Merediths Awakening (13 page)

It was Monday afternoon before Meredith remembered the locked door in the unfinished room at the construction site. She frowned a bit. It was unlike her to forget something business related. She didn’t like to think her absorption with Tony was the cause, so she decided to blame it on her concern for Marcus.

And she
was
concerned. He wasn’t at his house. He wasn’t answering his cell—but then how could he when it was so many pieces of broken plastic on the kitchen floor?

Matthew had spoken to Daniel last night, and though there had been something odd in her younger brother’s voice when he called, he’d claimed the other man had no news about Marcus’ whereabouts.

Now, with no projects urgently needing her attention, Meredith found herself looking for a distraction. The locked door would do just fine, she decided.

She reached for the phone, intending to call Tony and ask him about it, but then lowered her hand. No, she decided. Questions like this were best asked in person.

As she briskly informed Trey she’d be back in an hour’s time, Meredith reminded herself that Worthington was everything. That was why she had to go to the site herself.

It had nothing to do with the soft kiss Tony had placed on her lips before delivering her to her car last night. Or the way he followed her home, waiting until she was safely locked inside her condo before driving away with a parting blink of his lights. And it certainly had nothing to do with the fact she’d wakened in the night reaching for him or the depths of her disappointment when she’d realized she was alone.

*

Tony leaned against a stack of lumber as he went over what he’d found at the site with Dorian Jenner. The cop paid careful attention, writing down everything in a small note book.

“Have you told any of the Worthingtons about this?” Jenner asked. Tony trusted the man; they were both members at Velvet Ice, and from what he’d seen, the cop was a pretty stand-up guy. He knew Jenner could keep his mouth shut, and trusted him to be discreet. At any rate, he felt able to approach him comfortably.

“Not yet,” he answered. “Marcus is M.I.A.”

Jenner looked up, “You think it has anything to do with this?” Tony shook his head. “No, from what I’ve gathered it’s more of a personal nature.

You know Marcus, do you think he’s aware of something funny going on?”

“Marc’s a stand-up guy. If he knew something wasn’t right he would have been the first person to contact the department.” He looked back at his notepad a moment, then up at Tony. “Marcus isn’t the only Worthington you could have taken this to.”

“I’d rather not have Meredith involved in this.” Jenner raised a speculative brow, and Tony added, “She’s had to deal with enough shit for that brother of hers. She doesn’t need this now.”

The officer looked critically at Tony, his dark gaze deep and penetrating, “You and the Worthington sister.” He whistled. “Man, I hope you know what you’re getting yourself into with this one.”

Tony only smiled. “You don’t know her, Jenner. Don’t have a clue.” Dorian folded his arms across his chest. “And you do.”

“I do. But we aren’t here about my private business,” he said, well aware Meredith would be mortified if she knew he was discussing her this way.

“I just needed to know why you don’t want her informed,” Jenner changed the subject obligingly. “The Lu is going to want cooperation from someone in charge.” Tony cringed at the thought. As selfish as it was, the last thing he wanted was this coming between him and Meredith right now.

“Just give it this week. If Marcus hasn’t returned, then we’ll talk to Meredith.”

* * * *

“Talk to Meredith about what?” Tony spun as her voice cut through the empty building. Her heels echoed on the concrete floor.

She looked so out of place in her navy blue business suit he had to smile.

“Nothing, really. Dorian here was just asking me about a lumber order due at the end of this week.”

Meredith wasn’t buying it; Tony recognized the cool suspicion in her face, and he hated it. He didn’t want to be another in the long line of men who’d betrayed her.

With flawless timing, Jenner interrupted their stare-down. The cop stepped forward, holding out a hand. “Dorian Jones, ma’am. I’m the interior-construction foreman.”

*

Meredith accepted the tall man’s hand. His grip was warm and firm. “I don’t remember seeing you on site before.”

“That’s because I was working up north on another project. Once this place was ready for interior work Tony called and asked me to come down and get to work. Seems he’s been busy elsewhere.” He broke out in a goofy smile.

Meredith tried to ignore the clutch in the pit of her stomach. Had her affair with Tony hit the gossip circuit already? The new foreman was studying her with piercing brown eyes, his expression completely at odds with his silly smile. It niggled at something deep in her subconscious, but she couldn’t focus past the sick idea of everyone on the site talking about what she and Tony had done here Saturday morning.

Taking a deep breath, she composed herself. Tony looked like he wanted to fall through the floor. He obviously wasn’t comfortable being teased by this man. Or he knew how uncomfortable she was with the situation. Whatever the reason, there was some comfort in seeing him out of sorts considering how badly off balance he’d kept her for the last three days.

