Tickled Pink (22 page)

The urge to cry overwhelmed him and he hadn’t felt this sad or miserable since the day his grandfather Locke had died. “It’s weird, not smelling the traces of her perfume when I walk in the condo. Or being greeted by one of the kids.”

“You mean cats,” Andrew corrected with a grin.

He smiled, remembering when the black and white kittens had come to live with them. All he could do was nod. “I took my life for granted. Life had been good, then everything changed and somewhere over the last year it became perfect.”

His friend smiled and leaned back in his chair. “We never put anything about offspring in the prenuptial agreement. At the time the chances of you two killing each other was more likely than you consummating the marriage.”

True. That had been the plan. The saying was true—best-laid plans often go astray. “My wife is wonderful—I made a good effort.”

“I’m amazed you two lasted forty-five days,” Kayla noted with a sigh.

“Forty-four, actually.” He remembered the first time and the last—everything else was an incredible blur.

His friend shook his head. “Back to the cats. You miss them?”

“I do, almost as much as her. As crazy as it sounds.”

“Of course, since neither of you counted on a development like this in the marital relationship, no custody arrangement for Boxter and Vette are in place. It’s not covered by the prenuptial agreement.”

Richard hurt to his core, but a sliver of hope filtered over him. “Well then, contest. Tell my wife I want joint custody of them.”

Kayla sighed and studied him. “I probably shouldn’t say anything…”

He turned to the woman next to him. “If this has something to do with Toni, please, for the love of God, tell me.”

She twitched her nose and debated. “Oh dear, she swore Piper and I to secrecy.”

His sister knew this information as well, information that he didn’t? He could deal with Piper later, but there was a good chance she was team Toni currently. “Is she okay?”

“No she is downright miserable. She cries a lot.”

He shook his head. “She’s so strong, she hardly ever cries.”

“I know, but lately she has a lot—I don’t think she’s stopped.” She darted a look to Andrew and a guilty look crossed her face. “Back in July, she confided that she wants a family. How she woke up most mornings happy and amazed how great you were and she wanted to drop her birth control pills down the drain. She wanted a family with you, especially after she saw you with Lauren and Gabriel, then Meghan and—”

His heart slammed to a stop. “She’s not pregnant is she?” He didn’t care either way. Not true, a big part of him wanted her to be—as twisted as that may be.

“No.” Kayla’s pretty features turned to sadness. “She’s not, but I know she wants kids and you’re really good with them.”

Grief hit him full force. “I’ll do anything to have her back. My career came first during our entire marriage. I need to do more than contest the divorce. I want to support her like she supported me when it came to the
Singh Capital
deal.”

“You know the pink & white gala is Friday, right?” Kayla asked hesitantly.

“I do, she and Felix have been working on it for months. It’s supposed to be quite spectacular—and at my mother’s house.” He thought for a moment. “I don’t know what I can do other than cut a check.”

Andrew chuckled and he turned to the other man. “One of the secretaries had this little pink rubber duck on her desk this morning with a breast cancer awareness ribbon it.”

“Love a duck!” he whispered. “That’s it.” He snapped his fingers then withdrew his phone from his pocket. “Andrew, you’re brilliant.”

His friend frowned. “Who are you calling?”

Richard laughed and hit the name in his phone. “If there is one thing my wife taught me—when the going gets tough—the tough call Felix—the man came up with enough toy coins to fill my father-in-law’s office and saved Christmas. I don’t mean in a Grinch and Whoville sort of way, but the Toys for Tots party. He can handle this.”

“How many times has Gabriel made you sit through the movie?”

He flinched and turned to Kayla. “Four.”

The phone rang once then picked up on the second ring. “Gorgeous, thank God. Please tell me you and Toni have kissed and made up.”

“Hi, Felix. Not yet we haven’t, but that’s my plan and I need your help.”

“Count me in. Anything. What do you need me to do?”

