Playing For Keeps (Emerald Lake Billionaires 2) Read online

  Ryan had no idea what Dorothy’s time-frame might be. All he knew was that he had a giant ticking bomb attached to his career. If his ex-wife released her photos before Dorothy’s plan kicked into gear, he’d be in serious trouble.

  “You’d better ask Dorothy what date will work. As soon as we have a date, I’ll call my neighbors and see if they’re okay with a few hundred people coming out here. Do the plan, create a budget, and ask Dorothy’s team for advice on getting the message out to the world.”

  Sophie picked up the empty grocery box and smiled. “I’ll have something for you to look at soon. In the meantime, I’ve got a few bills to pay and some paint touch-ups to do before lunch.”

  “Remember to call Dorothy. She’ll know exactly what needs to happen.”

  Sophie walked out of the room.

  Ryan knew that Dorothy could help Sophie, but Dorothy couldn’t help him. There was only one person who could do that and it was his neighbor, John Fletcher.

  If anyone could find information about a university research assistant called Sophie, it was the team at Fletcher Security. They were experts at finding needles in haystacks and Sophie was the smallest needle they’d ever have to find.

  ***

  The next evening, Ryan watched the sun set above Emerald Lake from John Fletcher’s backyard. John had bought the property beside Ryan’s nearly a year ago. Since Ryan had been back in Bozeman, they’d often sat on the grass, relaxing after work and enjoying the peace that their properties gave them.

  As well as being an ex-Navy SEAL, John owned Fletcher Security, one of the most successful security companies in North America. With bodyguards and security specialists working from most major cities, his influence on the lives of the rich and famous wasn’t something you could underestimate.

  John knew all about Ryan’s ex-wife and the problems they were having. He’d offered to look into Cindy’s less-than-pure life, but Ryan had told him not to bother. He wasn’t interested in digging up dirt on his ex-wife, even though she didn’t have the same problem about doing it to him.

  John took another sip of his soda. “I heard you had a convoy of visitors the other day?”

  “Dorothy arrived with her PR team. I suppose I should be grateful that they came out to Bozeman and didn’t drag me down to Nashville.”

  “Knowing Dorothy, there would have been a reason for her coming here.” John had met Dorothy a month ago. It hadn’t taken him too long to realize what a formidable force she was.

  Ryan leaned his head against the back of his chair. “She wants to add credibility to what’s left of my reputation. If Cindy has her way, all anyone will see is a drunk, out-of-control musician who doesn’t know how to keep his pants on.”

  John choked on his soda. “Sounds impressive.”

  “Maybe for someone else.” Ryan gazed at the mountains. “Does it ever end?”

  John didn’t have to ask what he meant. Neither of them had been born with silver spoons in their mouths. John had been raised on a cattle ranch in Bozeman. Ryan’s folks were your typical middle-class parents. They worked long hours, taught him right from wrong, and did everything they could to give him a good education.

  Ryan and John’s lives had taken two very different paths, but they’d ended up living beside each other, becoming more successful than either of them could have imagined.

  “Someone will always want what you’ve got,” John said carefully. “It’s the trade-off we’ve made. Earning lots of money puts you in the spotlight, whether you want to be there or not. Cindy has seen an opportunity. She’s the type of person who’ll take full advantage of what happened years ago to take what she thinks is hers.”

  Ryan took a deep swallow of his drink. “She’s out of luck.”

  John smiled. “Believe me, your ex-wife won’t be the only person who’s ever going to be after your money. It’s amazing what incentive a few zeroes makes to some people’s perspective on life. If you need help, you know where to find me.”

  Ryan nodded. “How are your wedding plans going?”

  John groaned. “You’d think having no budget would make most women’s hearts sing. But Rachel’s getting more stressed every day. She’s constantly worried about everything costing too much. Bella’s so excited she can hardly sleep.”

