by Robyn Grady
Brooke lowered her voice to a whisper. “Do you feel good about behaving that way and cursing in front of the baby?”
Xander shrugged back his shoulders. “There are some things a man needs to do.”
Her mouth tightened. “Was that your father’s excuse when he abused your mother in front of you?”
A fire lit in Xander’s chest. “I would never hurt Chance, mentally, physically. Any way. You know that.”
Chance gave a little mewl. Xander guessed he hadn’t heard anyone raise their voice before. Now his little lower lip sucked in and his eyes glistened with doubt.
Brooke cuddled the baby closer. “You were saying?”
He came forward. “Let’s put it behind us and move on.”
“Right now…” She stepped back. “Chance needs me. And you need to go.”
Chance’s eyes were brimming. He looked almost frightened of him. The very last thing Xander wanted. How had it come to this?
“Look, I’m sorry,” he said. “This got out of hand.”
“At least we agree on something.”
Before he could say more, Brooke closed the door in his face.
Chapter 13
Xander sounded reluctant when she got her thoughts together and phoned later.
“It’s not a good idea to talk to Kurt Downing,” he told her. “If you want my advice—”
“I don’t.” Brooke pulled the nail from her mouth and shored herself up. She’d made up her mind. No one was changing it. “I need to speak with him. I need to know that we have the right man.” Damn it. “I need to understand.”
“My P.I. friend isn’t wrong. Downing is the man.”
“Xander, I won’t rest until I do this.”
She heard him exhale before passing on the address.
“I’ll go with you,” he added.
“I don’t need a babysitter.”
“That man has a temper.”
“So do you.”
His voice lowered. “What are you telling me Brooke? You don’t want my opinion on anything?”
Brooke cringed. “I need some time,” she told him. “I think we both do. Maybe…maybe we should catch up next week.”
He hesitated. “If that’s what you want. Sure. I have plenty I can work on.”
The feeling withering through her center made her weak. Obviously his priorities had changed.
“I know the day after tomorrow will be a big one,” she added. “I’ll ask Hannah and Ella if they can help.”
“I’m sure they’d like that.” He paused. “Gotta go. I need to take this other call. And Brooke…please be careful.”
Half an hour after dropping Chance at Hannah and Dan’s, Brooke stood on Kurt Downing’s porch, rapping on the door. She was so nervous, her palms were sweating.
Loud voices and scuffling echoed out from inside the house. Finally, a man opened the door. When he saw her, an uncertain smile edged across his face.
“What can I do for you?” he asked.
“It’s a personal matter. Could I have a moment of your time…in private?”
Jerking a thumb over his shoulder, Downing chuckled. “You hear that noise? Six kids and a big, ugly dog. We don’t know how to spell private here.”
“Maybe if we stand further along the porch and you close the door.”
Kurt Downing’s dark eyes narrowed. From the width of his shoulders and neck, Brooke guessed he worked out. Had he and Tiffany met at the gym? A year ago, she’d been excited about a new membership.
Looking intrigued, Downing stepped out and closed the door behind him. “What’s this about?”
“Did you know a Tiffany Bird?”
He blinked several times. “Why?”
“Tiffany was a friend of mine.”
“Was?”
“She passed away three months ago.”
His face fell. It took a moment for his mouth to work. “How?”
“Complications after giving birth.”
Downing’s eyes grew as wide as saucers before he darted a look over his shoulder into a nearby closed window. Two girls, maybe eight and nine, were busy coloring on a table. He ushered Brooke further down the wrap-around porch.
His voice was a rasp. “And the baby?”
“He’s fine. Healthy.” Her heart squeezed with love. “Beautiful.”
Downing’s eyes glistened. Then his head dropped to his hands for a long moment before he slowly straightened.
