Protecting the Heiress. Martha Kennerson

know, Victoria tells me Francine is still single.”

      Please don’t go there, Mother. Not today. “If she doesn’t stay out of trouble, she’ll stay that way,” he murmured to himself.

      “What was that, dear?” his mother asked. She gave him a knowing smile, the kind that she’d often given when he and his brother were growing up.

      “Nothing,” he mumbled. “I just know where this conversation is going, and as I’ve told you a thousand times, Francine and I can never have a relationship.”

      “You’ve been in love with that woman for most of her life. I understood and agreed with your decision to stay in that friend and protector lane when she was younger. But son, Francine is a grown woman now and something special has grown between you two through the years. That big brother, protective seed sprouted into something wonderful and if you let it, it could become something magnificent.”

      “Mother, I know you mean well. I just can’t. We’re too different.”

      Constance released a deep slow sigh. It was a gesture that told Meeks to shut up and listen, which he did. “Son, I love you, but sometimes you’re too much like your father, God bless his beautiful, stubborn soul. You know better than most just how short life can be, but living in fear of loving someone isn’t the answer,” she said, twisting her wedding band on her finger. “Can you honestly tell me that you have no feelings for Francine?”

      “Meeks, man, I need you to take a look at this...” Robert said, walking into Meeks’s office without knocking or looking up from his tablet. As he saw Constance, he added, “Oh, excuse me. No one was out front and I didn’t realize you weren’t alone.”

      Constance turned slightly in her chair and smiled up at Robert. “He’s not, and you better get over here and give me a hug, young man.”

      Robert offered her a wide smile. “Yes, ma’am.” Robert took her hands, pulled her up from the chair and into a big hug. “You look beautiful, as always.”

      “And you’re a charmer, as usual,” she said, kissing him on both cheeks. “How’s your mother? I’ve been meaning to call her.”

      “She’s doing great, and I know she’d love to hear from you.”

      Constance smiled and gave Robert a small pat on his cheek. Meeks shook his head at the sight, feeling grateful for the interruption. “What’s up?”

      “Just a slight scheduling issue, but it can wait,” Robert declared as he started backing up, easing closer to the door.

      “Wait one second, mister.” Constance collected her hat and coat from Meeks’s desk. “You two have business to tend to, and I have a lunch to get to. Besides, I’m sure my son is grateful for the subject change.”

      Robert cut his eyes to Meeks, but remained still and silent.

      “Mother, I...” Meeks said before falling silent. He stood and stared at her like a child searching for an excuse for doing something wrong. But in his case, it was the right answer to her question.

      Constance smiled. “That’s what I thought.”

      “I’ll walk you out,” Meeks offered.

      “Don’t be ridiculous. I can find my own way out. Besides, you two have work to do, not to mention you have some serious thinking to do, too, young man,” she said, leveling her son with a poignant look.

      Meeks helped her into her jacket.

      “You know, Francine’s nothing like that redheaded girl you dated there for a while. I never really liked her.”

      Robert burst out laughing.

      “Yes, Mother, I know,” Meeks said, giving Robert the evil eye as he walked her to the door.

      Constance embraced Meeks, then kissed both him and Robert gently on the cheek and left his office.

      “So what was that all about?” Robert asked.

      “Nothing,” Meeks said, walking back to his desk. “What’s the problem with the schedule?”

      “Oh no, you don’t.” Robert sat in the seat vacated by Constance. “What were you trying to avoid with your mother?”

      Meeks sighed and moved to stand in front of his window. He stared out at the Houston city skyline for several moments before he responded. “My mother thinks I should talk to Francine about these unresolved feelings she believes we have for each other. It doesn’t seem to matter that we want different things.”

      “Let me guess, you don’t think you have unresolved feelings for each other,” Robert said in a sarcastic tone.

      “No, it’s perfectly clear how we feel about each other, and neither one of us thinks it’s necessary to explore them any further.”

      Robert tilted his head slightly. “You do know how ridiculous you sound right now, right? How do you know what Francine wants and doesn’t want if you haven’t talked to her about it? According to our mothers, relationships are about compromise...on both sides.”

      “I know that,” Meeks said, trying to keep the frustration from edging into his voice. “But when it comes to Francine’s safety, there is no compromise. She seems to want to play superhero these days,” Meeks said with a little more force than he intended.

      Thoughts of Francine in the hospital, looking weary and helpless, flashed through his mind. Those images tightened his gut with worry. And now she was putting herself back on the hook, and he knew it was because she was trying to prove a point—to him. He felt himself beginning to lose control, and he needed a moment to bring his emotions back in check.

      “Francine is obviously smarter than you’re giving her credit for. Do you think she’d intentionally put herself in danger?”

      Meeks turned to face his friend. “Maybe not intentionally,” he said, his voice barely above a whisper. “Remember when she got shot?”

      “Do I? I thought you were going to kill everyone in the hospital when they tried to stop you from seeing her.” Robert smirked.

      Meeks nodded his head slowly. He couldn’t remember how many laws he broke just driving to the hospital. “I wanted to,” he replied.

      “I bet,” Robert said.

      Meeks turned back to face the window. “I wasn’t with her that day. I couldn’t protect her. I really don’t know what I would have done if I...if I’d lost her.”

      Robert pushed out a breath as he ran his right hand through his hair. “I get that. But no matter how careful we are, there are some things we can’t control, like our feelings.”

      Meeks returned to his desk. “I just—”

      Robert stood and leveled his sights on his friend. “Just talk to her, man.”

      No matter how great the attraction or potential for a future there could be, having a woman...a wife...in constant danger wasn’t an option. Regardless to how hard it was going to be, Meeks knew he had to keep things between him and Francine professional.