Treasured (7 page)

His expression turned thoughtful as he took his first bite. “Fantastic,” he murmured, still not answering her question.

He took another bite, then sighed with seeming rapture. “Incredible, but no.”

Kathleen was tempted to snatch away the rest of the pastries. Instead, she settled for giving him a severe look. “May I ask why?”

He grinned. “You’ve made a slight miscalculation. Don’t worry about it. People are always doing that where I’m concerned. They think I know very little about business, because I’m the artistic Carlton, but I did pick up a thing or two.”

“So?”

“I’ve obviously got something you want, something you want desperately enough to ply me with baked goods. Why would I cave in too quickly, when holding out will get me more?”

Despite her frustration, Kathleen couldn’t help chuckling. “You’re impossible.”

“So I’ve been told.” He gave her a considering look. “But just so your trip won’t be a total waste, how about going over to Richard and Melanie’s with me tonight?”

Kathleen was startled by the invitation. “For?” she asked cautiously.

“We get to watch Richard try to hang wallpaper, while Melanie criticizes him.”

Kathleen laughed. “Oh, hon, I think you’re the one who’s miscalculated. We set foot in there tonight and Richard won’t be hanging that wallpaper alone. You’ll be right in there with him, while Melanie and I sip tea in the kitchen.”

“Want to bet?”

“Sure,” she said at once, always eager to take advantage of an opportunity to best someone who’d just tricked her. “If it turns out the way I predict, you show
me at least one more painting. If you win, I bring you the pastry of your choice next time I come.”

He considered the offer, then nodded. “Deal. Oh, and just so you know, we have to take a little side trip past Destiny’s on the way.”

“As in drive past and don’t stop?” she asked hopefully.

“Nope,” he said, sounding oddly happy. “We’re dropping in to do a little snooping. I think it might require a woman’s touch. What time does the shop close?”

“Five-thirty tonight.”

“Good. I’ll pick you up at six.” He looked her over. “You might want to wear something you don’t care too much about.”

“Oh?”

“If I wind up papering those walls, sweetheart, you won’t be sipping tea. You’ll be right there next to me.”

If he had a hundred years, Ben was pretty confident he wouldn’t be able to explain what had made him ask Kathleen to join him in going to see Destiny. Oh, sure, maybe he’d had some vague notion that Destiny would be more inclined to open up to another woman, but it wasn’t as if Kathleen were a trusted confidante. Melanie or Beth might have been better suited to the task.

No, he’d acted on impulse, something he never did, not since he’d been involved with Graciela, who’d taken impulsive behavior to an art form. Now he was usually thorough and methodical about just about everything, measuring words and actions, because he couldn’t forget the last time he’d made an impulsive decision, demanded that Graciela leave his home immediately, and she had died because of it.

But despite his misgivings about the invitation to Kathleen for tonight, he hadn’t called and canceled. It was yet another instance of making a commitment and then being too proud, if not too honorable or too stubborn, to break it. Kathleen already thought he was cowardly when it came to his art. He couldn’t give her another reason to believe that he was scared of her or his feelings for her.

He considered seeing Destiny first, then picking up Kathleen, but figured that would raise a whole lot of questions that he wouldn’t want to answer, as well. Instead, he drove through the horrendous Washington rush hour traffic to the address Kathleen had given him. He was on her doorstep precisely at six. He reassured himself that it was absolutely not because he was anxious to see her again. He knew artists had a reputation for being forgetful, but punctuality was one of those lessons that had been ingrained in him by his parents even before Destiny had come along to reiterate it.

When Kathleen opened the door, his mouth gaped. He couldn’t help it. She’d taken his advice to wear old, comfortable clothes to heart, but few women could turn that particular sort of getup into a fashion statement. Kathleen did. The faded, low-slung hip-hugger jeans encased her slender legs like a glove and reminded him all too vividly just how long those exquisite legs were. She was wearing a bulky knit sweater that looked warm enough, except for the full two inches of bare skin it left exposed at her waist.

