Chapter 3
A nudge from the woman sitting next to her brought her out of the past and into the present. “Earth to Nicole.” Tammy said.
Nicole realized she’d let herself get distracted and lost the thread of the conversation. “Sorry, I didn’t hear what you said.”
“We’ve all been sharing where we worked before this.” One of the men at the table said, giving Nicole a strange look.
“Yeah and it’s your turn.” Tammy chimed in.
“Oh, well to tell you the truth this is my first job. I just got my bachelor’s degree last month.”
There was a round of congratulations from everyone at the table, then Tammy asked, “But didn’t you live in Coldwater Canyon?”
“I was Julie and Sam’s nanny.” She said, thinking about how simple she’d just made an extremely complicated situation sound.
When the group only stared at her, she added, “I finished my degree online then did my fieldwork in the canyon last winter. It’s a pretty fantastic place and I was lucky to get the opportunity.”
That seemed to be enough to make the group happy and Nicole gladly let the conversation move past her to the next victim. She knew that there would be questions about her past; it was only natural when a new group of people got together, and it was a relief that they’d been happy with her abbreviated answer. The last thing she wanted to do was go into how difficult it really had been to leave her brothers in Colorado and go to California, even though it had always been her dream to live there. No matter how many times Marissa and Detective Alvarez told her that she was doing the right thing for the boys, she still felt like she’d abandoned them.
But when it became clear that Animal’s people were still looking for her, even staking out the boy’s school, she’d known that she had no choice but to leave them where they’d be safe until after the man was locked away in jail. When Marissa had suggested the job with Sam and Julie Montgomery, who besides being first time parents were also the lead scientists on the moose project in the canyon, she’d jumped at the chance.
When they’d decided to move to Alaska to help Seth Montgomery with the reclamation project, she’d been happy to go along with them, returning to the canyon only to finish her degree. It had been good for her to take care of baby Annabelle then, but that time was past and as much as she missed the baby, she was excited to begin her new career. Alaska was a new exciting world to her, but thanks to her time in the mountains of California, she was prepared to survive in this harsh landscape.
Jared stared at Gina, then asked sarcastically, “You think I should get even? Get even how? If the business goes bankrupt that’s my money too.”
Gina had been patting his hand like he was an old person but quickly drew her hand back. “Well, I just thought. I mean isn’t there a way you could get even?”
Jared wanted to roll his eyes at the stupid woman sitting across from him. “Don’t you get it? My money is tied to the family. If Montgomery Renewable doesn’t make money neither do I.” But then he realized that what he’d said wasn’t exactly true, in fact he had a sizable fortune of his own.
Gina was silent for a long time, she appeared to be hurt by Jared’s words but in truth she was just waiting for Jared to figure out what she already had. It was then that Jared realized that he could indeed get even with Seth, and gain control of the family business in the process, it was so simple he wondered why he hadn’t thought about it before.
“I’m sorry Jared, I guess I don’t know what I’m talking about.” Gina said, looking down into her lap.
“Actually, I think you may have just given me a great idea. If I can find some way to bring Montgomery Renewable down, I can take over and put things back the way they were.” Jared wanted to kick himself for not thinking of it before, it was perfect. Not only would it get the men back in Juneau off his back, he’d finally be where he was supposed to be, at the head of the company and later governor of the state of Alaska.
“I’ll do anything I can to help. It’s just not fair what happened to you.” Gina said, visions of running this big beautiful house as her own flashing through her head.
“Just be quiet and let me think.” Jared ordered.
Gina did as he said for a while, trying not to smile as she nibbled on her food and feeling more secure about her place in Jared’s life than she’d ever felt before. Finally, though, she had to say something, had to make sure that she was a part of his scheme, show him just how much he needed her.
“Maybe I could try to get close to Lauren, use her to get information.” She suggested carefully.
Jared started to tell her to shut up, but then thought about her idea. “I haven’t had much luck getting Seth to trust me, maybe you’ll have better luck with Lauren.”
“People like me.” She said, more than sure that she could find a way to charm Lauren into telling her something important.
Jared nodded, then said, “I’ll try again with Seth, maybe I can convince him that I’ve changed my mind about the renewable energy thing, get him to lower his guard, give me something I can use to bring him down.”
Gina just smiled and nodded her head, things were going perfectly, just the way she’d planned. Soon she’d be able to forget the life she’d left behind, forget the cramped cabin where there were always too many people and not enough to eat. That life would be a thing of her past, something fondly remembered and referred to when she did television interviews as the governor’s wife. It was almost as if Jared was following a script she’d written for them, doing exactly as she wanted him to when she wanted him to do it, and the best part was that he didn’t even know it.
After breakfast, Jared left Nicole sitting on the deck to search for his brother. He didn’t have to go far, Seth was in the office, a room that looked nothing like it had when his father was alive. Gone was the huge wooden desk his father had so loved, in its place was a sleek metal desk with a glass top that Jared thought looked out of place in the room. When he knocked on the open door, his brother waved him in, a look of resignation on his face.
