Maddie shot him a look, then turned back to Michelle. “And they just showed up out of the blue?”
“Oh, no. They phoned first, but they were in the area, and Mr. Ware told them to come right over. And he told me to send them right in when they arrived even though he was still talking with his mother.”
“Dorothy Ware was here?” Maddie asked.
“She still is.” Michelle put her fingers to her temples. “I was supposed to fetch you from the workroom, but I forgot. Then we all got distracted by the filming. Mrs. Ware too. She had a lot of questions for Mr. Dunleavy. She’s waiting in Jordan’s office to talk to you.”
Maddie’s nerves began to jitter the moment that she entered Jordan’s office and saw Dorothy Ware sitting ramrod-straight in one of the chairs. The older woman was wearing a linen suit in raspberry red, a pair of black patent-leather pumps and her hands were resting over a designer clutch bag on her lap. It was ridiculous to be intimidated just because she looked as if she’d just come from a cover shoot for Vogue magazine.
Reminding herself of the things that Cho had told her and of how she’d felt when she’d been working on the pendant her mother had designed, Maddie circled around Jordan’s desk, sat down in the chair, and folded her hands in front of her. “What can I do for you, Mrs. Ware?”
“I’m here because I want to know what your plans are for my son. He doesn’t seem to have the capability or the ambition to ask that question himself. If he’s not marked for success here, his father can always find a place for him at Ware Bank.”
The cool detached way Dorothy Ware was speaking about her son and his future sent a little chill through Maddie. “From what I’ve seen, Adam is a talented designer and he’s been very successful here.”
“Not successful enough for my sister-in-law to leave him the business. And when I called him a few hours ago, he felt threatened. I had to cancel a very important meeting to come over here. Carleton and I are chairing a fashion show to benefit a new children’s cancer wing at Mount Sinai Hospital.” She glanced at her watch. “I’m due back there right now. So I’d like to clarify this matter once and for all.”
What matter? Maddie wondered. “Adam didn’t look threatened when I last saw him. In fact, he appeared to be excited and very engaged with the man in his office.”
“Yes. Adam introduced me. Mr. Dunleavy wants to feature Adam in a TV show.” Dorothy raised a well-manicured nail and pointed it at Maddie. “That ought to give you some idea of how valuable Adam is to Eva Ware Designs. Eva depended on his genius.”
“I know how valuable Adam is.”
Dorothy met Maddie’s eyes steadily. “He believes that you intend to take over as head designer and push him out.”
Maddie drew in a deep breath. “I don’t know where Adam got that idea. For the next three weeks all I intend to do is fulfill the terms of my mother’s will.”
“I understood that you were to merely step into your sister’s shoes and do her job. Jordan doesn’t work in the design part of the business.”
Maddie raised her chin. “Well, I do. And I intend to work with Cho Li to bring the sketches my mother left to fruition. However, I have no intention of getting rid of Adam or pushing him out. From what I’ve seen he’s a brilliant designer. I assure you his job is secure.”
There was a beat of silence, then Dorothy Ware rose from her chair. “Thank you. If Adam was able to speak for himself, I wouldn’t have had to waste my time with a trip over here.”
Maddie managed to suppress a shiver until Dorothy Ware had swept out of the room and Jase had closed the door. “Is it my imagination or did the temperature in the room just warm up a few degrees?”
“She’s a cold one,” Jase murmured. “I wonder if Adam ever pleases her.”
“We’re not seeing any of them under the best conditions. The terms of the will must have thrown everyone in the family a curve ball.” She turned to him then and gave him a speculative look. “Speaking of curve balls, Adam seems to be completely caught up in this reality-TV thing. Did you have something to do with it?”
Jase smiled slowly. “You’re a sharp one, Maddie Farrell. What tipped you off that I had something to do with it?”
“The timing. It was very convenient. Do they work for you?”
“Duncan Dunleavy is my younger brother, D.C. And the man toting the video camera is my partner, Dino Angelis. I phoned and asked D.C. to come up with a distraction while you were working with Cho.”
