Only You

by Denise Grover Swank

  “Pashminas,” she whispered, lifting the vase up to her face, then looking up at Holly. “How are mine doing in the yard?”

  Holly shot Kevin a panicked look. While she hadn’t told him the Pashmina roses hadn’t done well, it wasn’t hard to figure out they were included in the group of suffering plants.

  “They’re gorgeous,” Kevin said, leaning against the wall. “Stunning.”

  “Really?” she asked, looking relieved. “My husband gave them to me when we were first married. A wedding gift.”

  “What?” Holly asked. “You never told me that.”

  The older woman didn’t answer, just looked at the flowers on her lap.

  Holly looked upset, and Kevin resisted the urge to pull her into a hug. Instead, he turned his attention to her grandmother. “How long were you married?”

  “Thirty years. Not long enough before his heart attack. And then my two boys were killed a year later.” Her eyes filled with tears again, and she wiped her cheek with the back of her hand. “My Sunshine and Storm Cloud got me through the pain. I don’t know what I would have done without them.”

  “No more of that kind of talk. Mel and I…” Holly sniffed, looking dangerously close to crying. She took a breath and pulled out another vase. “I have fourteen more of these. What would you like to do? I can set them up around your room so you’re surrounded by them.”

  Her grandmother shook her head. “That would be selfish of me. Let’s share them. Help me up.”

  Holly smiled and looked toward Kevin. He picked up the box and followed them through the halls, giving out flowers to her grandmother’s friends like he was Santa. The residents squealed in delight and Kevin was filled with more contentment than he’d felt in ages. When they’d finished, they went outside and sat in the garden while Holly told her grandmother about last night’s wedding reception, answering her many questions. Kevin piped up from time to time, adding details that Holly glossed over.

  “I wish I could have been there to see it,” the older woman said.

  “I would have taken pictures with my phone, but I was too busy,” Holly said, sounding apologetic.

  “But she’ll have some next time,” Kevin said. “I’m her new assistant, so I can take them.”

  Both women gaped at him, Holly looking more surprised than her grandmother.

  “That was a joke, Kevin.”

  “Not to me.” Then he changed the subject, telling the older woman about his Gram and her current career as a yoga instructor.

  “I wish we had something like that here,” she said with a frown. “Something other than painting.”

  Kevin grinned. “I bet Gram would love to teach a class before she goes back to Wisconsin or wherever she’s going next. But I have to warn you. My Gram’s a wild one.”

  The older woman clapped her hands together. “The wilder the better.”

  They walked her back to her room and she cast a glance at Kevin, then pulled Holly into a tight hug. “You remember what I said. You hear?”

  “Yes, ma’am,” she said dutifully as she stepped back.

  The older woman reached for Kevin and gave him a hug.

  “It was wonderful to meet you, Mrs. Greenwood.”

  “None of that Mrs. Greenwood nonsense,” she said. “Either call me Barb or Grandma.” She patted his face, searching his eyes. “Promise me I’ll see you again.”

  His smile fell and he turned serious. “I promise.”

  “Good.” Her hand dropped. “Now I’m exhausted, so help me to my chair.”

  They got her settled and her eyes drooped.

  Holly was silent until they got into her car, and then she turned to him, looking angry. “Why would you promise her such a thing?”

  “That I’ll come back? Because I will.”

  “But…” She frowned. “Why did you tell her you were my assistant and that you’ll take photos for her?”

  He said patiently, “Because I asked if I could try out for your assistant position.”

  “There is no assistant position.”

  “Well, there should be. That’s too much for one person to do. I plan to talk to my mother tomorrow.”

  “What?” Panic filled her eyes. “You can’t do that! She’ll think I’m incompetent.”

  “That’s ridiculous, Holly.”

  “You can’t say anything. You have to stay out of it.”

  “Fine, but you have to let me help you with your next wedding.”

  “That’s my big one. The Johansen wedding.”

