Reunited in Love (17 page)

Shit.

Still, Ethan couldn’t bring himself to be too angry. Hadn’t he questioned his own motives for his initial attraction to Kerri?

“Did Simon put you up to this?” Ethan asked suddenly.

Gavin looked horrified. “What? No. I haven’t seen that son of a bitch since the meeting. He knows I’m meaner than you.” The two men sat and thought about that for a moment. “By the way, have you heard from Catherine?”

“No. Why?”

“It’s just…” Gavin sighed. “I was sure she’d contact you to secure, you know. The money.”

Ethan considered that. Catherine probably had some funds socked away and wasn’t suffering horribly. Bruised pride, yes, but nothing even remotely approaching heartbreak or poverty that would require his intervention. Someone that calculating would land on her feet. “She already got the future she wanted. Besides, she might have something to do with how poorly TLD is doing, so don’t feel that sorry for her. I’m not going to know for certain until the audit’s done, but the signs seem to indicate she’s involved. She was Jacob’s wife—well, we thought she was, anyway—and on the board all this time. To tell you the truth, I’m more worried about Meredith.”

Meredith was their youngest sibling and a single mom. She depended on the income from The Lloyds Development to provide for her son and fund the charities she was involved in. No cause involving women and children was unworthy of her time and money.

Gavin’s mouth curved into a hopeful smile. “Think she’ll go after Eric’s father?”

“Don’t know. She won’t tell me who the bastard is.” Ethan raised an eyebrow at his brother inquiringly.

“You know she doesn’t tell me anything.” Gavin cursed. “That girl’s got too much pride.”

Ethan looked amused. “As opposed to who in this family?”

Gavin ignored him. “She won’t go after her ex for child support, and she won’t ask us for money, either. How dumb is that?”

“Not dumb, just young and stubborn.”

“Well, neither of those things is going to help when the bankers want their money back. Did I tell you she remortgaged her house last month?”

“What the hell? Why?”

“To fund some projects for the poor, what else. You know how she is.”

“You offered to pay, I presume?”

“Of course.” Gavin’s voice turned falsetto. “‘I can’t take your money, Gavin, and I can’t pay you back with the funds from TLD either. They’re all earmarked.’” He made a sour face. “Apparently, taking my money is a sign of dependency, while taking some banker’s money shows her independence.”

“If you haven’t already, I’ll set up a trust fund for them,” Ethan said.

“I already offered, but she turned me down.” Gavin’s expression was equal parts amazement and outrage. “Can you imagine?”

Ethan winced. He could imagine very well how ham-fisted his younger brother must have been. Gavin didn’t understand he couldn’t just throw money at people. Whatever he’d said and done while offering the money must’ve set her off.

“Anyway, I’ll let you and Mom handle the convincing part. You’ll probably have better luck than me. I’ve already started setting up a fund for the rest of the family.”

“I can put some into that too,” Ethan said.

“I thought most of your assets were tied up in real estate.”

“I can have them liquidated.”

“Don’t do that. You aren’t going to get the best price.” When Ethan shrugged, Gavin continued, “I’m sitting on quite a bit of cash right now, so I’ll set something up. You can make a pledge to contribute if you want, but seriously, don’t screw up your investments just because of Jacob.”

“Fine. I’ll have my accountant contact you with the details.”

Gavin sighed and rose to his feet. “Thank god Dad isn’t here to see this cluster-fuck.”

Indeed, Ethan thought as his brother left. Their father would’ve had a fit, while their mother would’ve done her best to calm him down. The thought brought a small nostalgic smile to Ethan’s face. But he hated that his mother had to see this family drama. It was more fitting for a soap opera than real life.

Would Gavin tell their mother his suspicions about Kerri? Even compare her to Lisa?

Ever since Lisa’s death, Ethan had deliberately pursued women who had a range of interests other than him—career, education, and other personal aspirations. So what if Kerri’s eyes sometimes held a hint of grief? Everyone had something they regretted or felt sorry about. Kerri wouldn’t pull what Lisa had. Kerri wouldn’t slit her own wrists and scrawl, “Ethan, it wasn’t supposed to be like this” in blood for the police to find at their place.

