Maybe This Time--A Whiskey and Weddings Novel
Page 26
TJ’s brow furrowed. “Okay.”
Jen sat up on the bed, wearing only her panties. “I actually do not have any intention of you being my sugar daddy. So, I was thinking.”
“Hold on.” TJ grabbed a pillow and shoved it into her lap, covering her bare breasts. “I can’t concentrate with those staring at me,” he teased.
She glared at him, then stuffed the pillow against her chest. “Anyway, pervert, I have an idea. The upstairs of the Stag sits empty almost six days a week. You guys only use it for weddings or other events.”
“Yes.”
“Well, it’s a great-size room, with amazing acoustics.”
“Okay,” he said, a smirk on his face.
That was a good sign, she decided. “I thought maybe we could do some theater camps for kids there. Maybe a couple of shows a year. Just see how it goes. All on me. I’ll do all the work.”
He touched her knee, rubbing it gently. “You think parents would bring their kids to a distillery for drama camp?”
“Of course they would. If I was good enough.”
He chuckled. “You are good enough. And I love the idea.”
“You do?” She almost felt like crying, knowing that he liked her idea.
“I do.”
“What about Dean and Jake? What if they hate it?”
He shrugged. “I’ll tell them too damn bad.”
She frowned. “No you won’t. They’re your partners.”
“Yes, you’re right. But … they know exactly how I feel about you, and they also know how talented you are. And if I hit them with a profitable business plan, I don’t see how they can object.”
She bit at her bottom lip, grinning. “Can I help? I have lots of ideas.”
“Of course you can. Does this mean you’ll take Tara’s job? Can you handle both?”
“I’ll try. We’ll just see how it goes.”
“We will see how it goes. But as long as you’re mine, that’s all that matters.”
Epilogue
When the final number of Grease Jr. wrapped up, and the audience burst into applause, Jen let out a sigh of relief so intense, she almost fell forward.
Nearly two hundred people were packed into the upstairs of the Stag for the first performance of a three-day run, and thank goodness it was March, because it was getting stuffy up here.
Jen stood up, beaming, as the applause turned into a standing ovation. She met eyes with so many familiar faces. Her mother grinned back at her; Terri was there; TJ’s mom, who had sold at least thirty tickets alone to her ladies group; Lauren, Charlotte, and Dean. Everyone who mattered. Charlotte gave Jen two thumbs-up, then continued clapping along.
The past three months of their inaugural Stag Theater camp had been the most hectic, stressful, and rewarding of Jen’s life. She’d found two seniors from Maple Springs High School to be associate directors, and one of the kids’ moms had volunteered to be their choreographer. Along with the rest of the parents of their twenty-six sign-ups chipping in to make costumes and sets, and sell tickets, they’d actually pulled it off.
The kids took turns coming forward and bowing, and by the time her adorable little Sandy and Danny came forward, Jen was crying. Directing and teaching these kids had been one of the most enjoyable things she’d ever done. And as hard as it had been, she’d learned so much and was already aching to get busy on the next performance.
Her two young associate directors took the microphone and thanked everyone for coming before turning to Jen.
“And last, we want to thank our director, Jennifer Mackenzie. Without you, and the guys from the Stag, this never would have happened.” They motioned for Jen to come up from her seat down front. She knew this was customary, but the past week had been so crazy, she hadn’t prepared any words to say.
She took the microphone and everyone got quiet.
“What an amazing group of kids this is,” she started. “I can’t put into words how extraordinary it has been to spend these last few months with them. Theater has been a passion of mine for so long, and I’d like to extend my thanks to the owners of the Stag—and yes I’d like you guys to stand up—Dean, Jake, and TJ.”
Applause broke out again as the three guys reluctantly stood up for a brief moment and then sat back down—except for TJ, who walked to the edge of the room and stood to the side, a smile playing at his lips. At her.
