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CHAPTER ONE SHE COULD ALWAYS GROVEL at Evan’s feet. Knowing him as well as she did, Mary Jo Summer hill figured he’d probably like that. The very fact that she’d made this appointment—and then had the courage to show up—proved how desperate she was. But she’d had no choice; her parents’ future rested in her hands and she knew of no better attorney to help with this mess than Evan Dryden. If he’d only agree to help her… Generally, getting in touch with an old boyfriend wouldn’t raise such anxiety, but Evan was more than just someone she’d dated a few times. They’d been in love, deeply in love, and had planned to marry. In ways she had yet to fully appreciate, Mary Jo still loved him. Terminating their relationship had nearly devastated her. And him. Mary Jo wasn’t proud of the way she’d ended it. Mailing him back the beautiful pearl engagement ring had been cowardly, but she’d known she couldn’t tell him face-to-face. She should have realized Evan would never leave it at that. She’d bee
CHAPTER ONE
CHAPTER TWO “CAN YOU HELP US?” Norman Summerhill asked Evan anxiously. Mary Jo had brought both her parents. Evan was reading over the agreement her father had signed with Adison Investments. With a sick feeling in the pit of her stomach, she noticed he was frowning. The frown deepened the longer he read. “What’s wrong?” Mary Jo asked. Her mother hands were clenched so tightly that her fingers were white. Financial affairs confused and upset Marianna Summerhill. From the time Marianna had married Norman, she’d been a housewife and mother, leaving the financial details of their lives to her husband. Mary Jo was fiercely proud of her family. Her father might not be a United States senator, but he was an honest and honorable man. He’d dedicated his life to his wife and family, and worked hard through the years to provide for them. Mary Jo had been raised firmly rooted in her parents’ love for each other and for their children. Although close to sixty, her mother remained a beautiful woman
CHAPTER TWO
CHAPTER THREE “WHAT ARE YOU doing here?” Mary Jo demanded the minute she could get Evan alone. With a house full of people, it had taken her the better part of two hours to corner him. As it was, they were standing in the hallway and could be interrupted at any moment. “If you’ll recall, your mother invited me.” “The only reason you’re here is to embarrass me.” The entire meal had been an exercise in frustration for Mary Jo. Evan had been the center of attention and had answered a multitude of questions from her parents and brothers. As for the way he’d treated Gary—every time she thought about it, she seethed. Anyone watching them would think Evan and Gary were old pals. Evan had joked and teased with Gary, even going so far as to mention that Mary Jo’s ears grew red whenever she was uncomfortable with a subject. The second he’d said it, she felt the blood rush to her ears. Soon they were so hot she was afraid Gary might mistake them for a fire engine. What upset her most was the way
CHAPTER THREE
CHAPTER FOUR “MR. DRYDEN’S a real pleasure to work for. I’m sure you won’t have any problems,” Mrs. Sterling said, looking absolutely delighted that Mary Jo would be substituting for her. “Evan’s not the least bit demanding, and I can’t think of even one time when he’s been unreasonable.” Mary Jo suspected that might not be the case with her. “I could have retired with my husband, but I enjoy my job so much I decided to stay on,” Mrs. Sterling continued. “I couldn’t bear leaving that young man. In some ways, I think of Evan as my own son.” “I’m sure he reciprocates your feelings,” Mary Jo said politely. She didn’t know how much longer she could endure listening to this list of Evan’s finer qualities. Not that she doubted they were true. For Mrs. Sterling. Thus far, Evan had embarrassed her in front of her family and blackmailed her into working for him. She had a problem picturing him as Prince Charming to her Cinderella. As for his being a “real pleasure” to work for, Mary Jo entertai
CHAPTER FOUR
CHAPTER FIVE “IS EVAN COMING?” Mary Jo’s oldest brother, Jack, asked as he passed the bowl of mashed potatoes to his wife, Cathy. “Yeah,” Lonny piped in. “Where’s Evan?” “I heard you were working for him now,” Cathy said, adding under her breath, “Lucky you.” Mary Jo’s family was sitting around the big dining room table. Jack, Cathy and their three children, Lonny and his wife, Sandra, and their two kids, plus her parents—they’d all focused their attention on Mary Jo. “Mr. Dryden doesn’t tell me his plans,” she said stiffly, uncomfortable with their questions. “You call him ‘Mr. Dryden?”’ her father quizzed, frowning. “I’m his employee,” Mary Jo replied. “His father is a senator,” Marianna reminded her husband, as if this was important information he didn’t already know. “I thought you said Evan’s your friend.” Her father wasn’t going to give up, Mary Jo realized, until he had the answers he wanted. “He is my friend,” she returned evenly, “but while I’m an employee of the law firm it’s
CHAPTER FIVE
CHAPTER SIX “YOU’RE GOING TO KISS ME?” Mary Jo’s heart lurched as Evan drew her into his arms. His breath felt warm against her face, and a wonderful, wicked feeling spread through her. She sighed and closed her eyes. Evan eased his mouth over hers and it felt so natural, so familiar. So right. He kissed her again, and tears gathered in Mary Jo’s eyes. He wrapped her tightly in his arms and took several long, deep breaths. “I wanted to do this last night,” he whispered. She’d wanted him to kiss her then, too, yet—paradoxically—she’d been grateful he hadn’t. It occurred to her now that delaying this moment could have been a mistake. They’d both thought about it, wondered how it would be, anticipated being in each other’s arms again. And after all that intense speculation, their kiss might have disappointed them both. It hadn’t. Nevertheless, Mary Jo was relieved when the phone rang. Evan cursed under his breath. “We need to talk about this,” he muttered, still holding her. The phone pea
