by Julie Benson
What I’m really going to do is say goodbye.
He stepped aside. “Come in.”
Bad idea. Very bad. “I’d rather talk in Rory’s office.”
“I won’t attack you.”
“The cameramen and the sound team are setting up. I don’t want to start gossip being seen coming out of your bedroom.”
He tossed her the impish grin she’d never forget. “Things happen in places other than bedrooms.”
The memory of her and Griffin making love on the game room couch flashed in her mind, sending a rush of heat through her. “Please, Griffin?” She paused, unsure of what to say, of what to do.
He stepped into the hallway. “All right, I’ll be good.”
Instead of responding, she turned and walked toward the stairs. The tap, click of his cane and footsteps told her he was following.
“What, no snappy comeback about how that would be a first?”
Maggie bit her lip, trying to control the emotions churning inside her, but a sob escaped. She couldn’t do this. She had to get away. “Never mind.”
When she tried to leave, Griffin clasped her arm, halting her. “What’s going on? Are you crying? You never cry, and you never pass up an opportunity to get a dig in.”
Griffin froze, his hand holding her arm, his mind reeling. Then he guided her down the hallway. When she got sick on the trail, he wondered if she was pregnant, but brushed off the thought. She said the pregnancy test was negative.
Now he realized there were too many signs to ignore. Besides getting sick twice, he’d never seen Maggie this emotional. She might get angry with him, but she remained in control.
I never saw the test results.
He knew women lied about being pregnant, but lying about not being pregnant? Why would Maggie say she wasn’t pregnant if she was?
Anger bubbled up inside him. He’d told her if they created a child that he wanted to be involved. She had no right to keep the news from him.
What if she’d been too scared to tell him? The thought softened his anger.
Once in Rory’s office, he asked, “Maggie, is there something you need to tell me?”
She stiffened and glanced at the floor. He placed his hand under her chin, and tilted her face upward. “You’re a lousy liar. Your eyes give you away.” His gaze locked with hers. He caressed her cheek. “You have the most expressive, most beautiful eyes I’ve ever seen. They make me want to do all kinds of wild things with you.”
Her gaze shot to the door as if she might bolt, but instead she scurried to the leather arm chair on the opposite side of the office.
“We need to talk about the finale,” she said, her voice small and shaky.
“That’s all you have to say?” Had she heard him? But why would she believe anything he said when he’d spent the last two months kissing and caressing other women? She’d think what he said was meaningless since he’d tossed out all kinds of sexual innuendos and compliments to the bachelorettes this season.
“Oh, we’ll talk all right, but not about work.” He strolled toward her leaning heavily on his cane. He refused to let her hide behind her job. He advanced until he stood in front of her. Then he braced his hands on the chair arms, and leaned toward her. “You’re pregnant.”
Maggie slid off the chair, ducked under his arms and raced out of the room.
Damn. He’d botched that. He spent the morning planning what to say, starting with how much he loved her, and how much he needed her in his life, but when he’d suspected she was pregnant, things went haywire.
He clomped after Maggie, calling her name, but she only sped up. By the time he reached the porch, she’d jumped in her rental car and peeled out of the parking lot.
When he crawled into his truck and pulled onto the highway, he couldn’t see her car. Where would she go with the finale to start in three hours? Her cabin. She’d go there to hide.
Unexpected warmth spread through him at the thought of Maggie carrying his child. Since his car accident, he’d avoided thinking about the future, because when he did, all he saw was his lack of marketable skills and prospects.
Maggie believed he had options, that he could make something of his life. She believed in him. She was the kind of woman who would stand by a man as he worked to achieve his goals. Because of her, he’d checked into the University of Colorado’s admission requirements.
Ten minutes later he banged on her door. “Maggie, if you’re there, please let me in.”
Nothing.
He pulled out his cell phone, but his call went straight to voice mail. He’d screwed this up enough. He wouldn’t compound his mistake by telling her he loved her in a phone message.
