by JoAnn Durgin
Chloe tilted her head. “You mean like a doctor?” Immediate concern sprang into her eyes. “You’re not sick, are you?” Stepping closer, Chloe touched her cheek with the back of her hand, the same way Winnie did when she suspected a fever.
“Oh no, honey,” she said with a reassuring smile, squeezing her daughter’s hand. Perhaps “appointment” wasn’t the best word choice but not many others were at her disposal. “He’s not a doctor. I knew him before you were born. He lives in Louisiana and I haven’t seen him in a long time. You remember hearing about Mommy’s friend, Rebekah, from TeamWork?” Blonde curls bobbed. “His name is Josh and he’s Rebekah’s twin brother.”
Those green eyes grew big. “A boy and girl twin? I only know girl twins.” With her nose scrunched and her lips curled, Chloe was such an adorable imp.
Dottie emerged from the kitchen where she’d started a light supper.
“Thanks again, Dottie,” Winnie said, hoping she understood the depth of her gratitude. “You’re putting in double time for me these days and I hope you know how much I appreciate you.”
The older woman gave her an understanding smile and lowered her glasses to get a better look. “I do, and it’s very nice to see you going out. My, don’t you look lovely! You work way too hard and spend too much time on your own. You deserve this. I just hope this man appreciates you.” She nodded at a nearby chair. “Don’t forget your pretty new sandals.”
“His name is Josh,” Chloe announced in a matter-of-fact tone. “He’s a twin.” Amazing what impressed a child her age.
“Is he now?” Dottie smiled, a new book balanced on her lap as she motioned for Chloe to join her on the sofa. Winnie’s eyes misted. The dear woman invested herself in Chloe, reading and playing games with her instead of parking her in front of a television or allowing her to play computer games.
Winnie pulled a high-heeled gold sandal on one foot and then the other, holding onto the chair to keep her balance as she slid the back straps around her ankles. They really did look pretty—another spectacular Amy find—and were a nice complement to the outfit, but she prayed she could stand up in them let alone walk. Otherwise, she’d be like Chloe, a little girl playing dress-up and trying to look like a grownup.
“I shouldn’t be out too late, but I’ll call if it’ll be later than ten,” Winnie said.
Dottie waved her hand. “Don’t you worry about a thing, sweet girl. I’m here for the duration. After this little one goes to bed”—she put her arm around Chloe and nestled her closer—“there’s a movie I’d like to see and it won’t be over until eleven. You stay as long as you want. If need be, I’ll fall asleep right here on the sofa. You just concentrate on having a good time. We’ll be fine.”
Winnie grabbed her purse, a dainty little evening bag she’d dug out from the back of her closet, and dusted off the sad neglect. “You’re too good to me. I’ve got my phone so please call if you need anything. Love you.”
“We love you, too. Have a great time.” Dottie smiled as Winnie blew a kiss to Chloe, but she was already turning the pages of the book, eager to learn more words. Winnie sighed as she headed out the door. Chloe was such a bright child and Josh Grant could afford to send her to the best schools and so much more. She shook her head. Now was not the time to map out the future. It was only one dinner, not a plan book for her daughter’s life. Their daughter’s life.
Climbing into Ladybug, Winnie closed her eyes and lowered her head to the steering wheel. Lord, help me tonight. I’m not sure what to say or how to act. Give me the right words. After another minute of quiet prayer, she raised her head and turned the key in the ignition, smiling at the smooth purr of Ladybug’s engine. It wouldn’t do for Chloe to see her like this since her tender-hearted child might think something was wrong. Hopefully, her daughter was still sitting next to Dottie, engrossed in storybook adventures. Looking first one way then the other, Winnie pulled out of the parking space. Be with Josh, too, Father. May he keep You close. We’re both going to need You.
Heading off the highway exit twenty minutes later, her pulse raced and she deep-breathed in and out a few times as she squirmed in the seat. Shantung silk wasn’t exactly made for car trips, and she frowned when she noticed a few light wrinkles in the skirt.
