She stared at the pink of the hot dog. “You really know how to barbecue, don’t you?”
“Julia.”
“I don’t really want to go to New York,” she blubbered.
“But I’m afraid to stay.”
“Smitten is your home. Why would you be afraid to stay?”
“Because I love you, Zak. Not like a big brother, and not like a friend. I love you like someone I want to be around me for the rest of my life, and if you can’t see me as more than Greg’s little sister, I don’t want to stay and be hurt day after day.”
“I have been waiting an eternity for you to say those words to me.” He put the utensil down and took the hot dog from her and placed it on a nearby table. “John, can you man the grill for a minute?”
“Yeah, no problem,” his friend answered.
“What if I can’t make the spa work, and your business fails because of me?”
Zak raked his fingers into Julia’s hair and placed his palms on her cheeks. “Julia, I wouldn’t care if we both failed, if you were by my side—but I don’t think that would happen.”
She sniffled. “No, don’t flirt with me. You’ll only make it worse. I know you promised my brother that you’d look after me, but—”
“I also promised your brother that I wouldn’t court you until he got home and could see my intentions were right, but I don’t intend to keep that promise, so I’m not as honorable as you give me credit for. I think I may have stretched the truth to a man in uniform. A man I respect greatly.”
She dared not smile. “You’re teasing me. Like you used to do when I was little and I’d watch you and Greg go out for the night. You’d muss my hair up and leave.”
“No, not teasing. Julia, I have loved you for as long as I can remember. I found hundreds of excuses to tell myself it wasn’t true, because it wasn’t convenient. I tried the concept of honor. Sometimes I chose anger. I blamed you when you left for New York and decided that you were shallow, just like Amy. Once I even decided if you couldn’t bake a pie like your mother, you weren’t worthy of such devotion.”
She felt the warmth of his words and snuggled into the crook of his neck, which smelled like barbecue smoke. She felt the vibrations of his voice in his chest.
“But the more reasons I thought of, the more I realized I couldn’t picture anyone else by my side for the long haul, and it was either you or eternal bachelorhood.”
“The long haul?”
“It totally caught me by surprise, when you brought that New York idiot into my town, how I didn’t want any other man investing in your business. It made me crazy, and before I knew it, I’d jumped on the opportunity to cut my grill in half and build you a spa. I ran out of excuses at that point, don’t you think?”
“You didn’t say anything this morning when I told you I was leaving for New York.”
“I know your parents. I know where your fear of being controlled comes from, Julia. I felt disgusted that I hadn’t given you a choice on the spa—just started building it like you’d do what you were told. I was controlling things to get them the way I wanted them, and that isn’t love. I decided I had to let you go if that’s what you wanted.”
“But somehow you knew I didn’t.”
“I had faith. I had faith enough for both of us.” He pulled her closer and lifted her chin. He pressed his lips to hers.
The outside world faded away as she lived in the moment she’d dreamt about since eighth grade. All right, maybe sixth grade.
“I thought the fireworks weren’t supposed to start until it got dark,” she said.
“These fireworks aren’t going away if I have anything to say about it.”
She heard her friends screaming encouragement in the background, and their shouts made her laugh.
“Sounds like my friends have something to say about it too.”
She snuggled into Zak’s embrace, and it was so much better than she’d imagined it all those years. She saw Mia smiling at her, and she realized the beautiful gift of Smitten’s faith in God, led by a little child. Sometimes Julia ran low on faith, as if God’s grace might dry up like Sugarcreek Mountain in the summer, but God’s grace was unrelenting and overflowing. She smiled broadly toward her friends, thankful that when she’d run dry on faith, she could rely on God and the faith of others to fill her up again. She didn’t have to walk alone. Sometimes, trusting in God meant trusting in the people he had placed in her life. Besides . . . independence was overrated.
