Unexpectedly Yours: A Forever Love Story (InterMix)

by Jeannie Moon

  Josh advanced on him, and yelled so loudly all the secretaries came running. “I can and I will. You’re a poor excuse for a human and I am done here.”

  “Joshua, I won’t let you do this.”

  Walking away, Josh snarled. “Try and stop me.”

  Once he was back in his own office, Josh tried Caroline’s cell and swore when it went right to her voice mail. “Shit,” he muttered. “Shit.”

  He hit the screen again and called Jason. “I have to get to the Vineyard, like now,” he said as soon as his brother picked up.

  “Josh, whoa, what happened?”

  “Dad happened. He knows the president of the firm where Caroline landed her new job. He trashed her reputation. Her offer is going to be rescinded.”

  “Oh, shit.”

  “I can’t reach her. I fucking hate that son of a bitch.”

  “Join the club.”

  “How fast can we leave?”

  “Our flight’s at two; it’s eleven now. I’ll try to change it, but I don’t know if we’ll have any luck. Once they have the flight plan filed...”

  “I have to get to her, Jay.” He paced around his office, looking out his window at the street below. He considered driving and taking the ferry, but the plane would be quicker. Maybe he’d charter his own fucking plane.

  “Calm down. I’ll call Meg and see if I can find something out.”

  “Okay. Call me back.”

  He ended the call and tried to get into Caroline’s head. He’d urged her to take chances, to go big, to not settle, and look what happened. Would she retreat to her safe zone? Would that include him?

  He never should have said anything to his father about the advice he’d gotten on the site assessment. It just gave him a reason to look for the person responsible and it led him right to Caroline. It was Josh’s fault she’d landed in Will Campbell’s crosshairs, and now he couldn’t protect her from the fallout.

  “Josh?” Clara was in the doorway. She folded her hands, like she was ready to pray, and Josh thought it wouldn’t be a bad idea. “Are you all right?” she asked.

  “No. No, I’m not.”

  ***

  Caroline was sitting on a chaise staring out over Vineyard Sound. She’d just been fired, and she’d never even worked a day at the firm. She stared at her cell phone and replayed the short phone call in her head. The head of HR for GRM said she was very sorry, but information had come to them after the offer was made that rendered her unsuitable for the position.

  What the hell?

  Caroline was numb. None of it made sense. She’d met with everyone right up to the president of the company. She’d had a roundtable with the engineers who would be working in her department and they gave her glowing reviews. This wasn’t supposed to happen. Who the hell had their offer rescinded?

  Meg walked out onto the stone patio and drew a deep breath. She sipped her coffee and looked over to where Molly was playing on the swing set they’d had put in.

  “I just love mornings here. Even when it’s a little chilly.”

  “It’s beautiful.” Caroline’s voice cracked and she took a breath to pull herself together. Shit.

  Meg turned. “Carly? What’s wrong?”

  “My job offer has been withdrawn. Apparently I’m not suitable for the position.”

  “I don’t understand. They loved you. What happened?”

  “Not sure. I’m going to call Colleen and see what she’s heard, if anything. Apparently there was new information and they decided based on that.”

  “But you don’t know what the information is?”

  “Nope. No clue. I have no idea what or who wrecked my reputation.”

  “Could it be Mark?” Meg sat on the edge of the chaise and patted Caroline’s knee.

  “I guess it could be, but that would be easy to find out, and considering the trouble we could cause for him I don’t know if he’d take the chance.”

  Caroline’s phone rang and she saw it was her friend from GRM. “Hey, Colleen.”

  “Hey! I just heard they withdrew your offer. That sucks.”

  “Do you know why it happened?” Caroline was looking for anything that might help her understand.

  “Caroline, they said it was information from someone who knew the president. And he basically said he had it on good authority that you’re toxic and that no one at Roberts and Michaels was sad to see you go. Ah, what’s the name? Damn.”

  “I’m toxic?”

  “Oh, there were some lethal descriptors. You’re unethical, not a team player, and you had inappropriate contact with a client. Oh, and breach of company security.”

  “And you don’t know who...”

  “Campbell!” She shouted. “The guy’s name was Campbell. Does that ring a bell?”

  Boy, did it.

  “Thanks, Colleen. I appreciate the help.”

  “I’m really sorry, Caroline. I would have loved to work with you.”

  “Not meant to be, I guess.”

  Caroline finished the call and looked at her sister. “Mark, right? I knew it was him,” Meg said.

  “It was someone named Campbell.”

  “What?” Meg stood and circled the space. “Crap. Josh is still under his father’s thumb. He let this happen to you. I knew we couldn’t trust him. He was always too close with his parents.”

  Caroline stood. “That’s not fair, Meg, and you know it.” It wasn’t Josh’s fault, but being with him made her matter in Will Campbell’s toxic little world. “I’m going upstairs. I need to think.” What she needed a break from was Meg’s ranting about Josh. She also had to figure out how to rebuild her life.

  Right now she wanted nothing to do with the Campbells, and locking herself in her room with a book for the day seemed like the best idea.

  She never should have listened to him. Never should have ventured out of her comfort zone. Look where it had gotten her. Jobless and just another body left in Will Campbell’s wake.

