“I’m sure her brother would be happy to arrange that.” Kevin raised a brow.
“Yeah. Can’t blame him though. If I had a sister I’d probably feel the same way.”
“Do you think she’ll ever forgive you?”
“She won’t give me a chance to get close to her. She was here this morning and barely acknowledged me.” He let out a long sigh. “I’ve closed billion-dollar deals with my archrivals in the business world, but I can’t even get her to look my way.”
“You need a plan.” Kevin settled his humorous blue gaze on him. “And I think I have one. Why don’t Cara and I invite you and Alicia to dinner? Then you’ll be on neutral turf and you can talk things out.”
“Alicia would never agree.”
“She will if we don’t tell her you’ll be there.”
“She’ll leave when I show up.”
“No, she won’t. She and Cara are good friends, and Alicia’s very polite and thoughtful. I don’t think she’d blow off a dinner someone else spent time preparing.”
“You might be onto something there. But will Cara go for the idea?”
Kevin put his clubs in his locker. “Cara’s got a soft spot for you. She thinks you’re ready to settle down and enjoy some wedded bliss.”
“She does, huh?”
“Hey, I screwed things up between Cara and me because I wasn’t ready for family life when we first got married. I put all my energy into making money and almost lost the truly important things no amount of money can buy. I’ve been given a second chance and I feel it’s my duty to help another lonely man find the way to his woman’s heart.”
“Kevin Novak, a romantic. Now I’ve seen everything.”
“I just know how good it feels to enjoy life with the woman you love.”
“I hear you. I’d do almost anything to get back in Alicia’s good graces.”
“How about Saturday?” Kevin shut his locker.
“If you think this crazy idea will work, then I’m game.”
A small knot formed in Alicia’s stomach as she rode in the elevator up to Cara and Kevin’s apartment in downtown Houston. She was eternally grateful to Cara for alerting her to Justin’s deception, but how much had Cara told her husband? She’d begged Cara to keep the embarrassing truth secret, but married couples probably shared everything.
She’d always hoped to have a marriage with no secrets. Or even just a relationship.
Anger trickled through her when she thought about how Justin Dupree had duped her. He’d taken something from her—trust—and it would be a long time, if ever, before she got it back again.
“Alicia!” Cara greeted her with a kiss at the open door. “Come in, we’re so pleased you could come.”
“Alex didn’t want to let me out of the house.” Alicia gave Cara her jacket and walked into the chic, modern space. “He’s hovering over me more than ever. I think he’d like to rip Justin Dupree limb from limb.”
“Yikes.” Cara made a face. “Still, I think it’s adorable how protective he is.”
“I wish he’d find someone else to protect.” She sighed. “Though I can’t say I blame him. Apparently, I need protecting.”
“You do not. It was a silly misunderstanding. Justin’s really sorry.”
“And how do you know? You haven’t talked to him, have you?”
“Well, actually—” Cara reddened. “Come in and have a drink.”
“You didn’t, did you?” Alicia grabbed her arm, panic surging inside her. The idea of people sitting around whispering about her humiliation made her want to curl up into a ball. “Please, tell me you didn’t say anything.”
“Sweetie,” Cara squeezed her hand, “I know you want to forget about the whole thing, but I think that would be a terrible waste.”
“What do you mean?” A bad feeling crept over her. “What are you up to?”
“Come into the living room.” Cara tugged her by the hand. “I made my world-famous cheese puffs.”
“You know I can’t resist those.” Alicia forced a smile to hide a growing sense of dread. “The apartment is lovely.” She might as well attempt to be polite.
“Thanks. We’re both counting the days until our house in Somerset is ready. They should break ground next month.”
Cara pulled her through a double doorway into a large living room. Candlelight glowed on a low table in front of the inviting black sofa and classical music rose from hidden speakers.
“Hi, Alicia.” A deep, familiar voice rose from somewhere as hidden as the speakers.
Alicia stopped dead, gripped by panic.
