Crandall nodded, shivers still running up and down her spine. If he touched her all bets were off. “How do you suggest we do that?”
“I’m assuming Washington is using this Grant Tolbert as a way to get to your company?”
She nodded. “Smith has been trying to get me to appoint him to the board.”
“Yeah, as in Washington as a representative. I doubt the elderly Laura Tolbert will show up. Have Smith tailed. Set it up so you can catch Washington in corporate fraud. Last I checked that’s a federal offense.”
Crandall fingered a lock of her hair as she thought. “I don’t think I even have to go that far. Jenny’s been miserable as of late, even hinted at resignation. I think it’s time to turn her into my informant.”
Zack chuckled. “Great idea. Crandall, look, about what happened in North Carolina…”
She waved him off. “It’s okay, I know. I just didn’t right then.”
“Still, I want to make sure you know. First I didn’t know where Susan was, and then when I found out her condition…”
“Don’t swoop in and knock me off my feet right now. If everything goes well, we’ll celebrate in Chicago when we go see Brooks, okay?”
He nodded. “Sounds like a plan to me. Time for Operation Smush the Worm.”
Crandall threw back her head and laughed. “Grind him to bits is more like it.”
****
Crandall opened the door to her suite and smiled at Jenny. “Can you come in my office for a minute? I need to go over some stuff.”
Nodding, Jenny got up and followed her in. Once the door was shut and they were seated in chairs on the front side of Crandall’s desk, Crandall folded her hands together and looked Jenny in the eye. “I want to have a candid conversation.”
Jenny’s eyes widened. “I figured something was up when you sat over here instead of behind the desk.”
Crandall frowned. “Perhaps I should do that more anyway. Jenny I just have to come out with it. I know you’ve been seeing Xavier Washington and I’m fairly certain you have provided him with company information even if you didn’t intend to injure us in any way.”
Jenny’s eyes darted, no longer staring directly at her. “I…never meant to do anything that would in any way injure your financial status.”
Crandall nodded. “I know, dear. Love can be a cruel thing, especially when you’re with a person who doesn’t know what love is. All he knows how to do is hurt and injure and take advantage of people.”
Tears welled in Jenny’s eyes. “All I wanted to have was companionship. Then he enticed me with the thought of wealth and social stature and people looking at me as more than an assistant, as a prominent woman, someone people would listen to.” She leaned forward and grabbed a tissue from the box on the side of Crandall’s desk, blotting at her eyes. “But it was all a lie. I knew when he stopped calling and Smith kept disappearing on ‘projects,’ as he called them.”
She paused and blew her nose. “Then Smith turned in some receipts for a trip to Charlotte to be paid, signing them himself and saying they were for a review of Graham’s Scrumbles company.” She finally glanced back at Crandall. “I knew you’d already vetted the company. He didn’t have approval to do it. In fact, I doubted he’d been there for that purpose. Then I happened to overhear him on the phone. He said he’d left the photos at Mr. Graham’s house. Even laughed when he mentioned you had seen them.”
She wound the tissue in a ball in her hand. “I knew you came back very upset and decided that was why. I knew he was working with Washington, all right, but thought he just sold off your stocks. It didn’t really occur to me what happened to them afterwards. But, to break up your relationship with Zack Graham…”
“I don’t have a relationship…” Crandall stopped in mid-sentence as she saw Jenny shaking her head. “I guess I do, but don’t spread it around, okay? Not yet anyway.”
Jenny shrugged. “I knew there was nothing I could do but leave here because I’d let you down. I didn’t know how to tell you.”
“I know.” Crandall took a deep breath, then exhaled. “It’s time to make Xavier squirm for a change. Just pay him a visit and turn on the charm. I’m not saying you have to actually have to do anything sexual, but I need you to find some evidence. Information he’s infiltrated my company and proof he used insider information to manipulate stocks. Do you think you can find the information?”
She chuckled. “I think so. He just fired his last assistant. I’m sure a candid conversation with her will get me the information I need. Then, I’ll make some copies. But first, I’ll dictate this information in case he catches me. I want to leave a trail.”
