Chapter Seven
Holt made sure he kept his comments light and easy, but he knew Andrew McBride’s unexpected visit to their table had upset Mayson more than she wanted to let on. The sexy camaraderie they’d shared from the moment he’d picked her up out in front of her building had vanished the moment her father had arrived. And he hadn’t seen hide nor hair of it since.
When a decadent chocolate mousse hadn’t shaken her out of her doldrums, he resigned himself to the fact that she needed a bit of time and space to deal with the side effects of the unexpected family visit. The light ding of the elevator pulled him from his thoughts and he gestured Mayson forward through the open doors.
They rode up in silence, and Holt wished he could take her sadness away. He also knew from personal experience she’d need a few days to find her equilibrium. The elevator doors slid open and he followed her the short distance to her door. “Why don’t you come in? I think we need to talk.”
He saw the insistence in her gaze and nodded, a sense of foreboding washing over him. “Sure.”
Mayson made quick work of the locks that ran up her door, then gestured him inside. The apartment was large and spacious, filled with vivid splashes of color. Just like her. “Do you want something to drink? Coffee? A nightcap?”
“Water’s fine.”
She disappeared down a long hallway, and Holt gave himself a moment to study the large living room framed by a wall of windows overlooking Central Park. Without warning, an image of her standing in this room, rocking a fussy baby in her arms, struck him with surprising force.
Mayson was having his child. In less than a year, there would be a little person here, who was a piece of both of them. A child who also carried the genes both of them came from.
She entered the room with two glasses of water and handed him one before gesturing him to take a seat. “Thanks again for a lovely evening. I’m sorry I allowed my father to ruin it.”
“You didn’t mention the baby to him.”
“That wasn’t a conversation for the restaurant.” She eyed him over the rim of her glass. “Sort of like you and your family?”
The urge to bluff his way out of the conversation struck hard, but he fought it. He owed her some measure of honesty, even as the words stuck in his throat like a helping of peanut butter. “You got that?”
“Telegraphed loud and clear.”
He knew she had a right to know about his mother. She deserved to know about his past and the parentage their child would potentially be exposed to. But damn it all, no matter how he thought to explain it, he couldn’t get past the ugliness of his mother and her greed.
“Come on. Whatever it is, it can’t be that bad.”
“You know how badly I want this deal with Craddick Inc.?”
“Yes.” Mayson nodded, her expression hardening with obvious memories. “You were more than clear he’s only willing to do business with you if you get married.”
“There’s a reason I’ve pursued Craddick for so many years. A reason why his business matters to me.” He fought the swell of nausea that roiled in his stomach every time he thought of his childhood.
“Did something happen?”
“My mother stole over a million dollars of jewelry and antiques from Teddy and his wife.”
“Oh my God. When?”
“About twenty years ago. It was one of the first major scores she managed on her own.”
“How?”
He shook his head, that piece of the puzzle something he’d never been able to put together. “I don’t know the how of it, but likely through one of her contacts. There are only a small number of people who can pull off jobs like these.”
“And your mother’s one of them.”
“Yep.”
Mayson was quiet for a moment, her posture stiff as she sat on the opposite end of the couch. “Who else have you struck deals with to pay back your mother’s theft?”
He was surprised at how fast she arrived at that conclusion before shaking his head at the evidence he needed to tell her the whole story. “I’ve managed six others so far. I’ve got three more to go that I know of after Craddick.”
“So you cut the deals, then sweeten them out of your own pocket to pay them back for the theft. Without anyone ever being wiser?”
An image of his first “fix” rose up in his mind’s eye. “I learned early on that trying to tell the mark what I was up to didn’t win me any favors. I nearly ended up in jail on my first fix. Haven’t made that mistake again.”
“You’re doing this all on your own. Why do you think your mother’s a threat?”
“She’s back in my life after being gone for a couple of years, which means I’m on her radar for some reason. All she needs to do is catch wind of the Craddick project and she’ll figure out what I’m doing.”
“So lay low on Craddick. Give him some space and let your mother fade away again.”
