The Forbidden Billionaire (The Sinclairs Book 2) (10 page)

The Peninsula was private, as were the beaches here, so it had to be a Sinclair, a guest of one of the family, or a trespasser.

Evan Sinclair.

She recognized the eldest Sinclair brother’s purposeful stride and jet-black hair before she could actually see his features. Mara had wanted to thank him since he’d rescued her, and it appeared she was going to get her chance.

“Ms. Ross,” he drawled haughtily, stopping a few feet from her chair.

“Evan.” She looked up at him with a hand still shading her eyes. A long way up. One of the first things Jared had arranged for her was a new pair of glasses, but Mara wasn’t wearing them at the moment. That didn’t present a problem, as he was definitely big enough to see clearly. The only thing obscuring her vision was the blazing sun. Mara refused to call him Mr. Sinclair. There were definitely way too many Sinclair men in Amesport at the moment, and this particular male had saved her life. “Would you like to sit?” She motioned to the chair next to her. “Why are you wearing a suit on the beach?” She stifled a laugh as she noticed that he was carrying a pair of shoes that were obviously intended to match his clothing, the socks tucked inside. His pant legs were rolled up just enough to keep them from getting wet. He was quite a sight, the rest of him looking absolutely pristine and much more suited to be in a boardroom than at the beach.

Lowering his big body into the wooden chair, he answered irritably, “This happens to be my everyday attire, Ms. Ross. I work. I don’t normally go for any kind of strolls on the beach. It’s a waste of time.”

“Mara, please.” Good grief, the man was edgy, and she hoped that he was joking.

Evan nodded. “Fine. I suppose since you’re a friend of the family and in the wedding party, it’s appropriate to use first names.”

To his credit, at least Evan had been smart enough to wear a pair of dark sunglasses to shade his eyes. Mara couldn’t see his expression, but she didn’t hear a single note of humor in his tone. He was completely serious. “Are you always this uptight?” she asked curiously, staring out at the water again.

“I’m not uptight,” he disagreed adamantly. “And yes, this is my usual personality. I have responsibilities. A lot of them. That leaves me no time or inclination to be jovial.” He changed the subject. “I didn’t realize you were cohabiting with my brother now.” He sounded unhappy that there was anything he didn’t know.

Mara shrugged. “I’m not. I’m using his guest house. I don’t have much of a choice right now. My best friend is laid up with an injury, and her place is very small. I can’t intrude on her right now. I’m pretty much homeless.”

“You lived in your shop?”

“Yes.”

“And how exactly do you know Jared?” Evan asked sharply, his head turned toward her.

He was staring at her, and just imagining the icy stare behind those dark glasses made her want to squirm. She supposed that Evan was suspicious of
any
person that his billionaire brothers hung out with, unless they were equally as wealthy, but she was more than a little insulted. Jared was a grown man, and she didn’t need to explain her relationships to a near stranger. But because he was Jared’s brother, she answered, “We’re friends. He’s helping me start up another business, so I guess you could say we’re also business partners.” Except for the fact that Jared was absolutely adamant about getting as little as possible in profit—not a single penny if she’d allow it. But she’d take care of that. “I can’t seem to talk him out of getting the short end of the business.” She caved, hoping maybe Evan could talk some sense into his brother. He was obviously all business, and Mara doubted Evan wanted his brother to make a crappy business deal, no matter how small. Maybe he could help.

“Why?” Evan sounded puzzled.

Mara proceeded to explain her business, her plans, and exactly how Jared had discovered her products to Evan. She also admitted the terms Evan’s younger brother was insisting on.

“The whole thing is frustrating,” she admitted candidly. “I can’t take advantage of him that way.”

“Most people would,” Evan observed. “Jared might not be as good as I am at business, but he’s ruthless when he needs to be. Unfortunately, it appears he’s still merging personal relationships and business. They don’t mix.” He exhaled loudly in frustration.

“Jared runs a commercial real estate business worth billions. He might have been wealthy before he started, but he’s done that all on his own,” Mara answered fiercely. “He’s brilliant.”

“His backup plan,” Evan snapped back at her. “He never planned on doing commercial real estate. He got screwed by a so-called friend in several different ways.”

