Center Stage (13 page)

“You’re sure I shouldn’t go with something traditional like a wedding ring?”

Regan smiled. “She doesn’t want marriage. This,” she pointed to the ring, “says you gave some very sincere thought to it.”

Regan stayed with him after the others had left. She’d tried on the ring with the sapphire and a few others, but John knew they were right. The sapphire ring with the diamonds was the best.

As the sales woman cleaned it up and put it in a box, he sat at the counter with Regan, contemplating what he’d done.

“You look like someone is going to shoot you,” she said.

“Sorry. I wasn’t even this nervous when I proposed to my ex-wife.”

“Arianna makes you nervous?”

“Extremely, but in a very good way. I don’t even know if that makes sense.” And he was tired of no longer making sense.

“It makes perfect sense. You love her, and you want everything to be right.”

“But already everything is way beyond where I thought we’d be. I had no intentions of having…” he stopped, realizing it wasn’t appropriate to continue the conversation.

However, Regan’s grin told him he had nothing to worry about. “I know you’ve had sex, John. She’d been planning that since Carlos’s wedding to Kathy.”

“How is it I’m the only one that didn’t know that?”

“You’re too good for your own good.”

“I wasn’t going to mess things up between my boss’s sister-in-law and myself.”

“Doesn’t seem messed up to me.”

She was right. It was almost perfect in its very mixed up way. “They aren’t going to tell her about the ring, are they?”

“Madeline and Simone? Of course not. Those two love surprises.”

John rubbed the back of his neck. “I planned a trip to San Francisco, too.”

Regan slapped his shoulder. “You’ve gone all out, haven’t you?”

He shrugged. “Seems like too much.”

“Are you kidding me? She’ll eat it up.”

He nodded then let out a deep breath. “I had actually contemplated asking her to marry me.”

The smile on Regan’s face diminished. “Do you think that’s a good idea?”

“Not anymore I don’t.”

Regan readjusted her purse on her shoulder and then looked up at him. “She’s never wanted it. Marriage, that is.”

“She’s mentioned that.”

“Then don’t do it. Is that what you want? Marriage? Babies?”

Before he gave her an answer, he gave it some thought. “I thought it was for a moment, but…”

“John, if that’s what you want, you have to make some serious decisions.”

He didn’t like the severity of her tone. What was so bad about marriage and babies—and why was he questioning it? That wasn’t what he wanted—he didn’t think.

The saleswoman handed him his purchase, and he and Regan walked out into the plaza where the store was located.

Regan turned right to him. “Are you going to propose?”

“Why would she turn me down?”

“She doesn’t want marriage.”

“But why is it different than what we have now?”

“It just is.” She let her shoulders drop. “I don’t know why she’s so shy about it. She believes in commitment. She believes in forever and family.”

“But a piece of paper that signifies it is the deal breaker?”

Regan looked around as if she were looking for answers. “Yes.”

John took the ring downstairs and tucked it away. The stage was almost done, under direct orders from Zach himself. Another week and they’d surprise her with a grand fortieth birthday celebration.

Until then, he had to keep secrets and he hated that.

He’d hoped to be back upstairs before she was home, but it didn’t work that way. The front door slammed, and he heard her purse and bag drop to the floor.

It was time to just smile and pretend as though earlier that morning she hadn’t wanted to fly away.

John walked up the stairs. He could hear her now in the kitchen. As he rounded the corner, he caught a glimpse of her standing there holding out a beer for him, but what took him by surprise was the lack of clothing she had on.

It was hard to imagine that in the few minutes she’d been home she’d changed into such an
outfit.

John took the beer. “Thank you,” he said, but the words croaked out.

“Do you like it?”

What was not to like? A few pieces of fabric covered only very intimate parts of the body he’d committed to memory.

“I like it.”

She moved in closer to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. “Good. I brought Chinese food.”

His blood supply had drained from his brain which only made him dizzy when she changed the subject.

“Are you eating in that?” He gave her a long glance.

