by Sarina Wilde
She smiled gently. “Chas can help you pick one out after supper.”
“And you?”
“Remember the horse Daddy let you sit on in his studio?”
He nodded.
“Well, Daddy and I have to go to a party tonight for it.”
His lip started to protrude. “I wanna go.”
Greer made a face. “It’s a grown-up party.”
The lip stuck out even farther. Meltdown was imminent. “I never getta go anywhere. Mommy makes me stay home. Now I hafta stay home here.”
Greer stroked his curls. “I know it doesn’t seem fair, but most of the time we’re going to be gone, you’ll be in bed anyway, and we’ll have all day tomorrow together.” She hugged him closer. “I’m so glad you get to stay with us. I didn’t think I could wait until next weekend, and now I don’t have to.”
He blinked, laying his head against her shoulder. “You gotta go now?”
“No. Daddy’s in the shower, so I bet I have time to read you a story before I have to get dressed. How would that be?”
“Okay. I pick.” He wiggled down and went over to the stack of books on his toy shelf. When he came back, Greer smiled at the story about bears and sat in the rocking chair. Wyatt cuddled in her lap while she read.
She loved the feel of him. When he snuggled against her, she dropped her head for a quick kiss and kept going. Gradually, she felt him get heavier and smiled. Maybe all he’d needed was a nap. Amazing how kids always seemed to morph into lead when they fell asleep.
“I’ll take him.” She looked up to see Liam already in his tux.
“Maybe he was just tired, honey,” she said as Liam lifted his son and cuddled him for a heartbeat before laying him in his toddler bed.
He tucked the teddy bear in next to him and covered him with a light blanket. “Maybe.”
But he frowned as he said it.
“Go change, Greer. We need to go.”
They took Chas’ BMW downtown, stopping in front of the museum with just a little time to spare. Liam tossed the keys to the valet and helped Greer from the car.
“If I haven’t already told you, baby,” he murmured in her ear. “You look great.”
She smiled and laughed at him just as a flash went off. Greer swiveled to see a newspaper photographer grinning at her. She had forgotten this would be a media zoo as well as a must-attend event for a lot of the area’s well-to-do. If she had harbored any ideas about keeping her life private, they disappeared as quickly as that flash popping.
“Let’s go.” Liam cupped her elbow and led her in at his side.
Chapter Sixteen
The Children’s Museum was filled to capacity. Liam recognized a lot of faces, some fellow artists and connoisseurs, but also members of families his parents had known for ages—one of the hazards of having a blue-blooded background. He caught more than one glance sliding from him to Greer, first with surprise and then with appreciation.
She really was gorgeous tonight, and he was sure he hadn’t reassured her of that nearly enough, but he hoped she saw the appreciation in the other male gazes directed her way. The silvery dress she’d chosen was conservatively cut, covering her back, shoulders and arms, but in front it plunged deeply enough to make every male believe, if she would just bend over, those tantalizing breasts of hers would tumble free into hands more than willing to catch them. After hugging every curve, the dress ended high on her thighs, leaving slender legs bare.
“Lee!” The museum curator greeted him in a relieved tone. “We were beginning to worry.”
“I’m afraid there was a small emergency at home I had to attend to. Allow me to introduce Greer Davidson—my fiancée.”
The curator’s eyes widened and his interest intensified. “I didn’t realize you were engaged.”
Liam glanced at Greer, who watched him with a steadiness in her gray eyes he had to admire. “It’s very recent. In fact, only her parents and our really close friends know.”
He could almost see the man rubbing his hands together as he asked, “May we announce that as we do the unveiling?”
Liam smiled. “That would be up to Greer. Do you have any objection, baby?”
Something across the room had attracted her attention for a moment, but then she looked at both of them and smiled broadly. “Not at all, Liam. In fact, this seems like the perfect occasion to make our engagement public.”
