Chapter Thirty-Six

“I have two candidates to interview today for the HR position,” Elijah said. “Both have very strong résumés. I ran them by Trenton. He’s amenable to either one but said you’d make the final call. The first candidate should be here any minute. The other is at one o’clock.”

Kennedi checked her watch. “I’m afraid I won’t be able to make the afternoon. I have an appointment.”

“No problem. I’ll send you a summary assessment later.”

She strode to the office, and before the door latch closed, Trenton’s big body, in its tailored suit, came from behind the desk and moved toward her with a predatory prowl, sensually tall and handsome. Large hands cupped her face. His lips claimed hers, and his tongue practically slipped down her throat. She sought his kiss equally.

“Why did you sneak out this morning without waking me?” he asked.

“I didn’t sneak out. The weekend was over. I thought I’d give you some space.” Her time spent with him had been magical, but there had been occasions where she felt a peculiar distance about him. Several times she’d caught him silently watching her and wondered what was on his mind that held his concentration. Was he having second thoughts about starting a relationship with her? She’d adjusted her thinking, concluding the man carried a lot of responsibility. No sense in conjuring a problem where there wasn’t one.

“I don’t need space, I need you.” He took her hand and led her to the couch. “I leave tonight for Dubai, then on to Macau to seal up the investors. I’ll be back the day before the ground-breaking ceremony. Dom left for Miami this morning to finalize negotiations with the investors there.”

“You’ll be gone for three weeks? I thought both deals were done.”

He brought her hand up and kissed the back of it, then held on, his fingers twined with hers, the affectionate side of him in full form. “Nothing’s final until signatures are inked.”

“True. By the way, Tabitha and Evie found a temporary home for Chase Confections. We’ll be signing the lease today. Tab has had her eye on the location for a while, but I never wanted to give up my mom’s shop. Still don’t.” Her chest tightened. Aiming for an air of detachment, she focused on logic over feelings. “The new store will give us the space we’ve always needed.”

“Sweetheart, the move will benefit you. I’m sure your mother would’ve wanted to see the business grow.” His cell phone rang on the desk and he strode to it and answered, “William, hey, let me call you back.” Returning to her, his expression softened. “How was your father? I assume you were there this morning.”

“Yes. He recognized me, so that’s good. He asked about you and wanted to know how I felt about you.”

“What did you say?”

“Eh.” She smirked, shrugging a shoulder. “I told him you’re growing on me.”

His lips curled. “Growing on you, huh? Maybe this will help you come to a definitive decision.” Smooth lips met hers, kissing softly, slowly while he slid a caressing hand up her inner thigh beneath her skirt. The tips of his fingers brushed the slit of her pussy through her panties.

Kennedi pulled away from his kiss and his touch. “We’re not about to go there, Mr. Shaw.” Though her overworked vagina deliciously throbbed and ached at the same time. She stood up. “We both have work to do.”

“I’ll make it quick.” He grinned all wide and white, his gaze raking down her body and back up, looking ready to take her right there on the couch.

“I’m sore. I think we had sex at least ten times in two days.” She liked how his sexual appetite matched her own, but after their marathon lovemaking—

Give a girl a minute to recover.

With that, weak against his charm, she backed away, putting a wide berth between them. “We have an interview any minute.”

He came to his feet and moved toward her with stalking grace. “Eleventh time’s the charm. Let me soothe your soreness with my tongue.”

Chirping a laugh, she dashed to the door, but his hand pressed against the wood surface above her head, his big body crowding hers. “Trent, babe, behave.” She lowered her voice a bit more. “We have employees right outside this door.”

“So?” He wiggled his brows. “And I like it when you call me that.”

“I tell you what—how about I have dinner waiting for you at your place the evening you arrive home from your trip?”

“Does it include you naked in my bed after?”

“Of course.” She grinned.

“I’ll text you the code to the penthouse entrance. Don’t be alarmed if you come upon a young African American woman. Sasha is the younger sister of my buddy-slash-attorney. She attends American University. Her brother had her get a job.”

“And how does that play into her being in your home?” A swift wave of possessiveness stirred inside her.

