“What is it?”
“I came here to tell you that you were right.”
She blinked. Did he mean she’d been right to say they shouldn’t see each other? The thought hurt even though it had been her idea. “About what?” she asked.
“When I joined the cuddlers program, you implied that my motives had something to do with meeting women. You were right.”
“I was?”
He nodded. “But it was only one woman and her name was Liz Anderson.” His brown eyes were full of sincerity and his dark hair looked as if he’d run his hand through it countless times. “I met her when my niece was born and I never forgot her.” He rubbed his ear. “Tug on my ear and I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Liz was afraid to believe. “Joe, I—”
He held up a hand. “Hear me out. The least you can do is let me explain. I had a long talk with my mom.”
“About their split?” she couldn’t help asking.
He nodded. “And how it affected me. She said I’d been running from commitment all my life.”
Liz laughed and shook her head sadly. “Aren’t we a matched set of dysfunctionals?”
“You’re missing the point.”
“I am?”
“Yes. I’ve been making excuses to avoid getting involved. I’d seen my mother cry when my dad left. Then I buried the bad stuff but it was always there.”
“See, I was right. Your mom should hang out her counseling shingle.”
“You were right about something else, too.”
“I was?” she asked, stunned.
He nodded. “You and I continuing to see each other as just friends, that would have been a big mistake.”
The knife in her heart twisted. Who knew being right could hurt so much? Struggling to keep her voice steady she said, “A mistake?”
“Yeah. Because friendship doesn’t exactly describe how I feel about you. I’m in l—”
“Holy cow!” she said, looking at her watch. “I’m late for group.” She walked past him, toward the door.
“Liz, wait. I’ve got to tell you—”
She shook her head. “It’s hard enough for new moms to get anywhere on time. The least I can do is not keep them waiting.”
She made it into the hallway and hurried toward classroom 2. In spite of all her self-warnings hope blossomed in her heart. Sam could be right. She should stop ignoring the obvious. She was crazy about Joe Marchetti. She should get over her fear of falling and go after what she wanted. She would do that right after she fulfilled her obligation to the support group.
“What just happened?” Joe said to the empty room. “No way am I waiting.”
He went after her. He’d prepared himself to fight the good fight. He’d known it wouldn’t be easy to win her. But he hadn’t expected to compete with her job. Well, dammit, he couldn’t wait until her meeting was over. He’d been living in hell ever since Liz had dumped him. He couldn’t stand it anymore. He wanted things settled between them once and for all. If he had to do it in front of God and the new mothers’ support group, then so be it. But one way or the other, he was going to fix things.
There were only four moms with babies in the room. At least that worked in his favor. He recognized Andie and Barbara and their respective offspring. The other two women were strangers.
“Liz, before you start, I want to settle things between you and I.”
“This isn’t the time or place.”
“I’m sorry about that.” He turned to the moms. “I apologize for bursting in like this, but Liz and I have some issues.”
“Romantic issues?” Andie adjusted her nursing baby.
“Yes,” he said.
“Then go right ahead,” she said. “You guys are more entertaining than my soap opera.”
Liz looked at the woman and shook her head. “I was counting on you ladies for backup.”
Barbara tossed a strand of long blond hair over her shoulder. “He looks determined, Liz. Might as well get it over with. You know how men are when they get that whole focus thing going.”
“Actually, no,” Liz said.
“Then let me show you,” Joe said. “I want you in my life—”
“Now there’s focus,” she said wryly. “In your life? As what? Friends? We’ve already gone through this. You’re a confirmed bachelor.”
“I was a little hasty about that,” he admitted. “I had a long talk with Ma—”
“Uh-oh,” Andie said. “You’re not a mama’s boy are you?”
“Of course not,” he scoffed. “But she explained some things that happened when I was a kid, a situation I hardly even remembered.” He glanced at the women watching him intently. No way would he air dirty laundry in front of them. He respected his parents too much. They’d put it behind them. Once he’d explained to the woman he loved why he’d messed up, they would put it behind them, too.
He turned back to Liz. “Ma said she talked to you about it at the wedding.”
She nodded. “I remember.”
“It stuck with me. That situation made a negative imprint on an impressionable young boy. And along with the less than successful relationships I’ve seen, well I guess you could say it all made me gun-shy.”
“You were so adamant about giving up on finding what your folks have. Why should I believe that you’ve changed your mind?” Liz challenged.
“Because I’m looking at things differently now. I know there’s no such thing as a perfect relationship—”
“You can say that again,” Andie interjected.
He grinned at the woman, then looked back at Liz. What was she thinking? Was he getting through to her? He couldn’t tell by the expression on her face. But so far her comments made him apprehensive that the same moxie that had attracted him to her in the first place would work against him now.
He met her gaze, willing her to believe him. “It takes work to be a couple. I’m ready, willing and able to do what it takes to make a successful relationship with you, Liz.”
“I don’t know,” she said, shaking her head. “You were so set on staying friends—”
Barbara groaned. “He didn’t give you that speech, did he? The old it’s getting too serious, let’s just stay friends line?”
