Tempting Mr. Forever

by Sara Daniel

  Olivia turned to him. “Seven hundred dollars for two ounces of what? Liquid gold?”

  “Penelope’s perfume is going to be the hottest thing to hit the celebrity and high-end market. Your claim to fame is it started in your basement.”

  Her sister’s relationship with Caleb starting in her basement was what she really cared about, and the thought of it was killing her. “Penelope, I think your perfumes are great, but delusional theories appear to run in the Paden family.”

  “No delusions,” Ethan said. “My brother knows a good thing when he sees it too. Their kiss last night was such a powerful smooch they’re now inseparable.”

  Liam squirmed in her arms, but instead of trying to pacify him, she stared at Caleb, willing him to deny his brother’s explanation. Instead, he avoided her gaze. He hadn’t cashed in on their bet because he didn’t want to kiss her, not when he could suck face with her sister.

  “I missed the signs,” she said, using all her control to keep her voice level.

  “My personal life is undergoing some changes,” Caleb said stiffly. “I may have given off clues indicating physical interest in you, which is not the case.”

  Needing to run upstairs, scream, and punch her fury into a pillow, she marched to him and thrust Liam into his arms. “Clues? Like requesting I kiss you?”

  He continued to avoid her gaze. “I have now embarked on a relationship with your sister. I am no longer interested in pursuing our physical chemistry.”

  Good thing she’d handed him the baby or she would have punched him. “You’re still interested. You just want to be sure that when something happens between us—when, not if—you can blame me for violating your good intentions, instead of admitting your own desires.”

  * * * *

  With each passing moment, Caleb’s control over his life slipped further away. Olivia drew emotions from him that had no place in his life. The sledding outing had temporarily created the illusion he belonged to Olivia’s family unit, but the kiss with Penelope reminded him he needed to build the right environment for Liam.

  The only way he could fix his life, the lives of those around him, and his career was to put his theories into action. So what if they seemed a little stale and boring as he talked about them with Penelope?

  “Explain why friendship is the best virtue of a marriage,” she said after Ethan and Olivia had left the basement.

  He imagined she really asked, “Why should I be friends with you when I could have hot sex with Ethan?” Good question. More importantly, why should he pretend he wanted friendship with her when he could find heaven in Olivia’s arms?

  “When a relationship is based on desire or lust, the emotions burn strong. People think they’ll last forever. Then they burn out. Desire’s gone. Lust is gone. They hate the person they made a commitment to. The roller coaster of emotions becomes exhausting and debilitating.”

  And they took their hurts and frustrations out on their kids. Well, maybe not all parents. Olivia didn’t, as far as he could tell. But he’d experienced it, and he didn’t want Liam to suffer the way he had.

  “You don’t buy into the ‘better to have loved and lost’ theory?”

  “Not buying into it” didn’t begin to describe his revulsion. “Friendships last. When I talk to people who have stayed married for decades, they consistently tell me their spouse is their best friend.”

  “Were they best friends before they got married, or were they driven into marriage by lust and other emotions and grew into a deep friendship?”

  “Better to start off on the right foot, in my opinion. People who marry out of emotion have to discover friendship or work to create one to save their marriages from crumbling. My books can guide them. Forever applies to everyone.”

  But it hadn’t worked for Olivia. Liam sobbed against his shoulder, as if feeling his frustration.

  “Does Ethan believe in your theories?” Penelope asked.

  His brother didn’t test him the way Olivia did. He simply mocked him with his actions. “If he does, he’s never used them in practice.”

  “But he runs the marketing for your business.”

  Caleb set Liam on his blanket on the floor, hoping he’d settle down and stop fussing. “Marketers see ways to cash in on a vision, regardless of whether they believe in the message.”

  “I see.”

  He had no idea what she saw. Their surface friendship didn’t translate into him understanding and relating to her. Yet, moments ago he’d understand every emotion coursing through Olivia even when she’d held them inside and kept her voice calm.

