“You know she moved in.”
Skye’s green eyes crinkled as she smiled. “Yes, and I’m not going to ask you how you did it. I’m just happy to know she’s protected. My father can be a dangerous man.”
More than Skye knew, he thought, remembering his promise not to tell any of the Titan sisters what had happened.
He hovered by his desk. “You wouldn’t be more comfortable on the sofa?”
“No. This is a business meeting. Go ahead and sit behind your desk. It will make you feel like you’re in charge.”
“What makes you think I’m not?”
She gave him an enigmatic smile. “Oh, please.”
Wishing he knew why she was here, he did as she requested.
She opened her briefcase and pulled out a folder. “We did a detailed analysis. I have more paperwork to explain the numbers, if you need it.”
She passed him the folder. He opened it to find a bill for three million dollars from her foundation. Behind that was another sheet listing various expenses.
“Your pranks, for lack of a better word, cost me money,” she said calmly. “Legal fees to fight the rumors, lost donations. I had staff members resign and they had to be replaced. According to my chief financial officer, this should cover all of that, plus give us a little bonus, by way of an apology.”
“Because I’m feeling remorse?” he asked, admiring her willingness to simply ask for what she wanted.
“Of course. We’re family now.”
“So says Izzy.” He glanced at the paperwork. “Three million dollars seems high.”
“Do you know the number of children right here in this country who go to bed hungry every night? My foundation works every day to feed them. You took money away from that, Garth. Do you really want to complain about an amount you can easily afford and write off as a tax donation?”
She looked determined. Her green eyes snapped with temper. He would bet Mitch did his best to make sure he never pissed her off.
“Three million seems fair,” he said quickly. “Will a personal check be acceptable?”
She relaxed in her seat and smiled. “As long as it doesn’t bounce.”
He reached into his desk drawer and pulled out his checkbook. “Having sisters is a bigger pain in the ass than I thought it would be.”
“Part of our charm.”
He glanced up and their eyes met. For a second, he felt a connection with her. A sense of shared respect and a certain humor. Then he blinked and it was gone.
He wrote out the check and handed it to her. She reached across the desk and took it.
“Is Lexi going to come after me for money, too?” he asked. “Or Izzy?”
“Only if they think about it.”
“Great. Something to look forward to.”
She tilted her head. “I’m sorry for what happened all those years ago. With Kathy.”
He shrugged. “It had nothing to do with you.”
She leaned toward him. “I wish you’d come to us. We could have helped.”
“Skye, I was fourteen. You were maybe seven or eight. What would you have done?”
“Oh. Right. I keep thinking it’s current because all this is happening now, but your mom got sick a long time ago. I wish…” She drew in a breath. “There’s nothing that can be done for her?”
“Nothing. She’s been to a dozen experts. The damage is irreversible. It’s not like a broken bone.”
Her mouth twisted. “I’m sorry my father is such a bastard.”
“He’s my father, too.”
“If only he’d acted like it.”
Garth didn’t want to think about that. He knew the pain of wishing things could be different. There was no win in that and only a whole road of hurt.
“He’ll get his,” he said.
Skye didn’t look reassured. “Vengeance isn’t known for its healing properties. Would Kathy have wanted that?”
“She would have wanted a chance to get better. Jed took that from her. Now he’s going to pay for it.”
“THIS IS A BAD IDEA,” Dana said as she sat in the middle of the dining room while Lexi pulled on her hair. “Do you want to know if that hurts?” she asked as her former friend wielded a very large curling iron.
“No,” Lexi said cheerfully. “But yell if your scalp starts to burn. We’re talking painful burn here, not mild discomfort.”
Izzy strolled back in from her tour of the place. “Very nice,” she said. “Love the view. You really do have your own bedroom.”
“How do you know that?”
“I opened a few drawers.” Dana’s expression might have made her nervous because she immediately held up both hands. “I didn’t touch anything. Don’t wig out on me.”
“Wigging out isn’t what I had in mind.”
Although a good hour of kickboxing sounded really good right about now. Who knew that getting ready for a stupid party could be so time-consuming?
Lexi had shown up nearly two hours ago to work her magic on Dana. Because spending the morning at Lexi’s spa hadn’t been enough. There Dana had been massaged and endured a pedicure. A cheerful yet vicious woman had practically ripped off seven layers of skin to get, as she had put it, “The perfect eyebrow arch.” Individual fake eyelashes had been glued on before Dana had endured the humiliation of standing naked except for a thong in a tanning booth while a complete stranger had sprayed her with fake tan. She’d smelled funny all day.
Now she had on enough makeup to be an extra in
“You should think about growing your hair out a little,” Lexi said, moving to another part of her head. “I’m not talking superlong, but maybe to your shoulders. You have a bit of a natural wave.”
“Lucky me,” Dana muttered.
“Trust me,” Izzy said, puffing her own wildly curly hair. “Guys so go for the big hair. It’s sexy.”
As was Izzy. She wore a halter top and loose black pants, which sounded normal enough. Until Izzy moved. Then the slits that went from the band on her ankles all the way up to mid-thigh were visible. It was the kind of outfit that made a little black dress seem almost plain by comparison.
“Done!” Lexi announced, then sank into a chair. “Just in time, too. My back is killing me.”
Dana turned to her. “You should have said something. We didn’t have to do this.”
Lexi looked at Izzy, who grinned. “Oh, honey, we so had to do this. Go put on your dress.”
Dana touched Lexi’s arm. “Are you all right?”
“I’m fine. Cruz will be here in twenty minutes to pick me up. Due to my advancing pregnancy, I get to spend the evening at home watching reality TV.” She gave Dana a little push. “Go get ready. You still have to squeeze into your shapeware.”
“Right. The tube of death.”
Dana scrambled to her feet then hurried back to the bedroom she used. She stripped off her jeans and shirt, then spent five minutes wiggling into something obviously designed by a misogynist. The dress was next. Thanks to the shapeware, it fit her perfectly. She pulled up the zipper, then reached for the diamond dangle earrings Lexi had loaned her. The hideously high shoes were last.
Izzy burst into the room. “He’s back. Don’t you hate a guy who’s prompt. You’d better-”
She skidded to a stop and stared. “Wow! You look fabulous, and I don’t say that lightly.”
Dana smoothed the front of the dress. “Is it okay? It’s not nearly as sexy as what you’re wearing. And you have on pants. Maybe this is…”
Izzy grabbed her hand and pulled her into the bathroom. There was a full-length mirror by the tub.
Dana stared at herself, not recognizing the woman staring back. Her dark, short hair had perfect waves with lots of layers that looked amazing. The makeup made her eyes huge, and the long lashes didn’t hurt, either. The dress hugged curves she hadn’t realized she had. And the tan made her legs look slim and long. She had to admit
