Third Time's the Charm (An Aliso Creek Novella)

by Heather B. Moore

  Liz had protested her involvement when Sloane asked her, but he said it would make the biggest impression—both on Darci and her father. Sloane’s ex father-in-law would see that Sloane wasn’t going to be bribed, and Darci would come face to face with the new woman in Sloane’s life.

  Which is me, Liz thought, flushing all over again. She’d been doing that a lot lately, mostly when she was thinking of Sloane, other times when he was kissing her. He had come to the salon a couple more times and hung out in her apartment for dinner, and last night they’d gone to a movie. In fact, it was hard for her to remember a time when Sloane wasn’t in her life.

  A knock sounded at the door, and her heart skipped a beat. “I’ll get it,” Liz called out, but when she stepped into the hall, Paisley had already dashed to the door and opened it.

  “Hey, Daisy,” Sloane said, looking really nice in dark slacks and a pale olive shirt.

  “It’s Paisley.”

  “Sorry, I meant Maisy. How are you?”

  Paisley giggled. “It’s Pais-ley!”

  “Pais-ley? Where’d you get that name?” Sloane said, smiling. He glanced over her head at Liz.

  “From my mom, dummy!” Paisley said, crossing her arms.

  “Don’t call him dummy,” Liz said, walking toward the pair of them.

  “But he is. He never gets my name right!”

  Sloane laughed. “Maybe you’ll have to write it down for me.”

  Paisley set off toward the kitchen, and Liz met Sloane’s gaze.

  “You look beautiful,” he said. His hand reached for hers, and he drew her close.

  Liz inhaled his musky scent. If only tonight could be the two of them.

  Paisley bounded into the room. She held up a torn-out page from her coloring book with her name printed at the top. “You can keep the picture too!”

  Sloane grinned and took the picture. “Thanks, Pais-ley. I love Cinderella.”

  Paisley wrapped her arms about his waist.

  Sloane looked stunned for a second. Then he hugged her back.

  “Will you bring me back Popsicles?” Paisley asked, pulling away and looking up at him.

  Sloane glanced at Liz, then bent down. “Tell you what. If you go to bed good for your babysitter tonight, I’ll take you and your mom to Balboa Island tomorrow, and we’ll ride the Ferris wheel and eat all the Popsicles you want.” He straightened. “If that’s okay with your mom?”

  Liz thought her heart would burst. “Sure, that’s fine with me.” She could hardly keep the grin off of her face.

  She said her good-byes to Paisley, then left with Sloane.

  “You sure made a little girl happy,” Liz said as they walked to his car.

  Sloane chuckled and grabbed Liz’s hand, then pulled her toward him into a tight hug. “She’s a riot.”

  Liz wrapped her arms about him and breathed him in, wishing they didn’t have to be around other people tonight. “So what’s the plan, Mr. Branden?”

  He released her and threaded his fingers through hers. “My brothers have been updated. They’ll treat you like you’re already best friends—practically a part of the family.”

  When they reached Sloane’s car, he pulled out something from his pocket. “Do you want to wear this?”

  Liz stared at the diamond ring in his hand. “That’s the worst proposal I’ve ever received.”

  Sloane laughed. “My brothers said it would make it all look more official if you’re wearing a ring, and Darci thinks we’re engaged.”

  She lifted her eyes to his. For a split second, she wished he really were proposing. But that would be insane. Plus the ring was obviously fake. She’d never seen a diamond so large. Wouldn’t Darci know it wasn’t the real thing? “Do you think she’ll buy it? I mean, how long does she think we’ve been going out?”

  Sloane shrugged, his eyes twinkling. “We’ll just keep her guessing.” He took her hand and slipped the ring on her finger.

  A warm shiver traveled along Liz’s arm at his touch. And the warmth only increased when he lowered his head and gave her a lingering kiss.

  “Was that kiss acting or for real?” Liz asked.

  “Definitely for real.” He grinned. “Come on, or we won’t make it past the parking lot.”

  Darci was decked out in red. She wore a red blouse with a tight, black skirt, red lipstick, and red strappy sandals. Her dark eyes honed in on Liz as soon as she stepped into the conference room. They were meeting after-hours at some law office.

