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He held out a hand. “Welcome, Hattie.”
She felt him squeeze her fingers, and her skin heated. “Your home is beautiful.”
He stepped back as she extracted Deedee. “It’s a work in progress. I’ll be glad when the last of it is finished.”
Despite his disclaimer, and despite the small area of scaffolding at the side of the house where workmen had been repairing stonework, the interior of the house was breathtaking. A sweeping staircase led up and to the right. The foyer floor was Italian marble, and above a walnut chair rail, the walls were papered in what appeared to be the original silk fabric, a muted shade of celadon. A priceless chandelier showered them in shards of warm light, and on a console beneath an antique mirror on the left wall, a massive bouquet of flowers scented the air.
Hattie turned around in a circle, the baby in her arms quiet for once, as if she, too, was awed. “It’s stunning, Luc.”
His smile reflected quiet satisfaction. “It’s starting to feel like home. The couple who lived here bought it in the 1920s. They’re both gone now, but I inherited Ana and Sherman. He wears many hats … driver is only one of them.”
“He was very sweet. I felt pampered. And Ana?”
“His wife. You’ll meet her in a moment. She’s the housekeeper, chef, gardener … you name it. I tried to get them both to retire with a pension, but I think they love this house more than I do. I get the distinct feeling that I’m on probation as the new owner.”
As promised, Ana entertained Deedee during dinner while Luc and Hattie enjoyed the fruits of the housekeeper’s labors—lightly breaded rainbow trout, baby asparagus and fruit salad accompanied by rolls so fluffy they seemed to melt in the mouth.
Luc served Hattie and himself, with nothing to disturb the intimacy of their meal. Surprisingly, Hattie forgot to be self-conscious. Luc was a fascinating man, highly intelligent, well-read, and he possessed of a sneaky sense of humor. As the evening progressed, sharp regret stabbed her heart. She was overwhelmed with a painful recognition of what she had lost because of her own immaturity and cowardice.
He refilled her wineglass one more time. “I suppose you’re not nursing the baby.”
She choked on a sip of chardonnay. An image of Luc in her bed, watching her feed a baby at her breast, flashed through her brain with the force of a runaway train. Her face was so hot she hoped he would blame it on the wine. She set the glass down gently, her hand trembling. Unwittingly, he had given her the perfect opening.
“The baby’s not mine,” she said softly. “My sister Angela was her mother.”
“Was?”
Hattie swallowed, the grief still fresh and raw. “She was killed in a car crash six weeks ago. My brother-in-law, Eddie, was driving … drunk and drugged out of his mind. He got out and left the scene when he hit a car head-on. Both people in the other vehicle died. Angela lingered for a few hours … long enough to tell me that she wanted me to take Deedee. I was babysitting that night, and I’ve had the baby ever since.”
“What happened to the baby’s father?”
“Eddie spent a few days behind bars. He’s out on bail awaiting trial. But I guarantee you he won’t do any time. His family has connections everywhere. I don’t know if we have the Mob in Georgia, but I wouldn’t be surprised. Eddie’s family is full of cold, mean-spirited people. Frankly, they scare me.”
“I can tell.”
“At first, none of them showed any sign of acknowledging Deedee’s existence. But about two weeks ago, I was summoned to the family compound in Conyers.”
“Eddie wanted to see his child?”
She laughed bitterly. “You’d think so, wouldn’t you? But no. He was there when I arrived with her. A lot of them were there. But not one single person in that entire twisted family even looked at her, much less asked to hold her. They kept referring to her as ‘the kid’ and talked about how she was one of theirs and so should be raised by them.”
“That doesn’t make any sense given their lack of enthusiasm for the baby.”
“It does when you realize that Eddie thinks Deedee will be his ace in the hole with the judge. He wants to portray the grieving husband and penitent dad. Having Deedee in the courtroom will soften him, make him more sympathetic to the jury.”
“Ah. I take it you didn’t go along with their plan?”
“Of course not. I told them Angela wanted me to raise her daughter and that I would be adopting Deedee.”
“How did that go?”
She shivered. “Eddie’s father said that no custody court would give a baby to a single woman with few financial means when the father wanted the child and had the resources to provide for her future.”
“And you said …?”