Still, Gavin talking about how Kerri was just like Lisa to other members of the family could irreparably damage Ethan’s relationship with Kerri. She had no problem cutting Simon down to size, but she wouldn’t fight to win approval or acceptance in a non-professional capacity. She’d vanish again rather than try to change his family’s mind about her. He was sure of it.

Ethan put his feet back on the floor. He needed to find out more about Kerri and her background to prove Gavin wrong and counter whatever damaging move his younger brother might make in his desire to help Ethan avoid another costly “mistake.”

“HEY THERE!”

Kerri looked up from her laptop and saw Natalie waving from the door, her sun-kissed face glowing. The vivid jewel tones of her top and mini skirt accentuated her golden skin and dark almond-shaped eyes, making her look even more exotically beautiful than usual. Kerri closed her computer and ran over. “Natalie!” She hugged her friend. “I had no idea you were coming today! If I’d known, I would’ve gone to the airport.”

“Don’t worry. Ethan came to pick me up, even though he didn’t have to.”

They went to the table. Kerri sat, while Natalie went to the kitchen.

“I never suspected you guys would move in together,” Natalie said.

“Well, number one, this isn’t actually
his
penthouse,” Kerri said. “And number two, it’s a temporary arrangement.”

“Uh huh.” Natalie grinned, then suddenly her smile disappeared. “Hey, I can’t believe you quit and didn’t tell me!”

Kerri sighed. The cat was obviously completely out of the bag. But then why wouldn’t Ethan tell Natalie? She was her best friend, and he’d probably assumed she already knew. “Well. I kind of had to leave.”

“Leave? Why?” Thankfully, before Kerri had to come up with a way to explain, Natalie snapped her impeccably manicured fingers. “Does it have something to do with your fainting? You do look thinner than before.”

“Jealous?” Kerri joked, unwilling to talk about the real reason for her weight loss.
Ta-da! I got my granddaddy’s liver!
“And since when do you get your nails professionally done? Is that a requirement to be Mrs. Alex Billionaire?”

“Stop trying to change the subject.” Natalie rummaged through Ethan’s fridge and dug up a couple of apples. “I mean, you were already model-thin except for your boobs, but you must’ve lost at least ten pounds.”

“Tons of work and stress. Does wonders for your figure.”

“Uh-huh. You need to tell Ethan to stock up on ice cream.” Natalie tossed one of the apples to Kerri. She caught it and bit into the crisp flesh. “And you have to tell me everything. I mean
everything
.”

“What is there to say? I fainted a couple of times, and so I went to see my doctor. He did some blood work and said I was in awful shape. Ordered me to give up sugar, fat, and everything else that makes life sweet.”

“But you quit your job. Why?”

“Too much stress. It was killing me.”
And because I’d rather be fried in hot oil than face Barron
. She’d promised herself she’d never grovel for his approval and love, and she didn’t want to see her grandfather who’d only cause her pain.

“Oh my god, you should be in a resort somewhere, getting pampered, instead of slaving away for Ethan’s empire.”

Kerri laughed. “It’s not like that.”

“Really? He can be a difficult boss.”

“Tell me about it. He keeps ordering me to rest because it’s the weekend, or because it’s after five, or because the sun is out. Like I know what to do with myself when I have free time.”

Natalie gave Kerri a theatrically sly, through-the-eyelashes look. “I bet you know what to do with Ethan though.”

“Well…I
am
an expert at managing difficult bosses.”

“First time you’ve slept with one, though.”

Kerri shook her head. “Don’t read too much into it. This is a temporary situation. Very very temporary. I’m sure Ethan’s going to sort out TLD’s problems soon, and then I’ll move on.”

“Move on where?”

“I don’t know. Maybe California?” She shrugged. “Maybe I’ll work for your husband if he’s hiring.”

“He’s always looking for talent.” Natalie cupped her chin. “But is that what you want to do? You want to leave Ethan…whenever?”

“When one of us finds somebody else we would rather be with. This was never supposed to be permanent. And I prefer it that way.”

Natalie nodded without saying a word. But she got that “I think I know what’s happening here” look.

“What are you thinking? Spill,” Kerri said around a bite of the sweet, tart apple.

“I was just thinking that maybe Ethan proposed something temporary to lure you in. You did say he wasn’t your type because he wasn’t ‘manageable.’”

