Читать книгу Her Valentine Hero - Gail Gaymer Martin - Страница 13

Chapter Four

Neely looked out her bedroom window, anticipating Jonny’s arrival to take her to Rainie and Ty’s engagement party. She wished she would have talked with him first about pretending she was his date. She’d never had a chance, and when she saw him at the gym, others were around and it didn’t seem the right place.

The more she planned to ask him, the more her sister’s comments stopped her. Using him as a battering ram—her sister’s words—made her flinch, and though she thought Ashley’s analogy was a poor one, she still got the idea. She wanted to use him as a buffer between her and Erik. The problem might not arise, but if so, she hoped Jonny would understand.

How did she expect anyone to understand without knowing the details? The question nudged her so often, but being honest about the situation meant soiling her reputation and making her vulnerable. She couldn’t handle that.

She checked her dress in the long mirror. The A-line style in deep teal hung in soft folds and camouflaged her less-than-perfect figure, although she’d already lost a few pounds at the gym. She’d come home to be a support to her dad and sister, but she faced her other motive. She wanted to remake herself as well as her body. Though she disagreed with Ashley again on being like her mother, she had to admit that she did tend to run from problems. Her issues with Erik and her mother had been prime examples, but now she’d returned and had to deal with the same conflict unless Erik had changed. She could only hope.

The doorbell rang, and she looked down from the upper window. Jonny’s car had rolled into the driveway while she’d been preoccupied. Her dad’s voice sounded from the foyer, followed by Jonny’s greeting. She grasped her small handbag and hurried down the steps. Before she reached the bottom, she faltered, her heartbeat skipping as she eyed Jonny in a dark-colored suit with a white shirt and conservative dark tie.

He took her breath away. She hadn’t realized the width of his shoulders until now. As she opened her mouth to compliment him, Jonny cut her off with his own comment.

“You look beautiful, Neely.” He reached for her hand as she left the last step, and squeezed her fingers. “I’ll bring her home safe and sound, Mr. Andrews.”

Her father chuckled, and rested his hand on Jonny’s shoulder. “I know I can trust you, Jon. You’re a good man.”

She grinned at her dad, agreeing that Jonny had grown into a wonderful man. The more the truth hit her the worse she felt using him as protection. She hoped it didn’t come to that.

“Daddy, I want you to stay downstairs until I get back. You have everything you need down here, and when I get home, I’ll be with you when you walk upstairs.”

Her father shook his head as if she were a blithering idiot. “What can I do with this girl, Jon? She thinks I’m an invalid.”

“She loves you, Mr. Andrews.”

She grinned at Jonny who’d backed toward the door, grateful he hadn’t agreed that she’d been overreacting. She drew closer and kissed her father’s cheek. “Do as I say, Daddy, and I’ll be home no later than midnight—probably earlier.” She eyed Jonny for validation, but he only grinned.

“Good night, sir.” He turned the knob, and pulled the door open, then held it for her to step outside.

Neely gave a final wave at her dad standing in the doorway as he’d done when she was a teenager. She grinned, thinking about those years when she felt protected and supported. This time it was her turn to protect her father, a kind of reversal of roles she’d never anticipated but one she accepted.

Jonny opened the passenger door of his car, and she slipped inside, admiring his tall frame as he rounded the hood to the driver side. When he settled beside her, a woodsy scent enveloped her, and she drew it in, admiring the man who wore it.

“Your dad looks pretty good.” He started the car, and shifted into Reverse.

“You should have seen him a few weeks ago.” She shook her head with the memory. “I think it was the fear in his eyes that bothered me the most. I’ve never seen Daddy vulnerable, but that’s exactly what he was.”

“Severe illnesses remind us of our finite nature.” He guided the car onto the street and pulled away. “Heart attacks, accidents, diseases can attack us at any time. Even when we’re fit.”

She agreed, sorry that the topic came up. No one wanted to think of life ending so soon. But it did, and that meant each person had to be ready. She closed her eyes, wishing she didn’t feel the weight of her sins.

“Speaking of fit.”

Jonny’s voice drew her back. “You’re looking great, Neely. I’ve noticed the weight you lost although you’ve always looked good.”

She grinned, using his compliment to give a lift to her spirit. “Thanks, but that would be in the eye of the beholder, as they say. I behold pounds.”