“It’s not going to be pretty when Adam finds out it’s all a hoax.”
“No worries,” Jase assured her. “When the time comes, D.C. will have a plausible exit strategy. It won’t come back to bite you. And it may give Adam the time he needs to stop feeling so paranoid.”
Maddie rose, walked to him. Then, rising on her toes, she kissed him lightly. “Thanks.”
Jase found it took some effort not to grab her and deepen the kiss. Later, he promised himself. Then he wondered how much longer he could wait.
MADDIE SANK onto one of the luxuriously upholstered couches in the ladies’ room. With D.C. and Jase’s partner filming, the only way Maddie could get Michelle alone was to bring her here. The restroom was a true lounge. In addition to three stalls as well as a double sink, there was a comfortably furnished outer sitting area. A mirrored wall allowed ample room for retouching makeup, and Michelle was making good use of it. Maddie made a mental note to use some tomorrow. In Santa Fe, she rarely bothered with anything more than a moisturizing sunscreen and a touch of lipstick.
When Michelle finally turned, Maddie said, “Before we go back out there, would you mind if I asked you a question?”
“Anything. I can’t imagine how difficult this must be for you, and Adam is being so rude.”
“Does that surprise you?”
Michelle shook her head. “No. He’s very absorbed in his work. In himself. But he doesn’t treat Jordan the way he’s treating you. Maybe it’s because you design jewelry and he sees that as a threat to his position here at Eva Ware Designs.” Michelle glanced at her watch. “I’d better get back. I’m not supposed to be away from my desk for long.”
“Just one question,” Maddie said. “I’m assuming that Eva kept some sort of appointment calendar?”
“She had a Palm Pilot.”
“I’d like to see it. I don’t want anything important to slip through the cracks while I’m here.”
Michelle grimaced. “The Palm Pilot should be in her desk drawer—top right. That’s where I put it each time I updated it from her desktop. But she never really got the hang of it. She always used one of those old-fashioned leather-bound books with a ribbon to mark the current page.”
Something tightened around Maddie’s heart. She reached into her tote and pulled out her own day planner. “Was it like this?”
Michelle’s eyes widened. “Just like it.”
“Do you know where I could find Eva’s?”
“That’s yours?”
Maddie nodded.
Michelle thought for a moment. “Eva always took it home with her at night. I imagine it would have been with her…effects. Jordan might have a better idea.”
As she followed Michelle out of the room, Maddie reminded herself that she needed to talk to her sister.
LEANING AGAINST a doorjamb, Jase watched the two women walk out of the restroom. A ringing phone had Michelle rushing for her desk.
It was only as Maddie drew close that he noticed how tired she looked. Little wonder with the emotional roller-coaster ride she’d been on all morning. There were dark smudges under her eyes. He reached out and rubbed a thumb over one of them. “Tough day.”
“But I’m making progress. I just learned that my mother kept an appointment calendar in a book very similar to mine.”
Jase tucked a loose strand of her hair behind her ear. “Like mother, like daughter.”
She swallowed. “Maybe. I’m still getting used to thinking about her as my mother. And every time I do, I ca
n’t help but wish I could have met her, talked to her. Had a chance to work at her side.”
Jase traced a finger along her cheek. “I know.” He experienced a sudden urge to take her away and give her a break. Give them both a break.
Behind them, the phone rang again, and Michelle said, “Eva Ware Designs.”
Maddie glanced around. “Where’s Adam?”
“They’re in the work studio. D.C. wanted to get some footage of the designer at work. The reality-TV gig should keep Adam out of your hair for a while.”
“Jordan?” The excitement in Michelle’s voice had them both looking at her.
“Yes. Yes, she’s right here.” Turning to Maddie, Michelle continued, “It’s your sister. Why don’t you take it in her office?”
Maddie hurried into the room and picked up the phone.
Closing the door, Jase said, “Put it on speaker.”
Jordan’s voice filled the room. “Maddie, something terrible has happened. Are you alone?”