Drumming her fingers on the steering wheel at the light before the turn-in to the restaurant, she spotted a sleek, dark blue BMW turning the corner and into the parking lot. Although she couldn’t get a good look at the license plate, it was the same model as the one parked at Sam and Lexa’s house. She leaned closer, staring. It’s him. Squinting into the early evening sunlight, Winnie frowned, making a snap judgment. As soon as the light turned green, she raced through it and zoomed past the parking lot.
~~**~~
Josh glanced at his watch for the third time in less than a minute. In his office, time flew by, but now, each second dragged while he waited for Winnie. She was twenty minutes late. Had she changed her mind? The waitress stopped to refill his water glass and shot him an empathetic look. “Do you want to go ahead and order, sir?” Her voice was low, and she blinked her big brown eyes a few times too many.
“No.” It came out more of a bark, so he softened it with the best smile he could muster. “I’ll wait. She’s probably just running late.” The maître d’—the one he’d tipped well to give him a corner table—nodded in his direction. With his brows drawn, a vertical line visible between them, he was probably calculating lost tips if he tied up one of the best tables all evening. Little did the man know that made him all the more determined to sit there all evening, if needed. Winnie, please come. I need to see you again.
Josh marched his fingers on the tablecloth, grinding his teeth so hard his jaw muscles flexed. Another server stopped to ask if he needed anything; he waved him away with a grunt. He must look more pathetic than he thought. If one more person gave him one of those I’m-really-sorry-you-got-stood-up looks, he’d blow a gasket. They meant well, but it wasn’t helping. Winnie was twenty-two minutes late now, not two hours late. Maybe she was stuck in traffic. He didn’t know anything about her sense of direction, so it was possible she’d taken a wrong turn and gotten lost. But no, she was the one who’d suggested this restaurant. It was a nice one, too. Romantic, which surprised him, given her initial reaction to his suggestion of dinner.
If she couldn’t come, the Winnie he knew—at least he thought he knew—would call and either give an explanation or apologize instead of leaving him sitting here alone. Retrieving his cell phone from his pocket, Josh stared at it, debating the merits and disadvantages of making the call. He found her number but closed his phone instead. No matter if had to tip the guy in the penguin suit all evening, fend off the female server with the flirtatious smile, or keep ordering food to keep this table off-limits to anyone else, he wasn’t leaving until they closed their doors or respectfully requested he depart the premises. He’d waited a long time for this moment and he wasn’t about to be put off that easy. If Winnie didn’t show up, he’d need to come up with another plan.
~~**~~
“Lord, the man wears designer suits, drives an imported car and works in a prestigious law firm with an office and a secretary and an expense account. Surrounded by sophisticated, intelligent, Ivy League-educated, career women. I’m sure he has a bachelor pad equipped with all the latest gadgets, appliances and state-of-the-art everything.” Winnie resisted chewing her lip since that would definitely mess up her lipstick. “Bottom line? Josh Grant has no need for someone like me in his life. He’s perfectly fine without me.” She slowed the car as the light turned yellow, ignoring the honking behind her. “Yellow means slow down, people!” At the risk of angering the driver behind her, she needed the extra time to think. She’d circled the block around the restaurant five, six, how many times? She’d lost track.
Startled out of her daydreaming a minute later by another honk from behind, she frowned and pulled through the light. Darting a glance at the parking lot, she spied the BMW.
“Okay, so he’s still there. Should I call him? Maybe we could talk on the phone instead of face-to-face?” Guilt started to wend its way through her conscious mind. Even if she wasn’t thinking for herself, she needed to think of Chloe. Whether or not she and Josh had much of a chance for a relationship of any kind in the future, Chloe needed to know her father. That would bind her with him the rest of their lives. Not that it would be a bad thing, but it meant letting go of the one thing she’d hugged close to her heart the last four years, the one thing she’d done right even though it came from that huge error in judgment. Oh, again with the irony, Lord. She released a sigh full of enough oxygen to fill a balloon. A hot air balloon. Face it. You’re afraid to tell Josh. Chloe’s been your secret. When you tell Josh, she won’t belong only to you. You’ll have to share her and life as you know it will never be the same again.
