Authors: Nikki Duvall
"Worked,
didn't it? Like I said, fireworks. Have fun, now," he said, shutting the
door behind him.
Halee
didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. So she’d been right. She had been used.
Tony and J.D. had selected her as the fiancé of choice. She sighed and trudged
back to the bedroom, her mood dark, pensive. King’s comments kept playing
through her head, stirring up feelings she had repressed ever since her breakup
with J.D. Unwelcome feelings.
J.D.
wasn’t her problem, she reminded herself. He could take care of himself. Her
unfinished thesis waited for her in her own dark hovel of an apartment on the
other side of this city. She’d promised Victoria Pryor an early meeting to
discuss expanding the literacy program with King’s donation. Uncle Gus expected
her to wait tables midday after the Cubs game let out. She didn’t have time to
play nursemaid to a spoiled uber-athlete. She should just call a cab. She
needed sleep.
She
knew she wouldn’t leave.
Leaning
against the doorway, she watched him through the shadows. The eastern glass
wall of the penthouse faced the shoreline, framing the distant lights of Navy
Pier blinking off Lake Michigan. The room’s ceiling lifted open toward the
darkened sky, evoking a sea of navy blue in all directions. Everywhere you
looked, the glow of the city reflected off late summer clouds. Chicago never
reached total darkness.
J.D.
had placed his bed in the middle of the room at an angle that allowed him to
watch the water while he drifted off to sleep, one small comfort for a country
boy stuck in the midst of the noise and dirt of the city. A year before, lying
next to him in this bed, she’d done the same. This was the room where she’d
laughed with abandon, where she’d loved fiercely and given herself completely.
And
the room where she’d found him in the arms of another woman.
He
lay now on his good arm with his back toward the door, his uniformed body
sprawled across the satin comforter. The room smelled of familiar aftershave,
the brand she had come to associate with the pleasures of a carefree lifestyle.
During the few short weeks she and J.D. had been involved, Halee had learned
for the first time in her life how to relax, how to allow someone to take care
of her. It had been terrifying to let go and allow someone else to steer the
rudder. She would never let herself become that vulnerable again.
Her
mind drifted to Ricardo Sanchez and the way he had sneered at her studio
apartment. This place would surely pass his inspection, she thought with some
measure of envy. What would it be like to raise a baby in opulence, without a
care in the world? How would it feel to have a maid bring you fresh flowers in
the morning, cook you a warm meal at night, to have your clothes pressed and
waiting in the closet, your car ready at the entrance in any kind of weather to
whisk you away to important meetings? She sighed and sat down on the edge of
the bed.
J.D.
stirred. “Who’s there?” He struggled to turn, wincing when his bad shoulder
touched the firm mattress. “Halee?”
“Yes,
it’s me,” she said in a near whisper.
“What
happened?” he asked, gripping his head. She could barely discern his features
in the darkened room and knew the night would hide her own. She allowed herself
to stare.
“I’ll
turn that question back at you,” she said softly. “Why would Roudy punch you?”
J.
D. groaned. “That crazy sonofabitch. Pert near broke my jaw.”
“You
two were like frat brothers last time I saw you together.”
“It’s
a long story.”
“I
have all night.”
J.D.
adjusted his pillow and rested his tired eyes on Halee. “I asked his girlfriend
to marry me.”
“I
thought…”
“What?”
“Nothing.”
She breathed deeply and closed her eyes against the pain shooting through her
chest. “The fiancé.” Her tone betrayed her disappointment.
“The
fiancé.”
“Except
all the newspapers think I’m the fiancé.”
There
was a moment of silence, then a low chuckle from the opposite side of the bed.
He reached out his hand to touch hers but she pulled away.
“Why
do I get the feeling I’ve been set up?”
“It’s
a setup, alright,” said J.D. with a grin. This time he was too quick for her.
He captured her hand and brought her palm to his lips. “Don’t worry, Baby. I’ll
settle things with the papers.”
A
shiver ran down Halee’s spine at the touch of his whiskers on her sensitive
skin. He moved his mouth up along her wrist, lingered in the creases of her
elbow, and coaxed her body nearer to his with every kiss. She closed her eyes
in the dark and slowly sank onto the plush pillows by his side, too weak to
resist what she knew she wanted. His warm breath tickled her neck; his tongue
caressed, coaxed, begged. She turned her mouth toward his and drank in the
taste of him. “Does it hurt?” she asked, tenderly touching the swollen bruise
on his chin.
