Only You (16 page)

JD took another load of sheets and towels out of the dryer and carried the armload into the living room, where he dumped them on his new couch. He glared at his brother who lounged in the super comfortable chair Maggie had bought, nursing a drink. The bastard had always thought he was too good to do menial work.

“I don’t understand,” Ethan sighed. “Why don’t you hire a housekeeper to do all that stuff?”

“I will. Oh, wait. That takes time, and we need sheets to sleep on tonight. And someone used the last clean towel this morning.”

Ethan put his glass on the floor. “I thought you said Maggie was taking care of setting up the house.”

“And now she’s not. Now we’re unpacking the stuff she bought so we can pretend to be semi-civilized. Besides, it was never part of the deal that she do the laundry.”

“You’ve been sniping at me since we escorted Claire and her friends out of Jo-Jo’s bar the other night. What’s up with you and Maggie? Are you serious or not?”

That was the problem with having a brother. He asked questions no one else dared touch. “Not,” he barked and yanked a sheet out of the tangle in front of him. “Far as that goes, have you permanently messed up with Claire or what?”

“Pretty much.” Ethan stood. He grabbed a corner of the sheet and helped fold it.

“What are you going to do about it?” Ethan was only a year older than he was, but he’d always been the trailblazer of the two of them. He was an inch taller than JD, a whole lot smarter and had never had to work to attract women. JD hated the thought that his brother had seriously messed up his relationship with Claire. She was the only woman he’d met who could stand up to Ethan.

“I haven’t figured that out yet. I thought I’d show up and she’d fall into my arms, and that would be it.” He frowned. “Man, was I wrong.”

JD placed the folded sheet on the couch and pulled another out of the pile of laundry. He flapped it open and waited for Ethan to pick up his end. “So what’s the plan?”

“Plan.” Ethan chuckled, but it wasn’t a happy sound. “I asked her out on a date. She said she’d think about it and let me know.” His features sharpened as he considered an idea. “I thought it was in the bag, but it’s not. My relationship with Claire, I mean. I needed her away from the office until my so-called partners were behind bars and couldn’t go after Claire. It’s ironic that everyone, except Claire, knows she’s my weakness.”

“Why don’t you tell her the truth?”

“The truth? And what would that be?”

JD sorted out a towel to fold. “That you’re in love with her, and you were afraid your partners would strike back at you through Claire when they discovered you’d reported the overseas account where they’d been stashing money.” He frowned at Ethan. “Has it occurred to you she might be worried about you?”

“Why would she worry about me?”

“Because you haven’t explained anything to her. She’s an intelligent woman. Show her the courtesy of telling her the truth of why you sent her away.”

“Kind of like you’ve told Maggie what’s going on with you.”

Sometimes JD wished he wasn’t a grown-up, so he could pound on his brother like he had when they were little. “I’ve told her.”

Ethan looked up from the bath towel he was folding. “About Donnie?”

“Yup.”

“That’s huge, man. What did she say?”

JD balled up his own towel and chucked it on to the couch. “Nothing.”

“I don’t believe you.”

“Maggie wants to have a kid. I can’t have one, and even if I could, I wouldn’t. Not much to say after I told her that.”

Ethan put his hand on JD’s shoulder. “That’s too bad. I like Maggie Kennedy. Any chance she’ll change her mind about having children?”

“I don’t think so. She  didn’t have a happy childhood, and she thinks having a child will make up for it somehow. It kind of makes sense.”

“That’s right. Claire told me about Maggie being adopted by a family who wasn’t very affectionate. She said Maggie spent more time at her house and Sammie’s than her own. And she’s got that juicy trust fund. It’d be interesting to find out who her biological parents are.”

“I think that’s best left alone. You never know what might get stirred up. I wouldn’t want to make things worse for her.”

“It could be done quietly. I’ve got a detective on retainer. Maybe it’s time he earned his money.”

“What do you need a detective for?”

Ethan grinned, the sparkle in his eyes reminding JD of the mischievous boy he’d once been. “You probably have a hard time believing this, but not everyone loves me like a brother. Especially my ex-partners.”

