“Courtney, I—” He stopped and looked at her friend. “Sorry to interrupt.”
“Gabe, this is Taylor. She works in the neonatal intensive care unit here at the hospital.”
“Nice to meet you.” He shook her hand.
“I’ve heard a lot about you.” Her friend was giving him a thorough appraisal.
“She’s my BFF,” Courtney said, but her cheeks were burning when she looked at him. “I’m on my way home.”
There were shadows in his eyes, and he looked tired. “Can I talk to you for a minute?”
“I was just leaving.” There was a gleam in Taylor’s eyes. A look that said she wanted a full report later. “See you tomorrow, Court. Nice to meet you, Gabe.” The elevator doors opened just then, and Taylor got in before wiggling her fingers in a farewell gesture.
Gabe stared at the closed doors for several moments, then at her. “Hi, Courtney.”
“Why are you here?”
“I wanted to let you know that Annie had her baby.”
“That’s great.” She waited for more. “And? Boy or girl? How much did he/she weigh? How are they doing?”
“Right. Details that men always forget.” He smiled, but it didn’t break through the shadows still in his eyes. “It’s a girl weighing eight pounds, four ounces. Mother, daughter, father and siblings are in seventh heaven.”
“That’s wonderful news. Congratulations. I saw your mom, dad and aunt Lillian earlier, so I knew she was in labor. Thanks for letting me know. I have to go now—”
“The whole family is here peeking at her in the newborn nursery. Ava is with them. I hope it’s okay, but we moved our math tutoring session here to the hospital to be on baby watch.”
“She’s supposed to take the bus home. If there are any changes of plan, she knows she has to call me and get an okay.” Then a thought sneaked in. “Oh no—she didn’t come to your office again—”
“No. Nothing like that.” He took a step closer. “Like I said, I was at school for a tutoring session. I hope it’s okay that I brought her here. She wanted to see Charlie and Sarah and the new baby.”
“It’s fine.” She knew Ava was fine with him and somehow he’d won back her daughter’s trust. “So you did show up. She didn’t think you would.” Courtney hadn’t been sure, either.
“Of course I did. I gave my word. And I’m a little irritated that there was any doubt. What is it with you two?”
“We’ve been let down before,” she said quietly.
Seeing him again was killing her. It was killing her not to see him, too, but being this close, feeling the warmth of his body and seeing the concern in his eyes, brought a fresh wave of pain. “I appreciate you helping her. And I’m sure she loved seeing the twins and the new baby. But I have to go. I’ll text her to meet me at the car—”
“Wait, Courtney. I need to talk to you.”
“Why? You already said everything there was to say. That no was pretty clear. What more could you possibly want with me? Why aren’t you with your family?”
“I already said hello to the baby.” He looked down for a moment, and when he met her gaze again, his eyes blazed with intensity. “But right now I’m having a heart problem, and I came to you to get it fixed.”
“I don’t believe you.” Correction: she didn’t want to believe him. It would hurt too much to hope for a different answer and be wrong.
“I understand why you feel that way. But I promise I’m going to prove it to you. You’re the only one who can help me.”
“Since when do you need help? You’ve got all the bases covered. The man with a plan.”
“Yeah, I thought I had things all figured out,” he admitted. “Then I met you. Men plan and God laughs. This whole time, since coming home to Huntington Hills, I’ve been going on about getting Make Me a Match fixed because I wanted to move ahead with my next step. This whole time, my act two was right in front of me, and I was too stupid to get it.”
“I have no idea what you mean.” Liar, liar, pants on fire. She knew hope could be cruel and wanted no part of being made a fool of again.
“You were right in front of me.”
“But you said you cared about me too much to hurt me,” she reminded him.
He looked down and sighed. “Yeah, I deserve that. And you said I was afraid of being hurt again and hiding from life’s possibilities to protect myself.”
“And you told me I was hiding behind motherhood to protect myself.” He wasn’t wrong. That’s why the fake-dating thing had seemed like the perfect plan for both of them. “So we were hiding together in plain sight.”