“Not
anymore. I hoped you’d come back,” he whispered in the dark.
A
rush of feelings rose from her heart and lodged in her throat. She sought his
lips hungrily, allowed herself to touch his cheek, his neck, his hair, if only
for one last time. She tried to pretend that they were alone, closed her eyes
against the image of the other woman, but her face remained, laughing, mocking
her.
With
a cry of frustration, she shoved off J.D.’s chest and turned away. “I can’t do
this,” she said. His heavy seductive breathing tempted her to return to his
arms. Gripping the edge of the bed with both hands, she closed her eyes against
her overpowering need.
He
ran his fingers along her back, saying nothing.
“Who
is she?” she asked in the dark.
“Don’t
worry yourself about that.”
“She’s
the same woman I found you with, isn’t she?”
J.D.
didn’t answer.
Halee
released a deep breath and rose to leave. "I wish you the best, J.D. I hope
you like New York. I hope..." her voice broke. "I hope you break
every Federal record."
She
paused at the bedroom door and cleared her throat. “I’m supposed to ask you
your name every few hours to make sure there’s no concussion.” She kept her
misty eyes locked on the distant lights of Navy Pier, unable to face him again.
“What’s your name?”
“Idiot,”
came J.D.’s reply in the dark.
Halee
walked down the hall, grabbed her keys and headed for home.
***
“The
Feds are turning up the pressure.”
J.D.
rubbed his eyes and stroked his aching chin. The clock on his nightstand said
half past five. The street lights still shone across the city; the moon still
hung bright in the sky.
Halee
was gone. It was as it should be.
He
pressed his palm against his forehead. It had been a long time since he’d been
in a fight. He’d forgotten how bad it felt to be on the receiving end of a
fist. “What kind of pressure?” he mumbled.
“The
kind that can be alleviated by a fiancé.”
J.D. moaned. “So go buy
Cat a ring. That’ll do it.”
“Victoria is more likely
to be impressed by Halee McCarthy.”
“She ain’t interested.”
“You underestimate your
power over women, Shaw. She’s putty in your hands.”
“Halee ain’t cut from the
same cloth as you, King. Lying ain’t a pastime for her.” He tried to sit up,
but fell back against the pillows. “Leave her out of your shenanigans. I don’t
want her hurt.”
“Sounds like you’re
getting rather fond of our darling Halee,” said King. “Did she play a good
nursemaid?”
J.D. frowned. "She
was right, then. You did set that up."
“Wouldn’t you rather wake
up to Halee than me?”
J.D. pushed himself to
the edge of the bed, suddenly oblivious to the pain. “Let’s be clear here,
King,” he said through gritted teeth. “You work for me. That means I call the
shots. Catrina Hiett is my choice. Get a ring and get my contract signed.”
“Catrina Hiett is a
little viper who will ruin your career. You’re making a big mistake and it’s my
job to save you from career suicide.”
“I’ll handle Cat. You
handle the contract.”
“You’re
making this too hard, Shaw,” Tony warned. “Surely there’s something Halee wants
in return.”
“Return
for what? Halee McCarthy is after the real deal, not some poker game.”
“She’s
young. A long engagement won’t prevent her from an Ozzie and Harriet ending.
She spends some time posing as your fiancé, your contract is sealed, and the
press forgets about her. She fades into the background with enough money to tie
her over till Mr. Right comes along.”
“How
long?”
“How
about until you’re done playing ball?”
“A
ten year engagement?”
“Get
real,” Tony scoffed. “I’ve seen the way you cradle that shoulder of yours. I’m
just praying the Feds don’t figure out your shoulder is shot before they sign
on the dotted line.”
“My
shoulder can be fixed.”
“So
can your contract.”
“What
are you suggesting?”
“Just
leave it to me.”
“I’m
not sure I like the sound of that.”
“You’ll
like the sound of a bat meeting a ball head on in Federal Stadium, I assure
you.”
“Stay
away from Halee. Like I told you, I don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
“Including
you?”
“What’s
that supposed to mean?” asked J.D.
