Child of Her Heart Read online

  “Thank you,” Meredith said.

  “When our lawyer expressed his displeasure with a recent situation, I got to the bottom of it and learned that the board offered you a suite at the Lighthouse Inn during the same weeks that he was vacationing there.”

  Her mention of Justin unnerved Meredith.

  “My husband was very uncomfortable with the invitation and feels bad that he didn’t warn Justin there could be a conflict of interest.” She glanced down at her teacup, then back up to Meredith. “The board was seeking information about your intentions, but they went about it the wrong way.”

  Meredith’s cheeks warmed. Did this woman know what had transpired? Had Justin told Terrence Logan?

  “I’ve taken the board members to task and voiced my disappointment to my husband that he didn’t stop it. Your and Justin’s meeting was maneuvered and it was underhanded. I do hope no harm was caused and that you will be as gracious with this as you’ve been with all the other problems you’ve had to deal with.”

  “Justin truly didn’t know I would be there?”

  “No more than I did or I would have put a stop to it. Justin was set up, as were you, and Terrence was trapped in the middle. I know the board’s intentions were good, but I don’t know if the end justified the means. From what Justin said, you had no intentions of filing suit against the clinic.”

  “That’s true.”

  “Well, bless you for your tolerance, dear.”

  “My Anna is a blessing. She’s the reason for my decision.”

  “I hope I can meet her soon. Now, tell me more about the camp.”

  “The opening is months away, but I’m lining up staff and volunteers. I’m holding a meeting at the hospital next week to prepare them and to discuss positions and scenarios. If you know of anyone who’d like to donate their time, please pass along the information. There are posters and flyers up now.”

  “I’ll certainly do that.”

  “As Camp I Can’s benefactor, you’re welcome to attend any and all meetings and, of course, the camp itself once it’s open.”

  “Thanks for the invitation.”

  Meredith grinned at the woman’s sincere words and humble smile. Leslie Logan was a good person with a kind heart. The adoption agency and fertility clinic wouldn’t exist without her and Terrence. And Meredith was glad, because without the clinic, she wouldn’t have Anna, the child of her heart.

  Meredith double-checked that the coffeemakers were almost finished percolating and that the cookies and napkins were neatly arranged.

  “Everything’s perfect,” Chaney said. “Stop obsessing.”

  Meredith straightened the skirt of her black suit and glanced at the clock over the door. As she did, someone entered the meeting room. “Oh, my God, Chaney, this is it.”

  “Knock ’em dead, kiddo.”

  She hurried to greet her first volunteer, her friend Katie Crosby, whom she hadn’t seen since Katie had visited her in the hospital after Anna was born. She had shared her plans for in vitro with Katie, so the young woman was one of the few people who knew how surprised Meredith had been when she’d seen her baby.

  They spent a few minutes catching up, and before long the room swelled with men and women, some professionals, other lay people who just wanted to be a part of the new camp. Meredith was standing in a group with Rebecca Holley and nurse Nancy Allen when a man entering the room caught her attention.

  Her heart sped up as Justin Weber greeted a few people at the rear of the room and then moved toward her.

  “Good evening,” he said warmly. He was dressed in a dark blue suit with a blue shirt and striped tie, looking comfortable and confident—and sexy.

  She felt foolish shaking his hand, but she realized that his formal behavior was for the sake of bystanders. She made introductions. “Are you a contributor or a volunteer?” Rebecca asked Justin, snatching the question from Meredith’s head.

  “I’m volunteering my legal services to the camp.” He turned to Meredith. “You’ll need help with leases and insurance, and I’m making myself available, pro bono.”

  It took Meredith several seconds to find her voice. “That’s incredibly generous of you.”

  “No more generous than anyone else here giving of their time or talents, is it?”

  “No.” Infinitely more unexpected, however, considering all that had happened between them, and she’d been caught off guard.

  “Oh.” Justin reached inside his suit jacket and withdrew a check. “One more thing. I solicited a donation for the camp on your behalf, I hope you won’t mind.”

  Meredith looked at the check written for a substantial amount and drawn on the account of a Wayne Thorpe. “I don’t know who this is.”

  “He’s a silent benefactor who wants to help the kids.”

  “Well, great. Thank you.”

  Chaney came up to her then. “Time to start the meeting.”

  Meredith excused herself, the attendees took their seats and she got the informal meeting under way.

  Several other donations were gifted and other volunteers stepped forward, till there were enough to staff two camps the same size. She was going to have to consider enlarging the program to enable more children to benefit.

  As soon as it became clear that Justin was there in a legal capacity, some volunteers expressed concerns about their responsibility should anything accidentally happen to a child or if there was a medical emergency they couldn’t handle.

  Justin capably handled the questions and took notes on a PDA, planning to draft releases for parents and guardians to sign. “I’ll have contracts and release forms for you to look over next week,” he told Meredith.

  This was the side of Justin she’d fallen for. His openness and integrity were evident in his words and dealings.