“No,” Maddie said. “Jase is here. I’ve put the phone on speaker so he can hear.”
“Jase is back?”
“I’m right here, Jordan. We’re in your office. What’s happened?”
“It’s Maddie’s design…” Jordan’s voice broke, and suddenly there was a man speaking on the other end of the line.
“Maddie, this is Cash.”
The cowboy, Jase thought as he stepped closer to the desk. “Jordan never cries,” he muttered to Maddie. He raised his voice. “Is Jordan all right?”
“She’s fine. Who are you?”
“Jase Campbell.”
“Jordan said you were in South America.”
“Maddie said you were out on a cattle drive.”
“I’m back.”
Maddie stared at Jase. Not only had he tensed up, but he’d used a more polite tone with Adam.
“Is Maddie all right?” Cash asked.
Maddie shifted her gaze to the phone. There was an edge to Cash’s voice too. “I’m fine. Put Jordan back on—or better still, push the speakerphone button.”
“Maddie?” Jordan’s voice was stronger now. “I don’t want you to worry. I can get it all fixed while I’m here. As far as we can tell, nothing was stolen. I wasn’t even going to tell you about it, but Cash said I had to.”
“Tell me about what?”
“Your design studio. Someone broke into it and…destroyed everything.”
Maddie felt Jase’s hand close around hers, and she gripped it hard. “But you’re all right?”
“She’s fine,” Cash said. “She told me about this will her mother left. I was thinking that perhaps someone vandalized the place to upset you enough to have you flying back here. Or perhaps to scare Jordan so she would leave. So stay right where you are, Maddie. I’m going to stick close to Jordan for the next three weeks. We’ll hire Mitch Cramer to repair the damage. And I’ll get one of my men to stand guard.”
“Cash, you insisted Jordan tell us because you’re afraid that something similar might occur on this end too?” asked Jase.
“Something like that.”
“Good thinking.”
Maddie studied Jase. The tension she’d sensed in him earlier had faded.
“You should stick close to Maddie,” Cash said.
Jase squeezed Maddie’s hand. “I intend to. We’ve got some bad news on this end too.”
“What? Has something happened at the store?” Jordan asked.
“Everything’s fine at the store except that Adam isn’t happy that Maddie’s here.”
“Surprise, surprise,” Jordan said in a dry tone.
Maddie exchanged a look with Jase and saw the quick flash of humor in his eyes. She might not have known her sister for very long, but she sounded more like Jordan now than she had when she’d first called.
“It’s not good news,” Jase warned. “You might want to sit down.”
“I’m fine standing.”
Maddie kept her fingers laced with Jase’s as he told Cash and Jordan about the investigation into her mother’s death.
“It wasn’t an accident.” Jordan’s voice was steady, and since it wasn’t a question, Maddie and Jase remained silent. “The police are investigating a homicide.”
“A possible homicide,” Jase corrected. “I have a hunch the hit-and-run is connected to the break-in and robbery at the store. Your mother and I both suspected that it was an inside job.”
“She never mentioned that to me.”
“I don’t think Eva wanted anyone to know.”
“Who in the store would do something like that?” Jordan asked.
“That’s the million-dollar question. Any ideas?”
“No,” she replied.
“She hired me to look into it, and I told her I could put someone on it while I was in South America. She refused the offer. She insisted I handle it personally. Hindsight is twenty-twenty. I think she had some idea of who the thief was.”
“Then she definitely would have followed up on that,” Jordan said. “Eva Ware Designs was her baby. If she was right and someone on the inside had robbed the store, she would have wanted to avoid scandal at all costs. I wouldn’t have agreed. That’s probably why she never mentioned it to me. Maybe I should fly back.”
“No.” Cash, Jase and Maddie spoke in unison.
For a moment there was silence. Then Maddie said, “Remember why we agreed to change places, Jordan. I’ve only just seen the store and Eva’s workplace, but you don’t want her work and her legacy to die. I don’t want that either. And you haven’t had a chance yet to explore the ranch.”
