by Cher Carson
She smiled. “Uh, thanks.”
“Where’s Lacy?”
Melanie turned away, setting the paper bag on the dining room table.
Shane got the distinct impression she was trying to hide something from him. “Melanie, I asked you a question. Where’s Lacy?”
She sighed. “She left a little while ago. She had a family emergency.”
He walked into the adjoining space and gripped Melanie’s upper arm, forcing her to look at him. “What kind of family emergency?” When she didn’t respond right away, he said, “I want to know what the hell’s going on, right now.”
She sank into the oak dining chair, lowering her head. “I really didn’t want to get stuck in the middle.”
His intuition told him something was wrong, very wrong. “Start talking, now.” He knew he was being abrasive, but he needed answers and he didn’t have time to waste on social niceties.
She slid a business card across the table. “She stopped by to see you earlier… when Lacy was here.”
He instantly recognized the photograph on the realtor’s card. He’d met her at a bar less than a week after Lacy walked out on him. Faith, she’d said her name was, was too drunk to drive home, so he gave her a ride. She came on to him, inviting him inside for a nightcap, but he politely declined. “I don’t understand. How did she know where to look for me?”
“She said she stopped by your office earlier and Jason told her she might be able to find you here.”
He’d told her his last name and that he was a real estate investor. Given her profession, it wouldn’t have been hard for her to find his office. But Jason had obviously pointed her in this direction to try and stir up trouble between him and Lacy. He would kill that little bastard when he got his hands on him. “What exactly did Faith say to Lacy?”
“It’s not what she said so much as what she implied… that you two had slept together.”
“Shit,” Shane muttered, dropping his head into his palm. He and Lacy were finally on the right path and this had to happen to de-rail them. “Where is Lacy now?”
Melanie glared at him, crossing her arms. “Is it true? Did you sleep with her? Have you just been feeding Lacy a line about—”
He held his hand up, silently warning her to keep her mouth shut. “I didn’t sleep with her. We met at a bar. She had a few too many drinks, and I drove her home. End of story.”
“You sure about that?”
Sighing, he picked up the card. “She’s a real estate agent, Mel. She probably wanted to hit me up for some of our listings. I swear to you nothing happened. I’m not interested in her, never was.”
“Then you’ve been honest with Lacy… about everything?”
It took everything in him not to lose it. He wanted to know where Lacy was, not play twenty questions with her well-meaning friend. “Yes, of course I have. Please, just tell me where she is. You said something about a family emergency?” The thought of her having to deal with yet another crisis by herself made him sick. He wanted to be there to support her, to hold her…
“Her brother had another seizure. It sounds like it was pretty bad this time. He hit his head. Lacy had to go there to be with him.”
He frowned. “I don’t understand. Why the hell didn’t she call me? I would have gone with her.”
“Uh, she’s pretty pissed at you, Shane.”
He sighed, trying to hold his temper. He hadn’t done anything to warrant her anger this time. Damn it, he was going to kill his brother. First the bet, now the girl. He’d be lucky if Lacy would even speak to him. “She doesn’t have a car. How did she get there?”
She busied herself opening the take-out bag, refusing to look him in the eye.
He grabbed her hand. “Melanie, how did she get there?”
She cleared her throat. “I offered to take her, but she wanted me to stay here. She said we needed to have the house finished by Saturday. You guys have an open house scheduled, right?”
Right now, he could care less about the open house. Lacy, and setting things right with her, was the only thing that mattered to him. “Just tell me how she got there.”
“She took a bus from here to her house…”
“And? How did she get from her house to…” He paused, realization hitting him like a drop-kick to the gut. “Oh no, hell no. She asked that Jack guy to take her?”
Melanie nodded. “Yeah. I told her to call you, but she refused.” She shrugged. “Sorry, Shane.”
He gripped her shoulder, sighing. “Hell, it’s not your fault. Tell me about this guy. What’s he like?”
“He’s a graphic designer. He works from home, so he’s always available when Lacy needs him.”
Shane clenched his teeth. He didn’t like where this was going. “You telling me he has a thing for her?”
Melanie snorted. “Yeah, you could say that. He’s asked her out every week since she moved in there.”
“Son of a bitch,” he muttered.
Melanie patted his hand. “Don’t worry. I know she’s not into him. Every time he asks her out, she tells him she only thinks of him as a friend.”
That was small consolation when she was trapped in a car with the guy for hours feeling scared about her brother’s condition and angry with him for his perceived betrayal. “I need to go there. I need to be with her, Mel.”
Melanie smiled. “I knew you were one of the good guys. When we moved here, I told her she would meet the right guy and settle down someday. I’m so happy for her, for both of you.”
He reached over to give her a hug. “Thanks, hon,” he said, patting her back. “Tell me something, you two have been friends a long time, right?”
Melanie nodded. “Yeah, about five years. Why?”
“She said no one’s ever really asked her to talk about the accident, not even you?”
“I got the feeling she didn’t want to discuss it. It’s just so damn sad, ya know?”