“Have you ever seen small pink rubber ducks with breast cancer awareness ribbons on them?” This was a long shot—but he had hope.

“Of course I have—what does that have to do with…” There was a pause then a squeal from the other end of the phone. “It’s perfect—and they’ll match. Of course, that’s why you’re asking about them. How many were you thinking?”

“Depends.” Richard couldn’t control the grin and shot a glance at Andrew then Kayla. “How many can you get?”

Chapter Fifteen

Love a duck and let me hold you forever…

Toni threw down her blush brush, glanced at the pink gown hanging on her closet door, then hurried down the stairs to answer the ringing doorbell. For a fleeting moment, she wished it was Richard, but in the deepest part of her heart, she knew it wasn’t. Three days had passed since she had left and filed for divorce. She tugged open the door and blinked at her mother-in-law standing there.

“Why didn’t you say something to me about Hank coming onto you?” She stepped into the house. “Correction—how he started forcing himself on you?”

What the…? How did she find out? Why is she bringing this up now?

She blinked at the woman she’d come to really adore. “Hello Mona, shouldn’t you be getting ready? As far as I know the pink and white gala is at your house.”

Her mother-in-law walked past her and sighed. “Everything is under control as far as the house being ready. Felix runs a tight ship.”

Toni shut the door and turned to face the woman, who despite her meddling, had come to mean a lot to Toni. “That he does—despite his idiosyncrasies.”

“When I left, he was busy calling his ex-boyfriend Mike, to handle the photography.”

She shook her head. “Wait! I thought Erick was doing the photography tonight?”

“Left for Maui this morning for a swimsuit shoot.” The older woman thinned her lips then strode into the living room and sat down. Between her strained tone and her rigid body movements, Toni knew the woman was stressed and upset. “Now please answer my question.” 

Toni shook her head, pulled her fuzzy robe tighter around her, before following Mona into the room, and sat down on the sofa next to her. “Richard got there in time. Hank has kept his distance since. I avoid him with the exception of the dinner party from hell in April.” She heaved a heavy sigh remembering the catastrophe and how she still felt doubt and guilt over Richard not getting the Singhs as clients. “It’ll be a year in November since it happened.”

The older woman shook her head. “He’s worse than his father—both womanizing assholes with the moral ethics of a snake.” She met Toni’s gaze. “I fear to think what would have happened if my son hadn’t gotten there.”

Toni closed her eyes and recalled the rage in her husband’s eyes. A piercing pain penetrated her heart. She opened her eyes and stared at the woman who wouldn’t be her mother-in-law much longer. “But he did.”

“Why are you divorcing my son?” Her tone held an icy crispness—one Toni wasn’t sure she was emotionally able to deal with, however, the woman was here now.
Might as well get this over with.

“The year is up, he doesn’t have to pretend to be something he’s not—like happily married.”

Sadness touched Mona’s features. “He was very happy—until you left.”

“No.” Her eyes stated to sting a little and she had no idea why. She refused to cry. Tears were weakness and now, it was time to be grown up—for once—and be strong. “No, I went to the office and I overheard him talking to someone about how the marriage wasn’t real, and he didn’t want it.” She paused and ignored the fierce pain behind her eyes. “I couldn’t believe it, but I heard it with my own ears.”

“I don’t believe this.” Her voice was grief stricken, which surprised Toni.

Her shoulder lifted in a shrug. “I thought you knew how he felt, but I guess he was afraid you’d sell the company.”

“I
am
selling the company. Richard quit.”

What the hell?

Her mother-in-law heaved a sigh and shook her head. “I never thought I’d see the day, but he’s going to move on to better things.”

“I’m so sorry.” She wasn’t sure what else to say. Toni was all too aware of how much Mona loved
Stewart Locke Investments
; it made her feel close to her father. The same reason Richard wanted to make his grandfather so proud. “It must be like losing a family member after all this time.”

“Not quite, the thought of you not being part of my family is much more painful. Please tell me, why you aren’t working this out with my son?” Her voice held a plea, one Toni doubted she used very often.