“Courtney, I wish I could take all of that back. I was an idiot. When you talked about dating for real, you caught me off guard, and that response was knee jerk.” He took her hands and wouldn’t let go when she tried to pull away. “Let me make this clear. You’re the only one who can fix my heart, because I’m in love with you.”
“Oh—” Her voice was breathless, and with every hope and dream she’d ever had, she prayed that this was for real. “And you know this—how?”
“I knew it when you told me to leave. Everything inside me was saying that if I left you, it was the worst mistake of my life.”
“But you did it anyway.”
“And confirmed that it was the worst mistake I’ve ever made. Please let me make it right.” He looked so sincere. “If there’s one thing I do well, it’s fixing things.”
“Ava was pretty mad at you. I had to tell her about the fake dating to get you out of the doghouse even a little.”
“Yeah, she mentioned that.” He blew out a breath. “We talked, and she told me she’d never believe anything a guy says to her. I hated that. If it’s the last thing I ever do, I will prove that she can trust me, Courtney. The thing is, I love her, too. You two are a package deal. A family. More than anything, I want to be part of it. I’m a guy who wants to be a dad, and she’s a kid who might need one.”
Courtney’s eyes filled with tears. “She forgave you?”
“I took her for a ride in the Benz. And I promised to grovel when I talked to you. She liked that plan a lot more than I was comfortable with.” He searched her face, waiting. “I sure wish you’d say something. If not, I can keep up the groveling—”
“No.” She threw herself into his arms. “I’m in love with you, too.”
“Thank God.” He hugged her close, as if he’d never let go. “And I have another deal for you.”
She moved back, not out of his arms but just enough to see his face. Being held like this was the absolute best feeling in the whole world. “What do you have in mind?”
“How about we date? For real. After an appropriate amount of time has gone by, I will go down on one knee and, with a very expensive diamond ring, I will ask you to marry me.”
“I think I like that idea very much.” She grinned up at him. “And after an appropriate amount of time passes and you go down on one knee holding a lovely and tasteful ring and request my hand in marriage, I will say yes.”
“Should we shake on it?” He didn’t make a move to let her go.
“No. Let’s kiss on it. Just like in those romantic cartoons Ava watches.”
“Excellent suggestion.” He cupped her face in his hands and touched his mouth to hers.
There was nothing fake about this kiss. Or the love that had sneaked up on both of them when they weren’t looking. This time it was for real.
Epilogue
Six months later
“Mom, don’t you have something nicer to wear?”
Courtney glanced down at her most worn and comfortable jeans and the giraffe T-shirt Gabe had bought her at their recent trip to the zoo with Ava. “What’s wrong with this?”
Ava gave her clothes a supercritical once-over. “Mr. B is coming for dinner. I just thought you’d want to
look nice.”
“I think I look nice. Besides, it’s just clothes.” And Gabe liked these jeans, especially taking them off.
“But, Mom—” It looked as if Ava was about to explode with frustration. “You have those new slacks. And the sweater that looks so amazing on you.”
Courtney finished cutting up cucumbers and put them in the green salad along with shredded carrots. “This is comfortable, just like the meat loaf we’re having tonight. We’re only hanging out and watching movies.”
“But what if you’re not? What if—” Ava stopped talking, and her eyes went wide.
“Ava?” She put a hand on her hip and studied her daughter. “What aren’t you telling me?”
“Nothing. I tell you everything, Mom.” The look on her teenager’s face was too angelic to be believed.
Courtney didn’t buy into it for a second. “Come clean, kiddo. Something’s going on. And it’s Saturday night. You almost always get together with your friends. Why are you voluntarily staying home to be with the grown-ups?”
Her daughter moved in for a hug. “Because I love you.”
“Aw. I love you, too.” She stepped back and tucked long strands of Ava’s silky hair behind her ears. “And I know you better than anyone. So, tell me—”
The doorbell rang, and Ava was super excited when she said, “Mr. B is here.”
