by Tea DeLuca
“Sandy, did the mint green dress we ordered come in yet?”
“Expecting it in this morning’s delivery.”
“Call the woman, I think her name was Stacy, and tell her the dress came in as soon as we have it. She wanted it for a wedding. Then box it up and put this inside with my note. No charge.”
“You’re giving the little girl the dog?” Sandy asked.
“Just a little surprise. She was such a sweet child and those eyes… I would have given her anything in the store. I’m writing it off as a gift with purchase.”
“Mags, the delivery truck is here,” Ronnie groaned. The rain continued to fall.
“Make sure he parks under the awning,” she replied. “I’ve got some mail to sort if you need anything, Sandy.”
As she dug the mail out of her bag, she shook her head. No wonder her carrier was pissed. She needed to empty that box at least once in a while. She sorted through the usual pizza flyers, home improvement offers, and coupons. Then she destroyed credit card offers while setting aside several envelopes of medical bills. Every test, and there had been plenty, resulted in more envelopes and more requests for payment. A couple still sat on her desk from last month.
The final envelope appeared official, but she wouldn’t be fooled. A great marketing trick, she was about to throw it away when she noted the return address. She tore it open and sank deeper in her chair. Subpoena? She skimmed quickly. She was required to answer a summons to testify against the young man who had accosted her the night at the restaurant. God, no. He hadn’t gotten away with her purse, thanks to Mark. She didn’t want to take off of work, be tied up with a court case, and face the kid again in court. Did she really have to do this? There was a number on the bottom to call, but she hesitated. What if there was a simple way out of this, and she’d make it worse by calling? She needed legal advice.
She couldn’t, could she? Could she ask the only attorney she knew for advice? After all, she had supported and encouraged his dreams, so she was at least partly responsible for his success. Besides, she wanted to see him, trusted him, and knew he would tell her what to do. She set the letter aside. The damn universe was calling her name again.
Chapter 22
Damn, he shook off his wet suit coat and draped it over the back of his chair. The rain and his well-deserved splitting headache did nothing to calm the discomfort in his chest. He had bigger problems than the weather. Melissa had declared her love and expected him to return it, but he didn’t. He didn’t mind being with her for company and sex, but he wasn’t in love with her. While avoiding her penetrating stare and refusing breakfast, he had dashed from her apartment into the relief of a good soaking rain. He would not get trapped again in a loveless marriage. He should find a gentle way to let her down and break this thing off now. His phone flashed with a new text message from the doctor.
I took care of the plane reservations. I can’t wait. It’ll be so much fun.
What the hell was she talking about? Reservations? For what?
Very funny, she returned. I cancelled your flight to Italy and rebooked us together on another flight. You and I in Italy. You sometimes have brilliant suggestions.
His heart stopped. Did he really invite her to Italy? Except for the whiskey and the sex, the rest of the night was pretty foggy. You’re coming with me to Italy? What about your practice?
We’re only going to be gone a few days. My associates will cover my patients for me. I wouldn’t miss this with you for anything. I’m going shopping before work. See you tonight.
No, no, no. This couldn’t be happening. Not Melissa in Italy. We need to talk further about this.
Checking temperatures this time of year in Italy. Later.
No, this wasn’t happening. She was not coming to Italy with him.
Outside his partially opened door, he was distracted when he saw a woman approach the reception desk.
“Hi, I’m sorry. I don’t have an appointment. Would Mark…Mr. Harrington have a moment to speak to me?”
“I’d be happy to find out if he’s free,” the pretty brunette said. “Miss?”
“Mags…Magnolia Blossom.” She sat in the reception area while the woman disappeared down the hall. What was she thinking? She should have called for an appointment. He might be with a client or in a meeting.
“He’ll see you now. Last door on the right.”
Mags shook off the rain. It chilled her to the bone in the air-conditioned office. He greeted her at the door, insisted on taking her trench, quietly locked the door, and held her chair. “Mags, is this professional or personal?”
