This book would never have happened if not for the encouragement of some really amazing bloggers and beta readers:
Jennifer Wolfel of Wolfel’s World of Books
Brandelyn Harris of Seductive Romance Reviews
Stephanie Harper Mulford
Tammy Sipe
And special thanks to my book whisperer:
Katie Mac
Katie, I might even share my chocolate. You are that special.
It was just after 9am on a Saturday morning when Adam Davenport woke up in the guest room of his brother’s house. He had been there for a month now and he was in no rush to return to his posh, modern apartment overlooking Central Park. Why would he be? He had plenty of privacy here, since Sam and Haley spent so much time at work, at events, and away. Truth be told, he had too much privacy.
He folded his arms behind his head as he pondered when everything had begun to change. First, he and Sam made up. That was great. He had his family back. Sam confided in him, he felt included again, and they were partners…if not in the family business, at least in protecting Haley. Soon, he was invited to little Abby’s christening, they went out to dinner, and he was the injured hero who spent a month of his life in a coma after he pushed Haley out of the way of that car.
Even that wasn’t bad…really. He spent the month sleeping, but still somewhat aware. He knew that Sam barely left his side. He knew Haley brought food and cared for Sam. And then when he was awake and able to, he was taken home…to Sam’s home. Maybe he should have fought it. Maybe he should have insisted he go to his apartment and have a nurse. Instead, he stayed. And now Adam wasn’t sure he’d want to leave. Ever.
Having a home, being surrounded by family…he didn’t realize how much he had missed it. At first it was idyllic. Haley cooked these amazing meals, baked cookies, and made the old mausoleum a home. Sam came alive. He confided in Adam. Then…everything changed. Sam fell in love so hard. When Sam and Haley had trouble he retreated into the study and into himself. When things were good, Sam and Haley vacationed and ran off together. And he was beginning to feel lost and alone once again. The only difference now was that something had been awakened in him; a need he hadn’t known existed. Now he could never go back to his old ways.
Sighing, Adam realized there was no winning solution. He would have to be happy with what he could get, the time he didn’t have to be alone, the hours occupied by his new position at the Davenport Agency and his steady progress. He flushed a little then. Truth be told, Adam was very nearly completely recovered. And the only one who knew that was his physical therapist. Yup. The therapist said he was 95%. And really, he only said that so that Adam wouldn’t over do and then undo all the progress he had made.
Throwing back the covers, he stepped out of the bed, stretched, and walked around the room some. He pulled on his midnight blue robe and cinched it around his waist. Though he hated slippers and truly preferred bare feet, he respected Sam’s ways and shoved his feet into a pair of slippers that, in his opinion, added at least thirty years to his age. He cringed. Speaking of his age…this morning at 5:27am, he had officially aged one more year. Then he confidently walked back to his bedside, picked up the cane he let sit against the headboard when he wasn’t using it to keep up the façade and slowly limped down the stairs.
Neville was in the kitchen, sitting on one of the bar stools in front of the island sipping coffee and reading the paper. He nodded at Adam as he entered the room and assessed his mood. While Adam was normally so pleasant, given that he was also incredibly sensitive about his appearance and everything related to it, he could only imagine that Adam might be taking his big day a little hard. This was one of the big birthdays, after all. The handsome young man was no longer in his twenties. And goodness knows that the thirties came with a whole new set of expectations that the man hadn’t seemed ready to embrace before the accident.
The young man sat heavily on the stool and appeared winded. Still, he gave Neville an encouraging smile. The servant stood and began to take care of Adam. “Would you like coffee this morning, sir? Maybe I can make you some breakfast?”
“I’d love a coffee, Neville. And what are my breakfast options?” He glanced about. “I was hoping Sam and Haley would be back today. You know?”
Nodding, Neville responded, “You had hoped to spend your birthday with them?”
“Yeah, but I guess that’s not going to happen now.” He looked down to hide his disappointment and instead buried his head in the newspaper. That should occupy him for a few hours. Then he just had to figure out how to occupy all of his time after lunch. “Maybe I’ll go out tonight,” he mused aloud.
“Will you need me to drive you later?” Neville asked calmly.
“I’ll let you know once I decide what to do,” he replied, already lost in thought. And before Neville had left the room, Adam was already focused elsewhere.
While in the garage, Neville called Mr. Davenport. After two short rings he answered. “Sir, your brother has suggested that he might go out tonight.”
“Ah, is he pouting over his birthday already?” Samuel laughed. “Thirty is no big deal. Of course, it does mean losing that Peter Pan complex he perfected.” He was leaning back on Adam’s sofa, looking out the enormous windows and admiring the view while Haley let the caterers in.
“Not exactly, but I do think he expected that you would be home for his birthday,” Neville remarked.
“Don’t worry. As soon as we get everything organized here, we’ll be home to take him off your hands. Just don’t let him leave before then.” Sam ended the conversation and ended the call while Neville pondered how on earth he was going to do that.
