The Reluctant Fiancée (The Taylor Triplets Book 3)

by Lynne Marshall

  She turned off the water and wrapped herself in a towel. Gooseflesh covered her skin and she blamed the cooling fall Utah weather rather than her thoughts. She blow-dried her hair, French braided it down the back and slipped on black pants and boots and a long-sleeved light blue sweater, then grabbed her all-weather jacket and headed out the door.

  Brynne arrived at the hospital nearly forty minutes early for her appointment, wanting to avoid any of her fellow nurses. She was still too raw from everything else going on in her life—having to deal with this life change, finally giving up her job on top of it, hit her hard.

  She’d needed time to understand how the bookstore worked. Rory had been a big help, but Brynne needed to make it hers. In honor of her mother and all. She would’ve thought having grown up and around the store, it would’ve been second nature. But not so. Sometimes she felt she was forcing her mother’s dream onto herself. And truthfully, it wasn’t a perfect fit. She was able to admit that now.

  She hid out in the human resources department in the basement. Not wanting to look suspicious while loitering, she read the job listings posted on the wall. There were several per-diem RN jobs, some float positions, not at all of interest to Brynne, and one or two in the L&D department. Well, that had some merit. If she was looking. Which she wasn’t.

  Besides, per diem would never account for steady work, was only meant for someone wanting part-time nursing hours and who didn’t mind an irregular schedule. The best of both worlds?

  Hmm, full-time and part-time jobs galore were also available. What was going on? She had no business being so interested in nursing jobs. Just killing time, remember?

  Oh my gosh, there was her job posted for those already employed at the hospital. After two weeks it would go out to the public if no one from inside had applied. She wasn’t ready to let it go, but she had a responsibility to her mother. The bookstore had been left to her, and it couldn’t run itself.

  All those years Jessica Taylor had put her heart and soul into having her own bookstore, and it meant so much more now. Aunt Allison had opened her eyes to the significance. She couldn’t let her mother down.

  But dammit, her heart wasn’t in it!

  Brynne checked her watch—fifteen minutes to nine. She left HR and headed for the basement elevator. When it arrived, she pushed the third-floor button, then, after the doors opened, she turned left toward the administration offices. Bye-bye, job.

  Regina James sat behind a large desk covered with papers and files and Post-it notes in a rainbow of colors. Her tawny beige skin and jet-black hair were highlighted by her white nurse jacket.

  Regina’s smile brightened the room when Brynne entered and sat. Though her stomach had taken flight again.

  “It’s so good to see you. How have you been?” From happy one moment, to a split second of concern, Regina’s expression did quick calisthenics in the exchange.

  “I’m doing well. Thank you for asking.” Brynne recited her reflex reply.

  “We know you’ve been through a lot these past several months.” With beautiful skin, the only thing giving away Regina’s nearing retirement age was a slight yellow tinge to her eyes. “But it is time to clear up your status.”

  “I saw the listing downstairs.”

  “Your job? That wasn’t supposed to go up until after I talked to you.”

  “It’s okay.” She fiddled with her fingers in her lap. “I’m still not ready to come back.”

  “That does bring me to the other reason I asked you to come in today. Now, I know you’ve just said you’re not ready to come back today, but maybe in a month or two?” She waited for Brynne to react, but Brynne was confused and unsure where the conversation was going. Not wanting to commit to anything she’d regret later.

  “The reason I say that is because Beverly Unger is planning to retire in a couple of months.”

  “My supervisor?”

  “Yes. And when we asked Beverly who she thought would be a good replacement, she wasted no time in saying you!”

  “Me?” Brynne was beginning to sound weak even to herself.

  Regina nodded patiently.

  “She said you’ve pinch-hit for her a number of times when she was on vacation, and she feels with the proper training, you’d be perfect for the job. The staff likes you, and you know how the department works.” Regina put down her pen and sat back in her chair. “Truth is, we’d rather hire for this position from the inside, and there are a few people we’d rather not have apply.”

  Lazy Kris, who knew how to cut corners and do as little as possible during her shift being one of them? Samantha, on the other hand, a long-term employee, an excellent RN and easy to work with, would be a great choice. As she remembered, Samantha’s daughter was nearing college age, and surely, Samantha could use the bigger income. But would she want all the responsibility that came with it? Would Brynne?

  “We’d rather offer the job to you right off to avoid hurt feelings from others on staff. What do you say?”

  If it had been seven months ago, Brynne would’ve jumped at the chance. She loved her job, but having a professor boyfriend had influenced her to want to improve her status, too. To move up the ladder of success. Paul had big plans to take over his department—why shouldn’t she? They’d be two professionals juggling the responsibilities of work and family together. If any man was up to that task, Paul was.

  The question remained, was she? She knew she was qualified and could do the job, and was glad admin felt the same, but the offer had come at the worst possible time. “May I have some time to think about this?”

  “Is a week enough?”

  In the last seven days, with her sisters showing up, Brynne knew firsthand how life could change on a dozen levels, and this weekend was still completely up in the air. Would a week be enough? “Could you make that two?”

