“Isn’t caring for each other better than nothing?” he asked.
“I…” She looked away.
“Would you rather I lie and tell you what you want to hear?” he asked.
Her gaze snapped to his. “No.”
“I didn’t think so.” He laced his fingers with hers. “I might not love you, Laurel Worthington, but I care for you deeply. More than I thought possible. Isn’t that enough for you to give us a try?”
CHAPTER TEN
Three days later—less than seventy-two hours after agreeing to give “us” a try—Laurel sat at her desk at MGI, trying not to yawn. The day had gone well, but she was tired, as usual.
“Hey.” Brett placed his hands on the front of her desk, leaned forward, and brushed his lips over hers. “I’m going to miss having dinner with you tonight.”
She ignored the way her lips tingled from his kiss. “I’ll miss you, too.”
“I shouldn’t be too late, but if you’re sleepy, go to bed.” As he walked away, he glanced over his shoulder and smiled.
Her heart pounded.
Oh, no. Laurel covered her face in her hands. She’d agreed to give them a try, but she didn’t need to because…
She was in love with Brett.
Love.
Laurel wasn’t sure when she’d fallen for him, but she had. Hard.
She’d had an inkling the night of the party, but she hadn’t wanted to admit the truth.
Until now.
The chills, the tingles, and the flutters turning her stomach into a butterfly refuge couldn’t be ignored.
She loved him.
The realization concerned her. This could be bad. Really bad.
Loving Brett gave him control over her—over everything, including their baby. That was the last thing she wanted after what had happened with her parents.
What was she going to do?
When she was at Brett’s house later that day, she still hadn’t stopped worrying. Not even the sight of Henry Davenport dressed as if he’d stepped from the pages of a men’s magazine as he stood on a stepladder, hanging curtains in the nursery, made Laurel smile.
“How do they look?” Henry asked.
She studied the drapes. “Too much of the top ruffle is on the left.”
He went back to work. Not an easy task, considering the window was over six feet wide, but he didn’t complain.
Needing something to do, she adjusted the forest-green K in between the white chair rails.
Falling in love with Brett Matthews went against everything she was working toward and wanted to be. The worst part? He didn’t love her. He wouldn’t love her even though he wanted her to marry him. Logically, falling for him was stupid. Except…
How could she not have fallen in love with him?
He’d trusted her to decorate his house, relied on her to plan MGI’s investor party, taught her to handle her own finances, and supported her through the good and bad times of her pregnancy. Loving him came as natural as breathing.
Yet Laurel questioned her feelings.
Were they real or not? She needed to know even if the answer scared her. One thing was becoming clearer. Ever since arriving in Portland, she’d allowed Brett to take care of her.
She wasn’t succeeding on her own. Not by a long shot.
That was painful to acknowledge.
“Are they straight?” Henry asked.
Laurel glanced up at the window. “Too much of the ruffle is on the right now.”
As he returned to the curtains, she checked the twenty-six letters to make sure all were securely fastened to the wall.
She was working, budgeting her earnings, and saving money, but under Brett’s guidance. She relied on him for everything—from her job to the roof over her head.
If she allowed this to continue, she’d be giving up her dream of making it on her own.
Laurel’s father had sheltered and controlled her and her mother. Just as her grandfather did with her grandmother. That was the Worthington way. She had no idea about her mom’s side of the family. They’d never been a part of Laurel’s life due to a fallout that happened before she was born.
Allowing that to happen with Brett would be worse because he wouldn’t only have control over the money, but also her heart.
Not happening.
It was time to break the cycle and take charge of her own life.
Not only for herself, but also for her child, too.
Laurel had to be sure of herself. She had to know for certain her love for Brett was more than a desire for security. That her love was real and strong enough to build a foundation upon for their marriage and their family.
Once she knew that, maybe Brett’s caring would turn into loving. He would finally be able to see what they could have together.
Henry sighed, one that sounded more tired than frustrated. “What about now?”
She checked both ends and the middle. “They’re perfect.”
He climbed down to examine them. “I like the teddy bears.”
“So do I.” The simple rod-and-pocket drapes made from fabric covered with stars, moons, and teddy bears were adorable and coordinated with the bedding. “Thanks for your help.”
“Anytime.” He folded up the stepladder. “Are you going to tell me the real reason you wanted me to come over tonight? Or did you only want me to hang the curtains?”
“I wanted to speak with you, too.” So much was at stake. She was determined to make this work. With Brett at a business dinner, this was her best chance. She’d met Henry when she was sixteen at a debutante ball. He was seven years older and had treated her like a little sister. Since then, he’d visited her in Chicago. Once she turned twenty-one, he’d invited her to his infamous birthday parties. She trusted him, which she couldn’t say about many of the people she’d once considered her friends. “Were you serious about hiring me to decorate your house?”
“Yes,” Henry said, much to her relief. “Are you considering it?”
“I am.” Confidence overflowed so much she almost didn’t recognize her voice. She picked up the tiebacks and then fastened the first one to the wall. “I spoke with Renee Bernard, the designer who helped me, and she wants to hire me as her assistant. I would have medical benefits, and she doesn’t have a problem with maternity leave. She offered to help pay the tuition for design classes, too.”
