When Love Arrives

by Johnnie Alexander

  “Brett and I go back a long way. My mom was his parents’ housekeeper until they divorced. Then she worked for his dad until the plane accident.”

  “High and mighty Brett was friends with the housekeeper’s son?” Meghan scoffed. “I’m surprised his parents allowed it.”

  “His dad had issues. Lots of them. Even as a kid I knew that. But he was always considerate of my mom. And sometimes kinder to me than he was to Brett.”

  Meghan raised her eyes and held Aaron’s gaze. Part of her wanted to throttle him. But the gentleness exuding from his Santa Claus eyes stanched her anger.

  “I didn’t see him that much after he went to live with his grandparents,” Aaron said, “but we would run into each other around town sometimes. We had a couple of gen ed classes together at OSU when we were freshmen. Before I dropped out to work here.”

  “You honestly, truly like him. Don’t you?”

  “Yes. I do.”

  “Why?”

  Aaron’s red curls bounced as he tilted his head in thought. “We came from different worlds, you know. From the outside, Brett and Amy looked like the lucky ones. But that house was a battleground. Sometimes I’d be outside doing little gardening chores, and Brett would come out and help. We didn’t talk much, just two little boys pulling weeds together. But the point is, he didn’t have to do it.”

  He paused a moment, and his mouth curved upward. “Sometimes we’d play catch. Hide-and-seek. You know, kid games.”

  Meghan clasped the foot of Jonah’s bed. She’d never given any thought to Brett as a child. A memory of Jonah tossing a ball against a wooden fence flashed in her mind. With his light blue eyes and pale blond hair, he had to be a miniature Brett.

  Another memory surfaced, and her heart clenched in anguish. She and Travis had fought, a screaming match unlike any they’d ever had, and he’d stormed out. Jonah was supposed to be in bed, but she’d found him cowering behind the couch, hands over his ears.

  His fear had broken her heart even as it strengthened her resolve that Travis needed to be gone from their lives.

  Had Brett ever cowered the same way?

  The ice around her heart melted just a little. She had vowed that her son would be nothing like his father. Yet he’d witnessed her battling the only father he knew. He’d heard them destroy one another with their words.

  The angry betrayal she wanted to feel toward Aaron dissipated in the wake of her own guilt.

  “I remember this one time,” Aaron’s voice broke into her thoughts. “It’s kind of embarrassing, really.”

  She twisted to face him and slightly smiled at his bashful expression. “Tell me.”

  “I wasn’t the muscular hunk I am now.” He puffed out his chest and laughed. “A bit on the chubby side as a kid.”

  The image of him as a round little carrot-top broadened her smile. “I bet you were adorable.”

  “My mom thought so.” He laughed again. “Still does, in fact. But then she’s biased.”

  As moms should be. Though not all of them were. Meghan dismissed the dark thought and leaned forward. “What happened?”

  “I’d ridden my bike to the comic book store. These kids were giving me a rough time. Calling me names, pushing me around.”

  “How awful.”

  “Worse, they wanted my bike. I wouldn’t let go of it, so they started to beat me up. Next thing I know, there’s Brett and a couple of his pals. He grabbed the ringleader and threw him against the wall. He warned him not to ever touch me or my bike again.”

  He shrugged. “He was my hero that day.”

  “So you owe him.”

  “I don’t blame you for being mad at me.” He hesitated, then stood and faced her, his words spilling out. “For what it’s worth, I told him I wouldn’t do it again. But like it or not, Meghan, he is Jonah’s dad. He’s worried about him. To tell you the truth, I’ve never seen him like this.”

  “But why does he care, Aaron? For all I know, he only wants Jonah for a plaything. Something to show off.”

  “I don’t think that’s true.”

  “It’s the only reason he wanted me.”

  Aaron appeared taken aback. “What do you mean?”

  “What has he told you? About him and me.”

  “Nothing really. Only that he didn’t know about Jonah till after his accident.”

  “There’s a reason for that.” Meghan bit her lip as shame washed over her. No matter how hard she tried to push it away, guilt clawed at her heart for cheating on AJ. For lying to him and agreeing to Sully’s deal. “You don’t know the things I’ve done.”

