by Caitlyn Blue
I shake my head. Photos? What could he have used?
“Come with me.”
She draws me toward the back of the store where four easels are set up. I recognize the pictures immediately. They’ve all been taken in the display rooms I created in the lower level of the antique shop.
“I read through your business plan,” Gabby says. “It was really good. This neighborhood is perfect for what you want to do. You are going to be so successful.”
Memories wash over me. I’d been so excited about the idea in college. I’d invested way more hours into the assignment than I had to, researching the market, coming up with advertising and promotion concepts, even going so far as to investigate retail space.
It was a dream. A crazy unattainable dream. I’d poured my every wish, hope, and wild yearning into the design of the store, granting my imagination free rein. Because I never believed I would make the store a reality, I had given it wings.
“I got an A,” I say, my throat closing over the words. “The instructor said it was one of the most thorough business plans he’d ever seen from a student.”
“I’m not surprised. Zach told me all he had to do was take what you had done and update some of the numbers. I was blown away by how much better it was than the one I put together for the speakeasy.”
“Why would he do all this?”
“I think that’s a question you need to ask him.”
As I take in Gabby’s words, my heart expands, making my chest ache. I glance across the room to where Zach’s standing with Paul and Julie. Although he’s listening to Paul, his gaze flicks to me. There’s encouragement in his eyes. He did this for me. I’m not used to being on the receiving end of nice things. I’m uncomfortable with the change—like I don’t believe I deserve to be happy.
“Maybe I can do this?” I murmur, surrendering to the excitement lurking below my anxiety. “It’s just going to take me a little while to get my head wrapped around it.”
Gabby puts her arms around me and whispers in my ear, “Atta girl.”
Once again my gaze drifts in search of Zach. I catch him watching me. “I think I need to go have a chat with the guy who made this happen.”
He watches me walk the entire length of the room. A smile comes and goes on his lips as he assesses my mood. Before I reach him, he breaks off his conversation with Paul and Julie to intercept me.
I keep my voice down as he guides me toward a quiet corner. “Have you lost your mind? What in the world possessed you to rope my mother into your schemes?”
“I knew you wouldn’t do anything unless she was on board.”
“And the business plan you used is four years old. I don’t even remember what I wrote.” Which isn’t exactly true. And it must’ve been good enough because someone is willing to finance me. My voice falls into anxious tones. “Do you really have an investor interested? Who is it, anyway?”
“I’ll take you to meet with him next week. He’s very excited about your idea.”
It doesn’t skip my notice that he didn’t tell me the investor’s name. “How am I supposed to make this happen?”
“I’ll help you and so will Gabby, Sarah, Brynn, and your mom. It’s going to be great. You’re going to make it great.”
“Why do you believe in me?” When I don’t believe in myself?
“Because you’re the kind of person who gets things done.”
I recognize that I’m being ungrateful, but Zach doesn’t seem to be bothered by this.
“I just don’t understand why you did this.”
“You do things for other people all the time.” He takes my hand and lifts it to his lips. “It’s time someone did something for you.”
What am I really anxious about? I can do this. I’ve been dreaming about owning my own store since I started to work in the antique shop as a teenager.
Zach sets his forehead against mine. “And because I wanted to show you how important you are to me. That I’m all in this relationship.”
“You want us to date?” I’m shocked to my toes.
“Not just date. I want us to be a couple.”
It’s so perfect. Maybe too perfect? I need to make sure I’m not just hearing what I want to hear.
“This is a pretty big step for you.” I wrap my arms around his middle and smile up at him. “Are you sure you’re ready?”
“It took losing you to realize just how ready I am. Ever since Paul and Julie got engaged I’ve been battling this feeling that something was missing from my life. Work didn’t fill it. Partying didn’t fill it. You do.” His eyes glow as he regards me. “You’re beautiful. Sweet. Funny. Unexpected. And ready for anything. I don’t need more time. I already know you’re the only woman who has ever made me feel this way.”
“What way is that?”
“I’ve been falling for you ever since you pulled that damned condom out of your purse that day of Julie and Paul’s shower.” He kisses my nose. “You never did tell me why it was there.”
Remembering what I’d made for him earlier that day, I reach into my coat pocket and pull out a rose crafted from two red condom wrappers.
“It was left over from the bouquet of roses like this one that I made for Gabby to give to Evan for their third anniversary.”
“So, it wasn’t for your own use.” He looks relieved as he twirls the stem and ponders the unorthodox rose before slipping it into his own pocket.
“Since I don’t normally hook up with men I meet in bars, I’ve never needed to be prepared at all times.” My grin is sly. “Or I didn’t until you came along.” I grab his lapels and drag him close. “I’ve been falling for you too. Ever since that day you drove me home so we could work on our speech project. You were one of the most popular guys in school, but you treated me like I mattered.”
“Are you kidding? I knew if I stuck with you I’d get an A on the project. You had that speech thing all figured out. I couldn’t believe the way you went from awkward wallflower to fearless activist as soon as you stood behind the podium.”
