Free A Little White Lie by MacKenzie McKade Page A

table, he growled, “I’m not in the mood for conversation.”
    “Not even to hear the truth?”
    Was that sorrow or regret he saw in his grandsire’s long face?
    Yeah. Right. This was Jonathan David Toliver he was talking about. A man who had built an empire on his business savvies.
    His grandfather sat erect in his chair. “My meddling has caused you pain and that wasn’t my intention.”
    A short, bitter laugh escaped between JD’s thin lips. “You got what you wanted. Let’s end it here. I’ve had a trying day. I’m sore, hungry and I want to go to bed.” He forked a piece of roast beef and placed it on his plate. He picked up his knife and fork, attacking the meat with a vengeance.
    “Son, Miss Sinclair didn’t know who you were until I spoke to her at the barbeque yesterday. In fact, I was surprised, may I say pleasantly so, when I saw how much attention you extended her. Truth is I offered her the account if she could convince you to agree to manage the company. I really left her no choice. Either way she couldn’t win.”
    JD shook his head. “Win? She got what she wanted. She sure as hell didn’t try to stop me from walking away.” He crammed a bite into his mouth, but the tender meat felt more like shoe leather as he chewed.
    “You’re wrong, Jonathan. You and I both know how hardheaded you can be. Would you have stayed or listened to her?”
    No. But that was beside the point.
    “The woman cares for you,” his grandfather added.
    Chewing a little slower, he paused before swallowing the meat like it was a block of wood. “Grandfather, please.” Dammit. He didn’t need to hear this bullshit.
    He pushed away from the table and started to rise, stopping midway when his grandfather continued. “You didn’t stay long enough to see her tears or the pain on her face. I may be nothing but an old fool, but I know affection when I see it.”
    Affection? No way. Stella was just looking out for herself. Even as the thought entered his mind, he knew it couldn’t be true. Not if she hadn’t known who he was from the beginning. The connection he felt between them happened that first night. Saturday had only made it stronger. He drifted back into his chair.
    “Don’t let this one go.” A sly grin spread across his grandfather’s face. “I think she might be a keeper. In fact, she’s just what this family needs.”
    Unanswered questions bombarded JD all at once. What if his grandfather was right? What if Stella did care? JD hadn’t given her any opportunity to explain. Was she as miserable as he?
    Again he pushed away from the table, but this time he stood and left the room, heading straight for his bedroom. Inside, he slid his feet into a pair of loafers. After retrieving his keys from his jeans in the hamper, he wasted no time exiting the house. In seconds he was in his truck heading down the road.
    Each minute that ticked by increased his anxiety. Would she even speak to him? As he passed the Rusty Nail, he pondered how the trip seemed to take longer than usual, or was it that he couldn’t wait to see her again—to hold her?
    When the hotel came into view he tensed. He was parked, out of his truck, through the hotel and standing at her door before he knew it. He rapped his knuckles on the door, praying she would answer.
    “Sir.” He turned to see a young housemaid pushing a cart toward him. “That room is unoccupied.”
    His throat thickened. “There must be some mistake.”
    “No. I serviced it myself.”
    “Thank you.” She couldn’t have left, he thought as he made a beeline for the front desk. But he had no better luck when he inquired about her.
    “I’m sorry, but Miss Sinclair checked out earlier this morning. She’s gone,” the gentleman behind the desk said. He must have read the panic on JD’s face because he asked, “Can I be of further assistance?”
    “No. Thank you. Guess I’m going to New York.”

Chapter Seven
     
    Stella stared out the twenty-fifth floor window