Belinda (16 page)

Then the businessman in him took over. He had
never seen a problem that couldn’t be solved. He went into the
kitchen and made himself a cup of coffee, then he came back to his
desk and began to work out a solution to his problem.

Belinda figured she would go down in history
as the most boring date of Jerry Orion’s life. Thank goodness, he
knew this was only a game. And fortunately, he was the kind of guy
who didn’t need help in being entertained. She could have been a
pumpkin head sitting on a mop handle, and he still would have
stayed out till past midnight, having a big time.

Finally she couldn’t stand the suspense any
longer. She had to find out if this latest ploy was working with
Reeve.

“I hate to be a party pooper,” she said, “but
it’s getting rather late.”

“I take it that means you want to go
home?”

“Yes, please. And thanks for being such a
good sport.”

“Anything for Molly Rakestraw. And just for
the record, I’d have asked you without her proding if I’d known
what a hot chick you are.”

He took her home, then kissed her goodnight
and left whistling.

She saw light under Reeve’s office door the
minute she got to the hall. She thought about waltzing straight
over and knocking on his door, but then decided to play it cool and
go upstairs.

She had her foot on the first step when Reeve
opened his door. Light poured out into the darkened hall.

“Belinda.”

“Yes?” She hoped she’d used just the right
inflection of aloofness.

“Would you come in here, please?”

He had gone back to his desk and was sitting
in his chair by the time she entered his office. She sat in the
chair facing his desk.

“Did you have a good time this evening?” he
asked.

“Yes,” she lied, studying him closely, trying
to gauge his feelings. He seemed extraordinarily relaxed.

“What did you think of the movie?”

“You know me. I love all movies.”

“Yes.” He smiled. “I know you.”

There was something strange about this
interview, something unlike any of their other meetings, but
Belinda couldn’t put her finger on it. She became wary.

“Is there anything specific you want to talk
about, Reeve?”

“Indulge me a moment—please.” He actually
smiled at her. She guessed that meant he was happy she’d gone out
with Jerry. Maybe Reeve was even hoping Jerry would take her off
his hands.

“Do you have plans to see this young man
again?”

“Does my job hinge on my answer?”

“No. And please feel no compunction to answer
if you don’t want to.”

“Since you put it that way—no, I don’t plan
to see him again.”

Reeve smiled once more. Belinda held on to
her composure, but it was hard. Keeping her love a secret from a
cool and aloof Reeve was one thing; keeping it a secret from a warm
and smiling Reeve was another. She folded her hands in her lap and
watched him with all the quiet dignity she could muster.

Reeve fiddled with his letter opener. Such a
nervous gesture was unusual for him. When he dropped it back to his
desk with a clank, Belinda jumped.

“I suppose you want to get married someday,”
Reeve said.

Married.
What was Reeve thinking?
She decided to play it light. “I used to think about that a good
bit, but my best prospects got away.”

“Ah, yes. Charlie and Matt?” He studied her a
while, then said suddenly, “Did you love them?”

“No.”

“But you considered marrying them?”

“At the time I thought it was a good
idea.”

“I see.” Reeve picked up the letter opener
once more and ran his finger down the length of the blade. His eyes
were dark and unfathomable as he looked at her across his desk,
then very carefully he put the letter opener back down on the
desk.

“Belinda, I have a business proposition for
you.”

“Another one?”

“Yes.” He smiled again. “This time I plan to
tell you my reasons before I propose the business arrangement. All
I ask is that you please hear me out before you say anything.”

“Agreed.”

“You know that after my wife died I had a
hard time keeping a nanny for the children. I lost eight of them in
two years. Some of them left of their own accord. I fired the
others.” He paused to let that bit of information sink in.

“My household and, indeed, my very life,
seemed to be out of control. I am a man who likes order and routine
and a sense of permanence. I need stability and I want my children
to have it, too.”

He rose from his chair and stood gazing out
the window at the darkness. Belinda didn’t say anything. She hardly
dared breathe. Prickles danced along her skin, and she developed a
nervous itch on her elbow, but she wasn’t about to scratch it.
Ladies didn’t scratch.

