by Kristi Gold
Avery scowled. “That’s not the end of the story. Candice called Sasha this morning, and Sasha, in turn, called me. They were both worried sick because you didn’t come home and you didn’t bother to call.”
Jenna lifted her chin in defiance. “I’ll explain everything to Candice later, and I told Sasha to take the weekend off.”
“My employees are loyal, Jenna.” Avery directed a hard look at Logan. “They do as I ask, and I asked her to watch out for you.”
“I’m thirty years old, Dad. I don’t need a keeper.”
“Apparently, you do, daughter.”
Logan opted to intervene before all out warfare began between parent and child. “Jenna spending the night at my place was all my idea, Avery. She wanted to come home, but I wouldn’t let her.”
“And this is supposed to satisfy me?” He topped off the comment with an acid glare.
At this rate, he’d find himself minus an important client. “Devin and I decided she shouldn’t be alone, in case she showed signs of a concussion.”
“Which I didn’t,” Jenna added. “Now, let’s go inside and let Logan get on with his business.”
“Yes, let’s go inside,” Avery said. “You still have a lot of explaining to do.”
Logan witnessed a spark of anger in Jenna’s expression. “We can talk later, Dad. I have to have a shower so I can be ready when Logan takes me to his parents’ for lunch. What time should I expect you, Logan?”
He couldn’t determine who was more shocked—him or Fordyce. “Are you sure you want to go?”
She sent him a bright smile. “Of course. The very accommodating Sasha can look after Dad this afternoon while I’m with you.”
Logan recognized pure and simple rebellion, and that he was stuck in the middle of a family battle. He could rescind the offer and insult Jenna, putting himself back in Avery’s good graces. Or he could possibly piss off one of his biggest financial benefactors and spend the afternoon with that benfactor’s daughter.
He glanced at the sullen Avery before turning his attention to Jenna, who had one of the greatest smiles he’d ever seen on a woman. Business versus pleasure. He chose pleasure. “I’ll be back in about an hour.”
Without waiting for Avery’s response, Logan sprinted to the Hummer and drove off, wondering all the way home what in the hell he was doing.
“Do you know what you’re doing, Jenna?”
Although she couldn’t see her father’s expression, she’d heard the disapproval in his tone. “I’m going to get ready to have lunch with Logan.”
As she continued down the hall toward her bedroom, her father moved in front of her, halting her progress. “What do you really know about him?”
The classic fatherly lecture. Despite her limited eyesight, she should have seen it coming. “I know that you trust him. I also know he was very kind to me last night and a perfect gentleman, if that’s your concern.”
“He’s a ladies’ man. He’s not the kind to settle for only one woman, especially a…”
His words trailed off, but his message came through loud and clear. “A woman like me, Dad? Isn’t that what you meant to say?”
“You’re special, Jenna.”
“I’m going blind. Dad. My eyesight might be bad, but that doesn’t mean I can’t enjoy a man’s company. Even a ‘ladies’ man.’ And this is only a casual lunch between friends. Logan didn’t want me to be alone since I assumed Sasha wouldn’t be here, and you wouldn’t be home until much later.”
“I don’t want you to get hurt, sweetheart.”
His gentle tone helped ease her resentment. “I’ll only get hurt if I let him hurt me, and I won’t. Besides, I’m not looking for anything permanent. You should know that by now.”
“Yes, I know. Your divorce from David proved that. I wish the two of you would have tried a little harder.”
“Don’t, Dad. We’re not having that discussion again.” They’d worn out that territory three years ago.
“I can’t talk you out of going to this lunch? We could have a nice afternoon together.”
She reached out to pat his cheek. “We can have a nice evening together. You can tell me all about Chicago, and I can tell you how to inquire about the bathroom in Italian and French.”
“You’re still determined to take that European trip.”
“Only after I have the transplants.” If she ever had the transplants. “I’d also like to wait until John David’s a little older so he can appreciate the culture.”
“Have you told Logan about him?”