Sometimes Winnie wanted to argue with that pesky inner voice. She reasoned it was justification for talking to herself out loud while driving. Surely everyone on the planet talked to themselves at least once every day. Sitting in Ladybug was the only place—other than in her bed late at night or early morning in the shower—where she had any alone time. The concept of privacy had flown out the window once Chloe could walk. Again, not a complaint, Lord.
Five minutes later, she waved aside the scowling valet in the red vest as she headed into the restaurant’s parking lot. Why tip some teenager when she was perfectly capable of parking Ladybug herself? Pulling into a reserved-for-compact-cars-only space, she stepped out and locked her door, then glanced at her top and skirt to assess the wrinkle damage. Not too bad.
Stuffing her keys into the tiny handbag, she walked toward the entrance, concentrating on moving forward without wobbling. As soon as she stepped inside, the maître d’ gave her a nod and snapped his fingers in a haughty, obnoxious way. He nodded his head in her direction and whispered something to a young man standing nearby who turned and smiled. “Miss Doyle? Good evening. Mr. Grant is waiting. I’ll show you to your table.”
Well, okay. Had Mr. Smooth shown them her photo? In that moment, she felt like a movie star. Lifting her chin and squaring her shoulders, Winnie followed the man, employing her best imitation of Grace Kelly and pretending she had even an ounce of Grace’s sophistication. Only it was Josh Grant—not Cary—waiting for her somewhere in this restaurant. For a half-second, she pondered turning around and fleeing back to the comfort and security awaiting her outside. But no, she’d probably just teeter on these ridiculously high shoes and fall flat on her face. Decidedly not a Grace Kelly move.
She swallowed her pride, ignoring the looks from other patrons as she moved through the lovely dining room, following the man and hoping he didn’t expect a tip.
The atmosphere was quiet, hushed almost. She liked that but wasn’t sure how to react. She’d never been anywhere so elegant. With its dim lighting, soft music, fresh flowers and the glow of candles in the middle of each table, this place sure set the mood for romance. Great. She’d chosen a haven for love. Why hadn’t she picked a loud diner with booths, crying babies, banging pans, clanging dishes, silverware and chefs engaged in verbal warfare? Definitely would have been a safer choice.
The look on Josh’s face as he rose to greet her was tentativeness tinged with relief. He looks unbelievable. He wore another power suit, tonight’s version a dark pinstripe with a crisp, white dress shirt and a deep red, patterned silk tie. To be fair, a man in his position would need an impressive wardrobe. When Josh’s sleeve hiked as he raised his hand in greeting, she glimpsed shiny gold cuff links. She suppressed a sigh, remembering how she once told Lexa she considered cuff links a symbol of financial success and total sophistication. She couldn’t explain her fascination with them as they were only worldly representations.
Never in her life would she imagine she’d be on a date—if that’s what this was—with a man who wore cuff links like most men wore a watch. By his raised brow and puzzled expression, he must be curious as to why she was staring at his hand. She forced her gaze upward but that proved every bit as dangerous.
~~**~~
What an elegant, incredible woman. Josh rose to his feet, thanked the man for bringing her to the table and pulled out her chair. When he planted a light kiss on her warm cheek, he loved how she flushed a pretty pink. This woman could hold her own with anyone but still seemed shy and hesitant around him. Why, he couldn’t understand, but he wanted to find out. “Thanks for coming, Winnie. You look beautiful. Green’s a great color on you.”
She shot him an intriguing look. “Thanks. You look patriotic, always a good thing. I’m sorry I’m late, Josh. It was very rude.”
He felt her eyes on him as he took his seat across the table. This is too far away. “It’s not rude unless you were late on purpose.” Catching the look on her face, he narrowed his eyes. “You weren’t, were you?”
She lowered her gaze. “No, not really. No.”
“You’re not afraid of me for some reason, are you?” Back off. Let her explain. He slowly sipped his water, attempting to act nonchalant while his insides churned. He wasn’t used to it, not sure he understood it. Because it’s not as simple as an apology anymore. He’d barely reconnected with her yet felt some kind of pull toward her he couldn’t understand. Physical attraction, yes, but it was so much more. He’d purposely avoided female companionship for a long time, but the woman sitting across the table jumpstarted his heart with the force of a blowtorch.
