Missed Connections: Stepping Out

by Marie Harte

  “O-kay.” Gwen eased her pained fingers from Lisa’s. She explained exactly what Conlan had told her. “So you see, Conlan planned on telling you, but then you had that stay at the hospital. He was scared of upsetting you and hurting the baby.”

  Lisa seemed to listen, because her frown faded. “No one believes that I can know my own mind.” She snorted. “But I don’t know if I can blame them. I don’t know what I want.”

  She paused, then stared at Gwen with a gaze eerily similar to Conlan’s. Her eyes were so dark brown, so rich, but so sad.

  “Aaron really said he doesn’t want the baby? That he can’t imagine not being with other women?”

  “I think so.”

  “That he loves me?”

  “He also said he’s a sex addict, and women can’t help being attracted to him. That cheating is not his fault.” Finally, a small fire in Lisa’s eyes.

  Lisa scowled. “He tried that on me, but I wasn’t buying it. He’s too lazy to be addicted to anything but staring at himself in the mirror.”

  And this is the guy you want to marry? Gwen kept silent, listening. If she’d learned anything from her experiences, it was that sometimes you just needed to shut up and be there, a silent sounding board. Mia had been that, and she’d helped more than Gwen could say.

  “I’m sorry.” Lisa wiped her eyes. “You’re probably wondering what the hell you’re doing here. We’ve never even met before, and I’m burdening you with my life story.”

  “No. Talk to me. It’ll help. What do you want? Not what your family or your friends want. What do you want?”

  Lisa was quiet for a moment. “I want what my parents had before Mom died. I want what a few of my friends have. Love to last. I don’t want a man to be with me for my baby, but because he loves me. And I need him to be faithful.” She blew her nose. “I tried to overlook Aaron’s flaws. He loves me, I know he does. But he’s…he’s selfish. Not intentionally cruel, but mean all the same. It’s all about him and what he wants.”

  “You can’t turn off love.” Gwen sighed. “When Perry ditched me for my friend, I was hurt. I’d loved him. He used me and lied to me, but I couldn’t stop caring. And I kind of hated myself for that.”

  Lisa nodded.

  “I mean, I’m a strong woman. I’m smart, independent. Like you. So why hadn’t I seen what he’d been doing sooner? Why couldn’t I just hate him and move on?”

  Lisa brushed her cheeks. “Exactly. I do my dad’s books. I’m a CPA with stock in our family stores. I’m smart.”

  “Pretty.”

  Lisa smiled. “Pregnant too.”

  “There is that.”

  Lisa laughed. “I should just kick him out and be done with him. But something holds me back. My friends don’t understand it. I don’t understand it.”

  “You need time. All this just happened. The question you need to ask yourself is what you want for you and your baby. Do you want a selfish person in your lives? A man who will teach his son or daughter that dishonesty is something to aspire to? I don’t know Aaron. But I know he tried messing with my cousin at a party with you right there. That’s not cool, Lisa.

  “You have to make up your own mind about him. Just make sure you can live with what you decide. Screw everyone else. Be strong for you. Because don’t you deserve what your parents had?”

  “I do.” Lisa shuddered on another sob. “I really do.”

  Gwen circled the table and hugged Lisa when she broke down. After some time, she sat back in her chair while Lisa calmed.

  “Please do me a favor and forget all this. I can’t believe I cried all over my brother’s brand-new girlfriend’s shoulder.”

  Gwen fidgeted. “Well, I don’t know that Conlan and I are that tight.”

  “Oh?” Lisa raised a brow.

  “Your brother and I met over less than pleasant circumstances. We’re both writers, we’ve both dealt with cheating exes, and we both give relationship advice.”

  “Sounds to me like you’re made for each other.”

  Gwen forced a laugh, ignoring the longing she had no business feeling. “Yeah, well, we’ve known each other a grand total of seven days.” Yet she felt like she’d known him for much longer.

  “That’s all? Hmm.”

  “What?”

  Lisa smiled. “Conlan talked to me about you, and he doesn’t usually share about his personal life until he’s well into something serious. Now maybe it was to take my mind off Aaron or to show me how much of an ass my ex-fiancé is. Either way, you’re different.”

