Just the Husband She Chose

by Karen Rose Smith

  The past week or so, he’d found things changing between them. He’d been a little less cautious, talking more easily about what was important to him. But what would happen if he threw caution to the wind? What would happen if Eve turned away from him? If she decided she didn’t need him anymore?

  That night five years ago when they’d made love had been life-changing for him. He’d thought he’d found someone who could look into his soul and care for him more deeply than anyone had ever cared about him. Then he’d asked her to marry him and she’d refused. He’d never wanted to admit it, but it had been a devastating blow.

  Looking at her now as she toyed with the piece of strawberry pie, he realized he needed some time to think. He needed some space between them, so he didn’t pull her into his arms. He had plenty of work to do at the office. It had always been a refuge, and tonight that’s what he needed.

  Pushing back his chair, he said, “I’m going back to the office tonight.”

  “All right.” She sounded as if she’d expected it. “Hunter, about Barbara.”

  “I think she’s taken up enough of our time tonight.” He stood. “But if you want me to drop her as a client, I will.”

  Eve looked up at him, studying him carefully. If she accepted his offer, he’d know she didn’t trust him, he’d know that this marriage they were trying to build was even shakier than he thought.

  “No, don’t drop her. If you say whatever you had with her is finished, then I believe you.”

  Relief washed over him, and he couldn’t help but caress Eve’s cheek, take her chin in his hand, bend down to kiss her. As always, their passion was hot and fiery. But tonight he needed some space more than he needed passion.

  Yet he couldn’t help but murmur, “You’re the only woman I want, Eve,” before he straightened and went into the kitchen.

  The next morning at the Sandstone Gallery, Eve unwrapped a painting by a new artist, which had been shipped in from North Carolina. Usually she loved unwrapping each new piece, discovering an artist all for herself. But today she was distracted by what had happened between her and Hunter last night. She just couldn’t figure out what was going on in his head. When he’d kissed her so fiercely, then told her he wanted only her, she’d felt so happy, yet so unsettled, too. Because he was leaving…because he obviously needed space between them.

  He’d even left the disk and printouts—which had seemed so important to him—on the patio chair. She’d put them safely on the desk in his office and had hoped she’d still be awake when he came in. But with her pregnancy, fatigue often made her eyes close before she wanted them to.

  In the middle of the night she remembered feeling his body beside her. Once, she’d snuggled close to him, but he’d been asleep. When she’d awakened this morning, he was already gone.

  The security buzzer on the gallery’s door sounded as a customer came in. Setting the painting she’d unwrapped on an easel, she crossed to the counter and desk. When she recognized the customer, she was surprised. It was Larry Morgan. As far as she knew from their computer listing of customers, he’d never bought anything at the Sandstone Gallery. But that didn’t mean he didn’t look on occasion, she supposed.

  “Hi, Larry. Can I help you with something?” she asked.

  “I was in the area on an errand and thought I’d stop in to see if you were here.”

  “As you can see, I am,” she said with a smile, reminding herself he was Hunter’s brother, reminding herself that he might not have an ax to grind. Yet her intuition told her otherwise.

  “Midge was impressed with those paintings in that special room you have. She said we should think about investing in something like that. So I thought this might be a good place to start.”

  They had a variety of styles, techniques and forms. “Do you have any idea of what you’d like?”

  “I’ll know it when I see it.”

  Lots of customers shopped that way—the perfect painting for the perfect spot—but she had a feeling Larry wasn’t one of them. “Midge told me she particularly liked the Wyeth.”

  Larry looked blank. “Actually, I think I’d prefer a seascape.”

  “Watercolor or oil?”

  He gave a nonchalant shrug. “It doesn’t matter.”

  “Over here.” She beckoned him to follow as she crossed to a corner of the gallery where two watercolors hung.

  Larry peered at the price. “You think you’d get more for your money,” he muttered.

  “I have large prints that you can have framed. Some of them are signed limited editions.”

