Third Time's a Charm

by Virginia Smith

  Dynamite couldn’t pry him out of here tonight if she needed him. “It’s okay. I’m playing hooky.”

  The gurgle from the coffeepot ended in a loud hiss. Coffee dripped from the basket into the carafe, the sound magnified in the silent room. Ryan wanted to ask what had happened, but knew instinctively that he shouldn’t rush her. She’d tell him in her own time. Instead, he poured two cups of coffee and brought them from the kitchen.

  “Sorry it’s not a latte.” He handed her a steaming mug and took his seat again.

  With a brief smile, she cupped it in both hands and sipped. Then she held it in front of her mouth and closed her eyes. “My father is dead.”

  Ah, so that’s where the tears came from. “I’m sorry.” He placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. “Do Allie and Joan know?”

  She shook her head. “They’re coming over to spend the night with me tomorrow night. I’ll tell them then. But there’s more.”

  He listened as she poured out her story, how she’d found her father on the Internet, discovered that he’d died, and that he’d lived in Cincinnati. How she’d driven to his house to confront the woman whose name was listed under the ambiguous label of “relative.” And what she found there.

  “You should see her, Ryan. Chelsea is pretty, and smart, and she looks just like Daddy.” Tori shook her head. “She’s got some great memories of her father. I should be happy for her. Instead, I can’t stop wondering ‘why her?’” She twisted on the cushion until she was facing him. “What does she have that I didn’t?”

  “You can’t think that way. The problem was with him, not with you.”

  He might as well have kept silent. She didn’t seem to hear him but stared vaguely at some point over his shoulder as she continued. “Chelsea adored Daddy. I could see it in the way her eyes lit up when she talked about him. If I’d been less of a mama’s girl and more of a daddy’s girl, maybe he would have loved me more. Then he wouldn’t have left.”

  “You know that’s not true.”

  Her gaze snapped to his face. “Do I?”

  Joan’s words in the store the other day came back to Ryan. Maybe she was right. Maybe all the expensive clothes, the perfect makeup, the flirting, were just a show. A way to cover up the insecure little girl who was trying to understand why her daddy left her. He’d never gotten a glimpse of that girl before tonight. And he was drawn to her even more deeply than before.

  Lord, what can I say? I can’t fix this for her. I can’t answer her questions.

  But he could do one thing. He could tell her how he felt. Ryan raised his hand slowly and let his finger trace the outline of her tear-streaked cheek. “I don’t know why he left. But I do know one thing. His decision hurt him more than anyone else, because it deprived him of knowing you. I feel sorry for him. He missed out on seeing you grow into the amazing woman you are.”

  Warmth flooded her eyes, and for the first time all evening, a genuine smile played at the corners of her mouth. Acting more on instinct than thought, Ryan took the mug out of her hands and set it on the coffee table, his gaze never leaving hers. Then he moved closer on the couch and cupped her face in his hands.

  “Are you going to kiss me?” Her question was a purr in his ear.

  His hand slid to the back of her head, his fingers buried in the damp curls, and he pulled her gently toward him. “Do you want me to?”

  In answer, her eyelids fluttered closed and her face tilted toward his. The first touch of their lips was feather-light. And then Ryan pressed her closer and poured all the depth of his feelings into his kiss.

  Emotions swirled in Tori’s mind and snatched the breath from her lungs. All the tormenting thoughts dissolved as every sense in her body tingled with Ryan’s kiss. When he pulled away, her lips felt cold, bereft. She wanted that kiss to go on forever.

  Wow. Was Joan right, or what?

  When a second kiss didn’t come, she reluctantly opened her eyes to find him watching her. “I’m feeling better now,” she said with a coy smile.

  He gave a low laugh and slowly backed away. “I’m glad.” Then he sobered as he picked up his coffee mug. “But I need to tell you something important.”

  Uh oh. Didn’t he want to go out with her anymore? Was that why he hadn’t called her all week? To hide the deep disappointment that must surely be written all over her face, she turned away under the guise of retrieving her coffee. “Okay.”

