The Best of Friends Read online

  “Classic, with a fresh twist.”

  “That was the marketing campaign.” Blaine leaned back in his chair. “All right, David. This is your meeting. Why am I here?”

  “As you suggested, I’ve been studying the business side of our empire.”

  Blaine smiled. “What did you find?”

  “We do well. We have a reputation for excellence and innovation. Our clients are loyal and nearly forty percent of them make multiple purchases a year. Mothers bring daughters. Brides want to be able to tell their friends their ring is from Worden’s.”

  Blaine picked up his coffee. “But?”

  David pointed to one of the necklaces Élan had made. “As someone asked me recently, Does the world really need another one-hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace?”

  “It’s our market.”

  “Agreed, and it’s a good one. But what about everyone else? Do you know who is the largest jewelry retailer in the country?”

  “Walmart.”

  David grinned. “Go, Dad. You’re right. Walmart. Sears, JCPenney, and QVC are also in the top ten.”

  “Our market share is small, but we make considerably more on each piece.” Blaine picked up a dented snake chain. “Do you want to sell something like this?”

  “No, but there is a fifty-billion-dollar-a-year market out there, and we’re not part of it. There’s a big difference between this”—he pointed at Élan’s piece—“and cheap crap. What about the middle ground? What about a more entry-level collection? Tiffany does sterling. That’s an option. There have also been technological innovations with cladding. And stainless steel is an emerging market. It’s harder to work with, but the material is cheap, and if the pieces are well made, they’ll last forever.”

  He leaned forward and touched Rebecca’s pieces. “We find two or three designers willing to start a line exclusively for us in silver, clad, or stainless. Maybe one of each. We approach QVC and offer them one of the lines for a start. We take the other two retail.” He passed his father one of the folders.

  Blaine took it and read through the first couple of pages. “Interesting,” he said. “You have numbers?”

  “I have estimates of costs, a list of potential retailers, the steps necessary to get a product on QVC, and some rough profit percentages.”

  “I’ve seen QVC a few times,” Blaine said. “They want a personality to go with the product.”

  David couldn’t get past the first part of the statement. “You watch shopping on television?”

  His father grinned. “Not regularly, but every now and then. It’s interesting and impressive. They move massive amounts of merchandise. From what I’ve seen, a new line requires a person selling it. Have you talked to Rebecca? Would she be willing to be our front person?”

  David didn’t know what to say. Rebecca, as in his father knew she was Rivalsa? “I, ah…”

  “She’d do well on television. She’s beautiful and flashy. As long as she didn’t put her foot in her mouth. We could get her some media training.” Blaine eyed him. “Or you. They have men selling jewelry. The Tacori spokesperson is a member of the Tacori family.”

  “You know they sell Tacori on QVC?”

  “I know a lot of things.”

  David figured there was no point in pretending. “How long have you known about Rebecca’s designing jewelry?”

  “Since you showed me her first piece. That talent’s in the blood. I had an aunt who did some design work. There was a similarity. Your mother doesn’t know.”

  “I’m not going to tell her,” David said quickly.

  “She’ll figure it out on her own.”

  “You think?” David asked. “That would mean assuming Rebecca has ability.”

  “Not Elizabeth’s strong suit,” Blaine admitted. “Now that Rebecca’s back, it will come out, one way or another. Secrets have a way of doing that. In the meantime, I’ll talk to her. Let her know I’m proud of what she’s done and see if she’s interested in coming on board with your project.”

  David felt a flush of excitement. “We’re moving forward?”

  “I think you’ve come up with an excellent plan. Let’s get a couple of designers lined up and get samples made. That will give us products to take out. From there, we’ll work margins and put it in progress.” Blaine closed the report. “I’ll finish this later and give you any thoughts I have. I’m glad you came up with this idea, David. It’s why I wanted you here, helping me run things. We have a long history of making beautiful jewelry.”

  “That’s not going to change.”

  “I agree.” Blaine reached for his coffee again. “Are you settling in all right? Getting bored being in one place?”

  “No. I was ready to stop living out of a suitcase. I’ve seen the world. Being home is a great alternative.”

  “What if you marry an adventurous bride? Your mother mentioned that’s why you’ve come back. To settle down.”

  Blaine said the words as if they were a statement, but David heard the question in them.

  “I’m ready,” he said slowly. “It’s time.”

  “Meet anyone interesting at the party last week?”

  “There were some nice girls.”

  Blaine looked at him. “I’ve left you to find your own way. My father micromanaged my life, which caused me to rebel in some ways I’ve regretted. I’ve done some things…” His voice trailed off.

  For a second, David wondered if his father was talking about his affair with his secretary. Which led to a pregnancy and a quick marriage. Was it possible Blaine and Elizabeth’s union hadn’t been a love match?

  Knowing his mother, it was easy to say yes. But marriages were private, and it was difficult for anyone on the outside to understand which dynamics made one relationship work and another fall apart.

  “I didn’t want that for you,” Blaine continued. “I wanted you to be free to make your own decisions and live with the consequences. I don’t want you to think I don’t love you.”

