by Francis Ray
“Gray, please,” Claire said. Her voice trembled, her heart cried out for the pain he was enduring. Jana had planned her reappearance well. But Claire wasn’t going to let her hurt him anymore. She came to her feet, then stepped in front of him. “Don’t let her do this to you. Please.” She placed her hand on his chest, felt the thud of his heart. “Don’t let her win.”
Slowly Gray brought his gaze to Claire. The rage was still there, and the lingering pain. His hand lifted to squeeze hers, then he held her chair for her and took a seat beside her. He didn’t release her hand. If those in the room suspected Gray and Claire were more than business associates, they had just proven them right. Claire couldn’t have cared less. Gray was all that mattered, and helping him get through this.
“Thank you, Amanda,” Mrs. Livingston began as if the interruption had never occurred. Ignoring Jana was the best way to deal with her. “In my lifetime, I’ve had the privilege to meet some dynamic people, who by their very presence make the world a better place and those around them happy. The person I’m about to introduce is one of those individuals. Her honesty and integrity are unquestionable. She is destined to make her mark in the business world. Indeed, has already begun to do so.” She smiled warmly at Claire.
“I’ve known her for many years and am honored that she first approached us about her business venture.” Her gaze ran over the crowd. “She is a friend of mine and the Livingston family. We support her fully and humbly ask that you do the same.”
Mrs. Livingston paused and Claire could almost hear the unspoken threat, If you don’t, you’ll have us to deal with.
The older woman’s attention came back to Claire. “I’m honored to present Claire Bennett.”
Claire stood as the applause began, aware she still held Gray’s hand, but she had no intention of releasing it and it appeared he didn’t plan to release hers either. As if drawn, her gaze went to Jana in the back. She wasn’t smiling any longer. If looks could kill, Claire would be in need of a hearse. Claire smiled.
* * *
Gray didn’t say a word as he, Claire and his grandmother left the luncheon. By tacit agreement, they walked to the Livingston Building a couple of blocks over. The silence continued as they rode the elevator, then went down the hall and into his office.
“Hold all my calls. Let security know that my ex is back and may try to see me.”
His secretary’s eyes widened. She reached for the phone. “Right away, Mr. Livingston.”
In his office he was ready to explode, then he looked at Claire, saw the worry on her face and pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry she ruined it for you.”
“Me?” Leaning back, Claire palmed his face. “It’s you she wants back. I could hurt her for the pain she’s put you through.”
“Pain?” he said, frowning. “What pain?” Claire remained silent. “You think I still care about her?”
“N–Not exactly.”
“Then what?” he demanded.
“She’s very beautiful.”
“So is a coral snake, but I wouldn’t want to snuggle up with one.” He scowled. “I was concerned about you, not me. Moments before, you were so happy. She did it on purpose. She’s as vindictive as ever.”
“You were worried about me?”
“Of course.” Couldn’t she see he’d do anything for her?
“Gray!” she cried and kissed him.
“I can see my presence is not necessary,” Mrs. Livingston said to the abashed Claire and smiling Gray. “I’ll see you when I see you.”
Leaving Claire, he gave his grandmother a hug. “Thank you. As always you came through.”
“One does what one must.” She looked at Claire. “Come to dinner Sunday and we can talk.”
“Yes, ma’am. I’d like that.”
The door closed and Gray pulled Claire back in his arms. “Now, where were we?”
* * *
Jana Louise Carpenter Livingston Murphy Franklin was back in Charleston. Fifteen minutes after the business meeting was over the news had run through Charleston’s elite society. Every detail, from the time she walked into the meeting until Gray, his grandmother, and Claire Bennett, his protégée/lover left, was repeated. They’d walked right by Jana as if she were a bump on a log. The two little friends with her seemed nervous. They had a right to be.
It was obvious to everyone in attendance that they had invited Jana. Mrs. Livingston didn’t make idle threats. The women’s clothing boutique certainly wouldn’t see any of Mrs. Livingston’s cronies shopping there. They’d be lucky if they didn’t close before Christmas.
