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He set the snifter down, closed his eyes. "It wasn't just the men. It was seeing her that way and realizing when I did what we had together, and didn't have. Telling her I loved her didn't seem to be enough. Showing her didn't seem to be enough. She doesn't want what I want, and she'd be shocked speechless if she knew what I wanted."
"What do you want?" She smiled and brushed at his hair. "I won't be shocked speechless."
"Everything," he murmured. "Usually Margo understands everything just fine,
but not this time. She doesn't see marriage and family and commitment when she looks at me. She sees a pampered idiot who's more interested in fine-tuning his backhand than in making a contribution to his legacy or building a life."
"I think you're underestimating both of you. But if you're right, you only proved her point by walking away before you sorted it out."
"I'd have killed her if I'd stayed. I didn't know she could hurt me like this. I didn't know anyone could."
"I know. I'm sorry. When you were little and you were hurt, I could make it better by sitting you in my lap and holding on."
He looked at her, loved her. "Let's try this." He lifted her into his lap and held on. "I think it'll work."
* * * * *
Kate sauntered into the shop at midafternoon. She'd had to take an hour off, but she loved being the messenger. "How's it going, troops?"
Laura glanced up as she slid the credit card machine back under the counter. Automatically she glanced at her watch to be certain she hadn't lost a couple of hours. The girls had to be picked up from dance class at six-thirty sharp.
"It's going pretty good. What are you doing here this time of day?"
"Taking a break. Where's Margo?"
"She's in the wardrobe room with a couple of customers. Kate…" Lowering her voice, Laura leaned over the counter. "We sold my rubies."
Kate's mind shuffled back. "The necklace. Oh, but Laura, you loved that necklace."
She only shrugged. "Peter gave it to me for our fifth anniversary—bought it, naturally, with my money. I'm glad it's gone." And her share would go a long way toward paying next year's tuition for her daughters. "And there's more. My supervisor called me in this morning and gave me a raise."
Kate waited a beat. "The daughter of the owners has a supervisor and gets a raise. I don't understand life."
"I wanted to start at an entry position. It's only fair."
"Okay. Okay." Kate held up a hand to hold her off. She understood the need to prove oneself, had been scrambling to do just that all her life. "Congratulations, pal. So I guess everybody's happy."
Laura had to sigh as she glanced back toward the wardrobe room. "Not everybody."
"She still being stoic and stubborn?"
"I could shake her," Laura said fiercely. "She flits around here all day as if nothing in the world is wrong. And as if a couple of layers of polished ivory base coat can hide the shadows under her eyes."
"Still refusing to move back into the house?"
"The resort has everything she needs. She loves it there." Laura sucked air through her nose. "I'm going to hit her the next time she says that. And she's already making excuses for skipping the treasure hunt this weekend. Sunday's the only time she can squeeze in for a manicure. It's such bullshit."
"Ooh, you are pissed. Good, you're going to love what happens when I get hold of her."
With surprising speed and strength, Laura reached across the counter and grabbed Kate's hand. "What's up? What do you have? Can we double-team her?''
"That's a thought. Listen, I—Whoops, here she comes. Just follow my lead."
Margo spotted Kate, gave her a raised-eyebrow look even as she continued to chat up her customers. "I don't think you could have found anything more perfect for you. That red St. Laurent is going to draw every eye."
The woman currently clutching it gnawed on her lip. "Still, it's a little early to be shopping for holiday parties."
Margo only smiled, and Laura caught the steel in her eyes. "It's never too early. Not for something that special."
