Redemption in Love (Hearts on the Line)

by Lee, Nadia

  I don’t know what more you want from me for Mother’s Day, Mom. I got you a yacht, didn’t I?

  Amandine shook her head. That wasn’t the kind of child she wanted to raise. “But what other options do I have?” she said. “I can’t leave Gavin.”

  “Leave him? Are you even going to get the chance?” Brooke poured another glass. “He seems more interested in spending your anniversary in Houston than here with you.”

  “You think Catherine wants Gavin back, don’t you?”

  “Well, if she can’t have Jacob…” Brooke raised her eyebrows. “Let’s face it: she likes her men rich.”

  “And Gavin was hers first,” Amandine said softly, thinking about the time her cousin had wanted something back.

  When they’d been growing up together, every so often Catherine had given her clothes and other things that she didn’t want any more. Since Amandine’s parents never had any money to spare, they’d been always grateful. And so had Amandine, until Catherine had suddenly cornered her in the high school bathroom one day.

  “Give me back the necklace,” Catherine said.

  Amandine clutched the pretty golden chain to her neck. It had a crescent moon pendant and she’d never owned anything so beautiful. “I thought I could keep it.”

  “I changed my mind.” Catherine crossed her arms. “It was mine in the first place.”

  Catherine’s friends made a half-circle, watching Amandine with vulture-like interest.

  “But…”

  “You heard her,” Catherine’s best friend said. “What Catherine giveth Catherine can taketh away. It’s not like you have anything that goes with the necklace anyway.”

  The other girls giggled. Amandine felt her cheeks grow hot as her gaze dropped to her shabby, big box store clothes.

  In the end, she’d returned the necklace. And the next time Catherine had given her something, Amandine had been careful not to think of it as hers. Her cousin could change her mind at any time. Ironically enough, Catherine had never asked for anything back again.

  Until now?

  Come on, Amandine. Gavin isn’t a thing.

  Catherine hadn’t given Gavin away—he wasn’t some accessory you could just pass around. But at the same time he’d been her lover first, and what would prevent her from taking him from Amandine?

  Marriage wouldn’t stop Catherine—even if she’d really been married in the first place. Amandine and Gavin’s own union had come with a prenup that ensured a divorce would be quick and squabble-free.

  And the bedroom she shared with her husband suddenly had Catherine’s favorite flowers in it.

  Her stomach churned, and Amandine took a long soothing swallow of tea. “Mind if I spend the night here?”

  “Not at all.” Brooke’s dark eyes softened in sympathy and understanding. “Spend as many as you want.”

  * * *

  Gavin sighed as the jet finally left the airport. What a damn waste of time. Other than giving Amandine her present, he hadn’t done anything even remotely interesting or worthwhile the entire day.

  He leaned back in his seat and forced himself to relax. He wanted to blame Jacob for his foul mood, but he knew himself too well to lie. Guilt about missing their anniversary dinner gnawed at him. In hindsight, he should’ve just sent Hilary to Houston. There was nothing his executive admin couldn’t do, including babysitting a hysterical Catherine.

  Gavin pulled his phone out and saw several calls from a number in Houston he didn’t recognize and a couple of texts from Amandine. He checked the latter first.

  First one: Where are you? Should I leave or wait?

  Second one: Leaving now.

  He winced. She’d waited almost an hour before sending the second one.

  He rubbed his face. Amandine had been looking forward to their dinner at La Mer. She’d made all the arrangements as well.

  Damn it.

  It was late now, but he should get a few dozen roses. That was the least he could do to start making it up to her.

  He shook his head and made a small sound of annoyance. It was their anniversary; they should’ve eaten the best meal money could buy and then spent the rest of the evening having incredible sex. He’d really messed this one up, and after vowing to make it special for her.

  Damn damn damn.

  He knew he could be inattentive and overly focused on work at times. He’d even missed her last birthday. Though amends had been made—a brand new Mercedes convertible coupe with a custom opalescent pink exterior paint job—it had been a poor substitute for not planning anything. Their vacation to the Maldives—another thing he’d done to make up for the birthday—had seemed somehow anticlimactic as well.

