At the top of that list was his mother, Seraphim, who had somehow teased her number from Ransom’s—apparently—weak resolve and had spent the day calling her off and on, asking a million and one questions that Dani struggled to answer.
Namely, how she knew for a fact that she was in love with her son.
How was anyone supposed to formulate and answer to something as intangible as love?
But she’d done her best, despite how utterly uncomfortable it made her, and ended up telling her something along the lines of how he’d made her heart beat faster and slower at once. That he was the only man who’d ever touched her soul. How each day she woke with him on her mind, and he was the last thought she had before she went to sleep at night.
She was fairly certain she’d ripped all of it off of some dead poet. At the very least, it was a menagerie of clichés.
But it was no less true regardless of origin.
Dani was in love with Ransom, for better or worse, and Seraphim seemed to know it, too. She took Dani’s explanation as fact and with a certain amount of approval in her tone, then asked her out on a girl’s luncheon.
Today.
Which was why she was now sitting in a café in the middle of downtown staring out at the panoramic view of the city’s sidewalk, with her back straight as a pole and her hands folded in her lap.
The picture of perfection. The perfect girlfriend. Maybe, one day, the perfect daughter-in-law, too.
A girl could dream.
But the longer Dani sat there waiting, the more she began to wonder if she’d been stood up. Seraphim didn’t strike her as someone to be late.
Her cheeks ached from so much smiling.
It was almost a relief when her phone rang. Letting her mask of perfection fall for a moment, Dani reached into her purse and lit up at the name on the screen.
“Hey, just who I needed to talk to.”
“Oh? Is something wrong?” Ransom asked, curious.
“Oh, nothing wrong exactly,” she hedged. “Except that I’m sitting in a café waiting to have lunch with your mother.” Angling her head toward her lap, she lowered her voice in the interest of keeping their conversation private. “I didn’t even know she had my number. Care to shed some light on the subject?”
“Er, yeah. My fault. She called me this morning on my way to work and kind of freaked when I told her we were official. Not that it came as a surprise, but she insisted on talking to you, and since I wasn’t readily available, I figured, maybe, a phone call was the lesser of two evils?”
“And what would be the first?”
“Me picking you up to have lunch with her together.”
Her eyes widened. “You totally threw me to the wolves.”
“I did not. She’s much more of a bear than anything.”
She heard the smile in his voice and her lips pinched, though she wasn’t mad. Just shocked, fraught with nerves, and maybe a touch annoyed. “I’m going to need to hang up now. I’m feeling stabby.”
“W-what?” he coughed. “Stabby? Oh, Lord, woman, you never fail to make me smile.”
“Glad I can entertain you,” she deadpanned. “Now what did you call for? I’m kind of in the middle of hyperventilating, and I feel I should give it my undivided attention.”
“I just called to hear your voice, but I don’t want to interrupt your heavy breathing, so I’ll let you get back to it.”
“You’re so thoughtful.”
“That’s why you love me,” he said, using that deep, rumbling voice that made her toes curl.
After they professed their love and Ransom apologized for not at least giving her a heads up about his mother, he wished her good luck and she tucked her phone away with a contented sigh. At least she could be confident in where she stood with him, even if she was shaking in her Dr. Scholl’s at the thought of one-on-one time with his mother.
“Traffic was a beast!” Seraphim proclaimed as she whirled through the door, her heels clacking against the tiled floor as she threaded her way through the tables.
Dani stood and accepted her embrace, smiling faintly as her stomach threatened to revolt.
Taking the seat across from her, Seraphim scanned her from head to toe. “You look cute.”
“Thank you. I like your dress.” It was one of those wrap types that made her boobs look fantastic and in a deep shade of red that went well with her fair complexion.
“Thank you. I got it on sale.”
“My mother would love you then. She’s a sucker for sales.”
“Oh? I’d love to meet her then. A woman can never have too many girlfriends.”
Dani smiled, fresh out of niceties to share. She twisted her fingers together, unsure how to proceed.
“Have you ordered yet?”
“Oh, no, I was waiting for you.”
She was graced with an adoring smile. “You’re too sweet. I only wish my sons had your manners. Tell me what you want, and I’ll go put in the order.”
After a moment of back and forth over who was going to pay the bill, Seraphim sauntered up to the counter, leaving Dani to twist her napkin and wonder how in the world she was going to make it through a full hour and not faint dead away.
“I wish you wouldn’t look so frightened. I’m really not a wretched woman once you get to know me,” Seraphim said as she set their mocha lattes and blueberry scones on the table.
“I don’t think that of you,” Dani assured her.
“Well, I can’t imagine what you must be thinking then, what with the way I practically ambushed you on the phone earlier.”
“It’s was a bit unexpected, but it’s fine. I understand.”
“Then you’re more patient than me.”
“Well, he is your son. If I had kids, I imagine I would be a little overprotective of them, too.”
Sighing heavily, Seraphim flipped her hair over her shoulder and curled her hand around her latte, cradling it between her palms. “It does come with the territory, yes. I just want to be sure that my boys are happy. Finding someone to share your life with isn’t an easy task, and Ransom knows that better than most. He’s had a tough go of it these last months, but now that he’s found you, I think he’s on the path to healing.”
