CHAPTER TWELVE

STELLA SANK INTO a seat. She wished she could say she was surprised, but she’d been expecting the request since they sat down. She’d failed. At a job simple enough to do in her sleep. When the numbness wore off, she was going to be sick to her stomach. What did she do now?

Armstrong wasn’t finished. “It’s clear the cat should be watched by someone with a vested interest in her health and welfare as well as the future of the estate. We’re going to petition that Mr. Moreland be named temporary guardian until a ruling on his lawsuit is issued.”

There it was. Stella had been wondering about Teddy’s endgame. It was control over the estate. If she was named unfit, and he got temporary guardianship, he could then try to maneuver his way into a permanent guardianship if he lost his case. Either way, he had control over Agnes’s money. The bastard.

Poor Toffee. She would be locked in a crate at bedtime and/or ignored for the remainder of her life. This would be as good a time as any to muster up the ability to cry.

“I have a couple questions,” Linus said. His face was still focused on the tablet. “Did you track the IP location for the user?”

“We did. It led to the coffee shop around the corner,” Armstrong told him.

“Did you check the security tapes?”

The lawyer smiled. “This isn’t CSI, Mr. Collier. Not every business in London has security cameras.”

“Too bad. The time stamp says the photos were unloaded around forty-eight hours ago. Stella wasn’t home.”

“No kidding,” Teddy said. “She was—”

Linus cut him off. Seemed everyone was done with Teddy. “No, I meant she was out for the evening on a...date. Look.” He showed Stella the first auction item. “Unless I’m mistaken, you were out for dinner at that time.”

Sure enough; the auction was listed as starting at 7:00 p.m. “Teddy must have heard me talking about meeting Niles for coffee.” Clearly missing the section of the conversation where they’d switched to dinner.

“I’m sure he’ll be able to vouch for you, and you know I will.” His smile was tinged with sadness.

“No one said she did the posting on her own. She could have easily hired someone.” Being as close as he was to his payday, Teddy wasn’t giving up.

“Who would I hire?” Stella asked. She knew, maybe, a half dozen people in the city.

Teddy pointed to Linus. “Him. The two of you are sleeping together, aren’t you?”

Stella watched as Linus drew himself up to his full height. With slow, even strides he crossed the room to the mantel where Teddy stood. The older man’s body shrank in on itself in the face of Linus’s towering presence.

“Did you just accuse a member of one of London’s wealthiest and most established families of selling stolen items over the internet? My family was doing business with the royal family before your first ancestor wielded his first coal shovel. We have never, ever been associated with illegal activity. If you’re going to toss out those kinds of accusations, you better be ready to back them up in court.”

“Men have done worse for the woman they’re sleeping with.”

If looks could kill, Teddy would be dead on the spot. Linus’s voice, however, remained calm and controlled. “Hate to break it to you, old boy, but Stella and I are nothing more than friends.”

One at a time, his words landed hard in her stomach. How she wished she could cry.

Since she couldn’t, she channeled her energy into one last question. One she wanted to hear Teddy try to answer. “Why would I sell Agnes’s belongings so blatantly anyway and risk being fired? Over what amounts to a few trinkets. I need this job and Peter’s good reference for when I return to New York. Getting fired would ruin my life.”

“She’s right,” Linus said. “If anyone has anything to gain from all this it’s you, Moreland. Have you searched his property?” he asked Armstrong. “Checked his computer?”

“How dare you!” Teddy said, glaring. “I would never steal Aunt Agnes’s belongings. She was precious to me.”

“Little defensive, aren’t we, Teddy? And let’s be honest. Agnes disliked you intensely.”

If it weren’t such a dire situation, Stella would have laughed out loud. The sparkle in Linus’s eyes reminded her of the day they met. Seeing it eased the tightness in her chest. He made even bad situations tolerable. “Mr. Collier makes a good point.”

For the first time in a while, Peter Singh made himself known. He stood up and smoothed the front of his suit coat. “I think, in the spirit of due diligence, we should investigate Mr. Moreland’s computer and phone along with Miss Russo’s. After all, we don’t want to make any false assumptions.”

“Feel free to investigate mine as well.”

“We appreciate the cooperation, Mr. Collier.”

Teddy looked about to have a spasm of some kind. His eyes were huge and his spine rigid with tension. When Peter made his request, he’d blanched and clenched his fists.

“This is an outrage,” he said. “I refuse to be a victim of a witch hunt.”

