by MacKay, Cali
She pulled back to look at him, worry darkening her eyes and creasing her brow. “Hey…you okay? What’s happened?”
“Where were you, sunshine?” He hated asking like he was some sort of jealous dick of a boyfriend. And maybe he was. But given everything that was going on, he wanted answers.
Her eyes narrowed just a little as if wondering why the hell he was grilling her like some sort of possessive asshole, although she answered him anyway. “Ben texted to see if I was still up for dinner, but I figured I’d rather spend the evening with you, so I met with him for coffee instead, since I needed the caffeine and it’d get me off the hook for meeting with him later. Why? What’s going on? You look totally out of sorts, not to mention just a little drunk.”
So she’d been with Ben. But was it really just to catch up quickly over a caffeine boost? Marshall couldn’t help but wonder if she’d found the files she needed on his laptop and was handing them over, knowing he’d be busy with his panel and the conference. Fuck, but he hated himself for thinking it of her, even if he had a right to think it.
“I’m sorry…I’m being an ass.” Which was nothing but the truth. “Did you have a good time, at least?”
“Yeah…I suppose. It was nice to see him again, since it’d been awhile, but…it was just coffee.” She gave him a shrug and slipped her arms around his neck, concern still lining her face. “Marshall…what’s going on? You can talk to me, you know.”
Could he? He just didn’t know anymore. But one thing was certain—he needed to get a grip and convince her that everything was fine, until he knew otherwise. Because if it turned out to be someone other than Harper—and he sure as hell hoped it was—then the last thing he wanted was to ruin things between them.
Marshall had meant it when he’d told her he was falling in love with her, and though he knew it’d happened quickly, he didn’t care. He loved her. There was no changing that. Which was why he needed to keep Keane’s suspicions to himself. And if it did turn out to be her, he’d be nothing short of devastated, not to mention it’d have him questioning his judgment when it came to women.
The mess with Claire was bad enough. He didn’t need to add another stupid mistake to it, to really make him feel like a gullible idiot. So he’d do his best to pretend there was nothing truly wrong, even if it felt like the walls were crashing in on him.
“My brother called about some business stuff, and it’s a pain in the ass trying to deal with certain things when I’m not there in person. But there’s nothing to worry about, and I’m sorry if it put me in a shitty mood.” When she bent her head to his, he stole a kiss, the physical connection between them seemingly the only thing that could soothe and distract him from his troubles.
“Just promise me you’ll talk to me if it gets worse or it becomes too much.” She played with his silk tie before loosening it. “I meant it when I said I loved you, Marshall, and I’m here if you need me. No matter what.”
He wanted to believe her—and so he did—until he couldn’t do otherwise.
“I do love you, Harper…more than you know.” He wanted to trust her, wanted things to go back to how they’d been just hours ago, when, no matter what problems they were dealing with, Harper was still the sunshine on a dark and miserable day. So how the hell could he just pretend that everything was normal between them?
She pursed her lips, still looking worried, and then bit her bottom lip. “Do you need to fly back to Portmore? I can stay behind and handle whatever business you have left to wrap up, if that’ll help.”
He hated that instead of seeing the gesture as one of offered help, he was instead left wondering if she was offering to stay behind so she could meet up with Ben again.
Fuck…what the hell was he doing?
Doing his best, he let go of the tension knotting his muscles and managed a smile, cupping her face as he tried to see her once more as the person he’d fallen in love with. “I appreciate the offer, and though it might be a good idea to head back home, there’s nothing I’d need you to stay behind for. I’ll have them get the jet ready for tomorrow, if that’s okay with you.”
“Yeah…of course. Although you really do have me worried about you, Marshall.” At least her concern seemed genuine—which made him feel like an ass for questioning why she was with him. “This doesn’t have to do with your ex, does it? Or…the baby?”
“No. Though Claire keeps showing up everywhere I’m at, I’ve managed to avoid talking to her.” Maybe if he told her a portion of the truth, it’d allow him to judge her reaction. “I don’t remember if I told you, but I have my brother working with a security company to try to narrow down who the mole is.”
“Well, that’s good. Have they figured out who it is?” Harper didn’t seem worried, at least. That had to mean something—unless she was a half decent actress. Given that he didn’t want to think she was involved, could he really trust his judgment when it came to her?
“They’re getting closer, but nothing concrete yet.” He didn’t want to tell her that they’d narrowed it down to her department. But why? So she wouldn’t get suspicious and cover her tracks? It was fucking insane, and it pissed him off to no end that he was having to analyze every look, every touch, every word out of her mouth.
“I still can’t believe someone at Clio would do that, but…maybe you need to relax—let your brother deal with it for now. You have me worried about you.” Trailing kisses and bites from his ear to his neck, she slipped her hands down his chest and started undoing the buttons of his shirt. “We haven’t used that massive tub yet…maybe a bath—among other things—would help to relax you.”
