The bosss convenient pro.., p.14
The Boss's Convenient Proposal, page 14
Ginny knew Emaline had already told Mitch by the way he stared at Joey during dinner—and by the curt responses to any overtures on her part. Even Emaline seemed subdued. Rosita eyed them curiously as she served the meal. But nothing was said in front of Joey.
Ginny felt as if they had already set a pattern for evenings. She’d put Joey to bed, then wander down to Mitch’s study where they’d spend time together. Emaline usually left right before Joey went to bed, so the remainder of the evening belonged to her and Mitch. They could discuss the latest turn, decide what they would do. Her heart beating fast, she headed for the study.
Tonight she heard him talking as she approached the door. It was almost closed, but hadn’t caught. Did he have a visitor?
“…then let me hypothesize. You died your hair blond, took off for Florida on spring break when your mother and I thought you were studying to complete your course work with a passing grade. You used my name so no one would find out. What did you do, hock something to come up with the money?”
There was a silence. Ginny could almost feel the waves of frustration and anger. She pressed closer, knowing she shouldn’t be eavesdropping, but unable to resist. Mitch was talking to his cousin.
“Water under the bridge, huh. Did you never think there would be consequences to your actions?”
Another moment of silence. She wished she could hear the other person. Did he have regrets? Had it only been a careless fling for him? Would he want to know his son?
“Dammit Sammy, I’ve bailed you out of trouble a dozen times since your father died. You drove your mother to distraction with your antics, always expecting someone else to pull your chestnuts from the fire. I thought you’d turned around that last time. What of the promises you made to her? To me?”
Another silence. Ginny’s heart pounded. She closed her eyes, wishing with all her heart that she had never seen the picture, that she had never said the fateful words aloud, or that Emaline had not returned at that very moment.
“Yeah, well old son, one of those wild oats is in my house right now. Along with his mother. Remember her? Ginny Morgan? Pretty blond with a figure that makes a man drool?”
Ginny hardly heard the compliment. Why had Mitch called his cousin? Shouldn’t he have discussed things with her first? They could have decided together how to handle the situation. Decided whether to invite Sam to the wedding or not. Though she supposed that was a temporary measure. There were years of family events ahead of them. They needed to decide how to handle them all.
“While you were graduating from the university through the strings your mother and I pulled, Ginny was giving up hope of college and scrambling around to take care of your son…. That counts for nothing. Her aunt died. So it was just Ginny and Joey—and all the problems of being a single parent with no education to speak of….”
“I don’t know what I want you to do, but I’m so mad I could spit. When are you going to take responsibility for your life, for your choices and for your mistakes? I’m tired of bailing you out of scrapes.” Mitch hard voice sent shivers up Ginny’s back. She hoped he never got that angry with her.
She caught her breath as the pain hit her. Was that what he was doing? Bailing her out? Providing a place for her because…because why? For Joey? In memory of Daisy? Not because he loved her. He hadn’t once told her so. And now, he had yet to mention to his cousin their upcoming wedding. Instead he was demanding his cousin take responsibility—to relieve him of the need?
Was she living a lie?
No wonder she couldn’t believe Mitch loved her. He didn’t, and she’d known it deep inside.
Ginny turned and almost stumbled. She froze afraid Mitch had heard her. He mustn’t know she overheard his conversation. He must never suspect.
Quietly she made her way back upstairs, to her room. Closing the door softly behind her, she leaned against it, feeling old and tired and so dispirited she couldn’t even begin to imagine her future.
Maybe there’d been a reason the ring hadn’t been ready today—it was never to be hers.
Maybe there’d been a reason Mitch hadn’t told anyone, he had hoped something would turn up so his impetuous proposal would become moot.
Did he expect Sam to sweep in and take her and Joey off with him? She was sure his wife would have something to say to that.
Everything was a mess. Slowly she crossed the room and eased down on the bed, too distraught for tears, she gazed dried-eyed off into the darkness, wondering what was the best thing to do.