  “I don’t need to, and I’m not angling for an explanation. But if you ever want to talk, I’m here for you. And I promise I’ll never judge you.”

  “You are such a sweet guy, Aaron. How is it that you’re still single?”

  “Still waiting for the right girl, I guess.”

  A still voice seemed to whisper, He’s waiting for you.

  But that couldn’t be true. After what she’d done to Brett, to AJ, she could never be worthy of this kind and amiable man.

  “Can I ask you something?” Aaron shifted nervously.

  “Sure.”

  “Would you like, I mean, since it’s my night off and it’s Jonah’s birthday and all, would you want to go get something to eat? Somewhere?”

  The question caught her off guard. “I don’t know what to say,” she stammered.

  “How about yes?”

  His hopeful expression was like a breath of fresh air.

  “It’s always hard to leave him.”

  “We’ll go somewhere close. And I won’t keep you too long. I promise.”

  She grinned, her mind made up. “I’d love to. Thank you.”

  – 16 –

  Brett adjusted the knot of his silk tie in front of AJ’s dresser. They had taken Elizabeth and Tabby to the Owenses’ house, then driven to AJ’s cottage to get ready for the banquet.

  Satisfied with his appearance, he carried his jacket to the long room that ran the length of the rectangular house. The row of windows in the wall’s upper half overlooked a grassy slope and adjoining pasture. Slender evergreens, casting their long and narrow shadows, lined the barbed-wire fence at the bottom of the yard.

  “Remember when we used to sled down that hill?” Brett said.

  AJ pocketed his wallet and nodded. “Those were fun days.”

  “We didn’t have too many of those.”

  “But we had Gran.”

  “You know, I think I miss her more than . . .” Brett allowed the unspoken words to hang heavy in the air, trusting AJ to understand.

  “She held us together.”

  “It’s too bad she won’t be here for the wedding,” Brett said. “She’d have loved Shelby. And her girls.”

  A grim smile tightened AJ’s features. He’d been especially close to Gran, while Brett was too much like Sully. But while Brett admired his grandfather’s business acumen and ambition, he didn’t want to end up like the old man—with embittered grudges and angry vendettas.

  That’s why he was excruciatingly careful in his business dealings. He did his share of arm-twisting and kept his own counsel, but no one could accuse him of dishonesty. Those principles benefitted him because his financial partners knew where they stood. After a few years of hustling for just the right deals, now others approached him for his expertise and investment.

  Of course, it didn’t hurt that he had the most gorgeous receptionists he could find greeting his partners when they walked in the door. Serving them a smile-to-die-for along with coffee.

  He’d been amused by their reactions to Miss Efficiency, his latest receptionist. Not that he really cared. The development projects he had in the works would see him through the next two or three years. Besides, he had enough money to live on the rest of his life even if he didn’t work another day.

  “Guess we’d better be going.” AJ shrugged into his navy-blue suit jacket and tugged at the lapels. �
��You see the sacrifice I’m making for you. Wearing this thing.”

  “I see it, and I appreciate it. Seriously, AJ. Thanks for coming to this thing. It’ll probably be long and boring, but . . .”

  “We wouldn’t have dreamed of missing it.” AJ clapped his back. “I’m sorry Amy is.”

  “She’s got better things to do, apparently.”

  “You want me to talk to her?”

  “When has that ever done any good?”

  “Never.” AJ scooped his keys from the counter. “Are you ready to go?”

  “Yeah.”

  AJ switched off the overhead lights, and they walked outside. Brett paused by the door of the Jeep. The low-hanging sun would set in a couple hours, and the light would shine in Jonah’s window. What color would Meghan choose for his birthday?

  “You okay?” AJ asked.

  “Just thinking.”

  “About Jonah?”

  Brett gave a curt nod and slid into the Jeep. AJ got in on his side and started the ignition. Instead of putting the gear in drive, he twisted in his seat.

  “You’re his dad, Brett. You have the right—”

  “Not legally.”

