3: She Hasn’t Said Yes Yet

Craig walked into his friend’s office to find him staring at the phone.

“She hasn’t called yet?”

“She has.” Pause. “She just did.”

And yet he sounded uneasy.

“So?”

“How does a man treat his future wife?”

“Your future-?”

A lifetime of grooming found Greg unable to treat Donna the way he would one of his ‘lady friends’, which was frustrating. And Craig found it funny.

“She hasn’t said yes yet, has she?”

Greg shook his head.

“You haven’t even asked yet!” came the animated reminder. “She hasn’t said yes, yet,” he repeated, this time reassuringly.

“Oh, but she will,” Greg said, an almost predatory smile spreading across his face.

•

Donna met him in the lobby with a quick kiss on the cheek. Her fur-lined coat covered whatever she was wearing underneath.

Greg’s Jaguar cruised the busy streets smoothly and stopped outside one of his favourite restaurants. It turned out to be one of hers as well.

The maître d’ wasn’t sure which of them to treat more deferentially, so surprised to see them together. Donna put him out of his misery by attaching a hand to Greg’s arm and remaining quiet. So the man led them to Greg’s usual table.

Marshall took in Donna’s wine-coloured dress and how it left all the best bits to the imagination. A calf-length, long-sleeved dress with a cowl neck line came out very nice. Sexy.

Donna came to a similar conclusion after giving him a once over. She liked how his suit fit him and that he’d chosen not to wear a tie.

“How was your day?” he asked her, having told her about his in the car.

“Quite interesting. Bumped into an old family friend today. Most unexpected.”

He smiled.

She told him a little about what she was working on and then, “So, what have you been doing for the past ten years?” she asked playfully.

“Oh, not much,” he told her casually. “I made money, broke hearts...”

Donna grinned, “No way, you too? At least we have that much in common.”

He laughed, “Yeah? Anyway, we- me and my business partner Craig- developed east. Built the building you’re working in...”

“Really? You want to build my house?” she offered. “I haven’t given that aspect of it much thought but it might as well be someone I know.”

“I will,” he promised.

She gave him another smile, chocolate brown eyes shining.

He changed the subject to less personal topics as the maitre d’ himself poured their wine.

“We seem to be making Ruiz nervous,” Donna commented, amused, as she watched the host walk away a few minutes later.

Greg shrugged, “He probably thinks one of your men will come confront me for being your date tonight.”

“More likely one of your women will have a hissy-fit at me for being your arm candy of choice.”

Greg chuckled.

She asked after his parents.

“Both fine. My dad sends his love... my mom doesn’t know I have made contact with the Qs but I am sure by tomorrow, our mothers will be making tea dates.” Pause. “If I’m not mistaken, Bob’s playing eighteen holes with my dad in the morning.”

One of Donna’s eyebrows rose. “Why the sudden reconciliation?”

Greg opened his mouth to speak.

“Not that I’m not glad to see you,” she hastened to add. “You didn’t do anything to me.”

Meaning what? He thought. Aloud he said, “I’m looking for a wife.”

“Really?” she said slowly. “How odd.” Pause. “Why?”

“Why? Do you mean why do I want to get married?”

She nodded.

“Well, it’s to please my father- it’s what he wants. He thinks he is going to die soon and needs to rest assured that I shan’t spend our fortunes on unsuitable women.”

Sympathy softened her expression.

“Don’t look at me like that,” he said.

Her eyes widened in surprise. “Like what?”

“With those understanding puppy eyes.”

Inexplicably, she chuckled but said nothing. She motioned for him to carry on.

Greg shrugged. “My dad wants legitimate grandchildren and for me to wed a credible wife, et cetera.”

“Wait, what do you mean when you say ‘legit’- do you already have kids?”

“God, no!”

“O-kay,” she said slowly.

“I know I sound anti-establishment right now, but I know my place in the Marshall family and how much is at stake if I don’t find the right wife. I’m not adverse to having a child; I will have a kid with my wife, who will be suitable and proper- and beautiful.” He flashed a grin. “She has to be beautiful. And the suitability kind of narrows it down to the fact that she has to be a Witt, a Smith, a Townsend or a Quinton.”

Amusement flickered across Donna’s face. “So, are you courting me too? I’m flattered.”

“Yes, I can hear it in your voice,” he said just as blandly.

