The Winner Takes It All (A Something New Novel) (16 page)

Penelope, who’d been by his side, laptop at the ready, pushed her glasses up her nose. “Too much bacon?”

Frustration, mixed with the alcohol he’d consumed last night, was like battery acid in his gut. “Do you think he’s going to pull the deal?”

A slice of panic, old and familiar, cut through him. If the guy pulled the contract, Shane would be forced to do layoffs. The city was 30 percent of his revenue. He wouldn’t be able to reallocate the staff with that kind of loss.

Those people depended on him to feed their families.

Penny pressed her lips together. “I think he’s going to try. But your relationship with the mayor is strong. We’re honest. We deliver on budget and on schedule. Every time. He’ll need a good excuse and won’t be able to find one.”

“Let’s schedule time with the mayor to cover our bases.”

Penelope nodded, jotting a note into her computer.

The phone trilled, causing the dull ache in his head to throb like a drum against his skull. Thankfully it was the house phone, and not his cell signaling another disaster, and he relaxed fractionally.

Penny patted him on the shoulder. “Let me get you more Advil.”

“Thanks, Pen,” Shane said, appreciating her fiercely. As always, she made his life better with her ruthless efficiency.

Thank God he’d had the good sense to listen the day shortly after Penelope had graduated from college, when she’d ambushed him in his office and convinced him he couldn’t live without her. As Maddie’s best friend, he’d grown up with her and been resistant as hell, but she’d talked him into it and he’d never once regretted it.

Today, with one problem after another, and him dull-witted from his hangover, she’d been on top of everything, pulling up e-mails, spreadsheets, and fact documents like a quick draw the second he needed them.

Bleary-eyed, he looked at her. “Remind me to give you a raise.”

She laughed. “I’m going to take you up on that before your hangover recedes and you’re back to telling me I’m a pain in your ass.”

Just as Penelope turned to leave, Maddie entered the office.

He raised a brow. “What’s up?”

“Are you going to let her go for the rest of the afternoon?”

“Be nice, he’s had a rough day,” Penelope called as she went off in search of his much-needed pain relief.

Maddie pointed to the desk phone. “It’s for you.”

Shane frowned. “Who is it?”

“Gracie.” Maddie propped herself on the door frame, making it clear she planned to listen.

He put his hand on the receiver and jutted his chin toward the hall. “Would you get the hell out of here?”

“Jeez, you’re in a bad mood.” Her tone irritating in that way only little sisters had. With a swish she waltzed out of the room, leaving him blissfully alone.

He picked up the phone. “Hey, Gracie, what’s up?”

“I’m going to be nosy,” Gracie said with no preamble. “I know it’s none of my business, but I don’t care. I’m butting in.”

Any last remnants of Advil wore off in a whoosh.
For fuck’s sake, now what?
He dragged a hand through his hair. “What’s wrong?”

He didn’t need any more bad news right now. He could barely think, let alone clean up any messes.

“It’s Cecilia,” Gracie said.

“What happened? Is she all right?” Jesus Christ, he couldn’t handle it if something happened to her.

“No no, she’s fine,” she said in a rush before pausing for a few beats. “So it’s true.”

“Focus, Gracie.” The words like bullets.

“You’ve actually got it bad for her, don’t you?”

No. Sure, he lusted after her, but he’d lusted after women before, and would again. Yes, he was furious and doubted his ability to be in the same room with her without ringing her neck or fucking her into oblivion, but that was because he felt like a fool. She’d made him believe she wasn’t an ice queen, that she burned hot just for him.

But he didn’t have it bad for her.

He’d get over this strange fixation and things would go back to the way they’d been before he’d been forced to live in the same house with her. He clenched his hands into fists.

Except, she’d have a husband with her.

The thought was like an uppercut to the jaw, sending off another round of pounding in his head. “Gracie, would you get to the point?”

There was a long silence over the line. “Okay, but you have to promise me you won’t ask me any questions.”

“Fine.”

“I shouldn’t be telling you this.”

“I said okay.” She was working on his last nerve.

There was shuffling over the phone. “Because Cecilia opened up to me, you know, like back when we were kids.”

