Not Quite Over You

by Susan Mallery

  “He did it for you.”

  “Drunken spray-painting isn’t exactly how a woman wants to be wooed.” She didn’t bother explaining that she still wasn’t sure if he’d meant what he wrote or not. The fact that she hadn’t heard from him since that night didn’t bode well.

  Grandpa Frank pulled into the bank’s parking lot but instead of getting out he turned to her. “I’ve lived a very good life. Along the way, I’ve learned a few things. Choices can make all the difference in the world.” He pulled an envelope out of his suit jacket pocket. “For you, my dear.”

  Silver opened the envelope and saw a check for a hundred thousand dollars. Her mind went blank. “I don’t understand.”

  “It’s a bank loan, if you’re interested.” He smiled. “I heard what happened and I went over your loan application. As far as I’m concerned, you’re an excellent risk and I still have a little pull here.”

  “This check isn’t from the bank,” she said, staring at him. “It’s from your personal account.”

  His smile broadened. “I was hoping you wouldn’t notice. You’re right, it is. But the loan is still real, Silver. With the same terms as the bank loan. As I said, it’s important to be able to have options. Sometimes the freedom to make a decision doesn’t matter at all but other times it means everything.”

  “If Drew isn’t my business partner, then he’s free to choose,” she whispered, looking between the check and Grandpa Frank. “I’ll know he’s really doing what he wants to do and not staying because he feels obligated to me.”

  “Drew has always had a powerful sense of responsibility. The man does like to do the right thing.”

  If he knew he wasn’t her partner, then he could follow his heart, she thought, barely able to breathe. And she would know what he actually wanted. Her or something else.

  “You’re sure?” she asked.

  “Very, but I do need an answer. Do we have a deal, my dear?”

  “We do.” She put the check in her bag. “We absolutely do.”

  They walked into the bank. Silver was very conscious of her casual attire, and the feeling of not fitting in only got worse when they entered the crowded conference room. There was a big center table with about twenty chairs around it and dozens more lining the outside of the room.

  Everyone was dressed in suits and they all turned to look at her as she and Grandpa Frank walked in.

  “Hello. This is Silver. She’s my guest.”

  Silver did her best not to look as out of place as she felt. She accidentally met Libby’s frosty gaze and turned away only to stumble into Drew.

  “Silver. What are you doing here?”

  “Your grandfather asked me to come.” She ignored the rapid beating of her heart and the love that swelled up inside of her. She knew the right thing to do. She’d known it twelve years ago when she’d first gotten pregnant and she knew it now.

  She grabbed his hand and pulled him into the hallway. When the door had closed behind him, she said, “Drew, Grandpa Frank is loaning me the money to cover the costs of the trailers and the trucks and everything. I can buy you out as soon as the check is in my bank account. You don’t have to do this.”

  “What are you talking about?”

  “You don’t have to stay because of me. Because of the business. I want...” I want you to know I will love you forever. I want you to know you’re the best man I’ve ever known. I want you to know I have dreamed about us being together and there is absolutely nothing in the world I want more.

  But she didn’t say any of that. “I want you to be happy. I want you to follow your dreams, wherever they lead you.”

  “You’re determined to get rid of me, aren’t you?”

  “I’m determined you do what’s right for you.”

  She was proud of herself for being strong, no matter how much it was going to hurt later. She loved him enough to let him go.

  “And you think you know what that is?” he asked.

  “Not at all. What I don’t want is you trapped by obligation. Now there isn’t any.”

  The door opened and Irene glared at them. “Drew, get in here. Your grandfather is starting the meeting.” She turned her icy gaze on Silver. “You need to leave.”

  “No,” Drew said. “She’s staying, Mom.”

  Silver debated taking off, but she had to know what was going to happen next. She ignored Irene and followed Drew back into the boardroom. Grandpa Frank stood at the front of the room and he gaveled the meeting into order.

  * * *

  DREW DIDN’T KNOW what to make of his grandfather’s move with the money. Going into business with Silver had been his idea. He liked being a part of what she did. With the loan, she didn’t need him, which, based on what she’d said, seemed to be the point.

  He sat at the table. He could see his parents. Silver had taken a seat behind him, so he had no idea how she was reacting to the proceedings. There was the usual board business, then Grandpa Frank once again stood.

  “We’re here to select a new chairperson. Libby and Drew are the main contenders unless someone else wants to throw their hat in the ring.” He waited for a second. “No? All right. You know each of the candidates, but before the board votes, I suggest Libby and Drew each make a statement.”

  Libby immediately rose to her feet. “Thank you,” she said, looking at each of the board members in turn. “This bank is an honorable institution with a proud history. We have always been a pillar of the community. I know times are changing, but not all change is good.”

  She turned to Drew. “I’m worried that the other candidate isn’t prepared for the responsibility of running things here. I’ve hoped he would grow into the role but in the past few months, he’s shown me that he might never be ready.”

