by Tesa Devlyn
“It does seem more than coincidence.” Liana smoothed her palms over the front of his blue chamois work shirt. “I haven’t wanted to be romantically involved until Brittany leaves for college. Maybe not even then. You’re the first person who’s tempted me to abandon my resolve to stay unattached.”
Michael buried his face in her hair. “Since Jack, right?”
Liana sighed, her breath soft against his skin where the top buttons of his shirt gaped. “With Jack, I ran on teenage hormones. He was handsome, charming and adventurous. I thought I loved him more than I could possibly love anyone, yet even with him, I couldn’t commit and risk my heart.”
“Poor Jack. He missed out on a lot.” He cupped her bottom and brought her against his hard need. “This isn’t the time or the place, but it’ll happen. Trust me.”
“I do trust you.” Her voice sounded deliciously breathless.
His ego expanded with the rest of him.
“Besides Shari, I’ve confided more in you than anyone.”
“Glad to hear it.” He ran his lips up and down her throat and traveled down to nuzzle her silk covered breasts. Her nipples hardened and perked through her lacy bra. Michael moaned. “After Thanksgiving, you and I need a date. A real one.”
She tightened her legs and pulsated against him. “I’d like that.”
Michael groaned. “Uh, we’d better get our act together or as sure as shootin’, we’ll get caught.”
Liana released him and slid down his hips until her feet touched the floor.
Just what she needed to bring her senses back to earth. This man could make her forget her fears. She could almost spill her secrets, tell him about Ryan. Michael portrayed an exciting mix of trust and security. Not to mention wild passion and bone melting possibilities that scared her to death. She could lose focus and with it, her daughter and her independence, all for the dream of happily ever after.
Michael gathered the remains of his lunch and started for the door. Liana kept a tight grip on the edge of the countertop and willed her legs to stop trembling.
He turned, one hand on the doorknob. “Don’t go past the tarp. The trusses are just tacked in place until the crew gets back. You okay at the condo? Can I have the address?”
“Oh, my gosh! Of course you can. I forgot to give it to you in all the hubbub. Here.” She took a business card from her purse and scribbled the address on the back. “We’re fine, but I miss my house and my cat.”
“Oscar’s okay with me, but if they allow pets at the complex I can bring him by tonight.”
Liana closed the distance between them and pushed up on her tiptoes to press her lips to his. “Thank you. Oscar might cheer up Brittany. She’s really attached to him.”
“I’ll drop him off at seven. Don’t worry about dinner, Leif and I’ll grab something on the way over.”
“No. I insist you have dinner with us. Lasagna okay?”
He tilted his head and gazed into her eyes as if he couldn’t believe she’d invited them. “Yeah, lasagna sounds great.” Michael gave her a quick kiss and hurried out the back door.
Liana smiled at his hasty retreat. He really did want to make love to her. She straightened her clothes. Maybe things could work between them. Tears moistened her eyes, but this time, they were tears of hope and happiness, not despair.
****
The day before Thanksgiving, Liana picked her mom up at the Kalispell airport. “I can’t wait for you to see my house. Of course, you won’t appreciate the transformation as much as I do. The contractor did a beautiful job.”
“How exciting! I hope you took some before pictures!” Cathy Campbell bubbled with enthusiasm and seemed younger since the last time Liana had seen her. She also acted evasive and avoided Liana’s questions as to the cause of her effervescence.
“Why can’t you just enjoy my good mood?” she answered. “I want to hear more about life in Northwestern Montana.”
“Where’s Gary?” Gary, her mom’s long time boyfriend, usually participated in family events.
“He had business in North Carolina, so he decided to spend the weekend in Raleigh with his daughter.”
Liana let the subject drop. Something didn’t seem right, but she didn’t want to ruin the camaraderie with her mom.
Later that evening, her brother Tim called to let them know he and her other brother, Mark had arrived with their families. They’d settled into a Kalispell hotel and would be over the next morning.
“Mom get in okay?” Tim asked.