  Bella was John’s nine-year-old daughter. Nearly two years ago, she’d sent a letter to a group of women, called The Bridesmaids Club, asking them to find her dad a wife. The only problem was that Bella hadn’t told them her full name, and they couldn’t find her.

  A year after Bella had mailed the letter, Rachel, one of the women in The Bridesmaids Club, had worked out who’d sent the letter. She’d met John at his office, and the rest, as the saying went, was history.

  “Have you settled on a date?”

  “Rachel wants to get married at Emerald Lake in the fall. I tried to convince her that it wasn’t the best time for an outdoor wedding, but she isn’t listening to me. She doesn’t want a big wedding. As long as our families and close friends are here, that’s enough for Rachel.”

  Ryan wasn’t surprised. Rachel was the most down-to-earth person he’d met in a long time. “Good luck with your plans.”

  John glanced at Ryan. “Tell me about your secretary.”

  “Sophie? Have you met her?”

  “I haven’t, but some of my team did. Tanner was looking for someone who might have been able to help with another case we’re working on. Sophie was using the kitchen in the local campground when he arrived.”

  Ryan looked closely at John. “I knew she was staying at the campground. What haven’t you told me?”

  “She’s been sleeping in her car.”

  “I thought she was renting a cabin. Are you sure she’s sleeping in her car?”

  “As sure as I usually am. She didn’t seem too worried.”

  Ryan didn’t know what to say. In the early days of his music career, he’d spent more than a few sleepless nights in the back of his truck as well. But Sophie wasn’t the reckless nineteen-year-old that he’d been. She was older, wiser, and in too much trouble to risk sleeping in her car.

  Ryan hadn’t thought to ask Sophie where she was sleeping. “She never looks as though she’s crawled out of the back of her car.”

  “Looks can be deceptive. Do what you like with the information. I just thought you’d want to know.”

  “There’s something I need you to do for me.” Ryan kept his eyes focused on the can of soda in his hands. “Sophie’s in trouble, but she won’t tell me what’s going on. Until a few months ago, she worked as a research assistant at a university. She told me she’d been living in San Francisco, but I’m not sure she was telling me the truth. She hasn’t mentioned any family or where they might be living. I want you to find out who she really is and what’s going on.”

  “Do you have any bank account numbers or Social Security details that we can use?”

  Ryan shook his head. “She wanted to be paid in cash. I didn’t have a problem with that until I found out that she was in trouble.”

  John pulled a cell phone out and started making notes about what Ryan was saying. “What about her vehicle? Is it a rental or does she own it?”

  “I think she owns it. I’ll let you know what her license plate number is when she arrives tomorrow morning.”

  “Does she use any of your computers or the Internet while she’s with you?”

  Ryan thought back over the conversation he’d had with Danny. “She’s been looking at different sites on the Internet. Danny mentioned the other day that she’d been looking at a recruitment website.”

  “I’ll ask one of my team to speak to Danny. If we could have access to the computer that Sophie’s been using, it would make finding out what’s going on a lot easier.”

  “If someone could come around tomorrow afternoon, I’ll ask her to go into town and pick up some supplies. If they can do what they need to then, Sophie won’t know that someone’s been on her computer.”
/>   John frowned at Ryan. “She’s not going to be impressed if she finds out that we’re doing. Are you willing to jeopardize your relationship with her?”

  “I’m willing to risk our friendship if it saves her life. I’ve got a feeling that Sophie’s in more trouble than most people find in a lifetime. She won’t tell me what’s going on, so I need to find out myself.”

  “We’ll do our best. I just hope you know what you’re asking me to do. Sometimes you’re better off not knowing what’s going on.”

  Ryan couldn’t imagine that would be the case with Sophie. “Send me a bill when you’ve found as much information as you can. I’ve got a feeling it’s not going to be easy.”

  John turned his phone off. “Most of our work isn’t easy. And don’t worry about paying for our services. I might need someone to sing at our wedding. Rachel’s got a soft spot for a certain country music superstar.”

