by Lea Nolan
Devon shot him a quizzical glance.
“Let’s just say we didn’t exactly hit it off.”
“Let me guess. You turned on that patented Carter Anderson charm.” Devon’s voice was thick with sarcasm.
Carter shrugged.
Devon bit out a futility-laced laugh. “Dude, we are so screwed.”
“You’re not kidding. And without an ounce of lube.” Carter chuckled as he leaned back in his chair and rubbed his searing eyes. The day’s stresses weighed heavily and it felt good to laugh with his friend, even if it didn’t fix his problems. “It’s too bad she and I didn’t get along. If we had, I might’ve been able to entice her into signing over her proxy free and clear.”
“Oh yeah, definitely. A little wine, a little dirty dancing, then you’d whip out a pen and ask her to sign. Totally suave. No wonder Washingtonian magazine named you D.C.’s hottest bachelor.”
“It was sexiest bachelor. Don’t forget it.” He grabbed a rubber stress ball from Devon’s desk and launched it at his head. “You know, that wining and dancing thing could have worked. But I’d never stoop to that level.”
“Of course not. Because manipulating a woman into falling in love with you so you can control her kid’s shares in the company would be wrong.” Like the excellent lawyer he was, Devon had a way of cutting through the crap and stating things as plainly as possible.
Carter sighed. “Yeah. Totally wrong.”
He gazed out the window again. Eventually he’d have to share Work It Gear with Gwen Radley and her kid. But not until it was born. He had five months to work some magic.
Chapter Five
“What the hell are you doing here?” Emerson’s surprised voice bounced off the exam room walls, jerking Gwen from a deep slumber.
Gasping, she shot straight up on her cot, and clutched the sheet to her chest. Blood pulsed through her ears as her eyes focused on her best friend and she realized she was not, in fact, floating on a rickety, makeshift raft in the middle of a hurricane-ravaged cove.
“Oh, it’s you,” Grateful it wasn’t her boss, Gwen dropped the sheet back onto her lap. “What time is it?” She pulled her mussed hair off her forehead and rubbed the dried goop from the corner of her lids. Her tongue was thick and dry so it had to be morning, but since the room had no windows, it was impossible to know for sure.
“It’s six a.m., an hour before the office opens. When no one is supposed to be here.” Emerson crossed his arms and his gaze bored into her, waiting for an explanation.
Gwen’s phone alarm clock clicked on, blaring an equally annoying siren. She leaned toward the adjacent counter top and snatched it up, then fumbled to switch off the blaring sound. For the last couple of days her plan had worked perfectly. She’d awoken with plenty of time to grab a quick shower, then change into a new workout outfit she’d bought at Target during her lunch break, and then dash down to the cafeteria before heading to work at seven. Without the usual hectic morning commute in D.C. traffic, the past few mornings had been the most peaceful she’d experienced since graduate school. But today, Emerson had beaten her to it and messed everything up.
After swinging her legs over the side of the cot, she jumped off, then shoved her sock covered feet into her sneakers. “So how is it you’re here this early? You never get up before the sun rises.”
Emerson sighed as he leaned against the door jamb. “Sebastian and I were at it all night. And not in a good way. I swear, that man’s domineering streak is going to drive me nuts. Though it does give us lots of opportunities for interesting make-up sex.” He chuckled, but the sound rang more hollow than usual.
Gwen forced the unbidden image of Sebastian with a riding crop from her mind. Her position had been clear for the last six months, ever since Emerson told her about their first jealousy-fueled spat. But Emerson was smitten—and excessively stubborn—so there was zero chance he’d break up with his smoking hot lover until he was ready. “You know how I feel. You’re too good for him. And you’re getting too old to waste your time taking his crap.”
“Bite your tongue, sister. I’ll never be old.” This time his laugh was full and rich. He stepped into the little room and plopped down on the side chair usually reserved for a patient’s relative. “And don’t think I didn’t notice you try to steer the conversation to little ol’ moi in an attempt to avoid my question. Sorry. As much as I usually adore dwelling on my own drama, it’s not going to work. Why did you sleep in the office?”
