A Win-Win Proposition (Case Brothers 2)

“Something like that. Only it might not have taken longer than a couple weeks. I don’t fit in your world. Tonight proved it.”

“Proved it how? Do you seriously think a bunch of blowhards are my world? Or those two-dimensional women whose lives revolve around parties and spending money?” Sebastian’s voice softened. “What the hell made you such a cynic?”

Missy hesitated. It wasn’t her proudest moment, but if he knew the truth, he might realize why they’d never work outside the bedroom.

“When I was a sophomore in high school I dated a guy from the wealthiest family in the county. He was a senior and heading to college on a football scholarship. We’d talk for hours about the future. He couldn’t wait to get out of Crusade. His daddy owned the bank. Chip was supposed to get a business degree and come back.”

“Chip?” Sebastian repeated the name.

“Robert. His daddy called him a chip off the old block and the name stuck.” She always smiled when she remembered those months before her world crumbled. “But Chip’s dreams were bigger than Crusade and that’s what I loved about him. Not his fancy car like my family thought or his money. He was going to reach for the stars and I wanted to be right beside him, living my own dreams.”

Her voice faded. Funny how fifteen years later her dreams consisted of spending two years saving for a fairytale wedding gown, only to have her boyfriend dump her in favor of a woman he scarcely knew.

“So, you dated a rich kid with big dreams. What happened?”

“His friends never liked that I was dating him. They thought being with me lowered his status. One of them started a rumor that I’d gotten pregnant on purpose hoping that he’d marry me.”

Why even now did her mouth go dry when she remembered how he’d screamed at her, calling her a stupid slut who’d ruined his life? It was fifteen years in the past, yet as vivid as if it had happened yesterday.

“Maybe I believed myself in love with him. And, sure, I considered what being married to him would be like—but I wasn’t trying to get pregnant. I was on the pill and I made him use protection. But he freaked out. Dumped me. Ruined my reputation.” She eased her death grip on her clutch. Forced her shoulders to relax. “Told everyone I’d done lots of things.” The rest of the explanation wouldn’t come. Sebastian would just have to use his imagination. “Needless to say, my family was horrified. My mom had suffered a stroke a couple months before. Dad grounded me for about a year. Which was okay. My social life was over.”

“I’m sorry you had to go through that. But the party tonight wasn’t high school.”

“No. But the concept is the same. Chip dumped me because his friends believed I wasn’t good enough for him and made him believe terrible things about me. Those were your friends in there tonight.”

“Not my friends. Business associates and acquaintances.”

“But they’re your social circle. They didn’t welcome me with open arms.”

“You’re comparing me to some weak-minded boy. Do you really imagine I would turn on you like that?”

“I never said you would.” But it wasn’t only about the two of them. She was pregnant. What if he wanted to marry her? She’d eventually disappoint him. Or worse, he’d be too furious to ever want to see her again. “But you can’t blame a girl for wanting to protect herself from getting hurt.”

After leaving Missy at her front door with a kiss designed to get him inside her apartment—a kiss that failed—Sebastian swung by Nathan and Emma’s. His new sister-in-law crafted jewelry. Dazzling one-of-a-kind pieces that had garnered her some great publicity and made demand for her work soar.

That’s why, with a minor difficulty with her pregnancy slowing her down and the demand for her work increasing, Sebastian had to wait three weeks for the special piece he’d commissioned.

Nathan answered Sebastian’s knock, looking none too pleased at his brother’s late appearance. Already dressed for bed, he blocked Sebastian’s entrance with his hand on the door. “You’re the mystery client she’s been working night and day for?”

“Hardly night and day,” Emma said, ducking under her husband’s arm. She smiled at Sebastian. “He worries too much.”

“You heard the doctor. You’re supposed to take it easy.”

“It’s a little high blood pressure.”

“It’s preeclampsia.” Nathan’s tone made it sound like a death sentence.

“Forgive my husband,” Emma said. “Come in. Your order is ready.”

“Order?” Nathan echoed, stepping back as his wife applied an elbow to his ribs. He trailed her as far as the living room. When she headed into her workroom, he rounded on Sebastian. “What sort of order did you place with my wife that has kept her up late working?”

Sebastian observed the changes in his sibling with interest. Nathan had such a casual, freewheeling style at work. Nothing much seemed to bother him. He handled successes and setbacks with the same cool confidence.

His pregnant wife, however, brought out a keen, possessive side.

“It’s nothing I feel like talking about at the moment.”

“You’re keeping her from getting the rest she needs. I think I have the right to know why.”