“Actually, I got this a few days ago.” She slid the subpoena across his desk.
As he studied it, he had to smile. “Been sitting in your mailbox?”
She shrugged. “Somethings don’t change, I guess.”
“Did you make a police report, honey?”
“No, I called the restaurant to explain what happened the next day and suggested they add some lighting and maybe security cameras. They took my name and listened to my story. I thought that was the end of it.”
“I guess your little purse thief had other victims, and he finally got caught. The restaurant probably made a report and that sent the cops to you while the prosecutor makes his case.”
“I don’t want to testify. Can I ignore this?”
“No, not legally. You’ll have to respond and appear. Typically, though, they do excuse people for medical reasons or if they are beyond a certain age. In that case a lawyer could take a deposition and have it notarized for the court.”
“It’s not that I can’t go. I just don’t want to take the time or have to testify against the kid.”
“Can you recognize him, Mags? If you tell the operator when you call that you didn’t get a good look at him, the prosecutor will probably excuse you. You wouldn’t be any good to his case.”
“I think I can recognize him, though. I got a pretty good look at him while we tugged my bag back and forth.” She seemed tense and more than a little distracted.
“Did you want coffee, honey?”
“No thanks, Mark. Just some advice. Do you think a trial will take a long time?” She twisted the handle of her purse into a knot.
Mark came around his desk and sat beside her. “What will probably happen the morning of the hearing, the prosecutor and the kid’s attorney will cut a deal. Either they’ll reduce the charge, or the kid will plead guilty, and the sentence will be reduced. Either way, you probably won’t be there more than a few hours.”
She straightened his tie before she realized what she was doing. “You’re pretty good at this.”
“Kind of a simple case. If you want, I’ll block the time on my calendar and go to court with you.” He caught her hand in his as she moved it away.
“I can handle it, I think. Thanks.” A smile slipped. “Besides, I don’t think I can afford you. What do I owe you today?”
“Free consultation. Call the number of the court, and they can tell you when to report if it even gets to trial.”
She backed away till she reached the door. “Thanks again.”
Before she could open the door, Mark closed the gap between them. The solid door at her back and his equally solid body in front of her, she had no escape. “I want to come by and see Rufus tonight.”
“Sorry, not tonight.” Her eyes stayed focused on his mouth. “Date got postponed last night. Changed it to tonight.”
“Craig stood you up?”
“One of his kids got hurt playing softball. He was in the ER half the night.”
“Kids? Of course, he has kids. How many?” His body gave off more heat, and Mags couldn’t think.
“Uh, two, a boy and a girl, fifteen and seventeen.”
“Those are teenagers, not kids. What are you thinking? You want to deal with someone else’s grown kids?”
“I’m not dealing with them. I’ve met them, of course, but it’s not a problem.”
“Not
yet. You’re not a threat yet.”
“I wanted kids,” she said defensively.
“Babies, not young adults with the potential for being surly and obnoxious.” He leaned in tighter, his body enveloping her against the door. “I’m going to kiss you, Mags.”
Her eyes shifted to meet his. “I know.”
“Do you want me to kiss you, honey?”
Damn, why were his eyes so dark, his cologne so intoxicating, and his body so beautiful naked. Her need for him became stronger than her ability to think clearly. “Yes.”
“Mags,” he said softly as his lips took hers.
Soft, warm kisses that dredged up the mental pictures of other kisses, other nights filled with passion, fever, need. The longing in her heart exploded in the need to feel his skin on hers, his heart beating against hers, and him pulsing and throbbing within her.
“Mark,” she struggled to breathe. As he kissed her deeply again, exploring and skimming her neck and her throat, her hands undid his shirt so she could once again feel the strength of his chest muscles, the indentations and curves that she too knew so well, and revel in the warmth and bronze of his skin. She wanted him as much as he wanted her, right here and right now.
Had Mark been thinking of this when he locked the door behind her? “Baby, I want you.”
