Mistletoe kisses, Christmas wishes and the joy of falling in love…

"A Gift from the Heart" by Celeste O. Norfleet

The ex who broke Janelle Truman’s heart is back to save her father’s company. Janelle can’t believe that workaholic Tyson Croft has transformed into a caring family man. But Tyson knows what really matters now—and it all starts with one unforgettable Christmas…

"Mine by Christmas" by Janice Sims

All of tech mogul Adam Benson’s success can’t make up for the mistake he made by breaking up with Sage Andrews. Could a holiday weekend in breathtaking Vienna be the chance he needs to prove to the beautiful attorney that his flame for her burns hotter than ever?

"A Family for Christmas" by Felicia Mason

Upscale retailer Renee Armstrong moved to the suburbs to give her daughter a fresh start. She never expected to cross paths with someone like Trey Calloway, the sexy single dad living next door. With the Yuletide in full swing, will they discover the exquisite gift of a new beginning…together?

This Holiday Magic

A Gift from the Heart

Celeste O. Norfleet

Mine by Christmas

Janice Sims

A Family for Christmas

Felicia Mason

www.millsandboon.co.uk

Table of Contents

Cover

Back Cover Text

Title Page

A Gift from the Heart

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Chapter 10

Chapter 11

Chapter 12

Mine by Christmas

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

A Family for Christmas

Dedication

Chapter 1

Chapter 2

Chapter 3

Chapter 4

Chapter 5

Chapter 6

Chapter 7

Chapter 8

Chapter 9

Copyright

A Gift From the Heart

Celeste O. Norfleet

To Fate & Fortune

Chapter 1

“Hey, girl, you were supposed to call me when you got home.”

“I didn’t call because I’m not home yet.”

“What? Where are you?”

Janelle Truman shifted her cell phone to her other ear as she tugged and pulled the collar of her cashmere coat up around her neck. “I’m in a cab. I just left the airport.”

“Are you kidding me? Your flight landed almost three and a half hours ago. Why are you just now leaving the airport?”

“Nya, it’s Sunday night, three days before Christmas. The security lines are outrageous and Customs took way longer than I expected.”

“See, none of this would have happened if you’d just listened to me. I told you I had a friend headed this way from Dubai. He could have easily picked you up in Tanzania, no problem. You would have cleared Customs while sitting on his private plane, sipping champagne and singing Christmas carols. All you had to do was...”

Janelle sighed and rolled her eyes. This was the last thing she needed right now. After an eighteen-hour double shift at the small medical center just outside of Dodoma and then traveling for the past twenty-six hours in every kind of vehicle imaginable, she didn’t need a lecture from her stepsister.

Granted, Nya Kent, with her father’s money and infinite resources and her own vast connections, was Janelle’s go-to person for any problem that needed to be solved, but right now she was a nagging pain.

“...and that would be it. But you never listen to me.”

“There’s a reason for that, Nya, but right now I’m way too tired to argue with you.”

“You’re right—get some rest. We’ll talk over lunch tomorrow. You can tell me everything.”

“Lunch tomorrow,” Janelle repeated.

“Well, of course. You didn’t think I’d forget our annual pre-Christmas lunch, did you? Unfortunately, Mia can’t make it this year with the baby, but I’m flying down in the morning. You don’t seriously think I’m not gonna see my big sister after she’s been hiding in Africa for the past two and a half years? We have a lunch reservation at the Chesterfield for twelve o’clock.”

“I didn’t know they were open for lunch.”

“They’re not,” Nya said nonchalantly. “You see, I have this friend who...”

Janelle shook her head. She’d learned long ago that Nya had an uncanny ability to make things happen that others would find nearly impossible. “I’m too tired to ask how you got them to open for lunch. And, for your information, I haven’t been hiding in Africa. I’ve been opening and working in a children’s relief clinic. Medics International is an extremely important organization. Their work is vital and I was lucky to help them.”

“Like I said, we’ll talk about it tomorrow over lunch. It’s just a shame Mia won’t be able to join us. Apparently our darling little nephew has been keeping her awake day and night. Hey, you’re a pediatrician. Can’t you do something to help?”

“No, Nya, I can’t. He’s a baby. That’s what they do.” She shivered and tugged at her collar again. “Man, I’m freezing.”

“Of course you’re freezing—it’s winter in Baltimore. You have to reacclimatize your body to this weather. You’ve been hiding in the middle of the Serengeti desert for too long.”

“I was not hiding,” Janelle insisted.

“Two words. Tyson Croft.”

Janelle stilled at Nya’s words. Two words, one name—that was all it took to spin her world around all over again. She gripped her collar tighter and tensed as her heart trembled. Then she released a long-held breath. “For the last time, I was not hiding, and Tyson Croft had nothing to do with my going to Africa,” Janelle emphasized.

Nya laughed. “Okay, okay, but remember, Janelle—I know you, and I was there. Two and a half years ago you and Tyson had the epic romance of the century. When he walked away, you went all the way to Africa to forget him. Tell me, did it work? Are you over him?”

“Yes,” Janelle said too quickly.

“We’ll see,” Nya said. “And we’ll talk about it...” she began.

“I know. I know.” Janelle yawned loudly “We’ll talk about it tomorrow.”

Nya interrupted her yawning. “Girl, you really do sound tired.”

“Tired isn’t the word. I’m worn-out, beat-down, bone-weary exhausted, and on top of that, I’m already beginning to experience symptoms of jet lag from the multiple time-zone changes. My focus is near zero and all I can think about is crawling into my own bed and sleeping for the next few hours.”

“Well, I’m just happy you’re home. I missed you.”

“I missed you, too.”

“And you’re really finished with Medics International?”

“Yeah, I’m pretty sure I’m done. Five months working all over Africa, five months in Tanzania, seven months in Kenya, six months in Ethiopia and another six months back in Tanzania is enough. The experience was invaluable. As a pediatrician there I learned more in the past few years than in all my years of medical school. But it’s time to move on and come home. I just have to give my formal notice.”

“Good. All right, get some rest. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Okay, good night.”

Janelle ended the call and stifled another yawn as the cab continued through the downtown area. It was almost ten o’clock at night and, surprisingly, the streets were bustling with activity. The stores were still open and holiday shoppers were out and loaded down with bags of gifts. It was less than a week before Christmas and she hadn’t done anything.

This used to be her favorite time of year, but that was a long time ago. Now the holidays just seemed to fade in and fade out. She told herself that she was always too busy with school or with work, but she knew that wasn’t true. Her mother had died on Christmas Day. Nothing would ever change that.

She yawned again. Right now, the only thing keeping her awake were the too-often craterlike potholes littering the streets that kept her body rocking and rolling like a bobble-headed doll.

No, that wasn’t the truth. Who was she kidding? It was Nya’s two words that stayed with her. Tyson Croft. He had exploded into her life and swept her off her feet. She’d fallen in love with him the second she’d seen him. At one point he’d been everything to her. She’d even considered giving up being a doctor to be with him. But that was another lifetime ago.

She shook her head, as if to clear her thoughts, and then stared out the window, trying to focus on the sights as they passed. Twinkling Christmas lights sparkled down every street, and holiday decorations covered lawns and topped roofs. This was Baltimore, her hometown, a whole world away from the past two and a half years of her life. The city had been torn down, rebuilt, trashed, revitalized and torn down again so many times she’d lost count.

Now everything that was once familiar looked foreign to her. The asphalt streets and concrete sidewalks were a far cry from the arid Serengeti desert and the lush greenery surrounding Mount Kilimanjaro. The cab drove past a sign pointing to the massive Johns Hopkins Hospital complex. She smiled, remembering her years there in med school and during her residency. They had been the best years of her career. She made a mental note to stop by to visit with her friend and mentor, Dr. Richardson. But right now her body needed rest.

She closed her eyes and tried to relax in the tattered leather seat. The scents of the car’s pine air freshener and the driver’s musk and cheap aftershave assaulted her senses. Years ago the smell would have provoked stomach-wrenching nausea, but not anymore. She’d smelled worse—much worse. Her life was far different from when she’d grown up as the charmed daughter of a wealthy real-estate developer.

She hadn’t spoken to her father in a few days, so he had no idea she was coming home. He didn’t expect her until after the holidays. She smiled. This was going to be the perfect surprise holiday gift for him.

The cab turned the corner and drove down the quiet street. It stopped in front of her two-story town house, located just a few blocks from Inner Harbor. She smiled, looking up at her own private sanctuary. A gift from her father when she’d graduated medical school, it had been hers for five years, but she had yet to really live there.

Janelle paid the driver, giving him a generous tip. He immediately hopped out, helped gather her luggage from the trunk and placed it up the steps by the front door.

Now, barely half-awake, she unlocked the front door, turned off the security system and then immediately stopped. Her heart lurched as she slowly looked around. Something was very wrong.

She must have been too tired to realize it. This wasn’t her town house. For one thing, this home had furniture. Hers didn’t, except for a bedroom set. “Oh, my God,” she whispered, realizing she’d just broken into someone’s home. She quietly stepped back and looked at the address number plate beneath the outside security light, then checked the front-door key still in her hand. It had opened the door with ease and her coded number had turned off the security alarm, so this had to be her home. She continued into the small foyer. That was when she heard the laughter and realized that she wasn’t alone. Her heart jumped.

There was only one logical conclusion—squatters.

The word leaped out at her like a snake from the bush. She tensed just thinking it. She was all too familiar with squatters. They were extremely common in many places in Africa. Mostly displaced refugees in fear of their lives, they moved into an area and took over completely. Some were compliant and assimilated with ease. Others were more fierce and forceful. They came. They usurped the resources. They stayed. Getting them to leave was nearly impossible. She continued looking around, knowing already that this was going to be a nightmare.

She walked in and examined the living-room area more closely. There were no crates, wooden pallets, cushions or discarded debris on the floor. No empty alcohol bottles, no drug paraphernalia and no stomach-turning stench.

Instead there was a huge television, beautiful Oriental rugs, stunning accent tables with lamps and very-expensive-looking mahogany wood furniture. None of which was hers. Her once-rigid and antiseptic living environment, devoid of personal effects, was now a family setting ripped from the pages of Architectural Digest. So, unless squatters had upgraded their game a thousand percent, there was something else going on here.

She relaxed a bit, then took a few more steps into the room, noting a cartoon movie muted and frozen on the large flat-screen television. There was also a kid’s puzzle and a few children’s books scattered on the floor. The last thing she needed to deal with right now was a squatting family with children at Christmastime.

“Who are you?”

Janelle turned quickly and looked down, seeing a small child peeking around the corner at her. She was holding a doll and wearing pink pajamas with a sparkling little crown on her head.

“You’re not s’posed to be here,” the child added. “This is my daddy’s castle.”

“No, sweetheart,” Janelle said slowly, “I am supposed to be here. This is my home.”

“Aneka, who are you talking to, child?” asked a female voice.

“The lady with the bags,” the little girl said.

“What lady with the bags?”

“Hello?” Janelle called out to whoever was with the child.

“Who the...?” There was a loud rush of movement and an older woman came hurrying out from the kitchen area. “Aneka, get over here now. Who are you? We don’t have any money and we’re not...” She stopped and looked more closely at Janelle.

An instant later she smiled joyfully. “Well, I’ll be. Janelle, child, is that you?” The woman walked over, grinning from ear to ear, her arms wide-open. She grabbed Janelle in a huge bear hug. “Welcome home.”

“Mrs. Ivers,” Janelle said, finally recognizing the older woman as her neighbor from across the street.

“Well, of course it’s me. Who else would it be? Child, you scared me half to death. You’re a sight for sore eyes. It’s been almost a year since you’ve been home.”