  So what should he give her to tide things over until he could do something about the monumental disappointment that this day had turned out to be?

  He considered a few options and called Hilary, who picked up on the first ring.

  “I heard from Amandine you were in Houston. Is everything all right?”

  “Yeah, it’s all fine. Listen, I want you to look into getting a small yacht.”

  “Leasing or buying?”

  “Buying.”

  “For you or your wife?”

  “For my wife.”

  “Quite a gift.” Hilary sounded amused.

  “Lots of people in our circle have one, and she’ll enjoy cruising the Pacific coastline.”

  “I’m sure she will.”

  Hilary’s affirmation soothed his frayed nerves. A yacht would be just the thing. The beautiful ocean views might even inspire Amandine’s artistic side. She loved the impressionists, so she could be like Monet, drawing blue water stuff, except with more style. “If you don’t see anything suitable, see about getting one built. Something elegant and expensive.”

  “Will do. How soon do you need it?”

  “ASAP.”

  Just as he hit “end,” his phone buzzed. He frowned at the screen. It was the Houston number again.

  “Gavin Lloyd,” he said curtly.

  “Gavin! It’s Simon,” came a booming voice.

  Gavin frowned at the over-familiar tone. “Simon…?”

  “Simon Caldwell. From The Lloyds Development? I’m the CFO and Jacob’s right hand man.”

  Right hand man, huh?

  “I’ve been trying to reach you all afternoon,” Simon continued.

  “I’ve been busy.”

  “Of course.” He chuckled like they were old buddies. “Anyway, just a courtesy call to let you know you don’t need to worry about the company. Ethan said he’d oversee it temporarily.”

  “I see.” Despite himself, Gavin was pleased with the news. Ethan was both sharp and thorough, just what the company needed. “If that’s all…”

  “Ah yes. I won’t take up any more of your time. Good night.”

  “Good night.” Gavin hung up. How odd that a so-called CFO thought this new development important enough to call Gavin multiple times. Did he not have better things to do?

  The enormous lake of lights that was L.A. glittered on the other side of the window as the jet began a slow descent. Still thinking about TLD, Gavin tapped a finger on the armrest. There should be a contingency plan for the worst-case scenario. He wanted to believe Jacob had done his job at the company, but wouldn’t have bet even a penny on it.

  But first things first. He dialed Mark Pryce.

  “In case you’re wondering if your wife’s still here, the answer is a big fat no. She left a while ago.”

  “I know.” Gavin stared at the seat across from him. “I need a favor.”

  “Yeah?”

  “Can you get us a reservation for lunch tomorrow?”

  Mark sucked his teeth. “Do you have any idea how long the wait-list is for a table?”

  “It’s important.”

  “Makeup lunch?”

  Gavin thought about denying it, but what would be the point? Mark had seen Amandine sitting by herself. “Something like that. A first step.”
r />   “Twelve thirty, sharp. You can have a table for two for about an hour.”

  “Thanks, I owe you one.”

  “You owe me about ten or twelve,” Mark said with a chuckle then hung up.

  Gavin’s phone buzzed again. It was another text message from Amandine.

  I’m staying at Brooke’s tonight.

  He sighed. This was definitely going to cost him. And he couldn’t shake the feeling that the price was going to be far more than he was comfortable paying. He felt like a schmuck who’d shorted Apple right before the iPhone launch.

  I’m sorry about dinner, he typed. I booked us a lunch date at La Mer tomorrow at twelve thirty. Can you come?

  A few minutes later, a reply appeared: OK.

  Not “I look forward to it” or “You stood me up, asshole” or a million other responses that would’ve shown what was going through her mind. Just “OK.”

  Get a grip. He was being ridiculous. Amandine wasn’t the type to get melodramatic. The shock of Jacob’s bigamy and all the attendant drama must’ve thrown him off more than he’d thought, nothing more. After a nice romantic lunch, Amandine would thaw a bit. And the yacht would delight her. He would clear his calendar for the last two weeks of December and take her someplace warm for some R&R on her new jet. She’d like that. All women did.

