Trinity Falls

by Regina Hart

  “Why do you say that?”

  “You never got dirty, never stayed out past curfew, never did poorly in school.”

  “You chose to do those things. No one made you do them. But our grandparents still loved you.”

  “But I wasn’t you, was I, Megan?”

  “No, but you weren’t orphaned, either. Both of your parents were alive.” She hated reliving this painful past.

  “But they didn’t dote on me the way our grandparents doted on you.” Ramona’s tone was tense.

  Was her cousin actually envious of her? She couldn’t grasp that concept. Ramona had everything: career success, social success, confidence and beauty. Why would Ramona possibly envy her?

  Megan sank onto the sofa. “Your Heritage High graduating class was right when they voted you most likely to succeed. You have a successful business and you’re the town’s mayor.”

  “But you’re trying to turn the town against me.” Ramona folded her arms.

  “Because you’re trying to put us out of business.” Megan sighed. “We were never in competition, Ramona. I thought you realized that when you decided to stay with me after Grandpa died.”

  Ramona relaxed her arms and straightened in her chair. “You thought I stayed because of you?”

  “We’re the only family we have left. Why else would you stay here rather than go back to New York and Ean?”

  “I don’t have to explain myself to you.” Ramona looked away.

  “No, you don’t. But you should at least understand the reason yourself. Why did you come home?”

  Ramona’s café au lait cheeks flushed. Her lips tightened. Megan remained still and quiet, waiting her out.

  Finally Ramona crossed to the far side of the room, facing the fireplace. “I wasn’t ready.”

  “For what?”

  Ramona hesitated. “The demands of Ean’s career. He was working all of the time. I barely saw him.”

  It sounded like a plausible explanation. Ean’s career was very demanding. That was the reason he hadn’t been able to come home more often or stay for longer visits. Still, something in Ramona’s voice made Megan realize her cousin wasn’t completely forthcoming.

  “That didn’t mean you had to leave New York.”

  Ramona turned to her. “I didn’t have anyone else in the city.”

  “Neither did Ean.”

  Ramona shrugged a shoulder. “He survived.”

  Megan’s lips curved in a slight smile, as proud as though she had a right to be. “He did more than survive. He thrived.”

  “And then he came home.” She gave Megan a considering look. “Is there any truth to Quincy getting a job in Philadelphia?”

  Megan’s brows jumped up her forehead. “Why? Are you looking for another ticket to a big city?”

  Ramona returned to the armchair. “I’m just curious.”

  Megan gave her a hard stare. “Ramona, don’t play games with Quincy.”

  “What? Are you his mother?”

  Megan stood. “You should know that some people are tired of your self-serving antics, including me. Ean made his choice and he chose me.”

  Ramona angled her head. “Are you actually color blind?”

  Megan lowered her brows. “What?”

  Ramona gestured toward Megan’s outfit. “Your pantsuit is very nice. It flatters your figure. But that’s a god-awful ugly color.”

  Megan spoke through clenched teeth. “Stop chasing after Ean. He’s mine.”

  Megan left Ramona’s condo feeling like the strong, assertive woman Ean saw whenever he looked at her. She should have drawn the line for her cousin years ago.

  What was behind Ramona’s crack about my clothes? Megan shelved the mystery for another time.

  She exhaled as she climbed into her car. Guilt at the possibility Ramona had given up her life in New York to stay with her in Trinity Falls had made her the passive one in their relationship. Ramona claimed that wasn’t the reason she’d stayed. Megan didn’t believe her. Nevertheless, she was done being the doormat. Today she’d fought for her man. Tomorrow she’d fight for her bookstore.

  CHAPTER 20

  Later that day, Ramona paused outside of Quincy’s office. He was right where his neighbor had said he would be when she’d gone to his town house first. Why was he working on a Saturday? She’d much rather have entertained him in her condo or his town house. Having this conversation in his office was the reason she was out of sorts. It wasn’t because of nerves. Why should she be nervous? She was about to make Quincy’s day—his year. Ramona patted her flowing brown hair into place again and adjusted her formfitting emerald dress.

