by Zoe York
“But I thought you said that it would be difficult to get hired.”
He nodded. “That’s why I’m going back to school.” He wiggled his hand under her thigh and pulled something from his pocket. “After my meeting, I dropped in at the university. Turns out they have a pretty decent Faculty of Education.”
Something bright sparked in her chest and she sat a little straighter. “And—“
“And the admissions officer thought I’d probably be a good fit for their M.Sc. program.”
She squealed and flung herself on top of him. “That’s brilliant. Totally perfect. I can’t believe I didn’t think of that—you are going to be the hottest grad student on campus. I’m going to buy you a backpack.”
He chuckled into her hair. “I already have a backpack.”
“This one’s going to have Laney’s Boyfriend embroidered on it so all the coeds know to keep their mitts off of you.”
He hugged her tight, then eased her off his lap.
She moved back toward their dinner, but turned when she realized he wasn’t following. It took her a second to process why he was kneeling in the space between the couch and the coffee table.
“Kyle?” She breathed his name, her voice filled with hope and longing, and she didn’t care because even though she should have gotten it before, even though he’d shown her in deed and told her in word, now she really knew that this was forever. And she didn’t care about being a cliché, not one little bit.
“Laney.” In contrast, his voice was rich and deep, loaded with confidence. But there was hope too, they shared that, and hearing all of that in just her name, the tears started. “Oh sweetheart, if you cry, you’re not going to hear the good part.”
“It’s all pretty good,” she whispered, stepping closer to take his outstretched hand.
“Delaney Calhoun, I’ve loved you since the seventh grade. I’m an idiot, so I didn’t realize it until I was twenty-two, and then I let you go, a bonehead move that I will always regret. You went on an amazing journey, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to support you. You didn’t need it, of course, but damn…I wish I hadn’t missed it. I don’t want to miss anything else. I want to be your rock. Your forever. You’re already mine. So I’m here now, on bended knee, asking you to be my wife.”
She was nodding before the ring magically appeared in his other hand, and he grinned as big fat tears fell on the sparkling solitaire.
“Will you marry me, Laney?”
The nodding and crying continued as she sank to her knees and he wrapped himself around her. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Oh my god, yes.” She kissed him hard on the mouth, then pulled back and bit her lip. “The backpack label will have to change.”
He sat back on his knees and she climbed on top of him again. Dinner was going to have to wait a bit longer.
EPILOGUE
Cars lined the road between Evening Lane Farm and the school house, and probably stretched just as far again on the other side.
“How many people do you think are over there?” Laney peeked out the window, looking toward her mother’s house.
Kyle came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Too many. Let’s stay here and get naked instead.”
“It’s our engagement party. Our absence would probably be noticed.”
“It’ll go all night. We’ve got some time.” He nuzzled her neck and she turned in the circle of his arms. “We’re packing, it’s a decent excuse.”
Most of his clothes were already in Chicago. The furniture was all staying. They were keeping the school house so they’d have a private place to stay when visiting. “No one will believe it. You don’t have that much stuff.”
Claire and Eleanor had wanted to throw a huge party right after they got engaged, but since Kyle and Laney only had two weekends together each month, their mothers agreed to wait until the summer. Evening Lane was the obvious location. The boat was moved out of the barn to make room for a potluck lunch, and it seemed like everyone in the county had been invited.
They decided to walk over, as the closest parking spot was their own driveway, and a shiny black sports car had just blocked in Kyle’s pickup truck anyway.
“You made it, you bastard! I thought you were in France.” Kyle stepped forward and clapped Ty on the shoulder as they shook hands.
“Wouldn’t miss your engagement party, man. This is a big deal.” Their driveway interloper turned and flashed a brilliant smile in her direction. “Laney Calhoun, it’s been a long time. Congratulations.”
She returned the smile. “Thank you. I hear business is booming. Nice ride.”
He clapped his hands together and hooted. “Ain’t she, though? Just picked her up yesterday. A little bonus for selling out our subscription this year.”
The men talked shop on the walk up the road, and Laney listened with one ear. But the rest of her attention drifted to her surroundings, this place of big skies, dusty roads, fields filled with tall stalks of corn and endless rows of soybeans. There were probably two hundred people ahead at the farm, and she could hear them, but she could also hear the scuff of her boot against gravel, the hearty laughs of her fiancé and then right in front of her, a white butterfly fluttered by and she would swear she heard its wings.
Wardham would always be the home in her heart. But her heart had found a home in the man ahead of her, and with the dog loping along at his feet. As if he knew she was thinking about him, Buddy turned as if to tell her to hurry up, and she laughed quietly to herself. Her life before had been good. Nice. Pleasant. But now…it was so much better. It was real and sweet and complicated and precious.
Kyle entwined his fingers into hers as they arrived at the farm. Ted climbed on top of the picnic table and clinked his beer bottle with his keys. Everyone else joined in, making noise with whatever they had in their hands, and Kyle swept Laney into a kiss that would normally make church ladies blush, but today was greeted with cheers. He raised his hand, and the crowd quieted.
