Page 100 of Burning Caine
I took the hand off his chest and clenched it. “Honesty and trust. If we don’t have those, we don’t have anything.”
“We? So, there’s still a chance for a we?”
I rubbed at my face, like I could find the truth there. Was my pounding heart warning me about his secrets or telling me to make love to him right here? He wanted me, but did he want the real me or some ideal of me he’d created out of thin air more than a decade ago?
“What other secrets are you keeping?”
“Oh, bella.” He put his arms around me and shook his head. “I’m sorry. I should have told you the truth.” His mouth opened and closed, as though he was going to say more, but I couldn’t handle more.
“Stop. I need to think.” My brain had a brief argument with my heart and some other parts of my body, and I stepped out of the embrace. “I don’t know what to do with this.”
He exhaled slowly, taking me by the shoulders and looking me square in the eyes. “I understand. I’ll give you all the time you need. But let me be clear. My attraction to you started a long time ago, but it was the real you who captured my heart.”
This wasn’t what I’d been expecting. The beach wasn’t it. My breath became shallow as the reality hit me; this wasn’t about flirtation or sex or three dates. My heart was pounding so hard and fast I could barely hear myself think.
I could, however, hear the voice in my head…Don’t let him in, Sam. He’ll just break your heart.
Chapter 39
Samantha
IsatinthePines, door shut, eyes closed, trying to review the Scott claim. I couldn’t focus at my desk, with Lucy’s gum popping, Mike’s breathing, and the buzz of the lights. I couldn’t think in the conference room because my brain was on Antonio.After what almost happened on the beach and his confession about college, I thought I’d needed space. What I needed was him.To let him prove it was about more than his memory of me. But what if it wasn’t?
There were so many questions remaining about the claim, I had to narrow my focus.
My first goal was to decide if the Scotts should be paid for the painting. The lack of varnish over the signature hinted that the charred painting was a fake. As soon as I could prove it, the claim would be denied. If it had been stolen, we could shift to a theft claim, but there was no evidence, so the consensus was to drop it.
My second goal, assuming it was a fake, was to determine whether there was an intent to defraud Foster Mutual. Based on Olivia’s reaction to the painter movingLes amoureux, I could eliminate her. I had to stop assuming Bobby was innocent, so that left him and David. And did the missing red flags have any role?
My third goal was to help Janelle figure out what happened. Quinn warned me about getting too deep in this claim. The offers to purchase the painting while it was at Mason’s, the Scotts’ financial problems, Bobby’s possible affair, the angry painter, the house still being boarded up. If Janelle hadn’t asked me to investigate, I would have dropped it all.
My fourth goal? Figure out Dr. Antonio Ferraro. Not my priority and yet my priority. Last night, after three hours of staring at the ceiling, I remembered him from that class. A tall, chubby, bushy-haired guy who always sat at the back of class, laughing with his buddies. But that only answered a single question.
Deep breath. His lips. My fingers in his hair. The taste of his tongue carrying a hint of the wine, mingled with—Focus, Sam.
I needed to talk the claim through with someone, so I opened the door and stepped out.
“Caine! Chapman!” Cliff’s booming voice echoed down the hall. Standing at the end of the hallway, in front of the conference rooms, he pointed at the floor in front of him. This was the Cliff I’d heard stories about.“What the hell are you doing?”
Before I could get a word out, he lowered his voice. “David Scott’s in the Oaks with the old man. I think he’s demanding you be removed from his claim. I’ve read all your notes on it—”
“They were—”
“Yeah, private. I’m the head of the claims department. I have access to those.” He shook his head at me, keeping his voice low. “You’re handling this exactly right. I haven’t filled Roger in yet, because he’s thinking with his heart. He won’t listen. I’ll have your back if he tries to pull you, but you need to get this thing tied up soon.”
I leaned in to keep my voice down, as well. “Don’t you think it’s odd how he’s pushing to close this claim so quickly? It’s only been three weeks and it’s a million dollars, Cliff. I’ve got due diligence to finish. What happens with the reinsurance if we don’t have the authentication?” Just like insurance companies provided coverage to individuals and businesses, reinsurers provided coverage for insurance companies. They were critical to providing the services our insureds needed. “It’s not like Foster has enough money sitting around to pay that off without the reinsurer kicking in some of the loss.”
“You’re right. It’s odd.”
“So, what’s your move? Other than feeding me to the wolves?”
“Nothing yet. I was hoping Roger was just mourning, but that should be over by now.”
“I don’t like this.”
“I understand.” He raised his voice again, our private discussion over. “Just get your ass in the Oaks, Caine!”
Lucy arrived once Cliff was done. I snapped at her and pointed to the conference room. “David Scott’s there, and he’s looking for us. Roger Foster’s with him.” Her eyes went wide. Her summer internship was almost over, and she needed a glowing review to secure a position after graduation. I had to keep this on me.