Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley (Arcadia Valley Romance Book 0)

by Mary Jane Hathaway

  “Sit down.” He held her chair for her and then went to the kitchen door, coming back with a bottle of sparkling water that looked fancy and imported, and two wine glasses. He poured for both of them and then lifted his in a toast. “To meeting in person, again, after five months of wanting to.”

  She took a deep breath. If only her heart rate would settle down. She couldn’t stop looking at him, drinking him in.

  “So...” He put his glass down and reached across the table, capturing her hand.

  “Yeah. So.” A smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.

  “So here we are.” His quiet laugh sounded almost shy.

  “Is this a... just a hello dinner? Or is there something—”

  “There’s something else.” He cleared his throat. “Do you... Patricia, do you feel anything for me?”

  She squeezed his hand and smiled at him. “I do, of course I do. I really like you a lot.”

  “As a friend, or...”

  She studied his handsome face, looked into those soulful eyes. “A friend never made my heart beat this hard.”

  His smile was like the rising sun. “Me either. In fact—” He broke off.

  Her heart was hammering now. She pulled her hand away from him and skimmed it down the sides of her jeans.

  “In fact, I was hoping we could hang out this week. See if... you know...”

  “See if what?” Her voice couldn’t seem to rise above a whisper.

  He blew out a breath, stood, and reached for something on the mantel. “I’m not good at waiting, Patricia, but for you, I’ve done a lot of it. But I don’t feel like I can wait five more days.”

  She stared up at him, her head spinning.

  “Patricia, I know we’ve got things to work out and talk about. We’re both building careers we care about, and that can make it a challenge to... to be together. But I’d really, really like to make a commitment to you. And if you feel at all the same... If we could figure out a way to spend some time, to explore what we might have...” He fumbled with a small box and opened it, held it out toward her.

  Inside was a beautiful emerald-cut diamond ring.

  Her mouth went dry. Was he asking...

  “I don’t know if this is what you’d like,” he went on rapidly, his words tumbling over each other, “or if you’re even ready to think about this, but I want you to know this is how I feel and I’m sure.” Then he slapped his forehead. “And I was supposed to get on my knees.” He knelt with an athlete’s grace, looking up at her. “I love you with everything in my heart. I want to marry you, Patricia.”

  Tears sprung to her eyes as joy, pure joy, filled her heart. “I... it’s too soon, but I feel the same way you do.”

  “Sometimes, you just know.”

  She nodded, biting her lip. “Sometimes you do.”

  He took her hand and she could feel that they were both trembling. He slid the ring onto her finger.

  “We can get you a bigger one, or a different style. Whatever you... oh, man, did you really just say yes?”

  She held her breath and nodded. And then they were standing clasped in each other’s arms laughing and crying.

  The next hour was precious: quiet time together, talking about their dreams, about all the state parks in Idaho where Patricia might work, about how there were job openings for teachers in various parts of the state.

  They both agreed they wanted to stay close to Arcadia Valley. Having found a family like the Quintanas, Patricia didn’t want to let them go, and when she said so, Alex held her closer. “How did I get so lucky?” he murmured.

  Soon enough, the whole clan began to arrive — undoubtedly let in on the news by Veronica — bringing food and flowers and happy hugs and smiles.

  It was a spontaneous engagement party to end all engagement parties, all warmth and joy and love.

  And Patricia knew, without a doubt, that at El Corazon she’d found both her home and her heart.

  What’s next in this series from Lee Tobin McClain?

  Secrets of the Heart

  Releasing April, 2017

  Javier Quintana knows his family’s struggling restaurant, El Corazon, needs help. But when his interfering siblings hire Molly Abbott, a successful food entrepreneur and his high-school sweetheart, he’s livid. The way their relationship ended wasn’t pretty. And although Molly never married, she’s the single mom of a twelve-year-old daughter conceived right about the time of the breakup. Molly’s ideas about farm-to-table, health-conscious Mexican food conflict with Javier’s strong sense of tradition, even as her joyous faith convicts him about his own lapse from the church of his youth. Can a reunion romance bring happiness to two lonely souls who never forgot each other… or will their relationship be derailed by the secrets they both carry in their hearts?

  Dear Reader,

  Thank you for visiting El Corazon with me! If you love Mexican food as much as I do, you can imagine how much fun it is to do background research for this series. I’ve developed a new addiction to tacos, and my cookbook budget for the year is already blown!

  As you saw in Sheltered Hearts, El Corazon needs an update — specifically, a move toward more fresh and natural ingredients and dishes — but without losing its traditional appeal. Come back and watch as the restaurant goes through a growth process that parallels the heart-journeys of the four Quintana siblings. Now that we’ve got Alex settled, it’s oldest brother Javier’s turn to meet his romantic match. Stay tuned for Secrets of the Heart, releasing in April 2017!

  Meanwhile, how about trying my Sacred Bond series of Christian romances... for free? His Baby Bond starts things off, and is available free on all retailers. A Brother’s Bond starts the more suspenseful Sacred Bond Guardians spinoff series, and it’s free, too. Yes, I appreciate my readers and I like to offer sales, bargains, and giveaways! If you want in on the fun, subscribe to my newsletter to hear about new releases, contests, and sales, and to get an exclusive short story, Before the Bond.