EPILOGUE
The Smitten Spa & Grill celebrated its grand opening on the last Saturday in August. Julia wore a lime green Lilly Pulitzer summer shift that contrasted well against the pale greens and earthy browns of the spa. She wore a light cashmere wrap over her shoulders. She’d bought Zak a navy Hugo Boss suit, and he looked better than any New York businessman she’d met. As she straightened his tie, she kissed his cheek. “You look gorgeous.”
“Enjoy it, because tomorrow it’s jeans and a T-shirt.”
She giggled. “Fine by me.” She stared out the window of the restaurant toward Smitten’s Main Street, where flower boxes brimmed with summer blooms. Tourists sprinkled the town sidewalk, and she felt a fresh wave of satisfaction at the committee’s work.
“I have to admit it, Julia. You girls did it. We have more tourists walking our streets than we’ve had in years.”
“Sometimes all it takes is a little faith.” She smiled broadly at him. “And maybe a good verbal whack upside the head now and again.”
“Are we ready to open the doors?”
“Not just yet,” she moaned. “Let me live in the moment where it’s just you and me and we’re not surrounded by sawdust and dirt.”
“We’ve been working toward this day for nearly two months! All our friends and family are waiting out there to watch us succeed.”
“I’ll miss our cozy spa and grill where it’s just us. Now we have to let people in, and it won’t be the same.”
“Even if both the restaurant and the spa are filled with patrons and we’re making money hand over fist, it will always be just you and me here anyway,” he said with a fist pump to his heart. “That’s where we’ve been blessed.”
“I’m so glad you had faith in me when I didn’t.”
“You had faith in me when I didn’t. We’ll just keep returning the favor to each other.”
Zak pulled open both doors together. “Welcome, Smitten, to the grand reopening of Smitten’s only spa and grill!”
Julia’s knees went weak as she caught sight of her brother in full uniform. “Greg?”
Greg hugged her and lifted her off the ground. “I’m home, little sis. I needed to make sure this guy acted honorably.”
She grasped her brother around his neck and held on tightly.
“I’m so glad you’re home!”
“I had to come home for the wedding. All of them.”
Zak bent on one knee in front of her. “Julia Bourne, will you do me the honor of becoming my wife?”
A roar went up from the crowd, and Julia’s hand trembled as she held it out and said, “Yes, yes, a million times yes!”
“But it has to be after ours.” Julia’s mother held out her hand. A new sparkling diamond glimmered on her ring finger.
“Mom?”
“Your dad and I decided we’d get into the spirit of things and recommit our love.”
Julia swayed on her heels and felt the world spinning around her as she tried to take it all in. Her parents’ love story was something she’d never understand. But then, she didn’t need to. She only needed to know that her path would be different. But she would learn to bake a pie—and if there was ever a man worth getting into an apron and stilettos for, it was Zak Grant.
Shelby: You’ve Got a Friend
Diann Hunt
CHAPTER ONE
Shelby Evans spotted the fire truck at her house and knew instinctively this was not going to be a good Monday.
Maybe she’d been a little d
istracted on her walk in the park, but she didn’t think she’d been gone that long. But it was such a beautiful September day and she had taken her journal, run into a couple of acquaintances, stopped for a bagel . . .
Clutching Penelope, her seven-pound Shih-poo, Shelby stepped over the neighbor kid’s bicycle on her front walk. Penelope barked at the intrusion of the monstrous truck parked in her driveway and the men winding up the heavy hose.
Nick Majors touched Shelby’s arm, catching her by surprise. She swiveled around to face him.
“What’s going on?”
“Your neighbor reported smoke coming from your house.”
Shelby gasped.
“It’s contained in your dining room. Not too much damage—smoke damage mostly. The fire had just started when we got here.”
She reached for the door and pushed it open. Thick smoke lingered inside the house, causing her to cough. “If this is ‘not too much,’ I’d hate to see what real damage looks like.”
“What are you doing in here?” A firefighter dressed in a cumbersome uniform, a fire extinguisher on his back, gave her a forbidding look.
