In the Market for Love

by Squires, Megan

  “We can’t do that!”

  “Of course we can. You and I both know we all but completed the process to split it into two parcels years ago when we thought your mother was interested in building on it. It’s the whole reason we divvied off that particular portion for Sophie in the first place. I’ve got a few friends down at the county who can help expedite the whole thing and get it all signed off in no time. If Sophie buys it, then everyone wins.”

  Kelly wove her arms tightly over her chest as she glowered at her husband.

  Just a glimmer of hope opened up within Sophie, but it was too early to let it fully unfurl.

  “Give me one good reason why we wouldn’t do this?”

  “Because we would be losing out on that money in the overall sale. People want land, Theo. Lots of land.”

  “And they’ll still get it. Five acres worth.”

  “And what? We just take what the flower farm is worth out of the asking price?”

  Nodding, Theodore said, “That’s exactly what we’ll do.”

  “That doesn’t seem like the smartest move, money-wise.”

  “Maybe not, but it feels like the best move, character-wise.”

  Still frowning, Kelly rolled her eyes. “Fine, do whatever you want. But that land isn’t cheap, I hope you understand that, Sophie. We won’t be giving it away.”

  “I’m prepared to pay whatever you ask.”

  Kelly stood and walked over to a secretary desk in the corner of the room and tore a sheet of paper off of a notepad. With a pen, she scribbled something onto the parchment and then walked over to hand it to Sophie.

  Sophie unfolded the paper and gulped. She had never seen so many zeroes all lined up next to one another.

  “I can make that work.”

  Theodore snatched the paper from Sophie’s hands. “That’s actually not right. It’s not quite enough.”

  Sophie’s pulse spiked. She couldn’t afford to pay more than Kelly had already asked. Even that would take a small miracle.

  “Add three peach cobblers to that total,” Theodore said as he reached out his hand to shake Sophie’s.

  Grinning ear to ear, Sophie took it, sealing the deal.

  18

  Cole

  THE WHEELS OF the hatchback rubbed along the curb as Cole put his rental car in park in front of the McAllister property. Up ahead, he could see Sophie leaning against her truck, speaking to a man decked in full running gear. Cole had noticed the same man on multiple occasions when driving throughout Fairvale and figured he was preparing for a marathon. Rain or shine, he ran through town with determined and purposeful strides.

  Cole had always been athletic, but running wasn’t his thing. He wondered if it was something Sophie enjoyed. Maybe she was discussing a common interest with the stranger now. There was still so much to learn about the woman he had fallen for and the few short weeks they had left together didn’t seem long enough to explore all that Cole hoped to. He needed more time.

  Shutting off the engine, Cole stepped out of the car. Sophie spotted him and offered a friendly wave, even though she was deep in conversation. He nodded his hello and then walked to the gate to punch in his code. This was his favorite moment, when the gate would swing wide and the entirety of landscape came into view. It was like an unveiling. A ribbon cutting. Cole took so much pride in this finished project.

  Over the last month, he had sent snapshots to his father as updates on the progress, but nothing compared to viewing it in person. He knew his dad was busy back at home and didn’t have time to sneak off to California, but Cole sure wished he could. No picture would do it justice. That was the very reason they opened up the properties for tours during the voting period. The showcase had hired a professional photographer and posted images online, but the true magic was in strolling the gardens, the pathways, and the scenery. Experiencing it firsthand was so much better than viewing it on a screen.

  “Mornin’!” Tanner called out from above a row of newly-planted photinia. He had long trimmers in his hands and dirt up to his elbows. “Just finishing up some last minute pruning. Also, I tightened that wobbly board on the pergola we were talking about yesterday. Gonna give it one more coat of stain before the end of the day. Should have everything buttoned up by early tomorrow morning.”

  “That’s fantastic, Tanner. I really do appreciate all of your help on this. You and your crew worked so hard and it shows.”

  “It’s been a great project to be a part of. I sorta wish you weren’t heading back to Nashville next month—it would be fun to work with you on a few more like this.”

