Sparring Partners (3 page)

"Marry me, Lily." It wasn't a question,
William was tired of asking, it was a command, albeit a gentle
one.

Lily deflected instead of answering, asking
a question of her own. "What made you issue that ridiculous demand
that Jordon find a wife in four days?" She didn't let him answer
before rapid-firing more questions at him. "Four days, William?
What were you thinking? How do you expect Jordon to find happiness
in less than one week?"

"Are you finished?"

Lily nodded, jutting her small chin out like
a petulant teenager dissatisfied with a parental decree and ready
to sulk about it. Sometimes he wondered how she made it to the ripe
old age of fifty-seven without ever having been spanked. William
sighed heavily, putting as much feeling into the gesture as he
could manage without playing the put-upon-parent. He sat up
straighter so he could look at her without being tempted to kiss
her silly and make love to her again until she focused on him and
not her thirty-nine year old son. Since that fix would only be
temporary, William did what he was most comfortable doing, he
attacked the issue head-on.

"You know as well as I do why I gave Jordon
that deadline."

Lily opened her mouth, to contradict him no
doubt, but William stopped her by putting one index finger to her
lips, thanking God she was too much of a lady to bite him.

"If I'd given Jordon two months, or even two
years, he would have waited until the last seventy-two hours to do
anything about it. By giving him the deadline I did, I saved him
the trouble of procrastinating. And, I even added an extra day onto
the time table, giving him only slightly more than the amount of
time he would have given himself."

Lily didn't argue with that. She knew that
when faced with something he didn't want to do, Jordon would wait
until the last possible moment, and only then complete whatever it
was he didn't want face earlier. He'd been that way since
kindergarten, He remained that way today. Jordon called it "crunch
time". William called it something else entirely, but Lily didn't
need to know that. Instead of challenging William on his assessment
of Jordon's reaction, Lily asked another question, one he couldn't
explain without revealing more than he wanted to about himself.

"Why does he have to marry at all? And don't
give me that line of bull you tried to sell to Jordon, about Mr.
Takahara specifically stating he would only accept someone
'traditional'. Someone male, married with a family, to run the
alternative health care division of Takahara Inc." Lily sat back
against the headboard. She stared at William through narrowed eyes.
Lily hadn't raised her voice, but the death grip she had on the
summer weight quilt she was entombing herself in let William know
she wasn't pleased with him.

"Takahara did say that. He also said he'd go
elsewhere if B.H. couldn't meet his requirements"

"I don't doubt it. What I do doubt, is that
you couldn't talk him out of it. I know you better than that,
William. Once Jordon starts thinking, instead of simply reacting to
your crazy order, he'll realize it too."

"I probably could talk Peichin Takahara out
of his preference for a married man with a family to head that
division, especially given the amount of cash I'm willing to part
with to buy his company, if I wanted to. I don't want to. If Jordon
doesn't find a wife, and Peichin likes Jay Giles, then Jay can run
that division and be next in line for my seat when I decide to
retire. If Jordon can't accept that, he's out."

The coldness in William's voice, and his
matter of fact attitude, must have made Lily's blood run cold, if
her sudden involuntary shake and paleness were any indication.
William wanted nothing more than to pull her close and whisper that
everything would be all right, but the truth was, he wasn't sure
Jordon would make the right choice unless pushed into it. Jordon
could screw the whole thing up. There was only so much William
could control with his dictate, that Jordon pick a real woman, and
not someone he paid to perform the role. Jordon was going to have
to find love and meaning on his own.

Looking into Lily's fragile, much loved,
face, William wanted to relent. He couldn't. He loved Jordon, and
he couldn't stand by any longer and watch Lily's son sever every
human connection, every chance at a family of his own, in favor of
creating jobs and a better life for others. William knew that the
status that came with being CEO of B.H. was cold comfort alone in
bed at night. Jordon failed to truly understand that. He wanted
Jordon to be one of those balanced people who worked hard and loved
hard. He wanted Jordon to realize that he could make B.H. better
and have a life with a wife and family of his own. As much as
William wished it were so, he and Lily wouldn't be around
forever.

