Banking On Love

by Anna James

  Emma came to join her as Rachel opened the front door.

  “Oh, Emma.” Connie air kissed her grandchild and gave her a brief hug. “I’m so glad you’re all right.”

  Rachel rolled her eyes when Connie and Frank strode by without acknowledging her.

  “Grandma, what took you so long to come and visit me?”

  Frank tucked his tall, angular body into the chair to the left side of the stone fireplace and dragged a hand through his cropped gray hair. “Your grandmother and I have been out of the country, Emma. We only returned home last night and came here as soon as we could.”

  “Where did you go?” Emma asked and plopped down on the sofa beside him.

  “Grandpa and I went on our cruise.” Connie, who’d taken a seat in the chair opposite Frank, turned and glared at Rachel. “Right after your father’s memorial service. Don’t you remember? We talked about it at the equestrian meet.”

  If looks could kill, Rachel would drop dead. Too bad, she’d done what was needed to protect her daughter.

  Emma frowned. “But my accident was a month ago and you were only gone on your cruise for three weeks.”

  Emma was right. How had Rachel forgotten? They’d been in town a whole week after the accident and not away as Connie’s message stated. Why hadn’t they stopped by the hospital or called to talk to Emma?

  Connie threw a nervous glance toward her husband.

  Frank’s face turned a bright shade of red. He cleared his throat. “We, um…”

  Rachel stared, fascinated. What was going on?

  Connie glared at Frank. “We went to the Bahamas for a week to visit some friends before we left. We decided at the last minute,” she added hastily.

  Okay, she’d been wrong and they’d been out of town as Connie had indicated. Then why the subterfuge?

  Frank glanced back at Rachel, uncertainty etched on his lined face.

  Oh, yes. They were definitely hiding something, but what?

  Connie flashed a tight smile, then turned her attention back to Emma. “I almost forgot.” She reached into her chic designer purse and pulled out a small package. “We brought you a gift.”

  Emma’s eyes danced. “You did? What is it?”

  “Open the box and see for yourself,” Frank said.

  Emma tore off the paper, vibrating with excitement. She ripped off the lid. A frown settled over her face as she lifted the object and stared at it. “What is it?”

  “I believe what you meant to say is thank you for the present,” Connie corrected, “Your mother should have taught you better manners,” she added, turning another withering glare at Rachel.

  Rachel wanted to smack her.

  “Sorry. Thank you, Grandma and Grandpa.”

  Connie straighten her shoulders. “That’s better. It’s a tropical fish.”

  Emma set the statuette on the table and she stared, her brows furrowing into a deep V. “What kind?”

  “I don’t know,” Connie replied. “The shopkeeper at the airport didn’t label them.” She cast an exasperated glance down her nose. “Does it matter?”

  “No.” Emma shook her head. “It’s great. Thank you again. I love it.”

  “Good,” Frank said smiling. “Now, tell us what caused your accident.”

  Rachel watched both Connie and Frank while Emma chattered away. They continued to exchange nervous glances and every once in a while one or the other would peer over at her as if they expected… What, she didn’t know, but something wasn’t quite right.

  “Rachel, go and make some coffee while Emma tells us more about school,” Connie mandated.

  “Yes, of course.” She’d be pleasant and courteous for now. She didn’t know what they were covering up and they’d never admit to any wrongdoing. Besides, Emma loved them, and she wouldn’t ruin the afternoon for her by confronting them. As much as she disliked them, and the feelings were mutual, she’d put up with them for Emma’s sake, but she was damned well going to find out what they’d been up to.

  Rachel glared at the wood carving Emma had left on the coffee table earlier in the day. She swore the damned fish watched her as she reviewed the data she’d received from work. She tossed her sweater over the aquatic creature, then yanked it off. Good grief. Now, she was acting crazier than Connie and Frank combined.

  The front door opened. Emma burst in followed by Ethan.

  “You’re home.”

  “Safe and sound,” Ethan agreed.

