One Wish

by T. M. Cromer

  “For someone who couldn’t leave fast enough and was terrified to give me his phone number, you’ve sure had an about-face. What did I do to get so lucky?”

  Boy, she wasn’t pulling any punches.

  “Would you prefer I left you alone?”

  Faith closed her eyes and rubbed the spot between her brows. Each second that ticked by felt like an hour as she made her decision. Just as he was about to give up on the idea of providing comfort for her, she heaved a deep sigh. “No.”

  The tension in his chest eased. “Come on, trouble. I’ll take you home.”

  This time there was no objection. She placed her palm in his and allowed him to lead her from the bar.

  “Seems you are always rescuing me from bars.”

  Her attempt at levity flopped. He hated to see her hurting. She didn’t deserve what Amy had put her through.

  “I’m not rescuing you, Faith. You are fully capable of doing that on your own. I’m showing you that not all people are fucktwats, and that there are people who do care for your welfare.”

  “Is that all?”

  “Can’t that be enough for tonight?”

  She didn’t respond, and he was left to wonder what she was thinking. He gave a slight tug and she followed. They drove in silence to her house. After he pulled up in the drive, she made no effort to get out of his car. Instead, they sat, staring at the darkened exterior of her old Victorian. Without any lights, the house looked sad and lonely. Rand experienced a pang in his chest. He knew all about lonely. Rarely did he allow himself to go there, but at times, the emotion struck from out of the blue.

  “I should get a cat.” Her voice had an oddly detached quality, as if she didn’t believe what she was saying.

  “Do you want a cat?”

  “No. But isn’t that what single, crazy women of a certain age start doing? Collecting cats?”

  “I don’t know any.”

  “Pfft. You do. You just don’t know that you do.”

  “Anyway, I’d think a dog would be a better companion. More friendly, a good protector.”

  “Yes. I’d like a dog.”

  As one, they opened their doors and exited the vehicle. At the front bumper, they clasped hands again and strolled to Faith’s front door.

  Rand had a moment’s pause. “Faith, I don’t want to take advantage of your emotional state tonight.”

  She shrugged and inserted the key into the lock. “If you don’t want to stay, then don’t. I won’t beg.”

  “It’s not that. It’s… I… Christ, trouble! I’m starting to really like you. It goes against everything I stand for.”

  Large, empty mocha eyes turned up to him. “Rand, I’m not asking for a relationship or anything you don’t want to give. This was your idea. If you want to go, then go.”

  “I’m no good at long term.”

  “Do you want me? I mean truly want me. Not just to scratch an itch. Not as a pity fuck. Do you want to be with me?”

  She didn’t whine. There was nothing needy in her questioning. Perhaps if there had been, he’d have burned rubber in his escape. But no, instead she asked him simple black and white questions designed to make him look deeper at his own personal wants and needs.

  “I do,” he found himself confessing, voice raw and emotions laid bare.

  Her sudden sunny smile had his stomach flip-flopping. “Okay, Randall Crandall. Then let’s take it one day at a time and see where this leads.”

  “I can do that.”

  “I had no doubt you could.”

  RAND SURPRISED Faith when they entered her home. Instead of rushing her up the steps, he guided her to the living room and went in search of wine for the two of them. She could hear the cabinet doors open and close, and eventually, he returned with two glasses of a rich burgundy wine.

  “I’m told this is Fiore’s best.”

  His smooth, deep voice could be felt in the farthest reaches of her soul. If she believed in magic, she’d have sworn his voice was the root of his power. “Do you sing, Randall Crandall?”

  “Where did that come from?”

  “Answer the question.”

  “Not if I can help it.”

  “I would lay odds you have a lovely voice.”

  “Nope. Think dying bullfrog.”

  She laughed and rested her head against his shoulder. “I don’t believe you for a minute. Someday soon, you and I are going for karaoke.”

  “Hell. No.”

  “We’ll see.” She inhaled a deep breath. “Rand?”

  “Hmm?”

  “Thank you for having my back tonight.”

  “I didn’t do anything.”

