“It’s Rachel, isn’t it, Dad?” Holly bounced to her feet with a smile on her face. He’d probably never be redeemed in his parents’ eyes, but if his daughter was on board, he was willing to take the chance.
“I haven’t talked to her yet, so it’s possible we won’t leave at all.”
He gathered Holly onto his lap. “I don’t want you to mention this to anyone yet. Not Emmie or anyone else. Not unless it happens.”
Her eyes lit up suddenly. “Are you going to ask Rachel to marry you?”
He glanced at his parents who both looked at him with deadpan expressions. He voiced what he was sure they were thinking. “She was here only a couple of weeks. Don’t you think that’s too short a time to know you want to marry someone?”
Holly rolled her eyes. “Not if you fall in love.”
He kissed the top of her head, then looked at his parents. “I hope even if you can’t get on board with my decision, you’ll respect it.”
“We’ve always respected you,” Pop said wryly, “even when we thought you were making a mistake.”
“It doesn’t feel like a mistake to go after something I feel strongly about.” Beck nodded and looked around at the bar, his bar. He’d gone after his dream. He was so damn proud of it. But pride only got you so far. And it didn’t keep you warm at night. “And it can’t be a mistake to fight for someone.” He shrugged. Even if it didn’t work out, he’d give it his best. “It’s far from a sure thing, so please don’t say anything to anybody.”
…
Walking down a busy city sidewalk wasn’t the best time for Rachel to get the call from her agent. She stopped in her tracks so quickly the pedestrian behind her bumped into her. She almost dropped her phone as she murmured her apologies. Laura kept talking as Rachel tried to focus. Her wish had come true. Her show had been saved.
Now her father couldn’t call her a failure.
“It’s a great show of confidence,” Laura gushed. “The network has enough faith in you to offer a new contract even before your special airs, along with the promised media blitz. Now’s the time to make that push we’ve talked about.”
If the network would guarantee her more commercial projects where she could spread her designer wings, it would go a long way toward softening the blow that leaving Beckett had done to her heart. She’d never thought she’d still feel battered and bruised after all these weeks.
“Let’s go for it,” Rachel said. “Thanks for calling.”
“Of course. I’m happy to play a small part in your success.”
Success. What was success? It was time for her to decide what her definition of success was now.
She started walking again, not paying much attention to where she was going. Fans stopped her, asking for her autograph or a selfie. When she’d been in Lakeside those kinds of things happened for the first few days, but then the villagers left her pretty much alone, letting her feel almost like one of the locals again.
Her heart stuttered in her chest. She couldn’t actually be homesick for Lakeside. She ducked into a coffee shop and sank into a corner booth with a latte and a muffin. But it took only one sip and a single bite to let her know The Coffee Mug’s fare was much better than this.
A text from Holly brightened her day more than the call from her agent. Aunt Katie’s letting me help decorate the nursery!
She’d sent Katie images of design and color suggestions. Holly would be the perfect helper. Exciting!
Wish u could help.
You’ll do great.
PLEASE come to the opening. It’s IMPORTANT.
This was why she should have insisted on no texts from the beginning. Now she craved those messages from home at the same time she dreaded the pull she felt.
Home? Had she called them messages from home?
Yes. Yes, she had. Holly was waiting for a reply.
I’ll try but please don’t say anything to your dad in case I can’t make it. I don’t want to disappoint him.
K
Don’t say anything to anybody.
…
The grand opening of The Salvage Station was in full swing. A strong surge of pride and happiness filled Beck’s chest. The place was humming. He’d worried they were exceeding the maximum occupancy for the building, but the fire chief was sitting at the bar, waving him over for another draft, so he figured things were okay.
Davis and Suz were sitting with Noah and Anita, and Carter and Katie, in one of those cozy nooks Rachel designed.
Rachel.
She hadn’t come with the rest of The Rachel Touch crew. He shouldn’t have been surprised. He was shocked to see her parents there, though, as well as Ethan and Helen. They were sitting with Mom and Pop. Holly and Emmie had gotten bored after the first couple of soft drinks and went upstairs to watch a movie. He noticed them sneaking down to sit on the open staircase from time to time. He couldn’t blame them for wanting to check out what was going on.
This was what he’d hoped for his place, to bring the community together. Without Rachel, the success didn’t feel as bright as it should have. How would she ever know that? She’d been gone much longer than they were together. He tried calling her but she wouldn’t answer. He’d promised he wouldn’t text her again, and he kept his word even though it killed him. She hadn’t even had the courage to show up so he could tell her to her face.
The Rachel Touch crew had finished filming a while ago and were now enjoying wings and mozzarella sticks with their drinks. Rachel’s crew had turned out to be a great bunch of people, and if it hadn’t been for that damned camera, he wouldn’t have minded if they hung around sometimes.
Camera.
Before he had time to talk himself out of it, he called Glen over and motioned for him to bring his video camera. He called over one of the other bartenders. Randy was an experienced bar manager Beck was hoping would work out as The Salvage Station’s new manager.
