Strictly Business (17 page)

She had to help him somehow. She couldn’t stand by while he was ruined because of his stubborn pride. There were times when a person absolutely needed help, and this was one of them.

But how?

The coffee machine sputtered, signaling the last of the water going through the system. With a sigh, Jess got up and began to walk to the other end of the counter. She passed the telephone hanging on the wall.

She walked backward to it and picked up the receiver. She punched out a number. It rang twice before a deep voice rumbled, “Hello.”

“Dad? I’m sorry it’s so early, but I need your help.”

Two days later Nick watched his men as they worked on the other two houses, readying them for occupancy. He must have been crazy to listen to Jess, he thought. But she’d been so confident he would find a new backer that he had been convinced to reopen the site. He had spent the last couple of days looking for one everywhere, short of overturning rocks. He’d rather be bankrupt and out of business before he sought that kind of money. Unfortunately, at the moment it seemed to be the only money available.

Tommy had received his check yesterday, he thought dismally. And tomorrow was payday for the men. If anyone ever wanted to know how to commit business suicide, he could certainly tell them.

“How did it go?” Jess asked from behind him.

He turned around and smiled in apology. He hadn’t even heard her. Loosening his tie, he said, “The banks were interested, but they want to wait until
they see what the market will do. Everyone has said that so far.”

She sighed. “You’ve got some telephone messages. Go see.”

“You’re supposed to be landscaping,” he said sternly.

She pointed to the busy construction workers. “Sam doesn’t have the time to answer the phone right now.” She smiled. “Besides, that damn thing rings all over the site, and it drives me crazy. Tony called.” She hesitated for a moment. “I hope I wasn’t overstepping boundaries … but I told him.”

“I’m glad,” he said, walking toward the office. “Frankly, I’ve been avoiding it. It’s a good thing I have a smart brother who won’t listen to me. He’ll need that job now. I certainly couldn’t pay for law school.”

Jess chuckled. “That’s exactly what Tony said.”

Nick smiled wryly. “Maybe Tony could get me a job with the show. Think I’d make it as a male stripper?”

“Absolutely.” She linked her arm through his. “But I won’t let you.”

“I don’t know, Jess,” he teased. “According to Tony, the pay is terrific.”

“You can strip for me personally,” she said in a low voice. “My pay is better.”

“Very true.”

In the office, he looked through the messages. One instantly caught his eye. It was from Tommy Sayers’s banker, asking that he return the call immediately.

“This is from the banker who came with Tommy,” he said to Jess, who had followed him into the office. “I wonder what he wants.”

She shrugged. “You won’t know until you call him back. He did say it was very important.”

“Yes, but …”
Oh, Lord
, he thought. If there was a problem with the check …

The secretary put him straight through. Nick’s stomach churned and sweat beaded his forehead as the banker greeted him.

“I’ll come right to the point,” the man said. “I received a call from someone I know at Standard Associates. He’s looking for a good solid investment in properties right now, and I instantly thought of you.”

Nick’s heart seemed to stop beating, then suddenly thumped painfully in his chest. He glanced across the desk at Jess. It was obvious she could sense his excitement. Her eyes were glittering, and she was breathing heavily as she leaned forward in the chair.

“I see,” Nick said, surprised at the calm coolness of his voice.

“I gave him the particulars, knowing them from Mr. Sayers. He said it sounded exactly like what he was looking for, and he wants very much to get it on the project. I, of course, couldn’t give him a figure—”

Nick wanted to yell at the man that he could have given Tommy’s investment costs. The idiot knew that too.

“—but he did name about how much he was looking to put in. I can assure you that you’ll be pleased.”

Nick let his breath out in a rush.

“That sounds promising,” he said.
Never let them know you’re sweating
, he thought. “But I am looking for a good solid investor.…”

“Then this is your man,” the banker hastened to
assure him. “George Carlson is the president of Standard Associates, a fine businessman, absolutely rock solid.”

Nick had heard of Standard Associates, and he wanted badly to grin. But he had one last question. The biggie. “When is Mr. Carlson looking to do this?”

“As soon as possible. He has some windfall profits from another project that he needs to invest immediately. He can have it to you by close of business today, if you like.”

“But doesn’t he want to sign a contract first?” Nick asked, surprised that the man was so quick to get his money in.

