That was what pissed him off more than anything. He knew, given half a chance, he’d do the same thing again, married or not. But no matter how bitter he was, he wouldn’t be the one to disillusion her about her husband. That was a journey she’d have to make on her own.
* * * *
They were going home. Finally. While Jace drove the Jaguar, Stacey leaned her aching head against the rest and stared out the passenger window. She wanted nothing more than to be able to take off the fancy clothes, let down her hair and soak in her tub with a glass of seltzer water in hand. Instead, in the side mirror, she saw the headlights of Justin Worthington’s car. Jace had invited him for a drink. Stacey sighed. Her husband caught her hand.
“Are you feeling better, darling?”
“Yes.” Did she have a choice? Without even asking, he had invited his friend to their home, so no matter how she actually felt, she would still need to play hostess for their guest.
But of course, she was positive none of what was going through her mind showed on her face when she smiled and welcomed Justin inside. It would go against everything she’d been taught to be less than gracious to a guest. When she started to remove the silk shawl from around her shoulders, it was Justin who took it from her. His grin was charming. “Allow me.”
“Thank you.” Stacey watched as he folded it carefully and laid it across the arm of the chair near the steps. It helped redeem him a bit in her eyes. Jace was never so careful with her things. Stacey hated disorder. Justin was obviously a man who did as well. Perhaps she had only imagined his penis brushing against her thigh while they danced, but even so, she supposed she could excuse him. After all, it wasn’t necessarily something a man could control, was it?
“Sherry, darling?” Jason asked. At her nod, his glance moved to Justin. “And you, Justin? Still drinking Remy Martin?” At the other man’s nod, Stacey watched her husband splash some of the cognac in two snifters. After handing her the glass of sherry, he delivered one of the snifters to Justin. Stacey settled herself on one end of the couch, a bit unsettled when Justin seated himself in the chair nearby, close enough his knee nearly brushed hers.
After a sip from her sherry, she steeled herself. “So, do you also know Brandon?” She was trying to figure out how Justin had become one of the guests at the wedding, although she couldn’t remember seeing him at the church.
He laughed. “The groom? No, I don’t know either your brother or his lovely bride. I happened to show up at the club, thinking I might get a decent, quiet meal there, when I ran into Jace. He invited me in to join the festivities.”
She smiled and darted a glance at her husband, who seemed to be watching them both with unusual intensity. When she raised a brow at him, he shook himself and smiled. “You know, it’s uncanny, darling. There is an amazing resemblance between the two of you.”
Justin laughed. “Coincidence, Jace, I can assure you. I don’t believe any of the Worthingtons, other than me, have ever traveled east of the Mississippi. That would certainly preclude any chance of our actually being related.”
Stacey laughed, but she had to admit, Jace was somewhat accurate. Both she and Justin had blond hair of a similar color, though his was closely cropped while hers was confined in a sleek French twist, the way her husband liked it. They were of a similar height, particularly when she wore heels, and even his build was slender, though she had a feeling from having danced with him he was a lot stronger than he might initially appear. “You are too funny, darling. To even imagine Alexander Barlow-Barrett might have strayed…”
Her father was far too uptight and upright. She had spent a lifetime trying to live up to his strict ideas of what was right and wrong. And even though she had done everything she’d ever been asked, had gone to the right schools, participated in the right sports and married the right man, she sometimes couldn’t help but feel she was more of a disappointment to him than the children who had thrown everything back in his face.
Jason laughed. “You’re right. How absurd. So, tell me Justin, how are the renovations going on your condo?”
The other man grimaced. “None too well, I’m afraid. Everything is torn up. The contractors have mentioned having me relocate for a month or so until they get the heaviest work out of the way.”
Before she realized it, Stacey impetuously invited, “You must stay here, Justin. We have plenty of room, and I know the staff get bored with only Jace and me rattling around in this big house. We bought it with plans for the future…”
He touched her hand. “I wouldn’t want to intrude. You two haven’t even been married a year.”