Meredith ruthlessly reminded herself what she’d come to the site for in the first place.
Something
was going on at this construction site, her construction site, and the tail end of Tony and Dorian’s conversation hadn’t eased her suspicions in the least. She stepped back from Jones and said, “Yes, well, I hope everything is under control here, inside and out. I would hate for something unexpected to pop up and delay us,” and waited for Tony or Dorian to flinch. Neither did.

Dorian laughed. “Me too. This place is going to be beautiful when it’s finished.” She looked around. “I agree. Our best renovation to date. It’s just the thing the city needs.”

There was a lull in the conversation. Meredith waited for Tony and Dorian to resume their earlier discussion.

The nagging sensation that had prompted her to come to the site grew as both men stood silently.

The new foreman glanced down at the little notebook he carried. “Well boss, I’m going to get started on the list you gave me.” He grinned again at Meredith and dipped his head in a gallant bow. “It was truly a pleasure to meet you, Ms. Worthington.” Meredith watched the fine view he presented as he walked away, not sure what to be more disturbed about, the idea her relationship with Tony was public knowledge, the idea there were some sort of nefarious going-on’s at Worthington, or the idea Tony was keeping something from her.

Clearing her throat, she turned to face him. “I came down here because there’s something I need to talk to you about.”

“Have you heard from your brother?” He immediately gathered both her hands in his, giving her a look of deep concern that helped loosen the knot of tension pulsing in her belly.

“No.” Because it was Tony, her voice wasn’t nearly as flat as it would normally have been. “Nothing at all. This is about business. About the construction site.” He used his grip on her hands to pull her into a brief hug. She appreciated the way he managed to comfort her without obvious public displays. His brief hug did her more good than hours of work and avoidance, without making her the object of open speculation.

“I need to get Jones up to speed right now,” he commented, beginning to guide her back to her car. “How about we have dinner at my place? We can talk then.” He looked at his watch, “Can you leave in about an hour?”

Meredith inhaled. It was clear she wouldn’t be getting any answers with Dorian Jones around. Glancing at her own watch she chuffed out a disbelieving breath. “It’s four o’clock. I won’t be able to get away for at least two more hours.” She considered the pile of work on her desk. And on Marcus’. “More like three, really.” Tony shook his head and laid his hand on the small of her back as he walked with her toward her car. “Isn’t your other brother there? Why can’t he take up some of the slack?”

She gave a small sigh. “Matthew is beautiful, and frighteningly smart, but he turns all his potential to the pursuit of the next big thrill. I’d be afraid to trust him with anything crucial.”

He gave her an odd look, opened his mouth as if he were about to say something, then seemed to change his mind.

“What?” It came out more defensive than she’d have liked, but less defensive than she felt.

He shook his head. “Have either of you ever given him the chance to do anything crucial?”

She snorted derisively. “The company’s been here his entire life. All he had to do was show up. God knows Old Stirling would have been overjoyed to install him in a corner office and sign over half the company to him.” The words
instead of me
may have remained unspoken, but they were still deafening.

*

Tony knew he was treading on dangerous ground, but he also knew his woman had a shit-load of poison stored up in her heart, and she needed to get rid of it if they had a chance in Hell of making anything between them stick.

“Well,” he chose his words carefully, “I suppose playing the part of a complete himbo was a pretty satisfying way to give the old man the bird, so to speak.” She shot him a sharp glance, but she didn’t look angry. More surprised. “But, after years of acting the fool, it would probably be pretty hard to suddenly expect anyone to take him seriously.” He kept his voice musing. He could tell her attention, and her formidable intelligence, were focused on him like a laser beam. “Especially when you and Marcus so obviously had everything completely under control. I know from the outside looking in it seems like there’s no need,” he stopped thoughtfully and corrected himself, “no
room
for anyone besides you and Marcus at the head of Worthington.” They’d reached her car, and he gently crowded her up against it, bracing one forearm against the hood to cage her in with his body. Leaning into her he murmured suggestively against the shell of her ear, “If you gave baby-brother some responsibility, you could leave in an hour and spend the evening with me.” He couldn’t resist flicking his tongue out, tickling the soft skin of her neck.

Her troubled, thoughtful expression melted into arousal. Tony was relieved. The conversation and the flirtation had served a trio of needs: she was considering the damage her father had done to her relationship with her younger brother, she was allowing a minor public display of affection, and she wasn’t asking about abnormalities at the construction site any more.

Dragging in a deep breath she tried to push him back. “I’ll compromise.” He grinned and allowed her to fend him off. So much for the PDA. Still, the fact she’d allowed it at all was progress. “I’ll talk to Matty, and leave at six.” He nodded, recognizing it was a huge concession on her part. “And you’ll come directly to my house for dinner.”

He caught her gaze with his, and the confusion and vulnerability he saw there twisted his guts in knots. She finally nodded, and turned to open the car door. Suddenly he couldn’t let her go without touching her one more time.

