After they’d reviewed the work that had been done to date on the specifications for the development, Griffin turned to the finances. As with every project, he was the sole money source. In his first couple of developments, he’d learned the hard way that friends made poor partners and ultimately failed ventures. Plus, he’d learned early on that those who accused him of being authoritarian were correct. From the first moment a parcel of land captured him, he discovered that he had a vision of what the development would and should look like. As he’d tried to explain to Tara, his vision was almost a spiritual experience. It was as if the land talked to him. Told him about its past and suggested ways that past could be captured and become part of its future. Needless to say, few financiers were interested in such a unique development sense. Frankly, Griffin agreed with them. He would never have succumbed to another person’s vision. He would have insisted on his own. Since he’d made enough money to be the sole investor, he’d had the luxury of bringing his dreams to life without outside interference.
Since returning from the Shadow Peaks site, he’d found himself wondering if he might not be selling himself short. It wasn’t as though he hadn’t consulted and worked closely with Native American and government leaders who were central to the success of his projects. In fact, many of these leaders were his greatest supporters. But none of the people he’d worked with had been adamantly and publicly opposed to his ideas. Tara Trouble was a different story—in so many ways. He’d seen her passion and devotion to the land when they’d sat together on the ridge. It made him wonder if perhaps what he needed was a hardcore opponent on his team. To point out the issues his more sycophantic followers would never raise. Even as he considered the apostasy, he acknowledged that Tara Trouble brought more to the table than ideas on how to develop his land.
Turning to his two top advisors, he focused on Magnus. “I have to admit, I’ve been a little preoccupied. I presume all the finances are in order if that reprobate supremacist does hold out.”
Magnus nodded. “Two things you can be sure of, boss. Sledge will ask for more, and we have no reason to cave. If anything, the slimy fucker knows he’s whistling Dixie and he’ll be lucky to get his original asking price.”
Griffin nodded in agreement. “Good, Magnus. Keep tightening the screws. I have to admit, it kills me to pay the fucker a red cent, knowing that he’ll funnel his money into causes that turn my stomach. But face it, I want, frankly I need, to have his land to create the stellar project I’m envisioning. Just make him see that barehanded wrestling with an alligator is sure to leave him short of a dangly part at best. And I’m not taking about his hand.”
Magnus laughed. “I think that message is getting across, Griffin. I’ve even suggested he talk with some of the former assholes we tussled with who lost more than their shirts when they thought they could outfox Griffin Black. The foolish ones who ended up with little more than their tails between their legs when we threw them over and went to a different site. Trust me, Sledge is a pain in the ass and as disgusting a person as we’ve met, but he isn’t stupid. Yeah, he’ll fuss and fume for a while but then will agree to the generous price you offered and go forward singing your praises.”
Griffin frowned and shook his head. “Do what you need to do to make it work. But don’t give that disgusting human being a cent more than I offered. And goddammit, don’t invite him to any of the victory celebrations we schedule.”
He hesitated, then turned to Jia, who had been ominously quiet during the banter between Griffin and Magnus. “That brings me to a pre-victory celebration of sorts. The governor called me yesterday, indicating that he would be honored to headline an event with me to underscore his support of the project. I’ve decided that’s a good idea. Jia, I’d like you to organize a gala of sorts. Sierra Vista style, of course.”
Jia pursed her lips together, then forced them to curve in what approximated a smile—Jia style. “In other words, you want me to put together a wiener roast and ask all the native southern Arizona elite to come. Oh, and to be sure to tell them to wear their usual Levis and garish plaid shirts. The women and the men?”
Griffin shot her a smile that noticeably didn’t reach his eyes. “Now, now, Jia. Sheathe your claws. They aren’t your most attractive feature.” He rose from his seat and focused on her. “Unlike the hoedown you suggested, I would like to have a glamorous event worthy of the project we are proposing. On that point, while I was in New York, I saw a dress at Celine’s that would look stunning on Tara. It was a white sheath dress that only a body like Tara’s could do justice to. Buy it for me and also get the shoes that Phoebe Philo, the designer, paired with it. They’re almost as gorgeous as the dress and will be sensational on Tara. Don’t worry about jewelry. I stopped in at Graff’s and found a necklace and earrings that are magnificent in their own right and, along with the shoes, will be perfect with the dress.” Glancing at his partner, his eyes danced. “Check with Magnus, whom I’m now calling my consigliere. He knows Tara’s sizes. Make sure they arrive in time for Friday night’s party.” At that moment, his phone vibrated and he saw his New York lawyer’s text on the screen. Seeing the clipped text, “possible breakthrough,” his heart banged in his chest. Face it, he rarely heard good news from Colin Fitzpatrick. The reticent guy must have been the odd man out when the angels were passing out good-natured Irish genes. If anything, Fitzpatrick could make even the direst case seem more hopeless. Turning to Jia and Magnus, he rose to his feet. “Excuse me. This is news about my custody suit. And for once, my lawyer might actually have good news. Although, to Fitzpatrick, good news likely means the case is being postponed, meaning that his fees will rise.”
Griffin was embarrassed at his cynicism when Colin spoke. “Look, Griffin, I don’t want to raise your hopes. That doesn’t serve either of us well. However, Judge Gaynor has agreed to hear your case immediately. I was able to impress upon his clerk the urgency of your seeing your children given that their mother tried to commit suicide in their presence. You need to get here, Griffin, posthaste. By tomorrow morning at the latest. If we’re lucky, we may be talking to Judge Gaynor as early as tomorrow afternoon and have the decision by Monday at the latest.”
