All He Needs

by Shirley Hailstock

  “You look beautiful,” he murmured. It was a whisper, so low she barely heard it.

  Renee felt the rush of heat flush her cheeks.

  “Thanks. You’re quite the figure, too.”

  He moved a step closer to her. Renee instinctively knew he planned to embrace her. The thought made her both excited and scared.

  Taking a step back, she said, “Don’t.”

  Carter stopped. “I was only going to kiss your cheek. Isn’t that what friends do? And we’ve known each other for years.”

  “No, we haven’t.” She shook her head. “We’re strangers.”

  “Strangers?” Carter’s brows rose.

  “You’ve been gone for three years. For all I know, you could be married with three children. The same could be true of me. So we are strangers. You’ve changed. I’ve changed. We’re not the same people we were three years ago. You wouldn’t hug someone you’d just met. So consider me that someone.”

  Carter took a step back. For a long moment he stared at her as if assessing who this new woman was. Renee withstood his scrutiny.

  “I thought we’d go to Mile’s End.”

  “My last wedding was today, and I’m leaving early. Would you mind eating here?” She gestured toward the restaurants that were at the back of the building on the ground floor. “I’ve already made us a reservation.”

  Carter shrugged and smiled. Renee understood that she’d thwarted his plans. She had plans of her own, and traveling to a place they’d spent time together wasn’t on her agenda.

  “I must admit, I was a little surprised to find you on the other end of the phone asking me to meet you for dinner,” Renee said when they were seated.

  He smiled. It didn’t reach his eyes.

  “I’m glad you came.”

  “Why is that? What do you want to talk about? I was sure we’d settled everything last night.”

  He took a moment to gather his thoughts. Renee wondered if this meeting had something to do with them as a couple. There was no them. There had never really been a them. She’d thought there was, that there could be, but obviously Carter had other plans.

  “Your name has come up several times in the last few days,” Carter said.

  She didn’t react. She waited for him to go on. “Come up where?”

  “Along the avenues of publisher’s row. There’s a rumor going around that you’re going into competition with me.”

  Renee leaned forward. “With you?”

  “With my company.”

  “What kind of competition? There are several different kinds of businesses you’re responsible for.”

  “Magazines,” he said. “Specifically bridal magazines.”

  Renee smiled. She picked up her glass of wine and took a sip. Then she replaced it and sat back. “Not a rumor,” she said.

  “It’s not a rumor?”

  “Can’t be a rumor if it’s true.” She waited a moment, then asked, “Weren’t you listening last night when Blair mentioned my new job?”

  His brows rose in surprise. “I didn’t think she was serious.”

  Renee stared at him. “And the notice in the trades?”

  She knew Carter read all the trade publications that detailed news about the various magazines Hampshire sold. He had a huge capacity for remembering and recalling what he read, and Renee knew he wouldn’t miss the small paragraph bearing her name.

  “You are serious?” he asked rhetorically.

  “Don’t look so surprised. I’m fully capable of running a magazine. You should know that. I ran Hampshire’s division for three years.”

  “You’re very capable.”

  “So, why are we here?” She spread her hands.

  Again Carter waited a long moment before speaking. Renee wondered when he’d picked up that habit. He was usually decisive, in control, always knew what to say, how to act.

  “I want you to come back to Hampshire Publications.”

  “You have got to be kidding,” Renee said, her voice breathy and low. “We’ve already talked about this. I’m perfectly happy where I am. Why would I come back to Hampshire?”

  “It’s a profitable company, and it’s a place where you fit in. You know some of the employees and they all respect you.”

  Renee looked at him. She knew Blair Massey. But with three years gone, she might not know most of the people anymore. Magazine publishing was a place that lent itself to turnover.

  “Is Hampshire in trouble?” He’d said it was profitable, but that didn’t mean the bridal division was afloat.

  Carter shook his head. Renee looked for any sign of slowness, any inkling that he was hiding something. She found nothing to make her believe he wasn’t telling her the whole truth.

  “You’re great at seeing what works and what doesn’t in the magazine. Your ideas are always good and sales took an upward climb when you put your mark on the magazine. You could have the whole package with us. I can’t imagine you would want to compete with us.”

  Hackles went up on the back of her neck. “I’m just a little business,” Renee began. “In fact, at this point, I’m still scouting out the business. You’re a conglomerate with magazines, textbooks, novels, comics and a score of peripherals. You can’t be afraid of me.”

  “It’s not fear. Hampshire wants you to be comfortable, and we don’t want your reputation to suffer with a start-up.”

  “Well, that takes the cake. You believe that nothing outside of your control is worthy of doing?”

  “I didn’t say that.”

  “Didn’t you?” She stopped and narrowed her eyes. “You said Hampshire wasn’t in trouble. What about the bridal division? Has there been a dip in sales?”

  Again Carter sat forward and looked at her. “I’ll be frank with you. The division could do better. When you were directing it, it was at the top of the market. We’ve lost some market share—not enough to be concerned about. But we don’t want to lose any more. Bringing you onboard would ensure that.”

