“I’m sorry. Though, I admit, I enjoyed being your fiancé.”
He gave her that devastating smile that had her chest tightening. “Are you throwing in the towel already?”
“I fought the mountain, and the mountain won. Fresh snowy air doesn’t agree with me. I need to go home to the hustle and bustle of the city.”
“Maybe you just need to give it a chance.”
“You’re always welcome to come breathe some city air with me for a while. We have the bay and a lot of trendy bars. There might even be one or two with animal heads.”
He laughed. “Thanks, but I’m allergic to smog. And crowds. And traffic.”
“That could be a problem.”
“But I will miss your laugh.”
“Is that all?” She gave him a wicked grin.
He leaned forward and kissed her. “Definitely not all.”
“Come with me. We have something special here, and I feel like we’ll miss out on something if we don’t follow it through.” She chewed on her bottom lip waiting for his answer.
“I can’t leave. I have a village to save from a big corporate developer.”
Her throat tightened. “Always a hero.” She shouldn’t be sad. She just met this guy. Intellectually, she knew that. It was her heart that wasn’t listening. “I wish you luck,” she said as sadness enveloped her. It was only a game, she reminded herself.
“Thanks, I will need it.”
A nurse came in, took her temperature, and checked her vitals once again. “Okay, looks like you’re good to go.”
“Really?”
“Keep that ankle wrapped tight and try not to put any weight on it for a few weeks. Do you have a boot or crutches?”
“No, I’m visiting.”
“Well, find some when you get home.”
“Thank you.”
“Your clothes are wet, but we have these for you to use.” She handed her a pair of sweats. “Do you need help?”
“I’ll help her,” Beau offered. “All right. Happy Valentine’s Day.”
“Thank you,” Phoebe said, taking the sweats from her. Once she left, Beau helped her out of the hospital gown and into the clothes.
“You ready to go?” he asked.
She nodded and let him help her to the car. She fell asleep on the ride up to Snowy Mountain and didn’t wake until Beau lifted her into his arms and carried her inside. He took her to her room and undressed her again.
She stopped his fingers with her own. “Stay with me. I don’t want to be alone.”
“Are you sure?”
She nodded, then snuggled up next to his warm body and went to sleep again.
Chapter Seventeen
Beau held Phoebe tight all night long. He didn’t want her to go. And not because of their fake engagement or even the bar. But because he felt something with her, something he hadn’t felt before. Something real. He should tell her. Maybe if he did, if he was honest about his feelings, she might give them a chance.
But he can’t. It wouldn’t be fair. She has a chance to fulfill her dream. What kind of man would he be if he got in the way of that? No, it would be best for her if she went home. He extricated himself from her arms and slipped out of the room, taking one last look before closing the door.
Beau walked into his room, made a pot of coffee, and opened up his backpack. He wanted to go through his business plan again and try to incorporate the chalet into his plans. As he dug inside his pack, he found the wooden box with his birth mother’s letters.
He took it out and stared at it for a long moment. His mom had given it to him once before. When he’d turned eighteen. But he hadn’t wanted to read letters from the woman who threw him away. But now he understood the perspective of a woman watching her world implode and feeling like she had no way out.
He opened the box.
An hour later and with a heavy heart, he took out his phone and called the woman who’d given birth to him. The conversation was awkward at first, but after a while it became easy. Nice. He wished he’d done this long ago. Perhaps he was too stubborn for his own good. He left the bar and drove out to his house.
“Mom?” he called as he walked in.
“Beau? Oh, good, you’re here. How is Phoebe?” she asked, coming toward the door.
“She’s good. Sleeping. She got the job she wanted in San Francisco. You’re right. I don’t want to start a life with someone based on a lie. Even though…”
“Even though there’s something between you?”
“Yes.” He smiled. “It doesn’t matter. She’s leaving today.”
“I’m sorry. I know you liked her.”
