CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE

What John knew about women he could put on the head of a pin. He refused to let that be the case with his two children.

John cut a quick glance in the rearview mirror of his truck into the back seat of the cab where Mark and Amy were seated. Neither had said anything since they left their grandparents’ house ten minutes ago. He pulled to a stoplight, and glanced in the mirror again. Their somber expressions remained the same. Mark might sit still, but never Amy. Her grandmother lovingly called her a wiggle worm. John had to agree. Amy’s motto was, why walk when running was so much more fun.

“You kids, all right?”

“Yes, Daddy.”

“Yes, Daddy.”

The car behind him honked and John pulled off. He wanted polite children like everyone else, but something was wrong here and had been since Brooke’s visit. He’d broken a cardinal rule for a school night, and kept them out past their bedtime of eight in a futile attempt to cheer them up with a visit to their favorite fast-food restaurant and then to their grandparents. It hadn’t helped.

Amy had an armlock around the teddy bear Brooke had given her. At Mark’s feet was the motorized car he’d taken with him everywhere. Brooke had made as big an impression on his children as she had on him. He glanced into the mirror again, then took the next right to Highway 17. He was doing this for his kids.

Less than ten minutes later he pulled the truck into the driveway of the luxury condominium and stopped at the security gate. “John, Mark, and Amy Randle to see Brooke Dunlap.”

“One moment, sir.”

“We’re going to see Brooke?”

“Brooke lives here?”

“Yes.” And if she refused to see us I really will wring her beautiful neck.

“Have a good night, sir.” The black steel gate started to retract.

John drove through. They were in, but what would he say once he saw her?

*   *   *

Brooke was waiting at the elevator for them. She couldn’t imagine a protective father like John being out with his children on a Sunday night just driving around. Maybe Amy was sick again? Or Mark?

The elevator slid open and the two she had been worried about shot out. “Brooke! Brooke!”

She automatically squatted to hug them both, careful of Amy’s arm. “Are you all right?”

“They are now.”

Brooke’s gaze shot up to John, all mouth-watering, six-foot-plus of him. “What happened?”

“We wanted you to stay for dinner instead of Mary. She always—”

“Amy,” John said quietly.

“She’s not any fun,” Amy finished.

Same thing Brooke had thought. She stood with her hand on Amy’s head and Mark’s shoulder. “Have you had a chance to test the car, Mark?”

“Not yet.” He drew the Corvette closer to his chest. “I was afraid it would run into something.”

She threw John a chilling glance, then smiled down at Mark and lifted the car from his arms and put it on the carpeted hallway. “My condo is straight ahead. Go for it.”

His fingers moved over the control. He looked up at his father. “Can I?”

“Let it rip.”

“Wait!” Amy laid her teddy beat across the seat. “Mr. Bear wants to ride.”

“If he falls off, you won’t cry, will you?”

“He won’t fall off. Mr. Bear is smart.”

Brooke hid a smile behind her hand. John pretended to be rubbing his nose, as he tried to hide his smile.

The ’Vette took off with a whirr of its motor. Brooke flinched as the car came perilously close to hitting the wall.

“Hold on, Mr. Bear!” Amy cried and started after the car and her stuffed animal at a dead run.

John scooped her up and kept going, careful to stay to one side so Mark could see. “Slow it down, son.”

With his tongue in the side of his cheek, Mark brought the car to a halt inches from her door. “I did it!”

There was awe and wonder in his face and voice. Brooke hugged him before she thought better. “Never had a doubt. Come on. Let’s go inside and see what else that baby can do.”

A lot, they soon learned. Amy had long since decided she didn’t want Mr. Bear to have a boo-boo like she did, so he stayed safely in her arms.

John watched his son forget his shyness as he and Brooke put the car through its paces. He wasn’t surprised to hear her say she’d had one as a child. She’d wanted to do what the boys did. This, of course, got Amy’s attention. As soon as her arm was better, she said, she was driving it. Mark said nothing. John knew a fight was in the making.

“Time to go, kids.” The expected protests were ignored. “Thank Brooke and let’s go. Neither one of you is going to want to get up in the morning.”

She hugged and kissed both children. John had never been envious of his children, but he wouldn’t have minded a hug at the moment. Hell, he wanted the kiss, too.

He hefted up Amy. “Thank you,” he told Brooke.