“Mrs. Ivers, what are you doing here?”

“Me? Babysitting. What in the world are you doing coming in here this late at night?”

“I live here,” she said with uncertainty as she looked around. “At least, I used to live here. It doesn’t much look like I do anymore.”

“Well, of course you live here.” Mrs. Ivers’s smile widened. “Where else would you live? It’s so good to see you. You must be exhausted. But I thought you weren’t coming home until after the first of the year. At least that’s what your father told me.”

“Mrs. Ivers, what’s going on? Why are you here with this little girl? Who is she and where are all my things?”

“Oh, your father had everything moved out and put in storage about a month ago. I’m here babysitting Aneka while her father’s at work. He should be home soon.”

“I still don’t understand. Who are these people, and why are they living in my house?”

“Your father said it would be okay for the time being.”

“My father?” she questioned. “Why would he say that? Why wouldn’t I mind my home being taken over while I’m away?” she added sarcastically as she pulled out her cell phone and called her father’s home. There was no answer. She called his cell phone. Again, no answer. She sighed. “He must be out to dinner or in a meeting.”

“Things have changed, Janelle.”

“What do you mean?” Janelle asked. Just then the microwave beeped. Mrs. Ivers turned and headed back into the kitchen. Seconds later the aroma of buttered popcorn filled the room. Janelle followed the scent and the little girl trailed after her.

“My name is Princess Aneka,” she said as her tiny little fingers held tight to her doll.

Janelle looked down at the mass of dark curls and ringlets looping just below her shoulders. Her dark eyes shone brightly as she looked up. The child was adorable. “It’s very nice to meet you, Princess Aneka,” Janelle said as she continued into her kitchen. “Mrs. Ivers, I’m exhausted. Would you please just take Aneka to your house? We can straighten all this out tomorrow.”

“Perhaps you should speak with your father first. My guess is that he’s still at the office.”

“No, he never works this late,” Janelle said as she looked at her watch, realizing that it was still on Tanzania time.

“That was before.”

“What do you mean? Before what?”

“You need to talk to your father,” Mrs. Ivers reiterated.

Janelle shook her head with annoyance. All she wanted was to go to sleep, but that was clearly not going to happen anytime soon. “Fine.”

She dialed her father’s private office number, expecting no answer since the company should have been closed hours earlier. To her surprise someone picked up the phone.

“Truman Developers.”

Janelle frowned. It was a man’s voice, but not her father’s. The voice seemed familiar, but that was impossible. It couldn’t be. “Yes, I’d like to speak with Ben Truman, please.”

“He’s unavailable at the moment.”

“Just tell him it’s his daughter.”

“Janelle?” he said.

“Yes. Who is this?”

There was a short pause as the man’s voice softened. “I’m sorry. Your father’s unavailable. You might want to call back tomorrow morning.”

“No, I don’t want to call back tomorrow morning. I need to speak with him tonight, right now.”

“I’m sorry. I’ll tell him you called.”

“Fine,” she snapped. Annoyed, she disconnected the call and looked across the kitchen. “What’s going on, Mrs. Ivers?”

Mrs. Ivers shook her head. “Your father ran into some financial trouble a while back. He’s working on fixing it.”

“What do you mean ‘financial trouble’? What’s going on and who’s the man answering my father’s private line this late at night?”

“Go to the office, Janelle, and talk to your father. Here, take my car,” Mrs. Ivers said as she grabbed her purse and began digging for her keys. She found them and handed them to Janelle.

Two minutes later Janelle was out the door and headed to the Truman Building. The usual thirty-minute drive took less than twenty.

As soon as Janelle drove up to the building, she looked up, seeing that the lights in her father’s office were still on. She parked the car and hurried inside. The security guard she’d known for years greeted and welcomed her back. She signed in and took the elevator to the top floor.

Her thoughts raced as she hurried down the long hallway. Her father was unavailable and there was a strange man in his office. At this point she had no idea what to expect. She turned the corner and saw that her father’s office door was cracked open. She could see a light shining from inside. She knocked once but didn’t bother to wait for a reply, opening the door wider and peeking inside. “Dad...”

For the second time that night a shocking sight met her eyes.

Chapter 2

When Janelle had called, Tyson Croft had held on to the receiver, forgetting all about hanging it up. As soon as he picked up and she had spoken, his heart had faltered. There was no need to ask who was calling. He had known it was her even before she had said who was speaking. The sound of her sultry voice was unmistakable. He closed his eyes as a slow, easy smile pulled wide across his lips.

“Janelle,” he had whispered softly and then shaken his head slowly. Hearing her voice again after two long years was like awakening from a long deep slumber. His body stirred just as it had done so many times before.

He remembered what it was like walking away from her years ago. It had nearly broken him, but he hadn’t had a choice at the time. Now he did have a choice. And nothing—and no one—was going to stand in his way this time.

“All righty, then. This ought to just about do it.”

Tyson quickly hung up the phone. Ben Truman bumped the office door wider as he walked through carrying another lidded cardboard box. Tyson nonchalantly cleared his throat and nodded, looking back at the computer monitor. He had no idea how long he’d been holding the phone receiver. Thoughts of Janelle had clouded his mind again. It had been happening more and more lately.

“There’re a couple more boxes in the storage room, but I doubt they have anything in them that will be useful. Was that my phone I heard ringing?” Ben asked.

“Uh, yes. It was Janelle.”

Ben frowned as he set the container down on the small conference table in the center of his office with the other boxes. “Janelle, huh? That’s surprising. I didn’t expect her call.”

“What do you mean?” Tyson asked, looking more interested.

“She usually calls me at home, and this isn’t her usual day. She calls on Sundays. I hope everything’s all right over there.”

Tyson instantly tensed. “I thought you said she’s safe where she is in Africa. Is there a possible problem where she’s assigned?”

“Well, for the time being, she is safe. But you know as well as I do that my daughter is a dedicated physician. Wherever they need her, she’ll go. She’s almost eight thousand miles away in an unstable region...” Ben said, then stopped, seeing the horrified look on Tyson’s face.

“But no, I’m sure she’s fine. As you well know, Janelle is a brilliant doctor and a very levelheaded woman. She’d never intentionally put herself in danger. She’s very capable and can certainly take care of herself, even in the middle of Africa. I’m sure she’s fine. I’m just surprised she called me here at the office. She knows I don’t work this late.”

“When is she coming back stateside?”

“In a couple more months. She said February or March.”

Tyson nodded, not feeling at all reassured. “Maybe you should call her back just to make sure everything’s okay,” he suggested eagerly, failing miserably to play down his uneasiness.

“Yeah, I think I will.” Ben nodded and pulled out his cell phone, only to see that the signal was gone and the phone was turned off. “Damn, no signal. I forgot to charge the battery this afternoon. No wonder she called me here.” He crossed the room to use the phone on the desk.

Tyson grabbed his cell phone off the desk, stood and quickly handed it to Ben. “Here, use my cell phone,” he offered. “It’s international. It’ll reach anywhere in the world.”

Ben nodded, took Tyson’s phone and dialed Janelle’s number. The call rang six times, then went to her voice mail. “No answer,” Ben said, looking at his watch.

“Where exactly is Janelle in Africa?” Tyson asked as he continued working.

“Tanzania, but she moves around a lot. Three weeks ago she was in Dodoma. Last week she was in Dar es Salaam. But one thing for sure, she calls me every Sunday evening to let me know where she is and that she’s okay.”

“And is she—” Tyson paused to look up “—okay?”

“That’s a matter of opinion. She’s lost faith.”

“Faith? How do you mean?”

“She lost faith in love, in her ability to love and be loved.”

“Because of me,” Tyson said flatly, laying his pen on the desk. He walked over to the window, glancing out.

“Because of a lot of things, son,” Ben said, sitting with a stack of files at his side. “Truthfully, I’m right there with you. Since her mother died, I’ve had three different wives. She’s seen me in and out of love dozens of times. For the past two and a half years she’s thrown herself into work and had time for nothing else. You might have been the last straw, but I was right there, too. If there’s one thing I want more than anything, more than cleaning this mess up, it is to help her love again.”

Tyson’s heart tightened from the pain that gripped it. Janelle had lost faith in love and he was partially responsible. But at least she was physically safe. He nodded slowly, but he wasn’t at all satisfied.

Sitting, he absently glanced at his notes and then back at the monitor. All of a sudden the program he had been using for years didn’t make any sense. His notes were a confusing scramble of numbers and notations that made even less sense.

Tyson looked over at Ben, who had begun talking about his last trip to visit his daughter. The more Ben went on, the edgier Tyson got.

“I tell you, the moment I stepped off the plane I was amazed,” Ben said. “The country is the perfect duality—both stunningly beautiful and horrendously terrifying. I tell you, every moment I was there I was...”

Tyson looked back at the monitor again. There was no use—his focus was shot. Everything he’d done in the past three hours meant absolutely nothing. All he could think about now was Janelle’s safety.

Ben had moved on to a story about shopping in an African marketplace, but Tyson had long since stopped paying attention. Unlike her father, he wasn’t as convinced that everything was all right with Janelle. He didn’t want to alarm the man, but there’d been something in Janelle’s voice that was definitely stressed. He hadn’t liked the sound of it. But calling her back to make sure she was okay was out of the question. He was the last person she’d want to hear from. He was one of the reasons she’d joined Medics International and left for Africa in the first place—to get away from him.

Still, two and a half years was a long time. There was a good chance she would have gotten past their relationship’s ending. The nerve in his neck tightened and his jaw tensed. Yeah, he had messed up. He’d let his ego and his ambition overrule his heart. Walking out on Janelle had been the biggest mistake of his life.

“Okay, here it is. I knew it was packed away in one of these old boxes someplace. This ought to do it.” Ben sighed as he placed an accordion file on the desk. “I believe everything you’re gonna need is in here. Hey, you okay, son?”

Tyson looked up and nodded. “Uh, yeah. I’m fine.”

“Are you sure? You look a little distracted.”

“No, I’m good,” Tyson said, picking up his pen and turning back to the monitor. He didn’t want to tell Ben the truth, that he’d been thinking about Janelle. “I’m just a little tired.”

“I can certainly understand that. You work all day at your business and then you come here in the evenings and work on my mine. You’ve been a godsend. I really don’t know how to thank you.”

“How about getting us a cup of coffee?” Tyson suggested.

“Done,” Ben responded, hurrying to the door. “I’ll make a fresh pot. Cream and two sugars. I’ll be right back.”

“Thanks.”

Tyson looked at the computer monitor. He was right back where he’d started; nowhere. Moments later he tossed the pen onto the desk and sat back in the chair. Coffee was a ruse. He’d just needed Ben out of the office.

Restless, edgy, he stood and walked over to the window again. He closed his eyes and shook his head. Hearing her voice had brought it all back.

“Damn,” he whispered. This wasn’t what he’d expected. But in truth, he didn’t know what he had thought would happen. When he’d agreed to review Ben’s finances and help pull him out of bankruptcy, he had been thinking only about getting Janelle back. It had been a long shot and probably wouldn’t work, but he’d try.

He looked up at the night sky. He was tired. But that was not what was distracting him and he knew it. She was his own personal drug—just one spark was all it took to reignite his passion. “Janelle,” he said softly, moving back to the desk to force himself to focus on the job.

The knock on the office door was soft. He didn’t look up, assuming it was Ben coming back with the coffee. It wasn’t until he heard her voice and her gasp that he looked up and saw her standing there. His eyes widened; then, just as quickly, a wave of emotional relief washed through him. She was back, she was safe and she was here with him again.

