by Hayes, Somer
I made myself put away the hurt long enough to look around through unjaded eyes and had to agree. The tent, tablecloths, and waiters were all dressed in white. Everything else was accented with navy and silver. It was a gorgeous combination in the foothills of Montana on the eve of winter.
At seven o’clock, I watched the last carriage arrive and deliver Rhett, Tripp, a woman I’d never seen before, and, of course, Beau. He climbed out of the carriage then reached up to assist the woman out. For a sickening moment I wondered if she was his date, but then Tripp took her hand, and it was obvious she was his. I blew out an unsteady breath and tried to pull myself together as Beau made his way to our table and greeted everyone.
He looked amazing in a sharp tux that must have been made specifically for him. His tie was navy to match the theme of the night, and it brought out his dark blue eyes. He went around the table exchanging greetings and pleasantries, and when he came to me, it was no different.
“Grace, nice to see you again,” he said, and his face gave nothing away.
“You, too, Beau,” I said politely though I felt as though I would choke on my heart when it relocated to my throat.
“Etta, you look ravishing,” he said and took the seat next to her.
“You don’t look half bad yourself,” she told him. He grinned at her, and my heart nearly stopped. I knew I missed him, but I hadn’t realized the depth until that moment. My entire body ached and called to him. He seemed oblivious as he leaned back in his chair and focused his attention on the stage.
Rhett stepped up to the microphone and welcomed everyone. He explained that the cost of the ticket they’d purchased to attend tonight would go to the Maverick Bison Refuge, and after we listened to the orchestra play, they would have some unique opportunities to support the symphony as well.
“Everyone, please sit back, enjoy your dinner and the concert.”
Linda appeared on the stage, and we all clapped in welcome. She addressed the orchestra, and as they began to play, the waiters served dinner. I looked down at my plate of beef, chicken, and vegetables and wished I had the appetite to eat such a delicious looking meal. I did my best to pick at it and not waste it, but it became difficult to swallow around the lump in my throat.
My eyes kept bouncing to Beau. He seemed completely relaxed and at ease, a small smile played on his face as he watched the concert. It was confirmation that I’d done the right thing by ending it when I had, but it still hurt.
After the concert ended and Linda took her bow, Rhett went back up to the stage and welcomed the auctioneer we’d hired for the evening. He would be auctioning off everything from a date-night package to the symphony, to season tickets, to several options for naming rights.
The night mixed with the beautiful music and the wine was an intoxicating combination, and I was surprised and pleased by the generosity of the crowd. I kept a running tally in my head waiting for the numbers to add up to the one that equaled my ticket back home. The tipping point came in the form of an older couple who bought the naming rights to one of the private suites. With their purchase, they’d helped me reach my fundraising goal for the year, and that meant I could go home.
The sale meant nothing special to anyone else in the crowd, but it had been a life-changing moment for me. I could feel a weight lift off my shoulders, but my chest still felt heavy. I realized that was because it held my heart, and my heart still held mixed feelings about leaving Montana and never seeing Beau again.
Regardless, that’s what would happen. I would tie up any loose ends, then I would go back home to New Hampshire, and I would support the Great Falls Symphony from there. I blinked back the sudden threat of tears and reached for my wine glass. The rest of the sales went by in a blur until the final item of the night came up for bid-naming rights of the theater itself.
The auctioneer held up the paper to read aloud what was up for bid, but as he read his face changed. “Ladies and gentlemen, it seems we’ve had an anonymous donor purchase the naming rights to the theater.”
That caught my attention, and my eyebrows furrowed. That seemed odd. Someone wanted it bad enough to circumvent the fundraiser? I glanced around, wondering if anyone would be frustrated that the grand finale was over before it had begun, but people clapped and nodded their support and then went back to their food and drinks.
Okay then. That was that. My final fundraiser in Montana was over. I could call it a night and begin making my plans to go back home. I leaned over to Etta to give her a squeeze and tell her goodnight. She seemed surprised that I was leaving so soon, but I smiled apologetically and said I was tired.
