ShatteredTrust_w5401

by Stacey Joy Netzel

  She rose decisively.

  “Nate!” she called on her way down the hall. “You up? I’m going for a run.”

  Receiving no answer, she bypassed her room and knocked on his door. She peeked her head inside and was only mildly surprised to see an empty bed, exactly as it had been since she’d made it the morning before. He was probably sleeping off his own anger—and most likely a hangover—at a friend’s house. He’d been drinking more since Dad’s accident.

  Trying not to worry about that issue, she decided she’d talk to him later and changed into a tank top and some old cotton running shorts. Usually she ran in the evenings because of work, but today she needed a release for her anger.

  Fifteen minutes later, at the popular Mountain Lion Loop Trailhead in Golden Gate Canyon State Park, she got out of her truck and did a few stretches on the bumper, all the while thinking about the letter. Yes, the rafters had been a mistake, and if that was the reason why she’d been fired, then fine. But tell her. Call her in, face to face and fire her like a man. This formal letter shit was so cowardly she was almost glad she wouldn’t be working for Hunter Construction anymore.

  Finished with her stretches, she grabbed her water bottle and went to use the restroom in the visitor center before she jogged the seven mile mountain trail.

  After exiting the building, she shifted into a jog around the corner and ran straight into a wall. At least it felt like a wall. Reeling back, she let her temper take over.

  “Watch where the hell you’re going,” she snapped as she looked up—straight into Justin Blackman’s heart-stopping hazel eyes.

  “Sorry, didn’t see you,” he murmured politely, stepping back.

  Mortification washed over her. Of all people to run into. She was dressed in her ratty shorts and an old tank top and she hadn’t even brushed her hair before tossing it into a ponytail, damn him. Wait a second, Marley, since when do you care what you look like?

  She frowned. When she started forward, he took another hasty step back. The flash of alarm on his face would’ve been comical if it hadn’t been so insulting. She knew she didn’t look the best, but she wasn’t going to infect him with anything. Her annoyance deepened as she moved around him.

  “Are you done or just beginning?” he asked before she could make a clean getaway. She faced him again. He couldn’t tell? Man, she must really look bad.

  “Just beginning,” she said through clenched teeth.

  “Me, too.”

  He looked and sounded way too chipper for her mood.

  “Good for you.” She gave him her back once more and headed for the trail.

  “How’s the hand?” he called after her.

  She flexed her sore knuckles. “Fine.”

  “Want some company?”

  Her step faltered. Run with him? Sweating and panting with him while she fought to catch her breath at eight thousand feet? Yeah, that’s just what she wanted to do after the humiliation of having been fired. She shook her head and resumed her long stride. “I’m not good company right now.”

  He fell in beside her. With a sideways look she took in his running shorts and tank top, noticing his wide chest, bulging biceps, trim waist, and muscled legs. Man, she’d take a whole calendar of just him.

  “I’m not looking for company,” he said. She heard a grin in his voice and looked up to see his smile. Damn, he’d caught her staring.

  Her gaze locked with his. “It’s been a really bad morning, Justin. I just need to run.” His smile faded, and he glanced away. He almost looked guilty, but she had no clue what for.

  “How ‘bout a race?” He swung around and jogged backward in front of her.

  “I’m not going to race you.”

  “Chicken?” he challenged.

  She stopped and put her hands on her hips, regarding him with narrowed eyes. Okay, fine. If he wanted to get trounced this morning, she was in the perfect mood to do a little ass kicking.

  “First one up to the look-out point and back to the visitor center wins. And you have to stay on the trail,” she warned.

  “That’s a given.”

  “Let’s go.” She jogged past with a vengeful smirk.

  “Loser buys dinner.”

  He spoke from right beside her, and she almost tripped. Dinner with him? She glanced over.

  “Just making it interesting,” he clarified.

  Of course, no big deal. It wasn’t like it’d be a date or anything.

  “Winner chooses the restaurant.” He was going to pay dearly for this.

  “Deal.”

  Marley took off and Justin kicked it into gear, thankful he’d thought to challenge her to ward off any suspicion at the guilt he knew had flooded his face. How could it not when he was full of it? Not that it made any sense. He had every right to fire her, not only for her recent mistakes, but because whatever she was up to with his dad couldn’t be any good.

  He recalled how she’d bumped into him, then gone on the offensive. His retreat had been instinctive after last night, because for a split second he’d thought she’d found out his real name and that she was going to punch him.

  He didn’t think for a moment she’d be able to lay him on his ass like the wimp at the bar, but he wasn’t taking any chances. The right hook he’d witnessed had been dead on and as solid as they came.

  She was one hell of a contradiction. A tough-as-nails attitude encased in natural beauty that became more enhanced every time he saw her. His mind told him it was best to keep away, but there was something about her that kept pulling him in.

  He huffed along behind her, enjoying the view and biding his time while saving his energy. Or so he thought. By the time she reached the lookout, she was a good thirty yards ahead of him and he was dying.

