A Heart Decision (29 page)

She smiled up at him and patted his arm. “Believe
me, Ben, you’re already broken, just in a different way than Luke.
Thank you for accepting that I need to do something rewarding with
my life, even if you don’t understand it.”

If nothing else, now that she had her career to look
forward to, she could see herself being content as Ben’s wife even
if she was never deliriously happy.

“So, you think I’m broken? How?”

“Kind of the way I am. Why do you feel the need to
do so much, financially, for everyone ? Even for people you don’t
know?”

“Touché.” He laughed, raising his hands. “I suppose
it makes me feel good to help people.”

“Bingo.”

“Okay, I get it.” He slid his arms around her and
squeezed her close. “So, are you glad we’re flying home
tomorrow?”

She nodded. “I should go inside and finish
packing.”

“The butler can do it.”

“No, I’d prefer to pack myself. That way I’ll know
where everything is when I get home.” All of her purchases had
already been shipped back to the States and would be waiting for
her at BJ’s penthouse.

He shrugged. “Okay. I’ll watch you pack.”

While she filled her suitcase on the luggage rack,
Ben stretched out under the king-sized bed’s canopy. He’d given her
the master bedroom to enjoy and had taken the other
only-slightly-less-posh room for himself.

She strode into the expansive white marble bathroom,
which also boasted an amazing view of the city, to collect the
toiletries she wouldn’t need in the morning. She picked up the
unopened box of tampons she’d brought with her and froze in her
tracks. “Oh, no!”

“What’s the matter?” Ben called from the
bedroom.

“I’m late.”
Really
late.

“For what?”

She wandered back to the bedroom with the sealed box
in her hand and her stomach in a knot. “Aunt Flo was supposed to
visit the week we arrived. We’ve been so busy sightseeing, I forgot
about it.”

His forehead wrinkled. “That’s not uncommon when a
woman is stressed out, is it?”

“No. But
my
cycle’s as regular as an atomic
clock.” She’d assumed her morning queasiness and fatigue were due
to all the rich food she’d been eating during late-night suppers in
the best gourmet restaurants the city had to offer. Coupled with
her missed period, now she couldn’t help but wonder.

Ben sat up, and his narrowed gaze dropped to her
stomach. “Are you saying you might be pregnant?”

Numbly, she placed the tampon box in her suitcase.
“I don’t know what I’m saying. It’s just odd. But I don’t see how
it’s possible.”

“You did take sex ed in high school, right?”

“Very funny.”

“At the hospital last month, Luke mentioned he’d had
a vasectomy years ago.” Ben swung his long legs off the bed and sat
on the edge. “So if you
are
pregnant, who’s the father?”

“Certainly not
you
.”

He released a sarcastic huff. “No one knows that
better than I do, honey.”

“I’m sorry. I know you’ve been as patient as a
saint, and I don’t deserve how understanding you are.” She sank
onto the mattress next to him. “But I’m a little hurt you’d think
there could’ve been someone besides Luke.”

“I
didn’t
think there was someone else. I
simply don’t see how you could be pregnant, unless it’s by
immaculate conception.”

“My point, precisely.”

He slid his arm around her shoulders. “It’s highly
unlikely you are. But let’s say, hypothetically, you’ve
miraculously conceived. How do you think Luke would react?”

“I have no idea. There’s no way he can blame me
after swearing he couldn’t impregnate me. Why do you ask?”

He shrugged. “I’m wondering if he would feel
compelled to marry you, regardless of whether he decides to have
the HD screening or not. Or do you think it would push him into
having the test?”

“Maybe.” She released a soft snort. “Considering how
paranoid he is about passing on the disease, he’d probably demand I
go for prenatal testing.”

“You think he’d actually ask you to have an abortion
if his child was positive?”

“I don’t know.” She turned to face Ben. “But it’s a
moot point because I’d never do it. I’ve taken care of a lot of
sick children, but I still don’t believe a life is any less
precious because a baby has some sort of defect. So there’d be no
reason to have the screening.”

He cupped her cheek in his broad palm. “I just want
you to know that, even if you’re pregnant, I still want to marry
you.”

“You wouldn’t resent raising your friend’s
child?”

