Chapter Fifteen
Leah looked in the full-length mirror, turning from side to side with a grimace. Brooks had been doing an amazing job at keeping up his side of the bargain, more so than she’d thought he would, especially now that Marcus was back and making a concerted effort to insert himself into Leah’s life. It was something she could tell Brooks loathed, though he never said a word against Marcus.
Instead, Brooks picked her up from work most days, making sure to wave to the nuns when he did so. He came to the school functions, helping her out with anything she needed, and even stopped by the school a few times to bring her lunch. As far as anyone at school could tell, he was a loving, devoted husband and excited father-to-be. The hope and longing that never seemed to disappear crept back into her heart but she squashed it viciously. There was no room for nonsense like that.
Even if he were to do a total one-eighty and turn from the world’s biggest bachelor into a happy, devoted family man, it didn’t change the fact that Leah had no right to be by his side. She had no place in his world. He may have started with the same humble background as her, but that was a very long time in the past. He was a freaking billionaire, co-founder of some company that did things she didn’t even begin to understand. He wasn’t just part of some other world—he was in a whole different galaxy. And the gala they were going to that night only proved her point.
She had to make a good impression for him. Cole was still on paternity leave with Kiersten and the baby, so it was the first event where Brooks would be representing their firm solo. He needed to prove he could be the responsible face of the company, and Leah needed to play her part by his side.
She’d gone shopping with Kiersten to get a dress for the night. She had wanted to go to someplace like Nordstrom. Well, Target had been the first thought in her mind, but she knew something that off-the-rack wouldn’t cut it. But apparently even a store like Nordstrom, which she could never afford on her own, was still far beneath the realm of the people they’d be seeing that night.
Kiersten had taken her to a couture shop where a woman had taken a one-of-a-kind gown and fit it to Leah’s body. Her bloated, pregnant, bulging body. Kiersten had assured her she looked beautiful in the midnight-blue floor-length gown but it was far too tight for Leah’s comfort. Not that she could show up in the baggy sweats that were all she wanted to wear after a long day at work, of course. But the revealing gown was something Leah would have never chosen for herself.
The off-the-shoulder neckline showed way more cleavage than she had even known she’d possessed. Though, a few months ago she hadn’t possessed it so that could be why. Then, instead of flaring like the shapeless tent she wished it was, the material hugged her body, accentuating her baby bump and flowing to the floor in a river of sapphire satin.
The heels that she had to wear with the dress were another problem. Leah loved a good pair of heels as much as the next girl and the shop assistants had kept them modest-sized just to be on the careful side. No one wanted her taking a tumble with the precious cargo she carried. But still, between her nerves and her changing center of gravity, Leah wasn’t sure her heel-walking skills were up to par.
She stood staring at herself in the mirror, trying to think of an excuse that would get her out of going. But Brooks had done everything and more that he had promised. She had promised to help him at work, show that he could be a responsible, fully functioning adult that another responsible, fully functioning adult would choose to marry. She needed to suck it up and go.
The door opened behind her and Brooks walked in, stopping short when he saw her standing there. She watched his eyes rove from her feet to her head, his mouth slightly open, then met his gaze in the mirror.
“Is it all right?” she asked.
He gave her a faint smile. “Woman, you are so far from all right it’s not even funny.”
She frowned a little at that, trying to figure out what he meant.
He came up behind her, placing his hands on her shoulders. “You are absolutely breathtaking.”
She released a breath she didn’t realize she’d been holding. “Thank you.”
She smiled a bit as he continued to look her up and down. The stark admiration in his eyes went a long way to build her confidence.
“You are missing one thing, though,” he said.
She frowned. He pulled a long velvet box out of his jacket pocket and she couldn’t help but smile, flashes of scenes from Pretty Woman going through her head. She opened the box, her heart skipping with excitement, only to frown down into the empty velvet interior.
“Really?” she said. She should have known he was going to prank her.
He grinned and held up his other hand from which dangled a diamond necklace with a teardrop sapphire pendant. “Kiersten told me the color of your dress. I thought this might match well.”
She sucked in a breath as he placed the gems around her neck, her hand trembling slightly as she touched the beautiful stones.
