“Of course you don’t. You sure screwed this up.”
He shot her a sideways look. “Nice little old ladies don’t talk that way.”
She snorted. “I never pretended to be nice. You should know I called Marie.”
“Thanks.” He hung his head. Soon the whole island would think the worst of him. Again.
“After last night, Tess needs someone to check on her. Marie can make sure she doesn’t cry herself sick.”
Another stab of guilt knifed through Lukas’s chest.
“She shouldn’t have lied to me.”
“Didn’t give her much of a choice, did you?” Estelle took her hat off and crumpled it. “It was either lose you or lie. Not that it would last long. Her body was going to tell the truth for her eventually. Maybe she wanted to grab a little happiness while it was in front of her.”
“Not helping,” said Lukas through his teeth.
“Good, cause you need to get over it. Do you know how many people know Tess is pregnant?”
Lukas shrugged. It didn’t matter.
“Before today, it was only two. Marie and me, and I only learned last night. She hasn’t even told her mother.”
Lukas snorted. After overhearing Tess’s conversations with her mother, he understood that one. His heart constricted a little bit. Tess’s mother would be brutal when she found out. She shouldn’t have to go through that alone.
“Also, there’s circumstances, but it’s not my place to be the one to tell. There is more to Tess’s story.”
“This isn’t about Tess not telling me. It’s about the fact she’s pregnant. I can’t be a father again.” He looked over the lake. That day was so clear in his memory. The shouting, Stacey screaming, the sirens. He shuddered.
Estelle put a hand on his arm. “You were a good father.”
“No, I wasn’t. How could you say that? I neglected them.”
“You set them down in front of a movie so you could get some work done. I dare you to find one parent who hasn’t done something like that before. TV’s not terribly good for kids, but it sure helps our sanity. You paid the ultimate price for something that parents do every day.”
“That’s not what Stacey said.”
“Did you know your kids could quote the entire movie of Toy Story by heart?”
Lukas creased his eyebrows. “No.”
“That’s because they watched it every morning while Stacey got ready. She once told me that if Toy Story didn’t exist, she’d never get her makeup on, and she wore gobs of it. It must have taken forever to slather on. I think she felt guilty because you did something she did every day, and the kids died on your watch. It doomed the two of you. You weren’t a great match and without the boys, there was nothing left to save. She’s gone on to find her own thing. You shouldn’t sit here and let your ghosts win.”
Lukas clenched his fists together.
“I don’t know that this changes anything. I don’t think I could bear the thought of that kind of heartbreak again. What if I do everything right and something bad still happens?”
“Then it happens. Life sucks sometimes, but it’s so much easier to deal with when you’ve got someone you love by your side. Someone like Tess. That girl has spunk and she can learn to play a decent hand of canasta.”
Lukas looked at Estelle. She was his second mother, one of the three women in his life that he knew he could always count on. Was he ready to add a fourth?
The next evening, Tess sat on her couch eating ice cream and watching the final season of Downton Abbey. She binge watched the whole six seasons, getting lost in that world so she didn’t have to think about her own.
Tess cried a lot. Work would call tomorrow, and she would try to act normal, but for tonight she could still wallow.
Someone knocked on her door. She ignored it. There was absolutely no one she wanted to talk to right now. Marie and Estelle had both been by, though neither said much. There had been lots of hugs though. Estelle patted her belly and said she was hoping for a girl.
Tess mentioned finding a new place to rent. Marie shook her head, and Estelle only clucked her tongue.
The knocking stopped, and the handle twisted. Someone walked in anyway. Damn. She forgot to lock it.
“Tess, I’m coming in. I hope you’re dressed.” The voice was female, but she didn’t recognize it.
Jessica poked her head around the corner.
“How are you doing?”
Tess shrugged. “As good as could be expected. Thanks for listening yesterday. I needed that.”
“No problem. I’m here to help out again. You need to go shower, sweetie, because we’re going out.”
“No offense, but I don’t want to go anywhere.”
