The Surrogate Husband Read online

  She pushed the drawer shut with her hip as she spied his robe next to the black satin nightie she’d worn to bed the night before.

  Damn it.

  One last sniff.

  She picked up the garment and held it to her face. Images of the two of them making love, walking hand in hand, and laughing together scrolled through her head like a virtual photo album.

  She took off the necklace he’d given her and dropped it on the nightstand. The last thing she’d need in the coming days and weeks would be the token reminder of their time together.

  Someone rapped on the door. “Yes?”

  “Can I come in?” Dex asked.

  She stiffened. “I’ll be through in a few minutes, then you can have all the time you need in here.” Dropping his robe, she glanced in the mirror to make sure her face didn’t reveal the depth of her sadness. But her complexion had grown pasty. She pinched her cheeks just in case.

  Never let anyone see your weaknesses.

  Why did her father’s voice always barge into her head at the most unexpected moments?

  “I want to speak to you, Lucy.”

  She hugged her arms around her body. “Nope, not now.”

  The doorknob jiggled then Dex came inside anyway. “Yes, now.” Still controlling the where, when, and what. His clothes appeared rumpled, so unusual for him.

  She squared her shoulders and met his stare. “I guess you don’t understand the meaning of the word no.”

  Tiny muscles around his jaw ticked. “I understand it just fine. I refuse to accept it.”

  It took everything she had to keep from trembling with the need to throw her arms around him, but she crossed the room to the closet and started plucking her clothes from the hangers as if his presence didn’t completely unnerve her.

  “I spoke to Bev,” he said. “Everything will be fine on that score. She understands your mother’s reasons for her lie and why the rest of the family went along.”

  She glanced at him then immediate averted her gaze. Aunt Bev forgiving them was a huge relief, but it didn’t undo Dex’s betrayal.

  The mattress creaked, which called to mind all the things they’d done on that bed. She carried some items to her suitcase and shoved them inside, purposely rolling them in a jumbled clump to irritate him. Too bad she couldn’t stash away the memories as easily.

  Dex was sitting there, looking forlorn, but she couldn’t let his pain bother her. She had her own to deal with.

  “I know I let you down, Lucy.”

  She laughed without mirth. “Aren’t you the observant one?” Sarcasm had always been her favorite weapon when she was hurt.

  “I deserve that, but I’d like you to hear me out.” He got off the bed and began pacing the room. “Apparently, Trisha’s parents owned a business years ago, and Johnny was their CPA.”

  She threw some of her makeup into a zippered pouch. “What does that have to do with you ratting out my family?”

  “Everything. Johnny has these rules. One of those is not dating a client. His company made me a very generous offer for my firm that I decided to take. We’re weeks away from finalizing the merger. I’ll be a board member there and expected to abide by the company’s code of conduct. My father works there as well. The merger will be very beneficial to my parents’ stock in Bass Financial. It’s a long story, but the Readers’ Digest version is that my folks made an ill-advised investment a few years back. I can fix all that with this sale. But only if it goes through. Johnny Bass has the power to stop the deal at any moment.”

  She faced him. “Why didn’t you tell me all that from the beginning?”

  His lips flattened to a thin, tight line. “The contract specifies that I’m not to share that information with anyone. I shouldn’t be telling you now, but I couldn’t let you think I just blew things up with your aunt on a whim. But that’s not the whole truth. I didn’t want to give you any more reasons not to date me.”

  “What does that mean?”

  He let out an anguished sigh. “It means that I couldn’t dig that hole of deception any deeper when I ran into Johnny at the reception. I had Bev on my arm, and I figured that was as good a time as any to be honest with her.”

  She gritted her teeth. “Against my wishes.”

  “It had to be done, Lucy. Yes, I took it upon myself to do it, but let’s not pretend this was going to end well. With Bev about to move down here and planning all sorts of family events, how do you suppose you were all going to keep your secret?”

