He didn’t need more land. There wasn’t a point to working himself to death if there wasn’t anyone at home to remind him why he lived. Without Cat, there was nothing.
Keep your head down, Sam. Keep your head down, and don’t think about how perfect you almost had it.
Chapter 15
“To enter the quiz scores, you go here and then select the student. They’re listed in alphabetical order.”
Cat nodded numbly. A week had gone by since she’d watched Sam’s truck slip and slide its way down the road, carrying Sam right out of her life. She’d packed up her clothes, boarded a plane, and hugged her parents at the airport.
Her mom hovered, sensing something was amiss in Cat’s heart but not pressuring her to share. She was so different from Grandpa that way. He would have planted his behind on her bed and folded his arms, waiting for her to spill her guts.
However, the privacy was welcome as Cat sorted through her emotions. Each day was lonelier than the last and void of the romance she’d come to love.
She’d published the book about the orchardist, having finally looked up the title for one who owns an orchard. The manuscript was well received by her readers, and she was almost done with the one she’d started to keep her mind off Sam. The plan wasn’t working at all. Once again, he was on every page. Whether it was his tan work hat or his creased leather boots, Sam was in her every thought.
And she didn’t feel any better. If anything, the hole in her heart had widened with time.
Training for her new position as an adjunct faculty member didn’t take her mind off Sam either. Eating dinner with her parents didn’t fill the gap where his laughter once resided. Lying in her old bedroom didn’t bring the comfort his arms could produce. Everywhere she looked was emptiness.
“Cat?” asked Tom, the department secretary tasked with Cat’s orientation.
“Alphabetized names,” she repeated to let him know she’d heard. It didn’t matter if she listened. She could always ask her dad for help if she needed it, and as Tom took her to another screen, her mind was taken back to Sam’s garage and a lantern-filled night of chocolate and dancing.
She thought she’d missed the glitz of city life, but Boston was no longer her home. Her home was in Sam’s arms.
Silently, she prayed for confirmation. Where was she supposed to be? Here, pretending to be a professor, or in a log cabin tucked away in Snow Valley? The longer she thought about Sam, his home, his orchard, his kiss, the stronger the burning sensation in her chest. Unable to withstand the prompting to act, she got to her feet. “Excuse me.”
Tom stopped mid-sentence and lifted one gray eyebrow. “Yes?”
“I have to go.”
“Go? But we’re only halfway through the orientation packet.”
“I’m sorry. But I have a plane to catch.”
“A plane?”
Cat left a sputtering Tom in her wake as she ran through the halls, determined to right the wrong she’d done.
“Dad!” She burst into his office.
Her dad started as if she’d shot a gun into the air. Cat smiled. Montana, with its wide open sky and life lived by the land was in her blood. She pushed forward, feeling strong in the knowledge that she loved Sam and that the Lord was cheering her on. “Dad, thank you so much for this opportunity, but I can’t stay here.”
“Catrina.” Dad’s tone was full of censure and confusion.
“I haven’t been entirely up front with you and Mom.” She squared her shoulders. There was more to this moment than confessing her feelings for Sam—it was time to claim the woman she’d become. The person she’d made herself into. The person she was proud to be. “When I moved to Snow Valley, I switched from writing historical novels to historical romance novels—and I love it. I love what I do. I don’t want to teach here. I don’t want to teach anywhere. I want to be an author.” She took a deep breath and plunged forward. “And I met a man—a man who is every bit the gentleman. He’s sweet and innocent and says the best things, and I don’t want to be without him. I’m going back to Snow Valley and back to Sam.”
Dad took his glasses off and wiped them with the bottom of his polo shirt. “Catrina, I’m not even sure what we’re talking about.”
“I know, Dad. I know. It’s a mess—a beautiful mess.” Cat cried and laughed at the same time, thinking of Sam calling her that very thing: a beautiful mess. He’d seen it all along.
“Did you say romance novels?” Dad’s forehead creased.
Cat laughed. “Christian romance.” Why do I always have to explain that part?
“Ah.” He looked relieved and confused. “Cat, this is the first time since you’ve been home that you’ve looked happy. Above all else, that’s what I want for you. That’s what I’ve always wanted for you.”
She hugged him fiercely. “What about the faculty position?”
“Maybe I’ll pick up a couple night classes—sounds like we’ll be flying back to Snow Valley for another wedding.”
“Maybe you should retire there.”
“I’ll have to think about that one—your mom loves her shopping.”
“And Tony’s gelato.”
“Ah, gelato.”
Cat laughed. “Thank you, Dad.”
“I love you, kiddo.” He hadn’t called her that in years. “Now, go get your cowboy.”
“How’d you know Sam’s a cowboy?”
“My girls seem to have a thing for them.” Dad settled in behind his desk. He’d taken everything in stride, although Cat wasn’t sure he had processed the whole romance writer thing yet. That might be a conversation for another day. Until then, she’d focus on getting herself back to Snow Valley and doing what she should have done in the first place—romance the gray velvet hat right off of Sam.
