Sweet Heart (The Hearts of Sawyers Bend Book 2)

by Ivy Layne

  “Of course, we can. I'll call you in the morning.”

  Grams left, towing Clay behind her. She'd feel better with someone to take care of. Normally, that would be me, but I was going home with Royal. Tomorrow, I was going to take care of Grams, whether she liked it or not.

  My dad had hurt both of us, but I had Royal. Grams had had too many shocks in a short period of time. My parents betraying her, me quitting the bakery, J.T. in the hospital… I didn't know what my future held when it came to our working relationship, but she was my Grams.

  I'd be there tomorrow and every day I was lucky enough to have her, to make sure she knew how much she was loved.

  For now, it was time to go home. I turned to Royal, but he was already on it. “Tenn's going to give us a ride home. That okay with you? Griffen and Hope have your things from the apartment.”

  “Sounds great.” Suddenly, I was exhausted, one blink away from falling asleep. I let Royal tug me toward the elevators at the end of the hall.

  “Ready to sleep now?” Royal asked, a laugh hiding in his voice.

  “Yes, please.” Standing in the elevator, I let my eyes slide shut, my face buried in Royal's chest, snuggled into his arms. “I'm going to pass out right here. Now that I know J.T.'ll be okay, there's nothing keeping me awake.”

  “Nothing?” Royal asked with a raised eyebrow and a wicked quirk at the side of his mouth. My body hummed but couldn't kick into gear. At the regret I knew was all over my face, Royal burst into a full laugh. “Maybe tomorrow,” he said, rubbing my back.

  “Definitely tomorrow,” I murmured into his shirt.

  He dropped his head, his lips at my ear so no one else could hear, and detailed exactly how he planned to wake me up. It was almost enough to bring both my brain and my body back online.

  It was definitely enough to guarantee I had very nice dreams. And I did. Dreams that came true as I woke on the crest of orgasm with Royal's mouth between my legs.

  I was suddenly very, very glad I'd agreed to move in, even if it might only be temporary. I wanted to wake up with him every day for the rest of my life. We hadn't quite gotten around to talking about forever, but this was a good start.

  He moved over me, inside me, his body and mine creating a perfect circuit, a connection that my heart knew was forever, no matter what we had or hadn't discussed.

  We didn't need to talk. We knew what we wanted. The details could come later.

  Epilogue: Part One

  Daisy

  It was easy to say the details could come later. Pinning them all down was a lot more complicated. J.T. was stuck in the hospital for almost a week before we could bring him home. Grams insisted he recover at her house, and between Grams and Clay hovering, J.T. was on his feet faster than anyone expected.

  He loved Grams, but by the time he was up and around, J.T. was eager to move back into the apartment so he and Clay could have a little privacy. I didn't blame him.

  Despite the number of Sawyers living in Heartstone Manor, the sheer size of the place meant I wasn't having any issues with privacy. I wasn't wild about the longer commute to the bakery, but otherwise, I loved living at Heartstone. Probably because I loved living with Royal.

  Which didn't explain why I hadn't fully committed to the move. My mail still arrived at the apartment mailbox, and while I'd moved my clothes, there were plenty of things I still hadn't packed. Books, knickknacks, the prints and photographs I'd collected over the years. Royal wanted all of that in our rooms at Heartstone. I was dragging my feet.

  And yes, I was back at the bakery. I needed to talk to Grams about everything that had happened, but I was dragging my feet there, too. The confrontation with my father had made a few things clear. One of them was the realization that though I loved working with Grams with all my heart, I didn't want to spend the rest of my life as an hourly worker when I was doing the work of an owner.

  My father had shown me just how little security I had the way things were now. I didn't want to quit on Grams, didn't want to leave the bakery I'd grown up in. I wasn't ready to abandon our dreams for the future.

  I also wasn't going to strong-arm Grams into giving me a piece of the business. She'd started Sweetheart Bakery on her own when my father was only a child. It was hers to share or keep to herself, and considering everything that had happened with my father, I could understand Grams being a little low on trust.