Chapter 3

“Dad! Ho, ho, ho! Merry Christmas. Surprise!” Janelle called out as she opened the door to her father’s office.

She stopped, stunned, and shook her head. She could not believe what she was seeing. Her heart lurched. This was impossible. A small gasp escaped her lips.

As he looked up at her, his eyes narrowed, holding her still. He appeared just as stunned and confused as she was. She stood there for what seemed like forever, her questioning eyes cemented to a face she hadn’t seen in more than two years.

He was still as handsome as ever. Surprisingly, he was clean-shaven now, without the always perfectly cut goatee he’d had years ago. He was casually attired, having removed his jacket, but even so, he was still perfectly styled. Impressively tall with broad shoulders and a narrow waist, he wore a dark dress shirt, unbuttoned at the neck, with a loosened tie. His sleeves were rolled up, baring the strong solid strength of his arms.

Seeing Tyson Croft sitting at her father’s desk was like pouring salt into a healing wound. For her own sake, she had long ago released the anger and the pain she had felt when he’d left. She had moved on, was over him and had never been happier with her life than she was now.

But now, for some reason, a sudden rush of emotion she’d long ago set aside began to envelop her. The hurt was still there. Janelle realized that she had never quite sealed that door. She watched as his gaze eased down her body, then came up and steadied on her face.

“Janelle,” he whispered softly.

The eerie misplaced feeling of seeing something or someone who didn’t belong in a familiar location stunned her to silence. She swallowed hard, trying to dislodge the impossibly huge lump in her throat. How was this possible? How could the last man on earth she ever wanted to see again be sitting there, staring straight at her?

Then it hit her. The diagnosis was obvious. Among the plethora of symptoms for extreme exhaustion and jet lag was hallucinations. That had to be it. She smiled at the absurdity of her mind’s twisted sense of humor. She had been thinking about Tyson a lot lately and her subconscious had tuned in, so of course, here he was.

Then the fabricated image slowly stood. “Hello, Janelle,” it said, smiling cautiously.

Wow. This specter was amazing. It seemed so real, so much like Tyson, who was exactly the same as she remembered...same deep soul-stirring voice, same knee-buckling smile and same drop-dead-gorgeous body.

She gazed at the face she knew so well. He was still handsome with keen angular lines and dark sexy bedroom eyes framed with long curly lashes. High cheekbones added to his classic features and his mouth was bowed just right with perfect fullness, his lips soft, firm and always so damn kissable. He was a confident man who had wealth and power. In all respects he was everything any woman could ever want and then some. She shook her head again. Even when he appeared as an illusion, the lean perfection of his body made her stomach flutter. She stared, unable to look away. Why did this vision have to be of him? She watched as his lips moved.

Then he smiled and suddenly everything seemed all too real. A few seconds passed. It really was Tyson Croft standing there.

“Janelle, you’re here,” he said happily. “You...you look—”

“Tyson,” she said quietly, releasing a breath she hadn’t even realized she’d been holding.

“Yes, it’s me,” he said softly. “God, it’s so good to see you. Your father and I were so worried about you.” He paused. “Is everything okay? Are you okay?”

Speechless, she nodded her head slowly.

“Good. Well, welcome home. You look exhausted.”

Fate has a wicked sense of humor, Janelle thought to herself. It had taken her two years to get over the anger and pain of not having him in her life. Now here he was all over again. “What are you doing in my father’s office?” she asked, looking around the room. “Where is my father?”

“Ben stepped out. He’ll be back in a few minutes.” He smiled, concern still shadowing his face. “Janelle, you have no idea how relieved I am to see you. When you called earlier, we were...” He paused. “I’m just glad you’re home safe,” he said, staring at her. “Are you going to scowl at me all night?”

“Probably. Answer my question, Tyson. What are you doing here?”

He looked down. “I’m working.”

She scoffed. “What do you mean? My father would never agree to have you working here.”

“I am. I’m working with your father.”

She shook her head. “No, that’s impossible.” She boldly moved to the center of the room.

“Nonetheless, here I am,” he said, gesturing around the office. “Your father said you were still in Africa. When did you get back?” Tyson talked as though nothing had ever happened between them, as if he had never walked out on her and their life together. He came from behind the desk toward her, talking, but she didn’t hear what he said.

She looked at him, astonished. The audacity of his presumption was mind-boggling. But that was typical Tyson—totally arrogant and completely self-absorbed. The world revolved solely around him. How dare he presume he had the right to comment on her looks, on her life, as though what had happened between them had never happened?

“No. No,” she said, seething with anger and holding her hand up to silence him. “You don’t get to just come up in here and chat with me like there’s nothing between us.”

His expression instantly changed. “Janelle, I know you’re probably still angry and upset, and you have every right to be.”

“I’m not. I got over that a long time ago.”

He shook his head. “You’re angry, trust me,” he said.

“How dare you?” She smiled and chuckled.

“Janelle...” Tyson began.

“Don’t ‘Janelle’ me!”

“I understand your feelings. I just need you to know that I...” He paused.

“That you what?” she said slowly. “Tell me—what could you possibly say to me that would change what happened between us? You see, silly me, I believed you back then. I believed in you, and you turned your back on me. So, no, sorry, I’m not that naive person anymore. You tore my life apart once before, but never again. You walked out on me. You don’t get to just walk back into my life now like it was no big deal. Like I said, I got over you a long time ago.”

He nodded slowly and lowered his head. “Why don’t you just ask me what you really want to?” he said softly. When he looked back up at her, his eyes were piercing. “How could I leave you?”

She looked at him, hurt. All of a sudden the old pain became fresh again. With one question, it had all come back. Yes, she’d wondered about the answer to that one question, but she refused to give him the satisfaction of asking what it was. She had vowed a long time ago that he would never affect her again. But right now, just seeing him standing there, brought up feelings she had thought long buried.

“Janelle...”

“Where is my father?” she asked. Her eyes narrowed in mistrust as she planted her balled fists on her hips.

“He’s unavailable.”

“You’re starting to sound like a broken record. Where is he?” she repeated.

“He’s getting coffee in the break room.”

She looked around her father’s office. It was usually neat, but now there were half-open boxes, files and paper everywhere. It was a cluttered mess. “What’s going on with my father’s company? Is this your next acquisition?”

He looked hurt. “Do you seriously think that little of me?”

“You’re kidding me, right?”

He smiled and nodded. “Yeah, I guess I deserved that.” The raw, intense hunger she saw in his eyes made her take a step back. Her stomach shuddered. She swallowed hard, needing to regroup quickly. “Janelle...”

“You need to leave.”

“I can’t. I promised your father I’d do what I could to help him, and I will.”

“He doesn’t need your help anymore. He has me now.”

“Yes, he does. But you can’t help him with this.”

“Tyson, leave now or I’ll call security and have you physically thrown out of here—your choice.”

“Janelle, this isn’t about you and me. This is about your father, his company and his freedom.”

“What do you mean?”

“You’ll have to ask him.”

“I’m asking you. Tell me.”

“He needs my help and I promised him I’d do whatever I can. Your father is a brilliant businessman, but sometimes solely focusing on winning at all costs causes you to lose everything in the end.”

“What do you mean?” she asked. He didn’t reply. “You’re not going to tell me? Fine.” She marched over to the desk, reached around him and grabbed the office phone from the cradle. Before she could lift it, Tyson quickly covered her hand with his to stop her.

Just inches apart, their eyes locked. Intense emotions slammed into her like an anvil falling at high velocity. Her heart thudded in her chest as she held her breath. This wasn’t supposed to be happening. She wasn’t supposed to be feeling anything, but yet she was. She was over him and he wasn’t going to get to her again. “Save it. I’m immune. Your bad-boy charm doesn’t work on me anymore.”

“Doesn’t it?” he asked quietly.

She glared at him, holding her ground. They both knew he was lethal to any woman. But she wasn’t going to back down. “Move your hand now, Tyson,” she warned through gritted teeth.

“I left for a reason.”

“I don’t really care about your reason.”

“Yes, you do.”

“Understand this, Mr. Croft. You don’t know me anymore. You knew that quiet, shy, young woman right out of medical school more than two years ago. She wore rose-colored glasses and thought there’d always be a happy ending in her life, no matter what. Well, she was wrong and she’s long gone.”

“I hope not. I missed her. I missed you,” he whispered gently.

Janelle’s heart lurched. His voice was too tender and his eyes were too sincere. “Why are you doing this?” she asked.

He looked away and gently squeezed her hand. “Because I can’t stop thinking about you, because I can’t stop wanting you and because I can’t stop loving...”

“Stop! Enough! I don’t want to hear it.” She raised her voice.

“Janelle, is that you?”

Janelle turned around quickly to see her father standing in the doorway, holding two coffee cups. A radiant smile instantly spread across her face. She snatched her hand away from the phone and ran over to him.

Setting down the cups, he met her halfway and they embraced long and hard. Moments later he pulled back and gently held her face in his hands. He stared closely, then nodded. “Yes, you’re okay?”

She smiled and nodded as tears rolled down her face. “Yes, I am now.”

“God, I missed you,” Ben said.

She laughed, half crying for joy. “I missed you, too, Dad.”

Janelle and Ben hugged again, and then he held her close as he turned to Tyson, smiling. “My little girl’s back.”

Tyson grinned. “Yes, she certainly is. I’m gonna fax these letters out. I’ll be back in a few minutes.”

“Dad, you look so tired.”

Ben eyed his daughter happily. “Funny, I was just about to say the same thing about you. When did you get here?”

“Just now,” she said.

“No. I mean when did you get back from Africa?”

“About three hours ago. I was stuck in Customs for a while. It feels like I’ve been on the road forever. I left Dar es Salaam over twenty-five hours ago.”

“What? It doesn’t take that long to get here from Tanzania.”

“I know, but I grabbed the first flight, and unfortunately, the last-minute plans made travel a nightmare.”

“Well, you’re here now and that’s all that matters.”

“Dad, tell me what’s going on. Why, of all people, is Tyson Croft here in your office? He said he was working with you.”

“It’s nothing for you to be concerned about, sweetheart. He’s working a few things out for me.... Just some minor business matters.”

“Dad, you know Tyson can’t be trusted. You know what he does for a living. The man gobbles up businesses and breaks them apart and sells them to the highest bidder. There’s no way he’s here to help you.”

“I am,” Tyson said, standing in the office doorway.

Janelle turned and glared at him.

“Janelle, you’re going to have to trust me on this. He is here to help. I know you and Tyson have a strained past and, from the sound of it when I walked into the office earlier, a questionable present, but I’m going to need for you to put all that aside, at least for the time being. I need Tyson, I need you and I need a truce,” Ben said.

She looked away, refusing to answer.

“So—” he began, smiling again “—not that I’m not delighted to see you, but what are you doing here? You weren’t supposed to come back until next year. What happened?”

“I’m fine. My relief arrived early, so I decided to surprise you and come home for the Christmas holidays. I guess the surprise was on me since I went to my house and found my neighbor Mrs. Ivers there with a little girl. She told me it was your idea for the child’s family to move in.”

“Yes, it was my idea. I needed them here quickly and they needed a place to stay. Your house was empty and it was perfect.”

“I don’t understand. Admittedly, the little girl is absolutely adorable, but why was it so important for her family to live in my house? Who’s her family?”

“I’m her family. Aneka is my daughter,” Tyson said.

His pronouncement stunned her. Tyson had a daughter? She had had no idea. Her heart tumbled. The math wasn’t that difficult to figure out. The girl had to be at least four years old. That meant that Tyson had been a father the whole time they were together and he’d never said a word.

