Now and Forever 5, Love's Journey

by Joachim, Jean C.

  NOW AND FOREVER, 3

  BLIND LOVE

  Jean C. Joachim

  Romantic Suspense

  Moonlight Books

  ABOUT THE E-BOOK YOU HAVE PURCHASED: Your non-refundable purchase of this e-book allows you to only ONE LEGAL copy for your own personal reading on your own personal computer or device. You do not have resell or distribution rights without the prior written permission of both the publisher and the copyright owner of this book. This book cannot be copied in any format, sold, or otherwise transferred from your computer to another through upload to a file sharing peer to peer program, for free or for a fee, or as a prize in any contest. Such action is illegal and in violation of the U.S. Copyright Law. Distribution of this e-book, in whole or in part, online, offline, in print or in any way or any other method currently known or yet to be invented, is forbidden. If you do not want this book anymore, you must delete it from your computer.

  WARNING: The unauthorized reproduction or distribution of this copyrighted work is illegal. Criminal copyright infringement, including infringement without monetary gain, is investigated by the FBI and is punishable by up to 5 years in federal prison and a fine of $250,000."

  A Moonlight Books Novel

  Romantic Suspense

  NOW AND FOREVER 3: BLIND LOVE

  Copyright © 2012 Jean C. Joachim

  Print book ISBN: 978-1-517

  First E-book Publication: April 2012

  Cover design by Beth Walker

  ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

  All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental.

  Publisher

  Moonlight Books

  Dedication

  In memory of Keith.

  Acknowledgment

  With many thanks for your love and support: Larry Joachim, Diana Finegold, Sally Gallagher, Kathleen Tighe Ball, Marilyn Lee, Elizabeth Smythe, the Tuesday Tales group, It's Raining Men group, and my amazing editor, Ariana Gaynor.

  NOW AND FOREVER 3: BLIND LOVE

  Copyright © 2012

  Jean C. Joachim

  Chapter One

  When half a dozen people get off the train from New York City in tiny Willow Falls, New York on a Wednesday afternoon, it’s a big crowd. The group arriving this day was an unusual collection of men and women.

  Callie Caldwell, a beautiful woman with chestnut hair and big blue eyes, paced on the train platform. By her side was Jason, her energetic seven-year-old, jumping and skipping, unable to contain his excitement at meeting his only grandfather and uncle for the first time. Kitty, Jason’s younger sister, a pretty child with her father’s black hair and her mother’s soulful blue eyes, followed her big brother, imitating his every move. The train wheezed then crawled into the station.

  Waiting impatiently for the father-in-law and brother-in-law she’d never met to step off the train kept Callie in motion. With no family of her own, she hoped they’d accept her and maybe even love her.

  “Do you think Peter will like teaching here?” she asked her husband.

  “Like it or not, he’s here for a year. Signed a contract.”

  “What about your dad?” Callie straightened the bow in Kitty’s hair.

  “He might miss teaching but he’ll love the kids.”

  “We’ll keep him busy.” Callie’s gaze searched the passengers as they stepped off the train. “Do you see them yet?”

  “Relax, they’ll love you,” Mac whispered, bending his six foot two inch frame down to her five foot three.

  She smiled at him and gripped the hands of her two children tighter. Her husband leaned over and brushed her lips with his. Then Callie spied two men separating themselves from the crowd. Mac waved then joined them. The man with stone-gray hair was tall and handsome. A drop-dead gorgeous, much younger man stood by his side.

  When they turned to face Callie, she noticed they all had the same intense blue eyes. After an eight-year separation due to teaching jobs in different parts of the world, the men were not embarrassed to hug each other. When they approached, excitement propelled Jason into his grandfather’s arms.

  “Grandpa, Grandpa!”

  “You must be Jason,” the older man said, laughing and hugging his grandson while trying to keep his balance. Peter came over and extended his hand to Jason, who ignored it and threw his arms around him.

  “Uncle Peter!”

  Peter, blond like his late mother, laughed, his devastatingly handsome face breaking into a charming grin. The three men, all well over six feet, looked like human trees clustered around the small children and Mac’s short wife.

  “You must be Callie,” Sam said, giving her a big hug, “I’m so happy to finally meet you.”

  “Sam,” she muttered, closing her eyes briefly while accepting his embrace. She liked him right away. Kitty, shy like her mom, hid behind Callie’s skirt, peeking out at the men.

  “And you, young lady, must be Kitty,” Sam said. He crouched down to be eye-level with the pretty child.

  She nodded, her face serious. Sam put out his big hand, but Kitty shrank back. Callie picked up the little girl and inched closer to Sam. When she got close enough, Kitty moved from the safety of her mother’s arms and gave Sam a quick peck on the cheek. He laughed with delight as the child hid her smiling face in Callie’s shoulder.

  Peter came over, introduced himself and gave Callie a kiss on the cheek. He ran his eyes up and down her lovely face and curvy body. He raised his eyebrows and turned to Mac with a slight nod.

  “How did you ever get such a beautiful woman to marry you?”

  “Beats me. I ask myself every day,” Mac said, making Callie blush. He put his arm around her shoulders, picked up a big suitcase and headed toward the car.

