Tenderly (Seven Brides Seven Brothers Pelican Bay)

by Belle Calhoune

  But, he had to focus on tonight’s party and stuff down all of his doubts. He took a quick glance at his watch. Where was Shayla? She’d promised to show up this afternoon to help him get ready for the engagement party. It wasn’t like her to flake on him.

  He heard his front door opening, followed by the thud of heavy footsteps. It didn’t sound like his sister’s light tread. Before he could even call out, his brother, Caleb, walked through the doorway of his great room where he was setting up decorations. With his tawny-colored skin, deep-set brown eyes and an athletic frame, Caleb was a man who turned heads on a regular basis. Happily married to Addie, they ran a bistro together called The Blue Bayou. Addie was loyal and loving—a perfect partner for his beloved brother.

  Someday, he told himself, I’ll find a woman like that for myself. Someone who makes me feel stronger just for having her in my life. A woman who wouldn’t care about his looks. One who was head over heels in love with his soul.

  “How’s it going?” Caleb asked, leaning in for a hug.

  “Hey, Caleb,” he said, greeting his brother warmly. Caleb was the type of person who always made you feel better simply for being in his presence.

  “What do you need me to do? I hear you need some help.”

  Micah frowned at his brother. “Who told you that? Shayla? She was supposed to be here a while ago.”

  Caleb nodded, his expression somber. “Yeah, she called me this morning. I’m subbing for her.”

  “I appreciate you coming but why didn’t Shayla call me? Is something wrong? She’s been acting a bit funny lately.”

  Caleb ducked his head, clearly avoiding eye contact. “It’s really something the two of you should discuss.” He held up his hands. “I don’t want to be in the middle of it.”

  “It? What are you talking about? If something’s wrong with Shayla I want to know,” Micah said in a raised voice. He and Shayla were close in age, and since she was the only Donahue sister, they all felt protective of her.

  Caleb locked gazes with him. “You need to tread carefully with this one, Micah. It’s about her heart.”

  Micah felt all of his senses heightening. He drew himself up to his full six-foot-tall height. “Her heart? Who is he? Who broke baby girl’s heart?”

  Caleb let out a sigh. “Rafferty.”

  Micah began to sputter. “Rafferty? What are you talking about? Has something been going on between the two of them?” Micah’s heart began to hammer like a drumbeat inside his chest at the possibility that his best friend had taken advantage somehow of his sister.

  No way! It must be a misunderstanding. Rafferty was a stand-up guy. He would never go down that path with Shayla. That would be a serious violation of the friendship code.

  “No, they haven’t been seeing each other. But Shayla…she’s in love with him. And she has been for a very long time. This engagement is killing her.”

  Micah held on to his side table. Suddenly, his knees felt weak. Shayla was in love with Rafferty? “S-since when? Rafferty is practically an honorary member of our family. He’s been around us since we were little kids. How long has she had feelings for him?”

  Caleb shrugged. “I don’t know exactly, but she really seems to be in love with him. She’s been pining away for him for some time. And now with his engagement to Pamela, she’s hurting something awful.”

  Micah ran his hand over his face and let out a ragged sigh. “Why didn’t she tell me?”

  Caleb placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. “I think she thought you were too close to the situation since you and Rafferty are best friends. She really doesn’t want him to know!”

  “This must be killing her! No wonder she bailed on helping,” Micah said, wishing Shayla was in front of him so he could wrap her up in his protective arms. Shayla was their princess. She had seven brothers who would protect her against anything in this world, but not a single one of them could protect her from loving someone who loved another. He knew it must feel like a dagger in his sister’s heart.

  “It’s better for her to be a hundred miles away from here and the party.” He shrugged. “Raff won’t even notice she’s not here. He’s so in love with Pamela he can barely see straight.” Caleb scrunched up his face.

  “What’s with that look?” Micah asked, narrowing his gaze as he studied his brother.

  “What look?” Caleb asked with an innocent expression etched on his face.

  Micah let out a laugh. “Don’t try to confuse me. You had a look on your face when you mentioned Pamela. What gives? Don’t you like her?” Micah was practically holding his breath waiting for Caleb’s response.

