by Marina Adair
They would have a hard time replacing her, but finding herself a new job would be easy. She was still close with her former boss and knew they’d take her back in an instant. Maybe not in the position she’d had, but she could work her way back in no time.
“Charlotte,” Reginald said with a softness that made her want to say yes to whatever he asked. “Regardless of what the board decides, you know that you will always have a position here with Sugar Medical.”
Good thing Charlotte wasn’t a yes-girl anymore. She wasn’t open to handouts or being overlooked. She wanted what she deserved.
“Actually, I’m not here as Charlotte, I’m here as Dr. Holden,” she corrected, surprised to see a hint of admiration flash in her father’s eyes. “And there is only one position I am interested in, and it is the one I am the most qualified for. I have worked hard for this town and this hospital, and no one else can run the Grow Clinic better. Mercy Alliance sees that, the staff sees that, but if this board can’t see what I bring to the table then I need to go somewhere that can.”
“You can’t leave.” He father stood, and actually appeared distraught. “You are a Holden. Your place is here.”
And even though the girl in Charlotte, who longed for her father to understand and accept her without question, wanted so badly for her place to be beside her father, the older, I Am Woman Charlotte, who had recently learned what was important, wanted to weep for the man whose entire identity and purpose was defined by expectations of dead ancestors.
“I love you, Dad, but I belong where I can make the biggest difference. I belong with people who believe in me and what I can give.” She paused and found herself smiling. “Hell, I belong with my husband.”
And if there was one thing that could upstage a living-in-sin story, it was a four-time former Miss Peach using foul language when announcing news that she’d gotten hitched.
“You’re married?” her mother said over the chaos. “Did she say she’s married?”
“Yes, I did, Mom. I married an amazing man I love.” Charlotte looked over at Hattie who was a bit shiny in the eyes. “Which makes me a McGraw. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go bring my husband home.”
Unable to remain silent a second longer, Darleen shot to her feet, and her first words as regent were, “Wait, she gets the money, the honorable you-were-the-best-regent-we’ve-ever-had farewell, and the last McGraw?”
And as Charlotte walked out the door to find her husband, she heard her mother ask, “If she’s not married to Cal, and the golf player married that Yankee last year, then… Oh my word. Did she marry the one with the tattoos?” Her mother hissed the last word as though she was talking about the devil himself.
“He’s got a record, too,” Hattie said, and although Charlotte couldn’t see her face, she could hear the pride in her grandmother-in-law’s voice. Because when McGraws loved, it was a soul-deep, all-in, no-exceptions kind of thing.
And Charlotte would be crazy to let that walk out of her life.
* * *
Jace was pacing the back bay at Kiss My Glass Tow and Tires. Spencer was in her office taking her sweet-ass time, typing every letter with her pointer fingers, knowing that it was driving him insane.
“Your fifteen minutes ended fifteen minutes ago,” he hollered.
“Keep talking and it will take fifteen more,” Spencer hollered back.
Jace ran a hand down his face. He’d never felt so much pressure in his life. He’d received exactly seven texts in the last two minutes, six telling him Charlotte was on her way and one from Ben that just read: YOU’RE A PUSSY.
Truer words had never been texted before. Last night, after talking to Charlotte’s dad, Jace knew that the only way to salvage her life here was to leave. He still hadn’t figured out a plan, hadn’t figured out how they would see each other, and the drive-by relationship that they were looking at wasn’t worth her losing everything. Because it wouldn’t just be her job. The second Charlotte found out that her dad, the guy who was supposed to be in her corner no matter what, had offered her position to Ben, she’d lose her belief in herself—and she’d worked too damn hard to find it again only to lose it in the next breath.
So he’d gone back to her house, packed up his things, signed the annulment, and headed for the county line. Only to stop when he got there and realize what he was leaving behind.
He’d found something he’d long ago given up expecting to find—home. And he’d found it in his family, and his hometown, and even with his niece. Most importantly, he’d found it with Charlotte.
