Tease Me (22 page)

“Only to set up shop in some new town, with a new phony scam. Hell, if they really
own that land, they can probably put up a new sign and run the same scam again and
again.”

“And you said that business degree was gathering dust.”

Lainey felt a shot of warmth all the way to her toes when she looked up to find him
smiling at her. And it had nothing to do with his pride in her business accumen. “No,
Damian said that. But even if I’ve put that piece of paper to use helping Minerva
reorganize the way she runs this café, it won’t help me get her out of this mess.”

She watched Tucker’s smile fade, his expression still intent … almost bemused. Disconcerted,
she glanced back at her coffee and took another sip. “So you’re saying it would be
years, if ever, before we could actually nail these guys.”

She glanced up in time to catch him staring at her before he ducked his gaze back
to his coffee. She worked to not squirm in her seat. It had barely been a blink of
time, but she swore she’d seen a flash of … well, the only word she could come up
with was hunger. There had been unabashed, unadulterated hunger in his eyes. Maybe
it wasn’t any easier for him to back off than it was for her.

How long would it be before one or the other’s control snapped and they found themselves
naked and going at each other on the counter of Minerva’s café?

She took a large swallow of coffee and tried not to choke. Who was she kidding? One
brief hint of a glance and she was almost ready to crawl across the table into his
lap. She was still only playing at being responsible, playing at being cool and levelheaded.

“Even if we went to Roscoe or the feds and they agreed to look into it, yes, it would
likely be years.”

The low rumble of his voice sent shivers of awareness through her. How long could
she keep this up? The answer curled around her heart like a cold fist. She couldn’t.
She couldn’t stay around Tucker and be the person she wanted to be, knew she had to
be, to avoid future disasters.

“So what do I do?” She knew he heard the bleak hopelessness in her voice, but only
she knew the true depth of her question.

“We,” he corrected. “What will we do.” He reached
out and covered her hand. She jumped at the zap of electricity the contact sent shooting
through her. It took all of her willpower to keep from yanking her hand away.

She wanted to yell that “we” couldn’t do anything, because she couldn’t handle being
a “we” with him. She’d never learn to control her impulses if every time she got the
urge to jump, he stood right behind her, willing to push.

But they were dealing with saving Minerva’s money right now, and Tucker was the one
with the connections to help. She had to push aside what she felt for Tucker in order
to focus on Minerva, then carefully explain to him that she couldn’t pursue a relationship
with him, in a way she hoped he would understand. It was her only hope.

Cool. Logical. Responsible.

Now if she could only summon up enough courage and control and force it past the crushing
pain in her chest, so she could look him in the eye and follow through on it.

She took a deep breath and lifted her head, only to find him staring at her. She swallowed
hard. There was no banked hunger, at least none that she could see. In fact, she couldn’t
see anything in his eyes. However, it took all of her persuasive powers to convince
herself that he couldn’t see exactly what she was thinking, know what she was planning.
“You said you had a plan?”

He nodded, his gaze still firmly on hers. She knew he suspected that all was not right
inside her scattered head, but he was going to help her, anyway. Of course, Tucker
was nothing if not determined. He was backing off, helping her with Minerva the way
she’d asked him to, with realistic hopes that afterward she would consent to continue
and deepen their relationship.

“It’s not exactly kosher,” he said, shifting forward, leaning over his coffee mug.
“Sort of a take on the old ‘if you can’t beat ’em, join ’em’ routine.”

She couldn’t do this, couldn’t let him help her out when she was planning to dump
him right after. She had to tell him now, up front, even if it meant that he walked
out of the café and her life forever. It might not be the most responsible way to
handle things where Minerva was concerned, but it was the honest way. Even Minerva
would understand and approve of that.

“Tucker, listen, there’s something I—” Lainey broke off, startled when someone knocked
on the front door hard enough to rattle the aluminum miniblinds.

She caught Tucker glancing at his watch. “She’s early.”

“Who’s earl—” The blinds rattled under a renewed assault. Lainey got up and flipped
up the blinds. She glanced over at Tucker. “Lillian?”

“I was about to explain.”

Confused and more than a little curious, Lainey turned the lock and let the woman
into the café. Lillian strolled past her, unsnapped the front of her red silk turban,
flung her arms wide, and turned in a small circle.

