His eyes narrowed. “What exactly did you burn?”
Several firemen came around the corner, making a beeline for her.
“Oh, you know. Wood, fabric, that sort of thing.”
The firemen were surprisingly intimidating in their thick yellow coats and pants, heavy boots and stern expressions.
“Ma’am,” the older of the two addressed her. “Are you aware it’s illegal to burn within the city limits? Especially a chair in an alley?”
“Ah, hell.” Greg rubbed his face again. “Go on inside, sweetheart. I’ll take care of this.”
“Wait a second, Detective. You can’t—”
“I can and I am.”
Ally trailed inside, leaving the two men arguing on the sidewalk.
“Thank you, Jia Li.” Ally accepted a steaming cup of coffee from her. The first cup of the morning got the whole day moving. “Did you get those forms sent off okay?”
“Yes, Miss Thompson. And I filed the copies.”
“Good. I’ve asked you to call me Ally.”
Jia Li ducked her head, a blush staining her porcelain cheeks. Between her and Celia, Ally felt like an awkward, bumbling Amazon. But she hadn’t endured uncertainty and violence for naught. If nothing else, she’d secured a definite vision of who she was and her value. She smiled. And a whole new life.
“You’re my boss. It doesn’t seem right to be so informal.” Jia Li’s voice was lyrical.
In the time she’d been working for her and Celia, Jia Li’s English had improved by leaps and bounds. Her ability to absorb information had ceased to amaze them several weeks into training. She was like a sponge.
“We aren’t exactly running an international cooperation here. A little informality won’t hurt.”
Jia Li’s head came up, a surprising fierceness shining in her blue eyes. “No, we offer much more important service than some huge company caring nothing for anything but their bottom line. We save women. We rescue them. You and Miss Marsing are doing remarkable things, reaching out and working so hard to help other women.”
Tears sparkled in Jia Li’s eyes. After a little up-and-down bob remarkably like a curtsy, she fled the room.
Ally stared after her. She’d known Jia Li thought a lot of what they were trying to do, but she’d had no idea.
Wow.
Celia strolled into her office and sat down in a chair across from her desk.
“What have you done to Jia Li now?” Humor lined her voice. “She about ran me down in the hallway.”
Ally shook her head, picked up her coffee cup and took a sip. As usual, Jia Li had added the perfect amount of sugar and creamer. “I didn’t do anything. She gave me a beautiful set down about what a wonderful thing we’re doing for the women of this town and how we’re a thousand-fold above some big corporation.” She grinned. “I’m paraphrasing, but you get the idea.”
“I’ll say. Good for her.” Celia smoothed her already-perfect blonde hair.
Ally caught a flash of sparkle on her left hand.
“Celia!” She bolted from her chair and rounded the desk to plop down in the other chair. Ally took Celia’s hand and examined the lovely diamond solitaire. “Well?”
Celia smiled. “He proposed during lunch at our favorite restaurant, over a chilled bowl of chocolate mousse. When Lucas got down on one knee, the waitress gasped and clutched at her chest so dramatically I thought she might faint. Anyway, that’s why I was late this afternoon. We took a detour on the way back.”
“Had to run home and celebrate?”
She nodded and Ally hugged her tight. She was so happy for her. As they’d built their business, they’d grown as close as sisters and she knew Lucas meant everything to her.
A few minutes later, Celia left and Ally went back to work. Or tried. Resting her chin in her hand, she stared out the window.
Celia and Lucas were so in love. Watching the stern-faced Lucas love and care for Celia so tenderly made Ally realize how much she wanted the same thing. Someone to love her. Unbidden, Greg’s face danced through her mind.
Even if she didn’t find a special someone, she could, and would, be strong on her own two feet. Look how far she’d already come. The shelter was bustling. They’d received hundreds of thousands of dollars in donations from people throughout the city, and beyond. Celia’s connections proved more and more valuable with each passing day.