While Liam had spoken to the white-haired curator, Greer had glanced around, wondering if she would know anyone in the crush of people nibbling hors d’oeuvres and sipping champagne. And sure enough, she did. Greer spotted Julie Carle on the other side of the room at the same time Liam deferred to her about announcing their engagement.
With a nod to the curator, she placed her fingers on Liam’s sleeve. “Shall we get something to drink and mingle?”
As they walked away she whispered, “Should I call you Lee in this crowd?”
“That would be best. That’s how most of these people will think of me.” His gaze was puzzled. “So what’s up with the ready agreement to announcing our engagement? I thought you were a little hesitant about this whole affair tonight.”
She accepted a glass of champagne from a passing waiter. “She’s here.”
“She…” He seemed puzzled for a moment, then his dark brows snapped into a scowl that could only be called murderous. “Julie?”
Greer hated the bitter incredulity in his voice, hated his ex-wife was still doing her best to make his life hell—his and Wyatt’s.
“I saw her on the other side of the room.”
“Let’s go that way.”
She rested her hand just a little more firmly on his arm, holding him back. “Think. This is what she wants. She has you in a public venue after deliberately doing something in private to anger you. She is no doubt counting on your temper getting the better of you. Then you come off as unstable and unreasonable—an unfit personality to parent a little boy of three.”
He stopped in his tracks. She watched his throat work above his perfect bow tie. He raked a hand through his hair, just the faintest of tremors giving away his agitation.
“Damn her,” he muttered. “I wish I knew what game she’s playing. She doesn’t really want him. And my God, Greer, she already holds all the cards, or so it seems to me.”
She smiled at him. “No. She doesn’t.” She moved her hand so the light from above caught the sparkle of the gems on her finger. “We have one very big card to play when we go over for the unveiling. I’m going to slip this little thing in my clutch until it’s time to take the podium with you.”
Liam’s expression cleared, even to the point of turning just a little bit wicked. “I have an even better idea. Give me the ring. We’ll give this some real flair and see if we can’t truly piss her off. Then we’ll see who ends up looking like the unfit parent.”
Greer handed it over and watched him tuck it in his pocket. She raised a brow. “Why, Mr. Carle, are you going to propose to me all over again? And in such a public place?”
He grinned. “Damn right. I love you, Greer. We all do—me, Chas, but most of all Wyatt.” He leaned his head in closer. “I hope Chas or I have gotten you pregnant. You’ll be a fantastic mother—hell, you already are in every way that counts.”
Greer smiled as they made a circuit around the room, careful to stay away from Julie. Liam was charming and urbane, yet another side to him for her to enjoy, but the real source of the smile she wore was the knowledge their lovemaking over the past several days could very well result in a pregnancy—and wouldn’t that just be the most fantastic news.
It seemed hardly any time at all since she had contemplated how dismal her life had become, since she’d sat in her parents’ car out in front of Liam’s house unable to fight off a panic attack. Now she had two men who loved her, two men who cared nothing about the scars she bore. Two men who’d given her the confidence she showed tonight.
“We’ll want you on the podium in about fif
teen minutes,” the curator told Liam as he caught up with them near the chocolate fountain. Greer blushed. She had just finished telling Liam exactly what she’d like to dip in chocolate and hoped the older man hadn’t overheard. If he had, he gave no indication.
“I’m going to go to the restroom, Lee, and touch up my makeup.”
He smiled absently, still listening to an older couple who, if the woman’s diamond-encrusted ears and neck were any indication, likely underwrote a big chunk of the museum’s budget. Greer smiled at the couple and slipped away. As she entered the hallway leading to the restrooms, the immediate diminishment of the noise was a balm to her eardrums. She pulled open the door to the restroom, noting the festive touches they’d added to what was no doubt a utilitarian area normally—a vase of flowers, some decorative disposable hand towels.
Greer stepped to the mirror and opened her clutch, extracting a dark-rose lipstick and reapplying it. After stuffing it back in her bag, she rubbed a finger beneath both eyes to make sure none of her mascara had bled, turning just as the door opened to admit Julie Carle. Her height alone was just a bit intimidating, but she was also blocking Greer’s exit.
