by Bette Ford
“Good. Take care and try to keep the twins away from the set.”
She laughed. “Yeah, piece of cake. All I have to do is move the moon. What time is the lunar landing?”
Chuckling, he said, “I don’t envy your having to explain.” Then he said, “This trip couldn’t have come at a worse time. I feel as if I should be there helping you deal with all this.”
“You’re helping, but I think we are going to have to put off Cedar Point.”
“You sure?”
“Yes.” Unable to withhold her emotions, she quickly said, “I’ve got to go. Have a safe trip back. Bye.”
Vanessa was disturbed by what seemed to be her ever-increasing feelings for Ralph. When he showed up at work on Thursday to take her out to lunch, she couldn’t seem to breathe easy until he pulled her into his arms and held her close. She’d missed him terribly. She didn’t need to be told she was making a complete fool of herself over the man. She couldn’t help how she felt, no amount of wishing made it go away, and that frightened her.
Their lunch consisted of a quick hamburger at a nearby fast-food restaurant while staring hungrily at each other’s lips. Finally, when they pulled up in the Mathis drive, Ralph, evidently fed up with waiting, pulled her against his strong frame and ended their misery by leaning down to share a long, hungry kiss.
Once he eased back to rest his forehead against hers, “I’m sorry, beautiful. I started what I can’t finish. I’ve gotta get over to the college…a meeting…”
She nodded. “I should get inside.” Not wanting to let him go, she found herself asking, “Will I see you later?”
The instant the words left her mouth, she wanted to call them back. Although embarrassed by her weakness, she waited for his response. No one had to tell her that like most men, Ralph detested clingy women who refused to let go. It was so pathetic. And she’d promised herself she would walk away before she let it get that bad. How close was she to making that relationship-ending mistake?
He smiled, his lips briefly brushed against hers. “Absolutely.”
“Bye.” Hurrying inside the house, she was relieved that she didn’t run into anyone on the way to her office. Vanessa hadn’t expected to react so strongly to him. The instant she laid eyes on him, she wanted to throw herself at him. Why was it so complicated? Didn’t she have enough to deal with without adding more to the mix?
Determined not to dwell on it, she got back to work.
When the telephone rang, absently she said, “Mathis Enterprises?”
A frantic Lana said, “Nessa, what should I do?”
That morning Vanessa had enlisted her sister’s help in keeping the twins away from the television while she was at work.
“What’s wrong, honey?”
“Reporters! They’ve been calling the house nonstop all morning, asking questions about Greg Cummingham and the twins. I didn’t know what I’m supposed to say to them, so I’ve been hanging up.”
Vanessa soothed, “You did right, honey. From now on, don’t even answer the telephone.”
“What if it’s important? How do I know it’s not you calling?”
“I will ring twice, then hang up and call right back. Okay?”
“Okay.”
“Good girl. I’ll see you in a couple of hours. And keep a close eye on the twins, make sure they play only in the backyard. No bikes today. And call me if you need me to come home early.”
“Okay, Bye.”
When Vanessa reached home, she quickly realized Lana hadn’t exaggerated—the telephone rang continuously. Reporters determined to learn whatever they could find on Greg Cummingham. It didn’t take long for her to grow tired of saying, “No comment.” She gave up and unplugged the telephone.
Before she did, she gave Ralph a quick call, told him about the intrusions, and asked him not to come by later. He sounded as disappointed as she felt when she explained they didn’t know who might be watching the house. There was no way of knowing what they might film or put in print. She’d spoken to reporters as far west as Los Angeles and east as New York City. Judging by the questions they’d asked, she suspected they wanted to find out whatever they could about Cummingham’s connection to the Grant twins. They’d gone on to ask if Cummingham had known about her mother’s pregnancy.
It had taken considerable effort to convince a very concerned Ralph that she didn’t want him drawn into this mess. And it would be better for all of them if his name was not linked to hers. She’d laughed when he claimed that it didn’t matter to him. Well, it mattered to her, and she didn’t want his name spread through the tabloids. After a lengthy discussion, she’d convinced him to leave well enough alone, at least for a few days.
