Private Partners

by Gina Wilkins

  She frowned. “I hate that you have to hide whenever anyone comes to my apartment.”

  He shrugged. “That was the agreement.”

  “I know. But still—”

  “Don’t fret about it. I knew what I was coming back to, and I’m okay with it. I’m going to dive into my writing today. I’m hoping to have it all finished in a couple of weeks. After that, well, I’ll clear out and let you get back to your studies without worrying about my presence here. Unless you’d rather I go back to New York to finish? If I’m interfering at all, I want you to tell me now.”

  “Of course you’re not interfering,” she said firmly. “You’ve actually been a great help to me here, cleaning and cooking and doing laundry—all things you don’t have to keep doing, by the way. If it’s easier for you to concentrate here rather than in New York, then stay.”

  “Then I’ll stay for a little longer,” he said, dipping into his oatmeal again, choosing to believe her, despite his suspicions to the contrary. “With all the distractions in New York, it’s a lot easier to work here.”

  He kept his reasoning focused on his work, knowing this wasn’t the time for an in-depth discussion of the state of their relationship. Anne didn’t have time, and he wasn’t sure she was ready for that yet, anyway. Perhaps he wasn’t, either.

  Maybe he had come to a gradual realization for his primary reason for marrying her—wanting to keep that strong link between them when they were apart so that they wouldn’t give up as they had back in college—but it had become increasingly clear to him that he wasn’t entirely certain why Anne had agreed. Nor whether she stayed married to him, despite the obstacles they had encountered, because she loved him or because her habitual avoidance of conflict extended to him as well as to her family.

  He didn’t want to believe the latter. He wasn’t her father. He wouldn’t bully her if she made a decision he didn’t like. Which didn’t mean he wouldn’t try to change her mind, he thought with a ripple of discomfort. He tried to take comfort in assuring himself that he would be much more tactful about it than her family had ever been.

  “That’s settled, then,” she murmured, setting her coffee cup on the counter. “You’ll work here for a while longer.

  “Should I make dinner for us tonight or are you eating with your group?” He kept his tone light, as if he were asking only for convenience, but he really hoped she would be free to spend a couple of hours with him that evening. He had missed her quite badly the past few days. More than he was prepared to admit to her just then because he didn’t want to put pressure on her to push her studies aside for his sake.

  She grimaced, and he knew before she spoke that there would be no intimate dinner for them that evening. “I’m sorry, Liam. Today’s my grandfather’s eightieth birthday. We’re celebrating at his country club, and the family will expect me to be there.”

  So it was her family coming between them again tonight. It was always either that or her studies—and of the two, it was her family he resented most, rightly or wrongly. Nodding a bit curtly, he tried to keep his tone uninflected. “Of course they want you there. Don’t worry, I’ll fend for myself. I’ve got a lot of work to catch up on, anyway. Answering my backlogged e-mail, alone, will take two or three hours.”

  Despite his encouragement, she still looked vaguely guilty. “I wish you could go with me. I wish everyone already knew about us and the drama was all behind us and we could just walk in together as a couple, you know?”

  He reached across the little table to squeeze her hand. “That time will come, Annie. Once you’ve finished these tough classes and aced that big exam—as I know you will—we’ll break the news and damn the consequences.”

  Her smile was a weak attempt. “Of course we will. After I’ve got that behind me, I’ll be ready for whatever their reactions will be. Maybe they’ll surprise us and come around quickly once they know there’s nothing they can do about it.”

  “Maybe they will.”

  But Liam wondered. Would her family ever really accept him when they had taken such a dislike to him all those years earlier? And would Anne ever really be prepared to choose him over them, if it came to that?

  Looking very handsome in a beautifully tailored dark suit, Dr. Stephen Easton stood in front of the popular, local swing band that was providing entertainment for the birthday bash and lifted a flute of champagne. The crowd that had gathered for the celebration paused in their eating and conversations to listen as Stephen cleared his throat to signal the beginning of his toast.