“Um,” he began, then swallowed hard. He cleared his throat and tried again. “Aren’t you going to be cold?”

She grinned. “I was thinking of wearing a coat over this.”

He nodded, still trying to get the blood that had rushed to other parts of his anatomy to flow back to his brain. “I meant indoors.”

Her grin spread. “Your aunt doesn’t have heat?”

Ben sighed and gave up. He wasn’t going to get her into something that covered that enticing skin without point-blank asking her to change, and he would not do that. She’d only demand to know why, just to hear him admit that he could hardly keep his hands or his eyes off her. He’d simply have to suffer and keep a tight rein on his hormones.

“Let’s get going, then.”

Kathleen gave him a knowing smirk. “I’ll get my coat,” she said cheerfully.

On the drive to Destiny’s, Ben finally managed to untangle his tongue long enough to explain their mission to get at the truth about Destiny and this William Harcourt who was interfering in Carlton Industries business.

“What makes you think I can get her to say anything, when Richard couldn’t?”

“You’re a woman. Maybe she’ll confide in you, woman-to-woman.”

“With you sitting there?”

“I’ll make some excuse and hide out for a little bit,” he said, no doubt sounding a little too eager.

Kathleen looked at him with amusement. “That will certainly make her less suspicious.”

He had a hunch she was right. “Do you have a better suggestion?”

“Ask her directly. Even if she doesn’t answer, you should be able to read her expression. And
I’ll
be the one to make myself scarce while you do it. Women are
always having to run to the powder room. She won’t think a thing about it.”

“I suppose,” he said gloomily. He was no good at this kind of stuff. Subterfuge and subtlety weren’t in his nature, but Richard had already warned him that the direct approach hadn’t gotten him a thing.

“Trust me, Ben. It’s the only way,” Kathleen insisted. “A woman like your aunt appreciates someone who’s straightforward. Trying to slip something past her won’t work. Or if by chance it does, she’ll be furious with you for having tricked her into saying something she didn’t intend to reveal. That’s the last thing you want.”

“Okay, okay,” he grumbled. “I know you’re right. I just hate doing what I’m always accusing her of doing, meddling in something that’s none of my business.”

“Tell her that, too,” Kathleen suggested. “She’ll identify with your position. Heck, maybe it will even give her a nudge to back off with her own meddling.”

“I think we can eliminate that possibility. I’m not in the miracle business,” Ben responded.

He pulled up in front of the town house where he’d grown up. In some ways it still felt more like home than the farm, but at the moment he was dreading going inside. He glanced at Kathleen.

“I guess it’s showtime,” he said unenthusiastically.

“Don’t sound like you expect to be shot on sight,” she said, regarding him with obvious amusement. “This is Destiny. The mere fact that I’m with you ought to buy you a certain amount of good will.”

It ought to, Ben agreed. But he had a hunch that Destiny was going to be more furious than smug tonight. He also had a gut feeling that he and Kathleen
were going to be back out on the front steps in record time. In fact, given what Richard had told him earlier, there was a distinct possibility that Destiny might kick them straight to the curb.

D
estiny’s initial delight at finding Ben and Kathleen on her doorstep was pretty much doomed to fade quickly, quite likely because her nephew had absolutely no notion how to finesse such a touchy conversation. Kathleen barely contained a sigh when Ben declined a drink, declined to take off his coat. It was pretty much apparent that he was on a mission and he was impatient to get it over with. Kathleen spotted the immediate suspicion in Destiny’s eyes at his curt manner.

“Actually we’re on our way to Richard’s,” he told Destiny the instant they’d stepped inside. He showed absolutely no inclination to set one foot any farther into the house.

Destiny looked a bit taken aback, but quickly rallied. “Really? For dinner? And you invited Kathleen to join you. How lovely.”

“We’re probably going to order pizza,” Ben told her, oblivious to the hopeful note in Destiny’s voice. “Richard’s wallpapering the nursery. And we’re planning to watch.”