“Tiffany told me she was pregnant,” he said, “when she was only a few weeks along. I told her I’d help if she needed money to…” He moved to the porch railing. “When she said she was going to keep it, I was honest. It’s not a party, but I love my family. I don’t want it to fall apart. I told Tiff that I wouldn’t be able to be there for them. She had no idea I was married before we…you know…got together. She said she understood. That she and the baby would be fine. She mentioned a good friend. Someone she trusted…trusted with her life.” He looked over his shoulder at her. “I guess that was you.”
Brooke swallowed back emotion. She’d told herself she wouldn’t cry. “Tiffany left me as the baby’s legal guardian.”
“I’m sure that’s best for the baby.” His gaze grew distant as if he were trying to catch a glimpse of the future. Nodding, he gave a soft smile. “I know he’ll have a happy life.”
Later, sitting in her sister’s pristine living room, Brooke couldn’t stop looking at her beautiful baby boy; Chance sat on Hannah’s lap, batting his auntie’s beads. He was a clean canvas that only deserved the best life had to offer. How could a father turn his back on his own child? How could anyone not want to know and love this little boy?
Brooke had relayed the evening’s events to Hannah, who had been disappointed but also philosophical.
“You’re not responsible for that man’s decisions,” she said.
Brooke cupped the baby’s cheek. “How will Chance feel when he’s older and asks?”
“You’ll find the words and, as much as the truth might hurt, Chance will know that he’s loved. Blood doesn’t make a parent. Commitment, patience and unconditional love do.”
Brooke twinged with guilt. “Xander was right about that man.”
“That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have checked the situation out yourself.”
Brooke chewed her lip. She needed to tell someone about that other thing. She needed advice.
“Xander and I… Well, we slept together.”
Hannah froze before blowing out a breath. “Okay.”
“Sometimes I feel like I know everything I need to about him, then other times…”
“But you’re attracted to him.”
“Understatement.”
Brooke turned to face her sister square on. Hannah had a brilliant relationship with her husband, Dan. They’d always seemed perfectly suited. They’d married three months after meeting on a cruise.
“Tell me,” Brooke asked, “how fast can a girl fall in love?”
“How long is a piece of string?” Hannah’s smile faded. “You care that much about him?”
“I didn’t want to.” Brooke shook her head. “It’s not smart.”
“Why not?”
“Basically, I don’t want to get my heart torn up.”
“And you think he’ll break your heart because…?”
“I’ll give you Xander’s platinum quality resume, private as well as professional, and let you decide.”
As Hannah bounced Chance on her lap, the beads rattled. “You’re selling yourself short.”
“I’m being realistic. And even if I was willing to put my head on the block and see how it all panned out…he’s used to holding all the reins. I don’t think he knows how to let someone else make a decision.”
“Does he bully you? Try to make you feel small?”
“No, not that. I know he genuinely cares.”
“In that case, I wouldn’t throw him under the bus just yet.”
“I get the feeling he’d l
ike to make all the decisions surrounding Chance, too.” Brooke held her head. “Maybe I’m being an idiot.”
“You’re being protective, like a mom should. But, if you ask me, I can’t see a man like Xander Drake giving so much of himself if he didn’t feel something pretty substantial. And what father doesn’t want to join in the decision making process?”
Xander? Chance’s father?
But why was Brooke surprised? Xander would make a great dad. Except for that temper… Anyway, the point was mute.
“After I shut the door in his face, I’m sure he won’t be so keen to enjoy more of my company.”
“Or he might see you as a woman with a mind of her own and who isn’t afraid to voice her opinion.” Hannah gave her a single-arm hug. “Xander Drake sounds like my Dan. They might want to run the show, save the day, but at the end of it all, they appreciate integrity. They value quiet strength.” She winked. “They’re putty in the hands of women like us.”
Chapter 14
On Valentine’s Day morning, the shop was chaos.
Thank God Hannah had offered to come in and help. Ella had phoned putting up her hand, too. Given the way she and Xander had parted company the last time they’d seen each other, Brooke guessed he wouldn’t be racing in to offer his assistance today.
