Rebel (Wolfes of Manhattan 1)

“Rock Wolfe,” said his deep husky voice.

Already my skin tingled.

“Hi, Rock, this is Lacey.”

“Hey, sweetheart.”

“I’m going to have to cancel our dinner plans this evening.”

“No, you’re not.”

Exactly why I was canceling. He was a dick, as Fox had said.

“Yeah, I am, actually.”

“Nope. I’m picking you up. See you at your place.”

“Rock, you need to listen to me.”

Nothing.

“Rock?”

Had he really just ended the call?

Fine then. I wouldn’t be home when he picked me up.35RockLacey Ward was feisty, I’d give her that. But she and I were having dinner tonight. I’d show her how a man should truly treat a lady of her caliber. After her split check with pretty boy yogini, she’d be impressed.

Impressed? I laughed aloud. Why was I so intent on impressing Lacey Ward? I’d never worried about impressing a woman before now. Especially not the one who was currently hogging my bathroom. Nieves had gone in nearly an hour ago to shower. Did she not realize I had a company to run?

A brick hit my head. How could I have been so obtuse? Of course. That was why she was here. She’d heard I’d inherited a billion dollar company, and she wanted to get back in my good graces.

I’d felt something for her once, but if she wanted me back, she’d have come by before now. Nieves was all about Nieves, which was a big part of why I’d ended things.

I pounded on the bathroom door. “Time’s up. I’ve got things to do today, all of which require me to be showered.”

The door opened, and there she stood, buck naked, the mermaid tattoo snaking around her midriff as it always had. I didn’t like that one near as well as the one on her shoulder.

“Come on in,” she said. “Nothing stopping you.”

“For God’s sake.” I yanked a towel off the brass rack. “Cover yourself.”

“You never minded looking at me.”

“I mind now. I booked you your own room for the next two nights. That will give you time to make plans to go home.”

“I’m not going home.”

“The hell you’re not.”

“I’ve decided to move here, Rock. I want us to try again.” She sauntered toward me, wiggling her hips. “Haven’t you missed me at all?”

“We ended things over a year ago. I’m over it.”

“I’m not.” She grazed her hand over my bare chest.

Again, nothing from my cock. Just a look from Lacey got me hard.

I wrapped the towel around her and led her out the door. “Get dressed. I need to wash.”

I locked the door. Knowing Nieves, she’d try to hijack my shower.“Carla,” I said, walking into the office. “Get my mother on the phone.”

“Actually, she’s in your office, Mr. Wolfe.”

Of course she was. “From now on, she can wait out here unless she has an appointment, which she doesn’t.”

“Yes, Mr. Wolfe. I’m sorry.”

“No reason to be. Now you know the procedure.” I walked into my office and closed the door behind me. “Hello, Mother.”

“Rock, good morning.”

“I have good news for you.”

“I figured you would.” She smiled.

My mother had been beautiful once. Dark hair and blue eyes, high cheekbones and classic beauty.

Now she looked plastic. Bleached blond and plastic.

“I’ve decided to give you the allowance you requested. I’m not exactly sure where all the money is at the moment, but I’ll get it taken care of as soon as possible.”

And it would stop as soon as my father’s murder was solved, but I didn’t add that little tidbit.

“I knew you’d see reason, darling.” She stood and patted my cheek.

Her touch burned. Not in a good way.

“Now get out of my office.”

“I’ll need some cash to tide me over. You know, to get back on my feet?”

“You were never off your feet, Connie. Dad has only been dead a little over a week.”

“Whatever you have in your wallet should be fine.” She smiled.

“I’ve got nothing.” True words.

“Goodness. I guess I could go down the hall and see Reid, then. I just hope I don’t talk too much.”

“Don’t threaten me. I know what you’re up to. I’ve got no cash on me, so you’ll have to make do. It’s not my fault you managed your millions so poorly.”

“I didn’t get near what I earned, putting up with your father all those years.”

“Cry me a river. Now if you’ll excuse me. I’ve got work to do.”

She exited with a huff.The day was rough. Meetings and more meetings, and I didn’t understand anything Reid and the others talked about. This wasn’t going to be easy. But I’d do it. I’d cursed my father more than once today for putting me in this position. I could bail. But screwing over my siblings like that?

No, couldn’t do it.

“You thought I’d bail, didn’t you?” I said out loud to my dead father. “That way you could fuck all four of us over.”

I’d decided long ago never to have children. I sure didn’t want to be a father like my own old man. He’d had no love for any of us, and this final straw from the grave was proof of that.