"I don't understand why you're being so
hard-nosed about this?" The entreaty in her voice pierced William
with it's sharpness, making his response sharper than he
intended.

"Because I don't want Jordon to turn out
like me." There, he said it. Let Lily make of that what she will,
William thought.

"What's wrong with turning out like you?"
Lily said, offering him a small, shaky smile. "I like you well
enough."

Again William didn't return her smile, and
after a second, it left her lovely face. "And what if James hadn't
died ten years ago? What if his heart hadn't given out? What then,
Lily? Who would I be to you then?"

She looked away and tried to get out of the
bed, but she'd gotten herself so tangled in the quilt she couldn't
manage it. William turned her back to him and held her at arms
length, forcing her to listen.

"I'll tell you what, Lily. You'd still be in
love with and married to my brother. I'd still be hopelessly in
love with you. While at least I'd still have my brother, and I wish
to hell and back James was still here, I'd be alone and
lonely."

William's unshed tears stung the back of his
throat. Thinking about James did that to him. He loved James, and
his death damn near killed William too. Unfortunately, there was
nothing he could do about that. Nothing except make certain his
brother's son had every advantage William could give him. Even if
that meant forcing Jordon to see the other half of life he was
missing by burying himself in B.H. The kid was in denial, trying to
protect himself from the pain of loving someone, just like William
was nearly forty years ago.

"Look at me, Lily. If I didn't have you, I
would never marry." When she looked at him William steeled his eyes
and his tone, willing her to understand just how much he needed to
do this for Jordon.

"I would continue buying companies, and I'd
take great comfort in knowing that my business was continuing to
create meaningful employment for families, but I wouldn't have one
of my own. I'd go to my mistress every Wednesday and every Saturday
just like I did while James was alive, and I'd die old and alone,
probably at my desk."

William squeezed Lily's arms and then let
her go, knowing he may lose her, but unwilling to risk Jordon's
future for his own. "I won't resign Jordon to the same fate. Not
without a damn good fight anyway."

To William's surprise, Lily didn't leave the
bed, although if she had he wouldn't have stopped her. Perhaps she
knew that. Lily seemed to know most everything about him despite
his tendency to hide himself.

"What makes you so sure Jordon wants a
family? Maybe his desire is simply what he says it is, to run B.H.
after you retire."

Was she projecting or just playing devil's
advocate? Sometimes William couldn't tell. He didn't know Lily
Bennett half as well as she knew him. All he knew for sure, was
that he wanted her by his side so he could spend the rest of his
life figuring out the workings of her heart and mind.

"Do you remember when Jordon asked me for a
loan so he could buy a ring and find a wife?"

"William, he was four years old."

"And very sincere. I asked him why he wanted
a wife. Do you remember?"

"I remember." The smile on her face made
William long to kiss her, but he needed to make his point first.
Then he'd see if she still wanted to kiss him. He fervently hoped
so since he was bound to do it anyway.

"He told me he wanted someone to love and to
snuggle with. Someone who would be his best friend forever.
Remember?"

"And the two of you went to the store and
came back with a ring. That was over three decades ago. What
possible relevance does it have now?" Lily said, sounding slightly
exasperated with his trip down memory lane.

"That same boy married his high school
sweetheart and held his dying daughter in his arms right after she
was born."

A single tear ran down Lily's face. She
brushed it away, angry with the memory or with him for bringing it
back up again, William wasn't quite sure which.

"Emily wasn't Jordon's baby." Lily said.

"He didn't know that when he married Emily's
mother. He didn't know that when Emily died in his arms. He only
learned it right before they buried her. Yet, Jordon spent every
last cent he had on a gravestone etched with 'Bennett' in big
letters right after 'Emily'. He wanted Emily. He wanted that
family."

"He was only eighteen, William. It was a
long time ago."

