by Holly Jacobs
Morgan wasn't sure what sort of reaction she'd expected, but when he chuckled, she knew that wasn't it. "Morgan, I told you I was a good judge of talent. The job offer is still on the table, but the salary has taken a substantial jump. As for this—" he waved the paper "—if your mother is interested in selling, your terms would be agreeable. I'll find new space for the store to work out of while we're building, but OCDR will be back at its current location as soon as possible."
She stood. "Thanks, Mark."
"My pleasure. Not my accountant's pleasure, but mine. I really do hope you'll reconsider my job offer. I—"
She didn't let him finish. "Thanks, but I'm heading back to San Diego."
Her mother's offer flitted through her mind, but she quickly pushed it away.
She was going to call on Monday and accept one of the jobs in San Diego. It's what she'd worked for. It's what she wanted. . .wasn't it?
CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR
E.J., I'm heading out in a minute for one last wedding with Conner. I've had such a good time playing his girl Friday. And though I wouldn't want to do it as a full-time job, I realize I'm going to miss it. . .miss him.
THE NEXT NIGHT, AT MORGAN'S LAST reception with Conner, she asked an embarrassed looking Tessa and a not-so-embarrassed looking Nikki, "Again?" As a matter of fact, Nikki looked beyond pleased with herself.
"You can't tell me that ending up at the wedding I'm working was just another coincidence," Morgan declared.
"I wasn't planning to try to feed you that line. You're too smart for that." Nikki grinned, unashamed. "We asked your mom where you'd be. Figured we should help you see your last wedding out with a bang."
"Bang is just another word for thud. I swear, if Conner catches on. . ." Morgan let the threat die, because it was obviously not having the desired effect. Nikki was still grinning.
"So, have you noticed any likely male candidates for us? Men with potential?" she asked.
"Man, not men. As in a singular man for Nikki, because I'm not looking for a new one. Not looking for an old one, either. Basically, I'm not looking," Tessa muttered. "I'm just here to try and rein her in."
"You're not doing such a great job," Morgan assured her.
"Tell me about it. But I notice you don't seem to have any better luck than I do. After all, she's never gotten me questioned by the cops and other various law enforcement groups."
"Hey." Nikki waved her hand. "I'm still here and I can hear you both."
"We intended for you to hear," Tessa stated. "Not that we expect you to listen."
Nikki stuck out her tongue in a not so very adult way, then turned back to Morgan, obviously ignoring Tessa, who was muttering about how immature she was. "So, what about it? Any signs of available men?"
"You crash my last reception and you want me to play your pimp?" Morgan wasn't sure if she was flattered that Nikki trusted her opinion, or insulted that her friend would even ask.
Flattered won out.
There was just no way to be insulted or even stay annoyed with Nikki. Her zest for adventure was contagious.
Tessa didn't seem to find it quite as hard to be annoyed with Nikki. Her displeasure was obvious as she grumbled, "Pimping for your friends. Another great column idea, Nikki."
Nikki either missed Tessa's annoyance or ignored it. She simply zeroed in on what she wanted to hear. "Hey, you're right. That's a great topic. After all, what if you find a great guy, a nice guy, who doesn't do anything for you? Why should you just toss him aside when you can pass him on to a friend?"
Immediately, Mark came to Morgan's mind. The very business-minded man and. . .Tessa, maybe? The idea bore some consideration.
"You're impossible." Though the sentence was a borderline growl, Tessa's affection and amusement was obvious in her tone.
"So have you spotted any likely candidates?" Nikki pressed.
Morgan bowed to the inevitable. "See the guys standing near the head table? They're in the wedding party. I overheard a couple of ladies commenting that they were doctors, and I haven't seen them with dates."
"Doctors?" Nikki asked, a light in her eyes. "Two single doctors. It's fate, Tess."
"Gee, thanks, Morgan." Tessa looked unimpressed.
