by Peggy Webb
“No, that’s okay.”
As she hurried from the room, he congratulated himself on talking back control – until he fell back against the pillows and smelled roses. Not just roses, but a sweet musky scent that could only have come from Belinda’s gorgeous, silky skin.
He ripped back the covers and stalked into his bathroom. His nanny was going to drive him crazy.
Chapter Eleven
From: Belinda
To: Janet, Bea, Catherine, Clemmie, Molly, Joanna
Re: The Perfume Ploy
I think the perfume is working! Reeve has acted like a sore-tailed tomcat ever since he came back from Paris, and I noticed he won’t let Quincy change his sheets! Oh, and by the way, Quincy took me to get my driver’s license!
Xo
Belinda
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Bea, Catherine, Clemmie, Molly
Re: Strike Now!
You’re got him on the ropes, Belinda! Go for the knockout punch!!! Get in the car and go to Tunica! Make sure he knows where you’re going!
Big Hugs!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Belinda, Bea, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna
Re: Go for it!
Wear your most seductive outfit! Make sure he sees you! Be sure to say you’ll be gambling!
Much love,
Molly
From: Clemmie
To: Belinda, Bea, Janet, Catherine, Molly, Joanna
Re: Car
Do you want to borrow my car? I can even go with you in case you have any trouble driving.
Xo
Clemmie
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Janet, Bea, Clemmie, Molly, Joanna
Re: Darned tests
OMG, this is wonderful – and it’s working! If I didn’t have so much studying to do, I’d drive up and watch the grand finale!
XO
Catherine
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Bea, Clemmie, Molly, Joanna, Catherine
Re: All right
Color me wrong! I’ll be the first to admit it. Love trumps common sense. The mere thought of it scares me to death. Thank God, I have my internship to get through. But if Mr. Right ever does show up, I’m glad to have you guys in my corner.
Still, may I remind all of you that we are independent women, and will remain that way even after the wedding ring!
XO
Janet
From:Bea
To: Belinda, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie, Joanna, Molly
Re: Celebrating
Looks like you’ve just about let that man chase you till you catch him! Wait till I tell Mother. Glory Ethel loves being right. God bless her. If she weren’t such a sweetheart, I’d resent that.
Yee Haw, Belinda! I’m going to celebrate your almost victory by riding a mechanical bull. If somebody doesn’t discover my Virginia soon, it’s liable to be the only thing I ride.
XO
Bea
o0o
Reeve could hear Belinda already awake in the bedroom next door. Her fragrance wafted up from his sheets, and he rolled onto his stomach, smothering his groans in his pillow. He didn’t have the least idea what he was going to do about her.
He couldn’t remember the last time he’d thought of Belinda as his children’s nanny. He couldn’t bear the idea of not having her in his home, in his life. Furthermore, if he didn’t let Quincy wash these damned sheets, she was going to give him what for. She was one of the wisest women he knew. The last thing he needed was for his housekeeper to get on his case.
He dressed quickly and headed down the stairs, hoping to sneak off and hole up in his office without seeing her. He knew it was an act of desperation and cowardice, but at this point, he didn’t know what else to do. Sleeping on sheets that smelled like Belinda had him so muddle-headed it was a miracle he could conduct business. Nobody should expect him to make life-changing decisions, least of all, himself.
“Good morning, Reeve.” He jumped when he heard her voice. She was smiling when he turned and saw her in the doorway to the den. “I didn’t mean to startle you.”
“You didn’t startle me. I forgot my car keys, that’s all.” He patted his pockets in a big show of finding his eyes. What was that she was wearing? Good God, it had so many sequins you could see her a mile. Everybody in Lee County would be gawking. And, boy, was there plenty to gawk at!
“I see you’re dressed for a day off.”
“Yes. I’m going on a little outing.”
“That’s nice.” He didn’t sound the least bit sincere. She was going to be suspicious as hell.
“I hope so. They say Tunica is a great place to visit.”
“I’m not sure I heard you correctly. Did you say Tunica?”
“Yes. I’m going gambling.”
It took him a full two minutes to get himself under control.
“Well, you have a nice time, then. I’ll see you when you get home.”
How he managed to walk past her and climb into his car was one of life’s small, everyday miracles. Still, he couldn’t back the car out for a full minute and half. He just sat there like a crazy man.
Reeve wasn’t even going to think about Belinda sitting at a slot machine, surrounded by men gaping at that outfit and getting ideas.
o0o
“Quincy, do you mind if I borrow your car?”
“Of course not. But if you want to see the sights, tell Mr. Reeve. He’ll take you.”
“Didn’t Sunny ever go on outings?”
“Shopping, mostly.” Quincy got her keys out of her purse and handed them to Belinda. “But she didn’t call it an outin’.”
“Well, I don’t like to shop. I like outings.” Holding the key made her think about the long drive ahead, more than fifty miles, and that made her sweat on her sequined top. “Will you see that the children have snacks while I’m gone?”
“Don’t I always take care of them like they was my own? I smell somethin’ rotten here, and it’s not Denmark.”
