Vanessa's Match (6 page)

Lindy beamed at the boy. “Thank you, Danny. I love you, too.”

“Goodness, we’ve got lots of sugar in here. Maybe you shouldn’t have any dessert after lunch.”

Danny protested at once, and Vanessa told him she guessed he could have one cookie.

They heard the phone ring in the other room and Vanessa started to go answer it, but Peter appeared before she reached the door.

“Vanessa, the phone call is for you.”

“Thank you, Peter.” She went to the library to take it.

“Hello?”

“Vanessa, did you talk to Sharon today?”

Just as she’d expected. Rick Austin. And he was as mad as a bull.

She adopted a civilized tone and said, “Hello, Rick. Yes, I did.”

“Why were you so mean to her?”

Vanessa sat down. “How was I mean to her?”

“You’re keeping Lindy from her, and she’s just trying to be kind.”

“I don’t consider her to be an appropriate companion for Lindy.”

“Why?”

“She wants to be friends with Lindy so she can marry you. When or if you marry her, she won’t want to spend any more time with Lindy, because she will have achieved her goal.”

“You don’t know that.”

“Do you want to risk Lindy’s happiness on that answer?”

“You’re just being overprotective.”

“Considering that no one cared for your sister for nine years, being a little overprotective doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.”

“So what if I marry Sharon?”

Vanessa had to clamp down on the horrors that question brought to mind, echoes of his father’s second marriage. “Then you’ll be presenting Lindy with the same kind of woman her mother was. And I think she should be protected from that.”

“Sharon isn’t that bad.”

“I heard her say she was marrying you for your money.” The man was supposed to be a brilliant businessman and he couldn’t see what kind of woman Sharon was? What was wrong with him?

“She says that, but I don’t think she means it.”

“Well, when you marry her, I’ll make sure I keep Lindy from having anything to do with her. Count on it!” She hung up the phone. She grabbed her purse and keys and stuck her head in the kitchen, telling Betty, “I’m going out.”

She heard the phone ringing, but she ignored it. After all, she knew who was calling.

When she reached the office of Will’s investigative firm, she hurried up the stairs. Normally, she wouldn’t interfere in any problem her parents were having, but her mother seemed really nervous about Will’s reaction.

Vanessa didn’t think he would be too upset as long as he knew her mother was healthy. So she was going to break the news to him, in the hope that he could reassure her mother at once.

“Hi, Vanessa,” Carrie called out, maneuvering her large pregnant belly around a file cabinet.

“How are you doing?”

“Fine. I just don’t move as quickly as I used to.” Carrie patted her belly and smiled.

“But the baby’s due in a couple of weeks, right?”

“Yes, thank goodness. Are you here to see Will?”

“If he’s available.”

“Sure. Will? Vanessa is here to see you,” Carrie called.

Vanessa walked into Will’s office and closed the door behind her.

“Well, hello, Vanessa. Are we sharing secrets?” he asked, nodding toward the closed door.

“Yes, we are.”

Anxiety instantly crawled into his voice. “What is it? Is something wrong?”

“Stay calm, Will. I took Mom to the doctor’s office this morning. Everything’s fine, but Mom is about to have a nervous breakdown about what the doctor told her.”

“Why would she do that if everything is fine?” Will asked.

“Because you told her no more babies.”

Will stared at her. “You—you mean she’s pregnant?”

Vanessa sighed. For the second time that day she was having to deal with a man who didn’t seem to understand his woman. “Yes, of course that’s what I mean.”

Will just stared at her.

“Perhaps you don’t remember telling her no more babies, but she does. She’s in an emotional state that I don’t think is good for her right now. You need to come home and reassure her…if you can.”

“I was just worried about her health,” Will assured her. “Having another baby at her age.”

“So you’ll be happy and supportive when you come home?”

“Of course. But she was on birth control pills. How—?”

“Will, she’ll probably explain, but if she doesn’t, don’t ask. At least not today.”

Will stood. “Then I’d better get home to Vivian.” He looked at Vanessa again. “Are you okay? Has something else upset you?”