“I enjoyed having them.” She stroked Amy’s cheek and placed her hand on Mark’s shoulder.

“Can you come to supper tomorrow night?” Mark asked. “She can, can’t she, Dad?”

“I’m sure your father has other plans.”

He could read her like a book. She had gone all stiff on him. “I didn’t invite Mary for dinner and if you hadn’t left in such a hurry you would have heard me tell her how rude she was.”

“We all wanted you to stay,” Mark said, catching her free hand with his.

“What do you want, John?”

A thousand erotic things. None of which could be said in front of his children. “I try to get home for dinner around six. It’s lasagna.”

“Thank you. I’ll be there.”

The children cheered. Mark reminded Brooke of the address before John could open his mouth.

She smiled down at him. “You’re such a smart and courteous young man. Good night, John. Be careful of your arm at school tomorrow, Amy. Mark, I expect to hear about the camping trip tomorrow night. You went to my hometown.”

John appreciated that she had included both his children, made them feel that she cared. Nodding, he headed for the elevator. The caring side of Brooke might be even more dangerous than the seductive one.

*   *   *

Lorraine was determined that Hamilton not spoil the success of Bliss. She’d left home early on purpose. She didn’t think she could stand the tension again that morning. Hamilton’s anger was such a startling contrast to the support and encouragement Thomas gave. She paused in front of the display window of Bliss. She was not giving up her dream.

“Morning, Lorraine.”

“Morning.”

Lorraine looked over her shoulder to see Brooke and Claire coming toward her. There was no mistaking the happiness shining in their faces. “Well, you two are walking advertisements for the store.”

Claire’s smile widened. “I wish every woman could feel at least one time in her life the way I do this morning.”

Brooke grinned. “I want to hear every detail about the weekend.”

Claire blushed, but she didn’t tuck her head. “I wouldn’t want to make you jealous.”

Brooke hooted and bumped her shoulder against Claire’s. “That’s my girl.”

Lorraine opened the door, happy for them. She just wished her life wasn’t in such turmoil. “Let’s get inside and make some coffee.”

Arm and arm, Brooke and Claire entered the shop in front of Lorraine. “Good thing we all decided to come in early,” Lorraine said. “It will take us at least that long to straighten up the place and restock.”

In the back office Brooke filled the carafe with tap water, instead of the spring water she’d always used before she lost her job. “I have to confess I came early in hopes that I can leave a bit early.”

“Hot date?” Claire asked, putting all their purses away.

Brooke shrugged her shoulder. “Not exactly. I’m having dinner with John and the children. It’s no big deal.”

Lorraine and Claire traded looks.

“Is that why you’re wearing that sexy blouse with a double ruffle that’s guaranteed to draw a man’s attention?” Lorraine asked.

Brooke cut off the water. “Do you think it’s too much? I decided on the pants instead of the short skirt. The jacket is in the car.”

The other two women laughed. Brooke had never been in doubt of what to wear. “You look beautiful, sophisticated, seductive,” Lorraine said.

“That’s what I was aiming for.” Brooke hit the coffeemaker’s switch. “I decided to give John another chance. He might irritate the hell out of me, but he’s a wonderful father.”

“That he is,” Claire said, picking up a box of Honeysuckle Soufflé square pillar candles. “I’ve said it before, but thanks for going with him, and letting us know Amy was all right.”

“She’s a character,” Brooke admitted with a chuckle. “But Mark is the one that steals your heart. He’s so serious all time that you want to help him cut loose.”

“You can certainly teach him that,” Lorraine said, a bottle of glass spray and paper towels in her hand.

“That’s what I figured.” Brooke took the box from Claire. “So give with your disgustingly happy self.”

A dreamy smile came on her face as Claire walked into the store. “Gray is the most wonderful, considerate man in the world. We had a celebration dinner on his yacht. It rained. We got wet.”

“And?” Brooke prompted.

Claire began stacking candles on the glass shelf. “You sure you want to hear?”

“As long as I’m not getting any, I might as well hear about it.” Brooke began helping.

Claire squatted to fill the lower shelf. She glanced up at Brooke. “Being with Gray was the most frightening, exhilarating experience of my life. It was like catching the perfect sunset again and again, sheer joy, sheer pleasure, where all your senses are alive, reliving that perfect moment again and again.”

