Baby Under the Christmas Tree

by Teresa Carpenter

  Tempted to walk on and leave her to her fate, he gritted his teeth and made himself backtrack. He needed her signature on that document.

  Because he wanted Elle to be the mother of his children.

  Back in the office, Max looked at Kit and received a nod. They were taping.

  “I don’t know what the big deal is.” Amber went back to her seat.

  “This conversation is going to be very short and mostly one-sided. I want you out of my son’s life—”

  “I told you what it would take.” Smug again, she crossed her legs.

  Skinny legs. He ran his gaze over her, noting the bottle-blond hair and heavy makeup that didn’t quite hide the hard lines around her mouth. What had he ever seen in her?

  “I’ve always known I could buy you off, but I never wanted to have to tell Troy you cared so little for him you sold off your rights. I don’t care anymore. Better that conversation than let you destroy his childhood. So, this is how it’s going to be. I give you a hundred thousand dollars, and you sign over your rights to Troy. And then you’re going to move to another state and never come near us again.”

  She cocked her head. “I think you’re missing a zero in that number.”

  “Show her the pictures,” he directed Kit.

  Amber’s haughty expression was belied by the shake in her hand as she took the manila folder the investigator passed across the desk. Her arrogance disappeared along with the color in her face as she shuffled through the pile.

  “You bastard,” she accused him. “You had me followed. You had no right. Some of these are in Phoenix.” As if that made a difference.

  “You left our child with a stranger,” he bit out. “I have every right to protect him in any way I see fit.”

  “She wasn’t a stranger to me.”

  “Another lie. We have a deposition. You knew her for two weeks. You had no idea what she might do with him.” He wanted this done. “Sign the document.”

  She stuck her pointed chin in the air. “Add a zero.”

  “You just lost five thousand.”

  She blinked and angry color mottled her cheeks. “You can’t do that.”

  “It’s now ninety. Harold, tell her what happens if the photos go to the police.”

  “The punishment for child neglect or abandonment can be imprisonment for up to one year. More if there are circumstances such as drug use that expose a child to further harm.”

  “I never—”

  “Don’t even bother.” Max plucked a picture out of her hand, held it up for her to see and tossed it onto the desk. “Sign the release while I’m still feeling generous.”

  “This is because of her, isn’t it?”

  “She has nothing to do with this.” He hated to hear her mention Elle. “You abandoned our child. You tried to have me arrested. This is all your doing. There’s enough here to ensure you’ll never see Troy alone again. Take the money and move to Las Vegas with Donna or, hell, move to Phoenix. I don’t care.”

  “You are such an ass,” she yelled. “You can have him. All he does is scream. I never wanted a kid. This was just supposed to be a quick way to get a lot of money. So pay up and I’m out of here. And a measly hundred grand isn’t going to do it.”

  There it was—confirmation she’d set him up.

  He waited for the familiar rage to rush through his blood, but it didn’t come. He couldn’t find regret in him anywhere.

  He loved Troy, couldn’t imagine life without him. She’d given Max an irreplaceable, priceless gift and she didn’t even know it. Their son was a meal ticket to her and that sealed the deal for him.

  If she changed her ways in the future and sincerely decided she wanted to be a part of Troy’s life, Max might relent, but he refused to give her leverage to jerk Troy’s emotions around for financial gain.

  No rights meant she had nothing to bargain with. And if she thought she could come along later and threaten to make Max out as the bad guy, he had the tape of today’s meeting, so Troy could hear exactly what really happened.

  “Good, because it’s down to eighty thousand.” Amber shrieked and Max realized where Troy got his penchant for screaming. He’d heard enough.

  “I’m giving you a chance to change your life. I encourage you to take it.” Max pushed away from the wall. He waved to Kit. “Harold, the deal is off the table in ten minutes.”

  “You bas—” The door closed off the obscenity. And that quickly, a chapter in his life ended.

  His son was as safe as Max could make him. Now, he just needed to convince Elle that she belonged with the two of them.

  * * *

  San Diego embraced Christmas. Lights decorated houses, yards, boats and freeways. The malls decked their halls with boughs of holly, marching soldiers and oversize glittering snowflakes while Santa’s helpers collected donations, listened attentively to childish desires and smiled prettily for the camera.

  Elle loved the season, loved watching the boats gaily parade along the embarcadero, the Grinch’s heart triple in size at The Old Globe theater and Marines collect toys for tots.

  But now none of it held Elle’s attention or pulled her from the funk she’d fallen into.

  Not even the magic of Christmas and shopping for friends and family cheered her up. And she loved to Christmas-shop, had even taken on the task of buying gifts for the team. What was better than shopping with someone else’s money? Not so fun this year.

  What really made her mad was on top of all the emotional angst he’d put her through, this made two years in a row Max had spoiled her Christmas.

  Not that she let it show through her determinedly in-the-season jolliness.

  Elle held up two dresses for Amanda and Michelle to see. “The black or the green?”

  “Green,” they both answered at once.

