Hooked Up: Book 3 (21 page)

“Jane Doe,” I repeated. “Was that his idea?” Natalie didn’t have a clue about what had happened to me all those years ago. Primarily, ours was a working relationship.

“Yeah, not even I could have come up with such an original name.”

I raised my eyebrows. Was she being sarcastic? I studied her expression.

“No, really, I think the name is cool,” she said, tapping her legs eagerly as if she was ready to talk about her other good news.

“Who are these benefactors?”

She beamed at me. “Anonymous.”

“And they all came in together with the money? At one time? Or was this charity set up a while ago and this is the first we’re hearing of it?”

She was still grinning. “It was set up, oh, I think less than a week ago.”

“And we are to distribute the funds as we see fit?”

“That’s right.”

Revenge is a dish best served cold.
What had Alexandre been up to?

“Do you want to hear my other good news?” Natalie asked, impatience dancing in her eyes.

I blinked to concentrate on what she was about to say. “Yes. Yes, of course.”

“I’m dating someone new.”

I gave her a cheeky smile. “Hence the sexy jeans?”

“You like my new look?”

“Any look suits you, Natalie,” I said, trying to get Alexandre and his Robin Hood shenanigans out of my head. I wondered how he’d done it. The coincidence was too much. Four benefactors, Jane Doe . . .

Natalie jiggled her boot. She was wearing heels. “Aren’t you going to ask who it is?”

“Let me guess. That lawyer guy you saw last year that you kind of liked?”

“No-o,” she sing-songed.

“That doctor who your friend Gail wanted to send you on a blind date with?”

“Not even close.”

I threw my hands in the air. “Okay, I give up.” Natalie had sworn she would only ever date a man who earned a six-figure salary. With all the commotion with her aunt, after Hurricane Sandy, I was amazed she had even found time to date anyone at all. In fact, this was the first time I had seen her so giddy with happiness. She deserved it after the Sandy aftermath and all that she had been doing for her family.

“A firefighter,” she said, and then laughed. “I know . . . not what you expected.” She gave the chair another three hundred and sixty degree swivel.

“Probably not what
you
expected, either,” I joked.

“He was cleaning up the devastation where my aunt used to live. Broken gas pipes, et cetera—the place was dangerous, you know. He told me to clear out. Then we got talking.”

“What’s his name?”

“Miles. After Miles Davis.”

“I’m so happy for you,” I told her, trying to hide my surprise.

“You don’t think I’m crazy?”

“Are you kidding? They’re the bravest, coolest bunch of people in the world. Not to mention . . .” I trailed off.

“What?”

I tried to suppress a grin. I thought of Alexandre in his firefighter getup, and a sexy-memory frisson ran up my spine.

“You have such a dirty mind, Pearl.”

“Well, let’s face it . . . a guy in uniform? A
firefighter
in uniform is every woman’s fantasy.”

“Well, I have to say . . . ” she arched a neat eyebrow.

“You
haven’t, you didn’t
?” Natalie and I rarely talked about anything other than work. But she was in the mood to reveal all, obviously.

She widened her hazel eyes. She looked like a little girl who’d had way too much candy. “He was very apologetic. I went to his house for dinner and he hadn’t had time to change. I flung myself at him.”

“I bet you did. So what does he look like? No, that’s wrong, I should be asking you if he’s kind and caring—”

“Imagine a young Denzel Washington with a bit of Wesley Snipes thrown in.”

“Very nice, indeed.”

“Miles is a sexy cocktail, alright.”

“Yeah, you look a little tipsy,” I joked, “that’s for sure. How old is he?”

She sighed. “A little younger than me.”

“Join the club. So is this serious, like
relationship
serious or just . . . exercise?” I asked.

“That’s what’s so crazy. At the beginning I thought it was just for fun but he’s like . . . so sincere, so genuine. I think I’m falling for him.”

“Does he know that?”

“No way! I’m not like you, Pearl. I don’t wear my heart on my sleeve. I’m playing it cool. You know, not always available. Making sure he knows he has to book an evening with me way in advance. No last minute dates.”