"Sorry," Morgan said. "But just think about what a great column this will make for Nikki. She'll probably win some kind of journalism award."
"Oh, that would be so sweet," Nikki murmured. "An award and a doctor."
"Yeah," Morgan continued, more to egg Tessa on than anything else. "Instead of party crashing, you can call it party pimping."
"Keep on helping me," Tessa muttered. "I'm going to owe you big time, and you know I always pay my debts."
Morgan laughed, then realized she wouldn't have to worry. She was leaving soon. Tessa wouldn't have a chance to pay her back.
"Well, why are you waiting around with me?" she asked. "Go get them."
"Come on, Tess. I've got a man who needs to be examined. A prescription I've got to fill. An ache I need cured." Nikki grabbed her hand and pulled her toward the men in question.
Tessa threw a help-me look at Morgan, who simply shrugged.
"Thanks, I'll remember this," Tess promised before the two were swallowed up by the crowd.
"So, are you ever going to introduce me to your friends?" Conner practically whispered in her ear, his breath hot against her neck.
Morgan jumped and tried to convince herself the shiver climbing up her spine was because she'd been startled, and not because of desire. But even though that's what she tried to tell herself, she didn't believe it.
She'd gone to Conner's last night after her meeting with Mark. They'd barely said two words before clothing was flying helter-skelter, leaving a trail from the front entryway to Conner's room.
She'd stayed until he was asleep, and crept out early, knowing she had to get home to let Gilligan out. At least that was her excuse. Truth was, she wanted to put off discussing her trip and her upcoming move as long as possible. The dog made a good excuse.
She'd called and left Conner a message saying she'd drive herself to this one last wedding.
She knew she could stall for only so long. She was going to have to tell him about the job. Tell him she was leaving.
But later. Not now.
"Morgan?" he said, pulling her from her thoughts. "About that introduction to your friends?"
"Friends?" she asked, trying to sound puzzled.
"The two women you were talking to just now. We've seen them at other weddings."
"They must be popular to be invited to so many weddings. Not that I would know."
He gave her a skeptical glance and she knew he knew, and even if she denied it until the cows came home, he'd still know. "Fine. Yes, they're friends. And I have nothing to do with them being here. Oh, maybe I'm responsible for them chasing after those doctors, but not for them being here."
"No, the bride and groom are responsible for them being here, right?"
He knew. She could see it in his eyes. "Well, about that. I confess, they're crashing. But I had nothing to do with that. Nothing at all."
"Really? They just happen to show up at the weddings you're working with me? It's all some big coincidence?"
"Are you calling me a liar?" He was treading dangerous ground, but she wasn't sure he knew it.
"I'm not sure. Are you? You realize I could lose the job if people found out I'd brought along a horde of people to the receptions and allowed them to crash the party. I have a reputation, which is why I work some of the most prestigious weddings in the area."
"I had nothing to do with the two of them being here." But it was her fault they were crashing. She'd been the one to mention it, and give them the idea. "Well, if you're so worried about your job, I'll leave, and you'll be in the clear."
"Morgan, I didn't mean—"
"Never mind. I'll talk to you later, Conner. Thanks for the help. I think my mom's going to sell the place, but I appreciated the opportunity to study the market an
d give her another option." She gathered up her things. "Goodbye."
"MORGAN," CONNER CALLED HELPLESSLY as she stormed out of the reception.
He thought about going after her, but at that moment, the mother of the bride waved him down.
He'd go after Morgan later, and they'd sort this all out.
As he worked the reception, he kept thinking about Morgan. About what they had. Last night had been amazing. To be honest, his whole time with Morgan had been amazing.
He didn't want it to end like this. Maybe he'd overreacted a bit.
No maybe about it.
He hadn't asked about her trip. He didn't want to hear the details, didn't want to know she was leaving, which was absurd, because he was leaving, too.
But saying the words somehow made it more real, and he wasn't ready for reality to set in just yet.
That's why he'd picked a fight.