Destiny’s deep-throated chuckle cut through the tension. She seemed to relax a bit. “Yes, I can see how that would be immensely entertaining. Perhaps I’ll come along.”

“Sure,” Ben said. “But I need to talk to you about something first.” He glanced pointedly in Kathleen’s direction.

“May I use the powder room, Destiny?” she asked dutifully.

Destiny clearly wasn’t fooled for a second by the abrupt pretext. She gave Ben a piercing look. “What is this about?” When Kathleen started to leave, Destiny arrowed a look in her direction. “Stay right here, Kathleen.”

“But—” Kathleen protested, only to be cut off.

“I would appreciate it if you would stay,” Destiny repeated, then frowned at Ben. “Does this have anything at all to do with your brother or Carlton Industries?”

Ben stared at her in obvious shock. “How do you know that?”

“Oh, please, do you think I don’t know what goes on over there?” Destiny scoffed. “I have an office right down the hall from your brother’s. It might be mainly for window dressing, since I’m family and I am a member of the board, but I’ve been known to spend time there. I’m privy to what’s going on in the company. I even have a secretary, as you very well know. And people actually stop in to chat from time to time.
There’s very little that goes on around there that I don’t know about.”

Kathleen bit back a smile as Ben sighed, and asked, “More of your inside sources, I presume.”

“Of course,” she said without apology. “I know how invaluable contacts can be. It’s how the business world works. And despite my refusal to take my proper place at Carlton Industries, it was impossible to grow up around your grandfather and father without learning a thing or two about how important it is to keep one ear to the ground at all times. It avoids a lot of nasty surprises.”

“Did your insider tell you what Richard is upset about?” Ben asked.

“The European division,” she said at once, proving that she didn’t spend all of her time in that office sipping tea and gossiping with the friendly staff. “It hasn’t been performing as well as he’d hoped and he thinks it’s being victimized by the owner of a British company.”

“Exactly,” Ben said. “A man named William Harcourt.”

Kathleen kept her gaze locked on Destiny’s face when the name was mentioned. Aside from the faint shadow that darkened her eyes, she betrayed nothing.

“Do you know him, Destiny?” Ben asked point-blank.

For a moment Kathleen thought Destiny was going to evade Ben’s question. Instead she drew herself up regally.

“I did at one time,” she admitted. “But I imagine your brother already knows that. He certainly paid enough to that private detective who was poking around over there.”

Ben regarded her with chagrin. “You found out about that, too?”

“Darling, I lived in that village in France for a number of years. Of course I have friends there who would let me know about a stranger who was asking too many questions. It wasn’t all that difficult to find the payments to him on the Carlton Industries books.”

Kathleen was impressed. “Nice work, Destiny.”

Ben shot a daunting look at both of them. “Let’s cut to the chase, then. How well do you know William Harcourt?” he asked bluntly.

“The answer to that depends on many factors,” Destiny said evasively.

Ben gave her an impatient look. “It’s not a difficult question, Destiny. Any answer at all will do, as long as it’s truthful.”

She frowned at his tone. “I don’t see the need to discuss this with you.”

“Then you’ll just have to discuss it with Richard,” he warned.

“Oh, for heaven’s sakes, the two of you are acting as if there’s some grand conspiracy. I haven’t seen William or heard from him in years.”

“Did you know him well?” Ben asked again, this time more gently, as if he’d finally caught on to just how touchy this subject was.

“I really don’t think that matters,” Destiny said stiffly.

“It does if you’re the reason he’s targeting Carlton Industries,” Ben said.

“That’s absurd,” Destiny said flatly. “Tell your brother that whatever’s going on has nothing to do with me. I’m certain of that. If he’s found himself in a hostile business environment over there, he needs to fix
the problem. Richard is the one in charge, after all. I’m sure William will be reasonable.”

“Why don’t you tell Richard that yourself?” Ben asked. “You two can talk this out when we get to his house. Given your insights, maybe you can give Richard some advice on how to handle the man.”

