Begin Again (The Blake Boys Book 18)

by Rhonda Laurel

  Like an enchanted bell being rung, Corbett’s cell phone began playing Wyatt’s ringtone. “Excuse me, ladies. I have to take this. Happy Holidays, Charmaine.” Corbett walked out of the conference room.

  “Darn it.” Charmaine scurried around for a piece of paper. “I wanted to give him my number. Do you know if he’s single?”

  “I’m afraid he’s gay.” Anna Beth bit her lip.

  “Really?” Charmaine squinted in the distance at Corbett as he exited the building.

  “Yeah. He was engaged not too long ago, but he called off the wedding after he had an epiphany.”

  “Oh.” Charmaine’s eyes widened. “The gorgeous ones always are.”

  “Yeah, right?” Anna Beth smiled, then handed her the envelope and a box of candy canes. “Happy holidays.”

  Corbett wanted to kiss his brother for his timely call. Charmaine was sending some pretty strong signals, and he didn’t know how he’d get out there without hurting her feelings. The only consolation was seeing the steam coming out of Anna Beth’s ears from the attention he was getting. He had to admit that he was glad to see she had a reaction and that meant she still cared. Whether she wanted to or not. He noticed Anna Beth was in a better mood. She was smiling as she walked toward the truck.

  “That was Wyatt, right?” she asked.

  “Yes. He’s in Philadelphia.”

  “How’s he enjoying his time with Avery’s relatives?”

  “He’s fine. Avery’s great-grandmother is feeding him at every turn.” He opened the van door for her. “What took you so long?”

  “Seems you have an admirer. Charmaine thinks you’re pretty cute.”

  “Oh yeah?” He rounded the front of the van and got in.

  “I think it’s the hat. It’s improved your features tremendously.”

  “Maybe it’s my soulful eyes and sweet, yet enigmatic smile.” He laughed when she blanched at his description. “Your words, not mine. Remember our first cozy, romantic dinner at your place? Mr. Whiskers knocked over my wine glass.”

  “I’d forgotten about that.” She laughed too. It had taken Mr. Whiskers a while to warm up to him. It took several toys and a new scratching post to finally win him over.

  She got another call. He stole a glance at the display. It was J.J. again, but she didn’t answer.

  “What’s going on? Why are you avoiding your work husband’s call?”

  “I think J.J.’s trying to give me a promotion.”

  “That’s fantastic.”

  “It depends on what the new position entails.”

  He looked at her for a moment. She was sabotaging herself. He knew she enjoyed her job, but he also knew she was capable of so much more within the company. Yet, it seemed like she didn’t want to do anything that took her too far from J.J.’s office.

  “You ever think that your feelings for J.J. are keeping you from new opportunities?”

  “I can’t believe you are lecturing me about lingering anything when you can’t free yourself from Courtney.”

  “It’s not the same thing. I helped a sick friend that day. I didn’t ditch you and go have dinner with her family. But thinking the worst of me was more convenient than being understanding.”

  “I think we both know what this is about. I can blame your blindness to Courtney’s machinations until the cows came home, but we know the truth. I told you I loved you two days before Thanksgiving and you didn’t say it back.” She sniffed.

  “That was surprising.” Corbett took a deep breath. He’d kicked himself every day for not answering her. She just blurted it out in a playful but meaningful way, and it paralyzed him. He was both elated and terrified. Those words had been on his lips too, but he was waiting for the right time to say them. Like when his stomach wasn’t tied into knots. She looked hurt and disappointed when he’d kept talking like he hadn’t heard her. But he was afraid to say those words again. He’d said them before and it hadn’t ended well.

  Tears fell down her cheeks. “I’m not embarrassed I said them because it’s how I felt. But I am ashamed that I couldn’t see that you didn’t feel the same way. I thought what we had was real. I didn’t consider this was how you rebound from a broken engagement. Some men go on a dating spree and get laid a lot. You picked the one woman who was so desperate for love she’d thought you were a wonderful guy. You were using me to get validation.”

  “Anna.” He tried to caress her arms, but she backed away. “You don’t know how bad I feel about how I handled that. You know I never wanted to hurt you.”

