“LINDSAY!” NOAH CALLED as he crossed the parking lot.
Lindsay turned slowly. She looked tired and disillusioned. “Is he sleeping?”
He nodded. “Yes. And his mom is here now, so I said I’d stop by again in the morning.” He shoved his hands into his jeans’ pockets. “Thank you for calling me.”
“He asked me to.”
Right.
“Yeah, um, listen...I want to apologize for what I said the other day. About you not being—”
She held up a hand. “I remember what you said.”
“I’m really sorry. I was upset.” He looked away. “But it was mean and selfish and I’m sorry.”
“Okay.” She turned to go.
“Lindsay, please wait.” He had no idea what to say; he just knew he didn’t want her to walk away again angry and hurt because of him.
“Noah, it’s almost midnight and I just had to care for a kid whose own cousin broke two of his ribs. I could have helped you and I didn’t. So, please, whatever you have to say, save it for another time.”
In two quick strides he closed the gap between them and wrapped his arms around her.
“I’m sorry, Lindsay. I really am. I was harsh, criticizing your decision. You were doing the best thing for your kids... It took me until tonight to see how important that is.”
He smoothed her blond curls down her back.
“If more parents cared about their children as much as you do those kids, we wouldn’t need programs or community centers. They would feel safe and loved at home.”
“But we do need those places. Dominic needs those places...” She buried her face in his chest and her body sagged against him.
“You’re doing what’s right for your family and no one can blame you for that. I’m sorry I did.” He moved back and lifted her chin, forcing her to look into his eyes. “And I’m sorry about something else, too.”
“What?” she whispered.
“This.” His lips claimed hers and he pulled her into him, tightening his hold on her hips.
She kissed him back and the connection was angry and sad and full of passion at the same time. All he cared about at that moment was holding her, kissing her.
Reluctantly, she stepped back. “I have to go.”
He nodded. She did have to go—before he could no longer let her go.
Now more than ever, he needed his fighting career.
* * *
LINDSAY PACED THE hallway outside the bathroom door the next morning, listening to the running water of the shower. Come on, Ben. The man took the longest showers of anyone she knew. She checked her watch.
The water shut off and she heard the shower curtain being pulled back. She leaned against the wall opposite the bathroom door and waited. More water...the buzz of his electric toothbrush... Maybe she should let the man get ready in peace and wait for him in the kitchen.
She knocked on the door.
“Hello?” came his reply.
“It’s me. I need to talk to you.”
Her hands shook slightly. She wasn’t sure what his reaction would be, but she didn’t care.
A moment later he opened the door in his jeans and T-shirt, hopping on one foot as he pulled on a sock. “Everything okay?”
“No.” She took a deep breath. “I can’t go through with this deal. I need you to reconsider.”
He put on his other sock silently and she waited. And waited.
“Ben, please.” That’s it. Now she would shut up. She clamped her lips tightly.
“I guess you haven’t had coffee yet.” He moved past her into the hall and started for the kitchen.
She huffed. “Don’t patronize me. I don’t need coffee to think clearly.” She paused when he shot a glance over his shoulder. “Okay, most days I do...but not about this. I’ve made up my mind, Ben. I’m canceling this deal.”
“You can’t,” he said, turning the corner.
She followed quickly, her blood running cold. “What do you mean?”
He hit the button on the coffeemaker. Opening the cupboard, he took down her favorite mug. “Why don’t you sit?”
“I don’t want to sit. I need us to go to the mayor’s office downtown and tell him we’re not interested.”
“Lindsay, please sit.” He sat at the table and for the first time she noticed the paperwork spread across it.
“What is all of this?”
He picked up a thick, legal document and handed it to her. Several multicolored Post-it notes stuck out from the pages. “You don’t own part of the company.”
She scanned the documents. Her brother’s half of the company was outlined...his signature was across the bottom. “I don’t know what any of this means.”
“Nathan sold his half of the company...Well, sort of.”
She blinked. What? “But, I have the documents from his lawyer...”
“Which were drafted along with his will a long time ago.” He picked up the papers and pointed to the date on the signature line. Two days before the accident. “I found these in his office, and just had time to review them last night.”
“You didn’t know he was planning to do this?” She frowned.
Ben sat and sighed. “We’d talked about it a few months ago when a third party had expressed interest in becoming a partner, but I didn’t know he’d been really considering it. He’d left me a voice mail the day of the...” He paused. “He said he needed to talk to me about something and that he and Rachel were on their way to Newark.”
Then the accident happened and they’d never made it.
“I guess this was what he wanted to tell me.”
Lindsay stared at the documents, struggling to wrap her mind around what was happening. “So, then I have no control of this community center deal?”
He nodded.
She tossed the papers onto the table. “Well, forget it. I don’t want to sell half of the company.”
“Nathan already made this decision. And think about it Lindsay—it’s the best option for you, too. Once this paperwork gets officially filled, you will have a quarter of a million dollars to invest for the kids’ futures.”
