“That’s a start,” Marie nodded her head.
Kim pushed her chair back from the table and the other ladies followed suit. Grandma gave her a big hug, and then the pair were out the front door. Kim never understood how the two of them had become friends. If Marie Smith-Thomson ever smiled, that’d be a surprise. Grandma Rose never stopped grinning. But Kim knew they had developed a friendship that extended past dance to include once a month lunches together. She guessed the theme of October’s lunch was figure out their grandkids’ futures.
After the front door shut behind them, Shazz raced back into the room.
“Are they gone? Wow that was scary.”
Kim chuckled. “You get used to it. If you end up moving here, you’ll be working and living with your family. Expect to have them involved and invested in every decision you make.”
“Trish is far less intimidating then them. But at least I have a few answers.”
“Answers? To what?”
“Why you’ve been so distant and a tad grouchy this morning.”
“I have? I’m sorry. I’m distracted.”
“It’s okay. I get it. But it sounds like we’d better get going. You’re going to have even more on your plate.”
“Don’t remind me,” Kim groaned.
She retrieved her shoes and purse from near the bathroom door and sat down to tie the laces again. She didn’t know if Landon would appreciate the gesture of her trying to help with a new plan or if he’d be angry at her for interfering. He’d seemed so distant and distracted after she’d shared her plan, and then he hadn’t tried to call. She could have called but she’d been too worried about what she might hear if she did. She didn’t want him to go back to Savannah or onto the next project somewhere else. She wanted him to stay. Maybe her only choice was to figure out his next move for him.
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The streetlights a few hundred yards away cast an eerie glow in the quickly darkening sky of twilight. Landon watched the sky as the blue over the sea darkened to the color of ink. Too bad the meeting hadn’t been earlier. Then he could have spent sunset watching the sky set on fire with her at his side. Soon. He walked back to the doors of the building off the park and strained to listen to the noises just inside. Sneaking into planning committee meetings seemed to have become his forte. A month ago, he’d been in the same position.
He blew out a sigh and stepped away from the door. Making a figure eight on the walkway, he needed a few more minutes. A breeze circled him, bringing the intoxicating scent of bbq to his nose and a stray leaf, still green, rolling past his shoes. His stomach growled. No time. Maybe they could go out and celebrate. But first, he had to lay everything out.
Now or never.
In a few steps, Landon crossed to the doors and opened them, sliding along the back wall. Several rows had again been set up facing two folding tables full of planning committee members. He recognized a couple faces at the front of the room from seeing them around town. Scanning the seated crowd, he couldn’t immediately find her.
He stuffed his hands into his pockets. If anyone could have gotten her to the right place at the right time, his grandmother could. And she’d enlisted Kim’s grandma too. They’d both been giddy with the plan when he’d discussed it with them on Friday. What if they failed…
Shaking off the thought, he focused on Fred Green seated at the center of the group, the one holding the gavel.
“Our first order of business is the proposal by the Society of Coastal Living. They are seeking state protection as a park and are beginning archaeology work. All of the information has been included in the packets delivered to the committee last week. Per the application, they are seeking to have the land rezoned before they apply to help speed up the process. A representative is here with us tonight in case any members have any questions. Are there any questions?”
Yeah, where is she? Landon held his tongue and the planning council demurred.
“I move to accept this application and grant the request. Am I seconded?”
A lady further down the table half rose from her chair. “Seconded.”
“All in favor?”
The table broke into a unanimous “aye.”
Mr. Green brought down his gavel. “Unanimously approved. Now onto the next property up for discussion. An application has been made to rezone the old decorator’s retail space on Frederica Road for residential use. I understand someone here would like to speak on this project.”
Kim stood up in the front row and surveyed the crowd. He crouched down behind the last row of chairs. His view of her was unobstructed, but she hadn’t indicated she’d seen him. He needed to hear what she would say.
“Hello everyone and planning committee thank you for this opportunity. I submitted an incomplete application because I don’t have all the facts. I wanted the chance to speak with you.”
Kim cleared her throat and moved to the center of the room to continue addressing the crowd.
“As you know a planned development that had been approved by this committee ended up falling through. That land is now in the process of being protected by the SCL. But the man who wanted to develop that property has a real vision and drive. I think with support from the community, he could help us re-envision this island.”
She paused. Keep going. He’d never needed to hear anyone speak before. He’d never been at anyone else’s mercy. Until he’d met her.
“We’ve all driven past the buildings on our island that are vacant while a corporation comes in and builds some monstrosity next door or across the street. I can’t help but feel like resources are being wasted. This property in particular is an interesting case. Its set near residences and the building itself is lovely. Wouldn’t changing the use of the building from commercial to residential present an opportunity to create some of the condo space we know people are looking for without having to build some modern monstrosity elsewhere and mar the landscape?”
