Wait for Me (11 page)

“I invited you to Ireland to look over the farms financials.” He paused. “However, I get the feeling you came for another reason. Something you wanna tell me?”

Her eyes narrowed and he found he narrowed his as well. Unease roiled through him thinking Brian’s guest could be a friend of Kenya’s. “There is but I don’t know how you’ll take it or if you’ll even believe me.”

“If you have nothing to hide, tell me what's bothering you.”

“Hide? See you already don’t trust me before I even tell you.”

“Tell me.”

“This is gonna sound crazy but it’s the truth.” Kenya scratched her brow and he leaned back on his hands on the desk and waited to hear what had better be the truth. “I'll just put it out there; I broke up with you because Brian came to me in the States. He threatened to blackmail me unless I one either marry you and have an heir convincing you to sign the estate land over to Blakemore, giving him controlling interest or leave you altogether. He threatened to kill you, Jonathan."

"Go on."

"Go on? He insinuated how pretty my mother was, making certain I knew he was watching my family. That doesn't surprise you or—or bother you?"

"It was inevitable. It's a part of my world, Kenya. What happened next?"

She snarled. "You let me be blackmailed to prove my worth to you?

"Why didn’t you let me handle it?"

"He's been following me. He knew my job, my family. Too many people could've gotten hurt had I continued to see you."

"So you broke it off with me."

She reeled back, eyes wide. "After Fiona's ranting and raving about you marrying an Irish woman when we went with the kids, then the threat. I couldn't let you be killed to date me or let my family get hurt."

"You should have come to me."

"Probably.” She folded her arms under her breast. “No…you’re right. I should’ve told you, but I didn’t. I let fear for my own safety and those around me keep me from telling you. And that doesn’t mean I want anything from you. It means I’m human, and self-preservation is real.”

"He lied to you. Seamus has controlling interest and if I don’t accept it, the shares go back to Grandfather." He knew Brian would approach her eventually, however, he’d hoped she'd turn him down. "Has he approached you since?"

She inclined her head. "The day you came to my office. The basket of fruit was from him. When I broke it off with you, he transferred two hundred fifty thousand dollars into my bank account. I have no idea how he did it either. I sent it back and now he has a paper trail on me saying I embezzled money from the bank trying to get his account."

His fists tightened. "What does he want from you?"

"Keep you busy. When you asked me to help with the accountant I came figuring if Brian thought I was helping him, he'd leave you alone."

He ran a thumb between her breasts down to her body then over the swell of one hip. "So are you sleeping with me to keep me busy, Kenya?"

"Go to hell, Jonathan." Kenya whirled around and he caught her around the waist, settling her back against his chest. 

Closing a hand over her throat, he spoke close to her face. "I don’t trust. I test. You've tried to protect me and I respect that. I want you to stay for the meeting. Listen and see what you think then make your suggestions. In bed you can only hurt me if you're lying. In here you hurt my entire family. I have to test you." Releasing his hold, Jonathan watched her turn to face him.

Kenya wrapped one arm around her body and rested her elbow on the forearm. She propped her mouth against her fist. Eyes closed she rocked back and forth in a tight motion still standing between his legs. Minutes passed and when she didn’t leave and he could see by her compressed lips she wanted to curse him. He closed a hand over her arm pulling her in closer to his face. Lifting her head, eyes open, Kenya laced her hands around his neck, pain showing in her eyes. Her thumbs running over the tendons in his neck were comforting. This was the Kenya that kept him on edge. She never denied herself the pleasure between them regardless of how mad he'd made her.

“What is it about being here that changes you, because you’re not the same man?”

“Are you still willing to help, Kenya?”

"I didn’t want you or anyone else hurt, that’s the only reason I didn’t tell you. No deceit or malleus or backstabbing from me, Blakemore. I'll listen and make my suggestions. However, I’m not willing to have my every action put through a test panel to see if I’m worthy of your time. I’ve lived that my entire life and I won’t accept it from you. I’m going home in the morning. If there’s a chance for us being here with your family is killing it. Tonight your rich man's suspicions will have to open its legs for you, because I can't make love to a man that doesn't trust me.”

