Chapter 5 #2
Solitude was her newest venture, and the restaurant had earned the name. It was geared mostly toward families and people who wanted some discretion to discuss delicate matters.
The main idea was complete discretion. She had gone for subdued elegance in her signature red and gold.
The chairs were padded and very comfortable, the staff moving about like shadows. The recessed lights were subdued, tables far apart to give the diners privacy.
Votive candles flickered in sconces placed strategically around the large space. The ma?tre d' had escorted Regina to a table near the window, overlooking the stunning lights of the city.
"Darling, I expected you to order something." Kelly, looking exquisite in a chic raw silk pantsuit, embraced Regina as she rose.
"Let me look at you." Easing her back, she studied the younger woman with curious golden-brown eyes.
"A little thin. I really hate you. I have to work like a bitch to keep the weight off, and here you are looking like a freaking model."
She flashed her famous smile as the ma?tre d' hurried over.
"Geoffry, have them bring the lobster and a bottle of wine, please. And tell Claude that he's been getting compliments on the lemon chicken."
The man beamed and bowed. "I will see he gets the message, Ms. Kelly."
"Now." Sitting gracefully and crossing her legs with silk whispering, she cocked her head to give Regina her full attention.
"Tell me."
Regina reached for her sparkling water with the wedge of lemon floating on the surface. "That's one of the things I love about you, honey, you get right to the meat of the matter."
"I'm a very busy woman." Golden-brown eyes sparkled with laughter.
"Besides, you sounded off over the phone."
"Ah, here comes our meal."
Regina sniffed the air and closed her eyes in appreciation. "It smells heavenly."
"And should taste twice as good. Thank you, Simon."
Kelly beamed at the waiter.
"Fill me in, darling."
"I'm getting married."
Kelly's fork was suspended over the plate, her expression one of shock. "Who's the lucky man?"
Regina laughed softly at her friend's dry tone. "Craig Muldoon."
Kelly's expression changed to one of delight.
"Oh, darling! I always knew there was something between the two of you. When did this happen?"
She made a grab for Regina's left hand, a frown touching her smooth brow at the lack of a ring. "So, where is it?"
"I need to explain." Pulling her hand away, Regina dug into the meal and told Kelly the full story.
"I'm depending on you to be discreet."
"Of course," she murmured absently.
"If you wanted money, you could have come to me. I'd like to believe we're friends."
"You know we are," Regina assured her quickly. "But friendship and money don't mix."
"That's ridiculous," Kelly told her sharply. "You were in need and I have the resources."
"It's cleaner this way."
"So, you prefer to enter into a fake marriage than ask a friend? Darling, what were you thinking? And how is this going to work?"
"It's a business arrangement." She busied herself with her wild asparagus, avoiding her friend's eyes.
"You were involved with this man, and I happen to know he's gorgeous.
You had a mutual attraction for each other in the past and I do believe you mentioned that he wanted more than you were prepared to offer.
Saying it's strictly business is one thing; keeping it that way is a completely different matter altogether. "
"I cannot give him anything else."
Kelly pounced on that. "So, he wants more."
"That's not his decision to make," Regina said firmly.
"It's strictly business. I'll get the money for my project and he'll inherit his fortune. It's just for three months and as much as the old man is starting to grow on me, as soon as he closes his eyes for the last time, I'm gone. It's that simple."
Kelly shook her head, expression somber.
"You don't believe that. You're smart and intelligent enough to realize that two very attractive people cannot spend time together without something happening, especially if they had a history."
"I don't want anything more." She felt the flutter of panic inside her chest and drank some water to try and ease the tightness.
Hadn't she spent most of last night thinking the exact same thing? And reliving the way his mouth had felt on hers?
"You know how I feel about marriage," she muttered.
Reaching over, Kelly placed a hand over hers and squeezed.
"I love my husband. I went looking for him and when I found him, I knew almost immediately that he was the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. We have two sons and an incredibly busy schedule. You know this. Yet, we find the time to be with each other. Our love has simply evolved."
Her eyes turned moist. Blinking at the tears, she smiled and shook her head.
"The bloody man can still make me weak." She focused on Regina.
"I want the same thing for you. No." She lifted a hand when her friend would have spoken.
"I know you had a lousy childhood, and that man who planted a seed to bring you into the world is not worth discussing. But darling, there are good men out there. I'm married to one. So are several of my friends."
"Be that as it may, I'm not looking for anything long-term. I have a project that I'm very passionate about and I want to see it through. This arrangement will make it possible."
Picking up her wine, Kelly stared at her over the rim. "All right."
Secretly, she was seeing something else. She wanted happiness for the younger woman.
Beneath the bluntness, the toughness she exhibited, Kelly knew that underneath, she was sweet and wonderful. She wanted some very fortunate man to peel away the angry layers and get to that core.
She was hoping that this was going to be it.
She knew more than anyone else that once a course is set, especially when it comes to matters of the heart, nothing can change it. Regina might think she could remain immune, but Kelly knew better.
She had set her sights on Kane, and the man hadn't stood a chance.
"When is the wedding?"
"The last Saturday in August. Why?"
"I want to be there, of course. Have you picked out a dress yet?"
"It's not that kind of wedding. I'm sure I can throw something together in my closet."
Kelly stared at her in horror.
"Darling, it might be a fake wedding, but even so, you deserve to look your best. Besides, you surely do not want his grandfather becoming suspicious, do you?"
"No." She shook her head thoughtfully.
"And you might be right. It has to look real."
"Of course I'm right," Kelly retorted, waving a dismissive hand.
"And I'm buying the dress. My treat."
"Kelly-"
"I won't hear another word of objection. I will act as your attendant. With me there in that role, the grandfather will not suspect anything amiss."
She smiled widely. "I'm looking forward to it."
*****
The longer the idea marinated, the more it took hold, until he could think of nothing else. That's why he was here every day for the past week, working.
The plans were underway, and things were moving along nicely. He had given her a ring, an exquisite square-cut diamond.
If it had been the real deal, if they had been getting married for real, he would have given her his mother's engagement ring. The exquisite sapphire-and-pearl set was in a vault along with other things set aside for the next Muldoon bride.
Regina had told him about Kelly's involvement, and he had been annoyed at first. But Regina had made a valid point.
With Kelly there and possibly Kane, it would all look real. And he wanted that much because the old man was asking questions.
And so was the lawyer. He didn't want to leave anything to chance.
This was much too important. They had to pull it off.
It was that, among other things, that had made up his mind for him, and why he was here every day, working tirelessly to set the cabin to rights. It didn't need much work, and he loved working with his hands.
The sagging porch had been replaced, the fireplace cleaned out (Christ, that had taken a lot out of him). He had replaced the old-fashioned range that had been there forever, and he made sure the refrigerator was in good working order.
He had hired a cleaning crew to do the heavy dusting and scrubbing, and they would be arriving in a day or two. The old man had brought up the subject of their honeymoon, and that had given him the idea.
He could suggest Europe or even somewhere in the Caribbean, but both he and Regina had done their fair share of traveling. And he wanted to be alone with her.
He knew she was going to balk at the idea of going to the country, but he was pretty sure he could convince her that it was a clever idea. He would spring for two weeks, but if she protested, he would cut it down to one, hoping that seven days would be enough.
Sitting back on his haunches, he tugged the bandana out of the pocket of his worn jeans and wiped the sweat running down his face. The sun was still high in the sky, a golden orb in the pale blue.
The scent of honeysuckle and peonies lent a kind of magic to the air. He wanted her to experience the beauty with him and was praying that it would reach somewhere deep inside her.
Picking up the bottle of water, he glugged it down and went back to work.