by Nadia Lee
She put on the hotel robe and went out with a towel wrapped around her hair. Justin was at a desk, working on his laptop.
“Anything urgent?” she asked.
“No. You want to eat? I already had something, but didn’t order any for you because I wasn’t sure what you might be in the mood for.”
Ugh. Food. “How about… some hot lemon tea and dry toast. Maybe with some fruit?”
Justin ordered while she dried her hair. She could hear his voice over the whirring of the dryer. Her toes curled at the deep, masculine tone. He hadn’t been cold to her after he’d found out she was pregnant. It was like some switch inside him had been flipped. Maybe there was another switch inside him that could make him permanently faithful, sweet and perfect.
When her hair was dry and falling in sleek layers around her face and shoulders, she went outside without bothering to pull it up. It seemed like too much work.
The breakfast was waiting. Justin had also ordered a pitcher of freshly squeezed orange juice. “Just in case.” He kissed her. “Take your time. Our flight doesn’t need to leave until noon anyway to make your mother’s party.”
Vanessa snapped her fingers. “I knew I was forgetting something. I have to buy her a present.”
“Don’t worry. I’ll take care of it.”
“Really? What are you planning to get in my name?”
“A high-end espresso machine. Ceinlys likes her coffee.”
Her eyes widened. “You noticed?”
“Of course.” He tapped the tip of her nose. “I notice a lot more than people think I do.”
She frowned and nibbled on her toast. Justin had met her mother maybe five times.
“Don’t worry. Everything I notice about you is positive,” he said, his voice light.
Wasn’t that positive back in November. But she didn’t want to bring up their fight. “I’m glad. And I see I need to perfect my poker face.”
“I like it better when you’re open.”
“I’m a lawyer. I can’t have everyone reading me like that.”
“It’s not everyone. Just me.”
* * *
Justin didn’t know exactly how to explain it, but he knew nobody else understood Vanessa the way he did. It was crazy how he could just look at her face—no matter how impassive—and perceive her feelings. Just moments ago, when her guard was down…he could almost read her thoughts. And he liked it that he could understand what his wife needed without her having to say it.
He hadn’t been kidding about making her happy. His vow had been one hundred percent in earnest. He was dead serious about his commitment to their marriage, and he knew it could work great given how compatible they were, sexually and otherwise.
His own parents had gotten married because his mother had been pregnant. They grew to love each other in a quiet, calm way and had an amazing marriage that lasted until his father had passed away. Justin didn’t believe in over-the-top emotional love being an essential part of a relationship.
Love like that was irrational, uncontrollable and impulsive. It also produced too much influence; all he had to do was look at his cousin Kerri’s parents to know why that kind of love was a terrible idea. When Kerri’s father had died, her mother had lost it. Not even Barron’s money and connections could fix whatever had broken inside her, and she hadn’t been able to look at her own daughter with affection after that.
Justin wasn’t going to let anything weaken him like that. He had responsibilities, and the only way he could manage them well was with a cool, rational mind.
So was it the cool, rational part of your mind that helped you fuck Vanessa last night?
Justin forced the thought aside. He hated it when his subconscious tried to overanalyze his personal life.
* * *
Vanessa arrived at the housewarming party alone, with Justin scheduled to show up anywhere from half an hour to an hour later. Ceinlys’s new place was on the top floor of a condo complex equidistant from her three children’s homes. Currently Shane didn’t live in the city, and Dane might as well not have had a place either, given how rarely he occupied his penthouse.
The sound system played Debussy, her mother’s favorite composer. The place was sparsely but elegantly appointed with comfortable cream and champagne couches and soft rugs over hardwood flooring. A few expensively framed photos of Vanessa and her brothers sat on the shelves. There was no sign of Salazar anywhere.
