Still Mr. And Mrs.

by Patricia Olney

  “I don’t remember falling asleep.” She leaned back in her chair as though she didn’t want to sit so close to him.

  “As a matter of fact, after the party, I don’t remember a thing.”

  “It was a lovely party, wasn’t it, Rebecca dear?” Evelyn asked.

  “Oh, yes,” Rebecca agreed.

  Gabe could only stare at the two of them as they began discussing the evening before, completely ignoring him.

  Reb’s voice was calm, her gaze steady. She was acting as though the intimacy they’d shared the night before never had happened.

  He should be happy that she was behaving this way. It sure would make walking away a lot easier. It was exactly what he had wanted. No ties, no commitments, no strings.

  But for some strange reason he felt angry.

  The night before had changed everything, had made him realize his true feelings for her.

  When Evelyn finally left the garden room to make arrangements for breakfast, Gabe grabbed Rebecca’s wrist.

  “Just what the hell do you think you’re doing?” he asked as calmly as he could.

  She eased away from his grip and scooted back a bit, the amusement dying from her green eyes. “I’m trying to enjoy a cup of coffee.”

  He braced both of his hands on either side of her chair and pulled her over to him.

  “You know what I’m talking about.” He forced his hands to relax, and fought the urge to haul her onto his lap and smother her with deep, hard kisses.

  She leaned close to him, her body not quite touching his. Her breath fanned his ear, sending hot desire straight through him. “I don’t have a clue as to what you’re talking about.”

  He hesitated, measuring her for a moment. “What happened between last night and this morning?”

  “We had a nice time. That’s all.”

  “Is that it?” He studied her face, searching for some sign of the emotion she’d shown the night before.

  “Gabe, what do you want me to say?”

  “I think last night was a mistake,” he blurted.

  “I’m sorry you feel that way.” Her interest shifted from him to the coffee mug in front of her.

  He swore under his breath. Everything was going wrong. Why couldn’t he express his feelings?

  “Reb, what if you’re pregnant?”

  She rested her hand on his arm. He loved the soft feel of her skin against his. It was difficult not to get distracted by just having her near him.

  “I told you that you didn’t have to get involved.”

  “But I am.”

  “You don’t need to be.”

  Gabe went still. “You think I could walk away if you’re pregnant?” He felt as though his heart would stop beating any second.

  “Yes, I do.” Her voice was cool, but Gabe could see the doubt in her eyes. “We had an agreement. If I am pregnant, I’ll deal with it on my own.”

  Gabe’s stomach pitched. He was so confused, he couldn’t even think straight.

  “It’s okay,” she whispered. “Things will work out, I’m sure.” She brushed her lips across his in a bittersweet kiss meant for lost lovers.

  Before Gabe realized what he was doing, he pulled her off her chair and onto his lap.

  She let out a gasp of surprise.

  He wrapped her legs around his waist, and tried, though unsuccessfully, to ignore the heavy arousal between his legs as she settled on top of him.

  He’d spent most of the last evening convincing himself he didn’t still care for her, to no avail. Now he was convinced more than ever that he was in love with her and that scared him out of his mind.

  He shoved his hands into her hair, molding his palms to her head. He pulled her closer to him until his mouth seared over hers in a hot, burning kiss—a kiss both punishing and angry. But he didn’t know if he was more angry with himself for letting his emotions get out of control or with Reb for making him feel in the first place. He ran his mouth up the side of her face to her ear, kissing wildly.

  “Is that all you want?” he asked. “Just my child?”

  “Gabe, ah, I—”

  “What do you want?” he demanded again.

  She let her head tilt back, and he bent his head to kiss the hollow of her throat where her pulse was beating wildly.

  “Answer me.” His rough voice betrayed his impatience and annoyance. He gazed at her, waiting for her reply.

  She moaned softly and started to pull away. Her eyes were glazed, and her lips were pink and moist. She took a slow, deep breath.

  He brushed back the loose curls that had fallen out of her ponytail. The smooth skin along her neck was red from his kisses.

  For a second he was convinced she still wanted him as much as he wanted her. He thought he could see it in her eyes, in the way she responded to him.

  Then she slowly eased off his lap and returned to her own chair.

  He suddenly felt cold and alone.

  “I’ve come to the conclusion that you’ve been right all along.”

  “About what?” he asked, feeling his emotions strain to their limits.

  “We’re not right for each other. We don’t love each other.”

  Her words stung.

  “And so, I don’t want anything more from you,” she said, “except for you to fulfill your promise to help me set up my day care center. I have my license already and with Jonathan’s donation I’m sure I’ll be able to pull it off.”

  She didn’t mention the other part of their bargain, and he didn’t know what to say.

  “I’ll keep my word about the business.” He swallowed. “You don’t have to worry about that.”

  She gave him a weak smile just as Evelyn walked back into the room.

  “Good. Then, there’s nothing left to discuss,” Rebecca said. “Let’s have breakfast.”

  TEN

  It had been a couple of days since he and Rebecca had their rather tense encounter in the garden room when she’d told him the biggest lie of her life.

  In his heart he knew she loved him, almost as much as he loved her. He could tell by looking into her eyes.

