Before Today

by Leeanna Morgan

“It’s getting warmer.” Brooke bit her bottom lip. “A few months ago, I moved my candy business out of my garage. I’ve opened a store in town.” The silence on the other end of the phone made her heart sink.

  “That was a brave decision. How is it doing?”

  Taking a deep breath, Brooke tried to remember all the positive things she wanted to say. “I’ve sold more candy in the last two months than I did for the previous year. After Easter, I’m launching a new website. I’ll be able to sell candy online and send it anywhere in the world.”

  “That’s exciting.”

  “It is. A friend is sharing the kitchen for her cake decorating business. It helps pay some of my expenses and gives me another person to bounce ideas off.”

  “It sounds as though everything is going extremely well.”

  “It’s hard work, but I’m enjoying it.” Now came the hard part. Since she’d left Arizona, she hadn’t asked her parents for anything, but she couldn’t let Levi work for nothing. “Before I bought the building, I knew it had some roofing issues. They got worse over the winter and now the roof needs to be waterproofed. The bank is happy to lend me enough money to pay for the roof, but I can’t afford to fix the water damage in the attic.”

  “How much is it going to cost?”

  Brooke placed her hand against the knot of fear building inside her chest. “A contractor gave me a quote. Including labor, it will cost about eleven thousand dollars. Levi Montgomery has offered to do the work for nothing, but I can’t let him do that.”

  “What’s Levi doing in Sapphire Bay?” Her dad sounded as surprised as Brooke had been.

  “He didn’t know I was living here. One of his friends owns a house overlooking Flathead Lake. Levi is doing some maintenance around the property.” Even though he was dealing with a lot of issues when he’d met her parents, Levi had fitted into their family as if he were always meant to be there. With his family living in Spokane, Washington, Karl and Virginia had become his surrogate parents.

  “Levi didn’t mention he was traveling to Montana,” Karl said. “If we’d known, we would have told him you’re there.”

  Brooke’s eyes widened. “You kept in contact with him?”

  Her dad sighed. “After you left, he went through a difficult time. Having dinner with us a couple of times each week seemed to help. When his brother died, he went home and stayed with his parents. After that, he moved around, picking up construction work. The last time he called, he was in Texas.”

  “He told me he’d been working there.” Brooke sat on the edge of the sofa. “It was good of Levi to offer to fix the attic, but I have to pay him something. I didn’t want to ask you and Mom for a loan, but I’ve run out of options. We could ask a lawyer to draw up a document that secures the loan against the building.”

  “And you want eleven thousand dollars?”

  “Only if you can afford to lend me that much. Even five thousand dollars would mean I could replace the worst of the floorboards and drywall and do the rest later.”

  “I’ll need to talk to your mom.”

  In her heart, Brooke hadn’t expected her dad to say anything else. But she couldn’t help feel as though her parents would still say no. “Thank you. How is Mom?”

  “She’s great. I’m trying to convince her to retire, but she keeps telling me she’s too young.”

  “You’ll have to book some more vacations. That will make her realize there’s more to life than being an accountant.”

  Her dad laughed. “It would take more than a few vacations to do that. She’s at the grocery store at the moment. Do you want her to call you when she gets home?”

  Brooke’s hand gripped the phone. “No, don’t worry. It’s late and she’ll be tired.”

  When her dad fell silent, she held her breath, waiting for what he said next.

  “We miss you, Brooke. I hope you haven’t let what your mom said keep you away from Phoenix. She was upset and didn’t mean what came out of her mouth.”

  Tears stung Brooke’s eyes. “Mom was right. I’ve let you down a lot of times.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “I couldn’t decide what I wanted to do with my life. Between the programs I enrolled in, and college, I’ve cost you a fortune. You could have done a lot with that money.”

  “Forget about the money. We should have been more supportive. And we never should have talked you into being a nurse.”

  Brooke wiped the tears off her face. “You wanted me to be financially secure.”