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence, but—”

  “Don’t answer yet.” He stopped her with one hand up. “Think about it overnight. Give yourself time to get used to the idea. We can meet tomorrow.”

  “I won’t be here tomorrow,” she lied.

  “Renee, can’t you give me a few minutes, lunch or dinner? Princeton can’t have that great a need for you that you can’t spare an old friend a few hours.”

  Renee felt guilty, although she had no reason to. She wasn’t actually leaving until Sunday, and other than additional planning, she had a morning appointment tomorrow. After that, there was no one she could call, no arrangements she could make until Monday. But she didn’t want Carter to think his presence influenced her in any way.

  “All right, Carter,” she said. “I’ll meet you tomorrow. After lunch,” she emphasized. He wasn’t going to convince her to return to Hampshire Publications over a New York steak or a salad at lunch.

  He smiled. She saw a little of the old Carter in that smile. A momentary flash of the man who wrestled the sheets with her burst into her mind. The same man who’d told her he was leaving and not interested in pursuing a relationship.

  That was Carter Hampshire.

  * * *

  Carter paced the floor of his spacious apartment on Fifth Avenue overlooking Central Park. The view was spectacular, but Carter wasn’t interested in it today. He punched the button on his cell phone disconnecting the call. Walking to the windows, he looked out on the traffic below. Was she down there? Renee Hart wasn’t registered at the Westley Hotel. She hadn’t been registered there and checked out. She’d never been there. Yet he’d taken her inside, seen her get on the elevator to go to her room. They’d had dinner in the restaurant last night, but she didn’t have a room in that hotel
. Why had she let him think she did?

  Where was she?

  They were supposed to meet today. Carter glanced at his watch. He wouldn’t be able to meet her—he’d gotten word that his father was in the hospital and he needed to go to the Hamptons. His train left in an hour, but he hadn’t been able to reach Renee. She hadn’t answered her cell, and when he’d tried the hotel’s number he’d been told there was no one named Renee Hart registered.

  She had a wedding, he remembered. Maybe the wedding party hotel was where Renee was staying. Quickly, he went to his desk and dialed the number of the Waldorf Astoria. Renee was not registered there, either. He calmly thanked the person on the phone and disconnected.

  “She lied to me,” Carter said out loud. Getting up, he returned to the window. He needed to explain to her why he’d left three years ago. He’d wanted to do it last night, but the moment he’d seen her he’d known she wasn’t ready to listen. So he’d tried to convince her to come back to Hampshire Publications. He wanted her there, and her job was open. When she’d been in charge, the magazine had led the industry. He knew she’d regain the share they’d lost, but she wasn’t interested. Carter wanted to try and change her mind, see her again, but she’d evaded him. And now he had to go out to the Island.

  He thought about how she’d looked. She was still the tall, thin woman he remembered, but there was more confidence in her appearance. And she was even more beautiful than she’d been three years ago. Her hair was black and glossy. When a curl had escaped, he’d almost reached across the table and threaded his fingers through it. Yet she’d told him he was a stranger. She couldn’t know that she’d never be a stranger to him.

  He was used to seeing models. Renee wasn’t a model, yet her body mirrored that of the best he’d ever seen. Her waist was thin and nipped in at just the right angle. Her hips curved to exactly match the contours of his hands. Carter’s fingers trembled at the thought of touching her again.

  A horn sounded below. He checked the time. He had to go now or he’d never make the train. Leaving Renee another text message, he left the apartment and headed for Penn Station wondering why she wouldn’t take his calls and why she’d lied to him.

  * * *

  Renee sighed, one hand going to her breast as she studied the text message from Carter. He’d canceled their meeting. She wouldn’t have to see him. Her shoulders dropped and she frowned. He hadn’t said why.

  Her morning meeting was over. It had been long and productive. To keep from being interrupted, she’d put her phone on silent. It had buzzed several times, but she’d ignored it. People who knew her knew she wasn’t the type who instantly answered every call. With her brides, it was better to give them a little time before they reached her. By then, their crisis had been reduced to a minor problem or it had been resolved.

  With nothing else to do, Renee returned to the Weddings by Diana guesthouse. The place was warm and inviting; however, it was not a place where anyone cooked. Renee had planned to have lunch before meeting Carter, and now she was hungry.

  Opening the refrigerator she found only water and soft drinks. A few nonperishables were in the cabinets.

  Carter had only said that something had come up. It must have been important, she thought, as she closed the refrigerator, or maybe he’d come to his senses and realized she couldn’t be persuaded to return to Hampshire Publications.

  She felt deflated. She’d worked herself up for another meeting with Carter, and he’d canceled it without a reason. This was just like three years ago when he’d left with no real reason. At least today he’d sent her a text. Squaring her shoulders, Renee made a decision.

  She picked her phone up from the kitchen counter. Most of the people she knew in New York also knew Carter. She wouldn’t call any of them. And Blair was out of the question. Then she had an idea. She sent a text message to her cousin Dana and invited her to dinner.