She bit her lip. “I told them I was engaged to my college sweetheart and that you had a boatload of money and you loved Deedee like your own. And then I hightailed it out of there.”
Luc actually had the gall to laugh.
“It’s not funny,” she wailed, leaping to her feet. “This is serious.”
He topped off her wineglass once again. “Relax, Hattie. I have more lawyers than a dog has fleas. Deedee is safe. I give you my word.”
Her legs went weak and she plopped into her chair. “Really? You mean that?” Suspicion reared its ugly head. “Why?”
He leaned back, studying her with a laserlike gaze that made her want to hide. He saw too much. “My motivation shouldn’t matter … right, Hattie? If I really am your last resort?” Something in his bland words made her shiver.
She licked her lips, feeling as if she was making a bargain with the devil. “Are you sure you’re willing to do this?”
“I never say anything I don’t mean. You should know that. We’ll make your lie a reality. I have the best legal counsel in Atlanta. Angela’s wishes will prevail.”
“I’ll sign a prenup,” she said. “I don’t want your money.”
His gaze iced over. “You made that clear a decade ago, Hattie. No need to flog a dead horse.”
Her stomach clenched. Why was it that he could make her feel so small with one look?
When she remained silent, he stood up with visible impatience. “I know you need to get the little one in bed before it gets any later. I’ll have my team draw up some documents, and then in a few days, you and I can go over the details.”
“Details?” she asked weakly.
His grin was feral. “Surely you know I’ll have a few stipulations of my own.”
Her throat tightened and she took one last swallow of wine. It burned going down like it was whiskey. “Of course. You have to protect your interests. That makes sense.” For some reason she couldn’t quite fathom, the specter of sex had unexpectedly entered the room. Her mouth was so dry she could barely speak.
Surely lawyers didn’t use legalese to dictate sex … did they?
Suddenly an unpalatable thought struck her. “Um … Luc … I should have asked. Is there anyone who will … I mean … who is … um …”
He cocked his head, one broad shoulder propped against the door frame. His face was serious, but humor danced in his eyes. “Are you asking if I’m seeing anyone, Hattie? Isn’t it a bit late to worry about that … now that you’ve told everyone I’m your fiancé?”
Mortified didn’t begin to describe how she felt. “Not everyone,” she muttered.
“Just the Mob?” He chuckled out loud, enjoying her discomfiture a little too much. Finally, he sobered. “You let me worry about my personal life, Hattie. Your job is to take care of yourself and that little girl—” He stopped abruptly. “Speaking of jobs … what happened? Why aren’t you teaching?” She had majored in math at Emory and had gone directly from college to a high school faculty position.
“I had to take a leave of absence for the rest of the year when the accident happened.”
He sobered completely now, stepping close enough to run a hand over her hair. She’d worn it loose tonight. “You’ve been through a hell of a lot,” he said softly, their bodies almost touching. “But things will get better.”
She smiled wistfully. “Somedays it seems as if nothing will ever be the same.”
“I didn’t say it would be the same.”
For some reason, the words struck her as a threat. She looked up at him, their breath mingling. “What do you get out of this? Why did you agree to back up an impulsive lie by a woman you haven’t seen in ten years?”
“Are you trying to talk me out of it?”
“Tell me why you agreed. I was ninety percent sure you’d throw me out of your office on my fanny.”
“I can be kind on occasion.” The sarcasm was impossible to miss.
She searched his face. It hurt knowing that it was as familiar to her as if they had parted yesterday. “There’s something more,” she said slowly. “I can see it in your eyes.”
His expression shuttered. “Let’s just say I have my reasons.” His tone was gruff and said more loudly than words that he was done with the conversation.
He was shutting her out. And it stung. But they were little more than strangers now. Strangers who had once made love with passionate abandon, but strangers nevertheless.
“I have to go.”
He didn’t argue. He ushered her in front of him until they entered a pleasant room outfitted as a den. Ana, despite her years, was down on an Oriental rug playing with a sleepy Deedee.
Hattie rushed forward to scoop up the drowsy baby and nuzzle her sweet-smelling neck. “Did she nap for you at all?”
Ana stood with dignity and straightened the skirt of her floral cotton housedress. “She slept about forty-five minutes … enough to keep her awake until you can get her home and in bed. Your daughter is precious, Ms. Parker, an absolute angel.”
