Winning his Heart

by Lara Van Hulzen

  A visit to May Bell House calmed her panic, but only a little. The idea of her mother living anywhere but her own home didn’t sit well with Franchesca. And Franchesca had explained to her mother about moving, but she wasn’t sure how much she’d actually understood.

  It was a three story brick building with pretty landscaping and friendly people, but still. She had stood in front looking at the door, unable to move toward it. A young woman, a bit older than herself, had sat on one of the two benches out front with an older man who Franchesca assumed was the woman’s father. They’d been chatting, the young woman pointing out to him how beautiful the sky was and that the weather was perfect to go horseback riding, his favorite thing.

  Her heart had sunk a bit in her chest. That was her future. Sitting on a bench reminding her mother of all the things she couldn’t remember. Times with Franchesca’s dad. Times the three of them had together.

  Her mother had been a singer and dancer. Hard to believe since she’d spent much of her life in Montana. But as a young woman, she’d performed off Broadway. Franchesca used to love to sit and look through photo albums her mom had made of those years. Such glitz and glamour. It had put stars in her own eyes to one day have her name in lights. After meeting Franchesca’s dad, a cowboy who was in New York visiting a friend and had seen one of her mother’s shows, she said goodbye to life on stage and followed him back to Montana. They were an odd couple for sure, but a madly in love one. Her mother talked fondly of those days, but never said she regretted choosing Franchesca’s father over a career in New York. They’d been happy.

  She swallowed tears that welled up. No. Now was not the time to wallow. It was up to her to take care of things. She could do this. She could.

  “You’re a million miles away.”

  She bounced in her seat, her glass of water spilling on the sofa. “Oh crap! I’m so sorry. You startled me. I’ll go get a rag.” Popping up from her seat, she made her way into the kitchen, set her glass in the sink, and grabbed a dishtowel.

  When she returned, Mike stood in the same spot he’d been when he’d scared the living daylights out of her. Thinking about her mom she hadn’t heard him come in. He’d gone on an overnight trip to meet with the race team owner again, this time to tell him he was willing to give management a try. Wes had stayed with Annalise through the night while Franchesca had covered the day shift, her mom at home with Bess.

  Man, he looked good. That five o’clock shadow he seemed to always have, mixed with a marginally rumpled, just got off a plane sort of look worked for him. Of course, the St. Claires had their own private jet so, he didn’t look near as haggard as she would’ve been after a flight. Ah, the life of the wealthy.

  She dabbed at the spot on the sofa, thanking God not too much water had spilled. Her pants had taken the brunt of it.

  “Franchesca.” His hand on hers warmed her insides.

  “It’s okay. I think I got it all. I really am sorry.”

  “Stop apologizing.” He took the rag from her hand and tossed it onto the coffee table. His suitcase that had been in his other hand still he set on the floor. “Please sit down.”

  She did.

  “I’ll be right back.” He went to the kitchen. She heard the clank of glass and the sound of running water. She took a deep breath and laid her head back against the couch. He returned with two full glasses, handed one to her then sat beside her, his body turned so they were facing one another.

  “Now. What’s going on?”

  “What do you mean?” She turned her head to look at him but kept it resting on the back cushion.

  “You’re skittish. I realize you didn’t hear me come in, but you were so deep in thought, I’m not surprised. I thought maybe standing at a safe distance as I spoke would be the best idea. Based on the soggy condition of your pants, I see I chose poorly.”

  His teasing made her smile.

  “I’m sorry.”

  “Don’t be. Tell me what’s up.”

  She wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to. Wanted to curl up in his lap and unload all her worries on him, let someone else help carry the load. She blinked, unsure of where that had come from. Pulling herself up by her bootstraps was her MO. She relied on no one. Why now? Why Mike? It could be the way he looked at her, those pools of chocolate searching her eyes for answers. Or the calm she always seemed to feel when he was near.

  “It’s nothing, really.”

