Back to the Heart

by Sky Corgan

  “I promise I’ll call you if I need something. Right now, I just want to be alone,” he’d told her. “I’ve been surrounded by people for almost a month. Let me have a bit of space.”

  She’d acquiesced with a frown, retreating to the kitchen to bake. In no time, she’d have Brennan stocked up with more sweets than he could possibly eat. If it kept her out of his hair, though, that was all that mattered.

  He sighed as he tried to close the door. The wheelchair made things difficult, and it took Brennan several attempts. It was yet another reminder of how incompetent he had become after the accident.

  He dialed Ana’s number with shaky fingers. Even after leaving the hospital, it would take a while for him to return to his former glory, maybe even years, the doctor had told him. Brennan prayed it wouldn’t take that long. He wanted to return to Ana’s ranch and pick up where they left off.

  “Hey, Brennan.” Ana’s excitement showed through her voice.

  “Ana.” A long sigh of relief left him. His heart felt warm just talking to her.

  “I guess this means you’re home.”

  “I am.” He nodded.

  “How is everything?”

  “It’s hard.” Brennan couldn’t lie. “But Mom is here taking care of me.”

  “I met your mother. She’s an amazing woman. Very strong.”

  “She is. We’re both blessed to have great moms.” He smiled, thinking of Molly.

  “Mom sends her love, by the way.”

  “Tell her I miss her pot roast.”

  Ana laughed, which only made his smile broaden. It was a good topic to lead in to what he actually wanted to discuss, and that made his chest tighten. This was definitely not something to smile about.

  “I’m sorry I couldn’t come back to you.”

  “Don’t.” The happiness faded from her tone.

  “I won’t be able to come back for a while.”

  “I know, and that’s fine. You need to stay there and heal. How long did the doctor say before he thinks you’ll be able to walk again?”

  “I can’t go that long without seeing you.” Brennan shook his head, trying to bite back his frustration.

  “It can’t be helped, Brennan. You need to get better, and I need to find a job.”

  “A job? Why? I thought you were going to wait until after the baby was born.”

  She sighed. “When I was there in New York visiting you, I ran into Rick Fasken at a deli.”

  “What are the odds?”

  “I know.” Ana swallowed hard. “Anyway, he saw I wasn’t lying about the pregnancy. He’s going to fight me for custody once the baby is born.”

  “He won’t win. The mother has the upper hand as far as the law is concerned.” Brennan shook his head, struggling to push down the rage building up inside of him. That bastard had the nerve to go after Ana’s child? Like ruining her life hadn’t been enough.

  “I know. But I still need to be prepared, and that means having the funds to hire a good attorney.”

  “I’ll handle it.”

  “You’ve done enough for me already, Brennan. You took care of the defamation case. I can’t ask this of you. I just want to do this on my own.”

  “You don’t have to do it on your own, Ana. You’re not alone anymore. I would never let anything happen to you or the baby.”

  “That’s sweet of you. But I’m not your responsibility.”

  He was taken aback by her words. Was she trying to tell him she didn’t want him anymore? This wasn’t how he’d planned things to happen, but there was such desperation coursing through him. More than that, there was fear, fear that he might lose her forever. “Marry me.”

  “What?” The shock in her voice rang clear.

  “Marry me, and Rick Fasken will never be able to touch you or the baby ever again.”

  Ana was silent for a few moments, and Brennan waited with bated breath. Then she sighed. “I can’t marry you, Brennan.”

  In that moment, his heart shattered into a million pieces. Of course she didn’t want to marry him. Not the way he was now. Could he blame her? He’d be more of a burden than anything to her.

  “I understand. I’m sorry.” His hand trembled around the phone.

  “It’s not for the reason you’re thinking,” she said softly. He didn’t care. All that mattered was the end result. She didn’t want him. “You came here pretending to be someone you weren’t. If I hadn’t seen your face on the cover of a magazine, I never would have known. You would have just . . . disappeared.”

  “Maybe my name was different, but that was me. That was who I really am.”

  “I love you, Brennan. I don’t want you to think I don’t. I don’t want you to think this accident has changed my feelings for you, because it hasn’t. But I need to get to know you, Brennan Demars, before I can make a commitment that big.”

  “Then get to know me. Move here. I’ll pay for everything. You can even come live with me. I won’t make you take care of me. I’ll send my mom home and get in-home care. It won’t be like it was before, but at least it will be better than . . .” His voice trailed off. “I’m miserable without you, Ana. I knew from the moment I laid eyes on you that you were meant to be by my side—that I was meant to be by yours. If I had known that before I met your mother and sister, maybe things would have been different. Maybe you would have met me as Brennan Demars, not as Ryan Black. I can’t change the past, though, and I’m sorry, so sorry that I ever lied to you about anything. I’ll spend my entire life making it up to you if you’ll just let me.”

  Again, there was that heart-wrenching silence. It was as if she was taking the time to form another rejection. What would he do if the woman he had planned to marry didn’t want him anymore? There would never be another woman for him. And the thought of living the rest of his life with no one by his side was too much to bear.

  “I can’t give you an answer now. I need to think about this.”