She and Joey couldn’t stay, not now—knowing Mitch didn’t really love her, didn’t really want to marry her. They’d have to return to Florida. The sooner the better. Before any further plans were made, or any further action taken for a wedding that would never take place.
In the morning. They’d leave in the morning.
Sometime later Mitch knocked softly on her door. Ginny didn’t move. Even if he opened the door, he’d see the room was dark and assume she was asleep. After a moment, she heard him move away.
Goodbye, she silently called after him. Goodbye, my love.
Ginny slept fitfully during the night. When dawn lightened the sky, she rose, and went to shower and change. Sleeping in her clothes had been uncomfortable, but she’d hardly noticed.
Once dressed, she quietly set about packing. She’d done this before, only this time there’d be no man standing in the doorway asking her to stay.
She almost cringed remembering how happy she’d been when he’d asked her to marry him.
Why hadn’t she realized at the time it was third choice? He’d first offered her a job, then a chance at schooling. She still didn’t understand why he felt he had to marry her, but she wished she’d gone with her instincts at the time that as a proposal, it had fallen a little short of perfection.
She had noticed when buying the rings. But she had wanted it too much to pay attention to obvious signs. Just as she had five years ago when Aunt Edith warned her to be careful. She was too trusting and too impetuous. Maybe this time she’d learn that lesson.
Her car was parked in back. When she heard Joey moving around, she went to get him dressed and then sent him down to see about breakfast. Rosita loved pampering him. Let him have one last meal before they departed. Once he scampered down the stairs, she quickly packed his things.
She wrote a short note and left it in the study where Mitch would see it. She assured him she would repay the cost of the surgery, and thanked him for all he’d done for them both. Taking both suitcases to the car, she put them in the trunk, fairly certain no one had seen her.
She joined Joey for breakfast, complimenting Rosita on her cooking, and thanking her for all she’d done for them.
“My pleasure. If things don’t go the way you want, you must tell me. A woman takes more interest in how her own house is run than a man, I think. You’ll be in charge. I do hope you will keep me on.”
Ginny nodded, knowing there would never be a change. Even if Rosita didn’t run things perfectly, Ginny wouldn’t be here to notice. “You run this home, Rosita, nothing will ever change that,” Ginny said, knowing how true it was.
After breakfast, Ginny took Joey outside. “We need to have a talk, Joey. And we need to drive in our car,” she said.
“Okay.”
Ginny had to get his car seat from Mitch’s sedan, and she almost held her breath lest someone see her and ask what she was doing, but the ranch was quiet. The cowboys were out on the range, and Mitch and Helen were in the office on the other side of the house. Emaline didn’t usually come over to the big house until closer to lunchtime.
Ginny would miss her. She regretted not being able to tell her goodbye. But she dare not risk it. She’d write and make sure Joey sent a picture or something.
As they drove down the driveway, Ginny did all she could to keep her feelings numb. Turning her back on the man she loved was the hardest thing she had ever done. But she couldn’t live where love didn’t bloom.
By the time they stopped for the night, Ginny’s stoicism had broken. Once a cranky, confused and unhappy Joey was asleep, she took a shower and cried until the water ran cold. Slipping into her nightshirt, she climbed into bed, falling asleep almost as soon as her head hit the pillow. She hated leaving, but hated the thought of living with Mitch when he didn’t love her even more. Had he been bailing her out as he obviously was used to doing with his cousin? She refused to be a burden.
The next morning she felt groggy and cranky herself. Her eyes were swollen from her crying and her energy level flagging. But her determination never wavered.
She pushed on eastward, despite Joey’s demands to return to the ranch. She tried over and over to explain to him they had to return home, but he was inconsolable. He wanted to see Mitch, to see Emaline, to play with the dogs and pet the horses. To learn to ride and get his own pony. And learn to become a cowboy.