  “It looks great with your hair,” Michelle raved.

  “And your skin. I’ve always been jealous that you have fewer freckles than me,” Amanda lamented. “Life is not fair.”

  Michelle rolled her eyes. A tall, lithe strawberry-blonde, Amanda radiated wholesome beauty. “You’re gorgeous, so don’t worry about it.”

  “I’m so glad you could both come to the Gala. And that you could come a day early to shop for a dress,” Elle told her best friends. Choked up, she blinked back tears. She was so happy to have them here. She really needed their help.

  “How could we refuse? When we heard the highly organized, always-three-steps-ahead-of-the-rest-of-the-world Elle Austin hadn’t bought her dress for her team’s big gala, we knew it was an emergency.” Michelle’s warm hug took the sting out of her words. “Did I tell you Gabe is coming, too? He’s flying into San Diego tomorrow morning. You’ll both get to meet him.”

  “That’s great. I’m so happy for you.” Elle cringed at how lacking in sincerity that sounded. “Sorry. I really do mean it.”

  “Girlfriend, I get it. It’s hard to see someone in love when you’re hurting.”

  “Max makes me so furious,” Elle vented. “How I hate being held back for ‘my own good.’”

  “You know your family does it because they care and want to protect you,” Amanda pointed out.

  “I know. They don’t see how demeaning it is. It’s like they want to prevent me from participating in my own life. There are times I’d like to protect them, too, but I draw the line at making decisions for them.”

  “It may be frustrating, but at least they care enough to get
involved. When I lived with my grandparents I often felt like a spectator. I’m so glad to finally have my own place.”

  “Are you trying to say I’m spoiled?” Elle asked with wry humor. “Believe me, I know I’m lucky to have such a loving family. But let me tell you, there are times when it’s possible to have too much of a good thing. For Max to do the same thing is too much.”

  “You do know what that means, right?” Michelle didn’t look up from the silver lamé mini she’d pulled from the rack.

  “What it means?” Elle carried both the black and the green gown toward the dressing room.

  “Yeah.” Michelle followed with the silver lamé. “Max loves you.”

  Elle froze, causing Michelle to run into her. “What?”

  “Isn’t it obvious? Your family wants to protect you for your own good because they love you. Max is doing the same thing.”

  “She’s right,” Amanda agreed. “You were attacked in his house. By the mother of his child. She’s in his life to stay. What could he do besides push you away?”

  “Max is an emotionally stunted man afraid to risk happiness for fear of being abandoned again.” Okay, no bitterness in that comment.

  “And then there’s that.” Amanda nodded.

  Elle rolled her eyes and escaped into the dressing cubicle. Once inside she stripped out of her jeans and sweater and pulled on the green dress, but that’s as far as she got. Fighting tears she laid her forehead on the cool glass of the mirror.

  How could they take his side? They were her friends. They were supposed to take her side no matter what.

  Didn’t they understand she didn’t need protection? She needed the man she loved to love her back. To trust her to help him, to be strong for him.

  She needed him to fight for her.

  She knew he cared for her. His goodbye kiss, so full of tenderness and regret, told her that. But not enough. He certainly didn’t love her.

  Maybe she deserved the heartache. How arrogant of her to think she could set limits on love, keep her emotions in a neat and tidy box, order her perfect man as if he were an item on a menu. Less sports, more arts, tall, dark and handsome. Check. Check. Check.

  Only problem was he didn’t love her back. Just one of life’s little jokes. And it was on her.

  “Oh, babe.” Warm arms wrapped around her and suddenly Amanda and Michelle were there squeezing into the small room and the three of them were crushed together holding each other.

  They crowded onto the small bench and Elle poured her heart out. They gave her the love and sympathy she craved. Finally she dried her eyes. Pulling her pride around herself, she blew her nose.

  “He doesn’t know what he’s missing,” she announced. Standing, she presented her back to Amanda. “Zip me, please.”

  Her friend complied and Elle turned to check out her reflection. She frowned; the color was nice but the fit was loose. She’d lost weight over the past week.

  Michelle had been tapping her lip, her gaze contemplative.

  “What?” Elle asked, knowing that look.

  “I think you should show him—” she smiled maliciously “—exactly what he’s missing.”

  “Hmm.” Elle cocked her head and pondered her reflection. “You’re right,” she said, feeling her resilience rebounding. How could she expect him to fight for them if she wasn’t willing to do the same? “This dress won’t do at all. I need something with less material.” She met Michelle’s evil grin with one of her own. “Something sexy.”

  * * *

  The day of the San Diego Thunder’s Wish upon a Puck Gala dawned gray and drizzly. Elle’s whole day was dedicated to the event, so Ray had approved the expenditure of a guest room for her at the event hotel, the tropical resort of Paradise Pointe on Mission Bay.

  After a breakfast of oatmeal with cranberries and bananas, she grabbed her overnight case and her garment bag with her sexy dress and headed to Mission Bay. A lot of the guests had chosen to stay over at the hotel, including Michelle and Amanda and Elle’s parents.

