Chapter Four

“Is Dr. Greenlee available to speak to me yet?”

“She’s still busy, Mr. Benjamin,” the receptionist said. “I told her you needed to talk with her.”

Luke sighed. Why did Rebecca have to be so busy? “Tell her I need her to call back as soon as possible, okay? It’s important.”

“I’ll remind her of your call again.”

“Thank you.” He said goodbye and ended the call. Please call me Rebecca.

Luke set the phone in its charging cradle and moved to the window. A light rain fell against it, sliding down the glass in shining wetness. He’d been trying to get in touch with Rebecca all weekend, leaving her message after message at home and now at her office. So far no one had hinted about him being in a new relationship, yet that didn’t mean anything. He’d been busy in his office. Except for a quick run to the breakroom around lunch time, he’d been alone. Even his assistant had stayed at his desk all morning.

His phone buzzed, sending his hand jerking toward it. Please be you, Rebecca. “Benjamin Industries.”

“Luke?”

Shit. “Mark, I don’t have time to talk now. I’m waiting on a call.”

His brother laughed. “When aren’t you?”

“What do you want?” Experience told him his brother wouldn’t end the call until he had his say. “Is everything going okay at the Columbus restaurant? Dad told me you had some problem over the weekend.”

“Oh, I’ve settled that,” he said. “Work is fine. What I need to ask is if Rebecca saw Emma Friday night.”

“Emma?”

“Yes, did she see her?” Anxiety rode harsh in his words. “Rebecca told me she stopped in the conference room on the way to my office. She said you were there.”

But what else did she tell you? “I was there, yes.”

“Was Emma?”

“Yes, but she was in the bathroom.”

“So Rebecca didn’t see her?”

“No, she was looking for you.” It didn’t sit well lying. Untruthfulness at any time made him uneasy. “You want some advice, Mark.” He didn’t give his brother time to say yes or no. “Instead of worrying about your lady finding out, why not just confess your sin to her?”

A harsh growl roared out of the line. “Are you fucking crazy? Rebecca would leave me forever if she found out I got another woman pregnant.”

He clamped his hand hard around the phone. “Don’t you think she deserves to know the truth?”

Mark laughed. “Why? You and that judge fixed things for me. Other than depositing that money into a trust fund for the kid and giving blood for that test, I’m free of it.”

Shit, his brother could be a total asshole.

“I just wanted to know if Rebecca and Emma talked, that’s all.”

He should just tell the truth. Why the hell did he cover for his brother all the time? “No, Emma was in the bathroom.”

“Good.” Relief sounded clear in the phone. “Now if only I can convince her to use another caterer for the wedding. Gotta go, little brother.”

He glared at the phone for a second and then replaced it in the base. His reflection in the window showed his sarcastic grin. Did he even know his fiancée? “I doubt even you could change her mind.”

Maybe he should hint to Rebecca not all is well, but that would only hurt his old friend. She truly loved that asshole brother of his, had since she returned home from college before going on to medical school. At the time, Mark cared about her too. Yet now Luke wasn’t so sure of that. Would a man who loved someone continue to sleep with another woman? Maybe once, yes, because he had a weak moment. Not a dozen or so times afterward.

And it hadn’t been the first time. Benjamin Industries had paid a few other women to stay silent because of his brother’s inability to remember he was engaged.

Why do you stay with him, Rebecca?

The phone buzzing on his desk stopped his contemplation and he turned to pick it up. “Benjamin Industries.”

“Hey, Luke,” Rebecca said. “Sorry it’s taken me so long to get back with you, but it’s been busy the last few days.”

“I’m glad you finally called.” Relief sank him into his seat. “I won’t take up much of your time. I just need to ask a favor.”

“Sure,” she said, letting out a breath. “Anything.”

“It’s about…” He hesitated, unsure how to word his request. Did it really matter what words he used with his friend? She already suspected something was up, something that involved Emma. Unfortunately, her suspicious were all wrong. “It’s about…Emma.”

“Emma?” She went silent for a second, then she said. “Oh, you mean Emma Cook, your new lady.”

“We’re only friends, Rebecca.”

“Sure, you are,” she said, with a joyful laugh. “But I’ll let you believe what you want to believe now, I’m too busy.”