“Whaddya think?”

Lainey’s mouth dropped open. Gone was Lillian’s white blond pouf of helmet hair. In
its place was a sleekly styled, jet-black cap of elegantly arranged waves, reminiscent
of Joan Collins’s most famous role, the bitchy Alexis. With exquisitely sculpted pencil-thin
eyebrows, subdued makeup that took years off her appearance, a wicked slash of red
on her expertly outlined lips, and discreet gold and diamond earrings clasped to her
ears, all Lillian needed was a Dior suit and black Italian pumps and she’d be the
quintessential grande dame power magnate. As it was, the red silk track suit and high-top
white sneakers she was wearing made Lainey a bit dizzy.

Lillian ended her one-woman show facing Lainey, who immediately snapped her mouth
shut and scrambled for something to say.

Lillian shot a look at Tucker. “You haven’t told her yet, have you?”

Tucker shook his head and got as far as opening his mouth before Lillian sighed dramatically
and grabbed Lainey’s hand. “Never mind. I’ll do the talking.” She slid into the booth
across from Tucker, then motioned for Lainey to slide in next to her. “What have you
two been doing, anyway?” She cast a sharp look at one then the other and paused.

Despite the fact that nothing had been going on, Lainey felt her cheeks heating up
as images of what she’d done in Lillian’s salon two nights earlier flashed through
her mind. She was certain that Lillian could see every damning thought written clearly
on her face.

She pulled her hand from Lillian’s and scooted out of the booth. “Let me get another
mug and the pot of coffee,” she said, not giving anyone a chance to refuse. “I have
a feeling we’re going to need it,” she added under her breath.

“Tucker explained to me all about this Damian character,” Lillian began.

Lainey grabbed a mug and the pot and headed back to the booth.

“We’re going to nail the little weasel,” Lillian continued.

If she hadn’t been so tied up in knots over Tucker and this whole mess, Lainey would
have laughed at the relish
in Lillian’s voice. She sat down and filled everyone’s mugs. “ ‘We’?” she asked, trying
her best not to stare at Lillian’s hair.

“I’ve talked it over with Lillian, and with some help from my investor client-friend,
I think we can pull this off.”

“Pull what off?” Lainey looked with exasperation and not a little trepidation at the
two.

Lillian patted Tucker’s hand and smiled. “It’s a brilliant plan. It will work.” She
turned to Lainey. “Tucker’s investor is going to provide us with some brochures and
contracts and prospectus information on a project he started but scrapped when the
landowner died and his heirs decided not to sell. It’s for some property here in Florida,
near St. Augustine.”

A knot of dread coiled in her stomach. Lainey was afraid that she knew exactly where
Lillian was headed with this. “You don’t mean to set up your own scam, do you?”

“That’s exactly what we’re going to do,” Tucker said. “I have two suites reserved
at the Fairmont, and the necessary equipment to set up an office is being delivered
there today. Roger—that’s my former client—is expressing all the other stuff today.
We should be ready to roll by tomorrow.”

“Tomorrow?” Lainey said weakly. “But what if Damian recognizes you?”

“I won’t be directly involved.” He nodded to Lillian.

“Minerva met this guy at the hotel,” Lillian went on. “He hasn’t been in the salon
or ever laid eyes on me. And on the off chance he’s ever seen me out with Minerva
somewhere, I did the makeover. Besides, he’s not interested in anyone else right around
here. Tucker says he
keeps his groups of investors in any one area to a small minimum to lessen the chance
that they can combine forces to track down proof of the scam after it’s over. Now,
look at this.”

Lillian pulled her purse up and dug out a small gold business-card holder. She slipped
out a nice vellum business card and flashed it at Lainey, then slid another out for
Tucker.

“Great, huh? I had them done at that quickie place over in Hampton this morning.”
The card was engraved in black, with the name “Lila Parks” centered in elegant script.
Under that were the words “International Development and Investments.” The hotel’s
name and number, along with the name of her suite and the extension, were listed discreetly
in one corner.

“You didn’t need to do this, Aunt Lillian.” Tucker smiled at her. “But it is a nice
touch.”