  He shook his head. “I’ll just wander around. Don’t mind me.”

  “All right. Just let me know if you need help.” Eve returned to the desk near the counter to finish cataloging the painting she’d unwrapped. As she recorded information into the computer, she was aware of Larry wandering about. Finally he came over to the desk.

  “I might wait till closer to the holidays, then buy something for Midge for Christmas.”

  “That would be a lovely gift. She’d have something to treasure always.”

  “I guess women like that idea.”

  Larry didn’t seem in any hurry to leave and she suspected now she’d learn the real reason for his visit.

  Absently, he looked through a brochure on the counter. “So…has Hunter given up the idea of trying to interfere in my business?”

  She wouldn’t lie. “I don’t think he sees it as interfering, Larry. You’ll probably be hearing from him soon.”

  “Why?” Hunter’s brother asked, his eyes narrowed. “What’s he going to do now?”

  “This really isn’t any of my business.”

  “I’m making it your business. You’re Hunter’s wife. What’s he planning?”

  She just shook her head. “He’s not planning anything. He found out some information that might help all of you, that’s all.”

  “That’s all,” Larry mumbled. “I bet. You don’t know what kind of information?”

  “You really ought to talk to Hunter about this. Call him, Larry. Ask him.”

  “I have some other people to call first.” With that, he left the brochure open on the counter, turned and exited the shop.

  Eve left the gallery around two, drove home and opened all the windows to the fresh summer air, wondering if she should tell Hunter about Larry’s visit. She didn’t want to stir up trouble between them. As she tried to decide whether Hunter would prefer hamburgers on the grill or a meat loaf, the phone rang. She picked it up.

  “Mrs. Coleburn, this is Sandra Grayson.”

  “Yes, Sandra. You’re still coming tomorrow morning to clean?” Eve had gotten Sandra’s name from a reputable employment service Hunter had recommended. She was married, the mother of two, and cleaned houses to put money away for her children’s college fund.

  “That’s why I’m calling. My little girl is sick. Nothing serious, just a cold. But my husband will be here tonight and I might have to take her to the doctor’s tomorrow. So I wondered if it would be okay with you if I came over this evening and cleaned?”

  Hesitating only a few moments—she didn’t even know if Hunter would be home for supper or if he’d be working late—she answered, “Sure, that’s no problem.”

  “Is it all right if I come over around four?”

  “That’s fine. There won’t be much to do this time, just sweeping and dusting.”

  “Thank you. I really appreciate this. I’ll see you then.”

  Eve hung up and then called Hunter to see what his plans were. Maybe they could just go out for dinner. The receptionist told Eve that Hunter was out of the office but that she expected him back any time and she’d give him the message. An hour later Eve tried Hunter’s cell phone. But he didn’t answer, and she guessed he’d left it in his car. She didn’t want to page him simply to discuss dinner plans.

  Hunter hadn’t returned Eve’s message by the time Sandra arrived. Eve decided that when he came home, she’d convince him they nee
ded a dinner by candlelight someplace quiet. She showed Sandra what she wanted her to do and how to operate the central vacuum. Then Sandra told Eve she’d start with the bedrooms. The young mother had brought a carrier with her own supplies, was efficient and thoroughly capable. Eve left her to do her work and went downstairs.

  After she settled on the patio with a glass of lemonade and directions for knitting baby booties, she heard Hunter’s footsteps coming through the kitchen. Startled, she looked up. She hadn’t even heard the garage door open. As he usually did for work, he was wearing a white shirt, but the sleeves were rolled up, his tie tugged down. He was holding the computer disk and papers that had arrived yesterday, and he looked upset.

  “I didn’t even hear the garage door.”

  “I parked in the driveway and came in the front. I’ll be leaving again. Who’s the van belong to?”

  “The lady who’s cleaning for us. She’s upstairs. What’s wrong, Hunter? You look upset.”