  Her dad sighed. “We wanted you to be happy but, somewhere along the line, we lost track of that. Why don’t you stay with us for a few days? We could go tenpin bowling and visit all your favorite places. It would be like old times.”

  “I can’t, Dad. I need to be here to make more candy and keep the store open. Easter has made everything crazy.”

  “After Easter, then. Your Mom and I could pay for your flight. There must be a time during the year that you’re less busy?”

  Even if Brooke wanted to go home, she couldn’t. “I’ve been thinking about employing more staff. If that happens, I’ll see if I can take a couple of days off. But it won’t be anytime soon.”

  “That’s better than nothing. I’ll call you as soon as I’ve talked to your mom.”

  “Thanks, Dad. I appreciate your considering the loan.”

  “We care about you, Brooke.”

  Another tear rolled down her face. “I know you do. Say hi to Mom for me.”

  “I will. Bye.”

  Brooke said goodbye and ended the call. Taking a shaky breath, she leaned into the back of the sofa. Speaking to her dad hadn’t been as bad as she’d imagined. All she could do now was wait and see if her parents would lend her the money.

  If not, she would have to come up with another solution. Fast.

  Chopping wood wasn’t something Levi often did but, since he’d been living in Zac’s house, it was one chore he enjoyed.

  There was something about being in the open air, breathing in the clean scent of pine that made him appreciate being alive. There’d been times in the not so distant past, when he’d felt as though his life meant nothing, that the reason he was fighting in Afghanistan had been lost in the politics of war.

  Placing another piece of wood on the chopping block, he swung the ax high into the air. With a satisfying grunt he brought it down, sending large chunks of wood flying across the hard ground.

  Restocking Zac’s wood supply was as important as making sure there was gas for the generators. In six months, the whole property could be buried under five feet of snow. The breathtaking scenery wouldn’t matter if you were living in a cold house.

  The alarm on Levi’s cell phone beeped. He frowned as he checked the security app. A vehicle had activated the monitor on the driveway and, looking at the image from the camera, he guessed it was Brooke.

  Five minutes later, she parked her red SUV in front of the garage.

  Until he’d met her, no one had made him wonder if there was more to life than what he had. With her long, dark hair and stunning blue eyes, she was one of the most beautiful women he’d ever met. But it was more than what she looked like that drew him to her. She was patient and kind, and she saw the real him, not the soldier who kept everyone at arm’s length.

  When she smiled, he was happy. When she cried, he wanted to protect her. There was something about her that hit him hard, made him want to keep her close, and never let her go.

  She opened the driver’s door.

  He took a deep breath. Two years ago, Brooke had walked out of his life and never talked to him again. His worst fear was that the same thing would happen again.

  “Hi, Levi.”

  Leaning against the handle of the ax, he studied the wariness on her face. “This is a surprise.”

  “I should have called before I left Sapphire Bay. I hope it’s okay to be here.”

  “It’s fine. I’ve nearly finished chopping the next load of wood, anyw
ay. Would you like a coffee?”

  “I’d love one. I brought some of Megan’s Easter cookies with me.”

  Levi took the container she handed to him. “You can visit anytime you want if you bring food. I thought you’d be having a sleep-in after yesterday. Is it usually that busy in your store?”

  Brooke followed him onto the veranda. “It’s been super busy since we opened, but that was crazy. By two o’clock, the store was a little quieter, but not by much.”

  “Were you able to restock your candy supplies?”

  “They’re better than they were, but I’ll need to make more Easter eggs and fudge this afternoon.”

  He opened the front door and pointed toward the kitchen. “Do you always work through the weekends?”

  “At the moment I do. Saturdays are too busy for one person, so I help Kathleen in the store. On Sundays, I usually bake for a few hours, then catch up on my paperwork.” She stepped into the kitchen and sighed. “This is incredible. Look at all the appliances.”

  The wistfulness in Brooke’s voice made him smile. Maybe if he built her a kitchen like Zac’s, she might be willing to dive head first into a new relationship with him.

  “There’s a butler’s pantry beside the refrigerators. It’s bigger than your parents’ kitchen.”