  And with each passing day it was getting more difficult to concentrate on the business at hand—if the mounting paperwork on his desk was any indication—and he hadn’t heard a word Jonathan had said to him all morning.

  “I think that takes care of all the details to date.” Jonathan gathered up the papers in front of him.

  “What? Oh, yes, Jonathan,” Gabe said, feeling as though he’d just had a bucket of cold water thrown in his face. “I’ll have our proposal ready by the end of the day so you can look over the final offer.”

  Jonathan chuckled as he watched him. “Do you still feel that thrill of closing a deal?”

  “Ah, what, Jonathan?”

  Jonathan leaned back into the leather chair as though measuring his words. “You know, I see you making the same mistakes I’ve made.”

  “Excuse me?”

  “When I was younger,” Jonathan said, “my mind was always on business. Nothing else. Almost ruined my marriage and my family.

  “I’d oversee this or restructure that,” Jonathan continued, his voice taking on a softer tone than Gabe had ever heard him use. “I always had my fingers in the day-to-day running of the business, whether it was going to battle over some managerial decision or the fun parts that came with owning my own company. I was always at my best during a crisis. It always gave me a real thrill, a high. Do you understand what I mean?”

  Gabe nodded. The truth was the thrill was gone. And had been long before the negotiations had started on this merger. The only difference was now he had finally admitted it to himself.

  Jonathan put his papers in his briefcase and walked to the library door. “This merger is important. I don’t want you to think otherwise. But I do hope you can recognize when the excitement isn’t there anymore and that you do something about it before it’s too late.”

  Gabe looked up at the older man at that momen
t, realizing the truth in his words.

  And he knew why the thrill of high stakes and balancing a multimillion-dollar corporation had died for him.

  Reb.

  Plain and simple. She’d captured his heart and soul.

  “I hope you’re right, Jonathan.” Gabe silently thanked the older man for some good fatherly advice.

  “I suppose I’ll see you later this evening for our last formal dinner together with the board members. Oliver and I will be leaving for London first thing tomorrow.”

  Gabe walked to the door and shook Jonathan’s hand. “Whatever the outcome on this merger, I want you to know, Jonathan, it’s been a pleasure.”

  “Thank you.” Jonathan gave Gabe a smile before leaving.

  Rebecca walked down the hallway from Evelyn’s bedroom suite with an armful of clothing and a notebook in her free hand. She didn’t see Gabe until she ran smack into his chest.

  “This is a pleasant surprise.”

  She felt herself blush. It was silly, of course, that he could still get to her. That just being near him made her skin tingle and her heart do flip-flops.

  She stared at him. “If you’re looking for Evelyn, she just left for her hair appointment.”

  “I’m not.”

  “I had to remind her about her appointment for the third time.” Rebecca tried to calm her erratic pulse. “I’m sure she’ll be late.”

  Gabe rubbed his knuckles across her cheek, sending a wave of heat to soar through her. “You’re always thinking of others, aren’t you, Reb?”

  She shrugged, looking at the beige carpet. “I don’t think about it. It just comes naturally.”

  “Naturally sweet, you mean.”

  She glanced at him, knowing she couldn’t have loved him more.

  “You’ve been avoiding me,” he said.

  “I suppose I have. I’ve had a lot to do helping Evelyn get ready for the dinner party tonight and all.” She indicated the armful of clothing she held. “I promised Evelyn I’d iron her dress.”

  “I remember how you used to do those same things for me. I never told you how much I appreciated it, did I? I suppose it’s too late now.”

  “It’s never too late to tell someone how you feel, Gabe. Maybe if you had, things would have been different between us. I don’t know.”

  She shrugged, trying to throw off the bittersweet feelings he was evoking in her.

  “I’m leaving tomorrow,” she said, finally.

  He tipped her chin up with a lift of his finger. “I know.”

  It was just as well, she concluded. The sooner she returned to her normal routine, the easier it would be to get a sense of order in her life.

  She waited for what seemed like an eternity, but he didn’t say anything else. She didn’t know what she expected him to say.

  Maybe that he wanted her to stay?

  Maybe that he loved her?

  “Well I better be going or we’ll all be late for the party,” she said, and continued walking down the hall.

  Rebecca sighed and followed the others into the banquet room at the Indian Springs Country Club where Evelyn had put together an intimate farewell dinner party for all her guests.

  “Here, let me get your chair for you.” Jonathan stood behind her seat as everyone sat down.

  “Thank you.” She sat down, feeling herself blush.

  She glanced across the wide table, catching Gabe’s stare. His expression was closed and unreadable as if he was in deep thought. At that moment she would have given anything to know exactly what those thoughts were.

  “I dare say, Rebecca”—Jonathan pulled his seat up next to hers—“you look extraordinary tonight.”

  “Thank you, Jonathan.” She ran her hand down the flare of her short gold metallic dress.

  “Giving you compliments is certainly an easy thing to do,” Jonathan said. “You’ve been by far the loveliest of company on what has turned out to be a rather tedious mission.”

  Rebecca accepted the glass of champagne the waiter poured for her. “I hope your mission was successful.”

