by Helen Lacey
“He’s in a meeting with a client.”
Val nodded. Zach rarely took meetings behind closed doors. “Important client, huh?”
“You could say that. I’m just heading there now. So...you’re sure you want to quit?” she queried as she got to her feet. “Seems like you’re still interested in what’s going on around here.”
“You have my notice,” she replied. “And I’ll continue to work up until my last day, which is next Friday.”
“And then what?”
She shrugged. “I haven’t completely decided. I have some money saved, so I thought I’d take a sabbatical and do some charity work.”
“I’m sure Mom would find a place for you at the Fortunado Foundation, if that’s what you want.”
Val’s spine straightened. “Oh, you mean take another family handout because I’m too incompetent to make it on my own?”
“That’s not what I mean.”
Val shrugged, tired of the conversation, tired of everyone thinking they knew what was best for her. “I’m going to sort through my client list today and make sure everything is up-to-date. I’ll be in my office if you need me.”
She headed back down the hall and slumped in her chair. She pulled up her client listing on her laptop, made a few notes, then got into the folder she kept for Maddie’s clients who overlapped with her own and almost reeled back when she saw a file named Brockton. Of course it was password protected, but that didn’t stop Val’s imagination from surging into overdrive. She raced from the room and headed to Maddie’s office. She walked around her sister’s desk and stared at the open day planner. For all Maddie’s ability to embrace technology, her uptight sister still preferred an old-fashioned way of diarizing her appointments. And there, on today’s docket, she saw it in black and white.
Jake Brockton. Eleven o’clock.
Anger surged through her blood.
She strode out of the room and headed to Zach’s office, the room next to Maddie’s. She knocked and then opened the door, not waiting for an invitation to enter.
And then she stared, long and hard, at the three people sitting around the huge desk.
Her sister. Her brother-in-law. And her former lover. Former friend. Former everything.
“Val?” Maddie’s voice sounded higher-pitched than usual.
“What’s going on?” she demanded, hands on hips, so fired up she thought she was going to bust a blood vessel.
“Valene,” Jake said, on his feet in a second and taking a step toward her. “I can explain.”
Val glared at him and ignored the two other people in the room. “Why is there a client file with your name on it? And why are you in a meeting with the CEOs of this company? The company my father started. The company I’ve worked for.”
“It’s business.”
“Funny business,” she shot back with a brittle laugh.
“I’ve been planning to expand the business into Austin for some time, so Maddie and Zach are looking for potential sites in that area. There’s nothing sinister going on, Valene.”
It sounded simple and logical. She looked at her sister. “And you think, despite the situation, it’s acceptable to do this?”
“It’s business, like Jake said,” Maddie replied.
She turned her attention back to Jake. “And this is the only real estate agency in Houston that can assist in this sudden grand plan you have to carve out a beef empire?” she asked sarcastically, refusing to think about how gorgeous he looked in his regulation jeans, Western shirt and dark jacket. She’d missed him so much. More than she’d believed she could miss anyone. She missed his nightly phone calls, his silly jokes, his willingness to watch zombie flicks even though she knew he didn’t like them. And she missed his arms around her. So much.
“Of course not, but Fortunado is the best, correct?”
He was right, but Val wasn’t convinced of his motives. In fact, she knew exactly what he was doing. And what Maddie and Zach were up to. Since the family had discovered that Jake was dipped in gold, they’d spent hours talking about him, so she wasn’t convinced of the purity of their motives, either. In fact, the whole situation reeked of manipulation and greed. And she wasn’t sure whom she was madder at in that moment—Jake or Maddie and Zach.
“It’s not enough that you threw Messer and McAvoy in my path?” she demanded. “Now this?”
“I was trying to help you.”
“That’s exactly my point,” she said hotly. “I don’t need anyone’s help. And it’s not your place to help me.”
His head tilted fractionally. “Are you sure about that?”
“I’m sure that you don’t have the right to run interference just because we’ve had sex a few times.”
Maddie gasped, clearly uncomfortable by the tone of the conversation. “Maybe Zach and I should leave you both alone and—”
“Don’t bother,” Val snapped. “I’m leaving.”
“Avoiding this, or me,” Jake said quietly, “isn’t going to make the situation go away, Valene.”
“Want to bet?” She laughed humorlessly. “Keep in mind that we wouldn’t have a situation if you hadn’t lied your ass off when we first met, or you hadn’t gotten your friends to take pity and make me look good in my job, or if my bosses hadn’t suddenly decided to help you expand your empire. Cut the crap, Jake. This is about one thing. You did all this because of me.”
“Well, of course it’s because of you!” he said, clearly exasperated.
Val rolled back on her heels. “But...why?”
He stared at her, his glittering blue eyes unwavering in their intensity. “Why do you think?”
She swallowed hard, unsure of what she saw in his expression. “Because...because you want to control me and—”
“If you could look past your pride for one minute,” he said quietly, cutting her off, his breath heavy, “you’d know why. I don’t want to control you, Valene. Frankly, that would be like trying to hold back the tide. But ask yourself why you’re so determined to think the worst of me, and why things changed the moment you found out I wasn’t that working-class ranch hand you seemed to like so much. You want to talk about control?” he said. “Think about that!”