Uncomfortable with leaving the kids alone at home, she decided to work from home. She had also sat the twins down and tried to prepare them for the possibility of a crowd of reporters blocking the entrance to the Cummingham property on Friday evening. But she was the one surprised, when the chauffeur-driven limousine didn’t come for the children. Her calls to the Cumminghams’ went unanswered, and she had no choice but to tell the children the truth. She didn’t know the answer.
She got a call from one of Cummingham’s past lovers offering to testify that he had fathered her son. Vanessa immediately called her lawyer and Ralph. She also received a call of support from one of her mother’s friends confessing that her mother had told her about Cummingham being the twins’ father and about his other lady friend. Doubting her testimony would be considered more than hearsay, nevertheless Vanessa was touched by her mother’s friend’s willingness to help.
On Saturday, they woke up to reporters ringing the doorbell. After an hour of no response, they gave up but didn’t leave. Instead they camped out in their parked cars on both sides of the street. The reporters were careful to stay off her property line, so she couldn’t involve the police.
The kids were upset because they couldn’t go bike riding in the park. After a few hours of entertaining the twins inside the house on this beautiful summer day, an upset Vanessa called Carl Jones, her lawyer, to bring him up to speed and let him know the twins would be with her if their biological father changed his mind.
A quick call to Ralph, then she packed up her family and backed out of the driveway right past the reporters, who hurried out to their cars. One made the mistake of jumping behind her SUV, the kids screamed at the top of their lungs, but she didn’t slow down and at the last second, he reconsidered and dove for the bushes and safety.
Terrified, Vanessa couldn’t stop shaking, even after she had parked inside Ralph’s garage. Before she could unlock her seat belt, Ralph was welcoming them. He helped the twins out and began collecting their bags. She was so glad he lived in an exclusive area of Southfield. They were safe for now.
He teased Vanessa about bringing enough luggage for a week. She was still too upset to find any humor in the situation. Whenever she thought of how close she’d come to hitting that reporter, she started trembling all over again. She didn’t have to explain; the kids gave him a detailed accounting.
When he held his hand out to help her from the car, she shook her head. At his look of surprise, she blinked hard, holding back tears, afraid that if he touched her, she would shatter into a million pieces. Several deep breaths later, she got out of the car. On unsteady legs, she went into the house.
While her family went up to pick out their bedrooms, Ralph opened his arms. In desperate need of his strength, Vanessa let out a weary sigh as she moved forward, not stopping until she pressed her cheek against his chest and wrapped her arms around his lean waist.
She whispered, “Thank you for putting us up for, I hope, only a few days. Oh, Ralph, it was terrible.” She shuddered. “For one wild moment I thought I had run him over. The kids were crying and screaming, and I was a total wreck. I’m not sure how I made it here without crashing into something. I could barely hold on to the steering wheel.”
“Shush, now, baby,” he crooned, as he stroke
d her hair.
“It’s over, you’re safe, and the kids are fine. You are welcome to stay here as long as you like. A week, two weeks, a month, doesn’t matter…there are no limits.”
Vanessa held on to him until the shaking stopped. She had just lifted her head to tell him how much she appreciated his generous invitation when she heard the children’s feet racing to the stairs. She quickly stepped back and dropped her arms.
Smiling, she asked, “Did everyone pick out a room?”
Excited, they were talking at once, trying to outdo each other. Vanessa glanced over at Ralph. “There is still time to change your mind.”
“Not a chance.” He grinned.
“Enough!” she said, holding her hands up. When they were silent, she said, “Okay. Everyone grab your bags. And we’ll unpack, but before we do, what do you say to Ralph for inviting us for a visit?”
“Thank you,” they said at once.
“Let’s go,” Vanessa urged. When she reached for her bag, Ralph picked it up. She was too drained to protest. She smiled. “Thanks.” Then she followed her family upstairs.
