Marriage by Mistake

her to believe. Hell, he'd probably been denying he was in love with her for a couple of years.
    Too bad he couldn't have kept on denying it.
    Troy stood there and watched the next train, too, hum its way out of the station. He wondered when he was going to be willing to get onto a train. He wondered how long he was going to go on feeling this terrible aching inside. He wished, oh how he wished, that he could just stop wanting .
    ~~~
    "Wow, it's crowded in here, today," Kelly said to Dean, gazing around at the long tables at Durgin Park restaurant where Dean had taken her for one of their now-frequent lunch dates. Every seat was filled.
    "Tourist season has started in earnest," Dean replied. As though the admission that it was already the middle of June meant nothing to him, he cut into his family-style steak with gusto, then looked up and smiled at her.
    The date did mean something to Kelly, but his smile warmed her and she returned it.
    Things were going really well, she had to admit. Over the past several weeks, the quality of her relationship with Dean had intensified. They spent time together; quality time and not-so-quality time. They went out for romantic drives, but they also had dinner at home. There were times of great sexual intimacy, and there were whole evenings spent at the movies with Robby.
    Yes, things were going very well, indeed. There was just one little sticking point, one tiny little thing that hadn't happened. And here it was, the middle of June.
    Before Kelly could start to dwell on that one missing thing, their tête-à-tête was interrupted. Down the long table from them, two women rose from their seats. One of them, tall, elegant, and blond, perked up. "Dean," she said, and smiled.
    Dean leaned back in his seat the better to see the woman. "Ah, Felicia." He answered her smile. "How are you?"
    Felicia. Yes, Kelly remembered now. Felicia Thurgood, oh so proper. They'd met her way back when at the opera. At the time, Kelly had thought the woman had feelings for Dean, but now, watching the calm ease of her smile, Kelly changed her mind. This was simple friendship.
    "I'm doing well." Felicia started toward them. She gestured toward her companion. "This is Andrea Shapiro. She runs the Boston Family Aid shelter. You know, the one I've spoken to you about. Andrea, this is Dean Singleton and his wife, Kelly." Felicia smiled in Kelly's direction. Kelly smiled back, suddenly liking the woman much better.
    "Oh, yes." Dean stood and shook Andrea's hand. "Hear you're doing good work down there in South Boston. Expanding, aren't you?"
    As Kelly watched, a strange expression crossed Felicia's face. "I, uh, well it looks like that might happen, after all. We got a check, a rather large check...from Joe Esterley."
    "Joe?" Dean looked surprised. "He's the biggest skinflint there ever was."
    "Yes." A line formed between Felicia's brows. "That's what I always thought, too."
    Dean laughed. "Well, congratulations. You must have spun quite a tale to convince Joe to help you get your down payment."
    "Ah, that's just it. I didn't say a word to Joe Esterley. This check just...came."
    "Really?"
    " You didn't happen to have a word with Joe, did you?" Felicia seemed keen for an answer.
    Dean pursed his lips. "Wish I could take the credit, but I'm afraid I didn't."
    Felicia frowned, clearly troubled. "Then, you don't suppose it was—?" She broke off with a sudden, nervous laugh. "No, no, I'm being silly. It couldn't have been. Anyway, it was nice seeing you, and you, too, Kelly."
    All parties bade farewell but Kelly thought Felicia was looking troubled again as the two women walked off.
    "Wonder what that was all about," Kelly said.
    "Hm?" Dean glanced in the direction the women had taken as he sat back down. "Oh, I don't blame Felicia for being curious. Joe is a notorious miser."
    "No, it was something more..." Kelly frowned as she wondered what had bothered Felicia so about that check.
    Dean's smile across the table at her was fond. "Well, if that's your take on it, I imagine you're right." He tapped the back of her hand. "You seem to have a sixth sense about people."
    Kelly looked over at him in surprise. He thought that? And here she was, wishing she did have a sixth sense—about him. Oh, how she wished she knew his true feelings.
    Meanwhile, Dean wrapped his fingers around her hand and his eyes got dark and intense. Kelly could almost hear the words. Almost. You had a sixth sense about me . You knew I needed you,