“I did.” He shook his head. “I do.” He looked at Sally lying in front of the fire and pet her head. “How’s our super dog?”
“She is doing fine. She even had some bacon and eggs this morning.”
“Bacon and eggs? What a lucky pup!”
Sally rubbed her head against him.
“Do you want some? It wouldn’t take me long to whip them up.”
“No, thanks. I’m here because I wanted to talk to you about my birth mom.”
“Okay.” She sat on the couch.
He sat next to her. “I have another sister and a brother in Santa Cruz.”
She clapped her hands together. “Congratulations. That’s wonderful.”
He took her hand and gave it a squeeze. “Thanks, Mom. Thanks for saving all those letters and always looking out for me.”
Tears filled her eyes. “You’ll always be my boy. I love you like my own. I want what’s best for you. I always have.”
“I know. Thank you. All this time, I believed she threw me away.”
“Beau.” Concern filled her face. “You know we loved you. Right?”
“You were great. Dad was great. But I never understood how my mom could leave me like she did. I always thought I must have done something wrong. But she told me she was deeply unhappy. Clinically depressed. It took her a long time to feel good again, to feel worthy of being my mother. But by then, Dad had married you and didn’t want her in my life. He was afraid she would hurt me.”
“I’m sorry, Beau.”
“I don’t blame him. I don’t blame her. Sometimes life happens. But one thing I know now is I was loved; I was wanted. That knowledge cracked open something inside me. I can’t explain it.”
“I’m glad you can see that now. So what are you going to do?”
“As soon as things calm down here, I promised to go visit her and meet the rest of my family. But in the meantime, did you and Rich decide about Clearwater?”
She nodded. “Rich and I don’t have it in us anymore. The offer from Clearwater is too good to pass up. But,” she continued when he started to interrupt. “We’ve asked an attorney to look over the paperwork before we decide.”
Paige walked in the door. “Guess what?”
“What?”
“Phoebe won the pitch contest.”
That surprised him. “She made it to the end of the conference?”
“You bet. That woman is on a mission. Premiere is lucky to get her. I believe she will be successful at whatever she does.”
“She is something.”
“She asked about you.”
“I better get back and see her before she leaves.”
His sister arched an eyebrow. “No, you better get back and help Rich.”
Even as she said the words, his cell rang. “How’s it going, Rich?” He looked at his sister and winked.
“How do you think it’s going?” Rich yelled. “I was up half the night at a loud party, and now all these ladies are checking out at once. I’m exhausted.”
Beau tried to stop smiling but couldn’t. “Oh, do you need help?”
“Do birds fly?”
“All right, I’m on my way.” He disconnected the line. “I’ll see you guys later.” He hurried to the hotel to help check out the conference attendees. They all raved about what a great time they had and ho
w they would return next year. Beau stole a glance at Rich to gauge his reaction to their gushing, but he just smiled and nodded and thanked them for coming.
“Have you seen Phoebe?” he asked as the last of the ladies were leaving.
Rich shook his head.
“A while ago,” Candy answered on her way out the door. “She was real excited about her new job in the city. I’m guessing she already left to get an early start.”
Beau didn’t believe she’d leave without saying goodbye.
“She got an amazing job offer at my firm. I put in a good word for her.” Triumph gleamed in her eyes. “Don’t bother thanking me. See you next year!” She jetted out the door in a waft of expensive perfume.
“Well, if we shut down the place at least I wouldn’t have to see her again.”
Rich turned to him. “I don’t think Phoebe would leave without saying goodbye.”
Like a lead weight on his fishing line, Beau’s heart sunk in his chest. “I’m not sure, Rich. This whole weekend was pretty high pressure. Maybe after almost freezing to death, she wants to put the whole weekend behind her.”
“Maybe. But she seems like a girl that can handle a little pressure.”
“Yes, she is. Can you believe this weekend was the first time she’d ever been to the snow? She was wearing those city girl boots.” He shook his head at the memory.
