The Henson Brothers: Two Complete Novels (75 page)

"Thanks for seeing me."

He gestured to a chair and sat. "Always a pleasure."

"I need your help."

Kevin grinned. "You want to leave that bully of a husband and run off with me."

"No."

He sighed. "A man can dream." He snapped his fingers and pointed to their glasses. They were instantly filled.

"You should treat people with more regard," she said, glancing at his assistant.

"He's being paid. What's the problem?"

Cassie sipped her drink. "Adriana's ex-husband has threatened to ruin Drake's business if his brother Eric continues to date her."

He frowned. "I thought you didn't watch soap operas."

"Kevin, this is serious. His name is Laurence Shelton."

"And you want me to do what?"

"Stop him."

A slow smile spread on his face. "With a little gentle persuasion?"

"I don't care how you do it, but Adriana's happiness depends on you."

He raised a brow. "As well as your husband's business?"

"Not really. I know Eric will not do anything to risk the business."

He looked disappointed. "Damn. It would have been nice to have Drake in my debt again."

"Again?"

"I let him have you, didn't I?"

"Behave yourself."

"I stopped that years ago." Kevin tapped his knee, thoughtful. "I suppose his brother's gratitude will be good enough." He suddenly paused. "You're telling me Adriana is involved with Drake's brother? The android with glasses?"

Cassie scowled. "He is not an android."

"It's the best description I could come up with." He shook his head, amazed. "A man leaves for the winter and all hell breaks loose. Adriana and
Eric,"
he murmured. "I can't believe that little elf is related to them."

"Elf?"

"You know..." He snapped his fingers, trying to recall her name. "Jasmine, Jennifer... Your brother Clay kept frowning at her during the baptism."

"Jackie."

"Yes, that's right. Jackie. Cute little thing."

Cassie pointed a finger at him. "You stay away from her."

He began to grin. "It would probably upset Drake if I—"

"I'm warning you."

"I like warnings."

She rolled her eyes. "Kevin, will you help?"

"Of course. I have to see this new couple for myself."

"Do you know Laurence Shelton?"

"Probably," he said casually. "I know a lot of people."

"Mostly women."

He winked. "The best kind of people."

"Not always."

"Tell me what you know and I'll see what I can do. Does he have a sister?"

"Yes, an older one. She's divorced."

"Perfect."

Cassie looked at him, concerned. "You won't seduce her, will you?"

"Only if she's attractive."

"Kevin!"

"Don't worry about my agenda, tell me more about Larry."

"Laurence," she corrected. "Don't under any circumstances call him Larry."

"Fine."

After she gave him some more information about Laurence, he picked up the phone. "Let me call my gardener."

"What? Now?" she asked, appalled.

He raised his hand and she quieted. "Hello? Yes, I'm fine. Get your shovel. I need some dirt." He glanced at her; she smiled.

* * *

Kevin tugged on his tie, annoyed. He felt as if he were in a business meeting. He hadn't attended one of those mind-numbing sessions in years. He lifted his glass and thought of Cassie. She was the reason he was here. It had only taken him four days to get all the information he needed. Wooing Laurence's sister was pathetically too easy. She was a shy, desperate thing, eager for attention and swallowing up his like a thirsty giraffe. It was evident how she had become a pawn in the Shelton game.

"You wanted to see me," Laurence said, slipping into the booth.

"Drinks first," Kevin said.

They chatted until there was a semblance of camaraderie.

"I had dinner with your sister last night," Kevin said.

"I see."

"Sweet girl."

"If you're interested in her, I have no objections."

"If you knew me better, you would."

"Why?"

Kevin looked at him, amazed. "You mean my reputation hasn't preceded me? That's disappointing. I've worked hard at it."

"I know you like women. As long as you treat my sister well..." He shrugged, leaving the rest of the statement understood.

"Yes. I believe your sister has been treated badly by men. She told me about her ex-husband. However, I found it unfortunate that she didn't know why he had divorced her. She said it was so sudden."

Laurence's eyes became hard, his bitterness toward his ex-brother-in-law clear. "He was a conniving gold digger and she was better off without him. I told her that. She chooses to remain naive and not believe me."

"Perhaps she would believe you more if you told her that your father paid him three hundred thousand to get out of her life. Don't look surprised. I had a little chat with him before I came here."

Laurence slowly stiffened. "Why did you really ask me here? What's this about?"

"This is about using influence to run other people's lives. Warren's great-grandfather used to work for your family, right? Oddly he disappeared just when the family business made a profit."

"There's no proof."

"Of course not. But there's always time to find some."

Laurence finished his drink.

Kevin leaned back in his chair. "It seems to me that Sheltons have a hard time letting go of what they believe belongs to them. Adriana isn't yours anymore and the thought of her being another man's wife bothers you."

"No. If he was worthy—"

"Adriana loves Eric."

"He put my daughter's life in danger."

"And you watched your father set your sister up as a sacrifice. Who are you to judge?"

Laurence stood.

"Don't go yet. I want you to learn a little lesson about threats."

Chapter 16

Adriana sat on the couch as Cassie talked on the phone. She could hear the kids giggling in the nursery and smiled to herself. Cassie finally hung up the phone and turned to her. "That was Kevin. You don't have to worry about Laurence anymore."

"Good. I suppose shallow, superficial womanizers have their use in this world. I'll have to thank him."

"Now you can tell Eric."

