by Emily Duvall
“No way.”
“Luke, please.”
“You’ve been loyal to your brother. Now let’s see how loyal he’ll be to you in return. My name alone will open doors of opportunities. My clients are some of the wealthiest in the world. They have the resources to have someone else go scatter across the globe and look for gemstones. Your boss said it herself, after you’re finished working for me, you can return to your position at the Growing Tree if you choose. Or, if you want to go somewhere else, you’ll be able to work anywhere in the world, at the location and company of your choosing. The tourmalines are part of my offer. Put them back in my hands and we can go our separate ways.”
“Say for one crazy moment that Mark did take them. What if I can’t get them back? What happens to the letter of support?”
“You will get nothing.”
“Nothing?” Melanie tried to keep up with all the questions swimming around in her head. “What about my salary?”
“I’ll still pay you. I’m offering to double your salary. That was the agreement I made with Linda. My lawyers have already faxed over a letter of intent. I promised to take on the financial responsibility. Your boss, I’m sorry, your ex-boss, did not agree to this until she saw in writing the donation I offered to her company to close the deal. The position I am offering you is once-in-a-lifetime. You know this. As for your brother, I’m willing to bet he’ll be freed from prison only to wind up back on the inside. He’s the repeat offender type.”
“Watch what you say about him around me.”
“The chance I’m offering you will not come your way again. Make a deal with me.”
The promise of something more—the need for something darker lingered in his gaze. She felt herself cave at what else he would ask of her. What he wanted from her and not trusting herself to say no. “What if I can’t give you an answer?”
Luke’s hand brushed over her hand at her side. The tip of his finger touched her thigh. “Yes or no.”
Twelve weeks in Maui. More money than she’d make in the next two years. Plus, access to Luke’s resources. She took his hand. Her heart hurtled. She could do this. No turning back. “Yes, we have a deal. I want this in writing.”
The worry on his face vanished, swapped out by an all-business demeanor. “They are already drawn up and waiting for your signature.”
Chapter 7
“What will you have?” Latonya said, wiping down the last of the pots and pans. The chef of the house insisted on handling all of her own cleaning, instead of directing a fully-staffed kitchen. Her mother had raised her to be in charge of all aspects, right down to drying a pan. The cleaning part was as important as the cooking. Latonya set the pan to the side. “I’ve got jumbo shrimp scampi, linguine with clams, or I could grill something for you.”
“Thanks, but I’ve already eaten,” Luke responded upon entering his kitchen, after having made the deal with Melanie. The lawyers worked at the very moment putting together Melanie’s contract.
Unconvinced, she set down another pot on the composite countertop. The oversized light fixture above the island mimicked several layers of blue and green strips, like individual ocean waves. The kitchen counters shone under the blazing light. No crumb dared to show a bumpy face, no fingerprints smudged the refrigerator, and not a germ hid in the sink. “You look like you need a drink.”
Luke lifted his hand as Latonya started to go the refrigerator. “I’ll get my own.” A tall glass of beer seemed appropriate to Luke, who drank very little, unless entertaining or out with clients. He grabbed a bottle of Sam Adams off the shelf and took the chilled glass handed to him by Latonya.
The heavyset black woman with hair neatly pulled back in a ponytail, handed Luke the bottle opener. “You want some company?”
Luke took a seat at the counter. A long sigh escaped his mouth. “You’ve worked for me for some time.”
She hummed low. “Worst six years of my life.” Latonya pulled a jar of salted mixed nuts from the pantry, poured them in a bowl, and set them in front of Luke. “You’re going to need a new dishwasher soon. I’ll put in the order with Kendra.”
“You practically designed this space, pick out whatever you want.” Luke dabbled in cooking now and again. Each time he got a little better under Latonya’s mentoring. He found cooking relaxing and a good escape from appraising and selling gemstones.
She sighed heavy with her shoulders. “What’s bothering you?”
“I hired a speech therapist today.” An overly salted almond caught Luke’s attention and he picked around for more.