Justin came into view on the left side of the room, holding a tumbler. She tried to focus on his glass so she didn’t have to meet the gaze of those intense blue eyes.
She gulped. “Cara, what’s going on?”
“Kevin and I wanted to have a couple of our good friends to dinner.” She tugged on Alicia’s hand, but Alicia remained rooted to the spot. “White or red wine? Or would you prefer something else?”
I’ll be polite when I meet you in company.
Could she follow through on her promise?
“Justin.” She nodded. Then she swept past him. She did not take his offered hand or even look him full in the face. It was the best she could do for now.
Every fiber of her being screamed for her to run straight out the door, but what would that accomplish? This was the first day of the rest of her life—as the woman tricked by Justin Dupree. She might as well get used to it.
Though she wasn’t going to forgive Cara and Kevin anytime soon. She’d eat dinner, be as cordial as she could manage, then go home and lock herself in her bedroom for the rest of the weekend. “Red, please.”
“Great. It’s a wonderful Malbec Kevin brought back from Argentina. And help yourself to my cheese puffs.” Cara practically danced across the room.
Alicia moved slowly to a black leather chair. She wasn’t sure she could eat a cheese puff without throwing up, let alone an entire dinner.
But if Justin expected her to turn and run, he was wrong.
“How was your week?” That soft, warm voice, with a touch of grit, crept over her.
“Fine, thanks.” No thanks to you.
She scanned the room. Cara’s inventive touch was visible in colorful accents and a bright, contemporary painting that lit up the wall.
She’d bet the whole place was black and white when Kevin lived here by himself. Cara shone a ray of bright light into everyone’s life. It was a shame she’d never accept an invitation here again. She forced a smile as Cara handed her a glass.
“To new beginnings,” said Cara gaily. When her toast was met with an awkward silence, her bright expression faltered. “Mine and Kevin’s. We’re happier than we’ve ever been.”
“That’s great.” Alicia raised her glass. “I’m thrilled for you.” Her words rang a little hollow, and the wine splashed in her glass as Justin moved closer to join the toast.
She shrank as his arm neared hers, though she let him clink his glass against hers. It was only polite, after all.
“Dinner will be ready in a couple of minutes. Let me go check on it.” Cara hurried away to the kitchen, leaving Alicia in her chair with Kevin and Justin standing right over her.
“So, Justin, entering any yacht races this month?”
“The season’s winding down but I might squeeze in one more if I’m in town the last week of the month. Depends on a few things.”
Alicia could swear she felt Kevin glance down at her, but she kept her eyes firmly fixed on her glass.
“Alicia, have you ever been sailing?”
Kevin’s question made her voice catch in her throat. She cleared it, but before she could speak, Justin cut in. “Alicia came out on my boat with me last week. She’s a natural sailor.”
“Did you enjoy it?” Kevin smiled at her expectantly.
Had Justin put him up to this? Her neck prickled with irritation.
“It was an interesting experien
ce. I’m not sure I like drifting out in the middle of nowhere. I suspect I’m a landlubber at heart.” She smiled pleasantly, though it felt more like a grimace.
“Nonsense! You took to the water like a mermaid.” Justin’s voice trickled into her ears again.
“A flattering comparison but I’m far more comfortable with feet than a fishtail.”
She was damned if she’d meet his gaze. She stared at a point to the left of his head, so Kevin might think she was actually looking at him. There was no way she’d put herself at the mercy of those dangerous blue eyes and much-practiced charm.
“Some sports take a while to get used to,” continued Kevin bravely. This little reunion must have been Justin’s idea. Wasn’t having her body at his mercy all weekend enough? “You really should give it another try.”
“No, thanks.” She sipped her wine and fixed a noncommittal smile on her face. “I think I’ll stick to tennis.”
“We should play doubles some time.” Kevin leapt enthusiastically on her suggestion.
“That would be lovely,” she said. “I’ll tell Alex to dust off his racquet. He used to be on the school tennis team and I’m sure he’d love to play again.”