Crandall got up and gave Jenny a kiss on the cheek. “You might just prove you need a promotion after all. Prove to me I can trust you this time. Everyone deserves a second chance.”
****
“Well, Thomas, the stage is set. It’s Magic!”
Tom sat down next to his boss back in the bar on South Padre Island. “This assignment has been a bit outrageous.”
“But you did a superb job.” Magic slapped him on the back. “You have a knack once dressed in that black suit and dark glasses.”
Tom shrugged and grinned. “Who’d have thought people could be so trusting of somebody dressed like that? A few years ago, it would have struck horror in most folks.”
Magic nodded. “A sorry editorial on the state of American culture. People now take for granted that government will intervene in most any situation to keep them safe from terrorists. I will have to do something about that eventually. For now, it worked like a charm with our couple. It’s almost over. How does it feel?”
Tom shook his head as he took a sip of cola. “I’m not sure. Is Washington going to just give in?”
Magic chuckled as he swirled his ice in his iced tea. “He has to if he’s taken into custody. As for Mrs. Tolbert, well, one never knows what will happen to her. Except for me, of course. I think Zack and Crandall will take care of it.”
Tom looked up, wanting to know the facts, and realizing his chances of finding out were slim to none. “Do you think they will? If so, can’t you just give me a hint?”
Magic grinned and touched his finger to his temple.
Letting out an exasperated sigh, Tom propped up on his elbow. “It was bad enough when I had to wait until Christmas morning for presents, but to be working with the guy…”
Magic let out a huge ho-ho-ho. “So you believe I’m Santa?”
Tom put down his glass. “Aren’t you?”
Winking, Magic’s eyes narrowed. “Let’s just say I think you’re prepared for your next assignment, but not until we finish back on the island.” He held up his glass for a toast. “Here’s to people who don’t think they can, couples fighting all odds even though they doubt they can win and lovers who accept their true fate when they discover what they thought was impossible isn’t.”
Tom stared at him, a sudden jolt of alarm shocking him. “Why do I think you’re not talking about Zack and Crandall?”
“Just toast, my boy. Too many questions.”
****
“A toast to the downfall of Pretzelicious!” Xavier grinned as he touched his flute to Laura’s glass and then toasted Smith York. “We did it folks. Tomorrow at this time, we’ll be sitting pretty. All the palms are greased, Grant Tolbert is in place, and the plans for a take-over are ready to pass out. Plus, we have bought their stocks low. Now to sell and make a huge profit.”
They all laughed and simultaneously took a sip.
“Sir.”
Xavier felt a tap on his shoulder. He turned to one of the men sitting behind him. The gentleman stood and pulled an ID from his pocket. “I’m with the Defense Department. Thank you all for confessing right here and now and making the rest of our work so easy.”
“I beg your pardon,” Laura said as she put down her glass. “I did not have anything to do with anything.”
“I didn’t hear an objection to what he sa
id,” the man told her.
“It doesn’t matter,” his partner said, also standing. “We have the paperwork already. I suggest you three come with us. You don’t have to, of course, but more than likely your attorneys would highly suggest you cooperate.”
Xavier stood. “I’ll be glad to show you where you’re wrong.” He adjusted his lapels. “Obviously you’ve been supplied with fraudulent information.”
The first man nodded. “I suppose now we just have to discover who perpetrated the fraud.”
As the three of them walked out with the two suits, Xavier saw Jenny sitting at a side table, a glass of wine held high in her hand.
Chapter Twenty-Five
“Welcome to my home, you two!” Brooks slapped Zack on the back and bent over to give Crandall a kiss on the cheek. “I hope you don’t mind if my date joins us.”
As they walked into his formal parlor, Miriam Graham stood there in a silver gray cocktail dress.
“Mother?” Zack blinked.
She giggled like a small girl. “Gerry insisted I come up. Meredyth didn’t mind staying with her girlfriend. It will only be for a few days.”
“I assume you think this is going to be a cordial affair?” Crandall smiled at Miriam.
