No Ordinary Romance (2 page)

"No."

"You have got to be the most arrogant man
I've ever met. Joanie is the sweetest woman I know, what did she do
to deserve a son like you?"

Thomas couldn't hold his laughter, "my mother
looks for the best in everyone including me. Listen I know that
you're attracted to me, you shouldn't let my being a councilman
dissuade you from exploring that attraction."

"Oh Jesus I think I just vomit in my mouth.
Do you use that lame crap on every woman you meet? I know you're
attracted to me, that line is as old as the hills."

"Would it hurt you to admit that you're
attracted to me because I'm sure as hell attracted to you? I can
walk into a luncheon or charity function and know that you're there
way before I actually see you. Now that's a serious attraction, or
you've put a spell on me."

He couldn't be serious, what century did this
caveman come from? "That's what I did Thomas. I went to this gypsy
I know, she made me a love potion. I slipped in you beer at the
League's Annual Barbecue, now I'm playing hard to get to torture
you."

"Thanks for the explanation Constantina. I'm
glad you went the effort to stay in my life. Tell me something, how
long do I have to wait before I can claim you?"

The thought of being claimed by Thomas gave
her a warm feeling in the pit of her stomach. She was inclined to
give him a set down when she realized they were only a couple miles
from the exit for Immanuel Hospital. She'd been so engaged with
Thomas's ridiculous conversation she couldn't remember merging onto
I680. "You did that on purpose."

Thomas gave her a fleeting smile, never
taking his eyes off the road. "What?"

Connie got a text from Jenna telling her that
Samantha is in room 7204. She was relieved. "Samantha is no longer
in the Emergency; she's been moved to a room."

"That's a good thing Constantina. Sometimes
doctors just want to keep people overnight especially if they've
been shot."

"That's what Jenna said."

"You still haven't told me what I did on
purpose"

"You kept my mind off Samantha, with your
peculiar brand of conversation. It worked. I can't believe we're so
closed to the hospital." She had been so focused on Samantha that
she gave no thought to how being with her may have inconvenienced
him.

"I'm sorry Thomas, I'm so stupid, is there
someplace I can drop you off before I go to the hospital."

"No. I'm going with you."

"Why?"

"I'm one of Samantha's clients, and I want to
see if she's okay too. Is that so hard to believe?"

"No Thomas, that's not hard to believe." They
took the 72nd Street exit and made it to Immanuel's Emergency in no
time. Regular visiting hours at the hospital were over; the only
way they could go to Samantha's room was through the Emergency
Center. They got out of the car and Thomas grabbed her arm
escorting her into the hospital.

Connie immediately became annoyed with the
receptionist. She was practically frothing at the mouth as she gave
Thomas the once over, totally ignoring Connie. "Excuse could you
tell us how we can get to room 7204 from here?"

"Hey I know you; I voted for you. You're
Councilman Galvin. You look even better in person."

Thomas could tell by Constantina's stance and
squinty eyes that she was about to pounce on the receptionist.
"Thanks for your support. My friend here has a question for
you."

Connie got some degree of satisfaction at the
crestfallen expression on the woman's face. "Could you tell us how
to get to room 7204 from here?"

"Uhmm, sure. Give me a minute, I’ll buzz you
in, then go past all the rooms until you reach another set of
double doors. Just follow the hallway until you get to the gift
shop then you'll need to take a left to the elevators.”

Connie looked at the receptionist's nametag.
"Thanks Amber, we appreciate your help." Amber buzzed the double
doors for them and they passed several examination rooms before
reaching another set of double doors. "This must be it."

It took them about ten minutes to get to the
seventh floor. To their surprise, a nursing technician met them as
they got off the elevator. "Could you tell us how to get to room
7204?"

"Hi my name is Mary; Amber called us to let
us know about your arrival. It's after visiting hours and you won't
be able to stay long. Miss Graham's fiancé is with her if you
follow me, I'll show you to her room."