“You started the witch hunt,” Stella said. “If they’re going to search my belongings, then they are damn well going to search yours as well.”

“What’s the matter Teddy? You don’t have something to hide, do you?” Linus asked.

“My client will be happy to cooperate,” Armstrong said. “He has nothing to hide.”

Based on the rattled look in Teddy’s eyes, Stella wasn’t so sure. It was clear he’d counted on her being so shaken by the evidence that she wouldn’t put up a fight.

The meeting ended with her agreeing they could take her laptop and phone for examination. Linus insisted on having his company lawyer present for when they examined both his and her electronics. To protect their interests, he explained.

“Thank you,” she said once the trio had left. Armstrong had made a point of saying she would be closely monitored until the issue was resolved. Mrs. Churchill had gone as well.

“Silly to have separate lawyers when one will suffice, and he’s on retainer,” Linus replied.

“I meant for defending me.” That he believed in her innocence unconditionally meant a lot. “Especially after the other day.”

He shrugged. “Our personal issues don’t change the truth. You’re an honest, good person. What shocks me is that I had no idea the lengths Teddy would go to, to get control of the money. He must have been planning this for a while. Since before Agnes died.”

“Money makes people do crazy things. Agnes must have told him the terms of the will and he figured he needed a backup plan. Or two. Makes you wonder what he’ll try to do next.”

“With luck, nothing. They’ll trace this little scheme back to him and that’ll be the end.”

“What if they don’t? What if he’s covered his ass?” Granted, he looked terrified at having his electronics searched, but Stella had already made the mistake of underestimating the man once. She didn’t want to make the mistake again.

“They’ll find something. His witch-hunt bluster was the last stand of a man who knew he was in trouble.”

“I hope you’re right.”

“I am, and if I’m not, my lawyer will make his life such a living hell that Teddy will wish he’d never thought of the idea.” His smile came and went in a flash. “Don’t worry. You’ll head back to New York with your glowing reference as planned.”

“You needn’t sound sarcastic.”

“My apologies. I’ll keep the bitterness at bay next time.”

“Linus...”

“I’m sorry,” he said, gaze dropping to the floor. “I’m being childish. You’re right. There’s no need for sarcasm, especially when your livelihood is at stake.”

“Thank you.” She dropped onto the sofa next to him. Now that the immediate threat was gone, exhaustion replaced the adrenaline in her system, and all the feelings she’d been keeping at bay washed over her. Once more she longed to fall into his arms.

“I’ve missed you,” she said.

“I’ve missed you, too.”

What she really wanted to say was that she’d had a giant hole inside her since he walked out, that without him she’d been empty and alone, but she was too afraid to say the words. She let her body do the talking instead, her fingers shaking as they touched the back of his hand.

A soft sigh escaped Linus’s lips. “Stella.” Longing laced his whisper. “Don’t.”

“Why not?” she asked. Why ignore the need they felt for one another? Their bodies were made to be together. She kissed the corner of his mouth, then kissed the other corner. Over and over, butterfly kisses that moved to the middle until his lips parted. “Why should we be lonely when we work so well together?” she whispered against his lips.

As much as it killed him, Linus pulled away from her. “Because I want more,” he said. “I want more than sex and passion in the moment. I want you.”

“You have me,” Stella said.

“Do I?” He had her body, yes, but he wanted all of her. Her heart and soul. “I want your love.”

“I already told you, I can’t love you.”

“You keep saying that word. I can’t love you. You can’t love me. Like we would be breaking some kind of rule by having feelings for one another.” He wasn’t asking if she could love him; he wanted to know if she did.

“Oh, Linus.” She flung herself backward, her head falling back against the sofa, and covered her eyes with her hands. “What good would saying I love you do? It wouldn’t change anything. I would still have to go to New York.”

Slowly, she let her palms slide down her face. When she lifted her head, he saw pleading in her eyes. “Can’t we just leave things the way they are rather than invite a whole lot of pain?”

But he was already in pain. Payback for Victoria and every other heart he ever broke. That he was getting what he deserved didn’t make the pain easier to swallow. Neither did the desperation in Stella’s eyes. “What good would it do?” he replied. “How about the fact that we could be happy? We could build a life together. One that you actually want instead of a career to appease your father’s ego.”

“My father’s ego has nothing to do this.” Even as she argued, Linus could see she didn’t believe what she was saying. “This is about me going back and proving I’m not a delicate, anxiety-ridden flower who can’t handle the pressure.”