Beau seemed deep in conversation with the gentleman on his left, so I addressed the rest of the table, bid them goodbye, and went to the carriages. I climbed into the first one I found, and the driver wordlessly nudged the horse forward. He must have picked up on my mood because he didn’t bother making small talk on the journey back to the house. I was able to hold myself together until I got in the car, but as soon as I closed the door behind me, I felt my face crumple, and the tears fell.
I cried out all the pain of the past few weeks. I cried the hurt of being ignored by Beau. I cried for the wasted evening. I cried about leaving this beautiful place with a broken heart. And I cried for myself because I knew I was undeniably and irrevocably in love with Beau Maverick.
* * *
The Monday morning after the concert at the Maverick Ranch I went to my office at the theater. It was time to finalize plans, make preparations, and tie up any loose ends before I went back to New Hampshire and my job as executive director of the Manchester Philharmonic. I should be elated. I’d crushed my goal, and the board was anxious for me to implement some of my plans within my home symphony. Instead, I just felt hollow and tired.
I fired up my laptop and pulled up my emails. I found one from the auctioneer from the fundraiser titled ‘Final Sale Spreadsheet.’ I opened it and scrolled through all the items we’d sold and the amount they’d gone for. Everything looked right until I got to the bottom row. The naming rights for the theater.
My mouth went dry, and my eyes sprang wet with tears.
Anonymous Bidder purchases naming rights for Montana Theater. Name: The G. Sutherland Theater.
The anonymous bidder had named the theater after me. I knew immediately who it was, but my mind couldn’t wrap around the why. I decided I couldn’t leave Montana without knowing. Which meant I would have to speak to Beau Maverick.
36
Beau
I had just finished feeding Chip and was pouring coffee into a thermos for our walk to work when I heard the doorbell ring. I glanced at the clock and thought it was odd I’d have a visitor before eight o’clock in the morning. I went to the door and checked the security camera screen.
Grace.
I took a deep breath and opened the door.
“Why did you do this?” she asked and held up a piece of paper.
Not what I’d expected. “Why did I do what?”
She shoved the paper at me. “This. Why would you purchase the naming rights to the theater for five times what you knew we were hoping for?”
I hadn’t expected the list of auctioned items to make it back to her so quickly. I was slightly taken aback. I searched her face. “Why do you think?”
Her lip trembled, and a tear slid down her cheek. “Do you really want to be rid of me so badly?”
“Is that what you think?” I asked.
“You knew what my goal was, and you exceeded it by enough to keep the theater up and running for the next five years. Did you do it so I’d go back to New Hampshire?”
Whatever reaction I had expected to get out of her, this wasn’t it. I hated seeing her tears and wanted nothing more than to pull her into me and hug the pain away.
“You are so dumb,” I told her.
She reared back as if I’d slapped her. “Excuse me?”
“You. Are. So. Dumb,” I enunciated. “I named the theater after you
because you deserve it. You singlehandedly brought it back to life, and once the renovations are complete and this town is enjoying the symphony again, I think people need to remember who made it happen.”
I clenched my jaw feeling emotional and hating it.
She seemed stunned. She blinked. “You mean that?”
“I was doing a great job of ignoring you. Do you think I’d spend that kind of money just to get rid of you?” I looked at her and tried to tamp down my anger. “Is that really who you think I am?”
All the fight left her, and she cried in earnest then. “I thought I knew who you were, but I got so mixed up. I became so afraid of getting hurt that I thought maybe we should end it before it got too serious.”
I reached out to take her face in my hands. I wiped her tears away with my thumbs. “Grace, it was serious the moment we met, and you know it.”
Her dark eyes met mine, and she nodded, lip trembling. “But what about my job? I’m done here. The board back in Manchester is expecting me.”
“Screw them,” I said more vehemently than I’d intended to. “You’re accusing me of trying to get rid of you when that’s literally what they did. They sent you, alone, to a place you’d never been before with what should have been an impossible task. Only now that they see you actually know what you’re doing, they want you back.” I shook my head. “They’re using you. Surely you can see that?”
“It’s… it’s all I’ve ever known,” she said. “It’s home.”
