“Come on.” He patted her leg. “Get up. While I’m in the bathroom, order us some coffee and bagels, okay?”
She stared at him with bewilderment, no doubt wondering why he was acting so distant. But he had to. It was his only defense against her. Otherwise, she’d be back in his arms.
“Sure. Go on. I know how you like your coffee.”
Ian didn’t miss the hurt look in her eyes, and when he walked away from her, a sharp pain stabbed his stomach, then traveled up to his heart. At some point today, he was going to have tell Miranda that what happened between them last night would never happen again.
Chapter Four
Miranda watched Ian disappear into the bathroom. Something was wrong. It wasn’t like him to jump out of bed in the morning after a night of making love. He used to always cuddle with her, if nothing else. So she knew his talking about how late it was was merely an excuse to get up. They could see Lily any time today. There was no hurry. And since Holly wasn’t his girlfriend, there was no rush to get back to Pleasant View. Could he be regretting last night?
She looked over at the empty bottle of champagne on the bedside table. Ian wasn’t a big drinker, but he could certainly handle sharing a bottle of champagne. No, he knew exactly what he was doing last night. If anyone would’ve been fuzzy headed, it would’ve been her, and she’d had all her wits about her. So why the change in his behavior today? Could he have slept with her as a means of revenge? Maybe he hadn’t forgiven her. Maybe he never would.
She hated to think that Ian would do something so low. The Ian she used to know never would. But people can change. Maybe he wasn’t the man he used to be. After all, he had lied to her about his relationship with Holly.
She could be making too much out of nothing. He might simply have decided to tread carefully, that was all. And that might not be such a bad idea. Last night, she’d been willing to give their relationship another chance, but that was when she thought he was too. But if he wasn’t able to fully forgive her, why should she forgive him? They’d both been hurt. Maybe it wasn’t such a bad idea to take things slow…or not at all.
Mixed feelings surged through her. With a heavy heart, she reached for the phone to order room service. When Ian came out of the bathroom a few minutes later, he sat at the table without looking at her.
“Nice day today,” she said, hoping that by keeping the conversation light and off last night, she’d get through the wall he’d put between them. “The sun’s out, and it’s not snowing.”
“I’m glad we won’t have any trouble getting home,” he said flatly.
“Me too. Well, I’m going to get dressed before breakfast arrives. I’m anxious to meet Lily.” Miranda headed toward the bathroom without making eye contact with Ian. Let him wonder what her feelings were. She had her pride, if nothing else.
She took a quick shower, not wanting to give herself time to dwell on what could have been, then dressed, did her hair and makeup, and went to join Ian for breakfast with a phony smile on her face. Ian was pouring them each a cup of coffee when she arrived. She sat across from him at the table and tried hard to pretend nothing was wrong.
“Miranda, about last night…” Awkwardly, he cleared his throat, then looked away, but not before she saw the guilt on his face.
Alarm bells went off in her head. He didn’t want to take things slow. He didn’t want to see her at all. Last night had just been about sex. That was all. Well, she wasn’t about to give him the satisfaction of knowing he’d hurt her.
“You were going to say last night was a mistake. And I agree.”
Ian shifted his gaze back to her, locking eyes with her. “Really?”
Miranda made sure to keep her voice calm and steady. “Absolutely. There’s still too much resentment between us. We can’t go back.”
Ian’s face paled, and he stirred uneasily in his chair before pushing it back to stand. He glanced down at the uneaten food on the table and said, “Guess I wasn’t hungry after all. I’m ready to go when you are.”
Miranda had no appetite either. She took a quick sip of coffee, then said, “All set. Let’s go.”
Luckily, the drive to Sterling House was only about five minutes. The silence between them stretched on, as unsettling as a road to nowhere. Miranda was glad to see the Sterling House sign up ahead.
Ian pulled the car down a long driveway flanked by a row of huge fir trees. At the end was a stately brick building adorned by a pair of large white pillars. After he parked the car, he came around to help her out; then they walked across the lot and through the front door into a reception area. They still weren’t speaking.