Nick stood behind her. “It’s all right, Captain. She lives here.”
Thankfully, Nick was a volunteer fireman and could plead her case. She’d be upset if she couldn’t at least see the damage for herself.
Holding a dainty handkerchief loosely over Penelope’s nose, Shelby held the dog close and looked around her dining room area. Water on her floor and dining room table.
Wet walls. Though it could have been much worse, the scene overwhelmed her.
She spotted wet broken pieces of wood on the floor and cupped them in her hands. “This was the clock you made me.”
“Don’t worry about it. I’ll make you another one for Christmas,” Nick said.
The pieces spilled from her hands, and she choked back her emotions. Burying her face in Penelope’s soft, clean fur, Shelby stepped back outside, away from the acrid smell, and took in long, deep breaths.
Classes for Social Graces were scheduled to start in two weeks. In this very place. With an apartment-like setup, Shelby lived in the upstairs of her Victorian home and used the downstairs for the school. It had been the perfect arrangement.
Until now.
Shelby had invested most of her money into the house to make it functional for her purposes, so she had little to use toward renting another place while this one was repaired. Her sewing business provided enough, but offered little extra.
Social Graces, the place where she taught young girls how to become ladies, was more of a calling than a moneymaker.
She’d have to call her insurance company, then contact someone to clean up the mess.
“We’ll figure it all out,” Nick said.
Shelby nodded. Just having him near sent a rush of relief through her. He was right. They’d figure it out. And God would help her get through this, one step at a time. The tension eased from her shoulders.
The captain came out of the house, talked to Shelby again about what would happen next, and left.
“I have to wash my truck, and then we could stop at the coffee shop to talk things over. You need to get away from this place, the smoke and all, so you can think. Want to go?”
“Aren’t you on duty?”
“I came when the pager went off, but they had enough responders when I got here. Since things are quieting down, Captain just told me I could go.”
One of the other firemen called him over. Shelby watched them as they talked. She didn’t like the growing frown on Nick’s face or the way he stomped back toward her.
“They found out where the fire started.”
“Oh?” She had the distinct feeling she didn’t want to hear this.
“You left the glue gun on in the dining room, Shelby.
How many times have I told you when you’re finished to turn it off and unplug it?”
A flicker of irritation gained momentum—especially when she noticed several people looking their way. “I’m sorry,
Mr. Safety, but not all of us qualify for the Smokey the Bear Award.”
“How can you defend yourself when we’re talking life and death here?”
“I’m not defending myself. I’m just saying we don’t all think of things the way you do. I messed up. So sue me.”
His gaze pinned her in place. “I don’t believe this.” He rubbed a hand across the back of his neck.
Shelby knew it was her fault, but he didn’t have to point it out so everyone could hear. “Look, Nick, I appreciate your concern, but you’re not a superhero. Deal with it.” She whirled around and attempted to walk away, but he grabbed her arm.
“Listen, we’re both a little tense right now. Let’s go to the coffee shop and talk about the repairs.”
Shelby lifted her chin. “I need to change my exercise clothes and put Penelope upstairs away from the smoke.” Her anger was really with herself, but when backed in a corner, she couldn’t help taking it out on Nick.
“To be safe, you’d better take Penelope to a neighbor’s house, at least for today. Then you can get some fans and dehumidifiers in there to help with the smell.”
Shelby sighed. “Yeah, I guess you’re right.”
Once she had changed her clothes and taken Penelope to a neighbor’s house, she rejoined Nick. They climbed into his old black Chevy truck and drove past the quaint storefronts that lined Main Street. Shoppers strolled from the fudge shop to the clothing boutique. Any other time she would have stopped at Sweet Surrender to soothe her pain with chocolate, but even that failed to tempt her. What was she going to do?
This catastrophe would derail all her plans.
Nick swerved into the do-it-yourself car wash. “Be right back.”