Her shallow breathing mirrored his, and tears filled her eyes. “Why? Why now? Why did you leave me?”
“I didn’t,” he insisted. “You left me…at the altar.”
She shoved at him till she broke his hold and twisted the lock on the door.
“Mags.” His voice came out sharply. “Neither of us can move on till we understand what happened.”
“It’s too late, but thanks for the help.”
He watched her march down the hall, his shirt still unbuttoned to his waist. Damn, she was making him lose his mind, and he needed a drink. Ten in the morning, and it was quickly becoming one of the crappiest days of his life, but one thing he was certain of. They might not have a future, but the past needed to be resolved. Only then could he let someone in. Only then could he love someone without the nagging images from the past.
“Hold my calls, Trisha. I’m not in to anyone for the next hour.”
“Yes, Mr. Harrington.”
Papers from his briefcase laid across his desk. He had a lot to do, but he wasn’t getting anything done. Set aside on the edge of his desk was Mags’ romance novel. Bunch of crap. He poured an early drink and stretched out on his sofa then reached over for the book. He flipped to the next chapter.
What are you doing here? she asked.
I wanted to…check on your mother. I know she hasn’t been feeling well. Ha! Any woman would see through that ruse. Is she upstairs?
She’s sleeping, she replied obviously annoyed, and I have company. He looked past her to the annoyed doctor, finishing his coffee. Of course, she’s annoyed, you idiot.
Don’t mind me. I don’t want to interrupt you. Just go on with what you were doing. I’ll make a quick cup of tea for your mother and go upstairs. Brilliant, she gets it on with the doctor downstairs, and you hold her mother’s hand upstairs.
I’m sure my mother doesn’t want to be disturbed, she insisted, and I’m sure you have somewhere else to be. Get lost, buddy. That’s pretty clear.
Sure, you don’t mind if I finish my tea first, do you? Mags likes this stuff? This is ridiculous. He knows she’s on a date. What does he hope to accomplish? He tossed the book back in his case, and suddenly he smiled. The rain stopped, and the sun peaked out from behind the clouds.
Chapter 23
“Mark, where are you? I thought you’d be back at my apartment by now.”
Mark felt the hairs on his neck stand up. She was already acting like they were married. “I’m at the gym with Perry. Don’t know how long I’ll be.” It was none of her business, and he resented being accountable for his whereabouts.
“I picked up some brochures of Italy and thought I could model my new wardrobe. I picked everything out with you in mind.”
“Melissa, we need to talk later. A frank discussion about a lot of things.”
“Wonderful, because I want to talk to you, too. The wedding won’t take up all of our time, and there’s some beautiful places, day trips, we could visit. It would be so romantic.”
Melissa,” Mark said sharply, “you do realize Liddy will be with me. I won’t be running all over Italy with you.”
“Oh, Liddy. I forgot she’d be on this trip, too, but that’s not a problem. Stacy will be there and your family. They’ll watch her, and I’ll meet your family. Won’t that be wonderful?”
“Honestly, no. We’ll talk later.” He tossed his phone by his duffel and punched the bag.
“That sounded intense.”
“Don’t even start, Perry, or I’ll blacken your other eye.” He pounded the bag till his arms hurt.
“The doctor giving you a hard time?”
“She loves me, is coming to the wedding in Italy with me, and I know she has our happily ever after planned.” He set the treadmill and started at a run.
Perry let him run it out and handed him a bottle of water when he stopped. “You don’t feel the same?”
“Hell no. I don’t know what I said to her about the trip last night. I was drunk on my ass, but she rebooked my reservation and is planning this trip. I have to straighten this out with her tonight.”
“Maybe you should ride it out till after the wedding. You might appreciate the woman once you’re away from here.”
“Go ahead and say it, Per. I know what you’re thinking.”
“Mags is a distraction. You might feel differently when she isn’t around.”
Mark glared at his friend. “Spot me.” Perry rose as Mark benched the weights. “This isn’t about Mags. I don’t need another loveless marriage. You were there; it wasn’t pretty.”
