Full Bloom (19 page)

Gifford shook his head in wry disgust. "The incredible part is I can just see her doing something like that. She was a magnificent, interfering, arrogant old lady."

"Someday I hope to be just like her," Emily said complacently.

Jacob groaned but there was laughter in his eyes. "I have a feeling we've all just seen a vision of the future."

"What about the night you threatened us with those shares if we didn't leave Jacob alone, Emily?" Catherine asked.

"A bluff, I'm afraid," Emily said with a sigh. "I could never get rid of those damned shares. I gave Grandmother my word of honor. But I thought I'd try pulling off a true Ravenscroft maneuver with them. Unfortunately," she added with a sidelong glance at Jacob, "someone else stepped in and nipped my big plans in the bud."

"Who was that?" Gifford demanded.

"Jacob. He didn't like the idea of me trying to protect him."

"Do you mean to say that you are now going to start taking an active interest in the day-to-day operations of RI?" Drake asked without undue concern.

"Nope. I have absolutely no interest in the day-to-day running of the company," Emily assured him. "I'll just be keeping tabs on things from afar. Grandmother made it clear that she considered you the best candidate for the job of actually directing RI's daily activities. She said you had the necessary predatory qualities to keep the firm alive and aggressive."

"I wonder if she meant that as a compliment," Drake said wryly.

"Oh, yes, she did," Emily said quite earnestly, remembering her grandmother's final words. "She said you had inherited all the necessary traits to make the firm thrive and grow and to protect it for the next generation. But she felt strongly that the company needed someone in the background who could step in occasionally and remind the board of directors about the difference between right and wrong. It was Grandmother's opinion that just knowing there was someone ready to interfere at a moment's notice would be enough to keep the firm from straying too far into the shadows. She recognized the fine line between good business and what was morally wrong even if it was legal."

"And she expected you to monitor that line?" Gifford asked bluntly.

"I'm afraid so," Emily said cheerfully, beginning to enjoy herself.

Drake stared at his sister for a long moment. Then he turned to Jacob. "Did you know what you were getting into when you carried her off to Reno?"

Jacob's teeth flashed briefly in a dangerous grin, but his eyes were warm and indulgent when he looked at Emily. "I've told Emily more than once that she needs a keeper. But now I'm starting to wonder if it isn't the rest of us who will need protection."

Drake smiled. "You may be right. Speaking of protection, I found dealing directly with Morrell an interesting experience. It made me realize what you used to go through for RI on a routine basis whenever we sent you out to tackle someone like him."

"That's why I let you do it," Jacob said. "I figured you might as well get used to handling the dirty work yourself because I'm not going to be available to handle it for you in the future."

Catherine eyed him sharply, but her tone was deceptively polite as she asked sharply, "You're not planning to ask for your old job back now that you're married to Emily?"

"Marrying Emily doesn't change my personal plans. One of the reasons I resigned in the first place was because I didn't want to be in the position of marrying the boss's sister." He raised his glass in a half-mocking salute to Drake. "Or the daughter of the other two members of the board." He nodded at Gifford and Catherine.

"You mean you knew when you came back to the States two months ago that you were going to marry Emily?" Catherine looked shocked.

"I knew I was going to do every thing in my power to marry her," Jacob said calmly.

Drake smiled slightly but said nothing. He looked as if he'd just had a private suspicion confirmed. Gifford shifted in his chair, narrowed his eyes and took a long swallow of his drink.

"I see," Catherine said tightly. "Just what are you going to be doing in the future, then, Jacob?"

Jacob glanced at Emily, his eyes unexpectedly warm. "I'm not sure yet, but I have a hunch Emily and I will be moving soon."

Emily nearly choked on her wine. She opened her mouth to ask him what he meant by that, but before she could get the question out, her mother already had.

"Moving where?" Catherine demanded.

"Arizona, I think," Jacob said musingly. "But it's not certain yet. I can open my consulting firm almost anywhere, but we'll need to find a place where Emily can start a new flower shop."

Gifford Ravenscroft glared at Jacob. "Why is it necessary to move?"