“One of the best things about Chinese food is that it warms up nice.” At that point she grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him through the kitchen to the living room. She took the beer from his hand, set it on the coffee table and pushed him back onto the couch.

These were reasons to never have children. Not every man could have the woman of his dreams, barely dressed, force him into a very comfortable position on the couch.

Arianna swung her leg over him and positioned herself above his hips.

“Your choice, Forrester. I can keep this little thing on, or you can take it off.”

“You’re going to make me think about something right now? You’re torturing me.”

A sexy, evil grin crossed her lips. “Good. Now let’s see what else I can do to you.”

Arianna figured she’d taken him by surprise in more ways than one. Except for gasps and moans, John Forrester hadn’t said a word in nearly two hours. Now propped up on pillows eating cold Chinese food from cartons with the evening news playing on the television in the corner, she watched as he nourished himself. His chest still heaved as though he couldn’t get enough breath in his lungs.

Yep, she’d worn the man out.

That had been the plan. She’d acted like a child when he said he couldn’t take her on a trip. She didn’t like it, but she’d accept it for now.

It was given to her, under good authority, that he was a lover of a great fishing trip. So she’d taken it upon herself to book a guided trip, not too far from home.

They had rushed into everything else, even though they’d met four years ago. So she had to learn that commitment, living together, and promising each other the rest of their lives were big decisions that they’d forced upon each other in less than a month. There were still things to learn about each other. But one thing she had learned about John Forrester was that he was quiet, passive, and easy to please. Something she knew about herself—she was bossy. Arianna Keller got what she wanted when she wanted it, so John would have to adapt.

Chapter Fifteen

It had been a rush job, but John stood where the front row of seats would be bolted down and admired the stage.

Zach and Regan stood to his side, both quietly in awe as well.

“I can’t believe it’s the same place.” Regan kept Spencer close to her chest with a small blanket over his head to keep him safe from the dust.

Zach held tight to Tyler’s hand. The little boy watched the workers fixing the sconces on the walls. His little hard hat shielded his eyes.

Zach put a supportive hand on John’s shoulder. “I know you’re a wizard at coming in under budget and on time, but this is crazy. You’ll have this place up and ready far before July.”

“I hope so, but I’m not moving my schedule and I’m sure not telling Arianna that.” He shook his head. “She’ll have a production planned.”

Regan smiled up at him. “Clara can’t stop talking about it.”

“Neither can her aunt. She’s proud of what she’s already put together. I haven’t seen it yet, but it’s going to be one hell of a production.”

“She wouldn’t have it any other way.”

John removed his hard hat and ran his hand over his head. “I guess the stage is done and they’ll rehang the curtain tomorrow, so you can now commence with your party plans.”

“She’s going to be so surprised.”

“If I may ask you,” he said as he turned to her, “please hurry. That ring is making me antsy just having it around, and I don’t like keeping secrets from her.”

“You’re a true gentleman, John Forrester.”

“I don’t feel like one. So hurry.”

By the time John pulled up to the house, Regan had called him six times with details to the party. He guessed he was supposed to be grateful for all the information, but, in reality, all he wanted was to show up. So far he knew the invitations were being printed, Audrey was working with a caterer, the first party rental place fell through so Regan had contacted another, and he’d need to have the lighting ready in two weeks. That part he’d heard and was very efficient on.

When John opened the door to the house, he was a bit surprised to hear laugher coming from the kitchen. He approached slowly. A woman with a friend, whose car he hadn’t seen, was a dangerous thing.

“Oh, John, I didn’t hear you.” Arianna stood up and gave him a loud, wet kiss right on the lips. Then she turned to the other woman seated at the table. “John, this is April. We worked together in New York. She’s a choreographer.”

The woman stood up and held her hand out for him. “I’ve been hearing a lot about you, John. It’s nice to finally meet you.”

John shook the woman’s hand, and the shake wasn’t dainty. “Nice to meet you.”

“April surprised me by stopping by this afternoon. I was telling her about the theater.”