Tony grabbed her wrist and tugged her into his body, dipping his head to capture her lips in a scorching kiss. She was stiff in his arms and he knew she was totally aware they were on display to anyone who happened to glance in their direction. Tony didn’t give her the option to refuse him. He pushed his tongue into her mouth, tasting her thoroughly.

After a moment, she melted into him.

When he pulled back, he bit her bottom lip hard enough to make her gasp. Hard enough to make a mark, he realized with deep satisfaction. He liked the idea that everyone to see her this afternoon would see her red, swollen lips and know she’d been kissed. By him.

*

She climbed into her car and drove away with shaking hands, and no answers to her questions. Just a burning need to feel his body locked endlessly deep inside of hers again.

She spent a troubled afternoon, her mind jumping from one problem to the next.

Marcus’ disappearance, and Carrie’s too, apparently. No one had been able to reach the former Executive Assistant, either. The idea Matthew might have felt unwanted, unneeded, at Worthington. The idea she might have subconsciously wanted him to feel that way.

She hadn’t ever consciously thought it, didn’t want to admit it, but it felt right—the idea she’d wanted Matthew to stay far, far away from the company, that she hadn’t wanted to give up any tiny bit of the one place she felt safe. It didn’t paint a very flattering picture of her, and she hated the fact she’d been so petty. Matt was just as much Stirling’s victim as she was. She didn’t like the idea she might be making him her victim as well.

Meredith gritted her teeth. She was thinking in circles, and there wasn’t anything she could do about Matthew right now. He appeared to be working well with Daniel, and she trusted the older man to guide him through the more complex steps of choosing the building site for their newest renovation in the northern part of the state.

As if worrying about Marcus and Matthew wasn’t enough, there was the mystery of the construction site. Something was going on there; she could feel it in her bones. And she was sure Tony knew something he wasn’t telling her. She wondered just how damaging that something would end up being.

*

Tony loved cooking for her. Well, heating up his Nona’s ziti hardly counted as cooking, but it was one more way to take care of her, to show her she was important to him.

Now if he could just keep her from pressing him further about what she overheard of his conversation with Jenner. He hated keeping this from her; he knew how important Worthington was to her, how personally she would take this offense. He also knew once the information came out, he’d have some quick talking to do. To him, telling her wasn’t an option. Keeping his silence was just another way of taking care of her. She was his woman, and Renatto men protected what was theirs. Unfortunately, he doubted she’d share the sentiment.

He’d wait until Marcus returned; if he didn’t come back by the end of the week, then he’d go to the youngest Worthington. It would piss his Princess off to be excluded, but any situation involving drugs could go from sugar to shit in the blink of an eye, and he wasn’t about to expose her to even a hint of danger.

Jenner hadn’t recognized the stamp on each pill. The small pink tablets were placed three per tiny bag, and then bundled by tens inside a larger one. The cop had sent a sample of the drugs to the lab to see if they could identify the composition of the pills.

The type of drug might give them a lead.

Jenner’s cover as the one in charge of the building’s interior was perfect. It gave him a built-in reason for constantly poking around inside the building. Tony had given him a list of the people currently employed at the site, making notes on background and personality for each. The cop was doing background checks, and had the investigation well underway.

Meredith shifted in her chair, drawing his attention back to her. Damn, but was she beautiful. She hadn’t followed his directions, and had stopped home before coming to his house. She’d changed into slim-fitting linen pants, and a silk t-shirt. It was as informal as he’d ever seen her, and he felt a deep charge of satisfaction that she was comfortable enough with him to shed her corporate armor. He’d have to punish her for her disobedience of course. But not too much. Not when she was coming along so well.

He reached across the table. “I miss all your long dark hair.” He brushed the short spikes out of her eyes. “Why did you cut it off?”

Her expression became wary, like it always did when faced with personal questions.

He waited patiently for her to answer. Tony had discovered this was the best way to get information out of her. He never demanded, just asked and waited for her to reply. He knew she was waiting for an excuse to deny him something, anything, even if it was a small bit of information about herself.

She was like a fine piece of china held together with nothing more than child’s glue.

Her life up until now had been defined by her ability to take on the world around her.

Not anymore. She had him now, even if she didn’t fully realize it. Tony was going to prove to her he was here for her. No matter what. He wasn’t going to judge her if she had a weak moment. No, he was going to hold her and support her through her problems.

He played with her long fingers while she looked at him, her silver eyes cloudy as she finally spoke.

“That night was a mess.” He knew she meant the first night they’d shared. “I was rebelling, I guess.” Her smile was sad. “Marcus set me straight, though.” Something hard and dark shifted in her eyes, and Tony found another sin to lay at the feet of her arrogant brother. He knew he’d never forget the sight of Marcus dragging her out of Velvet Ice while he stood helpless, restrained by Brady Ryder, the club’s owner.