  “It’s something. Did Annalise give you trouble?” He looked from her toward the hallway that led to his daughter’s room then back again.

  “Oh gosh! No. Absolutely not. She’s adorable. No trouble at all.”

  His shoulders relaxed a bit. “Then what had you so far away when I came in?”

  She looked straight at the fireplace in front of her, afraid those eyes of his would make her spill her guts in a way she’d regret tomorrow. But it wouldn’t do any harm to tell him about her mom. It’s not like it would be some big secret. Marietta was a small town, Noelle and Wes knew. He’d eventually hear about it. He might as well hear it from her.

  “My mom is getting worse. She had an...episode the other day. It looks as if I’m going to have to move her into May Bell House sooner than I expected.”

  “What happened?”

  “She left cookies burning in the oven. I came home to the house full of smoke and found her in the yard ‘gardening’ but not really. It was a mess.”

  He rubbed his stubble, his brow furrowed. “I’m really sorry, Franchesca.”

  “It’s okay. It’s not your issue. I met with Margie, the administrator. She’s a lovely woman and it’s a nice place.”

  “When are you moving her in?”

  “They have an opening that’ll be ready in about ten days. That gives me time to pack Mom up and get her ready.”

  Tears threatened to fall but she blinked them away. She would not lose it in front of Mike. She had this under control.

  “I wish you’d told me sooner. I could have easily found someone to stay with Annalise today.”

  “My mom’s friend, Bess, is at the house, so Mom isn’t alone. God bless her quilting group. I owe those women big time. They’ve all stepped up to help me so I can keep working.”

  Mike leaned forward, his elbows on his knees. “How can I help?”

  “What? No manhandling the situation for me?”

  His eyes flickered with mischief as one corner of his mouth lifted. “We’ve had this discussion before. You really need to learn the definition of that word.”

  “I’m aware of the definition. I looked it up all by myself.”

  That made him laugh. “I’m becoming painfully aware of how much you can do by yourself.” His smile softened. “But you don’t have to. That’s what I wish you’d realize. Let people in.”

  “I let people in. My mom’s friends have been great. They’ve been there for my mom.”

  “Who’s there for you?”

  His comment hit its mark, landing in her gut and sticking.

  He leaned in and took her face in his hands. Before she could register what was happening, his lips were on hers. Warm, firm, commanding, his mouth overtook hers with kisses she felt all the way to her toes. She returned the favor, nipping at his bottom lip with hers, heating things until they were tangled together, her arms around him, his hands in her hair. Unsure which of them backed away, all of a sudden there was space between them, his warmth missed by her in an instant.

  How she found the ability to speak, she had no clue. “I think I should go home.”

  He nodded. “Yes. I’ll walk you out.”

  They walked through the house and to her car in silence, the electricity between them almost tangible.

  They said good-night and she drove away, shaking her head most of the way home.

  Chapter Eight

  Mike berated himself one more time as he pushed the barbell over his head then brought it back to his chest. Over and over he did push press after push press, as if each time would
somehow erase from his mind the idiotic move he’d made the night before. After he’d said good-night to Franchesca, he’d sat in his office, unable to sleep. Of course he’d been unable to sleep. He had been wound tighter than a drum.

  He had zero idea of what had possessed him to kiss her like that. A full-on make out session was more like it. Right there on the sofa in his family room. After spending half the night playing things over and over in his head, his best conclusion was that it felt so damn good to spend the evening connecting with someone. He hadn’t realized until that moment how much he missed sharing his life with another person. To listen to Franchesca, feel for her and her situation, and desire to help in any way he could.

  He and Anna used to put Annalise to bed at night then curl up on the couch together and talk. He’d fill her in on what was happening on his racing team and she would tell him how they’d strolled in the park and Annalise had fed ducks for the first time. It was usually little things, but the little things added up to what was important.

