Jessica watched him stroll away, immediately aware of two things. One, the delight with which Vincent had described his date had made her jealous, which considering the past weekend’s event was absolutely ludicrous, and two, this jealousy was only slightly less crazy than accepting Nathan’s marriage proposal.
But I did accept it. She replayed the litany of thoughts that had flowed nonstop since a dazzling diamond and heartfelt proposal blindsided her Friday night, answering phones by rote as her mind relived the dinner, engagement, mind-blowing sex, Nathan’s breakfast, shared showers, and spoken-word event. Her heart fell when recalling the voice mail that had burst the bubble of the weekend’s feigned happiness. The likely fallout once that call was returned is why the two-and-a-half-carat radiant diamond from Nathan sat in its case instead of on her finger, and why dark circles beneath tired eyes were hidden with rarely worn foundation.
Minutes after she got home from work, reality called.
“You were supposed to call me back.”
“I was going to in a little bit. It was a very busy weekend.”
“How sick is he?”
“He’s not.”
“You doubled the dose and he didn’t get sick?”
“No.”
“That’s impossible. Are you sure you—”
“I didn’t do it, okay?”
“Because . . .”
Jessica took a breath deep enough to push out the words that might be some of the last ones shared with her blood kin. “Because I got engaged. He proposed, Sissy.”
“That’s excellent, perfect! I get it now. It was smart of you to hold off after something like that, play the excited fiancée. So this week when we double the doses, he’ll start puking his life out and you’ll smell like a rose.”
“I don’t think so.”
“Of course you will. You already told me that the witch was warming up to you. Now that you’ve snagged her brother, she’ll consider you fam.”
“It’s not that I don’t think this will work. It’s that I don’t think it’s going to happen. I can’t do this, Sissy. I thought I could, up until this very moment I knew I would. But not now, not after agreeing to become his wife! I love you more than anyone and will do anything to help you, anything but this.”
“Right now, this is the only help I need.”
“Why is this the only way to help you? Nathan’s got money. I can ask for some and get you a good attorney.”
“I’ve got a good attorney, an excellent attorney. What I don’t have is time to keep arguing with someone who’s obviously only looking out for herself.”
“That’s not true.”
“It isn’t? You’re getting ready to marry the brother of the woman who put me behind bars, to sleep with my enemy and leave me to rot. Tell me, dear sister, where are my best interests in that scenario?”
“It was his sister who wronged you. She should pay, not Nate.”
“Losing the brother she loves so much will be the ultimate payback.”
“How do you know that?”
“Because I know how it feels right now, at the thought of losing you.”
That statement gave Jessica pause. “That won’t happen. I’ll never again let another man come between us or keep us from talking.”
“You won’t have to. If you go back on your promise, I’m the one who’ll end contact. There’s no way I could let someone who betrayed me remain in my life.”
“Sissy, can’t we just—”
“No. We can’t. You need to grow a backbone and decide once and for all what you’re going to do. If it’s to keep your word and help me, then call me back. If it’s to turn against me, then we’re done. Forever. Good-bye, Jessie.”
Jessica sat, stunned, processing the words of her sister. How could one feel both the highest exhilaration and the lowest disappointment in the same forty-eight hours? To marry Nathan would mean to lose her sister. Help her sister and she’d lose Nathan. Blood was thicker than water. But was love thicker than blood? And did Jessica want to risk finding out?
CHAPTER 32
Everyone else had left, but Nathan was still at the office. He twirled a pen, deep in thought as he looked at the view from his corner office on the seventeenth floor. What Broderick’s East Coast contact heard was true. Because of country club connections and old money clout, Nathan was in danger of losing the Morris Environmental project—a lucrative potential contract that had helped get him promoted—to an Ivy League grad several years his junior. If that happened, then not only would the company lose big money but a year’s worth of research, networking and relationship-building would have all been for naught. Crazy thoughts that had troubled last night’s sleep continued to plague him and today’s conversation and research only deepened his concern. Instead of running from problems, Nathan usually raced toward them. The quicker he reacted the faster they got resolved. He reached for the phone and scheduled an appointment with his contact at Morris. After reconfirming the time and date, he made another call.
“Dr. Sullivan speaking.”
“Dr. Sullivan, this is Nate, Randall’s brother-in-law.”
“Nate! Call me James, man. Randall told me you might be calling.”
“I’ll do just about anything to shut my sister up. She’s the one who keeps hounding me to get a checkup, even though I told her that lately I’ve felt fine.”
“I’ll be glad to work with you, Nate, but I’m curious as to why you don’t just go to your regular physician?”
“The main reason is I don’t have time.” He told James about his promotion and his hectic schedule. “I remember your treating Mom privately and since I have a business trip to New York coming up I was hoping you could do that for me. I could tell Sherri the results and shut her mouth . . . about my health, at least.”
James laughed. “You have a lovely sister, Nathan. Now your brother-in-law on the other hand . . .”
“Straight hoodlum. I’d give him the shirt off my back.”
“He’s a good man. Now, let’s talk about this appointment . . .”
