He walked into her office exactly on time. The jeans and T-shirt had been replaced with slacks and a long-sleeved shirt, the gold hoop with a small diamond. But there was still smoldering sensuality just under the surface and the promise of ten kinds of fabulous sin in his eyes.
“I’m sorry about your uncle,” Jill said as she stood and motioned to the chair in front of her desk.
Tina mouthed the words great butt, then fanned her self with one hand as she closed the door with the other.
“Donovan and I weren’t exactly on speaking terms,” Riley said as he took a seat. “I haven’t seen the bastard in nearly ten years, so don’t expect me to be sorry he’s gone now.”
He’d filled out, she thought as she took in his broad shoulders and muscular chest. Time had been more than kind to Gracie’s crush. What on earth would her friend say when Jill told her that Riley had been in her office?
The man in question frowned slightly. “I know this is going to sound like a line, but do I know you?”
“I’m a ghost from your past,” she said with a smile. “I’m the judge’s daughter. Jill Strathern.”
His expression remained blank.
“Gracie’s best friend.”
That got his attention. Riley stiffened. “Gracie Landon? You knew her?”
“Unfortunately, I was her partner in crime.” Jill held her hands palm up. “Let me just say how sorry I am for everything we ever did to you.”
“Gracie was creative. I’ll give her that. And persistent.” He glanced around the room as if expecting her to jump out of a closet. “What’s she doing these days?”
“She makes amazingly beautiful wedding cakes. Some of them were just featured in People magazine, which was fabulous. She’s been inundated by orders from the rich and famous.”
“Good for her. Does she live in town?”
Jill had to admit she sort of liked seeing the sexy and brooding Riley Whitefield look nervous.
“Los Angeles.”
“Ah.”
“She never visits.”
Riley visibly relaxed in his chair. “So, about the will.”
“Yes. The will.” Jill pulled out a folder and handed it to him. “Your uncle left most of his sizable estate to you. I’ve made a copy of the will for you to read at your leisure. It’s fairly long, with lots of asides and opinions. There are a few donations to charities.”
Riley didn’t bother opening the folder. “I’m surprised,” he said. “I didn’t think the old man had it in him.”
“I know the two of you were estranged, but your uncle did a lot for the town. He will be missed by many.”
Riley’s dark eyes filled with loathing. “At the risk of sounding like a complete bastard, I don’t give a shit. As far as I’m concerned, my uncle was a miserly old prick who lived to torture those less well-off. He let his own sister die of cancer. By the time I learned she was sick, it was too late. After her death I found a letter she’d writ ten to him asking for money for the operation that could have saved her life. He sent it back, along with a note telling her to get help from the government.”
Jill didn’t know what to say. “I’m sorry,” she murmured.
“So am I. I was nineteen at the time. Fresh off my divorce. I’d left town to make my way in the world and my mother knew I didn’t have any money myself. Of course if she’d told me what was going on, I would have gotten it out of her brother one way or another. But she didn’t. The first I knew anything was wrong was when the county hospital called to tell me she was dying.” He leaned forward. “So I don’t care about my uncle’s donations to charity. I want to take whatever he’s leaving me and spend it in a way that will make him turn over in his grave. I consider it a personal mission.”
She could understand his need for revenge. Riley didn’t strike her as the kind of man who would forgive and forget. There was also the fact that his uncle had committed an unforgivable act of neglect. To have turned away his own sister. She shivered.
“I’m surprised you didn’t try to get back at him while he was still alive,” she said.
Riley relaxed back in his chair. “Who’s saying I didn’t? As far as I could tell, the only thing he loved in his life was that damn bank. But times have been hard on financial institutions and he’d been forced to take on a partner.”
Jill had heard something about that. “You?”
Riley nodded. “Just as soon as I find out who he’s left his share to, I plan to buy them out and close the bank.”
“Yes, well, there are some complications.”
“Of course there are.” He crossed his legs, resting his right ankle on his left knee. “Tell me about them.”
Jill knew he wasn’t going to like what she had to say. “While you are your uncle’s sole heir, the inheritance isn’t left to you outright. His share of the bank, along with the assets, will be given to you upon meeting his conditions.”
He raised one dark eyebrow. “Which are?”
“You have to become respectable. Apparently your uncle was concerned about what he called your wild ways. Therefore to inherit his portion of the bank and his assets, you have to run for mayor of Los Lobos and win. The election is next June. That gives you just over ten months to make this happen.”
Riley stood and crossed to the far side of the room. Despite the heat of the moment, Jill couldn’t help but notice the butt Tina had admired. It was pretty amazing.
“He was smart,” Riley said contemptuously. “I can just walk away, right?”
“Sure. If you want. The assets go to charity and the bank gets sold.”
“Great. I can buy it and—”
She shook her head. “You can’t. He makes it clear you’re not allowed to bid on the bank if you don’t meet the conditions of the will.” There was one more thing. She wasn’t sure if Riley would consider it good or bad.