“What. Happened?” Slow, measured, I’m-at-the-edge-of-my-patience words.

“Do you promise not to say anything?”

“Jesus. What do you want me to do? Pinky swear? Cross my heart and hope to die?”

“You don’t have to get snippy about it,” Gracie said, indignation ripe in her tone. “I’m doing you a favor.”

God save him from this bunch of crazy women.

He took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, regaining control of a perilously frayed temper. “I’m sorry. I promise I won’t say anything. Now, will you please tell me?”

“Okay,” she said, her voice dropping down to a whisper. “Cecilia cried.”

His chest gave a hard squeeze. “What do you mean, she cried?”

“She said she hadn’t cried since she was a teenager, but she sat in my kitchen, crying her heart out. Over you.”

That helpless feeling washed over him in a cold sweat. What was he supposed to say? Or do? “How do you know it was over me? Did she say that?” He couldn’t imagine her making that kind of confession.

“Not exactly, but believe me, she was upset about you.”

Shane wanted to punch something. Why did he feel bad about this? She was the one who failed to mention she was marrying another guy. Never once did she bring it up when he’d had his hands and mouth all over her. He shouldn’t care that she was upset.

But he did.

He pushed out, through gritted teeth, “You’re assuming. It probably has nothing to do with me.”

“Don’t be an idiot. It was because of you.”

He forced the words out, despite the voice in his head insisting they were a lie. “Cecilia is not my concern.”

“I see.” Gracie cleared her throat. “I thought you should know.”

“You thought wrong.” His tone so sharp it could cut steel.

“There’s something wrong here, Shane.”

He tightened his grip on the phone receiver, so tight he was surprised it didn’t shatter. “Her fiancé will have to fix it. She’s not my problem.”

“That’s such bullshit. Don’t pussy out.”

He growled, a low, warning grumble. “I do
not
pussy out. Ever.” And he had the track record to prove it. He pounded his fist on the desk because he needed something physical to relieve some of the aggression building like a storm. “What don’t you people understand here?” His voice raised several decibels too loud. “
She’s getting married!
”

“She doesn’t love that guy,” Gracie said, her tone stubborn.

“You don’t know that.”

“Of course I do. She didn’t even mention him. Your name, however, was brought up quite often.”

He refused to ask. “That doesn’t change the fact that she’s getting married.”

She let out a short little scream. “You’re being stupid.”

No. He was being smart. He wasn’t getting any more involved than he already was. “Good-bye, Gracie.”

He hung up before she could say anything else that might convince him otherwise.

Penelope walked back into the room holding a glass of water and two rust-colored pills. “Here you go.”

“Thanks.” He drank them down and pointed to the door. “Go play with Maddie for the rest of the day.”

“Are you sure?”

He nodded. “The meeting with the teamsters isn’t until tomorrow morning, and we’re at a standstill until then. So go.”

Maddie walked into the room, carrying her cell phone. She plopped down on the chair. “Mom called.”

“Is she having a good time?” Shane asked. After much prodding, they’d finally talked their mother into going to Ireland, a lifelong dream of hers. She was having a great time but called them daily for one reason or another.

“She said she tried to get ahold of you, but you haven’t answered her messages.”

Penelope patted his back. “It’s been crazy.”

Maddie frowned, her brow creasing. “Is everything okay?”

“Fine.” He snapped the word, not sounding fine at all. “What did she need?”

The frown deepened. “She said you’re going to the Children’s Hospital benefit on Friday night back in Chicago.”

He nodded. “I’ll be back on Saturday.”

“When you go home, she asked if you’d check on Aunt Cathy. She’s worried she’s lonely and doesn’t have enough company.”

Their eccentric, elderly great-aunt had no children, despite multiple marriages, and at eighty-eight was once again a widow. Shane sighed and put it on the mental list running in his head. “No problem, tell Mom I’ll take care of it and head over there Saturday morning.”

“Are you sure?” Maddie swiped her hair out of her face. “Maybe James and I can take a day trip?”

“It’s fine. I’ve got it covered.” He gave Penelope that look, the one that said
Get her out of here
.

