Being here in his arms, hearing his soothing voice, feeling him this close... The memories washed through and flooded her heart, bringing back feelings she had tried for so long to deny. This was where they had started and she knew in her heart that she had never stopped loving him. “I can’t...I can’t lose him.”
“I know,” he whispered softly in her ear as he stroked the length of her back. “You won’t lose him. I promise.”
He kissed her forehead, tenderly soothing the tears and sobs away.
She reveled in the strong protection he offered. Here, in his arms, nothing bad could ever happen. He had a way of always making everything all right.
She didn’t know how long they stood there, but after a while she took a deep breath and stepped back. He released her and gently tipped her chin up with his finger. She looked up into his dark, loving eyes. They were safe and assuring. Right then she knew she was lost once more. Falling in love with Tyson had been easy the first time. Loving him now was as natural as breathing.
“He’s all I have left, Tyson...” she began.
“Trust me. You have more than you can imagine. I’m here. I will always be here for you.”
His words washed through her like a warm wave of calm. Trusting him had never been an issue. He had never lied to her. Years ago, when he’d told her that he was here for a job and would be leaving as soon as it was over, it had been the truth. But she’d thought she could persuade him to stay. He hadn’t and she’d been crushed. That was when she’d left.
“I’m okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”
“No, please don’t apologize,” he said, smiling. He cradled her face in his hands as his thumbs wiped away the last of her tears. “Are you okay?”
She nodded. Why does he have to be so wonderful? “I’m fine.”
He released her and she stepped back and looked away. “My heart breaks every time I see you cry. Did you know that?” She turned back to him and shook her head. He smiled. “Remember the first night we met?”
She nodded. “I’m surprised you remember that night,” she said.
“Of course I remember. How could I forget? That was the night my life changed, the night I fell in love with you.”
The lump in her throat instantly dissolved and her nerves stilled. It felt as if, all of a sudden, the world had slowed, just for that moment. Without thought or hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was completely impulsive, but it felt so right. He kissed her back and then everything she had been feeling exploded. All she could think about was being with him just one more time. The kiss deepened and the passion escalated. Then, suddenly, everything stopped. He pulled back.
“Janelle. Janelle, wait,” Tyson said, breathing hard and holding her from him. “We can’t. Not like this. You’re upset and vulnerable. I can’t take advantage of you and I don’t want you to have any regrets when we make love.”
“Tyson, I’m fine,” she assured him, moving closer.
“I know, but I’m not.”
“You’re turning me down.”
He leaned in and kissed the sweet underside just behind her ear. “You have no idea how much I want you right now. Believe me, when I walk out of here in the next few minutes I’m gonna hate myself, but this isn’t enough for us, not anymore.”
She licked her lips, took a deep breath and nodded slowly. He was right. She was upset and vulnerable, but she also wanted to be with him. Still she nodded. “Yes, you’re right. This is too fast.”
“I think I’d better go,” he said, turning to the door.
“Wait...” she said. He turned around. “Thank you.”
“For what?” he asked.
“For telling me the truth, for being here for me,” she said, half smiling. “For always being here for me.”
“Janelle, I will always tell you the truth, and there’s no other place I want to be except here with you.” He leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly. “I’ll see you later.”
“Later,” she said softly. She watched as he got into his car and drove off, then closed the door, walked over to the stairs and sat.
This was information overload. Her father seemed fine medically, but she still intended to talk to both him and his doctor. She grabbed her cell phone and called her father’s office. His voice mail answered, but she decided not to leave a message: she didn’t want to upset him. She went back into the living room and walked over to the mantel. Four Christmas stockings—it looked as though they were one big happy family.
She still couldn’t believe her father had called Tyson and not her. But if her reaction to hearing the news was any indication, then maybe he had been right not to do so. She was out of control and completely irrational. Going to her father at that moment would have gotten him upset and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Tyson was right. She needed to calm down before talking to her father.
She walked over to the sofa and sat, taking a deep breath before dialing her father’s office phone number again. He answered. “Hi, Dad. Got a few minutes?” she began.
“Hey, sweetheart. Sure—just a few, though. Everything okay?”
“Yes...well, not really. I spoke with Tyson a few minutes ago. He told me about your heart attack and stroke.” She heard her father sigh. “Dad, why didn’t you tell me? I could have come home. I could have been with you.”
“And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you rushing home upset, and had I told you, that’s exactly what you would have done. I had the best doctors and the best medical care available. Believe me, if any further problems arose, I would have called you, but they didn’t. And now I feel better than ever.”
She couldn’t deny that. Her father looked better than he had in years. He’d lost weight, he was eating right and he was taking care of himself.
“That’s not the point. You should have called me.”
“To do what?” he asked. “There was nothing you could have done at the time except sit and worry, and I didn’t want that. Now, I need to get to a meeting and get my business back in just as good shape.”
“Okay, but I still want to talk about this.”
He chuckled. “Of course you do. Now go enjoy your day and don’t worry about me. I’m just fine.”
