A Steele for Christmas (13 page)

E
li Steele wanted to marry her.

Stacey scowled as she stared at her reflection in the mirror while applying night cream to her face. He had to be desperate to even consider doing such a thing, which meant he wanted to be president of that council pretty bad.

She took a measured breath and decided although she’d told him she needed to think about it, there was nothing to think about. She wouldn’t do it. He needed to find some other woman to do the honors.

First of all, nobody would believe that he of all people was ready to settle down with a wife, so he needed to come up with another plan to win over those people on the business council before election time. Over the years, he had painted a pretty good picture of who he was and what he was and people knew a leopard didn’t change his spots overnight.

Besides, she thought, as she walked through the house to lock up for the night, she was the last woman he should want to marry. But then as she set her alarm, she remembered that he had no intentions of staying married. One year. Just long enough for him to clinch the presidency and then get comfortable in the position.

But he had brought up a good point. If they could convince Cohen their engagement was legit, then her brother would leave for Florida believing that he’d left her in good hands, even if they were the hands of a former playboy. And Eli had definitely sweetened the pot by agreeing to throw in ownership of her shop. Although she could tell that her suggestion had been a bitter pill for him to swallow, he’d done so anyway.

A short while later she was about to slide into bed when her phone rang. She smiled when she saw the caller was Dee. “Hey, girl.”

“What’s going on, Stace?”

“Nothing much. What’s going on with you?”

Dee gave her an update on little Tommy’s torment of Melissa as well as the other kids in her kindergarten class. Although Dee complained about her students getting on her last nerve at times, Stacey knew Dee enjoyed what she did for a living.

Just like she enjoyed doing what she did for a living. Being stuck in a nine-to-five job hadn’t been what she’d wanted, but it had paid the bills. But now she liked getting up every morning and going into her shop because, other than the lease payment every month, it was hers. And now Eli was giving her a chance to get rid of even the lease payments. She would own the shop free and clear if she was to marry him.

Was it worth it?

She tried to think of how it would be married to Eli. There was no doubt she would be the envy of a lot of women since he was considered a prime catch. And there was no doubt in her mind what their sleeping arrangements would be—basically the same as they were now—whenever, wherever and however they liked.

So why was she having misgivings about his offer when it was nothing more than a business proposal? Especially when it could be a win-win situation for her. She was sexually attracted to him. Evidently, they were sexually attracted to each other. They had both acknowledged they didn’t love each other, so there was no risk of her heart getting broken. So what was causing her to flatly refuse his offer? Maybe it was because she was starting to feel a deeper attraction toward him, but it was something she didn’t want to admit.

“Okay, Stace, what’s going on with you?”

Stacey blinked when she heard what Dee had asked. “What makes you think something is going on with me?”

“Because you zoned out on me several times like your thoughts were a million miles away and not on what I was saying. It’s not like you not to be focused.”

Stacey would have to agree that she hadn’t been listening to what Dee had been saying. As usual, her thoughts were on Eli.

“Stace?”

She began nibbling on her bottom lip thinking she needed a second opinion, and since Dee had a level head most of the time, she would confide in her best friend. Stacey cleared her throat. “I’ve been involved in an affair,” she came right out and said.

There was a pause and then Dee said, “Does that mean you’ve finally gotten over Wallace?”

Stacey inwardly sighed. Dee and Cohen would be surprised to learn getting over Wallace hadn’t been that hard, which made her wonder just how much she was really into Wallace anyway. “Yes, and to be quite honest with you, it was more my pride than my heart that was broken.”

“I know. A woman’s pride means everything and the last thing she’d want is for a man to trample it, especially a man you trusted. So who is the man who convinced you to live again? And is it serious?”

Stacey chuckled. “No, it’s not serious, just a case of intense lust. No emotional entanglements.”

“Is that how you want it, Stace? You used to believe in—”

“Something I found out was just a fairy tale. There’s no such thing as true love or forever-after, Dee. I realize that now.”

“I disagree since I’m still holding out on that possibility, but we won’t argue that point tonight. So who is he?”

Stacey drew in a deep breath. “Eli Steele.”