“I know you don’t, but you have to. Come on, you get in the shower, and I’ll pick out an outfit.”
“No, I want to stay here. I’ll turn back on tomorrow, but for tonight I just want to be heartbroken alone.”
“Not letting that happen. Sorry. Up you go.” Jessica removed the remote from Tess’s hand and pulled off her blanket. “Shower. Now.”
Tess grumbled all the way to the bathroom. She stepped in the hot shower and immediately felt better. Ten minutes in, Jessica shouted from her bedroom. “We don’t have all day. Get a move on.”
She quickly rinsed her hair and stepped out. She wrapped a towel around her body and went into the bedroom. Jessica had laid out one of her nicer dresses and a pair of high-heeled boots.
“Where are we going?” Tess asked.
“Someplace nice. You’ve got great taste in clothes, by the way.”
“Thanks.”
Tess got dressed and did her hair, still not convinced she wanted to go out, but Jessica did not seem like the type of person that anyone could say no to.
Jessica was texting on her phone when Tess made her way into the living room.
“You look fantastic. Let’s go.”
Waiting by the road was a horse-drawn carriage. Tess had ridden the taxis of the island, but this one seemed nicer somehow. Jessica helped Tess up and then backed away from the carriage.
“Aren’t you coming?” Tess asked.
Jessica shook her head. “No. Have fun.” She shut the carriage door.
The carriage pulled away from the house and Tess got a bit nervous. She was thinking this was a girls night or something. Now she didn’t know what to expect.
The carriage drove toward the Grand Hotel. The lights were on for the first time since she arrived on the island, but they weren’t supposed to be on until the spring thaw. Tess leaned out the window to see it. The horses stopped in front of a tiny chapel halfway up the hill.
The driver opened the door for her and pointed toward the church. She hurried into the small building, eager to get out of the cold weather. She stopped as soon as she saw who was inside.
Lukas.
She sucked in a deep breath. It was too soon to see him. He looked amazing, of course. Black pants and a white button down. Her fingers curled in as she remembered the feel of those abs under that shirt.
Had he sent for her, or did Jessica and Conner set this up? She couldn’t bear the thought of him breaking her heart again, and she mentally cursed Jessica.
Lukas turned to look at her, and his eyes lit up. He moved toward her, and she reached for the door. She wasn’t going to go through this again.
“Tess, wait. I need to talk to you.”
She spun on him. “I think you did enough talking yesterday morning, thank-you-very-much.”
He shoved his way between her and the door. He reached for her hand then dropped it back to his side at the last minute.
“I know. I’m sorry. You took me by surprise, that’s all.” He chuckled nervously. “Surprised. You shocked me. I reacted badly.”
Badly was an understatement.
“If it helps, Estelle has called me an idiot in ways I didn’t know existed.”
He was trying to be charming. He was failing.
&nb
sp; “I needed some time to think about what I wanted.”
She crossed her arms. “And what is that?”
“You. Tess, I want you.”
Hope blossomed in her chest. That was the exact thing she wanted to hear him say. Before she could throw herself in his arms, she needed to know he understood her.
“You realize I come with a baby, right? You said you never wanted to have kids again.”
“Yes, I realize that. I was terrified of failing again. I’ve discovered though, that I want you no matter what. No matter how scared I am. In fact, I’d be honored to be this little one’s father.”
Tess’s heart caught in her throat. “I don’t know. What happens when you change your mind?”
“I’m not going to change my mind. I’m in this for the long run.”
He knelt down on the ground and pulled out a small box. “I should’ve done this properly last time. Tess, will you marry me?”
She gasped. “Lukas, I don’t know. Are you sure?”
“Yes, I’m sure. In fact, the preacher is waiting in his office to make this official today if you want.”
“Today? You want to marry me today?”
“I never want to spend another day without you. If you’ll have me.”
Tess didn’t hesitate. She loved Lukas and could never be happy with anyone else.
“Yes.”
He grinned and stood, pulling her to him.
