Since then, Victoria had felt some guilt that Ken had never seemed to recover from his hurt of the divorce. Over the years, as she’d seen him with one ghastly woman after another, she’d tried to keep her mouth shut. It hadn’t been easy.
Victoria had seen that each of Ken’s former girlfriends had all been the same: outspoken, almost gaudy, ambitious. Victoria couldn’t help being flattered that the women were poor copies of her—which meant that they weren’t right for Ken.
From her perspective, she thought he was afraid to love again. He didn’t want to risk having his hea
rt ripped out a second time, so he’d taken up with women who liked him for what he could give them. But then they made breaking up an easy choice.
As always, Addy had been quite perceptive about what was going on. “If you hadn’t kicked Ken in his very heart,” Addy said one night, “he would have become a mediocre architect struggling to stay in business. And he certainly wouldn’t have so much as canceled a tennis game to help some kid stay out of jail. But you showed him what rage can do.”
It took Victoria a moment before she could laugh at that backhand compliment, but it was so true that she did.
“Too bad Ken let his heart turn to stone,” Addy added and Victoria couldn’t help nodding in agreement. Yes, much too bad.
But now, as Victoria looked at Jilly standing by the sink, constantly looking out the window to see Ken, that old feeling of guilt ran through her. This woman was right for Ken, but would he be smart enough to act on it? Or would he be so damned scared that he’d spend years making up his mind?
When Jilly looked as though she’d seen something heavenly on earth, Victoria knew that Ken was coming. She got up, went to Jilly, and kissed her on the cheek. “I like you,” she said. “Remember that.”
When Victoria saw Ken walking toward the house, she threw open the door and hurried out to greet him. She had to admit that he looked better than he had in years. The usual hangdog, melancholy sadness that lingered in his eyes wasn’t there.
“Darling,” Victoria said loudly as she threw her arms around his neck and kissed both his cheeks.
Pulling away, he glanced at Jilly standing in the doorway. “What’s going on?”
“Nothing,” Victoria said. “Can’t I be glad to see the father of my child?” She slipped her arm in his and moved to the side, but kept him where Jilly could see them. “I met your newest and I must say that she’s adorable. She’s so sweet that I think even you can handle her.”
“Victoria, you can emasculate a man in a sentence. I need to go.”
“No,” she said, smiling and holding firmly on to his arm. “You and I have to talk about our daughter. I’m sure your bland little doll won’t mind waiting for a few minutes.”
Ken, his face already angry, pulled out of Victoria’s grasp, and glared at her. “Jilly is far from bland. She—” He waved his hand. “What do you have to say about Alix?”
“I was just wondering about her and Jared. You know what he’s like, and I’m afraid he’s going to cast her aside and break her heart.”
“You read too many of your own novels. Jared and Alix are well suited. I need to—”
“You mean they work together? I hear he has her doing all his drafting for him. What’s he doing while she works? Picking up girls at a local bar?”
“Victoria, I don’t have time for this! Jared is a good man and you know it. He and Alix—” Ken took a breath to calm himself. “Look, I need to get to work myself. I’m late as it is.” He turned away.
“Thank you for letting this Julie live in the house with me. She’s so docile and eager to please that she’s doing all my washing and she cleans up the kitchen for me. I wonder if she irons. Can she cook? I want to have a dinner party on Saturday, so your Julie can take care of it for me. Thank you so much for lending her to me.”
“Victoria!” Ken growled, his teeth and fists clenched. “If you—”
“If I what, darling?” She smiled at him sweetly.
Ken was so angry he couldn’t speak. He gave his ex-wife one more look of rage, then stomped off into the house, slamming the door behind him.
Victoria watched as Ken stormed over to Jilly, who was still standing by the window. Ken grabbed Jilly and kissed her so hard and with so much passion that when he stepped away, she looked dazed. Ken held tightly onto her shoulders and Victoria saw him speak to her with such force that all Jilly did was nod yes.
Moments later, Ken slammed out of the house. He didn’t so much as slow down when he went past Victoria, but he said, “Get your own damned maid!”
Turning, Victoria looked at Jilly through the window. She still looked to be in a state of shock. She disappeared for a moment, then opened the back door and practically ran to Victoria.
“Ken said that I wasn’t going to be your maid so he wants me to pack and move into the second bedroom in the guesthouse. With him.” She was blinking rapidly. “Victoria, I don’t know what to say except …” She took a breath. “I love you. Really, I do. If there’s anything I can ever do for you, please let me know. Ken—” She broke off at the sound of quick footsteps coming toward them.
Victoria put her finger to her lips as she said loudly and in an arrogant tone, “Of course my undies have to be washed by hand. And my sheets are from Lion’s Paw so they’re ultra luxurious. I need them ironed as I must have crisp sheets.”
Ken stopped by the two women and glared at Victoria before turning to Jilly. “Why don’t you spend the day at the site with me?”