Conklin's Foundation (Conklin's Trilogy #2)

by Brooke Page

  “What about me?” Josie whined, tugging on Ray's pant leg. He scooped her up and the attention was shifted to Josie. Heather waddled over to Josie and Ray with the mistletoe. Now my mother was capturing all kinds of mistletoe pictures. What could I say, my family was odd.

  ~

  “Congratulations, you have survived your first Stine family holiday event” I exhaled, patting Tyler’s knee on the way home from my parent’s house.

  “I thoroughly enjoyed myself. Thank you for inviting me.” He rested his hand on top of mine. I smiled down at the sight then looked out the window. The snow was falling down, pretty and elegant. It would be a beautiful Christmas with the trees covered in a thick dusting of powdery snow. “I must warn you, tomorrow… with my family…” He began to speak, but didn’t finish his sentence. I furrowed my brows at him.

  “What?”

  He let out a loud sigh. “It won’t be the same as your family. We don’t all hang out in one room. Dinner conversation is light and sometimes crude. I don’t want you to be disappointed.”

  I gripped his hand and gave him a soft smile. “I have met most of your family. I know how they operate, Tyler.”

  Tyler looked nervously out the window, taking his hand from mine and gripping the steering wheel. “I just want our first Christmas to be perfect, and I’m worried my family will spoil your mood.”

  “Even if they do, I’m sure you will make it up to me afterwards at your condo in Chicago,” I murmured, feeling my cheeks heat.

  He glanced over at me, the side of his mouth lifting. “I promise to make this Christmas one to remember.”

  I bit down on my lip, trying to contain my smile. Tyler’s face turned serious again. “But seriously, Becca. My family isn’t like yours. I can assure you they didn’t attend a church service tonight, and the food will be catered and the help won’t sit down and eat with us.”

  I shrugged my shoulders, remembering something that had happened at church.

  “Not to change the subject, but does Detective Anderson come around the Conklin building a lot?” I asked.

  Tyler looked confused for a moment. “I’m not sure, why?”

  I twiddled my thumbs. “He was weird when I ran into him in the elevator. I don’t know, maybe it was just me.”

  Tyler was pulling off the highway, waiting at the light. He turned his body so he was looking at me. “What did he say?”

  “He asked me if I knew you, the Conklins, well. He asked if I thought you were ethical like my father. I said I hoped so, but that I didn’t work directly with any of the Conklins.”

  Tyler studied me then turned back to the light noticing it was green and continued driving.

  “I told him I didn’t know you well, because I honestly didn’t know how you would react.”

  “Becca, you’re not a secret anymore. I want the world to know we are together. You don’t have to be nervous about telling people about us.” He sounded annoyed, almost angry.

  “I’m sorry, the question just threw me off,” I whispered.

  Tyler reached for my hand, pulling it to his lips. “I know, and that’s my fault. No more secrets, okay?”

  I gave him a half smile, feeling goose bumps travel down my arm. I was wearing a wool pea coat and a sweater dress with the heat in the Lexus blowing, but the shivers he gave me with just one kiss on my hand was unreal.

  “The weird part was, when I told him I didn’t know you very well, he asked why I was driving your car.”

  Tyler’s lips stilled on my hand, his scowl becoming announced on his face as though he was in deep thought. “That is weird.”

  We pulled into Union Square, walking to the elevator in silence.

  Once the elevator doors closed, I broke our silence.

  “Would RJ get the company involved in something that the police would worry about?” I asked, fidgeting next to him.

  Tyler’s face smoothed, a smile spreading across his mouth. “Of course not. Don’t worry about it. We are still fairly new as a business in Grand Rapids, and we are financially successful. I’m sure it raises red flags. The detective is just watching us. It’s nothing unusual.”

  Tyler pulled me in his arms, kissing away the worry wrinkle in between my eyebrows. My nerves calmed to his touch as the elevator door dinged.

  Just as Tyler was about to open his condo door, I stopped him.

  “Wait! I have a surprise for you!” I exclaimed.

