His Temptation, Her Secret

by Barbara Dunlop

Then she remembered she was driving TJ’s vehicle. The man obviously thought she could afford a new car. Which, she supposed, she now could.

  “Are you in the market for something new?”

  “I’m just looking today.”

  “Just looking is fine. I’m happy to show you around,” he said.

  “I’d appreciate that. I’m Sage.”

  “Hello, Sage. Are you considering a trade?” He eyed up the one-year-old SUV that was the same brand as the dealership.

  “No, not trading this one in.”

  “Were you thinking sedan, convertible, minivan, maybe a pickup?”

  She smiled. “A car. Definitely not a truck. Beyond that, I really don’t know.”

  “I like a customer with an open mind. It’s more fun that way. Let’s start with the showroom. That’ll give you an idea of what suits you.”

  Cody led the way through a pair of glass double doors. The showroom was huge, with at least a dozen cars of various sizes and colors.

  “Scan the room,” he told her. “Don’t overthink. What’s the first one that catches your eye?”

  She strolled down the center aisle, looking from one car to the next. She came to a midsize blue one that looked about right.

  “That one?”

  “The Medix Sedan. It’s a very popular choice. Great for families, good fuel economy, but still with decent acceleration.” He opened the driver’s door. “Go ahead and hop in.”

  Sage’s phone rang.

  “Take your time.” He took a few steps away to give her privacy.

  The call was from TJ.

  “Hi,” she answered.

  “Hi, back. Are you on your way home?”

  She glanced guiltily around. “I’m, uh, still in Seattle.”

  “Oh.” He sounded surprised.

  “I stopped at the hospital to see Dr. Stannis, then Heidi. I ended up reading to her for a while.”

  “Are you still at the hospital?”

  “No...” She realized it was silly to hide what she was doing. “I stopped at a car dealership.”

  “Good for you.” He sounded ridiculously pleased.

  “I’m just looking.”

  “Is someone helping you?”

  “Yes, they are.”

  “Let me talk to them.”

  Her gaze slid to Cody. “Why? What are you going to do?”

  “Ask a couple of questions. Or do you want to talk technical?”

  “I’m just looking.”

  “Humor me.”

  “Fine.” She gave an exaggerated sigh.

  She caught Cody’s eye, and he was quick to return to her side.

  “My...” Wow. She’d never said the word before. She cleared her throat. “My husband wants to talk to you.”

  “Absolutely.” Cody took the phone. “Hello? This is Cody Pender.”

  He listened. Then his brow rose. Then he looked at Sage.

  “Absolutely, sir.”

  Sage got a nervous feeling.

  “I would say the LX Two or the Cadmen. We also have the Heckle V series, which is top of the line. It has an excellent safety rating.”

  “I’m just looking,” Sage whispered.

  Cody smiled brightly at her.

  Whatever TJ was saying seemed to be making Cody happy.

  “Yes, sir,” Cody repeated. “I can show her each of them.”

  Then he handed the phone back to Sage.

  “What did you say to him,” she demanded.

  “I simply apprised him of your needs.”

  “What does that mean?”

  “That means he’s going to show you some very nice automobiles. Have fun. Take some test drives.”

  “You’re up to something.”

  “Yes.” His tone was dry. “It’s my secret plot to get you to buy a car. Wait. It’s not so secret, since I’ve told you all about it.”

  “Are you annoyed?”

  “No. I’m amused. And I’m serious. Go have fun. If you like something, call Tasha. She’ll ask all the technical questions. I’m texting you her number. Don’t disappoint Cody. He seems really excited.”

  Despite herself, Sage smiled.

  Three test drives later, she fell in love with a sleek sedan. It had butter-soft leather seats that hugged her body. It handled like a dream, had terrific pickup from a stop and was smooth and quiet inside. It felt compact to drive, but the back seat was roomy enough for Eli.

  She parked it back at the dealership.

  “You’re grinning,” Cody said.

  “This is an awfully nice car.”