  Caleb shook his head. A sheepish expression crept over his face. “There’s something not quite right there. I can’t put my finger on it but she doesn’t come across as genuine. Maybe it boils down to the fact that she doesn’t seem to love him the way he loves her.”

  Micah slammed his palm down on the table. “You’re right, Caleb. Rafferty is all moon-eyed over her while she can barely muster a smile in his direction. She has this air about her of disinterest.”

  “Well, he’s asked her to be his wife, Micah. We have to respect that,” Caleb said mournfully.

  The entire Donahue clan was crazy about Rafferty. Each of them cared deeply about his future. Micah knew it would crush his best friend if things didn’t work out with Pamela.

  “We do have to respect Rafferty’s relationship,” Micah agreed. “But I need to tell you something, Caleb. It’s a pretty sensitive subject.”

  “Okay, shoot. You know that you can tell me anything. I’ve got your back. Always.”

  Micah let out the breath he’d been holding. It was as if a huge weight had suddenly been lifted off his shoulders. Having Caleb show up at his house was heaven sent. He was so blessed to have siblings he could trust and confide in.

  “It’s about Pamela.”

  Caleb raised an eyebrow. “Okay. Tell me.”

  Micah continued. “There have been a few occasions where she acted suggestively toward me. At first I wasn’t sure if I was imagining things or not. I mean…why would she do that when she’s Rafferty’s girl? He’s crazy about her. That guy treats her like a queen. But she’s done things when we’ve been alone in the same room together that really alarmed me.”

  “Anything physical?” Caleb asked.

  Micah could tell his brother was waiting with bated breath for his response. Caleb knew Rafferty’s future was hanging in the balance. He cared about him just like the other members of the Donahue family. Rafferty was one of their own.

  Micah shifted uncomfortably from one foot to the other. Saying it out loud to someone made it real. For months now this stuff had been weighing on him. “Yes, a bit,” he confessed. “She’s leaned in toward me a few times like she wanted to kiss me. Brushed up against me. And I know that might not sound like much, but it’s the way she looks at me while doing it and the comments she’s made.”

  Caleb let out a low whistle. “This isn’t good. I know you well enough to know you’re not exaggerating. You and Rafferty’s friendship means the world to you, so if anything, you’ve probably made allowances for her.”

  Micah nodded. “I have,” he said curtly. “I’ve prayed about it almost every day, wondering how I can talk to Rafferty about this. It’s killing me to hide something so monumental from him. We’ve been best friends since the sandbox.”

  Micah’s mind flashed back to the first time he’d ever met his best friend. It had been at a local park. While his siblings had been running around, Micah had settled into the sandbox to create a masterpiece. Not long after he’d started a boy about his own age had plopped down next to him and started instructing him on how to make the castle indestructible. Although Micah had been annoyed at being bossed around, he had soon discovered that his new friend Rafferty was the salt of the earth. He had just moved to Pelican Bay and wanted to find friends. Micah soon learned that what he’d perceived as bossiness wasn’t bossiness at all. It was care a
nd concern. From that day forward, Micah and Rafferty had been two peas in a pod.

  “And you’re throwing this bash for them tonight,” Caleb said with a grimace. “That can’t be easy.”

  Micah shook his head. “Far from it. It’s really a tense situation. And honestly, I have no idea how it’s going to get resolved.”

  The sound of a door opening caused both men to swivel their heads in the direction of the hallway. Light footsteps sounded, followed by the appearance of Shayla in the threshold. With her honey blonde hair and hazel colored eyes, she was girl next door beautiful. Micah knew he was biased, but his sister looked better than most cover girls. She was a natural beauty, one who didn’t hide behind a mask of makeup.

  “I’m here,” she announced, flinging her arms wide. If Micah hadn’t known her heart was breaking, he might not have picked up on the tell-tale signs. There were slight dark shadows underneath her eyes. The white of her eyes were tinged with red, making him think she might have been crying. And she definitely appeared as if she’d lost weight. “Better late than never,” she said in a half-hearted voice.

