Love, Laughter, and Happily Ever Afters Collection (Eight Fun, Romantic Novels by Eight Bestselling Authors)
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âOf course. Iâll have to make trips to Chicago periodically, but yes. And this house is great. You can do your candy here. Maybe go online with it. Iâll farm andââ
She sat up straight. âYouâre going to farm?â
âYes.â He felt it in his bones. That was what he wantedâto grow things that had nothing to do with the lab or Ag Innovations. He wanted to grow things that didnât require him to tinker and test and trial. He wanted to plant good old seeds and watch them come up. He wanted to have crops he didnât have to meet with anyone about, plans he didnât have to have conference calls for. âFarming here, being with you, this house, this land, is what will make me happy. This is what I want.â He squeezed her and smiled. âI can hang out downtown at the diner with the other guys at lunch and we can play ball and go to barbecues.â
âYou donât play ball,â she pointed out.
âMaybe I can learn.â
She shook her head. âI donât think so.â
He pinched her butt. âThanks for the vote of confidence.â
She looked up at him with a mixture of surprise, happiness and worry. âThis is what you want, huh?â
âThis. You. Adrianneââ
âDoes the shower in this joint work?â She let go of him and slid to the floor.
âIt should. But are youââ
âLetâs go.â She grabbed his hand and headed toward the front of the house. âWhy donât you grab that jar of caramel sauce too while youâre at it.â
OVER AN HOUR LATER, they were back in the kitchen. Mason was stirring the butter and sugar on the stove for the second try at the toffee while she finished the truffles.
âWhyâd you leave Chicago?â
She paused in the midst of swirling white chocolate on the top of the dark chocolate Kahlua truffles.
âI got tired of it,â she said, semi-honestly.
âNot tired of the candy.â
She smiled. No, never the candy. âSelling the candy, the pace, the pressure, competing with my brothers.â
She took a deep breath and looked up. How much should she tell him? How much mattered? Not many people in Sapphire Fallsâreally just Phoebe and Mattâknew all the details. Hailey knew sheâd gotten sick and chosen Sapphire Falls to be healthier and slow down, but Hailey didnât know about the heart attack.
But if this was the man she wanted to be with foreverâand she was more sure of that all the timeâthen she needed to let him close.
She finished the swirls and laid the decorating pen to the side.
âI pushed hard,â she said, wiping her hands on a towel and facing him. âI was top seller but it wasnât easy staying there. I preferred making the candy, inventing new recipes, playing in the kitchen. I loved being in the stores tooâseeing customers trying our stuff. We have a huge factory, of course, but attached to it we still run the original Scott Candy Shop that my great grandmother started. Itâs this great, old-fashioned candy shop with wood floors, high ceilings, huge windows and glass display cases.â
âScott Candies?â Mason asked. âAs in Adrianne Scott?â
Everyone knew Scott Candies. They hadnât over taken Hershey or Mars, but they did enough business that the top companies watched out for them.
She nodded. âMy familyâs business. My great-great grandfather started it. Itâs a huge thing, to be a part of it.â
âBut you left it?â
âYes. I have three brothers who all intended to take it over, make it bigger, push it forward.â
âAnd you couldnât keep up?â
She hated that was his assumption, though she could admit that it was probably an obvious conclusion to jump to. âI was the best of the bunch. Biggest sales, the most contacts, the board loved me.â
âBut?â
âBut it can be harder to stay on top than it is to get there. They were all watching me, waiting for me to screw up, trying to get to things before I could, constantly pushing and criticizing.â She rubbed her hand over her heart. âIt sucked.â
âTheyâre your brothers,â Mason said with a scowl.
âYes. But they believed they were doing what was good for the company, and therefore for all of us. Pushing each other resulted in new products, new accounts, new ideas. And they figured that if I could do a great jobâwonderful, but if one of them could do betterâwonderful. They still compete with each other.â
Thinking back made her chest, her stomach and her temples tighten. She missed some of it. She missed the product development. She loved having ideas about new things they could try, brainstorming with the candy makers, doing the taste testing and focus groups and the thrill of finding something new that people liked.
But her father had insisted she and her brothers be more involved in sales. No one knew or cared about the business like they did, he contended. Who better to be out there selling Scott candies than the Scott family themselves? Anyone could mix ingredients, not everyone could sell. Or so he maintained.
She didnât miss the frustrations in dealing with him. She didnât miss the headaches and stomachaches her brothers gave her. She didnât miss the jet lag, the need for sleeping pills at night and massive doses of caffeine in the morning, the kissing the asses of people she didnât even like. She definitely didnât miss the nicotine withdrawal from her attempts to quit four times a year or the sense of guilt and failure when it didnât work.
âThis is pretty different from what you did with Scott Candies,â Mason said.
