Fool Me Once

by Mona Ingram

  “Neither our allies nor ourselves can win this war on terror by walking around on our tiptoes. Hurting your feelings is regrettable, but it’s nothing compared with what’s at stake. I’d do it again if it would have the same result. It’s that simple.”

  She nodded her understanding but she wasn’t giving up that easily. “I can accept that. But why couldn’t you tell me about Blazek? What you did was unconscionable. To have Josh pretend that he cared for me, to use me in such a demeaning fashion. How could he do it? That’s what I really want to know.”

  He lifted an eyebrow and Olivia was sure she detected a hint of amusement. “He was under no obligation to pretend that he cared for you. He told you about his mission, and you agreed to carry on. The deception was in not telling you about Blazek. We did that for your own safety and it turns out we were right. Things could have been much worse if you’d known more.” He sobered. “We had no idea you’d be put in harm’s way. I personally regret that very much.”

  “I don’t know if I was ever in any real danger, but thank you for saying that.” She sank back in her chair with a disappointed sigh. “I don’t know why I came here or what I expected to learn. I suppose I just wanted to know why he did it in the first place.”

  Colin looked at her curiously. “You really don’t know, do you?”

  “Know what?”

  He checked his watch. “Do you have time for lunch? I’d like to tell you a story.”

  * * *

  Colin spoke eloquently about Josh’s dedication to his younger brother, writing an entirely new chapter in the story of this remarkable man.

  “…and for the past several years, since his brother was killed, he’s been closed off. He hasn’t talked about Zach to anyone, not even the couple on the ranch who have been with his family for years.”

  “Maisie and Clint have been with the family for over thirty years,” Olivia murmured, half to herself. “They care about him a lot.”

  Colin nodded. “But I haven’t answered your question yet. You asked how Morgan was chosen.” He examined his beer glass without really seeing it, his gaze turned inward. “When he was with the American Special Forces, he was the best at what he did. Of course all the Yanks are superbly trained, but Morgan really stood out.” He smiled guiltily. “And he had quite a reputation with the ladies, I hear.”

  Olivia rolled her eyes, but managed to hold her tongue.

  He continued. “We’re always looking for the outstanding ones. Men who can think on their feet; men who are fearless.”

  “He certainly qualifies in that department.”

  Colin ignored the sarcasm. “He agreed to a television interview when his brother was killed. To the best of my knowledge, it’s the last time he spoke to anyone about Zach. I saw that interview, read up on his background, and knew he was the man for this job.” He pinned her with his gaze. “You see, it’s very simple. This mission was his way of avenging his brother’s death.”

  Awareness dawned slowly in Olivia’s eyes. “Now I remember. We were in the helicopter.” Her voice took on a faraway tone. “Josh pulled the trigger, or whatever it is you do to those rocket launcher things, and his lips moved. I’ve been trying to recall what he said but it was always right out there.” She wiggled her fingers in the air. “Just beyond my grasp. But now I remember. He said ‘That’s for you, Zach’.”

  She stared into the cup of coffee that sat before her, untouched. Fascinated by Colin’s story, she’d ignored her lunch. Colin watched her face as the pieces of the puzzle finally slid into place. Frowning, she pressed her fingers into her temples.

  “My Lord, I’ve been selfish! I’ve been carrying on as though this whole thing was about me.” She dropped her hands onto the table and toyed with the coffee cup. “How could I? I overheard a conversation between Dirk and Josh and walked out without a word.” She snapped her fingers. “Just like that. And in the middle of the night, too.”

  “I know.”

  “You do?” She pulled back.

  “They have phones in Montana. Josh called me last night.”

  “What did he say?”

  He looked at her steadily. “Private conversation.”

  “You’re a wretched man, Colin Chisholm.” She smiled.

  “So I’ve been told,” he said smoothly, taking her arm. “I have to get back to work, but there’s one more thing I should tell you. It’s about Rosalina.”

  “Rosalina? How is she?” Olivia fingered her favorite necklace.