Zack’s mother nodded. “I know it is. I saw how the two of you entered the house. I’ve never seen my son hold anyone like that. I’d say y’all must have had a very pleasant time earlier.”
Crandall’s cheeks burned. It was like both these people knew everything they’d done, even the hide and seek strawberry part. “We, um, did spend a little time together.”
Brooks chuckled. “Don’t we all? Why don’t we sit and talk a few minutes?”
Once everyone was seated, Crandall stared at Brooks and Miriam, sitting together on a small settee. “Before we begin, I have an announcement for you two young’un’s. Miriam and I, well, we don’t expect a lot of fru-fru and pomp and circumstance at our age. So, we chose to do it quietly.”
“Do what?” Zack blinked again.
Crandall chuckled. “I think they got married.”
Miriam’s cheeks got pink. “This afternoon at the Justice of the Peace.”
“You’re kidding?” Zack laughed nervously.
“Congratulations.” Crandall smiled, sincerely happy for them both.
“What about you two?” Miriam asked. “Are you engaged?”
Crandall’s gut twisted. She’d expected him to ask her earlier, but he hadn’t. “Well…”
“Mother, just hush for now, okay?”
Miriam’s eyes narrowed. “I see.”
“Leave the children alone.” Brooks cleared his throat. “On another subject, before we go drink some champagne, you two tied on my challenges. We have to announce a winner at the island. How do you suggest we break the tie for the snack of the year?”
“I suggest you use two,” Zack said.
“But, son, it has to be one.” Brooks’ eyebrows rose.
Zack squirmed in his chair. “Not if the two companies are one. Think of it as the merging of two snacks.”
“Zack we haven’t talked about…” Crandall stared as he got up and bent down on one knee in front of her. He fumbled in his inside jacket pocket and pulled out a box. Opening it up in front of her, he grinned like a kid. “Will you marry me? I love you, not a merger.”
Crandall shook all over; her palms were even wet. She stared at the ring, a trilliant cut diamond enclosed in small round bezel-cut blue diamonds. “Oh my word, it’s like reaching the pinnacle.” She glanced up into Zack’s eyes and saw nothing but love there. “Oh, yes. I’ll marry you.” She leaned down and cupped his chin in her hands, kissing him tenderly.
“Hot damn, I feel like I closed the best deal in my life.”
Crandall grinned. “It’s the other way around, you shit.”
Brooks was clapping behind them. “Great timing, my boy. Two snacks it is. Boy, is the public going to love this ending. But for now, let’s have champagne.”
****
Crandall stood on the shore, her feet barely in the surf with her head up against Zack’s shoulder. “Today was perfect.”
“Do you regret not having a formal wedding?” He kissed the nape of her neck.
“Not at all.” She smirked. “The minute Gerald Brooks mentioned what your mother and he had done, I thought, wow that makes so much sense. I’m not one to put my private self on stage.”
“Well, we are having a honeymoon.” He grabbed her around her waist. “This is the perfect place to spend a week, basking in our success and claiming our future.”
“You’re right.” She sighed. “I’m so happy Meredyth was excited about coming to Charlotte with us.”
“She warmed up to you the first time she met you.” He nuzzled her neck. “I understand why. So did I.”
“I remember, including all the clothes strewn on the floor.”
“Just practice for tonight.”
“You!”
He laughed into her hair. “I don’t hear you complaining.”
She turned in his arms. “I’m not. I’ll never complain about our passion or our love.” She kissed him and once again, as always the electricity flowed like a live wire igniting down her limbs.
The glint on the foam of the surf drew her attention. “What’s that shiny thing over there in the sun?”
He turned and approached it. Bending down, Zack picked up a small item and brought it back to where she stood. “It’s a ceramic box.”
She stared down at it. “It has a painted bow on top.”
He nodded.
“Well open it, silly.”
“Do you think it’s safe?”
She cocked her head sideways. “I don’t think anyone’s trying to kill us right now. Xavier’s in prison.”
Slowly, he pulled the top back and retrieved a small piece of paper. “It says, ‘To Zack and Crandall. True love comes when two souls are ready to give in to it. It’s Magic!’”