“Yes, she had a good trip.” Liana glanced around to make sure her mother wasn’t within hearing distance, and lowered her voice. “I’m a little concerned with her new attitude. I mean, Mom’s always been pleasant and positive, but she’s a little over the top today. Do you think her hormones are off?” Concern flickered through her mind and set off a signal. Tim was the doctor of the family. He should have noticed if their mom wasn’t normal.
Tim chuckled. “Calm down, sis. She’s probably excited about all of us spending the holiday together.”
Even with her brother’s reassurance, Liana sensed something was going on. She worried more when, later in the evening, her mom avoided answering questions about her dad. Despite the circumstances surrounding their divorce, Cathy Campbell had always encouraged the kids to spend time with their dad. Liana usually declined and stayed home while her brothers went. She couldn’t reconcile with her father when his thoughtless affair broke up their family.
Early Thanksgiving morning, she put the turkey in the oven and bustled around the kitchen, preparing the side dishes. Her mom and Brittany worked side by side, peeling potatoes while Liana chopped onions for the stuffing.
The doorbell rang at eleven.
Michael.
She almost said his name aloud. She hadn’t seen him since Monday night and ached to wrap her arms around his big, strong body. Since Trinity planned to visit over the holiday and Liana’s family were in town, they’d agreed it best to focus on their individual families until their relationship became clear.
The doorbell rang again. Liana hurried through her expansive new living room and pulled open the oversized, carved wooden front door Michael had personally installed.
Her stomach flip-flopped. “Daddy?”
“Hello, Pumpkin.” Liana’s dad stayed on the front step, his green eyes filled with uncertainty. “I hope you don’t mind me showing up like this.”
“Of course not.” Liana’s heart warred with her mind. He’d cheated on her mom; he’d left them alone too much; he’d split their family.
So did you, a little voice in the back of her head reminded her. Her chest contracted and her breath caught. Oh, my God. She’d been angry with her father for so long, she hadn’t considered how similar her situation with Ryan might have been to her dad’s affair. Michael had been so right about transference, and he didn’t know the half of it.
“Daddy, please come in.” Liana choked back tears.
Her dad walked into the foyer and blinked against the moisture in his eyes. She closed the door, and turned into his arms with a sob.
“I’m so sorry, baby girl. For everything.” He smoothed her hair and kissed her forehead.
“I’m sorry I didn’t call you. I’ve wanted to. I guess it gets more difficult if you let time build up.”
Where had her mind been? She’d held against her dad the same thing she’d nearly done! Her mother and Brittany were halfway through the dining room when they saw her dad. Brittany whooped and hollered and catapulted herself into her grandfather’s arms. Through the years Liana had never discouraged Brittany’s visits with her grandfather. She’d just chosen not to accompany her.
Concerned over how Duncan Campbell’s arrival would affect her mom, Liana glanced at her and gasped. Her mother absolutely glowed.
“Duncan.”
“Cathy.” Her father stepped forward and met her mother in front of the fireplace. “Glad to see you had a safe trip.” He took her hands in his and
kissed her cheek.
Liana had expected tension and awkwardness. She saw neither. Her heart filled to over flowing. She was afraid to ask questions and ruin the moment.
Her brothers and their families arrived shortly after noon, and the house turned into joyous chaos.
Brittany enjoyed the attention and interaction with her cousins, but Liana caught her glancing toward the door with a pensive look.
She started to take Brittany aside to ask if everything was okay, but her brothers drew her into their conversation about how much they already liked Montana, and wanted to consider buying a condo for vacations. She promised to look for one right after the holiday weekend.
When Brittany smiled and laughed again, Liana breathed a little easier and allowed herself to think about what else would happen next week. Michael would start on her bedroom remodel and be around every day. If she had her way, he and Leif would spend some evenings here too. She’d love to give him a quick call and tell him about her dad, and how much her family liked her house. She floated from hour to hour, wishing he’d knock on the door.
