Vanessa's Match

She breathed a sigh of relief when the men returned half an hour later. All three looked pleased with themselves, so Vanessa guessed Rick had hired Jeff and his partner to handle his private affairs.

But he had better not think he could pass off Lindy to his lawyers. She wouldn’t allow that. Besides, that plan had already failed.

Bill and Chelsea left first, Chelsea explaining apologetically that she had to go to bed early these days because of her pregnancy. Vivian immediately told her she had done the same. Rick stood to take his leave, too.

After a cautious glance at Lindy, Vanessa stood and moved to his side, asking for a private moment in the library.

“Why?” he asked.

“Because I would like to talk to you about your half sister.”

“Look, I arranged with Jeff and Bill to handle everything. They’ll give you the money for whatever you need to buy her. I don’t think you’ll be unhappy.”

“This is not about the money!” she protested in a low voice. “Can we go to the library, please?”

“Fine!” He turned around, holding the door open for her.

After another quick look at Lindy, still playing with Jamie, Vanessa walked past him to the library across the hall.

She waited by the door until he entered and then shut it. “Please sit down.” It was an order, even though she said please.

“Look, Vanessa, I’ve taken care of everything. If you’ll talk to Jeff, you’ll see.”

“Jeff can’t handle this problem.”

“Why not?”

“Because he’s not Lindy’s big brother! For some reason, she craves approval from you.”

“Fine. I approve of her. Will that do?”

“You just don’t get it, do you. Your stepmother didn’t only deprive Lindy of clothes and furniture. She deprived her of love. The child is an emotional wreck, and only someone in her family can make that go away. Since you’re the only one she has, it has to be you!”

“What do you expect me to do? I don’t even know her.”

Vanessa drew a deep breath. She needed to stay calm and focused. “Why do you think your father made you Lindy’s guardian if anything happened to her mother?”

Rick glowered at her.

Good, she thought. He needed to think about what he was doing.

“He didn’t have anyone else to take care of her,” Rick said, his voice low.

“That’s what I would assume. Wouldn’t he expect you to do what you could for her? To heal the hurts her mother inflicted?”

“He married her. Not me!”

The bitterness in his voice told Vanessa she still had some work to do.

“How about I make a suggestion, and we’ll discuss whether or not you can handle it,” she said softly.

“What?” he barked.

“Instead of telling Lindy she can go see the house when you’re not going to be there, why not invite her to dinner and welcome her?”

“She said she wanted to see the house. I said she could.”

“I didn’t know Lindy’s mother or her father. But I know which one she loved the most. Remember your emotions when your father died? Well, Lindy felt at least that bad. You were old enough to take care of yourself. She was left to a mean, hateful woman who gave her no love at all. Would it be so hard to let Lindy into your heart just a little bit?”

“Her mother—”

Vanessa put up a hand to stop him. “I know her mother was impossible. But Lindy’s not. She’s sweet and lovable. And she needs your approval. Please?”

“Fine! I can be home for dinner on Wednesday. I’ll tell Mrs. Abby the two of you will be there.”

“I don’t have to come. You two—”

“No. You’re the expert about all those emotions. You need to be there.”

He’d trapped her, and there was no way out. “All right, I’ll come. Wednesday night at seven?”

“Yes.”

“You won’t forget?”

“No, I won’t. Now, if you have no objection, I’ll be on my way.”

“Wait! You need to invite Lindy yourself. And then tell her goodbye.”

“Damn it! I told you you were invited!”

She stared at him.

“Fine!” He rose and headed for the door.

She’d won the round, so why wasn’t she happy?

Because spending another night with Rick Austin was the last thing she wanted to do. For many reasons she thought it best to keep her distance from him—not least of which was the fact that the man was too attractive for his own good.

Or for hers.

RICK ENTERED THE OTHER ROOM, trying to put a smile on his face. It was what his father would’ve wanted, he told himself. He hated to think that he’d failed the man. He knew his father had loved Lindy, his cute, precocious little girl.

But now she was a child-woman and reminded Rick so much of her mother. A shiver ran through his body at the mere thought of Anita. He controlled himself and walked over to his sister where she played with Vanessa’s niece.

“Lindy, I was thinking, if you don’t mind waiting until Wednesday to come see the house, I’d be free that evening and you and Vanessa could come to dinner. Would that be all right?”

He watched Lindy’s face light up like a spotlight and acknowledged to himself that Vanessa had been right. He hadn’t been sure until then.

“Oh, Rick, that would be wonderful!” Her gaze shifted to Vanessa, who’d come in behind Rick. “Wouldn’t it, Vanessa? Can we go on Wednesday night?”

“Sure, Lindy. I’m free then if you are.”

