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Gordon opened his bedroom door with a flourish and spoke to Maureen as she made her way to the kitchen for a glass of milk. “Wait, Maureen, my beauty, come here.”
Deep in thought, she stopped so quickly that she almost tripped. Nothing good could come from a conversation with Gordon unless he broke down and sold her the puppy that Denny wanted. Maureen could not imagine desiring a little dog so much, but she knew her younger sister was lonely.
When she heard heavy footsteps striding toward her, she spun around and spotted James lumbering down the hallway. He appeared incensed, his eyes bulging like the bull that she’d seen on a TV show about the Wild West. “My wife is none of your concern.” He balled his fist and looked ready for another wrestling match.
“Now, now, don’t get all worked up over nothing.” Gordon produced a smile. “As you can see, your lovely wife is safe and sound.” He massaged his hands together. “James, can I interest you in a friendly game of cards?”
“I suppose so.” James had won Maureen’s Lexus in a poker game, but she had no idea how much money he’d lost to his Friday night poker buddies over the years.
“She took hold of James’s forearm. “Are you sure, darling?”
James yanked his arm away and moved into Gordon’s bedroom. “Got anything to drink?” he asked Gordon.
“Of course I do. This is a full-service hotel. Nothing but the best.” He backstepped into a spacious and opulent room with an oversized wooden desk. “I have a bottle of the very finest scotch right here.”
From the hallway, Maureen watched Gordon pour two drinks. Then he brought out a fresh deck of cards. Facing each other, the two men sat at a table. Maureen wished James wasn’t gambling, but she hoped he’d be the winner. Gordon shuffled the cards and offered them to James to cut. She couldn’t bear to watch any longer.
Her mind gyrated with uncertainty. In the past, she’d wondered if her husband had drinking and gambling addictions—much like her father had, if honest with herself. Is that where their parents’ money went? Online gambling or wagers at the golf course? She reminded herself that her husband, James was a highly respected trial attorney at a prestigious law firm. And James had assured her his Friday night poker buddies weren’t addicts. “It’s like playing golf,” he’d said, as if she were insane. “A competitive sport, but all in good fun.”
Thirty minutes later, Maureen peeked through the cracked door opening into the room and saw the two men hunkered at the table, cards in hand—held close to their chests.
She felt a thrill as she accepted the fact that her husband loved her. She had long given up that dream. And she might be pregnant with his child. Certainly no other man’s. Thank goodness she had not succumbed to Gordon’s overtures. She would still write her cookbook, and it would be a smash hit bestseller. She envisioned her book signing in technicolor.
A warmth pervaded her when she realized how full her life was. She leaned against the wall outside of Gordon’s room. She closed her eyes and visualized the cover of her future book, adorned with delectable edibles from the British Isles, and inside, the recipes with mouth-watering color photos. Yes, this hotel was the perfect venue. But more than anything, she wanted to have her family reunited. And that included Denny. If she could just give Denny her heart’s desire, maybe their fractured relationship would be forever mended.
Men’s voices erupted from Gordon’s room, then the air fell silent. Maureen speculated about what was happening but knew better than to interrupt James. She’d made that mistake before and had received a royal dressing down.
A couple of hours later, the door opened. James poked his head out and grinned at her.