  “Truthfully, I wish I wasn’t heading back, too. It’s beginning to feel like there’s more for me in California than at home at this point.”

  “You mean in the form of work?” Tanner smirked. “Or women?”

  “I’d be lying if I said Sophie wasn’t a huge factor in why I’m seriously considering putting down some roots here. But we haven’t even talked about what the future holds for us. It’s probably a bit premature for me to think about completely relocating.”

  “Just my two cents, but if this contest goes the way we hope it will, you’ll have no problem finding consistent work out here. That, and the fact that you’ve already got a girl makes it seem like a no-brainer. But that’s just my humble opinion, for what it’s worth.”

  Cole didn’t disagree. Fairvale would be a hard place to leave when the time came.

  “I’m heading to the flowers, but I’ll catch up with you in a bit. Let me know if you need anything in the meantime. It’s looking great, Tanner.”

  Tanner saluted with a flick of his wrist. “You got it, boss.”

  Cole retreated to the back of the lot and threaded his way through the rows, up and down and back and forth, like winding through an autumn corn maze.

  “Looking for something?” Sophie’s cheery voice broke into the crisp morning air. She marched down the row toward him, her smile growing wider with each step.

  “Hey there.” Cole turned and drew her into a hug. He held her close for longer than usual.

  “Good morning,” she said against the crook of his neck, but her voice harbored a detectable uncertainty. She pulled out from his embrace, her face angled up, her brow creased with worry. “You okay?”

  “I’m better now that you’re here.” He kissed her hair, then let go. “Any chance I can steal a few zinnias?”

  “You don’t even have to steal them. I’ll gladly give them to you. Any particular color?”

  “Nope. Whatever you’re willing to part with will be just fine.”

  Sophie nudged her head toward the potting shed. “Go grab some shears and we’ll see if you remember anything I taught you about harvesting from the other day.” She waggled her eyebrows in playful challenge.

  Cole retrieved the cutters and within ten minutes, he had a handheld bouquet of zinnias, fit for a market flower stand.

  “Mind telling me what you plan to do with them?” Sophie asked as she wiped the clippers on her garden apron and tucked them into the pocket. “I’m hoping I don’t have any reason to be jealous,” she teased through a grin.

  “What are you doing for the rest of the day? If there’s any chance you can clear your schedule, I’ll show you exactly what they’re for.”

  * * *

  THE BRINY COASTAL air rushed through the open windows as Cole’s vehicle hugged tightly to the curves of Highway 1. To his left stretched miles of vast, blue Pacific Ocean, no doubt one of the world’s greatest splendors. To his right was another marvel—Sophie—arguably just as breathtaking as the awe-inspiring waves that crashed against the rocky shores. Cole had to purposefully focus his gaze out the windshield, but all he wanted to do was get lost in Sophie’s beauty beside him.

  It had been a two-hour drive from Sacramento to the coast. They stopped in Bodega Bay at a quaint little restaurant overlook that served the freshest ocean catches. They sat at a small booth with a window view and Cole ordered a pound of Dungen
ess crab, happy to learn it was still in season. He couldn’t contain his shock when Sophie revealed she’d never eaten the shellfish, especially considering her love of sushi. It was finally his time to teach her something and they laughed throughout their entire meal as she struggled to pull meat from the hard, shelly legs. In the end, however, she consumed even more than Cole since he was charged with cracking the crab and passing all the edible pieces her way. He didn’t mind one bit, though. He was more than content to watch her enjoy it.

  Their final destination was only ten minutes north of their lunchtime stop. Cole finally gained the courage to take Sophie’s hand into his and wished he hadn’t spent the entire first portion of the drive talking himself out of doing so. His other hand on the steering wheel had already begun to heal well, and even though it was still bandaged, he didn’t think much about the subtle pain. All he could focus on was the hand in Sophie’s grip. She didn’t pull back like he worried she would, but instead rubbed her thumb against his skin in comforting circles. That sweet, small act brought everything home for Cole. He couldn’t leave California and he couldn’t leave this woman. Sitting in the car with her, hand in hand, he could glimpse their entire future together, sharing more simple but significant moments just like this one.