Her brothers Iain and Mark were already there with their fiancées Jane and Hilary. Iain and Mark both had the classic profile the Pryce men were famous for. Jane and Hilary glowed, and Vanessa felt sort of guilty about getting married before Mark and Hilary. They’d set their date for a June wedding. At least she wouldn’t be stealing their thunder since she and Justin would keep their wedding quiet until July.
She greeted everyone, and her mother emerged from the open kitchen.
Ceinlys was in a chic Chanel dark blue dress that stopped half an inch above her knees. Her glossy hair was twisted into an elegant bun, and a sapphire hairpiece glittered under the recessed lights. She hugged Vanessa. “I wasn’t sure if you could come, what with your firm working you half to death.”
“I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
“Good, good.” She peered at Vanessa. “Have you lost weight? You look so tired.”
“I’m fine.” Vanessa wasn’t telling her mother she was pregnant. “Nothing a few good nights’ sleep won’t cure.”
“See that you get some sleep tonight then.”
There was another arrival, and Ceinlys went to meet them.
It looked like her mother had invited everyone in their social circle. The place became packed with people both young and old, every one of them dressed to be seen and admired. Maybe they were privy to something Vanessa wasn’t, because as far as she knew, her mother had a horrible prenup that left her with nothing. Or maybe they wanted to see how the female half of The Eternal Couple was doing. So many had assumed it would be Salazar leaving Ceinlys, not the other way around.
“They’re probably wondering when her boyfriend’s going to show up,” Iain muttered from behind her.
“You’re such a cynic,” Vanessa said.
“I actually agree with him,” Mark said. “They’re probably wondering who she’ll marry once she gets rid of Dad.”
“You two are awful. Where are Hilary and Jane?”
“Making themselves scarce,” Iain said.
Sure enough, they had vanished. They were never sure how Ceinlys would receive them.
“But this isn’t as bad as I thought.”
“What do you mean?”
Mark grew thoughtful. “At least nobody’s shunning her. They’re treating her like a genuine friend. I think she could use a few right now.”
Shame dampened Vanessa’s mood. She’d been too worried about her mother’s prenup to ask how she was doing. No, it had been worse than that. She’d questioned her mother numerous times about the divorce, whether or not she’d thought it through. And that wasn’t what her mother needed. “You think she’s happier?”
“Who knows? She’s not talking about it, but I think she’s doing better than before. Don’t you?”
Iain finished his wine. “Anything has to be better. I don’t think Dad made her very happy.”
“Do you think he ever truly loved her?” Vanessa asked before she could bite her tongue.
Her brothers stared at her like she’d grown a third breast…between her eyes. “No. Never,” Iain said. “He probably married Mom because she was the best-looking woman he could find.”
Mark nodded.
Vanessa said nothing as she watched her mother hug a friend. Salazar must have loved Ceinlys at some point. She didn’t know what had killed that love. She never got the sense that their feelings had merely cooled with time. If so, they could’ve at least been polite and considerate. But there was always a subtle undercurrent of meanness to what her father and mother did and said, like the
y wanted to hurt each other.
The back of her neck prickled, and Iain whistled. “Hey, Justin’s here.”
“Huh,” Mark said. “Maybe that explains it.
“What?” Vanessa said.
“Mom invited London Bickham, but she declined. Maybe she said she couldn’t because she knew he would be here. Awkward.”
Vanessa cringed, then let out a relieved sigh. It would’ve been more than awkward to face London here. If she hadn’t told Justin about her pregnancy, he’d still be with her. Vanessa pushed away a flash of hot jealousy at the thought.
“Not that I ever thought they’d last as a couple. London’s a little…bland,” Mark said.
A dry laugh came from behind them. It was their oldest brother, Dane. “Is that the new euphemism for brainless?” He was in a rumpled dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows. He was a carbon copy of their father, with classic features and cool gray eyes, but he had none of Salazar’s charm. Nobody knew where he’d inherited his abrasive personality.
Mark’s mouth turned into a flat slit. “She’s a family friend, Dane. You don’t have to be so nasty.”