Through Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama she drove, trying to ignore her son’s tearful pleas, and the demands of her own heart. Maybe she should have stayed. Even half a loaf was better than nothing, wasn’t it? Even if Mitch didn’t love her, she loved him, wouldn’t that have been enough?
Another night of tears and Ginny was ready to do anything to get Joey to stop urging her to do what she wanted to do more than anything. Finally she bribed him. If he’d stop talking about the ranch and the people who lived there and stopped pressuring her to return, she’d get him a puppy when they reached home.
It worked like a charm. Too bad she couldn’t find the same solace in the thought of a new family member.
Then, as if programmed to add to her frustration and unhappiness, the car broke down just after reaching the Florida state lines. Another day waiting for a part, and Ginny was ready to tear her hair. All she wanted was the sanctuary of her home
On the sixth day they reached Fort Lauderdale. Ginny was exhausted. An afternoon thundershower forced them to close the windows. Since the car didn’t have working air-conditioning, she was growing hotter and damp with perspiration and humidity. The drive had been a strain. She wanted a shower, and a quick dinner, then bed. Tomorrow was soon enough to sort through things and make plans.
Tears threatened again when she thought of plans she’d made with Mitch. But she resolutely put that behind her.
She’d call Maggie first thing. Her friend would help. And once she was back at work, engulfed in normal routine things, she’d quickly forget about Mitch Holden and the promise he’d once held.
She pulled into her designated parking place and stopped. Once again they’d have to get out in the rain. She still didn’t have an umbrella. No matter. This time they could change once they got inside.
She’d get the bags later. Right now she just wanted the sanctuary of their apartment.
When she and Joey quickly rounded the side of the building to reach the front door without becoming totally soaked, he suddenly pulled away, running ahead of her, splashing through puddles, yelling.
“It’s Mitch. He’s come to get us!”
Ginny stopped, staring. The rain poured down, wetting her shirt, her hair, her bare legs beneath her shorts. But she couldn’t move. It was Mitch.
He rose from the top step and reached down to swing Joey up and hug him. “Howdy, partner. You doing okay?” he asked, his eyes immediately moving to find Ginny.
She slowly walked forward. What in the world was he doing here? Her heart pounded. She felt light-headed. Mitch, here. She wanted to run into his arms and have him hold her forever. But caution prevailed. She’d made her decision, nothing had changed.
“We missed you, Mitch. But Mommy is getting me a puppy, one that can come in the house. Can he come in your house? I want him to sleep on my bed with me, but she said no, he had to stary on the floor. But he can come inside, can’t he?” Joey was talking almost as much as Emaline did.
Mitch said, “We’ll see.” He leaned over to put Joey down, his eyes capturing Ginny’s as he walked toward her.
“What are you doing here?” she asked afraid to believe her eyes.
“First things first,” he said, pulling her into his arms and kissing her hard.
She didn’t know whether to feel chastised or cherished when he ended the kiss. She knew she felt totally bemused with the rain pouring down, the thunder rumbling in the distance and her heart racing.
“Did you have car trouble?” he asked.
“Of course,” she said with a sigh.
“I’ve been here two days. I thought I gave you enough time to get home if you didn’t have car trouble, but I thought you had to have been held up by something. I worry about you in that car.”
“We’re fine. Why are you here?”
“Why wouldn’t I be, you’re here.”
“I left you a note.”
“Don’t you think I deserve more than a short note? We’re getting married, Ginny. Surely you can do better than that.”
The rain bounced off the pavement, the scent of wet asphalt filled her senses.
“We’re getting wet,” she said, wishing he was right—that they were still getting married. She watched him warily.
“So invite me inside.”
It was the least she could do. Hadn’t he taken her in when she knocked on his door in the rain? It wasn’t quite déjà vu, he wasn’t sick. She couldn’t have stood it if he stayed beyond the length of time it would take her to explain. She just hoped she could do so without making a total idiot of herself blubbering about love and devotion and obligations and all.