Jace set his glass aside. “It wouldn’t be any intrusion. We’d love to have you, wouldn’t we, Stacey?”
She had regretted the impulse as soon as the invitation had left her mouth, but she could hardly take it back now. What had she been thinking, particularly when Jason had made it plain he wanted to get busy starting a family? But the invitation had been made, so she smiled and nodded. “Of course you must move in here while the work on your place is finished. I won’t hear of anything else.”
His hand stroked her forearm. “That’s very generous of you, Stacey.” His gaze shifted to Jason, though his hand remained on her arm. “Thanks, man. You’re a real friend to share your home with me. I should get home, leave you two to get to bed.”
* * * *
Jason prowled his study long after Stacey had gone to bed. After tossing back another brandy, he slumped into the chair behind his desk, rubbing his aching temples. He couldn’t believe Justin had actually come. He’d emailed him just two days ago, knowing he was on yet another business trip, but too upset over the news he’d gotten to consider the consequences of contacting him.
And Justin had come back. Jace’s throat tightened. He’d surprised him by appearing at the wedding. As soon as Jace had seen him, he’d dragged him into the deserted men’s locker room where Justin had wrapped him in his arms. They’d always been so careful, so discreet. Would they be able to continue if Justin was under the same roof?
Restless, Jace popped out of his chair again. He pulled shut the door to his study so Stacey wouldn’t overhear and called Justin–his best friend and the man he loved more than life itself.
Chapter 2
In the week since leaving the wedding, Mason had retreated to his office no less than three times to avoid dealing with Stacey. His assistant could handle her. Left to him, he’d tell her to find another gallery, but his clientele and hers overlapped to such an extent it was impossible. And truth be told, he often had to recommend her, because she was a damn good interior decorator.
He’d just made the absolute dumbass move of getting involved. What had started out as incendiary sex had morphed into something more for him. Unfortunately, the same couldn’t be said for Stacey. While he had found a vibrantly passionate woman beneath the buttoned-down blueblood exterior, when push came to shove, she’d fallen right in line with whatever life plan had been laid out for her from birth on. The right man with the right pedigree had produced a ring, popped the question and she had accepted.
God knew, when it came to pedigrees, Mason Hatch was nothing more than a mongrel who’d been rescued, bathed and groomed. He might not be on the streets anymore, but it was where his roots were.
And right now, seeing her bring in Justin Worthington to look over their inventory had nearly sent him straight back to the hard-talking, hard-hitting years of his youth. Mason wanted nothing more than to pound his fist in Justin’s golden good looks. A glance at his watch told him he couldn’t hide out any longer. He had a lunch meeting with an artist whose work could be an asset to the gallery based on what he’d seen. If he didn’t leave now, he’d be late. His gaze narrowed on the proprietary hand Justin placed at the base of Stacey’s back, as if he’d already moved in on those marriage vows she’d tried to tell Mason she held so sacred. His stomach turned in disgust. Apparently putting hands on Stacey was permissible if the family tree dated back to sevent
eenth-century America.
Whatever. Mason couldn’t accurately trace his family history to more than a barely remembered mother. He’d always suspected the name Hatch was an invention of some smartass social worker to imply something about his origins.
Stacey glanced over from the painting she was showing Justin as Mason stepped from the staircase into the front hall. He nodded to her, his gaze dropping for an instant to the hand Justin rested right at the top of her butt. It surprised him when she blushed.
“Justin,” she said, drawing the other man’s attention. “This is Mason Hatch, the gallery owner.”
It was all he could do to stifle the growl that instinctively rose to his lips, but he shook the other man’s hand. “I hope you’re finding everything you need?”
“Yes, thank you, Hatch.” Justin’s tone set his nerves on edge, so similar to the one Stacey had used the first time she met him.
Mason switched his narrowed gaze to Stacey. “How’s your husband, Stacey?”