“It means a lot that you think so highly of me, but I haven’t really done all that much. Ransom just needed a little nudge in the right direction.”
Her expression softened with a motherly glow, and Seraphim reached out and covered Dani’s hand with hers. “And I can’t tell you how much it means to all of us that you were the one doing the nudging. You’re a great girl, Dani. Don’t downplay how much of an effect you’ve had on him. Because of you, Ransom has found his true self. That’s more than any mother has a right to ask. I’m just so grateful that he’s finally found the love he deserves.”
“I do love him.”
“I know you do. I can see it in your eyes and hear it in the way you speak about him. He’s lucky to have you.”
“I’m lucky to have him, too.”
“I’m glad you feel that way. You two will make each other very happy.”
Concerns that Dani had been turning over in her head since she’d learned of Ransom’s past rose to the top of her thoughts as she sat there with the one person who knew Ransom best, and she couldn’t help the temptation. She had to ask.
“How involved were he and Josephine? I mean…” She paused. Combed her fingers through her hair and shook her head. “I don’t know what I mean.”
“You want to know if they were in love and if there’s any chance that something could happen between them in the future.”
“Yes.” She was relieved to have Seraphim’s understanding. It made her feel less crazy for having the thoughts in the first place. “It’s terrible of me, I know.”
“Are you kidding? I’d be worried if you weren’t,” she said, surprising Dani. “But to answer your question, no. Not a chance in hell,” she said with conviction. “Even if by some chance I believed Ransom w
as in love with her, which I can tell you that he absolutely isn’t, Josephine only has eyes for one man, and that’s her husband. Not to mention that Rebel would murder him without blinking an eyelash if he thought for one second his brother was sniffing around his property, twin or not.”
“Murder?” Dani covered her throat with her hand in response to the severity with which she had delivered the information.
“We’ve a healthy dose of Irish in our bloodline. Passions run deep.” She patted the table, a silent push to drink her latte before it cooled. “Don’t worry your pretty little head over it another second. My boy may have thought he was in love with Josephine, but trust me when I say that he didn’t know the meaning of love until he met you.”
“You sound pretty sure of that,” Dani observed, then added, “Ransom basically told me the same last night.”
Reading the lingering sadness underlying her tone, Seraphim broke off a portion of her scone and held it poised in front of her mouth. “Got into it did you?”
“Just a tad. We started talking about Ransom visiting Rebel for a talk, and I ended up blabbing my insecurities instead. Everything went downhill from there. So, you see, I’m not so perfect after all.”
“Being able to talk things out with your partner is a good thing. It’s what makes for strong relationships. Resilient ones. How do you think Victor and I have made it this far? I can tell you now, it wasn’t because he wears a suit well or that he knows his way around a woman’s body. Although he does both quite well.” She paused, staring off as she got lost in thought.
Dani looked away, feeling like an intruder. For a distraction, she picked up her scone and took an experimental bite, mulled over the flavors, and decided she still preferred donuts.
“Sorry, lost me for a second there.” Seraphim laughed lightly at herself. “Even after all these years, that man still holds a power over me.” She gave her head a clearing shake. “At any rate, my point was that in order for a relationship to work, it has to have substance, and that comes with the willingness to learn and change for one another.”
“My father bailed on my mother and me. Did Ransom tell you about that?”
“He didn’t.”
Dani liked that she didn’t look at her with pity. She just held her gaze, firm and steady, as if they weren’t discussing the heaviness of life. “He had a bit of a drinking problem, and he didn’t want to be tied down, so he just packed up and left one day.” She hesitated. “But what I didn’t tell Ransom was that I still talk to him.” Which was why what Seraphim had said about relationships resonated with her. She’d been working to mend one fence while possibly damaging another. Was her omission something that would ruin hers and Ransom’s relationship down the line? Would he view her history with her father and readiness to stand by him through his own problem as a reason not to be together?
Seraphim raised a perfectly arched brow. “Long distance?”
“No,” she said, drawing out the word. “He moved here a while back, when I was still in college. We ran into each other at the grocery store one night while I was heading to a party a friend was throwing. We exchanged numbers, and the rest, as they say, is history.”
“And you’re ashamed of that?”
“Only that I wasn’t more forthcoming from the start. Ransom has told me everything about his past. I owe him mine.”
“You don’t owe anyone anything. Will it bring you closer if you do? Probably. Is it imperative that you tell him every little thing about you? Not at all. The most important thing to a relationship is honesty. Dragging baggage or past shames or what have you into it won’t help anything.”
“So you’re saying I shouldn’t tell him then?”
“I’m saying that you should tell him only if you want to. Otherwise, keep it on a need-to-know basis. Like when you get married and your father is going to walk you down the aisle.”
“You’re already planning our marriage? Boy, and here I was thinking this was going to be a simple luncheon with my boyfriend’s mom.”
Seraphim patted her hand. “Oh, sweetie, you have much to learn.”
