Catching Her Rival (Mills & Boon Superromance)

by Lisa Dyson

  Allie went Friday night, knowing her mother could use her help, which also gave her some time alone with her mom.

  They had stayed up late, talking while working in the kitchen together. Mom baked and iced a cake while Allie made dozens of meatballs according to her mother’s recipe.

  “You really don’t think you and Jack can work things out?” her mom asked the next morning while they were having coffee and planning what needed to be done next.

  “Wow, talk about switching subjects,” Allie said. “Where’d that come from?”

  “Oh, I just really like Jack and had hoped the two of you could make a go of it.”

  “Well, stop hoping, Mom. We’re not compatible.” Allie’s heart squeezed as she said the words. As if she had proclaimed their relationship—or whatever it was that they had—dead. No bringing it back to life with a defibrillator, no mouth-to-mouth resuscitation. Dead.

  “Shouldn’t Charlotte be here soon?” Mom asked.

  The kitchen clock said close to noon. “She thought she’d be here early this morning, but I don’t think she realized how long the trip would be.”

  Mom must have been anxious about meeting Charlotte, because she kept looking at the clock. Very unlike her mother to be so time conscious and edgy.

  The doorbell rang just after noon, and even though she’d been overly excited to meet Charlotte, Mom asked, “Why don’t you get that? My hands are sticky.”

  Which was an outright lie, because she’d just rinsed and dried them on the kitchen towel that hung from the oven handle.

  Allie narrowed her eyes, wondering what her mother was up to, but went to answer the door anyway.

  Charlotte nearly bowled her over when she came through the doorway and hugged her.

  And there, over Charlotte’s shoulder, stood Jack.

  Allie was speechless, although she should have guessed something was up from her mother’s behavior.

  “I hope you don’t mind that I brought Jack,” Charlotte said without meeting Allie’s eyes. “Your mom said it would be okay, and I kind of owed him.” She sounded out of breath. “If not for him taking me to your brother’s wedding, we never would have met.”

  Allie finally found her tongue. “True.” She stepped aside and led them toward the kitchen to meet her mother, but she was already coming into the living room.

  “I’m so glad you’re here, Jack. Oh, Charlotte!” Mom put her arms out. “I’d recognize you anywhere. You and Allie really are identical.”

  Charlotte hugged Mom, and Allie couldn’t quite catch what she whispered to Charlotte, but she definitely heard the name Jack.

  “Let me show you around,” Mom said to Charlotte. They disappeared, leaving Allie alone with Jack.

  “I guess you should make yourself comfortable,” Allie said without looking at him.

  “I wasn’t sure about coming, but Charlotte insisted,” he said. “You haven’t answered my calls or texts.”

  She shrugged. “I’ve been busy. With the Fairleigh job over, I needed to keep hustling for new clients. You know how it is.” She gestured to the kitchen. “Anyway, I think those two had something to do with you being here.”

  “You think they plotted?” He appeared to consider the idea. “You might be right, now that I recall the conversation with Charlotte.”

  “Have a seat. Can I get you a drink?” She decided to treat him like any other guest, even though her heart was crumbling at the sight of him. She’d missed him and hadn’t realized how much until right this minute.

  “Would you at least look at me, Allie?” Jack’s request was nearly a plea. “I’ve been wanting to speak to you.”

  She finally met his gaze—he looked very serious. “What is there to say? Our business relationship is over.”

  “But what about our personal one?”

  Her eyes widened. “You think we can go back to having fun in the sack, no strings, no talk of business?” She shook her head. “No way.” She couldn’t accept a fraction of him. She was in love with all of him. The shock of the revelation nearly knocked her over.

  “I agree. We can’t go back to that,” he said. “But I want to have something with you that I’ve never even considered before. I want a relationship.”

  “I don’t believe you. That’s not your style. Besides, even though I’ve realized some of my past mistakes and am working on not repeating them, you don’t agree with my business practices. So how could anything between us work out?”