He left then, striding from the room with a brief farewell to Zach and Maddie and saying nothing more to her. Once he was out of sight, Val slumped back against one of the office chairs.
“Val,” Maddie said softly. “Go after him.”
She shook her head, hurting all over. “Why would you both think it’s okay to be in business with him? Why did you approach him? Why did you—”
“We didn’t,” Zach explained. “He approached us.”
That didn’t make her feel any better. “And you both thought it would be okay to take advantage of his...of his...”
“Of his feelings for you?” Maddie offered, regarding her gently.
His feelings...
Val had been so wound up, so angry, so vehement and hurt she hadn’t spent a second considering he had a motive other than his need to control her. “I’m not sure he has—”
“Val,” Zach said with an impatient groan, “for pity’s sake, the guy is obviously crazy in love with you.”
Her heart almost stopped. Could that be true? Of course, she knew he cared. And she knew they had chemistry and an amazing connection unlike any she’d known before. But love? When she’d blurted out her own feelings weeks earlier, he hadn’t responded, hadn’t said anything. Sure, he’d still pursued her...but love?
“Even if he does...feel...you know, whatever,” she said, stumbling over her words as heat suffused her cheeks, “that doesn’t give you the right to use that to the advantage of the business. We don’t operate that way, and I have always believed that both of you had more scruples. And I won’t have anyone using me as a pawn or a reason to fleece him.”
>
Maddie clapped her hands, smiling broadly. “It’s good to see you fighting for what you want, Val. But honestly, I don’t think anyone could take advantage of Jake. He’s very much his own man. The only person who has that kind of influence is you. And he’s right in what he said,” Maddie reminded her. “Ever since you found out he was wealthy, you have backed off and looked for reasons to end your relationship. Which, logically, makes no sense. You said you wanted someone who ticked all your boxes. Well, kiddo, he does. And that terrifies you. He’s not after your connections like Diego, and he’s not after a compliant and suitable match like Hugh. But you’re still cautious, and there’s a reason for that. Maybe it’s time to face what that is?”
Val stared at her sister, dumbstruck. Because Maddie’s point was irrefutable. She had fallen for Jake when she believed he was exactly the opposite of what she wanted. And she’d hidden behind her outrage at his deception as a shield against the real issue: she was terrified he would really see her. Every flaw. Every failing. Her lack of real ambition. Her average grades in school and college. Her constant fear that she wasn’t reaching her potential, that she was one of the lesser Fortunados. And that what she really wanted—to find a man who loved her, to raise a family, to nurture—would be seen as an easy out, settling, taking the uncomplicated route.
But what Val really wanted, what she yearned for, was a family of her own.
She’d never been motivated by ambition or money or kudos. But she was a Fortunado, and there were expectations. Perhaps if she’d been a free spirit like Schuyler, creative and energetic in her approach to life, she might have been given a free pass. But she was Valene—the youngest—the girl who was the apple of her parents’ eyes and could do no wrong. So, she did no wrong. She went to school, college, began working at Fortunado Real Estate. For a while she’d even dated a man handpicked by her father, because after the disaster with Diego, it was obvious she couldn’t choose someone herself.
And then there was Jake.
Handsome and hardworking. A man who knew who he was. A man who she believed didn’t tick any of her boxes—and yet, she was drawn to him unlike she’d ever been to anyone before. And with him, she didn’t have to be Valene Fortunado—she could be Val, exactly who she was. No expectations. No judgment. Because she’d believed he was also unambitious and happy to live his life in the present. And he was right...she had judged him. She had all the control while she believed he was a penniless ranch hand. In retrospect, she’d been arrogant and haughty and completely self-obsessed. Everything she despised.
She was ashamed of herself. Of her condemnation. Of her blatant condescension, her self-serving superiority. It was a wonder he hadn’t run a mile in the opposite direction the moment she’d raised a brow at his crappy old truck or asked him if he owned a suit. And she’d stayed angry at him for weeks because she was trapped by her own egotistical pride. When the truth was, she loved him. She loved everything about him. And she wanted to spend the rest of her life showing him how much.
She just hoped it wasn’t too late.
* * *
On Sunday afternoon, Jake was finally able to pull the covers off all the furniture in the ranch house. It had been a long time since the place had been dusted or cleaned, and as he piled up the covers in the downstairs living room, he realized he needed to give the place a thorough going-over. He’d slept in the house for the past three nights, having replaced the furniture in the upstairs bedroom. The work, he figured, would do him some good. It would exorcize his demons and maybe help alleviate the constant ache in his heart.
“Is that the last of them?”
He looked up as his mom walked in from the kitchen. “Yep.”
She glanced around. “You need some new furniture.”
It was true. There were several empty spaces around the room, including where the antique armoire had been, and the matching dining table and chairs. Patrice had taken them, along with most of the other antiquities he’d sourced over the years.
