It really was over.
“Of course,” he said with a nod, swallowing all the things he wanted to say.
Come with me.
Stay with me.
I love you.
“I really am grateful,” she said, and did he see a glimmer of tears in her eyes, or was it a trick of the light? “My time in HJ changed my life.” She swiped a hand across her cheek and her gaze dropped to the floor. “I’ll never forget it.”
And in that moment, a sharp pain pierced Liam’s heart and he watched her for a long moment, taking in her hair, her skin, when she finally looked up, her eyes, sparkling and damp. Committing it all to memory for one last time.
“I won’t either,” he said. “And thank you, for what you’ve done for us. It means a lot to everyone. Really.”
Evie gave him a small smile and nodded.
Then, Liam said one last goodbye to Evie Hart, and turned and walked away.
* * *
Evie sat in her office, looking out the window at the New York skyline, but not really seeing any of it. She should have been ecstatic about her new job, nervous and excited about the groundbreaking project ahead, and thrilled that her father was finally putting his confidence in her.
But instead, she felt strangely empty, bereft. Frozen in place, even on the cusp of change.
Tha erthei pali ei aniksi, her mother’s voice whispered.
Spring will come again.
Evie wondered when exactly that would happen.
A knock drew her attention, and she swiveled around in her chair to find Niko standing in the doorway.
“Got a minute?” he asked.
“Sure. Come in.”
“Dad sent out the official memo,” he said, crossing the room and taking a seat across from her. “I guess congratulations are in order, Ms. CEO.”
She gave him a faint smile. “Well, it won’t be official until Dad retires, but thanks.”
“And no more Gray.”
“No more Gray.” She leaned back in her chair, running a fingernail along the edge of the desk. “It was a long time coming.”
“I have to agree,” Niko said. “The guy was a bit of a slime ball. No offense.”
Evie huffed out a little laugh. “None taken.” And there wasn’t. She couldn’t actually believe that she’d once seen Gray as a romantic prospect. The thought was foreign to her now. Bizarre.
Impossible.
For some reason, Liam’s face flashed before her eyes and she swallowed thickly, looking away.
“Are you okay?” Niko asked.
“Sure,” she replied, a little too quickly. “I’m fine. Great. Why wouldn’t I be?”
“Good question,” he said, leaning back and crossing an ankle over his knee. Evie realized he looked a bit rumpled. He’d abandoned his suit jacket and had his shirt sleeves rolled up, his tie askew.
“What have you been up to?” she asked. “It looks like you might have actually been working.”
Niko laughed. “I do that upon occasion, you know.” He yawned and stretched his arms overhead before letting them fall to his lap. “So what happens now?”
Evie drew in a long breath. “Well,” she replied. “Tobara’s moving forward, so I’ll be focusing on that for a while. Then there’s the deal in Key West, and we’re in talks for that high-rise in Istanbul.”
“That’s not what I meant,” he said, his gaze assessing, watchful. “What about Durant?”
To her surprise, Evie’s eyes pricked with tears and she blinked them away. “What about him?”
“He flew across the country to see you.” Niko tapped a finger slowly on his knee. “When it comes to grand gestures, I’d say that one ranks pretty high.”
Evie thought about denying it, but she couldn’t. “It doesn’t matter. It could never work out between us. His life is there and the future of the company rests with me now.”
“It doesn’t have to,” Niko said.
Evie sighed. “This is what I’ve worked my whole life for.”
Niko sat forward in his chair, his hands loosely clasped between his knees. “Let me ask you this. If there were no Hart Enterprises, if you weren’t the new CEO, if you didn’t have the weight of the world on your shoulders and the pressure of looking after me—”
“That’s not—”
He held up a finger, stifling her response. “If none of that was at stake, where would you be right now?”
Evie looked back out the window at the sparkling lights. “But that’s not the way it is,” she said quietly.
“It could be.”
Evie rubbed her temples. She could feel a headache coming on. “What are you talking about, Niko?”
“Go after him, Evie,” he said. “You can’t say you don’t want to.”
“What I want doesn’t matter—”
“Yes, it does!” He got to his feet, leaning forward on her desk. “Go after him.”
“I can’t!” She got up, her own chair flying backward.
“Evie, you’ve taken care of me ever since Mom died,” he replied. “I know how you’ve protected me, covered for me, kept things running around here—at home—picking up after my messes, taking up the slack when I’ve left it dangling.” He ran a hand through his dark hair. “But it doesn’t have to be like that anymore. Let me have my turn. I may not be you, but I’m not entirely stupid.”
“I know that,” she said, lifting her chin.
“I’ve watched how things work around here. I’ve gotten every memo, every report, every financial statement for the past decade.” His dark eyes, so much like her own, were piercing. Pleading. “Just because I haven’t been active in the company doesn’t mean I couldn’t be. You had it under control, and I let you control it. But Evie, it’s my turn now. Let it be my turn.”
She stared at him for a long moment, her heart pounding a low, steady beat as she considered the possibility. “I can’t just drop everything and—”
“You can,” he said.
“But—”
“You can.” He threw up his hands. “Let me take over here. I’ll run things, and you go find your life. Find your happiness. If that’s what you really want, that is.” Niko watched her, waiting.