“Like
I said, leave it to me.”
King
disconnected.
“Victoria
Pryor is here to see you.”
“She’s
not due till nine.” Halee peered at her favorite student over the top of her
reading glasses and adjusted the child on her lap. “I’m in the middle of a
grant proposal.”
“I
doubt she’ll go away,” said Chantrell. “You want me to take him?”
Halee
pulled the child closer and rested her chin on his curly black hair. “He seems
settled. I like his company.”
“You
need a few babies of your own, Miss McCarthy,” said Chantrell with a sad smile.
“I ain’t never seen Ty so content.”
A
raw pain seized Halee’s heart. “I don’t mind borrowing,” she said softly,
kissing the child. She set her reading glasses back on her nose and returned
her attention to her paperwork. “Go ahead and send Mrs. Pryor in.”
“Miss
McCarthy…” Chantrell hesitated. “I wondered if you would have a little time
later on… to talk?”
“Have
you seen the caterer’s bill from the benefit?” Halee leafed through a stack of
papers in frustration. “I swear I saw it right here on top.”
“If
you’re too busy…”
Halee
looked up. “I’m sorry, Chantrell. What did you say?”
Chantrell
opened her mouth to speak, then simply sighed. “I’ll send in Mrs. Pryor.”
“Oh,
by the way,” said Halee before Chantrell closed the door, “Rita Benedetto is
meeting me for lunch in about fifteen minutes. Don’t let her leave.”
Chantrell
nodded, hesitated, then closed the door softly behind her.
A
moment later the door crashed back open.
“I
have a proposition for you.” Victoria Pryor careened in dressed in a leotard
and tight fitting tank top, fresh from Pilate’s class. Halee couldn’t help but
admire Victoria’s lean physique. If it wasn’t for her waitress gig at
Benedetto’s she’d be packing on the pounds sitting at this desk job every day
and as soon as she finished her thesis she planned to quit the bar, which
spelled imminent fat gain. She made a silent vow to start running again.
Victoria
plopped herself into the overstuffed chair opposite Halee’s desk and frowned. The
delicious scent of her French perfume wafted through the office, masking the
smell of dirty diapers. Her eyes flitted between Halee and the child. “Who’s
that?”
“He’s
Chantrell’s baby. His name is Ty.”
“Shouldn’t
Ty be somewhere else? Like the nursery?”
“Chantrell
is working. She works to pay her tuition. I told her I’d watch him.”
“I
don’t pay you to watch the clients’ children,” said Victoria.
“He’s
no bother. What’s your proposition?”
Victoria
paused, smoothing a hand over her blonde ponytail. “I want you to come to New
York and run Federals Charities for me.”
Halee’s
heart did a flip flop. “New York?”
“The
benefit last week was outstanding, Halee, probably the best fundraiser I’ve
seen in this town. Everyone is talking about you. The high rollers are
completely smitten. The Federals foundation is stale. I need new leadership.”
She leaned across the desk and pointed one long finger at Halee. “And you, my
friend, are just the woman to revive it.”
“I
don’t know anything about ...”
“I
want you to set up a literacy foundation as a subset of the operation, like the
one you’re running here. It’s my new passion. We could fill a huge need in New
York and regain the attention of our wealthiest donors.”
“I’m
sure you can find someone with the right skills in New York.”
Victoria
closed her eyes and waved Halee’s words away. “Not at all. Let’s face it; few
people have your work ethic. It’s refreshing to meet someone who actually gets
something done.”
“Even
with a baby on my lap.”
“Yes,
well, that will have to change.”
“I
appreciate the offer,” said Halee, “but I’m committed here.”
Victoria
raised her brows and smirked. “That’s not what the papers say.” She tossed the
sports section of the
Tribune
on Halee’s desk.
Chicago’s Top Bachelor
to Tie the Knot
. A red faced Roudy stood over J.D.’s limp body cradled in Halee’s
arms. “Guess I’m the last to know.”
“I
can explain.”
“The
other man seems like a bit of a barbarian, though,” said Victoria. “I can’t see
you two together.”
“We
weren’t.”
“He
didn’t hurt J.D., did he? We should probably ask the Federals trainer to look
him over before we move forward with any final deal.”