  Jonathan raised his glass and clinked it against hers. “Very. I won’t be seeing you before I go. But rest assured I will certainly continue to help with your day care center.”

  Rebecca smiled again, knowing he was sincere.

  “I’ll miss you, Jonathan. And I truly thank you for all your help. I hope that when the merger is complete, we’ll have another chance to meet.”

  “I suppose that will depend on your husband.”

  Some sixth sense brought her attention across the table of china, silverware, and crystal stemware to meet Gabe’s dark, penetrating gaze.

  Gabe raised his champagne glass to her and then took a sip.

  Yes, she thought, feeling her stomach tighten. It all depended on her husband.

  “I suppose you’re right, Jonathan.” She dragged her gaze away from Gabe.

  “Would you care to dance?” Jonathan asked.

  Rebecca shot one last glance at Gabe, longing for the protectiveness of his warm embrace.

  “Of course, Jonathan. That would be lovely.”

  Gabe silently observed his wife across the room as she danced gracefully in Jonathan’s arms.

  The wily old man had managed to monopolize all of Reb’s attention throughout dinner, dessert, and finally the last dance of the evening.

  Gabe watched Jonathan turn Rebecca. The glittery flare of Reb’s gold dress flipped the other way, exposing a shimmering, silky leg to his view.

  He took a deep breath and tried to ease the knots of tension in his neck.

  Ever since the morning after they’d made love, Reb had maintained her cool demeanor and her distance.

  The sweet smiles were gone, as well as every luscious bit of attention she’d heaped on him in the last two weeks.

  Never to return.

  Gabe had never felt more alone in his whole life.

  You can’t have it both ways, he sighed to himself. You can’t have Reb and divorce her too.

  He looked across the dance floor when the song ended. He couldn’t tear his gaze from Reb as Jonathan walked her to the table.

  Rebecca picked up her purse, and a fire stirred in Gabe’s body as he watched her lithe movements. He wanted to get her attention, let her know he still cared for her, something.

  A smile, a look, anything.

  “If you’ll excuse me for a moment.” Before he even had a chance to speak, she was gone.

  Jonathan straightened his tie and sat down. He picked up his champagne glass, and motioned for Gabe to sit down.

  “You know, Gabe,” Jonathan said after a few seconds, “you remind me of myself when I was a young man.”

  Gabe sighed. “So you’ve told me.”

  Jonathan raised his glass in Gabe’s direction. “Except that I’m honest and you’re not.”

  Gabe shot straight up in his chair. “Jonathan, I beg your pardon. I have never once been dishonest with you. The dealings with The Toy Factory are above reproach, and my grandmother and I—”

  Jonathan laughed. “Please calm down. I’m not talking about your business dealings or this merger.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “I mean you are not honest with yourself. Or Rebecca.”

  “Jonathan, I don’t think—”

  “Let me finish. I know about your divorce. I know Rebecca is only here to put on a show for me.”

  Gabe felt the color drain from his face. His stomach started to churn as he saw his entire future vanish.

  Jonathan straightened his tie as though he realized he’d said too much. “Excuse my bluntness, but I’m a man who speaks his mind. A woman like Rebecca is one in a million.”

  Gabe could only nod, he was so stunned.

  “Perhaps it is none of my business what you do in your personal life, but I’d never let a woman like her out of my grasp.”

  Gabe knew exactly what Jonathan meant.

  Jonathan stood as Rebecca returned to the
table.

  Gabe caught her gaze.

  She gave him a smile.

  The warm smile he’d been waiting for all night.

  A hundred emotions sprang inside him. Yearning, need, hope.

  He wanted to touch her, wanted to remove the pearl-studded pins that held her hair up on top of her head.

  He wanted to bring each silky strand to him and breathe in the clean scent.

  She was an aphrodisiac to his senses, and he could feel his heartbeat vibrating with pure energy.

  He wanted her heart more than anything else.

  And what he wanted right then was to dance with her, hold her in his arms. He knew the band was about to leave, but he’d just have to change that, he thought reaching deep in his pant’s pocket for his wallet.

  Hell, he’d paid for the band and if it cost him triple the fee to have the last dance with his wife, then it would be worth the price.

  She was his lady, and she simply took his breath away.

  She’d gone into hiding, and he wanted her back.

  Rebecca went still at the touch of Gabe’s hand on her shoulder.

  “I want to dance with you,” he whispered in her ear, sending shivers up her back.

  She closed her eyes, feeling the warmth of his breath fanning the back of her neck, feeling the strength of him standing so close to her.

  “The last dance.”

  Her heart pounded.

  “I want to hold you in my arms, Reb. Feel you close to my heart.”

  “Gabe, ah, I—”

  “We have one last night together. Don’t take it away from me … from you,” he added.

  Gently and without any words, he took her by the elbow, and she let him guide her to the empty dance floor just as the musicians tuned up for the last song of the evening.

  He took control in one easy motion, wrapping his strong arm around her waist, drawing her up against him.

  She took in the woodsy scent of his cologne, the smoothness of his clean-shaven cheek as he lowered his face next to hers.

  “You feel so good in my arms.” His words were barely a whisper. “I love holding you like this, as if we’re one.”