“That doesn’t make any sense,” Anderson said.
“It was the type of give-and-take relationship we had,” Chester said, sighing. “When your mother was pissed about something, she could be pretty damned vindictive. After you were born, I again tried to stake my claim to you, but by then Diane was in a relationship with the man she said was your father. I left town shortly after that, never knowing what became of them or you.”
Anderson tried to come to grips with what he’d just heard. He remembered that there had been a string of men in and out of his mother’s life—mostly out. But she had always insisted that the only one she’d ever truly loved was his father. Why hadn’t she been straight with him?
How could she hide the fact that his father had been misled as well? Why not make peace with him and admit he had a child before it was too late?
Anderson wasn’t sure what to think, but was inclined to believe that his mother had, for whatever reason, chosen to deny him his father—perhaps as some ill-advised way of punishing his father.
“Guess I owe you an apology,” Anderson said. He looked carefully at Chester and thought of all the years they had lost.
“You don’t owe me anything,” Chester responded. “None of this was your fault. I probably should have tried harder to get the truth out of your mother, but at the time I was hurting and just wanted to get on with my life.”
“So what now?” Anderson asked.
Holly trained her eyes on Chester, waiting to see how he would react to the opening offered by Anderson. She had not expected this turn of events. Apparently Anderson’s mother had misled him and his father wasn’t a deadbeat after all. He was only an aging man who had just found out he had a son.
“I’d like us to get to know one another,” Chester said. “How do you feel about it?”
“I’d like that,” Anderson said. He was fighting back tears.
Chester smiled. “Then we’ll make sure it happens.” He looked at Holly. “It would be nice to get to know your girlfriend, too.”
“I’d like that,” Holly said, blushing. She could even imagine their fathers becoming friends.
Just then the front door opened and an attractive woman in her mid-fifties entered. She looked at Chester. “I didn’t know we had company.”
Chester stood up. “This is my wife, Patrice,” he said. “That’s Anderson and his girlfriend, Holly.” He paused. “Anderson is my son....”
* * *
“Never quite saw that coming,” Anderson said on the plane back to Houston. They had spent the afternoon with his father and stepmother, catching up on each other’s lives.
“Life can be full of surprises,” Holly said.
“I’ll never be able to figure my mother out. What was she thinking?”
“For some things there are no easy answers,” Holly suggested. “Maybe she had what she thought were valid reasons for not telling you the truth about your father.”
“Or maybe it was all done out of spite, even if at my expense,” Anderson said.
“Whatever was going on in her head, I’m sure she loved you.” Holly wanted to believe that much at least.
“Yeah,” Anderson conceded. If nothing else, aside from gaining a new family, this allowed him to take stock of his own life and his future with the woman he loved.
Anderson now knew what he needed to do to have the type of romance and family that his parents had been denied. The only question was whether or not Holly was ready to hear what he had to say.
Chapter 19
When they arrived at her house, Holly had expected Anderson to walk her to the door and kiss her goodbye. He had told her that he needed to get some work done in preparation for a meeting in the morning.
But he asked to come in and she was more than happy to have him, figuring they might have a nightcap and even make love, if he had the time.
Anderson regarded Holly, still wowed by her beauty and grace. He put his hands on her waist and stared into those wonderful eyes. “Thank you for accompanying me to see my father. It meant a lot.”
“It did to me, too,” she promised. “I’m glad that it had a good ending and a new beginning at the same time.”
“So am I.” He paused. “Marry me.”
“What...?” Holly fluttered her lashes.
“I want us to get married,” he said. “I love you, Holly, and I want you to be my wife. I hope you’ll make me the happiest man in the world by saying yes.”
Holly sucked in a deep breath, taking in the words she had waited to hear from him for some time. And yet, while she very much wanted to be his wife, she hesitated to say yes.
“You know I love you, Anderson, and asking me to marry you is a magical thing...”
He sensed a “but” coming, and his heart sank. “Magical enough to become my bride?”
She met his steady gaze and knew she had to ask. “Why now?” Was it a reaction to his parents’ failure to marry and do right by him? Or to prove to himself that he could actually follow through on a marriage proposal?
Anderson’s brows knitted. “Why now? Because it felt like the right time to put it on the table.”
“That sounds more like a business proposition than a declaration of love and devotion.”
“I’m not making a business proposition to you,” he tried to assure her. “You have my love and devotion.”
“Like Madison did?”
“Can’t we just keep her out of this?” Anderson had hoped his ex would be a thing of the past at this stage of their relationship.
Holly sighed. As much as she wanted to believe that what happened to Madison wasn’t relevant to his proposal, she felt it was very much so. That old saying “what goes around, comes around” registered in her mind. Had he truly gotten the jitters of marriage out of his system? Or would it rear its ugly head once more, no matter his good intentions?
“It’s hard not to think about what Madison went through,” Holly said, feeling him loosen his hands from her waist. “How can I be sure you’ll follow through this time?”