“You’re too hard on yourself.”

Maybe she was.

“If the weather stays this nice, we should take advantage it and enjoy the outdoors. Wilson Park has an in-line skating rink. I use it sometimes for running.”

“Fresh air and sunshine. Sounds good.”

“Next week. I’ll call you.”

She nodded, asking herself why she had gotten herself so involved in Jonny. She needed motivation to exercise and doing it with someone added fun to the job, but Jonny? Sometimes she thought of herself as a fly caught in a spider web and tempting fate. She gazed at him again, and grinned. Jonny was the best-looking web weaver she’d ever run into.

When they reached the steak house, Jonny slipped from behind the wheel and was at her door before she could unhook her seat belt. When she stepped onto the asphalt, he closed and locked the door, and clasped her arm as they headed to the entrance. Though he had no idea that she’d considered asking him to pretend the outing was a date, he gave the illusion with his attentiveness. Grateful she hadn’t asked, she accepted the attention as they went inside.

The maître d’ guided them to the banquet room, and when they stepped inside, a good feeling washed over her. She and Rainie had dreamed of the day when they would walk down the aisle, each promising to ask the other to be their maid or matron of honor. In a few months, she would fulfill her part of the promise. Rainie’s part of the promise seemed like a faraway dream.

“Neely.” Rainie stood with a group of women and waved her over.

She slipped her arm from Jonny’s grasp. “Your sister calls.”

He gave a nod, and headed for Ty without looking back.

She stood a moment to watch him cross the room, part of her wondering how it might be to really be on a date with Jonny.

When she turned toward Rainie, someone caught her arm. Glancing over her shoulder, she cringed and then pulled herself together before facing him. “Erik, how are you?”

“Neely.” He stared at her, his jaw loose as if it had a broken hinge. “Wow! You’re the last person in the world I expected to run into.”

His gaze swept over her, and her discomfort increased. Words were lost in the jumble of thoughts running through her head. He’d grown more handsome. His boyish features had matured and strengthened. His sandy-colored hair had darkened to saddle brown, worn in a typical executive style with a fresh-cut look. He wore a sport coat with his shirt open at the neck and had the air of a man who’d just come from a business meeting.

Erik’s eyes searched hers. “You look healthy.”

Did he mean fat? Flushed? She probably was. Her face burned, as their past reeled into her mind. “Thanks. You look well, too, Erik.” Though her pulse raged, she managed to keep an even tone. Why did he have to approach her when she was alone?

A waitress shifted beside Erik with a tray. “Would you like a drink?”

Erik grasped a wineglass while she eyed the tray for a soft drink. “Is that cola?”

“It is.” The woman smiled and handed her the glass, then moved away to offer drinks to other guests.

Neely watched her go, wishing the woman would stay and chat. She scanned the guests hoping to catch Jonny’s attention but he’d vanished. She wished Erik would. She sipped her drink before focusing on him.

He swirled the red wine in the stemware, and sniffed the scent before he spoke. “Sorry about your dad. I heard he had quite a time.”

Surprised he’d mentioned her father, she took a second to respond. “Thanks. His health is one reason I came home. I knew he’d need watching, and Ashley has her hands full.”

“Yes, I heard about your sister’s loss, too.” He rested his hand on hers. “So you’re here to stay?”

“That depends.” She pressed her lips together and stepped back, hoping he’d withdraw his hand. He didn’t.

A grin stole to his mouth. “Depends on what?”

“On my dad’s health and the job market.”

His gaze slipped to her left hand. “You’re still single?”

Her chest constricted, and a response clung to her throat. Finally she found her words. “Yes, and very happy about that.”

“Really?” His head flew back so hard, she feared he gave himself a whiplash. “I always pictured you with the country-club crowd. Remember our plans.”

“Country club? I don’t think so. The lady said she’s happy.”

Jonny’s voice rolled through her, and she sent a thank-you to heaven. “Jonny, where have you been?”

“I was trapped by a football fan.” He shifted his attention to Erik. “How’s business?” Jonny’s question salved the uncomfortable situation, and she relaxed, grateful he’d come to her rescue.

She listened to them talk about their work while her mind weighed the burden of having Erik come back into her life. She’d hoped he’d moved away to a big city somewhere. At the moment, she wanted to move away from him. She scanned the room until she spotted Rainie, remembering she’d flagged her down minutes earlier. She had her excuse to say goodbye, and leave the men with their conversation.

