Heart's Desire (26 page)

“I didn't—”

She held up a hand. “It may have been a simple omission to you, but you didn't tell me about your family. I trusted you.”

“I know you did. I just didn't know where things were going between us.” His eyes flicked toward her brother and back. “How was I supposed to bring up something like that?”

She looked between Nathan and Justin. “What is it with the two of you?” She slapped her brother's arm. “You think you need to guard me like a vestal virgin.” She shook her head. “Guess what? This isn't the Roman Empire, and I'm not a virgin.”

“Jess!”

“And you're so worried about what Justin will think that you can't make a decision. You need to grow a pair. Maybe stand up to my brother. Unless you lied, and this really was just a fling to you.”

Jessie turned to Deputy Chase McKee, who looked confused by their family drama. The poor guy had known Jessie and Justin forever and had just returned to the force. Jessie wondered if he wasn't getting far more than he bargained for. “Do whatever you need to: press charges, book Brendon, whatever. Let these two handle everything. It seems to be what you do best anyway. I have a ranch to run.”

Jessie walked out of the office, leaving every man in the building staring after her, and for once, she didn't care one bit if it made her the family failure. This time, if she failed, it would be on her own terms, and she would do it splendidly.

“S
HE CAN
'
T DO
that,” Trevor yelled, as he rose from the desk. “Justin, you need to talk some sense into her.”

Justin looked from Nathan to the father and son, both cuffed like common criminals. “Let's figure out what's going on.” Nathan nodded and headed toward the office where Brendon waited with the sheriff, but Justin stopped him with his hand. “You better believe I'm going to kick your ass for hurting my sister when this is over with.”

“You already did,” Nathan argued.

“Then I'll do it again.” Justin said, not leaving any further room for argument. He sat on the edge of the sheriff's desk and let Nathan take the chair. Then he addressed Brendon “I don't know what's going on, but as your friend, man, seeing how your dad is losing it in the next room, you might want to appoint someone else.”

Brendon ran his shackled hands through his hair, hitting himself in the forehead. “I didn't do this. Not really.”

“Wait,” Nathan warned, glancing back at the sheriff. “Do you want your father in here?”

“Don't say anything, son, until I can make some calls.” Trevor's voice carried through the thin walls of the offices, while they could see the deputy trying to calm him again.

“I don't need an attorney. I didn't do anything wrong.” Brendon's voice was tired, but it didn't stop the sheriff from pulling out a pad of paper and a small recorder.

“Then tell me what happened, Brendon, because I really don't want to believe you'd do this.” Justin shook his head, disappointment showing.

“Before your parents went on their trip, your dad came in and said he wanted me to open an account and to set up recurring transfers from the ranch equal to fifty percent of the monthly income. He just said it was to help Jessie down the road and that he'd explain more once the companies were incorporated. Something about rescuing horses.” He buried his head into his hands again. “But then they were killed. I never touched that money, Justin.” He looked up at all three men. “Not once in the six months the account was open. I should have said something but, honestly, I forgot about it until this guy came asking questions.”

“Jessie was drowning in debt, almost declaring bankruptcy, and you
forgot
about the account?” Nathan knew he sounded dubious, but the man's story was asinine. “This is just your word against a dead man's.”

Brendon shook his head, slowly. “No, my father knew. He set up the incorporation. He and your father were the first ones on the board of directors. After the trip, they were going to add the three of you. And I'm not the only one with access to the account; I'm just the first listed because I'm the CFO. Justin, you've got to believe me, man. You're like a brother to me.” He looked up at Justin with watery eyes full of regret. “And you know how I feel about Jessie. I would never do this to her.”

Nathan's jaw clenched at hearing Brendon even mention her name. He gripped the arm of the chair to keep from pulverizing the man.

“I think we need to have a chat with Trevor.” The sheriff's voice broke through the rage blinding Nathan. “Maybe he can shed a little light on this situation.”

