Wanted: One Mommy

by Cathy Gillen Thacker

  Now she was interested. She tilted her head. “Complicated in what way?”

  How about every way? Jack thought. “Well, my mom lives with me. And if the marriage goes through, soon Dutch will, too. That alone was a turnoff to many.”

  Caroline’s brow furrowed. “I can’t see why if they’d met Patrice and/or Dutch.”

  That, Jack thought, had been the family-inclusive attitude he’d been looking for, and never found. He went on to the next item on the list. “Another bummer was the fact that I can’t seem to make long-range or sometimes even short-range plans. Because when I do, something always seems to come up.”

  Caroline wasn’t upset about that, either. “Life happens. I have that problem, too.”

  They exchanged smiles.

  Jack persisted with his wish list. “Anyone I get involved with has to adore Maddie, and be loved by her in return.”

  Caroline grinned, enthusiastic. “I can’t see that as a problem.”

  Jack went on to the ultimate deal breaker. “And any potential love interest for me must like dogs and accept that Bounder is as much a part of our family as the rest of us. And Bounder can be a handful at times, let me tell you. It seems like she’s always inadvertently getting into trouble of some sort.”

  Caroline rocked back on her heels and angled her chin at him. “That’s typical for golden retrievers her age, isn’t it? Most don’t mature until they are three years old.”

  Glad to find Caroline so knowledgeable, Jack nodded. “The vet says that we’ve got another year to go before Bounder gets her natural inquisitiveness under control. Although she is pretty well behaved most of the time now.”

  “See?” Caroline lifted her hands, palms up. “Life is looking up.”

  Jack’s natural wariness kicked in. “Is it? Maddie still wants a mommy. Now.”

  Caroline studied him beneath the fringe of her lashes. “And what do you want?” she asked softly.

  Jack shrugged. That was easy. “The kind of close and loving marriage my parents had, and the ability to work as a team, no matter how difficult life gets.”

  SO JACK WAS A ROMANTIC at heart, after all, Caroline thought. He just wouldn’t acknowledge it. Which made her wonder…“I guess you didn’t have that kind of closeness with your ex-wife.”

  Jack gestured. “We were a great team, while we were together. The problem was…” Jack hesitated.

  For a moment Caroline thought he wasn’t going to finish.

  “As much as she tried, in the end Vanessa couldn’t love me as much as she thought she should.”

  His voice was calm, matter-of-fact, but Caroline sensed a wealth of pain behind those words. She reached out to touch his hand. “I’m sorry,” she said, just as quietly, looking deep into his eyes. “I know what it is to be betrayed by someone close to you. It’s incredibly demoralizing.” It left you reluctant to try love again.

  Jack leaned against her BMW. He searched her face. “What happened to you?”

  Deciding it might be cathartic to talk about this with Jack, Caroline took the perch next to him. “I was working for an exclusive hotel as an event planner. I was up for a big promotion and I really wanted it.” She closed her eyes briefly, remembering that awful time in her life, then turned to look at Jack. “My fiancé concluded I wouldn’t have enough time for us if I got it, so he went behind my back and had drinks with my boss and told him that we were planning to start a family shortly after we married, and were even thinking of pushing up our wedding date. Needless to say,” Caroline concluded, bitterness welling up inside her, “that man-to-man talk cost me the increase in pay and responsibility. When I found out why I lost out on the professional advancement, I confronted my fiancé.”

  Jack’s lips compressed. He looked as discontented as she felt. “Was your ex apologetic?”

  Caroline blew out a gusty breath, shook her head. She traced the paisley pattern on her cotton skirt. “On the contrary. Roark didn’t see it as a betrayal. He felt justified in his actions, said he was only thinking of us, and our happiness.” Caroline threw up her hands in disgust. “That was it for me. I broke off our engagement and asked Roark to move out of the apartment. I quit my job and started my own wedding planning business. So in the end—” she finished with a shrug “—it turned out to be a good thing.”

