He wanted to blame his malaise on jet lag, but he knew what he really was going through was s.e.xual withdrawal. He had shared something that night with Rita he had never shared before with a woman and his body hadn't adjusted, just refused to accept that it might never get to feel that way again.

Besides, mentioning anything about his time in Europe might get Erica to start asking questions and determine that he and Rita had been stranded in the same city.

"Why are you asking? Is there something you need me to do?" he asked her.

"No, but I was going to do some errands and would love to have you come along. I promise not to bore you and we can take my car. I'll even stay within speed limits."

He chuckled. He knew if she didn't stay within speed limits, she would be the last person that the good sheriff would give a ticket to. That thought made him think of some thing. "I understand Griffin is thinking about running for mayor."

She smiled brightly. "Yes, I heard. If he does decide to run I think he'll be just what Hattersville needs. He'll get my support."

"You won't be living here then. You'll be in Dallas."

"Yes, but that doesn't mean I can't come back and help in some way with his campaign."

Her father lifted a brow. "And Brian wouldn't have a problem with it, considering Griffin is his rival?"

Erica shook her head, grinning. "Trust me, Griffin was never Brian's rival. Besides, Brian knows all about Mom's planned future for me and Griffin, and doesn't feel threatened by it. He knows I love him and no one else. Just like I know he loves me."

Now it was Wilson who reached across the table and patted his daughter's hand. She sounded confident and he could tell she was happy. It was all over her face, in her voice. And he was happy for her and couldn't wait for the day that he became the father of the bride.

He also couldn't wait for the day he would get to see the mother of the groom again. But he wanted to talk to Rita long before then, and wished there was some way he could ask Erica for her phone number without her wondering why he wanted it.

He would be spending a few more hours with Erica, and hopefully before they parted ways today he would think of something.

Brian glanced around his new office. It was a lot more s.p.a.cious than the one he'd had before and he had a beautiful view of the new stadium that was still under construction. But what really made it special was knowing this had once been his father's office.

He drew in a deep breath, wondering how he could be so lucky. But then, luck, his grandmother would be quick to say, had nothing to do with it. It was all about blessings. Then in that case he definitely felt blessed.

He reached out and touched the potted plant that was sitting on his new desk. He wasn't into flowers and greenery but he would be into this one. Erica had bought it while they had been out shopping on Sat.u.r.day and said it would be easy to keep alive with little care. And then when they had come here Sunday night she had placed it on his desk just moments before they had officially christened this office. He couldn't help but smile just remembering it.

He had promised to water the plant every day and to make sure it got plenty of sunlight. He would do all those things and whenever he looked at it, he would think of her.

He turned around when he heard a knock on his door. "Come in."

Donna walked in, smiling. "So this is where you've moved to. I was hoping I would be able to join you in court again this week but I see they've changed your schedule now that you've made partner."

He nodded and returned her smile and leaned against his desk. "Yes, I intend to keep most of my clients, but Roland is filling in for me this week while I attend several important meetings with Talbert and Minor."

"I see." She glanced around the office. "Nice. But you need a pretty plant in here."

He glanced behind him at the plant sitting on his desk, figured she hadn't seen it for him blocking her view and moved out of the way. "I have one already. See?"

She waved her hand in dismissal. "That little plant? I think I could do better."

He frowned. "Excuse me? Erica picked it out for me and I like it just fine. Was there something you wanted?"

Ah h.e.l.l, Donna thought. Evidently she'd pushed the wrong b.u.t.tons. The d.a.m.n ugly plant had sentimental value to him just because his fiancee had given it to him. She needed to leave, regroup and return another time, now that she knew what side of the bread he b.u.t.tered. He was smitten with his fiancee, that was for sure. Donna thought. Evidently she'd pushed the wrong b.u.t.tons. The d.a.m.n ugly plant had sentimental value to him just because his fiancee had given it to him. She needed to leave, regroup and return another time, now that she knew what side of the bread he b.u.t.tered. He was smitten with his fiancee, that was for sure.

"No, I really didn't want anything, other than to say h.e.l.lo. I jogged by your house for the past couple of days and didn't see you. I thought maybe you'd gone out of town."

She would deliberately time it just right to make sure she jogged by when he was out collecting his morning paper. For the past four days his newspaper had still been in the yard when she'd jogged by.

"I slept later than I usually do. Erica was in town."

She nodded. "Oh. I'm sure you were glad to see her."

His smile widened. "I was."

"Well, I'll let you get back to work. Congratulations again."

"Thanks."