  Emma yawned. “I’m gonna go to bed now. I’m tired.” She hugged Ethan. “Thanks for taking me out tonight. I had a really good time.”

  “Me too, kiddo. We’ll have to do it again soon.”

  Emma gave him a winning smile. “I’m free tomorrow.”

  Ethan laughed and ruffled the hair on top of her head. “I can’t tomorrow, maybe in a couple of weeks if it’s okay with your mom.”

  Emma turned to Rachel, an expectant smile on her face.

  Oh heck, what was she supposed to say? She walked a fine line by allowing Emma to see Ethan tonight and was pretty sure Jarrod would have an issue with it if he found out, which was ridiculous as far as she was concerned. Ethan was Emma’s godfather, for goodness’ sake, and she should be allowed to see him regardless of whether or not her firm was investigating Ethan’s father’s bank. Rachel had the conflict of interest, not Emma, and she’d removed herself from the investigation and hadn’t seen or talked to Ethan in weeks. Not since that night in the hotel when she’d… She closed her eyes for a moment and drew in a steadying breath. At least he’d stayed asleep—Thank God.

  She thought about him all the time and that was the problem. Heck, she hadn’t stopped thinking about him, not since he strode into her office at the bank. As the days passed, it got harder and harder to stay away from him. She missed him.

  Tonight, when he’d arrived at her front door and invited her to join him and Emma for dinner, she’d needed every ounce of self-discipline she could muster and a slew of reminders about keeping her distance and not risking her future to refuse. And still, it had been a near thing because she’d wanted to go with them.

  “Mom?”

  “We’ll see.” What more could she say at this point?

  Emma rolled her eyes. “Okay, fine. Good night, Ethan.”

  “Good night, Em.”

  Rachel came over to join Emma. “I’ll come up with you.” When they reached the stairs, she turned back toward Ethan. “I’ll be right back.”

  Ethan sat on the sofa when she returned a few minutes later and, damn, he’d poured himself a glass of wine from the bottle sitting on the coffee table she’d opened earlier.

  “I hope you don’t mind. I’d like to talk to you for a minute. Can I refill your glass?”

  Tell him to leave. He shouldn’t be here.

  “Do you believe any of the shareholders will find out I’m here?”

  What, now he could read her mind? “I’m more worried about what will happen if Jarrod or Carter find out than the shareholders.”

  “I doubt they will unless you think they’re watching your every movement or mine.”

  She laughed. “I don’t think they’d go that far, but in all honesty, I can’t risk it.”

  “Is that what’s upset you all day? You’re mad at me for asking Emma to have dinner tonight? I thought you were okay with it. Was I mistaken?”

  She sighed. “No, you’re not wrong. I want Emma to be able to see you while you’re here in New York. It’s just complicated.”

  “If you’re not mad at me then why the ‘grouch monster’ attitude all day?” He let out a little laugh and held up a hand to stop her protest. “Emma’s words, not mine.”

  She gave him an apologetic smile. “Emma’s right. I’ve been a bit testy, but my foul mood has nothing to do with you.”

  “Does it have anything to do with Connie and Frank’s visit earlier?”

  Her gaze drifted to the figurine on the coffee table once again. Thinking about the two of them drove he
r nuts. What the hell were they hiding?

  “Judging by the expression on your face, I’d say my guess is correct. What happened?”

  Rachel sucked in a breath and released it slowly, recounting the story.

  “Hmm.” Ethan cocked his head to the side as if considering. “I agree. Their behavior seems odd.”

  “It doesn’t make sense. So what if they’d gone to the Bahamas? Why try to cover it up?”

  “Maybe they lied to Emma to conceal the truth.”

  “You mean that they just couldn’t be bothered to visit Emma earlier?”

  He nodded. “It wouldn’t surprise me.”

  “It wouldn’t surprise me either, but I don’t think they were. They got really nervous when she questioned them. Something’s up, and I don’t know what.”

  “Did Emma notice anything out of the ordinary?”