  “I’ve thought about it a lot over the last few days. I think I’ve avoided relationships before now because, except for my grandfather, everyone else has left me.” He paused as if weighing his words. “I think I was also subconsciously comparing you to my father. He lied and cheated to get his way. I know you’re trying hard to change, but maybe I was wrong, too. Maybe I was too adamant about doing business my way.”

  “Maybe?”

  His lips twitched. “Okay, I was wrong. Sometimes it takes some ‘creativity’ to stay in business. I’m not saying I like everything you did, but I’ll admit there are other ways to operate than mine.”

  “I guess that’s something.”

  He put a hand out. “Will you give us a chance?”

  “I can’t.”

  His hand dropped to his side. “Why not?”

  “Because, as hard as I try, I’ll never be the person you want me to be. I’ll just disappoint you.”

  “We’ll never agree on everything, but I know you’ll never disappoint me.”

  “Why now? Why are you being so reasonable?” Allie was confused.

  His chest rose and fell. “Because I’m in love with you.”

  She had to consciously keep her jaw from dropping. “You are?”

  He held his hand out again. This time she grabbed on, and he pulled her close. “I’m no expert, but I’m pretty sure this is love I’m feeling.”

  She grinned at him.

  “I think I’m feeling the same thing,” she said and went on tiptoes to kiss him. “I love you.”

  “I love you, too,” he said between kisses.

  A few minutes later, Allie said, “I guess this means we’re a couple?”

  He grinned. “Yep. Should we tell them?” He nodded to the kitchen.

  “I hear quiet clapping and giggling. I’m guessing they already know.”

  EPILOGUE

  Several weeks later

  THE AUGUST EVENING was cooling off quickly as the sun went down. Charlotte was unloading her car into her studio, with Allie and Jack’s help. It had been a successful weekend. Her Boston art show had gone much better than expected. Charlotte couldn’t help beaming.

  “I want to hear all about it,” Allie said. “I wish Jack and I could have gotten away.”

  “I have other shows scheduled. It’s not every day you get a nephew. So how are Rachael and their new addition doing?” Charlotte asked. Rachael had gone into labor Friday afternoon, so Charlotte had talked Allie and Jack into going to Albany instead of Boston. It was the right place for them to be.

  “They’re both doing great. He’s an adorable baby, and Jack even held him.”

  “They told me he wasn’t as breakable as he appeared, so I gave it a try,” Jack joked.

  “And they were right?” Charlotte grinned at him.

  Jack shrugged. “He was kind of cuddly. He even grabbed on to my finger.”

  Charlotte quickly went through the mail from the weekend and she let out a gasp.

  “What is it?” Allie asked.

  “The DNA test!” Charlotte ripped open the envelope.

  “Don’t tear it before we can read it,” Allie joked.

  “You know this test is just a formality, right?” Jack probably couldn’t help being the practical one of the three. “You already know you’re twins.”

  The women ignored him and read the paper at the same time. They soon grabbed onto each other and tears were flowing.

  Jack got them tissues and joined in the hug.

  �
�Now we’re official,” Charlotte said once they calmed down. “I think there’s only one more trip left and my car will be empty. Then we can properly celebrate.”

  “Last time I provided champagne,” Allie said.

  “I’ve got beer in the fridge,” Charlotte offered.

  They were about to make another trip outside to the car when Charlotte’s phone rang. “Someone’s calling my cell.” She pulled it from her purse and recognized the number immediately. “It’s Felicia Monroe. I’ve got to take this. I’ve called her several times over the past few weeks and left messages.” Charlotte pushed a button on the phone’s screen. “Hello?”

  “Is this Charlotte Harrington?” The woman on the other end was anything but pleasant.

  “Yes, it is.”

  “This is Felicia Monroe.”

  “Thank you for calling me back. It’s so good to talk to you.”

  “I can’t say the same,” Felicia said gruffly. “What the hell do you want?”

  Charlotte was taken aback by Felicia’s tone. They’d never met, so why did the woman seem to dislike her so much? Because she’d left her several messages?

  “I wanted to talk to you about when my mother worked at your CPA office.”