Adam decided to kick back in the study and enjoy the fire that Neville had started as the sun began to go down. It was another gray dreary November day where the seasons in New York City kept switching back and forth. One moment he would swear it was winter, with the frost on the ground, the flakes falling from the sky. The next moment it was a bit warmer and the last of the leaves was falling. He couldn’t think of any place that he would rather be. Haley had made this house a home.
Sighing, he called Sam’s cell. It was the fifth time he had attempted to reach him since he woke up. And still his brother had yet to answer. They should be home with him. And if they weren’t here, since they seemed to be here less and less, maybe he should find a place to spend the evening and someone warm and inviting to spend the evening with.
He began scrolling through his contacts and soon one thing became abundantly clear. He had no real friends. How was that possible? How could he be thirty years old and have no real friends? Adam sat up straighter in his seat, and then leaned on his legs as he looked through them more slowly. Nope. Not a one. He had friends from school that he had hung around, and friends from clubs, and friends that were really nothing more than acquaintances. There were people that he would call to party with, find out what the current meeting place was, but he really had no relationships of substance save that of the one with his brother. And now his brother was practically married. There was no way that they could be buddy-buddy like he needed.
Well, there was no time like the present to make the change. He could make sure that thirty was his best year yet, if he could just figure out how. And he leaned back and plopped his feet on the coffee table to think about it.
Sam and Haley walked into the study just before six that evening. Haley plopped down on the couch in front of Adam. Her eyes were sparkling and he could read excitement all over her face. Doing a quick scan, he realized that she still wasn’t wearing the Davenport Diamonds, so Sam hadn’t popped the question.
“What has you so happy, sunshine?” He asked her with a smile. Haley’s happiness tended to be contagious
. She was so vivacious. No wonder his brother couldn’t stand to be away from her.
Sam sat next to her on the couch and wrapped an arm around her shoulders. Like they had been doing it for years instead of months, they melted into each other, one simply becoming an extension of the other. And Adam marveled over it, wondered what that must feel like.
“It’s your birthday!” Haley exclaimed. “I am so excited to celebrate with you. We thought we’d start my taking you out to dinner. Then we have a big surprise for you.”
If Sam hadn’t been holding her, Adam would have sworn that she’d have floated away. “What’s the surprise?” Adam asked with a smile. “I mean, I’m surprised enough that you are here. I thought that you two had forgotten…” His voice trailed off and he shrugged, but the sadness in his voice was evident.
Haley’s smile faltered. She glanced up at Sam, a hint of doubt in her eyes. He squeezed her shoulder reassuringly and leaned down to kiss her temple. These days, they were hard to be around and they knew it. That was part of the reason why they spent so much time away and on their own. The other part was that Haley felt so much better, so confident, and so ready to face the world with Chase in jail awaiting trial. She wasn’t in hiding any more. And it made a huge difference.
“Adam,” Sam began in his scolding voice, “we would never forget your birthday. So, where would you like to go to dinner?”
But Adam was already morose from spending the bulk of the day alone and discovering that in thirty years, the only meaningful relationship he had was rather built in, since Sam almost didn’t have a choice in the matter. Hanging out with the two lovebirds was just the cherry on top. “Oh, you’re all big on surprises,” Adam said, trying to act happy, “why don’t you surprise me? I’ll put on a suit and meet you down here in fifteen minutes. I would have said ten, but it takes me a little longer. You understand?” And he tapped his bum leg with the cane before limping out of the study and heading to the guest bedroom.
“Well, that didn’t go the way we had hoped,” Haley said quietly.
“Ah, it’s Adam, I rather expected it,” Sam assured her. “He has been milking that leg…” He shook his head. “It will be good for him to go home and get back in a routine, rebuild his life. He hasn’t been there for almost two months. I’m sure it will feel good for him to be back on his own.”
Haley leaned back into Sam knowing that his arms would wrap around her. She pressed her face against his broad chest and inhaled the scent of him, a combination of cologne and fresh clean male. She squeezed him close. “I hope you’re right. Maybe what Adam really needs is to be around family right now. Maybe that’s what will help him heal.”
He sat there in silence and considered what Haley had said. He didn’t want to think that it was for purely selfish reasons that he would send his brother packing. Sure, he longed to be more spontaneous with Haley, have more freedoms, be as demonstrative as he wanted without worrying about interruptions, but he really did have Adam’s well-being in mind…didn’t he?
It was just after 6:30pm that Neville drove the group to Adam’s apartment. And when the vehicle stopped and Adam stepped out onto the curb and recognized his surroundings, he was feeling less than buoyant. He looked at Sam a moment, trying to read his face before he spoke. “What are we doing here?” He questioned.
