“How is the new hubby?” Tom stirred another packet of sugar into his coffee. “You haven’t said much about him lately.”
“He’s anxious for us to be together.” As Christy said the words she wished with all her heart that they were true. In the past ten days she’d been in contact with David only twice. Once when she texted to tell him she’d made it back safely, the other when he texted to confirm the date her furniture would arrive in St. Louis.
“I can’t wait to meet him,” Tom said. “He sounds like a great guy.”
Christy smiled at her publicist and pushed back a strand of hair with her left hand, the diamond sparkling brightly on her finger. “He is simply wonderful. I’m a lucky woman.”
She must have said the words a hundred times since returning to Chicago. They were part of her automatic response whenever anyone asked about her marriage and her new husband.
And every time she said the words, she’d offer up a little prayer that one of these days she’d believe them.
“How long has it been now since you’ve seen that wife of yours?” Blake took a sip of coffee and peered at David over the top of the cup. “Two? Three weeks?”
David handed the waitress his empty plate and took a deep breath. Blake had been on the attack ever since David had joined his grandfather and cousin for their weekly breakfast planning meeting. Though Blake’s barbs had been subtle, they’d hit their mark. But so far David had managed to keep the conversation cordial by reminding himself that Blake had lost his chance to control Warner Enterprises and it was no surprise that he’d be bitter.
“Actually, it’s only been a little over a week,” David said lightly. “Although it does seem more like two or three. It’s hard to be apart.”
His grandfather smiled reassuringly. “She’ll be back here before you know it.”
“I know she will,” David said.
“Have you thought what you’re going to do if your new bride doesn’t like it here?” Blake said. “You can’t run the business from Chicago.”
“You forget,” his grandfather answered before David had a chance to respond. “Christy is married now. Her home is with her husband.”
“I agree wholeheartedly.” Blake’s gaze shifted from the older man to David. “But you know women today. They’re not all like Karen. Many of them put all sorts of things before their family.”
“Christy’s not like that,” David said, wishing he could believe the words. “She’s anxious to be back in St. Louis and for us to start building our life together.”
“I hope you’re right.” Blake smiled amicably, but the look in his eyes told David that his cousin wasn’t finished with him yet. His cousin may have conceded the battle, but the war was still on.
“You’re kidding.” Lauren wanted to shout for joy, but she kept her expression carefully neutral. “She’s not coming until the tenth?”
“That’s right.” David leaned back in his office chair, and she could see the strain around his eyes.
Though Lauren longed to slip around the desk and rub his neck, she didn’t dare. David had always been an honorable man with a strong sense of right and wrong and she had to tread carefully. But he’d left Christy once, and Lauren had no doubt the relationship between the two of them would falter again. And when that happened she’d be waiting.
“I’m sure she’s very busy.” Lauren forced a sympathetic tone. “She’s got a demanding career, and getting married unexpectedly must have thrown her schedule completely off-kilter.”
“You’re probably right. I’ve never known someone so obsessed with planning.” The little dimple that Lauren loved so much flashed in David’s left cheek and her heart skipped a beat. “You remember how she was. Even in high school her planner went everywhere with her.”
“I’m surprised she doesn’t take the thing to bed with her.”
“That she doesn’t do.” David’s eyes took on a faraway look and Lauren cursed her impulsive comment.
After all, no good would come of reminding David of the one positive thing about his marriage. Though he’d never breathed a word about his and Christy’s sex life, Lauren had seen the way his gaze had lingered on his wife, the longing in his eyes.
If only David had let her show him what he meant to her. Unfortunately a few kisses had been as far as it had ever gone. Lauren knew he liked her, but she had the feeling that she could have thrown herself at him and still he wouldn’t have reacted.
But anticipation surged through Lauren at the thought of spending the evening with David. It would be like old times. Maybe it would help him to realize the mistake he’d made.
“It’s a pity Christy will miss Sara’s party,” Lauren said in an offhand tone.
“I think she would have enjoyed meeting everyone,” David said.
“You’re still going, aren’t you?”
David shrugged. “I’m not sure.”
“I could pick you up?”
A watchful look filled his gaze. “I don’t think that would be a good idea.”
“That’s fine. I’ll just see you there.” Lauren leaned back in her chair and smiled.
“If I go,” David said.
Lauren merely smiled. He’d be there. David’s friendship with Sara was too close for him to ignore the invitation.
With Christy not coming, that night had taken on a whole new meaning, a whole new importance. The way Lauren figured it, this party would be the perfect opportunity for her to make David forget all about his new wife.
“You were spectacular.” Tom opened the car door for Christy, smiling broadly. “When did they say it would air?”
“April twentieth is what the producer told me.” Exhausted from the taping, Christy slipped inside the car and leaned her head back against the seat. “That was more difficult than I’d thought it would be.”
“What was so hard about it?” Tom slid into the driver’s seat and put his key in the ignition.
“I don’t know. She just had so many questions.” Veronica had been friendly, but extremely curious. She’d persisted in asking question after question about David. Questions that were difficult to answer when your married life so far had existed only from a few nights in Vegas. Christy shifted in her seat.
“Well, all I can say is you pulled it off.” Tom smiled happily and Christy knew he was remembering how the woman had put in not one but several plugs for Christy’s seminars. “Want to stop and have a drink to celebrate?”
“It’s two o’clock in the afternoon,” Christy said. She didn’t see any reason to tell him that after Las Vegas she’d sworn off alcohol entirely.
“Okay, we’ll skip the drink. But we still need to talk.”
Something in her publicist’s tone caught Christy’s attention. “What is it, Tom?”
“What’s up is we need to decide where we’re going from here. We’ve got to think up some fresh ideas to snag the media’s attention.” Tom put the car in gear and slanted her a sideways glance. “This marriage of yours is quickly becoming old news.”