Solid Gold Seduction (The Drakes of California) (16 page)

Chapter 36

A
fter a quick powwow, Johnny suggested that they use the golf cart, drive across the field and enter her land through the gate by the stream. By coming up the back way, he felt they were more likely to have the element of surprise on their side.

“What about horses? We could leave them by the barn, behind their house. Bobby, her main herd handler, lives not far from there. We might be able to enlist his help as well.”

“Sorry, Warren. But the last horse I rode was plastic, went in circles and had a rod through its middle.”

Warren gave Johnny a look of exasperation. “The golf cart it is then. Let’s go.”

While Johnny dialed nine-one-one and then called his second to let him know what was going on, Warren was driving the cart like a racecar, trying to get fifty miles an hour out of a vehicle designed to do twelve. They hit a bump and Johnny went airborne.

He slammed back into the seat. “Slow down, man. Jeez!”

Warren cut him a look and tried to go faster. “Hold on.”

Once they’d gone through the gate and were on Reed property, Johnny held out his hand. “Stop for a minute, Warren. This won’t work.”

Warren reluctantly shut off the engine. “Why?”

“It’s too open out here, with too many lights. The white of the cart will reflect off of them. One look out a back window and our goose is cooked.”

Warren banged his hands on the wheel, then jumped out of the cart. “We can stay in the shadows as much as we can, crawl if we have to, until we reach those buildings.” He pointed in the distance.

“Exactly,” Johnny said, as they cautiously started walking. “Then they can shield us. If you have your cell phone on you, make sure it’s on Silent.”

“Done.”

“Man,” Johnny whispered as they crept forward, “when I went to the academy, I never thought I’d end up protecting the boy whose older brother used to beat me up in grade school.”

“Remind me about that the next time we see Niko. He damn sure owes you now.”

* * *

Cedric stood, pacing around Charli, who was still tied to the chair. He grasped the bottle of scotch that he’d found on the hutch and drank straight from it.

“I think it’s about time that we moved this party into the bedroom,” he drawled, taking another swig. “Those wooden slats on your headboard look like they were made for what I have in mind.”

Charli tried to keep her torso as still as possible while she continued to work at the knotted rope around her wrist.

“Are you ready to get this party started for real?”

Silence.

He took another drink. “You’re not so bad now, are you? Where’s that smart mouth now? Where are all those names you called me now?”

“Look, Cedric—”

Smack!

He struck her across the face. Charli immediately tasted blood. She saw red, too. Anger. For his sake, Cedric had better hope that she could not get loose.

“Shut up! In fact—” He slammed down the bottle and grabbed the gun. “I’m tired of messing around with you.”

He reached around to where her hands were knotted, the gun to her temple.

And then there was a sound.

Cedric jerked up, looked toward the window where they’d heard it. He looked at Charli, eyes narrowed. “What the hell was that?”

“I don’t know!”

There it was again. Sounded like a pebble hitting against the windowpane.

Cedric crept toward the window.

Charli worked on the knot.

“It’s probably just the wind,” she said, her heartbeat escalating as she felt the knot finally begin to loosen. “One of the shutter panes is loose. It could be knocking against the window.”

Cedric looked from her to the window, swaying a bit from the continuous alcohol consumption that had occurred since he’d arrived. He straightened, seeming to have made a decision, and crept toward the door. He placed a hand on the knob, turning it slowly. He opened the door a crack and peeked out.

Go on, get out of here!
Charli strained to pull apart the knot.

Cedric opened the door a bit farther.

Then everything happened at once. The knot came loose.

Charli jumped up.

The door crashed in, sending Cedric sprawling backward. He landed at her feet.

That was his bad luck. She picked up the chair he’d tied her to and broke it over his head. After retrieving the gun that had slid across the floor, she was about to aim when Warren crossed the room and caught her arms.

“Charli, no!”

“Let me go, Warren. I’m going to blast that—”

“He’s not worth it, baby. Give it to—wait. Is that blood on your mouth? Did he hit you?”

Charli nodded.

Warren let go of her arms. “In that case, blow his balls off.”

Cedric tried to draw up his knees against his privates. Warren placed a foot on one of his ankles, preventing that from happening.

Charli aimed. Cocked the trigger. And lowered her arm. “You’re right, Drake. He’s not worth it.”

Still, she walked over to where Johnny had him handcuffed on the ground and kicked him in the groin.

He howled.

Charli leaned down. “Next time I won’t just kick them, I will blow them off, just like I promised you I would.” She stood. They heard sirens.

“We called the police,” Warren said, noting her curious expression. “And if they let him out again, I’ll be the one who delivers justice.”

Chapter 37

T
wo days later, Charli walked over to where Warren washed dishes. She placed her arms around his waist and rested her head against his back.