“We’re here to see Lily Douglas,” Ian said to a woman seated at the front desk.
“Please sign in,” she said, pointing to a guest book, “then you can have a seat in the waiting area while I call for someone to show you to her room. Mrs. Douglas has been a little under the weather lately. I’m sure she’ll be glad to have visitors.”
Miranda wondered if losing her ring had something to do with Lily not feeling well. Ian scribbled his name in the book, then pushed it in front of Miranda and she signed it also. As they walked toward the waiting area, a heavyset woman with bright red hair came rushing toward them.
“You’re here to see Mrs. Douglas?” she asked.
“Yes, we are. I’m Ian, and this is Miranda.”
“Pleasure to meet you both. I’m Jamie, Lily’s nurse.” After shaking hands, she led them down a long hallway, then up a flight of stairs and over a glass walkway that overlooked an outdoor courtyard. A few moments later, she stopped in front of a door open a mere sliver.
Jamie knocked and said, “Lily, you have visitors.”
A frail, silver-haired woman with a head full of curls was seated in an armchair by the window. She wore a pink bathrobe and slippers and had a floral throw draped over her lap. She didn’t turn her head, or acknowledge their presence. She continued to stare out the window as if she were alone.
Jamie walked over to her and knelt down in front of the chair. “Lily, dear, there’s a nice man and woman here to see. Wouldn’t you like to say hello?” After getting no response, she walked back to Miranda and Ian, who were standing in the doorway. “I’m sorry. She hasn’t been very responsive the past few days, and today’s been the worst so far. Maybe you could come back another time.”
There was no way Miranda was leaving without giving Lily her ring. “I have something that belongs to Mrs. Douglas. Do you mind if I give it to her?” Before Jamie could answer, she reached into her handbag and pulled out the music box.
“That’s so lovely.” Jamie touched one of the carousel horses, running her fingers over its smooth back.
“It was a gift from my mom, but it used to belong to Lily. However, it’s what’s inside that’s the reason we came here.” Miranda opened the drawer and pulled out Lily’s engagement ring.
Jamie gasped. “Oh my! Is that her—”
Miranda didn’t need to hear the rest of the sentence to know what Jamie was going to say. “Yes, it is.”
“Well, my goodness. Yes, go give it to her.”
Miranda put the music box back in her handbag, then gingerly crossed the room so as not to startle Lily. When she reached her, she held out the ring. “Hi, Lily. I’ll bet you’ve been missing this.”
The old woman’s faded blue eyes were dazed when she shifted her gaze from the window up to Miranda’s face, then down to the ring. Her brow wrinkled with confusion as she tried to comprehend what was happening, but then a moment later, she covered her face with her hands and cried, “That’s my ring. You found my ring.” When she took her hands down, her cheeks were wet with tears.
Miranda handed Lily the diamond engagement ring. The old woman turned the ring around, causing a prism of light to flash off the diamond; then she suddenly shifted her attention back to Miranda.
“Do I know you?” she asked.
Miranda smiled. “No, but I feel like I know you. At least a litt
le. I know you like music boxes.” She reached into her bag and pulled out the carousel.
Lily’s eyes grew wide. “That’s mine too. My Charlie gave it to me.” She held out her hands, and Miranda placed the box into them. Lily popped the ring into the drawer, then cranked up the box and giggled as the music poured out.
Miranda glanced over at Ian, standing in the shadow of the doorway, and the way he looked at her, his deep-chocolate eyes full of approval, left her no doubt that he would have done the same thing and given Lily the box too.
“Spencer, is that you? Why are you standing way over there?” Lily asked, turning in the chair to look at Ian.
“Sorry, Lily. I’m not your son.”
She squinted at him. “You’re right. I can see that now. My old eyes sure aren’t what they used to be, but then nothing is.” She waved a thin arm at him “Well, come on in anyway. You don’t have to stay out there. Come pull up a chair for you and your wife.”
Miranda’s cheeks grew hot. “Oh, we’re not married.”
“Engaged, then?”
Miranda wanted to die. “Ah, no, Lily.”