I’m blown away that he saw me like that. And yet, thinking about how we got to know each other during the course of that class, I realize that we developed an odd little friendship. The cool upperclassman and the socially awkward freshman had laughed a lot during those first few months. I remember that it had annoyed my sister.
“I love you,” he says, bringing his lips to mine, sealing the vow with a kiss that’s filled with promises.
“I love you, too.”
As I snake my arms around his neck, the hem of my coat rises and I feel cool air against my bare thighs. The memory of what I’m wearing hits me like a brick. Damn. If anyone had an idea of how I’d shown up at his place. My cheeks heat. I lean back and grab his chin to bring his gaze to mine.
“But the next time you plan on surprising me like this, give me some warning so I can dress appropriately.”
“Oh shit, that’s right.” His hoarse murmur makes my whole body tingle. “Why’d you have to remind me?”
“Because it’s fun?”
His searing look makes my brain short-circuit. “I should’ve taken you up against the front door before bringing you here.”
“Why didn’t you?”
“Because we were already running late and I wanted to take my time.” He kisses me quick and hard. “You have no idea how much I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you, too. When we get out of here, I’m going to show you how much.”
His smile lights up the room. “I’m counting on it.”
Epilogue
ZACH
It’s Friday night and Emma and I are celebrating our two-month anniversary with an early dinner at home followed by a forty-minute drive to Evanston to see the spring musical being put on by Harrison Academy, the school where Sarah teaches drama. While I’d rather spend the evening alone with Emma, being part of her family means showing up for stuff like this and unfortunately, this is the last weekend for the show. We are do
wn to tonight or tomorrow night—Sundays having become sacred “couple” time for us.
“Are you sure you wouldn’t rather go tomorrow?” Emma asks as I pour Prosecco into crystal flutes and she slides lasagna onto plates. There’s already salad and crusty French bread on the table.
“No way. I’m stoked for tonight.” Plus, I have a big evening planned for her tomorrow and nothing must interfere with that. Cue smug smile and fist pump.
Her expression is full of doubt, but she refrains from arguing as she sits down at the dining table. She looks beautiful tonight in snug jeans and a frilly white top that leaves her arms and shoulders bare. Lifting her glass, she extends it across the table toward me.
“To us.”
“To us,” I echo as we touch the crystal flutes together. “Besides, you know much I love musical theater.” I’m not altogether kidding. “And Sarah would never forgive you if you didn’t go.”
Emma nods. “I really feel like I need to be there to support her. Especially now with what’s been going on between her and Reed.”
“Not every guy can recognize the best thing that ever happened to him,” I say in a supremely self-satisfied voice.
She offers me a dry smile, but her eyes glow with happiness. “Well hopefully it doesn’t take him as long as it took you.”
“What are you talking about?” There’s something waiting for her in my pocket that proves just how fast I’ve fallen for this woman. Did I say waiting? Maybe burning a hole is a better description.
“I fell for you that first day of speech class.” Her grin challenges me to try and top that.
“You were just hot for me. That doesn’t really count. I’m talking true love here.”
“When did you know?” She thinks she knows the answer. “And you can’t tell me it was the day of Julie and Paul’s shower.”
“I’ve thought a lot about this question,” I tell her in all seriousness. “I knew for sure that day of the brewery’s anniversary party when you told me we were just hooking up.”
Her eyebrows shoot up. “Why that day?”
“I realized I saw a future with you. Marriage. Kids. The whole package.”
“And yet you went off with Riley.” There’s no judgment in her eyes as she says this. We’ve moved past hurt and misunderstanding about the decision I made that night.
“I was pretty new to the whole being in love thing. And you were very insistent that you didn’t feel as strongly about me.” Remembering that pain and the heartache that followed, I don’t ever want to go through anything like that again.
She reaches across the table for my hand. “Both of us made some pretty major mistakes that night.”
Our eyes lock. My heart slows. This is what I want for the rest of my life. To be h goal is to lay down catsolding hands with this amazing woman while she brings our babies into this world, while we watch them take their first steps, go off to college, get married. To support her as she opens Vintage Vignette. To help her through the difficult times and revel with her in all the good.
“I love you with everything I am,” I say to her, my voiceThe husky and raw with so many emotions. “I can’t imagine my life without you.”
She blinks and her smile is a little bit of heaven. “I feel the same way.”
The expression on her face brings sudden realization. My plan for popping the question is grand and romantic, but suddenly none of that matters. Pulling the ring box out of my pocket, I get up from my chair. I can’t wait another second to demonstrate how devoted I am to our future. Her eyes widen as I kneel beside her and open the box to show her the vintage diamond ring.
“Emma Callahan, I love you and I want to spend the rest of my life with you.” With each word I speak, her beautiful face becomes more radiant until her smile is like the sun. “Will you marry me?”
In true Emma fashion, she ignores the ring and throws her arms around my neck, kissing me with all the ardent passion in her slim form. It’s several minutes before we come up for air. Both of us are panting as I set my forehead against hers and smile.