“Breakfast was good, baby,” he told her. Silence. He reached for a towel, turning as he dried his hands. He placed a finger under her chin, lifting her eyes up to meet his. “What’s wrong?”

“I just got off the phone with my mother.”

He hugged her. “How did it go?”

“Better than I expected, actually. She and Pierre are going to come down for Thanksgiving. And she doesn’t know it yet, but I’m going to split my portion of the gold with her.”

“Good girl.”

“Yeah, well, the jury is still out on how good it is.”

“Like Miss Alice said, it’s the right thing to do, babe.”

The conversation was interrupted by the sound of a car coming up the driveway. “I wonder who that could be,” Charli said as she walked toward the door. “Miss Alice?” She opened the screen.
And Griff?

“What in the heck is going on here?” she asked, coming off the porch and toward Miss Alice’s car. She reached the passenger side. “Griff, what are you doing here?”

He gave her a look. “It’s where I live.”

“You know what I mean,” she said, swatting his arm, wanting to hug him and hit him at the same time. “What are you doing out of the hospital? Miss Alice, what’s going on?”

“Griff being Griff is what’s going on. The doctors told him they wanted to keep him for a few more days and Griff told them he was leaving.” She opened the trunk and pulled out a portable wheelchair. “Here, Charli, help me with this thing.”

Warren, who’d stepped out on the porch, now came down. “I’ve got it, Miss Alice. Griff, how are you doing?”

“Fair to middlin’.”

“You’ll probably be better after a shot, huh?”

“That’s exactly right.”

Charli, who’d knelt down to hug the old man, had tears in her eyes. “You should have called me. I would have come to get you.”

Griff looked past her at Warren, then back at her. “Looks like you had your hands just about full.”

Between the crutches, the wheelchair and Warren’s strength, they got Griff into the house and settled in his recliner. His favorite bottle of homemade liquor, a shot glass and his pouch of tobacco were all within reach.

At first there was small talk: about his hospital stay, the state of the cattle and Warren’s finished house. But after taking a drink and filling his jaw, Griff settled back into the chair. “Now stop dillydallying and tell me about the mess we’ve got going on round here.”

One by one, they did. “Cedric was charged with breaking and entering, assault with a deadly weapon, unlawful restraint and a few other things that I can’t remember,” Warren finished. “He’s going to have a while to think about what he did.”

“What about the others? Do you know who they are?”

“No,” Charli responded.

“Well, actually, babe, there’s been a development. They found a lone fingerprint on the door to the secure room where the gold is kept. A warrant has been issued for his arrest.”

“Who is it?” Charli asked.

“Richard.”

“The friend you hired?”

Warren snorted. “Obviously not such a friend, since he tried to steal from me. And to think my mom was kind enough to want to give him a chance, and I was dumb enough to go along.”

“You were showing that you have a heart, Drake, ready to give the man a second chance.”

“Yes, and he reverted right back to his criminal ways. He was living in paradise, a great place to make a new start. And he blew it.”

“Are they sure it was him? It’s so hard to think someone could steal from the very man who signed his paychecks.”

“It was him. Even before they found the print, I thought it was mighty convenient that he left town right after the break-in happened. Mighty suspect, too.” He looked at his watch. “Charli, we need to go. I told Mom I’d meet her at the house.”

“I’m sorry, Drake. But I can’t leave. Not with Griff here.”

“Now, honey, you just go on,” Miss Alice said, getting up to fluff the pillow beneath Griff’s leg. “Me and Griff will be just fine, here. Won’t we, Griff?”

Neither Warren nor Charli missed the quick, affectionate pat she gave him.

“Okay, guys. But I’ll be back tonight, in time to cook supper.”

Again, Miss Alice spoke up. “Don’t worry about that, either. Me and Griff have already talked about it and I’m going to stay here for a spell, while he’s on the mend. I’ve got my suitcases in the car. I’ll get them later. So don’t you worry about a thing. Just go on and take care of your man.”

Suitcases, as in plural?
Charli suddenly realized it might not have been her grandfather that Miss Alice was digging back in the day...but someone else.

“Well, I’ll see you both later on tonight, then. I won’t be out too late. And I’ll be sure and call and tell you that I’m on my way.”

Minutes later, Warren and Charli were in his SUV, laughing about the turn of events with Griff and Miss Alice.

“That’s pitiful,” Charli said with a shake of her head. “I don’t see how they think he’s going to get his groove on, sitting up there with a broken leg.”

“Baby,” Warren said, reaching over and taking her hand. “Not all of his legs are broken.”

Chapter 38

“W
asn’t this a great idea, darling? I told you that we should go ahead with the party.”

“Yes, Mom.”

Warren hugged his mother as they stood just inside the living room entrance. The room was filled with some of Paradise Cove’s elite, mingling with gold miners and farmhands. A great idea indeed.

