When Lightning Strikes (15 page)

“You can keep a scorecard on me but I can’t keep one on
you?”

Joe sneered at him. “I don’t know what you’re talking
about.”

“Sure you do. Few women walk away from a perfect husband.”

When Joe’s face flushed, Simon thought he’d start swinging. He
had more than three inches and fifty pounds on Simon. With an injured right
hand, Simon wouldn’t even be able to land a decent punch. But he wasn’t about to
back down. Trying to change his life was hard enough without taking the crap
this guy was dishing out.

Fortunately, Joe didn’t start a fight. Chest rising and falling
fast, he sent an accusing glare at his sister, as if she must’ve revealed his
situation, and stormed out. A second later, his truck’s engine roared to life
and tires squealed as he peeled down the drive.

“Wow,” Gail breathed, and crumpled into a chair at the kitchen
table.

Prepared to defend himself further, Simon whirled to confront
her. He thought she might be upset that he wasn’t willing to tolerate her
brother’s abuse, but her next words surprised him.

“Good job.”

“Good job?” he repeated. “I just pissed off your brother.”

“He was pissed off to begin with. He’s probably been waiting to
do that to you ever since I told him we were getting married.”

Simon gave himself a couple of seconds to process the fact that
she wasn’t going to turn on him. “But now he hates my guts.”

“That’s okay. At least he understands that he can’t push you
around. Respect is more important than anything else. Respect will create a
foundation. But, just so you don’t walk into something you aren’t prepared for
in the future, you need to be aware that he has his limits.”

“So do I,” he grumbled.

She regarded him quizzically “How did you know?”

He had no idea what she was talking about. “What?”

“That he’s been married before. That Suzie left him.”

“There’s a picture of him with a woman and two little girls
hanging in the hallway.”

“Oh…right.” She nodded. “Of course. But
he
could’ve left
her.
”

“I figured he wouldn’t be living here if that was the
case.”

“I see.” She studied him. “It’s going to be tough settling
in.”

“I can handle it,” he said. “Don’t worry about me.” But he was
suddenly craving alcohol so badly it was all he could do not to head for the
closest bar or liquor store. “Let’s get out of here, go to dinner.”

She hesitated. “You’re sure you’re okay?”

“Fine.”

“There’s a good Italian place around the corner.”

“Great. Maybe there’s a casino nearby, too.”

“As a matter of fact, there is. Some of the locals work there,
but I’m not sure that’s the best place for you to go.” She picked up her purse.
“Still on the hunt for an acceptable vice?”

He pulled her car keys from his pocket. “I need some kind of
distraction. And I’m guessing you don’t want to provide it.”

* * *

“What happened to his hand?”

Gail sat at the kitchen table, only now it was her father who
stood at the sink. She’d had Simon drop her off after dinner. Although she
wasn’t happy about the risks involved, he’d insisted on heading to the casino.
He said he needed a break, some time alone. She’d finally agreed because she
knew she’d ensure the failure she was trying to avoid if she smothered him or
pressed him too hard. Besides, she’d wanted some private time with her family,
felt that might take the edge off their reaction to her marriage, but Joe hadn’t
yet returned. “He had an accident with a power saw.”

The smell of the coffee her father had just put on filled the
room as he eyed her skeptically. “Are you sure he didn’t get in another fight?
Go after his ex-wife’s brother again?”

She scowled. “I’m sure,” she said, and left it at that. The
details wouldn’t help convince Martin she’d made a good match.

With a click of his tongue, he shook his head. “What were you
thinking, marrying someone like him, Gail?”

“Someone like him?” she echoed.

“Someone so shallow…and reckless…and stupid…”

Since he seemed to be searching for more adjectives, she
stopped him before he could continue. “Simon is anything but stupid.” The other
things made Gail defensive, too. Coming into their “deal,” she’d felt the same
irritation and repugnance for Simon’s behavior as her father did. She’d
sympathized completely with Bella. But Simon’s lack of action when he cut his
hand had made her realize that his behavior wasn’t the result of elitism or
arrogance, as most people believed. He’d been so emotionally distraught he
couldn’t cope.

