Chapter Nine
No! She dropped the file onto her desk and thought she might be sick. A cold sweat broke out across her forehead. So he’d signed a few documents. Big deal. That didn’t make him a criminal—just an opportunist. Oh, God. Insides churning, she pulled out a few more of the files she’d worked on recently. When she’d typed some of the leases for properties in town, she wondered why she hadn’t looked deeper into the thick sheaves of paper in the document files. In several cases, there was proof that the person who had originally owned the building had gotten himself into financial trouble, and good old Jonah McKee had bailed him out by lending him money, which was inevitably defaulted on. The owner had no choice but to turn over the property used as collateral.
Jonah was as bad as Dani had said he was—maybe worse. And Max was following in his footsteps.
Max’s signature wasn’t on any of the older documents, but in the past few months that he’d worked for his father, he’d signed several of the leases.
How could she have been such a fool? She dropped her head into her hands and barely heard the sound of footsteps in the outer hallway. Her heart jumped when she realized she wasn’t alone, and she’d started to return the documents to the file drawers when the door to the suite swung open.
Jonah McKee loomed in the doorway. His blue eyes burned with rage and his color was high. He smelled of alcohol and his usually crisp western-cut suit was rumpled. “What’re you doin’ here?” he demanded.
“Just looking through the files.”
“I can see that. Why?”
“I had to check some things out. Things that were beginning to bother me,” she said, refusing to back down, though deep inside she was scared. It was time to get to the bottom of this. “The Donner water rights for one thing and the Jansen copper mine.”
His jaw tightened. “None of your business. You’re just paid to type an’ file.”
“You forced Donner off his land.”
“Donner’s a fool. Always has been.” He waved away her arguments. “I didn’t force anyone to do anythin’.”
“What you did—”
“Was perfectly legal. Within the law.” His eyes narrowed. “What do you care? How do you even know ‘bout it? Ah, don’t tell me. Donner’s always been a crybaby. He’s probably whinin’ all over town about what a raw deal he got. But he came to me when he was in trouble and the bank wouldn’t lend him another dime.”
“So you stole his water rights.”
“Bought ’em,” Jonah clarified. “It was the only thing he had that I wanted.”
“That’s extortion!”
“Nope. That’s good business. And all within the law. Now, let’s get down to what we really need to discuss.” He sat on the edge of her desk and folded his hands in his lap. Though he seemed calm, a quiet rage still simmered in his eyes and a tic near his forehead gave away his impatience. “Max tells me he’s asked you to marry him.”
She felt her spine stiffen. She slammed the file drawer shut and leaned against the cold metal. “That’s right.”
“And what have you got to say about it?” He stared at her, unblinking, like a snake raising its head to test the wind.
She was cornered. “I love your son.”
“You’re not the first.”
“I want to marry him.”
“Again, you’ll have to stand in line.” He picked up a pen from her desk and studied the instrument’s smooth plastic lines. “I told him I didn’t think you were the right woman for him, that he’d have trouble keeping you in line, but he seems to think that no one else is good enough.”
She didn’t respond. Just waited for the bomb she felt sure was about to drop.
“I couldn’t talk any sense into him. So I guess it’s up to you.”
“To do what?”
“Turn him down, of course.” He reached into his pocket, found his checkbook and clicked the pen. “How much will it cost me?”
“What?”
“Everyone has a price. What’s yours?”
She couldn’t believe her ears. “You’re out of your mind.”
“Medical school’s expensive.”
“I can handle it.”
“On what your mother makes?” He snorted and shook his great head. “I don’t think so.”
“There are loans and grants and scholarships—”
“Twenty-five thousand?”
She gasped. “You’ve got me all wrong.”
“Thirty.”
She pushed herself upright and walked over to where he was sitting on the edge of her desk. Then, to make sure he understood, she leaned forward and glared into those cold, unblinking eyes. The smell of Scotch and smoke clung to him. “No amount of money will convince me,” she said.
His mouth twitched a little and he stuck a finger against her abdomen. “I know about you, Skye. You won’t be able to give Max any sons. No grandkids for me and Virginia.”
She wanted to die, but stood her ground. “It’s not for certain.”
“But you don’t really think you can conceive, do you?”
“This is none of your business,” she hissed, shaken by his sudden attack on her womanhood.
“It is when it involves my boy! I want grandkids. Lots of ‘em. And not bastards. Good, strong, legitimate McKees. Now listen here, missy. I’m offerin’ you good money to turn my boy down. All you have to do is take a check, tell Max no, and walk out of town. Easy as pie.”
“I don’t want anything from you,” she said in a tone that could cut through steel.
“I’d be careful, if I was you. You know, your mama works for me and I make sure her bills get paid. Who do you think took care of the deductible for that last operation?”
“But—”
His features became even harsher. “And when your sister was knocked up, I found a way to get her out of town without doin’ too much damage to her reputation. Found a family—a good, decent, God-fearin’ family—to adopt her bastard without any questions asked.”
“She hates you for it.”
Something unreadable flickered in his cold, cold eyes. “She might, but your mama, she was mighty glad I stepped in and played the role of the caring father. Your mama, she thinks a lot of me. Likes her job. Enjoys livin’ in the cottage.”
