Can't Say No Page 19

  Despite the fact Wesley was in training, Ralph rang the bell and waited until the porch lights were turned on and front door opened.

  “Hey,” Ralph said sheepishly. “I know it’s late, and you’re in training but…”

  “Come on in.” After unlocking and swinging open the decorative wrought-iron screened door, Wesley covered a yawn.

  Ralph tried, but couldn’t manage a decent excuse for being there, much less his normal easygoing smile. All he could think about was how raw he felt from Vanessa’s refusal.

  “What’s wrong?” Wesley asked as he ran a hand over his unshaven jaw. He wore a pair of worn jeans, his feet were bare, and his close-cut natural needed a brush. None of that mattered. Wes was family. That was all Ralph cared about.

  “Everything. I needed to talk.” Ralph shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back and forth from the ball of his feet to his heels.

  “Who is it, baby?” Kelli called out from their bedroom, down the hall of the spacious ranch-style home.

  “Ralph!”

  “Oh. Is something wrong?” Her voice was filled with concern.

  Wesley switched on a lamp in the living room. “Make yourself at home. I’ll be right back.”

  “Tell Kelli I’m sorry.” Ralph, familiar with the house, went over to the fireplace and studied the photographs on the mantel. Just then the grandfather clock chimed from the far corner of the room. Midnight.

  At the sound of his cousin’s footsteps in the hall, Ralph said, “Kaleea is growing so fast. She looks a lot like Kelli in this picture although that chin is all Prescott. She’s beautiful, Wes. I hope I didn’t wake her.”

  “Nope, have a seat.” He handed Ralph a bottle of beer, then sat in an oversize armchair.

  “Thanks.” Ralph settled back in the matching chair.

  “How’s that rookie, Bradshaw shaping up?”

  Wesley took a swallow of his beer before he answered, “He’s coming along. With the new coach, it’s looking up. We’re going all the way. But that’s not why you’re here, cuz.”

  Ralph said what he’d never expected to say, and he was certain Wesley hadn’t been prepared to hear. “I proposed to Vanessa tonight.” Then quickly clarified, “She turned me down.”

  Wesley looked stunned for a moment. He asked, “Vanessa Grant? Gavin’s secretary?” At his cousin’s nod, he asked, “Why?”

  “Why did she turn me down?” Ralph quizzed, trying to pretend that just hearing her name wasn’t painful.

  “No, why did you pop the question?”

  “It’s complicated.” Ralph scowled.

  “And,” Wesley prompted impatiently, “just because your bed is empty tonight doesn’t mean mine is.”

  Ralph chuckled, stretching his long legs out in front of him. “That’s the problem. It’s been that way since I got involved with Vanessa. Getting next to her has been as easy as cuddling up with a porcupine.”

  “Then why bother? I’ve never known you to let a female complicate your life. The minute things look like they might get complicated, you walk. No, make that run for the closest exit. How come you’re not sprinting, little bro?” Wesley quizzed.

  “I wish I knew,” Ralph mumbled. “Vanessa and I became friends during the planning of Brynne and Devin’s wedding. We were thrown together so much that it seemed natural spending so much time together with her. We decided to spend only one night together and became lovers the night Brynne and Devin married. That night changed everything for me. I had no idea I would be her first. To make matters worse, I woke up alone, and she didn’t want a thing to do with me. The hell of it was, it wasn’t some kind of a game, the lady was dead serious.”

  “What!” Wesley stared at him in disbelief, as if struggling to take it all in.

  “Crazy, isn’t it.” Ralph could see that his cousin was struggling not to burst out laughing. “Just what I deserve, right?”

  “I didn’t say that, but I was thinking along those lines.” Wesley grinned, then he sobered at the pain in his cousin’s eyes. “Rough, huh?”

  “Yeah. I’ve tried damn near everything I could think of to tempt her. Invitations to fly to the Caribbean, or anyplace in the U.S. didn’t impress Ms. Grant. I considered sending expensive gifts but knew they’d be returned. Nothing I tried worked. Talk about stubborn! It seems the more she said ‘no,’ the more I wanted her. She has turned me down so many times.” He shook his head in disbelief. Leaning forward, he braced his elbows on his thighs.