  Aware she had just given Jack quite a chunk of her life story while she still knew very little about him, she asked in turn, “What about you?” What happened to break your heart?

  “I fell in love with a beautiful woman who seemed ideal for me in every way. We married and bought a home and had Maddie, and just when everything should have been perfect, Vanessa told me that although she hadn’t actually done anything about it, she had never gotten over Cody, her first husband.”

  Caroline could barely fathom such disloyalty. The hands in her lap stilled. “You must have been devastated.”

  Jack’s mouth took on a rueful curve. He turned his glance to the stars shimmering overhead. “Among other things,” he said quietly.

  Caroline resisted the romance of the spring evening. “And you never had a clue Vanessa was on the rebound?”

  Jack shook his head, his gaze trained on some distant point. “I thought Cody’s lack of drive and ambition had killed their marriage, that she was tired of living hand to mouth, of always wondering if they would have enough money to pay the rent.”

  “Whereas you…” Caroline guessed.

  “Worked all the time, at that point, and was rarely if ever off the job. But—” Jack drew in a deep breath, exhaled “—Vanessa was okay with that. In fact—” Jack gestured inanely “—she did everything she could to support and encourage me in that regard.”

  Except love him, Caroline thought, her heart breaking for Jack. He deserved so much better. They all did. Unable to help herself, she reached over and covered his hand with her own. “Did you love her?”

  Jack turned his palm, so their fingers were intertwined. He admitted circumspectly, “I loved who I thought she was…my dream woman.”

  Aware her heart was racing, Caroline removed her hand from his, sat back, still struggling to understand. “But she wasn’t.”

  “Neither Cody nor Vanessa could meet each other’s needs that first time around. As a result, their marriage failed. Wanting a different result in her second marriage, Vanessa was determined to meet all of my needs, even if she had to do so disingenuously. And it worked. I was deliriously happy. She was the one who was miserable. She had everything she had ever wanted, financially, but her whole life felt like a lie. She thought having a baby might change that, give her life more meaning, but it didn’t.”

  “So Vanessa asked you for a divorce.”

  “Yes. Shortly after we separated, Vanessa got back together with Cody. This time they were wise enough to be able to make it work. The one thing that stood in their way was the baby she’d had with me. Cody didn’t like the reminder she’d been with another man. Nor did she. So, for all our sakes, she gave me full custody of Maddie.”

  It sounded reasonable. And unbearably cruel, Caroline thought, splaying a hand over her chest. “And Vanessa’s never seen Maddie since?”

  “No. Although, for the record, I’ve encouraged Vanessa to come and visit or stay in touch in some fashion because I think some contact would be better for Maddie than complete abandonment, but Vanessa thinks otherwise. She and Cody have gone on to have two children of their own, and Vanessa doesn’t want to mix her two families.”

  “But you still expect Maddie and Vanessa to meet one day.”

  Jack nodded. “I think curiosity will demand it at some point, which is why I continue to lay it out as an option. Although it won’t be until Maddie is old enough to understand and handle it.”

  “I’m sorry,” Caroline said finally, her heart going out to him. “You and Maddie deserve so much better.”

  “So do you,” Jack retorted.

  Caroline rose gracefully to her feet, turned to face Jack, who was still
leaning on her BMW. “I guess that’s just life, though. Everyone has bad things happen to them. It doesn’t mean we have to give up on our dreams. So if you’re interested in getting back out there on the dating scene…”

  He held up a palm. “Uh, no.”

  “Don’t trust you’ll get it right this time?”

  “Do you?” Jack countered, standing, too.

  Caroline wasn’t used to being put on the defensive by clients. Usually, all people who were getting married wanted to do was talk about themselves, their families, the celebration itself and their hopes for their future, which was fine by her. It meant she didn’t have to concentrate on herself, either. “I don’t really think about it much,” Caroline confessed. Not since she had concluded she had lost out on what could very well be her one chance to have the love of her life. Why? Because ultimately she and Roark hadn’t been compatible. And shared values were a key ingredient to any successful relationship.

