As Marc thought about everything he stood to lose, his job, his reputation such as it was, and his fiancée, fear crept through him, slowly at first before exploding inside his head. “Fine,” he spat. “We’re at a stalemate. I won’t report you and you won’t report me.”

“Good. Now let’s discuss getting you to the point where you inherit, not Lillian. You need to take care of her. For good.”

“Hell no,” Marc said, nausea swamping him. “I’d rather let you spill what you know and take my chances with what you can and cannot prove than do your dirty work.”

Paul straightened his shoulders. As if he sensed Marc’s fear, he stepped close, suffocating him with his presence. “I’ve already tried to handle things on my own but I’ve discovered that when you hire someone, they need to have something at stake or else incompetence rules.”

“You had someone try to run her down at the mall? And set fire to Tyler Benson’s apartment?” Marc asked, realization dawning.

Paul neither confirmed nor denied the accusations but Marc knew he was dead-on.

“You’re disgusting,” he muttered.

“Practical, just as you used to be. Lack of alcohol has dulled your edge.”

Marc shook his head. “It’s made me human.”

The trustee shrugged. “You just see to it that Lillian suffers an unfortunate accident or I will. And just who do you think they’ll blame when she dies? Her uncle, of course,” he said without missing a beat. “After all, your reformation must be an act. You wanted the money all along, as I’ll have to tell them. And you need the money now to support your greedy wife or else you’ll lose her. That’s motive if you ask me. Oh, and don’t worry about your brother. I’ll see to it he gets enough inheritance to care for his wife. He won’t question anything beyond that. Robert was always scatterbrained. He doesn’t even know how much was in the actual trust fund.”

An old rage raced through Marc as he recalled the years of dealing with this man. Whenever Marc needed money, he’d have to go through Paul. Marc had asked Paul for money years before, and the other man had complied, using the interest in Lilly’s trust account. Marc had paid Florence Benson with the money. It was no wonder the other man made it a point to find out what Marc had needed the money for.

Beneath his suit, Marc broke into a heated sweat and the desire for a drink to numb the pain was all-consuming.

“I really need to be going. No need to make a decision now. You can get back to me. Lilly’s birthday isn’t for a few weeks.” Paul patted Marc condescendingly on the back.

Marc shrugged off his touch.

“If you remain a good boy, you can console yourself with the fact that you won’t have to go through alcohol withdrawal in jail. That wouldn’t be pleasant at all.” Paul turned and headed for his car, settling himself inside and starting the engine.

He waved as if they’d had a social visit, then pulled down the long driveway, leaving Marc alone to ponder his fate which looked bleaker by the minute.

Marc was cornered and the bastard knew it. All choices led to the same result. He could do as Paul asked and never be able to look himself in the mirror again-which probably wouldn’t matter since he’d end up in jail-or he’d wind up there anyway thanks to Paul Dunne’s so-called proof and the other man’s stellar reputation in the community.

“Damn.” He kicked his foot against his tire, accomplishing little perhaps except breaking his toe.

He winced at the throbbing pain and slowly walked to the house. At one time, the mansion had represented everything he’d wanted out of life. Today the old house merely stood as glaring proof of what jealousy of his brother had done to Marc’s life. How ironic, now that he could no longer stand to look at the place, he was destined to get his wish and lose the house and a whole lot more.

Unless he could find a way to outwit Paul Dunne. It was either that or cave in to his demands. What a choice, Marc thought. Unfortunately it was nothing more than he deserved.

Twelve

Later that night, Ty stood behind the bar at Night Owl’s, filling in for Rufus so he could go to his son’s Back to School night. The place filled quickly and he appreciated how many people remembered Lilly and stopped to talk to her, making her feel welcome. He was glad she didn’t have time to think about trust funds, her uncle, or someone trying to hurt her for at least a few hours.

When his cell phone rang, he glanced down and saw Derek’s number. He picked up, told Derek to hang on, then turned to the other regular bartender. “Hey, Mike. Hold down the fort for a minute, will you?”

The guy nodded, freeing Ty up to take the call. He glanced at Lilly who was deep in conversation with Molly. Certain she was in good hands for a little while, Ty walked into the hall and closed himself in the quiet back office.

“What’s up?” he asked Derek.

“I think we got ourselves a break.” The other man’s excitement hummed through the cellular lines. “Dumont had a visitor around 11:30 this morning.”

Ty seated himself on the top of Derek’s old desk. “Finally. Who was it?” he asked, his own adrenaline increasing.

“I didn’t know at first so I had Frank run a check on the license plate and get this. The vehicle belongs to Paul Dunne, of Dunne and Dunne, LLP. It’s a-”

“Law firm,” Ty said, finishing Derek’s sentence. “I know exactly who we’re dealing with.”

What he didn’t know was why Paul Dunne would pay Dumont a visit unless it involved Lilly’s trust fund. Of course it was possible the two men were friends, but it was even more likely Dunne was filling Dumont in on his earlier meeting with Lilly.

“Good job. Keep it up.”

“Will do, boss. Anything else I can do for you?”

He thought for a minute before replying. “As a matter of fact, there is. You can have Frank see what kind of connection, if any, he can dig up between Marc Dumont and Paul Dunne other than Paul being trustee of the Dumont estate.”

Hell, Ty figured Hunter could ask Molly to get some answers out of Anna Marie, as well. That is if Molly was willing. Ty had no doubt she had a thing for Hunter, but he didn’t know whether she’d put her love life before her family. They didn’t have much time to find out since they didn’t know when her uncle would strike next.