  “I don’t know…”

  “You gave me some sound advice. Let me give you some too. My parents fell in love at first sight. My cousin did too. My friend Sara met her husband, hated him, and met him again years later. They’ve been together for fifteen years. Love happens when it happens. Now I’m not saying you and Conlan are soul mates after a week of knowing each other, but to deny the possibility because it’s too soon is wrong.

  “You got over a man who broke your heart. Trust me, I’m taking note. If you can do it, then so can I. And my God, so can Conlan. That man moped like crazy when Ally screwed him over. Frankly, I was glad. I didn’t like her. But he thought she was terrific. Until the end, then he couldn’t stand her. He wasn’t like me or you.”

  “I’m just glad I’m over Perry.” For the first time, Gwen truly believed she was. She didn’t want to cry or scream at the thought of Perry Warrington. She didn’t wish him well, by any means, but she no longer wanted him to be run over by a large bus.

  “I don’t know if you and Conlan will still be together past the weekend, but I like you, Gwen. I’d like to consider you a friend.”

  “I’d like that too.” She glanced at Lisa’s belly. “Do you know the sex yet?”

  “No. I wanted to be surprised. But I can tell you if it’s a boy, he sure as hell won’t be named Aaron.”

  “Good call.”

  They laughed.

  “Now, since you seem to be feeling better, how about giving me some tips about your brother? He’s a little arrogant. Totally handsome and smart, but that ego. Could be taken down a peg.”

  “I know, right?” Lisa huffed. “Do you know, he’s got this weird phobia about spiders. And once, a few years ago, he nearly fought this guy who took his advice the wrong way and lost his girlfriend. Oh my God. The trouble that boy got into…”

  Gwen sat back and listened. And laughed. And fell a little harder for Conlan Dawson, despite herself.

  Chapter Seven

  Conlan had a serious case of aggravation going on when he rang Gwen’s doorbell Friday night. His sister had read him the riot act for talking to Aaron, involving himself in her life when he had no business doing so. Then she burst into tears, sang Gwen’s praises as if the woman should be canonized for sainthood, then told him if he let her go, he was as big a fool as Lisa had been about Aaron.

  He didn’t comment further on her intentions with her ex. Conlan had learned his lesson. That Lisa was still talking to him gave him hope she’d quickly forgive him. Lisa in a mad bothered the hell out of him, because she looked at him with those wounded puppy eyes and made him feel like a first-class heel.

  He still pondered the fact that she and Gwen had had a serious sit-down. Gwen, she’d said, was over her ex. Time to pounce and keep her before some other man saw how pretty, smart, and compassionate she was.

  He had his doubts on compassionate, but gorgeous and intelligent, hell, yeah.

  Gwen answered her door in jeans and a Ducks sweatshirt. Obviously dressed for the occasion. He’d worn a Beavers sweatshirt and jeans, with a button-down underneath.

  Spotting his collar outside his sweatshirt, she smirked. “Oh look, our rival football team. Only losers wear orange, Mr. Dawson.”

  God, that snark made him so hard. “Well, Chatty Cathy, only leprechauns wear green. And you don’t look all that Irish to me.”

  She swallowed. “Talked to Lisa, huh?”

  “Yeah. Thanks for outing
me.” He turned on his heel and booked back to the car, wanting to see if she fell for his outraged act.

  She must have, because she slammed the door and hurried after him, apologizing. “I’m so sorry. She caught me off guard. She tracked me down. I was at the station doing that news bit.”

  “I heard it went well,” he grudgingly admitted and held the door for her. Actually, he’d heard that some smokin’ hot local advice columnist was going to be the next Ann Landers, hopefully with a pinup calendar.

  She scrambled inside, still talking. He bit back a smile and sat next to her, just listening.

  “She told me you’d talked. I had no idea she meant you’d told her about Aaron and Mia and that post. I thought you’d told her about your meeting with him. And well, it all came out. But she’s so sweet. She wants to dump him, she just needs time, and for people to stop pressuring her.” She smacked him in the leg. “Show a little faith. She’ll do what she has to for herself and the baby. Where’s your compassion?”

