HowMuchYouWantToBet (10 page)

“Are you going to introduce me to your lady?” Winn said.

He stood next to Victoria, dwarfing her in size. He didn’t exactly have a beer belly, Neil thought, but it was a small imitation of one. His posture was straight, his eyes dark and impenetrable. She could understand how he had gotten ahead in the business world. His gaze was a look of pure admiration, not in a way that made her uncomfortable, but as if he approved.

She found herself smiling at him. “I can speak for myself. Neil Sullivan.”

He took her hand, squinting at her face. “Any relation to Nathanial Sullivan?”

Neil visibly tensed at the question. She made sure to keep the smile on her face. “He was my father.”

Winn, oblivious of her discomfort, said, “I think we have at least six of his paintings in this house alone. The period after your mother died was his greatest accomplishment.”

Her voice cooled. “Some would say that.”

Victoria checked her watch. “Dinner should be ready by now. Let me go check.” She said it looking directly at Winn.

Neil read the silent cue, and for that she liked Victoria more. It took Winn a moment to get her implication. When he did, he said, “Uh, let me go help.”

Neil chuckled as they left. “Could they be a little less obvious?”

Gib settled on the arm of the couch. “Not my mother. Sometimes it amazes me that she was brought up by uptight parents. She walks around barefoot at most functions and has a sense of humor that won’t quit.”

The stiffness in her shoulders softened at his words. “You sound like you love your mother very much, but it also sounds like your mother never stopped being a beach bum.”

“A very classy beach bum. How did Tiff talk you into wearing cashmere?”

He somehow knew any discussion of her father was off limits, and Neil respected him more for it. “Let’s talk about that visit.” That mischievous grin of his was back, stopping her tirade. “What is it?”

“You look beautiful, but you still have something to gripe about. It’s so you, and I like it for some reason.” Gib stood and walked to Neil, offering her his arm, then pulling her to him. “My parents are probably thinking we’re necking on the couch,” he murmured, precariously close to her now, though his lips didn’t touch her skin. His breath ruffled the hair around her ear. Neil bit her lip in anticipation, praying that she wouldn’t become a puddle on the floor. He straightened, and to Neil’s surprise she was very disappointed. “She sprayed you with something, too. What’s the name of it?”

“Ardor.”

“I won’t disagree.”

He was close enough to kiss, and, damn, that’s exactly what she wanted to do. Her palms were moist with the thought. She leaned in closer to him, his gaze met hers, and that little buzz of desire turned into a swarm of bees, milking honey into her every pore. She brushed her lips against his and, before she could taste him, Victoria’s laughter sounded at foyer’s opening.

“Winn, you owe me twenty bucks.”

Gib winced, placing his head on hers. “Later,” he promised, and secretly Neil hoped so.

*****

Dinner with the Winnfreds had been fun, Neil thought, as she put on a terrycloth robe. Gib’s parents didn’t allow her to feel awkward for being caught almost kissing their son. Winn joked about it, and Victoria’s laughter made it easy to join in.

Gib seemed to draw within himself, contemplative, so unlike the man she had gotten to know over the past few months. It was completely against her rules to become attached, but she wanted him to confide in her. She was sure his mood had something to do with the meeting he’d had with Winn. She would have asked, but Victoria’s staunch rule not to talk about business at the table prevented her from doing so.

Situating herself on the edge of the king-size bed, Neil considered the options. She could wait until morning, or she could put on this thick moisturizing cream Tiff had also foisted on her and sneak down to Gib’s room at the end of the hallway.

A hundred percent sure that wanting to know what had been said between the two men would keep her up all night, Neil crossed the room to the walk-in closet and found the most modest nightgown. It was a beautiful red, slick material that stopped at the end of her toes, and her breasts—what there was of them—were also covered. Her best plan of action would be to knock once for consideration, barge in, and then interrogate. Pushing her shoulders back, she headed for the door and opened it. She bit back the scream. Gib stood leaning against the door jamb.

“I was hoping to wake you up, with a pout and looking sexy, wanting to finish what you started in the living room.” He looked handsome in his oversized pajama bottoms and was prudent enough to have on a tank top.

