Just Beginning (31 page)

“You told me.”

“Only so you’d help me find a way to convince Gabe.”

Steve stiffened. His sympathy evaporated in that wounding instant. Jenny told him so he’d help her, not because she’d been compelled to share something that personal. His gut burned with jealous angst. He wanted to tell her that if Gabe didn’t want to have a baby with her, she should leave him, and Steve would do his damnedest to get her pregnant—and love every second of it.

But she loved her husband. She loved Gabe, not him. Seemed they both had guilty secrets they’d never tell. Maybe she was doing the right thing with Michael after all. But damn, what she was asking of him wasn’t fair. How could he get over her when she wanted his help with things like this?

“I don’t know, Jen. I still think you should tell him.”

“I can’t.” She turned away. “You’re no help.”

He stood up to put some distance between them, then turned toward her. “Well, what do you expect? I’m not a marriage counselor.”

“I
thought
that as a man and Gabe’s friend, you might have an idea about how to approach this.”

“Well, you didn’t like my idea, so you’re on your own.”

“Aren’t you the snippy one?” Jenny stood.

“Look, I’m sorry I can’t help you.” He shoved a hand through his hair and looked at his watch. “Crap. And now I’m going to be late getting to Annie’s”

“So?” She shrugged. “She’s always late whenever we do anything.”

Obviously, Jenny thought nothing of burdening him with her marital problems and then dismissing his concern about being late for a commitment. Granted, he knew she didn’t like Annie, but still it rankled that she could so easily brush aside something that mattered to him.

Jealous and angry, Steve wanted to hurt her as she’d unwittingly hurt him. “I thought it’d be nice to shave and get cleaned up before I propose to her.”

Jenny crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head to the side. “Propose what?”

“What do men usually propose, Jen?”

“Sleeping together.”

“Funny.”

Her eyes opened wide as comprehension quickly followed by disbelief, set in. “You’re going to marry her?”

Her shock was satisfying—in a sick sort of way. “She has something to say about it, but that’s the general idea.”

“Well, I hope you’re getting a prenup.”

He put a hand on his hip. “Like you did?”

Her mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut and crossed her arms and raised her chin. “That’s different.”

Steve hardened his heart against the hurt in her eyes at being compared to Annie. It wasn’t really fair; he knew Jenny didn’t care about money, certainly not like Annie did. But he needed her to back off. “It is?”

“Completely. You both have assets to protect, and Gabe and I were in love. You don’t love Annie any more than she loves you.”

“Oh really?” Jenny was really rattled. In light of the story she’d told him, her counseling him was pretty ironic. “So now you’re an expert on love?”

“Anybody can see you’re not in love. She’s using you. She likes your money and status as an attorney. She uses you as a substitute father for her kids. And as for you...” Jenny frowned and put a glossy fingernail between her front teeth. “I’m not sure what you see in her besides her looks. Maybe she’s good in bed,” she muttered, almost to herself.

Steve’s arms dropped to his side as his amusement flashed back to anger. “What?”

“She doesn’t appreciate you. You can do so much better. Don’t settle.” Jenny moved closer and ran a hand down his arm in comfort, but her touch scorched his skin.

He yanked his arm away and took a step backward. He wasn’t a charity case deserving her pity.

“You’ll find the right woman. You have to be patient,” Jenny said.

Be patient
? Steve wanted to howl in frustration. He’d already found somebody, but he didn’t think Jenny’d appreciate finding out who he loved the most, who he lusted after, who had stolen his soul.

Jaw locked shut, he took Jenny by the arm and marched her out the door before he said something to ruin both their lives.

Convincing Gabe to have a baby was her greatest worry—if she only knew. If she discovered the feelings he hid from her and battled daily for months on end, she’d know the meaning of problems. Complications. Guilt. She couldn’t handle it. Hell, he couldn’t handle it. Marriage to Annie
was
the answer.

Annie was beautiful, responsive, a good mother, and she wanted him. Steve could work with that. He had to try harder. And he needed more space from Jenny.

On the porch, Steve released her arm. “Go home, Jenny. Talk to your husband.”

Jenny stubbornly stood her ground. “You don’t really want to marry her. It’d be a big mistake.”