“Yeah, it sure is,” Shane said, hoping the situation wasn’t about to go from sad to tragic. He couldn’t imagine how Lacy would cope if she lost her brother too. He stood up. “Can you tell me where Tommy is?”
“Sure,” she said, reaching into her back pocket to retrieve her cell phone. “Just let me Google it. I’ll get you their address and phone number.” She typed in a few words and handed the phone to him. “There is it. Good luck.”
“Thanks, hon. I have a feeling I’m gonna need it.”
Chapter Thirteen
Lacy paced the corridor of the long-term care facility her brother called home since the accident. The doctors were with him, evaluating his condition. Apparently they hadn’t felt the need to transport him to the local hospital, which she had to assume was good news.
Jack slipped his arm around her shoulders, thrusting a take-out cup into her hands. “This stuff is probably raunchy, but I figured you could use the caffeine.”
“Thanks,” she whispered, holding the cup with both hands. She was cold, shivering.
He held her tighter, offering his body heat to warm her.
She leaned her head on his shoulder, trying to suppress the urge to cry. She had to be strong, for Tommy’s sake. Sometimes when she would leave him, she would break down in her car before she even made it out of the parking lot, but never in front of him. She was his stoic big sister, the one person he could count on to make him feel safe. That would never change. No matter what happened, they would face it together. Just like she’d always told him, it was them against the world.
Closing her eyes, she let her mind drift back to this morning. The day had started with so much promise. It was supposed to be the start of her new life, and just like that, everything was falling apart. “I can’t believe this is happening,” she muttered, turning into Jake’s arms. She needed someone to hold her now, to promise her that everything was going to be all right, that Tommy would be fine, and life would go on. She couldn’t or wouldn’t imagine her life without him.
Stroking her hair, Jack sa
id, “Relax, Lacy, I’m here. I’m not going anywhere.”
She needed a friend right now. She knew she didn’t have the strength to face this alone. “Thanks for being here,” she whispered.
“Nowhere else I’d rather be,” he said, kissing the top of her head. “You know that.”
She did know that. Jack was a good guy, a good friend, but that’s all their relationship would ever be.
Someone cleared their throat behind her, drawing her attention. She turned around and glared into the eyes of her lover. He looked angry, huge, intimidating. Poor Jake. She stepped out of her friend’s arms, putting a safe distance between them. “What are you doing here, Shane?”
“Melanie told me your brother had an accident. I wanted to be here for you.”
“Who are you?” Jack asked, settling his arm around Lacy’s shoulders. Obviously, he wasn’t smart enough to recognize the warning signs when he saw them. Shane was getting ready to detonate and she had no doubt Jack was his intended target.
Shane stepped back, giving his opponent a slow, assessing once over. “I’m her boyfriend. Who the hell are you?”
“Her boyfriend?” Jack asked, frowning. “Lacy doesn’t have a boyfriend.”
Shane reached out to grab her hand, pulling her forward, out of Jake’s embrace. “She does now.”
She wanted to argue with him, but this wasn’t the time or place to set him off.
“Thanks for giving her a ride, but you can leave now.” Shane settled his arm around her. “I’ll handle things from here.”
She swayed into him involuntarily. He was big, strong; he made her feel safe. She allowed herself to forget his indiscretion and take comfort in his presence, for now.
Jack crooked a finger at Shane as he looked at her. “Is that true? You want me to leave?”
She closed her eyes. She just wanted her brother to get well. The rest of it paled in comparison to his well-being. “That would probably be for the best. Thanks for everything, Jake.” She reached up to kiss his cheek. “I’ll touch base with you when I get home.” She felt Shane’s hand on her back, and she knew it took everything in him not to intervene.
Jack gripped her shoulders, looking her in the eye. “You call me if you need anything.” He glanced at Shane. “Day or night. You got it?”
She smiled, nodding. “I will. Thanks.”
Shane watched Jack walk through the sliding glass entrance doors before turning to her. “You should have called me.”
She took a sip of her coffee, refusing to look him in the eye. “If you spoke to Melanie, I’m sure you know why I didn’t call you.”
He grabbed her hand, leading her toward a bank of chairs. After claiming one of the chairs, he tugged on her hand, forcing her to sit down beside him. “Listen to me. Nothing happened with that woman. I went to a bar to watch the game, had a few beers with a couple of buddies, and she approached me.”
She set her coffee down on the table beside her. She wanted to believe him, but she still had reservations.
He sighed, taking her hand. “We talked, had a few drinks. She told me about her business. I told her about mine…”
She imagined the cozy scene he depicted and felt the hot burn of jealousy. That woman wanted Shane and had no intention of letting anyone stand in her way. If she sent him away now, would he be sharing his bed with that woman tonight? The thought made her feel nauseated.
“Damn it. Look at me, Lace.”
She forced herself to look up, into his eyes. He seemed so sincere, if only she could take the risk of allowing herself to trust him, believe in him. It would be a first for her, the only time she’d allowed herself to trust someone else wholeheartedly. If he hurt her, betrayed her, it would destroy her, but if he lived up to her expectations, it could be everything she’d ever wanted.