  The Gala started at eight. Her schedule had her dressed and at the event by seven to oversee the final touches and the arrival of the guests. Her girls planned to meet her at five-thirty to help her dress.

  Time flew by. Elle worked with a team, including Jenna, who kept her apprised of catering, auction, guests and VIPs. A thousand dollars a plate earned the attendee a gourmet dinner, a huge gift basket, an opportunity to spend more money on great auction items and an extravagant event hobnobbing with VIPs, celebrities and the Thunder team.

  It was the place to be in San Diego tonight.

  Max called her twice during the day. Heart racing, she rejected the calls. Tempted as she was to talk to him, she didn’t dare allow him to interfere with her concentration. Not today.

  Michelle stopped by and introduced her fiancé, Gabe, a tall, quiet man who looked at her friend with solemn devotion. They were on their way out to drop their ward, Jack, off at Adam and Stephanie’s.

  “It’s so great of your family to take him tonight.”

  “Are you kidding? Stephanie is thrilled. She’s been making noises about having another baby. I think Adam is hoping watching Jack will cure her of the notion.”

  “Uh-oh.” Michelle exchanged glances with Gabe. “That might backfire on him. Jack is a really good baby.”

  Elle shrugged and grinned. “Then I’ll have another niece or nephew. You guys have fun tonight.”

  “We will.” Michelle reached for Gabe’s hand. “Jack is a great baby, but it’ll still be good to have Gabe to myself. I plan to do lascivious things to his prime body.”

  “Hussy.”

  “Hey,” Gabe protested. “I’m hoping we’ll be friends. No discouraging her.”

  Elle laughed and kissed his cheek. “My friend, that was encouragement.” She moved over and hugged Michelle and Jack. “Ravish away,” she whispered. “He’s a keeper.”

  “He is.” Michelle nodded. “I’ll be back to help you dress so you can snag your guy.” With a wave they left and Elle went back to work.

  Once the event started, she’d be able to hand her duties off to Ray. Jenna would be helping with the auction so Elle would be free to shift her attention to her future and wowing Max.

  Management was a little worried that Max’s recent appearance in the tabloids might affect the turnout, so Elle made a point of touching base with managers, assistants, agents and publicists throughout the day.

  “Nobody seems to be shying away,” she happily informed Ray when he called at five.

  “Excellent.” His relief came clearly through the line. “Carl will be comforted to hear that. Max, too. How is Natalie doing?”

  “Fine.” The owner’s daughter had arrived fifteen minutes ago and had already second-guessed several of her original decisions, which Elle had been seeing put into place all day. “She’s a little nervous, but it’s going to be a beautiful event.”

  “Don’t let her change anything,” he instructed, obviously familiar with Natalie’s mercurial habits. “Hold her hand and keep her out of trouble until I get there.”

  “Okay,” she agreed and hung up. “Except how to do that?” she muttered, since it was time for her to head upstairs to get dressed. If Elle could trust Natalie not to undo everything they’d done today, she’d prefer to leave the socialite in charge. But she couldn’t risk the woman wreaking havoc in Elle’s absence.

  She joined Natalie and Jenna at the gift-basket table. Jenna had
already changed so she could cover for Elle. Elle noticed Natalie wasn’t ready and decided to suggest this lull before the storm as the best time for both of them to be away.

  “Are you sure?” Natalie asked. “I was going to wait until closer to six or six-thirty.”

  “It’s really slowed down here at the welcome table. I think it’s safe to slip away now. I don’t expect attendees to start arriving at the ballroom until close to seven-thirty, but I want to be ready early just in case.”

  “Good idea,” Natalie agreed. “It always seems to take longer to get ready than I think it will.” She waved and took off for the elevators.

  Elle sighed in relief and turned to Jenna. “Stick to her like glue if she gets to the ballroom before me.”

  “Will do,” Jenna agreed with a meaningful nod.

  Elle thanked her and escaped to her room. She quickly showered and smoothed on lotion. A knock sounded on the door and she opened it to Michelle and Amanda.

  “Come in.” She grinned at them. “Time to make me beautiful. I can’t wait to see Max’s face when he spies me in the dress.”

  “Me, too,” they chimed.

  Amanda held up a curling iron. “Let’s get to work.”

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  MAX FOUND A CORNER and planted himself against the wall. He’d had enough notoriety to last a lifetime and he planned to keep a low profile tonight. And yet people still found him, many coming up to wish him well either with the team, which was continuing to win, or with Troy.

  It was a little disconcerting.

  But he took it in his stride even as he plotted to grab Elle and steal her away as soon as possible. He missed her so much. He just wanted to talk to her, to explain where his head had been and tell her he loved her.

  Okay, if he were being honest, that last thing nearly had him hyperventilating. But he put on his game face and reminded himself he was playing this one for life.

  He’d been alone for so long he’d come to think of himself as a loner. These past few days had shown him how wrong he was. He had a family, not only Troy and Deb, but the whole Thunder team.