While she waited for a break to cut in, Jonny slipped his arm around her waist, and gave her a gorgeous smile. Her heart flew to her throat. She hadn’t asked him to protect her, but that’s what he was doing.

Erik didn’t miss the move. His face flickered with question as tension tightened his jaw. “What are you two doing together?”

She had no idea what to say, and searched Jonny’s face waiting for him to reply, but he didn’t. He only grinned.

Neely grinned, too, waiting.

Erik’s gaze dropped to Jonny’s arm around her waist, and when he looked up, he managed a chuckle tinged with sarcasm. “I assume you’ve let bygones be bygones.”

Jonny arched his brow. “We’re not kids anymore, Erik. We put childish behaviors behind us.”

Neely wondered if Erik recognized the scripture reference. He’d never talked about faith. She was a believer, and she cringed again, knowing that she’d allowed him to manipulate her into ignoring her morals and upbringing for his pleasure.

Erik appeared to have gotten grip of his emotions. He gave her a wink, and lifted his wineglass. “It’s good to see you again, Neely. Let’s toast a new beginning.”

She studied him wanting to walk away, but this wasn’t the time for a confrontation. She lifted her soda glass while Erik held his drink posed until Jonny joined the toast. They clinked their glasses together, and when Erik lowered his, he captured her gaze with a coy grin. “I’ll let you two enjoy yourselves, and, Neely, tell your sister I’m sorry about her loss. She’s way too attractive to be alone, isn’t she? That’s too bad.”

His comment seemed a little glib. She flinched as he turned away, but Jonny’s hold on her waist soothed her, and when she turned her focus to him, the sight of his beautiful eyes washed away the tension.

Jonny chucked her chin. “That’s over. Let’s have some fun.”

She tiptoed up, and kissed his cheek. “Thank you.”

As they walked toward Rainie, Jonny almost gave the impression that this was a date, and she didn’t care. His protective nature nestled around her, and tonight she tried to forget the old Jonny. As Erik had said, she would toast a new Jonny and a new beginning.

* * *

Jon listened to girl talk between his sister and Neely for a few minutes, and then ambled away, unnoticed. He stood closer to the hall entrance and surveyed the crowd, seeing a few high school friends of Rainie’s but also people he really didn’t know. He spotted Erik who seemed to be charming a young woman Jon didn’t recognize. He wondered if Neely fell for the new-beginning toast. He wanted to gag, but what right did he have to interfere? Dreams didn’t count in the scheme of things. To be a winner meant developing a game plan by setting up plays, and then moving into action. He taught his boys how to play on the field, and now he wondered if the same skills could be used in relationships.

The whole situation plagued him. The best parts of the evening were Neely’s kiss on his check and Erik’s expression when he slipped his arm around Neely’s waist. He would have never had the courage except he knew she wanted nothing to do with Erik. He figured a flash of possession might thwart his obvious plans to hook Neely back into his arms.

He still wasn’t sure what caused her to be turned off by Erik, but whatever it was, he was glad.

An appetizer table he hadn’t noticed earlier appeared, and he wandered closer, eyeing the tidbits of food that were on the menu. Shrimp, cheeses, crackers, a series of chaffing dishes that promised tiny kabobs of meat, mushrooms with filling, and some he couldn’t make out, but the scent of herbs and spices rose from the table. He forked a couple of unknowns on the plate and carried it and his soft drink to a small empty table.

He savored one of the mystery items, thinking he’d go back and try another—maybe even learn its name, and as he reached for a meatball in sauce, a hand swept a sausage wrapped in a dough from his plate. He recognized the bracelet and grinned. “You’re welcome, Neely.”

She settled into the chair beside him, and took a bite of the appetizer. “Yummy.” She licked her lips, and then slipped his napkin from beneath the plate to wipe her fingers. “Thanks.” She motioned to the table. “I suppose I could get my own.”

“Here, finish mine.” He slid the plate in front of her. “I’ll load up another plate for both of us.”

She chuckled and delved into the stuffed mushroom. He hurried back and selected hors d’oeuvres for two plates, checked to make sure Erik was still preoccupied and carried the dishes back to the table. Erik’s country-club comment bothered him. He didn’t understand how that reference had entered the conversation. Neely had never seemed interested in all of that.

