The Mckennas: Finn, Riley and Brody

CHAPTER TWO

SHE had to be crazy.

What else had made Ellie agree to midnight drinks with Finn McKenna—one of her competitors and a man she barely knew? She’d been ready to go home, get to bed and get some much-needed sleep when Finn had approached her.

There’d been something about his smile, though, something about him charmed her. He wasn’t a smooth talker, more a man who had an easy, approachable way about him, one that she suspected rarely showed in his business life. The “Hawk” moniker that magazine—and most of the people in the architecture world—had given him didn’t fit the man who had teasingly called her Cinderella. A man with vivid sky-blue eyes and dark chocolate hair.

And that intrigued her. A lot.

So Ellie settled into the red vinyl covered seat across from Finn McKenna, a steaming mug of tea warming her palms. So far they’d done little more than exchange small talk about the weather and the party they’d just left.

She’d never met the fabled architect, the kind of man talked about in hushed tones by others in the industry. She’d read about him, even studied a few of his projects when she was in college, but they’d never crossed paths. If she hadn’t been at the helm of WW Architectural Design, she wouldn’t even have been at the event tonight, one of those networking things designed to bring together competitors, as if they’d share trade secrets over a few glasses of wine. In reality, everyone was there to try to extract as much information as they could, while revealing none of their own.

“Was that your brother you were talking to in the ballroom?” she asked. Telling herself she wasn’t being curious about the contradictory Finn, just conversational.

Finn nodded. “Riley. He’s the youngest.”

“He looks a lot like you.”

Finn chuckled. “Poor guy.”

“Is he in the industry, too?”

“Definitely not. He tagged along for the free drinks.”

She laughed. “I can appreciate that. Either way, I’m glad that cocktail party is over.” She rubbed her neck, loosening some of the tension of the day. “Sometimes it seems those things are never going to end.”

“You seemed to fit right in.”

“I can talk, believe me.” She laughed, then leaned in closer and lowered her voice to a conspiratorial whisper. “But in reality, I hate those kinds of events.”

“You and me both. Everyone trying to pretend to be nice, when really they just want to find out what you’re up to and how they can steal that business away from you,” Finn said. “I think of them as a necessary evil.”

She laughed again. “We definitely have that in common.” She’d never expected to have anything in common with Finn McKenna, whose reputation had painted him as a ruthless competitor, exactly her opposite. Or to find him attractive. But she did.

“I don’t know about you, but I’m much happier behind my desk, sketching out a design. Anything is better than trading the same chatter with the same people in an endless social circle.”

“You and I could be twins. I feel exactly the same way. But …” She let out a sigh and spun her teacup gently left and right.

“But what?”

“But I stepped into my father’s shoes, and that means doing things as he did.” People expected the head of WW to be involved, interactive and most of all, friendly, so Ellie had gone to the event and handled it, she hoped, as her father would have. She had thought taking over her father’s position would be a temporary move, but after the news the doctor gave her yesterday …

Ellie bit back a sigh. There were many, many dinners like that in her future. Henry Winston’s heart attack had been a bad one, leaving him with greatly diminished cardiac capacity. The doctor had warned her that too much stress and worry could be fatal. A return to work was a distant possibility right now. If ever. It all depended on his recovery. Either way, Ellie was determined to keep WW running, and not worry her father with any of the details. He came first.

“Have you ever met my father?” she asked Finn.

He nodded. “I have. Nice guy. Straight shooter.”

“And a talker. I inherited that from him.” Ellie smiled, thinking of the father she’d spent so many hours with in the last few years, chatting about design and business and life. Her father had worked constantly when Ellie was young and been gone too much for them to build any kind of relationship. But ever since Ellie went to college, Henry had made a more concerted effort to connect with his daughter. Although she loved her mother dearly, Ellie wasn’t as close to Marguerite, who had moved to California shortly after divorcing Henry when Ellie was eighteen. “My father likes to say that he never knows where his next opportunity might come from, so he greets the cashier at a fast food place as heartily as he does the owner of a bank.”

“People like that about him. Your father is well respected.”

“Thank you.” The compliment warmed Ellie. “I hope I can live up to his example.”

“I’m sure you will.”

The conversation stalled between them. Finn turned his attention to his coffee, but didn’t drink, just held the mug. Ellie nursed her tea, then added more sugar to the slightly bitter brew.