Destiny shook her head, looking suddenly tired. “I don’t think I’ll go after all. I’ve just remembered a prior engagement.”

“Destiny—”

Kathleen cut off Ben’s protest, even as she gave Destiny’s icy hand a squeeze. “It’s okay, Ben. We should be going.”

Ben looked as if he might argue, but Kathleen all but shoved him toward the front door. Only after he was outside did she claim to have forgotten her purse.

“Start the car. I’ll be right with you,” she told him.

He gave her a penetrating look. “What are you up to?”

“I’m not up to anything,” she insisted.

He studied her with obvious skepticism, then shrugged. “Okay, whatever. I’ll warm up the car.”

Kathleen hurried back inside and found Destiny still standing where they’d left her. “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do for you?”

Destiny tried to smile, but failed. “No, dear, there’s nothing anyone can do.”

“This Mr. Harcourt really mattered to you, didn’t he?”

Destiny’s expression turned even sadder. “He was the love of my life,” she said simply, her voice catching.

“But none of your nephews knows that, do they?”

“No, I never saw the point in telling them. It ended when I came back to the States to care for them.”

“Maybe it’s time you explained all that.”

Destiny shook her head. “I’ve never wanted them to think there was any sacrifice at all in my returning home to look out for them. It would only have upset them. Besides, it’s in the past.”

“It doesn’t sound as if Mr. Harcourt agrees with you,” Kathleen pointed out.

Destiny looked startled by that. “What on earth are you saying?”

“That Ben could be correct. You could be the reason Mr. Harcourt has become a thorn in Richard’s side. Sooner or later you’ll have to consider that and deal with it.”

Destiny sighed heavily. “Perhaps you’re right,” she said slowly.

“And if I am?”

A glint of determination suddenly lit Destiny’s eyes and she squared her shoulders, looking stronger than she had since the whole topic had come up. “Then I will deal with William,” she said firmly.

Kathleen grinned at her fierce tone. “If you need any help, let me know.”

“Thanks for helping me to clarify what I must do,” Destiny said. “But if you wouldn’t mind, please keep this conversation to yourself. Until I decide how I want to handle this, it’s best that Ben and the others don’t know about my intentions.”

“They could help,” Kathleen suggested, uncomfortable at being asked to keep Destiny’s secret from Ben. He wasn’t going to be happy if she left the house tonight without something to report.

Destiny laughed. “I love my nephews, Kathleen, but
in a situation like this, they won’t help. They’ll only pester me to death.”

“The way you meddle in their lives?”

“Exactly.” Destiny gave her a wry look. “I did raise them, after all.”

Ben was thoroughly frustrated. Kathleen had refused to reveal a single word about her conversation with Destiny.

“Confidential,” she said when he asked.

“But I’m the one who wanted you to talk to her,” he protested.

“And I told you to handle it yourself. Just look how well that turned out. She clammed up and refused to reveal a single thing about her knowledge of this Harcourt person.”

“She admitted she knew him,” Ben said defensively.

“Oh, please,” she scoffed. “You knew that before you ever walked in there. So did Richard, I suspect. What you knew nothing about was the extent of the relationship and how it fits with what’s going on now. You don’t know any more about that than you did before you spoke to her.”

He regarded her intently. “Do you?”

“Confidential,” she said again.

“I’ll bet Richard can pry it out of you,” he said.

“Doubtful,” she said.

“Or Melanie,” he suggested.

She chuckled. “I don’t think so. Whatever Destiny did—or didn’t say—to me is not going to cross these lips. Give it up, Ben.”

“I might reconsider letting you see a few paintings,” he coaxed.

“We already have a bet going that I plan on winning. I’ll see at least one of the paintings as soon as you wind up wallpapering that nursery right alongside Richard.” She gave him a sideways look. “Unless you intend to renege on our deal.”

“Not a chance.”