She turned to leave and, pretending that she had just thought of something, she turned back around and smiled brightly. "This is spaghetti night for me and I always seem to make more than I can eat. I'll drop some off later at your place."

He shook his head. "Thanks for the offer, but I'm dining at my mother's place this evening."

"Oh. Well, enjoy."

She then walked out of his office, knowing she had her work cut out for her. But she loved a challenge.

Chapter Twelve.

Brian kissed his mother on the cheek and then leaned back to look at her. He might be wrong but it seemed as if she'd lost weight and there were still those bags under her eyes. He frowned, concerned.

"Mom, did you call your doctor?"

Rita glanced up him and smiled. "Yes, and he said I should be fine in a few days. I just need to continue to rest."

Wrapping his arm around her shoulders he walked her over to the sofa. "It's going on a week. You haven't even been back at work and that's not like you. Are you sure you're telling me everything?"

She shot him a surprised look. "Everything like what?" Then she waved him off. "I'm fine and I'll be back to work on Thursday."

"But only if you're feeling well."

She smiled. "Yes, only if I'm feeling well."

"And since I know you're probably not in the mood to cook, I'm here to do it for you."

"You really don't have to bother. Lori dropped off a pot of soup this morning." She paused and then said, "I'm sorry I didn't get the chance to see Erica while she was here. I really feel bad about that."

"Hey, she understood and like me just wants you to get better. There's a wedding in three months, remember. We definitely want you there."

"Yes, I remember and I will be there." She smiled at him. "You look so happy. But then you've been looking happy since you met Erica. I can remember the day you came back from your trip to South Carolina to tell me about meeting her. I knew then she would be the one."

Brian leaned back against the sofa cushions. "I think I knew she was the one, too. The moment we began talking there was something about her that did it for me. And the more I got to know her, the more in love I fell. And that's saying a lot from a guy who used to think of himself as a bona fide player."

"You just weren't ready to settle down. Your dad was that way, too. He had a reputation around campus. I had heard about it so, of course, I kept my distance."

Brian smiled. "But he kept pursuing you."

"Yes."

"And when did you realize that he was serious?"

"When he began writing poetry just for me." She chuckled. "At first I thought he was merely running a game to break down my defenses, but then he shared other poems he'd written, and then I knew he'd stepped out of his comfort zone of being the macho man around campus for me. We began dating and were together thereafter. By the time he finished law school I was graduating with my bachelor's degree and we married a year later."

Brian nodded. He'd heard the story several times but never tired of hearing it, especially now that he knew how true love really felt. "So, my G.o.dmother made some of her heart-winning soup, did she?"

Rita smiled. "Yes. We can eat while you tell me what Erica said when you told her about the trust fund and what a wealthy man you are now," she said, easing off the sofa.

"I didn't tell her."

Rita glanced at him with a lifted brow. "You didn't?

"No, and I won't tell her before the wedding."

Her brow lifted a bit higher. "Why?"

A huge smile spread across Brian's lips. "I'm telling her on our wedding night. I want to surprise her. What's so special about Erica is that she's willing to marry me, move here, give up a lavish lifestyle and be content to make do on my salary and the paycheck she'll make at the accounting firm that wants to hire her."

"Hey, you're a long way from being a pauper, Brian. You were earning a six-figure salary before making partner, and you've made good investment decisions."

"I know, but she didn't know that." He paused a moment and then said, "She got a call from the accounting firm and they'd like her to start work a month early, and will still give her time off for the wedding."

"She's thinking about doing that?"

"She would love to. Only problem is that she'll be needed in Ohio as we get closer to the wedding date. She has a number of bridal showers planned and luncheons scheduled in her honor. Mrs. Sanders is going all out with our wedding, making it the event of the year."

When his mother got quiet, he glanced up at her. "You okay?"

She met his gaze and smiled. "Yes, I'm fine but I feel hungry. Are you ready for soup?"

He chuckled as he stood to his feet. "Yes, just lead the way."

"And how is she today, Ms. Vickers?"

The nurse glanced over at the well-dressed woman and smiled. "Your sister is fine, Mrs. Sanders. For the most part, she's having more good days and when she starts hallucinating, we keep her sedated just like you suggested so she won't harm herself."