“Thanks.” Before she could make another comment, he said, “Could you hold off telling anyone about her?”

Silence filtered in the line again. “Why, Luke? She seems like a nice woman.”

“She is.” He jerked straight at his instantaneous agreement. “Everything is so…new for us. And I just found out she dated…someone I know. It’ll be a little uncomfortable for her.” Hopefully he hadn’t said anything to give his brother away. If anyone was going to cause Rebecca pain, it wouldn’t be him. “And I’d rather get to know her better before Mom and Dad find out.”

“Yes, especially your mom.” Joyful laughter blasted into his ear. “She thinks two and half years is plenty of time to get over Kathleen too.”

So did his dad. But his mother was more vocal about her beliefs, speaking of them every time he talked with her. He loved his mother, yet her attitude was getting to him. Could her attitude be a reason for his action yesterday with Emma? Could her and his sisters’ veiled threats to introduce him to some of their friends be the reason for his unthoughtful action?

“You know I can’t keep a secret well, Luke,” Rebecca said. “But I’ll try.” Another voice rose in the line. “Look, I have to get going. I think one of my mamas-to-be is ready to deliver.”

The call ended then, and the contradiction in the whole bizarre situation came to sudden light. Why it only hit him now he didn’t understand, yet it was ironic all the same.

Rebecca was one of the best OB/GYNs in the area.

Wouldn’t it be poetic justice if Emma selected her as her doctor?

****

“Emma, you ready to go?” Her mother peeked around the door before stepping into her office. “Steph and I are getting something to eat at the diner tonight. It’s been such a busy week, we’re thinking of treating ourselves. Are you up for that, or are you too tired?”

“It is Saturday night, so why not?” Emma grinned at her mother. “I just have a few more things to do before I can leave.”

“Okay, I’ll wait here for you.” She moved into the office and settled in one of the chairs with a long sigh. “Feels good to sit down for a bit.”

“Oh?” Emma took her focus off the Excel form. “You went with Steph and the servers to the Fitzgerald anniversary party?”

Her mother nodded. “Zora didn’t show up again.”

Emma leaned back into her seat and sighed. “This is… What? Two times this week?”

“Three.” Her mother frowned. “I’m thinking we have to let her go.”

“Won’t be easy.” She groaned. “You know she’s going to cry racism, if we let her go.”

“I know.” Her mother nodded. “But don’t worry, I’ve got witnesses and proof for every incident. Her lawyer father can try to sue us like he did the last place she worked, but it won’t work.”

“Good,” she said, refocusing on her form for a moment before saving it. “Want to hear some good news?” She shut down the computer and pushed back her seat. “Every Friday, Saturday, and Sunday in June is filled with catering jobs, and five days in July and three in August.”

“Really? Already?”

Emma laughed. “We even have a couple of weddings to cater in late May and early September.”

“Nice to be so popular, isn’t it?” Her mother stood from her chair and lifted her arms high over her head. “Tiring, but good. Your father would be pleased.”

An image of her dad rose in her mind, the way he looked right after he’d negotiated a big deal. A mixture of pride and arrogance washed over his face, enhanced by a big grin and a wink toward her. Of all the time she spent alone with her dad growing up, those times were the best. She’d been proud to be his daughter.

“You ready, honey?”

She shook the feeling away and slipped from her seat. Making sure everything was locked down she turned off the light and followed her mother out toward the customer area. “I’m ready.”

“About time,” her mother said, with a grin. “I’m starving for my usual onion rings and BLT.”

“I’ll have a chicken salad sandwich.” Emma laughed. “That’s about the only thing I can stomach nowadays.”

Her mother tapped her back. “Give it time, Em. You’ve been taking pre-natal vitamins for the last week, right? And they’re helping. You’ll be able to eat better soon.”

“Is she complaining again?” Her sister stood at the front door, clad in coat, gloves, and hat, holding out a coat in each hand. She handed one to their mother and then turned to Emma. “Here you go. It finally stopped raining, but now it’s cold. Be glad when the weather gets back to normal. The last few weeks have been outrageous.”

“I heard it’s supposed to warm up soon.” Emma put on and zipped up her garment. She let go of her sister’s complaint about the weather and focused on her question. “Mom was promising me that the morning sickness would end.”