  “I wish I’d never met you, Corbett Connelly.” She wiped her tears on her jacket sleeve. “I’m taking a cab back to the Foundation. You can handle the rest of the deliveries on your own.”

  “Don’t be ridiculous. I’m not leaving here without you.”

  Just then, another Blake Foundation truck pulled up beside them. It was Jim and Cindy. He’d met them at the orientation meeting that morning.

  “Hi, guys.” Jim hopped out of the van and opened the rear door.

  “Did we forget to bring something?” Corbett furrowed his eyes.

  Cindy smiled. “No. There were some extra boxes Morgan wanted sent over. Our last delivery was in the area, so we volunteered so you wouldn’t have to double back.”

  “Would you mind if I caught a ride with you? An emergency came up, and I have to go back, but Corbett still has a few deliveries.”

  “Sure.” Jim said. “Why don’t you and Cindy go back, and Corbett and I will finish up?”

  “Awesome.” Anna Beth walked over to Corbett and shoved the box of candy canes into his hands. “Here you go. I think you know where you can stick them.”

  * * *

  Corbett was still pretty wound up after Anna Beth left him at the clinic. By the time he’d returned to the Foundation, she was gone. The words she’d said lay heavily on his heart. How could she think he was that ruthless? He loved her too. He just didn’t know how to say it.

  He returned to the ranch to collect some things he’d left at Bo and Summer’s place. He needed to get away and clear his head. He entered the living room to find it bustling with activity. Tyler and Channing were looking at instructions to some sort of swing contraption, and Tate was trying to lift something out of a big box.

  “Hey, Corbett.” Channing put the set of instructions down on a table.

  “Reinforcements. Thank goodness.” Tyler lifted his hands up in the air like a prayer had been answered.

  “A little help. I’m not picky,” Tate said as he hoisted a part of a pool table out of the crate.

  Corbett rushed over to help Tate. “It looks like Santa’s sleigh crash-landed in here.”

  “This is the safest place on the ranch to assemble the toys,” Channing said. “The kids are getting pretty crafty at finding the gift hiding spots in the houses. But we’ll have to change locations when Bo and Summer get a little one of their own.” Channing smiled.

  “My brain hurts.” Tyler said as he headed to the kitchen. “I’m getting refreshments.”

  “Your brain always hurts.” Tate laughed. “Corbett. How was the food drive?”

  “The Blake Foundation is doing great. Morgan and the ladies helped a lot of community organizations.” He looked around. “I just came back to get my things. I’m heading back to New Mexico.”

  “You’re not staying for the festivities?” Channing picked up an Allen wrench off the floor.

  “No. I think it’s better if I go home.”

  Tate put his hands on his waist. “We were hoping to have the family together, minus everyone who had other obligations.”

  “I don’t think I’ll be missed.”

  Tyler came back into the living room with beers and chips. “Won’t be missed?”

  “Corbett is going back to New Mexico.” Channing opened a beer.

  “That’s too bad.”

  “Do you have some time to give us a hand?” Tate asked. “We’re shorthanded with Seth and J.J. running PR interfer
ence at the stadium.”

  “Cool. I always wanted to visit Santa’s Workshop.” He laughed.

  “You remember that swing we put together for Jake’s first Christmas?” Channing said.

  “How could I forget?” Tyler replied. “It swung two times and he fell on the floor. Morgan wanted to kill us.”

  “You two learned a valuable lesson that Christmas.” Tate grinned.

  Tyler rubbed his arm. “Yeah. That Morgan’s punches hurt.”

  “And?” Tate held his hand up to his ear, waiting for an answer.

  “Oh. The rule of thumb is that there are no extra parts or screws left over when assembling toys. Read those manuals carefully and get someone to double-check the finished product.” Channing grinned. “Cassie said she doesn’t want to see any flying babies for the holidays.”

  “Did Jake get hurt?” Corbett asked, frowning.

  “No.” Tyler laughed. “He’s tough like the men in this family. He actually wanted to do it again.”

  “Jake got off easy. Remember that time J.J. and Bo decided to build canoes that we could use on the creek?” Channing shook his head.