Jacob grinned. "It isn't absolutely necessary but it occurred to me that a little distance might be beneficial."

Drake chuckled. "You mean a little distance between us and you and Emily?"

"I knew you'd understand," Jacob said politely.

Catherine started to protest. Gifford watched Jacob like a hawk, and Emily decided this might be a very good time to keep her mouth shut. Jacob had said he would handle this little scene, and he certainly seemed intent on doing it his way.

It was Gifford who made the decisive move. He took command of the situation by simply clearing his throat. Everyone turned to look at him.

"So you're going to go through with this consulting business idea, Jacob?"

"It's either that or accept Emily's offer of employment. She's told me she would hire me full-time to deliver flowers. Actually, it's not a bad offer. The work is interesting, you meet some nice people and the tips are good."

Drake growled his laughter and immediately tried to muffle his amusement with a swallow from his glass of whiskey. His eyes met Emily's over the rim of his glass, and she knew exactly what he was thinking. The image of Jacob delivering flowers was more than a little outrageous.

"The funny thing is," she said softly, "he's really very good at it."

"Is that right?" Drake gave Jacob a speculative glance.

Gifford glared at his new son-in-law. "Forget the jokes about delivering flowers. You'll need a stake to get started in the consulting business."

"Will I?" Jacob asked politely.

Emily's complacency faded abruptly. She sensed danger. She had lived with this family too long not to recognize the signs.

"If you want to be competitive right from the start, you'll need at least a hundred thousand just for first-year expenses. Possibly a hundred and fifty. Office space, staff, traveling expenses—they all add up in a hurry. Getting through the first year is the easy part. The second year is the toughest. You'll probably need an additional source of funds to survive the second eighteen months in business. After that, if you're lucky, you might be running in the black. That's assuming everything clicks, and that you find enough clients to keep you afloat."

"I've learned a lot watching how Ravenscroft International works," Jacob said calmly.

"We paid you well, but I doubt we paid you enough to enable you to start up a major consulting firm from scratch," Gifford declared.

"I've been able to save a few bucks," Jacob said easily.

Emily shifted uneasily in her chair as she realized where all this was leading. Her fingers tightened on the wicker arms. Drake seemed unperturbed by it all. He was watching the other two men as if he still found something vastly amusing. Catherine was looking anxiously at her daughter and back at her husband.

"You're going to have to plan on something in the neighborhood of a quarter of a million, Stone," Gifford said bluntly. "You might as well be realistic about this. It costs money to go into business these days, especially the kind of business you're planning on opening. The competition is tough."

"Like I said, I've learned a lot watching RI operate."

Gifford swirled the ice cubes in his glass and then smoothly fired his big guns. "I think that we might be able to negotiate a deal, Stone. I'm willing to loan you the two hundred and fifty at no interest under certain circumstances."

Emily went very still. She knew what those circumstances were. Gifford was going to offer a deal which would undoubtedly involve Jacob filing for divorce in exchange for a quarter of a million dollars that he could use to start his new business. Her knuckles went white around her glass.

She wanted to leap to her feet and scream her protest, but in that moment she caught Jacob's eye and the angry, impassioned words died on her lips. Jacob watched her sink back into herself, and his mouth curved faintly. He turned to Gifford and spoke deliberately.

"Gifford, I've worked for you long enough to know that the last thing in the world I would ever do is allow you to invest in my business. No offense, but we both know that the kind of offer you're making comes with a lot of strings attached. I don't have any intention of letting myself get tangled up in strings of any kind, especially not the kind pulled by a Ravenscroft."

Gifford watched him for a long moment. "I believe you really mean that."

"You, of all people, should know Jacob never says anything he doesn't mean," Drake pointed out. He glanced at his watch. "I think it's time for dinner. Shall we go? You know how Myra hates to be kept waiting."

Gifford shot his son a quick look. "The rest of you go on. Jacob and I will be along shortly."

Catherine got to her feet at once and so did Drake.

"Coming, Emily?" Catherine asked pointedly.