  “Which means you’re not actively looking for romance, either,” Jack teased with an audacious grin.

  Caroline ignored the sudden jump in her pulse, and the fact it would be all too easy to fall in bed with Jack. “Or sex,” Caroline pointed out with an arch look that reminded him of the inappropriateness of their earlier embrace.

  “Which is a shame,” Jack continued with a lusty look meant to provoke. “Since you’re an awfully good kisser.”

  Wishing she had met Jack some other time, some other way, Caroline bantered back with utter practicality. “So are you. It doesn’t mean we should take that to mean anything other than what it does.”

  He stepped closer. “Which is what exactly?”

  His nearness sent another thrill soaring through her. “Pure and simple? We have chemistry. But again, that doesn’t mean we should indulge in it.”

  Jack lifted a skeptical brow.

  With a sigh, Caroline continued explaining. “I love extra-dark chocolate.”

  “Good to know,” Jack replied, smiling.

  “If I ate it as much as I’d like to eat it, I’d weigh a ton.”

  His gaze drifted over her from head to toe, apparently finding nothing wanting. “So you limit yourself,” Jack guessed.

  Tingling everywhere his eyes had touched, Caroline affirmed her self-imposed sacrifice. “To one treat a week.”

  Jack’s eyes lit up. “I could live with one kiss a week.”

  The warmth inside her built. Caroline wrinkled her nose. “I couldn’t.”

  The playful moment turned heated again and Caroline could have sworn Jack was thinking about kissing her again. She was not surprised. She was suddenly fantasizing about the same thing.

  “Why not?” he quipped.

  Blushing fiercely, she tipped her head up. “Because indulging in one kiss a week with you would lead to wanting more than one kiss.”

  He wrapped his arms around her shoulders. “Also good to know,” Jack interrupted with a mischievous grin.

  She placed her hand on his chest “And I’m not interested in starting anything with a person I’m not suited to be with long-term.”

  Jack studied her. “What makes you think we’re not compatible?”

  Caroline stepped back. He’d given her no choice. She had to be extremely direct. “I’m in the business of making dreams come true.” Their eyes met and held for another breath-stealing moment. “And unless you’ve changed your mind about Patrice marrying Dutch, you’re now in the business of thwarting them.”

  “I’VE NOTICED,” Patrice Gaines said the next morning when Caroline showed up promptly at eight-thirty, still reeling from the ill-advised kiss she had shared with Jack Gaines the previous evening, “that you don’t wear perfume.”

  Telling herself it was definitely going to be possible to stay away from the ruggedly handsome businessman while planning his mother’s wedding, Caroline smiled self-consciously. She forced herself to concentrate on the conversation at hand. “That must seem like heresy to a woman like you, who built her fortune on perfume.”

  Patrice gently acknowledged this was so. “May I ask why you don’t wear any?”

  A little embarrassed by the oversight, given the company she was keeping, Caroline shrugged. “I guess I’ve never found a fragrance that really suits me. They always seem too heavy, or too young, or too musky…too something.”

  Patrice smiled. “Whereas I don’t feel fully dressed unless I have a fragrance on.”

  Caroline opened up her briefcase. “I’ve noticed you wear different scents.”

  Patrice brought a thermal carafe of coffee to the breakfast table. “For different moods.”

  Caroline set up her laptop computer. “It must be nice to be able to create your own colognes.”

  Patrice went back to the cupboard to get mugs. “I could do it for you, as a thank-you, for working us in on such short notice.”

  Caroline laid the sample invitations and the accompanying price list on the table. “I didn’t know you still created individual perfume formulas.”

  Patrice returned with cream and sugar. “I can’t for financial gain. It’s in the contract I signed with Couture Perfume. But I can do it for fun,” she continued enthusiastically, “and I’d really like to try.”

  Caroline dipped her head in silent thanks. “I’d be honored.”

  Patrice settled opposite her. “So when do you want to start?”

  Caroline accepted the mug of hot coffee. “Start?”