  He should’ve known. She wasn’t like any other woman he’d ever met. He should’ve known by her smirk he was in trouble. She approached on her way down as he continued to the turn-around. Sweat glistened on her brow and upper lip, and her breath came in short bursts like his. Not as bad as him, but getting there.

  Suddenly his thoughts took a sexy, seductive detour.

  Oh, come on. Not now. He groaned under his breath and focused on the scenery instead of her toned legs and tight ass. Despite his best efforts, during which he nearly killed himself trying to catch her at the end, she still beat him by a few yards.

  They stood alongside the water fountain, hands braced on their knees, heads hung low.

  “Damn,” Justin panted. “That’s gotta be a record or something.”

  She looked at her watch, then raised her head with a weary, yet somehow still smug, smile. “I took a full minute off my time.”

  He scrutinized her face. “How often do you run this?” he asked with suspicion.

  “Four or five times a week.” She straightened, stretching her hands over her head. “You?”

  He barely heard her question because the damp material of her top strained across her breasts. Raising his gaze with effort, he realized she truly didn’t know her effect on men. Amazing.

  “I run some, when I get the time.” He drew in a deep lungful of oxygen and smiled wryly. “I don’t get much time.”

  “Too bad.” She didn’t look one bit conciliatory. “Guess I have to start thinking of where I’d like my dinner, don’t I?”

  That’s right, restaurant of her choice. Him and his smart ideas…why did he have the feeling the whole damn situation was going to cost him in more ways than one?

  Meeting her gaze across the few feet that separated them, a little buzz of anticipation raced through him at the thought of admiring those eyes through an entire dinner. Before he could form words to set the date, she swallowed hard and her expression became shuttered.

  Another downward glance at her watch was so deliberate, he got the impression she was about to start running again. Her next words confirmed his suspicion, along with her hasty backward retreat.

  “I gotta get going.”

  “What about dinner?
”

  She spun away, calling over her shoulder, “I’ll let you know.”

  Ignoring his disappointment, he let her go. Any attraction between them had about a snowball’s chance in hell once she found out who he was.

  ****

  Marley refused to think on her way home and the moment she arrived threw her over-stimulated self into the vigorous spring cleaning she’d never gotten around to a couple months ago. That got her through the rest of Saturday.

  Sunday was another story. The day positively crawled by, between worrying about Nate’s continued absence and planning a million possible conversations she’d have with the new owners of Hunter Construction the next morning.

  Every once in awhile she thought about the dinner with Justin, only to quickly give herself a reality check. Completely thrown by the thought of her first date ever, she’d chickened out and blown him off. She didn’t have to know about guys to know his ego wouldn’t have appreciated that. And once he arrived at work on Monday morning to find her fired, he’d have no reason to feel obligated to make good on their bet. In fact, considering she’d never see him again, the smartest thing for her would be to completely forget about Justin Blackman.

  For the most part, she succeeded. Until she laid in bed, closed her eyes, and pictured his intense hazel eyes the moment before he’d kissed her in the trailer. Then she tossed and turned half the night before falling asleep about two a.m. Promptly at five, her normal waking time on weekdays, she found herself wide awake, staring at the dark ceiling. She fisted her fingers in her covers with a groan, then knuckled her burning eyes. Darn internal alarm didn’t know she’d been fired and could’ve slept in as long as she wanted.

  Armed with a pot of coffee, she spent the early morning hours memorizing the classifieds without enthusiasm. There were plenty of entry-level construction jobs, but she’d been there, done that. Having been ready to start a new chapter in her life with the internship, no way she would take a Rocky Mountain-sized leap backward.

  She and Nate would have to figure it out somehow.

  If Nate ever came home, that was. She hadn’t seen him since the morning she’d fired him, and he wouldn’t answer his cell phone or return her messages. It wasn’t like him, no matter how mad he was.

  She paused and acknowledged it wasn’t like the old Nate. The new Nate was a whole other story. He made no sense to her. Worry tried to push forward, but she held it at bay. He’d left for a few days at a time before and been fine. He’d be fine this time, too, once he worked through his anger.

  His deliberate distancing of himself made her heart ache. He was the only family she had left. They should be supporting each other now, not growing further apart. Why had he pushed her? Surely he could understand that she’d only done what her job demanded?

  Apparently not.

  The thing was, if she’d been a man in the same position, he never would’ve pulled the shit he had done. He wouldn’t have dared to try it with Dad. Which went to show how much she had to prove herself. If her own brother couldn’t give her the respect she deserved, why was she so surprised when other men didn’t? Mr. Blake would’ve talked face to face with a man, not sent a letter.

  Marley straightened. She couldn’t do anything about Nate at the moment, but she could make sure Blake didn’t get away with his sexist discrimination. She deserved an explanation in person and, dammit, he would give her one!

  Caffeine and renewed indignation propelled her from her chair straight to her truck. It wasn’t until she’d parked in the lot of Hunter Construction’s main offices that she realized she’d forgotten to pull her hair back. Glancing in the mirror, she decided it would have to do.

  Your hair looks sexy like that.

  Recalling Justin Blackman’s words made her pause. She peered back into the mirror and decided he’d been pulling her leg. It was just hair for God’s sake. Wavy, messy, in-her-face hair.