Suddenly it all made sense. The months of romantic bliss they had spent together had just been a momentary interlude for him. The reason he’d left her was to go back to his real family. “Your daughter? You have a child,” she said incredulously.

“Ben,” he said, “I’m almost done here. We just have a few more things to tie up. I can move us to a hotel for a few days and...”

“It’s the holidays,” Ben protested. “I’m sure Janelle wouldn’t want you and your daughter out in the street this time of year. Janelle, what do you think about coming home and staying at the big house with your dear old dad for a few days? It’ll be good to have my daughter back under the roof again, at least for a little while. And I could certainly use the company. The house gets awfully quiet sometimes. What do you think?”

Both Tyson and Ben looked at Janelle. But she couldn’t focus on her dad. She was still stuck on the fact that Tyson had been a father the whole time they’d been together. It took her a moment to catch up with what was going on around her. “Um, yeah, sure, that’s fine. Stay at the house with your daughter...your family,” she said awkwardly.

“Thank you,” Tyson said.

“Good. That’s all settled,” Ben declared. “Tyson, why don’t we call it a night and pick this up tomorrow evening?” Tyson nodded his agreement and walked over to Ben’s desk. “Janelle, give me a few minutes to get some things put away and then we’ll head out.”

“I just have to go by my house and pick up my suitcases. I left them in the foyer. Also, I borrowed Mrs. Ivers’s car, so I’m going to need a ride to the big house.”

“I’ll take you.” Tyson spoke up quickly.

“No,” Janelle said just as fast. “No, that’s okay.”

“She’s right, Tyson. It’s late. I’m sure Mrs. Ivers needs to get home and your daughter needs you there now.” He turned to Janelle. “I’ll meet you at your house when I finish up here. It shouldn’t be too long.” He kissed Janelle’s forehead.

Janelle nodded and walked out. Tyson grabbed his briefcase and followed. They shared the elevator down to the first floor and exited the building together. Each got into their respective cars and drove away in the same direction without a single word.

So much for a holiday at home, she thought to herself as she drove off.

Chapter 4

Twenty minutes later they arrived at her town house. In silence side by side, Janelle and Tyson walked up the short path to the front door. As soon as they got to the top step they stopped. Standing beneath the security lights over the door, each had a front-door key in hand. “You go ahead,” she said, motioning for him to step up and open the front door.

“No,” he said, stepping back. “Please, it’s your home. After you.” She put her key in the lock and turned the latch. “Are we just going to ignore this and pretend?” he asked.

“I’m tired, Tyson. I don’t feel like playing games tonight.”

“This isn’t a game, Janelle,” he assured her.

“Fine, let’s pretend. How about we play a game called ‘truth or truth’?”

He sighed. “I’ll tell you whatever you want to know.” His eyes sparkled beneath the lights.

“I can’t believe you. One day you were there, we were talking about getting married and starting a life together, and all of a sudden the next day you were gone.”

He was stunned by her comment. “Janelle, my leaving had nothing to do with what I feel for you. It was about me. I needed time. I needed to go. But when I came back you were gone.”

She scoffed. “What a surprise, and so convenient. At least be original. Isn’t that always the go-to excuse? ‘Oh, no, baby,’” she mocked, “‘it’s not you. It’s me. It’s not that I’m through with you now, or that I was just using you to kill time. I’m just leaving you to go back to my real family now.’”

“Is that what you think? That I had another family someplace else? That I left you because I was through with you?”

“Are you going to seriously stand there and tell me I’m wrong with your daughter and probably your wife waiting inside?” She stopped suddenly. The thought of coming face-to-face with Tyson’s wife sent a stunned shock wave through her system.

An instant later the door opened. Janelle held her breath. Mrs. Ivers stood there, smiling at them. “I thought I heard voices. Why are you two standing out here in the cold? Come on inside.”

“Good evening, Mrs. Ivers,” Tyson said.

“Hi, Mrs. Ivers. Thank you so much for loaning me your car.”

“Hello, Tyson. Janelle, is everything straightened out?”

“Yes, I’m going to stay at my dad’s house for a while. I just came back to drop off your keys and pick up my luggage.” Janelle handed her the car keys.

“Oh, dear, I already put your bags upstairs in the master bedroom. I can go get them.”

“No, no, that’s okay. I’ll get them,” Janelle said, walking toward the stairs quickly. Then she stopped and turned. “Mrs. Ivers, is there someone upstairs?”

“Someone, yes. Aneka is upstairs, asleep in her room,” Mrs. Ivers said, looking at Tyson curiously.

As she climbed, Janelle glanced behind her and saw Tyson watching her. She quickened her pace. She wanted to get her things and get out—and away from Tyson—as soon as possible.

She continued down the hall, opened the already-slightly-open door wider, stepped inside and looked around. A dim light shone from a lamp on a night table beside the large king-size bed; the drapes were open, allowing moonlight to beam in, giving the room a warm, cozy glow. Just as the living room downstairs, it was fully furnished and beautifully decorated with stunning furniture that wasn’t hers.

She spotted her bags on a cozy love seat in the alcove beneath the bay window. Grabbing one of the handles, she pulled it to the floor. As soon as she did, it tumbled open and a mass of clothing fell to her feet. She knelt and began stuffing things back inside.

“Here, let me help you.”

She stiffened, hearing Tyson’s voice as he knelt beside her. He picked up her hair dryer, curling iron and several pieces of intimate apparel.

“I have it,” she said, quickly taking everything from him and zipping the suitcase up again.

He stood and reached down his open hand to her. She stared at his hand without responding. “I won’t bite you, Janelle. I promise.” She took a deep breath and took his hand and stood.

A few seconds passed, her hand still in his. They stood toe to toe, staring at each other in the muted darkness. Neither spoke; Janelle didn’t even dare to breathe. For the first time that evening there was a silent moment of peace between them.

“You’re wrong,” he said softly, answering her earlier question. “I’ll take these downstairs.” She nodded and followed, and then she stopped when movement in the bed caught her eye. He set the bags down, then walked over to lean down at the side of the bed. Janelle watched his movements. That was when she saw the tiny figure snuggled beneath the covers, holding tight to the bride doll Janelle had brought back from Africa. She walked over and stood near.

“Daddy...” The little girl moaned softly and reached out to him.

“Shh, I’m here. Go back to sleep,” he whispered, giving her a hug and a kiss on her forehead.

After tucking the covers over the child, Tyson straightened and smiled. Janelle instantly saw the unconditional love he had for his daughter in his eyes. It was heartwarming to see.

“That’s not her doll,” Tyson said, turning to Janelle.

“No, it’s not. It’s mine.”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It’s a handcrafted Ndebele bride doll. A friend of mine gave it to me before I left. It represents a bride on her wedding day. It’s supposed to be a blessing for a happy, healthy family and future.”

“It looks expensive.”

“I don’t know about that, but it’s sentimental. It was in the side pocket of my luggage. I guess Aneka found it. That would explain why the suitcases were open.”

He sighed heavily while shaking his head. “I’m sorry. She’s in a curious stage right now—she’s into everything.” He reached down to retrieve the doll, but Aneka’s little fingers gripped it tightly as she rolled to the side.

Janelle touched his arm. “No, don’t take it away from her,” she whispered. “I’ll get it another time.”

“Are you sure?”

“Yes, of course.”

“Thank you. I’ll get it back to you. I promise.”

“No problem,” she said softly, then paused. “She is beautiful.”

He smiled proudly. “Yes, she is, and she’s a handful.”

“I bet. How old is she? Four?” Janelle ventured.

“Almost. She’ll be four years old next month. But, to tell you the truth, she’s more like fourteen.”

“Let me guess. Nonstop energy and fiercely independent.”

He nodded continuously. “Oh, yes, and then some. Running, jumping, skipping, dancing... You name it, she does it. Her favorite storybook character right now is Tigger, the tiger from Winnie-the-Pooh. She hops and jumps everywhere. And of course she wears her princess dress and her crown when she does.”

“Of course,” Janelle said, smiling.

“But she’s also kind, generous, creative and wonderfully imaginative. She loves to draw and play make-believe. She insists on choosing her own clothes, even if nothing matches, and she’s a sponge for learning new things. And, admittedly, she has me wrapped around her little finger.”

Janelle smiled. “Daddy’s little girl.”

“Yes, she certainly is,” Tyson said as Aneka stirred.

“She has your heart. That’s how it should be.” Janelle looked closer at the little sleeping angel. Her features were soft and innocent and her skin was honey-toned, far lighter than Tyson’s deep, rich cinnamon complexion. Her hair, a light brown hue, was lightly tinted with reddish-blond highlights. All at once it occurred to her that Aneka bore very little resemblance to Tyson. “She must look like her mother,” she said without thinking.

“Yes, she does,” Tyson replied.

Suddenly, Janelle realized where the conversation might lead. She wasn’t ready to talk about Tyson having another woman in his life. She took a step back. “I’d better go. My dad is probably waiting outside for me.”

“Janelle...” Tyson began, turning to her.

“Daddy,” the little girl muttered again.

Tyson turned back to his daughter.

“Don’t worry about the bags. I’ll pick them up tomorrow. Take care of your daughter.” She turned and walked out.

Seconds later she was opening the front door and stepping outside.

She took a deep breath. A sudden rush of crisp cold December air chilled her lungs. It was a welcome sensation; she needed the intense shock to her senses. Exhaustion and jet lag had apparently gotten the best of her. She’d actually had a civil conversation with Tyson Croft.

She looked up at the full moon and wrapped her hands around her arms and shivered. It seemed a lot colder than it used to be around Christmastime, or maybe she just needed to get used to the seasonal weather again.

The door opened behind her. She didn’t have to look to know it was Tyson.

“Janelle, can we talk?” he asked.

“There’s nothing left for either of us to say,” she said.

“Yes, actually there is. I’m sorry.”

She turned to him. “Is this your attempt at closure?”

“No, it’s a sincere apology for walking away like I did. I know it’s long overdue, but I still need you to know that I’m sorry for what happened between us.”

Janelle looked away without responding. Car lights turned the corner a block away. A few seconds later she recognized her father’s car approaching. “Here comes my dad,” she said, stepping down to the walkway.

“Aneka’s mother—”

“Look, it’s your life. It’s none of my business. I really don’t need to know this,” she quickly interrupted.

“Yes, you do. Aneka’s mother died two and a half years ago in a car accident.”

Janelle paused and took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for your loss and I’m sorry for Aneka. It’s difficult growing up without a mother,” she said, knowing from her own past experience.

“Her father is— Her father was my cousin, Girard. He survived the accident, but died a few months later from his injuries. Aneka is my goddaughter and as of two and a half years ago, I’m her legal guardian.”

Janelle looked at him, speechless. This wasn’t what she’d expected to hear. “I’m sorry. I know you and he were very close.”

“We were, and now his daughter is my daughter.”

Neither spoke for a few minutes.

Janelle sighed heavily. “I was surprised to see you here. You’re the last person I ever expected to see again.”

“Yeah, I’m full of surprises these days.”

She looked at him sternly. “Nothing’s changed. Just because my father seems to need you doesn’t mean I do or ever will again.”

He nodded. “I deserve that.”

“Yes, you do. And stop being so damn understanding. You were never that way before.”

“Really? What was I like?”

“Ruthless,” she said.

“Yeah.” He nodded slowly. “I guess I was.”

She grimaced at him. “Wow. Enlightenment. So, what did you do, climb a mountain or chat with a shaman or something?”

He smiled. “Or something.”

“What do you want from me, Tyson? A reprieve? Absolution? My blessing to move on with your life? What?”

“Right now I’ll settle for a cease-fire.” He extended his hand.

