A New Shade of Summer

by Nicole Deese

  I studied her face, watching for that telltale shudder that at one time accompanied any mention of weddings, marriage, or the like. But this time, she simply smiled politely at the comment and asked Shep for his soup special.

  Her eyes twinkled as Shep stepped away to relay her order to the kitchen.

  “I’m impressed. Not even one twitch or double blink this time,” I said teasingly.

  “You know very well that I haven’t twitched for going on two months.”

  She tossed one of Brandon’s fries at my head. I caught it and dropped it onto my empty plate.

  This topic had become one of my favorites lately—Callie’s not-so-subtle hints that she was ready to pick up the pace in our relationship. Apparently, she hadn’t realized just how patient I could be when I wanted something badly enough. And I couldn’t remember wanting anything—or anyone—more than I wanted Callie Quinn.

  She angled her head and narrowed her eyes. “Is there a reason why you’re smirking at me right now?”

  “None at all.” I raised my hand. “It’s like I’ve told you, I’m just content to go at your pace, sweetheart.”

  “Um, actually, I feel like my pace has lapped yours by a few miles recently. And I’m the one wearing clunky winter boots.”

  I had to work to fight against the laugh moving up my esophagus. She definitely hadn’t lapped me. But she could go right on believing that she had. At least, for another two days.

  “What’s the latest word on the planning committee tonight?” I asked, purposely changing the subject. After completing the mural at the bakery, the Children’s Corner, and Shep’s Place, Callie had become a highly-sought-after commodity among local businesses, just like I knew she would. And now the city planning committee was knocking on her studio door. Tonight was her third meeting with them since Thanksgiving.

  Her entire countenance lifted as she bounced on her seat. “You’ll never, ever guess.”

  “Guess what?” Shep set Callie’s bowl of chowder down. She bit her lip and then waved him closer. Naturally, he shoved her down the bench seat toward the window and sat beside her.

  “Well, technically, I’m not supposed to say anything yet since there are more meetings scheduled . . .” She looked ready to combust. “But they’ve asked me to help give downtown Lenox a pretty major face-lift to help boost tourism.”

  “How major?” I asked through a smile, pride swelling in my chest.

  “At least ten buildings so far. That’s over a year’s worth of contracts.”

  Shep smacked the tabletop, causing Callie’s soup to splash over the side. “Well, of course they want you! I mean, just look at that!” He pointed at her handiwork on his dividing wall. “Not a day goes by that somebody isn’t asking about it or snapping a pic of it.”

  Callie rubbed her lips together, and I wanted nothing more than to take her in my arms and kiss her senseless. “I’m so proud of you.” Not only for the career she was building in Lenox but for the life she was building, too. “It’s going to be a great year.”

  “It sure is.” Shep gave me a knowing look before slipping out of the booth to attend to his customers.

  From across the table, I reached for her left hand and gently rubbed my thumb across her knuckles the way I’d done nearly every day since I’d tucked her engagement ring into my top dresser drawer.

  She sipped the steaming soup off her spoon. “Oh, I should probably let Clem know if we’re planning to do New Year’s Eve with them or not. I mean, I know we had Christmas dinner with them, so if you’d rather just hang out at your house, that’s totally fine. Did you ask Brandon about that yet?”

  Truth was, I’d asked him about a lot more than that on our drive home from the airport. The midnight proposal on December 31 was his idea, and a good one at that. Brandon’s continued involvement in our relationship was as vital to the health and future of our family as the wedding vows would be. “I’m pretty sure Brandon would never turn down a night hanging out with your nephew—especially when snacks and video games are involved. The question is what do you want to do?”

  “I already told you.”

  “I don’t remember.” Only, I did. Her words on the subject had been as impactful as when she’d opened my eyes to color for the first time at the Japanese Gardens.

  The earnestness that graced her face made me want to get on bended knee right here in the middle of Shep’s restaurant.