“Oh, I thought you might want to change that tie. You have been wearing the same three ties for weeks at the office. And since we were in the neighborhood…” Sam’s voice trailed off and he gestured as though the answer was obvious. He leaned over and helped Haley out of the car then nodded at Neville.
The three headed to the door, greeted the doorman, and made their way to the elevator. It was very nearly 7pm when Adam stuck his key in the lock and opened the door to his apartment. It was as dark as he expected. What he didn’t expect was the aroma of food, the people popping up from behind furniture and through doorways, and the shouts of ‘Surprise!’ that rang out over the clatter of his cane falling to the floor. He pasted a smile on his face. He was surprised all right. And he was dismayed. This was the last thing he wanted for his birthday.
Looking over at Haley, Adam finally spoke, “I suppose this was your idea?”
“Not entirely. Sam helped a lot,” Haley smiled shyly, clearly awaiting his approval. She was a lot more perceptive than Sam gave her credit for.
“Thank you,” he said and gave her a half hug. He meant that much. He really did appreciate her. And dammit, she meant well. Wasn’t it the thought that counts? With that, he limped into the open loft space that was his living room.
It seemed to be going off without a hitch. That’s all that Cammie cared about. This was going to be one of the very last functions she worked for her parents and she couldn’t very well leave a bad impression that would tarnish the reputation of the family business. Ah, but she wanted more from life. Completing her MBA from Columbia University in another month should help in that department. Maybe then her parents would have more respect for her. She scowled. Nope. Doubtful. They were still so angry that she was leaving the business after the holidays; they were barely speaking to her. It would take far worse treatment than that to make her change her mind.
Looking around the room, Cammie sighed. This…was pretty bad. And then she considered how she would be spending her Sunday afternoon, dressed as a clown, making balloon animals for a five year old’s Circus Circus Birthday Party, and remembered that it could always be worse. Although here she was, hot pink bustier, black mini skirt, fishnet stockings, and a pair of the most uncomfortable black heels she owned, working as the bartender for some thirty year old bachelor’s birthday party.
Tightening her long blond pony tail, and smoothing her hair down, she freshened her lip gloss, mashed her lips together and pasted a smile on her face. Something told her this was going to be another long night. And the birthday boy had only just arrived.
Cammie watched as he made his way through the room and hid a genuine smile. He was doing his best to make it look like he was mingling, but clearly he was making his way as directly to the bar as possible. Maybe he was just as thrilled as she was to be here? Before she could give it further thought, guests began ordering drinks and she was struggling just to keep up. And then, there he was, standing in front of her.
“Tell me you have something back there that’s older than I am,” Adam said with a sigh.
“Oh, I don’t know. It’s rare that we carry anything older than forty years to these events.” She pretended to be looking while biting her cheek to keep from laughing.
“Jeeze! Thirty! I’m only thirty!” Adam sat heavily on the vacant wooden bar stool. He cupped his face in his hands for a moment, then stood some to get a better look at the stool. “Hey, these are nice. Are they mine or yours?”
“Ours. You really wouldn’t know the difference?” She wondered for a moment what it must be like to have so much that you couldn’t keep track of it all. Then she shook that thought from her head and added, “I was just teasing you. I know this is your thirtieth birthday. It is, after all, kind of why I’m here.” She shrugged, smiled, and noticed a guy gesturing for her at the end of the bar. “Give me just a second.” And without a moment of hesitation, she glided down to the guest, heard his order and prepared it for him with ease and efficiency.
Adam turned his head, but not quick enough. She definitely caught him staring. Damn. He was still chuckling to himself when she returned.
“What’s the joke?” She asked. She was used to pretty much every eventuality that could occur at a party. She had been raised in the business. Her parents had started the birthday party business when she was a child after a few years of producing successful imaginative gatherings to celebrate her birth. It didn’t take long for them to realize that they could easily turn a profit and gradually, they left their day jobs to do this full-time.
“No joke,” Adam admitted. “You just caught me looking. That’s all. I must be losing my touch. I used to be so smooth.
”
Before she even considered what she was about to say, the words escaped her lips. “Please. You were never that smooth. You just thought you were. Although maybe those rocket scientists you always seemed to find attractive were genuinely impressed.” Instantly, Cammie’s mouth snapped shut. Once again she had said too much. It really was her biggest flaw. Or maybe eating her emotions was. Crap. Either way, it all came down to her mouth. And thanks to her amazing metabolism, only her verbal vomit was getting her in trouble these days. Why couldn’t she be more like her little sister?
Yes, Cin was perfect. She had their father’s Mediterranean coloring and long, thick, dark hair. She had a perfect hourglass figure. And she always knew what to say. Always. She never had to waste time regretting her words or anything else for that matter. Plus, she was the perfect daughter, wholly content to work with her parents until she married and popped out the first grandchild. Judging from the way she was working the party, Cin planned to do that sooner, rather than later. Cammie shook her head in disgust.
Finally Found Page 1