Landon swallowed. He couldn’t have dreamt that she’d fight for him so eloquently. Any doubts had erased. He slowly rose to his full height. From across the room, he watched Kim’s eyes widen. She took a step back slightly and he approached. He kept his gaze focused on her, never wavering, never leaving her face. Never again.
“Thank you,” he whispered into Kim’s ear as he grabbed her hands and gave them a squeeze. Turning to face the crowd himself, he felt her pull away. With a hand on her waist, he pulled her against him. That was where she belonged, now and always.
“I have submitted a full application with this proposal to the planning committee,” he told the crowd. “I have investors for this project, but I want to stress that I have come to appreciate the spirit of this community. My hope is that this development will retain the integrity of the island and that together we can find other opportunities among the buildings already established.”
Mr. Green swung his gavel. Landon and Kim turned toward the table. He scanned the smiling faces. She was right. When his first proposal had been approved, he’d sensed the undercurrent of resentment. He’d won a bid fair and square, but the committee hadn’t wanted him to win. Now they did.
He’d have to get ready for a lifetime of Kim being right. He couldn’t wait.
“Mr. Beau, we have reviewed your proposal and noted the quick sale of the building to you. We are happy to offer you a preliminary approval, pending the close on the building.”
Kim hugged him tight. “We did it,” she whispered in her ear.
“I’m not quite done yet.” Landon pulled away to kneel at her feet. In the middle of the planning meeting, surrounded by neighbors he hadn’t met yet. No place could have been more perfect.
Reaching for the gold chain around his neck with one hand, he held both of hers in the other. He pulled the chain out from under his sweater, revealing the engagement ring at the end.
“I think you forgot something a while ago.”
“Landon,” she replied, her voice slightly breathless as
she pulled her hands out of his grip. She shook her head slowly and sadly. “You don’t have to do this. You have no obligation to me.”
“You don’t get it. I didn’t propose because of the baby. I proposed because I love you. The baby just sped up the timeline.”
With a yank, he snapped the chain off his neck and slid the ring off the broken gold. He let the links fall to the floor. He didn’t need them anymore. Grabbing her hands in his again, he slid the ring back into place.
“Kimberly Meyers, I’ve been in love with you from the moment I met you. I can’t be happy without you by my side. You are my past, my present, and my future. You are my inspiration. Will you please do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
She nodded, tears streaming down her face and he stood to kiss her while the crowd around them whooped and clapped. The room slipped away as he focused on the beautiful woman in his arms. Finally, his life could begin. Just about ten years late. He’d take it.
The gavel pounded against the table and Kim tore her lips away. He liked her blushing furiously as she turned to be reprimanded. He kept his grip tight on her waist and half turned to face the committee as well. He wasn’t letting go. Not ever.
“We have one final rezoning request to address, and then we will dismiss for the evening after one of shortest and most exciting meeting we’ve ever had.”
Chuckles sounded throughout the room. Kim blushed even more and he couldn’t wipe the smirk off his face. He was exactly right where he belonged, when he belonged.
“The other proposal is another property off Frederica. And again, Mr. Beau has submitted this application.”
Kim turned to stare at him in awe. He liked surprising her he decided. He liked the way the gray green eyes turned almost blue. He’d never seen that color before. Maybe we have more surprises ahead.
“You think you’ll have time to help?” He whispered, leaning close to speak directly into her ear.
He watched her eyelashes flutter and a shiver course through her body, as his hand pressed into her lower back. She complied with his silent request, leaning up on tiptoes to wrap her arms around his neck and press herself into him. Sweet torture, he could get used to every day for the rest of his life.
Her lips opened and her tongue darted out, licking over the bottom. He lowered his head, eager to sample the remains of her lip-gloss. A finger against his lips stilled him and the quirk of her half-smile nearly had him groaning. She was enjoying the tease just as much as he was. He’d take the challenge and see who caved first to desire.
“I think I can make some time for you,” she murmured.
Her finger slipped away and he took her lips.
EPILOGUE
The smell of citrus cleaner filled the room as Kim made a final pass along the floor of the top unit. She lowered the mop back into the bucket and held onto the handle to keep from spilling the water. Finishing up on the very last section of hardwood floor in the building off Frederica, she couldn’t stop grinning as she worked.
“You know, Mrs. Beau, you really don’t need to be cleaning,” his deep voice boomed across the empty room from the doorway.
“I know,” she glanced up to see her handsome husband, still dressed in his freshly pressed suit at seven thirty in the evening. “But I appreciate a little sweat equity,” she winked at him, giving her words double meaning.
Landon cleared his throat and his eyes flashed. He’d caught her meaning. “And now you’ve cleaned yourself into a corner.”
Slipping out of her loafers, she slid over the wet floor in her socks, carrying her shoes in one hand and mop and bucket in the other. “Problem solved,” she lowered her tools to the ground outside the door.
