Free Secrets in the Marriage Bed by Nalini Singh Page B

hand.
    The other woman shook it. “Just Helen. You must be Victoria.”
    “Please come in.”
    In the living room, Vicki served coffee and biscuits before saying, “I’m sorry, but my husband didn’t tell me much…”
    Helen nodded. “He sounded very busy when he called. I’ll explain. I met Caleb a year ago when I approached Callaghan & Associates for free legal representation in a messy case involving one of my clients.”
    Vicki knew that taking on pro bono work was an accepted part of Caleb’s practice. He said it kept everyone honest. “I see.”
    “Kent Jacobs handled the case, but I believe your husband oversaw it.” Helen put down her cup and loosely linked her hands together on her knees.
    “I’m afraid I still don’t see where this is going.”
    “I’m involved with several charities,” Helen explained.
    Vicki’s heart sank. Was this what Caleb thought she should be doing—sitting on some charity board giving away his money?
    “We have a position up for grabs. To be honest the pay sucks, but it is a paid job.”
    Her attention snapped back to the redhead.
    “We’re looking for a dedicated fund-raiser for all the charities under an umbrella organization called Heart, someone whose sole focus will be to continuously raise money for us.”
    Vicki nearly stopped breathing as she recalled her own list of accomplishments.
    She knew how to mingle, how to be the perfect hostess, how to make people laugh and feel good about themselves, how to create contacts and ensure the right people met, and how to soothe the worst of tempers without making a big deal of it.
    Hope had scarcely started to blossom when she noticed the look on Helen’s face. “What is it?”
    “I’m going to be honest.” The woman’s expression was professional. “I’m here as a courtesy because of the help Callaghan & Associates gave us. This job is flexible but it’s full time.” She frowned, then seemed to opt for brutal truth. “I’m leery of offering it to you. Frankly, it’s not a position created to help a bored wife fill in a few hours. We don’t need you to organize a thousand-dollar-a-plate dinner for us, then stand back and bask in the applause. We need our fund-raiser to constantly generate funds, to come up with new ideas month after month.”
    Caleb, Vicki realized, had really dropped her in it this time. This was serious, nothing like a ceremonial board position. She wanted it so much she could hardly breathe but Helen was right. She had no experience or qualifications. Could she really do it? Then she remembered why Helen had come to see her in the first place. Because of Caleb. That he thought she was capable of this meant a great deal.
    “I understand your concerns,” she told Helen. “There’s something else you need to know. I’m pregnant.” She was a lawyer’s wife—she knew it wasn’t something she had to disclose, but she wanted every single fact on the table.
    “That wouldn’t matter if you were qualified. Like I said, it’s a flexible position. And—” the other woman shrugged “—we don’t have spare office space anyway so you’d be working from home.”
    “I want to do this.” Vicki leaned forward, speaking with all her heart. “I know I’m not qualified and I know that to you I look like a spoiled wife, but I’d like to be more. Give me a chance.”
    Helen’s eyes widened. “You’re serious?” She continued to gaze at Vicki for another long moment. “Yes, I can see that you are.”
    “Could you give me a trial period? A month? If I can’t cut it, I’ll walk away and you don’t even have to pay me.”
    “Tell you what. If you deliver, we’ll pay you retroactively.” Helen stood, clearly amused. “I should have known a man like Caleb Callaghan wouldn’t be satisfied with a trophy wife. You’re not what I expected.”
    “Thank you…I think.”
    “Thank me after you’ve seen the job you’ve taken on. We bleed money. I’ll e-mail you the relevant