Dreams Fulfilled: The Row, #2

By Kay Brooks

Contemporary Romance with some suspense, 225 pages, Book 2 of The Row Series

      Sabrina “Brina” Hollingsworth never knew her mother and grew up at St. Mark’s Orphanage until Claudette Spicer adopted her at the age of ten.  Now, a successful personal shopper, she enjoys spending other people’s money and looks on each of her clients as the family she never had.

      Rafe McGuire, financial Investment Protector Wizard and heart-stopping ladies' man has family galore.  Too involved with his own clients' financial affairs, Rafe hires Brina to do his Christmas shopping.  Intrigued by this fiercely independent beauty, he finds himself looking for excuses to go along.

      Soon the holidays are here and Brina is maneuvered into joining the McGuire clan where she actually meets the people she has shopped for.

      Has Sabrina finally found a family she can love, or has Rafe met the woman to tame his wandering eye?

• Language: English
• Publisher: Kay Brooks
• Release date: Mar 10, 2017
• ISBN: 9781495196058

Kay Brooks

As a teenager, Kay enjoyed reading Georgette Heyer, Daphne duMaurier, Mary Stewart and Victoria Holt and treasured the ones she collected. She discovered contemporary romance when she needed something light to read while the children were napping.  She found herself wondering “what if” and decided to write a story of her own.  She joined the Virginia Romance Writers and Washington Romance Writers DC and made many, many new friends while fine-tuning her writing skills. Three small children, a full-time job as a Library Director, little league and civic obligations caused her put the pen away for a while, although she continued to write news articles and library newsletters.  She became immersed in the community and made friends with many of the citizens through the library. In 2013, she retired and pulled out her old manuscripts.  Once again, she found herself wondering, “what if I make a change here?  A change there?  Update things?” She has written five books: The Row Series: Spicer’s Challenge Book 1 (2014) Dreams Fulfilled Book 2 (2015) Newfound Love, Book 3 (2017) Standalone Persistent Intruder (2017) Love Again (2018) There are many more “what if” stories waiting to come alive. Please enjoy her website, www.kaydbrooksauthor.com Newsletters, Kay Uncorked Facebook page: Kay Brooks She also welcomes comments via email: [e-mail] 

Book preview

Prologue

December 6, 2004

Sabrina Hollingsworth stepped outside the Town Hall for a breath of fresh air. They were having the time of their lives but all that dancing worked up a sweat. She, Ginny, Marcie and Deborah were experiencing their first Holly Ball and it felt like going to the Prom all over again.  Dressed in formals and tuxedos, they planned to dance the night away in the big hall that looked like a Christmas wonderland.

Edmondsville’s Annual Holly Ball raised much needed funds for the Social Services department and got everyone in the mood for the holidays.

Brina smiled at Deborah when she stepped outside waving her hands to fan herself. Whew! Deborah laughed, I never knew I could get this hot in December!

You and Brad seem to be having a really good time, Brina teased her friend.  In their small circle of friends that grew up together Deborah and Brad remained close even after high school and through college. She knew the blush on Deborah’s cheeks wasn’t from the heat but her mention of Brad.

He’s so wonderful, Deborah gushed.  All these years we’ve been like brother and sister and then suddenly we’re close friends.

Real close friends! Brina joked.

Deborah leaned against the railing and smiled.  I’ve never been so happy.  These last six months have been wonderful.

And I’m so happy for you, Brina hugged her friend.  You two seem to be made for each other.  You know Ginny and I have bets on when he’s going to ask you to marry him.  She says Christmas and I say Valentines.

Really?  Do you think he cares for me that much?  I’ve never been this close to anyone before.

Deborah’s parents died in a plane crash when she was three.  Her mother’s sister and her husband became her guardians and took her into their home.  Brina often wondered if they loved her as much as they did their daughter.

She herself knew what it was like to be an orphan.  Left her on the doorstep of Saint Mark’s Orphanage weeks after her birth, she had been placed in numerous foster homes and learned early on that Santa wasn’t real.  The foster parents seemed more interested in the support money than the child.  No matter how hard she tried to fit in with the families, she always found herself back at the Orphanage each Christmas morning.