  While Penelope concentrated on a passage from his book, Liam’s fussiness escalated into a full-fledged tantrum. Would Forever give his son everything he needed for a healthy childhood?

  It had to. Caleb had nothing else to offer.

  Chapter 14

  “If you want to make him jealous, I have no problem letting you use me.” Ethan sprawled across the sitting room sofa.

  “Thanks, but no thanks. Caleb thinks my emotions are fickle and can’t be trusted. I don’t want to give him proof he’s right.”

  “God knows he thinks he’s right way too often.” Straightening, Ethan leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. “I didn’t mean to hurt you with my comments earlier. I didn’t realize you had feelings for him.”

  “I know better than to fall for him.” But she hadn’t let that stop her from flirting. She’d been an idiot to play with fire and couldn’t blame anyone but herself for getting burned.

  He raised a brow. “You have a choice?”

  “Of course.” Loving Bryce had been a conscious choice. She should have more control this time, considering she’d learned from her mistakes.

  “You’re better off than me,” Ethan said. “Your sister already stole my heart.”

  “From what I hear, you snatch it back easily.”

  Instead of laughing as she expected, he stood and paced to the window. “In all three of my marriages, I married women I’d socialized with at parties. They were and still are fashionable, tasteful women with their own careers. We were friends before we married. I’m friends with all of them again, now that we’re not married. Well, except Bridgette. I’m pissed as hell at her for pulling that talk show stunt.”

  “Caleb says you married for sex.”

  He shoved his hands in his pockets. “I can take his flack as long as he never learns I tried to make myself an example of his model and screwed it up three times.”

  In her opinion, he needed to hear it. “How is Penelope different?”

  “Because of the way I feel about her here.” He tapped his heart. “She’s the love of my life.”

  God, did her sister have any idea what a treasure she was throwing away? Olivia joined him at the window. “If you were talking about me, I’d marry you tonight.”

  He wrapped his arms around her. The hug comforted but didn’t make her tingle with sexy anticipation like when she embraced Caleb. “Keep me in reserve, okay?”

  She sniffled as the telephone rang. “I’d be number four on your list of failures, and we both know it.”

  “I’m really good in bed.”

  She laughed him off and crossed the room to answer the phone. Her mother immediately launched into a gleeful description of warm and sunny Florida. Olivia waved goodbye to Ethan and carried the phone to her office for privacy.

  Closing the door, she waited for the inevitable question. Finally Mom stopped gloating about the weather. “Other than being snowed in, how is everything at the Mansion?”

  She couldn’t muster a “fine,” but she didn’t want to talk about her impromptu guests either. “We had a little toilet issue upstairs.”

  “Did you call the Kale brothers?”

  “Yes, they’re swamped with emergency calls this week, but they’ll look at it as soon as they can.”

  “You have to take care of those things before they break down. The Mansion is not only a big responsibility. It’s
also your heritage.”

  “I appreciate my heritage. I’m not letting the house fall apart.” At least, she was trying not to.

  “Fill the rooms with more guests. Then you can afford the repairs and to spruce things up.”

  “About that—” She’d been trying for months to admit she wanted to dismantle her grandmother’s legacy by taking in fewer guests. The words stuck in her throat every time. “I’m still working toward bringing in foster kids.”

  “You won’t get as much money for them as you will from guests.”

  “I’m not taking them in for the money.”

  “Then how will you pay the bills?”

  Good question. “I’ll still have guests in the inn.”

  “How will you manage both? You can’t handle the upkeep on the house when you only have one kid and the guest rooms are empty.”

  Her mother was right. But Olivia was failing at what they wanted for her. She hadn’t even gotten a chance to succeed or fail at what she really wanted for her life. “You could always take over the inn again.”

  “Nonsense. It’s yours. We trust you with it. Now I have to run. Your dad’s golfing, and my basket weaving class starts in fifteen minutes.”