“And if you presented me as a new client—”
“I haven’t mentioned you to Renee.” Laurel didn’t want to give Henry the wrong idea. “I wanted to make sure she wanted me, not your business.”
Henry grinned. “You’ve come a long way.”
“I’m trying, but I have further to go.” Laurel had no choice but to succeed with a baby on the way. She attached the other tieback to the wall. “I only wish I’d realized it sooner.”
“What does Brett think?” Henry asked.
She blew out a breath. “He, uh, doesn’t know yet.”
Henry’s smile faded. “He’s not going to like you leaving MGI.”
“He might,” Laurel countered, but her heart knew the truth. “Okay, he won’t, but I don’t see any other way. If I don’t stand on my own two feet, we won’t stand a chance at…”
“Love?”
Nodding, she touched her belly. Junior had brought them together, but she and Brett had to figure out a way to remain that way long term. That meant she had to do her part first. “I believe we can be a family, but I need to be sure of a few things before that can happen.”
“When you accept your position with Renee, get me a copy of her contract and find out the amount of retainer she requires.”
“Oh, Henry.” Laurel blinked back tears of joy. She hugged him. “Thank you.”
“That’s what friends are for.”
“You’re a great friend.” She felt renewed, confident. Nothing could stand in her way. Laurel took a step back. “Now I have to find an apartment—”
“I have a two-bedroom guesthouse. It
’s small, but charming in its own The Pioneer Woman-meets-Martha Stewart kind of way. It would be perfect for you and the little one.”
“I couldn’t.”
“You could, and you should. You’d be down the street from Brett. Think how convenient the location will be after the baby arrives.”
It would be convenient. But she wouldn’t gain her independence by leaving Brett’s house, only to rely on Henry. “I’d want to pay rent.”
He laughed. “I’d expect you to pay rent.”
Part of her wanted to jump at the offer, except Henry wasn’t known for his frugal living. She could only imagine how much living in his guesthouse would cost. “I appreciate the offer, but I’m sure the rent would wipe out my savings.”
Henry’s forehead wrinkled. “I thought the ring would cover your debts and leave you with a little nest egg.”
She tried to make sense of what he was saying. Tried and failed. “What are you talking about?”
“Your wedding ring from Reno.”
“You mean the Titanic-sinking-iceberg of a cubic zirconia?”
“Oh, no.” Leaning against the wall, he rubbed his forehead. “Do you still have the ring?”
Henry’s pained expression worried her. “In my room.”
“Get it.”
She hurried to her room, grabbed the ring, and returned to the nursery. “Here.”
He took the ring. “You, of all people, should be able to tell this isn’t a cubic zirconia.”
She studied the ring—the pure color, the faceted cut, the heavy weight, no flaws. Of course, she didn’t have a jeweler’s loupe. “If it’s not zirconia, what is it?”
“A diamond.”
Her mouth dropped open. “But that means it’s worth…”
He nodded.
Her chest tightened with an odd combination of relief and regret.
If she’d known about the ring in April, her life would be so different. Laurel would be, too. She wouldn’t have had to sell everything she owned. She wouldn’t have had to leave Chicago for Portland. She wouldn’t have fallen in love with Brett.
Henry slipped the ring onto her finger. “The ring was your reward for participating in the tacky wedding adventure.”
Laurel stared at the sparkling stone with disbelief. “The diamond is real?”
“Yes.”
Colorful prisms of light reflected off the stone, dancing on the walls. “And it’s mine?”
“Yours.”
Her vision blurred. She felt as if she were dreaming. At any moment, the alarm would blare and she’d wake up. No ring on her finger—only a cheesy bauble tucked away with her pearl earrings. “Does everyone who participates get a reward like this?”
“Some get more than others,” he said with a hint of mischief.
Henry had money to burn, but why would he spend so much on…? Her gaze jerked from the ring to his eyes. “You knew I was broke.”
“I knew.”
Only one other person besides her parents… “Charles told you.”
Henry nodded.
Her rat of an ex-fiancé. She clenched her teeth. “He promised not to tell anyone what was happening with my father.”
“Kingsley lied. He called to tell me about breaking up with you, and to inform me I should uninvite you to the April Fools’ bash due to your financial and family situation.” Henry frowned. “I only wish you would have told me yourself. I thought we were good enough friends.”
“Oh, Henry, we were—are—but I thought if I was poor, you wouldn’t…”
Ashamed, she stared at the floor.
“I may be a snob, but I’m a loyal snob.” With his fingertips, he raised her chin. “I’m here now, aren’t I?”
“Yes, you are.” His caring expression reassured her. “I was wrong to judge you the way I did.”
“I forgive you.” A glint of amusement flickered in his eyes. Leave it to Henry to get a kick out of this. “And now that you have the ring, you can afford whatever rent I charge for the guesthouse.”
The ring was really hers. She wouldn’t have to rely on Brett… “Oh, oh my.”
“Are you okay?” Henry held onto her arm. “Is it the baby?”