“I’m not saying it wouldn’t take some adjustment.”
He heaved a deep sigh. “Right now, I’m pissed as hell that Luke
might have given you the child I hoped to have with you. But I’ll
get over it and love your baby simply because he’s yours.”

“Thank you. But seeing as your pal’s been neutered
for almost fifteen years, I don’t think that’ll become an issue. My
cycle is probably just out of whack.”

But what if it isn’t
? a small voice inside
her head taunted.

She couldn’t let herself get her hopes up. As much
as it scared her and would cause a zillion problems, she couldn’t
quite smother the spark of joy the prospect of having Luke’s baby
brought her.

~*~

Luke paced the length of Tony’s living room on the
fourth Thursday in November. Dante and his father had been eager to
meet Luke’s brothers and sisters and, therefore, invited the entire
family to have Thanksgiving dinner at their estate.

Luke had warned them what a typical holiday dinner
entailed at his mom’s house and explained she’d always invited
Tyler and Annie’s family to join them as well as Sabrina, Ben, and
his dad.

After growing up as an only child, Dante had been
thrilled with the prospect of finally becoming part of a larger
family.

“Would you sit down, already,” his brother, Joe,
barked at him from the sofa. “You’re wearing a path in Uncle Tony’s
carpet.”

“I’m exercising my ankle.” After having the cast
removed only the week before, it still ached a little.

He glanced at his watch for the hundredth time in
the last half hour. Ben was, supposedly, driving Sabrina to dinner.
For the last six weeks, she’d cut off all communication with Luke,
other than the birthday balloons she’d sent with the roast beef
sandwiches and carrot cake she’d had delivered from Sallie’s Sweet
& Savories.

“The least she could’ve done was mail me a few
postcards from Paris,” he said to no one in particular. His sisters
had told him about the amazing five-star hotel they’d stayed in
when they joined Sabrina and Ben in France. He glanced at Frankie
and Annie feasting on colossal cocktail shrimp. “After the vacation
BJ just treated her to, she’s probably decided to marry him after
all.”

“If she did, it’s your own damn fault,” Frankie
said, licking her fingers. “Knowing the way Ben treated us, I’d
sure as heck marry him.”

“That’s what you’ve been pushing her to do,” Annie
reminded him as she leaned over the coffee table and helped herself
to another shrimp.

“Relax, Luke.” Dante wandered in from the foyer and
slapped his back. “They pulled through the gates a couple of
minutes ago.”

The doorbell reverberated through the house, and
Luke immediately sank into a chair, trying not to appear
overeager.”

Two seconds later, Sabrina and Ben appeared in the
archway. Damn, she looked amazing. She wore dark slacks with
high-heeled black boots and a pale yellow sweater that appeared
softer than the down on a baby chick. Since her outfit screamed
high-fashion, she’d probably bought it in Paris.

“Hi everyone,” she greeted. “I never dreamed a place
like this could be so close to the city. This estate is nearly as
gorgeous as Ben’s place in the Poconos.”

The entire family agreed—
loudly
. But then,
his family rarely did anything quietly.

Was it his imagination? Or was Sabrina avoiding his
gaze?

He stood and held his hand out to her, never before
feeling so awkward. “Princess, I’d like you to meet our hosts.” As
soon as she finished hugging Tony and Dante, Luke said, “Would you
mind taking a walk with me for a few minutes?”

“Take her to the solarium, Lucca,” Tony suggested.
“It’s quiet and private in there.”

And undoubtedly a beautiful place to propose.

~*~

Ben’s chest shuddered as he drew a labored breath
and stepped into the foyer to watch Luke escort Sabrina down the
long hallway.

He couldn’t let himself hope his friend had chosen
not to be tested and would insist BJ marry the woman they both
loved.

As much as Sabrina’s happiness meant to him, he
wanted her to be happy be with
him
, damn it.

“You okay?” Tyler shuffled out of the living room
and handed him a glass of cold sparkling cider. “Do you want
something stronger?” Although Tyler had recuperated almost
completely from his head injury, he still limped a little.

Ben took a sip, savoring the fizzy sweet apple
flavor. “No, the cider’s fine.”

“What about my first question?”

“I’ll let you know when Sabrina comes back.” He
turned to face Tyler. “Or do you already know what Luke’s
decided.”

“I could tell you, but then I’d have to sue you for
every cent you have.”