"Don’t push me, Claiborne. If you're in that bed tonight your legs will be open…and over your head." He'd never force her, but she's never denied him, so he didn’t worry. "But don’t worry, I like it with your ankles crossed too." He cupped her behind under his coat, gave her firm cheek a squeeze. Seeing the thin line of her mouth ease, he chanced having his groin kicked by kissing her. Dipping his face down, he took her mouth, parting her lips finding her tongue. He sucked, tasting her sweetness. She moaned gripping the back of his head returning the kiss even deeper. When she lifted away he ran a finger over her wet lips and buried his face between her breasts, smelling her body's warm scent. "It's all a part of who I am, Kenya." Footsteps scraped past the tackle room door over the floor. Jonathan raised his head indicating the noise. “The men are outside for the meeting. Later we’ll talk more.”

"I only give what you deserve. If you doubt me, I'll give you something to doubt. If you trust me, I'll take on the world for you," Kenya told him.

"You're the one person I can't accept uncertainty from."

"It would help if you told me why? Why me when I’m clearly a point of suspicion for you?"

"It's just the way it is for me." He couldn't say his life held no sunshine until she smiled. Or he hasn't slept since they broke up. No he couldn't tell her she was his strength. “It’s time for the meeting.” 

He set her away from him and called in the men he could hear milling around in the stables.

Jamie and two other men came through the tackle room's threshold. “This is Kenya Claiborne and she's agreed to help with our missing accountant problem,” Jonathan announced to suspicious stares coming off the faces of men he’s known since childhood. Glascow, the man that bred Max, wasn’t keen on outsiders. The big guy’s scruffy appearance gave him a mountain man appearance, but farmers for miles around respected his word. The other man gave Jonathan surprised raised brow. He needed to expose them to more people so they didn’t scare off any future guests. 

Jamie got comfortable on a chair backed along the wall, trailed by two men, he asked, “Kenya staying for the meeting?”

"That's why she's here," Jonathan advised.

Kenya’s nail dug into the palm of his hand on the desk. “I’m not a snitch, Jamie. If I’m gonna help you catch the accountant, I have to understand his actions."

One of the other men stepped forward. “Aye, ma’am, I’m Glascow, Sean Glascow. I own the largest pony farm on the ridge.”

She stepped forward held the man’s hand. “Nice to meet you, Sean. Kenya Claiborne. Sorry I won't have a chance to visit. I'll be getting back to the States the moment things are settled here."

The man gave her a wide, closed-mouth smile. "Not comfortable in the wilds of West Ireland. It's not for everyone."

"Your country is beautiful. This trip was unscheduled, and I have meetings first thing Monday morning back in the States." 

Jonathan eyed the man as he held Kenya’s hand, taking her in from her long hair to her shapely legs. Sean gave him a cautious stare before straightening to stand away and lean along the wall, ankles crossed.

“Will ye be attending the picnic tomorrow? Oh, it's a big show." Sean's eyes never left her legs.

"Glascow…"

The man's head snapped up. "Pardon me. You're a boony, Kenya, Ms. Claiborne."

"Thank you. I'll leave that up to Jonathan whether or not we have time for the picnic." Hooking a hand around Kenya's waist, Jonathan held her to his side.

The next man nodded but didn’t move in any closer. "Jason McGegor, welcome to Ireland." His eyes never left Kenya's face. Jonathan appreciated that more.

"Thank you, Jason."

“Jamie," Jonathan said. "What have we learned about Graham's whereabouts? Kenya's seen Brian's treachery first hand, so don’t bite your tongue.”

Sean gave him an odd stare along with the other man.

“Kenya knows about Graham and Brian?” Jamie questioned.

"He's tried to blackmail her twice. She's gonna help set up an account to flush Graham out of hiding. Kenya works in finance and has a stellar reputation in the industry. We can't use any of our people cause he knows and trained everyone."

Kenya stepped around him and moved to a grease board on the wall with exercising schedules on one side. "May I?" she asked, holding the eraser.

"Please," Jonathan said. He watched her clear the board as the men stood around arms folded resting along walls and tables. Horses whinnied in the background. The sound brought a smile to Kenya’s face and he saw more and more of her domestic side like she uses with Judge. The woman impressed him.

