“Okay, so the menu is locked. The flower arrangements are a go. Are the RSVPs current?” Aubrey ticked off the items on her fingers as she listed them.
“Yeah, I just got another.” Gwen scrolled through the list of couples who were confirmed to attend Aubrey and Justin’s baby shower and then clicked on her email to scan for any new responses.
Her stomach flipped. Leo. Well, of course Leo would attend. He would be the new Travati baby’s uncle. He couldn’t really miss the baby shower. He hadn’t indicated a plus one. Big sigh. She didn’t know why she felt nervous. He wouldn’t out their relationship there. Ever since they had discussed going public with their dating, she trusted that that he’d wait until after the shower like he’d said. So she had a least a little while until—
“So did you hear about Leo?” Aubrey’s voice dripped with the tantalizing tones of soon-to-be delivered gossip.
Gwen’s heart galloped like a wildebeest being chased by a lion. She forced her expression to remain neutral as she collected the iPad and her notebook from Aubrey’s bed. “Hear what?” She busied herself with her computer case, pretty certain that if she looked at her best friend, Aubrey would see the guilt in Gwen’s eyes.
“Leo is seeing someone.” Aubrey’s eyes widened, as though she’d just revealed the Pope was getting married. “I mean like really seeing, not just one of those convenient arrangement things he does with models and actresses and heiresses. He’s really going out with someone. For more than a month now.”
Ruh-ro. Oh no. Wow. Gwen’s face heated. She had to leave, right now, because she definitely did not want to hear Aubrey’s uncensored thoughts about Leo seeing someone since that someone was her and—
“After all the press about all the girls, can you imagine a woman actually believing that Leo could be serious about her?”
Too late.
“I mean come on? With as many women as Leo’s dated? Like he’s ever going to settle down.”
Gwen’s heart twisted and thumped. She reached for her ponytail and smoothed her hair over her shoulder. “Oh, I don’t know. Wasn’t Justin kind of opposed to settling down too? Didn’t he play the field for nearly forever until you two reconnected?”
“But he had a near-death experience. That changes a person. Took him nearly dying to realize that life was more than a string of nameless, faceless girls, and even then, if not for Max—well, who knows what would have happened to Justin? I don’t know that we would have crossed paths otherwise.” Aubrey rested her hand on her belly and gave a tiny smile. “I want to believe that I’m his one and only and that I changed him, but who knows, really?”
“You don’t believe in true love?”
“Of course I believe in true love,” Aubrey said. “I’m madly in love with my husband and have been since the first time I met him, but it took us so long to find each other again and be together. Justin nearly died before he understood that making a family was the thing that was going to make his life complete.” A long sigh passed over Aubrey’s lips. “I just don’t think that Leo is built that way.”
Gwen’s chest tightened. Of course Aubrey would never intentionally hurt Gwen’s feelings, and it was completely unfair that Gwen was privy to Aubrey’s uncensored thoughts about the idea of Leo dating, and yet, Gwen was thankful for the naked honesty. She exhaled the long breath she hadn’t realized she’d been holding as she zipped her computer case closed.
Gwen’s best friend had just confirmed Gwen’s fears. That when Leo’s “relationship” with her exploded into a million smithereens, not only would she lose Leo but she’d also be fodder for countless gossipy conversations. Worse, she feared she’d also lose her best friend in the process.
“I hear she’s pretty and has her own business,” Aubrey continued, “which is completely out of character for Leo. Justin says he’s been spending all his time with her. One day”—Aubrey lowered her voice as if telling a particularly scandalous detail—“he even skipped out of work and canceled all his meetings. So whatever this girl has must be special, because while I can’t imagine Leo settled down, he definitely seems to have a thing for her.”
Gwen smiled. Yes, he did have a thing for her and she had a thing for him. Such a big thing that she was afraid she might even call it the beginning phases of love.
“So we’re set for Saturday then. You’ll come to Sunday dinner the next day, right? Why don’t you bring the guy you’re dating, and I’ll make Justin convince Leo to bring the woman he’s seeing. Then we could all meet everyone. I mean, you’re not bringing your guy to the shower, and Leo’s said he’s coming alone too—”
The bottom dropped out of Gwen’s stomach. No. Just no. She wasn’t ready, wasn’t certain when she would be ready, no matter what she’d told Leo.
Aubrey went on. “I’ve never really met any of the girls Leo dated, well except the one”
The one? Gwen didn’t really do jealous, but she couldn’t help that heat thrummed around her heart and squeezed at her best friend’s words.
“Trina,” Aubrey said absently, “I think her name was Trina. She worked in mergers and acquisitions at some giant law firm. Again, not really Leo’s type. Went on for quite a while—for him, at least. I actually thought that one had a chance. They seemed perfectly matched—neither of them wanted to be married and they definitely didn’t want kids.”
“Leo doesn’t want children?” Gwen nearly dropped her computer case to the floor.
Aubrey’s smile widened. “Are you kidding? Can you see him trapped in a house with a toddler running around? The man is allergic to anyone under age twelve. I’ll be surprised if we get him to come over to meet his new niece.”
Gwen’s gaze whipped toward Aubrey. “You’re having a girl?”
“Oh my God”—Aubrey clapped her hands to her mouth—“I can’t believe I said that out loud. Justin doesn’t even know.”
“I can’t believe you know!” Gwen covered her own mouth with her fingers, her eyes widening in shock. “And you didn’t tell him?”
