“Is he the one you were with romantically?” Ella’s razor-sharp gaze had Stasia gnashing her lower lip.
“Uh…” Stasia didn’t know how to answer.
“We saw you with him, you know. One night at some boring cocktail party, we were lurking in the corner. Rhett was plotting a way to sneak out of there early and we saw you with a man. He became nervous, worried you’d want to talk to him again. Not that he’s afraid of you or anything, but when it’s something that serious, he doesn’t like being the one to handle it. He’d rather hand that over to Alex or even Hunter.”
So Rhett had seen her and wanted to avoid her. Not that she could blame him. She’d been completely crazed at that moment. Desperate to talk to someone, to get the answers she so desperately wanted to hear.
“Rhett then told me later the same man we saw you with that night was the attorney who represented you at that first meeting you all had.” Ella’s gaze met hers, filled with kindness and understanding. “It was him, wasn’t it?”
“It’s okay.” Gracie reached over and patted her arm awkwardly. “Looks like we’ve all had our inappropriate relationships with men we work with. You’re now a full-fledged member of our club.”
Stasia should feel terrible. Guilty for what she’d done with Gavin. But instead, she felt…relieved. So relieved to confess her so-called sins, happy that these three women didn’t judge, didn’t seem to care. That they could actually relate to her predicament.
For the first time in a long time, Stasia felt like she belonged.
“That’s a good one, Gracie. We should definitely form a club,” Tessa said with an eager nod.
“I don’t quite fit in, though,” Gracie pointed out with a smirk. “You all have names that end with an ‘a’ sound and I don’t.”
“Huh. True.” Ella pointed at Gracie. “You can be the head of the club, then.”
They all laughed again, Ella bouncing up off the couch and announcing she was going to grab appetizers she’d prepared earlier for their evening before she hurried out of the room.
The women grew quiet, Stasia contemplative, mulling over everything they revealed. Maybe it had been a mistake, leaving Gavin like she had…
She frowned. It had most definitely been a mistake. How rude her abrupt rejection of him had been, especially after they’d made love. That had been part of the problem as well. She’d felt so close to him, so connected, halfway in love with him, really.
And that had scared her to bits.
“You do remind me of my husband,” Gracie said out of nowhere, her quiet voice startling Stasia from her thoughts. “He grudgingly admitted a few nights ago that you looked like him.”
Stasia smiled at Gracie. She liked her, felt she had the most in common with her out of the three women, though they were all wonderfully friendly and accepting. “I can grudgingly admit I look like him too.”
Gracie laughed. “He’s not so bad, my husband. Beneath the slick attitude and sometimes gruff exterior, he really is a sweetheart.”
“To you, I’m sure.” Stasia sighed. “He was so awful to me in that meeting.”
“He is very protective of his family, bottom line. He will do anything, and I mean anything, to protect the family name.” Gracie paused. “He thought Tessa was a company spy selling ideas to the competition and treated her terribly.”
Tessa, who overheard them, nodded in agreement. “It’s true. He made me cry. More than once.”
“He made me cry too,” Stasia murmured, gazing downward. If she thought about it too much, she might start crying again.
“And now he adores Tessa. She adores him too…I think.” Gracie winked and Tessa smirked in return.
“I do. I understand his gruff side. It’s just…his way. Alex is the same. The only exception is Rhett. He’s a sweetheart. Protective but so charming you’d never realize he’s being an asshole.”
“Oh, trust me. He can be an ass,” Ella said as she came back into the room, carrying a platter of a variety of appetizers. “I’ve dealt with my fair share of Rhett’s jerk side.”
“But you still love him,” Stasia said, reaching for a stuffed olive the moment Ella set the tray on the coffee table. “Despite his faults.”
“Of course. And I have plenty of faults. I’m not perfect.”
“None of us are,” Tessa added.
Stasia ate quietly, absorbing everything they’d said. No one was perfect, least of all her. So why had she been so hard on herself, her family? On Gavin?