  “The wedding-dress designer?” he asked. When she looked surprised, he grinned. “I pay attention. And if there was ever a wedding you needed help with, it’s that one.”

  “You can’t be my assistant, Kevin. There’s no pay.”

  “I know, but let me help you anyway.”

  “Why?”

  “The truth?”

  She looked flustered. “Of course.”

  He turned in his seat to face her, taking both her hands in his. “I like you, Holly. I’m not sure you fully grasp how much I like you. I want to have something with you. I want to see where this goes.”

  She pushed out a groan of frustration. “You know I can’t—”

  “Yes, I know all too well about my mother. But you told me there’s a light at the end of your indentured servitude: the Johansen wedding. When you pull that off without a hitch, you should get enough referrals to start your own business, right?”

  “A lot of things have to fall into place. …”

  “You don’t want to date me while you work for my mother.”

  “She’ll fire me, Kevin.”

  “So we spend the next two weeks as friends, and then, after the wedding in two weeks, we can be out in the open and we can give this a real try.”

  Wariness filled her eyes. “You would wait two weeks?”

  “Jesus, Holly.” He grinned. “You make me sound like a horn dog.”

  She laughed. “Well, aren’t you?”

  “When it comes to you,” he leaned into her ear and whispered, “I think about sex with you All. Day. Long.”

  She sucked in a breath, and he started to get hard, thinking about taking her to bed.

  “But I’m willing to wait,” he said, nibbling her earlobe. “Because the prize at the end is more than worth it.”

  “I thought we were waiting.” Her voice was breathless, turning him on even more.

  “We are,” he murmured against her cheek as he trailed kisses to her mouth, then sucked her bottom lip between his teeth.

  She pulled her hands from his, linking them behind his neck. “This is waiting?”

  “I never said we couldn’t kiss,” he said against her lips. “We’ll just stay at first base until the Johansen wedding. It seems like a good compromise.”

  She laughed. “You think you can stay at first base for two weeks?”

  “I’ll do whatever it takes to keep you. Now, I need to ask a favor.”

  “You know you have me at a disadvantage, right?” she said breathlessly after he kissed her again. “I’d agree to just about anything.”

  “I need to go to the grocery store. I want to grill for you.”

  She grinned. “Sounds like I’m getting the better end of the deal.”

  They drove to the grocery store, and after they got a cart they headed to the produce department. Holly checked out a display of strawberries while Kevin looked for the ingredients to make a salad. He was grabbing an onion when he heard a man exclaim, “Oh, my God. Holly Greenwood. Is that you?”

  “Tony!” she said, sounding excited.

  Kevin stood back, getting pissed at the jealousy rising up when he noticed the guy standing a little too close.

  “You look really good.” Tony’s gaze stayed on her legs and chest longer than appropriate.

  “Thanks.” She swiveled to look at Kevin, but he pretended to be interested in the potatoes as he waged a massive inner battle not to go over and stake his claim.

 
“What are you up to?” Tony asked. “Still at the Marriott?”

  “No,” she said with a shy smile. “I’m working for an event planner. I mostly work on weddings.”

  “No kidding. I remember you used to give the brides advice when they booked the reception room at the hotel. Glad to hear you’re getting paid for it now.”

  She cocked her head. “Yeah. Mostly.”

  Mostly. What did that mean?

  “So does that mean you’re busy most weekends?” he asked.

  “Some. I don’t have that many weddings scheduled yet. Most are booked out into next fall and winter. What are you doing back in town?”

  “I’m working for a stockbroker in Kansas City now. And Mara and I broke up.”

  “Oh.” Then a second later it seemed hit her. “Oh.”

  “You still at the same number?”

  She looked flustered, and it took everything in Kevin not to walk over and tell the asshole she was taken, but he wouldn’t. Because she wasn’t. Not officially. And that pissed him off so much he literally saw red.

  But Mr. Oblivious caught none of it. “Great. I’ll give you a call sometime.”

