Meant To Be (12 page)

Tears burned the backs of her eyes. He sounded so sincere she almost believed him ... almost. But whether she believed him or not wasn't even relative anymore. She'd moved on with her life. It had taken almost two years, but she'd finally made peace with the past and looked forward to the future. A future that hopefully included Garrett Jamison.

Omigod, Garrett!
In all the excitement she'd completely forgotten to consider what he'd think about all this. Nothing good, that was for sure. She wondered if she could keep Garrett out of her house for the next week or so, just until she could stick Wade on a bus back to Seattle. Yeah, fat chance of that happening. And hell, knowing Garrett, he'd probably insist on moving in with her as soon as she explained the situation to him. Talk about awkward.

"Let's just get out of here before I change my mind. Have you been discharged?"

"Yep.” He waved to the woman sitting behind the triage desk. “All set. Mind grabbing my bag for me?” He pointed to an old black duffle bag sitting on the chair beside him.

She snatched it up just as the woman approached and asked in a disgustingly cheerful tone, “Ready to go?"

Ever the charmer, Wade winked at her and said, “That I am, darlin'."

The nurse grabbed his crutches and wheeled Wade outside. Once she had him seated in the front seat, she put the crutches in the bed of the truck, told them to take care, and rolled the wheelchair back into the hospital.

They drove in silence for a while before Wade asked, “So why Wisconsin? I mean, I would've figured Vegas or L.A. Maybe even Chicago or New York. But cow country?"

She cast him a quick glance as she made a right onto Packerland Drive. “It was far away from you."

"Far away from Marky, too."

Her hands gripped the steering wheel with such force her fingers started to go numb. “Don't you
dare
say his name,” she gritted out. “Or I swear, I'll push you out of the truck right now."

"Look, I'm sorry, it's just ... dammit, he was my son, too."

She swung the truck into Walgreen's parking lot, came to a grinding halt and threw the truck into park. “Get out."

"Jessie, I'm sor—"

She turned to face him, so angry she thought she might implode. “I said get out!"

He didn't budge, not that he could have anyway, she knew. He simply stared at her as if waiting for her to sprout horns and a tail. She blinked a few times, put the truck in drive and pulled back out onto Packerland.

Wade wisely kept his mouth shut till they'd pulled into the driveway. She saw that Garrett's truck wasn't parked in front of the house and breathed a silent sigh of relief. She wasn't in the mood to have that particular confrontation.

She helped Wade into the house, praying all the while none of the Jamisons were home to witness it. When he was settled on her couch, she handed him the remote and said, “I need to get ready for work."

"Work?” he repeated, his tone incredulous. “But what the hell am I supposed to do? I don't even know if I can hobble to the bathroom on my own."

She walked into the kitchen, opened the cabinet below the sink and pulled out an empty milk jug. She walked back into the living room and tossed it to him. “If you have to go, stick it in here. And let's get a few things straight right now. If the phone rings, let the machine get it. If someone comes to the door, don't answer it. And if you eat the last chocolate cupcake, don't be here when I get home."

As soon as Jessica walked out the front door, Wade leaned down and fished through his duffle bag for his cell phone. He dialed his mother's number as Jessica's truck backed out of the driveway.

"Hello?"

"Hey, it's me."

"Wade, thank God!” Lita Hastings cried into the phone, nearly busting his eardrum. “I could wring your neck for worrying me like this. Why didn't you call!"

Wade leaned back against the couch's armrest and closed his eyes. “If you promise not to scream in my ear again, I'll tell you what happened."

"Should I sit for this?” she asked.

Wade told her about the bus accident and everything that'd happened since.

"This is crazy, Wade. You can't stay there alone while Jessie's at work. I'll hop on a plane and come take care of you myself—"

"Don't be ridiculous,” he said. “You can't afford to take time off work right now with Lyle's stupid ass getting fired. You'll never make the mortgage."

"Then come home. Your brother can take care of you while I'm at work."

"I can't very well win Jessie back if I'm in Seattle,” he pointed out, squeezing the bridge of his nose. His mother didn't need to know the real reason he'd come after Jessica. “Besides, I have a better idea. Put Lyle on the phone."