Gwen’s stomach grumbled. “Walk me to the cafeteria for some breakfast. It’s a long story.”
After Gwen had brought him up to speed, Emerson reached across the table and clutched her hand. “You are the biggest idiot I’ve ever met.”
Not exactly the response she was looking for.
Her brow crinkled. “Why? It’s only for a few weeks, tops. Totally doable.” Maybe. If she was lucky.
He scoffed. “Until someone catches you. What if our boss had found you? You’d be looking at an official reprimand, maybe even fired. And then where would you be? Homeless and jobless. Trust me, you can pull off a lot of looks, but homeless chic is not one of them.”
Gwen threw up her hands. “What other choice do I have? Sleep in my car in the garage? Trust me, I’ve already considered that. There’s not enough room to lay down and I don’t want to risk the crick in my neck.”
Emerson scoffed. “Of course not. Don’t be ridiculous. You’re moving in with Sebastian and me tonight.”
She leaned back. “Are you kidding? That’s not even a remote possibility.”
“Why?” He looked genuinely dumbfounded, which was pretty ironic considering he’d spent the previous night in an emotional war zone.
“Because you and Sebastian are constantly at each other’s throats. And he hates me more than Carter Anderson, which is saying a lot.”
“No, he doesn’t.” Emerson waved her off and strained to keep a straight face.
She crossed her arms. “Yes, he does. He’s convinced I’m a third wheel trying to destroy your relationship.”
“Look, it’s my house, and I make the rules. He’s just going to have to suck it up. Besides, you’ve judged him too harshly. Under that gruff exterior lies the gooey heart of a gummy bear. He won’t want to put a pregnant lady out on the street.”
Of all the things she’d thought about Sebastian, gooey and gummy bear were not among them. “It’s a bad idea.”
Emerson smiled. “You’re still not getting it. If you don’t come willingly, I’m going to creep up on you in that horrible little car of yours and kidnap you myself.”
She clasped her hand over her heart. “You’d commit a major felony for me? I’m touched.”
He leveled his gaze, the one that meant business. “I’m serious, Gwen.”
She heaved a sigh. “Fine. But only until I can get back on my feet.”
…
Gwen knew it would be a mistake to move in with Emerson. She’d told him as much, but he’d refused to listen. Exhausted and without any truly viable alternatives, she’d given in. Now, after just two days at her best friend’s town house, it had proven to be an unmitigated disaster. The sniping between Emerson and Sebastian had been expected. Sebastian’s ceaseless stream of passive aggressive jabs about how long she planned to stay were unwelcome, as was his penchant for cooking dishes with stinky seasonings he knew would turn her pregnant stomach. Were the curried scrambled eggs and gelatinous Nordic lutefisk fish really necessary this morning? On top of the liver and extra sautéed onions last night? Hardly.
Work would have been a welcome respite, but since it was Saturday and the office was closed, Emerson’s front stoop was the closest thing to a safe refuge. Too bad the fumes from this morning’s culinary assault had already hit their mark, souring Gwen’s stomach and embedding a monster sinus headache.
The strains of the men’s squabbling carried through the closed front windows. Her eyes shut, Gwen did her best to ignore them and breathe in the warm Sep
tember air, hoping to clear her head.
A black town car drew up to the curb. The rear passenger window rolled down. Gwen craned her neck to see who was inside.
Judith Anderson leaned out the open space. “May I have a word, dear?”
What the hell was this lady doing here? And how did she find her?
Gwen stood and smoothed her workout pants, as if that made her look presentable, or less than the vagabond she was. She cleared her throat as she approached the car. “Hello, Mrs. Anderson. I’m surprised to see you.”
“Please, call me Judith. Would you like to come inside to chat?” She gestured toward the wide leather seat.
Wary, Gwen shook her head. “Um, I’m not sure that’s necessary.”
