Her Valentine Hero. Gail Gaymer Martin

a wife.

      “He dated Jeannie longer than anyone else.”

      Neely drew air into her depleted lungs. “Jeannie? Anyone I’d know?”

      “I suppose you do. Jeannie Hunt.”

      “Jeannie Hunt?” The question shot out of her like a bark. “The cutesy little cheerleader from the tenth grade?”

      “The same.”

      That knocked the wind out of her. Now that she thought about it, Jonny hadn’t told her anything about himself when they’d talked. She faced the mirror again, eyeing her dark hair, a face that could be lost in a crowd, and a figure that she hid beneath loose fitting apparel like her jogging pants. Jeannie had been a petite blond with curves in the right places and a face that could have been on a Barbie doll. She spun around again. “What happened between them?”

      Rainie shrugged. “I don’t know. He stopped talking about her, and when I asked, he just blew it off.” Rainie slid the curtain aside, and stepped into the alteration room as if the subject had ended.

      Neely’s mind was stuck with the image of Jonny and the Barbie doll.

      Rainie spun around. “Before we leave, would you like a peek at my wedding dress?”

      Though her thoughts lingered on other things, she couldn’t ignore Rainie’s excitement. “I’d love to see it.”

      Rainie darted away, and as she vanished through the doorway, Neely kept fixating on Jonny. He’d grown into a hunk—a really nice hunk—but what did that have to do with her? No way could she turn her relationship with him into a romance no matter how good-looking or sweet he’d become.

      When Rainie returned, Neely slammed the door on her pondering. Seeing her friend’s glinting eyes made her focus on the moment. A saleswoman appeared behind her, carrying the wedding dress.

      Neely’s heart stood still. The soft white gown floated in the woman’s arms, organza flanges and tulle swirls of fabric skirt sweeping into a cathedral train. “You’ll be the most beautiful bride in the world.”

      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.