Looking at his watch, he removed his arm from around his mother’s shoulders. “I think I’m going to call Charli again. They should have been here by now.”

“Now, Warren. Don’t be anxious. Every woman worth her salt likes to make a late entrance.”

“With Griff at home recuperating, I’m afraid there won’t be an entrance at all!”

They laughed and watched as one of the guests walked over to join them. “Jennifer Drake! You look lovely.”

They exchanged air kisses.

“Alice, it’s been too long.”

“Not so long ago, sweetie. Just since the Days of Paradise Ball.”

“Of course.”

“Warren, you look good.” Alice’s eyes swept over him appreciatively. “My niece had better hurry up and get here, snatch you up before I give her some competition!”

Jennifer chuckled. “Alice, have you tried the caviar? It was flown in from Italy.”

“Girl, the only eggs I eat come from a hen.”

“Well, I’m sure there’s something on the buffet that you’ll enjoy. Oh, and there’s Bonnie. Let’s go and say hello.”

Niko came over, his eyes twinkling. “What was that about?”

“Mom being her usual self—trying to control everything.”

“Speaking of controlling things, looks like we both dodged a bullet.”

“How do you figure?”

“Long story that I’ll fill you in on later, but the short of it is...I’m no longer seeing Ashley.”

“I know Mom is happy.”

“Thrilled. And she was right, too, about Ashley’s ulterior motives. I just hope that Ash understands that it’s over between us.”

“It may take a while, but I think she’ll move on.” Warren thought about the recent conversation he’d had with Rachel, when he’d told her about his relationship with Charli. Though they’d never dated and Warren had never led her on, he and Rachel had known each other since childhood. He sincerely wished her every happiness.

“The town is too small for them not to know about this party. But so far, neither Rachel nor Ashley has decided to crash it.”

“Brother, please. I’ve had enough unwanted guests on my property to last me a lifetime!”

Both men laughed, then turned as they heard the tinkling bells, signaling that the outer door was being opened. “Excuse me, brother.” Warren walked down the foyer. “Dad. Grandpa.” He gave each man a hug.

“This place is great, son,” Ike said, looking around. “Jackson did himself proud.”

“That he did.”

The men bypassed the crowded living room, went down the hall and into one of Warren’s favorite places: his home office and library, fashioned after his dad’s. They also toured the theater, solarium and six-car garage.

“Let’s go out this way,” Warren said, walking toward the garage door. “So I can show you a little extra something that Jackson installed.”

He opened the side door to the garage, stepped out and saw something totally unexpected: Charli walking up the drive...pushing Griff in a wheelchair. Directly behind him came his grandfather and dad.

Oh, boy.

Without looking back, he walked over. “Babe! You look gorgeous!” He gave her a hug and quick kiss on the lips. “You don’t look bad, either,” he said to Griff.

But Griff wasn’t listening. He was looking beyond Warren to the man who was staring back at him. Warren straightened and turned around. “Grandpa, come on over here.”

Later, he would find out that Ike had had to prod him, but Walter Drake was soon at Warren’s side.

“You remember Griff, don’t you, Grandpa?”

“Unfortunately.”

“Griff, you remember my grandfather, Walter?”

“I’da had to fall off a taller ladder to forget.”

Walter took a step forward. “I am surprised to see you, though. I thought you’d died.”

“If I’d known the choice was death or seeing your ugly mug again, I might have chosen glory.”

Charli stepped between them. “All right, you two. Enough.” She stood squarely before Walter and held out her hand. “I’m Charli Reed, your former best friend’s granddaughter. Your grandson Warren thinks a great deal of you and since I know that he’s a good judge of character, it is my pleasure to meet you.”

Griff snorted. Charli cut him a look.

At the same time, Warren gave Walter a warning glance.

Walter stuck out his hand. “You’re Cherise’s girl?”

“You know my mother?”

“Of course, though the last time I saw her she was still quite young. Pretty little girl, as I remember. The apple didn’t fall far from the tree.”

“Thank you, Mr. Drake. I appreciate the compliment. But honestly, what I’d like even more is for you and Griff to bury the hatchet of hatred between you. You two haven’t seen each other in years and my grandfather is dead. Whatever happened back then can’t be undone. But what happens from this moment forward can be a new chapter in our lives.”

She stepped back, no longer the barrier between Walter and Griff. The two men warily eyed each other. Sounds from some of the guests obviously enjoying the patio area drifted toward them. A howl sounded in the distance, followed by a chorus of barking dogs.

“Well, Dad,” Ike finally said. “We’re waiting.”

Walter took one step. And then another. “I can let bygones be bygones, Griff. What about you?”

