Matchless Millionaires: An Improper Affair

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Kelly looked as if she were in agony.

Brenda apparently noticed, too, because she flashed a saucy smile at her daughter. “There’s no need to look panicked, Kelly. I’m just glad you’re having some—” she paused and gave Ryan a sweeping look “—fun. I was starting to worry about you, toots.”

“Why are you here?” Kelly asked, looking as if she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her.

Brenda focused her attention back on her daughter. “Why, to see you, of course!” She leaned in and kissed the air next to Kelly’s cheek. “And you know, I may need the teeny, tiniest—” she indicated how much by a small space between her index finger and thumb “—little loan.”

Brenda glanced at Ryan, her expression shrewd. “On the other hand, maybe these days you can afford more than a little loan….”

Ryan decided he’d heard enough. It was time he took over the situation.

“Come on in, Brenda,” he said.

“We’re just leaving, actually,” Kelly said quickly.

“No, you’re not.”

Brenda clapped her hands. “Oh, I love a man who takes charge.”

His eyes clashed with Kelly’s, before he looked back at Brenda. “Coffee?”

“I’d love some,” Brenda responded.

“Okay, then I’m leaving,” Kelly said.

He shrugged and turned toward the back of the house. He had some negotiating to do with Brenda Hartley, and if Kelly wasn’t around, so much the better.

Brenda started to follow him toward the back of the house.

“Fine,” Kelly said in exasperation behind them. “In that case, I’m going back upstairs to take a shower. Let me know when your coffee break is over.”

Back in the kitchen, he gestured Brenda toward a seat at the counter and removed the coffee carafe from its holder.

“How do you take it?” he asked.

“Black, no sugar.”

“I figured.”

He checked himself, waiting for the hate to kick in.

For years, he’d loathed Brenda Hartley for having an affair with Webb.

Somewhat surprisingly, however, all he felt at the moment was a cool detachment. He was prepared to deal with her in the same way he’d dealt with everything that had stood in his path to date—with unemotional, clear-eyed calculation.

He set a coffee cup down in front of Brenda and asked without preamble, “So why’d you take up with Webb?”

She sipped her coffee and took her time responding. “He was rich—” she gave a throaty laugh “—and good in bed.”

“He’s slime. His wife was dying.”

Brenda shrugged and suddenly she looked every one of her years. “For men like Webb, life’s too short to forgo the kicks.” She wagged a finger suddenly. “But don’t think he’s the only married man to wander. At least he was generous with the perks.”

“I just bet he was,” Ryan replied drily, leaning back against the counter and folding his arms. “But that generosity ended a long time ago and now you’re back to scavenging.”

Brenda’s brows snapped together. “I do not—“

“How much?” he interrupted.

She stopped. “How much what?”

“How much do you need from Kelly?”

Brenda sat back, a slow smile spreading across her face. “I like a man who’s willing to talk business.”

The next morning, when Kelly showed up for work at Distressed Success, Erica was waiting for her.

“Well,” Erica said, as Kelly set about getting ready to open the store for business, “how did your date with Ryan go?”

“Where do I begin?” Kelly responded drily. “Brenda showed up as I was trying to sneak out of the lodge and away from Ryan yesterday morning.”

Erica’s eyes widened and her jaw dropped. It was one of the few times Kelly had seen her at a loss for words.

“Wow … I’m not sure I know where to begin,” Erica said slowly. “Brenda’s in Tahoe? You slept with him? And what do you mean you were sneaking away?”

Kelly filled her in on the events of the weekend, omitting, however, some of the more salacious details. She ended with, “No wonder he changed his tune after that night at the White Fir!”

“Well,” Erica said, “you’re sure leading a more exciting life than I am. Mine’s a merry-go-round of work and kids. Yours is more interesting than watching the afternoon soaps.”

“I’d opt for boring in a heartbeat.”

Erica laughed. “Not with a yummy beefcake like Ryan Sperling around, you shouldn’t.”

“Haven’t you heard what I said? His whole aim was to try to get me into bed.”

“Yeah, that was more or less Greg’s primary goal in life when we first met.”

Kelly looked at Erica, a seed of doubt was sown. Her friend had been married close to ten years, she had more experience with men and she didn’t look nearly as condemning of Ryan.

“Are you saying Ryan isn’t wrong?” Kelly asked.

“No, he’s a rat,” Erica responded cheerfully, “but he’s a man, so the behavior’s understandable—predictable, even.”

“Thanks for the tip,” she said drily.

