“Y-yes?”
“Oh good,” the woman breathed in relief. “I didn’t want to think I’d climbed those awful stairs for nothing. Would you mind inviting me in for a cool glass of water?”
“Who are you?” Shannon asked, moving aside with uncertainty. “Do I know you?”
“Not at all,” she answered with good cheer and settling into the sofa with a groan. “But I think you’re going to want to hear what I have to say.”
“And why is that?”
“Because I’m Penny Buchanan — Nolan’s sister-in-law — and you and I have a lot to talk about.”
Buchanan? Shannon couldn’t help the scowl that followed. “My lawyer says-“
“Let’s leave the lawyers out of this for now. I want to talk to you woman-to-woman because whenever men are involved, chances are they’ve screwed it up somehow.”
Wasn’t that the truth, Shannon thought wryly with a grudging sense of appreciation for the woman’s style. “About that water though…”
“Oh! I’m sorry,” Shannon jumped up to get some water. She returned and handed a bottled water to Penny, taking in the woman’s obviously pregnant belly and plump features. There was something about Penny that Shannon liked, even though she probably shouldn’t. Penny was obvious on Team Buchanan and not likely to side with Shannon but she was curious as to what Penny had to say. “So, why are you here?”
“Because I knew Nolan was probably screwing everything up and I wasn’t wrong. My husband thinks I’m out shopping for baby things but I took a drive instead. He’d have a fit if he knew.” She giggled for a second as if she were pleased to be pulling one over on her husband, then continued more seriously, “It wasn’t hard to find your address after I did a little snooping around – which, I might add, is a safety hazard. You need better security.”
“Well, to be fair, this is the first time I’ve been stalked by a wealthy family,” Shannon quipped darkly. “I’ll know to go off the grid next time.”
“Listen, I want to tell you about the Buchanans. I will be upfront and honest with you about anything you want to know but I want you to listen with an open heart. The Buchanans are good men but they’re covered in a layer of hard stone as a protection mechanism. You see, they had terrible childhoods. Their father — well, I would never speak ill of the dead but it’s probably a safe bet that he’s not up in heaven chasing butterflies — and they’ve had to deal with a lot. They all made some really bad decisions but deep down, they are very good men. I promise you that.”
“How do you know them so well?”
“Oh, I’ve slept with all three of them,” she admitted cheerily, shocking the hell out of Shannon.
“Excuse me?”
“Yes, it’s a sordid story and one that shamed me for a long time until I realized that if things hadn’t unfolded the way they did I wouldn’t have met the love of my life — Nolan’s oldest brother, Dillon. And I wouldn’t have this beautiful bundle growing in my belly right now. I have no regrets. Not one. But if I had listened to my anger and hurt rather than my heart, I never would’ve known true happiness was just around the corner.” Shannon peered at the lush, curvy woman and blushed at the thoughts running through her mind but Penny smiled graciously. “Shannon…love can change a person. I know you’re wondering if it’s possible for Nolan to change and I can tell you, without a doubt: yes. And Nolan has definitely changed.”
“He had oral sex with my intern,” Shannon said flatly. “That doesn’t sound as if he’s changed much to me.”
“Yes, he told me.”
“He told you?” Shannon was aghast. “Why?”
“Because he didn’t know who else to talk to. He wanted to talk to you,” she added gently. “But you wouldn’t take his calls.”
This was true. “What did he say?” she asked, curious in spite of herself. “Not that it matters. Can’t change what happened.”
“He screwed up, plain and simple but big change doesn’t happen without a little backsliding. The fact is, he wants to be the man you and Aubrey deserve but without a little guidance, he has no clue where to start.”
“So you think I should just forgive him?”
“I’m sharing information — what you do with it is your business. I’ve said my piece and that’s all I’ll say. I wanted you to hear a different perspective before you made a permanent decision that you can’t take back.”