“One of the ones who died?” Mara asked quietly.

“How did you know about that?” His voice was calmer, but he sounded surprised.

“Jared told me. I know he was betrayed by a friend and his girlfriend. And I know they died. He didn’t explain completely.” No doubt Evan knew the whole truth, which Mara found interesting.

Evan released an exasperated, impatient sigh. “Jared’s a different person since that happened. He and his friend were going to start their own business after college, an architecture venture specializing in renovating old homes. My brother had the capital, of course, and was able to do it on his own, but he wanted his friend and classmate, Alan, to be his partner. Jared was already rich, and it was his passion. He wanted to share it with his best friend. He didn’t need the money, so he was free to pursue whatever dreams he had. Unfortunately, his friend wanted more than just Jared’s business.”

“He wanted Jared’s girlfriend,” Mara said flatly, her heart aching for the younger Jared, who had been betrayed.

“Selena was flighty and completely wrong for Jared,” Evan stated arrogantly.

“He blames himself for their deaths,” Mara told Evan as she turned to look at him, surprisingly unafraid of his fierce words and seemingly snobby indifference. He cared about his family, so the guy couldn’t be all bad. Fascinated, she watched Evan’s face as his jaw tensed and a muscle pulsated with frustration. “He emulates you now,” she added, suddenly seeing the similarities between the two brothers. Jared wanted to be like Evan, cut off from his emotions, making it highly unlikely that he’d ever be hurt again.

“My siblings are nothing like me,” Evan replied, his tone ornery. “And Jared didn’t cause either one of their deaths.”

“I know. He isn’t capable of it.”

There was a silence then, nothing but the sound of the waves hitting the sand. Evan was thinking, but Mara found the man confounding. She had no idea what thoughts were going through his obviously razor-sharp brain.

Finally, he spoke. “Jared went on a six-month bender after Selena and Alan died. He was never a drinker, but I found him in an alcoholic stupor that nearly killed him. I sobered him up, and he may no longer wear his heart on his sleeve, but inside he’s still the same person. So as you can tell, he’s nothing like me.” Evan’s voice was stoic.

Mara gaped at Evan, letting the information that Jared had nearly killed himself by self-neglect because two people he loved had died sink completely into her brain. “Oh, God. My sweet Jared,” she whispered huskily.

Evan shrugged. “I think you’re the only one who thinks he’s sweet anymore. He lived through it. I
had
hoped that he learned not to mix business with friendships anymore. He gave up doing what he wanted because he associated it with the death of his . . . friends.” He choked out the last word as though it was hard to say.

“And you think I’m going to screw him.” Mara already had a grasp on Evan’s suspicions. For a brother who supposedly didn’t give a damn about anything or anyone, he seemed awfully tenacious as to her intentions.

“Are you?” he countered insolently.

“No. We argue about the business arrangements constantly. He’s being stubborn. I planned on giving him more than half the profits.”

“Ah . . . so that makes you just as ignorant in business as my brother is pretending to be. You’re both putting emotion into business. And it doesn’t belong there.” He turned his head to look at her.

“I—I suppose,” she stammered. She knew she was thinking with her emotions right now, and giving Jared
more
than his share was bad business. “But I owe it to him for helping me.”

“Emotion again,” Evan grumbled impatiently.

“This isn’t business for him. He’s trying to help me.”

Evan shrugged. “Then let him. It’s not like he can’t afford it.”

“I can’t,” she admitted. “I can never feel good about anything I achieve if I’m not doing it fairly, whether Jared is rich or not.”

“Admirable,” he answered grudgingly, drumming his fingers on the wooden arm of the chair. “Then do it properly. You’ve run a business before. It would be a simple enough contract and incorporation.”

It would be, if Jared would just agree. Was Evan not hearing her? Jared refused, and that was no small problem. “He wants it his way, and I owe Jared for what he’s doing for me.”

Frustrating man!
But there was very little point in arguing with Evan Sinclair. No doubt he’d bested many people a whole lot more knowledgeable than she was. He was toying with her, but for what purpose she didn’t know. Obviously, one of his best weapons was doing business without emotion. She glared at him and crossed her arms in front of her, even though she couldn’t see his eyes through his dark glasses.

