by Sara Daniel
“Explain why friendship is the best virtue of a marriage,” Penelope said after Ethan and Olivia had left the basement.
He imagined she was really asking, “Why should I be friends with you when I could have hot sex with Ethan?” The image was not something he wanted to dwell on, so he focused on the reasons behind his theories.
“When a relationship is based on emotions, like desire or lust, they burn strong in that moment. People think the feeling will last forever. Then they burn out. Desire’s gone. Lust is gone. They hate the person they made a commitment to. The roller coaster of emotions becomes exhausting and debilitating.” And they take it out on their kids. Well, maybe not all parents. Olivia didn’t, as far as he could tell. But Caleb had experienced it, and Liam clearly was suffering.
Penelope looked at him curiously. “You don’t buy into the ‘better to have loved and lost’ theory?”
“Not buying into it” didn’t begin to describe his revulsion. “Friendships last. When I talk to people who have stayed married for decades, they consistently tell me their spouse is their best friend.”
“Were they best friends before they got married, or were they driven into marriage by lust and other emotions and grew into that deep friendship?”
“Either way. Better to start off on the right foot, in my opinion. People who marry out of emotion have to discover friendship or work to create one to save their marriages from crumbling. Lucky for them, they have the Forever books as a guide. Forever applies to everyone.”
But it hadn’t worked for Olivia. He couldn’t understand it. He rarely received negative comments about his work from the people who put it into practice. Now by coincidence he was sharing a home with one of his few exceptions, and she was testing him on several levels.
“Does Ethan believe in it?” Penelope asked.
Caleb preferred not to talk about Ethan with her, but he couldn’t ignore the question. Ethan didn’t test him the way Olivia did. He simply mocked him publicly. “If he does, he’s never actually used it in practice.”
“But he does all your marketing.”
She was asking from a business standpoint. Caleb was much more comfortable discussing that. He set Liam on the floor where he continued to fuss and complain. “Marketers see ways to make money off a vision. Whether they believe in that vision seems to be completely irrelevant.”
“I see.” Penelope didn’t ask any more questions. He had no idea what she saw. Forming a surface friendship was easy enough, but a deeper one where he really understood and related to Penelope remained elusive. It was even more troubling when compared to his relationship with Olivia. Their surface was fractured. Yet as much as he tried to push her away, a deep bond continued to link them.
Liam’s fussiness escalated into a full-fledged tantrum. Penelope didn’t appear to notice as she concentrated on a passage from his book. If Penelope became his wife, would Forever give Liam everything he needed for a healthy childhood?
It had to. It was all Caleb had to offer.
Chapter 14
“If you want to make him feel jealous, I have no problem letting you use me,” Ethan said. He sprawled across the sitting room sofa.
He was so obviously and tactlessly offering for her to jump him that Olivia couldn’t help but smile. “Thanks, but no thanks. Caleb thinks sex is all I’m good for anyway. That would only prove he’s right.”
“God knows Caleb thinks he’s right way too often.” Ethan sat up straighter and leaned forward on his elbows. “I didn’t mean to hurt you with what I said downstairs. I didn’t realize you had feelings for Caleb.”
She wanted to deny it. “Nothing would have come of it anyway. I know better than to fall for him.”
He raised a brow. “You have a choice?”
“Of course.” Allowing herself to love Bryce had been a conscious choice. She didn’t see why she would have any less control this time. She should have more, considering she’d learned from her mistakes.
“Then you’re better off than me,” Ethan said. “Your sister already stole my heart.”
She wasn’t moved. “From what I hear, you snatch it back just as easily.”
He stood and paced to the window. “In all three of my marriages, I married women I’d socialized with at parties. They were and still are fashionable, tasteful women with their own careers. We had everything in common. We were friends before we married. I’m friends with all of them again, now that we’re not married. Well, except Bridgette. I’m pissed as hell at her.”
“Caleb says you married for sex.”
