Drawing Hearts

by J. M. Jeffries

  Kenzie glanced in shock at her grandmother. Miss E. was hesitating over how to deal with Louisa because Louisa had implicated her father in the theft.

  “Why?” Jasper asked, sadness in his gaze.

  Louisa’s face twisted with anger. “The Mariposa should have been mine.” Her voice rose with the depth of her anger. “I brought my friends here. I talked about the casino to everyone and urged them to come here. I worked for you to keep it afloat.”

  “You would have run it into the ground,” Jasper said. “You’ve never been interested in managing all this. All you wanted was your own personal ATM. Miss E., Reed and Lydia are bringing the Mariposa back to life again. It’s thriving.”

  “I don’t have to listen to these unfounded accusations.” Louisa turned, but Scott rose and went to stand in front of the door.

  “Sure you do,” Reed said.

  “Who are you?” A brilliant smile appeared on her face. She tilted her head flirtatiously at Reed.

  “I’m Reed Watson, one-third owner of the Mariposa and the man who can prove your guilt.” He smiled.

  “Aren’t you cute,” Louisa said, running a hand down her hip.

  Reed simply looked disgusted and Kenzie rested her hand on his knee. Louisa had no idea how immune he was to her charm.

  “I have your financial records,” Reed continued. “You have a trust fund your father set up for you with twenty millions dollars in it. You have a trust fund from your grandparents with another twenty million in it. And your mother set up yet a third trust fund for you. Easily, even in today’s economy, that’s four million dollars a year for you to live on.” Reed glanced down at the laptop screen. “Though I can understand why you find it difficult to stick to your budget when you purchase thousand-dollar bottles of champagne in one-hundred-bottle lots.”

  “How dare you pry into my personal business.”

  “How dare you take money from my pocket,” Reed countered. “How dare you threaten the livelihood of every employee at the Mariposa.”

  Louisa lifted her chin. “I don’t have time to worry about the little people.”

  Kenzie gasped. Her grandmother’s mouth fell open in surprise.

  Jasper looked shocked. “You are not my daughter.”

  “Promises, promises,” Louisa said with an airy wave of her hand.

  Miss E. stood. “You owe the Mariposa seventeen million dollars and your father an apology.”

  “To be exact,” Reed said, “the figure is $17,400,231.13.”

  Louisa shrugged, tilting her head, appearing unconcerned.

  Kenzie wanted to gouge her eyes out for hurting Jasper. Jasper was a nice man and didn’t deserve this. He’d worked hard to give this unappreciative woman a good life and she’d repaid him by stealing from him.

  “You will make restitution,” Miss E. continued.

  “Don’t worry, Eleanor, I’ll pay back the money,” Jasper said.

  Miss E. turned at him and glared, her hands on her hips. “No. No. You will not get your daughter out of this jam.” She turned back to Louisa. “If you choose not to repay, I’ll sue you in open court and the whole world will know what you did.”

  Louisa looked surprised. “You don’t get to speak to me like this.”

  Miss E. marched up to the other woman and glared. “What I want to do is turn you over my knee and give you a good spanking, and I’ve never spanked or hurt anyone in my whole life.”

  Tears welled up in Louisa’s eyes. Kenzie watched dispassionately. Louisa glanced at every man in the room, trying to look miserable. Kenzie glanced at Reed and realized he was grinning. A second later, Reed burst out laughing. Even Scott’s lips trembled with amusement.

  Miss E. started laughing, too. “Do you really think we’ll be taken in by your crocodile tears?”

  Louisa stiffened. The tears disappeared and anger contorted her face.

  Miss E. returned to her chair and sat down. “Now, sit down, Louisa. We have a lot to discuss.” She glanced at her watch. “My lawyer will be here in a moment.” On cue, Scott opened the door and Miss E.’s lawyer, Vanessa Peabody, entered.

  Kenzie gave Vanessa a little wave and grinned. Vanessa sat across from Kenzie and smiled back as she opened her tote and pulled out her tablet and a file folder.