  Often the two cousins shared a meal while they Skyped, but Renee wished she could see Dana face-to-face.

  When? Dana’s reply came almost immediately. Unlike Renee, Dana was always on her phone. If she hadn’t answered immediately Renee would’ve wondered if something was wrong.

  Six o’clock, Renee texted. It didn’t take long for them to work out the details. Dana loved New York and said she’d come in from Connecticut and meet Renee at Grand Central Terminal.

  She spent the afternoon catching up on email, then met Dana’s train at the station. Taking a taxi, they got out of the tourist district and went to an Italian restaurant Renee was familiar with.

  Dana smiled. “What’s up?” She popped a fork full of lettuce into her mouth. They usually ordered salads and wine when they had these talks. But tonight Renee had ordered fettuccine Alfredo and a sangria.

  “Not much,” Renee said. “We haven’t talked in a while. I thought it was time.”

  The two had grown up together and were closer than sisters. Renee had a twin brother, and she loved him, but there were things that only another woman would understand.

  “So,” Dana dragged the word out. A conspiratorial smile curled her lips. “Did you see Carter?”

  Just like Dana to cut right to the heart. “You know, every time I come to New York you ask me that same question.”

  “And you evade it.” Dana took another bite from her salad.

  “I’m not here to see him.”

  “That wasn’t my question,” Dana said.

  “He wasn’t at the wedding.”

  “Again, not my question. Which means you saw him.”

  “Dinner, last night.”

  “Dinner! Do tell. Give me the details.”

  “No details. Well, one. He offered me a job.”

  “Back at Hampshire Publications?”

  Renee heard the wonder in her cousin’s voice. She took a moment to eat part of her fettuccine before nodding.

  “What did you tell him?”

  “That I was happy where I was.”

  “Are you?”

  “Dana,” Renee admonished.

  Dana smiled slowly. “How does he look?”

  “Good enough to eat.”

  “Well?” Dana prompted.

  Renee said nothing.

  Dana poked her bottom lip out like a child who wasn’t getting her way.

  “You can’t want me to get involved with him again. After how he broke up with me. And what a basket case I was then.”

  Dana’s face became very serious. Renee wondered if she was remembering her fiancé. He was a Marine who died in an explosion in the Middle East. Since then Dana had been alone, but she loved setting up her friends.

  Dana leaned forward and said, “You wouldn’t be getting involved again. Because you’ve never gotten over him.”

  “That’s no reason to put myself in harm’s way. I’ve survived the last three years. I can get through the rest.”

  “But what about when you move back to New York? You’ll be in the same city and in the same profession. It’s inevitable that you’ll run into each other.”

  “So, we’ll run into each other sometimes.” Renee thought it couldn’t be any worse than the meeting last night. Then she’d been ambushed. Next time she’d be prepared for his possible appearance, even expecting it.

  “You can handle that?”

  “Sure I can.” Renee’s voice was strong, but she wasn’t that sure of herself. She’d been tested last night, and she’d survived. It had to get easier as time went by. But even though it had been three years, her heart had jumped into her throat when she’d seen him.

  She would have to weather whatever came.

  “I’ll be fine,” Renee told Dana. “Besides, in the next few months, I’ll be too busy to think of anyone. Getting a new venture off the ground is a day-and-night proposition.” Renee hadn’t menti
oned it to Diana and Teddy, but she wanted to launch in six months.

  Dana gave her a long look, then dropped her eyes. “What’s happening with the new magazine?”

  Her cousin had been the first person Renee had called when the project had been approved.

  “Oh, good progress. And I found a place to live.”

  “Where?”

  “It’s a house. Not an apartment. And it’s in the museum district.”

  “How’d you do that?” Dana’s brows rose.

  “Remember my Aunt Olivia?” Renee asked.

  “Vaguely.”

  “She lives in the museum district.”

  “You’re going to live with her?” Dana frowned.

  Renee didn’t answer immediately. She knew Dana was trying to determine Aunt Olivia’s age. She was a spry eighty-three-year-old.

  “You were never a favorite of hers, if I’m remembering correctly,” Dana added.

  Renee smiled. “She mellowed after I started working at Hampshire. I used to visit her often.”

  “And now you’re moving in with her?” Dana’s voice showed incredulity.

  “Not exactly,” Renee responded.

  “Okay, stop dancing around and explain it to me.”

  “I called her a few weeks ago and she invited me to lunch. During the afternoon she told me she was leaving the city. She’d put the house up for sale but had no offers.”

  “Where’s she going?”

  “She’s got a brother in North Carolina. She’s going there to be near him.”

  “Doesn’t she have children? I mean eighty-three is a hard age to pick up and move.”

  Renee shook her head. “She had a son. He was killed in Vietnam.”

  “So she’s selling you the house?”

  She’s letting me rent it with an option to buy.”

  “That was lucky.”

  Renee nodded. “There are some legal papers I have to sign tomorrow.”

  Renee’s cell phone rang and the photo of the caller appeared. Renee stared at it.