To Love an Older Man
Auteur
Debbi Rawlins
Lezers
18,1K
Hoofdstukken
17
Chapter One
“Hey, Boss, it’s eight-thirty. Aren’t you ready to pack it up for the night?”
David Elliot Matthews looked up from his day planner at one of the firm’s younger lawyers poking his blond head in David’s office. “What are you still doing here?”
Todd shrugged. “Jason and I have the Sandburg’s Metal fraud trial coming up next week. We’re trying to get a head start on the case.”
“Any problems?”
“No. Everything is under control,” Todd said quickly, tugging at his loosened tie. “We just want to be prepared.”
David suppressed a smile. They were young, only two years out of law school, and eager to make a good impression. As soon as he set foot in his private elevator, they’d head for Houlihan’s bar on the first floor.
Fourteen years had passed since he graduated from law school himself, but he remembered those days when Houlihan’s had just opened. His father had been head of the firm then, and found no amusement in the fact that his only son would rather party than practice law.
David Sr.’s first heart attack had been a sobering wake-up call for David. The second fatal attack changed David’s life forever.
“Why don’t you two go home? I’m headed out myself in a minute.” His gaze drew to his day planner. Appointments filled page after page. He couldn’t remember when he’d been able to eat a quiet lunch at his desk. Even the noon hours were blocked for meetings with the mayor, the chairperson of one charity or another, or perspective clients.
They always ate at Star Bistro or the St. Francis hotel. Damn if he could recall what a Big Mac tasted like.
“Yeah, we’ll be wrapping it up soon.” He glanced at his watch. “Have a good one.”
“See you tomorrow.” David had already transferred his gaze to his day planner. Only five appointments tomorrow. Maybe he’d have time to get on the treadmill for an hour.
He got up and stretched, and then picked his suit jacket up off the valet. Pausing a moment, he stared out at the lights across Fisherman’s Wharf. San Francisco was his favorite city in the world.
Paris was beautiful in the spring and Athens possessed a certain magical quality at night. But there was no place like San Francisco for David. Not just because he’d grown up here. In fact, there were times when the prominent Matthews name made the city a difficult place to live, especially during his rebellious youth.
He shrugged on his jacket and watched the fog roll in. Another ten minutes and the glittering lights and the moon’s reflection on the water would be shrouded with the thick damp haze. He didn’t mind. There was something comforting and peaceful about the fog.
David grabbed his briefcase and a bottle of Evian from the wet bar for the ride home. His private elevator waited, and while he rode to the garage, he mentally ticked off the three briefs he had to review tonight. By tomorrow morning he had to…
The day planner—he’d left it on his desk.
Dammit.
His reserved parking stall was just outside the elevator doors and he pressed the button to unlock his car and then threw his briefcase onto the passenger seat. He hesitated, trying to decide how badly he needed the day planner.
Shaking his head, he locked the car doors again and then took the elevator back up.
He’d left his office door open for the cleaning crew and the light from the corridor was enough for him to get to his desk without breaking his neck. The day planner was still open right where he’d left it. He picked it up and then straightened his desk blotter when he heard a loud angry voice.
He stopped and listened. It wasn’t Todd or Jason…David figured they’d left the moment they heard his elevator earlier. But as far as he knew, no one else was here.
Concerned, he moved closer to the door. He recognized the voice. Tom Snyder was their newest hire, a young lawyer only a year out of law school. Who the hell could he be talking to in that harsh tone? The guy was usually so well mannered.
David angled himself to get a better view. They were standing just outside Tom’s door, Snyder and a young woman. Although David got only a shot of her profile, she looked barely out of her teens, her dark blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, her rumpled coat a size too big. With a trembling hand, she pushed stray tendrils of hair away from her flushed face.
“I don’t want you here, Beth.” Tom glared at the woman, his face darkened with rage. “Go back to Rock Falls.”
“You know I can’t do that,” she said in a small defeated voice.
“I’ll give you bus fare, but nothing more.”
She wrapped her arms around herself. “You act as though I’m asking for a handout. It’s my money, Tommy. You said you needed it for us, that once you had the right clothes and car and your career took off we could get married and I could go back to school.”
“But you ruined it, didn’t you? I told you I didn’t want any kids tying me down. But you got yourself knocked up.”
“You know it was an accident.” She visibly swallowed but lifted her chin. “Besides, I seem to remember your participation.”
Tom cursed viciously. “Go back to Idaho.”
“Believe me, I don’t want to stay here. Not with you.” She shook her head. “You’ve changed, Tommy. I don’t even know you anymore.”