Celia’s connections included an older brother who owned the building they sat in. Or he had until Celia convinced him to sell it to them for a song. Ally suspected he was the reason she’d gotten such an amazing deal on her condo, but she refused to dwell on it.
The location made leaving work difficult—a fact in the forefront of her mind hours later. Her stomach growled, reminding her she’d missed lunch. She sat back and stretched, her muscles popping from being hunched over her computer too long.
One of the shelter’s women needed a job, a special one. Still in transition, learning to trust people and to comport herself in a business environment, she was a tough case. She’d get there, though, and when she did, she’d need a job.
One of Ally’s tasks involved finding the perfect job for each woman’s individual strengths, while remembering their weaknesses. She loved the challenge, no matter how difficult. Like now.
Jia Li bustled in. “Your tickets will be waiting for you at the airline counter, Miss Thompson. I requested an aisle seat like you prefer and I confirmed your reservations. You’re all set to go.”
Jia Li handed her a sheet of paper with the information, stood back and beamed at her like a proud momma. Ally wriggled in her seat. “What?”
“You’re such an inspiration to me. To all the women you bring here to help.”
Ally flushed. Confronting her fears and daring to be adventurous had been hard. Especially alone. Celia occasionally went along on her weekend getaways, but Ally knew she preferred to stay close to Lucas. Even so, Ally didn’t see herself as an inspiration to anyone. The women who arrived there had endured far worse than she had. If anything, they encouraged her to continue on her chosen path and not to give in to the heartbreak dogging her.
“You’re sweet, Jia Li. All you’ve accomplished since coming to work for us has inspired me more than you’ll ever know.”
“You are too kind, Miss Thompson. It’s time to go home now.”
“Okay.” Ally shuffled through some papers and glanced up.
Jia Li still stood there.
“Okay. I’m going, I’m going.”
They walked to the front door together. Through a locked security door to the left was the main entry for the condos above, all of which had sold in the past six months.
Jia Li opened the front door, smiling. “Have a good trip, Miss Thompson. Don’t do anything too dangerous. I expect to see you back here Monday morning.”
“I’ll be careful. I promise.”
Ally smiled and waved, locking the door behind her. Celia had left early. More celebrating, she assumed. Plus, she had a wedding to plan.
Ally ignored the twinge of envy and climbed the stairs to her room. She had to be at the airport in an hour, toiletries still needed to be thrown into her carry-on and having something to eat before she was trapped aboard a plane would be nice.
Water splashed Ally’s face, soaking her hair and clothes as the remote river tossed the big raft from side to side. Laughing, she clung to the side. She wasn’t too concerned about getting thrown overboard, thanks to her trusty life jacket.
If she’d known “adventurers” took so many precautions, she would have joined them ages ago. Now she tried to find something new and exciting to fill each weekend. Might not be the best coping mechanism, but it worked for her.
The raft bucked in the air and a middle-aged man grabbed a-hold of her. She laughed and untangled herself from him.
“Mr. Brown, I told you to behave.”
He grinned. They hit another crest. Too late, she reached for the rope handle, went airborne and landed
hard in the cold water.
The swirling water closed over her head before the life jacket did its job and shot her to the surface. She coughed up water, only to swallow more. A strong arm wrapped around her chest and hauled her into the raft. Collapsing into the bottom, she gasped and coughed up muddy river water.
She stared at her rescuer.
“I can think of better places for a bath, sweetheart.”
“Greg.” She scrambled to her knees. “What are you doing here?”
“I was bored. Thought I’d take a weekend trip. Who knew I’d get to play hero and rescue you, just like old times.”
Ally climbed onto the seat beside him and slapped him on the shoulder.
“Ow.” He rubbed his shoulder. “You been working out?”
“Funny. I don’t get into that much trouble.”
“You’ve been trouble since the day I sat down in a roller coaster beside you.”
“Hey. That wasn’t my fault.” She smacked him again, putting a little more muscle into it this time.
“Ouch. You have been working out.” Greg rubbed his arm, grinning.