“So?”

“He just made himself manageable by saying you can walk out any time when you find someone else. The question is, will he?”

Kerri cocked her head. “Why wouldn’t he?” she asked. “He’s just like any other guy—he wants to be free to pursue someone else if he feels like it.” A sharp edge of jealousy cut into her heart. She ignored it.

“Oh I can think of a few reasons, but whatever.” Natalie shook her head. “I guess if you’re really convinced it’s temporary…”

Kerri made a face. It wasn’t like Natalie to bring something up, then be coy about it. “Don’t get any strange notions just because you’re living a romance novel right now. I know what I have.”

“And what is that?”

“Work, with money coming in. A place to stay. And” —she paused, considering what she had with Ethan, and smiled slowly— “all-you-can-eat sex.”

*

Kerri stared at the computer while Natalie dozed on the couch.
So much for keeping me company,
Kerri thought with a smile.

The penthouse was quiet, but Kerri couldn’t seem to focus on the numbers and notes. She kept thinking about what Natalie had said.

Will he?

Why not? Ethan could and would leave if he found somebody else.

No, not if, but when. When he found someone more suitable. Physically, their relationship was hot, but he’d want more if he intended to have something permanent. He’d want—and need—a true life partner, not someone who was simply compatible in bed. For Pete’s sake, she couldn’t even go to social functions with him if her family was going to be there as well, and the Sterlings and Wilsons were as prolific as rabbits.

Kerri scrawled a note for Natalie and went outside for a quick walk to clear her head.

The condo association maintained an immaculate lawn with brick walking paths, and the greens surrounding the condo complex seemed even more verdant in the bright afternoon sun. Kerri chose a winding path. She didn’t know where it ended, but its twisty looping pattern seemed apt, given how complicated her life was right now.

Things used to be so structured and straightforward. She’d work as an investment banker. Never see her family again. Climb the ladder. Possibly marry a man who she was comfortable with and who understood the demands of her career. Save money. Retire.

An intense man who made her entire body and heart clench with longing—that had never been a part of what she’d envisioned for herself.

Suddenly she wanted to run someplace where she could form a clear plan for her future without gut-twisting emotions and desire clouding her mind. She wanted to live in a city where people didn’t know her, didn’t try to know her. Where her family’s PIs couldn’t find her, and her family would just give up. Then she might be able to have a life that could give her fulfillment, give her a sense of belonging with someone who cared for her.

An image of growing old with Ethan flashed through her mind, and she shook her head irritably. Even if their family ties weren’t an issue, Ethan couldn’t be the man for her, though he already seemed to care a great deal about her. He aroused too many strong feelings. That alone made him too dangerous for her peace of mind.

She didn’t want anybody to have that much power over her. Experience had taught her that people didn’t always take care not to hurt her, and she could no longer abide such a position of weakness.

She strode along the path.
So if Ethan threatens to be more than just a temporary fling, what are you going to do? Run?

Running was how she’d dealt with unmanageable pain and loss. When running didn’t work, she’d medicated herself with alcohol.

But she couldn’t run. Not right now. She’d made a promise. The arrangement would last until he or she found somebody they’d rather be with, and right now, she couldn’t imagine leaving Ethan, even without the stipulation.

And alcohol was out of question, not unless she wanted her liver to rot through. She had no desire to die, or worse, be at the mercy of a—what was the word?—hepatologist.

When you have to go to a doctor that sounds like a snake specialist,
she thought sourly,
you know it’s time to clean up your act
.

Well, she’d just find an excuse to leave when the circumstances grew too unbearable. Something would present itself.

Now in completely unfamiliar surroundings, she turned around and started back to the penthouse. She should call a cab for Natalie—or maybe her chauffeur, since her husband seemed to have hired one.

“Kerri.”

She turned around. Ethan was moving toward her, his long legs eating up the distance between them. The pearly silk shirt lined his powerful torso and emphasized the shoulders her hands begged to grip. He always dressed well, and having seen him undressed, she knew it wasn’t the clothes that made the man, but the man himself that made the clothes. She almost couldn’t breathe at how stunning he was. Her heart swelled so fast, she felt a funny ache in her chest.