  On the drive to Peter and Sam’s rented house, Jason and Kitty could hardly sit still. Excitement bubbled up inside Callie too as the car whisked past familiar sights and she opened a place in her heart for her new family members.

  Mac pulled into the driveway of the small three bedroom house he’d rented for Sam and Peter. The wood-frame building was on quiet James Street, an avenue filled with neat row houses, close together on small, well-tended properties.

  The modest house was painted a warm, medium blue with white shutters and trim. Flowering shrubs softened the angles of the front windows. The lawn was tiny but perfectly mowed and the brick path was symmetrical. Flower boxes graced the upstairs windows and hedges lined the small driveway to the right.

  Now on leave from Vaal University in South Africa, Peter was in Willow Falls to teach the Survey of Western Art course Marcia Wilton had taught before going on a year’s sabbatical.

  Sam had retired from teaching at Vaal. He’d come to meet Mac’s new family. Callie hoped he’d stay in Willow Falls and live nearby. Since losing her parents at sixteen, Callie had attempted to build a happy family. She hoped Sam and Peter would be new additions.

  While the men carted luggage into the house, Callie took a long look at Peter. He was even more breathtakingly handsome than Mac. Peter’s nose was perfect, his naturally blond hair was straight, thick and slightly long, his lips had the right shape and fullness. She smiled. Kissable but masculine. Just like Mac. His shoulders were broad, his arms muscular and his hands square with long, slender fingers. Callie preferred Mac but she was surprised by Peter’s looks. He’s thirty-four years old and never married? Surely it must be his choice.

  When they walked into the house, Peter went straight to th
e piano in the living room.

  “A Woodruff upright! Thanks, Mac.”

  “It wasn’t easy to find a house with a piano. We expect music in this place.”

  Peter sat right down at the piano situated against the wall by the window and did a few arpeggios to see if the old instrument was still in tune.

  “How is it?” Sam asked him.

  “It’ll do just fine,” Peter said.

  Jason and Kitty entered the room when they heard the music. Peter began singing. Jason ran to the piano and slid onto the bench next to Peter and clapped along. Kitty, hesitated at the door, looking for her mother. Callie nodded to the shy child and the little girl slowly wandered closer to the music, stopping half-hidden behind a potted plant to listen to the song. Callie wandered in with Mac, who put his arm around her shoulders. She slipped her arm around his waist as he bent down and kissed her when no one was looking.

  “I could sit here and play all day, but we better get unpacked.”

  Peter got up with Jason to move the suitcases into the bedrooms, then they returned to open boxes stacked in the living room. Shy four-year-old Kitty stuck close to her mother, but she was caught flirting with Peter once or twice, which made everyone smile.

  “Cradle robber!” Mac laughed at his brother.

  “Now the mother…” Peter said, raising his eyebrows and looking at Callie.

  Mac stopped, brows knitted, a frown on his face as he shot Peter a hostile look.

  “Don’t go there. My wife is off-limits.”

  “Possessive aren’t you?”

  “And jealous too, and I like him that way,” Callie said, giving Mac a kiss.

  “Dad and I are going to take the kids for ice cream. Do you want to come, Callie?” Mac asked, shepherding Kitty and Jason toward the door.

  “I’ll stay here and help Peter get set up,” she said, opening a box.

  * * * *

  Mac walked around to the driver’s side of the car and patted his pockets, no keys. He remembered last seeing them on the front hall table. He tip-toed quietly into the foyer so Callie wouldn’t know he’d forgotten them. He stopped when he heard the soft purr of Peter’s voice. Mac inched his way to the arch leading to the living room and peered into the room, moving back to remain unseen.

  “You’ve been married awhile, Callie. Isn’t it time you took a lover?” Peter asked, sidling up to her.

  Mac held his breath but couldn’t stop watching.

  “Oh, but I have a lover, Peter,” she said, holding his gaze.

  Mac froze. His stomach knotted.

  “You do?” The surprise caused his voice to rise an octave.

  “He absolutely sizzles.” Beads of sweat formed on Mac’s forehead.

  “Does Mac know?” Peter raised his eyebrows.

  “I don’t think so.” She turned away from Peter and Mac could no longer see her face.

  “I don’t suppose you’d tell me who it is,” he asked, leaning toward her.

  Callie whirled around to face him, a broad grin on her face.

  “It’s Mac. He’s hot, Peter. So hot…I couldn’t possibly, wouldn’t ever need anyone else. Your brother is an absolute pistol in the bedroom.”

  Mac’s cheeks puffed up. He quietly emitted a silent sigh of relief and smiled.

  Peter laughed loudly.

  “You passed the Peter Caldwell Loyalty Test with flying colors.” Peter walked over to an open box needing unpacking.

  “You know what I could use?” Callie put her hand on his arm.

  “What?” He reached into a box then stopped.

  “A brother. I don’t have one of those,” she said, blinking back tears.

  Peter hugged her.

  “You’ve got one now,” he whispered.

  Mac slipped out the front door and returned to the car to find Jason and Kitty pelting Sam with questions.

  “Grandpa, do you eat hot dogs in South Africa?” Jason asked him.