“That, that’s from the guy…”
He nodded. “In the paper on New Year’s.”
“But how?”
He smiled. “Who cares. I love you, and he’s right.”
She placed her hands around the back of his neck. “Oh, I love you too. The guy’s words couldn’t be any truer if I’d written them.”
He kissed the side of her neck. “How about seeing how fast we can lose our clothes?”
She shook her head. “Let’s do it slow this time. We’ll get there. It’s magic!
THE END
HER HIRED MAN
Cat Shaffer
Chapter One
Wesley Hatfield took a deep breath as Lillian Osborne leaned across the table and pushed the two-page document toward him with one slender, perfectly manicured hand.
“Just sign on the top line, print your name beneath it, and we’re good.” She smiled, and Wes felt a shiver of doom run down his spine.
He wanted to run. Man, did he want to run. He might have done it if he hadn’t had so many reasons to sign a contract for the first time in his twenty-nine years.
Foremost, there was his mother’s steadfast belief that despite his stepfather’s dour predictions, he really would pull in a steady income before he turned thirty.
And secondly, he certainly couldn’t forget Tiny Ransome’s triple-jowled face scowling at him, a reminder that he had ten more days to pony up for the transmission job on that classic AMC Javelin or he’d be mighty, mighty sorry. And, of course, he’d been bragging after one too many beers down at Smokey’s Bar and Grill that he’d take first in Detroit’s largest custom car show next month and if there was one thing he hated, it was to lose face in front of his friends.
“Right here.” A pearly pink fingertip tapped the page of what might be pure gibberish for all Wes knew. He’d been too stunned being presented with a contract to really absorb what he read. The money was all he cared about: Three thousand dollars, more than enough to pay off Tiny and get his 1974 Javelin back into p
erfect condition. To hell with the rest of it.
He gripped the pen with rigid fingers. Started writing. Signed his freedom away. Forty-eight hours of it, anyway.
“Thank you, Mr. Hatfield.” Lillian straightened and smiled a tight, professional smile. “Now if you’ll wait here, I’ll get you a copy. Then you can be on your way.”
The wood-paneled conference room seemed empty after she’d left despite the lingering scent of the best damn perfume he’d ever smelled. She was a looker, Miss Lillian Osborne, even in a black suit with her hair yanked back into a knot on the back of her neck. That brunette hair gleamed under the fluorescent lights to frame a face with startling blue eyes and a cute little nose. And those legs…only a blind man could have followed her to this room without noticing their lanky perfection and the swing of her hips.
“Mr. Hatfield?” The receptionist who greeted him when he walked in less than a half-hour ago spoke from the doorway. “Miss Osborne had to take a call, so she asked me to give you this.”
She held out the stapled pages. He accepted them and muttered, “Thanks.”
Still blocking his escape, the receptionist said, “Miss Osborne asked me to remind you that the airport shuttle will be at your home at 2 p.m.” A short hesitation preceded the addition, “She also suggested that if you need an appropriate wardrobe, we can arrange for items to be charged at one of men’s stores near you.”
Oh, hell no. Faded jeans and a NASCAR tee was his standard wardrobe. That didn’t mean he didn’t have a suit in the closet. Okay, one suit that he wore to weddings and funerals and two white shirts, but still….
“Tell your boss I don’t need strange women picking out my clothes.” Wes stalked toward the door. “I’ll be ready to go when the van gets there. I signed her damn contract. Anybody who knows me can tell you I’m a man of my word.”
****
Six hours later, as the cityscape of Lexington, Kentucky, came into view far below, he fervently wished he were anything but a man of his word. Flying freaked him out. The thrust as the huge plane lifted off in Detroit, the drops and bumps of travel above the clouds and his anticipation of the scream of tires as the plane landed were enough to keep his white-knuckled hands tight on the seat arms all through the trip. He hadn’t exactly lied when Lillian Osborne asked if he was all right with flying. It was more like he hadn’t notified her that this would be his first time.
Unforgettable Heroes Boxed Set Page 37