“I really don’t want to fight with you today.” Seth said, when Jared had taken a seat opposite him.
“I didn’t come here to fight with you.” Jared said, trying for a look of contrition. “I’m giving up on trying to convince you that this is a bad idea.”
“Oh, that’s interesting. Can I assume that you’ve had a change of heart?” Seth was goading his brother who was clearly up to his old tricks.
“Well, I’ve been listening to people talk for two days and I might have been wrong.” Jared said, pausing to let that sink in. “But what I’d really like to do is learn more about what you’re doing.”
Seth had been effectively blocking Jared from any information about both the reclamation and the renewable energy, so he wasn’t the least bit surprised to hear Jared’s request. It had happened sooner than he’d thought it would, but that was okay, he already had a plan in place. He almost felt sorry for Jared, there must be some very important people pushing him if he was this desperate this soon.
There was no doubt in Seth’s mind that Jared would try to sabotage the renewable energy project, it was exactly what their father would have done, and Jared was their father’s son in every way. Any time Seth had tried to do anything on his own, Jared had gotten jealous and set out to destroy it, but that wasn’t going to happen this time. If Jared wanted to learn about what Seth was doing, he could start with the reclamation, let him spend months in the middle of the mess their family had made and see how he felt then. A few months in the back country would do his brother some good, get him out of the boardroom and into the real world, then maybe he’d understand what the project was about.
“Well, it might be possible for you to spend some time on one of the project sites if you’re really serious.” Seth said slowly as if he was weighing the honesty of Jared’s words.
“Really, that would be wonderful. I don’t know anything about renewable energy.” Jared said, thinking he’d have Seth on the run before the summer was out, just like when they’d been kids, he’d come out on top.
“I might be able to talk Sam and Julie into taking you with them when they go out to do their survey.” Seth said, as if the possibility had just occurred to him.
“Sam and Julie?” Jared was confused.
“Sam and Julie Montgomery. Our cousins from California. They’re working on the reclamation.” Seth said.
“But, I thought I’d be with you.” Jared protested, thinking this might not be going the way he’d planned.
“No, I think to get a real understanding of what we’re doing you should familiarize yourself with the reclamation.”
“The reclamation? I don’t see how that has anything to do with the renewable energy.” Jared said, wishing now that he hadn’t made the request.
“I’m sorry it’s the best I can do.” Seth said, making it clear that it was that or nothing.
Jared was so desperate to get into Seth’s good graces, knew that it was the only way that he’d be able find some way to stop him, “I guess that would be fine.” He finally answered, plastering a false smile on his face. “Would it be okay if Gina stayed here while I was gone?”
Seth was surprised to hear the request, Gina wasn’t exactly the kind of woman he’d expected Jared to be involved with. She was much too common and unsophisticated for a politician’s wife, but if Jared was asking then he clearly had a purpose for wanting Gina here. Knowing his brother, he’d have Gina spying on them the whole time, but it might be interesting to see just how far his brother was planning to go to get information.
“I suppose that would be fine. I’m sure we can find something interesting for her to do while she’s here.” Seth said, thinking he’d have to have Lauren and some of the other women keep an eye on Gina who might be just as dangerous as his brother.
There was something in Gina’s eyes that he didn’t like, a raw desire that had nothing to do with passion and everything to do with money and status. He knew a gold digger when he saw one and that’s exactly what that woman was, she had big plans and the Montgomery money and status had everything to do with them. In fact, the more he thought about it, the more he was convinced that her only interest in his brother was for just those two things, and that she’d have to be watched very carefully.
“Go home for a few days Jared, I’d like to spend some time with my new wife before construction on the wind turbines starts.” Seth said, clearly dismissing Jared.
Jared walked out of the office and nearly collapsed on the carpet in the hall. He hadn’t realized just how tense he’d been throughout the entire exchange. But at least now he’d be able to go home with some good news for the men who’d sent him. It would buy him some time before they started clamoring for him to put a stop to what Seth was doing again, and hopefully he’d have enough time to do just that before they did. His plan had to work, or his political career would come to an end before it had ever begun, then he’d be completely lost, no family business and no political career.
Nicole was holding Annabelle on her hip watching as Lauren struggled to get her baby seat strapped onto the four-wheeler. Even with the adaptations they’d made, it wasn’t an easy process. When the last buckle snapped into place, they both breathed a sigh of relief. Now they’d be able to leave, only an hour behind schedule. It was never easy to gather a large group of people together and their group numbered twelve, including Annabelle.
Nicole was more than ready to get her first official research trip started, excited that this time instead of staying behind in the village with Annabelle she’d be riding out with the rest of the party. Of course, there had been times when she and the baby had traveled with Sam and Julie but then she’d been the nanny not a researcher, and watching the baby in the wilderness had taken up all her time.
She was just about to strap Annabelle into her seat when a car came roaring up the road and screeched to a halt. Everyone stopped what they were doing and watched as a tall man got out of the car and went around to the trunk, removed bag after bag of gear then walked toward them. Lauren cursed under her breath, then took Annabelle from Nicole and began to walk over to where Sam was standing.