“Your food, Mr. Marshall, Miss Quinton,” a waiter announced, placing steaming plates in front of them both.

Greg waited for the waiter to put the food on the table and leave before he spoke again.

“I just want to do it right the first time. I am smart enough not to have a baby with someone I don’t love or at least respect- I would probably end up hating both mother and child. And my mother would be very disappointed. I am not to taint the pedigree.”

“I understand,” she said.

They ate in silence for a while then Greg asked Donna, “So when do you want to get married?”

She nearly choked on her fish. “Excuse me?”

“Today in ‘N’ Ties,” he prompted. “You were telling your friends you wanted to get married.”

“Oh, that.” She shrugged elegantly. “When I find a suitable man.” Then she smiled enigmatically.

She would have said more, but she noticed Greg’s attention was attracted by a striking blonde across the room. His expression turned sour momentarily and then he turned back to Donna with a wry grin.

“Looks like you were right.”

“Damn. I can’t stand hissy fits,” she said drily. “So unbecoming.”

He laughed and lifted his glass to toast her good humour in silence. It just had to be Marie, he thought to himself. Of all his previous paramours, she was one of the only ones he’d be happy to never see again.

Granted, he hadn’t been able to resist her when they had met on the set of a commercial earlier on in the year. Something about her smile had appealed to him, but soon after the fling had begun, Greg had discovered she had higher aspirations and was hoping to endear herself to him permanently. It had been all he needed to sever all ties.

He hadn’t heard from her in a few months, but just before she had gone public with her claims about being pregnant with his baby she had called him. He had told her with certainty that he wanted nothing to do with her.

“Gregory,” she said, now right in front of them.

Greg had just said something funny so the both of them were laughing quietly.

Donna’s smile faded and they both turned their heads to face Marie. Admittedly, she looked beautiful in a dazzling blue number with matching bag. Donna cut over anything she was about to say by putting a hand on Greg’s briefly. “I’m going to freshen up.”

Greg took his eyes off Marie and nodded at her, watching her stand up and brush past Marie wordlessly. He suppressed a smile as his dark haired date walked away. Donna Quinton had just avoided a scene with an unknown woman, clearly indicating she had no desire whatsoever to meet her. It was so elitist, he had to appreciate it.

As Donna made her exit, she heard the blonde woman hiss, “Is that who you decided to have dinner with instead?”

“Don’t say that as if you had been my first option,” Greg said, unperturbed.

Donna, still within earshot, chuckled and turned toward the restrooms. Once she was in the restaurant powder room, she needlessly undid her hair and made an even neater knot, she touched up flawless makeup and then counted to twenty-five.

She exited the toilet and headed back to the table. The blonde was still there. Oh well, she thought.

“May I please have my chair back?” were the first words out of her mouth.

A couple at the next table looked at her and the blonde with interest.

“Marie was just leaving,” Greg smiled at Donna, reaching for her hand.

Marie’s eye caught the movement of his thumb on Donna’s wrist hatefully. She stood up, as did Gregory.

“This isn’t over,” she told them and stalked off.

Greg looked to see she left the restaurant and helped his date back into her chair.

“Thank you.”

“Sorry that had to happen,” he apologised.

“It’s ok. There was no hissy fit, that’s all that matters.”

A moment of silence passed.

“Now that you’re planning to get married all over again, do you regret not marrying my sister?”

He hadn’t expected that but he spoke frankly, “No.”

“Hmm. And why has it taken your father’s initiative to get you started on the search for a wife?”

“Is it only my father’s wish that spurs me? Perhaps it just coincided with my own realisation that I am ageing.”

Donna laughed. “But you’re not looking for love, are you?”

“Definitely not. It’s highly unlikely that I would ever find it.”

She nodded knowingly. Somehow that discomfited him more than anything but he carried their conversation back to the present and the meal continued very pleasantly.

He dropped her off at the door of her building, with a kiss on the cheek.

Before she went inside, she asked him, “When you get married, would you drop, er, certain aspects of your current lifestyle?”

Greg knew exactly what she was talking about. He spoke honestly, knowing better than she did that she had the right to know the answer. “I don’t think so. I mean, the arrangement will probably be a nominal one. As long as the wife is discreet... she could have her way too.”

“Hmm,” she said yet again. “Good night, Greg.”