  David felt slightly uncomfortable but told himself to go with it. “I know that, Dad. I love you, too. I’ve always felt your support, and I’ve appreciated being left to follow my dreams in my own way.”

  “Marriage is a tricky business. Don’t tell your mother I said this, but worry less about the right family or connections. Other things are more important. Does she make you laugh? Is she kind? How do you feel about seeing her personality in your children? Does that make you excited or afraid? Pay attention to your gut.”

  “I will,” he said, wondering if any of this described his mother. He wasn’t sure Elizabeth made Blaine laugh very often and doubted anyone would describe her as kind.

  He had the thought that Blaine was speaking from the wrong end of a bad marriage. Not that he would ask. There were topics simply never discussed in his family.

  “How’s the house hunting coming?” Blaine asked.

  “Slowly. So far all I’ve seen are huge places with too many bathrooms. I’m seeing another place tomorrow. I told my real estate agent I want something more reasonable than a mansion.”

  Blaine chuckled. “Don’t let your mother hear you say that, either.”

  There were disadvantages to being in the loop, Jayne thought as she drove north on Pacific Coast Highway toward Malibu. David’s real estate agent didn’t know about their fight, so she had called Jayne to let her know about the showing this afternoon. Knowing meant making a decision. And making a decision meant it was time to apologize.

  In theory, she could have gone to David’s hotel just about any evening. She could have set up an appointment with his assistant at the Worden offices and seen him there. But neither of those locations had felt right. Not that David had made any move to come see her. Still, she wasn’t happy with how she’d acted, and she wanted to make it right.

  She found the quiet, narrow street and turned onto it, then promptly drove past the address. Houses for sale in the rich parts of town didn’t have big signs out front. Most
of them didn’t have signs at all. She managed to turn around in someone’s driveway, a security camera following her every move, then went back to the correct house. As luck would have it, David was pulling in at the same time. He, of course, had gone to the right house in the first place.

  She sat in her Jetta, staring through the passenger’s-side window, while he stared back. Damn, he looked good. Tanned and handsome, with his hair a little too long. Her insides did some kind of twisty dance that made her wonder if she was going to throw up.

  He didn’t look angry, but he didn’t smile at her, either. Knowing there wasn’t any way to escape at this point, she got out and locked her car. He did the same.

  “Your real estate agent called me,” she said by way of an explanation. “About the appointment. I thought maybe I’d come and…” She cleared her throat. “I wanted to talk to you, and this seemed like more neutral territory.”

  “Switzerland west.”

  “Right.” She tried to smile. It didn’t go well. “I, ah. I wanted to say I’m sorry. I was upset at the party. I appreciate that you wanted to spend time with me. I don’t think you were setting me up with your mother.” Not much of an issue now, she thought. Elizabeth hadn’t been in touch with her since that night, and Jayne had no plans to make the first call.

  “It was a dumb invitation,” he said, surprising her. “You were right. I was there to meet my mother’s selections. It would have been like bringing a date to a singles bar.”

  She inched around the front of her car, moving closer to him. “It was weird, but instead of getting mad, I should have said that. And maybe offered an alternative date.”

  “It’s not your fault,” he said, his voice kind. “You weren’t yourself.”

  “Who was I?”

  “We’d just made love,” he said, closing the last few feet between them, then taking her hand in his. “You were still dazzled by my incredible skill and passion. There probably wasn’t enough oxygen getting to your brain.”

  She pulled her hand free and slapped his arm. “You’re lucky I’m not hitting you with my cast,” she told him. “I was not overwhelmed by your amazingness.”

  “You’re embarrassed about it. Don’t be. I’m used to the problem. I should have warned you so you were prepared.” His humor faded. “That night meant something to me.”

  “I know. I’m sorry about that, too. Saying what I did, I was wrong.”

  They looked into each other’s eyes. It was one of the most intimate things she’d ever done—almost like staring into his soul. She felt heat between them, but it wasn’t all sexual. Her chest felt funny, too. Kind of tight and achy.

  “Is this as bad as it gets?” he asked.

  “What?”

  “You. How you acted. The fight. Was that you at your worst?”

  “I don’t know. I can get mad, just like everyone else. I try to fight fair. I would say stealing the necklace was the worst thing I’ve ever done. I’m not that person. I don’t take what doesn’t belong to me.”

  “It was a long time ago.”

  “That doesn’t mean it wasn’t something that changed me. I always try to figure out why things go wrong, then learn from the experience.” She smiled. “Why are you asking? Are you filing a report with the character police?”

  “I tried, but their Web site is down.” He reached for her hand again, this time linking their fingers together. “Come on. Let’s go spend twelve million dollars.”

  She nearly stumbled as she went with him to the gate and waited while he pressed the button. “T-twelve million? Are you sure?”

  “Something like that. But the house is right on a private beach.”

  “For twelve million you should get an island and be worshipped as a deity.”

  “That’s what I say,” David told her.

  They walked into a private courtyard, then up the stairs to the front door. Before he knocked, he leaned in and lightly kissed her.

  “I don’t want to fight anymore,” he said.

  As always, his kiss was magic. “Me, either.”