She wanted her father and everyone else to put his past in the
proper context, but Simon wouldn’t allow anyone to get close enough to gain any
sort of understanding. If not for his meltdown, and how she’d been drawn into
it, she wouldn’t have come close enough to understand him, either. “He’s been
through a lot.”

“So you’ve said. But if you’re talking about his divorce, I
don’t buy it. I went through a divorce, too. And I had kids to raise and not
nearly as much money.”

Her mother had walked out on her father for an old high school
sweetheart. They were now married and living in Phoenix. Gail knew how painful
losing Linda had been for Martin. She also knew it had changed the way he
behaved every bit as much as Simon’s divorce had changed him. He obviously felt
his situation had been harder. But Gail wasn’t convinced. At least there’d been
no fame to complicate matters, no media coverage to broadcast every sordid
detail, which would’ve made everything that much worse, especially for such a
proud man. Even so, Martin had become strict and controlling, especially where
she and Joe were concerned. There were times Gail suspected her mother would’ve
remained a part of her life if not for her father, who could be autocratic and
difficult to deal with.

Gail wanted to tell him those things, but she knew he wouldn’t
take kindly to the criticism. Besides,
he
could
allude to her mother, but Linda was still a taboo subject for everyone else,
even after all the years that had passed.

“He’s worth trying to save,” she said simply.

“That’s what you’re doing?
Saving
him?” He shook a finger at her. “You can’t save people from themselves, Gail.
You’re foolish to think you can.”

“So…I should quit without even trying?” she challenged.

He didn’t seem to have an answer for that.

“We’re already married, Dad. All I’m asking is that you treat
him with some respect while we’re here, give him a chance.”

The door opened, and they both glanced up. Gail feared it was
Simon. She wasn’t quite ready for him. But it was Joe who walked in.

Her brother gazed around the kitchen, then speared her with an
angry glare. “Where’s pretty boy?”

Prepared to take on the two of them, if necessary, she squared
her shoulders. “You started that fight, Joe.”

Her father pulled out a chair and sat down across from her.
“What fight?”

“After you left, he tried to belittle Simon,” Gail
explained.

“That couldn’t have been hard,” her father said wryly.

She folded her arms. “Maybe not, but he lived to regret it.
Simon feels attacked on all sides. He’ll snap at anything, even if he’s the one
who’d take the worst of any fight it might cause.”

“Why’d you bring him here?” Joe demanded. “You know how we
feel.”

Scooting her chair away from the table, she stood. Her father
and brother were so big, so…overpowering, they could be intimidating even when
they weren’t teaming up against her. “What are you saying, big brother? That I
should’ve come without him? Or that
I
should’ve
stayed away, too? Because Simon and I can head over to the B and B if you don’t
want us here—”

Her father raised his hand in a calming gesture. “Hold on.
There’s no need for that. Simon’s here now. We’ll make the best of it.”

Joe wasn’t willing to let it go quite so easily. “You don’t
expect this marriage to last, do you? Because I can tell you right now it
won’t.”

For a second, Gail wished she’d be able to prove him wrong. But
that was crazy. Under normal circumstances, Simon wouldn’t have given her the
time of day. No doubt, once he had Ty back, he’d return to Hollywood and all the
women who’d throw themselves at him—and forget about her. He was with her for
Ty’s sake, and only for Ty’s sake. He’d made that clear from the beginning.

“Maybe it won’t,” she admitted. “But that’s okay.”

“No, it’s not,” her father argued. “You don’t want to go
through a divorce, Gail.”

“It’s too late to worry about that! I took the risk when I
married him. All I ask is that you don’t make my life or my marriage any more
difficult by rejecting my husband.”