“George is a very old-fashioned businessman,” the banker said. “He believes in reputation, and he was already aware of yours. He trusts his own judgment implicitly, and, I’m honored to say, mine. He also feels that if a man will renege on a deal, he’ll do it with or without a contract, and I suppose that’s true to a certain degree. I think you’ll find him rather interesting.”

“I’m sure I will,” Nick agreed. Not only that, he’d kiss the man’s feet, and the banker’s too. “Thank you very much for thinking of me, sir.”

“I was glad to do it, Mr. Mikaris. I was quite bothered by what happened with Mr. Sayers. So foolish. Unfortunately, he’s paying for it now.”

After he said good-bye, Nick set the receiver gently on its cradle. Then he burst from the chair.

“Yahooo!”

“What?” Jess asked, jumping up. “Was it a backer?”

“A wonderful backer!” Nick shouted, hurrying around the desk and pulling her into his arms. He swung her around. “George Carlson from Standard
Associates, and he wants to invest in MeadowHill right away. Today. We’re back in business, Jess!”

“I knew it! I just knew it!” She was grinning and hugging him. “I’m so glad for you, Nick.”

“I’m so glad for me, too.” In between his chatter of excitement, he hugged and kissed her repeatedly.

When their initial exhilaration finally subsided, he pressed her closer. “Let’s celebrate. Here. Now.”

“Nick!”

He kissed the pulse point just under her ear. She shivered. He wanted her so badly. “We haven’t made love for awhile.”

“You’ve been worried and upset.”

“I’m not now.” He smoothed his hands down her back and cupped her bottom.

“Nick, we can’t!” Her eyes were wide with shock at his suggestion. “We’re in the office.”

“So?” He grinned as he frogmarched her backward to the door. Reaching over, he snapped the lock shut. “Now we have privacy.”

She struggled in his tight embrace. “I’m all covered with dirt and I look like a slob!”

“You have no idea how much your worn jeans and ripped-up sweatsuit jacket have driven me crazy.” He strung kisses down her neck. “Every day you look so damn sexy, and I can never touch you for fear I’ll take you on the spot and to hell with whoever’s there.”

She arched her neck back, allowing him further access, while she whispered, “There’s no bed, no couch.”

He smiled against her warm soft flesh as he unzipped her ratty jacket. He pressed her against the wall.

“We don’t need one.”

Tuesday morning, Jess finally allowed herself to breathe a huge sigh of relief. The money had been transferred. The new “backer” had visited the site, and the contracts had been duly signed and sealed. Mikaris Builders was back in business for good.

And she didn’t feel an ounce of guilt that the money sitting happily in the MeadowHill account was actually hers.

In truth, she had made a good investment, and that was all she had done. Okay, so she had had to be devious, but that was because Nick had been foolishly stubborn and macho about the whole thing. Fortunately, he’d never know she was the real investor.

She hid a smile as she remembered her father’s telling her that George Carlson had refused to be her front man until he had checked out Nick’s business credentials. She had thought she’d go crazy before the man was finally satisfied and had made the call. And her father had been no better, she admitted in amused frustration. Devlin Brannen had insisted on being satisfied that Carlson was satisfied.

“She’s off in space again.”

She glanced up to find Duane grinning at her.

Roger chuckled. “If she isn’t off in space, then she’s with Mikaris.”

Jess smiled. “Get to work, guys. We’ve got sod to lay.”

Roger grinned. “I do love this job. It’s got sexy words—”

“Now who’s that?” Duane interrupted, pointing toward the office.

Jess turned around to see Tony Mikaris climb out of a battered MG. “That’s Nick’s brother. But he’s supposed to be at school.”

“I thought he was one of those strippers,” Roger said, frowning.

“How do you know that?” Jess asked, surprised.

“The guys here know about it. They told us. Hard to believe Mikaris has a brother like that.”

“He doesn’t look like much,” Duane commented, in a snide tone.

“Yeah,” Roger agreed. “Don’t know why the women go bonkers over him.”

“And I don’t know why only the female of the species is accused of cattiness,” Jess said.

Tony spotted her and waved. She waved back and walked over to greet him.

“Don’t you have school?” she asked, after saying hello.

