The Unexpected Choice

by Stephanie Taylor

  She realized selfishness had sunk deep claws in her. Papa would have never wanted her to act this way. In fact, he would have scolded her and told her to get her heart off her sleeve and get back to being a kid.

  Trouble was, she'd never been a kid. She didn't know how to be young and carefree. Joey asked her out several times, but she couldn't face the fact it was a pity date. He'd seen her at her lowest and been there for her. He was simply trying to follow through. It was an admirable trait, but not one she could abuse.

  A few weeks after the funeral, Joey started his new job as an engineer. She was excited to see him pull into her driveway at precisely fifteen minutes after five and stroll up to her front door wearing his suit.

  "Don't you look handsome?" she asked with as much enthusiasm as she could muster.

  "I've been called worse," he said with a grin and stepped in without invitation.

  "How did your day go?"

  He bent and kissed her forehead, like Stacey imagined a loving husband would after coming home from a long day at work. "Pretty good. Not much to do now except read stupid manuals. Gotta wait for my security clearance to go through."

  Stacey took his jacket as he shrugged it off and loosened his tie. "How long will that take?"

  "A couple of weeks."

  She laid his jacket across the back of the chair, careful not to wrinkle it.

  "What's for dinner?" he finally asked.

  "Um, I…" Stacey hadn't thought that far ahead.

  "Let's go out somewhere," he said before she could come up with something to cook out of the meager supplies in the fridge. He took her hands and cast pleading eyes on her.

  "Joey…" she protested and walked past him.

  "You can't stay in this house forever, Stace. At least let me treat you to dinner."

  "You’ve been asking me every day since Papa died. I'm just not ready. I don't think I could handle everyone's pity."

  "What if I threatened to beat them up?"

  She couldn't help but smile. "You’re sweet, but no. I'm not going anywhere."

  He tossed a careless shrug and ambled over to her. "Fine, then we'll order in. Maybe watch a movie or something tonight."

  Through squinted eyes, she studied him. "I'm tired," she tried, just to see what he said. She had a strange suspicion something was up his sleeve. He had the same look in his eye he'd had when he sneaked off with Linnea Summers during third period at school their tenth grade year. He might have been bigger than his mama, but he hadn't been able to sit down for a week. Linnea had broken up with him eight days later.

  "Then we'll go to bed," he said. He said it so slyly, so carelessly Stacey almost missed his meaning. After a double take, she pointed a finger at him.

  "Get out."

  "What?" he raised his hands innocently, like she might shoot him. Come to think of it, she just might.

  "I'm grieving my grandfather’s death, and you're trying to get laid. What's wrong with this picture, Joey? Get out of this house right now!" Stacey grabbed a newspaper from the coffee table and rolled it into a cylinder.

  "You gonna club me to death?" he chuckled with a raised eyebrow.

  Stacey popped his forearm with it, and he took a step back, surprise rounding his eyes. "That actually hurt."

  "I learned a few things from Papa over the years." She hit him again over the head.

  "Stacey, don't make me fight back."

  She didn't even bother with a reply; she whacked him over the head as hard as she could again.

  Without warning, he charged her like a linebacker, and her world tilted over his shoulder. "Put me down, you're going to ruin your suit!" Stacey smacked him on the butt, and he laughed.

  "Not a chance!"

  She didn't want to laugh. Really she didn't. In fact, she was pretty sure the bubble of giggles turning into muscle-tensing belly laughs was a reaction to all the stress and sadness in her life. But she couldn't stop it any more than she could stop the world from turning.

  His laughter joined her as he settled her back on the floor. Together, they laughed for what seemed like ages before their eyes collided, and Joey's thumb came up to outline her jaw.

  "You're beautiful, Stacey. I don't know how I missed it before."

  Sobering quickly, she looked away. "That's easy. There's not a hundred and twenty-six other girls fawning over you in my living room like they were in high school."

  "No one is fawning, actually. And it's a nice change. I can be myself around you." Joey took a step toward her.

