Behind Closed Doors (24 page)

Beth nodded. “Sure. As you saw, she’s okay. We’ve been doing a lot together and working through some stuff. She’s handling things better than I’d expected, to be honest.” She hated being so nervous. She wished she’d at least put on some makeup, but that was nothing. Feeling jumpy with him? To quote Lib, that sucked. “It’s gonna take some time, though.”

“If the nonmoody days outnumber the I-hate-you-and-everybody-on-the-planet ones, you’re in good shape.”

“What?” Beth smiled. “Since when are you an expert?”

“I’ve been doing a lot of reading this past week. Mostly online, but I bought a few books, too. About teenagers, particularly ones who’ve suffered troubled childhoods.” His solemn expression told her he wasn’t joking. When he took her hand, she was too stunned to object. “I’ve learned a lot. You were right about sending wrong messages. Poor kid’s been getting those for years. But Liberty also needs to see what a healthy relationship looks like, what it means to be equal partners who love and respect each other. Take us, for instance.”

“Um...” She stared into his unwavering gaze, her heart pounding wildly as he drew her closer.

“I love you, Beth. I should’ve told you before now. Or maybe you’re wishing I’d kept my feelings to myself. Lord knows it wouldn’t be my first mistake.” His mouth curved in a crooked smile she’d never seen before. “I’d really appreciate it if you’d say something about now.”

“Wait. Back up.” She swallowed. “Did you say you love me?”

Nathan groaned, looking as nervous as she’d felt before she’d gone numb. “I swore to myself I wouldn’t bring this up now. Or make any assumptions, but I think you feel the same way. Tell me I’m not wrong, Beth. Tell me you love me, too.” He took a deep breath. “And if you can’t, I’ll wait.”

She pulled him down into a kiss. Then she rocked back to look into his eyes, troubled to find fear and uncertainty.

“I’m not fooling myself,” he said. “We’ll have plenty of bumps in the road with Liberty. She won’t lose her fears and resentment overnight, but together we can give her a good life. We just have to be firm and consistent, and she’ll come around.”

“Shut up.”

“What?” A faint smile tugged at his mouth.

“Do you want to hear me say it or not?” How could she not love this wonderful, caring man? He didn’t just want her, he was willing to take on Liberty, as well.

Nathan smiled. “Say it.”

“I love you, Nathan Landers. With all my heart.”

He pulled her into his arms. “I took some wrong turns the first time around, but I’m very clear on what kind of man I want to be. I’ll work hard to never disappoint you.”

Beth knew tears were close. “You won’t have to work hard at all.” She kissed him again. “I know exactly who you are. That’s the reason I love you.”

No, she didn’t need a man to make her happy, but she did want Nathan. For the two months they’d been together, she’d felt content and safe, even when life continued to dish out challenges.

“Bethany, will you marry me?” He touched her cheek. “Not for Liberty’s sake. For mine.”

“Yes,” she whispered, and let the happy tears fall.

* * * * *

Keep reading for an excerpt from CABIN FEVER by Jillian Burns

Ten years ago one devastating night changed everything for Austin, Hunter and Alex. Now they must each play their part in the revenge against the one man who ruined it all.

Austin Treffen has the plan… Hunter has the money… Alex has the power!

Read each of their stories in the captivating Fifth Avenue trilogy, only from Harlequin Presents:

Avenge Me
by Maisey Yates
Scandalize Me
by Caitlin Crews
Expose Me
by Kate Hewitt

And don’t miss the Fifth Avenue prequel that started it all,
Take Me
, by Maisey Yates!

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1

“
Y
OU’RE LYING
, T
EDESCO
.”

Joe narrowed his eyes at his accuser, brought the can of root beer to his lips and took a long sip. “You’ll have to play to find out, Wakowski.”

Wakowski snarled and studied his dwindling pile of chips on the table in the fire station’s kitchen.

Joe tapped his fingers on his thigh. With his luck they’d get a call before he could lay down his cards.

“Come on, Wakowski,” Everman urged. “In this century.” Everman had already folded, as had Miller and Stockton. Joe maintained his poker face.

Wakowski narrowed his eyes. “You’re bluffing.” He shoved all his remaining chips into the center of the table.

Joe grinned and revealed his Queen-high heart flush. “Read ’em and weep.”

The guys whooped and hollered and thudded Joe on the back. Wakowski cursed and pitched his cards down. “You’re a real scootch, you know dat?”

Joe grinned and began gathering up his winnings. His cell buzzed and he grabbed it off the table. At two on a Saturday afternoon it was probably his mother calling to make sure he was coming to the family dinner tomorrow. He checked the caller ID, but he didn’t recognize the number. He hesitated answering. If one of his sisters had set him up with one of their friends again...

Knowing he’d regret it, he punched the answer button. “Tedesco.”

“Mr.
Joe
Tedesco, of Brooklyn, New York?”

Great. Were telemarketers allowed to call cell phones now? “Uh...yeah?”

“This is
Carly’s Couture
calling about your entry in The Sexiest Average Joe contest and I’m thrilled to tell you that you are our winner!”

Joe blinked. Contest? Sexiest what? Wait a minute... He grinned at his fellow firemen sitting around the station house table. “Good one, guys.” He spoke into the phone. “So, I won, huh? What’d I win? A hot and heavy night with you, sweetheart?”

“Excuse me?”

Joe winced. The sleet falling outside was no match for the ice in this woman’s voice. If this was a prank, she was really good. “Uh, hold on a sec.” He held the phone to his chest. “Okay, you guys, you might as well fess up. I’m not falling for it.”

All four of his buddies gave him a confused look. Not good. He put the phone back to his ear. “Who’d you say you were again?”

“Carly Pendleton, with
Carly’s Couture.
I have a fashion blog for the average man and woman, and
Modiste
magazine cosponsored the national contest searching for the Sexiest Average Joe.”

Fashion blog? Wait.
Modiste?
Wasn’t that the fancy magazine his sisters were always reading, with all the makeover contests and quizzes on how to please a guy in bed? Alarm bells clanged and they weren’t coming from the firehouse. Joe stood and paced from the kitchen into the common area.

“Mr. Tedesco? Are you there?”

He barely heard her voice. Her previous words kept echoing in his mind. Contest.
Modiste
magazine. What had his sisters done now?

He cleared his throat. “Yeah, I’m here.” Maybe he should think positive. Maybe he’d won a big-screen TV or a year’s supply of beer.

“—and the cruise leaves on Monday. I’ll have your boarding pass and a car will pick you up at your residence at 7:00 a.m. The flight to Miami departs at ten. The ship sails at four. Now, your entry form said you already have a passport?”

“Wait a minute. I won a cruise?” That could be fun.

“Five days and four nights to the Caribbean. Of course, that’s where we’ll be doing the photo shoot.”

“Photo shoot?”

The woman mumbled a request to save her from idiots. “You
did
read all the details of the contest before entering, didn’t you, Mr. Tedesco?”

He clenched his teeth. “It’s Joe. Mr. Tedesco is my father.”

“Okay. In case you need reminding,
Joe,
the photo shoot is the reason for the cruise. My blog will feature the Sexiest Average Joe wearing
Carly’s Couture
clothing choices and posing with a beautiful supermodel in exotic locales. You could end up with a lucrative modeling career, Mr. Tedesco. Maybe even become famous.”

Famous? If he’d wanted money and fame he would’ve signed the contract offer his sophomore year. He sure as hell wasn’t posing for some magazine like one of those pretty boys strutting around in their underwear. No, thanks. “Look, lady, I can’t just take off work at a moment’s notice.”