Redemption in Love (Hearts on the Line) (17 page)

Amandine wore a light pink silk dress and white sandals after a long debate with herself. Gavin seemed very close to Damien, and she wanted to make a good impression. Gavin put on a simple pale blue polo shirt and khaki shorts, revealing strong arms and legs dusted with wiry hair. Must be nice to be able to wear anything, she thought with a half-envious, half-dreamy sigh. It didn’t matter that he wasn’t in his fancy European suit. He looked scrumptious no matter what he wore—or didn’t.

The couple came out to greet Amandine and Gavin. Victoria had light makeup on, just some mascara and lip-gloss. Her cute sleeveless white dress set off her golden tan. The scent of shampoo and soap lingered on her skin from a recent shower.

Damien was in a white shirt, about a third of the way unbuttoned. Casual khakis and bare feet made him look at home and comfortable. He took a bottle of wine from Gavin, while his wife hugged Gavin and Amandine.

“Come on in,” Victoria said. “I hope you don’t mind the mess. We’re doing the last minute packing.”

Three black cello cases sat like mini-hills in a large living room with an ocean view. A cello rested on its side, a bow balanced on top, next to a white concert grand piano. The room smelled faintly of wood and metal. Several electric guitars gleamed in glass cases mounted high on the walls. The sound system was playing some classical piece that Amandine didn’t recognize. The place was obviously decorated for musicians, and she felt like she was in an unfamiliar world.

“We set things up on the second floor. It’s got a better view,” Damien said. “Is this your first time in Thailand?”

Amandine nodded.

“You’re in for a treat. The food here is incredible.” Victoria made a face. “I gain weight every time we come.”

Her husband wrapped his arm around her waist. “Darling, it just means more of you to love.”

She laughed and slapped his hand playfully.

Envy shot through Amandine, so sharp and unexpected that she almost gasped. It was obvious Damien adored his wife. His love for her was in his eyes, his voice, and his smile. Was it because they were so much alike? They both seemed very successful, and well-educated. What did Amandine have in common with Gavin? He had the world at his feet, her extraordinary husband. She on the other hand was painfully ordinary.

The Kirks led Amandine and Gavin to the dining area upstairs. It jutted over the back of the house, with three glass walls facing the ocean. A few gray clouds were scudding on the horizon.

Damien gestured around the circular table. “Please, have a seat.”

Amandine took one of the comfortable high-backed teak chairs, and Victoria sat next to her with Damien on the other side of her.

Gavin uncorked the bottle of wine he’d brought and poured for everyone except Amandine, who opted for a fresh mango and pineapple smoothie.

Victoria took a sip and closed her eyes. “Mmm.” She glanced at Amandine. “You sure you don’t want any?”

“I’m, uh…” Ah, what the heck. People were going to find out about her baby soon enough. Amandine shrugged with a shy smile. “I’m expecting.”

The Kirks immediately erupted into joyous congratulations. Gavin grinned and said, “You can’t tell anybody. We haven’t even told my mom yet.”

Damien nodded. “Then our lips are sealed.” He held Victoria’s hand on the table.

“How far along are you?” Victoria asked.

“Only a couple of months.”

“How exciting! Let us know if it’s a boy or a girl, so we can send you some things.”

“You don’t have to,” Amandine said.

“I insist. We can be the baby’s honorary aunt and uncle.”

Touched, Amandine nodded. This was the kind of life her baby would be born to, surrounded by incredibly accomplished and successful people who were eager for its arrival. She supposed Damien and Victoria wouldn’t be the only honorary uncle and aunt. There were people like Mark Pryce, too.

She put her hand to her belly. If the marriage turned out to be unsalvageable, would she be being selfish by demanding to take the baby with her? Would the world still be the baby’s oyster if she took sole custody?

She could never give the child
this
…but she could give it love.

Will that be enough? Doesn’t your baby deserve more?

Lunch was served: two hollowed pineapples stuffed with fried rice and various dipping sauces sat to one side, while a huge platter of lobsters in yellow and orange sauce commanded the center of the tabletop. Two smaller, shallower bowls of sautéed seasonal vegetables occupied each side of the lobsters. A plate of grilled giant shrimp had a place of prominence in front of the lobsters.

