When Love Arrives

by Johnnie Alexander

  And if Amy would face the truth and get the help she needed instead of burdening him with her issues.

  Then he could fully enjoy being with Dani. No worries, no concerns to cloud their time together. For the first time in his life, he would be free to explore a relationship built on mutual respect and trust.

  If everything else in his life wasn’t so wrong.

  Without letting go of her hand, he stood, then drew her to her feet. “Let’s just walk, okay?”

  “Where to?”

  “Wherever our feet take us.”

  Both literally and perhaps metaphorically. Though again he was getting ahead of himself. He couldn’t pull her into his world until it was a tidier place. Only God knew how long that would take.

  Only God knew.

  The thought startled him. This time, for the first time, it wasn’t a meaningless phrase but almost a prayer.

  – 28 –

  The oven buzzer rang, and Dani pulled a container of bubbling macaroni and cheese from the oven. She’d spent another too-short day, this time at the Ohio History Center, engrossed in research. The hours had flown by as she delved into a past of both brutality and courage. Her list of possible photographs was growing, and she also had scribbled the broad outlines of a potential narrative. Tomorrow she’d share her ideas and the research she’d gathered over the past several days with Shelby.

  She scooped mac and cheese to a plate, then settled at the pub table in the front room. From her vantage point, she could see the silver birches through the long row of windows.

  The openness of so many windows had been a little unnerving at first. But she’d already grown accustomed to it. The bungalow AJ had moved into wasn’t too far away, but it was hidden by a stretch of woods. Only at night could she see a few outdoor lights, set high on poles, from the horse farm on the other side of the road.

  The secluded cottage was a restful place, serene and quiet, and its tranquility seeped into her spirit. Of course, anything was an improvement over the pay-by-the-week hovel, but the cottage was more than that. Kindness imbued the place, and perhaps the laughter of lingering memories.

  She took a deep breath before biting into the gooey mac and cheese dish. AJ was lucky to have this place, and she was even luckier he had moved out so she could move in. He didn’t seem to have any ulterior motive either. He just did it.

  Unless Brett had forced him. Maybe Brett was paying the rent.

  But why would he do that? The man was a giant conundrum, and not at all what she expected. He’d surprised her by confiding his concerns about Amy. From the expression on his face, he’d been surprised too.

  After leaving the bakery the other night, they’d walked hand-in-hand around the downtown area. Window-shopping and people-watching. But once they reached his apartment building, he escorted her straight to her car, mumbling something about how it’d been fun and to drive home safely.

  No good-night kiss. Not even a peck on the cheek.

  Not that she’d been expecting either. Except maybe just a little bit.

  A couple of hours later he sent a text.

  Are you at the cottage?

  I am.

  That’s good. Night.

  Night.

  Nothing else.

  Since then, they’d talked several times on the phone, but he hadn’t asked her out for this past weekend. Not that she wanted him to.

  She took another careful bite of the hot mac and cheese, then popped the DVD she’d purchased at the history center into the player. Much better to focus on Ohio’s past than the inner workings of a millionaire jet-setter.

  Though to be fair, he was hardly that. What had he said that night they met? He never flew. Easy enough to figure out why.

  She was about to hit the play button on the remote when her phone rang.

  Brett.

  Her heart fluttered despite her best efforts to remain indifferent.

  “Hey, there,” she said.

  “Hi. Did I catch you at a bad time?” His voice sounded odd, almost distant.

  “Not really. Is everything okay?”

  “Fine. Have you eaten yet?”

  “Just about to. Why?”

  “Don’t sound so suspicious. I was hoping we could go somewhere. Eat together.”

  “Is something wrong?”

  “The truth is,” he said, then sighed heavily, “I left Amy’s place and just started driving. Next thing I know I’m at the Glade County line. And I’m hungry, and I know it’s not polite or following the ‘girl rules’ to call like this, but you’d be doing me a big favor if you said yes.”

  Dani’s head spun with his patter, and she clung to one phrase that stood out. “What are ‘girl rules’?”

  “You know, the guy can’t ask for a date on the same day he calls. That kind of thing.”

  “I guess I missed that subject in school.”

  “Which is what makes you so adorable.”

  And her heart up for grabs for any gorgeous guy who paid her a compliment. “I don’t know, Brett. I just took supper out of the oven, and I’m about to watch this DVD on Ohio history. Research for the project.” Then something else he’d said ricocheted between her temples. “Glade County line? Where are you?”

  “About to pull into your drive.”

  “You’re kidding.” She hurried to the window by the front door as his Lexus stopped outside the closed gate.

  “If you won’t have supper with me, then I’ll have to raid AJ’s refrigerator.”

  “Or you could go back home.”

  A moment’s silence filled the air. When he spoke, his voice was soft. “I’d rather not.”

  “What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing. It’s just . . . nothing.”

  Something else he’d said—he’d been to Amy’s. And they’d probably argued.

  “Do you like mac and cheese? The frozen kind you bake?”

  “I’m not sure I’ve ever had it.”

  Really?

  “I guess there’s a first time for everything. Come on in.”

