Harlequin Heartwarming June 2021 Box Set

by Patricia Johns

  I’m not a pumpkin yet, she texted back.

  How are you feeling? he asked.

  She smiled at that. I’m fine. I was just overheated. No need to worry.

  Good. There was a pause, then, Just checking.

  He wanted to talk—she could sense it. What had happened with his friend? For all of Noah’s anger over that betrayal, he wasn’t over it.

  Did you see Brody tonight? she asked.

  I did. Another long pause, and she almost put her phone down when he added, Am I crazy to think the friendship should be over after what happened?

  He wants to stay friends? she typed.

  He seems to, he replied. I think he wants me to forgive him.

  Taryn pursed her lips in thought. She’d never seen men’s friendships close up before. Glen had a few buddies, but nowhere near as close as Noah and Brody seemed to have been. And yet friendships mattered...friendships could be healing, as she was discovering with the Second Chance Dinner Club.

  What did you say? she asked.

  Nothing much. I said they’re moving on, and I need to do the same.

  She couldn’t blame Noah for that response, and it seemed mature and measured. Still, she noticed something.

  You’re staying up thinking about it... Was it cruel to point that out?

  He didn’t answer at first, and she looked down at the screen, wondering if she’d overstepped. Then he called her.

  “Hi,” she said, picking up. “I don’t know if that came off as a little mean—”

  “No.” He laughed softly. “It didn’t. This is just easier than typing.”

  “So what happened?” she asked.

  “He wants to make peace. He says they didn’t mean to hurt me, and I believe that. I guess I hadn’t realized my best friend was in love with my girlfriend. Am I completely unobservant?”

  “Maybe,” she chuckled. “Maybe not. You trusted them both. That isn’t a bad thing.”

  “I suppose,” he said. “I feel like an idiot, though.”

  Taryn sat on the edge of the bed. “You miss Brody, don’t you?”

  “No, I—” He stopped.

  “You can admit it,” she said.

  He let out an audible breath.

  “Of the two of them, I feel like losing my friendship with him hurt more,” he said. “And I don’t know what that says about Nevaeh and me—she probably made the right choice in breaking things off. But Brody and I were friends since we were kids. We backed each other up in scuffles, and we confided in each other when we had crushes on girls... He was my best friend, and we never did drift apart like normally happens over the years. We stayed tight. Until now.”

  “Until Nevaeh,” she said softly.

  “I guess so...” He sounded sad.

  “I think friendships matter,” she said. “For what it’s worth.”

  “Speaking of friendships, Brody said something tonight,” Noah said. “He was talking about some parenting article he read. Apparently, if the mom and dad have a solid friendship, the parenting is easier. It’s not based on the romance,” Noah said. “He told me parenting is less about candlelight and more about high fives. I think that’s how he said it.”

  Not based on the romance... Something inside her wanted to argue that just a little bit. Their situation—raising a child outside of a committed romantic relationship—wasn’t exactly the ideal...not for her, at least.

  “But kids don’t have to kill romance,” she said. “I get what you’re saying, that we have hope of raising our son well and still liking each other in the process. And I appreciate that. But for the record, I know plenty of happily married couples with children. You notice them more when you want a baby and can’t seem to have one...”

  “I’m not saying you won’t...have that.”

  A husband... Did she dare hope for some romance of her own? The universe had handed her the desire of her heart in the form of this baby. She hadn’t expected romance, too.

  “It’s okay,” she said, and she forced a laugh. “You don’t have to worry about my romantic life. I’ll sort it out.”

  Noah was silent for a beat, then he said, “Well, Brody’s point was about his compatibility for a lifetime of happiness with Nevaeh, so... He has no idea about our son. He was saying that because Nevaeh was with me, they developed a friendship. And because of that friendship, he figures they’ll have the parenting down pat.” He was silent for a moment. “It got me to thinking about us. I know you a little, but not well enough. And vice versa. I was thinking it might be good for us to get to know each other better...as friends.”

  Having known his kisses and his strong embraces, a simple friendship felt anticlimactic. But he was right—they needed to think ahead.

  “I can see the wisdom there,” she admitted.

  “Right?” He sounded more enthusiastic now. “I watched my sister and her husband dealing with my nephew the other day, and they have this great united front. They back each other up, and they get results. You and I could definitely have each other’s backs—right?”

  “Definitely,” she replied. He was offering emotional support—and now she knew that she wouldn’t turn that down.

  “You sound...sad about that?” he said.

  “No, no...” She let out a breath. “I’m adjusting. I think it’s good that there is some science to back up our plan.”

  “Well, in the spirit of getting to know each other better,” Noah said, “how would you feel about coming to my place for dinner tomorrow night?”

  Dinner at his home... Noah had no idea how tempting he was, did he? But she’d have to adjust to that fact, too.

  “You can taste my cooking, you can see how I live, look at a few photo albums...” He paused, and she could feel the hope in his voice.

  Hadn’t Belle’s romance faded over the sharing of photo albums? But this wasn’t a romance—that was their current strength.

  “Sure,” she said. “That sounds nice.”