  Rachel shook her head. “No. She seemed satisfied with their answer and was happy to see them. She talked about how much she loved her new school and how happy she was that Connie had insisted she go.”

  “It still shocks me you agreed to let her go to a school so far away from home.”

  “I didn’t have a choice. They spoke to her behind my back. Emma was so excited I didn’t want to disappoint her.”

  “Why did they offer in the first place?”

  “I think it’s a status thing for them. They were embarrassed Emma attended public school. Most of their friends’ grandchildren go to private schools, and it didn’t reflect well on them Emma didn’t. They hounded Ryan for years, but I kept saying no. I became the wicked witch who put the kibosh on their plans. Last year they bypassed me and went straight to her. Needless to say, she thought the idea was terrific.”

  “You could have said no.”

  “I almost did. I was furious with them, but Emma was so excited, and I hadn’t seen that in her since Ryan’s death. I didn’t have the heart to say no. Then I really would have been the wicked witch.”

  “Please tell me they don’t call you that to your face.”

  Her nostrils flared. “No, I’m the conniving little bitch who deliberately got pregnant and trapped their son into marrying me to get my hands on the family fortune.”

  Ethan’s deep belly-laugh disconcerted her.

  “Talk about the pot calling the kettle black.”

  Her brows furrowed. “I don’t understand. Are you saying Connie got pregnant with Ryan to trap Frank into marrying her?”

  “She’ll never admit it, but yes, it’s true.”

  “Unbelievable. When I think of all the times she accused me of ruining Ryan’s life. She has some nerve. And Frank is no better because he just let her have at it. Now I wish I had called them out on whatever game they’re playing in front of Emma. Then she’d know their true personalities.”

  “What good would you have done?”

  She sighed. “None, and Emma would have wound up angry with me. They just make me so mad. God, she doesn’t have one good grandparent among the lot of them.”

  “I take it that means you’re still at odds with your parents?”

  She twisted the ring on her right hand. Tears gathered in her eyes and she blinked them away. She wasn’t going to cry. She’d already done enough of that over the years.

  Ethan came to sit down beside her. He rested his hand on her thigh and gave it a gentle squeeze. “Ah, Rach. I’d hoped the three of you had resolved your differences. It’s been a long time.”

  Rachel wiped her eyes. “Thirteen years and my father still can’t get past the fact I got pregnant and I wasn’t married. Good girls don’t do those kinds of things. It’s as simple as that in his mind. I’ve tried talking to them over the years, especially after Ryan’s death, but they weren’t interested in hearing anything I had to say.”

  “I’m sorry, Rachel. I know how much you love them and want them back in your life.”

  “I’m not sure it’ll ever happen.” She shook her head. “But, you know what? It’s their loss, and I’m through apologizing for something I can’t change. I wouldn’t trade Emma for anything. She’s the best thing that ever happened to me, regardless of how she came to be.”

  “I couldn’t agree with you more.” He kissed her cheek.

  Rachel was sure he’d meant it as a sign of affection, but that didn’t stop the shivers skittering down her spine the moment his soft, warm lips made contact with her skin. “Thank you.”

  A slash of color highlighted his cheekbones. “For what?”

  “For sticking around and letting me vent. I needed that tonight.”

  “Even though you wanted me to leave?”

  “Am I that transparent?”

  He laughed. “Afraid so and, I’ll make myself scarce from now on, with you and with Emma, at least until after the shareholders dispute is settled.”

  She jerked her eyes up to his.

  “I finally get it.” He flashed an ironic grin. “It’s late and I have to drive back to the city.”

  Rachel walked with him to the door. “Thanks for taking Emma out tonight. I know she had a good time.”

  “So did I. Give her another kiss for me, will you?”

  “Absolutely. Good night, Ethan, and drive safely.”

  He pulled her into his arms and hugged her. One of those full body hugs where every inch of her came into contact with every glorious part of him.

  He gazed down at her and those eyes, those amazing, gorgeous eyes glittered like sapphire jewels. Her pulse soared.

