Just Plain Lucky

by Tesa Devlyn

  Groggy, she stumbled to the shower and cranked on the water.

  Michael’s curiosity about the grounds for her divorce plagued her. Their relationship had moved past casual conversation. The subject would come up again and, gauging by his expression and tone when he talked about Meredith’s affairs, she had two choices: confess or put him off again and risk losing him either way. Wow, not much of a choice.

  She spent the morning with the Cummings’s, giving her clients her full attention despite her tiredness and distress. Most likely Michael spent his Saturday’s with Leif, doing whatever they did on the weekend. Strange how she’d almost slept with the man, but she didn’t know more about his daily life than he built beautiful houses and had the respect of everyone he worked with.

  Liana picked up Brittany right after lunch. They made a quick stop at the house to pack more essentials and empty the refrigerator into an ice chest for the condo Liana had rented for the next month.

  They might not need it that long, but she didn’t intend to uproot her daughter again if the house wasn’t ready.

  Settled into the condo, Liana popped a chicken in the oven and made a cup of tea. Somehow she had to stay awake and alert long enough to get through dinner.

  “Hey, Mom?”

  “Yes, sweetie?” Liana turned to Brittany, who had been in her temporary bedroom.

  “Have you talked to Dad today?”

  “No. Why?” Liana braced herself for what Frank might have said to her daughter.

  “Molly has moved completely out. Dad’s really down.”

  Liana took a deep breath and wrung the back of her neck with one hand. “Brit, I have a feeling where this conversation is going, and the answer is still no. You can’t visit your dad before the Christmas holidays.”

  Brittany huffed. “That’s kind of heartless. You have Michael. What if I can help Dad get back together with Molly? I won’t know unless I’m there.”

  “First, I don’t have Michael. We work together on the house and have had one date. Second, only your dad and Molly can work out their problems. Third, I resent being called heartless. I tried to work things out amicably with your father many times.”

  “I’m sorry, Mom. You’re the nicest person I know. I just feel helpless since I’m too far away to really help him.” Brittany turned back toward her bedroom.

  “Hey, come give me a hug.” Liana wrapped her daughter in her arms. “You have to stop feeling responsible for your dad’s depression. Moving away wasn’t an easy decision, but I decided and still maintain I made the best decision. Give him time to adjust.”

  Liana sank to the bar stool, her heart heavy. She wanted Brittany to be compassionate, but Frank played the victim well.

  “All right, I’ll assure him I’ll be there for Christmas.” Her shoulders slumped, Brittany returned to her bedroom.

  Liana took a sip of tea and smacked her lips.

  Frank Nash stepped over the line when he took advantage of Brittany’s tender heart and she’d be damned if she let him get away with it.

  ****

  Monday morning Liana drove Brittany to school on her way to the office. She tried to focus on her work, but ended up with her elbows on her desk and her head in her hands. She needed a plan.

  For now she made enough money to work from home three days a week, but when this group of clients dried up, she’d still have alimony payments. She needed an approach to deal with Frank and eliminate the alimony.

  Unable to accomplish a thing with so much uncertainty on her mind, she grabbed her jacket and left the office. She might as well wander the downtown streets where she could lose herself in the shops.

  “Are you daydreaming about your tall, dark handsome contractor?”

  Liana jumped. “Oh, my gosh, Shari, you startled me!”

  “I know. You were in your own little world.”

  Liana hooked her arm through Shari’s and steered them into a coffee shop. “I need a latte.”

  “Hey, girl friend, I’m here for you. There’s nothing a tall mocha latte can’t solve. Oh, maybe some things, but then you call in straight chocolate.”

  Liana laughed. “Where’s your mom?”

  “A weekend of shopping wore her out, so she’s home resting.”

  They paused their conversation to order coffees. Shari threw in a couple biscotti breads and pinned Liana with a probing stare. “So how’d the date go with Michael?”