  Liz wished she could have met Sloane’s brothers beforehand, if even for a few seconds. But they were already in the conference room with Darci and her dad. It seemed no one was late in the Branden family.

  Liz’s saving grace was that Sloane kept a hold of her hand as he made the round of introductions.

  “Liz, this is Darci and her father, Mr. Henderson.”

  She shook the man’s hand. Liz didn’t know who creeped her out more, Darci, or her gaze-piercing father. He was about 6’3” with jet-black hair obviously dyed, and nearly black eyes like his daughter’s. His gaze combed Liz, and she felt even more creeped out.

  Sloane released her hand as his brothers stepped forward. One was named Rocky, the other Jack, although Liz wasn’t sure who was who, and she couldn’t very well ask in front of Darci. They looked like younger versions of Sloane—quite endearing truth be told. The older one, probably just a couple years younger than Sloane, wore a full suit. The youngest one was dressed more like Sloane, but Liz sensed he’d be more comfortable in shorts and a t-shirt. His hair was on the messy, but stylish, side. He hugged her first. “Good to see you again, sis.”

  “You too,” she said with a smile, hoping it looked genuine over the nerves coursing through her.

  The older brother hugged her as well, then kissed her on the cheek. “How was the movie the other night?”

  “Loved it,” Liz said, hoping she wasn’t completely failing at improvising.

  “It looks like congratulations are in order,” Darci said, her low voice cutting through. It had a sultry edge to it, which didn’t exactly surprise Liz.

  Sloane simply smiled and pulled out a chair for Liz to sit in. Was she supposed to answer Darci?

  The woman was staring straight at Liz with her cat-like eyes. “So when’s the big day?”

  Liz forced herself not to look to Sloane for help. In as smooth of a voice as she could manage, she said, “August.”

  Darci’s red lips curled into a smile. “Oh, how sweet, Sloane,” she said although her gaze was still on Liz, “the same month we were married.”

  Liz felt her face drain of color, but Sloane grabbed her hand. “It might be September,” he said. “We haven’t called the reception halls yet.”

  “Most people don’t have a reception for their second marriages,” Darci said.

  This woman is a nightmare. How could Sloane stand it? No wonder he was refusing to negotiate with her father. The only thing that saved Liz from saying something snarky was the lawyers picked that moment to walk into the conference room.

  Both of them stopped to shake Liz’s hand, then made their rounds with the others in the room. If they thought it was strange that she was there, they didn’t act like it.

  She tried to concentrate on what was said in the meeting, but it was difficult when Darci and her father kept throwing cutting glances at her.

  The lawyer representing Sloane and his brothers stated his terms, 5 percent interest on the original loan, and no equity. Then Mr. Henderson’s lawyer countered with 15 percent interest and 10 percent equity.

  Each brother had his turn to say something, as did both Darci and her father, and Sloane.

  Liz had to admit that they all made a good case in their own way, though she was a bit biased toward Sloane.

  Her head was spinning when about thirty minutes later, the two sides had reached an agreement. By the tight look on Sloane’s face, she could tell he wasn’t entirely happy with the 10 percent interest he’d have to pay Mr.
Henderson, but she could also see that Darci wasn’t all that happy either. So overall, it had been successful.

  Agreements were signed, and hands were shook. Liz made her escape to the ladies’ room, and when she came out of the stall to wash her hands, Darci was leaning against the sink, her sculpted arms folded.

  “Congratulations, Liz,” Darci said in a voice with a distinctive edge.

  Liz turned on the faucet in the sink and ran her hands under the warm water. “Congratulations to you too. It sounds like your father got at least most of what he wanted.”

  “How do you know what he wants?” Darci asked.

  Liz just wanted to get out of the bathroom and away from this woman. She pumped out soap from the dispenser, scrubbed quickly, then rinsed off. As she reached for a paper towel, she said, “I think we can leave the details to the lawyers. There’s no sense in arguing about them.”

  As Liz tried to step around Darci, the woman faced her, blocking the door.

  “Sloane may have won this round, but I’ll win in the end,” she said.

