“Yeah, almost as rude as the way she treated Dad.” John looked away for a moment, then back at her. “But he liked you.”
“I liked him, too.”
The words seemed to ease his pain a bit and his brows unfurled. “I wish you’d known him longer.”
“I’ll know his son longer,” she whispered, kissing him lightly. “You’re a testament to the man he was.”
He wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close. “I missed you last night.”
“I missed you, too. But I’m glad you’re here now.” To show him how much, she kissed him again, till the alarm finally rang.
John silenced it. “I’ll go fix breakfast while you shower.”
“Thank you. I’ve gotten used to breakfast, since you make it every morning.”
“I kind of like doing it,” he said with a smile.
Diane slid out of bed and headed for the shower, even though she would’ve preferred to stay in bed with John. But he was in a funny mood this morning. She wasn’t sure he wanted company. When she got to the bathroom and started the shower, she realized she wasn’t feeling too well. Within seconds she lost the contents of her stomach.
Once the nausea passed, she sat on the toilet with the seat down. What had just happened? Did she have a touch of the flu? Or was it something she’d eaten at Gladys’s last night?
It had to be flu. Diane hoped she didn’t give it to John. Especially now, when he had so much to take care of.
After her shower, she dressed and went to the kitchen, where John had poured her a cup of coffee, and promptly presented her a plate piled high with bacon and blueberry muffins.
“Where did the muffins come from? You didn’t make them this morning, did you?” she asked in surprise.
“Nope. Gladys made them after you left, and packed some up for me to bring home. She’s afraid I’m not feeding you well. She mentioned that you didn’t eat much last night.”
“It was hard to get interested in food, thinking about your dad.” Not that Diane felt much like eating now, though she picked at her muffin to appease him.
“Will you be late getting home today?” she asked.
“I’m not sure. Dad’s got one project going on in Denver. I may have to fly up there for a couple of days. Plus, I’ve got to check on his other developments. And keep mine going, and deal with Angi. I’ve also got the accounts for the other kids to check on. Dad put money away for each of them for college. I may give those to you to manage. Could you do that for me?”
“Of course, John.”
“That’ll be a big help. I’ll get the papers and past history on those to you. There are the funeral arrangements as well.”
“Can you meet me for lunch today?”
“I’ll try, but it might have to be a quick one.”
“That’s fine,” she assured him with a smile.
“You’re wonderful, Diane. Very unflappable, and that helps me a lot right now.”
After she’d kissed him goodbye, she drove to work, feeling a little lonely, though he hadn’t even left for Denver yet. It was shocking how quickly she’d come to rely on his presence, his warmth, his caring.
With his father’s death, though, their relationship was bound to go through a transition ahead. She hoped it would. But, as she’d always told herself, she knew it had to end some time. Just not now. She was enjoying life too much with John.
JOHN HEADED TO HIS DAD’S home. Mildred was supposed to be there, getting the locks changed. He wanted to be sure of that and to get the files on those accounts for his father’s other children. He also needed to clear out his dad’s safe. John didn’t know if Angi knew the combination or not, but he wasn’t taking any chances.
Doug Davis had been generous to his wives, but he’d always kept John’s mother’s jewels in the safe, never giving any away. John thought about Diane. Those things would look good on her.
His smile, brought on by thoughts of her, lasted until he reached his father’s house. He found Angi on the doorstep, apparently waiting to enter.
“What do you want, Angi?” he asked.
“I forgot some things I want to get.”
“Get me a list and I’ll send them to you.”
“But it would be so simple for me to just scoot in and get them,” she said with a flirtatious smile.
“No.” He walked around her, went in and closed the door before she could even protest. She beat on the door, but John didn’t respond.
“What are we going to do about her?” Mildred asked, a frown on her face as she came to meet him.
“You’re going to pack up anything of value, and I’m going to empty the safe this morning. Then there won’t be anything here she wants.”
“Okay. It’ll only take another couple of hours to finish my part of the job. It’s a good thing you got her figured out.”
“Yeah. But I can’t take a lot of credit. She’s been pretty obvious for a long time.”
“True. How’s Diane this morning?”
“She’s fine.”
“Yes, she is. You need to be good to her.”
“Mildred! I’m always good to my ladies…for a while.”
“I think you need to make it permanent.”
John was shocked at how good that advice sounded to him. “I’ll keep that in mind,” he said with a smile.
Then he went to his father’s office and, after closing the door behind him, opened the safe. He loaded the papers and jewels into a duffel bag, zipped it, and then surveyed the room. His father had several paintings in here that John loved, partly because they brought back memories of his dad, and partly because they were western scenes of mountains and woods.
When he came out of the office, he carried two paintings he intended to take to his house, and the duffel bag. “Mildred? I’m going to the bank, then having a quick visit with Diane so I can hand over some papers. Then I’ll go to Dad’s office. If you need me, call me on my cell phone. I need you to call the Realtor I used on my last project, Rob Hopkins, and asked him to come look at the house and be prepared to meet with me tonight.”
“I will, John. And you tell Diane hi from me.”