Steph sniffed. “What a complainer.”

“Like I’m the only one who complains?”

Her sister shrugged. “At least I believe the weather guy.”

“Your big sister will just have to live with it,” her mother said, wrapping her arms around both of their waists. She hugged them tight to her sides. “Now, let’s go. I’m starving.”

Emma looked at Steph and then grinned as her mother walked to her car. “Does she ever eat any of her own stuff?”

Steph shook her head. “You know Mom.”

Yes, she knew her mother well. She was honest to the core. Her parents were both that way, teaching her and her sister the right way to do business. Emma always suspected it was the company’s internal values of honesty, caring, and good quality that made them so popular with everyone.

Like with Rebecca.

Her mind drifted back to the moment she walked out of the bathroom a week ago and spotted the elegant, well-dressed blonde woman standing near Luke. She looked vaguely familiar but she hadn’t recognized her from the newspaper article. Not until she mentioned Meg’s name and getting Cooks to do her wedding. Then she’d just freaked out, and completely, totally lost it.

A week had gone by since she found out Cooks would be catering her wedding, and she still had a hard time accepting it. She was surprised her uncle hadn’t found out about it yet. But then Luke had his own reasons for keeping it from him. She pressed her fingers to her lips and sighed. It was a simple little kiss so why was it still affecting her?

Damn.

“You okay, Emma?” Steph set the alarm and locked the shop. “You’ve been acting stranger than normal lately.”

“I’m fine.”

“If you say so,” her sister said, moving past her toward their mother. “Let’s go. I’m looking forward to my once a week burger with the works and fries.”

Emma stepped beside her sister and wandered down the street to the busy diner. Maybe there was a way Cooks could get out of catering that August wedding. “Mom, could I ask you something?”

“Honey?”

She moved to walk with her mother, leaving her sister alone behind them. “Has Dad ever changed his mind about catering a wedding?”

“What?” Her mother glanced at her but didn’t stop until she reached the edge of the curb at the side street. “Why are you asking?”

“I mean, after he’d given the wedding planner or whoever his okay.” Emma stepped away from her mother. “Did he ever change his mind?”

“No. Never. Why?”

“I’m thinking we might have to say no to one of our newest brides,” she said, stepping from the sidewalk onto the road. She didn’t say another word until she stood outside the small diner. “Here we are.”

“Emma,” her sister said, setting her hand on her shoulder. “Finish your thought.”

She glanced at her frown, and then sighed. “One of our newest jobs…Rebecca Greenlee is Mark’s fiancée.”

Both her mother and sister stood straight, focusing wide eyes on her. Her mother shook her head. “Are you serious?”

“Luke told me last week at the conference with Judge Brown and the sperm donor.”

“Honey…language.”

“Well, it’s true.” Emma glanced at her silent sister. “A few days before that Meg called and said she had two big weddings for us—one in June and one in August. Rebecca’s and the sperm—Mark’s is the one in August. She hadn’t confirmed either date until the day before yesterday, though. That’s why I didn’t say anything until now. I was hoping she would change her mind.”

“Not good.” Her voice deepened with worry. “But we can’t cancel on her. We pride ourselves on never doing that.”

“Are you sure about this, Emma?” Steph grabbed her arm suddenly. “Oh, I just remembered something. She’s a doctor.”

“A doctor?”

“An OB/GYN.”

Shock froze her in place. “How do you know?”

“I recognized the name on the schedule,” she said, dropping her hand from her arm. “She’s the new doctor that took over after my first OB/GYN left town a few years ago. She’s really good.”

Emma shook her head. Why hadn’t Luke mentioned that last week? And, even more important, why would a woman intelligent enough to go through medical school marry an asshole like Mark Benjamin? What was wrong with her? He wasn’t that great in bed, either. “I can’t believe it.”

“Well, it’s a done deal.” Her mother pressed her back and pushed her into the warm diner. “I’m cold and hungry.”

Emma allowed her mother to drag her along. A rush of heat and laughter broke through the uncertainty of the situation. Her mother was right. It was a done-deal. Never before had Cooks decided against catering a wedding unless the customer was just too unreasonable and argumentative. And that rarely happened. Some bride’s parents were more testy and obnoxious than others, but most could be reasoned with in the end.