She watched Finn, wondering why he had invited her out. If he wanted to talk business, he was taking his time getting to it. What other reason could he have? For all the joking between them earlier, she had a feeling he wasn’t here for a date.

Finn McKenna was younger than she’d expected. Surely a man with his reputation had to be ten feet tall, and ten years older than the early thirties she guessed him to be? Heck, he seemed hardly older than her, but his resume stretched a mile longer. What surprised her most was that he had sought her out—her—out of all the other people in that room. Why?

He had opted for coffee, black, but didn’t drink from the cup. He crossed his hands on the table before him, in precise, measured moments. He held himself straight—uptight, she would have called it—and kept his features as unreadable as a blank sheet of paper. He wasn’t cold, exactly, more …

Impassive. Like the concrete used to construct his buildings. The teasing man she’d met in the lobby had been replaced by someone far more serious. Had that Finn been a fluke? Which was the real Finn McKenna?

And more, why did she care so much?

“I heard WW got the contract on the Piedmont hospital project,” he said.

“We haven’t even announced that hospital deal yet,” she replied, halting her tea halfway to her lips. “How did you know about it?”

“It’s my business to know.” He smiled. “Congratulations.”

“Thank you.” She wanted to tell him the thought of such a big project daunted her, particularly without her father’s valuable advice. She wanted to tell Finn that she worried the hospital design would be too big, too detailed for her to oversee successfully, and most of all, she wanted to ask him how he had done it for so long single-handedly, but she didn’t.

She already knew the answer. She’d read it in the interview in Architect magazine. Finn McKenna wasted little time. He had no hobbies, he told the reporter, and organized his workdays in the most efficient way possible, in order to cram twenty hours of work into twelve.

And, she knew better than to trust him. He hadn’t earned the nickname Hawk by being nice to his competitors. No matter how they sliced this, she was one of his competitors and needed to be on her guard. For all she knew, Finn was working right this second—and working an angle with her that would benefit his business.

At that moment, as if making her thoughts a reality, Finn’s cell phone rang. He let out a sigh, then shot her an apologetic smile. “Sorry. I have to take this. It’s a client who’s in California right now, while we build his new offices here. I think he forgot about the time change. This should only take a second.”

“No problem. I understand.” She watched him deal with the call and realized that Finn McKenna had made himself a success by sacrificing a life. That wasn’t what Ellie had wanted when she had gone into architectural design, but the more time she spent behind her father’s desk, the more it became clear that was where she was heading.

That was the one thing her father didn’t want to see. She thought back to the conversation they’d had this morning. Don’t end up like me, Ellie Girl. Get married. Settle down. Have a life instead of just a business, and don’t neglect your family to protect the bottom line. Do it before …

He hadn’t had to finish the sentence. She knew the unspoken words—before he was gone. The heart attack had set off a ticking clock inside Henry and nearly every visit he encouraged Ellie to stop putting her life on hold.

The trouble was, she had quickly found that running WW Architectural Design and having a life were mutually exclusive. Now things were more complicated, her time more precious. And having it all seemed to be an impossible idea.

She thought of the picture in her purse, the dozens more on her phone, and the paperwork waiting on her desk. Waiting not for her signature, but for a miracle. One that would keep the promise she had made in China last year.

Nearly three years ago, Ellie had been on the fast track at an architectural firm in North Carolina. Then she’d gone to a conference in China, gotten lost on the way to the hotel and ended up meeting a woman who changed her life.

Ellie never made it to the hotel or the conference. She spent five days helping Sun Yuchin dig a well and repair a neighbor’s house in a tiny, cramped town, and fallen in love with the simple village, and bonded with the woman who lived there. Every few months since, Ellie had returned. She’d been there to meet Sun’s daughter, Jiao, after she was born, even helped feed the baby, and the following year, helped build an extra room for the child. In the process, Ellie had formed a deep friendship with Sun, a hardworking, single mother who had suffered more tragedies than any person should in a lifetime—her parents dead, then her husband two years later, and near the end of one of Ellie’s trips to Sun’s town, the woman finally confided the worst news of all.

Sun had cancer. Stage four. After she told Ellie, she asked her an incredible question.

Will you raise Jiao after I’m gone? Take her to America, and be her mother?