“He’s not going to take too many more proposals from me. Add on the fact that the man’s not doing all that much expansion any longer and I’m not going to be able to get my hands on a deal for him. I need to act on this one.”
“And he wants you to have a wife before he’ll do a deal.”
“Yep.”
She nodded, her face set in somber lines. “Tell me more about your mother.”
“She’s a world-class thief and con artist. She jumps from mark to mark, using them in between husbands.”
“So she’s not dead like your story last weekend suggested?”
“No. She’s not.” He lifted his gaze from his glass, unwilling to keep his eyes averted in the telling of his past. Every sordid detail. “When I was a child, she used me as part of her cons, often having me case out a place or help her fence the items. It’s amazing how much you can stuff in a Spider-Man backpack.”
“Holt.” Her voice was a whisper in the room but he ignored her.
“I knew what she was. Knew how she made a living and kept a roof over our heads, but I allowed it to happen until I was eighteen and could get the hell out of the house. I got a scholarship and never looked back. But until that time, I was as guilty as she was.”
“You were a child.”
“Convenient argument. But the stuff when I was sixteen and seventeen… Let’s just say I’m lucky I never got caught. Nor am I delusional enough to think she wouldn’t try to make it stick to me if I ever attempted to turn her in.”
“No one could hold you responsible.”
“I am. Was. I know what she is and I know what she’s capable of. She’s the stench that taints my life, and I allow it to keep happening.”
“You are not responsible.”
“She won’t spin it that way.” He waited a beat, then decided to share everything. Whatever Mayson already thought of his past couldn’t get any worse. “She’s working a con now, and things are going to get worse before they get better.”
“What does that mean?”
“She came to me last week looking for money. She claimed she needed it to make an investment, but it’s code for seed money.”
“Did you give it to her?”
“No.”
“So what can she do? Blackmailing you for it will only make her guiltier. You’ve got power now, Holt. And with the surveillance you’ve likely done on her, you can keep her out of your hair forever.”
“It’s not that easy.”
“But it can’t be that hard. You have proof. And you’ve kept business records of how you’ve paid back her crimes. No one would judge you for that.”
“I wish it were that simple, but it’s not.”
Mayson shook her head. “There’s no way she’s got that sort of power.”
“There’s every way. Trust me.”
“And that’s why you want to get married?”
“It legitimizes our relationship for guys like Craddick, and it has the added benefit of keeping you safe. If we’re married, you have legal rights to my estate. So does our child. She can’t touch it through you.”
“This is crazy. You’re talking like she’d harm you in some way. Or worse, harm an innocent child.”
“She’ll use whatever is in her way. Whatever she can find. If she knows about the baby, she’ll see it as a vulnerability she can take advantage of. Marrying you is the only way I can shield you. Can give you the protection of my life and my fortune.”
“This doesn’t make any sense. You and I just met. Whatever course of action you were following before should be your course of action moving forward.”
He stood at that, unable to sit still any longer. “Don’t you get it? The baby changes everything.”
“Of course it does. We’re going to be parents. To her grandchild. That has to mean something.”
“I’m her child and it hasn’t made any difference.”
Mayson stood and walked toward him, taking his hand in her own when she reached his side. “You’re not thinking through this. You’re thinking like the little boy with the Spider-Man backpack. She can’t hurt you. Or us.”
He tried to find the right words to explain it to her. The few times his mother had come back into his life since his childhood had ended in ugly incidents he’d continued paying for long after she’d found her next mark. Or husband.
The incidents were often hard to pin on her, but he’d known she was responsible. Thinly veiled threats to his business associates that turned the tide on a deal. Subtle sabotage that had resulted in someone losing their job just before he managed to close a client. He lived and worked in a high-stakes environment and deals often went sideways, but he knew his mother had been involved.
“She can and she will. That’s why we need to get married. We need to take her bargaining chip off the table.”
“I can’t marry someone I don’t love. There has to be another way.”
“And I can’t take that risk with my unborn child. There is no other way.”