  Tate rumbled with laughter and took a seat. “Corbett, you have to hear this one.”

  Tyler picked up his cue. “J.J. and Bo were having this heavy competition in woodshop. I know, the idea of those two building anything is funny all by itself. I think there was a girl involved and her name was—”

  “Lindsay McGovern,” Channing chimed in. “She was pretty.”

  “Wasn’t she? I loved it when she came to the ranch for a visit. And she always smelled like—”

  “Boys. Stick to the main point of the story.” Tate shook his head.

  “Oh.” Tyler thought for a moment. “Yeah, somebody came up with the bright idea they each would build a canoe that could float on the creek. The person with the better canoe would ask Lindsay out for a date.”

  Tate raised his hand. “That genius with the bright idea would be me.”

  “The big day comes, and we all dropped playing with some really choice Christmas toys to test run the canoes and—” Tyler stopped again, this time for dramatic pause.

  Corbett eagerly took the bait. “What happened?”

  “We get half way out and both canoes start sinking like a stone.”

  “No!” He laughed.

  “They were both in such a hurry to one-up each other that they forgot to coat it with protective sealant.” Channing wiped the tears of laughter from his eyes.

  “I have a better one. What about the time we got the bright idea to cut down our own Christmas tree?” Tate suggested.

  “Oh.” Channing bit into a chip. “Tate, J.J., and Seth were all in their super macho phases and decided to cut down a tree. They were all playing football back then and thought they could move the Grand Canyon if they wanted. So these idiots go into a forest and start up the chainsaw, but didn’t realize they were cutting this massive tree, which was way too big for the house, in the wrong direction. Daddy’s brand new truck was in the path. The tree came down, crushed the cab, and flattened the tires.”

  Tyler slapped his knee. “Daddy docked their allowance for six months to cover the repairs. They were lucky. Bo negotiated him down to the six months. It was initially a year.”

  “Oh boy. Remember that time Seth tried to cook Christmas Day breakfast…”

  Corbett listened while the guys told more stories about past Christmases as they assembled the toys. A few hours delay wouldn’t change his travel plans. Besides, it was a blast hearing about this other side of his brother. He couldn’t imagine his straitlaced brother Bo being involved in all those hijinks. The man they were describing was fun-loving and a little mischievous. To Corbett, Bo was always the shy nerd who always had his nose in a book. They hadn’t seen each other much over the holidays when they were younger, but that had all changed now.

  When he, his mom, and his brother had reconnected with Bo a few years ago, he’d dodged the first holiday gathering. He wasn’t ready to be part of this vast extended family. He was content living his life with his mom and brother in Albuquerque. They didn’t share his sentiment and began spending a lot of time in Texas. So he’d eased up and visited more. He didn’t know when it had happened, but he and Bo had slowly found a neutral ground that wasn’t wrought with hostility from old childhood rivalries. Now they were in a great place and more importantly had become friends. If it weren’t for Bo, he never would have met Anna Beth. Everything he loved was now connected to Texas. He was happy to be Bo Jamison’s little brother. Too bad they’d lost so much time.

  Then the guys reminisced about more recent celebrations with the kiddies in the family. It was endearing to see the next generation of the Blake family bounding around the ranch. They were active kids with plenty of imagination and always in search of adventure. Jake was the ringleader and they all obeyed him, and he in turn kept a watchful eye over everyone. It reminded him of his days of watching over Wyatt. Mackenzie was downright adorable, and as the only girl, the family doted on her.

  Thinking back on it, now that he’d grown entrenched in the family’s celebrations, he was surprised at how excited he’d been when Tyler and Michelle had Tucker. And Channing and Cassidy finally got their miracle and had triplets Brady, Aiden, and Drew. The more time he spent with the Blake kids, the more it made him realize he wanted a family of his own. Sure they were exhausting. He’d watched them one time, and after an hour, he’d felt like he’d run a marathon. But it was one of the best hours of his life. They played, asked questions, and loved to eat and run around the house. Eventually Colby asked him if he was Anna Beth’s boyfriend. He’d laughed it off, but they’d all looked like they wanted an answer. Thank goodness Teri-Lyn and his mom came back into the house and saved his bacon.