At least she didn’t make him wait long. “Don’t be silly. I’ve known you long enough to know I don’t need to be afraid of you. That’s not the right word.”
“Pick a more suitable word, then. Lady’s choice.”
Her eyes rose to meet his. Winnie had always been pretty, but she’d blossomed in the last few years. Was I so lost in sin back then I didn’t notice how gorgeous this woman is? In some ways, she was more frank and outspoken now but even that intrigued him. He could get lost in those sparkling blue eyes and that hair—shiny as spun gold—hanging in loose waves to her slender shoulders. Her skin glowed with good health, and her lips tempted him. Josh averted his eyes, his thoughts swimming with a memory he’d pushed to the back of his mind. He’d drown in a heartbeat if he allowed that train of thinking to continue. His mind searched for a lifeline. Rarely was he at such a loss for words.
“Uncertain. Now that’s a word,” Winnie said, her words a welcome interruption. “So, there I was, riding around the block in Ladybug, talking with God. We had quite the conversation, but He let me know it was time to come inside.” The way she scrunched her nose and tilted her head added adorable to her growing list of attributes, not the least of which was humor.
“First of all, why do you call your car Ladybug? Is there such a thing as a yellow ladybug?”
Winnie laughed. Hearty, wonderful. His pulse quickened, and Josh cleared his throat.
“I don’t know, but Ladybug is such a pretty yellow. Like a buttercup.” Her eyes widened, and she had that look—not quite panic but like she’d said or admitted something wrong. Time to put her at ease, if he could.
“So, you were driving around, talking to yourself—and God—and He gave you some kind of sign?” Straightening in his chair, he waited for whatever fascinating thing she’d say next. He loved that she talked to God on a regular basis and her faith wasn’t simply lip service.
“Well, I certainly look at it that way.” Winnie smoothed one hand over the tablecloth. Her fingers were long and slender. She wore no polish, probably because she worked with food all the time. “I pulled up to the stoplight and this blue minivan was in the next lane over. A little boy in the middle seat had his mouth pressed against the window, blowing guppy kisses.”
“Guppy kisses?” You’d think she taught kindergarten.
“Yes, you know the kind.” He watched, spellbound, as she demonstrated. Again, all he could focus on were her incredible lips.
“Gotcha.” He laughed and pretended he understood what she was t
alking about or that he’d be able to get past the lip action. One brow quirked higher. “Guppy kisses aside—although I suppose I’m grateful for them—how long were you driving around, choosing not to come in?”
“You’re the one with the law degree. I’m sure you can figure it out.”
Josh frowned. “Having a law degree has nothing to do with it. This won’t do.” He rose to his feet, catching her look of panic. In an odd way, it pleased him. Even more so when she put her soft hand on his forearm.
“You’re not leaving, are you? I’m sorry.”
“Of course not.” Now she looked positively stricken. “I mean, of course I’m not leaving.” To emphasize his point, he pulled out the chair next to her and sat down. Her frown eased a bit. “Winnie, any woman who tells me guppy lips convinced her to meet me for dinner has my undivided attention. All I meant was, I want to sit closer to you so our conversation isn’t heard by everyone around us.”
Her infectious smile made its reappearance. Much better. “Guppy kisses, to be perfectly clear. But, I get it. You’re afraid they’ll bring the straitjacket for me.”
He laughed with her. “If they do, then they’ll have to bring one for me, too.” The server approached, putting a glass of ice water on the table for Winnie and giving them menus. Taking his menu in hand, Josh returned her smile. Guppy kisses sounded like an intriguing concept. “I hope you’re hungry. I know I certainly am.”
Chapter 12
Winnie fiddled with her cloth napkin, hoping she’d have an appetite. Coming from Josh, the most innocent statement came across as flirtatious or provocative. Out of practice or not, it must be instinctual with the man. That alone should warn her she needed to steer clear. “So, what did you do with yourself all day?” Spreading her napkin over her lap, she wondered if he’d been out and about making apologies all over Greater Houston. Stop it. That’s just mean.