He grabbed her by the waist, the touch reverberating through her body like echolocation. Married now for over a year and a half, they’d never been apart for longer than a workday, until she left the SCL to join LB Holdings full-time to help Landon develop rundown properties. Despite their near constant interaction, every touch and glance affected her as deeply as their earliest moments together.
“Are you happy, Mrs. Beau? You did it,” he murmured in her ear, trailing kisses from her earlobe down her neck.
“Me? I’d say we. And yes, I’m thrilled,” her breath caught. “Look at this building. It’s exquisite.”
“Just like the woman who worked so hard to design it,” he murmured as he moved down her arm. She shivered when he reached her elbow. “This building is your success. Your entirely sold success.”
“Time to go then.” Her voice sounded far off as her knees wobbled and she swayed into him.
He tore his lips away from her and stood straight, pulling her against him. “What’s the saying? If we lived here, we’d be home already?”
“Well, we still technically own this unit. It’s ours until midnight.” She entwined her arms behind his neck and stared deep into his stormy eyes. She darted her tongue across her lower lip in anticipation.
“That’s a long time. A lot can happen.” His mouth turned into a wolfish grin, rewarding her for her saucy words.
She’d learned a lot about Landon since their quickie wedding. Like he couldn’t stand a dirty bathroom sink even though he was probably the one who left the vanity a mess. Like the only vacation he could take and truly relax and unwind from work was a cruise. And that he loved her more than anything else. His love gave her the confidence to believe in herself. Together, she thought they shined far brighter than on their own.
Reluctantly she pulled her lips away from his. “We really should get going. This is your parents’ unit, I don’t think I’d be able to look them in the eyes again if I stripped naked in their new living room.”
“Not like you had any trouble with that in their house last Christmas,” he murmured.
“Shh.” She swatted at his chest and he caught her hands easily in one of his. “You promised you wouldn’t ever bring that up.”
“Not like it won’t happen again.”
She pursed her lips. He was right. She refused to waste a single moment with him. Finding each other after a decade apart was a gift she wouldn’t take for granted. He began his slow assault on her senses again, tracing her spine until she shivered and pressed even closer against him.
Blending into his family had been seamless, much to her surprise. All her qualms about his society life in Savannah had been unwarranted. Some things they hadn’t figured out yet. Like how they might start a family one day. But she intended to take her time enjoying each step along the way to finding the answers. Finally she’d fit her puzzle back together, and she had no intention of losing any pieces again.
He pressed a kiss under her earlobe on her neck. Dragging in a shaky breath, she knew she had to stop him. Or they really wouldn’t be leaving for dinner on time.
“But Grandma Rose and your grandmother are on their way.”
His face dropped. She couldn’t have doused the romance faster by pouring a bucket of ice over his head.
“And the mood is officially spoiled. What are we doing again?”
“I think Grandma Rose said it’s a double date plus blind date.”
He took a step back and ran a hand through his hair. “And why did we agree to this?”
She chuckled. “We didn’t. That’s the thing about our grandmothers. They don’t ask; they tell.”
Resting a hand on his shoulder, she slid back into her loafers. Dressed down in jeans and a chambray shirt, she definitely clashed with his suit and tie. But she never felt better. She didn’t know what the night had in store for them besides laughter. And after a decade apart spent with too little fun, she’d come to value the easy moments that much more. She could always use another smile and a new friend. And witnessing Landon’s grandmother set up hers on a blind date, she knew they’d have plenty in store that night.
“Come on,” he grabbed her hand and raised her fingers to his lips. He dropped a quick kiss on her knuckles. “The faster we order, the faster we can get home. And
celebrate.”
“I like the sound of that,” she quirked an eyebrow.
Leaving the bucket and mop outside the unit, she raced to keep pace with him as he jogged down the stairs. They exited through the courtyard and toward the parking at the back of the building. Passing by the beautiful new Spanish style fountain, her handiwork evident at its base, she was struck again by the depth of her feelings for the building. She froze in place and slipped her hand out of his grasp. She rubbed her upper arms as she slowly scanned the restored building from ground level to top.
“You were right,” she called out to him. “This building was a massive project. We probably shouldn’t have gotten involved.”
“Really? Here I was thinking you were right. This is a unique space on the island. And our fast sales for top dollar only reinforced your great idea.”
“So this one is a draw?”
He reached her in two steps and stood by her side, draping an arm around her shoulders. “I think all are projects will be a draw. I think we’ll both win each time we work together. We’re a great team. I’ve been saying that since college. Come on, let’s go before we catch these couples in the middle of…”
He shuddered and she laughed. Dinner with their grandmothers and their beaus could be awkward, for any number of reasons. But she wouldn’t miss it, especially not with her beau by her side.
THE END
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