Her Valentine Hero

Tears flooded Rainie’s eyes, and she wrapped her arm around her friend’s shoulders. “One day I’ll be your matron of honor, and then it will be your turn to be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

The idea warmed her, and she closed her eyes, envisioning her father—healthy and happy—walking her down the aisle. Ahead of her, she gazed at the groom, his eyes tethered to hers, and her heart stopped. She drew in an urgent breath.

“Neely, what’s wrong?”

She gathered her wits. “Nothing. I only hope my dad is still alive to see that day.”

“Oh, sweetie.” Rainie folder her into an embrace, but Neely struggled to clear her mind of the vision she had seen beside the altar. It was Jonny’s spectacular blue eyes that drew her down the aisle.

* * *

Jon peddled faster, his thoughts keeping up with the bike’s speed. Exercise provided therapeutic release to his struggling emotions. He’d always prayed Neely would come back in his life now that age and success were on his side. But he never expected the Lord to answer his far-fetched request.

He gripped the metallic bar, and in a moment eyed his pulse rate. Excellent. He upped the resistance and dug in to the pedals giving the bike another five minutes to deepen the burn. The old motto, no pain no gain, flashed through his thoughts but not nearly as often as Neely’s image. Since he’d talked with her, his emotions roller-coastered through his chest until he wanted to rip up the tracks.

With her back in Ferndale his hope rose again. Maybe her return was part of God’s plan. Knowing Erik was out of the picture cheered him, too. Now he needed to spend time with her so she could know Jon Turner the man, not Jonny Turner the boy who hung out in the shadows and tripped her up with his attempts to watch her every move. He ran errands for her and Rainie just to spend time with Neely.

In his early twenties, he finally understood what about her mesmerized him. First, she was pretty, like sunshine on dew. He cringed at the poetic thought, but that’s what she was like—fresh and open to newness. Even when she put him down, her smile softened the blow, and it felt more playful than serious. And sometimes he had deserved it.

But it wasn’t her good looks that interested him. Lots of girls were pretty. Neely showed a depth of spirit that captured him. He admired her determination and her self-reliance. Most of all her generosity. She’d demonstrated the same trait by leaving her life in Indianapolis to come home to her family who needed her.

Slowing the pedals, he let his muscles cool as his mind reverted back to his plan. Somehow he had to get her back into his life. If she bought a gym membership, he could see her here. If not, maybe the church could be their connection. Or maybe a charitable activity. Even as a teenager, Neely involved herself in more charity events than he could count. The idea sent his pulse surging far beyond what registered on the heart rate monitor. He grinned as he slowed, and then stopped. Now to put his plan to work.

While he showered and slipped back into street clothes, he devised his approach. If he wanted to involve Neely in an activity that connected them, he needed a plan, short range and long range.

Plan A would involve fun times. Time to talk. Since exercising seemed one of her goals, he could begin there. When he stepped from the locker room, he eyed the desk, and Cindy flashed him a grin.

He sauntered over, hoping to look casual. “I have a question.”

“Anything you want, Jon.”

Calling him by his first name tickled him. No one at the center seemed to know who he was, but Cindy always did. “An old friend of mine moved home for a while, and I told her about the fitness center. I wondered if she’d joined.”

She tilted her head. “A friend?”

He shrugged. “She’s my sister’s friend. Neely Andrews. Do you know if she’s a member?”

She studied him a minute as if he’d asked for Neely’s address or phone number.

“I’ve known her for years. I’m just curious.”

Without a comment, she opened a file on her computer. “She joined three days ago. She hit us on a good day. We were running a special.”

“Great.” He stepped back, weighing the ogling grin on her face. “Thanks for the information.”

“Anything else I can do for you?” She closed the file with a click and rested her cheek on her fist. “Anything. Just ask.” She flashed him another smile.

Feeling uneasy, he slipped his hands in his pockets and backed away. “Nothing else today.” He spun around and headed out the door, wondering what was up with Cindy.

His uneasiness vanished when he hit the sidewalk. Neely had a membership, and he hoped he’d run into her there, but he feared she’d come during the day when he was at work. Then he’d have to revert to plan B. As yet, he didn’t have a solid one. But he’d work on it.