  As he stepped out of his car to open the gate, she scrambled into the small bathroom, ran a brush through her hair, and gave her teeth a ten-second cleaning. By the time he knocked on the door, she was ready to face him.

  “Hi,” she said, smiling. “What a pleasant surprise.”

  “You don’t really mind, do you?” he said sheepishly. “Honestly, I didn’t realize I was here until I was . . . here.”

  “Is Amy okay?”

  “She’s fine.” The tone of his voice said otherwise. “Stubborn as always.”

  “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Not really.” He flashed a cheerless smile. “Are you sure you don’t want to go into town? There’s a diner that has great burgers. Or we could see a movie. The theater is ancient, and I have no idea what’s playing, but I could find out.” He dug his phone from his pocket.

  “What about watching the documentary?” She pointed toward the TV screen. “We might find info we can include in the museum. Or pick up ideas for our own film.”

  “Work instead of play, huh?”

  “When you enjoy what you’re doing, it’s not really work, is it?”

  “Good point.” He shrugged and pocketed his phone. “The documentary it is.”

  She stepped back so he could enter, and he closed the door. “Can I get you something to drink?” she asked. “There’s not much to choose from. Lemonade. Tea. Coffee.”

  “How about an Arnold Palmer? Half lemonade, half tea.”

  “You’ve got it.”

  He followed her to the kitchen, then leaned against the doorframe as she put ice and the beverages into a tall glass. “So, are you all settled in here?”

  “I’m still pinching myself to be sure I’m not dreaming.”

  “It’s not a dream, Dani.”

  “You sure?”

  “I’m sure.” He shifted and glanced toward the kitchen window. Dani followed his gaze and wished she could
follow his thoughts. Through the paned glass, the hill sloped upward, a copse of hardwood trees visible above the crest. The cottage nestled against the slope, belonging to the landscape as much as the nearby oaks and maples.

  “I used to love coming here when I was a kid,” Brett said. “Gran’s special place out of the city. Away from Sully.”

  “From what you’ve told me, your grandfather was a hard man.”

  “He craved power. And he didn’t care who he hurt to get it.”

  “Do you? Crave power, I mean?”

  “I don’t want to end up like him. But I do want to be successful. To grow my business. Make lots of money.” He reached for the glass she held and tilted it toward her. “What about you? What’s your big dream?”

  Dani paused, holding the lemonade pitcher with the refrigerator door half open. She couldn’t remember the last time—perhaps any time—someone had asked her that question.

  “Must be serious,” Brett said. “You’re lost in another world.”

  She placed the pitcher inside the refrigerator and closed the door. “Just thinking.”

  “I’ll give you $100 for those thoughts.”

  “That’s extravagant.”

  “You’re worth it.”

  “I wouldn’t bet on that.”

  “Let me be the judge.”

  “Let’s sit down first.” She grabbed an extra plate and utensils, then slipped past him in the narrow space between the kitchen wall and counter.

  Once they were settled on the high stools of the pub table, she released a deep breath. “My big dream is to write, maybe even direct, an award-winning script.”

  “A Hollywood movie?”

  “Eventually, yes.”

  “Then shouldn’t you be living in LA? Or at least New York?”

  “That takes”—she paused, stumbling over the word money—“resources. And as I’m sure you’ve noticed, that’s a scarcity for me right now.”

  “Are you talented?”

  She drew back from his bluntness, then plunged her fork into the mac and cheese. “I think so. But you know, it’s not just talent. It’s hard work and discipline. Connections.”

  “So what’s your plan? Have you written a script?”

  “A few.”

  “And . . .”

  “And what?”

  “Can I read them?”

  “I don’t think so.”

  “Why not?”

  “I thought you dabbled in real estate.”

  He stiffened with pretend indignity. “I more than dabble, thank you very much. But just because I’m a brilliant businessman doesn’t mean I’m not interested in creative pursuits. So tell me about them.”

  “You really want to hear?”

  “I do,” he said around a mouthful of mac and cheese.

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath. “A short story I wrote for one of my classes won an award. So then my professor suggested I turn it into a script, and the film department chose it for one of their projects the following semester. It received an honorable mention in a collegiate film festival.”

  “Congratulations.”

  “Thank you.”

  “What’s it about?”

  She searched his eyes for any sign of teasing, but he appeared genuinely interested. “Did you know there were German POW camps in the United States during World War II?”

  “I don’t think so, no. Were there really?”

  “Dozens of them. My script is about a young boy whose father is in Europe fighting in the war. He misses his dad, and he hates the Nazis. On Christmas Eve, he finds an escaped German POW in his barn. He wants to kill him.”

  “Do you have a copy? I want to see it.”

  “Sure, but—”

  “Let’s watch it.”

  “What about the Ohio history DVD?”

  “That’ll keep. Come on. Get your movie.”

  She groaned and laid her head on her arms, then peered up at him. “You can watch it. But if you don’t like it, you’re not allowed to say so.”

  “How about this? If I don’t like it, I’ll say, ‘Wow, Dani. You certainly put a lot of time and effort in this cure for insomnia.”

  She punched his arm.

  “Ouch.” He rubbed the sore spot. “Okay, I won’t say that.”

  “You can say, ‘That was very interesting. Thank you.’ Nothing more.”