Her words met with silence. She’d made an impact, showed them
no good could come out of how they were acting. She could tell by the sheepish
expression on her brother’s face and the stoic one on her father’s that they
suddenly understood it was too late to talk her out of being with Simon.

“He needs friendship,” she went on. “I’m asking you to offer
him that and see what you get in return. If you hate him, just be sure you hate
him because he’s earned it. Don’t hate him on principle.”

Joe sagged into the seat next to her father and propped his
elbows on the table. “You want us to forget what we’ve heard about him and give
him a clean slate.”

Intent on her appeal, she sat down again, too. “Why not? You
don’t even know him! All you know is what you’ve read and heard in the
media.”

“And from you,” he pointed out.

Her conscience pricked her. “I was wrong to say what I did. I
was reacting to…false perceptions. Just like you’re doing now. Anyway, can you
imagine going to your wife’s home and being treated the way he was treated
tonight?”

Joe toyed with the sugar bowl sitting on the table. “I know
what that’s like. My in-laws hated me because I wasn’t interested in their
religion.”

“Exactly.”

“You always did know how to make me feel like shit,” he
muttered.

She managed a halfhearted grin. “We’re siblings. That’s my
job.”

Her father got up to pour himself some coffee. “So tell me
this, Gail. If the two of you are so in love, why are you here in Whiskey Creek
and not on some extravagant honeymoon celebrating your marriage?”

She could no longer meet his eyes. “This is about something
more important than that.”

“Like what?”

The memory of finding Simon on the floor of his wood shop came
into sharp focus. After that, a honeymoon hadn’t even crossed her mind. She’d
just wanted to help him recover. “This home has always been my safe harbor.”

Her father’s eyes widened. “But it can’t be the only place
someone who’s
that
famous has to go.”

“Anywhere else wouldn’t have the support he needs. This is the
best place
I
know. The one I trust. I want him to
have the peace of mind you’ve both given me.
That’s
why I brought him here.”

After setting his cup on the table, her father came over to
crouch in front of her. “He’s not a stray dog, Gail,” he said, taking her hands.
“He’s a wealthy movie star who’ll probably break your heart—”

“If he does…he does. He’s human, Dad. And he’s going through
hell. Sure, he’s asked for a lot of it but everyone screws up now and then. He
needs a way to break his fall. I’m trying to give him that.”

Another silence descended as he considered her words.

“Fine.” Her brother relented first. “I’ll be on my best
behavior from here on out. You can get us to do anything. I think you know
that.”

Tears filled her eyes, which surprised her. She hadn’t realized
this meant so much to her. “Thanks, Joe. Just give him a chance. That’s all I
ask.”

“Okay.” Her father squeezed her hands and stood as if that made
it official. “Far as I’m concerned, he has a clean slate. But if he hurts
you—”

“He can’t hurt me, Dad. I know what to expect.”

He returned to his coffee. “You just want to help him. That’s
it.”

“That’s it.” She wasn’t sure when her motivation had changed,
when she’d become more interested in seeing Simon get back on his feet than in
saving her business, but there was no doubt she was far more emotionally
committed than she’d been before.

“At least it makes sense to me now,” her father said. “But pity
is a hell of a reason to marry someone.”

It was more than pity. It was sadness over his lost potential,
even a little of the hero worship she’d felt for her favorite movie star. She
knew that worship was what frightened her family. It frightened her, too. Maybe
she’d become disenchanted with him in certain ways, but it was hard to get on an
equal footing with an idol.

“Thanks, Dad.”

“You’re too good for him,” her father added when she came
around to kiss his cheek. “But I’m willing to give him the opportunity to prove
me wrong.”

She offered them both a watery smile. She’d known they’d come
through for her. They always did. “Thanks.”

16

G
ail stared at the ceiling in her old
bedroom for three hours. She’d been waiting for Simon to return, but he hadn’t
come. She couldn’t help fearing he’d driven to Sacramento, left her car in
long-term parking and taken a plane to L.A. Or that he’d gone home with one of
the cocktail waitresses at the casino. She’d asked her family to give him a
chance, but even
she
wasn’t sure she could fully
trust him. If making the changes he needed to make were easy, he would’ve been
able to do it on his own.