“Can you hold down the fort for a few? There’s something I need to do.”
“Sure thing.”
Glen came around the end of the bar. “What’s up?”
“Can you record a message for Rachel? She didn’t show up tonight, and I have something I want to say to her.”
“Um, okay? You can’t pick up the phone and call her?”
“Tried that.”
“Well, I know how much you hate the camera in your face, so it must be important. Let’s get the boom over here, so we can cut out a lot of the background noise. Your place is humming here, Beck. Congrats.”
“Thanks.” He hoped that Russ got over here quickly, before he lost his nerve. Just seeing that big camera lens in his face was giving him knots in his stomach.
“Okay, ready whenever you are,” Glen said.
The buzz of conversation in the place dropped instantly. Apparently, they’d caught the attention of the crowd, and now everyone wanted to hear what was going on. Perfect.
Beck took a deep breath. “First off, Rachel Bradford, I want to thank you for all your work on The Salvage Station. If not for you, it wouldn’t be the exciting, welcoming place it is. Glen, can you pan around so Rachel can see the crowd?”
As Glen panned the camera around the room, people held up their glasses in noisy toasts to her. Then he focused back on Beck.
“I’d hoped you’d be here tonight, so I could say this to you in person. And in private.” The people at the bar chuckled. “I miss you. I know we weren’t together for long, but when you know, you know. Still, I realize I wasn’t the most…forthcoming. I kept things from you. I didn’t think they were important, but they were to you. I should have told you and let you decide whether they were important or not.”
He took a deep breath and then smiled, imagining he was speaking to Rachel and not the cursed video equipment he’d had to live with for two long weeks. “I love you, Rachel
Bradford. I didn’t tell you that either, and that was wrong. I realized when I asked you to stay, that was the wrong thing to say. Man, I’ve been wrong all over the place. It wasn’t up to you to change for me. I needed to make the effort. I should be willing to do anything so we can be together. I have Davis Dillon to thank for that bit of wisdom.” A cheer went up around him. “It was pretty easy when I looked at it that way.”
“You are important to me. Where I live isn’t important at all compared to spending the rest of my life without you. Holly and I have talked about it and we agree that if you will allow us into your life, we want to live wherever you are.”
A shocked murmur ran through the crowd. Yeah, no one expected that.
“Glen has promised to get this to you and then I hope I never have to see another video camera for as long as I live.” Another chuckle ran around those closest to him. But the buzz was starting to get louder.
He looked over the heads of the patrons at the bar and saw the crowd parting. Saw blonde hair with a fire-engine red streak.
Rachel.
Who knew the whole take-my-breath-away was a real thing? She wore the same red dress she had when he first saw her wrapped around the fire pole. She held a small tablet in her hand. When she got close enough to see him, she dropped it to her side. “You can’t leave Lakeside.”
“Of course I can. I did it once already.” And that had been because of her, too.
“Your family is here. Your fabulous new bar is here.”
“But you’re not.”
She tucked her tablet into the bag slung over her shoulder. Then she stretched out her arms. “Here I am.”
She strode forward and the guys on the barstools directly in front of her slid to the side. Soon only the beautiful old bar stood between them. A sly grin lifted her lips. “I love you, too.”
“You heard me?”
She nodded toward the open staircase that led to the second floor. Holly and Emmie stood there. Holly held up her cell phone and grinned.
“But…what…”
“Keep up, Beckett. Holly video-messaged me the whole thing live. I was standing in the parking lot waiting for the nerve to come in. I didn’t expect that declaration. Or the offer to move away from the place you already told me was where you knew you belonged.”
“But what about our fight?”
She waved away his question. “I didn’t want to have feelings for you or Holly. I was looking to pick a fight. You played right into my hands.”
They were way too far away from each other. And he didn’t want an audience for the rest of this conversation. He pushed past Glen and the camera still on his shoulder. He waved to the girls, still standing on the stairs. “Come on down. Go with Emmie over to her parents for now. Rachel and I need to talk in private.”
…
Rachel might have sounded confident, but she was shaking as she followed Beckett up the stairs. Even hearing what Beckett had already said, she didn’t know how things would end. As nervous as she was, she couldn’t help but take a moment to glance around the upstairs room. She was proud of what she’d designed for both him and Holly. Right now, a movie was paused on the TV screen, and popcorn and sodas sat on the low table in front of the sofa. The best part of her job was seeing a finished project being enjoyed.
She turned to Beckett in his black trousers and white button-down shirt, the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, revealing his strong forearms and colorful ink. He was looking only at her. He gathered her in his arms, and she sank into his embrace. “Are you really here?”
“I am.”
He dropped his arms and she almost whimpered. She hated the hesitant look on his face. “Are you leaving again in the morning?”
She pursed her lips. Might as well get this over with right off the bat. “The network offered me a new contract.”
