He was standing over her garbage can, where the partially open box of crab legs lay discarded. “I drove all the way to Bridgeport for that!”
“Why?”
He frowned. “Because you love crab legs and I was told that place was the best in the state.”
“Let me get this straight.” She folded her arms over her chest and narrowed her eyes at him. “You buy cranberry muffins so I can’t have any, and then drive an hour one way to bring me crab legs because you know I love them?”
He looked away. “I felt bad about the cranberry muffin thing.”
She studied him. “Are we ever going to talk about this?”
All expression fell from his face. “Discuss what?”
Connie didn’t know if she should plead ignorance as well, or try to get everything brought out into the open. Instead, she just shook her head and turned around in her seat and went back to work. The man was the most trying human being she’d ever met. She glanced down at the pile of wasted crab legs and sighed in disappointment.
Obviously, she thought, he was having conflicting emotions regarding her. But, she smiled to herself glancing at the crab legs again, at least he did still have feelings for her.
Chapter 10
Their silent war got progressively worse to the point where it gained Reginald Hillard’s attention. He walked into his son’s office one afternoon and quietly closed the door behind him.
Michael looked up and smiled, but the smile quickly fell away when he saw the look on his father’s face. “Something wrong, Dad?”
“Most certainly.” He walked over to stand before the desk. “Son, I’m not an idiot. I know what you’ve been doing for the past several years, how you’ve been living your life. And I’m not condemning you. I’ve enjoyed my fair share of running around in my youth. But now you are in a professional workplace. More importantly a workplace where everyone looks to you to set the example. So, all those old ways of yours must come to an end.”
“What are you talking about, Dad?”
“This thing with Connie. I know she’s an attractive woman, son.” He frowned. “Although, I daresay, I never would’ve imagined her being your type. But I won’t have you making her workplace an uncomfortable environment. She’s a wonderful young woman, and a excellent assistant. I won’t have you mistreating her.”
He shot out of his chair. “Did she tell you I mistreated her?”
“No, no.” He held up his hands defensively. “But only a blind man would not see the sparks in the air every time you two pass within a few feet of each other.” He coughed into his hand. “Now, it’s pretty obvious she’s spurned your advances, so you’ll just have to take the defeat and walk away.”
“What if I told you that she is the one who mistreated me?”
“You expect me to believe that?” He tilted his head to the side. “Come now. We both know Connie wouldn’t hurt the feelings of a fly.”
“Maybe not Connie, but Contessa would.”
Reginald arched an eyebrow. “You do understand that Connie is short for Contessa. It’s a nickname. They’re the same wo—”
“I know! Never mind!” he snapped, and immediately regretted it. He took a deep breath. “I’m sorry, Dad. I’ll try to restrain myself in the future.”
Reginald nodded in satisfaction. “Thank you, son. I know this was an awkward conversation but it had to be done.” He turned and headed back out of the room. “I’m sure once you’re settled in, you’ll get out and meet some women who would be more than happy to accept your advances,” his father offered by way of support before opening and closing the door again.
Michael sank back down in his seat. His father was right about one thing. Something had to give. They couldn’t just keep going the way things were.
He picked up the phone and dialed her extension.
“Yes, Mr. Hillard?”
“Can you come in here for a moment?”
There was a long pause, and only then did he realize they had not been alone together in his office since he’d discovered her true identity. Also, she had made sure she brought documents to him either when she had caught him in the hallways, or when he was out of his office.
“I’ll be right there.”
She entered the office a few seconds later and he noted the small differences that had occurred in her appearance over the past few days. She’d stopped using the oil on her hair and now he could clearly see the auburn coloring he recognized so easily. Her clothing was still rather staid by Contessa’s standard, but for Connie the mustard-colored pantsuit was actually an improvement. At least it was a color, and not the black and grays she’d worn those first thirty days. She had looked like she was in mourning.
She stopped a few feet away from him, pushed up her glasses on her nose and clasped her hands in front of her. “Yes?”
Michael stood and slowly walked around the desk. He folded his arms over his chest and leaned back against the desk. “First, I want to apologize if I have in some way offended you. My father seems to think I have.”
She said nothing. Just continued to stand there like a prim little statue.
“I want to ask you a question. One question and then I will leave you alone and say nothing else about what happened between us in Fiji. Are you willing to answer one question for me?”
“Depends on the question.”
“All right. I—” He held up one finger and walked over to close the door. Two workers had passed the door trying to peer in, and Michael was forced to admit that maybe his interest in Connie Vaughn had not gone unnoticed after all.
He returned to where he was standing before. “I just want to know why.”
“Why, what?” She frowned.
“Why did you run away from me the way you did? I thought we were enjoying each other’s company. At the risk of sounding cliché, I thought we had something special.”
But she was still staring at him and said nothing, and Michael was beginning to believe he would never get his question answered.
