Page 23 of Leon
"The scandal."
"Yes."
"How--"
"We met when she came back from New York where she had been living and working. Her dad was ill, and she had to come back home. We met at a gallery opening and--" He moved his shoulders restlessly.
Putting the glass down, he rose and wandered around the room. Moving to the window, he stared out at the encroaching darkness. It was almost winter, and one could tell by the bleakness of the trees.
"I was the one who suggested marriage. I was afraid of losing her. It took considerable effort on my part to convince her to marry me. We had a connection from that first encounter, and it only became more intense." He turned to face her, smiling grimly at the fascinated look on her face. "We slept together that very first night, and it was then that I knew who she was. She recognized me, of course, but didn't say anything. Her intention was just to sleep with me that night and be done with it." Heshook his head as the memory of it clouded his mind. "We tried to stay away from each other, and it was impossible."
Moving to the chair, he sat back down and picked up his glass. "She's in my blood and my pores. I never knew I could love someone like that. It's... frustrating."
Lisa shook her head as if trying to figure out all the nuances of the news she had just received. Her brother had been with several women over the years because, well, he had the kind of looks and personality that made women pursue him. Not to mention the money.
"This is a new look for you."
"Tell me about it."
"But in secret? Darling, how does that work?"
"We have a cottage. The one mom left me."
"Ah. It's pretty isolated."
"We spent last weekend there."
"And how long is this going to be a secret?"
"She's afraid of telling her dad. He has a heart condition."
"Interesting. So what? You're just going to sit around and wait for him to drop dead?"
He winced at that and felt the guilt tugging at him.
"Not quite. She's waiting until he's much stronger so she can tell him the news."
She gave him a quizzical glance. "You're one of the smartest men I know."
"And?"
"That scenario does not ring true. In the first place, you should not have gone through with it. The right thing, the sensible thing would have been to try and get to know the father and confront the entire thing head on. Secondly--" She frowned. "Dad doesn't know."
"No."
"Oh, darling."
"Stop looking at me like that," he demanded. "I had to do it. I could not lose her, even though it feels like I am." He pushed to his feet. "I feel like I'm going to be the loser in this, that she's going to decide to choose her dad. He hates our family, and with good cause. You know the story, the accusations. He was cheated out of a business deal, and dad slept with his wife. Christ! If it was me, I would never want to have anything to do with this family at all."
"All that's in the past."
His smile was grim. "Betrayal and hurt have no time limits."
"True." She nodded. "But did dad really cheat him out of a business deal?"
"I don't know. And every time I try to get it out of him, he shuts me down. My future depends on knowing the truth."
"Yes, it does." She sighed. "Does she love you as much as you love her?"