  “I guess I’m too stupid to give up. Anyway, when she told me she didn’t have time to play with me, she has three kids at home waiting to be fed, I realized she was serious. She’s a woman with her feet on the ground and her priorities straight. Her family came first with her. Wes, I couldn’t help but respect her for it. I admire how hard she works to take care of her brother and sisters. She’s not about getting her nails and hair done or pretty clothes. I told her not to worry about food; I’d take care of it. I brought Chinese takeout enough for everyone. That was the first of many dinners I’ve shared with her and her family.”

  He laughed, “I know it sounds weird, but getting to know her meant getting to know her family. Now, I’m crazy about those kids, just as I am about her. Everything was going well, until I made the mistake of inviting her and the children to fly down to Orlando with me, in front of the kids. I thought I was helping by offering to pick up the tab.”

  Wesley laughed. “You really put your foot in it that time.”

  Ralph didn’t waste time defending himself. Wes had gotten it right. He had really messed up. “Nothing like family to tell you the truth,” he grumbled.

  “If you want someone to lie to you, call one of those silly women you used to date,” Wesley quipped.

  Ralph ran a hand over his stubbled cheek. “Vanessa is nothing like the women I’ve dealt with in the past. She won’t take a dime from me under any circumstance.”

  Wesley grinned. “Your problem is you’ve been around too many females who are after whatever they can get from you. When they look at you, all they see is dollar signs. Vanessa, on the other hand, is her own woman. She’s just what you need.”

  Ralph couldn’t help but grin. “Finally, she came to me. We were working things out, until today. She gets a letter from Greg Cummingham’s attorney. He’s the twins’ father and has decided to sue for custody.”

  Wesley’s shot to his feet. “Greg Cummingham, the high-powered attorney, who’s defended…”

  “That’s him. Vanessa has been devastated since she got that blasted letter. But she refuses to let me help financially.

  She is determined to keep her family together. My lady’s a fighter. And if anyone can pull this off, she can.”

  Ralph began to pace aimlessly around the room. “Wes, it’s killing me. When I think of how Cummingham has her hurting, I see red. She’s devastated, doesn’t know how she is going to pay some high-priced attorney to take her case.”

  He snapped. “She won’t consider even letting me lend her the money. You would think there is something wrong with my money. And it’s driving me up a wall. Right now she is probably trying to figure a way to use Lana’s college fund and still send Lana to college next year. Man, I’ve tried everything I could to give her the money, including proposing. It was my last resort. And it didn’t work. The only thing she let me do was call Morgan, to get a child-custody lawyer.”

  “Most women want their man to propose to them out of love,” Wesley pointed out.

  “Yeah, well some of us don’t get that lucky. No, I didn’t plan on proposing…not ever. But now that it’s out there, it makes sense.” Ralph glared at his cousin. “You know, desperate situations call for desperate measures. What else could I do? I can’t let her lose those kids.”

  “Tell me something. Are you in love with her?”

  Ralph stopped suddenly, one hand braced on a lean hip.

  “What? This isn’t about love.”

  “Just answer the question.”


  Thoughtful, Ralph rubbed his jaw, before he shrugged.

  “I don’t know. I’m crazy about her and those kids. Why isn’t it enough that I care for her? I care more than I thought I could.”

  “It’s Vanessa’s call, not yours. Seems to me that the lady’s got her head on straight.” Wesley ended with a grin. “She sure has you jumping through hoops.”

  “Ha-ha-ha,” Ralph quipped sarcastically. “Pardon me if I don’t laugh.” He paused before he said, “What she’s doing is driving me up the wall! I don’t know what to do to make her see reason. Those twins deserve a lot better than Cummingham.”