She looked at him and then nodded slowly. She was too tired to object. They shook hands and a small smile pulled at her lips. “Cease-fire it is.”

“Perfect timing, I’d say,” Ben said as he got out of his car and waved. “Glad to see you two have settled your issues.”

Tyson picked up her luggage, which he’d brought down with him, and walked over to the car. Janelle followed, but headed to the passenger-side door as Ben opened the trunk and Tyson put her luggage inside. She waited, listening as the two men stood and talked a moment.

She shook her head. She had no idea what was really going on with her father’s business and Tyson, but she was definitely going to find out. The trunk closed and her father walked to the front of the car. She looked into the passenger-side mirror and saw Tyson standing there, waiting.

His apology had been sincere, but there was no way she was going to let him into her life again. He’d hurt her before and she was not going to allow that to happen again.

Ben got into the car and looked over at his daughter. “Well, sweets, are you ready to go home?” he asked.

“Yes, I’m ready,” Janelle said.

As the car pulled away from the curb and drove down the street, she glanced in the side-view mirror again. Tyson was still standing at the curb. She watched him watch her until the car turned the next corner.

Closing her eyes, she relaxed for the first time in days. She was on her way home once more.

Minutes later she climbed the stairs to her childhood room and lay on the bed. Within a matter of seconds she was fast asleep.

* * *

After standing at the curb and watching Ben’s car drive away, Tyson went back inside and climbed the stairs. As he headed for the master bedroom, he glanced in on Aneka to see that she was still asleep, holding Janelle’s doll.

He walked over and sat on the love seat beneath the alcove. He laid his head back, thinking about the evening. Hearing Janelle’s voice when she had called earlier had been a shock, but seeing her walk into the office had left him speechless.

Granted, she was stunned and furious to see him. Even so, she was even more beautiful than he remembered. Her soft brown eyes still sparkled when she was emotional and her flawless skin still singed red when she was angry. Her full lips were still as luscious and tempting as ever and her body was just as perfect as always.

Her reappearance in his life was far sooner than he’d expected, yet it had allowed him to take the first step back into her life. Granted, it had been awkward and far more difficult than he’d expected, but nonetheless it was a move toward a new beginning.

He had loved her the moment he’d first seen her walk into the hospital cafeteria years ago. He’d known right then she was the only woman for him. It had taken her a bit longer to see that he was the man for her. But together they had worked it out and their union had ended up strong...before he’d left. Tyson needed to remind her of that. It would take time. She may not be ready to accept him right now, but there was one thing he knew for sure—tomorrow was another day.

Chapter 5

Hours later Janelle rolled over and opened her eyes. It took her a few seconds to realize where she was—at her father’s home in her old bedroom. Smiling to herself, she stretched leisurely and then slowly leaned up on her elbows and looked around the room. Sunlight streamed in and everything seemed brand-new. She chuckled to herself. Her father hadn’t changed a thing since she’d been gone.

Music posters still hung on the walls, trophies and dolls remained on the shelves beneath the crown molding, and CDs, books and DVDs were neatly stacked in her bookcases. It was like stepping into a time warp. Janelle realized the last time she’d actually slept in this room was at the end of her sophomore year in college. After that she’d lived in year-round campus apartments and later on in her own town house.

Her own town house. The instant she thought about her house, she recalled Tyson being there. Of course, now that the home was completely furnished with his things, it seemed more like his than hers. To his credit, the place was stunning. It fit him perfectly—it was stylish, contemporary and tastefully elegant. But she would have expected no less from Tyson Croft. He was the man she thought she’d be with the rest of her life. He was her soul mate, her friend, her confidant and her lover. He was the man of her dreams from the very beginning.

They’d met in the Johns Hopkins cafeteria the start of the second week of her third year in residency. She’d just completed a double shift—all night, all day and well into the following evening. She had been exhausted, too tired to drive home, but also distraught. Her patient, a five-year-old little boy, had been critical.

There’d been about thirty other people in the cafeteria the night they’d met, but she remembered seeing only him. She had grabbed a cup of tea to wind down and take a much-needed break. When she’d walked into the cafeteria, he’d been there, sitting right at the entrance. As she’d entered, he’d looked up at her and she’d stopped. He’d smiled and nodded once. “Good evening,” he’d said.

Her heart had jumped. He had unnerved her the instant he’d spoken. She’d taken a deep breath and managed to return his nod. “Good evening,” she’d replied and then continued walking until he’d stopped her again.

* * *

“Excuse me,” he began. She turned around slowly. “Are you okay?”

She grimaced at his question. “Yes, I’m okay. Why, do I not look okay?”

“Actually, you look distressed, like you’re carrying the world on your shoulders.”

He was more right than he knew, which she admitted to herself. “Thank you for your diagnosis, but I’m fine.” She turned and just before she walked away again he spoke once more.

“In that case, are you a doctor here at this hospital?”

She looked down at her blue medical scrubs, white jacket and badge that clearly stated her name and title. She nodded.

“Good, because seeing you just stopped my heart.”

She smiled and half chuckled at the corny remark. “That’s the worst pickup line I’ve ever heard.”

“True, but it was effective,” he said.

She looked at him, slightly confused.

“It got you to smile. I’m feeling better already.”

She grinned again, then turned to walk away.

“Wait! What about my heart?”

“Sorry, you’re out of luck. I’m a third-year pediatric resident. The best I can do is to tell you to take two aspirin and call me in the morning.” He laughed as she walked away.

When Janelle took a seat on the far side of the room, she turned to see him still watching her. A few seconds later, though, a woman walked up beside him; it was obvious he had been waiting for her.

That was apparently the beginning and end of their first flirtation. She drank her tea while mulling over a troubling case she’d been working. Minutes later, her cell phone rang: her young patient had taken a turn for the worse. Jumping up, she dumped the cup of tea in the trash and ran out, only to discover her five-year-old patient hadn’t survived.

An hour later Janelle walked, zombielike, back into the cafeteria. It was empty this time...except for him.

He stood as soon as she walked in. Seeing her face, he opened his arms to her without a word. She went to him. He was a stranger, yet all she could think about was being in his arms. Janelle never cried at work because doctors weren’t supposed to. They had to be unaffected by human emotion to do their jobs. But the instant he folded his arms around her, she relinquished her detached emotions and sobbed.

He consoled her without a single word.

She didn’t see him again until the following week, when he was waiting at her table, their table, in the cafeteria. Janelle asked him about his heart problems, and she knew right then that her heart was lost to him. For the next eleven months, they were inseparable.

* * *

“Damn,” Janelle said as she snapped back to the present. She closed her eyes and sighed heavily. Her memory was too good. Why did he still have to be so—amazing? She sat all the way up in bed and wrapped her arms around her legs, resting her chin on her knees. Her stomach tumbled the way it used to do long ago when she’d dreamed about Tyson. She tensed and stopped right there. Thinking too much about Tyson had a way of clouding her judgment. He had always affected her that way.

The moment she’d seen him for the first time, he’d taken her breath away. With one smile, he’d taken over her world. Years ago, when they were together, all she’d thought about was being with him. Nothing else mattered—not school, not family, not even being a doctor, something she’d always wanted to be. She’d actually considered dropping out of med school for him. It was a mistake she’d never made. All her life, she had only ever wanted to be a doctor.... She sighed and shook her head.

“This is crazy,” she muttered, then glanced over at the small clock on the bedside table. She grimaced. The time seemed wrong. It was much earlier than she’d thought. Still, she felt rested and not as tired as she’d expected. She grabbed her cell phone and checked her messages. There were welcome-home messages from Mia and Stephen, Tatiana and Natalia. She texted them all back and sent a message to her friend and mentor at Johns Hopkins Hospital, Dr. Meg Richardson.

She got up and took a quick shower and then put on a T-shirt and pair of jeans from her suitcase. Then she grabbed an old heavy college sweatshirt she’d found in the back of her closet.

Her cell phone beeped. It was Meg. “Janelle, I just got your message. Are you back in town?”

“Yes, I got in yesterday. I’m gonna hang around for a while. I was hoping we could grab a quick meal and catch up.”

“That sounds great. We definitely need to talk. Do you think you can stop by the hospital for a quick coffee later on this afternoon, say about three o’clock?”

“Sure, sounds perfect. What’s up?”

“There’s a pediatrics position that opened up here at the hospital a few days ago. I haven’t had time to put out feelers yet. And now I’m thinking with your talent, background and medical experience with Medics International, you’re perfect for the position. That’s if you’re interested.”

Janelle was stunned. She knew she’d have to look for a new job sooner or later, but to have one just fall into her lap was incredible. “Yes, yes. I’m definitely interested.”

“Good. I have to go now. Meet me in my office at three.”

“Sure, okay, see you then. And, Meg, thank you so much.”

“I should be thanking you. See you soon.”

Janelle ended the call with a grin on her face. Practicing medicine at Johns Hopkins was something she’d always dreamed of doing. She stood and opened her bedroom door to the mouthwatering aromas of bacon and rich, roasted coffee brewing. As soon as she came to the second floor’s open foyer, she saw the stunning holiday decorations. She peered over the banister. Christmas had exploded everywhere. A thick strand of evergreen garland, accented with small holiday balls and holly berries, coiled down the railing. A huge wreath, wrapped with red ribbon and red holiday balls, hung in the large window above the front door, and she could see the image of a second matching wreath positioned outside.

The entire first floor had been transformed into a vibrant holiday display. There were colorful garlands, perfect poinsettias, vibrant evergreens, candles, bells, stars and miniature Christmas trees. In the living room, a fifteen-foot Christmas tree stood elegantly poised between one of the front windows and the fireplace. There was another strand of lights twinkling on the mantel, while two giant, red poinsettia topiaries stood on either side. There were ribbons and bows, massive Christmas balls and beautifully wrapped boxes beneath the tree. It was easy to see that her father still loved this season.

On the mantel hung four holiday stockings. She read the names: Ben, Janelle, Aneka and Tyson. She shook her head in wonder. How and when had Tyson become such a big part of her family? She wondered exactly how much had changed while she was away. She continued on to the kitchen, where she saw her father pulling a mug down from the cabinet above the sink.

She smiled to see him wearing the World’s Greatest Dad apron she had bought for him when she was twelve years old. He wore it whenever he cooked breakfast, his favorite meal of the day. She remembered that every morning, her father would be in the kitchen cooking her breakfast before she went off to school. “Good morning. I smell bacon and coffee,” she said.

As Ben turned around, it was obvious that the joy of having his daughter back safely filled his heart.

“Good morning. Oh, yes. That’s still the best way to start the day,” he said as Janelle walked over and gave him a big hug. “I didn’t expect to see you up for another few hours. Any residual fatigue left over from the jet lag?” he asked, pouring coffee into two mugs.

“No, not at all. I feel fine—better than fine actually,” she said, looking at the perfectly crisped bacon on the counter in front of her. “It’s good to be home again.”

Ben smiled proudly. “It’s good to have you home again.”

Janelle sat at the counter and grabbed a slice of bacon and took a bite. “Turkey bacon? It’s pretty good. Not that I’m not happy to see you this morning, but what are you still doing here so late? It’s after nine o’clock. You’re usually at the office by six.”

“Things have changed. I’ve changed,” Ben said as he placed two plates of food on the island counter and sat across from Janelle. “No more smoking cigars, no drinks at lunch meetings and no more fatty meals. Now I get at least seven hours of sleep every night, I hit the home gym for an hour every morning and I eat right—turkey bacon, only one cup of decaffeinated coffee and one egg-white omelet with scallions. I’ve also lost a little bit of extra weight.”

Janelle smiled. “Yes, I noticed. That’s great, Dad,” she said. “I’m proud of you. And this looks delicious.”

