by Carol Ross
Meredith turned toward her and said, “Janie, I know you probably don’t want to hear this from me and I don’t blame you. But I do want you to know that I didn’t come here hoping to win Aidan back. He’s not right for me and vice versa, and we’re not... I’m in love with Blake, but the big oaf won’t even notice me.
“One thing I have learned from my mistakes is that happiness in life is about doing what you love. I’m sure you enjoy your job at the Rankins Press, but you do it because it pays the bills, right? Whereas you love knitting. That’s obvious. And I’m guessing it’s never occurred to you that you could make a living with your passion. But it occurred to Aidan and he’s done his best to help you make it a reality. Now, all you have to do is what you do best—knit.”
A current of excitement ran through her even as she wondered if it was really possible. She didn’t know anything about business or websites. She said so.
“I’ve agreed to hang out in town for a bit longer, to help you if you want help. I can stay as long as it takes. I do need to be back in New York in a couple of weeks before the premiere of Seeds, but other than that I can work from here.”
Janie’s eyes darted around. “Um, I need to...”
Meredith tipped her head toward the door. “Go. Babies are...sleeping?”
“Yes, actually, my entire family is sleeping. We had a busy weekend. But if they wake up before I get back, don’t worry because Gareth and Reagan can hold down the fort.”
* * *
AIDAN WASN’T HOME. Why was it, Janie wondered, that in the movies people were always where they were supposed to be when someone went to find them, but not so much in real life?
Janie stood outside Aidan’s building and tried to guess where he might be. She was staring down at her cell phone trying to decide whether to call him when Blake appeared at her side.
“Janie, hi, are you looking for Aidan?”
“Blake...yes, I am.”
“He’s playing basketball at the community center.”
“Thank you.” She turned to go.
“Hey, Janie.”
She spun back around.
“I wanted to thank you.”
She shook her head. “For what?”
“For getting Aidan to do the interview, for talking him into going to the premiere—he’s agreed to take a more active role in promotion and he told me that it’s because of you.”
“Blake—”
“I wish he would have fallen in love years ago—it’s greatly improved his personality.” He topped that comment off with one of his belly laughs.
Janie didn’t know what to say. Aidan hadn’t shared this decision with her, but then again, they hadn’t had a chance to talk, either.
In love with her? Blake couldn’t be right about that...could he? At this point she was just hoping Aidan would forgive her.
She took note of Blake’s mischievous grin, which reminded her an awful lot of Meredith’s. She wouldn’t even be standing here looking for Aidan if it wasn’t for Meredith.
“Um, Blake? Do you... The Faraway Inn has an amazing seafood buffet.”
“Yeah, I’ve heard about it. I’ll have to check it out before I leave.”
“The owner happens to be my best friend. I could get you the best table. Maybe you should see if Meredith would like to join you for dinner?”
Janie watched as his lips curled up into a grin. “You think so?”
“I know so. Saturday six thirty work for you?”
“Um, yeah.”
“Well, you better call and confirm with Meredith before she makes other plans. I have it on good authority that several men in town are intent on asking her out.”
Janie witnessed the scowl transform his brow as he removed the phone from his pocket. She didn’t stick around to see how the conversation went.
Janie could see the basketball game breaking up as she pulled into the parking lot of the community center. She got out of her car before she lost her nerve even though she had no idea what to say... She headed toward the court. Aidan met her gaze, holding a basketball under one arm as he came to meet her.
He stopped in front of her, looking troubled and sweaty and gorgeous. “Hey,” he said. “How is Gareth?” And sweet...
“Good. He’s going to be fine. Aidan, I just ran in to Blake and he said you are going to the premiere?”
He nodded. “I am. I figured if I preach about taking risks and facing fears head-on to your eleven-and thirteen-year-olds I should at least put it to practice in my own life. Your boys have been great role models for me.”
She smiled.
“Janie, I’m so sorry. You were right. You’ve been right all along. I do need to learn to mind my own business and quit trying to fix things. None of this mess you had to go through with Gareth and Reagan would have happened if I hadn’t gotten so involved in your life. You asked me to stay out and I didn’t listen.”
