Once Removed (Carolina Waves #3) Read online

  Once Removed

  Carolina Waves Series - Book 3

  Tina Gallagher

  Galsalla Press

  On the Mend Carolina Waves Series, Book 3

  By: Tina Gallagher

  Published by Galsalla Press

  Copyright © 2020

  Cover Design: Lydia Michaels

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage and retrieval systems, without written permission from the author, except for the use of brief quotations in a book review. All characters in this book are fiction and figments of the author’s imagination.

  Created with Vellum

  Special thanks to:

  Cal Chase for letting me borrow his name. I hope I’ve served it well with this story.

  The real Barbara…I wrote the happily ever after you deserved but never had.

  And as always…my family.

  Contents

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  More…

  Chapter 1

  Barbara

  I stared out my office window, looking down at the factory below. Conveyor belts carried candy in various stages from one station to another, then moved completed confections toward the workers who would package and ship them out.

  I used to be one of those workers. One of the packers responsible for boxing perfect chocolate creations and distributing them to the masses. But that was a long time ago. Before Stewart Mack came into my life and I lost myself in his world. Why I’m still in his world three years after the divorce is beyond me.

  Not that he’s totally to blame. When we met, I wasn’t in a good place emotionally speaking, and was ripe for the picking. After breaking up with my college sweetheart, I shifted to team Stewart with minimal sweet talk from the man himself.

  Even after all this time, I’m still not sure what put me on his radar. Stewart barely pays attention to the factory workers—or any of the workers, for that matter. He generally lives in his ivory tower and doesn’t mingle with the masses.

  Before my thoughts could get too Stewart-centric, I spun my chair around to face my desk and the task at hand. Molly Mack Chocolate’s expansion and renovation depends on me acing my presentation at the bank this afternoon. If I can convince First Allegiant Bank to loan us an insane amount of money, the company will be able to expand, improve operations, and increase market share. That’s the plan anyway. Stewart’s plan.

  And I have to say, despite the fact that he’s a class-A jerk, the man has a good head for business. So far, most of his ideas have had a positive impact on the bottom line. It really pisses me off, too. Not that I want the business to tank, but it would be nice if something bad happened to the asshole. I keep waiting for the karma train to run him down, but he’s managed to avoid it so far. He just strolls through life with everything going his way.

  Well, maybe not everything. I’m still here. I know if he had his way, I would have been in the unemployment line before the ink dried on the divorce papers. The fact that I live in his mother’s pool house doesn’t sit well with him, either. I smiled at the thought.

  “You look happy.” I jumped, knocking my stack of handouts to the floor. “Sorry, I didn’t mean to startle you.”

  My mother-in-law—make that ex-mother-in-law—settled into the seat in front of my desk.

  “It’s fine. I just didn’t hear you come in.”

  “It’s been a long time since I’ve seen a smile like that on your face. What put it there?”

  I chuckled. “You don’t want to know.”

  I love Molly. We bonded the first moment we met and I love her as much as I loved my own mother. But she is Stewart’s mother so I avoid making any nasty comments about my ex-husband in her presence. It’s an unspoken agreement between us that we don’t discuss him.

  Understanding, she refocused her attention to the handouts, which were once again stacked neatly in front of me.

  “Ready for the big presentation?”

  “Yep. You?”

  “You have the hard part. I just have to sit there and look like I understand what you’re talking about.”

  As usual, Molly is being humble. After her husband died, she started Molly Mack Chocolate in her kitchen. She managed to hold down a part-time job, raise two boys, and build the business into a multimillion-dollar corporation in a manner of years.

  “We both know that you understand exactly what I’m talking about. But if it makes you feel better, you can just sit there and look pretty today.”

  “I’ll try my best.” She wiped an invisible speck of lint off her skirt.

  “Is J.P. coming?” I asked. As head of marketing, my ex-brother-in-law doesn’t always attend financial meetings, but I’d requested his presence at this one. Besides his calming presence, he’d also bring a plethora of marketing and industry knowledge in case I need backup.

  “Yes, he’s driving with us,” she said. The fact that she averted her gaze before uttering the next sentence should have warned me I wouldn’t like it. “And Stewart is meeting us there.”

  My ex-husband’s attendance at the meeting shouldn’t surprise me, but I had hoped something he deemed more important would keep him away. Even though I know the facts backward and forward, Stewart has a way of making me feel and look inadequate.

  Squaring my shoulders, I resolved to ignore him during my presentation. And the rest of the time, for that matter.

  “Do you know who we’re meeting with?”

  “Just the usual crew.” She looked at the pile in front of me, then turned her attention to my right hand as it obsessively tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. “Don’t be nervous, Barb. I’ve been dealing with First Allegiant Bank for almost thirty years.”