“I will.” He bent over and kissed her cheek. “You should go back to my house tonight. I don’t want you staying here by yourself.”
“Yes, John. You’re a good boy.”
He grinned. “Well, I do have my moments.”
Chapter Twelve
Diane couldn’t keep her mind on her work. Distracted as she was, she didn’t notice Wendy until her assistant asked, “You feeling all right, Diane?”
She stopped short, the surprise no doubt showing on her face. “I—I’m fine,” she lied, trying as ever to hide her personal life from her business associates.
But Wendy was too perceptive. “You look pale and…preoccupied. You’re sure you’re okay? Can I get you something?”
“Thanks anyway, but I’m fine.” She looked to her office the way a drowning man eyes a lifeboat. “I’ve just got a lot of work to do today.”
And get to work she did. With her door shut.
The morning passed in a blur of phone calls, meetings and computer work. She didn’t even realize it was noon until she heard John’s voice outside her door, telling Wendy that Diane expected him.
She got up and opened her door to them. “It’s okay, Wendy. You can let Mr. Davis in.”
Once her assistant left them, John stole a quick kiss that put Diane on edge. “I just need a minute before we head out to lunch,” he told her.
“Come in, then,” she said, waving him in and shutting the door behind him, eager for the privacy. “Can I do something for you?”
“For starters, you can store this duffel bag in your office. I used it to transport everything from my father’s safe to a deposit box I opened downstairs.” He handed it to her and watched her put it in a desk drawer. Then he reached inside his breast pocket for some official-looking documents. “Here are the files on the savings accounts my f
ather set up for his other children. And a check to establish an account for Angi’s baby.”
“I’ll take care of everything, John. Don’t worry about these at all. I’ll put them all in something safe but high yielding.” She locked them in a file. “Now, are we ready to go to lunch?”
John came around the desk and pulled her into his arms. Before she could even consider her surroundings, he claimed her lips in a feverish kiss that she felt all the way to her toes.
“Now,” he said, his voice husky, “I’m ready to go.”
Diane put a hand on her desk to steady herself, needing a moment to gather her wits. John was already at the door when she remembered an earlier conversation she’d had with Mark.
“Mark Golan wanted to see you,” she managed to say. “I promised I’d take you down when you got here. He said he might want to come to lunch with us. He wishes to offer his condolences.”
A frustrated expression flashed across John’s face, but he followed her.
As soon as Mark saw him, he hugged John. “I’m so sorry to hear about your dad.”
“Thanks, Mark. I appreciate your sympathy.”
Mark, indeed, wanted to join them. When they were seated in a restaurant half a block away, eating lunch, he offered, “From what Diane told me, you’ve got a lot on your plate. Is there anything I can do to help?”
John sighed. “No, I can’t think of anything. Dad’s funeral is planned for Saturday morning at ten.”
“I’ll be there,” Mark said.
John nodded and then looked at Diane. “You’ll come, won’t you, honey?”
“Of course I will, John.”
“I want you to sit with me. I don’t want Angi sobbing all over me. If I’m alone, she’ll think I’m there to comfort her.”
“If—if that’s what you want.” Diane tried to hide the hurt she felt at his words. He wanted her there for his protection? Not because he was sharing his grief with her.
Mark picked up on it, too, apparently. “That’s a little cold, John.”
“You don’t know Angi,” John retorted.
“But—”
“It’s all right, Mark.” Diane stopped his argument with a small shake of her head.
“What? What are you talking about, honey?” John asked.
“Nothing. You’ve got a lot on your mind.”
He rubbed his face with both hands. “Yeah,” he agreed. “Look, I won’t see you until the funeral, but I’ll pick you up at nine-thirty Saturday morning.”
“All right,” she said, remaining calm.
“Then I’d better go. Thanks for meeting me,” he said to Mark. He bent and kissed Diane briefly, and walked out of the restaurant, leaving the two bankers behind.
“Are you all right?” her colleague asked. “I can’t believe he didn’t realize how cold he sounded.”
“It doesn’t matter, Mark. He needs me there, for whatever reason, and I’ve seen Angi in action. She’s hoping to snare John.”
“Well, that won’t happen.”
“You never know, Mark. She is carrying his father’s child.”
“I don’t think John will end up married to her. Hell, he doesn’t intend to marry anyone.”
“I know,” Diane said, as she stood and picked up the bill.
“Here, Di, I’ll pay for it. I can write it off.”
“So can I. Come on, I need to get back to work.”
After she paid, she and Mark walked back to the bank. As soon as they entered the building, she excused herself and headed to the closest bathroom, barely making it before she lost her lunch in the first sink. She washed her face and cleaned the basin.
Then she realized she felt fine. No more sickness. That was odd. She would have to be careful what she ate for a day or two.
She went back upstairs to her office. Today was Thursday. She wanted to take care of this new work of John’s before the weekend. Besides, working would be better than sitting around wondering if he would be in her life next week.
JOHN MET WITH THE REALTOR that night at his father’s house, about eight o’clock.