Aubrey’s eyebrows pressed together and she shook her head. Guilt threaded through her eyes. “It was awful. I went in for an ultrasound and Justin was meant to come, but he had to fly to London last minute. And I’m lying there, all alone, and the doctor says to me, ‘Do you want to know the sex?’ And of course I wanted to know, but we’d agreed not to find out. But then I saw her, you know, all wiggly on the screen and I just—” Aubrey’s gaze fluttered down to her belly. “I said, ‘Can you tell me?’ And the doctor smiled and I caved like a house of cards in a wind tunnel. I said yes and she told me. I couldn’t help it.” She looked up at Gwen. “I feel so embarrassed. Justin doesn’t want to know and if he finds out that I know, then he’ll make me tell him. Which will ruin the entire surprise.”
“So you’re lying.” Gwen smiled at her friend to soften her words.
“Not lying, just keeping a secret.”
“Difference?”
“One is mean and the other is for a person’s benefit. Like killing someone versus a surprise party.”
“That’s an interesting analogy.” Gwen hoisted her purse strap onto her shoulder. “But I’ll let you go with it. Are you ever going to tell Justin that you knew before him?”
“Maybe when she graduates high school?” Aubrey smiled hopefully.
“A girl? Oh my. That means pink and ribbons and bows and ballet shoes.” Gwen beamed as she envisioned a frilly future for her friend’s baby. Aubrey blushed. “Don’t worry. Your secret is safe with me.”
“Thank you. See you Saturday. And don’t forget—you have an open invite to bring your guy over for dinner on Sunday.”
“I won’t forget.” As if she could. She and Leo had already planned on coming to Sunday lunch together, although she still wasn’t sure she could go through with it. She gave Aubrey a peck and headed for the door. “You’ll see me on Saturday and Sunday.”
“And the guy?” Aubrey called after her.
“We’ll see,” Gwen called back. And so would everyone else.
*
“You ready for a gaggle of giggling women to descend on your place tomorrow?” Leo asked. The cold air bit into his face. Justin had suggested an outdoor evening run, and it had seemed like a good idea. Now he wondered why. The gym was good, the equipment worked well, and yet, when his brother had appeared in his office an hour before with the idea, Leo had agreed.
“Ha! More like, are you ready. Between Gwen and Aubrey and Nina and Shelly and Mrs. Bello, I’m surrounded most days. Besides its a couples’ shower. Plenty of men. Don’t worry—you won’t feel too outnumbered.”
Leo picked up the pace, pushing himself and his brother to sprint around the corner, into the final mile back toward their office building.
“Speaking of couples,” Justin panted, “you bringing this woman you’ve been dating?’
Leo’s heart jolted in his chest. “Dating?”
“The one you cooked dinner for? I’m guessing she’s the same one you’ve been dodging work to see.”
“I’m not dodging work,” Leo grumbled. He was putting in his time as he always did. Granted, he had to work much harder to focus because thoughts of Gwen infiltrated his mind every other minute. “Besides it’s new, we’re—”
“Don’t say you’re not serious.”
Leo cut his gaze over toward his brother. Justin’s face held a smug older-brother look Leo could see even through the growing twilight gloom.
“I’ve watched the parade of women you’ve blown through, and this one is different. Don’t even try to say that she’s not.”
Leo nodded. Justin was correct. Gwen was different. Different type. Different feelings. Different expectations, and perhaps even a different outcome.
“Bring her.”
“Can’t. She’s kind of—” How to put it? “She’s more private than the women I’ve dated in the past.”
“Not a bad thing. At least she’s not using you to up her public image.”
No. Gwen wasn’t using him for that. In fact, she seemed to think word getting about them dating could be more of a social liability than an asset. The brothers pulled up short in front of the offices. Leo walked in tight circles, trying to catch his breath.
“I was thinking Sunday dinner after the shower.”
“Bring her,” Justin said, gasping as he recovered from their run. “But that’s an intense one too. The entire family will be there.”
“She knows.”
“Brave girl,” Justin said. They walked into the warm lobby of the building.
“I guess.” Leo pressed the elevator call button.
“Come on, seriously? She’s gutsy enough to date one of the most dedicated bachelors in New York. She’s either brave or doesn’t want a relationship. And now, she’s agreed to eat with all of us at a family dinner?” They both entered the elevator. “That’s bravery, all right.”
Leo pressed the button for the forty-second floor. Was Gwen brave, or was he a fool to think that this thing between them was special? Or that they wanted the same things. They hadn’t discussed what she wanted or what he wanted…and what if those ideas were completely different. Granted, he didn’t want a convenient arrangement with Gwen, and he wasn’t just after a good time…but what did he want? He didn’t want kids and a house…a wife? Maybe. Someday. Not now. Maybe with Gwe—
“What the hell, man? You’ve got that way-too-serious look on your face.” Justin bent forward and stretched his hamstrings as they rode up to the top floor.
“No. Maybe.” The elevator dinged, opening onto the empty lobby of Travati Financial. He and Gwen were getting takeout tonight and watching a movie. Justin walked past him toward his office door. “Hey,” Leo called out. Justin turned back. “How did you know? With Aubrey?”
Justin shrugged. “It was different for us.”
“I know, but how did you know?”
“It was—” A smile flitted across Justin’s face. He shook his head. “I didn’t. For a while, I didn’t know.” He crossed his arms and leaned against the wall. “One day it hit me, that no matter how amazing my life was with the business, the success, the money, the cars, the trips, the jets…with all of it combined, no matter how awesome it was, my life would never be as good without her as it would be with her.”
Leo raised one eyebrow at his brother. “Dude? Way too much estrogen in your life. Seriously. We need to run more often.”
“What?” Justin smiled and laughed. “You asked.”
“I did,” Leo said. “I absolutely did.”