As soon as I stepped out of the elevator, I saw him. “Howard?” He was leaning against the same wall where he had been the previous evening, only this time he was dressed casually in jeans and a T-shirt, and his face looked pale. For the first time since I’d met him, Howard looked ill.
He reached for my bag, then steered me toward the center banquette where the hotel served tea in the afternoon.
I glanced around the lobby for Brent but, not seeing him, I reluctantly sat down next to Howard. “What are you doing here? Where’s Brent?”
Howard angled his body toward me. “Do you honestly think that my driver would take you to the airport without notifying me?”
Sighing, I shook my head. “I’d hoped. I’m sorry, Howard. I just thought it’d be better if I left. You’d get a lot more accomplished if I wasn’t getting in your way. But I want you to know … I’m not upset at you. I understand why you set up everything the way you did, and I’m grateful. You obviously know how to sell movies. I don’t.”
Howard released something between a harrumph and a chuckle. “Well, now that that’s all out, can I say something?”
“What else is there to say?” I asked softly. “I understand, and now, it’s time for me to go home.”
“To Adrian, you mean?”
“Yes. I love him, Howard. I’ve known that all along. I just had to get my head on straight to understand why he did what he did. And I think I understand now. I understand that he didn’t want to break his vows with his wife until they were officially divorced, but he didn’t want to lose me by telling me what had happened until he was free. And you know, Howard, maybe there’s someone you should take notice of, too. Jennifer seems to really care about you.”
This time, Howard laughed. “Jennifer has no interest in me … Jennifer’s in love with someone she can’t have, has been for years.”
“You’re wrong,” I said. “I saw how upset she was with me. Clearly, she has feelings for you.”
Howard shook his head. “Jennifer isn’t upset with you, Jana. Hell, she’s the one who brought me your books.”
“Oh … I’m …” I stuttered. “I’m not sure what to say.”
Howard rested his hand on my knee. “Jana, listen to me. I want you to know that you are an amazing woman, and that you should never settle. If a man isn’t willing to fight for your relationship, he’s not worth you fighting for him.”
I stared at Howard, wondering what this was all about. “You mean Adrian? I didn’t give him a chance —”
Howard glanced at his watch, which caused me to cut off my words. He looked up at the front door, then back at me. “If he cares —”
“You don’t know Adrian,” I cut him off. “You have no right.” I followed Howard’s line of sight to the front entry again. “What are you looking for, Howard —” I stopped short as I saw a man rush through the door, heading directly to the front desk. “Adrian?” I whispered, as if I was seeing things and had to convince myself before I called out to him.
“Go to him, Jana,” I heard Howard say, but his words sounded faint, as if I were in a dream. I turned to look at Howard, again noticing that same sadness in his eyes, but he smiled. “Go,” he repeated. “He obviously came a long way.”
Jumping up, I started to run across the lobby, but then realizing I’d probably slip and break my hip or something traumatic that would land me in the hospital instead of Adrian’s arms, I screamed out his name as if he’d suddenly disappear. As though he were an apparition and I needed to prove he was real. “Adrian!”
Adrian turned and my heart jolted, tears immediately filling my eyes. I took off toward him, hoping if I fell he’d catch me.
“Oh thank God,” he called back and then ran to me, closing the distance within seconds. “Jana!” He picked me up and swung me around, then quickly set me down again, staring into my eyes. “Sorry. Did I hurt your shoulder?”
The tears continued, but I laughed. “Not even close.” I stood on my tiptoes so I could reach him, then wrapped my hands around his neck, showing him how much I missed him, but also that I’d been doing my exercises and was able to lift my arm.
Adrian pressed his lips to mine, and proceeded to kiss me as though we weren’t standing in the middle of a busy hotel lobby. I heard my name mumbled by several people and suddenly wondered if Howard had pointed me out, again seeking more publicity.
I didn’t care. I was with the man I loved, the man I wanted to spend the rest of my life with if he wanted me.
Adrian finally pulled back and looked at me. “So you’re not still mad at me?”
I shrugged. “I am. But that doesn’t change the way I feel about you.”
“But I saw you with that producer … on TV. Hell, everywhere —”
I kissed Adrian again, cutting off his words, then pulled back. “I don’t want anyone but you, Adrian.”
He smiled. “Good. ’Cause I’m officially free, and I was hoping you’d come home with me.” He pressed his hand against my cheek. “I love you, Jana, and I’m sorry that I didn’t tell you that … and everything else, but I promise I’ll never keep anything from you again.”
“That’s all I ask,” I said. And it really was all I wanted. I wanted Adrian to love and respect me, and to never lie to me.
Adrian kissed me again, then pulled back. “Thank you, Jana. I was so worried when I saw those images on social media last night. I hopped on the first plane out this morning, afraid that I would lose you forever. I know you said that you wouldn’t make any decisions without talking to me, but I didn’t want to take that chance. I should have come that first day. I should have fought for our relationship instead of letting you leave without telling you how much I cared. But I also wanted to give you room. I hope you don’t mind that I stalked you to Pittsburgh.”
“I don’t mind at all,” I said. “In fact, I want to introduce you to Howard.”
Adrian furrowed his brow. “Okay …”
I took Adrian by the hand and directed him back to where Howard was still sitting.
Howard stood and extended his hand. “You must be Adrian.”
Adrian accepted Howard’s outstretched hand. “And you’re Howard.”
“That’s me. You have some woman there, Adrian,” Howard said. “Take good care of her.”
“I plan to,” Adrian retorted, protectively wrapping his arm around my waist and pulling me closer.