“Maybe.” There was one thing he wanted to do first, though. Doing his best to put on a good face to keep her from worrying, he shifted her off his lap and got up, stealing a quick kiss before turning her around and playfully slapping her ass. “Why don’t you draw the bath and get started, and I’ll join you in just a bit. I have a few things I need to take care of first. And don’t forget to grab a vibe, Ms. Jones. I do believe you’ve been slacking on your research.”
She shook her head as she laughed. “That space has been occupied by your hard cock almost exclusively since we got here, so if it’s anyone’s fault that I’m slacking in my duties, it’s yours.”
And just like that, their little bit of banter had his heart hitching, leaving him to wonder how he could possibly suspect her. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he hauled her to him for a kiss, claiming her mouth once more, as her soft curves pressed against his body, his hard cock trapped between them, desperately searching her out. His tongue danced over hers as her hands fisted his shirt and he swallowed her needy moans, so he couldn’t think of anything but what was between them. By the time their kiss came to an end, he couldn’t think straight. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus and try to keep a clear head.
“Off with you, sweet girl. By the time I slip into the hot water next to your naked body, I want you to be able to give me a full report.” He grabbed his favorite of the vibes they manufactured and handed it to her, loving that she still blushed even after all they’d done together.
“You really are a brat, Marshall.” And then with a sway of her hips and a flirty glance over her shoulder, she headed off, leaving him behind to try to figure out what the hell he was going to do.
Grabbing his cell, he called his brother. “Keane…please fucking tell me you have more news. This is killing me.”
“We’re still zeroing in on things, but…fuck, man…it’s not looking good. Everything points to Harper Jones, though I’m trying to make sure that someone else isn’t setting her up to take the fall.”
“How far back does the evidence go?” Marshall needed to know when this all started. Ben had recommended she apply for the job at Clio, but was it to get her into the company so she could steal their designs, or was it something more recent?
“We’ve only found more recent stuff, to be honest, but that’s not necessarily conclusive o
f anything. We may not have uncovered the evidence yet or she may have been doing a better job of covering her tracks early on.” Keane let out a weary breath. “I’m sorry, Marshall. I really am. I know you’ve been through a lot as of late, and this is just one more headache.”
“I’m heading back to Portmore tomorrow. We’ll deal with this then, though if you find anything else, let me know.” He hung up with Keane, pacing the floor as he tried yet again to slow his racing thoughts.
When he saw the folded papers sticking out of Harper’s purse, he knew he had to have a look, even if he felt like a shit for doing it. Things were dire, and he had to find out if she was the mole. Given that she’d been out with Ben, he needed to know whether or not he could trust her.
He glanced towards the bathroom door. The water was still running as he turned back towards her purse, blocking it from view should she come out. The papers weren’t completely hidden, but then she hadn’t expected him to already be back in the room. He pulled them from her purse—and his heart sank.
Fuck. He wanted to punch something. Wanted to put his fist through the fucking wall. Wanted to erase the evidence that was quickly mounting.
It was an offer to have her become a partner at a new sex toy company—and the amount they were giving her was beyond generous. Why? Because she was brilliant at her job? Or was it a payment of some sort for being the mole?
He heard the door open behind him. “This vibe needs a charge, so…” Her words trailed off as he turned to face her, his chest tight with hurt and anger. “What are you doing with my papers, Marshall?”
Chapter Twenty
Harper was stunned, standing there naked without even a towel to cover herself, as the man she’d fallen in love with stood there holding papers that had been in her purse. “What the hell’s going on?”
“I suppose I could ask you the same thing.” The papers were still fisted in Marshall’s hand, his body tense and his gaze fierce. “I want a fucking explanation, Harper. Because there’s a mole in my company, and my brother’s trying to tell me that the evidence is all pointing in your direction.”
It felt like he’d just gutted her with a jagged knife, her body shaking with the shock of his accusation. “You mean to tell me that you actually think I’m the mole?”
With his jaw clenched, he looked away from her, his eyes squeezing shut for a moment before turning his icy-cold gaze back to her, making her feel all the more naked with the sudden turn of events. “I’m trying to find evidence that would prove that you’re not the mole, and instead I find this—and from a guy who works for one of the competitors that I suspect has stolen our designs.”
“He wanted me to come work for him at his start-up—and I said no. I couldn’t possibly think of working for someone else when I’m in love with you—because, silly me, I’m loyal that way.” When her voice cracked, it left her choking back a sob as she fled for the bathroom, locking it behind her as the tears streamed down her face. She sat there, on the cold tile floor, with her back against the door, trying to stifle her cries as her heart shattered.
“Harper…” Marshall knocked on the door, and she could tell he was just on the other side of it, which only made matters worse, since she wanted nothing more than to go back to the way things were when she’d woken up that morning. “We need to talk. Could you please come out here?”
“Fuck off, Marshall.” How could he think her capable of such a thing? How could he say he loved her, and then suspect her of betraying him? She had opened up to him, she’d taken a risk by falling in love with him, especially after all she’d been through with Josh, and he’d made her believe they could be happy. “How could you think me capable of such a thing?”
