Read Online Husband for Hire by Susan Crosby - Free Book Online Page B

“Hey, Shana…. Good, how about you?…And Emma?” He laughed. “Careful what you wish for. She’ll be running before you know it, and you’ll never catch up with her. Hey, what’s your work schedule this week?…Because I’ve got a decorating job for you, if you’re interested. A big job. Actually a fast job. It needs to be done by Saturday morning…. Yes, the client from the agency….”
    He tipped the phone down a little. “What style?”
    â€œComfortable contemporary, I guess. Not a lot of knickknacks.”
    â€œDid you hear that, Shana?” He finished up the conversation then set down the phone.
    The doorbell rang. Becca beat him to the door, paid for the pizza then inhaled the scent as she carried it to the kitchen counter.
    â€œI bought beer,” Gavin said. “Want one?”
    â€œThanks. I take it your sister is free tomorrow?”
    â€œ Only tomorrow, so we’ll be hauling through town trying to find the right items. Plus Shana is as picky about price as she is about quality. You’ll get bargains.”
    Becca stared at the countertop, her throat aching. “Nobody’s ever done anything like this before. I mean, my brothers did things for me, overdid things, but it wasn’t the same. I don’t know how to describe it.”
    â€œProbably more accurately—you’ve never let anyone. I’d wager your friend Suki offered to help you with this place.”
    â€œMany times.” They sat at the counter, each grabbing a slice of a combo pizza.
    â€œWhy haven’t you accepted?” he asked.
    She tried to keep it light. “I’m sure your alter ego, Freud, would know. Avoidance, probably, but I don’t know of what.”
    â€œIt is a way of avoiding personal relationships,” he said, thoughtfully. “If your home is a disaster, you don’t invite anyone over. You don’t let dates pick you up or bring you home.”
    He was watching her for a reaction. “There might be some truth to that. Plus the fact I’m busy.”
    â€œWhich is a choice you made.”
    â€œWell, aren’t you Mr. Insight?”
    â€œTell me this, Becca. What excuse will you have when our ‘marriage’ has ended and your home is acceptable for company?”
    He was relentless, and she was annoyed. “That’s enough, Gavin.”
    â€œDon’t you want to meet someone? Fall in love? The whole marriage-and-kids thing?”
    â€œDo you?”
    â€œOf course. Sometime.”
    â€œOf course,” she repeated, going cold. “Well, not me. I don’t want that at all.”
    His brows went up. “Why not?”
    â€œYou’re smart. You figure it out.” She couldn’t keep talking about it. She flipped the lid down onthe pizza box and shoved it at him. “I think you need to go now. Please.”
    It took her a good five minutes after the door shut behind him before she moved. When she did, it was to go to the bedroom to look at the photographs on her dresser.
    She didn’t find comfort there, but resolve. And that was enough to keep her going.
    Â 
    At midnight, Gavin was still pacing the floor of his hotel room, doubly grateful now that he’d turned down Becca’s offer to stay at her place for the week. He’d needed to be away from her. Far, far away.
    But sleep eluded him even more than usual.
    He dragged a chair in front of the window, mesmerized by lights dotting the dark sky, whether buildings, planes or stars. The view was familiar now, his having spent several nights there, but it still captivated him.
    She had no desire to be a wife and mother. The idea never would’ve occurred to him.
    He’d been so shocked, he hadn’t thought through his response. He shouldn’t have questioned her. Shouldn’t have boxed her into a corner about such a personal decision.
    You figure it out, she’d said, as if he