“The opportunity hasn’t arisen yet.” She planned to take the opportunity before day’s end. “As I’ve said, this is only a one-time event, not a prospective-daddy interview. J.D. already has a father.”
“Again, I don’t want you to—”
“Get hurt. I know, Dad.” She drew him into a long embrace. “And I appreciate your concern. But you don’t have to worry. I’m a big girl now.”
“I know, Jenna, but I still worry about you. I’ve worried about you since the day you came into our lives.”
“And if I’d been able to handpick my parents, I couldn’t have chosen any better than you and Mother.” Even if she’d often wondered that if they’d known her vision would eventually fail, would they have adopted her?
“And we couldn’t have been more blessed to have you,” he said, dispelling her doubts, and that earned him another hug.
“I love you, Dad,” she said. “And please stop worrying. I can manage Logan O’Brien.”
At one time, Logan had been able to manage Avery Fordyce by praising his business acumen, yielding to his demands and leading him to believe he had complete control. But that was before he’d met the man’s daughter.
Under normal circumstances, Logan would have expected to be greeted by a member of the household staff. Nothing about this situation remotely resembled normal, the reason why he wasn’t surprised when Avery answered the door with a curt, “Come in.”
Logan followed Avery inside the house, hoping to discover Jenna waiting nearby so they could get the hell out of there. But the expansive foyer was deserted, with the exception of a few pieces of pricey artwork and Fordyce, who turned and said, “I don’t like this, O’Brien.”
Logan didn’t have to ask what Avery didn’t like. “It’s only lunch.”
“So you say. Just remember, Jenna means everything to me, son. She’s an exceptional young woman. Fragile in many ways. If you mess with her feelings, you mess with mine. Understood?”
Avery’s meaning couldn’t be clearer if he’d carved it into stone—or into Logan’s flesh. Still, Logan had a hard time believing Jenna was as fragile as her father had claimed. But if he screwed up with Avery’s only child, he’d be out in the cold when it came to future contracts. “Understood.”
“Now that you know what I expect, you may wait for Jenna in the study.” He pointed to his right before pivoting around like a drill sergeant and heading down the lengthy hall.
Logan wandered into the room Avery had indicated, expecting to find a collection of books stacked on rows of shelves, maybe even an office setup. Instead, the area held a grouping of casual rattan furniture and plenty of pictures, but not the kind displayed in a trendy gallery. Portraits depicting a dark-haired boy spanned the length of the room. One showed a sleeping newborn lying on a blue blanket; another featured a toothless, smiling infant on his belly in a field of wildflowers, and beside that, a toddler dressed in a red baseball uniform with a miniature wooden bat.
Even if he didn’t know the kid’s identity, Logan suspected he was someone special. Possibly a member of the extended family—or immediate family.
“His name is John David.”
He turned at the sound of the familiar voice to discover Jenna standing in the open doorway wearing a pale yellow, sleeveless dress, her dark hair secured atop her head. The sunshades covering her eyes and the white cane in her hand were the only indications she was anything but a healthy, bea
utiful woman. In fact, she looked so damn good, for a moment Logan had trouble responding to her comment. “Who took all these pictures?”
“I did. I used to own a small photography studio in northwest Houston before my eyes started giving me grief. I consider these portraits some of my best work.”
That explained the quality of the photos, even if it didn’t explain Jenna’s relationship to the child, although Logan had his suspicions. “You must have really liked this particular subject.”
“More than you know.” She crossed the room, removed a framed photo from a table before returning and offering it for his inspection. “This one’s my favorite.”
Logan studied the picture of Jenna turned profile to the boy, their foreheads touching. The perfect depiction of a woman’s fondness for a child. Or maybe a mother’s love for her son. Then again, he could be mistaken since she hadn’t mentioned having a child, nor had her father in the years he’d known him. But when he turned his attention from the photo to Jenna and saw the moisture dampening her cheeks, Logan sensed he was on the right track. And affirmation came when she said, “He’s my son.”