  Tyler dropped his hand and gave me a lopsided smirk. “Is it the Christmas tree in the corner of the living room? Because it was kind of hard to miss yesterday. I know we stayed in bed all of today, but I noticed as we were running out the door, too.”

  My smile faded. “Still close your eyes, I want you to see it all lit up.”

  Tyler chuckled and obeyed. My smile returned as I pulled him into the condo, stopping him at the door to unbutton his jacket. His grin grew bigger. His eyes were still closed as I helped him pull off his jacket and hung it along with mine on the coat hanger. I guided him past the kitchen and down the few stairs that led to the living room. Stopping him in front of the tree, I quickly turned the fireplace on and plugged in the lights. The tree looked beautiful, reflecting off the glass windows and the glow from the lights filling the room. I walked over to Tyler, taking both of his hands.

  “Okay, you can open your eyes now,” I beamed, barely able to hold in my excitement.

  He slowly peeked passed me, his eyes lighting up like a little boy. “This is great, baby. I have never had a Christmas tree here.”

  “It is missing one thing though.” I said, going behind the tree to grab the final decoration. “I wanted you to be the one to put the star on top.”

  Tyler’s eyes sparkled as he took the star from my hands and proceeded to reach up and place it on top of the tree. “I don’t think you would have been able to reach anyway,” he teased.

  I nudged him in the side acting wounded by his comment of my shortness. Tyler laughed. So what if I was only 5’ 2”.

  “You wrapped all of the presents too?” he asked still laughing while rubbing his side.

  The small tree had an overabundance of gifts piled all around it. “Yeah, I hope you don’t mind. Do you really like it?”

  He wrapped his arms around me, giving me the biggest boyish grin. “I love it. I really like the Michigan M’s too. I assume there aren’t any Cubs emblems?”

  I put my head on his chest, smiling and shaking my head. He knew I wouldn’t buy that crap, even if it weren’t in my own living room. I did buy him something Cubs related for Christmas, but he would have to wait for that until tomorrow night, if I got up the nerve to give it to him.

  “Next year we can put it up together,” I whispered.

  The second the words came out, I regretted saying them. I stiffened in his arms, worried about what he would say. Who was to say he was thinking long term like I was?

  His grip around me tightened as he nuzzled my ear. “Definitely.”

  I relaxed into his arms again then decided it was time to bring up what I had been putting off. But before I could start, he let go of me, wandering over to his stereo, plugging in his phone.

  “We are missing one thing.” Tyler went to fuss with the screen. Once he was satisfied he walked back to me, biting his lip. Warm Christmas music started to fill the air and a deep voice intertwined lyrics with the music.

  “Michael Buble’?” I asked, feeling a little surprised he would have Michael Buble’ on his playlist.

  “Yes,” he scowled. “Why do you sound so surprised?”

  I shrugged my shoulders trying not to laugh.

  He tried to look annoyed, but I could tell he was amused. “One of his songs reminds me of you,” he murmured, snaking one arm around my waist, pulling me so our bodies were touching. He took my hand and held it, beginning to rock side to side.

  “Which song? And I thought you didn’t dance?”

  His grin was mischievous, “I’m not going to tell you yet. Slow danc
ing is easy. It’s that club music beat that throws me off.”

  I pouted my lips, hoping he would give in and tell me which song he was talking about.

  “Maybe I will make you a playlist,” he laughed.

  I smiled up at him. “I would like that.”

  We danced quietly for a song. I rested my head on his chest, feeling content and at ease in his arms. For a while it felt like we were barely moving, but simply standing in front of the Christmas tree.

  “You know… you never did tell me what you and Gage talked about,” he murmured, leaning back and raising a brow.

  Talk about ruining a moment.

  I took a deep breath. I did promise him I would tell him everything. “He told me he was in love with me. That he understood it would never work because we live different lives, which is crap. I could care less about money or status quo.”

  Tyler blinked for a long second then kept his eyes on me, waiting for me to continue.