She sank down in a nearby chair and sighed heavily. “Did you know you are only the second man I’ve ever been with?”
Michael could not stop his startled response. “Really?”
She nodded. “That trip to Fiji was the first time I had taken a vacation in my adult life.”
Just as he’d schooled his features into indifference, his eyebrow shot up again. “Seriously?”
She nodded again. “For thirty years I’ve been Connie Vaughn. And for the most part, I’m okay with that.” She leaned forward in her chair. “But, for just one week, I wanted to be someone else. Can you understand that?”
His eyes watched her face intensively. “I think so.” He noticed she was wringing her hands. He considered reaching over to take them in his own, but he was afraid to interrupt her, fearing that once she stopped, she wouldn’t start up again.
“It took me a long time, but I finally worked up a courage reserve. Unfortunately, my reserve was only for one week and it didn’t include meeting someone like you.”
He frowned, and found himself interrupting anyway. “What do you mean? A courage reserve?”
She was still wringing her hands and staring at the floor. “I’m not brave. Nor am I bold.”
“What are you talking about? I spent a week watching you be both those things.”
She shook her head. “No, that was Contessa.”
“You’re Contessa.”
She sighed. “I know. In theory, I know. But it takes courage to be Contessa and I only had a week’s reserve and that did not include falling in love.”
He kneeled on the floor in front of her and took her hands in his. “Sweetheart, I love you. More than I ever imagined loving a woman. But what you just said…” He shook his head. “That’s a cop
-out.”
Her head shot up to his and he smiled as he watched her bite her tongue and glare at him. She probably wanted to let fly some unflattering explicatives, but for some reason she was convinced that she had to play this role that didn’t even fit her.
“You don’t know what it’s like,” she said, still glaring.
“You’re right, I don’t.” He lifted her hands and kissed the back of one of them. “But I know you, probably better than anyone else. I got to see the real you for a whole week, and while you’ve got everybody fooled into believing you’re this meek, humble little thing, I know the truth.”
“What truth is that?”
“That you are spirited and argumentative and adventurous.”
She shook her head. “No, I’m not.”
He stood. “Maybe you’re not. Maybe you really are the mousy little thing you claim to be. But, if that’s the case, then I have to separate you from Contessa in my mind. Because my Contessa is wonderfully daring, incredibly passionate and beautiful from the inside out. I’m going to miss her…desperately. At one point I was hoping to spend my life with her.”
Her head shot up and she stared wide-eyed at him.
“But if you insist on being the woman you’ve always been, I can’t stop you.” He walked around the desk and reached in the top drawer and took out a key ring.
He walked back around the desk even as he was continuing to talk. “But, if you see Contessa, can you give her this for me?”
She took the key frowning. “What is this for?”
“It’s the spare key to my new apartment. If you happen to see my Contessa, tell her I miss her.” He reached forward and cupped her chin in his hand. “Tell her I love her and I want her to come home to me. Will you do that for me?”
A single tear spilled onto his hand, and with three swift moves, Michael had her on her feet, in his arms and his hot mouth was coming down on her.
Chapter 11
Connie climbed the stairs leading to her front door with the reluctance of a prisoner about to be executed. If someone had told her three months ago that she would be here now, and considering doing what she was considering doing she would’ve never believed them. But in truth, looking back, she realized this day had been a long time coming.
She’d spent her entire life hiding her true self from the people she should’ve felt most comfortable around. She’d tried to please everyone but herself, and that was no kind of life.
Those few glorious days in Fiji had given her a taste of the world, a taste of happiness and satisfaction just as she’d known it would. Her only mistake was believing that would be enough. Thinking that she could just go back to being the people pleaser she’d always been, and continue to suppress her own desires. Her own dreams. And maybe she would have been able to if things had gone according to plan. If she hadn’t met Michael Hillard. But in retrospect, no part of her regretted meeting Michael. Not one little bit.
She pulled her key from her purse and, taking a deep breath, she pushed open the door. After her earlier phone call to Brian, where she revealed the details of her trip and relationship with Michael, she knew he’d be upset. As she started past the living room entrance, out of her peripheral vision she could see Brian and Annie sitting on the couch together. She started to continue walking, to try and put off the confrontation as long as possible. But instead she stopped. It was time to stop being a coward.
She turned to face them and for the first time, she noticed things about her brother and his wife. Things she’d paid little, if any, attention to before. Like the way they always sat together, side by side, but rarely had she ever seen them touch, or show any signs of open affection, for that matter.
She noticed the determined and angry glint in Brian’s eyes, but Annie just looked resigned. No…Connie realized, it wasn’t resignation. She’d always assumed that was it, but now looking at Annie, she just looked…defeated.
Connie wondered, for the first time, how many arguments had the couple had because of her? Annie had always been her staunch advocate, and Connie had just taken that support for granted. But now, looking at them through the eyes of a woman in love, she understood that she had unknowingly put a strain on their relationship. How many times had they argued about some matter involving her? How long had they stayed up nights before this arguing?