  All of that left me backed into a corner. If I left the bakery for good, I wasn't sure I had any prospects in Sawyers Bend. The town wasn't big enough for two bakeries, and I couldn't bring myself to think about competing with Grams. Not to mention my lack of start-up capital.

  We did have plenty of restaurants in town, and I was sure Royal and Tenn would give me a job at The Inn, but after so many years basically being my own boss, I wasn't looking forward to punching a time clock for someone else.

  I'd tossed around the idea of starting a small catering and delivery business, but I couldn't seem to work up much enthusiasm. Instead of doing anything about it, I'd drifted from day to day, worrying about J.T. and going through the motions at the bakery.

  Royal was the only part of my life that excited me. I loved our life together, loved waking up beside him every morning, the sleepy, sexy smile that crossed his lips when he opened his eyes and saw me lying next to him.

  It was everything else I wasn't sure about. And loving our life together, I didn’t want to look for work anywhere but Sawyers Bend. I pushed the worry away for another day. I had prep to finish before I could leave, and Royal had planned a date night. I didn't want to be late.

  I had no clue what he had in mind, but I'd learned my guy was all about the romance when he wanted to be. For my part, I'd made a chocolate raspberry tart for two. If it didn't fit his date night plan, we could always eat it later.

  “Are you almost done back here?”

  Grams' voice took me by surprise. I flashed her a bright smile, hoping it was enough to mask the awkwardness that lingered between us. “Almost. Just have to wipe down the last worktable.”

  “I'll do it later,” Grams said, taking a seat at the clean side of the worktable in question. I didn't see the manila envelope in her hand until she set it in front of her. “Come sit with me a minute. I'd like to talk to you before you go.”

  See? Awkward. We'd never had this kind of restraint between us. I hated it, but I didn't know how to fix it. I didn't even know what was wrong. Not really. Grams swore she wasn't upset about the money I'd given my father.

  Her giving the bakery to him still stung, I won't lie, but I didn't hold that against her. Really. Maybe a little. But not enough to make things weird. I'd do almost anything to have Grams back the way we were before.

  I sat, folding my hands in my lap, my mind racing to figure out what this was about.

  Grams cleared her throat. “I went to see Harvey last week. This whole process took longer than I expected. First, I want to apologize for what happened with your father.”

  “Grams, you don't need to apologize, I understand. He's your son and—”

  She cupped my cheek in her hand, her gray eyes swimming with tears. “He is, but you're my baby girl. I gave him everything I could, and I finally understand that'll never be enough. But you, Daisy, I gave you everything I have, and you gave me back more in return.”

  “I love you, Grams,” I said, my own eyes blurred with tears. I hated my dad for letting her down. “I'm sorry I—”

  “No, Daisy. You don't have anything to be sorry for. Nothing,” she added when I would have objected.

  Clearly, she'd forgotten about the twenty grand I'd taken from the business. Even if she wasn't sorry for that, I was.

  “I love you so much,” she said, “and I rely on you. Too much. So much that I took advantage.”

  “Grams,” I tried again.

  “Daisy, just let me get
through this. I know you have a date tonight.”

  At that thought, I snapped my mouth shut. I did have a date, and if I didn't stop interrupting her, neither of us would get out of here.

  “I went to see Harvey,” Grams went on when it was clear I was going to shut up. “I changed my will. I'm sorry to say your father and Sheree are no longer included. When I go, everything I have will go to you, except for a few personal bequests, including J.T.”

  “Grams—”

  Her eagle-eyed stare had me closing my mouth. Okay, I'd wait until she was done. But what more could there be?

  “You don't have to do anything about the will, that's signed and safe with Harvey. I do need you to read this, and if you want to, sign it.”

  Grams opened the manila envelope and slid a stack of papers in front of me. It took me a few seconds to realize what they were. A partnership agreement. My fingertips hovered over the first page, afraid to touch it.