  “Grampa, do you eat…ice cream?” Kitty asked, imitating her brother.

  “Grandpa, do they have lakes in South Africa?”

  “Grampa, look, I have a boo boo,” Kitty said, sticking her hand out.

  Sam was laughing as the children fought for his attention.

  “Okay, enough,” Mac said, “Five minutes of quiet time.”

  The children quieted down and sat back. Sam shot his son a look of admiration.

  “They listen…impressive.”

  “I’m as surprised as you.”

  Mac put the car in gear and backed out of the driveway.

  * * * *

  Rex Vesson, a burly man in a sleeveless T-shirt that showed off his muscles and tight jeans carried his small suitcase the four blocks from the train station to a small, neat house with a well-kept yard. He was sweating from walking in the warm May sun when he finally reached his cousin Alan’s small house. He took a deep breath of the fresh country air and let it out. Relief washed over him to be out of New York City and safe in Willow Falls.

  Alan answered Rex’s knock with a cool glass of iced tea.

  “Hey, Alan. Long time, no see.”

  “Come on in. You only have one suitcase?” Alan stepped aside.

  “I…uh…left too quickly to pack much. Spur of the moment, you know? Besides, clothes and crap I can buy here, right?” He entered the house.

  “Don’t lie, Rex. You’re running away.” Alan closed the door behind Rex.

  “What?”

  “Come on. I don’t give a damn, but at least be honest about it.” Alan shrugged.

  “There were reasons why I left when I did.” Rex licked his dry lips and stared at Alan’s iced tea.

  “I’ll bet. Whose wife were you screwing?”

  Rex laughed.

  “Nothing like that. I’ve got a new business.”

  “Lucrative?” Alan raised his eyebrows.

  “I do all right. I worked in security at The Hideaway. It’s a nightclub in Harlem. Pretty exclusive.”

  “Exclusive and they employed you?” Alan sat on the sofa and crossed his legs.

  “Very funny. Yeah, they employed me.”

  “You were a bouncer?”

  “Yeah, so?” Rex sank into a comfortable chair.

  “Doesn’t pay much, does it?”

  “It does when you watch famous people coming in there with women who aren’t their wives. It pays even more when it’s famous guys, ball players, politicians, coming in with other guys.” Rex smirked.

  “Isn’t the club public?”

  “Not every room. Even the so-called public rooms, you need pull to get in.”

  “So you’re a blackmailer too?” Alan sipped his iced tea.

  “Hey, Alan, I’m thirsty. Got any more iced tea?” Rex asked.

  “Sure, sure. A long thirsty train ride, one step ahead of a lot of important, pissed off people. I guess you did need to get out of town.”

  “It pays good, though.”

  “I’ll bet it does.” Alan returned from the kitchen with a tall glass of iced tea and handed it to Rex. Rex took a big gulp before continuing.

  “Meaning I can pay you rent, Alan.”

  “How long do you plan to stay?” Alan settled into a comfortable chair and sipped his tea.

  “It depends on how good business goes here. This is a pretty small town. Can’t be too much going on here, if you know what I mean.”

  “You might be wrong. For a blackmailer there are secrets everywhere.”

  “True. This might work. Its never-ending money no matter where you live,” Rex said and laughed.

  “Don’t get any ideas about blackmailing me, okay?” Alan said, nervously.

  “You doing something I should know about?” Rex asked, his interest piqued.

  “I lead a quiet, academic life.” Alan shook his head.

  Rex looked at Alan’s face with new interest. Alan was definitely hiding something.

  “Where’s Beth?” Rex asked, his eyes searching the room.

  “She too
k off with a grad student about three years ago.”

  “Too bad. Or are you a busy bachelor?”

  “I don’t date much. Not many women here I’d be interested in.”

  “Where does a bachelor go here to get some action?” Rex asked.

  “The local strip club, The Wet Tee Shirt might be a place to start.”

  “Ever been there?”

  “A couple of times.” Alan coughed.

  “Can you get laid there? Chicks got good bodies there?”

  “They’re okay.”

  “Only okay? What…you into guys now?” Rex asked, raising his eyebrows.

  * * * *

  “No, no, after a while, they all look the same.” Alan crossed his legs.

  Alan did fine getting laid. Pressuring failing female students to sleep with him for a good grade worked. Maybe he was into a type of blackmail. He provided a service for payment. Tit for tat, he laughed to himself. He was a merchant of grades, with no income tax to pay on his gross receipts.

  “Hey, Alan, they are all the same. Topless joint might be a good place for me to work.”

  “It’s the closest thing we have to a nightclub here.”

  “Come on. Let’s eat, on me. Maybe afterward, we can swing by this joint and check out the babes,” Rex said, clapping him on the back.

  “Sure, Rex.” Alan looked at Rex’s pumped up body and a wave of envy swept over him, the first time he ever felt jealousy instead of pity toward his cousin.

  Rex had been a scrawny, awkward kid, not good in school and couldn’t fight, which got him beat up regularly after school. His father took off when his mother gave birth to him, leaving his two older sisters holding him responsible for their father’s departure and hating him for it. His mother was too tired to have much time or affection left for him.