At the age of ten, Claudette Spicer became her guardian and moved her into Spicer Meadows to be a sister to Ginny.  Brina loved Claude dearly but always wondered about her real mother and why her parents abandoned her.

Of course he cares, Brinna chuckled.  The way he’s always looking at you, she teased, he is definitely smitten.

Deborah chuckled. We’re always looking at one another.  And there’s so much to talk about.  Did you know he plans to study law?

I knew he’d been thinking about it.  His father’s a private investigator, I guess it’s in the genes, Brina laughed. Guess he’ll be moving on to law school next year.

I wish I’d been able to finish college, but my scholarships ran out after the first year.  Brad keeps telling me I need to go back even if it’s on a part-time basis.

Brina stepped beside her friend and offered her a hug. Maybe if you and Brad get married and he becomes a lawyer, you can go back then, she offered in comfort.  She’d already decided to say something to Claude about possibly helping Deborah finish her education.  Claude had a particular fondness for ‘orphans’ as she and Ginny often called themselves and managed to include Deborah in many of the things she planned for her and Ginny.

Like the limo ride tonight.  She, Ginny, Deborah and Marcie spent all afternoon at Spicer Meadows getting ready for the dance.  When they came down the stairs to wait for the guys to pick them up, Claude led them out to the limo she hired for the evening. It had been so exciting to ride down the long drive, stop along the way to pick up the guys and then head to the dance.  Ginny and Marcie commented how they felt like Cinderella going to the ball in the coach.

You know, Brina hugged Deborah once more, "I’m so looking forward to growing up!  Now that we’re twenty-one, there’s nothing that can hold us back. We are all going to become rich and famous and twenty years from now we’ll look back and be grateful for all Claude did for us.

I hope you’re right, Deborah laughed.  Claude has been so good to me all these years. And I really love Brad.  I want nothing more than to have a houseful of children with him and love them all.

The door to the Town Hall opened and Steve, Brina’s date peeked around at them.  You two planning to stay out here all night?  The band has started up again. Time to boogie some more.

You go ahead, Deborah said when Brina looked at her.  I’m going to enjoy the full moon for a moment.

You sure? Brina asked.

Deborah nodded her head and encouraged her friend to join the others.

Twenty minutes later Brad worried when Deborah had not returned to the dance. He asked everyone, even the Town sergeant to search the building. It wasn’t like Deborah to just disappear and Brina regretted that she’d left her on the stoop by herself.

Deborah Gilman was never found.

Chapter One

November, 2014

Brina Hollingsworth eyed the antique, brass revolving door. She debated how best to get her arms full of packages through the slice of space. Unlike the other downtown stores, Myers and Briggs refused to concede completely to modern times and continued to maintain one of the old-fashioned entrances in addition to the main doors. Although quaint, it tended to cause confusion whenever people had too much to carry and too little patience to navigate the oddity.

Fighting back a vision of getting stuck and going round and round, she debated exiting through the main doors and taking the longer way back to where she had parked her car.

Not this time, she told herself.  On a roll, she wasn’t going to let a doorway deter her.

She’d shopped the early-bird specials, finished Mr. Pearson’s gift list, found the Waterford vase Norma Smith wanted to give her mother-in-law, and even remembered to pick up the dress she would be wearing in the auction tonight. All in one store and on Black Friday.

Deciding her day had been good so far and she wouldn’t get stuck, she stepped towards the door, angled through the vacant stall as it opened her way and breathed a sigh of relief when she made it. The smile quickly disappeared upon seeing the man rush in from the other side.

No, she hollered when he gave the door a hard push.

For a split second they stared at one another through the glass partition. Then she saw his eyes widen in shock when she stumbled forward, her feet unable to keep up with the speed of the door pushing her from behind.

Brina skipped out the other side, almost losing her balance. She tried to rest her chin on the uppermost package that contained the crystal vase, but it slid forward, beyond her reach. It hit the concrete with a loud bang and then bounced towards the street in the path of the Metro bus that barreled by.

My vase!

Are you okay?

