Tempting Mr. Forever

by Sara Daniel

  He almost felt sorry for the woman who had put him and Liam through hell. He shoved his hands in his pockets. “What are you going to do?”

  “First, I don’t want Jay to think I slept around while he was out of the country. I’ve had an offer to be on a reality show.”

  “A reality show?” As if the media hadn’t eviscerated him enough, Jennifer gave them a new angle.

  “I’m living my life while pining for my man who’s off in a war zone. Maybe he’ll want me, and maybe he won’t when he comes back. I want the show to focus exclusively on me...and Jay, of course. I don’t want Liam in it.”

  “I agree one hundred percent.”

  “The problem is your people keep mentioning my name whenever they talk about the scandal, so I’m associated with all the media hype over you. I need audiences to stop being interested in my relationship with you and Liam so they can focus on the real issue in my life—missing Jay.”

  “You really want to walk away from Liam? Don’t you care what happens to him?” He never would have had to ask Olivia those questions. Her expression whenever she looked at his son over the past two days had ripped him apart.

  “He’s in the best possible hands. I’ve heard plenty of your lectures about putting kids first and doing the best thing for kids. I’m doing you a favor by giving you the chance to practice what you preach.”

  Olivia would appreciate that line. “If we keep your name out of our press releases and interviews, then what?”

  “You can have full custody of Liam. I guess at some point he’ll want to know who I am, and I’ll probably want to see how he turns out, but...” Her voice trailed off.

  “We could let the lawyers work out the specifics,” he managed. Full custody. She wanted to give him full custody of his son so he could raise him in a stable home.

  She smiled. “Yes, we could let the lawyers earn their ungodly rates. Thank you, Caleb.”

  He ought to thank her, not just for custody, but for his son’s precious life. At the same time, Liam deserved so much more from the person who’d given birth to him than I’ll probably want to see how he turns out. “Are you sure you really want this?”

  “I’m absolutely sure.”

  Forever had been created to help kids who were victims of bad parenting. Liam had been a victim—by both parents. No longer. From now on, his needs came first, and what he needed was exactly what Caleb had to do to save his career. Liam needed a mother and Caleb needed a wife—of the Forever variety.

  Chapter 19

  From the lawyers’ meeting, Caleb headed to his company headquarters, where Ethan stood in the front of the reception desks surrounded by a small crowd of loyal employees.

  “This is the last time you’ll see me in the office. Effective yesterday, I resigned to become business manager of Penelope’s Pleasures, the country’s elite creator of custom perfumes. You all might want to consider doing the same.”

  He gasped. His brother hadn’t just bailed. He was taking the company down with him. Caleb refused to let his life’s work disintegrate without a fight. “The Forever Marriage has merit, which is why we’ve dedicated our lives to it. I’ve made mistakes, but we’re working hard to return the company’s focus to the critical goal of saving marriages.”

  “Is the kid really yours?” John Winston, his top counselor and vice president of operations, demanded.

  Above all, he needed John to stand behind his message. “You know how important marriage is. I’m counting on all of you to help me remind the rest of world. The Brighid Show generated a lot of publicity.”

  “Not the kind anyone wants,” Ethan said.

  “Definitely not, so we have to man the phones and correct the misconceptions. Marriages are at stake. People are counting on us. Don’t let them down.” He’d delivered the same message in company emails and conference calls over the past couple of days, and he would continue to reassure them until he regained their trust.

  “I have no intention of letting couples down. But we deserve straight answers from you.” John spread his arms, indicating he spoke for everyone. “Do you intend to marry the child’s mother? Do you care about the home your child will grow up in? Or are you laughing at us behind our backs?”

  “I have never laughed at any of you. I am completely dedicated to marriage. I’ve married myself to the institution.” He’d turned his back on Olivia, who loved him and his son, because he couldn’t accept anything less than a Forever relationship.

