A Steele for Christmas

by Brenda Jackson

  Dee paused longer than needed and Stacey suddenly felt the hairs on her neck stand up and wasn’t surprised when Dee said, “It seems Wallace is coming. And he’s bringing Gail with him.”

  Stacey leaned against the counter thinking about her ex-fiancé and her ex-friend. “Umm, in that case…”

  “Don’t you dare change your mind about coming, Stace. If Wallace and Gail being there will make you feel uncomfortable then I’ll talk to my parents about not—”

  “Don’t you dare talk to your parents.” Stacey knew the Lewises felt bad about how Wallace had treated her since they were the ones who’d introduced them. Wallace was the son of one of Mr. Lewis’s college friends who’d moved to Memphis. Since Dee had been dating some guy named Eric at the time, Mr. Lewis had introduced Wallace to Stacey. They hit it off immediately and the rest, like they say, was history.

  “Regardless of how Wallace treated me in the end, he’s still the son of your father’s close friend,” she said.

  “And you don’t care that he’ll be there with Gail?” Dee asked.

  “Of course I’ll care since the both of them deceived me, but I’ve gotten over it.” At least she tried convincing herself that she had—during her better days. Unfortunately, today wasn’t one of them and she blamed Eli Steele. The nerve of the man to kiss her senseless one day and treat her like she didn’t exist the next.

  “You know what you should do, Stace? What would serve both Wallace and Gail right?”

  She knew that tone of Dee’s. It meant she had a plan up her sleeve that would do neither of them any good. “No, what should I do?”

  “Show up with your own date, a hottie of the most intense kind. That would make Gail see that you’ve moved on to something a whole lot better.”

  Stacey laughed. She couldn’t help but like Dee’s idea. She would do it in a heartbeat if she had a date she could take to Memphis with her. “That sounds like a plan but I don’t have a date, especially one who’s a hottie.” She quickly pushed the vision of Eli Steele from her mind.

  “What about one of those hot-looking guys that were at Cohen’s birthday party? There were plenty of them and one group in particular I vividly recall were those guys with the green eyes. You said they were brothers and close friends of Cohen.”

  Stacey smiled, remembering Dee’s interest in the “Bad News” Steeles that night. Her friend had flown in for Cohen’s party and had seen Eli and his brothers. Like her, Dee had spent most of the evening salivating over what gorgeous hunks they were. Never had she been to a gathering with so much fine male testosterone in one place.

  “The five guys you’re talking about are the Steeles. The oldest one is married so he doesn’t count.” There was no need to mention to Dee that recently she’d had the pleasure of locking lips with one of them. “And before you make any of your far-out suggestions, the answer is no. I couldn’t ask one of them to go to Memphis with me and pretend to be my fiancé.”

  “Why not? They are friends with Cohen and seem like the sort of guys who’d like having a little fun—especially if it’s to set both Wallace and Gail back a notch.”

  The thought of doing something like that made Stacey smile. If only it would be that easy.

  “What would it hurt, Stace?”

  If only her friend knew. She saw an involvement of any kind with a man like Eli Steele a heartbreak just waiting to happen. “They’re successful businessmen who have more to do with their time than play a game of pretend with me.”

  She changed the subject when she told Dee about Cohen’s promotion and that he would be moving to Florida. Dee didn’t say anything for a minute and Stacey knew why. Dee had been in love with Cohen forever—at least since high school. And although Dee nor Cohen ever let on, Stacey had a feeling something had happened between them at one time or another. She never asked and Dee never told.

  “Hey, if you don’t want to move with Cohen to Florida, you might as well pack your bags and return to Memphis,” Dee said, interrupting her thoughts. “At least we’re closer to Florida than Arizona.”

  Stacey knew that was true but there was something holding her here. Exactly what, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she wanted to make Phoenix her home. “Yes, but this is my home now. I truly like it here.”

  “Okay, but I think you not wanting to move back here has everything to do with Wallace and Gail. I understand why you’d want to distance yourself from them, but it’s been almost seven months.”

  “Trust me, I know how long it’s been and I’ve moved on with my life here in Phoenix. The thought of those two together doesn’t hurt like it used to.” And she truly meant that. In her opinion, their deceitful behinds deserved each other.

  “I’m glad. And I hope you’ll consider my suggestion about bringing one of those gorgeous hunks with you to my parents’ anniversary party. It would serve Wallace and Gail right to see you’re happy and have moved on with your life.”

  Dee had a point there, but unfortunately Stacey knew she didn’t have the means—specifically the man—to pull such a thing off. The image of Eli Steele flashed into her mind once again and she could only wish.

  Eli glared at the man standing across from his desk. Lexander Stone was another well-known businessman in town and someone Eli considered one of his closest friends. They had gone to high school and college together and whereas Eli had gone on to law school, Lex had gone to grad school to get his MBA. Lex and his family owned numerous furniture stores in over twelve states across the country.

  “What do you mean that some of the older members of the business council are talking about backing Samuel Nesbitt?” Eli asked.

