by Ava Miles
Maybe it was something else. It had to be something else. Had something happened to his parents or his sister?
She couldn’t live with herself if he’d done this for her.
Her phone alerted her to an incoming text. Rising, she barely felt her body. It was like all of the life had been sucked out of her.
She picked up the phone. Looked at the screen.
Blake had texted her just seconds ago.
I told you we’re not done.
She fell back against the door, bumping her head. Oh, God.
Another call sounded. Her mom. Then another text. Matt this time.
She couldn’t answer. Couldn’t speak.
What had he done?
Chapter 43
Elizabeth stood under the shower in her bathroom and let the water wash off her trip from New York along with the tears that hadn’t stopped flowing.
It was done.
Vince was known for what he was. She’d spoken with the two other women who’d come forward with stories like her own. They’d cried together as they shared their all-too-similar tales, including how Vince’s family had used their money and power to silence and intimidate his victims.
Other women were safe from him now—the three of them included.
She could only hope the extensive coverage would help even more women stand up to their stalkers. It had only taken her seven years to come forward, to stop being a victim.
Liz Parenti had no regrets.
As for Elizabeth Saunders…that was another matter.
She wasn’t sure she’d ever get over the regret of losing Terrance.
Based on what she’d heard from her friends, he was planning to work at another one of Mac’s hotels. Maybe it was for the best. Coming back to Dare Valley would be hard on both of them.
Part of her hoped he would go.
The other part longed to see him one last time.
Their brief text exchange hadn’t been enough.
She feared nothing ever would be.
Shutting off the shower, she dried herself off with a plush towel and wrapped herself in a white terrycloth robe. Having hand-dried her hair, she looked in the mirror and tried to love what she saw.
A woman who’d done the hardest thing imaginable.
A woman who was alone again after discovering the joys of being with a wonderful man.
She didn’t know if she could love again, but she was different now. Her heart was more open, and the fear that had controlled her life was easing. No, it wasn’t completely gone, but she felt braver and stronger with each day that passed now that she’d faced down her demons.
With each new sunrise and each bold step, she was becoming more accustomed to being in the crosshairs of danger. Now she knew how to navigate it. And she had no need for masks anymore.
That was something to celebrate—as were the tweets and emails pouring in from other women, women who told her how inspirational it was to see her stand up to a bully like Vince.
She was inspiring others, and she could be proud of that too.
Now it was time to make a cup of tea, call Jane, and try and relax into what her life was becoming now. She was more than Vixen, more than Rhett’s publicist.
She was a survivor.
Heading to the kitchen, she came up short when she saw Terrance in her family room, standing by the sofa, running his hand over the cashmere throw with the same gentleness he’d used to caress her skin.
The shock of seeing him had her clutching her robe. “Terrance! What are you doing here?”
He was wearing jeans and a navy T-shirt pulled up to the elbows, revealing his griffin tattoos. They seemed to take flight when he lifted one hand and held up something she couldn’t make out.
“You left your key.”
Her heart sank back into place. For a moment there, she’d thought he had forgiven her.
“I didn’t forget it, but since you came over to return it, you can leave it on the table.”
His bottle-green eyes had dark circles under them. “How are you?”
So they were going to have some small talk after all. “Okay.” What did he expect her to say? Bawling three times a day over him?
“I’m proud of you—for what you did about Vince.”
Oh, how her throat grew thick at that. “Me too.”
He shoved away from the couch, her key still in his palm—almost like he couldn’t bear to set it down. That would mean the final parting between them.
“Thank you,” he said in a quiet voice. “For what you did for me.”
It took her a moment to answer. “It’s like I said in my text. I didn’t just do it for you, but I’m glad it helped you. I didn’t want you to lose anything because of me.”
He kicked at her floor with his Italian shoes. “Right. I seem to have everything back and more now that you’ve painted me as a hero. So why do I feel like I’ve lost everything that matters?”
The trembling started at her knees and worked its way up to her bottom lip. “What are you trying to say?”
Finally, he crossed the room to stand in front of her, his eyes scanning her face. “I don’t want to live without my perfect ingredient.”
“Maybe you’ll find another.” She forced herself to say the words.
“I don’t think so.”
“Then…”
“I thought you might like to come to dinner with me.”
Dinner? Was he saying he wanted them to get back together? “When?”
“Tomorrow night.” He looked down and kicked at the floor again. “The only problem is that you’ll have to come back to New York with me.”
Her mind put up a protective shield. They’d lost everything there.
“I thought we might start over,” he went on. “Go together to New York like we were seeing it for the first time.”
Her heart started to spin in her chest, but cold hard logic wrapped its icy coils around it, halting the celebration. Now that she’d stopped hiding from her past with Vince, she couldn’t bury the hurt between Terrance and her.
“We can’t erase what happened between us, as much as I’d like to.”
“What if I told you that I forgive you and sincerely want you to forgive me?”
Then he looked directly into her eyes, and she saw the hurt and fear and vulnerability he’d shown only to her. Hope rose up inside her, something she’d thought permanently dead.