  ***

  Josh ran into the house and bolted through the kitchen, past Meg, Molly, and Mrs. Rossi. He turned at the door to another room, frantic. “Where is she?”

  “In her room,” Meg said. “Leave her alone.”

  Jason came in and picked up his daughter when she ran to him. “Meg, he needs to talk to her.”

  “No, it’s his fault this happened. Just stay away.”

  Josh scrubbed his face with his hands and glared at her. “I’m not going to do this with you, Meg. I love her and I have every intention of seeing her.”

  He turned and walked toward the stairs. Meg dashed in front of him and within seconds she was standing spread-eagle, blocking the steps.

  “Let me go to her, Meg.” He tried to go around, and he was getting frustrated with her spastic dance. “I’ll pick you right up and move you.”

  “Megan,” her mother called. “Let him go.”

  “MOM!” Meg dug her hands into the railing, more determined that Josh wouldn’t pass. When he reached for her waist, she yelled. “DON’T TOUCH ME!” She was behaving like a small child throwing a tantrum.

  Josh looked over at Jason for some help. “Dude, this is your wife; can you reason with her?”

  “When she’s like this? Hell no.”

  “Caroline needs to see him, Meg,” Mrs. Rossi called. “Let him up.”

  “How can you say that, Mom? It’s Caroline!”

  “Oh, Megan. Calm down. Joshua loves her. That’s enough for me.”

  “It’s not okay with me, though.” Meg sat on a step. “He, he...”

  Her mother sat on the stair next to her and took her older daughter’s hand. “What has he done? Josh has worked hard. Gotten an education that is world-class. He’s kind. Generous...”

  “No...”

  “Yes. Your problem with him is
that he has a relationship with his parents.”

  “Had,” Josh said. “No more.” But Meg didn’t seem to hear him through her anger.

  “Well you don’t know what it’s like to love your family so much it hurts. She’s my baby sister. And... Daddy wanted me to watch out for her.”

  Now her mother was surprised. “What are you talking about?”

  “When Dad had his heart attack, I was with him.”

  “I know, honey,” her mother said. “Did Daddy say something before he died?”

  “He said there was someone special for her. A boy she loves. A boy who cares about his family. Who does the right thing even when it’s hard. And I should make sure she found him.”

  “Meg?” They all looked up. Caroline stood on the landing. She was in her crappy Cornell pants and a T-shirt. Her feet were bare and her long hair fell almost to her waist. She was so pretty Josh’s heart skipped a beat.

  He saw everything when he looked at her. He saw who he wanted to be. He saw family.

  “Meg, Daddy was talking about Josh.”

  “What?”

  “Josh was the one. He knew I loved him.”

  “Caroline,” her mother said. “You were only thirteen when Dad died.”

  “I know.” She walked down the stairs and Josh came over to the railing, where she reached over and hugged him. “I feel like I’ve loved you forever. I never wanted to be with anyone else because it wasn’t you.”

  “Caroline,” her mother asked, “what about Dad?”

  “Josh used to spend time with Daddy. He knew the kind of boy he was and the kind of man he would become. Daddy also knew about my crush on him.”

  Meg stood and looked at the two of them, and all Josh wanted was to hold Caroline and cry. He felt her father’s loss so acutely at that moment that he didn’t know how he was holding it together.

  That was the moment he knew he wanted to be a father like Mike Rossi.

  “The boy Daddy wanted you to find for me, Meg, was Josh. It’s always been Josh for me. Just like it’s always been Jason for you. I don’t blame him for what happened. His biggest crime is exactly what Mom said. He wanted to be close to his parents. They aren’t worthy of his loyalty, but he is who he is.”

  “I can’t get my head around it.” Meg rubbed her temples. “I mean, it makes sense, but I don’t understand how none of us knew.”

  Josh smiled and shook his head. “Meg, I didn’t know. But just like Caroline, my heart was blocked off; there was no one I thought about loving until she walked into my life again. Maybe before he passed, your father had one of those moments of clarity that helped him see things the way they should be.”

  Meg nodded. “He told me I should forgive Jason. I didn’t think I ever would, but he must have known.” Meg drew the back of her hand across her eyes. She looked up at Josh, her green eyes full of questions and emotion, but it was only one question she asked. “You love her? You really love her?”

  “With all my heart—with everything, Meg. I’m nothing without her.” He turned to Caroline. “I am so sorry for what my father did. I could handle him taking shots at me, but not you, and I’m so sorry. I’m divesting myself of the firm. I don’t want anything to do with them. I just want you.”

  Caroline moved down the steps, but it was her sister who got to Josh first. He hugged his sister-in-law, accepting her forgiveness, and her blessing. It was almost as good as knowing Caroline loved him.

  Meg stood by her mom and Caroline stepped into Josh’s arms. “I love you,” he whispered into her hair. “I think I knew that first night, but I couldn’t let myself believe it. I can’t believe I was so slow on the uptake.”

  “It’s okay,” she said. “I’m very bright. I knew it all along.”

  “Really?”

  “All along.”

