Any Way You Plan It: An Upper Crust Series Novel

by Monique McDonell

  “I did.”

  “Have a good time?”

  “We did.”

  “Don’t screw this up,” his brother said.

  “Thanks for the vote of confidence,” he said.

  “You’re welcome.”

  “I need a good date idea. Something to woo her.”

  “Skating,” he said simply.

  “As in ice?”

  “Definitely as in ice.” And then his brother hung up.

  He often wondered why Todd and Marissa had never been an item. Todd seemed to know more about Marissa than any man on the planet. He was the ultimate wingman for this wooing process, but still, he wondered why they never had. Todd had said there was no attraction there. It was always strange to the brothers how one of them could attract a woman when the other didn’t, especially when they looked so similar, but the truth was it happened a lot.

  Still, Mike wondered if the lack of attraction was mutual. Sometimes he saw Todd looking at Marissa and wondered if maybe had he not been so adamant that he wasn’t having a relationship ever, would he have staked a claim. Then again, there was no way. They were as tight as any two brothers, and the truth was, growing up fatherless and with a mother who chose their stepfathers over them, they would never do that to one another.

  What Mike did know was that Todd and Marissa were best friends, and he very definitely didn’t want Mike to hurt her. Neither did Mike, of course. When she smiled last night, when she was dancing and truly happy, Mike knew he’d do anything to see her smile that way every day.

  It hit him like a jolt that perhaps that was love, wanting to see someone happy, wanting to make them smile, and being sure they got everything they wanted. If Marissa wanted wooing, she’d get that. What else did she want? He thought he knew but now he needed to be one hundred percent certain so that he could give her that.

  He let his mind go back in time to his relationship with Ebony. Had either of them ever put the other’s happiness first? Had they ever just wanted the other person to get what they wanted, no agendas? He shook his head at the memory of some of their more spectacular fights and realized that both of them had used the words I and me and rarely the words you and we. He didn’t know if they’d been selfish, young, or just incompatible.

  “Probably all three,” he said, before looking up the opening times for the nearest outdoor ice rink.

  Mike called around six. The truth was she’d been waiting all day for his call. After Chloe left, she’d busied herself unpacking the last of her things and getting her house in order, literally, for the year ahead. She’d also taken a long bath and primped and preened just in case an opportunity for some naked time with Mike arose.

  And then he didn’t call. She’d made a batch of muffins for her workday snacks and looked up some bridesmaid dress options online that Lucy was considering. They were all insanely beautiful and crazy expensive. Still, you only get married once. Or you hoped you did. She refrained from looking at bridal gowns on the site the bridesmaid dresses were on. Even though her mind raced ahead to what her wedding with Mike might look like.

  She knew it was crazy. She didn’t look at the dresses, but the truth was she’d pictured her wedding to Mike more than once over the years. The images were so real and so imbedded she almost felt like she was watching a movie.

  Then of course, the day wore on and he didn’t call and she couldn’t help but feel even more foolish than usual for her overzealous imagination. Why did she do this every time? Set herself up for a fall.

  And then the phone rang.

  “Hey, beautiful.”

  “Sorry, who is this?” she said, aiming for nonchalant.

  “Oh, how soon they forget.” He went along. “It’s Mike, you know from last night.”

  “Oh hi, I have a dim memory,” she said, a smile returning to her face.

  “Busy?” he asked.

  “Why?”

  “Want to go out. I have something fun in mind.”

  She was not going to say no and they both knew that. “It’s kind of late.”

  “It’s six o’clock, Marissa. Come on. I’ll make it worth your while.”

  “Okay.” She tried to sound annoyed, like she was doing him a favor, but she was actually happy dancing around the apartment

  “Great, I’m on my way. Dress warm.” And he was gone before she could ask any more questions.

  Dress warm. It was New Year’s Day in New Hampshire, how else would she dress?