Brina heard the voice and then felt a warm hand pressed against her stomach, preventing her from following the vase. She lifted her arms, struggling to balance the remaining packages that seemed suspended in air. She also stared at the crumpled box, its contents crushed even more by each on-coming car.

Are you okay? The voice hollered once more over the noise of the busy Broad Street traffic.

Yes, she sighed, leaning against the firm chest behind her.  But Mrs. Smith’s present isn’t. She turned her head to stare into dark, almost black eyes. Her pounding heart actually skipped a beat when she once again registered the warmth of his hand on her stomach and smelled his spicy aftershave.  A wintery blast of air whipped around them, but Brina felt hot instead.

People continued to brush past them unaware that anything had happened.  Brina could only gaze over her shoulder, reacting to him and the mishap, all at once.  Much too good-looking she thought to herself, still gazing into the charcoal black eyes fringed with long eyelashes. Although his eyes expressed concern, his full mouth didn’t seem to know whether to smile or frown.

Hey, don’t I know you? He asked.

Brina frowned, then scowled when she heard an eavesdropper laugh out loud.

Oh, give me a break, she snapped, squirming her way out of his arms.  I’m certainly not interested in anyone trying to hit on me.  Not after being pushed around and having my most expensive gift smashed.

No... really, he hesitated, slanting his head to stare at her.  You look familiar.  I feel like I should know you.

Well, you don’t.  She glanced at the destroyed package again and saw that there really wasn’t anything left to retrieve.  She hated leaving the litter, but had little choice.  Her hands were full of packages and his hands still rested along her waist.  She wondered if her insurance would cover the mishap and decided to give her agent a call when she got home.

Listen, let me repay you for the damaged package, her male companion said as he released her and pulled his wallet from his inside his coat.  How much? He asked as he checked to see how much cash he had.

Two hundred dollars.

An eyebrow arched in the split-second glance he cast her way.  You’re kidding, right.

I wish I was. She nodded her head towards the now flattened container.  That box contained a Waterford vase.  A discontinued Waterford vase, she emphasized.

You might know it, he grumbled. Look, he replaced his wallet and reached inside the other pocket. I don’t have that much cash on me right now, but let me give you my business card. I’ll be glad to settle up. You can call me later today or first thing next week.

He continued to stare down at her.  Are you sure I don’t know you?

Yes, I’m sure. She exclaimed.  We’ve never met and if you’ll put that card in my purse, I’ll give you a call next week. Right now, my feet are cold and the parking meter is running.

She turned so he could put the card in the small purse suspended from her shoulder. Now, if you don’t mind, I’m in a hurry. She dashed off, ignoring his plea for her name.

Rafe McGuire held his breath as he watched her race up the sidewalk and then cross the busy street. He found himself admiring the long legs that seemed even longer with the black boots. He always appreciated how boots seemed to make women look sexy.

The wind whip through her long dark hair, tossing it in every direction. Unlike his sisters, she paid no attention to it, and continued past the shops and crowds. Obviously a woman on a mission he thought.

He turned and looked up at the gray, overcast skies and wondered if snow might whiten the remainder of the Thanksgiving holidays. The crunch of tires drew his attention to the reason for their brief altercation.  Spotting a piece of paper amongst the rubble, he walked over and quickly retrieved it before the wind or another car carried it off.  The charge receipt reflected Sabrina Hollingsworth’s purchase and he cringed when he saw that it did indeed cost her two hundred dollars.

Even the name sounded familiar.  She certainly wouldn’t want this falling into the wrong hands, he thought putting it into his pocket.  He turned to go inside the store.

He didn’t know whether to call it a blessing or curse when his sister decided to go into labor yesterday during the family dinner.  It would definitely be a Thanksgiving none of them would forget.  They welcomed little Natalie Nicole into the family at twelve-o-one this morning.  Strolling towards the baby department, he debated what to get his newest niece.  A teddy bear? Blanket? Diapers?

He noticed the poster advertisement of women displayed on an easel near the escalator.  Immediately his eye zeroed in on the image of the woman who’d just been in his arms and he stepped towards it to get a better look.