She let out a big sigh. “Men can be so dumb sometimes.”

“Are you referring to me?” He sounded sheepish.

“No, not really.” Because now wasn’t the time for the conversation, she shrugged it off. “Go on home to Mom. I’ll stay and talk to Carrie for a little while.”

“Good. I don’t really want to leave her alone, and Jim and Alex aren’t due back for a while.” He gave Vanessa a hug and hurried out of the office.

Vanessa returned to the outer office.

Carrie immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

“It’s just men. They can be so—so difficult!”

“Are you talking about Will? I thought he was pretty far developed,” Carrie said with a grin. When Vanessa didn’t laugh, Carrie studied her friend. “Is anything else bothering you?”

“Why does everyone ask me that?” Vanessa said. She was beginning to think she had Rick Austin’s name pasted on her forehead!

“You just seem a little off key, I guess.”

“I had a difficult time with Rick Austin. He is so stupid!”

“Really? Will was quite impressed with him.”

“Do you remember Sharon Cresswell from college?”

“The slinky redhead who was constantly on the hunt?”

“That’s her. That’s who Rick is dating. And she’s trying to get to him through Lindy.”

“Oh no! And you’re right. If Sharon has fooled him, he must be really dumb. She’s got dollar signs in her eyes.”

“Exactly. And I won’t have her using Lindy to get to Rick. As soon as she marries him, she’ll ignore Lindy, just like her mother did.”

“Poor Lindy. A double blow might just be too much.”

“Yes. So I told him Lindy would have nothing to do with Sharon.”

“Good for you. What did he say about that?”

“I don’t know. I hung up and left the house.”

“He’ll be furious when he catches up with you.”

Vanessa sighed again. “I know. That’s why I’m not anxious to go home. Have you had lunch?”

R
ICK KNOCKED ON THE FRONT DOOR
, determined to have it out with Vanessa. She had no business interfering with his private life, and he intended to tell her that in person.

Peter answered the door. “Hello, Mr. Austin. Please come in.”

“Thank you, Peter. I need to speak with Vanessa.”

“She isn’t here right now. Mr. Will is home. Would you like to talk to him? He’s in the library.”

He entered and followed Peter. “When do you expect Vanessa?”

“I don’t know, sir. She just said she was going out.”

“I see.”

When they reached the library, Peter asked, “Would you like some coffee? I’ll bring in a tray at once.”

“That would be nice, thanks.” Peter returned to the kitchen while Rick stopped at the threshold. “Will? Am I disturbing you?”

Will looked up from where he sat on the sofa. “No, not at all. Come on in. What are you doing here in the middle of the day?”

“I had hoped to find Vanessa here.” He walked in and stood by the fireplace.

“I think she’s at the office with Carrie. I don’t like to leave Carrie alone right now.”

Since Rick looked confused, Will added, “She’s pregnant and due in about two weeks, but babies are unpredictable.”

“Oh. She’s your secretary?”

“She was, but now she’s an investigator, like her husband, Jim, and Alex, David’s wife. I don’t think you’ve met either of them, but Jim and David are Vanessa’s brothers.”

“I see.” He was seeing that the family was very close. “Do you think Vanessa will be back soon?”

“Probably not for an hour or two. Be glad. She tore into me a little while ago, so it’ll be better if she has time to cool off.”

“I think that must’ve been after she chewed on me. She actually had the nerve to hang up on me.”

“What did you do?”

“A friend called and wanted to take Lindy shop
ping, trying to be nice. Vanessa dismissed her rudely. I want to know why.”

“Is this friend someone you can trust?”

Rick’s head snapped up. “What do you mean?”

“I mean that sometimes a woman will lie, especially about another woman’s treatment of her. Can you trust her judgment?”

Rick stared at Will as he sifted through his history with Sharon. He had to be honest. “Maybe not.”

“You might’ve taken a different approach if you’d thought about that fact.”

“You’re right. But I took her at her word. It didn’t occur to me that she would lie about something so—so inconsequential.”

“Why did she want to take Lindy shopping?”

