by Grady, D. R.
“I also forgot to ask her.”
“Nina has a son?” her father asked.
It took a lot of willpower, but Trixi didn’t look over at Katy. She frowned. “You know Nina?”
“Yes, she’s a receptionist on the surgical unit, right?”
“She is, but how do you know her?” Katy asked, oh-so-subtle.
“I handed Trixi’s lunch off to her this morning.”
“Oh, right,” Trixi responded. Her dad was good. He didn’t give anything away.
“She has a son in the military and he’s finishing his tour overseas.”
“How old would he be?” Her dad’s air of nonchalance might be genuine.
“I think he’s close to our age.” She glanced at Katy who nodded. “He’s in some really dangerous country over there and Nina has been a wreck the entire time,” Trixi said.
Katy paused in devouring her slice of bread. “How long have you known her?”
“Years. I was first introduced to her after I filled in for some surgical nurses right after college.”
“She’s a neat lady,” Katy stated, and since it was nothing short of true, Trixi nodded. Katy had met Nina during some of her rotations so she also knew her fairly well.
Her father still wasn’t giving anything away. He appeared deep in thought as he stirred his tea. “Do you like this Nina better than Chrissy?”
Now there was a loaded question. Shifting uncomfortably in her seat, Trixi shot a glance at Katy.
“Answer the question truthfully, please,” he added.
With a casual shrug, Trixi decided to go for it. “Absolutely.”
“Do you like Chrissy at all?”
“Not for you.” It was all Trixi could think to say without causing contention.
“Why not for me?”
“Because the woman is a nasty little opportunist.” Katy, probably tired of Trixi’s hedging, answered for her. She loved Rylan as much as Trixi did, and didn’t want to see him hurt.
“Tell me how you really feel, Kates.” His voice was dry. He focused on Trixi. “Do you feel the same way as this barbarian here?”
“Yes, I do, Daddy. And so do Gran and Miriam.”
“You don’t like Chrissy at all?”
“No.” Katy’s candor had stiffened Trixi’s backbone. “If you were to date anyone, we’d prefer it be someone like Nina.”
“Surely Nina is already dating someone else?”
“She was dating Dr. Calhoun, did you know that?” Trixi directed her question to Katy.
“No, I didn’t. They’d make a great pair.” Katy frowned. “He’s gorgeous, but then so is she.”
“I know, they both are.” Trixi bit her lip because she forgot all about Nina already dating Calhoun, until now.
“I’m still engaged to Chrissy, so I’m not in any hurry to start this process all over again.”
“Daddy, we didn’t hurt your feelings, did we?”
“I asked, Trix. So I wanted to know your true feelings.”
Katy’s brow furrowed. “We don’t want to see you hurt. If you love this woman—”
“We’ll love her too,” Trixi finished Katy’s sentence.
“I don’t love her.” His statement came with easy assurance. “The last little while it’s like I’ve seen something lurking under the surface of Chrissy’s glorious facade and it’s not pretty.”
“That would be her true nature.” Katy licked the last of her casserole off her fork. “She isn’t the type of woman you want to spend the rest of your life with. She’d make you sorry you were born.”
“I have slowly come to that same conclusion.”
“Really? You were having doubts?” Relief washed through Trixi, sweeping a lot of her worry with it.
“Yes. I’ve caught glimpses of someone I don’t like. Her insistence on either moving in here, which I’ve repeatedly told her is not an option, or buying another house, is getting old.”
“She needs a huge house to impress all her friends. Chrissy is the type who needs to have a bigger, fancier estate than all of them.”
He nodded slowly. “I’ve begun to see this side to her.”
“It’s ironic, isn’t it?”
“What’s ironic, Trixi?” Katy asked.
“If she had taken a good look at Gran’s house, she’d have found the perfect place to impress all her friends. But she didn’t seem to notice it.”
“It was dark when we arrived.”
Katy started to laugh. “If she wanted an estate, Gran’s is the perfect one. There aren’t many like it. Not even this house is as massive.”
“This one is plenty big enough, thank you.”
“I hadn’t thought about appeasing her by stating I’m in line to inherit a larger place than this. Yet another reason why buying a third money-drain makes no sense.”
Laughter bubbled up and she finally stopped fighting it. Her dad and Katy both soon joined in.
Between bursts of hilarity, Katy finally managed, “Oh I’d love to see Chrissy’s face when she realizes Dad is set to inherit the Wintermyer estate.”
Her sputtered statement set off another round of laughter. Anyone who knew the area recognized the Wintermyer estate as the old, stately, and gorgeous landmark it was. Their great-something-grandmother or thereabouts had been a Wintermyer and as the only remaining child, she inherited it since her brothers were killed in war. The estate therefore passed down her line, of which her father was a direct descendant.
“Chrissy is going to go ballistic.” Trixi giggled.
“No, she isn’t.” Her father shook his head.
Katy hiccuped. “Why not?”
“Because I don’t plan to tell her.”
His bald statement set off another round of laughter.
“Thanks, ladies, I needed that.”
“So did I.” Trixi agreed as their chuckles pushed the encroaching loneliness away.
