Holly gasped at that and then found herself staring at Benjamin in shocked silence until they both were fighting back snickering laughs. “Really?” she asked, losing the battle with laughter as Benjamin joined her.
“Really,” he said.
She tilted her head to the side as she thought about the fantasy she’d become so focused on. She pictured the house, the white picket fence, the adorable little children running in the yard, the dog barking in the yard. Her eyes widened in horror. She was allergic to dogs.
He was right. She had created a lovely, one-dimensional, completely delusional fantasy world. She turned to stare out at the view and shot Benjamin a sideways look. “Okay, fine. Maybe you’re right. Maybe it’s not entirely based on reality.”
Benjamin’s smile was soft and kind and so reassuring. That was what she’d always been drawn to—the comfortable, reliable, and oh-so-dependable friend. He reached out and grabbed her hand and a little part of Holly’s brain was aware of the fact that there was no electric spark at the touch of his skin, no pulsing energy between them to make the air thicken with sexual tension. There was just…friendship.
“Look, Holiday, I’m not saying there’s no possibility of a future for us, I’m just saying….”
She stopped him by putting a hand on his arm. “Hey, I get it. I do.” Also, she was fairly certain she would scream if she heard him say, “I don’t want to rush into anything” one more time.
He nodded then and they both turned to watch the sun sink below the skyline. “So, if you didn’t come here to win me over,” she finally said. “Why did you come?”
He looked to her in surprise. “I told you, I was—”
“Worried, yeah I know. But you shouldn’t have spent all that money just to come talk some sense into me.”
His eyes were crinkled in confusion as he watched her. “I didn’t spend any money,” he said, as though this was something obvious she should have known.
“What do you mean? How did you get here?”
He pulled back then and a slow smile spread across his face as though he just discovered a secret. “He didn’t tell you?” Benjamin asked.
A buzzing sound filled her head for a moment and she knew what Benjamin was going to say before he said it. “Your friend sent me the plane ticket. He said you needed to see me.”
Holly licked her dry lips. “My friend?” Her voice sounded far away.
“Yeah, Jack. Hey, are you all right?”
Holly reached out a hand to clutch the railing and steady herself. Jack had sent Benjamin to her. Tears stung the back of her eyes as the full weight of that news hit her straight in the heart.
But what did it mean? He’d sent her the man she’d said she wanted. Was he feeling guilty about the things he’d said or did he not mean them at all? Either way, sending Benjamin was the least selfish thing she’d ever seen.
The need to see Jack was so overwhelming she almost ran away but she had no idea where he was. Was he even in Paris anymore?
Benjamin was watching her with narrowed eyes. “What’s going on?”
She shook her head. She wished she knew. Did this gesture mean he was giving up or that he cared more about her and what she wanted than he did about himself? Her mind flashed back to the look on Jack’s face when he’d told her he couldn’t be with her, that he could never give her what she wanted.
He was an idiot.
She thought of the way he’d been there for her; the way he’d listened and cared and never asked for anything in return. That was the guy he was. All that talk of being unable to commit was just regurgitated crap that he’d come to believe. He had changed. Sometime over the course of his adult life Jack had become a reliable, kind and generous man. But he couldn’t see it. He couldn’t see the kind of future he could have if he just trusted himself.
And her.
Her breath left her lungs in a rush of air as her heart beat into double time. Images of the life they could have together raced through her mind. And these weren’t static pictures off the cover of a Hallmark card like they had been with Benjamin. These were real. She could see them laughing and traveling and having new experiences together. She could see them as a family. Unconventional, sure, but who wanted conventional? Not her. These new fantasies…they felt solid…they felt like her.
That was a life she wanted. A life of shared respect and mutual admiration. A life where they grew together. A life built on trust and friendship and…love.
“Holly, are you okay?” Benjamin asked. He was leaning toward her, his brows drawn together in concern.
Was she all right? She wasn’t sure. The world had momentarily flipped upside down before righting itself with a start. Or at least that’s how it felt. Her brain was reeling as it tried to keep up with her heart, which ached with unspoken emotions.
She needed to see him. She needed to make things right.
“I have to find Jack,” she whispered. “I think…I think I love him.”
The word felt strange on her tongue, like she was learning a new language.
Benjamin’s grin was so comforting, she nearly wept. “I think he probably feels the same way.”
Holly winced at the memory of her last words to him. Of the look on his face when she’d walked away. “I’m not so sure.”
“Well, all I know is, flying me all the way out here is a pretty grand gesture for someone who doesn’t care.”
Holly’s heartrate picked up speed at that. “You think so?”
His grin was answer enough. “How can I help?”
Ivy shook her head. “You can’t. This one I have to do on my own.” She reached out a hand and he took it. She struggled to find the right words to explain what she was feeling. Her best friend had flown all the way to France to save her, after all. “You are always coming to my rescue,” she said. “Ever since we were kids. And I love that about you. I love that you’re always there when I need you. But I think…I think maybe Jack needs me. I want to be the one who comes to the rescue this time. Does that make sense?”