Latonya began wiping down the counter around the sink. “I heard about the unexpected visitor. News travels fast around your house. Is she really—?”
“Yes. Melanie Cahill.” The name rolled off his tongue familiar and strange, a name he hadn’t said in a long time. Her name wasn’t one he expected to say today. She’d walked through his doors and landed herself a job all in the span of the sun rising and setting.
The towel under Latonya’s fingers stopped. Sharp disapproval lit up her face. “Excuse me, but why would you hire the sister of the man responsible for an attempt on your life?”
Luke took another swig of his beer. “I’m well aware of the history I share with this woman.”
“You’re either up to something brilliant…” she paused, and shook her head, “…or you have a death wish.”
“You could be right.” The woman he’d confronted tonight wasn’t the dispirited, routine woman he’d known intimately. Today he’d seen something bolder in her gaze from the moment she’d walked through his doors. The effect of her irresistible face stayed with him even now. Her eyes and that body. A current ran through him at the thought of touching her. He should have sent her home right away.
“You’ll find out either way.” She raised two sharp eyebrows at him. The towel folded under her quick fingers and she placed it on the counter. She continued to talk while opening the refrigerator and selecting a beer. They did this sometimes, they talked like friends. “Have you kept up with Melanie?”
“We lost touch.” He left it at that.
She took a seat next to Luke with her opened beer bottle. The fat gold wedding band on Latonya’s ring finger showed small scratches under the light and she twirled the band out of habit, even though she’d lost her husband three years ago. “Well, what are your intentions for Ms. Cahill? Is she really capable of helping Vivian learn to talk or are you suddenly lonely?”
“So you’ve noticed Vivian’s lack of speech too.”
“I notice everything.”
“Then you know that I wouldn’t hire Melanie under false pretenses. Turns out, she’s extremely qualified. What are the chances? I’m simply…” Luke said, stumped, “I’m curious to find out what’s become of her.”
I’ve also got business to address.
“Curiosity is a dangerous creature. It’s a big black cat slinking down the street at night staying in the shadows all hissy with claws out and fangs for teeth. Be careful what you choose to sink your teeth into. You don’t want to bite into something poisonous.”
“I’ve been bitten by poisonous spiders, never a woman.” Luke chuckled. “Melanie isn’t her brother.”
“Still, family vengeance is the worst kind. I’ll be keeping my eye out for you.” She raised her beer a little. “On a different topic, we’re leaving for Maui soon.”
“Yes, we are.”
It didn’t take long for Latonya to switch the topic to business. “Breakfast and dinner are covered for everyone in the house. The house guests are on their own for lunch. We’ll work around the dinner parties and socials Kendra has planned. Unfortunately, you’ll be getting little rest. There’s an event almost every night leading up to the week of your brother’s wedding. Thankfully, Damon’s bride is handling everything for her side of the family. Felicity has already provided me the details of what she wants for the wedding rehearsal and wedding reception.”
The label on Luke’s be
er bottle loosened under his finger and he pulled at the sticky wet paper. “My vacation doesn’t sound much like one. I should switch places with Brent and go look for a gemstone on the other side of the world.”
“You miss the chase of the hunt, I know you do.”
He couldn’t argue with her statement. “Make sure all the bills for Damon and Felicity’s wedding come to me. I want them to have whatever they want.”
“I’m surprised he’s getting married at all.” Latonya picked up the two used bottles, walked over to the utility door, and tossed them in the recycle bin. “I’m going to head out. You need anything else?”
“No.”
She lowered the lights, removed her checkered apron, and hung it up on her hook. “I’ll see you at the airport.”
“Good-night, Latonya.” Luke’s phone began to beep. Email notifications popped up on his phone screen. Heavy footsteps grew quieter down the hall, until Latonya left through the front doors. The house settled into the noiseless night, interrupted by no one, not even Vivian’s loud footsteps or shrieking laughter.