Reeve turned from the window and walked to
her chair. Then he squatted beside her and took her hand. “Your
hand is cold.”

“Am I allowed to respond?”

“Yes.”

“Yes, my hands are cold—and yours are
warm.”

“That makes us a team. I’ll transfer some of
my warmth to you.” He took both her hands and chafed them between
his. “Better?”

“Yes. Thank you.”

He studied her a long time before he said
anything. Having him so close made her pulse race. She hoped she
wouldn’t do anything foolish, like blurting out the truth.

“Belinda, what I am about to propose is going
to sound shocking to you at first, but I want you to give it very
careful consideration. You don’t have to tell me your answer right
away. You can give me your answer in the morning.”

“The answer to what?”

He surprised her by moving to his desk, and
then standing there all remote and formal.

“In less than a week I’ll be leaving for
France. I’ve decided that the best way to ensure permanence in my
household is to marry you.”

“Marry
me!”

“This is strictly a business proposition. In
return for your loyalty to me and my children, I will provide a
generous income for the rest of your life and a house to be
purchased for you at my death. Naturally, my children will inherit
this house.” He gave her time to digest his proposal before he
continued, “I won’t expect to exert any conjugal rights. I am not
buying your body, just your loyalty.”

Had he lost his mind! She sat there in
shocked silence.

“Belinda? Did you understand everything I
said?”

“Perfectly. And I don’t know how you could
doubt my loyalty.”

“I don’t doubt it, Belinda. I appreciate it,
but there is no guarantee you’ll stay. You are a lovely young
woman. You won’t always be content to stay in my house and take
care of my children. Before long some young man will turn your
head, and you’ll leave.”

Her head was spinning. Here she was, sitting
in Reeve’s office listening to her dream come true. She should feel
excited and happy. Married to the man she loved.

“If you agree to this proposition, we’ll be
married before the week is out. I’ll arrange for all the necessary
tests and legal documents tomorrow.”

“Just like that?”

“Yes, it’s that simple. I know this is
unexpected, and you don’t have to give your answer tonight,
Belinda. But I would like an answer in the morning.”

“What about love?” she whispered.

“I thought I made that clear. This is a
business proposition, one I want to get settled before I leave to
develop foreign markets for Lawrence Enterprises.”

“I know... you want to marry me for business
reasons. Did you marry Sunny for love?”

“Of course.”

“Then how do I know you won’t fall in love
again and divorce
me—if
I decide to marry you.”

“Belinda, love is well and good for the young
and the innocent. I had it once, and I’m grateful for that, but I
don’t plan to indulge in it again. A man with a family can’t build
his life on emotion, but he can build it on careful planning.’’

“Like selecting the right stocks and
investing in the right properties?”

“Precisely.”

“No,” she said.

“I beg your pardon.”

“I said
No.
” She stood up, barely
clinging to control. “I won’t marry you under these conditions,
Reeve. I am more than a good stock investment.”

“Of course, you are, Belinda. I didn’t mean
to imply that.”

“You didn’t have to imply, Reeve. You said it
outright. First I’m a project and now I’m a business
proposition.”

“I didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I’m
sorry.”

He looked genuinely contrite and more than a
little puzzled. Still, she stood there quietly, not willing to let
him off the hook so easily.

“Look, Belinda. Maybe we can work out a
compromise. I’ll take you Rome, Paris, London. I’ll buy you a new
car, jewels, whatever you want. Just name it.”

She wanted to slap him.

“If you think I’d sell myself to you or any
man, you don’t know me at all Reeve Lawrence.”

Suddenly, he looked so defeated she almost
felt sorry for him.

“What do you want, Belinda?”

“Now that I’ve turned you down, I want to
know if I still get to keep my job.”

“Of course, you get to keep your job!”

“You don’t have to roar.”

“I’m not roaring.”

“Yes, you are. Furthermore, there’s something
else I have to tell you.”

Reeve sat down like a man suddenly too tired
to stand.

“I can hardly wait to hear,” he said. It gave
her no satisfaction that he meant exactly the opposite.

“My name is not Belinda Diamond. It’s
Stubaker.”