  “You did. You sought me out and stood by me through one of the ugliest moments of my life. Not just once, but twice.” She twisted to gaze up into his handsome face. “I’ll never forget it.”

  “Don’t go making me into something I’m not, trouble. What I did was basic human decency the night you were drugged. Tonight?” He shrugged. “Tonight, I wanted to get to the bottom of the missing money mystery. I suspected you knew who it was, and I had to see for myself.”

  “If that’s the case, why are you here? Why not leave me in my family’s care?”

  The suddenness of his grin stole her breath. “Because then I wouldn’t be getting laid.”

  “You might not be anyway.”

  “I figured I’d take the risk.”

  Because his lips were close and denying herself was pointless, Faith closed the distance between them. Before her mouth connected, she said, “Yeah, you are so getting laid.”

  “Thank God!” he whispered fervently against her lips.

  CHAPTER 13

  Rand finished compiling his current report for Justin Tidwell when Sascha interrupted. “Mr. Crandall, Mr. Tidwell has arrived, and Faith Fiore is in the lobby. She mentioned you had plans for dinner tonight.”

  “I don’t remember any plans, but I’ll be right out.”

  A quick check of his calendar showed he wasn’t wrong. There was no dinner date scheduled with Faith. He shook his head with wonder. Here it was, two months into their affair, and he still didn’t feel a lessening of his raging desire for her. And while he was finding her spontaneity endearing, tonight she’d have to understand he had a work commitment.

  He shut down his computer, grabbed his keys, and headed for the lobby. Faith popped out of her chair upon seeing him. The sight stole his breath away. She had on the little black dress from the first time they necked in his car outside of Medallions. The ruby pumps had him dreaming about getting her naked. Later in the evening, he intended for her to wrap her amazing legs around his head with nothing but those shoes on.

  Because it wouldn’t do for Justin to see him as anything but professional, Rand gave a slight nod of acknowledgment to Faith before he turned to his client. A glance over Justin’s shoulder showed she’d taken it in stride.

  “Rand! Are you ready for our night on the town? I’ve got the limo and our dates all ready to go.” Justin’s booming voice made him cringe. Rand had forgotten Justin liked to bring along young twenty-somethings to fawn over him.

  “Dates?” Faith’s voice was a clear representation of her anger.

  “Justin, will you excuse me for a moment? I—” Rand never finished his sentence because Justin cut him off.

  “Who’s this little hottie? Your new flavor of the month?” Justin laughed. “She’s more than welcome to join our party. I, for one, would love a taste of that sweetness myself.”

  “Excuse me?” Ice dripped from Faith’s voice. The frigid blast hit Rand from fifteen feet away. Well, there went his fantasy about those shoes tonight.

  Time for damage control. “Justin, if you don’t mind. I need to speak with Faith for a moment before we head out.”

  Incredulous mocha eyes turned on him. “You’re going?”

  “Faith, I’ve had this dinner scheduled for over a month. Justin and I—“

  “Over a month?” She stalked forw
ard, and even with her diminutive size, he had the urge to back up. “Was it over two months?”

  Rand looked to Sascha for help. Once he saw the disgust on her face, he realized what he had to do. His professional reputation was taking a hit due to his relationship with Faith. He needed to end things, immediately.

  “No, Faith. Precisely five weeks. Now, if you’ll excuse me, you’re making a scene, and I have dinner with my client.”

  She went from outrage to hurt in a nanosecond. In a quarter of that time, the look of hurt faded to nothingness. He hated the nothingness. It reminded him of the blank look in his mother’s eyes as she’d watch his father take a strap to him.

  “I apologize for embarrassing you, Rand. It won’t happen again. Enjoy your dinner.”

  Faith pivoted on her heel and grabbed her purse from the nearby chair. By her tone, there was no doubt they were finished. As they needed to be. He was becoming too attached. Yet, with every click of Faith’s heels on the tiled floor, Rand experienced a coinciding blow to his heart. She never looked back, and the automatic glass doors closed behind her, sealing the fate of their relationship.