“You owe no one if you’re making them a profit,” Evan observed calmly.

“I will make a profit,” Mara retorted with a confidence she didn’t quite feel . . . yet.

“Very well,” Evan replied briskly. “Then I’ll have the contracts drawn up, and you can make me your partner in this venture.”

Mara’s brain worked furiously as she frowned at Evan. “Are you offering this to prevent your brother from mixing business and personal emotions?”

“My reasons are my own. Yes or no?”

It could work. It would get Jared out of the picture. He was much too generous, and he was determined to let himself be taken advantage of to help her. She had no fear that Evan would do something that didn’t benefit him. “Fine. I accept.” She glowered at Evan. While she admired his business sense, she didn’t like his meddling tactics when it came to his family. Evan was no more interested in this business than Jared was, but he’d make a deal with her to keep his brother from making a business mistake. Nevertheless, he’d be doing her a favor in every way except one. “You know Jared will be hurt.” Mara hated that. It was the only downside of this deal.

“He’ll be murderous,” Evan agreed. “Perhaps it might be better if you just let Jared think you’re accepting my deal unless he takes a fair cut. I believe it will solve your dilemma.”

Mara eyed Evan suspiciously. “You were testing me?”

He turned his head and rose to his feet. “Not exactly. But if it was a test, you passed.”

She rose to her feet quickly, so fast that she forgot about her healing ankle. “Ouch!” she exclaimed loudly, forgetting all about the fact that she was going to tell him off.

“Careful.” Evan put his powerful arms around her to steady her.

Mara clutched the heavy suit jacket he was wearing. “What the hell are you doing out here in a suit anyway?” Evan smelled like fresh air and crisp, starched linen, a scent that was oddly pleasant. For a huge man, his hold was gentle.

“Grady’s idea,” Evan grumbled. “He called me an uptight asshole because I interrupted a conversation with Emily to take a business call. He suggested a very long walk on the beach as a cure. I’ve seen no medicinal value to getting my feet wet and sweating from the humid air.”

Mara smiled up at him. “It helps if you wear something more comfortable.”

He scowled down at her. “This is my most comfortable suit.”

“I meant shorts, maybe a T-shirt,” she suggested with a smirk. “Something you’d wear when you’re not working.”

“I’m always working,” he snapped back.

He doesn’t own anything but suits? Good Lord . . . Grady was probably right. Does Evan never stop working?

“You can cut across to your house by taking Jared’s driveway and crossing the road that runs down the Peninsula.”

“Excellent,” he replied, sounding relieved. Evan let her go for a second and swooped down to pick up his shoes.

To Mara’s horror, he picked her up bodily and carried her until they reached the grass. “What are you doing?” she squeaked.

“Making sure you don’t turn your ankle. You really shouldn’t be walking in soft sand when your ankle is weak. It’s rather careless considering you aren’t completely healed yet,” he informed her casually. “We seem to be making a habit of doing this carrying thing.”

Just like Jared, only his brother had carried her everywhere for several days.

“Thank you for saving my life,” she told him gratefully as he lowered her to the ground, suddenly remembering that she hadn’t said a word about the fire and his role as her rescuer. Once again, Evan had picked her up and carried her as though she weighed nothing at all, just like the night he’d saved her life. She rested her hands on his massive shoulders as she glanced up at him. Jesus, he was handsome. He might be as cold as a glacier in Greenland, but he was a breathtakingly gorgeous chunk of ice.

“A bit of advice, if I may,” Evan commented loftily. Without waiting for permission to dole out his advice, he added, “Next time you may want to actually
leave
a house that’s on fire.”

“Thanks so much for your profound wisdom.” She mimicked his haughty tone. Mara scrutinized his expression for a moment, watching as the side of his mouth twitched like he wanted to smile, but wouldn’t. “You’re not as big of a jerk as you want everyone to think you are. You want to manipulate things the way you want them, but I think your intentions, although somewhat misguided, are in the right place,” she told him, contemplating him as she let her hands drop from his shoulders.

“You’re wrong, Mara,” he replied coldly. “I’m exactly what you see before you . . . a total and complete asshole.” He turned on his heel and walked away, his confession still hanging in the air.