  Liana wove through the tables to a small bistro set in the corner. She settled in with her back to the wall. A stream of people came in and out of the shop for a midmorning caffeine fix. “We started to argue late in the afternoon when I had to show some properties and he didn’t like the idea of a late dinner. I didn’t think I’d see him later, but he showed up and saved me from a lonely night with the honor bar.”

  “Prince Charming has flaws?”

  Liana took a deep breath. “The man is flawless.”

  “Honey, no man is flawless. Not even Richard. This means you’re in really deep. What happened after that?”

  “We had dinner in the hotel. I was so relaxed I told him about Jack.”

  Shari’s auburn eyebrows shot up. “Wow.”

  “I know.” Liana held up both hands, her fingers spread. “I want to be totally honest, but I couldn’t tell him about Ryan. When I do, he’ll be disgusted and call it quits.”

  “Yeah, for sure you have to wait until your house is finished.”

  Liana swatted at her friend. “Shari, I’m not that callous! Although realistically, I can’t afford to make him want to leave. The house has to be done by Thanksgiving.”

  Shari leaned forward. “Honestly, Li, you’ve been extolling his virtues since you met him. Neither of us believes Michael will walk off the job just because you’re not compatible.”

  “Of course he wouldn’t.”

  “Now, tell me what else happened.”

  “We went back to my room with our coffee to talk, but—oh, my gosh—it was like something out of a romance novel. One of those hot, steamy ones I occasionally read. I wanted him to stay all night.”

  Shari rested her arms on the table. “And?”

  “We kissed and held each other, but we both realized we need to move slow.”

  “Wow, you are working too much. Have you forgotten about the little joy called sex?”

  “Hey, you’ve already lectured me about working too much. I get your point.”

  “Yes, and you know I’m right. You even changed your office schedule, but you still work long hours from home. How does Michael like your schedule?”

  “My work schedule is the only issue he thinks we have. Wait until he learns I almost had an affair.”

  Shari grasped Liana’s forearm. “You have to trust the man. He’s a one of a kind, a real catch. Have faith in his feelings for you and in yourself. You slipped up with Ryan, but you stopped it from going too far.”

  Liana turned down her mouth. “Oh...if only I could believe Michael would see it that way.”

  Shari glanced around the shop. “I didn’t hear them call out our coffee order. I’ll go check on it.”

  Liana leaned back in her chair and stared out the side window toward the city street. Friday night with Michael had been amazing. She loved the feel and strength of his arms, how his body molded to hers.

  Shari returned with the lattes and biscotti. “So, what can we do to get your life on track?”

  Liana clenched her fist and lightly tapped her knuckles on the table. “To start with, Frank needs to quit calling me or Brittany everyday. He threatens me and begs her to visit him over Thanksgiving. Can you believe that? He knows it’s my favorite holiday.”

  Shari’s mouth tightened. “I never liked the man.”

  “I’ve come to the conclusion that I need to hire a new lawyer. The one in San Francisco has to be in Frank’s pocket. I’m going to quit paying alimony.”

  “Alimony!” Shari shouted. “You have got to be kidding me! You’ve been paying Frank ali
mony?”

  Liana glanced around at the curious expressions on the other coffee house customer’s faces. “That’s exactly why I never told you. I knew you’d blow up.”

  “Well, it’s the most archaic thing I’ve heard in a long time. How did it happen? Frank has a good job.”

  “When we went to court, he met me outside the courtroom and said he’d take Brittany from me if I didn’t pay him. I refused at first, but he threatened to tell Brittany about Ryan if I didn’t. It’s another part of his blackmail scheme to keep me miserable.”

  Shari’s mouth dropped open. She pushed her coffee cup to one side and reached across the table to clamp her hand over Liana’s arm. “You have to stop this. All of it. You can’t live the rest of your life, or even until Brittany grows up, under Frank’s thumb.”

  Liana propped her elbows on the table and forked her fingers through her hair. “Oh, Shari, I’m in such a tangle, I don’t know how I’ll ever get out. I made way more money on my house in California than I spent on the house here. I have a healthy savings, but if I have to dip into it to pay Frank or my living expenses, I’ll have no retirement.”

