Engaging the Enemy Read online

“Okay, fine. What figure would you consider adequate compensation?” Parker shoved his hands in his pockets and widened his stance.

  Kayleigh’s gaze was automatically drawn to the panel over his zipper and the outline of his...

  Nope. Uh-uh. Hell no.

  “Give me twice the tax-assessed value and I’ll gladly hand the building over to you today. Lock, stock and barrel.”

  Parker looked like a volcano about to erupt. “Are you insane? Seriously, Kayleigh, you should be paying me to take this friggin’ money pit off your hands. Like, right now, before the whole damn building falls down around us.” He gestured wildly.

  Before she could tell him exactly where he could shove his last offer, her phone rang. She blew out a hard breath and whipped her phone out of her pocket.

  Kira Brennan.

  Kayleigh hadn’t seen or heard that name in more than seven years. She hadn’t expected to ever again. So why was Kira Brennan calling her now?

  Two

  Kayleigh’s back stiffened and her heart beat in double time as she stared at the number on her phone.

  Kira was her ex-boyfriend’s younger sister. And during the three years she’d dated Aidan Brennan, she’d been closer to Kira than she was to her own sister. But they hadn’t spoken in years. What could she possibly want?

  Kayleigh considered not answering the phone. Maybe it was best if she just let it go to voice mail. Then she could listen to the message and answer later, preferably by text.

  The last time they’d spoken, Kira had been bitter and resentful. Kayleigh and Aidan had been together three years, and he’d started to hint at the possibility of marriage. But Kayleigh couldn’t imagine herself as a member of the Brennan family.

  Neither could their matriarch, Colleen Brennan.

  Aidan’s mother had told her, in no uncertain terms, that she’d merely tolerated their relationship as a phase Aidan needed to get out of his system. But she would never welcome Kayleigh into the Brennan family.

  Mrs. Brennan had told Kayleigh that if she really loved Aidan, she’d do what was best for everyone and end the relationship, before things got any more serious between them.

  Kayleigh had walked away. Not because his mother had asked her to, but because everything the woman said was true.

  Except for Kira and Aidan, who both loved her, everyone else in the Brennan clan had seemed irritated and uptight every time she had shown up at another of their family functions. More important, as much as she’d loved Aidan, she just hadn’t fit into his world.

  She hadn’t turned down his offer because she was intimidated by his mother; she’d done it because she’d genuinely believed it was in both their best interests.

  She’d explained her position to Aidan, but chosen not to disclose her talk with his mother. He’d been crushed by her decision to walk away, and so had his sister.

  So why was Kira calling her now?

  “Kayleigh? Is everything all right?” Parker’s voice was laced with what almost sounded like genuine concern.

  “Absolutely.” The last thing she wanted to do was reveal a chink in her armor to a shark like Parker Abbott. “And if you’re not willing to meet my number, the answer is still no.”

  “But, Kayleigh—”

  Her phone rang again. Kira.

  Panic gripped her chest. If Kira was so determined to reach her after all this time, there had to be a reason. Her brother had moved on. He’d found someone else. Someone more to Mrs. Brennan’s liking. They’d gotten married and had their first child all in the space of one year.

  But maybe Kira was calling because something had happened to her brother.

  “I need to take this call.” Kayleigh held up a finger. She turned her back to Parker and walked a few paces away.

  “Hello?”

  “Kayleigh! Thank God you answered! I hate leaving voice mails. I never know what to say, especially on an occasion like this.”

  Kira was still an energetic chatterbox. And even after all this time, she knew she didn’t need to identify herself. That Kayleigh would just know who she was.

  “It’s good to hear from you, Kira.” Kayleigh smiled. “Especially after the way we left things—”

  “I know... I was a stupid kid. I didn’t mean any of those awful things I said, but I was so hurt and angry. I know that’s no excuse, but—”

  “It’s okay, Kira. I realize how hard it must’ve been for you to understand why I did what I did.”