Penelope smiled and gestured toward the entryway. “Come on, let’s go before he changes his mind and I’m stuck here for the rest of the day.”

Maddie jumped up and thirty seconds later they were gone and he was finally alone. He silenced his phone and rubbed his temples, his thoughts immediately going back to Cecilia and his phone call with Gracie.

Why had she been crying? And what exactly was going on with this engagement of hers?

Nothing about it made sense. Despite her flaws, he didn’t see her as a cheater. And hell, even if she didn’t have a moral compass, she cared so much about her image she’d never take the risk.

Besides, nothing about her seemed taken. Not once had she seemed conflicted when he’d kissed her. Wouldn’t a newly engaged woman have resisted at least a little? And now that he’d touched her, he could no longer convince himself she’d be that cold.

The whole situation didn’t add up.

He glanced at his computer. The Internet called to him like a siren’s song and he didn’t resist. He clicked the icon and thirty seconds later he’d located the article.

Senator Nathaniel & Mrs. Charlotte Riley announce the engagement of their daughter . . .

Shane skimmed the announcement, which said nothing of significance. It was a puff piece that gave him no clues. He studied the photo of Cecilia and Miles Fletcher. It was one of those posed engagement pictures, both of them staring off into space looking polished, rich, and barely human.

The Cecilia in the photo looked nothing like the woman he’d held in his arms. There was beauty but no warmth. No joy. It was just flat. She had her hands folded in front of her and on her left finger was at least a two-carat diamond engagement ring.

Where was her ring? What woman gets engaged and slips the ring off the next day? It’s unheard of, especially with a rock like that.

He was pretty sure someone would have to pry Maddie’s ring off her cold, dead finger.

So why wasn’t Cecilia wearing hers? Why hadn’t she mentioned the engagement to anyone? Sam was right. What girl did that?

And did he want to find out?

Cecilia walked toward the farmhouse, exhausted and drained, ready to lie down after her horrible night’s sleep. But at the last second she veered off, and instead of going into the house she made her way to the backyard.

She didn’t have to look for it. It was still there, to the left of the biggest willow tree. The path that would lead her to the river where she’d spent so many hours as a child. She didn’t know why she was compelled to go there, and she supposed it didn’t matter. The veil of leaves blocked out the sun as she walked through the wooded area. She took a deep breath, sucking in the scent of grass and oak and dirt. All reminders of the best times in her childhood.

Tears welled in her eyes when the trees cleared and the river appeared, glittering in the late afternoon sun.

It looked exactly the same.

Every morning she and Mitch would race through breakfast to meet Gracie and Sam. They’d spread out big white sheets, held down by their boom box, a big jug of lemonade, and the
Teen Beat
magazines Gracie had introduced her to.

They’d spent hours splashing in the river. Slathered with baby oil, lying out in the sun as Salt-n-Pepa, Sheryl Crow, and Ace of Base played on one of Gracie’s endless mix tapes.

And she’d been just a girl.

The longer she stayed here, the more kinship she felt with that girl. The more she missed her. The more she wanted to be her.

Was that why she was sabotaging herself? Because she could no longer pretend that wasn’t the case. Since she was six years old she’d been set on running for office. But now, with everything in motion, she couldn’t work up the slightest bit of interest. And she couldn’t understand why.

All she knew was that every time she thought about settling down to work, a knot balled up in her stomach and wouldn’t ease until she did something else.

Shielding her eyes, she glanced up to see the big, overgrown tree branch hanging over the water. The urge welled inside her, fast and unexpected, but exactly right. She wanted to jump.

No. Needed to jump.

She didn’t question the desire and kicked off her sandals as she stripped out of her pants and shirt, leaving on her bra and panties. She walked over to the tree and planted her hands on the trunk, surveying the branches to remember the path she used to take. The bark scraped her hands and feet but she didn’t care; it felt familiar, like a home she didn’t even know she had.

And she began to climb.

It was like riding a bike. She scaled the branches until she sat perched on the oldest and thickest one hanging over the river. When she reached the jump spot, she peered down into the water, a gray blue that glittered like gemstones in the sun.