  His words came out in a rush, as though he had to get them out before he changed his mind. “I’m not who you think I am. I don’t drink designer coffee, and I don’t know anything about marketing. I studied up on it so I could impress you. And I found out about your favorite flowers and your favorite pie so I could impress you too.”

  A suspicion slowly crept over Tori. She narrowed her eyes. “How did you find out those things?”

  Blood suffused his face. “Allie and Joan. They’ve been giving me advice all along.”

  She started to laugh. Poor Ryan had fallen into the clutches of her matchmaking sisters.

  “You’re not upset?”

  “Listen, on the scale of things that have upset me today, that’s minor.” She hesitated only a moment before slipping her hand into his. “Actually, I think it’s sweet that you took their advice. Thank you.”

  He sobered. “Tori, I don’t have a lot of money. In fact, I don’t have any money. So I can’t take you out to expensive restaurants and places like that. It’s not that I don’t want to, or that you don’t deserve to be treated like a queen, it’s just that I can’t afford it right now.”

  “I know that.” She squeezed his hand. “We don’t have to spend money to enjoy each other’s company. There are lots of things we could do that don’t cost a penny.”

  His lips twitched. “You mean like picnics in the park or drives in the country?”

  “Exactly.”

  “Your sister knows you better than I thought.” His thumb traced circles on her hand. “Though I can’t imagine why someone like you would want to go out with a farm boy like me.”

  “Because I’ve recently made an important discovery. I may not be crazy about farms,” Tori leaned forward, and just before their lips touched, she whispered, “but I like farm boys.”

  20

  When Joan and Allie arrived at Maguire’s on Friday evening, Tori had already conducted more than a dozen interviews as early diners left the restaurant. She’d missed at least that many others, unable to talk to more than one party at a time.

  “It’s about time,” she hissed at her sisters as they approached. “I’ve been here half an hour by myself.”

  “Sorry.” Joan gave her a quick hug, then rolled her eyes in Allie’s direction. “Someone couldn’t pry herself away from her baby.”

  Allie’s lip protruded, and she gave an audible sniff. “I can’t help it. I’ve never left her overnight before.”

  “She’ll be fine.” The restaurant’s door opened, and Tori whispered, “Okay, just listen this time so you know what to say.”

  Joan and Allie stood nearby as Tori approached the couple leaving the restaurant. They were happy to talk to her, and she recorded their answers on her survey form. A few minutes later, they left with their dessert coupons.

  “That looked easy,” Allie said.

  “It is.” Tori dug in her briefcase, then gave each of them a clipboard and a stack of forms. “Just smile, and make sure I can read your writing.”

  The next hour passed quickly, and Tori was sure she was getting some great data for her analysis. A few people weren’t interested in taking the time to talk to them, but most seemed prepared to go on at length about the reasons they liked Maguire’s.

  She had just finished talking to a pair of businessmen when she turned around and got an unpleasant surprise. Kate stood on the sidewalk, arms crossed, glaring in her direction.

  Busted!

  Tori schooled her features and approached her boss. “Hello, Kate.”

  “Do you mind telling m
e what you’re doing?” Her voice was chillier than Tori had ever heard it.

  “I’m gathering data to help with my marketing plan.”

  “I thought we agreed that you didn’t need to conduct any research.”

  Tori worked hard to keep her voice pleasant. “No, we didn’t. You said I couldn’t hire a research firm, and I haven’t. I recruited my sisters to help, so it won’t cost anything.”

  “No?” Her pencil-thin eyebrows arched. “Then what are you using as an incentive?”

  Okay, yes, technically there was a cost involved, but not to Connolly and Farrin. “The Maguires agreed to a free dessert.”

  Kate’s lips tightened. “Tori, does this have anything to do with our discussion about the location of their new restaurant?”

  Behind her, both Allie and Joan stood quietly, waiting for the next customers to leave the restaurant. Probably listening to every word.

  “Not only that,” Tori said. “I’m collecting information to determine the customers’ decision set. I’ve gotten some good responses on what they see as alternative choices that will help—”

  Kate raised a hand to cut her off. “I don’t care. I want you to know one thing. If you so much as mention the new location in front of the Maguires on Monday, you’ll be looking for another job by Tuesday. Do I make myself clear?”