She swallowed nervously. “I don’t know,” she whispered.
“It’s up to you,” he said. “But I think you want more than this office, this building, this business.” Niko waved a hand toward the ceiling. “If that’s true, this is your shot, Evie.”
She shifted on her feet, palms sweaty. She felt lost. Adrift. “But what will I do?”
“I don’t know,” he replied with a shrug. “You could do anything you want. Anything. The question is, what do you want?”
“I want—” She bit her lip, the possibilities spread wide before her. Could she really do it? Leave it all behind?
“I want to go back,” she said, feeling the truth as she said the words. Yes. “I want to find him.”
Niko grinned. “Then go get him, Sis.”
Evie’s hands trembled as she grabbed her jacket and came around the desk, wrapping her brother in a tight hug.
“Thank you,” she whispered.
“Thank you,” he replied, his own voice a little shaky. She pulled away and he put on a teasing grin, though his eyes glistened. “Now, go. You don’t want to miss him.”
Evie looked down at her black, lizard-skin sling backs for a boost of confidence, then gave her brother one last hopeful smile before she ran out of the office.
* * *
Traffic to the airport was as insane as always, but Evie clenched her hands together, her leg bouncing nervously, and prayed that she wasn’t too late. The driver pulled up to the curb and she jumped out, pushing her way through the crowd. She scanned the departures list and saw a flight to Seattle was scheduled to leave in only twenty minutes, and she still had to get through security.
Running up to the counter, she bought a ticket, practically throwing her credit card at the confused clerk, then raced
through the airport, her heart pounding and heels clicking on the tile floor.
Would she make it in time? And if she did, what was she going to say to him?
Evie had no idea, but she had to try.
“Excuse me!” she said as she bumped into a man pulling a rolling suitcase and almost tripped. She glanced at the clock on the wall as she ran past, feeling each second tick away.
Thanks to Evie’s preferred status, the security check barely slowed her down, and she arrived at the gate right as first class was boarding. Gasping for breath, she scanned the crowd, searching for a familiar head of sandy-colored hair. The crowd pressed in around her and she popped up on her tiptoes, frantically scanning the area, but she couldn’t see anything. Maybe he was already on the plane.
She joined the boarding line, wringing her hands. What was she doing? Had she lost her mind? She was throwing away everything she’d worked for—her career, her life.
Then, her stomach settled, and even in the midst of the crowd, a feeling of peace descended on her. This was what she wanted. Liam. Holiday Junction. She didn’t know how it had happened, but somewhere in the midst of everything, she’d fallen in love with him. Fallen in love with the whole town. She wanted to muck stalls with Liam, get coffee at the Grind. . . volunteer to help with school musicals and go on camping trips.
She wanted it all. But first, she needed to find Liam.
“Ticket?” the flight attendant held out her hand with a smile, but Evie barely noticed because in that moment the crowd parted and she saw him. He stood, looking out the floor-to-ceiling windows at the plane, his hands in his pockets.
“Sorry,” she told the attendant, not taking her eyes off him. “I’ll be right back.”
Nerves jumbling in her stomach, she walked over to him, her hands shaking as she reached out to tap his shoulder.
He whirled around and his eyes widened in shock. “Evie, what are you doing here?”
“I thought you might already be on the plane,” she said.
“Oh.” He glanced past her at the line. “They haven’t called for me yet. I’m in coach.” His own hands trembled a little, but he gave her a saucy grin. “Not all of us can fly in first class.”
“Well, that’s—coach is not—” she stammered, searching for words.
Liam took a step closer, and her breath caught.
“Evie, why are you here?” he asked quietly.
And this was it. Her chance. She took a deep breath to calm her nerves, and met his gaze.
“I thought I couldn’t leave,” she said. “I had responsibilities here, a company to run. I’d worked for it so long, and . . . I don’t know, I guess I just thought once I got to the top, I’d be happy, you know?”
“And . . .” Liam tilted his head, watching her carefully. “You’re not?”
She chewed on her lip. “I realized that I was happier mucking stalls with you than closing a multi-million dollar deal.”
His lips quirked. “Well, they are pretty nice stalls.”
Evie let out a little laugh. “Yeah.”
He took another step closer, and she looked down. Their toes almost touched—his in worn boots, hers in pointy black lizard-skin. So different, but so perfect.
“Evie, what are you saying?” he asked quietly, and she looked up with a smile.
“I’m saying I want to go with you,” she said with a shrug. “I want to be with you.” She drew in a deep breath and let it out slowly. “I’m saying I love you, Liam.”
He stared at her, stunned, for a moment, and she felt a frisson of doubt. Had she misread the situation? Had he changed his mind? Was she too late?
Then, a smile lit up his face like the sun breaking through clouds and he swept her into his arms, her toes barely brushing the floor.
“I love you, too,” he said, and then he kissed her.
She wound her arms around his neck, curling her fingers into his hair and he held her close, tight, like he never wanted to let her go. Evie let out a little gasp, the smell of him, the taste of him, overwhelming and real. And in that moment she knew she’d made the right decision. Nothing could ever compare to this, to loving and being loved by such a man.