“I think I might ditch all of this stuff,” he said, looking around at the pieces that were left, some of them worth a small fortune. Patrice had liked antiques, but Jake wanted to add some more modern furniture into the place. “Maybe we’ll have a yard sale.”
She crossed her arms. “Great idea.”
“You know,” he said and tossed the stack of covers into a box, “you can move in here if you want. There’s plenty of room.”
“And cramp your style?” she queried and smiled. “No, I’m very happy in my little cottage out in the back. This is a house that needs to have a family in it—a mom, a dad and a whole bunch of kids. A family you need to make, son.”
Jake shoved the lid down on the box. “Not much chance of that,” he muttered.
His mother sighed. “Well, have you called her?”
No...
But he missed her. He wasn’t sure how he would stop missing her.
“She made her opinion very clear, Mom,” he said as he closed up another box.
“She’s upset,” Lynda said quietly. “Naturally so. But you should talk to her, try to work things out.”
He wanted to. But he didn’t want to get another dose of her rejection. He was still stinging, still hurting, still trying to figure out what he could have done differently.
Everything...
He should have been up front from the beginning. He should have told her who and what he was. And he sure as hell shouldn’t have started interfering in her work. He’d gotten, he figured, exactly what he deserved. But even knowing he’d behaved like a jackass, he still couldn’t believe she wouldn’t see the real reason behind his behavior. That’s what tortured him, that she didn’t understand. He’d believed she knew him better. But he’d been wrong. While Jake had fallen headlong and crazy in love with her, it was obvious that Valene had only been in love with the idea of being in love. And that couldn’t last. Still, part of him wanted to believe that her feelings were real and as intense as his own. He remembered how she’d cursed at him for making her fall in love with him, as though it was the last thing she wanted, and then backpedaled when he called her out on it.
Beside him, Sheba gave a loud bark, and he heard a vehicle pull up outside. “Someone’s here,” he said, ending the conversation with his mother. Jake grabbed the box and headed for the door, crossing the threshold before he came to an abrupt halt.
Valene stood at the bottom of the steps. Dressed in jeans, high boots, a black sweater and a long white woolen coat, she looked more beautiful than he had ever seen her. Her hair was loose, framing her face, and since it was a chilly afternoon, her cheeks and nose were rosy.
He dropped the box as Sheba raced down the steps to greet her. He watched, aching inside, as she bent down to pet the dog and then straightened. “Hi,” she said softly, placing a foot on the bottom step.
“Hello.”
He heard his mother shuffling behind him. “I’ll make myself scarce,” she said discreetly, quickly moving down the steps and grabbing Sheba’s collar. “I’ll take her with me. It’s good to see you, Val,” his mom said and then hurriedly took the path leading to the cottage.
“Can we talk?”
Jake pulled himself from his trance and quickly beckoned her inside. “Of course, come on in out of the cold.”
She took the steps wordlessly and entered the house, walking down the hall and into the living room. She took off her jacket and draped it over a chair and stood by the fireplace, then she turned. “You’ve finished renovating?”
He nodded. “I need to clean up and refurnish the place now.”
She looked around. “It’s such a lovely house, Jake.”
“It’s big,” he said quietly. “I mean, for one person.”
She met his gaze for a second, then looked away. “I thought perhaps your mom and sister might—”
“Mom says she’s happ
y in the cottage,” he said, cutting her off. “And Cassidy only comes back every month or so. Besides, it’s the kind of house that should have a family in it. You know, kids...”
She traced her hand along the mantel. “Do you...is that what you want?” she asked.
“What I want,” he said, taking a breath, “is for you to look at me.”
She slowly met his gaze again. Her eyes glistened, and Jake fought every instinct he possessed to not stride across the room and take her into his arms. She looked lost. And hurt. And incredibly vulnerable.
“Why are you here?”
“I didn’t... I didn’t tell you my whole story,” she said raggedly, swallowing hard. “Do you remember our first date when I introduced myself? I didn’t tell you everything. I didn’t tell you that I worked in my family’s business but I was never really happy doing it. I didn’t tell you that I’ve never been very ambitious. I didn’t tell you that I had to work extra hard in school to get respectable grades because it’s what my parents expected of me. I didn’t tell you that I hate my condo but couldn’t say that because my father bought it for me, and that’s why I got Bruce, because I feel so incredibly alone there. I didn’t tell you that when I found out my ex-boyfriend was only interested in me because he wanted a job at Fortunado and I confronted him about it, he called me weak and dull and said I would never amount to anything. And I believed him,” she admitted, tears in her eyes. “That’s why I dated Hugh. Because he knew what I was and didn’t care. Which was worse, in a way, because he was indifferent, and that became a daily reminder of my shortcomings.”
Jake’s chest ached hearing her admission. “You don’t have any shortcomings. You’re quite extraordinary.”
She stared at him, the tears now on her cheeks, and she managed a small smile.
“Jake...” Her words trailed off. “I’m in love with you.”
The ache in his chest vanished, replaced by a tight swell of emotion that sucked the air from his lungs. But he needed to know for certain. “Valene, are you sure you’re not simply in love with the idea of being in love?” he asked softly.