Lindy giggled, reminding Rick again that she was still maturing. “You know I’m free, Vanessa.”

“Okay, then we’ll plan on Wednesday night. What time, Rick? Will seven be okay?”

Rick turned around to glare at Vanessa while no one else could see him. She was playing him. They’d already agreed on the time. “Yes, seven will be fine.”

“Then we’ll look forward to seeing you Wednesday at seven.”

He nodded and remembered to smile at Lindy one more time. Then he turned to Will and Vivian, who, it appeared, had been watching them all with interest. “I’ve got to go now. I enjoyed the evening and I’m very pleased with Jeff and Bill. Thanks for referring them to me.”

Will stood and shook his hand and Vivian kissed his cheek. Her warm gesture surprised him.

“Come to dinner anytime you please, Rick. We always have plenty of food and we love the company.”

He wouldn’t take her up on it, but the offer was sweet. “Thank you, Vivian.”

After he left the house, he got into his car to drive home. He had a lot to think about. And he couldn’t help feeling a surge of anger toward Vanessa Shaw. He’d forgotten she was studying to be a psychologist. She’d make a good one, he remarked to himself. She’d certainly found the right button to push and he’d done exactly what she wanted.

Normally he wasn’t that easily manipulated. Dinner Wednesday evening wouldn’t be exactly as she’d envisioned it.

He hit a button on his cell phone.

A silky voice answered. “Hello.”

“Sharon, it’s Rick.”

“Oh, hi, lover. I missed you tonight.”

He chuckled. That was her standard greeting, though he seldom saw her because of his travels. “Good. I’m having an intimate dinner party on Wednesday evening at seven. It will just be you, my sister and her guardian. Can you make it?”

“I didn’t know you had a sister. But of course I’ll be glad to come. I’m delighted to finally meet your family.”

“Good. I’ll see you then.”

He shut off the cell phone, thinking about what she’d meant. When it hit him that Sharon thought he was getting serious about her, he almost stomped on the brakes. Damn! He’d let Vanessa get under his skin and trick him into doing the right thing. Then he’d tried to outsmart her, and now look at the mess he was in.

Sharon was a good date, presentable, sophisticated. She didn’t require a lot of maintenance, either. But he, unlike his father, did not intend to be caught by a pretty face or a good body. His stepmother had taught him that lesson.

Should he call Sharon back and cancel? No, he needed protection from Vanessa.

What was he thinking? He didn’t need protection from any woman! He could handle himself…couldn’t he?

THE EFFECT RICK’S INVITATION had on Lindy was remarkable. She always seemed to be smiling. And thinking about Wednesday. Monday, after a relaxing weekend, she announced, “It’s only two days until Wednesday.”

Vanessa looked up in surprise. “Well, yes, Wednesday is always two days after Monday, Lindy.”

“Yes, but we don’t always have an invitation to Rick’s for dinner, you know.”

“Ah, yes, I forgot about that.” At Lindy’s alarmed look, she hastily added, “Temporarily, of course. I have it written in my day planner.”

“Oh, good. I was thinking maybe I could wear my new pink dress.”

“That’s a good idea.”

“What will you wear?”

“Me? I don’t think it matters what I wear. Rick will be focused on you, not me.”

Lindy kept her head down, saying nothing for several minutes, but Vanessa waited patiently.

“Maybe…maybe Rick only invited me so you’d come,” she finally said, almost in a whisper.

Vanessa put her arm around the young girl. “I can guarantee you that’s not the case. Don’t even give it another thought.”

“Are you sure?”

“I’m sure. I think he realized he should be there the first time you come back to the family home. That’s what his father would’ve wanted—Let me rephrase that. That’s what your father would’ve wanted.”

Tears filled Lindy’s eyes. “I can’t really remember him,” she confessed. “When I think about him, I remember how he made me feel, rather than what he looked like.”

“Don’t you have a picture of him?” Vanessa asked, shocked.

“No. Mom didn’t have any pictures of him. I asked her once, but she said no.”

“Maybe while we’re over there Rick will let you have a picture of your father.”

“Do you think he might? I’d like that.”

Vanessa made a mental note to call Rick later, when Lindy wasn’t around.

Just then, the phone rang downstairs, which meant it was for her parents. Vanessa ignored it. Betty would answer it if her mother wasn’t available. To her surprise, Betty called up the stairs for her.

“Excuse me, Lindy. I’ll go see what Betty wants.”

She quickly ran down the stairs to the kitchen.

“Vanessa. Your sister is on the line, wanting to know if Lindy could baby-sit tonight,” Betty said. “She didn’t want to call on your line because she figured Lindy would hear the conversation. She thought you should decide if you thought it was okay before she talked to Lindy.”

