by JoAnn Durgin
“I’m here in Houston.” He’d always been good at reading her mind, or else she was way too obvious. Could be a combination of the two. “I’m staying with Sam and Lexa.”
Guess some mighty big fences have been mended I haven’t heard about yet. Lexa hadn’t even hinted, and she thought she’d trained her better than that. But it might also explain why her catering partner hadn’t called her all the livelong day. Being the day before a big job and not hearing from Lexa should have tipped her off something was going on. Winnie’s thought process halted with the onset of sudden clarity. I’m meeting with Lexa at the house in the morning. That last bit of recall had her sitting up, and—swinging her legs over the edge of the bed—she dropped her head between her knees. Breathe.
“Uh huh,” she mumbled. Her hair, usually tied back in a ponytail, covered her face. Impatient, she lifted her head and sputtered as one long strand brushed across her mouth. She loved the scent of her shampoo, not so much the taste.
“I can’t hear you. You sound muffled.” The amusement in Josh’s voice rattled her even more.
“Sorry.” She smoothed her fingers through her mussed hair and stretched out on the bed, flat on her back, one hand over her mouth. She waited, not knowing what to say to this man. What could she say? A million things, and yet nothing. Lord, you’ve orchestrated this whole thing, haven’t you? She’d always known the Lord had a sense of humor. She’d deal with Him later in their nightly conversation.
“Will you meet with me tomorrow? I’d really like to see you. There are some things I need to tell you.”
She buried her face in the comforter, squeezing her eyes tight. Her fist bunched up the fabric, releasing and repeating several times.
“You can just tell me now.”
“I can’t hear you again,” Josh said.
Sitting up cross-legged on her bed, she forced lightness she didn’t feel into her voice. “Is this better?”
“Much better. I understand you and Lexa are business partners, and it’s going very well.”
“That’s right.” She swallowed the lump in her throat. Good. Only two words but it sounded entirely professional and not in the least like he’d turned her world on its axis in the last two minutes.
“I think that’s great. Sounds like you’ve found your niche.”
Winnie frowned. “Did you call me to chat, Josh?” She cringed at how rude it came across.
“I called because I want to talk with you, tell you how sorry I am the way things ended between us in San Antonio, but I’d prefer to do it in person. I hope you’ll give me the opportunity.”
“Well, uh. . .” She hesitated, chewing on a fingernail, her eyes focusing on the framed watercolor on her bedroom wall. A Chloe Doyle original. A light-colored teddy bear held a bouquet of gorgeous pink roses, and a bright red, oversized heart covered the bear’s chest. Winnie’s eyes misted as they fell on Chloe’s scrawl in the bottom corner—too small to see from the bed but forever stamped on her heart.
Twin Hearts—Mommy and me. She’d made it in her nursery school class at church and presented it to her last month for Valentine’s Day. Winnie could never look at that teddy bear without it bringing a smile. Even now, she felt her heart softening, her anxiety draining.
“I hope you’ll allow me to speak my peace, and then I’m headed home.”
She swallowed hard. “Things are kind of busy right now. How long are you here in Houston?” It was a stall tactic, and he probably knew it.
“As long as it takes.”
She certainly didn’t expect that response. “As it long as it takes for what?” She knew she’d regret asking that one.
“As long as it takes to talk with you. I’m much more patient than I used to be.”
Her mind worked overtime. Maybe if she agreed to meet with him, he could ask her forgiveness, she could give it, and then he’d be gone. But it wouldn’t be—couldn’t ever be—that simple. Josh might have a confession to make, but she couldn’t let the man go back home to Louisiana without confessing the secret that slept in the very next room. She’d had enough conversations with God about Josh Grant to know He was behind this one all right. It was time.
“I’ll meet you at Lexa and Sam’s in the morning. Lexa and I need to start cooking at eleven, so I’ll be there by nine-thirty. Hopefully, that’ll give us enough time to talk.”
“Thanks, Winnie. I’m looking forward to seeing you again.”
The relief in his voice was obvious. She prayed she’d get a little sleep but doubted it. “Okay, then. I guess I’ll see you in the morning.”
