by Tara Randel
“How did you—” Dylan began.
“You came in, guns blazing—excuse my metaphor—then suddenly the questions stopped. I grew suspicious, but when Serena called her father in a panic—” she shot a glance at Deke “—I knew you were butting in.”
“Mom, this guy is a criminal,” Derrick argued.
“Actually I’m not,” James responded. “I was never arrested.”
“And you’re proud of that?” Dylan countered.
“There is nothing to be proud of. I stopped after a few years, not liking the direction of the scams I’d started. The example I was teaching Serena. I went legit.”
“It’s true,” Serena said, adding to her father’s defense.
“But the thing that bothers me most,” her father continued, “is you going after Serena like she was guilty, too.”
Four pairs of eyes settled on her. Under the weight of their scrutiny, she blurted, “I’ve made sure to return the money. Well, most of it, anyway. It’s still a work in progress.”
Her father gasped. “Serena?”
She shifted to look him in the eye. “I found the old notebook, Daddy. The names, the families... I couldn’t let what we did affect them forever. So I started putting money aside until I could pay back each person, one at a time.”
Her father stared at her, aghast. “For how long?”
“Since college.”
“That explains the extra jobs you had while taking classes. You worked far too much and you were really paying back our...my victims.”
“I had to.”
Her father ran a trembling hand over his brow.
The room grew quiet.
“Tell her,” Jasmine said in the thick silence.
Her father blinked at her, as if not seeing anyone in the room but Serena. “I’ve put money aside for years to pay back the families. I went to the storage unit to get the book, but couldn’t find it. Or any of the incriminating paperwork. It was all gone. I’ve been trying to re-create the list of names for years, ready to return every cent I took.”
Tears blurred Serena’s vision. “You were going to make things right?”
“Of course I was. It wasn’t until I mentioned it to Jasmine that I started putting a better plan together, but the money is sitting in a savings account, ready to go.”
“Where is this book?” Dylan asked.
Serena lifted her chin. “In a safe place.”
“Which I don’t think we’re going to find,” Dante said and took a bite of a sticky bun.
“Or other paperwork that might tie my father to any fictitious businesses. I destroyed it all.” Serena leaned forward as she spoke. “My father lost his way after my mother died. I know that’s no excuse. My mother knew how he could be and kept him on the straight and narrow. After she died? He couldn’t see another way.” She looked at him and smiled. “But he’s been a wonderful father and I won’t let you ruin him.”
“You realize you could have simply told us all this,” Deke said in his calm, logical tone.
“You’re law enforcement,” Serena pointed out, trying to control her high-pitched voice. “I wanted the money paid back before anyone discovered the past.”
“We can be discreet when it’s warranted,” Derrick said, rising from the couch to refill his coffee cup. “You’ve made restitution to the victims. Most, anyway, and if James pays the rest back, there really isn’t any point in digging up ancient history.”
Dylan stood, his face dark. “Are you kidding me? Are you suggesting we give this guy a pass?”
“What do you suggest we do, Dylan? Arrest him without evidence? Investigate a crime that happened years ago? Track down all the victims for a statement without complaints or a paper trail? And what about the people who got their money back? Do you want to remind them of their lapse in judgment again?”
As the brothers began to argue, Serena’s father rose. “Dylan. Derrick. Please stop.” The two men glanced in his direction. “If you need to arrest me, I understand.”
“But we need the book,” Dante chimed in. He focused on Serena. “Somehow I think that’s going to be a problem.”
Serena stood. “I won’t give it to you, so you’ll have to arrest me, too.”
Dylan ran a hand through his hair and started pacing.
“My sons are very honorable,” Jasmine said. “They’ll do the right thing.”
Her comment started another argument. Serena moved aside as the brothers debated the situation. She rubbed a finger over the angel wings at her wrist, unsure of what to do. When Deke started in her direction, she wanted to run.
“I think I owe you an apology,” he said.
Surprise rendered her speechless.
“I don’t like this, but I get why you kept quiet.”
She nodded.
“You’ve really been paying the victims back?”
“I have.”
A small smile curved his lips. “No wonder Logan’s got a thing for you.”
As Deke sauntered away, Serena closed her eyes.
Logan had a thing for her? She wasn’t quite sure what that meant, exactly, but she took it as a good sign, because she most definitely had a thing for him. Now that the truth had come out, they’d have a chance, wouldn’t they? Logan wouldn’t be pleased when she told him everything, but she wanted to give their relationship a shot.
Her father came to her side.
Serena wrapped her arm around his waist and hugged him. “I have a feeling Jasmine will get her way here.”
“And what about you?”
She thought about her answer for a long moment. “I’ve been waiting for this moment for years. Nothing can be worse than the weight of the secrets and the shame we’ve both been carrying.”
“I’m sorry that I put you through this. That you took it upon yourself to repay my marks.”
Resting her head on his shoulder, she said, “I’d do anything for you, Daddy.”
