A Steele for Christmas (5 page)

Eli took a sip of his drink, deciding not to waste his time acknowledging what Jonas had said. Instead, he fixed his gaze on Stacey when she walked off from Whiterspoon to head toward the snacks table. The owner of Ireland had given them a private room. And because most in attendance were some of the man’s most loyal customers from the hospital, he had even prepared a tray of finger sandwiches for them.

“Excuse me a minute, will you?” he said, already moving away and not waiting for his brother’s reply. He needed to talk to Stacey. He wasn’t sure what he would say to her when he did talk to her. But as he crossed the room toward her, he knew he would think of something.

The closer he got, the more he realized that, except for what he’d been able to glean from his brothers without them getting suspicious, he knew very little about Stacey Carlson. And for some reason, which he didn’t fully understand, he intended to remedy that.

He was headed in her direction.

She felt her hand holding the small plate of food begin to tremble and forced her composure to strengthen. After all, Eli Steele was just a man. But what a man he was.

Not able to resist a moment longer, she released a deep sigh and then turned her head to look at him. The features returning her stare were so intense they almost took her breath away.

She met Eli’s steady gaze when he approached her, grabbing his own plate to fill it as if he hadn’t deliberately sought her out. “I’m surprised to see you here, Stacey.”

She heard something in his voice. Was it an arrogant gloat? After the kiss they’d shared, had he expected her to go home and daydream about it? Hide out behind locked doors and pant until the next time she saw him?

“I’m surprised to see you here as well, Eli,” she decided to say. She’d bit into a tasty sandwich earlier but nothing, she thought, was tastier than her memory of his kiss.

“I get around,” was his quick comeback.

“So do I,” was hers.

He chuckled dryly. “Why do I feel that we’ve gotten off to a bad start?”

She wondered why he was trying to make it seem as if they hadn’t met months ago or hadn’t kissed earlier. The attraction had been there in the beginning. She would even admit feeling more than a tinge of something that night at Cohen’s birthday party when they’d been introduced. At least she could definitely claim that was when he’d begun invading her dreams.

She inclined her head. “And what makes you think we’ve gotten off to a bad start?”

He smiled, as if admiring the little bit of spunk she was trying to bolster. That was good, she thought. He didn’t have to know that although she might be trying to display a tough facade, she was all mushy inside and was somewhat annoyed by the vulnerability she felt around him. And it was the type of weakness and defenselessness she had no business feeling around any man. All it took was a memory of what Wallace had done to remind her that all men were a liability she could do without.

But Eli was different. Not only was he different, he was even more dangerous than any man she’d ever known. Never before had she been so attracted to a man, desired him so much. She was even entertaining thoughts of getting into his pants and ruffling his usually cool demeanor. Thinking about how fine he was could make her pant for days, but actually seeing him in the flesh would be enough to give a woman heart failure.

“Us getting off to a bad start was just my take on things,” he said quietly.

“Then let me assure you that your take is wrong.”

He looked at her and she wished he hadn’t done that. The last thing she needed was for those green eyes to be trained directly on her. “Possibly,” he said softly. “But you know very well why I think that way.”

Yes, she knew. But she needed to make him think, get him to assume what would go down as the best kiss of her life was nothing she intended to lose sleep over. “Then rest assured you shouldn’t think that way. It was only a kiss.”

He didn’t have to know it had been a kiss with the power to curl her toes and make her stomach quiver. The less Eli Steele knew of her innermost reactions to him, the better. He didn’t have to know that even now, despite his reputation, she wouldn’t mind going somewhere to jump his bones.

He moved closer, as if he wanted to try one of the sandwiches on the tray in front of her. Instead, he leaned into her and his thick-lashed green eyes made her heat up all over. In a low, gruff voice, he said, “I’d love to prove it was more than that, Stacey. And let me give you fair warning that one day, I will.”

I
t was Wednesday morning and Stacey had just finished waiting on the last of her early morning customers when her cell phone rang. She smiled when she recognized the name showing up on her caller ID. It was Deidre Lewis, the woman who’d been her closest girl-pal since high school.