“And you haven’t. You’re still the idealistic little girl who thinks all is right with the world as long as your apple pie wins the blue ribbon.”
She flinched. “Please give me some of the money, Tommy. Just enough to go get set up somewhere. I don’t care about the rest. You don’t have to pay me back. You’ll never have to see the baby or me again.”
David let out a breath, tamping down his growing anger. This was none of his business. He had no right eavesdropping. He never interfered in his employees’ personal lives. He wouldn’t start now, even though he’d like nothing better than to plant his fist in the middle of Snyder’s arrogant face.
He had to leave. The feelings stirred inside him weren’t about the young woman’s plight as much as they were about David’s own tumultuous youth, about the grave mistake he’d made almost twenty years ago.
“Did I say I’d pay you back?” Tom asked, drawing David’s attention back to the drama outside his office. “I thought the money was a gift.”
“Tommy, please, I don’t have anywhere to go tonight. Even if you don’t care about me, you can’t let our baby suffer.”
“Use your credit card.”
“You’ve maxed it out.”
“So this is my fault again.” Tom swore and paced the corridor. “I don’t have any money. I don’t get paid for another week. Can’t you get an advance from your job?”
“You got me fired, remember?”
He stopped and glared, his face distorted with fury. “Dammit, Beth, can’t you accept responsibility for anything?”
Her mouth dropped open. She started to speak but then pressed her lips together and sadly shook her head.
“Go back to Idaho where big brother will make everything all right.” Tom sneered. “Back to the farm where you belong.”
“This isn’t fair,” she said, clutching her fists. “I’m only asking for what’s mine.”
“Life isn’t fair. Haven’t you figured that out yet?” He glanced at his watch. “Now I suggest you get out of here, which is what I’m about to do. I’d hate to have to call security.”
David stepped back. The woman didn’t appear to be in danger, which meant David had no business interfering. Making certain he had his day planner, he got in the elevator and headed for the garage.
He didn’t know Tom Snyder well. Most of their interaction had occurred during the interviewing process, but he knew enough about the young man to be shocked by his behavior. David wasn’t keen on having anyone of that ilk working for his firm. He had every intention of keeping a close eye on the guy. If he stepped out of line once, he was gone. Legally that was about the best he could do for now.
But that wasn’t what weighed on David’s mind. He couldn’t erase the image of the young woman, her shoulders slumped in defeat, her trembling hands unconsciously rubbing her belly, which still appeared rather flat. Or maybe it was a trick of the oversized coat.
He wondered if she truly had no money. If not, where would she go tonight? Would she get anything to eat?
Not his concern, he reminded himself. The city had plenty of shelters and social services to assist her. Maybe Tom had even relented and put her up for the night.
Yeah, right.
The elevator reached the garage and the doors opened. David cursed to himself. He hesitated a second, staring at the Jaguar, longing for the relaxing ride home, and then pressed the button to return to the top floor.
No doubt he’d regret what he was about to do. But if he didn’t assure himself the woman was all right, he’d regret that, too. Hopefully, they’d both be gone and he wouldn’t have to get involved.
Not a sound came from the corridor as he left the elevator. He paused at his office door and listened. Only silence. He stepped out into the hall and immediately saw her. No sign of Tom—just the young woman sitting in a crumpled heap near the public elevator, her head bowed, her long blond hair falling forward and hiding her face.
“Excuse me?” David said, and her head shot up, her big blue eyes startled and wary. “Can I help you?”
“No.” She pushed out of the chair. “Thank you. I was just waiting for the elevator.”
She was young, really young, just as he’d thought. He gave her a reassuring smile. “Are you here to see someone?”
She bit her lower lip, probably to keep it from quivering, and then pressed the elevator button. “I know it’s late. I promise I’ll leave the building as soon as the elevator gets here.”
A swift and fierce hatred for Tom Snyder gripped David. How could the guy have treated this young woman so callously? She was obviously a wreck, and still she tried to protect him. She could have announced why she was here, embarrass Tom. But she hadn’t.
“I’m not concerned about you leaving the building but I’d like to know where you’re going.”
She stared in surprise. “Why?”
He nodded at the small bag on the floor beside her. “Is that yours?”
“Yes,” she mumbled and bent to pick it up. She looked unsteady as she straightened and he reached for her arm. She jerked away, fear darkening her blue eyes.
“I’m sorry.” He withdrew his hand. What the hell was he doing getting involved? Put him in a courtroom and he could make judges weep. Here, he was no better than a bull in a china shop. “I didn’t mean to frighten you.”