Jana, her black eyes cold, stood outside Bliss later that afternoon. She wanted Gray back and she planned to have him. She didn’t love him. She loved no man. Love made you vulnerable. Just look at the men she had tossed aside who begged her to come back to them. All but Gray.
He was a challenge. No matter how many men came and went in her bed, he was the one she couldn’t forget. A man could be wild in bed, driving her to the height of ecstasy, but sooner or later she’d feel the need to move on and dominate another man. They might think they were using her and having sex, but to her it proved that she was stronger, more powerful. Perhaps that was why she could never forget Gray. She had never been able to dominate him. Not once.
There was restlessness in her that she knew was caused by that omission. She had to bring Gray to his knees. Once she did, she’d move on to another fool who thought he could make her love him exclusively. Men were such fools. Her mother was right about that. Some called them amoral, but they were realistic. She might have been conceived in sin, but sin was her redemption. Giving control to a man made you weak and vulnerable. Even now her mother was discreetly carrying on an affair behind the back of husband number four.
Jana knew she could only depend on herself to ensure her well-being. Her father might have cut her off, but there was always another man waiting and she knew just how to win him. Her skill as a lover had served her well. Amazing how a mouth and tongue in the right place drove a man crazy and made him generous. She might have taunted Gray about a pool boy, but she’d never stooped to the working class. She only went after men with money and influence.
The banker in London had been a side diversion while her real target was in Brussels on business. She neither knew nor cared if the banker came looking for her when she left the next morning while he snored. She’d heard him talking to his girlfriend, Brooke. He was cheating, also. He just didn’t know how to play the game as well. She did, and she was about to show the drab woman clinging to Gray that she didn’t have a chance now that Jana was back. As long as she drew breath she’d never allow him to be happy with another woman. A smile on her face, Jana crossed the street and entered Bliss.
* * *
Claire glanced up as the door opened and froze. There was only one reason why Jana would come to Bliss—to make trouble. Excusing herself from a customer, Claire met the other woman a few steps inside the shop.
“Please leave.”
Jana’s perfectly brow arched. “I go and do as I please.”
“Then do it someplace else.”
“Are you that insecure of Gray or of yourself that, after seeing me, you know you’ll never be able to keep him?”
Claire laughed at the absurdity of Jana’s statement. “And what do I see? A woman without morals, without worth. If Gray wanted a beautiful shell he would have overlooked your immorality and kept you. He didn’t want you then or now.”
Rage flushed her cheeks. “You bitch!”
Claire’s smile died. “Leave, Jana. You won’t like it if I have to help you.”
“You—”
“Leave,” Brooke said, coming up beside her friend.
“Please let me handle this, Brooke,” Claire said.
Jana’s attention snapped to Brooke, she laughed. “Brooke? This is rich. I’ve had both of your men and could have them again if I wanted.” She smirked at the astonishment on Brooke’s face. “Randolp
h Peterson, the third. London, in his flat. You were moaning about losing your job. I had him moaning about something else entirely.”
Brooke returned Jana’s nasty smile with interest. “No wonder he came running back to me with an eighteen-karat diamond bracelet. He’s promised a wedding ring. What did you get besides a toss in the sheets?”
Fury glittered in Jana’s eyes. “I can have him back if I want.”
“You have my blessings and Randolph my sympathy, but Gray’s too smart. Otherwise you wouldn’t be here,” Brooke said.
Lorraine joined then, and went to open the door. “Don’t come back.”
“I’ll ruin you,” Jana hissed, drawing the attention of the few customers in the store, who had long since stopped shopping to watch the fireworks.
“You can try, but whatever happens, you’ll never have Gray, and you’ll always regret you lost him,” Claire said with complete confidence and assurance.
“You won’t keep him!” Jana predicted with a snide smile. “The only reason he’s with you is that he doesn’t have to worry that another man would want an ugly woman like you.”