Jace plopped down on the stool and hung his head in his hands. Charlotte, with her big heart and grand life plans, had somehow looked beyond his reputation and troubled track record and offered her heart to the riskiest bet in town.
And he’d run.
“If I were her I’d shoot you first, then ask you what the hell,” Spencer said, coming out of the office, a stack of newly printed papers in her hand. “If she did, it would make my life easier.”
“Hers, too,” Jace admitted.
“Well, in case you live.” Spencer handed over the contract it had taken her longer to type than the Bible.
Jace flipped through it, skimmed the highlights, signing it when he was satisfied. “This is fair.”
“Yay me,” Spencer said, then looked over his shoulder. “A friendly reminder, you are in a family drama, marital dispute, and gun-free zone.” She patted the gun on her hip. “So if you feel the need, take him outside first. Blood is a bitch to get out of concrete.”
Jace turned around and his breath caught and he knew he’d made the right decision in coming back to Sugar last night.
Charlotte was standing at the entry to the bay looking so damn beautiful his chest ached. She was in one of her flowy dresses, a soft green that matched her eyes, and the sun was reflecting off her hair, which was down and spilling over her shoulders.
She was holding the annulment.
“Hey,” she said, her voice calm and reserved. “I was looking for a mechanic.”
“A mechanic,” he repeated, the blood pounding in his head so loud he was certain he misunderstood.
“Yeah, about three or so weeks ago I came in looking for new tires, but I ended up getting an entire life overhaul. Only, last night it sputtered to a stop, and I’d like him to explain so I can get a refund.”
Jace had no idea what to make of this, so he asked, “A refund?”
“And that’s my cue,” Spencer said. “I’m not sure if ‘refund’ is couples’ code for sex or if this is a fight. Either way I’m officially creeped out.” Spencer grabbed the contract, then a doughnut from the box, and headed into her office. “Thank you for coming. Have a nice day.”
The door slammed and he was alone with the woman he loved. And there was nowhere to run.
* * *
Charlotte walked over to her husband, stopping when she was close enough to see the gentle shadows beneath his eyes, and the uncertainty and utter desolation in those intense blue pools. Jace might have an impeccable poker face, but he wasn’t hiding anything right then.
“I ran,” he admitted. “I saw what you had created here, and God, I wanted to be a part of that, a part of your world, but then I talked to your father and realized that the foundation you built was crumbling. Because of me. So I went home to talk to you, then I saw your kitchen table and bedroom and pictures on the wall, everything we’d talked about building, and I couldn’t take that from you. Couldn’t take your family from you. So I ran. I wish I could tell you different.”
Jace looked so alone, so incredibly lost, Charlotte wanted to reach out and hold him. Tell him that she loved him, but she knew the second they made contact she’d lose it. And this was too important.
“I waited,” she said quietly. “All night. I never gave up, knowing that you had to have a good explanation, a good reason for doing what you did. But morning came and I made coffee and you never came. Then I realized that you did have a reason. Y
ou had the best reason, but I was afraid I was too late.”
“Please don’t say that, baby,” Jace said, his face falling. “I panicked because I didn’t have a plan. Not one that could give you everything you deserve.”
“I deserve to have a say,” she said quietly.
“I know, and that’s why I’m asking you to sign that.” He touched the rim of the annulment and her heart sank. That was not what she wanted to hear. “Look, I fucked up. From the start it was one mistake after another. Ah, Jesus.” He ran a shaky hand down his face and grimaced. “That sounded so much better in my head, it really did. What I mean is I want to do this right. For you. You deserve for me to get this right.”
The sweetness in his voice made it hard to swallow.
“Jace—” she managed.