Chapter 16
Sam took to walking around Snow Valley instead of driving. The cold air reminded him that he could feel something since his heart had gone numb. He figured that’s what happened when the hopes and dreams leaked out like a balloon with a hole in the side. Stuffing his felt hat low on his head, he trudged up Main Street, avoiding Big C’s because it reminded him of peaches and Cat and amazing kisses. He headed towards Dove’s instead.
Not paying attention, he nearly ran into someone coming out of the bank. “Excuse me, ma’am,” he muttered.
“I don’t believe I will,” replied Cat, her hands at her hips. With a grin, she threw herself against him. His arms reacted, holding her as close as their coats would allow.
It can’t be.
But Cat wasn’t in Snow Valley. She was across the country, and his mind was playing cruel tricks on him.
“Sam!” Cat bounced on her toes.
Sam didn’t return the sentiment. He’d had several startlingly real dreams of holding Cat again, but this one took the prize for most real. He could even smell peaches.
Cat pulled back and met his gaze. “Sam?”
Shaking his head, Sam moved to go around her, hoping the dream would end with him resting in his cabin. Although that wasn’t how these dreams usually went. He usually woke up in a cold sweat from watching Cat run away while his boots had been nailed to the floor and he couldn’t follow. He tucked his chin to his chest and focused on the snowy sidewalk.
“Sam.” Cat grabbed his arm to slow him down.
Her tug felt real, and Sam was starting to think he wasn’t dreaming. Stomping his feet brought about a sense of tiny needles. He was awake. And Cat was here! He rounded on her, angry and hurt that she’d left and confused that she was standing in front of him and so darn happy to see her clutching a folder and grinning like everything was right in the world when everything was not right. “What?”
Cat blinked at the harsh tone in his voice, but she pressed on. “I have a favor to ask.”
He dropped his chin to his chest. He must love her. Love her like the fool he was. Even after the heartache she’d caused, Sam couldn’t turn her away. “Yes?”
“I just bought fort
y acres that would be perfect for a peach orchard, but I don’t know the first thing about being an orchardist. Will you teach me?”
Sam stared hard at her. “You bought land … in Snow Valley?”
Cat nodded.
“Forty acres?”
She nodded again.
She couldn’t have … “Is this land, by chance, near my cabin?”
Cat grinned. “Yep.”
Sam narrowed his eyes. “Why?”
She stepped closer. “Because this is my home.”
“Snow Valley?” he asked.
“No.” She put her arms around his neck.
Sam found his hands sliding around her back. He couldn’t help himself. Holding Cat was what he was meant to do in this life.
“This is my home. And I’m here to stay.”
Sam’s heart told him to tread carefully. “Promise?”
“On one condition.” Cat’s eyes sparkled.
“What’s that?”
“We never, ever have chickens,” she said with a serious face.
Laughing, Sam picked her up, the loan papers crinkling between them. This was how it should be. He and Cat would go in as partners in every way. “Deal.” They locked gazes, and Sam saw all his hopes and dreams reflected in her eyes. “I love you, Cat O’Shae.”
“I love you, Sam Miller.”
Sam’s instincts frizzed, bleeped, and hummed, and he said something that was totally stupid. “Will you marry me, Cat?”
Cat threw her gloves into the snow and put her bare hands on both sides of his face. “Took you long enough to ask.”
“Ha!” Sam sealed the promise with a kiss, much to the delight of Snow Valley Main Street traffic. Car horns honked. People rolled down their windows and cheered. And Sam swung Cat around and dipped her low. Oh, he knew life wouldn’t be all peaches and honey, but with Cat, it would always be sweet.
About Lucy McConnell
Lucy McConnell loves romance. She is the author of the Billionaire Marriage Broker Anthology and contributes to the Snow Valley Anthology and the Echo Ridge Anthology.
Her short fiction has been published in Women’s World Magazine, and she has written for Parents’ Magazine and The Deseret News. Besides fiction, Lucy also writes cookbooks. You can find her award-winning recipes under the name Christina Dymock.
When she’s not writing, you can find Lucy volunteering at the elementary school or church, shuttling kids to basketball or rodeos, skiing with her family, wakeboarding, running, cycling, baking, or curled up with a good book.
You can get a free gift from Lucy by clicking here, or check out her blog.
lucymcconnell.wordpress.com
Also By Lucy McConnell
Thank you for reading Wedding Fever. If you enjoyed this book, you may also enjoy other wonderful romances by Lucy McConnell listed below.
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Marrying Miss Kringle:
Ginger
The Billionaire Marriage Broker Series
The Academic Bride
The Organized Bride
The Professional Bride
The Country Bride
The Protective Groom
The Resilient Bride
The Snow Valley Series
Blue Christmas
Love in Light and Shadow
Romancing a Husband
The Destination Billionaire Romance Series
The Reclusive Billionaire
UnBreak My Heart
Kimberly Montpetit
Chapter 1
Caitlin Webster slammed the door to her fiancé Stefan Rivas’ apartment. Sagging against the wall, she tried not to let the hot tears spill over.
The image of Stefan with his old girlfriend, Sophia, together in his bedroom, had scorched her eyes forever.