  “Great. So tomorrow after work, I’ll bring you to my apartment and you can silently judge me,” he said, his tone teasing.

  She laughed softly. ‘It’s a date.”

  “It’s late, I should let you go,” he said.

  “All right,” she agreed, glancing at the clock. “I’ll see you in the morning.”

  “See you.” His voice was low and warm, and she tried not to enjoy it. Did he have to be so attractive?

  She ended the call and plugged her phone into its charger. Having this baby would have all been so much simpler if she hadn’t found Noah again, but he’d offered something she’d never have expected.

  Maybe it was that lonely, moody time of night, or maybe it was pregnancy hormones, but his offer of friendship, while pragmatic, felt just a little bit heartbreaking. It was so much less than she’d dreamed for herself at this stage of life.

  Being a single mom wouldn’t be easy, and she’d heard of enough women fighting with the fathers of their children after a nasty breakup... If she and Noah could avoid all that, they might have the kind of friendship that would carry them through all the ups and downs awaiting them.

  She pulled back the covers and slid into the crisp, cool sheets. She’d have to think it over in the light of day. Because despite her attempt to be logical, her heart was still just a little bit heavy.

  * * *

  THE NEXT MORNING, Taryn ordered up a simple breakfast of oatmeal and some sliced fruit to her room. And after a good sleep, Noah’s offer of getting to know each other seemed less heartbreaking. She’d heard enough complaints from women who were constantly frustrated with their kids’ fathers. A respectful relationship with her baby’s father would be incredibly helpful. But Taryn and Noah could be a step ahead of them—no romantic hopes or disappointments between them, and mutual respect, too.

  Because Taryn honestly l
iked Noah. If they’d met some other way...if he’d been a guy who was open to having kids...she could have fallen for him in a heartbeat. In fact, she had on that night in Denver—it was why she ran away. She’d seen just how dangerous he was to her peace of mind.

  When Taryn had finished eating, she got dressed into a pink business-style dress, and she did her makeup and pulled her hair back into her usual twist. Then she headed downstairs to start her day.

  The campaign was coming together nicely. She already had a selection of shareable content—photos with some quotes, and brief stories from guests and employees alike talking about what the resort meant to them. She’d written a couple of articles about what Mountain Springs Resort had to offer, and she had a whole array of photographs that showed different rooms in the lodge, close-ups of details like the sparkling crystals of a chandelier and the deep plush of the carpet that went up the center of the massive staircase.

  And then there were the pictures of the lake...those felt more personal now. Maybe Lisa, the writer, was right about the soul-deep draw of the lake and mountains. For Taryn, they were now connected to Noah. Whenever she looked at them, she remembered what it felt like to be pulled into that man’s arms, his lips coming down over hers, the warmth of breath against her face, the strength in his hands as they ran down her arms...

  “Taryn?”

  She startled, pulling out of her thoughts. Belle stood in the foyer. She wore a long, rust-colored ombré dress that hung beautifully off her lithe figure. An oversize pair of sunglasses sat on her hair, and she smiled at Taryn.

  “Hi, Belle,” Taryn said, and she headed across the foyer toward her. “What brings you by?”

  They met in the center of the foyer, and Taryn noticed that Belle’s usually impeccable makeup looked mussed. Had she been crying?

  “Are you okay?” Taryn asked.

  “Oh—” Belle ran a finger under her eyeliner “—I’m fine. Philip wanted to talk, and I thought it would be easier for me to do it here. It reminds me of our dinner club, and keeps my feet on the ground.”

  “You’re broken up, though?” Taryn asked delicately.

  “We are,” Belle replied. “This is just part of the unraveling, and I suppose I owe him that much.”

  “I don’t think you owe him anything,” Taryn replied.

  Belle licked her lips. “I do want to explain why I’m breaking up with him. That’s for me.”

  “And that’s fair,” Taryn agreed.

  The front door opened, and a lanky man came inside. He had receding blond hair and a pair of dark rimmed glasses. He looked gentle, cerebral, maybe even a little bit shy in the way he held himself. He wore jeans and a button-up shirt, and when he looked at Belle, Taryn saw him freeze, his eyes filled with emotion.

  “That’s him,” Belle said softly.

  “He’s not what I expected,” Taryn admitted. Although she wasn’t sure what she’d expected with Philip. No man really seemed to be a natural match for Belle’s beauty.

  “Well...I’d better—” Belle looked toward Philip again, and she straightened her shoulders.

  “Yes, of course,” Taryn said. “Good luck...”

  Belle crossed the foyer toward Philip, and they moved toward the dining room. Philip’s hand hovered over Belle’s back for a moment, and then he let it drop.

  Taryn felt a wave of sympathy for both of them. Breakups were never easy, and no matter how well-thought-out and logical the reasons a couple had for calling it quits, it hurt.

  As Taryn reached her temporary office, she let out a slow breath. This was why it was best to keep things strictly platonic between her and Noah. Whatever she’d felt when Noah kissed her, when he stood protectively over her, when he smiled and caught her eye... Whatever that man could make her feel, she needed to keep her heart protected.

  Belle and Philip could choose to never see each other again if they wanted to—Taryn and Noah weren’t going to get that luxury.