  He could fix this situation.

  Chapter Five

  THE NEXT MORNING, Brooke showed Amandine a silk cocktail dress and matching sandals. The fresh yellow color was cheery in the morning light. “Here, I think this should do it.”

  “Thanks.”

  “And here are the accessories.” Brooke pulled out a small velvet pouch from her purse.

  “You thought of everything.”

  “Of course! I want you to look like a goddess. Gavin deserves to be tortured a little. And then you can choose to bestow your favors upon him or not, as you see fit.”

  Amandine nodded, seated in front of Brooke’s vanity. “Do you really think he’ll notice?”

  “He’d better.”

  Amandine sighed, half-regretting sending Brooke to her place to pick up some clothes. But she hadn’t been able to bring herself to go, coward that she was. So don’t ask her. Don’t ask her!

  “What kind of flowers were in the bedroom?”

  Brook hesitated, then said, “Yellow roses. But they might be a coincidence.”

  “The florist has never sent any before. Never.”

  The rings on Amandine’s left hand winked. One was a simple classic platinum wedding band, the other the stunningly beautiful sapphire and diamond ring that Gavin had proposed with.

  “Hey.” Brooke stood behind Amandine, looking at her in the vanity mirror. “Don’t let the little things get to you. He’s probably trying to show that he’s sorry, so give him a chance.” She leaned over and touched the rings. “No matter what, you’re the one wearing these, not Catherine.”

  “The engagement ring wasn’t meant for me,” Amandine said, finally unable to be quiet about it. “He asked Catherine to marry him with it first.”

  “What? How do you know?”

  Amandine sighed. “Five years ago, when they were dating? We were all at one of Jacob’s parties, and Gavin was out on a balcony, looking at it, working up his nerve. Later that night, he proposed to her with it.

  Brooke stared at her. “And then after she turned him down, he used it again to propose to you?”

  “It came from his grandmother. His grandfather proposed to her with it.”

  “Oh my god. So it’s an heirloom.”

  “It is…and it’s beautiful. But I wish he’d gotten me a new ring, so I wouldn’t think about Catherine every time I look at it.”

  And compare herself to all the women who wanted him. People always took note of Gavin. He wasn’t the most handsome man she’d ever seen. Los Angeles was full of pretty boys harboring dreams of becoming movie stars. But he was all boldness and intelligence and indomitable drive, qualities that made other men fade into the background.

  But none of that had mattered to Catherine, who later had declared, “I’m not crazy enough to marry a guy who has an unstable job.”

  “What do you mean unstable?” Amandine had said. “He has his own company, and is very successful.”

  “He makes highly leveraged trades on things like corn, OJ, and currencies. It’s the quickest way to Chapter Seven. That’s how Dad lost everything. Sorry, but I’m not marrying a guy who gambles for a living. I’m aiming for stability.”

  Except Catherine’s aim had been way off. Amandine brushed her hair and ran pink lipstick over her mouth. “I always told myself I shouldn’t wish for things beyond my reach. It’s a surefire recipe for misery. I can never measure up to Catherine, a real Fairchild.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. Catherine’s just a woman, nothing special.”

  “Brooke. Look at her.”

  “Okay, fine. An unusually pretty woman. Still nothing special.”

  “You think that because her family lost its money, but breeding-wise it’s one of the top families. Better than the Lloyds, apparently. Aunt Olivia found Catherine’s marriage to Jacob acceptable only because the guy was rich.”

  “Well that’s a good, pure-minded reason to approve of someone. But you know what? If being a Fairchild is such a big deal, you’re a big deal too. You’re one of them.”

  “No, I’m not,” Amandine said. “My mom threw everything away when she chose my dad. ‘A penniless nobody with no prospects’, as my aunt and uncle used to say.”

  “What the hell? They said that to your face?”

  “Good lord, no. Nothing so unbecoming. But you overhear stuff.”