  She stepped into view and knocked on his open door. “Am I interrupting?”

  Quincy eyed her with suspicion. He laid his pen and papers on his already cluttered desk. “Are you lost?”

  Ramona forced a laugh. It cracked in the middle. “I guess I can’t say I was in the neighborhood.” She leaned a shoulder against the doorjamb with studied nonchalance. “It doesn’t take long to get anywhere in this town, not even the college.”

  “It’s a university, Ramona. We offer graduate courses here. You’re an alumna. You should know that.”

  “That’s right.” Why did he always have to be so superior? “It was a slip of the tongue.”

  The silence grew brittle as Ramona searched for a better conversation topic. Quincy wasn’t offering any help. The least he could do was stand. Chivalry was dead and six feet under the ground.

  She stepped farther into his office and looked around. She’d never been here before. She didn’t see much to talk about, though. Just a couple of bookcases crammed with stuffy books, a bulletin board littered with boring memos and the tiniest coffeemaker she’d ever seen.

  She pointed at it. “Do you know how many pots I’d have to make with that, just to get through the afternoon?”

  That comment earned her a smile that was gone in a blink. “Why are you here?”

  Ramona spied his family photos beside a picture of the young Terrible Trio on a shelf above his desk. Inspiration struck. “How’s your family?”

  Quincy’s coal black eyes narrowed. It was a good look on him, very virile. He often looked at her that way. “What do you want?”

  It took Ramona a few seconds to shift her focus from his expression to his words. When she did, her anger stirred again. “I want to know how your family is doing.”

  “Cut the crap, Ramona. We’ve known each other for more than twenty-five years. When have you ever asked about my welfare or my family’s well-being?”

  He was a bit sarcastic, a little amused. She’d heard that tone from him before. But it had never seemed as naughty as it did today. What had changed? Her? Was she manufacturing an attraction to him to make her plan easier?

  “I’m interested now.” She couldn’t help her defensive voice. Her mind was spinning too fast for a more sincere tone.

  “Why?” He waited for her answer. When she didn’t respond, he picked up the papers he’d been reading before she’d arrived. “I’ve got work to do, Ramona. Close the door on your way out.”

  He was serious!

  Ramona stared at the top of Quincy’s bent bald head. No one had ever dismissed her before. No one. In her entire life. But Quincy had the obnoxious habit of treating her unlike anyone else. He frequently disagreed with her. He challenged her. He chastised her—in front of other people. And now he was dismissing her.

  She stood for several moments in uncharacteristic indecision. Their encounter wasn’t supposed to happen this way. Quincy should have been surprised, happy and excited to see her—like other men were. He wasn’t supposed to send her home. She needed to be more direct.

  Ramona cleared her throat. “I’ve been meaning to ask if the rumors were true.”

  “What rumors?” His tone reeked of manly exasperation. Kind of cute.

  “Ean told me that you’d interviewed for a faculty position with the University of Pennsylvania.”

&nbs
p; Quincy was silent for so long, she didn’t think he’d heard her.

  “He’s right.” Quincy’s response was flat. Why wouldn’t he look at her?

  “Well, congratulations.” She tried a trill of laughter. It sounded better than her first attempt. “We should celebrate.”

  “‘We’?” That made him look up.

  Ramona wanted to trace his arched brow. “Let me take you to dinner.”

  “Isn’t that premature? They haven’t offered me a job, only an interview.”

  Ramona dragged her hand through her hair, a nervous habit she still couldn’t break. “But you know that they will. So you should celebrate this opportunity.”

  More silence. Quincy’s dark gaze was steady and demanding on hers. “Why?”

  Ramona’s mouth opened and closed like a suffocating fish. Why was he making this so hard for her? “Because this is a momentous occasion. It’s life changing. You’re leaving Trinity Falls.”

  “That’s the real reason you’re here. Because you think I’m leaving town.”

  “Of course.” Her cheeks stung with heat. “I’m going to miss you. Everyone will miss you. Really badly. I just want an opportunity to let you know that.”