…
Holt’s words—and the haunted look in his eyes—continued to keep Mayson company throughout the rest of the week. She knew she owed him an answer, but no matter how she turned the issue over in her mind, she’d struggled to make sense of it. People didn’t just get married over potential threats of blackmail or business adversaries who thought it was the right thing to do.
Even if that was exactly what was happening, that reasonable voice in her head rose up to remind her.
The reality of his situation was too hard to believe. What he’d made himself into, despite the earliest negative influences—it awed her, showing yet another facet of the man that melted away a piece of her heart.
And what could his mother possibly do to her? To them?
Whatever she can find. If she knows about the baby, she’ll see it as a vulnerability she can take advantage of. Marrying you is the only way I can shield you. Can give you the protection of my life and my fortune.
She ran a hand over her still-flat stomach, the urge to protect the fragile life there immediate and absolute. She didn’t doubt Holt’s obviously real panic, but no matter how she turned it over in her mind, she couldn’t grasp the threat. The McBride name wasn’t without some power of its own, and that had only solidified with her sister’s marriage to one of the leaders of the business community.
Of course, the entire business community had watched in fascination the previous fall when Nathan went after them, intent on breaking up the company. The whispers—innuendo that had dogged her and her sisters as they tried to resurrect McBride Media from her father’s poor choices—had risen to a firestorm as the media community waited for them to fail.
A few well-placed comments about the health of their business, and Mayson knew the storm could flare up once more.
The sound of the door pulled her from her circular thoughts and she looked up into the warm gaze of her gynecologist.
“How are you feeling, Mayson?”
“Good, Dr. Martin. Really good.” After a quick update on her situation and the results of the home tests she’d taken, she allowed the doctor to run more of the same, including a sonogram as a precaution tied to her life-long menstrual irregularity. A half hour later she left the office clutching a sonogram photo of her baby.
Their baby. The urge to call Holt was strong, but she ignored it and walked back to the office, the photo tucked away in her purse.
The office was quiet as she headed up to her floor, the rush of early morning already faded into the gentle hum of mid-morning work. She had no sooner booted her computer up than a quick knock pulled her attention toward the door and her brother-in-law standing in the entryway. “Nathan. Come on in.”
Although she and her new brother-in-law had settled into an easy camaraderie, he didn’t make a habit of visiting her at work, and she had a sneaking suspicion why he’d decided to change that now. “I guess this means you’ve spoken to Keira.”
“She told me your news.” He had already crossed the room and was behind her desk, pulling her into a tight hug. “I’m thrilled for you.”
“Thanks.”
“Although I wasn’t aware my best friend was such a hound dog.”
“Nathan—” She broke off, not sure what to say, before she felt compelled to point out the obvious. “It does take two.”
He only nodded at that. “My lovely wife also told me marriage is on the table.”
“He thinks it’s a good idea.”
“Don’t you?”
“Marriage is for people who love each other.” The words were out before she could pull them back. “Not that I’m expecting that from him, but since I am expecting that from the person I marry, I’m still leaning toward no.”
“I know Holt. He wouldn’t have asked the question lightly.”
“And I’m not denying it lightly.”
“Of course.”
She didn’t miss the discomfort that radiated off his large frame in waves. A powerful man with a commanding presence, she wasn’t used to seeing him in any way other than supremely powerful. It was oddly humbling—and adorable—to see a more vulnerable side to him. “Is there anything you need?”
“I’m going to be fine.”
“I can beat him up if you need me to.”
She did smile at that, the novelty of now having a brother not lost on her. “I don’t think that’s necessary, but I’ll keep it in mind.”
He got up and gave her a quick kiss over the desk. “Holt’s a private man. Even as well as I know him, he doesn’t share much. If he’s asked you to marry him, he’s got a good reason.”
Something in her face must have telegraphed her impatience, because he held up a quick hand. “I know you’ve got good reasons as well, and I’m not questioning that, but I’d urge you to hear him out.”
“Do you trust him?”
“Implicitly. Even if I have every intention of beating the shit out of him next time I see him.”
“Why would you do that?”