Declining to work overtime for the first time since he'd gotten hired nearly twenty years ago, Luke Jamison whistled as he made his way to the parking lot.

He planned to pick up flowers and a bottle of wine on his way home, then get in a quick shower before heading over to Muriel's place.

Muriel stood on her front porch watering a hanging basket of red petunias when he arrived. She waved as soon as she saw him. “Right on time,” she said as she stepped off the porch to meet him.

Luke smiled and handed her the bottle of wine. Her brows lifted when she read the label. “Well, this'll certainly go down a lot smoother than the bottle of cheap stuff I picked up."

Luke chuckled, feeling a little more relaxed with each passing moment. He held out his other hand, and the look of delight on Muriel's face made it worth every penny.

"Tulips! But how did you—"

"Garrett told me tulips are your favorite flower."

Clutching both the pricey bottle of wine and paper-wrapped bouquet to her chest, Muriel gazed up at him as if he'd just handed her a star and a moonbeam. “I hope you didn't go to too much trouble. Tulips are pretty much out of season."

"It was no trouble at all. They had them at the first place I stopped.” The third, actually, but Luke would've driven all over Green Bay if he'd had to.

She smiled a moment longer before saying, “Well, my goodness, you didn't come over just to stare at my front porch. Come on in. You can open the wine while I set the table."

He followed her into the house through the back door, which opened up right into her spacious kitchen. After setting the bottle of wine on the counter, she dug a clear glass vase out from under the sink, filled it halfway with water, and arranged the tulips.

Luke opened the cupboard right above where she'd set the bottle and smiled in relief. He pulled two wineglasses down, and before he could ask, Muriel set a corkscrew on the counter in front of him.

"Dinner smells wonderful,” he said. “I want to thank you again for making the pierogies. I know they're a lot of work."

"I'll let you in on a little secret. I made them about a month ago. They freeze well, and all my kids love them, so I make a big batch every few months.” She slid the sautéed pierogies onto the platter around the pork roast and carried it to the table.

Luke set the wineglasses on the table. “Is there anything else I can help you with?"

"Nope. You just plant yourself in that chair and relax."

With a huge smile of contentment, Luke sat. He still couldn't believe he was in Muriel's home, about to eat a meal she'd prepared especially for him. For the first time in a very long time, Luke felt special.

Muriel set a steaming bowl of sauerkraut on the table, and Luke's mouth started to water.

"I didn't boil any potatoes because the pierogies are potato and cheese,” she explained as she set a bowl of creamy cucumber salad in front of him. She took her seat and smiled across the table, her eyes glowing with something akin to adoration.

With the serving spoon for the sauerkraut held in mid-air, Luke smiled back.

They ate in silence for a good ten minutes before Muriel found her voice. “I hope you're enjoying the meal. I know you're used to eating well, with Sara being such a fantastic cook and all, but maybe this will come in a close second."

She gazed at him across the rim of her wineglass. Jeez, this was ridiculous. She felt like a schoolgirl out on her first date. Why, her palms were even sweaty!

"I swear, if you tell her I said this, I'll deny it with my dying breath, but this is the best meal I've ever had. And I mean ever.” Luke backed up his statement when he tore into another potato and cheese-filled pocket with a hearty “Mmmm."

Muriel laughed softly. “Well, whether that's true or not, it's the nicest compliment I've ever gotten."

"As beautiful as you are, I find that hard to believe."

Luke continued to eat his meal as if he hadn't just paid her the queen of all compliments. Muriel's face heated with pleasure. She took another sip of her wine and continued to pick at her food.

He glanced up, frowning. “Is something wrong? You've hardly eaten anything."

"Oh, no, everything is fine. I had a late lunch and guess I'm not as hungry as I thought I'd be. But please, eat to your heart's content."

"Hell, I already have,” he said, patting his belly. “I can't remember the last time I ate so much. Everything was delicious. Thank you."

"It was my pleasure.” She cleared her throat and added, “Why don't we take the rest of the wine into the living room and watch a movie. By the time it's over, maybe we'll both have room for dessert."

