by Nikki Duvall
“You can be business partners and still show a little concern.”
“I’m concerned with his earnings. That’s how I get paid.”
“Is that all he is to you?” asked Halee. “Just another deal to line your pockets?”
King shrugged. “Pretty much.”
Halee wanted to scream. Instead, she took two steps closer to her opponent, keeping her voice calm. "You set me up, didn't you?" she demanded. "J.D. needed a wife to help his career along, so you arranged for him to be at the benefit. Then you bribed me into seeing him again tonight. After what he did to me, you didn't think twice about using me in your little game."
"Worked, didn't it? Like I said, fireworks. Have fun, now," he said, shutting the door behind him.
Halee didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So she’d been right. She had been used. Tony and J.D. had selected her as the fiancé of choice. She sighed and trudged back to the bedroom, her mood dark, pensive. King’s comments kept playing through her head, stirring up feelings she had repressed ever since her breakup with J.D. Unwelcome feelings.
J.D. wasn’t her problem, she reminded herself. He could take care of himself. Her unfinished thesis waited for her in her own dark hovel of an apartment on the other side of this city. She’d promised Victoria Pryor an early meeting to discuss expanding the literacy program with King’s donation. Uncle Gus expected her to wait tables midday after the Cubs game let out. She didn’t have time to play nursemaid to a spoiled uber-athlete. She should just call a cab. She needed sleep.
She knew she wouldn’t leave.
Leaning against the doorway, she watched him through the shadows. The eastern glass wall of the penthouse faced the shoreline, framing the distant lights of Navy Pier blinking off Lake Michigan. The room’s ceiling lifted open toward the darkened sky, evoking a sea of navy blue in all directions. Everywhere you looked, the glow of the city reflected off late summer clouds. Chicago never reached total darkness.
J.D. had placed his bed in the middle of the room at an angle that allowed him to watch the water while he drifted off to sleep, one small comfort for a country boy stuck in the midst of the noise and dirt of the city. A year before, lying next to him in this bed, she’d done the same. This was the room where she’d laughed with abandon, where she’d loved fiercely and given herself completely.
And the room where she’d found him in the arms of another woman.
He lay now on his good arm with his back toward the door, his uniformed body sprawled across the satin comforter. The room smelled of familiar aftershave, the brand she had come to associate with the pleasures of a carefree lifestyle. During the few short weeks she and J.D. had been involved, Halee had learned for the first time in her life how to relax, how to allow someone to take care of her. It had been terrifying to let go and allow someone else to steer the rudder. She would never let herself become that vulnerable again.
Her mind drifted to Ricardo Sanchez and the way he had sneered at her studio apartment. This place would surely pass his inspection, she thought with some measure of envy. What would it be like to raise a baby in opulence, without a care in the world? How would it feel to have a maid bring you fresh flowers in the morning, cook you a warm meal at night, to have your clothes pressed and waiting in the closet, your car ready at the entrance in any kind of weather to whisk you away to important meetings? She sighed and sat down on the edge of the bed.
J.D. stirred. “Who’s there?” He struggled to turn, wincing when his bad shoulder touched the firm mattress. “Halee?”
“Yes, it’s me,” she said in a near whisper.
“What happened?” he asked, gripping his head. She could barely discern his features in the darkened room and knew the night would hide her own. She allowed herself to stare.
“I’ll turn that question back at you,” she said softly. “Why would Roudy punch you?”
J. D. groaned. “That crazy sonofabitch. Pert near broke my jaw.”
“You two were like frat brothers last time I saw you together.”
“It’s a long story.”
“I have all night.”
J.D. adjusted his pillow and rested his tired eyes on Halee. “I asked his girlfriend to marry me.”
“I thought…”
“What?”
“Nothing.” She breathed deeply and closed her eyes against the pain shooting through her chest. “The fiancé.” Her tone betrayed her disappointment.
“The fiancé.”
“Except all the newspapers think I’m the fiancé.”