But she’d doubted him once before, and he hadn’t been breaking
his commitment to her. Not that the memory of finding him hurt made the passing
time go by any faster. Surely, he hadn’t gotten into a car accident or a
fight....

As it neared one-thirty, she was too anxious to stay in bed.
Getting a sweatshirt, she pulled it over her tank top and pajama bottoms, then
went downstairs, where she made a cup of hot cocoa and sat on the front
porch.

The weather was clear but cool, somewhere in the low fifties. A
gentle wind whispered through the trees in the yard, causing the red and gold
leaves still clinging to the branches to fall and rustle against those on the
ground. This wasn’t a traditional neighborhood. There was no curb or gutter. No
square blocks, either. Just a narrow country road with two neighbors farther
down, where it turned to dirt.

Her father had built the house shortly after he married her
mother. She and Joe had both been born here.

It was good to be back. She just hoped she hadn’t made a
mistake in bringing Simon with her.

Because she hadn’t expected it, hadn’t even glanced at the
driveway, it took her a moment to realize her car was parked there. Blinking
several times, she tried to see inside it.

Simon was behind the wheel, looking back at her. How long had
he been sitting there? And why?

When she stood, he got out and came toward her. “You okay?” she
asked.

“Not too bad. At least I’m sober.”

That answered one of her questions. Maybe. She wasn’t sure she
could take his word for it. But he walked without weaving or stumbling.

Cradling her cup to keep her fingers warm, she waited for him
to draw closer before speaking again. “Did you win any money?”

He stopped a couple of feet away. “I was up at first.”

“And at the end?”

“Lost about twenty grand.”

His speech wasn’t slurred, either, which relieved her for
several reasons. A DUI would destroy what she was trying to accomplish with his
image, not to mention all the worse things that could’ve happened if he’d been
driving while intoxicated. “Gambling’s an expensive vice.”

“Maybe I should go back to drinking.”

“That could cost you even more.”

He motioned to the dark, shadowy porch behind her and the
swinging chair she’d ignored. “What are you doing out here?”

“Just getting used to being home.”

His eyes narrowed in disbelief. “Really?”

“And wondering when you were coming back.” She figured she
might as well admit it; he’d already guessed she’d been worried.

“You thought I might be breaking the terms of our
agreement.”

She felt bad for doubting him, but she knew the first few days
and weeks were going to be the hardest. And the way her brother had treated him…
That could’ve acted as a trigger. “Yes.”

“I almost did,” he said, and circumvented her to go inside.

At least he was honest.

Gail waited another fifteen or twenty minutes. She wasn’t sure
what to say to Simon. One part of her wanted to know which had been more of a
temptation—alcohol or women. The other part was too afraid to hear his answer.
As Josh had so aptly pointed out, she had no claim on him in an emotional sense.
But it still wasn’t easy to acknowledge that the man she’d married, for whatever
reason, might’ve been tempted to go home with someone else.

The next two years were going to be even more of a challenge
than she’d realized.

When she thought he’d had enough time to go to bed
and
to sleep, she carried her empty cup into the
house, rinsed it in the sink and crept up the stairs. The house was quiet and
all the lights were off. She didn’t turn any on because she didn’t want to wake
her father or brother—or Simon, for that matter.

Simon was in bed. She could see the shape of his body in the
moonlight streaming through the window. Her room faced the yard, which wasn’t
really a yard so much as raw land that backed up to the mountain. Without any
neighbors around to worry about, she rarely bothered to lower the blinds.

Being as quiet as possible, she yanked off her sweatshirt and
slipped under the covers.

But Simon wasn’t asleep. When he shifted, she got the
impression it was to avoid contact with her, which gave her some idea of how he
was feeling. “Something wrong?” she asked.

