Passion and Surrender (The Billionaire's Temptation Book 6) (14 page)

“Exactly. Just promise me you’ll go through it and really give it some thought before you give me your final answer.”

Chapter Nineteen

As the moderator asked if there were any questions for the panelists, Marshall hoped they’d ignore Claire, who was sitting in the front row and had her hand raised. Somehow he’d managed to ignore her during the discussion, and it looked like he might escape without her getting the chance to ambush him as the moderator picked one person after another.
Until they announced they’d take one last question
.

Claire stood up and pinned him with a triumphant glare and smug smile as she stood up and started to ask her question—not that he was hanging around. He leaned over towards the moderator, made an excuse, and slipped away out the side door. Life was too short to continue to subject himself to Claire’s insanity and bitchiness.

Though he’d always wanted a child, he still couldn’t believe Claire was pregnant. Especially when she’d always been so careful about making sure he wore a condom, not wanting to subject her body to the Pill on the off chance she put on an extra pound or two—and not wanting to risk getting pregnant. Hell…he’d never even been with his own wife skin to skin. So for her to suddenly be pregnant? He just wasn’t buying it. And it killed him that what should be a happy occasion was instead turned into a manipulative mess.

His phone vibrated in his pocket, pulling him from his thoughts. Keane… “Hey. How’s it going over there?”

“Busy.” There was a long pause on the line before Keane continued. “Listen…I’m working with the Rykers’ security firm like you recommended, and we’ve made a bit of headway on who might be behind the thefts.”

“Who?” Marshall couldn’t believe they were finally getting somewhere with it. Once he’d spoken to Quinn Ryker about the problems they were having at Clio, Quinn had recommended Gabe’s fiancée, Hadley, and her security firm—and it looked like it’d been the right move.

“We’ve narrowed it down to someone on the engineering team—I have her name here somewhere. Harper Jones.”

It was like a knife to his heart, leaving Marshall stunned and shattered with disbelief.

“It can’t be, Keane. I know her, and she wouldn’t do something like this. No fucking way.” It just couldn’t be. Marshall refused to believe Harper had anything to do with this mess. There was no way she could be the mole. “What proof do you have?”

“Nothing concrete, but there’s an awful lot pointing in her direction. Her work computer had accessed files she shouldn’t have been looking at.” Keane let out a weary sigh. “I know she’s there at the conference with you, Marshall. Are you sleeping with her?”

Fucking hell. “Yeah, I am. But I swear, Keane…there’s got to be a reasonable explanation. A lot of the computers in her department have multiple users on them.”

“I know. Which is why we’re looking into it further. But, Marshall…I’m not sure letting her get close to you is a good idea.” After another long pause that made him want to reach through the phone and shake his brother, Keane finally continued. “There’s more. Locked away in her desk drawer were copies of plans she shouldn’t have had—and there was correspondence to a rival company. Titan.”

“Keep me updated, Keane. But I need to know for sure. Not just half-assed suspicions, okay?” Anger, hurt, and doubt—about whether she could be guilty, about whether what was between them was real—all rivaled with each other as Marshall hung up with his brother and stepped onto the elevator, fighting the urge to put his fist through the wall.

He let himself into their room, still not quite sure what he’d say to her. Not that it mattered, since she wasn’t even there. Where the hell was she? Both their laptops, along with his briefcase, were still on the bed—and he’d given her his password.

Fuck…he hated to think the worst and couldn’t imagine that she was involved. Yet her friend worked for Titan. Keane had narrowed down the mole to someone in Harper’s department at a bare minimum, and though it was hard to know when exactly the thefts had started, it wasn’t that far off from when Harper came to work for Clio. And now? She’d said she’d wanted to come back to the room so she could get some work done, and yet she wasn’t here, even if she’d clearly accessed his files.

She’d mentioned her father had problems and she was hoping to get him help. Were things bad enough that she was forced to do things that may be out of character for her out of sheer desperation? Or was the issue something bigger, like gambling, and she just hadn’t told him about it?