Janie stared at the man who had turned her life upside down at the exact time she had needed it to be upended—and then proceeded to make it right again in so many ways. The man she had fallen in love with despite her best intentions to guard her heart. And now he was apologizing to her and she didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.
“I really thought I was doing the right thing.”
“Aidan, no. I’m not right. You shouldn’t be apologizing to me for saving us.”
“What are you talking about?”
“I’m talking about you teaching my boys how to help themselves. About you giving them confidence and courage and showing them the meaning of bravery. I came here to apologize to you.”
“To me?”
Janie gestured around her at nothing and everything at the same time. “Aidan, it is true that none of that stuff would have happened if it weren’t for you. But do you realize that since you arrived in Rankins you’ve had a lacerated hand and a near-deadly bee sting, you’ve been thrown in jail, harassed by the police and nearly attacked by a bear? And all of this caused, in varying degrees, by me and my boys?”
Aidan flashed her a quick grin before his brows dipped down in consternation. “I wanted every one of those experiences, Janie. I like...adventure. I like taking risks. But that’s the problem—I can see that now. I mean, I understand the dangers, but I do weigh the pros and cons differently than most people... I’m not doing a good job of explaining this.
“But I realize now that when other people are involved I need to be more...thoughtful. I’m trying to do that now—at least to undo some of the things I’ve put in motion.”
“Then you’re not going to be too happy about the fact that Meredith paid me a visit.”
Aidan let out a groan as he glanced skyward. “I told her to scrap that whole plan.”
“I’m so glad she didn’t listen. I didn’t even know how much I wanted that, Aidan, until I saw the website. But you did. You knew...”
His face brightened. “You like it?”
“Aidan, it’s my dream. But I didn’t even realize it was my dream until I saw it right in front of me. You may stick your nose into my business uninvited, but clearly my business needs your nose.”
“What are you saying?”
She repeated his words back to him with a teasing smile on her lips. “I’m saying that never taking risks isn’t living.”
“Janie—”
“Aidan, seriously—hiding and hoping things will change all the while telling myself things are fine doesn’t get me anywhere. In fact, as difficult as it is to admit, I think the boys and I have been slowly heading backward. I see that now. Everything you’ve done for my boys—for me—has made our lives so much better. Have things gotten a little messy in the process? Yes, but it’s been a wonderful adventure and a learning experience and the end result is so very worth it. That
old saying might be true that sometimes things have to get worse before they get better.”
Aidan closed his eyes for several long seconds. “Janie, I don’t know. I don’t think it would be fair for you to have to put up with my reckless behavior...”
“Reckless?” She repeated the word with a laugh. “Being proactive isn’t reckless. You’re courageous and strong and I love that. Does it scare me a little? Yes, but I need that in my life. We—the boys and I—need that in our life.”
She could see him waffling so she reached out and batted the ball out of his hands. She bounced it a couple times. “I tell you what—I’ll play you for it.”
“For what?”
“For a date.”
“A date?”
“Yep, we have to start somewhere, right? If I win I’d like a date. If you win, you can ask me for whatever you want.”
Aidan’s mouth tilted up at one corner. “Whatever I want?”
“Within reason, obviously, I’m not a genie in a bottle.”
He nodded. “Okay, what are we going to play?”
“How about bee?”
“Bee?”
“Yeah, you know how people play ‘horse’? We’ll play ‘bee.’” Janie referred to the childhood game where the object was to make baskets that the opposing player would most likely miss, earning a letter for each basket. Turns were taken, the winner declared when he or she had successfully spelled out the entire word.
“Janie, I’m not sure this is fair. You can’t...”
“What? Beat you?”
“Well, basketball is kinda my thing.”
She grinned, and then lied. “I know. I’ve seen you play. But honestly, Aidan, you’re not as good as you think you are.”
He tipped his head and eyed her speculatively and Janie imagined he was trying to work out what she was up to. But she also knew he couldn’t resist a challenge.
Finally he shrugged and moved toward the court. “We’ll see about that. Let’s do this. You go first.”