  “Duncan’s Landing,” Sophie read the sign aloud as Cole flipped his turn signal. He maneuvered the car into the empty lot and slowed to a stop. “Have you been here before?”

  “This particular beach? No. But this ocean? Yes. Just a different part of it,” Cole said as he unclasped his seatbelt and reached into the backseat to retrieve the bouquet. He gathered a rolled up beach towel and swung his gaze Sophie’s direction, locking eyes. She took the towel from him. “Sophie, I have something I need to do, and I’d really like for you to be a part of it.”

  “Of course,” Sophie agreed without hesitation. Cole knew it was a cryptic request. Even still, he was so thankful for her company because this was something he wouldn’t have the strength to do alone. He needed Sophie there more than his words could articulate.

  Taking her hand more confidently this time, the two began their walk down to the beach below. Long wooden planks created stairs in the craggy hillside. With each step, Cole gripped tighter to Sophie as they descended the steep ravine. Wind, biting and sharp, cut into him. Shivering, he shrugged his shoulders to his ears, pushing the collar of his jacket up higher around his neck for warmth. He had glanced at the weather app before leaving town, but had no idea the beach would be this uncomfortably cold. It was such a stark contrast to the last time he’d gazed out at this particular body of water, back when the sun beat down in unrelenting, scorching rays. Today the layered cloud cover kept the sunshine at bay. The sky looked as though all blue pigment had been pulled out, leaving only a dull, opaque gray in its place.

  Sophie trembled.

  “Here,” Cole said, noticing her chill. Tucking the bouquet under his arm, he took the beach towel from Sophie and draped it over her shoulders like a shawl. “I’m sorry it’s so cold.”

  “Pretty sure you didn’t have any say in today’s forecast,” she joked. “I don’t mind it, actually. It’s invigorating. Like stepping into the cold storage room at Costco.”

  Cole chuckled. “It’s freezing.”

  “Well, I suppose we’ll just have to create our own warmth then,” she said as she snuck her arm under his jacket to wrap around Cole’s waist, drawing him close to her side.

  They made their way to the cove. Sprays of water misted the air around them as wave after wave assaulted the shoreline. The white, powdery sand Cole had expected to find was nowhere to be seen. Instead, an infinite amount of fine pebbles made up the beach’s grainy texture. He was utterly amazed by Northern California’s rocky coast. This golden state continually took him by surprise.

  “This isn’t what I pictured a California beach to look like.” Reaching out, Cole withdrew the towel from Sophie’s shoulders and spread it onto the sand underneath them. He held her hand as she lowered to sit and then joined her there.

  “You thought all of California was Southern California. Common mistake. We’re not just geographically far apart—there are many, many other differences. Sure, you’ll see a surfer or two out here, but they’ll be in full wetsuit attire. These aren’t exactly the beaches you visit if you’re hoping to work on your tan.”

  “That’s fine because I don’t tan. I just burn.”

  “I bet you look like the lobsters we just ate!” Sophie said excitedly as she bumped him with her shoulder.

  “Those were crabs.”

  She burst into a laugh and shook her head at her mistake. “I take it you didn’t plan to come here for the sunshine, anyway.”

  “You’re right. I didn’t.” Cole rested the flowers on the towel and pulled his glasses from his face to wipe the ocean fog from the lenses. He settled them back onto the bridge of his nose and leaned toward Sophie. Her inquisitive, green eyes searched his, darting rapidly back and forth. “I’ve learned a lot from you this last month, Sophie. Especially when it comes to the meaning of things.” Cole reached out to lightly graze her cheek with his finger. He traced the line of her jaw to her chin as he gazed at her openly in awe. “Like flowers. These zinnias? I didn’t choose them just because they’re pretty. I chose them for what they represent. What they mean. Do you know what that is?”

