Blindsided (Indigo Love Spectrum) Page 11

  “You’re going to talk to me, Dahlia.”

  Her body trembled when his hand slid down her arm, and the dam holding back her tears broke completely. Instead of fighting and fleeing, she gave in. Turning into Norris’s open arms, Dahlia wrapped her arms around him and took comfort in his soothing words. His arms tightened around her. Dahlia drew closer. And for the first time since hearing her sister’s news, even through her wracking sobs, she felt happy.

  Chapter 11

  “I made you some tea,” Norris said when Dahlia returned from changing out of her Sunday finest and into the customary jumbo T-shirt and spandex joggers that made up her workout gear. “It’s that mint and lemon flavor you like.” He offered her a steaming mug. “I didn’t add anything to it, but I brought out a couple of those yellow packets you use.”

  “Thank you, Norris, but you didn’t have to do this. I told you I was fine.”

  “Yes, you said that, but I wasn’t totally convinced.”

  “It’s the middle of the afternoon on a warm spring day, and you’re offering me hot tea. Who’s the one having issues here?”

  Norris smiled. In hindsight, maybe the tea wasn’t his swiftest move. “It sounded like a good idea when I did it,” he said. “I thought it would calm you.”

  “I’m calm now.”

  “Why can’t I believe that?”

  “I don’t know. Don’t I look calm to you?”

  “You look resigned.”

  “I am.” Dahlia stood and kicked up her left leg, holding it against her backside and stretching. She reversed the action with her right leg. “Now, I’m going to work out.”

  “Burn off the chips, eh?”

  “You were rifling through my trashcan?”

  “Didn’t have to rifle. The empty bag is barely covered by that half box of tissues you have piled on top of it. Tears and chips? Not a good combination for a self-proclaimed chipoholic.”

  “Sometimes a girl’s got to do what a girl’s got to do,” she said, leaning into toe-touches.

  “Hey.” Norris took her hand and brought her beside him on the couch. “I don’t want to keep you from your workout, but I’m not leaving here until you talk to me. I know you don’t want me to care, but I do. The sooner you tell me, the sooner you hop on your treadmill.”

  “Fine, fine.” Dahlia expelled a breath. “This morning I went to church and my parents told me my sister is pregnant.”

  “Sister? You’ve talked about your brother, your Grandma Flora, and your folks, but you’ve never mentioned a sister.”

  “We aren’t close.”

  “That’s fine, but to never mention her?”

  Dahlia sighed, loudly.

  “Look, I’m sorry. I’m just surprised to learn—”

  “That I have a sister? That’s just it, Norris. We don’t really know anything about each other.”

  “We know quite a lot about each other, and I don’t only mean what we like in bed.”

  “Norris, you were hit with some unexpected news. You have a daughter, and all of a sudden you want to be daddy and confess love. This is a phase.”

  Norris shook his head. “No, no, no. I’m not going there with you. I know what I’m feeling, so I’m not going to argue with you about that. Besides, we were talking about you and your sister. Why is her being pregnant upsetting to you?”

  “She’s having problems. Hearing about it made me feel bad.”

  Norris waited. There had to be more to it. “And?”

  “And? That’s it. I felt bad.”

  “Bad enough to come home, cry, and eat a six-ounce bag of chips, but not bad enough to get on the phone and call her to make things better?”

  “What makes you think I didn’t call her?”

  “Because had you called her, the fact she’s having a problem pregnancy wouldn’t be what’s bothering you, it would be that you had a fight.”

  She frowned. “You think you know it all, don’t you?”

  “Not yet,” he answered with a smile. “But I am a quick study of all things Dahlia Sinclair, and I won’t be satisfied until I have my Ph.D. Why don’t you and your sister get along?”

  Dahlia shook her head and walked to the door. “Sorry, that’s a class for another day. You wanted to know why I was upset, and I told you. Now, you have to stick with your end of the deal.” She pulled open the door. “I’m fine.”