  “Now,” Miss E. said. “The terms of your repayment will be worked out with Miss Peabody. You are banned from the Mariposa for the rest of your life. You’ve caused a lot of resentment.”

  “I will fight this,” Louisa said.

  “You may if you wish,” Miss E. said. “But keep in mind, some of your other secrets will come out.”

  “Such as?”

  “Your association with a known criminal who tried to steal the ten-million-dollar jackpot from the casino last year. Your meddling in the renovations of the restaurant when you pretended to be Lydia and changed the cabinet order and the flooring. Need I go on?”

  Louisa refused to look defeated. She glared at everyone. “I will sign this for you, Daddy. See, I’m a good daughter.”

  Jasper didn’t say anything. Kenzie’s heart went out to him at the sadness and hurt in his eyes. Miss E. gripped his hand tightly. He shook his head.

  “I tried to be a good father to you, Louisa. I really did.”

  Louisa made no reply.

  Chapter 14

  Reed set his laptop down on the conference room table. Only that morning this room had been the site of Louisa Biggins’s downfall and he couldn’t help thinking about the woman and the look on her face once she’d realized her deception had been discovered. There’d been no remorse, only arrogance. Reed had reserved his pity for Jasper. His father had once told him that even good parents could have bad kids for reasons that had nothing to do with the parents.

  He couldn’t stop smiling as Kenzie eyed him curiously. Reed opened the laptop, turned it on and motioned her to come closer and see the presentation he’d prepared for her. He was deeply delighted he’d been able to make everything work just the way she wanted. He wanted to please her, to show her what he could do with her idea. He’d succeeded in ways he hadn’t even expected. He could see a hundred different applications for the core component of the software and how it could be used in many different ways.

  “So you fixed the software,” she said.

  His smile grew wider. He’d not only fixed, but improved the software. “Take a look.”

  She leaned over his arm, her orchid-and-vanilla perfume spinning about him. One of the things he liked best about her was her scent.

  “Let me show you.” He ran a finger over the touch pad. “I spent the morning in your store talking to some of the customers. I took their photos and Bianca chose five dresses she thought would look good on each of them.” He clicked on one. “And by the way, don’t ever fire her.”

  “I hadn’t planned on it,” Kenzie said, amusement in her voice.

  “She can pick out women with money to burn and of the five dresses she chose for them, two of the women bought all the dresses and one bought three dresses and the last one bought one.”

  He clicked again and the first woman popped up. She was tall and curvy with shoulder-length brown hair swept back behind her ears. Diamonds sparkled around her neck and on her hands. “Dress number one.” He dragged the dress to the woman’s photo, her head superimposed over a template that was closest to her body type. He chose a dress from the open window on the side of the screen and dragged it over to her. The dress conformed perfectly to the woman’s figure.

  Kenzie clapped. “Wonderful.” She leaned closer and he caught the sweetness of her breath.

  He showed each dress Bianca had chosen for the woman and grinned when Kenzie leaned against him. He went through the other women and showed Kenzie how each template conformed to their specific body type.


  “This is so perfect,” Kenzie said. “I’m stunned and amazed.”

  “It got me thinking how perfect this would work as a phone app.” He started clicking on the second woman and showing her how the dresses conformed to her shorter, more slender figure. The third woman was a plus size, as Bianca had explained to him, and each outfit looked perfect on her. “I could do this for shoes and lingerie.”

  Kenzie covered her mouth with her hands, her eyes wide with joy. “I knew you could fix it.”

  Reed turned to her and grabbed her into his arms and kissed her. She returned the kiss enthusiastically and heat spiraled outward. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed tight against him.

  This woman had become something so much more than he’d expected. She had become not only a woman he wanted, but a partner. I need to marry her. For a second, he was so stunned at the thought of marriage he couldn’t move forward.

  “You are a genius,” Kenzie said turning back to the laptop.

  “I am, aren’t I?”

  She laughed. “And ever so humble.”

