Harlequin Superromance February 2016 Box Set

by Anna Sugden

  Luckily, he couldn’t brood for long because his brothers and their families arrived for his welcome-home barbecue.

  Dinner was a rowdy affair. His dad sat at the head of the picnic table, while everyone else squeezed down the sides. His mom sat opposite her husband, beaming, clearly thrilled to have all her chicks under her roof.

  “Welcome home, bro.” Pierre Luc raised his bottle in salute. “Congratulations on making the Finals. Tough loss.”

  “You’ll get ’em next year.” Marc Andre clinked his beer bottle against J.B.’s.

  “Damn—darn straight,” J.B. said.

  “I’m sorry we couldn’t make any of your games.” His mother frowned. “Finding someone to look after the farm is difficult.”

  “Jean-Baptiste knows we can’t up and travel at the drop of a hat.”

  J.B. bit back his irritation at his father’s words. Other families—even other farmers—managed it. He understood it wasn’t easy, but his dad didn’t want to make the effort.

  “No worries, Ma.” J.B. smiled at his mom. “Maybe next year.”

  “Did you get the mess with that woman in the nightclub sorted out, Jean-Baptiste?” his father asked.

  Why couldn’t his old man ever call him J.B.? He forced a casual tone. “She got hold of Coach Macarty and explained that it was an unfortunate accident. She told the media, too, but the truth wasn’t appealing and the story got buried.”

  His father huffed. “Your team can’t have been happy. It’s not like this was the first time you’ve been at the center of a scandal.”

  Although that wasn’t quite true—Jake had taken the fall before—J.B. didn’t bother to correct his dad. He wouldn’t listen, anyway. “Once they had the facts, they were cool.”

  “It’s time you started being more responsible. You’re not a kid anymore.” His father loaded his plate with more potato salad. “Speaking of which, while you’re here, Jean-Baptiste, I’d like you to survey the fences. You should keep your hand in the farm.”

  J.B. exchanged wry looks with his brothers.

  “Give the kid a chance, Dad,” Pierre Luc said. “He just got here.”

  “He hasn’t even had a chance to stop by our places yet,” Marc Andre chimed in.

  “They’re right, Bastien,” his mother chided. “Our boy’s only here for a few days. He should rest, not ride the fence line. He works hard enough. He’s earned a vacation.”

  “He just had a week on a beach.”

  Before J.B. could react, his mother laid her pale hand on his father’s dark one. As it had for as long as he could remember, the action calmed his dad.

  Later that night, as J.B. sat out on the front porch, nursing a beer, he thought about his parents’ marriage. The gentle former teacher and the rough farmer seemed to fit together perfectly; to complement each other. His brothers’ marriages were strong, too.

  Bella popped into his head, as she had every day since he’d returned from Antigua.

  Never before had a woman had such a lasting impact on him.

  J.B. shook his head. It didn’t matter. Their relationship was over and he was good with that. He didn’t have the time, energy or inclination for commitment. Being back here only emphasized his feelings. His family’s responsibilities weighed heavily, as if he were the one suffocating under the pressure.

  Bella was...had to be...nothing more than a pleasant memory.

  * * *

  “IF WE CAN’T paint the town red, then watching Colin Firth isn’t a bad alternative.”

  Relieved that Sapphie didn’t mind their last-minute change of plans for the Labor Day weekend, Issy sighed. “Thanks. I really don’t feel up to a dinner cruise tonight.” The thought of putting on a fancy dress and heels, and spending the evening on a boat on the Hudson made her stomach pitch. “I promise I’ll make it up to you on your next visit.”

  “You’ll get that chance sooner than you think. Part of the reason I wanted us to go out was that I’ll be spending a lot more time on the east coast over the next twelve months.”

  “You got the contract with Marty Antonelli?”

  “Starting Tuesday, I’ll be evaluating the basketball team he bought and advising him on how to make it a more financially viable enterprise.”

  “Congratulations!” Issy squealed as she jumped up and hugged her friend.

  This was a major coup for Sapphie. She’d worked hard to get her foot in the door with the technology billionaire who’d recently acquired several sports franchises.