* * *

Neely stretched back her shoulders to release the strain. Being away from the gym the past weeks had taken its toll, and though she’d tried running the school track, she didn’t have the commitment that investing money motivated. She’d joined the gym a week ago, and already she saw a difference on her scale.

Her legs burning, she forged ahead, determined to focus on the stair machine. She’d jumped from treadmill to bike to weights and now the steps. She hated them, but her personal trainer in Indianapolis explained the importance, for both toning and for general good health. Having someone guide her worked better than wandering from machine to machine with no method.

Although a trainer would be best, it was expensive. She had to be sensible now that her only income was workers’ compensation, and she wanted no part in depleting her savings. She longed to buy a house of her own.

The exercise accomplished something else important. It cleared her mind. At home with only her dad to talk with, she’d let herself bog down with thoughts of Erik and her history with him. The memories swelled like an abscess. Instead of the fun memories of their earlier time together, she remembered only the bad ones. After she’d started college, the situation struck her hard. She fought the desire to contact him, but as more time passed, when she finally arrived home, she learned through friends that he’d been dating, and she was frustrated that he’d used her with promises of commitment, and then moved on without making an attempt to win her back.

Since the night she gave in to his pressure, she’d never been the same. Instead of beautiful memories of an intimate relationship between husband and wife, her mind was bogged down with shame and a sense of being soiled. She wondered what Jonny would think if he knew. She could only guess he’d be disappointed since he seemed to think she was so great.

Burying the thoughts for now, she studied her surroundings. Since arriving, her eyes kept shifting to the doorway, and the involuntary reaction irked her. She’d wondered if she would see Jonny one late afternoon, but he hadn’t appeared. Disappointment zapped her each time a tall, masculine frame strode through the entrance, and when she focused on the man, she’d see it wasn’t Jonny. Then she spent the next few minutes chastising herself for caring who came through the door. Jonny could be a friend. Nothing more.

She eyed her watch and settled on another fifteen minutes, ten to exercise and five to cool down. She tackled the stair machine, keeping her eyes on the digital screen and holding back a groan with each step.

“You’ve worked up a sweat.”

Her heart skipped. Amazed, she lifted her eyes to Jonny’s. “I like to call it glowing.”

He stood beside the machine, a grin on his face.

“You won’t believe this but I was just thinking of—” She caught herself. Jonny would want to know what she was thinking, and when she told him, he would ask, “Why were you thinking of me?” And she didn’t know why.

“Thinking of what?”

“Winding down.” Saved. She didn’t want to lie, but that was also the truth.

“I was doing laps in the pool.” He gave a head toss in that direction. “I decided to do something different today.” He flexed his shoulders. “Swimming gives different muscles a workout.”

She nodded, her concentration failing.

He stood still, watching her as she slowed her steps for the cool down, but her mind slowed, too, and all she could do is gaze at the new Jonny. His gaunt jaw had strengthened and molded into a square chin, today with the hint of dark bristles. She’d never thought of him as rugged, but that’s what he’d become—strong features, classically handsome, with well-shaped lips, cheeks with the glint of a dimple, short dark wavy hair contrasting with his amazing blue eyes.

She managed to find her voice. “I took your advice and here I am.” She gestured to the workout room. “No personal trainer, but I’m trying to follow the advice from the one I had in Indianapolis.”

“They’re helpful.” He looked thoughtful. “I think you get a free hour of personal training with your membership, don’t you?”

“Yes, but I haven’t scheduled it yet.” She slowed to a stop and stepped off. “I’m finished for today. My muscles can’t take another step.”

“I know a lot about exercise so if you have any questions, just ask. I keep my boys pretty fit back at school.” He dragged the towel from the bar where she’d hung it and daubed her cheeks and forehead before handing it to her.

Her heart skipped, and it irked her. Those unexpected sensations threw her off balance. This was Jonny. She had to remember that. He looked at her as if waiting for a response. “Thanks for the offer and your assistance.” She dangled the towel in front of him. “You were very gallant.”

“I wouldn’t call it ‘gallant.’ ‘Practical’ is better. Glow can burn your eyes.” He sent her a coy look. “If you’re heading for the locker room, I’ll walk with you.”

She gathered her towel and water bottle, took a long swig, and trudged beside him to the locker room. Her legs trembled with each step, and she wasn’t sure if the sensation was her muscles groaning or her unexplained reaction when she was with him.