Ralph was right behind her. As she assured herself, it was only for a few days, she quietly accepted the truth. She was so far gone, she would be thrilled to move in and become a permanent part of his life. No one had to tell her that there was no such word as “permanent” in Ralph’s vocabulary, at least not when it came to women. He was not about to change. Besides, she did not go anywhere alone. There was no way she could actually live with a man unless they were married, not with a teenager and two small kids to consider.
She should be counting her blessings. They were good friends and lovers…nothing more. The only reason they were staying under the same roof was because of the mess with the Cumminghams and it was in no way personal.
All she had to do was remind herself of that fact a hundred times a day, and she would be fine.
Twenty-five
They picked from a choice of five luxurious bedrooms with en suite bathrooms. Ralph’s master suite was at the end of the hallway.
After the Grant family unpacked and washed up, they went down to prepare dinner. Ralph, with Curtis’s help, grilled hamburgers and steaks outside on the patio, while Courtney and Lana prepared a large chef salad, and Vanessa prepared deep-fried potato wedges as well as a banana pudding for dessert.
Over dinner, outside on the veranda, Vanessa explained the Prescott house rules while an amused Ralph quietly listened. No one was allowed in the pool area, the gym, the garage, or Ralph’s office without his permission.
He was careful not to display how deeply relieved he was that they were here and out of harm’s way. He was amazed that the huge house that he’d bought as an investment felt like a home. When Vanessa had called, he had been touched by the request. In fact he was genuinely grateful that, for a few days, there would be no need to worry about the Grants’ safety. They were out of harm’s way.
As his feelings deepened for Vanessa, so had his concern for her and her family. They lived too far away for his peace of mind. Between break-ins, the Cummingham situation, plus whatever his fertile mind would come up with, Ralph knew he would sleep better while they were under his roof. The idea of a herd of reporters outside their door irritated him no end. Vanessa didn’t need that kind of stress, and Lana and the twins certainly had never done anything to deserve such treatment. This entire mess was Cummingham’s doing.
“Ralph?” Vanessa asked expectantly. At his blank look, she repeated, “Do you have anything to add to the list of rules? What about the game and theater rooms? Are the children allowed in there?”
“Absolutely. I will show you and Lana how to run the machines. There is also an indoor basketball court and bowling alley. Would you like to try your hand at bowling after dinner?”
The kids cheered excitedly. They were ready to go right then.
“You have your own bowling alley?” Vanessa asked in astonishment.
He chuckled. “I do, but only one lane.”
“Can we play?” Courtney and Curtis pleaded.
“Vanessa?”
Smiling, she said, “Sounds like fun.”
After cleaning up the kitchen, they all went downstairs to what Ralph called the fun house. He explained to Lana and Vanessa that he liked to host parties for family and friends. After four years apart, Brynne and Devin had been reacquainted at one of his parties.
The bowling alley proved to be highly entertaining. Ralph particularly loved watching Vanessa enjoy herself, her fear of losing the twins temporarily forgotten. Courtney had the highest score and was thrilled to have beaten everyone, especially her twin.
In an effort to spend a few minutes alone with Vanessa, Ralph didn’t shut off the equipment and lights but followed her. Before she could climb the stairs with the others, he caught her hand, holding her back. Her sweet smile had his heart racing with excitement.
“Yes?” She paused, her face turned up toward his.
He knew he had no business even getting close to her, especially when his need was so pronounced, but he couldn’t help himself. He had to at least taste her sweetness. Dropping his head until he could inhale her scent, he sampled her full, so-soft lips in a hard, but painfully brief, kiss.
“Ralph, if one of the kids saw you,” she scolded softly.
Smiling, he whispered, “I know, but I couldn’t help myself. Don’t worry. I’m not expecting you to sneak into my room tonight.” He squeezed her hand. “Beautiful, I’m sorry. I certainly don’t want you to feel as if I expect anything from you. I’m just glad to have you and the kids here…glad that you trusted me enough to turn to me when you needed help. It means a lot.”
