“He went to a great deal of trouble to get the money in the first place,” Max said, rolling onto his side so that they faced each other. “Have you considered what you’ll do if he won’t just give it back?”
She offered him a wan smile. “I was hoping you’d come along. I need your help.” She held her breath and waited for some sign that he wasn’t going to kick her and her crazy idea to the curb. “Please.”
“You’re asking me to help you?”
“Yes. I need you. I can’t do this alone.”
Max’s arms snaked around her body, pulling her flush against him. With her thigh trapped between his and her head settled on his shoulder, his lips glanced off her forehead. “I’m glad you finally realized that.”
The closer they got to Biloxi, the quieter Rachel became. And it wasn’t just that she stopped talking. Her entire body stilled as if by remaining frozen, she could become invisible. Max kept glancing her way as they picked up a rental car at the airport and drove through the city.
He longed to reach out and offer her comfort, but she’d locked herself away and drawn the shutters. His fingers beat a tattoo on the steering wheel. The previous evening’s connection had faded with the advent of dawn. She’d stood at the foot of his bed and worried the inside of her lip while he made arrangements for their flight to Biloxi.
“Say the word and we’ll get right back on the plane and go home to Houston,” Max offered.
In the seat beside him, Rachel started as if he’d jumped out and yelled “boo.” Beneath his scrutiny she struggled a long moment before mastering the trace of panic in her dark blue eyes. Seeing her vulnerable for even that short second disturbed Max. She was awash in anxiety and trying like crazy to hide it. He was used to her strength and determination. Is this why she was so scared to ask for help?
“We’ve come all this way,” she said. “We’re not going back without that money.”
Max nodded. He liked the way she said we, including him as part of her team, and appreciated what it had taken her to let him in.
“It’s going to be okay. I won’t let him hurt you ever again.”
“I’m counting on that.”
To Max’s surprise, she reached out and grabbed his hand.
“Is that why you brought me along?” he teased. “Muscle?”
She stroked up his biceps, wrapping long fingers around his upper arm. “Well, you certainly have enough of them to qualify for that. But that’s not why you’re here.”
“Then why?”
“Because I knew you’d want to come.” She glanced his way and encountered his frown. Her elaborate sigh filled the car. “Fine. Because I wanted you to come. You make me feel safe in ways that no one ever has before.” She pulled a face. “Happy now?”
“Deliriously.”
Rachel’s directions brought them into a commercial section of Biloxi. Max parked the car in a visitor’s spot in front of Winslow Enterprises. As they entered the front door, he watched her gather courage. By the time they’d arrived at the front desk, her spine was straight and her eyes glinted with determination.
“Hello,” he said to the receptionist. “I have an eleven o’clock meeting with Carson Winslow.”
Rachel jerked in surprise. He could feel her gaze upon him.
“And your name?”
“Max Case.”
While the receptionist spoke into the phone, Rachel grabbed on to Max’s arm and drew him toward a seating area. “Why are we meeting with Brody’s father?”
“I called him with a business proposition.”
“Why?”
“You didn’t seriously think Brody was going to just return the money because we asked him to, did you?”
From the expression on her face, she hadn’t planned beyond demanding the money back.
Max shook his head. “You told me he’s been gambling for years. He used you and the huge salary he paid you to hide his problem from his father. Why do you think he was so reluctant to give you a divorce?”
“Because any financial problems we had he could blame on me.” Rachel blinked in dazed disbelief like a prisoner coming out of a dark cell. “What has he been doing since then?”
“I don’t imagine he’s quit gambling.”
“Obviously not if he came to me for the cash he needed to get into a high-stakes poker game.”
“Mr. Winslow said he’d be right up,” the receptionist said with a polite smile before returning to stuffing envelopes.
“So, what’s your plan? You’re not going to ask Carson for the money, are you? Brody works hard to keep his father completely in the dark.”
“And that will work to our advantage.”
She frowned at his cryptic reply, but had no chance to ask for clarification because a thin, gray-haired man in his mid-sixties appeared in the doorway that led to the rest of the building.
“Follow my lead,” Max murmured as he stepped forward with his hand extended. “Max Case. Thank you for taking a meeting with me on such short notice.”
“Not at all. I was intrigued by your call.”
“This is my associate.” Max stepped to one side so Rachel came into view.
“Rachel?” Carson’s smile faltered. “How are you?”
“I’m wonderful. And you?”
While pleasantries were exchanged between Rachel and her former father-in-law, Max observed the interplay with interest. There was no obvious animosity between the pair. Did that mean Carson had no idea what had transpired in his son’s marriage?
“Let’s head back to my office,” Carson said.
Once inside the spacious corner office, Max wasted no time in getting to the point. “You’ve probably figured out by now that Rachel was the one who pointed me in the direction of Winslow Enterprises.”
“I’ll admit it clears up how we came to your attention.”
Max smiled. “After doing some research on your company, I was able to determine that it’s positioned to break out, but you lack the capital and the skilled management to take you to the next level.”
Frustration and resignation tightened Carson’s mouth into a grim line. Beside him, Rachel had gone so still, Max wondered if she was holding her breath. He matched her immobility, letting his words penetrate Carson’s defenses. From what Max had gathered from his sources in Biloxi, ever since Carson had handed the business operations over to his son, the company