  Flipping it back over her shoulders, she slammed the truck door and marched into the lobby, ready to do battle. The receptionist looked up with surprise, gave her the once over, then asked in a bored voice, “May I help you?”

  “I’m looking for Justin Blake,” Marley stated with haughty confidence, despite being acutely aware of her old jeans and plain tee shirt. She should’ve thought this through better.

  “His office is on the third floor, but—”

  Marley hurried to the elevators to catch the empty one waiting just for her. She jabbed the number three, then waited impatiently for the car to rise.

  “Excuse me,” the receptionist called as the doors began to slide closed. “You can’t go up—”

  Settle down, Marley. No sense going in there all fired-up. A few calming breaths did nothing to help. Her heart pounded and her hands shook. As the elevator eased to a stop and the doors slid open, she tried one more deep breath before stepping out.

  The receptionist’s desk on this floor was empty. Good. Surprise was a key element in the art of negotiations, so even though she was on his turf, she’d still have that advantage.

  She paused in her search for the Blake coward’s office. Negotiations? Where did that come from? It wasn’t as if she were going to ask for her job back.

  She stopped abruptly. Yeah, she was. Or the internship at least. And why not? Depending on the reason he gave for letting her go, she might even be justified.

  Then you really need to calm down. Show him you aren’t going to go off half-cocked just because someone throws you a curve ball.

  She could do this. Her father had taught her how to negotiate. Confidence swept through her and she resumed her search. There it was, right in the corner, with a name sign and everything. She knocked twice, then opened the door and stepped inside with determination.

  “Mr. Blake, I insist—”

  Whatever else she’d planned to say was lost the moment her gaze locked on the occupant behind the desk.

  Justin Blackman in a suit and tie?

  No. Justin Blake.

  So many things suddenly made sense. Fury and humiliation swept everything else away, then doubled when he smiled at her.

  “Hello, come in.”

  She slammed the door. The pictures on the wall bounced against the drywall. His eyebrows shot up as she stalked toward the desk.

  “You lying son-of-a-bitch. Justin Blackman? If you wanted to fire me that bad you didn’t have to spy—”

  Again she lost her words, now close enough to see his dark brown eyes.

  “You could only be Marley Wade,” the man guessed in the silence.

  “You’re not Justin.”

  The Justin lookalike smiled at her confusion. “No, I’m Jordan. I needed something off his computer.”

  “You’re twins.”

  “Obviously.” He softened his sarcasm with another smile.

  She stared at him, speechless.

  “Most people can’t tell us apart,” he commented, turning his attention back to the monitor.

  “Justin’s eyes are lighter.”

  Jordan’s smile widened but he didn’t say anything. Oh, why did she even open her mouth? Then she remembered why she was here, and her anger resurfaced. She placed her palms on the desk and leaned forward.

  “You two are despicable. Lying about his name just so he could spy on me. All you had to do was ask Chuck. He’s honest, he would’ve told you how I was doing. As for the rafters, I freely admitted it was my mistake and he told me not to beat myself up over it. His words, not mine.”

  She shoved back and began to pace. “The rat was so nice about it—” She halted suddenly, remembering when he’d kissed her. “To think all along he was my boss,” she mumbled.

  She caught herself from touching her lips and whirled to face Jordan again. “I should’ve realized something was up the way he kept bossing everyone around. I came today because I wanted an explanation as to exactly why I was fired, but it’s clear now. It wasn’t anything specific that I did—I was gone the moment you two found out I was a wom
an. That’s why he showed up out of the blue.”

  Jordan had been sitting back in his chair listening with a serious face and smiling eyes, but now he rose to his feet with an indignant expression.

  She held up her hand on her way out. “Don’t worry, I won’t sue. You two don’t have to worry about seeing me ever again.”

  She yanked open the door—and found herself face to face with Justin.

  Marley’s heart leapt at the sight of him, all ruggedly handsome in a black button down shirt tucked into his jeans. She wanted to punch him, but her hand hurt as she clenched it into a fist. So she uncurled her fingers and slapped him instead. One hard resounding crack that echoed through the reception area.

  He didn’t flinch or even take a step back. Their eyes met. He knew exactly what’d earned him the handprint forming on his cheek. Good, because she no longer had anything to say to the man.

  She stalked past with her chin held high. Bonnie sat at the receptionist desk now, but she looked away from Marley’s glare with a shameful expression. So much for sisterhood. Then again, Marley wasn’t surprised; she’d never held a membership in that club.

  “Does this mean I’m off the hook for dinner?” Justin called after her.

  His expression on the running trail flashed in her mind and she understood the guilt she’d glimpsed when she told him she’d had a bad morning. She stabbed the button for the elevator and thanked God when the doors slid open.

  “If I ever see your lying face again, it’ll be too soon,” she retorted over her shoulder.

  As the doors closed, she suddenly remembered Dale Blake—Justin’s father, she now realized—still had her designs for the Jenkins building. She should go to his office and demand them back, because no way in hell did she want an internship with Hunter Construction now.