  Ryan grinned at the pained expression on his friend’s face. “Sounds to me like you’re marrying a woman with good taste. Ask Rachel to make a list of the songs she likes and I’ll come and see her.”

  John shook his head. “You’ve got no idea what you’ve let yourself in for. You’d better bring Sophie as backup. I don’t want my fiancée deciding she’s better off with the musician over the fence.”

  Ryan knew that would never happen. He’d spent a lot of time with Rachel and John. They had the kind of relationship that you don’t see every day. It was everything his songs were made of and nothing like the reality of his life.

  CHAPTER FOUR

  Sophie typed a web address into the toolbar on Ryan’s computer and waited for the site to appear. About eight months ago, she’d been worried about someone stealing her research notes. Instead of hiding everything away, she’d started her own website and put the encrypted information in front of the world.

  The recruitment website didn’t advertise jobs, but it did have advice for finding the perfect job. Within the articles about writing CVs and how to prepare for an interview, she’d carefully hidden information that would unlock the formula for her Alzheimer’s medication. The only person who knew the code was her sister, Hayley.

  Hayley didn’t know much about genetic microbiology, but she was a crossword addict. She could unravel the most obscure clue and find an answer that very few people could see. With an encrypted code adding another layer of security to the formula, their secret was as safe as it could be.

  Hayley worked as a geriatric nurse in the nursing home where their mother lived. She’d thought Sophie was crazy giving their mom what she called, jungle juice, three times a day. But after eighteen months of trial and error, the mix of herbal nutrients and anti-inflammatory plants were doing better than Sophie had expected.

  Each week, Hayley uploaded the results from the tests she did with their mom onto their website. Even though Sophie wasn’t with them, she could keep a careful eye on how her mom was doing.

  She blinked back tears as she remembered the way her mom used to be before dementia had robbed her of her life. She didn’t know at what stage the new treatment would stop making a difference, but for now, it was nothing short of a miracle. Thanks to the supplement, her mom could eat on her own, move around her apartment, and shop at the special store they had in the dementia facility.

  Sophie moved the computer mouse across the screen and clicked on the testimonial page of the website. Hayley had added an entry about a non-existent job she’d applied for.

  She leaned forward, smiling at the words Hayley had written.

  “You look happy,” Ryan said from the doorway.

  Sophie closed the website and grinned at her boss. Her mom had passed a major milestone and she felt like dancing on the desk. “It’s the best morning ever.”

  “Really?”

  She reached for a pile of messages beside the phone. “Mr. Sheehan called. He wants to know when you’ll be ready for the light fittings to be delivered. Ed McMurtry wanted to let you know that your paintings can be delivered next week. You need to call him and let him know when you’ll be home. And last but not least, your publicist called and wanted to know how your songwriting is going.”

  “And those calls made you happy?”

  Sophie couldn’t stop the smile that burst across her face. “Dorothy was very pleasant.”

  Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “What else did she say?”

  “We talked about the concert.”

  “Anything else?” he asked.

  Sophie shook her head. “Nothing, why?”

  “You look as though you’ve just won the national lottery. I thought Dorothy might have been sharing some top-secret information.”

  “Dorothy always asks more questions than she answers, so your secrets are safe.”

  Ryan moved into the office and sat on the chair opposite her. “I had dinner with John Fletcher last night.”

  Sophie’s bubble of happiness popped. John Fletcher owned a security company. A big security company. If Ryan wanted to know anything about her, John’s company was the organization he’d most likely use.

  “He said that one of his security staff met you the other day?”

  Sophie frowned. She couldn’t remember anyone from Fletcher Security talking to her. Apart from the contractors working on Ryan’s home, the only other people she’d talked to had been at the campground. “What was their name?”

  “Tanner. He’s a big guy with dark hair. He was looking for a runaway teenage girl.”

