Until Tomorrow (Boot Creek Book 3)

by Nancy Naigle

  “Is this your dream?”

  He pursed his lips, running a hand under his beard. “I guess it kind of is.”

  “You’re not sure?”

  “Well, the dream used to be building my house. The house is done.” Did he dare say his dream included a wife and children? “I guess this would be the natural next step.”

  “Then I guess you need to go to Alaska.”

  He’d have to call and let Benson know if he was coming back early. That guy took watchdogging the property seriously. If they showed up at the house and Benson rolled up to check on things, he’d likely shoot them and then ask questions. He let out a long, slow breath. “I wonder how PRIZM would feel about me splitting up my time?”

  “People around here are pretty laid back. Won’t know until you ask, but I’d think you could sell it right if you spin it as giving the students time to put some of the new techniques into practice while you’re gone, and then pick up where you left off when you get back.”

  “I like the way you think,” Ford said.

  “You should talk to them in the morning. They might have flexibility in the course schedule to break up your sessions with the students.”

  “I will definitely do that.” She had a point. It would buy the students some practice time before tackling the more difficult techniques. They could even finish an extra project. “Thank you for that suggestion. I think it could work.” It felt good to have someone on his side.

  “You’re welcome. And I’ll do you one better. I’ll make you some muffins to take in. They’re my secret weapon,” she said with a flirty wink. “No one can resist them. You’re almost guaranteed to get your way.”

  “Remind me to be careful if you ever offer me a muffin.” But he was pretty sure he’d be happy to give in to anything she wanted. The only regret he had about Flynn was not giving that little itch of attraction a chance when he’d first met her last year. Where would they be today if he had explored it back then?

  She wrinkled her nose. “I only use them for good.”

  “Sure you do,” he teased. “I can help you bake them.”

  “I might have to charge you extra if you ‘help.’”

  “I don’t even care.”

  She brought her hand up to stifle her giggles. “Then I say we get this dinner to go, and get busy.” She got up and went to the counter to switch their order to takeout. She sidled back up to the table. “They’ll bag it up for us.”

  He pulled his money out of his front pocket and walked up to the register to settle. The waitress handed a large paper bag over to Flynn. “Need utensils?”

  “No, thank you, we’re taking this home,” she said.

  Home. That sounded so good.

  They ate dinner in eleven-minute intervals between muffin rounds. When they were done they had three dozen. Enough for the whole team at PRIZM.

  He dried the last bowl as they cleaned up the kitchen and then laid the damp towel flat on the counter to dry. “Thank you for today. It was a really good day. The muffins look as good as they smell.” Her can-do attitude made him believe it too. Had he ever met anyone as thoughtful as Flynn? “Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  He wished she’d share his bed tonight, but would that push her too far too fast? He put his arms around her and kissed her. She responded immediately, matching his eagerness. Her hands stroking his neck sent pleasant jolts through him, as he explored the soft lines of her waist, her hips. Maybe it wasn’t too soon.

  She stepped back blinking with a smile. “I think we better get some sleep.”

  Was she thinking what he was thinking? His heart did a flip and then a flop, and he tried to hide the geeky teenage grin trying to escape.

  “You have a big day ahead of you tomorrow,” she said.

  “But I’ve got the secret weapon. I’m not worried.”

  “I’m not either. People around here are flexible. When you tell them what’s going on they’ll be excited for you to get back there and make the deal.”

  “Hope you’re right.” He made himself step away from her, hoping like hell she’d follow him. He reached for her hand.

  She placed her hand in his and gave it a squeeze. “Good night.” She turned and walked toward her room.

  He stood there aching for her. Say something clever. She had to be feeling the same way after that kiss, but she was already halfway down the hall. “Good night.” He walked away feeling like a dope. Why couldn’t he close the deal with her? She’d seemed interested. He thought the feeling was mutual. He’d be going back to Alaska soon. Was that more of a reason to make a move fast? Or was he just looking for any excuse to have his way with this beautiful woman?

