The Reluctant Heir. HelenKay Dimon
Eldrick. It meant owing them, and she’d vowed never to do that.
Breaking eye contact, Carter glanced around. His gaze moved over the tables with the chairs stacked on the tops, and the shelves of merchandise. It hesitated on the espresso machine. “You must have vacation days.”
If he’d looked into her background, he already knew the answer. But, fine. They could play this game.
“I’m not a full-time employee.” She lifted her chin because she was not going to hide who she was or what she did to earn a living. “I clean houses and buildings. It’s what I do so that I can eat.”
“Sure. Okay.”
“Sometimes I also take shifts here, usually nights and weekends when the college kids who work here would rather go out.”
He shrugged again. “Makes sense.”
The casual acceptance threw her off. He came from inconceivable wealth. Growing up he only ran with other kids from the same background. He’d segregated himself as if money did matter. Went to a private boys’ school, then off to an expensive college. Spent the last year playing in California. She knew because his photo showed up on gossip sites now and then with this beautiful woman or that one on his arm. And it always pricked at her.
“I’m not ashamed of what I do.” She wanted to be absolutely clear about that.
“You shouldn’t be.”
Okay, he said that but nothing in his past or looking at him now suggested he actually believed it. “I work hard. I don’t get to play much, and I certainly can’t just hop off to Virginia.”
“Then open the envelope.”
He made it sound so simple, but it wasn’t.
“Your father is trying to manipulate me. He’s done it before. Sends letters and expects me to jump to his commands.” And she had...sort of. When she’d emerged from the fog surrounding her sister’s death she’d made a promise. She would never again let Eldrick intimidate or scare her. That meant not letting him in to her life. Not letting him in her door or reading his letters.
Carter sighed. “Tell me why and I can try to help.”
“No.” Part of her still believed Carter knew and this was some sort of game. He was the one who had a relationship with Gena. He’d lured her in with promises of a future then left. Everything that came after—the threats and bribery attempts by Eldrick—related back to Carter. How could he not know?
But that expression seemed so genuine. The offer of coming to Virginia opened a door she’d thought she’d closed. The possibilities whirled around in her head until she had to lean against one of the tables.
“I’m staying at the Virginia estate, so I can pack up whatever may belong to your dad and get it to you. Or, hear me out.” Carter held up a hand. “Come to Virginia yourself. Get whatever property, whatever closure, you need.”
She snorted. It came out before she could stop it. “Because you know so much about closure.”
“I’ve been hunting for it for years where my father is concerned. If I can’t find it for me, maybe I can at least hope you get it.” A new emotion moved into his eyes. Behind that determination something else lingered. A note of sadness, maybe. “My father isn’t in the country. My brothers don’t go to our estate except for special events. I’m there, but I’ll stay out of your way.”
The idea of taking a look at her father’s possessions, of figuring out once and for all if something else happened that sunny afternoon when he died, tugged and pulled at her. But the offer also tripped the silent alarm in her head. The internal warning wail almost had her wincing.
“I can’t just walk away from my responsibilities.” Like some people.
“You’re not the only one who is sick of my father’s constant maneuvering.” Carter hesitated for a few seconds before continuing. “I can help you with whatever he wants from you, but if you don’t want that I still can make sure you get access to the house you once lived in. Stay a few days and do what you need.”
Common sense battled with curiosity. She’d never bought the story about her dad’s death. Being there might let her take a peek and move on...or she could uncover the truth, and she owed her dad that.
But there was still the problem of the newest envelope and whatever Eldrick intended to threaten her about now. “What makes you think your father wants something? I know why I think it, but what do you know?”
“The man doesn’t make a move without an ulterior motive.” Carter shook his head. “Look, the easiest thing to do would be to open the envelope. But it’s your life, not mine. You want to keep your secrets? Fine.”
He actually sounded like he did get it. That eased some of the tension zipping through her.
“I don’t want to be manipulated by my father either. Honestly, I’m only here because my brother, you probably remember Derrick, only gets the family business if certain conditions are met. My brothers have a list of things we must do for that inheritance to happen and this is what I have to do.”
She didn’t like that at all. “You mean me. I’m your ‘thing to do.’ How flattering.”
Carter frowned. “I don’t really understand why or what any of this means or how you fit in, which is likely how my dad wanted it.”
He didn’t exactly speak about his father with love and respect. That piqued her interest, made her want to ask questions, but she refrained. Getting sucked into a big Jameson family mess was not on her agenda today...or ever. “So, you need me to open the envelope.”
“I don’t need anything. My brother does. But if Derrick had seen the look of panic on your face last night when I mentioned Dad, Derrick would have torn up the envelope and told you to never worry about any of us again.”
If true, she liked Derrick way more now than she did when she was a kid and was kind of afraid of him. “And you?”
“We both know you and my dad have unfinished business of some sort.” When she started to deny it, he interrupted her again. “I’m not asking what it is, but I’m giving you a chance to do some exploring on your own, without his knowledge or interference. To come back to his home turf of Virginia and figure it all out, then decide if you want to confront my dad.”
She never wanted to see the man again. She’d tucked away in this corner of New York, far away from the bribery and warnings specifically to avoid having to see him. “What do you get out of all of this?”
“Honestly?” He winced. “The idea of going behind my dad’s back and letting you on the property where he didn’t want you to be gives me an odd satisfaction. Plus, I liked your dad. You deserve to go through his things and visit the place you stayed one last time.”
“You sort of sound reasonable.” Which immediately made her skeptical.
Carter took in a long, deep breath. “My offer is for housing and food, if you want it.”
So smooth. He knew exactly what to say to get her thinking. There was no way he could have guessed from his investigation into her background that there were doubts swirling in her head about that Virginia estate and what really happened to her father there. This offer might be her one chance to look around without a bunch of people following her or chasing her off the property. She might be able to uncover the truth.
The only problem? Nothing ever turned out to be free.
“Who did you say would be at the property?” Not that she was conceding. This was all part of a big plan Carter’s dad had worked out. She was sure of it and equally determined not to be a pawn. But if she could get the upper hand, then maybe...
“I’ll be in the main house. I’m living and working there.”
Her stupid heart jumped. She had no idea