She clicked on the line. “Hey, what’s going on, Dee?”

In return she got her friend’s warm, vibrant laugh, with the smile Stacey knew she could not see. “Not a thing, but if little Tommy Fielder pulls Melissa Simpkins’s hair one more time to cause her to cry, I’m going to give him a taste of his own medicine and pull his.”

Stacey couldn’t help but laugh. Dee was a kindergarten teacher who enjoyed sharing her students’ escapades with Stacey. “Hey, watch it. That might be true love budding. Twenty years from now Tommy just might be Melissa’s husband. Don’t you know that’s what little boys do when they want to get little girls’ attention?”

“Whatever. All I know is his hair pulling strategy is getting on my nerves.”

Stacey couldn’t help but grin, grateful for Dee’s call. Her best friend was one of the few people who could get her out of a funk and she hated to admit she was definitely in one. Especially since it was past ten and Eli hadn’t been to her shop. In fact, he hadn’t dropped by in three days. She’d seen him stroll past without glancing her way. With a newspaper in his hand.

The loss of sales didn’t bother her as much as the fact that after plying her lips off last Friday, he could so easily dismiss her.

“I called to make sure you’re still coming to my parents’ anniversary party,” Dee said, reclaiming her attention.

Stacey smiled thinking Dee’s parents were the greatest. Back in high school she had made their house her second home and whenever her aunt had to travel or work late, that was where Stacey would stay. “Of course I plan on being there,” she said, chuckling. It would be the couple’s fortieth year together and Dee and her two brothers were planning a celebration the first weekend in December. “Any reason I shouldn’t?”

Dee paused longer than needed and Stacey suddenly felt the hairs on her neck stand up and wasn’t surprised when Dee said, “It seems Wallace is coming. And he’s bringing Gail with him.”

Stacey leaned against the counter thinking about her ex-fiancé and her ex-friend. “Umm, in that case…”

“Don’t you dare change your mind about coming, Stace. If Wallace and Gail being there will make you feel uncomfortable then I’ll talk to my parents about not—”

“Don’t you dare talk to your parents.” Stacey knew the Lewises felt bad about how Wallace had treated her since they were the ones who’d introduced them. Wallace was the son of one of Mr. Lewis’s college friends who’d moved to Memphis. Since Dee had been dating some guy named Eric at the time, Mr. Lewis had introduced Wallace to Stacey. They hit it off immediately and the rest, like they say, was history.

“Regardless of how Wallace treated me in the end, he’s still the son of your father’s close friend,” she said.

“And you don’t care that he’ll be there with Gail?” Dee asked.

“Of course I’ll care since the both of them deceived me, but I’ve gotten over it.” At least she tried convincing herself that she had—during her better days. Unfortunately, today wasn’t one of them and she blamed Eli Steele. The nerve of the man to kiss her senseless one day and treat her like she didn’t exist the next.

“You know what you should do, Stace? What would serve both Wallace and Gail right?”

She knew that tone of Dee’s. It meant she had a plan up her sleeve that would do neither of them any good. “No, what should I do?”

“Show up with your own date, a hottie of the most intense kind. That would make Gail see that you’ve moved on to something a whole lot better.”

Stacey laughed. She couldn’t help but like Dee’s idea. She would do it in a heartbeat if she had a date she could take to Memphis with her. “That sounds like a plan but I don’t have a date, especially one who’s a hottie.” She quickly pushed the vision of Eli Steele from her mind.

“What about one of those hot-looking guys that were at Cohen’s birthday party? There were plenty of them and one group in particular I vividly recall were those guys with the green eyes. You said they were brothers and close friends of Cohen.”

Stacey smiled, remembering Dee’s interest in the “Bad News” Steeles that night. Her friend had flown in for Cohen’s party and had seen Eli and his brothers. Like her, Dee had spent most of the evening salivating over what gorgeous hunks they were. Never had she been to a gathering with so much fine male testosterone in one place.