I thought of my rock climbing date with Alexandre . . . so last minute. Boy, was I easy. “Poor guy,” I said, making a face, “You’ve probably got him pining for you.”

“That’s the idea.”

“You’re such a catch, Natalie. I bet he feels he’s in over his head.”

“I don’t think so. He’s very confident and pretty cocky.”

“Well, he’s met his match in you.”

She giggled. Natalie never giggled. “Am I that bad?”

“You can be pretty formidable.”

“Is that what your father said about me?”

“No, Not at all.”

“The truth is, there was no way I was going to move to an island in the middle of nowhere and leave New York. It would never have worked out with your dad.”

“I know. My dad got that. Speaking of moving to Hawaii . . . no, never mind.” I walked over to the window and looked down at the street. People were rushing this way and that, buzzing about in the post-holiday sales.

“What? I hate it when you do that: give me half a secret and then take it away again.”

I turned around. She was still swiveling in my chair. “How do you know it’s a secret?”

She glared at me playfully. “I can tell by the look in your eye.”

“I’ll tell you when it’s a sure thing.”

“See? There you go again, Pearl.”

I hesitated.
Would Daisy mind me telling Natalie? No, she wouldn’t.
I said, “Well, okay. It looks as if Daisy might have something going on with someone she met there.”

Natalie clapped her hands. “That’s fantastic! Who is he?”

“A surfer dude. But very cute.”

“You see, there was no way I could be part of that world. I guess I’m a city girl at heart. About your dad . . . I’ve been feeling a little guilty, you know, like I was a bit unfair to him. I didn’t call him because I didn’t want him to think we were . . . you know . . . still on. But I realized that I was being a bit cold.”

“He’ll live. He knew you’d never settle in Hawaii. You don’t want some zen hippie like him, anyway, that’s not your style.”

“A New Yorker born and bred, that’s me.”

“Exactly. My dad wouldn’t last more than three days here.”

“Can you envision Daisy there, though?”

“When she came to visit, she was like a duck to water. It might be just the thing for her and Amy.”

Natalie’s smile faded. “What happened to Johnny, she doesn’t want to get back together with him?”

“He’s repentant.” I felt my hackles rise on Daisy’s behalf. “But he’s too late.”

“Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,” Natalie chirped.

I’d heard her quote that before. Shakespeare? No, the Restoration playwright. “Congreve, I believe?”

“You’re a poet and you don’t know it,” she replied, laughing at my rhyme and making another.

“Actually, Daisy’s being very nice to Johnny. Considering. But she can’t trust him anymore. Plus, I think she’s up for a real lifestyle change.”

Natalie inspected her manicured nails and then rapped them on the desk almost as if she was playing a tune. “What about you and Alexandre? You told me there were issues with the ex.”

“Resolved,” I said quickly. “You know what, Natalie? I really think we need to go through the credit titles again. We’ve been chitchatting way too long—we should get back to work before the day’s gone. I’m so thrilled for you about Miles. Keep him guessing, keep him on his toes.”

She sprang from her chair and picked up her tablet. “Oh, I will.”

“I still can’t get over those donations that came out of the blue.” I needed to find out what Alexandre had been up to.

We started our slow amble as we exited my office. “You don’t mind that Miles isn’t a six figure earner?” I asked, wondering if Natalie remembered the vow she made a year ago.

“He’s a nice guy and that’s what counts most. My daughters like him.”

“They’ve met him? Okay, I see this really
is
serious.”

Then she said under her breath, “The truth is, Pearl, he’s a magician in bed. He takes his time, he’s so
into
me, you know. He makes me feel like I’m the most incredible woman who’s ever walked the earth.”

I nodded knowingly. “Yup, you’re hooked, alright.”

Then we both burst out at once, “HookedUp!”

I said, “It amuses me no end, the name HookedUp Enterprises. It’s like Star Trek, you know, as if we’re on a space ship.”

“We’re on a journey alright. The journey of our life. They say ‘life begins at forty,’ and you know what? I think they’re right!”

A FEW HOURS LATER, just as I was grabbing my coat to leave the office, my landline rang.