Ha! Take that, conspirators.
“Dinner’s ready!” called Cara from the kitchen. “Alicia, could you give me a hand with the dishes?”
“Sure,” she said with relief. She excused herself and dove for the kitchen.
“Sorry,” Cara said quietly. “It seemed like a good idea at the time.”
“Justin set this up, didn’t he?” whispered Alicia.
“I think it was actually Kevin’s idea. Rather romantic. It’s not often you get two guys putting their heads together to hatch a plan to hook a girl.”
“Oh, I bet it’s far more common that you’d imagine. Except that romance is not usually the aim.” Alicia raised a brow.
“You’re really not going to give him a chance, are you?”
“Nope. Would you like me to carry the salad?”
“Sure.” Cara handed her a large majolica dish piled high with fresh vegetables. “People can change, you know.”
“You mean, like Kevin?”
“Exactly. Men are slow to mature. Kind of like a fine wine.”
“Or a baby elephant.”
Cara laughed. “You’re awful.”
“Yeah, and I have every right to be.” She pushed past Cara and out into the dining room. A wide doorway opened into the living room, and through it she glimpsed Kevin and Justin enjoying what looked like a casual conversation. How on earth was she going to survive an entire meal at the same table with that snake?
She deliberately sat next to him so that she wouldn’t have to look at him. The table was large enough that she wasn’t assaulted by his male scent, though it certainly was annoying having that low, seductive voice level with her ear.
Kevin brought out steaming bowls of fresh pasta, and Cara spooned spicy red sauce over them.
“How’s the new exhibit coming along?” asked Justin, once they were settled.
Alicia stiffened. “Fine. We’re unpacking the boxes on Monday.”
“What’s it about?” Kevin asked, pouring white wine for all of them.
“A traveling exhibition from the Smithsonian about changes in the environment.”
“You mean, like global warming?” She felt Justin’s bright gaze scorch the side of her face.
“Not really.” She took childish pleasure in her negative answer. “Ancient changes. Oceans that became deserts, forests turned to stone, that kind of thing. We have some striking fossil samples to put on display, and three interactive video programs. I have school groups booked solid for the entire month.”
“That’s wonderful!” exclaimed Cara. “I know you’ve been trying hard to lure schools to the museum.”
“Museums are about the living, not the dead,” Alicia repeated her mantra. “And I’m thrilled, to be honest. It was a big deal getting the board to agree to host this exhibit and I’m hoping it’s the start of a new era for the Somerset Museum of Natural History.”
“I’m sure it will be. Here’s to new beginnings!” Cara lifted her glass.
“I think you already said that, hon.” Kevin leaned in and laid a kiss on her cheek. “But it’s a nice thought, anyway.”
“All right, I’ll rephrase.” Cara tossed her long blond curls. “Here’s to new beginnings for things that got off to a lousy start in the first place.”
Alicia pretended to sip her wine, but didn’t. She was superstitious that way.
Besides, her relationship with Rick—Justin—got off to a fabulous start.
It was the part that came next which stank.
Kevin leaned in. “Justin, how was Hong Kong?”
“Busy, as usual. I had a lot of meetings but I didn’t go out much. I couldn’t wait to get back home.” Again, his gaze warmed Alicia’s cheek.
“I’ve slowed down on the traveling myself. Things that seem fun when you’re right out of college definitely lose their luster as you gain maturity.”
“Especially when you have a lovely woman to come home to.” Justin’s wistful tone almost crept under her skin.
Then it occurred to her she might not even be the woman he was talking about. She’d learned a few things about Justin Dupree since she’d found out the truth, and none of them was too flattering.
“How is Mila Jankovich?” The words shot out of her mouth.
How embarrassing that she even remembered the name from the social pages. Unfortunately, it was burned on her brain in flaming scarlet letters.
A stunned silence followed her question. Now it was really awkward that she didn’t turn and look at Justin, since everyone was staring at her. She speared a broccoli floret and lifted it to her lips, though her stomach had contracted shut.