  They danced around like lunatics for a few minutes, then collapsed on the sofa, laughing.

  “I know you like hockey and football. What do you know about basketball?” Issy asked.

  “Not a lot. But I used that to my advantage. I told Mr. Antonelli that he didn’t need someone with preconceived ideas about the team.”

  “And he bought that?”

  “Of course.” Sapphie blew on her nails and polished them on her top. “That, and my impressive track record.”

  “I’m so proud of you.”

  Sapphie had always found a way to make things work more efficiently and effectively while squeezing a quart out of a pint-pot budget. She’d put herself through college with her projects on the side for local companies. It hadn’t been a surprise when Sapphie had formed her own management consulting firm.

  Issy couldn’t help being envious of the way her friend was able to improvise and adapt, to achieve whatever she set her mind to. If she’d had even half of Sapphie’s talent, Issy would have been made head of department before, instead of being passed over for ‘more experienced candidates’ the past two times the position had become vacant. Certainly she wouldn’t have had to jump through hoops for one more year to prove to Farlingdale Academy’s board that she was capable of taking over the retiring head’s position.

  She frowned at the snack foods on the coffee table. “We should be celebrating with something fancier than popcorn, chips and sodas.”

  “Trust me, this is great. I get enough fancy food at work. Besides it’s the company and—” Sapphie indicated the Pride and Prejudice DVD “—the entertainment that makes this a real celebration.”

  “I promise I’ll rebook that riverboat cruise when I’m feeling better.”

  Sapphie put the back of her hand against Issy’s forehead. “You’ve been sick a lot recently. Have you seen a doctor?”

  “It’s not worth it. I don’t think I’ve fully recovered from whatever hit me on the flight from Antigua. You know stomach bugs can linger.”

  “A good reason for you to get checked out. Our trip was over two months ago.”

  “But the nausea comes and goes. It’s worse when I’ve been busy, so it’s probably a low-blood-sugar thing, too.”

  “You did redecorate your apartment single-handed.” Sapphie didn’t look convinced. “Promise me that if you’re not better by Friday, you’ll go to the doctor.”

  “Yes, Mom. In the meantime, Mr. Darcy eagerly awaits the pleasure of our company.”

  “I’m more than ready for him.” Sapphie loaded her plate. “Mmm, your No-Olive Seven-Layer Dip—my favorite. Are you sure you can eat something so spicy?”

  Issy nodded. “It’s one of the few things that doesn’t turn my stomach these days. In fact, I can’t get enough of it.”

  “How strange.” Sapphie sighed, distracted by Bingley and Darcy riding into view on-screen. “Tell me again how this is work.”

  “Since my class is studying Pride and Prejudice, I’m having them compare the book with film and TV adaptations. Then I broadened the project to include films based on the story.”

  “I bet your pupils love your classes. I wish we’d done stuff half that interesting.”

  Issy warmed to the subject. “Forcing them to study a book that doesn’t do anything but sit on their desk can be challenging. I know people are precious about not sullying the books by showing adaptations, but I find it helps engage readers.”

  “Works for me. And it’s a prime e
xample of why Farlingdale’s board of trustees should give you that way-overdue promotion.”

  “From your lips to their ears. Hopefully my classes’ results this year will seal the deal.”

  “I have faith in you.” Sapphie leaned over and patted her hand. “It’s a tough job, but as I’m such a good friend, I’ll watch all those different versions of Pride and Prejudice with you. I’m glad we’re starting with my favorite one.”

  “Mine, too.” Issy grinned.

  They watched the first three episodes of the TV series, then stopped for a break.

  “That reminds me.” Sapphie rummaged in her purse and pulled out an envelope, which she handed to Issy. “This is for next time I’m in town.”

  Issy’s heart stopped when she saw the snow leopard logo embossed on the strip of card within. “What’s this?” she asked, even though it was obvious.

  “A ticket to an Ice Cats preseason game,” her friend said brightly. “As part of my season ticket package, I get free extra seats to some games.”

  “We can’t watch them on TV?”

