"If you look at the plan, you'll see I'll clear thirty thousand dollars when I've repaid the mortgage on the land I've sold to Bob Harvey," replied Kezia quietly. "When the money comes through next week, I'll use it for the most urgent repairs. And I'm sure my grandmother had every intention of putting the money she borrowed into the hotel but she had a soft heart. When a friend needed a hip replacement, she picked up the bill."
"Yet Bernice May could have got it free under the public health system."
Kezia made an impatient gesture. "If she'd waited five years. Look, Bill, I'm not here to hide anything. We both know Nana had a gambling habit and that she also gave extravagant gifts." She smiled mischievously. "I imagine you still have the cashmere sweater. But Muriel's spending habits have nothing to do with my application."
"Unless you inherited them." William J. plainly didn't like being shown up and Christian didn't blame him. What the hell was Kez playing at? She wasn't just airing dirty linen, she was beating it with a stick.
She compounded her error by laughing. "Thirty thousand dollars says otherwise. It's okay," she explained to Christian, "we dated for a few years."
Christian's caveman instincts stirred. "Really?"
"Were engaged, actually," added Kezia cheerfully.
"Which is why I need to be scrupulous in assessing your loan application," interrupted William J. smoothly. "And I doubt Mr. Kelly wants to hear details of our personal relationship."
Mr. Kelly did, very much. But he kept his mouth shut and struggled fruitlessly to control his imagination.
"I know we can put that aside," Kezia said in all seriousness. Christian had never heard a more deluded concept in his life-and said so.
The other two bristled. "Our relationship ended amicably two years ago," said William J. coldly, "and I resent the implication that I would allow it to affect my professional judgment."
"Who ended it?" Christian asked bluntly.
"I did," they both chorused, then stared at each other.
"Don't you remember I gave you back your ring because … " Kezia recalled Christian's presence and faltered.
"Because I asked for it," the banker finished.
Christian hid a smile as he watched Kezia open her mouth to argue, notice William J.'s folded arms, and shut it again.
"It doesn't matter anyway," she said in a tight voice. "The point is, our relationship remained civil. That's how mature adults behave." She threw the verbal barb in Christian's direction.
Mature? In bed, William J. Rankin the Third would have to be on top. Christian's smile broadened until he remembered just who this jerk had been on top of. Dismayed, he jammed a lid on his jealousy, an emotion so new, so unwelcome, he refused to acknowledge it. But his fingers itched for a club.
William J. must have scented the surge of testosterone in the air. "Perhaps I'm missing something, but just what's the purpose of your being present this morning?"
"Moral support," said Christian easily.
"I didn't think moral support was your area." William J. had clearly done his homework. "And Kezia has never needed protection from me."
Christian imagined himself grabbing William J. by his maroon-and-gray-striped tie and choking the self-satisfied pomposity out of him. "You're right, of course. She did try to tell me that." He smiled as he stood up. "I'll wait outside."
"Thank you." Kezia's grateful expression made it easier for Christian to allow William J. to crush his hand without breaking every one of the jerk's fingers in return.
"Great handshake you've got there, tiger," he said, and exited to the outer office. Lightweight. Encouraging his opponent to underestimate him was a tactic that had made Christian Kelly wealthy and respected. The metaphorical uppercut, delivered when his adversary least expected it, made him feared.
"Can I get you a coffee while you're waiting?"
His mind still on William J., Christian looked up and the woman who'd spoken took an involuntary step back.
He gave her his most charming smile-the one, God help him, that always got him what he wanted. "Thank you-" he looked at her name badge "-Suzie. Worked here long?"
"DO YOU MIND TELLING ME what that was about?" Kezia demanded as the door closed behind Christian. "You're acting like a jerk."
"Do you mind telling me why you've got Mr. Big City Hotshot in tow? I thought he was your grandmother's protégé, not yours."
"What are you jealous of, Bill? That Christian's wildly successful, was Nana's favorite or might be sleeping with me?" If he could catch her. After yesterday's kiss, she'd run like a rabbit to Marion's new rental just outside town. Christian had been forced to celebrate his corporate victory alone when he'd got back from Auckland. Winning this loan was vital-she had to get Christian out of her life.
Bill sighed. "I'm trying to remember you're vulnerable right now."
"And I'm trying to remember you're a decent man. Why did you say you ended our engagement?"
"Because I didn't want to look like a cuckold. The man's patronizing enough as it is."
Kezia stared at him in amazement. "Honestly, Bill, he's really not like that." Except of course Christian could be like that-arrogant, dominant, opinionated. Her attitude softened. "Bear with him, please. He's helped me a lot."
Bill snorted. "So why not make a donation of his small change instead of poking his supercilious nose into business that doesn't concern him."
With a sigh Kezia told him the terms of her grandmother's will. It helped. Honesty compelled her to tell him of Christian's input into the business plan. That didn't go down as well.
"You know, I would have been happy to advise you." Still, he picked up the plan, unable to resist examining it.
"Conflict of interest," she reminded him. Despite Christian's qualms, Bill's professional ethics were unimpeachable though his tendency to seize control had been one of the reasons she'd broken their engagement. He hadn't been like that when they'd started dating, mainly, she realized later, because he'd still been subdued over his father's death. Her sympathy had initially brought them together, but the pensive, gentle man she thought she'd fallen in love with had healed into a control freak.
Much like herself, Kezia thought in her bleaker moments, though at least she recognized when she was being bossy and resolved to stop. Bill never had. He was now engaged to a coworker who worshipped him in a way most people saved for God. He was very pleased with her.
"You know, Bill, I still think Suzie would prefer I didn't come to your wedding on Saturday."
With her tousled blond-streaked fringe, Suzie reminded Kezia of a Pekinese. One that was afraid the other dog might want its bone back. None of Kezia's oblique reassurances had helped and the truth-that Kezia thanked Providence daily for a lucky escape-was unspeakable.
Bill kept his attention on the business plan. "Nonsense. We both want you there."
For the first time Kezia wondered if Bill had embroidered the facts about their breakup. Gods needed to be infallible, after all. Which meant she had to go to the wedding to prove to Suzie she wasn't still pining.
"I can't fault this." Bill made the concession reluctantly. "There are a few flashy touches-the illustrious Mr. Kelly's, no doubt-but the numbers are sound. Subject to the usual credit checks, a formality in your case, I'll approve the transfer."
At that moment Kezia loved Bill Rankin with all her heart. "Thank you," she managed to say over the lump in her throat. She hadn't allowed herself to despair, hadn't allowed herself to hope, but now she acknowledged how badly she needed the hotel to anchor her life and give her future certainty. She had her heritage back.
"Kezia, you need a glass of water." Bill guided her solicitously across the room. So good with enfeebled women. "And now you can get rid of Kelly," he added as he ushered her through the door. She stumbled. "A man like that wouldn't scruple to take advantage of a vulnerable woman."
Christian looked up. "Must be some bastard you're talking about," he said dryly. "Let's round up a posse and run him out of town."
But Bill was frowning at Suzie, thigh-to-thigh with Christian on the two-seater.
"Christian's been telling me all the celebrity gossip." Suzie's face was more animated than Kezia had ever seen it. "And guess what, Bill, Baz Monteith's left his wife. For a man!" She turned back to Christian. "He's Bill's favorite country singer."