In fact, after their confrontation, she wondered if Xander might pull the pin on this project altogether. She couldn’t forget the scowl on his face, or the way Chance’s lip had wobbled when Xander had raised his voice. Obviously Jake Bentley had provoked him. A portion of the blame must lie with her, too. When her ex had knocked on the door not so long ago, she should have gone out and faced him rather than hiding and pulling the blind.
Like many others, this morning Mrs. Cornwell had been waiting for the door to open.
“I’d like my usual chrysanthemums and some yellow roses, too,” she said, standing at the counter now.
“A Valentine’s offering,” Brooke asked, choosing the roses.
Mrs. Cornwall leaned closer. “There’s a young bachelor moved in next door.”
O-kay. “How young?”
“I wouldn’t expect any older than seventy. He likes cats. Mitsy, my tortoiseshell, has grown quite attached.”
As Brooke got to work, grinning, she glanced across to the other side of the counter. Hannah was taking an order on the phone, which hadn’t stopped ringing. Thanks largely to Xander’s efforts, orders had built up over previous weeks. By the time nine o’clock swung around, the place was packed.
When Brooke swept up the umpteenth phone call of the morning, she was taken aback by the greeting. She recognized the voice.
“Brooke, honey? Is that you?”
A withering feeling fell through her middle.
“Jake…?”
“Don’t hang up. We need to talk.”
She lifted her chin. “There’s nothing to say.”
“That Neanderthal wouldn’t let me see you the other day.”
She growled. “Xander is not a Neanderthal.”
“Xander, huh? Well, I don’t blame you for finding someone new. Even if I was jealous as hell when I worked it out.” He hesitated. “That guy told you what happened, right?”
“I saw what happened.” The tail end of it, anyway. That was enough.
“Just so you know...I didn’t mean what I said. I didn’t mean to say it out loud. My mom doesn’t really think you’re a slut. I was angry.” His voice dropped. “I was hurt.”
All the chaos seemed to recede into the background.
That’s why Xander had slogged Jake in the jaw. She had got there too late to have heard Jake’s insult. And now he wanted to apologize? Pathetic.
As the noise of the shop’s Valentine’s crowd faded back in, Brooke got herself together and cranked it up a gear.
“Jake, don’t call here again. Don’t come around, either. Ever. You’d be wasting your time. Mine, too.”
Around ten a.m., customers were still flooding in. But it was time for Chance to get a cuddle and diaper change. Brooke turned to the playpen where the baby lay in his bouncer, listening to a melody and trying to bat the animals dangling from the mobile. Suddenly Ella was there and sweeping the baby up into her arms.
“Whatever Xander did to promote this place,” Ella said, after giving the baby a kiss, “it’s working. I swear people are coming from clear across town.”
Nearby, a gentleman with greying temples and a hound’s-tooth jacket spoke up. “I Hart Flowers is all over the morning news. A television reporter was out there when I came in. And a stand giving away chocolate pancakes. You don’t even have to buy a flower.”
Brooke gripped the counter. Did that man say chocolate pancakes? But there were dozens of people needing to be served. Thirty minutes passed before she could steal a moment to cross to the door and peer out the glass pane.
Her heart leapt to her throat. What a crowd!
Photographers were angling for shots while television crews secured grabs from passers-by as well as customers about to enter or leave the shop. A blond heartthrob in a tuxedo was handing out long-stemmed red roses.
And then she saw it…saw them. Her stomach flipped over at the same time emotion prickled behind her eyes. Earlier, Ella had taken Chance to change his diaper. Afterward, she must have slipped him out here, because now Xander was holding her baby right there on the sidewalk. Chance was wearing a white coverall. It was the accessories that had Brooke wanting to laugh and cry all at once.
With a pair of fluffy white wings attached to his back, Chance was charming every person who strolled by. Best of all, from the smile on his face, he enjoyed every second.
As she opened the door and stepped out, Brooke’s thoughts were jerked back when a microphone was shoved under her nose.