  “We’ve taken care of our little heroine in the best way we can. It turns out she was living with her grandmother, who is very ill. It seems that Rosalina has a desire to get an education and to learn to speak English. Through our Spanish contacts we’ve arranged medical care for her grandmother, and for little Rosalina to live with a local family. She’ll be starting her lessons almost immediately.”

  Tears welled up in Olivia’s eyes. “Colin, that’s wonderful. Thank you very much.”

  “It was Josh’s idea.” He proffered his hand and she took it reluctantly. He was her connection to Josh and she didn’t want to let him go. “Good-bye Olivia.” Those piercing green eyes looked into her soul. “Good luck.”

  * * *

  Olivia waved down a cab, gave the WorldView address and climbed in the back, her head spinning with Colin’s revelations. What she’d learned about Josh’s brother caused her to look at the past week in an entirely different way. She looked out at the traffic swirling by and wondered idly why she didn’t feel happier. All she felt was a dull ache, and a growing realization that Josh couldn’t possibly love her, as she’d come to hope. How could she have deceived herself so easily? Much as she hated to admit it, she could come to only one conclusion. If he loved her, he would have spoken about his brother. He would have shared the agony he’d been carrying around since Zach’s death. After all, wasn’t love about sharing the sorrow as well as the joy?

  She understood now why he’d been so passionate about the mission. It would have meant everything to share that with him, but he’d kept her at arm’s length. The taxi turned the corner by her office and she gave an audible sigh. Perhaps Josh was one of those men who, once scarred, closed themselves off from further emotional involvement. If that was true, perhaps she’d been right to run away from him. But if she was right, why did she feel so miserable?

  The familiarity of the office was surprisingly comforting.

  “Hi Mac.” The political correspondent to her left greeted her brightly. “How was the holiday?”

  Olivia put on her game face. “I had a great time.” She nodded toward the glass enclosure. “Is No Jive around?”

  “No, thank God.” He reached for his telephone. “He won’t be back until Monday. Sorry, love.”

  Olivia nodded and leafed dejectedly through her mail. A shiny postcard slid out of the stack and landed on the desk. She turned it over, and a puzzled frown drew her brows together. Her name and address were in a vaguely familiar script. The left side of the card, reserved for a message, was blank. She turned it over, and it took a moment for the image to register. A smiling child sat with a spoon poised above a bowl of ice cream drenched with chocolate syrup. The message was unmistakable. “Oh, Eliska,” she murmured. “You made it.” She looked at the postmark and a smile of satisfaction lit her face. Auckland, New Zealand. Eliska had found a new home and she was happy. Now Olivia hoped that a visit to her parents’ home in the Cotswolds would work its usual magic on her battered spirits.

  * * *

  Her mother was out when she arrived. She picked up the telephone to tell Justine she was back, but changed her mind. A slow, rambling walk next door was just what she needed.

  * * *

  “Olivia. We didn’t expect you until tomorrow.” Alex’s mother looked up and waved her into the kitchen.

  “Hello Mrs. Melrose. I stopped by to see if there is anything I can do, but you look organized to me. Haversham Hall looks even more beautiful than usual.”

 
“Why thank you, my dear. Wine?” Daphne poured for Olivia and topped up her own glass. “Justine and Alex have gone into town for a drink. They’re remarkably relaxed, considering they’re getting married in two days.” She eyed Olivia critically. “You look thin, Olivia. Are you well?”

  “Never better” she replied, almost too quickly. She fought back the tears that hovered right behind her eyes. Happiness permeated Haversham Hall. She could sense it in the lingering smells of baking, and in the rich sheen of polished wood. Antique silver gleamed, and everywhere she looked, flower arrangements overflowed from sparkling crystal vases. It was a home ready to celebrate.

  “It’s good to see you again, but I should be getting back. Tell Justine I’m sorry I missed her, and that I’ll see her at the rehearsal dinner tomorrow evening.” She gulped her wine and set down the glass. She had to escape.