“I guess everything you told me for years finally sank in. I’m feeling better than ever. I’m taking care of myself, and I have Tyson to thank, as well.”

“Tyson?” she questioned after sipping her coffee.

Ben nodded. “Seeing him with his daughter got me thinking. I need to take care of myself for my grandchildren. I’d like to be around and be able to play with them in a few years. That is, if my daughter ever decides to settle down.”

“Thanks for the pressure, Dad,” she joked, eating a forkful of omelet.

He chuckled. “No pressure, I promise,” he said, smiling. “I’m just very hopeful.”

“Speaking of Tyson...tell me what’s going on with the business. How is he really involved?”

“Janelle, I’m handling this,” he assured her.

“With Tyson.”

Ben sighed heavily. “When the economy tanked a few years back, we got hit hard, very hard. Real estate and new development projects just weren’t moving. A lot of other companies were going bankrupt or imploding. I was determined to hold on, and I did for a while. I was neck-deep in three major housing development projects. One went belly-up almost immediately. I sank everything into the last two projects, but by then the business was hemorrhaging money. I tried everything to save the projects. Nothing was working. Money just wasn’t there.

“I initially borrowed against a balloon payment I anticipated making, but when the time came, the cash wasn’t there. I borrowed again. The interest rate was astronomical. I put the house and the company up as collateral. I eventually filed Chapter 13 for protection. There was nothing more I could do. The business is circling the drain.” He shook his head in despair.

“Dad, why didn’t you tell me? You know I have my trust fund. I’ve never touched it. I could have helped,” Janelle said softly.

“No, absolutely not,” he said firmly, standing to take his empty plate over to the dishwasher. “That money is from your mother and her family. It’s for you and your children.”

“Dad...”

“Absolutely not,” he insisted. “End of discussion.”

She nodded her agreement, but knew this wasn’t the end. She was going to find a way to help her father’s business. “So what about Tyson living at the town house? How does he fit into all of this?” she asked, following him to the dishwasher.

“I called him for help and he came immediately. He brought his daughter.... They needed a place to live.”

“Dad, you know what he does for a living. He buys troubled businesses and then sells them off on a chopping block. He’ll do the same thing to your business. Why would you call him, of all people?”

“No, he won’t. His business had changed. He’s changed.”

“How could he change? That’s what he does for a living. He’s a shark and he’s very good at it. When we were together, he was here in town to buy and take over two different companies. He’s merciless.”

“Yes, I agree. I despised his tactics. But that’s not who he is—not anymore. He’s a troubleshooter now. Croft Enterprises is a consulting firm that handles businesses in financial and management crisis. He fixes businesses. He used to tear companies apart. Now he knows how to save them.”

“No, that doesn’t sound right.”

Ben nodded. “It’s true. For the past two and a half years, he’s been consulting with failing businesses and helping them turn things around. His services are well-known and very much in demand. I was lucky that he put me at the top of the list and came here so quickly. His success rate is excellent. His client list is a who’s who among the top Fortune 500 companies. And believe me when I say this—his waiting list is endless.”

“I find this hard to believe.”

“Believe it,” Ben said seriously. “I think his change had a lot to do with you.”

Janelle considered his words for a moment. She didn’t know what to think or to believe anymore. But right now Tyson wasn’t her main concern. “Okay, fine, so he’s turned from Sheriff of Nottingham to Robin Hood. What’s happening with your business now? What exactly is he doing to help you?”

“I had creditors and banks breathing down my neck. The IRS was ready to file charges. Tyson stepped in and, to tell you the truth, I don’t know what I would have done if he hadn’t. I think we’re close to finding the light at the end of the tunnel. There are no easy solutions. He’s given me some viable options, including taking on a business partner.”

“A business partner,” she repeated distastefully.

Ben nodded. “Yes, Tyson and I have narrowed down a few interesting prospects. One in particular is very impressive.”

“What about me? I could be your business partner.”

“No, this isn’t your life now, Janelle. You’re a doctor.”

“Dad, be careful. You always said business partners were trouble. You never wanted someone to take what you built.”

“Don’t worry. For the first time in a long time things are looking up. And speaking of time,” he said, looking at his watch, “I need to get to the office. I have meetings all day, starting in about thirty minutes.” He hung up his apron and left the kitchen, heading down the hall to his home office.

“With Tyson?” Janelle surmised, following him.

“No, it’s with a bank. Tyson set it up. So, tell me, what are your plans?” he asked.

“I’m having lunch with Nya at twelve and a quick coffee with my friend Meg at the hospital at three.”

“Meg Richardson?” he asked. She nodded and he smiled. “I always liked her. She was good for you. So, you’re really gonna stay?”

Janelle nodded again. “Yep, so far that’s the plan. I still have to look for a job and officially give my notice to Medics International, but looks like you’re stuck with me for a while.”

Ben reached over and squeezed her hand lovingly. “It’s my pleasure. It’s good to have you home again. When I returned your call last night and you didn’t answer, I was worried sick.”

“I didn’t get a call from you last night,” she said.

“I used Tyson’s cell phone.”

“I did get a phone call, but I didn’t recognize the number, so I didn’t answer.” She paused, watching her father gather his things to leave. “Dad, how did you know where to find Tyson after all this time?”

“We’ve kept in touch over the years,” Ben said, putting a few files into his briefcase.

“You kept in touch how? Why?” Janelle asked, surprised.

“I know, I know,” he began, nodding his head as he closed and locked his case. “Tyson and I weren’t exactly the best of buddies when the two of you were together, but I guess things changed.”

“That’s too much change. Talk about a Christmas miracle. If I remember correctly, you despised him when we were together.”

“Despised is a strong word,” Ben corrected as he slipped his suit jacket on and turned to her. “I felt Tyson was distracting you from your goal. I didn’t want that to happen. You always wanted to be a doctor. It was your dream. I didn’t want you to one day look back and have regrets. When you told me you were considering quitting your residency, I knew you were confused.”

“Dad, I don’t have any regrets and, for the record, back then I considered quitting my residency every other day. Medical school was hard.”

“I’m glad you didn’t. You know your mother quit her dreams for me. She wanted to be a doctor, too. This was way before you were born.”

Janelle frowned. “I never knew that. Why didn’t you tell me?”

Ben nodded. “I guess maybe I always felt guilty for standing in the way of her dream. She never said it, but I always felt she regretted giving it up to be my wife.”

“Dad, no. Mom would never even think something like that. She loved us fiercely. I’m sure she never regretted her life.”

Ben nodded solemnly. “No, you’re right. She didn’t. But when she died I promised myself I’d never stand in the way of your dreams. I’m very proud of you, Dr. Truman.” He hugged her, then grabbed his keys and started toward the front door. She followed. As he walked, he unfastened one key from the loop. “Here’s the key to the other car. It’s got a full tank. Go out. Enjoy your day.”

“Thanks, Dad,” she said, taking the key and kissing his cheek.

“Hey, how about I take my favorite girl out to dinner tonight?” Ben said as he opened the front door.

She nodded. “Yeah, that sounds perfect.” He turned to walk away. She called out to him. “Dad, wait. What aren’t you telling me? You’re hiding something. I can tell.”

He sighed, turned back to her and leaned down to kiss her cheek. “There’s nothing. I’ve told you absolutely everything about the business. Now, give my best to Nya and Meg. I have to go.”

She nodded slowly, knowing in her heart there was more to his story and his hasty retreat. She was to meet Nya at twelve, which gave her just enough time to catch up with Tyson to find out what was really going on.

She went back inside and quickly grabbed her phone and dialed Tyson’s number from her call log. He answered on the second ring, and his deep voice instantly sent a warm tremor through her body. “Tyson.”

“Good morning, Janelle. How are you feeling today?”

“I’m not sure yet.”

“Jet lag?” he asked.

“No.”

“What’s wrong?”

“Can we talk?”

“Of course. Where are you now?” he asked.

“I’m at my dad’s. I know you must have a busy work schedule, but do you think we can meet sometime today? This morning if possible?” she asked.

“How about right now?” he offered.

“Yes, perfect. I’m on my way out the door this minute. I can meet you wherever you’d like.”

She opened the front door and stopped and gasped.

Chapter 6

Tyson stood in the doorway with a smile that instantly sent her senses into emotional overdrive. As usual, gorgeous didn’t do him justice. He wore a charcoal-colored business suit with a white shirt and a dark tie. “Tyson,” she muttered breathlessly.

“Good morning again, Janelle,” he said, ending the call and smiling warmly. “I’m guessing this is soon enough.”

She stared at him with her cell phone still up to her ear. It was as if thinking about him all morning had, by magic, conjured him up. She didn’t know how, but ever since the very beginning of their relationship, he always had a way of knowing exactly when she needed him. “How did you...? What are you doing here?” she asked.

“You called me. I came. I thought that was obvious.”

“I’m sorry. You just took me by surprise again. I didn’t expect to see you immediately.”

“Actually, I wanted to catch up with Ben before he left for work this morning.”

“You just missed him, but I’m glad you’re here.”

“May I come in?” he asked, still standing on the top step.

“Yes, please, come in.” He stepped inside, paused and then turned to her. They stood there a moment until she spoke again. “Um, can I get you something to eat or drink?”

“No, thank you. I’m fine. Are you okay? You seem uneasy.”

“How is it you always know when I’m troubled?”

He smiled. “I don’t know. I guess I just do. What can I do to help?”

“It’s about my father. He’s...”

Tyson’s expression instantly changed. “What happened? Is he okay?” he interrupted, obviously concerned.

“Yes, he’s fine,” she said, noting his abrupt reaction and seeing his strained expression. “Apparently he’s better than fine. All of a sudden he’s eating right, exercising and taking care of himself. I couldn’t be happier.”

Tyson nodded with relief. “Good. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Come, we can talk in the living room,” she said, walking past him. He followed, looking around at all the decorations.

“Wow. I see you’re all ready for Christmas. This is incredible. I forgot how much your father loves the holiday season.”

“Yeah, he does,” she said. “He always tried to make it extra special for me because of my mother’s death. He never wanted me to feel sad.” She watched as he walked over to the Christmas tree and then to the fireplace mantel, where he fingered the stocking for his daughter. “He put up Christmas stockings for you and your daughter.”

“Yes, I know,” Tyson said, then turned to her. “He told me. He also invited us over for Christmas dinner, but that was before you came home. I’m sure he’ll want to spend the holiday with you.”

“There’s no reason for plans to change on my account. There’s always room for one or two more.”

“Thank you. So, tell me, what’s troubling you?”

“I need you to tell me the whole truth about what’s going on with my father. Is his business in real danger?”

“Yes, it is. Ben has made some questionable business decisions, and unfortunately, it’s put his company in serious jeopardy.”

“If it’s about money, I have a trust fund from my mother and her family. It’s worth quite a bit of money. I want to use that to help him.”

Tyson shook his head. “Ben has taken that off the table.”

“I’m putting it back on. I have a stake in the company, too.”

“We’ve talked about opening the company to public shares or taking on an investment partner.”

She shook her head. “I can’t see him doing that. He’s a very private man. I don’t think he’d be happy to have others involved in running it. But isn’t the real-estate climate improving?”

“Yes, it is, but at this point he’s in too deep and time has already run out on him. Maybe you can talk to him. He’s stubborn. And unfortunately, he may have no choice. Whether or not he is reluctant, private investors may be his only alternative.”

She nodded. “I’ll try.”

“Good. Thank you. I guess I’d better go.” He walked away.

“Earlier, when I asked about my father, you seemed worried.” Tyson stopped and turned to her. “You know something else about him, don’t you?” she prompted. “What aren’t you telling me?”