“No, please let me finish,” he begged, and even though it broke her heart she let him. “A lot of people depend on you in this town, and I want to be the kind of guy you can depend on. And I don’t want a drive-by relationship. I want our first date to not be in some dive and I want it to end with a kiss at the front door. Maybe tongue, maybe not.” He paused, shoved his hands in his pockets, and they trembled he was so nervous. “Probably tongue. But I want to court you, and date you, get to know your family and friends. I want to pick you up for lunch, and build little inside jokes, and bring you flowers at work. And when the time is right, I want to take you for a ride around town in my car with a sign on the back that says I just got hitched to the hot doctor. And I want to do that here, in Sugar, full-time.”
“But what about the garage in Atlanta?” He’d worked so hard, she didn’t want him to give that up.
“Atlanta doesn’t have you.”
“I don’t want that,” she admitted, then met his gaze, hers strong and steady. His crumbled right in front of her so she took his free hand and laced it with hers.
For most of Charlotte’s life, acceptance and love had to be earned, it was doled out according to achievement. Not with Jace. From the beginning he had embraced her for who she was. Even now he was trying to give her the ridiculous courtship she’d always said she wanted, because he knew it wasn’t ridiculous to her. He’d given her the wonderful gift of unconditional acceptance, a gift that changed her life, and now it was time to give that gift back to him.
“I want you to have your dream garage, and I want the marriage we have.”
“But people will know that we kept it a secret,” he said. “It could cost you the position.”
“I choose you, Jace,” she said, her voice shaking. “I choose you over a job or a title or even my family. I choose you for exactly who you are and where you’ve been. I choose your hugs and naptime shenanigans. I choose the guy who remembered what dress I wore to my interview and the guy who smiles when he talks about his nieces but frowns when he talks about anyone else in his family.”
She stepped forward and placed a hand on his chest, and she felt him shudder. “I choose you because I love you. I love that you rebuilt your dad’s car, punched some jerk out for mistreating his girlfriend, and I love that everything with you feels like a great adventure. But most of all, Jace McGraw, I love that you love so deeply and intensely that sometimes you have to run just to breathe.”
She stepped even closer so he could see the conviction in her eyes. “But know that no matter how far you run, I will be right next to you. I let you walk away once and it was the biggest mistake of my life.” She cupped his cheek, which was rough against her hand. But the look in his eyes was soft enough to melt her heart. “You’re my home, Jace. Let me be yours. Wherever that is.”
“I love you,” he said, relief in his tone. “I have loved you every single second of every single day for the past four years. Maybe even longer. But when I saw you in that bar, wearing those boots, I knew you were trouble, knew that one taste and I’d be a goner.”
He lifted their twined hands to his mouth and kissed her fingers. “Everything is sweeter with you. I love you, Charlie. You are my home. My everything.”
Charlotte felt her eyes tear up and her heart expand with love. She took the annulment and tossed it over her shoulder, then went up on her toes and showed him just how sweet she could be.
When she pulled back he asked, “When you said you ‘didn’t want that,’ did you mean just the dating part or staying in Sugar?”
“I want to be wherever life takes us,” she admitted, loving the way his arms circled her waist, holding her as though he’d never let go.
“Thank God,” he said. “I just signed a year lease with Spencer to rent out half her shop. If I renege she might shoot me.”
“You’re opening your shop here?”
He shrugged. “Seems like I am a pretty big deal. I already have three teams who want to hire me to consult and send me their engines. Even if I live in Sugar. Go figure.” He smiled. “Now, you still want to talk about that refund?”
She returned his smile, her heart so light she felt as if she were flying. She didn’t know exactly what the future held, but that was the part she was the most excited about. Life with Jace would be unpredictable, and messy, and beautifully full. “Yup. I want my three or so weeks back. But with lots of public displays of affection.”
“How about I take your three or so weeks and match you with forever,” he said, pulling her to him for the first daily kiss of the rest of their lives.
Epilogue
A month later
Charlotte stood at the top of the steps, looking down at Jace. It was the beginning of December, and a light dusting of snow covered the ground and the dock, making the day more magical than Charlotte could have imagined.