“The five guys you’re talking about are the Steeles. The oldest one is married so he doesn’t count.” There was no need to mention to Dee that recently she’d had the pleasure of locking lips with one of them. “And before you make any of your far-out suggestions, the answer is no. I couldn’t ask one of them to go to Memphis with me and pretend to be my fiancé.”

“Why not? They are friends with Cohen and seem like the sort of guys who’d like having a little fun—especially if it’s to set both Wallace and Gail back a notch.”

The thought of doing something like that made Stacey smile. If only it would be that easy.

“What would it hurt, Stace?”

If only her friend knew. She saw an involvement of any kind with a man like Eli Steele a heartbreak just waiting to happen. “They’re successful businessmen who have more to do with their time than play a game of pretend with me.”

She changed the subject when she told Dee about Cohen’s promotion and that he would be moving to Florida. Dee didn’t say anything for a minute and Stacey knew why. Dee had been in love with Cohen forever—at least since high school. And although Dee nor Cohen ever let on, Stacey had a feeling something had happened between them at one time or another. She never asked and Dee never told.

“Hey, if you don’t want to move with Cohen to Florida, you might as well pack your bags and return to Memphis,” Dee said, interrupting her thoughts. “At least we’re closer to Florida than Arizona.”

Stacey knew that was true but there was something holding her here. Exactly what, she wasn’t sure. All she knew was that she wanted to make Phoenix her home. “Yes, but this is my home now. I truly like it here.”

“Okay, but I think you not wanting to move back here has everything to do with Wallace and Gail. I understand why you’d want to distance yourself from them, but it’s been almost seven months.”

“Trust me, I know how long it’s been and I’ve moved on with my life here in Phoenix. The thought of those two together doesn’t hurt like it used to.” And she truly meant that. In her opinion, their deceitful behinds deserved each other.

“I’m glad. And I hope you’ll consider my suggestion about bringing one of those gorgeous hunks with you to my parents’ anniversary party. It would serve Wallace and Gail right to see you’re happy and have moved on with your life.”

Dee had a point there, but unfortunately Stacey knew she didn’t have the means—specifically the man—to pull such a thing off. The image of Eli Steele flashed into her mind once again and she could only wish.

Eli glared at the man standing across from his desk. Lexander Stone was another well-known businessman in town and someone Eli considered one of his closest friends. They had gone to high school and college together and whereas Eli had gone on to law school, Lex had gone to grad school to get his MBA. Lex and his family owned numerous furniture stores in over twelve states across the country.

“What do you mean that some of the older members of the business council are talking about backing Samuel Nesbitt?” Eli asked.

Lex held out his hand. “Calm down, Eli. I’m just the messenger who by right really shouldn’t be telling you any of this. I overheard my old man talking on the phone and thought considering our friendship, I’d give you a heads-up.”

Lex then dropped down in the chair across from Eli’s desk. “From what I gather, they all know you’re the most qualified—hands down. You’re an astute businessman, a brilliant attorney, and savvy when it comes to knowing the right people and making things happen. But…”

Eli’s eyes narrowed even more. “What’s the damn but?”

“You have a reputation around town. They see you as a notorious playboy, who likes to dazzle and bed the ladies. They don’t know if you’re suitable to be president of such a prestigious organization yet. They are looking at someone who’s settled down. More focused.” Lex chuckled. “Someone who wouldn’t be a threat to their daughters.”

“This isn’t funny, Lex,” Eli growled.

“In a way, it is. With all you have going for you and with all the things you can bring to the table if you were to become president, what they’re concerned with most is your inability to keep your pants zipped. It’s not only amusing, it’s downright crazy. And you don’t have to be reminded that a few months ago everyone heard about that affair with your secretary that went sour.”

Lex shook his head. “Unfortunately, your reputation is under scrutiny by a few of the older men with clout and the ability to influence the others. That’s why they have begun making calls trying to get people over to their way of thinking. You know you have me and my dad’s votes, and I’m sure you’ll get the votes of your own brothers. But I can’t speak for anyone else at this point. You have a couple of months to change their opinions of you and I suggest that you do it.”

