Page 47 of Brennan

“He does, andout of it, he wrote me a check, which is sitting in my drawer becauseI am not certain I should cash it. I mentioned groceries, and hewrote me a five-thousand-dollar check. I don’t want his motherto accuse me of being a gold digger when this - us finally comes tolight.”

“Fivethousand dollars for groceries, wow.”

“Kyle, I amserious.”

“I know youare, darling,” He told her soothingly. “But you have totake things into perspective. The guy is loaded, and you are marriedto him. He is going to feel that it is his responsibility to takecare of you-”

He lifted a hand asshe opened her mouth. “I know you are a modern-day woman whodoes not feel the need to have a man take care of you.”

He leaned forward,hands propped on the gingham tablecloth. “Brennan Connelly is asuper rich guy and your husband. He cannot get the chance to take youanywhere because of the contract you signed. He is frustrated andplaced in a situation he has never been in before. A guy like that ismore or less accustomed to calling the shots.

Now, he has to fallin line. The situation is combustible at best. He knows at the backof his mind that his mother will blow a gasket when she finds out whohe is married to.” He shook his head and waited as their mealswere placed in front of them. “It is bound to cause muchtension.”

“He has beenthrough hell with his dad.” She murmured. She was still tryingto accept what he told her at the farmhouse. “The man was apiece of work.”

Kyle handed her a fryautomatically. “I read about the scandal; hell, everyone with adevice and access to the tabloids knows what happened. The man was alaw unto himself. Hopefully, the son is not a chip of the old block.”He added, staring at her.

“He loves me.His father never loved his mother.”

“And I haveseen the way he looks at you.” Kyle shrugged. “I want towish you all the best, darling, but I keep thinking that you startedsecretly, and something is bound to go wrong.”

“That’swhat I am thinking, too.” She toyed with her soup, her appetitepractically gone. She spent the few hours after he left buried inwork and answering calls from Elizabeth and several of her friendsand could feel her ears ringing.

She had called to lether know that she was taking half an hour for lunch, and the womanpaused slightly before giving permission.

She felt thatElizabeth Connelly expected her always to be chained to her desk, butshe had to get away. She had to get out of that oppressive atmosphereand talk to someone; the only person she could talk to was Kyle.

“So? Whatnow?”

“We try to workthings out. we are married for better or worse, and I love him.”She laughed shakily. “I just cannot see my life without him init. We will go on as usual and figure things out.”

“That’sthe spirit.” He glanced at his watch. “I have to eat andrun.”

“Me too.”

*****

“It’s amatter that will require a personal visit.” Elizabeth waspacing the length of her office, a frown on her brow. “A phonecall will not do it. Darling, you just returned, but you know theEuropean market more than anyone else; it must be you.”

“Send someoneelse.”

“Who?”Elizabeth threw up her hands as she turned to face him. “Anson?Jerome? This is a crisis in the making and requires your expertise. Ido not have to remind you that Europe is the company's cornerstone,and we must head off a potential disaster.

It does not have tobe a long trip. I think a week will give you enough time to get tothe bottom of this. Your presence there will show whoever is sellingour products to the competition that we will not stand for it.”

“I cannotleave, not now.”

“You are goingto have to tell me why.”

Rising, Brennanstrode over to the cabinet to pour himself a drink. He had arrivedjust in time for the board meeting, and then they had gotten a callfrom their office in Paris to inform them that there was a problem.He could not possibly leave, not now and not for a damn week. But ofcourse, he could not tell his mother the reason.

“I have to behere.”

“Darling, Iadmire your commitment-”

“I justreturned. There are things to do, and I still have much catching upto do.” The excuses were weak, and he knew he was grasping atstraws, but he had nothing else.

“I know you aretrying to adjust to being here, and I must tell you that you aredoing a wonderful job.” She had come up behind him. Touchinghis arm lightly, she continued as he turned to face her.

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