“If I’m not back by five, you may call Reeve and inform him of my whereabouts.”
“And whereabouts would that be?”
“I’ve already told him I’m going over to Tunica. In case he forgets, you can remind him.”
“You’re goin’ gambling?”
“Yep. Maybe carousing, too! You never can tell about me, Quincy.”
“Lordy have mercy. It’s a wonder he didn’t have a conniption fit.”
“If he did, I couldn’t tell.”
“That man’s buttoned up as two-piece suit.” Quincy grabbed a dish cloth and started wiping down the kitchen counters. “You be careful now, you hear. I don’t what we’d do around here without you.”
Belinda left before Quincy could say anything else. She wasn’t all that sure about her plan in the first place. It wouldn’t have taken too much talking to convince her not to go. But she had to go. She had to make Reeve see her as an independent woman who might just spread her wings and fly out of right out of his house and his life.
She climbed into the car and squared her shoulders. She could drive and she was going to have a great time. Then Reeve would sit up and notice.
o0o
“Carousing?” Reeve glared at the telephone as if it had struck him.
“That’s what I said,” Quincy shouted on the other end of the line. She abhorred phones and always considered it necessary to shout in order to be heard. “She said she was going gamblin’ and maybe carousin’ too and she told me to call you if she wasn’t back by five, but I didn’t want to cause no disturbance.”
“I’ll be right home,” Reeve said.
Panic hounded Reeve all the way home. It was six-thirty. What could have happened to Belinda?
For the sake of the children, he acted as if their nanny had indeed merely gone on a small outing. But by the time he had tucked them into bed, he was almost ready to call the police. Visions of Belinda lying crumpled in a di
tch haunted him. Or worse. Somewhere in a cheap motel with her throat slit.
Quincy kept the vigil with him, wringing her hands and moaning. “Oh, Lord, I never shoulda loaned her my car, and her barely knowin’ how to drive.”
“Belinda can’t drive?”
“I’m not deaf, Mr. Reeve.”
“I’m sorry, Quincy. It’s not your fault.” Reeve ran his hands through his hair. “I didn’t know she couldn’t drive.”
“I guess there’s lots of things you don’t know about her.” Quincy rose on her still old legs. “I’m goin’ to bed and I’m fixing to pray to the good Lord that no harm come to Belinda. Lordy, she’s just a sweet little thing.”
Reeve wanted to yell and ram his fist through the wall. Belinda was an incredible woman—and now he had lost her. He forced himself to act calm.
“Good night, Quincy. Don’t worry about a thing. I’m sure she’s all right.”
After Quincy had gone, Reeve poured himself a good stiff drink of scotch.
At ten-thirty Belinda came strolling in, smiling.
“Hello, Reeve.” She tossed the car keys onto the coffee table, then sank onto the sofa.
Relief made Reeve so weak he had to sit. He couldn’t even speak for a while, just sat in his chair, staring at her sparkling top and brooding.
“Did you enjoy your day off?” He lifted his glass and stared at her over the rim.
“I had a blast!”
He didn’t even want to think what that entailed.
“I’m glad.”
“You don’t look glad.”
“Looks can be deceiving.”
“They certainly can.”
She waited for him to reply, but he just sat there nursing his drink and staring at her. Belinda felt like screaming. Here she had spent the day off on her own, nearly run over by two trucks and lost as a goose, to boot, and all he could do was sit there and act like she barely existed.
She stood up, head held high and marched from the room. When she was at the door, he called after her.
“Where are you going?’’
“Does it matter?”
Belinda hesitated in the doorway, torn between wanting to turn around and run to him and not wanting to make a fool of herself. A few long seconds ticked by, and then she left the den and closed the door.
Reeve stared at the closed door for a long time. Suddenly, everything in his household was falling apart.
o0o
From: Belinda
To: Janet, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna, Molly, Catherine
Re: Gambling and Carousing
I went gambling in the sluttiest outfit I could find and it got his attention. But not the kind I wanted. He’s down there in the den madder than a hornet, and I’m up here in my bedroom mad enough to spit nails.
Now what?
Belinda
From: Joanna
To: Belinda, Janet, Bea, Clemmie, Molly, Catherine
Re: Go to the mat!
You’ve got him just where you want him. Get back down there!
Joanna
From: Molly
To: Belinda, Janet, Bea, Clemmie, Joanna, Catherine
Re: Knock Out
Wear plenty of perfume! He won’t know what hit him.
Molly
From: Bea
To: Belinda, Janet, Clemmie, Molly, Joanna, Catherine
Re: THE WIN
Your own private Santa Claus is not going to hand Reeve to you on a silver platter. You’ve got to grab what you want. Now get back down there and kick butt!
Bea
From: Clemmie
To: Belinda, Janet, Molly, Joanna, Catherine, Bea
Re: Wedding
We can have the wedding in my backyard by the gazebo!
Clemmie
From: Catherine
To: Belinda, Janet, Molly, Joanna, Bea, Clemmie
Re: Paris
Make him take you to Paris on the honeymoon. You’ve earned it!