Judith opened the car door. “Very well, if you won’t come to me, I’ll come to you.” The Anderson matriarch stepped out onto the street and assessed the tiny townhouse. Emerson’s unit sat in the middle of a weathered row of buildings built in the mid nineteen-seventies. Some people might call these houses charming. Others might say they were decrepit.
Judith clasped her hands. “I’m sorry it’s taken so long to contact you, but you’ve been a hard woman to find.”
Gwen smiled. “Yes, well, I’ve had an adventurous week.”
Judith nodded. “More like perilous. I can’t tell you how relieved I was to learn you were unharmed in the fire. I understand your landlord wasn’t seriously injured, either.”
Crossing her arms, Gwen asked, “How did you know that?”
Judith flashed a withering glance. “We run a major multi-national corporation. Private security is a must, especially for a matter of grave importance, such as an emergency at my future grandchild’s house.”
While the sentiment was sweet—sort of—Gwen couldn’t help but feel a little antsy. She was on some kind of covert watch list now, all because the child dancing in her uterus had Ben’s DNA. Regular people didn’t have those resources. That kind of access to information was reserved for the rich and powerful—people like Judith and Carter who assumed she had her sights set on a slice of their overflowing pie.
“Well, as you can see, I’m fine.” Gwen gestured to her obviously uninjured body. “I wasn’t even home when the fire broke out and my friends have offered me a place to stay, so there’s no emergency here. I’m sorry you were scared, on top of what I’m sure has been a horrible week, but really, you needn’t have worried.”
Judith’s eyes misted. “You’re right about one thing, it has been a horrible week. Probably the worst since Rocky had his stroke.” She pulled a linen handkerchief from her sleeve and dabbed her nose. Glancing at Gwen’s abdomen she added, “But it also offered a ray of hope.”
“I appreciate that, but to be honest I’m not sure it was a good idea that I went to your house. In retrospect, I probably shouldn’t have gone to the funeral home, either.”
“Nonsense.” Judith shook her head. “It was a blessing. As is the child you’re carrying.”
Gwen laid her palm across her tummy and set her jaw. “I choose to think so.” No matter what Judith or Carter thought of her, she would not let them think badly of her child.
“So do I. The idea that a small part of Ben will live on, well, that’s nothing short of a miracle.” She batted away at tear.
Just then, the front door to Emerson’s town house swung open. Sebastian stood in the threshold, his back to the front yard, yelling into the house. “I’ll put curry on whatever the hell I want. It’s me or her. You decide.” He slammed the front door, then rushed across the porch, and down the stoop steps. As he passed Gwen on the way to his shiny white BMW, he threw her a venomous glare. “Tonight we’re having corned beef and cabbage. And if you’re lucky there’ll be a Limburger cheese soufflé for dessert. Yum yum.”
Gwen’s stomach rolled as she watched him climb into his car. Turning to Judith, she plastered a smile on her lips. “He’s such a kidder.”
“Gwen, dear. Let’s set aside the pretense. Your home won’t be habitable for quite some time and it’s clear things are less than…optimal here. Your options will only get scarcer as the pregnancy progresses. Move into River View. We have more than enough room for you. You will be safe there and need for nothing.”
Was this some sort of sick test? First, Carter accused her of trying to steal from them and now, Judith was offering up her home on a silver platter? What was next—calling the cops after she moved in to report a home invasion?
A nervous laugh burst from Gwen’s lips. “We’ve already been over this. I’ll admit I’m technically homeless, but that’s nothing a few more paychecks won’t fix. Despite what you and Carter might think, I’m not after your money. I’ve never had any and frankly, don’t want more than I need to be happy. You’d be surprised at how happy poor people can be.”
“Carter and I do not share the same opinion.” Judith’s tone was sharp.
Gwen scoffed. “That’s nice, I’m glad somebody’s listening to me.” Though she still wasn’t sure she could trust Judith.
“I have listened. But I’ve seen your background report and am not fool enough to believe you can afford a decent place on your own that’s suitable for raising a child. And if you do manage to find another place to rent, how will you afford to furnish it? Never mind the costs you’ll incur preparing for the baby. I can help you.”