  “The institution is your best friend?” His most faithful employee blasted him while Ethan smirked. “How can an institution validate your world and explore your dreams? If you want me to stay with this company—heck, if you want to have a company—show us your Forever marriage. Show the world.”

  Caleb looked around the room. John might have spoken, but the others would have an easier time clearing out their desks. “Come to the company dinner tonight. I’m bringing a friend who will put your concerns about my priorities to rest.”

  * * * *

  Olivia assessed herself in the mirror. The classic black dress played down her curves. A stylist had swept up her hair into a smooth and sophisticated ’do. Not bad for a lowly country innkeeper. She plastered a smile on her face and walked through Ethan’s condo.

  When she opened the front door, Caleb stood on the other side, shifting his feet. “Is Penelope ready?”

  His tie hung out of his suit coat. A coffee stain marred his untucked shirt. The front pocket stuck out of the right side of his pants, and the left pant leg was tucked into his sock. His hair hadn’t had contact with a comb since they’d left Illinois, and he hadn’t shaved since they’d made love.

  She squeezed her thighs together, refusing to indulge in the steamy memories. “Come in and sit down. She’ll be out in a minute.”

  He followed her, collapsing in a chair.

  She bit her lip, wanting to comment on his disheveled state but afraid he’d take her concern for interference. Instead she sat on the edge of the couch, facing his chair, and focused on the important consideration. “Are Maude and Liam settled in your apartment?”

  “Yeah, she took charge immediately. I should have brought her to the office, so she could have taken control there too.”

  “Rough day?” Obviously, it had been. She resisted the urge to squeeze his hand.

  “Ethan left my company for Penelope’s. Then my top therapist backed me into a corner in front of the other employees. Afterward, he took me aside and announced he not only wants my position, he also wants to buy out the company.”

  “Maybe it’s time.” Giving in to her desire to touch him, she covered his knee with her hand. The thought of him free of his restraints and free to follow his heart left her giddy.

  “I built Forever from the broken dreams of two miserable childhoods. It’s my life and my legacy.”

  “Liam is your legacy. The guy who wants to take over still believes in the product you built. You have good points to offer. Putting it in his hands doesn’t mean you failed.”

  “You just want the satisfaction of seeing me unemployed and desperate.”

  Because she understood the root of his feverish convictions, the possibility gave her no satisfaction. “You built your marriage theories around kids. In your next job, you should deal with them directly. You can help the people who already need you, instead of obsessing about the ones who might or might not need you in the future.”

  He shifted his knee away from her touch. “I spilled something on my shirt. Do you think anyone will notice?”

  So he preferred to change the subject rather than consider her point. “You’re so far from your usual impeccable self, people will definitely notice your appearance. I can help with the stain, though.”

  She crossed the room to the end table where she’d left her purse and rummaged through the contents for a detergent wipe. “I carry these around because of Austin.” She stepped behind his chair and leaned over him, rubbing the cleanser against the so
iled fabric.

  “How is Austin doing? Having my shoes tied to a post is about the only thing that didn’t go wrong today.” He massaged the faded lump on his forehead.

  “He’s skiing like a champ, eating like a horse, and infuriating Bryce by telling him he wants to build airplanes instead of ski when he grows up.” She unbuttoned the top two buttons on his shirt and slipped her fingers under the fabric to better attack the stain.

  “What are you doing? Get your hands off my chest.” He didn’t shove her. Instead, his body stiffened, and he refused to meet her gaze.

  Her patience frayed. She was cleaning his shirt, for goodness sake. “I’m feeling your heartbeat. Since you have a heart, you’re capable of love.”

  He jumped to his feet, stumbling over the chair. The detergent wipe fluttered to the floor, while her own heart plummeted to her toes. Whether she attempted to nurture him or seduce him, she had to stop throwing herself at Caleb. He didn’t want her.

  * * * *

  Ethan stared at the woman stepping toward him. She looked nothing like the frazzled scientist who haunted his dreams. This woman had taken the red and sexy cliché to a whole new level. He nearly dropped to his knees and worshipped.