  “You could make it legal.”

  Brett snorted. “Bully her into letting me into his life? She’d never forgive me.”

  “She’s not forgiving you now.”

  “I know.” He yanked the seatbelt and jammed it into the latch. “Truth is, I considered legal action. But that’s not how I want it to be between us.”

  “How do you want it to be?”

  “I don’t want to marry her if that’s what you’re thinking. I just want to spend time with my son. Have a say in the medical decisions.”

  “Sounds fair.”

  “Yeah, well, try to explain that to Meghan.”

  “I’m really sorry, you know. About all of it.”

  “Me too.”

  They drove in silence till AJ reached the stop sign at the end of his road. “Dani seems nice.”

  “She is. Too bad this is just a one-time thing.”

  “You took her to the movies last night. You’ve spent the entire day with her. How is this a one-time thing?”

  “Because after I take her home tonight, that will be the end of it.” Unless she still didn’t have electricity. He squirmed. Even if she did, he couldn’t leave her in that rat’s hole. “Actually, she needs another place to live.”

  “Why?”

  “She’s staying in one of those pay-by-the-week places by the interstate. It’s all run-down. Should be condemned. The storm knocked out her electricity, and it still wasn’t on this morning. I can’t take her back there.”

  “Playing the knight in shining armor, huh?”

  “I should have called her last night. Because of the storm. That’s all.”

  “I see.”

  “Don’t say ‘I see’ in that tone of voice.”

  “I don’t have a tone of voice.”

  “I’m serious about this. Do you have any idea how I can get her out of there without it looking like I’m interested in her?”

  “Not off the top of my head. But I’ll talk it over with Shelby. Maybe she can think of something.”

  “Thanks, AJ.”

  “Don’t thank me yet.”

  As they drove toward Misty Willow, Brett glanced at his cousin. No family resemblance tied them together. And despite living their teen years together under Gran and Sully’s roof, they hadn’t been close. But then Shelby entered their lives. And so had Jonah.

  Uncovering the secrets of the past had somehow ended the jealousy between them. No more rivalry, no more one-upmanship.

  Just two cousins who had finally become friends.

  Gran must be smiling from heaven.

  Dressed in the new-to-her black dress, Dani perched on the twin bed between purple pillows trimmed with pink ribbons and a giant stuffed St. Bernard. A huge stuffed panda bear guarded the other twin bed. Shelby’s eyes had shone with pride when she told Dani about AJ winning the toys at the county fair. To the delight of his daughters-to-be, he made every basket into the slanted hoop.

  Once again, Dani had to shove the green-eyed monster away. She refused to be jealous of these two little girls just because the man who was going to be their stepfather adored them.

  She only wished she had been so lucky.

  A knock sounded on the door.

  “Dani, are you about ready?” Shelby asked. “The guys are back.”

  “I just need another minute or two.”

  “No rush.” The clack of Shelby’s heels on the wooden floor receded down the hall.

  “Or an hour,” Dani mumbled. Or forever.

  She never should have agreed to go with Brett to his fancy banquet. Every expensively dressed, perfectly polished woman there would be appraising her, wondering why Ohio’s most eligible bachelor had chosen an unsophisticated nobody as his date.

  The answer wasn’t flattering—she’d happened to be there when his sister canceled. Serendipity didn’t seem so romantic when it happened like that.

  Dani took a deep calming breath, then clasped her mother’s garnet bracelet around her wrist. The delicate chain was the finest piece of jewelry she owned.

  She pressed her fingers against the pocket of her folded jeans. The ring, tucked safely in its depths, seemed to burn her skin through the denim. Somehow she had to get into Brett’s apartment and put the ring where she’d found it.

  Imagining Brett asking her to his place, perhaps for a romantic, candlelight dinner, was easy. In that daydream, she was poised and lovely, his perfect match, instead of an unemployed, practically homeless nobody.

  But in the real world, her imagined dreams never came true. In the real world, moms died in fiery airplane crashes. Stepfathers didn’t love their wives’ children.

  And handsome, wealthy men didn’t fall in love with someone like her.