  He slept deeply and woke up anxious.

  The smell of bacon filled the warm kitchen. “All my favorites?”

  “It’s the only way I knew to help you today, and I want to help.”

  And he wanted to kiss her again. If she kept this up, he might never want to leave. But he would. There wasn’t anything here in North Carolina that he needed. Unlike Jackson, Ford’s ties were in Tennessee. If he wasn’t in Alaska, then that’s where he’d be. If they were going to be together, it would have to be in Alaska.

  “We made your secret-weapon muffins. Are you telling me now that you’re worried that they may not work?” he asked.

  “Oh, they’ll work. No doubt there.” She hesitated. “I guess I just want to feel like part of things.”

  “Then come with me.” There. He’d said it, and man did he hope she’d say yes.

  “To work?”

  “To Alaska.”

  Chapter Seventeen

  Flynn tried to get comfortable in the spa chair next to Angie, but the truth was, her stomach was swirling as fast as that bubbling water that she’d just stuck her feet into. Angie was going to have a cow when she heard that Flynn had agreed to go to Alaska with Ford. And maybe she should. Was she crazy?

  “Can I get you ladies something to drink?” the spa owner, Miss Kelly, asked. She was a short woman with hair teased up as big as a beehive, and one of those singsongy voices that sounded like everything she said was a question.

  “Wine for me,” Angie spoke up.

  “Water for me.”

  Miss Kelly gave Flynn a tilted smile. “Are you pregnant? Wasn’t one of you getting married last year when you were here?”

  “That was her,” Flynn said. “And no. I’m not pregnant.” She wiggled her toes in the water. If only.

  The spa owner hustled to the back while two of her daughters got to work on their pedicures.

  Flynn let the young woman lift her foot from the water and remove the polish from her toes. “I was wondering if I could get you to pick up my mail next week and water my plants for me,” she said to Angie as casually as she could manage.

  “Are you going somewhere?”

  She didn’t make eye contact. Couldn’t. Angie would see right through her. “Yes.” Just tell her. I’m a grown woman. If I want to go on a trip, I can go on a trip. Just like she’d been thinking before Ford ever walked back into her life. That’s one of the benefits of owning her own business. They’d talked about it. Angie had even encouraged it.

  Angie sat quiet for a long moment, so long that Flynn was tempted to look to see if she’d even heard her.

  “Just yes?” Angie asked. “Where are you going on short notice?”

  “Alaska.” Flynn could feel the surprise zinging from Angie, even a chair’s length away. Without turning her head, she knew that Angie had catapulted to an upright position.

  “Alaska? With Ford?”

  She tried to look nonchalant. “Mmmm-hmmm. It’s on my bucket list, and he invited me. It’s just for a week. Don’t get all crazy acting.”

  “I’m your best friend. I know you. I had a feeling something good was going to happen between you two.”

  Could she tell Angie about the kiss? Part of her was afraid that if she talked about it, those feelings might disappear.
“He’s a great guy. I’m really excited about this trip. Can you believe I might actually see the Northern Lights?”

  “Yes. I can believe it. There’s a good chance this time of year to see the Northern Lights in Alaska, but this is not just about a trip to Alaska. He likes you, Flynn.”

  The words made her heart sing. Yet she said, “We barely know each other.” And even though that had been meant to back Angie down a notch, it settled like a pocket of worry on her gut. She really didn’t know him that well, but her feelings were real. Already. Was that good or bad?

  “Jackson swore me to secrecy,” Angie said, “but he and Ford talked about you when they went out the other night. He said Ford is really into you.”

  She couldn’t hide the smile that danced over her lips. “You’re going to kill me. I know it’s soon. But I’m into him too.”

  “Do you know what you’re doing?”

  “This is totally different from anything I’ve ever done or anyone I’ve done it with.”

  “You’ve done it?” Angie sat forward. “You heard her, didn’t you?”