Samantha’s room was a couple of doors from
the elevator. It was late in the evening when she and Thomas
reached Samantha's room. Connie stepped into the room, and Thomas
remained in the hall. Both Samantha and Allen were out like a
light. He was sleeping in a chair next to her bed holding her hand.
Connie saw the engagement ring on Samantha's finger, Allen finally
claimed his woman. She felt like a trespasser, she turned to leave
when she heard Samantha call her name.

"I could lie and say I didn't expect to see
you tonight."

Connie got closer to the bed and kissed
Samantha on the cheek. "I couldn't stay in Lincoln not knowing if
you were okay."

"I was grazed by a bullet. The doctor in
Emergency admitted me to watch me. Did you see my engagement
ring?"

Connie laughed. "It's kind of hard to
miss."

"I expect you to be a bridesmaid."

Allen opened his eyes and smiled at Connie.
"She'll have to settle for being a witness. We're getting married
in the courthouse as soon as I can make arrangements."

"I'll leave you two alone; call me when
you're feeling better. Now that, I've seen you, I feel at
ease."

"How did it go in Lincoln today?"

"We won! LB 2359 is no longer on the
books."

"I'm proud of you Connie. After school
programs will keep thousands of children off the streets and out of
trouble. Did you see any cute men today?"

Connie was aware that Thomas was waiting just
outside the door listening. I met a man with startling blue eyes,
I'll have to do a follow-up and see where it leads."

Samantha was beginning to fade; it must be
the medicine they gave her. "I hope it works out for you, you
deserve a good man. Thanks Con!"

"Thanks for what Sam."

"Thanks for being my sister."

Connie gave her a little hug, nodded at
Allen, and left the room. Thomas was waiting patiently for her
outside the door. She smiled at him for the first time since seeing
him. "She's okay, a bit tired, but thank God she's okay. She just
got grazed by a bullet."

Thomas took her hand and led her back to the
elevator. They were silent as they walked back through Emergency
until they reached her car. "Thanks for staying with me Thomas. You
didn't have to do it, but I'm glad that you did."

"You're welcome Constantina. It was my
pleasure to help you out and I'll never let you forget." Thomas
handed Constantina her keys and got into the passenger side.

"Where do you want me to drop you off?"

"You can take me home, unless you want to
take me back your place and show me your gratitude."

"Where do you live?"

"Get back on I680 and go to the Mormon Bridge
exit. I live up the hill from the Florence Library."

Connie followed Thomas's directions and
pulled into his driveway fifteen minutes later. "You have a nice
house Thomas."

Thomas didn't want this time with her to end.
He had a feeling that once he stepped out of her car they would
revert to the status quo. "You're never going to let me get this
close to you again, are you?"

"Is this the real you Thomas, or just a role
you're playing to get me into your bed."

"Wow. You truly think a lot of me and my
motives. There's something about you that draws me closer, an
invisible link. I'm not going to give up until I explore that
attraction. Don't be afraid of me Constantina, I'm just a man who
likes being with you. By the way, Aaron's not the man for you."

Connie held her breath, she didn't know what
to expect, but she certainly didn't expect him to get out of her
vehicle without a backward glance. "Not even a lousy kiss!"

***

Connie wasn't a
glutton for punishment
, but here she was yet again
waiting in trepidation for the session to begin. The city council
met every week, and for the last two months, she had attended more
meetings than she would like. What could she do? Every time the
Cabbage Patch Foundation tried to renovate a property, it was
plagued with permit problems and city ordinances.

This time the foundation was immersed in a
zoning altercation. She was trying to build a youth home in an
affluent area of Omaha when all hell broke loose with the zoning
committee. Now here she was attempting to obtain the approval of
the city council chairperson Thomas Galvin and his nasty band of
council members.

This was the first time
Connie had seen Thomas since the day Samantha was kidnapped. She
was so
busy preparing
year-end statements
and helping Samantha with her New Year's Eve party preparations
that she hadn't given Thomas a second thought. Well that wasn't
entirely true; Thomas had a starring role in her dreams every
night.