As soon as they entered her apartment, she knew it had been a mistake. Mitch seemed to take up all the space. She glanced around. The place was neat, if a bit musty being closed up for so long. But it was nothing to compare with the lavish Holden ranch home.
“Go change into dry clothes,” she instructed Joey. He ran into his room. She just hoped he’d pick out something that was suitable, and not a bathing suit with a sweater.
Turning, she brushed back her dripping hair.
“You should go change, too,” Mitch suggested.
“I’m fine.”
“You’ll get chilled if you stay wet. I’m not going anywhere.”
It almost sounded ominous.
“What about you?” she said, stalling.
“I doubt you have anything here that will fit me. I’ll be fine. I can change when I return to the motel.”
She brought him a towel and then went to her room to change. She was nervous, no denying that. Why had Mitch come? She thought she’d explained everything in her note.
He looked so good. She wanted to just fling herself into his arms and let him hold her. But she couldn’t do that again. She must never forget that.
Reasonably dry, she returned to the living room. Mitch had taken off his shirt and hung it in the doorway to the kitchen. It was too damp to dry quickly, but he was probably warmer with it off.
She definitely was, unable to stop staring at his broad chest. She’d lain against those warm muscles, trailed her fingers through the light covering of curly hair, rested her cheek on his shoulder.
He held out a rumpled sheet of paper. It was her note.
She looked at him. “I thought it explained everything.”
“Now that you know who Joey’s father is, are you hoping for some kind of reconciliation?” he asked.
Ginny was dumbfounded. “Of course not!”
How could he ever imagine such a thing? Hadn’t she told him over a hundred times over the last week she was in Texas how much she loved him.
And hadn’t he been silent every time? She should have listened to that.
“Then you changed your mind about getting married.”
She nodded.
“Why?”
“I said in the note.”
“That it would be better for us to go our separate ways? Better how?”
“I’m very grateful for what you’ve done for Joey,” she began, but he interrupted.
“Grateful be damned. I don’t want your gratitude. I never did.”
“But I don’t think you wanted my love either, did you? Wasn’t I just an obligation you felt saddled with?”
“No.”
“I’ve had a lot of miles to think through. Do you remember asking me to marry you?”
“Of course.”
“It was third choice.”
“What?”
“It was third choice. First you offered to send me to college, then find me a job. When I didn’t take either of those, you came up with marriage.”
“I didn’t want you to leave.”
“And I don’t want to live with and compete with a ghost.” That would end the discussion. He couldn’t come back against that.
“What are you talking about?” He ran his fingers through his hair and stared at her, a frown marring his features.
“I still don’t know why you asked me to marry you, but you don’t love me. You love Marlisse. You always will. I didn’t want to be second best.”
He crossed the room in three steps and took her arms in his hands as if holding her lest she try to escape. “You are not now nor ever will be second best. Marlisse is dead. Yes I loved her. A part of me will always love her I expect. Don’t you still love your aunt even though she is dead? But I’m not in love with a dead woman. I’ve known that for a while, ever since you came into my life. Didn’t you say life moves on? It does. I’ve been given another chance at the golden ring. Another chance to love a woman who means everything to me, to build a new family, starting with Joey, but hopefully continuing with kids of our own. Marlisse is dead and gone. You are alive, vibrant and enchant me beyond belief. When you left—” he hesitated a long moment, gazing into her eyes. “I knew what it would be like if you never came back. I couldn’t deal with it, Ginny. I need you. I want you. You are a part of me.”
“You have never once said you loved me,” she said simply, almost afraid to believe what he was saying. The facts spoke for themselves. She had trusted a man long ago and been let down. She wasn’t sure she was up to it again.
He looked away, as if in pain, releasing her arms, and crossing his own across his chest. Then he faced her again, his eyes wary. “I know. I regret that. I didn’t know.”