Jessica frantically pushed the elevator button, hoping to escape without having to deal with Vincent. After catching Nathan still at work and finding out he couldn’t come over tonight, and tomorrow was leaving on a last-minute trip, she’d stayed late to help with a large data entry and indexing project,just for something to do. Now she wished she’d left early. Being around Vincent’s natural, happy-go-lucky nature seemed to illuminate the sadness of finding out she wouldn’t see Nathan tonight and knowing she wouldn’t hear from her sis.
“I wasn’t sure you heard me, beautiful. Thanks for holding the door.”
“No problem.” She watched the descending numbers, her mood sinking along with them. She thought to get off and take the stairs. As she reached toward the elevator buttons, Vincent caught her arm.
“Scared to be alone with me?”
She turned to give him a smart answer and encountered eyes filled with affection and concern. To her surprise, instead of curse words a sob burst from her throat.
Vincent sprang into action, wrapping her tightly in his arms. “Hey, it’s okay,” he whispered as if to a child, wiping her tears and rocking softly. “I’m right here.”
The breakdown ended as quickly as it had begun. Jessica pushed away from him, embarrassed and angry at herself. “Thanks, but it’s nothing. I’m just . . .” She couldn’t continue, couldn’t think of a word or a lie or anything to say that would stop the tears that seemed intent on flowing.
They reached the parking lot. Jessica immediately recognized Vincent’s BMW in its usual reserved spot. He bypassed it and continued walking with her.
“I’m not going to leave you like this. You’ve been on edge for weeks.”
“I’ll be all right.”
“Maybe, but I won’t.” She reached her car. He stepped forward and placed his hand on the door. “I know something’s bothering you. Even though you look like a movie star, I can see the pain
beneath the makeup.” She continued to stand there, not meeting his eyes. “A burden is lighter when shared. Do you want to meet for a drink and talk about it?”
“I just want to go home.”
“That’s fine. Text me your address and I’ll meet you there.” He began walking, then stopped and turned. “And if you don’t, I will find you. Trust me on that.”
Fifteen minutes later, Vincent and Jessica sat in her living room with glasses of wine.
“Thanks for bugging me until I agreed to let you come over. I need to talk to someone, but there’s no one I can trust.”
“You can trust me.”
She looked at him, her bright doe-eyes shining with the hope this could be true. “I want to believe that. It’s the only reason you’re here. If you ever betray me . . .” Her words faltered as she remembered similar words being said by Sissy last night.
“My word is my bond,” Vincent said. “Whatever you share will stay between us.”
She took a breath and a drink, staring at but not seeing the muted TV turned to VH1. “On Friday . . . I got engaged.”
“You have my sincere condolences.”
Such an unexpected answer delivered in such an overtly somber tone made Jessica burst out laughing. “You’re stupid.”
“I’d do anything to see you smile. And I was only partly joking. Any man would be lucky to marry you, but I was hoping that man might be me.”
“You just met somebody who you said you wanted to date.”
“What I said is that I’d go out on a second date with her, and that’s only because you aren’t available. Damn, engaged? You’re really off the market now. If you’re happy, I guess congratulations are in order.” He eyed her silent countenance. “But it doesn’t look like you’re happy.”
“It’s complicated.”
“Coming from one newly engaged, that doesn’t sound too promising.”
“My . . . I have some . . . family members who don’t want me to marry him.”
“Why not?”
“They have their reasons.”
“Maybe, but at the end of the day they aren’t going to be married to Nathan. You are. So you need to go with how you feel.”
“Even if she’s . . . if they’re threatening to cut me out of their lives?”
“That’s a strong ultimatum. They must have a damn good reason, or at least think they do, to take a position that hard.”
“I understand their position. They don’t understand mine!”
“Then you have to stick with the decision that will make you happy.”
“That’s just it. No decision I make will be the right one. There’s more to it, stuff that I can’t talk about.”
“Then let’s not talk. Come here. Let me just hold you in my arms until you feel better.”
“That sounds good, Vincent.” He reached for her. She stood abruptly. “In the vulnerable state I’m in right now, it sounds too good. Thanks for listening and for coming over but . . .”
“Now that I’ve made you feel better, you’re going to kick me out.”
“I’m sorry.”
“Don’t be. I’ve told you before that I’m here for you. I mean that.” He walked to the door. “I also meant what I said about keeping a confidence. I’ll handle what we discussed the same as I would attorney-client privilege.”
She followed him to the door. “I appreciate that.”
He turned. They hugged. Jessica placed her arms around him, resting her head on his shoulder as he rubbed her back. Lower. Slower. Pulling away before his desire physically made itself known.
“Nathan’s a lucky man. I hope he knows it.”
Jessica waved as Vincent neared the hallway stairs, thinking that if he knew the whole story he’d realize that he, not Nathan, was the lucky one.
CHAPTER 33
Nathan multitasked, determined to keep the engagement he’d committed to this Friday night. It had been a rough week, but his trip to New York had been productive and for once he had no work on his weekend agenda.
“No, I didn’t get to Broadway, or any other entertainment venue,” he said, talking via speakerphone while he shaved. “It was a one-and-a-half-day trip and all business. I’m glad I didn’t miss you, though. How long will you be in town?”
