Cross My Heart

Eleven

Ty knocked once on Lilly’s door and let himself in without waiting for her to answer. They needed to talk. Most of all, he needed to just be with her and know she really was safe. But when he stepped inside and shut the door behind him, he realized she was lying on top of his old double bed and was fast asleep.

He smiled and sat down beside her, watching as her chest rose and fell. Her face was so peaceful, so beautiful. His heart ached just looking at her. Far from getting her out of his system by making love with her, he’d only fallen harder and deeper. He reached out and brushed her hair off her cheek, letting his fingers linger on her soft skin.

He wondered what she thought about them being together last night. And he was curious to know how she’d handle that boyfriend of hers now that she’d been with Ty. All questions he wanted answers to, even though he sensed none of those answers mattered. Not to Ty’s future.

Whether or not she remained with the guy, she had a business back home that meant everything to her. A life that she’d created without him. What did she have here? Painful memories and an uncle who seemed to want her dead. Ty doubted his pull could overcome those obstacles.

For now they had more important things to think about than them. Their priority now had to be in proving her uncle was behind the two attempts on her life.

A few phone calls earlier confirmed that although someone had broken in, there were no fingerprints to go on. No leads. Ty knew someone had to have been watching Lilly, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Ty’s grocery trip this morning hadn’t been routine so unless someone had been outside his apartment, they wouldn’t know or anticipate Ty leaving Lilly alone. The police were investigating but that didn’t give Ty comfort as long as the culprit was still out there.

The only thing they had going for them was that her uncle was turning out to be an inept killer. Thank God.

He decided right then and there to call his assistant and turn his business over to Derek for the time being. Until this mess with Lilly was resolved, Ty wasn’t leaving her side.

Starting now, he thought, setting himself on top of the covers and pulling a pillow beneath his head. Then he wrapped one arm around her, snuggled her curves into his and settled in for the night.

Next thing he knew, the sun shone through the open window blinds. Beside him, Lilly lay facing him and when she stirred, her knee came into contact with his thigh.

She opened her eyes, looked directly at him and a warm smile curved her lips. “Well, this is a surprise,” she murmured.

“I came by to lure you into the kitchen for milk, cookies and late-night conversation but you were fast asleep.”

“So you decided to stay.” Laughter danced in her brown eyes, her joy at finding him here obvious.

Pleasure surged through him. “It is my room.”

She laughed. “Well at least I know now why I slept so well.”

“I’ll take that as a compliment,” he said as he caressed her cheek with the back of his hand. He didn’t see any reason to scare her by telling her he planned to be her twenty-four-seven bodyguard. “Seriously, are you okay?” he asked.

She nodded. “The paramedics said I’m fine and after your mother’s cooking, I’m even better.”

She obviously didn’t want to get into detail, but they had to touch on some important things. “I wasn’t talking about physically.”

She swallowed hard. “I know. I’m trying to avoid thinking about it,” she admitted.

“I wish that was the answer.” He paused, then asked, “Do you have a will?”

She blinked in surprise at his question. “Well, yes. I wrote one recently. Alex said anyone who owns a business needs to plan for all possibilities.”

Alex. Another conversation they needed to have. This time it was one he wished to avoid. Coming from Lilly, the man’s name reminded him better than anything else that she had another life, and everything inside him froze.

Ty cleared his throat. “A will ensures all your possessions will pass the way you want. Which means you need to claim the trust right away. As soon as you do, your uncle will have no claim to it. He’ll have no reason to kill you in the hopes of getting his hands on the money.” He spoke in a clipped, businesslike tone.

Then he rose, intending to get out of bed. They were too close, too cozy for comfort.

She touched his back, her hand warm through his shirt. “Ty, listen-”

“Your appointment is in the morning, right?” he asked, cutting her off.

“Yes. And we’ll talk some more about the trust fund and about my uncle later. Right now I need you to hear me out.” She paused. “Please,” she said, her tone plaintive.

He never could deny her anything. He lay back, propping his hand beneath his arms as he stared at the ceiling. “I’m listening.”

She breathed in deep. “I called Alex after you fell asleep the other night.”

He turned to look her way. In her Target flannel pajama pants and men’s T-shirt, she looked so soft and vulnerable, he had to remind himself he was the one with his head on the chopping block.

“I broke it off with him,” she said, taking him off guard.

Ty tried not to overreact to the news. He couldn’t allow himself to get his hopes up that her decision would affect his life. But he couldn’t control the kernel of hope lodged in his chest.

A flush stained her cheeks as she explained, “Despite what happened between us, I’m not the type to cheat.”

“I know.” With her words came the realization that he hadn’t been in touch with Gloria at all. Not once since Lilly’s return. He had some nerve being upset about her love life when he hadn’t put his own in order.