“Look, Rob, I’d like to sell it furnished, but if you can’t, I’ll get it cleaned out,” he said.
“Well, this is a great house, John. I’m sure I can sell it, but it may take a little time. And it is very nicely furnished.”
“Thanks, Rob. I appreciate your handling the sale.”
“I’m delighted you called me. I’ll start advertising it right away.”
John shook his hand and showed him out. Then he turned and went back up the stairs. Angi had left a list with Mildred of things she wanted from the house. Most of it John ignored. The paintings that had hung in her room had not been bought specifically for her. They had hung there for years before her entrance to the Davis home.
However, she listed several personal items, including some makeup and jewelry, that were hers. He found the items and put them all in a bag.
Then he left the house for the last time.
He thought about going to Diane’s, but something made him hesitate.
He wanted her so badly, and the need scared him. When it came to Diane he was not in control, and that wasn’t a feeling John tolerated.
Instead, he headed back to his own house. He gave Mildred the things Angi wanted, at least what he was willing to let her have, and he went to bed. Tomorrow he had to look after his father’s company, to visit each job site to let the men know their employment, at least until that particular job was completed, was safe.
Decisions would have to be made in the long term, but he was dealing with the immediate future as best he could. The thought that a night with Diane would make him stronger was shoved out of his mind.
DIANE WAS SICK the next morning before she even dressed or ate anything. She skipped breakfast and went to work on an empty stomach. When it happened again on Saturday morning, she decided to see her doctor on Monday. In the meantime, she had to get ready for Doug Davis’s funeral.
She chose a black suit. It disturbed her that the waist of the skirt was a little loose on her. It had been a perfect fit the last time she’d worn it. She chose a gold lapel pin to relieve the blackness.
At nine-thirty, she heard a knock on the door. She opened it and found John standing there, dressed in a somber black suit.
“Why did you knock? Did you lose my key?”
“No, but I felt a little strange just walking in on you. I thought it would be better to knock.”
A sense of dread tightened her stomach at his words, and at the fact that he greeted her without a kiss. But she said nothing, just “Did you eat a good breakfast?” he asked as he followed her down the stairs.
“Yes, I did,” she lied.
“I don’t think I believe you, but Gladys and Mildred are preparing some food for afterward. You can eat something then.”
Diane said nothing. Until she found out what was upsetting her stomach, she’d have to be careful what she ate.
When they reached the church where services for Doug Davis would be held, John led her around to a side door, to the room where the family would gather. They would be led in to the service after everyone was seated.
Mildred and Gladys were there, as well as Angi and the other ex-wives, plus three little dark-haired boys.
John spoke to each of his father’s wives and his half brothers, introducing Diane to them. When he reached Angi, he said, “Of course, you already know Angi, Diane.”
“What’s she doing here? She’s not family!” Angi protested.
“I invited her.”
“But I expected—hoped you’d escort me. This is such a difficult moment for me.”
“It might’ve been less difficult if you’d gone to the hospital with my father the night he died.”
The other three wives stared at Angi. One of them said, “You didn’t even go with him?”
“I didn’t feel well,” Angi explained, not very convincingly.
John turned away. He wanted no m
ore conversation with Angi. Holding Diane’s hand, he led her over to Mildred and Gladys. Mildred had tears in her eyes, and Diane put a comforting arm around her.
Doug’s housekeeper smiled. “He was a good man.”
“I know,” Diane said. “And I’m sure he appreciated your dedication.”
Then she sat down beside Gladys. “This is an interesting family group, isn’t it?” she asked softly.
“Yeah,” John’s housekeeper whispered back. “They all look the same, don’t they?”
Diane looked at the four women across from her. Gladys was right. They represented the quintessential society woman in five-year increments, their makeup the same, their surgically repaired beauty obvious. How sad that Doug hadn’t found a woman who loved him for himself rather than because of his net worth.
No wonder John had such a terrible attitude toward marriage. He’d seen his father betrayed by all these women. Though Diane recognized that part of the problem had been Doug’s, she wasn’t sure John could or ever would realize it.
Her gaze moved to the three little boys. The oldest looked to be about fifteen, the middle one eleven or twelve and the youngest eight or nine. None of them had played a big part in Doug Davis’s life, she would guess.
Though John was kind to them, he didn’t spend much time with the boys. However, he gathered them around him to talk for a couple of minutes before the minister came in.
John stood and greeted the pastor. He introduced Doug’s family to him, starting with the three boys, who gravely shook the man’s hand, even though the youngest one probably had no idea who the man was.
Then John introduced his father’s four wives. The minister expressed his sympathies, but they moved through that group quickly. John then brought the reverend to Mildred and Gladys, and lastly, Diane.
“Miss Black, I’m delighted to meet you. John told me how helpful you’ve been.”
“Thank you.” Diane couldn’t imagine what John had said, but she certainly wasn’t going to ask. She smiled and sat back down beside Gladys.
Diane watched as John talked quietly to the minister for several minutes. She hoped he would come back to her side and hold her hand. She’d feel so much better then.
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