Part 16 (1/2)
Karen lifted a brow. ”As long as it's enough to give Erica a reason to call off this ridiculous wedding.”
He nodded. ”Unfortunately, I couldn't find anything on Brian Lawson.” At her deep frown he smiled. ”But I think I have something even more damaging.”
She narrowed her gaze. ”For your sake, it better be. I've paid you a lot of money and there's more where it came from if you can deliver.”
”I believe I can...and I have. It's not Brian you need to worry about, it's his mother.”
Karen's gaze reflected surprise. ”His mother? Why on earth would I need to be concerned with her? her?”
”Because she's involved in a very heated affair.”
Karen shrugged. ”So what? She's single. Some women enjoy that sort of thing with a man.”
He chuckled. ”Yes, some do. But in her case, the man she's enjoying it with happens to be married.”
Karen paused with her teacup mere inches from her lips. ”Married?” she asked in surprise.
”Yes, and the man is someone you know.”
Before she could ask who, Jaye emptied an envelope filled with pictures on the table before her. At her startled gasped, he said, ”Yes, Karen. I hate to inform you, but for the past two months Rita Lawson has been having an affair with Wilson.”
Jaye watched Karen. Other than picking up the photographs and turning them over and over, one by one, she said nothing. His mother had once said she thought Karen's heart was made of stone and her father had made her that way. He'd wanted sons but his wife had given him daughters. However, Karen could probably be as ruthless as any son Omar Delbert could have sired.
Jaye was beginning to believe his mother knew what she was talking about.
He then watched as a smile curved her lips and she threw the pictures down on the table and laughed. She actually laughed. It was a rich sound. Rich and filled with joy. This was not the reaction he would expect from a woman who'd just been shown proof that her husband was involved with someone else.
While she continued to laugh, he glanced down at the photographs. Once he'd established the fact that Wilson and the woman were involved, all it had taken was following their pattern. Wilson had never returned to Dallas. Instead the two would plan visits in cities and countries where they most traveled on business. Most of the time things had worked out that way for them. On only a few occasions had they made plans themselves.
Jaye had captured them on camera sharing intimate dinners while gazing into each other eyes, holding hands across the table or walking out of restaurants and hotel rooms plastered to each other's side. There were even a few good shots that he'd captured of them sharing a kiss.
”I would not have figured her to be Wilson's type,” Karen said, interrupting his thoughts. He wondered what she meant by that, since Rita Lawson wasn't a bad-looking lady. In fact, he could see her as Wilson's type. Although the man was his cousin by marriage, they'd never actually had any dealings with each other. But he always had appreciated Wilson for the times he would stop by and visit with his wheelchair-bound father.
It had been obvious to Jaye when he snapped the photographs that there was more than l.u.s.t between Wilson and Rita. There was a growing love, and even a cynical b.a.s.t.a.r.d like him could see it. Too bad Karen couldn't.
”But since she is Wilson's type, they deserve each other because they will help to destroy what is between her son and our daughter.”
Jaye leaned back in his chair. ”You think once Erica finds out about the affair she will call off the wedding?”
”Of course. I'm her mother and I'll make sure it appears that I'm so distraught over the affair that-”
”And you're not distraught over the affair?”
She cast him a glance as if she didn't appreciate being interrupted but would let him do so this one time. ”Heavens no. I suggested to Wilson years ago that he consider getting a mistress. But as far as I know he's never taken me up on my suggestion until now. Unfortunately, he decided on the wrong woman and I will use his mistake to my benefit.”
Jaye saw her eyes light up and could just imagine what devious plans she had in the works. In a way he didn't want to know. He just wanted to get paid for the work he'd done for her so far.
Feeling the need to escape her presence, he glanced at his watch and stood up. ”I have another appointment and need to leave.”
”Of course. Let me pay you for your services.”
He watched Karen as she moved over to her desk and, using a key, unlocked it. He thought she wasn't a bad-looking woman if she would step down off her high horse every once in a while. He heard about her younger sister and how different the two women had been. There had been an eight-year difference in their ages and, according to his mother, Karen had always been jealous of Blair growing up and hadn't shed a single tear when Blair died.
”Here you are, Jaye.”
He glanced down at the check. ”Wow! I hadn't expected so much, Karen. Thanks.”
”You earned it. Besides, I plan to keep you on retainer. Now that I have a surefire plan to rid Erica of Brian, I can turn my attention to Griffin. I don't believe he's involved with anyone.”
”I wouldn't know. But I've heard he's planning to announce his candidacy for mayor soon.”
Karen smiled. ”Yes, and when he does I plan to have Erica by his side. They'll make a perfect mayor and first lady.”
Jaye placed the check in his wallet thinking if she could pull that off then she was definitely a miracle worker. Griffin had said more than once that he and Erica didn't have that sort of relations.h.i.+p. Evidently Karen still wasn't listening.
”Well, you know how to reach me when you need my services again,” he said, moving toward the door.
”Yes,” she said, smiling. ”And I will be calling you.”
Griffin checked his watch. He had only twelve hours left to spend with April before heading out to the airport. The thought of leaving her tomorrow depressed him already.
Earlier today he had accompanied her on a film shoot on Malibu Beach. Anyone who thought the life of a model was all glitz and glamour and not hard work was completely wrong. April was a professional and handled herself as such but she wasn't standoffish. She had conversed easily with everyone and he could tell the crew liked her a lot. One of the cameramen told him that she didn't give in to immature tempestuousness like some models did.
And, as some of the other crew members had pointed out, she had a heart of gold. Last year she had help organized several charity events. Griffin had to agree with everyone that there was more to April North than her beautiful face and shapely body.
They had officially been dating for a month now and he always looked forward to her phone call in the middle of the week to share her weekend schedule with him. Then he would make plans to join her in some of the most exotic places. There hadn't been a weekend that they hadn't shared together.
He smiled when he thought of last weekend in Orlando when she had talked him into going to Disney World. He'd had more fun that day with April than he'd had at ten years old. And he could definitely say he'd never had more fun with a woman. There was just something about April that made him want to enjoy life in a way he never had before.
”Sorry about that, but I needed to take that call from London,” April said, breezing back into the room with her luscious scent following in her wake.
He glanced up and smiled and when she reached the sofa and tumbled playfully into his arms, he caught her as their laughter mingled. And when he adjusted her position in his lap, she turned and lowered her mouth for him to take.
And he took it.
With a hunger that no longer surprised him, he devoured her. He felt his blood rush south when she adjusted her position in his lap and came in blatant contact with his erection. He was hard and was getting harder, more engorged with every little wiggle her sweet behind was making.
”Stop squirming around so much,” he warned, pulling his mouth from hers to whisper against her moist lips.
”Why?” she asked, smiling.
”Why you think?” he asked, knowing she had gotten used to his erections by now. It didn't take much to arouse him where she was concerned.