“I can’t wait to see it.” April’s eyes lit up as brightly as Arianna’s when she mentioned it.

Arianna gently touched his arm. “Are you up for going out to dinner with two beautiful women?”

He’d been hoping to tangle one of them in the sheets, but that didn’t seem to be in the cards. “You bet. Let me get a shower.”

Arianna watched John take the steps. He was tired. This was one of those true tests in a relationship, and so far he was passing.

April sat back down at the table. “He’s as handsome as you said he was.”

“Isn’t he?” Arianna took her seat, picked up her glass of wine and finished it off.

“The age difference between you doesn’t bother you?”

“Not in the least. Why should it?”

April shrugged. “Because in thirteen years you’ll be his age and he’ll be almost seventy.”

Arianna had to admit that forty and fifty-three hadn’t even caused a bit of concern, but when April put it that way, it did seem extreme.

“I love him. I don’t see that changing when he’s ninety and I’m seventy-seven.” Although, when she said it aloud, fear crept through her veins. He was a bit older than her. She’d better be very sure that she wanted a lifetime commitment and not a marriage license. Likewise, and more importantly, she’d better make sure she really didn’t want the children that she’d said she didn’t want. Quality time with them would be slipping away. John was already the age most men became grandfathers, and here he was without children. But, on the other hand, since he didn’t waste his energy on carpooling and running after kids, his energy was high and, on a younger woman, that hadn’t gone unnoticed. Nothing had been lost with his age.

Arianna looked into the bottom of her empty glass. “Would you like more wine?”

“I’ve never been one to turn down more wine. Especially if a nice looking man is going to drive us to dinner.”

John stepped into the shower. He hoped the hot water would wash away his tension. He was sure he wasn’t supposed to hear April ask Arianna what she thought about their age difference.

Arianna’s answer hadn’t bothered him. In fact, he thought she handled it very well. But it was the few seconds of hesitation that had gotten to him.

What was he doing? She deserved someone her own age. He had nothing to offer a relationship at this point.

For most of his life his job had been the most important thing to him. He’d always been the man Zach and Tyler Benson could count on. They’d sent him all over the world to oversee projects.

Perhaps a relationship would hold him back, too.

With a woman at home, he couldn’t travel as he had. Those jobs could take a few months at a time.

Wouldn’t she want someone who could offer her more? He was too simple. The only thing he knew about theater was how to build one.

He hadn’t finished college, and he’d only squeaked out of high school.

He lathered shampoo in his hands and ran his fingers through his hair.

Was this why his wife had left him? His job was more important than she was?

In the past month he’d already put in more work with Arianna than he had in nearly twenty years of marriage.

John rinsed the soap from his hair. It had been his fault. He’d driven his wife into the arms of another man—a man who would be there for her and not leave for months at a time. This other man gave her the children John had never wanted.

The knock at the door had him dropping the soap from his hand.

“You doing alright? You’ve been in there forever,” Arianna’s sweet voice carried through the steam filled room.

“I guess I hadn’t noticed. I’ll be out in a few minutes.”

“I thought we could go for bar-b-que and then maybe take April by the theater to look at it.”

Just hearing her speak to him put him at ease. He hadn’t treated his wife the way he treated Arianna because, he realized at that moment, he’d never loved her as he loved Arianna.

“You bet. I’ll be down in a few.”

April had a lot of energy, and John could see she even wore Arianna out.

She’d had one story after another during dinner. If he wasn’t driving, he’d have had four more beers.

That wasn’t to say she wasn’t a nice woman. She just talked a lot.

He was pleased, though, that she’d had the same enthusiasm when she’d tasted the food at Steve’s. It was the best, and most people agreed on that.

After dinner he drove to the theater.

“So, Arianna, what are your plans for opening night?”

“We’re going to have a soft opening, and my niece and I are putting something together. This will be held for my friends, family, and the community. But our first production will be
Annie
, in honor of the first musical I ever saw and it was at the theater.”