  “Yeah…”

  “It’s really great to see you, Holly. You look really good.” He pushed his cart toward the bread section and Holly’s gaze followed him, making Kevin even angrier.

  Was she interested in him?

  “Who was that?” he asked, trying hard to sound casual and nonchalant but failing miserably.

  “Tony. We used to work together at the Marriott.”

  “So he broke up with his wife?”

  “Girlfriend.”

  “He moved away somewhere with her?”

  “Wichita. She was in grad school.”

  “And now he’s back and wants to take you out on a date.”

  “No.” Wariness filled her eyes. “He just wants to catch up.”

  “He wants to catch up, all right. He wants to catch up on your legs.”

  Her eyes flew wide and a middle-aged woman picking up a head of lettuce next to them stopped and stared open mouthed.

  “What are you talking about?” Holly asked, her hands on her hips. “He’s an old friend that wants to catch up. You know…talk.” But she seemed less sure.

  “I saw him checking you out, Holly. He wants to do more than talk. Much, much more.”

  “You don’t know that.”

  “He’d have to be a fucking idiot to not want to. Do you even have any idea how gorgeous you are?”

  “Why are you getting so mad?” she asked, getting irritated herself. “We worked together for three years. I haven’t seen him since he moved. We just said hello. That’s it.”

  He counted three full seconds before he said, “I don’t like that guy.”

  “Why?”

  He swallowed and asked in an even tone, “You want to go out with that guy?”

  Her eyes blazed with anger. “No, you moron. You really think I’d make out with you ten minutes ago, then arrange a date with someone else in the grocery-store produce aisle with you standing four feet away?”

  She was right. He was an idiot, but he hesitated long enough that she mistook his silence. “Find your own way home.” Then she spun around and stomped out of the store.

  The woman who had been eavesdropping moved closer to him. “I hear picking up women in the produce aisle is the new dating trend.” Then she batted her eyelashes. “I’m available.”

  “Thanks,” he told her, “but we’re going to work it out.” He hoped.

  Sighing, he pulled out his phone, trying to figure out whether to call Megan or Matt—which one was less likely to give him grief over this?

  The answer was easy: neither. He was better off walking home.

  Chapter Thirty-One

  Holly was surprised to see Melanie sitting on their couch watching TV when she walked in the door. “You’re home. I thought you were going to Kiera’s.”

  Sitting up, Melanie grabbed the remote and turned off the TV. “I’ve been thinking about what you said.” She paused. “You’re right. I keep trying to run away from what’s going on with Grandma. Like, literally. It’s time to face it head-on.”

  Holly shut the door and sat down beside her. “What exactly does that mean?”

  “It means I can’t handle the thought of losing Grandma, so instead of facing the truth, I pretend she’s not sick. Even if she’s not here.”

  “I get it, Mel. It’s hard. But she misses you something fierce.”

  “I know.” Tears filled her eyes. “I was thinking about going to see her tonight. Will you go with me? Do you have plans?”

  “Not anymore.” Kevin had overreacted to her conversation with Tony, but she had, too. There was little chance Kevin would want her to come over for dinner when she’d left him stranded in the produce aisle.

  “Will you go with me?”

  “Of course.” She gave Mel a hug, then headed to the staircase.

  “Who’s Tony?” Melanie asked.

  Holly froze on the bottom step. “Why do you ask?”

  “You left your phone on the kitchen counter. He sent you a text asking you out to dinner. So who is he?”

  Holly’s face burned. “I used to work with him at the Marriott.”

  “The assistant manager? The hot one?” She handed Holly her phone. “Good thing, since I told him yes for you. He’s picking you up tomorrow night at seven.”

  “You did what?”

  Melanie sat up, swinging her legs over the edge of the sofa. “What’s going on with you and Kevin?”

  “It’s complicated.”

  She held her hands out at her sides. “Well, then there’s no reason you can’t go out to dinner with Tony.”

  “This is not a good time for me to go out with someone.”

  “Yeah, because of the guy next door.”