âIt is. Itâs good. I was in the fast track in Chicago, but I wasnât happy or healthy. This is better all the way around.â
âCan you open up your own shop? Donât they have rights to the candy recipes?â
âOf course they do.â What did he think? Her family was a bunch of idiots? âMy grandmother helped with product development and had some ideas that were never approved. She passed those recipes to me when she died. Iâm going to use those to start and then develop my own.â
She leaned back on the counter behind her. âI learned the ins and outs of the business and the kitchen before I was even twelve. Selling the candy was always the fun partâhelping people find what they want, seeing them try itâI mean itâs candy. Whatâs better than that?â
Mason was still stirring but his attention was fully on her. âYouâre better at the candy making than the selling?â
Adrianne picked up a pink decorating pen and started on the cherry chocolate truffles. They had a hint of cherry in the chocolate and a rich cherry center. âNah, Iâm a natural seller. I worked hard, long hours and stuff, but it wasnât difficult. I was great at it. I took off right away and everyone, myself included, assumed thatâs where I should be. I missed the creatingâwhich Iâm also good atâbut I could sell ice to an Eskimo as they say.â
She looked up to find Mason smiling at her. âWhat? Keep stirring.â
He did but said, âIâm trying to imagine you in a conference room in a suit. The jeans and ponytail are so you.â
She shrugged. Sheâd successfully shed all of that and felt very comfortable in her new persona. âI look damned good in a skirt and heels.â
âHey, at the end of the day Iâll gladly strip you out of whatever you choose to wear,â he said with a sexy grin.
She grinned back. âWell, no more suits. I love blue jeans. I donât want high-pressure meetings, high stakes, long hours, travelingâIâm over all of it. I love small town, quiet and simple.â
âWhat about short trips and a skirt once in a while?â
She looked up from the pink squiggles. Heâd stopped stirring aga
in.
âMason.â She pointed to the pot. When he started moving the spoon again, she said, âYou mean like vacations?â Sure, if they could drive to their destination. She didnât fly anymore. Not since her heart had stopped beating on a plane two years ago. âBecause Iâll do sundresses, no problem.â
âThat or trips to Chicago or DC with me.â
Chicago was drivable. DCânot as much. She raised her eyebrows. âYou want me to go?â
âI donât want to go without you.â
She felt her heart flip. âThatâsâ¦nice.â To be with Mason sheâd figure something out. She could drive to DC if she had a few days head start. âYeah, Iâd go for a few days. Iâd even wear a dress.â
âWhen I go its more than a few days.â
âHow long?â She wasnât sure she wanted to hear.
âTwo weeks minimum.â
âYouâll have to be gone for two weeks or more at a time?â
He frowned slightly. âYes. Projects will need overseeing. Iâll need to meet with the key players. If there are problems Iâll have to stay until those are resolved.â
Just then the smell of burnt butter hit her. Again.
Dammit.
She crossed to the stove and moved the pot to the back burner. So it was only going to be truffles for the reception. They were out of butter so no toffee and the jar of caramel sauce was now only half full.
âMason, Iââ She swallowed hard and turned to face him. âI canât. I told you that I left Chicago because I wasnât healthy. I wasnât kiddingâor being dramatic. I had a heart attack.â
She leaned against the counter, gripping the edge and awaiting his response.
He stared at her.
âMason. Did you hear me?â
He took a deep breath, the lines between his eyebrows creasing deeply. âI heard you.â
Okay. She waited.
Finally, the look on his face eased from confused to concerned. âAre you okay?â
She was. She knew that. Everyone kept telling her she was. And Mason needed her to be. âYes. Iâm fine. Fully recovered. Have been for a while. But itâs part of the reason I love and need Sapphire Falls. Itâs quiet here. Peaceful. Slow paced. All the things I want now. I canât leave for long periods of time.â She swallowed hard. âI donât want to.â
He reached out and she took his hand. He hauled her in and enfolded her in his arms. âGod, Adrianne,â he muttered in her hair, stroking his hand from her crown to the back of her neck. âGod.â
She wrapped her arms around him and squeezed him tight. âIâm okay, Mason.â
He leaned back too, her face in his hands, and kissed her.
It was the sweetest, most heartfelt, most amazing kiss of her life.
When he lifted his head, he stared into her eyes. âThank you for telling me.â
She nodded. âIââ
Her phone rang âItâs Raining Men.â That was okay. Sheâd had no idea what she was about to say to Mason. He let her go as she reached for it. âHi, Phoebe.â
âHey, Haileyâs bringing the other investors to the farm. Should be there in about fifteen.â
âThanks.â She sighed and disconnected. âWeâll have to move this party to my house,â she told Mason.
She started to tell him why but paused. Heâd said no to Hailey that morning. But she was still bringing investors out? Did she not realize he was saying no to the donation and to selling the farm? Did Mason not realize she didnât know that?
Adrianne really didnât want to get into this now.
She didnât need herâwas he her boyfriend?âwell, whatever Mason was, she didnât want him upset. She didnât need her bossâwho was sort of a friendâupset.
She needed her candy made.
And more butter.
Simple things. Things she could do something about.
âWe need to go to the grocery store,â she finally said.