“And how am I supposed to do that?” Eli snarled.

“By doing whatever you can to clean up your playboy image, even if it means getting a wife.”

Eli almost fell out of his chair. “A wife! Are you crazy?”

“No. Honestly, that’s the only way I think you’re going to win them over. A fiancée wouldn’t even work for you since they know you have a habit of dumping women when you get bored with them. A wife is the only way you’ll win the presidency. You can kiss the office goodbye without a Mrs. Elijah Steele.”

Blood rushed to Eli’s head. For the past seven years, he’d done all the right things to make himself stand out. Now a bunch of old men still wanted to run things by dictating how he should live his life in order to get the position he rightly deserved?

“You know the younger members were depending on you to take control, Eli. It’s about time. Harry Farmer has been president too long and he would love making sure Nesbitt gets the presidency since they have the same conservative views about change. Nesbitt is already married and settled, which is the only advantage he has over you.”

And that was an advantage that could cost him the one thing he wanted, Eli thought, building a steeple with his fingers under his chin.

“The presidency can lead to other things for you, Eli. Think about it. President of the Business Council now, mayor of Phoenix later. You know a lot of women. Surely there is one out there who will agree to marry you to move your political aspirations forward. Hell, you’re a Steele. Women will clamber all over themselves to marry you.”

“No,” Eli said in a firm voice thinking of the kind of women something like that would draw.

“No to what? No, there’s not a woman you’d want to be shackled with, or no, you’re not willing to sacrifice your livelihood for something you really want?”

Eli rubbed his chin as the vision of Stacey Carlson flickered across his mind. He could definitely see himself shackled with her. But then on the other hand, the entire thought of marriage made him want to choke.

“Just think about it. I like coming home to the same woman every day, Eli. Marriage has its benefits. Hell, you can even make it a marriage of convenience with the right woman. Have her sign a contract for a year or so, just long enough for you to reach all your goals.”

Lex stood as he glanced down at his watch. “I need to leave, but I hope you consider all the possibilities, Eli. You owe it to yourself and the future growth of Phoenix to do so.”

A short while after Lex left, Eli pushed the document he’d been trying to read aside. His mind was refusing to concentrate. Instead, it wanted to focus on what Lex had said and that idea he’d implanted into Eli’s brain.

A wife for hire.

Was there a woman who’d go along with such a thing without getting attached to his name? One who’d willingly give him a divorce when he asked for it without things getting ugly? He was an attorney so he could draw up his own documents, and the legal aspect of it would be so iron-clad a woman would be crazy to do anything but abide by the terms. But to be on the safe side he would seek counsel from a divorce attorney.

But first he had to consider what he had of value to give the woman. Of course, there was the issue of money, which could always be depended on to be a motivating factor.

He frowned when again the image of Stacey Carlson floated through his mind. Quite naturally since she happened to be the last woman he kissed, thoughts of her would be fresh—pretty damn potent—in his mind.

He pushed his chair away from his desk to stand and stretch his legs as he thought some more. First of all, there was the possibility everyone would know his marriage wasn’t on the up and up. He’d be able to fool some people, but no one in his family would believe he’d go from staunch bachelor to a happily married man. It had worked that way for Galen but it wouldn’t for him.

But if he and the woman were convincing enough, it could work. He rubbed a hand down his face, not believing he was actually considering such a thing. He glanced at his watch. He had to be in court in an hour and the last thing he needed was taking personal matters into the courtroom, especially since Judge Tilly Madison was on the bench. He was convinced on some days the forty-something woman was a man-hater.

Grabbing his jacket off the rack and his briefcase off his desk, he left his office, pausing at his secretary’s workstation just long enough to let her know he’d be in court and afterwards he would be grabbing lunch at Easterling’s.

He had a lot of thinking to do and he might as well do it on a full stomach.

Stacey glanced down at the menu to study that day’s lunch specials. She’d decided to use her lunch hour and get out today instead of rushing through lunch in the backroom of her shop. Besides, it was a beautiful day, the first week of November, and she figured she deserved to be outside enjoying it for at least a little while.