Still Mr. And Mrs. Read online

  “She’d argue that point with you,” Rebecca said, wryly. “And don’t forget, Gabe, that she’s my grandmother too. Even after we’re divorced, I’ll always have a special place in my heart for her.”

  “I know. Evelyn would feel the same way.” He knew Rebecca was telling the truth. She’d always had a great fondness for his grandmother.

  “So why did you have me drop everything? I canceled a big tour. I could have made a lot of money on that one.”

  Gabe took a deep breath. “I don’t know why you continue to take on those tours, Reb. I told you after the divorce there’ll always be more than enough money for you. I promised you that.”

  She smiled. “I know. But that’s not good enough for me, Gabe. I want to stand on my own. I want to open my own business.”

  “Well then,” he said with deceptive quietness. “I have a business proposition for you.”

  Something in his voice stopped Rebecca cold.

  She let her gaze skim the full length of him, just as she had when she swam across the pool to greet him. Remembering every bit of him down to the tiniest detail. The sculpted muscles, the rock-hard legs, the warmth and the gentleness of his hands. Every single inch of his six-foot-three frame.

  And with that all the memories came flooding back in one quick motion. Her search for a stable home life, including children, his strong desire to pursue his career at the expense of everything else. A sense of loneliness and emptiness filled her. As much as she tried to stop it, an image of candlelit rooms, soft music, and entwined bodies came to her.

  Although the desert heat wrapped around her like a vise, she shivered. She pulled the terry-cloth towel over her shoulder, squeezing her fingers together as she tried to redirect her thoughts.

  She knew it had been futile to try to banish Gabe from her heart. Seeing him now only reinforced it.

  And only after months of telling herself she didn’t care, didn’t love him anymore did she realize the lies she’d been telling herself.

  “So what’s this proposition you’re talking about?” she asked as lightly as she could. “You sound so mysterious.”

  “Reb, sit down.”

  She took an even breath and settled onto the chaise lounge. She crossed her ankles, fully aware that his attraction for her was still there. She knew he wanted to touch her, just as he’d done so many times in the past. If only those feelings went to his heart.

  “Okay, I’m sitting.”

  Somehow he seemed taller, his shoulders broader, and his hair was longer than the last time she’d seen him. She decided the length suited him. His eyes were guarded and distant.

  His message on her answering machine a few days before had been pretty vague. He’d asked her to come to Palm Springs as soon as possible, and said it had something to do with their divorce. Something about a favor.

  At first she’d thought maybe he’d changed his mind. But one look into his dark brown eyes had told her that he wasn’t interested in any sort of a reconciliation. The emotional walls had always been there in the past, hiding his heart from her. And she suspected the barriers were still there.

  Only now they seemed stronger than ever.

  He turned the patio chair around and straddled it. He was close enough for her to detect the warm, heady scent of his aftershave. It reminded her of intimate embraces and soft-spoken words whispered on the edge of lovemaking. And how much he had promised to love her forever …

  So much had changed. And not for the better, either.

  She shuddered.

  “Evelyn knows about the divorce,” he said.

  Rebecca bit her bottom lip. “I’m surprised she hadn’t learned about it before now.”

  “She knew. Except now she’s decided to voice her opinion.”

  Rebecca felt a smile tugging on the corners of her mouth. “Oh? So what did she say?”

  Gabe playfully tapped her under her chin, sending a shiver down her neck and arms. “Don’t get any crazy ideas about a conspiracy between you and my grandmother, Reb. I still have a mind of my own. And I’m not planning on a reconciliation.”

  She twisted a wet curl around her finger. “Okay, so if the panic isn’t about our divorce or a reconciliation, then what gives?”

  He cleared his throat and she had to smile to herself, thinking this was a first. He was nervous.

  “Tomorrow the board of directors from The Toy Factory is arriving from Chicago.”

  Rebecca pursed her lips. “Oh, I remember some of those people.”

  “And they remember you too.”

  She could feel a blush stain her cheeks.

  “Some other people are coming from a company called Chapman and Fox. They have an exclusive chain of toy stores in England and throughout Europe. You remember Jonathan Fox?”

  She nodded.

  He clasped his hands in front of him. “We want to expand overseas, and Chapman and Fox want to hit the major cities in the U.S. To put it simply, Reb, The Toy Factory and Chapman and Fox want to put together a merger.”

  “There’s a catch, right?” she asked.

  He hesitated. “Yes, there is.”

  “And the catch is?”

  “Evelyn thought it would be best if you were here by my side as my wife.”

  Rebecca stood and walked to where he sat. “Is that so?”

  “It’s not what you think,” he said. “Evelyn pointed out that in order to pull off this merger we should put on the front of a happily married couple.”

  She sank into the cushioned lawn chair, her gaze focusing on the fancy brickwork at her feet. “Oh, I see.”

  The sudden pain of confusion and disappointment filtered through her. It wasn’t as though she wanted a reconciliation either. She’d already learned her lesson, and Gabe was a good teacher. It hurt, though, that he didn’t even want to try. But she was determined not to let him see what she was feeling.

  “It’ll be for the next ten days, Reb. Then you can get on with your life just as though I never called you. And I can get on with mine.”