  “All you can do is be there for her. Let her know you care and are in her corner every step of the way. Who knows? She might come around and let you help pay the lawyer’s fee. As for marriage, you better make damn sure you are serious. Marriage is not a solution to a problem. And it’s not a game. Unless it’s about how you feel about each other, it won’t work. I’m talking from experience here.”

  Ralph let out a groan of pure frustration. “You don’t understand. I hadn’t planned on walking down anybody’s aisle. But for the first time, I’m not playing some kind of games with a woman. This isn’t about sex, although with Vanessa, it’s incredible. I can’t get enough of her. It’s crazy, I know it. Wes, my only goal is to make sure she has what she needs.”

  Wes nodded. “Watch your back. Cummingham is not a lightweight. He knows how to fight dirty to get what he wants. Do you know what made him decide he wanted the twins?”

  “I have no idea. Rest assured, I won’t sit back and let him take the twins and end up breaking Vanessa’s heart. No way!”

  “And you’re willing to risk messing up your own life to protect hers? If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.”

  “Who asked you?” Ralph glared at him.

  “You did. Now get out.” Wes grinned as he stretched his arms over his head and rose to his feet. “I’ve kept my lady waiting long enough.” Then he laughed loudly.

  “You are enjoying this entirely too much, big bro.” Ralph moved to stand next to Wes, a subtle reminder that while Wes was older, Ralph was three inches taller.

  “That’s right. Do you recall the night you came to dinner, Dev had stopped in? You told me, Dev, and Kelli how you were never falling in love. Kelli said something about the bigger they are, the harder they fall. And she was talking about you. Wait until I tell her, she was right.”

  Ralph grumbled, “You’re not going to tell her…”

  “Sure I am. It’s the truth.” Wesley grinned, folding his arms over his chest.

  “It’s not true. Do I look stupid?’

  “Well, now that you mention it,” Wes teased.

  Ralph chuckled, shaking his head. “You got it wrong. But I’m not staying to argue.” He walked toward the front door.

  “Thanks for listening.” He gripped his cousin’s shoulder.

  “Good night.”

  As he walked to the car, he couldn’t help grinning. If he guessed right, his Aunt Donna and Kelli would be on the phone the next morning, then one of them would call Anna and Brynne, discussing his sorry love life. It was part of being a loving but nosy family. The Prescotts would take some getting used to it, and if he were not careful, Vanessa would be joining their ranks. Talk about being damned if you do and damned if you don’t. He was in way over his head, and the only good thing about it was that Ralph was smart enough to know it.

  He hadn’t planned on marrying at all. But he’d meant what he said. He’d get married in a heartbeat if it was necessary to save the Grant twins from Cummingham.

  Seventeen

  “Doggone it!” Vanessa glared down at the pattern pieces that she had spread over the dining-room table. “I’m making a mess! I’m not supposed to be making Lana a blouse that has two right sleeves and no left.”

  It’s his fault! It was after midnight, and instead of sleeping, she was sewing.

  Although Ralph had called the next morning to give her the name and the number of the child-custody attorney, other than ask about the kids, he hadn’t prolonged the conversation. What he’d done was increase her stress level. In addition, he hadn’t stopped by for a visit or dinner in four days. Both occurrences were highly unusual.

  No matter how many times she went over their last conversation, she didn’t recall him being angry or hurt when she turned down his proposal. She tried to push the worry away but failed repeatedly. She couldn’t stop wondering if her hasty refusal might have cost her a dear friend.

  She’d come to depend on his quiet strength and support, so much so, she’d been unaware of the change. When there was a problem either with her or the children, Ralph was the first person she called. That alone was unsettling. But she also missed him.

  Missing Ralph didn’t mean she was going to marry him, so she could spend his money without guilt. Talk about a wild suggestion. It was one she hadn’t seen coming. Judging by the way it came up in conversation, it couldn’t have been planned. Ralph wasn’t a marrying kind of man…what he did was love them and leave them. What a mess!

  Marriage wasn’t the solution. What good could come from marrying for the wrong reasons? Ralph couldn’t argue with that. It might explain why he hadn’t come around. Was he trying to punish her for saying no? It couldn’t be! Could it?