“Since Brenda is in town, remind me to hide some of the new stock that came in,” Erica replied. “Last time she was here, she made off with a new jewelry box and a small vase.”

As it turned out, Kelly spent the next days having Brenda as her houseguest—and trying to forget Ryan Sperling.

Luckily, she was forced to spend a significant amount of time at Distressed Success. Brenda, fortunately, was more than happy to entertain herself with the attractions of Tahoe and its casinos.

As she got ready for work on Thursday morning, Kelly thought with relief about the fact that her work at the lodge was nearly done. The furnishings had arrived for all the bedrooms, and except for waiting for an odd piece or two and hanging up a few more pictures, she was finished.

Just as she and Ryan were finished, she thought with remaining anger—and a pang or two. Soon, she’d never have to see him again. Her job at the lodge would be done and his month in Hunter’s Landing would be up.

He hadn’t tried to contact her since she’d left the lodge three days ago and, as much as she hated to admit it, it hurt that he hadn’t. She could only suppose that now that he knew she was clued in to his game, he’d moved on to other amusements.

Three days ago, when she’d come back down the stairs at the lodge after freshening up, she’d encountered Brenda in the foyer.

Not wanting another confrontation with Ryan, she’d asked sharply, “Ready?”

“Aren’t you going to kiss Ryan goodbye?” Brenda had responded, a gleam in her eye.

“We’ll be seeing each other again soon, I’m sure,” she’d hedged. “He’ll understand.”

“Take it from me, tootsie,” Brenda had advised. “If you want to keep a man, never leave without saying goodbye.”

Thinking about Brenda’s words now, Kelly sighed. The advice said it all about her relationship with her mother.

She glanced toward her bedroom doorway as Brenda appeared, as if on cue.

“I’m heading out,” Brenda announced.

“What?”

Brenda had gotten back so late last night, Kelly hadn’t seen her—she’d already been asleep.

She glanced down now at the carry-on bag at her mother’s side. “Where are you going?”

Brenda laughed. “Home. You didn’t think I was staying forever, did you?”

Clayburn was home again to Brenda these days, though her mother led such a peripatetic existence, Kelly wondered how long the current state of affairs would last.

She finished buttoning the jacket of her green pantsuit. “I’m just surprised, that’s all. You said nothing about leaving yesterday.”

Her mother waved a hand negligently. “You know I prefer living life in the moment. It makes things so much more interesting.”

Kelly helped her mother take her luggage outside, then paused beside Brenda’s car.

“You never told me how much you needed,” she said, remembering suddenly Brenda’s request when she’d shown up at the lodge earlier in the week.

“How much I needed for what?”

Kelly sighed. “When you arrived, you mentioned you needed a small loan.”

Brenda gave a throaty laugh and waved a hand dismissively. “Oh, that. It’s not necessary anymore.”

Kelly frowned. “What do you mean it’s not necessary? Did you win at the slot machines?”

Brenda laughed again. “Well … I suppose that’s what I should say.”

“Should?”

Brenda leaned in and lowered her voice, though no one else was around. “Your boyfriend asked me to keep this quiet, but what the hell? You should know.” She seemed to pause for dramatic effect, her eyes alight. “He gave me the money.”

“Ryan?”

Brenda straightened, a satisfied look on her face, and she patted Kelly’s cheek. “You have that man eating out of the palm of your hand. I always knew you were a smart girl.”

“How much did he give you?” she blurted.

Part of her didn’t want to know—dreaded knowing, actually—but the other part knew she had to find out.

Brenda hesitated. “Five thousand.”

“Dollars?”

Brenda laughed again. “What else is there? I knew he could afford more, but I also knew asking for more might make him suspicious. After all, I did say I needed a small loan from you.”

“How could you?” she asked, the question coming out like a wail. “How could you take money from him?”

Brenda sighed impatiently. “Why should I have turned him down?”

“Didn’t you think you might be creating … obligations for me?”

“Well, considering you’re already sleeping with him,” Brenda replied tartly, “I don’t see how that could be the case.”

Kelly opened and shut her mouth. It was useless. Arguing with Brenda was like banging her head against a brick wall. They came at things from two different sets of assumptions—two different world-views. She should have learned that by now.

“How did he get the money to you?” she demanded. “Not even someone as rich as Ryan carries around that much cash.”

“He had his people wire some money to me.”

“No wonder you had to stay in the area for a few days!”

“Listen, tootsie,” Brenda replied dismissively, “I’ve really got to go.” She checked her watch. “I have someone waiting for me at the casino.”

As Brenda gave her a quick kiss, Kelly thought that without a doubt the someone