  Sophie glanced away and squinted out at the great stretch of water. She tapped her chin as she pondered for a brief moment, then said, “Remembrance, I think. Daily remembrance. Thinking of someone who’s not here.”

  Cole nodded. “Fifteen years ago today, I lost my brother to this ocean, and there hasn’t been a day since that I haven’t thought about him.”

  “Oh, Cole. I had no idea—” Sophie’s body stiffened at Cole’s side.

  “We were on a family vacation in Maui. I was a sophomore in high school and Caleb had just graduated. We’d taken off for a night swim. Mom and Dad were both sore from their sunburns and my sister, Trista, had just met a boy, so she was out with his family,” Cole said. “I thought Caleb was playing around at first. We swam out pretty far from the beach and he mentioned he was getting tired. I gave him a hard time about his inability to tread water. I teased that it was the reason he got cut from the water polo team. It all happened so fast, Sophie. It was so dark. I looked for him for what felt like forever, struggling against the waves that took him under.”

  Moving closer, Sophie pressed her head to Cole’s shoulder and wove her hand into his. That small gesture made Cole lose his breath.

  “I carried around a lot of guilt for a long time. I think that’s why I’ve worked so hard to fill Caleb’s shoes with the business and with my dad. Up until recently, I felt like it was my fault. Like I should have been able to save him. I know that’s not the case now, but it doesn’t keep me from wondering what life would’ve been like if he was still here.”

  “Cole, I’m so sorry. I can’t even imagine what you went through. I wish I had words to say that could make this all better for you.”

  “I’m not looking for that anymore. This trip out here has made me realize that Caleb wouldn’t want me to live out his future. He would want me to make my own. I’m certain of that now.” Cole swallowed, his voice straining. “I want a life out here, Sophie. I want to explore California and us and an existence that feels so much more like home than the one I had back in Nashville.”

  “Cole.”

  He swung his legs underneath his body and swiveled to face Sophie. Cupping her face in his large, strong hands, he said, “I’m falling in love with you, Sophie. And I want a future with you. Part of that is letting you into my past.”

  “I want a future with you, too.” Pressing forward, her lips met his in a gentle kiss. “Thank you for trusting me with your past, Cole. I’m so sorry you’ve lived with this heartache for so long.”

  “Truthfully, my heart has never felt more healed.” He leaned forward to draw her fully into his arms. “I have yo
u to thank for that. I do wish things didn’t have to start off so rocky for us, though, you know? I know the reason we met was the contest, but it sure has made things complicated.”

  “About that…” Sophie pulled back, her eyes locking with Cole’s.

  “Do you have news to tell me?”

  “Not yet, just know that something is in the works that might make everyone happy in the end.”

  “Is this something I can help you with at all?”

  Sophie grinned and pressed a palm to Cole’s chest. “I know how much you love helping me, Cole, I do. But this is something I need to do on my own.”

  “Alright. I get that,” he relented with an understanding nod. He grabbed ahold of the flowers and then Sophie’s hand. “But I have something I need to do, and in this case, I would like your help.”

  19

  Sophie

  THERE WERE FIFTEEN flowers, one for every year Caleb had been gone. Sophie watched as Cole closed his eyes before casting each zinnia into the waves. Some would float for a minute before succumbing to the salty ocean depths. It took a half hour to toss out each one and Sophie felt drawn closer to Cole with every passing minute.

  She admired his vulnerability and considered it a gift to be part of this ceremony. They had undoubtedly shared a lot during their new relationship, but this was a different level of openness. Cole had let her completely in. She wouldn’t take that for granted. She made a promise to herself to reciprocate that vulnerability in any way she could.

  After the final flower was cast into its watery resting place, Cole shoved his hands into his pockets and rocked back into the sand on his heels. Face skyward, his eyes fell shut as he pulled in a full, renewing breath of ocean air. When he opened his eyes again, they were rimmed with red and wet with unspent tears.

  “Thank you, Sophie.” He glanced over and offered a thoughtful smile.