There was a moment of silence, then a low chuckle from the opposite side of the bed. He reached out his hand to touch hers but she pulled away.
“Why do I get the feeling I’ve been set up?”
“It’s a setup, alright,” said J.D. with a grin. This time he was too quick for her. He captured her hand and brought her palm to his lips. “Don’t worry, Baby. I’ll settle things with the papers.”
A shiver ran down Halee’s spine at the touch of his whiskers on her sensitive skin. He moved his mouth up along her wrist, lingered in the creases of her elbow, and coaxed her body nearer to his with every kiss. She closed her eyes in the dark and slowly sank onto the plush pillows by his side, too weak to resist what she knew she wanted. His warm breath tickled her neck; his tongue caressed, coaxed, begged. She turned her mouth toward his and drank in the taste of him. “Does it hurt?” she asked, tenderly touching the swollen bruise on his chin.
“Not anymore. I hoped you’d come back,” he whispered in the dark.
A rush of feelings rose from her heart and lodged in her throat. She sought his lips hungrily, allowed herself to touch his cheek, his neck, his hair, if only for one last time. She tried to pretend that they were alone, closed her eyes against the image of the other woman, but her face remained, laughing, mocking her.
With a cry of frustration, she shoved off J.D.’s chest and turned away. “I can’t do this,” she said. His heavy seductive breathing tempted her to return to his arms. Gripping the edge of the bed with both hands, she closed her eyes against her overpowering need.
He ran his fingers along her back, saying nothing.
“Who is she?” she asked in the dark.
“Don’t worry yourself about that.”
“She’s the same woman I found you with, isn’t she?”
J.D. didn’t answer.
Halee released a deep breath and rose to leave. "I wish you the best, J.D. I hope you like New York. I hope..." her voice broke. "I hope you break every Federal record."
She paused at the bedroom door and cleared her throat. “I’m supposed to ask you your name every few hours to make sure there’s no concussion.” She kept her misty eyes locked on the distant lights of Navy Pier, unable to face him again. “What’s your name?”
“Idiot,” came J.D.’s reply in the dark.
Halee walked down the hall, grabbed her keys and headed for home.
***
“The Feds are turning up the pressure.”
J.D. rubbed his eyes and stroked his aching chin. The clock on his nightstand said half past five. The street lights still shone across the city; the moon still hung bright in the sky.
Halee was gone. It was as it should be.
He pressed his palm against his forehead. It had been a long time since he’d been in a fight. He’d forgotten how bad it felt to be on the receiving end of a fist. “What kind of pressure?” he mumbled.
“The kind that can be alleviated by a fiancé.”
J.D. moaned. “So go buy Cat a ring. That’ll do it.”
“Victoria is more likely to be impressed by Halee McCarthy.”
“She ain’t interested.”
“You underestimate your power over women, Shaw. She’s putty in your hands.”
“Halee ain’t cut from the same cloth as you, King. Lying ain’t a pastime for her.” He tried to sit up, but fell back against the pillows. “Leave her out of your shenanigans. I don’t want her hurt.”
“Sounds like you’re getting rather fond of our darling Halee,” said King. “Did she play a good nursemaid?”
J.D. frowned. "She was right, then. You did set that up."
“Wouldn’t you rather wake up to Halee than me?”
J.D. pushed himself to the edge of the bed, suddenly oblivious to the pain. “Let’s be clear here, King,” he said through gritted teeth. “You work for me. That means I call the shots. Catrina Hiett is my choice. Get a ring and get my contract signed.”
“Catrina Hiett is a little viper who will ruin your career. You’re making a big mistake and it’s my job to save you from career suicide.”
“I’ll handle Cat. You handle the contract.”
“You’re making this too hard, Shaw,” Tony warned. “Surely there’s something Halee wants in return.”
“Return for what? Halee McCarthy is after the real deal, not some poker game.”
“She’s young. A long engagement won’t prevent her from an Ozzie and Harriet ending. She spends some time posing as your fiancé, your contract is sealed, and the press forgets about her. She fades into the background with enough money to tie her over till Mr. Right comes along.”