  Regina offered a conciliatory smile. “If that’s what you need to make up your mind. Absolutely.”

  “Thank you.”

  Regina opened the calendar on her computer. “Let’s say same time, nine? Two weeks from today?”

  With new jitters in her stomach, Brynne agreed to the plan, even while having no clue what the outcome of those two weeks would bring.

  As she left the meeting, one thought stuck in Brynne’s mind—why was life delivering all this goodness at once?

  Then another idea popped into her head. It was about time to start spreading around some of that goodness.

  * * *

  Brynne entered the bookstore to find Rory working busily on a display of this month’s bestsellers. All the big author names were represented on hardback books and arranged for the customers to see the moment they walked in. Rory smiled as she worked, and Brynne knew immediately she’d made the right decision.

  “Hi,” Brynne said as she sidled up to the display.

  “Hey.” Rory looked up.

  “Slow day?”

  “Not at all. Just sold a bundle of books.”

  “The lady who comes first thing every month for her category romances?”

  “Yup. She bought all six.”

  “As usual.”

  “Plus Nora Roberts’s newest hardback.”

  “Great.” Brynne looked in the near vicinity, finding no one within earshot. “Um, you have a minute?”

  Rory glanced around at the near empty store. “For you, always.”

  Brynne took that as her cue to give the woman she was about to lay a huge surprise on a big hug. Rory accepted it like a woman who needed a hug, too, so they lingered a bit. Then Brynne waited for Rory to look up once she’d let her go. “You’ve never once complained about something, and I think it’s time that we make things right.”

  Rory looked confused.

  “This store.” Brynne opened her arms and glanced around the well-kept though aging place of business. “It sh
ould belong to you, not me.”

  “But you’re Jessica’s daughter.”

  “The store came to me by default because Mom didn’t have a will. You and I both know that. But it rightfully belongs to you, her partner, her best friend. Her wife.” She hadn’t expected to get emotional, but saying it out loud—that her mother had had a significant other who loved and missed her—hit her hard. “You, should’ve automatically gotten this business, not me.”

  “But it’s your family business.”

  “And no one was more family to Mom than you. Rory, I have a profession. My heart is in nursing, and I realized today that’s what I want to go back to. I’ve been offered a job, and I think it’s the right direction for me.”

  Rory’s hands flew to her cheeks. “I’m not sure I can handle this alone.”

  “Then make Nate full-time!”

  Rory obviously liked the idea; as she nodded a few tears escaped the outside corners of her big brown eyes.

  “I’ve got a brother-in-law who’s a lawyer. I’m sure he’ll be glad to walk us through whatever process is necessary to put this business in your name.”

  They hugged each other again, and it gave Brynne courage to meet Paul and tell him her big plans.

  * * *

  It was Friday at the university, which meant the grilled-cheese truck would be there. Brynne texted Paul and met him for lunch on campus, though her stomach was tied in a knot and no way would she be able to eat the whole thing.

  They ordered then strolled around while waiting for pickup. After giving him the rundown on her morning, she went for it—the news out of left field.

  “Anyway, they want me to take over the L&D supervisor position.” She watched him carefully for his first and honest reaction.

  He stopped midstep, his mouth left open, his eyes and mind obviously working out the information. “Is this something you want?”

  “Honestly, I’m not sure yet, but I’ve got two weeks to figure it out.” She beamed, sensing the huge opportunity being handed to her. An advancement, because they believed in her. She’d oversee something important—the labor and delivery department. But that tiny voice quickly registered a complaint—bookstores are important, too. But she knew clearly now, that was her mother’s dream, not hers, so she’d passed it to Rory. Nursing was her calling.

  Their order got called, and after picking their sandwiches up, they found a bench under a white myrtle tree and sat. In Paul’s defense, he was obviously trying to be supportive about her announcement, but his smile, the happiness he tried to showcase, didn’t ring true. Something was wrong.

  “What?” she said, opening her sandwich wrapper.

  “It’s just—” he put his on his lap “—I thought you loved the hands-on part of nursing. Wouldn’t this be all administration stuff? Schedules, meetings, you know. The opposite?”

  She sighed her impatience, letting his truth hang around her neck like a bowling ball on a chain. He knew her so well that he’d already caught on before she had. He could be so irritating. She tore off a bite and chewed hard.

  “Is that really what you want?” he repeated, which ticked her off, like she didn’t know her own mind. Except she’d been asking herself the same thing the entire drive over.

  He studied the melted cheese seeping from between the lightly browned slices of sourdough. “We always had enough trouble making our schedules work when you worked the wards, then the bookstore seemed to take every ounce of your time and energy. Now, administrative work—wow, we’d never see each other.”

  “You just turned my good news to being all about you.” Heat rose up her neck, into her cheeks. Was he being a jerk about this on purpose?

  “That’s not what I meant to do.”

  “It’s what you didn’t say that ticks me off. I’m sure this isn’t part of your vision for us. Me being as busy as you with an important job. Who’ll hold down the homestead? Am I right?” The log cabin popped into her head.