Anderson’s nostrils flared.
“Look, I know you think I’m proposing halfheartedly,” he said evenly. “But I’m not. I wasn’t ready to marry Madison and realized that before it was too late. With you, it’s definitely the real deal.”
Holly wanted so badly to believe him. Becoming Mrs. Anderson Gunn was what she wanted, and it would be the first step toward starting a family. But if he were to break off the engagement, it would break her heart into a million pieces.
“Does this have anything to do with finding your father?” she wondered. “Maybe you just want to do what he should have done?”
Anderson took an involuntary step back. “Do you really believe that?”
“You tell me,” she said, folding her arms. “I just want to make sure you’re proposing for the right reasons.”
“The reasons are right to me,” he said with an edge to his voice. “And it’s not about my father or my mother. They had their chance to be together and chose not to for whatever reason. I have to respect that, even if it left me in a broken home and eventually with no home at all.” He ran his fingers along her chin. “I love you and I want to make it official. Can’t that be reason enough?”
“Yes, it should be.” Holly closed her eyes as she felt the warmth of his hand on her face, then opened them. Why am I stalling over something I want? she thought. Am I the one who’s suddenly getting cold feet?
“Then what is it?” Anderson demanded. “Are you happier if we just keep a nice sexual relationship going minus the marriage certificate? Would marriage somehow put a crimp in your image as a beautiful, successful and single newscaster?”
Holly’s eyes narrowed. “I never said all I wanted from you was a sexual relationship without marriage,” she snapped.
“And being married would not put a crimp, as you put it, into my professional life. If I’m not rushing to accept your marriage proposal, it’s strictly because I want us both to think about it before I give you my answer. That way, if you have any second thoughts, you can tell me beforehand and save us both hurt down the line. I know this isn’t what you wanted to hear, but it’s how I feel. I’m sorry.”
“So am I,” Anderson said, trying to keep a cool head. He should have seen this coming. His failed engagement with Madison was going to continue to dog him. Or was that more of a convenient tool Holly was using as an excuse not to marry him? Maybe he was overthinking this. It could be that she legitimately needed more time to weigh this. But she clearly was not ready to accept his offer of marriage. Maybe she never would be.
He lowered his eyes to hers. “Take all the time you need,” he said evenly.
“Thank you.” Holly hoped he meant it. She didn’t want to lose him. But if they couldn’t survive a delay in her answer, how would they ever hope to get through the ceremony and maintain a long and happy marriage?
“I’d better go,” Anderson said.
“Okay,” she agreed softly.
He kissed her on the cheek. “See you later.”
Holly watched him walk away, almost feeling as though she had lost her best friend. She wanted things to work out without the shadow of past mistakes hanging over them. Was that possible?
* * *
Two days later, Holly had drinks with Blythe at the Carnation Lounge on Louisiana Street.
“I think it was a smart move to think it over before saying yes or no,” Blythe said, sipping a cocktail. “I mean, it’s not like he hasn’t gone down that road before.”
“I know,” Holly said. “But I think he truly loves me.”
“Isn’t that what your friend thought, too, once upon a time?” Blythe reminded her. “All I’m saying is that it’s better to err on the side of caution than to jump in headfirst and suffer the consequences.”
Holly agreed, which was partially why she had held off giving Anderson an answer. It was a chance she had to take. Then there was also the small part of her that needed to be absolutely positive that she was ready to become a wife, even to someone she dearly loved.
“I should know,” Blythe said, “having been there myself. Nowadays I’m happy just dating a nice guy with no strings attached.”
“But I want the strings, bells and whistles,” Holly said. “As long as I don’t lose any part of who I am in the process.”
“You’re too smart to let that happen,” Blythe told her. “Much smarter than I was when I got married. The real question is if you agree to marry him, will Anderson bother to show up at the wedding?”
Holly stared into space thoughtfully while sipping her drink. In her heart, she was certain that Anderson would not allow history to repeat itself. But that didn’t mean her heart wouldn’t be racing a mile a minute until it became official.
“What’s meant to be will be,” she finally said. “Anderson and I have pretty much been on the same page on most fronts. Even though getting married is a big step, if it’s something we both really want to happen, nothing should stand in the way.”
“That’s true in fantasyland or a romance novel,” Blythe said. “Unfortunately, the best-laid plans do not always materialize in the real world.”
Holly’s brows furrowed. “You think what we have is a fantasy?”
“No, not at all,” she stressed. “You obviously care for one another deeply. I just want you to keep a clear head when you make your decision, and that you believe in your heart that it’s the right one.”
Holly considered Blythe’s words. She knew that a lot of this also rested on Anderson’s shoulders. He had to remain comfortable with his desire to marry her, especially now that she had postponed her decision on whether to accept his proposal.
She would have to think a lot about it and hope he would be gracious if the marriage was never to happen between them.
* * *
“Can you blame her for holding back just a little?” Lester said, as they sat on the balcony at Anderson’s apartment.
