Merry With a Scrooge (The Love Beach Holiday Collection)

6. Laney

Laney

Late September

Working with Vail to run QVE is easy. We’re so in sync that we know what each of us needs before we need it. I’ve never felt more relaxed or right, than with him.

And I know if our relationship was more than professional, if we entered a personal relationship other than the brother’s best friend one, things would be just as easy.

I can’t explain it.

It goes beyond the crush I had on him as a teenager.

Beyond the comfort I feel with him at work.

It’s a bone deep knowledge I can’t explain. Some sort of sixth sense that lines us up in a way that makes each of us better.

In the last two months he has been grumpy, angry, frustrated. But the business is thriving, and in spite of my brother’s initial reaction to me working here, even he has to admit I’ve been a valuable addition to the team.

It helps that Quade has a new wife—who happens to be my best friend from college—and a baby on the way to keep him out of my hair.

Don’t get me wrong, Vail is still difficult to work for, but his grouchiness is understandable because we’re no closer to solving the situation with Kavan than we were when I first started at QVE.

And the sexual chemistry that sparks between us can’t be helping his mood. It doesn’t help mine, although I hide it well.

I think.

“Hey.”

Glancing up from my tablet I see Chad heading my way. “Morning.”

“Is he free?”

I nod.

“You?”

“Yes,” I say with a bit of caution. “What do you need?”

“I’ve got some information about Kavan.”

“Okay.” I’m on my feet moving toward Vail’s closed door. “Is it going to piss him off or make him happy?”

“Probably both but he needs to know.”

“Then let’s get it done so I can do damage control before his eleven o’clock meeting.”

“Lead the way.”

I knock once before cracking the door. Poking my head in I see he isn’t on the phone and push the door wide. “Got a few minutes?”

“Yes.” Vail lifts his hand from his mouse and leans back in his chair with a fiercer than usual scowl on his face. “I’m assuming this is bad news.”

“Why would you think that?” I ask, a smile on my lips as I drop into the seat in front of his desk.

“You’ve got reinforcements.”

Chad sits in the chair beside me. “Just keeping the three of us in the loop.”

Taking a deep breath and blowing it out, Vail crosses his arms over his chest and says, “Hit me with it.”

“She hired a nanny. A live-in. And most of her time is spent out of the house with the who’s who of Hollywood.”

“Her old crowd?” Vail asks.

“No.”

I have no idea who the old crowd is but when Vail sighs and his shoulders lower, I have to think it’s a good thing she’s not hanging around them.

“I’ve got someone inquiring about this new group.”

“I think you need to tell me about the old one,” I say.

“Why? If she’s not associating with them it doesn’t matter.”

Vail’s argument might be valid in normal circumstances but with Kavan in the picture… I shake my head. “No. It does. When did she start hanging with the group? The old one?” I clarify.

“I don’t see?—”

“You think Kavan’s dad is one of them,” Chad says with confidence, like he has a clear view into my head and the thoughts swirling in it.

“Yes. Or he could be someone associated with the group but not in the center of it.”

“She’s never revealed who his father is. Refused to.”

“And you met her not long after she got pregnant?”

“Yes, she was about two months, I think. Far enough that there was no chance it was mine.”

“Hmm…” It seems strange to me that she would hide who her baby’s father is unless doing so would cause a problem… Turning to Chad I say, “I need a list of names. Both her old crowd and this one. As soon as you can so I can get my friend on it.”

“On what? What are you thinking?” Vail demands. “I hate that you won’t tell me what you have this friend looking into.”

“It’s safer if you know nothing about it until we can use any information we discover to help you get what you want.”

“How?”

“I don’t know. It’s why we need every piece of information we can get our hands on.”

“Who is this friend. You won’t even tell me that.”

I hold Vail’s gaze. He’s angry, frustrated, and I get it, but he’s going to stay that way. “And I still won’t.”

“If you weren’t so good at your job, I’d?—”

“What? Fire me?” I laugh. “Yeah, like that’s something you can afford to do.”

He scowls at me, a growl rumbling in his throat.

“If you two have finished sniping at each other. The other bit of information I have is that Felicity has left Kavan in the care of his nanny for days at a time.”

“She’s not there at all?” Vail’s voice holds shock and that gets me thinking.

“You find that strange?” I ask.

“Yes. She’s a lot of things that aren’t good, but she’s always been a great mother.”

“And you met her in LA, at some Hollywood party, right?” Vail nods. “She was trying to break into the movie business?”

“She had a few minor roles before she got pregnant and quit auditioning.”

Quit to go on Vail’s payroll.

“I see those wheels turning,” Vail mumbles grumpily, his eyes on me and I smile.

“Yes. The wheels are turning but I’m the driver, so you just sit back and enjoy the ride until we get to the destination.”

“I like to be in the driver’s seat.”

“Don’t we know it,” Chad and I say at the same time.

There’s only half a second of silence before none of us can contain our amusement.

Vail’s the first to recover. “All right. I don’t like it, but I’ll continue to leave this in your capable hands.”

I can tell it’s taking a lot to step back, and his next words confirm my thoughts.

“But I want regular updates. Even if it’s there is no update. I want to know what’s happening at least once a week.”

“Will do, Boss.” Chad pushes out of his seat. “I’ve got some things to see to, so I’ll get out of here. Catch you both later.”

We wait until Chad leaves the office before either of us speaks. Of course, we do it over the top of each other. Vail waves his hand, prompting me to go first.

“I’ve decided to stay in New York for Thanksgiving, so I won’t leave for Love Beach until mid or late December.”

“Oh? Your Gram is okay with that?”

“Yes. She said if I couldn’t come down for a month or both, she’d rather me be there at Christmas.”

“The rest of you family going for the month?”

“No. I think they’re only going for a day or two at Thanksgiving and then a week from Christmas to New Year. Except Quade. I think he and Hads are planning to be there from mid-November to mid-January.”

“Yeah, he mentioned that when he extended his usual invite.”

“You should accept. At least for Christmas if you won’t go down for Thanksgiving.”

“I can’t exactly keep my executive assistant in New York for Thanksgiving if I head to her family dinner in Love Beach.”

“True.” I smile. “But think about Christmas.”

“I will but I’m fairly sure I’ll remain here or if Kavan is still in LA I might head there. See if I can at least take him shopping for a gift.”

“Have you asked her again?” Vail has been sending weekly messages to his ex in the hope of seeing his son.

“Yes. And as usual, the answer is a non-answer or a straight no.”

At the look of devastation on Vail’s face, I say, “We’re going to fix this.”

“At this point I’m resigned to the way it’s going to go.”

“Don’t lose hope.”

“Hope is only as strong as the possibility.” He rubs his chin before letting out a rush of air. “I’m sure you’ve got work to do.”

His words are a dismissal. He’s used the subtle get out of my office a few times since I began working for him.

I take it for what it is. His way of having alone time. But I don’t heed him this time. Not when I know he just wants to wallow in his misery.

“I do, but I need you to go over these numbers with me before I can move forward.”

I see the hardening of his jaw, the small tick at his temple, and I know he’s not happy with me, but I’d rather annoy the fuck out of him than let him sit here depressed for the rest of the day.