"Fundamental things like that don't change.
Jordon's been running from getting hurt like that again since he
left Jackson and came to work for me. That doesn't mean his bone
deep desire for a family of his own isn't still there, branded on
his soul."

"You're playing with fire, William. Jordon
may never forgive you for putting him through this."

"Will you?"

She touched his cheek with one small hand
and kissed him lightly before answering.

"Probably."

"Then marry me, woman. I know what I want
and I'm too damn old to wait." He lied. He'd wait forever if that's
what it took to have her.

"I'll marry you. Just as soon as all of this
with Jordon is settled."

William scooped her up and set her in his
lap, quilt and all. "Is that supposed to make me extend my four day
deadline? If it is, you need to brush up on your negotiating
skills."

"I won't interfere, just as long as you
promise to abide by whatever Jordon decides to do. If he doesn't
want a wife you'll back off."

William knew better than to promise Lily an
inch, she'd make it stretch a mile.

"I promise to stick to exactly what I told
Jordon. The ball is now firmly in his court, let's see what he does
with it. In the meantime, Mrs. Bennett, I have some balls of my own
I'd like help with."

Hearing Lily giggle was almost as
invigorating as having her push him down as she climbed on top of
him. "You're lucky I love you, Mr. Bennett."

Yes he was, very lucky indeed. William sent
out a silent prayer, hoping Jordon would chose to be as lucky.

CHAPTER FOUR

Reed wasn't sure she should talk about the
subject of sexy men and going on dates with her aunt. Finn dated
all the time, if openly seeking younger men to spend quality sheet
time with could be considered dating. She certainly didn't
understand that her younger niece, who was surrounded by good
looking men every time she entered the dojo, didn't date every
chance she got.

"You've got a date?" Finn's bright blue eyes
flashed in surprise at the news.

Reed shrugged, wondering why she even
brought it up. She insulted the guy and acted like a bitch with
more chip than shoulder to support it. If she were him, she
wouldn't come, would she? Probably not.

"
If
he shows up. I wasn't my normal
charming self when we met, so he probably won't." Reed said, as if
it didn't matter whether he showed or not. She wanted to see him
again. She'd been thinking of him and checking her watch all
day.

"What turned you from charming to not?" Finn
asked.

"I thought he was going to lay into Jesse
for ruining his clothes. You know how vulnerable Jesse is. I'd
rather have a stranger think I'm a world class witch than have
Jesse get hurt."

Finn shot her the same look she'd been
shooting across the kitchen table since Reed came to live with her
after Reed's mother died. That look said:
for someone so smart
you sure can play dumb
. Half pity, half exasperation. That look
usually cut through Reed's self-imposed stupidity.

"What
I
know" Finn said, "is that
it's been two and a half years since Jesse came here to live with
us. I
know
he rarely has nightmares anymore. I
know
he smiles all the time now. Jesse calls Potters Woods his home, not
just the place where he happens to live this week. I
know
Jesse can handle himself without you and your sparring gloves
constantly backing him up."

Reed threw a juicy slice of mandarin orange
soaked in homemade raspberry dressing from her salad across the
kitchen table at Finn. Finn made the salad and the dressing and
everything that made Potters Woods home for Reed, Jesse, and
Charlie. Finn made them a family and Reed loved her for it. She
also hated the fact that Finn was right. Jesse was almost
seventeen. He was happy. He no longer needed or deserved Reed
playing mama bear.

"Don't you ever get sick of being right?"
Reed said, knowing she needed to back off when it came to Jesse
before she hurt him or herself.

Batting away the sticky fruit before it hit
her perfectly messed playboy bunny hair, Finn said, "I'll get sick
of being right the day you get sick of bringing home strays. Now
stop throwing your lunch at me and eat it. You're too thin."

"We can't all be built like a brick....
house." Reed muttered, taking another bite of salad, sorry she
hadn't inherited Finn's impressive chest. Finn's height and perfect
skin would have been nice too, but then Reed had a low center of
gravity that helped her kick tail on the dojo floor. Something had
to make up for her not quite B cup.