Wiping away tears and still suffering from the stray hiccup, Katy nodded. “Me, too.”
They did the dishes together and then set up a rousing game to while away the evening. Her father didn’t get his paperwork done, and didn’t seem in the least bit upset by it. They talked, laughed, and had a great time. Before they knew it, the time was nearing ten, so they squeezed Katy goodbye, upon which she thanked them for supper and their company, and then hurried to her car.
Trixi and her dad locked up before parting for bed. As she lay gazing up at her ceiling, she was thankful for the modicum of peace that settled over her. At least if her father saw through Chrissy, it meant he probably wouldn’t marry her. It was such a great feeling she finally fell asleep.
She dreamed about a man she had begun weaving fantasies about, wishing for things that could never be. As her father said, neurosurgeons didn’t notice the staff.
When she awoke, a feeling of melancholy woke with her, but in the rush of the day, she managed to shove it away.
Chapter 9
“No, I’d like to see you right after work,” Rylan stated. He needed to get this over with as soon as possible. As usual, Chrissy wanted things her own way, but he didn’t give in to her this time. Thankful that after tonight, he would never have to again. He hadn’t even seen the pattern until just now.
She hadn’t fully brushed against his will before either. He did not intend to buy the house she insisted on. Thankfully, he had seen her true nature before it was too late. His mood lightened as snippets of last night’s silly moments with Trixi and Katy replayed through his mind. Chrissy would go ballistic if she discovered he was the Wintermyer heir. He was doubly grateful his last name was different so he wasn’t the target of more women like Chrissy.
He was calm as he pulled into Chrissy’s driveway. How he had been taken in by her remained a mystery.
Shoving the car door open, he hurried up her front walk. She stood in the open doorway, still dressed in the suit required for her sales job, in her ridiculously high heels, while her makeup was perfect. She was gorgeous. De
spite what he knew, his heart expanded at the sight of her.
“I’m surprised you wanted to see me this early.” A note in her tone suggested he was a little off his rocker.
“I’ve been thinking, and I wanted this out in the open.”
She stepped aside so he could enter the house. The sound of the shutting door made him stiffen. At least after the next few unpleasant minutes he would be free.
The scent of an expensive men’s cologne filtered subtly through the air. If he was a betting man and went looking through the house, Rylan would bet the man was still here.
So Chrissy was dangling at least one man on the side. This knowledge wasn’t the surprise it should have been. Another wave of utter relief washed over him.
Her face softened as her eyes met his. Through the soft look, he now clearly saw the hardness, the constant calculating beneath it. That he had ever fallen for this woman in the first place appalled him. It was evident he had been taken in by a professional, but now that he saw her for what she was, he couldn’t not see those traits. To add credence to this, the other man’s cologne continued to swirl around them, further reminding him of his idiocy.
“I have discovered I don’t love you, Chrissy.”
She stiffened. “What?”
“I don’t love you so there is no reason why we should marry.” It was easier to just blurt his thoughts out.
“You came here to end our engagement?” The tears started next. As per Chrissy, they were a delicate, feminine assault. They didn’t smudge her makeup and there weren’t many but she was even lovelier with those unshed tears brimming her eyes.
“I came here to end our relationship.”
“I can’t believe you would do this to me.” She did look stunned, like this had never happened before.
“It’s not right for two people to marry who don’t love each other.” His eyes swept her face. “We don’t love each other.”
Rage flashed through her eyes so he wasn’t surprised when she yanked off his ring and flung it at him in a fit of temper. More of her attractive facade peeled away to reveal her true self. He snatched the diamond out of the air before it hit him. As he dropped the heavy ring into his pocket, Rylan was again reassured he had made the right decision.
There was nothing she could say or do, and they both knew it. Especially in light of the other man she was entertaining. It explained why she hadn’t wanted Rylan to come to her house at this time of day. Perhaps Chrissy entertained men all day long, he didn’t actually know.
“Goodbye Chrissy. I’m sorry it had to end this way.”
Her nod was stiff, but she had recovered herself. Although she continued to look shocked as he turned away.
Another surge of absolute relief nearly sent him to his knees.
With restraint he didn’t feel, he let himself out of the house, freer than he had been in months. Not since becoming ensnared in her net. The good thing was now he knew firsthand how women like Chrissy worked and he was thankful to leave unscathed.
It would have been much harder if he had to go through a divorce lawyer to retain his company. He would have never married Chrissy without a tight prenuptial agreement, but it still would have been a nightmare.
With what felt like a new lease on life, he hurried to his car and then backed out of her driveway. He pointed the car toward home and arrived a moment before Trixi.
She cocked a brow at him and he spread his hands as they entered the house together. “It’s over. I’m no longer in a relationship with Chrissy.”
“Congratulations.” She hugged him tight. “I’m so happy for you.”
“Unbelievably, so am I.”
She laughed as they hung their jackets then turned to the kitchen. “Gran called. She wants us to come Friday evening for supper.”
“Miriam and Johnny are still there?”
“Yes. Although it sounded like they found a house and are just waiting to close on it.”
He nodded. “Good. I’m glad they’re here to stay.”
