“Negotiations?” He asked curiously.
“Nope. I’m done negotiating. Now I’m in squish you like a bug mode,” she grinned, kissed him again. “I’m off. Be careful, Chase, please.”
“I feel for the bug,” he murmured, grinning at the chuckle she offered as she slipped her arms into the jacket before disappearing out the door.
He sat staring at the door for a long couple minutes before opening his phone and placing the call. “Montgomery for Duncan Everett. Thank you.”
“Shouldn’t you be off buying something cheap and rebuilding it?” Came the gravelly voice through the line. He had the sound of morning coffee and late nights in his tone.
“Working on it…I need information, Duncan. Tell me you’ve found something,” Chase lifted the mug of coffee and took a deep swallow.
“I’m still digging. I know the old man has been following her around. Relocating his, and believe me when I use the word extremely loosely, church…..he stays within a hundred miles of her,” Duncan dragged a file from the side and tapped fingers on his keyboard.
“He’s in the area? Not Philadelphia?” Chase sat upright a little stiffer, his voice hinged with anger.
“South of you by about eighty miles…more or less…his main church stays in Philadelphia,” he amended. “So the money keeps coming in. He returns twice a month, other than that, it’s run by assistants.”
“So when she lived in Vegas…”
“He had a small set up on the outskirts,” he said with a nod. “The baffling bit is why. No one I’ve spoken to even knew he had a daughter in the remote locations. No photos, nothing in his offices or his home. The Philadelphia church and offices, are different. I don’t know where he’s gotten them, but he has photos all over of her, at all stages of her life, Chase.”
“Shit…”
“Oh, it gets better…according to the Philadelphia congregation, she’s the apple of his eye and he never has a bad thing to say about her. He brags about her accomplishments, her skills, her beauty…”
“Christ…that’s a complete opposite from what’s in Pepper’s memory.”
“And I do not want to alienate you as a friend or client, however…”
“Do I think she’s lying? No, I don’t. I have a journal she kept…dates and names. Yellowed pages, changes in handwriting through the years. God, she turns whiter than a sheet when she talks about him. Names and dates of the counselors they forced her to talk to when no one would believe he was involved…when she still lived at home.”
“I do know it took him a good four years to find her when she left,” Duncan read through his notes. “She moved and covered her tracks pretty good. But she kept her own name, and that probably is how he got to where she was. Can you shoot me the journal overnight? It might help me pinpoint someone I haven’t talked to, Chase. Will she let me read it?”
“I have it and I’ll get it copied and sent out this morning,” he told him with a nod. “I’ve never asked her about other relatives…”
“Got someone on that. Maternal grandparents, deceased when she was fourteen. I doubt she knew them. Paternal grandparents, alive, but they severed contact with their son long before he married Angela Reynolds. I never got past the front door with them. There are a few neighbors who aren’t part of his sheep cluster who see him very differently, but none of them willing to go too far over that edge. They’re afraid of him, but I can’t get a line on why.”
Chase stood up and began packing his briefcase, dropping the journal inside before clipping it closed. “I’ll let you get back to it, Duncan, thanks.”
“I’ll be in touch.”
Chase spent the better part of the day in his new office, getting things set up, giving a list of wants to a real estate agent and reviewing possible clearance contracts and the cost of removal made his head hurt. Cleaning up the sites and prepping them was going to be a long process and he wanted it shortened.
It was almost four when he wandered to Pepper’s office, a sturdy, boxy looking woman standing near a file cabinet. Her head came up, eyes looking him up and down before turning to greet him.
“Can I help you?”
The accent was British which prompted his memory of the new admin she’d begged for just before their first date.
“Chase Montgomery for Miss Ambrose, please.”
“I’m sorry. She’s left for the day. I expect her back in the morning, shy of seven if you’d like to make an appointment,” she moved to sit behind the desk, a large calendar open and pen in her hands.