The city council had a lot of business on the
books today. An owner of a nightclub was trying to renew his liquor
license. His establishment seemed to be a magnet for rowdy behavior
and violence. The owner tried to appeal his case to the city
council who voted against him 8-0. Thomas practically ripped the
man to shreds for being irresponsible and for the sake of the
neighborhood; the city council could not allow him to run a
business any longer.

Connie studied Thomas, in a different era he
would have been in charge of his tribe’s war party. He had the
appearance of a warrior, everything about him said lethal,
dangerous, sexy, and undeniably a hunter. If it weren't for his
green eyes, she would have taken him for a full blood Native
American. His beard and mustache were neatly trimmed, but she often
wondered what he would look like clean shaven.

Years ago, he was an up and coming lawyer
married to a powerful judge's daughter. Connie could still remember
his picture plastered over billboards all over Omaha. Call Thomas
Greywolf Galvin, contract lawyer, he will never leave you in a
bind.

Then the scandal broke out. Thomas Galvin and
his wife were accused of running a financial swindle on their
clientele. The media relentlessly hounded the couple looking for an
exclusive. Once the dust settled Mrs. Galvin went to jail, and
Thomas Galvin went underground.

He didn't stay out of the limelight for long.
He became a city councilman and started another law practice, now
he was simply known as Thomas Galvin. Fresh from his divorce he
became the most sought after bachelor in the state of Nebraska.
Connie spotted him at several fundraisers, he had even given her
the once over a time or two.

One thing was certain when
Thomas was on duty as a city council member he was focused on
business.
The carefree man who’d
wanted an invitation to her bed was missing today
.
She didn’t kid herself into thinking that he would be lenient on
her just because he wanted to get into her bed.

It was Connie’s turn to plead her case for
expanding the work of the Cabbage Patch Foundation. She took her
place at the podium; she had everyone’s rapt attention except for
Thomas Galvin. He had his head buried in some folders as she
expounded on the need for youth homes in the Omaha community.

“I would like to thank the Omaha City Council
for allowing me this opportunity to plead our case for a new group
home location in Midtown Omaha. The group homes we’ve established
in South Omaha, North Omaha, and Lincoln had been successful…” At
that moment, Thomas seemed to come to life, and his gaze rest
briefly on her for a moment before he cut her off.

“Ms. Jacobs we appreciate the work that the
Cabbage Patch Foundation has done in our illustrious city. The
question is why would you rezone a property for a structure that is
so ill suited for that neighborhood?"

"If you let me explain Councilman Galvin,
you'll understand why the location is perfect for a youth
home..."

"Ms. Jacobs both residents and business
owners in this neighborhood are concerned about the element of the
proposed youth home. There is no way we can determine the effects
of perceived negative influences shall bring to the community and
neighboring schools.” Thomas could see the storm brewing in
Constantina’s eyes. He didn’t know what he expected, but he was
unprepared for the backlash his hasty words would uproot.

“Oh I understand Councilman Galvin. The
affluent residents of this community are fearful that teen
pregnancy and drug use will run rampant if this seedy group home is
erected. The business owners are concerned that patronage will
cease.

I get it! The council likes the work the
Cabbage Patch Foundation does as long as we keep our group homes
east of 72nd Street. Dare we venture past this invisible barrier
I'm sure the council will vote to keep us out of these
communities?”

“Enough Ms. Jacobs, we try
to do what’s best for Omaha. We do not cater to any particular
group, and I resent the implication. We recognize the importance
your group offers to the Omaha Community, and we hope it never
stops. We will
,
of course will vote right
now as to whether or not to approve the Holting Estates property
for rezoning.”

Connie held her breath as the vote took
place. The city council voted 6-2 against rezoning the lots to
build a group home. “Thank you for your time.”

Thomas could tell by her stance that
Constantina Jacobs would be back in front of the council before
long with a new project. “You’re welcome Ms. Jacobs; we wish you
the best in all your endeavors with the Cabbage Patch
Foundation.”