If she wasn’t here, where the hell could she be?
While he might not know where she was now, he damned well knew where she’d be in a few hours.
* * *
AS MAGGIE STOOD in the McAlister living room an hour before the finale, she felt drained, emotionally and physically.
“Maggie, you can’t keep running from me. We need to deal with this.”
She closed her eyes at the sound of Griffin’s voice, but refused to look at him. “I’m busy right now. I need to check the lighting, and when I’m done with that, I have to tape the interview part of the show with the finalists.”
“Please?” His tender plea wrapped around her heart and squeezed. How would she get through watching him propose to someone else?
She motioned to Samantha. “Take over for me.”
When Maggie and Griffin stood out of hearing range, she said, “I can’t do this, and you have a contract to fulfill, remember? Your mother needs this money, and I need my job.”
“You’re wearing the sweater I gave you. I knew you’d look beautiful in it.”
“It’s gorgeous.” She ran her hand over the soft wool.
“I didn’t say the sweater was beautiful. I said you were.”
“Griffin, don’t.” She stepped back, but he clasped her arm like he had earlier. This time she pulled free and walked away, praying he wouldn’t make a scene.
As she sat in the dining room watching the finalists prattle on about Griffin’s good looks, his sense of humor and how much they loved him, Maggie closed herself off, knowing that was her only chance to survive the night.
The interview section of the show completed, they went to a commercial, while she and the finalists returned to the living room. The bachelorettes stood by the fireplace, one dressed in a long, sleek red dress with a slit as high as the elevation. The other wore a form fitting gold backless gown. Maggie smoothed her hand over her simple black pants.
The approaching soft clip clop of footsteps paired with a cane, allowed Maggie to brace for Griffin’s arrival. Or so she’d thought.
Dressed in his jeans with holes in the knees, a white snap front shirt, his cowboy boots and his tan Stetson perched on his head, he appeared confident and strong, but a little underdressed for the situation. “Where’s your tux?”
“I figured if I’m doing this, I want to be myself. This is who I am. Take it or leave it, but I’m done playing games.” He stopped in front of her. “Where do you want me?”
With me. Forever.
She walked with him to the small oak table they’d positioned a few feet away from the fireplace. One golden key twinkled in the fire light, beside a small, gray jewelry box containing the two carat diamond and emerald engagement ring the show provided.
“You’ll announce your decision from here.”
He glanced at her, his eyes sparkling. There were so many things about him she’d miss.
Once everyone was in position, she said, “We’re back in thirty seconds, so everyone ready.”
When the camera light came on, Griffin cleared his throat. “I’m sorry to do this to you two because you’re both great women.”
Maggie froze. What was Griffin doing, and how could she stop him? Her cell phone vibrated in her pants pocket. Her producer, no doubt, wanting to know the s
ame thing.
So much for her career as a director.
“I can’t propose to either of you when I’m in love with someone else.” Griffin turned and pointed toward her. “I’m in love with you, Maggie.”
Knowing he’d lose the money he’d earned so far, and would probably be sued, he’d declared he loved her on national television. He’d risked everything for her. Swearing she’d fallen asleep and was dreaming, she watched him pick up the last gold key and limp toward her.
She couldn’t breathe. Somehow, despite his dating gorgeous women for ten weeks, he’d fallen in love with her, the country mouse.
“Maggie, you hold the key to my heart.” As he held out the key, one cameraman swiveled to face her, his eyes wide with shock. Join the club. Unsure with the camera staring at her, she smoothed her hand over the soft green sweater Griffin had given her, bolstering her courage.
“I hear women like grand romantic gestures,” he continued, and flashed her a to-die-for smile.
She never expected to be on the receiving end of one, especially one of this magnitude, much less having the whole world watch. “That’s what studies show.”
“Will you accept this key to my heart?”
She nodded, not trusting her words to come out in a coherent fashion, as she clasped the key in her sweaty fist.
