I meant, Patty Hoyt was only after money. Her kinds easily dispensed with. Besides, the daughter has already left town, which makes me think shes got something bigger in mind.
Like what?
This girl grew up dirt-poor while Walkers legitimate kids had every advantage money can buy. Judging by her bank records, shes still barely scraping by. Sounds like a recipe for revenge to me.
The glint of humor in Roscoes eyes turned to steel. Then stop her. Immediately. Still intimidating at sixty, Roscoe stood. This is your chance, Anderson. Steven Walker pays a lot of salaries around here. He wants this matter resolved quickly, and the partners want him happy.
Kyle stood and crossed his arms. At a sniff under six feet, he had to cock his chin to meet Thomass icy stare, but he dialed back the aggression with a cocky wink. Leave Shayna Miller to me. Like you said, Im good with the ladies.
We cant afford to lose Walker. Thomass voice turned as cold as prison bars. You want a lucrative future with this firm, then do whatever it takes to get this girl on board before the press gets wind of any potential scandal.
Kyle kept his lips from snarling until after Thomas swaggered out of his office. He resented the ultimatum, but he didnt blame the old guy. Dangling the partnership as bait was a strong, strategic move, but damn, he hated occupying the weaker position.
He settled back into his high-backed leather chair and glared at the phone. After learning that Walker didnt intend to deliver the quick score shed hoped for, Patty Hoyt had gladly provided Kyle with her daughters number. Hed left Shayna Miller six messages since letting her slip away from the hotel. The annoying woman hadnt returned a single one.
The tiny doe-eyed girl hed encountered in that hotel lobby couldnt have been further from what hed been expecting. Unlike her overprocessed, overpainted mother, Shaynas skin had been naked and clear, a glossy peach lipstick her only ornamentation. Shed smelled like sunshine. After years of being assaulted by manufactured fragrances on women, the purity of her aroma had been intensely sensual. Most arresting, though, had been her wide, amber eyes. Clear, unguarded, welcoming.
All that had changed the instant hed introduced himself and explained his connection to Steven Walker. Shed closed up. Her smile, her eyes, her attitude. Everything went blank, as if shed flipped a switch and turned off her inner light.
Hed gone to that hotel for the very reason Thomas had just suggested. Hed intended to force the issue, do whatever it took to obtain her cooperation. But hed failed. Not only had she fled before he could outline the lucrative details of Walkers offer but watching the wary distrust that replaced her initial shy smile had thrown him off his game.
Now, as he drummed a pen against his desks blotter and plotted his battle plan, he once again cursed himself for squandering his opportunity to get a handle on Shayna Miller.
The longer he thought about that encounter, the more convinced he became that shed been playing him. Complete lack of emotion was a learned skill, the kind of thing a calculating daughter would learn-or possibly inherit-from a calculating mother. The nut didnt often fall far from the tree.
So why the hell did his gut keep insisting he was misjudging her?
Its just the voice, he assured himself as he flung the pen down and spread the Walker file out on his desk. That sexy southern accent had been playing on a continuous loop through his brain for nearly a week now.
Damned if hed be swayed by slow vowels and exaggerated syllables. His future hinged on getting Shayna Miller to consent to the agreement Steven Walker was paying the firm megabucks to secure. And he didnt intend to fail.
He might not like his reputation as the office lady-killer, but he had been the one to negotiate Patty Hoyts lump-sum payment-contingent upon her daughters cooperation-in exchange for never bothering their client again. Ever.
So what if he despised this whole case? So what if he felt Walkers requests-both of the firm and the child hed walked away from over two decades ago-skated ethical and moral lines. Personal feelings aside, his job was to satisfy the firms most influential client, and until he made partner, that was all that mattered.
After he had his name on the letterhead, then hed have the luxury of turning down clients who made his skin crawl, who reminded him of the human trash hed grown up with. For now, he was one assignment away from achieving his professional goals and moving on to the next stage of his life plan: attractive trophy wife, two kids, a beach house in Malibu. By then, he hoped to hell his success would obliterate the image of the scrawny, unwanted street punk who still stared back at him in the mirror every morning.
An unusually frigid breeze swooped beneath the hem of Shaynas skirt as she scanned the crowd whod turned out for todays ground breaking ceremony. Her teeth chattered as she snuggled deeper into her green-and-gold Fighting Lions letterman sweater. Had she known winter planned to make a surprise appearance today, shed have skipped the sweaters sentimentality and gone with her more practical-and much warmer-parka.