  She didn’t trust herself to answer. Her teeth clenched, she nodded.

  “Good.” Kate brushed past her and went inside the restaurant.

  Allie and Joan approached.

  “Wow.” Allie’s round eyes stared after Kate. “You said you worked for Attila the Hun, but I didn’t believe you.”

  “I may not work for her much longer.” Tori’s lower lip trembled. Even if she didn’t get fired on Monday, she’d blown her chance at the Account Executive position. No way would Kate promote her now.

  Joan put an arm around her shoulders and squeezed. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Tori nodded. “But let’s get out of here. I’ve done enough damage to my career for one night. I don’t want to be here when she comes back out.”

  And the worst part of the night still lay ahead of her.

  Tori unlocked the door of her apartment and they all trooped inside.

  “I hope you’ve got food in the fridge.” Allie dropped her overnight bag on the living room floor on her way to the kitchen. “I thought we’d get to eat at Maguire’s when we finished surveying people. I’m starving.”

  Laughing, Joan picked up the discarded bag and headed for the bedroom. “Careful, or you’ll blow that diet you’ve worked so hard at.”

  “I can afford to take a night off.” Allie’s voice was muffled by the refrigerator door. “Hey, what is this?” She appeared in the serving window to glare at Tori. “Diet Dr Pepper? Baked Lays? Are you kidding me? This is a Sanderson Sister Sleepover. Where’s the good munchies?”

  “Allie, you’ve lost so much weight, I don’t want to be the reason you fall off the diet wagon.” Tori smiled. “But I got reduced-fat Oreos, and they’re yummy.”

  Joan came back into the room. “Just remember, you have a bridesmaid dress to fit into in one month.” She dropped onto the sofa. “What are we watching tonight?”

  Tori picked up a stack of DVDs and waved them in the air. “Girls, tonight we’re going to soak up the sights of Or-lan-do!”

  “Oooh, Orlando Bloom.” Allie returned to the living room with her hand stuck in a bag of chips. “I just love sexy pirates. And if you got Troy, we also get to see men in skirts.”

  “You bet I did.” Tori set the DVDs on the entertainment center. Might as well get it over with sooner rather than later. “But before we start watching movies, I have to talk to you two about something serious.” They exchanged a guilty look, and Tori knew what they were thinking. She fixed a scowl on them. “And it’s not about Ryan, though he told me how you two have been feeding him information.”

  Allie put a hand to her collarbone and affected an innocent tone. “Who, us?”

  Tori put a hand on her hip and stared her sister down.

  Joan asked, “But if he told you, does that mean it worked?”

  Even the memory of last night’s kisses sent an answering flutter to Tori’s stomach. She couldn’t stop a dreamy sigh from escaping her lips. Her sisters grinned and high-fived each other.

  “We knew it.” Laughing, Joan clapped with delight. “You’re perfect for each other.”

  Allie raised her nose in the air. “That’s right. You just remember that from now on, Tori. Your big sisters know what’s best.” She tossed a chip in her mouth and crunched for emphasis.

  “What-ever.” Tori rolled her eyes, trying to hide a grin. “Do you know what Linus of the Peanuts gang says? ‘Big sisters are crabgrass in the lawn of life.’”

  “Yes, but he didn’t have your big sisters,” Allie answered with a smirk.

  Tori could have come up with another barb, but instead she sobered. What she had to tell them wasn’t funny. She drew in a breath and perched on the edge of the chair beside the sofa. “Seriously, I found out something last weekend that you need to know.”

  Their laughter died away.

  “What is it?” Joan asked.

  There was no good way to deliver bad news. She’d thought about it, tried to come up with some way to ease the blow, but finally decided the best thing to do was say it quickly and get it over with.

  “Our father is dead. He died of a heart attack last March.”

  Their faces became mirror images of shock. Joan sank slowly backward until she rested against the back sofa cushion, and Allie’s lips parted as her jaw went slack.