  Under the shade of darkness, she glanced at him. “Is this what Evelyn wants?”

  “Yes.”

  “What do you get out of this, Gabe?”

  When he hesitated, she knew he didn’t like any of this. In fact, she was willing to bet he regretted calling her.

  “Well, for starters, my career. My position as CEO of The Toy Factory. I’ve worked very hard for the past five years, and if I can pull off this merger I believe The Toy Factory will continue to grow. I want this to work. And so, I’m in complete agreement with Evelyn.”

  “So you want me to act as though we’re still madly in love with each other. Is that it so far?”

  “We can skip the madly-in-love-with-each-other part.”

  She frowned. “Oh, and I thought this was going to be fun.”

  “This isn’t a game.”

  “That’s funny coming from a man whose whole career is centered around toys and games.”

  “You charmed Jonathan Fox,” he said. “He’s looking forward to meeting you again. Jonathan is the key to this entire merger. I know he’d be terribly disappointed if you weren’t here.”

  She couldn’t help the grin that slid across her face. “Okay, if I decide to go along with this charade, that’s what it’s going to be, right? Just a charade.”

  He nodded. “Nothing more. Our divorce is still going to be final in about—”

  “Two weeks.”

  “Well,” he paused. “I have to admit the timing isn’t the best.”

  “If I play the loyal, loving wife for you in front of the board members and Chapman and Fox, what do I get in return? I have to believe that, being the businessman you are, you wouldn’t dare ask this of me without an offer in the works. Am I right?”

  “Yeah, you’re right.”

  This could turn to her advantage, she thought as wild ideas started to go through her mind. Maybe she could get what she always wanted. And Gabe was the only one who could gi
ve it to her. He was a businessman. He was used to dealing.

  Only now, he was in for the deal of his life.

  “I could be a hard sell, you know,” she said.

  It was his turn to smile at her, his eyes softening as he gazed at her.

  “What do you want?” he asked.

  “You may not be able to afford it.”

  He laughed, and she couldn’t help but laugh with him.

  “Try me,” he said. “I’m a wealthy man.”

  “It doesn’t concern money.”

  He leveled his gaze at her. “Tell me.”

  “I want you. Or rather a part of you.”

  He shook his head. “I told you I’m not interested in a reconciliation. It didn’t work before. We have different wants, different needs. We’re not compatible.”

  “I didn’t say I wanted a reconciliation.”

  She knew she couldn’t allow him into her heart again. It hurt too much. And she’d had plenty of that to last a lifetime.

  A sense of weakness shook through her before she threw it off. It didn’t do any good dwelling on the past when the future suddenly looked so bright. She straightened her shoulders. Her mother had taught her the hard way that she had to be tough and not let a man like Gabriel Stewart play with her emotions.

  Or her heart.

  “What do you say I help you buy out White Water Escapades,” he offered.

  “I don’t want White Water. I have something else in mind.”

  “Okay. Whatever. I’ll give you 50K in exchange for the next ten days.”

  “As your happily married wife.”

  “Yes.”

  She knew it was a good offer. She needed the financial backing to open her day care center in Phoenix. She would need the stability once she started her family. The family she’d always wanted. She’d be a fool not to agree to his proposition.

  But she wanted more.

  And Gabe was desperate.

  “I might agree to that.” Reb could tell he was getting uncomfortable by the way he shifted in his chair. “But for someone with money that’s too easy. So I’m going to raise the stakes a little.”

  He swallowed. “Okay. I’m listening.”

  She paused for a second and took a steady breath. What she really wanted was what had ripped them apart. Would he agree this time?

  The happy chirping of crickets could barely be heard over the steady pounding of her heart.

  She took a step forward. She reached up and toyed with his tie. She urged him closer to her until they were just a breath away.

  “I want your child.”

  TWO

  “You want my what?”

  “A baby,” she said. “Your baby.”

  Gabe didn’t know how she moved in so close, so quickly. And without him noticing until it was too late. Too late to slip away without being too obvious.

  He should have known. She was always so willing to go after what she wanted.

  It was the subject of children that had put a wedge in their relationship. And that wedge, along with the strains of his job, had ended their marriage. Hadn’t she learned enough then?

  “Ah, Reb.” His voice was almost a croak. He stepped swiftly from her grasp. “We’ve talked about that issue too many times in the past.” He ran his fingers through his hair.

  “No, we argued. We never talked.” She leaned away from him. “Remember?”

  She had that mischievous glint in her eyes again. Which only meant trouble with a capital T.

  His stomach tightened. “I remember. But do you remember what I said?”

  “You didn’t want children.”

  “I said when the time was right we’d discuss it.”

  “The right time for you or me?” she asked.

  “Reb, we never talked about children before we were married. Then a few weeks after we were married you brought up the subject. I just thought we had to slow things down a little, that’s all.

  “So what makes you think I’ve changed my mind?” he asked. “Especially right before our divorce goes through.”

  She watched him for a moment as though she were considering her words carefully.

  “Gabriel Stewart, you’re a coward.”

  He felt himself blush. “It’s nice to know you think so highly of me.”

  “I always have.”