He nodded. “It does. And you know what? Maybe it’s time I find someone who lights up at the sight of me like you just did over Jack.” He was teasing her, but he was right. He deserved to be with someone who was truly in love with him and didn’t just see him as reliable or comfortable.
“So what now?” Benjamin asked.
Holly sighed. “I’m going to Italy.”
Chapter 13
Traffic was at a crawl as Holly tried to make her way out of the city. Her stomach was a jumble of knots as she tried to figure out what he would say once she saw Jack. There was every possibility he was regretting the things he’d said the night before.
There was every chance he was still convinced he couldn’t be in a real relationship. The sting of that rejection still hurt. He was wrong, she knew he was. Jack had a bigger heart than anyone she knew. The only thing keeping him from making a real commitment was his misguided belief that he wasn’t capable. His brother had done a brilliant job undermining Jack’s confidence and making him believe that he was selfish and unreliable.
Her fingers clenched her purse which sat on her lap in the backseat of the taxi. She wished she could give Robert a piece of her mind. No sooner had the thought crossed her mind than she recognized the neighborhood surrounding her. They were very close to Robert and Miranda’s apartment. “Can you stop here please?” she said.
Miranda opened on the first knock. She ignored Miranda’s wide-eyed look of surprise. “Is Robert here?”
Miranda ushered her in and led her into the living room where Robert sat reading a book.
“Holly, it’s nice to see you—”
Holly cut him off with a wave of her hand. She had no desire to exchange niceties with this man who kept meddling in her love life. She was here to give him a piece of her mind and that was exactly what she would do.
“Listen up,” she started, causing both Robert and Miranda to stare at her in surprise. “You are so i
ncredibly blind when it comes to your brother, it’s not even funny.”
“Excuse me?” Robert started.
“No, I don’t excuse you,” Holly said. “You have been underestimating and misjudging your brother for years and thanks to you, he is under this incredibly stupid delusion that he can’t be in a serious relationship.”
Her voice had risen a bit despite her best intentions to remain calm. She was dimly aware that Miranda had picked up her phone and was dialing. Probably calling security to have her kicked out of their apartment. She’d better be quick.
Taking a deep breath, she started in again, “I may not know everything that went down between the two of you but I know this—Jack is smart, caring, kind, and generous to a fault. He is so incredibly selfless, it’s…” A lump in her throat cut her short. The fact that Jack had sent Benjamin to her…she still didn’t know what to make of it. She didn’t know if she should be touched by the thoughtfulness of the gesture or pissed that he was giving up on her so easily. Or maybe he didn’t care as much as she hoped? She shoved that thought to the side. She would confront Jack soon enough and make him see what they had together. But right now she had two very bewildered Everetts standing before her and she had to finish what she’d come to say.
Clearing her throat, she continued. “I know he’s made mistakes over the years but you know what? That’s called being human. And the fact that you can’t bring yourself to forgive him is…well, frankly it’s just stupid.”
She saw Miranda fighting back laughter as she held the phone up so security could hear her tirade. Oh hell, she was giving some doorman a good show at least. It was probably a matter of minutes before she was thrown out of here.
“You have been too blinded by anger and, let’s face it, probably jealousy, to realize that Jack has grown up. He’s changed. If you bothered to get to know Jack now, as an adult, you’d see that he risked throwing away a major fortune for my sister, out of loyalty and friendship. You’d see that he works his butt off every single day to make sure his company is a success. If you paid attention you’d see that your brother is the most committed, reliable, loving man you know.”
Robert’s jaw was somewhere near the ground by the time she came to an end. The silence in the room was deafening. When neither of her audience members responded, she picked up her purse where she’d thrown it on the couch and edged toward the front door. “Okay, well, that’s uh—that’s all I came to say. Um….have a good night.”
* * * *
Jack was just as speechless as his brother and sister-in-law on the other end of the phone. When Brunelli found him on the veranda a little while later, he was still clutching the phone and staring into space trying to digest all that he’d heard.
Holly had stood up for him. To his brother. Everything she’d said…she’d sounded so certain, so passionate. It was an odd feeling seeing oneself from someone else’s point of view. Normally when he did it was from the point of view of his brother or his parents…or the press. But the way Holly saw him—she saw the best in him, the man he wanted to be. The man he was trying to become. The tightness in his chest was so painful he pressed a hand to his heart tried to draw in a deep breath.
“You’re too young to have a heart attack,” Brunelli said as he walked toward him. “Leave that to me.”
He plopped down in the seat beside Jack with a grin but his smile faded quickly as he watched him. “What’s going on? Is something wrong?”
Jack forced the words out. “I’m an idiot.”
At that Brunelli tossed his head back with a laugh. “Tell me something I don’t know.”
They both turned at the sound of the villa’s back door opening behind them. Ivy marched out with Daniel close behind. “Jack Everett, you are an idiot,” Ivy called.
Daniel was following right behind him and looked like he was torn between laughter and concern. “Honey, please calm down.”
Jack glared at Daniel over Ivy’s shoulder. “You told her?”
Daniel shrugged, amusement apparently winning out. “Sorry, Jack, she’s ruthless when it comes to her family.”
“Why didn’t you tell me you like Holly?” she demanded. She’d come to a stop directly in front of him with her hands on her hips.