“Shut up or I won’t be responsible!” a male voice snarled.
Jana whirled as Gray entered the shop. Rage emanated from him. “Claire is more woman that you could ever be. You’re right. I don’t have to worry about Claire. She’s too honest to ever be the liar and cheat you were. She has something you never will, a heart.” His eyes narrowed dangerously. “Go after me all you want, but don’t get in Claire’s face again. Don’t mistake my silence for weakness.”
“Gray, I…”
Jana reached for him and he stepped back as if from something vile. “It’s over. It has been for a long time.”
“You loved me once!” she cried. “You can’t choose her over me.”
“I already have.” He stepped to Claire’s side and circled her waist. “What makes it so wonderful is that she chose me as well.”
Brooke and Lorraine cheered. The other women joined in. Jana stared from Gray to Claire, then ran from the shop. Lorraine shoved the door shut behind her.
Gray stared down at Claire. “I’m sorry.”
Her arms circled his neck. “I’m not. She’s finally out of your life. You’re free.”
But the memory of her betrayal lingered, Gray thought. The avid attention he was receiving from the other customers brought it all back. He wondered if he’d ever be completely free.
* * *
Claire opened the door to the ringing phone. Thinking it was Gray, she rushed to answer it. He hadn’t been his usual self since the confrontation with Jana at Bliss yesterday.
“Hello.”
“Hi, sis. You hit the big times,” Derek greeted, his voice booming.
Claire tried not to be disappointed that it wasn’t Gray, but failed. “Hello, Derek.”
“You could have knocked me over with a feather when one of the guys at work showed me the newspaper with you in it.” He chuckled. “Seems I didn’t have to worry about Gray taking you after all. You played him like a fiddle.”
Frowning, she continued into her room with the cordless. In the background she heard a baby crying. “What are you talking about?”
“You’re going to be in Livingston Catalogue. That will bring big bucks.”
Her mouth tightened at the implication. “My dating Gray has nothing to do with the catalogue.”
“If you say so.”
From his snide tone he obviously didn’t believe her and it grated on her nerves. The baby’s screams had accelerated to a high, disturbing pitch. “What’s wrong with that baby? She sounds as if she’s in pain.”
“She sick. Running a temperature and can’t keep any food down,” he said.
Concern drew Claire’s brows together. “What did the doctor say?”
There was a discernable pause before he said, “We haven’t taken her. No insurance. Brandi belongs to my girlfriend. The baby’s father won’t help and I don’t have the money. Sheila hasn’t got paid because she’s been home with Brandi. She’s only nine months old and as cute as a button. I hate to see her sick, but I lost wages when I came to see you.”
Since Claire didn’t think it would do any good to point out he hadn’t come to see her, she asked, “How much is the doctor’s visit?”
“I guess a couple hundred should be enough to see the doctor and get her prescriptions filled,” he told her. “Well, I better go help.”
“I’ll wire you the money,” Claire said. She couldn’t stand the thought of a sick child, and she had done nothing to help.
“Claire, I don’t know what to say,” Derek said.
“I’ll go do it now. Just take Brandi to the doctor as soon as you get the money.” She grabbed her purse.
“I will. Thanks, Claire. You sure are a good sister.”
Hanging up the phone, she was out the door. Claire hurried to wire the money. She didn’t begrudge sending it for a child in need. Perhaps Derek was learning to stand on his feet. He hadn’t even asked for the money. Hurrying back home, she saw Gray’s car parked in front of her house. Not taking time to put the car up, she went around the back of the house. He was there as she’d expected, his hands deep in his pockets as he looked out at the moon-draped ocean.
“Gray.”
He pivoted at the sound of her voice, but he didn’t move toward her or take his hands from his pockets. His unsmiling face, his pose said it all. Tonight was their last night. She wanted to scream out her protest, beg him to stay.
“You know, don’t you?”
Too numb to speak, she nodded.