“What do you mean?” he asked innocently.

She shook her head, knowing his expressions too well. Just like her father, he was hiding something. “Please don’t play games with me, Tyson. This is too serious. I know you just as well as you think you know me. You’re hiding something, just like Dad. What is it? What’s going on?”

“You need to talk to your father about this.”

“He’ll give me the same double-talk I get from you. Tyson, please, if you know something about my father, tell me. I have to know.”

Tyson took a deep breath. “Why don’t we sit down?” he offered.

Her insides tensed. This didn’t sound good already. She quickly assumed that there was more bad news about her father’s business, which might be in worse shape than she’d originally thought.

He took her hand and led her to the sofa. They sat side by side. “Janelle, I came back about eight weeks ago to help your father.”

“Yes, I know that already.”

“What you don’t know is this isn’t the first time I’ve been back to Baltimore to help him. I was here shortly after you left for Tanzania six months ago. I stayed in your home for about two months.”

“I don’t understand,” she said. “Why?”

“Ben had a problem and he asked me to come.”

She shook her head. “Another business issue?” she asked.

“No, he had some medical trouble.”

Her heart jumped instantly. “What? Wait, I don’t understand. He had medical problems and he called you and not me? Why?”

“He didn’t tell you because he didn’t want to worry you. He knew that if he told you, you’d come back to the States and stay here for him, and he didn’t want that.”

Her mind was a-jumble with a million questions. “No, this makes no sense. What kind of medical problems?” she asked, trying to think rationally. But all her years of self-composed medical training had gone out the window.

“Ben suffered a minor heart attack and a TAI.”

“You mean a TIA? A transient ischemic attack—a ministroke?”

He nodded.

Janelle gasped. Suddenly she couldn’t breathe. The air in the room seemed to evaporate. She jumped up and ran to the front door. In an instant Tyson was right behind her. He stopped her before she could get to it.

“Janelle, stop,” he said, standing between her and the door.

“Get out of my way, Tyson. I need to go see my father.” She stepped to the side, but he blocked her way again.

“Janelle, stop and listen to me.”

“Move,” she demanded angrily, then pushed past him.

“Janelle,” he said, grabbing her arms and turning her around to face him. Tears began streaming down her face. “Listen to me.”

“No, I don’t want to listen.” She didn’t need a medical degree to know that her heartbeat was elevated, her breathing erratic and her pulse out of control. She tried to push away from him, but he held tight to her arms. “Tyson, you need to let go of me now.”

“Calm down,” he said.

She glared at him. “Are you kidding me? You want me to calm down after hearing that my father almost died and I didn’t know anything about it?”

“Yes, that’s exactly what I want. You can’t just run off to him like this. Please, let me finish. Ben is fine. With medical treatment and preventive care, his cardiologist is very encouraged by his progress. He had a procedure and he’s changed his lifestyle. He’s doing fine. You wanted the truth? This is it. He’s fine. I would never lie to you. You know that.”

She did know it. She swallowed hard and looked at her hands on his chest. His heartbeat was just as elevated as hers. She tried to push by him again, but this time he quickly wrapped his arms around her and held her tight.

At first she struggled. Then knowing it was futile, she held her breath and tensed. Everything inside her wanted to explode as the memory of her mother dying on Christmas Day and the image of her father collided in her mind.

Then she exhaled and crumpled against him, giving way to the feelings long buried in her heart. As always, he was here for her. She closed her eyes and breathed in the sweet, spicy scent of his cologne. Yes, this was what she remembered so well. Tyson—strong, commanding, powerful, yet tender, gentle and forever loving.

Being here in his arms, hearing his soothing voice, feeling him this close... The memories washed through and flooded her heart, bringing back feelings she had tried for so long to deny. This was where they had started and she knew in her heart that she had never stopped loving him. “I can’t...I can’t lose him.”

“I know,” he whispered softly in her ear as he stroked the length of her back. “You won’t lose him. I promise.”

He kissed her forehead, tenderly soothing the tears and sobs away.

She reveled in the strong protection he offered. Here, in his arms, nothing bad could ever happen. He had a way of always making everything all right.

She didn’t know how long they stood there, but after a while she took a deep breath and stepped back. He released her and gently tipped her chin up with his finger. She looked up into his dark, loving eyes. They were safe and assuring. Right then she knew she was lost once more. Falling in love with Tyson had been easy the first time. Loving him now was as natural as breathing.

“He’s all I have left, Tyson...” she began.

“Trust me. You have more than you can imagine. I’m here. I will always be here for you.”

His words washed through her like a warm wave of calm. Trusting him had never been an issue. He had never lied to her. Years ago, when he’d told her that he was here for a job and would be leaving as soon as it was over, it had been the truth. But she’d thought she could persuade him to stay. He hadn’t and she’d been crushed. That was when she’d left.

“I’m okay. I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have...”

“No, please don’t apologize,” he said, smiling. He cradled her face in his hands as his thumbs wiped away the last of her tears. “Are you okay?”

She nodded. Why does he have to be so wonderful? “I’m fine.”

He released her and she stepped back and looked away. “My heart breaks every time I see you cry. Did you know that?” She turned back to him and shook her head. He smiled. “Remember the first night we met?”

She nodded. “I’m surprised you remember that night,” she said.

“Of course I remember. How could I forget? That was the night my life changed, the night I fell in love with you.”

The lump in her throat instantly dissolved and her nerves stilled. It felt as if, all of a sudden, the world had slowed, just for that moment. Without thought or hesitation, she wrapped her arms around his neck and kissed him. It was completely impulsive, but it felt so right. He kissed her back and then everything she had been feeling exploded. All she could think about was being with him just one more time. The kiss deepened and the passion escalated. Then, suddenly, everything stopped. He pulled back.

“Janelle. Janelle, wait,” Tyson said, breathing hard and holding her from him. “We can’t. Not like this. You’re upset and vulnerable. I can’t take advantage of you and I don’t want you to have any regrets when we make love.”

“Tyson, I’m fine,” she assured him, moving closer.

“I know, but I’m not.”

“You’re turning me down.”

He leaned in and kissed the sweet underside just behind her ear. “You have no idea how much I want you right now. Believe me, when I walk out of here in the next few minutes I’m gonna hate myself, but this isn’t enough for us, not anymore.”

She licked her lips, took a deep breath and nodded slowly. He was right. She was upset and vulnerable, but she also wanted to be with him. Still she nodded. “Yes, you’re right. This is too fast.”

“I think I’d better go,” he said, turning to the door.

“Wait...” she said. He turned around. “Thank you.”

“For what?” he asked.

“For telling me the truth, for being here for me,” she said, half smiling. “For always being here for me.”

“Janelle, I will always tell you the truth, and there’s no other place I want to be except here with you.” He leaned down and kissed her lips tenderly. “I’ll see you later.”

“Later,” she said softly. She watched as he got into his car and drove off, then closed the door, walked over to the stairs and sat.

This was information overload. Her father seemed fine medically, but she still intended to talk to both him and his doctor. She grabbed her cell phone and called her father’s office. His voice mail answered, but she decided not to leave a message: she didn’t want to upset him. She went back into the living room and walked over to the mantel. Four Christmas stockings—it looked as though they were one big happy family.

She still couldn’t believe her father had called Tyson and not her. But if her reaction to hearing the news was any indication, then maybe he had been right not to do so. She was out of control and completely irrational. Going to her father at that moment would have gotten him upset and that was the last thing she wanted to do. Tyson was right. She needed to calm down before talking to her father.

She walked over to the sofa and sat, taking a deep breath before dialing her father’s office phone number again. He answered. “Hi, Dad. Got a few minutes?” she began.

“Hey, sweetheart. Sure—just a few, though. Everything okay?”

“Yes...well, not really. I spoke with Tyson a few minutes ago. He told me about your heart attack and stroke.” She heard her father sigh. “Dad, why didn’t you tell me? I could have come home. I could have been with you.”

“And that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you. I didn’t want you rushing home upset, and had I told you, that’s exactly what you would have done. I had the best doctors and the best medical care available. Believe me, if any further problems arose, I would have called you, but they didn’t. And now I feel better than ever.”

She couldn’t deny that. Her father looked better than he had in years. He’d lost weight, he was eating right and he was taking care of himself.

“That’s not the point. You should have called me.”

“To do what?” he asked. “There was nothing you could have done at the time except sit and worry, and I didn’t want that. Now, I need to get to a meeting and get my business back in just as good shape.”

“Okay, but I still want to talk about this.”

He chuckled. “Of course you do. Now go enjoy your day and don’t worry about me. I’m just fine.”

“All right. See you later.” She hung up, feeling a little better. Tyson was right. She thought about their conversation in the foyer and her reaction. He had always been the calm in the middle of her emotional storms. She couldn’t believe she’d kissed him! It was totally out of character for her, surprising both of them, even as he kissed her back. Janelle reached up and touched her lips. She could still feel the pull of his mouth on hers.

He seemed different, that much was without doubt—certainly not the arrogant and aggressive man he had been before. There was a gentle calmness about him now. Maybe it was his young daughter’s influence. Children had a way of changing a person’s world for the better—what was important one minute suddenly wasn’t anymore. But was he really different?

She didn’t know what to think. Her father obviously trusted him.

Her cell phone beeped with a text message from Nya, who was on her way to the restaurant. Janelle grabbed her purse and hurried out. Time enough later to worry about Tyson, her father and her future.

Chapter 7

Janelle parked her car a block away and hurried to the restaurant. When she tried to open the door handle, it was locked, and the dark, smoky glass obscured her view. She looked at the decorative sign in the window. The Chesterfield was one of the most prestigious restaurants in the Baltimore area. Its chef was world renowned and reservations were almost impossible to get... So where was Nya?

She looked around and then started to leave. A few steps away, she heard the restaurant door being unlocked and opened. She turned, seeing a gorgeous man dressed in jeans and a T-shirt standing in the open doorway. With blond hair and sea-blue eyes, he looked as if he’d come right off a movie set.

“Excuse me. Are you Janelle?” he asked.

She nodded. “Yes.”

He smiled and deep dimples cut through his handsome face. “Hi, I’m Brad. Come on in. We’ve been waiting for you.” He held the door for her to enter. Once inside she looked around, amazed by the sheer splendor and ambience of the entranceway.

“Follow me. We’re in the kitchen, and lunch is almost ready,” he said, heading around the bar to the main dining area. “Nya’s already sipping champagne.”

“Of course she is,” Janelle confirmed. She knew her sister too well. Even in muted light and empty, the place sparkled and shone with stunning radiance.

“So, you’re Nya’s sister.”

“Yep, one of them.”

“I’ve known Nya for a while. I didn’t know she had sisters,” he said.

“She has two. We’re all stepsisters. Different mothers and different fathers,” she said. Brad turned and looked at her, confused. She smiled. “It’s complicated. Trust me, explaining it will probably give you a headache.”

They snaked through the spotless stainless-steel counters and wait stations to a small room beside the main kitchen, where Nya was sitting at a small round table, talking on her cell phone. When she saw Janelle she smiled, waved and quickly ended her conversation. “Thanks, Brad.”

He blew her an air-kiss and went back to the kitchen.

“Hey, girl,” she exclaimed with her arms open wide.

Janelle smiled and walked over to her. They hugged and laughed. “It’s so good to see you. Oh, my God, you look sensational.”

“You, too,” Janelle said.

“Well, yeah, of course I do, but I wasn’t exactly working in the middle of the desert. You’re practically glowing. Come on. Let’s sit down. Brad made us something amazing for lunch.”

“Brad, huh? Nice. He’s gorgeous.”