  It didn’t matter that what he said had a modicum of validity, he still had no right to take it upon himself to tell Bev the truth.

  “I made a split-second decision to protect my firm’s future and my parents’ retirement. Outing you and your family wasn’t what I wanted to do, but if you’re honest with yourself, you’ll realize that it had to be done at some point. And there’s something else.” He pinched the bridge of his nose. “I was afraid. You live your life on the edge, just like Caroline, and I didn’t want to risk losing someone else like that I cared about. Can’t you cut me some slack since I was in a no-win situation?”

  Maybe that made his confession a little more understandable, but damn it, she was still hurt. “Nothing changes the fact that you completely took control from me, just as my father would have, which is the one thing I can’t abide in a relationship. You’re exactly like him.”

  “Lucy, you know that’s not true. You’re just as scared as I am about losing your heart and getting it broken again, and you’re using this as an excuse to push me away. Just like I did when we first met, when I told myself you were just a fling. But you were so much more.”

  She faced him, trying to ignore the misery painted in his expression, and the fact that he was right. “I need to pack my things, so I’d appreciate if you’d wait until I’m out of here to get yours.”

  Her refusal to forgive him had obviously hurt him. The evidence was clear in the furrow of his brow and the stern set of his lips. Sagging his shoulders, he nodded. “Okay.”

  She didn’t watch him walk out. Couldn’t. Inside she was falling apart, but she’d learned long ago not to let anyone see her weakest moments. A tide of grief overtook her. Sinking onto the floor, she let the floodgates open wide.

  She cried for the loss of her friend and lover, and for her foolish dreams of a life that wasn’t so lonely, a life that would never be hers.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Six days had passed and Lucy hadn’t returned any of Dex’s calls. Not that he’d thought she would, but he couldn’t stop hoping. He’d tried to talk himself out of her, but hadn’t come up with enough reasons to write her off.

  When the phone rang, he picked it up on the first ring, thankful for the distraction.

  “Dex, it’s Johnny Bass.”

  Every time he answered and didn’t hear Lucy’s voice, something deep inside him deflated a little. “Good afternoon.” Johnny had yet to tell him if he’d made a decision on the merger. The longer it took, the worse his odds.

  “I want you to know that I’ve put a lot of thought into whether or not to buy your firm. My rules have worked for Bass Financial for close to half a century,” Johnny said. “Without them, things could easily run amuck.”

  Here it comes. Dex steeled himself for the letdown. What would he tell his folks? “Sorry Dad. I know you wanted to retire soon, but you’ll have to work another ten years.”

  “By the same token, my wife and a few other people I’ve spoken with have convinced me that perhaps I’ve held my staff to too high a standard. Maybe it is time to lighten up a little, as Trisha said.”

  Dex held his breath.

  “I called Nelson Ying and asked him if he’d consider coming back.”

  “Glad to hear that.” Dex smiled, something he hadn’t done for several days.

  “And I’d like to proceed with the merger. As soon as possible. I think you’ll be a good influence on the company. What do you say?”

  His spirits higher,
he sat taller in his chair. “Let’s do it.”

  After he hung up the phone, he frowned. His professional life was looking up, but the most important part of his world was still in tatters.

  He glanced at the white board on the wall where he’d scrawled Lucy’s name at the top and the Cons column only had three entries—takes too many chances with her safety, disorganized, won’t speak to me.

  The last one was a pretty big hurdle. Not insurmountable for a Marine, though.

  But it was the Pros column that had kept him up every night since they’d left the inn. The list was endless, yet he’d only hit the highlights—smart, sexy, funny, interesting, spontaneous, unpredictable, artistic. He’d run out of room before he’d finished her great qualities.

  Only none of it really mattered if she wouldn’t give him another chance. She’d accused him of being like her cruel, controlling father. And knowing her history with her dad, nothing she’d said had hurt him more.

  He had to prove to her that he was nothing like her father, that he’d never fail her as her dad had. Glimpsing the stack of quarterly corporate tax returns he’d finished, he got an idea. For once, he wasn’t going to hand-deliver Lucy’s packet.