“I’ll be here waiting.”
Chapter 5
Tuesday Morning
As soon as Lexa opened the door, Winnie knew she was in trouble. Those aquamarine eyes widened and she let out a low whistle. “Winnie Doyle, you are an absolute vision.” Reaching for her hand, Lexa hauled her into the kitchen. Closing the side door, she circled her, taking in the full view.
“Stop it, already. You’re making me dizzy. It’s like watching a Hitchcock movie,” Winnie said, laughing. “You can close your mouth now. I know my way around a tube of lipstick and mascara, you know.” Even so, it was the rare occasion when she applied more than blush and tinted lip gloss.
Lexa gave her a nod of approval. “I’m loving the look. Gorgeous dress, and it’s nice to see your hair down.” Her eyes trailed to her feet. “New?”
“Yes, I have feet. It’s called nail polish and sandals, Lexa. Get over it.”
“Chloe at daycare this morning?”
“Yes, like she always is when we have a catering job the same day.”
“Right,” Lexa said, “and just like you always dress to the nines before working in the kitchen all day long. If I didn’t know better—”
“But you do know better,” she said, giving her a pointed stare, “so we’ll get this little meeting over with, Josh can go back to The Pelican State, and we can all get on with our lives.” She almost slipped and used the word apology. Lexa didn’t need to know that, although she probably already did.
Hearing a deep grunt, Winnie stared at Lexa, afraid to look behind her. Please, Lord, don’t let Josh be standing in this kitchen.
“Hello, gorgeous!”
Winnie blew out a sigh of relief as she pivoted to face Sam. “I thought you knew better than to sneak up on two women in a kitchen. Have we taught you nothing?”
Sam planted a kiss on her cheek. “You’re going to knock his socks off.”
Winnie’s cheeks grew warm. “That’s not what I’m trying to do and you know it, you evil man.”
Catching his wife’s eye, he laughed. “Toss me your keys, and I’ll bring the trays in.”
Winnie obliged his request with a well-aimed toss. “I’ll help you.” She started toward him, but Lexa stopped her with one hand on her arm.
“We’ll bring them in. You have better things to do like march yourself into the living room. Josh is waiting.”
Her pulse picked up again as she stared at the swinging door. “Hand me a paper bag. Now.” Lexa didn’t move although she thought it sounded quite commanding. The corners of Lexa’s mouth twisted. Surely the woman wouldn’t laugh at her personal angst and emotional upheaval.
“I’ve never known you to hyperventilate in your life, and it’s not going to start now. I understand you’re nervous, but this is Josh. The same Teamwork friend we all know and love.” Lexa pulled her into a quick hug, and Winnie leaned into it. She needed it, especially today. “He’s changed for the better—he’s solid and strong. The kind of man we always knew he was.”
And just like that, their roles reversed. Usually she was the one patting hands and whispering words of encouragement, enough to earn her the nickname “Mother Hen” among the TeamWork crew. Even though they’d never discussed it, surely Lexa and Sam suspected Josh was the father of her child. If Chloe’s smile didn’t tell them, those green eyes were an undeniable Grant hallmark.
Sam approached the side d
oor, balancing two large trays loaded with the result of yesterday’s all-day cooking and baking spree. Winnie opened the door, and he maneuvered through and slid the trays on the counter. “One more trip should do it. Anything in the trunk? Got any peach tarts in there?”
“A few trays, yes, but the peach tarts will have to wait until the next event. Were you ever a waiter, Sam? The way you handle those heavy trays is downright skillful—” She turned to Lexa. “Which reminds me, did you get the same call I did from the temp agency? We’re already down two servers tonight.”
“I know, but we’re covered, so don’t you worry about a thing,” Lexa said. “Okay, enough of this. We’ll get the rest of the stuff from your car. Now, it’s showtime.”
Winnie caught the knowing look shared between husband and wife. Her eyes narrowed as Sam headed toward the coffee pot. “You really should play a little harder to get, Mr. Lewis.”
“Never.” He gave her a wink. “Here you go. Josh needs coffee.” He wrapped her fingers around the handle of the carafe. “Put on your best smile and take it out to him.”
