Authors: Collette Scott
“Thomas, how are you?”
He held out his hand, and Thomas took it in a firm handshake. Diana stood beside him, smiling politely. He glanced down at her in preparation to make introductions, but she surprised him again by taking the initiative.
“Thomas, Esther, how are you?”
Devlan’s eyes widened in surprise. She knew them?
“Diana? My God, Thomas, look! It's Diana!”
The older woman stepped forward and held out her arms, embracing Diana in a hearty hug. The other diners around them glared at them from their tables, irritated by the loud display, but Devlan was too stunned to intervene.
Ignoring their stares, Thomas took her hands in his and kissed her soundly. “Diana? What are you doing in California?”
“My daughter is here recovering from an accident. She was hit by a car.”
“That’s horrible. Will she be okay?”
Diana nodded. “We’re over the worst of it.”
Thomas turned his attention back to Devlan and narrowed his eyes. “So how did you meet up with Diana, Doyle?”
“She’s my sister-in-law. She’s staying with me during Hannah’s rehab.”
Thomas eyed the two suspiciously. “And where’s your husband, Diana? Are you two still together? Haven’t seen him since you were married. As a matter of fact, we lost complete track of you after the wedding.”
“I’m a widow now,” she said softly. “Auto accident this past summer.”
Esther’s eyes seemed to fill with tears of pity. “Two car accidents? Just months apart? Oh, that’s terrible. I’m so sorry we weren’t there for you. First your parents, and now your husband. Just tragic. Is there anything we can do for you?”
Diana took Esther’s hands in her own. “You’re so kind.”
“She’s fine. She’s in my care now, and I’m taking good care of her.” Devlan securely wrapped his arm around Diana’s waist, aware by her rigid posture that she was not pleased.
Thomas raised his brows suggestively, and Devlan realized that it was fast becoming no secret how much he wanted this woman. However, the older man took it in stride and smoothly changed the subject.
“I hear you put Littleton back in his place a few weeks ago. Good man.”
Devlan had to chuckle. It was true that Littleton was not a happy man, but it was not him who had set him back. “That was Kathy. Just doing her job.”
“Ah, Kathy. And how is that beautiful assistant of yours now? God knows, man, you should just marry her and be done with it.”
Devlan was aware of the strange look Diana gave him and quickly sought to diffuse the situation. “Kathy’s happily married with two children, Thomas. Alas, another beautiful woman lost.”
“Diana’s widowed now, Devlan, perhaps she’d be the perfect Mrs. Doyle?”
Devlan’s hand tightened around her waist, and he pulled her closer. The open display proved too much for her, and she pulled back with a slight frown.
“I’m not so sure Devlan’s ready to settle down quite yet. Have you seen his track record lately?” she said.
A collective gasp echoed between Devlan and their uninvited guests followed by polite chuckles. Diana’s eyes twinkled mischievously when she stared up at him, and this time it was he who was not amused. His hand tightened around her waist again.
“Perhaps I’m still looking for the right woman,” he muttered.
Esther smiled and pinched his cheek while Thomas leaned forward and whispered in the general direction of his ear. “Well, look no further, lad. I’ve known Diana since she was a precocious little girl. Never met a smarter child. You’d be wise to grab her while you can.”
Devlan threw back his head and laughed. If only he knew. “I’m trying, Thomas, you’ve no idea.”
“Well, good luck to you, then. I’ll see you on the course soon?”
“Of course.”
Thomas returned his attention to Diana, who was frowning at their whispers. “We must run, dear. Take a card and call me. Devlan will let you out of his sight long enough to visit with some old friends, right Dev?”
Devlan nodded reluctantly. As much as he would love to keep her all to himself, he knew that she would very openly rebel. “Of course.”
“I’ve just arrived today, so I’m sure he’ll be tired of me soon,” Diana answered smoothly. He bristled again, but Esther did not seem to notice her veiled insult.
“Take care, dear, and please call soon.”
“I will, Esther, thank you. Thomas, it was good to see you.”
“Likewise, darling girl, now run along. Too many people staring.”
Devlan grunted in agreement. So much for a quiet, pleasant evening to get to know one another. First photographers, and now some old friends. What would be next?
Despite the interruption, he soon realized there had been a benefit after all. Seeing Thomas and Esther Holmes had lightened Diana’s mood considerably. She became animated, less frightened and much more talkative. With only a little prodding he was able to learn more about her childhood in Connecticut and the crash that made her an orphan. Over a dinner of roasted lamb and pickled salmon, Devlan learned that her father and Thomas had been good friends as well as Esther and her mother. It was obvious that Diana had a happy childhood and treasured her parents very much. Once they were gone, she met and quickly married Peter in the hopes of having a family again.
In the short space of one meal, he had learned more about her than in all the time they had spent together combined. As the minutes passed, he watched her visibly relax and felt better than he had in days. Finally, he was making progress. They shared laughter as well as conversation, and her quick wit amused him tremendously. He was further surprised to see Diana’s normally cool manner melt when dessert was brought out. Like a child, her face gleamed in the candlelight when she leaned forward excitedly.
“I have a horrible sweet tooth,” she admitted with a wry grin.
“I’ll keep that in mind.”
Reaching forward, Devlan poured himself another glass of wine. It was a great Chardonnay, not too heavy, and one he discovered and committed to memory that Diana liked. He sat back and sipped it as he watched her help herself to the dessert platter. Pleased with his progress, he smiled contentedly and decided to push a little further.
“So I’ve heard about your wonderful childhood. Now tell me about Peter,” he said.
Diana placed down her spoon and shot him a cold look. “I’d rather not ruin a pleasant evening.”