He looked around. âOkay. You can leave this stuff here if you want.â
Leaving the finished candy would be easierâand faster since Hailey was on her way.
âGreat. Letâs go.â The investors wouldnât come in the house. As far as they were all concerned the house would be demolished.
Adrianne felt a twinge in her heart at that thought. She liked this house. Mason loved it.
Dammit.
She was sure to take different roads than Hailey likely would on the way back to town.
But as she did it, she realized this had gotten complicated. She didnât like complicated.
Worse, it had the potential to be her absolute least favorite thingâdramatic.
Back roads and lies werenât going to save her forever.
âHEâS STAYING?â Phoebe asked. âWow.â
âYeah. And on the farm. In the house Hailey wants to knock down.â
They were back at Adrianneâs contemplating finishing the rest of the candy she needed to make. Sheâd encouraged Mason to call Drew and see what the guys were up to, knowing that she had to get the candy done and certain that with him around it wasnât going to happen. Sheâd burned far too much butter as it was.
But mostly she needed to talk to her best girlfriend.
Adrianne was eternally grateful that her best friend was a teacher and didnât pick up part-time work in the summer. She needed Phoebe to be able to drop everything and come listen to Adrianneâs problems at a drop of a hat. Apparently.
âWow.â
âBecause of me. At least partially. Mostly, I guess.â
âWow.â
âStop saying that!â Adrianne snapped. âThatâs not helpful.
âI donât know what else to say,â Phoebe said.
Adrianne blew out a breath. âYeah. Me too.â
âYou want him to stay?â
âYes.â She knew that for certain. âButâ¦â
âBut what? Youâre in love, heâs in love, he wants to live here, you want to live here. Sounds perfect.â
Adrianne nodded. It did. She should be ecstatic.
When he was with her, all she could think about was how much she wanted him, how head-over-heels she was. But when she had some space, she realized how crazy it all was.
âWhat about the shop, the project, the town, Hailey?â
âOh, screw Hailey,â Phoebe retorted.
âEasy for you to say.â Hailey was her boss. And her sort of friend. At a minimum, sheâd trusted Adrianne to have the townâs best interests at heart.
âPractice it a few times, it gets easier,â Phoebe replied. âYou cannot live your life around what Hailey Conner wants and thinks.â
âNo, but I hadâhaveâa responsibility. Iâm on the committeeââ
âScrew the committee too,â Phoebe said, waving her hand. âWho cares about the committee?â
âThe rest of the committee,â Adrianne said dryly.
âIâm serious,â Phoebe said, pinning her with a stare. âI promise you that there will be another committee. This is Sapphire Falls. We canât even put up a flag on the fourth of July without a committee meeting about it.â
Adrianne gave her a little smile. âWhat about the shop?â
âAd, itâs just a shop. Itâs just candy.â
âHey.â
âYou know what I mean,â Phoebe said, unconcerned by her offense.
âNot really. Itâs my shop. How Iâm going to make a living. What I want to do with my life.â
Phoebe raised an eyebro
w. âReally?â
âHey.â Her candy was great. It made her happy. It was a fine dream.
Phoebe sat forward on Adrianneâs sofa. âOkay, owning your own business and making candy is fine. Nothing wrong with that. But itâs soâ¦â She obviously hesitated.
âWhat? Itâs so what?â
âItâs so safe,â Phoebe finally said. âItâs fine. It really is. But itâs more likeâ¦a hobby for you. I get the impression you do it because itâs what you know. Itâsâ¦â
She trailed off and Adrianne sat forward with a suspicious frown. âYes?â
âItâs easy,â Phoebe said with a shrug.
It was easy. That was the point. Life was too short to go to a job every day that made her crazy. âMy family got quite wealthy from candy andââ
âYeah, but you donât intend to make it a multimillion-dollar business. Youâre using it to fill in the gaps.â
Adrianne had trouble swallowing as she stared at her best friend. âThe gaps?â she asked softly.
âThe gaps where you feel like you should be doing something but youâre too scared of most things that occur to you.â
âPhoebe, Iââ
âAdrianne, businesses, money, bosses, that all comes and goes. Love doesnât. You can live without Hailey, candy and money. Can you live without Mason?â
There was that swallowing problem again. After sheâd cleared her throat, she asked, âYouâve turned into quite a Mason Riley fan.â
âOh, Iâve always been one. Now thatâs heâs making my BFF so happy, Iâm the president of his fan club though. He deserves you, Ad. I love it. The justice is perfect really.â She sat back against the cushions and chuckled. âYou know that saying about the best way to get back at your enemies is to live a good, happy life? Masonâs doing that and then some.â
Adrianne frowned. âHe had enemies?â
âWell, no,â Phoebe consented. âBut he should be flaunting his success to some people for sure. And now heâs not just able to live a good, happy life, but heâs doing it right in front of Hailey. Without Hailey. Heâs in love, but not with her. Heâs going to live and be totally happy right smack dab on top of where Hailey wants to put something that would make her totally happy.â