“All right. See you later.” She hung up, feeling a little better. Tyson was right. She thought about their conversation in the foyer and her reaction. He had always been the calm in the middle of her emotional storms. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed him! It was totally out of character for her, surprising both of them, even as he kissed her back. Janelle reached up and touched her lips. She could still feel the pull of his mouth on hers.
He seemed different, that much was without doubt—certainly not the arrogant and aggressive man he had been before. There was a gentle calmness about him now. Maybe it was his young daughter’s influence. Children had a way of changing a person’s world for the better—what was important one minute suddenly wasn’t anymore. But was he really different?
She didn’t know what to think. Her father obviously trusted him.
Her cell phone beeped with a text message from Nya, who was on her way to the restaurant. Janelle grabbed her purse and hurried out. Time enough later to worry about Tyson, her father and her future.
Chapter 7
Janelle parked her car a block away and hurried to the restaurant. When she tried to open the door handle, it was locked, and the dark, smoky glass obscured her view. She looked at the decorative sign in the window. The Chesterfield was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the Baltimore area. Its chef was world renowned and reservations were almost impossible to get... So where was Nya?
She looked around and then started to leave. A few steps away, she heard the restaurant door being unlocked and opened. She turned,
seeing a gorgeous man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt standing in the open doorway. With blond hair and sea-blue eyes, he looked as if he’d come right off a movie set.
“Excuse me. Are you Janelle?” he asked.
She nodded. “Yes.”
He smiled and deep dimples cut through his handsome face. “Hi, I’m Brad. Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.” He held the door for her to enter. Once inside she looked around, amazed by the sheer splendor and ambience of the entranceway.
“Follow me. We’re in the kitchen, and lunch is almost ready,” he said, heading around the bar to the main dining area. “Nya’s already sipping champagne.”
“Of course she is,” Janelle confirmed. She knew her sister too well. Even in muted light and empty, the place sparkled and shone with stunning radiance.
“So, you’re Nya’s sister.”
“Yep, one of them.”
“I’ve known Nya for a while. I didn’t know she had sisters,” he said.
“She has two. We’re all stepsisters. Different mothers and different fathers,” she said. Brad turned and looked at her, confused. She smiled. “It’s complicated. Trust me, explaining it will probably give you a headache.”
They snaked through the spotless stainless-steel counters and wait stations to a small room beside the main kitchen, where Nya was sitting at a small round table, talking on her cell phone. When she saw Janelle she smiled, waved and quickly ended her conversation. “Thanks, Brad.”
He blew her an air-kiss and went back to the kitchen.
“Hey, girl,” she exclaimed with her arms open wide.
Janelle smiled and walked over to her. They hugged and laughed. “It’s so good to see you. Oh, my God, you look sensational.”
“You, too,” Janelle said.
“Well, yeah, of course I do, but I wasn’t exactly working in the middle of the desert. You’re practically glowing. Come on. Let’s sit down. Brad made us something amazing for lunch.”
“Brad, huh? Nice. He’s gorgeous.”
She smiled and winked. “We’re just friends. Long story, great ending,” she said just as her cell phone rang again. Nya looked at the number and smiled. “I need to get this.” She pressed the FaceTime accept button and smiled. “We’re here,” she said, turning the phone around so Janelle could speak.
“Hello, ladies,” Mia said, sing-songing a greeting to her two sisters.
Janelle beamed with delight at seeing her other sister on the video app on Nya’s cell phone. “Oh, my God, Mia, look at you. You look fantastic. How are you and how’s everybody?”
“I’m fine. We’re all fine. Everything’s great. I’m so sorry to miss our pre-Christmas lunch and shopping this year. But how are you?”
“I’m wonderful. It’s so good to see you. How’s my godson?”
“Our godson,” Nya joked.
“He’s amazing. Hold on a second. I’ll let you see him. He just went down for his nap.” Mia held her phone down to her sleeping baby in the crib. Both Janelle and Nya squealed with joy at seeing him and then silenced quickly. But it was too late. He began to stir and his lower lip pouted.
A second later his eyes opened. He whimpered and then started crying. “Aw-ww,” Janelle and Nya said in unison.
“Oh, well, ladies, looks like I’m back on mommy duty. I’ll call you guys later tonight. Have a great lunch. Welcome home, Janelle. I love you both,” Mia said, waving.
Janelle smiled as Nya ended the call. “It feels so good to be home. You have no idea.”
“It’s good to have you back. So, tell me, how’s my stepdad?” Janelle’s expression instantly changed. “What’s wrong? Is Ben okay?”
Janelle sighed heavily, shaking her head. “He’s fine, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know what to think.”
“What do you mean?”
“My dad had a heart attack and a mild stroke.”
“What? When?” Nya asked quickly.
“About six months ago. I didn’t even know about it. He didn’t tell me. Apparently, I had just left for Tanzania when it happened.”
“Oh, my God. And he’s just telling you this now?”
“No, that’s just it. He didn’t tell me. Tyson told me. Dad called him instead of me after it happened.”