She shrunk against the wall, her gaze darting down the corridor. Looking as though she wanted to make a run for it.
“I better introduce myself,” he said quickly. “I’m David Matthews.” Recognition registered in her face, but he added, “I own this firm.”
She blinked and then her eyes narrowed as she drew back.
He reached into his pocket and withdrew his wallet. “See?” He showed her his driver’s license, and impulsively placed his thumb over his birth date.
She wrinkled her nose. “I believed you. It’s just that you’re not that old.”
“Pardon me?”
She quickly averted her eyes, her cheeks flushing a deep pink, and she jabbed at the elevator button again.
“At this time of night security shuts down all but one elevator. It’s going to be a while.”
She said nothing, only stared down at her battered pink tennis shoes.
“Beth?”
Her gaze flew back to him. “How do you know my name?”
“I heard you and Tom arguing.” He hated that he made her uncomfortable, had put humiliation in her face, but there was no getting around it. “Where are you staying tonight?”
She briefly closed her eyes and swayed slightly. He squashed the urge to steady her. “Please, I didn’t mean to cause any trouble.”
“You haven’t. From what I heard, Tom was being…” A total ass. “…less than honorable. Is he still here?”
Beth shook her head, wishing the darn elevator doors would open and swallow her up. She should never have come here. What had she hoped to accomplish? Tommy wasn’t going to budge. All she’d done was totally humiliate herself in front of a stranger.
“I’ll be fine, really. Thank you for asking.” She turned her back on his dark penetrating eyes, and faced the elevator.
“Beth? May I call you that?” he asked, and she jumped when he touched her arm.
“Sure.” She shrugged, and shifted away. His voice was gentle, concerned, and she struggled to hold herself together.
“I know you must be embarrassed and a little frightened.” He paused when she refused to acknowledge him. “I know I would be in your shoes. But you do have to think about the baby.”
A sob caught in her throat. She couldn’t speak even if she wanted to. Not that she had anything to say. He was right, but she felt so darn helpless.
“I have a large house with three guest rooms. You’re welcome to stay the night.”
Of course she couldn’t accept his offer but she still couldn’t speak either. If she did, she feared the floodgates would open.
He pushed a rough hand through his short dark hair, and she realized he wasn’t as calm as he seemed. “I assure you this offer is on the up-and-up. My mother has a suite of rooms on the third floor. Our housekeeper has an apartment over the garage.”
Beth relaxed a little. He was being awfully kind. But surely she’d find a shelter that could take her in for the night. She opened her mouth to refuse, but before she could say a word, her stomach rumbled. She groaned at the loud, obnoxious sound, and muttered, “Must be the baby.”
He smiled. “Let the little guy know I have a fully stocked kitchen.”
“It might be a girl.”
“Of course.”
“It’s too early. I haven’t found out yet.” Oh, God, she was babbling.
He didn’t seem put off, but smiled again. “Just for tonight. Tomorrow you’ll be better rested, the baby’s belly will be full and you can decide what you want to do.”
She shook her head. “Thank you, but—”
“Beth, you have your baby to think about.” His words were quiet, gentle but they cut through her like a butcher’s knife.
She wrapped her arms around herself, recalling the cold damp fog that had started to roll in an hour ago. Foolishly she’d hoped she’d have a nice warm room by now. She sighed and rubbed the slight swell of her tummy. Mr. Matthews was right. This wasn’t only about her anymore. She had the baby to worry about.
Still, it was difficult to bring herself to accept charity. It was a new experience. Even after her parents had died ten years ago, and her brother took charge of both her and the farm, she’d always been self-sufficient.
But she hadn’t had a baby to worry about, she reminded herself. She took a deep breath. “Thank you, Mr. Matthews. We—I’ll accept your kind offer. On one condition.”
His left brow went up.
“I pay you back when I’m able.” She knew he meant nothing by it, but his patronizing expression annoyed her. “That’s how it has to be.”
His forehead creased in thought and he pursed his lips. They were nice lips, not too thin, not too full. Perfect, really. “The thing is, I’ve got to pay my mortgage whether you stay tonight or not.”
She saw the amused glint in his eyes, and folded her arms across her chest and sat down on the upholstered bench between the elevator doors. Fine. If she had to wait all night for the darn elevator at least she’d be warm and dry.
A short startled laugh made her look up. He put on a straight face, but a smile lurked at the corners of his mouth. “Come on, Beth.” He offered her a hand. “Let’s discuss it in the car.”
Her stomach growled again. She tried sucking it in to stop the noise. No luck. “All right, Mr. Matthews, but you know my terms.”