  “Got it. ‘That was very interesting. Thank you.’ I think I can remember that.”

  She made a face at him, then headed for the bedroom to retrieve the DVD from the closet.

  When she returned to the long room, Brett was sitting on the couch with a second helping of mac and cheese. “This is good stuff,” he said, waving his fork. “You sure it’s not homemade?”

  “When do you think I had time to make macaroni and cheese from scratch?”

  “I just wouldn’t have guessed it was frozen.”

  “It’s Bob Evans brand. My favorite.”

  “I eat there. Sometimes.”

  “When was the last time?”

  He made a face as if deep in thought. “I . . . couldn’t tell you.”

  “You’re such a snob. You’re even a food snob.”

  “I’ll prove to you I’m not. Have you ever had Boyd’s Bodacious BBQ?”

  “Nooo. Never even heard of it.”

  “Tomorrow night. They have a live band and classic car show on Thursdays.” He raised his fork as she was about to protest. “No excuses. I’ll pick you up around six.”

  “I’m guessing from the name that I don’t need to go shopping for a new dress?” she said coyly.

  “You probably shouldn’t wear anything you’re too fond of. It can get messy.”

  “So you like BBQ?”

  “Surprised?”

  “A little.”

  “You’re the snob, Dani. I’ve told you before. You think it’s me, but it’s really you.”

  “I have to admit you’re not what I expected.”

  “‘Expected’? What does that mean?”

  She focused on the DVD player so he couldn’t see the flush creeping up her cheeks. “Oh, you know. That night at the hospital this handsome guy appears out of nowhere. Driving a Lexus. It sets up certain expectations.”

  “You mean stereotypes.”

  “You didn’t have stereotypes about me?”

  He tilted his head as if appraising her. “Guilty. You’re not what I expected either.”

  Dani gave an inward sigh of relief. Once again she’d almost tripped on her stalking secret. She switched out the DVDs, then flashed a teasing smile at him.

  “That’s because I’m not your type,” she said airily.

  – 29 –

  You’re better than my type.

  As the unexpected words resounded in Brett’s head, an odd warmth curled in his stomach unlike anything he’d ever felt before. Whenever he thought of a future with only one woman, he pictured a tall blonde, gorgeous, sophisticated, poised, and perfect. Yet here was this petite brunette, cute in her own way, who kept turning his picture of the ideal woman upside down and inside out.

  How had she managed, without even trying, to finagle so many dates with him when he wasn’t even dating? Okay, truth be told, he was the one finagling. But she didn’t have to always say yes.

  Some dating sabbatical.

  Never had he spent so much time with a woman when sex wasn’t an integral part of the relationship. But he hadn’t even kissed Dani. Not that he hadn’t been tempted a time or two. Or ten . . .

  He studied her as she pushed a button on the remote and waited for the menu to pop up. Her brown hair was pulled to one side so that the space behind her ear was visible. An overwhelming urge to kiss her there, in the smooth space near her earlobe, came over him. But his desire didn’t stop there. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other, and he admired her slender curves. What would it be like to pull her to him right now? To hold her close while exploring all she had to offer?

  He closed
his eyes, but the vision stayed with him. Somehow he needed to control his lust, but he’d spent too many years giving it free rein. No woman he pursued ever refused him. In fact, most, like Tracie, had made the first move. All he did was wait. It was part of The Game.

  But he’d be waiting a long time if he expected a first move from Dani. She seemed oblivious to even his most practiced “looks.” Probably why he found her so appealing. Something different and new intrigued him. That’s all it was.

  “Guess I was right.”

  Dani’s voice brought him from his reverie, and he had to think back to what she’d said. I’m not your type. Did she expect him to deny it?

  “But you’re not my type either,” she said.

  Her cheeks flushed slightly, and her voice held a bit of bravado. Good for her. Inwardly he smiled. She could be so easy to tease.

  “You have a type?”

  “Maybe not a type.” Looking thoughtful, she settled in the chair next to the couch.

  “If not a type, then what?” He casually propped his feet on the trunk. “Oh, I know. You’re dreaming of Prince Charming. Just waiting for him to ride in on his white horse and sweep you off your feet.”

  “Nothing like that.” She gestured toward the TV. “I thought you wanted to watch my film.”

  “First things first. You’ve cut me to the quick, you know. Stabbed me in the heart even,” he teased. “I’m not your type, but who is? I hope not AJ, because he’s taken.”

  “Of course not AJ.”

  “Who then?”

  “No one in particular. I just want a guy who’s . . .”

  “Handsome?”

  “Looks don’t matter.”

  “Women say that, but it’s never true.”

  “Okay, they matter a little.”

  “A lot.”

  “Unlike you, I’m not that shallow.”

  “You think I’m shallow?”

  “Aren’t you?”

  He held her gaze, wanting the banter to continue, wanting to confess the truth.

  “Your silence is your answer,” she said triumphantly.

  “I guess it is.” He reached for the remote and, shifting slightly in his seat, pushed the play button. “Movie time.”

  As the film started, he surreptitiously glanced at Dani. When she turned to him, the pleading expression in her dark eyes tugged at his heart.