  Fifteen minutes later, he arrived in a charcoal fisherman’s sweater and flannel pants. He wore boots and was holding gloves and a beanie when she flung the door open to greet him. He had a sexy grin, and her heart did a little blip.

  “Happy New Year,” he said, leaning in for a kiss that fell way beyond friendly and south of erotic.

  “Same to you.”

  “Got a coat?”

  “I have so many layers on I feel like I’m ready for a blizzard.”

  “Do I get to unwrap you one layer at a time?”

  “Maybe. But only if you are very good.”

  “I promise,” he said, slinging his arm over her shoulder and whispering in her ear as they headed to the elevator, “I’ll be the best you ever had.”

  Good lord, she didn’t know what to do with that. She liked it but it made her unsteady.

  They stepped outside and he didn’t move away. “Where are we going?”

  “It’s a surprise,” he said, his warm breath on her cheek.

  “I like surprises. Usually.”

  “Good, I’m full of surprises.”

  This was the Mike she knew in high school, the slightly cocky, slightly sexy version of the sensitive grown-up he had morphed into the last few years. She liked both versions but this one seemed like he was a whole lot of fun.

  “You seem, different today.” She turned her head to look at his face. Appraising the situation, trying to work out the reason for the shift.

  “New year, new beginning, new attitude.”

  “Sexy new attitude.”

  He just gave her a wink. Good lord, she was in a world of trouble.

  They pulled into the lot at O’Hare Ice Rink and she let out a little squeal. Then she gave his thigh a squeeze. “Ice-skating? You’re taking me ice-skating?”

  In profile, he could see her eyes wide as saucers and the big grin on her face.

  “Yes, I am.”

  “Yay. I haven’t been ice-skating since . . .” He watched her brow furrow as she considered how long it had been. “Maybe ten years.”

  “Seriously? You love to skate.”

  “I know, but I got out of the habit, and then when I was looking after my folks, I was worried about falling.” She turned and gave him a full grin that left him in no doubt this had been an excellent choice. “This is so great.”

  It was pretty crowded, which was to be expected. It was a clear night and it was New Year’s, so lots of people had lists to check off and goals to add more excitement to their lives. He rented their skates and a locker, and they found a bench to sit and swap their footwear. The ice was dotted with couples, family groups, and young people on dates. The ice rink owner was one of his advertisers, but Mike hadn’t thought to come here and actually see it for himself.

  Marissa had her skates on in record time. She pulled a soft purple beanie onto her head, she wore a purple polar fleece jacket and pink and purple patterned gloves over her jeans. She looked adorable. In fact, she looked exactly as she had back in high school.

  A memory of an outing they’d taken in a group their senior year came to him. Two carloads of them had driven out to skate and drink hot chocolate. He remembered her smiling like this and doing some amazing ice dancing, complete with fancy twirls.

  “You used to compete, right?” he asked.

  “Yes. My mother wanted me in dancing and pageants and I didn’t want that. Skating was a compromise.”

  “You would have done well in pageants.”

  She wrinkled her nose.
“Parading on a stage in a swimsuit is so not my thing.”

  “But twirling in a skirt that flies up and leaves little to the imagination was okay with you?”

  “Totally. Now come on, less talking and more skating,” she said, taking his hand and leading him onto the ice. Mike had been an okay skater back in high school but he wasn’t a hockey player or a skater of the caliber of Marissa, and it had been over ten years for him as well. Still, though tentative, he took to the ice. They both gave a little wobble and she clutched his hand tight, giving him a huge grin.

  After the first couple of laps, he let her go and she hit the center and did a few twirls. It was like watching a flower unfurl its petals toward the sun. She was coming alive before him. He was aware of other people watching her, too. A couple of small girls skated up to her and she bent down to talk to them before skating back to him.

  “You have a fan club already.”

  “I know them from the library. You know how kids are, they don’t expect to see you anywhere but where they think you belong.”

  “You’ve still got it.”

  “Yeah, I’m rusty, but yeah. Come on.”