  “Upset? That’s an understatement.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “Dad called me. He just found out that Larry moved up the plans to sign the final papers for the merger. They’re meeting in Farley’s lawyer’s office at six o’clock. I told Dad to call Jolene and get her over there, and I’d meet them with the information Simon sent me. I don’t know why Larry decided to do this now instead of waiting until September.”

  Eve knew, and she suddenly felt sick to her stomach. “I think I know why.”

  “How would you know?” Hunter’s question was like a shot from a cannon, almost accusatory.

  “Larry came into the gallery today. At first he acted as if he were interested in buying a painting or a sculpture, but then he asked me if you were planning to interfere in his business plans any further.”

  “And what did you say?”

  “I told him that you’d gotten some information—”

  Eve had never seen Hunter look as angry as he did at that moment. He exploded. “I told you what I did in confidence! You should have kept it to yourself.”

  “But I didn’t really tell him anything.”

  “You told him enough, apparently. He didn’t set up this meeting because the sky was blue today.” Hunter’s usual lawyer’s calm was gone, and she saw the fury in his blue eyes.

  “I was only trying to help you work things out.”

  “Your help could cost my family their business. Besides that, you betrayed my confidence. When will I learn that I can’t trust you, Eve?”

  Hunter’s feelings were finally out in the open, and now that they were, she didn’t know what to do or say. “You can trust me, Hunter.”

  “No, I can’t. Five years ago, I thought we meant something to each other. You gave the impression that what I was feeling wasn’t one-sided, that you were involved as much as I was. When I kissed you, you kissed me back like there was no tomorrow. And when we made love—” He shook his head. “When we made love, I gave you everything I was, Eve. But you tossed aside what I had to give. Your dad as much as told me I wasn’t good enough for you, that he had plans for you. I thought what you felt would guide you more than his rules or his strategies or his need to have you marry the right man.”

  “Hunter, I was young. I—”

  “Yes, you were young,” he cut in. “But you were old enough to know exactly what you were doing. With a face and body like yours along with all of that Southern charm, you knew how to wrap a man around your finger. I let you do it because I was searching for something more than I’d ever found, because I was searching for some kind of bond that would last a lifetime.”

  “Hunter, I’m sorry.”

  His expression was more grim than she’d ever seen it, and his voice was condemning. “You’re sorry. You’re sorry about refusing my marriage proposal. You’re sorry you didn’t tell me about your pregnancy. You’re sorry about your miscarriage and the fact you never told me about that, either. And now you’re sorry about something that was supposed to be between the two of us but you decided to reveal to my brother. I’m sorry just doesn’t cut it, Eve. If I can’t stop this merger—” He sucked in a deep breath. “I don’t have time for this now. I’ve got to get across town.”

  She reached out to him. “Please, Hunter, you have to listen to me—”

  “No, Eve, I don’t. I’m beginning to doubt that I should have ever considered your marriage proposal.”

  Each and every one of his words had hurt her so deeply she couldn’t find her voice. When she did, he was already gone.

  Chapter Ten

  When Eve heard the front door close, she almost ran after Hunter. But what good would that do? He obviously didn’t trust her. He’d obviously never forgiven her. What kind of marriage could they have with that resentment always between them?

  It wouldn’t do any good to tell herself she’d been trying to help with Larry. If only he and Hunter could find some common ground. If only Larry could forget his insecurity and jealousy, then Hunter could reach outside his isolation. But now…

  Whether the merger went through or not, Hunter would not likely forgive her breach of confidence. And whether she’d meant it to be that or not, that’s what it was.

  Hunter would never believe it now if she told him she loved him. She did love him—with all of her heart and soul. What would happen if they couldn’t get past this? What would happen if he closed himself off from her forever?

  Tears came to her eyes and she couldn’t blink them away. They ran down her cheeks for a long time, and she didn’t know what to think or what to do. If she waited here for Hunter—

  She had no idea when he’d be back. She had no idea if he’d be back.

