Marrying the Millionaire (9 page)

DON SAT BEHIND THE CHERRY wooden desk
of his office, inside his private investigator firm. Seemingly
pensive, he peered over the square frames of his black glasses at
Richmond. Round, chubby jaws, double chin, scraggly brown hair, Don
appeared on edge.

“
You’re not going to like
this.” Steepling his fingers, his lips set in a straight line and
he leaned forward.

Sitting in the leather
chair across from Don’s desk, Richmond crossed his legs at the
knees. “Nothing you can say will surprise me, Don. Tell me, what
have you found pertaining to Salina’s death?”
Never in a million years did I think I’d have to hire a
private investigator to find my wife’s killer. Damn police, ain’t
worth a dime. A freaking nickel. Hell, they ain’t worth a
penny.

Wariness developed in Don’s eyes.
“Salina bought a prepaid cell phone ten weeks before her
death.”

Shocked, Richmond uncrossed his legs
and leaned forward. Putting his elbows up on his knees, he clasped
his fingers. “She could barely walk. Are you sure about this,
Don?”

“
Positive. Take a look for
yourself.” Don turned his desktop computer adjacent toward
Richmond. Cupping the mouse, he dragged the cursor over the screen
and clicked the play button on the video.

Richmond’s eyes zoned in on the screen
as he carefully studied Salina’s activity unfolding before
him.

Salina steered her silver
5 Series BMW into the vacant parking lot at a store fifteen miles
from their home and exited the car. Gripping the handle of her
cane, looking pale and frail, she staggered across the pavement
toward the front of the store.

Struggling to walk and
bent over, her spine hunched, her legs wobbled. Wind tousled the
ends of her hair upward. God, she was so beautiful, even while
sick. When she touched the door handle, a young teenage kid burst
outdoors from the store, knocking her to the ground. Treating her
as an invalid, the dumb kid kept going; never once did he look back
or try to help Salina.

Using what little strength
she had, Salina pushed herself into a standing position and entered
the store. She went over to the section where the prepaid cells
were and grabbed one. After she handed the cashier cash, she got in
her car and left.

“
Whew.” Blown away,
Richmond settled back into the chair. “Why on Earth would Salina
need a prepaid cell? She had a cell phone she never used.”
Was she having an affair?

Don scratched his head. “I hate making
assumptions, but every fiber in my being tells me Salina knew her
killer, and she purchased the prepaid cell to contact him. That’ll
explain why the police didn’t find any evidence of breaking and
entering. Whoever the man was that killed your wife, I suspect
Salina knew him, and she let him inside the house the night she was
murdered.”

Betrayal sliced Richmond’s heart in
half. Imagining the unbearable, his throat went dry. His deceased
wife had gone through grave measures to get the prepaid cell. To
keep it hidden from him. Her actions all pointed to one
thing—Salina was having an affair. But for how long? Years? Months?
Richmond cursed. He banged his fist into the armrest.

Pain rushed to his temples. Disgusted,
he hopped to his feet. Pacing the floor back and forth, he slid his
hands deep into his pockets. He stopped in his tracks. “Who was she
calling?”

Don shrugged. “Now that, I don’t know
yet.”

Richmond flattened his palms on Don’s
desk, leaned into him, and clenched his teeth. “Find. Him. When you
do, don’t tell a soul but me.”

Don scooted back his chair and stood
to meet Richmond’s glare. “What do you plan on doing to him once I
find him?”

Kill him.
“Let me worry about that.” Richmond turned on his
heels and walked out Don’s office, feeling drained. Like shit. Like
his entire marriage had been a fucking lie. He thought he and
Salina didn’t keep secrets. Thought they told each other
everything. Well, at least he’d practiced honesty and had shared
everything with her. Too bad she didn’t respect him enough to do
the same thing as him.

As Richmond stood in front of the
elevator waiting for the ride, disappointment about his marriage to
Salina made his heart bleed. Made the pumping organ hurt like hell.
Twisting his lips, despair engulfed him. Threatened to make him
cry. But crying, now that he wasn’t going to do. Real men didn’t
cry.

Flinching, he eased his hands inside
his pockets.

Salina, how could you keep
a secret from me? You betrayed me.

The elevators slid open, and a somber
Richmond stepped inside. If she was having an affair, it had to be
way before the illness disabled her physically. Resting his head on
the wall, the elevator doors slid closed.

PEPPERY CHICKEN AROMAS ASSAILED
RICHMOND’S nostrils as soon as he’d stepped foot inside his home.
Closing the garage door behind himself, he entered the kitchen to
find Kayla standing over the stove. Stirring a spoon inside a big
pot, Kayla glanced back over her shoulder at him. When her sexy
mouth pulled into an endearing smile, the tension he’d been feeling
since leaving Don’s office tempted to subside. To momentarily fade
from his troubled spirit.

Kayla’s eyes were
compelling and magnetic as she said, “You’re just in time for
dinner. Hope you’re hungry.”
Her
lips.
Her soft looking lips eased into a
sensual smile.

He gave her sexy figure a raking gaze,
then asked, “Where’s Isabelle?”

“
I’m in here, Daddy.”
Isabelle burst from out of the kitchen pantry. “Kayla spread a
blanket on the floor inside the closet. Do you want to come see my
grocery store?”

Something that Don said about Salina
clicked in Richmond’s mind. Disturbed, he pulled the chair from
beneath the dinette table and sat. “Not right now, Pumpkin. Maybe
later.”

Isabelle walked over to her father,
held out her hands, and he knew exactly what she wanted—for him to
hold her. He lifted his little angel to his lap, then looked at
Kayla.