  He put the barbell back in its place on the rack and leaned on it. If he were honest with himself, those times had been happening less and less leading up to Anna’s death. She was frustrated with how much time he was gone racing. At first, she’d encouraged him to follow his dream, but the reality took more of a toll than they thought it would. Things got worse after Annalise was born. Sure, they had their good moments, but Anna had become restless. She loved being a mom, but being home all day and then not having him at night to be with, to lean on, wore Anna down. Hell, he couldn’t blame her. She came to races from time to time, but it was tough with a small child.

  Which was one of the many reasons he’d fought the idea of returning to the racing world. Even though he wouldn’t be behind the wheel, the schedule was still hard. Hiring Franchesca had been a great idea. Annalise adored her and Mike could travel knowing his daughter was in good hands.

  But now, with her mom not doing well and all that came with it, Franchesca had a lot on her plate. Too much, in his opinion. Sure, she’d been clear on how independent she was, how much she didn’t want anyone’s help, but she needed it. Something she’d most likely never admit, but it was the truth.

  “You need a spotter?”

  Mike looked up to see Wes come into the workout room. He had on shorts and a T-shirt. Earbuds dangled from his neck.

  “Or would you rather be alone and broody? I can come back later.”

  “I prefer broody and alone, but it’s a big room. I think we can share.”

  Wes chuckled and looked around. Mike did the same. Their father had built a full gym for the family to use, complete with Olympic weight lifting equipment, weight systems as well as rowers and treadmills, along with a full locker room and sauna. Floor to ceiling windows allowed one to see the glorious Montana landscape while breaking a sweat in the comfort of the massive temperature-controlled room.

  Wes moved to an exercise bike and hopped on as Mike took weight plates off each end of the barbell and returned them to their home on a stack nearby. The bass from heavy metal music pounded through the room from the surround sound stereo system. He expected his brother to plug his earbuds in and leave him alone, but deep down he knew he wouldn’t be so lucky.

  “You wanna talk about it?”

  Nope. Not lucky at all. “Not necessarily.”

  “Why not? It wasn’t that long ago you hounded me in here about Noelle.” Wes’s legs moved at a leisurely pace, his brother more intent on getting him to talk than getting in a workout.

  “I didn’t hound you. I merely got you to see you were being an idiot.”

  “Okay then. Maybe I’m here to help you see you’re an idiot.”

  Mike slammed the last weight plate down and sat on the bench nearby. He grabbed a towel he’d placed there earlier and swiped his face with it. “No need. I already know I’m an idiot.”

  “Hmmm. This is even more interesting than I thought it would be.”

  Mike’s head snapped up. He eyed his brother, who still barely moved the bike pedals with his legs. “What is that supposed to mean?”

  “It means that when I took Annalise into class today, Noelle said that Franchesca informed her you’d kissed her. I found that interesting seeing as how you two only have a working relationship.”

  Mike wrapped the towel around his neck and hung his head. “I can’t believe she told Noelle.”

  “Are you serious? Have you not met a female before? You were married, for crying out loud. How do you not know they tell each other everything?”

  “It wasn’t really a kiss, it was...”

  “Making out on the sofa in your suite.”

  Mike looked up again at Wes who shrugged and raised his eyebrows. “Everything, Brother. They give details.”

  Mike groaned and leaned his elbows on his knees.

  “And for the record, you’re an idiot.”

  “I told you I already know that.”

  “Yeah, but it’s nice to say it out loud.”

  “I’m glad you’re amused by this.”

  “Come on! Can you honestly tell me you didn’t see this coming? You’ve had the hots for Franchesca since you met her, then you went ahead and hired her as your daughter’s nanny. How did you not see where that road would take you?”

  “I have not had the ‘hots’ for her all this time. And who still says that anyway besides teenage girls?”

  “Grown women. Noelle said it today.” Wes hopped off the bike he wasn’t even riding and strolled over to the bar that housed a fridge stocked with energy drinks, bottled water, and various bottled smoothies.