Or spill secrets that are better left untold, Karen thought while walking the long dreary halls of Westminster Nursing Home. She hated coming here but knew she had to do so. Most people in Hattersville remembered the young, vibrant and beautiful Blair Delbert. They would shake their heads sadly upon recalling how Karen's younger sister at twenty-two was involved in a near-fatal car accident a week before her wedding to the town's most eligible bachelor, Simon Hayes. She'd lost control of her car and hit a pole. She survived but was left in a coma. Karen thought while walking the long dreary halls of Westminster Nursing Home. She hated coming here but knew she had to do so. Most people in Hattersville remembered the young, vibrant and beautiful Blair Delbert. They would shake their heads sadly upon recalling how Karen's younger sister at twenty-two was involved in a near-fatal car accident a week before her wedding to the town's most eligible bachelor, Simon Hayes. She'd lost control of her car and hit a pole. She survived but was left in a coma.

Blair had remained comatose for seven years and then out of the clear blue sky she had emerged into a conscious state. But the brain injury she sustained from the accident had greatly impaired her mental capabilities. Luckily for Karen there were no facilities in Hattersville capable of handling Blair's care so she'd been moved to Westminster, a facility located in Cleveland. Out of sight and out of mind. It had been close to twenty years now.

Most people, including Wilson and Erica, a.s.sumed Blair had eventually died because that was the lie Karen had told them. She'd even arranged a private funeral service ten years ago. To this day, no one knew the ashes in the urn that supposedly belonged to Blair were the remains of someone else-a poor soul who'd died without any family. One day her sister would eventually die and take all those sordid secrets they shared to the grave with her.

Karen stood aside as Ms. Vickers unlocked the door. She had requested that Nurse Vickers, along with Dr. Miller, be the only ones to handle Blair, and since she supplemented their salaries substantially, they always adhered to her wishes.

She walked into the s.p.a.cious and elegantly furnished room that had few windows, just enough to let the sun come through, and saw Blair sitting in the wheelchair at the table while reading aloud from a book of Mother Goose nursery rhymes. They had been Blair's favorite since the time they were children.

Karen shivered. She didn't want to remember those times but whenever she visited Blair she was forced to do so. "h.e.l.lo, Blair, you look pretty today."

And she did. That was another stipulation she'd made to Nurse Vickers and Dr. Miller. She wanted her sister to be well taken care of. After all, she was was a Delbert, no matter what state her mind and body were in. a Delbert, no matter what state her mind and body were in.

Instead of answering, Blair slowly lifted her head and glanced over at her. She stared at her for a moment as if trying to remember who she was. Karen knew before her sister opened her mouth that this was not going to be a good visit. Every once in a while seeing Karen would trigger bad memories for Blair. They had never been close and Karen had been the pampered one until Blair was born.

"You let him hurt her."

That single sentence made Karen cringe, although she'd known it was coming. Her sister still blamed her for everything, even for surviving the messy attempt to end her own life.

"And it's a beautiful day outside, Blair," she said, ignoring her sister's outburst. "The sun is shining and there isn't a cloud in the sky. Would you like to go outside today?"

Instead of responding Blair continued to stare as Karen placed her purse on the nightstand and walked over to the fresh flowers. They were picked every morning. Daisies. Some thing else that was Blair's favorite. Karen then went and sat in the extra chair in the room. Since Blair seemed in a mood to have nothing positive to say, Karen decided to do all the talking.

She could tell Blair all her secrets because she knew they would go no further. Who would believe her? "Erica thinks she'll be happy with Brian but I know better. It's up to me to make sure a Delbert marries a Hayes like it should have been years ago."

"You let him hurt her."

Blair's words made Karen cringe again. She frowned and her lips began trembling in anger. She leaned in closer and said in a biting tone, "Shut up, d.a.m.n you. What was I supposed to do? She should have kept her mouth closed and gone along with it like we've always done."

Karen wondered why she was even wasting her breath. Half the time Blair didn't know what day it was, didn't even know her own name. But there were times like these when she remembered far too much to suit Karen. "Keep making those stupid outbursts and I'll make sure Dr. Miller gives you something to calm you down."

She could tell by the fearful look in her sister's eyes that she didn't want that. Good. Maybe now she would behave and act like a Delbert.

Chapter Thirteen.

Griffin Hayes wasn't sure what he'd been expecting when the mistress of ceremonies finally called April's name and she began walking across the stage. He had read about the event in the newspaper, and since he hadn't been able to eradicate her from his mind since seeing her that day in New York, he didn't want to miss the opportunity to fly here and see April. Chicago's Daley Civic Center was packed, and not surprisingly there appeared to be more men here than women, at least more who chose to come as single men. There were quite a number of couples who were probably here to do their charitable duty. But he was certain that most were here, like him, to see all the beautiful women scheduled to be auctioned off.

Okay, they weren't being auctioned off. The jewelry they were wearing, compliments of several nationally known jewelers, would be sold. However, each of the women had agreed to at least share a drink later with the highest bidder for her jewelry.