  And hour later, he needed a break. “How about hot chocolate?”

  She nodded. “Perfect.”

  Mike got in line at the concession stand and got them each a hot dog and a hot chocolate. Not exactly classy date food but it was near eight and he was starving.

  He waved a hotdog in her direction and she came off the ice and joined him on a bench. It was a crisp, clear night and there were a million stars above the outdoor rink. It may not have been five-star but it was fun.

  “Yum,” she said, taking a bit of her hot dog. He tried to push the erotic images it brought to mind away. “Thank you.”

  “My pleasure,” he said, and he genuinely meant it. “It’s nice to see you having so much fun.”

  “Dancing last night, skating tonight. Who am I?” she asked, laughing and licking some stray mustard off her bottom lip.

  “I think you’re just a footloose version of you. I like it,” he said, giving her a nudge.

  “Me, too. I feel . . . amazing. And it is all because of you.” She leaned in and planted a soft kiss on his lips. “Thank you. Best New Year’s ever.”

  Mike couldn’t help but think that if all it took was ice-skating and a hot dog, maybe it was all very much within his reach all along. And he couldn’t quite figure out why, back in high school, he’d resisted this so much. “Thanks. I’m having fun, too. The company is the highlight for me.”

  She blushed a little and gave him a wink. “Not the rather tepid hot chocolate?”

  “It’s a close second.”

  Marissa sat in the heated seat of Mike’s truck and let out a satisfied sigh. Her legs were tired, her hands were cold, and she couldn’t feel her nose, but it was a long time since she’d been this genuinely happy. She was tempted to pinch herself to check if this was real. If she’d scripted her own romantic comedy, the couple would have gone ice-skating on a date.

  The road wove through the forest from the pond back to town and passed the end of her parents’ driveway.

  “Do you want to drive in and check on it? Save you popping out tomorrow.”

  Mike was aware as everyone who owned a house out here that you needed to check the heat was working or your pipes would freeze and disaster would strike.

  “Thanks. It’ll just take five minutes.”

  “No rush.”

  She hadn’t been back for a week, and in truth, she wasn’t looking forward to it. It would be strange to see the family home with just a small skeleton of furniture left. She’d been so focused on moving day she hadn’t had time to look back. Now traipsing up the front stairs, a wave of sadness hit her. Then, Mike’s arm went around her waist and he spoke quietly in her ear.

  “This must feel strange.”

  “You have no idea,” she said, turning the key and letting themselves into the house that was eerily quiet. She flipped on some lights and shadows bounced around the living room. Mike didn’t let go of her, and she was happy she wasn’t doing this alone.

  “Quiet, huh? I remember when we were teens, it was always a madhouse here. All your siblings with their boyfriends and girlfriends and there were always extra kids here.”

  “It was great. My mom loved that. She felt like the center of the universe. Even though she was crotchety and demanding the last few years, the truth was she just missed all the action and didn’t like being moved to the periphery of everyone’s life.”

  “Empty nest syndrome to the nth degree.”

  “Exactly,” Marissa said, looking to the stairwell where the outlines of the missing family photos marked the wallpaper. “I was going to re-paper but Vern Matthews, the realtor, told me whoever buys it will want to renovate anyway so I shouldn’t bother, but that just looks sad.”

  “It kind of does, the wall looks . . . naked,” Mike suggested. “Has he had any interested parties?”

  “Not yet, well, no one serious. It’ll take a while. I’m hoping a young family buys it and makes it a home.” She walked through to the kitchen and looked out to the backyard. “The barn is still there if the kids wanted horses. There’s a veggie garden and a green house, a chicken coop. With a bit of paint and a little attention, it would be an amazing home to raise kids.”

  “Is that what you want? Chickens and horses and kids?” Mike asked her.

  Things had gotten rather serious all of a sudden; she turned back to face him. “I can live without the horses and the chickens, but yes, I do want kids. Don’t you?”

