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She backed out of her driveway and Justin swore when she almost collided with a passing car. The driver laid on the horn, and Marley slammed on her brakes, her head jerking from the sudden stop. After a guilty, apologetic wave to her near-victim, he saw her double-check the road before speeding off.
Justin pulled out behind her, but kept his distance. She was an impatient driver, inching forward at each intersection, her brake lights flashing like a radio tower warning light, until the signal turned green. Then she shot on to the next one, weaving in and out of traffic.
He began to worry he’d lose her when she made a quick right turn into the parking lot of a local coffee shop not far from Hunter Construction’s office headquarters.
He was familiar with the shop, having had coffee with his Granddad at the corner table many times growing up. He felt a pang of grief knowing the man who’d inspired him to make it on his own would never sit there again. He owed it to his Granddad to find out what really happened and save the company he’d worked so hard to build. Hunter Construction was a legend that needed to live on.
He directed his attention back to Marley as her legs swung from the truck. She slipped on a pair of high-heeled shoes before touching ground on the sidewalk. Used to seeing her stride confidently across the job site in her steel-toed work boots, her slower steps surprised him.
Through the glass windows, he watched her order, and then cross the shop to sit at a table in the corner. She must be meeting someone. With her first sip of coffee, Justin saw it was too hot by the way she pulled the cup away and immediately raised her fingers to her lips. He sipped from the thermos cup and watched her fidget with her plastic ware. Then she ripped a napkin into little pieces while glancing at her watch every fifteen seconds.
Marley Girl was expecting someone, all right, and she was damn nervous about it. Interview for a new job? Not dressed like that, he hoped. A married lover, perhaps? Not dressed like that, either. Besides, his gut told him she wasn’t the type; respect was too important to her.
More likely she was meeting a friend, or maybe a boyfriend she was about to break up with. Or maybe a new guy she really liked. He frowned at that possibility and then told himself he didn’t care.
A silver Bentley glided behind the Lexus and eased into a parking space a few cars down. Justin’s frown deepened.
“Well, hello, Dad,” he whispered into the silence of the vehicle. “What are you doing here this early in the morning?”
He sat up straighter in the car as his father entered the shop, bought a coffee and a muffin, and walked directly toward Marley’s table.
“Oh no you don’t,” Justin warned.
Oh, yes he did. Worse, Marley gave his father a wide, welcoming smile. As if she knew him. As if she were happy to see him. When he sat, his father covered her hand with his and let it linger. Justin noted she didn’t pull away until she took a sip of coffee a moment later.
He felt ready to explode. How dare she!
Whoa…no, how dare he!
That’s why he was angry, because his father was having an affair. He reached for his cell, then remembered he’d stuck it in his pocket when he’d switched vehicles with Jordan. He lifted his hips to dig into his jeans and promptly spilled coffee in his crotch.
“Shit!” He made a frantic grab for the cup and held it up. More liquid dripped onto his leg as he reached over into the glove box for some napkins. He came up empty.
Curses filled the car. Justin opened the door and dumped what was left in his cup onto the asphalt. Then he stripped off his sweatshirt and used it to soak up what he could of the drenched material between his legs and under his ass.
Muttering all the while, he retrieved his phone and punched the speed dial for Jordan’s number.
His brother answered on the fifth ring. “Yeah.”
“I want her fired.”
Chapter 5
“What? Who? What time is it?”
“Marley Wade,” Justin bit out. “I want her gone. She’s done for, you hear me?”
“The woman I danced with at the club last night heard you,” Jordan groaned.
Justin made a sound of disgust. “You’re as bad as Dad.”
“Wait a minute, those are fighting words and at…six twenty-three?” The sound of rustling sheets accompanied his brother’s annoyed voice. “Justin, you don’t call people at six twenty-three in the morning. They’re still sleeping.”
“Well get your ass up.”
“Hey, you want to crow with the roosters, be my guest. But leave me out of it.”
“She’s having an affair.”