  “Then think about it. But please, please, don’t forget that I love you. No matter what you decide, I will always love you, for the rest of my life.”

  There was so much sadness in Brennan’s voice that it hurt Ana deeply. He didn’t understand her position. She had just moved home barely over a month ago, she was still getting her life together, she was pregnant, afraid for her baby because of Rick, worried about leaving her mother alone to tend to the ranch on her own, concerned about what her life would be like if she moved to New York and married the megabillionaire. His injuries had never even factored into the equation. Ana loved Brennan, and she would take care of him. But finding out his true identity had opened up the reality that she knew nothing about him.

  Up until the point of the plane crash, the ball had been in Ana’s court. Brennan had told her bits and pieces of his life, being secretive about the details. Now, the truth had been thrust into her face, and the magnitude of it had practically bowled her over.

  He wasn’t Ryan Black, sweet, hardworking businessman who liked to help people. He was Brennan freakin’ Demars, the world-renowned billionaire playboy who was always traveling on business trips and going to charity functions. His life was vastly different from what she had experienced on her mother’s ranch. Before she agreed to marry him, she would have to get to know him all over again. But relocating? That was drastic. Their entire relationship had been on overdrive since they met, like a romance movie stuck on fast-forward. She knew he was sincere about wanting her to move in with him, but she also knew that the only reason he’d asked was because the accident had him rattled. Where he had been confident about her love for him before, now he wasn’t so certain. It killed her that she had to add to that by taking some time to think, but this was a big decision. Picking up and relocating again after such a short amount of time, and with a man whom she’d only known for a few weeks, didn’t seem like the brightest idea.

  Ana walked downstairs to where her mother was watching television in the living room. She leaned over the back of the sofa, st
aring blankly at the sitcom that was keeping Molly so entertained.

  “I talked to Brennan,” she said.

  “Brennan?” Molly repeated the name absentmindedly. It took a minute for it to click inside her brain. She was so used to calling Brennan Ryan, or her favorite, Sunshine. “Oh?” She muted the television and turned to her daughter.

  “He asked me to marry him.”

  “Are you really so surprised? You’re already wearing that rock he gave you.” Molly gestured toward the ring on Ana’s finger.

  A blush came to Ana’s cheeks as she looked down at the glittering diamonds. As soon as she had boarded the flight back home, she had taken the ring out of its box and slipped it onto her finger. She hadn’t removed it since. For a while, she’d thought Matt might have forgotten to get it back from her, but he’d never asked for it when they spoke on the phone. As far as Ana was concerned, it was hers to wear as she wanted until Brennan asked for it back. Every time she looked at it, it reminded her of him and the wonderful time they’d had together on her mother’s ranch, but it also made her question things to come, how their relationship would change now that he was stuck in New York and she was in Texas.

  “I knew he would propose,” Ana admitted. “At least, I’d hoped he would. But not this soon. Our relationship feels like it was built on a lie, and while I’m not angry, I’m uncertain. I don’t feel like I know him well enough to take such a big step.” She rounded the sofa to sit next to her mother.

  “Well, that is something to think about.”

  “And after what happened with the plane crash, it’s going to be a long time before I’ll get to know the real him. At least, that was what I thought.” She sighed, twisting the ring on her finger. “I told him I wouldn’t marry him until I got to know him better, and then he countered by asking me to move in with him.”

  Molly’s expression turned sulky. It was obvious that the thought of Ana moving away again wasn’t the most pleasing thing for her to hear. “And what did you say to that?”

  “I told him I needed to think about it.”

  “It’s a big decision.” Molly nodded.

  “It is. I feel so torn. I want to stay here with you and help you with the ranch, but at the same time, I feel like I should be there with him. He’s done so much for us.”

  “And you feel obligated to help him.” Molly turned toward her daughter.

  Ana hadn’t thought of it that way. He had done so much for so many people without asking for anything in return. But at the same time, she just wanted to be with him. All that mattered was that they were together.

  “I don’t feel obligated. I want to be there for him.”

  “Because you love him.”

  “Because I’m in love with him.” Ana paused, thinking. “I may not know who he is in his everyday life, but I do know who he is in his heart.”

  “It’s not that hard of a decision then, is it?” Molly put her hand on her daughter’s knee. “Marriage is a big deal. Till death do you part. For better or for worse. As much as I don’t want to lose another daughter so quickly, maybe it would be a good idea for you to go up there. If you can handle for worse, then the rest of your lives together will always be for better.”

  Ana’s eyes were glistening with tears by the time her mother stopped speaking. Nothing had ever been more proof of Molly’s love for her. Even though she needed Ana there with her, she wasn’t about to stand in the way of her daughter’s happiness, and she’d help Ana make the right decision, even if it turned both of their worlds completely upside down all over again.

  CHAPTER TWENTY-FOUR

  It felt like Ana was agreeing to Brennan’s proposal, and judging by his reaction, he thought so too.

  “I’m not agreeing to marry you until I get to know you better,” she clarified, trying to calm them both down.

  “I can have a private jet come pick you up this afternoon.”

  “Private jet?” Ana scrunched up her nose. “If you have those at your disposal”—which she was certain he did—“then why didn’t you take one back to Texas instead of getting on a commercial plane?”

