hand creams and hair products. After she’d washed her hands and fluffed her curls, she opened the door and stepped into the hallway. Only to find Valentina waiting for her.
Duncan’s ex was dressed in black pants and a cream-colored off-the-shoulder sweater. She was tall, thin and beautiful, with the kind of sleek, straight hair Annie had always envied.
“Hi,” Valentina said, clutching a martini glass. “You’re Duncan’s girlfriend, right?”
Annie nodded slowly. The truth was different, but Valentina didn’t need to know about their deal.
“Have you been going out long?” the other woman asked.
“We met in September,” Annie said, hoping she didn’t look as nervous as she felt. “I, ah, had a flat tire and Duncan stopped to help.”
“That doesn’t sound like him at all. You’re a teacher?”
“Kindergarten.”
“Let me guess. You’re sweet and kind. You take in orphans and stray pets.”
Annie couldn’t read the other woman’s voice. There was tension in it, but the source wasn’t clear. Was she mocking Annie or herself?
“If you’ll excuse me,” Annie said, moving around her.
“Wait. Please. I…” Valentina set her drink on a small table and sucked in a breath. “I don’t know how things are between you and it’s really none of my business. I gave up any rights to Duncan a long time ago. I was stupid. I thought I could do better. I was wrong. It’s not just that he’s the best man I know, it’s that I never stopped loving him.”
Tears filled Valentina’s blue eyes. One trickled down her cheek. She brushed it away impatiently.
“I want a second chance. I know it’s practically impossible. He’s not going to forgive me easily, but I have to try. Have you ever been in love? Have you ever known down to your bones that you’d finally found the only man on the planet who would complete you?”
Annie nodded slowly. She wanted to point out that love wasn’t about being completed. It was about giving, not getting, but that wasn’t the point.
“I love him,” Valentina said. “Before, when we were together, he held so much of himself apart. I think it had something to do with his past. I was young and impatient. Now I know better. He’s worth waiting for, fighting for. I made a mistake and he paid the price. I’m back for a second chance. I’m back to convince him how much he means to me. To me, he’s my husband. He’ll always be my husband. I want a chance to make our marriage work. Can you understand that?”
Annie nodded because it would hurt too much to speak. Valentina had said the only words that would have convinced her to give up. She couldn’t argue against a chance of Valentina and Duncan making their marriage work. If they were successful, maybe he could let go of his fear of being left. Maybe he would learn to love again. Better Valentina than no one, she told herself. In time, she would even believe that.
The mall might be closed at three in the morning, but the Internet was always open. Annie clicked on a link, then stared at the picture of the painting. It was small, maybe twelve-by-twelve, with a plain black frame. The artist, a famous sports painter, had chosen boxing as his subject.
The colors were vivid, the expressions fierce. There was something about the way the two men stared at each other that reminded her of Duncan.
“Annie, what are you doing up?”
She smiled at Kami, who looked sleepy as she stepped into Annie’s room.
“It’s late,” Annie said. “You have classes.”
“I could see your light was still on.”
“Oh. Is it bothering you?”
Kami sat on the edge of the bed and shook her head. “No. I’m worried about you. You were acting weird when you got home. Are you sick? Is this about Duncan? Did he hurt you?”
“Duncan’s getting back together with his ex-wife.”
“Since when?”
“It hasn’t actually happened yet, but it probably will. I can’t stand in the way of that. Not that I would be. I mean, he’s just dating me because of our deal.”
Kami wore her long dark hair in a thick braid. Her oversize T-shirt and PJ bottoms made her look young, but her eyes were wise. “He’s not going out with you because he has to. Not anymore. He got his good press a while ago. Besides, what about the freezer and the food and the presents under the tree?”
A few days ago, a box of presents had been delivered. Well, presents for the girls. There hadn’t been anything for her. At the time she’d told herself that he would give her something later. Privately. Now she wasn’t so sure.
“She’s still in love with him.”
“So? She left him. The bitch had her chance. Now it’s yours.”
“While I appreciate the support, she’s really not a bitch. I wish she was. Then I could hate her.” And fight for Duncan. “They deserve a second chance.”
“What about you? You’re in love with Duncan.”
“I’ll get over it.” She clicked on the Buy It Now button and tried not to wince at the price. She wanted to give Duncan something special. Something that would make him happy.
“You should tell him you love him,” Kami said. “He needs to make an informed decision.”
Annie managed a smile. “He’s not buying auto insurance. He doesn’t need to comparison shop.”
“Maybe he needs to be reminded about what’s important. You’re the best thing that ever happened to him. If he doesn’t see that, he’s an idiot.”
“Should I tell him that, too?”
“Absolutely.”
Annie arrived at Duncan’s office shortly after four. She’d called and made an appointment, wanting to be sure she saw him. They were supposed to go out that night. Nearly their last event. A cocktail party. But he wouldn’t need her for that or the other parties to follow. His reputation had been saved and he had more important things to do. Like get on with his life.
She’d spent the day telling herself that she had to do the right thing. That loving Duncan meant wanting what was best for him rather than for herself. That she had to be strong. Losing Ron and A.J. hadn’t mattered. She’d recovered in a matter of weeks. But losing Duncan was different. She had fallen madly, hopelessly, totally in love with him.
She’d learned early that life could be a challenge. She’d been ten when her mom had first gotten sick and barely eighteen when she’d died. Her aunt wrestled with immobilizing depression, spending more time in hospitals than out. Over the years, Annie had helped raise her brother and her cousins. She’d always done her best. They were family and that mattered more than anything.
She’d made sacrifices, but nothing she regretted. It was her nature to give-she knew that. So the fact that she’d given her heart to Duncan shouldn’t be a surprise. Nor was the reality that he didn’t want it.
She waited outside his office door until four and then was shown in. Duncan put down his phone and smiled when he saw her.
“Why do we have an appointment?” he asked, walking around the desk to greet her. “I’m picking you up in a couple of hours.”
He looked good, she thought, taking in the shape of his mouth, the breadth of his shoulders. His eyes-how could she ever have thought them cold?-brightened with pleasure. He smiled, then kissed her.
“Let me guess,” he said. “You’re here to convince me to start a profit-sharing plan.”
“You can profit share with your employees? You should think about it.”
Typical Annie, Duncan thought, leading her over to a sofa and sitting next to her. Good thing she’d never gone into business. She would have given away her entire worth the first day.
She’d come straight from school. He could tell by her clothes-the long plaid skirt, the cardigan covered with beaded snowmen. Her curls were mussed, her light makeup mostly faded. This wasn’t the glamorous Annie he usually saw on their evenings together. This was more real, more beautiful.
She leaned toward him and covered his hands with hers. Her gaze was intense.
“Duncan, I talked to Valentina at the party last night.”
His good mood vanished. Why wasn’t he surprised? “Whatever she said, she’s lying. You can’t trust her, Annie.
