Taking Tiffany Read online

  “A gift is a present you give to someone to show them you care,” I told her.

  “Here.” Doctor Annoying plopped a wrapped package in my hands, startling me again.

  “Quit doing that!” I handed the gift back to him. “I’m not your servant. You put it under the tree yourself.”

  “It’s for you.”

  “Me? Who’s it from?”

  He took a deep breath and shook his head. I was pretty sure there was an eye roll involved as well.

  “You? You got me… I mean, why?” I stuttered, feeling like an idiot. A stray emotion that I might have called happiness started to surge before I was able to repress it.

  “Okay, everyone! Line up—we’re doling out the presents!” Dottie yelled.

  I was glad for the interruption, because Stefan had me rendered speechless. He and I would often talk on his days volunteering at the orphanage, sometimes for hours. We’d sit on one of the benches and laugh about the funny things the kids would do or say. But I thought he just put up with me. He couldn’t like me. I was the spoiled, rich girl.

  I’d spent most of my time since childhood pretending I didn’t need someone to love. Why bother? If my own parents viewed me as an inconvenience, why would anyone else ever be willing to love me? It was safer not to put my heart out there, only to be hurt when the inevitable happened.

  I waited while the children opened their gifts, all the while holding on to my present from Stefan with moist hands. Dottie instructed the children to open each present one at a time to enjoy the moment. The moments were stretching into an eternity it seemed. Halfway through, it was Ivy’s turn. With shaking hands, she unwrapped her gift carefully. Her mouth dropped open when she unveiled it.

  “It’s me,” she whispered as she held up the custom-made doll with the same slight cleft lip on her left side.

  “She’s beautiful, just like you,” I told her.

  She took it out of the packaging, eyes full of wonder. Closing them, she pulled the doll to her in a hug and smiled.

  Joy.

  Dottie put her hand on my shoulder and whispered into my ear, “I wish the donor could see this.”

  I nodded, because I couldn’t speak.

  “It’s your turn,” Ivy said, intently focused on my gift.

  I glanced over to Stefan. His vibrant blue eyes were on mine—studying me, waiting for my reaction. I unwrapped the paper and folded it, putting it over to the side. We could use it later for some arts and crafts. Opening the box, I peered inside and laughed when I found the clip-on light for reading.

  “How did you know?” I asked.

  He tilted his head toward Dottie.

  She raised her hand and said, “Guilty!”

  Two books were at the bottom of the box. The first one was Pride and Prejudice.

  Dottie laughed and said, “I told him to get that one for you. It’s the only one I don’t have in my library. It’s great; you’ll love it!”

  The second book was The Wizard of Oz. I smiled, knowing why he gave me this particular book. He often referred to me as ‘Dorothy’ to annoy me. This time, though it didn’t. I opened the flap and the inscription read, “You’ve left Kansas, now what will you do?”

  What will I do? I don’t know! Overcome by panic, I needed to leave the room.

  I thanked Stefan and told Dottie, “I’m going to start the lunch prep. I’m sure everyone’s worked up an appetite.” I scurried out like the coward I was.

  I needed time to think, and the best place was the kitchen pantry. It was a ten-by-ten-foot room, lined with floor-to-ceiling shelves on each side. It held all the canned and dry food. A long table sat in the middle of the room, perfect for me to pace around.

  The door shut behind me, making me jump. “You’re doing it again!”

  Stefan stood against the closed door leading to the kitchen. We were alone in the pantry.

  “I know it was you. Don’t even try to deny it.” He continued, “Abel got the red truck he’s been talking about incessantly. Daria received the hair ties and bracelets she wanted. I knew for sure, though, when Ivy opened her gift.” He shook his head.

  “I don’t have to admit to anything.” I refused to say any more. He needed to leave—now.

  “I have a question I’d like to ask,” he said, walking toward me.

  I backed up against the table. “What?”

  “If I asked to kiss you, what would you say?”

  “Wha… I mean, no. I’d say no.”

  “Why?” He stepped closer.

  “Because I’ve sworn to hate you for all eternity,” I answered.