  “I do understand. Mother told me about the conversation she had with you after Aidan asked her for our grandmother’s wedding ring. I only wish you’d told us instead of just walking away.”

  “Does he know?” Kayleigh cast a glance over her shoulder at Parker, who was pacing the floor.

  He tapped on the face of his black Hermès watch with a double leather strap.

  Kayleigh considered holding up a different finger, but held up her index finger instead and dipped behind the curtain to her studio space in the back.

  “No. She wouldn’t have told me, but I figured it out from something she said when she was a little...shall we say tipsy? The next morning she begged me not to tell Aidan, and I caved. Mostly because I know how much it would hurt him. And about Aidan—”

  “I don’t want to talk about Aidan.” Kayleigh ran her fingers through her hair, probably making it look like even more of a crow’s nest than it already did. “What’s past is past.”

  “No problem. That isn’t why I called anyway.”

  “So why did you call? Not that I’m not glad to hear from you.”

  “First I want to apologize for my behavior and for what my mother did.”

  “Apology accepted.” Even if Kira was no longer in her life, it felt better knowing that the air between them had been cleared. “And what’s the other reason?”

  “To tell you that... I’m getting married!” Kira finished her sentence with a squeal. “Can you believe it?”

  “Oh honey, that’s wonderful news. I’m so happy for you.”

  “That’s not even the best part...” Kira took a dramatic pause. “I want you to be in my wedding!”

  “Me? Why?”

  “Because my fiancé has a ton of brothers, and I want my bridesmaids to be people who have been truly important in my life. Not just some random, distant cousin filling up a spot. Our relationship meant so much to me. I want you to be there to share my day.”

  Kayleigh hesitated for a moment. “Are you sure this isn’t just about pissing your mother off?”

  “Well, there’s that, too.” Kira laughed. “But seriously, you mean a lot to me, Kayleigh.”

  “And Aidan and his wife won’t be upset?”

  “I guarantee you that Aidan’s wife won’t raise any objections.” The humor was gone from her voice. “And neither will my brother. In fact I’m sure he’ll be glad to see you again.”

  “I don’t know, Kira. When’s the wedding?”

  “In two and a half months. And get this...my fiancé’s family owns a private island in the Caribbean. That’s where we’re getting married. And we’re flying everyone out for the entire week, all-expenses paid.”

  An all-expenses-paid vacation on an island in the Caribbean for an entire week? That was something to consider.

  “Kira, I’m honored that you’d ask me to be part of your wedding—”

  “Then you’ll do it? Awesome! Just text me the name of your plus-one and all the information my wedding coordinator will need to book your flights. You’re the best, Kayleigh. Bye!”

  Kira had ended the call before Kayleigh could tell her she’d think about it and that she most certainly didn’t have a plus-one.

  She scrubbed a hand across her forehead and sighed. The truth was that, as reluctant as she was to do this, she’d always had a soft spot for Kira. So they both knew she’d
eventually cave.

  Besides, maybe by the time the wedding rolled around, she would actually have a plus-one prospect.

  She shoved her phone into her back pocket and returned to the front of the store, where Parker looked fit to be tied.

  * * *

  Parker stared at Kayleigh. He’d bet she took that call in the middle of their negotiations just to tick him off.

  If that was her aim, she’d succeeded.

  He was a busy man. He’d scheduled exactly thirty-five minutes for this meeting. It was already going on forty-five minutes and they hadn’t agreed on anything.

  Kayleigh was being stubborn. No, downright ornery. Was she really going to allow her disdain for him to prevent her from accepting his exceedingly generous offer?

  “So, where were we?” Kayleigh seemed distracted and her hair looked even wilder than it had when she’d disappeared behind the curtain. As if she’d just tumbled out of bed and she hadn’t been alone.

  He swallowed hard, fighting off the image of Kayleigh in bed that immediately filled his brain.

  Focus, Parker. Focus.