  Miss Kelly’s daughter just smiled.

  “I heard it,” Miss Kelly said, handing Angie a glass of wine and Flynn a bottle of water. “Who is Mr. Lucky? Hope you have a warm coat. You’re going to need one in Alaska.”

  “Or maybe she won’t,” Angie teased.

  “Nothing happened. I swear. We’re friends. We have fun.” Good lord, there was no way she could tell Angie about the kiss now. She’d either try to talk her out of going or plan a bachelorette party while she was gone. She and Ford had agreed things were complicated. This just proved it.

  “Not one thing wrong with that. Best friends make the best lovers.”

  “You’re the one who told me to quit trying so hard.”

  “Exactly, and now that you have, you’re finally making a good connection; you’re not trying at all. So, are you booking separate rooms?”

  “It’s not like that, Angie. The glass shop where he worked is going up for auction. He’s going back to bid on it. I’m staying at his house.”

  “Couldn’t he just phone in a bid from here?”

  “Probably, but he wants to be there, and he invited me. It’s a once-in-a-lifetime trip.”

  “A romantic one.”

  “We’re two consenting adults taking a trip together. That’s all. He knows the place. It’ll be like having my own personal tour guide on a quick, fun trip. It’s perfect. Plus I can stay at his house and all it’s costing me is the airfare.”

  “Have you seen pictures of his house?”

  Flynn shifted in her chair. “No, but he’s told me about it.” She hadn’t even thought to ask him if he had pictures. Surely, he had some on his phone. Oh well, she’d just see it in person.

  “You’re going to fall in love with it too.”

  Too? Was she that transparent? “I did not say I was in love with him.” Fine, her feelings were bigger than she was admitting, but she was barely out of her last relationship. It was absolutely crazy to blunder into another one, especially with another craftsman—one that lived far, far away. No. She was not going to fall into that trap.

  Flynn’s phone rang, but she couldn’t reach her purse from the pedicure chair. Miss Kelly swept it up from the hook on the wall and handed it to her. “Maybe it’s your lover boy,” Miss Kelly teased. Flynn glanced at the display. It was Ford.

  “Hello?” She held the phone tight to her ear, hoping Angie and that nosy busybody Miss Kelly couldn’t overhear.

  “It’s set. They were great about rescheduling things here. I just booked two tickets for us to leave the day after tomorrow.”

  “We’re really going?”

  “Is that him?” Angie grabbed for the phone, missing. “It is, isn’t it? You better treat my best friend right,” she shouted at the phone.

  Flynn glared at Angie.

  “I take it you told her,” Ford said.

  “I was just telling her when you called. I’m so excited. We’re going to have fun.”

  “You’re going to love it. I wish we had more time so that I could take you way up north, but you’ll get a good idea of what it’s like. And hopefully I’ll be the proud owner of a new studio by the time all is said and done. Maybe you’d better bring that muffin recipe.”

  “I know it by heart, and you’re a pretty good helper.”

  Miss Kelly blew a kiss toward Flynn. “I know it when love’s in the air,” she said.

  Ford’s next words tumbled out with excitement. “I’m taking you to dinner tonight to celebrate just in case I do get the glass shop.”

  “You don’t have to do that.”

  “Sure I do. Eating at the Manic Moose Saloon is pretty good, but it’s not a celebration spot. We’ll celebrate tonight and head into Alaska feeling confident about the win.”

  “Who am I to argue?”

  Angie was mouthing “What?” from the next chair.

  Flynn held up her finger. She couldn’t listen to Angie and him at the same time, and Miss Kelly dancing around blowing kisses was a bit distracting too.

  “You don’t seem the argumentative type.”

  She smiled. “I’m not.” What was there to argue about anyway? She was going to Alaska with an amazing man who sent her insides reeling like a Vegas slot machine. And no one had made her feel this way before.

  “Good, then I’ll see you at five thirty. I’ll make the reservation.”

