The Substitute (13 page)

That was why Josh found acknowledging his attraction to Megan so difficult. He realized he was not only attracted to her, but he’d finally found that elusive spark…except with her, it was more like a blaze. It was crazy. He hardly knew her, but there was no denying it. And while he was tempted to take Noah’s advice and indulge in his desire for her before he left, he couldn’t do it. From what he could see, Megan Vandemeer’s life was full of people dead set on hurting her. He didn’t want to add his name to that list.

And that strangled him more than he’d expected.

“How far are you going to take this?” Noah asked.

Josh sucked in a breath and pushed it out, while simultaneously trying to force the thoughts of the sexy brunette out of his head. “I don’t know yet. Bart’s friends and associates have painted a pretty flattering picture of his character, but that doesn’t mean anything. Desperate men go to drastic measures. He seems like an ordinary guy and he doesn’t have expensive hobbies—an occasional game of golf, camping, fishing…”

“A boat?”

“It’s twenty years old, with a small outboard motor.”

“So the wedding is his big expense?”

“I’m pretty sure money slips through his wife’s fingers like water. When I asked about Bart’s financial planner, one of his friends hinted that Bart doesn’t have much money to invest. A woman pulled me aside because she thought
I
might know what was going on. Joke’s on her, but she had something interesting to say. Rumor has it Bart refinanced the Vandemeers’ house to get the money to pay for the wedding of the year. And it
still
wasn’t enough.”

“So Bart could be the culprit?”

“Maybe. I was hoping Andrew Peterman, the second principal, would show, but so far he hasn’t made an appearance, and it’s getting late enough that I suspect he won’t.”

“Wow. I’m impressed. I didn’t think you had subterfuge in you, Joshy.”

Noah meant it as a compliment, but Josh suddenly felt dirty. “Nicole mentioned that Bart has a home office on the second floor with the bedrooms. I hope to search their house tonight after everyone goes to bed, but I suspect any real evidence is at his business office. Getting there could be challenging. Her mother is like Mother-of-the-Bridezilla. She’s made itineraries for each of us and my time is booked solid up until the wedding. I have no idea how I’m going to get away to go to Vandemeer’s office.”

“Doesn’t her family think it’s weird you don’t have any family or friends there?”

“Megan said the shithead she was going to marry hardly had any friends, and neither his parents nor brother were planning on coming.”

“The guy sounds like a tool if his own parents weren’t going to the wedding. Is Vandemeer’s daughter a bitch?”

“No. Not from what I’ve seen. Quite the opposite, in fact. I can’t figure out why she was planning to marry the douche bag.”

“It doesn’t matter. I think you’re on to something. And the fact is, if you’re busy with all the wedding plans, then you need help.”

“What does that mean?”

“Your
mother
may not be coming to the wedding, but your
brother
can change his mind and show up tomorrow.”

“What? No!” Josh protested in panic.

“It’s perfect, Josh. I’ll have more free time than you. Besides, you and I both know this is more my type of caper than it is yours.” Noah laughed. “You’re out of your league, Joshy. Admit it.”

Josh paced, rubbing the back of his neck. Noah showing up could be a potential disaster. Noah tended to be a loose cannon. But Josh had to admit he needed help, and Noah had been the one to corner them into this situation in the first place. Time was ticking down, and he’d known going into this that he was going to have to resort to rolling in the mud. “Fine, but you have to behave yourself, Noah.”

“Hey! When have I not behaved myself?”

“Consider why we’re in this situation to begin with…”

“Jeez, one time—”

“
One time?
” Josh shook his head. “
Dammit
.” This plan was even more insane than the course he was currently on. “I’m not telling them that you’re coming. I can’t think of a single reason to justify you showing up tomorrow. Megan wants to break up at the party tonight, and I don’t want to scare her into going through with it.”

“You can’t let her break up with you!”

“I know. And for the most part, I’m safe. Megan is trying to save face with her mother, and I’ve been the perfect boyfriend.”

“Like that’s a stretch,” Noah snorted. Leave it to Noah to make an attentive boyfriend sound like a bad thing.

“The point is that she needs me to act like a first class jerk before she can break up with me, although it would come across even better for her if
I
break up with
her
. And I have no intention of doing either tonight.”