Gwen sensed the logic in everything Judith said, but still couldn’t agree. Her pride ran too deep, and the sting from Carter’s insults were still too fresh. “But I don’t want your help. I can do this on my own.”
Judith sighed. “Very well, but tell me one thing. If Ben had lived, would you have denied him the right to provide for his own child?”
It was a sucker punch to the gut. Honestly, Gwen hadn’t thought that far. She’d been more concerned that he’d feel put upon, trapped by an unwanted pregnancy. That’s why she’d planned to make it clear that she had no expectations. Amid all that worry, she hadn’t once considered that he might want to take an active role in the baby’s upbringing. “Uh, no, I suppose I couldn’t have done that to him. Not if he asked to be in the child’s life.”
“Well, I knew my son better than anyone. I can tell you he would have done more than ask. He would have insisted upon it.”
Judith’s words sunk deep into Gwen’s heart and conscience. The woman was right. Ben was nothing if not honorable. He never would have shirked his responsibilities. As much as Gwen might have fought him on it, given his wealth, he would have showered the baby with more than necessities. Gwen closed her eyes as tears welled behind her lids.
Judith stepped toward her, grasping her forearm. “You know I’m right, dear. Please don’t be stubborn. If not for your own well being, please, do it for your child’s.”
Gwen opened her wet lashes and wiped the hot fluid from her face. “But what about Carter?”
Judith smirked. “What about him? It’s my house and I decide who comes and goes. If he doesn’t like it, he can leave. Besides, he stays in the east wing. You’ll never see him.”
“Well, when you put it that way.” Gwen laughed. “But I won’t live there for free. I’ll only stay if I can pay rent.” She bit her lip. “Though I can only pay as much as I did to live at my apartment.” Judging by what she’d seen the morning of the funeral, that would probably cover the cost to clean River View’s door mats.
“Very well,” Judith grinned. “If you insist.”
Chapter Six
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Judith asked.
Gwen’s jaw hung open as she gazed out the panoramic windows in River View’s cavernous great room. “Beautiful doesn’t do it justice. It’s gorgeous.”
This far north, the Potomac River was breathtaking. Pristine, dotted with rapids, and surrounded by thick woodland forest; it was like looking at a postcard. Impossible to believe she’d wake up to this view every day.
Gwen’s belly grumbled and she pressed her palm to her abdomen. Amid the aftermath of the nasty breakfast sti
nk, then breaking the news to Emerson and making a quick trip to Target for necessities, she’d forgotten to eat lunch. She couldn’t very well move into River View without some more fresh underwear, toiletries, and a few new sets of gym clothes for work.
Now, it was close to dinnertime and the baby knew it. It had been far too long since her last meal. Fifteen weeks into this adventure, Gwen was still astonished by the power of pregnancy hunger. Unlike any yearning she’d ever encountered, it humbled her every time she ate too late or skipped a meal. It was like the growing baby inside her demanded the nutrients it needed for survival, and she was powerless to resist. As if on cue, a deep, yawning emptiness consumed her stomach. If she didn’t fill it soon, it felt like it would collapse on itself.
Swallowing hard, she willed the sensation away. Any second now, Loretta would be back from delivering the purchases to her new room. She had wanted to take them herself but the housekeeper insisted. When Loretta returned, Gwen would ask about dinner, or at the very least, the location of the kitchen so she could whip up something herself.
A moment later, a nurse wheeled Rocky into the room. Judith sprang to her husband’s side. “Gwen, I’d like to introduce you to my husband, Rocky.” Her voice was tight.
For a split second, Gwen caught a glint of—apprehension? Fear?—on Judith’s face, but then the older woman quickly recovered, affixing her typical mask of composure. Standing behind Rocky, Judith laid one hand on his shoulder and caressed his clean-shaven jaw with the other. It was a protective, nurturing posture. Gwen’s heart ached, causing her to temporarily forget her hunger. Was Judith afraid Gwen wouldn’t be kind because of his condition?