He closed his eyes, gripping his glass tighter.
“Please, Ty, don’t fuck with me right now. I need to know so I can
summon up a smile when she tells me she’s not marrying me.”

Tyler heaved a sigh. “I helped him pick out a ring
this week.”

He nodded, swallowing hard. “Good.”

“As I asked before, are you okay?”

“No,” he croaked in barely more than a whisper, “but
I will be....eventually.”

“Any way I can help?”

He shook his head and then grabbed Tyler’s arm.
“Wait. There is something you can do.”

“Whatever you need. You know that.”

“When they come back from their honeymoon, I’ll be
granting you power of attorney over the business.”

Tyler’s eyebrows shot up. “You want
me
to run
Elliott Enterprises?”

“Yes.”

“Why?”

“I’ll be away for a while.”

“Where?”

Ben shrugged. “I’m not sure.”

“For how long?”

“I don’t know that, either.” He’d be gone for
however long it took to breathe without his chest feeling as if he
had a boa constrictor squeezing the life out of him.

Tyler gave a sarcastic snort. “You’re a regular
fount of information, aren’t you?”

“Don’t worry. You’ll have my dad’s help, and you can
always call me with any emergencies.”

“Okay, but I still don’t understand.”

“There’s an adage that says
time heals all
wounds.
” Ben shrugged, spreading his arms. “I need some
time.”

Maybe a lot of it.

~*~

Luke led Sabrina to the back of the house into a
humongous four-season enclosure filled with hundreds of exotic
plants and flowers. A flagstone path wound its way around the
raised gardens.

“I see you got your cast off. Does it hurt?” she
asked. “You’re limping a little.”

“It’s still a bit stiff.” Kind of like another part
of him had been since she walked into the house.

She gestured toward his gray slacks and navy sports
coat. “You look really nice today. Is that a new jacket?”

“Yeah.” The words he wanted to say eluded him, so he
settled on asking, “How was your trip?”

“Amazing.” She sank onto one of the cushioned rattan
couches situated in the circular clearing at the center of the
solarium. “I’m so glad I went and experienced how the other half
lives.”

Great. BJ had evidently pulled out all the stops and
shown her how great life would be if she were married to a
billionaire.

“When we got home, Ben took me right to his estate
for a few days to unwind and catch up on my beauty sleep.”

“Well, it worked.” He settled in the seat next to
her. “I don’t know if it’s the cheery color of your sweater or your
life of leisure, but you’re practically glowing.”

She gnawed on her lip for a moment. “Uhh, there’s a
good reason for—”

“I’ve decided
not
to have the test,” he
blurted out.

“Oh.” She looked away. “What I was about to tell you
may change your mind.”

“Not likely. The day I met Dante, he said something
that made me rethink my position.” He slid off the sofa onto one
knee. “So if it doesn’t bother you that I may become a drooling
idiot some day, I’d be honored if you would be my wife.”

“Oh, my gosh!” She gasped. “Yes! I mean,
no
,
of course it doesn’t bother me.”

He dug into his jacket pocket and pulled out the
velvet ring box containing the one and a half-carat engagement ring
he’d chosen with Tyler’s help. It was about the same size as the
ring Ben had given her, however, on this one, a row of small
diamonds surrounded the sparkling princess-cut stone set in a
platinum band with glittering, channel-set baguettes.

He opened the box, and her breath hitched, “Oh,
Luke, it’s the most beautiful ring I’ve ever seen.”

“For the most beautiful woman
I’ve
ever
seen.” He pulled her into his arms in a long, tender kiss. When he
drew back, he whispered, “I love you, Princess.”

She smiled, and her watery gaze narrowed. “Exactly
what
did Dante say to you?”

“He told me I was being an arrogant ass to assume I
knew better than you what will make you happy.”

“He’s right. I’ve spent the last fifteen years
trying to convince you you’re the only man I’ll ever be truly happy
with.” She carefully rubbed the moisture from her eyelashes. “Just
as a matter of curiosity, why did you believe him, but not me?”

“I don’t know. Maybe he said it at just the right
moment.” He slid the ring on her finger. “Afterward, I realized
that, for all I know, you may have chosen to become a pediatric
nurse because you have a fetish for changing diapers.”