“You’re going to miss her, aren’t you?”
“I really am.” He patted Rich on the shoulder. “Hell, I was going to make her my wife.”
Rich scoffed. “I wasn’t fool enough to fall for that.”
Beau took a deep breath. “I might have been.”
Rich shook his head. “She definitely is a keeper.”
“That she was.” Beau wished things were different. That they had the opportunity for things to progress in a more natural way. Then maybe...
“Good thing she hasn’t checked out yet.”
Beau looked up at Rich, his words sinking in. He turned and tore down the hallway toward her room. The door was shut. He knocked on it. “Phoebe?”
No answer.
He knocked again.
Silence.
He shouldn’t, but he opened the door. The room was empty. There was a note on the table under the bouquet of roses he’d given her.
Sorry, Beau. You weren’t here, and I had to go. I’ll call you. Please change your mind and visit me. Good luck with the bar. You’ll always be my number one fiancé.
He crumpled the note and dropped it in the trash. What did he expect? It was a game. He never expected her to stay. So why did it hurt so much that she didn’t say goodbye?
He picked up the roses off her dresser and carried them into the bar. No reason to let good flowers go to waste.
Chapter Eighteen
Phoebe didn’t understand why she was crying. All the way down the mountain tears streamed down her cheeks. She had a great weekend. She met a great guy, and then she ran like a coward, leaving a note instead of giving him a kiss like he deserved. She was afraid if she saw him again, she wouldn’t be able to say goodbye.
She was afraid she loved him.
Which was ridiculous. How could she be in love with someone she’d just met? It had to be the aftereffects of almost freezing to death. Her phone rang. She looked down at the display, hoping it was Beau. It wasn’t.
“Hey, girlfriend! How was the conference?”
“Fabulous,” Phoebe said. “I got my dream job.”
“You did? That’s amazing.”
“I know,” she said, then broke into tears.
“Why are you crying?”
“Because I just left the man of my dreams behind on Snowy Mountain.”
“Then turn around and go back up there and get him.”
“I can’t.”
“Why not?”
“I can’t give up my dreams for a man. I did that once before; I can’t do that again.”
“And yet, you’re giving up your dreams of happiness with a man for a job?”
“I know. Can I call you later? I need to focus on my driving.”
“All right. Drive safe.”
“I will.”
Phoebe drove straight through. She took a hot shower once she got home, ordered in her favorite Chinese takeout, and spent the rest of the night working on her jewelry and trying not to think about Beau.
The next morning, she got up early, put on her suit, and drove to the Premiere Wedding Planners offices. She wanted to walk through those doors, hand in her jewelry order, and make sure that she now had a job as a planner.
“Phoebe, it’s good to see you. Welcome,” Karen said, meeting her in the lobby.
She followed Karen into an open floor filled with cubicles. All gray. The carpet was gray. The walls gray. The cubicles gray. Definitely not what Phoebe expected.
“I am so glad you’ve joined us,” Karen said and took her around and introduced her to the rest of the team. Twelve, in all, each with their own specialties. “I’m sure most of you have seen Phoebe’s jewelry; it’s beautiful, and she will make a perfect addition to complete our team.”
“Thank you,” Phoebe said as she looked at all the faces. No one seemed interested in her.
“Hi, guys,” Candy said, walking into the room. “I brought muffins for everyone. I can’t wait to tell you all about the amazing conference in Tahoe. You all should come next year.”
“Okay, have a muffin, then Phoebe, Candy, and Veronica, I want you with me at the Whitechapel meeting. Afterward, we’ll all meet here at two to brainstorm our war plan.”
War plan? What had Phoebe gotten herself into?
At eleven thirty the four women walked into the lobby of the Ritz Carlton and toward their five-star restaurant.
“Here is the proposal from the Ritz to use their ballroom,” Veronica said, handing Karen the folder.