She missed him. They’d known each other for such a short time yet he’d somehow wound himself tightly inside her life. Made her long for things she no longer had, such as him. She wondered how he was.
Wondered if he’d ever see her again…
The call had come into his office unexpectedly on an otherwise boring Thursday afternoon, the sound of Alex’s voice reminding Gavin of Stasia. Not that he needed a reminder of the woman who stomped all over his heart and left him.
“I’m meeting with your client this weekend, but I don’t think I want you there.” Alex chuckled, sounding rather amused with himself. “I can’t deny the DNA test. Anastasia is definitely a Worth.”
Gavin stiffened, tapping the edge of his desk with impatient fingers. He really didn’t want to talk about this, about Stasia. She was a wound that hadn’t healed. “She’s not my client any longer.”
“Really? Well, that’s surprising. And fast.”
“She fired me.”
Alex blew out a breath. “Harsh.”
“I’m surprised you’re meeting her so soon. The three of you were rather hostile when we last saw you,” Gavin said, wanting information. His curiosity got the best of him though he knew it was pointless.
He wasn’t going to see her again. Learning more about her would only hurt later.
“Once we heard of the DNA results, we knew we had to act. Besides, the women love her.”
“The women?”
“My wife, Hunter’s wife and Rhett’s girlfriend. They met with Stasia a few nights ago. Said she fits right in,” Alex explained.
She was back in town? And she hadn’t tried to reach him once? That hurt more than he cared to admit.
“So she fits right in with the family, hmm?” Gavin asked, trying to sound nonchalant. His heart rate picked up and he thumbed through his cell, stopping at Stasia’s number.
No way could he call her first. Could he?
“It appears so.”
No surprise. Everyone loved Stasia if they just gave her a chance.
Including him, not that he’d ever admit that to a soul.
“That’s great. I’m happy she’s found her spot in your family,” he gritted out between his teeth.
Alex laughed, the jackass. “You don’t sound happy. You sound freaking miserable. Work stressing you out?”
“You could say that.” Gavin was leaving the office the second this conversation was over. He needed to get out and clear his head.
“I get it.” Alex paused for a moment too long and, for whatever reason, it made Gavin nervous. “I wasn’t supposed to say anything. Tessa swore me to secrecy, but…”
Gavin sat up straighter. “What?”
“Stasia confessed her, shall we say, indiscretion with you.”
“What the hell are you talking about?” Gavin went immediately on the defensive, icy shock coursing through his veins that Stasia would ever admit to what they’d shared. He’d figured she would move on and pretend it never happened. She’d discarded him like yesterday’s trash, so why dwell on it?
“Listen.” Alex’s voice lowered. “Those women get together and talk about relationships and babies and love and marriage and us.” He sighed harshly. “They started digging and they figured out you two were an item. Stasia folded fairly easily, according to Tessa. She confessed all.”
“All?” Gavin started to sweat.
Alex chuckled. “Don’t worry. I don’t necessarily care what happened between you and Stasia. Though, as her brother, I’m now obliged to say that if you hurt her in any way whatsoever, I’ll break your neck.”
The steely strength underlying Alex’s statement proved he meant every word he said. Not that Gavin doubted him. “She’s the one who dumped me.”
“I know. Now we’re getting to the part where I shouldn’t be telling you any of this.” Alex paused before he plunged on. “She misses you. A lot.”
His heart tripped over itself. He missed her too. So much, it hurt. “It doesn’t matter,” Gavin lied. “She said we were through.”
“She might be having second thoughts.”
“Might be a little too late for second thoughts, don’t you think?”
“I don’t know. I’m not you.”
Gavin quietly seethed. He did not want to hear this. Didn’t want to think of Stasia missing him. Wanting him. Just like he missed and wanted her still. Simply hearing her name brought his hopes up, made him think they possibly had a chance…
They had no chance. She’d made that more than clear.