  Lex held out his hand. “Calm down, Eli. I’m just the messenger who by right really shouldn’t be telling you any of this. I overheard my old man talking on the phone and thought considering our friendship, I’d give you a heads-up.”

  Lex then dropped down in the chair across from Eli’s desk. “From what I gather, they all know you’re the most qualified—hands down. You’re an astute businessman, a brilliant attorney, and savvy when it comes to knowing the right people and making things happen. But…”

  Eli’s eyes narrowed even more. “What’s the damn but?”

  “You have a reputation around town. They see you as a notorious playboy, who likes to dazzle and bed the ladies. They don’t know if you’re suitable to be president of such a prestigious organization yet. They are looking at someone who’s settled down. More focused.” Lex chuckled. “Someone who wouldn’t be a threat to their daughters.”

  “This isn’t funny, Lex,” Eli growled.

  “In a way, it is. With all you have going for you and with all the things you can bring to the table if you were to become president, what they’re concerned with most is your inability to keep your pants zipped. It’s not only amusing, it’s downright crazy. And you don’t have to be reminded that a few months ago everyone heard about that affair with your secretary that went sour.”

  Lex shook his head. “Unfortunately, your reputation is under scrutiny by a few of the older men with clout and the ability to influence the others. That’s why they have begun making calls trying to get people over to their way of thinking. You know you have me and my dad’s votes, and I’m sure you’ll get the votes of your own brothers. But I can’t speak for anyone else at this point. You have a couple of months to change their opinions of you and I suggest that you do it.”

  “And how am I supposed to do that?” Eli snarled.

  “By doing whatever you can to clean up your playboy image, even if it means getting a wife.”

  Eli almost fell out of his chair. “A wife! Are you crazy?”

  “No. Honestly, that’s the only way I think you’re going to win them over. A fiancée wouldn’t even work for you since they know you have a habit of dumping women when you get bored with them. A wife is the only way you’ll win the presidency. You can kiss the office goodbye without a Mrs. Elijah Steele.”

  Blood rushed to
Eli’s head. For the past seven years, he’d done all the right things to make himself stand out. Now a bunch of old men still wanted to run things by dictating how he should live his life in order to get the position he rightly deserved?

  “You know the younger members were depending on you to take control, Eli. It’s about time. Harry Farmer has been president too long and he would love making sure Nesbitt gets the presidency since they have the same conservative views about change. Nesbitt is already married and settled, which is the only advantage he has over you.”

  And that was an advantage that could cost him the one thing he wanted, Eli thought, building a steeple with his fingers under his chin.

  “The presidency can lead to other things for you, Eli. Think about it. President of the Business Council now, mayor of Phoenix later. You know a lot of women. Surely there is one out there who will agree to marry you to move your political aspirations forward. Hell, you’re a Steele. Women will clamber all over themselves to marry you.”

  “No,” Eli said in a firm voice thinking of the kind of women something like that would draw.

  “No to what? No, there’s not a woman you’d want to be shackled with, or no, you’re not willing to sacrifice your livelihood for something you really want?”

  Eli rubbed his chin as the vision of Stacey Carlson flickered across his mind. He could definitely see himself shackled with her. But then on the other hand, the entire thought of marriage made him want to choke.

  “Just think about it. I like coming home to the same woman every day, Eli. Marriage has its benefits. Hell, you can even make it a marriage of convenience with the right woman. Have her sign a contract for a year or so, just long enough for you to reach all your goals.”

  Lex stood as he glanced down at his watch. “I need to leave, but I hope you consider all the possibilities, Eli. You owe it to yourself and the future growth of Phoenix to do so.”

  A short while after Lex left, Eli pushed the document he’d been trying to read aside. His mind was refusing to concentrate. Instead, it wanted to focus on what Lex had said and that idea he’d implanted into Eli’s brain.

  A wife for hire.

  Was there a woman who’d go along with such a thing without getting attached to his name? One who’d willingly give him a divorce when he asked for it without things getting ugly? He was an attorney so he could draw up his own documents, and the legal aspect of it would be so iron-clad a woman would be crazy to do anything but abide by the terms. But to be on the safe side he would seek counsel from a divorce attorney.

  But first he had to consider what he had of value to give the woman. Of course, there was the issue of money, which could always be depended on to be a motivating factor.

  He frowned when again the image of Stacey Carlson floated through his mind. Quite naturally since she happened to be the last woman he kissed, thoughts of her would be fresh—pretty damn potent—in his mind.

  He pushed his chair away from his desk to stand and stretch his legs as he thought some more. First of all, there was the possibility everyone would know his marriage wasn’t on the up and up. He’d be able to fool some people, but no one in his family would believe he’d go from staunch bachelor to a happily married man. It had worked that way for Galen but it wouldn’t for him.

  But if he and the woman were convincing enough, it could work. He rubbed a hand down his face, not believing he was actually considering such a thing. He glanced at his watch. He had to be in court in an hour and the last thing he needed was taking personal matters into the courtroom, especially since Judge Tilly Madison was on the bench. He was convinced on some days the forty-something woman was a man-hater.

  Grabbing his jacket off the rack and his briefcase off his desk, he left his office, pausing at his secretary’s workstation just long enough to let her know he’d be in court and afterwards he would be grabbing lunch at Easterling’s.