“How long?”
“How about until you’re done playing ball?”
“A ten year engagement?”
“Get real,” Tony scoffed. “I’ve seen the way you cradle that shoulder of yours. I’m just praying the Feds don’t figure out your shoulder is shot before they sign on the dotted line.”
“My shoulder can be fixed.”
“So can your contract.”
“What are you suggesting?”
“Just leave it to me.”
“I’m not sure I like the sound of that.”
“You’ll like the sound of a bat meeting a ball head on in Federal Stadium, I assure you.”
“Stay away from Halee. Like I told you, I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Including you?”
“What’s that supposed to mean?” asked J.D.
“Like I said, leave it to me.”
King disconnected.
~SEVEN~
“Victoria Pryor is here to see you.”
“She’s not due till nine.” Halee peered at her favorite student over the top of her reading glasses and adjusted the child on her lap. “I’m in the middle of a grant proposal.”
“I doubt she’ll go away,” said Chantrell. “You want me to take him?”
Halee pulled the child closer and rested her chin on his curly black hair. “He seems settled. I like his company.”
“You need a few babies of your own, Miss McCarthy,” said Chantrell with a sad smile. “I ain’t never seen Ty so content.”
A raw pain seized Halee’s heart. “I don’t mind borrowing,” she said softly, kissing the child. She set her reading glasses back on her nose and returned her attention to her paperwork. “Go ahead and send Mrs. Pryor in.”
“Miss McCarthy…” Chantrell hesitated. “I wondered if you would have a little time later on… to talk?”
“Have you seen the caterer’s bill from the benefit?” Halee leafed through a stack of papers in frustration. “I swear I saw it right here on top.”
“If you’re too busy…”
Halee looked up. “I’m sorry, Chantrell. What did you say?”
Chantrell opened her mouth to speak, then simply sighed. “I’ll send in Mrs. Pryor.”
“Oh, by the way,” said Halee before Chantrell closed the door, “Rita Benedetto is meeting me for lunch in about fifteen minutes. Don’t let her leave.”
Chantrell nodded, hesitated, then closed the door softly behind her.
A moment later the door crashed back open.
“I have a proposition for you.” Victoria Pryor careened in dressed in a leotard and tight fitting tank top, fresh from Pilate’s class. Halee couldn’t help but admire Victoria’s lean physique. If it wasn’t for her waitress gig at Benedetto’s she’d be packing on the pounds sitting at this desk job every day and as soon as she finished her thesis she planned to quit the bar, which spelled imminent fat gain. She made a silent vow to start running again.
Victoria plopped herself into the overstuffed chair opposite Halee’s desk and frowned. The delicious scent of her French perfume wafted through the office, masking the smell of dirty diapers. Her eyes flitted between Halee and the child. “Who’s that?”
“He’s Chantrell’s baby. His name is Ty.”
“Shouldn’t Ty be somewhere else? Like the nursery?”
“Chantrell is working. She works to pay her tuition. I told her I’d watch him.”
“I don’t pay you to watch the clients’ children,” said Victoria.
“He’s no bother. What’s your proposition?”
Victoria paused, smoothing a hand over her blonde ponytail. “I want you to come to New York and run Federals Charities for me.”
Halee’s heart did a flip flop. “New York?”
“The benefit last week was outstanding, Halee, probably the best fundraiser I’ve seen in this town. Everyone is talking about you. The high rollers are completely smitten. The Federals foundation is stale. I need new leadership.” She leaned across the desk and pointed one long finger at Halee. “And you, my friend, are just the woman to revive it.”
“I don’t know anything about ...”
“I want you to set up a literacy foundation as a subset of the operation, like the one you’re running here. It’s my new passion. We could fill a huge need in New York and regain the attention of our wealthiest donors.”
“I’m sure you can find someone with the right skills in New York.”
