Forgiven (32 page)

To Crystal Spears. I simply don’t know that I could have done any of ‘this’ without you as my beta reader. You give very unique insight into my characters. Your love of ‘this’ has inspired me to do even more with it and I thank you for your friendship and your support.

To Kathryn Crane. You are an incredible beta reader, editor, and supporter. But above all of that you are an awesome friend. I could talk to you for hours on end. So glad I got to meet you in person and look forward to signing with you one of these days!

To Karen Russell. Also known as my eagle eyes. Every book that I ever write will go to you before I press publish. Thank you for always catching the little things.

To Jennifer Noe. Thank you for everything you’ve done to help me recently. I loved meeting and talking with you in Woodstock. I love your thoughts as I write. I know we’ll only become closer friends as time passes.

To the UK Girls. Thank you so much for your support, encouragement, and promotion. I don’t know if I can fully explain how cool it feels to get fan mail from a different country, see fan pages that have “We Love JB McGee” as the title, and a page devoted to getting me to come to the UK. I know one day we’ll meet, and it will be a very incredible day. I am proud of you all and all that you have accomplished in the past several months.

To “B The Word on the Street”. My street team. When I was sick and overwhelmed, you ladies stepped up and said, “Let us carry you.” What do you get in return? Nothing. You’re selfless actions mean so much to me. You have become such good friends and I hope you know how much it means to me that you would sacrifice your family and free time to help me.

To the bloggers. You have been so good to me. I wouldn’t be here if it weren’t for you. Thank you so much for your reviews, spotlights, shares, and love.

To my readers. You have changed my life. I love you all.

It was just after 9am on a Saturday morning when Adam Davenport woke up in the guest room of his brother’s house. He had been there for a month now and he was in no rush to return to his posh, modern apartment overlooking Central Park. Why would he be? He had plenty of privacy here, since Sam and Haley spent so much time at work, at events, and away. Truth be told, he had too much privacy.

He folded his arms behind his head as he pondered when everything had begun to change. First, he and Sam made up. That was great. He had his family back. Sam confided in him, he felt included again, and they were partners…if not in the family business, at least in protecting Haley. Soon, he was invited to little Abby’s christening, they went out to dinner, and he was the injured hero who spent a month of his life in a coma after he pushed Haley out of the way of that car.

Even that wasn’t bad…really. He spent the month sleeping, but still somewhat aware. He knew that Sam barely left his side. He knew Haley brought food and cared for Sam. And then when he was awake and able to, he was taken home…to Sam’s home. Maybe he should have fought it. Maybe he should have insisted he go to his apartment and have a nurse. Instead, he stayed. And now Adam wasn’t sure he’d want to leave. Ever.

Having a home, being surrounded by family…he didn’t realize how much he had missed it. At first it was idyllic. Haley cooked these amazing meals, baked cookies, and made the old mausoleum a home. Sam came alive. He confided in Adam. Then…everything changed. Sam fell in love so hard. When Sam and Haley had trouble he retreated into the study and into himself. When things were good, Sam and Haley vacationed and ran off together. And he was beginning to feel lost and alone once again. The only difference now was that something had been awakened in him; a need he hadn’t known existed. Now he could never go back to his old ways.

Sighing, Adam realized there was no winning solution. He would have to be happy with what he could get, the time he didn’t have to be alone, the hours occupied by his new position at the Davenport Agency and his steady progress. He flushed a little then. Truth be told, Adam was very nearly completely recovered. And the only one who knew that was his physical therapist. Yup. The therapist said he was 95%. And really, he only said that so that Adam wouldn’t over do and then undo all the progress he had made.

Throwing back the covers, he stepped out of the bed, stretched, and walked around the room some. He pulled on his midnight blue robe and cinched it around his waist. Though he hated slippers and truly preferred bare feet, he respected Sam’s ways and shoved his feet into a pair of slippers that, in his opinion, added at least thirty years to his age. He cringed. Speaking of his age…this morning at 5:27am, he had officially aged one more year. Then he confidently walked back to his bedside, picked up the cane he let sit against the headboard when he wasn’t using it to keep up the façade and slowly limped down the stairs.

Neville was in the kitchen, sitting on one of the bar stools in front of the island sipping coffee and reading the paper. He nodded at Adam as he entered the room and assessed his mood. While Adam was normally so pleasant, given that he was also incredibly sensitive about his appearance and everything related to it, he could only imagine that Adam might be taking his big day a little hard. This was one of the big birthdays, after all. The handsome young man was no longer in his twenties. And goodness knows that the thirties came with a whole new set of expectations that the man hadn’t seemed ready to embrace before the accident.

The young man sat heavily on the stool and appeared winded. Still, he gave Neville an encouraging smile. The servant stood and began to take care of Adam. “Would you like coffee this morning, sir? Maybe I can make you some breakfast?”

“I’d love a coffee, Neville. And what are my breakfast options?” He glanced about. “I was hoping Sam and Haley would be back today. You know?”

Nodding, Neville responded, “You had hoped to spend your birthday with them?”

“Yeah, but I guess that’s not going to happen now.” He looked down to hide his disappointment and instead buried his head in the newspaper. That should occupy him for a few hours. Then he just had to figure out how to occupy all of his time after lunch. “Maybe I’ll go out tonight,” he mused aloud.

“Will you need me to drive you later?” Neville asked calmly.

“I’ll let you know once I decide what to do,” he replied, already lost in thought. And before Neville had left the room, Adam was already focused elsewhere.

While in the garage, Neville called Mr. Davenport. After two short rings he answered. “Sir, your brother has suggested that he might go out tonight.”

“Ah, is he pouting over his birthday already?” Samuel laughed. “Thirty is no big deal. Of course, it does mean losing that Peter Pan complex he perfected.” He was leaning back on Adam’s sofa, looking out the enormous windows and admiring the view while Haley let the caterers in.

“Not exactly, but I do think he expected that you would be home for his birthday,” Neville remarked.

“Don’t worry. As soon as we get everything organized here, we’ll be home to take him off your hands. Just don’t let him leave before then.” Sam ended the conversation and ended the call while Neville pondered how on earth he was going to do that.

Adam decided to kick back in the study and enjoy the fire that Neville had started as the sun began to go down. It was another gray dreary November day where the seasons in New York City kept switching back and forth. One moment he would swear it was winter, with the frost on the ground, the flakes falling from the sky. The next moment it was a bit warmer and the last of the leaves was falling. He couldn’t think of any place that he would rather be. Haley had made this house a home.

Sighing, he called Sam’s cell. It was the fifth time he had attempted to reach him since he woke up. And still his brother had yet to answer. They should be home with him. And if they weren’t here, since they seemed to be here less and less, maybe he should find a place to spend the evening and someone warm and inviting to spend the evening with.

He began scrolling through his contacts and soon one thing became abundantly clear. He had no real friends. How was that possible? How could he be thirty years old and have no real friends? Adam sat up straighter in his seat, and then leaned on his legs as he looked through them more slowly. Nope. Not a one. He had friends from school that he had hung around, and friends from clubs, and friends that were really nothing more than acquaintances. There were people that he would call to party with, find out what the current meeting place was, but he really had no relationships of substance save that of the one with his brother. And now his brother was practically married. There was no way that they could be buddy-buddy like he needed.

Well, there was no time like the present to make the change. He could make sure that thirty was his best year yet, if he could just figure out how. And he leaned back and plopped his feet on the coffee table to think about it.