  Justin slapped him on the back. “Don’t worry about that one. Some flowers and a piece of jewelry in the morning, and she’ll forget all about your fight. Ready for dinner?”

  The last thing Rand wanted to do was go to dinner. He sincerely doubted he’d be able to eat a bite. But he couldn’t disappoint his client. Justin Tidwell owned half of wine country. It wouldn’t do to get on his bad side or have it get out that Rand let personal matters get in the way of business.

  A second glance at his assistant showed censure in place of Sascha’s normally sunny features. He frowned in confusion. Hadn’t she been upset by Faith’s display mere moments before?

  “You can head out for the weekend, Sascha. Thank you.”

  She gave a brisk nod and gathered her things. When she left without saying goodnight, it dawned on him she was upset—with him! In the three years she’d been working for him, she’d never not said goodnight.

  “I’ll meet you outside after I lock up, Justin.”

  Once he was alone, he sent a text to Sascha.

  “What did I do to upset you?”

  “It’s not me you should be asking that question, Mr. Crandall. But honestly, if you have to ask, it’s over your head anyway.”

  She was taking him to task for sending Faith away? What the hell? She’d taken great delight in fielding women in the past.

  “I didn’t have a choice. I have to go to dinner tonight.”

  Sascha didn’t reply, and the silence spoke volumes.

  When all he really wanted to do was sit and tally numbers to clear his head, Rand shut off the office lights and set the alarm instead. He had a client to entertain.

  FAITH DROVE HOME ON AUTOPILOT. All she knew was that she was bone-deep weary. Once again, she wasn’t enough for any one single man. Without any remorse or even an indication he’d been in the wrong, Rand had dismissed her like yesterday’s trash to go out with his client and their dates.

  Tonight would have been her and Rand’s two-month anniversary of sorts. Of course as a guy, it wouldn’t mean much to him, but she had intended to make the evening special. She’d made a reservation at Medallions and arranged for the owner of the Spigot to host the first weekly Friday karaoke night. The pièce de résistance for the end of the night would’ve taken place in Faith’s bedroom where she’d planned to declare her love for Rand. Thank God she hadn’t spilled her guts before now. There was such a thing as small mercies.

  She berated herself for being a damned idiot. Now she’d have to show up at the bar where her siblings and their partners were waiting for her and Rand without her boyfriend in tow. How the hell did she explain that one without looking like a complete failure—again? Apparently, the Fiore Curse was alive and well when it came to her love life. And apparently, Rand had never truly been her boyfriend.

  All she wanted to do was curl in a ball and weep. Instead, she had to go out, put on a brave face, and pretend there wasn’t a thing wrong in her life. The worst part would be finding a way to minimize the breakup in her family’s eyes. How could she break it to her mother that Rand wouldn’t be there to join their Sunday dinners anymore? That there would be no mahogany-haired blue-eyed grandbabies in Isabella’s future? How did she explain to Val that Rand’s company was still the best accounting firm for her family’s vineyard when her brother would want to fire Rand out of loyalty?

  Faith sent another silent thank you skyward that she no longer worked for the vineyard. Ashley had been more than willing to take over the administrative duties, which was a good thing. If Faith had to see Rand after today, well, she’d probably lose her shit. An emotional outburst wouldn’t be good for anyone. Filterless Faith Fiore on the loose was never a positive thing.

  A quick text to the Medallions’s hostess, Chelsea, resulted in her canceled reservation. Faith then sent a text to Jacob, asking him to join their little party tonight at the Spigot. She dreaded showing up alone, and Jacob was always a great distraction. When he confirmed, she breathed a sigh of relief and hustled upstairs to change. The slinky dress she had on wasn’t fit for the sports bar. Perhaps she’d burn this particular one. It seemed every time she wore it, Rand was off on a date with another woman.

  With a swipe at a stray tear, Faith dragged her favorite pair of butt-hugging jeans over her curvy backside, shoved her already tortured feet back into the red heels, and pulled on a matching red top with a peek-a-boo keyhole opening that showed off a hint of cleavage. Her hoop earrings completed the look. It took only five minutes to touch up her hair and makeup.