  “Because we’ve meant so much to each other for so long.”

  “Yes.” Oh, God, is he buying this?

  “Bullshit.”

  That answered her question. But he didn’t sound angry. Was he laughing at her? Again? “You don’t believe me?”

  Quincy lowered his papers and pen once more. “You’ve known for years how I feel about you, yet you never said a word to me. Do you expect me to believe that my leaving town just happens to coincide with your sudden attraction to my magnetic charisma and movie star good looks?”

  He was laughing at her. His cheeks creased with his smile. His eyes danced with humor as he stared up at her from the seat behind his desk.

  Ramona’s palms itched with the urge to smack him, but she also was inexplicably turned on. “It’s like you said, Quincy. We’ve known each other for a long time.”

  Surprisingly, she was telling the truth. They’d known each other since the first grade. Except for those years he’d spent away at college and graduate school, he’d been a fixture in this town. The town would feel his absence—including her. This all came as a surprise. How was she supposed to react to this?

  Quincy leaned forward. “You probably thought your dinner invitation would make my day, if not my entire year.”

  Ramona’s eyes stretched wide. Could he read her mind? “Of course not.”

  “Really?” Quincy sat back in his chair and crossed his arms. “What would you say if I told you I’d turn down the University of Pennsylvania if they offered me the position?”

  “But you won’t.”

  “I might. I’m kind of fond of Trinity Falls.”

  Ramona spread her arms. “What’s keeping you here? Your parents and sister moved to Florida years ago. This is a wonderful career opportunity for you. It’s more money, a bigger more prestigious university. Why wouldn’t you go?”

  “Trinity Falls is my home. I’m happy here.” His smile drained from his eyes. “If you’re unhappy, you should leave. But do it on your own. Stop attaching yourself to men’s coattails.”

  Ramona gasped. “How dare you!”

  “When you were eighteen, you hitched yourself to Ean’s ride. Now you’re thirty-two. Instead of making your own opportunities, you want to tag along with me. That’s pathetic, Ramona.”

  “You’re grossly mistaken.” Ramona’s temper snapped. “I wouldn’t hitch myself to your ride, as you so crudely put it, if you were the last man on earth.” She spun toward the door and strode across Quincy’s office.

  “Does this mean you won’t be taking me to dinner?” Quincy’s voice taunted her.

  Ramona ground her teeth. Without breaking stride, she gave him the one-finger salute. Quincy’s laughter followed her down the hall.

  CHAPTER 21

  “Shouldn’t we wait until I’m open for business before you write about my practice?” Ean straightened from his crouch, allowing the tape measure feed to snap back into its case. He tried to ignore Darius as he recorded the measurement of his office’s width.

  His stomach growled again. It was almost 1 P.M. on Saturday, but he wanted to finish this last room before he and Darius broke for lunch.

  “You’ll be open in a couple of weeks.” The reporter spoke from his perch on the office’s bay window. “Besides, your practice will be old news if I wait until it opens. So quit the bullshit and give me a quote, asshole.”

  Surprised laughter burst from Ean. “Do you get a lot of interviews with that attitude?”

  Darius gave him a reluctant smile. “This article will be free publicity for you, man. What’s the problem?”

  “It’s easier to talk about cases than myself.” Ean crouched again. This time, he measured the room’s length. “What do you want me to say?”

  “Just answer my questions—”

  “First answer mine.” Quincy’s voice interrupted them.

  Ean rose, turning to face the university professor. He ignored the temper snapping in Quincy’s eyes. “Hey, Q. What brings you to my humble office?”

  Quincy stepped forward. “Why did you tell Ramona that I’m going to Philadelphia?”

  “Because you are,” Darius answered. “Penn is going to offer you its faculty position. If you’re smart, which you are, you’ll accept it.”

  Quincy scowled at the reporter before meeting Ean’s eyes again. “Were you trying to set me up with Ramona?”

  Darius laughed. “Ean wouldn’t do that.”

  Ean spoke over the other man. “Yes, I was.”