He hated to do it, but he had to. Carefully, he went through her briefcase and her luggage, trying not to disturb anything, and then turned his attention to her laptop, though she had it password protected, and he was damned if he could figure out how to get past it.

Needing a drink, he grabbed himself a whiskey and knocked it back, getting himself another before he grabbed a seat so he could wait for her while attempting to sort through his racing thoughts. It couldn’t be Harper. He couldn’t bear to think of her being guilty of doing such a thing—and worse, he couldn’t bear to think that what was between them had been nothing more than a deliberate manipulation. It fucking killed him, his heart strangled by his heartache, as he did his best to push away the thought that she was the mole.

Let it be anyone but her…

He was on his fourth whiskey and in a foul mood by the time she showed up, a smile lighting her face when she saw him. “Hey…when did you get back? You should have texted me.”

She put down her handbag, and slipped some folded papers she was holding into her purse, before closing the distance between them to sit on his lap with her arms around his neck and a smile on her lips. Her mere presence melted away some of his doubts about her, and when she kissed him, he couldn’t help but kiss her back, his fingers sinking into her hair as she shifted to straddle him. By the time he managed to break away from their kiss, his breathing was heavy and his head was spinning. “I missed you, Harper.”

She pulled back to look at him, worry darkening her eyes and creasing her brow. “Hey…you okay? What’s happened?”

“Where were you, sunshine?” He hated asking like he was some sort of jealous dick of a boyfriend. And maybe he was. But given everything that was going on, he wanted answers.

Her eyes narrowed just a little as if wondering why the hell he was grilling her like some sort of possessive asshole, although she answered him anyway. “Ben texted to see if I was still up for dinner, but I figured I’d rather spend the evening with you, so I met with him for coffee instead, since I needed the caffeine and it’d get me off the hook for meeting with him later. Why? What’s going on? You look totally out of sorts, not to mention just a little drunk.”

So she’d been with Ben. But was it really just to catch up quickly over a caffeine boost? Marshall couldn’t help but wonder if she’d found the files she needed on his laptop and was handing them over, knowing he’d be busy with his panel and the conference. Fuck, but he hated himself for thinking it of her, even if he had a right to think it.

“I’m sorry…I’m being an ass.” Which was nothing but the truth. “Did you have a good time, at least?”

“Yeah…I suppose. It was nice to see him again, since it’d been awhile, but…it was just coffee.” She gave him a shrug and slipped her arms around his neck, concern still lining her face. “Marshall…what’s going on? You can talk to me, you know.”

Could he? He just didn’t know anymore. But one thing was certain—he needed to get a grip and convince her that everything was fine, until he knew otherwise. Because if it turned out to be someone other than Harper—and he sure as hell hoped it was—then the last thing he wanted was to ruin things between them.

Marshall had meant it when he’d told her he was falling in love with her, and though he knew it’d happened quickly, he didn’t care. He loved her. There was no changing that. Which was why he needed to keep Keane’s suspicions to himself. And if it did turn out to be her, he’d be nothing short of devastated, not to mention it’d have him questioning his judgment when it came to women.

The mess with Claire was bad enough. He didn’t need to add another stupid mistake to it, to really make him feel like a gullible idiot. So he’d do his best to pretend there was nothing truly wrong, even if it felt like the walls were crashing in on him.

“My brother called about some business stuff, and it’s a pain in the ass trying to deal with certain things when I’m not there in person. But there’s nothing to worry about, and I’m sorry if it put me in a shitty mood.” When she bent her head to his, he stole a kiss, the physical connection between them seemingly the only thing that could soothe and distract him from his troubles.

“Just promise me you’ll talk to me if it gets worse or it becomes too much.” She played with his silk tie before loosening it. “I meant it when I said I loved you, Marshall, and I’m here if you need me. No matter what.”

He wanted to believe her—and so he did—
until he couldn’t do otherwise
.