“Why not? You afraid to ask her?” Lily kept her gaze directed at Ian as he took a chair from beside the bed and set it down by Miranda, then went and got another one that was across the room for himself. “A beautiful girl like that won’t stay single forever. You need to hurry up and ask, son, before it’s too late.”
Wanting to shift Lily’s attention onto another subject, Miranda asked, “How did you and your husband meet?”
“We met at the Harvest Fair, fifty-two years ago. He asked me to ride the Ferris wheel, and I knew then that he was the one for me.” A faraway look glazed over her eyes, and she plucked at the blanket on her lap with spindly fingers. Miranda knew she was thinking back to when she was young and in love. “And Charlie knew right away too,” Lily went on. “Didn’t take him long to pop the question. No, it sure didn’t. Those were such happy days. Of course, don’t get me wrong, we had our differences. Sometimes big ones. And there were days when I didn’t think we’d make it, but we always did. And you know how?”
Ian shook his head. “No, tell us.”
“We learned to compromise. It didn’t happen right away, of course. It took work. All things worthwhile do. But you two must know that. I’m sure you have your arguments, but you’re in love, and you do what it takes to stay together. Am I right?”
Miranda didn’t know what to say. Lily seemed so happy reminiscing that she didn’t want to ruin the old woman’s jovial mood by telling her that not only weren’t she and Ian a couple, but they were barely speaking. When she glanced over at him, he was still looking at Lily, and Lily didn’t seem to notice that neither one of them had answered her question, because she continued talking.
“One night we had a huge fight—I can’t even remembered now what it was about—but Charlie walked out, telling me our marriage was over and he wasn’t coming back. It was the worst night of my life. The next day, I looked everywhere for him. I went to his work, to his parents’ house, but I couldn’t find him. I was heartbroken. I couldn’t believe we’d been so stubborn. We’d each put our own wants ahead of the other’s and wouldn’t compromise. Thank goodness, Charlie came to his senses, though. Do you know what that wonderful man did? He bought me this carousel.”
She held the music box up in front of Miranda and Ian. “He said it reminded him of the day we met, and no matter how much he might want something, nothing was more important than our being together.”
Miranda swallowed the lump in her throat. She glanced over at Ian and could see that he too was quite taken with Lily’s story.
“I want you to have this.” Lily held the box out to Miranda.
“Oh no. I couldn’t. It means so much to you.”
“And that’s exactly why I’m giving it to you, so that every time you look at it and play its sweet tune, you’ll think of my story and remember to always treasure the love you share with that handsome man beside you, above everything else.”
Miranda’s eyes filled with tears, and the burn in her throat kept her from speaking.
Ian took the music box from Lily’s hands. “What a wonderful gift to go with a wonderful story. Thank you, Lily. We will certainly treasure this.”
Did he mean that? Or was he just saying that to placate Lily? Miranda leaned over and kissed Lily on the cheek. “Yes, thank you so much. I’d love to come back to visit again, if that’s all right with you.”
Lily’s smile lit up her face. “You’d better.” She slipped the diamond ring on her finger, then closed her eyes.
Ian kissed her good-bye too; then they left the old woman to her dreams.
Outside the door, Ian handed the music box to Miranda. “I believe this belongs to you.”
“Thanks.” So he had taken it in order to keep from upsetting Lily. How ridiculous of her to think that Ian might be rethinking their relationship.
They walked to the car in silence. Ian opened the door for her, and she slid onto the seat, placing the music box on her lap. She was glad when he climbed into the driver’s seat, put the key in the ignition, and immediately pulled out of the parking lot without saying a word. She didn’t want to talk or even think. All she wanted was to go home. Lily’s story had really affected her, making her wish she’d done things differently with Ian. She closed her eyes and tried to make her mind go blank. This had been a terrible trip. Too many memories had been stirred up, along with too many broken dreams.
After what seemed like just minutes, Ian stopped the car. They couldn’t be back in Pleasant View already. When she opened her eyes, she saw that they were in a restaurant parking lot. “What are you doing?”