“I don't need light; I need air. The stench of bullshit is beginning to choke me.” He rose and walked out of the office, the glare of the sunlight reflecting off the windshields of cruisers, nearly blinding him.

He leaned against one of the cars and took a deep breath, the heated air of late spring rife with car exhaust nearly choking him. Or maybe it was the fact that his accusation against Brendon wasn't going to hold up in light of the man's recent confession. Someone had stolen that money from Jessie, and he hadn't been fast enough or smart enough to stop it before it happened. He slammed the heel of his hand against the car's hood and stood, raking his hands through his hair in frustration.

“Damn it!”

“You know, I don't think you need a vandalism charge with everything else on your plate right now.”

Nathan spun, his pulse speeding up at the sound of Jess's voice. “I thought you left.”

“I did.” She shrugged. “But I came back.”

“Why?”

He wanted to tell himself to shut up, to stop asking questions and just be grateful for her return, but his mouth operated without consulting his brain. The same way his feet moved without his acknowledgment. Nathan buried his hands into her hair, not waiting for an answer, and sought her mouth. He didn't need to hear the words from her; he could feel it in the way her body melted against him, in the sigh that left her lips, in the way her hands moved over his back, hungry for him.

“Jess,” he whispered, pulling back only far enough to lean his forehead against hers. “I left to keep you from getting hurt. My father's a criminal. He's been stealing money and hiding it in offshore accounts all my life. He saw you as a threat to his operation and said if I ever returned here, he'd destroy your family. I was young and stupid and powerless to stop him if he carried through on his threat. So I let go of you and tried to convince myself I'd done the right thing.”

His thumb traced her cheekbone. “But when Justin called, I couldn't let the ranch go under. Not if I could help. And since I'm telling you everything, when I went back, he wanted me to help him falsify his books, but I refused. I never actually lied to you.”

His hands curved around her jaw, his thumb caressing the hollow of her cheek. He needed her to believe him.

She smiled up at him, her hands covering his. “Nathan, thank you for telling me the truth about your family, but as for the lying, let's mutually agree you walked a fine line in a gray area.”

“I should have known you'd have to have the last word.” He smiled down at her, relieved. “I should have told you.”

“Yes,” she agreed. “You should have, but—”

Trevor pushed open the door of the station as one of the deputies followed him and Brendon outside. He had a broad, evil grin on his lips when he turned toward Nathan. “Well, looks like the charges against Brendon were dropped. Prepare yourself for a lawsuit, Mr. Kerrington. It's going to be an expensive one.” He looked past Nathan to Jessie and shook his head. “Your father would be so disappointed.”

Nathan felt the agony come off Jessie in waves, and the fact that this man would say something so deliberately cruel and hurtful infuriated him. He wasn't about to let it happen. “Sue away, Gray. I have the truth and million-dollar lawyers at my disposal. I doubt we'll lose. You, on the other hand . . . ” Nathan shrugged.

Trevor laughed. “Then, by all means, take your best shot, young man. I'd be glad to drag this out long enough that you end up with nothing left. Not to mention how the world would love to hear about the financial tycoon who went after a frail old man living on nothing but his retirement. You play chess, Mr. Kerrington? This is what we call, ‘check.' ”

Nathan took a step toward the old man as Justin stepped between them. “Don't. Not now,” his friend muttered. “Let's go back to the ranch.”

“It will really be a shame to see another Kerrington reputation go down in flames.”

“Ride with me, Nathan.” Justin ordered. “We need to talk.”

Jessie looked up at him, worry creasing her brow, but Nathan knew his friend, and there was a wide chasm between them now that needed to be bridged. Jessie might have said differently, but Nathan knew, as much as Justin's accusation had wounded her, she adored her brother and longed for his approval.

“I'll meet you at the ranch, okay?” He pressed his lips to hers briefly. “We'll finish our discussion then, too.”

She chewed at her lower lip. It might have been less than a week, but he needed this woman. Unfortunately, right now, her hulking linebacker of a brother stood between them. He walked Jessie to her truck and went back to meet Justin in front of the police station.