Numb fingers fluffed her hair out around her ears as she fought back sentimental tears. She loved this little tight-knit community. It was the day before Thanksgiving, with temperatures suspended in the mid-thirties, and still nearly a hundred folks were gathered in the town square to celebrate the official start of the James Miller Youth Center.
For nearly three years, shed dedicated herself to making the youth center a reality, helping with everything from fundraising to building plans to investigating the best playground surface material. It was scheduled to open next spring, and she-and her newly completed social services degree-had already accepted the directors position. But to have the place named after her daddy? She couldnt imagine a greater honor.
Hed suffered a stroke and died seven years ago, so when the town council made the announcement earlier this year, shed been too overjoyed to speak. They wanted to honor James Miller for his accomplishments with the high school football team-in the South, there was little that could top three consecutive state titles. But for her, his greatest accomplishment, the reason she celebrated his memory every day, was the fact that hed saved her life. Blood relation or not, he was the only true parent shed ever known. Hed stepped in when no one else wanted her and had chosen to love her and care for her and give her someone to love in return. Hed made them a family.
Howre you holding up, sweetie? Lindy, whod been smart enough to bundle up, sidled over to Shayna.
Other than wishing Id worn long pants, Im fine.
This weather is a shocker. Weathermans calling for a thirty percent chance of snow for Thanksgiving.
Judging by the wind blowing up my skirt, I believe him.
What are you two pretty ladies whispering about over here? Travis Monroe asked as he slipped an arm around his wifes expanding waist and pulled her snug to his side.
Just griping about the weather, Lindy told him.
Typical farm girls, Travis teased. He nodded toward Mayor Evans, who stood behind the podium as he got the ground breaking underway. You ready for your big speech?
Yep, Shayna assured him. Im going to keep it short and sweet so we can all get back to our warm homes.
Just then, the mayor announced her name, and the crowd cheered and clapped enthusiastically. With a deep breath and a silent prayer, she took the podium. I want to thank all of you for braving this unusual weather. Daddy would have been honored-and embarrassed-by this wonderful turnout.
Her voice began to wobble, forcing her to pause for a second, clear her throat, gather her composure. James Miller was more than just a great coach. He was a great man. His calm, quiet demeanor hid an inner strength he gladly loaned to anyone who needed an extra push in life, and as you all know, he was uncomfortable with public kudos.
The sea of heads surrounding the podium nodded as one.
Ill never forget the papers headline after that first trip to state. Coach Miller Wins Title. I was so proud, but Daddy said it wasnt true. He didnt win that title, the players did. So he rewrote that article, naming and praising the entire thirty-seven member squad. He wanted each of those boys to bask in the pride of their accomplishments.
A mumble rippled through the crowd, growing into another burst of applause. Several teary faces stared back at her.
That was typical. James Miller did great things every day and always preferred to shift the accolades to someone else. So today, in honor of his memory and because hes no longer here to deflect the praise- she paused for a second as she accepted the gold-ribbon-embellished shovel the mayor handed her -I proudly dedicate this site as the future home of the James Miller Youth Center, and I challenge us all to go out every day and do something great, just like he taught us to.
Sniffling back the tears she could no longer contain, she gingerly placed her high-heeled shoe over the shovels edge and ceremoniously scooped out a bit of preloosened dirt. She lifted watery eyes, smiling and nodding at the crowd. Several loved and familiar faces smiled back, sending a wave of support and encouragement her way, helping her put a plug on her emotions.
Moving her gaze to the rear of the crowd, she spied an unanticipated and unwelcome spectator. Despite the icy nip in the air, a layer of cold sweat suddenly covered Shaynas skin.
Dark glasses protected his eyes, but his sun-bleached hair and blatantly expensive wool trench coat gave him away. The nerve of that man. What part of not interested did Kyle Anderson not understand?
With an effort, she pulled her attention back to the mayor as he offered his own words of praise. She listened with half an ear, her stomach pitching as Kyle wove his way through the crowd. She felt the pressure of his regard like a high-beamed spotlight and knew the locals wouldnt fail to notice a dashing, big-city stranger hanging around.
If asked-and in Lands Cross, being asked about your business was a sure bet-would he share his reasons for being in town? Would he blab about her unfortunate tie to Steven Walker?