“Bull.” The word came out harshly, but Linus didn’t care. He was angry now. Two minutes earlier, Stella had all but admitted she loved him, only to run away. “At least be honest with yourself. You want your father’s approval. You want him to tell you that you’re as good your brother and sister.”

“Is that so wrong?”

“It is if it’s never going to happen.” Her father’s approval might as well be a cat toy on a string. “There will always be another goal, another sibling accomplishment to best. You’re going to be spending your entire life running a race you can’t win.”

Stella stared at him, eyes shining. “Are you saying I’m not good enough, too?”

“Of course not!” He kicked himself. “I think you’re bloody marvelous. I’m saying no matter what you do, it won’t be good enough for your father.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Yes, I do!” Knew it in his gut and she did, too. Problem was, she blamed herself rather than the man truly at fault.

Washing a hand over his features, he paused and looked her in the eye. “It’s not your job to fulfill your father’s dreams.”

Stella shook her head. “You don’t understand.”

“Yes, I do. I watched my sister, Susan, beat herself up for years because she didn’t think she measured up. I watched Victoria—”

“I’m not Victoria,” she snapped.

“I know,” he snapped back. Their stories weren’t remotely the same—he realized that now. The dissimilarities didn’t stop him from fearing she would fall into a dark abyss, though.

Their argument was going off the rails. He could argue with Stella until he lost his voice, but she had already made up her mind.

The most maddening part? He would give up everything and go to New York with her if he thought that was what would make her happy.

“Do you even want to work in finance? At Mitchum, Baker?” he asked.

As he expected, she scowled in response. “Of course I do. I worked my ass off to get that job.” The ends of her hair moved back and forth as she shook her head. “I don’t understand why you’re doing this. You know how badly I need to go back and prove myself.”

“There you go again. You need to go back. You can’t stay in London. What do you want, Stella? Do you really want a lifetime of seventy-hour weeks and working Christmas? Or do you want to be happy?”

“What makes you think I won’t be happy?”

“Because you bloody froze in the street going to work, that’s why. Happy people don’t freak out on the way to work.”

He’d gone too far. Anger flashed in her eyes. “I think you should leave,” she said. “Check that. I want you to leave. Who do you think you are telling me what I want and don’t want? What I do with my life is my business. I choose my path. Not you. Not my father. Me.”

And the choice she made didn’t include Linus. “Fine.” He wasn’t about to beg any further. “Go ahead and choose. But ask yourself this. Why did you freeze in the street that day? Was it really burnout or were you trying to get off the path?”

For the second time in forty-eight hours, he walked away.

Luck was on Stella’s side—in terms of work, that was. The outside expert was able to prove her computer was not the computer used to create the auction account. Linus’s lawyers delivered the news a few days after Teddy’s visit. Apparently that was how they were going to communicate from now on—through third parties. The lawyer also told her that the expert traced the account back to a bartender who worked at a pub near Teddy’s house. He also revealed that Teddy paid him to set up the account, citing technical ineptitude. Poor guy had no idea Teddy was scheming to get custody of Toffee.

When confronted with the evidence, Teddy naturally proclaimed his innocence and blamed Stella. At least he did until they found the crystal cat figurine wrapped in a swath of gray linen in his flat. Then he proclaimed righteous indignation over being cheated out of what he considered his rightful inheritance. In the end, to avoid scandal, he agreed to withdraw his challenge. Whether he would succeed Toffee as the heir, Stella didn’t know. Since the cat would survive for years after Stella left town, it didn’t really matter.

She hadn’t seen Linus since he walked out of her apartment the month before. Nor had she cried. At least the lump in her throat felt smaller, and she wasn’t chanting “this will pass” as often. Probably because she was furious. As badly as she missed him, she wanted to spit in his face. How dared he presume what she wanted or judge her rationale? If he cared at all, he’d support her decisions, not tell her to chuck everything so she could stay in London and work on Agnes’s biography.

“You understand, don’t you, Agnes?”

From her spot over the mantel, the actress gave her an imperious stare. Stella had discovered an old journal of Agnes’s at the bottom of a box of books. Reading it gave deeper resonance to all the artifacts she’d collected. Dame Agnes had been as ambitious as she’d been beautiful, and as such, she’d ruthlessly pursued her career. The men she knew were divided into two groups: Casual Lovers and Men Who Could Aid Her Career. Stella added a third category, which she called Unfulfilled Suitors. They were men who showered Dame Agnes with gifts but got nowhere. Dame Agnes didn’t have room for foolish romantics.