  * * *

  The rehearsal dinner went off without a hitch, although Olivia merely went through the motions. Her body might have been in England, but her thoughts and her heart were in Montana. Colin’s revelations had hurt, but over the past couple of days she’d come to the realization that she could forgive Josh anything. But could he bring himself to open up? Without that, there was no hope for them.

  * * *

  The wedding passed in a blur. Olivia was quite sure she’d said all the right things, smiled at all the right times. The couple posed for pictures one last time, happiness shimmering about them and their smiles as bright and genuine as when they exchanged their vows. Olivia eased her way through the crowd of guests, eager to be out of the spotlight.

  “Wait!” Someone clutched at her arm. “She’s going to throw her bouquet.”

  Olivia turned, and Justine looked directly at her. With a small shake of her head, she tried to warn her friend, but the bride’s eyes sparkled with mischief. The bouquet sailed toward her and the crowd seemed to part. Olivia threw up her hands in protest, and the bouquet landed in them, ribbons fluttering gaily around her head. A murmur of approval rippled through the crowd, and then the guests surged around the bride and groom, eager to wish them well and see them on their way.

  The smell of freesia perfumed the air. The bouquet, like the rest of the wedding was simple and elegant. The entire day had been a resounding success.

  * * *

  Escaping at last, Olivia rounded the corner of the house and slipped off her shoes. A row of spreading beeches offered welcome shade, and she stopped for a moment, enjoying the heavenly sensation of cool grass on her feet. From the opposite side of the house, music mingled with the faint sound of voices. Confident that she would not be missed, she continued at a slower pace.

  The greenhouse loomed ahead. Like everything else these days, it reminded her of Josh. With a twitch of irritation, she stood in the doorway. Would he haunt her for the rest of her life? She sighed. When she was stronger–perhaps in a week or two–she’d deal with her feelings for him. In the meantime, her memories were so vivid it was as if he were right beside her.

  She placed her shoes and Justine’s bouquet on the potting bench, and then wandered toward the orchids. Here in the greenhouse, Josh’s presence was so strong her knees quaked, and she clung to the bench for support. How could she have been so foolish? She had walked away from the one man who embodied everything she valued. The delicate orchids on the end of their long graceful stems blurred, and her shoulders shook with grief as she cried silently for everything she had lost.

  * * *

  “My brother was the one who knew about flowers.”

  Olivia stilled. She was dreaming, and was afraid to break the spell.

  “When he was young, he helped my mother in the garden, and even after he grew older, he never lost interest.”

  She lifted her head. Was her imagination playing tricks on her? “Josh?”

  Sunlight filtered through the jungle of plants, picking out the golden sparks in his eyes. “What are you doing here?”

  Moving toward her, he pulled a cotton handkerchief from his pocket. Cupping her chin, he tilted her face, staring into her eyes with an intensity that took her breath away. Tenderly, he dabbed at her eyes and then stepped back, still searching her face.

  “I came to tell you I’ve been a fool.”

  “Is that all?” She smiled up at him through the tears.

  “Feeling better are we?” He was struggling to keep a straight face, but the light in his eyes gave him away. “No, that’s not all. I came to tell you I love you. But then, I think you already know that.”

  “How could I know that?” she whispered, her pulse pounding erratically. “You never told me. And anyway, what about The Rules?”

  “Ah yes. The Rules.” He reached out for her hand, and pulled her closer. “Rule number one. I love you.”

  “And rule number two?”

  “There is no rule number two. Rule number one is the only one that matters.”

  “Oh Josh!” She buried her face in his chest. “You can’t imagine how sorry I am that I ran off like that. It’s just…”

  “Shhh.” Holding her gently, he combed his fingers through her hair, soothing her wounded spirit. “It was a terrible way to learn that we’d used you.”

  “I was hurt, Josh, and confused. Because I love you.” She touched his face. “I went to see Colin and he told me about Zach. I understand now what this mission meant to you.”