Victoria closed her eyes and waved Halee’s words away. “Not at all. Let’s face it; few people have your work ethic. It’s refreshing to meet someone who actually gets something done.”
“Even with a baby on my lap.”
“Yes, well, that will have to change.”
“I appreciate the offer,” said Halee, “but I’m committed here.”
Victoria raised her brows and smirked. “That’s not what the papers say.” She tossed the sports section of the Tribune on Halee’s desk. Chicago’s Top Bachelor to Tie the Knot. A red faced Roudy stood over J.D.’s limp body cradled in Halee’s arms. “Guess I’m the last to know.”
“I can explain.”
“The other man seems like a bit of a barbarian, though,” said Victoria. “I can’t see you two together.”
“We weren’t.”
“He didn’t hurt J.D., did he? We should probably ask the Federals trainer to look him over before we move forward with any final deal.”
Halee’s mind flashed back to the night before, J.D.’s painful shoulder, the ice pack, the way he grimaced when it touched the mattress. The night of the benefit, he’d held it close, immobile, as if sheltering it from the slightest disturbance. “He’s fine,” she blurted, then checked herself. “Just a sore jaw,” she said with a slight smile. “The Titan trainers gave him a clean bill of health. He’ll be good as new in a day or two.”
“Well, that’s a relief,” said Victoria. “I don’t know why you two have been hiding your romance, though,” she said. “I mean, I could certainly tell there was something between you at the benefit, but who would have guessed you were engaged? I thought you were with Mark.”
“It’s not the way it looks.”
“Obviously,” said Victoria. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice, as if they were two girlfriends sharing a secret. “Mark is a bit of a bore, don’t you think? I mean, I don’t have to think twice about who I’d rather have in the sack.” She smiled a dirty little smile and flipped her ponytail. “Mark is probably more stable, though.” She sighed. “Too bad you can’t have them both.”
“Mrs. Pryor…”
“Actually, it works perfectly with my little plan,” she said, sitting on the edge of her chair. “I’ll pay you triple what you’re making now. You and J.D. can move into one of the Federals pro
perties in Manhattan. Your driver will drop you at the office every morning on the way to the stadium.” She leaned back with a satisfied smile. “You’ll love New York, Halee. The city never sleeps.”
Halee set her reading glasses on the piles of paperwork before her and took a sip of coffee. “We’re not engaged.”
Victoria raised her brows. “Who?”
“J.D. and I. We’re not engaged.”
“You’re not?”
“No.”
“The Barbarian?”
Halee shook her head.
“Then why…”
“The papers got it wrong.”
Victoria stared at the newspaper headline with a puzzled expression. “That’s too bad,” she said thoughtfully. “J.D.’s contract requires a fiancé.”
Halee could feel Victoria’s pity seeping from across the desk and her own shame rising pink and hot through her neck. A knot formed in her throat. She pulled Ty a little closer. “He has one,” she said. “It’s just not me.”
An uncomfortable silence lingered between them for several moments. “Well, believe me, you’re better off,” said Victoria with forced exuberance. “He may be devastatingly attractive, and charming as any southern boy, but if you ask me, he comes with too much baggage, too much to prove.”
Halee cleared her throat.
“I still want you to come to New York.”
“I’m happy here,” Halee insisted. “They need me here.”
Victoria pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “What if I offered you both offices? We can provide fifty percent support here, fifty percent in New York. You can travel back and forth, mix things up a bit.”
“To be honest with you, Mrs. Pryor, I’m in the final stages of an adoption. I can’t leave Chicago right now.”
“Adoption?” Victoria stared at Ty with disdain. “Why would you saddle yourself with a child at your age?”
“Because he needs me.”
“That’s ridiculous.”
“Not for him.”
“So let someone else step up. You have a future…”
“I’ve decided,” said Halee quietly.
Victoria sighed and studied Halee’s face. “Foolish girl. Bring the child with you,” she said with a shake of her head. “With the salary I’m offering, you’ll have no trouble providing him with a nanny.”