  Sitting at a white linen-draped round table between her mother and Stephen’s fiancée, Danielle, Anne reached for her own champagne.

  “To Granddad,” Stephen said in a voice that carried clearly around the room. “Dr. Henry Easton, Sr., a man who has been an invaluable asset to his community, a true leader among his peers and a role model to three generations of medical students, including his own. My father, my sister and I are among those fortunate enough to follow in his noble footsteps. Happy eightieth birthday, Granddad, and may we all be privileged to celebrate many more with you.”

  The praise was a little over the top, of course, a little too flowery—but Anne couldn’t deny that her grandfather loved every word of it. Sitting next to his son, he beamed as everyone in the room raised a glass and sipped in his honor.

  After nodding acknowledgement of the applause that followed his toast, Stephen motioned for the musicians to resume and rejoined his family at their big, round table. He shook his grandfather’s hand, then his father’s before sliding into the seat beside his fiancée and greeting her with a quick kiss.

  “Stephen, that was lovely,” their mother said in misty approval. “I’m so glad both you and Danielle were able to be with us tonight. And Anne, too, of course,” she added quickly.

  Anne smiled and nodded. Surreptitiously, she studied her mother’s face. Her mom looked tired, but happy, she decided. She had insisted on planning and organizing this birthday celebration herself, the first big party she had put together since her stroke, though she’d certainly arranged plenty of social and charitable events in the years before her illness. Anne worried that her mom had overtaxed herself for this evening, but she figured her dad had kept a close eye on her during the preparations.

  Glancing around the nearly filled room of friends, family and business acquaintances, she couldn’t help noticing how many couples were in attendance. Her mom had urged Anne to bring a friend—implying that a date would be welcome—but Anne had replied lightly that there wasn’t anyone she particularly wanted to bring. And there wasn’t, other than Liam, whose presence would not have made the celebration a pleasant one.

  She glanced at her watch, wondering how quickly she could get back home to him. She felt terrible leaving him alone like this when he’d just gotten back from his father’s funeral. She could almost feel her spirit being tugged in different directions by her need to be with her Liam, her obligations to her family and her responsibilities to her studies. The result was a dull headache that just never seemed to go away these days.

  Though she’d hoped to be discreet, her time-check did not go unnoticed. “Looks like Anne’s eager to get back to her books,” her father said with more approval than censure.

  “Of course she is,” Granddad replied jovially. “Don’t feel like you have to waste any more time at this shindig, sweetheart. I’m glad you could come, but none of us want to interfere with your schoolwork, do we?”

  Her family smiled indulgently at her, nodding their agreement.

  How would those expressions change if she were to suddenly blurt out the truth about what was waiting for her at home? She wondered how they would act, what they would say. How long it would take them to forgive her, as she assumed they would, eventually.

  Glancing at her mother’s slightly pale, still-so-thin face, she forced a smile. “I can stay a few more minutes. At least until after they bring out the cake and we sing ‘Happy Birthday.’ I wouldn’t miss tha
t for anything, Granddad.”

  Her grandfather smiled contentedly again, basking in the attention. Maybe Stephen looked at her a bit closely, but no one else seemed to notice anything odd about her behavior. Once again, she had managed to fool everyone, she thought, wishing she could feel a little more pleased with herself and less like an ungrateful daughter and a terrible wife. Mostly, she wished she could feel less like a coward.

  Still a little tired from his travels, Liam slept in Saturday morning. Anne dressed as quietly as possible, then crept out of the bedroom, closing the door soundlessly behind her. Liam had barely stirred since she’d slipped out of bed.

  She was supposed to meet her study group later, but she was thinking of canceling. She could study here today, and that way she would be available if Liam wanted to talk about his dad.