Luke rested his elbows on the counter and read through his messages, none of them urgent. The thought of Melanie sleeping a short drive away occupied his mind. Tomorrow, he reminded himself, he’d see her in the morning when she came over to sign her contract. The initial thought to hire her had been nothing serious when they’d been standing by her car. Melanie had looked too good to let go. She’d enticed him with one seductive smirk. He’d like to rediscover what those lips would feel like on his again. He would also have his work cut out. Melanie still stood by the idea of her brother’s innocence. She’d get him back those tourmalines to prove a point, to get something in return. Whatever happened in between, he’d be damned to send her away for a second time.
Luke got up from the stool and left the kitchen. Moonlight gouged through the windows in the hallway where he walked to get to his bedroom. He bypassed the windows and saw the eerie, chalk-white scene of the outdoor tables and chairs. Melanie was back. Somehow, he knew he wouldn’t sleep tonight.
* * * *
The following morning began on noise overload the instant Vivian hopped out of bed and ran down the hall, squealing high-pitched and announcing her presence. She slammed every door in the hallway before running downstairs. Stevie’s heavy footsteps pounded after Vivian and she caught up to her in the kitchen. Luke lifted his mug of coffee to Stevie, Vivian’s longtime nanny. “Good morning,” he said.
Vivian flung into the kitchen, speeding and laughing. She sped up at the sight of Luke in the corner table. He put down his coffee. “There you are.” He tried not to laugh at Stevie rounding the corner after her, too slow to keep up.
Halfway to Luke, Vivian tripped over her own feet and clocked her forehead on the corner of the counter. “I’ve got her!” Stevie yelled and caught her fall before Luke could scoot back his chair.
Deafening silence filled the room a split second before Vivian let out the loudest scream they’d ever heard. The small lips of hers quivered and tears poured from her face. Stevie held her close and ran her aged hand over Vivian’s head. She whispered words of sympathy between Vivian’s cries. One of the chunky blocks of quartz on Stevie’s bracelet captured Vivian’s attention. The tears and shuddering breath subsided as she picked at the large, pale pink stone surrounded by tiny diamonds.
Luke walked over and kneeled down in front of his daughter. He awkwardly patted her on the head and glanced up a Stevie. “Do you want me to take her?”
“I’ve got her.” Stevie shook her wrist and the bracelet looped closer to Vivian.
The bracelet charmed Vivian and everyone breathed a sigh of relief, everyone except for Luke. Frustrated with himself, he stepped back. The daughter he’d fought for primary custody of felt more comfortable with the nanny. Vivian didn’t go to him when she was hurt. Much of the time, she treated him like a stranger. He remembered what Melanie had asked him yesterday and he looked at Vivian and asked, “What’s your name?”
Vivian didn’t bother looking up from Stevie’s bracelet.
“She’s only two. Give her time,” Stevie added.
“I know.” Luke brushed his hand over Vivian’s rosy cheek. The vacation would be a good chance to spend more time with her.
Luke stalked out of the kitchen, distracted by another round of notifications on his phone. He walked through the kitchen doorway without looking up and smack! The sharp edge of his jaw hit someone’s forehead and his phone crashed on the ground. “Watch out,” he griped.
Melanie stooped to the ground and picked up his phone. “Don’t bother moving. I’ll get my own bag,” she snapped.
The sight of her caused Luke to grin. She looked sexy and tempting and irritated. He assumed the irritated part had something to do with him. Which gave him satisfaction. He liked knowing he could get to her. “Good morning,” he said back to her, “and I’ll get your bag.” He bent down and picked up the large tote bag, chuckling at the heaviness. He transferred it to Melanie’s waiting hand. “What do you keep in here, a dinosaur?”
“Yes. The kind that jump out and rip people to shreds. I didn’t get much sleep. There’s a lot to go over.”
“You could have slept here,” Luke said, straight-faced.
“You could have called me seven years ago.” Melanie patted her bag. “I spoke with my other boss, the woman I will be returning to work for at the end of the summer, and she emailed me some materials, documents, and evaluation forms. I’ll have to buy some supplies and toys once we get to Maui that will be essential for my sessions with Vivian.”
