by James, Anna
They swayed together to the slow, melodic beat of the music, but she couldn’t keep the revelations from whirling around in her mind.
Audrey McNamara had married four times in her life. Her first husband, Max’s father, had died, and then she’d married Ken, Reed’s dad. They must have been happy for a while, but their happiness didn’t last. She’d divorced him and married Howard and then divorced him, too.
No wonder Reed wasn’t interested in a serious relationship. From what he’d experienced, love didn’t last.
“So, now you know all about my parents’ dysfunctional relationship.”
And what? There was a definite challenge in his tone as if he dared her. To do or say what, she wasn’t sure. “Yes.”
“They were happily married for fourteen years, then the fighting started.”
A shudder ripped through him and she wondered why he reacted so violently to something that happened more than a dozen years ago. “It must have been difficult for you.”
“Two years of sniping and bickering with me in the middle.”
A pawn each parent had used against the other in whatever game they’d been playing. “I’m sorry, Reed.”
“Forget it.”
“It’s okay. You can talk to me.”
“It was a long time ago. I shouldn’t have brought it up.”
He released her. Deprived of his touch, she shivered.
“I should go. I still need to meet with Howard.”
Idiot, idiot, idiot. She shouldn’t have pushed him. He’d clammed up the moment she’d tried to get him to talk. Would she ever learn to keep her mouth shut? “Sure, go ahead.”
Reed strode away and she walked to the table where she’d been sitting earlier with Max, Nicole, and her younger sister, Kate.
“Trouble in paradise?”
Ashley twirled around. Jake Delaney stood beside her. “Huh?”
“You seem upset. Did you and Reed have a fight?”
She shook her head.
“Would your husband have a problem with you dancing with an old friend?”
You’ll be single again in a few weeks, Reed had said to her a short time ago. He wouldn’t be her husband for much longer. “No.”
Jake grinned. “Shall we?” He gestured to the other couples waltzing on the floor and extended his hand to her.
“Sure.” Why not?
Chapter 12
The next morning, Reed unfolded himself from the driver’s seat of his sports car and walked around to the trunk to get his golf clubs.
He found Max in the pro shop standing at the register.
Max clapped him on the shoulder. “We playing nine holes or eighteen today?”
Reed grinned. “Eighteen.” No reason not to.
Max took the glove he’d purchased and they headed outside, picked up their clubs, and put them onto the golf cart Reed rented for the day. He got into the driver’s seat and Max took the seat beside him.
“How’d things go with Howard last night?” Max asked.
“We’re meeting on Monday to finalize the details.”
“Good. I wasn’t sure you’d agree to work with him.”
“Business is business. Besides, I have nothing against Howard.” Reed stopped the cart when they arrived at the first tee.
“Glad to hear it. Now, what do you say? Wanna place a little friendly wager on the game?”
He got out of the cart and grabbed the driver from his bag, then headed for the gold markers. “How much are we talking?”
“Fifty bucks a hole."
Reed nodded, then lined up and drove the ball. It landed on the green. “Let’s make it a hundred a hole.”
Max shook his head. “Cocky son-of-a bitch, aren’t you?” He lined up and swung.
Reed watched as the ball sailed through the air and landed short of his. He grinned. “Yep.”
It took Max two more shots to sink the ball. Reed birdied the hole. “A hundred dollars for me.” He smiled smugly.
Max snorted. “It was a par three. You got lucky.”
They got back in the cart and drove to the second tee, stopping a short distance away to wait until the people ahead cleared the area.
“You won’t be as lucky this time.”
Reed grinned. “Wanna bet?”
Max laughed. “Arrogant as well as cocky. Sure, let’s make it two hundred for this hole.”
“You’re on.” He got out of the cart and grabbed his driver. Max followed.
“I almost forgot. Nicole wants to do a family dinner at our place before Kate goes back to Italy. Tomorrow night. Six o’clock. Can you and Ash make it?”
Dinner with the family. Shit. He’d asked Max to play golf today to tell him about the pending divorce. He’d wanted to break the news in person. Now what was he supposed to say. He didn’t want to play the happy couple once again. A picture of Ashley gliding around in that bastard Delaney’s arms appeared in his head.
He hadn’t even walked off the dance floor before she’d gone to him.
Not true. Delaney had grabbed her the moment he’d turned his back. The snake. But she’d fallen into Jake’s arms just the same.
No. She may have danced with the snake, but she’d clung to him. Wanted him. He’d known the moment her delectable body made contact with him. He was hard right now just thinking about those high, firm breasts pressed against his chest, her nipples tightening into taut little nubs.
They’d have wound up in bed together last night if he hadn’t walked away.
Ashley still wanted him.
And he wanted . . . sex. With his wife. A-fun-only-nothing-serious affair. Like they used to have. Before everything became complicated. Yes.
Now all he needed to do was convince Ashley.
“Reed?”
“Yeah?”
“You, Ashley, dinner at our place tomorrow night at six?”