“Excuse me, Mr. Kerrington?” A deputy met him at the front of Justin's truck. “Could we speak with you for a moment?”

“Go ahead,” Justin said. “This can wait until you're finished.”

N
ATHAN EYED
J
USTIN
as he climbed into Justin's pickup and fumbled with the recording device in his pocket. This wouldn't be his first time going undercover for the police, but he didn't want them taping any personal conversations about Jessie if he could avoid it.

“Is this where I get to ask about your intentions for my sister?” Justin's jaw clenched, and Nathan could tell he was trying to control his temper as he backed out onto the road. “Dude, you slept with my sister. I never would have done that to you.”

“Not without telling me first,” Nathan finished for him. Justin rolled his eyes and gave him a frustrated glare. “You're right. I should have told you there was something going on between us. I should have told you about it when I stayed with you at the ranch that summer. But I was trying to protect you, and her. My family held a lot of sway back then, and when they threatened to destroy your parents' business and your future if I didn't stay away from her . . . ” Nathan shook his head. “How was I supposed to tell you that?”

“They couldn't have done anything.”

“That's where you're wrong, Justin. They could and would have.” Nathan ran his hand over the small device in his pocket, muffling what it would pick up. “Money can buy a lot of things, Justin and my father had plenty at his disposal to bribe people to destroy your family. I couldn't take that chance. I cared too much.”

“So you blew her off, never called? God, I feel like a fool for telling you how worried I was about her then. The whole time, you knew it was because of you. And then you just took off, like our friendship meant nothing. You were the closest thing I had to a brother.”

Nathan took a deep breath. What could he say? Justin was right. He could hear the disgust in Justin's voice.

“What about now?”

“I've cut all ties to my father. He's going to lose his case and will be too hard-pressed trying to stay out of prison to worry about me.”

Justin eyed him. “I mean, what about you and Jess?”

“It was—
is
—confusing. I don't know where she stands, Justin, but I always planned on coming back. There's nothing on earth, not even you, that's going to convince me to leave her again. Unless it's what she wants.”

Justin slammed on the brakes, veering onto the shoulder of the road, and put it into park. “You love her?” Nathan didn't deny it—nor did he look away. “I thought you didn't believe in falling in love.”

“I don't. I didn't,” he clarified. “But Jess—” He didn't know how to explain it, but Jess had taken all his plans for his future and turned them upside down. She made him wonder if his entire life had simply been one long wait for her to step inside and show him the way to right his wrongs.

“Yeah, I get it. It's Jess. She has a way of throwing a wrench into things when you least expect it.” He arched a brow and laughed quietly. “And it's usually for the better.” Justin pulled back out onto the highway. “I guess I can learn to deal with the two of you together, provided you don't hurt her again.”

Nathan chuckled and shook his head.

“What's so funny?”

“You. Thinking you could stop me.”

Justin shot him a warning look. “I knocked you on your ass once already. Don't make me do it again.”

“You know she wants to turn the ranch into a horse rescue, right?” He watched Justin's shoulder slump.

“How is that even going to be possible? With how expensive horses are to keep, without guests, how would she even feed them?” Justin shook his head. “And now? How can we recoup a loss like this? Fifty thousand dollars?”

“I have some big investors lined up for her.” Justin looked over at Nathan suspiciously. “I met with a few while I was in New York, and I have three lined up here in California willing to make some big start-up donations, if she becomes a nonprofit.”

“To rescue abused horses?”

Nathan nodded. “I think your father was trying to get the dominoes all lined up for it before they went on the trip—the incorporation, the transferred money. Jess made a comment once that she thought your father lied to her. After what we just heard from Brendon, it all makes sense that your father was trying to set this up for her to start her operation.”

“Why didn't he just tell her?”

Nathan shrugged. “You know your father better than I do. Maybe he wanted to surprise her. Maybe he didn't want upset you.”

“Me?”