He looked up the empty beach, then back at her. “I’ll be working from Columbia for an indefinite period of time.”
“You’re leaving Charleston?”
“I’m driving up tonight. Christmas season will be here before you know it and I want to make sure the warehouse is able to meet the demand for the increase in incoming and outgoing merchandise,” he told her.
Claire had told herself she’d accept his decision calmly, but now she found she couldn’t. “If Jana hadn’t come, would you be leaving me tonight?”
His head drew back. “She had nothing to do with my decision.”
Claire’s laugh was ragged. “She had everything to do with it. You won’t trust me because you can’t forget she betrayed your trust.”
“I trust you.”
She took a step closer to him. “Then stay and prove it.”
“I can’t,” he whispered. “I can’t.”
Can’t or wouldn’t, it made no difference. He was going to leave her. If she thought telling him she loved him would make him stay instead of adding to his burden she would have shouted it.
“We’ll miss you at dinner Sunday.” She thought he flinched.
“You better go inside.”
“I’d like to stay out here for a while. Goodbye, Gray.”
“Goodbye.” His hands still in his pockets, he disappeared around the side of the house.
Claire dropped to her knees as pain swamped her. Jana had won after all. Gray still wasn’t free of her.
* * *
Gray got inside his car and leaned his head back. He had expected the pain, but he hadn’t known it would be this intense. Nothing had prepared him for leaving Claire with moonlight and tears on her cheeks. He hadn’t planned it this way. He’d foolishly thought they’d both walk away unscathed. He’d quickly found out different, but by then he hadn’t wanted to think of a day without her in his life.
He did trust Claire, but there was some tiny part of him that resisted being that vulnerable again. He had to make the break now. Claire slipped into his mind too easily.
Standing at his office that afternoon he’d come to a hard decision. He and Claire had to break up. He’d cut back on his out-of-town business because he didn’t want to be away from her, because he wanted to spend the nights with her. He couldn’t let himself fall in love that deeply again. It hurt too badly when it was over.
<
br /> He lifted his head as she came around the side of the house. She stopped when she saw his car, then continued to hers. He sat there until the garage door came down, until all the lights in the house winked out. He imagined Claire in her bed and clamped his eyes shut.
He knew she was crying. He felt it, hated it, and tried to accept it. Starting the motor of his car, he made a U-turn. She’d get over him.
He wished he could be certain he’d get over her.
* * *
Claire woke up the next morning with red eyes and puffy, sore lids. Crying most of the night would do that to you. Because she didn’t want to wallow in self-pity, she dragged herself out of bed to the shower. To prove to herself that she wasn’t dead, she ate a piece of toast for breakfast. Since every time she thought of Gray, tears would start falling, she tried to think of the shop, the new products they planned, the building they were going to rent.
She pulled her keys from her purse and the receipt from wiring the money fell out. Concerned for Brandi, she picked up the phone and called Derek’s apartment. There was no answer. Deciding to call later, she left the house.
* * *
Arriving at Bliss later, she saw that Brooke’s eyes matched hers. Since both were sniffing, their excuses of allergies worked well. Thankfully, they were busy. Around noon, Claire finally got a chance to call Derek at his place again, and when there was no answer, she called him at work.
“Derek Bennett please.”
“He no longer works here. Is there anyone else who can help you?” asked a crisp, efficient voice.
Stunned, it took Claire a second to respond. “He doesn’t work there?”
“No, ma’am. Is there someone else who can help?”
“Robert Johnson,” Claire said, then paced until Derek’s friend came on the line.
“Robert Johnson. How can I help you?”
“Robert, this is Claire, Derek’s sister. The receptionist just told me he doesn’t work there. We spoke last night and he said he was still working there.”
A long sigh drifted through the phone. “I don’t like to get in another man’s business.”
Anger had long since overtaken pride. “I wired him two hundred dollars to take Brandi to the hospital. I want to speak to him and find out how she’s doing.”