  “I want to be where you and Brandon are—whether that’s playing games at my sister’s house or watching Brandon teach Kosher new tricks while lying on your couch. The only thing that matters to me is starting off a new year with you.”

  I smiled indulgently. “Ah, I remember now.”

  She slid her bowl of soup aside and elbowed up on the table, her lips crooked with that cheeky grin I adored. “You didn’t actually forget—you just wanted to hear me say it again.”

  “I could hear you say that every day of my life and never grow tired of it.”

  “Then maybe you should do something about that.”

  Oh, I would. And soon.

  Covering the other half of the distance, I placed my hand at the back of her neck and pressed a firm kiss to her lips, feeling the curve of her smile against my mouth.

  It took only one summer for me to fall in love with Calla Lilly Quinn, but I had no doubt she would hold my heart for all the summers that came after.

  Acknowledgments

  God: For being the guiding compass of my life.

  My husband, Tim: Thank you, baby. You’ll always be my favorite.

  My boys, Preston and Lincoln: Thank you for being the best sons a mom could ask for. I love you sooo much, and I’m so excited for all this next year holds for our family.

  My family: Thank you for supporting the girl behind the pen (or laptop keys) so that her dreams could take flight. Again and again.

  Tammy Gray: Thank you never feels like enough, especially when you volunteered to read this book three times in various messed-up stages. Thank you, as always, for being my Pace Police. But thank you even more for being one of the most grounded and loyal people in my world.

  Amy Matayo: I (meaning Tim) am building you a Tiny House in my backyard. Pack your bags. You will love it here. And I promise to be a really great neighbor. Just think of all the snowstorms you wished for in Arkansas that passed you by. I can promise you this: Idaho will make all your winter wonderland dreams come true, even in March. And sometimes April, too.

  Conni Cossette: I’ve finally figured out why my Mac keeps sending me storage warnings. It’s because every single one of our 11:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. instant messages have been saved to my internal hard drive. But at least the good news for us is that I have a backup of every one of our fantastically delirious conversations. (And possibly some incriminating evidence, too.) I love you soooooo much, friend! Thank you a billion times over for your wisdom and support in every single area of my life.

  My agent, Jessica Kirkland: Can you even believe this is our fifth book together? I can still remember sitting across from you in that tiny conference room and praying that you’d be the one to take a chance on me. And I’m so beyond grateful that you did. What a blessing your friendship is to me. I love you.

  Leslie Lutz, developmental editor: You rock! Thank you so much for your brilliant insights throughout this manuscript. Your positive attitude and constructive feedback has made this process such a delight. It was a joy working with you! I hope our paths cross again.

  Amy Hosford, associate publisher, Waterfall Press: Thank you for believing in me as a storyteller and for encouraging me to continue the Love in Lenox novels.

  Sheryl Zajechowski, acquisitions editor, Waterfall Press: Thank you for being such a delight to work with and for keeping me on schedule.

  To the team at Waterfall Press: Thank you for journeying with me these past three years. You’ll always be a part of my story.

  My first readers: Lara Arkin, Kristin Avila, Conni Cossette, Nicki Davis, Re
nee Deese, Kacy Gourley, Tammy Gray, Carmen Hendewerk, Amy Matayo, Britni Nash, and Joanie Schultz. Thank you all for being the best cheerleaders ever!

  My Life Group Gals: Thank you for your many, many prayers this year. I love you all dearly.

  And to you, my precious reader friends: Thank you for allowing the dream in my heart to find a place in yours.

  About the Author

  Photo © 2016 Renee Deese

  Nicole Deese is a full-time lover of humorous, heartfelt, and hope-filled fiction. She is the author of the Love in Lenox novels, A Cliché Christmas and A Season to Love, as well as the Letting Go series and The Promise of Rayne. When she’s not writing sweet romances, she can usually be found reading near a window while sipping a LaCroix. She lives in small-town Idaho with her handsome hubby and two sons.