Finn ended the call, then put his cell back into his pocket. “The Piedmont hospital will be quite an undertaking for WW,” he said, drawing her attention back to the topic.

Was he curious, or jealous? His firm had been one of the few invited to submit a bid. She remembered her father being so sure that McKenna Designs, clearly the leader in experience, would land the job. But in the end, either her father’s schmoozing on the golf course or his more competitive bid had won out and McKenna Designs had been left in the dust.

Was this true congratulations or sour grapes?

Ellie gave Finn a nod, then crossed her hands on the table. “I’m sure we’re up to the challenge.” Did her voice betray the doubts she felt?

“I know a project of that size can seem intimidating,” he added, as if he’d read her mind. “Even for someone with your experience.”

The dig didn’t go unnoticed. She was sure a methodical man like Finn McKenna would already know she’d built her career in residential, not commercial properties. He was expressing his doubts in her ability without coming right out and saying it.

He wasn’t the only one with concerns. She’d gone into architecture because she loved the field, and chosen residential work because she loved creating that happy home for her clients, and had been rewarded well for that job. She’d never wanted to be a part of the more impersonal, commercial industry.

But now she was. And that meant she had to deal with everything that came her way, no matter what. And handle it, one way or another, because her father’s company needed her to. She couldn’t go to her father and risk raising his blood pressure. She’d muddle through this project on her own. No matter what, Ellie would hold on to what Henry had built.

“We have a strong, dedicated team,” she said.

“Had.”

“Excuse me?”

“You had a strong, dedicated team. As I hear it, Farnsworth quit last week.”

Damn. Finn really did have his finger on the pulse of WW Architectural Design. Few people knew George Farnsworth, one of the oldest and most experienced architects at the firm, had quit. He’d butted heads with Ellie almost from the day she walked in the door, and eventually said he’d work for her father—or no one at all. Which wasn’t quite true, because it turned out Farnsworth had had a lucrative job offer at a competitor waiting in the wings the whole time.

She’d been scrambling ever since to find a worthy replacement. And coming up empty.

“You seem to know quite a bit about my business, Mr. McKenna—”

“Finn, please.”

“Finn, then.” She pushed the cup of tea to the side and leaned forward. “What I want to know is why.”

He gave her a half-nod. “What they say about you is true.”

“And what, pray tell, do they say about me?”

“That you’re smart and capable. And able to talk your way out of or into just about anything.”

She laughed. “The talking part is probably true. My father always said I could talk my way out of a concrete box.”

“Refill?” The waitress hovered over their table, coffee pot halfway to Finn’s cup. Then she noticed the two still-full cups. “Okay, guess not.”

Finn paused long enough for the waitress to leave, then his sky-blue gaze zeroed in on hers. “You asked why I have such an interest in your business, and in you.”

She nodded.

“I’ve done my research on your career, Miss Winston, and on WW Architectural Design because—” he paused a beat “—I have a proposition for you.”

“A proposition?” Ellie arched a brow, then flipped on the charm. Two could dance in this conversation. Finn McKenna had yet to tell her anything of substance, and she refused to give away her surprise or her curiosity. He had likely underestimated her as a businesswoman, and after tonight, she doubted he’d do it again. “Why, Finn, that sounds positively scandalous.”

He let out a short, dry laugh. “I assure you, Miss Winston—”

“Ellie.” She gave him a nod and a slight smile. She had found that a little warmth and charm, accented by the slight Southern accent that she’d picked up in her years in North Carolina, often served her well in business dealings, and she used that tool to her advantage now. No giving Finn McKenna the upperhand. No, she wanted to know what he was after, and more importantly, why. “That’s the least you can do, considering I’m calling you by your first name.”

“Ellie, then.” Her name rolled off his tongue, smooth as caramel. “I … I can assure you—” he paused a second again, seemed to gather his thoughts “—that my proposition is business only.”

She waited for him to continue, while her tea cooled in front of her. This was the reason he’d asked her here—not for a date, but for business. A flicker of disappointment ran through her, but she told herself it was for the best. Despite what her father had asked of her, she didn’t see how she could possibly fit dating, much less marriage, into her already busy life.

She had her father to worry about and care for, a company to run, and most of all, a home to prepare for the changes coming her way very soon. Getting involved with Finn McKenna didn’t even make it on to that list. Heck, it wasn’t even in the same galaxy as her other priorities.