  “You’ve already read the book,” he said. A slow half grin pulled at his lips

  “You’ve read Pride and Prejudice?”

  “A couple times,” he answered. “Would it help if I told you I hate you, too?”

  “It might.” Butterflies made an appearance low in my belly. I thought I’d killed them, but his voice, the way he looked at me, helped those winged creatures rise from the dead.

  He moved forward and stopped before we touched. Leaning down he said, “I hate the way your hair glistens in the sun.” His eyes creased as he smiled. He took a lock of my hair and gave a little tug.

  “I hate when you annoy me.” I replied.

  “I hate when you think no one is paying attention then do something nice.” He pulled back and looked at me. A shot of truth shone in his gaze. His expression, his words, were sweet and sincere.

  “You’re stupidly handsome,” I said. My brain stalled. I’d run out of insults.

  “I hate that you don’t know how good you are.” He put both hands on the table behind me, blocking me in. “You keep things well hidden. But I see you.”

  “Don’t.” I shook my head. The emotion was too strong.

  “I hate the way your lips are full and look so soft.” He brushed his mouth slightly over mine, a feather light caress, so tender, I felt the shiver down to my toes. Something inside me unfurled. “Kiss me,” he said.

  “No,” I whispered back, while grabbing his shirt and pulling him closer.

  “Okay, then. I’m going to kiss you.”

  I give up. I stood on my tip-toes and placed a tentative kiss on his mouth. His lips were soft and warm, sensuous. Oh, that felt nice. He smelled of clean soap mixed with a subtle, earthy cologne.

  His hands cupped my cheeks, this time, the touch of his lips was hard and demanding, liquefying my bones with each delicious stroke of his tongue. With hands splayed across my back, he pressed me closer still. His touch burned through the material of my cotton shirt.

  With a groan, he tangled his fingers in my hair and crushed his mouth into mine. All the angst and sexual tension ignited. I tilted my head slightly, my fingers curling into the soft waves of his hair, pulling. His body pressed hard against mine, but I still needed him closer. I moaned, and his tongue plunged inside my mouth, deepening the urgency of the kiss. It was hot and hard. I shouldn’t be doing this, but I couldn’t stop.

  Step away, my brain yelled, but my feet wouldn’t move. His touch sent zinging messages all the way to my soul.

  “God, Angela,” he said, low and thick. Around us, the air felt charged.

  I didn’t hear the door open, but the clapping came through loud and clear. Ivy had somehow come into the room undetected and showed her approval of our kiss. My face heated and I finally stepped away from him.

  Stefan smiled, gave my hand a squeeze, and bowed to Ivy. “Let’s go, little one, I’ve been distracting Angela enough.” Before he left, he leaned back toward me and whispered in my ear, “That lavender lotion and the shampoo you love? I hate that, too.” He bent and kissed the spot below my ear, letting me feel just the tip of his tongue before leaving with Ivy.

  Dizzy, I leaned against the table to catch my breath. Still trying to process the chemical reaction that ignited every cell, a wonderful sense of peace blanketed me.

  A voice inside whispered I want him.

  No! I couldn’t ha
ve him. He’s too good for me. I’d done bad things all my life. He deserved better. Not some spoiled, lying, cheating, manipulative brat.

  But I’m not that person anymore.

  I sat on one of the stools, put my elbows on the table, and placed my hands over my face. Think. Something had awakened in me. This was my life, and I liked it. No, I loved it here.

  My parents won, but it was the first time I’d ever been happy about it. While growing up, my main goal was to challenge my parents. Even with things that were simple—where we’d eat dinner, which movie to watch, how much I could spend at the mall. I made sure I got what I wanted. It was easier for my parents to say yes to me than spend time teaching me respect. Dottie and Jerome taught love, honor, courtesy, and respect from the moment the children entered their facility. I’d benefited probably more than anyone else by their influence. It was all new to me.

  Something awakened in me, religious or spiritual—maybe both. I couldn’t remember feeling so free, so alive. I would not go back to being the same girl who’d arrived here. That girl wasn't living; she’d only been surviving.