Trinity and Leif no doubt had him involved in dinner preparation and catching up on what had been going on in their lives. His former brother-in-law and new wife might have driven over from Libby.
The depth of her feelings for Michael alarmed her. She’d done fine on her own over the past four years. If she let her guard down and allowed her need for him to grow, could she rebound if it didn’t work out?
She might have to.
Since she’d hired the new attorney two weeks ago, he’d put a settlement agreement together which ended the alimony payments to Frank and demanded he get counseling for the anger and bitterness. The packet should be with Frank’s attorney by now.
At any moment, she expected a call from an irate Frank. She’d have to stay alert in case he reached Brittany first.
“You’ve been in your own little world for the past hour, Li.” Her mother hugged her from behind. She propped her chin on Liana’s shoulder and kissed her ear. “Are you all right? Um, you smell good.”
“I’m fine. Just have a lot on my mind.” Liana turned in her mom’s arms. “Thank you for assuring me I don’t smell like sweat and onions.”
Cathy chuckled then turned serious. “Brit says you’re working a lot. I’ll tell you what I’ve told your brothers. Stop and smell the roses. Life goes by too fast.”
Liana sighed. “I know, Mom. I’m working on those roses, but the market is still slow. If I don’t grab every sale, someone else will. With the remodel and some other expenses, I’m close to dipping into my savings and I don’t want to do that.”
She gave her mom another hug and turned to check on the turkey. The house had been filled with the wonderful, mouthwatering scents of Thanksgiving dinner since about ten that morning.
“I understand how tight the market is right now, Li, but please don’t burn yourself out.”
“I won’t. I have a plan.” She shot her mother a reassuring smile and slipped two pans of dressing into the oven and took the lid off the roaster. She moaned as the full aroma of roasted bird hit her. Juice escaped from the skin, and sizzled on the side of the roasting pan. She filled the baster with juice, squeezed the rubber ball and doused the skin so it wouldn’t dry out. Another few minutes and she’d keep the lid off to brown the skin.
If everything came together, this would be the Thanksgiving of her dreams. Only Michael and his kids could make it better.
Six pies lined the sideboard in the dining room. She’d baked four and her mom had insisted she buy two more at the bakery yesterday. Perfect. At this moment, her world was near perfect.
The doorbell rang. Liana’s heart skipped a beat. Her breath accelerated. It might be Michael.
“Dad!” Brittany’s voice echoed through the house.
“Dad?” Liana mimicked her daughter. “Frank?”
Stunned, she hurried to the living room and froze, her fears confirmed. Frank and his girlfriend, Molly, stood in the foyer. Obviously they’d reunited.
Brittany leaped into his arms like it was Christmas morning and she’d just opened the best present ever. “Dad you made it!”
Chapter Nine
“Made it?” Liana repeated like a parrot, while she stared at Frank through a tunnel of shock. “You planned this visit?”
Brittany stuck out her bottom lip and faced Liana, her back against her dad. “When you didn’t want me to be gone on Thanksgiving, I asked Dad to come here so we could all be together.”
Frank clamped his hands on Brittany shoulders, and looked over her head at Liana. “Don’t be angry, Li. I wasn’t sure I could get away from work. I didn’t want to make a big deal out of it.”
Liana’s family gathered, her brothers flanked her like a military guard.
“Mark, Tim.” Frank nodded at each of her brother’s who had yet to say a word.
“Frank.” Mark finally held out his hand.
Frank accepted the gesture. “Good to see you.” He moved into the living room and held his hand out to Tim, who had never been a Frank fan, but a glance from his wife made him accept the gesture.
Liana motioned toward the living room. “Come in. Molly, I’m glad you came.” She really was glad. Molly could act as a buffer when Frank dropped his congenial bull shit and went off the deep end.
Because he would go off the deep end. He’d received her settlement papers, of that she was sure. Something wasn’t right. He didn’t seem angry. His casual air worried her more than if he’d burst in swearing and yelling.
