Read Online Love's Gamble by Theodora Taylor - Free Book Online Page B

said. She didn’t give Cole any more information than what was needed to satisfy his question.
    “And do you approve of these supposed plans of his?” he asked.
    Pru surprised him by answering without any hesitation at all. “Actually, I do approve, and I think you should sign over the money.”
    Cole seemed jolted by her answer. He looked at her hard. So hard Max knew he was searching for any sign that she was lying to him. Any sign at all that he could use against his brother.
    But Pru met his gaze without flinching, her brown gaze level and unfailing.
    “Fine,” Cole finally said, sounding none too happy. “I talked to the family lawyers, and they say they’re going to put a rush on getting the trust paperwork together. It will probably be ready by your birthday on Friday.”
    Today was Sunday, which raised a question. “If the papers aren’t ready yet, why did call us up here?” Max inclined his head toward Pru. “We could have gone somewhere and enjoyed a honeymoon while we waited.”
    Cole also inclined his head, but to the opposite side. “Yes, you could do that. Still could if you want. Or if you’re interested, Pru, I have another case for you.”
    Pru blinked in surprise. “Me?” she asked. “But I still don’t have my license yet.”
    “No, but you, unlike the other licensed PIs I hired, actually found my brother. And now that you’ve married him, you’re in the unique position to help me with a problem we’re having at the Benton Group.”
    Pru sat forward, the expression on her face both flattered and curious. “Tell me about it.”
    “Well, as you know, over the course of the fall, we’re planning a multicity launch for the Benton Inns, a midrange brand of hotels that will cater to our customers who used to have a lot of disposable income but have now settled down with families and are more interested in saving money than spending it in our casino resorts. Our first open will be in New Orleans. But over the last few months, the launch has hit a few snags.”
    Cole got up, as if this next part of the story agitated him too much to tell it sitting down. “Key Card Hotels, our largest future competitor, has somehow figured the specifics of what this first hotel needs to open its doors and has been consistently sabotaging our efforts. Outbidding us for important contracts, planting news stories with a negative spin on certain planned aspects of our first project—things like that. Many of these acts of sabotage are so specific that it’s become obvious to me Key Card must have an inside source at the Benton Group.”
    Pru nodded, leaning even farther forward as Cole filled her in on the details of his case. However, Max eyed his brother, more than a little suspicious. First he’d invited them up here, knowing full well the trust papers weren’t ready to be signed, and now conveniently enough, he had “a case” for Pru.
    “I don’t get it,” he said after Cole was through. “That sounds like corporate espionage. Don’t companies call in security firms to handle stuff like that?”
    Cole nodded at him once, seemingly impressed that Max had even that much knowledge of how corporations actually worked. “Yes, usually that’s exactly what I would do. Call in a security firm to root out the saboteur. In fact, I still might do that. But first I want to try a different approach.”
    He turned back to Pru. “When I told Sunny about your solving of the case, she said she wasn’t surprised. She said you had a one hundred percent track record for the cases you took on for the other showgirls, because you’re good at the research aspect of the job, but also because you have good gut instincts. That’s how you found Max, right?”
    Pru shot a quick glance at Max, probably wondering quite rightly if this current line of conversation at all insulted him.
    Max just squeezed her knee and threw her one of the looks of love she’d taught him. “I’ve never been so happy to be found,” he