“These guys have put up with me—and that’s not always easy!” She said, making everyone laugh. “But seriously, they’ve given me unwavering support for this endeavor, and I just can’t thank them enough. And of course, my mother, who is so strong and inspiring. Last, but not least, thank you again to everyone for coming. Stay tuned for whatever we have planned next.” She went to sit back down, but Evie, one of her young directors grabbed her arm.
“Hang on,” Evie said, grinning.
Jen looked over in time to see TJ walking toward her. The room hushed as he took the microphone, paused, and then looked at Jen. “I apologize for holding everyone up, but there is one more thing that needs to happen here. I hope you all don’t mind.”
Jen felt butterflies flutter to life in her stomach as she watched TJ pass the mic back to Evie, and then get down on one knee. The room erupted into cheers, and twenty-six children began squealing behind her.
TJ started to laugh as their eyes met, and he held out a ring box. The diamond sparkled up at her, so perfect. So beautiful.
“I couldn’t miss this opportunity,” he said over the raucous audience. Jen felt tears pressing in on her eyes. “I love you, Jen. And I want you to be mine. Forever.”
She couldn’t contain her giant grin and then joined him on the floor kneeling, so he could hear her answer. “I’ve always been yours. So … yes. Absolutely yes.”
Coming soon …
Don’t miss the next novel in the Whiskey and Weddings series
MAYBE FOR YOU
Available in September 2018 from St. Martin’s Paperbacks
Also by Nicole McLaughlin
Maybe I Do
Praise for Nicole McLaughlin
“Nicole McLaughlin had a new fan by chapter two!”
—New York Times bestselling author Erin Nicholas on All I Ask
“Nicole’s fun, sassy stories and sexy heroes are not to be missed!”
—USA Today bestselling author Julie Brannagh
“A wonderfully fresh voice in contemporary romance—sweet, sexy, and immensely satisfying.”
—New York Times bestselling author Lauren Layne
About the Author
Nicole McLaughlin wrote her first full-length book (6 pages) about the birth of her baby sister, when she was 8 years old. She only finished it because her mother bribed her with a Rick Astley cassette tape. Sad, but true. Now her characters are what keep her writing and her subject matter has gotten a little bit deeper and a lot more romantic. She resides in a small town outside of Kansas City with her husband and three sons. When she isn’t writing, she’s a wedding and portrait photographer who loves to cook and watch historical dramas or documentaries. Nicole is the author of two series with St. Martin’s Press, the Man Enough series (All I Ask) and Whiskey and Weddings (Maybe I Do).
Visit her website at: nicolemclaughlinbooks.com, or sign up for email updates here.
Thank you for buying this
St. Martin’s Press ebook.
To receive special offers, bonus content,
and info on new releases and other great reads,
sign up for our newsletters.
Or visit us online at
us.macmillan.com/newslettersignup
For email updates on the author, click here.
Contents
Title Page
Copyright Notice
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
&n
bsp; Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Chapter Nineteen
Chapter Twenty
Chapter Twenty-One
Chapter Twenty-Two
Chapter Twenty-Three
Chapter Twenty-Four
Chapter Twenty-Five
Chapter Twenty-Six
Chapter Twenty-Seven
Epilogue
Also by Nicole McLaughlin
Praise for Nicole McLaughlin
About the Author
Copyright
This is a work of fiction. All of the characters, organizations, and events portrayed in this novel are either products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously.
MAYBE THIS TIME
Copyright © 2018 by Nicole McLaughlin.
All rights reserved.
For information address St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.
www.stmartins.com
eISBN: 9781250140012
Our e-books may be purchased in bulk for promotional, educational, or business use. Please contact the Macmillan Corporate and Premium Sales Department at 1-800-221-7945, extension 5442, or by e-mail at MacmillanSpecialMarkets@macmillan.com.
St. Martin’s Paperbacks edition / March 2018
St. Martin’s Paperbacks are published by St. Martin’s Press, 175 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10010.