  “What? W-why?” Darius stuttered.

  “Because he’s the great Ean Fever.” Quincy sounded as though he was chewing glass. “No one measures up to him. He’s too damn perfect. He has no choice but to help us mere mortals because we could never be as perfect as he is.”

  “Quincy, you know damn well that’s not what I was thinking.” Ean pulled a hand through his close-cropped hair.

  “Grow up, Q.” Darius turned to Ean. “Dude, what were you on?”

  Ean cast his gaze around the freshly painted white walls before meeting Quincy’s snapping eyes. “Ramona and I broke up six years ago. You had all that time to make your move. Why didn’t you? Are you that big of a coward?”

  Quincy’s scowl darkened. “Who the hell do you think you are?”

  “Your friend.”

  Darius rose from the bay window ledge and put a hand on Quincy’s shoulder. “Only a friend would tell you the truth. And the truth is, Q, you’ve been a gutless wonder with Ramona. I should have told you that six years ago.”

  Quincy shrugged Darius’s hand from his shoulder. “You’re one to talk. Do you think people don’t realize why you sneak over to the next town every weekend? You’re dating some woman over there because you don’t want her to meet your family.”

  Darius’s expression tightened. “You’d hide your dates, too, if you had my family.”

  Quincy lowered his head and braced his hands on his hips. “I’m sorry, man. That was uncalled for.”

  Darius shook his head. “No harm, no foul, brother.”

  “So what’s the problem, Quincy?” Ean crossed his arms over his chest. “Why haven’t you tried to get something going with Ramona?”

  Quincy paced the empty room, from the bay window past Darius and Ean, to the far wall and back. His movements were stiff and abrupt, as though he was debating with himself.

  The professor finally stopped in front of the window, his back to the room. “I don’t like to lose.”

  “Who does?” Ean glanced at Darius. What did that have to do with anything?

  The former running back turned from the view outside the office and held Ean’s eyes. “If Ramona turned me down, it would mean that you won and I lost.”

  “Ramona isn’t a trophy we’re competing for.” Ean�
�s voice snapped.

  Darius scratched his chin. “I thought you liked Ramona.”

  “I love her.” Quincy spoke as though forcing out the words.

  Darius’s frown deepened. “If you love her, ask her out.”

  The conflict in Quincy’s eyes added to Ean’s frustration. “In your mind, you’ve worked me into this perfect person who’s really popular and never wrong. I don’t know where that came from.”

  Darius shrugged. “It’s bullshit.”

  Ean spared the former tight end a glance but otherwise ignored him. “It’s not true. I don’t even see myself that way.”

  Darius shook his head. “Neither do I.”

  “Ask her out.” Ean clamped a hand on Quincy’s shoulder. “Even if she says no, you wouldn’t have lost.”

  Quincy snorted and turned away. “That’s what you think.”

  His friend’s reluctance was a wall Ean couldn’t break through. “How do you know if she could love you if you don’t give her a chance?”

  Quincy quirked a brow. “Since you told her I’m leaving Trinity Falls, how do I know whether she loves me or the idea of moving to Philadelphia?”

  Good question.

  Ean exhaled as memories returned. “When Ramona left New York, I realized she never loved me. She loved the dream of living in New York. I was just a part of that dream.”

  Quincy pulled his hands over his clean-shaven head. “Why did you tell her about the Penn interview?”

  “Let it go, Q.” Darius leaned back against the bay window’s ledge. “This is Trinity Falls. It’s not like she wasn’t going to find out.”

  “Philadelphia gives you an in with her.” Ean propped his shoulder against the room’s far wall.

  Quincy grunted. “New York didn’t help you keep Ramona.”

  Ean shrugged. “I didn’t love her, either. We were too much alike, like brother and sister.”

  Darius looked closely at Ean, as though seeing him from another perspective. “I’d never thought of that.”

  Ean hadn’t, either, not until Megan had pointed it out—Megan, who’d stormed from his town house Friday night. What would it take to convince her he hadn’t slept with her cousin?