Begin Again (The Blake Boys Book 18) Read online

  Anna Beth wasn’t like that at all. They had made an effort to be mindful of each other’s feelings. He loved that she valued his opinions, and he made sure he didn’t take her for granted. He’d surmised that she’d been involved with self-absorbed egomaniacs in the past. The kind of men who were handsome, charming, and successful but left a lot to be desired in the sensitivity department. He’d vowed he wouldn’t be another random jerk in her life. He’d wanted to be the one to make her forget the parade of losers who’d broken her heart. He wanted to be the man who’d restore her faith in love. But in the heat of their first big disagreement, that pivotal moment all couples face, she’d opted to give up, and he’d been too full of pride to ask for another chance. When she slammed the door in his face that fateful day, he felt his heart had closed again too.

  Corbett opened the kitchen drawer and retrieved the local restaurant menus. He needed sustenance if he were going to keep up the pity party. And he wanted to have a meal with Avery and Wyatt. They wouldn’t be back until the New Year. Hopefully Parker was home and she’d get to join them. She too was finding her way in the form of a new career. The family wasn’t happy about her private investigating, but they agreed she needed some space to figure things out.

  “I’m ordering takeout!” he yelled into the other room. From the sounds of cheering, he’d take that as a sign they were OK with it.

  He scanned the menu, but his mind was stuck replaying Wyatt’s suggestion that he go to Blake Enterprises tomorrow. Corbett wanted to see Anna Beth, but he was afraid of what he’d find. What if she’d moved on? Or saw some guy flirting with her? She didn’t notice it, but there were plenty of men at the company he’d caught staring at her on more than one occasion. Especially that jerk Steve from acquisitions. No, it was better to stay away before he did something foolish like confess that he missed her. She was wrong about him having any lingering feelings for Courtney, and she should have trusted him. Still, longing for her was winning out over the pretense that he was fine with the fact that he’d lost her.

  One thing was for sure. There was no joy for him this holiday season.

  * * *

  Anna Beth looked around the room and surveyed her handiwork. The room was beautifully decorated to her exact specifications. Everything was in place for the party. The fifty-foot tree was displayed in the middle of the room. There was a lovely poinsettia centerpiece placed on every table. A jazzy version of “O Christmas Tree” wafted over the intercom system and the ice sculpture of penguins playing hockey sat near the buffet table. The catering staff kept the food flowing and drinks in everyone’s hands. The designated driver car service was downstairs ready to take home anyone who’d had too much to drink by the end of the evening. It was going to be another successful party. She just hoped no one would get sloppy drunk and make out in the executive bathroom again like last year. The sternly worded reminder email about appropriate office party behavior J.J. sent out earlier in the day should help alleviate any hookups. Well, at least on Blake Enterprises property.

  After all the years of planning the holiday party, this had to be the most difficult one yet. Instead of basking in the fun of the preparation, she’d been too busy being miserable about Corbett. She’d been plagued with thoughts of the sexy accountant for weeks now. Those soulful brown eyes and thick, wavy black hair and playful, dimpled smile haunted her dreams. His six-foot-two frame towered over her so she had to get up on her tiptoes to get one of those scorching kisses he loved to give her.

  It seemed like months not weeks since they had that fateful argument about him missing Thanksgiving dinner with her family. The delay wouldn’t have been a big deal if Courtney hadn’t been involved. He was convinced that since their breakup, his ex-fiancée was OK with them being friends, but Anna Beth knew better. Courtney wasn’t the kind of woman who accepted being friend-zoned by a former lover who’d almost married her. She suspected the calculating wench still wanted him.

  Corbett had been pretty good about keeping his distance from Courtney after their breakup to give them both breathing room. It worked well until the day he invited Anna Beth to a festival in Las Cruces. There they were, eating tacos and having a good time, when they bumped into Courtney. She could tell Courtney wasn’t pleased but wanted to play it cool for the entourage of beauty queens that was with her. They exchanged curt yet polite hellos, and Anna Beth was sure the big kiss on Corbett’s cheek was for her benefit. Courtney was all smiles and bleached-white teeth, but the look in her eye told another story. Meanwhile, Anna Beth knew it took all Courtney had not to lunge for her throat. Their meetings at Blake family events in the past had been wrought with catty remarks.

  Courtney always made sure everyone in a hundred-mile radius knew that Corbett was her property. Anna Beth suspected that the tight rein on him was part of what drove him away. For Courtney, it must have been a punch to the gut to see the two of them together. Mysteriously after that day, she’d been popping up at some of the volunteer places were Corbett helped out. Strange how Courtney’s lack of concern about the community was once a bone of contention in their relationship. Now she was the Florence Nightingale of New Mexico. Anna Beth could see the plotting a mile away, but he didn’t see it that way. He liked to see the good in people. That was one of the things she loved about him, but sometimes he just couldn’t see the forest for the trees.

  Grammie Granger always said seeing the smoke was a moot point if you already smelled the fire. Courtney’s machinations continued until the incident at the soup kitchen when she feigned illness, claiming it was something she ate. Funny how no one else there got sick. Anna Beth had refused to sit by and watch Courtney wiggle her way back into Corbett’s life under the ruse that she’d become a better person. Giving her time at a soup kitchen? Ha! Corbett must have been smoking peyote and drinking Bo Sr.’s moonshine at the same time if he believed her.