Rebecca Greenlee. No, Dr. Rebecca Greenlee, didn’t seem that way at all.

“Em?” Her sister tapped her back. “Why did you stop?”

She didn’t say a word as her mother waved in her general direction. Steph pushed at her back. “I see her, Steph.”

Then she noticed someone else a few table behind her mother, sitting alone with a cup of coffee in front of him. “Shit.”

“What?”

Emma tore her eyes from the now-staring man. “Nothing.”

Keeping her head lowered as she wandered toward her mother was harder than it should have been. Awareness roared in her, heart beat hard under her breasts, lungs hurting for lack of oxygen. Never before had she reacted this way because of a man. She’d loved Frank with all her heart, and he’d never had her losing it. Her legs gave out when she reached the table, forcing her to grab for the back of her mother’s chair. One stolen kiss a week ago shouldn’t make her so feeble. Hormones, that all it was. Those stupid erupting hormones caused by the changes in her body because of her being pregnant.

Stupid damn sperm donor.

“You all right?”

No, she wasn’t okay. “Just…hungry.”

“Sit down, honey, before you fall down.”

“I’m…fine.”

“Yeah, right.” Sarcasm dripped from both her sister’s words. “You saw someone—” Eyes widening, she jerked her head beyond her table. “Someone you didn’t want to see, I’m expecting. But who could it be?”

Before she could stop herself, she gazed at the still staring lawyer. A grin warmed his mouth now. “It’s wrong. All wrong.”

“Oh, wow,” Steph whispered. “Who is that?”

Her mother twisted around. “Who are you two gawking at?”

“Mom,” Emma said, heat flashing into her face. If she didn’t take their focus of Luke, he would come over and talk. And that’s the last thing she wanted. The first time they were alone she’d kissed him; the next time wouldn’t end with a kiss. This damn hungry body of hers wouldn’t allow him to leave until it was satisfied. Hormones. “Mom, Steph, stop it now. You’re acting like idiots.”

“Oops, he’s coming.” Steph laughed low. “Wow.”

Dammit.

****

Luke had every intention of ignoring Emma and the two other women, yet his legs had a different idea. Before he could tell his mind how stupid going to her would be, he was standing and walking to the table.

“Emma?”

She didn’t look up. “Luke.”

The older woman smiled at him. “You know my daughter?”

“Yes,” he said, stepping in closer to Emma’s chair. Her shoulders stiffened at his approach. “We met last week.”

“He’s…the sperm donor’s lawyer,” Emma whispered. “Mark’s brother.”

“Oh?” The woman sighed loud at Emma’s comment. “Don’t let my daughter upset you, Mr. Benjamin. She’s troubled about…things.”

“I understand, Mrs. Cook.” He relaxed a bit at her kind words and warm smile. An older version of her daughter’s. “My brother can be hard to take at times.”

And he did understand because he was as troubled. He’d left her Friday night with every intention of never seeing her again. Yet he’d found his thoughts on her more and more as the week went by, on that kiss he’d forced on her. He still felt it heating his body and freeing his heart. That, more than any other thing, was the reason he’d stayed away. His reaction had scared him.

“Keep your head out of the gutter, Steph.”

“I’m trying, big sister.”

Emma snorted loud, sending the other woman bursting into laughter. “Stop it, Steph.”

Only then did he realize what he’d said, and he shook his head. “I guess I should’ve worded that a bit differently.”

“Yes,” Emma’s sister said, fighting down her laughter. “Oh, I’m Stephanie Williams, and this”—she pointed at the now observant older woman—“is our mother, Linda Cook.”

“It’s nice to meet you both.” Luke nodded at the sister without taking his eyes off the older one “And your daughter didn’t upset me, Mrs. Cook. My brother treated her with total disrespect. She has every right to feel the way she does.”

A look of surprise widened in Emma’s eyes.

“That’s kind of you to say, Mr. Benjamin.”

“It’s the truth.” Emma was clearly this woman’s daughter. “Please call me Luke.”

“All right, Luke, I’ll do that. And you can call me Linda.

“Linda,” he said.

