Page 65 of Tough as Steele

A good thing, really. It stopped her prying into Londyn’s feelings for Nate. If she’d kept it up, Londyn might have slipped and shared her feelings. Plenty of feelings. Most definitely. Strong ones that came on too fast. Way too fast like she’d told Peyton. And Londyn didn’t know what to do about them.

What could she do other than ignore her emotions and swallow them down? Nate sure wasn’t going to suddenly let go of his issues and ask her out. Something had to change his mind first. Until that happened, there was really no reason to think about him in that capacity. No reason at all.

Londyn pointed her focus out her window at a glass-faced skyscraper with a coffee shop on the main floor. “That’s the place. Vandervoort Enterprises occupies the top five floors, and they rent out the rest of the building.”

“I hope the coffee shop is open.” Peyton pulled her Jeep into an open street parking space.

Londyn got out, and a MAX light-rail train whooshed past while she started down the street. Peyton jogged to catch up. She reached Londyn as she opened the door to the tall building. The nutty scent of coffee drifted out. Peyton bypassed Londyn to head straight to the barista. She ordered coffee for both of them. Londyn didn’t have to tell Peyton that she loved mochas with extra whipped cream. All the sisters and cousins knew each other’s coffee indulgences. Most Saturday mornings, one of them went to the local coffee shop and got coffee to enjoy with the special treats Gran made for them each week.

Peyton handed the cup to Londyn, and the warmth seeped through the cardboard. They stepped to the elevators and pressed the button.

Inside, Londyn selected the highest of the twelve-story building and leaned back for the ride up. “I’ll take lead on the questioning.”

“Expected as much.” Peyton sipped her coffee.

Londyn wouldn’t ask for clarification. Her sister was either thinking Londyn was being the bossy older sister or that Londyn was just acting as a lead in the investigation. Either way, mentioning it could bring them back to a personal discussion when they needed to be focused on Charles.

They stepped into a large reception area with modern office furniture and a professionally dressed woman sitting behind a desk.

She smiled and was a real beauty in a fully made-up kind of way. “You must be the detective.”

“Londyn and Peyton Steele to see Charles Winston.” Londyn held out her credentials.

“He’s expecting you.” She gave a stiffer smile this time. “Have a seat, and I’ll ring him.”

Londyn strode to the window overlooking the street and watched two couples stroll arm in arm to the city park. What she hadn’t told Peyton was that she wanted to be in a relationship. She really did. She wanted what her parents, grandparents, and aunt and uncle had. No question about that. But not until she put away the pain Brad had caused that still lingered. And she would for sure take her time with the next guy. Absolutely take her time.

Peyton came up behind her. “For there is a time and a way for everything. Ecclesiastes eight verse six.”

Londyn spun. “What?”

“Timing and Nate,” she said in an offhand manner as if it wasn’t a big deal. “Have you given any thought to the possibility that God put him in your life at the exact right time? Doesn’t mean you have to go barreling ahead in a serious relationship with the man. You can take things slowly. Like just trying one date at a time.”

Londyn was about to reply when her phone dinged. She glanced at it. “Ryleigh. Her supervisor was a no-go with Hotwatch.”

“Disappointing, but not surprising.”

Charles stepped into the reception area, taking Londyn’s attention. His hair was messed, and he had dark circles under his eyes. His shirt was rumpled and slipping out of his wrinkled trousers.

He tucked it back in and approached. “Sorry I’m such a mess. Been here all night trying to liquidate those funds and running into some roadblocks.”

Londyn introduced Peyton.

“Mimi said the Steele women were law enforcement officers, but she didn’t mention how stunning you were.” His grin held an ick-factor that made Londyn uneasy.

He tipped a thumb over his shoulder. “My office is this way.”

He gave the receptionist a lingering smile. A flirty kind of smile that she returned. Was he having an affair with this woman? From what Nate and Jessica had said, Londyn wouldn’t be surprised.

“Interesting that you have a receptionist working on a Saturday,” Londyn said in the hallway with office doors on each side.

“Felicia isn’t the receptionist,” he said. “She’s my assistant. After you called for an appointment, she came in to man the desk so I could work. She’s very flexible to come in when I need her. Of course it costs the company overtime, but when you need an assistant, you need one.”

He stepped into the office at the end of the hall, and Londyn shared a knowing look with Peyton. They both suspected he needed far more than what an assistant should provide.

The corner office had floor-to-ceiling windows on two sides of the large space. A round glass table with black ergonomic chairs that looked like spiders filled one corner, and a big walnut desk took up a large part of the other side. Bookshelves loaded with binders filled the wall behind the table.

He gestured at the chairs and sat in the nearest one. “Have a seat. Felicia would get coffee, but I see you brought your own.”

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