  Brooke’s eyes widened. “Are you kidding?”

  “Nope.” He turned on the coffeepot while she peeked inside the pantry.

  “Oh, my goodness. This is amazing. Who made all the preserves?”

  “I don’t know. They were here when I arrived.”

  Brooke returned to the counter and sat on a stool. “Finding someone who knows how to bottle fruit and make chutneys and jams is almost as rare as finding a confectioner. I wonder if they live locally.”

  “I can see your business brain spinning.”

  A smile brightened her face. “There’s plenty of space in Sweet Treats. If the preserves taste as good as they look, the person who made them might want to sell their products in my store.”

  “I’ve tried some of the peaches and raspberry jam. They’re delicious. I’ll ask Zac for their name next time I speak to him.” Levi poured their coffee and handed her a cup. “What brings you out here?”

  “I have some news.”

  “Good or bad?”

  Brooke bit her bottom lip. “Good for me. Maybe not so good for you.”

  He couldn’t think of what it might be—unless the bank had changed their mind and decided to lend her the full amount.

  She cleared her throat. “I spoke to Dad last night.”

  Levi wasn’t expecting her news to involve her parents. Brooke’s relationship with her mom and dad was complicated. And to make matters worse, he wasn’t sure if she knew he’d spent a lot of time with them after she’d left Phoenix.

  “How is your dad?”

  “He’s doing great. He’s just come back from a vacation with mom. They went to Singapore.” Brooke took a cookie out of the container. “I didn’t know you spent time with them after I left.”

  He took a sip of coffee, delaying his answer for as long as he could. “I asked them not to say anything.”

  “Why?”

  “You didn’t want me in your life. I was worried you’d stop talking to your parents if you knew I’d kept in touch with them.”

  Brooke stopped chewing her cookie. “That wouldn’t have happened.”

  “You think your parents are disappointed in you. They aren’t.”

  “Dad told me the same thing last night. I still don’t know if I believe him. Can I ask you a question?”

  Levi nodded.

  “If my parents had told you I was living in Sapphire Bay, would you have come here?”

  “I’m not sure.” He knew it wasn’t the answer she wanted to hear, but it was the truth.

  “I don’t blame you,” Brooke said softly. “When I left Phoenix, I didn’t know where I was going. All I knew was that I needed to work out what I wanted to do with my life.”

  “And you couldn’t do that from Phoenix?”

  Brooke left her cookie on the counter. “It wasn’t as easy as that. I didn’t want to let you down.”

  “How would you have let me down?”

  “You needed someone who was strong and confident. I was still trying to work out who I was and what was important to me. I was worried that once I found what I was looking for, it wouldn’t be what you wanted.”

  Levi wished Brooke had told him how she was feeling. He would have done anything to make her happy.

  She took a deep breath and wrapped her hands around her coffee mug. “Do you want to know the good news?”

  “Go ahead. I could do with some good news about now.”

  “Mom and Dad are going to lend me some money. If you’d like to fix my attic, I can buy the materials and pay you six thousand dollars.”

  Levi stood taller. “I don’t want your parents’ money.”

  “If you won’t take it, I’m not fixing the attic.”

  Levi stared at Brooke’s stubborn frown. She meant every word. “If you don’t repair the attic, you could have mold growing everywhere. Do you want to risk the safety of your building over a few thousand dollars?”

  Brooke’s eyes narrowed. “If you won’t accept the full amount that Frank quoted, I’ll pay for the materials and give you four thousand dollars. I’m not going any lower.” She held out her hand. “Do we have a deal?”

  Levi almost smiled, until he saw the pride beneath her words. And his heart melted all over again. “Okay,” he said reluctantly. “You’ve got a deal. But I’ve got a condition of my own.”

  Brooke’s hand dropped to the counter.

  “I want to make sure it’s okay to date the boss.”

  A soft blush filled her cheeks. “Why would you want to do that?”

  He leaned forward until their noses were almost touching. “Because I’m still a little in love with her.”