“Brooks, this is incredible, thank you. You didn’t buy this, did you? It’s on loan or something?”
“Don’t worry,” he said with a wink. “It was on sale.”
She frowned a little, knowing she couldn’t accept something so extravagant. But before she could say anything else he pulled out another box from his pocket, much smaller this time, and placed it in her hands.
“So were these.”
She opened them to find a pair of matching earrings—small teardrop sapphires dangling from a short string of glistening diamonds.
“Oh, Brooks,” she said, but he shook his head and pressed a quick kiss to her temple.
“Stop complaining and put them on. Honestly, I’ve never met a more stubborn woman. A guy gives you jewelry, just smile and say thank you.”
She smiled at him. “Thank you.”
“See. That wasn’t so hard, was it?”
She laughed and put the earrings on.
“Are you ready?”
She glanced at herself one more time and took a deep breath. “As I’ll ever be, I suppose.”
“Don’t worry. It won’t be that bad. And we don’t have to stay long. Just enough to make an appearance, say hi to a few people, and show them that all their preconceptions about me were totally wrong and I am, indeed, the most awesome person on the planet.”
She grinned. “So, we’re never leaving?”
“Laugh it up, Mrs. Larson. You’re the one stuck with me. For the time being, anyway.”
“Lucky me,” she said. And if she sounded like she meant that…well, she wasn’t going to examine that too closely.
She picked up her velvet wrap and he took it from her, helping her drape it around her shoulders.
“Shall we, Mrs. Larson?” he said, holding out his elbow for her to take.
Those words always sent a little thrill through her heart no matter how hard she tried to stop it. A meaningless title she wouldn’t have for much longer shouldn’t affect her so much. But it did. Every time.
She took his arm and smiled up at him. “Lead the way, Mr. Larson.”
Leah stood holding her glass of ginger ale, watching as some of the biggest movers and shakers in the city, hell, in the country, floated past her in gowns and tuxedos that probably cost more than she made in a year. And since her own gown fell into that category, she knew she wasn’t just being catty. She had never felt so out of place in her life.
They had Bono on the stage providing the music, and she was pretty sure she had even seen Angelina Jolie chatting it up in the corner with a few of her celebrity friends. If Oprah showed up, Leah was going to call it quits then and there. Brooks, on the other hand, fit right in. Well, in some ways. In others, he stood out from the crowd. Literally. He stood head and shoulders above most of the men in there and his tux hugged every line and plane of his body as if it had been made for him.
She took a sip of her drink, hoping it would calm her stomach. She had no idea what to say to these people. They had absolutely nothing in common. But she’d better figure it out quick because a small group of ladies were heading her way.
“So,” one said, a blonde with hair so elaborately styled it had to be a wig and boobs that Leah would kill for. “You’re the one who snagged Brooks.”
The woman looked her up and down, making it very clear what she thought about Brooks’s choice. Leah might have been more uncomfortable than she’d ever been in her life, but that didn’t mean she was going to stand there and let some woman walk all over her.
“Yes,” she said. “Isn’t he lucky? I’m Leah Larson.” She held out her hand. “And you are?”
The woman blinked, mouth dropped open in a little O, obviously surprised that Leah didn’t recognize her. And she should be—her face was plastered over most of the magazines and billboards in the city. Many of those pictures had been with Brooks, once upon a time. Leah knew exactly who she was, but she didn’t have any intention of passing on that knowledge.
“You know, I’ve got to hand it to you,” the woman said, her eyes glued to Leah’s belly. “Classic strategy for a marriage trap, though risky with someone like Brooks. How could you be sure he’d stick around? He’s not exactly the domestic type.”
“Really?” Leah said in mock surprise. “He’s been absolutely amazing, but maybe he saves that part of himself for people he really trusts.”
The woman glared at her while her little followers started to fidget. They must not have been expecting a fight.
“If you say so. I think it’s a shame a man as wild and carefree as Brooks has been…tamed.”
Leah gave her a cold smile. “Oh, believe me, between us girls, there is nothing tame about my hubby.”
“Talking about me again?” Brooks asked, smiling warmly at her and effectively ignoring the other women. He wrapped an arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
She looked up at him with a grateful smile. “Always.”
