by Milan Watson
A STRANGER LIKE YOU
By
MILAN WATSON
When Ali Lincoln loses the father she never knew, she gains a step-brother she can’t resist.
Ali Lincoln, a party planner from New York goes from hero to zero in one day. Down and out, she’s requested to attend the reading of a will in Wilmington. With nothing else to do, curiosity leads Ali to Wilmington.
Gabe Montgomery just lost his step-father, the only father he ever knew. The only bright side is that he will finally be able to buy the land he’s had his eye on for some time. To his shock, sexy and witty Ali Lincoln shows up at the reading.
The lawyer leaves both Ali and Gabe flabbergasted with the terms set out in the testament.
Will Ali and Gabe fight for their inheritance or will they succumb to the strong attraction between them?
COPYRIGHT 2017 MILAN WATSON
All characters; events and establishments in this publication, other than those clearly in the public domain, are fictitious and any resemblance to real persons, living or dead is purely coincidental.
E-ISBN 978-0-620-76414-8
The moral right of the author has been asserted.
All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, without the prior permission in writing of the author.
Cover Design by: Southern Stiles Designs
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Also by Milan Watson
Seduced by the Boss
A Stranger Like You (a short story)
Sullivan Family Series
Bride on the Run (Book 1)
For Justice or Love (Book 2)
CHAPTER ONE
Ali Lincoln stepped out of her old Volkswagen Bug Convertible and assessed the town.
She had never been to Wilmington before, and though it wasn’t a small town, it was tiny compared to New York. New York had been her home for the last four years, ever since her mother had passed away from the Big C. Before that, they had called Portland home.
She was about forty minutes early for her appointment with the lawyer and decided to find some coffee. She had no idea why he had called her. Something about the Estate of Abernathy Gomez; she had never even heard of him, but it wasn’t like she had anywhere else to be.
Frankly, she needed to get away.
After planning the ultimate party for a rich New York trust fund baby, her so-called best friend and coworker had claimed all the merit and consequently got her fired.
She headed home early after packing her desk up yesterday only to find her boyfriend of two years in bed with his best friend Theo.
How did she not see that coming?
Yes, Todd was metro male, but Ali had always thought he was just a modern-day man. Didn’t most metro males wax and make sure they looked good?
Obviously, her gaydar had been way off.
After packing her things, she headed to a hotel for the night, not that she could afford it after being sacked, but she couldn’t spend another night in that bed, not after finding Todd and another man in an awkward position.
Soon after she arrived at the hotel she got the call. The lawyer had asked how soon she could come to Wilmington, North Carolina, as she was required to be at the reading of the will.
Strange, very strange, but since she had nothing better to do she found herself driving to Wilmington this morning.
She found a coffee shop not too far from where her car was parked and headed in. She ordered a sweet latte and, still lost in her thoughts, she turned.
Bam!
Ali walked straight into a man with the bluest eyes she had ever seen. Those eyes were flashing daggers her way, and unless she planned to lick her coffee off his shirt, she had just lost her coffee as well.
“I’m so sorry; I didn’t watch where I was going,” Ali stammered as she reached for the napkins on the counter.
“No kidding,” the man said.
Ali started rubbing at his chest where the coffee had now spread to a dark brown stain. “I’ve had the worst week so far, and now I’ve just made yours worse.”
He suddenly stilled her hands with his own. “It’s okay, relax.” His blue eyes focused on her; she felt a tingle of attraction run up her spine. “It’s just a shirt, and it isn’t so bad now that the coffee isn’t scalding anymore.”
Ali laughed at his remark and pulled her hands away self-consciously. She had just left her boyfriend less than twenty-four hours ago, and here she was pawing at a stranger with tingles lighting her body on fire.
“Well, sorry again,” she added hastily before walking out.
Ali headed briskly towards the lawyer’s offices; she’d rather sit there in a stuffy waiting room before more bad luck befell her today. She waited for about fifteen minutes until the secretary showed her in.
The lawyer was a man of at least fifty and welcomed her graciously. “I’m Jeremiah Owens, pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Ali shook his hand and sat in one of the chairs in front of his desk. “If I may ask, Mr. Owens, what is this about? I’ve never even heard of an Abernachy Gomez.”
“Abernathy Gomez, Miss Lincoln,” he corrected while peering at her over his glasses. “We’ll get to all of that in a minute; we’re expecting someone else to join us.”
At that moment the door opened, and the coffee stain on the shirt preceding the man under it made Ali blush. How much worse could this day get?
“Gabe, thanks for joining us. This is Miss Ali Lincoln,” and the lawyer turned towards Ali. “This is Gabe Montgomery.”
Gabe laughed and held out his hand. “By the way, thanks for the coffee.”
“It wasn’t on purpose, and I did apologize,” Ali retorted.
Mr. Owens took in the exchange, ignored it and got down to business. “If you’d both sit down, we can start the reading.”