  When the telephone rang, Vanessa jumped so she dropped the shears, barely missing her toes. Pressing a hand against her racing heart, she picked up on the second ring.

  “Hello?”

  “What are you doing?” the deep male voice crooned into her ear.

  She couldn’t stop the smile or the pleasure he so easily generated. “Nothing important. Why do you ask?”

  “Curious. What are you wearing?”

  She laughed. “Pajama bottoms and camisole top. Why do you ask?”

  He didn’t answer, instead he asked, “How do you feel about a late-night guest?”

  “It depends on who that guest is,” she said in an eager rush. “How soon can you get here?”

  His chuckle soothed her earlier worries. “Half a minute. I’m on your front porch.”

  Vanessa dropped the receiver in her haste to get from the dining room through the living room to the door. Sure enough, his shadow was outlined through the frame of the wrought-iron screen door. She didn’t remember flicking on the porch light, disengaging the alarm, and unlocking the doors before yanking them open.

  “I didn’t expect you,” she said as she caught his hand and tried to pull him inside. When he didn’t budge, she frowned up at him. “Aren’t you coming inside?”

  “Can’t,” he whispered.

  “Why?” She sighed, pressing her face to the base of his throat and inhaling his male scent. He smelled of a combination of his favorite aftershave, sweat, and his own special scent, heady.

  “I’ve missed you.” He rested his chin against her forehead.

  “Why did you stay away? Are you angry with me?” she asked, needing to understand what had gone wrong with them.

  “No, if anything, I’m angry with myself for pressuring you when you were already being overwhelmed by Cummingham’s demands. You didn’t need me adding to it.”

  “That’s why you stayed away?” She pulled back, far enough to see his face.

  He nodded. He eased away to reach inside the house to turn off the overhead light. He said, “We don’t want your neighbors to see you.”

  “My neighbors should all be asleep,” she insisted, relieved when he wrapped his arms around her again.

  “I know it is late, but when I saw the lights on, I couldn’t resist. You should be in bed.”

  “So should you. I don’t get it. How could you just be passing by? This is way out of your way.”

  “Yeah. But since I can’t see or talk to you, I had to at least go past the house to make sure you’re okay.”

  Vanessa smiled. “Thank you, but we’re fine.” Only she missed him terribly.

  “You’re welcome.” He ra
n a finger down her cheek. “How are you holding up?”

  “Fine,” she hedged.

  “Would you tell me if you weren’t fine?”

  She smiled. “Probably not.”

  “Figures. You don’t have to be so darn strong, beautiful,” he complained, brushing his lips over hers.

  “Yes, I do.”

  “No, you don’t. I’m only a phone call away, sweetheart.”

  “I…”

  He stopped her before she could say more. “You’re not alone tonight.” He tightened his arms around her.

  She rubbed her cheek against his T-shirt-covered shoulder. “You smell like sweat.”

  He laughed. “I was playing in a late-night basketball game at the community center.”

  “Nessa!”

  “Excuse me,” she turned toward the stairs. “Lana, I’ll be up in a minute!” Turning back to him she said, “Ralph, I’m sorry, but…”

  “I know you’ve got to go. Call me and let me know when and where.”

  “Tuesday at three. You’ll come with me to see the lawyer?” she asked, trying not to show her eagerness.

  “Absolutely.” He kissed her tenderly. “’Night.” He began to move toward the door.

  “’Night,” she whispered back, wishing he could stay and hold her all night long. But she had more than herself to take into consideration. She had an impressionable teenage sister and little sister and brother to set an example for. They might not even realize it now, but Vanessa knew her actions would impact on the children’s lives for years to come.

  “Don’t forget to set the alarm,” he reminded.

  “I won’t.” Vanessa gave him a small wave before she locked up.

  “Nessa, where are you?”

  “Right here,” she said as she mounted the stairs. “Something wrong?” Locking arms with her sister, she walked Lana back into her bedroom. “You should be sleeping.”