“Thank you, Liana. I’m sorry we showed up without warning.” Molly smiled apologetically, and shook hands with the family.
Liana wanted to run and hide. “Can I offer you something to drink?” She forced a smile and listed the beverages she’d stocked up on for the weekend.
In auto-motion, she handed Molly a glass of wine, and Frank a scotch and water.
“Please make yourselves comfortable. I have to check on dinner.” She couldn’t escape the living room fast enough. In the kitchen, she leaned against the granite counter top and took a deep breath.
“Can I help with dinner?” Molly had followed her.
“Dinner’s under control. Would you like to set the table?”
“I’d love to. Did Brittany tell you I’m taking interior decorating courses?”
Liana froze. “No, she didn’t. What does Frank think of your choice of careers?”
“Oh, he’s very supportive. He said you tried it a long time ago, but it didn’t work out.”
Liana silently fumed with volcanic rage.
“I’ve started redecorating our condo.” Molly looked oblivious to Liana’s anger. “Frank’s happy for me to do anything as long as I stay. It sounds pitiful, but he’s really a great guy. I hope we can work out our differences.”
She suddenly covered her mouth with her fingertips. “I’m sorry to go on and on. That wasn’t an appropriate comment, considering you and Frank didn’t make it.”
Liana poured a glass of wine and took a gulp, and lifted it toward Molly. “Don’t apologize. It’s awkward for you too. Being here, I mean. Here’s to you decorating Frank’s world.”
Molly smiled and clinked her glass against Liana’s. Amazing; Molly didn’t have a clue that interior design had been Liana’s dream, and she was very good at it. The fault lay with Frank. The rat!
Liana pointed to the dining room. “The tablecloth, napkins and candles are in the buffet. Please arrange them to your liking while I pull out the turkey and make the gravy.”
Molly clapped her hands in delight and hurried into the dining room to begin the transformation.
Her perfect day tarnished, Liana took another drink of wine and turned to the oven willing herself to calm down. It would all work out.
Laugher and teasing drifted from the living room. What in the hell was Frank doing? A comedy act? The nerve of him to show up on her favorite holiday. He’d known her family would be here. She blinke
d back tears of anger and frustration. How dare he!
Her mom could be heard, occasionally adding to the conversation, and her dad’s chuckle wove through the melee like a satin ribbon on a gift. No matter what Frank ended up doing to her holiday, having her entire family together was amazing.
“Everything coming along?” Her mother, accustomed to having the holiday dinners at her house, couldn’t stay out of the kitchen for more than a few minutes. Liana understood. An active woman, Cathy Campbell loved to be in the middle of whatever was going on.
Liana swiped away the tears and lifted her chin toward the stove. “Molly’s busy with the table, but if you whip the potatoes, I’ll work on the gravy. The food will be served in thirty minutes.”
“I’m impressed. Even Frank’s untimely arrival hasn’t thrown you off schedule.” Cathy touched Liana’s shoulder. “Honey, I hope he hasn’t ruined your day.”
Liana turned to her mom. “I refuse to give him the power. I’ve lived in fear of so many things for too long.”
“Fear?” Her mother stepped closer to Liana. “Was Frank violent with you?”
“No, not physically. Oh hell.” Liana threw her hands in the air. “Not mentally violent either, just controlling and manipulative. Can we talk about this later?” Maybe the time had come for her to fill in her parents. They’d always believed Frank fathered Brittany and had never commented on Brittany’s “early” birth. They were intelligent people. They had to suspect all was not what it seemed.
“Of course. We have so much to catch up on.” Cathy whipped the potatoes until they formed fluffy peaks. She covered them with a sheet of foil and helped Molly find the serving utensils.
Liana appreciated her mother’s help and concern. With the ugly facts of her marriage and divorce about to come out through the courts, she owed her parents the truth.
“Sis, if you don’t have some food on the table soon, I’ll start to nibble.” Her oldest brother wrapped an arm around her and snagged a piece of turkey from the platter.