After leaving Stacey’s place, Eli felt like he needed a stiff drink and intended to drop by Morgantown and have one. But then he decided he wanted company while he tried clearing his head, so he found himself going across town to where Galen lived.

As usual, Brittany was glad to see him, although Galen pretended to be annoyed by his visit. While Galen poured him a glass of bourbon, his drink of choice, he listened while Brittany told him how her school of etiquette, the one she’d opened here in Phoenix, was doing. Already all her classes were full and she had hired three new teachers.

And while they talked, Eli couldn’t help noticing how his brother and sister-in-law interacted. It wasn’t the first time he’d noticed, but it was the first time his mind and thoughts had zeroed in on it. It was still hard to believe that his once die-hard bachelor brother had transformed into a husband who cherished the very ground his wife walked on. It was obvious in the way Galen looked at Brittany and it was clear as glass he didn’t give a damn who noticed. They made a perfect couple and Eli couldn’t recall ever seeing his brother happier. He then thought about the conversation he and Galen had shared in his office a few days ago and pushed the memory to the back of his mind.

“So are you going to sit there and drink all my bourbon or are you going to tell me what’s on your mind, Eli?”

Eli glanced around and noticed Brittany had left. He then recalled she’d told him good-night a half hour ago. “There’s nothing on my mind.”

Galen laughed. “Who are you kidding? You never just drop by. Whenever you come to visit, it’s with the others, rarely alone, so what’s going on, Eli?”

Galen’s frown served as a warning when he added, “And don’t give me some smart-ass response. I’m not in the mood.”

Eli had thought about doing that very thing and kicked the idea out of his mind real quick. Galen was the oldest and the other five respected him as such, which was why Eli was here. He and Galen might butt heads every once in a while, but if Eli needed to discuss anything and get a serious answer, it was Galen whom he sought out. For one thing, Galen knew how to keep his mouth shut about anything he would tell him.

He gave Galen a serious look. “I asked a woman to marry me.”

If he had expected his brother to drop the wineglass from his hand or roll over in shock, then he was sorely disappointed. In fact, none of Galen’s features registered surprise and for some reason that annoyed Eli. “I didn’t get the response from you that I expected, Galen,” he said, taking a sip of his drink.

“What kind of response did you expect when you’ve already told me about the woman? Although you didn’t give me her name, you told me enough for me to know you’d fallen in love with her.”

Eli nearly choked on his drink. When his throat had sufficiently gotten cleared and his coughing had ceased, he glanced over at eyes identical to his and glared. “What the hell are you talking about? I’m not in love!”

Galen leaned forward in his chair and pinned him with a direct stare. “I assumed you were since you asked the woman to marry you. And I also assumed she’s the same woman you’re so attracted to that you can’t think straight. The same one you dream about at night and then have naughty fantasies of in the mornings. The same woman that you think you couldn’t function until you’ve had a piece of. The same woman who can make you feel better than anything you thought possible in the bedroom. And the same woman you can’t wait to see again. To be with again.”

Eli opened his mouth to say something, and then he shut it tight. Damn Galen for having a great memory and recalling every single thing he’d told him. He sat there silent for a moment, literally pissed that Galen had used Eli’s own words against him. Just because Galen might have endured similar lustful thoughts for Brittany before falling in love with her meant nothing. He and his brother were two different men. Brittany and Stacey were two different women.

But both had caught the eye of a Steele man.

Eli’s hand trembled somewhat as he took another sip of his drink. That wasn’t strong enough so he then took a huge gulp and felt the bourbon burn his throat going down. But he needed it.

“You drink any more of that and it will be the guest room for you tonight, Eli,” Galen warned in a serious tone. “What you should do is stop trying to fight the inevitable. You’ve fallen in love. Admit it. And I still want to know if you don’t think you’ve fallen in love, then why would you ask the woman to marry you?”

Eli sat his glass on the table between them with a thump. “I have not fallen in love, Galen, so stop saying that. And the reason I asked her to marry me is strictly business. I need to clean up my image to win the council presidency, so we’re going to pretend that we are engaged.”