  He gave a flat look, not denying her statement. She knew him as well as he knew her, and his vision for them was far more traditional. As in his mother and father’s generation. They’d supposedly hashed all that out the first time around, when planning their wedding.

  “I just said it’s what I want.” She doubled down, even though the opportunity wasn’t exactly what she wanted, but in the ballpark. “So where does that leave us?”

  Her sisters, Paul—no one had said it out loud, but the pressure was on her to caravan with the new in-laws to Las Vegas Saturday afternoon. Why? Well, obviously to finally do the deed that had been aborted when Mom had died: tie the knot.

  Enough with the grieving, they all seemed to hint. Move on!

  Right now, that knot felt more like a noose. They stared at each other over grilled-cheese sandwiches in a standoff.

  With sudden and deep sadness, she sensed Paul had finally realized they might not be compatible on what they wanted out of life.

  “You’re right. Of course, you are,” Paul said. “It shouldn’t be you who has to make all the sacrifices. I’d never want to hold you back.”

  “But...” She’d give him enough rope...

  “Honestly, I don’t think this job is what you really want or even need.”

  That lit her already fizzing fuse. “Look, I need and want whatever I say I do. Get it?”

  His eyes fired back at her with a look she’d never seen before. “And I get to decide when it doesn’t work for me. It seems more like a recipe for disaster, another one of your ‘I’m doing this because I said I would’ decisions. How’d the bookstore work for you?”

  Oh, he was fighting dirty. She gripped the fingers on her free hand tight.

  “But I don’t want to hold you back,” he quickly added.

  “So you think I’m making the wrong choice?” After everything he’d put her through this past week, he was giving her an out? He didn’t want to “hold her back.” Hell, no, she wouldn’t fall for that. This was about him and what worked or didn’t work for him.

  Before reality came crashing around Brynne, she tore a page from her anger book. Squinted her eyes, shook her head, letting him know how he’d pissed her off.

  Paul was right, damn him! It really wasn’t her dream job. But why couldn’t it be? If she’d been more secure in her reasons for wanting the job, she’d fight him about his being a traditionalist.

  Without another word, she stood, leaving the uneaten sandwich on the bench, and walked away, leaving Paul still holding his, with a whole lot to think about.

  Everything in the life she’d known up until six months ago had changed. Radically. Now she’d add one more. The only thing her so-called great news had accomplished was blow up their future.

  “Brynne?” he said softly.

  She pretended not to hear, though he called out several more times.

  * * *

  Late Friday afternoon, the last thing Paul wanted to do, after his dismal lunch with Brynne, was hang out with Zack and Joe again. But Zack had called and asked for a special favor. To meet him and Joe. And they were both great guys, ones he’d hoped to have as brothers-in-law. Though now, after saying all the wrong things at lunch, he was positive Brynne would never marry him. Well, these guys could still be his long-distance friends, at least.

  Bringing a load of sadness with him, Paul showed up at the address Zack had given on the phone. It was on the outskirts of town, one of the city’s super homes. The kind only wealthy transplants from tax-laden Western states could build or buy.

  He whistled through his teeth as he got out of the car. Then, he saw the RV. “Holy sh—” Paul said just as he spotted Emma and stopped himself.

  “I know, right?” Zack said, greeting him with a thump on the back. “Big rig.”

  “This is so exciting!” Emma said with her usual enthusiasm about everything in life.

&nbs
p; He wished she’d rub off on him and Brynne. “Thirty-six-footer?” Paul asked, hoping to sound knowledgeable but knowing squat about such things.

  “Right around there.” Zack tucked Emma to his side with his arm around her shoulders. Her eyes were wide, taking in the behemoth motor home like it was Christmas on wheels.

  “How’d you find it?”

  “Eva’s favorite way to do business,” Zack said. “Internet. RV share. Same way she found the house.”

  “The guy probably uses this RV once a year,” Joe broke in after a friendly knuckle knock with Paul. “Rents it out the rest of the time. Makes big bucks, too.”

  “Those who have get more,” Paul said under his breath, aware how cynical he’d become since lunch.

  “There’s only one problem with our plan,” Zack said, ignoring the prior sarcasm, and gazing hopefully toward Paul, who felt the opposite of Mr. Sunshine. “We need someone to drive it back here after we get home, and I’m hoping you’re the man. You interested in taking a quick trip through Vegas and beyond this weekend?”

  Paul had never driven anything so big—would he even be able? But a shot at hitting the road in pure luxury still managed to pique his downtrodden interest. All that power and magnificence under his control. What guy wouldn’t want the chance? “How would that work?”

  “Well, Joe and Eva will drive my car back home while I drive the RV. You’d have to come all the way to Little River Valley, but you’d get a free ride home, on my dime for doing me the favor of returning it.”

  “What would I do with my car?”

  “I’ve asked for a tow-bar attachment, so you can tow four wheels down.”

  Paul wasn’t exactly sure what that meant, but figured he’d find out, so he nodded like he understood.