  “Next week I’m going to start taking applications,” she told the assembly in closing. “The kids who will be applying have never been able to do anything remotely similar. They’ve been rejected from programs because of their needs. But because of your generosity,” she said, looking at each face, “these kids won’t be turned away. Because of the very nature of Camp I Can—and our ability to care for medical needs—children from all over will participate and feel special. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.”

  Rousing applause drowned out her last words.

  The crowd mingled and ate cookies, and then left a few at a time, until only a handful remained.

  Justin congratulated Meredith. “You did an exceptional job.”

  “Thanks. I had a lot of help.”

  “Nonetheless, Camp I Can is your brainchild. That’s an enormous accomplishment.”

  “I guess we’ll see this summer when it all comes together.”

  “I know I won’t be disappointed.” He glanced around. “Can I walk you to your car?”

  Rebecca had boxed up the last of the cookies, and Chaney had rinsed the coffeemakers. On their way out, the two of them waved goodbye. “I guess so.”

  Justin looked for the lights and switched off the overhead fluorescents. They stepped into an elevator, and she was reminded of the last time they’d been in an elevator together—at the Lighthouse Inn. He took the bag she was carrying. “Where’s Anna tonight?”

  “My dad came over to stay with her. He does a pretty good job of baby-sitting.”

  “What about your mother?”

  “She’s working at it. We had a heart-to-heart and she decided she’d rather be a part of our lives than not. She’s still not running over to check on Anna’s every move, but at least she’s not denying her existence or hounding me any longer.”

  “That’s progress.”

  “Very much so.”

  The elevator came to a stop and they walked across the lobby and out into the brisk night air. “Where are you parked?” he asked.

  “That way.”

  He walked beside her toward the edge of the lot. She used her key chain to unlock the car doors. He opened the back door and plac
ed her bag on the seat.

  She moved to open the driver door, but he placed his hand over the handle. Meredith looked up in surprise.

  Without another word, he leaned forward and kissed her. His lips were warm and hungry, and the taste of him made her ache with familiar want.

  He drew away, looking down at her face in the darkness. Behind him, a security light made a halo around his head and shoulders. She sensed that he was waiting for her reaction.

  All she felt was robbed.

  Robbed of the joy his kiss gave her, robbed of the sense of warmth and security that came with Justin’s arms.

  She flung her arms up and around his shoulders to kiss him back. A hundred warning alarms went off in her head, but her heart ignored them.

  Eighteen

  She couldn’t get close enough. She wanted to experience his warmth and the pleasure he gave. She needed to recapture the way he made her feel—beautiful and sensual and complete. In his embrace she became a desirable woman, and she craved the feeling.

  Justin framed her face with his strong hands and rained kisses over her cheeks, her eyelids, her nose.

  She grasped his wrists and pulled herself up to meet his lips.

  “Meredith,” he said, his lips against her cheek. “Knowing that you think I betrayed you has been like a weight on my heart. It’s killing me.”

  “I’m sorry.” She worked her hands inside his suit jacket, found the warmth and firmness of skin and muscle beneath his shirt and held him tightly. “You were right about me. I prided myself on being independent, but that was just because I was afraid to trust anyone. I didn’t trust myself, either, because I’d made mistakes and second-guessed my own choices.”

  “Your reactions were justified, considering what you went through before,” he told her.

  She tried to shake her head, but he held her fast. “You hadn’t given me any cause to mistrust you.”

  “Do you believe me now?”

  “Leslie told me that the board set you up. She also told me you let them know you were angry about it.”

  “I would resign from the Children’s Connection altogether if I thought it would make a difference,” he assured her. He’d said it before, and both times his willingness to sacrifice had surprised her.

  “There’s no need for that.”

  He hugged her close, and his clean, masculine scent triggered a flood of sensual memories.

  “I didn’t hold out much hope before I met you,” he said, his voice a rumble beneath her ear.

  “What do you mean?”

  “I had a good marriage, you know. I wasn’t looking.”

  “I know.” She leaned away to see his face. “It’s okay to say that. It’s okay that you loved your wife. I’m not threatened. It tells me you’re a loving, devoted man with deep feelings.”

  “I didn’t expect to feel this way,” he told her. “And I know there’ll never be anyone else for me but you.”

  Meredith’s heart hammered in expectation.

  “I love you,” he said softly.

  She closed her eyes to savor the words, and as soon as she did, Justin’s lips closed over hers.

  She kissed him back, feeling something more deeply personal than she’d ever known. A connection. Acceptance. “Come home with me now,” she said.

  “Are you sure?”

  She nodded. “But I don’t want to be separated. For the drive I mean.”

  “I’ll drive and we’ll come back for your car.”

  He took her hand and they hurried across the parking lot. They stopped beside a black BMW, where Justin unlocked the passenger door and held it while she got in. The interior smelled unmistakably like leather.

  “Nice car,” she commented. “I should have figured you didn’t drive the other one to work.”

  “Mauli drives that one when we’re not vacationing.” He leaned toward her.

  She snuggled up against him and he kissed her breathless, until setting her away so he could drive. Her heart fluttering, Meredith found his hand and held it. Sweet anticipation built inside her.

  Pulling into her driveway and parking beside her father’s car, he asked, “What about your dad?”