“I will make it up to you for yesterday.” He breathed into her hair. He went to kiss her, and suddenly Dio was there, pushing between them with red roses tied to her collar.
“Damn dog,” Lukas muttered before finally capturing Tess’s lips.
Check out Book 2 in The Omega Mu Alpha Series, Pyramids and Promises
Jessica Erickson’s never been one to run from her problems, but she has no choice this time. The only way to escape her cheating, mentally abusive ex-husband is to flee her beloved second home in Russia for the dusty, hot Cairo desert. It’s the absolute last place in the world she would actually want to go, but the only option available to her. Unfortunately, the sand isn’t the camouflage she hoped it was and her stalker ex is still able to track her down. Egypt isn’t as terrible as she had initially believed though. She lucks upon a chance meeting with Conner Locke, who’s as hot as the Sahara and determined to show her the beauty in what she finds ugly. Not just in Cairo, but in herself. As a therapist, she knows that rebound relationships never last, but she can’t stop from tumbling head over heels for him. But Conner’s own demons might shred their new happiness before either one of them get the chance to believe it’s truly real.
Chapter 1
The dry heat sucked all the moisture out of Jessica’s skin. She wasn’t sure which was worse, Russia’s bitter cold winter or this. She squared her shoulders. She wanted this. There wasn’t going to be any wallowing in self-pity. A man waited for her just outside the gate. He wore a nice suit and held a sign with her name on it. She waved him down, and he took her carry-on bag.
“Welcome to Egypt!” He beamed at her. She gave him a weak smile, and he continued. “Did you have a nice flight, Mrs. Erikson?” he asked in a thick Egyptian accent.
“I did. Thank you.”
She followed him into a chaotic mess of people. The line at passport control was as long as any Jessica had ever seen. When they finally reached the front, he took her passport from her. The man spoke in rapid Arabic to the agent on the other side of the glass, and within seconds they were on their way to the baggage carousel.
He was efficient, moving her through the crowd quickly. She wanted to stop and look out one of the windows. Everything she’d seen outside of her airplane window had been brown sand. One of Jessica’s biggest fears moving from Moscow to Cairo was the lack of color. Moscow had been so full of color. Even in the winter, the buildings were red and gold. Here, there was only desert. She hated brown. And sand.
“Do you have many bags?” he asked. He was two steps ahead of her and already watching bags roll down the carousel. Jessica pushed her way through throngs of passengers to join him.
“Three. They are fairly large.” She would be getting a shipment in a few weeks, but she knew from experience that living in a foreign country would be easier if she started out with as many comforts from home as possible.
People were everywhere. They shoved in all around her. Hands grabbed at bags. Not all were careful where they were grabbing either. Claustrophobia threatened to overwhelm her and send her into a panic attack. She never felt that way in Russia. Moscow hadn’t been quite this intense. The wide-open spaces of the countryside allowed her to feel at home even though she was a long way from South Dakota.
They weaved through the masses of humanity to the sliding doors leading out of the airport. The heat smacked her like an exhaust pipe blowing in her face. It wasn’t humid like summer in South Dakota, but it certainly was the hottest air she’d ever breathed. Her thick blonde hair clung to her neck. If only she had a hair tie. She imagined from now on she’d be wearing lots of ponytails.
Three women waved excitedly at her from the pickup lane. They stood next to a white SUV that was nicer than most of the vehicles that whizzed past. But it wasn’t the vehicle that caught her attention.
All three wore varying shades of the brightest flowered sundresses that Jessica had ever seen. It was the same simple dress, but one was blue, one was pink, and the final one was yellow. They were their very own bouquet. Jessica glanced nervously at her guide.
“There’s your ride,” he said with a hint of a smile. “The Embassy Welcoming Committee. You’ll be in good hands with them.”
“You’re leaving me?” Panic rose up the back of her throat. He was quick, long-legged, and for heaven’s sake, she didn’t even know his name, but she didn’t want him to abandon her. They had a community liaison office (or CLO as everyone called it) in Moscow, but that was pretty low-key. Diplomatic housewives who would help new families settle in and organize local sightseeing trips. But this was completely over the top.