  The tiny straps of her dress begged for some lucky bastard to peel them off her. She filled the bustline with mouth-watering—but not tacky—cleavage. The crimson fabric hugged her slim waist and hips and stopped high enough on her thighs to send his imagination into overdrive. The ensemble finished with matching stiletto heels.

  “Done ogling yet?” Penelope asked.

  “I, uh...you combed your hair.” Trying to keep from drooling, he fixated on the soft blond curls framing her face.

  “My stylist told me about a hotel that wants to sell Penelope’s Pleasures in their gift shop.”

  He focused on her lips as she talked, not hearing or caring what she said. Her makeup accented her big blue eyes, high cheekbones and kissable red lips.

  “Did you hear me?” She snapped her manicured fingers at his face. “The gift shop manager is going to call you in the morning.”

  “You are the most perfectly packaged advertisement for your perfumes.” Thankfully, she didn’t recognize the absolute power she wielded over him.

  “Coming from a marketing guy, I’ll assume that’s high praise.”

  Like a loyal dog, he followed her into the living room, where a terrifyingly rumpled Caleb took her arm.

  “You’ll ruin your hot, sophisticated image hanging around a guy who looks like he got run over by a cab.” He threw out a last ditch effort for her to turn to him with her red kissable lips.

  “As soon as I walk ten steps in these shoes, I’ll trip and fall on my face. Caleb and I will make a good pair.”

  He still wanted to yank her away from his brother and keep her to himself. But even though she looked like a walking wet dream, she remained his vulnerable Penelope inside. He would stand guard to ensure Caleb remembered that.

  * * * *

  Olivia’s stomach churned as Penelope stumbled out the door with Caleb. Before she could pretend to be happy for her date’s sake, her cell phone rang inside her purse.

  “Answer it. I bet it’s Penelope.” Ethan stood over her shoulder as she dug out the device.

  She checked the display. “My mother.”

  He sighed and turned away.

  “Where are you?” Mom demanded. “Who do you have watching The Scot’s Mansion? They’re not answering the phone.”

  She squared her shoulders and prepared to be scolded. “No one’s watching it. I hung out a closed sign.”

  “But—but—your grandmother—” Mom sputtered.

  “I have no reservations until this weekend, which I’ll be back for. I left a note directing walk-ins to the Shelby place.”

  “What are you going to do next? Take out ads encouraging everyone to go to Shelby’s? This is not what we had in mind when we entrusted you with your grandmother’s business.”

  Once again, guilt and obligations took precedence over her wants. She couldn’t do anything about Caleb’s choices, but she could control her own destiny with the inn. “Then you run it, Mother. Austin went away for a few days with his dad. Penelope and I are taking a well-deserved vacation.”

  “I didn’t say you didn’t deserve a vacation, and I sure don’t want The Scot’s Mansion. Are you kidding? The highlight of my life was unloading it on you when you got married.”

  “Then stop criticizing everything I do with it.” The unfairness burned her gut. She didn’t want to wait twenty years to saddle Austin with a burden he didn’t want. “Running it isn’t my dream either.”

  “Yes, it is. You’ve been groomed for it since birth.”

  “Knowing how and doing it well doesn’t mean it’s my dream. My dream is to take in foster children and provide a family and a home for them.” Finally, she’d said the truth she’d been holding inside for so long.

  “You looked into that as a side thing to earn extra money.”

  “No. The inn is the side job. I’ll keep it open to support my dream, but my heart is with the kids.” She braced herself for her mother’s wrath.

  “Unbelievable,” Mom said, sounding amazed instead of furious. “Your grandmother wanted a houseful of kids so badly. She insisted on building a big mansion to hold everyone. Of course, her husband—your grandfather—died when your dad was a baby. So, she threw all her effort into turning the mansion into a B&B.”