  “Melanie. That’s not for you to decide!”

  “It’s too late. I already told Tony yes for you.”

  How was she going to get out of this one? She needed to call him later, explain that her cousin had answered for her, and tell him she needed to cancel. Surely he’d understand.

  * * *

  Holly waited for Kevin to come home, but she didn’t see any sign of him until later that evening. She considered going over to apologize, but she was still emotionally drained from the visit with their grandmother. Melanie had been jittery and nervous, but at least she hadn’t been sad, and, best of all, Grandma Barb had recognized them both.

  The next morning, Nicole quizzed Holly about the Murphy–Douglas wedding, seeming pleased with her answers.

  “How’s the Johansen wedding coming along?”

  “Good. Coraline still seems happy.”

  “That’s a small miracle,” Nicole muttered to herself. Holly wondered if it was an insult to her ability to keep the bride happy, but then Holly realized Nicole really did see how difficult the woman was. “Keep up the good work.”

  Maybe Holly had been viewing Nicole through the wrong lens. What if she wasn’t as nitpicky and self-absorbed as Holly thought?

  But she had little time to think about it as she got busy setting up appointments with two other brides-to-be from the Murphy wedding.

  She stopped to visit her grandmother after work, finding her in the dining hall, where she was finishing her dinner. Her grandmother looked past Holly. “Where’s your young man?”

  “Kevin couldn’t come. The visit with Melanie last night was great, wasn’t it?” she asked, hoping to get her grandmother off the Kevin topic.

  But Grandma Barb was clearly focused on just one thing. “Yes, the visit with Storm Cloud was lovely. But I’d really like to see your handsome young man. Maybe he’ll come next time,” she said hopefully.

  Holly sighed. “Probably not, Grandma. He’s very busy working on his house. Yesterday was probably a one-time thing.”

  “Don’t let him get away, Holly.” Her eyes were clear and bright. “You really like him and he li
kes you.”

  “It’s not that easy.” Holly sighed. “His mother is my boss.”

  “Dragon lady?”

  Holly grinned. “Yeah.”

  Her grandmother was silent for several long seconds, then she grabbed Holly’s hand. “Love is a very precious gift, Holly. Some people are fickle, falling in and out of love. But that’s not really love.” She waved her free hand back and forth. “But once you find real love, something so deep it sinks to your toes, a love that fills you so completely it makes you a better person than you were without him—once you find that love, don’t let it go.”

  Holly looked down at her lap. “Grandma, it’s not that easy.”

  “Nothing worth having in life is easy.” She tilted up Holly’s face to look into her eyes. “Life is short, my precious girl, you and I know that firsthand. You never know how much time a person has left in this world, so don’t squander it. Hold on and enjoy the ride while you can.” She winked. “And I do mean the ride.”

  Holly gasped. “Grandma!”

  “Kevin’s Gram came and gave a yoga demonstration today. We had a chat.” Her grin spread. “I like her.”

  Holly spent a bit more time with her grandmother, then left, realizing on the drive home that she hadn’t cancelled her dinner with Tony. She sat several seconds through a green light as she dealt with a mini panic attack. Was it too late to cancel? What would Kevin think? But she hadn’t talked to Kevin since she’d left him at the store. Besides, she and Tony had never been anything but friends. She wasn’t interested in starting anything with him now, and she’d make sure he knew it.

  The rest of the drive home, she thought about her grandmother’s advice. When she got home, she sent Kevin a text, telling him she was going out for the evening but when she came home, she wanted to come over to his house and talk.

  He sent a text back within seconds. I’ll be home.

  Tony picked her up minutes later, and she met him in the driveway, eager to get the evening over with. But their dinner went better than she expected. The conversation flowed easily, and Tony was genuinely interested in hearing about Distinctive Events and how she’d gotten her job there.

  “A friend of a friend,” she said, taking a sip of her water. “Nicole had just started her business last fall and she held an event at the Marriott. I helped her with a few things and she offered me a job.”