JD snorted. “I need a drink. What do you want for supper?”

“What are our choices?”

JD opened the refrigerator. “Beer and coffee creamer. No. Wait a minute, we’ve got a piece of cheese.”

“Let’s go to Arnie’s. I’ve been here a week, and I haven’t visited with anyone. We should phone Clay, see if he’s had dinner yet.”

JD’s stomach rumbled. “Let’s call him on the way. I’m starving.”

They left a message when Clay didn’t pick up and made it to Arnie’s in fifteen minutes. When JD caught sight of Ellie coming out of the kitchen, he wondered if things were going to be awkward between them. He’d known Ellie for the last few years and considered her a friend. If Maggie hadn’t gotten him all stirred up, he’d never have agreed to date Ellie. He liked her a lot, but not in that way.

“Evening, Ellie.” Ethan slid into the booth.

“Ethan. JD. How’s that new colt?”

“Maverick. Good.” JD sat across from Ethan and started thumbing through the plastic menu Ellie had laid on the table. He wished he’d gone with Cracker Jack. It was a much better name than Maverick. “Have you seen Clay around? We thought we’d have supper with him, but he’s not answering his cell.”

“He took off with the girls a couple hours ago. They were supposed to come back, but I haven’t seen them. They’re probably still at the house. What’ll you have tonight?”

Ethan closed the menu. “Girls, as in . . .”

Ellie snapped her order book closed. “How many girls in town are the two of you interested in, Ethan Cooper? They’re down the street looking at Mrs. Sheldon’s house.”

“That’s the big gray Victorian?” Ethan asked.

“Yes. Maybe you want to hold off on ordering.” Ellie flipped her order book closed.

“I’m starving,” JD said, studying the menu. Maggie and Clay again. He’d have to get used to hearing about her with other men. Men couldn’t help themselves around a woman like Maggie.

“Come on, Ellie,” Ethan laughed. “Are you going to make us beg? What’s the scoop on Mrs. Sheldon’s house?”

“They want to buy it.”

“What?” JD slapped the menu closed.

Ellie shrugged. “Mrs. Sheldon left the house to Clay. He took them over there this afternoon to show it to them because they’re looking for a house to buy. That’s all I know.”

Ethan stood. “We better check this out.”

“Wish I could go with you. I hate to miss out on the fun.” Ellie laughed.

JD followed his brother out of the restaurant, his stomach churning. Imagine running into Maggie when he came into town. Every time he saw her, he’d be reminded of what he couldn’t have. And if she met a guy and settled down right here, it would damn near kill him to see her happy with another man. He wished the best for Maggie, but he didn’t think he could handle seeing her with her own family.  

“Goddamn independent women,” Ethan swore as he strode down the street.

“Hold up there.” JD grabbed his elbow to slow him down. “One, you’re crazy about Claire precisely because she’s intelligent and independent. And two, you can’t go barging in there while you’re so steamed up. I don’t like the idea of the three of them buying a house here any better than you do, but what can we do?”

Ethan pulled away and continued down the street. “We can buy the damned house before they do, is what.”

“Ethan. Listen.” JD body-blocked him. “You and Claire have a good chance of working things out. Don’t blow it. You telling her she can’t do something is a guaranteed way of ensuring she will.”

“Hell.” Ethan ran a hand over his face. “You’re right. She makes me crazy. I can’t think when it comes to her. Why is that?”

“Because she’s important to you.”

Ethan gave him a sardonic look. “You’re important to me, too, but you don’t drive me nuts. Well, not lately.”

“Funny. Not. There’s your SUV parked in front of the house.”

When Ethan’s head snapped up as if he’d picked up a scent, JD smothered a laugh. He and Claire had better work things out between them soon or Ethan really was going to go nuts.

“I’m not leaving until I find out what’s going on, so we’re going in.” Ethan looked grim. “Just . . . keep cool.”

“I gotta tell you, it hurts to see you this way, bro,” JD chuckled.

