Rescue Me (a quirky romance novel about secrets, forgiveness and falling in love) (32 page)

"I think we can make an exception."

"Very well," she said with an exaggerated sigh.

As soon as he stepped inside, she sunk into his arms, apologizing for the filth she knew he had to see and smell. When he made a fanning motion, she laughed.

"I told you it's been a heck of a day."

"I'll never doubt you again."

"Well, I'm through for the day, but obviously I need to go home and shower. What's up? Did you make dinner reservations?" She looked up into his eyes and froze. He had the oddest expression on his face. "What is it?"

"Nothing."

That was far from convincing. "No, tell me. Why are you staring at me like that?"

"I was thinking about the first time--when we met at the hotel restaurant. You wore a similar get-up. I had no idea what you'd mean to me."

"And I thought you were an ass," she said with a giggle. "So much for first impressions."

He planted a quick kiss on her nose, then pulled her toward the door. "Okay, enough. We have reservations. Let's go, or you're going to dinner like this!"

"Over my dead body."

She locked the building, then ran to her waiting truck. After cranking the engine to life, she drove home just under the limit of recklessness, dashed into her apartment and jumped in a cool shower. The water invigorated her, and as she stood there, her head pummeled by the jets, she wondered what was so special about tonight. Rainer was not himself.

She saw it in his eyes. He was up to something. Something big. Cutting the water, she dried off, dressed, and met a pacing Rainer in the living room.

He looked both relieved and pleased. "I'm so glad you're not a high maintenance woman."

"The short hair helps," she said, running fingers through sassy spikes.

"I think it's sexy, but we'll get to that later," he said with a grin. "Now, let's go!"

They drove across town, passing many of their favorite places to eat, which only added to her anticipation. He'd been hinting that something was going to happen soon.

"Where are we going?" she asked, after they'd been driving almost an hour.

"I'm not going to ruin the surprise."

"I'll act surprised. Please?" she tried her hardest to give him a puppy-dog look, fluttering eyelashes and all.

It didn't work. He smiled, chucked her on the chin and returned his attention to the road. "Not a chance."

He finally turned onto the drive of a ritzy country club.

She glanced around the grounds. "This place is exclusive. You don't belong to this golf club. What's going on?"

He didn't say a word as the uniformed guard in the shack waved them through. Then, he parked the car, got out, opened her door and took her hand. "Are you ready?"

"Ready for what?"

He motioned toward the building. "Let's go find out."

"Such a build-up. It better be good," she teased.

The inside of the white building was as posh as she'd ever seen, all gilt and brocade. It reminding her of Tara on Gone with the Wind. Gorgeous. She felt completely out of place, especially when scores of curious eyes fell on her as they walked through the lobby. A series of doors lined the back wall. Rainer led her to the last one and opened it.

The room was dark.

She spun around. "There must be a mis--"

"Surprise!"

She looked at Rainer, but saw nothing more than blank indifference.

Then she looked into the room, now awash in light. Dozens of people beamed before her, including her sister, Andrew, the volunteers from Pet Partners, and even a few from Paws and Claws.

Rendered speechless, and bewildered, she struggled to find a response to their grins and applause. "What's the event? My birthday's not for another couple of months."

The room filled with laughter, then the crowd parted, revealing the rear of the room. A single chair sat alone, like a throne. She felt weird, like a queen, recalling a movie she'd watched about Jane Grey becoming the Queen of England.

Rainer led her to the chair, and with a reassuring nod, motioned for her to take a seat. Reluctant, but curious, she sat. And waited, staring at the faces. Heidi's eyes were teary.

What was going on?

She didn't have to wait long. Rainer cleared his throat, kneeled on the floor and said, "Hailey Jensen, you are the light of my life. My world. My future. I gathered all these people because I knew you'd want to share this moment with them--"

"And save on long distance phone calls," someone shouted from the back.

Quiet laughter followed, but stopped as soon as Rainer spoke again. "I would like to ask you." His face turned red, and she realized this was really killing him.

Her face heated too.

"Will you make me the luckiest man in the world and marry me?"

A quiet "ohhhh..." rippled through the room.

He pulled a blue velvet box from his pocket and held it out to her.

She considered being silly, playful and teasing, but as she watched embarrassment turn to genuine panic, she smiled. "I might not make you the luckiest man in the world, but I'd be proud to become your wife."

He slid the ring on her finger, then standing, gathered her into his arms. "Thank you," he whispered. Then he kissed her, obviously determined to illustrate exactly how grateful he was.

The crowd applauded, and Hailey broke the kiss. Then Rainer turned to face the waiting crowd. "Official invitations will be in the mail as soon as Hailey and I can agree on a date, but I warn you, I won't be able to wait long to make this woman my wife."

Another round of applause followed, making Hailey's face heat even more.

Rainer squeezed her hand as he stood beside her, and her unease lifted. She had everything she'd ever dreamed of. Her work, her friends, her family and a man who genuinely loved her.

Love and contentment quickened her pulse. She threw her arms around Rainer's neck and whispered, "Thank you."

He smiled.

"Thank you for being who you are. Thank you for pushing Heidi and I. Thank you for everything."

"My pleasure."

The rest of the evening flew by in a blur, as she enjoyed congratulations from all the attendees. But the one that meant the most was from Heidi.

As Heidi reached forward to give her a hug, something flashed on Heidi's left hand.

Hailey caught it, and studied it, then looked up into a joy-filled face. "You and Andrew?"

Heidi nodded.

Hailey scowled at Andrew, who stood behind Heidi looking sheepish. "Why didn't you tell me?"