“Are you Ms. Hart?”
She focused on the man with stylish bed hair and “tune in tomorrow” voice. Schooling her features, she tried to tamp down the emotions. It was like a carnival out here.
“Yes. I’m Brooke Hart.”
The reporter grinned over his shoulder. “I believe that’s your son. He’s certainly stealing the show. You must be proud of your little cupid.”
A bubble formed in her throat. Xander was laughing and showing Chance off, like his whole world revolved around that beautiful baby wearing wings.
She was so, so proud. Of them both.
Cocking a brow, the reporter stepped closer. “Alexander Drake is reputed to have organized this massive promotion. Everyone’s asking...what exactly is your connection to California’s most eligible bachelor?”
“We’re…friends.”
“Close friends.”
“Actually…” She exhaled and accepted it. “Extremely close.”
She could have stood there all day, watching those two entertain the crowd, but duty called.
An hour later, when the tidal wave of customers had receded, Brooke stepped away from the cash register. Her stock was depleted—flowers, balloons, cuddly toys. Ella lashed her arms around Brooke’s shoulders while Hannah held and squeezed her hand.
Drawing back, Ella punched the air. “Yes. We did it. We freaking smashed it!”
Brooke slumped against the counter. “I don’t know what I would’ve done without you two today.”
Hannah smiled toward the front of the shop. “You need to thank two other people even more.”
Brooke glanced over. Xander was crossing the shop floor, which was littered with petals and glitter. His eyes were bright—completely satisfied. Brooke ached to go to him. How could she thank him for what he’d done today? For everything he’d done for her and Chance.
“Hope you don’t mind me borrowing the baby,” he said, meeting her as she rounded the counter and her sisters busied themselves tidying up paper and ribbon. “I thought about donning a pair of wings myself,” he said in that deep, honeyed voice, “but Chance is showman enough for us both.”
On the inside, Brooke was trembling, overcome with gratitude and, y
es… love. There was no use denying or trying to pull it back now.
“Do you have a moment?” Xander asked.
When a sleepy Chance put his hands together and opened his fingers as if asking to be held, Brooke scooped him into her arms and all three moved out back for some privacy.
“I haven’t stopped thinking about you and Chance,” Xander said, while Brooke held the baby close and her heart pounded louder in her ears. “No matter which way I try to cut it, I only know one thing.” A pulse was popping wildly in his jaw. “I want you both in my life.”
“Xander, we want you in our lives, too, but…” She chose her words carefully. “Every time you step up to the plate, you hit a homerun. You’re a brilliant man, and it’s not that I don’t trust you—I do.” Particularly after speaking to Kurt Downing and then Jake on the phone. “But you can’t make every decision for me. For us.”
That pulse beat faster. “I can do compromise.”
“You sure about that?”
“I’m a real quick study.”
When he grinned, she smiled softy and Chance hiccupped. They both looked down. Exhausted, the baby had fallen sound asleep.
“Can I put him down?” Xander asked.
Brooke handed the baby over. After she slipped off the wings, Xander laid Chance in his cot, draping a light blanket over his legs and tummy. When he joined her again, Xander searched her eyes for a long, heartrending moment.
“I haven’t given you my Valentine’s gift yet,” he finally said.
Seriously? “I think you’ve done enough for one day.”
“One more thing.” He added, “Of course, it’s absolutely up to you.”
Was that an attempt at compromise?
Grinning, she nodded. “Sure.”
He pulled a box out from his pants pocket. Without looking, Brooke knew what lay inside. She backed up a step. “I don’t think we’re ready for this.”
“It’s not what you think.”
When he flipped open the lid, her head began to tingle. It was pretty much what she’d expected. And it wasn’t. As Xander slipped the ring out of its box, Brooke fought the urge to shake herself awake.
“The stone…” she murmured. “It’s the color of a tulip.” A beautiful, sparkling, delicate mauve. And in the shape of a heart. “Is it an amethyst?”