“Thank you all, so much. It means a lot to Laney and me that everyone is so happy about our engagement.”
“When’s the wedding?” someone catcalled from the back of the crowd.
Kyle laughed and shook his head. “I’m trying to convince my bride to run away with me to Jamaica for that. If our mothers have anything to say about it, I’m sure it will be right here, next summer.”
A few people murmured about hurrying up, and Laney stiffened. She didn’t want to get into twenty questions about when they were going to have children. Kyle stroked her back and smiled. “There’s no hurry, folks. I’m really enjoying being engaged to this beautiful woman, finally—” cheers sounded loudly to that pronouncement “—and when we exchange vows, it’ll be when it’s right for us.”
Claire was the first to hug the bride-to-be, which started a chain reaction that suspiciously resembled a receiving line. An hour later, Laney had talked to almost everyone there. A few people tucked envelopes of money into her pocket, which she found quite touching, and no one asked the baby question.
She made her way to the barn, her stomach growling. She’d seen people walking around with plates of Mrs. Frid’s secret meatballs, and she hoped there were some left. Ted was there, along with a handsome young man.
“Laney, have you met Liam yet?” She’d just forked a meatball into her mouth, so she shook her head. “My sister’s boy. He’s come to stay with me for the summer. He’s looking to buy property here.”
Liam shook his head and laughed. “Uncle Ted, you gotta stop introducing me as a boy.”
She chuckled and accepted his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Congratulations. I’ve heard a lot about you, and your family.”
“Thanks. Have you met my mom and my sister yet? They’re both around...” Laney swiveled her head in vain. “They’re somewhere. What kind of property are you looking for?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know when I see it. Maybe a duplex,
something I could fix up and rent out.”
She felt Kyle approach before he spoke. “Hey, you must be Ted’s nephew.”
“Word travels fast, eh?” Liam nodded.
“Mrs. Wilson told me that the young newcomer was hitting on my woman.”
Laney smacked Kyle lightly on the stomach. “I told you not to call me that in public.”
He growled in her ear, and she grinned at the other two men. “Excuse me, gentlemen, I need to have a word with my fiancée.” She laid a quick kiss on Kyle’s jaw. “But first, I need to eat something.”
They loaded up plates of food and settled on straw bales just outside the barn.
“This is overwhelming,” Laney said, taking in the celebration. “There’s a lot of love in this town.”
“There’s a lot of love on this straw bale too,” Kyle murmured.
“I’m being serious.” He shot her a look that said, So am I. She didn’t doubt it for a second. He’d proven his love for her many times over the last few months, even though he didn’t need to. “Aren’t you going to miss this place, though?”
He took a long, slow drink of beer. She appreciated that he didn’t blow off the question. It’s not like Chicago had ever been his dream. He was leaving almost all of his life goals behind when they headed out tomorrow.
“If we never came back again, then I’d miss it. If this was the last Wardham potluck for me, I’d be sad. But we’ll be back for holidays and the odd vacation.”
“Not every vacation?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m being serious now too, Laney. Our next vacation isn’t going to be shared with our family, or spent driving between Chicago and Wardham. You want to know what I’m excited about?” Her breath caught in her throat. She did, she really did. He took another sip of beer and gave her a smoldering look. “You. A string bikini. A private beach.”
She bit her lip. “That sounds perfect.”
“I’m telling you, sweetheart...Jamaica. Or Hawaii. I’m not picky. We don’t need to tell them.” He nodded toward their mothers. “Let them plan a big party. Let’s just go away and get married, just the two of us.”
He slid his lips across hers and she nodded. His plans were always the best.
THE END
WHERE THEIR HEARTS COLLIDE, WARDHAM #2
Where Their Hearts Collide
The Wardham Series
Book #2
by
ZOE YORK
www.zoeyork.com
When the girl next door...
Karen's finally decided what she wants to do when she grows up. Too bad it'll mean leaving behind her new neighbour, who's stirred up a different kind of grown up feelings. But when he rebuffs her attempt to have a fling before she leaves Wardham, Karen knows it's for the best. A clean break, no messy emotional entanglements.
Meets the cop of her dreams...
Intense and private, Paul has recently moved to Wardham for a more family friendly job, leaving behind a career as a homicide detective in the city. He only has his ten year old daughter a few nights a week, and he doesn't want any distractions or drama while he tries to repair their relationship.
At exactly the wrong time.
But Karen is right next door, and everywhere he goes. His resolve to keep his distance only lasts until she needs a true friend in her corner, and he realizes he can't imagine life without her.
DEDICATION
can’t help but love gruff men in uniform
For my husband, the gruffest of them all
CHAPTER ONE
It was a shame the guy next door was so rude. If he smiled, he’d probably be drop-dead gorgeous. If he smiled, that might mean she finally had his attention.
Karen peeked out the corner of her eye at the post-war bungalow on the other side of her driveway. The shared driveway. A mirror image of her house, with dark red brick and pretty white trim. A wide front porch—his was bare, except for a broom. Hers had her beloved bicycle in a place of honour, and a comfortable wicker conversation set decorated with navy cushions.