  His eyes raked over her. “Yes, you are that,” he said, getting the smile from her that he wanted. “I’m done pushing.” He held up his finger and leaned into the doorjamb. “However, I also came by to let you know I met Reese today.”

  Dahlia’s face brightened. “That’s right! You said you hoped to meet her today.” Dahlia’s hands wrapped around his, making him wonder why he didn’t share this news sooner if this was the response he would get. “What do you think?”

  Norris looked at their joined hands and then into her eyes. “I think she’s as wonderful as you said she would be.” Dahlia smiled and he smiled back. “We still have some getting to know each other to do, but we’re both willing to try.”

  “That is good to hear.”

  “Gail told me Reese will be staying with you.”

  “I didn’t know it was finalized, but you’ll be able to see her as often as you want. You’ll have complete access.”

  “I appreciate you saying so.” Norris pulled her hands together and held them between his. Dahlia’s happiness for him and Reese was sincere, but pain still lurked in her eyes, and it broke his heart. “Is there nothing I can do for you? I hate seeing you upset.”

  “I’ll be all right, Norris.” Dahlia freed her hands from his. “Don’t worry about me.”

  “Too late.” Norris leaned forward and softly kissed her lips. “I can’t help it.”

  * * *

  “Norris.” Agnes stuck her head in his office door.

  “I’m about to go grab some lunch. You want anything?”

  “Do I want anything?” Norris sighed and turned his

  attention to the window behind his desk. Happy couples and playing children filled the corner park across the street. It made him both hopeful and miserable. “Agnes, I want so many things, but nothing you can get me from a lunch counter.”

  Agnes groaned. “Oh, for goodness sake.” She closed the door and bounded over, blocking his view. “What is wrong with you? Ms. Sinclair doesn’t need any more consultations?”

  He frowned. “Not funny.”

  “It wasn’t meant to be. I don’t think I’ve ever seen you so pitiful.”

  Norris clicked his tongue and faced the desk. “I’m not pitiful.”

  “No, just in love.” Agnes moved around the desk and sat on the edge. “Are you ready to admit it?”

  “I thought I was when I did it Saturday night, but Dahlia has me all but convinced I was wrong about that.” Agnes’s green eyes lit up. “You told her?”

  “Yep. She was incensed. She’s not interested in being in love.”

  “That may be, but she does love you. I can tell.”

  “You can tell? You’ve only been in her company once.”

  “I saw how she looked at you, and I’m not a fool. I know full well what was going on in this office. I’ve known you for fourteen years, and I’ve never seen you captivated. Not until this past Friday when I watched you watching her. And that look didn’t just happen. How long have you been seeing her?”

  “A couple of months,” he confessed.

  “You’re not giving up on her, are you?”

  “No way.” Norris thought of the twelve bouquets of flowers he had arranged to be sent to Dahlia’s salon today, and the twelve messages explaining why he loved her and always would. Dahlia being the beautiful contradiction she was, he could see her frowning on the outside, but beaming on the inside with the arrival of every colorful display and its heartfelt words. Ryan had said woo, so he would woo. “She’s worth fighting for.”

  “Is that why you were out yesterday? Working on ways to win her
favor?”

  “No, actually, yesterday I was working on winning the favor of another beautiful woman.” He reached in the breast pocket of his dress shirt and extended a recent picture of Reese. “Congratulate me. It’s a girl. Her name is Reese.”

  Agnes gasped. “Well, shut my mouth! She’s such a pretty thing. And she has your eyes.”

  Norris smiled proudly. “Yes, she does.”

  “How did . . .”

  “Compliments of Dr. Gail Elders,” he explained, receiving the picture. “She told me Friday. That’s why she wanted to see me. I saw a designer yesterday and got some work started on a room for Reese. Gail’s getting married next weekend and leaving for Africa right after. She’ll be gone for six months, giving me time to get to know my daughter better.”

  “Reese will be living with you?”

  He sighed. “No. But I want to be prepared in case she decides to sleep over. I’m a little nervous about it all, but I’m looking forward to it. She’s a wonderful girl, Agnes.”