“Whoa, wait a minute. Tyson, as in Tyson Croft—your Tyson Croft?” Nya asked. Janelle nodded. “Okay, wait, I don’t get it. Why did Ben call him and not you—or me, for that matter?”
“He told me that he hadn’t wanted to worry me and have me rush home to be with him. If Tyson hadn’t told me, I never would have known what happened.”
“Okay, start from the beginning. What does Tyson have to do with this and when did he come back into the picture?”
Brad brought their lunch. After a brief conversation, the two began eating as Janelle told Nya about her homecoming and seeing Tyson again and meeting his daughter.
“A four-year-old daughter,” Nya exclaimed.
“Wait, there’s more.” Janelle continued the story.
By the time the meal was done Janelle had told Nya everything about her father’s business problem and Tyson living in her home with his daughter.
Nya shook her head. “This is too unreal. I can’t believe it. I had no idea. I spoke with Ben a couple of weeks ago and he never mentioned anything to me.”
“I know the feeling,” Janelle said sarcastically.
“Okay, so Tyson is working with Ben now. You talked to him. He told you about what’s been going on, but what about the two of you?” she asked.
“What do you mean?” Janelle asked.
“You know exactly what I mean. Two and a half years ago you and Tyson were headed down the aisle. Then all of a sudden he’s gone and you leave for Africa. Now you’re back and he’s back. What happens now?”
“I don’t know,” Janelle said, taking a deep breath and shaking her head. She looked at her sister and sighed. “I kissed him.” Nya smiled without responding. “Nya, you don’t understand. I mean I really kissed him,” Janelle reiterated.
“Yes, I do understand. You’re my sister. Yeah, maybe not by blood, but with us, that doesn’t really matter. I know you, and deep down in your heart you still have feelings for Tyson, and I know that he has some pretty strong feelings for you, too.” Janelle shook her head as Nya nodded. “You’re gonna have to relent, Janelle. You two had the romance of the century, and fine, things fell apart at the end, but you and I both know that wasn’t the end—not really. My advice—grab all the love and happiness you can and, in this case, it’s with Tyson.”
“Since when did you become a romance guru?”
“Apparently since now,” Nya said, smiling.
“It’s not that easy, Nya. I wish it was. He’s leaving again.”
Nya reached across the table to hold her sister’s hand. She squeezed gently. “Actually, sis, it is that easy. Love is the easiest thing in the world. Just follow your heart.”
“Okay, now you’re starting to scare me.”
“If I learned nothing else from watching Mia and Stephen come together, it’s that love will always find a way. So, tell me, how did he look?” Nya asked.
“He was still as handsome as ever. The instant he looked up at me, I swear my heart skipped a beat. It was as if time had stood still and the past two and a half years of my life had evaporated. I told myself that I was over him. I was wrong.”
Nya giggled and smiled. “I love the sound of romance in the afternoon.”
The two went on talking about men, jobs, family, vacations, the holidays and then back to men. Two hours later they were still laughing and talking.
“Come on. Let’s get out of here. I can’t stand looking at that old college sweatshirt any longer. You and I have some serious shopping to do.”
&n
bsp; Janelle stood, following her sister. They thanked Brad and his kitchen crew, left a very generous tip and then continued outside. Nya put on her dark sunglasses. “I think we need Bergdorf.”
“Newsflash—there’s no Bergdorf Goodman near here,” she said.
“Sure there is. There’s one on Fifth Avenue.”
Janelle chuckled. “Fifth Avenue, as in New York City? No way. We’re not going all the way to New York to shop for clothes,” she insisted as her cell phone rang.
“Sure we are. I have my dad’s private plane sitting on the runway right now. We can fly there, shop and get you back here by midnight, one at the latest. Come on. It’ll be fun.”
“Can’t, sorry. I’m meeting with a friend at Johns Hopkins in a few minutes. Hold on,” Janelle said, answering her cell. “Hello?”
“Hello, Janelle, this is Mrs. Ivers. I need your help.”
“Sure, Mrs. Ivers. What’s wrong?”
“My son was in a car accident. I need to go to him. Tyson is in D.C. and I can’t take Aneka with me. Would you come by and stay with her for a few hours? You’re the only other person she knows and I know Tyson won’t mind.”
“Um, sure,” she said tentatively, “okay. I’ll be right there.” She ended the call and looked at Nya. “I gotta go.”
“What’s wrong? Is it Ben?”
“No, that was my neighbor. She stays with Tyson’s daughter. She needs someone to stay with Aneka. Looks like a rain check on shopping and my meeting,” Janelle said, holding her arms out to her sister. They hugged one another tightly. When they finally let go, they smiled at each other. “You take care and have a safe trip back to New York. I’ll talk to you soon.”
“Okay, but I’m still going shopping for you,” Nya said.
Janelle hugged Nya again then waved and headed to her car. She called her friend Meg and postponed their meeting until the next day, then drove off. When she got to her house, Mrs. Ivers was standing out front with Aneka. “Hi,” Janelle said. “Any word about your son?”
Mrs. Ivers shook her head. “He’s still in the emergency room being examined.”
This Holiday Magic Page 6
