Banking On Love

by Anna James

  “Well, whoever he is, he’s one fine specimen of a man. He has the most amazing blue eyes I’ve ever seen and a killer smile.”

  “Kelly…”

  Kelly let out a breathy sigh. “What?”

  “I don’t care what he looks like. I want to know why he’s here.”

  “You’ll change your mind once you see him.”

  Rachel shook her head. “I don’t think so. I don’t have—”

  “—time in my life for a man. Not if I want to make partner in the firm by the end of this year,’” Kelly mimicked. “If you ask me, all work and no play makes Rachel a dull girl.”

  Kelly didn’t understand. Emma deserved better, and so did she for that matter. And if all work and no play got her what she wanted, then so be it. A dull Rachel was worth the sacrifice. “Ha, ha, ha. Very funny.”

  “No, seriously, you need to get out, Rach. You’ve been working like crazy since last summer when Emma went off to boarding school. Why don’t you take a break and come out with me for a drink tonight?” Kelly grinned. “It’s ladies’ night at my favorite club over on West Forty-Eighth Street.”

  Rachel laughed, remembering the last time she’d let Kelly convince her to go out for a drink together. “I’d be up for an afternoon of shopping or dinner over the weekend, but I’ll leave the trolling for men to you.”

  Kelly’s eyes filled with compassion. “You need to move on with your life now that Ryan is gone.”

  Rachel sucked in a deep breath. Kelly meant well, but it didn’t change anything. She couldn’t even conceive of the notion at this stage of her life.

  “You’re only thirty-one. Do you really want to spend the rest of your life alone?”

  Her hand trembled. No, of course not, and maybe somewhere down the line she’d consider it, but for now she wasn’t interested in a relationship with a man. Didn’t have time. Didn’t want to get involved.

  “Earth to Rachel… Come in, Rachel.”

  She blinked. “Sorry.”

  “So, what’s on the agenda for today?”

  Rachel shifted into business mode and checked her calendar. “I have a meeting with Hayden at ten.”

  Kelly glanced at her watch. “It’s after ten thirty. Mr. McDreamy must still be in with him.”

  Rachel sighed. “Right, in the meantime, we can start on—”

  The soft tap on her door had Rachel stopping mid-sentence. She glanced up. A short, slender man with graying blond hair stood in the doorway. Curtis Johnson, the bank president’s assistant. “Hi, Curtis, what can I do for you?”

  “I hate to interrupt.”

  Kelly waved him off. “Don’t worry, we were just talking.”

  A male figure stepped up beside Curtis. “I’d like you to meet—”

  Oh lord, oh lord, oh lord. Her heart thudded an erratic beat and perspiration beaded on her brow. Ethan Montgomery stood large as life, his tall, muscular frame leaning against the doorjamb beside Curtis.

  Good grief, what was he doing here? Why had he come back to New York now, after all this time?

  He gazed down at her, seemingly as surprised to see her as she was to see him.

  The breath whooshed out of her. Goodness, he hadn’t changed a bit over the last three years. No, that wasn’t quite true. His dark wavy hair had been cropped short. She liked it. The new style accentuated his high, prominent cheekbones and sharply chiseled jaw. And his eyes…

  Oh my, Kelly had been right. They were absolutely amazing, just as she remembered, especially, when he smiled at her. They’d crinkle up around the corners and…. She closed her eyes and swallowed hard. No.

  Curtis cleared his throat. “Rachel, this is Ethan Montgomery, Hayden’s son.”

  She stared up at him at a loss for something to say.

  Curtis turned to Ethan. “Rachel is the forensic accountant, from McKenna and Hirsh, the Board of Directors hired to investigate the shareholders dispute.”

  He slowly made his way toward her and grasped her palm. Her body jolted. The memories came flooding back. Homewrecker! He’d actually called her that and all she’d been trying to do was save him from a lifetime of misery with his two-timing fiancée. She snatched her hand away.

  “And this is Kelly Peterson, one of Rachel’s team members,” Curtis added.