  When the phone rang, her heart skipped a beat. Maybe it was Hunter. Maybe he could understand. But when she picked it up, she heard “It’s Lauren, Eve.”

  “Oh. Hi, Lauren.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  She liked Lauren, but she didn’t know her that well yet. So she said, “I’ve had an unusual day.”

  “Well, I’m hoping not to make it too unusual. I have the plans finished for your gardens. Would you like to see them?”

  “Tonight?”

  “I’m free, if you are. Actually, you said you were often alone in the evenings. I’m in Denver with another client right now, but if you’d like to drive in, we could go somewhere for dinner.”

  She was too upset to eat, but she had to eat for the baby’s sake. Sitting here feeling sorry for herself certainly wasn’t going to help her. Maybe she could get some perspective if she had dinner with Lauren. Maybe she could think of a way to show Hunter how much she loved him. Maybe she could find a way to make him understand why she’d refused him five years ago, but why she’d asked him to marry her now.

  “Where would you like to meet?” she asked Lauren.

  Hunter’s dad had told him where the meeting was supposed to be held—at the law offices of a firm that was considered less than reputable. That in itself should have been a clear signal to Larry that something wasn’t on the up-and-up. But Larry was trying so hard to prove something to himself, and maybe to Hunter, that he couldn’t see beyond his nose.

  As Hunter parked his car and went to the door of the office building, he saw the blue sky had turned gray. That sure fit his mood. So did the stormy clouds and the wind picking up. His gut was burning with the bitter taste of Eve’s breach of trust—just another in a long line, as far as he was concerned. He purposefully pushed thoughts of Eve away as he went inside.

  He found everyone gathered in a reception area, and noticed John’s relieved look when he saw Hunter. “There you are. I told them we weren’t going into that room and signing anything until you got here.”

  Otis Farley was a hefty man, about six feet tall, with a suit coat that barely covered his midriff. “I don’t see what his arrival has to do with this, Morgan. All the parties concerned are already here.”

  His face flushed with anger, Larry stood. “I don’t know what this is all about. Hunter, you
can just turn around and leave. We don’t need you here.”

  But Jolene clasped Larry’s elbow. “Larry, please listen to Hunter. Just see what he has with him.”

  “The infamous information Eve spoke about. I’m surprised you didn’t bring her along, too.”

  Hunter’s heart hurt, but he ignored it. “Larry, all I ask is that you listen to me for five minutes. That’s all. And take a look at these papers.”

  John came over and clasped Larry on the shoulder. “Please, son. Just listen to what your brother has to say.”

  Startled, Hunter looked at his father. John Morgan was speaking as if both sons were equals, as if he looked at each of them the same way.

  Still looking disgruntled, staring first at his father and then at Jolene and then finally at Hunter, Larry said, “All right. Five minutes. Let’s step out into the hall.”

  Larry, Jolene, Hunter and John went out into the hall while Farley and his lawyer stayed behind.

  “This had better be good,” Larry muttered. “You’re making me look like a fool.”

  Without comment, Hunter handed Larry the pages documenting information on the disk. “These are Farley’s balance sheets. They’re supposed to be a matter of public record, but they weren’t easy to get. I have a friend who managed it for me. You can take the time to study them, but basically what you’ll find is what’s called an inappropriate recognition of revenue. In other words, Farley is putting money on the books that his company doesn’t have. And he’s being investigated for it.”

  Larry quickly looked over the papers—the numbers and the columns. Then he paled and looked up at Hunter. “This is serious.”

  “Yes, it’s serious. You sign papers for a merger with this company, and you’re putting Morgan’s Office Products in jeopardy.” That was the bottom line and there was no way he could make it easy to swallow.

  Silence reverberated in the hallway until a door slammed shut somewhere in the building. Hunter didn’t know what to expect from Larry, and he prepared himself for anything, including more accusations that he was trying to ruin the deal for his own reasons.