âDonât say no, Moira.â
Like that day outside the obstetricianâs clinic, Willâs face spasmed with some emotion Moira couldnât read any more than she could understand her own. His voice was hoarse. âPlease. Donât say no.â
When she still failed to say anything at all, he let her hands go and leaned forward until he could draw her into his arms. Gently but inexorably he tugged her forward until her brow rested against his broad chest and he could settle his chin on top of her head.
âMarry me, Moira,â he said, so low she barely heard him. âLet me do this for both of us.â
Dear Reader,
Those of you who read Charlotteâs Homecoming might remember Moira Cullen, who was the heroâs best friend and his partner in an architectural firm. For me, linked books are usually planned that way; secondary characters rarely linger in my mind the way Moira did. There was just something about herâ¦.
For one thing, itâs unusual for a woman to be such good friends with a man, and an attractive one at that. I hint in that book that Moira, although successful professionally and an attractive woman, lives with quite a bit of self-doubt. And she had to be lonely, didnât she? Soâ¦what if she reaches desperately for intimacy and ends up in a one-night stand with a man who canât give her moreâbecause heâs leaving for a two-year job commitment in Africa? And what if Moira then discovers sheâs pregnant? What kind of man was he, and how will he react to the news that a woman he hardly knows but who haunts him is carrying his baby while he pursues his dreams half a world away? And this is a man whoâd already given up his dreams once, to raise his two brothers and sister. Two lonely, conflicted peopleâ¦
Of course I couldnât resist Moira, any more than I could resist Will Becker! I hope you feel the same.
Janice Kay Johnson
EVEN THOUGH THE GALA was part of a professional conference, it looked as though almost everyone had arrived two-by-two. Moira Cullen had known they would, and decided to come anyway. So what if this, like most social occasions, had too much in common with Noahâs ark? She was supposed to have been half of a couple tonight, too, until sheâd gotten the email this afternoon from Bruce.
Iâm sorry, Moira, but I wonât be able to escort you tonight after all. Something has come up. I know you hadnât planned to attend until I asked you, so I hope it wonât be too big a disappointment.
Heâd signed off with âBruce.â Plain and simple. No âLove, Bruce,â or âIâll think of you tonight and wish we were dancing together,â or even âIâll call tomorrow and explain.â
She still had no idea what could have happened since this morning, when theyâd parted after a conference session. She and Bruce Girard both had been attending the conference held in Redmond, across Lake Washington from Seattle, for members of the building trade. He was a real estate attorney, she was an architect. Theyâd been dating for nearly six weeks, and sheâd decided that tonight was a fitting time to invite him into her bedroom for the first time.
And sheâd bought the most beautiful dress!
In a spirit of defiance, sheâd decided to come to the gala anyway. Lots of attendees were from out of town and had come without significant others. A single woman would surely be asked to dance. It could be fun, she had decided, surprising herself with her determination. Bruce was probably disappointed, too, and would undoubtedly be in touch. Theyâd have other nights. She had no reason to feel hurt.
She hesitated only momentarily in the lobby, then walked toward the ballroom, telling herself she looked voluptuous in her new dress, not fat.
Repeat after me: I am not fat.
She knew she wasnât. Believing, though, that could be another story.
Right by the open doors, she saw a man she knew. Sheâd worked with Stan Wells on a job a couple of years ago. He appeared to be by himself.
He turned, looked her up and down, and said, âWell, hello,â then did a double take. âMoira?â He sounded stunned.
Stan had never once looked at her as if heâd noticed she was a woman when they had worked together.