Stella MacLean - Unexpected Attraction

Kyle had left Shannon alone in the hospital without knowing when Andrea would get there. How could he do such a thoughtless thing? What kind of friend was he? She gripped the wheel, seeking to ease the sense of betrayal she felt. Maybe she should call her mother, get her to come over to the house this evening. Shannon loved her grandmother, and Andrea needed someone in her corner right now.

She was about to start the car when she saw Jake headed her way. Should she duck down out of sight? He saw her, hesitated, then came toward her vehicle.

Go away.

No such luck. She worked to put a smile on her face and failed. Why should it matter? Jake’s opinion of her was based on their past experience. Nothing she could say or do would change that.

She adjusted her seat belt, ready to leave the moment he said what he came to say. She rolled down the window. “Did I forget something? I have to get home to Shannon. She’s pretty sore, as you can imagine.”

He stood close to the car door, his piercing gaze locked on her face. She crushed the urge to squirm. She refused to give him any reason to think less of her than he already did.

“You didn’t forget anything. I was just concerned for you.”

“Thank you for caring, even if we both know it isn’t true.”

“Can we call a truce? Shannon’s been through a rough patch, and it would seem there are still issues to be resolved.”

“Are you in touch with Scott these days?” she said, fixing him with a don’t-mess-with-me smile.

He didn’t flinch. “I met Scott only once, and you remember when that was.”

She couldn’t let herself believe him. In her experience that level of coincidence didn’t exist. She looked straight at him, into his chocolate-brown eyes framed with the thickest lashes she’d ever seen. Her breath caught in her throat at the concern and caring she saw. There was no hostility in his eyes, no judgment in his expression. How could that be?

“I promise I will do anything I can to help Shannon. You don’t have to believe me, but I’m guessing that right about now you would like someone to step up and help you. I know you won’t believe me, but I’m not in league with your ex-husband.” He placed his hand on the window’s edge—a strong capable hand, she noted. “I have no agenda, only to help Shannon if you’ll let me. As I said before, if you need me, I’ll be there. You can count on that.”

She was caught between his concern and her fear that she would be naive to believe him. “Why are you so concerned? You know I don’t like you. And I know you think I shouldn’t have custody of my daughter.”

* * *

JAKE WANTED TO walk away from this irritable woman. He wanted to tell her that her behavior was churlish and immature. Neither action would accomplish anything. He was beginning to see why Shannon might not have been willing to confide in her mother, a woman who clung to her opinions despite information to the contrary.

Unless something altered the situation, Shannon and Andrea would resolve little over the next few weeks. But he’d just sworn off any involvement with this situation, so why didn’t he walk away?

Because you’re attracted to determined, strong-willed women. You believe you can sway their opinions, change their attitudes.

He almost squirmed at the uncomfortable knowledge he was attracted to Andrea. Wrong time, wrong place, wrong woman.

Pushing the thought aside, he noticed she stared at him with a nervous expression. Should he push her to accept his help? Or maybe he could persuade her to listen to her daughter, to encourage Shannon to share her feelings. It would make it easier for Shannon to be more open.

No. He couldn’t be involved. His decision in the counselor’s office was the right one. “Okay. Fine. Have a nice day.”

She looked surprised. “I—I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to be rude,” she said, a tiny furrow forming between her blue eyes.

The way she looked at him, the open vulnerability in her eyes startled him. He’d never imagined Andrea would apologize to him. “You have so much to contend with at the moment, and I understand how difficult this is for you.”

“Do you?” she asked.

“Well, not personally, but as a child psychologist I am accustomed to dealing with teenagers,” he said, “and listening to their parents.” He wondered if she’d accept his invitation to talk.

Andrea hesitated, her hands clinging to the steering wheel.

In that unguarded moment, he saw a woman embedded in a crisis she was struggling to deal with. He wanted to once again offer his support, but she was an adult and she had his business card. All she had to do was reach out to him. Somehow he knew she wouldn’t do that. Andrea’s pride wouldn’t allow her. “Drive safe,” he said before turning and walking away.

* * *

ANDREA WATCHED JAKE leave and wished she could have kept him talking to her. How strange was that? She didn’t like him. She didn’t trust him—Well, maybe she trusted him a little, but that hardly counted. As she focused on his broad shoulders, his long stride, she faced the truth. She wanted to talk to a man who understood what it was like to deal with a teenager in trouble.

She needed to unburden her heart, to seek relief from all the turmoil wreaking havoc inside her. But she was also afraid that he’d uncover a flaw in her, in her parenting that would prove she hadn’t been the kind of mother she fervently wanted to be. To expose her feelings, her concerns to a man she didn’t trust was senseless.

With a sigh she drove out of the parking lot. She followed the tree-lined streets to the parkway leading toward her subdivision. She loved this street, the only route that led directly to her home. She loved the trees, the shady areas like tiny alcoves along the curbs, the brightly colored town houses and condos. It all seemed so upbeat and inviting, a balm to her worry.

Andrea parked in the garage and shut off the engine. She had stopped at the local bakery and bought Shannon’s favorite bagels, a peace offering of sorts. She had rehearsed how she’d start this conversation. If all went as she planned, Shannon would do the talking.

Sitting alone in the vehicle, her eyes aching from lack of sleep, she wished with all her heart that she didn’t have to face her daughter. Not this way with so much at stake. If she were perfectly honest with herself, she wasn’t sure she was ready for the truth from Shannon. Knowing her daughter, there had to have been something pretty serious going on in her life for Shannon to behave the way Melody Chapman described.

Yet she couldn’t put this off any longer. She grabbed the bag of bagels then headed inside.

In the kitchen she saw the peanut butter out on the counter, along with a loaf of bread, its remaining slices spilling from the plastic bag. A spike of irritation at Shannon’s thoughtlessness hit. She couldn’t clean up after herself? Especially now?

Andrea checked the bathroom, the den, but found no sign of Shannon. Had she left the house without telling her? “So much for grounding her,” she muttered. She dug her cell phone out of her purse and dialed Chloe’s number. Maybe Shannon had gone there. Chloe answered on the fourth ring.

“Is Shannon with you, Chloe?”

“No,” Chloe said her voice trembling.

“Are you all right?” Andrea asked.

“I’m fine.” She sniffed and cleared her throat.

“Have you heard from Shannon?”

“Yes.” She paused. “She called me.”

“Did she say where she was going?”

“I thought she was home. We didn’t talk very long. She was pretty angry with me.”

Chloe and Shannon had never had a fight before that Andrea could remember. “About what?”

“You’ll have to ask her,” Chloe said, sounding upset.