“I’ll catch her at home, thank you,” Chase turned and walked briskly down the corridor. His feet moved swiftly, his hand digging out his phone and tapping in her number.
He felt his jaw tense.
Where the hell had his head been? He swore softly. In a damn pit of rusted metal called the Tacoma repair docks, came the ready answer. He stopped in the spacious lobby, the portal to the many worlds of the resort and spun to the exit, heading down the stairs to the employee apartment units built behind all the glitter and noise.
By the time he made it to her door, he’d worked up a good head of steam and was prepared to let it loose. Then she opened the door, smiling and arms up hugging him and tugging him inside.
“Hi, I was looking for you! I was going to call and leave you a message, but the battery died on my phone. I finished early and came here to wash some laundry…” she stopped and frowned at the pale features. “Chase? What’s wrong? Come over here…” She tugged and pressed against his shoulders until he was in the center of the sofa.
“Pepper…” he didn’t release her fingers and even managed to look baffled when she slid onto his knees, straddling him. Her hands began working his tie free.
“Okay…what’s wrong? Project giving you a headache?” She frowned at the knot in his tie, slim fingers working their way in until it was loose.
“Rust and recycling and regulations regarding cleaning up the pit left at the docks,” he murmured, gripping her hand in his and carrying it to his lips. “You are just what I need after a day like today.”
She relaxed and leaned in to kiss him. “I’m glad I can help. I can make us dinner. I’ve got stuff in the kitchen…”
“You didn’t take your things from the suite?” He asked abruptly, gazing up and noticing for the first time she wasn’t wearing glasses. “I found your specks. They’re in my briefcase.”
“Oh, good. I always have a spare pair, but I look sterner without them. I haven’t been to the suite, Chase,” she said with a little frown. “I can’t get inside without you there, I don’t have access. I was here, getting clean clothes…” She gestured to the packed backpack near the door. “And doing the laundry.”
“And how are the bugs today?”
“Humbled. I’m working up a report for Logan and Cade. I think it would be much more efficient for them to create or buy out their own laundry service. It would put more people in the area to work, which would hike the employment rate up, taxes, et cetera and it would be a very good investment in the long term, considering the school uniforms, hospital and clinic linens,” she stopped to take a breath. “What’s wrong, Chase?”
“I’m a jerk…I’m…so…my head is in the middle of the piers and docks that I didn’t stop and think….” He shoved a heavy breath between his lips, locking his eyes with hers. “Are you going to run from me, Pepper? From us?”
“I…” her fingers slipped free and she slid to the side, still on her knees, eyes lowered to look over her fingers twisting in her lap. “I thought about it. I won’t lie to you, Chase. I don’t want to leave you…and I really do enjoy my job…”
“It’s kind of nice knowing I’m ahead of the job at least,” he said wryly, accepting the crooked grin she offered. “It never occurred to me that you didn’t have access. I went by your office to walk out with you and your new admin told me you’d left already. The only thing I could think of…” his head shook.
“Was that I would
run,” she said softly, nodding. “It’s okay, Chase. Maybe I should be offended, but…I thought about it…I don’t want to be afraid for you…I don’t want to…to see you pale and…and hurting because of me and don’t argue with me! It is because of me! Because for some stupid reason I have a stupid relative that…” she bent forward until she was folded like a piece of paper and let out a scream.
Chapter Twelve
Chase listened to the long, muffled sound and just swallowed. Waiting. Two minutes passed before he saw her draw in a long breath and straighten up.
“Better?”
“A little. I talked to Mariah…it was an herbal poison…on your food. She said the one good thing is your violent reaction and…well…puking it all up so soon…which means a lot of it didn’t get to your blood stream,” Pepper sighed. “I’m not running, Chase. I want to be with you. I want to be happy. I really like the sex…” She watched his smile broaden. “I knew I could get you to smile. I’m hungry. Want a sandwich?”
“How about Italian? I’ll buy,” he said, standing up and pulling her up with him.