  “Shayla,” Micah said, moving toward her and wrapping her up in his arms. “I thought you weren’t coming.”

  She blinked away tears. “I decided I should be here, so I put my big girl panties on and drove over here.” She squinted at Micah. “You know don’t you?”

  “Know what?” Micah asked. He wasn’t good at playacting, but he didn’t want Caleb to get in trouble for spilling the beans to him about Shayla’s feelings for Rafferty.

  Shayla leaned up and pressed a kiss on his cheek. “I love you, Micah, but you have a terrible poker face. Caleb told you, didn’t he?”

  “Sorry, Shay. I figured he should know given the circumstances. Feel free to punch me if you want,” Caleb said, referencing their sister’s old habit of punching her brothers when they’d crossed the line.

  “No. It’s all right, Caleb. I’m not upset about it.” She patted Caleb’s arm reassuringly. “And I haven’t punched anyone for a long time.” Her lips twitched with mirth which was reassuring to Micah. She wasn’t completely down in the dumps.

  Micah reached out and swept his fingers across her cheek. “I’m so sorry you’re hurting. I have to admit, I didn’t see this coming, Shay. You hid your feelings pretty well.” He shrugged. “Or maybe I just wasn’t looking. Rafferty is almost like a brother to me, so I never imagined you would fall for him. We’ve all been in each other’s pockets since we were kids.”

  “How could I not fall for him, Micah? He’s everything to me. Kind, caring, loyal, funny. Not to mention he’s very easy on the eyes.” She let out a giggle that quickly turned into a sob. “But he’s marrying someone else. And the worst part is, she’s totally wrong for him.” She began to blubber and laugh at the same time, with tears running down her face.

  Caleb and Micah exchanged a furtive look. It was their go-to look for when they were worried about something. At the moment Shayla was the subject of their concern.

  Micah placed his arm around his sister and led her to a comfy love seat. She sank down into it, seemingly grateful to get off her feet.

  “I think you need to go home,” Micah said in a soft voice. “Helping to set up for tonight is above and beyond.”

  “I can handle it,” she said, lifting her chin up high. “And I’m coming to the party tonight too. Rafferty will question it if I’m not there.”

  Micah and Caleb let out a surprised sound at the same time.

  “You’re a glutton for punishment,” Caleb said with a shake of his head. “Do you have any idea of what you’re setting yourself up for? It’s going to hurt like crazy to see everyone toasting their engagement.”

  Something told Micah that his baby sister wasn’t being realistic. She was trying to be tough in dealing with the situation head-on. And even though she tended to put up a brave front in hard situations, she was also a marshmallow on the inside. It wouldn’t take much to make her crumble.

  “He’s right,” Micah interjected. “Everyone is gathering tonight to celebrate Rafferty and Pamela’s engagement. The whole focus will be on their love story. That’ll be pure torture for you.”

  Shayla let out a beleaguered sigh. “You’re right. It will be. It’s going to hurt something awful. But I don’t really have a choice in the matter, not when you think about it. Rafferty isn’t going anywhere and neither am I. And I don’t want to run from him for the rest of my life.”

  “When did you get so wise?” Micah asked, wondering when Shayla had matured into such a strong and intuitive woman.

  Shayla made a face. “I’m not sure I’m wise, but I’ve been praying about the situation all day and asking God to help me decide what to do. In the end, I decided to come help you set up because you’re my brother and I love you to the moon and back.”

  Micah felt his chest tighten with emotion. He wasn’t sure he could speak at the moment, so he simply smiled at his sister and placed his palm over his heart.

  Shayla smiled back at him. “I know what Rafferty’s friendship means to you. And I’m coming tonight because I want to see Rafferty happy. That’s part of loving him. I care about his happily ever after.” Her voice softened. “Even if it doesn’t include me.”

  Caleb swiped at his eyes. “Now you’re going to have me bawling. This is getting deep.”

