If it hadn’t been for Kelsey, Wade wouldn’t have known of the setup until it was too late. Thankfully, Kelsey had learned of her brother’s plan and told Wade.
As yet, no legal charges had been filed, but Wade had been discharged from his position without pay or benefits while Cliff gathered together his evidence. Once the officials got involved, it would be too late. Time was running out.
Cliff was a powerful man and diffusing this situation wouldn’t be easy. Dillon had to pull off a tricky unauthorized private investigation. He had to go through files he had no right to see, search records that weren’t his to search and still find a way to keep his own butt out of jail. To do it, he needed Virginia. He didn’t want her hurt, but she’d have to be the sacrificial lamb; it couldn’t be helped. There was no way to switch course now.
He’d ridden some tricky fences in his day, but this was turning out to be the worst.
Though he already knew the answer, Dillon couldn’t stop himself from asking, “Are you sure Cliff wouldn’t change his mind if he knew Kelsey was pregnant?”
“Ha! Are you kidding? He’d probably forget handling things ‘legally’ and just take out a contract on me. He thinks she’s way too young to get married.”
Dillon hesitated, then leaned forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “You know, Wade, he wouldn’t be entirely wrong. Kelsey is only twenty-two, and you’re not much older. Marriage isn’t something to be rushed into.”
Wade stiffened and his hands fisted. “She’s pregnant, Dillon. Am I supposed to abandon her now? I know from experience that a woman raising a child alone doesn’t have an easy time of it. The baby deserves a father, and Kelsey deserves a husband.”
“There is that, I suppose.” Actually, Dillon wished they’d both shown a little more responsibility and not gotten into the situation in the first place, but rehashing that issue wouldn’t help now.
Wade began to pace. “It’s not like Kelsey is a child. It’s just that she’s the only family Cliff has. He’s very protective of her, and you know my background isn’t something to excite a prospective brother-in-law. No man is good enough for Kelsey, but I want a chance to try.”
Dillon made a sound of disgust. He hated hearing Wade harp on his unfortunate childhood. So he and their mother hadn’t been rich. Dillon and his dad hadn’t exactly lived a life of luxury, either. If anything, they’d lived a life of stealth.
None of that came out of his mouth, though. Instead, he heard himself say, “Cliff has Virginia, too.”
Wade shook his head in dismissal. “They’re not at all close. Virginia is too damn difficult. You know how she always bosses Cliff around. After their parents died, Virginia just took over. He despises her for it.”
Dillon suspected that Virginia had taken charge because no one else could. Cliff certainly wouldn’t have had the smarts to keep things together. And Kelsey had been a mere teenager. Gritting his teeth, Dillon snarled, “If Virginia means so little to him, then why does he worry so much about who she sees?”
Wade shrugged. “I should think he’d be glad to be rid of her. Most men would be. I suppose Cliff worries about someone marrying Virginia for her money—and her shares in the company. From what I’ve heard, a few men have tried that tactic, but Cliff doesn’t want to take any chances on losing the little control he has.”
Dillon surged to his feet. This night wasn’t improving with conversation and he needed time alone to put things in perspective. He couldn’t allow himself to feel protective of Virginia; he needed the ruthlessness his father had taught him. He needed to be able to do the job, without emotional involvement. “Go home, Wade. I want to get some sleep, and it isn’t safe for you to hang around here for long. If anyone finds out we’re related, the whole plan is ruined.”
“I know. And I’m sorry. But I just couldn’t wait.”
“You’re going to have to wait from now on.” He spoke sternly in the way he knew commanded attention. “Don’t come here again. Do you understand?” He waited until Wade nodded, then he added, “I’ll get in touch with you when I find out something.”
Reluctantly, Wade turned away. “All right.” He walked to the door and then paused. “You know how much I appreciate all this, don’t you, Dillon? I didn’t have anyone else to turn to. The one lawyer I spoke with was useless. He said the company probably wouldn’t press charges because they’d most likely want to avoid the scandal and the possibility of being discredited in front of their shareholders. If it was anyone but Cliff, I’d agree. But he won’t be happy just firing me. He wants to ruin me completely. Kelsey and I didn’t know what to do. Against Cliff’s money, I didn’t stand a chance. He’ll be sure to have the best lawyers around and they’ll make mincemeat out of me. I’d already be in jail and Kelsey would have to raise our baby alone. Cliff would have given her a hard time over the scandal—”
“Enough already, Wade.” Damn, but the rambling melodramatics were enough to make him sick. Wade had missed his calling. Instead of becoming an accountant, he should have joined the theater. Still, Wade was his brother, so Dillon forgave him his shortcomings, just as he hoped to be forgiven for his own. “I told you I’d take care of things and I will.”
Wade nodded once more, sent his brother a shaky, endearingly familial smile, then left.
Dillon locked up the apartment and turned out the lights.
When he was finally alone with his thoughts, he wondered if he was doing the right thing. Maybe he should have tried to raise enough money to get good legal representation for Wade. Not the low-rate lawyer Wade had spoken with, but a sharpshooter who could match Cliff’s. Dillon had property in Mexico he could have sold. That would have meant starting over, but then, he’d started over many times. He liked his home, but there were higher priorities to consider; he had to think about his father, too.
His dad lived with him now, and Dillon didn’t want to uproot him. His father wasn’t a young man anymore, and he had a few health problems thanks to the hard life he’d led.
Besides, if Virginia had been a typical female, this whole thing would have been simple. But no, she had to be difficult and unique and a pain in the backside. He’d never known a woman like her.
Naked, he slid between the sheets and stacked his hands behind his head. It was dark and cold and snowflakes patterned his window, making the moonlight look like lace against the far wall. He wondered how Virginia would react when she realized his sole interest in her was her personal files. He wondered how she’d react to the news that her twenty-two-year-old pampered baby sister was pregnant and wanted to marry Wade, a man accused of embezzlement, a man with a less than sterling background. A man related to him.
Most of all, he wondered how Virginia would react when she found out he wasn’t the wimp she assumed him to be. Would she cry with hurt? He closed his eyes at the vision and shuddered with reaction.
Whatever she did, it wouldn’t be the expected. There wasn’t another woman like her anywhere, and she had the knack of keeping him on his toes. She wouldn’t make his job easy.
But he’d bet his last breath she’d make it interesting.
chapter 3
DILLON WAS IN Cliff’s office when Virginia rushed in two days later. Lounged back on his spine in a casual sprawl, his legs
