Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) Read online

  Ryan put his hand on her arm and guided her around the side of his house. “Why would they do that?”

  “I discovered something important. There are people who don’t want that information being shared. If they find me, I could be in trouble.”

  Dorothy’s voice filled the early evening ear. “Ryan? Are you out here?”

  He looked down at Sophie. “We won’t be too much longer. Promise me you’ll stay until Dorothy has finished.”

  “Ryan?” Dorothy rounded the corner of the house. “There you are.” She looked surprised to see Sophie standing beside him. “Manuel is ready for the next set of photos. You need to get changed into different clothes.”

  He looked down at Sophie.

  She sighed. “I’ll stay.”

  Ryan didn’t know what was going on, but it didn’t sound good. Sophie’s life sounded every bit as complicated as his, except his troubles were centered around his ex-wife. If Sophie needed help, she had to trust him enough to tell him what was going on.

  But that meant staying in one place for long enough to get help. Whether Sophie wanted his help was another issue entirely.

  ***

  Sophie dipped her paintbrush into a can of paint, careful not to load too much onto its bristles. For the first part of Ryan’s indoor photo shoot, she’d sat quietly at the side of the living room. She’d watched him bang nails into wood, use an electric drill to screw the drywall into place, and lean against the window looking toward the mountains.

  She didn’t know how he’d managed to look so focused when everyone else seemed to be in a state of panic. Dorothy had circled the room, looking for anything out of place. Her team of stylists made sure the plaid shirt and old jeans they’d chosen worked well in each photo. With a tool belt strapped around his hips and a hammer in his hands, he looked like your average builder.

  Except there was nothing average about Ryan Evans.

  According to Sophie’s extensive Internet research, he was one of the most eligible bachelors in America. After spending time with him, she could see why most women thought he was a catch. As well as having melt-your-heart brown eyes, he was tall, dark, and way too handsome.

  But that hadn’t been enough for his publicist. As Dorothy had put it, half the men she knew had more brawn than brains. She wanted to capture the elusive qualities that his ex-wife said were in short supply. And at the top of the list were sincerity and honesty.

  Ryan didn’t have to work hard to give Dorothy what she wanted. It was there, in the way he looked, in each movement he made.

  Fifteen minutes of watching the photo shoot was enough for Sophie. She had more important things to do. Things that could make a difference to a whole lot of people’s lives.

  If she hadn’t promised to talk with him, to explain her odd behavior, she would have left. So she did the next best thing. With a clean paintbrush in her hand, she’d gone upstairs and painted a doorframe.

  She could hear Manuel asking Ryan to move, to turn his head a little to the left, to lean his shoulder slightly forward.

  A collective sigh rippled through the house when the photo shoot was over.

  Within half an hour, Dorothy and her team had packed their equipment away and left. Sophie didn’t think it would be the last time they visited, but at least she wouldn’t be here when it happened again.

  Heavy footsteps echoed from the landing. She looked around the edge of the doorframe and saw Ryan.

  “Everyone’s gone. You can come downstairs if you want to.”

  “I’ll be two minutes.” Sophie caught a dribble of paint as it ran down the wood. “If I don’t get this frame completely finished, Jamie will want it sanded and repainted.”

  Ryan nodded but didn’t say anything.

  She needed to fill the silence with words. Her mind was working overtime, worrying about what she’d say to him, what his reaction would be. She still didn’t know how much she could tell him without putting him in danger. “Was Dorothy happy with the photos?”

  “As happy as Dorothy could ever be. She’ll look at the photos tonight with Manuel. In the next few hours she’ll send the ones she likes to all of her contacts. By tomorrow morning, I’ll be making headlines around the world.”

  Sophie glanced at him. “Dorothy told me you’re a billionaire.”

  “Dorothy talks too much.” Ryan walked across the room and picked up a drop cloth they’d left beside the window.

  “She thought I’d deliberately come out here because of who you are. She didn’t believe me when I told her I was here because I needed a job.”

  “Dorothy has a hard time trusting people.”

  Sophie put more paint on her brush. “I want you to know that I didn’t have any idea about who you were. I’m not interested in your money or anything else.” She could feel Ryan’s gaze on her back. She glanced over her shoulder. “What’s wrong?”

  “Most people want to be my best friend when they find out how much money I’ve got. What makes you different?”

  Sophie thought about his question. “I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I’ve always thought of money as something that gives you a roof over your head and something to eat.” She looked around the room and smiled. “Your house just happens to have a huge roof. Your cheese and tomato sandwiches aren’t too bad, either.”

  Ryan’s face relaxed, but he still looked worried. “Some days I feel as though I’m getting too old for the media circus that follows me. Today’s photo shoot was part of Dorothy’s plan to protect my reputation. She’s already got stage two and three worked out.”

  Sophie finished painting the last piece of wood. “She must be good at what she does. Otherwise, you wouldn’t have employed her to help you.”

  “Most of the time I enjoy working with her. The fact that I need to work with her annoys me. I’m a musician. The only thing I’ve ever wanted to do was write songs and sing. One day I’m going to step away from everything and live a normal life. But until that happens, what you saw today is a small price to pay. Are you going to tell me why you don’t want anyone knowing your last name?”