Skye sucked in her breath as she finally figured out what he was getting at. “You’re threatening me?” she asked, disgusted at his tactics. “You’d actually threaten my mother and my sister just so I wouldn’t marry Max?”
“Just showin’ you all the considerations. Your mama’s not in the best of health, and your sister, she’s a stubborn one, a regular hellcat, who might land on her feet... and then again maybe she won’t.”
Skye couldn’t give up without a fight. It wasn’t in her nature. “I won’t be intimidated into doing something I don’t believe in, Mr. McKee.”
She started to turn away from him, but his hand came out and captured her, hard, strong fingers wrapping around her slim wrist. “Just hear me out.”
She yanked her arm away and took a step back. “I’ll go to the press. Tell the newspapers what you’ve been doing, how you tried to bribe me, and when that didn’t work, how you threatened my family.”
“That wouldn’t help Max.”
“Max doesn’t need help.”
“Doesn’t he?” One dark brow cocked insolently upward. “You should know that if I go down, he goes down... and I mean it. His reputation will be ruined and I wouldn’t be surprised if he was disbarred. That’s right, little lady, I won’t take any fall alone. Max goes down with me in one bright, blazing ball of hellish fury.”
“You’d do that?” she asked, horrified.
“In a heartbeat.”
“To your own son?”
“He’s in this with me.”
“No—”
“Don’t underestimate me,” he warned. “Others have tried and they’ve lived to regret it.” He motioned toward the file cabinets. “You’ve been snoopin??
? around, missy, and you’re not dumb. Max has been hammering out quite a few deals lately.”
“No!”
“I’m not gonna cover up for him.” The set of his jaw and the determination in his eyes convinced her that he would do whatever it took to get what he wanted.
Dani’s warnings clanged inside her head as she fumbled for the door. “I don’t believe you.”
“You’d better, Skye. Because I think you care about your mother and your sister, and if you leave my boy alone, I swear to you that they’ll never have to worry. For the rest of their lives. You and I both know that you’ll end up on top, go to school, earn your degree, come out a doctor. But that sister of yours has always been trouble. Never had a lick of responsibility. And your mama, well, she’s gettin’ up in years and her health’s not that great to begin with. If she stays on here at the company, she’s got a good job and a nice little retirement, but if I have to do some layin’ off—”
“You’re a bastard!”
“And you’re pushin’ me too hard. If you’re gonna play hardball, Skye, be sure your bat’s big enough. If not, get off the field.”
A small sound of protest escaped from Skye’s throat.
“I’ll take care of ’em both,” he promised. “Your mother and sister. They won’t have to worry. I promise.” His eyes suddenly turned warm, as if he enjoyed the thought of playing God, as if he couldn’t wait to take Irene and Dani under his wing.
“Oh my God!” she whispered, and it sounded like a prayer. Her scrabbling fingers found the knob and she yanked the door open.
“You forgot something,” he called out. He finished writing the check and ripped it out of his checkbook.
She didn’t bother to answer, just slammed the door behind her and ran as fast as her legs would carry her down the stairs, stumbling blindly, just wanting to get away—far away.
How could she love someone as much as she loved Max when his father, the man he worked for, the man he would someday become, was such a self-important cheat? She couldn’t imagine herself going to family dinners, or spending Christmas with the McKees at the Rocking M ranch, or traveling on business trips with her husband, knowing that he lived in Jonah’s shadow and would someday become the president of such a morally corrupt business as McKee Enterprises.
Visibly shaking, she jumped into her car and pumped the gas, flooding the engine. “Come on, come on,” she yelled hysterically as she pounded the steering wheel. This was no time for the car to be obstinate. With a roar, the engine caught, and she threw the car into reverse. Blinking against hot tears, she shifted again and tore out of the lot. The tires groaned and the engine whined as she shifted quickly through the gears.
The rest of the traffic went by in a blur. She drove without paying any attention to road signs or traffic lights, but somehow she made it home. Oh, Lord. Emotionally drained, she wiped her face and climbed out of the car.
Max was waiting for her on the front porch. Leaning against the back of the swing, one booted foot propped on his knee, he glanced at his watch, then studied her face.
“Something’s wrong.” His voice was like a caress. He was on his feet in an instant and she tumbled into his arms.
“Max,” she whispered brokenly, knowing that this might be the last time she ever touched him. “Oh, God, Max!” She was kissing his face, his neck, his shoulders.
His strength seemed to bleed into her and she died a little inside knowing that she’d never again love anyone as passionately as she loved Max McKee.
“Skye. Baby, what is it?”
Everything! Me! You! The fact that I love you too much! He was warm and solid. The truth lodged in her throat and before she could say a word, the screen door creaked open.
“Thank God you’re home,” Irene said, and with the pale light from the living room at her back, she looked older and more frail than her years. “Did you find Dani?”
“She’s all right. At the Lucky Star.” Reluctantly Skye pulled out of Max’s embrace. Could it be true? Could he be as ruthless as his father?
“That’s no place for a young girl!” Irene’s hand flew to her chest. “I’d better call down there—”
“Mom, don’t!” Skye said in a voice sounding far too husky to be her own. “She needs time to cool off.”