She bit down on her lower lip, pausing in thought before continuing. “After being with you, I couldn’t pretend he didn’t exist and I couldn’t go on the way I’d been doing, either.”

“And how was that?” Ty asked.

“Well, I’d been avoiding giving Alex an answer on his marriage proposal and now I know why.”

Marriage, he thought, his stomach churning. “I didn’t realize it was that serious.”

Her eyes remained solemn, her expression even more serious. She nodded. “It was an important relationship in my life. I can’t deny that.” She toyed with the comforter. “I don’t have many close friends in the city. My job just doesn’t lend itself toward meeting people and I’m not a bar person. Alex and I had a lot in common, at least on the surface.”

Ty hated hearing about the guy, yet he also knew he needed to listen if he wanted to know what made Lilly tick. “So why didn’t you say yes before I ever showed up?”

She smiled grimly. “He’s a good man and he loves me. And he could give me a warm, secure future. But I always knew something was missing.”

He wondered if he’d regret asking his next question. “And what was that?”

“He wasn’t you.” She reached out, touching his cheek with her hand. The simple gesture reached past his barriers and into his heart.

Every instinct he possessed told him to back off. Ty prided himself on possessing good, solid instincts but he wasn’t surprised Lilly was able to overcome them. With a groan, he rolled over and pulled her into his arms, his mouth coming down hard on hers.

He felt her desperation in her kiss and in the frantic way she ripped at his clothes, her desire as strong as his. Only when they were naked, hot skin against hot skin, did he let himself calm a little. Enough to remind himself that he wanted to feel every last minute he had with her.

And he did, all the way from foreplay to climax, when he lost himself inside her moist, wet sheath, her fingers digging into his back. They lay together for a while, savoring the moment before he headed to the bathroom briefly then returned and climbed back into the warm bed.

She curled right back into him. “I can’t believe you had protection,” she said, laughing.

He grinned. “The firemen said to take anything that’s important because I might not get back into the apartment for a while.” He shrugged. “I took what was important.”

“You’re so bad.” She snuggled backwards, her behind pressing into his groin, which had already begun to harden again.

“No, I’m good. And smart.” He pressed a kiss against the back of her head.

“And egotistical,” she said, teasing. “But we need to get going.”

So much for a second round, he thought wryly.

“Will you come with me to meet with the trustee?”

“I already put Derek in charge for a while. Until we figure out who’s behind the attempts on your life, I’m not leaving your side.”

He only wished she’d never want to leave his.

“I appreciate you,” she murmured.

As she dozed off again in his arms, he wondered why that couldn’t be enough.

LACEY SHOWERED and dressed quickly. Now, as she and Ty were led to the office of Paul Dunne, the man who’d been trustee since the death of her parents, she couldn’t help but shiver.

She knew from just the fact that he’d been left in charge, that he was someone her parents must have trusted. She also knew she had no relationship with him then or now. She hadn’t thought much about that fact back when she was a child, but she did today. Paul Dunne had left her in her uncle’s care and if he’d checked up on her at all, he’d done so from a distance. He’d probably taken Marc Dumont at his word that Lacey had been a problem child. Understanding thing didn’t leave Lacey feeling charitable toward the older man even if she didn’t know him at all.

The woman who’d greeted them in the reception area knocked on the closed door and stepped inside, leaving Lacey and Ty waiting in the hall for a moment before she stepped out again. “Mr. Dunne will see you now.”

“Thank you.” Lacey walked inside, Ty right behind her.

An older man with gray hair and a navy power suit rose to greet them. “Lillian, it’s a pleasure to meet you at last.” He came around the desk and clasped her hand. “I was so relieved to hear you’re alive after all this time. You must tell me where you’ve been all these years.”

Lacey forced a smile. “The past is the past. I’d rather look to the future,” she told the man. “Isn’t that why we’re meeting? So you can explain what my parents’ wishes were and how things will work from here?”

He nodded.

Lacey took that as her cue and seated herself in one of two large chairs across from his old wooden desk. Once again, Ty followed her lead and took a seat in the other chair. Lacey folded her hands in her lap and waited for the trustee to speak.

As if sensing her discomfort, Ty reached over and covered her hand with his stronger, warmer one, offering her his strength. She appreciated it more than he realized.

The older man cleared his throat. “I’d be happy to get started. However I’d prefer to discuss these matters in private,” he said, his gaze settling on Ty.

Dunne obviously wanted Ty to leave the room, but Lacey decided she was calling the shots. She was too nervous to remember anything said in this room today and another set of ears would help her recall it. Besides, Paul Dunne’s cold aura gave Lacey the creeps. And the last reason she wanted Ty here had everything to do with the strange things happening around her lately. She’d be with people she knew well and trusted or none at all.