  “Because I was still trying to be Ryan.”

  “When exactly were you going to tell me that you’re really Brennan Demars?” It was a question that had been eating at her.

  “I had kind of hoped you’d put it together during the Skype call,” he confessed.

  “Yeah, but when I asked you about your hair and eyes, you diverted. It would have been the perfect opportunity to come clean.”

  Brennan sighed. “I know. I guess I was just worried I’d lose you when you found out the truth. I’d been hiding from the press, trying to get some breathing room. It’s hard being in the public eye all the time.”

  “So you decided to travel around the country and help out on ranches and farms while pretending to be someone else?” She quirked an eyebrow.

  “Pretty much.”

  “That’s a very odd idea for a vacation from your own life.”

  “I like helping people.” She could almost hear him shrug on the other end of the line. “Besides, most resorts would have outed me right away. It takes a lot more than a dye job and colored contacts to fool those people.”

  “Are you calling me stupid?” Ana gasped playfully.

  “Hm. Let’s consider you more not in touch with celebrity gossip and what’s going on in the world around you.”

  “You’re a butt,” she laughed. It was true. Ana could not care less what was happening with this celebrity or that one. If it didn’t affect her family or the town she lived in, then she didn’t care.

  “I’m your butt, but that’s beside the point. I’ll have one of my pilots come pick you up tomorrow.”

  Ana shifted, biting her bottom lip. She knew that Brennan wanted her with him as soon as possible, but there was something she needed to do first. “Can you give me a week? I need time to pack my things and tie up some loose ends here.”

  “All you need are some clothes. It’s not like you’ll be furnishing the place.”

  “I know, but I just want a bit more time with my family. I hope you understand.” She cringed, fearing his disappointment.

  “Yeah. Sure.” It was clear in his voice, but he quickly recovered. “A week is fine. I’ve survived this long without you, and that gives me something to look forward to.”

  Ana sighed in relief. “Thanks, Brennan. You’ve been wonderful.”

  “Not as wonderful as you. I’ll miss you until we speak again.”

  “Likewise.” She hung up the phone with a smile on her face, happy that it wouldn’t be long before she would be in Brennan’s arms again.

  It was hard leaving her mother and sister behind. Molly drove Ana to the airport and hugged her like she never thought she’d see her daughter again.

  “If anything goes wrong up there, you know where home is.”

  “I know, Mom. Thanks for everything.” Ana smiled warmly, feeling a tugging in her heart. It seemed surreal to be leaving so soon, to be going to start a new life with a man who was practically a stranger to her.

  “You and Sunshine come visit me whenever you’re able, you hear?”

  “We will, Mom. I promise.” Ana’s stomach was full of butterflies, her mind full of excitement. Soon, she’d be in New York again, and hopefully for good.

  The flight was long and boring, and Ana felt unsettled as the plane took off, thinking of what had happened to Brennan. But there was no need to worry. She arrived in New York safely, and there was a driver waiting to take her back to Brennan’s penthouse.

  For the entire ride, she held on to her stomach, a smile playing on her face. A few days prior, she had gotten the first good look at her baby. Now she felt closer to the bundle in her womb than ever. Even if things with Brennan didn’t work out, she’d never be alone. She knew that now, and it filled her with a sense of serenity.

  When they arrived, the driver handed Ana her suitcases, and she rode the elevator up to the top floor,
her heart pounding with anticipation. The butterflies were going crazy now. Or was that the baby kicking? Ana couldn’t tell.

  Much like when she had gone to visit Brennan in the hospital, she wasn’t sure what to expect. She knocked twice and waited, preparing for the worst. The last thing either of them needed was for her to be blindsided by her own naïveté.

  Seconds later, the door was pulled open by Mary, Brennan’s mother.

  “Hello, Ana,” Mary greeted her warmly. “I’m guessing you’re here to take over my duties caring for my son.”

  Ana’s cheeks brightened. If there had been any question who Ana was before, it was clear now. There was apprehension behind Mary’s expression, but she knew Ana loved Brennan. That was plain as day from how much time Ana had spent at the hospital when he had been in a coma.

  “I promise I’ll take good care of him,” Ana assured her.

  “It will be fine, Mom.” Brennan rolled his wheelchair forward so that he and Ana could see each other.

  All her fears melted away.

  He held his arms out to her, and she dropped her suitcases to go to him, embracing him. The hug lasted for what felt like forever, and it was full of tears and desperation and love.

  Mary stood silently by the door, watching the two of them hug.

  “Well, I suppose I’ll take my leave then,” she said, causing the two lovebirds to pull away from each other.

  “You don’t have to go so soon.” Ana didn’t want his mother to feel like she was being driven away. In fact, Ana kind of wished Mary would stay for a while. It would be nice talking to her under better circumstances.

  “I really should go. Your father is probably going stir-crazy without me there to keep him on his toes.” Her attention fell to Brennan, who rolled his eyes.

  “Fine. Fine. If you insist. Thanks for everything. I love you, and I’ll miss you.”

  “And you’ll call me.” She pointed a long dainty finger at him.