  Ethan turned to Kelly and flashed a thousand-megawatt smile. “I’m pleased to meet you.”

  Kelly gave him one of her star-struck gazes and pumped his hand with both of hers. “The pleasure is all mine. If there’s anything you need, anything at all, you just let me know and I’ll be happy to help.”

  He winked. “I’ll do that.”

  “Ethan will take over for Hayden on the shareholders dispute investigation. You’ll deal with him moving forward.”

  She stared at Curtis. Had he just told her she’d be working with Ethan? No way. She must have misunderstood.

  Kelly grinned. “That’s my cue to leave.” She wiggled her hips and meandered toward the door.

  No misunderstanding. Not if the expression of envy on Kelly’s face was anything to go by. Damn.

  Curtis closed the door after Kelly left and then joined Ethan, who’d already taken the seat Kelly vacated.

  Rachel straightened her shoulders and gave what she hoped passed for a pleasant, congenial smile. “Has Hayden brought you up to speed on the investigation, Ethan?” she asked in her most professional voice because, oh yes, they needed to keep this on a professional level. No way could it get personal. They didn’t do personal anymore. Not since that horrible night three years ago.

  He shook his head.

  “Okay, I’ll set up a meeting and we can go over the information I’ve put together so far. Just let me know when it’s convenient.”

  “I have a few minutes. How about now?”

  “No, now won’t work.”

  “Why? You were supposed to meet with my father this morning. You can meet with me instead.”

  “The, um…” Stop it. You are not a bumbling fool. Don’t act like one. Why was she letting him get to her? She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “The meeting this morning was supposed to be an update on where I am. Your father and I have been meeting regularly for some time now. It won’t make sense to begin with what I would have reviewed today. I’ll have to start at the beginning.”

  Ethan dragged a hand through his hair. “All right, how much time do you need?”

  “A full day.”

  His lips tightened. “I don’t have a full day.”

  Calm and composed, calm and composed. She repeated the mantra then looked him in the eye. “I’m sorry but—”

  “Rachel, perhaps you can condense the information and give Ethan only what he needs to know for now. When Hayden is better you can go into more depth?” Curtis suggested.

  Rachel jerked her head up and stared at Ethan. “Is Hayden sick?”

  Ethan sighed. “He had a heart attack. The bank’s Board of Directors has decided to keep his condition quiet for now due to the negative publicity surrounding the shareholder investigation. Only top level Montgomery International personnel have been made aware of the situation.”

  A heart attack? Good Lord. “Is he okay?” She reached out to cover his hand with hers. “Is there anything I can do to help?”

  He flinched and slid his hand away. “No. But thank you for the offer.”

  She gaped at him, then stared down at the desktop for a moment and carefully moved her arm away. A resounding silence filled the small room. The walls seemed to close in around her. She closed her eyes, trying to get her ragged breathing back under control.

  Idiot, Idiot, Idiot. She’d only wanted to offer compassion, yet he acted as if her touch would sully him.

  You never learn, her brain derided.

  And wasn’t that the truth? It was bad enough the man acted as if they’d never met. Lord, he’d shoved his hand out at her as if years of friendship hadn’t existed. And wasn’t that a smack in the face? Because they had been frie
nds. The very best of friends. Rachel, Ryan and Ethan. The Three Musketeers. And to pull away from her, when all she’d been trying to do was offer support and kindness. He didn’t deserve her concern, not after the way he treated her—and Ryan.

  A soft beep sounded, and Ethan glanced down at his watch. “I’ve got to get to the hospital. Let Curtis know when you’ve put together your brief.”

  Polite and impersonal. If that’s the way he wanted it, it was fine with her and the less they saw of each other while he was back in town the better. But Hayden deserved more. He’d been very good to her given the situation. Others in his shoes weren’t so nice. The last time she’d been called in to investigate a financial dispute, the people involved had been extremely hostile. One had even threatened her. Hayden did none of those things. He was a nice man. “Give your father my best and tell him to get well soon.”