"Okay, from what Jonathan's informed me of, I propose a simple yet strategic plan to make it appear there's ample funds available to Graham." She drew out a grid on the board explaining what she had proposed the same way she had with Jonathan in the penthouse.

When she finished Sean moved closer to the board then turned around to look at Kenya. "Can ye do that Kenya?"

She nodded wiping dry erase dust from her hands. "It's time consuming, but I can set it up so Jamie's office can monitor it and have the central account back in the States."

The other man broke in. "And the accountant can see all the balances, but when he goes to withdraw it'll ask for a new password?" Jason asked, eyeing her curiously.

"Exactly. There's a lot behind the scenes, but that's primarily what's going on. Jamie, as well as the rep at the home office, will see the inner workings as well as the rep at the home office."

"Not you?" Sean asked, slightly confused look on his face. He tilted his head.

"It'll look suspicious with me being the rep on this accounts and being involved with Jonathan. Not to mention it’s unprofessional dating a client. I'll turn it over to a well-seasoned individual you’ll feel comfortable with…a man," she added sardonically. "I'll find you someone you can trust without giving you heartburn trying to hold in your suspicions; or a neck brace to hold your head up under the fake smiles.” Kenya propped a hip on the desk. “But I appreciate you all trying not to make me feel unwelcomed."

Silence choked the room before the men looked from one to the other then burst out laughing, stumbling around the room holding their stomachs. 

Jonathan gave her a sideways glance as his men composed themselves. He wanted to be pissed at her outburst, yet pride for her made her that much more attractive.

Although he still held his as Kenya called it, his rich man's suspicions, his woman knew her stuff.

The men spoke in low tones then one by one asked her financial questions.

“Ms. Claiborne,” Glascow started. “Have you ever caught someone with their hand in the kitty with this plan?”

Kenya walked back to the wall with all the tackle equipment hanging from hooks. She reached up, held a black set of reins, and turned toward the men. “If you wanted to catch someone stealing a priceless reign you wouldn’t hang it here that would be too obvious. But if you wanted to see if they’d steal your favorite one that you used daily, you’d leave it in plain view and wait. I’m placing the money in plain view and waiting.”

“Jonathan, I don’t know where you found this young woman, but I like her,” Jason said.

“Me cousin can always track down a smart and beautiful woman,” Jamie complimented.

Kenya.

He was more than impressed by her professionalism.

"What do you need from us, Ms. Claiborne?" Sean asked.

“I can get everything from Jamie." Kenya nodded to Jamie. "After I look at the books I can get a better sense of Graham and set-up the perfect trap to lure him to the money. The rest I'm certain Jamie can handle and update you on once I've gone back to the States."

The stable got quiet and the soft whinny of the horses filled the room. It was obvious the men had been won over by his woman.

"Back to the States…ah,” Sean looked around the room, puzzled and pushed away from the wall to cross the room closer to Kenya. “If it’s not you that’s staying then who’s moving in? It's all over the farms," Sean added.

"It's not me," Kenya said, setting the dry erase marker in the tray. She moved next to Jonathan.

"It's all over the pub; Brian has a woman up here all the time. Maybe he's moving her into his cabin," Jason said. "They say she's an African American woman."

Jonathan caught the questioning glare set on Kenya.

"That's why you're looking at me weird?" Kenya questioned, hands braced on the edge of the wood desk. "I can promise you I have no idea who this woman is. Besides, Brian is the last person I wanna be doing anything with let alone share a cabin. The man's a leech. Perhaps she's Nigerian. It’s closer than the States if they're dating."

"Kenya's here with me." Before Jonathan could finish his cell rang. "Excuse me." Fishing the phone from his pocket, Jonathan stepped out of the room, walking through the aisle between the stalls. "Blakemore here…where is he? Okay, follow all leads and get back to me." He ended the call and returned to the room. "Kenya, I'll need you to set this up tonight if possible. Graham has been spotted in Nigeria."

"I'll go back to the castle now if I can get a rough estimate of the number of farmers, Jamie."

Jamie pulled out his cell and took down Kenya's number. "Who does he know in Nigeria?" Jamie questioned, looking from Jonathan to Kenya.

"I don’t know. I'll have him tracked down soon."