“To be nice to her. At least, that’s what she said.”

“And what did Vanessa say?”

“She said Sharon is just like my father’s second wife.”

Will raised his eyebrows. “And you’re dating her?”

Rick shrugged. “I’ve taken her out occasionally. Usually when I need a companion for the evening.”

“So now she thinks you’re going to marry her?”

“No, of course not!” He tempered his outburst with, “At least, I don’t think so.”

“Then why is she trying to get close to Lindy? Because she loves children?”

“No. She has no patience with children,” Rick said slowly, Will’s point hitting home. He sent him an
apologetic look. “I guess I should’ve been more suspicious of her before now. I just took her at her word.”

Will chuckled. “Even good women don’t come straight out with what they’re doing or how they feel. It’s too risky. But a mean woman is sure to spin circles around you until you can’t think at all, like a spider spinning her web. That’s when she’s got you.”

Rick had visions of a deadly black widow. “That’s not a pleasant thought.”

Will nodded. “It pays to be on your guard.”

Rick stood there, thinking about facing Vanessa now. His contemplations were interrupted by Peter, who entered holding a tray with coffee and brownies.

“Thank you, Peter,” Will said. He turned to Rick. “Come sit down, Rick. We’ll discuss the world’s problems while we have some sugar. Betty’s brownies are wonderful.”

Rick moved to sit beside Will. “I think instead of discussing the world’s problems, I’d like you to tell me about Vanessa.”

Will poured the coffee, then sat back with his. “I don’t know what to tell you. Except that I trust her. Her judgment is good. She’s usually honest, and she has good intentions. She understands people. She always completes whatever she has assigned to her. Like Lindy. She’ll fight to the death for what she believes is right.”

Rick sighed. “She sounds like a saint.” A very beautiful saint.

“Nope,” Will said with a grin. “She’s not a saint. She can make mistakes, but she tries to correct them if she does. She’s very loving, warm-hearted.”

“So if I tell her I’ve given up Sharon, will she take her place?”

Will stared at Rick. “What are you talking about?”

“Oh, I should explain. Occasionally, I need a companion for the evening, to even out the numbers, keep the conversation going, that sort of thing. And to look stylish and pretty. I used Sharon for that, and she was happy to be used. But if I’m not going to take Sharon, I need to find someone else to take her place. Do you think Vanessa will go with me?”

“I sure wouldn’t ask her that way,” Will said. “No woman wants to be used.”

“I see what you mean, but—” Rick was confused. He was the CEO of a major international corporation; he’d never had difficulty communicating. Why was he having trouble now?

Vanessa did this to him. She made him think differently—about Lindy, about his father, about himself. And he wasn’t accustomed to someone challenging him, second-guessing his decisions like she did.

Will must have read his confusion, because he explained, “Why not say it like this—‘Vanessa, you’re right. I have to get away from Sharon. She’s not good for Lindy, like you are. But I used Sharon to have a date for social occasions that I couldn’t get out of. Is it possible you’d help me out on an emergency basis
until I find someone else?’ You see where I’m going with this?”

He did. He also thought Will Greenfield was pretty savvy. “I think I should’ve written that down, but I got the gist of it. Thanks for talking to me, Will. I know you’re not as old as my dad would be if he were alive, but I miss having someone older to talk to.”

“Glad I could be of some help. Someday, maybe Danny will be looking for some help because I’m not around. Maybe he can come to you.” Will clapped him on the shoulder.

“I’m not sure I’ll be as wise as you, but I’d be willing to listen to him. After all, he’ll be raised as an only child like I was for sixteen years.”

“You forget, he has Vanessa.” Will stared down into his coffee. “And in seven and a half months he’ll have another sibling.”

Rick stared at Will. “Are you saying—No, you can’t mean—Are you expecting another child?”

Will looked up. “Yeah. That’s why Vanessa was mad at me. She’s very protective of her mother.”

Rick listened as Will related the morning’s confrontation. Will was grinning by the time he finished.

“You didn’t mind her telling you about the baby?”

