The Boss's Daughter (3 page)

“You can have a limousine anytime you want,” Holt assured Ruby. Cassandra had the sickening feeling there was a private message in that. “But if you want a September wedding,” he went on, “we can do that, too.”

They looked at each other. No touching, no kissing, but something passed between them. Ruby’s face softened like a woman in...well...like a woman in love.

Was it possible? Or was Ruby a consummate liar?

Ruby pushed away her plate and laid down her napkin. “I’m just going to powder my nose and fix my lipstick.”

It was an obvious ploy to leave Holt alone with Cassandra.

Ruby expected Holt to talk her round. There was only one thing to say, though. She waited until Ruby had disappeared into the bathroom. “Are you sure, Dad?”

He raised a brow at her use of the title. “Worried about your old father?”

“You’re not old, and I’m not worried.” She just didn’t like the idea of Ruby using him. “But a daughter always needs to ask. Otherwise you’d think I don’t care about you.”

He patted her hand. “I’m sure. She fits the man I am now. And I fit the woman she is.”

But are you in love with her? Is she in love with you?
Cassandra didn’t have the right to ask that, even if she had called him
Dad
. “She’s not going to be easy.”

Holt laughed. “That’s the whole point. I don’t want easy.”

Of course, there was the other meaning of the word, and
easy
was exactly what Ruby was. “Well, you’re a big boy and you know what you’re doing.”

With a full head of gray hair, handsome patrician features, and a muscular body that would make even a man twenty years younger envious, what woman wouldn’t fall in love with him?

“I can take care of myself, sweetheart.”

She hoped he at least demanded a prenup. Whatever, it wasn’t her concern. And really, who was she to talk? She’d just discussed borrowing his money.

There were a lot of things she should have asked. Instead, she said, “I wish you all the happiness.”

“Thanks, sweetie.” He squeezed her hand, his gray eyes suddenly as solemn as a promise. “This is the best thing I’ve had in a long time. And it’s not a snap decision. So don’t you worry about me.”

“All right, Holt, I won’t.”

He pulled back, smiling again. “What, I’m not Dad anymore?”

He would always be her father no matter what she called him. And if Ruby Williams hurt him in any way, Cassandra would make sure she paid.

Chapter Three

Cassandra Montgomery was utterly gorgeous, and she stole his breath the moment she entered Holt’s office. Her slim-fitting skirt, one side white, the other black, hugged her hips and made his mouth water. The suit jacket, its black versus white sides opposite to the skirt, was tailored to her shape and molded to her perfect breasts. She looked like something out of an old black-and-white forties film, a femme fatale. And he was the stooge that fell head over heels for her.

“Have you met my daughter?” Holt flourished a hand toward her.

Ward stood. He’d come to Holt’s office for a brief Monday-morning recap of the investors’ conference. He hadn’t expected her. She robbed him of speech. She made his face overheat and steamed up his glasses. She turned him into an idiot.

“We met the other day, Holt.” She smiled with painted lips he wanted all over him.

Her father didn’t seem to mind that she used his given name. “Now that you say it,” Holt said, “Ward mentioned he’d seen you when he arrived at the conference.” Holt gave him the eye. The man knew something was up.

“Yes, I helped him find your computer.”

Ward still hadn’t said a word. “Thank you.” He was such a magnificent wordsmith.

She widened her eyes and shot him a cocky little smile. “He was so appreciative. Couldn’t thank me enough for what I’d done for him.”

Jesus. What she’d done for him. Alone in his hotel room, she’d driven him to taking his rock-hard cock in hand. She’d filled his nights with sex dreams and his days with endless fantasies of her.

“Well, I’ll let you visit with your dad.” He sidled toward the door.

As he passed, her arm brushed his, and her warmth zipped through him like an electric current. “Don’t go on my account.”

Just as he’d been rooted to the hardwood floor outside her bedroom, he became rooted to the carpet in Holt’s office.

“I just came,” she went on, “to tell my father I was meeting with my accountant this morning regarding our conversation yesterday.”

Holt raised one brow. “You could have called me to tell me that.”

She practically fluttered her eyelashes at Ward. “I was passing by anyway.”

Her father sighed. “Let me know how it goes.”

