Sarah sat in stunned silence while Keeli mopped her eyes. She had asked question after question, made suggestion after suggestion of how things might still resolve themselves.

  “I give up,” Sarah finally uttered. “I can’t see a way out either. It is so sad. He will marry a woman he doesn’t love and you will be heartbroken. It is so unfair.”

  They sat in companionable silence for several minutes.

  “Keeli, maybe you should just go see John Remington. He is a good guy. And he inherited a very big farm, very profitable. He’s pretty handsome too, you might recall. I would love to have you back home.”

  “Not you too. Traitor,” Keeli teased, but it broke the mood and the two girls returned to the house arm-In-arm.

  Sarah and Daniel took the kids and headed home, a lovely house built on the other end of the large Larsen property. Keeli returned to her room, unpacked her few personal possessions and laid out the studio materials her brothers had carried up from the car. Digging for her sketchpad, she started doodling anything that came to mind, drawing a profile of the dog, the branches of the reddening elm tree outside her window, the light fixture over her head. The sketches were to relax her more than anything else, but she was hoping for inspiration too. None came.

  By dinner, the family had fallen into their usual pattern. Conversation ebbed and flowed through a hearty meatloaf dinner and then Keeli, James and their mother gathered in front of the television in silence. Soon James was texting furiously and announced he was heading to Boondocks for a beer and some live music. He suggested Keeli tag along.

  “Come see all your old friends. It’ll be a blast,” he suggested. Keeli looked to her mother.

  “Go on. It might be fun to see everyone.”

  Saying goodnight, the siblings headed to the local bar and meeting spot while James filled Keeli in on his new girlfriend. She had to admit it sounded serious.

  “It’s weird to think you might marry someone,” she admitted to James.

  “No weirder than you getting married,” he countered. “And Mama can’t wait for that day.”

  “Don’t you dare start that again, James, or you can just drop me off right here.” Since they were on a long dark road in the middle of nowhere, Keeli knew that James would know it for the idle threat it was.

  “If you want to avoid this conversation, Keeli, you better high-tail your butt back to Chicago.”

  “I will start searching for an apartment tomorrow.”

  James was still laughing when he parked at the end of the street and they wandered into Boondocks, moving past the wooden booths and video slots to make their way to bar. Andy waved from behind the bar and welcomed Keeli with a draught beer. Soon all her old school friends surrounded her, laughing, hugging and catching up on old times. Her mother’s dreams for her were put on hold, at least for tonight.

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SIX

  Regan had no idea what she was doing sitting in a strange lawyer’s office, but Wyatt knew he could count on her to be there once he told her it was urgent. Still, she could be stubborn and so when he and Tyler strode in together, he was relieved to find her she has already arrived. In typical Regan fashion, she was sitting in the impressive waiting room, tapping one impatient foot. Wyatt could almost hear the wheels turning in her brain, making to do lists and cursing that she was wasting her time at some useless meeting.

  But when he looked again, Wyatt realized that while her foot might be tapping, the look on Regan’s face was not that of a woman consumed with work. Rather, she looked remarkably like a woman consumed with Tyler.

  Even Wyatt could admit that Tyler looked like he had just walked off the pages of GQ. Not a hair on his head was out of place and with his impressive height and whipcord muscles, and in that Zegna suit, he looked compelling. But Regan had known him her whole life; they were like brother and sister.

  Or maybe not.

  Looking from one to the other it was obvious to Wyatt that they were not staring at each other the way siblings do. Regan’s mouth had fallen open and a flush had risen becomingly to her cheeks. She was checking Tyler out from stem to stern, like a piece of meat, and she obviously liked what she saw.

  Wyatt knew that things had changed for Tyler too. In the last year, Tyler spoke of Regan more frequently, and with increasing interest. He watched her with a soft expression or leered with blatant desire. Wyatt hoped it was just his imagination, but it felt like the man fairly smoldered around his sister.

  Wyatt hoped the two could tame this unexpected lust long enough to participate for the next hour. This was a business meeting for heaven sake. He didn’t want to have to deal with the repercussions of this discovery now, nor did he want his sister and best friend to embarrass either him or themselves.

  Regan greeted both men with a dry kiss on the cheek and got straight to business. “What am I doing here, Wyatt? And what the hell is he doing here?” She tipped her head to indicate Tyler.

  “I have a name you know,” Tyler taunted back.

  “Just sit tight, Regan, you will know soon enough and I would rather not say anything out here,” Wyatt motioned to the receptionist sitting not far away. Wyatt recognized a game of flirtation when he saw one, but he was surprised that his sister had started it, not Tyler. This could get very interesting.

  Wyatt pushed aside any more thoughts about the two of them. At some point he knew he would have to wrestle with how he felt about Tyler and Regan as a couple. While they were two of his favorite people in the world, he felt protective of his sister, and he knew every salacious detail of Tyler’s previous dealings with women.

  “Wyatt.” A distinguished man of about 40, small in stature and obviously of Asian descent, walked toward them and shook hands with Wyatt. From that moment on, Wyatt was focused on the matter at hand.

  “And you must be Regan,” he said, taking her hand in a firm handshake as well.

