Stay With Me (The Montgomery Brothers) (3 page)

“
Are you coming?” Mac asked, standing and watching her curiously.

Gina realized that she had been standing still for a few minutes.  “Oh, sorry, yes,” she replied and th
en watched as Mac walked away.  He was all lean grace and solid muscle.

And another feast for her eyes.

Chapter Two

Several hours later Gina was wiping tears from her eyes; not from sadness but from laughing at some wonderful memories she’d shared with the Montgomerys.  Sitting across the dining room table from her in their beautiful home, William Montgomery shared stories of all the adventures he remembered Gina and his sons having so many years ago.

“I’ll tell you, your father and I couldn’t believe it,” he was saying.  “There you were, up in that tree, completely terrified and yet refusing to let anyone help you come down.”

Gina laughed.  “I always hated heights.”

“But you didn’t want the boys to know that and I nearly skinned Lucas alive for daring you to climb up so high!”

She took a sip of her wine and waved him off.  “Dare or no dare, if they were climbing, I was climbing.  I didn’t want them to think I was weak.  Being so outnumbered around here I had to make sure that I did whatever they did otherwise I’d be relegated to sitting in the corner with a Barbie doll.”

“You never played with dolls,” William said as it suddenly occurred to him that Gina had always been more of a tomboy.

“Much to my mother’s dismay,” she said with a touch more resentment than she wanted anyone to know.  “I preferred running around outside to sitting inside and reading or playing quietly.  I think she was more upset about my being up in that tree than I was.”

“She was near hysterical,” Monica interjected with a small laugh of her own.  “I remember pulling her away and keeping her in the house until you came down.”

“It only took three hours,” William said and they all started laughing again.

“The key was to never let them see me sweat,” Gina said with a confident smile as she placed her glass back down on the table.  She could feel Mac’s gaze on her but refused to meet his eyes.  Earlier when he had walked her over to the guest cottage, he had nearly run screaming from the building when she’
d removed the blouse she wore over her cami because she was warm.

There was a confidence builder for you:  take off your blouse and watch a man nearly dive through a window to escape.

In all honesty, she wasn’t doing it to entice him; she’d simply been ready to change out of the clothes she’d traveled in.  The clothes she had on beside the offensive blouse weren’t particularly revealing but the way Mac had looked at her, you’d have thought she was doing a damn striptease and swinging from a pole! 

Well, it didn’t really matter because no matter how attractive he still was, it was painfully obvious that Mac was not interested in her.  Sigh.  It was better to just accept that now than to torture herself the entire time she was here in North Carolina. 

“Did Mac show you where everything is in the guest house?” Monica said, interrupting Gina’s thoughts.  “I tried to think of everything that you would need and I had a cleaning crew go in and get everything ready for you.”

“It’s perfect; I really can’t thank you enough for your hospitality.”

“Did you talk to your father yet?” she asked carefully, knowing that Gina and Arthur’s relationship was strained but not wanting to pry too much.

“I called him before I walked over here for dinner.  I told him I’d be there around lunchtime tomorrow.”

“You’ll use one of our cars, of course,” William said and caught the glare Gina shot toward Mac.

“I would be perfectly fine renting a car.  I don’t want to impose anymore than I already am.”

“Nonsense,” both William and Mac said at the same time.

Gina chose to address William.  “If you’re sure that you don’t mind and that it won’t be an inconvenience then I’ll take you up on your offer.”
  At that moment Mac’s phone rang and it seemed the perfect time for everyone to get up from the table.  “I know it’s not very late, but it’s been a long day for me so if you don’t mind, I think I’ll head over to the guest house and crash.”

“I’ll walk you over,” William said as he walked around the table toward her.  “We’ll take a quick detour by the garage so you can choose which car you want to use and I’ll give you the keys.  This way you can leave whenever you’re ready tomorrow.”