  Blessings to you,

  Lee

  http://www.leetobinmcclain.com

  Publishers’ Weekly bestselling author Lee Tobin McClain read Gone with the Wind in the third grade and has been a hopeless romantic ever since. When she’s not writing angst-filled love stories with happy endings, she’s getting inspiration from her church mission team, her gymnastics-obsessed daughter, and her rescue dog and cat. In her day job, Lee gets to encourage aspiring romance writers in Seton Hill University’s low-residency MFA program. Visit her website to join her mailing list and get the Sacred Bond pre-prequel story, Before the Bond, free!

  Other Titles by Lee Tobin McClain

  Romance from the Heart Series

  (Arcadia Valley Romance Multi-Author Series)

  Sheltered Hearts (in Romance Grows in Arcadia Valley)

  Secrets of the Heart

  Wise at Heart

  Joy of My Heart

  Sacred Bond Series

  A Christmas Bond: Prequel Novella

  His Baby Bond

  The Bride’s Broken Bond

  Her Reunion Bond

  The Doctor’s Bond

  Sacred Bond Guardians Spinoff Series

  (Romantic Suspense)

  The Protector’s Bond, Prequel Novella

  A Brother’s Bond

  A Bond at Risk

  A Bond of Vengeance

  A Bond Fulfilled

  A Western Bond

  Sacred Bond Standalones

  A Bond of the Heart

  The Wedding Bond

  A Bond of Hope

  Love Inspired Novels

  Engaged to the Single Mom

  His Secret Child

  Small-Town Nanny

  The Nanny’s Texas Christmas

  The Soldier and the Single Mom

  Sow

  In

  Love

  A Garden Grown Romance

  by Valerie Comer

  © 2017 by Valerie Comer

  All rights reserved.

&nb
sp; ISBN: 9781988068206

  No part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted for commercial purposes, except for brief quotations in printed or electronic reviews, without written permission of the author.

  This is a work of fiction set in a redrawn south-central Idaho. This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are either products of the author’s imagination or used fictitiously. All characters are fictional, and any similarity to people living or dead is purely coincidental.

  Scripture taken from The Voice Bible Copyright © 2012 Thomas Nelson, Inc. The Voice™ translation © 2012 Ecclesia Bible Society All rights reserved.

  First edition, GreenWords Media, 2017

  www.valeriecomer.com

  Sow in Love introduces the Garden Grown Romance series in Arcadia Valley Romance: www.arcadiavalleyromance.com/posts/series/garden-grown-romance/

  Dedication

  For Jim

  Thanks for accompanying me to Twin Falls

  and brainstorming this series with me.

  I would totally have zipped the Snake if they’d answered the phone.

  You know that, right?

  Chapter 1

  “No, I don’t think so.”

  Joanna Kraus pressed both hands on the boardroom table and stared at the infuriating man at the other end. “No? And why not?”

  “I don’t think that’s what my grandfather has in mind.”

  Why didn’t the elderly Mr. Akers come and speak to the committee himself? He was only old, not dead. He didn’t always make sense, they said, but the message had to be clearer than coming through a third party. Warning bells rang. Hadn’t Pierce used his dad’s name to stall the deal she’d put together for him?

  She lifted her chin and met Grady Akers’ dazzling blue eyes. “Why don’t you explain what your grandfather wants instead of making me guess?” This proposal wasn’t going to fall through like this. Not on her watch. Not again.

  Early spring sunshine angled in through the tall, narrow windows of the Grace Fellowship board room. Flames flickered in the gas fireplace. The other three committee members’ heads swung back and forth as though watching a tennis match.

  “Ms. Kraus.” Grady flashed a winsome smile. “As I mentioned in my initial request, he wants the property to be used for something that benefits the church and the community. While bulldozing the structures and building a row of townhomes for low-income housing would definitely assist those who live in them, Granddad would prefer an option that is of lower cost and wider benefit.”

  Of course, the Akers family dangled the carrot of additional funding in front of Grace Fellowship. No one could blame Joanna for thinking big. All she needed was one or two solid, completed deals in her CV to set her consulting company on the right track again. This deal for her brother’s church — and hers, since she’d moved — should have been a slam-dunk.

  She glanced at the monitor displaying the presentation on housing she’d been arrowing through. “I’m sorry, Mr. Akers. It would be most helpful if you and your grandfather offered concrete parameters before I spend two more weeks of my life honing another proposal for you to shoot down.” Granted, she’d been rather distracted by the move to Arcadia Valley at the same time, but a look at the town demographics had shown her affordable housing was a definite need.

  His grin did not waver. Dark wavy hair brushed the collar of his striped shirt and accented his blue eyes.

  Joanna had once had a weakness for blue eyes. Not anymore. If the man thought she’d succumb just because he smiled, he had another think coming. Remember Pierce. He had a great smile, too. She tipped her head and looked at Grady above the frames of her glasses.