In no mood to spoil the mood, Devlan nodded in agreement and flashed a smile. “Then at least tell me why I’m such a jerk.”
“What makes you say that?”
“When I first met you at the funeral you looked at me with disgust. Besides, you told me he had said things, and then there was your comment to Esther and Thomas... Well, I’d like to know what kind of monster I’m supposed to be.”
Diana glanced down at her plate and took another sip of wine. Her discomfort was plain, but the wine she had consumed that evening loosened her tongue. “Peter said you were a horrible womanizer. He said you would never commit to anyone, left a trail of broken hearts, and used women only for sex. Afterwards you used to mark your conquests on an Irish walking stick.”
“That is actually true,” Devlan admitted with a laugh. “In college I did that. But it wasn’t because
I
went from woman to woman. Unfortunately, I was the one being dumped.”
Diana laughed as well, her eyes revealing her disbelief. “You’re a handsome man. I find it hard to believe that women dumped you.”
“Well, they did. I think it was because I was too nice. Girls always look for the bad boys.” When she snorted in answer, a wide grin crossed his face. “Okay, so that’s a partial falsehood. What else did he say?”
“He was very explicit in detailing how you stole his share of the inheritance from your father and used it to buy into a company that took off. He was left with nothing and said that you made millions off his small share and refused to pay any of it back.”
“What a bastard I was.”
Diana shrugged. “Maybe he deserved it.”
“Do you still believe him?”
She met and held his gaze. “I don’t know what to believe anymore. One minute you’re a businessman with more money than I could ever imagine, and the next you’re an ordinary guy. You’ve bought me thousands of dollars’ worth of clothes; you’ve taken care of my daughter’s medical bills… Wow, you’ve done so much for Hannah and me in the past month.
“Part of me says that it’s just guilt over what you did to Peter.” She stopped and sighed, her eyes softening to a sky blue. Her voice was low and husky, and the sound of it warmed his bones. “Then part of me says you are a decent man who would never stoop to such heinous lows, and what you’ve done for me you’ve done because you really care what happens to us.”
Unable to look away from her, his voice dropped an octave when he answered. “Is it so hard to admit that Peter was not telling the truth?”
She shook her head quickly, smiling sadly. “Knowing what I do now, no.”
Devlan pressed his advantage. “None of that is true. Peter’s inheritance was smaller than mine because my mother brought in the money. Peter was only my step-brother; he never even knew my mother.”
She nodded.
“Before he died, my father set aside a college fund for him. That was his inheritance. He spent it all before he finished his second year of school.”
“That’s when I met him,” she admitted softly.
“Yes, I know. He came home several times and asked me to give him a loan. The economy had just started turning, and I had put every dime I had into a failing software company. I had nothing to give him. He never forgot it, especially when I came out with our mobile software and my company took off the following year. I expanded from there and grew by leaps and bounds. By that time he had you and was planning to get married. He no longer needed me.
“But, I’ll tell you Diana, I’ve never met a man who could hold a grudge like he did. He could be completely wrong and still make you feel like you were in error.”
“Believe me, I know,” she agreed softly.
“Well, if you knew him and how he was, why were you so quick to think the worst?”
She was opening to him. He could see it in her eyes. All of his patience was slowly wearing her down. He could almost taste his victory.
“I don’t know.” She shrugged. “You’re Peter’s brother? After what he did to me… I guess it was easier to think the worst. That way I could dislike you and not care what you did. But you’ve made that so hard to do.”
“Yeah, well you’ve made it very hard for me too.”
“I don’t want to be hurt again.”
For the first time she allowed him to see the vulnerability in her eyes. She was still a woman inside, underneath all that pain. With some tenderness from him, it was possible for her to heal. He just knew it.
As he continued to watch her icy walls melt before his eyes, their waiter returned to slip him the check. Without even glancing at the bill, he placed his card in it and returned the slip. Then he reached across the table and took her hand within his own. Her fingers slipped around his in a firm grip, almost clinging. He had finally done it, and he was eager to show her that there was so much he could do if she would just let him.
“I am not a monster, Diana,” he replied. “Nor am I anything like Peter. I just want you to give me the chance to show you that.”
“It’s hard for me to trust again,” she said softly.
“I understand that, and I’m a patient man. I can wait.”
“But you won’t be around forever. You have a different life. A full life. Hannah and I will be an inconvenience.”
“That’s not true. You only see the money. You don’t see that I am a man who has only a small family left and the means to make sure they are safe. That’s my motivation, Diana. To share what I have with you.”
She paused, biting her lip in indecision. Seeing her growing weakness, he jumped at the opportunity.
“Let me show you how to be happy again, Diana. Let me be your sanctuary until you’re confident again.”
A slight almost imperceptible nod tilted her blond head. Suddenly he felt a little hot around the collar, and it seemed as though everyone knew it. He sat back and glanced around, but the other diners were focused on their own business and not paying them any attention. Still, the urge to be alone with Diana, to show her exactly what he promised, was overwhelming. He had waited long enough. It was time to seal the deal.
Chapter 8
This time Diana allowed him to slip his arm around her waist as he led her out to the waiting car, and they passed back through the restaurant without any interruptions. He ushered her out the door and into the cool evening air, barely nodding his thanks to the staff as he went. His mind was whirling with plans about playing out the fantasies that he had only previously dreamed. But first he needed to get her alone.
Luckily Wills appeared almost immediately with the car, and no sooner had the door shut behind them than Devlan was pulling Diana across the plush seat to his side. She gasped in surprise, but for the first time since she had melted against him in her kitchen, she came willingly into the circle of his arms. The silky material of her cocktail dress felt perfect under his heated fingers, and he enjoyed the sensation as his hands slid slowly up her back to her shoulders.