Tender Kisses (18 page)

She kept going until they had exited the restaurant. She turned back to him. “There's nothing left to explain. Bobby filled me in on everything.”

“No, he didn't. Baby, it's not what you're thinking.”

Ignoring him, she pulled out her phone and dialed her sister. “Morgan, I need you to pick me up at the Bonaventure. I'll tell you everything when you get here.” She hung up without giving Morgan a chance to ask any questions. She jabbed the elevator button.

“Siobhan, please.”

“No! You lied to me. All that talk at the gala about you just wanting to dance... It was all part of your game. I have to hand it to you,” she said with a bitter chuckle. “You played the game better than anybody I've ever met.”

“There was never any game,” he said through clenched teeth.

“Really? So Bobby lied about you being there to meet someone from my family's company?”

“No, but—”

“That's what I thought,” she said, stepping into the elevator. She should have known he was going to follow. Siobhan moved to the opposite side of the car and did her best to ignore him. Once again, she had been foolish. When would she ever learn?

“I did come to talk to your father, but I had no idea who you were. All I saw was a beautiful woman who captured my attention and held it tight.”

“Nice try.” The doors opened on the bottom floor, and she stalked across the lobby to the entrance with Justin on her heels. “Stop following me. You got what you want, so you don't need to pretend anymore.” A few people paused to view the heated interchange. She never aired her dirty laundry in public, but tonight Siobhan didn't care.

“I'm not pretending, but what about you? You want to talk pretending? Fine. I'm not the one who lied about my identity,” he snapped. “You are. So I'd be careful about pointing fingers.”

“If you don't get away from me, I'm calling security.”

Justin blew out a long breath, scrubbed a hand down his face and said quietly, “Look, Siobhan, I'm sorry. Sweetheart, no matter what you think, I did not betray your trust, and I'm not like those other guys.”

She clenched her teeth to keep from crying. She would not let this man see her break down. “You're right. You're worse than they were.” Siobhan was sorry, too—sorry that she'd danced with him, sorry that she'd agreed to go out with him and sorry that she'd given him her heart.

Chapter 18

J
ustin stood stunned at the angry words Siobhan hurled at him. It nearly killed him to know she didn't believe in him. He had to make her understand.

“Siobhan, I love you and would never do anything to hurt you. I asked you to remember that I told you how I felt about you before you revealed your identity. And I'm hoping that you feel the same way, even though you're angry right now.”

Siobhan turned her back to him and wouldn't acknowledge him. Deciding to let it go for now—there were too many people milling around—he said, “I'll wait with you until your sister comes. I don't want you to be out here by yourself.” Justin lengthened the gap between them and continued to observe Siobhan's stiff posture. He wanted nothing more than to gather her in his arms and assure her that his love for her was real, but instead he kept his distance.

Several minutes later, a Dodge Challenger like something out of the
Fast and Furious
movies roared to a stop in front of Siobhan. He took a step when she opened the door and caught a glimpse of a younger woman with long hair behind the wheel.

Siobhan stiffened when he moved close to her. She glanced over her shoulder at him. “Justin, don't,” she pleaded.

He nodded, placed a kiss of regret on her lips, shut the door behind her and stepped back. Justin stuck his hands in his pockets and stared after the car as it sped away. Pain unlike anything he had ever endured ripped through his chest. He'd lost her.

“Justin, what the hell is going on? I was talking to Siobhan, and one minute she's smiling and the next she's in tears and running out of the restaurant.”

He turned to his confused friend. “How much time do you have?”

Concern creased Bobby's eyebrows. “As much time as you need.”

They went back inside to one of the bars, and as soon as the bartender placed their beers in front of them, Justin took a long drink. “When did you get back?”

“Last night. Okay, let's have it, Justin.”

“I'm in love with Siobhan.”

Bobby's mouth dropped open. “When? How?”

“We met the night of the gala, but I didn't recognize her because the website photo was an old one—she looked much younger, and her hair was straight and long. And she told me her name was Siobhan
Hunter
.”

“I don't understand.”

Justin brought Bobby up to speed on the relationship, from dancing at the banquet and laughing over coffee, to walking on the beach and taking a trip to Vegas. “Man, the way her face lit up when she found out about the show...” He shook his head. “She had me from that moment on. It wasn't until a week ago that she told me her real name. By that time, I already had an appointment.”

“Why didn't you just tell her then?”

“I had planned to, until she told me about her ex stealing her money.”

“Let me guess—the jerk only wanted her for the name.”

“Bingo. I was in the middle of telling her tonight when my dad called.”

