The quiet strength he exuded whenever he walked into a room was captivating. She loved his attentiveness to his girls. And most of all, she loved how willing he was to step in when someone was in need.
She squeezed her eyes tight, remembering Chloe’s words of advice. Truth. She had never thought of herself as a liar, but lately it was all she could think about. She needed to tell him what she did thirteen years ago. Didn’t she? Was she lying if she didn’t share that information? Would it really make a difference if it remained absent from any future conversations?
The questions circled in her mind, more piling on at every thought. In the grand scheme of things, did he deserve to know they could have had a child? One who would have been twelve by now?
Yes.
She gulped. No one was in the backyard beside her, so Michelle knew the voice wasn’t an audible one. Instead, the word seemed to resonate in her mind. Perhaps even...her spirit?
Chloe’s words echoed in her mind. I have no idea, but I heard the words as clear as day in my head and spoke them. Had Chloe been imagining things? Am I?
Michelle shook her head slowly. Jo wasn’t home, so it had to be the still, small voice. Or Jiminy Cricket.
“Lord, am I going crazy? You don’t talk to people do You? Well not, talk talk, although I suppose anything is possible for you. I mean I’m nobody. I’m not even sure what I believe right now. You couldn’t possibly be talking to me.”
She sat still but the only sound she heard were the birds chirping in the trees. She let out a huff and sat back into the Adirondack chair. It was official. She had lost her mind. Yet, even though she felt like she stood on a pirate’s plank, Michelle couldn’t ignore the niggling feeling that she needed to come clean with Guy.
Nerves skittering up her spine, she headed inside. Her clothes were already picked out for her date. Guy didn’t mention where they were going, so she would just dress in her usual fashion. Class from head to toe.
She had just finished putting her red bangle bracelet on when Jo stepped into the room.
“No fair,” she exclaimed. “How come you get to wear pants on a date and you made me wear a dress?”
A snort escaped. “My dear Jo Ellen, these aren’t pants. This is a jumpsuit.” She did a slow turn showing off her bright red outfit. She had paired it with a cream blazer and garnet drop earrings that matched her bracelet. “Besides, he’s seen me in a dress millions of times. Now it’s time to show him I can make pants look good.”
Jo laughed. “Nothing wrong with your self-confidence.”
I wish.
She was about to go out on a date with a guy who had seen her at the height of her teenage beauty. Thirties looked different on her. Not that she was ugly, but maturity had softened her features. Plus, Guy was a widower. No telling what kind of hang-ups he carried because of that. How could she compete with a dead wife?
No one could.
“Well, I made sure I got home so I could answer the door and make him wait for you.”
She air kissed Jo. “Thanks, JoJo. You’re so good to me.”
“Don’t I know it.” The attitude and sass was complete with an eye roll.
“Don’t let it go to your head now.”
The doorbell pealed through the house and Jo walked out of the room.
Michelle stared off into space. Was it too late to back out? What if she got sick on the way to the city? Would he see it as an inconvenience to take her back home? Why did she say yes?
“Michelle!”
She chuckled at Jo’s loud call. It was now or never. She looked into her mirror. “You can do this Michelle.”
Nerves assaulted her. It was worse than the first time they went out. Oh, to have youthful ignorance again.
She faltered as she cleared the hallway and stepped into the living room. Guy stood there, hands tucked into his dark wash jeans. The black vest over the white dress shirt made him incredibly handsome. How could this man be the father of twins?
His grin widened as he took in her appearance. She slowed down her pace, barely noting that Jo left the room.
“You look beautiful, Chelle Belle.”
Her face heated at the sound of his husky voice. Ridiculous, you’re a grown woman. She tilted her head and gave him her best smile before turning in a circle. When she met his gaze again, his dark eyes were simmering.
“My mistake, stunning is more apt.”
She let out a breathless chuckle. Who was she fooling, he had her simpering like a school girl. And at the moment, she didn’t care. “I had to try and keep up with you.”
His grin widened, and his teeth flashed at her. He could be in a toothpaste commercial. It seemed a crime for him not to have any flaws.
“You ready?” He gestured toward the door.
Was she? She nodded and he guided her out the door with a touch of his hand at the small of her back. Here we go.
GUY PULLED AWAY FROM the curb and headed for the highway that led to the city. His palms were slightly damped and he prayed his hands wouldn’t slip from the steering wheel. He couldn’t believe how breathtakingly beautiful Michelle looked tonight. Red looked good on her and she knew it. Her skin seemed to have deepened to a warm honey color. Her hazel sparkled, rivaling the jewels dangling from her earlobes.
His heart pounded.
He didn’t know how the evening would go, but if he based it off of looks, it was already a success. Guy glanced at her out of the corner of his eye.
She looked in the back seat.
“What are you looking for?”
“Oh, I just noticed the booster seats were gone. Did you leave them with Evan?”
“Yeah.”
“Wait a minute, I thought Jo