  “Sure, but you get a much better sense of the game—the speed, the action, the skill—watching the team play live.”

  She suspected Sapphie’s gift had little to do with building her appreciation of the sport. “I thought we agreed we wouldn’t see Taylor and J.B. again.”

  “You agreed. I said I might.” Sapphie refilled her plate. “There’s no guarantee they’ll actually be playing on that night. Coaches use the preseason to test their younger, less experienced players. Plus, because the Cats went all the way to the Cup Finals, they had a much shorter off-season than usual. Their stars have earned a rest.”

  “But they’ll still be at the arena, even if they’re not playing.”

  “Probably.”

  Issy bit her lip. “Seeing J.B. would only complicate things.”

  “They don’t have to know we’re there. I just thought it might be fun, having met them.” Sapphie held up her hands. “You don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

  She hadn’t been able to forget about J.B. since coming home from Antigua. Not a day had passed that she hadn’t thought about him, relived their time together or wondered what he was doing. Had he thought about her, too, or had he forgotten her the minute he’d left the resort?

  She’d even begun reading the Ice Cats’ blog, hoping to see him mentioned. She’d wanted to see if he was the same in his normal life as he was on holiday. Was he genuinely the nice guy he’d seemed? Or was he like the other professional athletes she’d heard about?

  Unfortunately the hockey media went on hiatus over the summer. And all she’d learned from social media was that he was as sexy in a tux as he was in his swim shorts.

  Over the past month regular blog posts had begun again, but any mentions of J.B. had been solely to do with his preparation for the new season.

  Perhaps if she saw him again, away from the idyllic setting where they’d met, she’d get him out of her head.

  Before she could change her mind she said, “You’re right. I should give hockey a try.”

  “Are you sure? You don’t have to.”

  “As you say, J.B. won’t know I’m there. Besides, I would like to see a hockey game.”

  “Okay, great. I can’t wait.”

  Issy refreshed their drinks. “Are you ready for the next episode?”

  “Definitely.” Sapphie settled back on the sofa, giving Issy a strange look. “Seriously? Buttered popcorn and hummus? Eww.”

  “Don’t knock it until you try it.”

  “No, thanks. That looks gross.”

  “I can’t get enough of anything dipped in hummus. Strawberries, melon, even cheese.”

  Sapphie wrinkled her nose. “No wonder you feel sick. Your poor stomach doesn’t know what’s hit it. The last time I heard anything that weird was when my PA was pregnant and she craved pickles dipped in peanut butter. Yuck.”

  “That’s disgust...” Issy’s voice trailed off as her friend’s words sank in. “Pregnant?”

  Why hadn’t that occurred to her before?

  “Yes, last year. She had a baby girl—” Sapphie stopped. “You can’t be pregnant. Can you?”

  “Of course not.” Issy gave a shaky laugh. “It was one night.”

  “And you were sensible about protection.”

  “But...the condom split.”

  “That’s happened to me before. Enough that I always use the pill as double protection.”

  “So it should be okay, right?” Issy didn’t feel reassured.

  “Yes. I’m sure this is all to do with those disgusting sandwiches at the airport.”

  A terrible thought occurred to her. “Food poisoning could have affected the pill. I was ill for almost a week. Can sperm live that long?”

  Sapphie got out her cell. “One way to find out.” She tapped the screen then looked up, her expression apologetic. “Damn it.”

  Issy’s heart sank. “Oh, my God. I could be pregnant?”

  “It’s a possibility.”

  “What am I going to do? This wasn’t supposed to happen.” Issy stared horrified at her flat stomach, as if it would suddenly start growing. “I knew I shouldn’t have made an exception with J.B.”

  “Stop.” Sapphie sliced her hand through the air. “You don’t know anything definitely, so don’t borrow trouble. We’ll go to the drugstore and buy a pregnancy kit.”

  “I can’t do that.” Issy jumped up and began to pace. “What if someone from the school sees me? Or one of the parents?”

  “Okay, I’ll buy one.”

  “But they know you’re my friend. What if they make the connection?” Hysteria bubbled up inside her. “Farlingdale’s morality clause is so strict.”