Like her puny little muscles could bruise him, even if she had been working out. Which she had. All her extra energy had to go somewhere. The man hadn’t done her any favors by waking her libido. Granted, she could take care of the more pressing needs herself, but most of the time, it only made things worse. So, she’d borrowed a page from the testosterone handbook and hit the gym.
“So, you just happened to turn up on the same rafting trip? How did I miss you getting on the boat?”
“Yep. As for missing me, you were a little busy with chubby and balding up there.” He gestured up front.
Mr. Brown stared forlornly back, his soulful brown eyes glazing over when he spotted her. She smiled and waved. He wasn’t the first man on one of these trips who thought a single woman would be desperate to hook up with the first available male.
After all, the big 3-0 had hit last month. She glanced at Greg, sitting there looking so untouchable. Emotionally, at least. He’d made it clear he was open for a roll in the hay.
They hit another wave, almost throwing her out of the back of the raft. Greg anchored an arm around her waist, hugging her to his side.
“Careful there, Sugar Lips. We wouldn’t want to lose you.”
She pulled free of his arms and put some safe distance between them. “I’m supposed to believe this is all some big coincidence?”
He shrugged. “Twist of fate, nothing more.”
She snorted. Fat chance. She wasn’t the gullible girl she’d been when they first met.
Ally unlocked the door, dragging her carry-on behind her into her condo. She re-engaged all the locks and reactivated the alarm. Sleeping for a week sounded like heaven, and she didn’t want any uninvited company disturbing her. Far too many people in her life could break in without so much as a by-your-leave.
Between staying in the raft, keeping Mr. Brown at bay and preventing Greg from strangling the amazingly persistent man—all while dealing with her own conflicting emotions about Celia and Lucas’ engagement—the trip had exhausted her. She felt like she’d been through the wringer and strung up to dry.
Without even bothering to unpack, she dumped her luggage in the compact laundry room and headed into her bathroom. After a long, hot shower, she felt more human. A thorough rubdown with her favorite lemon-scented lotion further relaxed her, and she pulled on her knee-length robe.
Wandering into the living room, Ally curled up on the couch with a blanket, a glass of wine and a romance novel she’d picked up at one of her stopovers. She lost herself in historic Edwardian England until hammering on her door rudely jerked her back to reality.
“Of all the nerve.” She twisted the door handle. “Interrupting me right in the middle of the first love scene.”
“Do you always talk to yourself? Because that could be something of a problem.” Greg lounged against her doorframe, grinning.
“Okaaay.”
He stepped inside.
Ally crossed her arms and raised her brow. “What?”
“You smell incredible. Fresh.”
“That happens when people take a shower.” Interest darkened his eyes and she swallowed. “So, uhm, did you need something?”
He nodded. Even after so long, her body responded to the heated look in his eyes.
“Yes.” One step brought him within arm’s reach.
“I told you, I’m not available for a roll in the hay.”
“You said you need more.”
She tightened her arms defensively, trying to still her racing heart.
Greg trailed his fingers along her jaw. “What if I’m offering more?”
Was he offering more? She licked her lips.
His gaze dropped to her mouth.
“Well, I suppose that would depend on how much more.”
He dropped down on one knee.
Ally was pretty sure her eyes bugged out of her head. For sure, her heart stopped beating for half a second.
“Ally, would you do me the incredible honor of becoming my wife?”
“What?” she whispered. Oh, no. She’d had too much wine and passed out on the couch dreaming. “Why?”
“You have to have it all, don’t you?” Sighing, he shook his head. His blue-green gaze snagged hers. “I love your hazel eyes, your brown hair, and your sassiness. I love your bone-deep loyalty to your friends. I love the way you demand equality and protection in the same breath. I love you, sweetheart.”
Her heart cracked open. Tears rolled down her cheeks.
Tugging on her hand, Greg pulled her down to sit on his bent knee. “I love you,” he whispered against her lips. “Put me out of my misery. Say you’ll be mine for the rest of our lives.”