“Truth is painful, not nasty.” Dane glanced at Vanessa. “I’ve been hearing rumors, baby sister. You’re going to make partner for sure if you can prove Solaris Med is”—a cynical smile lifted a corner of his mouth—“innocent.”
Grinding her teeth, Vanessa reined in her temper. It killed her that she had to defend a client who was unquestionably guilty. She might be their counsel, but she had her standards.
“Of course you wouldn’t be required to do that if you’d climbed the ladder of family connections.” Before she could snap at him, he turned to Iain and Mark. “So how come Shane’s not here?”
Iain shrugged. “Tried contacting him a few times, but he never responded.”
“Whatever’s in South Africa must be damned interesting,” Vanessa muttered as a pang of envy reverberated through her. She wished she could just disappear for months and months too.
“He’s not in South Africa,” Dane said. “I checked. He’s in Morocco.”
Vanessa felt her jaw drop. “Doing what?”
Dane shrugged. “Don’t know, but I should bring him home. It’s only fair he suffer with the rest of us through this.”
Then in her peripheral vision, she noticed Justin laughing at something a slim blonde had said. Vanessa couldn’t tell exactly who the woman was—she had her back to Vanessa—but her well-fitted dress showed off lovely curves and a tight butt. And unlike Vanessa, the blonde was tall with seemingly endless legs.
“Did Mom invite a lawyer?” Mark asked. “You look like you just spotted an enemy.”
“No.” She forced a smile. “Just thinking about something. Excuse me. I’m going to go snag a drink.”
Vanessa made her way around the room, trying to get a look at the blonde without being obvious. The woman was gorgeous in front too. Maybe she’s an aspiring actress or something. L.A. was filthy with them.
When the woman laid a hand on Justin’s sleeve, Vanessa ground her teeth. She wanted to slap the bitch, but she and Justin were trying to keep their marriage secret. Nothing would get them outed faster than public jealousy.
Still, Justin didn’t have to look quite so happy while flirting with the woman!
Vanessa poured herself a glass of ginger ale and stuffed her mouth with a miniature appetizer, wishing she could leave.
* * *
Justin looked around. He swore he’d seen Vanessa chatting with her brothers, but now she was gone.
He sighed impatiently. Once it got around that Justin Sterling was in the room, everyone wanted to talk to him. A few people asked how he knew Ceinlys, like they wanted to figure out how they might be able to use their connection to her to suck up to him. Even so, he smiled at everyone politely and laughed at the appropriate moments. Unlike Barron, he didn’t believe in baring his talons…until he had to gut somebody. His great-uncle thought everyone should fear him. Justin reserved that for those who worked for him or who dared to cross him.
Finally he found Vanessa in the kitchen corner, hidden from everyone. She had a tray of finger food and cubed cheese.
“Ah ha! So you got all the good stuff,” he said.
“Not really. What are you doing here?”
“Looking for you.” He popped a cheddar block into his mouth. “This is great cheese.”
“I’m glad you approve.” Her voice crackled with fight. “I had nothing to do with it.”
He frowned. “You angry with me for some reason?”
“No.” She didn’t meet his gaze, and immediately started drinking her ginger ale.
He narrowed his eyes. “You know, you’re supposed to be honest with me. Wife.”
“Shh!”
“Tell me, or I’m going to keep using the W-word.”
“Fine. I don’t like your shirt.”
“There’s nothing wrong with my shirt!”
“There is now.”
Her face set in a mutinous line, and he laughed. “Fine, fine. I’ll get out of it. Tonight.” He abruptly stopped laughing. “Now, tell me what’s wrong.”
Sighing, she sagged. “I just don’t feel well.” She looked down at her belly meaningfully. “But I’m going out to mingle. So why don’t you try to do the same?”
Justin watched her leave, but she didn’t fool him. She was upset about something, even if she didn’t want to tell him. Sighing, he rubbed the back of his neck.
“Justin! There you are.”