  There was that feeling again. The feeling she wasn't going to like, or rather, like too much, what he was about to say or do.

  "I want you, Stacey. I know it’s not the right time, but I’d like you to give this a chance."

  His simple declaration caused a spear of desire to go through her. She tried to imagine the statement wasn't finished, and he instead meant I want you, Stacey, to make some dinner. Men like Joey McCrary didn't like girls like her. Mousy and quiet with the cliché duct tape holding up her glasses.

  "What would you like me to order for dinner?" Instead of answering the peculiar look in his eyes, almost like he was surprising himself, she forged ahead and pretended not to hear him.

  Joey cleared his throat. "Stacey."

  Panic shot through her, and adrenaline caused her heart to race. No, no. She wouldn't acknowledge the real meaning behind what he'd just said. Turning, she inspected the contents in the drawer behind her where she'd last seen the take-out menus.

  "Let's see, I've got a Chinese takeout, Japanese, Mexican. What do you feel like?"

  As she rifled through the drawer for the menus, Joey's warmth surrounded her. His strong hand came around and grabbed her wrist, forcing her to turn.

  Joey's lips descended. Stacey could feel his breath, hot and soft against her own. Just when she felt the slight touch of his mouth to hers, his lips slid across her cheek and back to her ear. "I'm a patient man, Stacey. One day soon, very soon, I'm going to make love to you." His teeth nipped her earlobe, and she was afraid the moan she just heard came from her own throat.

  "I won't sleep with anyone unless I'm married to them."

  Joey pulled back and smiled at her. The smile was so brilliant it had to be forced.

  Standing on her toes, she put her lips to his ear and whispered, "Get used to disappointment, Joe."

  She may have won the battle, but from the triumphant gleam in his eyes as she pulled away, the war was far from over.

  ****

  Stacey didn't know it, but she was playing right into Joey's hands. She needed someone with lots of patience, and he needed a wife. He thought about asking her then and there, but she deserved a more romantic setting and a little more time to grieve her grandfather. He'd eventually wear her down enough to agree to dinner, and then he'd pop the question when she was good and ready. Now he was just wondering if he would be ready.

  "That was delicious," he complimented as he set his plate down on the coffee table. She took a deep breath and offered him one of those plastic smiles he'd come to loathe.

  Stacey yawned and glanced at her watch pointedly. He had to admit, it was refreshing to have a woman not falling head over heels and begging him to stay.

  "You're going to be tired for work tomorrow," she said, cocking an eyebrow.

  "It's not even nine o'clock yet. Are you kicking me out?"

  "Yes. I'd like to be alone. I haven't read my Bible today."

  Joey studied her, wondering who she was when he wasn’t there. "Do you read it a lot?"

  Stacey primly folded her hands in her lap and looked down at them. "Some days it's the only thing that gets me to the next."

  He reached out his hand and enclosed it around hers. "Don't I help a little bit?"

  "Of course. But when I'm around you, I forget who I am, and I don't like that." Absently, she pushed her glasses up on her nose.

  He tried to resist the urge to smile, but he couldn't. She was too cute. "Do you really know who you ar
e, Stacey?"

  She swallowed deeply, and her brows came together in a fierce frown. "I thought I did. And I know you're just being kind to me and this… attraction isn't real. We used to be friends, and I still think we are. But you don't have to keep up the charade. Papa's been gone for over a month now. Every day is hard, but it doesn't mean I can't cope. I'm not a little kid you have to keep checking on."

  "I never said you were." Irritation gnawed at his gut. She truly had no idea how bright and beautiful she was.

  "Why do you keep coming by? Acting like we're… a couple? Telling me things I know aren't true." A pretty blush rose on her cheeks. He scooted closer to her and allowed his fingertips to trace the pink marring her porcelain skin.

  "Do you want to know who I think you are?" he asked.

  She frowned again and shook her head. "You're just going to make up things."

  "Are you calling me a liar before I've even told you?"