  “There’s another in the showroom. It has a slightly different set of features.” He opened his door. “Let’s take a look.”

  Sage knew she shouldn’t be enjoying this quite so much, but she followed him inside.

  “This one is midnight metallic blue, one of the feature colors for the model year.” Cody opened the driver’s door.

  She did like the color. It had a subtle sparkle under the lights, and the hue seemed to change as she moved.

  “It has upgraded wheels and tires—they’re slightly larger, which is good for highway driving—heated seats in the back as well as the front, a radio and communications system upgrade—you’ll get superior sound from the speakers—and the feature I like best, the panorama sunroof, which is nice for back-seat passengers.”

  She couldn’t help thinking about Eli. “I’m afraid to ask the price.”

  “I’m not permitted to tell you the price.”

  The answer baffled Sage.

  “My instructions from your husband were to find you the perfect automobile, have you call someone named Tasha and finalize the details with her. He didn’t want your decision to be colored by money.”

  Sage was speechless. How could she choose a car without comparing prices? Price was fundamental to understanding the value.

  “Do you have Tasha’s number?” Cody asked.

  “Yes.”

  “You should call her.”

  Sage wanted to call TJ, but she suspected it wouldn’t do her any good.

  “I don’t usually live like this,” she told Cody as she retrieved her phone. “My life is normally, well, pretty normal.”

  Cody gave a wide grin. “Then you should enjoy this.”

  “It’s not normal.”

  “It’s quite normal. People buy cars all the time.”

  “Without asking the price?” She doubted that.

  “I’ll tell Tasha the price.”

  Sage pressed Tasha’s number. “This feels silly.”

  “It feels romantic and generous to me. Your husband clearly wants you to have the perfect car.”

  Sage digested the answer, trying to decide how she felt about a romantic gesture from TJ. Then she laughed to herself at the word gesture. This was a whole lot more than a gesture.

  “Hi, Sage.” Tasha’s voice was cheerful on the phone. “TJ told me you’d be calling. Did you find something?”

  “I did,” Sage admitted.

  “Tell me about it.”

  Sage stepped back to look at the car. “It’s a beautiful blue, totally smooth on the road. The engine has good pep. It’s easy to handle. And the seats are unbelievably comfortable. The salesman, Cody, says the one I’m looking at has larger wheels and tires. It has a panoramic sunroof.” She didn’t know what else to add.

  “It sounds perfect. Let me talk to Cody.”

  “This is strange,” Sage said.

  Tasha laughed. “For me, it’s fun. And you’re going to love the car.”

  “It’s overkill.” Sage experienced a moment of serious hesitation. “Maybe I should look at something used.”

  “That’s not going to happen. Give the phone to Cody and stop worrying.”
>
  “Okay.” Sage told herself to accept the inevitable. She handed the phone to Cody.

  He greeted Tasha, then paused. “It’s the Heckle V series sedan with the ultra-luxury package.” He paused for another moment. “Yes, she does.” Then he gave Sage a smile and a thumbs-up and turned to walk away, heading into a windowed office.

  She shook her head in bemusement and turned her attention back to the car. It really was amazing. She reached in to touch the steering wheel, imagining herself and Eli touring along the coast highway, the sunroof open, Eli smiling and healthy.

  Her eyes unexpectedly teared up. She swallowed and slipped into the driver’s seat.

  If anything, the seat was even more comfortable than the one in the test car she’d driven. She tipped her head back, seeing the lights suspended from the high ceiling above. The sunroof and windows had a subtle tint, which would be nice in the sun.

  “Sage?” Cody interrupted her musings.

  She quickly turned. “Hi. Sorry.”

  “Not at all. You should get used to the feel. Tasha wants to talk to you.” He handed back Sage’s phone.

  “Hi, Tasha.”

  “You’re all set,” Tasha said. “I negotiated a great price. They’ll put temporary insurance and registration on for you so you can drive it home. All you have to do is give him your credit card.”