“Oh. I’d better talk to her.” She went to the phone in the library. “Becca? It’s Vanessa. You need Lindy for tonight?”

“Yes. Jeff wants me to accompany him to dinner with one of his clients. We’ll be home before ten. Do you think Lindy could baby-sit?”

“She probably could, but you could bring the kids over here.”

“I know, but I thought it would be good for Lindy’s self-esteem, and the kids will be in bed asleep when we get home, which will be nice.”

“Okay. Do you want to talk to her?”

“I’ll call on your line, if you want, and we can pretend this conversation never happened. Okay?”

“Sure. Give me a couple of minutes to get back upstairs. And, Becca? Thanks.”

Vanessa could hear the smile in her sister’s voice. When Rebecca said, “I wasn’t around when you were little. It’s the least I can do. And it helps me, too.”

After hanging up, Vanessa hurried upstairs. Rebecca was right. Baby-sitting would help Lindy’s self-esteem. She composed her features so Lindy wouldn’t know what was happening until Rebecca called.

Lindy looked up. “Is everything okay?”

“Sure. Betty wanted to see if we’d be happy with what she was thinking about for dinner. But I told her we always love anything she fixes,” Vanessa said with a smile.

Before Lindy could ask what was for dinner, which Vanessa realized would have been the snag in her story, the phone rang again. “Hello?” Vanessa answered. “Oh, hi, Becca. Yes, she’s here.” She handed the phone to Lindy, who looked apprehensive.

That apprehension turned to delight as Lindy listened to Rebecca’s request. After agreeing to the offer, she hung up the phone and turned to Vanessa in excitement.

“She wants me to baby-sit! She said the kids like me and she thinks I’ll be responsible! Isn’t that amazing?”

“I think it’s perfectly normal. How much is she paying you?”

“Paying me? Oh, no, she shouldn’t pay me!”

“Why not?”

Lindy gave her a shocked look. “But I’m just—Isn’t that something you do for each other?”

“Maybe, and she knows that I’d baby-sit for her, but she wants to have the kids in bed on time in their own beds. That means someone has to be inconvenienced by coming to her house. And that means she’ll pay you.”

“And you think I should accept it?”

“Yes, I think you should.”

“I’ll give the money to you, of course.”

“Why would you do that?”

“To help pay for the things you’ve bought me.”

Vanessa smiled and shook her head. “Your brother is paying for everything. You can offer him the money if you want, but he won’t take it.”

Lindy seemed thrilled, and wandered off to her room with a big smile.

Now that she was alone, it was time for Vanessa to put into action her earlier plan. Lindy wanted a picture of her father, and that’s just what she would get. No matter that Vanessa had to go to Rick to get it.

Chapter Four

When Rick answered his cell phone after he got back to his hotel, a familiar voice sounded in his ear.

“Hi, Mrs. Abby. Everything okay?”

“Of course,” his housekeeper replied. “But I have a question. Miss Shaw called earlier today. She asked if you had a spare picture of your father for Lindy. Apparently the child doesn’t have a photo of him.”

Rick couldn’t think of anything to say. While he was annoyed that Vanessa had called, a sadness niggled at the thought that Lindy didn’t have a picture of her own father. Every child should have that, he thought, and again he took responsibility for not thinking of that nine years ago. He’d just assumed Anita—He pulled up short on that thought; he should’ve known better than to expect anything from that woman.

Before he could reply, Mrs. Abby continued.

“Miss Shaw suggested I might find a photo or duplicate one so you could give it to Lindy Wednesday night. When I said I would, she said not to do it without checking with you first, because she didn’t want to make you mad.”

Rick growled inwardly. The sadness and sympathy he had felt for Lindy were pushed out by anger and indignation, thanks to that incendiary comment. To believe that—and to say it to his housekeeper! That was all he needed, for Vanessa to make him sound like an unfeeling animal.

“She sounded very nice on the phone,” Mrs. Abby said. “Why would that make you mad?”

“It wouldn’t have. She’s a difficult female, that’s all.”

“Hmmm. Whatever you say. Well, I’ll see you tomorrow night.”

“Uh, Mrs. Abby,” he said quickly, stopping her from hanging up. “How did Miss Shaw get my number at the house?”

“She said she’d spoken to your attorney.” She paused. “That was all right, wasn’t it?”

“Fine.” No sense bringing his housekeeper into his feud with Vanessa. “I’ll be home late tomorrow night. Don’t wait up for me.” He always said that, and she always did anyway.

“Yes, sir.”

Rick shut off his cell phone before he let out a few choice words about Vanessa Shaw. She’d already disrupted his sleep since he’d met her. Now she’d managed to upset Mrs. Abby, too.