  “It could be dangerous.” She put the lid on her can of paint and looked at the brush. “I need to wash this out.”

  Ryan waved his hand toward the door and followed her silently down the stairs.

  She went outside to the old sink and counter that they’d been using as a cleanup area.

  Ryan watched her turn the faucet on and rinse the brush. “Is there anything else you’ve told me that isn’t true?”

  “I wasn’t in retail,” she muttered. “I’ve got no idea who the latest shoe designers are and I’m hopeless when it comes to fashion. I have painted two apartments, though.” She picked up an old rag and dried the paintbrush.

  “So if you weren’t selling shoes before you came to Montana, what have you been doing?”

  Sophie bit her bottom lip. “I can’t tell you.”

  “What can you tell me?”

  “That I’ve enjoyed working with you. That for the first time in nearly a month, I’ve felt safe. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific, but I don’t want you getting hurt.”

  Ryan watched her spend far too much time drying the brush. “If I could guarantee that Dorothy won’t mention your name or photograph you, would you stay?”

  Sophie put the brush down before she permanently damaged the bristles. “I don’t know. I’d have to think about it.” She’d known that at some point someone would find out who she really was. But she hadn’t expected Dorothy or anyone in Montana to take an interest in her.

  She had to keep a low profile for at least another month. After that, the patent for her formula would be official and she could let the world know that there was help for people with dementia. But if the media interest surrounding Ryan increased, she might not have a month.

  Ryan reached into his back pocket. “I meant to give this to you yesterday. It’s your first pay. In cash. It doesn’t have to be your last.”

  S
ophie’s hand shook as she took the envelope. If he hadn’t provided all of her meals while they were on site, she would have been hungry for the last couple of days. “Thank you.”

  “I know people who can help, Sophie. John Fletcher is my neighbor. He owns one of the largest security companies in America. He’s provided security for me at different events and he could do the same thing for you.”

  Sophie didn’t know what to say. She’d been trying to fix her problems on her own. Hiring a security company hadn’t been something she’d thought about. Even though it would have solved some of her problems, she couldn’t afford it. She’d never have enough money to pay for the time it would take to keep her safe. And even if she was safe, her mom and sister were still vulnerable. It would be better if she simply left and never came back.

  Ryan stepped forward and brushed a lock of hair behind her ear. “You can’t run forever. Let me help.”

  Sophie shook her head. “I’ll think about what you’ve said, but I can’t promise that I’ll be back tomorrow.” She stepped away from him and tried to smile. “Good luck with your ex-wife. Thank you. For everything.” And before she could change her mind, she walked to her car and drove away.

  ***

  The next morning, Ryan pulled himself out of bed and stumbled to the shower. He’d been so worried about Sophie that he’d barely managed to get any sleep. He had no idea whether she’d turn up for work this morning or whether she was halfway across America.

  By the time he was dressed it was half past seven and Danny was just arriving.

  “Morning, boss. You look as though you had a rough night?”

  Ryan ran his hand over the stubble on his jaw. “You could say that. Have you seen Sophie?”

  Danny opened a box of cereal and poured bran flakes into a bowl. “Not yet. She won’t be long, though. She hasn’t been late since she started working here.”

  Ryan picked up the box of cereal and made his own breakfast. He walked across the room and sat at the small table in front of the windows overlooking Emerald Lake. The water was as flat as a sheet of glass and already reflected the clear blue of the sky. Geese and other birdlife were enjoying the peaceful solitude that only morning could bring. Some days he wished his life was as simple as getting out of bed and doing what he enjoyed. But something always happened to complicate his life and, for him, Sophie was a big complication.

  Danny’s spoon stopped halfway to his mouth. “Is something wrong?”

  “I don’t know yet. Sophie might not be coming into work.”

  Danny looked confused. “She didn’t say anything to me yesterday. Has she been offered a better job?”

  “Why do you think that?”

  “She’s been looking at a recruitment agency’s website. When I asked her about it the other day she turned the screen off and said it wasn’t anything important. I know she could probably earn more money somewhere else, but I thought she was enjoying working with us.”

  “So did I.” Ryan and Danny finished their breakfast in silence. The thought of Sophie not being here left a hollow feeling in the pit Ryan’s stomach.

  For most of last night, he’d been trying to work out what it was about her that made her different. Until Sophie had appeared in his life, he hadn’t met anyone who made him feel happy just because she was there. He looked forward to working with her, to seeing the difference she was making in his office as well as his life. She never hesitated to do what Jamie asked of her, and she never complained that the work was too hard.

  But the biggest reason he liked her was because she was normal. Up until yesterday, he thought he knew her. She treated everyone exactly the same regardless of who they were or what they’d done in their life. Only now, he didn’t know who she was.

  Danny looked out of the kitchen window. “Someone’s pulled up outside.” He leaned forward and frowned. “It’s Jamie. He was going to town early to get supplies. Looks as though Sophie’s with him.”