  Brett clicked the shutter of Shelby’s camera, capturing for posterity the image of her and AJ posing in front of the living room fireplace.

  The perfect picture of the happily-in-love couple.

  “One more.” He started to raise the camera, then hesitated.

  Dani appeared in the entry near the fireplace, wearing a black dress and strappy sandals. The angled hem, edged in ebony lace, ended at mid-calf and left Brett ogling her slender ankles.

  “I didn’t mean to keep you waiting,” she said, a nervous tic in her voice.

  As he forced his eyes upward, his breath unexpectedly caught in his throat. Her thick hair, parted to the side and held above one ear with a golden clasp, fell in soft waves past her shoulders. His pulse quickened at the obvious appeal for approval in her dark, slightly too wide eyes.

  “You look beautiful.” An odd huskiness deepened his voice. “I mean it. Absolutely beautiful.”

  She flushed, which didn’t surprise him. But his own reaction did. Tingling spine. Racing heartbeat. He shouldn’t feel this way. Not for a naïve youngster still trying to find her place in the world. Certainly not for a brunette.

  But he couldn’t take his eyes off her.

  What was wrong with him?

  Shelby reached for the camera. “Let me take your photo. By the fireplace, you two.”

  Brett offered his hand to Dani. “Shall we?”

  She placed her hand in his, and the magic of her touch engulfed him. Holding on to his composure, he led her to the fireplace and placed his arm around her waist. She fit perfectly beneath his shoulder, as if she’d been created just for him. He glanced down at her, unsure what to make of the longing she stirred in him.

  “Look at me and smile,” Shelby said.

  Staring at the camera, he pulled Dani slightly closer.

  The moment would pass—it had to—but at least the image had been preserved. Because whatever was going on with him tonight couldn’t turn into a fling.

  He wouldn’t let it.

  – 17 –

  Dani’s nervous tension faded during the
drive to the hotel hosting the Up-and-Comers Banquet. Brett’s humorous stories about a few of the honorees and other Columbus VIPs made her laugh, which made him laugh. Except for a bit of a snarl in downtown traffic, the trip didn’t seem to take any time at all.

  After Brett entrusted his car to the valet, he tucked Dani’s hand into his arm, and they waited for Shelby and AJ to arrive. A few minutes later, the two couples entered the glittering ballroom.

  A raised platform stood at one end of the room while round tables covered in black and gold linen graced the floor. Colorful bouquets, dazzling silver place settings, and cloth-covered chairs added to the aura of elegance.

  Familiar dread surged into Dani’s chest. She didn’t belong here, not among all these high-achieving, successful people. Her grip must have tightened on Brett’s arm because he laid his hand over hers.

  “Are you nervous?” he whispered.

  “A little.”

  “So am I.”

  She gazed at him in surprise. “Why?”

  “I’m not really one for the spotlight.”

  “You’re joking, right?”

  “Not really. But I know the secret.” He leaned closer. “Act confident, be confident, and no one will be the wiser.”

  “Easier said than done.”

  “It’s all in the posture.” He slid his hand to her back. “Spine straight. Shoulders slightly back. Chin up just a little.”

  Dani followed his instructions and smiled. “I think it’s working.”

  His approving look sparked a thrill that raced to the tips of her toes.

  “If you know the secret,” she said, “then why are you nervous?”

  “Because I have to go stand on that stage and try to look humble.”

  Dani barely held back a laugh. “Is that so hard?”

  “For me it is.” His dimples flashed, and he propelled her forward. “Shall we find our seat?”

  After the dinner and keynote speech, the awards were presented. When Brett’s name was called, she applauded, then laughed when AJ whistled. Brett looked their way, momentarily met her gaze, and winked.

  Throughout the entire evening, he was attentive, even chivalrous. The perfect gentleman. The perfect date.

  A few women had approached him during the dinner, their long legs disappearing into scanty skirts, their cloud of perfume enough to make Dani gag. They gushed about the TV interview clip, and it was all Dani could do to keep her emotions in check as his words pounded her brain.