“I’m not sure I’m going to stay,” he said.

She’d been so afraid he’d give up, had felt the tension of that
fear, the worry eating at her ever since she’d said, “I do.” “Why? What happened
tonight?”

“I almost took off, drove to L.A.”

Was that what he’d been doing in the car? Thinking about
leaving? “I’m sorry if it was my brother who—”

“It wasn’t his fault,” he broke in. “He has every right to be
defensive of you. I’d be defensive, too, if you were my sister.”

She fussed nervously with the blanket. “Then what caused
the…flight response?”

“I don’t see how my involvement in your life can be a good
thing.”

Releasing the blanket, she curled her arms around her pillow.
“Why not?”

“Because it’ll end. In two years, just like we planned.”

She lifted her head, trying to see his face in the dark. “What
makes you think I expect anything else?”

“I’m afraid at some point saving your business won’t be enough
to compensate for what you’ll sacrifice.”

“There’s more in it for me than that. There’s the money, of
course. It might not seem like a large sum to you, but it’s a fortune to me.
Don’t get me wrong. I’m earning every penny of it, so I won’t feel bad taking
it, but…there’s that. And it’ll be gratifying to see you on your feet again and
in control of your life. I feel as if I’m doing America a great service by
helping you salvage your career. They want to see more of you in the movies, and
so do I.”

“But I’m afraid you don’t really understand what’ll happen on a
personal level.”

“We spelled everything out in the contract. What else is there
to understand?”

“This could get very complicated.”

“It’s already complicated.”

“Not as bad as it will be with time.” He rubbed a hand over his
face. “This is just the beginning.”

“What are you talking about?”

“I’m talking about met and unmet expectations and desires, our
developing friendship, the obligations that’ll go with it, becoming accustomed
to having each other around. I’m talking about jealousy, familiarity,
entitlement and all the other ways our lives will become entwined, including
relationships we form along the way with the people around us. Our ‘deal’
sounded simple enough when we made it, even to me. But I didn’t really like you
then, didn’t see myself as
ever
liking you. I
certainly didn’t anticipate coming to Whiskey Creek and getting to know the
people who are closest to you.”

“Sometimes you can be too blunt,” she said.

“I’m trying to be fair!”

“That’s the problem? That’s what has you so freaked out? You
like
me?”

“Yes, and you seem to like me.”

“I do, but that’s good. It means our marriage won’t be as
miserable as we both thought.”

There were a few seconds of silence. “The problem is, I will
never
love
you, Gail,” he said. “You understand
that, right? I don’t want to find myself in the same situation I was in with
Bella—
ever.
I won’t allow another woman to hold
that kind of power over me.”

She nibbled her lip. He had loved Bella. He was
still
in love with her, just as Gail had expected.
“I’m not trying to keep you, Simon.”

“I know that. Now. But…what if it changes? What if we make love
and—”

“We’re not going to make love. I’ve already told you that. We
can keep it simple if we want to. You just worry about staying clean and sober
and acting like the dutiful husband in public. I’ll take care of myself.”

He was staring at her; she could see the shine in his eyes. “I
just hope you don’t live to regret getting involved with me. I don’t want to
leave you worse off than when I found you. I have enough on my conscience,” he
said. Then he rolled over and went to sleep.

* * *

When Gail woke up, she had her face pressed to Simon’s
back. He was wearing a T-shirt and a pair of pajama bottoms, probably because
her bed wasn’t as big as his and that meant there wasn’t much room to avoid each
other. But she didn’t care about staying on her side at this particular moment.
She was too relieved he hadn’t left. When she’d finally dropped off into an
uneasy sleep she’d worried that he’d be gone by morning.

But he was still here, and it seemed he’d actually stayed in
bed and been able to get some rest. She was so happy about those two things that
she slid an arm around his waist, gave him a squeeze and kissed his back. “You
made it.”

“Hmm?” His arm covered hers, holding it in place, but he seemed
reluctant to wake.