“But it should have been the other way around.” His voice went tight. “I’ll reimburse you every penny for the amount you’ve already paid out.”
“You don’t have to. Just take over the payments.”
“I insist, Serena. I’m the one who got us into this mess to begin with.” He went still for a while. Then he asked, “This has affected your business, hasn’t it?”
“No.” She moved away to face him. “Blue Ridge Cottage is doing well,” she assured him. “I was worried about when I could save up enough to pay back the next name in the book.”
“It’s not your responsibility any longer.”
It wasn’t. And for that she was grateful. She hugged her father. “I love you.”
He kissed the top of her head. “I love you, too. I’ll take care of things, no matter what happens.”
Freedom. Was this what it felt like? No secrets? No more shame over hiding the past? Only moving forward for Serena now.
“With our new family?” she asked.
“About that.”
She didn’t like his tone. “What?”
“Jasmine and I decided to keep the news of our engagement quiet for now.”
“Daddy, no more secrets.”
“I think today was about all her sons can handle of me for a while. We’re not changing our minds, just going to announce it at a less stressful family gathering.”
Serena watched the men. “Somehow I doubt there’ll ever be a more chaotic visit with this group.”
She felt her father’s chest rumble as he chuckled.
“And the young man who stopped by the pub last night? He seemed to only have eyes for you.”
Serena bit her lower lip. Spoke from her heart. “He’s special to me, Daddy. But I haven’t told him.”
“Make sure you do it now.” His gaze drifted to Jasmine. “Don’t lose h
im.”
Her father had found love. And decided to tell the truth to keep that love. For the first time ever, Serena thought maybe there was hope where she and Logan were concerned. Could it be true that love conquered all? She took a deep breath, ready to find out.
* * *
THE LIVELY MUSIC from the park drifted down Main Street, along with the scent of festival food, as Logan escorted his grandmother to Blue Ridge Cottage. It was a typical fall day—there was a welcome chill in the air, the scent of smoke on the breeze and a carpet of colorful leaves that lined the sidewalk. Since it was Saturday, the Oktoberfest celebration started at noon. One week left of the big party and Golden would return to normal.
Logan couldn’t recall what normal felt like.
“You didn’t have to come with me,” his grandmother insisted as Logan kept his hand at her elbow. Serena had called and asked her to stop by the store. Grandmother wouldn’t tell him why and, intrigued by the mystery, he’d said he’d drive her. “I’m not helpless.”
“No one would ever mistake you for being helpless.”
“Don’t patronize me. I know you’re up to something, Logan Masterson.”
He was, but very soon it was all going to come to an end. Once the job was finished, he planned on pursuing Serena with every fiber of his being. She didn’t know it yet, but Logan was going to come clean about the job Deke had hired him to do. Once the truth was out in the open, he wanted to start afresh. A new beginning. Even ground, which he hadn’t allowed them so far.
Kissing her last night had been cosmic. He’d never felt that way with a woman before. Couldn’t imagine having these kinds of feelings with anyone other than Serena. She’d said she wanted to talk—about her past, he assumed. He wanted her to tell him freely, but he had to let her know he knew the truth. Had all along. But that didn’t change how he needed to be with her, like he needed air to breathe.
“You’re moving too fast, young man,” his grandmother said sternly. He slowed his pace, still impatient to get to Serena.
“What is wrong with you today, Logan?”
“It’s a beautiful fall day. I’m with my favorite person in the world and we’re going to Serena’s store. What could be better?”
“I knew it,” she crowed. “You have feelings for her.”
He pushed up the sleeves of his charcoal sweater. “I do indeed.”
She threw up her hands. “Finally!” Then she smacked him with her purse. “Took you long enough.”
“You know I don’t rush.”
“I don’t care. I’m glad you saw the light.”
A light that grew brighter with every step closer to Serena.
Before they reached the store, Deke and a group of men approached them. When Deke nodded at him, he said, “Grandmother, why don’t you go inside. I’ll be there in a minute.”
His grandmother assessed the men and sent him a wary glance. “Why doesn’t this look good?”
“Everything is fine.”
She didn’t seem convinced but went on to the store without him.
He waited for Deke. “Your brothers?” he asked in greeting.
“All of them.” Deke made the introductions.
“So we have you to thank for getting to the truth about James?” Dylan asked.
Logan downplayed his confusion. “I haven’t given Deke my report yet.”
Deke explained that Logan had gone to meet a couple whom James had scammed.
“Turns out they weren’t any help.”
“Like the meeting with Mom and James,” Dylan grumbled.
Logan watched the exchange with confusion. They’d met with Serena’s father?
“James and Serena just came clean. Told us everything,” Deke informed him.
Surprise floored Logan. “But...how? Why?”
“I’m sure our mother had a hand in the decision,” Derrick said, putting on his sunglasses.
“What did you learn during your interview?” Deke asked Logan.
