Leigh Michaels - The Husband Sweepstake

Erika’s throat tightened till she could hardly breathe. “Felix, you told me you didn’t want to sell Kate’s company to one of the giants. That was why you were willing to talk to me in the first place.”

“Well, conditions change, don’t they? I don’t see that I have much choice. Unless you can do something to stop this gossip, I will put an end to it by selling the business—to anyone besides you.”

Erika swallowed hard. “Give me a few days, Felix. Let me see what I can do.”

He didn’t answer for a while, and when he did there was a grudging note in his voice. “It’s almost the weekend,” he said. “All right. I’ll hold off till Monday.” The telephone banged in her ear.

Big of him to give me a whole weekend. Erika sat frozen.

“That didn’t seem to go at all well,” Kelly mused.

Erika put the phone down and pushed her chair back. “I think I’ll go home early, Kelly.”

“What about your appointment with the attorneys?”

“Tell them what happened, and cancel the meeting.”

She was almost at the door when Kelly said plaintively, “If you want me to explain it, then don’t you think you’d better tell me what happened?”

Maybe it was time to just let it go, Erika thought. The few days that Felix had agreed to wait wouldn’t make much difference. Perhaps it would be best for her to accept that the deal was not going to go through and turn her attention to something else.

You should have known you couldn’t make it work, her father’s voice taunted in the back of her mind.

Erika smothered the voice of doubt. She was right about Kate La Croix’s products, and she knew it. This was the perfect combination—for Felix La Croix as well as for Ladylove. Why he couldn’t see that was beyond her, but obviously he couldn’t—so if the deal was to be saved, it would be up to her.

Unless you can do something to stop this gossip…

Well, there was something she could do, Erika told herself. She could undercut the Sentinel by making her own announcement first. If she announced her engagement before the Sentinel could run its story about her and Felix…

The plan was simple enough in principle. It was the details which weren’t so easily settled. What was it Amos had said? “Who on earth are you thinking about marrying? If you can’t even get a date for a Saturday night banquet—”

There were plenty of possibilities, she told herself. Not the delivery boy from the Chinese restaurant, of course. But the ad manager…the marketing director…the lawyer…

Her brain seemed to grind to a halt. The truth was, she couldn’t even imagine herself telling any of them about this scheme, much less asking for their cooperation.

She did have to give Amos darling some credit, she admitted. Even though he’d thought the idea was insane, he’d at least listened to her. He’d been helpful at sorting out her thinking once, and maybe he could do that again.

With hope once more rising in her heart, she headed for home.

Amos was in the office when she came in. He was holding the phone between his shoulder and his ear, but he was obviously on hold, because he was sorting notes and reminders on the ever-present clipboard.

“I need to talk to you,” Erika announced.

“Take a number. You’re about twenty-fifth on the list at the moment.”

“I’ll wait.” She took off her coat, and was startled when Stephen stepped up to take it from her. “I didn’t realize you were here, Stephen.”

“I just came in,” Stephen said. “But before I get started on the list, I’ll be happy to take care of your needs, Ms. Forrester.”

Erika regarded him thoughtfully. “No, that’s all right. Amos has been teaching me to share and take turns, so I’ll wait for him to be free.”

“Not you, too,” Amos muttered.

“What’s the matter?” Erika settled into the wing chair. “Is the job more demanding than you expected it to be? You know, I’ve been thinking that you looked a little more frazzled every time I’ve seen you lately.”

Amos shot her a look that should have made her skin sizzle. “You sound pleased with yourself. You know, I wouldn’t put it past you to be getting all the women in the complex to call me every twenty minutes.”

“Why would I do that?” Erika asked reasonably. “It just puts me further down your list. Have you had a lunch break yet?”

“Why?” Amos sounded suspicious.

“Because I’ll buy. I owe you from the other day when you shared your lunch and I forgot to even say thanks.”

“And also because that way you can jump to the head of the line.”

“Guilty,” she admitted.

“I’ll take over,” Stephen said, and reached for the telephone. “Go.”

Amos stood up, looking reluctant.

Erika reached for her coat. “How’s the book going?”

“You really know how to hurt a guy, don’t you?”

“He says,” Stephen put in helpfully, “that at this rate he’ll finish in about forty-five years.”

“Well, at least that way you don’t have to deal with the fear of rejection,” Erika mused. “Where would you like to go for lunch?”

Amos guided her out onto the street. “No place where anyone knows you, that’s sure. Which leaves the open-air hot dog stands and the bars.”

“I’ll take a hot dog stand. So it’s the women who are calling for help? I can’t say I’m surprised. What have you been doing for them?”

He sighed. “Shifting furniture. Plugging a new computer together. Getting boxes down off high shelves.”

“That’s a good one,” Erika said. “It shows off your muscles. I did warn you, if you remember, that the residents would keep you busy.”

“Once the news wears off, it’ll settle down.”

She thought he sounded more hopeful than convinced.

The nearest hot dog stand was across the street from a tiny park. Erika put mustard on her sandwich and led the way to a bench in the sun. The wooden slats felt warm even through her trench coat.

“So what did you want to talk to me about?” Amos asked.

“You remember that plan we were talking about the other day? I’ve decided to go through with it.”

He looked wary. “Why are you telling me?”

“Good manners. You said you wanted to know what I decided. Also…” She let the silence drag out. “Also because I think you’re the perfect candidate.”

Amos went so still that for a moment she thought she was sitting next to a statue. “Oh, no. You’re not dragging me into this stunt.”

“I have no intention of dragging you. You said yourself that it’s a matter of proper incentives. Or, to make it perfectly clear-cut, bribes. So let’s talk about it, Amos darling. What will it take to buy you?”

He didn’t answer.

“Forty-five years to write a book,” Erika mused. “I think maybe there’s a way to cut that down. If, of course, you’re interested in talking about it.”

AMOS said, “I can’t believe I’m listening to this.”

Erika thought he sounded as if he was talking to himself. Or, rather, as if he were lecturing himself. “Why shouldn’t you listen?” she challenged. “Because you’re afraid if you hear me out you’ll be tempted?”

He raised both eyebrows at her. “Wishful thinking, sweetheart.”

Erika took a deep breath and regrouped. “Amos, you seem to be a sensible, pragmatic kind of guy. So—”

“Oh, that’s great. You know me so well after—What’s it been now? Four days and three conversations?”

“You remember exactly?”

“Don’t flatter yourself.” His voice was heavy with irony. “Of course, with such extensive experience to draw on, you’re the expert on what kind of pigeonhole I fit into.”