Cat
From: Janet
To: Belinda, Molly, Joanna, Bea, Clemmie, Catherine
Re: The Honeymoon
You’ve got him where you want him, Belinda. Just remember, this is a man who has been alone for a while. There’s no telling how many women he’s been with. Save it all for the honeymoon, and make sure he’s been tested before you let give him the map to Virginia! Then it wouldn’t hurt to make him wear protection for while. Trust me on this. You don’t want to hear what I’ve seen in medical school.
Now, get back downstairs, stay in control, and kick ass!
Janet
Belinda powered down her laptop, then grabbed her robe and flew down the stairs. Her color was high and her belt was dragging on the floor when she flung open the den door.
Reeve was still sitting in his chair, his hair disheveled and his tie askew.
Belinda barreled into the room, forgetting every lesson he’d ever taught her on elocution and charm. But she didn’t forget she was an independent woman, not for one second. Thank goodness, she had friends who made sure she didn’t. And if she made a fool of herself tonight, they’d pick up the pieces.
With her hands wadded into fists, she planted herself in front of his chair.
“Here I’ve been, gone all day, and you didn’t even ask what took me so long!’’
Reeve was having the devil of a time maintaining his control. She had no idea how enticing she looked with her robe hanging open or she never would have braved his den. If the urge to hold her had been great when she first came home, the passion to kiss her was overwhelming.
“What took you so long, Belinda?”
She thrust out her chin, too furious to think straight.
“What do you care?” she said.
“You are my nanny. Therefore, I care.”
She stomped away from him and prowled around the room, running her hands over his expensive furniture. When she was behind the sofa, she gripped the back and glared at him.
“You care as much about your Oriental rug as you care about me.”
“Forgive me for seeming dense, Belinda, but I fail to see how caring enters into our relationship. We have a business deal, remember?”
“How could I forget? You remind me at least three times a day.”
“Perhaps that’s because you need reminding, my dear.”
“Stop calling my ‘my dear’ in that schoolteacher voice. I’m not your dear.”
A muscle jumped in Reeve’s clenched jaw and he carefully set his scotch on the table. “Belinda, I see no need to continue this discussion.”
“Discussion. Discussion.” She loosened her grip on the sofa and strode to his chair, her hands on her hips. “This is not a discussion—this is a fight.”
“I never fight.”
“Why do you have to always be so damned civilized?”
“Ladies don’t curse.”
“Maybe I’m not a lady.”
“You are. I made you a lady.”
“You.” Belinda was in a rage now. It was obvious that Reeve didn’t love her, that he would never love her. She had thought that all she wanted was a house to call her own, but now she knew better. What was a house without someone to love waiting inside to make the lonesome blues go away?
Maybe he would turn her out into the street; maybe he would tear up her contract and send her away, but she couldn’t stand to be ignored any longer.
She leaned close to his face. “Nobody made me, Reeve Lawrence, and don’t you ever forget that.”
She was so close he could see the sparks in the center of her eyes and the fine bead of perspiration along her upper lip.
“You’re yelling, Belinda.”
“You’d yell, too, if you only half knew how to drive and had gone off to Tunica so somebody would notice you, and then you got lost and nearly run over by two big trucks, to boot.”
“Nearly run over?” He grabbed her shoulders so fast she lost her balance and tumbled into his lap. Her head snapped back, and she caught at his
chest for balance. There was a great tearing sound as his buttons popped loose and his shirt came open.
Both of them went very still, then ever so slowly she wound her hands into the crisp hairs that curled across his chest. He pulled her so close he nearly squeezed the breath from her.
She wound her arms around his neck thinking, Lord, let me hang on to my sanity so I can remember all this.
“Oh, God, Belinda. I thought I had lost you.” His lips claimed hers, and she felt hot and cold and happy and scared all at the same time.
But most of all, she felt as if she’d taken a long detour before she arrived at the place she’d been headed all along. Home. And if this was a taste of what was to come, having a home and a family to call her own was going to be even more remarkable than she’d imagined.
“Belinda?” Reeve smiled down at her. “I’m almost afraid to ask you this.”
“Ask me what?”
“If you’ll consent to stay here. Permanently.”
Her hopes took a tumble. Still she managed to hop off his lap, put her hands on her hips and act like the queen of some small country.
“For your information, I don’t make out with my boss. You can find yourself another nanny to maul, Reeve Lawrence. I quit.”
The distance from the sofa to the door suddenly seemed a very long way off, and she wasn’t feeling too steady. Still, she not only headed in that direction, but managed to march with her head held high.
Reeve made a sound that was halfway between a curse and growl. He pounded after her, caught her by the shoulders and whirled her around.
“You misunderstood me, Belinda.”
“You’re going to have to spell it out, Reeve. I don’t do guessing games.”
First he grinned, and then he laughed, and then, miraculously, he got down on his knees and took her hand.
“Belinda Stubaker, I love you. I think I’ve loved you since I saw you coming down the street wagging that heavy suitcase, and I want to go on loving you until the end of my days. Will you do me the great honor of becoming my wife?”