“Just because you were born there doesn’t make it your home,” I said softly and pulled her into me. I placed her hand over my racing heart. “I have loved you since the first moment I laid eyes on you. I love the spark you bring to my life. I love the challenge. I love who you are and how you make me want to be a better man. I love your loud shoes and your red lips.” I took her chin in my other hand and tipped her face so she’d look at me. “I love you, Grace, and I want to be your home now.”
There. I’d said it. The thing I’d been wanting to say but had chickened out for these past weeks. She could turn me down and rip my heart out taking it with her back to Manchester, but at least I’d know I’d given it my all.
Her big brown eyes searched my face. “Why haven’t you called?”
I wanted to laugh and shake her at the same time. “Why haven’t you?” I countered, and she cracked a smile.
“Stay here, Grace. Just because you’ve hit your goal at the theater doesn’t mean you have to cut and run. There is plenty of work still to be done. You’ve got enough in the account to pay your salary now, so you don’t have to rely on Manchester anymore. We can do this together. Just say you’ll stay.”
Her face broke into a watery smile. “I don’t want to leave. I love it here. I love the theater and the people and the mountains and the fresh air. I don’t want to go back to Manchester and that awful, stuffy board. I’ve just never pictured anything different for my life.”
I took her hand and led her to a swing on my porch, then sat down and pulled her into my lap. I brushed my fingers down her eyelids so she would close her eyes. “Picture this,” I began. “Waking up with the windows open to the sounds and smells of the Rocky Mountains. Picture Claire growing stronger and thriving. Picture the beautiful new theater you helped design. Picture the music, the kids, the community.” I let my fingers drop from her eyelids and rested them on her lips. “Picture waking up next to a man who loves you more than his own life. Picture him asking you to marry him. Picture a fall wedding. Picture kids… a family.”
Her eyes opened and looked into mine. “I love you, Beau. I want to picture a new life with you.”
I squeezed her to me. “Stay with me,” I whispered.
I felt her smile before I heard her words. “I’ll stay.”
The burst of happiness that exploded in my chest had me on my feet. I spun her in a circle, and we both laughed through our tears. She wrapped her legs around my waist, took my face in her hands, and kissed me deeply.
I heard a whine at my feet, and we looked down at Chip who had joined us on the porch. Grace laughed. “Impeccable timing as always, Chip.” Her eyes softened. “And yes, I missed you, too.”
My chest flooded with hot love and passion for the woman I held in my arms and hoped never to let go. I thought back to our first meeting and the heated interactions we’ve had ever since. I smiled mischievously. “Ms. Sutherland?”
She grinned up at me. “Yes, Mr. Maverick?”
“I’d like to waste the entire day in bed making sweet, sweet love to you.”
“I would be happy to oblige,” she said with a laugh.
“Just one more thing,” I told her.
“What’s that,” she asked and wrapped her arms around my neck for another kiss.
I smiled against her mouth. “It’s Dr. Maverick.”
The End
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About the Author
Somer Hayes is an avid reader and writer of stories, hailing from the Midwest. She lives in the liberal mecca of Kansas with her husband, young son, and two ornery dogs. Somer holds a bachelor degree in Human Services and Victim Studies, and a Master degree in Social Work, but her passion has always been reading and writing books. When she's not chasing her little boy or attempting DIY home improvement, she's jotting down story ideas and dreaming big.
Acknowledgments
Dallas: Thank you for the time to write. For doing the laundry and dishes and keeping Severin busy so I had the opportunity to write this book. I appreciate the support you gave me so I could pursue this dream. I love you.
Severin: You don't understand it yet, but I'm grateful for your role in my writing. You inspire me daily.
Mom: Thank you for your endless excitement and promotion. You are the very bestest.
Emily and Megan: You are the best writing buddies I could ask for. Thank you for all the virtual high-fives.
Nicki Kuzn with Booktique Editing: You make the editing process a painless learning experience. I'm grateful for your hard work and knowledge.
Patty with Prism Heart Press: Thank you for the opportunity to write Beau and Grace's story. I appreciate your time, patience and encouragement.