Halee’s
mind flashed back to the night before, J.D.’s painful shoulder, the ice pack,
the way he grimaced when it touched the mattress. The night of the benefit,
he’d held it close, immobile, as if sheltering it from the slightest
disturbance. “He’s fine,” she blurted, then checked herself. “Just a sore
jaw,” she said with a slight smile. “The Titan trainers gave him a clean bill
of health. He’ll be good as new in a day or two.”
“Well,
that’s a relief,” said Victoria. “I don’t know why you two have been hiding
your romance, though,” she said. “I mean, I could certainly tell there was
something between you at the benefit, but who would have guessed you were
engaged? I thought you were with Mark.”
“It’s
not the way it looks.”
“Obviously,”
said Victoria. She leaned in closer and lowered her voice, as if they were two
girlfriends sharing a secret. “Mark is a bit of a bore, don’t you think? I
mean, I don’t have to think twice about who I’d rather have in the sack.” She
smiled a dirty little smile and flipped her ponytail. “Mark is probably more
stable, though.” She sighed. “Too bad you can’t have them both.”
“Mrs.
Pryor…”
“Actually,
it works perfectly with my little plan,” she said, sitting on the edge of her
chair. “I’ll pay you triple what you’re making now. You and J.D. can move into
one of the Federals properties in Manhattan. Your driver will drop you at the
office every morning on the way to the stadium.” She leaned back with a
satisfied smile. “You’ll love New York, Halee. The city never sleeps.”
Halee
set her reading glasses on the piles of paperwork before her and took a sip of
coffee. “We’re not engaged.”
Victoria
raised her brows. “Who?”
“J.D.
and I. We’re not engaged.”
“You’re
not?”
“No.”
“The
Barbarian?”
Halee
shook her head.
“Then
why…”
“The
papers got it wrong.”
Victoria
stared at the newspaper headline with a puzzled expression. “That’s too bad,”
she said thoughtfully. “J.D.’s contract requires a fiancé.”
Halee
could feel Victoria’s pity seeping from across the desk and her own shame
rising pink and hot through her neck. A knot formed in her throat. She pulled
Ty a little closer. “He has one,” she said. “It’s just not me.”
An
uncomfortable silence lingered between them for several moments. “Well, believe
me, you’re better off,” said Victoria with forced exuberance. “He may be devastatingly
attractive, and charming as any southern boy, but if you ask me, he comes with
too much baggage, too much to prove.”
Halee
cleared her throat.
“I
still want you to come to New York.”
“I’m
happy here,” Halee insisted. “They need me here.”
Victoria
pursed her lips and thought for a moment. “What if I offered you both offices?
We can provide fifty percent support here, fifty percent in New York. You can
travel back and forth, mix things up a bit.”
“To
be honest with you, Mrs. Pryor, I’m in the final stages of an adoption. I can’t
leave Chicago right now.”
“Adoption?”
Victoria stared at Ty with disdain. “Why would you saddle yourself with a child
at your age?”
“Because
he needs me.”
“That’s
ridiculous.”
“Not
for him.”
“So
let someone else step up. You have a future…”
“I’ve
decided,” said Halee quietly.
Victoria
sighed and studied Halee’s face. “Foolish girl. Bring the child with you,” she
said with a shake of her head. “With the salary I’m offering, you’ll have no
trouble providing him with a nanny.”
“I’d
like some time to think about it.”
“Call
me in the morning,” said Victoria, rising to leave. “I’d like you to start as
soon as possible. And Halee,” said Victoria, pausing by the door, “if it’s J.D.
getting in the way of you saying yes, I can make him disappear. Just say the
word.” She shut the door behind her.
***
“New
York is no place to raise a baby.” Rita shoved a piece of buttered bread into
her mouth. “There’s a whack job on every corner.”
Halee
stared listlessly at her full plate of salad and rearranged the leaves from one
side to the other with her fork. “Chicago’s any better? At least on a New York salary
I can afford a nanny. This may be my only shot at parenthood.”
“Artificial
insemination,” said Rita. “That’s the answer. That way you don’t have to ask
anybody for permission, including the father. It’s your kid. You get to do
whatever you want.”
“You’re
missing the point. I’m supposed to provide a home for a needy child, not create
more children.”
“Admit
it. You want to be pregnant. That’s what this is all about.”