He shoved his hands in his pockets. “He thinks I did it to spite him. I can take the flack as long as he never learns I tried to make myself a successful example of his model and screwed it up three times.”
She longed to tell him to stop wasting his life trying to earn his brother’s approval, but she wasn’t certain of his motivation so she said, “How is Penelope different?”
“Because of the way I feel about her here.” He tapped his heart. “I also have something to offer her. I can give her a boost for her business, more social confidence, and a life outside of her lab.”
“What can she give you?”
“The love of my life.”
Those were the sweetest words Olivia had ever heard. Tears clogged her visions. “If you were talking about me, I’d marry you tonight.”
Ethan walked to her and wrapped his arms around her in the kind of hug people gave when seeking solace at a funeral. “Keep me in reserve, okay?”
She sniffled as the telephone rang. “I’d be number four on your list of failures, and we both know it.”
“I’m really good in bed,” he said.
She laughed him off, not the least bit tempted, and crossed the room to answer the phone. It was her mother, calling to cheerfully rub in how warm and sunny it was at their house in Florida. Olivia waved goodbye to Ethan as she left the sitting room for her office.
Ethan might have opened up to her, but she wasn’t ready to let anyone listen in on her side of this conversation. She closed the office door, still waiting for the question. Finally Mom stopped gloating about the weather and got to the point. “So how is everything at the Mansion, other than being snowed in?”
Olivia couldn’t muster a “fine,” but she didn’t want to talk about her impromptu guests either. “We had a little toilet issue upstairs.”
“Did you call the Kale brothers?”
“Yes, they’re swamped with emergency calls this week, but they’re coming to look at it as soon as they can.”
“You have to take care of those things before they break down, Olivia. The Mansion is a big responsibility. It’s also your heritage.”
“I appreciate my heritage, Mom.” She defended herself from the implied accusation. “And I do want Austin to grow up here. I’m not letting the house fall apart.” At least, she was trying not to.
“Well, get some more guests in there. Then you can afford the repairs and to spruce things up.”
“About that — ” She’d been trying for months to admit she wanted to dismantle her grandmother’s legacy by taking in fewer guests. The words kept getting stuck in her throat. “I’m still working toward bringing in foster kids.”
“You won’t get nearly as much money for them as you will from guests.”
“I’m not taking them in for the money.” Olivia took offense at the very idea.
“Then how will you pay the bills?”
Good question. “I’m still going to have guests in the inn.”
“You’re stretching yourself too thin. You can’t manage the upkeep on the house now with one kid and no guests to take care of.”
She was failing. She heard it loud and clear. Worse, she knew her mother was right. But she was failing at what they wanted for her. “You could always come back at take over the inn again,” Olivia suggested.
“Nonsense. It’s yours. We trust you with it. Now I have to run. Your dad’s golfing, and I’m ta
king a basket weaving class.”
It was okay for golf and basket weaving to take priority over running the inn, but not caring for foster children. Olivia punched the off button on the cordless phone. It didn’t come close to satisfying her need to slam it down. She was going to have to choose between her obligations to her past and fulfilling her dreams for her future. Either way, she was surrounded with guilt and failure.
Penelope looked up. Caleb was standing next to her again. It was hard to believe he was the head of a company. He never had any obligations or business worries. He simply lent his name to a set of books, as the company figurehead. It was exactly the future in store for her if Ethan took over her business with his brilliant management.
“I came to ask how free your schedule looks,” Caleb said.
“How free?” Her fingers clenched around the goggles in her hand. This wasn’t casual conversation. He had a purpose. Maybe he wanted to ask her on a date.
“Free enough to come to New York for a couple days. I’m leaving tomorrow morning. I’d like to take you on The Brighid Show and to a dinner party.”