  “Are you sure?” Brooke whispered.

  Levi held her hand over his heart. “Whenever I’m with you, my heart beats out of control. I keep wondering what would have happened if you’d stayed in Phoenix. I don’t want to wonder anymore.”

  Tears filled Brooke’s eyes. “I don’t want you to, either.”

  And before Levi could move, Brooke wrapped her fingers around his shirt and pulled him close.

  “I hope you know what you’re doing,” he whispered.

  “I haven’t got a clue.”

  Her soft lips kissed him so gently that Levi sighed. “That makes two of us.”

  Chapter 6

  “Tell me what you see when you look around the attic.”

  Brooke scrunched up her nose. “Lots of dirt and cobwebs. And horrible metal shelves that look as though they’ve been here for decades.”

  Levi lowered the pen and notebook he was holding. “Not now. What’s your dream for this space. You mentioned you’d thought of making it into a master suite or an office. Are they still options?”

  “I’m not sure. I don’t have the budget to do anything other than the basics. If I’m lucky, I might be able to paint the walls after you’ve replaced the drywall.”

  Levi sighed. “This isn’t like you. Normally, your imagination runs away with you. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing’s wrong,” she muttered. Nothing that a decent night’s sleep and ten confectionery elves might fix.

  “You’re working too hard.”

  Brooke’s eyes narrowed. “That sounds like the pot calling the kettle black.”

  “At least I’m not grumpy.”

  Her hands landed on her hips. “I’m not…” She dropped her hands to her side. “Maybe I am. Who decides to fix their building at one of the busiest times of the year? Only someone with half a brain, that’s who.”

  “You don’t have half a brain. It’s physically impossible.”

  Brooke almost smiled. “I’ll be glad when Easter is over.”

  “Not me. I’m a big fan of the Easter
Bunny.”

  “I bet you still believe in Father Christmas and the Tooth Fairy, too.”

  Levi’s mouth dropped open. “Are you telling me they aren’t real?”

  This time, Brooke did smile. “What am I going to do with you?”

  “Well, you could close your eyes. Don’t look at me as though I’ve lost my marbles. Close your eyes.”

  She didn’t know what he was up to, but she was willing to give anything a try. “Okay. My eyes are closed.”

  “What do you see?”

  “White floaty bits over a black background.” She smiled at the groan coming from Levi’s throat.

  “Will you be serious?”

  Her smile turned into a grin. “Sorry. I couldn’t help myself.” She cleared her throat and imagined her remodeled attic. “Okay. I see something.”

  Out of nowhere, images of royal palaces, grand country estates, and fluffy, pink bedrooms leaped into her imagination. “How realistic do I need to be?”

  “The budget won’t stretch to crystal chandeliers and gold encrusted mirrors, but anything else might be achievable.”

  She sighed as she discarded half her ideas. “I have a few options. Can I open my eyes now?”

  “Go ahead. But don’t lose the vision.”

  Brooke opened her eyes and studied Levi’s serious expression. “You sound like a new age hippie.”

  He lifted his pen to his notebook. “I’m waiting.”

  She didn’t need any extra encouragement. “I hope you can write fast because this is going to be intense.”

  She stepped into the middle of the room and spun in a slow circle. “This would be an incredible master suite. The walls will be painted a soft green with white trim, and I’ll have the prettiest pale pink headboard anyone has seen. It would be as tall as my shoulders and made out of plush velvet with buttons that pull the fabric into delicate folds.” Brooke sighed. She’d imagined having a headboard like that for years.

  “On that wall, I’d like a walk-in closet with a full-length mirror and enough space for thirty pairs of shoes. Beside it will be the bathroom. There’ll be a huge bath, a double shower, and marble floor tiles with old-fashioned taps. The floorboards in the bedroom will be polished until they glow like old gold. I know you said there wasn’t any money for chandeliers but, later on, I’d like the sparkliest chandelier I can find. Right here.” Brooke pointed at the ceiling above her head.