  “I’m an adult. He stopped interviewing my friends years ago.” She got out her lipstick and applied it quickly, then combed her fingers through her hair.

  “Okay.” He got out, crossed to her door and escorted her to the house.

  Meredith’s fingers trembled slightly as she unlocked the door and led him inside.

  Her father was seated comfortably in her small family room, watching The Practice. Seeing Justin, he used the remote to turn off the TV and stood.

  “Dad, this is Justin Weber,” she said. “He’s volunteered to handle the legal work for the camp. Justin, this is my dad, Hank Malone.”

  “How do you do, sir?” Justin said, stepping forward to shake his hand.

  “Good,” her father replied, his expression surprised, but not shocked at Justin’s presence. “She was perfect,” he said to Meredith. “She had the bottle about two hours ago and has been sleeping in her crib since. I’ve checked on her at least ten times.”

  She smiled. “She sleeps longer when she gets a bottle than when she has breast milk.”

  Her dad looked a little flustered at that comment. “Well, I’ll be heading out. Thanks for letting me come take care of her.”

  Meredith laughed. “I’m supposed to thank you for doing it.”

  “Oh, okay.”

  “Thanks, Dad.”

  “You’re welcome. Call me tomorrow.” He picked up a glass and plate and carried them to the kitchen, then got his jacket. “Nice to meet you,” he said, regarding Justin with a serious look.

  “You, too, sir.”

  Meredith walked him out to his car.

  “Is he really just a volunteer?” he asked perceptively. “Or is he something more?”

  She was relieved to tell him the truth. “He’s definitely something more, Dad.”

  “Someone permanent?”

  “I don’t know.”

  She knew the silence that followed was their mutual contemplation of her mother. “We’ll deal with it when we come to it,” she said.

  He nodded.

  She gave her father a hug and watched him drive off.

  Inside, she turned the bolt lock and switched off the porch light.

  Justin was standing in the kitchen doorway, his suit jacket over his arm.

  Taking it from him, she draped it over the back of a dining chair. She then proceeded to loosen his tie, pausing to kiss him when she had it off.

  “What do you think he thought?” Justin asked. “Did he say anything outside?”

  “I don’t know, and yes, he asked if you were something more than a volunteer.” She worked on his shirt buttons until they were unfastened, then tugged his shirttail from his pants. He helped her take it off.

  “What did you say?”

  “I said yes.” She placed his shirt and tie on the oak table and glanced at his shoes.

  He knelt to untie them and then slipped them off. “Are you trying to get me naked?”

  “I’ve missed you” was her reply. She had him raise his arms so she could pull his white undershirt over his head. His smooth, dark skin was warm against her lips as she pressed kisses up his belly to his chest.

  He eyed her trim black suit and heels. “It’s getting a little one-sided.”

  “Uh-huh.” She pointed to his socks, which he stripped off. She unfastened his belt and suit pants and, after he stepped out of them, draped them neatly over another chair. He stood in a pair of tight gray boxer briefs, his growing arousal apparent. “Want to see my bedroom?”

  One side of his sexy mouth turned up in a smile. “Sure.”

  Meredith took his hand and led him through the house, pausing to check on Anna sleeping soundly in the nursery, then into her room. She switched on a tiny lamp with a beaded fringe shade and it lent an amber glow to the elegant space.


  Her bedroom was one of her few extravagances, holding an enormous sleigh bed with a down comforter, satin sheets and mounds of pillows, all in shades of ivory and burnt sienna.

  Meredith flung back the covers and urged Justin to the edge of her bed, where he sat and pulled her between the V of his thighs.

  From her position above, she bent to kiss him. He slid one hand up the back of her leg, beneath her skirt and caressed her bottom.

  She leisurely removed her jacket and laid it at the end of the bed.

  He unfastened a few buttons and nudged his nose into the opening of her white blouse where he could nuzzle the swell of her breasts above her lacy bra. “You smell incredible,” he said on a groan. “After our week together, I’ve thought about you every time I smelled coffee.”

  She laughed delightedly and gave herself over to the sensations his lips were creating on her skin. Her blouse drifted to the floor and she reached back to unfasten her bra. Watching his reaction, she let the garment fall away.

  Justin cupped her full breasts reverently. With gentle fingertips, he traced the scars she’d been so self-conscious about and pulled her forward so he could kiss her there.

  “I think you’re beautiful all over,” he told her with gruff emotion in his voice.

  In moments her panty hose and skirt were gone, along with his boxers, and the two of them stretched out together on the cool, luxurious sheets. Justin worshipped her body with his hands and lips, whispered words of praise and adoration, and told her again that he loved her.

  She laid her hand along his jaw and looked into his eyes in the semidarkness. “I never knew I could feel this way about someone,” she told him, her heart in her voice. “I was miserable without you. Even though we’d only known each other for a short time, I felt as though we were meant to be together.”

  “I guess we can thank the board of Children’s Connection, instead of being angry with them,” he answered.

  “Maybe we should send them flowers,” she teased.

  “Maybe we should invite them to our wedding,” he countered.