“Consider it done,” Derek said.

“Thanks.” At least Ty would get information from somewhere.

Derek disconnected the line first.

Ty dialed Hunter who was working at his office and asked the other man to drop everything and meet Ty and Lilly here for a quick meeting. Then Ty headed back to the door, a part of him frustrated that he couldn’t do the digging himself. He enjoyed his work and would love to be the one to find the information to nail that bastard Dumont once and for all. But keeping Lilly safe was his priority and he needed to be around to do that.

He rejoined the noisy bar and his gaze immediately zeroed in on Lilly. He immediately decided not to tell her about Paul Dunne’s visit to her uncle just yet. She’d been so excited to join him tonight, to see how he worked, who his friends were and to just enjoy the evening. He didn’t see the point in disrupting the only time she’d had to forget about her problems. She’d find out soon enough once Hunter arrived.

He wiped down the bar with a damp rag, lost in thought, his attention drifting to Lilly in between serving drinks.

Finally he heard a familiar voice. “Sea Breeze please, Bartender.”

He glanced up into the eyes of Gloria, the woman he’d been dating-make that sleeping with-up until Lilly’s return to his life.

Since he and Lilly had discussed Alex this morning, Gloria had been on Ty’s mind. He’d decided to set up a time for them to meet while Lilly remained at home with his mother. He’d called her while Lilly showered, but she hadn’t been home and he hadn’t felt comfortable leaving a message. For one thing, he didn’t want her calling him back while Lilly was around and for another, Gloria deserved better than a quick brush-off.

Sometimes, no matter how well he tried to plan, life had a way of screwing things up anyway, he thought.

“Hi, stranger.” Gloria squeezed in between two people lined up at the bar and leaned closer.

“Hi, yourself.” He treated her to a warm smile and mixed her drink, sliding the glass toward her. “Here you go.”

“Thanks. Do you think you can take a short break so we can talk?” she asked, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.

She’d pulled her dark hair into an updo thing he usually found sexy but now he just felt sick. Still, he hoped he had a good enough read on their no-strings relationship that she wouldn’t be needing her drink after they spoke.

He nodded and came around to the front of the bar. On the way, his gaze strayed to Lilly but thankfully she seemed busy.

He took Gloria’s elbow and led her to a private corner where they could talk without being overheard. “I’ve been meaning to call,” he said, hearing his lame words for what they were.

“We’ve never played games before,” she said, her voice light and chiding despite the hurt he noticed in her eyes.

He acknowledged the truth with a tilt of his head.

She let out a breath of air before continuing. “I didn’t grow up in Hawken’s Cove but as a waitress, I’ve heard the town gossip over the years. And I know Lilly Dumont’s back home.”

Ty opened his mouth, then shut it again. He wasn’t sure where Gloria was going with the conversation, since he’d never discussed Lilly with her or with anyone for that matter. Not in years. His heart beat rapidly in his chest, not wanting to hurt this woman who’d been good to him, any more than he wanted to continue with their relationship. Since Lilly’s return, he understood there wasn’t room for anybody else in his life, even if she didn’t stay there.

“In fact, I hear Lilly’s living with you. Or she was until the fire.” Gloria reached out and touched his arm. “I’m glad you’re okay,” she said softly. “Even if I do want to throttle you.”

“Gloria, I really am sorry.”

“But you never promised me anything more than what we had. I get it.” But a sad smile lifted her lips. “I’ve been here for a while watching you.”

“I didn’t realize.”

She shook her head. “You wouldn’t have. You were too busy watching her. And I suddenly understood exactly why I could never get through to you.” Looking tired, she leaned to the side, propping one shoulder against the wall. “It was because your heart belonged to someone else.”

He was surprised she could see him so clearly. “You and I had some good times.” The words were lame but true. “I thought we were both looking for the same thing in a relationship.” Which was why the fact that she was hurt surprised him now. He’d genuinely believed they both wanted an easygoing thing that was convenient when it happened to work out.

“That’s the problem with men,” Gloria said with a dull laugh. “You take words at face value. Of course I said it, because that’s what you wanted. But deep down, I was hoping I’d be the one to break through those walls of yours, you know?”

“I guess that’s the problem. I didn’t know,” he said, feeling somewhat betrayed by the lie, even as he understood the reasoning behind it. If she’d admitted what she’d really desired, he’d have walked away fast.

She shrugged. “I wish you well, Ty. I really do.” She turned and walked toward the door.

He’d caught the glimmer of tears in her eyes and so he let her go. There was no reason to call her back. No way he’d give her false hope.

She was right. Lilly owned his heart.

LACEY PASTED a smile on her face and tried to focus on what Molly was saying, something about the great sales at the mall next week. But Lacey couldn’t think beyond today let alone seven days from now. Every time she tried to plan ahead in her mind, anxiety raced through her. Still, she knew she couldn’t stay away from work much longer. She’d already been in Hawken’s Cove too long.

Long enough to confirm her feelings for Ty and the direct conflict they posed to her established life at home. It wasn’t that she’d denied her feelings for the last few days, but she’d refused to dissect them, wanting to live in the moment. Living for the moment was easier than making difficult choices. Choices that might rip them apart again, this time forever.

Unfortunately, this moment also included Ty deep in conversation with a woman at the far end of the room. Lacey couldn’t tear her gaze away. She’d watched the pretty dark-haired woman make her way to the bar and talk to Ty. He’d mixed her a drink and a second later, he’d come around to where she stood, taken her hand and led her to a secluded corner of the room.