“I thought about it. I don’t think your mother wants to hear you screaming my name. How did your meeting go?”

Gib shifted, glancing down the hallway. “Put your robe on, and some shoes. I want to show you something. I’ll wait for you by the stairs.” Neil frowned, wanting to pressure the truth out of him but knowing she couldn’t until he felt ready.

It took her less than five minutes to ditch the nightgown and pull on jeans, a shirt and some espadrilles. Even at this late hour the air was warm, and thick with mosquitoes. Neil and Gib walked silently beside each other until they reached the oak by the gated entrance.

The leaves rustled, a soothing, swishing sound. A blanket lay beside the trunk of the tree. With her hand in his, Neil sat down next to him on it. “Is this what…” Her question was silenced with a kiss.

He buried his hands in her hair, and she was glad Tiff had made it soft and shiny. She closed her eyes and let the taste of him fulfill her. The passion of it made her feel heady, like too many glasses of wine, but it felt so good to let him. She kissed him back, meeting and challenging his desire with her own.

He sank his teeth gently into her bottom lip, and the sensation warmed her all the way to her toes.

With his mouth over hers, Neil didn’t want to think about why she shouldn’t be doing this, why it wouldn’t be good for her. It
felt
good to her, so why shouldn’t she? A satisfied moan broke from her lips. Gib deepened the kiss, taking her over the edge, and in that moment she never wanted him to let go. She wanted him to talk her into letting him take control, letting her enjoy being feminine, letting her get lost in this simple mating ritual. She gripped a handful of his hair, regretting the moment when common sense finally prevailed and forced her to break the kiss. He pulled back from her, his features encased in the darkness.

“Is that why you brought me out here?” She hated how the anger filled her words. “We can’t do this. I work for you.” She had to put the boundaries back up or everything she had worked for, everything she had tried to leave behind, all the sacrifices she had made, would be in vain.

Gib shook his head as if in a daze. “I wanted to tell you I’m going to take over the business. The kiss was…” He frowned and didn’t continue.

Neil spaced her words slowly, not wanting him to see how upset she was by the news. “And what about architectural school?”

“It can wait.”

“Again.”

Gib leaned back against the tree trunk. “I can’t explain it right now, but I wanted you to know. By Monday, the papers will be signed and I’ll have complete control over both businesses. I’ll be in a suit, a tie, the whole nine.”

Neil told herself not to care. It was his life, and she wasn’t a part of it. Hadn’t she just reminded him of what their relationship should be? They were associates, not friends, nor lovers. “Is that what you want?”

His laugh was short. “No, but it’s going to allow me to do what should have been done ages ago. Let’s get back to that kiss now.” As if the subject was brushed aside, he pulled her closer to him.

Neil shrugged him off. “What are you going to do with it? I can’t believe—not even someone like you would sell his father’s business.”

Gib’s stiffened at her comment. “What do you really think of me, Neil? Am I still the rich playboy? I thought you knew me better than that.”

Because the words stung, she straightened and pulled back farther. “The blueprint of your house was detailed. Doing something that in-depth isn’t a hobby. You don’t walk away from something you love to do, if you don’t have to.”

Why didn’t Gib see how precious a gift he had? If she were in his shoes—no, she wasn’t, and she’d accepted that. She’d chosen this life and she would damn well swallow the regrets.

“I need you to trust me on this one thing.” He let out a frustrated sigh. “I know what I’m doing. For the first time in years, I feel right about something. I’m not running from this. The first day of the spring semester, I will be enrolled to finish my degree.”

Neil was too far in to untangle herself. “I’ll hold you to your word, you know.”

“I know. That’s why I told you.” He leaned against the tree trunk. “Wanna neck?”

Neil laughed. “Do you ever think of anything else?”

“Not when I’m with you.”

And that’s what worried her most.

CHAPTER 10

Much to Neil’s horror, she had to return to Victoria’s Boutique to find a dress for the gala.

Never had Neil thought she’d find herself outside those store doors again, definitely not the very next day. Going back was the only option after Gib reminded her earlier the benefit they were expected to attend that evening.