“So you’re safe.”

In theory, but he could also end up infuriating Megan. While he’d accept that in a pinch, the better option was if he could get her to agree to the delay. And if he were being honest with himself, he didn’t want her to be angry with him.

“I’ve told Megan we should break up tomorrow. She hasn’t agreed, but one of her best friends likes me and is trying to get her to put it off. I think I can get her to hold off until at least tomorrow night. But that’s not near enough time if you show up in the afternoon. I might have to try pushing the breakup off to Friday, but that’s cutting it pretty close to the wedding.” He paused. “Maybe I’ll find what we need tomorrow.”

“Not likely.”

Could Josh afford to turn down his brother’s help? He had four days before the axe dropped on their big deal. He was going to have to bend some of his ethics to get the proof he needed and that thought didn’t sit well with him. “I don’t even know what I’m looking for, Noah. How do I pin this on them?”

“See if you can get access to Bart’s emails from around the time my bag was stolen. Try to find a copy of the plans with our name on it.”

“You really think someone’s going to keep a copy of an incriminating document?”

“Yes. I do.”

Josh rubbed the back of his neck. “So where do I look?”

“The Vandemeer house is a good start. I doubt he’d want to keep the plans in the office. How would he explain it to his colleagues? But if his wife found it, no big deal…I bet none of his family would give it a second thought.”

Josh had to admit that Noah was right. “This is a great start if Bart’s our guy, but I still haven’t figured out how I’m going to explain your sudden appearance.”

“I can play the role of the surprise, drop-in brother. Send me an address.”

“But why would you show up? How did you find out where I was?”

“You let me worry about all of that. You just act completely surprised to see me. Now what’s the address?”

Josh had a sinking suspicion he was going to regret this. “I’ll text it to you.”

“See you tomorrow, Joshy.”

He wasn’t exactly looking forward to this family reunion.

He rejoined Megan and her friends. Libby was watching him like he was an all-you-can-eat buffet, though one she didn’t care to dine at, while Megan looked embarrassed, and Blair was doing her damnedest to pretend he didn’t exist.

“I need to use the restroom,” Josh said, needing to escape for a few minutes. Hopefully it would also give him the opportunity to do a quick search, as he’d planned.

“You can use the powder room on the first floor,” Megan told him.

Feeling someone’s gaze on him as he made his way across the deck to the back door, Josh looked back to see Kevin watching him. Shaking his head, he let himself into the house and used the restroom, then opened the door, planning to head upstairs to look for Bart’s office. But as he moved toward the stairs, he heard a voice from behind the partially open bedroom door at the end of the hall. He paused, looking to see if anyone would notice him eavesdropping. When he didn’t see anyone, he moved closer, realizing it was Bart Vandemeer’s voice.

“No…you know it’s too late.” There was silence for several moments before he said, “That’s not what I said. You know I want to help…I’m just…tied up.”

Bart was obviously on the phone, but who was he talking to and what was the call about?

“We always knew there would be casualties,” Bart said, sounding unhappy. “Talk to the attorney and see what he says.”

Was he talking about Josh potentially fighting the patent?

“Hear anything good?” Blair whispered behind him.

He jumped and spun around, trying to keep a poker face. “Hey, Blair. I was looking for the restroom.”

“Hmm…” She crossed her arms. “You seem to have passed it.” She pointed her thumb to the partially open door behind him.

“Huh.” He tried to sound nonchalant. “The door was closed when I went by. I heard Bart in the other room, so I decided to ask him where I could find another bathroom.”

Blair pinned him with her steely gaze.

The bedroom door opened and Bart came out. “Oh!” he said in surprise, looking nervous. “I haven’t had a chance to say hi to you, Blair. How are you doing?”

“Good.”

“I see you met Josh. Or had you met him before?”

Josh held his breath, waiting for Blair to expose him.

“Nope. This was my first opportunity to meet
Josh
.”

If Bart heard the inflection, he didn’t let on. “Are you ready for Megan’s wedding excitement?”

Blair’s mouth crooked into a devious smile. “You have
no
idea.”