  One thing was certain; I couldn’t go through with the kidnapping. It was wrong, I knew that now without a doubt. Standing in that little room, my old, selfish needs and wants slid away, and in its place was a contentment I hadn’t experienced before. I had a purpose here.

  Even before my brain sent the signal to my fingers, they started typing the number to contact the sleaze I’d hired. A feeling of unease settled upon me, even though I left a message calling everything off. Not having transferred the money yet, I was sure he wouldn’t get the ball rolling until he was paid. But anxiety descended even with my efforts to convince myself everything would be okay.

  It had to be.

  A cold sweat broke out across my forehead.

  What have I done?

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  Tiffany

  “THE PAST TWO months have flown by!” I said to Jain. It was warm for mid-April, perfect weather for her baby shower.

  “Maybe for you.” She covered her mouth. “Oops, I didn’t mean to imply your mom drove me crazy or anything.”

  Mom had gone all out. Her parties were legendary, but they came at a price. I had a feeling she may have driven Jain out of her mind. “Has it been bad?” I winced.

  “No, it really hasn’t. She did all the organizing herself, only asking my opinion a few times,” Jain assured me.

  We were relaxing in two lounge chairs set out on the patio, waiting for the festivities to begin. The calm before the storm. It promised to be a crazy, busy day.

  “Are you sure? I love her, but I know what happens when she gets in party mode.”

  “She’s been great up until today.” Jain leaned closer and said, “She cried earlier because the tablecloths came in eggshell instead of ivory.”

  “Uh oh. We have Emotional Mom today.” I hoped she’d shake it off in time for the guests. “She did do a lovely job with decorations,” I added.

  “It’s really beautiful,” Jain agreed

  From our vantage point, we observed it all—the huge yard decorated in French Country style, in pink and ivory, uh, eggshell. Martha Stewart would be proud. Huge tents with linen-covered tables were placed strategically throughout the grounds. Pink balloons, confetti, and baby shower favors that looked like pretty pink flowers adorned almost every surface. The menu would be extensive, with pink and white food to extend the theme.

  “What is the difference between ivory and eggshell anyway?” I giggled.

  “I don’t know, but don’t ask your mom!” Her eyes darted around to make sure Mom wasn’t anywhere close.

  “Don’t worry. She’s running around trying to prepare the valets for the onslaught of five hundred guests.” My parents have had large parties before, but I thought this one would be a record-breaker. It started with a hundred guests. Then friends of friends wanted to come. And before anyone knew it, five hundred people wrangled an invitation.

  “I think everyone wanted to see the woman who captured Bachelor Braydon,” I teased.

  “I don’t mind, they can look all they want. This party will help so many people. I hope no one minds that the gifts will be donated to our foundation.”

  “No worries, Mom put it on the invitations.”

  “Good. Hopefully we’ll have room in our storage locker.”

  We rented a space after forming the charity to hold items donated for the families who needed help. As of late, we’d been receiving many more donations.

  “If we don’t, we’ll add another or change to a larger one. We have it in the budget,” I assured her.

  “Good. So, I’ll sit on my throne over there like the good princess I am and let the people come to me.” She tilted her head to the ornate monstrosity sitting in the middle of the yard with tables surrounding it.

  “Jain, she did not tell you to sit in that!” I thought the chair was for decoration.

  Jain chuckled. “She invited me to. I politely declined. I suggested it would make a nice area for the people to drop their gifts.”

  I shook my head and said, “Oh, Mom.” Some of her ideas were really out there.

  “You know, she’s turning her creative eye to decorating your condo next,” Jain warned.

  Mom was so wrapped up in the planning of Jain’s baby shower, she barely registered that I’d moved out a month ago. I was grateful the pranks had come to an end after the delivery of the article about Todd’s parents. After a month without any issues, I finally convinced dad to lift the security he’d put in place. Apparently, whoever pulled the shenanigans decided to move on to something else. I was glad, because the condo Jain owned before she’d married Braydon went up for lease right after the negotiated cancellation of security. It was perfect timing, and I got the greatest neighbor on the planet, Colin.