“What?” He gave her a quizzical look then frowned. “No, I’ve known Sasha since she was a kid. I consider her a little sister. She’s usually there two days a week, and every other Saturday to clean. It’s only temporary until I hire someone. I’ll let her know you may be coming and going.”

Dialing down the jealousy, she felt a bit foolish. “Thanks for the heads-up. It definitely would’ve caused questions, because this vista doesn’t roll like that.” She grinned then flattened her expression. “I don’t share.”

He suddenly looked so serious, her breath stalled in her chest. “Kennedi, when I return from my trip, I’d like us to talk. There’s something I need to discuss with you.”

“Like what?”

“About me.” He kissed her tenderly on the mouth and neck, then drew back just enough to meet her gaze. “About us.” His tongue traced her lower lips, and he tugged lightly with his teeth before slanting his mouth over hers, kissing hard and deep.

Layers upon layers twined around those vague, concise answers. Her pulse picked up a beat. Was he talking engagement? Way too soon, she reasoned. Or was it? It happened with new couples all the time. Would she want it? I don’t know.

The buzz of the desk phone pulled her from her reverie.

Taking her hand, he crossed with her to the desk and tapped the intercom. “Yes, Audrey?”

“Elijah wanted me to tell you guys the candidate has arrived. They’re waiting for you two in the conference room.”

“Thanks.” He hung up, and strong arms hooked Kennedi’s waist, drawing her in close. “Kiss me, beautiful.”

And she did, for several gloriously long, breathless moments. “They’re waiting. We should go.”

Following the interview, Kennedi left for her appointment, and Trenton returned to the office and dialed William back. The line connected almost instantly.

“Trent, hey. I wanted to share something with you.”

“What is it?”

“I know you gave instructions not to look into the funding of Mr. Kennedy Chase’s care over at Brighton, and my guys and I followed those instructions. However, Reese had already started the process before you gave the order to cease. He’d tried to be proactive, thinking you’d want the data. He provided me with what he found. I wasn’t sure if I should disclose it, since you’d said to halt the investigation.”

“What did you find?”

“Some of the payment was traced back to a Dean Watts. He acts as Mr. Chase’s attorney. He used personal funds to cover a portion of the payment.”

“And the rest?”

“The remaining amount came from Mr. Chase’s ex-wife, Eleanor Chase, who used money funneled from Watts.”

Trenton sat on the front edge of the desk. “Funneled in what way?”

“Watts transferred funds from an account traced back to Switzerland. He used that to fund Mrs. Chase’s account, and she in turn covered Mr. Chase’s stay at Brighton for the year. Trent, I’ve run many inquiries like this, and my gut is telling me that if I keep digging, I’m going to find something foul.”

Trenton came to his feet and rounded the desk. He shuffled the files, searching as he asked, “Do you have a written signature…not an electronic one?” Finding the Miami contract, he flipped to the signature page.

“Let me check.” The line went silent for a moment. “Got it here. Mrs. Chase’s signature is on the funding draft. According to the paper trail here, the pair were together in Geneva on several occasions.”

“Together? You’re saying they were a couple?”

“Both stayed at the Ritz-Carlton, but there was only one reservation, and it was in Dean Watts’s name. Draw the picture yourself.”

When had the relationship started, Trenton wondered. Had Watts cuckolded his best friend? “Text a picture of the signature to me.” Seconds ticked, then his phone chimed.

“Regarding that other subject—Alan Lange. Reese still has eyes on him. If anything changes in his routine, I’ll let you know. So far, he’s been consistent.”

“Good to know. I want you to keep digging into the other situation.”

“On it.”

“We’ll be in touch.” Trenton disconnected.

He looked at the signature, studying it against the contract. There was no mistaking it—the structure was an easy match. Eleanor Chase had forged Mr. Chase’s signature on the Miami contract and was behind the missing funds. And likely involved with Dean Watts, Mr. Chase’s supposedly good friend.

He’d have to tell Kennedi. But not until William and his team gathered all the facts. Once the Macau and Miami deals were finalized, putting Chase Investments on good footing, then he’d expose her father’s offenders…along with tossing in his own dirty laundry.

Damn.