Was there any plan that might work? Would Lola ever forgive him for the role he’d played in hurting Moira?
His gut clenched at the thought of Lola falling in love with someone else. A great guy who would make all her dreams come true. Duncan had wanted to be that guy. He had thought he was that guy.
There was something he could do, though. He could make amends to Moira by doing whatever it took to undo the destruction his brother had wrought.
After taking an ice-cold shower, he called Gail and asked her to rearrange today’s meetings for later in the week. Next, he let Anita know that he needed to take care of several unavoidable business matters this morning, so she should operate as he intended them to go on—with her as an equal partner.
His calls made, he opened his laptop and spent the rest of the weekend researching Moira’s business, making a comprehensive list of what he could do to help her, and preparing to call in every contact and favor he could on her behalf.
Throughout the weekend, the family tree he’d been making for Lola seemed to mock him from the drafting table. A week ago, he’d been so full of hope, so sure that his luck had finally turned.
How wrong he’d been.
After forty-eight hours of little to no sleep, though his limbs felt like they were made of lead, he put on a suit Monday morning and headed out to chase down every lead on his list. Duncan was determined to make a positive difference on Moira’s behalf.
Even if it never changed the way Lola saw him.
And even if she still hated him forever.
* * *
Lola had always liked visiting Boston. Though she wouldn’t have wanted to live in the big city, it was always a fun rush to absorb the energy all around her for the day. But this afternoon, she barely noticed the hustle and bustle all around her. She was wholly focused on her mission to kick ass.
Duncan’s ass.
She was surprised to find his office building wasn’t a glossy high-rise. Instead, he worked out of a converted Victorian house, painted dark gray with white trim, and with a surprisingly lush garden out front.
Her fury only grew bigger as she realized this was exactly the kind of office building and garden a person would have if he intended to trick someone like Moira into thinking he wasn’t a cutthroat, heartless businessman. She bet he even served cups of tea and biscuits on little flowered plates during meetings. Just like the vicious wolf disguising himself in Grandma’s nightclothes.
Anger fueled her as she wrenched open the door. No surprise, the woman at the reception desk had a kind expression to go with the garden and the unassuming office. Duncan was ticking off every dastardly box, one after the other. All his office needed to make the unthreatening image complete was a puppy running around the corner looking adorable and cuddly.
“Hello, I’m Gail,” the woman said with a smile. “How may I help you?”
“I’m looking for Duncan Lyman.” Lola’s words were hard-edged, and there was no smile on her face or in her voice. It wasn’t normally in her nature to bite someone’s head off. But nothing felt normal anymore.
Not since Duncan had crushed Lola’s hopes, dreams, and heart to smithereens.
The woman remained smiling as she said, “I’m afraid Duncan isn’t here right now.”
Damn it! Lola had wanted to catch him off guard, which was why she hadn’t called to let him know she was coming to Boston. And if she was being totally honest with herself, she’d also been afraid that she’d crumble if she heard his voice. That was why she had blocked his number since Friday night, in case he tried to call her. The truth was that it had taken her the entire trip from Bar Harbor to steel herself to see him again.
“When will he be back? I need to see him right away.”
“Is he expecting you?”
“No.” Lola followed up the word with a harsh laugh. “I’m sure I’m the very last person he’s expecting to see.”
Remarkably, Duncan’s assistant still didn’t look flustered. “Perhaps if you could tell me what you need to speak with him about, I might be able to be of better service.”
“He cheated one of my friends, causing her to nearly lose her business.”
At last, the woman’s composure began to crack as she frowned. “Duncan? Cheating your friend?” She shook her head. “I’m sorry, but I find that terribly hard to believe.”
“He’s already admitted everything.” Each word fell with a hard, staccato beat. “I’m here to make sure he does the right thing by my friend.”
His receptionist pushed back from her desk. “If you will excuse me for a moment, I need to have a quick word with my colleague. What did you say your name was?”
“Lola Sullivan.”
The woman’s eyes widened. “I knew you looked familiar! I saw your picture on your website when I booked your drawing class as a gift for Duncan.”
Lola was taken aback to realize this woman knew who she was. “You sent Duncan to my class?”
The woman nodded. “He absolutely loved it. I haven’t seen him look so happy in the five years I’ve worked with him.”
Lola’s gut twisted even tighter at the memory of how happy she’d been too. Only to find out that her joy with Duncan was based on lies. “Whether or not he enjoyed my class is irrelevant,” she insisted. “He still has a lot to answer for when it comes to the way he treated my friend.”
For a moment, Lola thought Gail might defend Duncan again. Instead, she said, “Could I get you a cup of tea while you’re waiting?” She gestured to the floral teacups and cookies on the sideboard. Just as Lola had predicted.
“No, I don’t want anything.” Only Duncan’s blood.
Though Lola didn’t take a seat on one of the plush seats, she couldn’t stop herself from studying the framed maps on the wall. Hand-drawn, they depicted bodies of water near Montauk, New York; Charleston, South Carolina; and Baltimore, Maryland. Duncan’s signature was on the bottom right corner of all three maps. She hated having to admit that, although he was scum, his talent was still undeniable.
Lola had never been a waffler. And with Duncan, everything had seemed so clear at first. So positive. So perfect. So joyous. Until Moira had unmasked him as the villain, and she’d realized just how wrong she’d been about him. This morning, she’d been so sure that nothing would sway her from seeing him as a villain. Yet, as she stood in his office looking at the maps he’d drawn, her heart twinged.
No. Lola refused to let her heart soften toward Duncan. Turning her back on his art, she crossed her arms firmly across her chest.
Sixty seconds later, Gail returned to the reception area with another attractive woman. Lola admonished herself for feeling at all jealous of the people Duncan worked with. She wasn’t interested in him anymore. Clearly, she needed to get a grip on her emotions, and fast.
“Ms. Sullivan, it’s nice to meet you.” The woman held out her hand. “I’m Anita Greene, and I work with Duncan. Gail has just filled me in on your situation, and if you could spare a few minutes, I’d appreciate it if you could join me in my office.”
Lola had come to Boston to make sure Duncan set things straight with Moira. But now that she was here, she realized she also needed to warn his employees about his true nature. Okay, so neither woman looked anything but nice, and happy to boot, but that could be because he was biding his time before he took advantage of them.