  First he phoned his florist and ordered a huge arrangement of irises to be sent to her shop. Couldn’t hurt to soften her up a little first. Then he sat at his computer and shot her an email asking her to pick up her tax return the next morning. And he’d be ready for her.

  …

  “These are crazy gorgeous.” Amy stuck her nose into the bouquet of flowers that had been delivered right after Lucy opened the shop that morning.

  “Beautiful.” She tried for a smile, but didn’t think she’d succeeded, judging by Amy’s frown.

  “From Dex, huh?” Amy joined her behind the counter. “I’ve never seen you so down. You’ve been in a funk a whole week. Is there anything I can do?”

  “I’ll be fine, thanks.” Apparently her sullen mood was more obvious than she’d suspected. She grabbed a handful of jellybeans from the bowl on the counter and popped them into her mouth. But even the sugar overload didn’t seem to help. Hell, she’d even tried an outing to her favorite bar a few nights ago, but she compared every guy who hit on her to Dex. None measured up. It was going to be a long dry-spell for her. Just because he’d sent her flowers didn’t mean she’d forgiven him.

  “My aunt will be here any minute, who has never seen this place. Mom has a dentist appointment in the area so she thought Aunt Bev might like to hang out with me instead of sitting in a stuffy office. Would you please move those boxes into the back?” She gestured toward the open cartons of camisoles and slips that had just arrived. “I want the store to be perfect.” She was looking forward to Aunt Bev’s visit since she never would have been able to buy the business without her help, but she just couldn’t seem to get her mojo back since the wedding last weekend.

  The door chimed, and her aunt came inside.

  She went over to hug her. “Welcome. How’s the assisted-living apartment hunt coming along?”

  Aunt Bev slowly made her way to the settee in the middle of the store and took a seat. “I have it narrowed down to three, all of them lovely.”

  Lucy smiled, her first genuine one in days. “I’m so glad you’re moving here. What do you think of the shop?”

  She scanned the room. “What I can see is lovely. It’s a bit dark, though.”

  “It’s supposed to resemble a boudoir,” Lucy said. When Bev pursed her lips, she explained the concept.

  “Oh, I see. In that case you’ve done a wonderful job.” She got up and made her way to a table of panties, picked up a pair, and examined it as if it were a science experiment. “So this is what you girls wear for underwear these days.” She shrugged, then set the garment down and moved on to the racks. “Have you spoken to Dex?”

  That deep all-over ache she’d been nursing for a week flared to life. “Nope.” He’d emailed her that some tax return was ready for her to pick up at his office, but she could pick that up at the receptionist’s desk and hopefully avoid seeing him.

  Bev took a seat on a velvet settee. “So he’s only your accountant now, hmm?”

  Lucy folded her arms over her chest. “Unless I decide to go with someone else. And I don’t want to discuss him.”

  “I think you’re being too hard on him.”

  Apparently Lucy’s wish not to talk about him didn’t matter to her aunt.

  “He’s a good man, and he deserves a second chance.”

  “Would you like to pick out some lingerie, Aunt Bev?” She knew she couldn’t distract her from talking about Dex, but she wasn’t going to play.

  Bev pursed her lips. “No offense, dear, but this sort of stuff isn’t for me. When you told me about this shop, and that you were interested in purchasing it, I picked up on your passion for the place. I knew you’d be a success. Which was why I gave you the money to buy it. I’ve got a good head for things that are meant to be. What a success you’ve made of this business. You’re growing it like a gardener does his best flowers.”

  “Thanks, Aunt Bev. That means a lot to me.”

  “You’re obviously a smart cookie, but…” She shrugged.

  Lucy glanced around the room, wondering if her aunt saw something she thought was negatively impacting the business. The racks were full and the displays colorful. Sales were clearly marked. “But what?”