Just before she sprinted away to let him in, Courtney was sure she heard her daughter say, “Thank God.” It was several moments of whispering before Gabe walked into her kitchen with what looked like a dozen red roses and a mysterious smile.
“Hi.” He moved closer and slid his arm around her waist to bring her against him, then lowered his mouth to hers.
The kiss was more tender than usual and filled with a promise that left her breathless. “Hi, yourself.”
He took her hand and led her around the corner and into the living room, where Ava was sitting on the couch. Her eyes were dancing with excitement.
Gabe sat her down beside her daughter. “I’d like to talk to you about something.”
“Okay.” She glanced at her teenager. “Do you know anything about this?”
“Just be patient, Mom. All will be revealed.” But she was practically quivering with anticipation.
Gabe sat on the leather ottoman in front of them and handed Ava six roses from the bouquet before giving Courtney the other half dozen. “Flowers for my two favorite ladies.”
“Thanks, Mr. B. No one ever gave me flowers before.” Ava seemed surprised but pleased by the gesture.
“They’re beautiful, Gabe.” Courtney breathed in the sweet, fresh floral scent. “I love them. I need to put them in some water—”
“Wait. There’s more.” He took a small jewelry box from his jeans pocket and went down on one knee before opening it. A stunning diamond ring sparkled against the black velvet background. He looked at Ava. “Okay, kid, we talked about this. Speak now or forever hold your peace. I want to make sure it’s okay with you if I marry your mom.”
“Totally okay.” She nodded enthusiastically.
Courtney had truly never seen her child so happy. “You discussed this?”
“I helped him pick out the ring,” Ava said proudly. “It’s called an Open Arms engagement ring. The setting interlocks with the three diamonds.”
“They represent the three of us,” Gabe explained. “As well as the past, present and future. The past made us who we are. The present and future includes the three of us together.”
The thoughtfulness and beauty of the ring and this moment brought tears to Courtney’s eyes. Now the clothes critique made sense.
She looked at Ava. “So, you were in on this.”
“Yes.” She beamed at Gabe and nodded. “I’m cool with it.”
“Okay, then.” He met Courtney’s gaze, and his own was filled with undisguised love. “An appropriate amount of time has passed, and my feelings for you have only grown deeper and stronger. Courtney, I love you with all my heart. Will you marry me and make me the happiest man on the planet?”
“Yes—” Emotion formed a lump in her throat, and that one word was all she could squeeze past it. But it was the most important one, the one she’d promised to say that day in the hospital.
He lifted the ring from its black velvet nest and took her left hand to slide it onto the proper finger. “A perfect fit, thanks to Ava.”
“You’re welcome.” Ava looked from him to her mother. “Now hurry up and make it official so he can move in here with us. I know that’s why you’re waiting, even though I’m aware that people do actually live together before they get married.”
“Anything else?” Courtney asked wryly.
“As a matter of fact—” There was an earnest expression on her daughter’s face. “You two need to think about having kids. Don’t get me wrong—I’m happy to be getting a math tutor and a dad. Call me greedy, but I’d like a real brother or sister.”
“Wow—” Courtney couldn’t stop the happy tears that trickled down her cheeks. She pulled Ava into a hug. “Thank you, sweetie. I love you to the moon and back.”
“I love you more.” Ava sniffled and said, “But aren’t you supposed to tell him that? And a kiss would be good, too. It’s what they always do at the end of the cartoon romances.”
“You’re right.” She handed Ava her flowers to hold, then slid forward and put her arms around Gabe’s neck. “I love you to the moon and stars and beyond.”
“I love you more.” He kissed her and then said, “That’s to seal the deal. No backing out now.”
“As if... How could I when I’m so grateful we met?”
“You’re welcome again,” Ava said. “I think you owe me a grounding credit.”
“When you’re a little older, there’s a job waiting for you at Make Me a Match.” Gabe grinned at her. “But for now, would you mind putting your mom’s flowers in water?”