“Thank you, Veronica. Game faces on, ladies. They’re here.” Karen walked forward, arm extended and smiling from ear to ear. “Mrs. Whitechapel, it’s so good to see you again.”
They all followed behind her as Karen worked her magic, schmoozing Mrs. Whitechapel, her daughter Daisy, and the soon-to-be groom. The hostess ushered them to a table. They made small talk, oohed and aahed over all the right things, looked at a bunch of pictures, and tried to gauge the bride’s interest.
This was what she wanted, and Phoebe couldn’t pay attention. She kept wondering what Beau was up to. She itched to take out her phone and call him. Pathetic, she told herself.
“He’s quite the catch,” Daisy said and rubbed her hand along her groom-to-be’s stubbly jaw.
Phoebe smiled though her heart was breaking.
“I know you have heard this a thousand times,” Daisy said. “But I don’t want one of those weddings that all my friends have had or been to. All these pictures are beautiful, but I want something special. Magical.”
“Of course you do, dear,” her mother said.
She looked at her groom-to-be. “This is a memory we will carry with us for the rest of our lives. It can’t be at Daddy’s country club or even the Ritz Carlton ballroom.”
Phoebe glanced at Karen, expecting a frown, knowing full well she already had a proposal from the Ritz in her bag.
“I completely understand,” Karen said. “Are you thinking an ocean backdrop? The redwoods? Vintage chic? Whatever you wish, we can do that for you. Perhaps, couture fashion? Modern sophisticate? Bohemian? What is your style?”
“Unique,” Daisy said and giggled up at her betrothed. He looked like he would move heaven and earth to make her dreams come true, so there was no use talking to him. But still, Phoebe couldn’t stop looking at him. The way he looked at Daisy. There was so much love in his eyes.
“I can’t tell you how many of the same weddings we’ve been to in this city,” Daisy said. “The same ice sculptures, tired flower arrangements, overdone music, even the same waitstaff for Christ’s sake.”
“Daisy,” her mother admonished.
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“Sorry, Mom. I’m sure they understand.”
“Absolutely,” Karen said with a gracious smile. “You want something no one else has seen. You’ve come to the right place. Give us a few days to work up some proposals. How about Friday at noon?”
Daisy’s mother stood. “Perfect. Please understand, we’re collecting bids from two other agencies.”
“No problem. We want you confident with your decision when you choose us for this most important occasion.”
Daisy clapped her hands together. “Exactly. I’m so thrilled you understand.”
Karen nodded. “That’s why Premiere Wedding Planners is the best. We’ll talk to you Friday afternoon.”
After the meeting, they returned to the offices and to the war room. Phoebe stared in amazement at the giant whiteboards covering the walls with all the planner duties outlined and divided up by the different people. This was not at all what she imagined this job would be. Even here, she would still only have a small piece of the wedding pie.
“Okay, people, we didn’t get a signed contract. Not yet. That means we have to work harder. Tami and Lucy, you’re out. I want you focusing on the wedding you have in the works. The rest of you, this is a big one. Divide and conquer and we win,” Karen said.
“Phoebe, I want you to work up some amazing jewelry designs to wow the bride. Candy, I want you working on the cake and food designs. Winnie, the flower arrangements, nothing tired and already done. Think out of the box, everyone. I want the best proposal we’ve done to date on my desk by Friday morning.”
Astonishment filled Phoebe as Karen continued outlining the tasks and assigning planners to handle them. How was this any different than doing her jewelry design as a freelancer? It wasn’t, except now she had more responsibilities and less control over her own time.
She gave Karen the jewelry she finished and her invoice for the Reagan job.
“What do you think of Premiere Wedding Planners?” Karen asked.
“I’m a little overwhelmed,” Phoebe said.
“Yeah, we’re pretty awesome.”
“I’m not sure how different this will be from working on my designs as a freelancer.”
All Night Long: Kiss The Bride #2 Page 9