“But it means I can’t stop this community center deal.” Her shoulders sagged. She couldn’t believe this was happening.
“I already did,” he said quietly.
Her head shot up. “You did?”
“Yes. Last night, I emailed the investor and I have a meeting with Mayor Parsons this morning to let him know we are no longer interested.”
She blinked.
“So, the community center is safe?”
He nodded. “From Harper Walker Developments, anyway.” He stood and, going to the coffeemaker, he poured her a cup. Handing it to her, he said, “Someone else may want to take advantage of a million-dollar development investment deal.” He winced. “But not me...not today.”
Setting the coffee aside, she stood and hugged him. “Thank you, Ben.”
He squeezed her quickly before releasing her. “And there’s something else.”
She waited.
“I’m heading back to Newark tomorrow.”
“You’re leaving?” She knew he had to eventually, but they hadn’t discussed a definite timeline.
“I think I should. We both know this situation might be convenient but it’s not a permanent one and I think it’s getting confusing for the kids.” His cheeks flushed slightly as he said, “Caleb asked last night if I was going to marry you.”
Lindsay choked on a mouthful of coffee. “He did?” She hadn’t really given much thought to what the kids must have been thinking, but obviously they’d come to their own conclusions. “What did you tell him?”
“I told him you and I were friends and we didn’t need to
be married or to live together for me to be a part of their lives.” He paused. “And I do want to be a part of their lives. I know you may think I was only here for this deal, but that wasn’t the reason. We will figure this out. I’m always here for you and the kids.”
She nodded, still in disbelief over everything that had just happened in the last few days. She released a deep breath and with it a month’s worth of worry and tension.
Nathan had sold his half of the business for enough money to ease her worry about the future. And she didn’t have to worry about the community center anymore. Her thoughts shifted to Noah. She wouldn’t have to disappoint him.
“Okay,” she said, standing. “Let’s go wake the kids.”
* * *
“HEY, I HEARD about Dominic. Tough break, huh?” Brandon said as he joined Noah, who had already been at the club training for an hour.
The past twenty-four hours had been such a roller coaster of emotions, he couldn’t even begin to think clearly about what was next. So, he was running and allowing the competing thoughts to battle among themselves. No matter what else happened, he still had a fight to prepare for.
He slowed the treadmill and reached for his towel to wipe his forehead. “Yeah, he’s in pretty bad shape.”
“And his own cousin?” Brandon shook his head. “Guess the family isn’t planning to press charges?”
“Nope.” Whether it was a twisted sense of family loyalty or fear of repercussion, he wasn’t sure, but it had been the same way when he’d been growing up on the streets. You took what was coming and moved on.
“I guess he’s looking forward to starting college in a few months.”
Noah stopped the treadmill. “Unfortunately unless we can figure something out, it doesn’t look like he can afford to go.” Every time he thought about Dominic’s father and his refusal to help his son, his blood boiled.
“That sucks.” Brandon paused and glanced around the gym. “You know, we could always use some extra hands around here...if Dominic is interested.”
Noah nodded eagerly. “Yeah—I bet he would. I mean, until his ribs heal, he’d have to be on light duty—folding towels and putting away light equipment and stuff—but he’d show up.” That he knew for sure. Given any chance to succeed, he knew the boy would step up to the responsibility.
“That’s no problem,” Brandon said. “Tell him to stop by once he’s out of the hospital. Maybe if his cousin and his friends see him hanging out here, they’ll leave him alone. And I’ll ask a few of the guys to keep an eye on him.”
“Thanks, Brandon. I appreciate it.” Noah felt some of the stress slip away as he wrapped his hands for training.
“Oh, and great news about the center.”
He stopped. “What about the center?”
“There was an announcement in the Brookhollow View this morning—they’ve decided not to tear it down.”
CHAPTER SIXTEEN
“SO, I’LL BE back next weekend and then the following weekend the kids can come to Newark,” Ben said, putting his bag into the back of his Land Rover.
“Okay,” Lindsay said, fighting an odd sense of disappointment. He’d been such a great help, but she knew it wasn’t fair to keep living together and relying on his support when nothing romantic would ever develop between them.
The night before they’d organized visits for the next six months and she was feeling good about the decision.
“Well, I’ll go say goodbye to the kids and then that’s it, I guess.”
“I’ll wait out here,” Lindsay said, sitting on the front step as he went inside.
She knew the children would miss him, but they needed to move on. While the past few months had worked and they’d been a good team, it had never felt like a family. And the kids deserved a family. A real one. She hoped she could provide that for them.
The memory of Noah’s kiss outside the clinic replayed over and over in her mind. She couldn’t help but think it ironic that the man she loved, who claimed to love her, was the one who was completely wrong for her, while the man who’d offered to give up his life in Newark for her and the kids wasn’t someone she could love that way.