  “He was worried you wouldn’t want the same things as me, worried you might not take our relationship seriously. Worried I would get my heart broken. But I told him you were all I wanted and he smiled and agreed he could tell.”

  Why is it so hard to actually tell Tyler you love him, because that is what you really told Gage!

  “Well, you are all I want,” he whispered, gazing down at me and pulling my hand to his chest, leaning his head into mine. “I can’t imagine not wanting the same things as you, and I never want to break your heart.”

  I gave him a heartfelt smile, running my hand along the nape of his neck while standing on my tip toes to kiss his cheek. Hearing him say he couldn’t imagine not wanting the same things as I put my fears aside. He really did want to make our relationship work.

  We were done talking about Gage. Thankfully, he didn’t react badly to Gage’s confession. If anything, he used it as reassurance for how serious he was about me. About us.

  We danced quietly some more, but it wasn’t long before Tyler’s lips were at my ear. He started humming the song that was playing but then quietly sang. It melted my heart.

  “So please just fall in love with me this Christmas,

  There's nothing else that I will need this Christmas.

  Won't be wrapped under a tree,

  I want something that lasts forever.

  So kiss me on this cold December night.”

  I looked up into his eyes that were soft pools of more green than blue. He kept humming as I looked up at him. The lyrics expressed everything I wanted to hear and wanted to tell him.

  I want something that lasts forever.

  I tilted my head and reached up to kiss him.

  “I love you,” I whispered against his lips. My chest rose rapidly, trembling from finally saying those three little words out loud.

  Tyler took a sharp breath, resting his forehead against mine, his arm gripping around my waist tighter as he held my hand over his heart. “I love you too, Becca.”

  Chapter 10

  Waking up to Tyler still in bed two days in a row was magnificent. It was just after 8:00am, and I was spooned and tangled in his arms. We had hardly moved since he woke me at 5:00am for his official Merry Christmas and then some. I personally enjoyed the ‘and then some’ the most.

  He nuzzled my ear, letting me know he was awake. His hand ran along my arm up my shoulder.

  “This is the best Christmas present ever,” he murmured, kissing my jaw.

  I giggled and turned to face him. His expression was so soft and loving. I loved this side of Tyler Conklin. “I have other presents I think you will enjoy.”

  He lifted a brow, his mischievous Conklin grin spreading across his face.

  “Not that kind of present,” I laughed, rolling away from him, reaching for his white undershirt I practically ripped off him last night.

  I heard him rummage through his end table then crawled across the bed behind me as I put on his shirt. His arms embraced me, holding a small rectangular box wrapped in silver with a bright red bow.

  “Open yours first,” he said, kissing my shoulder.

  I took the box from him, tilting my head back to look at him. He put his hands on my hips, patiently waiting for me to start unwrapping.

  I slid my finger through the red ribbon, sliding off the bow then began peeling back the silver paper. My breath caught in my throat when the red Cartier box appeared from the wrapping paper.

  I had received one item from Cartier, and it was when I graduated from high school. It was a simple platinum watch from my father. I remember my mother gasping when she saw it, unaware he had purchased it for me. Little did I know my father spent $40,000 on it, which is probably why my mother nearly had a heart attack when I opened the box.

  Tyler trailed kisses from my shoulder to my neck as I shakily opened the red leather box.

  “Tyler!” I gasped, as a shiny platinum bracelet spread across the white velvet. There had to of been at least 30 diamonds, all a gracious size. Some were shaped in teardrops while the rest simple circles.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, kissing my ear.

  “Tyler, this is beautiful, but you didn’t have to-”

  “Shh… don’t start,” he hushed me, nibbling my ear, moving his lips back to my neck. His hand left my hip then reached behind him, placing another small box in front of me.

  I tilted my head to the side, enjoying his lips caressing my skin. He stopped, and I heard him chuckle. “Open it.”

  I licked my lips as I unwrapped the smaller box. My eyes went wide again when I saw another red leather box. I held it in my hands, gulping again. Tyler chuckled against my skin. He took his hands and placed them on mine and helped me open the box.