“She’s not my daughter, she’s my niece … but thank you.” Did the housekeeper think Luc had brought his love child home for a visit?
Her host grew impatient with the female chitchat. “I’ll walk you out, Hattie.”
Sherman waited respectfully by the car door, making any sort of personal conversation awkward. Luc surprised Hattie by taking Deedee without ceremony and tucking her expertly into the small seat.
She lifted an eyebrow. “You did that well.”
He touched the baby’s cheek and stepped aside so Hattie could enter the limo. “It’s not rocket science.” He braced an arm on the top of the car and leaned in. “I’ll look forward to seeing you both again soon.”
“You’ll call me?”
“I’ll get Marilyn to contact you and set up a meeting. It will probably only take a couple of days. You need to go ahead and start packing.”
“Packing?” She was starting to sound like a slightly dense parrot. What had she gotten herself into? Luc was helping her, but with strings attached. She had known his every thought at one time. Now he was an enigma.
His half smile made her think of a predator anticipating his prey. “You and Deedee will be moving in here as soon as the wedding is over.”
Three
Two days later, Luc tapped briefly at his brother’s office door and entered. Leo, his senior by little more than a year, was almost hidden behind piles of paperwork and books. A genius by any measure, Leo masterminded the financial empire, while Luc handled R & D. Luc enjoyed the challenge of developing new products, finding the next creative venture.
Leo was the one who made them all rich.
It was a full thirty seconds before his brother looked up from what he was doing. “Luc. Didn’t expect to see you today.”
The brothers met formally twice a month, and it wasn’t unusual for them to lunch together a few times a week, but Luc rarely dropped by his brother’s sanctum unannounced. Their offices were on different floors of the building, and more often than not, their customary mode of communication was texting.
Luc ignored the comfortable, overstuffed easy chair that flanked Leo’s desk and instead, chose to cross the room and stand by the window. He never tired of gazing at Atlanta’s distinctive skyline.
He rolled his shoulders, unaware until that moment that his neck was tight. He turned and smiled. “What are you doing on May 14?”
Leo tapped a key and glanced at his computer screen. “Looks clear. What’s up?”
“I thought you might like to be my best man.”
Now Luc had Leo’s full attention. His older sibling, though still a couple inches shorter than Luc’s six-three, was an imposing man. Built like a mountain, he looked more like a lumberjack than a numbers whiz.
He escaped the confines of his desk and cleared a front corner to lean on his hip and stare at his brother. “You’re pulling my chain, right?”
“Why would you say that?”
“Three weeks ago I suggested you bring a date to Carole Ann’s party, and you told me you weren’t seeing anyone.”
Luc shrugged. “Things happen.”
Leo scowled, a black expression that had been known to make underlings quake in terror. “I can read you like a book. You’re up to something. The last time I saw that exact look on your face, you were trying to convince Dad to let you take the Maserati for a weekend trip to Daytona.”
“I have my own sports cars. I’m not trying to pull anything.”
“You know what I mean.” He changed tack. “Do I know her?”
Luc shrugged. “You’ve met.”
“How long have you known her? It’s not like you to go all misty-eyed over a one-night stand.”
“I can assure you that I’ve known her for a very long time.”
“But you’ve just now realized you’re in love.”
“A man doesn’t have to be in love to want a woman.”
“So it’s lust.”
“I think we’ve gotten off track. I asked if you would be my best man. A simple yes or no will do.”
“Damn it, Luc. Quit being so mysterious. Who is she? Will I get to see her anytime soon?”
“I haven’t decided. We’ve been concentrating on each other. I don’t want to spoil things. Just promise me you’ll show up when and where I say on the fourteenth. In a tux.”
The silence was deafening. Finally, Leo stood up and stretched. “I don’t like the sound of this. When it all goes to hell, don’t come crying to me. Your libido is a piss-poor businessman. Be smart, baby brother. Women are generally not worth the bother.”
Luc understood his brother’s caution. They had both been burned by love at a tender age, but thankfully had wised up pretty fast. What Leo didn’t know, though, was that Luc had a plan. Revenge was a strong word for what he had in mind. He didn’t hate Hattie Parker. Quite the contrary. All he wanted was for her to understand that while he might still find her sexually attractive, he was completely immune to any emotional connection. No hearts and flowers. No protestations of undying devotion.