“I love you, Elizabeth. And that’s never going to change. Despite what happened in New York. I’ve spent the last five days trying to run away from that fact, which scares the sh—heck out of me, but I can’t.”
She cupped her hand to her mouth to quell the sobs clamoring to be released.
“Talk to me,” he said harshly. “I’m…dammit…I’m scared too, okay?”
When he fished out a Ben Franklin and stuck it in his pocket, she said in shock, “You’re still doing the Cuss Fund?”
He shrugged. “I realized self improvement should never be driven by fame. I’ve asked to be on the board for The Children’s Aid Society in New York because it will help kids who are struggling…kids like I used to be. It’s time for me to stop running from my past. I want to be a better man. One who deserves a woman like you.”
Unable to hold herself back anymore, she bridged the distance between them and wrapped her arms around him. His hands clamped around her back, and he pressed his face into her neck.
“Oh, God, Elizabeth.”
The raw sound of his voice made her rub his rigid back in comfort. “I’m sorry, Terrance. I’m so sorry.”
“I know, babe. I know. I am too. You were right to think I would hurt Vince. It was hard for me to admit that.”
“It doesn’t mean I don’t love you,” she whispered. “I know you wanted to…protect me.”
He sighed. “I always will, but this street kid needs to stop seeing violence as one of his tools. I’m going to see someone about that.”
Pressing back, she cupped his face
. “So am I. For my stuff. We both have more healing to do.”
His forehead rubbed against hers then. “I want to do it together.”
A tear leaked out of the corner of her eye. “I do too.”
“I love you,” he whispered. “So much.”
She kissed his tense jaw. “I love you too.”
His head lowered slowly, giving her time. She met him halfway. Their lips reunited, and as he made love to her mouth, her heart settled back into place. She basked in that warmth as he undid her robe and cupped her breasts, cherishing her. Her hands caressed his back, cherishing the feel of him in turn.
He swept her up into his arms and carried her to the bedroom. Lowering them to the soft mattress, she opened her legs for him to settle his weight on her. She’d missed this, his solid presence, the urgency of his mouth, the hard press of his body. The gentleness of his touch. It called up the fire in her, unleashed a new feeling of security.
They were together again—with no secrets.
And nothing was ever going to separate them again.
He loved her slowly, sliding his mouth down her body, to kiss and caress the places that inflamed her—the ones only he knew—the crook of her elbow, the top of her hipbone, the back of her knee. She trailed her fingers to his own hidden places—the underside of his ear, the place where arm and shoulder met, and the middle of his thigh.
Every hidden place was brought into the light for healing, and when he glided inside her, she felt a new sense of completeness. As they moved together, her body sensed they were moving to a special place—one built by the pure pleasure of trust and commitment.
She fell into that place with him, and he joined her, each of them calling out. In the quiet of the room, they rested there, stroking each other, whispering loving words, reclaiming the miracle of their connection.
Finally, she nuzzled his chest. “So when do you want to leave for New York?” Right now all she wanted was to stay in bed with him for the next few days and shut out the world.
He kissed the top of her head. “Tomorrow morning I forgot to tell you that we’re having dinner with some special people.”
“Who?” she murmured, tracing his Chinese letter tattoos.
“The head of CST Television and his wife have invited me to dinner at their home to discuss a new TV show.”
Now that was news. She pushed onto to her elbow. “Oh, Terrance! I’m so happy for you.”
“His wife was really moved by our story, and Howard doesn’t much like Lane, who’s his chief competitor. You know, I think this is going to work out for the best.”
She’d never really believed in that, but now she was starting to see life anew. “I think so too. You’re going to do great.”
“We’re going to do great.” He rolled onto his side and traced her waist. “If the show goes through, I’m going to be traveling to New York more. I’d like you to come with me when I do.”
Her smile stretched the muscles in her face in the best way possible. “I’d like that.” Then she lowered her eyes and traced his chest. “Are you staying here then?”
“Yes,” he said, tipping up her chin. “If you’ll have me.”
“Oh, I’ll have you.”
This time he lifted her hand and kissed her knuckles. “I pretty much mean all the way here, Elizabeth, although I promise you a more romantic proposal.”
She wasn’t sure what dropped first. Her mouth or her hand from his. “You want to get married?”
His smile was lopsided but oh so sweet. “I know. I never thought it would happen for someone like me. But with you…Elizabeth, I…like the idea of…well hell…belonging to you.”
She had to lay her head against his chest as the tears came. “I want to belong to you too,” she whispered, raising her head to look into his eyes.
“Oh, babe,” he said, his voice hoarse now. “You kill me in the best way possible.”
She knew what he meant. He did the same to her.
“I have something for you,” he said and rolled out of bed.
Before she could miss him, he slid in beside her and handed her a present wrapped in black and white striped paper. She eyed it. It was too large for a ring, and he raised his brow as if he knew she was thinking just that.
When she opened it, her heart simply soared. Resting on a bed of white satin was the most beautiful crystal Phoenix she’d ever seen. “Oh my goodness…it’s so beautiful.”