“Your first night in Whiskey Creek is behind you.”

Letting her go, he stretched and turned to face her. “Once I
closed my eyes I didn’t even stir. I can’t tell you the last time that’s
happened to me.”

She leaned over him, smiling. “It’s a sign. Don’t you
think?”

Reaching up, he tucked her long hair behind one ear. “What kind
of sign?”

“That last night you were worried for nothing. You’re where you
should be. I’m glad you didn’t give up.”

“I was too exhausted to drive, anyway.”

He could never take any credit when he did something right.
That would destroy his bad-boy image. But she was so proud of him she couldn’t
help bending her head to kiss his whisker-roughened cheek. “We can both get
everything we want—as friends.”

“You’re becoming pretty comfortable with me,” he said as she
pulled away.

“We like each other now, remember?”

His gaze dipped to her braless chest. “I think I’m liking you a
little too much.”

“Meaning…”

“What do you have against friends with benefits?”

She made a face. “Quit pretending. Last night you acted as if
sex between us would be a terrible thing.”

“It would be. But that doesn’t mean I don’t want it.”

“Sorry. We can be affectionate but not intimate. That’s how
we’ll get through the next two years.”

He covered his eyes with one arm. “Sounds safe—but boring.”

Now that he wasn’t watching her, she let her gaze range over
him. He was so attractive—even with the imprint of the bedding on his cheek and
his hair mussed. She loved the rough-hewn angles of his face, the smoothness of
his golden skin, the thickness of his unruly hair.

“You like what you see?”

She felt herself blush. “So I was looking. Big deal. You’re
handsome. Everyone knows that.”

“Don’t worry. In case you haven’t heard, it’s only
skin-deep.”

She’d believed that once, but not anymore. He had plenty of
good qualities. One of them was an active conscience. Who knew?

“Fine. Then I won’t be tempted.
Safe
is our new buzzword,” she said, and hopped out of bed.

His biceps bulged as he propped up his head with his arms. “Are
you really getting up?”

“We both are.”

“Why? It’s early.”

“We have a coffee date.”

He watched as she searched through her suitcase.
“We?”

“As in…both of us?”

“That’s the ‘we’ I thought you meant. Who are we meeting?”

“The friends I grew up with.”

“What time?” He didn’t sound particularly enthusiastic.

She glanced at the clock. It was 7:10. “In twenty minutes.”

Sprawling across the bed, he shoved his head under her pillow.
“Can’t we put it off for an hour or two?”

“I wish. There’s no time to even shower. But…unlike us, they
have to work.”

“How many people are we talking about?” His voice was muffled,
but she could understand him.

“Depends. It’s a standing date for anyone who can come.”

“Do your friends know you’re back? Are they expecting you?”

She came up with some black jeans, a pair of gorgeous leather
boots and a turquoise sweater she’d bought with Simon’s credit card at the mall.
It was an attractive outfit—one that made the most of a slender figure. Maybe
she’d known these people for years and their opinion wasn’t likely to change,
but she wanted to look decent. She certainly didn’t want her husband to outshine
her, although that was pretty much a given.

“No. My dad’s the only person I told,” she said. “And he’s the
one person in this town you can trust to keep what you tell him quiet. Everyone
except Joe is on a ‘need to know’ basis.” Callie had tried to reach her several
times, but except for a few texts saying she was happy and not to ruin it for
her, she hadn’t responded. She hadn’t been ready to deal with Callie’s reaction
to the news of her marriage. But she’d be doing that this morning—with all her
friends.

Checking over her shoulder to make sure Simon still had his
head under the pillow, she faced the corner to change. But a second after her
tank top hit the floor, the clarity of his voice indicated he was looking right
at her.

“Okay, that’s going too far.”

She glanced at him again. He was watching her with predatory
interest. The intensity of his expression lit a fire inside her, but she did her
best to shrug it off. “Surely you’ve seen a woman’s bare back before.”