“Me too. We have to let Gran know if we can come or not.”
“I’ll call her now.”
“Thanks, Daddy.”
He affectionately kissed her forehead as he dug out his phone to call his mother.
When she answered, one of her first questions was to inquire about Chrissy.
“We’re no longer together.”
“Really? When did this happen?” There was a wealth of curiosity in her voice, so he indulged her.
“I realized what she was, especially after my daughters informed me she’s not right for me,” his mother made an agreeing sound, “and I saw some things I didn’t like. So I ended the relationship just a few minutes ago.”
“Congratulations on your good sense.”
He smiled. “That’s almost verbatim what Trixi told me.”
“Have you told Katy yet?”
“No, but I will soon.”
“Make certain my other girl comes along Friday. I expect Friday supper is why you’re calling. To say you’re coming?”
“It is. Trixi and I plan to be there. I’ll call Katy now and see what her schedule is like.”
“Thank you, love. And I’m so happy you’re not with that woman any longer.”
When he rang off he found Trixi in the kitchen. “Your Gran is as relieved as you that I ended things with Chrissy.”
Her silvery-blue eyes contemplated him, as though she was taking his measure. “How do you feel about it?”
“Me? I am so relieved I could hang from the chandelier.”
She nodded. “You had a lucky escape.”
“I’ll say.” He glanced at his phone again. “I need to call Katy.”
“Ask her if she wants to come to supper again.”
He nodded as he tucked the ringing phone to his ear.
“Hello, Dad.”
“Hi, baby. Gran called and she wants all of us to come to supper Friday night.”
“Friday night, okay. I’ll have to ask Leo if we have anything planned.”
“Leo knows if you’re doing something Friday night but you don’t?” He kept his tone light.
“He might have made plans, so I’ll need to ask him. I think it should be fine.”
“Are you planning to bring him along?”
There was silence on the other end of the line. “I don’t think so,” she finally ventured. “Is he invited?”
“Definitely. I’m guessing Gran, Miriam, and Johnny will all want to meet him.”
“Uncle Johnny probably knows him. Or at least knows of him.”
When she didn’t elaborate, he said, “Trixi said you’re invited to supper.”
“Did she already start it?”
Trixi slid something into the range. “Yes, it’s in the oven.”
“I think we’re just getting pizza.”
“We?”
“Leo is coming and I think he’s bringing Mark but I’m not certain.” He heard her cleaning up the place. “Hey, did you break it off with the gold digger yet?”
“Yes, before I came home from work.”
“Yay! Congratulations on your narrow escape.”
He sighed. “Thank you. Trixi, your Gran, and you have all stated the same thing. I’m not calling my sister tonight since my mother and daughters have finally clued me in on how they feel.”
“We wanted to make certain you were happy or not before we chimed in.”
“I’m feeling relieved at the moment.”
“Good.” He heard the doorbell ring, and then a man’s voice, so he assumed her company had arrived. “I’ll let you go, sweetheart.”
“Okay, Dad. Love you.”
“Love you, too.” He hung up.
“I take it she’s not coming?” Trixi padded to the sink.
“No, Leo and maybe Mark, whoever that is, arrived. We were invited over for pizza though.”
“Mark is Leo’s brother and the neurosurgeon she’s working with.” She frowned. “I already put din
ner in.”
“That’s what I told her.”
Trixi turned on the water, then the garbage disposal. “It would have been fun to go over there.”
“Maybe we can host a pizza party at some point.”
She perked up. “We’ll plan on it.”
He wandered into his office. There was a pile of paperwork waiting there he wanted to finish before tomorrow. He probably had half an hour to make inroads on it, so he set to work.
In a relatively short amount of time, he had a stack of finished work when Trixi called him to eat. He sat down at the table, very content he wasn’t leaving here any time soon. He didn’t like the idea of leaving Trixi alone in this house. It just didn’t rest well with him.
Yet he wondered if his presence prevented Trixi from finding a mate.
Chapter 10
“Hello, this is de Vosse.”
“Yes, Dr. de Vosse, this is Louise from Derry Realty.”
“Hi Louise, and please call me Mark.” The woman spanned somewhere between his mother and grandmothers in age, so she certainly had earned the right to call him by his given name.
“Thank you, Mark.” Papers rustled on her end. “I’m calling about 145 Colebrook Lane.”
The place he hoped to settle on in a few days. “Yes?”
“I’m afraid the current owners have pulled it from the market.”
His heart stuttered. “What? Why?”
“This is highly unusual, but the man’s current employer countered his new offer, exceeded it, in fact, so the couple decided to remain here. They’re not moving now, so there was no need to sell.” She ended on a rush of words.
“This is . . .” Words failed him.
“It’s unusual, but does happen in this business. He and his wife were certain his employer wouldn’t counter, so they intended to leave. However, his employer more than compensated. As expected, they accepted the new offer.”
Mark stared at the blank wall across from his desk. There wasn’t anything else to say. Except, “Where do we go from here?”
“I hope to set up a few more showings for you. There are new homes being listed every day. We’ll just have to think outside the box for you.” Louise chirped with enthusiasm.