Lifting her chin, she stared Julie right in the eye. “So nice to see you didn’t allow a little thing like your son to get in the way of you socializing.”
“Are you speaking to me? Isn’t caring for Wyatt your job?” She looked down her nose at Greer as though she were watching nothing more than a bug she’d like to squash under the ridiculously pointed evening pumps she wore.
“Actually Chas is doing that tonight, so I can be here with Liam.”
“Playing beard for the boys?”
Greer laughed. “Oh I can assure you, both of them are very interested in women.”
Julie’s eyes narrowed. “So what does that have to do with you? Do they enjoy planning their next trip using the roadmap of scars on your back?”
Not by one bat of an eyelash did Greer reveal her reaction to what Julie had just said.
“Even plastic surgery can’t erase something that hideous, can it?”
Greer laughed. “You are really reaching, you know? What makes me curious, though, is why you’re so intent on hurting a man you no longer want and a son you make it obvious is little more than an inconvenience.”
Greer didn’t wait any longer. Julie made a move as if she might come after her, so Greer simply ducked around her and slipped out the door. She shivered as she got back out into the hall and cast a glance over her shoulder, deep in thought.
“Everything okay?” Liam interrupted her musings. “I was just coming to get you.”
“Everything’s great. Is it time?”
“Just about. We should head that way.” She stopped him just as they reached the edge of the crowd.
“Liam, did you say anything to Julie about my accident and the scars I have?”
“Fuck no. I would never tell her anything personal about you. Why?”
“She came in the bathroom while I was in there, and we started throwing verbal punches.” Greer shook her head. “Out of the blue, she mentioned my scars and my plastic surgery.”
Liam shrugged. “Maybe Wyatt said something.”
“Maybe.” But she wasn’t satisfied with that solution. Wyatt couldn’t have known about the plastic surgery, nor was he even old enough to explain the idea. To him, what she had was a boo-boo.
“Lee, if you would come this way, we can begin.”
“I’d like Greer to join me,” Liam said, his hand at the small of her back.
“Of course.” The curator raised his brows slightly. “Will there be more than an announcement about the sculpture?”
Liam chuckled. “Why, yes, there will be.”
The sculpture had been placed in an alcove that featured information and hands-on activities involving Kentucky’s rich equine tradition, but Liam’s sculpture was obviously meant to be the centerpiece. The dais and podium had been placed to one side. Liam offered his hand up the short steps to the platform, but didn’t release her once they reached the top.
Greer scanned the crowd, and sure enough, Julie was there along one side, her eyes shooting daggers at both of them. Good. Greer just hoped what Liam had planned would get a little back at the bitch.
“Ladies and gentlemen,” the curator began. “It gives me great pleasure to be able to unveil the newest addition to our outstanding museum this evening. As you know, the Children’s Museum has at the core of its mission teaching the children of our city and our state about Kentucky’s rich traditions. Horses, of course, are at the heart of that.”
He scanned the crowd, then continued, “When we decided to commission a hands-on type sculpture for this exhibit, we opened it to all interested artists. I’m proud to say, our final choice was a local man with roots planted deep in our area’s past, but more than that, he is a sculptor of international renown. Please join me in welcoming Lee Carle.”
Liam released her hand at last to shake the curator’s and step forward to the podium. He looked confident and successful, and Greer felt immense pride in being able to share this moment with him.
“Thank you for that wonderful introduction. Before we unveil the sculpture, there is one thing I would like to do first.” He held out his hand to Greer and drew her forward. “I’d like to introduce you to Miss Greer Davidson.” He cleared his throat, a flush staining his cheeks. “The woman I love.”
There was a murmur throughout the crowd. Liam dug the ring from his pocket and knelt in front of her. Now sighs wafted up into the air. He slipped the ring on her finger—again.
“Thank you, Greer, for making my life so complete, so amazingly happy. I know you’ve answered this already, but I want everyone to share in it. Will you marry me?”