Griffin swallowed a sigh. On one hand, he was elated. On the other, if he were to meet with Fitzpatrick in the morning to prepare for the possible meeting with the judge, he would need to leave tonight. He hadn’t realized how much he was looking forward to spending the night with Tara until it was clear that he couldn’t. He knew he’d challenged her at her core with his outrageous lovemaking. Hell, he’d been rocked by it as well. He was amazed that even though he was a practiced and, in the past, profligate lover, no matter what he did with Tara, it seemed brand new. He admitted that if he felt that way, he could only imagine how she must feel. Which made it all the more challenging that he wouldn’t be with her tonight.
Her breathy response when he called confirmed that she had been waiting for him to call, or more likely for him to appear at her door. After they’d exchanged perfunctory greetings and confirmed that, yes, they’d each had as good a day as could be expected, he prepared to tell her he needed to leave. Before he could launch into his disquieting tale, she interrupted him to tell him how Tanya had nearly arrested him for speeding. When they’d shared a laugh at their close call, Griffin said, “It’s a good thing she doesn’t know all the things she could be charging me with. Such as corrupting the morals of an upstanding Sierra Vista citizen and, not incidentally, doing things that may be crimes in twenty-one states.”
Tara laughed, then hedged, “I’m not sure she didn’t know, Griffin. Tanya seems to be a lot worldlier since she and Ryker Thompson fell in love.”
At that point, Griffin decided to broach the subject he’d been avoiding. “Tara, I have good and bad news. The good news is that my New York attorney has convinced the judge to hear my custody suit as early as tomorrow afternoon.”
“Oh, Griffin, that is wonderful news. I know that if you have a chance to make your case, he will have no choice but to support your position.”
“I think you’re right, Tara, if for no other reason than my children need me and I need them. Unfortunately, I have to leave tonight. To be specific, my team is revving up my Gulfstream at the moment and I’m going to need to get on board in the next few minutes.”
There was a long pause, then Tara said, “Griffin, I admit, I’ll miss you tonight. I needed to feel your arms around me. I’ll be honest. You’re all I could think about today. But before you say another word, nothing, including having you holding me, could make me happier than that you are flying off to ensure that your children will soon be with you.”
Griffin blew out a hard breath. “I know I told you this before, and it seemed a little premature to us both, but let me say it again. I love you, Tara Trouble. More than I knew I could love a woman.” Knowing that the extraordinary declaration had to be unsettling to the guarded woman, he added with a chuckle, “I’m just glad that I tucked a tube of that cooling gel in your backpack. Granted, it won’t be the same as me tending to your sore places, but at least when you apply it, it will bring back memories of the dastardly man who more than had his way with you.”
Her choked laugh confirmed that she was as undone by their outrageous lovemaking as he was.
****
“Settle down, Jia. Whether you know it or not, green isn’t your best color. It makes you look like a snarling she-cat rather than a composed executive.”
Jia straightened up in her chair and glared at him, practically spitting out the words, “If you are implying that I am jealous of that small-time nobody, Magnus, you couldn’t be more wrong. Do you think for a moment that Griffin is interested in anything but her big tits? And the fact that he is playing her to get her to support Shadow Peaks?”
Magnus shrugged. “I dunno, Jia, our boss man looks more relaxed than he has in months. And hell, it’s not as if he doesn’t have a few big issues to deal with. Such as his crazy wife trying to off herself and her parents slapping him with another lawsuit to ensure he doesn’t get to see his kids.”
“That’s what I’m talking about, Magnus. Griffin is facing huge challenges, but you know as well as I do that women, especially big-breasted blondes, are a dime a dozen in his world.”
“Hmm, so in the view of She-Hulk, a jealous supervillain if I’ve ever seen one, he prefers stick-thin, Asian women? Particularly one with a cutting wit that demoralizes most men who get within ten feet of her, not knowing that she’s set her trap for the big honcho?”
Jia whirled on him. “Two things, Magnus, and I suggest that you pay attention to both. First, no one, especially a small-town newspaper editor, is going to interest Griffin for a single day after he gets her on board his project. Secondly, my dear friend and colleague, this is for you. I thought you were smart enough to know with whom to side. You and I are birds of a feather. I don’t know who is more ‘strategic,’ but trust me, in a catfight or any other kind of a fight, I never come in last. Best you know that, Magnus, and act accordingly. I won’t let anyone, woman or man, stand in my way. That includes an eco-bitch and you.”
“Tough talk, Jia. I might think you are getting a little unhinged. For example, what makes you think that I’m siding with Tara Trouble?”
“Maybe the fact that you buy her disgusting lingerie, knowing that the little slut would wear them to entice Griffin?”
“And you wouldn’t, Jia? Even to capture Griffin’s attention?”
An ugly sneer darkened her harsh expression. “Trust me, Magnus, I don’t need to sell my body to get what I want. And, by the way, friend, I don’t have to steal either. I will capture Griffin Black and his empire by my cunning and beauty alone. I suggest that if you know what is good for you, you choose to side with the certain winner in this battle—me.”
Apparently deciding that she’d made her points, Jia sailed out of the room, waves of angry vitriol in her wake.
Magnus stared at the empty doorway for several long moments, trying to come to grips with the scene he’d just participated in. He knew Jia was a jealous, destructive bitch. Everyone knew that. But what he’d seen and heard in her harangue today was challenging—particularly to him. For the first time, he wondered if Jia knew more than he thought she did. That she was actually dangerous. Not to Tara, and certainly not to Griffin. But to him.