  Liz felt like choking, or maybe choking Darci instead. “You had your chance, Ms. Henderson. Sloane is with me now.”

  Darci’s mouth fell open, and Liz took the opportunity to scoot around her and push through the door.

  Liz walked quickly away, trembling with anger.

  “My name is Darci Branden,” Darci called through the door before it closed.

  Liz ignored her and hurried down the hall. When she turned the corner, she was glad to see Sloane and his brothers still at the conference room door. The lawyers and Mr. Henderson were nowhere in sight.

  When she came to stand by them, Sloane reached for her hand.

  “You did great in there,” one of his brothers said.

  Sloane squeezed her hand. “Well, it wasn’t totally an act, right?”

  Warmth buzzed through Liz, and she smiled.

  “Darci’s coming,” his brother muttered.

  Liz kept her back to the hall as the men continued to talk. Darci walked by without a word to any of them.

  When Darci left through the main office door, Sloane let out a low whistle. “Was she in the bathroom with you?”

  Liz looked up at him. “Yes, and she wasn’t too happy about any of this.”

  His brothers laughed. The older one said, “She’ll get over it quickly enough—as soon as the next good-looking man crosses her path. She might not even make it out of the parking lot without securing a date.”

  If Liz hadn’t just had the encounter from hell with Darci, she would have thought Sloane’s brother was being cruel.

  “Come on,” Sloane said, draping his arm over her shoulders. “I’m starving. Spending money always makes me hungry.

  “Are we invited?” the younger brother asked.

  Sloane glanced at Liz.

  She decided she liked his brothers. “Sure, I’m fine with it if Sloane is.”

  “Just behave yourselves,” Sloane said.

  Twenty minutes later they were at a small Thai restaurant. “I’m seeing a pattern here,” Liz said. “Do you eat anything else besides Thai?”

  Rocky spoke up. Liz had figured out he was the younger one. He’d taken his tie off already and looked more comfortable. “Sloane eats Thai at least several times a week. But I’m a burger guy.”

  Jack looked up from his cell phone. “Just you wait until you hit thirty. All of those burgers will go straight to your gut.”

  Rocky delivered a sharp jab, and Jack shook his head as if he couldn’t be bothered with his younger brother’s immaturity.

  “Guys, we’ve got a lady with us,” Sloane said.

  Liz laughed. “It’s totally fine. Reminds me of my siblings.”

  “Do you have brothers and sisters?” Rocky asked.

  “I have a step-brother and a step-sister. Both are several years younger than me, so I was basically an only child until about fifteen.”

  The waitress showed up with water glasses and took their orders. The rest of the time at the restaurant was spent with the brothers teasing each other, sometimes directing it toward Liz, which she loved.

  When the meal was over, and she and Sloane were alone again, walking back to his car, Liz said, “Your brothers are awesome.”

  He stopped and stared down at her. “You’re an angel.”

  “Whatever. They’re funny and charming, and seem like great guys.”

  “They think you’re pretty great, too.” Sloane pulled her close. “Thanks for coming tonight, and for everything. I think the nightmare is finally coming to an end.”

  Liz buried her face against his neck and inhaled his warmth. “It was definitely a unique experience.”

  They stayed in each other’s arms for a few more moments, then broke away, and Sloane opened the car door for Liz.

  As he walked around the car, she leaned against the seat and exhaled. It was incredible that just a few weeks ago, she didn’t even know Sloane, and now he seemed to fill every gap of her life.

  When he climbed in the car, he took her hand, and they drove back to her apartment in comfortable silence. Liz had a million questions about the deal that had been reached in the conference room and what Sloane thought Darci or her father might do next. But that could all wait until later. For now, she was just content to sit and hold his hand.

  Brittney was watching TV when Liz unlocked the apartment door. Sloane came in behind her as Liz asked, “Did Paisley go to bed all right?”

  “Oh yeah,” Brittney said, rising from the couch and pocketing her cell phone. “And she said to be sure to wake her up by eight o’clock in the morning so that she can get ready for Balboa Island.”