“I’ll go find my shoes,” she dashed off into the bedroom, the sounds of things banging and then silence before she was back, hopping on one foot pulling the small flats into place. “You can carry my clothes for me.”
“I think I’ll go with a nice seafood soup tonight…” Chase told her as they left the apartment.
Two hours later Pepper wasn’t sure whose idea it was, but his frustration level was about peaked where it had been when he first came into the apartment.
He stood with her before the game, working the controls and swearing like a sailor, she thought, eyes wide as she listened. He’d never gamed before and she tried to convince him to start with something easier.
Something less complex. Never mess with a male ego, she realized thirty minutes into the shooter game.
“Mac!” Pepper exclaimed, striding swiftly forward and gripping his arm. “You gotta help me!”
“Pepper, what’s up?” Mac saw the edge of panic in her eyes and looked up to see Chase before one of the shooter games.
“Maybe…maybe ‘cause I’m a girl…I can’t teach a boy how to shoot…I had no idea he could swear like that!” She whispered frantically.
“Umm…let me talk to him…you go do something else for a bit, okay?”
“I just wanted to distract him, Mac…the…the thing…and the docks…” but she nodded hurriedly and walked over to one of the other games.
“Chase…” Mac walked gingerly to his side, watching the hand action and the movements on the big screen. He stepped forward and flipped the off switch, taking the controller and tossing it down lightly. “Wrong one for a beginner…”
“How the hell do you two work these things?” Chase dragged two sets of fingers through hair that had definitely seen better days. His tie was shoved in the pocket of his suit coat which was laying on top of Pepper’s backpack on the console. Top buttons on his shirt were open and the sleeves of his shirt shoved up his arms.
“First…I was playing them when I was five…it’s just what I grew up with,” he said starting another unit on a different system. “Same game, much easier controller,” he held one and handed Chase the second controller. “You work with spread sheets and business news and numbers that would drive me batty. The tutorial…we’ll run it together first…”
“Where’s Pepper?” Chase looked around in between one of the explanations, his hands and fingers pressing buttons and moving small knobs.
“On one of the other games. Relax…if it ain’t fun, then what’s the point?”
“What’re you doing here this time of night?”
“Cassidy was called in…something to do with guys with bright yellow letters on blue jackets and one of the private poker rooms…and about a dozen cop cars. I’m hiding out until she looks for me,” Mac told him, offering hints and guidance through the first level.
An hour later they walked out of the employee arcade, hand in hand, her pack slung over her shoulder and his jacket over his.
“I really thought it would help you relax, Chase,” she said when they were in the elevator. Pepper slowly turned to face him, moving forward until the back of the elevator was behind him. “I think I should have used a different method,” she whispered against his mouth, close enough to feel his reaction as she deepened the kiss, her palm slipping free to stroke along his hip and onto his side.
Chase inhaled the steamy scent of her an hour later as they lay beneath the blankets, her face against his arm and eyes closed. His palm was surrounded by both of hers and her chuckle was the last thing he heard after he reminded her.
“It’s your turn to fetch the clothing in the morning,” he whispered with a kiss to her damp forehead.
Pepper was counting and collecting clothing before pulling her jeans on, her fingers working the buttons on a light tunic as Chase came out of the shower, a large fluffy towel circling low on his hips. The girl in her sighed and went to find her boots before she forgot about work. She was very leery of room service so had brought things from her apartment over, things she bought and knew were safe.
She was staring into the early morning fog gathered over the water far below when she felt the hands on her waist and the warm mouth on her exposed shoulder.
“I have an extra key card for you,” he said before kissing her and going in search of the coffee and toast he had seen on the breakfast bar for him.
“I talked to Cassidy yesterday,” she said without turning. “Eli was able to get information on the man in the elevator.”
“I know. I signed a complaint and the hotel security is taking over the investigation,” Chase perched on the stool. “Will you kick independence at me if I ask you to let me handle this?”
She raised the cold glass, pressing it against her forehead.