  Micah nodded, feeling in full agreement with his brother. The Donahue clan was a tight one. Their familial bonds cut through biology and blood and birth lines. They were comprised of the biological kids of Jude and Penelope Donahue, as well as ones who were adopted from the foster care system. All in all, it had never mattered to a single one of them. They weren’t all born from the same mother and their skins tones didn’t all match up, but their hearts and souls were entwined for a lifetime. Both he and Caleb felt Shayla’s pain acutely. And even though Rafferty was his best friend and he knew Rafferty hadn’t done a single thing to lead her on, part of him felt a slight twinge of irritation toward his friend. Not that he would necessarily want to see the two of them together, but he wondered how Rafferty couldn’t have spotted Shayla’s adoration. Couldn’t he see she was one hundred times the woman that Pamela was pretending to be?

  You’re not being fair! A voice buzzed in his ear. Rafferty wasn’t to blame for Shayla’s bruised heart. He was simply being an overprotective brother. With regards to matters of the heart, a person couldn’t control who they loved or didn’t love. Sadly, it was a lesson his baby sister was learning at the moment. Just because you loved and adored someone, it didn’t mean they would love you back.

  The ding of the doorbell cut through the silence, providing a nice diversion from all the tension.

  “That’s probably the food delivery from the Blue Bayou,” Caleb said, referencing his award winning bistro. Caleb and Addie had offered to provide the food for tonight’s party, for which Micah was extremely grateful. The Blue Bayou was a highly-rated establishment that offered a wide range of mouth-watering cuisine. It was one of Micah’s go-to restaurants, along with his parent’s place, the Silver Spoon diner.

  “Thanks again for supplying the food. It means a lot,” Micah said.

  “We’re happy to do it. Let me go open the door,” Caleb said, hurrying off down the hall toward the front door.

  Shayla stood up from her chair and clapped her hands together. “Okay, so where should I jump in? What do you need me to do?”

  Micah took a step toward her and reached for her hands. “Has anyone ever told you that you’re an amazing woman?”

  The sound of her laughter rang out in the room. “Well, daddy tells me all the time. But he’s sort of obligated to say nice things about me. Does that count?”

  “Of course it does. He loves you. We all love you, Shay. And if you ever need someone to listen or a shoulder to lean on, I’m here. Rafferty’s my best friend, but you’re my sister. I’m with you. Unconditionally. Unequivocally. Completely.”

  “I know, Micah,” sh
e said, blinking away tears. “You’ve always been there for me. And I know you always will be. Now, let me help. It’ll be a good way of distracting myself from the love of my life celebrating his engagement to someone else.”

  Micah nodded in agreement. “Okay, let’s kick into high gear.” He glanced again at his watch. People would be arriving at his house in less than five hours. “I could use your help setting up the table. There’s some flowers in the kitchen sink that need assembling as well. Then I would love you forever if you dash out to Party Town and pick up the balloons I ordered.”

  “I’m on it,” Shayla said, heading off toward the kitchen with a grin on her face.

  Micah’s heart threatened to overflow with love for his kid sister. It was hard for him to accept it, but she was now a woman. A teacher. She was in love with his best friend and her heart was bleeding all over the place. And other than providing comfort and a strong shoulder to lean on, there was nothing Micah or Caleb or anyone in their family could do to shield her from the bumps and bruises of life. He’d seen the look on her face when she was talking about Rafferty. It still stunned him that he’d been so oblivious to her feelings. It was written all over her face. It radiated like the sun. The love she felt was palpable.

  Shayla wanted Rafferty to be happy, even if it wasn’t with her. Frankly, he admired her. Micah yearned to feel a love so strong, so true. He had never felt more than puppy love with any of the vast number of women he’d dated. He was beginning to think something might be wrong with him. Was he detached? Too picky? Immune to love?

  Or was he simply too scared to give his heart to someone? Micah shook off the question, determined to get back to work. Regardless of Shayla’s feelings for Rafferty, he was still engaged to Pamela and Micah was still hosting his best friend’s engagement party this evening.

  He inhaled a deep breath and prayed tonight would go off without a hitch.

  “The past can be a deterrent to our future. It’s not always easy, but sometimes we just have to let it go, to forget the things that damaged us. It’s the only way to move forward.” Rafferty Fitzgerald