Of course he wouldn’t mind giving Lindy a picture of their dad. He hadn’t realized she didn’t have one. Dad would’ve wanted—He wasn’t going to think about what his dad would’ve wanted. Not now. That only led to thoughts about that damn Vanessa Shaw! And his own guilty conscience.

He was tired. Tonight he wanted to get a good night’s sleep—at least one good night before he had to face Vanessa Shaw again.

VANESSA PICKED UP Lindy from her baby-sitting job when she called to say Rebecca and Jeff were home. Since they only lived five minutes away, it didn’t take long. Lindy seemed happy, but when they got in the car, after saying goodbye, she almost exploded in excitement.

“Jeff paid me fifteen dollars, Vanessa! Fifteen dollars! I’ve never earned any money before. Can you believe he paid me that much?”

“Hmmm, I thought the going rate was maybe twenty dollars for the night,” Vanessa said. “I didn’t realize Jeff was cheap. I’ll have to complain.”

“Vanessa, no! You can’t complain! I—”

Vanessa laughed. “I’m teasing you, honey. I think fifteen dollars is a generous payment.”

“Oh! I can’t believe you did that to me!” Lindy shouted before she began giggling. “You had me so worried.”

“I’m glad you’re not upset. And I’m glad you have a sense of humor. You’ve been too serious way too long.”

“I know. But I didn’t have anything to laugh about.”

Vanessa reached out and caught Lindy’s hand. “But your life has changed now, and you need to do a lot more laughing.”

“Yes,” Lindy agreed with a smile.

They rode in silence the rest of the way home. But when they were walking up the stairs on their way to bed, Lindy asked, “Do you think Rick laughs much?”

Vanessa didn’t want to answer that question. But she believed in being honest if she could. So, after they reached the top of the stairs, she stopped and looked at Lindy. “No, honey, I don’t. But I don’t think that’s any of my business.”

“But, Vanessa, it’s my business, isn’t it?”

“I suppose so.”

“And I’m your business, aren’t I?”

“Yes, of course, honey, but—”

“So that makes Rick your business, too.”

Vanessa turned and continued on to Lindy’s room. Lindy followed her. When Vanessa got to the room, she sat down on the bed and patted the space beside her for Lindy.

“Sweetheart, don’t you want to be my business?”

“Yes, of course.”

“I’m glad. But Rick doesn’t want to be part of my business. And if he doesn’t want that, then there’s nothing I can do for him.”

“Maybe…maybe Wednesday night you could tell some jokes?” Lindy asked hopefully.

Vanessa chuckled. “Obviously you’ve never heard me tell a joke. I’m no good at that.”

“Really? Do you know any jokes?”

“No, Lindy, I don’t. If you laugh, maybe he’ll catch on. Maybe just being around you will help him laugh more.”

“But I don’t think I’ll see him much after Wednesday night. After all, he won’t have the excuse of showing me the house.”

“Perhaps you can invite him to dinner over here again later on. And I think we should invite Mrs. Abby to lunch before you start back to school. She’ll want to see where you live, and meet Betty. That way, she’ll know you’re being well taken care of.”

“I haven’t seen her since I was six, when Dad was alive. Do you think she’ll care?”

“Oh, I forgot to tell you. She called tonight to confirm Wednesday and she wanted me to tell you how much she is looking forward to seeing you.”

“She did? You know, she and my mom didn’t get along. I thought maybe she’d think I was like Mom, too.” A worried look settled on her brow, and Vanessa couldn’t help but put an arm around her.

“I don’t think there’s even a chance she’ll think you’re like your mom, honey. There’s not a mean bone in you.”

“Mom wasn’t mean, Vanessa. I don’t want you to think that. She just—just didn’t think of anyone but herself. She told me it was because she grew up poor.”

Vanessa didn’t want to hear the woman’s excuses. It didn’t matter how she grew up. A child was a child, and she needed love and care from a parent who put her first, regardless of the mother’s upbringing. But she’d spare Lindy another lecture tonight. Instead she said, “Well, Mrs. Abby will like you just the way you are, I promise.”

Lindy smiled and nodded. “I’m so looking forward to Wednesday!”

“I know you are. But try to get some sleep between now and then or Mrs. Abby will think I’m working you to the bone!”

As Vanessa rose to leave, Lindy laughed. Vanessa bent to kiss the girl’s cheek. “Good night, honey. I’ll see you in the morning.”

“Good night.”

Vanessa went back downstairs. She wanted some decaf coffee before bed. She needed to think.

Betty was still in the kitchen when she entered.

“Why, hello, child. I thought you’d gone up already,” Betty said.

“No, I thought I’d fix a cup of coffee.”

“I’m fixing a pot now for your parents. They’re in the library if you want to join them.”

“All right, I will. Thank you, Betty.”

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