“You’re my little sister now. I’d be a traitor to the brotherhood if I didn’t set him straight.”
…
She was no closer to an answer to Holt’s question, but she pushed all of it to the back of her mind as she led a chestnut mare out of the barn at Hands, Hearts and Hugs. Bright sunlight greeted her as she walked toward a mounting platform. She’d ridden this horse before, a gentle creature named Tabby, and was looking forward to spending the morning showing Holt the property on horseback.
Holt was already mounted and waiting for her across the small corral they kept to work the horses and teach the kids. “You ready?” He had an old baseball cap pulled low over his forehead and a black T-shirt covered his broad chest to perfection. Well-worn blue jeans hugged his powerful thighs, and she felt her horse move restlessly underneath her when she sat staring a bit too long.
“Yes! Yes, I’m ready.”
“Let’s go.” Holt waited for her to get out in front of him, moving single-file through the enclosed barn area until they got out to the broader property.
Quiet descended around them as they navigated a small trail. The children were still in the main house having their breakfast, and the grounds had an early morning calm that wouldn’t last long. As they cleared the close confines of the outbuildings, Holt moved his horse up next to hers. “I’ve missed seeing you this week.”
“I’ve missed seeing you, too.”
They rode in silence for a while, the quiet only punctuated by her comments as she showed him various parts of the grounds. Fifteen minutes later, she focused on the wood-rail fence that became visible in the distance and pointed toward it. “That’s the edge of the property. I thought we could follow it all the way around, give you a sense of the land.”
“It’s about five acres, right?”
“Yep. The houses and stables take up a good two acres, so they don’t have all that much room to expand.”
“Do they do that many outdoor activities with the kids?”
“A fair amount. I don’t know all the specifics, but I know a big part of the kids’ therapy is tied to some time spent outdoors and exercising.”
“I think I’m starting to get a sense of things. Where are they looking to put the new structure?”
“On the opposite side of the barn, away from the residences.”
“The build request is pretty straightforward.” Holt pulled his horse to a halt and Mayson did the same, coming to a stop next to him. “The real problem is the way the land’s been donated and the stipulated family approvals that are required to make changes.”
“Do you think they’ll be able to get around it? The owners are good people. Ed and Sabrina are doing good work here.”
“I’m sure they are, but if Ed can’t convince his brother to make a different decision, I’m afraid they’re not going to be able to make the changes they’d like.”
An irrational spurt of anger shot through her system like a geyser as her hands whitened around the reins. “Damn it, but it’s just so unnecessary.”
“Mayson?” When she didn’t respond, Holt said her name once more. “Don’t get upset. We’re here to figure some things out.”
She took a deep breath, willing herself to calm. She could already feel Tabby stamping her feet beneath her at the show of irrational anger. “I simply can’t accept someone waving power like it’s a flag. Ed’s brother is ruining the opportunity for something truly good because of his own selfishness.”
“I wish I could say something that would make it better. In the meantime, it’s probably best to suggest to Ed and Sabrina they think about putting their expansion plans on hold or they look for an alternative piece of land. Something they can manage themselves, without anyone else’s interference.”
She knew it was irrational and that getting upset wouldn’t help, but her ongoing frustration with the situation with the charity coalesced into a ball of helpless anger, roiling away in her gut. Before she could calm down and get herself in check, the stress-fueled acid in her stomach changed, rumbling through her midsection with the force of a tidal wave and she immediately began to feel nauseous.
“Mayson?”
She caught sight of Holt’s concerned gaze a moment before she simply acted, moving solely on the instinct to get off the horse. With stiff, jerky movements, she overcompensated on the reins, accidentally pulling Tabby’s head too hard. The animal’s initial skittishness toward her anger ratcheted up another notch, and she felt the shift in the large body beneath her a split second before Tabby began to move.
Her thighs gripped the saddle hard as the horse took off, the muscular body flexing beneath her with a combination of unexpected speed and the desire to remove the irritation from her back. A hard scream echoed from her throat as Mayson found herself flying along the perimeter of the fence, wind whipping at her as she rode the out of control horse.