“Right. Like you’re so unaffected. The difference is I know I’m hooked, and you still think you have a choice.” 

Before he could argue the point, Ethan ran up the steps of the house and entered without knocking. It was a solid house and in a good location, he supposed. JD had a lot of respect for Victorians. Personally, he preferred clean, modern lines, but he had to hand it to the men who built these houses—they were skilled at what they did. The woodworking detail in some of the houses slayed him, and Mrs. Sheldon had kept a lot of the original trim.

Instead of going inside, he walked over to the side yard. He had native trees growing around his house, but he wouldn’t mind a few cultivated shrubs, like this yard had. Deep-red, fragrant roses covered a rosebush standing in the far corner. There was probably something blooming here at every part of the season except winter.

He wandered over to the carriage house and stood in the opened doorway, waiting for his eyes to adjust to the dark interior. Bet the place was crammed full of junk.

“I can’t believe the great stuff in here. I’d buy the place for this junk alone. Well, it’s not junk.” Maggie turned toward him, a wide smile on her face.

His gut tightened. Even with a streak of dirt on her cheek and her curls all messed up, Maggie looked beautiful. Every time he saw her he thought the same damned thing. Would he ever get his feelings for her under control?

Her smile disappeared. “What are you doing here?”

“Checking out the rumors flying around town.” He leaned against the doorjamb. “Are you really going to buy this place?”

“Thinking about it.”

“So you’re going to settle here for a while.”

“I hope you don’t have a problem with that.”

He rolled his shoulders in a shrug.

She moved closer and rested a hip against an old dresser. She looked too pale to him. This time of year she should have more color.

“I like this town. I like the people and the countryside.” The corners of her mouth quirked up. “Who knew I was a country girl at heart? I need to settle close to my friends and make a home, JD. You have to admit this house would make a beautiful home.”

“I guess.”

“And I’m afraid I’m getting in between Claire and Ethan. I can’t continue to stay at his ranch while he camps out at your house. It isn’t right.”

“I know.”

“So you understand?”

He wanted to ask if it would make a difference if he didn’t, but he was afraid of the answer. “Do you still plan to have a baby?” Not able to help himself, he glanced at her flat stomach.

“Yes. But I decided, to my great regret, to follow your advice. I’m going to check into donor clinics.”

He let out a breath he was sure he’d been holding since she’d told him what she was up to. “That’s good, then.” Sort of. No way was he ready to explore the kick in his gut at the thought of Maggie carrying his child. Never going to happen.

“So.” She stood and smiled so politely it made his stomach ache. She came over to him and slipped her arm through his and walked them outside. “What do you think of the house?”

Gently, he pulled away from her. “I can’t do this, Maggie. I wish I could, but I can’t. Maybe if we give it enough time, someday we’ll be friends.”

Wondering if he’d finally lost his mind, he walked away from the most beautiful woman in the world.  

“Marguerite Kennedy? Is that right?” The doctor peered at Maggie over her reading glasses.

“Everyone calls me Maggie.” Excited about signing the papers for Mrs. Sheldon’s house only a week after first viewing it, she’d wanted to cancel her doctor’s appointment and enjoy the rush of buying a home with Claire and Sammie. But Claire had put her foot down and insisted she see Dr. Cowan today before they started their celebration. Maggie had bought two bottles of champagne and all her favorite foods from the deli in Jackson Hole after leaving the lawyer’s office earlier. They planned to have a picnic on the side lawn of the house to celebrate that she, Claire and Sammie were now the proud owners of the house.

The doctor held out her hand. “I’m Dr. Cowan. Gwen, if you prefer.”

Maggie shook her hand, enjoying the doctor’s firm grip. Gwen was close to her own age and had the toned body and healthy glow of an athlete. It always gave her confidence when a doctor looked like they cared about their own health. “Thanks for seeing me on short notice.”

Maggie tried not to squirm as Gwen observed her. “Claire sounded concerned about your health. Perhaps you’d like to fill me in on what’s been going on.”