  “Tyler Winthrop.”

  “Jonathan Chen,” the man introduced himself and motioned toward the conference room visible down the hallway. “Can I get anyone coffee or water?”

  Beverages noted by the receptionist, the four settled around the polished glass table. Wyatt was relieved to see that Jonathan had everyone’s attention. They were all back in their professional personas.

  “So, Wyatt, I spoke with Matthew per your request, and now I have looked into things a bit myself as well. I believe we can help you.”

  “Really?” Wyatt asked hopefully.

  “Help with what? Who are you?” Regan interrogated.

  “Sorry, Regan, let me start at the beginning. Your brother met my partner Matthew at Theo and Dylan’s wedding last week and they got to talking. He mentioned he was engaged, and then Matthew met his charming fiancé, Sloane, who called their engagement a business deal. You brother has asked our firm to help get him out of this ‘business deal’, and I believe we can do just that.”

  “Oh, that explains it,” Regan interrupted, speaking over Tyler’s “I knew you didn’t love her.”

  “In his efforts to get released from the engagement, Wyatt came to me about some contracts your father entered into with Mr. Huyler. The two fathers are using this deal to force the marriage. I am an attorney specializing in international contracts. I focus on China, so I offered to review the contracts looking for a loophole.”

  Wyatt jumped in at this point to provide more detail. “When Father was sick, Sloane’s father approached him about a large expan
sion into China. Father was asked to invest in the operation, which seemed completely legit. Father invested both personally and on behalf of LHRE. Since then, it has come to light that the Huylers are paying large, very-illegal kickbacks to the Chinese government and are likely guilty of patent infringement as well.

  “I don’t believe it,” Regan sat stunned.

  “Believe it, Regan. The proof is right here.” Jonathan tapped a finger on the stack of papers in front of him.

  “But, I cannot believe Father would make you marry Sloane.”

  “If your father tries to break the contracts, the Huylers are ruined. If the contracts become public, your father is ruined. Marrying the two families seemed like a good insurance policy,” Tyler explained.

  “Just what are you doing here, anyway?” Regan was getting testy. “Where is our lawyer, Wyatt?”

  “I don’t want the Lyons Howe lawyers to know we are trying to break these deals. Moreover, Tyler is here because he is about to become the new General Counsel for Lyons Technical Software Solutions. I want him to understand what we are up against. Father is both my biggest investor and my biggest customer. It will take down my new company if these deals get investigated.”

  “Wow, I had no idea,” Regan admitted, deflated by the bad news. “We’re ruined.”

  “No Regan, the good news is that you are not. I have reviewed each contract carefully – there are three – and they all share the same terms and conditions. One of the conditions states that Huyler Industries will not conduct any illegal activities. Another says that they will comply with all US and international laws. The have breached both of these terms allowing Lyons Howe to break the contracts without penalty.”

  “But what is to stop Huyler from going public and ruining LHRE anyway?” Tyler probed.

  “The confidentiality clauses are airtight, Tyler. Mr. Howe could sue Huyler Industries for a fortune if they breach confidentiality.”

  “Oh my God,” Wyatt sat stunned. “We are going to get out of this aren’t we?” Regan watched as reality crossed his face. He was free of Sloane.

  “I will draft the necessary papers and send them to your father for signature. We will need to engage the LHRE attorneys at that point too. Then we can send them over to Huyler. The whole thing should take about a month, Wyatt. Then you and your family are free.”

  “I cannot thank you enough,” Wyatt surged forward to grab and pump Jonathan’s hand enthusiastically.

  “Oh sure you can, Wyatt. You’ll get my exorbitant bill soon.”

  The group laughed and filed out of the room. Saying their goodbyes in reception, Wyatt suggested they head around the corner and grab lunch. Regan suggested a short drink instead, needing to get back to the office.

  They were very excited, talking over each other as they entered the quiet bar at the JW Marriott. Sitting close to each other, hugging the corner of the large bar so they would not be overheard, they congratulated each other on their successful meeting and toasted.

  “To a close call,” Wyatt offered.

  “In so many ways,” Regan added.

  “To Jonathan,” Tyler chimed in and they saluted the lawyer who had just given them such good news.

  “So, Tyler,” Regan turned to catch him in her steely gaze, “you are jumping ship and joining my brother? I hope your father handled it better than mine did.”

  “I think your father is happy with how things turned out, Regan. He is a key investor in a new business that is showing incredible promise and he has a new president that is way more talented that the old one.” Wyatt punched him playfully in the arm. “And way more beautiful.”

  Regan blushed five shades of red before smiling shyly at Tyler. They locked eyes and Wyatt had to interrupt to get them to look away from each other. He felt like a parent chaperoning a teen’s date.

  “I am free of Sloane. Hallelujah,” Wyatt cheered, engaging them both in the conversation.

  “You know, man, I owe you a big apology. I always thought she was right for you but since the engagement she has been a grasping bitch.”

  “I always knew she was a grasping bitch,” Regan bragged. “But I thought you might care for her so I kept my mouth shut. Then you started talking about the artist and I realized you might really be in love. It was very confusing when suddenly you were engaged to Sloane instead.”