"I told him not to," Heidi said. "I wanted to surprise you."

"Well, this is a night of surprises, all right," she said, glancing at her own ring, which felt heavy on her finger. A good heavy. The kind that made her feel important and loved.

Accepted.

Cherished.

"Congratulations, sis!" she said, hugging her twin, grateful for this day, and grateful that Heidi had survived the cancer to be here. "Maybe we should have a double wedding."

"I'm game if you are," Heidi said, looking at Rainer. "But only if your soon-to-be hubby will give me away."

"I would be honored," he answered, stepping forward to grip Heidi in a bear hug. He exchanged a few tear-filled glances with Hailey, then released her sister and said, "I have one more surprise for Hailey, and then we'll talk about the details of your wedding, Heidi--"

Heidi grimaced. "I said you could walk me down the aisle. You're not the father of the bride. We're not going to have the talk." Then she grinned and punched him in the arm.

He laughed and led Hailey toward the door and back into the parking lot, now cloaked in darkness, except for pools of yellow light under thirty-foot lamps checkering the nearly empty lot.

"What are you up to now?"

"Just be patient," he said as a distant bark echoed through the darkness.

She followed him to the distant corner of the lot, growing increasingly curious, until she saw her white Pet Partners van parked next to the tennis courts.

"What is going on? Why is the van out here? Andrew drove this to the party?" Another bark cut through the quiet, this time much louder and closer. "Is there a dog in the van? Why wouldn't he bring it to the shelter?" She dashed to the vehicle and unlatched the back door.

Jensen pranced like a racehorse, her tail wagging, pawing at the latched gate.

Hailey opened the gate and caught the dog mid-air as she leapt. "You little imp! I've missed you." She hugged the animal to her chest, the dog wrapping front paws around her neck and resting her chin on Hailey's shoulder. She glanced at Rainer. "You did this, didn't you?"

He shrugged his shoulders. "When I invited your coworkers from Paws and Claws to the party, they regretfully declined. But one of them said you might like to see this young lady again. She's here to stay. Amy said her puppies have all been adopted, and she needs a new home. If it's okay with you, I'd like to keep her at my place--until we're married. I've spent a few days with her, and we've come to an understanding.

Hailey reached her free arm to the man who had given her so much. She didn't know how to thank him, what words might do justice to the joy she felt. He was a one-in-a-million man. A treasure. A blessing...and hers for the rest of her life.

"Thank you," were the only words she could find, as tears slipped from her eyes and wetted Jensen's furry head.

###

Hailey paced the fancy ladies' room at the banquet hall, wringing her hands. Her sister sat on a bench watching, an amused expression spreading over her face.

"I shouldn't have done this," Hailey said.

"Nonsense."

"What if she's some prostitute? A drug addict? A money scrounging--"

"You went through hell to find the woman. No matter what she's like, Rainer's bound to appreciate what you did."

"God, I hope you're right. I've never done anything like this before. This is something he would do."

Heidi laughed. "No doubt. Another reason why he should appreciate and understand what you did." She glanced at her watch. "We'd better get in there, or we'll miss the whole thing. Can't have a wedding rehearsal without the brides."

"Yeah, yeah." Hailey checked her face in the mirror once more. She looked like hell. Pasty pale. Nausea gripped her stomach again, much as it had every day the past couple of weeks. "Damn flu. I feel terrible. I'll be lucky to get through tonight."

"You're still sick?"

Hailey didn't like the expression Heidi wore now. "I'm sure it's nothing. I'm just a little queasy."

"You've been sick for weeks. Believe me, you shouldn't ignore those sorts of things. Any other symptoms?"

"No. Just nauseated. Can't stand the smell of food. And feeling a little run-down."

"Hmmm. Sounds suspicious. No fever?"

"Nope."

"Well, here, I've got some antacid. Take that for now. But I think your first stop after tonight should be to the drug store."

"Drug store? For what?" A tiny voice in her head whispered to her. Could you be...

"I think you're pregnant."

...pregnant? Her stomach jumped. She'd had her suspicions for days, but hadn't spoken a word of them. "You think?"

"I'm almost one-hundred percent positive."

Her insides bubbled with excitement. "Rainer's going to go nuts if it's true."

"He'll be a great father." Heidi glanced at her watch again. "But if you don't want that little bundle of joy to be illegitimate, you'd better get your butt out there for the rehearsal." She stood and dragged Hailey to the door. "Time to watch the reunion of mother and son."

Hailey groaned and followed her, taking her station at the front door to intercept the woman she'd spent thousands of dollars, and countless hours to track down. The woman who'd kissed her young son goodbye and walked out of his life over twenty years ago.

God, she hoped he wouldn't hate her for this!

She greeted the remaining guests, a handful of bridesmaids and ushers straggling in at the last minute, and directed them to the rented hall. Her heart thumped. Sweat slicked her body. Her stomach clenched and unclenched.

"Honey, what are you doing here? We're about ready--" Rainer said, then stopped.

She turned to face him, glimpsing wide-eyed shock. She looked at the front door. A beautiful woman, bedecked in a full-length mink coat stepped through the entry. Immediately she recognized the features.

His mother.

"How? Who?" Rainer stammered.

The woman stepped toward them, the only indication of her misgiving the way she bit down on her red slicked lower lip. "I'm Mary Evans-Newbury. I'm here for the Hartmann-Jensen party."

"I'm Hailey Jensen. I called you."

The woman's eyes flashed with recognition as she glanced at Rainer. "And you? Are you?" She stopped and blinked several times. When Rainer didn't speak, she stepped back. "Maybe I've made a mistake by coming."