“Good, my favorite subject.” He gave her another squeeze. “How are you, sweetheart? I’ve been looking all over for you.”
She resisted the urge to look surprised at the term of endearment. Normally, she would have said something about it, but he was obviously upset. No one else seemed to notice, but Leah could see it in the hard line of his mouth and in his dull eyes that usually sparkled with amusement.
She gripped his hand where it rested against her belly. “I’m fine, babe,” she said. “I’m just getting to know your friends here.”
“Not such great friends anymore,” the blonde said with a little pout. “You haven’t called me in ages, B. I’ve missed…talking with you.”
Leah’s hand clenched around her glass and she had to resist the urge to toss it in the woman’s face.
“I’m sorry,” Brooks said. “I didn’t realize you were expecting a call from me. No offense, though,” he said, with his usual teasing tone of voice. Leah noticed the hard note behind it, but she didn’t think anyone else did. “I haven’t thought about much else besides this gorgeous woman here.” He pulled her in for a quick kiss and gazed adoringly down at her.
She was pretty sure it was all for show, but that didn’t stop her stomach from doing a backflip or two.
“I’ve pursued this incredible creature from the moment we met. She kept trying to ignore me, so I finally showed up at her door and whisked her off to a wedding chapel. It was the best day of my life. Well, so far,” he said, placing his hand on her belly.
The blonde’s face grew harder and angrier with every word. It was painfully obvious she had been one of the women who had chased Brooks hoping she would get to be Mrs. Larson.
The woman opened her mouth to say something else, but Brooks cut her short. “I’m sorry, Julie. Oh! Jenny, sorry. I hate to be rude, but we need to excuse ourselves. There are a few people I promised to introduce Leah to.”
He gave them another forced smile and nod and pulled Leah away.
“I’m sorry about her,” Brooks said, his jaw still clenched.
Leah shook her head. “Ex-girlfriend?”
“She was someone who wanted a lot more than I wanted to give her. She also believes far too much in her own appeal. We went on two dates and it was one and a half too many. And that’s coming from someone with my questionable standards.”
She squeezed his hand. “Oh, you’re not so bad. You have your good points.”
He smiled and kissed her hand. “Well, here’s to hoping the good outweighs the bad.”
He spent the next little while introducing her to almost everybody in the room. For the most part, everyone was polite and welcoming enough, although surprise and sometimes downright shock was evident everywhere she turned. But in a pleasant, almost relieved way. The uncomfortable laughter and confused looks melted into relief and acceptance once he introduced her as his wife, and the conversations often turned toward business ventures. As she’d gotten the impression this rarely happened for Brooks at these things, Leah was happy, hoping she was doing a decent job holding her own and propping Brooks up.
The rest of the evening had been going well enough that when Brooks needed to step aside for a moment to speak with a client she felt comfortable being left with a group of the other wives. They all seemed nice enough. Most were around her age, which was surprising considering that most of the husbands were a great deal older.
Two of the women wandered off rather quickly after discovering Leah had no interest in Paris Fashion Week or anything to do with the wonderful world of shopping. That left her with a sophisticated librarian-type woman and another woman in her late thirties, maybe early forties, who actually had a small plate of food in her hand. An anomaly in this group. Leah didn’t think she’d seen anyone eating anything all night. Her stomach gave a quiet growl and she remembered it had been a few hours since she’d chowed on anything.
She tried to ignore it and turned politely to the librarian woman who had asked her a question. “I’m sorry,” she said. “Could you repeat that?”
The woman blew an irritated puff of air through her nose, but asked her question again. “I asked what it was that you did for a living, dear.”
“Oh,” Leah said, happy to talk about something other than shoes and bags for the moment. “I’m a teacher.”
“Oh really? Where do you teach? My husband is a professor at Yale. He’s on sabbatical right now working on his next book, but I’m sure he’d be thrilled to make the acquaintance of a fellow educator.”
Leah smiled. “I teach a literature class at a private high school in the city.”
She could have sworn the woman’s eyes glazed over. “Isn’t that nice. I’m so sorry, will you excuse me? I see someone I must say hi to.”
Before Leah could respond, she had excused herself and was making her way across the room.