Aidan might have the fancy moves, but Janie had years of playing scrap-ball with her brother, her cousins and her boys. She planned to use all of her best tricks.
After warming up and practicing a few shots, she stood well past the free-throw line and turned her back to the basket. She held the ball with one hand and stood on one foot. “You ready?”
“I’m ready.”
“Watch closely because you have to do everything I do or the shot doesn’t count.”
“I might know how to play this game, Janie.”
“Just warning you...” She shot the ball over her right shoulder and could tell by the sound that she’d made the basket.
“Yes-ss,” she hissed.
Aidan narrowed his eyes at her. “Impressive.”
“Thank you.” Janie jogged over and retrieved the ball. She tossed it to him. “Your turn.”
Aidan positioned himself exactly like Janie had been. He held the ball in one hand.
Aidan stared deliberately at her as he took his shot. Janie found herself holding a breath as the ball arced toward the basket and...missed.
Janie let out a happy yelp. “That’s a big fat B for me.”
Her next shot was a complicated layup. Aidan matched her step for step and easily made the shot.
On her next turn Janie took it up a notch. She stepped to the three-point line and shot one-handed. She missed.
Aidan shot a triumphant smirk in her direction. “My turn.”
Aidan stood off to one side of the basket, bounced the ball three times, then pivoted off his left foot and executed a graceful hook shot.
“Is that the best you’ve got?” Janie remarked. She took her position and made the basket.
Aidan grinned. And on it went until, after seven more shots, they were solidly tied with B-E.
It was Aidan’s turn.
“Let’s see here,” he said as he spun the ball on the finger of one hand. He switched it to the other side, dribbled the ball between his legs and behind his back.
Janie rolled her eyes and said in her best unimpressed teenager tone, “Whatever.”
But then he stopped and stepped slowly to the free-throw line. His face transformed with a serious expression. He met her eyes and held them as he shot the ball. It dropped through the net with a quiet swish.
Janie felt her heart soar because she knew he was giving her the opportunity to win the game, which meant he wanted a date. But that wasn’t what she wanted—not exactly. And, she decided, now was as good a time as any to start taking some of her own risks.
She stepped up to the line, kept her eyes on his and shot the ball well to the left of the basket, purposely missing the shot. She grinned at him as the ball rolled off the court.
“Well, that spells bee for you—you win. Good game, though, right? I told you I had some moves.”
“You certainly did—and do.” His voice sounded flat but something about his tone and his stance made her pulse pound fast and hard.
“I beat you, but I know you lost on purpose. That isn’t fair because I was going to lose on purpose.”
“I guess you should have been a little more clever about it then, huh?”
“Apparently.”
She tried to sound brave. “So, what do you want to ask from me? Anything you want.”
“Mmm... Anything I want, huh?” His voice held an unmistakable challenge and Janie found herself holding a breath. “In that case...” He took a few steps toward her. “I want you—” he came even closer “—to come to the premier of Seeds with me. I will be so much less nervous if you are by my side—”
“Aidan, of course—” she interrupted, beaming brightly at him.
“I’m not finished. You really need to learn to let people finish their thoughts,” he said, grinning.
“Oh, sorry.” She pinched her lips together dramatically.
“For the rest of my life. I love you, Janie. I love you and I love your boys. Will you marry me?”
Joy, she thought, such a tiny word for such a huge emotion.
“I love you, too. But is that all you want from me? Because these requests are way too easy. After all, you just won a hard-fought game of bee here...”
His smile widened. “That’s true. I did.” He took a step toward her and Janie’s excitement soared. “I wouldn’t mind a few more kids.”
Her heart seemed to skip a beat. “Aidan, yes, I would love to go to your film premiere, and marry you, and have more children. But...are you sure you want to do this? It’s quite a risk and I can’t guarantee your safety.”
He tipped his head so his lips were nearly touching hers. “According to my calculations this is a case where the reward is most definitely worth the risk.”
* * * * *
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ISBN-13: 9781460389393
If Not for a Bee
Copyright © 2015 by Carol Ross
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.
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