She regarded him with a cheerful expression. “Any other offers you want to put on the table?”

“Not at the moment,” he said, exasperated. “I’ll get back to you.”

“Yes, I imagine you will.” Her smile expanded. “It’s nice to know that I now have something
you
want. Sort of evens the playing field, doesn’t it?”

“You’re a sneaky woman. You know that, don’t you?”

“Of course.”

“It must be why Destiny has taken to you.”

“That’s one reason,” Kathleen agreed. “The other has a lot to do with this impossible nephew she’s trying to marry off.”

Ben was surprised that she could joke about that. “I thought you found that idea as terrifying as I do.”

“Maybe it’s growing on me.”

He stared at her in shock. “You have to be kidding me.”

Kathleen laughed at the unmistakable panic he didn’t bother trying to hide. She reached over and patted his white-knuckled grip on the steering wheel. “No need to panic. As flattering as it is to be considered a candidate to be your wife, I’m not interested.”

There was no question that she meant exactly what she said. Ben should have been comforted by that, but for some reason he didn’t understand, he felt as if someone had just doused him with cold water.

“Well, don’t you two look cheery,” Richard said as Ben and Kathleen arrived a few minutes later.

“You don’t look so hot yourself,” Ben retorted, shocked to see his usually impeccable brother covered with some sort of white paste. His hair was a mess and his expression was grim. “Things not going too well?”

“Don’t start with me,” Richard warned. “Otherwise you can take your sorry ass out of here right now.” He turned to Kathleen. “No offense.”

“None taken,” she said, her lips twitching as she fought a grin.

“Fine,” Ben said, holding up his hands in a gesture of surrender. “I’ll keep my comments to myself. Where’s Melanie?”

“Actually she’s in the nursery with her feet propped up, a glass of milk beside her and a gloating expression on her face. She’s having the time of her life,” Richard grumbled.

“Why don’t I order some pizza?” Ben suggested. “It looks to me like you could use a break and some food. It might improve your mood.”

“A professional wallpaper hanger would improve my mood, but I suppose pizza will have to do,” Richard said gloomily. “Better order two. Melanie’s appetite is huge these days. And don’t tell me she’s eating for two. I think she’s eating for a dozen future football players.”

“When the baby comes and it’s a delicate little girl, you’re going to regret those words,” Kathleen told him.

Richard merely shrugged. “So Melanie keeps telling me. I’d better get back in there before she climbs up on the ladder and tries to hang a strip of paper herself.
She does that every time my back is turned. I finally had to turn off my cell phone and stop taking calls from the office.”

“It’s after seven. Why were you taking calls, anyway?” Ben asked.

“This was earlier. I took the afternoon off,” Richard explained. “I thought I could get this all done during Melanie’s afternoon nap. Naturally she wasn’t the least bit tired today. And then I ran into a little problem with the actual papering.”

“I could order the pizza,” Kathleen offered generously. “Ben could help you.”

Ben scowled at her. “You don’t win, if you’re the one who plants the idea in his head.”

Richard stared at them, clearly confused. “You two have some sort of bet going?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Ben assured him. “I’ll order the pizza and be right in. I can’t wait to see what you’ve accomplished so far.”

Richard shot him a look filled with pure venom, then hightailed it back to the nursery.

“I love what imminent fatherhood is doing to my big brother,” Ben said, watching him with amusement.

“I wouldn’t do too much gloating, if I were you,” Kathleen advised. “If Destiny has her way, you’re heading down this same path.”

She set off after Richard, leaving him to contemplate a future that not only included a wife but babies. His heart did a little stutter-step, but the effect wasn’t so bad. Once again, there was none of the expected panic at the idea.

Then he remembered what it was like to lose someone and his resolve to remain unattached kicked right back into high gear.

Forget the daydream about a house filled with rambunctious little ones. It wasn’t going to happen. There would be no wife filling the kitchen with the aroma of pies and cakes and bear claws. No Kathleen, he thought a bit despondently.