  “I bet so. You’re just so proud, Norris.”

  “I am. I’m just getting to know her, but she reminds me of myself.”

  Agnes raised a brow. “She’s not vain, is she?” Norris erupted in a loud, telling laugh.

  “Oh, Lord. Two of you?” she grumbled in good humor.

  “What can I say? She appreciates her great genes.”

  “It’s good to see a splash of happiness in your eyes, Norris. I’m glad your daughter can do that for you, and I know Ms. Sinclair will be doing it for you soon, too.”

  “I don’t know about soon, but I’m willing to keep at this until I make her mine forever.”

  * * *

  Because without “u,” beautiful would not exist in my world.

  Dahlia wanted to roll her eyes at the cheesy scrawl beneath the eleventh flower card titled “Why I Love You,” but she couldn’t help being affected. No one had ever done anything like this for her, and as touched as she was, she couldn’t show her emotions in front of the salon ladies. She could imagine the talk at dinner tables tonight. Especially Mrs. Flo’s.

  “You know, some man sent Dahlia a million flowers today. Some secret admirer. I bet it’s Baxter the product distributor. He’s always grinning at her.”

  Baxter was definitely sweet on her, but if the idea of a twenty-something hunk of dark chocolate showing interest could get tongues to wagging, learning about Mediterranean-meets-Midwest millionaire Norris Converse would bring on the vapors.

  Dahlia tucked the card in her purse, along with the other ten, and breathed in the fragrant mix of roses, lilies, and peonies in crystal vases on her desk. The news of her sister having her ex-husband’s baby still had her reeling, but Norris transforming her beauty shop into a flower shop definitely gave her a needed lift. Even when she didn’t want him to, which was most of the time, he found a way to lift her spirits. She sighed. Why did he have to be so wonderful?

  A knock on the door jostled Dahlia from her thoughts. “Come in,” she said.

  Lara peeked her head inside. “Hey. You up for some company?”

  “Of course.” She smiled, waving Lara in.

  “Wow,” Lara said, taking in all the flowers. “Most people would ask who died, but I know better.”

  “I’d say you do.” Dahlia helped her pregnant friend into a chair. “You’ve talked to Norris, right?”

  Lara nodded. “He came over Saturday night. Dahlia, he . . . ”

  “Lara, I know what you’re going to say.”

  “Okay. And?”

  “I can’t do this. I have too much going on, and a relationship is not something I want distracting me.”

  “Love is never a distraction, Dahlia. And Norris does love you. The idea of saying love and Norris in the same breath is mind-blowing. I’ve known him for almost five years, and I see a change in him.”

  “Yes, there’s a change. He’s a father now.”

  “It’s not only Reese, and you know that. He’s happier, and it’s because of you. Everything has come together for him.”

  “See, that’s it. I can’t be a part of his everything.” Dahlia put on her best straight face and prepared to give the speech she’d been unsuccessful at getting Norris to listen to for more than a second. “I don’t want a relationship. I never promised Norris anything, and I can’t.”

  “Can’t or don’t want to? You’ve been pretty happy, too. Except before, I didn’t know Norris was the reason why.”

  “We had an understanding, Lara.”

  “Sometimes the heart has its own ideas.”

  “Heart. Love. Relationships.” Dahlia looked at all the flowers and remembered Norris’s sweet words. Her stomach did the fluttery thing that reminded her of how weak she was and how being weak invariably led to pain. She sucked in a breath and met Lara’s gaze head-on. “I’ve had my fill of these things, Lara, and I don’t want any more.”

  “Love is sweeter the second time around.”

  Dahlia scrunched her face. “I think that’s generally used when you fall in love with the same person twice.”

  “Blech!” Lara shuddered as if she’d been offered a plate of fish guts. “Let’s change what it means for this instance, okay? What I’m saying is, if you allow yourself to feel, in spite of your fears, it could be a wonderful thing.”

  “And it could be devastatingly painful. I’m not knocking love, Lara, it’s just not for me.”