“I do love you, Harper…more than you know.” He wanted to trust her, wanted things to go back to how they’d been just hours ago, when, no matter what problems they were dealing with, Harper was still the sunshine on a dark and miserable day. So how the hell could he just pretend that everything was normal between them?

She pursed her lips, still looking worried, and then bit her bottom lip. “Do you need to fly back to Portmore? I can stay behind and handle whatever business you have left to wrap up, if that’ll help.”

He hated that instead of seeing the gesture as one of offered help, he was instead left wondering if she was offering to stay behind so she could meet up with Ben again.

Fuck…what the hell was he doing?

Doing his best, he let go of the tension knotting his muscles and managed a smile, cupping her face as he tried to see her once more as the person he’d fallen in love with. “I appreciate the offer, and though it might be a good idea to head back home, there’s nothing I’d need you to stay behind for. I’ll have them get the jet ready for tomorrow, if that’s okay with you.”

“Yeah…of course. Although you really do have me worried about you, Marshall.” At least her concern seemed genuine—which made him feel like an ass for questioning why she was with him. “This doesn’t have to do with your ex, does it? Or…the baby?”

“No. Though Claire keeps showing up everywhere I’m at, I’ve managed to avoid talking to her.” Maybe if he told her a portion of the truth, it’d allow him to judge her reaction. “I don’t remember if I told you, but I have my brother working with a security company to try to narrow down who the mole is.”

“Well, that’s good. Have they figured out who it is?” Harper didn’t seem worried, at least. That had to mean something—unless she was a half decent actress. Given that he didn’t want to think she was involved, could he really trust his judgment when it came to her?

“They’re getting closer, but nothing concrete yet.” He didn’t want to tell her that they’d narrowed it down to her department. But why? So she wouldn’t get suspicious and cover her tracks? It was fucking insane, and it pissed him off to no end that he was having to analyze every look, every touch, every word out of her mouth.

“I still can’t believe someone at Clio would do that, but…maybe you need to relax—let your brother deal with it for now. You have me worried about you.” Trailing kisses and bites from his ear to his neck, she slipped her hands down his chest and started undoing the buttons of his shirt. “We haven’t used that massive tub yet…maybe a bath—among other things—would help to relax you.”

“Maybe.” There was one thing he wanted to do first, though. Doing his best to put on a good face to keep her from worrying, he shifted her off his lap and got up, stealing a quick kiss before turning her around and playfully slapping her ass. “Why don’t you draw the bath and get started, and I’ll join you in just a bit. I have a few things I need to take care of first. And don’t forget to grab a vibe, Ms. Jones. I do believe you’ve been slacking on your research.”

She shook her head as she laughed. “That space has been occupied by your hard cock almost exclusively since we got here, so if it’s anyone’s fault that I’m slacking in my duties, it’s yours.”

And just like that, their little bit of banter had his heart hitching, leaving him to wonder how he could possibly suspect her. Tangling his fingers in her hair, he hauled her to him for a kiss, claiming her mouth once more, as her soft curves pressed against his body, his hard cock trapped between them, desperately searching her out. His tongue danced over hers as her hands fisted his shirt and he swallowed her needy moans, so he couldn’t think of anything but what was between them. By the time their kiss came to an end, he couldn’t think straight. Taking a deep breath, he forced himself to focus and try to keep a clear head.

“Off with you, sweet girl. By the time I slip into the hot water next to your naked body, I want you to be able to give me a full report.” He grabbed his favorite of the vibes they manufactured and handed it to her, loving that she still blushed even after all they’d done together.

“You really are a brat, Marshall.” And then with a sway of her hips and a flirty glance over her shoulder, she headed off, leaving him behind to try to figure out what the hell he was going to do.

Grabbing his cell, he called his brother. “Keane…please fucking tell me you have more news. This is killing me.”

“We’re still zeroing in on things, but…fuck, man…it’s not looking good. Everything points to Harper Jones, though I’m trying to make sure that someone else isn’t setting her up to take the fall.”