There was a long silence. “You love him?”

“Yes.” Claire didn’t even try to deny Brooke’s statement.

Brooke came down beside her. “Be careful.”

“Too late. I won’t give up what we have worrying about tomorrow. I’d rather spend the time loving Gray,” Claire declared.

“I wish I had your courage,” Lorraine said softly. “I don’t know what to do anymore.”

Claire went to Lorraine on the other side of the counter. “You have more courage than either of us. Despite everything, you keep going. You won’t give up.”

“She’s right. Anyone who can look adversity in the eyes has my vote.” Brooke came up beside her. “Besides, I’ve seen Hamilton watching you. He loves you no matter what comes out of his mouth.”

“Some men can be so trying at times,” Lorraine said with feeling.

“You won’t get an argument from me,” Claire said.

“We just have to be smart enough to teach them better,” Brooke said with an emphatic shake of her head. “My money is on us.”

*   *   *

Hamilton couldn’t find the black pinstriped suit he wanted to wear, the white cotton shirt with the monogrammed French cuffs to go with it, nor his black silk underwear. He shoved a dresser drawer closed then opened another. He liked silk underwear, but had never been comfortable with the housekeeper laundering them. Lorraine always made sure he had plenty. Until now.

He opened and slammed another drawer. Red, blue—polka dots his children had given him as a gag—but not black. It might be crazy to some, but once he could afford to do so, he always matched from the skin out. He’d grown up wearing patchwork clothes. He promised himself he’d never do so again.

If Lorraine hadn’t been so busy with Bliss this wouldn’t have happened. He didn’t consider the consequences, he just went to the phone on the bedside table and dialed.

“Bliss. May I help you?”

Hearing Lorraine’s cheery voice wanting to help some stranger when she hadn’t helped her husband, the man who loved her, hit Hamilton the wrong way. “You forgot to wash my black briefs.”

There was a distinct pause. “You have others.”

“I want to wear those with my black Hugo Boss pinstripe that you were supposed to get out of the cleaners last week.”

“I see.”

“You see,” Hamilton said, pacing the floor, his anger growing by the second. “What does that mean?”

“Simply that you will have to rely on yourself to pick up your laundry and dry cleaning, wash your briefs and all the other things I’ve done for you over the years. It’s my time, Hamilton, and I’m going to get my business going,” she said. “You never had to worry about the children nor the house when you opened Corporate Revitalization LLC, did you?”

He didn’t want to answer, but didn’t see how he could get out of it. They both knew the answer. “No.”

“Then be as resilient as I was and take care of yourself. Goodbye, I have a company to run.”

Hamilton hung up the phone and sat on the bed. He didn’t want to take care of himself. He wanted Loraine to do it, but it no longer looked as if he had a choice.

*   *   *

Lorraine slammed the phone down. “Hamilton, I take it,” Brooke said, entering the back room.

Lorraine closed her eyes and counted to ten, then ten again before she opened her eyes and said, “Yes. Can you believe he actually tried to scold me for not picking up his dry cleaning and washing his briefs?”

Brooke picked up a case of BTS products. “As a matter of fact, I can. Mom and Dad both worked, but Daddy would come home from work and sit on the couch and wait for Mama to cook, then bring him a plate. I asked her why she did all the housework and she said it was too late to train him, and if she acted differently he might think she didn’t love him.” Brooke shrugged her shoulders. “I asked Daddy why he didn’t do more for himself and he always said Mama enjoyed taking care of him. My uncles are the same way.”

Lorraine stared at the ceiling. “I did the same with Hamilton. I haven’t worked since the oldest started kindergarten. That’s a lot of years to overcome.”

“You ask me, they just enjoy being waited on hand and foot.” Brooke harrumphed. “When I get married, we’re hiring a housekeeper and cook from day one.”

“We couldn’t afford it when were first married and I have to admit I enjoyed taking care of Hamilton and the children,” Lorraine told her, then quickly added, “But now I want my freedom to do what I want. Thomas sees it. Why can’t Hamilton?”

“I don’t know, but you might have waited too late,” Brooke told her. “Sounds as if Hamilton is thoroughly spoiled. If my mother told Daddy to start taking care of himself, he’d be lost. Just as Hamilton appears to be.”

Lorraine considered what Brooke had told her. “You think the change was too abrupt?”