  Ryan quickly cleaned his bowl and left it inside the dishwasher. He walked through the gallery and opened the front door. He nodded at Jamie, but his attention was firmly on Sophie as she got out of the truck. “Where’s your car?” he asked.

  Sophie didn’t look at him.

  “Engine trouble,” Jamie said as he opened the tailgate of his truck. “I gave her a ride from the campground. I’ll take a look after work and see if I can work out what the problem is.”

  “You’re staying at the campground? Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Sophie took a box out of the cab and walked toward him. “There’s nothing wrong with the campground. It’s clean and tidy.” She went to move past him.

  Ryan reached out and stopped her. “It’s not safe. Anyone could walk in there and find you.”

  “It’s the best I could afford. If anything did happen, there are at least twenty people within yelling distance. I’m probably safer there than stuck in a motel on my own.”

  “We can talk about it later.”

  Sophie frowned. “I didn’t come back to argue with you. I can look after myself.” She went inside with her head high.

  “Put the box in the kitchen,” Jamie yelled after her. He looked at Ryan and scowled. “What’s your problem?”

  “I’m not the one with the problem,” Ryan muttered. “I need to talk to Sophie.” He left Danny and Jamie standing outside. His talk with Sophie was going to happen now. He wanted to know what was going on and he wanted to know that she was safe.

  Sophie was unpacking the box when he walked into the kitchen.

  She glanced at him as she put a packet of cookies in their makeshift cupboard. “Did Jamie tell you what he wants me to do this morning?”

  “You’ll have to ask him.”

  Sophie put a carton of milk in the fridge. Before she closed the door, she opened the top of another carton and sniffed. Her nose scrunched up and she nearly gagged. “You really need to check the best before dates. This milk has been sitting in here for three weeks.”

  “Are you going to tell me what’s going on or pretend that nothing’s happened?”

  “I can’t tell you any more than I have.”

  “You didn’t tell me anything yesterday apart from the fact that someone is looking for you. I can’t help you if you don’t tell me what’s going on.”

  Sophie poured the sour milk into the sink and washed it down the drain. “I don’t need your help. I’ve thought about what you said, and you’re right. If I keep moving, I’m going to run out of money and I still won’t have anywhere safe to stay. So if it’s okay with you, I’d like to keep working for you until your home’s finished.”

  “You can stay as long as you like. Just give me more than ten minutes’ notice next time you intend to leave.” He took a bag of sugar out of the box and put it on the shelf in the pantry.

  Sophie opened a container and held out her hand. “You might want to give me the sugar. The wildlife around here might decide to investigate your kitchen if they think there’s something worth eating.”

  “Does that profound observation come from personal experience or did you read about it on the Internet?”

  Sophie put the sugar into the container and threw the empty bag in the trash. “I watch TV. I know that grizzly bears like sweet things. If I was a bear and feeling hungry, I’d come inside for something to eat. Haven’t you got work that you need to do?”

  “It can wait five minutes. I can help you, Sophie, but you need to tell me what’s going on.”

  “I can’t tell you.” Her jaw set at a stubborn angle. There was no point trying to find out what was going on. Sophie wasn’t about to tell him anything so he needed to try a different approach.

  If he wanted to find out what was happening, he needed to know more about her. His neighbor’s security company was one of the best in America. But without basic facts like someone’s last address or where they’d worked, even they would be hard-pressed to find any useful information.

  “Can you at least t
ell me what job you did before you came to Montana?”

  Sophie’s eyes slowly met his. “Why?”

  “I want you to enjoy working for me. There might be other things you could do that would use the skills you’ve got.” He crossed his fingers and hoped that he didn’t look as though he was lying.

  “You’ve got to promise me that you won’t tell anyone.”

  Ryan felt a wave of heat hit his face. He turned toward the pantry and took a mug off the shelf. “I won’t tell anyone,” he said quickly. “Do you want a cup of coffee?”

  Sophie waited a few seconds before answering him. “No, thanks.”

  He heard her put another couple of things away. With a fresh cup of coffee and a lie big enough to make his nose grow, he turned toward Sophie. “Well?”

  She crossed her arms and scowled. “I worked at a university as a research assistant. I’m good with numbers, I’m a good planner, and I know how to find the most obscure information.”

  “Sounds like you’re the perfect person to tick another action point off Dorothy’s list.”

  “Your publicist has a list?”

  “She has a long list of things that she wants me to do to improve my reputation. One of those things is to organize a fundraising concert.”

  Sophie didn’t look as surprised as he thought she would have. She looked intrigued. “In Montana?”

  “Since I don’t plan on moving from here anytime soon, the concert will have to be in Montana. Are you interested?”

  “I could be, but I don’t know the first thing about organizing a concert. I don’t even know where you would hold that type of event.”

  Ryan pointed toward the lake. “You could have it out here,” he said half seriously. “There are only two sets of neighbors to worry about and there wouldn’t be any noise control officers roaming the streets.”

  “Parking wouldn’t be a problem,” Sophie added. “And there’s plenty of room for everyone to enjoy themselves.” She turned to him and smiled. “I think it might work. I’ll call Dorothy and find out if she’s got any ideas about what would work and what wouldn’t. When do you want to hold the concert?”