She struggled to breathe, but the single task had proved to be more and more difficult since she’d left the condo, the life she had come to cherish and the man that even now she loved. “We want different things. My career has taken off and is continuing to do so. I also know that eventually I want to have a family. I like kids and want some of my own and I don’t think that will work for Richard.”

A thoughtful expression crossed Mona’s face. “I don’t know if living life without you will work for my son.” She studied Toni. “I think I should warn you, I believe you’re wrong. In fact I know you are.”

Toni wanted to believe, but this was one thing she was too scared to get her hopes up over—the disappointment would be too painful. It would be more excruciating than what she was enduring now. “I’m sorry Mona, why would you even say or think that?”

A fleeting smile crossed her lips. “Because he’s going to contest the divorce.”

She blinked in disbelief. “Why would he do that?”

“According to him, something about wanting joint custody of the cats.” She let out a breathy laugh. “And then he told me flat out, he’s in love with you, has been for months, but was too scared to tell you.”

“Oh, God,” Panic jump-started Toni’s heart and the assault of tears burned her lashes.

Mona’s smile vanished and she covered Toni’s hand with hers. “What is it dear?”

She swallowed back the hurt, the roller coaster of emotions and what was left of her pride. “I love him too. I have for months.”

Now what am I going to do?

The room, the foyer and even the patio of the Bryson home was perfect from what she could see through the doors, though she hadn’t ventured out yet to check. The items for the silent auction were arranged with billowing white displays and the finest cloth in pink upon the tables. Everything was picture perfect except for the pain in Toni’s heart. Felix had truly outdone himself on this event and she’d be forever grateful.

A heavy weight sat on her chest and despite how much work and effort she’d put into the charity gala, she didn’t want to be here. She wasn’t sure where she wanted to be—but anywhere other than the house with a hundred memories of her last year would suffice.

Toni silently debated calling Richard. However, she had no clue what to say to him—she did file for divorce—which indicated she wanted things over. She was confused about what she’d heard and what he’d told his mother. Whatever the truth was, it didn’t change the fact that she loved him and missed him a lot.

“Antonia!”

The sound of someone calling her by her full name caught her by surprise. She turned to the owner of the voice and blinked at none other than Mrs. Singh. “Katerina, hello, what a lovely surprise.” Toni smiled. She genuinely liked the woman. “I didn’t realize you were in town again. I’m so glad you could come.”

“Felix told me this was going to be the new ‘must attend’ gala of the year.” The elegant woman smiled. “My husband and I had some business to attend to here in town. We’ll be heading to Las Vegas for a few weeks after this. More business, however I’m quite sure Denshi will find a poker table to curl up with.”

She nodded and debated her words carefully. “I’m moving to Vegas. I’m taking a job there on one of the new casino projects. Maybe, if you have time we can get together.”

The woman’s dark gaze scanned her face and she smiled again. “I’d like that. As much as the decorations here. Very classy for pink…even the ducks.”

Toni was positive she misheard. “I’m sorry, I thought you said ducks.”

Katerina’s expression lit up. “Yes, all the ones in the back yard, in the pool and the waterfall stream. All those little pink guys are so cute.”

I didn’t arrange for ducks. What the hell?

“Walk with me and we can talk.” She linked her arm through Toni’s and led her to one of the large double patio doors off the gathering room. The night air was cool and refreshing, but inhaling a full breath was still nearly impossible. They stepped onto the patio and shock overwhelmed her.

“Love a duck!”

Katerina laughed. “Actually, I think it’s more like
love the ducks
. Rumor is there is a 1000 of them.”

Toni surveyed the yard decorated elegantly with pink and white candles, cloths, cushions and sure enough, light and dark pink ducks as far as the eye could see.

Felix walked toward them. “Mrs. Singh! Toni! Both so fabulously lovely.”