“Ty stays,” Lacey insisted.

Dunne nodded. “As you wish.” He settled into his chair and pulled out a blue-backed set of papers. “These are your parents’ final wishes.”

He read through the basic terms of their will and she discovered that in addition to the huge sum of money in the trust, her mother and father’s house would also revert to her. Stunned, Lacey barely heard the rest.

Finally the older man finished. “Do you understand what I just read?”

She shook her head. “I’m sorry. Can you repeat that?”

“The gist of it is you must claim the money in person on your twenty-seventh birthday or any time thereafter. Should you die prior to that date, the money is divided between your father’s brothers Robert and Marc.”

Lacey shook her head. “That can’t be right. Uncle Marc always said I would inherit at twenty-one.” In fact he’d counted on her signing the handling of her money over to him by then; the day she overheard that conversation was still vivid in her mind.

Beside her, Ty remained silent.

Paul Dunne steepled his fingers and met her gaze. “I can assure you these are your parents’ wishes. I can’t imagine why your uncle would have told you otherwise.”

“Probably because he was hoping he could have convinced her to trust him enough to sign her money over to him when she was younger,” Ty muttered in disgust.

Lacey nodded in agreement. Ty’s reasoning made perfect sense, but the trustee shook his head.

“Lillian, you must admit you were a difficult child. I’m certain if your uncle misled you it was only because he knew someone with your-how shall I say it-your lack of maturity needed him more than you understood.”

She pushed herself out of her seat. “You’re condoning his lie?” Not to mention validating what she’d already thought of Paul Dunne. He was a disinterested paper pusher who hadn’t given a damn about her as a child any more than he did now.

“Of course not. I’m just offering a possible explanation. Your uncle’s lies were uncalled for. Assuming things happened as you remembered them. Isn’t it possible that with the trauma of losing your parents, you were confused back then?”

Lacey stepped forward at the same time Ty rose and pulled her backwards until he had an arm wrapped around her waist. “I think speculating about the past is useless. What Lilly needs now is for you to explain to her what the next steps are for her to claim the money on her twenty-seventh birthday which is-”

“Next month,” she said, suddenly becoming more aware of the other parts of her parents’ will. “Why twenty-seven? Isn’t that an odd number?”

Paul straightened his papers. “It isn’t uncommon for parents and guardians to delay the distribution of money to their children until they’ve grown up. In this case, there are yearly allotments paid out of the interest on the money that came due each year. Those were designated for the care and upkeep of the house and land and were paid to your guardian, Marc Dumont. Your guardian also had the right to request money at the trustee’s discretion for your care.”

Lacey did her best not to snort at that last comment.

“But to answer your question, the reason you can’t claim the money until you turn twenty-seven is that your parents wanted you to have time to really live. They wanted you to go to college, or Europe, etc. while you were young. Once again, the interest would have paid for those things according to the trust agreement. They wanted you to learn about life before inheriting. Otherwise they feared you might go through the money unwisely.”

“Little did they know how things would turn out,” she said to Ty.

She ran her hands up and down her arms. Her parents had wanted her to have valuable life experiences and she’d had more than they could ever have imagined. Instead of college, she’d ended up in New York City barely surviving thanks to her uncle, her so-called guardian.

Ty pulled her close, his strong presence the only thing holding her up.

“Still, isn’t twenty-seven an odd number? Wouldn’t they have picked a number like twenty-five? Or thirty?” Ty asked.

“Your mother was a sentimental woman. She met your father at the age of twenty-seven. They married on April twenty-seventh.” He shrugged. “Your father lived to indulge her,” he explained.

“That makes an odd sort of sense,” Ty said.

Hearing about her parents caused a lump to fill her throat and Lacey could only nod in agreement.

“So on Lacey’s birthday, she can come here and sign the papers?” Ty asked, obviously understanding that she was unable to ask coherent questions herself.

“It’s a little more complicated than that, but essentially yes. She signs and the papers need to be filed with the bank. Then she’ll be able to access the money.” He cleared his throat. “Now if you two will excuse me, I have another appointment I must prepare for.”

Lacey was not ready to be dismissed. “Just how much money are we talking about, exactly?”

“Well there has been fluctuation of interest rates over the years.” Paul Dunne fidgeted with his tie. “But approximately two point five million dollars.”

And Lacey knew she only had to stay alive long enough to claim it.

They exited Dunne’s offices and Ty led her out onto the street. He knew she’d been shaken by all she’d heard, especially the fact that she’d inherited her parents’ home. He knew better than to bring up the subject now. She needed time to digest the information.

Ty stopped at a drugstore next door to the law firm and bought her a bottle of water before they settled into the car.