“Congratulations.” His smile didn’t even look forced. He wanted her to be happy. “I know how hard you worked for that.”
“I turned it down.”
“Why?” How could he be so surprised? Hadn’t he listened to her?
She took a deep breath that felt like freedom. “I’m ready for something new.”
He took her hands and studied her. “What about your dream?”
“It changed.” It was easier than she thought to admit it. Telling her father might take a little more explanation, but it was her life. Her dream.
And dreams could change.
He drew her into his arms again, and she nuzzled at his throat. “Tell me about your new dream.”
She breathed him in before she looked up at him. “Which one?”
He lifted his brows. “You have more than one dream?”
Laughter bubbled out of her chest. “Everyone should have more than one dream.”
“Which one do you want to tell me about first?”
“The one about a life with you and Holly.”
“I want to hear all about it.” Beckett took her hand and led her over to the sofa. “But…here in Lakeside? Are you sure you’ll be able to handle that?”
“I actually miss Lakeside. Go figure.”
“What’s the other dream?”
“My career. On my terms. I started my own YouTube channel. My fans love it. I have millions of subscribers already.”
“Have to admit I have no idea how that even works. You can make money that way?”
“Oh yeah. I’m going to be showing my freelance design projects, and I’m going to take only ones I’m excited about. But I’m going to be doing a lot of DIY projects on my channel, too. If it’s okay with you, I’d love to use Holly’s bedroom as an example.”
“Sure.”
“Plus, my agent is entertaining offers from some streaming services, too.” Rachel had come up with her own definition of success. It was having more creative freedom, and she’d never been happier with her career.
He shook his head, but his lips quirked.
“What?”
“I love the way your mind works.”
She didn’t know if she’d ever get used to hearing the word love from Beckett, but it was a wonderful sound. “You probably need to get downstairs. Looks like opening night is a big success.”
“As long as the crowds continue to come in.”
“I’m confident in you. Would you really have left Lakeside just when you’ve finally realized your dream?”
He stroked her hair. “Like you said. Dreams can change. And you can have more than one dream.” He gathered her close again. “And a life with you and Holly. That’s my number one dream.”
She placed her hands on his shoulders and kissed him fully. Then she pulled back when she felt something under his shirt. “What’s this?”
He sent her a sheepish grin and unbuttoned his white shirt far enough to lift it off one shoulder. There, on the shoulder without the angel wings, in a beautiful font, surrounded by filigree, and covered with ointment and plastic wrap, was a brand new tattoo.
Rachel.
She almost punched him in the shoulder. “I thought you said it was stupid to permanently ink someone’s name on your skin.”
He shrugged. “Even if you hadn’t come back, I wanted to remember you. Even if you hadn’t loved me, you were too important to forget.”
Sigh… Melt… “I do love you.”
“I love you, too.”
“I will admit to one additional dream,” she told him as he buttoned his shirt back up.
“What’s that?”
She took his hand and led him over to the fireman’s pole and knelt down. “Did you know this cover is removable?”
“I saw the latch.”
Rachel made quick work of it and set it aside. They glanced down to the people below, having a great time. “I want to slide down again.”
“Right now?”
“Yep. This has never been a place for playing it safe. I want you to slide down, too.”
“Right now?”
“What better time? To celebrate all of our dreams coming true.” She stood and glanced at him. “Promise you’ll follow me down?”
“I’ll follow you anywhere.”
Man, I love this guy. “Look out below!”
She slid down the pole and landed gracefully on her feet for the first time. She stepped aside and Beckett landed beside her. Rachel grabbed him and captured his lips with hers. The people around them cheered.
“Hey, guys!” Glen called out.
They turned their heads and stared into the camera. Beckett groaned. “Not again.”
“You’d better get used to it,” Rachel told him. “I’m going to be carrying around a camera all the time for my new venture.” Beckett followed her gaze to where Holly was smiling at them from the edge of the crowd. His daughter held up her phone, recording them right now. Rachel shrugged.
“I’m going to go back behind the bar where I belong,” Beckett told her.
“This is where you belong,” she agreed. “In Lakeside, with your friends and family. And I’m starting to believe it’s where I belong, too.” She kissed him once more. “Maybe we do bring out the best in each other, after all.”
Epilogue
“Quiet! Quiet!” Holly called out. “It’s starting!”
On the night The Salvage Station episode of The Rachel Touch aired, all their family and friends crowded into their living room to watch it together. Looking around her, Rachel was amazed how much her life had changed in the past few months. Here she was, surrounded by friends and family instead of being alone clear across the country. And she was loving it. If she hadn’t come here to film that episode, she’d never have known the sense of friendship and family she had now.
One of their parents’ homes would have had more room to accommodate the group for the viewing party, but Holly wanted to show off the new living room she and Rachel had worked together to update. She was particularly proud of the gray and blue curtains that picked up the colors in the new love seats now flanking the sofa Beckett insisted they keep.
The Goodbye Guy (The Men of Lakeside) Page 25