  Sometimes he’d think about what a baby with Anna Beth would look like. He’d want their child to have her warm smile, beautiful eyes, and tender heart. She was a natural with kids too; he'd seen that when they'd visited Cassie and Channing a few times. The boys smiled and giggled when she cuddled them in her arms.

  A few hours later, they looked around at their handiwork. After a bunch of snacking and drinking they had put together six bikes, five activity contraptions, four learning walkers, three remote-controlled helicopters, two playhouses and a…

  “A partridge in a pear tree!” Tyler belted out, off-key.

  Everyone burst into laughter. Well, it wasn’t a partridge in a pear tree, but a pool table for Jake. The kids were going to have a fun Christmas.

  “I thought we agreed you’d leave the singing to Tate,” Channing mused.

  Tyler smiled. “The boys are going to love those walkers.”

  “They can hang on for dear life and get some exercise.” Channing shook his head.

  “Not that they’ll get to use them,” Tate replied. “You have to beg the ladies to let them walk on their own.”

  There was a quick double-tap on the front door then it opened. It was Seth. “Hey, boys. Has anyone checked on Rowdy? I thought I heard him howling when I came up the drive.”

  “Seth! We thought you’d be knee-deep in PR statements,” Tyler said.

  “I think we’ve done all we can for now.” He rolled up his shirtsleeves. “Sorry, I’m late.”

  “What’s the verdict?”

  “Riley’s an angel compared to Maurice.”

  “Sloane wasn’t involved, was he?”

  “No.” Seth scratched at his beard. “He’s exempt from this particular fiasco.”

  “This may cheer you up.” Channing went into the dining room and brought back Seth’s most important gift to his daughter. “Take a look at Mackenzie’s new bike. Corbett put it together.”

  Seth bent down and inspected the pink and white bike. The basket had daisies and a big letter M on it. “Sweet. She’s going to love this. She said she wanted one with a basket like a big girl.”

  “Corbett helped speed up the process.” Tate patted him on the back.r />
  He glanced at his watch. “Well, it’s been great hanging out with you guys, but I better hit the road.”

  Seth stood. “You’re not leaving?”

  “We’ve already tried to talk him out of it. He has some things he wants to mull over by himself,” Tyler said.

  “Like what?”

  “Anna Beth.” Tyler coughed.

  “Oh. Women troubles.” Seth winced. “Now’s the time to be with family.”

  “No, let him go,” Tate said. “I holed up in my cabin for weeks when I was working things out about Izzy.”

  “Really? You had problems with Izzy?” Corbett asked.

  “Back then I was my own worst enemy, but luckily I came around.” Tate scratched at the label on the beer bottle.

  Channing grinned. “He means he came to his senses after Morgan and mama threatened to rearrange some vital organs.”

  Seth nodded. “You take the time you need, but if you change your mind, we’ll be here.”

  Corbett bade everyone goodbye, then dropped by the guesthouse and collected his bag. The Blakes were a lucky family. They had tons of collective old memories merging with the new as their family continued to grow. He couldn’t help but feel a little jealous.

  He’d ruined the possibility of having something wonderful like that with Anna Beth after this series of missteps he was sure he couldn’t correct. Her final words I wish I never met you echoed in his head over and over.

  He should have said the words she’d needed to hear. They’d been on his lips for months, but when the time came, he froze like a deer on a busy highway. Hell, he should have called an ambulance for Courtney that day at the soup kitchen. There was nothing worse than regrets he had no way of fixing. And now these mistakes would cost him everything.

  Why was it so hard to say, “I love you”?

  CHAPTER SIX

  Anna Beth looked at the slew of shopping bags near the couch and sighed. Only a crazy woman would decide to give herself a wardrobe makeover on Christmas Eve. She’d gone to the mall and shopped like a maniac. She’d covered a lot of stores, the lingerie boutique being the final stop since it was near closing time. The sales clerk politely shuffled her to the door after she’d made her purchase before closing the security gate.