Sabrina Hollingsworth... the Bachelorette... he read out loud to himself and snapped his fingers as he made the connection.

He remembered reading in the paper that the Young Women’s Civic League held their annual dance the Friday after Thanksgiving to raise money for the Saint Mark’s Orphanage.  This year they added a Bachelorette Auction to the evening and twenty women had agreed to be auctioned off at the Richmond War Memorial as dates for the evening.  Immediately following the auction, each of the couples would be chauffeured to romantic dinners and then back to the War Memorial for the dance.

He stared at her picture, appreciating the creamy complexion and bright smile.  Noticing the date, he did a mental check of today’s date and glanced at his Rolex watch to confirm it.  He grinned.

Tonight might be fun, he thought as he committed the time and place to his infallible memory.  Rafe smiled and whistled, Here Comes Santa Claus, as he headed towards the baby department.

~~~~~~

The Richmond War Memorial was the scene of non-stop activity later that evening as Brina tried to prepare herself for the fundraiser.  Once a monument to the soldiers who defended their country during battle, the facility now tended to be used more as a dance hall and stage for the local theatre group.

Due to begin in thirty minutes, the volunteers raced about making sure everything was in place so the evening would be a successful one.  The scent of holly and pine wafted throughout the building announcing the forthcoming holidays.  Antique furniture provided a homey backdrop for the bachelorettes as they would parade across the stage.  Tables and chairs surrounded the walkway which would later be pushed back, opening the floor for dancing.

Backstage, the burgundy velvet curtains muffled the sounds of the crowd that awaited the start of the auction.  Many came to be seen, rub elbows with the elite, and enjoy the excitement of an old-fashioned lovers’ auction.  Brina had actually been the one to suggest the idea, copying it from the Sweetheart Auction they did in Edmondsville, during the May Day Festival.  She smiled as she remembered last spring when Cliff bid on Ginny.  They would be getting married right after Christmas.

If this is what models go through, she mumbled, I doubt that I’d survive the first fashion show.

Me neither, another bachelorette groaned.  My stomach’s already in knots and we still have another thirty minutes before it starts.

Brina laughed.  You’ll be okay.  Imagine Mr. Wonderful is out there waiting to bid on you and then whisk you away for an evening of romance.

Aren’t you worried about who might actually bid on you?

Sure, but it’s a little late now.  I understand everyone is being discreetly screened as they register and the unsavory ones will be discouraged from bidding.  At least that’s what they promised when we planned this event.

Brina leaned closer to the mirror to check her blusher.  Besides, almost everyone is here out of curiosity or with their own dates for the dance.  Only a select few will be vying for the pleasure of our company.  She smiled at the girl beside her.

Several of the girls told me their boyfriends or family members will be here to save them the embarrassment.  Do you?  Have family, I mean?

No.  Unfortunately, I started at Saint Mark’s and my extended family lives out of town.  Brina thought of Claudette Spicer who became her foster mother when she was ten.  Opened her home to her and then encouraged her friendship with Ginny and Marcie.  Their circle grew when Randi moved to Edmondsville.

Oh, I’m sorry, the other girl said.

It’s okay. I’ve made lots of friends along the way who are my extended family.  She tried to ignore the tug on her heart as she recalled Claude’s death this past spring and focused instead on her three friends.

Well, her companion interrupted her thoughts.  I did hint to my boss that I’d hate to be embarrassed by not having anyone bid on me.  And that I’d gladly donate my Christmas bonus to the Orphanage if someone would come down here and bid it.  She chuckled nervously.  Let’s hope he wasn’t too engrossed in balancing the books when I left work this afternoon.

Brina laughed.  It’ll be okay.  And you look great!  I’m sure there will be lots of young men bidding on you. Wait and see.

Like the Annual Holly Ball on the second Friday in December raised money for the Edmondsville Department of Social Services, the Young Women’s Civic League sponsored their annual dance the Friday after Thanksgiving as a traditional fund-raiser for the Orphanage.  A fun way to begin the Christmas holidays and raise some much-needed money for the children’s welfare.  An extension of the Social Services Department, Saint Mark’s served as a transfer point for children