  * * *

  WHEN ANGELINA POKED her head into Noah’s office that evening, he gave his boss a tired smile.

  “Hi,” he said. “Heading out?”

  “I have a vendor coming by, and I was wondering if you wanted to sit in on this meeting,” Angelina replied.

  Noah was usually available for impromptu meetings like this, but not tonight.

  He glanced down at his watch. “Actually, I’ve got plans tonight, so I can’t stick around.”

  “Oh!” Angelina nodded. “No problem. I knew it was short notice. I’ll take care of this one myself.”

  “Thanks,” he said.

  Angelina turned as Taryn came up behind her.

  “Hi, Taryn,” Noah said. “I’m just done here.”

  “Perfect,” Taryn replied, and she cast a smile at Angelina.

  Angelina’s eyebrows went up. “You two have a good night.”

  She disappeared down the hall, Taryn watching her.

  “It looks like a date,” he said, keeping his voice low. It looked like a blossoming romance—maybe even slightly inappropriate considering that they were professionally connected.

  Taryn smiled wanly. “A little difficult to explain, isn’t it?”

  “A little,” he agreed. “Don’t worry. Angelina is a big respecter of boundaries. I doubt she’d even ask me about it.”

  But she’d wonder. How long was he going to be able to go before he told people the truth about Taryn and the baby—that he was going to be a father? His friends here in Mountain Springs would all be pretty shocked, and it would be weird with Nevaeh and Brody... It would be easier to navigate from Seattle—a little more distance, and less chance of bumping into people every other day.

  He turned off his computer and stood up. “All right, let’s head out.”

  Noah lived in an apartment on the far end of town. As they drove around the lake toward town, Noah couldn’t help but notice the way Taryn ran her hand over her belly in slow circles. Was he kicking in there?

  “So, how many other jobs do you have scheduled before the baby comes?” Noah asked.

  “I have two more,” she said. “I’ve worked for both places before, and they’re okay with remote work, so I won’t have to travel.”

  “That’s good,” he said.

  She cast him a sidelong look.

  “I just meant—” He laughed uncomfortably. “I’m not supposed to have an opinion on that, am I?”

  “I’ll forgive it,” she said with a small smile. “But I’m fine. I’m a planner. I always make sure I know where my income is coming from—it’s under control.”

  He believed in her competence. It was one of the things he’d liked from the start—even at her lowest, she’d been in control.

  “I’m curious to see where you live,” she added.

  “Yeah?” He signaled a turn.

  “It’s the best way to get to know someone,” she said.

  She’d see it all—his too-tidy ways, his music collection, his library... The books on a man’s shelf spoke more than anything else.

  “But we’re going to really do this, right? Get to know each other—open up?” he asked.

  “We’ll try.” She shot him a smile, and he couldn’t help but return it.

  This was backward—all of it. But he was looking forward to an evening with her all the same.

  Noah’s apartment was in a new building with all the modern conveniences. There was an indoor pool, a gym and, from his suite, a stunning view of the mountains. After parking underground, he led the way to the elevator, and they headed up to the eighth floor.

  “Here we are,” he said as he led the way in, flicking on lights as he went. The air-conditioning kept the apartment comfortably cool, and he watched her as she surveyed the apartment.

  His living room sported low leather couches, some prints of famous paintings on his walls
and a few framed black-and-white photos of his ancestors. The room was lit by standing lamps, and a couple of sheepskin throws warmed up the couches. Taryn glanced back at him.

  “This is beautiful.”

  “Thanks.” He’d worked hard to create this space for himself, and it had taken a couple of years to get everything to his liking. Would it all transplant to Seattle and end up being this comfortable and cozy? And even though Seattle would be easier in some ways, it would be farther away from Taryn and the baby, and that didn’t sit comfortably.

  Taryn crossed the room to the family photos, and he left her looking at them while he washed his hands and started pulling ingredients out of the fridge.

  “Who are they?” Taryn asked.

  “My grandparents on my mother’s side,” he said. “Dad left and we never did have much from his side of the family.” He turned on the gas stove and put a pot of water over the heat.

  Taryn was silent again for a couple of minutes while he worked.

  “This man looks like you,” she said. He knew the picture she was talking about. It was a portrait of a man in his forties with a full beard and an intense stare. “Well...you when you had the beard, at least.”

  “My great-grandfather,” he said. “Yeah, there’s a family resemblance.”

  She looked at him over her shoulder. “Do you look alike without the beard?”

  “No idea,” he said with a chuckle. “We have no photos of my great-grandfather without it.”

  She turned to face him, one hand resting on her belly. “Do you mind if I use your washroom? This little guy is standing on my bladder.”

  “Yeah, sure—” He pointed down the hallway. “Feel free.”

  Dinner wasn’t going to take much preparation. He had some chicken already cooked and sliced, and there was a jar of Alfredo sauce that was pretty good. With some freshly grated parmesan, the meal would be downright acceptable.

  He heard the bathroom door open again as he was setting the table, but Taryn didn’t appear. He put the utensils down by the plates, and then ambled in the direction of his library.