Dangerous Relations (2 page)

"About ten days ago I finally admitted to myself my marriage was over," Brett was
saying. "I'd stayed all these months because of Leonie, but I was losing hope of ever
adopting her." He gave a rueful little laugh. "I tried to get Suziette to sit down and talk
about our separating, but she was too restless, too lit up to concentrate. Her mind was on
something else. Or
someone
else--your ex-husband."

"Bad taste and plain stupidity. Especially when she had you at home."

Now why did she have to say a dumb thing like that? Ardin opened the refrigerator door
and stuck her head inside so Brett couldn't see her red ears.

When she turned around, he was smiling. "Thanks for the vote of confidence, Ardin. It
makes it easier to ask for your help."

Ardin looked at him warily. "To do what exactly?"

"Help me gain custody of Leonie. You're a lawyer. You can make the court see reason. I'm
the only father Leonie knows. We belong together."

She sympathized with his sentiments, but her legal training took over and urged her to lay
out the facts.

"Brett, I know how much you love Leonie, but you'd be disputing a mother's will. The fact
that you brought up the subject of divorce may be the reason Suziette named Aunt Julia her
guardian and not you."

"I tried to discuss a separation ten days ago. You're telling me she made out this will before
then? And why did she suddenly feel she had to make out a will? Had someone threatened
her?"

"I've wondered about that, too," Ardin said. "But maybe it was nothing more ominous than
Suziette's sensing your marriage was ending and she wanted to make sure Leonie was raised by a
blood relation if anything should happen to her."

Brett opened his mouth to argue, but Ardin moved on. "The bottom line is Suziette's gone
and her wishes are to be respected." She considered her aunt's fragile state of mind. "Please don't
go upsetting Aunt Julia about this. It might bring on another coronary. As it is, she's beside herself
with grief. She's lost her only daughter."

His green eyes glittered like emeralds. "The same daughter who chased after every man in
town and left Leonie with anyone willing to babysit."

Brett was wounded, but he'd spoken the truth. Still, Ardin's first concern was her little
cousin's welfare.

"I think it's best that Leonie stay with Aunt Julia, at least for the present. She needs a
woman to look after her. Only a woman can help Leonie understand her mother's gone, and give
her--"

Ardin stopped in mid-sentence, aware that the stupidest, most sexist comment had just
slipped past her lips.

Brett stared at her in mock dismay. "How insensitive of me. Leonie needs a
woman's care. A
man
can't understand her pain and loss."

"No! What I meant was--"

"Your message comes through loud and clear. Men are brutes, programmed to make money
and hit on women."

Ardin watched him stride to the door, too flustered to dispute his wild exaggerations. He
turned the handle and paused to glare at her.

"I made a mistake coming here. You're as blind to what's best for Leonie as your Aunt
Julia!"

With that, he slammed the door behind him, and went out into the night.

* * * *

Brett jumped into his red Jeep Cherokee and tore down Tara Boulevard. He cursed himself
roundly for the mess he'd made of things. It had taken him two hours to work up the nerve to ask
Ardin to help him with Leonie's adoption and less than ten minutes to make matters worse than
they were before.

But things
were
worse than before. Suziette, devious as ever, had named her
mother as Leonie's guardian. And she'd done it out of spite.

He drove through town, past the stores and boutiques closed until morning. On his first
trip back to Thornedale--newly engaged and totally captivated by his dazzling Suziette--he'd hardly
recognized the sleepy village where he'd lived the first ten years of his life. Thornedale had
developed into an upscale suburban town, with good schools, a flurry of five-star restaurants, and
its share of cultural events. It was the perfect location for the northern office of Waterstone
Construction.

Brett passed the nearly completed strip mall without casting a glance at his pride and joy.
What did it matter how many malls he and Rob built, now that his personal life was in shambles? He
had no wife, no daughter. He'd never felt so alone.

He crossed the bridge spanning the river, and turned onto the road leading to the brand
new colonial house in Rolling Hills he and Suziette had moved into a few months ago. Suziette!
Despite the heartache she'd caused him, the memory of his beautiful dead wife filled him with
sadness and regret.