  “I have nothing to say about that tramp.”

  “Tramp?” Charlotte repeated. Allie’s and Jack’s heads swiveled in Charlotte’s direction.

  A few minutes later, Charlotte ended the phone call without saying another word. She put her phone down and sat in the closest chair.

  Allie went to Charlotte, bending down in front of her. “What is it? What did she say?”

  Charlotte hesitated then stumbled over her words. “She said to leave her alone. That my mother was a tramp who ruined Felicia’s marriage, and as her daughter, I’m probably just like her.”

  “Who is she to speak like that about you?” Allie’s voice rose. “I should call her back and tell her so. Did she say anything else?”

  “Isn’t that enough?” Charlotte covered her face with her hands. “How can she say that about my mother?”

  “Did she have proof about your mother and her husband?” Jack spoke up for the first time.

  Charlotte shook her head. “She said my mother and her husband would meet in a movie theater and then go to a hotel room once a week. This all happened before I was born, but she’s obviously not gotten over it.”

  “Do you think it’s even true?” Allie asked.

  Charlotte stood suddenly. “The memory box. The one under my bed.” She got up from the chair and went up the stairs to the second floor. Her mother would probably have saved things from that time period.

  Charlotte returned carrying the ornate oak box. She set it on the dining room table and opened it. “I haven’t gone through this because I didn’t think I was strong enough. But maybe there’s something in here that will prove whether Felicia is telling the truth.”

  “Or lying,” Allie added.

  Charlotte opened the box slowly and moved things around. She pulled out ticket stubs and newspaper articles. “Here’s Henry Monroe’s obituary from the newspaper.” She held up a yellowed strip of paper. “That was Felicia’s husband.”

  “That could be because she used to work for the guy,” Jack pointed out.

  Allie nodded, but Charlotte knew by the pit in her stomach that it meant more than that. “Maybe this affair is what my mother’s friend, Marie, didn’t want to tell me.”

  “Oh!” Charlotte put a hand to her mouth. Buried at the bottom of the box was an envelope with her name on it. She pulled it out to show Allie and Jack. “This is my mother’s handwriting.”

  “It doesn’t look very old,” Allie commented.

  “No, it doesn’t,” Charlotte said. “In fact, I remember buying this stationery for her after she got sick. She wanted to write letters to friends she hadn’t seen in a while.”

  The envelope was sealed, and Charlotte held it in her hand, wondering what the letter said. Wondering if it held any answers to her many questions.

  “Maybe we should leave you alone to read it,” Jack suggested.

  “That’s a good idea.” Allie hugged Charlotte from behind. “You know where we are if you need us.”

  * * *

  “WHAT DO YOU think the letter says?” Allie asked Jack when they walked into his house and were greeted by Harvey. How had she lived her life so long without the joy a dog brought? Jack had surprised her by adopting him the week after the party for her and Charlotte. If she hadn’t completely accepted that he loved her before that, she was a total believer afterward.

  “Maybe her mother wanted to tell her how much she loved her. She could have been worried that she wouldn’t be able to tell her at the end.”

  “True,” Allie agreed. “I guess I’m a little suspicious after that weird conversation with Felicia.”

  “That was strange. Especially after all these years, to hold a grudge against not only Charlotte’s mother, but Charlotte, too.”

  Allie went to the fridge, pulled out a beer and held it up. At Jack’s nod, she pulled a second one out and opened them both.

  “Porch?” he asked, and she nodded and followed him outside.

  They’d gotten into the habit of staying at Jack’s house on weekends and spending weeknights at Allie’s apartment because it was closer to work. Allie had come to love Jack’s house, and Harvey had made himself at home here, too.

  She glanced at Jack as he took a swig of beer.

  “What?” he asked.

  She smiled. “Nothing.”

  He took her hand in his and squeezed. “I love you, too.”

  She squeezed back.

  Her life had made a complete turnaround. She couldn’t imagine being any happier than she was at that moment.

  Maybe she should give her mother more credit about her idea that people were meant to live in pairs. Not only had Allie been born as part of a pair, but now she was paired with a great guy who she adored, even when they were business rivals.