“Mrs. Cook makes me sound too old.” She pointed at the empty space at the table. “Would you like to join us?”

“No, he can’t do that, Mom.”

She ignored Emma’s plea and waited for his answer. Even though he’d wanted Rebecca not to mention his new lady friend to his family, he still nodded and pulled a chair from the table behind him. He’d had time to think over his reason for wanting to keep Emma safe from them, and he realized it wasn’t necessary. The agreement he’d made with the judge was between Mark and Emma, not him. And, for once, he would think about himself. Since meeting her last week, he’d been intrigued. Something about her had spoken to him then, and it only became louder and more real while they ate dinner and talked at her home. Something special had developed between them, something he wanted to mature to its fullest.

“Yes, join us,” Steph said. “Emma didn’t tell us much about what happened at the meeting between you and Uncle George.”

“She didn’t?” He placed the chair between Emma and her mother and settled into it. A waitress came by then. “Oh, I moved from the table over there. I hope that’s okay.”

“Yes, that’s fine,” she said, placing her pencil to the pad. “I saw you move. Would you like more coffee?”

“Yes, thank you.”

She wrote it down and then grinned at Linda. “I can probably guess what the three of you want.”

“Probably,” the older woman said. “BLT and onion rings for me, hamburger with the works and fries for Steph, and a chicken salad sandwich for Emma.”

“Done.” The waitress didn’t even bother writing on her pad. “And you all want unsweetened ice tea, right?”

“Yes,” Emma said. “Can I add a side of cottage cheese with my sandwich?”

“Sure,” she said, scribbling on the pad. She twisted his way. “I know you already ate, but maybe you’ll like some pie or cake.”

“Do you have apple pie?”

She nodded.

“I guess I’ll have a slice of that.” He leaned back into his seat. “Put it all on my bill.”

“No.” Emma sat up straight and firm beside him. “We can pay for our own food, Luke.”

“Oh, be quiet, sis.” Steph stretched out and pinched her cheek lightly. “Let your guy pay for our meal, why don’t you?”

Your guy? Luke liked that. “Yes, let me pay.”

He could tell she thought the whole thing was a bad idea, but he didn’t care. Maybe if he hadn’t followed her home and eaten her aunt’s delicious lasagna, he might not be as willing to be seen with her. Maybe if she hadn’t opened up a bit, talking so easily. Maybe if he hadn’t kissed her.

“You’re being unreasonable, Emma.”

Linda leaned toward her quiet daughter. A part of Luke understood why she was acting this way, because of the agreement she signed with Mark. Yet another part knew the agreement had nothing to do with him. For the last two years, he’d been helping Mark out of one problem after another. Nothing as bad as getting another woman pregnant while engaged, but the complications were bad all the same. He was tired of putting his brother’s wellbeing ahead of his own. He was tired of putting the family business and name ahead of his own needs. He loved his family, but…

He was weary of being alone.

“Oh, okay, he can pay.”

“Good.” Steph tapped her sister’s clasped hands. “Now was that so hard.”

Even he had to grin at the play on words. Too bad Emma wasn’t in a playful mood now, because her response was only a loud outburst of breath. Luke pulled the chair closer to the table, making sure it was touching Emma’s. Her body stiffened at his nearness, straightening against her seat. But instead of moving away, he placed his arm around her and caressed her taut shoulder.

“So everything is settled between my daughter and your brother?” Linda asked. “She didn’t tell us much about what happened, and I haven’t talked with George. Maybe you can’t tell me everything, but surely you can tell a bit more than Emma has so far.”

Luke glanced at the woman beside him. “Nothing that we discussed was for our ears only, Emma. It’s okay to tell your mom and sister.”

She shrugged. “I didn’t feel like talking about it.”

“Why?”

Emma placed her hands flat on the table and twisted toward him. His hand cupped her throat gently, enjoying the feel of her accelerated heartbeat against his skin. She softened under his touch and then jerked an inch away. “Why? You really want to know why?”

“Yes, I would.” Irritation rose at her attitude. “Nothing bad was asked of you or my brother. Nothing out of the ordinary.”

She groaned loud and then shook her head. “Oh, nothing unusual was suggested for either of us? Except for Uncle George setting up a trust fund for the baby and me having to prove that Mark is really the father, all was well. It didn’t seem to matter if I wanted the money or not.”