“The week before my dad died, he said someday I’d find a woman who wouldn’t fall at my feet and she’d send me on a merry chase. Then he said if he wasn’t around when that happened—” Griffin’s voice broke at the mention of his father “—I was to give her Grandma McAlister’s ring. She was mom to three boys, and was strong enough to keep them in line. He said that’s the kind of woman I needed, one I couldn’t sweet talk my way around.”
The camera focused on them, beaming this private moment to thousands of viewers as Griffin reached inside his shirt pocket and pulled out a ring. Maggie started shaking. “I’d get down on one knee, but I’m afraid I’ll fall on my ass—”
“What happened to the romantic gestures?”
“I’d call proposing on national TV romantic, wouldn’t you?”
“You’re proposing?”
He laughed. “Since the ring wasn’t enough of a tip off, Maggie, I love you. You’re smart, compassionate and you keep me on my toes. Will you marry me?”
“How can you do this now?”
“I’ve been trying to propose all day, but you kept running away. This was my backup plan.” He clasped her cold hand in his. “How long are you going to let me stew before you answer me?”
She still couldn’t believe Griffin risked everything for her. “I love you so much. Of course, I’ll marry you.”
Griffin slipped the ring, warm from his hand, on her finger. By the time he’d finished, tears streamed down Maggie’s cheeks. She’d cried more in the last few weeks than she had her entire life. She stared at the antique deco ring. A small diamond set in white gold rested on each side of the modest center diamond. The sentiment and love behind the ring meant everything to her. “It’s beautiful. Now stop talking and kiss me.”
He laughed. “Still bossing me around. We’ll have to talk about that later.” Then he wrapped his arms around her, molding his solid body against hers. As he kissed her everything, the cameras, the crew, the finalists and her assistant staring at her like she’d stolen the Hope Diamond, faded away.
“That’s it. We’re clear,” one of the cameramen said. “What were the two of you thinking? The network’s going to throw a fit.”
“You can’t be serious,” Olivia screeched. “You and the director? When were you two alone enough to fall in love?”
“How long has this been going on? You’ll probably lose your job,” Samantha added, with a touch of enthusiasm, probably over the director position being open.
“We had a deal,” Stacy snipped. “If you screwed things up for my own show, I’ll sue you for everything you’ve got.”
“Stand in line,” Griffin joked.
Avery rushed toward them, pushed Stacy aside, and enveloped Maggie in a huge hug. When she released her, the younger woman looked at her brother. “It’s a good thing you proposed. I would’ve been forced to resort to violence if you hadn’t.”
The noise hammered in Maggie’s head. Then a shrill whistle pierced the pandemonium.
Everyone faced Nannette. “That’s enough. You’re all acting like a pack of wild dogs.” She turned to Rory. “Please take these ladies back to their cabins.”
“Yes, ma’am.”
As Rory and the finalists left, Nannette pointed to the crew huddled together, taking in the entire scene. “You start packing up. I want all of you out of here as soon as possible.” Then she walked to where Maggie and Griffin stood.
Maggie flinched. How could she face Griffin’s mother? Surely she thought her the lowest kind of woman for getting involved with a man who was to marry someone else.
When Nannette reached them, she clasped Maggie’s hand. “My dear, I can’t tell you how thrilled I am with what’s happened tonight. You’re perfect for Griffin, and from the moment you two arrived, I saw how much he loved you.”
“You wouldn’t say that if you knew what’s going to happen with the show.”
“Griffin told me. We’ll handle this like we every other tough time, as a family. Now, I’m sure you two have things to discuss. I’m in the kitchen if you need me.” Then she kissed Griffin on the cheek. “I’m proud of you.” Then she kissed Maggie’s cheek. “And you’ll be a fine addition to the family.”
As Nannette left, the buzz of Maggie’s phone broke the silence. She dug her cell out of her pocket and glanced at the number. Her producer. Time to pay the price for what she and Griffin had done.
Chapter Eighteen
When Maggie answered her phone, she paled. Griffin clasped her hand and squeezed.