He watched for her friends, and later in the evening cornered them coming out of the ladies' room.
He stepped directly in front of them. "I believe we met informally at another reception. But since you're Morgan's friends, I thought I should make it official. I'm Conner."
"Tessa and Nikki." The close-cropped brunette, Tessa, eyed him warily. "Where did Morgan run off to?"
"She had a few things to attend to. I promised to keep an eye on you two."
Nikki groaned. "Listen, it's not her fault. We talked Annabelle into helping us and—"
"I'm not mad. I just wanted to introduce myself. I've met Sunny and thought it was time I met the two of you. Have a good evening, but not so good you get caught."
Before they could respond, he walked away, but not before he heard Nikki saying, "See, Morgan didn't need to worry. He wasn't a stick-in-the-mud about it. Now, where did we put our doctors?"
He wasn't sure why he wanted to meet Morgan's friends so badly. Maybe because he felt an undeniable need to find out everything he could about her. Right now he was kicking himself for raising the issue about her party-crashing friends, and not asking about her trip.
He was chomping at the bit by the time the reception wound down. He spotted Nikki and Tessa leaving with two men as he packed up as quickly as humanly possible. He drove across town to Morgan's.
Her house was dark. He turned off his car's engine and sat staring at the house, trying to decide if he should take a chance at waking her, or just wait until tomorrow.
He still didn't know what to make of their fight.
They'd agreed that theirs was a casual relationship. They were both moving on.
So why had it bothered him?
That it had was evident by the way he'd reacted to the fact that her friends had crashed.
She was right. It wasn't her fault. She wasn't responsible. He'd known that even before she told him. Still he'd struck out.
Why?
A knock on his windshield made him jump.
Morgan's mother, Annabelle, stood there. "So, should I be concerned that you're stalking my daughter?" She smiled as she said the words, taking out any sting.
"I was just trying to decide if I should risk waking her, or wait until tomorrow to apologize."
"My thoughts are it's never a good idea to wait. Apologies are best given as quickly as possible." She paused. "So, what'd you do?"
"Made an ass of myself."
"You know, men have a tendency to do that. Don't take it too hard. You can't escape your genetic heritage. It's like eye color or height. But thankfully, women are genetically predisposed to forgive them."
"Thanks. . .I think."
"So, what are you going to do?" she asked.
"I guess I'll go in and. . ."
"Grovel?"
"Yeah. I'm still not sure what happened."
Annabelle gave a quiet poor-dense-man cluck. "I know what happened. She's leaving, you're not happy. You fought. Makes perfect sense to me."
"She got the job then?"
Annabelle nodded.
Conner knew he should be pleased that Morgan had accomplished what she'd set out to do. She was heading home to San Diego to work the kind of job she'd always dreamed of. He had his own luck with that, a job at a paper doing what he'd always wanted.
They'd shared a perfect no-strings relationship, and now both were moving on.
Why didn't he feel happier about it?
"So, what are you doing outside this late?" he asked Annabelle.
"I had a date." She gave a schoolgirl sigh. "Our fifth. Okay, it's only five if you allow for multiple dates on the same day. Doesn't matter, I think he's the one."
"After only five dates? You think it can happen that fast?"
"I think, when something's right, it's right. One day, two, five, five hundred. It won't change. When I met my husband I just knew he was it. And this time as well." Annabelle leaned closer to the open window. "Listen, I shouldn't tell you this. . ."
"What?" Conner asked.
"She sparkles when she talks about you. I've witnessed my daughter's other infatuations over the years. She's had an ideal man, a type that attracted her. Business. All-business. Clean cut. A pressed and polished intellect."
"That's not me."
"Right. And that's why you're perfect for her. The man she thought she wanted wasn't who she really wanted. They were all just fillers, taking up space and wasting time while she waited for you. So, the question remains, what are you waiting for?"
"I don't know."