He shifted the BMW into Park, then turned off the ignition. “It’s Valentine’s Day. I thought I’d take you out to eat.”
“I don’t understand.”
“I’ve been thinking about everything Lily said, and it made me realize I’ve been the biggest jerk. I never should have let you go. Or I should have gone with you to Texas. Done something. Anything to keep us together.”
“No, I’m the jerk, Ian. I shouldn’t have left you. I can always get another job, but there’ll never be another you.”
He opened his arms, and she went willingly into them, leaning her head against his shoulder as he kissed her. When their lips parted, he whispered against her hair, “I never stopped loving you.”
“I never stopped loving you either.” As Miranda was about to kiss him again, her phone rang. She reached into her purse and pulled it out. When she glanced at the screen, she groaned. “It’s my mom with her impeccable timing.”
He laughed. “Go on, answer it. I’ll always be thankful for your mother. If she hadn’t set us up on our first date, I never would have met you, and if she hadn’t bought the music box, I would’ve lost the love of my life.”
“She’s not the best matchmaker around for nothing,” she said to Ian, then into the phone: “Can’t talk, Mom. I’m on a date with Ian.” Before Beatrice could respond, Miranda hung up. She settled back into Ian’s arms. “So where were we? Oh yeah, we were right here.”
She brought her mouth up to meet his, but before she kissed him, he said, “So I guess this means you’ll be my valentine.”
Joy bubbled inside her, giving her a feeling of peace and contentment. She whispered against his lips, “Of course. Forever.”
*
About Raine English
Raine English is a bestselling author of contemporary and historical romances infused with magic and the paranormal. Her stories have won many awards, including finalling in the Romance Writers of America® Golden Heart® and winning the Daphne du Maurier Award. She lives in New England with her family, two dogs, and a mischievous cat. She can be found on the web at www.RaineEnglish.com and on Amazon at www.amazon.com/RaineEnglish/e/B00ADCU816. Subscribe to her newsletter at [email protected] to receive information on her new releases.
Also by Raine English
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Tin Angel
Date with a Vampire
Mistress of Raghery
Finding Mr. Right
by Lois Winston (writing as Emma Carlyle)
In this mini-sequel to the award-winning Hooking Mr. Right by Lois Winston (writing as Emma Carlyle,) editor Grace Wainwright, has taken over the role of bestselling author and romance guru Dr. Trulee Lovejoy. Thea Chandler, the original Trulee, is now married to her Mr. Right and is a successful cookbook author. She and Grace host the top-rated Love Recipes cooking show. When producer Becket Delaney announces the first two shows in February will have a Valentine’s Day theme, Grace freaks out. The worst day of her life occurred on Valentine’s Day ten years ago, and she wants no reminders of it. Beck has his own reasons for hating the holiday, but the show must go on, and he absolutely refuses to deal with an uncooperative prima donna. When a citywide blackout traps him and Grace in his thirty-fourth floor office, their adversarial relationship really begins to heat up.
Chapter One
January 2nd
“We’ll do a Valentine’s Day theme for the first two shows of the month.” Producer Becket Delaney handed the February program schedule to Dr. Trulee Lovejoy and Thea Chandler-Bennett, co-hosts of Love Recipes.
“No, we won’t.” Grace shoved the sheet of paper aside without looking at it. “I hate Valentine’s Day.”
“You’re Dr. Trulee Lovejoy,” said Beck, “bestselling author of all those how-to-catch-a-guy books. How can you possibly hate Valentine’s Day?”
Because she really wasn’t Dr. Trulee Lovejoy. She was Grace Wainwright, imposter. Then again, so was the real Dr. Trulee Lovejoy. Talk about a tangled web!
When Thea Chandler, writing under the pen name Dr. Trulee Lovejoy, had refused to promote her popular self-help books, Grace had no choice but to step into the limelight and take on the persona of the faux relationship expert. Her job was on the line. With two kids in college and a deadbeat ex, she couldn’t afford to lose her editorial position at Wordsmith Press.
Love, Valentine Style Page 12