“And I made it worse by telling her why you went to the banquet.”

“That about sums it up,” Justin said, taking another swig of his beer.

“Damn. I'm sorry. I had no idea.”

“It's not your fault.” Siobhan had to learn to trust him.

“It's not yours, either. You're not out to get her money or her name. You have your own money.”

“She doesn't know that. She asked a few questions when I took her to my house, but I didn't say much. I didn't want money to be a factor...for either of us.”

“I hear you. Are you going after her?”

“I don't know.”

“What about the contract with Gray's?”

“I'm considering pulling out. I haven't signed anything yet.” He shrugged. “I had offers from two other companies.”

Bobby set his bottle down with a thud. “You can't be serious. Hold up, Justin. You need to really think about pulling out of this deal. I know those other companies didn't come close to matching the offer from Gray's, and as far as international exposure, you're not going to find a better opportunity to make your products a household name.”

“I thought it all mattered,” he said absently. “Being with the best company, gaining international exposure...but I don't care anymore.” He only wanted Siobhan.

Bobby sighed in exasperation. “Man, you've worked your entire life for this moment, and you're ready to throw it away for a woman?”

Justin looked directly at Bobby. “In a heartbeat.”

He nodded. “All right. If that's what you want to do, I'll help you in any way. And if Siobhan means that much to you, you should go after her. You didn't get this far by giving up.”

“You're exactly right.” She had accused him of being like the other men in her past, or worse, but he intended to prove her wrong no matter how long it took. Starting tonight. He pushed the bottle away from him and stood. “I have to go.”

They shared a rough hug, and Bobby laughed. “If you need me, you know where to find me. I'll keep that bottle of wine on ice.”

“You do that.”

Justin had the valet bring his car, and he drove off in the direction of Siobhan's house. He questioned his sanity the entire way, but knew he wouldn't rest until he found out if she was okay. Forty-five minutes later, he rang her bell. The same woman he'd seen in the car answered the door.

“May I help you?”

“I'm Justin Cart—”

“I know who you are, Justin, and Siobhan doesn't want to see you.”

“I want to make sure she's all right.”

“What do you care? Haven't you done enough?”

“Actually, I haven't done anything, and if your sister would give me five minutes to explain, she'd know it, too. Even a guilty man gets a trial before he's sentenced to death.”

She stared at him curiously, and the corner of her mouth tilted in a slight smile. “Do you love my sister?” she asked boldly.

“With all my heart,” he answered without hesitation.

She angled her head and surveyed him. “Give her some time, okay? Good night.” She closed the door softly before he could say anything.

Not knowing what else to do, Justin climbed into his car and made the journey home. Lying in bed later, he realized he didn't have any other choice. He'd make the call first thing in the morning.

* * *

“Is he gone?” Siobhan asked, coming into the family room, where Morgan sat sprawled on the love seat.

“Yep. You knew he would come, didn't you?”

She nodded.

“I told him what you said about not wanting to see him, but it would be nice to know why.”

She lowered herself into one of the armchairs. “I thought Justin was different, but it turns out he's not. Gray Home Safety was his target from the night we met. Bobby Mitchell was at the restaurant, and he went on and on about how he'd got Justin the invitation to the fund-raiser, how glad he was that Justin and I had connected because Justin had done some research...”

“But that doesn't mean anything.”

“Yes, it does, Morgan. Can't you see his intentions from the beginning were to get his product to the market through our company?”

Morgan sat up. “True, but you told me that he thought your last name was Hunter, so he had no way of getting to Dad through you.”

“He could have been lying just to string me along.” Her doorbell rang again. “Please don't tell me he's back,” she mumbled.

“Probably the brothers,” Morgan said, going to answer the door.

Siobhan hopped up and rushed behind her.
“What? Why did you call them?”

“Just in case we needed backup.”

This was the last thing she needed. All three of her brothers filed past her into the house looking as if they were ready to kill someone.

Of course, Brandon spoke first. “Siobhan, you have one minute to tell me why we shouldn't track down Justin right now.”

Morgan raised her hand and smiled. “Ooh, I can answer that.”

All eyes turned Morgan's way. Siobhan glared at her.

“It's easy. He didn't do anything.”

Siobhan threw up her hands. “Were you not listening to what I just told you? The man used me to get into this company, and you call that
nothing
?”

“Correction—you just
think
he did because you found out from someone else that he wanted to partner with us. Never once did you say Justin asked you for a favor.
And
you lied to him about your name.” She turned to her brothers. “She gave him Mom's maiden name, so he didn't even know her last name until a week ago, right, Siobhan? Did he ask you to make an appointment with Dad or in any way solicit your help?”