“A week or so, I’m thinking. Now that you’ve mentioned being in one of my favorite cities, I might take a weekend to see friends in New York.”
“Then how does a weeknight work for meeting up? If nothing else, we can have a quick drink or light meal. Plus you can meet . . .” He stopped in mid-shave, surprised to hear his front door open and close. He looked at the clock, picked up his cell phone from off the counter, and walked to the top of the stairs just as Jessica stepped inside. “Develia, let me call you back.”
“All right, darling. Don’t forget. I can’t wait to see you.”
“Me too.” He ended the call.
Jessica looked up. “Who was that?”
“Come here, babe!” He opened his arms to welcome her. “You’re here early but no worries. I’m almost done.”
“The errand I ran didn’t take as long as I thought . . . or as long as you thought,” she muttered, with no move toward him.
Nathan dropped his arms, shook his head, and returned to the bathroom.
Instead of defusing the situation, his dismissive gesture pissed Jessica off. Gone all week, barely called her, and the first thing she hears is him on the phone with a random? She stomped up the stairs, rushed into the en suite bathroom and shut off the water he was using to shave. “Why don’t you want to answer my question? Who was that chick on the phone?”
Nathan calmly turned the water back on and placed a towel under the steaming hot stream. “I have no problem answering your question.” He wrung out the water and pressed the hot towel against his face. “What I don’t want to do is argue with the woman I’ve been missing all week, especially after fourteen-hour days, tense business meetings, and nights spent alone.What I’d like is a hug and a welcome home.” Jessica continued to stand there, waiting. “No?” He shrugged. “Okay.”
He reached for aftershave and splashed it on his face, followed by a special cream. Rubbing a strong hand across a smooth jawbone and satisfied with the result, he put away his shaving equipment and left the bathroom. Jessica wasn’t far behind.
“The woman I was talking to is from the Bahamas. Her name is Dev.” He walked into his large, custom-made closet and began to dress.
“How’d you meet her?” Her body was as stiff as the closet door she stood next to.
“At a club I went to on New Year’s Eve.”
“During our vacation?” She shifted her body weight and crossed her arms.
“By then our vacation had turned into my vacation.”
“Didn’t take you long to get over our argument, I see.”
“I wasn’t over what happened. But I was in the Caribbean and it was New Year’s Eve.”
“I brought the New Year in alone.”
“That was your choice.”
“No, it was yours. I asked you to leave with me.”
A silent Nathan finished buttoning his shirt and walked to the tie rack.
“You must have fucked her since it’s something you felt the need to hide.”
“The call was on speaker and that didn’t change when I saw you. Does it look like I’m hiding?” He turned his attention to tying his tie without waiting for an answer.
“Had I not walked in on your conversation would I have ever known about her?”
“As a matter of fact, yes. I would have introduced her when I took you with me to meet her for dinner and drinks. And since I’m sure you’ll assume the worst, she’s not in town just to see me. She has business in the area.”
She looked pointedly at his groin area. “Is that what she calls it?”
“What the hell is wrong with you? Did something happen while I was gone that I need to know about? Because I don’t need this type of drama tonight.”
Jessica calmed her voice. “Since I haven’t heard from you since Wednesday, it didn’t feel good to come in and hear you talking to another woman. That’s all.”
“I didn’t call you because I knew I’d see you in an hour. I didn’t call her either.” He turned and looked at her a long moment, his expression unreadable. “Let’s go. We’ll be late for dinner.”
On the way to the restaurant, not one word was said. But their thoughts could have filled a library.
The evening did not go well. Steve was his usual affable self and Allison was warm and friendly despite the fact that there’d been no romantic spark between Nathan and Olivia, the cousin she’d tried to set up. No matter. It would have taken the heat of a five-alarm fire to thaw the chill between Nathan and Jessica, especially when a still angry Jessica spoke only when asked a direct question and even then she answered with as few words as possible. Nathan and Steve kept up a lively banter, but when Allison asked Nathan and Jessica to join them at a jazz club, Nathan declined.
He’d hidden his chagrin well while in front of company, but once in the car, Nathan exploded. “I can’t believe the way you acted tonight, even after I told you about my week and made it clear that I wanted a peaceful evening. If you didn’t want to come here and meet my friends, you should have let me know.”
“I did meet them.”
“Yes, you did, unfortunately, and acted uncivilized to a very good friend of mine and his new lady. Being rude and antisocial was uncalled for, Jessica. That type of behavior not only makes you look bad, but affects me, too.”
“So I was supposed to laugh and chitchat like everything was fine between us when you didn’t talk to me in the car? I’m not going to pretend just to make you look good. I’m always going to keep it real.”
“Real, huh? Is that what you call it?”
“That’s exactly what I call it.”
“I got it. Tonight I meet the real Jessica Bolton.”
An uneasy quiet descended as Nathan drove through the rain-soaked streets of Atlanta, as Friday night revelers filled Peachtree Boulevard, heading here and there. At the loft, Nathan bypassed the garage entrance and stopped by Jessica’s car.
The Perfect Deception Page 17