Jeanine informed me, “The person wouldn’t tell me who she was.”

“A woman?”

“A
British
woman.”

“Thanks Jeanine, put her through.”

I held the receiver with trepidation. “Hello?”

“Sorry to bother you at work, Pearl, but I had no choice.”

It was HER.

“What do you want, Laura.” No question mark.

“I realize I was rash when I told you my secret about your mobile.” Mobile . . . ah yes, British for cell phone.

“So you couldn’t spy on me anymore, you mean?”

“Just keeping tabs.”

“Well, I’m no longer using my ‘mobile’ anyway.”

“So I gathered. That’s why I’m calling you at work.”

“I know what you’re up to, Laura. Alexandre’s told me everything.”

“Ah, yes. The hip replacement. And the rather sorry-looking teeth. Why is it that Americans have such perfect knashers, and we sad Europeans get lumped with bad dental care all our lives? Well, not blowing my own trumpet or anything, but mine were sorted out years ago when I was a young girl, and they’re in mint condition. But, you know, in general. Especially the French. Not Sophie and Alexandre, though, their sparkling white teeth are pretty perfect, except for that oh so slightly crooked one he has, but that, of course, is part of his charm—”

I cut her short. “Why are you calling, Laura?”

“I feel lonely. Left out. Alexandre’s not answering my calls and I want to know what he’s decided.”

I took a deep breath and told her, “He doesn’t love you, Laura.”

“He loved me once and he can love me again. Once I’ve had his child then we can be happy again. I mean, let’s face it Pearl, that’s something you can’t give him. He wants to be a father.”

“He’s going to be a father,” I blurted out.

“Come again?”

“I’m pregnant, Laura. Alexandre and I are going to be parents.”
Oh God, why did I say that?
Why did I let her know that? I felt instantly foolish: the woman was nuts. I knew this information could drive her over the edge of reason.

There was silence and then she replied with a hiss, “Bollocks. You’re just saying that to rile me up!”

I didn’t answer.

“Pearl? Are you there?”

I wanted to hang up on her, but didn’t dare to.

“Pearl?” Her voice sounded tearful.
Laura crying?
That was hard to imagine.

“I’m still here,” I answered.

“Did you do IVF?”

“No, Laura. He fucked my ARSE with an R off, and his sperm shot inside my womb and I got pregnant naturally.”
Oh no, now what have I said?

She slammed the phone down on me.

My moment of triumphant glory was overtaken by an overwhelming feeling of stupidity. Uh, oh. I’d really gone and done it now. My heart was racing. That little payback instant felt sooo good . . . but . . .

The telephone rang again. I grabbed it, morbidly curious as to what would happen next. I hoped my outburst wasn’t going to land Alexandre’s mother in jail.

“It’s the British woman again,” Jeanine let me know.

“Thanks, Jeanine, we got cut off, please put her through.” I sat down in my swivel chair.

“Okay,” Laura began, “I’m willing to negotiate.”

Negotiate?
“I’m listening.”

“This relationship seems to be far, far more serious than I had imagined.”

“What relationship?” I asked tentatively.

“Yours and Alex’s, of course.”

“We’re in love, Laura.”
Ooh, that felt good, too.

“His penis has obviously got the better of him. But that’s by the by. I’m not a home wrecker, whatever you may think of me. How far gone are you?”

“Three months,” I lied. “It’s all happening, Laura. The doctors are delighted with the ultra-sound. I’m carrying a very healthy fetus, no chance of miscarriage now.” I hoped I hadn’t jinxed my pregnancy by saying that. I winced at my words.

She puffed, “I see. Well, that will change the course of events somewhat.”

Somewhat?

“Look Pearl. I’m willing to do a deal. You can keep Alexandre and your baby. But I
also
want a baby. You know, James couldn’t have children and before that . . . well, I was in a bloody wheelchair, thank you very much. Having a child has been a dream of mine and I want that dream to come true at any cost. Do you understand, Pearl? I am
not
giving up on my dream. We can do IVF. Alex won’t even have to have sex with me. Just his sperm, that’s all I want.”