“Mugs, creamer and sweetener are on the coffee table,” Lexa added.
Winnie smirked as she tried to ignore the pounding of her heart. “What about spoons or stirrers and napkins? Gotta have those.”
“On the coffee table.” The words from Lexa were firm, unyielding. If she didn’t keep moving and go through that door soon, her business partner might push her from behind. Lexa was a loving woman, but she only possessed so much patience.
Winnie shot them a look over her shoulder. “You two really are made for each other.”
It was now or never. Raising her chin, she squared her shoulders and focused on holding the coffee pot steady as she headed toward the door. She prayed she could keep her hand steady. You’re doing this for Chloe. Pasting on a smile, she pushed through the swinging door to face the man from her past waiting for her in the living room.
Chapter 6
He stood facing the large picture window at the front of the house, dressed in a perfectly-tailored gray suit, hands in his pockets. Even from the back, Joshua Grant was an impressive man. In the years since she’d seen him, he’d grown broader across the shoulders and filled out his suit coat well. His thick, wavy blond hair was longer than she remembered and curled slightly at the nape of his neck. Winnie’s knees felt weak and threatened to buckle beneath her. Ridiculous. Get over it. You shared a moment with this man more than four years ago and never heard from him again. He’s here to say whatever it is, so stop swooning, hear him out and take it like a grownup.
“Hi, Josh.” Her voice was shaky, her hand even more so. Then he turned around. Oh, goodness, the man was gorgeous. Since she’d last seen him, he’d transitioned from a very cute guy into a full-grown, handsome, confident businessman in that suit, a crisp, white shirt and that tie. . .it just wasn’t fair. The green in that silk tie was a perfect match for those unbelievable peepers. The heel of her sandal caught on the carpet, and Winnie stumbled forward with a small cry. The modicum of grace she’d acquired from three years of ballet saved her, but she still swayed in precarious fashion, unsteady on her feet.
Rushing across the room to grab the carafe before she spilled the scalding brown liquid onto Sam and Lexa’s white living room carpet, Josh somehow managed to rescue it from her hand and put it on a magazine on the coffee table. “Are you okay?” The concern in his voice was gratifying, and his gaze slanted to her hands. “It didn’t splash on you, did it?”
“I’m fine, thanks,” she said. “Hope your fingers aren’t scalded. Exhibit A for reasons why not to have white carpet with children and clumsy caterers around.” She shook her head and rued her fair coloring. The way things were going, she’d be a patchwork of pink, white and red within minutes.
“No harm done. It’s great to see you again. Please, come sit down with me.”
She didn’t want to feel such a strong attraction for him, but her heart and pulse weren’t listening. Don’t look at the eyes. If she repeated it in her mind enough times, would it keep her from succumbing to his charms? Those eyes had been her undoing before and would be again if she didn’t watch herself. So much for the self-pep talk. A whole lot of good it did. Why he felt the need to dress in one of his expensive power suits was beyond her, but then again, here she was in a dress costing the equivalent of a monthly car payment for Ladybug. Hypocrisy was highly overrated sometimes.
“It’s nice to see the TeamWork volunteers without a veneer of dust and dirt, isn’t it?” The appreciation in Josh’s glance did not escape her, and made her feel more like a woman than she had since the last time she’d seen him.
Winnie felt an inner tug. Could be her insides melting. Hospitality would be good. “Do you want sugar or cream in your coffee?”
“No, thanks. I’m good. You look incredible, Winnie.”
“And you look really good, too.” Please tell me I didn’t just say that. She swallowed her pride and dared to look him in the eye as she sat beside him. Very bad move. Look away now.
“More beautiful than ever.”
“Thank you.” Oh, no. The heat was rising again, moving its way from her throat, up her neck and into her cheeks, like a mutinous little army.
“And even prettier when you do that.”
She cleared her throat and crossed her legs, clasping her hands over her knee to prevent swinging it back and forth. “Do what, exactly?” Chloe could handle this situation in a more composed manner than her twenty-eight-year-old mother. Or a more honest manner.