  “What a bunch of snobs. If you’re such a lowly nobody” —Brooke snorted— “why were you asked to be her maid of honor? Why not one of her high-society friends?”

  “Catherine hated them. They treated her like dirt after her father lost all his money in bad investments.” It had destroyed Catherine’s position as the queen bee of her social circle, and she’d never forgotten or forgiven those who’d humiliated her.

  “So much for fancy families,” Brooke said, almost too gleefully.

  “It worked out for me…sort of. If it weren’t for that, I might not have crossed paths with Gavin again.” While the newlyweds had enjoyed their wedding night, she’d slipped into Gavin’s bed and seduced him, convinced it would be the only time she’d be able to have the man she loved.

  Reality had intruded the morning after, and she’d snuck out of his room and run back to L.A. She hadn’t expected to see him again, but one day she’d gone to work at the local Art4Kids—a charity that provided free art lessons to inner-city children so they would have a positive outlet to express themselves and avoid getting into trouble—and Gavin had shown up with another board member.

  He was scheduled to give a speech. She’d thought he would just go through the motions, but that hadn’t been the case. There was a Q&A session after the speech, and he’d responded to each child’s comments and questions with thoughtful consideration, attentive and concerned as he spoke with kids about their experiences and solicited opinions about how the foundation could serve them better.

  A hand went up. It was a skinny teenage boy named Shawn. He’d been with the program for a few months. “Mr. Lloyd?”

  “Call me Gavin.”

  “Okay, Gavin. Um. I don’t want to sound greedy or anything, but do you know if we could eat, like, some snacks or something?”

  A few other kids had started to nod. Their parents didn’t have enough to feed them, and oftentimes the school breakfast and lunch were the only real food they got. Amandine remembered how much her brother Pete used to eat when he’d hit his teen years.

  “That can be arranged,” Gavin had said without missing a beat. “How thoughtless of me. Snacks to tide everyone over until dinner is a great idea. I’ll make it happen.”

  A huge smile split the boy’s face. “Thanks, Gavin!”

  The boa
rd member’s secretary had scribbled something on her notepad.

  Gavin turned to her. “Order pizzas and drinks for everyone. Send the bill to my admin.”

  Anticipation rippled through the kids.

  “It’s almost five thirty,” the secretary said.

  “What about it?”

  “That’s our closing time.”

  Gavin smiled. “Better hurry, then.”

  Later, he’d approached Amandine and asked her out. She might have turned down the Gavin from the wedding, but not the man from the foundation.

  And the rest, as some would say, was history. In a year they were married.

  “I don’t know if that was such a good thing,” Brooke said with a frown. “I hate seeing you so anxious and worried about fitting in with his crowd and going along with what he wants.”

  “Oh, I don’t mind all that. It’s just…” Amandine hesitated. “He’s never once mentioned the word ‘love’.”

  “Seriously? Not even when he proposed?”

  Amandine shook her head, a fresh wave of humiliation washing over her.

  “What the… So why did you say yes?”

  “Because.” Amandine blinked away her tears. He’d seemed so uncertain and earnest when he’d popped the question. She’d never seen him like that. Ever. “I loved him so much. I still do.”

  “Awww…” Brooke put her arms around Amandine. “I’m so sorry. I wish you’d told me.”

  “I thought I could make him love me.” Amandine pulled back, sniffing a bit, and tossed her hair over a shoulder. “How do I look?”

  “Absolutely fantastic. Let’s just, um, get you a tissue, though.”

  Despite herself, Amandine laughed. “Okay.” She put on the dress and shoes Brooke had brought.

  “And hey: no matter what happens, don’t let anything or anyone make you feel less than worthy. You’re a gem, Amandine. If Gavin can’t see that, pfft. His loss.”

  With Brooke’s pep talk still in her head, Amandine arrived at the restaurant at twelve thirty sharp. The maître d’ took her to the seat in the back. It wasn’t as nice as the table she’d gotten for dinner, but it wasn’t terrible for a last-minute reservation. Gavin must’ve called in some big favors to get it—La Mer always had more customers than it could accommodate.