“Justin, you're pretty hard on Jess. You jumped on her about the missing money before you even gave her a chance to explain.” Justin opened his mouth to defend himself, but Nathan didn't give him a chance. “I know you love her, and I don't know all the history, man, but Jess adores you, and she feels like she's always letting you down. You can see it in her eyes.”

Justin ran a hand over his face, scrubbing his jaw, and shook his head. “I guess I've dealt with things badly after Mom and Dad died. I just didn't know what to do.”

A companionable silence fell between them, neither feeling compelled to speak until Justin pulled the truck off the main highway onto the road to the ranch. “Who took the money, Nathan? I don't think it was Brendon.”

“You want my honest opinion or what I can prove?”

“Either.” He shrugged.

“I think it was Trevor and that he used Brendon as a patsy.”

“His own son?” Justin sounded doubtful.

“Who else knew your father was incorporating the businesses? Who else is on the board of directors and has access? Who else would your father have put that much trust in?”

“Then shouldn't we confront him?”

“With what? Conjecture? Suspicion? A theory?” Nathan shook his head and pursed his lips. “Unfortunately, I have nothing else to go on. I can't just make accusations, and if it's him, he's done a great job of making Brendon look suspicious while still shining enough doubt to make the evidence circumstantial.”

“But, if Mom and Dad hadn't gone on that trip, if they hadn't been in that accident, none of this would have worked.”

“
If
it was an accident.” Nathan had seen the police report. A single-car accident, probable cause was determined to be the driver falling asleep at the wheel. The brakes hadn't been applied as they left the road. No one in the small town even suspected foul play.

Justin pulled the truck onto the shoulder of the road again and spun the wheel, making a U-turn, leaving a cloud of dust behind them.

“Are you saying that son of a bitch killed my parents?” Justin's nostrils flared, his eyes wide with disbelief and rage. “That he destroyed our family for money? My father was his friend. We grew up with him.”

“Justin, slow down or let me drive,” Nathan warned. “I don't know, but it's what I suspect. Proving it is an entirely different matter.”

“I'll get us proof. I may have to beat him to a pulp to get it, but if he killed our parents, he'll admit it.”

It wouldn't do them any good to alert Trevor that they were on to him. Nathan needed to get a recorded confession, not an assault charge, but he'd been wondering how to get to Trevor's office to confront him about what he'd done. Justin was making this easier. Now, he just had to figure out a way to get Trevor to confess to what he'd done.

J
USTIN PUT ON
the breaks and pulled into the parking spot, barely taking time to throw the truck into park before leaping from the driver's seat. Nathan chased him, trying to catch him before he headed into the office, hell-bent on revenge. “Justin, wait. We need them to confess.”

Justin stopped, his boots skidding on the sidewalk in front of the office building. “You really think he's going to give up anything? You said it yourself, he's done a great job of hiding behind the suspicion he's cast on his own son.”

“Well, you can't beat it out of him.” Nathan realized he didn't put it past Justin to do exactly that. Not that he could blame him. If Trevor had murdered his family, he'd want to do the same.

“Or maybe I can.”

Nathan caught the secretary at the desk inside watching them argue on the sidewalk. They had to do something, or she was going to alert Trevor of their presence. “Just follow my lead, okay?”

He wasn't entirely sure the best course of action to take, but he couldn't let Justin go in half-cocked, ready to beat someone. Getting a confession was their best shot. Nathan knew they didn't have much time before Jessie realized they weren't following her and started looking for them. He loved that woman, but she would jump into this fray without even thinking of the danger to herself. He didn't want her here for this.

Nathan pulled the door open and gave the secretary a flirtatious smile. “Well, hello. How in the world did Trevor manage to find such a lovely secretary?” He turned to Justin, whose face was still red with fury. “The lucky devil.” He shot Justin a look of warning and saw the understanding dawn in his eyes.

“How can I help you, gentlemen?” She appeared stoic, but Nathan didn't miss the way her body language relaxed when Justin looked her way. “Justin, I'm surprised to see you here again so soon.”