“Well…” He squeezed past the two of them. “I better get back out to Nicole. I’m sure she’s fit to be tied over something.” He continued toward the kitchen, but Blair didn’t budge, blocking Josh’s path.

Her eyes narrowed. “What are you up to?”

“I told you. I was looking for the restroom.”

She shook her head slowly, keeping her gaze on him. “No. You’re up to something. I can feel it. The question is what?”

Josh held his hands out at his side. “I’m just trying to help Megan.”

“No. I don’t—”

“You are unbelievable!” Megan said in a loud voice, walking up behind Blair. “I told you to leave him alone!”

Blair turned to face her friend and Josh slid past her, moving next to Megan. “I told you that I don’t trust him, and sure enough, I found him eavesdropping outside your parents’ room.”

“Eavesdropping on
what?
My mother’s outside and I just passed my father.”

“Megan. Listen to me. Josh was listening to your father’s phone call.”

Josh plastered a look of what he hoped was innocence on his face. “I was looking for the restroom. I heard your dad’s voice, so I was going to ask him where it was. Then Blair showed up and accused me of…I’m not sure what.” Josh hated lying, but here he was, lying through his teeth. The guilt was overwhelming.

“You can’t trust this guy, Megan!”

“Blair! Keep your voice down,” Megan whisper-hissed. “Why in the world would Josh eavesdrop on my father? What could he hope to hear? Do you know how paranoid and crazy that sounds?”

“It might sound paranoid, but it’s true.”

Megan shook her head. “You’ll do
anything
to prove me wrong, won’t you?”

Blair looked genuinely confused. “What are you talking about?”

“You’ll resort to making up lies to get me to end our arrangement.”

Blair’s mouth dropped open. “Have you lost your
mind?
”

Tears filled Megan’s eyes. “You’ve already decided that I have, so why do you keep asking?”

“Megan.” Blair’s voice softened.

Megan shook her head. “Stop. Just stop.” Then she took a deep breath and turned to Josh. “My mother wants my father to formally introduce us to their friends.” He started to say something, but she held up her hand. “Yes, I know. We’ve already talked to every single one of them, but nevertheless…” Her voice trailed off.

Blair’s anger returned. “If you think I’m going to stay here and watch this—”

“Go!” Megan said, her eyes blazing. “If you can’t watch this, then go. No one is making you stay.”

“Megan,” Josh interrupted, his guilt crushing him. He couldn’t let her ruin a decades-long friendship over him.

“You’re choosing him over me?” Blair demanded. When Megan didn’t answer, she pushed on. “You’re picking a man whom you’ve known for approximately ten hours over your friend of twenty-five years.”

“No, Blair. You chose for me.” Megan grabbed Josh’s wrist and pulled him down the hall, leaving a stunned Blair in her wake.

“Megan, really—” Josh stammered.

“It’s fine,” she said, forcing a smile. “I’m fine. Let’s go get introduced.”

By the time they reached the kitchen, her hand trembled in his clasp. She was upset whether she wanted to admit it or not.

“Megan.” He pulled her to a halt. “Hold on for a second.”

She stopped in front of him, looking up at him with questioning eyes. She was so agonizingly close and she looked so vulnerable. All he wanted to do was take her in his arms and kiss her, assuring her that everything would be okay…but he couldn’t. He wasn’t sure everything would be okay once the dust finally settled.

“Give me a minute, okay?” he asked, certain she would afford him the time she thought he needed to collect himself. He felt less guilt over this small duplicity. It was for her benefit, so he could live with it.

They were still holding hands, he suddenly noticed. He thought about dropping his hold, but couldn’t seem to let go. “She’ll get over it,” he finally said.

She let out a deep breath, then forced a smile. “I’m not so sure.”

“Libby will smooth things over.”

Her smile turned genuine. “Yeah, she can’t stand it when we fight.”

“I like Libby.” He reached his free hand around Megan’s back and pulled her to his chest before he realized what he was doing. Touching her was as natural as breathing, and while that was dangerous, he didn’t much care at the moment.

She relaxed into him, resting her cheek on his chest.

They stood still for nearly a minute, and with every ticking second, Josh felt more and more certain this woman was different than every other woman he had ever met. The question was what did he do with that information? He didn’t see any way to achieve a positive outcome.