“The money is for the baby!” he exclaimed. “It’s not for you.”

“Like your family or Rebecca will believe that.”

Luke froze at the mention of his old friend’s name.

“Speaking of Rebecca,” she said, leaning even further from him. “Why didn’t you tell me she was a doctor? Here I always thought doctors were smart.”

“She is,” he said, taken aback by her attack change. “Rebecca graduated in the top twenty-five of her medical class.”

“Oh, really?” She pointed her finger in his direction. “Then why is she marrying that asshole brother of yours? How come she doesn’t see how bad he is for her? For any woman?”

“Honey, that’s enough.”

Luke didn’t know what to say. The more he thought about it, the more he wondered. Hadn’t Rebecca cancelled the engagement three times over the last two years? If she was truly sure of things, wouldn’t she just marry him?

“He slept with me while engaged to her.” She inhaled and exhaled hard on her words. “More than once.”

“She broke off the engagement,” he said, jumping to his brother’s defense without thinking first. “He met you during that time. He wasn’t thinking straight.”

“Maybe one time,” Linda said, forcing her way into their conversation. “Yet my daughter told me they dated for three months after that.”

Damn, he didn’t need this now. Thankfully, before any more could be said, the waitress arrived with the food. Silence settled around the table as she placed the drinks in front of them, and then the meals. The last dish was filled with apple pie. He picked up his coffee cup and took a careful sip, glancing around the table at the eating women. Linda bit into her BLT while Steph smashed the top bun hard onto the bottom and picked it up. Emma sat frozen in her seat.

“You need to eat, Emma.”

“I know that.”

“Just eat slowly, honey,” her mother said.

Emma gazed at her as if she didn’t quite believe her before picking up one half of the sandwich and taking a small bite. She chewed and swallowed it down, waiting for a few seconds before taking another bite. She relaxed into her chair.

Even her eating was fascinating.

A half of her chicken salad was finished and most of the cottage cheese before he managed to pull his gaze away. Unfortunately, it landed on her grinning mother. This whole situation made him feel like a teenager on his first date with a girl. Yet he wasn’t a kid, and this wasn’t his first date. He was a grown man, a widower who only now found a possible path out of his grief. Emma had him feeling again, wanting to be with someone.

Linda set down her iced tea and laid her hand on his arm. “I like you.”

“Mom?”

“Well, I do.” A warm smile wrinkled around her mouth and eyes. “I only saw your brother once, on his way out of my daughter’s home. He didn’t impress me much.”

Very intuitive woman. “Now I see where Emma gets her…outgoing attitude.”

“I think George will be okay with the two of you dating,” she said. “I am.”

“Uncle George will be upset, Mom.”

Emma leaned over slightly, causing his forgotten hand to slip along the soft skin of her neck. The tips of his fingers glided under the loose collar of her blouse. He swallowed and pinched the material around two fingers. She didn’t pull away. Instead, she leaned in closer. Did she even notice her reaction? Luke didn’t know, and he didn’t care. All he knew was that he suddenly needed to feel her soft, naked skin. He needed to bath in the sweet, flowery scent issuing from her.

“Maybe, if things…”

He spread his fingers down the smoothness of her back and rubbed the tips over her tight neck muscles.

“This isn’t…right.”

“Feels right to me, Emma.”

“Does it?”

Her look softened as she relaxed under his caressing finger. He sighed and spread his fingers wider, connecting to as much of her skin as possible. Like at the conference with her uncle and his brother, he lost his focus. All he sensed now was the warmth of her arm and the scent of spring flowers coming from her skin. All he remembered was that kiss. He hardened under her spell, forgetting that the two weren’t alone at the table.

“I think it’s time for us to leave, Mom.”

The laughing comment barely registered in him.

“Yes, Steph, I do believe it is.”

The soft hit against his back pulled him back to the restaurant “You’re leaving?”

Linda just nodded and followed her laughing younger daughter through the filled diner.

Emerald-colored eyes shined with sweet hunger.

Shit, but he wanted her. Right or wrong, he wanted her. “Are you ready to go?”

Emma sighed out a yes.