  “Why are you hitting me?” He blinked. “Or is this you being angry and then using me for sex? Like I did in the kitchen?” He put his arms behind his head. “I’m all yours. I swear.”

  “Shut up.” She poked him in the belly and tried to hide her laughter.

  “Ha. I see that smile.”

  “You’re such a goof. No way you sold half a million copies of some literary crap.”

  He smirked at her, pleased she’d looked him up. “Yeah? Well, no way someone who dresses like a half-drunk freshman tailgater has a blog so big she makes a lucrative living off it and has the local news station wanting to give her her own talk show.”

  She opened her mouth and closed it.

  “Oh yeah. You have screen presence. Wait until they see us together. I mean, I’m totally handsome, especially on camera. Have you seen my cover photo?”

  She crossed her eyes at him, and he chuckled. “We’re going to make magic on TV. Same as on our new column.” He handed her the day’s paper. “Did you read my advice today?”

  “No. I meant to, but I was so busy with work I forgot.” She scanned it and went pale.

  He started the car. “Read it out loud.”

  “Okay.” She took a deep breath and let it out slowly, then read, “Dear Con. I have a problem. I met this mouthy chick who really turns me on. Our sexual chemistry is off the charts, and she’s everything I’d look for in a woman. Even her attitude gets me hot. But we just met. How soon is too soon to tell her how I feel? I don’t want to freak her out or anything. Or am I mistaking our new relationship and the excitement that comes with that for love? But, dude, she has a tramp stamp. I’m really gone for her. Signed, Hot for Stamp.”

  She paused.

  He grinned. “Thought that was me talking about you, didn’t you?”

  “I did not.”

  Her quick reply told him the exact opposite. “Yeah, it was all me and you. Except for the tramp stamp. I didn’t miss that, did I?”

  A glance showed she blushed.

  “No. I’ve always wanted to get a tattoo but could never settle on anything I’d have forever.”

  He nodded. “Commitment issues. I get it.”

  “No, dumbass. You don’t.”

  Her annoyance had its familiar effect—he was hard and aching. Always aroused by her scent, her nearness. He’d never in his thirty-one years felt this for anyone. Then to hear what she’d said to Lisa, how loving and sympathetic she’d been to a total stranger…

  He’d thought he was above the cliché of falling in love at first sight. But this true picture of Gwen, not the haughty woman trying to pick up Aaron, but the genuine woman afraid of getting hurt, so giving she tried to help others through life… That was the woman he wanted to spend the rest of his life with. He just had to show her he was in it for the long haul.

  “I’ve got nothing but time,” he murmured.

  “What?”

  “Again, commitment issues.”

  “No. I’m over Perry.” She sounded proud yet surprised to hear herself say it. “I’m ready for a relationship—with the right man. That’s the key.”

  “No need to beg, Gwen. I’m right here.” He chuckled at the finger she shot him. “Why don’t you read my advice to Mr. Hot for Stamp.”

  Frowning at him, she muttered an okay and read.

  “Out loud.”

  She grunted at him. If she’d been wearing her glasses, he would have pulled the car over and made love to her on the spot. Instead, she read while he pulled into the diner’s parking lot.

  “Dear Hot for Stamp, It’s hard to quantify feelings with time. Love can’t be measured. You either feel it or you don’t. True, endorphins rush with sex, potentially confusing desire for affection. New intimacy and new experiences are exciting. You haven’t yet hit that period in your relationship where you leave the door to the bathroom open. Where you see her morning face, or she sees the real state of your house when you’re done being on your best behavior.

  “But outside bed, how do you feel? Does just the sight of her make your heart race? Do you like watching her do the simplest tasks? Does the sound of her voice feel like home?” Gwen paused.

  He parked the car and looked at her. Her blue eyes seemed impossibly big. He saw hope, vulnerability, caution. Then a shutter came over them, and she glanced back down at the paper.

  “Finish,” he said softly and put his arm over the back of her seat, resting his hand on her shoulder.

  She gave a small jump but continued to read. “Love has nothing but time. There’s no rush to announce you want to father her children. If you love her, the rest will come. Enjoy your date nights. Let her win at bowling if it’ll get you some quality sack time later.” Gwen frowned at him. “Nice, Conlan.”