He was no longer a kid yearning for a pretty girl. This time he had the power. He would be calling all the shots. Hattie needed him, and her vulnerability meant that Luc would have her in his house … in his bed … under his control. Perhaps revenge was too strong a word. But when all was said and done, Hattie Parker would be out of his system … for good.
Hattie was ready to scream. Moving anytime was a huge chore, but add a baby to the mix, and the process was darned near impossible. She’d finally gotten Deedee down for a nap and was wrapping breakables in the kitchen when her cell phone rang. She jerked it up and snarled, “What?”
The long silence at the other end was embarrassing.
“Sorry,” she said, her throat tight with tears of frustration.
Luc’s distinctive tones were laced with humor. “I don’t think I’ve ever heard you lose your temper. I kind of like it.”
“Don’t be silly,” she said, shoving a lock of damp hair from her forehead. “What do you want?”
“Nothing in particular. I was checking in to see if you needed anything.”
“A trio of muscular guys would be nice.”
Another silence. “Kinky,” he said, his voice amused but perhaps a tad hoarse.
Her face flamed, though he couldn’t see her. “To help with moving,” she muttered. “I wouldn’t know what else to do with them. This mothering thing is hard work.”
“Why, Hattie Parker. Are you hinting for help?”
“Maybe.” Deedee was a good baby, but being a single parent was difficult. Hattie no longer felt as panicked as she had in the beginning. Much of the daily routine of dealing with an infant seemed easier now. But Deedee had been restless the three nights since Hattie had dined with Luc. Perhaps the baby was picking up on Hattie’s unsettled emotions. And to make matters worse, Eddie had begun sending a harassing string of vague emails and texts. Clearly to keep Hattie on edge. And it was working.
Luc sighed audibly. “I would have hired a moving crew already, but you’re always so damned independent, I thought you would pitch a fit and insist on doing it yourself.”
“I’ve grown up, Luc. Some battles simply aren’t worth fighting. I know when I’m in over my head.”
“I’m sorry. I made a stupid assumption. It won’t happen again.”
The conversation lagged once more. She looked at the chaos in her kitchen and sighed. “Do you know yet when we’re going to sit down and go over the finer points of our marriage agreement?”
“I thought perhaps tomorrow evening. When does Deedee go down for the night?”
“Usually by eight … if I’m lucky.”
“What if I come over to your place then, so she won’t have to be displaced. I’ll bring food.”
“That would be great.”
“Have you heard any more from your brother-in-law?”
“Nothing specific.” No need at the moment to involve Luc in Eddie’s bluster. “He likes to throw his weight around. Right now, he’s got the perfect setup. I’m babysitting for him, but when he’s ready, he’ll grab Deedee.”
“I hope you don’t mean that literally.”
“He’s not that stupid. At least, I don’t think he is.”
“Try not to worry, Hattie. Everything is going to fall into place.”
For once, it seemed as if Luc was right. Deedee went to sleep the following evening without a whimper. Hattie found an unworn blouse in the back of her closet with the tags still attached. She’d snagged it from a clearance rack at Bloomingdale’s last January, and the thin, silky fabric, a pale peach floral, was the perfect weight for a spring evening.
Paired with soft, well-worn jeans, the top made her look nice but casual … not like she was trying too hard to impress. Unfortunately, Luc showed up ten minutes early, and she was forced to open the door in her bare feet.
His eyes flashed with masculine appreciation when he saw her. “You don’t look frazzled to me, Hattie.”
She stepped back to let him in. “Thanks. Today was much calmer, maybe because the moving company you hired promised to be here first thing in the morning. And I was able to actually take a shower, because the baby took a two-hour morning nap.”
As she closed the door, he surveyed her apartment. “No offense, but I don’t see any point in storing most of this stuff. Let the movers take the bulk of it to charity, and bring only the things that are personal or sentimental with you.”
She bit her lip. It had occurred to her that this subject would have to be broached, but she hadn’t anticipated it would come so soon. “The thing is …”
“What are you trying to say?” He tossed the duffel bag he’d been carrying in a chair and deposited two cloth grocery bags in the kitchen. Then he turned to face her. “Is there a problem?”