Once the will was opened and everyone was quiet, he began. “I hereby grant my son, Gabe Montgomery, fifty percent of all assets. The remaining fifty percent of my assets are to be used to trace Miss Ali Lincoln and once found the balance of my assets will become hers.”
Gabe let out a curse.
Ali looked at both men confused. “Why would he leave me half his assets?”
Mr. Owens handed Ali a letter. “He asked that you read this out loud to me and Gabe once the will was read. Would you prefer to read it in private first?”
“No, let’s just get this done with. Before yesterday I had never even heard of the guy.” Ali tore open the letter and started reading.
Dear Ali
You don’t know me, and I have never had the privilege to meet you.
I knew your mother a long time ago, and she kept me informed of your life over the years. I had always wanted to meet you, but your mother was afraid it would confuse you when you were young, and when you became older, I never had the courage to come see you.
When I heard of your mother’s passing, I wanted to reach out but once again my courage failed me. I am your father. Your mother and I shared a summer romance, during which she became pregnant. Soon after finding out we realized we weren’t meant to be together.
Instead of raising you in an unhappy home, your mother decided to move to Portland and raise you by herself. I hope you can forgive me my weakness and absenteeism all these years.
I hope you’ll accept the terms of my will if only to get to know your family.
Love
Your Father, Abernathy Gomez.
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“You must be kidding me, I had a dad, and she never told me?” Ali looked to Mr. Owens and Gabe, as if they knew the answers. “I just always accepted it was a summer romance and he didn’t love her.”
“Well, since she kept him from you, maybe it was the other way round, maybe she didn’t love him,” Gabe answered softly.
“I need to think about this,” Ali stated.
“Take all the time you need. You’re welcome to stay at Abe’s house; it’s half yours anyway,” Mr. Owens said as he started putting folders away.
“Now wait just a damn minute, I don’t have a problem sharing the money, Jeremiah, but she’s not staying in my house,” Gabe countered.
Mr. Owens calmly looked at Gabe before saying, “Fifty-fifty, Gabe, which includes the house. And you’re the only family this girl has in Wilmington; don’t make your mama turn in her grave with your behavior.”
“He was my step-dad,” Gabe said wearily and gave Ali a frosty stare. “But don’t let that fool you; he was my dad as much as yours and I’m claiming at least my half.”
Ali processed the information. He was her stepbrother, and even if he wasn’t blood he would be able to tell her more about her father than she could ever know.
Having nowhere else to go and nothing else to do she made split second decision. “Well, I guess I’ll follow you home then.”
CHAPTER TWO
Gabe Montgomery watched as Ali asked Jeremiah a few questions before she walked out of the lawyer's office. When she had doused him with coffee earlier he smelled the New York on her. She wasn’t from around town.
Anger permeated from his pores over the will. Abe had once mentioned a summer fling before he met Gabe’s mom, but he had never mentioned the resultant child. According to him, Gabe had been the closest thing to a child he had ever known.
After the initial shock of his step-father’s death had softened, Gabe had slowly come to realize that he would inherit the house and a tidy sum. Finally, he would be able to purchase the prime spot of land on the beach that he had been eyeing.
Besides the fact that her bouncy blonde hair and doe brown eyes were distracting, Ali Lincoln would be seriously complicating his plans.
Gabe hadn’t appreciated the female form in over two years, since Peggy-Mae had left for New York. After five years together Gabe had thought it was time to propose and settle down ... until she had dropped the bomb that she wasn’t suited to the boring, small town, coastal life of Wilmington.
What was it she said? She needed more excitement, more options in her life. Part of the sting was that Gabe knew with ‘options’ she meant men. He thereafter avoided any form of relationship; apparently once a woman was with him long enough they needed more options. Deep down he knew he shouldn’t be so hard on himself; it was Peggy-Mae’s decision after all. But it still irked him to think he was ready to plan a life with her when she had been ready to move on without him.
After greeting the lawyer, he followed Ali out to where she waited beside an old VW bug. Her legs were long and tanned and it infuriated Gabe that he even noticed.
He almost walked past her before shouting over his shoulder, “I’m in the red pick-up; you can follow me to my house.”
“You mean our house,” her perky voice shouted back.
Gabe cast a mean look before getting into his pick-up. How on Earth was he going to deal with having a woman live with him, especially one who heated his blood with one look and had just thrown a giant axe into his plans?
He pulled up next to the house, and the whole truck shivered as he slammed the door shut as Ali pulled up behind him.
“Wow, it’s quite homey, isn’t it?” Ali asked cheerfully.
Gabe harrumphed before striding past her to the backdoor. “That’s why it’s called home.”
Her fresh floral perfume drifted over him as she continued talking. “You know what I mean. Some houses look clean, others look modern and some look friendly. Like this one.”
“Well, we used to be a right friendly bunch,” Gabe muttered as he moved to the fridge. He reached for a beer, thought better of it, and grabbed a soda. After taking a long drink, he discovered Ali still standing in the doorway, watching him. He felt guilty for a moment, for not welcoming her inside, but since it was half hers, she didn’t need his permission.