  “Keep going. You’re almost done.”

  “Whatever you do, don’t let fear rule your decisions. Enjoy what you have while you have it. Don’t take her for granted, and compliment her on how sexy she looks in her rose-print dress when you get the chance. (Okay, that was to my friend, but still. Compliments given with a pure heart mean more than gifts ever can.)

  “So if you fall in love in an hour, a day, or ten years, revel in the feeling. But whatever you do, don’t get matching tattoos or her name inked on your body. That’s the sure kiss of death to any relationship. Signed, Con.” Gwen sat there, not looking at him.

  “It’s good, right?”

  She turned to watch him with a hunted expression that gratified. The woman might not want to admit it, but she was taking him very seriously.

  “Not bad. I agree a hundred percent on the name tattoo. Nine out of ten times, it fails.”

  “I know.”

  “And the rest. Well, it was beautiful.” She cleared her throat and put the paper down. “For a guy, it was downright amazing.”

  “Excuse me, but I have a lot of insight I’m willing to share. With my lesser companion from the Bend Voice, that is,” he added in a snooty tone.

  She snorted and sounded relieved. “Typical. I was wondering when your arrogance would return.”

  “Yeah, well. I’m back, baby. Now let’s go wish Trent congratulations for not going belly-up in the food biz.”

  “A miracle in itself.”

  They walked in together to a crowded place, filled with many of their friends. Conlan was surprised to see so many people both he and Gwen knew.

  “How is it we never met before?” he asked an hour later.

  She shrugged. “Odd. I know almost everyone here.”

  “Me too.”

  “I guess I don’t get out as much as you.”

  “Please. I’m a hermit when I’m on deadline.” He saw her answering grin. “You get me, don’t you, Gwen Wilcox?”

  “I think I do, Conlan Dawson.” She put her arm through the crook in his elbow, just as her cousin joined them with Trent following.

  “Hey, you two.” Mia beamed. “Isn’t this great? Trent’s doing so well. I’m proud of you, babe,” she said a
nd kissed him on the cheek.

  Trent smiled. “Thanks. And thank you, guys, for coming.” He gave Gwen a pretend leer and a wolf whistle. “Gwen, you rocked it last night on the news. I mean, awesome presentation. That dress looks worlds better on you than it ever did on Mia.”

  “Hey.” Mia glared at him. “True, but you’re not supposed to admit it.”

  Being near so many happy couples and for once not feeling out of place, Conlan hugged Gwen to him and continued the conversation, a part of a bigger whole. A community of friends and family—he noted Lisa and a few of her friends in the corner table. Of Aaron, he saw no sign.

  “I can’t believe we’re still here.” Trent grinned. “Knock on wood, we’re showing no signs of getting less busy. I was just talking to Mia about opening up a sister shop on the east side.”

  “Just don’t close this one down.” Gwen cuddled with Conlan, a perfect fit in his arms. “I live for your clam chowder.”

  Conlan cleared his throat. “You know, Gwen, you should start inviting me over for dinner. I need to eat too.”

  “Yeah, you’re just wasting away,” Mia teased. She gave him and Gwen a speculative look. “So you two. Are you officially dating now or what?”

  He pulled away to see Gwen’s expression. He couldn’t read her, but apparently Mia could, because the woman wore a wide grin.

  A good sign. “Well, Mia,” he answered. “I don’t know if you could call us a couple. Gwen’s pretty much just using me for my body and my connections at the paper.”

  She turned on him so fast he was surprised she didn’t give herself whiplash. “What did you say?”

  “Oh boy. Now you’re in for it,” Trent murmured. “Mia, time to mingle again.”

  They drifted away, and Gwen poked him in the chest. “I cannot believe you said that.”

  “What? I was trying to save you some embarrassment.”

  “In what universe?”

  His patronizing smile set her blue eyes blazing. “Gwen, honey, we both know how you feel about me.”

  “Exactly how do I feel?”

  He leaned closer to whisper, “Like heaven in my arms. I want you so much right now, I can barely breathe.”