  “Yeah. I’m waiting for her to turn her focus back on me.” I sighed.

  Jain patted my back. “Good luck with that. By the way, where are the boys?”

  Braydon, Todd, Colin, and Charlie were carpooling due to the shortage of parking. Mom rented a vacant lot nearby, and the valets would be shuttling everyone back and forth.

  “I talked to Todd about a half hour ago, and they’d already left. I think the shuttle system might be holding them up a bit.” I smiled, thinking of Todd. I was excited to see him even though we spent every day together.

  “Braydon told me Todd’s never been happier.”

  Those words did all sorts of wonderful things to my insides. I felt warm and a little breathless.

  “I’m so happy. He just, well, he’s...” My face heated. I became tongue-tied and embarrassed about gushing. In the past two months, he had become everything to me. The way he’d bonded with Dad and tolerated Mom, even when in full-on emotional mode, was charming and loveable. How could I help myself?

  “Speak of the devils…” she motioned toward the back entrance.

  Wow. What a sight. Four of the most handsome men I’d ever had the good fortune to behold walked toward us. But it was Braydon who caught my eye.

  “Jain. If that isn’t the most adorable thing I’ve ever seen…” I started.

  “Shh. Don’t tell him he’s adorable.” She giggled. “He thinks he’s manly and fatherly with her strapped in.”

  Little Tiffany was fast asleep in her Baby Bjorn, and Braydon walked in like it was the most natural thing in the world to have a baby fastened to his chest. My heart skipped a beat, and I locked eyes with Todd. We both knew what the other was thinking.

  Children.

  We’d talked about them, and we each knew the other wanted them one day. Looking at him now, that day seemed to be coming sooner rather than later.

  He smiled and pulled a chair up next to my lounger. Taking my hand, he asked, “Does your mom need any help?”

  Brave man.

  “There’s something you need to know about my mom. You’ll need to listen carefully. When she’s in party-mode, you want to
steer clear. Don’t talk to her. Don’t ask any questions. Pretend she’s an alien from another planet who doesn’t speak English. Stay. Away.” I added, “My dad learned this valuable lesson a long time ago. He’s hiding in his den.”

  He smiled, and his eyes did that crinkly thing I loved. “Okay, got it.” He leaned over to kiss me, lingering a few seconds longer than usual. A balled up napkin hit my head.

  “Knock it off, you two. You’re making us all look bad,” Colin teased.

  It was true. When Todd and I were together, it was hard for us to stay hands-off.

  “Okay, okay, we’ll try,” I told them. Then I turned to Todd and said, “Closet?’

  He laughed, turned back around and kissed me again, ignoring their moans and complaints.

  An hour later, the party was in full swing. I wandered the grounds, mixing with the guests and making them feel welcome. I’d lost Todd in the throng of people. I’d have to give it to my mom; the party was a success. I’d overheard someone say that it was the social event of the year. That should make Mom happy.

  “Oh, Tiffany, dear!” a familiar voice called. A shoulder squeeze and a delighted, “I’ve missed you so much!” followed.

  “Mrs. Collier, how are you?” I was surprised to see her. It’d been years.

  “No, no! Please call me Deanna. You aren’t in high school anymore.” She smiled warmly at me.

  When I dated Fletcher, sometimes I didn’t know whom I loved more, him or his mom. I fondly remembered sitting at her kitchen table after school while she made chocolate chip cookies and every other sweet treat available. She loved feeding us.

  “It’s been too long. Your mom and I are on the board for Clean Water for Africa. Did you know that?” she asked.

  “Yes, Mom keeps me up to date. It’s wonderful work you’re doing.” Mom talked to me about it in great length. The charity helped thousands obtain clean drinking water.

  I asked, “Mom said you’re going on a cruise this summer?” Fletcher’s mom was a little like mine, always going a million miles per hour. Except, unlike my mom, she lost her husband early, before I’d even met Fletcher. But she was a strong woman, and did very well on her own.