“I can’t believe this shit!” The man growled jumping up from his seat slamming his hand face down on the freshly polished table. “I know she did something to trick my aunt into signing those papers.”
“Please retake your seat Mr. Evans. I won’t have that kind of outburst again in my office,” the attorney threatened pushing his glasses back up his nose. “This will is your aunt’s final wishes unless you can prove she wasn’t of sound mind when she wrote it.”
Craig Clark Evans known to his friends as C.C. fell back into his seat glaring across the table at the he had grown to hate over the last two years of his aunt’s life.
“Fine, don’t worry Mr. Terry. I’ll find a way to prove that Miss Anderson isn’t the nice and sweet woman she’s pretending to be. She used my dying aunt kindness to get her money and that’s why we are here today.”
“Mr. Evans, once again I ask you to please refrain from saying nasty comments about Miss Anderson,” Mr. Terry uttered. “She has been sitting here without saying a word for the past hour maybe you should learn something for her.”
Craig narrowed his hazel eyes at his nemesis sitting across from him at the table. Sure she would be quiet and not stir up any trouble. Why would she after his aunt left her in charge of an estate worth over six million dollars? She would never have to work again.
Today she was playing the roll of grieving friend by wearing a slim black dress that molded against all her curves. Subconsciously his eyes were drawn to the small silt in the front just showing a hint of rich Hershey chocolate skin. She even had pulled her shoulder length bob haircut back into a tight bun showing off her jawbone. He had to give her credit today Shea Anderson looked devastated about the sudden passing of his Aunt Rebecca, but he didn’t trust her as far as he could throw her.
How did she know his aunt wasn’t the founder of the firmer and plumper lipstick chain? Luscious Lips had been in his family for years and he was the only living relative how in the hell didn’t he get the company.
He was close to his aunt so there was no way she wouldn’t have left it to him. No, Shea did something to trick his aunt and he would find out what it was.
“Mr. Evans are you listening to me,” his aunt’s lawyer interrupted making him push thoughts of Shea to the back of his mind but only for the moment.
“Sorry Mr. Terry my mind was somewhere else for a few moments. I apologize,” he answered, “Can you repeat what you just said?”
Mr. Terry pushed his glasses up for a fourth time that today then swung his dishwater brown eyes from him back over to Shea before he continued. “Your aunt left a clause in the will.”
“Thank God!” He burst out happy his Aunt Rebecca hadn’t been completely fooled by the sexy siren in front of him.
“Craig, I’m not going to warn you again about speaking your mind. One more comment and I’m done reading this will,” Mr. Terry threatened.
“I apologize. I swear that was my last outburst.”
“It better have been,” Mr. Terry exclaimed, “The clause in your aunt’s will stipulates that Ms. Anderson has until Thanksgiving to turn down the estate. If Shea doesn’t claim it the estate automatically goes to you with no question asked.”
Craig knew there was no way in hell Shea was going to turn down that kind of money. Someone like her had finally found the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow and giving it back hadn’t entered her mind.
“Mr. Terry, I don’t want Rebecca’s money. I didn’t become her friend for that.” Shea’s raspy voice interrupted making him looking back at the woman who had been tormenting him for months. “I’ll sign them over to Craig right now.”
“I’m sorry Miss. Anderson, but you can’t sign the papers until now.”
“Okay…then I’ll be back in touch with you in a couple of weeks,” She uttered surprising him. What was she up to now?
Craig watched as Shea grabbed her jacket off the back of the chair and made her way toward the door. He hated how he noticed everything was perfect on her five feet five inch frame. She didn’t even glance in his direction as she went past his chair then out the door.
“Craig, don’t you bully her into not taking the estate,” his aunt’s lawyer warned him gathering up the will and other papers off the desk. “Rebecca had her mind up until the day she died. If she let Shea all that money it was for a reason. Now it’s left up to you to find out why.”
“The only thing I have to do is be here on the day Shea signs over what’s belongs to me.” He stated getting up from his seat then he left with room without a backward glance in his aunt’s lawyer’s direction.
* * * *
Shea Anderson shoved her arms into the sleeves of her jacket and buttoned it up wishing the elevator would hurry up and come on. She didn’t have anymore energy left in her to go another round the Craig. It took all her willpower not to stare at him during the will reading.
Craig Evans wouldn’t want her drooling all over him. He made it clear all the times that he visited his aunt that she wasn’t type of woman. No, Craig always brought the leggy strawberry blondes with him. Model types who would always be a size zero no matter how much they ate or didn’t eat for that matter and that had men like Craig dying to be with them.
Why did she have to be attracted to a man who thought she befriended his aunt for her money? God, he wouldn’t believe she didn’t know who Rebecca Anderson was until his aunt told her two weeks ago. Rebecca said that she was leaving her something in her will, but her six million dollar estate never crossed her mind. Hell, she thought it was going to be the silver Jaguar she loved driving so much.
Leaning her shoulder against the wall by the slow moving elevator she massaged her temple with the tips of her fingers. This day couldn’t get any worse for her.
“Don’t stand there and act all innocent when we both know you’re counting down the days until you have all of that money,” a deep timber voice accused. The man she dreamt about voice accused pouring all of her senses.
Spinning around she threw Craig a hateful looking praying he wouldn’t notice the crush she had on him. Today his dark brown hair was brushed back off his forehead and the ends were brushing the collar of his white suit. The dark blue suit molded the perfect body she knew he worked out five days a week to keep.
She dropped her eyes down to his full firm lips dreaming what it would be like if he ever pushed down the hate he harbored for her and kissed her. Shea quickly shook the thought from her mind. Craig detested her and didn’t mince his words about it.
“Mr. Evans, aren’t you late for a corporate meeting so something,” Shea sighed turning back around to the elevator.
“Shea, don’t you turn your back to me.” Craig uttered behind her.
Craig wrapped his fingers around her arm and spun her back around to face him. He pulled her so close to him that her breasts brushed the hardness of his chest. She bit the inside of her lip to keep from moaning as the unexpected electric shot charged through her body. She darted her eyes up to Craig’s face to see did he feel the same thing, but she only saw the same hard look he always tossed her way.
“I won’t let you steal my aunt’s money away from the family. You aren’t part of the family and never will be. That money should have gone to me to pass on to my future wife and kids.” Shaking off Craig’s touch she folded her arms under her breasts. “You’ll get your wish on Thanksgiving but until then stay out of my way, Mr. Anderson.” She shot back as the elevator’s door slid open behind her. “I want your aunt’s money as about as much as I want to be in a relationship with your arrogant ass.” With that finally comment hanging in the air between them. Shea spun away got on the elevator. It closed before Craig had a chance to
Buy in print on 06/16/2008
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