Lainey was overwhelmed by their preposterous plan, but not enough to miss Tucker’s
smile and feel a pang of envy mix with the clutch of pain at the thought of never
being on the receiving end of one of them again.

Striving for a calm, rational voice, she said, “I think it’s wonderful that you’re
willing to do this, Lillian.” She turned to Tucker. “And it’s more than generous of
you to underwrite the expense.”

“Our pleasure,” Lillian said, casting another penetrating glance between Tucker and
Lainey. “It’s the least we can do for a friend, especially one that feels like family.”

Lainey didn’t miss the underlying meaning, but now was not the time to dissuade Lillian
from her matchmaking intentions. That would take care of itself soon enough. “I think
that’s wonderful. But don’t you both think this plan is, well …”

“Exciting?” Lillian put in. She patted Lainey’s hand. “It’s brilliant.”

“Complicated,” Lainey said, compromising on the terms she’d wanted to use. “Rash,”
“ridiculous,” and “dangerous” all came to mind.

“Nonsense. I set up a meeting with Damian. I plan to get him to agree to come to work
for me, doing the same thing he’s doing now, which is admitting he’s a crook.” She
pounded the table, making both Tucker and Lainey flinch. “Then we’ve got him!”

“You’re bringing the police into this? Roscoe? Isn’t this entrapment or something?”

“No Roscoe,” Lillian answered before Tucker could respond. “And only law enforcers
can entrap someone.”

“No police? I assumed you were trying to get him arrested.”

Tucker spoke up. “Arrested doesn’t get Minerva’s money back.”

“Extortion does,” Lillian added, her eyes gleaming.

Lainey looked at both of them as if they’d lost their minds. “You’re going to blackmail
him?”

“Yup. Then, when he brings the money back, we’ll arrest him.”

Lainey slumped back in her seat. “I can’t believe I’m listening to this.” She took
a deep breath, then sat up straight and braced her hands on the table. “I can’t let
you do this. It’s too dangerous. Too irresponsible.”

“And we wouldn’t want that, would we, Lainey.”

She shot a look at Tucker. His gaze was hooded and unreadable. She was aware of Lillian’s
avid attention and knew that now was not the time to get into the issue. She sent
him a look that told him they weren’t done and looked back at Lillian.

“Listen, I think it’s wonderful that you want to help. But this is much too extreme
a measure to take.”

“Tucker said most of Minerva’s life’s savings were at stake. That’s a pretty extreme
problem and it calls for pretty extreme measures, don’t you think? And what have we
got to lose by trying?”

Valuable time, Lainey thought.

“Do you have any better ideas, Lainey?” Tucker asked laconically. “Logical, rational,
or otherwise?”

Lillian’s sharp, disapproving inhale grabbed their attention. “I don’t know what is
going on between you two, although I have a pretty good idea. Whatever the problem,
I think we need to concentrate on Minerva right now. You can hash this out afterward.”
Lillian turned and nailed Lainey with a gaze as sharp as her red razor nails. “And
when we do take care of this matter—and we will—I expect the two of you to sit down
and talk this thing out until you’re blue in the face, if that’s what it takes.” She
shot a hard look at Tucker. “And if that doesn’t work, I’ll loan you those videos
again. Use them this time.”

Lainey was only saved from complete humiliation by the fact that Tucker’s face looked
as bright red as hers felt.

“Now scoot on out of here.” Lillian motioned to Lainey. “I’d better skedaddle before
Minerva gets back from her visit to the home. You two better scoot as well.”

Lillian snapped her turban back into place and stepped toward the door. As she passed
Lainey, she placed a hand on her shoulder and said, “I wish we had the time to do
something a bit more foolproof. We’d all like to have that luxury. But sometimes you
just have to go with what you’ve got. God gave us instincts for a reason.”

She was gone before Lainey could reply. Lainey was still staring at the aluminum blinds
clinking against the door when she felt Tucker behind her. “You told her, didn’t you.”

He didn’t pretend not to understand. “About us? No. Maybe Minerva has talked about
you, or maybe she figured it out on her own by looking at us. There was a bit of tension
in the air.”

He placed his hands on her shoulders and turned her to face him. She felt a ripple
of pleasure shudder through her at his warm touch. She wanted to beg him to never
let her go.