  “Whoa. Easy.” Sapphie put her hands on Issy’s shoulders. “I’ll drive to a store several towns away.” She grabbed her purse and headed for the door. “I won’t be long.”

  While Sapphie was gone, Issy kept busy by cleaning up. Unfortunately it didn’t stop her from thinking. She gave up and sank down onto the sofa, dropping her head into her hands.

  It wasn’t fair. She’d been so careful. She hadn’t been drunk; she hadn’t forgotten protection. She wasn’t like her parents or her sister. And yet, the result had been the same.

  Tears streamed down her cheeks. Forget the promotion. If she was pregnant, she’d lose her job. Without her job, her carefully planned life would fall apart. Everything she’d worked so hard to build for herself...

  By the time Sapphie returned, Issy was a mess.

  Her friend dumped the bags on the closest table and moved to sit beside Issy, putting her arm around her. “It’ll be okay,” Sapphie said repeatedly as Issy sobbed.

  Eventually, Issy dried her eyes and blew her nose. “I’m sorry.”

  “No need to apologize. You’re not feeling well and this has been a shock.” Sapphie stood and brought the bags over. “You still don’t know for sure that you’re pregnant. You could be worrying over nothing.”

  Issy didn’t think so. “Did you buy out the store?”

  Her friend smiled ruefully. “I wasn’t sure which kit was the best, so I got one of each. And don’t worry. I went to three different drugstores in three different towns.”

  As she lined up the boxes on the coffee table, Issy stared at them helplessly, overwhelmed. “What am I supposed to do?”

  “Don’t you just pee on a stick? But...we could be smart and read the instructions.”

  Issy managed a half smile.

  They each picked up a pack, opened it and pulled out the thick pamphlet of directions. The devices and the way they showed the results were all slightly different, but they worked the same way.

  “It says the best time to test is in the morning,” Sapphie said.

  Issy shook her head. “I can’t wait that long. I have to know now.”

  “Sweetie, I know it’s hard, but you need an accurate result, not just an answer.”

  “That�
�s hours away. I could do one and see what it says, then do another in the morning to be sure.”

  “How will that help? A false reading—positive or negative—is no good to you.”

  “I suppose so. But it’s still a long time and I won’t be able to sleep.”

  “We’ll pull a Pride and Prejudice all-nighter and watch as many as we can, until we either fall asleep or the sun comes up.”

  Issy hugged her. Sapphie always stepped up and made things better. “But you don’t have to do it with me.”

  “Sure I do.” Sapphie held up one remaining bag. “Did I mention I also brought ice cream? Mint chocolate-chip, strawberry cheesecake and cookie dough. All your favorites.”

  “You’re the best.”

  “Serve up, while I put these kits in the bathroom. Out of sight, hopefully out of mind.” Sapphie gathered up the boxes. “I can’t wait. Still to come...Colin Firth in a wet shirt.”

  Issy gave a theatrical, lovelorn sigh. “I think we should watch that particularly closely to ensure it’s suitable for my class. Don’t you?”

  “Definitely. We should probably review it several times to make sure we don’t miss anything inappropriate.”

  Issy’s smile faded when Sapphie headed to the bathroom. As she got out bowls, she tried to quiet her fears. No point panicking until she knew for sure there was anything to panic about. Easier said than done when the consequences of being pregnant were so severe.

  The two friends finished the TV series then giggled their way through the silliness of Bride and Prejudice, the Bollywood version. Sapphie fell asleep halfway through the Keira Knightley and Matthew Macfadyen film. Issy sneaked a plate of seven-layer dip as she watched to the end. Her eyelids drooped during the Olivier and Garson movie, finally giving in to sleep as Mr. Darcy proposed in the garden.

  Despite her assertions otherwise, Issy slept dreamlessly, waking only when she heard Sapphie moving around. The smell of brewing coffee made her stomach roil and she sat up quickly, breathing through her mouth and hoping she wouldn’t throw up.

  “You look green.” Sapphie gave her a glass of orange juice. “Feeling sick again?”