“Oh my,” Amandine murmured. “I think we have enough to feed the entire region.”

“I know, right?” Victoria grinned. “I couldn’t believe it when the cook told us, but the fishermen were adamant about selling them all in a set.”

Everyone started eating—obviously the men were more interested in shoving the food into their stomachs than talking about it—and the conversation and drink started flowing more freely.

Amandine slowly got caught up on the dynamics of the group. Damien and Gavin were apparently very tight, and they respected each other’s taste and opinions. Gavin treated Victoria as a good friend, maybe because she was Damien’s wife. They hadn’t met until she’d gotten engaged to Damien. The three talked about all sorts of topics, ranging from music to literature and current affairs.

And as they spoke, Gavin frequently touched Amandine, making sure everything was to her liking and that she didn’t feel nauseous or sick. He kept serving her, so she wouldn’t have to reach for anything. He seemed to know what she wanted before she could ask. She was grateful for his solicitousness and care. She could almost believe he loved her the way his friend loved his wife.

“You’re very quiet,” Victoria said to Amandine.

Amandine smiled. “Just enjoying my food. Your cook’s amazing.”

Damien declared he had something to show Gavin before the dessert was served. The men excused themselves and went downstairs.

“I can’t believe he waited this long,” Victoria said conspiratorially. “Damien’s been wanting to get Gavin’s opinion on some kind of trust or something.”

“I didn’t know Damien was Gavin’s client.”

“Both Damien and his father. Gavin manages a chunk of Damien’s money, and every bit of Steve’s. Let’s just say that my father-in-law is not at all interested in finance.” Victoria gestured at Amandine’s half-empty glass. “More smoothie?”

Amandine held up a hand. “If I have any more calories you’ll have to wheel me out.”

Victoria laughed and helped herself to some more wine. “I’m glad to see you with Gavin. I was worried.”

“About what?”

“Oh, just… I’m sure you’ve seen them already, but there are some pictures of you, Gavin and Craig Richmond in front of Jones & Jones on Facebook.” She cleared her throat. “So I thought there might be some kind of trouble.”

Amandine bit her lower lip and sighed.
Great
.
How many people have seen the photos?

Victoria smiled quickly. “But I’m glad everything’s fine between the two of you.”

“Facebook and Twitter and whatnot are nice to help people keep in touch. But I hate the gossip and the lack of privacy.”

“I agree, but if there were no Facebook, somebody would’ve found another way to spread the news. You know how it is.”

“Gavin said the same thing earlier.” Amandine scowled into her smoothie glass. “Guess it’s wrong to blame technology.”

“It’s human nature to gossip. In fact, it’s basically how I met Damien. I showed up at his secret hideout to interview him for a book I was working on. An authorized bio. He was furious.”

Amandine blinked. She couldn’t picture Damien angry with his wife. “What happened next?”

“I stuck it out, we fell in love and I finished the book. It was published around the time we got engaged. My publisher was thrilled that the book was coming out in the midst of our rather high-profile romance. Any publicity is good publicity…especially if they don’t have to pay for it.”

“I should look it up on Amazon.”

“I’ll send you an autographed copy if you want.”

“That’d be great.” Victoria had to be extremely talented. Amandine had tried to write once, and it wasn’t easy to write something that was both informative and enjoyable.

It seemed like Gavin surrounded himself with beautiful and talented people. Damien was a world-renowned cellist. Victoria was a successful writer. The firm employed a number of people who were apparently geniuses at investing.

Amandine felt somewhat small and insignificant in such company. She wasn’t particularly talented, she didn’t know how to manage a household, and the charity fundraisers she hosted couldn’t have happened without Brooke’s help and her husband’s social connections. Actually Brooke could run the entire foundation and all the fundraisers on her own with Gavin’s help here and there.

She was basically…superfluous.

“I understand why you’re unhappy about the lack of privacy,” Victoria said, apparently misunderstanding the cause of Amandine’s mood. “I lost practically all of mine when I married Damien. His fame forced me into the spotlight, and it was just…overwhelming. I’m the kind of girl who’d rather stay in my room all day and work on a manuscript.”

Amandine nodded, empathizing.

“But it’s the price I pay for being with the man I love. He makes me happy.”