“Your uncle’s assets were considerable. If you don’t go through with running for mayor, you’re not just walking away from the bank, you’re turning your back on a lot of cash.”
“How much?” Riley asked.
“After taxes?” She pushed a few buttons on her calculator. “My conservative estimate is ninety-seven million dollars.”
CHAPTER SEVENTEEN
MAC ROUNDED the corner by Jill’s office only to nearly run into someone coming the other way. He took a step back to apologize, then stared in disbelief at the man standing there.
Tall, dark with perfect features. He even recognized the scar by the right corner of the guy’s mouth—Mac had been the one to give it to him.
Mac shoved his hands into his slack pockets—whether to keep from shaking hands or punching, he wasn’t sure—and allowed his surprise to show in his voice.
“Riley Whitefield. I never expected to see you back here.”
Riley frowned. “Mac? Holy hell.” He looked him up and down. “You’re the sheriff?”
At least for the next couple of months, Mac thought grimly. Until he’d taken his temper out on Andy Murphy, the last fight Mac had been in had been his senior year of high school, and his opponent had been Riley. Funny how both events had completely changed his life.
“What brings you to town?” Mac asked, ignoring Riley’s question. “You’re not staying long, are you?”
Riley grinned. “I see you’re still determined to be one of the good guys. Guess that means you’re still finishing last.”
The comment cut a little too close to home for Mac’s liking. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“Going to run me in if I don’t?” Riley glanced around at the shops on either side of the street, at the overgrown trees and the kids playing in the park on the corner. “It looks the same. I can’t decide if that’s good or bad.”
Mac shrugged.
“I’m here because my uncle passed away. I had to stop by and see the lawyer handling the case.”
Jill, Mac thought, and wondered what she’d thought of his old friend.
“Get your check?” Mac asked.
“It’s a little more complicated than that. But I’ll be taking everything that old bastard had.”
Mac remembered how Donovan Whitefield had made his nephew’s life hell. He’d heard that the cheap son of a bitch had let his own sister die of cancer rather than pay for her medical bills. While he might not want Riley around making trouble, he couldn’t blame the man for hating his uncle.
“Got a time frame?” Mac asked.
“You that eager to get rid of me?”
“Pretty much.”
“Sorry, Mac. I’m going to have to become a temporary resident. But don’t worry. It’s just until I satisfy the terms of my uncle’s will. I don’t want to be here any more than you want me here. See ya.”
With that, Riley walked to the curb and climbed into his car. A rental, Mac thought, taking in the stickers on the back of the rearview mirror. So what had become of the man who had once been his best friend? Where did he live and what did he do?
Mac would put money on Riley being successful, regardless of his occupation.
He glanced toward Jill’s office, then turned and headed back the other way. He didn’t want to talk to her right now. Not while he had questions about Riley and the will and he knew she wouldn’t give him answers.
Funny how he thought taking the job of sheriff in Los Lobos would mean long, slow, boring days. Right now he could use a little dull in his life, but it didn’t look as if he was going to get it.
JILL CAME HOME to an empty house and an uncomfortable silence. She didn’t need to check around to realize that her aunt was still out of town with Rudy, although she did push the flashing message light button.
“Hi, Jill, it’s Bev. Rudy and I are still in San Francisco. It’s so beautiful here, I can see why you love it. We’re going to stay a few more days. I’ve made arrangements for Emily to stay with my friend Chris during the day. Chris has that fabulous craft store by the supermarket. She teaches classes and Emily will simply love it. Anyway, I’m fine.” Her aunt sighed, then laughed. “Better than fine. Rudy’s amazing.” She lowered her voice. “I’ll fill you in on the details when I get home. Love you.”
There was a click, then the message ended.
Jill stared at the machine. “How much of this impromptu visit is about young love and how much of it is you avoiding me, Rudy?”
She still didn’t know what to think about all that had happened. What other secrets had he been keeping from her?
She hated to have been played for a fool, but there was no other way around it. Rudy had acted all normal and righteous around her, but in truth he was a criminal.
“It shouldn’t be a surprise,” she told herself. “You knew he was a snake when you let him in.”
True, but she’d thought he was a good snake.
In her bedroom she found a Post-it note on her mirror and a letter tucked into the frame. The Post-it reminded her of a pier committee meeting in a couple of days. The time for the celebration neared and there was plenty of work to be done.
“I get to stuff goodie bags,” Jill muttered. “What a fabulous use of my talent.”
The letter was an offer from the firm in San Diego. She fingered the expensive paper, but didn’t pull it out and read it again.
The job offer was fabulous. Great salary and benefits. A clear plan for promotion. A chance to learn about different industries while continuing to advance in her specialties. As she’d been careful to never mention her relationship with Rudy and the potential three million in billing, they wouldn’t miss the money. It was perfect. So why hadn’t she called?