Her lungs squeezed shut. A national TV show. Multiple days in the most sophisticated city in the nation. She expected a quick dinner in town and maybe a movie, if he was really brave enough to endure her company for more than an hour. She could handle Caleb stepping into her world for a couple hours at a time, but being part of his engagements was something completely different. “It’s too sudden. I need a month or two notice to take off.”
He glanced at her empty tables. “What needs to be cancelled or rescheduled? If you give me the names and numbers, my secretary will handle it.”
“It’s not that I have a lot of appointments. I’m just — ”
“Scared to death,” Ethan finished for her, bounding down the stairs two at a time.
“I am not.” It almost wasn’t a lie. His gall transformed her fear into anger. “You can’t just waltz down here. You have to knock.”
“And give you the chance to deny me entrance? I don’t think so.” He patted her cheek with blatant patronization.
She threw her goggles at him in frustration. He caught them easily and looped them around his wrist.
“Ethan, you’re interrupting,” Caleb said calmly.
“Don’t mind me. You two go on with your discussion.” He waved them off as if ignoring him would be easy. “I’m working on a business and marketing plan for Penelope’s Pleasures and need to get a few details on the cost of ingredients and supplies.”
“What?” Her knees melted and she clutched the edge of the table. She could have sworn he said something about pleasuring her.
“Penelope’s Pleasures. I took the liberty of naming your company for you.”
She should have been furious, but the truth was she liked it. It was sensual, sophisticated yet flirty, and filled with innuendo. All of which she wanted to be. The people who bought perfume from her company didn’t have to know she was lacking.
“Not now, Ethan. We’re busy,” Caleb said.
“Nah, if you were busy, you’d have fewer clothes on.” Ethan winked at her. Her pulse jumped, but he focused on Caleb and turned serious. “Olivia’s ex just arrived. She’d appreciate you taking back your kid so she can focus on whatever crazy scheme he’s planning for her kid.”
Bryce. If she wasn’t so completely befuddled by the outlandish suggestions these two men were throwing at her, Penelope might have immediately run up the stairs to rescue Olivia herself. Or maybe she’d stay down here and hide until he left. Bryce was hardly one of her favorite people.
“I’ll be right up, as soon as I have Penelope’s agreement to come to New York with me tomorrow,” Caleb said.
Ethan’s gaze slid over her body. She squirmed, as his eyes lingered on each part. His inspection wasn’t as bad as when he dismissed her and turned back to Caleb. “When you make a relationship public, you are marketing The Forever Marriage. Penelope’s not ready to pull off a business performance.”
She wasn’t good enough. No surprise, but it still hurt. Ethan had no right to turn down Caleb’s invitation for her. “I might let you name my company, but you don’t get to run my personal life,” she told Ethan.
“Can I count on you tomorrow then?” Caleb brought her focus back to him, demanding an answer. “You won’t have to fend for yourself. I’ll be at your side all day.”
Dashing off to New York to be on TV. It sounded wonderfully sophisticated. And even more terrifying. She’d never get another chance like this to boost her social life. As a bonus, she’d prove to Ethan she was up to the challenge. “Sounds great. I’d love to go.”
Caleb squeezed her hand, touching her for the first time since he’d begun the conversation. “Thank you for taking the opportunity to explore my world.”
“That’s what Forever’s all about, isn’t it?”
“You two are the most romantic couple I’ve ever seen.” Ethan inserted his heavy sarcasm, shattering what was almost an intimate moment by her and Caleb’s standards. “Have you shared a second kiss yet?”
“That’s none of your business,” Caleb said.
They hadn’t, though. If she’d allowed Ethan to continue his advances, she’d have a lot more kissing experience under her belt. Likely, she’d have experience with more than just kissing.
She made the right choice by turning to Caleb. Having a choice between men was exhilarating in itself. And she’d been smart enough to choose well.
“Here’s something that is my business.” Ethan shoved his fists in his pockets, his gaze on their joined hands. “I have some important work to do for Penelope’s Pleasures, so I’m leaving for New York tonight. Our plane is already on its way here to get me. Penelope, I need you to join me while I visit potential clients and investors.”