She shifted from one foot to the other. Luc was wearing a suit and tie, and she felt like Daisy Duke facing off with Daddy Warbucks. “This union won’t last forever. After all the money you’re spending to help Deedee and me, you shouldn’t have to finance the next phase of my life, as well. I thought it might be prudent to have something to fall back on in the future.”
He nudged a corner of her navy plaid futon/chair with the toe of his highly polished wing tip, giving the sad, misshapen piece a dismissive glance. “When that happens, I won’t cast off you and the child to live with cheap, secondhand furniture. I have a reputation to uphold in this town. Image is everything. You’re going to have to face the truth, Hattie. You’re marrying a rich man—whether you like it or not.”
The mockery in his words and on his face was not veiled this time. He was lashing out at her for what she’d done in the past. Fair enough. Back then she had made a big deal about their stations in life. Luc’s money gave him power, and Hattie had been taught at her mother’s knee never to let a man have control.
The man Hattie called “daddy” was really her stepfather. As a nineteen-year-old, her mother had been that most naive of clichés … the secretary who had an affair with her boss. When Hattie’s mom told her lover she was pregnant, he tossed her aside and never looked back.
Hattie lifted her chin. “It was never about the money,” she insisted. “Or not only the money. Look at what your life has become, Luc. You’re the CEO of a Fortune 500 company. I’m a public school teacher. I clip coupons and drive a ten-year-old car. Even before I began helping with my mother’s finances, I lived a very simple lifestyle.”
He curled a lip. “Is this where I cue the violins?”
“Oh, forget it,” she huffed. “This is an old argument. What’s the point?”
He shrugged. “What’s the point indeed?” He picked up the duffel bag. “Dinner will keep a few minutes. Do you mind if I change clothes? I came straight from the office.”
“The baby is asleep in my room, but the bathroom’s all yours. I’ll set out the food.”
She had rummaged in the bags only long enough to see that Luc’s largesse was nothing as common as pizza, when a loud knock sounded at the door. She glanced through the peephole and drew in a breath. Eddie. Good grief. Reluctantly, she opened the door.
He reeked of alcohol and swayed slightly on his feet. “Where’s my baby girl? I want to see her.”
She shushed him with a quick glance over her shoulder. “She’s in bed. Babies sleep at this hour of night. Why don’t you call me in the morning, and we’ll agree on a time for you to come by?”
He stuck a foot in the doorway, effectively keeping her from closing him out. “Or why don’t I call the police and tell them you’ve kidnapped my kid?”
It was an idle threat. They both knew it. Hattie had already consulted a lawyer, and a nurse at the hospital had heard Angela’s dying request. Nevertheless, Eddie’s bluster curled Hattie’s stomach. She didn’t want to be in the middle of a fight with Deedee as the prize.
“Go away, Eddie,” she said forcefully, her voice low. “This isn’t a good time. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Without warning, he grabbed her shoulders and manhandled her backward into the apartment. “Like hell.” He shoved her so hard, she stumbled into the wall. Her head hit with a muffled thud, and she saw little yellow spots.
He lunged for her again, but before his meaty fists could make contact, Luc exploded down the hallway, grabbed the intruder by the neck and put a chokehold on him. Eddie’s face turned an alarming shade of purple before Hattie could catch her breath.
Luc was steely-eyed. “Call the cops.”
“But I don’t want …”
His expression gentled. “It’s the right thing to do. Don’t worry. I’m not leaving you to deal with this alone.”
The response to the 911 call was gratifying. Just before the two uniformed officers arrived, Luc stuck his face nose to nose with Eddie’s. “If I ever see you near my fiancée again, I’ll tear you apart. Got it?”
Eddie was drunk enough to be reckless. “Fiancée? Yeah, right. If she was telling my daddy the truth about you and her, then where’s the fancy diamond ring?”
“I had to order it,” Luc responded smoothly. “It happens to be in my pocket even as we speak. But some jackass has ruined our romantic evening.”
The conversation ended abruptly as Hattie opened the door to the police. They took Luc’s statement, handcuffed Eddie and were gone in under twenty minutes.
In the sudden silence, Hattie dropped into a chair, her legs boneless and weak in the aftermath of adrenaline. Thank God the baby hadn’t been awakened by all the commotion.