Return to You

a girlfriend? Unless you've taken up cross-dressing.
In which case I have a lovely satin teddy that'd do wonders for
your figure."
    The fury in her eyes defeated him. Sticking
his hands in his pockets, he said softly, "Olivia, I didn't come
here to pick a fight with you. I just wanted to tell you that I'm
sorry. None of this was my idea. I'd change locations if I
could."
    "But you can't, because you're my father's
lackey."
    He didn't know what he wanted to do
more—shake her or kiss her pouty lips. "Fact of the matter is I'm
as pissed as you are about this, babe. Do you really think I want
to be around you any more than you want to be around me?"
    He saw the barb strike and root deep, just
as he intended. Surprisingly, instead of the satisfaction he
expected to feel, he felt remorse.
    "Point taken." The redness climbing up her
cheeks belied her cool tone. "Don't let me keep you then."
    Mesmerized by the sway of her ass, Michael
watched her disappear into the back.
    "Damn." He raked his hair back. That didn't
go how he envisioned it. But then, with Olivia, nothing ever seemed
to go right.

Chapter Nine
     
     
    Ignoring the late morning bustle of the
coffee shop, Parker studied the man in front of him. There wasn't
anything he could find fault with.
    He didn't like that.
    Rick Clancy leaned back in his chair, sipped
his coffee, and returned Parker's measured stare. "Why don't you
tell me how I can help?"
    "I have a matter that needs to be looked
into. Discreetly."
    Clancy nodded. "Discretion's part of the
business."
    "I have reason to believe company
information is being leaked to the press. News and tabloids."
Parker paused to take in Clancy's reaction. The man's expression
didn't betray a single thought. "I'm sure you understand that in a
business like mine, this can be disastrous. The gossip behind a
film can drastically affect the outcome of its release."
    "Understandable," Clancy agreed. "What do you want
me to do?"
    "I want you to investigate. The compensation
will be more than adequate." He named a figure and was gratified
when Clancy's face registered real surprise.
    "I guess that's adequate," Clancy
deadpanned.
    "Will you take the case?"
    Clancy studied him.
    Parker calmly gazed back, drinking his
coffee. He hadn't expected Clancy to be so restrained. Most people
did anything for the right price, but he had a feeling money wasn't
what motivated this man. He should have done his homework better,
but he'd been thrown a curve ball and had needed to act
quickly.
    Finally, Clancy agreed. "I'll take it."
    Parker didn't let his relief show. "Good.
You can start immediately?"
    "I think I can rearrange my caseload to
accommodate you. Do you have a suspect?"
    "Elaine Adams."
    "And she is...?"
    "My executive assistant." He felt an
unaccustomed twinge of guilt. Elaine was nothing if not faithful.
It felt like a betrayal to even pretend that she could be
otherwise.
    There was no reason for her to find out.
He'd send Clancy on this fool's mission. Clancy would spin his
wheels for a few weeks, guaranteeing he'd be too busy to see
Olivia, and find nothing to support Parker's allegations.
    And Elaine would remain ignorant of the
inquest.
    "What gives you reason to suspect Ms.
Adams?" Clancy asked.
    He would have expected anyone else to take
notes. Clancy didn't, making him either very sharp or a fool.
Parker doubted it was the latter. "I didn't until recently. Elaine
was the only one, other than myself, who had access to the
information."
    "Why me?"
    Parker didn't pretend to misunderstand.
"I've heard you're the best."
    "My reputation precedes me."
    "There's also the consideration that we're
going to be in the Bay Area for the next few weeks. Since you're
local, I thought you'd be the best choice."
    "So this has nothing to do with Olivia?"
    Parker's cup paused for a moment on the way
to his mouth. He didn't delude himself that Clancy missed the
gaffe. "Why would this have anything to do with Olivia?"
    Clancy shrugged. "I don't know, but I have a
feeling it does."
    "Has Olivia mentioned me?"
    "No. I did a little homework after you
called me. Olivia clams up anytime you're mentioned."
    "This has nothing to do with Olivia," he
lied. It had everything to do with Olivia. All of it was about
Olivia.
    He hadn't expected her to have a boyfriend
when he set this plan in motion. It threw a serious wrench into the
works. He had to make sure Clancy was out of the way so Olivia
could reconcile with Michael.
    His daughter was the only