“I work here at the airport, getting everyone through customs.” He dipped his head as the flowered ladies ran up. “They are a lot to take in, but they mean well.”
He melted back inside as Pink Flower grabbed her into a hug.
“Welcome to Egypt!” She squeezed Jessica tight. “I’m Melinda. And this is Marcy and Molly.”
She gestured to Blue and Yellow respectively. Melinda, Marcy, and Molly. Goodness. This was like something out of a Disney movie. All they needed were wands and wings, and they could be fairy godmothers.
“My husband, Jeff, can help you with your bags,” Melinda drawled out in a thick Texas accent. Jessica hadn’t even noticed the poor man following the women. He smiled and took Jessica’s luggage cart from her.
“We’ll get you settled into your apartment, and the gals here will show you around Maadi,” he said. He was a small khaki blob in comparison to his brightly-colored wife. He had dark circles under his eyes like he hadn’t slept in days.
“It’s nice to meet you. Thanks for the welcome,” Jessica said.
Melinda linked her arm through Jessica’s and pulled her toward the SUV. “Your apartment is right around the corner from ours.”
“And only one floor down from both of us,” Marcy chimed in.
“It’s unusual for a transfer to happen in April. Did your paperwork get held up or something?” Molly had the cutest brown bob of curls that popped against her yellow dress.
“Molly.” Marcy elbowed her friend in the stomach. “We agreed we wouldn’t ask. Yet, anyway.” But she looked at Jessica with curiosity in her eyes.
“Something like that.” Jessica nodded. Her flight had been long, and she was tired. Not from flying, it wasn’t really that far, but for the first time in months, she felt like she could relax. Here in Cairo, she didn’t have to look over her shoulder. She’d answer all their questions, but in due time.
The sheer number of people and volume of the ch
atter was like nothing Jessica’d experienced before. Most moved out of the way of the brightly-colored Americans though. As a group, they were quite intimidating. Several men accosted Jeff, trying to take the cart or asking “taxi?” a thousand times. Jeff was doing a nice job with the luggage trolley and successfully dodged the masses.
Jessica sat in the backseat, sandwiched between Molly and Marcy. Melinda twisted around from the front.
“So you came from Moscow. That must be an interesting place. Our last assignment was in Venezuela.” Melinda smiled brightly.
“And the weather is so different. Did you decide you hated the cold?” Molly asked.
“Molly!” squeaked Marcy. “You’ll have to excuse her. Molly is the newbie of the group. This is her hubby’s first assignment. She’s still learning the ropes of how these transfers work.”
Jessica hung her head. While on the plane, she tried to come up with a good story. Fantastic opportunity. Lifelong dream to see Egypt. Or some such nonsense. Right now though, she couldn’t remember a single line of it. She was going to have to do better before she started work.
“Thanks for picking me up,” she said instead. “Do you know how long it takes for our cars to arrive?”
Melinda pursed her lips. “Around two months or so. But there is a lot of public transportation. Be sure you attend the meeting on what you can and can’t take. The metro is off-limits. Also, never get into a black cab.”
Jeff hopped in behind the wheel as Melinda finished.
“Most cabs are white. Make sure they have an orange license plate, or you’ll be getting in a car with someone who isn’t a taxi driver. That’s the only distinction between normal cars and taxis,” he said. “You’re welcome to catch a ride with me to the embassy until your car does come though.”
“Thank you. That’s very kind. What’s wrong with the black cabs?”
“Some people will tell you nothing, but they aren’t metered, and they are old, old cars. Most expats will risk them anyway, but the embassy tells us we can’t.”
Marcy leaned forward. “One of my friends got in a black cab, and there was cardboard on the floor. She thought it was just to protect the carpet, but her foot went right through and landed on the street.”
Snowfall and Secrets (Omega Mu Alpha Brothers Book 1) Page 15