Play Dead (2010) by Sawyer Meryl

Author:Sawyer, Meryl [Meryl, Sawyer,]
Format: epub
Publisher: Harlequin
Published: 2011-01-14T19:08:46.375000+00:00

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

"WHAT CAN WE DO?" Trent replied. "Good question. We need money so I met with Laird McMasters this morning. He's agreed to help, but he wants part of the company."

Hayley groaned inwardly. She'd known Laird since high school when he'd moved to Newport Beach. He was smart--attended his father's alma mater, Yale--and charismatic. Girls adored him. Except Hayley. They'd gone out several times when she'd been younger, but she'd never felt comfortable with him. Then she'd refused to date him despite persistent calls.

When he'd left for Yale--with a big send-off party--she thought Laird would stay back east after graduating. But he hadn't. He'd surprised everyone by coming home and opening a surf shop.

What was that all about? everyone wondered. The guy didn't surf. He was a golfer and his father was a real estate developer who also loved golf. All the big names in the business, from Hurley to Quicksilver and, of course, Surf's Up, had been founded by surfers.

She had to give Laird credit. He'd learned the business and become successful. She'd been with her father when he'd met with Laird to discuss importing surfboards together. Laird was ambitious. Maybe a little too ambitious. He was willing to cut corners to make money.

After she'd broken up with Chad, she'd again gone out with Laird. She was older now; he no longer intimidated her the way he once had. Still, she didn't enjoy his company and stopped dating him. Maybe she'd been too upset by Chad's betrayal to take an interest in any man. She wasn't sure, but she didn't regret her decision.

"Are you comfortable with Laird?" she asked.

"No. Are you?"

She couldn't help giggling at Trent's candor. He'd never liked Laird. She couldn't imagine him wanting Laird to be a partner. The situation must be truly desperate. "No, but do we have another choice?"

Hayley hadn't looked closely at the books. She should have. There was no excuse for not checking. That had been her mother's job. With her death, Hayley should have been more hands-on.

Instead, she'd turned inward and focused on her art. She cranked out surf designs that were little more than a recycling of earlier work. Her only innovation had been with the MMA line.

She'd believed Trent was more business savvy than her father, whose interest had been limited to custom boards. Trent had been very involved, but obviously not cautious, as he should have been.

"I've tried everything," Trent assured her. "Banks aren't loaning to retail operations right now. Private equity has dried up."

"Can't the court--"

"I asked. Raising money isn't their job. Unless you count raising money for the state in a probate."

Hayley thought of all her parents had built, their lifetime of happiness represented by Surf's Up. She recalled the years she'd spent at the shop, running up and down, trying on equipment and clothes. She'd suffered her own insecurities, but it was about as happy a childhood as she could have known. To lose it or have it taken over by the likes of Laird McMasters seemed like an insult to her parents' memory.

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