“I
do not!”
“That
would get J.D.’s attention,” said Rita with a wicked grin. “Damsel in distress,
unwed mother, father M.I.A. He could play the hero. Guys like J.D. live for
that kind of thing.”
“We’re
not having this conversation,” said Halee.
“You’re
going to need support, raising a kid by yourself. Emergency babysitters when
you have the flu or the kid gets sick and you have to be at work. Someone to
commiserate when the kid talks back and wrecks your car and you wonder what
drug you were on when you decided to take in the little darling. You need an
enforcer like Uncle Gus. You need me, Aunt Rita, baker of chocolate cookies and
diaper changer extraordinaire.”
“I
need a fat paycheck.”
“That,
too. I guess it’s New York.”
“I
don’t know.” Halee dropped her fork. “Whatever works better for the baby.”
“Ok.
When is your site visit scheduled?”
“It’s
over.”
“And?”
“I
should know by Friday.”
“Perfect.
If you pass, you stay in Chicago, if you fail, you tell the social worker about
your plan to move to New York, and how your salary will triple, and how the Federals
will set you up in deluxe accommodations in Manhattan with a live in caregiver,
and it’s all set. Either way, you win.”
Halee
sat a little taller. “That’s true.”
“Yup.”
“What
if he doesn’t believe me about New York?”
“Ask
Victoria what’s- her- name to call social services. If she really wants you to
take the job, she’ll call.”
“Good
idea.”
“So
now you have to think about how you’re going to avoid J.D. when you’re both
working for the Federals.”
“I
don’t suppose I will avoid him.”
“Then
how are you going to handle running into him all the time?”
“Not
a problem,” said Halee with a tilt of the chin. “Whatever J.D. and I once had
is long gone. Old news.”
Rita
nodded, playing along. “What about the wife?”
“Same.”
Halee didn’t like the way her heart beat in her throat at the mention of J.D.’s
wife.
“Same,
like you won’t be bothered running into her, or same bimbo you caught him with
when he was supposed to be with you?”
Halee’s
eyes filled with tears. “I guess he loved her, after all,” she said. “So they
should be together. J.D. gets the woman he loves and I get my baby.” She dabbed
her eyes with her napkin.
“Sounds
fair to me,” said Rita in a sarcastic tone. “You get to pick up the bitch’s dry
cleaning in exchange for living in the most expensive city in America and
changing dirty diapers.”
“Must
you always be so crude?”
“Maybe
I’m just good at telling it like it is.”
“I’ll
tell you how it is. I finally get a shot at the life I’ve always wanted. And
I’m not picking up anyone’s dry cleaning. This is a professional job.”
“You’re
both crazy, you know that? Neither you nor J.D. were meant to live in a city
like New York. Heck, J.D. can barely stand Chicago. He belongs on the open
range. And you? That city will swallow you whole!”
“Thanks
for the vote of confidence.”
“I
just want to see you fight for yourself once in a while.”
“That’s
what I’m doing. I’m moving so I can make more money and adopt a child.”
“I’m
talking about J.D.”
“This
has nothing to do…”
“When
did you start looking into adoptions?”
“I
don’t know. Last summer?”
“Exactly
two days after you caught J.D. in bed with someone else.”
“I’d
been considering it for a long time.”
“You
never said anything to me.”
“I
don’t tell you everything.”
“This
is some twisted form of revenge, that’s what it is. Have you ever thought about
what a baby is going to do to your social life?”
“It
will change, of course it will. But I’ll make plenty of friends at the park and
his school…”
“But
no lovers.”
Halee
shrugged.
“That’s
convenient. You get to hide behind the kid instead of picking yourself up and
making a new life for yourself.”
“I’m
not hiding. I just want to settle down. Maybe I don’t like the single life.
Maybe I’ve moved past that stage. Maybe I want to be a grownup and take on some
responsibility.”
“So
get a dog. At least you can return it if it doesn’t work out.”
“I’m
doing the right thing, Rita. I’m tired of standing by and watching so many
little kids tossed around like they don’t matter. If I can make a difference in
one child’s life, I want to do that. The consequences to my personal life
really aren’t that important.”
Rita
shook her head. “What I would give to look like you, to have your talent.
You’re letting one disappointment ruin your future.”