Deciding not to allow these men to go back and forth all day, I jumped in. “Howard and I were just saying goodbye, Adrian. I’m packed and ready to go home. Do you have a car, or did you come in a taxi?”
“A taxi. I didn’t have time to make plans. I just jumped on the first plane here,” Adrian said.
Howard lifted my hand and kissed it. “Brent’s waiting outside, Jana. He’ll take you both to the airport.”
I stepped forward, out of Adrian’s grip, and wrapped my arms around Howard in a tight hug. “Thank you for everything, Howard. I think you can manage without me now. Please keep in touch, though, as I really do appreciate everything you are doing … everything you’ve already done.” I was pretty sure now that Howard had known exactly what he was doing last night … and today.
Howard wrapped his arms around me too, then whispered in my ear, “It’s my pleasure, Jana. Remember what I told you, love. You’re someone worth fighting for. Call me if you ever need proof of that.” He kissed my cheek, then relinquished his hold on me after one final squeeze.
Somehow, I had a feeling that Howard really would prove that to me if I allowed him … for a long time. But a life with Howard wasn’t for me. I loved my life, and I loved Adrian. I knew that Adrian would make some woman a wonderful husband again, and I hoped that I’d be that lucky woman.
“Thank you, Howard,” I said with a smile, knowing he’d given me a gift that was greater than producing my movie. “Let’s go home, Adrian.”
Adrian reached for my bags with one hand, wrapped his free arm around me, then offered Howard a head no
d. “Thanks, Howard. Nice to meet you. I’ll look forward to seeing the movie.”
Adrian directed me to the exit, and I didn’t have to look back and wonder, even once. I was going home with the man I loved. And I planned to live happily ever after, because even though I didn’t need a man, I found one whom I wanted more than anything else in life.
Epilogue – It’s a Miracle
Howard walked into the men’s restroom and washed the pale foundation that Jennifer had given him off his face.
He walked out of the restroom and sent Jennifer a text, but then saw that she’d already arrived.
The tall, beautiful blonde wrapped her arm around his shoulders, just like one of his male friends might have done to console him for letting the woman of his dreams walk out the door.
“You really loved her, didn’t you?” she asked.
Smiling, Howard shook his head. “You know me better than that, Jen. Since when do I get all mushy?”
She removed her arm and stared at him. “You don’t. That’s how I know. You can’t say that I didn’t warn you, though. Told you she was different.”
“You did,” Howard agreed. “And you have damn good taste. I don’t suppose you could find another one like her, could you?”
“Not likely. I’ve been trying to get you married off as long as we’ve been friends. And myself for that matter.” Jennifer sniffed. “Tell me something, Howard, how did you know Adrian would come to Pittsburgh?”
“I didn’t. It’s what I would have done, though. If I’d seen a man kiss the woman I loved, and then say that he’d never have her wondering if she needed a man, nothing would have stopped me. So I figured if he cared at all, he’d be on the first flight out of Florida, which was at eight o’clock this morning, which would put him in Pittsburgh by ten, and here no later than eleven. If he hadn’t come, I never would have let her leave. But I had to give him a chance, because he’s the man she wanted.”
“It’s too bad you’re not my type, Howard, you’re gonna make some lucky woman a wonderful husband someday.”
“Hopefully, someday I’ll meet a wonderful woman who’ll be my wife and make me a very lucky man,” Howard said on a sigh. “Enough of the sap, Jen. Let’s go do what jilted lovers do best! Throw back a few too many beers and cry on each other’s shoulders.”
“Sounds like a plan,” Jennifer said with a pat on his back. “But, Howard, what are you going to tell Jana when you’re still around in a couple of years?”
Howard shrugged. “I’ll tell her it was a miracle.”
It’s never the end … as there’s always one more story to tell.
Turn the page for information on my other books.
Before you go…
I hope you enjoyed Some Lucky Woman. If you haven’t already, please stop by my website, CarmenDeSousaBooks.com, or sign up for notifications of new releases, promotions, and giveaways here.
If you enjoyed Some Lucky Woman, please check out my other books. Although all of my stories have a common thread — Love and Forgiveness — I write in several genres: Romantic Suspense, Paranormal Romantic Suspense, and Mysteries with a Paranormal Edge.
The Southern Romantic-Suspense collection consist of five stand-alone stories — NO CLIFFHANGERS — but a couple of them should be read before the follow-up novels, so as not to run into spoilers. You can read them in any order, as long as you read Charlotte 1 before Charlotte 2 and Nantahala 1 before Nantahala 2.
In order by release date:
She Belongs to Me (Charlotte 1)
Land of the Noonday Sun (Nantahala 1)
Entangled Dreams (Florida)
When Noonday Ends (Nantahala 2)
Split Decisions (Charlotte 2)
The Creatus Series, an Urban Fantasy / Paranormal Romance series, on the other hand should be read in order:
Creatus
Creatus Rogue
Creatus Eidolon
I also write a collection of mysteries with a ghostly edge.
The Pit Stop – FREE where allowed!
The Depot – FREE where allowed!
The Library (Where Life Checks Out)
New Series Coming Soon
The Watermen Series
A Solstice with Jacky Waterman
You can find all my books on my website, www.CarmenDeSousaBooks.com.
If you enjoyed Some Lucky Woman, please leave a review. It doesn’t have to be fancy, just a few words to let other readers know if they should download it too. It means so much to an author to hear what readers loved — even didn’t love — about a book. It’s how we grow and learn what you want to read next time … and in the case of a series, which characters you want to see more of in the next books or which ones we should knock off. :)
Thank you again!
Carmen
Some Lucky Woman Page 27