She covered her mouth with her hands. “I can do this on my own, can’t I?”
“Yes, you can.”
And then reality hit. Laurel forced herself to breathe.
“I need to do this myself.” She removed the ring, took a deep breath, and handed it to Henry. “If I accept the ring—”
“You earned it.” He slipped the ring back on her finger. “The roll of the dice selected the couple. Whoever ended up the bride was destined to get the ring.”
“Whoever?
His sheepish grin told her the answer.
She shook her head. “You rigged your own adventure.”
He started to protest before raising his hands in the air. “The dice were loaded, but don’t let foolish pride stand in the way of getting what you want and giving your baby a family. Each participant gets a reward. The ring was yours.”
If she got one, then so did… “What was Brett’s reward?”
Henry’s grin spread to his twinkling eyes. “You.”
♥ ♥ ♥
The dinner with community leaders dragged on too long, but Brett considered the time well spent. On his way home, he stopped and picked up flowers at the grocery store. He needed to speed up their “trying,” because Brett wanted to marry Laurel before Junior was born to give both his last name.
As he entered the house, voices sounded. He hurried to the family room. Laurel sat on the couch next to Henry.
The cozy sight sounded warning bells in Brett’s head. As his stomach clenched, his fist tightened around the bouquet he held.
Don’t read too much into it.
Still, his collar threatened to strangle him. “Hi.”
Laurel’s warm smile did nothing to take away the chill inside him. “How was your dinner?”
Every muscle tensed. “Long.”
Henry rose. “That’s my cue to leave. I’ll speak with you tomorrow,” he said to Laurel. To Brett, he said, “Good night” and left.
Brett waited until the door closed. “What was Henry doing here?”
“Helping me hang the drapes in the nursery. My balance has been a little off. I didn’t want to climb on the ladder.”
“I would have done it.”
“I figured you’d be tired when you got home.”
He was, but he didn’t want Henry taking over in his house. Brett was the one who should be hanging the curtains in the nursery. “How do they look?”
“Perfect. All that’s missing is a crying baby.”
“You mean a sleeping peacefully baby.”
“Isn’t that what I said?” She motioned to the flowers in his hand. “Are those for me?”
Brett handed them to her. “Yes.”
“Thank you.” She stood. “They’re lovely.”
As she walked to the kitchen, he followed. “They reminded me of your perfume.”
Laurel sniffed the colorful bouquet before pulling out a vase. “They do. How sweet of you.”
He didn’t notice any other flowers. At least Henry hadn’t come bearing gifts.
She filled the crystal vase with water and then arranged the flowers inside. “I’ve been thinking about my job at MGI. We both know I’m not the greatest at office work.”
He leaned against the counter. “You’ve been holding your own.”
“Barely.” She bit her lip. “I doubt I’ll ever get beyond where I am. I’ve decided I’m going to resign.”
“That’s wonderful.” Brett’s tension disappeared; his muscles relaxed. Thank goodness he’d purchased an engagement ring. If only he had the diamond solitaire with him instead of in his safe upstairs. “You’re making the right decision.”
She wet her lips. “You think so?”
“Yes.” His support seemed to surprise her. How could she think he’d let his wife work?
“There’s no reason for you to continue working.”
“I’m going to keep working.”
He didn’t understand. “Where?”
“With Renee. She wants me to be her assistant.”
He tried to comprehend what Laurel was saying. Why would she work once they married?
“I can take design classes and learn—”
“What about the baby?” he asked, interrupting her.
“Oh, I’m not talking about starting classes next week,” she explained. “I won’t go to school until the baby is old enough to be left alone for a few hours.”
Brett wanted to be supportive, but he thought she would prefer staying home full time with Junior. He wanted her to do that. “You enjoy decorating that much?”
“I love interior design, and I want to make it my career.”
Her eyes shone with a confidence and passion he hadn’t seen before. Brett might not want this, but Laurel did. Marriage took compromise. At least that was what he’d read somewhere. “You’ll be great.”
“Thanks.” Gratitude filled her voice. “I also want to move out. See how things go with some distance between us.”
His gaze darkened. “We don’t need any distance.”
“I’m talking space, not miles.” She rearranged a lily so the flower was at the center of the vase. “I won’t be that far away. Just down the street at Henry’s.”
At Henry’s. Brett’s defenses went up. “No.”
Laurel did a double take. “What did you say?”
His throat thickened. “I won’t let you.”
Eyes wide, she stared. “Excuse me?”
“You’re not living with Henry.”
“I’m not living with him. I’m renting his guesthouse,” she said as if she were spending the night in a hotel. “It’s the perfect place for me to live since I’ll be working on his house.”
“You’re not working on Henry’s house.” Brett would enroll her in the best interior design program around. Laurel was his. No way he would let Davenport win this time around. “I can offer you more than whatever Henry did.”
Her forehead creased. “This isn’t about you or Henry.”
“No.” The word shot out as fast as a bullet. Brett’s heart dropped to his feet. He finally understood. “It’s about you and Henry.”
The Wedding Lullaby Page 15