“Do you fucking think this has been easy on me? Well, it hasn’t, Harper. And if the evidence is all pointing to you, then you can’t blame me for wanting to take a closer look.” She could hear the pain in his voice, but there was also uncertainty there—uncertainty about her, about them, about their time together—and that was what killed her.
She choked back one last sob, doing her best to harden her heart against the pain, and then forced herself to pull it together. It wasn’t as though she wasn’t used to crumbling relationships and dealing with heartache. And now would be no different. She’d been a fool to think her life could change, to think that being happy would be anything but fleeting.
Wiping her tears away, she turned off the water, which was still filling the tub, and then got dressed, though she wasn’t sure how she could face him, how she could look at him again and not be reminded that he didn’t trust her. She just had to grab her things and get the hell out of there.
With her hand on the cold brass knob, she squeezed her eyes shut against the burning tears and took a deep breath to steady herself, before pulling the door open.
“Harper…” Marshall grabbed her wrist as she tried to slip past him.
“Don’t touch me, Marshall.” She tried to pull free of his grasp but he wasn’t letting her go.
“Can we please talk about this?” He turned her towards him so she was forced to face him, though looking him in the eyes only sent her tears streaming down her face. With a sigh, his hold on her softened and then, when she didn’t bolt, he reached up and cupped her face, drying her tears, his touch only fueling her emotions.
“What the hell is there to talk about if you could not only think me capable of that sort of betrayal, but actually think I’m guilty of being the mole?” Her hurt was now spiked through with anger, making her a furious mess. “I took a risk on this thing between us and opened up to you, let down the walls that were keeping me safe. And the first chance you got, at the very first opportunity to question our relationship, our love, you did just that instead of trusting what was between us—instead of trusting me.”
“I was hoping to find something that proved you were innocent, Harper, so please don’t go thinking the worst of me.” She’d give him credit for truly looking distraught over the whole thing, but he’d broken her heart and tossed away her trust, and she didn’t think she could ever look at him again and not feel crushed by the pain.
“If you wanted to prove my innocence, then maybe you should have started by speaking to me, rather than snooping through my things.” She turned away from him and grabbed her things off the dresser, tossing them into her suitcase.
“Could you please stop so we can talk about this? For fuck’s sake.” He grasped both her hands to keep her from packing up more of her things, and sat them down on the edge of the bed so they were eye to eye, though she could only look at him through shimmering tears. “You know I didn’t want to believe it was you—but when you came back from your meeting with Ben, it caught me off guard, especially when I’d just given you the passcodes to my entire life. You had access to everything, and Keane said there was evidence on your computer and your desk back at Clio. What the fuck was I supposed to do, Harper?”
“You’re kidding…back in Portmore?” She felt the blood drain from her face. What the hell was going on? “I don’t know what they could possibly have found, Marshall, because I have never betrayed you or Clio. I would never. And you should fucking know that.”
“Well, I’m fucking sorry, Harper. I know this thing between us happened quickly, but…it’s not like we really know each other all that well. You said you had problems you were dealing with. It’s not exactly a stretch to think that you’re desperate to get your father treatment and decided that stealing our designs would be lucrative enough to give you the cash that you need.”
“And that’s part of the problem—that I did fall for you awfully fast. But I guess I was nothing but a fool to think we’d connected on a different level…one where the little things we didn’t know about each other didn’t matter because we were in love. That we’d still have time to discover what we didn’t yet know, because we already had what was important.” What a fucking idiot she’d been. “But I guess that’s not going to happen, because there’s nothin
g more to say. And just in case you’re worried about firing me, don’t bother. I quit.”
“Harper…” He twined his fingers with hers, but even that felt halfhearted, as if he still didn’t know whether she was telling him the truth. “Can we please just get back to Portmore so we can get this sorted out?”
“As far as I’m concerned, there’s nothing to sort out. And I get it, Marshall. I really do. This is your company. But it doesn’t make it hurt any less and it doesn’t mean that things aren’t over between us.” She pulled free of his grasp, and with tears streaming down her face once more, she packed up the rest of her things.
Without a second glance at Marshall, she left him there and walked out the door—and he let her go.
***
Harper took a taxi to the airport and sat there, not quite sure what to do. She was already an emotional wreck, and the chances of her actually making it onto the plane alone and managing to control her fears were slim to none. She swiped at her tears, and with shaky hands, pulled out her cell, hating to bother anyone with her problems.
If anyone would come to her rescue, it’d be her twin cousins, Hawke and Archer. Though she was the poor relation of the family, the twins had a small fortune at their disposal, and the truth was that if she got desperate enough for her father, they were the ones she would have turned to—not stealing designs from Clio for money. As it was, they’d offered time and again, but she didn’t want their money. However, right about now, she’d happily take whatever help Hawke or Archer could give her in talking her down off the ledge, her nerves about flying just too much to handle.
“Archer?” Simply hearing his voice when he answered his cell had her choking back her tears. “I need your help.”
She explained that she was sort of stranded in London, attempting to get on a plane alone, and just needed him to talk to her, to distract her and tell her she could do this…just until she was calm enough to get on the plane.