The girl she’d been, with no self-esteem, loomed in front of her, laughing. Are you really buying all this? This guy doesn’t love you. He’s just looking to get laid again. Ally trembled, trying to get back to the new woman she’d discovered inside and loved. She failed.
“But…I don’t understand.” Ally pulled away and stood. “All these weeks you’ve been gone, doing your own thing. I mean, sure, you’ve shown up on my trips a few times, but it never seemed like anything had changed. You still didn’t want a relationship. I can’t. I can’t do this, Greg. I’m sorry. I just don’t believe that out of the blue you realized you were in love with me.”
Her heart was breaking all over again. “You need to leave,” she said quietly.
He stood. For the longest minute of her life, he just stared at her with disbelief written across his handsome face.
Looking at him hurt. So she didn’t.
The sound of her front door closing sounded more like the slamming of a jail cell on a life-long sentence of loneliness.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Ally stared at the back of some guy’s white T-shirt. The sun beat down on her. Grease-scented air wafted past and the screams of people having fun filled her ears. Ah, the sounds and smells of an amusement park.
“Come on.” Some guy grabbed her arm and she snapped her head around. Unbelievable. The same pushy park attendant from her first time dragged her along behind him. “You’re a lucky lady. You get to ride in the special car.”
Oh, joy. Facing the most pivotal moment of her life had seemed like a great idea. Well, the time when she was thirteen and Jimmy Boeze had singled her out had been pretty momentous, until he’d dumped a bowl of lukewarm chili in her lap. Walking around junior high with a stained lap had garnered all sorts of lovely commentary from her peers. Ah, memories.
Mr. Obnoxious pushed her into the last car. Seriously, if he laid one more finger on her, she’d remove it.
“Okay, let’s get you buckled in.” He grabbed the belt.
“Alright, that’s it.” Ally smacked his hand away, but when she turned to tear a piece off his hide, blue-green eyes the color of the Aegean Sea twinkled down at her. Greg hooked the back of Mr. Obnoxious
’ shirt collar and yanked him upright. His eyes widened when he spotted Greg.
She didn’t blame him. Greg had beefed up. Those biceps…yum. A week ago, she hadn’t noticed. A week. Seven of the most miserable nights spent tossing and turning, barely sleeping. Seven days of deliriously struggling to get through while deliveries arrived like clockwork. The daily dose of massive flower bouquets had turned her condo into a flower shop.
Greg climbed in beside her. Exactly where he’d sat the first time. With an uneasy smile, she started to slide over to the far seat. But somebody else was already climbing in. Drat.
“Need some help with your buckle?” Greg asked.
“Uh, nope. I’ve got it. Thanks.”
“If you’re sure.”
“Yep.” She forced a big smile and latched the belt. “See? I’m good.”
The roller coaster started with a jerk and whine of gears. Five seconds later the ride whipped around a corner and threw her against Greg. She nearly whimpered aloud, he felt so good. All hard and muscular. Sitting up straight took more willpower than she cared to admit. Up and down, around a few more curves, and they careened inside the building.
Ally tensed. A big, warm hand settled at the nape of her neck and rubbed the tight muscles. Tingling erupted everywhere. She snagged her lower lip between her teeth and bit down against a moan.
“Ally,” he whispered in her ear. “You’re killing me, baby. I’ve never told a woman I loved her before. I think your response traumatized me for life.”
She shook her head. “Greg…”
With his finger under her chin, he turned her to face him. The rumble of the car, their fellow passengers, all faded away. “I’m serious. It took me a while, but I get it now. For a long time I avoided a real relationship with you. With anyone. When my parents were killed and I had to take over raising my sister, it tore me up. I kept relationships simple and temporary after that. I didn’t want to risk the pain of loss again.”
“I know.”
“Even when I knew for a fact I cared for…” He frowned. “What do you mean you know?”
“I know you were afraid of having a relationship. Commitment, feelings, all that stuff.” Ally patted his thigh. And if her hand lingered a little longer than absolutely necessary…well, what of it?
Sweet Deception Page 26