“It’s my producer. He wants to speak with both of us.” She tapped the touch screen. “Go ahead, Mark. I’ve got you on speaker.”
“What the hell have you two being doing this season? No, don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. All I’m concerned about is managing this publicity nightmare we’re in, and the first step is, Maggie, you’re fired, effective immediately. I’ve contacted Legal. We’re filing lawsuits against both of you tomorrow. You’re not to speak to the media about what’s happened between you.”
When Maggie ended the call, a new round of tears streamed down her face. Griffin wrapped his arm around her shoulder, and glanced at the techs staring at them wide eyed, as they tried to look busy. “Let’s go somewhere more private.”
He led her into a corner of the dining room, away from the commotion and eavesdroppers. “Were you ever going to tell me about the baby?”
“How’d you know?”
“You were sick, overly emotional and passed up a chance to get a dig in at my expense. It took me a while, but eventually I put it together.”
Maggie stared at the floor. “I didn’t know what to do when I discovered I was pregnant. I didn’t want to lose my job, and I certainly didn’t want you to get sued. I did what I thought was best at the—”
“Maggie, girl, take a breath.” The last of his anger evaporated. She’d been scared and worried for him and his family. He placed his hand under her chin, and gently forced her to meet his gaze.
“Are you angry with me?” Her lip trembled.
“About the baby? No. About the fact that you lied to me, yes.”
“Technically I never lied. I didn’t say I wasn’t pregnant, only that you wouldn’t receive any Father’s Day cards. It may not have been the right thing to do, but I had my reasons. There were the financial issues, but my parents’ marriage weighed on me, too. My mother got pregnant when she and my father were dating. He never let her forget he dropped out of college and married her. As years went on, he grew more bitter, until he up and left, along with every dime in the bank.”
“The bastard. No wonder you haven’t talked to him in years.” Griffin clasped h
er icy hands in his. “I’m not him, Maggie. I love you. No more lies between us. Don’t ever be afraid to tell me the truth.”
“I don’t think my parents would’ve gotten married if she hadn’t gotten pregnant.” She pulled away, and clenched her hands in front of her. “If you’re marrying me because of the baby, tell me. I don’t want us making the same mistakes my parents did. We’ll work out custody arrangements. If I can find a job in Colorado, I’ll move here to make things easier. If I can’t find—”
Not knowing how else to silence Maggie, he hauled her against him, and kissed her, taking his time, enjoying holding her close. The force of how much he loved her washed over him. “I am not marrying you because of the baby. Let’s face it. I’m not that kind of guy. If I didn’t love you, I’d support my child, but that’s all. I’m marrying you because I love you, and want to spend the rest of my life with you. I’ll happily prove it over the next fifty or so years.”
She smiled, but then her eyes filled with tears. “What’re we going to do?”
“I don’t know about you, but tomorrow I’m calling Pastor Klockers to see if he can marry us this weekend.”
“I meant what’re we going to do about the show suing us?”
He shrugged, and wiped her tears away with his thumb. They’d figure something out. “There’s some good news. Other than my one-sixth of the ranch, I’m dang near broke, and as the saying goes, you can’t get blood from a turnip.”
She smiled and shook her head. “There’s a silver lining for every cloud, or maybe in this case, it’s a cloud for every silver lining. I’m not quite sure.”
“That’s my girl.” As he held her, he knew he’d do whatever necessary to provide for his wife and child. His wife and child. He liked the sound of that. “Rory has a lawyer buddy from Harvard. He couldn’t find a loophole in the contract when I talked to him, but he can represent us. We’re not giving up without a helluva fight. If I have to, I’ll sic Mom on them. She fights dirty.”
* * *
THREE DAYS LATER, Maggie sat in the bedroom she now shared with Griffin preparing for her wedding. Growing up most girls dreamed of an elaborate storybook wedding, but Maggie wouldn’t change her simple one in the McAlister living room, with only his family in attendance for anything.