“Seriously, heart, you couldn’t cooperate this one time?” she muttered as the door opened behind her.
“Okay, I’m out,” Ben said, sitting next to her on the step. “Unless there’s anything else you need?”
“No, I think I got it from here.”
He stood and, taking her hand, pulled her to her feet. “You’re going to do great with these kids, Lindsay. And I’ll still be available—anytime—just call, okay?”
She nodded. “Thanks, Ben.”
He leaned forward and kissed the top of her head. “You bet.”
“’Bye,” she said with a wave as she watched him climb into his vehicle.
It was the right thing to do.
She was going to be okay.
They’d all be okay.
* * *
NOAH PARKED HIS bike outside the medical clinic later that day. He had to pick up his clearance form before heading out to Newark that evening for the fight weigh-ins and he was desperate to see Lindsay. She’d obviously changed her mind about the community center and he hadn’t thought it possible to love her more than he did, but he’d been wrong. She was giving up something important to her family for the sake of the community. He just hoped she was okay with her decision.
Going inside, he saw her behind the desk and smiled when she glanced up.
“Hi,” she said, standing and reaching for a file on the cabinet behind her. “I thought we’d see you in here today.” She opened the file and handed him the clearance letter. “Here you are. Try to go easy on the leg...if that’s possible.”
He took the letter and folding it, he tucked it into his jacket pocket. “Thanks.” He cleared his throat, scanning the nearly empty waiting room, before saying, “And thank you for reconsidering the community center deal...”
She shook her head. “It turned out, I didn’t really have a say in the first place. Nathan had sold his rights to the company a few days before...” Her voice trailed away.
He frowned. “So, Ben...?”
“Yes.”
The front door opened and a woman with two children entered.
Looking past him, Lindsay smiled. “I’ll be with you guys in just a sec.” Turning back to him, she said, “I have to get back to work...but...uh...good luck with the fight.”
Looking at the clearance form in his hand, for the first time he noticed her signature at the bottom. “You signed this.”
“Dr. McCarthy gave me signing authority a few months ago in her absence.”
Yet, she’d always made him wait for the doctor’s signature before.
She was accepting his choices, but she was also making it clear that there was no chance of a future together. She’d obviously come to terms with that...but what about him?
He sighed and hesitated, searching her expression for any sign...of what he wasn’t sure. He found nothing. Maybe this really was the one thing they couldn’t move past. “Okay, well, thank Ben for me,” he said as he turned to leave.
“He left this morning.”
* * *
“NOAH, I HOPE you have better aim out there.”
Brandon was agitated as Noah’s gloved hand slid past the target not for the first time since arriving in the Newark stadium for his UFC debut fight.
“Sorry...try again,” Noah mumbled.
Brandon let the pads fall to his sides. “What is it? Is it the pay-per-view thing? Millions of at-home viewers freaking you out?”
Sweat formed at the base of Noah’s spine. “Not until now. Thanks a lot.” He swung his arms and jogged on the spot, keeping his muscles warm.
His fig
ht was scheduled to start in fifteen minutes, but he couldn’t focus. The weigh-in and the prefight conference the evening before had been fine. No injured opponents throwing a curveball into his fight game plan. He’d received a clean bill of health and had even come in a pound under his required weight. But something felt off.
He wasn’t looking forward to his UFC debut the way he thought he would. He wasn’t feeling the prefight adrenaline or the eagerness to step inside the octagon.
“You’re not chickening out, are you?” Dominic asked from the bench.
“No. And don’t make me regret getting you this job,” he grumbled.
He couldn’t get Lindsay out of his mind. He was the right man for Lindsay, he had no doubt. He would be there for her and the kids, love them unconditionally. If only she could trust him enough to—
“Look at me,” Brandon said, taking him by the shoulders. “You’re ready for this fight. You trained for this. You wanted this. You have this. But I need you to focus, because that guy out there wants this win as bad as you do and he’ll stop at nothing to get it.”
Stop at nothing... Had he tried everything with Lindsay?
He stared at his coach, then around the warm-up room. The warm-up room at the back of a sold-out stadium full of UFC fans. Brandon’s grip tightened on his shoulders.
Noah stepped forward to hug his coach quickly.
The official in the corner looked over at them.
He stepped away from Brandon and rotated his shoulders and neck. “Punch me,” he said quietly.
Brandon shook his head, his shoulders slumping forward, his hands on his hips. “You’re serious? You’d give all of this up—everything we’ve worked for—for Lindsay?”
“Maybe someday you’ll know what it feels like to love—”
The next thing he knew he was flying backward from the hardest left hook he’d ever asked for.
* * *
LINDSAY SCANNED THE mess of her home once the kids were tucked into bed. All of her furniture had been wrapped in plastic and moved to the center of the living room in preparation for the furniture arriving from the B and B. “My house will never be the same again,” she said into the phone cradled against her shoulder.
Fighting for Keeps Page 20