“Umm.” He turned to Brunelli for help but the old man was watching him with an expectant grin that said he was enjoying the younger man’s awkward situation. He shifted in his chair and glanced away but when he looked back Ivy was still glaring at him.
“I didn’t think you’d approve,” he said.
Her eyes grew so big he drew back in alarm. “Are you kidding me? You are one of my favorite people in the world, Jack Everett, why on earth would I not want you with my sister?”
He opened his mouth to speak but drew a blank. Where to begin? Because he was a notorious playboy? Because he had a lifetime of screw-ups under his belt? Because he’d never been in a long-term relationship before?
Because he’d never been in love before.
Jack dropped his head into his hand.
When he looked up again it was to see all three watching him with obvious concern. “I don’t know what to do.”
“Does she feel the same way?” Ivy asked.
Jack shrugged. “No, I don’t think so. I mean, she loves Benjamin—”
“Oh please,” Ivy said with a wave of her hand. “Holly is deluding herself into thinking they would be a good match but anyone who has seen the two of them together knows that they are not in love.”
Some of the tightness in his chest eased a bit at that proclamation. But even if she didn’t love Benjamin, that didn’t mean she loved him. He thought of the speech he’d just heard her give. Those were some strong feelings he’d heard in her voice. Maybe, just maybe, he had a chance. Or maybe he was reading too much into it, maybe she loved him as a friend.
He couldn’t stop the groan of misery that slipped out.
Ivy sat in the seat beside him and grabbed his hand. When she spoke it was to her husband who was hovering nearby. “Why are people in love so stupid?”
Jack nearly groaned aloud again. Was it that obvious? Daniel just shook his head. “What we need to do is come up with a plan.”
Brunelli was nodding his head in agreement and Ivy’s eyes lit up in excitement. Jack’s tone was wary when he finally spoke, “What kind of plan? How do you expect me to fix things with Holly when I’ve made a mess of things since the first moment I met her?”
He told them about the wedding—about how he’d had the most amazing night of his life…and then walked away from her.
“Yes, but she walked away from you too.” Ivy pointed out with a nonchalant shrug. “The way I see it, you were both idiots.”
“Okay, fine. But then I went and—”
“Saved her from herself by tracking her down in Paris?” Daniel finished. “I’d think most women would find that quite gallant.” He looked to his wife for confirmation and she gave them both an eager nod.
“But then I dragged her into my family drama,” Jack said. “She saw me at my absolute worst.”
“And she stood up for you,” Brunelli pointed out. “From what you told us, it sounds like you’ve found the perfect match. A woman who understands where you’ve come from and sees you for who you truly are today.”
“A good man,” Daniel said. “A responsible business partner and a loyal friend.”
“A reliable, generous, and caring man,” Ivy added. She had tears in her eyes but that was nothing new these days.
Jack was touched by their kind words more than he wanted to admit. His tone was gruff when he said, “Thanks, guys. I don’t know if I’m the kind of man Holly deserves yet but being around her….she makes me want to be that guy.”
Brunelli was giving him a fatherly grin of approval. “Finding someone who sees the best in you and who makes you want to be a better person…there is no better love than that.”
Jack knew they were right. He’d found the one. The One. And he’d
been too stupid to see it. He wiped a hand over his face as the full weight of his actions hit him.
“Okay, let’s get started with a plan,” Daniel said, in true Daniel style. The man lived for plans.
“It’s too late,” Jack said. He looked up to see them staring at him in confusion. “It’s too late,” he repeated. “I, uh, I flew Benjamin out to Paris…Paris, France. The two of them are probably planning out their future children’s names by now.”
He watched all three of their faces fall. “Well that was nice, I suppose,” Ivy admitted. “But stupid.”
Brunelli and Daniel murmured their agreement on his stupidity. It was official.
Brunelli looked lost in thought. “If you could, how would you make things right?”
Jack’s laugh was humorless. “I would start over again. I would go back to Daniel and Ivy’s wedding and do it right. I would sweep her off her feet and show her the kind of love she deserves. And once I had her in my arms, I would never let go.”
The tears were streaming down Ivy’s face by that point and Daniel was rubbing her back in consolation. “Well then that’s just what we’ll have to do,” he said. The grim look on his face was simultaneously frightening and heartening. Daniel had a plan.
Brunelli apparently could read his mind because he and Daniel shared a look and the old man clapped his hands together in excitement. “I’ve got to find Lucia and the other grandkids. We have a lot of work to do.”
Ivy and Jack were watching him walk away in confusion when Daniel turned to his wife. “Sweetheart, our baby is going to make an early appearance.”
* * * *
Holly was already at the airport waiting standby for a seat to open up on the next flight to Italy when the call came.
“Daniel, is everything okay?”
“The baby is on the way.” Holly barely heard him speak after that. She rushed to tell him, “I’m on my way” before he hung up the phone.
She looked around the airport with a smile. What excellent timing.
Having grabbed a seat on the next flight out, she arrived in Italy within hours and she spotted Lucia waiting for her near baggage claim.
The Accidental Boyfriend Page 17