Steeling herself with a deep breath outside the door, she pushed it open. Somehow the shop didn’t seem as dreary with the other shoppers crowding at the racks, young and old, individuals and small groups, each crooning over a skirt or a shirt or a jacket.

Neil ducked to the back when she saw Tiff stationed at the register and made it up the stairs, thankfully, before she was caught by Victoria. A jazz song filled the room, echoing against the hardwood floors. Victoria hummed with the tune as she rearranged the elegant dresses. The walls were covered with material that either shimmered or glittered in the low light. Neil shifted her shoulders at the thought she was going to leave with something like that on.

She took a deep breath before she spoke. “Victoria, I’m going to need a dress.”

“My son sent you here to spend more of his money?” Her hair swung when she shook her head sadly. “You would think that boy had a hole in his pocket, the way he spends.”

Neil felt her face flush with anger. “I’m not making him do it

Victoria frowned at the tone. “Is that what you think I mean?”

“You are his mother, and I’m just some woman he brought home.”

Victoria’s bare feet were soundless as she moved toward Neil. “Gib brought you here because you mean something to him. I won’t butt in more than I already have, so I’ll leave it at that. There’s one thing you need to understand. Money, for Gib, is a way to show how he feels. Money itself doesn’t mean anything to him. Yes, he gets satisfaction in winning it, seeing it grow in his portfolio, but if you ask him how much he donated to charities, he would say, ‘My time is more important than the amount.’ Let me ask you, do you think a man like that is careless about who he brings home to his parents?”

Neil thought she had a temper, but this one could cut as cool as hers did hot. She considered the words for a moment and had to shake her head. “He’s not the type.” She smiled a little. “He’s been coaching a little league baseball team for free for a couple of years.”
And I love him for it,
she added silently. Neil placed an unsteady hand over her stomach with the thought.

As if reading the emotion in her eyes, Victoria nodded. “Let’s find you something sexy to wear that will make him drool and beg a little. My boy is so arrogant at times.”

Neil grimaced. “As his mother, should you be trying to set him up like that?”

Victoria laughed. “I’m not putting any thoughts into his head that aren’t already there. Have you looked at yourself lately?” She waved her hand in the air at the rhetorical question. “I’m constantly telling him he should be more humble.” She headed for the racks and started pulling dresses out. “I should have never let him win at blackjack against me when he was five.” Victoria laughed at Neil’s gasp. “What? It taught him his numbers and how to count.”

Gibland Winnfred the Third was really starting to make sense. “I’m not sure what I’m looking for. I haven’t needed to wear anything formal in years.”

“Don’t worry. I taught Tiff everything she knows.” She handed Neil the pile of dresses in her hand.

An idea began to form in Neil’s mind. “If you can teach Tiff to be a bulldog with sales and teach a five-year-old blackjack, how would it be to teach blackjack to someone my age?”

This time Victoria’s laugh was quick and filled with mischief, “Oh, I am really starting to like you.”

*****

“Gib, have you decided whether you’re going to marry Neil?” Winn asked.

It took a moment for Gib to answer. It felt like someone had punched him in his gut. “The thought hasn’t crossed my mind. Why would it cross yours?”

Winn stood by the oak dresser in the corner of the room. He was casually dressed, for once, because he wasn’t going to the Children’s Library Benefit. “You must love her, to have brought her home.”

This time Gib’s fingers fumbled over the bow tie. “Excuse me? I bring someone home, and all of sudden I’m married with three kids?”

Winn shrugged, and the nonchalant gesture looked strange on him, Gib thought. “I asked you a question. Do you need help with that thing?”

Gib’s fingers were still frozen around the tie. “I’m fine. I needed a date for the gala, and I like—spending time with her.”

Winn’s brows lifted slightly. “You never brought anyone else home, not since you left. I read in the papers a few times about the women you’ve dated, but none have ever crossed this threshold. You can’t make me believe you’re just sleeping with her.”

Gib quit trying to tie the bow altogether and abruptly changed the subject. “Are the papers going to be ready before I head back to Whistle Lake? I want to go in on Monday and meet with all the department managers.”

“Whenever you get back tonight they should be ready to be signed. I can call Al up to notarize the documents and file them Monday morning.” His father paused and then said, “So you haven’t slept with her yet?”