  In the end, Anna Beth had been forced to leave while she still had her self-respect. No matter how bad it made her feel. She was happy with him, blissful even. She even dared to use the word love, and she’d been ready to discuss that declarative slip of the tongue with him on Thanksgiving. Then all hell broke loose.

  After the embarrassing fiasco with Corbett on Thanksgiving, she didn’t want to be around her family either. She’d had quite a time talking down the posse of male relatives who’d offered to skin him alive. Instead of nursing her heartbreak alone in her apartment, she decided to do something counterintuitive. Moping with a pint of ice cream on the couch was her modus operandi, so she decided to go on vacation with her crazy friends instead. Ten days in Costa Rica partying with her girlfriends sounded like the perfect remedy to get over the man who’d broken her heart.

  But this vacation would set her right. Due to her hectic schedule, she couldn’t leave with her friends, but she did have a plane reservation for tomorrow morning. The party was too important to leave in the hands of someone else. She wanted things to be perfect. She glanced at her Rolex. She’d check a few more things before she said goodnight.

  “Anna Beth, there you are.” A familiar voice said behind her. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

  Nuts. It was her boss J.J. She’d been avoiding him all day and had planned a stealth mingling system that would have assured they’d miss each other tonight. It’s not that she wanted to avoid him; she loved the guy. She simply didn’t want to continue the conversation about her future with the company that started two days ago. She knew where he was headed.

  She turned to face him and smiled. “Hi, J.J. I came down early to make sure everything was in order.”

  “You look beautiful.” He whistled. “Red is a great color on you.”

  “Thanks.” She blushed. The daring red number was meant to cheer her up. It had a plunging neckline and hugged every curve she had. It was vastly different from her usual prim business attire, and it made her stand out. She wished she could attribute the choice of dress to a new attitude, but the truth was Corbett inspired
her to be more daring. He’d coaxed her out of her shy shell, and it was beginning to manifest in interesting ways.

  “Everything looks fantastic,” J.J. said. “You could organize these events in your sleep.”

  “Do you think the extra wreaths were too much?” She bit her lip. “I decided to veer off course this year, but then I had my doubts.”

  “My mama says there’s never too many Christmas decorations.”

  “I agree.” She laughed. Every year the Twelve Horseshoes Ranch looked like a welcome stopover for Santa to get some good barbecue while delivering toys to all the kids in Texas. “Regency is stationed around the room and they have the list of the employees who get out of hand every year. But I’m sure everyone will behave after that scathing reminder email about appropriate behavior at company events.”

  J.J. surveyed the room. “It’s a postcard-perfect venue. I don’t know why you stress so much. Your vacation couldn’t come at a better time.”

  “About my time off.” Anna Beth took a flute of champagne and a glass of scotch that she handed to him off the silver tray from a passing waiter. “I can go upstairs and double-check some things before I leave early. If you have questions, just give me call.”

  “I will not hear of it. Costa Rica is calling. Go and have a good time with your friends.” He nudged her with his arm.

  “It wouldn’t be a problem…”

  “It will only be a problem if I find you upstairs double-checking things,” J.J. said with a laugh. “I’m only disappointed that we never got to finish our conversation the other day.”

  “No worries.” She sipped her beverage. “You’d been tracking down that gift for Sam for two months. I’m glad you were finally able to acquire it. I think she’s going to love it.”

  Boy was she ever. J.J. had outdone himself this year. Sam was going to be over the moon about her present.

  “Back to our conversation,” J.J. continued. “I’m sorry I had to cut it short. I’d really like for us to sit down and talk. Maybe we can carve out a few minutes tonight before you go on vacation?”

  “Uh.” She let out a deep sigh of relief when she saw Cassidy coming her way. “Here comes Cassie.”

  “Hey, you two. This setting is gorgeous.” Cassidy scanned the room. “You’ve outdone yourself, Anna Beth, and you look fabulous.”

  “Thank you. I thought I’d try something new.” She smoothed a lock of her hair.

  “J.J., doesn’t she look nice?”

  “Stunning.” J.J. gave his sister-in-law a kiss on the cheek. “I’m surrounded by beautiful women.”

  Cassidy did a half turn to show off her black dress. “Thank you. Not a bad ensemble for a mother of three boys who swear they can crawl across the ranch.”

  “They just want to keep you on your toes.”

  “You should have seen us trying to get ready for the party while trying to keep track of the three of them. I think Aiden’s going to be on the track team.” She looked at Anna Beth again. “You really do look amazing.”

  “Now I’m beginning to feel like I look like a hot mess all the rest of the time.”

  “No, it’s just that you don’t normally wear such bold colors. I like it. What’s the inspiration?” Cassidy’s eyes gleamed.

  Anna Beth shot her look that said not in mixed company. “I’m getting an early start with a few New Year’s resolutions.”

  “Well, you’re turning more than a few heads.” Cassidy glanced around at the party crowd. “Steve from acquisitions isn’t grinning like an idiot for nothing.”

