“I’m doing you a favor, Connor. Embrace it. Gabriella is much more suited for you than that…girl you were with the other night.” He shot a reproachful glance at Connor’s injured fists.

Connor officially lost what little patience he had at that point. “I’m going to ask you one more time. What the hell are you up to? You tell me this instant or I’m going right over to Gabriella to cause a scene that will make the fight at the restaurant last week look like a frickin’ party.”

Ice cold irritation flitted across his father’s face. “Well, if you must know, the announcement hasn’t been made yet but I’m going to be retiring at the end of this month.”

“Congratulations. Now what’s that got to do with me?”

“It’s a forced retirement,” he bit out through his teeth. “And it’s all your mother’s fault.”

Connor stilled. “How is she a part of any of this?”

“The woman’s lost her mind. First she kicks me out of my own house and files for divorce. Now, she’s coming after my throat, threatening to expose all the married women I’ve had affairs with if I don’t give her everything she wants in the settlement.” He gave a disbelieving grunt, but Connor could hear the film of fear behind it.

“What are we talking here? Clients? Judges? Politicians?”

It had to be one or all of the above for the firm to be forcing him to retire.

“It doesn’t matter. I have all our best lawyers on it. Thankfully, your mother’s legal counsel is subpar at best. We’re handling it.”

God, he really was a bastard. “Why don’t you just give her what she wants? Lord knows she deserves it. You’ve been cheating on her and treating her like shit for over half her life.”

“What the hell do you know about any of it?!”

“I know enough,” replied Connor coolly.

“You just think you do. Because you’re still behaving like a fanciful child. We had a marriage arrangement, clear and simple. She’s being unreasonable. Perhaps you could talk some sense into her.”

Over his cold dead body. “Look, you’ve now wasted ten minutes of my time. Either tell me what you and Gabriella are up to or I’m going to go grab the mic and entertain the room with all the kinky shit she’s into.”

“This is all because of that college girl, isn’t it?” hissed Marcus.

“You dare say one negative thing about her, and this conversation is through.”

“I’m just looking out for your best interests!”

Since when?

“Connor, you have a chance to be name partner.”

“What the hell are you talking about?”

“I’ve been talking with Timothy Knight from Knight and Stern.”

“As in Gabriella’s father?”

“Yes. Her father is interested in my partnering in their firm.”

“Why on earth would they want you? You’ll be damaged goods once the divorce proceedings start.”

“Regardless, I have the deep pocket clients they want.”

“None of whom you’ll be able to take.”

“Yes, but you can. After my ‘retirement.’”

“Whoa, whoa. I’m not jumping ship. And even if I wanted to, I sure as hell wouldn’t jump into a new one with you.”

“Not even for a name partnership? I’ve worked it all out. By the time I’m through, Sullivan, Knight, and Stern will be—”

“Just stop! I’m not taking part in this scheme. If you’re going to join Knight and Stern, it’s going to be without me. And if my personal life was somehow part of this deal you’re negotiating with Timothy Knight, you better start thinking of a back-up plan because not only am I not leaving the firm, I’m not going to come within ten feet of his daughter.”

“Because you’re in love?” sneered Marcus.

Connor remained silent.

“I knew it,” he spat out with contempt. “You’re chasing a girl who’s too nice to admit that she’s been in love with your brother for over a decade. Don’t you have any pride?”

Connor felt that blow clear to his gut.

“What’s more, your brother is in love with her too. He just hasn’t realized it yet because of everything that happened with Beth. But he will. And when he does, do you really want to be the one standing in his way?”

Marcus did an almost believable impression of a fatherly sigh. “Your brother is a good man. He stood by his wife through an awful disease and is now raising his daughter as a widower. He and Abby are perfect for each other. They’re both family oriented, both educators. If you really believe you’re falling for this girl, stop thinking with your dick for once and do the humane thing. Nip this in the bud. She’d never survive in your world and you know it. She’s a nice girl. Let her be happy with your brother. You’ll never be able to give her the life she deserves, not the way Brian can.”

Connor tried to get up and walk away, tried to stop listening, but he couldn’t.

Aside from the farce of fatherly concern for Brian, nothing his father said was untrue.

Not the least of which were his feelings for Abby.

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

AT THE SOUND of the doorbell, Abby checked the clock. 9:30 p.m. There were only two people who could be standing outside of her house at this hour. And since both were well aware of her addiction to ice cream, she brought the pint she’d been working on along with her as she went to open the door.

She really shouldn’t have.

Because apparently, James freakin’ Bond had taken over Connor’s body.

And she was rocking one of Brian’s old shirts and a messy half-ponytail/half-bun piled atop her head.

“Hi, beautiful.”

Her knees buckled.

“So this was the pressing engagement you couldn’t break to go to the charity ball tonight?” he asked, eyebrow raised.

“Yup. Ice cream night is a big night for me.”

He leaned over and intercepted the spoonful she’d just scooped up. “Green tea? Right, you’re in Asia this week. Nice. So are you going to invite me in?”

“Oh, of course. Come in. Why aren’t you at the gala?”

“Because you’re here.” He tried to pull her in for a kiss but she grimaced and took a step back.

“What’s wrong?”

She frowned. “You smell like perfume. And before you say it, I know you didn’t do anything, it’s still…”

“Right. Like the kiss thing. Well, as was the case then, I was completely innocent tonight as well. Gabriella was all over me like a barnacle I couldn’t shake.”

“Gabriella? Who’s Gabriella? I thought your date was Victoria.”

“It’s a long story that involves my father.” He stole another spoonful. “I don’t want to talk about it. Can we just hang out tonight? Do you mind?”

“Of course not.” She started clearing off all the research books on her couch.

“Actually, while you’re doing that can I shower first? If you think this perfume is bothering you, try wearing it.” He made a face.

“Extra towels are in the cabinet above the toilet and if you check the third shelf in the hall closet, you’ll see a bunch of Brian’s clothes. Take whatever you want.”

Connor halted and looked back her way. “Does he do that a lot?”

“What?”

“Leave his clothes here?”

She shrugged. “It’s a collection that’s been building for years. It’s mostly from the times he used to pick up Skylar after seeing Beth. He used to shower as soon as he got here to get the hospital feel off of himself.”

“You wear a lot of his shirts.”

She studied his hooded expression. “Because they’re comfortable. Connor, are you okay? What happened tonight?”

“Still don’t want to talk about it,” he called out, pivoting back on track for the bathroom.

It was a good five minutes before Abby heard any signs of life that confirmed he’d made the journey successfully.

“Hey Abby, can you come here for a sec?”

Walking into the wide-open bathroom, she was greeted by a sight infinitely more decadent than her ice cream.

A wet, naked Connor sitting in her tub.

He grinned. “Remember our first phone call?”