High-Powered, Hot-Blooded

lightly kissed him. “How are you? Your assistant said you hadn’t been feeling well. You’re really pale.”

He recognized Annie’s neat writing on the package. As much as he wanted to open it, he wouldn’t until he was alone. He set it on the dining room table, then returned to the kitchen. The coffee was ready.

He poured a cup and took a long drink. When he felt the heated liquid hit his belly, he turned back to face his ex-wife.

Valentina had dressed in winter-white. From her suede boots to her fuzzy sweater, she was a vision of sexual elegance. The woman knew how to wear clothes, he thought. And take them off for anyone interested.

“Why are you here?” he asked, taking another swallow.

“I want to talk to you, Duncan. About us. I meant what I said. I still love you. I want a second chance.”

He looked her up and down. She was still preternaturally an ice queen if there ever was one. At one time she’d been all he’d wanted.

“And if I said I needed to test-drive the merchandise before I made a decision?” he asked.

She smiled. “Anytime.”

“Kids?” She’d never wanted children. Too messy and she ran the risk of screwing up her figure.

“Of course.” She tilted her head. “And a dog. Please. You can’t have children without having pets. They need to learn about responsibility.”

“The kids or the dog?” He reached for his coffee. “Never mind. You’re serious about this?”

“Yes, Duncan. I still love you and am willing to do anything to prove that.”

Uh-huh. “Including signing a prenup? One that gives you absolutely no part of my business or personal fortune. Now or in the future? You wouldn’t get a penny, Valentina. Ever.”

He would guess that Botox shots kept her from frowning, but there was no mistaking the tightening of her mouth or the stiffening of her body.

“Duncan,” she began, then sighed. “Shit.”

He wasn’t even surprised. “So it is about the money.”

“In part,” she admitted. “And proving a point. Eric left me. Me. I was going to end things, but he beat me to it, the bastard. I wanted to prove a point. Show him what he’d lost.”

Pride, he thought. He could respect that.

“Sorry I can’t help,” he said.

“Are you pissed?”

“More relieved.”

“Excuse me?” she said, walking to the coffee and pouring herself a mug. “You would be nowhere without me. I took a rough, ill-mannered street kid and turned him into a gentleman.”

“You screwed my business partner, on my desk.”

“I know. I’m sorry about that.”

“It doesn’t matter anymore.”

“But it was still tacky. I am sorry.” She looked at him. “You look good. I mean that. You’ve come a long way.”

They talked for a few more minutes, then Valentina left. Duncan closed the door behind her, relieved to have her out of his life. This time for good. Then he crossed to the table and opened the package from Annie.

Inside was a painting of two boxers. He knew the artist, had a larger piece of his work in his study.

There was a note inside. No, a Christmas card.

This made me think of you.

Duncan studied the masterful work and could guess the approximate price she’d paid. It was a whole lot more than she could afford. Why would she have done this? He checked the date. She’d had it shipped after she’d ended things. Who did that? What was she playing at?

He didn’t have any answers, a circumstance he didn’t like. He wanted his life simple-predictable. But Annie was anything but. She demanded too much. She wanted him to do the right thing, to be a better man. She wanted him to love her back.

Back. Meaning he believed she loved him in the first place? And if he did, what was he doing, letting her get away?

“Very upscale,” Annie said, hoping it sounded more like a tease than nervousness. She sat across from Tim in a comfortable wicker chair on a patio behind the rehabilitation housing where her brother was staying.

“It’s nice,” he said.

He sat across from her, relaxed and tanned, more calm than she’d seen him in years. This was the first Saturday visitors had been allowed. Annie had arrived right at ten and Tim had been waiting for her. So far their conversation had consisted of greetings and the weather.

She picked at the wicker on the arm of the chair, then glanced across the broad lawn. Judging from the uneasy body language she saw in the other visitors, she wasn’t the only one who didn’t know what to say.

“Are you…” she began.

Tim leaned toward her and smiled. “It’s okay. You did the right thing. I didn’t believe that until a few days ago, but now I know you were right. I needed help. I still need help.”

Relief rushed through her. She grabbed his hand and squeezed. “Yeah?”

He nodded. “I was chasing the dream, Annie. So sure that if I kept trying, I’d hit it big. It’s what you always say about kids who cheat in school. If they would put half the effort into studying, they’d get a good grade. But instead they want to play the system. I want to play the odds. The trouble is, the odds are never in my favor.”

“Which means what?” she asked.

“I have a gambling problem. I need to stay away from it. No blackjack, no Vegas, not even a raffle ticket. It’s going to take a while, but I’ll beat this, Annie.”

She stared into her brother’s blue eyes and felt relief. “I’m glad,” she whispered.

“Me, too.” He pulled free and shifted on his seat. “About what I said. I’m sorry.”

“I know.”

“I can’t believe I stole that money. What an idiot. I really appreciate the deal you made with my boss. Anyone else would have let me go to jail.”

“I couldn’t do that.”

“It’s what I deserved.”

“But not what you needed.”

“I know. I’ve been in touch with Mr. Patrick. He says I can have my job back.” Tim smiled self-consciously. “Sort of. I won’t have access to any of the bank accounts. I’ll have to earn his trust again, but I will. We worked out a payment plan for me to reimburse him.”

Tim had talked to Duncan? Annie wanted to ask how he was. She missed him more than she had ever imagined, and she’d known it would be bad.

“I’m glad,” she said.

“I want to pay you back, too,” Tim told her.

“You don’t owe me anything.”

“Sure I do. Look what you did for me, Annie.”

“I went to a bunch of parties. It wasn’t work.”

She’d also fallen in love and gotten her heart broken, but that wasn’t anything Tim needed to hear right now. She would tell him later, when he was stronger.

“I’ll make it up to you,” Tim promised.

“All I need is for you to get your life back together,” she said. “Be happy. That’s enough.”

Her brother stood and pulled her to her feet, then hugged her.

“You’re the best,” he said. “Thank you.”

She hung on, willing him to heal. Because if he was all right, then this had been worth it. As for herself, and the aching emptiness inside, there was nothing to be done except hope that eventually she, too, would find her way back.

Duncan walked into the crowded Westwood restaurant. The hostess smiled at him. “Sir, do you have a reservation?”

“No.”

“I’m sorry, we’re booked. It’s Christmas Eve and we’re only having service until seven.”