She smiled and winked. “We’re just friends. Long story, great ending,” she said just as her cell phone rang again. Nya looked at the number and smiled. “I need to get this.” She pressed the FaceTime accept button and smiled. “We’re here,” she said, turning the phone around so Janelle could speak.

“Hello, ladies,” Mia said, sing-songing a greeting to her two sisters.

Janelle beamed with delight at seeing her other sister on the video app on Nya’s cell phone. “Oh, my God, Mia, look at you. You look fantastic. How are you and how’s everybody?”

“I’m fine. We’re all fine. Everything’s great. I’m so sorry to miss our pre-Christmas lunch and shopping this year. But how are you?”

“I’m wonderful. It’s so good to see you. How’s my godson?”

“Our godson,” Nya joked.

“He’s amazing. Hold on a second. I’ll let you see him. He just went down for his nap.” Mia held her phone down to her sleeping baby in the crib. Both Janelle and Nya squealed with joy at seeing him and then silenced quickly. But it was too late. He began to stir and his lower lip pouted.

A second later his eyes opened. He whimpered and then started crying. “Aw-ww,” Janelle and Nya said in unison.

“Oh, well, ladies, looks like I’m back on mommy duty. I’ll call you guys later tonight. Have a great lunch. Welcome home, Janelle. I love you both,” Mia said, waving.

Janelle smiled as Nya ended the call. “It feels so good to be home. You have no idea.”

“It’s good to have you back. So, tell me, how’s my stepdad?” Janelle’s expression instantly changed. “What’s wrong? Is Ben okay?”

Janelle sighed heavily, shaking her head. “He’s fine, but to tell you the truth, I don’t know what to think.”

“What do you mean?”

“My dad had a heart attack and a mild stroke.”

“What? When?” Nya asked quickly.

“About six months ago. I didn’t even know about it. He didn’t tell me. Apparently, I had just left for Tanzania when it happened.”

“Oh, my God. And he’s just telling you this now?”

“No, that’s just it. He didn’t tell me. Tyson told me. Dad called him instead of me after it happened.”

“Whoa, wait a minute. Tyson, as in Tyson Croft—your Tyson Croft?” Nya asked. Janelle nodded. “Okay, wait, I don’t get it. Why did Ben call him and not you—or me, for that matter?”

“He told me that he hadn’t wanted to worry me and have me rush home to be with him. If Tyson hadn’t told me, I never would have known what happened.”

“Okay, start from the beginning. What does Tyson have to do with this and when did he come back into the picture?”

Brad brought their lunch. After a brief conversation, the two began eating as Janelle told Nya about her homecoming and seeing Tyson again and meeting his daughter.

“A four-year-old daughter,” Nya exclaimed.

“Wait, there’s more.” Janelle continued the story.

By the time the meal was done Janelle had told Nya everything about her father’s business problem and Tyson living in her home with his daughter.

Nya shook her head. “This is too unreal. I can’t believe it. I had no idea. I spoke with Ben a couple of weeks ago and he never mentioned anything to me.”

“I know the feeling,” Janelle said sarcastically.

“Okay, so Tyson is working with Ben now. You talked to him. He told you about what’s been going on, but what about the two of you?” she asked.

“What do you mean?” Janelle asked.

“You know exactly what I mean. Two and a half years ago you and Tyson were headed down the aisle. Then all of a sudden he’s gone and you leave for Africa. Now you’re back and he’s back. What happens now?”

“I don’t know,” Janelle said, taking a deep breath and shaking her head. She looked at her sister and sighed. “I kissed him.” Nya smiled without responding. “Nya, you don’t understand. I mean I really kissed him,” Janelle reiterated.

“Yes, I do understand. You’re my sister. Yeah, maybe not by blood, but with us, that doesn’t really matter. I know you, and deep down in your heart you still have feelings for Tyson, and I know that he has some pretty strong feelings for you, too.” Janelle shook her head as Nya nodded. “You’re gonna have to relent, Janelle. You two had the romance of the century, and fine, things fell apart at the end, but you and I both know that wasn’t the end—not really. My advice—grab all the love and happiness you can and, in this case, it’s with Tyson.”

“Since when did you become a romance guru?”

“Apparently since now,” Nya said, smiling.

“It’s not that easy, Nya. I wish it was. He’s leaving again.”

Nya reached across the table to hold her sister’s hand. She squeezed gently. “Actually, sis, it is that easy. Love is the easiest thing in the world. Just follow your heart.”

“Okay, now you’re starting to scare me.”

“If I learned nothing else from watching Mia and Stephen come together, it’s that love will always find a way. So, tell me, how did he look?” Nya asked.

“He was still as handsome as ever. The instant he looked up at me, I swear my heart skipped a beat. It was as if time had stood still and the past two and a half years of my life had evaporated. I told myself that I was over him. I was wrong.”

Nya giggled and smiled. “I love the sound of romance in the afternoon.”

The two went on talking about men, jobs, family, vacations, the holidays and then back to men. Two hours later they were still laughing and talking.

“Come on. Let’s get out of here. I can’t stand looking at that old college sweatshirt any longer. You and I have some serious shopping to do.”

Janelle stood, following her sister. They thanked Brad and his kitchen crew, left a very generous tip and then continued outside. Nya put on her dark sunglasses. “I think we need Bergdorf.”

“Newsflash—there’s no Bergdorf Goodman near here,” she said.

“Sure there is. There’s one on Fifth Avenue.”

Janelle chuckled. “Fifth Avenue, as in New York City? No way. We’re not going all the way to New York to shop for clothes,” she insisted as her cell phone rang.

“Sure we are. I have my dad’s private plane sitting on the runway right now. We can fly there, shop and get you back here by midnight, one at the latest. Come on. It’ll be fun.”

“Can’t, sorry. I’m meeting with a friend at Johns Hopkins in a few minutes. Hold on,” Janelle said, answering her cell. “Hello?”

“Hello, Janelle, this is Mrs. Ivers. I need your help.”

“Sure, Mrs. Ivers. What’s wrong?”

“My son was in a car accident. I need to go to him. Tyson is in D.C. and I can’t take Aneka with me. Would you come by and stay with her for a few hours? You’re the only other person she knows and I know Tyson won’t mind.”

“Um, sure,” she said tentatively, “okay. I’ll be right there.” She ended the call and looked at Nya. “I gotta go.”

“What’s wrong? Is it Ben?”

“No, that was my neighbor. She stays with Tyson’s daughter. She needs someone to stay with Aneka. Looks like a rain check on shopping and my meeting,” Janelle said, holding her arms out to her sister. They hugged one another tightly. When they finally let go, they smiled at each other. “You take care and have a safe trip back to New York. I’ll talk to you soon.”

“Okay, but I’m still going shopping for you,” Nya said.

Janelle hugged Nya again then waved and headed to her car. She called her friend Meg and postponed their meeting until the next day, then drove off. When she got to her house, Mrs. Ivers was standing out front with Aneka. “Hi,” Janelle said. “Any word about your son?”

Mrs. Ivers shook her head. “He’s still in the emergency room being examined.”

“Is there anything I can do? Anyone I can call?”

“No, but thank you. I’m going to get over there and see what’s going on. Aneka, you remember Ms. Truman from last night?” The little girl nodded and looked at Janelle suspiciously. “Good. Now, I have to leave, but Ms. Truman is going to stay here with you until your father gets home, all right?” Aneka stared at Janelle then nodded slowly. “Ms. Truman is going to give you your snack and then you can take your nap and be a very good little girl the rest of the day, okay.”

Janelle smiled. “Go. Take care of your son. Don’t worry about us. We’ll be just fine. Any food allergies?”

“No allergies, but she is asthmatic. Her inhaler’s in the kitchen, but she hasn’t had an attack in some time. Thank you so much for coming. I knew you were the perfect person to call,” Mrs. Ivers said, then hurried to her car.

Janelle and Aneka waved and watched as she drove off. When the car turned the corner, Janelle looked down at the little girl, who was still looking up at her, frowning. “Well, I guess it’s just the two of us for the rest of the afternoon. What would you like to do?”

Aneka shrugged her shoulders and looked down at her shoes without answering.

“Okay, well, I guess we can color or paint or maybe I can read you a story or we can watch one of your animated movies.”

Aneka shrugged again, still avoiding Janelle’s gaze.

“Why don’t we get inside out of the cold first?” Janelle said as she held her hand down for Aneka to take. The girl did so, reluctantly. They went back into the house. Janelle looked around. The place was as neat as a pin. She headed to the kitchen and found a cut-up apple on the counter. Aneka followed silently and stopped in the doorway. “Okay, I guess this is your snack.” Aneka nodded, then turned away.

Janelle smiled. “Okay, I have an idea. While you eat your snack, I’ll look around to see if I can find the ingredients to make my special Christmas cookies.”

Aneka’s eyes instantly brightened. “Cookies?”

Janelle nodded. “Yes, a special Christmas cookie. One I learned to make from a friend of mine who lives very far away in a place called Africa. But you’ll have to eat your snack first and hopefully I can find the ingredients.”

Aneka quickly sat at the kitchen table, grabbed the sliced apple and began eating. Janelle started looking in the cabinets. “What is ingredients?” Aneka asked, repeating the word slowly.

“What are ingredients,” Janelle corrected. “Ingredients are different things that all go together to make up a finished product,” Janelle said, continuing her search. “And ingredients—” she paused and sighed heavily “—are what we don’t have.” She turned around to Aneka sitting quietly eating her apple. She hated to disappoint Aneka after promising her special cookies, but she didn’t have a choice—or maybe she did. She turned to Aneka and smiled. “How about we go on a field trip first?”

Chapter 8

Having received Mrs. Ivers’s message, Tyson immediately cut his workday short and headed home. He wasn’t getting much done anyway. Ever since his conversation with Janelle earlier that morning, all he could think about was her and the kiss they’d shared. He wanted to be with her, but he knew it wasn’t the right time for them to be together. He also knew that it had been the right thing to do to tell her about her father, but seeing her so upset had nearly broken his heart.

He had tried to call her a few times to make sure she was okay. But then getting the message that she was with Aneka was the best news all day.

He wanted Janelle and Aneka to get to know each other. Aneka, having lost her parents so young, barely remembered them. She called Tyson “Dad,” but knew about her father and mother. She was a wonderful little girl, but often closed herself off with those she didn’t know. He hoped one day she and Janelle would grow to love each other like mother and daughter.

As soon as he walked into the house, he heard music playing, joyous laughter and loud singing coming from the kitchen. “Hello,” he called out. There was no answer.

An instant later Aneka came running around the corner and right at him, her hands and face powdered with flour. “Daddy!” she squealed with joy.

Tyson leaned down and picked her up as she wrapped her arms around his neck, talking excitedly about her day.

“Hey, hey, look at you,” Tyson said. His suit jacket was instantly covered with flour and frosting, but he didn’t mind at all. Still holding his daughter, he continued to the kitchen, seeing Janelle place a decorated cookie on a plate with several others. “Hello,” he said as Aneka continued talking. “What in the world do we have here?” Tyson chuckled, seeing the kitchen in a complete mess.

“Hey, you’re early. We didn’t expect you for another few hours,” she said.

“We’re making cookies, see?” Aneka said happily.

“Yes, I can certainly see that,” he said, chuckling at the mess in the kitchen and at her face sprinkled with flour. “It looks like you’ve been having fun,” he added as he set Aneka down. She hurried back to the kitchen table and continued icing a cookie with a plastic spoon. “What kind of cookies are you making?”

“Christmas-ball cookies,” Aneka said proudly, holding her half-frosted cookie up to show her father.

“Yes, I see. They look delicious. May I have one?”

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