  He rubbed at the knot of tension growing at the back of his neck.

  Reb tipped her head to the side as she watched him. In the illumination cast by the bright moonlight, he could see a kind of fascination and caring in the deep sea-green depths of her eyes.

  “Don’t worry so much,” she said. “You’ve got it all wrong.”

  “I do?” He laughed. “You asked me for a child. I’ve told you I’m not ready. I don’t have time to be a good father. Not now anyway.”

  “I’m not asking for a reconciliation. I’m not even asking that you have an active role as this child’s father. I just want you to be a sperm donor so I can be artificially inseminated.”

  “What?” He sank back onto the chaise lounge. Was she crazy?

  “It’s obvious that we’re not getting back together. So having sex is out of the question.”

  “Reb … I …”

  “I want your child, Gabe. Not some stranger’s. And there’s no one else in my life right now.”

  “I need time to think about this.”

  She walked to stand in front of him. “You don’t have time. The board is coming—”

  “Tomorrow. I know.”

  “I want this child. And with your help, I’ll be able to start a business that will financially support my family.”

  “Who would take care of the baby while you’re running this … what kind of business do you want to open anyway?”

  “A day care center. It’s been a dream of mine for a long time.”

  He never even guessed. He thought she’d always wanted White Water Escapades, not this. He swallowed, feeling guilty for not knowing his wife’s dreams or seeing this side of her.

  Looking back, he remembered seeing Reb at the office with the children of other employees. She’d been great with them. At the time he’d thought nothing of it.

  “I’ll play out your charade,” she said. “I’ll give you what you want if you give me what I want. What do you say?”

  “I told you I need more time, that’s what.” He felt the hot pressure inch up his back.

  “Which you don’t have.”

  He looked away. He couldn’t bear to see the pleading in her lovely eyes.

  He was stuck. What was worse, she knew it. So what was more important? The Toy Factory, or the fact that she wanted a sperm donation from him?

  One donation might not even take, he reasoned.

  He had worked too hard and too long for this merger to fall to pieces at the last minute. Could he afford to turn her down?

  “Let me get this straight,” he said. “You want 50K and some of my sperm?”

  “Uh-huh.”

  “Is this a direct deposit or an overnight drop?” he asked.

  She laughed. “Do you agree?”

  “Exactly what are the terms?”

  She looked him square in the eye. “Overnight drop.”

  “I’ll think about it.” He knew she might be teasing him, hoping against hope to work out a reconciliation. She had to know that his conservative and responsible nature would mean they’d really have to discuss this.

  So she couldn’t possibly be serious.

  “I need a yes or no.”

  “Why don’t we go inside.” He was over a barrel and she knew it. He directed her toward the house. “We can talk more.”

  “All right.”

  Rebecca turned her back and dropped the towel, slipping on a T-shirt and black shorts. She picked up the towel and stepped into her sandals.

  They crossed the lawn, each exchanging polite, but safe conversational tidbits, until they reached the house.

  A slight figure appeared at the o
pen French doors. “There you are, my darling,” Evelyn said to Rebecca.

  Rebecca wrapped her arms around Evelyn and gave her a big hug. “It’s great to see you. I was outside swimming while I waited for you. How’ve you been?”

  Evelyn beamed and winked at Gabe.

  Gabe groaned. This whole fiasco would be a lot easier if he didn’t have to keep an eye on the two of them. The deal with The Toy Factory and Chapman and Fox might not be worth it. Especially now with Reb’s added proposal.

  “Never better,” Evelyn told Rebecca as they walked into the spacious living room.

  The room had high-beamed ceilings, sky windows that gave an outdoor feeling, along with dozens of large potted palms and other plants. White ceiling fans whooshed overhead, sending a cool breeze across the room.

  Evelyn stood back and gave Rebecca the once-over. “My, you look charming.” She lifted a wet strand of Rebecca’s hair, which by now had started to turn into a mass of riotous red curls. “How was the water?”

  “I couldn’t resist.” Rebecca avoided Gabe’s stare. “It was so hot, and the pool looked so tempting.”

  Evelyn chuckled and leveled her steely gaze at Gabe. The challenge in her eyes told him what a fool he’d been.

  “I plan on using your pool a lot while I’m here, Evelyn,” Rebecca said. “I hope you don’t mind.”

  “Only if you’re wearing a bathing suit,” Gabe threw in as a warning.

  Evelyn raised her brows at the comment. She laughed as she turned to face Rebecca. “Darling, where are your things?”

  “The front foyer. Gabe’s a little miffed because I forgot my swimsuit.”

  “Well, darling,” Evelyn said to Rebecca, “if you need a swimsuit try Frenchy’s over on Palm Canyon Drive. They have a huge array of unique clothes and the latest in swimwear, all designed by local artists. You’ll love it.”

  “I’ll do that, thanks.”

  “This business nonsense has really gotten to me, though I admit I do like playing the tycoon.” Evelyn made her way toward the wet bar. “It’s a shame that’s the only reason that got you here.”

  “It’s nice to be back in Palm Springs,” Rebecca said with a soft sigh to her voice. “Although Phoenix is my hometown, I still miss it here.”