  Patrice stirred a spoonful of sugar into her coffee. “We’re going to have to sit down and go through the various fragrance families. Although I must warn you—once we find the exact right scent, and you begin wearing it, you will have men falling in love with you constantly.”

  “It’s true.” Dutch walked in to join them. He wrapped his arm around Patrice’s shoulders. “I’ve seen it happen.”

  Caroline studied the handsome older couple. “Is that how the two of you fell in love?”

  Patrice and Dutch tensed almost imperceptibly. They turned to each other, looked into each other’s eyes in silent understanding. Confirming, Caroline thought, Jack’s suspicion that something other than the expected was behind this union. But that didn’t mean it was wrong. Companionship and compatibility were wonderful reasons to get married, too, especially when the bride and groom were old enough to have experienced life and know what really counted. “It’s complicated,” Patrice said finally.

  “And astoundingly wonderful and generous and right.” Dutch pulled Patrice toward him for a quick kiss on her brow.

  The two fell silent, still gazing tenderly and meaningfully at one another.

  There was love there, Caroline surmised, just not the head-over-heels kind younger brides and grooms typically exhibited.

  From the doorway, a throat cleared. Jack stood there in a blue oxford cloth shirt and khaki slacks. It was clear from the expression on his face that he had heard everything. And was no more reassured that this was indeed an advisable union than he had been before.

  Jack looked at his mother. “Maddie said you needed to see me before I took her to school this morning.”

  Patrice informed him casually, “I’m not going to be able to go with Caroline to view those two ranches, where our wedding could be held, so I’m going to need you to do it for me.”

  Jack looked simultaneously stunned and put out. Caroline couldn’t say she blamed him. This was short notice.

  Jack frowned. “Can’t you go another time?”

  “Caroline says we need to have the time and place locked in before we do anything else, and since I assumed you’d want to have a say as well as read the contract…”

  Dutch glanced at his watch, then leaned in and lightly touched Patrice’s arm. “I’ve got to make a call,” he murmured. Patrice nodded agreeably while Dutch slipped out.

  Jack continued to look at his mother with very little patience. “I’ve got a business to run,” he reminded her.

  “And I completely forgot I promised Maddie’s teacher I wou
ld help out at her school this morning.”

  “Can’t Dutch go?”

  Patrice held her ground. “You’re the one who has to okay the financial terms, dear.”

  Jack slowly let out his breath, his love for his mother as evident as his exasperation. Lips thinning, he said, “I’ll just call the office and let them know I won’t be in.”

  JACK WAS HALFWAY through the study doors when he heard Dutch’s voice and realized Dutch was just outside the window, talking on his cell phone.

  “May I speak to Maryellen? I understand. Just tell her it’s Dutch. I’ll meet her at the apartment, usual time. And please remind her of the need for privacy. I don’t want anyone to know…. Thank you.” Dutch ended the call.

  Maryellen? Jack thought, stunned. What apartment? Why did Dutch and Maryellen need privacy? What was so secret? Was Dutch having an affair with this woman? And if so, what was he supposed to do about it? It wasn’t as if he could—or would even want—to say anything to his mother without first knowing exactly what the situation was.

  Feeling more conflicted than ever, Jack shut the doors, then dialed the private investigator who did the background checks for his company. He explained to Laura Tillman what was going on.

  “It’s too late for me to get someone out there right now,” she said.

  “Maybe I should tail him,” Jack offered.

  “Don’t,” Laura directed sternly. “You’re not a professional. If Dutch is hiding something, you’ll only alert him to the fact you overheard something you clearly should not have. You’ve got almost three weeks before the wedding actually happens. Let us do this.”

  Jack sighed. He knew she was right. But it left him feeling powerless. He did not like it. He wanted to be able to protect his loved ones, no matter what the circumstances.

  There was a rap behind him. The study door opened. His mother pointed to her watch, then waved, along with Maddie. Smiling, the two left.

  “Jack? Are you still there?” the P.I. said.