  “This is ridiculous! Richard will know a good lawyer. Why didn’t you tell me before this? You never said a word.”

  “I couldn’t. I promised Frank. He said if Brittany ever found out, he’d take me back to court for custody.”

  “Ha! Doesn’t he realize he’d be hurting Brittany? Or does he care?”

  “I don’t know. I just don’t want Brittany’s life even more upset.” She cupped her face with both hands. “She’ll find out about everything and she’ll hate me.”

  Shari picked up her coffee cup. “Piffle-paffle. Brit might surprise you and take it like the adult she’s growing into. She isn’t completely happy with Frank, Liana. She doesn’t say anything to you, but she complains to me about his guilt trips and how he bad-mouths you.”

  Liana glanced up. “She does?”

  “Yes, she does. She’s unhappy he filed for divorce, and hooked up with Molly so soon after you moved out. It might be Michael’s influence, but last week she confided in me. She thinks it’s Frank’s fault you left California.”

  “Wow, I wouldn’t have dreamed she’d defend me after the conversation we had last night.”

  “I said she’s unhappy with him, not ready to write him off. She’s smart, but she’s still young and in that high-charged state when everything is a drama. I think it’s time you opened the can of worms and exposed Frank. You have nothing to be ashamed of. Don’t play the bigger person and protect Frank at the cost of losing your daughter’s respect and Michael’s love.”

  Liana’s chest tightened. “Love hasn’t been mentioned.”

  “It won’t be if you don’t spend more time with him. Speaking of which,” Shari forged on, “back to your sexless night with Michael. Frank’s a moron. You have to stop the blame-game. Liana, you’re human and you need to feel loved.”

  Liana blinked and hooted with laughter. Several people glanced their direction. She leaned closer to Shari. “Whoops. Didn’t mean for that to slip out, but it hit my funny bone. Frank is a moron, but my night with Michael wasn’t exactly sexless. The man is hot.”

  “I can see that.” Shari’s mouth turned up in a Cheshire cat smile. “Did you leave out something?”

  “Not about our date. Thank you, Shari Collins, for being here for me, and making me feel more liberated. I’m ready to take Frank Nash down.”

  “Frank will lose it and attack through Brittany. You have to make a plan of what you’re going to tell her when he does.”

  Liana drank the last of her latte, and set down the heavy ceramic cup. “When he does, I’ll be honest and let the chips fall where they may.”

  The words were there, but the bravery was a little on the short side. Brittany loved her, but she was young and might be damaged by all the truth bound to come out of this battle.

  She glanced at Shari and frowned. “Did my marriage to Frank send me over the edge? Was he always irrational?”

  “He was never like Jack. When you couldn’t love him, no matter what he did, he lost it.” Shari drank her latte, and patted her mouth with a paper napkin. “I always liked Jack. Brittany’s a lot like him.”

  Liana gazed out the window. “She is, isn’t she? I should have told him about her. I wish he’d known.”

  Shari laid her hand over Liana’s. “Have you really dealt with Jack’s loss? Liana, you’ve gone through more life-changing events than some people ever do.

  “There are some things you never get over, Shari. Losing Jack might be one of them.”

  ****

  Michael spent the morning assessing the progress on Liana’s house. Concrete was in the ground, and covered with blankets to speed up the cure. He might have been a fool to take on a project of this size alongside the other two houses he’d committed to, but he was determined to have it done for her holiday dinner.

  At noon, he set his compact cooler on Liana’s kitchen bar and took out the lunch he’d packed that morning. When he finished eating, he’d hurry across town to check on the new house. In the meantime he’d take time to think about Friday night and his date with Liana at the Outlaw Inn.

  What in the hell had he done? He’d almost hopped into bed with a woman he’d only known for two weeks. Almost broke a cardinal rule he’d given his son about having sex before he was ready. He inflated his cheeks and blew out a frustrated breath. He was ready. At least his body was ready.