  Golf and basket weaving took priority over running the inn, but caring for foster children didn’t. She stabbed the off button. She had to choose between her obligations to her past and fulfilling her dreams for her future. Either way, she failed.

  * * * *

  “How free is your schedule for the next couple of days?”

  Penelope clenched her goggles in her fist as Caleb returned to the basement. “Like for a date?” Part of her wanted to accept, but mostly she wanted to shoo him out and set up another “business dinner” with Ethan.

  “I’d like for you to come to New York with me when I leave tomorrow morning. I’ll take you on The Brighid Show and to a dinner party.”

  Her lungs squeezed shut at the prospect of multiple days in the most sophisticated city in the nation, topped off with a national television show, no less. She’d expected a quick dinner in town and maybe a movie if he was brave enough to endure her company for more than an hour. “It’s too sudden. I need a month or two notice to take off.”

  He glanced at her empty tables. “What needs to be cancelled or rescheduled? If you give me the names and numbers, my secretary will handle it.”

  “I don’t have a lot of appointments. I’m just—”

  “Scared to death,” Ethan finished, bounding down the stairs two at a time.

  “I am not.” His gall transformed her fear into anger, and she threw her goggles at him.

  He caught them and looped them around his wrist.

  “You’re interrupting,” Caleb said calmly.

  “Don’t mind me. You two go on with your discussion.” He waved them off. “I’m working on a business and marketing plan for Penelope’s Pleasures and need to get a few details on the cost of ingredients and supplies.”

  “What?” Her knees melted and she clutched the edge of the table. She could have sworn he said something about pleasuring her.

  “Penelope’s Pleasures. I took the liberty of naming your company for you.”

  She should have been furious at his presumptiveness and interference, but she liked the sensual, sophisticated yet flirty title. The people who bought her perfume wouldn’t know she had nothing in common with the brand.

  “Not now. We’re busy,” Caleb said.

  “Nah, if you were busy, you’d have fewer clothes on.” He winked at her, making her pulse jump. “Caleb, go take your kid back from Olivia. Her ex just arrived, and she has plenty to deal with without adding a baby to the mix.”

  Bryce had arrived. If she hadn’t been so befuddled by the outlandish suggestions Caleb and Ethan were throwing at her, Penelope would have run up the stairs to rescue her sister.

  “I’ll be right up,” Caleb said, keeping his gaze on her. “Penelope, are you in for the trip to New York?”

  Ethan’s gaze slid over her body, lingering until she squirmed. “As soon as you publicize the relationship, you’ll be marketing The Forever Marriage. Penelope’s not ready to pull off a business performance.”

  She wasn’t good enough. No surprise, but the assessment still hurt. Ethan had no right to accept or decline invitations on her behalf. “I might let you name my company, but you don’t get to run my personal life.”

  “Can I count on you tomorrow?” Caleb asked again. “You won’t have to fend for yourself. I’ll be at your side all day.”

  He offered a once in a lifetime opportunity to boost her social life. Best of all, she’d prove to Ethan she could meet the challenge. She raised her head and met his gaze. “Sounds great. I’d love to go.”

  Caleb squeezed her hand. “Thank you for taking the opportunity to explore my world.”

  “That’s what Forever’s all about, isn’t it?”

  “Aren’t you two the most romantic couple?” Ethan inserted with heavy sarcasm, shattering what could have been an intimate moment by her and Caleb’s standards. “Have you shared a second kiss yet?”

  “None of your business,” Caleb said.

  They hadn’t, though. If she’d allowed Ethan to continue his advances, she’d have a lot more experience...and not only with kissing.

  Ethan shoved his fists in his pockets. “I set up some crucial meetings with potential clients and investors for Penelope’s Pleasures, so I’m leaving for New York tonight on our private plane. Penelope, I need you to join me.”

  Panic prickled her skin, and she released Caleb’s hand. “I didn’t agree to go anywhere with you.”