“Take a break, buddy.” Mark fell back on the mat. “Mags is an endless circle with you. She knows she’s driving you crazy. Damn, she enjoys doing it, and dummy, it will end the same.”
“Mags is a different universe from Melissa. One has nothing to do with the other. If I’d never met Mags, I still wouldn’t be with Melissa.”
“Are you sure about that? The woman is beautiful, a professional, everything a man could want.”
“Want on a nightly basis, not a lifetime, at least, not for me and not now. She’s pushing like hell, and I’m pushing back. Besides, you don’t even know her. I never should have listen to Stacy on this one.”
“Why haven’t you brought her around? I ran into her one day with Stacy. It was awkward, but she did make the introductions.”
“I brought Mags around, because I wanted her with me all the time. I broke the rules, I’m aware, but I thought she was my forever. I don’t want Melissa infiltrating my friends next. She’ll be with my family at this wedding, and they’ll have the wrong impression entirely.”
Perry shrugged. “But you were wrong, and maybe you’re wrong about Melissa.”
“And while I sort that out, there’s Liddy. I don’t want Melissa infringing on my time with Liddy, making it seem like we’re a couple. There’s a reason I don’t invite her to my place.”
“I know you don’t think so, but I know it’s tough when you want only one woman.” Mark looked up and met his friend’s eyes. “I’m not completely heartless, but you have to accept if things were going to happen for you and Mags, it would have happened by now.”
Mark recognized his own longing in Perry. “Who is she?”
“What the hell are you talking about? We’re talking about you,” he answered defensively.
“And now we’re talking about you. Who’s the woman you’re carrying a torch for?”
“No such woman. Still looking for the perfect woman.”
Mark didn’t believe him. He had obviously missed something during one of Perry’s many relationships. “No one is perfect, only perfect for you, buddy, and before you get fired
up again, Mags and I are not involved. She’s got a damn date tonight with a guy she’s been seeing, an older guy with kids who I’m sure is serious about her.”
Perry nodded. “I see. So, are you more upset with the kinks in your relationship with Melissa, or are you jealous of the old dude with Mags?” He threw up his hands and backed up a step. “I’m just asking. Which is making you crazier?”
Perry had a point, and an honest answer slipped out. “I don’t know. Maybe they’re not a universe apart after all.”
“We’re all meeting again at the bar Friday night for Gayle. Why don’t you bring the doctor and see how she fits in?”
“I have Liddy.” Mark stuffed his bag and checked his phone. Damn it.
Dinner reservations? How about Chez Noir?
Going back to my place to change. Have plans. He added as a compromise. I’ll come by or call you later.
What do you have to do?
He ignored her as a call came in. He hadn’t talked to his mother in a while. Hopefully, his dad was fine with his heart problems. “Mom?”
“Mark, I’m in town at a coffee shop. Wondered if you have time to meet me here.”
“Sure. I’m finishing up at the gym. Let me quickly clean up. What coffee shop?”
“The one on Main with the bookstore. I’m not in a hurry. See you soon.”
“Say hi to your mom,” Perry waved as he walked off.
“Sure.” Why did Mark have a sudden feeling of dread? He loved his parents; they had stood by him after the mess with Mags. He hadn’t talked to them the last month, but he knew they saw Liddy regularly. They had retained a pleasant relationship with their ex-daughter-in-law. That had surprised him. Damn, he hoped he wasn’t in for more surprises.
Chapter 24
Mark’s mother was the picture of the mature southern belle. Not even the heat ruffled her crisp stylish look. She dabbed gently at the crumbs on her lips from the delicate croissant roll she tasted. Her slender hands and pretty manicured nails surrounded her cup of dark chocolate coffee, but what stood out was her love of wide brimmed hats. Of course, it had to complement or match the dress and often had to be custom designed in the millinery. While functional in deflecting the sun and a light drizzle, the hat gave Mrs. Harrington a regal, ladylike look.