Dame Agnes spent the last years of her life with a cat for a best friend.

Stella didn’t want to think about that.

Instead, she decided to go for a run. The weather outside was rainy and cold, but she didn’t care. The fresh air would clear her head so she could work.

She got as far as the elevator when Linus’s door opened. Holding her breath, she turned expecting to see his blue-gray eyes.

“Sorry.” Susan Collier gave a wave. “Just me. Linus is in Scotland for a few weeks. He asked me to water his plants.”

“Oh,” Stella replied. “I didn’t realize.”

“I figured.”

The two of them shuffled from foot to foot while waiting for the elevator to arrive.

“Started wedding planning yet?” Stella asked after a moment. She thought about mentioning her breakup—was it a breakup if you weren’t dating?—but if Susan was watering the plants, she probably already knew.

“A little,” Susan replied. “We’re thinking of a Christmas wedding. The holidays are a bit of a thing in our family.”

“So Linus said. That sounds nice. You can do a lot with a holiday theme.”

“I think so. Lewis doesn’t really care. He said he’d be happy eloping, but I want the wedding. Call me vain, but I like showing off my handsome fiancé.”

“At least he’s willing to indulge you. Means he respects your choices.”

“More like he knows how good he looks in a tuxedo,” Susan said. “I’m not the only one who likes showing Lewis off. Lewis likes showing off Lewis, too.”

The elevator bell dinged, and the doors parted. As they boarded, Stella suppressed a smile. Susan and Lewis were forever teasing one another. Reminded her of how she and Linus would banter back and forth.

Her stomach grew heavy. Seemed to grow heavy a lot lately. Such as whenever she thought of Linus. The night before she’d been watching a movie when the actor playing the lead turned his profile to the camera. The man’s nose and cheekbones looked so much like Linus’s she had to turn off the television.

Susan was staring at her. Linus’s sister had a way of looking at a person and reading their thoughts. She had to be getting a hell of a reading right now.

“You must hate me,” Stella said.

Susan shook her head. “Don’t be ridiculous. I understand where you’re coming from. I think you’re wrong, but I understand.”

There were days when Stella wasn’t sure she understood herself. “May I ask you a question?” she asked.

“Sure,” the youngest Collier replied. “Can’t guarantee I’ll have an answer, though. What do you want to know?”

“Well...” She hoped the question wasn’t too prying. “Linus mentioned that when you were growing up, you struggled with being different from Thomas and him.”

“Not exactly. More like I struggled with not being as perfect. I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but Linus looks like an underwear model. Thomas is worse.”

Stella blushed. She had noticed. “Must have been hard growing up in their shadows.”

“Try impossible,” Susan told her. “I spent the better part of my teens and twenties feeling like the dumpy, ugly stepsister.”

“I’m sorry.” Stella took a long look at the woman. Linus’s sister was on the thick side, but she carried herself with such confidence and pride, it was impossible to see her as anything but beautiful. What had changed?

“Simple,” Susan replied, when Stella asked. “I met Lewis.” The doors opened to the lobby. “He made me realize that I was special in my own unique way, and that it was okay if I wasn’t tall, dark and handsome like the other two. Why do you ask?”

“No reason.” The awkwardness of the lie was made worse by Susan’s knowing look. “I was curious is all.”

“It also helped that my mother moved to Australia to be part of a reality show. She was the chief reason I felt inferior. But you know all about that.”

“What do you mean?”

“Your dad,” Susan said. “Linus told me how you’re under pressure to be successful. Relax,” she added when Stella’s shoulders went back. “He only mentioned it because he thought I might have insights. I didn’t, by the way.”

Having reached the first floor, they stepped out into the lobby. “I told Linus everyone needs to work out their issues at their own pace. You can’t force someone to change their behavior just because you want them to.”

“Thank you. I appreciate the vote of confidence,” Stella said. A little too late to bring her and Linus back together, but it was nice to know she had an ally.

“No problem,” Susan replied. “According to my brothers, sharing my opinion is one of my strong suits.” Flashing a grin, she headed toward the front door. Stella followed and was heading down the building steps when Susan turned around.

“One more thing,” she said, “because that’s who I am. Something I learned from Lewis this past year. When you feel like you can’t compete, you can either stay in the race and struggle, or you can find a race you like better.”

A taxi pulled up and she slid inside, leaving Stella alone to ponder her comment.