  She leaned her head back and looked at the dark sky with all the sparkling stars, wondering how she’d been so lucky to find both Charlotte and Jack in such a large universe.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from HER HAWAIIAN HOMECOMING by Cara Lockwood.

  PROLOGUE

  THE BITTER, UNSEASONABLE, cold March wind whipped across Lake Michigan, whirling flakes of snow outside the high-rise condo in Chicago as Allie Osaka tore into one of dozens of boxes, all marked with the names of high-end stores.

  She felt giddy as she dug into yet another wedding gift. Would it be the fancy coffeemaker? That crystal bowl she loved so much? She slipped her hands into the foam packing peanuts and pulled out two beautiful champagne flutes from her fiancé’s uncle. She held them up to the light, admiring their sleek, yet delicate, design, and then carefully put them aside, marking down the item and name on her notepad for the thank-you she’d be writing later. The wedding would be in less than a month, but already they’d been swamped with presents.

  She always loved staying over at Jason’s swank Loop condo with the breathtaking views of the massive lake, but now it was even more special, because every Sunday morning felt like Christmas: waking up to piles of gifts just waiting to be opened, each representing some new glimpse of their future life together. The pie plates she’d use on their next Thanksgiving or the coffee mugs they’d use daily. She felt suddenly grateful for Jason’s large family. It had been just her and her mom for nearly as long as she could remember. Her grandmother lived in Hawaii, but other than that, no aunts or uncles, and just a few distant cousins she didn’t know well. Allie worried a little about how lopsided the bride’s side of the church would be, but Jason promised he’d have his family fill out the seats. That was Jason: thoughtful to a fault.

  Allie whipped her jet-black hair over one shoulder and pulled another in the stack of boxes toward her as Jason wandered out of the bedroom after he’d gotten dressed.

  “Are yo
u starting without me?” Jason protested as he headed to the kitchen, grabbing a mug from the cabinet. He poured himself a cup of coffee. He’d thrown on a pair of jeans and a T-shirt, the uniform she loved him in more than his usual work attire of tailored suits.

  “I warned you I would if you kept on that iPad of yours.”

  “Fair enough.” Jason was always busy scrolling through something or another on his tablet, usually related to his job. Allie had gotten up and dressed more than an hour before while he’d lain in bed, scrolling through emails. “I had to confirm my Boston trip this week.”

  Jason traveled a lot, an expectation of working for a capital start-up firm, scouring the country for the next big thing.

  “Uncle Mort got us flutes,” she said, nodding to the delicate stemmed glasses as she cut into the next box.

  “Good ol’ Uncle Mort.” Jason padded over to Allie and gave her a peck on the top of her head. “Good nearly afternoon, beautiful,” he said, brown eyes sparkling as he grinned, sipping at the steaming cup. Allie beamed back up at him, and she felt so happy.

  She curled a strand of her shiny black hair behind her ear as she noticed the box in front of her had no return address, only black marker with Jason’s name and address on the front. Probably someone who didn’t choose to buy something online, Allie thought. Like maybe one of Jason’s great-aunts. She glanced at Jason, who stood staring out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the snow.

  She tore open the box and dug through wadded-up tissue paper. The minute she touched the coiled-up leather buried beneath, she knew something was wrong. This wasn’t anything she’d asked for. She pulled out the packing material and stared, dumbfounded, at the contents: a thick leather whip, a spiked dog collar and...a leather harness...and a frilly black lace thong?

  Her first instinct was to laugh, a loud, braying bark, and to hold it up to Jason so they could both shake their heads at whichever of their friends had thought this was an appropriate wedding gift. Probably his best man, Stephen. All some elaborate joke. But something stopped her, a tickling doubt, a small pinprick of dread in the pit of her stomach.

  She reached for the envelope neatly folded in the back. It had Jason scribbled in a feminine loop on the front. It must be some joke. Yes, something they’d laugh about at the wedding, a story they’d retell over and over again. Remember when...