  Drew’s mother sprang to her feet. “Libby, what are you doing?”

  “Telling the truth.” Libby slipped on her glasses and picked up a piece of paper. “Drew has a child out of wedlock, which in this day and age seems perfectly fine, except he is in no way supporting that child.” She looked at him over her glasses. “He discarded his eleven-year-old daughter like a used tissue, walking away and never once trying to get in touch with her.”

  Everyone stared at him. Drew did his best not to respond. He would have his chance later.

  “In addition, he’s bought into a bar. He spends his weekends serving drinks at parties. Just this past Saturday he was arrested for drunk and disorderly conduct after using spray paint to deface a private business.” She pulled off her glasses. “I ask you, is Drew really someone we want running our bank? Do we trust him with the welfare of our clients? I submit he isn’t ready for the responsibility.”

  With that, she sat down.

  Drew stood. His mother was practically frothing and his father had a death grip on her arm. His grandfather looked more amused than upset and he had no idea what anyone else was thinking, nor did he care.

  “Libby makes a strong case about what I’ve done wrong, but no case at all for what she’ll do right,” he began. “So let me address both sides of that. It’s true, I have an eleven-year-old daughter, but I did not abandon her. Her mother and I gave her up for adoption. Autumn has been loved and cared for since before she was born. She’s a great kid and doing just fine.”

  He thought about what else she had accused him of. “I did buy a minority partnership in a local business. AlcoHaul is a traveling bar that is a critical part of our wedding industry and this community. As for getting arrested, I have no excuse. It was about something personal and I was an idiot. If that’s enough to disqualify me, then I accept the consequences for my actions.”

  He thought about what Libby hadn’t said. “Here’s what I would do differently if I ran this bank. I would make sure we were friendlier to local businesses. I think taking a risk on our own community is important. I think we should have
more financial literacy, and to that end, I’d like to offer free seminars on various aspects of banking and money management. We aren’t a multinational corporation and that means we have more flexibility. Let’s work for good and for profit. They don’t have to be mutually exclusive. We should fight for what’s important. We should—”

  Not just the bank, he thought unexpectedly. He should be fighting for what was important. He should be fighting for Silver. He hadn’t—not when they were kids and not now.

  He returned his attention to the meeting.

  “Anyway,” he said. “That’s all.” He stepped away from the table. “Libby and I will get out of your way so you can vote.”

  Libby glared at him. “You don’t get to say that. You’re not in charge of this meeting.”

  He ignored her and turned to where Silver was sitting, gaping at him.

  “Could I see you outside for a moment?”

  * * *

  SILVER WAS SO impressed by what Drew had said that she forgot to be embarrassed by what she was wearing. He’d been forceful without being a jerk and he’d totally put Libby in her place. She was impressed and proud and just a little bit weepy.

  They stepped into the hall only to have every other nonboard member join them. Drew pulled her into his office and shut the door behind him.

  “Hi,” he said, looking at her. “How’s it going?”

  She twisted her hands together. “Drew, you did really great in there. Libby’s awful.”

  “She is, but that’s not what I want to talk to you about.” He stared at her. “I was going to tell you that I’m sorry I haven’t fought for you. Not before and not now.”

  Was? He was going to say that? What had changed his mind?

  “The thing is I realized you’ve never fought for me, either,” he continued. “You’ve always let me go.”

  “It was for your—”

  He held up his hand to stop her. “My own good. Yes, I know. That’s what you’ve always said and a disinterested bystander might agree, but I’m wondering if that’s all it was. Did you also let me go because it was less scary than asking me to stay?”

  Silver felt herself flush as her heart rate increased. He’d guessed her deepest, darkest secret and she was more scared than she’d ever been in her life.

  “I love you, Silver. I love your strength, your laugh, your kindness, your big heart. I love how you get stubborn and how you’re independent. You’re a smart businesswoman and a good friend and an amazing mother. But you’re also afraid. You love me enough to let me go but do you love me enough to want to keep me?”

  He smiled at her. “I ask because that’s what I’ve had to see. I never fought for you, not the way I should have. I let you go that summer because of college. I signed away Autumn because I didn’t have a clue as to what I was giving up. And I nearly lost you again today. Well, I’m not going to let that happen. I love you and I’m standing here saying I will fight as hard as I have to because I want to keep you in my life. For always.”

  Tears burned. Happy tears and sad tears and every other kind.

  “I’m sorry,” she told him. “I’m so scared that I’ll be like my mother, living my life for a man who won’t love me back. It was easier to let you go. I was scared to fight for you.”

  “And now?”

  Here it was—her moment of truth. She stared into his eyes.

  “I will absolutely fight for you, no matter what. If you want to go to D.C. and work with your parents, I’ll go with you. I’ll sell the business and find something there. If you want to stay here and run the bank, that would be even better, but whatever you decide, I’m with you. I want you to be happy and I want you to be happy with me. I love you, Drew. I’ve loved you since that first summer. I wanted to believe I was okay but the truth is I never got over you. Not even for a second.”