"Sounds good. But first, can I help you clean up?"

Muriel thought she might swoon.
Man, if he's good in bed, I'm dragging his ass to the nearest preacher.

"Thanks, Luke, but it'll only take me a few minutes to put the food away and the dishes in the dishwasher. Why don't you take our glasses and the rest of the wine into the living room and browse through my movies, see if there's something you might like to watch."

"Will do.” He met her gaze in an almost confident manner—which was odd considering he usually turned a light shade of pink whenever their eyes met. Muriel licked her lips in anticipation. Maybe he was finally coming out of his shell.

Or maybe the two glasses of wine he'd consumed were warming more than his blood.

Luke had just pulled a movie from her video cabinet when Muriel walked in. “Excellent choice,” she said as he handed her the tape. She popped it in the VCR and curled up on the couch before patting the seat beside her.

Luke sat and immediately picked up his wine.

He sat stiff as a board with the glass clutched between his hands, and Muriel's lips pursed as she considered how best to loosen this shy man up.

"More wine?” she asked, pouring without waiting for a response.

Luke cleared his throat. “Thanks."

Very deliberately, Muriel turned so that her bare feet were resting against Luke's outer thigh. She saw him swallow and a smile of satisfaction curved her lips.

She could simply jump him. Have him flat on his back before he knew what was happening. But the poor guy would probably die of a heart attack if she were to do something so bold. Good Lord, though, a woman could grow old waiting for man like this to make the first move. What to do, what to do...

"I was amazed to find this movie in your collection,” Luke said, surprising her out of her reverie.

Leaning forward to grab her wineglass, Muriel not so accidentally brushed her breast against his forearm. “Oh, I love
The Changeling
. Without a doubt, my all-time favorite scary movie."

He glanced at her, brows slightly raised. “Mine, too. Although,
Halloween
runs a close second.
The Shining
is another favorite of mine."

Excited to finally have a topic of discussion she could keep him interested in, Muriel said, “I have both those on tape. Maybe I can cook you supper again sometime and we can watch one of them."

"Sounds good to me."

Muriel realized she had his full attention. She wasn't sure if it was the wine or not, but Luke looked very much like he wanted to kiss her. She set her wineglass down.

Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus!

"Muriel?"

"Yes?"

"I, uh-I was wondering if, uh—"

Muriel hiked her leg over his lap and straddled him. “Yes, you may,” she said before wrapping her arms around his neck and slanting her mouth across his.

Luke sat motionless for a stunned second. Then he growled low in his throat and curled his big hands around her waist, pulling her tight against him.

Muriel smiled against his lips.

He pulled back slightly and whispered, “What's so funny?"

"I was just thinking about a conversation I had with Garrett."

Luke pinched her bottom, shocking and delighting her at the same time. “I am
not
gay."

"Oh, that stinker! I didn't think he'd tell!"

The phone rang. Muriel reached over and snatched the cordless off the end table. “Hello? Oh, hi, sweetie. Tonight?” She glanced at Luke with regret. “Sure ... I know you can't help it. You just started this job, you can't afford to call in this soon ... all right, see you in a few."

Muriel disconnected the call and set the phone back on the table. “Well, it looks like we're going to have to continue this another night. I have to watch my granddaughter, and she'll be sleeping over. This was the first time I've had the house to myself in months, too. My younger three are spending the weekend at their father's."

Reaching up to cup her face in his hands, Luke pulled her down for a quick kiss. Eyes twinkling, he said, “You know, I just love cabbage rolls, but Sara rarely makes them since I'm the only one who'll eat them. And now that she and Ethan have moved in with Mike, we get so few home-cooked meals."

Muriel shivered with understanding. “Then you're in luck, because cabbage rolls happen to be one of my specialties. And I cook them in the pressure cooker so the cabbage practically melts off the meat."

Luke cleared his throat as his hands dropped down to her waist. “Do you use tomato soup or tomato sauce?"

Muriel was staring at his lips when she replied, “Tomato soup. With a few squirts of ketchup mixed in for a little tang."