He nodded. “We’ll be there.”
That gave him thirty-six hours to figure out a plan. To seduce his wife.
Ashley pulled into a parking spot, grabbed the bottle of Ibuprofen from her purse, and swallowed down two more tablets with the water bottle sitting in the cup holder, then got out of her car and headed into the restaurant.
No way would she let this persisting headache and low-grade nausea get the better of her today. Not when she planned to spend the afternoon with her sisters.
Finding time to get together was near impossible these days with Nicole busy getting her business off the ground and Kate spending the semester in Italy. The truth was she missed them.
Six months ago, it had been just the three of them against the world. Now, the three had gone their separate ways.
Once inside the restaurant, she searched the crowded area for Nicole and Kate, spotting them seated at a table in the rear. She waved and walked toward them.
Kate smiled. “Hey, Ash.”
Ashley hugged each sister, then took the vacant chair across from Nicole. “Sorry I’m a little late.” Damned headache and upset stomach.
“You’re not late. Kate and I got here early.”
A loud chime sounded. Each sister picked up their cell phone resting on the table. They looked at each other and laughed.
“It’s mine.” Ashley opened the text. Her face fell.
“Everything okay, Ash?” Kate asked.
She sighed. “The University of Chicago denied my request to start classes in the fall.” Yet another kick in the teeth.
Nicole’s eyes widened. “I didn’t realize you’d been accepted.”
Ashley nodded. “I found out a couple of weeks ago, but deferred my admission for a year because of—” Her heart twisted and she wondered if the sadness inside would ever go away.
“The baby. Oh, Ashley.” Nicole gripped her hand and squeezed.
Tears pricked at the corners of each eye. She sucked in a deep breath and held up a hand to stop whatever Nicole might add. She didn’t want to talk about this. Couldn’t talk about this, even with the two people who were closest to her.
Silence fell between them. When it grew uncomfortable, Ashley asked, “Are you guys ready to shop till we drop?” She didn’t want the limited time they had together to be filled with heartache and melancholy.
Kate laughed. “Damned straight.”
Ashley gave a determined smile. “So what’s the plan? Strategic strike with target stores or are we just going to wander through the mall?”
“A little of both,” Kate said. “I thought we could go to the shops at North Bridge.”
Nicole grinned. “We’ll start there.”
Ashley nodded. “Sounds good. Did you two order yet?” She picked up the menu lying in front of her and checked out what they offered.
“Just drinks.” Kate wiggled her brows. “The fruity alcoholic kind with tiny umbrellas since it’s girls’ day out.”
“We wanted to wait until you arrived before we ordered any food. In the meantime”—Nicole pulled a mini tablet from her purse and waved it in the air—“I have pictures from the party last night. Who wants to see them?”
“I do,” Kate said.
“Me, too,” Ashley added. “But let’s order first.” Maybe a little food would help settle her stomach? She flagged a waiter passing by. He stopped and offered a congenial smile. “We’d like to place our order.”
“What can I get you?” the waiter asked.
“I’ll have a bowl of the chicken and rice soup and half a turkey sandwich on white with lettuce and tomato, no mayo.”
“Bacon cheeseburger for me,” Nicole added. “Medium rare, and sweet potato fries.”
The waiter eyed Kate. “How about you, miss?”
Kate snorted. “I’d love to have what she’s having”—she pointed to Nicole—“but, I’m going to opt for a salad with grilled chicken breast instead, champagne vinaigrette dressing on the side. I’ve had way too much pasta since I’ve been in Italy.”
The waiter nodded and left them alone.
“Speaking of Italy”—Ashley shot her an inquiring glance—“I want to hear about Raffaello D’Onofrio.”
Color flooded Kate’s cheeks. “Um, what about him?”
“Who is he?” Nicole asked.
“He’s Rosanna D’Onofrio’s older brother. The D’Onofrios are hosting me while I’m staying in Italy this semester.”
“And,” Ashley prompted.
Kate shook her head. “And nothing. We’re just friends.”
Yeah right, and pigs fly. “I figured you were more than ‘just friends’ from the way you talk about him when you call.”
Kate’s eyes widened. “No. He, I . . . Let’s see those pictures from your engagement party, Nicole.”
Ashley laughed. “Yes, let’s see the pictures, but you’re not getting off that easy, Kate. I think there’s something you’re not telling us.”
“Speaking of something you’re not telling us.” Nicole arched a brow. “What’s going on between you and Reed?”
Ashley’s eyes widened. Damn. Had she heard the news already? Reed hadn’t wasted any time telling his brother about their impending divorce. “I, ah . . .”
Nicole turned the tablet around for them to see. Oh, dear lord! Nicole wasn’t talking about the divorce. An almost-X-rated image of her and Reed kissing flashed on the screen. She’d plastered herself against him, every inch of her making contact with every inch of him. Her foot snaked around the bottom of his leg, her arms coiled around his neck.
One of his hands gripped her ass while the other . . . Holy crap! The other slid under her dress and the hem rode up nearly an inch. You couldn’t see her panties, but it was close.