  The house was smaller than the others. Only about thirty-two hundred square feet, with four bedrooms and a couple of baths. But none of that mattered when compared to the view.

  As David had promised, they were right on the beach. Both levels had floor-to-ceiling windows that looked out directly on the ocean. Stairs led down to the sand. The agent pointed out the remodeled kitchen, the slate flooring, the electronic blinds, but all Jayne could do was stare out at the tumbling sea.

  “This one,” she breathed. “It’s perfect.”

  “You like it?” he asked. “I’m surprised.”

  The agent disappeared upstairs.

  “Why?” Jayne asked, crossing to the windows and staring out. “It’s amazing. People will come to your parties just to say they’d been invited. Any woman would be thrilled to come home to this. Even the housekeeper will love the bragging rights.”

  “So it’s what you’d like?”

  She laughed. “After I win the lottery? Make that two lotteries. Thanks, but no. Not my style. But you look good here. You might have a problem with Rebecca. Once she sees it, she’ll never want to leave.”

  “But if you had the money, you wouldn’t buy it?”

  He came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her. She leaned against him. Maybe it was just short term, but it was a great way to spend an afternoon, she thought, resting her hands on top of his.

  “It’s the best location by far,” she said. “You’ll have celebrities all over and nice restaurants close by.”

  “Stop trying to sell me on it. Why doesn’t it work for you?”

  She hesitated. “It’s not homey enough. I want a regular house, not some fantasy palace. I want to know my neighbors, not be recorded on security cameras. I want a safe yard for kids and a place for a dog to run. I want grass and trees and maybe a fountain.”

  “The ocean doesn’t count?”

  She laughed. “Fair enough. I want a slightly smaller fountain.”

  He turned her in his arms. “Then that’s what we’ll find.”

  If only, she thought longingly. “You can’t buy my dream house. You have to buy your own.”

  “You’re influencing me. I had a meeting with Blaine yesterday. I talked to him about developing a line of high-quality, affordable jewelry. He’s excited by the idea, and we’re moving forward with the research-and-development stage.”

  Her mouth fell open. “You’re kidding? You’re doing that?”

  “Your point about the hundred-and-fifty-thousand-dollar necklace was a good one. I know how to listen.”

  “But I don’t understand. You’re taking my advice?”

  He nodded. “You’re more than a pretty face, and I respect that.”

  It was too much for a single brain to take in. Without thinking, she raised herself on tiptoe and pressed her mouth to his. As his arms came around her, he deepened the kiss. She hung on to him, being careful not to knock him in the back of the head with her cast.

  It wasn’t just that he’d taken her advice or accepted part of the blame for the fight or asked her opinion on the house. It was all of it. The real David Worden had turned out to be so much more than any man she might have imagined. And that was the danger. Falling for him seemed as inevitable as breathing.

  Somehow she was going to have to stop herself before it was too late. Loving him would make leaving harder, and she wasn’t about to fool herself into thinking it could work. She would have to back off.

  His mouth moved against hers.

  Later, she thought hazily. She would come up with a plan later.

  Fourteen

  REBECCA’S WORKSHOP HAD BECOME a haven. It was loud and busy. There were bursts of fire and steam as freshly poured molds were plunged into pails of tepid water. Buffers and sanders screamed, and every kind of music imaginable blasted well into the night. It wasn’t the kind of space that allowed introspection, and even if she started to miss t
hat shithead Nigel, all she had to do was stroll past one of the welders. The whistles and the suggestions they yelled immediately made her feel better about herself.

  She adjusted her magnifying glasses and studied the carving in her hand. It was the first step in a long process that would end with a beautiful gold ring embedded with diamonds. It was her second attempt, and so far she didn’t love any of it. The proportions were off, she thought as she pulled off her goggles and tossed them on the scarred worktable.

  “I need to start over,” she muttered.

  “Am I interrupting?”

  She looked up and saw her father standing in the entrance to her alcove. Well dressed and elegant, Blaine should have looked out of place against the paint-splashed walls and dented floors. Instead, he looked perfectly at ease.

  “Hey, Dad,” she said, standing and walking toward him. “What are you do—”

  Reality sank in. The Rebecca her parents knew had no business being somewhere like this. But with the carving in her hand and her tools all around, it was difficult to think of a good explanation.

  “What are you…” she began. “How did you… What’s going on?”

  “May I?” Blaine sat on the bench across from her stool. “I wanted to talk to you about your work.”

  Damn. She sank onto her stool. “Who told you?”

  “I figured it out for myself, years ago. It was the first bracelet David brought me. My aunt Rose designed jewelry as well. Your pieces are a lot like hers.” He chuckled. “Maybe more sensual. Aunt Rose was a fairly prim spinster.”

  “That doesn’t mean she didn’t have a good time with the gardener.”

  He winced. “Let’s not go there. She was old when I knew her.”

  “Want to keep her all for yourself?”

  Blaine grinned. “Thank you, no. But back to you. When I saw the bracelet, I suspected. Over the next year, I was sure. The name was a big clue. Rivalsa. Revenge is never a good idea.”

  “You sure about that?” she asked.

  “Yes, but regardless of your motivation, you do beautiful work. I’m very impressed.”