  “I’m going to call the app Kenzie Shops.”

  “I’m an app!” She clapped her hands and planted a kiss on his cheek. “It’ll be on every woman’s phone. Take a selfie and then put clothes on it. Virtual paper dolls.”

  He would have to tinker a bit more with the app idea and pare down the coding to a more manageable size, but it could be done. Suddenly, he was anxious to get started.

  “So,” Kenzie said, “tell me about Scott’s bachelor party.”

  He gazed at her. “I’m a little uncomfortable talking to you about a man’s bachelor party, especially when you’re his sister.” He’d thrown a bachelor party for Arthur. They’d played Dungeons and Dragons for two days straight. Arthur had shown up for his wedding practically asleep until Reed had plied him with a gallon of coffee and then his best friend had been so hyper he couldn’t calm down enough to say his vows.

  “That’s the point. I am his sister and best friend of the bride.”

  “You’re trying to pump me for information, aren’t you?”

  Kenzie grinned. “I would never do something so surreptitious.”

  “What are you doing for the bachelorette party?”

  “It will encompass wine, chocolate-covered strawberries and cheesecake, of which Nina will eat nothing because she has to fit into the dress.”

  “That’s it? You’re basically going to eat.”

  She nodded with a happy smile on her beautiful face. Her dark eyes sparkled as she rubbed her hands together. “That’s every woman’s fantasy.”

  “I’ve never seen you push away from the table.”

  She eyed him with a slight frown. “Was that a judgmental tone?”

  Reed held up his hands. “No. I’ve taken dozens of women out to dinner and watch them push a three-hundred-dollar meal around on the plate. The fact that you eat makes me appreciate you even more.” He silently applauded himself for getting out of that trap without messing up more. He should have learned long ago not to call attention to a woman’s eating habits, but Kenzie took such delight in her food. He’d really meant it as a compliment.

  “Stop looking so worried. I was just pulling your string.” She laughed. “And I enjoyed it.”

  “I can’t tell you about the bachelor party because I don’t know. Hunter planned it.”

  “Hunter! You’re probably going to hunt something big and ferocious with nothing but a toothpick and your wit.” She patted his cheek. “Have fun.”

  “You’re kidding, right?”

  “Be grateful they aren’t hunting you.”

  The look in her eyes told him she was teasing, but he couldn’t help a small burst of apprehension. He’d known her brothers for such a short time he wasn’t certain where he stood with them since he was dating their sister. Staying away wasn’t an option. He would just have to make the best of it.

  He kissed Kenzie again. “The software is already installed on the store computers. And I guess I won’t see you again until tomorrow at the wedding.” He sounded forlorn even to himself.

  “Have a good time at the party.”

  “Have a good time.”

  * * *

  He didn’t intend to stop at the jewelry store situated between Kenzie’s boutiques. He found himself standing in front of the store looking at the rings in the window.

  “Reed Watson,” a man’s voice said.

  Reed glanced up to find Kenzie’s ex, Sam, standing next to him. “Sam Bell, right?”

  Sam smiled at him. “Kenzie is never going to be happy here.”

  “Excuse me?” What was this man talking about?

  “Here in Reno with you.”

  “Where should she be?” Reed asked curiously.

  “Back in New York. Saks is ready to take her back at double her salary. You are preventing her from going.”

  Reed thought about it for a second and decided to play dumb. “I don’t think I follow you.”

  “Kenzie needs Broadway, Times Square and decent restaurants. She’s never going to be happy in this backwater town.”

  Kenzie seemed pretty happy to Reed. “Have you asked her what she wants?”

  Sam shrugged dismissively. “She won’t listen to me, but you have some influence over her, and you should do what any man would do.”

  “What would that be?”

  “See that she’s happy.”

  Reed’s eyes narrowed. He stepped back to study Sam. The man had a look of desperation in his eyes. “I get it now. If you don’t entice her back to New York, you’re going to lose your job, aren’t you?”

  Sam looked startled. “My job isn’t in jeopardy, but Kenzie’s future is.”