“That’s some kiss,” Kate declared, a gleam in her eye.
Heat flooded her cheeks and Ashley cringed. What the heck had she been thinking? They’d been in an elegant hotel for all to see, and there she’d been behaving . . . With her soon-to-be ex. Lord, she couldn’t even think about it.
Nicole roared with laughter. “Boy, talk about the pot calling the kettle black. Max and I might get a little amorous in public, but we can’t hold a candle to you and Reed. You can’t keep your hands off him.”
Ashley nodded. She couldn’t. That was the problem. And there was only one solution as far as she could see. She had to stay away from him, as far away as possible, until she could get control of herself.
Chapter 13
Reed pounded on the front door leading into his penthouse, in downtown Chicago, and waited. He knew Ashley was inside. Could hear her moving around. If she thought not answering the door would make him go away, she had another think coming.
It was bad enough she hadn’t returned any of his calls over the last twenty-four hours, but not telling him she wasn’t going to the family dinner tonight was inexcusable.
Their families still didn’t know about the impending divorce, and he’d expected Ashley to be at Max and Nicole’s house when he arrived at six o’clock. She’d known about the dinner. He’d left her a message.
When seven o’clock passed and she still hadn’t arrived or contacted him, he began to worry and he’d wondered out loud what was keeping her.
The conversation he, Kate, Max, and Nicole were having while they waited for the roast to finish cooking came to an abrupt halt. Six sets of astonished eyes landed on him. “Ashley is sick,” Nicole had said. “She isn’t coming.”
His mind started to race. Ashley sick? No. She’d been fine when he saw her at the party two days ago. She was avoiding him, that’s why she’d bailed.
A stab of guilt had knifed through him. Kate was her sister and Ashley hadn’t come to see her off because of him.
“Didn’t you know?” Kate had asked innocently.
No. He hadn’t, and he needed to think fast and come up with a good reason why. He’d said something about being at the office all day and not stopping home before he came here.
No one had challenged him, but he’d known from the expressions on their faces, they’d sensed something wasn’t right.
He hammered on the door again, then yanked out his keys, jammed them in the lock, and turned the knob.
The door opened as he twisted the knob. Ashley stood before him wrapped in a blanket, shaking. Her eyes glazed over. Perspiration beaded on her brow.
“Shit.” He placed a hand on her forehead. “You’re burning up.”
She swayed.
He grabbed her waist to steady her.
The color drained from her face. “I’m going to get sick.” She shoved a fist to her mouth, then turned and ran.
Reed raced after her.
When the nausea subsided, he wiped her mouth, scooped her in his arms and strode toward the front door.
“Where are we going?” Ashley whispered.
“To see a doctor.”
Tears filled her eyes. “I don’t need a doctor. I just want to go back to bed.” She moaned and her body shuddered.
“You’re sick. You need medical attention.” The doctor had warned nausea or fever could indicate a post miscarriage infection.
“Reed. Please. Just leave me alone.”
“No.”
Reed jerked to his feet and strode toward the man walking over to him. Three hours of waiting in the ER and finally someone was coming to tell him what the hell was going on. “How is she, doctor?”
“The good news is her symptoms are not the result of any complications from her recent miscarriage.”
Thank God. “Then why is she sick?”
“She’s picked up a stomach virus.”
His brows furrowed. A stomach virus in the middle of the summer?
“I’m not surprised given the stress she’s been under both physically and emotionally. We’ve given her an IV to increase her fluids and a prescription for anti-nausea medication. What she needs now is rest. Acetaminophen every four hours to reduce the fever.” He glanced at his watch. “She’ll need another dose in two hours.” He offered a compassionate smile. “Your wife will be fine, Mr. McNamara. Take it easy for the next few days. Both of you. She doesn’t need you getting sick, too.”
He nodded. “Okay. Can I take her home now?”
“She should be out in a few minutes.”
“Thank you, doctor.”
“You’re welcome. Take care, now.” He turned and walked back to the exam rooms.
Ten minutes later, Reed helped Ashley into the passenger seat of his BMW. “Just lean back and close your eyes. We’ll be home soon.” He buckled her belt, closed the door, and walked around to his side of the vehicle and slid in. He glanced over at her and smiled. She’d already fallen asleep.
He gazed down at her and let out a breath he’d been holding. Her color was better and she’d stopped shaking. At least for now.
Rest, the doctor had said, and he intended to make sure she got plenty and made a full recovery quickly.
He wanted, no, needed her healthy, and not only for his seduction plan to work. That would have to wait. For now.
She’d scared him. Like she had when he’d brought her home from the hospital the last time. It was if the life had drained out of her and what remained was a shell of her vivacious, fun-loving self. It bothered him to see the fight knocked out of her.
There was only one way to insure she follow the doctor’s orders. Decision made, he pulled the car into traffic on Michigan Ave. and headed toward I-90 and his Lake Michigan home.