“Thank you.” Toni struggled to maintain her composure and glanced around before returning her attention to the event planner in a pink suit with more flare than a roadside distress flare gun. “Where did the ducks come from?”

He frowned. “You don’t like them?”

She shook her head. “Actually, Felix, I love them I was just wondering—”

“I’d love to stay and chat, but I have to attend to a very important guest. Kiss kiss.” He made pursed lip smooches in the air and walked away.

“I hated him at first you know.”

Toni blinked in disbelief then turned to Katerina who studied her. “Felix?”

The other woman laughed lightly. “No, I adore Felix, so colorful and animated. He has a good soul—not to mention he’s so entertaining.”

“That he does.” Toni smiled and nodded. “And I agree; there’s never a dull moment with him around.”

She sighed, released Toni’s arm and stepped a bit closer to the pool and stared at the army of breast cancer awareness rubber ducks. “No, my husband.” She turned back to Toni and smiled.

How does one respond to a statement like that?

Katerina lifted the front of her long gown and again drew close to where Toni had remained standing. “It’s true. He was so much older than me. I thought my life was over.”

And she was now totally confused. “I don’t think I understand.”

She nodded and a whimsical expression crossed her face. She glanced out at the ducks then again met Toni’s gaze. “An arranged marriage. My father insisted it would be good for diplomatic relations and that it was the old way. I thought my life at that moment had officially ended.”

“I see, but things worked out.”

“That they did.” She stared at Toni as if looking deep into her heart and soul. “I know the truth about you and Richard.”

Toni’s heart slammed to a stop. “Mrs. Singh—err—Katerina, please don’t hold it against him. I can explain.”

She waved a gloved hand. “No need, he already did late Tuesday afternoon. I know everything about how you met.” The other woman giggled. “A golf ball—that’s a new one.” She then grinned mischievously. “I did throw a plate at Denshi once. Not long after we were married.”

Okay, didn’t see that coming.
“What happened?”

He dodged the plate and stood there laughing. Eventually I laughed too and I couldn’t remember why I was so mad at him.” A dreamy look covered her face. “We became friends and eventually fell in love after that.”

She sighed and decided to ask the dreaded question. “What else did Richard tell you?”

“How you were so beautiful and though the marriage was fake, he started to fall in love with you and wanted to have a real marriage. Only he discovered a little late that the two of you already had one.”

Toni’s stomach knotted and started to hurt. “I never knew.”

“There’s more. When I saw the two of you, I saw a great couple—who loved each other very much. Who were there for each other. Sentenced to marriage—or an arranged marriage—you did the same as me—you made the best of it and got a good man in return.”

Oh, Toni had really messed this up. Chances were extremely high the conversation she’d overheard was him telling Katerina and Denshi the truth. “I did something stupid crazy.”

The other woman smiled. “You mean more stupid crazy than arranging for 1000 ducks to win back a wife?”

Her mouth parted in awe and she glanced at the ducks in the yard then returned her gaze to Katerina. “Richard?”

She smiled and nodded, then glanced toward the house before turning back. “The man I see standing there is not the man in a fake marriage, but one who loves his wife.” She again turned toward the house and Toni followed her gaze.

There Richard stood with Denshi Singh and Felix. Her breath caught in her throat and her heart started to race. His lips curled into a grin and all her breath was lost.

“Well, I am going to track down a glass of wine and leave you to talk to your husband. Have the conversation that’s long overdue.”

“I will and thank you.”

“No need to thank me.” Her tone turned matter of fact. “Lunch next week in Vegas, say Thursday?”

Toni couldn’t control her smile, despite the jumble of emotions running through her. “That would be lovely, call me.”

She would have made such beautiful bride.

Seeing Toni standing there in the white gown with the delicate pink embroidered roses and the pink sash tied in a bow falling down over the full skirt left Richard wondering if they’d done things wrong. However, when she turned and looked at him, the hope reflecting in her gaze made him realize they’d done everything right. Backwards maybe, but right.