Meddling with a Millionaire (Case Brothers 1)

What was this, battle of the spoiled heiresses? And adding to Emma’s humiliation, Nathan had introduced her as if she was the daughter of a business associate instead of his… What? Lover? Girlfriend? Well, wasn’t she?

Emma unclenched her jaw and forced her lips into a polite smile. “Nice to meet you, Gabrielle,” she said, not meaning a single word. It was long

past time to go. She slid sideways along the wall until she found the doorway, then practically fell on her behind when the gap appeared. Dodging the hand he reached out to her, she muttered, “Carly’s Café at nine. Bring my earrings.”

Beset by the sense that something had just gone very wrong, Nathan stepped into the hall. He watched Emma race away, fighting the urge to chase after her. His mood worsened when he reentered his office to find Gabrielle ensconced in one of his guest chairs, her skirt hiked up to show off her great legs.

“Ready to take me to lunch?” she demanded, her lower lip pushed out in a sulky expression she wore way too often. “I’m starving.”

“See if Max is free.”

“I don’t want to have lunch with Max.” Which meant they were arguing again. Gabrielle and Max had an on-again, off-again thing going. Nathan didn’t understand it. There were plenty of women in Houston eager to help a guy scratch an itch. Why did Max put up with Gabrielle’s demands and temper? “I want to have lunch with you.”

She only wanted his company because she thought it bugged his brother. It didn’t.

“I don’t have time. I’ll give Max a call for you.”

“I’ll bet you would have gone if she’d asked you.” Gabrielle wasn’t ready to give up. She leaned forward, running her hand along her shin to draw attention to her best asset. “What’s up with her, anyway? And where the hell did she get that dress? I would expect someone with her kind of money to have better taste in clothes.”

“I thought she looked fine.”

Indeed, the dress’s scoop neck had shown off a hint of cleavage and the hundred tiny buttons running from neckline to hem had awakened an urgent desire in Nathan to unfasten every one, or give up and rip the garment right off her. Arousal lashed him like an unexpected storm. He dropped into his leather desk chair to keep Gabrielle from noticing.

Picking up the phone, he dialed. “Max, Gabrielle wants to have lunch with you.”

She squawked in protest and got to her feet.

“Great,” he continued. “I’ll let her know.

“He’s on his way.” Nathan replaced the phone.

Hoping this would be the last time he’d see Gabrielle at Case Consolidated Holdings, Nathan flashed her a broad grin. Maybe Max would send her packing, the way he had sent the last dozen packing, with a full stomach and a firm, noncommittal goodbye. Gabrielle had been bragging of late that she’d succeeded in enticing the elusive Max Case from his bachelor ways. Nathan almost felt sorry for her.

The next morning, a heated discussion was taking place in Sebastian’s big corner office.

“I’ve looked at Smythe’s numbers. It seems like a pretty solid deal,” Sebastian said, as cool and unflappable as Max was hot and animated. “Which means we’re not going to be able to do the deal with Montgomery Oil.”

Nathan tapped his pen on his yellow legal pad to keep his temper from flaring again. “I put in a call to a buddy of mine in Chicago in investment banking. He’s got the inside scoop on Smythe. The guy is not going to sell.”

“And we’re just supposed to believe your buddy?” Max demanded.

Nathan shrugged. “It doesn’t change the fact that if Smythe does sell, we won’t have nearly the potential for profit as we would if we did the deal with Montgomery.” His temper slipped. “And if you two would stop acting like a couple of old women, you might understand the value in taking a little risk.”

“Don’t lecture us about taking risks,” Max shot back. “You’re nothing but a hotshot who wouldn’t be here if Dad—”

Max had always doled out his criticism with boisterous, taunting directness. Sebastian chose a quieter, deadlier approach.

“I’m sure Nathan understands his position in this company.”

Yeah, Nathan understood his position all right. He was an outsider. It didn’t matter that he bore their last name. His mother had been Brandon Case’s mistress. He wasn’t their “legitimate” brother, and they resented that they’d been forced to share their father with him. And now their company.

“Don’t give up on the deal with Montgomery,” Nathan said, letting the subtle and not so subtle jabs slide off him. He would get nowhere if he continued to agitate his brothers. “I told you I have a couple things to iron out in order to get things finalized. Give me a few more weeks. You owe me that.”

“Forget it, Nat,” Max said. “You took your shot and lost.”

I didn’t lose. “Don’t be an idiot. You’ve seen the numbers. The technology is poised to explode, and if we get in on the ground floor, we’ll make a killing.” He leaned forward. “Look, I get that you’re angry that Dad didn’t consult you when he brought me on board. You want me gone, but that’s not going to happen. So you might as well quit playing games.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sebastian exchanged a look with Max.