  She spun the wedding band on her left ring finger. “If this store is your whole life, then you’re missing out on the best parts.”

  Lucy rubbed the bridge of her nose.

  “That was really something how Dex saved little Logan’s life,” Bev said.

  Lucy’s chest tightened. “Yes, it was.” Memories of that night came crashing back to her—the terrible fear, the waiting, and finally, the blessed relief. The pride when Dex climbed out of the lake, knowing he’d risked his life for the child.

  Aunt Bev took a wrapped candy from her purse, opened it, then popped it into her mouth. “But we had lots of fun at the inn as well. Those games were a riot.”

  Lucy swallowed. A riot wasn’t exactly how she’d describe getting into the pool. But Dex had been there for her. He’d talked her through it, and helped her conquer a fear she’d had her entire life.

  Bev gestured at the flowers on the counter. “Those are lovely, dear. Uncle Clyde was a fan of sending flowers, too. I was always partial to roses, though. Something that set off warning bells about your father when your parents were dating was that he never gave Michelle gifts or sent her flowers or cards. Made me and Clyde suspicious of him. Rightfully so, in hindsight.”

  She thought about her father. Not a nice man. So why was she comparing him to Dex, who was so sweet? He’d bullied her, and by example, encouraged her to use those same tactics on others. Dex had merely challenged her to be brave.

  Her dad loved to control everything merely so things could go his way, so he could feel important and validated, yet Dex’s aim had been to fix things for her family. He wasn’t the sort of horrible, cruel man her father was. Why hadn’t she recognized the difference at the time?

  She had to apologize to him.

  Time seemed to drag until her mother returned to pick up Aunt Bev. As soon as she did, Lucy grabbed her purse and left Amy in charge of the store. Then she headed over to Dex’s office.

  When she got there, she pulled open the glass door, expecting to find the receptionist, but the desk was empty. Glancing past the tropical fish tank, she glimpsed Dex’s door halfway down the corridor. “Hello?”

  No response.

  “Dex?” She started down the hall and found a few crumpled papers on the floor.

  This wasn’t the usual at his office. Everything was always perfect here, neat and orderly. Like Dex.

  She stopped at his office, put her ear to the door, and listened. Was that rap music? Holy crap. It was. Eminem, in fact.

  Holding back a chuckle, she knocked. “Dex?”

  He ya
nked open the door. Surprise in his eyes morphed into warmth in a fraction of a second. “Lucy.”

  Was that stubble on his cheeks? As in he hadn’t shaved? And his hair wasn’t combed. In fact, he looked as if he’d slept in his clothes. His shirt tail was half in, half out of his pants.

  What the hell?

  Stepping back, he ushered her inside, then turned off the CD player. But what she saw made her freeze in her tracks.

  A rumpled suit jacket was thrown atop a file cabinet and a blue silk tie was haphazardly dangling from an official-looking plaque on the wall. Papers were strewn everywhere. The trashcan overflowed with junk and the top of his desk—which had always been so neat and uncluttered—was a mess of file folders, papers, and books.

  “What’s going on here?” she asked. “What happened to you?”

  He shoved a bunch of junk off a chair onto the floor and offered her a seat. Whoa. That was a first. “I have your return here somewhere. My receptionist took the day off, but I know I can find it. Give me a minute.” Before she could respond, he was gone.

  What was all this? Standing in the middle of the room, she tried to take it all in, when her eyes landed on a large white board with her name written at the top.

  There were two columns—pros and cons. And they were all about her. Thankfully, the pros greatly outnumbered the three cons. She scanned the pros side all the way to the bottom, to the last thing on the list, which Dex had underscored three times and written larger than the other words.

  Her eyes filled.

  Dex came back into the room with a manila file. “Here it is. Just sign it and mail it in. I enclosed an envelope addressed to the Department of Revenue.”

  “Of course you did.” She tried to banish her tears, but didn’t do a very good job.

  Dex was at her side in an instant, his arms around her. “What is it?”