  “How do you know?” Allie asked. “Did someone contact you?”

  Tori shook her head. “I found him on the Internet. And that’s not all I discovered.”

  She retraced her steps for them, how she’d paid to get his address in Cincinnati, and about seeing Patricia Ann Parker’s name listed below Mom’s. How she’d driven to Cincinnati yesterday, and what she found there.

  Joan leaped to her feet. “Wait a minute. Are you saying we have a sister?”

  “A half-sister,” Allie said.

  Joan gave her a quick look. “Whatever. There’s another Sanderson sister living less than two hours from here?”

  Tori nodded. “She looks a lot like you, Joan. The same dark hair, same bone structure. Even her eyes are shaped like yours. Like Daddy’s.” She smiled at Allie. “And she’s a talker too. Like you. She opened right up to me about her feelings over losing . . .” She stared at her clasped hands, unable to finish the sentence.

  Joan paced to the balcony door with a quick step, then whirled. “I want to meet her!”

  “We can’t. Her mother doesn’t want us around.” Tori swallowed, her throat tight. “She said Daddy made his choice, and we have to live with that.”

  Allie snorted like a bull. “That’s who I want to meet. This woman. I think she owes us an explanation.”

  Joan’s eyes widened. She took a step toward them. “Let’s go. Tonight. Right now. It’s eight o’clock. We can be up there by nine-thirty.”

  “She won’t talk to us,” Tori said.

  “Oh, yes she will.” Allie set her jaw, her eyes hard. “We’ll make her talk to us.”

  Full dark had fallen by the time Tori pulled the car to a stop in front of the house. A light shone around the edges of the curtain in the front window. “This is it.”

  The silence deepened inside the car as they stared at the house. Finally Joan said, “It’s not very big, is it?”

  “It looks even smaller than my house,” Allie said. “I wonder if Daddy left it to that woman in his will.”

  “I didn’t do a property search,” Tori said, “but I figured they must have bought it together. That’s how come her name showed up at all. There had to be some official documentation that connected them.”

  Joan spoke up from the backseat. “It could have been Chelsea’s birth certificate.”

&
nbsp; “I didn’t think of that.”

  Allie slapped a hand on the armrest. “Well, girls, we’re not getting anything done here. Let’s go confront the Other Woman.”

  They climbed out of the car, and Tori let her older sisters take the lead, like the coward she was. She’d gone head-to-head with Patti before, and came away feeling bruised and bloodied. Besides, Allie was better at confrontations.

  But even Allie seemed hesitant over this one. At the top of the stairs she paused and waited until all of them were in place. Reluctantly Tori joined her sisters on the small porch. When the three stood shoulder to shoulder, Joan knocked.

  The curtains at the window moved, and Tori shrank behind Allie. If Patti saw her, no way she’d open the door. Breath caught in her lungs, Tori waited as seconds ticked by. Patti might even call the police. There wasn’t a No Trespassing sign posted, though she’d made it clear she didn’t want Tori to come back. Could they get thrown in jail?

  A click sounded as the door was unlocked. It opened, and Patti stood inside. This time she wore jeans and a tank top, and her hair was pulled back into a quick twist. She looked less threatening tonight, and a lot younger. Her eyes moved as she looked from one of them to the other. Tori thought her eyes widened when she looked at Joan, but then they came to rest on her.

  “I figured you’d come back, but I didn’t think it would be this soon.”

  Tori stood straight, drawing strength from her sisters on either side of her. “I—” Her throat threatened to close. She swallowed and started again. “We just want to know about our father.”

  Patti broke eye contact first. Her head drooped forward as she stared at her feet. “I know. And I’m . . .” She took a breath. “I’m sorry I sent you away yesterday. It’s just that I wasn’t prepared. I didn’t know what I was going to say to my daughter.” She looked up again, and her eyes begged Tori to understand. “She didn’t know anything about Tom’s past. And I don’t want to ruin her memories of him. He was a good father to her. She deserves to keep that image of him.”

  Beside Tori, Allie stiffened. “But apparently we don’t?”