“Want some help?”
“No, thanks. I can handle it.”
Shelby sighed. Why couldn’t he get his truck washed at an automatic wash like normal people? She watched as he pulled some rags from the back of the truck and set to work sloshing soap around the vehicle. His arms looked strong, capable. She supposed Nick’s determination to do things himself was what kept him so fit. He grabbed a brush and scrubbed the hubcaps. She decided “fit” looked nice on him.
After the rinse, polish, and dry, he rejoined her in the truck.
The remaining water sloshed off the wheel guards as Nick nosed the truck carefully onto the street and into traffic. The coffee shop was about a five-minute drive away.
As they stepped inside the shop, a wreath of grapevines and dried lavender shifted on the front door. Nick grunted at it, but Shelby ignored him. One problem at a time. That was all she could handle today.
Bold coffee smells greeted them. Adjusting the ruffled border of her periwinkle sweater, Shelby dipped into her small pocketbook and pulled out her debit card.
Nick motioned it away. “This one is on me.”
Natalie Mansfield waved at them from behind the counter. “Be there in a sec.”
“Thanks.” Shelby fingered the small notepad in her hand while they waited.
“Hey, Shelby. Peppermint tea, or are you going to break down and have coffee today?” Natalie gave a big smile, but it faded quickly as she looked at Shelby. “What’s wrong?”
When Shelby hesitated, Nick jumped in and explained what had happened.
“Oh, Shelby, no. I’m so sorry, sweetie. Let me get your— tea, is it?”
Shelby nodded.
“I’ll bring it out.” Natalie took Nick’s order while Shelby found a table for them.
Once seated, Shelby took a quick glance at her friend in the navy T-shirt, work boots, and long jeans. With dark hair that shagged a little long in back and drooped lazily over his ears, she couldn’t deny Nick was handsome in a rugged sort of way. Strong jaw, deep-set dark eyes. But the stubble? What made a man want to leave little bits of hair on his face? It was like dark confetti strewn about that no one bothered to clean up. Once a mountain man, always a mountain man. How would he ever fin
d a woman, looking like that?
“So have you played your Christmas music yet? It is September, you know.” Nick pulled out a chair and sat down.
Shelby smiled. “Maybe once or twice.”
“Good girl.”
“How about you? Decorated any trees lately?” They both knew they were avoiding discussion of the inevitable.
“Not yet. But soon. Very soon.” He winked.
“Would you stop talking Christmas already? It’s not even Halloween yet, for crying out loud,” Natalie said, easing a cup of tea to Shelby and a plain coffee toward Nick.
Nick laughed. “I can’t exactly fault a woman for enjoying Christmas. After all, that is my line of work.”
Natalie shook her head. “All right, you two, let’s get down to business. What are you going to do about your classes, Shelby? Don’t they start in a couple of weeks?”
“Yeah. I thought I would ask Rose if I could hold the classes at her house until the repairs are finished.”
“Good,” Natalie said. “Now, what about the repairs? Any idea who to hire?”
Shelby turned to Nick. “You mentioned you know someone?”
Just then several customers walked through the door and headed toward the counter.
“Uh-oh, gotta get back to work. Let me know if you need anything, Shelby.”
“Okay. Thanks, Nat.”
“Griffen Parker is back in town. He’s a good contractor and a great guy. I think he knows a little about fire restoration too. We could see if he’s available,” Nick said.
“Didn’t he do the work on Carson’s cabins?”
“Yeah. Want me to call him for you?”
“That would be great. Thanks, Nick.”
He shrugged and took another drink of his coffee. “I’d better get back over to your house and take another look, in case something else came up.”
She had to admire the way he took charge of things for her at a time when she could hardly think straight. “Yeah, I need to talk to Rose. Call me the minute you hear from Griffen.”
“Will do. You ready to go?”
“Yeah.” She said good-bye to Natalie and followed Nick out the door.
Smitten Page 17