“Busy.” There was something in the shift of her eyes that made his nerves jangle. Not his business. Whatever problems she had, she’d chosen. He looked once more at the tall blond with her. “Nice to have met you, Worthington. Will you be here long?”
“Permanently, I hope.”
Mason smiled. “So is Stacey helping you decorate?” Maybe he was simply a client.
Was Worthington’s smile a bit smug? “We’re not quite to the finishing touches, though she is making a few suggestions. My condo’s under renovation right now. Stacey and Jace have graciously allowed me to move in with them temporarily.”
Mason’s glance flew back to Stacey. Now she did shift uneasily. “How…cozy.” Mason smirked–on purpose. He glanced at his watch. “I hope you’ll excuse me. I’m on my way out to a lunch meeting.”
* * * *
“You’ve slept with him, haven’t you?”
Justin’s quietly worded question hit the silence following Mason’s departure as loudly as if he’d screamed it. Stacey stepped away from her husband’s friend, her hand fluttering to her throat. “Wh-what did you say?”
Justin’s smiled widened, showing off the dimple in his cheek. “Hatch. You’ve had sex with him. He gives off the testosterone of one very possessive male.”
Stacey clutched her purse in front of her. “I don’t think this is something open for discussion, Justin.”
He shrugged. “Whatever. Jace has never been a very possessive man. I doubt it would bother him.”
She felt like she had to provide some explanation. What if Justin said something? “We…went out a couple of times before Jace and I got engaged.”
“It’s okay, Stacey.” His tone was reassuring. “I’m sorry. None of my business. It just seemed odd. The guy was throwing off real vibes like he was ready to mark his territory or something, like some common cur. “
She smoothed a hand over her sleek hair. “I can assure you there’s nothing between us. It ended when Jace and I got engaged.”
Justin smiled. “I’ve embarrassed you. I’m sorry. Let me take you to lunch so I can make amends.”
Stacey wanted to refuse, but she couldn’t find a decent way to do so. In the past week, Justin seemed to be right there whenever she turned around, whether they were at the house or somewhere else. Last night, she’d heard the two men laughing in Jason’s study long after she had gone to bed. Ever since Justin moved in, her husband seemed to have forgotten the whole discussion of starting a family. Now Stacey was stuck in the middle of Justin knowing something her husband didn’t, and her almost inbred need to be a good hostess. It left no room to graciously avoid lunch. “That’s kind of you, Justin. Thank you.”
As they sat at a secluded table in a quiet corner of a restaurant in Georgetown, Stacey tried to hide her surprise when Justin took her hand. “I don’t want there to be any awkwardness between us. Jace and I are such close friends. We’ve known each other since we were kids. I want you to be a part of our friendship too.”
She opened the menu, using it as an excuse to slide her hand free from his. Truthfully, though, she had little appetite. Knowing she needed to respond in some way, she smiled. “I’m glad you two are so close. Jace humors me and comes sailing with me, but I know his heart’s not really in it. He’d rather be…”
“Fishing.” Justin grinned. “We’ve been trout fishing on my parents’ ranch, even taken a few trips to Canada. He’s got enough sixth sense when it comes to finding fish, he could be a river guide.”
Stacey laughed, once again relaxing. It was difficult to imagine the always buttoned up Jason Winchester roughing it in the wilds out west. Maybe she was being too hard on Justin. He did seem to be good for Jace. Her husband had been so much more relaxed this week. Maybe that would translate into their bedroom too. Stacey could only hope.
“You never did explain where you were that you couldn’t get back for the wedding. You and Jace are so close, it’s difficult to imagine you wouldn’t have been his choice for best man, and I’m sure he would have been more than willing to fly you back–that is, if you weren’t in the middle of a war zone.”
Justin chuckled. “Not exactly. I was working on my family’s land holdings in Australia. They’re running cattle there as well as here. Jace did call me, but there was no way I could get back. You two had already set the date, so.” He shrugged.