  “I’d offered you fifty percent more than the assessed value.”

  She froze for a moment, cocking her head before a smirk curled one corner of her mouth. “I remember now. You asked what figure would make me happy, and I said—”

  “I know what you said, Kayleigh, and it’s unacceptable.”

  “Then buy someone else’s building instead.” She stared at him defiantly.

  The number-one rule of negotiating was be prepared to walk away. Every salesperson understood that. But his family hadn’t given him that option. This building had once belonged to his mother’s family. They’d run a tiny café here, and now his father wanted to help his mother reclaim a portion of her family’s history by creating a flagship restaurant here, branded with the King’s Finest name.

  It was going to be a surprise. His mother didn’t know, but his father had already purchased the two other buildings on the block and made the sellers sign confidentiality agreements. But without Kayleigh’s building—the cornerstone of the entire project—it simply wouldn’t work.

  Closing this deal was the leverage he needed to make his father realize that naming his older brother, Blake, as his successor at King’s Finest, simply because he’d had the good fortune to be born first, would be a grave mistake.

  Blake was a good person, a great brother and an excellent operations manager. But neither Blake nor their brother Max possessed the killer instinct the CEO position called for. His sister, Zora, did have that killer instinct. More so than he, perhaps. But what she lacked was the ability to control her emotions. With Zora, everything was personal. She was much like Kayleigh in that way.

  He had to have this building, but Kayleigh didn’t know that. So maybe if he showed her that he was willing to walk away, she’d come to her senses.

  Parker stooped to pick up his attaché. “Sorry we couldn’t come to an agreement. Maybe it would be better if we went with new construction in that shopping center. I’m sure my brother will give us a good deal.”

  Parker crossed the room under Kayleigh’s cold stare, waiting for her to stop him.

  She didn’t.

  He turned the doorknob and stepped one foot onto the sidewalk, the bell jingling above him.

  Still nothing.

  “You really don’t have anything else to say?” Parker turned back to her.

  “Don’t let the doorknob hit you where the good Lord split you.” She grinned, her eyes shimmering with amusement.

  Parker blew out an exasperated breath and stepped back inside. “Look, there has to be something we can do to sweeten the deal for you. I can do the one-point-five and throw in renovation of your new space so that it meets your specific needs. Or maybe an all-expenses paid vacation.”

  “What did you say?” She narrowed her gaze at him.

  He now had Kayleigh’s rapt attention.

  “I said we can renovate your space so it fits your needs.”

  “Or...”

  “Or throw in an all-expenses paid vacation.” Something in Kayleigh’s expression unnerved him. The wheels were definitely turning in her head.

  “That.” She shook a finger in his direction, her gaze not meeting his, as if she was still working everything out. “I want the all-expenses paid vacation, but you won’t have to pay for it.”

  Parker scratched the back of his neck. Kayleigh Jemison had confounded him for years. He didn’t think it was possible, but today she was more confusing than usual. “That doesn’t make any sense. The whole point of the offer is to—”

  “I know how negotiations work, Abbott,” she said dismissively. “Just listen and don’t panic while I tell you the rest.”

  Now Parker was really alarmed. He set his attaché on the floor again and shoved his hands in his pockets. “I’m listening.”

  “You pay me twice the property’s assessed value. That will allow me to lease a new shop and buy a nice condo in the same complex.”

  Parker had no desire to overpay for Kayleigh’s crumbling building, but his father had insisted that he do whatever it took to acquire the property. It was to be his anniversary gift to Parker’s mother, and a sound investment for their business.

  “I’ll consider it,” he said gruffly.

  “But there’s one more thing I need.”

  “In addition to us overpaying for the property?”

  She didn’t acknowledge the comment. “As a condition of our deal, you’ll need to accompany me on a one-week, all-expenses paid trip to the Caribbean.”

  He stared at her for a moment, waiting for the punch line.