Nicole followed her, “Who’s that?”
“That is Seth’s brother Jared.” Julie said, clearly unhappy that he was there. “I was hoping he wouldn’t show up.”
“For what?”
“He’s going with us.”
That was the last thing Nicole had expected, “But he’s not a scientist.”
“No.” Julie said with a sigh, then stopped. “Seth doesn’t trust him, he thinks he’s trying to sabotage the project, so we’re supposed to drag him around behind us. Seth figures he’ll either get tired of camping out and go home or that he’ll understand what we’re trying to do and get on board. Since I doubt he’s ever going to approve of this project, I have a feeling that he’s going to cause nothing but problems.”
Nicole thought back to their first meeting and remembered quite clearly how she felt when Jared Montgomery had taken her hand, it had been an odd mixture of distrust and attraction. It had made her uncomfortable and the last thing she wanted to do was share a camp with him.
“Please tell me he’s going with another group.”
“I’m sorry but I can’t, we’re stuck with him for as long as he wants.”
Nicole looked over at the man who was talking to Seth, waving his arms around to make whatever point he was trying to make. His clothes were clearly new and if the amount of gear he’d brought meant anything, it meant that he had no idea what he was doing in the back country. He’d brought half the hardware department with him, a sure sign of a novice. Not only would they have to watch their backs when he was around, but they’d probably have to show him how to survive out in the back country.
Jared couldn’t believe he’d agreed to this, but he’d really had no choice when Seth had suggested it. Now he’d be spending weeks away from civilization, sleeping on the ground and eating dehydrated food at every meal. He’d avoided the back country like the plague when he’d been growing up, unlike Seth who’d found solace in the silence, he’d found it almost frightening to be so far from civilization. His father had never known, simply believed Jared when he told him he’d been out hunting or fishing, never imagining for a moment that a son of his would be afraid of the wilderness.
To add to his agitation, Gina had been especially difficult on the trip from Juneau, her mouth never seemed to stop moving. She jumped from one idea to the next in her quest to find a way to bring the project down, her enthusiasm almost scary in its intensity. He’d thought that she would be useful, but instead he had begun to worry that she was going to blow the entire plan with her over the top enthusiasm. After he’d cautioned her for the third time not to do anything without running it by him first, she’d finally shut up, clearly in a snit because he’d shut her down.
When he’d finally dropped her off at the house, she’d raised a fuss about the bedroom she’d been given, insisting that as his girlfriend she should have his room. Finally, just to keep the peace, the people who had been staying in his old room had moved out, letting Gina have her way. She instantly became apologetic, but he could see that she wasn’t sorry in the least. She’d felt she deserved the room and done what she had to get her way. Jared had seen her behave that way before, but had never realized just how tasteless it was until he watched her in action.
The minute this was over, he was going to dump her, no wife of his would ever behave the way she had that afternoon. When he finally drove away from the house it was with relief, Gina might cause a problem while she was on her own, but no matter what she did if she could find him something to work with, it would be worth it. He refused to feel bad that he was using her, after all the reason she was willing to help him was because she was using him too, he was her ticket to permanent social stability.
Now Sam had just informed him that he’d be hauling his own gear and given him a lecture about the importance of being on time as if he was a child. It had never occurred to him that there wouldn’t be anyone to help him with his gear, but he had no choice but to play by Sam’s rules, so he picked up the first of his bags and loaded it onto the four-wheeler he’d been given. That was when it occurred to him that he’d also have to set up his own camp and possibly even cook his own meals.
Feeling less and less optimistic about this arrangement, he continued to load the mountain of equipment he’d brought with him, wondering if he really needed it all, but sure that he’d leave something vital behind if he tried to lessen his load right then. By the time he was done loading everyone was watching him, clearly ready to leave and not happy that he was holding them up. That was when he saw the woman from the wedding reception standing in the group, he hadn’t seen her when he pulled up, he would have remembered since she’d been haunting his dreams.
When their eyes met across the parking lot, he detected not only hostility but interest, a mixed message that he wasn’t sure how to interpret. He was surprised at the jolt of desire that raced through him at the sight of her in jeans and a tee-shirt, but he also clearly remembered what she’d looked like the night he’d met her. Her cocktail dress cut to accentuate her ample curves, he’d wanted to run his hands over the shiny fabric and explore the flesh underneath. Now he wanted to do the same thing with the tight jeans she wore, jeans clearly designed to make those curves all that much more tantalizing.
Frustrated with this unwanted desire, he gave Nicole a dirty look and got on his four-wheeler promising himself that he’d stay as far away from her as possible. Jared was uncomfortable with his reaction to the woman, his body beyond his control, wanting something he knew was out of the question. If he’d been a different man with different aspirations, he might have considered exploring his attraction to Nicole, but she was not the woman for him. He couldn’t afford to have any kind of relationship with an unsuitable woman, not matter how much she stirred his blood. He wanted to be governor and appearances were everything.