And Jace, he looked even more handsome than she could have imagined, too. He was dressed in black slacks, a sky-blue button-down that fit his big, built body to perfection, a tie, and a black leather riding jacket, taking the whole lethal GQ to mouthwatering levels.
Her very own sex pistol.
“What are you doing here?” she asked, pulling her coat tightly around her. “You aren’t supposed to see me yet.”
Charlotte had kept her dress over at Glory’s so Jace would stop snooping through the closet. She’d caught him on three separate occasions trying to peek in the canvas dress bag, and she didn’t want to give him a fourth shot. Not when she wanted today to go perfectly.
“And miss our morning ritual?” He held up two to-go cups. “Plus, I wanted to be the first to see you,” he said with a smile that was all trouble.
She liked trouble, as he well knew, which was why she slowly undid the belt of her coat. With a secret smile all her own, she stopped. “Unless you’d like to do the honors?”
Jace was on her in two seconds flat, setting the mugs on the porch rail. His hands made themselves comfortable at her waist, his eyes were on her mouth. He leaned in for a nuzzle then stopped and pulled back. Eyes narrowed. “You smell like mint? Did you start without me?”
“No, I had ice cream for breakfast,” she said. “It’s a big day, you know.”
“Oh, I know.” His eyes went the length of her, and he ran a finger over her coat’s belt. “May I, Doctor?”
Charlotte put her hands on his shoulders and watched as he slowly untied the belt, then eased his fingers between the layers and popped the first button. Then the second. And the higher he got the harder she was breathing.
“Last one,” he said. His fingers hovered over her breasts. Eyes on her, he popped it and the coat fell open and she heard the air whoosh out of his lungs. Her lungs were whooshing, too, the desire on his face did that to her.
“Do you like the dress?” she whispered when he just kept staring.
“Savoring. Need a minute.”
She did him one even better, she took the lapels of the coat and pulled it all the way open, giving him a view that he’d remember until the day he died. His eyes roamed over her, then his hands, exploring every single inch of the dress.
He got to her waist and ran his palms over the little belt, and th
en up to touch the delicate scalloped neckline.
“Just like I remembered,” he said.
“I made it from memory.” He looked up at her words, his eyes heavy-lidded. “No knitting needles, but there was some hand stitching involved in the hemline. And I assure you it was all very domestic.”
“I do love domestic,” he said, scooping her up off the porch to cradle her to his chiseled chest. “But domestic will have to wait until quitting time, because right now, Doctor, you are running late for your first day of work.”
Jace walked her down the steps and ceremoniously placed her in the front seat of his Stingray. He leaned over, strapped her in, spending a little longer than necessary with the buckle, then gave her one hell of a good-morning kiss. “And we can’t have the new medical director late for the grand opening of the clinic.”
Jace shut her door then walked around the car. He climbed in and handed her an insulated lunch sack—it was I-am-woman pink. “What’s this?”
With that boyish grin she loved, he opened the bag and inside were all of her favorites. He pointed to the peanut butter and banana sandwich and peach. “For lunch. And for after.” He held up a doughnut, then pulled four quarters out of the side pocket, the exact amount needed for an ice-cream bar. “In case after isn’t enough for you.”
A flash of blue lace caught her eye in the bottom of the bag. She pulled out the fabric, a sky-blue G-string dangling from her fingers, and sent him a sidelong glance. “And what’s this for?”
“The ride home,” he said with so much heat her body shimmered. “Now hold on, I only have six minutes to get you across town so you can cut the ribbon, and I want to take a slow drive down Maple Street first, to show off my smoking-hot wife.”
“I love you, Jace.”
“I love you, Dr. McGraw.” Jace cranked the engine and let it purr. “One taste and I knew you were it. You were home,” he said as he stepped on the gas and they sped down the road and toward the best forever she could have ever dreamed.