  Stacey tried to stand, but he tugged her back down, causing her to land across his lap. Exactly where he wanted her.

  "Let go," she warned.

  "I think you're a beautiful woman."

  She rolled her eyes and shoved weakly at his chest.

  "I think you've been through too much over the years to fully understand how it's impacted you."

  "Pity. That's great." She shoved a little harder, but his grasp didn't relent.

  "It's not pity, it's the truth. But I'm an outsider. I see you through honest, unjaded eyes, Stace. Yeah, what you've gone through is awful, but you're free now. What are you going to do with the rest of your life?"

  Her deep breath gave away her annoyance. "I'm still too sad. I'm not ready to jump head first into relationships and life-long decisions. You've never lost anyone close to you. You've never gone through the emotions and wishing it was you instead of them." By the time she was finished, her voice trembled and her eyes glistened.

  He swallowed thickly, trying to keep his head on straight. "I think you're wrong, Stace. Read your Bible. All things work together for good for those who love Him. You may not see it, but you've been surrounded by death to teach you something. What if I have a part to play in this?"

  "You read the Bible?"

  He shrugged. "I've been known to."

  "That's so unfair…" she said to herself.

  He grinned again. "One less reason to hate me?"

  "I don't hate you. I just don't believe you."

  "You don't believe someone could think you're beautiful?" He reached up and turned her face so she was forced to look at him.

  "I look in the mirror every day, Joey. Why don't you just cut to the chase and tell me what you want?"

  The despair in her eyes broke his heart. She was clearly set in her beliefs, and there was little he could do to change her mind tonight.

  "I've already told you what I want."

  "I can't sleep with you, Joey. I'm not that kind of girl."

  "Can we settle on a kiss?" Hope sprang eternal but was crushed when he noticed the subtle shake of her head.

  "I think you should go." She stood forcefully, breaking his hold around her waist.

  "I'm not leaving until I get a kiss," he teased.

  Following her, Joey stood and sauntered over to her usual corner, the one across the living room she used to try to stay away from him. Only it never worked. Once again, he wrapped his arms around Stacey's slender waist. At least she wasn't slapping his hands away anymore. She was getting used to his touch.

  "Please go," she whispered and turned her head to the side as his lips descended.

  "Stace, I lie in bed at night thinking about you, about how it would feel to wake up next to you. To touch you and kiss you whenever I want—"

  "Stop it!" With a mighty heave, she sent him sprawling across the living room floor. His head connected with the corner of the recliner, and he let out a string of mumbled words he wasn't even sure he understood.

  "It's just all fancy words, Joey! Do you think I don't know that? You don't care anything about me. Maybe you've just set your sights on me for whatever reason, but I'm not gonna give in. I'm not going to sleep with you because I'm lonely, or because I've always loved you. I will not listen to your lies anymore. This is my heart you're messing with. By your own admission, I've been through a lot. Don't you think you owe it to me to stop this before I fall even harder? Before I start believing this is possible? I don't need you anymore, Joey. Thank you for being here for me and being my friend. But we both know this is as far as it goes."

  Finally, her little speech ended, and she took a deep breath. He hadn't moved. In fact, he'd stopped breathing, too. He'd listened to everything up until she admitted she loved him. No woman had ever said those words to him with the intensity and sincerity that left her mouth. He knew Stacey well enough to realize those words hadn't come lightly.

  If he took a step back, this was exactly where he wanted her. She loved him. And he intended to marry her. But her admission gave him pause. He wasn't out to hurt her. In fact, their marriage would benefit them both. And they were friends already, so it wouldn’t be like marrying a complete stranger.

  Joey continued to stare up at her.

  "Are you okay?" she finally asked, taking a step further.

  Joey swallowed, the sound a hollow thunk against the quiet room. It was beyond him to speak. So instead, he simply shook his head.

  He was far from okay. He was pretty sure he would never be okay again.