He pasted on a smile for Ceinlys and gave her a tight hug. “You look good.”
“Always the flatterer. Thank you so much for coming. I wasn’t sure if you could.”
“I can always make time for you,” he said. Even though he couldn’t tell her yet, she was his mother-in-law and Vanessa was fond of her. That meant she was important to him as well.
“The painting arrived today. It’s gorgeous. Thank you.”
“My pleasure.” He didn’t tell her Barron’s new art curator, Catherine Fairchild, had selected the piece. Catherine was engaged to Blaine Davis, who was Salazar’s child by another woman. Justin didn’t think it prudent to mention the fact.
“More than a few guests have been asking to meet you, but if you like, I can arrange things to avoid all the introductions. I know it can be tedious,” Ceinlys said.
“Thanks, but that won’t be necessary.” She could probably maneuver things to ensure he wouldn’t be bothered. She was an exceptional hostess from years of trying to live up to the exacting Pryce standards. But it wasn’t like he could hang out with Vanessa at the party, and he didn’t want to stand around in a corner by himself all evening long.
“Well, then.” Ceinlys looped her arm through his. “Shall we?”
* * *
Peggy Teeter scowled as Stan lit his cigarette in their bedroom. It was technically his bedroom, but she thought of it as “theirs” since she was sleeping there too. “I told you, no smoking in the house.”
“Just one.”
“No.” She glared at him. “I mean it.”
“It’s a stress reliever.”
“We just had sex! If you need more stress relief, go exercise.”
“Why are you so weird about it?”
She pressed her lips together. An associate at a law firm, Stan liked to argue and could negotiate his way out of almost anything. For once she wished she’d never met him, not even to pump him for information. “My mom has lung cancer.”
That shut Stan up. He stubbed out the cigarette. “Sorry.”
“Not your fault. Just don’t smoke again in the house.” She cleared her throat. “What’s got you so upset anyway?”
“It’s one of the associates at the firm. I told you already. Vanessa Pryce.”
Peggy’s heart thumped oddly at the mention of the name. “What about her?”
“She’s been taking too much personal time off. It’s such bullshit. And you know what? There are rumo
rs that she’s going to make partner this July.”
“I thought you were next.”
He shook his head. “I don’t know the right people, not the way she does anyway. The firm only cares about how much business you can pull in, and they think she can do it.”
“Aren’t you a better lawyer than her?”
“Yeah.” He shrugged. “But she’s not bad. At the end of the day, that’s all that matters—be good enough and bring in the business.”
“Doesn’t she have to buy a stake in the firm?”
“Not an issue for somebody like her. She can just tap her trust fund or something.”
Peggy nodded, only half-listening to Stan’s complaints about Vanessa. The woman seemed loaded, but then her family was rich. Lung cancer treatment was expensive, and Peggy had done everything she could to finance it. But now she was out of options, and Vanessa seemed like a perfect person to help.
She just needed to find a good approach.
Chapter Ten
Vanessa had stayed behind at her mother’s place to help clean up, and Justin slipped into her condo with the spare key she’d given him on the flight from Canada. The party had gone spectacularly well, with Ceinlys clearly asserting herself as a soon-to-be-single woman.
Vanessa’s condo surprised him. He’d always assumed she’d buy something as swanky as the penthouses her brothers owned. Vanessa’s place was upper-middle class, something a successful law associate might buy, but not what one would expect from an heiress. It didn’t even come with a doorman.
A few pots and pans sat in the kitchen along with a set of plates and bowls. It was obvious she’d barely used any of them. The fridge held a few essentials—cream for her coffee and some fruit and yogurt. Justin shook his head. Vanessa needed to eat better.
Her bedroom was simple, with a king-sized bed and pink sheets with small yellow roses and blue hyacinth patterns. Her walk-in closet was full of shoes and clothes without any room for his stuff. He shrugged. She hadn’t known he’d be living with her when she’d left the day before.