  “I know, but lending is still tight. The expansion is a great idea, but it’s not a sure thing—nothing is. My job is to convince them we’re worth the risk. I don’t want to mess that up.”

  “You won’t.” She smiled. “I know you won’t.”

  Tears filled my eyes, but before I could say or do something too sappy, J.P. stuck his head in the door.

  “You want to grab some lunch before the big presentation?”

  Even though food is the last thing on my mind, I echoed Molly’s enthusiastic, “Yes.”

  Cal

  I leaned back in the chair and looked around my office, trying to figure out what the fuck I’m doing here. I’ve made the thirty-minute commute to this soul-sucking place for the past six weeks and still can’t believe this is my life now.

  The corner office with its plush carpeting, mahogany desk, and floor to ceiling windows may be someone’s idea of paradise, but it’s definitely not mine. Grass, dirt, and smelly locker rooms are more my speed.

  Sure, my degree is in finance, but I never thought I’d ever actually have to use it. College was only a stepping stone to where I really wanted to end up—the m
ajor leagues. Once I was drafted junior year, I figured I’d never have to get a real job. Yet here I am.

  Not that I have to work. I was lucky enough to make a great living playing the best game in the world, so I could sit on my ass and do nothing for the rest of my life and never have to worry about money. But since I was forced to retire in what I consider to be my prime, I have to do something.

  At thirty-three, I still had some good years ahead of me, but I was old enough to not act like a stupid rookie. I figured if I stayed in shape and kept myself healthy, I’d have at least another seven years in the hot corner. But after chasing a foul ball into the stands, I messed up my neck, and that was all shot to hell.

  At least I’d made the catch.

  I honestly never planned on having a career past baseball. My goal was to play as long as possible then retire and spend time with my wife and kids. Unfortunately, my marriage didn’t work out and I never had kids. I’m blessed with family and friends, but they have their own lives.

  The days are awful long when you don’t have a purpose. It took me less than a year to realize I needed to work. I sat in the Waves’ booth a couple times last season doing color commentary, but realized it’s not for me. Not as a regular gig anyway.

  My computer dinged and I sat forward and spotted the Outlook notification that filled the middle of the screen. I groaned and rubbed the back of my neck. Another conference call. Thankfully it’s only for a half hour, because then I have that big meeting Mr. Robinson has been hopped up about all week right after.

  Welcome to corporate America.

  Chapter 2

  Barbara

  I’m glad I went to lunch with J.P. and Molly even though I barely ate. If I hadn’t, I would have just hid in my office, obsessing over the presentation. Instead, I was able to relax with two of my favorite people.

  Some of Molly’s confidence and J.P.’s easy demeanor must have absorbed into my pores, because once we arrived at the bank, I felt uncharacteristically calm. They schmoozed with the bigwigs, while I excused myself to set up in the conference room. I had just finished placing the last handout on the oversized mahogany table when the door opened and my in-laws—make that ex-in-laws—entered, followed by the loan trinity.

  I couldn’t help but notice that the senior vice-president, Bill Robinson, looked simply smitten with Molly, nor the fact that she seemed to glow under his attention. Tucking those facts away to ponder later, I rounded the table to greet the men who would decide the company’s fate.

  “Bill, you remember my…uh, Barbara,” Molly said. I smirked at the fact that she almost introduced me as her daughter-in-law.

  “Of course,” Mr. Robinson said, tearing his eyes away from Molly just long enough to shake my hand.

  Jim Peters and John Butler, both loan vice presidents, greeted me in turn before we all settled into oversized chairs around the enormous table.

  “We’re just waiting for our new VP to join us,” Mr. Robinson said.

  “Oh, I didn’t realize you’d added a new member to the team,” Molly said.

  “He’s a relatively new addition to the group. He’ll be spending time in both corporarate lending and financial planning to decide which suits him best. I’m hoping when he gets up to speed, I’ll be able to take more time off and ease into retirement.”

  Before Molly could comment, the man in question entered the room.

  “Sorry I’m late,” he said. “I was on a conference call that ran over.”

  My head snapped in the newcomer’s direction as his voice triggered memories of young love and heartache. In profile, his face looked more angular than it had fifteen years earlier. The conservative cut of his black hair, highlighted sharp cheekbones and a chiseled jaw.

  I must have made a noise—that or he could hear my heart pounding—because his eyes shifted in my direction. If he was surprised to see me, he hid it well.

  “Cal, this is Molly, the president and founder of Molly Mack Chocolate and her son J.P. who heads the marketing department.”

  Cal acknowledged them, shaking their hands in turn.

  “And this is Barbara Mack, Molly’s daughter-in-law, the company’s CFO,” Mr. Robinson continued. “She’ll be heading the presentation today.”