“Well, apparently this place is half yours, so make yourself at home.”
“Wow, thanks, I feel welcome already.”
Ali narrowed her soft brown eyes and Gabe wondered if he should’ve felt intimidated, when all it achieved was making her look cute.
She walked past him through the kitchen and into the living room.
He stood drinking his soda, thinking he’d give her a couple of minutes to explore before he went to set down some ground rules. If he was lucky, she would find Wilmington boring soon enough, would rather sell her half to him and return to New York. Or at least that was the plan.
About ten minutes later Gabe went looking for her; he had a whole list of rules he had thought up to make her time here as inconvenient as possible. He was prepared to defend his territory, no matter what the cost.
He found her standing in Abe’s room. Gabe felt anger rush up at the intrusion, until he realized she had every right to be there. Maybe even more. She looked lost with her back to him, arms hanging at her sides.
For a moment he couldn’t help but feel sorry for her. She had just discovered and lost a father in one morning, so maybe today wasn’t the best day to start with his new set of ground rules.
Before he could speak he heard her soft voice. “Was this his room?”
“Yes, it was.”
“It’s strange, I’ve never even met him and yet standing here I feel sad.”
Not knowing how to answer, Gabe kept quiet.
“How did he die?”
A fresh wave of grief washed over Gabe. “Two weeks ago today. Heart attack, we never would’ve guessed. He was strong as an ox and healthy as a horse.”
Ali nodded her head before turning around. A tear had slipped from her eyes and before Gabe could stop himself he brushed it away with his thumb.
“Come on, let me show you where you can sleep.”
He was caught off guard by the amount of emotion that welled up in his chest. He hadn’t been in that room since Abe passed away - that was the only reason she slipped through his defenses.
Gabe led her down the hall to the spare bedroom his mother had redecorated a year before her death. He never understood the necessity but now was grateful for it.
“Here, it’s got a half bath, and the cleaning lady put on fresh linen a couple of days ago.” Not knowing what else to say, he ran his fingers through his hair before turning to the door. “I need to go to work, make yourself at home. I’ll see you later.”
Gabe made sure he came home late. He spent the afternoon at his latest construction site, satisfied with how the crew was progressing.
Montgomery Construction had been hired to renovate a two-story on the beach. They needed to do a complete rebuild of the kitchen and the patio overlooking the beach and inside there were a few minor changes. Cupboards, a fresh coat of paint, and spa bath in the main bedroom.
Once the crew had left, Gabe couldn’t summon the courage to go home yet. He headed into town, got himself a large pizza and went back to the site.
Creating a makeshift desk from the woodcutting easel outside on the new unvarnished deck, he fired up his laptop. He planned to go over some emails, but soon found himself lost in the work, quoting on new projects.
CHAPTER THREE
Ali wandered through the empty house, searching for anything that told her more about the father she’d never known. After a lengthy inspection of a photograph of Abernathy Gomez, she was surprised to find that her perky nose so unlike her mother’s soft button nose, she had inherited from her father.
She spent about thirty minutes debating whether or not to unpack her clothes in the spare bedroom closet. Eventually s
he decided for it; she was going to stay at least a week until she figured out where to next. The prospect of inheriting half of pop Abe’s estate, as she come to think of him, wasn’t nearly as intriguing as learning more about the man she didn’t even know existed.
Anger and irritation had oozed off Gabe. Ali knew he was as surprised as she was about the will, but there wasn’t anything she could do about it. He would just have to deal with having her around, at least for a while.
Ali headed to the kitchen and peeked into cupboards. Although it felt like intruding, she was hungry and wanted a home cooked meal. There wasn’t much, but at least she could make decent spaghetti from the sparse rationings.
She found a bottle of red wine, not anything good, but something to take the edge off a headache that had been threatening since she had stepped into the house.
Pouring herself a glass, she found her music on her phone and let Van Morrison drift over her as she started to cook.
Why didn’t her mother ever tell her that her father was alive? Her mother had never said it outright, but the way she spoke Ali just accepted that he had died and her mother didn’t want to talk about it. She had so many unanswered questions, so many doubts, and most of all a feeling of loss she found hard to understand.
A tear slipped down her cheek as she stirred the sauce. How could you miss someone you’ve never met? More tears followed.
It wasn’t the loss of Abe Gomez; it was the fact that until two weeks ago she had a father, a father she could’ve loved and laughed with, the fact that she never had that chance.
Wiping furiously at her tears, Ali swiped through the contacts on her phone and phoned her aunt Viv.
“Ali?” Aunt Viv’s cheerful voice alone brought a smile to Ali’s face. “How are you, dear?”
She smirked before answering, but if anyone had the answers it would be Aunt Viv. “Hi, Aunt Viv,” Ali greeted. “So you’ll never guess where I am.” There was only one way to catch Aunt Viv off guard.