She patted his cheek. “I will.” Then she turned to Ward. “And I look forward to seeing more of you.” She winked at him before she left.

Holt was giving him an expressionless stare. “Are you going to tell me what that was all about?”

You should
never
mess with the boss’s daughter.

“Nothing, sir.”

Holt’s lips thinned. No one called him
sir
. Ward certainly hadn’t done so before. “Her accountant is in San Francisco. My house is in Atherton. Palo Alto”—where West Coast was located—“is not on the way. Unless I’ve got my compass mixed up.”

She’d come for him, Ward knew. What would she have done if he hadn’t conveniently been in Holt’s office? Searched all the West Coast buildings? And what the hell did she want? “I realize Pala Alto is south, but other than that, I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Holt eyed him a moment longer. At fifty-two, the man was impressive, intelligent, commanding, a power to be reckoned with. He’d always been a fair and easygoing boss. But now he was wearing his
father
hat.

“My daughter is a beautiful woman,” he said. “But I have never known her to exclusively date one man. She doesn’t have relationships. She’s all about her career.”

Ward knew she was a fashion designer from L.A. Holt was fond of talking about his daughter and proud of her accomplishments.

“She’s opening a boutique in San Francisco,” Holt went on. “Moving here. This will be a very busy time for her.”

“And you think I—” Ward finished by putting a hand to his chest.

“I wouldn’t want you to feel like you were coming in second or even third on her list of priorities.”

Ward was stunned. “I would never presume to...” Oh yes he would.

Holt clapped him on the back. “I like you.”

“Thanks.” He waited for Holt to finish the thought, as if something else had to come after that.

Holt simply went back to his seat behind his desk and motioned for Ward to take his. “Now what were your impressions of CT Capital Ventures?” It was one of the investment companies interested in any new public stock offerings West Coast might put out.

Interesting. Holt had not been warning Ward off hurting Cassandra; the exact opposite was true. He was warning Ward about
her
.

* * * * *

On Monday evening, Ruby once again brought over take-out. This time it was Italian.

Dinner was totally weird. Cassandra was hypersensitive to any touch and every glance between them. Did they have sex? Of
course
they had sex. She wasn’t one of those children who was horrified to think her parents had sex. It was natural. Her father was still a very virile man. But she didn’t get this relationship between them. Ruby had been living with Clay Blackwell a month ago. Yet her father had said this marriage thing wasn’t a snap decision.

“How did the meeting go with your accountant?” her father asked.

Cassandra didn’t want to discuss finances in front of Ruby, but it would be rude to ask her to leave. She phrased her answer as innocuously as possible. “We decided that the preferred method would be to classify it as a liability and repay with an agreeable rate of interest.” In other words, she was asking for a loan which she would pay back with interest at the prevailing rate. The truth was she didn’t want a partner or an investor. Especially not now that Holt was marrying Ruby.

“That’s fine,” he said. “Shall I have my lawyer draw up papers?” He knew she wanted a written agreement between them.

Cassandra smiled, dipped her head slightly in a nod of acknowledgement. “Thank you.” Then she glanced at Ruby, who seemed to be very interested in the gourmet manicotti on her plate, but of course, she was drinking in every word. Would she somehow use it against Cassandra later?

Jesus, why was she so paranoid? Or maybe she was just jealous. Good God, no. She wasn’t a possessive daughter.

She plunged ahead. “I’ll be fine for at least six months.” She had that much capital, but if the business didn’t immediately start making a profit—and what start-up ever did with all the initial set-up costs?—she would have trouble paying ongoing bills. “And if I can pay you back more quickly than anticipated, I will.”

“Don’t put too much pressure on yourself,” Ruby said, the first thing she’d added to conversation.

Was that concern? Or something else? She wanted to give a snippy reply, but she wasn’t sure if Ruby deserved it. “I won’t,” she said. “Too much pressure makes it more difficult to succeed.” She needed a balance between the pressure to achieve but not so much that she collapsed under it.

“That’s a very smart attitude,” Ruby agreed. And the conversation turned to lighter subjects.

After dinner Cassandra poured two glasses of wine and carried them out to the patio. When Holt tried to follow, she told him she wanted to have a little girl talk with Ruby.