“I’m glad. He seems to love you very much,” Amandine remarked.

“Yes. I’m lucky. And so are you.” Victoria smiled. “I don’t believe the gossip.”

“Um…there are the photos.”

“And? If any of what they’re implying is true, you wouldn’t be here with Gavin. It’s probably presumptuous of me to say so, but Gavin could have any woman he wanted and he’s one of those ‘cut losses fast’ types. He doesn’t cling to things, hoping that they’ll get better, whether it’s stock or relationships.”

Amandine nodded, surprised at how accurate the observation was.

“He’s crazy about you.”

“Thank you,” Amandine said in a practiced friendly tone. Gavin was crazy about another deal, making his next billion bucks, the idea of being a father…

Well, a lot of things other than his wife.

Victoria turned, hooking an arm over the back of her chair. “Look, can I be frank?”

“I guess.” Given the determined gleam in Victoria’s dark eyes, saying no wasn’t going to do any good.

“When I first met Damien, I was pretty provincial.”

Amandine blinked a few times. “You?”

“I grew up in a small town in the Midwest, and my father was a minister. I’d never been outside the country until I went to interview Damien. Heck, I’d never been on an airplane. Imagine how overwhelming it was to realize that by spending my life with him, I’d have to move in his circles. The people who come to his concerts don’t think anything of dropping two or three thousand bucks on a dress they’ll only wear once. Me…I felt like I owned the world when there was more than a thousand dollars in my bank account.”

Amandine nodded, understanding completely. Since her marriage, Amandine had been forced to become one of those people who dropped a couple grand on a dress they’d wear only once. Actually, she was worse; she’d spent that much on dresses she would probably never wear.

“He couldn’t give up his career for me,” Victoria said. “Ditto for his friends and acquaintances. It wouldn’t be fair.”

“So you changed.”

“I
learned
. There’s a difference.”

“You must be a fast learner.”

Victorian chuckled. “Just average. We had a long engagement, so there was some time to acclimate myself. For things I knew nothing about, I faked my way around.” The good humor vanished from her face, replaced by earnestness. “I’m a writer, and trust me, in Damien’s circles, that’s nothing. I had to start from scratch. But at least you’re an artist. Rich people love art.”

“I’m not that good of an artist.”

“It doesn’t matter.” Victoria leaned closer. “I’ll tell you a secret. People who like Gavin will give you a chance, and most likely be predisposed to like you, because Gavin loves you. It’s that simple.”

“Okay, my turn. You mind a frank question?”

“Not at all.”

“Why are you giving me all this advice?”

Victoria reached over and squeezed her hand. “Something about you reminds me of the old me, and in the beginning Damien had to reassure me that everything would be fine and that I was fabulous just as I was. I know you’ve been married for three years now, but if you and Gavin are having problems, talk. Let him know what you’re thinking, what you’re afraid of. He’s your husband, and it’s his job to make you happy.”

Amandine squeezed back. She was still skeptical, but now there was a small kernel of hope. She could change—no,
learn
. Things could work out. She’d been passive in her marriage, letting Gavin and his staff take charge because she’d never felt like she knew anything. But if she took more ownership, made Gavin realize his wife was worthy, made her in-laws see that she wasn’t some awkward unsophisticated girl who’d just gotten lucky…she might be able to save her marriage.

* * *

“I’d short these guys rather than investing with them,” Gavin said, looking over the documents.

Sitting in the only other armchair in the living room, Damien pursed his mouth. “That bad?”

Gavin tossed the papers on the coffee table. “Stay away from them.”

Damien shook his head. “What would I do without you?”

“Lose a few hundred thousand bucks? Which you can afford, though it’d be unpleasant.”

“True.” Damien lowered his voice. “Gavin, it’s not my place, but… What’s going on with you and your wife? I don’t know the full story behind the photos on Facebook, but nobody sees Craig Richmond and Samantha Jones just for the hell of it. And Amandine seems a bit…subdued.”

Shit. So the news was really out. “Amandine wants a divorce.”

“Damn. Sorry to hear that. Guess it’s not mutual?”

He shook his head. “My kid isn’t going to grow up without a father.”

When he didn’t say more, Damien raised both eyebrows. “That’s all?”