Gina wished Monica a good night and thanked her for dinner.  When Monica embraced her and whispered, “I’m so glad you’re home”, Gina almost burst into tears.  It had been so long since they’d seen each other and yet she’d felt more warmth and affection than she did back on the west coast in her own home.  “Thank you, Monica,” she said with a final squeeze and then met William by the back door.

It was a cool September evening with a star-filled sky.  There was an overall feeling of peace as they walked toward the garage and Gina was enjoying the silence.

“It’s okay to be nervous about seeing your father,” William said softly.

It was pointless to argue; William Montgomery had a way of seeing into your soul and knowing exactly how you felt and yet never making you feel bad about it.  “It’s been a long time.”

William sighed.  “He struggled every day with his decision to let you move across the country.  It wasn’t easy for him and unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be any way to make everyone happy.”

“My mother can be difficult,” Gina said, trying to play if off like it wasn’t a big deal but they both knew differently.

“We’ve missed you; not just your dad but all of us.  You were part of our family.”

“I wanted to keep in touch but sometimes it was just easier to let things go th
an deal with…” she trailed off and saw William nod in understanding.

“That’s all in the past, Gina.  You’re here now and if you need anything, please don’t hesitate to ask.”

“You’re being far too generous.  The house, the car…I’m not used to having things go so smoothly.”

“You just say the word and Monica and I will postpone our trip.  You shouldn’t be alone to deal with all of this.”

“Thank you for offering but I would feel terrible if you missed your trip.  Besides, I think that it might be a good thing for me and my father to have this time together.”  She paused and then stopped in her tracks.  It didn’t take long for William to stop and turn to face her.  “I know that you said that you would arrange for me to meet with the doctors in charge of my father but…I don’t want to do that.”

William quirked an eyebrow at her.  “May I ask why?”

She took a fortifying breath.  “This trip is not going to be easy for either of us.  If I try really hard, I can pretend that this is just a normal visit and enjoy the time that he and I have together.  Once I talk to the doctors, all I’m going to be able to focus on is how much time we have left together.”  Unwanted tears filled her eyes and William pulled her in to his embrace.

“Whatever it is that you want, that’s what we’ll do.”  He felt Gina nod against him and rested his head on top of hers.  She felt small and fragile and more than anything, he hated that she
had to go through this alone.  He understood her feelings well; she was losing her father and he was losing his best friend.  They had a bond through Arthur Micelli and William knew that more than anything, he would take care of Gina and make sure that she got through this in tact. 

“I’ll tell you what,” he began and looked down into her big green eyes that were bright with unshed tears.  “I’ll let the doctors know that you’re there and to make themselves available should you want to talk to them.  Okay?”

She nodded.  “Thank you for understanding.  I know that I should be braver about this and maybe I’m being naïve but for now, in all honesty, ignorance is bliss.”

William took her by the hand and together they walked in silence toward the garage. 
When they arrived, William opened the door and revealed four vehicles: an SUV, two luxury sedans and a BMW convertible.  Gina couldn’t help it; the convertible called to her.  She was just about to take a step toward the sleek vehicle but stopped herself.

“Um, which car will you and Monica be taking?” she asked casually.

William had to hide his grin.  He didn’t even need to ask which car she wanted; the wide-eyed way she kept staring at the BMW said it all.  “We have a car service picking us up tomorrow so really, the choice is yours.”

She wanted that convertible; she was a practical person who always made practical choices but something about that car made her want to be just a little bit wild.  Back home, she drove the top rated
sedan.  It was luxurious and had every feature a driver could want and it had the highest safety rating available.

It was boring as hell.

The BMW seemed to wink at her in the dim light of the garage and as much as she wanted to ask William for the keys to it, practicality won out.  “Either of the sedans will be fine,” she said, forcing a smile into her voice.

William put an arm around her and led her away from the sedans and toward the convertible.  “Isn’t she a beauty?” he asked but didn’t wait for a response.  “I bought her six months ago; I don’t drive her much.  Monica tells me I look ridiculous in it; like a man having a mid-life crisis.  So I gave her the keys to it.”  He sighed dramatically.  “Unfortunately, she doesn’t appreciate the beauty of a convertible and ends up taking her Lexus over there instead.”  Without looking away from the car, he reached into his pocket and pulled out the keys.

