In His Good Hands (23 page)
ENITA STOOD
wrapped in a towel in front of her closet. The sexy red dress or the slinky black? She was reaching for the red when she caught herself. The party was at a gym, not a nightclub. Just because she looked better than she ever had in her life didn’t mean she had to show off her figure every time she stepped outside.
No, she didn’t. Brett had divorced Amber for very good reasons. Renita didn’t want to look like her. She wanted to look like herself, her
best
self.
The party at the gym was like the grand opening all over again. Renita had to park down the street because the gym lot was overflowing with cars. Loud music was playing and dozens of people milled about the refreshment area, drinking champagne and munching on catered finger food.
Brett must have sensed her presence, because the moment she walked in he turned to her.
Wearing her glasses and a blue T-shirt and jeans, she watched for his reaction. He set down his glass and came toward her.
“I did it,” she said. “I ran ten miles.”
“I knew you could.” He took her hand. “Come to my office. I have something for you.”
As Renita followed him up the stairs, she couldn’t help but recall the last time they’d done this, and the horrible way that had ended. But things were different now. She didn’t quite understand what had changed, but was just glad to be back with Brett.
He let her into the office and closed the door, then went to his desk and took out a slip of paper. It was a bank check made out in her name, for a hundred ninety thousand dollars. “I sold my house.”
“You what!” She dropped into a chair, stunned. “I didn’t even know it was for sale. Are you leaving Summerside?” He couldn’t. He’d just told her he loved her.
“Are you kidding? After everything I went through for the gym? I’m committed to this town.”
Flooded with relief, she shook her head. “Don’t just spring things on me like that. What about Tegan and her sailing lessons?”
“Turns out she doesn’t like sailing. Go figure.” Brett shrugged. “So, do you reckon we’re square?”
“I don’t know.” Recovering, she glanced at the check again. “There’s a mistake.” She met his startled gaze with a smile. “It should be one hundred eighty-nine thousand, nine hundred and ninety-nine dollars…. You already paid me a dollar.”
He let out a bark of laughter. Then bent his head to kiss her, and bumped her glasses. “Why are you wearing these things? They get in the way.”
“Not so fast.” She pushed the glasses farther up her nose. “What did Amber want?”
“We settled the terms of divorce.” He pulled her into his arms. “I love
you,
Renita. I love you for who you are inside, thin or fat, hot or not. Will you have me?”
Her heart filled her chest so completely she could barely breathe. The backs of her eyes burned, but this was no moment for tears.
“I bought another house,” Brett said. “Yours is nicer, but this one is bigger. The best thing I can say about it is it’s got a huge backyard.”
She eased back, blinking. He was talking about moving in together. It hit her then that if she said yes, she’d be giving up her old life for good—the house she’d scrimped and saved for, her independence…
“Is there room for an aviary?” she asked.
“We can have a goddamn zoo if you want.” He was very still, waiting for her answer, waiting as if his life depended on it.
“Okay, then.” She couldn’t speak for the lump in her throat.
His dazzling blue eyes seemed to swallow her whole. “This is it, isn’t it, Renita? Our love is real.
You’re
real.”
“Yes,” she said, nodding and blinking. “I’m real.”
It was the nicest compliment he could have paid her.
IN HIS GOOD HANDS
Copyright © 2011 by Joan Kilby
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