  His thumb brushed over her bottom lip, and she almost groaned out loud from the sheer pleasure dancing along her nerve endings.

  His head lowered to hers. He was going to kiss her. She wanted his kiss with a desperate need unlike anything she’d ever known before in her life. Not even with Ryan. Never anything like this for Ryan. She closed her eyes.

  His mouth settled on hers. A simple brush of his soft, warm lips on hers. She moaned. Nothing had ever tasted or felt so good.

  “Good night.” He turned and disappeared into the darkness.

  Rachel stared after him until his car sped out of sight, then she locked the front door.

  Put as much distance between you and the Montgomerys as possible. Jarrod’s words echoed in her head as she made her way upstairs. She raised a finger to her still tingling lips and smiled. How the hell was she supposed to manage that now?

  Chapter Twelve

  He kissed Rachel Sullivan. Thirteen long years, and a whole hell of a lot of shit had happened since the last time he’d tasted her sweetness.

  Her lips were softer than the smoothest silk, sweeter than the most decadent dessert. He groaned.

  What the hell was he thinking? Ethan tried to focus on the traffic as he drove the short distance from Greenwich to his parents’ Westchester County home where he’d been staying since his return, but despite his concentration, an image of Rachel kept popping into his head.

  Had he lost his mind? No, more like his brain shut down. Again. The way it had the last time she’d wound up in his arms. Only this time he didn’t have the stress of a transatlantic flight, rushing to the hospital, or his father’s heart attack to use as an excuse.

  He couldn’t help himself. He’d been lost from the moment she’d stared up at him with those luminous, shimmering eyes.

  Damn. They’d just gotten back to being friends and now this. Good thing he wasn’t going to see her anytime soon.

  A car honked then whizzed past him on the right side, and he realized his speed had slowed. Better get a grip before he caused an accident, or worse.

  Minutes later he entered the house and found his father pacing back and forth across the living room. “Dad.”

  Hayden stopped mid-stride and turned to face him. “Good. You’re finally here.”

  Ethan frowned. “Shouldn’t you be in bed?”

  Hayden waved off his concern. “I’m fine.”

  “Then why are you traipsing back and forth across the room?” He pointed to the sofa. “Why
don’t you sit before you fall over? You look exhausted.”

  Hayden scowled. “You’re worse than your mother.” He made his way slowly back across the room and sat. “We’ve got a problem.”

  Ethan sat in the wing backed chair opposite him. “What is it?”

  “There are rumblings, some of our larger shareholders have gotten together and will request a special meeting.”

  “A special meeting to do what?”

  “They want the Board to demand my resignation. As second in command, they may go after you, too.”

  “When did this happen?”

  “I got a call earlier this evening. Jack Haynes was asked to lend his support to Quinten Chamberlin and the rest of the Gagnon group. He turned Quinten down, but if they asked Jack, they’ve targeted others.”

  “Shit,” he mumbled under his breath. The Gagnon group, while not the majority shareholders in Montgomery, still owned twenty-five percent of the stock. If they got together with some of the other larger owners, they could force a meeting. There’d be a vote on the matter, but given the current state of affairs, it was anyone’s guess how things might go at this stage of the game.

  “I want you to set up meetings with our larger investors, both here in the states and abroad, and reassure them everything is under control.”

  Ethan nodded. “Will do.” He noticed the piqued coloring on his father’s face and the weariness in his eyes. He couldn’t fail. If the stress of the continued investigation didn’t kill him, losing his position as CEO would. A Montgomery had always been in charge since the bank was founded three generations ago. “In the meantime, let’s get you back to bed, before Mom gets home and see’s you up and about.”

  Hayden struggled to his feet. “She’ll have my hide if she finds out I’ve been discussing business with you.”

  Ethan smiled and grasped his father’s arm.

  Hayden glared at him and shook it off. “I’m not an invalid. I can make it back to my room on my own.” He moved a short distance then turned to face him. “By the way, where were you this evening? I tried calling your cell, but it went directly to voice mail.”