Cameras flashed, and the whole room waited in silence for her response. She stroked her hand along his face, cupping his clenched jaw. He was tenser than he appeared, and when she looked into his eyes, she saw unshed tears there. Greer blinked rapidly and smiled. “Yes, and yes again. I will always say yes.”
The room erupted with applause. Liam rolled to his feet and hugged her, whispering in her ear, “I love you, but I have to tell you, if Julie had a gun in her hand right now, I think both of us would be dead.”
Greer drew his face to hers and kissed him. No peck on the lips. This was a kiss and she wanted everyone to know it. Liam drew away, smiled at her and released her before stepping back to the podium.
“Sorry. I just needed to get that little item out of the way.” Laughter rippled through the crowd. The glance he gave her was filled with love. He turned back to the crowd. “When I presented my idea for a sculpture to the museum board, I wanted to make it clear from the beginning this was never intended to be a look-but-don’t-touch piece of art. I designed it for its intended audience—kids. Equus—as I’ve titled the piece—is meant to represent all of the roles horses play in our lives, not only objects of beauty and speed, but also as workmates and friends of man.
“In addition to carving a sculpture depicting an animal so important to our history, I wanted a stone that represented our state. The work is sculpted from dolomite found right here around Louisville.”
He smiled at everyone and took a deep breath. “If you will go ahead and unveil it, I hope you will all enjoy this new addition to the museum.”
The applause became even more deafening once everyone got a look at Liam’s work. Greer tucked her arm in his and smiled at him.
* * * * *
Chas let Wyatt sleep for a while, pretty certain the toddler’s problems were related more to being jerked around constantly by a mother who always seemed intent on palming him off on someone else. After working in his study for an hour detailing everything he could think of about his dealings with Sam Marlowe, Chas sprinted upstairs to check on Wyatt. He was just beginning to stir.
“Hey, buddy,” Chas greeted him. “You getting hungry yet?”
Wyatt nodded, rubbing his little fists over his eye
s. “Teddy.”
“Right here.” Chas handed him the bear before scooping him up in his arms. “You need to pee?”
Again a nod.
“Okay, little man. Open your eyes wide enough you can see what you’re doing.”
Wyatt dragged the bear behind him as he went. When he came back in the room a couple minutes later, he looked more alert. “Where’s Greer?”
“She and Daddy are at the museum showing his sculpture off to everyone.”
“Mommy too.”
Chas tilted his head. “I thought your mother said she had to go out of town.”
He shook his head.
Chas closed his mouth before he said anything else. Wyatt had enough problems without Chas letting fly with what he really thought of Liam’s ex.
“Well, we’re here. Let’s go downstairs and see if we can’t rustle up a man’s dinner.”
“What’s that?”
Chas laughed. “I was thinking takeout pizza. What about you?”
Wyatt brightened right up. “Them bring it to us?”
“Sure if that’s what you want.”
The prospect of having a uniformed guy show up at the door with pizza apparently held some fascination Chas didn’t quite understand, but if it made Wyatt happy, he was all for it. While they waited for the pizza to arrive, Chas helped Wyatt pick out a movie.
“I want Cars,” Wyatt insisted.
Chas looked at the bright red racecar on the front of it and grinned. “Excellent choice. One of my personal favorites. I like when they tip the tractors over.”
Wyatt grinned. “Me too.”
Chas was relieved to see Wyatt returning more and more to his normal self as they chowed down on pizza, drank sugary soft drinks he was sure would make Greer cringe, and watched the movie. When it ended, he looked over at Wyatt, curled up in a corner of the big couch and said, “Bath time. Want a piggy-back ride upstairs?”
“Okay.”
Chas set him on the floor in the big bath. “Can you handle gettin’ naked while I run the water?”
“Yup. Greer showed me.”
Chas knelt next to the tub and started the water running, testing it to make sure the temperature was not too hot or too cold. When he was finally satisfied, he turned—and fell back on his ass.