“Buy whatever you want. I’m paying.”
“You don’t have to remind me you’re footing the bill. Now, are the papers ready to sign? I’d like to get something in writing before you take anything else from me.”
“You’re eager to work for me. Good.” He crossed his arms over his chest. The shade of rich color of her eyes, like brown zircon, drew him in. “I thought you would change your mind.”
“I did, several times.”
He could see she wasn’t lying. “Why did you show up then?”
“I’m eager to prove you wrong about my brother.”
“Let’s not waste another minute then. The papers are ready and waiting for your royal signature. I told you they would be. My lawyers live for my unpredictable requests. They don’t know what to do with themselves unless I have a last-minute, complicated request.”
“Luke—”
“Mr. Harrison,” he corrected happily and enjoyed the flash of provocation cross her face. No need to make her think she had any special privileges. She could call him Luke in bed. And she would.
“Mr. Harrison,” she responded in a drawn-out voice. “Are you sure this is what you want?”
He heard the honesty in her voice and decided to be straight with her. “You are exactly what I want.” Let her interpret his words anyway she wanted.
She blushed and looked to her bag. “We’re talking about work.”
“Always.” Luke steered her by the elbow. “Let’s go to my office.”
They walked down the hallway to his office and found Kendra waiting outside the door. She raised a sharp eyebrow and her lips dropped to a frown. “Hello.”
“Melanie Cahill, this is Kendra Wright, my personal assistant. The two of you met yesterday, unofficially. Ms. Wright is your contact person for everything.”
Both Kendra and Melanie stepped forward at the same moment and their shoulders bumped together, bringing them to a standstill. “After you,” Kendra said unhappily, and motioned Melanie inside Luke’s office.
The three of them sat down at a large, rectangular table off to the side. Kendra placed several documents stapled like a booklet in front of Melanie. “These are standard hiring documents, tax forms, personnel documents you’ll need to fill out first. Usually, our new hires have a few days, but we’ll be leaving for Maui tomorrow morning. The details of the trip are outlined on page twenty-two. I must
have everything signed, sealed, and delivered to our lawyers within two hours. I’ll go over all of these documents with you.”
Luke put aside his flirtatious mood and switched to a serious tone. He never joked when the topic impacted his business. “One of the core principals of all my employees is confidentiality. Gemstones are in high demand and you may hear or be told information about certain trips Brent is out following up with tips at any given moment for whatever gemstone we are looking for. We have high-end clients. We have people giving us a lot of money to find something rare. There’s a level of discretion I expect from all of my employees. You must sign an agreement indicating that you understand any information relating to my company, whether personal or business is not for public knowledge. You are not allowed to talk about your work to anyone, including your brother.” The stern expression on his face matched his voice when he spoke next. “Your position is highly sensitive. You’ll be working closely with my daughter. I have exceedingly high expectations of your judgment when including others in conversations pertaining to Vivian. I am very protective of her.”
Melanie ran her hand over the slate gray tabletop. “I’ve gotten to where I am because of the trust I’ve built with my clients and their families. I know Linda must have told you something when you stole my job. My guess is she said something to sway your decision. So you know,” she said to Kendra, “Linda is faxing over my hiring information, including my background check to work with children.”
“I received those forms an hour ago,” Kendra replied. “I also need a brief job description, in your words. We can change the information later.”
Melanie swiped a lock of hair off her forehead. “You can expect to have regular progress reports for Vivian. When I get to Maui, I’ll give her a formal evaluation and I’ll set goals for her, along with your input, Mr. Harrison. We will all be held accountable for helping Vivian succeed. I can help give her the push she needs to develop her language and skills, but my time with her won’t produce miracles. Each adult in her life has a part to play in helping her meet her goals.” Melanie flipped through the document and gave the details a cursory glance. “I see here that Vivian has a nanny.”