Her joy faltered. She hadn't seen him since he left her place that day. He didn't want to do anything to jeopardize the plan. When Laurence had visited to make sure Eric was gone, she had to do everything not to bare her teeth. Now they could be together, but she wasn't sure what that meant. Would he feel obligated because she had fought for him? "Let's go shopping," she said. "You buy and I'll pay you back."

Cassie shook her head. "No."

"Okay, then you shop and I'll watch you."

"No."

She rested her head back. "I need a distraction."

"Have you cashed Eric's check yet?"

"No." She took the business plan and check out of her bag. "I've been carrying it around with me. A reminder of what I'm worth to him. I might as well sign it." She flipped the check over and screamed.

Cassie rushed over to her. "What!"

Her hand trembled as she held the check. "Oh no!"

Cassie shook her. "Adriana, what is it?"

"He loves me! He wrote it on the back of this check." The sight of his face when she'd crumbled it up and stuffed it in his shirt flashed through her mind. He had thought she was rejecting his love. Her gut clenched. "I'm a jerk."

Cassie looked at the check, shaking her head. "You wouldn't have known."

"I should have looked at it."

Drake came home. "Hello, ladies," he greeted.

Cassie pointed a finger at him. "Your brother is an idiot."

"Is that a news flash?"

"He wrote 'I love you' on the back of a check."

"We thought it'd be romantic."

"We?" She covered her eyes and groaned. "I should have known you would have been part of this. What do you know about romance?"

Drake wrapped an arm around her waist and kissed her cheek. "I got you, didn't I? I wrote you poetry."

"That you had read while I was on a date with another man."

"All that matters are the results. Eric found out that Adriana doesn't love him."

Adriana held the check to her chest. "But I do."

"Then why did you crumble up the check?"

"Because I hadn't looked at the back."

"Hmm." He rubbed his chin, recognizing their error. "We hadn't accounted for that."

* * *

Eric counted the money, then glanced at Carter across his desk. "This is twice what you owe me."

"Just call me Rumpelstiltskin. I turn straw into gold."

Eric narrowed his eyes, suspicious. "How?"

"Nina gave me an idea. I thought of something people would buy. Then the product came to me. Used cars. I bought several at an auction and sold them—"

"Double the price bought." He handed him the extra money. "I'd rather pull my teeth than take money from a used car salesman."

Carter winced. "At least they move."

"For how long? A day?"

He shrugged.

Eric shook his head. "How does your crooked little heart beat?"

"One sucker at a time."

"Thanks for what you did."

"Glad to help."

They both nodded, the gesture saying more than words.

The phone rang. "Henson."

"You wanted some information on Keith Trenton?" Clay asked.

"Yes. You have something for me?"

"He's definitely an artist."

He glanced at Carter. "A con artist?"

"Correct. Five names, three Social Security numbers. Known for choosing women to finance different projects. He's too clever to be caught on fraud."

"What's his address?" He scribbled the number down, mumbled, "Thanks," and hung up. He looked at Carter and stood. "I have to go. I'm thinking of buying some art." He opened the door and stopped. "How are you and Serena?"

"I think I'll keep her awhile longer. With women like Lynda out there I'll stick with what I have. Speaking of Lynda-—"

"Forget about her."

Carter looked confused. "Why?"

"She's a witch, but she did me a favor. She forced me to face some of my demons."

Carter shivered with the memory of her. "Yes, she was one ugly demon." He sighed. "Revenge would have been sweet, but if you want to let this go, fine."

"I do." He hesitated. "Uh, say hi to Serena for me and if you ever want to..." He left the statement unfinished.

"I'm not really a talker."

Eric adjusted his glasses. "I know a good bar. If you get drunk enough, you can talk about anything."

"You never get drunk."

"I wasn't talking about me."

Carter laughed and stood, following him out the door.

* * *

At home, Carter cleaned up the living room, gathering all of Serena's magazines. A bunch of papers fell out of
Home and Garden.
He picked them up and stared at them stunned. They were advertisements for baby items.

"What are you doing?" Serena asked, coming into the room.

He held up an advertisement, his heart pounding. "What's this?"

"What does it look like?"

"You're not—" He couldn't finish, thoughts of money going to diapers and hospital costs filling his mind. He quickly calculated when they'd last had sex.

"No, I'm not," she said. "But hopefully one day."

His heart returned to its normal rhythm. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"You said you didn't want kids until we had enough money. I wasn't sure the day would ever come. So I dreamed about it."

"You never gave me the chance to make any money. You spent what we have and ignored anything I said."

She shrugged. "I'm just used to getting my way, I guess."

It was a lame excuse, but at least it was honest. He put the papers on the table. "Money's important to me. I never had any and you knew that when you met me. If you want a rich man who will give you lots of babies and provide for you, you have the wrong husband."

She lowered her eyes. "I know."

A heaviness settled in his chest. "Do you want a divorce?"

"No." She looked at him and for the first time in a long while he didn't feel invisible.

"I haven't been fair to you. I wanted to compete and impress my friends so much that I lost sight of our marriage, but I'd rather change my friends than my husband."

The heaviness began to ease. "What made up your mind?"

"I saw you had circled an ad for a divorce lawyer."

"I guess I was dreaming too. Dreaming of a wife who loved me, admired me."

She wrapped her arms around his neck. "I do love you."

He drew her close. "I love you too." He kissed her, his mouth giving credence to his words. "I'd love you more if you'd stay away from on-line shopping."

"I will." She rested her cheek against him. "I would like a family some day."

He gently stroked her hair, wondering how they had become strangers. "Okay, some day. Right now let's get to know each other again."

"How?"

"I know one way." He took her hand and pulled her toward the bedroom.