Between their houses sat his sensible four door sedan. Now it was awkward. Should have told him the first time.
She’d come home from work three weeks ago to find the house next to hers no longer vacant. Her standard welcome-to-the-street spiel had died on her lips as the new resident jogged out the door and straight past her, as if she hadn’t been standing next to his front walk. Technically on the sidewalk, but her intent to greet him had been clear. Hadn’t it?
That was followed by two more non-meetings, which chafed her because she liked to be known as a friendly person. Forcing her neighbour to have a conversation crossed a line into needy. She’d been looking for a natural opening to a conversation. Now she needed to make it happen.
April was around the corner, and her Camaro was calling to be let loose on the road. As soon as the last threat of snow passed, she’d need to use the shared driveway to get 304 horsepower of Victory Red awesomeness onto the roads. Hard to do with his fuel-efficient safetymobile in the way.
So she was killing time in her front yard, pretending to tidy her flower beds, planning the best way to ambush a stranger. Not her finest moment.
Since he’d been home all day, he was probably going to leave soon. He worked shifts, leaving either early in the morning or around dinner time, and was often gone for the better part of a day.
She felt like a stalker, but really, he hadn’t left her any choice. And it’s not like she’d gone through his mail or trash. She really didn’t know anything about him except for his schedule and where he parked. And that he had single-handedly increased the hot quotient of Wardham by 1000%. She didn’t even know how old he was, although she guessed around her age, maybe a little bit older. No way would a guy in his twenties drive that car.
Two bags of twigs later, because pretending to work had turned into actually gardening, his front door opened. She stood, stretching her back before moving to intercept him before he could get to his car. “Hi! You must be my new neighbour.” She offered her hand before remembering she was covered in dirt, and quickly converted the gesture to a wave. “Karen Miller.”
He nodded, and stepped around her to put his duffle bag in the trunk.
“So, there was something I wanted to talk to you about, if you can spare a second?”
Another nod, and a raised eyebrow.
Karen paused a beat, then continued. “The driveway. It’s actually a shared lane.”
He glanced between their houses, then to his car, and finally back to her. He might not be big on words, but he wasn’t shy about looking at her. He didn’t seem shy at all, actually. She couldn’t put her finger on it, but something about his appraisal seemed like a power play.
She bristled. “Look, your landlord should have explained this, and I’m sorry, but my car is in—”
“I bought it.” His voice was quiet and calm, the opposite of his gaze. An unsettling combination.
“I’m sorry?”
“The house. I don’t have a landlord.”
“It wasn’t for sale. I’d have seen a sign.” It didn’t matter, but something made her want to argue the point just because.
“Private sale.”
“Well, okay, then your agent should have told you. It’s a shared drive. My car is in the garage, and I’ll need to—”
“My garage is full of junk.”
So? “I need—”
“I’m busy until the weekend, but I can clear it out on Saturday. Sorry about the inconvenience.” And with that, he turned to get into his car.
She knew she should let it go, but his quiet tone and half-listening had frayed her nerves. “You know, the interrupting is really rude.”
Paul let his lips twitch slightly before he turned to face his feisty neighbour. He hadn’t meant to be rude, but he could see how she’d interpret his words that way. “That wasn’t my intention, I apologize.” He leaned back against his car. He had a few minutes before he had to leave, an
d this might be fun. “I’m out of practice on being neighbourly.”
She relaxed and slid her hands into the back pockets of her jeans, streaking dirt across her left hip. A curvy, round hip he had no business noticing, but she was right in front of him. With him slouched back against the car, they were almost the same height. He liked that she was tall. Too bad he wasn’t interested in dating, or any other recreational activities, because there was a lot to like about this woman. Her sass, for one. Yeah, he really liked that. He grinned, and she rewarded him with a smile that bordered on sheepish.
“I’m sorry, too. You’re obviously on your way somewhere, and I’ve just tossed this information at you.”
“It’s okay, I’ve got a minute. Why hasn’t this come up before?” He knew that she walked or biked to work, although he hadn’t figured out where that was. In a few more weeks, he’d probably know a lot more about her, and most of the other citizens of Wardham, but right now he was still commuting to the city.
“I don’t drive much in the winter.”
That explained the bicycle. Maybe she wasn’t comfortable in the snow. “Do you have people who can pick you up when it’s really cold?”
“What?” She wrinkled her brow, which was really cute, even for someone who was afraid of driving. Paul didn’t usually have time for that kind of weakness, but he’d probably make an exception for his new neighbour. When a look of horror crossed her face, he realized belatedly that he probably wasn’t going to get a chance to offer his assistance. “You think I’m afraid of snow? Or driving in general?”
Instead of being offended, she burst out in a beautiful peal of laughter that expanded until it encompassed him and he was chuckling along with her. “No? That’s not...?”
“No.” She smiled and leaned forward, as if to share a conspiratorial secret. “I drive a Camaro. It’s my baby, and I have snow tires, but really, it’s not built for winter driving.”