  Grams cleared her throat and started to talk again, this time a little hesitant. “We never talked about you quitting. I don't know if you want to stay, or if you're just waiting for me to get back in the swing of things. But if you want to stay, I want you to do it as my partner. 50/50, even split. If anything happens to either of us, the bakery goes to the surviving partner. If either of us wants to leave, the other has first chance to buy out the other’s share.”

  “Really?” Hot tears spilled over my cheeks. I didn't want to leave the bakery. No way. I wanted to stay and work with Grams. I just wanted the assurance that my dad wasn't going to sweep back in and take it all away. Not that he could considering that pesky warrant, but it was more the uncertainty.

  I hadn't expected this. I'd wanted it, but Grams had been so reserved…

  She nudged the papers closer to me. “I should have said something earlier, but I wanted these first. So it wasn't another promise. I wanted to show you this is real.”

  “And all I have to do is sign them, and we're partners in Sweetheart Bakery?” It seemed too good to be true.

  “Read them first, but yes. If that's what you want.”

  “It is, it really is, but Grams, what about the money?”

  “The money you gave your father?” I nodded. “We're writing that off as a bad investment and moving on. Your heart was in the right place. But let's agree, no major withdrawals unless we both sign off.”

  I swallowed hard, blinking back my tears. “That sounds like a good idea. I'm going to read these now.”

  I did have that date to get to, but I couldn't bring myself to do this later. Grams and I would both feel better once these papers were signed and we could put all of this behind us. Grams rose to finish wiping down the last worktable except the spot where we were sitting. I sent Royal a quick text telling him I was running a few minutes late and got to reading.

  The partnership agreement was straightforward and exactly as Grams had described. When I was done reading, I looked up to see Grams hovering. I wanted to sign for me because this was what I wanted most for my career, more than anything else. And I wanted to sign if doing so would take that hesitant look off Grams' face. I wanted my teasing, loving, slightly crazy, hippie Grandmother back. Not this worried shell of herself.

  “As soon as I sign this, we're partners?”

  “Harvey has to file it for us, but basically, yes. Daisy, is this what you want? Are you sure? If you wanted to follow J.T. and go to culinary school—”

  “I don't. I want to stay here and run Sweetheart with you. I want to add that outside seating, maybe next summer, and try pop-up lunches. I want this, Grams.”

  Tears filled her eyes. “I want this too. I don't know what I was thinking with—”

  I shot up a hand. “Stop apologizing. I know how persuasive he is. Do I need to remind you about the money? If you're giving me a free pass on that, you can give yourself one for falling for his crap. We were both dumb, and we won't be dumb again.”

  I dropped my hand and braced it against the papers, holding them still to sign on the last page with a flourish. Shoving the papers in front of her, I handed her the pen. “Your turn, partner.”

  With a watery smile, Grams leaned over and signed. When she was done, she wrapped her arms around me, rocking me back and forth. “You are my baby. From the moment you were born you were mine, and you always will be. Now, go home to Royal and get ready for your date. I have that tart you made all boxed up and ready to go.”

  “I love you, Grams, no matter what.”

  “I know you do, Daisy girl. But not as much as I love you. Now get out of here.”

  I wasn't going to argue with my grandmother. One more tight hug and I bolted for the door, checking my phone to see if I still had time for a quick shower. I had a date to get ready for.

  Epilogue: Part Two

  royal

  Daisy was floating on air when she got home from work, her grin lighting her whole face. Good thing. I needed her in a good mood tonight. I had plans for us, and a smiling Daisy was a good start.

  “What happened?”

  “I'll tell you in a minute, just have to change first.”

  She was in and out of the shower in a flash and so tempting in her flannel bathrobe I thought about changing my plans and dragging her off to bed right then.

  Not going to happen.

  Hope and Savannah would kill me after they'd pitched in to make tonight happen.