In the distance, she heard Holt and his horse behind her, the thunder of hooves a heavy counterpoint to the slamming of her pulse in her ears. Images flashed through her mind as she fought to gain control of the moment. The warm faces of the children as they greeted her that morning in the cafeteria. Holt’s serious gaze as he pointed out various things on the trail. The ride up to the camp that morning as the bright sunlight shone over the Hudson River when they drove the West Side Highway out of the city.
Underneath all of it pounded a ruthless fear that gripped her throat with icy claws.
“Mayson!”
Holt’s frantic shouts ensured he was still behind her, and the heavy gallop of hooves was closer than before. She felt Tabby’s muscles bunch, sensing the horse was getting ready for another burst of speed before a heavy whoosh of air pressed along her side. Holt reached out, his large hand snagging at the reins she held on to with an iron grip. Immediately, she felt the change in Tabby and braced her thighs for a hard stop.
The moment ended nearly as fast as it had begun. Holt’s steady hand and firm touch on the reins pulled Tabby to an easy stop as he pulled his own mount to a halt.
“Mayson?” Holt’s eyes were wide as he turned toward her, a glaze of fear covering the hazel and turning them a dark shade of green. “What the hell happened?”
A hard breath stuck in her throat and Mayson struggled to find the words as the reality of her precarious ride filled her thoughts. “I…I don…don’t know. I got sick and all I wanted to do was get off Tabby’s back.”
Without losing his grip on her reins, Holt slipped from the saddle and walked both horses toward a stretch of fence. He made quick work of tying their reins to posts before reaching for her. She felt the steady touch of his hands at her waist. Felt the gentle tug as he pulled her off Tabby and into his arms. She wrapped her arms around his neck and hung on, the feel of the horse’s moving body still echoing through her muscles.
“Shh.” He whispered it against her head as he moved several paces from the horses. Setting her down briefly, he dropped to the ground and tugged on her hand. “Come here.”
She went willingly, snuggling into his arms as they came around her. Under the heavy thump of her own pulse, she heard the hard beat of his heart, slamming against his chest. “I’m sorry.”
“It’s not your fault.”
“I shouldn’t have gotten angry like that. Shouldn’t have upset Tabby like that. I’m not good enough on a horse to do that. To take that kind of risk.”
“You did fine.”
A light breeze whipped around them, cooling the skin as she fought to calm down. The ride was scary, but it was over and she was fine, as were Holt and the horses. Imagining what might have happened wasn’t going to help matters and only left her full of morbid thoughts.
“Are you feeling better?” Holt’s voice was soothing, and the firm strokes of his hand over her back went a long way toward calming her.
“I think so. One minute I was just so angry for Ed and Sabrina, and the next minute all I wanted to do was get off Tabby and go be sick by myself.”
“Have you had any morning sickness yet?”
“A little, but nothing too bad. The doctor said it could come on at any time, but since I hadn’t had it that badly, I’d likely escape unscathed.”
His body stiffened underneath her. “Doctor?”
“Of course. I went this past week.”
“Why didn’t you tell me?”
“It was a personal visit. An exam.” The excuse was lame and she knew it.
“I could have waited outside until you were done.”
The words rose up, as if out of nowhere, anger heating them to a white-hot intensity, and she leaped off his lap. “What, Holt? Like we were a real family? Like you were an anxious husband waiting to see the first sonogram?”
“You had a sonogram?”
The eagerness she saw on his face wasn’t lost on her, but even with the evidence of his interest, she couldn’t stop the barrage of emotions. Guilt. Elation. More guilt.
“Of course.”
“And the baby’s okay?”
“Yes. Fine. I’d have told you if it wasn’t.”
Sparks shot from the depths of his eyes, flecks of gold wound through the hazel as he ripped off his sunglasses to stare her down. “Would you? Because it’s not like you even told me about the damn appointment.”
“Because we’re not a couple. We’re a couple of people who have found ourselves in an inconvenient situation.”
“I’ve tried to make that right.”
“No, you’ve tried to dictate a solution, and that’s something else entirely.”