“You okay?” he asked, as he opened the bottle and handed it to her.

She nodded and drank some. “Surreal doesn’t begin to describe things, huh?”

“That’s one word for it.”

She gripped the bottle hard. “The terms of the trust are proof. Uncle Marc is out to make sure I don’t live to see my twenty-seventh birthday.”

He let out a groan, hating to agree with her. He had no choice. “I don’t see how it could be anyone else. But he’s not going to touch you.”

She grinned for the first time since walking into the office. “What would I do without you?” she asked, impulsively leaning over and kissing him on the cheek.

He sure as hell didn’t want to find out, but they both knew she’d survive just fine. She’d already proven she could.

He turned his attention to starting the car. “I say we go back to my mother’s. You can hang out with Digger, rest a little this afternoon and come with me to Night Owl’s later on. I have to work the night shift and you need to get out among people.”

“Ooh, a night out. I can’t wait!” She perked up a little, her shoulders straightening at the thought. “Think I can help out, too? I’m so tired of not being busy.”

Another sign this little idyll between them was soon coming to an end, Ty thought. “I’m sure you can convince the guy in charge to let you do some work.”

Because that guy in charge tonight happened to be him, and he couldn’t deny her anything. Including a return to New York City and the real life she loved.

MARC HAD TAKEN the morning off from work to have his tuxedo fitted for his wedding, which was still scheduled for the first of next month. Of course, he still hadn’t told his soon-to-be wife that Lilly’s birthday a few days before that would effectively ensure he not only had no trust fund, he also had no place to live. Lilly would inherit the mansion as she rightly should, and he’d be out on the street. He couldn’t imagine her allowing him to stay on and he’d never ask for the privilege. He certainly hadn’t earned any rights at all.

He’d already been viewing luxury rentals closer to Albany. His salary allowed for an upscale standard of living, thank goodness. He just didn’t know if upscale would be enough for Francie, for whom nothing ever seemed to be enough. Marc didn’t know why he loved her but he did. Flaws and all. Perhaps losing her would be his punishment for past sins, he thought, not for the first time. He also loved her daughter Molly and felt certain he’d lose her, as well, just as soon as she accepted the ugly truth about his past with Lilly.

He pulled into the long driveway leading to the house and immediately realized he had company. The black Cadillac indicated an ominous visitor. One he’d been deliberately ignoring since receiving the message demanding an audience. Marc had nothing to say to Paul Dunne. As far as Marc was concerned, the man had dug his own grave by siphoning funds from Lilly’s estate over the years.

Marc pulled his car up beside Dunne’s and stepped out into the cool fall air.

“You’ve been avoiding me,” the other man said.

“That’s because we have nothing to discuss.”

The other man raised an eyebrow. “Apparently you aren’t living in reality but I plan to enlighten you, starting now.”

Marc slipped his keys into his pocket. “You know what? I don’t have time for this.” He turned and started for the house.

“Make time.” Paul stopped him with a hand on his arm. “Lillian cannot live to see her twenty-seventh birthday.”

Marc rotated slowly. “Are you insane? Embezzling money is bad enough. You’re looking to add murder to your list of accomplishments?”

Paul let out a laugh, his eyes filled with crazed determination. “Of course not. I intend to add it to yours.”

“Now I know you’ve lost your mind.” It took everything inside of Marc not to show his own panic at the man’s words. He needed to stay calm and outtalk him, but first he had to discover what Paul Dunne had in mind.

Marc paused, deliberately remaining silent, waiting for Dunne to explain.

“The girl can’t inherit. It’s as simple as that.”

“Why? Because as soon as she does, she’ll find out about the missing money and have you arrested and thrown in jail?” Nothing would make Marc happier.

“Because I’d much rather have you inherit the shrinking pot of gold. I have as much on you as you have on me. Which means I know you won’t report me to the authorities,” Paul said with too much satisfaction. He rubbed his hands together, not due to the cool weather, Marc knew, but because he was certain he had the upper hand.

Marc swallowed hard. He wanted all the facts on the table. No surprises. “What is it you think you know?”

Paul grinned, his expression pure evil. “I know you lied to Lillian about the age at which she’d inherit so that you could manipulate her into signing her money over to you, her kindly uncle. And when that didn’t work, I know your real personality came out and you abused the poor girl. And I know you basically sold her to Florence Benson.”

Marc leaned against the trunk of his car for support.

Paul glanced up at the clear blue as if in thought.

Marc doubted he needed the time to think. No doubt he was just prolonging the agony.

“Oh, did I mention that I’m well aware of how you manipulated and bribed people in the foster care system to have Daniel Hunter removed from the Benson home. Essentially I know everything about you.”

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.