  Until Liana dealt with her slime-wad ex and stopped the alimony, she couldn’t afford to slow down and he had to quit hassling her about her hours. What bothered him was would she slow down when money was no longer tight? No way to know until it happened.

  If he’d met her in Oklahoma City, they would have been on the same treadmill, racing out their days to make the almighty dollar, but not now. He loved to build houses and loved his home on the lake. He took joy in providing for Leif and helping Trinity through college, but there had to be a balance.

  He opened a bag of chips and glanced around the room. He’d had some great times in this kitchen with Liana and the kids. He’d like to have more time with her, a whole lot more.

  Friday night she’d shut down when he pressed her about the divorce. She’d shared so much; her parent’s divorce, the choices she’d made with Jack and later, Frank. He wrung at the back of his neck with one hand and tilted his head from side to side. After he exposed Meredith’s secrets, he’d vowed to never tolerate deception in any relationship. Throughout the messy divorce, he’d decided to stay single the rest of his life. That was before he met Liana.

  Beautiful and intelligent didn’t begin to describe Liana. She got under his skin and into his heart. Maybe if they’d made love Friday night, he’d have her out of his system and be back on his plan to stay unattached until Leif finished high school and went to college. Who was he kidding? Once wouldn’t be enough and their lives weren’t that simple.

  “It just might be done in time.”

  Michael turned on the stool. “You snuck in.”

  The object of his tortured thoughts strolled into her kitchen.

  “Not really.” Her gaze moved from him to the tarps between the dining and living rooms. “You were deep in thought.”

  “I was.” Michael turned back to his sandwich. “I called Sunday, but got your voice mail.”

  “I worked with the Cummings’s all weekend. They had to leave Sunday afternoon, but we were able to finish a buy sell agreement on a house in Lakeside.”

  “Joy. I hope I’m not their neighbor.”

  “I wouldn’t know. I’ve never seen your house.” Liana moved to the refrigerator and took out a bottle of the flavored water she’d left behind.

  “Hope you don’t mind if I eat in your kitchen.”

  “You’re always welcome in my home.”

  Liana opened the bottle and took a drink, screwed the lid back on and set it on the island next to him. Michael swivele
d and brought his knees a hairs breath from her hip. Her fragrance wrapped around him and intensified his frustrations. Without thought, he pulled her toward him until she stood between his knees. “I can’t get you out of my mind.”

  Liana placed a hand on each thigh. A bolt of lightning shot up his legs. “I’m sorry I wasn’t available yesterday. I needed to spend time with Brittany. She’s hounding me to let her go to Frank’s before the holidays.” She blinked against a sheen of tears. “I’m hiring a new lawyer to fight him, Michael. What comes out won’t be pretty. You’ll be glad you didn’t stay over Friday night.”

  He wished she’d tell him everything. “Sure about that?”

  “Yeah.” She combed her fingers through his hair. “I ran into Shari this morning. I finally told her about the alimony. Richard will refer me to a local attorney.”

  “Is she as outraged as I am?”

  “Absolutely, but she knows the rest of the story. She agrees it’ll be ugly.”

  Michael ran his hands up and down her backside. “Shari’s an old friend. You trust her. When will you trust me with the rest of the story?”

  “It’s complicated. I can’t tell you right now.”

  A sharp pain of regret took his breath for a moment. “So, you don’t trust me.”

  “I didn’t mean that.” Liana edged closer and slid her hands up the outside of his thighs until she framed his hips. “You’re very trustworthy. I’m afraid when you know the whole story, you’ll walk away. I’m not ready to see your taillights, Michael Saxon.”

  Michael barely controlled the urge to kiss her until her defenses crumbled. “If I didn’t expect my crew back any moment, I’d make love to you right here. Right on that shiny granite countertop.”

  She buried her face in the side of his neck. “You tempt me, but it would be rather awkward if someone pulled back the tarp.”

  Michael gazed into her eyes. “Liana, nothing about us is coincidence. We’ve been divorced for about the same time. We both moved here to start over; we both have teenage children. Why can’t you believe in us?”