  She didn’t have the heart to tell him that even for Bella’s, the nicest place in town, a person didn’t need reservations.

  “We’re going to dinner,” Flynn said, tucking her phone back into the top of her purse.

  Miss Kelly took her purse and hung it back on the wall. “In Alaska?”

  “No, at Bella’s,” Flynn said. “Tonight.”

  Angie looked dumbstruck. “And you’re really going to Alaska.”

  “Yep. He already bought the tickets.”

  “He’s paying for your ticket?”

  “I didn’t ask him to buy it. I mean, I expected I’d pay my own way. I’ll pay him back.”

  “Clearly he had other things in mind. Sweetie, you are the prize here. If he wants to pay for your ticket . . . let him. Jackson said Ford seemed very interested in catching up with you from the very minute he hit town.”

  “We’re just two friends that were in your wedding. We have something in common. You and Jackson. You shouldn’t be surprised that we get along—you and Jackson do. I’m doing so well for once at keeping my distance, don’t encourage me.”

  “I’m not. I’m just observing.”

  “What am I going to wear tonight?” Flynn mentally raked through her jam-packed closet. “I could wear my black dress with the pink flowers on it.”

  “And that nail polish will look perfect. I love that dress on you,” Angie said.

  “Good. We’re celebrating to put positive vibes out to the universe to help him get the building. I hope it works out.”

  Angie just smiled.

  “He’s really excited.”

  “And if you didn’t care about how he felt, you wouldn’t be nearly this excited.” Angie settled back in her chair. “What’s that saying? When someone else’s happiness is your happiness. That is love.”

  Flynn flopped back in the chair. She couldn’t win with Angie these days. That quote replayed in her mind.

  Ford sat in the living room flipping through channels on the television while he waited for Flynn to finish getting dressed. Jackson had assured him his white dress shirt and blue jeans were adequate attire for Bella’s.

  Jackson hadn’t said anything specific, but the undertones in the conversation let Ford know that Jackson approved if anything happened between him and Flynn. A year ago they’d acted like they were protecting him from her. Talking about her biological clock and her being on the hunt.

  He understood the urgency she felt. He had it too. He wanted a family. A life to share. Memories that would fill up his hear
t and soul for a lifetime. Were there real feelings growing between them? His felt real. Mess-up-his-gut-when-he-laid-eyes-on-her real.

  “Are you ready?” Flynn said.

  He dropped the remote and turned to see her standing in the doorway in a short black dress with hella high heels that made her legs look longer than summer days in Alaska. Her hair was swept back into a silver barrette, and soft, messy curls peeked out from the back; curls he wanted to run his hands through.

  “Wow.”

  She brushed the bottom of her dress with her palms.

  “You look beautiful.”

  “Thank you.”

  He stood staring, but he couldn’t help himself. He didn’t want to break the moment or the feeling that had come over him just now. “Yes. Yes, I’m ready. Jackson said we could walk over from here, but those don’t look like take-a-walk shoes.”

  “Sure they are.” She jogged in place. “See.”

  “Hurts me just thinking about it.”

  “Lucky for you, you’ll never have to find out. Bella’s is only two blocks over. It’s a pretty night. We can walk.”

  “Just as well, because there’s no way I’m putting you in Jackson’s old farm pickup looking like you do.”

  “Don’t be silly. I’m the same girl you just taught to blow glass. The one in the T-shirt and messy bun.”

  He could only imagine how she might look in his T-shirt and nothing else.

  “Let’s go.” She led him to the front door, only a small black wallet in her hand. They went down the walkway and he took her hand as they crossed the street and walked up the block.

  Bella’s was humming when they walked in. A waitress stopped at the counter by the door, looking so frazzled he wasn’t sure she even noticed them standing right in front of her.

  “I made a reservation,” Ford said. “Morton.”

  “You can seat yourself anywhere you like,” the waitress said, then pivoted toward the kitchen.

  “Have a preference?” he asked Flynn.