“The couple didn’t believe Stanhope had anything to do with the bogus investment fund. And they’ve been paid back in full.”
The brothers looked at each other.
“What aren’t you telling me?” Logan asked when the silence went on too long.
“You’ll have to ask Serena,” Deke said. “Seems we misjudged her.”
“You’re being awfully cryptic.”
Dante walked by and clapped Logan on the shoulder. “Gotta go, dude. Oktoberfest is calling.”
With that, three of the brothers walked away. Logan stopped Deke. “That’s all I get after the time I put into this investigation?”
Deke looked him straight in the eye. “I don’t want to say more because you need to hear her side. Understand her reasoning.”
“I’m on the clock here. Fill me in.”
“No. As of today, the case is officially over. Send me an invoice.”
“Just like that? With no explanation?”
“Work things out with Serena. Then we’ll talk.” At Logan’s frustrated grumble, Deke said, “I see the way you look at her. I know how that feels because it’s how I look at Grace. You can’t leave town until you set things straight.”
“That’s all you’re going to tell me?”
“It’s all I need to say.”
Logan watched his friend stride away to catch up to his brothers, helpless to quell the confusion swamping him. What was going on here? After one final glance at his retreating friend, Logan continued his journey to the store.
He entered, immediately searching for Serena. She wasn’t to be found. Heidi came around the counter.
“Looking for your grandmother?” She pointed across the room, where Grandmother was carrying on an animated conversation with Carrie and a group of older women. “She’s visiting with some friends, taking a painting class.”
“And Serena?”
“She had an appointment this morning and hasn’t—” The back door opened and closed. “That’s probably her.”
“I’ll go meet her.”
An amused grin crossed Heidi’s face. “You do that.”
He made quick tracks to the back room. Serena’s face lit up with surprise and pleasure when she saw him. Gone were the shadows that usually darkened her eyes. “Logan. What are you doing here?”
“I brought Grandmother to see you.”
“Oh, good. Thanks. I need to talk to her.”
He watched her for a long moment.
“What?” she asked, tossing her hair over her shoulder.
“I don’t know. You look different.”
“That’s because I’ve had a good day.” She walked over and gave him a quick kiss. “Which has gotten better since you’re here.”
Despite his curiosity about what had transpired with Deke and an uneasiness in his gut warning him there was trouble ahead, he couldn’t resist wrapping his arms around Serena’s waist and tugging her close. She twined her arms around his neck and whispered, “I’m really getting used to this.”
Ignoring that internal warning system, he kissed her. Lost himself in her lavender scent and soft lips. Right now the future could wait. It was so unlike him, to push aside the facts in favor of uncertainty, but since meeting Serena much about him had changed. He needed to reassure himself that holding her close wasn’t a fantasy. That she was real and they had a chance together, because he couldn’t imagine his life without her in it.
He broke the kiss, grinning at her heavy-lidded eyes. “I suppose we’ll have to make this a daily occurrence.”
“Deal.”
“But first, we should talk.”
She slid from his embrace. “We should. Probably should have done so sooner.”
He cocked his head.
“I haven’t told you much about my family,” she said, not
meeting his gaze. He ignored the caution buzzing in him. “But after today, it’s okay.”
“It wasn’t before?” he asked even though he knew the answer.
Her cheeks went pink. “This is going to sound silly, but I thought someone was digging into my past. I know why and who, now.”
She did? And didn’t call him on it?
“My father and Deke’s mother, Jasmine, have been dating each other. There was some confusion about my dad and the brothers wanted it straightened out. That’s why Deke came to town.”
Relief made his knees weak. He still had time to tell her about his part in the investigation. “He told you that?”
“Not in so many words, but it makes sense. Whenever he came into the store he was always questioning me. Sending me strange looks. I knew something was up.”
“It also explains why you were jumpy talking about yourself.”
“I’m sorry about not being up-front.”
He ran a hand down his face.
The expression in Serena’s eyes grew troubled. “Logan, what’s wrong?”
He heard his grandmother’s voice coming closer and knew he didn’t have much time to confess.
“I haven’t been completely up-front with you, either.”
“Sure you have. You told me about your parents and what they kept from you. You get that family isn’t perfect.”
He did, but he wasn’t sure if she’d agree. “It’s not about family. It’s about my job. About you—”
“Heidi said I’d find you back here,” his grandmother said as she briskly walked up to them.
When Logan let out a low groan, Serena sent him a questioning glance.
“I hope my grandson is finally wooing you,” Grandmother said, amusement in her tone.
At Serena’s laugh, Logan said, “No one says that word anymore, Grandmother.”
“Well, they should. It’s quite acceptable. And fitting.”
“I like it,” Serena said, hooking her hand through the crook of Logan’s arm.
His grandmother smiled. “You do know I approve,” she said with a wink.
Serena looked up at him and smiled. “That means the world to me,” she said, then shook her head. “Oh, before I forget, I have something for you.”