“I took the day off. I thought I’d better come and see Nick. How’s Cat?”

She moaned. “Please, Tony. Don’t even tease about that.”

Tony laughed. “You’re doing okay?”

She nodded.

Duane and Roger might not know why the ladies went crazy for Tony, but she did. He had a caring quality in him that touched the heart of a woman—just as Nick had. Also, she thought with amusement, she’d seen the show.

When Nick joined them, Jess started to excuse herself, but he stopped her.

“Stay, Jess. You’re family.”

She was pleased, but she couldn’t help feeling like a puppy at the command. She definitely needed to work on Nick.

Tony glanced at her, then said, “I’m quitting law school.”

“What?” Nick shouted.

“Tony, you can’t!” Jess exclaimed.

“I can.” Tony stared at his brother. “I’ve thought about it over the last couple of days. I hated it that you were in trouble and I wasn’t helping you.”

Nick’s face was turning a dull dark red. “And how could you have helped?”

“I could have been in the business with you,” Tony said, pointing a finger at his brother. “I could have shouldered the worry, helped you find a backer. You shouldn’t have been in it alone, Nick.”

“I found a backer. Dammit, I called you and told you that! Everything’s settled. There’s no way you could have helped, Tony.”

“But I’ve been selfish, giving you a hard time about the way I’m paying for school.” Tony put his hand on Nick’s shoulder. “No, it’s time I made Mikaris Builders a family business. Admit it, Nick, you’d really like that.”

Nick shook his hand off. “I don’t want you in the business. I never have. All I ever wanted for you was to do exactly what you’re doing. You’ll stay in school and that’s final!”

“But I don’t want you worrying any longer about how I’m paying for it,” Tony protested. “You’ve done so much for me and—”

Nick didn’t let him finish. Jess held her breath at
the explosion, glad that it wasn’t directed at her. His anger was almost frightening. Tony kept silent.

“… and, dammit, Tony, you are staying in school if I have to drag you there,” Nick went on, waving his arms. “I won’t say a word if you take your clothes off for a thousand women, okay? As long as it’s just to pay for school! But you stay in and become a lawyer. It’s what I really want.”

“Well, I’d feel better if I knew you wanted me to keep the job.”

“Hell, yes,” Nick said vehemently, calming down slightly. “I just said it, didn’t I? To tell you the truth, not having to worry about paying for your schooling was the only plus in the whole mess last week. I could think of a lot worse things for you, and believe me, working as a male stripper to pay for law school isn’t one of them!”

Suddenly Jess realized exactly what Tony was doing. She swallowed heavily to keep from laughing.

“I want you back at school this afternoon,” Nick ordered. “That lousy cement mixer we rented is churning out garbage, so I’m going into the office to call the leasing company. When I come out, I expect you to be on the turnpike, heading back to New York.”

“Yes, Nick,” Tony said meekly.

“Good.” Nick stomped off to the trailer and slammed the door shut behind him.

“You stinker!” Jess said, keeping her voice low.

“And in front of a witness,” Tony said with satisfaction. “You heard him. I pay for school myself.”

“I can’t believe you would sucker Nick into saying that.” Although it had been funny at the time, now
her anger was building at Tony’s deviousness. “That was one of the rottenest—”

“I meant it, Jess.” Tony met her gaze squarely. “About going into the business with him. Everything I said was what I’d thought about all weekend, and if he had wanted me in the business then I would have done it. I owe him a lot.”

“But you were hoping he’d do exactly what he did.”

Tony grinned. “I admit that it was the perfect opportunity to finally settle this between us. Sometimes you have to take my bullheaded brother by the horns and swing him around in your direction.”

Jess sighed in defeat. She knew exactly how stubborn Nick could be. “But I will tell you, Tony Mikaris, that your exams had better be spotless, or you’ll have me to deal with.”

A worried look came into Tony’s eyes. “Are you going to be worse than Nick?”

“Infinitely.”

Tony groaned.

“So we’re back in business,” Sandy said that afternoon.

“Yes.” Jess smiled as she watched Nick walking over to where she and Sandy stood in the driveway of the model home. There was a spring to his step, and she knew what had put it there. Lunch had been extremely satisfactory, she thought. But they’d better not have another “private picnic” while on the job. It was much too easy to stay away.