  Now, she had only to kill an hour and a half. She flopped back on the bed. Rand’s scent lingered on the bedding. With a harsh sob, she ripped off the sheets and bundled them into the washing machine. She shoved the comforter in as well and turned the cycle on the hottest setting possible. Then she set the dial on the steam option for good measure. A large cap of detergent and the washer was set to go. With a dusting of her hands, she stormed into her bathroom. She zeroed in on Rand’s body wash, shampoo, and conditioner. A quick flick of her wrist and they found a new home—in the trash. Next came his spare toothbrush and comb. Frantic to remove all traces, she raced down the stairs and discarded his favorite milk, beer, creamer, and cereal.

  Then it was over. She had nothing else of his to dispose of. Her chest ached. She rubbed the spot above her breastbone. Was she having a heart attack? No, thirty-year-old women in reasonably good shape didn’t have heart attacks. Or at least she didn’t believe so. Sinking down to the floor, she gave into the pressure and sobbed. God! She’d thought he might be the one. When would she ever learn? No one wanted the weird chick. No one!

  For fifteen minutes, she cried the big ugly. Spent, Faith leaned her head back against the center island to stare at the brand new wall of cabinets across from her. She’d chosen the mahogany color with him in mind. Why in the world had she done that? She reached above her and felt for her smartphone on the counter. With her cell in hand, she composed a text to her contractor and asked if he would sand her new cabinets and stain them a different color. He readily agreed. A subcontractor would be out in two days.

  Perfect.

  Unable to look at her cabinets a second more, she shifted her head to the right. Her gaze fell on the Victorian slipper chair across the hall. Should she send Rand the chair as a parting gift? She shoved the idea aside. No, she’d put it on consignment with Dino Santorini. Someone would purchase the piece, and she’d never have to lay eyes on it again.

  Faith climbed to her feet and staggered into her living room. The quiet was more than she could bear, and she connected her phone to the Bluetooth speakers to drown out the silence. And there she sat, alone in the darkening room, music blaring. A desire to smash things rose within her. Squelching the desire took all her willpower. What was the point? She’d only have to replace anything she destroyed.

  Amy�
�s ugly words came back to smack Faith in the face. “Do you know why no one likes you, Faith? Because you’re weird. You say and do strange shit all the time. No one wants to be around you because they’re afraid you’re going to blurt out things and embarrass them.”

  Hadn’t she done that at Rand’s office? No wonder he dismissed her so readily. A text alert sounded through the speaker. Jacob wanted to know her ETA. A check of the clock surprised a gasp from her. Where had the time gone? Had she really been wallowing for an hour and a half? Christ, she was pathetic!

  Once again, she retouched her makeup and hair. Other than a small amount of puffiness around her eyes, she looked relatively normal. She snorted. No, she was anything but normal. Fuck it. At thirty, it was too late to change who she was. And did she want to? A second round of self-pity struck. Perhaps she should, or she might very well spend the rest of her life alone. The thought of pretending to be someone she wasn’t for the remainder of her life made her stomach hurt.

  With one last critical look in the mirror, Faith left to join her family.

  CHAPTER 14

  “T here she is! Where’s ol’ Randall Crandall? Did he get tied up at work?” Val asked Faith as she joined their table.

  She nearly snorted. Val certainly hit that one on the head. “You could say that. Has everyone put in their song choice for Karaoke yet?” She signaled the waitress and gave her drink order.

  “We were waiting for you,” Hope informed her. “But I almost have Royce talked into getting up to sing.” As her sister caught her fiancé’s eye, she toyed with the edge of a bakery box. Royce threw back his head and laughed, his love for Hope shining bright and bold for all to see.

  “What is with you two and the eclairs? You’d think you’d never eaten a pastry before.” Val mumbled.

  Faith caught her brother’s eye. “Val, think about it.”

  He frowned before flushing bright red. “Okay, eww. I didn’t need to know that. Christ, I’ll never look at an eclair the same way again.”

  “That’s what she said,” Ashley, Faith, and Hope chorused together. “Jinx!”