“We have some documents for Mr. Gray. Is he in?” Nathan offered.

“He's with his son, and I don't think—”

“It will only take a second, Christy.” Justin cut her off. “I don't think Uncle Trevor remembered these were coming today, and I need to have him sign them. He'll be a bear if they don't get turned in.”

She didn't look pleased but jerked her chin toward the door. “He came in irritated, so let's not give him another reason. Go ahead.”

Nathan and Justin made their way into the spacious office and shut the door behind them with a soft click. Brendon was just coming back into the main room with a file in his hands.

“Was this what you—” He stopped short when he saw Justin and Nathan standing in front of his father's mahogany desk.

“Hurry up. We need to shred—” Trevor, who had been watching his son, turned to see what had startled Brendon. “What the hell are you doing here? I told Christy not to disturb me.”

“I'm sure you did.” Nathan ran a hand over the top of the desk, noting the fine craftsmanship. “Nice office. You have expensive taste for a small-town lawyer.”

“Get out of my office before I call the police.” Gray's voice was quiet but dangerous.

“You know”—Justin slid into one of the leather chairs and put his dirty boots on the desk—“I think that might be a good idea.”

Nathan didn't miss the fact that Brendon still stood in the doorway, his fingers tightly gripping the file, his knuckles white, and his face ashen. He walked toward him, and Brendon's eyes shot toward his father. “I wonder if the police might be interested in the file you seem to want shredded so quickly.”

Trevor placed his hands on the back of his chair and smiled a cold, heartless grin. “I have nothing to hide. By all means, feel free to look at it before I finish cleaning my office.”

Nathan narrowed his eyes. The man was too cocky, far too confident, for someone who'd only been released from handcuffs and whose son had been accused of embezzling less than an hour ago. It had to be a bluff.

“May I?” Nathan held out his hand, and Brendon looked to his father for confirmation. He stuck out his bottom lip and nodded. Nathan opened the file and flipped through the pages. It was nothing but car repair receipts from a local mechanic. He clenched his jaw. This was nothing. How could his instincts be so off? Did he just have it in for these two?

As if reading his expression, Trevor laughed. “Find anything interesting? Now, if you don't mind seeing yourselves out.”

Nathan dropped the file in Justin's lap. “You know, it's odd that you haven't heard anything about the incorporation. It's been well over the usual six weeks. You'd think after six months, you'd have checked on it.” Trevor's lips pinched into a thin line, and he refrained from commenting. “Unless you have them already. In which case, there should be a meeting of the board.”

“Is that the case? Because I can call my sisters and have them down here in just a few minutes.” Justin held up his phone and looked at Trevor expectantly.

“What are you trying to prove, Kerrington?” Trevor ignored Justin who tucked his phone into his pocket and began flipping through the receipts.

“What are you trying to hide?” Nathan countered. A commotion from the entrance had all four men turning their heads to the doorway as Jessie burst through it.

“Get away from me, Christy, or I swear you'll be sorry.”

“Sir, I tried to stop her, but—”

Trevor held up a hand and waved her out. “I'll take care of this.” His eyes skimmed over his son, and he shook his head. “Just like I always do.”

“What is going on?” Jessie asked. “I tried calling you. Then I came back and found your truck parked—”

“Nathan, these are receipts for Dad's truck.” He rose and slapped the file on the desk. “What in the hell did you do?”

Trevor arched a brow and laughed. “Why wouldn't I have receipts for repairs on your father's ranch truck? I'm his attorney.”

“Attorney,” Nathan said, “not accountant.” He reached for the file again. “Where is the documentation for Heart Fire Industries?”

Brendon, who had been like a statue in the doorway, took a step backward and looked ready to run. Nathan grasped his arm. “Don't even think about it.” Nathan turned back to Trevor. “You can show us or the police can find it when they tear this place apart.”

Trevor shook his head and laughed bitterly. “You should know better than anyone, Kerrington, that you need to show cause. You have nothing on me.”