She raised the glasses and swept a fast hand beneath her eyes before replacing the shades again. “I’m sorry. It’s very difficult to talk about him without my emotions going haywire.”
Although he was tempted to ask exactly what had happened to the boy, Logan decided not to pressure Jenna for more information than she was willing or able to give. Instead, he said the only thing he could think to say. “He looks like you.”
She gave him a tentative smile. “He definitely inherited my brown eyes, but his hair is lighter, like his dad’s. Or it was the last time I could see it.”
“How long ago was that?”
“He’s three and a half now, so that would have been about a year ago, right before my vision took a severe turn for the worse. He went to live with his father not long after that. We share joint custody.”
At least Jenna hadn’t suffered a traumatic loss of her child, although Logan couldn’t imagine how she’d tolerated a year without him. “When will he be back with you?”
She clutched the frame to her breasts, as if she were holding her absent son. “As soon as I have the corneal transplants. Since he’s so active, I thought it best he stay with his dad a little longer than the usual six months. But it’s been difficult since he’s so far away.”
“How far?”
“In Tennessee, outside of Memphis. I do talk to him every night, though.”
A sorry substitute for physical contact. “I’m surprised Avery never mentioned him to me.” Most grandfathers Logan had known doted over the grandchildren, including his own father.
“It’s not that Dad doesn’t love J.D.,” she said. “In fact, he adores him. But he’s never accepted the fact that J.D.’s father and I divorced.”
Logan could see how that wouldn’t go over well with a traditionalist like Avery Fordyce. Or his own parents, who’d had a hard time with his sister’s divorce. “How long were you together?”
“I’d known him four years, and we’d been living together for three when I found out I was pregnant. We married five weeks later. Right after J.D. turned six months old, we realized it wasn’t going to work. But David’s a good father, and that’s all that matters.”
From the sadness in Jenna’s tone, Logan gathered that maybe the divorce hadn’t been her idea. He wanted to ask if she’d loved this David and if the guy had treated her well. If he’d accepted her blindness, or if that had been the reason for the split. “I guess marrying for the sake of a child isn’t always a good thing.” And he’d almost found himself caught in that trap.
She shook her head. “No, it’s not. Particularly if two people are less than compatible, something we should have realized in three years. But sometimes you get stuck in a comfort zone with no desire to leave. Unfortunately, accidents happen, although I wouldn’t change anything as far as my son’s concerned.”
Uncomfortable with the course of the conversation, Logan decided to turn the topic to their plans for the day. “Are you ready to go now?”
“Do you still want me to go?”
“Yeah. Any reason why I wouldn’t?”
“I could think of several reasons why you might reconsider. Introducing a blind, divorcee with a child to your parents, for one.”
“My parents aren’t judgmental, Jenna.” In fact, they would probably fall in love with her after five minutes in her company—and immediately start jumping to conclusions.
She shifted slightly. “There’s also that little issue of my father, who is now in the den, sulking. He’s worried you’re going to seduce me, and I won’t see it coming. Literally.”
“I promise I’ll behave myself.” A promise he hoped he could keep.
Chapter Four
Do your parents know you’re bringing a guest?” When Jenna received no response except the click of a blinker, she reached across the seat and touched Logan’s arm. “Are you all right?”
“Yeah. I’m fine.”
She had some reservations about that, particularly since he’d been quiet since they’d begun the drive. “Did you hear my question?”
“You said something about my parents.”
Evidently his mind was elsewhere. “I asked if they know I’m coming.”
“I called my mother and told her I was bringing a friend. She was so glad to hear it, I don’t think she’d care if I brought an army of hairy bikers.”
Or a blind woman. “When was the last time you brought someone home?”
“It’s been a while. I haven’t made the Sunday lunches for a few months. Work’s been kicking my butt.”
Jenna predicted there was much more to his absences aside from work. “Then, you didn’t tell her any details about me?”
“What do you mean?”