“I don’t know.” Justin spoke softly. “I haven’t seen her in a while. I think she still lives in New York.”
“Alicia and I saw a picture of you with her in Vanity Fair,” explained Cara. “Is it true that she barely speaks English?”
“Her English isn’t bad. She has a funny Canadian accent because she learned from an exchange student who came to live with her in the Ukraine. She’s actually a lot nicer than she looks when she’s not giving that supermodel stare for one camera or another, but she and I were never more than casual companions.”
“So you never dated?” asked Cara, like a journalist who reasks a question that’s just been answered. Alicia knew what her friend was doing on her behalf, but mostly still she wished she’d never mentioned Mila’s name.
“I took her to a couple of social events. A friend of mine runs her agency and he wanted her to be seen with the ‘right people.’” He chuckled. “Kind of scary that I’m the right people, but I didn’t mind since they were charity events I’d have gone to anyway.” He paused and Alicia felt her skin burn again. “There’s someone else I’d much rather have taken.”
The awkward pause stretched on for a full thirty seconds, while Alicia forked individual peas from the inside of a mange-tout. She was done being a sucker for Justin Dupree’s notorious charms.
“Great puttanesca sauce, sweetheart.” Kevin kissed Cara on the neck and she blushed.
“It’s delicious,” chimed Alicia, glad the conversation had turned neutral again.
“Thanks. I’ve never made it before. I wasn’t sure about the capers but I think they really add a zing to it.”
“It’s perfect,” said Justin. “Best food I’ve eaten all week.”
“I’ll go start getting dessert ready.” Cara rose from her seat with obvious enthusiasm. Alicia was about to run after her to offer help, but Kevin was quicker. He tracked her out of the room like a shadow.
“Alicia…” His deep, seductive voice made Alicia’s back stiffen.
“Yes, Justin?” She picked up her water and took a sip. She didn’t dare drink any more wine in case she became susceptible.
“Don’t you think t
his is a little silly?”
“Me sipping my water?”
“You refusing to look at me.” If she wasn’t mistaken, she heard an edge of unease in his voice, different from his usual confident banter.
“Don’t flatter yourself. I’m not refusing to look at you. I just have better things to look at.”
She cast about the table for something to fix her eyes on. The cut-glass carafe filled with salad dressing worked.
“Are you afraid to look at me?”
“Afraid? Why on earth would I be afraid?”
“It just seems odd that you won’t meet my eye. I’d think you’d at least want to give me a stony glare or something.”
“Why, would that be exciting for you?” She twirled her wineglass between her fingers. “I think you’ve had enough fun at my expense, don’t you?”
She rose from her chair and headed for the windows. The penthouse apartment had wide French doors that opened onto a balcony with a view over Houston. She tried the stainless steel handle and it opened easily.
Phew. Alicia stepped outside and inhaled the cool evening air.
The setting sun glistened on thousands of glass windows, making the city glitter like a mosaic. No doubt other people down there, in all those cars and houses and apartments, were suffering. Her petty concerns were nothing compared to some of the real problems people had.
All she wanted to do was forget about Justin and get on with her life. Which had been perfectly fine before she met him, thank you very much.
“Alicia.” His voice came from the doorway behind her.
“That’s my name. At least we’re in agreement on that.”
“I’m so terribly sorry about what happened.” His voice was gruff with emotion.
Alicia’s breath caught in her lungs. Something told her not to blurt out a snappy comeback.
“If I could turn back the clock to our first meeting and introduce myself as Justin Dupree, I’d do it in a heartbeat.”
“Except that then my friends would have warned me against you.” She tilted her head to the evening breeze, trying to cool her flushed face. “I’d never have gone to stay the night with a notorious womanizer.”
“I know. That’s one of the many reasons why…why I love you.”
The Maverick's Virgin Mistress (Texas Cattlemans Club: Maverick County Millionaire Book 5) Page 12