“Don’t mind her,” the other woman said. “My name is Miranda. These affairs can be a bit cliquish.”
“I’m beginning to see that. Apparently a high school teacher even at private school isn’t quite on par with a college professor, actress, or trophy wife,” she said with a laugh.
Miranda laughed with her. “You get used to them. And they’ll get used to you eventually. It’s nice to have some fresh blood in here, though it seems there is a new crop of wives or girlfriends every few months. Not that you need to worry about that,” she said with a knowing look at Leah’s belly. “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a man so besotted with his wife as your husband. I knew once Brooks met the right woman that would be it for him.”
Leah fidgeted, hating to continue with the lie when the woman seemed so nice and genuine. But this was a work function for Brooks and she was there to make him look better if possible.
“How far along are you?” Miranda asked.
“Twenty-three weeks,” Leah said. “I have to confess I’m a little nervous.”
Miranda waved that off. “Oh, don’t worry. There’s a learning curve to be sure, but you’ll get the hang of it. And you’ll have Brooks to help.”
Leah glanced at her, not sure how to respond to that. “Well, I’m not sure how much of a help he’ll be.”
Miranda laughed. “Yes, the men definitely are better at helping create the little ones than they are taking care of them.”
She nodded across the room at where Brooks chatted with a group of serious-looking businessmen. He seemed to be enjoying himself. He caught her watching him and raised his glass to her with a smile. Leah smiled back before she could stop herself and Miranda grinned indulgently. “It’s nice to see two people genuinely in love for once.”
Leah’s gaze shot to her in surprise.
“Well, I better go round up my own husband. It was nice to meet you,” Miranda said. “I hope I see you again. It’s been nice to talk to someone real at one of these things.”
Leah smiled at her, genuinely happy to have met her also. “It was my pleasure, truly,” she said.
She turned her attention back to Brooks, enjoying the view until his face froze and his eyes narrowed. Leah looked in the direction where he stared and sucked in a quiet breath.
Marcus.
She frowned. Brooks had never been anything but polite to Marcus. Not especially friendly, maybe, but definitely not antagonistic. But the look on his face as Marcus came toward him made her think Brooks had been hiding a few things from her.
She hurried over to the little gathering just as Marcus reached them.
“There you are,” Brooks said, kissing her on the cheek before giving a pointed look to Marcus.
Marcus stepped closer and kissed her cheek as well. “How are you doing?”
“Great, thank you,” she said, a bit bemused by the amount of testosterone that suddenly surrounded her.
“Well, Marcus Cassidy,” one of the men who’d been talking to Brooks said. He reached out and shook Marcus’s hand. “I hear you’re doing big things over in the Asian market. Good to see you back in the States.”
“It’s good to be back. I had some pressing family matters to attend to,” he said with a quick glance at Leah.
She held her breath, but he didn’t go into further detail. They hadn’t discussed their situation and what they would say to people, but she certainly didn’t want to drop the whole “I’m-married-to-this-guy-but-carrying-that-guy’s-baby” bomb on the night when she was supposed to be making Brooks look good.
“How long are you in town?” the man asked.
At that, Marcus’s gaze darted briefly to her again, but no one else seemed to notice. “I’m not sure yet. Several months, at least, though I’m considering relocating back to the New York office permanently.”
“Well, they’d be lucky to have you.” He turned to Brooks. “Larson, why haven’t you dipped your toe in the Asian market?”
“Ah, Brooks here likes the comfort of home, I think.” Marcus gave Brooks a friendly slap on the shoulder.
“Well, when I have someone so lovely at home, why would I want to be anywhere else?” he said, pulling Leah in for a quick kiss.
“Oh, don’t be so modest,” she said. “Brooks actually has several exciting ventures planned for the foreign market. I’ve been very impressed. Don’t let that pretty face of his fool you. The Harrington Corporation wouldn’t be where it is today without him, and Cole would be the first one to tell you so.”
Brooks beamed down at her with a smile that made her wonder how long it had been since someone had complimented him on something other than his looks. She’d have to make a point to do it more often.
“Is that so? Well, we might have to keep a better eye on you,” the man said, raising his glass.