  Chapter Four

  Joey didn't come by at the usual time the next day after work, and Stacey felt the hollow emptiness threaten to swallow her. He was late getting home. She was sitting at the table trying to figure out which bills to pay when she saw his car pull in across the street at his parents’ house. A couple of hours passed as she slaved over bill after bill.

  She was lost in a pile of paperwork when the soft knock sounded at the door, and Joey stepped through. The first thing she noticed was the bead of sweat across his brow and how his breathing was labored.

  "Someone chasing you?"

  "No, I…"

  "I didn't think you were coming by tonight, Joey. And it's late."

  "I don't even get a simple hello?" He ambled into the kitchen, pulling out a chair and turning it backwards, the casual action contradictory to his heavy gulps of air. He propped his arms across it, looking at her with his charming brown eyes.

  But there was wildness in those eyes that frightened her. What was wrong with him? Was he drunk? Taking some sort of drugs? She’d never known him to do those things, but a lot of years had passed since their childhood.

  "Why are you here, Joey? I haven't changed my mind about sleeping with you." She tried desperately to ignore him by writing another check.

  Long moments passed and finally his panting slowed. Absently, he picked up a bill, and his eyes bulged. "What are these?"

  "What do they look like?" she countered, losing her temper and snatching the paper out of his hand.

  "These are bills? Stacey, you're four months behind on your mortgage."

  "The man can read." The embarrassment consumed her as she thought of the foreclosure notice at the bottom of the stack. She had two weeks to pack and find another place. Leaving her childhood home behind would stink, but it had to be done.

  Suddenly, Joey stood up. "Why didn't you tell me it was this bad?"

  "Because it's none of your business. And you were too busy trying to have sex with me." She snatched another bill away from him and placed the stack out of his reach.

  Joey studied her for a long moment. "I think we should get married."

  Stacey's jaw dropped, and her eyes went wide. Then hysterical laughter bubbled up from her throat. "Joey, you’re such an idiot!" She swiped the tears away as she laughed.

  But Joey bent down and placed a hot, open-mouth kiss on her lips, effectively silencing her giggles. Without waiting for an invitation, his tongue plunged into her mouth, and his fierce groan tugged at her core. She didn't wa
nt to feel anything for him. She didn't want to fall for his charm. And it angered her that he thought he could waltz into her home, speak of marriage so carelessly, and try to get her in bed again.

  Gathering all of her strength, she turned her head to break the kiss. But Joey's lips traveled across her jaw and down her throat, settling on her erratic pulse. "I feel what I do to you, Stacey. Say yes to me."

  His mumbled words teased her, made her believe if only for a split second she could have it all. But then reality crashed down. Papa was gone. Her parents were gone. Now her home. She didn't trust herself, or anyone else for that matter. She wasn't sure what Joey's motives were, but she was certain it was more than he was letting on.

  The chair screeched its warning as she pushed away from the table and put some space between them.

  "I don't know what you've been doing since you got home, but if you're into drugs…"

  "Drugs? Honey, the only drug I'm on is you."

  She snorted at his corny line. Her amusement must have shown because he gave her a slight shrug. His face turned solemn. "Marry me, Stace. You said you loved me last night."

  Crap. She'd hoped and prayed those words hadn't really made it past her tongue as she’d feared, but apparently they had. "I love you as a friend, Joe. Nothing more."

  "We can build on that." His eyebrows rose, and he smiled slightly. Once again, she was confused.

  "This is unfair. I plan to marry someone who loves me, too."

  "Stacey, we have all the elements of a perfect marriage. We're friends. We've known each other since grade school. I can be myself around you, and you need financial help. All the money my parents saved for college is untouched. I got scholarships. I can have your mortgage caught up with a single check."

  Stacey wasn't sure what was going on. She was more certain than ever Joey wasn't telling her everything. "What's in it for you?"

  Joey's lips curled in a sexy grin, and his eyes trailed from her face down to her breasts. "You."

  "So you'd pay my mortgage in order to have sex with me. Isn't that something called prostitution?" Incensed, she narrowed her eyes. "You really know how to make a lady feel special."