by Tara Randel
“I do so love your modesty.”
The pressure lifted from Nealy as they both laughed.
“So what are you going to do?” her grandmother asked.
“I have two choices. Go back to L.A. and a sure thing or stay here and take a shot at a brand-new life with Dane.” She blew out a breath. “You’d think this would be easy, but I guess I have my own decisions to make.”
“Indeed you do.”
Nealy rose from the couch, carrying her towel to the bathroom to hang it up to dry. She combed out her hair, her mind racing. She knew what she wanted, but was it the right thing?
She returned to the living room to find her grandmother still hadn’t moved from her position on the couch.
“You should go to bed, Grandmother.”
“I still can’t get the vision of Cuppa Joe in flames out of my head.” She shuddered. “Then to learn Davey was inside, it turned my blood cold.”
“At least he’s safe and he learned a valuable lesson.” Nealy sat beside her grandmother and took her hand in hers, rubbing warmth into her grandmother’s skin. “Thank heavens the entire shop wasn’t destroyed. I’m sure with the insurance coverage, we can get the business back up and running.”
Her grandmother regarded her with a sly look. “We?”
“You should reconsider selling. Seriously, after almost losing the shop, I think we should keep Cuppa Joe in the family, and you can either retire or, at least, slow down. And if we do, the rest of the family will step up and finally rethink their roles with respect to the shop. They’ll want to be involved with Cuppa Joe given everything that’s happened. So, Grandmother, is your original proposal about co-owning Cuppa Joe with me still open?”
Dorinda’s eyes turned bright. “You know it is.”
Nealy tightened her grip on Dorinda’s hand. “Then you have a partner.”
“And your event planning business?”
“It’ll take some doing, juggling two businesses at once, but I’m up for the task. Knowing we’ve kept Cuppa Joe in the family is important to me. Davey will be thrilled. The idea of taking my own job experience and bringing it here to Cypress Pointe excites me.”
“You won’t miss the high-profile clients you’ve been used to working with?”
“I have to admit, I will miss working with great people and rubbing elbows with a few, but I won’t miss the crazy hours and demands from Crystal. Being my own boss has a nice ring to it.”
“Do you know how to start the ball rolling?”
She grinned. “No, but I happen to know just the right person to help me put a business proposal together.”
* * *
THE NEXT MORNING, Nealy marched into Dane’s office, placing a briefcase on his desk. He looked up and seemed pleasantly surprised, by the expression on his face.
“Okay, mister, we have some things to discuss.”
He rose from his chair, pleasure replaced by wariness. “Do tell.”
“First of all, is the office you promised me still available?”
He pushed his chair under the desk then moved to the side of the desk to lean against it. “Do you promise to use it on a daily basis?”
“I think that can be arranged.” She pulled a folder from her briefcase. “Are you available to brainstorm a few different business proposals?”
“A few?”
“Yes. I’m a busy woman, have my fingers in all kinds of career opportunities. I need some expert advice. I happen to know from personal experience, not only are you a successful businessman who knows how to make a profit, but your tendency to be bossy has made you my go-to man.”
“You’ve piqued my interest.”
“As was my intention.”
“I can listen. Give me a few suggestions.”
Nealy grinned from ear to ear and sighed as she placed a hand over her chest. “Please repeat what you just said.”
He chuckled. “I get it, Nealy. I will listen and discuss any and all business and personal decisions with you before acting.”
“Great. So we’re clear?”
“We’re clear. Thus far I’m zero for two in the major decision-making process. The third time around I won’t strike out.”
“You always said I was your good-luck charm.” She dropped the folder on his desk and went into his arms. “You know it’s going to take a while for us to work out our issues.”
He slipped his hands around her waist. “This time we’re ready.”
She kissed him, pouring all her love for this man into the gesture.
Moments later he broke the kiss, his voice hopeful. “Does this need for business advice mean you’ve decided to stay in Cypress Pointe?”
She shrugged. “Cypress Pointe has kind of grown on me.” She looked away, smoothing his shirt to ease her nervousness. “And I’ve discovered there’s a lot to love here.”
“Interesting. Anything or anyone in particular?”
She looked up to meet his gaze. “You.”
“I’m sorry about—”
She placed a finger over his lips. “It’s the past, Dane. I want to make a future with you.”
“I do, too.”
“I never stopped loving you, but a wise woman told me I have to stop running. It was the easy way, but not the best way. Just like you have always made decisions based on doing the right thing, I reacted on pure emotion. The thing is, the emotion led me right back to you. I’m tired of running from the truth. I love you, Dane.”
“I never thought I’d hear you say those words again.”
“It took me time and distance, but I know what I want now.”
“Even through the years we were apart, deep down, I wished for this moment.” His hands held on to her waist. “We’re good together, you and I.”
“It’s as if you’re reading my mind.”
His mouth covered hers tenderly and she reveled in the knowledge Dane did indeed love her. Taking this step of faith hadn’t been easy, but deep inside she was prepared to fight for a love she never should have abandoned in the first place. She may not have been old enough or wise enough to work out their problems twelve years ago, but she was more than able to now.
“I’ll have to go back to California, finish up some obligations and close my apartment, but I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
“I’m coming with you.”
She froze.
“Let me rephrase. Nealy, can I please come with you?”
“That’s more like it.” Dane coming with her to California. Hmm, she liked the idea. “The answer is yes, as long as you promise not to be so bossy when we get there.”
He kissed her forehead. “So what you’re saying is, after everything we’ve been through, you expect me to change?”
“Um, yeah. I do.”
“Trust me, I won’t do anything to mess us up this time around.”
The love in her heart blossomed.
She trusted him. After all the heartache, all the times she’d convinced herself the trust issue between them could never be resolved, she knew Dane’s heart was honest and true.
“This is going to work, right?”
He met her gaze, staring deeply into her eyes, his usual intensity stealing her breath away. “I’d take on the world to keep you by my side.”
She believed him.
* * * * *
Don’t miss Tara Randel’s next installment of
THE BUSINESS OF WEDDINGS
coming in December
from Harlequin Heartwarming!
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ISBN-13: 9781460335567
MAGNOLIA BRIDE
Copyright © 2014 by Tara Spicer
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