Panic prickled her skin, and she released Caleb’s hand. “I didn’t agree to that.”
“You’ll have plenty of time to primp for the dinner party before Caleb picks you up,” Ethan reasoned.
Caleb stepped back. “Maybe we can all leave tonight. Maude Richardson offered to come to New York to babysit for a week or two until I find a regular sitter. Let me call her and see how soon she can be ready. Then I’ll come down here to finalize plans with you.”
The panic was now waging an all-out war to take over her body. Caleb’s presence wasn’t going to help if Ethan was accompanying them on this overnight trip.
“I wasn’t expecting you until Friday.” Olivia stared at her ex-husband. He looked good. He was buff. His skiing regimen kept him in better shape than any time before or during their marriage. Either the sun or a bottle had bleached his blond hair. His boyish face was pink from the sun and wind. She felt absolutely nothing, except a vague sense of surprise and unease that he had unexpectedly shown up.
“The meet was cancelled because of an avalanche. No one was hurt, but the whole area had to be evacuated. So here I am.”
Without as much as a phone call. Yet she was expected to adjust her schedule to accommodate. She walked to the sitting room and strapped Liam into his baby swing. “You’ll make Austin’s day when he gets home and sees you.”
“It’ll be the highlight of my day too. I’m sorry I couldn’t be here for his birthday party.”
“Don’t apologize to me.” He might be fit and look younger than his thirty years, but he didn’t stir her heart or hormones any more. “Are you planning to stay until Friday when you take Austin skiing? You are still planning to take him, aren’t you?”
“Of course. Since I had the extra time, I decided to take advantage of it. I’ve got a plane ticket out to Colorado for eight p.m. tonight for both of us.”
Her heart dropped to her toes. “You show up at my door and expect you can take my son wherever you want. What date is on the return ticket?” Please let there be a return ticket.
“Sunday.”
Six days. Olivia felt sick to her stomach. She was used to being Austin’s sole caregiver. Giving some of
that control to a man who wasn’t around nearly as much as he should be was more difficult than she imagined. She braced herself with a deep breath. “You realize he’s going to miss school for the rest of the week.”
“It’s only kindergarten. Ask him if he’d rather spend the time in school or with me.”
She almost envied Bryce. He got to be the fun parent, jetting off on exotic vacations while Olivia enforced bedtimes and Lego timeouts. “I’ll call his teacher. Yes, it’s only kindergarten and he’s only six. Make sure he’s treated like a little boy and not one of your cronies.”
“He’ll be fine, Olivia.”
Six days without her baby. Caleb was going to take Liam away tomorrow. Then she’d have no one. Despite her heartbreak and looming loneliness, she knew Austin would be over the moon with this trip. She couldn’t deprive him. “Stick with the green slopes please, maybe blue by the end of the week. No black diamonds.”
“He has talent, Olivia. I’m not going to push him onto anything he’s not ready for.”
She bit her lip. Austin did ski well for his age, considering the little amount of time he spent on the slopes. But she had a hard time letting her son out of her sight, let alone sending him on an airplane halfway across the country to hurtle down a mountain. “Talent doesn’t do any good if he’s caught in an avalanche.”
“He won’t be near any of that. I’m going to stay with him. I have one more year of competing left, and then I’m going to coach. Austin should be ready to enter junior competitions then. This will be a good test of his skill level.”
Talented or not, she wasn’t ready to allow skiing to take over her son’s life. She’d already lost the man she married to that lifestyle. “We’ll talk about it next year.”
“You hate the idea.” He grinned and socked a playful punch to her shoulder. “You’re a good sport, Olivia.”
“I don’t care about being a good sport. I want to be a good mother.” It was hard enough knowing what decisions were the right ones when it came to parenting Austin. Being a good mother to strangers’ kids would be even more difficult.