However, we were not aware of your…living situation with Miss McKay.”
“Living situation?”
“Come now, Jack, aren’t you and Miss McKay are living together in Sundance?”
Jesus. “You’re awarding the contract to Baxter solely because I stay with Keely, the woman I plan to marry, in the building I own, rather than in a hotel, when I travel to Wyoming?”
“No, not solely on that, but it is a fact we can’t ignore, nor can we condone. It’s also been brought to our attention that there is some…shall we say, nepotism at work?”
“Okay. Henry. You’ve lost me.”
“Are you, or are you not, supervising a remodeling project for Miss McKay?”
“Yes. But what bearing—”
“Come now, Jack, you can’t expect us to believe it wouldn’t be in your best interest, as well as your fiancée’s, for you to automatically sign off on all building changes for her project, regardless if those changes meet the state historical standards?”
Fury shot through him. “Where in the hell did you hear that?”
“Do not curse at me, young man. I am merely relating the facts as they’ve been presented to me.”
“By whom?” Jack asked through clenched teeth.
“That is irrelevant.”
“By whom,” Jack repeated. “If my professional reputation is being examined, I have a right to know who is attempting to malign it. It is your moral obligation to tell me, is it not?”
Henry sighed. “Baxter Ducheyne’s company pitched to us. In the two days Baxter and his lovely wife Martine spent in Milford, she revealed a few disturbing things, including your past relationship with her.
Martine questioned whether you’d follow through with your wedding to Miss McKay, given your inability to commit to her during the year you were together in Chicago. She also mentioned you immediately dissolved the partnership with Baxter and moved across the county before she married your partner.”
Jack seethed. Too angry to speak.
“Baxter brought up the ethics of your company signing off with the Wyoming Historical Society on Miss McKay’s building, especially since the two of you are intimately involved.”
Unreal. This was a f**king nightmare.
“Imagine our surprise when Mrs. Ducheyne asked if we’d agreed to consider western artwork projects from Miss McKay’s brother. I believe you mentioned him to us as a possible sculptor for our city square project, did you not?”
“Yes. But Carter McKay—”
“Will possibly be your brother-in-law, so you can see the committee’s point of view about another case of nepotism, Jack. With all of these…incidences staring us in the face, I’m sure you understand why we had concerns.”
“I’m sure you can understand why I would feel Mrs. Ducheyne’s information to you would be biased, based on my past history with her. How she came across information about—”
“I suggest you speak with your fiancée, Mr. Donohue,” Henry said coolly. “Mrs. Ducheyne stated Miss McKay freely relayed this information to her, during a business conference in Denver a few weeks ago.”
Jack froze.
“In addition, your fiancée boldly claimed you had this restoration project wrapped up. Baxter was mightily upset, understandably so, as he hadn’t the opportunity to pitch us his ideas yet.”
He couldn’t think of damn thing to say.
“Rest assured, this information about your company will stay confidential among the committee members. Good-bye Jack and good luck.”
Henry hung up.
That big-mouthed cowgirl had f**ked him over.
What goes around comes around.
Infuriated, he headed for Moorcroft.
Keely couldn’t believe how fast the building was shaping up. In another month, the clinic could open for business.
The door slammed and Jack barreled in.
Speaking of dream fulfillment…Keely intended to tell Jack she loved him, hoping the last piece of the puzzle of her life would fit into place.
But Jack wasn’t wearing the soft look of a man in love. Jack was absolutely infuriated. And he got right in her face.
“Did you tell Martine we were living together?”
Weird way to start a conversation. “Yes, but—”
“Did you also tell her I had the Milford restoration project ‘wrapped up’?”
“I don’t think I said ‘wrapped up’ but I told her the committee liked your concept—”
“Jesus f**king Christ, Keely, do you have any idea what the f**k you’ve done to me? You’ve torpedoed my goddamn career!”
Before Keely defended herself, Jack went off on a tangent.
“I trusted you. And how did you repay that trust? By f**king me over. Big time. Because Martine somehow hurt your poor little feelings, you just had to open your big mouth and one-up her, didn’t you? By telling her we were living together. By telling her I had the Milford project in the bag. By taunting her that I offered to marry you, when I hadn’t offered to marry her.”
“But I didn’t—”
“Well, guess what, cowgirl? That offer of marriage is off the f**king table for good.”
Keely’s stomach roiled.
“Now, not only did I lose the goddamn Milford project, my ethics are in question.” Jack jabbed a finger at his chest. “My ethics. Do you know how f**king hard I’ve worked to keep my reputation impeccable? Now I’m being accused of nepotism.”
“Nepotism?”
“Don’t play stupid. Baxter and Martine are questioning whether I should even be allowed to sign off on this project for you since we’re intimately involved. What do you think the odds are the next call they make is to the Wyoming Department of Historic Preservation? I could get my f**king certification pulled!
And if I’m pulled in one state, what do you think the odds of me getting pulled in every other state are?
Pretty much f**king guaranteed.
“Not only that, you told Martine about Carter? How the f**k do you think that makes me look? Not to mention your brother? Yes, I suggested the Milford committee consider hiring Carter to do a couple of bronzes. Now, I’m being accused of nepotism again, and Carter is going to lose out on a potentially huge f**king commission. Because of you. How do you think he’ll react when he finds out you f**ked this up for him? You think he’ll be so goddamn eager to leap to his baby sister’s defense every f**king time I turn around?”