  “I read some articles lately about casinos being the new big business. I’m a multimillionaire and some serious things are going to have to happen to cause me to lose my money. So basically, Kenzie has a job for as long as she wants with me.”

  “So you won’t talk to her for me?”

  “Nope. In fact, I’m going to marry her.” Reed walked into the jewelry store.

  He bent over a display case with engagement and wedding rings neatly arranged on white satin fabric.

  “What are you doing?” Scott asked curiously.

  Reed started. He hadn’t heard the man enter the shop. “Just looking.”

  “That ring would look perfect on you.” Scott pointed at a solitaire diamond surrounded by brown diamonds. Reed loved the new colors in diamonds.

  “It’s...it’s...not for me.” The last thing he wanted to admit was his feelings for Kenzie to her brother.

  “It would look great on Kenzie’s hand, too.” Scott pointed at another ring. “Kenzie would like that one more. Wait. Wait. I need to call Hunter and Donovan, we’re going to help you.”

  Reed wasn’t certain he liked that at all. Soon, Donovan sauntered into the jewelry store, followed a few minutes after that by Hunter.

  “What’s all this about?” Hunter asked as he glanced around the store.

  “We are standing in for Nina?” At the confused look on Reed’s face, Scott added, “If Nina wasn’t marrying me tomorrow, she’d be helping Reed pick out an engagement ring for Kenzie.”

  Reed felt claustrophobic with Kenzie’s brothers clustered around him. The jewelry store wasn’t that large and most of the available space was taken up with glass display cases.

  “Are we making this the bachelor party?” Hunter asked, leaning over a case and smiling at a delicate chain necklace.

  “This is the start,” Scott said. “After this, we’re heading out for dinner and drinks.”

  “Actually,” Donovan interrupted, “we’re heading to my house. I’m making dinner. Hendrix already made the dessert.”


  “Is there going to be room for all of us and Nina’s brothers?” Scott asked. “She has five of them. And don’t forget Jasper, and Nina’s dad, who I assume is already there cooking up a storm.”

  “Yeah,” Donovan added. “Dinner tonight is a complete meal of Brazilian dishes with unpronounceable names.”

  Reed had met Manny Torres and sampled some of his Brazilian dishes. Manny was a chef whose food was inspired by his Brazilian roots.

  “The kitchen is huge,” Donovan said. “There’s room for a small army in it.”

  “And brownies, I hope,” Hunter said.

  “Brownies, pies, cookies and chocolate mousse. We have choices. I didn’t know what Nina’s brothers would like so Hendrix made a huge assortment of desserts and stocked a full bar.”

  Reed felt as if he was suffocating. He’d only stopped in on the spur of the moment and suddenly Kenzie’s brothers were taking charge. This was not what he envisioned.

  The brothers dispersed to the different cases, leaning over each one and pointing out what they thought Kenzie would like.

  “So when are you popping the question?” Donovan asked as he nodded to the saleswoman.

  Reed drew back startled. “I wasn’t even planning on shopping for a ring yet. I was just looking.” If Kenzie said yes, he would be marrying her and, in some ways, her family. Once thing he’d admired about the Russell family was their closeness. They had barbecues weekly and it seemed they were all in each other’s business. While he’d envied their closeness, he hadn’t thought about how it would affect him.

  “We’re just here to help you look.” Scott pointed at a ring and nodded at the saleswoman.

  Reed was almost too uncomfortable to focus on what he wanted.

  Donovan patted him on the shoulder. “I know we can be overwhelming at times, but we’re cool with you and Kenzie.”

  The choices were so immense. Reed pointed at a ring. “Kenzie likes rubies, doesn’t she?”

  “She likes diamonds, too,” Hunter offered.

  “What’s your budget?” Scott asked.

  Reed hadn’t even thought about a budget. Until fifteen minutes ago, he’d been browsing to see what the choices were. He hesitated, aware that the three men eyed him curiously. “I only decided a couple hours ago that I wanted to marry her.”