The evening was warm, the breeze cooling. Flowers scented the air, and the chardonnay was tart and delicious on her tongue.

They were both enjoying the garden view when Ruby said, “Your dad’s very proud of you.”

“Thank you.” This could be the buttering-up stage, where Ruby tried to get Cassandra to like her.

“He’s always talks about you to everyone at work. What a talent you are.”

“I’m glad he thinks so.” Ward had probably heard an earful, too.

Ruby sipped the wine, smiled. “And I suppose you brought me out here so you can tell me I’m not good enough for him.” She was definitely astute, more so than Cassandra had imagined.

“I don’t know,” she answered. “Are you?”

Ruby hadn’t changed out of her work clothes, though she’d removed her jacket. The blouse had a scoop neck that revealed too much cleavage. A small black pearl dangled on the end of a chain, calling attention to her breasts. Despite the low cut, the blouse was more circumspect than some of the outfits Cassandra had seen her wear.

Running a finger around the rim of her wineglass, Ruby said, “I’m not a particularly honest person, but I will you two minutes of complete honesty. Your father is the best thing that ever happened to me, and I didn’t even know it.” Her eyes were unfocused as she smiled at an inner thought. She wasn’t a mild woman, but the look softened her. “I’ve made a lot of mistakes, and I’m sure I’m going to make a lot more. But he wants me, and I love him.” She tipped her head to glance at Cassandra.

She didn’t know what to say. Because she actually believed Ruby. “I’m happy to hear that.” It sounded inadequate.

“I wouldn’t justify myself to anyone else, but you’re his daughter and you deserve to know that.” She paused. “And that’s all I’m going to say.” She zipped her lips with her thumb and forefinger.

They drank wine in silence for several long seconds. Only time would tell for sure, but Ruby at least
sounded
sincere.

Cassandra considered asking if Ruby was going to cheat on Holt. But number one, it wasn’t her business. Number two, Holt had every clue it might happen. And number three, Ruby probably didn’t intend to cheat. At least not now. “I suppose I could be really dramatic”—Cassandra narrowed her eyes in mock menace—“and tell you I’ll be watching every move you make. But as Holt says, he’s a big boy.” She smiled, though it wasn’t totally sincere. “Now I’m going to ask for a favor.”

This time Ruby was the one giving her the eye.

“I want to borrow your card key and the key to my dad’s office.”

Ruby’s mouth dropped open. Cassandra had managed to surprise her. Then she narrowed her eyes just as Cassandra had only moments before. “No way in hell. I don’t care if you are his daughter. He’d kill me for violating the company.”

“I’m not going to violate anything. I just want to leave a present for him on his desk.”

“Leave it on his desk here at the house.” Ruby stared mutinously. Cassandra imagined that’s exactly how Ruby looked when some sleazy salesman tried to get into Holt’s office. She was his snapping guard dog.

But Cassandra had been planning this all afternoon, while she was driving to the accountant’s, after the meeting, and even as she was previewing another set of locations for the boutique. And she would have it.

“I want him to find it when I’m not around. It’s important to me,” she insisted. “This is the way it has to be done.”

“Leave whatever it is with me. I’ll put it on his desk.” Ruby was turning into a junkyard dog now. Any moment she’d bare her teeth.

With sudden, unexpected insight, Cassandra realized that Ruby could actually be good for Holt. She was loyal, fierce in her defense of him and what was his. She’d been like that in the four years she’d worked for him. It was highly likely that trait would translate to their personal relationship. By reading negativity into everything Ruby said, perhaps Cassandra was doing her an injustice.

But she would still get her way in this. “I’m trusting you with my father’s happiness. Now you trust me with the keys.”

Ruby hesitated, something going on behind her eyes as she stared at Cassandra’s throat. Then she raised her gaze. “All right, I’ll trust you.”

The keys held meaning to Ruby. Handing them over to Cassandra had equal meaning.

“But I need them back for the morning,” Ruby said.

“I’ll leave them by your purse when I get home tonight.” Cassandra had no doubt Ruby would be spending the night. Again.

Cassandra had a plan, and it wasn’t what she’d told Ruby. She wasn’t going to
violate
anything, so she didn’t feel guilty. Besides, she fully intended to leave her father a present. And Ruby would like it even more than he did.