  Ethan turned back to her. “I will. Thank you.”

  He followed Curtis out and before Rachel could catch her breath, Kelly burst into the office, vibrating with excitement.

  “Oh—my—God. Drop dead gorgeous and a sweetheart to match, and you get to work with him every day.”

  “Yeah.” Great. Just great.

  “I am so jealous. Come on, ‘fess up, aren’t you just a little excited?”

  Not in the least. As a matter of fact, Rachel dreaded seeing him every day and—

  “You okay, Rach?”

  She jerked her head up. “Yes, why?”

  “Well, for a moment there you looked as if you might burst into tears.”

  Rachel laughed. Lord, no. “Don’t be silly. Of course not, I’m fine.” No way would she shed another tear for Ethan Montgomery. Not ever again.

  Chapter Four

  Rachel knew nothing about men and relationships, or just how cruel the world could be when she left her hometown in southern Mississippi and headed off to college all those years ago. A sheltered, strict upbringing equaled little life experience. You could count the number of boyfriends she’d had on one hand, one finger to be exact.

  Yes, Daddy raised her to be a good girl and, Good Girls were just that. Prim, proper, demure, reserved. They weren’t boy crazy, didn’t flirt and only dated nice, respectful, young men.

  But, above all else, good girls never thought or spoke of the things only married couples did behind closed doors, and they certainly didn’t do them.

  Rachel had been a good girl. Naïve, and totally unprepared for the real world when she arrived at college on the outskirts of Boston, Massachusetts just before her eighteenth birthday.

  She met Ryan in an English Literature class her second semester at school. He was handsome and charming, respectful and sweet.

  She fell head over heels for him.

  He asked her out and started pressuring her to sleep with him soon after. Only she hadn’t seen it as pressure. Not when he told her how much he wanted, no needed her. How he couldn’t live without her. How he’d die if she didn’t feel the same about him.

  She’d believed him. Of course she had. Why wouldn’t she? And yes, they weren’t married, but if they loved each other…

  She slept with him.

  He dumped her a couple of weeks later.

  That was her first lesson on how cruel life could be. What a fool she’d been.

  Distraught and heartbroken, she’d wandered around in a daze for weeks trying to make sense of it all.

  It was on one of those evenings, about a month after Ryan ended things, she met Ethan.

  On her way home from a night class, the wind picked up and it started to snow. Rachel didn’t like the cold New England weather, preferring the milder Mississippi winters. She cut through the woods on her way back to the dorm.

  She didn’t see the two boys lurking in the shadows and before she knew what was happening, one of them, the taller of the two, yanked her and shoved her hard up against an old oak tree.

  He trapped her with his body against the wide trunk and leered down at her. Panic seized her and for a moment all she could do was stare up at him in terrified horror.

  “Such a pretty little thing,” Tall Boy cooed, his speech slurred. “So sweet. What do you say we have some fun.”

  Dear God, no. She may be naïve but not stupid. Rachel knew what ‘fun’ meant and wanted no part of it. “L-leave me alone.”

  “I don’t think so.” Tall Boy leaned forward and ground his mouth down on hers.

  No way. She bit his lip.

  He jerked back. “You son-of-a—”

  Rachel screamed at the top of her lungs and planted a knee in his groin. He doubled over. She bolted, running lightning fast, but tripped and tumbled to the ground.

  The second boy, shorter and stockier than the first, loomed over her. He laughed. “Serves you right.”

  Tall Boy crawled over to her. He yanked her hair and jerked her face up to his. Hard, menacing eyes bore down on her, and she trembled. “Bitch,” he spat.

  “Someone’s coming. I’m outta here.” Short and Stocky raced off.

  Tall Boy struggled to his feet. “Wait for me.” He ran after his friend.

  Rachel fought to get up, then strong, sure hands pulled her off the ground and set her on her feet. She gazed into a pair of gorgeous, glittering, sapphire blue eyes. The eyes of an avenging angel.