“No, not at all. Vivian was really upset and that’s not good for the baby. Besides, I’m thrilled now that the doctor says all is well.”

“Then, congratulations.” He shook Will’s hand.

“Thanks, Rick.”

They both heard the back door open and close. Will looked at Rick. “Are you ready?”

Rick nodded, but his pulse was racing at the thought of facing Vanessa.

Will stepped into the hall. “Vanessa? Is everything all right at the office?”

“Yes, Will,” she called. “Did you talk to Mom?”

“Yes. She’s sleeping peacefully now. Danny’s down for his nap, too, and Lindy is reading in her room.”

Vanessa sighed. “Oh, good. I’ll—”

“You have a visitor here in the library,” Will said. “Since you’re here, I’ll go check on your mother.”

He moved out of the library and Rick waited for Vanessa to make an appearance. When she came to the door, Vanessa didn’t look happy to see him. He stood and invited her to join him for the last of the brownies.

“I’m surprised there are any left. Weren’t you and Will hungry?”

“Just me. I haven’t had lunch. I came to see you first.”

Vanessa, instead of sitting down, said, “Just a minute,” and left.

Rick stared after her, not sure she would return. But she reentered the library a minute later. “Betty is fixing you a sandwich.”

Rick frowned. “I don’t need her to do that. I’ve gone without lunch before.”

“I’m sure you have, but Betty doesn’t believe in skipping meals.”

“But it’s not her job to feed me.”

“No, but you don’t seem to be doing a good job of it.” As if dismissing the discussion she waved her hand, then sat opposite him. “Will said you wanted to see me?”

“Uh, yeah. I’ve been thinking, and I think you’re right.”

Vanessa, who had opened her mouth to speak, abruptly shut it. “What did you say?”

“Something I didn’t expect to say. But Will helped me figure out what was wrong with the picture I was seeing.”

“He did?”

“Yeah, he asked me if I could trust Sharon. I realized immediately I couldn’t. So you’re right. I don’t want her to be around Lindy.
I
don’t want to be around her.”

“So we don’t have a problem?”

“Well, yes, we do, but—”

Betty came through the door with a sandwich and chips for Rick. “You should’ve spoken up when you got here, young man. I love to feed a hungry man.” She beamed.

“Thank you, Betty, but I didn’t want to cause any trouble.”

“No trouble at all. And you eat every bit of it. You’re a big man. You need to eat regularly.”

After Betty left, Rick said, “I feel like the bull in the china shop.”

“She didn’t mean it that way. But she thinks a man can’t miss a meal or he’ll faint dead away.”

“Well, she may have a point after all. I’m feeling a little faint right now.”

Vanessa gave him time to eat some of his lunch. But finally, she could wait no longer. “What is the problem we’re facing?”

“Well, if I give up Sharon, which I’m prepared to do, because, as you pointed out, she’s bad for Lindy and even worse for me, then I have no one to fill in on social occasions when I need a companion.”

“Surely you know other women,” Vanessa said.

“Not really. For the past six months I’ve spent twelve hours a day, six days a week, on a major acquisition that just went through, so I’ve sort of neglected my social life. I’m sure I’ll find someone soon, but until then, what do I do?”

“I don’t see how this is my problem,” Vanessa protested.

“I guess it’s not, but…I need help.”

“I don’t have any ideas.”

“Look, I know it would be asking a lot, but just until I meet someone, couldn’t you help me out?”

“What are you talking about?”

“Going out to dinner with me tomorrow night. I have a business meeting with a couple. I need a fourth.”

“I can’t—”

“So you’d rather I continued using Sharon?”

“No, but—”

“Do you have a girlfriend who’d take me on?”

“No, but—I’m sure you could find someone who will—What does she have to do, anyway?”

“Carry on a conversation with the wife so I can talk to her husband.”

Vanessa looked at him in surprise. “And Sharon did that for you? I wouldn’t have thought she’d be willing.”

“You’re right. I had to make it up to her every time. It wasn’t easy. But you’d be great at it. Please, won’t you help me out tomorrow night?” he repeated.