  “Well, I think now I have blown it completely with Keeli. She won’t take me back, and honestly, guys, she was perfect for me. I didn’t even care that she was poor. I could tell she wanted me, not my money. I offered her financial assistance to get her business off the ground, but she wouldn’t accept my help. She insisted on doing it herself.”

  “You guys will help me get over her, though, right? You both should be very pleased that things didn’t work out.” Wyatt was bouncing his leg nervously against the barstool and shredding the cocktail napkin. Tyler recognized all the signs. “I know neither of you thought she was good enough.”

  “Do you want to get over her?” Regan was never one to mince words and Wyatt flinched visibly. “I guess if that is the case, if what we want is more important than what you want…”

  “You should call her, Dude,” Tyler offered finally, deciding to put Wyatt out of his misery. “You can be pretty irresistible when you want to be. And I promise to be nicer to her the next time. I was a dick.”

  “Yeah, you were. It doesn’t matter. She is gone. Her home phone disappeared, she moved out of her place. Her neighbors won’t tell me how to find her, and her roommates are on their honeymoon.”

  “Really? Now who is being a dick? You are going down without a fight?” Tyler challenged Wyatt just as he had since they were seven years old.

  “I want to fight, damn it. I love her. Help me. I don’t know what to do.” Wyatt dropped the shredded napkin to run his hands through his hair, distraught.

  “Did you ask Missy?” Regan queried in a small, innocent voice, knowing she was about to drop a bombshell.

  “Why would I ask Missy?” Wyatt looked at her in complete confusion, but with a tiny ring of hope in his voice.

  “They are, like, best friends now, Wyatt. You didn’t know?” Regan was delighted to watch the shocked look move from Wyatt’s face to be replaced by sheer joy.

  “And no one told me?” Wyatt pretended to be incensed but could not hide his excitement. “This is fantastic. Missy will know where she is.”

  “You better wait until you break off the engagement, Wyatt,” Tyler advised, laughing and slapping Wyatt on the back.

  “Yeah, Ty is right. Oh and Wyatt,” Regan broke into a satisfied grin, “don’t expect to get that huge ring back.”

  “Small price to pay, baby sister, small price to pay.”

  CHAPTER THIRTY-SEVEN

  “It will be broken by tonight, Father. She always considered it a business deal.”

  “Yes, well, it’s for the best then. You’ll forgive my high-handedness, I hope.”

  “Certainly, Father, we have moved past that already, correct?”

  “Of course, Son, of course. You turned out to be right about Regan,” he flashed her a contrite smile. “She is good at the helm of LHRE. And I can see that you are thriving at Lyon Tech. I j can only hope your mother forgives me when she finds out. She was craving another big society wedding. It has been too long since Melissa’s. But your mother also wants you to be happy. She thought Sloane was a bit of a cold fish.”

  “Really?” Regan looked shocked.

  “Of course she was a cold fish. We all thought so.” This was surprising coming from his father.

  “She had her moments of charm and grace,” Wyatt admitted. “But she was very calculating. Even more than I imagined.”

  “Well, we would still love to see you settle down, Ivy. Your mother and I could use a few more grandchildren. From both of you.” Wyatt III gave both of his children a gruff look.

  “Well, Father. I happen to know a lovely woman. Perhaps she would like to help with that. And that reminds
, me, I need to find Missy.” Grinning broadly, Wyatt turned on his heel and headed for the backyard.

  He had not seen Keeli in almost two months. He missed her every single day, thought of her every single day and now he could not wait to make up for lost time. He could already feel the softness of her skin under his fingertips and smell the combination of floral and fresh that was uniquely her. He could taste the sweetness of her kisses.

  Finding Missy, he demanded without preamble that she give him a way to contact Keeli. She refused.

  “Do you understand what I have been through for the last two months?” Wyatt queried, glum-faced.

  “First I had to find a lawyer to get us out of those stupid contracts with the Huylers. Then I waited patiently while he took care of everything. Then two weeks ago, I was finally able to break off my engagement with Sloane without repercussions to our business or our family. Then I went round to her place in Logan Square and rang the bell. Then I rang all the bells. Some ogre finally released the door and I was heading in when the old man hollered to me.

  “’Can I help you?” he asked in a chilling voice. He was clearly not amused.

  “I told him I was looking for Keeli, told him she lives in 2C.”

  “’She lived in apartment 2C you mean? She moved out. Last to go. They are all gone now.’ He was very curt with me, very rude.

  “I told him I had no idea she moved and politely requested a forwarding address. Do you know what this guy said to me? ‘Do I look like the post office?’”

  Missy started laughing, covering her mouth in an effort to hide her mirth, but to no avail.

  “Missy, this is not funny. Come on, help me out. I know you know where she is.” Wyatt was pleading.

  “If she didn’t answer your text or calls, she doesn’t want to see you, Wyatt. And if she doesn’t want to see you, I cannot help you.” Missy was firm even though she was sympathetic. Frankly, she could not understand why Keeli was not responding to Wyatt’s pleas to see her, but she was not responding to Missy either, so as her friend, Missy did not dare get in the middle.