  Sophie knew exactly who Ryan was talking about. She’d been cooking in the camp kitchen when she’d first seen him. She’d thought about avoiding him, but didn’t want to look as though she had something to hide. “I thought he was an undercover police officer. Did he find who he was looking for?” She wiped her hands on her jeans.

  Ryan shook his head. “I don’t think he found the runaway. She’s been missing for more than two months now. I wouldn’t imagine it’s easy finding someone who wants to disappear.”

  Sophie felt her cheeks blush bright red. “I guess it depends on why they don’t want to be found.”

  Ryan’s fingers started tapping against the arm of the chair. “John told me something else, as well.”

  Sophie sat perfectly still, waiting for the words she didn’t want to hear.

  “He told me that you’re sleeping in your car. Why didn’t you tell me you didn’t have somewhere to stay?”

  Sophie let go of the breath she’d been holding onto. She focused on her keyboard and not her pounding heart.

  “I know you’re probably embarrassed that I found out, but you should have told me. In a couple of days, most of the wooden floors will be ready to walk on. You could stay here until we’ve finished building the house.”

  Sophie’s jaw dropped. “I can’t stay here. I know it’s not ideal living at the campground, but the people are really nice and while it’s still summer, it’s okay.”

  “It’s not okay. Apart from being unsafe, your car wasn’t designed to sleep in.”

  Ryan didn’t have to tell her that. Even with the back seats folded flat, it was still hard getting in and out of her vehicle. “Thank you for your concern, but I’ll be fine. When I’ve saved some more money I’ll rent one of the cabins.”

  “I’m not asking you to stay here. I’m telling you. You can call it a new condition of employment if you want to, but you’re not going back there.”

  Sophie forgot about her website; forgot about the people who were looking for her. All she focused on was the man scowling at her from the opposite side of the desk. “There’s nothing wrong with the campground.”

  “If you want to keep working for me, you’ll stay here.” Ryan stood up and started to leave the room. “I’ve got work to do. When you’ve finished sorting through the bills and messages, Jamie said to find him. Some of the rooms need sweeping before the flooring contractor arrives.”

  “You can’t make me stay here,” Sophie growled. “I’m a grown woman. You wouldn’t make Da
nny stay here if someone was looking for him.”

  “Danny knows how to look after himself. While you’re working for me, I want to know you’re safe. I can’t do that when you’re living at the campground. If you need a hand to move your things out here, let me know.”

  Sophie wouldn’t be letting Ryan know anything because she wasn’t going to stay with him. She might be slightly homeless, have next to no money, and worry about every noise she heard during the night, but it was better than staying here.

  An out-of-work genetic microbiologist would cramp Ryan’s style and make him wish that she wasn’t working for him. Especially when he found out what she did in her spare time.

  ***

  Sophie glared at the men sitting at the kitchen table. “Who took my car keys?”

  All four men looked at her innocently. Tanner, the security specialist who’d seen her at the campground, had joined Ryan, Jamie, and Danny in the kitchen. They were busy munching chocolate chip cookies and drinking big mugs of coffee.

  “I know someone has my keys. I left them beside the telephone.”

  Danny filled his mouth with half a cookie. Sophie narrowed her eyes. She didn’t know Tanner very well, but of everyone sitting at the table, Danny was the most likely to tell her where her keys were. “I need to go into town to collect an order I placed last week.”

  Danny glanced at Ryan and kept eating.

  Sophie moved closer to Danny’s chair. “I know you’ve got something to do with it, Danny O’Brien. Where are they?”

  “I don’t know,” he muttered. “Ask Ryan.”

  Ryan stopped chewing.

  Sophie turned her attention to her boss. “You can’t make me stay here.”

  Tanner reached for another cookie. Sophie picked up the plate and held it away from him. “No one gets another cookie until I know where my keys are.”

  Tanner sighed. “You’re a cruel woman. Would it make any difference if I told you Rachel baked those cookies before she went to work this morning?”

  She glared at Tanner. “I don’t know who Rachel is, so it doesn’t make one bit of difference.”