“I imagine a California girl like you can appreciate a convertible,” he said lightly and chuckled at Gina’s startled expression. 

“Dad, that was Baker on the phone, apparently they want to meet with us tomorrow,” Mac said as he strode into the garage. 

William sighed.  It was always business with Mac.  He appreciated how his first-born took his position in the company so seriously but sometimes he just wished that Mac would just relax and enjoy himself!  Here was a beautiful woman standing in the room with them and Mac was fixated on his phone.

“Did you tell him that I was leaving after lunch?”

Mac looked up and nodded.  “He said they can be at the office as early as you’d like.”  Without meaning to, Mac looked over and saw Gina walking around his father’s convertible.  What the hell?  He wanted to comment on it but instead returned his focus to the conversation with his father.  “I told him eight a.m. should be fine.”

William nodded.  “That will work.”  He turned and watched Gina inspecting the car.  “You can open it up and sit in it; get acquainted with it.  It’s got every feature known to man and the navigation system will get you anywhere that you have to go.”

“She’s using the BMW?” Mac asked with disbelief.  “Why?  Wouldn’t one of the sedans work?”

“What’s the big deal?” William asked as he tried to hide his amusement.  It took a lot to get Mac riled up and something about Gina Micelli seemed to be doing just that.  “Gina needs a car, I told her she could use any that she wanted and she is.”

Mac sighed and pinched the bridge of his nose.  “She’s not familiar with how to get around here anymore, Dad.  Wouldn’t it make more sense for her to drive a car that’s a little less…complex?”

Gina had heard enough.  “Excuse me,” she said, fairly stomping over to where the two Montgomery men stood.  “For your information, I know how to drive.  I’ve owned several cars in my life and I’ve driven up and down the west coast without incident.  I don’t imagine that driving around the city of Charlotte, North Carolina is going to trip me up too much.”

“I just don’t see the need for you to be driving such a flashy car!” he replied, his tone rising slightly.  “You’re driving from here to the hospital and back; what’s the point?”

Gina stepped into his personal space
and then immediately regretted it.  Not only did the man look good, but he smelled good too.  Dammit.  “So what you’re saying is that only ‘practical’ cars should be used to drive to and from the hospital?”  She snorted with disgust.  “Okay, that makes sense.”

“All I’m saying is…”

“And who says that I’m only driving back and forth to the hospital?  Do I have a curfew?  Do I need to punch a clock or something?  Last I checked, I was here to see my dad and as an adult with free-will and not under any kind of house arrest, I’m free to go wherever I want
.
”

Mac’s gaze hardened.  “So this is what?  A pleasure trip for you?  Stop in and see your father for a few minutes and then go traipsing around town?”

“Mackenzie!” William snapped.  It wasn’t often that he had the need to reprimand his sons anymore considering they were grown men but now seemed like the perfect time to do it.  “What are you badgering Gina for?  She didn’t say she was going traipsing around anywhere but for crying out loud, if she wants to visit old friends or go out to eat or just go to the store, that’s none of your concern.”

Gina looked at him with a smug smile and Mac mumbled an apology.  She graciously accepted before turning away and going back to the car.  She wanted to skip away but she would wait to do that when she didn’t have an audience. 

“What is the matter with you?” William asked as he walked Mac out of the garage. 

Mac shook his head.  “I don’t know, Dad.  Sorry.  It’s been a rough week.”

“Really? How?  It’s been business as usual as far as I could tell.”

Now was really not the time to get into it but for some reason, Mac felt the need to unburden himself a little.  “Between you and me?  With Lucas and Emma having Lily and Jason and Maggie getting married, it’s just been a bit much.  Everyone is looking at me and wondering when it’s going to be my turn and if I have to hear them ask that one more time, I’ll lose my mind!”