“It’s a real happy New Year,” she choked out, glancing down at her fancy red dress and heels. Only two hours earlier she’d hailed a cab to the Fairmont to watch Stefan’s performance with Painted City for the hotel’s holiday party. She couldn’t wait to ring in the New Year by kissing Stefan at midnight and celebrating his new recording contract.
This was the year she and Stefan were going to get married and start their life together. They’d had so much to celebrate and now, just like that, it was all over.
How could one single fight over postponing their wedding while the band went on tour for nine months have led to this? It was like Sophia had just been waiting in the wings—and Stefan’s will power had crumbled at the first sign of difficulty. Stefan had burned his love for Caitlin into a pile of smoking ashes.
After slamming the bedroom door against the sight of Stefan and Sophia locked in each other’s arms, Caitlin had raced to the front door on wobbly legs. In a burst of vengeance, she grabbed Stefan’s cell phone sitting on his kitchen table.
Blinking past the blurry tears, she now scrolled through his messages. The pain in her chest grew when she saw the long list of unreturned texts from her, a few from his fellow musicians, his agent, and the producer from the record label.
Her best friend, Lila, had warned her about getting involved with a tall, dark and Latin musician. From the moment Caitlin caught Stefan’s eye across that dusky restaurant two years ago, Lila predicted the man would break Caitlin’s heart—and he had. Despite their May wedding date.
Caitlin suddenly threw Stefan’s cell phone against the wall. There were five messages from Sophia. Stefan had heard from her and denied it. He’d known the woman was coming to the New Year’s Eve show, and he hadn’t stopped her.
How convenient that her old rival had chosen this week to reappear in Stefan’s life—the same day Painted City signed their record label contract.
Ever since the talent scouts had contacted the band’s agent, Caitlin had tried to convince herself that Stefan would remain true even when he was on tour and far across the country being bombarded by band groupies. But his infidelity had already happened—and he didn’t even have to leave the state.
Caitlin wanted to punch a wall. She wanted to scream from the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. Go eat sushi until she threw up. Weep until she died.
Maybe Caitlin did not know how to pick a man. She always chose the bad guy. The risky guy. The one who always ended up hurting her.
She hated when Lila was right.
* * *
A week later, Caitlin was still a mess. She’d called in sick to work twice because she couldn’t stop crying. She’d gained five pounds, eaten everything in the house, and now she couldn’t zip up her jeans.
She picked up her cell to dial for Chinese takeout when Susan, her boss, called. Well, not exactly her boss, but a friend from HR at the midwife program. Susan never minced words, but they always sounded nicer when spoken in an English accent. The English were always so polite.
“Caitlin, get a grip,” Susan said now. “Put your big girl scrubs on and get back to work. Men are never worth ruining your own life over. You have the late shift. I expect to see you here. On time. I’ll tell you about the time my boyfriend ditched me for a model in Slovenia.”
Caitlin raised her eyebrows. “What happened?”
“Turned out she was only interested in an American visa to bring over twenty relatives. A week after she got here, she dumped him cold.”
“Ouch,” Caitlin said, letting out an unexpected snort of laughter—which made her stomach hurt. “Stop making me laugh,” she finally said.
“Better than crying, honey. Or a guy with a crazy mobster for an uncle who puts out a hit on you.”
Susan could always bring a smile despite the worst day.
When she punched off her phone, Caitlin mulled over the idea of walking down to the corner drugstore for a giant Snickers bar and a Big Gulp to tide her over until dinner whe
n the phone rang again.
It was Lila.
“Are you eating a Snickers bar?” Lila accused without saying hello.
Caitlin glared at the phone. “No.”
“Liar.”
“I do not have an unwrapped Snickers bar in my mouth. At least not yet.”
“Gotcha! I knew it!” Lila crowed in triumph.
“Hey, I might have used my willpower,” Caitlin protested.
“Get some nice—well, nicer—clothes on. I’m picking you up in fifteen minutes. We’re going to Fisherman’s Wharf for some real food. Like seafood and a platter of French bread. I’m craving it badly.”
“And you accuse me of binge eating comfort food?”
“Lobster and San Francisco sourdough isn’t junk food, honey. I need to teach you how to mourn a man.”
Caitlin didn’t want to get dressed. Or put on lipstick. Or comb her hair. She wanted to watch Pride and Prejudice for the tenth time. The one with Colin Firth, although she’d take Matthew Macfadyen for second place any day.
She threw a pillow across the room and punched off the TV, stomping into the shower.
Tears leaked out under the water, but Caitlin was tired of feeling fat and rejected—even though she was fat and rejected.
Two nights ago, Caitlin had pathetically gone to Painted City’s performance at the Down South Restaurant, standing at the back of the crowd to listen. Stefan’s performance was outstanding. The guy was truly going places. And he was going there without Caitlin.
Hiding behind a group celebrating a birthday with an indecent amount of beer, Caitlin almost walked up to the stage to see if Stefan wanted to go somewhere and talk. She missed him badly. She knew it was a wretched move, but they had a long history together and maybe she just needed to fight for him. Shove that Sophia chick out of his mind.
Winter in Snow Valley (Snow Valley Romance) Page 10