“If he’s getting on your case about his briefs not being clean, it is. He probably has a drawer full.”

“Make that two.”

“Exactly,” Brooke said. “It’s not the briefs he’s upset about, it’s that it’s one more thing he sees that’s changing that he can’t control. Men hate change, and being out of control of their lives, worse than any woman who ever lived.”

“What do you suggest?” Lorraine asked. Brooke certainly seemed to know more about men than she did.

“Pick out a couple of things you know Hamilton goes bonkers over, do those and give the rest to him. If he still balks, tell him what you can do and let him choose two, that way you make him think he’s still in charge,” she finished.

Lorraine gave her a hug, then laughed. “You’re brilliant.”

“No, I just grew up surrounded by men.” Brooke smiled, then sobered. “That’s why I can’t understand why I can’t figure John out or why he makes me want to tear off his clothes every time I see him.

“Maybe you’ll find out this afternoon at dinner,” Lorraine said, wondering if Brooke realized she hadn’t mentioned Randolph’s name in weeks.

A wary sigh drifted from Brooke’s lips. “I hope so. It’s humiliating knowing he knows I’m a heartbeat away from dragging him to the floor.”

“If the photo shoot is any indication, you may be closer than that.”

*   *   *

Monday morning Gray stepped off the elevator whistling and started down the wide hallway to his corner office. He felt loose, energized. He’d gotten a chance to call Claire before she left for work. Her sleepy voice had him wishing he were there with her. The end of the day couldn’t come soon enough so he could see her again.

It was all he could do this morning to leave her sleeping while he slipped out of her bed. If he hadn’t, he would have made love to her again and he wanted her to have some rest before she went to work that morning. He couldn’t get enough. No woman had ever affected him so strongly. Loving Claire was a sweet addiction that he had no intention of seeking a cure for.

Opening the outer door to his secretary’s office, he strolled inside. “Good morning, Phyllis.”

Gray’s secretary glanced up from the folder in her hand. “Good morning. I can see that you had a good weekend.”

Since he was grinning, there was no sense denying the obvious. “Yes, and yours?”

“All right. My husband’s parents came up for the weekend and I didn’t get a chance to attend the grand opening of Bliss.” She swiveled toward him in her chair. “How was it?”

“The shelves were practically bare by the time they closed.” There was pride in his voice.

Phyllis looked pained. “I hope they have more of the hand cream Ms. Bennett gave me. My mother-in-law loved the way it smelled and made her skin feel soft.”

Claire’s skin was as smooth as velvet. He’d loved and tasted practically every delectable inch of it. His body hardened and he was glad he had his attaché case in his hand. He reached for his door. “I’m sure they have more.”

Phyllis turned back to the file. “I better finish up this report you wanted this morning, then I can run over there on my lunch break. Maybe I’ll get a couple of friends to go with me.”

“You do that.” Gray pushed open his door.

“FedEx delivered an overnight package this morning. I put it on your desk.” Slipping a disk into the computer tower, she reached for the mouse. “I’ll have this financial report into you in fifteen minutes.”

“Thank you.”

Entering his office, Gray placed his attaché case on his desk and picked up the package. He wasn’t familiar with Trinity Merchandising in London. He reached for the tab and pulled. Out tumbled a tiny bit of black lace and with it, Jana’s cloying scent. His entire body went still as he stared at the underwear on his desk. Fury swept through him. The last package she’d sent from New Orleans had contained a black lace thong as well. Phyllis had been the unlucky one that time.

Picking up the notepad on which it had fallen, Gray tossed everything, including the envelope, into his trash can and went into the outer office. “Have Housekeeping come up immediately and dispose of this. Don’t accept any more packages from that address and check all of the overseas mail.”

Frowning, Phyllis glanced from the trash can to her boss. “Yes, sir.”

“It’s from Jana.” His voice was clipped.

Anger flickered in her gaze. She picked up the trash can and wrinkled her nose. “I’ll take care of it. Maybe I’ll pick up a candle or two from Bliss and burn them in here.”

Tight-lipped, Gray nodded as she went out the door. Claire had certainly helped erase the bitter memory of Jana’s betrayal. But just as Jana destroyed their marriage, the package, as she’d wanted, had reminded him that nothing lasts forever. One day, he’d have to leave Claire and move on.

He never wanted to be that vulnerable again.