He took the bag from her hand. “I have a condition, as well. Call me David. I may be old enough to be your father but—”
“You are not. I’m twenty-five.” She’d fudged only a little. Her birthday was in a month.
He looked surprised.
She studied the faint smile lines at the corners of his eyes. “How old are you?”
He frowned and cleared his throat. “Let’s get on the road. I’ll call Ida to keep dinner warm.”
“Don’t let her go to any trouble.” She didn’t understand why he left the elevator and headed in the opposite direction, but she followed him through double mahogany doors.
“Don’t worry. She’s going to love fussing over you,” he said over his shoulder. “So will my mother.”
Beth slowed down as soon as she realized she was in his office. Although it didn’t look like any office she’d ever seen. The room was massive, two sides of it was all windows overlooking the city lights. A wet bar with gold-framed mirrors occupied one corner, an elaborate stereo system the other.
One entire wall was a floor-to-ceiling bookshelf filled with texts. They weren’t all law books either. She spotted a couple of current works of fiction she’d just read herself.
A treadmill was off to the side, hidden behind an Oriental screen. A television and two plump sofas and a pair of leather armchairs were arranged in a surprisingly cozy setting. Her gaze drew to his large desk, but settled on him when she realized he was staring at her.
She gave him a small smile. “Wow! This is some office.”
His gaze flickered across the room and he frowned slightly. “Yes, I suppose it is.”
Behind him came a low beep. She gaped at the polished brown oak door sliding open. “You have your own private elevator?”
One side of his mouth lifted. “So it seems. Are you coming?”
He motioned her past him and she scurried inside, and then waited for him to join her. He pressed the garage button and then silently faced the door for their ride down.
Beth tried not to be obvious as she eyed his clean-shaven jaw. At this late hour, she didn’t know how he could have no stubble…unless he’d shaved in the afternoon again. His hair was perfectly cut, a dark rich brown with no sign of gray. He wasn’t nearly as old or stern as Tommy had said.
He was obviously a very nice man to take in a total stranger like this. Back in Rock Falls, that sort of kindness was taken for granted, but she hadn’t encountered anything like it in the city yet. That it was Tommy’s boss who’d come to her rescue filled her with a perverse pleasure that Grandma Anderson would have threatened to take a switch to her for.
Beth smiled. Not that Grand had ever laid a hand, or switch, on her. But Grand was such a tiny and good-hearted woman, Beth figured she needed the bluff to keep her grandkids in line. Especially Junior and his horrendous temper.
The sudden thought of her brother made her feel a little queasy and she pressed a hand to her stomach. Junior was the best brother a girl could ever have. He was supportive, caring and protective. Too protective. He never had liked Tommy to begin with…if Junior ever found out what he’d done…
“Are you all right?”
Beth looked up. David’s concerned gaze lifted from the hand at her tummy to meet her eyes. They were nice eyes, dark but with interesting flecks of gold. “Fine. Really. I was just thinking about…stuff.”
“Ah.” He gave an understanding nod. “Maybe you should wait until you’ve had something to eat and had a good night’s rest before you think about any more…stuff.”
She started to respond but the elevator door opened, and he held it back for her. She hesitated, but couldn’t form the right words quickly enough and stepped out instead. He indicated a dark green Jaguar several feet away, and then pressed something in his hand that produced a clicking noise. The door locks, she realized, when he overtook her and opened the passenger door.
A black leather briefcase sat on the seat, but he carefully placed it in the back, along with her bag, and then continued to hold the door for her while she slid inside. He ducked and she jumped, feeling foolish when she realized he only wanted to make sure her coat didn’t get caught in the door.
She was fairly sure he noticed her edginess but he didn’t say anything. He went around the hood of the car and climbed in behind the wheel and reversed out of the stall without a word. After he made a call on his cell phone, he pressed a button and soft classical music filled the car.
They didn’t say anything for the next fifteen minutes. He drove and she stared out the window at the thickening fog, grateful that she and the baby had a warm dry place to stay for the night. But what would she do tomorrow night? And the night after that? It wasn’t easy looking for a job while pregnant. She didn’t show much yet but that would probably change in a month. Of course she could keep doing temp work but the pay was low and barely covered a place to live.
“Hey, you aren’t thinking about stuff again, are you?”
She turned away from the window and looked at him. He took his eyes away from the road long enough to give her a smile. It was kind and reassuring, but a little patronizing, too, and she couldn’t hold back any longer.
“Mr., uh, David, I really appreciate what you’re doing for me. But I’m not a child. Don’t treat me like one.”