She wasn’t sure if he was being evasive because he had told his mother, or he hadn’t. “Did you mention I have a penchant for bumping into walls’1”
“Sure. I told them you were a klutz and to secure anything breakable.”
His teasing tone brought about Jenna’s smile. “Seriously.”
“My parents are smart people. They’ll figure it out, and it won’t matter to them.”
Jenna hoped they didn’t treat her any differently than they would any guest, and realized she would soon find out when Logan proclaimed, “We’re here.”
While Logan helped her from the SUV, Jenna gave herself a good mental scolding for her sudden case of nerves. She had no reason to be anxious. After all, following lunch, she would probably never encounter these people again.
With his hand firmly planted at her elbow, he guided her into the backyard where the scents of charcoal and the hum of jubilant conversation calmed her nerves and buoyed her spirits. Then came the chorus of cheers and applause as the group converged on them. To Jenna, they appeared as a sea of ill-defined figures, but she didn’t dare take off her glasses due to the summer sun beating down upon them.
Overwhelmed would best describe her state of mind as, one by one, the O’Briens introduced themselves. The siblings were the first to deliver greetings, beginning with Logan’s sister, Mallory, and her husband, Whit, who had their four-month-old twin daughters with them, according to Logan. Then she met Aidan and his wife, Corri, followed by Kieran and his girlfriend, Claire. Devin introduced her to his “better half,” Stacy, as little Sean tugged on Jenna’s skirt and jabbered on about a puppy, as if they’d become fast friends. Lastly, Logan’s parents took their turn.
“Jenna, this is my mother,” Logan said as he planted his palm on Jenna’s lower back, catching her off guard.
Obviously he was making certain she stayed steady on her feet, despite her cane. “It’s nice to meet you, Mrs. O’Brien.”
The woman took Jenna’s offered hand into hers for a gentle shake. “It’s a pleasure to meet you, too, Jenna. And, please, call me Lucy. We don’t stand on formality here.”
“And
you can call me a pain in the arse.” The booming voice hinted at an Irish brogue, and the hearty handshake told Jenna that the hulking figure standing before her was a man’s man.
“Tell her your proper name, husband,” Lucy scolded. “You’ll have to excuse him, Jenna. After all the years we’ve been married, I’ve never been able to teach him any manners.”
“I’m Dermot, Jenny.”
“It’s Jenna, Dad,” Logan corrected.
“To me she will be Jenny. And she is the prettiest girl you’ve ever brought home to meet your old man.” Jenna’s hand automatically went to her neck where a blush threatened. “Thank you, Dermot. I appreciate your hospitality.”
She felt a nudge on her arm and recognized Logan’s voice when he said, “Let’s have a seat at the table before all the food’s gone.”
“Good advice, Logan,” Dermot said. “The boys all eat like they’ve never seen food before, Jenny. If we’re going to fatten you up, we might as well get a head start.”
Jenna didn’t have the desire to correct Dermot because she liked the fact he’d given her a pet name. She also didn’t feel the need to “fatten up”; childbirth had added a few extra pounds she had yet to shed. But she was definitely hungry, for both good company and good food. She’d already received the first and, no doubt, would soon experience the second, if the delicious scent of barbecue wafting around her was any indication.
As they mingled with the various family members, Jenna acknowledged that joining Logan for the family get-together was proving to be a wonderful change of pace. She was glad she’d come, despite Logan’s previous silence, something she chalked up to his surprise over her revelation. Amazingly he hadn’t run in the opposite direction when she’d told him about her son. At least, not yet.
Maybe he was simply being a gentleman, and after today, they would part on good terms with a permanent goodbye. And that was just as well. Her life was much too complicated to entertain any ideas of pursuing a relationship with Logan O’Brien. Yet she couldn’t help imagining what it would be like to do that very thing. What it would be like to know him on a much more personal level. Too many years had passed since she’d experienced intimacy with a man, and deep down she couldn’t deny she’d missed that aspect of her life. Yet wishing for something that shouldn’t be wasn’t prudent, even if the thought was pleasant.