  “So, where are we going?” Daisy asked, still smiling.

  “You'll figure it out.” I smiled back, absurdly happy just to have her here, living in my space, waking up with me and falling asleep in my arms. The past few weeks had been better than any dream. Daisy's parents had wreaked havoc, but they were long gone. Vanessa was in jail, J.T. was on the mend, Daisy was back at the bakery, and we hadn't had an incident at The Inn since the day Vanessa was arrested.

  Everything should have been perfect. It was. Almost. Taking Daisy's hand, I led her out the back door to the gardens behind Heartstone Manor.

  “Are we going where I think we're going?”

  “Wait and see,” I teased, though we were going exactly where she thought we were going. While the rest of the family had explored the watchtower, secretly, I thought of it as ours.

  “Are you going to tell me what has you in such a good mood?”

  Daisy's smile was almost blinding. Swinging our clasped hands between us, she spilled. “Grams brought me a partnership agreement for the bakery! Harvey drew up the papers for her. 50/50 partners.”

  I stopped in my tracks, closing my hands around her waist and swinging her into a high circle. “That's amazing. I knew Eleanor was going to come to her senses. And it's what you wanted.”

  “Exactly what I wanted. I convinced myself it wasn't going to happen. She's been so weird lately.”

  I took Daisy’s hand again, and we continued down the path to the watchtower. “A little weird is normal after everything that went down.”

  “True. And she said she forgave me for the money I took.” Daisy sounded surprised. I wasn't. Eleanor might have been swayed by Darren for a while, but she loved Daisy too much to hold one mistake against her.

  “Now everything is perfect.” Daisy sidled closer to me, tipping her head against my shoulder as we walked. Not quite perfect, but close. Now that Eleanor had made Daisy a partner, there was only one thing missing.

  Candlelight welcomed us as I pushed open the door to the watchtower. Protected by an ancient glass globe, the light swayed in the breeze from the open door, changing the familiar room into something out of a dream.

  Scents drifted from above, savory and sweet, drawing us up the curving staircase. Daisy climbed through the trap door first, stopping at the top to take in the room, her mouth open in surprise.

  “When did you do all of this?” she asked in wonder.

  I followed her into the
top level of the watchtower, grinning in satisfaction at the scene I'd created with the help of Hope, Savannah, and—oddly enough—Finn. Flowers filled the room. Roses, lilies, daisies, and everything in between. Some of the arrangements were formal, some little more than wildflowers stuck in a jar, but more than anything, they were abundant. As in every available surface was covered with flowers. Every surface but the bed and the small table set for two.

  I moved to the bottle of champagne chilling in a silver bucket. “Champagne?”

  Daisy's eyebrows shot up. “Yes, please.”

  I wrestled with the bottle, popping the cork and catching the foam in a glass while Daisy strolled around the room, sniffing the flowers. She came to a stop beside the bed, freshly made with a mountain of pillows and a fluffy white duvet.

  I handed her the glass and cleared my throat. Why this should make me nervous, I didn't know. Daisy was living with me. Maybe she hadn't finished moving out yet, but what did that matter?

  I tried to tell myself that, but it did matter. I wanted more. I wanted it all. It was too soon for everything—we hadn't been together long enough for that— but I needed to move us one step closer. I just had to hope I wasn't going to scare her off.

  “Let's sit at the table,” I said. I'd planned this out, but now that we were here, my plan seemed forced and awkward. I sat, waiting for Daisy to do the same. She did, dropping into my lap instead of the seat across the table.

  That would work. Not like I was going to shove Daisy off my lap when that was exactly where I wanted her. Clearing my throat again, I reached into the picnic basket Savannah had left on the table and pulled out an envelope and a small velvet box. Daisy eyed the box with a flare of alarm in her brown eyes, then narrowed those eyes on the envelope.

  “What's that?”

  I handed her the envelope. She opened it slowly, brow furrowing as she read it. “A change of address form?”