  “I want to tell you about Zach. He was a wonderful kid, and he didn’t deserve to die the way he did.” The pain in his eyes lingered for a heartbeat and then he smiled. “But we’ll have lots of time for that later.”

  “How much time?” Her eyes were clear and direct.

  “The rest of our lives, I hope.” He reached into his pocket and drew out the diamond. It threw off splinters of brilliant light. “I love you, Olivia MacMillan. Will you marry me?”

  The ring slid onto her finger and she regarded it gravely. It sparkled with the promise of a new life. “Yes, Josh Morgan. With the greatest of pleasure.”

  “I’ll make sure of that,” he murmured, sweeping her into his arms.

  “Cowboy,” she murmured, raising her lips, “take me home to Montana.”

  * * * The End * * *

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  Please continue reading for an excerpt from

  Fixing Freddie

  Chapter One

  “What a day!” Lauren shook her umbrella and stomped her feet. “It’s pouring out there!”

  Samantha kicked out the chair on the other side of the table. “Come on, it’s not that bad.” Sometimes her BFF could be so negative. “Anyway, you know what they say about April showers.”

  “Who needs May flowers?” Lauren tossed her bag onto the chair and hooked her umbrella over the back. “I’ll just grab a coffee and be right back.” She paused, smiled for the first time. “Want anything?”

  “No thanks, I’m fine.” Today probably wasn’t going to be the best time to tell Lauren about her doubts. Samantha sipped her latte and looked around the busy coffee shop. Were any of these men faithful? That one over there in the corner, for example. The one with the wedding ring. He was definitely on the make, judging by the way he’d looked at her when she came in. Her gaze drifted around the room. Maybe she was being unfair. Just because Cody was acting suspicious didn’t mean every man in Vancouver was cheating. Take for example the guy sitting at the bar in front of the window. He had his nose stuck in some sort of electronic device and his hair looked like it hadn’t been cut for six months. He probably–

  “So what’s up?” Lauren lowered her lanky frame onto the chair. Samantha looked fondly at her friend. Perhaps lanky wasn’t the right word to describe her. She was tall and rather elegant when you got right down to it, but she could be so damned prickly! It took very little to send her off on a rant that could last for minutes. Her friend was definitely a take no prisoners kind of gal. Maybe
that’s why they got along so well. Opposites and all that.

  “So, we’ve got that wedding next weekend?” Lauren cradled the coffee cup in both hands, staring into it as though it had offended her in some way. “Do you realize Ashley’s only the third girl in our class to get married?”

  “I hadn’t thought about it, but in my opinion that’s a good thing. It wasn’t long ago that girls got married right out of high school.”

  “Yeah, well that’s because they were knocked up, or wanted to be.”

  “You’re awful, you know that?”

  “I know, but I’m just telling the truth.” Lauren took a sip of coffee and for a moment her face softened. “It is a good thing though, being independent. I hope she’s happy.”

  “It sounds like her parents are sparing no expense for the wedding. Imagine booking an entire hotel for the guests. I’ve never heard of anything so extravagant.”

  “A brilliant idea, though. I think Zach and I will take them up on their offer of a room. That way we won’t have to drive all the way back from Whistler. I looked up the place on the net and it’s très exclusive. Right on the waterfront and everything.”

  “I guess we’ll stay too.” Samantha sighed. “If Cody and I are still together, that is.” So much for not unloading.

  Lauren narrowed her eyes. “Has that idiot been screwing around again?”

  Samantha lowered her head. “I don’t know. I don’t have any proof, but there are so many times I can’t reach him, and his excuses are beginning to sound like...well, like excuses.”

  “I told you he couldn’t keep it in his pants. I told you that from the beginning.” Lauren set down her mug with a bang, sloshing coffee on the table. “He’s not good enough for you, Sam. Think about it. If he’s sleeping with other people, he could bring home something that doesn’t wash off.” She grabbed some napkins and started mopping up the spill. “He’s such a loser.” She tossed the sodden napkins in a nearby trash receptacle.