  “But you despise me.” When she didn’t disagree, Parker leaned against a display case, his arms folded across his chest as he studied her. “Why would you want me, of all people, to accompany you?”

  He wasn’t always the best at reading people, but there was definitely something that Kayleigh was having a hard time getting out.

  “You have to pretend to be my fiancé.” She cringed as she said the words.

  “What?” Parker pressed a hand to his forehead, stunned by her request. “You’re not serious.”

  “You need this building for whatever your next big venture is, and I need a fake fiancé for a week. It’s not as if I’m asking you to trade murders, Abbott. This isn’t Strangers on a Train. Do you want this building or not?”

  “There are escorts for this sort of thing, or have you not seen The Wedding Date?” he retorted. She wasn’t the only one who could throw around a film reference to make a point.

  “You’re no Dermot Mulroney,” she mumbled under her breath. “This isn’t some romantic fantasy, and I have zero interest in sleeping with you. So if that’s what’s worrying you, let me put your mind at ease.”

  Kayleigh Jemison evidently had no compunction about taking a Louisville Slugger to his ego.

  “We’ll pay double, without the pretend fiancé thing. Final offer.”

  “Then no deal.” She folded her arms. She’d gone from sheepish to defiant again. “The fiancé thing is nonnegotiable.”

  He’d thought she’d thrown that in as a bargaining chip just to get him to agree to double his original offer, but she was serious.

  Dead serious.

  “Then we’ll pay one and a half times the assessed value and I’m sure one of my brothers would be happy enough to get a free vacation and play your fake fiancé for a week.”

  “Twice the value and you play fake fiancé for a week. Am I not being clear about this? Because I really feel like I am.” She smirked, a hint of victory in her voice.

  Parker ran a hand over his head and groaned.

  “You’re dreaming if you think I could even begin to pull this off. You know I was a terrible liar when we were kids. That hasn’t changed.�
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  “Then you’d better learn, Abbott.”

  “Why can’t you take Max or Cole? Either of them would be thrilled to go on an all-expenses paid island vacation. I’m sure Cole would be more than happy to share a bed with you.” His brother Cole, the one sibling who didn’t help manage the distillery, seemed determined to sleep his way through half the town.

  “No one said anything about sharing a bed. That’s what makes you a pretend fiancé, genius.” Kayleigh clenched her fists, her chest puffing out.

  “You expect me to fake intimacy? We were friends once, but we hardly know each other now. And you think I’ll be able to pretend well enough to fool someone who was your close friend? You’re being completely unreasonable here.” Parker took a cloth from his pocket and cleaned his glasses. “Even for you, and that’s saying a lot.”

  She sneered at him, then sighed. “You’re right. We’d never fool Kira with this.” She gestured between them. “She’d sense that we’re virtual strangers.”

  Parker breathed a sigh of relief, returned his glasses to the bridge of his nose and picked up his pen again. “So in lieu of the whole pretend fiancé thing...”

  “No in lieu of.” Kayleigh shook her head vigorously and a few of her bouncy red curls spilled from the bandanna. “I didn’t say we weren’t doing it—I just said it wouldn’t work the way things stand between us now. That means we need to put some effort into it. We have ten weeks to get to know each other.”

  “Kayleigh, how do you expect—”

  “That’s the deal, Abbott. Take it or leave it.” Even the insidious grin slowly spreading across her face couldn’t dim her beauty. If anything, the sly smile highlighted her perfect cheekbones.

  Acquire this building, no matter what it takes.

  He could hear his father’s words in his head. When his siblings on the King’s Finest board had laughed, insisting he wouldn’t be able to cut a deal with Kayleigh Jemison, he’d taken it as a personal challenge.

  Parker loved his mother and knew how much owning this piece of her family’s history would mean to her. Still, it was a lot to ask.

  His teeth clenched and one fist balled at his side. “I’ll have the contract and confidentiality agreements drawn up and let you know when they’re ready to be signed. For now, though, this deal stays between us.”