  He’d said he’d come back to Little Rock because he hadn’t wanted to be alone in New York after his loss, she thought guiltily. And yet she had spent very little time with him since he’d returned. He didn’t seem to blame her for that, but she blamed herself for not making the time to be there for him if he needed her. She could make up for that today, even if it was only to keep him company while they both worked on their own pursuits.

  When she’d been rushing between classes and frantically trying to make her family celebration last night, it had fleetingly occurred to her that it would have been easier, perhaps, if Liam had gone back to New York. Yet she was still pleased that he hadn’t.

  Liam had a way of keeping her head spinning with conflicting emotions, she thought with a weary sigh.

  She had just set up her computer when she heard the shower running. Maybe she should make something for breakfast, she thought. Liam would probably be hungry.

  She gulped when someone tapped on her door. She hoped fervently that it was Rose, the only person for whom no awkward explanations of Liam’s presence would be necessary.

  But it was Haley who stood on the other side of the door, wearing an expression that was both harried and apologetic. “I’m sorry to drop by like this. I should have called, but I panicked.”

  “What happened?” Anne asked, instantly alarmed.

  “My hard drive crashed. I had another one installed first thing this morning, but I didn’t have all those slides from yesterday backed up. Would you let me make copies from your computer, please?” She held up a portable storage device. “It won’t take long.”

  “Of course you can copy my files.” Anne stepped out of the way to allow Haley to enter. She’d have been just as upset if it had been her computer that had crashed, she acknowledged, shuddering at the very thought. Especially now, with so much material to be memorized. “I could have e-mailed it to you, though.”

  “I know. But I just left the computer store, and I thought I’d just drop by. You’re sure you don’t mind?”

  The shower had stopped. Anne hoped Liam would hear her talking with Haley and stay in the room until the coast was clear. “Of course I don’t mind,” she said, raising her voice just a fraction and hoping Haley wouldn’t find that odd. “I just turned on the computer. We can—”

  The bedroom door opened and Liam wandered out, his shower-glistened body bare except for the towel wrapped precariously around his waist. “Anne, I forgot to take my jeans out of the dryer last night. I—”

  Suddenly realizing that she wasn’t alone, he skidded to a halt, making a hasty grab for the loose knot of the towel.

  Her eyebrows raised, Haley gave Liam a rather lengthy once-over while Anne stood there like an idiot, trying to think of something reasonably intelligent to say.

  Haley was the first to recover her voice. “Well, hello, there.”

  Liam shot Anne a grimace of apology. He looked as though he expected her to strangle him on the spot—and she had to admit, that was an option.

  She swallowed hard when Haley turned slowly toward her. Haley’s eyes danced with mischief and speculation when she murmured in a suspiciously neutral voice, “Apparently I came at a bad time.”

  Anne sighed in resignation. “Haley, this is—”

  “Lee,” he supplied helpfully, obviously hoping to get away with the ruse a second time.

  “Liam,” she finished firmly. She’d had few qualms about keeping the whole truth from the virtual stranger who lived downstairs, but she would not lie to her best friend. “Liam, this is Haley.”

  Though he gave Anne a quizzical look, Liam spoke to Haley. “Oh, yes. I’ve heard all about you.”

  “Wish I could say the same.” Haley gave him another look that made his cheeks go even redder as he stood there with only a big, fluffy towel covering him from waist to knees. His dark hair was still damp, he wasn’t wearing his glasses and the muscles in his bare chest and arms were beautifully molded, adding up to a delicious and thoroughly masculine image. Which would have made his blush all the more amusing to Anne had the circumstances been different.

  “I’ll just go get dressed,” he muttered, backing into the bedroom. “Please excuse me.”

  The door closed quickly between them. Anne suspected Liam stood on the other side punching himself in his head for his recklessness.

  “Well, well.” Haley set her computer bag on the floor and crossed her arms over her chest, eyeing Anne with exaggerated accusation. “Someone has been holding out.”

  “I have,” Anne admitted, “but it wasn’t because I didn’t want to tell you. I just didn’t quite know how.”