“
Your car is ready to be
picked up. My helper, Jason, will take you to get your
car.”

“
Okay. Thanks again for
putting the tires on my car.”

“
You’re
welcome.”

Laying her head on his chest, Isabelle
gazed up at her father. “What’s wrong, Daddy? You sad?” Sensing his
mood, she poked her bottom lip out.

I think your mother was
having an affair. Maybe it was an emotional affair, not a sexual
affair. Either one is wrong.
“Nothing’s
wrong. I’m just tired.”

Isabelle’s light brown eyes spread
wide. “Well, go to bed.”

Richmond pinched her chin. “I will.
Right after I eat dinner and get you your bath. You didn’t have to
cook dinner, Kayla. Your actual duties don’t start until
tomorrow.”

“
I don’t mind. Isabelle was
hungry, and since I didn’t know when you’d be back, I threw
together some chicken, vegetables, and noodles. Made some chicken
noodle soup.”

Thinking about Salina getting a
prepaid cell, humiliation filled him. “It smells
delicious.”

She smiled tentatively. “Thanks.
Isabelle, can you go wash your hands for me so you can eat dinner?”
Isabelle climbed down off her father’s lap and ran toward the guest
bathroom across from the den. “No running inside the house,
Isabelle.”

Kayla spooned a heaping of the soup
into two bowls. Carrying the two bowls, she lowered one in front of
Richmond, and the other in front of Isabelle’s seat.

“
The princess of the house
told me this is her seat.”

“
Yes, that’s where she
sits.” He eyed the seat beside Isabelle’s. Daydreaming, an image of
his wife Salina sitting in the chair across from where he sat came
into his mind’s view. They were the perfect family. Well, at least
he’d thought so. Now, he wasn’t so sure.

“
Is everything okay,
Richmond? You seem bothered by something.” Kayla’s soft voice cut
into his thoughts.

I’m bothered, all right.
My wife allowed a killer to enter our lives, and I have no clue who
he is.

He hefted the spoon covered
with chunks of chicken and vegetables to his lips. “As I said
earlier, I’m fine. You can leave now,” he snapped. He spooned the
chicken noodle soup into his mouth. The warm, well-seasoned broth
glided down his throat as he chewed.
Pretty good.

Towering over him, raw emotion shone
in Kayla’s pupils. “I’m sorry for prying. I’ll wait outside on the
porch for Jason. Have a good day.” Kayla turned, walked over to the
counter, and strapped her purse across her shoulder.

Damn, I’m taking my
frustration out on her.

Richmond swiped the napkin over his
face, stood, and stalked over to Kayla as she stood by the sink.
He’d been so pissed at Salina until he didn’t even notice she’d
cleaned the dirt from her face, had brushed the kinks from her
straight hair and now had it in a low, long ponytail. Had applied a
glossy sheen to her lips.

I wonder if she’s
single.
“Please accept my apology for
snapping at you.”

“
It’s okay.” Staring into
his eyes, she cupped the ball of his shoulder.

A streak of energy zapped
at his insides.
It’s been forever since
I’ve felt a woman’s hand on me. Made love to a woman. It’s going to
stay that way
.

Letting go of his shoulder, her hand
dropped to her side. “If you ever need a listening ear, just know
I’m a good listener.”

Hurt beyond measure, Richmond nodded.
“Thanks, Kayla.”

“
No, thank you for this
wonderful opportunity, and for getting the tires for my car. How
long will it be before Jason—”

“
Did I hear my name?” Jason
emerged inside the kitchen from the living room’s
entrance.

Richmond made the introductions.
“Kayla, this is Jason. Jason, meet Kayla.”

Jason extended his hand to Kayla, and
she shook it. A bright light lit up his blue eyes as he looked into
Kayla’s face. Apparent attraction for her beamed on his white,
tanned face, causing Richmond to feel discomfort.

“
I met you earlier today
when you were looking for Richmond’s estate.” Jason
smiled.

Kayla tilted her head. “Yes. I
remember you. You were riding the horse.”

“
Well, I’m ready when you
are,” Jason stated.

Richmond cringed at Jason’s obvious
lust for Kayla. “Thanks for doing me the favor, Jason. You’re in
good hands, Kayla.”

“
I’m sure. I know you said
it before, but what time should I report to work
tomorrow?”

“
No later than
seven-thirty. I have to be to the equestrian by eight.”

Richmond stood in the doorway,
watching Kayla and Jason as they left. “Daddy, is this my food?!”
Isabelle yelled from inside the kitchen.

“
Yes, Pumpkin!” Richmond
exclaimed, unable to tear his gaze from the outdoor occurrences
involving Kayla.

Standing next to the driver’s side
door of his bright yellow Camaro, Jason glanced over the roof of
the car at Kayla. Bedazzling him with a curt smile, she hooked her
palm under the passenger side door and slid in. As Jason backed his
sports car out of the driveway, many emotions brewed inside
Richmond. Closing the door, he hoped like hell that Jason wouldn’t
make a hot move on fine ass Kayla.

“
WHY IN THE WORLD DIDN’T I
ask Richmond if I could bring CJ to work with me?” Kayla spoke out
loud to herself, standing inside CJ’s cluttered room, overflowing
with trucks, books, and toys.

“
I don’t know why,” CJ said
on a shrug.

Snickering, she hadn’t meant for CJ to
answer her. “You’re too funny, little fella.” Hefting him from the
mattress into her arms, she kissed his forehead and walked to the
bathroom to give him a bath. “You almost caused Mommy to not get a
job today. The next time you want to go outside, you need to get
permission, okay?”