Connie wanted to rush across the room and apologize to her sister-in-law, to tell her how much she truly appreciated her and thought of her as a true sister. But first, Connie had to deal with Brian.
She had only taken two steps into the room before Brian sprang to his feet. “I want you out!”
Connie stopped suddenly, as her eyes widened in surprise.
“If you cannot respect the rules of this house, then it’s time for you to go!”
Brian was so angry, spit was flying everywhere as his index finger poked in her general direction. Having made his grand gesture, he folded his arms across his chest and waited.
Connie nodded. “Okay, Brian. I understand.” Surprisingly, she was okay with it. Being asked to leave the only home she’d ever known, and she could only assume breaking the bond with her closest relative in such an adversarial way could’ve—no, would’ve—shattered the old Connie.
But somehow knowing that shortly she would be back in Michael’s arms, where he would soothe her hurt and kiss away her pain, not only made the situation bearable, but somehow had made her unbreakable.
She turned to leave, but apparently Brian was not finished. “If Mom and Dad could see what a little tramp you’ve become, they would turn over in their graves.”
She turned just as she heard Annie’s sharply indrawn breath. Glancing at her sister-in-law’s hurt expression, Connie felt a rage overcome her. Not because of the insult her brother had hurled at her but because, in doing so, he’d caused Annie even more hurt.
Her eyes narrowed as she faced her brother. “And if they could see what a self-righteous, sanctimonious jackass you’ve become, they would turn right back over!” She took several quick steps forward, suddenly needing to unburden herself of some of the thoughts she’d carried around inside for too long.
“You know, Brian, I used to look up to you. I used to think you were what every good Christian should be. But you’re no Christian. Just a judgmental little man, trying to control things that have nothing to do with you!”
“How dare you talk to me this way!”
“How dare you talk to me this way! I’m as much a full-grown woman as you are a man, and I don’t want or need your interference in my life!”
Brian’s eyes widened and he stared at her as if she’d simply appeared out of nowhere. Connie understood his confusion. To him, she must seem like someone else. In all the years they’d been siblings, never had she stood up to him, and never had she talked back. Damn, it felt good!
She nodded briskly. “I’ll go, Brian. Lord knows, I should’ve done so years ago. But know this, Brian—I’m done taking instructions from you. I’m done letting you rule my life. Michael is wonderful and I love him, and I fully plan to marry him. And if you can’t accept that then as much as I would regret it, I guess I’ll have to live without a brother.”
Brian closed his eyes, and took a deep fortifying breath, as if regaining control of himself. “Connie, it’s not as if I don’t want to see you get married and have a family. Of course, I do, but this man—this man took advantage of you!”
Connie took a few more steps toward her brother. Now that he’d calmed down, she was hopeful that they would be able to have a civil conversation about things that should’ve been said years ago. “No, Brian. Nathan took advantage of me—not, Michael. I know he’s your friend and probably will be for many more years, but you have no idea what that man is really like. What he is truly capable of.”
She shook her head, trying to sort
bad memories from coherent thought. “Michael is exactly who he claims to be. Nathan lied about everything. Everything!” She shrugged, expressing a frustration she’d never come to terms with. “To this day, I don’t know why he wanted to marry me. He never wanted me.”
Brian was shaking his head. “No! I know you’re angry that you couldn’t make your marriage work, but I will not hear you slander my friend’s good name!”
Connie just stared at her brother, and finally accepted there would be no getting through to him. “Fine, Brian. Have it your way. I’ll pack my things and be out of here by this evening.”
“What about me, Brian?” Annie’s soft voice came out of nowhere, and Connie was unsure of when she’d stood. “Will you hear slander from me?”
Brian turned to his wife with a confused expression on his face. “What are you talking about?”
“I hadn’t planned to ever mention it, but Connie’s right. You do not know what kind of man Nathan is.” She reached up and wiped a tear from her cheek with the back of her hand. “Nathan, I saw him kissing Marla Johnson.”
Brian looked back and forth between the two women, his mouth gaping open. Connie was too dumbfounded to say anything. Some part of her mind was not overly surprised, after all that behavior kinda fit right into everything else she knew about her ex-husband. And although she kept it to herself, she knew it wasn’t the only time he’d cheated on her.
“It was back when we were first dating,” Annie continued, “remember we went to that Christmas party at the Johnsons?”
He shook his head in disbelief. “But, that’s impossible! Marla’s a married woman, her husband was at that party!”
“And he was a married man, but it didn’t stop him,” Annie insisted gently. “I saw them together in the pantry. They were too…into what they were doing to notice me.” She glanced at Connie apologetically. “I’m sorry, Connie, I didn’t say anything. It’s just I didn’t really know you that well, me and Brian had just started seeing each other. And then, when your marriage ended, I just thought—”