Galen’s brow lifted. “A pretended engagement?”

“Yes. And we’ll marry on Christmas Day and stay married for a year. Not a day longer.”

Galen shook his head. “I assume this was your idea.”

Eli smiled. “No, it really was Lex’s and when he first suggested it, I thought he’d lost his mind. But now I agree doing such a thing has merit.” There was no need to tell Galen that Harry Farmer’s visit had prompted him to think that way.

“And your woman has agreed?”

Eli’s lips spread into a thoughtful smile at the idea of Stacey being his woman. He hadn’t thought of her as such before now, but he liked the title. He thought it fit. “Not yet, but she’s thinking about it.”

Galen nodded. “Who is she? Who is the woman who has you acting besotted even if you claim you aren’t?”

Eli shifted in his chair. Galen wasn’t going to like what he was about to say, but he didn’t care. It was what it was, and Stacey was an adult. “The woman is Stacey. Stacey Carlson.”

“Eli Steele?” Dee sputtered as if she’d been drinking.

“Yes.”

“Hold up, Stace. Time out. Are you saying you’re involved with one of those Steeles? One of those guys who you know don’t have a serious bone in their bodies? Who don’t know the meaning of commitment? One of those ‘Bad News’ Steeles?”

“Yes. That’s what I’m saying.”

“But why, when you know he doesn’t mean you any good?”

“Because like I said, I’m no longer looking at life through rose-colored glasses. So far, Eli has given me just what I want.”

“Which is?”

“Fun without any expectations. No emotional entanglements. And now he wants to sweeten the pot.”

“In what way?” Dee asked in a voice that said she was almost afraid to.

“He wants to give me a Steele for Christmas.”

“A what?” Dee asked confused.

She then took the next ten minutes to go into details about Eli’s outlandish offer. It would not have taken that long if Dee hadn’t interrupted her every few minutes asking questions. And she still had more.

“So the two of you will only be married a year?” Dee asked as if weighing her answers.

“Yes.”

“And he’ll pay you one hundred thousand dollars, throw in ownership of your shop—free and clear—as well as let you keep any gifts you acquire during the lifetime of the marriage?”

“Yes.”

“And you didn’t say…I’m asking since I’m dying of curiosity. Is he any good in bed?”

Dee’s question triggered memories that ignited Stacey’s brain. Hot, potent, mind-blowing memories, especially of the one that morning in her office as well as the time here tonight. She was convinced he had heated passion flowing through every vein in his body. The man’s fingers and tongue should be outlawed and his male anatomy should be considered a highly dangerous weapon.

“Yes, he’s good,” she answered honestly. “In fact, if he was any better I’d probably be dead.”

Dee giggled. “Well, you certainly answered my question, so when do you want me to fly in for the wedding?”

Stacey blinked. “There will not be a wedding.”

“Why not? A Steele for Christmas sounds pretty darn good to me. And you have to admit he’s offering a pretty good package deal. Good-looking man. Great sex. Nice piece of change. You get to own your shop. And you get a wedding ring on your finger for a year. You know what my granny used to say. ‘A woman should change her name even if it’s for one day.’ A divorcée sounds a heck of a lot better than a spinster in my book.”

Stacey nibbled on her bottom lip. She hadn’t considered things that way.

“And you can bring him to my parents’ anniversary party and be telling the truth when you say that he’s your fiancé. I can just imagine the look on Gail’s face when she realizes that she got the frog and you got the prince.”

Stacey burst out laughing. Dee certainly had a way with words.

“Do you know what I would do if I were you?” Dee asked her.

Stacey was almost afraid to ask. “No, what would you do?”

“I would give Eli Steele the best year of his life and make doubly sure that while doing so I’m getting the best year of mine.”

“Your pacing is giving me a crook in my neck, Galen,” Eli said, staring across the room at his brother.

Eli rubbed that same neck while wondering why he was still there. He should have left to go home long ago. He had to go to work in the morning while Galen didn’t. His brother worked from home, right in his garage, creating those million-dollar video games. Usually this was his most relaxing time of the year, when all the games Galen had worked hard on all year hit the stores in time for the holidays.