Page 12 of Miles. Alton & The 9:04 (Modern Mail Order Brides #19)
“No, she's not my choice because she drove over for the free meal, which, in retrospect, outside of her teapot collection was all she spoke of, and dining out,” Thom said. “She was a cold woman, and a life with her would have meant a fight for her affection.”
Mae asked, “And the second choice?”
“She had a great number of hobbies,” Thom said, “which meant a life with her would mean a fight for her time. I, nor my children, should be an afterthought to the woman who brings them into this world.”
Mae's eyes went to Megan. He responded softly, “It would mean a fight for my sanity.”
Fully interested in the unassuming figure at the table, Mae wanted to know. “And you asked if I was single. How does that factor into this world of yours, Mr. Brown?”
“I was raised by a woman we call Aunt Sue,” he said.
“She is a woman of profound faith, and she taught me that in your darkest moments, you pray.
Torn between figuring out how to do right by this lovely woman and doing right for myself, I prayed last night.
I asked if it was for me, then I accepted the gift. If it wasn't for me, send me a sign.”
His eyes met Mae's and he smiled. Thom Brown, never one to sexualize any moment with a woman unless he had consent and the party was about to go down, felt bold.
So bold, he sucked a little in his front tooth, lick a little on his bottom lip, and stared that woman so deeply in her eyes, Mae Weston shifted in her seat.
“Well, okay then,” she said, not knowing what to make of any of it.
Jiminy knew what to make of it. “It seems Thom has made a choice,” he said, looking at Megan who had come to the same heart-breaking conclusion.
“How am I supposed to compete with her? She arrived driving her own damned train. A man who collects trains and has a train museum started his day with a rudely attractive black woman arriving at his personal station driving her owned damned train! What am I supposed to do now?”
Mae blinked and said, “Rudely attractive?”
“Yes, you're so pretty that you being at this table is rude. You're drawing all the attention away from me! Your skin is flawless, by the way.”
Thom held up his hand. “Megan, we need calmer heads to prevail here, so we can find a workable solution. I had no idea Ms. Weston was arriving, and I've never met her before. However, Ms. Weston, as you're planning to be here for two days, I shall offer you my guest room.”
Megan didn't like it. “Oh, she gets the guest room! I had to stay in my camper last night and she gets the guest room?”
“Ms. Weston was sent here by the corporate offices to assess my vision for this place. I plan to be very generous and gracious seeing to her needs while she is here,” he said, not making eye contact with Mae.
“And what am I supposed to do, hang around like a fifth wheel while you make eyes with this woman?”
Thom was over it. “Listen, I'm done with this behavior and you acting out like a child. I have no room for that in my life and no time for histrionics. We can make a plan, or I can provide you with funds to drive back to South Dakota,” Thom told her.
“Hey,” Jiminy said, “You know you and me was talking the other day about my wife's She-shed. It has a kitchen and a bathroom and a little living room and a bedroom. I was planning to rent it out, but Miss Ma'am, if you truly ain't got no place to go, you can use it until you get on your feet.”
Megan's face began to turn red. “Oh, and have me at your beck and call in the backyard? I think not!”
“Hey, I just got divorced,” Jiminy explained. “When I need a little tightening up, I call Jolene and go over to her place. I'm not trying to start nothing new. I'm offering you a choice, that's all.”
“I guess I don't have a choice,” Megan said.
Mae didn't like the woman's energy. It wasn't her place to question or challenge the fairy hunter, but this had gone on too long. She found herself on Thom's side, much to her own surprise.
“You had choices. The first would have been simply to fly in per your agreement with Mr. Brown, who by rights could sue you for breach of contract in cashing the ticket and using the funds,” Mae said.
“Second, it was your choice to pack everything you own to move here, not knowing if this man was a serial killer who could easily chain you to the floor and use your body three times per day. Your choices now are to go back where you came from, take the living space the man offered, or go to a KOA campground in your camper. You have three choices. Make one now so everyone at this table can start their day.”
Thom was looking at Mae again. “Thank you.”
Mae said, “You're welcome.”
“No, not you. Sweet Baby Jesus,” he said, leaning forward on the table. “I've found my life partner.”
This made Mae laugh. “And what makes you think I'm in search of one?”
“Because until this point in your life, very few men, outside of your Daddy, could appreciate how you got here this morning, what it took to earn the right to do it, and how smart, tough, and bad ass you have to be to hold whatever position you've earned at corporate. I see all of it, and I want to know more,” he said, “but more importantly, I want to be a part of the magical world that is Mae Weston.”
It was then that Mae Weston smiled. It was also the first time Thom Brown began to believe in love at first sight. If this wasn't it, it was pretty damned close.