Propositioned By The Tycoon: Mr Strictly Business / Bought: His Temporary Fiancée / A Win-Win Proposition

She shrugged. “I’ll leave that to you. It’s definitely not my area of expertise, although it sure is Dina’s.”

“Mom has a talent for it,” he agreed.

“I guess that’s why it surprised me that she didn’t catch on to…What was the name of that guy who proposed to her a few months after your dad died?” She snapped her fingers. “Stanley something, wasn’t it?”

The question hit like a body blow. “Are you talking about Stanley Chinsky?”

She hesitated, reacting to his tone. “Um. Did he head Piretti’s accounting department at some point?”

“Yes. He was also a board member.” Outrage filled him. “That bastard had the nerve to propose to Mom?”

Catherine made a production of sliding her can into one of the drink holders, her gaze flitting away from his. “I gather she never mentioned it.”

“No, she didn’t.”

Catherine released a gusty sigh. “I’m sorry, Gabe. I didn’t realize or I’d never have said anything. She told me about it that night we had our heart-to-heart.”

“Did she also tell you that Stanley attempted to rob her blind during his tenure as our accountant?”

“Actually, she did. I think she blamed herself to some extent,” Catherine offered. “She thought her refusal of his proposal may have provoked his retaliation.”

“The hell it did. He started stealing from us the minute my father died. If he proposed to her, it was only in the hopes of covering up his little scheme.”

Catherine offered a tentative smile. “Dina did say it was a pretty clever one.”

“It was. It took me forever to figure out—” He broke off. “Son of a bitch. Son of a bitch. Why the hell didn’t I see it?”

“See what?”

He turned on her. “This is your fault, you know. If I hadn’t been so distracted by you, I’d have seen it right off.”

“Damn it, Gabe. Seen what?”

“What my mother’s been up to.” He turned the boat in a wide arc and goosed the throttle. “The reason you’re going bankrupt is that my dear mother has been skimming the accounts.”

Chapter Nine

It took several hours for Gabe and Catherine to work their way back from Lake Washington to Shilshole Bay and safely dock the boat at the marina. They arrived on Dina’s doorstep just as dusk settled over the city. She opened the door with a wide smile, one that faded the instant she got a good look at their expressions.

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