They'd met sixteen months ago, right after he and Rob had completed their biggest project
to date in Boca Raton. Thoroughly exhausted, he'd driven to Key West for a few days of R and R.
He'd slept the first day away and came down to the bar as the sun was about to set. He took a
healthy swig of his martini and found himself staring at the sexiest, most gorgeous woman he'd ever
laid eyes on.

"Hello, there!"

The warmth of her greeting had implied they knew each other and had arranged to meet. It
was kismet, Brett had decided. His reward for hard work and clean living. He couldn't remember
when last he'd been beguiled by such a gorgeous creature of the female gender, and he'd made no
attempt to hide his awe.

"What are you drinking?"

"Margaritas. I drink only margaritas in Key West."

"Do you come here often?"

She grinned, flashing perfect white teeth. "Not as often as I'd like."

Brett gave her order to the bartender, and they exchanged names and home states. When
her drink arrived, they clinked glasses in silence and walked outside to watch the sunset.

They flitted from topic to topic, never touching on anything serious. They nibbled on
appetizers, and when the crowd started coming, they rose, as if in unison, and went to his room
where they made hot, torrid love.

They were inseparable for the next three days. Brett experienced a sharp pang of loss when
he kissed Suziette good-bye at the Miami airport. He paid scant attention to business the entire
month before her visit to his Fort Lauderdale home.

Their second long weekend together left him more besotted than ever. Suziette was a
fun-loving girl, a passionate sex partner eager to try new positions. As generous as she was with her
body, she gave out personal information like a miser making charity donations. Two months passed
before he learned she lived in Thornedale; two more months went by before she revealed she had a
three-year-old daughter.

None of that mattered. Brett was obsessed. He beamed as Suziette gushed over the
wonders of south Florida and the possibility that she'd never have to go through another freezing
winter.

He adored Leonie from the moment she stepped off the plane and greeted him with a hug.
Rather than being frightened off by the prospect of raising someone else's child, he decided then
and there to marry Suziette. The three of them would be a family and live in a new community of
homes ten minutes north of the condo he shared with his brother.

Once the idea caught hold, Brett realized he wanted a family more than anything in the
world. He'd had a family the first ten years of his life, but it fell apart when they moved to Florida.
His parents divorced and his mom fell ill. Three years later, he and Rob were living with an aunt and
uncle who begrudged them every cent of their upkeep.

Before he popped the question, Brett told Rob what he intended to do. Though two years
younger, his brother had a more cautious nature. He warned Brett about taking such a major step
with someone he barely knew. Brett waved away his brother's concern and proposed to Suziette
the last night of her and Leonie's visit. Suziette thanked him ardently, but flew home without giving
him an answer.

For two days Brett paced and fretted, worried he'd offended Suziette by going about the
matter the wrong way. Finally Suziette called him to say she accepted his proposal, and invited him
to visit her in Thornedale.

He'd been hurt when, hours before their wedding ceremony, Suziette informed him
she absolutely
had
to live in Rolling Hills or she didn't know if she could go through
with the wedding. Puzzled, too, as up until then she'd been all for their living in Florida,
close to the company's main office.

Anger at this last minute ploy had fused with Rob's warning not to rush into marriage with
someone he hardly knew. For a moment he'd considered chucking the whole business. But then
Leonie had pranced into the room to ask him to tie the bow of her frilly white dress, and he was
overcome by his desire to create a family with his beautiful Suziette and her adorable child.

Recalling his wedding brought a sad smile to his lips. He'd been happy then, utterly
enchanted by his new bride. His fist pounded the steering wheel in exasperation.

Of course he'd been happy. He'd been naive, like Adam in the Garden of Eden. Not
naive, but downright stupid! That was before he'd found out Suziette was shallow,
materialistic, and fickle, with no staying power as a wife, a mother or
anything
that
required loyalty and hard work.