“Blush.”
Smooth talk, yes, but she sensed Josh was genuine and sincere. Nervous as a novice on the high wire without a safety net, she also felt oddly at ease, a jumbled mess of conflicting emotions, to be sure. “Because it’s so quaint?” Her voice held a teasing tone, and a dreaded giggle slipped out. They always betrayed her at the most inappropriate times.
“All that and a giggle, too. I didn’t know it was still possible.” Josh looked like he found it the most refreshing thing in the world. Judging by the tailored suit and obvious sophistication of the man, he must circulate in a world of high society mavens and professional executives. The women in the life of a rising associate in a prestigious law firm would hardly be the type to blush and giggle. How immature and uncultured he must think her.
“I’m nervous, Josh. Thus the giggles. I’m not sure why you’re here, what you want to say, and I’m not sure how I’ll react.” When his eyes widened, she could tell she’d surprised him with her bluntness. Maybe he wasn’t used to that, either. She diverted her eyes to her fingers dancing in her lap. It brought her TeamWork friend Natalie to mind since that was her trademark mannerism when she was flustered. Winnie forced her hands still and bit her lower lip.
“If it makes you feel any better, I’m as nervous as you, if not more.”
This meeting and apology thing was a bad idea. Josh was a nice man, and he’d feel betrayed once he found out the truth. A sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach made her turn her head, the inward changing of the guard transitioning from fear to shame.
With the fingers of one hand, he turned her chin, forcing her to look at him. She should have known he wouldn’t let her get away with anything. “I’m very sorry for taking advantage of you in San Antonio. You were vulnerable and needed a friend, nothing more.” He shifted on the sofa and took her hands in his. “I was selfish and lost in sin, and what we did—”
Winnie withdrew her hands, and rose to her feet. “Josh, if you’re here to apologize and ask my forgiveness, it really isn’t necessary. I was a very willing participant, as you might recall. You didn’t take advantage of me, and you didn’t take anything from me that I didn’t freely offer. Rest assured, you can go home to Baton Rouge and know this is one girl who doesn’t harbor any resentment or expects anything from you.”
He looked at her like he wasn’t sure how to react to her diatribe. “Where did all that come from?”
She shrugged
and shot him a helpless glance. “I have absolutely no idea.”
“You were always the mother of the TeamWork crew, but you were so busy meeting everyone else’s needs, you ignored your own.”
“So, you thought it was your job to tend to my needs?” Little could he understand her anger wasn’t directed at him. He was wonderful. She, on the other hand, was a lying, deceitful mess. And he thought she was wonderful. Lord, give me the right words. How can I tell him?
Standing, Josh reached for her hand. “Please know I’m not implying you’re matronly in any way.”
“What?” If only you knew. “Don’t hold my hand. Please,” she said, lowering her voice and moving her hand out of range.
“I don’t mean to upset you or make you mad,” he said. “Based on your reaction, I’m doing a decent job of both. You were the loveliest woman in the TeamWork camp. I only pray you don’t hate me.”
Winnie swallowed. “I could never hate you.” This time she didn’t protest when he covered her hands with his. They were warm, protective. Something inside shifted again.
“You want to know my biggest regret?” Josh waited until her eyes traveled a slow, upward path to meet his. “You’re an incredible person. A terrific woman, and it’s to my detriment I never told you how much that night meant to me.”
Winnie blinked back her tears, biting her lower lip. “So, the waiting period for such a revelation is four-plus years?” If ever she’d been a hypocrite, that statement defined it. Oh, what a fool she’d been. Still was, based on current behavior.
He shook his head, and there was no disguising the pain in his creased brow, the lines around his mouth. “I regret it’s taken me so long to come back and tell you how sorry I am, but I had to work through some things in my life, needed time for the Lord to work on me.” He stepped closer. “But I’m here now, and I hope we can start again and move forward. Come to dinner with me.”
“Why?” Winnie cleared her throat. Does he want to try and make me a legitimate, honorable woman? “You do realize I’m almost three years older than you? You don’t owe me anything, Josh. Not then, and certainly not now.”