“Good lord.” He ran his hands through his
hair. “Did somebody pay you to come into my home and ingratiate
yourself to me and my family?”

“No. I made up the name so I could start my
new life in Tupelo as a brand new woman. I succeeded, too.” She
jutted out her chin and defied him to contradict her. “I wanted a
name that was glamorous and sparkly and shiny, like the new life I
imagined I’d have.”

For a moment his face softened, and she felt
a wild hope that they could start over and somehow salvage a
relationship that until tonight had been friendly and playful. And
then that hard expression came back into his face.

“What’s your next revelation, Belinda
Stubaker.
That you have a criminal record?”

She felt as if she’d been socked in the
stomach. Her fists clenched as she glared at him.

“No,” she said, “but I’m fixing to.”

“When?”

“If you ever propose to me again without
being down on your knees, I going to shoot you.”

From: Belinda

To: Molly, Joanna, Janet, Catherine, Clemmie,
Bea

Re: Plan Gone Awry

You are not going to believe this. Reeve
asked me to be his wife – in a marriage of convenience!!! I nearly
slapped him silly. And that was after I told him no! Still, I’m
crazy in love with him, and can’t even imagine what I’ll do if I
end up losing him.

XO

Belinda

From: Catherine

To: Belinda, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Clemmie,
Janet

Re: The nerve!

OMG,
shoot him
and move on!

XOXO

Catherine

From: Janet

To: Belinda, Bea, Molly, Joanna, Catherine,
Clemmie

Re: What?

A marriage of
convenience!!!!
Is he
out of his mind!!!!
That went out with the
Dark
Ages!
Belinda, are you sure he’s the man for you?

Xo

Janet

From: Bea

To: Belinda, Molly, Joanna, Janet, Catherine,
Clemmie

Re: Full Throttle

Everybody just hold your horses! True, that
was a
really dumb
idea. If I didn’t know that Lawrence
Enterprises is a Fortune 500 company, I’d think Reeve Lawrence
didn’t have a brain.

Belinda, you’re kicking butt! A man talking
marriage is already halfway to the altar. It’s time to
step up
the heat!!!! Get independent!
Make him think you’re
leaving him!

Hugs,

Bea

From: Clemmie

To: Bea, Belinda, Joanna, Molly, Catherine,
Janet

Re: Sunday!

Oh, Bea, that’s brilliant! Belinda, if you’re
off on Sunday, I’m coming over to teach you how to drive. Then you
can rent a car and go off without having to depend on one of
Molly’s guys to escort you.

Hugs,

Clemmie

From: Molly

To: Clemmie, Belinda, Joanna, Catherine,
Janet, Bea

Re: Driving

How deliciously sneaky!!! Clemmie, I didn’t
know you had it in you! There’s nothing to driving, Belinda. Just
put give it the gas and hold it in the road!

Much love,

Molly

From: Joanna

To: Belinda, Clemmie, Molly, Catherine,
Janet, Bea

Re: Gambling

OH, I LOVE THIS! Belinda, tell him you’re
going over to Tunica gambling!!!! LOL! That’ll get his motor
running!!! Trust me. Men are VERY protective. Kirk thinks I can’t
tie my Adidas without him.

BIG HUGS!

Joanna

From: Belinda

To: Clemmie, Molly, Joanna, Bea, Janet,
Catherine

Re: Driving Lessons

I feel so much better now! Come over Sunday,
Clemmie, but where will I practice? I don’t want to wreck your
car.

Xo

Belinda

From: Clemmie

To: Belinda, Molly, Joanna, Bea, Janet,
Catherine

Re: Sunday

Find a big open space. There are some huge
farms between here and Tupelo. Hussey Sod Farm, for one. There
ought to be plenty of cow pastures we can use.

Hugs,

Clemmie

Belinda closed her laptop and put on a tank
top and jeans so tight they looked like they’d been painted on. Let
Mr. Marriage of Convenience get a look at that! Then she hurried
down the stairs so he could see what he was missing. If she hadn’t
still been smarting from last night’s encounter, she’d have
giggled. Lord, she was turning into a devious woman!