Vanessa smiled, then stood on tiptoe to brush her lips against his. “Sweet man, of course, I turned to you. You have been my rock through all this. As for tonight, I can’t promise to come to you. It depends…”
He stopped her. “No, don’t worry about me. The kids come first. We can wait for a more appropriate time. Go on up before you’re missed. I’ve got some things to take care of down here before I turn in. ’Night.”
She whispered, “Not good night…later.” After playfully placing a kiss on his chin, she hurried up the stairs.
Determined not to get his hopes up and to cool his body down, Ralph went into the pool area. Quickly stripping down, he didn’t flip the switch to heat the water but dove into the deep end and began swimming laps. He kept going until his arms felt like wet noodles. When he climbed out of the pool, he took a hot shower and pulled on a pair of sweatpants and a T-shirt from the sports clothes he kept stored in one of the changing rooms. His towels and other things went into the hamper. After turning off the equipment and the lights, he headed up to the main floor. Ralph locked up and set the alarm system, but instead of going to bed, he went into his office.
It was after midnight when he went up to his room. All was quiet as he passed the closed guest rooms the children had selected. He paused outside Vanessa’s partially open doorway. He couldn’t help himself, he peeked inside.
The beside lamp had been turned off, but a night-light from the bathroom had been left on. Vanessa lay in the middle of the king-size bed; Courtney and Curtis were sleeping on her right side, while Lana slept on her left. Her pretty brown gaze met his, and she mouthed the word “sorry.” Holding back the chuckle rising in his throat, he smiled, shrugged his shoulders, and whispered good night before quietly slipping out.
He continued on into his room and closed the door quietly behind him. Absently, he moved around in the spacious room that suddenly felt empty.
He acknowledged the unvarnished truth. He wasn’t falling. No, he was completely and irrevocably in love with Vanessa Grant. And he was done with fighting what was in his heart.
Restless, he paced in front of the French doors. It took him long enough to figure it out. Finally, he understood what had been going on with him for weeks. The first time he’d proposed marriage, it hadn’t been about helping her o
ut of a difficult spot. The next time he’d asked hadn’t been about incredible desire eating away at him. Both times had nothing to do with the excuses he’d been tossing around. He’d come up with a boatload of them, all of them centering on improving hers and the children’s lives.
Now he saw that his reasons for proposing had been no different than the other Prescott males. He was in love. More than anything else in the world, he wanted to spend his life making her happy.
He would be lying to himself if he didn’t admit her refusal had crushed him to his heart. He’d tried to hide it, and he’d hidden it well. She believed his offers were about her need, not his love. Hell, the last time, she hadn’t even bothered to refuse. She acted as if his proposal didn’t merit an answer. And how had he responded? Like an angry bull. Yet he kept coming back, again and again, like a love-starved fool.
Simple truth was, he couldn’t stay away from her. He’d even gone so far as trying to convince himself that he continued to see her for the sake of the kids. Unfortunately, even he wasn’t buying that one. He’d stayed because he couldn’t bear being away from her.
What was he supposed to do about this love thing? If asked, he wouldn’t recommend it to even his worst enemy. His cousins were all married and very much in love. Just because it had worked out for them didn’t mean it would for him. He was beginning to wonder what in the hell was wrong with him? There was no doubt in his mind that he’d picked the right person for him. Vanessa was perfect in every way.
He’d never known a warmer, more genuine, giving, and loving woman. Which didn’t change the fact that she was not in love with him. Nor did she trust him.
“So what are you going to do, bud?” he mumbled aloud. Was he going to give up and keep on stepping? Or was he going to keep on fighting for what he longed for more than anything else in the world…that special place in her heart? The memory of her responses to his lovemaking was the only thing that kept him going. Unfortunately, it didn’t ease the hurt deep inside. He longed for her love.