  He rested his elbows on the table. “Maybe we could go for lunch and do some brainstorming.”

  Mrs. Poncetta smirked.

  Heat crept up Joanna’s cheeks. “Or you could send me an email.”

  “Or we could Skype.”

  “Mr. Akers—”

  “Grady.”

  “Mr. Akers, please send me an email with any additional information you may have that might help me reach some actual possibilities.”

  His brows rose above those twinkling eyes. “And your email address is...?”

  “On the report in front of you.”

  He glanced down then nodded. “So I see. You will definitely be hearing from me. Soon.”

  Was that a threat or a promise?

  The committee chair looked from one to the other. “If I may interject...”

  Joanna took a deep breath. “Go ahead. Mr. Wattenberg, isn’t it?”

  “I’ve known Clarence my entire life. He served Grace Fellowship well as a board member and Sunday School teacher for decades. He has always been a member in good standing. He may be eighty-nine now, but his mind is still sharp. Is it not, Grady?”

  Grady rubbed his temples and looked down. “Most of the time.”

  Huh. The man had a soft spot?

  “Then there’s no time to lose.” Mr. Wattenberg turned to Joanna. “I see no point in the committee continuing to convene until you have come up with a plan that Clarence approves of. Grady has a good point. Why don’t you accept his lunch invitation?”

  She would not look at Grady. She would not.

  “And furthermore, I think the two of you should go visit Clarence together. Let’s not play the guessing game of what Clarence will want and what he won’t want. Catch him on a good day and ask him. Give him your thoughts. Let him respond.” Mr. Wattenberg glanced at his watch. “I have another meeting shortly.”

  “Could we spend some time in prayer before you leave?” Mr. Marshall asked. “We need God’s guidance in this matter.”

  “Of course.” Mr. Wattenberg nodded, sinking back into his chair. “Go ahead, and I’ll close.”

  So. Her presentation was over before she’d had time to get into the details. Just like that. She reached over and flipped her laptop shut as Mr. Marshall began a measured prayer to the Lord above.

  It wasn’t that she wanted to waste time fleshing out ideas only to be shot down in five minutes. It was that she didn’t want to spend time with Grady Akers. He was flirting. Using his charm to get in her good graces so he could… no. She wouldn’t let him. She’d left Salt Lake City to get away from Pierce, not meet another man equally as full of himself. She’d moved her consulting business to this small Idaho town because her brother needed help with the boys. The church had hired her to create a viable plan for a piece of land and had no right to push her into going for lunch with this man.

  Conscience bit. Not that she’d never gone for lunch with clients before. It was part of doing business. She’d even survived handsome, single, male clients before, so what made this time different? Grady was more than the sum of those parts.

  He was hot. Sizzling hot. He made more than her blood boil.

  She glanced down the table at him, past the board members with their bowed heads.

  His grin widened, and his blue eyes gleamed with amusement.

  Joanna scrunched her eyes shut. Why wasn’t he focusing? Why wasn’t she? Mr. Marshall intoned the end of his prayer, and Mrs. Poncetta began an impassioned plea for God’s guidance.

  As though they hadn’t all been praying for that these past two weeks. At least, Joanna knew she had. Who knew what Grady Akers prayed for? She didn’t even want to guess.

  * * *

  “Thanks for joining me for lunch.” Grady took in the beautiful woman across the polished wooden table. Her dark brown hair surrounded a perfect face before falling in loose curls past her shoulders. Really, Grady? A perfect face?

  Joanna raised her eyebrows above her blue-rimmed glasses. “It’s not like I had much choice.”

  She didn’t think of him as perfect anything, that was for sure, unless it was a perfect nuisance. What was her problem? He wasn’t that bad. Women had been falling over themselves to get his attention for years. At thirty-two, he wasn’t precisely over the hill. The mirror told him he w
asn’t ugly.

  “Granddad has lunch at eleven-thirty and then naps until two, so we’ve got a bit of time.”

  Her lips pulled into a tight line.

  She was going to be like that, was she? He could handle it. “Have you eaten at the Sunrise before? The owners source many ingredients locally. Really good food.” He tapped the menu in front of her. “Order whatever you like. You won’t be disappointed.”

  “I’ll pay for my own lunch, thank you.”

  He grinned. “But it was my invitation. I insist.”

  “Mr. Akers—”

  “My name is Grady. Save the Mr. Akers bit for my grandfather.”

  She stared at him.

  Okay, he’d try again. She’d moved recently from Salt Lake City, right? “Arcadia Valley is a small town, Joanna. Twelve thousand people when everyone is home. We don’t stand on that kind of formality around here, even when we’re talking business.”

  She flipped open the tall menu, blocking his view. Blocking his words, too, no doubt. Man, whatever had he done to her?

  “The baked potato and bacon chowder sounds good.” She lowered the menu. “I’ll have a coffee as well. Thank you.”

  “Good choice.” He signaled for the server and placed the same order for them both. When he looked back, she was fiddling on her phone. “Did you come up with any thoughts on using the property more as it exists now?”