  “What?”

  “She said you and Franchesca have had the hots for each other since day one. As the doting boyfriend, I just listened as she talked. Women can be a plethora of information if we shut up once in a while.”

  “Interesting advice from a guy who had zero clue he had the ‘hots’ for Noelle a few months ago, even though everyone in town saw it like a neon billboard.”

  Wes twisted the top off of a water bottle and took a swig. “We aren’t talking about me, Brother. We’re on your love life today. Thankfully.”

  He sat down on a bench opposite of Mike’s and handed him a fresh water bottle. “All teasing aside, Mike, I’m here to listen. You talk. You were there for me when things got crazy with Noelle and I know how hard things have been for you and Annalise without Anna. What’s holding you back from going for it with Franchesca?”

  Mike scoffed. “She my daughter’s nanny for one.”

  “So?” Wes shrugged and took another pull from his water bottle.

  “So? Isn’t that a tad cliché, getting involved with your kid’s nanny?”

  “Who cares? You aren’t married, or in a relationship with anyone. It’s not like you’re cheating. So there’s a stigma to that, so what? If you’re so worried about it, just fire Franchesca and get a new nanny. I mean, not to sound harsh—I like Franchesca—but I think since she’s into you, too, she’d be game for whatever you two agree on.”

  “Her mom isn’t doing well and Franchesca needs the money. She needs the job.”

  “Oh man. I didn’t know that.”

  Mike raised an eyebrow at his brother. “What? You didn’t get that information from Noelle, but my love life gossip you did?”

  “Pretty much.”

  Mike shook his head and took a sip of water.

  “That’s awful though. How can we help?”

  Mike appreciated Wes’s question. They gave each other a hard time—they were brothers—but Wes would give his right arm for the people he cared about, definitely his family and for sure anyone who was important to Noelle. “I’m not sure. Franchesca isn’t someone big on asking for help, or even receiving it if it’s offered.”

  “Ah, the independent type. That one I’m aware of.”

  “Of course you are. You own a mirror.”

  They both laughed.

  “Fair enough. But you know as well as I do that Noelle has t
aught me otherwise. No one is an island. At least not anyone who wants a full life full of love and all that goes with it.”

  “Look at you waxing poetic.”

  “What can I say? I’m a man in love.” Wes raised his water bottle for a toast. Mike tapped it with his and they both drank.

  “I’m dead serious though. We’re here for her. Anything she needs.”

  “I know. But first, I need to apologize for kissing her like I did.”

  “Why?”

  The look on Wes’s face was almost humorous. Man, it was great to see his brother out of his armor and love struck. The whole family thanked Noelle daily for that.

  “Because I took advantage of a vulnerable situation. I have feelings for her. Yes. I’m intrigued by her and want to know more. But last night was bad timing on my part. She deserves better than that.”

  Wes nodded. “Fair enough.”

  Mike stood and patted his brother’s shoulder. “I’m gonna go shower and get dressed. I need to pick up Annalise from class. I think I’ll stop in at Franchesca’s though and say what I need to first. Thanks again for taking Annalise to class.”

  “No worries. Any excuse to see Noelle is fine by me. And any excuse to have time with My Lise is fine as well.” He stood and made his way back to the bike.

  “You actually going to ride that thing now? You were barely strolling through the park on it before. Maybe we need to buy you a hot pink Cruiser with a basket on the front. You could ride it through town.”

  Wes started pedaling, but not before signaling his love to Mike with a specific finger.

  Mike peeked into the front window of Franchesca’s studio. The lights were off and the door was locked.

  Damn. He’d missed her.

  He had no intention of having this conversation with her via phone or text like some high school kid who didn’t have the nerve to communicate face to face. But he really needed to get Annalise from class. His workout had gone longer than he’d realized and he hadn’t left as early as he’d intended. In fact, he was running late. Which sucked.