Annabelle stepped back, and Conner opened the car door. He got out, shut it, then leaned over and kissed Annabelle lightly on the cheek. "Thank you."
"Hey, anytime."
"And this new guy. He's a lucky man."
She laughed. "Let's hope he thinks so."
ANNABELLE WATCHED CONNER WALK UP to Morgan's front door and knock. Gilligan went crazy inside, barking. A light in the bedroom went on.
She stepped back into the shadows. No need having Morgan ask questions. Questions Annabelle wasn't ready to answer.
The front door opened, and her daughter stood, looking at Conner with a mix of apprehension and desire.
Annabelle knew she was right. Those two were perfect for each other.
Now, if only they were smart enough to recognize that fact. Conner was a man, and in Annabelle's opinion they tended to be a bit slow on the romance uptake. But Morgan? She was her mother's daughter.
Annabelle had a lot of hope that she was going to figure out where she belonged, and soon.
CHAPTER TWENTY-FIVE
E.J., what on earth is wrong with me? I'm a decisive person. I make a decision and I stick to it. Why does it feel as if I'm suddenly becoming unglued? It all boils down to two simple questions. Where is home? And an offshoot of that, what do I want?
WHEN MORGAN LET CONNER INTO her house, he'd said, without preamble, that he wanted to talk.
But she hadn't wanted to. So, rather than talking, rather than apologizing, rather than saying the myriad things on her mind, she'd kissed him, then led him to her bedroom. And she'd left before he woke up. Left him in her bed with a note on the counter saying she'd be back.
She needed to get out for a while before she told Conner she was leaving Pittsburgh.
Maybe that is what home is, Morgan mused as she stood outside the diner, looking through the window at her friends. It's knowing there's somewhere that you always belonged.
Gina, Nikki, Tess and Sunny.
They were sitting at the same table they'd sat at for so many years, talking, laughing. Knowing they were home.
Home.
Happy.
Morgan could leave tonight and not come back for years, and when she did she knew she'd be accepted unquestionably.
She walked in.
"Hey, there you are." Gina's expression was still tentative.
Morgan shot her a genuine smile in return, hoping it reassured her. "Good morning, all." She looked at Nikki, wearing her standard Sunday morning glasses. "How did the crashing go last night?"
"Great.
We have a double date with the doctors next Friday, and I have a great column for this week," she replied.
"And we've agreed no more crashing," Tessa assured her. "Right, Nikki?"
Their friend looked less than enthused, but she nodded.
"So we won't risk getting you in trouble again," Tessa finished.
"It doesn't matter. That was my last wedding. I'm done. Done with just about everything but the packing. I've given Mom my outline for the store's possible futures and she's decided to sell."
"Oh." All four of her friends looked disappointed, and Morgan wasn't sure if it was that she was done with the weddings or that Annabelle was selling the store.
"So, you are definitely leaving," Sunny said, a statement more than a question.
"Yep. Both firms in San Diego offered me a job, so I have my choice. I said I'd let them know tomorrow. Both are great firms, definitely a bump up from what I was doing at LM Co."
No one said anything.
"It's what I've worked for since college, and they're both great opportunities."
She wasn't sure if she was trying to convince them or herself. "So, Sunny, is Ian all settled into his new apartment? I've heard through the grapevine that you've been spending a lot of time over there."
It was a blatant attempt to shift the focus of the conversation, but Morgan didn't care. She'd hoped talking her job options over with her friends would help clarify things, but now she didn't think it would.
"Yes, he's all settled." This time it was obvious that Sunny wanted to change the topic. "So, Nikki, what about your—"
"Uh, uh, uh." Nikki tsked. "We want to know. Just what's going on with you and Ian?"
"Nothing. I mean, we're friends. That's all." Sunny's face turned a delicate shade of pink.
No one else said anything.
"Fine. Maybe there's a little something, but we're not dating. I mean, not exactly. Johnny's been with us, so that's not dating, right? We're friends. I mean, I thought that's all we were until last night."