Stacey patted his hand. “It’s okay. I understand how that is. Barrett Newspapers has always been the same way for my father and my brothers. Well, not Seth anymore, but Brandon stays busy. He managed to carve out time for a honeymoon, but I know he’ll have to hit the ground running once they get back.”
The waiter stopped at their table and took their orders. When all she ordered was a salad, Justin raised his brows. Once the waiter departed he looked at her, green eyes serious. “Shouldn’t you be eating more if you and Jace plan to get pregnant?”
Stacey’s hand rattled against her water glass. “He told you that?”
Justin laughed. “Well, yeah. He seemed pretty open about it. Is it a big secret?”
She recovered with a smile after she sipped from her water. “No. I guess not. It’s just I hadn’t even had the chance to mention it to my family.” She waved her hand. “Never mind. I’m being silly.”
Justin ran his fingers along the weave of the tablecloth. “Please don’t take offense, Stacey. It just seems, with me in the house, I might be cramping your style. If you’d like, I could go out this evening…grab dinner and a movie some place and give you and Jace some alone time.”
It was incredibly thoughtful, not something she would have ever given a guy credit for imagining, certainly not based on the knowledge of her own three brothers. “Thank you, Justin. That’s kind of you.”
He caught her hand and squeezed gently. “No problem.”
* * * *
Jace’s cell chirped with Justin’s ringtone. A client had just left and he had an hour before the next one arrived. Relaxing back in his chair, he twisted toward the window and watched the traffic roll past on the street below. Warmth filled him. Justin had always been able to do that.
“What’s up?”
“I finished lunch with your wife.”
“Did everything go okay? Does it seem like she likes you?” Jace knew some of his anxiety was bleeding through, but this was so important. He heard Justin sigh on the other end of the line.
“Jace, things don’t have to be this way. You know what it’s like with me on the ranch. It could be the same way for you. Come out. We could have a life together. You could let Stacey go.”
Jace rubbed his temples, the tightness starting again in his neck and shoulders every time he considered his future. “Christ, Justin, you know I can’t do that. My father may be gone, but my mother would have a stroke–literally, I’m afraid. You’re asking the only son of a staunch Catholic family to admit he’s gay? I’m already in agony every time I try to have a normal relationship with Stacey.”
“And you
know I will stick by you no matter what, Jason. I love you, man, but this is killing you, and it’s taking a toll on Stacey too. Can’t you see she still loves that other guy?”
Jace ground his teeth. “He’s not right for her.”
“Listen to you. You don’t really want her, yet you don’t want her to have anyone of her own? You’re better than that.”
“I need her, Justin.”
“As your beard? Without her knowledge? It’s not right.”
“I need her to have my baby. If I had at least one child…” Jason sucked in a shaky breath. “I could do it then. I could come out.”
The line was silent for a moment. When Justin spoke again, his tone was resigned. “You know I’ll help you any way I can.”
“Thanks, Justin.” After saying goodbye, Jace shoved his phone back in his pocket and squeezed his eyes shut. He’d made such a mess of everything. He’d panicked and created a situation that seemed to get more and more out of control.
* * * *
“There. What do you think?” Stacey turned to Justin with a smile as she surveyed the dining room table. She had candles set, her best silver and china placed and the lights dimmed.
He leaned against the doorjamb and grinned. “Perfect. Jace will love it.” He stepped forward and kissed her on the cheek. “Good luck, Stacey.” He winked. “I’ll be back later.”
Stacey felt guilty for the resentment she sometimes felt toward Justin. She gave him a kiss on the cheek and a quick hug. “Thank you for the suggestion and the help.”
He waved it away and left the room. A moment later, she heard the front door shut. After checking on a dinner she and Justin had cooked after they’d dismissed the staff for the evening, Stacey hurried upstairs to change. Even here, Justin had surprised her, by suggesting what she wear. While Stacey would have gone for a short, vampy dress, Justin had suggested some silky lounging pajamas instead.
Broken Heart Page 2