“Dammit, Morgan! Cut the legalese and make your point,” Khalil said.

“I'm trying to make my point, but I can't do it if you keep interrupting and don't let Vonnie answer the questions.”

Brandon swung his gaze back to Siobhan. “So answer the question.”

With all eyes on her, she said softly, “No.”

“Ha! I told you,” Morgan said.

“Malcolm, get your twin,” Khalil said. To Siobhan, he said, “Sis, if Justin never asked for your help, what makes you think he was out to do the same thing as Arthur?”

Siobhan's shoulders slumped, and the tears she'd been holding back spilled down her cheeks. She couldn't take them all being against her. “Why are you all making it sound like this is my fault? I didn't do anything wrong.”

Brandon came over and embraced her. “Whoa. No one said you did anything wrong. What it sounds like to me is a big misunderstanding between you and Justin. I can't believe I'm saying this,” he muttered, “but I met him, and he seems like a good guy. And I can tell you that Dad gave him a card the night of the banquet and asked him to set up an appointment, which got canceled twice before this last time—once on our end and once on Justin's.”

His words gave her something to think about. No, Justin hadn't asked for her help. He had adamantly refused it and specifically requested that she not influence her father in any way because he had wanted the product to stand on its own.

Siobhan buried her face in Brandon's chest, and the tears came faster. What had she done?

* * *

“Thank you for seeing me on such short notice, Mr. Gray,” Justin said, entering the office and reaching out to shake the man's hand. “Nice to see you again, Brandon.”

“Same here.”

“Have a seat,” Mr. Gray said. “You said you had an urgent matter to discuss. Is this about the alert system?”

“Yes and no.” He searched his mind for a good way to express what he had come to say, and in the end, he just stated it simply and truthfully. “I'm in love with your daughter Siobhan.”

Mr. Gray's eyes widened, and his face registered shock. “Oh. I didn't realize she was dating someone seriously.”

Brandon, on the other hand, leaned back in his chair and rested his elbow on the table, a look of amusement on his face.

“I met her the same night I met you, and we've been dating ever since, except I didn't find out until recently she was your daughter,
after
I fell in love with her.” Justin wanted to be clear that his feelings for Siobhan had nothing to do with her name.

“I'm a little confused as to how you wouldn't know who she was.”

“She told me her last name was Hunter.”

Mr. Gray chuckled. “Ah, my DeAnna's maiden name. But you still haven't told me what this has to do with our partnership.”

He took a deep breath. “Last night, a friend of mine mentioned to her that I had been looking to do business with you from the first before I had a chance to tell her. She assumed I had been using her...like her ex.”

“And did you? If so, then I may have to rethink this partnership.”

Brandon sat up abruptly. “Dad, you can't be serious. Their relationship has nothing to do with business.”

“Ah, but it does, son. Integrity far outweighs money.”

Justin nodded. “I agree completely, sir, and that's why I'm here.” His stomach constricted, and the words got stuck in his throat. “I did not betray Siobhan's trust as she believes I did. The only thing I'm guilty of is not telling her I already had an appointment with you after she revealed her identity. I don't want to hurt her any further, so I believe it would be in my best interest to withdraw from our agreement.”

“Don't you want to take some time to reconsider this decision?” Brandon asked. “I'm sure we could work something out.”

“I wish there was another way, but as your father stated, integrity outweighs money. My integrity and your sister mean more to me than any amount of money.”

“Dad?”

Mr. Gray shrugged. “Sounds like you've made up your mind, Justin.”

“I apologize for the inconvenience, but yes, I've made up my mind.” The responses of father and son were polar opposites. Mr. Gray reminded Justin of his first boss, a true old-school businessman who'd mastered the perfect harmony between money and family. It was, ultimately, what he wanted, too.

Mr. Gray nodded and clasped his hands together on the desk. “I respect your honesty. We have an appointment on Friday at eleven to sign the contract, correct?”

“Yes, sir.”

“Then you'll have until that time to decide. If you're not in my office by eleven o'clock sharp, the deal is off. Are we clear?”

“Very.” He stood and extended his hand. “Thank you for your time.”

Justin exited the office and almost bowled Siobhan over. He reached out to steady her. “Sorry.”

“Justin. I guess you came to sign on the dotted line.”

“Actually, I came to talk to your father about withdrawing from our partnership.”

“Why would you do that?” Siobhan asked with surprise.