  “He’s probably on his third martini.” Anna Beth’s eyes darted over to Steve. He’d tried some awkward flirting a few times in the elevator, but it had fallen flat. He was scared witless of J.J., so as long as her boss was in the vicinity, Steve wouldn’t be a problem. “Where’s Channing?”

  “He got trapped into a conversation with Rick Appleby when we arrived. Rick’s picking his brain about some land issue.”

  “What part of ‘no shop talk’ doesn’t anyone understand? I’ll go rescue him.” J.J. clinched his jaw and began to stalk off, then stopped. “You let me know if Steve gives you any trouble. I’ll toss him out on his ass before he can say jingle bells.”

  She bit back a smile. “I will.”

  J.J. had only walked away for five seconds before Cassidy started in on her.

  “Have you heard from Corbett?”

  “No. I haven’t heard from that louse since Thanksgiving.” She rolled her eyes. “Good riddance.”

  “I was hoping the good vibes from the holiday would bring you two together.” Cassidy sighed.

  Anna Beth gave her a knowing look. “You’ve been watching those sappy holiday movies that are running non-stop on that romance channel, haven’t you?”

  “I can’t help it. I watch them to pass the time while I wrap presents. Besides, since the triplets, I’ve been the biggest sap on the planet.”

  “That’s because your dream came true.” She wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “I got them some of the cutest outfits the other day. I couldn’t resist.”

  “Please, resist. We’re swimming in a sea of presents already and we still have a week to go. I think my mom has been hitting the mall non-stop since they were born.”

  “Too late. I’ve already done some major damage to my credit cards, and it was totally worth it. Serves you right for having three adorable ginger-haired boys.” She smiled.

  “Back to Corbett.”

  She shook her head. “I don’t want to talk about Corbett. He’s probably somewhere cuddled up with Courtney as we speak.”

  “Or.” Cassidy looked past her shoulder, her eyes fixated on something. “He could be here at the party not-so-casually looking around the room for you.”

  “What?” Anna Beth grabbed Cassidy’s arm, scurried behind her back and stooped down.

  “Really?” Cassidy laughed. “I know I put on a few pounds since the babies, but I’m not big enough to shield you from a man searching for his woman.”

  “Oh, stop it.” She continued crouching down, which was beginning to garner curious looks from her co-workers.

  “For someone who doesn’t want to be noticed, you really went for the conspicuous, show-stopping red dress,” Cassidy continued.

  “I picked red to be festive.”

  “I think that plummeting neckline is something a naughty Mrs. Claus would wear.” Cassidy tried to pull her out of hiding. “He looks good. Great in fact. And what do you know? He’s wearing a red tie that complements your dress.”

  Her curiosity getting the better of her, she stood and peeked over Cassidy’s shoulder. Damn. He looked good wearing the sleek black suit that seemed like it was made for his body and sporting a red tie. But that was no surprise. He was the kind of man that belonged on magazine covers, even if the fact of his own attractiveness was lost on him. Hidden beneath that suit was solid mass and muscles. Like his big brother Bo, Corbett was one of the least self-aware men that she knew.

  No, she wasn’t going to be taken in by those soulful eyes and that gorgeous smile again. She didn’t want to be hurt.

  “I have to go.”

  “You won’t solve anything by running away.”

  “I had planned on cutting out early anyway. My flight leaves in the morning. Besides, what if he brought Courtney?”

  “First off, if she were in the building, I’m pretty sure the lights would have flickered by now. She always gave me the creeps. Secondly, I don’t believe he would be that rude to bring her to an event you planned.”

  “But still, I want to start my vacation not thinking about Corbett Connelly. I love you, but I have to get out of here. We’ll exchange presents when I get back,” she called out as she zipped through the crowd and headed for the elevator.

  * * *

  As soon as Corbett entered the party, his stomach started doing somersaults. It was crazy after the good points he made about staying away, but something still compelled him to come to
the party. He surfed through the sea of Blake employees but no luck. He knew Anna Beth was organizing the event, so she was liable to be anywhere.

  The place looked amazing, like something out of a Christmas catalog. She’d been really excited about it when she started the planning in September. He smiled at the ice penguins. She’d been talking about that ice sculpture for months. The extra wreaths on the walls didn’t detract from the overall décor like she’d feared, and the poinsettia centerpieces arranged with a touch of cranberries and holly brought every table setting to life. He admired her dedication to her job, even if it was blatantly obvious she went above and beyond to impress J.J. Bo had filled him in on the long-time crush Anna Beth used to have on the CEO, but assured him it was a thing of the past. Still, it was hard not to get jealous of their close relationship. Sure, J.J. was happily married to Sam, and they had two adorable kids. But he couldn’t help but feel J.J. was the template to which she compared all men.

  He continued moving around the room and finally he saw a familiar face. It was Cassidy and she was talking to one of the construction VPs. If anyone knew where Anna Beth was, it would be one of her closest friends.

  “Hey, Cassie.”

  “Corbett.” She gave him a kiss on the cheek. “What a pleasant surprise. You look very dashing. I love the red tie.”