“You have half the stupid city to worry about, Chase. I should be able to handle my own problem,” she said quietly.
“I multitask,” he took the glass from her and pulled her to stand between his knees when he sat on the stool. “If I’m the one who is attacked…doesn’t that make it our problem, Pepper?”
“I don’t know how to help. I don’t know what to tell you to help make this go away,” she said, more than a little angry.
“Do you have any other relatives?”
“I…” she blinked at him, the question coming out of nowhere. “Phew…I need to start to work…”
“Let me get my jacket and briefcase. I’ll walk out with you,” He kissed her. “I’ve got people checking on things, Pepper. We’re going to get through this, together.”
“Must be that confidence that has you owning half the flipping city,” she murmured, smiling at his laughter and moving to the door, her hand out to snag her small pack from the sofa. Relatives, she thought, frowning. “I asked…about relatives. When I was little…I remember asking…I think I was six…seven…he slapped me…told me the Lord was the only relative I had because of my…my sin,” she hated that she still choked over those words. Hated them dancing around in her head all the time. “I have pictures of my mother…I stole them from his office. He had a small box in his safe. I took them all when I left. I remember telling myself he didn’t deserve them, he didn’t deserve her.”
Chase gently rubbed her neck as the elevator opened to them.
“He never told me, Chase. I honestly don’t know. Have I looked? Yes…phone books, internet…but not for several years after I left. Maybe I was twenty-five when I got this out of nowhere notion to look. No numbers came up who would admit to knowing him or her. Maybe they were unlisted…maybe they lied…I don’t know if I’d admit to knowing him if I was given the choice.”
“Go squish bugs, Pepper,” Chase kissed her outside the resort, their fingers drifting apart as she nodded and headed toward the admin section.
Bugs, she thought with a smile as she entered her office, greeting one of the women from her department before she d
isappeared behind the frosted glass door.
“Good morning, Miss Ambrose,” Louisa looked at the casual appearance, remembering what she’d been told about their attire. “Oh, you had a late visitor, a Chase Montgomery. He said he’d contact you at home.”
“Hmm…he did…” She said with a sigh. “He’s…”
“Your guy?” Louisa suggested with a matching smile.
“Yes…yes, he certainly is, Louisa,” she said before tossing her pack to the spot on her sofa and beginning work on the files on her desk.
Chapter Thirteen
Chase tapped the speaker button, signed the contract he’d approved and dropped it into the box waiting for his admin to begin the processes.
“Duncan, what can I help you with?”
“You are going to be damn glad I’m brilliant,” came the husky voice through the phone.
“Talk to me,” he straightened up, alert and tense.
“I went in search of birth certificates.”
“I asked Pepper about relatives. She said he wouldn’t tell her, even slapped her when she asked,” Chase relayed flatly.
“Yeah, well, in his mind he had just cause. Ambrose isn’t his name and Ambrose isn’t her father,” Duncan dropped the information bomb with a satisfied smirk.
“You’re positive about this?” Chase said after a deafening silence.
“Please, think who you’re talking to. A DNA test would prove it, if you pin him down enough to get a sample. But a lot of digging in old town halls and records and getting friendly with a really nice…well, we’ll let that pass…anyway, Angela Reynolds was her mother. Grandparents, Hester and Wilhem Reynolds. If Pepper has a copy of her birth certificate, it’s doctored. The father slot was left empty on the hospital copy and the copy that was filed in the little town where she was born outside Lancaster. As near as I can put together, Ambrose was hanging around the pregnant girl, got to know her, tried getting closer and was repelled for obvious good sense reasons. According to really old neighbors, the grandparents worked hard to keep him away. Somehow, he got Angela to marry him. She died…supposedly in childbirth…against doctors’ kind of thing. He took Pepper and headed to Philadelphia. Your reason behind it all…standard and simple, Chase. Money. Just like he claimed through all those lectures he beat into her.”
WindSwept Narrows: #17 Pepper Ambrose Page 9