  “What?” Sage was dumbfounded. They expected her to drive it away? “What about TJ’s SUV? I can’t just leave it here.”

  “We deliver, ma’am,” Cody whispered.

  “They’ll deliver the SUV tomorrow,” Tasha said. “You can’t buy a new car and not drive it home.”

  “To Whiskey Bay?” Sage asked Cody. Surely they didn’t realize how far away TJ lived.

  “Complimentary delivery anywhere in the state,” Cody said. “I’m going to get a technician, and we’ll get your features set up.” He tapped the top of the roof and walked away.

  “Are you excited?” Tasha asked.

  “I’m stunned. This isn’t how buying a car works.” The last time, it had taken her a month to find something decent in her price range.

  “It’s a great car. You made a good choice. The safety rating is super high, and it holds its resale value. TJ can’t wait to see it.”

  “You talked to him again? Does he know which one I picked?”

  “He doesn’t care what you picked, Sage. You’re the one who’ll be driving it. He wants you to be happy.”

  “It’s a difficult adjustment to make.”

  “I get it,” Tasha said. “Don’t forget I’m a marine mechanic. Nuts and bolts are my business. And I’m firmly grounded in the real world.”

  Sage remembered it had been only a few weeks since Tasha married Matt. “Thanks. That helps.”

  “Drive safely,” Tasha said.

  “I will.” Sage would be excruciatingly careful with what she knew had to be an exorbitantly expensive car.

  Eight

  TJ had agreed to give Eli minimal details while he was in the hospital. So, on the day he was finally released, a brilliantly sunny Saturday, the three of them drove to TJ’s house, explaining on the way that Sage had been staying with TJ while Eli was in the hospital.

  “This place is awesome,” Eli said, skipping along the path that led to the front yard instead of going inside.

  TJ followed.

  “It’s practically a ball diamond,” Eli said, stopping at the corner of the house to gape at the lawn.

  TJ realized how the yard could be a nine-year-old’s dream. The basement was grade level on this side of the house, with a patio off the recreational room. In front of the patio and overlooking the ocean was a half-acre lawn rimmed by natural trees and flower gardens.

  “We could definitely play catch out here,” TJ said.

  “Can you get down to the beach?”

  “There’s a path. It’s pretty rocky on the shore, not really good for swimming. But there’s a pool beside the patio. And there’s an aquatic center about fifteen minutes up the highway. It has water slides.”

  “Sweet,” Eli said, wandering out onto the lawn. He plopped down on the grass and ran his hands through it.

  “That’s a wonderful sight,” Sage said, pausing beside TJ. “I can’t believe he’s finally home.” She seemed to trip on the word home.

  “We need to tell him the rest,” TJ said. He was excited and anxious and impatient all at once.

  “I know.”

  “Now?” TJ looked at her. He could see her hesitation.

  “Now,” she agreed. “Eli?” She walked forward.

  “Have you ever seen such a big yard?” Eli asked her.

  She sat down on the grass beside him, and TJ joined them.

  “How many people live here?” Eli asked, gesturing to the house.

  “Just us,” TJ said. “Me and your mom right now, and you, of course.”

  Eli looked to be in awe. “You live here all by yourself?”

  TJ wasn’t sure how to answer.

  Sage stepped in. She took Eli’s hand. “There’s something I need to tell you, honey.”

  Eli’s expression turned guarded. “Is it bad? Am I sick again?”

  “No. No, no, no.” She squeezed his hand. “You are perfectly healthy. Everything is looking good on all the tests. This is about me. And about TJ.”

  Eli looked to TJ.

  “We told you he was your bone marrow donor.”

  Eli waited.

  “Well, the reason he was a match, such a good match, is he’s also your father.”

  TJ held his breath while he waited for Eli’s reaction.

  It took Eli a minute to speak. “You mean, like, way back before I was born?”

  “That’s right. TJ is your biological father.”

  Eli eyed TJ with disdain, looking him up and down. “Where’ve you been?”