“Okay. Okay, you’re right,” Jordan agreed.
“And I’m working with Jase,” Maddie continued. “We’re going to find out who did this.”
“What can I do to help?” Jordan asked.
Maddie was relieved to hear that her sister’s voice was calmer. “Eva’s appointment calendar—the leather-bound volume—we’re trying to locate it.”
“That old thing. Even with Michelle’s help, I couldn’t drag her into the twenty-first century.”
“Where is it?” Maddie asked. “Michelle said she took it home every night. Do you know where we could find it?”
“She always put it in her tote bag.” There was a pause at the other end of the line. “When I picked up her stuff at the morgue, I couldn’t bear to bring any of it back to my apartment. So I dropped the box off at hers. You’ll find everything in the front hall closet. Why do you want it?”
“If she confronted whoever it was she suspected, she may have noted it in her calendar. It’s the kind of thing that I would do.”
“If you’re right that someone at Eva Ware Designs murdered Eva, and he or she discovers that you’re looking into it, you could both be in mortal danger,” Cash commented.
“Yeah,” Jase said.
There was a knock on the door.
“Just a minute,” Jase called out. Then he said, “We’ve got to go.”
“You take care of Maddie,” Cash said.
“You got it,” Jase said. “Same goes for Jordan.”
“Got it covered.”
As the connection went dead, Jase said, “I like your Cash Landry.”
Maddie raised an eyebrow at him. “Good to know that he has your stamp of approval. I like him too. He’s been like a brother to me. And he’ll take good care of Jordan. It’s thanks to his careful instruction that I was able to knock you on your ass this morning.”
Jase grinned at her and slung a friendly arm around her shoulder. “I don’t think he has the same ‘brotherly’ feelings toward your sister. And she’s such a city girl.”
Maddie was still trying to absorb Jase’s implication when the knock sounded at the door again.
“Yes?” Jase said.
Michelle popped her head in. “I’m about to order in for lunch. Would you like me to get something for you?”
Before Maddie could answer, Jase said, “Nah. I’m going to take Madd
ie out for lunch. I think she needs a break.”
9
JASE’S IDEA of a “break” was an impromptu picnic in Central Park. Maddie was delighted. The morning had been intense and so much had happened, her mind was still whirling with it. They’d used the 60th Street entrance, and the first thing that had caught her eye was the long line of tourists waiting for a horse-and-buggy tour.
“Don’t even think about taking a carriage ride,” Jase said.
“I wasn’t.”
“Liar. I can tell by the way you’re looking at those horses. If you want, we can come back tonight when the traffic is lighter. In the meantime, you need something besides chocolate chip cookies to sustain you.” He waved a hand at the array of vendors hawking their wares. “What are you adventurous enough to try?”
She met his eyes. “Surprise me.”
“Do you have objections to onions?”
“Not as long as you eat them too.”
With a laugh, he leaned down and kissed her. It was brief, friendly, and it shouldn’t have made her knees melt. Still, she couldn’t trust her legs to carry her, so Maddie stood where she was and watched Jase join a long line at a hot-dog stand. Even at a distance, she could feel the strong, steady pull he had on her senses.
And on her.
What had happened in his bed had connected them in a way that she’d never before experienced with a man. And over and above the strength of the chemistry that existed between them, she was beginning to know him as a person.
He’d made his way to the head of the line, and as she watched, he leaned against the cart and said something to the man behind it that had the vendor suddenly grinning. Beneath that easygoing, laid-back persona he projected lurked so many other qualities. She’d glimpsed the hint of recklessness in his eyes and there’d been a no-nonsense toughness in the way he’d initially handled Cash on the phone. There wasn’t a doubt in her mind that Jase could be ruthless when he wanted to. But she’d also been on the receiving end of his kindness. She thought of the way he’d searched the kitchen for Jordan’s stash of cookies, the way he’d hailed a taxi to save her from having to walk over twenty blocks in Jordan’s killer shoes, and of the creative way he’d gotten Adam Ware off her back for the time being.
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