“She’s been lonely.” By choice. “Now that she has familial support from you and yours, she’ll be fine.”
“You sound so sure of that,” Alex said, sounding rather reflective. “We might not be enough, though.”
“Then she’ll find another man.” The mere thought filled him with rage. He’d never been the jealous type, but the idea of Stasia with another man filled him with a possessiveness he couldn’t deny.
“You sound like you need a drink. Want to meet for one after work?”
Gavin was surprised at the suggestion. He and Alex were old friends, but still. They hadn’t gotten together in a long while and plus with all the Renaldi mess going on, he figured Alex wanted to keep his distance for professional reasons.
But if the Worths were willing to bring Stasia into the fold, then they didn’t need to keep their distance from each other any longer. Besides, he didn’t work for her.
“As long as you’re not working through half the night, I’m game,” Gavin said.
Alex snorted. “Give me a break. You’re just as much a workaholic as I am.”
He was right. In fact, he was worse lately. Far easier to work until he couldn’t see straight than sit at home and wonder what might’ve been…
They set up a time and place to meet before Gavin disconnected and for the first time in days, he felt somewhat content. Meeting with an old friend for drinks was a great way to distract him. Keep his thoughts off Stasia. He might even spot a few attractive women and flirt—not that he expected Alex to join him. But a married man like Alex was the perfect wingman.
Gavin frowned. He’d do anything to keep his mind off of Stasia. Anything.
Chapter Sixteen
The bar was crowded and noisy, one of those trendy, of-the-moment Manhattan hot spots that were all the rage amongst the younger set. Funny how Stasia was at the age many considered the younger set, yet she wasn’t interested in getting drunk and picking up guys who dressed better than she did. It was definitely not her normal scene, but it was where Tessa wanted to meet her for drinks before they went on to dinner, so she didn’t protest.
Music played, but not loud enough to drown out the noise of the crowd. She sat at the counter, snagging one of the last barstools, and ordered a glass of wine, noting the bartender’s bored expression when she made her request. She wasn’t in the mood for a drink containing a mass variety of alcohols in it. Those kinds of drinks just gave her a headache.
Glancing around, she tried to catch sight of Tessa’s now-familiar face, but she didn’t spot her. Completely unlike her too, considering the woman was timely to a fault, as Stasia had quickly discovered.
How she loved being so easily accepted by the Worth women. They welcomed Stasia with open arms, included her in every little thing, which she appreciated. The men, on the other hand, she wasn’t sure about yet. The scheduled lunch meeting was set to happen this weekend at Alex’s home and she was beyond nervous, especially when Alex encouraged her to bring her mother.
She wondered if they feared what she might ask of them. They thought she wanted to work for Worth, wanted a financial piece of the company. And she could admit she’d secretly entertained the thought. But a move like that would turn the industry on its ear, and it could hurt the Renaldi family as well. Something she would never purposely do. She was still tempted to strike out on her own, though.
But was she brave enough?
Her brothers weren’t thrilled with what happened between her and the Worths, but they understood her need to find a place within the Worth family. Her mother had proven surprisingly encouraging since they arrived in New York. Eventually, once she was comfortable enough, she would ask her new brothers about her real father. She wanted to know more about him. Hear fond stories, see private family photos and learn about Michael Worth through his sons.
It made her sad, that she would never know him…
“What the hell are you doing here?”
At the sound of the sharp male voice, Stasia whirled around, her jaw dropping when she saw who stood in front of her. “Meeting someone.” She snapped her mouth shut, trying to regain her shattered composure. “What are
you
doing here?”
Gavin—in all his after-work, rumpled, handsome glory—made her heart leap. His hair was a mess, appearing as if he’d run his fingers through it again and again. In a button-up shirt sans tie, his sleeves rolled up as usual, offering her a glimpse of strong, tanned forearms covered in a light sprinkling of dark brown hair. His eyes were a dark, fathomless green, ominous behind his glasses and his jaw was so tense it looked ready to shatter at any moment.