  Olivia had heard the story of Grandma with a baby on her hip building the inn out of nothing but hard work and determination, but she’d never heard any mention of the first wish. “Are you sure? I thought she would curse me from the grave.”

  “Her guests became the big family she always wanted. If you have a better way to honor her dream, we’re behind you one hundred percent.”

  Olivia hadn’t expected acceptance, let alone support. Knowing Grandma MacDermont would have approved of her plan eradicated any remaining angst over her decision. She turned and smiled at Ethan. Her heart still hurt, but it had lightened considerably.

  * * * *

  Caleb stepped from the limousine in front of the Manhattan restaurant and offered his hand to Penelope.

  “How about we hang out at Starbucks for a couple of hours then I can catch a cab back to Ethan’s?” she proposed. Her words and actions portrayed the girl he knew, but her physical transformation shouted anything but friendship.

  After his employees’ reaction this morning, her suggestion to ditch dinner held a lot of appeal. But even though his career and dreams were melting faster than snow in July, he couldn’t stop himself from trying to give them new life. “I set up this party. I need to make an appearance.”

  “My philosophy has always been no appearance is better than a bad appearance.”

  “If you let Ethan take over the image of your company, he won’t let you get away with that.”

  “He’s already taken over. I didn’t let him do anything.”

  He hadn’t let Ethan walk away either.

  Inside the restaurant, John Winston greeted him with a firm handshake. “Have you thought over my offer?”

  He should have taken the coffee shop suggestion. He wasn’t up for chitchat and social niceties, let alone hard-nosed questions about his future. “I’m a long way from considering anything so drastic, but I did bring someone I’d like you to meet. This is my date, Penelope MacDermont.”

  He turned, but she’d vanished from his side. Across the room, wobbling on her impractical high heels, she piled a napkin with hors d’oeuvres. “The woman in the red dress,” he added with a vague gesture.

  “Oh no.” Debbie Winston gasped with the kind of scandalized shock only a sweet, grandmotherly type could pull off. “You need to concentrate on friendship. You can’t build a Forever relationship if you’re constantly thinking about sex. Take some time to find a nice young woman and implement the seven points in your relationship.”

  Sweet, demure Penelope wore
rubber goggles 24/7 and never uttered a sexual innuendo or attempted to engage his emotions. No one should have called their motives for getting together into question. On the other hand, Olivia had looked so sexy in her black dress back in Ethan’s condo he would have burned the restaurant down from the heat in his gaze as he lusted after her.

  John cleared his throat. “You appear to have enjoyed the limo ride here. Need I remind you that you invited journalists to this dinner? Couples are counting on us. If you can’t be the role model they need, at least steer them to me and Debbie.”

  Enjoyed the limo ride? He couldn’t miss the sexual assumption in his employee’s disapproving tone. Penelope had been right. No appearance trumped a bad appearance. They’d leave for Starbucks right away.

  He stepped toward her, but the crowd closed between them. The band started playing and he lost sight of her. In desperate need of damage control, he detoured to the bathroom to fix his clothing before anyone else reached the same conclusion as the Winstons.

  * * * *

  Ethan had wandered off while Olivia had spoken with the nice couple near the door. Looking through the crowd for him, she spotted Caleb, who seemed to have lost his date, as well.

  “Where’s Penelope?” she asked.

  “Not with me.” He’d reknotted his tie and fixed his pant legs. His hair had been slicked down with so much water she suspected he’d stuck his head under the faucet. He turned away from her. “There she is. My brother’s trying to steal her away.”

  She followed his gaze to her sister’s animated conversation with a stranger, while next to her, Ethan passed a napkin piled with hors d’oeuvres onto the tray of a passing waiter. “I bet she’s pitching her perfume business.”

  Regardless, Caleb pushed his way through the crowd and joined them. A moment later Ethan weaved his way to her side. Instead of appearing depressed, he grinned. “You are my saving grace. Penelope wants to share a fancy dinner in the big city with her sister, which means a couple of journalists are being relocated so the four of us can share a table.”