  I knew I should do something, but I stood glued to my spot as Cal rounded the table.

  “Barb and I go way back,” he said as he took my hand in his. The gesture felt more like a caress than a handshake and the zing that traveled up my arm and to the rest of my body left me even more flustered.

  “Nice to see you again,” I said, not sure if it was true. My voice sounded ridiculously husky. If that weren’t bad enough, I felt a blush spread across my cheeks.

  “Yes it is,” he said as he slowly let go of my hand.

  I frowned, trying to figure out why he looked so happy to see me. After all, our last encounter hadn’t been very positive. His answering wink and smile confused me even more.

  Tucking my hair behind my ear, I turned to my computer and pretended to do something important. Molly caught my eye and raised her brow. She must have noticed my reaction to Cal. Hell, a blind man would probably notice my reaction to the man.

  Great. I don’t want to have to explain the whole Cal situation to her. Nor do I want her playing cupid, and from the look on her face and her shifting glances, it was obvious that’s exactly what she had in mind.

  Oh well, I’ll cross that bridge when I come to it.

  Everyone settled around the table as I took one last look at my presentation. I felt Cal’s gaze on me and fought the urge to look in his direction. Taking a few deep breaths, I finally had myself together when Stewart and wife number two—aka my ex-friend Frances— sauntered through the door.

  “I apologize for being late,” he said, directing everyone’s attention his way. Well, everyone but Cal’s. He continued to watch me with those chocolate brown eyes as Stewart kissed Molly on the cheek and shook hands with Bill Robinson. My gaze locked with his while the team assured Stewart that he was exactly on time, which of course he wasn’t.

  “And I’d like you to meet my wife, Frances,” Stewart said. The woman in question held a limp-wristed hand toward Mr. Robinson, who looked slightly confused for a moment. Even though it’s common knowledge that Stewart and I are divorced and he’s remarried, the fact that Molly still refers to me as her daughter-in-law on a regular basis seems to make people forget.

  Peters and Butler shook the couple’s hands in turn, then introduced them to Cal. Stewart looked furious as his wife pushed the perfect breasts he had given her as an engagement present out front and center as she tempted Cal to check them out. It gave me a great deal of satisfaction when he didn’t take the bait.

  Once all the niceties were out of the way, everyone settled around the table. Stewart and Frances sat in the chairs directly across from me and the flush on my ex’s cheeks told me that they had either enjoyed a few cocktails at lunch or recently had a quickie. Knowing them, it was probably both.

  While they tried to be casual about it, I noticed Mr. Robinson, Peters, and Butler shifting their gazes from Stewart and Frances to me and back. Unfortunately, Stewart noticed too and his reaction left no doubt in my mind he’d had at least a two-martini lunch.

  “I know there may be some confusion because unfortunately my mother often refers to Barbara as her daughter-in-law, but I assure you, we are divorced. Frances is my mother’s only daughter-in-law.” He directed a smug look at J.P. before shifting his glossy brown eyes to me, and I knew whatever would come out of his mouth next wouldn’t be good. “Barbara over there is what you might call once removed.”

  Stewart chuckled as everyone around the table remained silent. Frances sat next to him, her Stepford Wife smile firmly in place. A tic appeared in Molly’s jaw, but she didn’t comment or admonish him. Not that I’m surprised. I know she often doesn’t agree with his behavior, but she rarely calls him on it. And, when his bad behavior is pointed out to her, “he’s my son
” is usually her response. Apparently, that fact absolves him from a myriad of sins.

  Over the years, I’ve learned to not discuss Stewart with her. Molly and I have a great relationship, and if for nothing else, I’m grateful for getting involved with my ex-husband because it brought her into my life as something more than my boss. And, despite letting daily slights go, Molly has stood up for me, even if it wasn’t in front of my face. The fact that I hold a high-level position at Molly Mack Chocolate is proof of that.

  I know Stewart wanted me gone when we split up. When Molly refused, he wanted me demoted back to the line. Yet, here I am, which I know is Molly’s doing. She’s also given me a place to live in her pool house and refuses to accept rent.

  I glanced over at J.P., and if looks could kill, Stewart would be in trouble, but thankfully he remained silent. In the past, he’d championed for me, only to have his brother verbally tear him apart. We don’t need a whole nasty scene to occur in front of the loan trinity—make that quartet—with the addition of Cal.

  “Why don’t we get started?” Mr. Robinson said, breaking the awkward silence that had settled over the room. Once everyone shifted their focus to him, he started. “As you all know, we’re here to discuss funding for a building and machinery expansion at Molly Mack Chocolate. While we’ve enjoyed a mutually beneficial relationship for many years, current guidelines require that we perform extra due diligence because of the size of the loan and scope of the project. Does anyone have any questions?”