  “Maybe we can all leave tonight,” Caleb said. “Maude Richardson offered to come to New York to babysit until I find a regular sitter. Let me call her and see how soon she can be ready.”

  The panic waged an all-out war to take over her body. Caleb’s presence wouldn’t calm her if Ethan accompanied them.

  * * * *

  “I didn’t expect you until Friday.” And Olivia didn’t like the surprise of her ex-husband’s premature presence any better than him backing out on his original promise to come.

  “An avalanche ended the session early. No one was hurt, but we had to evacuate. So here I am.” Either the sun or a bottle had bleached his blond hair. With his boyish face pink from the sun and wind, he appeared healthier and happier than before or during their marriage, as he trailed behind her into the sitting room.

  She strapped Liam into his baby swing. “You’ll make Austin’s day when he gets home and sees you.”

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t attend his party.”

  “I’m not the person you need to apologize to.” Bryce might be easy on the eyes and still capable of pouring on the charm, but he didn’t stir her heart or hormones. “Are you planning to stay until Friday when you take Austin skiing? You are still planning to take him, aren’t you?”

  “Even better, I have two plane tickets out to Colorado for eight p.m. tonight. We’re going to spend the whole week skiing together.”

  “What?” She swung toward him. “You show up at my door out-of-the-blue and expect you can take my son across the country. Are you insane?”

  “I’m his father. I have rights.”

  “I still deserve a courtesy notice of when you plan to exercise those rights. What date is on the return ticket?”

  “Sunday.”

  Six days. Her stomach churned. He might have rights, but he usually exercised them in an environment where she remained Austin’s primary caregiver. Her son would be excited to spend the extra time with his dad, but giving control to a man who occasionally blew off his parenting responsibilities was more difficult than she imagined. “He’ll miss school for the rest of the week.”

  “It’s only kindergarten. Ask him if he’d rather spend the time in school or with me.”

  She almost envied Bryce. As the fun parent, he jetted off on exotic vacations while she enforced bedtimes and Lego timeouts. “I’ll
call his teacher. Make sure he’s treated like a kindergartener and not one of your cronies.”

  “He’ll be fine, Olivia.”

  The six days without her baby would happen at the same Caleb would take Liam away. By tomorrow she’d have no one. But despite her world ending, she couldn’t deprive Austin. “Stick with the green slopes please, maybe blue by the end of the week. No black diamonds.”

  “He has talent, Olivia. I won’t push him onto anything he’s not ready for.”

  She bit her lip. Austin did ski well, considering the few times he’d hit the slopes. But she didn’t allow him to sled without supervision. Meanwhile, Bryce planned to take him on an airplane halfway across the country to hurtle down a mountain. “Talent doesn’t do any good if he’s caught in an avalanche.”

  “He won’t be near any of that. I’m going to stay with him. I have one more year of competing left, and then I’m going to coach. I’ll evaluate his skill this week to see if he’s ready to enter junior competitions.”

  Regardless of his talent, she wasn’t ready to allow skiing to take over her son’s life. She’d already lost the man she married to the pastime. “We’ll talk about it next year.”

  “You hate the idea.” He grinned and socked a playful punch to her shoulder. “You’re a good sport.”

  “I don’t care about being a good sport. I want to be a good mother.” If she didn’t know which decisions were right for the kid she knew inside out, how could she be a good foster mother for kids who were total strangers?

  Chapter 15

  “Bryce, this is Dr. Paden. Caleb, meet Bryce,” Olivia said, as they all gathered for an early dinner.

  Caleb glared at the other man. How dare he abandon Olivia and their son to chase his dream? Didn’t he have a clue what he’d thrown away and how badly he’d hurt them?

  Bryce laughed and offered his hand. “So your theories kept on ticking after our divorce?”

  “So far.”

  “And you have a kid?” Bryce smirked. “Sweet. Wish I’d thought to proclaim myself God. Then I could smite everyone who didn’t follow my rules while I’m doing whatever I want with whomever I want.”