  “Well, if I can guarantee that they get to have a normal, stable childhood, then yes. I don’t want them to be affected by a series of divorces and stepparents like we were.”

  “There’re no guarantees, Mike. I mean, your Dad didn’t die on purpose.”

  “I know,” he said, giving her a small smile. “And I like to think if he hadn’t we would have had the kind of childhood you did. I always loved coming here; it felt like a real home.”

  “It was. And I want something like that for my kids one day.” She grabbed his hand. “Come on, let’s check the furnace and then we can go.”

  Mike had the overwhelming urge to kiss her. Instead of being lead to check the furnace, he gave her arm a tug and she fell against his chest. His mouth covered hers in a greedy kiss. Although her eyes popped with surprise, she didn’t pull back, rather she met him stroke for stroke as he deepened the kiss. Her soft body melded to his, and everything except the feel and taste of her fell away.

  Standing here in her parents’ kitchen, he was acutely aware that he could have done this ten years ago. She could have been his then and every day in between if he’d wanted that. The reality that he’d missed out on ten years with her hit him hard. What had he been thinking? He stopped.

  “Are you okay?” Her face was creased with worry.

  “Yes, just kicking myself I waited so long to do this.” He knew she thought he meant on this date, but he meant in this lifetime.

  “Well, maybe you should make up for lost time.” She pulled his mouth back to hers.

  That was exactly what he would do. He didn’t want to waste another minute. He wanted to do everything he could to make her happy from here on out. He wanted to be the one she told everything to. He wanted to hear about her day and wake up next to her and kiss her like this forever. Heck, if she wanted kids and chickens and goats, he’d do his best to give them to her.

  Her hands ran up his back, pulling him closer. The kiss deepened and he let his hands tangle in her gorgeous curly hair. He tilted her head for better access.

  He lost track of how long they stood there. It was as if the world retreated and they were the only ones left in it. He couldn’t remember when that had last happened to him, that he’d been so lost in the moment that time had stopped. Too long.

  “Wow,” she said when they finally came up for air. Her lips plump from kissing, her eyes drowsy.


  “Yeah.” He didn’t loosen his hold.

  “Come with me,” she said, taking his hand.

  “Seriously? The furnace now?”

  She let out a wicked laugh. “We’re not going to the basement, silly.”

  Chapter 21

  She felt brazen, taking him by the hand and leading him up the stairs to her old room. Her bed was still there and a smattering of furniture. Everything in the room was as familiar to her as her own face, and yet everything about tonight was different.

  She was with Mike. The years of waiting and wondering were over and he was here with her.

  Turning to face him, she felt suddenly shy, maybe it was the room.

  “Brought many boyfriends up here?”

  She laughed. “Oh yeah, my dad would totally have let that happen. Not!”

  “I should have climbed up the drain pipe and crept in your window back in the day,” he said.

  “Lucky you didn’t.”

  “Really?”

  “Sure.” She stepped close and pulled him in to a hug. “Remember that time we kissed back at graduation?”

  His mouth curved into a smile at the memory. “Of course.”

  “You told me I’d never get over you if we kissed.”

  “What an arrogant jerk I was.”

  “Arrogant but right, I never really did get over you. Imagine if we’d made love?”

  His smile was kind of sad. “I’m sorry about all that. Everything I’ve done and how I’ve acted. I just hope that now I’m worthy of you.”

  He planted a gentle kiss on her temple.

  “I’m just glad you found your way back to me.” It was true. She couldn’t quite believe it had actually happened but it had.

  Mike leaned in and kissed her again. It was a soft, gentle kiss full of tenderness and promise. It seemed to say “I’m sorry” and “I’m here” all at once. Marissa felt it down to her toes. As the kiss intensified, she felt a hum all over. Mike’s hands rubbed up and down her back, pulling her closer when they landed on her butt. She slid her hands under his shirt because she needed the intoxicating feeling of skin on skin.