Steve looked over her head, down the driveway to where Gabe pulled in. She wanted
his
baby. She wanted
him
.

Steve’s resolve hardened. “Then it’s my mistake.”

He shut the door before she could argue further. Resting his forehead against the hard wood door, Steve closed his eyes. Maybe marriage to Annie was what it’d take to loosen Jenny’s grip on his heart. Maybe then he could stop hating himself and learn to be happy again.

* * *

Jenny slowly walked across the driveway. Steve was pretty testy for a guy about to propose to the woman he’d wanted to share his life with. He’d bitten her head off just because she pointed out the folly of marrying Annie. She’d done what any good friend would do.

Jenny passed through the hedge and crossed to where Gabe waited by his car.

Gabe smiled, hugged her close, and kissed the crown of her head. “What’s up? You look like you’ve lost your best friend.”

I may have
. Jenny frowned. “Steve kicked me out of his house.”

“What’d you do?”

Jenny pulled out of his arms and glared at him. “Why do you assume
I
did something?”

Smarter than to answer that, Gabe patiently waited for her answer.

“Steve’s going to propose to Annie.” Bewildered, a sense of loss swamped Jenny, replacing her earlier disbelief and anger. Like she’d thrown up before being hustled onto a tilt-a-whirl.

“And this is a tragedy, because...” Taking her hand, Gabe walked her around the house to the privacy of their backyard.

She scowled at him.
Really? You have to ask?

“It’s
Annie
. He doesn’t love her, and she doesn’t love him. She’s just using him as a daddy for her children, she’s stupid and shallow, and she’s got a big ass. They’re not right for each other.” Jenny wound down.

“That’s your mother talking.”

Jenny’s head whipped up and her eyes narrowed in battle. “What?” she drew out in a low voice.

“Sorry, but you’re acting like your mother. Don’t you think you’re being a little presumptuous judging them unsuitable? Just because
you
don’t like Annie, doesn’t mean she’s not right for Steve.”

“I don’t hate her,” Jenny mumbled, as she dropped into a metal bouncy chair.

Gabe crossed his arms over his stomach and laughed loud and deep. “Oh, yes you do. Admit it; you’d be thrilled if you never had to lay eyes on her again. Annie’s a little superficial, and self-centered, but she’s not
that
bad.”

“She’s a... a... a—”

Gabe’s smiled faded. “Careful, you’re starting to sound jealous.”

She deflated and looked at Gabe. “You’re right; I do hate her. She just doesn’t fit.” Jenny thought about how to explain it. “You, me, and Steve...we have fun together. We get along great. We like the same games, same restaurants, same taste in movies, football, tennis... We’re like the three Musketeers. There was no fourth Musketeer.”

Everything would change—was already changing.

“We can make room, if she’s who he wants.”

“But she’s loud. And she’s
always
late. And she dresses him to look like an idiot. And—”

Gabe laughed. “I agree, Annie’s annoying. But apparently Steve sees something in her we don’t. Besides, we were bound to pick up a fourth Musketeer someday.”

But not her
.

“Fine.” Jenny deflated, then brightened. “He can marry somebody else—anybody else.”

Gabe chuckled. “That’s big of you, honey.”

“I think so,” Jenny allowed with an arrogant, regal tone.

Gabe sat down and put a sympathetic hand on her knee. “He doesn’t need your blessing.”

Jenny sighed. “I
know
. You’re right.” They sat quiet for a minute, then Jenny looked at Gabe. “This is what I get for minding my own business and not fixing him up with one of my co-workers.”

“You’re right, honey, it’s all about you.”

“Maybe he won’t
actually
do it. Maybe he said that to get a rise out of me.” She leaped forward. “You think? To get back at me for the posters?”

“Oh, no.” He shook his head. “I think he’ll do it.”

She pouted. “Big help you are.”

Gabe grinned. “Always here for you, babe.”

Friday morning, dressed in her nightshirt, pink cotton robe, and slippers, Jenny padded down the asphalt driveway. She yawned and squinted at the rising sun peeking through the trees. She wasn’t usually up this early, but she’d been so tired last night she’d fallen asleep on the couch at eight o’clock while reading, waiting for Gabe to get back from the hospital.