  He pulled her close and she hung on as tight as she could. She rested her head on his shoulder and breathed in the wonder of him. Then his mouth was on hers and the world slowly righted itself.

  “Okay,” he said as he pulled back. “Let’s get some things straight. I don’t want to move to D.C.”

  “Are you sure?”

  “Silver, I’m sure. I want to stay here. I want to be your business partner and your husband. I can do both.”

  “Technically you haven’t proposed, but okay, I’ll go with it. I want to stay here, too.”

  “Good. That’s out of the way. Now, about the other part.”

  Before she knew what was happening, he dropped to one knee. “Silver, I love you. Will you marry me? Will you join me in promising we will always fight for each other? Marry me, love me, let me love you.”

  Happiness bubbled inside of her. She smiled at him. “Gee, Drew, this is so sudden.”

  He was still laughing as he stood, pulled her close and swung her around. “Answer me, woman!”

  “Yes, of course, yes.”

  He set her down. “Are you going to give that check back to my grandfather? Can I still be your business partner?”

  “You are my everything, but I had a thought about the check.”

  He raised his eyebrows. “Which is?”

  “You made a very impassioned speech about helping out in the community. It seems to be something you care about. Why not do that along with working at the bank?”

  “I’d like to start an angel fund and give start-ups the cash to get going.”

  “Don’t forget the financial literacy classes. Maybe that could be some kind of a nonprofit thing. Oh, you could work with the local high school.” She grinned. “You know, your grandfather was willing to give me a hundred thousand dollars just because. Imagine what he would give you if you asked.”

  “I might have to do that.”

  She touched his face. “Your parents aren’t going to be happy.”

  “I can live with that, if you’re okay with it.”

  “I never wanted you to choose, Drew. I don’t want you to lose your family.”

  “My mom’s going to take a while to come around, but I think my dad will work on her. As for the rest of them, they love you already.”

  “Not Libby.”

  He chuckled. “I think you’re going to be Libby’s best friend. After all, she’s about to get her heart’s desire. I’m going to tell the board I’m withdrawing my name from consideration.”

  “What? Are you sure? You love the bank.”

  He kissed her. “I love you and I like what the bank can do for people, but I have a feeling I can do a lot more outside of the bank. Besides, I still have the franchise thing to work on.”

  She studied him. “Are you sure?”

  “I am. Of being with you and of my future.” He looked at her. “I love you, Silver.”

  “I love you, too.”

  “Ready to face the world?”

  “Absolutely. As long as we’re together.”

  They went back into the board meeting. Silver waited while Drew withdrew his name from consideration. Irene wept but Howard gave his son a thumbs-up and Grandpa Frank winked.

  Later, at Drew’s place, they sat on the patio, watched the giraffes and talked about their future together. There was no more looking back—just looking forward to a lifetime full of love and wonderful possibilities.

  * * * * *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from California Girls by Susan Mallery.

  The #1 New York Times bestselling author of the Fool’s Gold romances invites you to visit Happily Inc, a wedding destination founded on a fairy tale.

  You Say It First

  Second Chance Girl

  Why Not Tonight

  Not Quite Over You

  “Heartfelt, funny, and utterly charming all the way through!”

  —Susan Elizabeth Phillips on Daughters of the Bride

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  #1 New York Times bestselling author Susan Mallery delivers a captivating new novel about three sisters wrestling with life, love and the price of being happy.

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  California Girls

  Coming February 2019!

  California Girls

  by Susan Mallery

  CHAPTER ONE

  “THEY’RE FRYING BACON!”

  Finola Corrado tried not to smile at the panic in her assistant’s eyes. “The cooking segment is potato salad five ways. Bacon is the cost of doing business.”

  Rochelle’s horror morphed into indignation. “Yes, and right before that is the ‘What’s New in Sundresses’ segment. I’m very familiar with the schedule.” She set down her tablet, put her hands on her narrow hips and leaned forward, as if stressing the importance of her point. Her long, dark braids moved with her. “Finola, we have models in the building. Tall, skinny, hungry models. They’re starting to look feral and turn on each other. I’m convinced it’s the smell of bacon. Can’t they cook it somewhere else?”

  And people assumed television was glamorous, Finola thought, still trying not to laugh.

  “Move the models to the backup greenroom and tell them we have a humidity problem on set so they need to use extra hair spray. They won’t be able to smell the bacon after that. Tell the food prep person to clean up when the bacon is finished so there won’t be any more odor.”

  “Oh, that will work.” Rochelle, a smart, ambitious communications graduate, relaxed. “I should have thought of that myself.”

  “You will soon enough.”

  Her dark-haired, dark-eyed twenty-five-year-old assistant would soon be capable of running the show, Finola thought as Rochelle left. In a few months, Rochelle would move on, taking a job that would give her more responsibility, and Finola would hire a new assistant, to begin the process again.