“I thought about getting another tattoo, but I’m moving past that. This present seemed more appropriate. You’ve risen from the ashes to become more beautiful yet again. It’s no wonder you’re my perfect ingredient.”
“Terrance,” she said softly, touching her hand to his cheek. “You’re my perfect ingredient too.”
“That’s what I’m planning to call my TV show, by the way. In honor of you.”
His mouth curved, and his face transformed with the same joy she was feeling rise in her heart.
Both of them knew finding the perfect ingredient only happened once in a lifetime.
To learn more about my upcoming releases like Natalie and Blake’s story called A BRIDGE TO A BETTER LIFE; Amelia Ann and Clayton’s story in Dare River called FIREFLIES AND MAGNOLIAS; and my forthcoming children’s book called THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN: A MAGICAL TALE, sign up for my newsletter here.
Dear Reader,
I hope you loved Elizabeth and Terrance’s story as much as I did writing it. Food has always been a passion for me, as many of you know by now. The art of cooking and sharing it with people was something my grandmother taught me, and it was a delight to experience the culinary arts through Terrance’s eyes. I can tell you he inspired me to buy new ingredients and try new dishes more than any chef I’ve written about so far. As for Elizabeth, her journey to recover her sense of safety and stand up to her stalker had me cheering since I know many women experience violence at the hands of men every day. Her transformation melted my heart, and I wish the same triumph for any woman who’s experienced something similar.
If you enjoyed this book, I would love for you to post a review since it helps more readers want to read my story. You can write on the retail site or on Goodreads. When you post one, kindly let me know at [email protected] so I can personally thank you. Please also consider recommending this book to your book clubs and friends. Thank you in advance!
To keep up with my new releases and any book sales I have, please sign up for my newsletter and connect with me on Facebook. I love to post about food and other fun stuff, so come and join the party.
Now, let’s talk Natalie and Blake. Aren’t they simply scrumptious together? They have been in my head for a long while now, and I can’t wait to share their story, A BRIDGE TO A BETTER LIFE, this Spring 2015. In the meantime, if you haven’t already, come check out Rye Crenshaw in COUNTRY HEAVEN and John Parker in THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN in my Dare River series (a connected series to Dare Valley where our favorite characters go back and forth). Rye, John Parker, and Clayton from THE PERFECT INGREDIENT have proved tantalizing heroes in their own right (if not terrible Latin dancers). Clayton and Amelia Ann’s story (that’s Rye’s sister fyi), FIREFLIES AND MAGNOLIAS, will be out Winter 2015. If you liked their antics with the Rhett and Company, you’ll love Dare River.
Thanks again for cherishing Dare Valley as much as I do. You all rock my world in the best way possible. And because you love for me to include recipes, I have one for you: Bananas Foster. My own special recipe. Keep reading!
Lots of light and joy,
Ava
The next Dare Valley book, A BRIDGE TO A BETTER LIFE (Natalie & Blake), will be released Spring 2015.
And watch for the next Dare River story, FIREFLIES AND MAGNOLIAS (Amelia Ann & Clayton), will be out Winter 2015!
Sign up for Ava’s newsletter so you don’t miss any news.
The following books by Ava Miles are also available now.
The Dare Valley series:
NORA ROBERTS LAND (Meredith & Tanner
)
FRENCH ROAST (Jill & Brian)
THE GRAND OPENING (Peggy & Mac)
THE HOLIDAY SERENADE (Abbie & Rhett)
THE TOWN SQUARE (Arthur & Harriet)
THE PARK OF SUNSET DREAMS (Jane & Matt)
THE PERFECT INGREDINT (Elizabeth & Terrance)
The Dare River series (connected to Dare Valley):
COUNTRY HEAVEN (Tory & Rye)
COUNTRY HEAVEN SONG BOOK
COUNTRY HEAVEN COOKBOOK
THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN (Tammy & John Parker)
THE CHOCOLATE GARDEN: A MAGICAL TALE (children’s book)
Looking for Dare Valley Swag? Ava has a Zazzle Store now where you can buy a coffee mug from Don’t Soy With Me and other fun items. Come check it out.
AND NOW FOR THE RECIPE FROM THE PERFECT INGREDIENT…
Bananas Foster
Bananas
Butter
Honey
Cinnamon
Bourbon (optional)
Slice a handful of bananas length-wise and in half. Melt some butter in a pan, careful not to have it turn brown from high heat. Add the bananas, a dollop of honey to taste, and cinnamon.
Sauté until golden brown. The honey will bubble and create a gorgeous caramel-looking sauce. Now you can serve this just as it is or move onto an advanced step: the flambé. If you have never flambéed, I would research it to make sure you are doing it correctly. My first time involved singed bangs and a wall of fire, but you know…like Terrance, I was all that more determined to get it right. If you don’t want to deal with the fire part (and after hearing about my singed bangs, who can blame you?), simply take the pan off the stove and add a little bourbon. The alcohol does cook off, albeit not completely, with the heat. Pour over ice cream and serve. Voila. One of the simplest and most satisfying desserts around.
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