Griff looked from Walter to Ike to Warren and then back to Walter. “Fine young man right there,” he said with a nod in Warren’s direction. “Fair and decent.” He looked at Warren. “I read over the contract you sent, the one concerning the gold on both our lands. I’ll admit that it surprised me, the terms, that is.”

Looking between Ike and Walter, he continued, “Got my dander up at first, when I saw where he paid all the expenses for the dig. We’ve never been ones to accept charity, or have our hand out.” Finally, his eyes rested on Charli. “Then I thought about you, and how he’s never treated you in any way less than a lady. That’s when I had to admit the truth, that you’re a Drake. And you’re a good man.”

He lifted his hand toward Walter. “Guess that means the ones who raised him have some good in them, too.”

Walter smiled, nodding as he shook Griff’s hand.

“Whew, finally,” Warren said.

Charli blinked back tears as she gave Walter a hug. “Thank you,” she whispered. “I never thought I’d see this day.”

Warren stepped behind the wheelchair, ready to help Griff inside. “Let’s go inside, y’all. This calls for a toast.”

“Wait! We don’t have to go nowhere for that.” Griff reached between his hip and the chair. “I’ve got the toast right here.” He pulled out a silver flask.

Walter looked at Griff, his expression dubious. “Don’t tell me you’re still making that hooch.”

“All right,” Griff said, handing him the flask. “I won’t.”

Walter unscrewed the top on the flask and took a sniff. “Whew! A sniff alone would cure the common cold.”

“Come on, Grandpa,” Warren teased. “Don’t be a lightweight.”

“Boy, what do you know about it?”

Warren made to grab the flask, but Walter moved it out of his reach. “Wait now. Let a man show you how it’s done.” He took a healthy swig, swallowed and immediately began coughing.

“You all right, Grandpa?” Warren asked, slapping the old man on the back.

“I forgot how strong Griff made this stuff. Man, that will put hair on your chest!”

Warren and Griff said nothing, just looked at each other and smiled.

They went inside, the night wore on and everyone agreed on two things: Warren’s home was spectacular and the party was a great success. At the height of it, Warren reached for a flute of champagne, hitting a fork against the crystal until the tinkling sound got everyone’s attention and one by one they quieted down.

“I just wanted to take a moment and thank all of you for coming. And I wanted to thank my party planner extraordinaire mother for helping me put this on.”

Jennifer gave a little bow and blew a kiss to her son.

“I also want to recognize my grandfather, who has been in town for a short while, Walter Drake, and my grandmother, who flew in this morning to join us.”

Walter and Claire, who were now standing next to each other, gave small waves.

Warren acknowledged his father and the rest of his family. “And finally,” he said once they’d waved their greetings, “I want to thank someone else. Charli,” he said, looking across the room at where she stood next to Miss Alice and Griff. “Could you come here, please?”

At first Charli shrank back with a quick shake of her head. Public speaking wasn’t her thing. Unless the audience was cows.

“Go on, girl,” Miss Alice whispered, giving her a little push.

Charli’s brow creased at this unexpected invitation before she slowly walked over to where Warren stood. She stopped next to him and looked up.

“Charli Reed is my neighbor, owner of the Reed Ranch. Her family and mine have a history that dates back generations, when her grandfather, Charles, and my grandfather—” he nodded at Walter “—were partners. Mr. Griff Johnson—” Warren raised his glass to Griff, seated in the wheelchair “—was also a significant part of their operation, and continues to help run their dairy business.

“I tell you all this because when I first moved here, they were strangers. Then they became my neighbors and now they are like family. Well, almost.”

He turned to Charli. “Charli, from the time you rode up on that horse like you owned the world, I was captivated.”

Charli took a deep breath. Her heart began to pound.

“You were demanding, rude—” a few people giggled, one of them Griff “—irreverent, opinionated, and all I wanted was to be around you. My love.”

He pulled out a box. She gasped softly as her hands went to her mouth. “I want to be around you for the rest of my life.”

He went down on one knee. “Charlene...Charli Reed...will you marry me?”

She nodded, slowly at first and then more vigorously and then, realizing that she should probably say it out loud, responded, “Yes!”

There were cheers and applause and oohs and ahhs as the women gathered around to see the ring. It was not your average engagement ring. There were no diamonds, nothing jutting up to get snagged in the hay or dig into Charli’s hand when she was roping. Just an intricately designed band made of solid gold.

“Do you like it?” he asked moments later when they slipped outside for a few stolen moments alone.

“It’s perfect,” she whispered. “Exactly what I would have chosen.”

“Just so you know,” he said, turning her toward him and wrapping his arms around her. “This marks the end of my seduction.”

“Oh, is that what you’ve been doing all these months?”

He nodded.

“Well, yours might be over,” she said, running her hand precariously close to his treasures. “But mine has only just begun.”

* * * * *