  “You didn’t know how to tell me that you’re sleeping with that gorgeous guy from TV? Gee, I can’t imagine why.”

  So, Haley had recognized him—and Anne had confirmed the identification by giving Liam’s real name.

  “It’s even more complicated than that, I’m afraid.” She drew a deep breath before blurting, “Liam is my husband.”

  Chapter Eight

  As if her knees had given way, Haley sank onto the nearest chair. “Your…husband?” she repeated, obviously wondering if she’d heard correctly. “You’re married?”

  “Yes.” Anne cleared her throat. “Let me get you a cup of coffee and I’ll tell you all about it.”

  “Coffee. Yeah, I could use coffee. Black.”

  Anne nodded. “I’ll be right back.”

  As she pulled coffee mugs from a kitchen cabinet, Anne tried to decide how to explain to her friend that she’d been hiding her marriage for almost two years. And then how to convince Haley to behave in front of their other friends as if nothing at all had changed. It wasn’t that she thought Haley would reveal her secret deliberately, but there was no doubt that this news changed everything Haley thought she had known about Anne.

  If only she’d had time to prepare. To decide whether to keep Liam’s presence secret or to introduce him to Haley less…dramatically.

  Haley accepted the mug of coffee, then held it between her hands without tasting it as she watched Anne settle on the couch with her own mug. “I know you weren’t expecting me this morning,” she said. “If this is a bad time, we can talk later.”

  Anne shook her head. “I’ve been wanting to tell you, anyway. I was just waiting for the right time.”

  “Waiting for me to show up on your doorstep and meet the hubby in all his, um, glory?”

  Anne had to laugh at the ironic query. “No, that wasn’t exactly the plan.”

  “Well, I can’t say I’m sorry I got that delectable eyeful.” Haley made a show of fanning her face with one hand. “The man is seriously hot.”

  Hearing herself giggle like a schoolgirl, Anne felt her own cheeks warm. She drew another deep breath, telling herself to get a grip.

  “So, how long have you been married?”

  Anne replied almost apologetically, “A little over a year and a half. July tenth will mark our second anniversary.”

  They had spent their first anniversary on separate continents, she recalled fleetingly. Liam had been filming in Bangladesh. He’d been able to call, but their conversation had been all too brief and dissatisfyin
g. It had been another month before they’d managed a long weekend together in New York—one of those covert escapes she had pulled off without anyone being the wiser that she’d even left the state. She was still amazed at times that they’d been able to keep their secret this long.

  Liam reappeared just then, fully dressed now in a polo shirt and khaki cargo pants, his hair dried and neatly combed, his glasses perched on his nose. He looked at Anne a bit warily, as if wondering if she were mad at him for his lack of caution earlier. “Is there any more of that coffee?”

  “Yes, it’s still hot.”

  While Liam fetched his coffee, Anne filled Haley in about the details of her unannounced marriage. Even after he rejoined them to sit on the couch beside Anne, Liam said little, letting Anne choose how much to reveal. She couldn’t tell how he felt about her confiding in her friend. His expression was politely neutral during the conversation.

  Haley looked a little confused when Anne finished speaking. “So, let me get this straight. The two of you dated in college, but your parents made you break up with him?”

  Liam nodded. “Yes.”

  “No.” Anne frowned at Liam. “That wasn’t why we broke up in college.”

  He lifted an eyebrow at her. “Of course it was. They said I was holding you back, distracting you from your studies.”

  She shook her head. “Liam, we didn’t break up because my parents made me. You wanted to drop out and tramp around the world doing your travel reporting. I wanted to get my degree and go to medical school.”

  “I believed at the time that you didn’t really want to go to medical school, that you were just doing what your parents wanted you to do. The year you took to study abroad after college proved me right, you weren’t ready to go straight into medical school then.”

  She shook her head. “That had nothing to do with what happened between us. We simply agreed that we just weren’t in the right places in our lives to maintain a relationship.”