“Yes, but you really need to move those ventures out of the planning stage,” Marcus said. “You always were too cautious. You need to seize the day, be a risk-taker if you really want to make your mark on the world.”
Brooks’s eyes narrowed a fraction. “I think the Harrington Corporation has proven it is more than capable of making its mark. We’ve been a leader in this industry for the better part of a decade.”
“Well, take it from someone who runs a company that has been a leader for the better part of a century, if you want to be in it for the long haul, you have to get out of your comfort zone occasionally.”
“Oh, I have no doubt that the Harrington Corporation will be around for the long haul, as you say. Cole and I have every intention of making sure our company continues to be a leading innovator for generations, as your father and grandfather, who, I believe, are still the heads of your corporation, have done for the company you work for. Choosing to settle down in my personal life,” Brooks said, glancing down at Leah with a smile, “does not necessitate settling in business. Harrington has a great many plans on the horizon.”
“In addition to the amazing things you already have going,” Leah said.
Marcus gave Brooks a tight grin and raised his glass to him. The other men chatted for a moment before taking their leave, but Marcus stuck around. A couple waiters passed with more drinks and food. Marcus grabbed a fresh tuna sushi roll and handed it to Leah. She politely accepted it, not wanting to hurt his feelings, but Brooks plucked it from her fingers.
“Pregnant women aren’t supposed to eat sushi,” he said, snagging her a stuffed mushroom instead. He leaned over and quietly had a word with one of the waiters who nodded and hurried off.
“Same old Brooks,” Marcus said with an overly bright smile. “Somehow every time we are in the same room together, things devolve into some ridiculous rivalry.”
“Because I don’t want my wife to be poisoned?”
Marcus glanced around and then said, “You don’t honestly think I’d do anything to harm my baby, do you?”
Brooks shrugged. “Maybe not on purpose,” he said, pausing to take a tall glass of iced cranberry juice from the waiter who had just returned. He handed it to Leah who sipped it gratefully, a happy sigh escaping as the cool liquid slid down her throat.
“Keep them coming,” Marcus said, throwing a fifty on the guy’s tray.
Brooks shook his head. “But you can’t seem to help trying to one-up me. You’ve been doing it since the day we met. And you don’t care who you hurt in the process.”
“Now, I think those are sour grapes talking,” Marcus started, but Leah butted in.
“Excuse me,” she said, searching for a way to break up the imminent pissing contest. “But my feet are killing me. I think I’d like to go home now.”
“Absolutely.” Brooks handed their glasses to another waiter.
Marcus took her hand. “Please don’t leave on our account.” He jerked his head at Brooks. “It’s just a little friendly rivalry. We don’t mean anything by it.”
Judging from the tense look on Brooks’s face, that wasn’t quite the truth, but she didn’t want to debate it right then.
She smiled and squeezed his hand. “It’s not that at all. Or not totally that. I’m tired.”
“Then let’s get you home,” Brooks said, wrapping his arm around her waist.
“I’ll call you tomorrow,” Marcus said, raising her hand to his lips.
Leah forced a smile. Marcus really was sweet, but having him in the same room as Brooks was a bit much.
Brooks gave him a tense nod and led her from the room and out of the building.
“You were wonderful tonight, thank you,” he said as he helped her into the car.
She gave him a small smile. She hoped she’d been a help. She really did. But she couldn’t help but be grateful that she didn’t have to go to those parties every month. There was no way she could stand dealing with those people regularly. And she wasn’t sure how great a help she’d been in any case. Certainly not with the wives.
A room full of models, tech giants, celebrities, business moguls, and other masters of the universe didn’t seem all that impressed with a high school teacher, no matter how prestigious her school. And she didn’t want to spend her life trying to impress them.
But for Brooks’s sake, she hoped she had done enough. It would be nice, when all this was over, to know that being in his life had made it a little better.
“What’s the deal with you and Marcus?” she asked.
He sighed. “Nothing. Just some old school rivalry. No big deal.”
“Is this going to be a problem?” she asked. “Because he is the baby’s father. I can’t exactly tell him to get lost.”
“No. Really, don’t worry about it. Just guys being guys.” He threaded his fingers through hers and kissed her hand.
Now, why did that make her even more worried?