She and Gabe hadn’t seen much of each other lately, so it’d been hard to find the right time to broach her delicate topic. Picking up the
Detroit Free Press
, Jenny turned back toward the house.

Maybe she’d surprise Gabe with his favorite meal; it’d been awhile since they’d had a romantic dinner. After mellowed by a great fish dinner and a few glasses of Pinot, having a baby might sound like a good idea to him.

She’d take a nice bubble bath, put on a sexy little dress, spritz some Chanel Chance in a few strategic areas... She smiled. Perfect. It’d been too long since they’d had a romantic evening. Or maybe she’d get a few candles to scatter around the hot tub. Oh! And some sweet-smelling roses. A little champagne and chocolate in the hot tub under the stars... Jenny shivered. This was going to be an amazing night.

Steve walked his bike through the hedge, looking disgustingly alert and cheerful. “Gabe ready?”

“In a minute. He overslept.”

“He’s been putting in a lot of hours.”

Jenny ruffled her mussed hair and yawned. Boy, she needed a cup of coffee. “He’s pretty stressed. Hey, do you have any ideas for some cool new bike doodads that he might like? Our anniversary’s coming up and I wanted to get him a fun new toy to take his mind off work.”

“You could get him a cardiac monitor for training, or Capognola pedals—those are really nice.”

She eyed his bike carefully, taking in all his toys, then her gaze landed on his shiny blue helmet. “How about a new helmet? Yours looks much lighter than his, and with all those holes it has to be cooler.”

He cocked his head to the side, a doubtful look crossing his face. “Good luck. He loves that artifact of his.”

“Maybe if I find something not too bright and garish, he’ll give it up,” she mused.

Hair sticking up, Gabe pulled his shirt down as he rushed into the garage. “Be right there.”

“Water,” Steve called out.

Gabe pivoted and headed back inside.

“Hurry up. I got a date,” Steve yelled.

Jenny arched an eyebrow. “Doing something fun?”

“Annie and I are heading up north for the weekend.”

“The kids will like that.”

“Just us. Her mom’s watching Sophie and Josh.”

She tucked the newspaper under her arm. “Wedding planning?”

“Not yet. I’m working on a special proposal.”

“Uh huh.” Sure he was. A good friend would ask about his “special” proposal. Guess she wasn’t that good of a friend.

“I wish you’d make more of an effort to get to know her. Annie likes you.”

“Uh huh,” she muttered. He expected her to be gracious before coffee? Now that was simply asking too much.

He laughed. “Give her another chance. I’m sure you’ll come to like her.”

Fat chance
.

“What’re you doing today?” he asked.

“Working. Then I thought I’d cook my husband a nice romantic meal.”

“I’ll think about you slaving away while I’m relaxing in the great outdoors with my girl.” He looked beyond her to Gabe. “Ready?”

* * *

Hours later, Jenny sat at her computer researching quaint bed and breakfast places, when her mom texted her.

Mom:
If you’ve got coffee, I’ll share my doughnuts
.

Jenny:
Front door’s open.

Mom knew Jenny could always be bribed with doughnuts.
Wonder what she wants.

Mom:
Be there in fifteen
.

Jenny made a fresh pot of coffee and took two mugs out of the cabinet as the front door opened. Ritz charged the entryway, beside herself with joy that they had company. She whined, yipped, and wiggled under Mom’s attention.

Jenny wrinkled her face as she took the box of doughnuts Mom handed her. “It’s disgusting. You’d think that dog never got any attention.”

“Poor, ignored pup.” Mom gave Ritz a final pat, then followed Jenny into the kitchen where she washed her hands. Jenny arranged the doughnuts on a glass plate. Sugar, glazed, and Bavarian cream, all her favorites. And then there were the devil’s food chocolate ones, too.

Oh my God
. She closed her eyes to savor the sweet smell of doughnuts and coffee. Was there anything better? Almost orgasmic.

Jenny handed Mom a mug and pushed the creamer across the granite for her to help herself as she rounded the counter and took a stool. She blew on her coffee and then took a sip.

“Fresh doughnuts? Has to be a bribe.” She raised her eyebrows and looked sideways at her mom. “What’d you volunteer me for this time?”

The last time Mom brought her doughnuts, she’d volunteered Jenny to pet sit for a neighbor’s two cats and guinea pig for two weeks.