Caught!: Taken! / Say Yes

“Hell no.” Cliff chuckled. “I try to keep her as much out of the way as possible. You’ve seen firsthand how offensive she can be. No, the meeting is about expanding the downtown operation.”

Not again, Dillon thought, tired of that tune and trying to explain to an idiot that opening an outlet downtown was a waste of funds. Unless the entire area was revamped, Cliff would be better off withdrawing and investing his money on renovations elsewhere. Though Virginia had told Cliff that countless times, it didn’t take someone with her business sense to see it. Dillon had backed up her reasoning, on a security level. Cliff wasn’t listening.

“You know how I feel about that, Cliff. I can upgrade all the systems there, hire good people to work in shifts, but it won’t do you any good. Even without the petty theft, which is rampant and you know it, that store is a money hog. There’s not enough business to warrant the effort.”

Cliff gestured with his hand, looking distracted and annoyed. “That’s not what I want to speak to you about. No, I want to talk to you about my sister.”

Dillon turned his back to look out the third-story windows. Below him was human congestion, smog and noise. The sides of the street were piled high with blackened snow and sludge. Traffic flowed, the same traffic Virginia had almost encountered, without brakes. He shuddered.

He hated being here in Delaport City on this ridiculous ruse. He wanted to be home again, listening to his father grumbling and recounting all his old adventures. This didn’t feel like an adventure. This felt like one huge mistake. “You want to talk about your sister? What about her?”

“I, ah, know from your file that your expertise includes surveillance.”

“My expertise covers a lot of activities that aren’t exactly part of a legitimate job résumé, especially not for the position you hired me for. I only gave you a few facts because I figured you’d need something to recommend me.” The information was accurate, just in case Cliff had the sense to look, which Dillon wasn’t certain of. But Virginia would have checked, of that he had no doubt. So he’d supplied the names of the few companies he’d ever worked for. Like his father, he could ferret out trouble—or cause it. With equal success, according to who was paying the most. It wasn’t a trait he felt any particular pride over. Just a way of survival.

“Virginia insisted on checking into your employment background. She was impressed, which says a lot, even though your lack of consistency with any one job concerned her. Has she ever spoken to you about it?”

Dillon still faced the window. He was afraid if he looked at Cliff, all his anger would show. “No. Other than a few casual exchanges, we’ve never spoken.”

“Excellent! Then she’ll never suspect you.”

“Suspect me of what?” He did turn to Cliff now. “What is it you want me to do?”

“I want you to spy on her, of course. She’s up to something, seeing someone. God only knows what that woman’s capable of.”

Dillon grunted. He knew she was capable of making grown men cower, of scaring off any advances, of isolating herself completely with her sharp tongue and smothering arrogance. She was also capable of making him burn red-hot.

Was she capable of making an enemy who would wish her harm?

Dillon shook his head, feeling his tension simmer once again. “What do you mean, she’s seeing someone?”

“The other night at the party, I caught her sneaking back into the kitchen.”

With a dry look, Dillon said, “I can’t imagine Virginia sneaking anywhere. It’s not in her nature.”

“No, you’re right. She strutted back into the house, bold as you please, when she’d been out there conspiring with someone against me.”

Dillon pulled out a chair and straddled it. Cliff’s stupidity never ceased to amaze him. “Conspiring? How do you know she wasn’t with a lover?”

He grinned. “That’s exactly what she said! How about that—you two share a similar sense of humor.”

Dillon heard a noise and looked up. Laura Neil stood in the doorway, holding a tray with fresh coffee and two mugs. Dillon wondered how long she’d been standing there, but then decided it didn’t matter. He was more interested in the way the woman watched Cliff, sheer adoration clouding her eyes.

Cliff nodded to her and she entered. She leaned close to him while she poured the coffee, and asked if they needed anything else. Every so often, her gaze darted to Dillon. He almost felt sorry for her. It was obvious she was infatuated with Cliff, and just as obvious that Cliff had used his position to take advantage of her. To Dillon’s mind, it was one more reason to despise Virginia’s brother.

Cliff dismissed Laura. Dillon sipped from his cup, waiting. He knew his silence would annoy Cliff, so therefore his patience was its own reward.

After only a few seconds, Cliff exploded. “Well? What do you say?”

Dillon glanced at him over his mug. “To what? You haven’t asked me anything yet.”

“Oh, for…Will you check into it? Find out what Virginia is up to and who she’s involved with?”

“What’s in it for me?”

“A five-hundred-dollar bonus. Twice that if you come up with something concrete.”

The irony of it amused Dillon—that Cliff would be paying Dillon to spy on himself. But the little bastard was also spying on his sister, and Dillon’s suspicions were growing. He didn’t trust Cliff, not at all.

Dillon let Cliff wait while he pretended to think things over. Of course he’d agree to do it. It made perfect sense. If he was checking into things, Cliff wouldn’t be hiring someone else who would get in his way.

Dragging out the inevitable, and hoping for any tidbit of information that might help him, Dillon asked, “Any clues at all who it might be? Any leads?”

“Just the obvious. The guy must be someone who could benefit Virginia in some way, someone in the company who might be able to sway votes.”

From what he’d heard, Virginia always won every vote, so that theory didn’t make sense. He refrained from pointing that out to Cliff. “Anything else?”

Cliff shrugged. “The guy’s most likely passive, ineffectual, a spineless sort. You know how Virginia is. She’d never be able to get a man like you to put up with her carping and demands for some scheme of hers. And Virginia insists on complete obedience. She wouldn’t accept any defiance.”

Dillon couldn’t help himself; he grinned. “So I’m looking for a wimp?” The description was apt.

“Yes, but a wimp with connections. Someone who could do her some good.”

“But you’re a hundred percent positive she’s not involved in a personal relationship she just doesn’t want you to know about?”

Cliff was already shaking his head. “Not Virginia. Men are interested in her for one reason—to use her. And I’d want to know about that, too. Even though she’s sworn she’ll never marry, I have to protect her from those sorts. She’s too abrasive and too overweight to attract anyone with genuine feelings. She’d only end up hurt, or hurting the company.”

Abruptly, Dillon came to his feet. One more second with the loving brother and he’d throw him out the damn window. “I’ll check into things.” He crossed to the door, then turned back. “By the way, Virginia had some brake trouble today.” He watched Cliff closely, waiting.

“Oh?”

“She’s all right, but her car’s out of commission for a while. I gave her the company car to use.”

Cliff waved a hand, already distracted, as he gathered together the notes for his meeting. “That’s fine.”

Dillon clenched his jaw. He hadn’t been asking for permission, but rather watching for a reaction. He didn’t get one.

He jerked the door open and started out, saying over his shoulder, “I’m taking the rest of the day off. I’ll be in touch later.”

Cliff didn’t argue. He couldn’t have anyway. Dillon had already slammed the door.

chapter 4

VIRGINIA HAD JUST hung up the phone when the rap sounded on her office door. She glanced up, frustrated by the way her day had gone. First the problems with her car, then her run-in with Cliff. And her meeting hadn’t gone at all well. Today was not her day, and she was tired. A hot bath and a long night’s sleep seemed just the cure.

“Come in.”

Dillon stuck his head in the door. “You about ready to head home?”