“She’d had too much to drink, so I drove her home. She invited me in, but I told her I couldn’t, I was involved with someone.”
She looked down, focusing her attention on their joined hands. “But you weren’t.” He had no reason to believe they would work things out after their argument about the bet, which meant she couldn’t even harbor a grudge if he had slept with that woman. Still, that didn’t make the thought of him making love to another woman so soon after he’d claimed to love her any easier to process.
“Baby, you were the only one I wanted. I didn’t want her or anyone else.”
She wanted to believe him with everything in her, but putting so much faith in someone who had the power to leave her battered heart in pieces if he left was a scary proposition. “I want to believe you,” she whispered.
“Then believe me, please,” he said, sounding scared, desperate.
She looked up and realized she wasn’t the only one taking a risk; he was too. “Okay.”
He frowned, as though he thought he may have misunderstood. “Okay? Does that mean you believe me about that woman?”
She nodded. “I believe you.”
He pulled her into his arms, whispering, “Thank God,” in her ear.
Before she could respond, two doctors came out of her brother’s room, look gravely serious. Her stomach clenched, terrified of what they might tell her.
“Miss Watson?” one of the doctors said, leading his colleague to where they sat.
Shane coaxed her to her feet, supporting her with an arm around her waist.
“Yes, sir? How is my brother? Can I see him now?”
The doctors exchanged a brief glance. “Your brother is non-responsive at the moment, ma’am.”
She frowned, trying to process this new information. “I’m sorry. I don’t understand. What do you mean, non-responsive?”
“He’s not responding to normal stimuli,” the other doctor explained. “Your brother has always responded to pain and pleasure stimuli. Now, he’s not. The seizure may have been prompted by something else this time…”
She didn’t want to think about what that might be. “Something else?”
The elder doctor sighed, slipping his hands into the pockets of his white lab coat. “We don’t want to speculate at this point. We’d like to transfer him to the hospital for further testing, with your permission.”
She knew that hospital stays, tests, and treatment plans were expensive and the money she had set aside would barely cover his monthly expenses for the next few years. Budgeting for these additional costs would be difficult, but she would find a way. Even if she had to keep her job as a waitress and take on—
“Whatever you need to do,” Shane said, filling the awkward silence.
Of course he was right. She was thinking about how she would handle the financial burden, but her brother getting the best possible care was the only thing that mattered now. “Of course, please, do everything you can to help him,” she whispered.
They nodded in unison. “We’ll arrange for transport right away. Miss, he’s not awake or alert right now. I suggest you get a good night’s sleep and come to the hospital for a progress report in the morning. We should know more by then.”
“But, I want to be with him. I want him to know he’s not alone…”
The elder doctor offered a small smile. “I’m afraid he’s not aware of anything right now, Miss Watson. The best thing you can do for him is to take care of yourself.”
She watched them walk away. “What am I going to do?”
Shane turned her into his arms, holding her tight. “You’re going to let me help you make sure you and your brother both have everything you need.”
She struggled to process his words through the haze of grief, sadness, and fear. “What are you talking about? I can’t let you do that.”
“Yes, you can, and you will. I’m not giving you a choice.”
She looked up at him. He seemed so sure of himself, of them. She wanted to hold on to that sense of security, allowing it to support her. “Shane, it’s not your responsibility to take care of this for me.”
He framed her face with his hands. “I love you
. Don’t you get that? I’d do anything for you, and in turn, I’d do anything for your brother because he means so much to you.”
The tears she’d tried to suppress all day came rushing to the surface. “But, I…” She couldn’t find the words. There were no words. This incredible man was offering her the gift of a lifetime: his love, his generosity, his support. How could she not accept it? “You have no idea how much this means to me,” she whispered, closing her eyes, allowing the tears to slip down her cheeks, unchecked. “I’ll never be able to thank you enough; I’ll try to re-pay you as soon as…”
A smile tugged at his full lips. “There’s only one thing I want.”
She blushed when she thought about their time together last night. “What is it?”
“I want you to be my wife,” he said quietly. He smiled. “I hadn’t intended to ask you in the middle of a hospital while you’re dealing with a family crisis, but it occurred to me, this is the perfect time.”
She was speechless.
“Marriage is about supporting each other through the good times and the bad, sweetheart.” He leaned in, giving her a tender kiss on the lips. “Right now, we’re dealing with a challenge, but we’re going to get through this together, and your brother is gonna get through this, with our help.”
She shook her head, trying to rally the strength to force a single word past her trembling lips.
“Please, say you’ll allow me the privilege of being your husband.”
Her husband. This incredible, gorgeous, generous, compassionate man wanted to be her husband. He wanted to be hers and he wanted her to be his. Forever. “Yes,” she whispered. “Yes, yes, yes.”
He laughed, reaching down to pick her up. He swung her around in a low circle. “I love you so much,” he whispered in her ear.
“I love you… more.”
About the Author
To learn more about Cher Carson visit her online at www.chercarsonbooks.com
To share your opinions about this book, email Cher at [email protected]
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