  A pair of stunning earrings filled the white velvet, matching the bracelet. The earrings were made of teardrop diamonds with a circular diamond in the middle. They were stunning, and I was speechless.

  I could feel the smile play on his face as he nuzzled my neck. I went to stand up, needing some space from the expensive diamonds that were on my lap. He pulled me back down by my wrists.

  “One more,” he breathed across my neck as his arms came around me once more, holding a larger package. My stomach dropped, knowing what was inside the silver wrapping.

  I took the gift with both hands and ripped it open, revealing another red leather box. Popping it open, I found the matching necklace inside. I closed my eyes. I knew Tyler had money, but I never intended him spending so much on me. I felt like he was trying to buy me or show off. It wasn’t like him to flaunt, and I felt like flaunting was exactly what he was doing by giving me this set of jewelry.

  I stood up, afraid to turn and face him. “Thanks,” I mumbled. “They really are lovely.”

  When Tyler stood up, I could feel the tension of his anxiety in the air. I wrapped my arms around my waist as he moved in front of me. My head was down, and I was thrown off by how he had put on his black Under Armour boxer briefs.

  He reached for my face, pulling it up to look at him. “What’s wrong?” he asked, his scowl full blown with worry.

  “That is a lot of diamonds,” I whispered.

  He searched my eyes then around the room, not understanding.

  “I’ve never wanted to buy a woman jewelry. I thought you would like it. I thought-” he gulped, “I thought that’s what you do for your lover.” He dropped his hands from my face, clearly confused.

  I looked up at him, running my fingers over his eyebrows and along his forehead, wanting his face to relax. “It’s just a lot. When I see $150,000 in jewelry, I see thousands of hungry faces. I didn’t mean to disappoint you. I’m just not into extravagant gifts.”

  Tyler relaxed his shoulders, moving his hands on my waist. “I know you’re not. That’s one thing I love about you. But baby, I fill a lot more mouths with a lot more money.”

  “You do?” I croaked, feeling another piece of my heart pull from my chest like a magnet to his.

  He nodded, giving me a half smile.
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  “You really have no idea how much I’m worth, do you?” he murmured, cocking his head, reaching up to tuck a stray piece of hair behind my ear.

  “I don’t care about money. I know I have grown up with it and most people think I’m some spoiled princess, but sometimes I wish I could hide from it. I don’t like that it has a tag on me.” I couldn’t stand how the community associated my name with my father’s millions. Not just because of what kind of reputation it gave me, but because of what people spoke about my father. He gave more money away than he kept. He taught us that money wasn’t everything, how we needed to find our own way. Yes, we all have trust funds, but he would never release them to my siblings and me until we learned how to properly manage it and how important it was to give back.

  “Tyler, you are worth so much more to me than dollar signs. I hope you know that.”

  “And yet another reason why I love you,” he grinned, his voice quieting at those three little words. My heart hammered as I wrapped my arms around his neck.

  “Thank you for the diamonds. They really are pretty.” I was softening to the idea of keeping them.

  “You’re welcome. But know with every gift I give you, I give back just as much. I make more money than the rest of my family,” his voice was full of pride. “I have many investments on the side, and I’m a great stock reader,” he smirked. “Numbers guy, remember?”

  I bit my lip, trying to contain my smile but failed at his attempt to make light of the conversation.

  “Come on, let me give you your presents.” I tugged on his wrist, urging him to follow me down to the Christmas tree. My gifts for him weren’t nearly as extravagant as what the red leather Cartier boxes held, but I’d hoped he’d like them.

  Tyler paused at his dresser to grab a pair of sweats before we went downstairs. I did the same considering it was winter, even though things normally got steamy whenever I was alone in a room with him.

  I grabbed Tyler’s hand and led him down the spiral staircase to the lit up Christmas tree. I let go of his hand as he sat down on the large sectional couch in front of the fireplace. I rummaged to find his pile of gifts, quickly stacking them on top of each other to bring to the couch.