Emily hesitated, and then she smiled at her husband. "Why not?" she murmured. "Jacob can take care of himself."

Jacob caught her hand as she walked past his chair and squeezed her fingers reassuringly. "Thanks for the vote of confidence," he said too softly for the others to hear.

She smiled at him again and then went to join her mother and Drake. The three of them left the room.

"I just can't believe it," Catherine said bluntly out in the hall. "How could you take us by surprise like this, Emily? First the marriage and then this news about your private agreement with Grandmother Ravenscroft. It's too much. What has gotten into you lately? You never used to do things like this."

"Correction," Drake said lightly. "She used to try doing things like this in the past. She just didn't get away with them until recently. Our sweet little Emily has finally blossomed into full flower, I'm afraid. And it was Jacob Stone who was around to pick the blossom when it was ready. The man always did have an uncanny sense of timing.''

"I know this is probably going to come as a shock to you, Mom, but I've loved Jacob Stone since the day he rescued me from that deranged kidnapper," Emily said gently.

"You what?" Catherine was totally nonplussed.

"It's true. But he was married then and I assumed there was no future for us. Even after his divorce I never dared to hope he might love me in return until you and Dad kindly brought him back into my life a few weeks ago. How can I ever thank you?"

Drake chuckled as Catherine glared at her daughter. "Don't worry, Mom, it wasn't really your fault. Stone came back looking for Emily. He would have found her on his own. I realized that a while ago. It was just sheer coincidence we asked him to give us a hand getting her away from Morrell. By the time he got back to the States he had officially resigned from RI. Didn't you wonder why he agreed so readily to help us get Emily out of the situation with Morrell?"

"We trusted that man!" Catherine exclaimed. "We trusted him for years. How could he do this to us?"

"I'd like to point out," Emily said firmly, "that I had a hand in the decision. I married him because I love him and because I know he loves me. Furthermore, I think he's right. I believe it would be best if we moved to Arizona. Or maybe Florida."

"Emily, for heaven's sake, don't talk like that," Catherine snapped. "Why would you want to live so far away from your family?"

Emily grinned. "I'll give you one guess."

Her mother sighed. "You've always resented what you call our interference, haven't you?"

"It has been a bit wearing at times," Emily said as she sat down at the dining room table. "You've never given me any credit for being able to look after myself."

"We only wanted what was best for you, dear," Catherine said earnestly.

"And what was best for RI, too, naturally."

"The well-being of the members of this family has always been tied to the well-being of the company. You seem to have developed a very sharp tongue lately," Catherine observed.

Drake looked at his sister as he sat down across from her. "Probably that assertiveness training class she took."

"Or," said Emily thoughtfully, "it could just be that I've finally grown up and become a real Ravenscroft, just as Grandmother promised I would."

"Now there's a thought to freeze the blood in one's veins," Drake remarked.

Catherine glared at him. "I don't see how you can take this so lightly, Drake. But I assure you it isn't finished yet. We'll wait and see what happens after
Gifford talks to Jacob privately."

Emily smiled serenely, aware of the depths of her own newfound confidence in the man she loved. Something deep inside her relaxed. "Nothing will change, Mother. I think you had better resign yourself to the inevitable."

Catherine studied her daughter for a long moment. Then her gaze softened. "You really do love him, don't you?"

"I really love him."

"He'd better take very good care of you," Catherine said finally. "Or he'll have all of us to answer to."

"For the last time," Emily said grimly, "I can take care of myself. Why doesn't anyone around here believe me?"

Before Drake or his mother could come up with an answer, Gifford and Jacob walked into the dining room. Emily searched their faces. Gifford looked stern, but not hostile. Jacob appeared relaxed and totally at ease. He stopped by Emily's chair and dropped a quick, proprietary kiss on her nose.

"The inquisition is over," he announced as he sat down beside her. "Now we can eat. Nothing like facing a bunch of Ravenscrofts to work up a man's appetite."

It was much later that night before Emily finally found herself alone with Jacob in the bedroom her mother had assigned them. She turned on her husband as soon as he closed the door.