After a while—Evie had no idea how long, and really didn’t care, if she was honest—they came out of their little bubble, awareness of the world around them slowly seeping in.
Liam glanced out the window to find the plane taxiing down the runway. “Looks like I missed my flight,” he said.
“We missed our flight,” Evie corrected him. “But don’t worry, I have it under control. Come on.”
“What do you mean?” he asked, hurrying to catch up with her. “What are we going to do?”
“You’re dating the daughter of a billionaire,” she said with a sniff. “That does come with certain perks.”
“Dating?” He cocked a brow.
Wait. Was she overstepping? “Well, uh, I thought—” she stammered, her cheeks heating.
Liam laughed. “Dating is fine,” he said, taking her hand in his and sending a rush of tingles through her body. “So, what are these perks you speak of?”
Evie stopped and turned to face him. “Well, first and foremost, you can kiss me whenever you want.”
He pulled her close, his hands on her waist. “Whenever I want, huh?”
She nodded. “Haven’t you heard? Rich people are exempt from society’s PDA rules.”
Liam laughed and leaned in to kiss her lightly. “I could get used to this,” he murmured against her lips. He kissed her again and her head spun, warmth and excitement making her almost giddy.
He pulled back with a smile. “What other perks?” he asked.
Evie smiled widely. “Have you ever been on a private jet?” she asked.
“Can’t say that I have.” He smiled at her, his blue eyes warm, and Evie thought she might burst from the happiness welling up inside her.
“Well, Counselor,” she said, popping up on her toes to kiss him one more time. “You’re in for a treat.”
They couldn’t leave until the following morning, and the flight took five hours, but neither one of them minded. They spent the time wrapped in each other’s arms and dreaming about the future. Liam’s Suburban was waiting for them when they landed, thanks to Lou and Vi. And when they finally crossed the border into Holiday Junction, Evie couldn’t keep the smile off her face.
Liam squeezed her hand and lifted it to his lips, planting a soft kiss on her knuckles.
“Welcome home,” he said.
And Evie felt the truth of the words pierce straight through to her heart.
She was finally home.
Six Months Later
“Thank you all for coming,” Evie said leaning on her gold-painted shovel. “This is an exciting day for both Hart Enterprises and Holiday Junction. It’s been a long time coming.” She glanced at the others standing next to her, each holding a shovel of their own—Mayor Kendricks, Lou Chalmers, representing the Chamber of Commerce, and Matthew Wu, representing the town council.
“I’m thrilled for the future of the town, and the role Tobara will play in it,” she said, smiling at Liam, standing a few feet away.
“So, let’s do this!” she said to the others and, as one, they pushed their shovels into the dirt, to a round of cheers from the crowd.
The groundbreaking was symbolic, for the most part. The renovation of the textile mill was already underway. Engineers had come through and declared the structure sound, so it didn’t take long for the lower level to be updated. The design was unique—the outer portion of the large open space would become display areas, a museum dedicated to the history of HJ and of the mill itself, but the middle section would be a community center, the soaring ceilings and skylights making it perfect for town events.
Kade and Vi had already reserved it for their wedding, the following year.
The second-floor catwalks were perhaps Evie’s favorite part, and Abby Harper’s design would convert them into office spaces and me
eting rooms along one side, nightly rentals along the other. It was part of an effort to immerse tourists into the day-to-day life at Holiday Junction, and Evie couldn’t wait to see how it all turned out.
Even more exciting was the housing development that would be constructed over the following year. Although Evie thought “development” was probably not the right word. Abby had been poking and prodding at her original designs, working out the best ways to incorporate the natural landscape, and she’d come up with a beautiful and functional plan, that included some budget-friendly options that would appeal to the longtime resident of Holiday Junction, as well as more glamorous seasonal rentals that were sure to lure in tourists.
“It’s all happening,” Liam said as Evie joined him, taking her hand as they walked over to a table set up with treats from the bakery. “Just like you planned.”
Evie smiled. “Well, it’s hardly just me,” she said. “Everybody’s had a hand in it.”
“A few more than others,” Anne Patterson said, straightening the tray of cookies with a sly look at Lou and Mandy, who stood nearby. Evie still couldn’t believe that Lou, of all people, was responsible for the court delay. The court clerk was an old friend, and Lou finally admitted, under influence of a couple of glasses of ouzo, that she’d called in a favor.
“We needed more time,” Lou had explained. “We knew you’d come around eventually.”
“You three are menaces,” Liam said, pointing at the women. “But I’m glad you’re on our side.”
They laughed, and Liam and Evie wandered over to a quiet area overlooking the site for the first few homes. “I can’t believe in a year, people will actually be living here,” she said.
Liam kissed her, and she smiled against his lips.
“You sure you don’t miss it?” he asked. “Being a real estate mogul?”
In the end, Evie had turned down the CEO title, and worked in more of a consultant role these days. Her focus was mainly on Tobara, but she had her hand in a few other deals, traveling on occasion to keep her negotiating skills sharp, and to help Niko out when he needed it.
Evie’s Awakening: Love in Holiday Junction, Book Three Page 17