  He had a lot of thinking to do and he might as well do it on a full stomach.

  Stacey glanced down at the menu to study that day’s lunch specials. She’d decided to use her lunch hour and get out today instead of rushing through lunch in the backroom of her shop. Besides, it was a beautiful day, the first week of November, and she figured she deserved to be outside enjoying it for at least a little while.

  She had talked to Cohen earlier and she could still hear the excitement in his voice. He was working with a realtor in Florida who had found him what he hoped was the perfect place. It was right on the Atlantic Ocean. She couldn’t wait to see it and looked forward to her first visit after he got settled in.

  She looked away from the menu for a moment and studied the other persons who’d come to this restaurant for lunch. She could tell some were holding business meetings, but most were couples who’d met to enjoy lunch together.

  She tried ignoring the huge disappointment that touched her chest when she thought about the number of times she and Wallace had not dined together. They had done so in the beginning, but then he’d found every excuse for them not to go out. She should have recognized the signs then since, according to Dee, he was now wining and dining Gail like nobody’s business.

  It wasn’t easy for a woman when a man lost interest in her. She knew she hadn’t been an expert in the bedroom, but still. What happened to the guys who were willing to teach their woman a thing or two instead of expecting them to be all experienced? Although Wallace had never told her she was a disappointment, the mere fact that he hadn’t slept with her during the last year they were together spoke volumes.

  She was determined the next time she got serious about a man she would know a lot more about what a man enjoyed in the bedroom than she did now. But how was she supposed to learn all that stuff? It wasn’t like there was a Lovemaking 101 class being offered anywhere.

  Her thoughts shifted back to Wallace and Gail. That she would be running into the couple at Dee’s parents’ anniversary party in a few weeks was a bitter pill to swallow. But she refused to let the couple steal her joy…even the little joy she did have.

  She wouldn’t let Eli steal her joy, either. She didn’t have a clue what his problem was and she knew she shouldn’t really care. But she did. And for the life of her, she didn’t understand why. If a kiss from him could leave her pining, she didn’t want to think how things would be if they were to sleep together. It would be best to steer clear of him so she wouldn’t have to find out.

  As she looked down again at her menu, she felt a presence standing by her table. Thinking it was her waitress coming back to take her order, she glanced up and her gaze collided with a pair of green eyes. So much for thinking she could steer clear of Eli.

  Eli had convinced himself when he walked into Easterling’s and glanced around and saw Stacey sitting alone at a table, that seeing her again had nothing to do with the increase of his heart rate. Nor did it have anything to do with that quiet fluttering in his chest. But now that he was staring into the deep darkness of her eyes, eyes that reminded him of the sweetest chocolate, he wasn’t sure anymore.

  He inhaled sharply when she put down the menu she’d been holding against her chest, and revealed a pair of firm breasts that were pressed tight against the blouse she was wearing. Nice. He’d always considered himself a leg man but her breasts had him thinking.

  “Eli?”

  Her voice all but stroked him, and he continued to hold her stare while trying to hide his intense reactions to her. “Stacey. How are you?” he asked, fighting off the way his heart rate had increased even more. What the hell was wrong with him?

  “I’m fine, and you?”

  “Great.” Eli recognized his response as a lie even before it had left his mouth. He wasn’t doing great. He had deliberately avoided her over the past few days. And now there was a campaign going on to knock down his bid as president of the business council. He had every reason to be in a bad mood but found he couldn’t. For some reason, seeing her was brightening up his day.

  He glanced around and the
n back at her. “Will someone be joining you for lunch?”

  “No.”

  “Do you mind if I do?” he asked. He could tell by the look on her face, one she quickly tried to hide, that his request surprised her. He understood. He knew it was obvious he had been avoiding her lately so why was he seeking her company now?

  “No, I don’t mind.”

  “Thanks.” He pulled out a chair and sat down and immediately knew he’d missed her. Hell, he’d missed her a lot. Ever since their kiss, he couldn’t get the vision of her naked, her long gorgeous legs spread, waiting for his entry, out of his head. His erection stirred at the thought and he could actually imagine her moaning in his ear. He was certain he would receive the satisfaction of his life, and so would she.

  He made a conscious effort to force such erotic thoughts from his mind. Why was it so difficult? Okay, it had been over six months since he’d made love to a woman. Liz had left such a sour taste in his mouth he’d placed a lock on his zipper for the first time in his life. But now, Stacey had him forgetting about how deceitful and manipulative some women could be.

  Glancing across the table, he saw she was trying to avoid eye contact with him. “Have you been avoiding me, Stacey?” he asked, looking over at her and wondering if her skin was as soft as it looked and thinking he would love to find out.

  She glanced over at him and he saw the fire in her eyes, fire he would just love to quench. “I could be asking you the same thing, Eli.”

  He couldn’t help but smile. God he loved that fire. He also liked the way she’d tilted her head to glare at him and how an errant curl fell in her face. He was tempted to reach out and push it back. He didn’t want anything covering her eyes since he liked drowning in their dark depths.