  “He didn’t know,” Sage quickly put in.

  “I didn’t know,” TJ said. “If I’d known, I would’ve been there for you, for both of you.”

  Eli set his jaw in a way that looked all too familiar to TJ. “How could you not know? Did you bother to find out?”

  “I didn’t,” TJ admitted. “But I had absolutely no idea you existed.”

  “That was my fault,” Sage said. “I should have told TJ. But I didn’t trust him back then. I didn’t think he’d be a good father. I honestly thought we’d be better off without him.”

  Eli’s gaze went to the house. “Looks like he could have helped us out.”

  “That’s true,” TJ said.

  “It’s not fair to blame TJ,” Sage said.

  “It’s okay to blame me,” TJ said to Eli. “I’d blame me. I do blame me. But I’m so glad I found you. I’m so glad I know you now.”

  Eli’s expression softened a bit. “I guess you did save my life.”

  “I’m here now for anything you need.” TJ meant it with all his heart.

  “There’s something else,” Sage said.

  Eli looked at her.

  “TJ and I talked about it. And, well, we both want to be close to you, as close to you as possible while you’re growing up.” She hesitated.

  Eli subtly but distinctly angled his body toward his mother.

  TJ quickly moved to finish the explanation. “After I found out, while you were recovering, well, we remembered how much we liked each other in high school. We thought it would be best, best for you, best for everyone, if we got married.”

  Eli blinked at that. He looked to his mom. “You’re getting married?”

  Sage looked to TJ, clearly uncertain.

  “We got married,” he said to Eli. He didn’t want to leave anything out. “We want to be parents to you together.”

  Eli’s brow furrowed. “Are you moving to Seattle?”


  “We thought about that,” Sage quickly put in. “But TJ has this amazing big house.”

  “Here?” Eli asked, glancing sharply around. “We live here?”

  TJ couldn’t tell if Eli was happy or upset.

  He felt like he needed to make a sales pitch. “You can decorate your room, pick out your furniture. I’ve got a wide-screen TV in the basement for gaming.”

  “What about my friends? And I promised Heidi I’d come back and see her.”

  “We can go see Heidi,” Sage said.

  “You can bring your friends here,” TJ said. “Or you can visit them in Seattle.”

  “I know it won’t be exactly the same,” Sage said. “But I just got a new car, and we can drive up there whenever you’re ready.”

  “I’m ready now.”

  She smoothed his hair. “Maybe tomorrow.”

  “Maybe tomorrow like you’ll tell me no tomorrow? Or maybe tomorrow like for sure tomorrow?”

  “For sure tomorrow,” TJ said. “As long as you’re feeling well enough.”

  Eli looked skeptically at the house. “Are the games online?”

  “Sixteen gigabytes of RAM and an insanity graphics card. I’m set up for four simultaneous players.”

  “Are you bribing my son?” Sage asked.

  “Is it working?” TJ asked Eli.

  “Sixteen gig?”

  “I looked into going to thirty-two, but the value wasn’t there. My buddy Matt’s the geek. He tells me what to buy.”

  The eagerness had returned to Eli’s expression. “Can we go inside?”

  And just like that, TJ was Eli’s father. His heart swelled and his grin went wide. “Yes, we can go inside.”

  * * *

  “A nanny?” Sage couldn’t believe she was hearing correctly.

  Eli was asleep. He’d chosen an oceanside bedroom in the south corner of the upstairs, with a view of the yard out one way and the Whiskey Bay cliffs out the other. The room had a reading alcove with a bay window and its own small bathroom. He was thrilled and couldn’t wait to pick out his own, new bed.

  “She’s not a nanny,” TJ responded.

  They were in the family room, having loaded the dishwasher after dinner. The views in the room were as spectacular as anywhere in the house, but the color scheme was low-key and earthy, and the furniture was super comfortable. It was becoming Sage’s favorite room. She was sitting on the overstuffed corner sofa, while TJ had chosen a leather armchair.