He set the plates on the table and returned to his chair. “What was that reference to country-club crowd?”

She drew in a deep breath and shook her head. “That was one of Erik’s encouragers.”

“Encouragers?” He let the word bounce in his mind. “Encouragers for what?”

“For a girl to be his wife. He thought everyone valued having membership in a country club. That was far from my mind.”

He chuckled. “Very far. You were down to earth. Always giving.”

“Me?” A grin brightened her face. “Look what you just did. You gave me your plate, and then went to fill two more. I don’t know why I’m surprised, I remember, as much as you irked me year ago, you were always thoughtful. Helpful, really.”

“So were you. You’ve always focused on the needs of others. I’ve seen you give a needy woman a piece of clothing you were wearing.”

Her eyes capture his. “I what?” She shook her head. “I don’t remember that? “

Maybe he’d admitted too much. “I helped you and Rainie take the canned goods you’d collected to a food kitchen in Detroit somewhere. It was October. I remember there was a chilly breeze, and...” He caught himself again, letting his sentence fade.

“October? Come on. How would you remember that?”

Her eyes grew as large as the pumpkin on her shirt that day. He’d done it. Too much information. He might as well tell her he could remember everything she wore back then. “When you gave the woman your sweater, underneath you were wearing a knit shirt that had a big pumpkin on it, and—”

“Jonny, I can’t believe you remembered that crazy pumpkin top.” Her gaping mouth drew into a smile. “I think I blocked that gaudy thing from my memory.”

But he hadn’t. When she’d hoisted the carton of food from the trunk, the sunlight hit her auburn hair and streaked it with gold, the color of leaves at the height of autumn. It had taken his breath away. He’d just turned fourteen, and Neely had become his first secret love.

Neely shook her head as a soft chuckle escaped her. “Why would you remember something like that?”

Talk about reality, the truth smacked him in the head. “Because I had the biggest crush on you.”

Her hand flew up, and flipped the edge of the plate. Two appetizers skipped to the table. She dropped them back on the plate, though her eyes never left him. “What are you saying? You had a crush on me?” She burst into a laugh. “You were a pesky kid.”

To her maybe, but to him, he was a man in love.

She lifted her hand and pressed his arm. “I’m sorry. I’m sure, at the time, you thought you were in love. I guess I did that, too. I remember picturing me in the arms of Leonardo DiCaprio.” She lifted her brows. “Sometimes I can still picture that.”

A faint chuckle tittered from her as if she were a teenager again.

She broke eye contact and smiled. “So you had a crush on me.”

Not had—have. He managed to return the grin as he picked up his drink. His tongue adhered to the roof of his mouth as if he’d eaten glue. She’d already taken his confession as a joke, and he needed to let it go for now. In time, he hoped she would see who he was from his actions. A man’s actions had to mean more than his age. He gazed at her, his mind going back. “Another thing I remember.”

“You remember more?”

“Not really.” He let it drop. He’d said too much already. “Want to mingle?” He started to rise but she grabbed the hem of his jacket and tugged.

“No, I want to know what you remember.”

Her lighthearted tone urged him on, and though he knew he could be digging his own demise, he decided to be open. He could be Jonny for now if that’s what it took. “The country-club comment reminded me of this.”

She frowned at first before brightening again. “Go ahead.”

“I remember once you said, ‘Who needs sterling silver and fine china. I like paper plates and plastic forks. No dishes to wash.’ You wrinkled your nose and laughed. I remember.”

“Were you memorizing my conversations with your sister?” She arched an eyebrow, and he couldn’t tell if she were teasing or upset.

“Crushes do that. Can’t you remember everything about Leonardo DiCaprio’s face when he stood on the bow of the Titanic with Kate Winslet?”

Her expression turned to a grin. “I guess you’re right.” She reached over, and rested her hand on his again. “I think we should mingle, but first, I want to thank you again for coming to my aid with Erik. He really bothers me.”

Her expression validated what she’d said. Erik ground him, too. “What was that comment about Ashley?”

“That’s what I’d like to know.” This time she did frown.

So did he, because he could only guess that Ashley could become the pawn of another of Erik’s manipulations to get what he wanted.

He didn’t like it at all.