  A rap on the door broke the conversation. “More flowers,” said Marci, bringing in a vibrant bouquet of tiger lilies and setting them on the file cabinet. “I do believe your secret admirer has purchased every flower in the city of Denburg and possibly a few surrounding counties.” She smiled at Lara. “Hello, Mrs. Andrews.”

  “Hi, Marci. How are you?”

  “The question is how are you?” Marci touched Lara’s belly. “It must be exciting expecting twins.”

  “Double the pleasure, double the fun.”

  “Double the pain and double the diapers.” Marci shook her head. “No thanks. But you do look wonderful.”

  “I feel wonderful. Thanks.”

  “Oh, before I forget.” Marci handed over the card. “Here you go.” She waved good-bye and went about her way.

  Lara pulled herself out the chair. “Hmm. You might think love is not for you, but I think Norris is going to do everything in his considerable power to change your mind. I, for one, hope he succeeds,” she said, smiling. “Take care.”

  Take care? Dahlia groaned as she stared at the unopened card. How was she going to do that with Norris drowning her in flowers and singing her praises? Why couldn’t he just be angry and ignore her like any other man in his position would?

  She snatched open the card. “I chose these flowers for their fiery color, and sent them last because I knew you’d be feeling pretty angry right now. Beautiful and fiery— note the symbolism here.” Dahlia rolled her eyes at his smiley face. “I know you’re angry, and I’m sorry, but I love you, Dahlia, and you’re going have to deal with what that means. N.”

  A single tear slid down her cheek. She knew what it meant. And that’s why she couldn’t do it again. She just couldn’t do it again.

  * * *

  Norris checked his watch. Four-thirty. His fingertips tapped an anxious beat on the desk. He thought Dahlia would have called by now, for if nothing more than to tell him to give it up after all the flowers, but she didn’t call. His tapping increased. She couldn’t ignore him. He snatched up the telephone handset. He wouldn’t let her ignore him.

  Just as he’d punched in the first six digits, there was a knock at the door.

  “Norris,” said Agnes, sticking her head inside, “you have a visitor.”

  The goofy grin on the woman’s face had to mean one of two things: Reese had arrived or . . .

  Dahlia appeared at the door, looking very cute in blue jeans and a yellow baby-doll shirt. Norris’s agitated anxiousness dissipated. Smiling, he walked over and ushered her in. “Thanks, Agnes, that w
ill be all,” he said, closing the door on his beaming assistant before turning all his attention to Dahlia. He wanted to take her in his arms and kiss her until her toes curled, but figured that response might be a bit strong after everything that had happened. So he smiled at her, feeling like a lovesick schoolboy.

  “I’m so glad you’re here,” he said. “You look calmer than you did Sunday. Have you talked to your sister?”

  “No, I haven’t, but I don’t want to talk about that. Norris, about the flowers and the cards . . .”

  “I wanted to do something nice for you, and tell you again how I feel.”

  She dragged her hands over her face, groaning. “That’s just it. I don’t want to hear about feelings. I don’t want to read about them . . .”

  “You don’t want to think about them. I know, I know,” Norris broke in, feeling as frustrated as she looked. “But guess what, you have to. Because they exist, and not talking about them won’t make them go away.”

  “Norris, what we’ve shared these last couple of months has been great, but . . .”

  “No buts. It’s been great. It is great.”

  “It was great. It’s past tense now. You made it so.”

  “By saying I love you?”

  “You don’t love me, Norris. You’re caught up in a moment. For over two months we’ve been enjoying each other’s company. A no strings, carefree physical relationship. Physical. It was sex. That’s all it was supposed to be.”

  “Things changed, Dahlia.”

  “You just think they have. It’s understandable. You have this new responsibility with Reese, you’re a father now, and it makes you want to create this life you think she should have.”

  “You think I told you I love you because of Reese?”

  “Nothing else makes sense. We have what can only be described as earth-shattering sex, and the next minute you’re professing love to me the day after you find out you have a daughter. Woman plus child equals family.”