“You got it, Mr. B—I mean, Dad.”
Ava said it shyly, as if testing out the word. But what a beautiful start. When they were alone, Courtney kissed him. “And that’s so you can’t back out.”
“Not a chance. You and Ava are the family I never thought I’d have. I wouldn’t trade this for anything.”
“Me either. This time it’s for real.”
* * *
Don’t miss the next book by Teresa Southwick, The Cowboy’s Promise, the fourth book in the Montana Mavericks: What Happened to Beatrix? continuity, available in October 2020 from Harlequin Special Edition!
Keep reading for an excerpt from The Single Mom’s Second Chance by Kathy Douglass.
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The Single Mom’s Second Chance
by Kathy Douglass
Prologue
Roz Martin stood in the hot June sun, staring at the building as if frozen in place. After three days of planning what she would say and determining the best way to approach Paul Stephens, her onetime high school sweetheart and brother-in-law, the energy that had propelled her this far ran out and she no longer had the strength to go inside. She tried envisioning the conversation, trying to picture a positive outcome, but she couldn’t quite pull it off. Nothing in the recent past gave her reason to believe everything would work out. Sadly, nothing in the distant past gave her hope either.
Roz’s eyes burned with angry tears. She’d sworn she’d never be in this position again, yet here she was, once more dependent upon a person who didn’t want anything to do with her. When she’d been five years old, she hadn’t had a choice. Her parents had been killed in a car accident and her only
living relative, her great-aunt, had become her legal guardian. But Aunt Rosemary had never wanted children and had only taken her in out of duty. She had provided Roz with a place to live and little else. Certainly not love or affection.
Now Roz had to come to Paul and beg for help. She hated it, but, once again, she didn’t have a choice. She needed him. If she had to plead, then plead she would. Ever since the doctor had given her the bad news, she’d had to think of what was best for her children. This was simply one more instance of that. If it stung a little more, that was a price she was willing to pay.
Cancer. She had cancer. Just thinking the word filled her with dread and made her heart pound so hard her chest ached. She wanted to yell to the heavens about the unfairness of it all.
She’d never smoked. Didn’t drink alcohol. She exercised regularly and maintained a diet filled with fresh fruits and vegetables. Yet, at thirty years old, she’d been diagnosed with stage II cervical cancer. Roz took a deep breath and steadied herself. Now wasn’t the time for a pity party. Truthfully, there was never time in her life for self-pity.
She was a single mother of three wonderful children. Her three hearts. She’d do anything for them. Which was why, despite knowing how Paul felt about her, she’d packed up the kids and traveled from her home in Sweet Briar, North Carolina, to Tampa, Florida, to see him. A conversation like this was better had face-to-face.
She hadn’t told the kids about her diagnosis yet. She knew the news would hit them hard and she didn’t have the emotional strength to deal with that now. They believed that they were in town to wish their grandparents bon voyage before the couple set off on their delayed eight-month cruise in two days. In actuality, Roz had come to town to speak to Andrea, her mother-in-law, to get her help and advice.
Roz had told Andrea about her diagnosis and then sworn her to secrecy. Andrea had offered to postpone the cruise again, but Roz had turned her down. Although more than a year had passed since Roz’s husband Terrence’s sudden death, her father-in-law was still struggling with grief. Most days, Edward seemed to drift from place to place with nothing tethering him to his surroundings. Lately, he’d begun showing interest in the cruise they’d canceled after Terrence died and had been talking about their trip around the world. This vacation could be a turning point for him. There was no way Roz could ask them to put it off again and risk sending him spiraling back into sorrow. Especially when he would only worry about her. He’d been too good to her and her kids for her to even consider it. Which meant she had to ask Paul for help. That is, if she found the courage to step inside the health club he owned. Although her mother-in-law had offered to speak to Paul on her behalf, Roz had told her no. She wanted to stand on her own two feet.
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