  “I won’t hurt you. I just want to make sure you’re all right.” The calm, quiet voice soothed her frazzled nerves.

  He released his hold. Her body swayed, shaking from head to toe. “I’m okay. Thanks to you.” She shuddered. “I—I don’t know what I’d have done if you hadn’t come along.”

  “You’re lucky. I was walking back from class and heard your screams.”

  Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. “Thank you—” She swallowed past the lump in her throat and started again. “Thank you for helping me.”

  “I’m glad I did.” He grinned. “I’m Ethan Montgomery.”

  She gave him a tentative smile and shook his out-stretched hand. “Rachel Wilson.”

  “Are you sure you’re all right? Did they hurt you?”

  A few bumps and bruises, yes, but things could have been worse. She nodded, not able to speak.

  “We should probably get you home. Do you think you can walk?”

  “Yes.”

  They made their way in silence for a while, then Ethan asked, “What were you doing in the woods at this time of night?”

  “My accounting class got out late and—” What was she supposed to say to him? It hadn’t occurred to her something like that would happen? Naïve didn’t cover it. Idiot, idiot, idiot.

  “Do you always have class on Thursday evenings at this time?”

  “Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.”

  “Me, too. Maybe we can walk back to the dorms together?”

  Rachel smiled. “Yes. I’d like that.”

  And so it began. An easygoing friendship, one Rachel would later come to realize, was one of the most important relationships in her life.

  Every Monday, Tuesday and Thursday evening, Ethan waited outside her classroom and they walked back to her dorm together. She regaled him with stories of growing up in a small community. How her father was the minister of their church and of the responsibilities that came with being his daughter.

  He told her what it was like to live in New York. How he’d attended boarding school as a child and that his father was the president of an international bank.

  They had a lot in common. A love of Chinese takeout and Renaissance art, although, Ethan liked works by the French artists while she preferred paintings and sculptures produced by Donatello, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci.

  She learned of his long-time friendship with Ryan during those walks home. She worried her past relationship with Ryan would make it awkward but needn’t have. Ethan didn’t care.

  The more she got to know Ethan, the better she liked him and on a snowy, blustery winter evening, he kissed her.

  Then lesson two of how cruel t
he world could be came along. Rachel learned she was pregnant, with Ryan’s child, and whatever had been growing between her and Ethan… Well, it didn’t matter what it was or what it might have become because everything changed.

  Ryan proposed, for the child’s sake, and she’d married him.

  Because that was what good girls did.

  And really, when it came down to it, Rachel was a good girl.

  Chapter Five

  It took Ethan almost nine years to find someone after Rachel chose Ryan. Nine long years, hovering on the fringe. A part of their life, but not really.

  He’d been shocked when Rachel told him she was pregnant. Devastated when she announced her plans to marry Ryan.

  He’d begged her to reconsider, hell, he’d offered to marry her himself. Yes, it had been a crazy, impulsive thing to do. They hadn’t known each other long, but the thought of Rachel with Ryan gutted him.

  He should have walked away. Cut the ties between them. He didn’t. Couldn’t.

  He ushered Emma into the world on a cold, blustery November morning when Rachel went into labor a month early, and Ryan, who forgot to charge his cell the evening before, couldn’t be reached.

  He fell in love the moment his eyes settled on Emma’s sweet, little, cherub face.

  Rachel insisted on making him godfather, and he took the responsibility to heart, making sure he was there, without fail, for all of Emma's significant life events, and many of the not so significant ones, too.

  There’d been other women, other relationships during those years. He wasn’t some pathetic, lovesick fool who pined for a woman he’d never have, and he sure as hell hadn’t been a monk during that time either.

  But none of those other women made him consider a commitment until Sandra Reynolds came along.

  Sandra, with her fiery hair and flirtatious personality to match had touched something deep inside, feelings he thought died a long time ago.

  They’d met shortly after his thirtieth birthday at a fundraising event for the Hope Foundation, a local New York charity founded by philanthropist David Anderson Phillips.