SIXTEEN
RANSOM SAT IN THE middle of his brother’s living room, his leg crossed over the other at the knee, staring into a cup of black coffee. He’d come to apologize, but Rebel was currently preoccupied with daddy duties.
While Ransom sat and waited patiently, he took stock of his surroundings, noting how similar everything was to Rebel’s previous apartment where he’d also stayed at one time.
It seemed he had a hard-on for apartments in the sky with cityscape views and streamline designs. The finishes, from the floors to the walls to the furniture, were heavy and dark, masculine, but not overdone. Small, feminine touches, like vases stuffed with flowers and colorful throw pillows that appeared to be made from clouds, created a comfortable, relaxing, and inviting space.
Plus, it concealed the baby accidents well.
Ransom held up his hand up to the light, rubbing his fingers together and wondering what the oily residue could possibly be.
Then he decided it was probably best not to know and snapped a baby wipe from a random container set out on the coffee table—a glass top with an elephant base, of all things—and cleaned his hand.
“Sorry, they refuse to go down for their nap without their favorite cuddle bears. Stubborn, just like their mother.” Rebel smiled wryly as he crossed the room and sat on the opposite end of the couch, releasing a tired sigh that spoke volumes.
“How’s fatherhood treating you?” Ransom asked, if only to have something to say. An icebreaker.
Rebel scrubbed his hand over the top of his head, sending his inky black hair spiking out in all directions. “Truth? I’m fucking tired as hell, but I’ve never been happier. Those girls are my life. Never thought you’d hear me say that about some babies, huh?”
No, no he hadn’t. Rebel had always been a bit of a player. Shopping for women was practically a second job, which was why Ransom never had a problem scooping up his throwaways. They had the same taste in women, so it made for easy pickings. Which was why it came as no surprise when they both fell in love with the same woman.
Rebel fixed Ransom with an assessing look, no doubt trying to figure out the reason for why he was suddenly showing up at his home after months of not speaking.
“So what’s going on with you?” Rebel asked. “We thought you were down in Florida all this time, but Mom said that you’ve been in town for weeks. Hiding from your own family now?”
Ransom sucked in a breath. It appeared they were going to skip right over idle conversation and get right to the heart of it. “I needed time to myself for a while. It wasn’t anything against her or dad. I just wasn’t ready to see anyone.”
“And by anyone, you mean me specifically.” Rebel didn’t shy away from Ransom’s gaze, as bold as ever.
“Yes, I mean you.”
Crossing his ankle over his opposite knee, Rebel mirrored Ransom’s pose almost exactly. “Look, I know we have shit to deal with. That’s obvious. But that doesn’t mean we’ve stopped being brothers. This thing between us, it’s hurting the people we love, so whether you or I like it or not, we need to sort our shit. One way or another, it’s gotta end.”
“I agree, which is why I’m here.” Ransom swallowed, his throat suddenly dry and scratchy. How could apologizing to someone be so damn hard? Two little words. They were like broken glass in his throat. “I—I’m…sorry.”
Rebel’s thick brows arched into his hairline. “Difficult was it? I have to say, I never thought I’d hear those words come out of your mouth.”
Ransom glared at him, though there was no heat behind it. “I do my best to never be in a position to have to.”
“I hear ya. Except now that I’m married with children, I find myself saying it all the time. Tastes a lot like crow, if I knew how one tasted,” he mused. “Being a husband and father has a way of forcing you to grow up.”
“Look, Rebel.” Placing b
oth feet on the floor, Ransom sat forward, propping his elbows on his knees. “I haven’t been the best brother. I know that. When I found out that we were after the same girl, I was determined to win. Not necessarily her heart, but against you. Being with Joe, it became a competition, and I don’t like where that led.”
Rebel stiffened. “You mean you don’t like that you didn’t end up with the girl.”
“No, that’s not it.” Ransom shook his head, measuring his words so they’d come out right. “What I’m saying is that there was a lot of damage done. Things I regret, and trust me, I’ve paid for it.”
“Good.”
Ransom flinched at his brother’s hateful tone. He deserved that. “I came here to tell you that I’m sorry for what I put you through. Both of you. When I found out that you two were together, that it was all a big misunderstanding, I should have backed off and let you two figure things out on your own. Instead, I just complicated matters by holding on. I knew I wasn’t the one she really wanted, but I couldn’t let go. I was too selfish to see that she had already made her choice.
“I’ve spent a lot of time thinking and wallowing and blaming everyone but myself. But I know now that the only person I have to blame is myself. I wanted you to know that. And…” He trailed off, Dani’s face coming to mind. “And I’ve met someone.”
“Dani, you mean. The girl from the party.”
“Yes.”
“I didn’t get a chance to talk with her, but she seemed nice enough. Joe thinks highly of her.”
Ransom smiled. For some reason, he was glad to have her approval. “She’s great. You’d like her.”
“I’m sure I would, considering we’ve always had that particular thing in common.”
Ransom almost choked on his spit. “Was that a joke?”
Rebel’s shoulder lifted. “Could be. I’ve been known to crack a couple from time to time.”
“I bet Josephine has a heart attack every time, too.”
Forbidden Valentine: A Forbidden Novel Page 13