Sweet Fortune

other thing. The tour requires a two-hundred-dollar donation to the foundation.”
    “Two hundred dollars? Dammit to hell, Jessie…”
    “The price of doing business,” she murmured blandly. “Even psychic investigators have expenses. Maybe you can put it on your gold card.”
    “Damn.”
    Hatch did not trust himself to say another word as he walked Jessie to her door and saw her safely inside her apartment. Still smoldering with pure masculine outrage, he went back outside to his car, got in, and drove to the offices of Benedict Fasteners.
    If he was going to Portland on Saturday, he needed to review some files tonight. He would deal with Jessie when he returned.
    He would have to deal with Vincent Benedict first thing in the morning, however.
    Hatch did not look forward to either project.
    Two hundred dollars? Just to keep an eye on Jessie?
    “Damn.”

    “What the hell are you talking about, Hatch?” Benedict's bushy white brows met in a solid line above his glowering eyes.
    “You heard me. I'm going down to Portland in your place.” Hatch noticed that the birthday flowers on the desk were wilting quickly. They would not last much longer. He wondered why Benedict had not ordered them thrown into the garbage. “You've promised to take Elizabeth to the science fair, remember?”
    “Jesus. Of course I remember. But this problem in Portland has gotten too big to handle over the phone. It has to be taken care of in person as soon as possible. You know that. We agreed on it. What the devil's gotten into you, Hatch?”
    Hatch planted both hands flat on the surface of Benedict's desk and leaned forward. “I promised Jessie you would take Elizabeth to the science fair. It means a lot to her. Not to mention Elizabeth.”
    “So what? This is business. These things happen. Both my girls understand that.”
    “You still don't get it, do you, Benedict? I made Jessie a promise. She needs to learn that when I make a promise, I keep it. If I don't come through on this one, you can probably kiss off any possibility of a marriage between me and your daughter.”
    “Goddammit, you're serious, aren't you?” Benedict looked appalled.
    “Real serious. Better sort out your priorities here, Vincent. You know damn well I can handle the problem in Portland.”
    “That's not the point. You're needed here. We've got that situation with the bid on the Spokane project to deal with, remember? Or have you forgotten Yorland and Young?”
    “We can finesse that for a few days. For the record, I still don't think it's worth the effort anyway.”
    “Is that right? Well, I happen to want that contract.”
    “I'll get it for you if it means that much to you,” Hatch said impatiently. “But in the meantime, let's get it clear that you are going to take your daughter to the science fair tomorrow.”
    Vincent snorted and sank back in his chair, brows still beetled. “You sure Jessie won't understand?”
    “Oh, she'll understand, all right. She'll understand only too well.” Hatch bit out each word. “What she'll understand is that if I don't keep this promise, I'm just what she thinks I am.”
    “Which is?”
    “Too much like you.”
    “ Women . What the hell's the matter with 'em anyway? Their priorities are all screwed up. They don't understand how the real world works.”
    “I've got news for you, Benedict. Women do not think the same way men do. Unfortunate, but true.” Hatch straightened, removing his hands from the desk. He was satisfied he had made his point. “Have a good time watching Elizabeth win first place tomorrow.”
    Vincent sighed. “Hope you know what you're doing.”
    “I usually do. That's why you hired me in the first place, remember?”
    “Should have known this would happen,” Vincent said glumly.
    “What would happen?”
    “Should have known you'd be giving me orders by now,” Vincent said. “Knew it wouldn't take you long to take over completely. You just make damn certain you marry that gal of mine. Hear me?”
    “I hear you.”
    Hatch plucked a scarlet lily from the fading bouquet on the desk and carried it back to his own office. He sat down behind his desk and studied the delicate flower for a long while.
    Benedict was right. They had just arrived at a subtle turning point in their relationship. Hatch had given the older man orders and Vincent Benedict had taken them. Hatch knew his hold on Benedict Fasteners was more secure than ever.
    His hold on Jessie Benedict, however, was still