CHAPTER SIX
CHAPTER SEVEN “OF COURSE I REMEMBER Mary Jo,” Lois Dryden said cheerfully. “How nice to see you again.” Mary Jo blinked, wondering if this was the same woman she’d had that painful heart-to-heart chat with all those years ago. The woman who’d suggested that if Mary Jo really loved Evan she would call off their engagement. Not in those words exactly. Mrs. Dryden had been far too subtle for that. Nevertheless, the message had been there, loud and clear. “I didn’t know you two were seeing each other again,” Lois continued. “This is a…surprise.” Mary Jo noticed she didn’t say it was pleasant surprise. Naturally, Evan’s mother was much too polite to cause even a hint of a scene. Not at the yacht club, at any rate. Now, if she’d been at Whispering Willows, the Dryden estate, she might swoon or have a fit of vapors, or whatever it was wealthy women did to reveal their shock and displeasure. Mary Jo realized she was being cynical, but couldn’t help herself. Evan reached for her hand and claspe
CHAPTER SEVEN
CHAPTER EIGHT “I LOVE EVAN,” Mary Jo insisted again, but even as she spoke, she realized that loving him wasn’t enough. Although she’d matured and wasn’t the skittish, frightened woman she’d been three years earlier, nothing had really changed. If she married Evan, she might ruin his promising career. It was a heavy burden to carry. Mary Jo couldn’t change who and what she was; nor should she expect Evan to make all the concessions, giving up his future. “I’m sure you do love my son,” Lois said sincerely. “And he loves me,” Mary Jo added, keeping her back straight and her head high. She angled her chin at a proud, if somewhat defiant, tilt, unwilling to accept defeat. “We’ll work this out somehow,” she said confidently. “There isn’t anything two people who love each other can’t resolve. We’ll find a way.” “I’m sure you will, my dear.” Lois Dryden’s mouth formed a sad smile that contradicted her reassurances. “In any case, you’re perfectly right. You should discuss this all with Evan an
CHAPTER EIGHT
CHAPTER NINE A WEEK PASSED and the days bled into one another until Mary Jo couldn’t distinguish morning from afternoon. A thousand regrets hounded her at all times of the day and night. Blessed with a loving family, Mary Jo accepted their comfort, needed it. There was for all of them, some consolation in the news that came from Evan. Through his new secretary, he’d been in touch with her father regarding Adison Investments. Mary Jo heard from him, too. Once. In a brief letter explaining that Adison would be forthcoming with the return of the original investment money, plus interest. Since he’d calculated his fee for an extended lawsuit, she owed him nothing. Mary Jo read the letter several times, looking for a message. Anything. But there were only three short sentences, their tone crisp and businesslike, with no hidden meaning that she could decipher. Tears blurred her eyes as she lovingly ran her finger over his signature. She missed him terribly, felt empty and lost and this was as
CHAPTER NINE
CHAPTER TEN MARY JO WASN’T SURE she’d heard Evan’s mother correctly. “I don’t understand.” Instinctively, she knew that Mrs. Dryden was someone who rarely revealed her feelings. She knew that the older woman rarely lost control of a situation—or of herself. She seemed dangerously close to losing it now. “Would…would you mind if I sat down?” “Please do.” Mary Jo wished she’d thought to suggest it herself. Lois pulled the chair closer to the bed, and Mary Jo was surprised by how delicate, how fragile, she suddenly appeared. “Before I say anything more, I must ask your forgiveness.” “Mine?” “Yes, my dear. When you came to me, happy and excited, to discuss marrying my son, I was impressed by your…your courage. Your sense of responsibility. You’d guessed my feelings correctly when Evan brought you to dinner three or so years ago. Although you were a delightful young woman, I couldn’t picture you as his wife. My son, however, was clearly enthralled with you.” Mary Jo started to speak, but Mr
CHAPTER TEN
CHAPTER ELEVEN MARY JO PUSHED UP the sleeves of her light sweater and paced the floor of her living room. Her mother’s comments about the way she’d treated Evan still grated. But what bothered her most was that her mother was right! No wonder Evan had all but ignored her. He couldn’t trust her not to turn her back and run at the first sign of trouble. After all her talk of being older, wiser, and more mature, Mary Jo was forced to admit she was as sadly lacking in those qualities as she’d been three years before. And she was furious. With herself. What she needed now was a way to prove her love to Evan so he’d never have cause to doubt her again. One problem was that she had no idea how long it would take for that opportunity to present itself. It might be months—maybe even another three long years. Mary Jo was unwilling to wait. Evan would just have to take her at her word. But why should he, in light of their past? If he refused, Mary Jo couldn’t very well blame him. She sighed, wond
CHAPTER ELEVEN
EPILOGUE
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