  Liz laughed. “All right—because it takes a six-year-old quite a while to get ready.” She handed money over to Brittney, who left, bounding down the stairs to her apartment beneath Liz’s.

  With Brittney gone, Liz shut the door and turned to Sloane, who had stayed in the entry way. “Are you sure you want to go to Balboa tomorrow? I thought your busiest days were on the weekend.”

  Sloane leaned against the wall. “They are, but my brothers will be more than happy to cover for me since we just got a lawsuit dropped against us.”

  “True,” Liz said.

  Sloane reached for her hand and tugged her toward him. “But I do have some things to get done tonight, so I’ll let you go.” He pulled her into his arms, his face inches from hers.

  “All right, see you later,” Liz said with a smile.

  But instead of leaving, he cupped her face in his hands and kissed her. “Bye.”

  “Bye,” she whispered and wrapped her arms around his neck, nestling closer.

  Sloane kissed her slowly. Apparently he didn’t have to leave right away after all. Liz let the tingles consume her body at his touch. His mouth moved from her lips to her jaw, then to her neck.

  She pressed even closer, and his hands drew her against him more possessively. His kisses deepened, becoming more serious and intense. An ache of longing started inside Liz, and she knew it was time to break away.

  “I almost forgot,” she said in a breathless voice. When he didn’t stop kissing her, she said, “Sloane.”

  “What?” He lifted his head.

  The look in his eyes sent a tremor down to her toes. She reluctantly drew away and tugged the ring off her hand. It felt strange to have it off—as though she’d grown used to it already. “Here’s your prop.”

  Sloane blinked down at it. “That’s yours.”

  “Maybe you’ll need it again sometime,” Liz said, handing over the ring.

  But he wouldn’t take it. “No, I bought it for you.”

  Why was he making a big deal out of a piece of costume jewelry? “All right. Maybe Paisley will want it. Wearing a gigantic fake diamond isn’t really my thing.” She laughed, but Sloane didn’t even crack a smile.

  “It’s not fake.” Sloane’s gaze was totally serious. “It cost more than my car.”

  “What do you mea
n?” Liz didn’t understand where he was coming from. “Is it your mom’s or something?”

  “No, I bought it for you, Liz,” he said.

  She stared at him, stunned. “You bought me a diamond ring?” She looked down at it. What she thought was gaudy at first, she realized was stunning and exquisite. No wonder Darci had been furious. This was no fake.

  “Liz, I know that if I proposed right now, you’d be freaked out, so I’m not going to,” Sloane said.

  Her breath caught, and her heart seemed to stop for a second.

  “But the ring is yours,” Sloane continued in a quiet voice. “You don’t have to wear it or anything, but I’m not taking it back. I bought it for you. Although I’d advise not to let Paisley use it as a dress-up.” A small smile touched his face. “And then, maybe someday, when you’re ready . . .”

  Liz looked down at the ring, then back to Sloane. She was speechless. This man was too much, but he was real, and beautiful, and she was definitely falling in love with him. She blinked against the tears forming in her eyes.

  “You’re absolutely crazy, you know that?” Liz said. Despite her effort, a tear escaped and fell onto her cheek.

  Sloane brushed her cheek with his thumb, soaking up the tear. “I know. That’s because I’m crazy in love with you, Liz.”

  She felt like laughing and crying at the same time. With a trembling hand she put the ring back on. It was simply the most gorgeous piece of jewelry she’d ever seen. But it wasn’t an amazing diamond ring that tied her to the man in front of her. It was a million and one other things.

  “All right. You win, Sloane,” she said, wrapping her arms around his neck and raising up on her toes to kiss him. “But only because I love you too.”

  More Aliso Creek Novellas

  Gemma’s story in the Aliso Creek Novella series:

  Picture Perfect

  As part of A Timeless Romance Anthology—Spring Vacation Collection

  Dear Reader,

  If you enjoyed Third Time’s the Charm, please consider posting a review or rating on Amazon, Goodreads, or Barnes & Noble. Thank you for reading! Also, please feel free to email me: heather@hbmoore.com I would love to hear from you. All of “the Five” will receive their own story in 2013 as part of the Aliso Creek Novella series.