Anderson put a beer bottle to his mouth and took a drink. “Probably not,” he conceded. “But she has absolutely nothing to fear. I love her to death and have no intention of backing out of the marriage.”
“I’m sure you believe that and, for the record, I believe it, too,” Lester said. “But once you’ve established a track record to the contrary, it stays with you, like it or not. The fact that Madison and Holly happen to be friends who can compare notes probably doesn’t help matters any either.”
“Madison’s not around anymore,” Anderson said. He’d heard that she had moved to Portland, and he was glad that they could put some distance between them, as well as between her and Holly.
“That helps,” Lester said. “But it really comes down to how much you’ve impressed upon Holly that your love and desire to marry her go hand in hand, and that she can count on it as sure as the sun rising.”
Anderson chuckled uneasily. “I’m not sure the impression I’ve left has been all that strong.”
“I’d say just the opposite. From what I’ve seen, you and Holly are definitely in love. The fact that she didn’t accept your proposal right away is actually a good thing.”
“For whom?” Anderson asked.
“For you,” Lester told him. He grabbed some potato chips from a bag. “Most women like to play hardball just so you don’t take anything for granted. That includes a marriage proposal. Besides, it’ll give you the chance to do it right.”
Anderson looked at him. “Meaning...?”
“Meaning a nice big engagement ring, down on one knee, the whole works. All the old-fashioned stuff that we think we can bypass these days.”
“I get your point,” Anderson said.
“Good. So do what you need to do and wait for her to respond,” Lester said. “I have a feeling you won’t be disappointed.”
Anderson wanted nothing more than to make Holly happy in every way. Even if that meant lying low and giving her the space she needed until she was ready to spend the rest of her life as Mrs. Anderson Gunn.
* * *
On Friday morning Holly went for a bike ride, trying to stick to her exercise routine even if her mind was elsewhere. More specifically, it was stuck on her man. At least, she assumed she was still the love of Anderson’s life, since he was the love of hers. They had only texted for the past three days and she was missing the warmth of his touch like crazy, along with the deep and soothing sound of his voice.
So call him, she told herself. No reason to wait for him to call her—she was every bit as invested in the relationship as he was.
By the time she got home, showered and dressed, Holly had come to the conclusion that she needed Anderson in each and every way, including as her husband, best friend and lifetime partner. His past was not a prelude to their future. Asking for her hand in marriage was something she was sure he had given much thought. Meeting him halfway would show her trust in him and her commitment to sharing a wonderful life together.
She drove to Anderson’s loft, taking a chance that he would be there. I can’t wait any longer to tell him what he wants to hear, she thought excitedly.
* * *
Anderson was doing a little work online when the bell rang. He looked at his security monitor and saw Holly’s lovely face. He buzzed her in.
Keep your cool and don’t have any expectations, he thought.
He opened the door and smiled. “Hey.”
“Hi.” Holly grinned. He never seemed to have a bad day in the looks department, which made her all the more attracted to him.
“Can I get you something to drink?” Anderson asked. “Or eat?”
“Do you still want t
o marry me?” Holly blurted out.
“Absolutely.” Anderson held her gaze. “I love you and want to make it official.”
She beamed. “Then yes, I will marry you.”
“You will? Hold that thought—” He held up a hand, barely able to contain his exhilaration.
Anderson went to the countertop in the kitchen where he’d left the little box with a big ring inside. He grabbed it and returned to Holly, determined to do this right.
Opening the box, he said, “This is the ring you deserved all along...”
He removed a 2.5-carat marquise diamond bordered by baguette diamonds before falling to one knee and taking her hand. He slipped the ring on her finger. “Will you marry me, Holly Kendall?”
She locked eyes with him.
“Why, yes, Anderson Gunn, I will marry you.” She chuckled, then looked in awe at the huge center stone and the sparkling side stones.
He got to his feet. “Those words are the sweetest music to my ears,” he murmured.
“And mine.” Anderson held her cheeks and planted a solid kiss on her lips. Holly, not to be outdone, extended the kiss by wrapping her arms around his neck to savor the wonderful moment.
Chapter 20
Anderson sat in the club seats at Reliant Stadium beside Robert and Chester, taking in a Houston Texans game. As hoped, the home team was leading at the start of the second half and the crowd was cheering raucously.
“Let’s just see if we can hold them off a little while longer,” Robert said.
“I’ll drink to that,” Chester said, lifting his beer as the two men toasted to victory.
Anderson grinned. He felt good about the bonding experience that suddenly had him with not one, but two fathers to form a relationship with. He was ready and willing to make a go of it for himself and Holly. She was big on family and so was he, now that he had one.
He looked up and saw Holly returning from the ladies’ room. Standing, Anderson greeted her with a kiss.
“I didn’t miss anything, did I?” she asked.
“Not really,” he said. “But I sure as hell missed you.”
Love is in the Air Page 15
