She kept an eye on Nathan in his playpen as she and Peggy moved back and forth with the expensive dresses, slacks and blouses, coats, swimsuits, everything for any occasion, including her underwear. She blushed at the memory of Tate stripping the scraps of material from her body with total precision.
“I’ll just pop downstairs and get some more drawer liners,” Peggy said a short while later. “This closet has never been used, and those are looking a bit faded.”
Gemma was pleased that no other woman had shared this suite, this house, with Tate. “Take your time, Peggy,” she said, flopping down on the bed and taking a breather.
The housekeeper left the room and was heading down the stairs when the telephone rang. Gemma was closest to the phone, so she called out that she’d get it.
She soon wished she hadn’t.
“Hello, Gemma.”
Drake!
She stood up. “Tate’s at the office, as you must know.”
“How would I know that? I thought he and you might still be on your honeymoon.”
“You could have called him on his cell phone to find out.”
“Then I’d miss talking to you, wouldn’t I?”
“Drake, stop it.”
He sighed as if she were being unreasonable. “Gemma, you’re my best friend’s wife now. I’m merely attempting to make amends.”
She’d never believe that.
“Anyway,” he continued, “I was phoning to commiserate with Tate about those nasty pictures of your old apartment going around the internet. I thought he might be upset about them.”
Her heart lurched inside her chest. “How do you know about them?”
“I was talking to Bree earlier.”
More and more, Gemma believed Bree was the one behind all this. “She had no right telling you anything.”
“I’m Tate’s best friend. She thought I might be able to help in some way.”
Or cause trouble.
“You know, Gemma, it’s never wise to be complacent about these things.”
It was a warning that she shouldn’t be complacent about her marriage. Suddenly it hit her. Bree wasn’t behind those pictures at all.
It was Drake.
“I could say the same to you,” she said, trying to keep her voice from shaking. He wanted to hear how he was getting to her.
“Gem, I don’t know what you mean. I’m merely trying to be a friend to you both.”
God, she hated him calling her “Gem,” hated the smugness in his voice. “You were never a friend of mine, Drake. Or of Tate’s, if he only but knew it. One day he’ll see you for what you are.”
“There’s nothing to see.”
Gemma opened her mouth to spout something scathing, but she heard a noise in the doorway and her head snapped up to see Peggy standing there. “Er…I have to go now. Please call Tate on his cell phone if you need to talk to him.” She hung up and fought to keep her face blank.
A moment crept by.
Peggy frowned. “Mrs. Chandler, I hope you don’t think I’m being forward, but if you need to talk—”
Gemma tried to look casual. “Thank you, Peggy, but I’m fine.” She was tempted to ask what the other woman had heard, but she was sure Tate wouldn’t appreciate her discussing their marriage with anyone, much less their employee. Besides, she didn’t want Peggy thinking she had heard anything of importance.#p#分页标题#e#
“I thought you might need a friend.”
“Thank you.” Gemma gave a half-hearted smile. “I can always do with more friends.”
Peggy didn’t look convinced, but she was professional enough to leave things be. Gemma took advantage of that and remained close-lipped about it all, acting as if nothing out of the ordinary had happened.
Still, she was relieved once they’d finished moving and Peggy had gone back downstairs. With Nathan taking a small nap, she had some time to think about things away from prying eyes. She couldn’t contemplate the phone call before now, in case Peggy read her face and related her worries to Tate. As it was, Gemma hoped Peggy would keep her own counsel.
Damn Drake for this. He knew he had her running scared and that she wouldn’t say anything to Tate. If only Tate had heard the conversation, then he’d believe her. Perhaps she could record Drake’s call next time, she thought with a flash of hope.
On second thought, there wasn’t any guarantee that Tate or anyone else would hear the same smugness that she’d heard. She wasn’t imagining it, but Tate might not believe that.
God, this was like navigating around quicksand, in the dark, with Drake hot on her tail. She dare not even reach out a hand to Tate and ask him to help her. If she did, she might find the man she loved wasn’t prepared to save her while sacrificing his best friend.