Luc actually had the gall to laugh.
"It's not funny," she wailed, leaping to her feet. "This is serious."
He topped off her wineglass once again. "Relax, Hattie. I have more lawyers than a dog has fleas. Deedee is safe. I give you my word."
Her legs went weak and she plopped into her chair. "Really? You mean that?" Suspicion reared its ugly head. "Why?"
He leaned back, studying her with a laserlike gaze that made her want to hide. He saw too much. "My motivation shouldn't matter … right, Hattie? If I really am your last resort?" Something in his bland words made her shiver.
She licked her lips, feeling as if she was making a bargain with the devil. "Are you sure you're willing to do this?"
"I never say anything I don't mean. You should know that. We'll make your lie a reality. I have the best legal counsel in Atlanta. Angela's wishes will prevail."
"I'll sign a prenup," she said. "I don't want your money."
His gaze iced over. "You made that clear a decade ago, Hattie. No need to flog a dead horse."
Her stomach clenched. Why was it that he could make her feel so small with one look?
When she remained silent, he stood up with visible impatience. "I know you need to get the little one in bed before it gets any later. I'll have my team draw up some documents, and then in a few days, you and I can go over the details."
"Details?" she asked weakly.
His grin was feral. "Surely you know I'll have a few stipulations of my own."
Her throat tightened and she took one last swallow of wine. It burned going down like it was whiskey. "Of course. You have to protect your interests. That makes sense." For some reason she couldn't quite fathom, the specter of sex had unexpectedly entered the room. Her mouth was so dry she could barely speak.
Surely lawyers didn't use legalese to dictate sex … did they?
Suddenly an unpalatable thought struck her. "Um … Luc … I should have asked. Is there anyone who will … I mean … who is … um … "
He cocked his head, one broad shoulder propped against the door frame. His face was serious, but humor danced in his eyes. "Are you asking if I'm seeing anyone, Hattie? Isn't it a bit late to worry about that … now that you've told everyone I'm your fiancé?"
Mortified didn't begin to describe how she felt. "Not everyone," she muttered.
"Just the Mob?" He chuckled out loud, enjoying her discomfiture a little too much. Finally, he sobered. "You let me worry about my personal life, Hattie. Your job is to take care of yourself and that little girl-" He stopped abruptly. "Speaking of jobs … what happened? Why aren't you teaching?" She had majored in math at Emory and had gone directly from college to a high school faculty position.
"I had to take a leave of absence for the rest of the year when the accident happened."
He sobered completely now, stepping close enough to run a hand over her hair. She'd worn it loose tonight. "You've been through a hell of a lot," he said softly, their bodies almost touching. "But things will get better."
She smiled wistfully. "Somedays it seems as if nothing will ever be the same."
"I didn't say it would be the same."
For some reason, the words struck her as a threat. She looked up at him, their breath mingling. "What do you get out of this? Why did you agree to back up an impulsive lie by a woman you haven't seen in ten years?"
"Are you trying to talk me out of it?"
"Tell me why you agreed. I was ninety percent sure you'd throw me out of your office on my fanny."
"I can be kind on occasion." The sarcasm was impossible to miss.
She searched his face. It hurt knowing that it was as familiar to her as if they had parted yesterday. "There's something more," she said slowly. "I can see it in your eyes."
His expression shuttered. "Let's just say I have my reasons." His tone was gruff and said more loudly than words that he was done with the conversation.
He was shutting her out. And it stung. But they were little more than strangers now. Strangers who had once made love with passionate abandon, but strangers nevertheless.
"I have to go."
He didn't argue. He ushered her in front of him until they entered a pleasant room outfitted as a den. Ana, despite her years, was down on an Oriental rug playing with a sleepy Deedee.
Hattie rushed forward to scoop up the drowsy baby and nuzzle her sweet-smelling neck. "Did she nap for you at all?"
Ana stood with dignity and straightened the skirt of her floral cotton housedress. "She slept about forty-five minutes … enough to keep her awake until you can get her home and in bed. Your daughter is precious, Ms. Parker, an absolute angel."
"She's not my daughter, she's my niece … but thank you." Did the housekeeper think Luc had brought his love child home for a visit?
Her host grew impatient with the female chitchat. "I'll walk you out, Hattie."
Sherman waited respectfully by the car door, making any sort of personal conversation awkward. Luc surprised Hattie by taking Deedee without ceremony and tucking her expertly into the small seat.
She lifted an eyebrow. "You did that well."
He touched the baby's cheek and stepped aside so Hattie could enter the limo. "It's not rocket science." He braced an arm on the top of the car and leaned in. "I'll look forward to seeing you both again soon."
"You'll call me?"
"I'll get Marilyn to contact you and set up a meeting. It will probably only take a couple of days. You need to go ahead and start packing."
"Packing?" She was starting to sound like a slightly dense parrot. What had she gotten herself into? Luc was helping her, but with strings attached. She had known his every thought at one time. Now he was an enigma.
His half smile made her think of a predator anticipating his prey. "You and Deedee will be moving in here as soon as the wedding is over."
Three
Two days later, Luc tapped briefly at his brother's office door and entered. Leo, his senior by little more than a year, was almost hidden behind piles of paperwork and books. A genius by any measure, Leo masterminded the financial empire, while Luc handled R & D. Luc enjoyed the challenge of developing new products, finding the next creative venture.
Leo was the one who made them all rich.
It was a full thirty seconds before his brother looked up from what he was doing. "Luc. Didn't expect to see you today."
The brothers met formally twice a month, and it wasn't unusual for them to lunch together a few times a week, but Luc rarely dropped by his brother's sanctum unannounced. Their offices were on different floors of the building, and more often than not, their customary mode of communication was texting.
Luc ignored the comfortable, overstuffed easy chair that flanked Leo's desk and instead, chose to cross the room and stand by the window. He never tired of gazing at Atlanta's distinctive skyline.
He rolled his shoulders, unaware until that moment that his neck was tight. He turned and smiled. "What are you doing on May 14?"
Leo tapped a key and glanced at his computer screen. "Looks clear. What's up?"
"I thought you might like to be my best man."
Now Luc had Leo's full attention. His older sibling, though still a couple inches shorter than Luc's six-three, was an imposing man. Built like a mountain, he looked more like a lumberjack than a numbers whiz.
He escaped the confines of his desk and cleared a front corner to lean on his hip and stare at his brother. "You're pulling my chain, right?"
"Why would you say that?"
"Three weeks ago I suggested you bring a date to Carole Ann's party, and you told me you weren't seeing anyone."
Luc shrugged. "Things happen."
Leo scowled, a black expression that had been known to make underlings quake in terror. "I can read you like a book. You're up to something. The last time I saw that exact look on your face, you were trying to convince Dad to let you take the Maserati for a weekend trip to Daytona."