“But alone in that fleabag? No way. I’ll call the police—”
“Mom! No! Just listen. Dani’s trying to make some sense out of her life. She’s been pushed around and messed up for years. Give her the chance to find herself.”
“But it’s not safe!”
“It’s a damned sight safer than hitchhiking, don’t you think? Who knows? In the morning, she may come back.”
Irene’s lower lip trembled. “Oh, Lordy,” she whispered, “that girl will be the death of me yet.” She stared at her elder daughter in resignation. “All right, I won’t push her this time, but if anything happens to her, I’ll never forgive myself.”
“She’ll be fine.”
“Well, come on in, both of you. I offered to make Max some coffee when he came lookin’ for you, but he wanted to wait on the porch, but now—”
“Coffee’ll be fine,” Max said, his brows knit as he gazed at Skye. He linked his fingers through hers and offered her a smile she would treasure for the rest of her life.
Something was wrong. Seriously wrong. Max could feel it in his bones. Skye was hiding something from him and it didn’t have a damned thing to do with her sister taking a hike. No, it was a deeper trouble—he could see it in her eyes.
Gritting his teeth, he sat through coffee, managed small talk with Irene, then watched gratefully as Skye finally helped her mother to bed. The older woman was distraught, worried sick about Dani. But Max didn’t give a rip about the girl; his only concern was Skye.
“What is it?” he asked when they were finally alone outside near the garden. “Something happened.”
She wouldn’t meet his eyes. “It’s just Dani—”
“Don’t lie to me!” His voice was a harsh whisper, and he grabbed her roughly, cupping her chin and forcing her to look into his eyes.
What he saw there tore at his soul. Desperation darkened his gaze. “You’re not going to marry me, are you?”
“I...” She looked away and tears starred her lashes. “I...can’t.”
“Why?”
“So many reasons,” she said heavily as if her heart was truly breaking.
“Name one.” His fingers dug deep into her arms, and though he was afraid he might bruise her, he couldn’t let go.
“Oh, God, Max, don’t make me.”
“Do you love me?” he demanded, his world beginning to crack. This couldn’t be happening! He had so many plans for the future, plans that would quickly turn to dust if he had to do them alone. Without Skye, he had no reason to go on.
“It’s not about love—”
“Do you?”
“Yes!” She sniffed loudly and stared up at him with glistening eyes. “I love you.”
“Then there’s no reason on earth, no reason good enough, to keep us apart.” He felt a pressure building in his chest, then thundering and pulsing through his body. “What is it, Skye?”
She looked away and he shook her roughly.
“What?” he demanded.
“I can’t be the kind of wife you need.”
“Bull!”
“Believe me, if I could, I would.”
Then it hit him. She was lying. About everything. She didn’t love him, not the way he’d thought, not the way he loved her. Not with the blind, lust-filled need that had eclipsed everything else in his shallow life. Not more than her career, not more than her ambitions. She’d been lying all along. Oh, she cared for him, he knew that much, but she didn’t love him.
Slowly he released her, his fingers uncurling as he let go. “Then I guess there’s nothing left to say,” he muttered, shoving down the pain, refusing to give in to the rage that threatened to burst inside him. He wasn’t used to losing, t
o not having anything he wanted, and he wanted Skye. More than any man had a right to want a woman.
The earth seemed to buckle beneath his feet and he blindly turned and started for the front of the house where his pickup was parked.
“Max—”
“Forget it, Skye,” he growled, wanting to hit, to scream, to drink himself into oblivion.
“But—”
He whirled, fists clenched, his skin tight from the anger that coiled all his muscles. She looked up at him with those incredible hazel eyes and he thought about making love to her again and again until she realized that she belonged with him. But he stood his ground and leveled her with a look of pure disgust. “Don’t play with me, Skye. It’s over!”
“Oh, God,” she moaned, leaning against the gnarled bark of a solitary pine tree. The tracks of tears glistened on her cheeks, but Max wouldn’t let himself be moved by her display. She was acting. It was so obvious now. And damn it, his father, curse the old man’s thick hide, had been right about her. “Please, just listen—”
“What? To more lies?” he snapped. “I’m not that much of a fool.”
“I do love you.”
“You don’t know the meaning of the word, lady,” he snarled, wanting to wound her as badly as she’d hurt him. “And don’t bother playing the part of the victim, Skye. It doesn’t suit you.” He turned and headed back up the overgrown path leading to the front of the house.
He had to get away, far from her, but over the pounding of his heart and the fury that thudded through his brain, he thought he heard her whisper, “I do love you, Max. I do. And I always will. Always.”
It had been a lie, of course; he’d learned the truth later. But despite all the years that had gone by, he’d never forgotten the desperation in her tone.
Chapter Ten
Rimrock, Oregon
Summer—1994
Max was still caught up in memories of Skye and all her lies as he sat parked in his truck in the yard of the ranch house—his father’s house. Though Jonah was dead, his spirit seemed to linger somehow, and as Max gazed into the night sky, he wished he’d known the truth about Skye before he’d gotten so involved with her.