Leonie proved to be the only worthwhile part of their marriage. Brett's expression
softened as he thought of the tender-hearted, golden-haired little beauty. Leonie would make a
wonderful mother, judging from the way she cared for her plush giraffe, Mr. Bonkers, which she
never let out of her sight.

He longed to comfort Leonie, to hold her in his arms and tell her everything would be all
right. He acknowledged to himself how much he'd been counting on Ardin's intelligence and
compassion to view things his way and help him adopt Leonie. Ardin--his solemn, book-loving
childhood friend--recognized the special bond he shared with Leonie. Once she had a chance to
reflect on the situation, she'd have to admit that Julia was in no shape to raise an active child.

He'd
make
everything turn out right. Brett sped down his street, spurred on
by his natural optimism. Somehow he'd convince Ardin, Julia, and the court he was the best
guardian for Leonie. It was a complicated process and required hard work, but adopting
Leonie was what he desired more than anything in his life.

He'd make amends for the way he'd mishandled things this evening and regain Ardin's
good will. An image of her lovely pale face hovered in his mind's eye. Poor Ardin, forced to bear the
brunt of his ridiculous tantrum after she'd broken the news about Suziette's will. He was glad she'd
responded to his massage and calmed down. The only trouble was, he'd found himself fighting the
urge to kiss her slender neck. But that, no doubt, was a whacked-out reaction to the funeral and the
other surreal events of the day.

An apology was needed to clear the decks. Brett grinned as the best, most appropriate gesture
for his rude behavior came to mind. First thing tomorrow morning he'd start things moving in the
right direction.

Ardin woke up at nine the next morning after a night of little sleep. She'd tossed and
turned on the wobbly cot for what seemed like hours, doing reruns of Brett's visit.

She really
was
going bonkers, terrified he was about to strike her when he'd
only been letting off steam. And he had plenty to be aggravated about. How was she to
know the poor guy had absolutely no inkling of the contents of Suziette's will? Still, that
was no excuse for her dumb, sexist remark that had sent him storming out of the
apartment.

His whirlwind departure left her feeling bereft. There was no point denying the strong
physical attraction she'd felt when he massaged her back. Probably because he was so damn
good-looking. Ardin shook her head. Handsome or not, Brett Waterstone was not on her agenda. No man
was on her agenda, as her mother was quick to point out every chance she got.

A shower and two mugs of coffee helped revive her. By ten o'clock she was in her Honda
and on her way to Aunt Julia's.

She pulled into the driveway of the large colonial, next to a black Jaguar. Frank's car, she
noted with surprise. What was he doing here? She started up the wide bluestone steps as her
ex-father-in-law came out of the house. His fit physique and dapper appearance made him appear ten
years younger than his sixty years. Today he wore a blue blazer, grey slacks, and a colorful designer
tie. As usual, every razor-cut salt and pepper hair was in place.

Frank's mind was clearly somewhere else. He stepped down and would have collided with
her, if she hadn't darted to one side.

"Ardin! Sorry, I didn't see you!"

"That must be some important deal you're cooking up," she said, trying for a joke. But even
when she and Corey were married, she'd never felt comfortable with this successful businessman
who had a finger in every Thornedale pie. He sat on several boards, including that of the
assisted-living residence where her mother now resided. He played Santa Claus every Christmas for the
children in the local hospital. And, up until four days ago, he'd been Suziette's boss.

Frank jerked his thumb over his shoulder. "I stopped by to see how Julia was faring
today--if she could use help with anything."

"That's kind of you."

Ardin was about to ring the bell, when Frank said, "I'm glad she has you to look after
her."

"Actually, I'll be going home in a few days. I've been here for a month now. My boss won't
hold my job forever."

"Maybe you should consider moving back to Thornedale," Frank said.

She turned around to meet his gaze. No, he wasn't joking or teasing, as often was his
manner. His suggestion left her speechless.

"I mean it, Ardin. Vera's ailing, Julia's in total shock over this dreadful business, and
Leonie--the poor, little mite--could use some proper mothering."