  Epilogue

  Caroline thought there were few things more perfect than a baseball game in June. Except maybe a baseball game in June when her brother was playing for her favorite team. She sat in a field box behind the home dugout and wondered what was taking Josh so long.

  He and Jason had left the seats a half an hour ago in search of hot dogs and sausage and pepper heros, which Caroline only ate at the ballpark. It was perfect. A beer, a hero, and baseball. Oh, and her guy. Her guy was with her. That was perfect.

  Molly jumped up from her seat and Meg grabbed her hand. “You know I always used to judge people who leashed their kids, but there’s something to be said for it in crowds; this is scary.”

  “Daddy, what took you so long?” Molly asked. I’m starving!”

  “Sorry, long lines.” He passed out hot dogs to Meg, Molly, and her mother, and Caroline looked around for Josh. There was no sign of him.

  “Where’s Josh?”

  “Hunting down your sandwich,” Jason said. “All the vendors on this side were out.”

  “He didn’t have to do that. I could have eaten a hot dog.”

  “You know Josh, he doesn’t give up.”

  Looking at everyone with them, Caroline smiled at the way things worked out. Three months ago, she never would have thought her life could have changed so much. She had her family back, she had a great new job that gave her time to write, and Will and Alicia Campbell were officially out of their lives. Things were pretty much perfect.

  The team took the field in their white uniform pants and black jerseys. Her brother Kevin, new to the team, had been an instant fan favorite and was quite the heartthrob. Seeing the throngs of girls wearing his jersey and carrying marriage proposal signs would make for some fun conversations during the holidays.

  “So, do you think Kevin enjoys being a matinee idol?” Meg asked her.

  “Oh, hell no,” Caroline said. “He hates it.”

  “Yeah, pretty much what I thought. It’s going to be so much fun torturing him with this.”

  “You’re going to give your baby bad karma if you aren’t careful,” Caroline said.

  Meg and Jason had just announced they were pregnant and the baby was due on Valentine’s Day. Meg, of course, blamed all of her insane moments on her hormones. No one in the family bought it.

  “What is Uncle Josh doing on the field?” Molly asked.

  “He’s what?” Caroline watched as her tall, gorgeous boyfriend walked up the first baseline with her brother, shaking hands with different players along the way. This was strange.

  She leaned over the dugout and watched him, just loving how big and handsome he was. Josh’s mirrored aviators made people wonder who he was, and since he was so good-looking, so confident, he got his own matinee-idol screams from the fans. Unlike Kevin, who hated the attention, Josh smiled and waved.

  “What a ham,” Caroline said.

  He stopped in front of the dugout and took off his sunglasses, locking his eyes with Caroline’s. Her heart was thumping, because she knew. The sneak wanted to do something special and he did.

  Jumping up onto the top of the dugout, to the cheers of the people in their seats, Josh reached out and pulled Caroline up with him.

  “You’re a show-off,” she said.

  “You love it.” His words came on a whisper.

  “I love you,” she said.

  “That’s a really good thing.” And that’s when Josh knelt down and everyone in the stadium cheered.

  Caroline felt the tears prick her eyes as the man she loved, the man she had always loved, knelt before her.

  “Caroline? I’m doing this here, in front of your family and a stadium full of strangers, because I want there to be no doubt how I feel.”

  “I don’t doubt you,” she whispered.

  “You’re everything to me, and because of you I will live the life I should live and be the person I want to be. The person you need me to be.”

  “Oh, Josh.”

  “I love you, with all
my heart.”

  Her tears had spilled over now and were tracking down her cheeks. “I love you.”

  “You are my destiny, my soulmate, and I can’t believe I am so lucky.” He reached into his pocket and pulled out a black velvet box. “Will you marry me?”

  Looking at all the people in her life, from her brother on the field, to her mother and sister and Jason and Molly, Caroline’s heart nearly burst from the love that was there. It was all-consuming. All-powerful. Her dad, she knew, would be happy. Happy for her and happy for Josh, the boy who learned how to love not by example, but from the goodness in his heart.

  “Do I get to be a flower girl?” Molly wasn’t going to miss a chance to get into a pretty dress.

  Caroline nodded at her. “Yes.” Then she turned to Josh, not able to remember when she’d been this happy. “Yes.”

  Her dad was a man who believed in the power of dreams. He wanted his children to follow what they loved, be the people they wanted to be. To cherish one another.

  Josh rose, and Caroline reached up and hugged her man. He was her family now, and she always knew he would be.

  “We should probably kiss or something,” she said.

  “Or something?” He smiled wide, and Caroline saw her whole life ahead of her in his shining eyes.

  “Josh, why did you do this?” she asked.

  “You’re a romance author. I wanted you to have a proposal that was book-worthy.”

  Josh leaned in and kissed her, sipping her lips, and Caroline felt herself melting into him. “You realize,” she said, “that the really good stuff comes after the happily ever after?”

  “I’m counting on that.”

  ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

  So, the rumor going around is that second books are hard. I can say, without a doubt, it’s true.

  The writing of Unexpectedly Yours wasn’t easy, and I can’t fully express how much I appreciate the amazing people who got me through my days and very long nights.