“Is that a yes?” I ask as my heart thumps against my ribs.
“Yes. Yes. Yes.” At long last she gazes down at the ring box I’m holding and gasps. “That is the most perfect ring I’ve ever seen.”
I chose an Art Deco style platinum ring with a one and half carat European cut diamond surrounded by four Marquis shaped diamonds set to look like leaves.
“I figured you’d want something vintage. It’s from 1920.” The ring slips onto her finger with flawless ease and looks amazing resting there. “I found it at that estate store you love.”
“You know me far too well.” She wraps her arms around my neck and lets her enthusiastic kisses tell me just how much she loves what I picked out. “It’s wonderful. You’re wonderful. I love you so much.”
“And I love you. That’s why I have another little surprise for you.” This second one is a bit of a risk, but I sense that Emma will go for it. “We could spend months and months planning a huge wedding, and if that’s what you want to do I’m totally ready to do it.”
She pushes me to arms’ length and stares at me with bright eyes. “You have something else in mind?”
“How about a private wedding next weekend?” Am I rushing things? Maybe. But I can’t wait to make her my wife. “Just you and me on a beach in Puerto Rico.”
Her eyes widened as she takes in what I’ve said. “Can we do that?”
“I’ve looked into what we need and it’s doable.”
She cups my face in her hands and her eyes dance. “I don’t want a huge wedding. I never have. That was always Julie’s thing.” Her voice is rushed and excited. “And I’m sure my parents would be thrilled not to have to pay for a second wedding. All I want is to be your wife. And I love the idea of marrying you on the beach.”
“At sunset?”
“Perfect.” Her gaze goes a bit hazy and I can almost see the wheels spinning. “But there’s so much to do. Can we manage on such short notice?”
“Let me take care of everything.” In fact, I’ve been making arrangements for the last two weeks. She’s done so much to help her sister get ready for her wedding. I want to take all the worry about preparations off her shoulders. “All you need to do is to find a dress and show up.”
“I love this idea so much.” She stares at her ring. “Is it wrong of me to want to keep all of this, including our engagement, a secret from Julie until afterwards?”
I know she’s thinking about how her sister’s going to react. Julie likes being the center of attention and I wouldn’t put it past her to go after Emma for stealing her spotlight.
“One of these days,” I growl. “Julie will just have to accept that you have just as much right to be happy as she does.”
Emma’s smile is just the tiniest bit sad. “I know, but until that day comes I don’t want her raining on my parade.”
The last thing I want is for any sort of dark cloud to hang over our wedding. “If she does, I’ll be there with an umbrella.”
“That’s the most wonderful thing anyone has ever said to me.”
“You always have everyone else’s back.” I dust my knuckles over her cheek and pour every bit of love I feel for her into my next words. “You can always count on me to have yours.”
“I love you, Zach Thorne.” Emma’s arms slide around my neck and she kisses me long and deep. “Are you sure you want to go to the musical tonight?” Her fingers set to work unfastening my shirt buttons. “It’s playing twice more. We could go tomorrow.”
Nothing brings me as much joy as this woman. She’s my friend, my lover, my everything. “Whatever makes you happy is what we’ll do.”
And if that means letting our dinner go cold and missing a high school musical theater performance so we can celebrate our new engaged status by tearing each other’s clothes off, well then that makes me pretty damned happy, too.
THE END
If you enjoyed meeting Em
ma’s cousins, you’ll be delight to know that each of them is getting their own story. Sarah and Reed are up next. Check out this excerpt from MUCH ADO ABOUT BACHELORS
Much Ado About Bachelors
Drama teacher Sarah Callahan has been falling for Harrison Academy's hot, new chemistry teacher since the first day of school. Unfortunately, this sexy nerd has a policy against dating coworkers after his relationship with a teacher at his former school crashed and burned. So what do you do when you’re hot for teacher? Pretend to be drunk so he’ll take advantage of you of course.
Reed Barron has done a great job resisting the beautiful, quirky Sarah. Then comes the night she parties a little too hard and begs him to kiss her. How’s a guy supposed to hold out against…begging? Chemistry like theirs doesn’t happen every day, but Reed isn’t going to give their romance a chance. He’s learned that when things get too intense, it’s safer to retreat.
Armed with Shakespearean quotes and a Goldendoodle puppy, Sarah is determined to teach Reed how to open his heart. But when he’s offered the opportunity of a lifetime to teach abroad, it looks like she might lose him—and their shot at love—forever.
MUCH ADO ABOUT BACHELORS coming April 2017
1
_______
Reed
Sarah Callahan bursts into my classroom, races past the lab tables, and comes to a sliding stop in front of my desk. A whirling dervish with long brown hair and an abundance of charm, right now, her lean, curvy frame vibrates with energy. It’s not unusual for her to be this animated at seven in the morning. I swear, she must bounce out of bed, already primed for the day.
From her flushed cheeks, wild eyes, and dramatic speech, there’s no telling how serious the situation is. It could be anything from breaking news about the next Star Wars movie to one of her cousins doing something out of the ordinary.