“I know that without Farnsworth, you’re in a difficult position,” Finn continued. “He’s the most senior architect on your staff, and you’re about to undertake a major hospital project. The kind of thing WW has built its reputation on, and the kind of job that will bring millions into the company coffers.”

She nodded. The Piedmont hospital was a huge boon for WW. Her father had worked long and hard to land that project. He was proud as punch to add it on to the company resume, and she was determined not to let her father down. This job would also firmly establish WW’s place as a leader in medical facility design—a smart move in an era of increased demand from aging baby boomers.

“As the new CEO,” Finn went on in the same precise, no-nonsense manner as before, “you’re already at a vulnerable juncture, and losing this project, or screwing it up, could cause WW irreparable damage.” He’d clearly studied her, and the company, and was offering an honest, if not a bit too true, perspective. He squared his spoon beside his cup, seeming to gather his thoughts, but she got the feeling he was inserting a measured, calculated pause.

She waited him out. A part of her was glad he’d gotten right to the point, avoiding the male-female flirting dance. She’d met far too many businessmen who thought they could finesse their way through a deal with a few compliments and smiles. Men who saw a woman in charge and took her to be an idiot, or someone they could manipulate over dinner. Finn McKenna, she suspected, was a what-you-see-is-what-you-get man, who saw no need for frills or extra words. Straightforward, to the point, no games. That brief moment in the lobby had been a fluke, she decided. This was the real Finn, aka the Hawk. He wanted something from her and clearly intended to stay until he had it.

“I have two senior architects on my staff who are more than capable of handling the hospital project for you,” Finn said. “If you agree to this business proposition, then they would oversee it, sort of as architects on loan. You, Miss Winston—” he paused again, corrected himself “—Ellie, would remain in complete control. And myself and my staff at McKenna Designs would be there as a resource for you, as you navigate the complicated arena of medical facility design, and the troubled waters of the CEO world.”

Troubled waters? Did he think she was totally incompetent? She tamped down the rush of anger and feigned flattery.

“That’s a mighty nice offer, Finn. Why, a girl would be all aflutter from your generosity …” Then she dropped the Southern Belle accent from her voice, and the smile from her face. He’d made it all sound so smooth, as if the benefit was all to her, not to him. “If she hadn’t been raised by a father who told her that no one does anything without a payoff. So, I ask you—” she leaned in, her gaze locking on his “—what’s in this for you?”

He gave her a short nod, a brief smile, a look that said touché. And something that looked a lot like respect. “My business has struggled as of late. Partly the economy, partly—” the next words seemed to leave his mouth with a sour taste “—because of a project that had some unfortunate results. Although we have a few medical buildings on our resume, our work has primarily been in the retail and corporate world. McKenna Designs would like to move into the medical building field because it’s a growing industry that dovetails well with our other corporate work. You would like to strengthen your position as the new head at WW by designing a hospital that puts a really big star in the company constellation, as they say.” He spread his hands. “A partnership benefits us both.”

“From what I’ve heard, McKenna Designs took a serious blow in credibility and finances over this past year and you’ve been reeling ever since.” They worked in a small industry and people talked. The people who worked for Ellie had been more than happy to fill her in on the local competition when she arrived in Boston. Finn McKenna’s name had come up several times.

“We’ve had our … challenges.”

“As have we,” she acknowledged.

“Precisely the reason I came to you.” Now he leaned back and sipped at his coffee, even though it had surely gone cold long ago. He was waiting for her to make the next move.

As she looked at him, she realized two things. He didn’t think she was capable of running the firm without his help and two, he was offering a deal that benefited him far more than her. She could hire another architect—maybe even, with the right incentives, steal Finn’s best and brightest right from under his nose—and be just fine. He was just like all the other men she had met, and all the “concerned” colleagues of her father, who saw the little Winston girl as nothing more than a figurehead.

The Hawk was merely swooping in to try to scoop up an opportunity. This meeting had been a waste of time. The one luxury Ellie Winston didn’t have.

She rose, grabbing her purse as she did. “I appreciate the offer, I really do, but we’re just fine at WW, and we’ll be just fine without an alliance with you. So thank you again—” she fished in her purse for a few dollars, and tossed them on the table “—but I must decline. Good evening, Mr. McKenna.”