“I did not,” he defended himself. He pointed to Liz. “She was the one who insisted on the friends label.”
“Liz, what were you thinking?” a brunette holding a sleeping baby asked.
Liz looked at her. “Jessica, it wasn’t like that. Getting serious scared me because of what happened in my family. I didn’t want to get in over my head.” She glanced at the moms, then looked at Joe. “But I couldn’t help it.”
Joe knew she was weakening. He held up his hand. “I solemnly swear, in front of this new mothers’ support group, that I will never be unfaithful to you.”
“I think he means it,” chimed in a redhead, standing so she could bounce her baby.
“It’s just not that simple,” Liz said.
Time for reinforcements. Joe turned to the moms. “Help me out here. Why won’t she see me anymore? Why won’t she listen to me?”
“Maybe you’re not saying what she needs to hear,” Andie said.
“Such as?” Joe shot back.
Andie shifted the infant in her arms. “That you love her. That you can’t live without her. That you want to marry her.” She looked at Liz. “Well? Has he said any of that?”
“Nope,” she confirmed. “He’s done none of the above.”
“All right.” He went down on one knee in front of all of them. He took Liz’s hand and had the satisfaction of knowing that she was shaking, too. He met her gaze. “Liz, this is a tough room. They want flowery declarations and I’ll do my best, but the bottom line is, and it’s the honest truth, I love you. I’ve missed you. I’m a mess without you. Will you do me the honor of spending the next fifty years with me? Will you marry me?”
Her eyes filled with tears. “Joe, I—” She stopped and swallowed hard,
shaking her head.
“Anyone can see that he loves you,” Barbara said. “Liz, you’d be a fool to turn him down.”
Liz nodded. “You’re right. And I’ve been the world’s biggest fool.” She met Joe’s gaze. “I was afraid when you would only commit to friendship. I had to pull back from you to protect myself. I know you’re telling me the truth about loving me.”
Relief filtered through the tension he’d carried with him all day. “How do you know?”
“It’s in your kiss.” She pulled him to his feet. “Now it’s my turn. I need to tell you how much I love you.”
She took his face in her hands and drew it down and stood on tiptoe. Touching her lips to his in a tender, truthful, heartfelt demonstration of her love, she sighed against his mouth. He wrapped his arms around her and deepened the communication.
When they came up for air, Joe looked around and noticed that they were alone. “I busted up your group. I’m sorry.”
“I’m not.” She grinned at him. “What do you want to bet they’re going home to do ‘you know’ with some husbands who will be happy men?”
“I’d be a happier man if you would explain to me why you could be so relaxed with my brothers and I had to work so hard to make you admit I’m a swell guy.”
“I always thought you were Mr. Wonderful. But I wasn’t attracted to Luke or Alex. They couldn’t hurt me the way you could.”
He tightened his hold on her. “I’d never hurt you. I’m not your father.”
“I know,” she said nodding. “And I’m not my mother. I’m a strong, independent woman who can handle whatever curves are thrown at me.” She smiled up at him. “I realized something when I talked to your mother at the wedding.”
“If it’s good, I owe Ma even more than I thought.”
“I realized that I love you. So when you did your spin about friendship, I thought you were telling me you could never love me back. It hurt too much to see you under those circumstances so I broke it off. Although it was impossible, I had to try and get over you so that I could find someone to love me back. You made me see that I wanted that. Thanks for not giving up on me.”
“You’re welcome. And I’m sorry I put you through that. I’ll try to never be that stupid again.”
“You’re the smartest, most wonderful guy I know,” she said, her gaze making him feel as if he could walk on water. She took a deep breath. “And your mom also made me see that if I deny myself love and a relationship, my father wins.”
“We can’t let that happen.” He looked at her and willed her to know how very much he loved her. “And I know a way to make us the winners.”
“I’m all ears,” she said.
He laughed, then his humor drained away. “I know you think I’m second best, but that will only make me work harder. I would be the happiest man in the world if you say you’ll marry me, Liz.”
“I’ll marry you,” she said without hesitation. “And you’re not second best. You’re my brass ring, Joe Marchetti.”
“And you’re my happy ever after, Liz Anderson. And, by the way, as soon as it’s humanly possible your last name will be Marchetti.”
“I can hardly wait.” She tilted her head and slid him a sassy look. “So you really care about me?”
“From the first time I saw you.”
“How do I know it’s love?” she asked.
“It’s in my kiss,” he answered, knowing what she wanted.
He touched his lips to hers. Without words, he told her of the love that was in his heart. For the next fifty years, he planned to communicate his feelings to her on a very regular basis.
ISBN: 978-1-4268-6765-1
WITH A LITTLE T.L.C.
Copyright © 2000 by Teresa Ann Southwick
All rights reserved. Except for use in any review, the reproduction or utilization of this work in whole or in part in any form by any electronic, mechanical or other means, now known or hereafter invented, including xerography, photocopying and recording, or in any information storage or retrieval system, is forbidden without the written permission of the editorial office, Silhouette Books, 300 East 42nd Street, New York, NY 10017 U.S.A.
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With a Little T.L.C. Page 15
