by S. J. McCoy
Gabe appeared at the front door. He was so handsome. She felt so lucky that for some reason a guy who looked like he did should think that she was beautiful. Standing there on the front steps he looked like a model in a magazine—or a real estate brochure. He certainly looked like he belonged here. This was his style. As she got out of the car and went to meet him a thought struck her. Maybe by refusing to let go of her house she was clinging to the past? Perhaps what she should be doing was moving here? Accepting this place and this man as her future. She just didn’t know.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and planted a kiss on his lips.
He held her to him and smiled down at her. “Hello yourself. I missed you.”
“I missed you, too, Gabe. And I’m so sorry. It just all got to be too much, and hearing about you buying this place, well, it was the last straw.” She reached up and pecked his lips. “My visit with Eric couldn’t have come at a better time though. He really opened my eyes to just how stubborn I can be. I don’t want to do that with you. I want to be with you. No matter what it takes.” She looked around, wondering if this place could ever feel like home. “If you want us to live here, then I will.”
“Don’t worry, this isn’t a set up. I’m not trying to get you used to the place.”
“Are you sure?”
He nodded. “I’d love to do that, but I know better. I just wanted to cook us a nice meal in a real kitchen for once. It’s been quite a couple of days, for both of us. I want to hear about Eric.” He smiled. “And I do want to talk to you about our housing situation.”
She swallowed. She’d known as much, and it was only fair.
“Don’t look so scared. We’re going to find a solution that works for both of us.”
“Do you think we can though?”
He shrugged and led her inside. He poured two glasses of wine and handed her one before raising his own as he said, “Here’s hoping.”
She raised hers back to him and smiled. “Maybe with a bit more time I’ll feel okay leaving my place. I know it’s not fair on you the way things are.” She looked around her. “This place is gorgeous, even I can see that.”
“What do you like about it?”
She laughed. “What’s not to like? It’s huge. I like the floorplan. This kitchen is amazing. I love everything about the place.”
“Can I ask you a question then?”
“What?”
“You love this place, but you don’t want to give up your place to move here. I understand it’s the memories that you don’t want to lose. Are the memories tied up in the house itself, or in the place?”
She raised an eyebrow not understanding the difference.
“The place where the house is, the land, the orchard.” He shrugged. “What I’m getting at is, what if we were to build a place like this out there? Would that work?”
She took a sip of her wine while she thought about it. “Maybe. I’d be sad to see the house torn down, but…” she nodded. “That might be our best compromise.” She had a huge ball of dread in her stomach. He was doing so much to work with her and she was about to raise another obstacle, but it was too important to her not to.
“But?” asked Gabe.
“But I don’t know how comfortable I would be with you doing that. It would have to be you paying for it all. I don’t have any money, let alone the kind of money it would take to build a house like this.”
Gabe pursed his lips. “That’s something I want to talk to you about.”
“What?”
“Do you want to sell me half the land?”
That didn’t make any sense. “Why would you do that?”
“So that we’re equal partners. Equal in owning the place, and I’m guessing it might make you feel more equal in everything else, too. I know it’s not easy for you that our financial situations are so different. If you have the proceeds from selling twenty acres of land, you’re going to feel a lot more independent.”
It was true, but he’d only be doing it to make her feel better. She frowned as she thought about it. “You’d just be doing it for me though. There’s no benefit to you in doing that.”
He shook his head. “Not true. If you look at it from a cold hard business point of view, why would I build a house on land I don’t own? What would happen if you get sick of me and wanted to get rid of me. That would lead to a very messy legal situation.” He smiled. “It’s not just for you, I’m covering my ass.”
“Are you really?” She didn’t believe that was his motivation at all, but it was a good point. And she wouldn’t deny that the thought of having some money of her own made her feel a lot more comfortable about moving into the future with him.
He took her hand. “Not really, no. But it makes a lot of sense. What do you say, will you at least think about it?” He smiled. “And you know, if you had the money from the land sale you could maybe, lease the bakery, or something?”
She stared at him. “Ben told you about that?”
He nodded. “It’d be perfect for you.”
“It would.” Her mind raced with possibilities. It all seemed to be coming together. Part of her wanted to refuse his offer to buy the land, to build the house, but another part of her just wanted to accept—graciously for once in her life.
“It looks like things are finally coming together for you, if you’ll let them?”
She nodded. “They are. You’re the most important though. I couldn’t do any of it without you.”
He laughed. “You were determined to do all of it without me.”
“I know. I’m sorry. But I’m getting there now. I’m learning, I’m letting you in. We’re compromising and building together.”
“I want to build so much more than a house with you, Renée.” His eyes were that intense green as he looked down at her. “I want to build a life, a family, a future. Not just a house.”
She felt tears prick her eyes. “That’s what I want more than anything, Gabe.”
“You told me that love, and family and happiness are the most important things in life.”
She nodded. “And they are. I’ve been searching all the time for this ever elusive meaning and purpose. I get it now, what greater meaning and purpose could there be, than love and family and happiness?”
He smiled, “So what do you say? Will you marry me?”
Her heart felt as though it might explode in her chest, but she couldn’t make any words come out.
~ ~ ~
Gabe held his breath. She wasn’t answering him. She did have the biggest smile he’d ever seen on her face, but he needed to hear her answer.
Eventually she sputtered, “It’s going to take a long while. My divorce isn’t going to come through any time soon.”
What did that mean? Was she putting him off? He had to ask. “Are you saying you don’t want to?”
She threw her arms around his neck “I’m saying I do want to. More than anything in the world. I love you, Gabe. I want nothing more than to marry you. I just hope you’ll still want me by the time I can.”
“I will. I promise you I will. I want you for the rest of my life, Renée.” He was pretty sure his smile matched hers—and he was damned sure that he meant it;
A note from SJ
I hope you enjoyed Gabe and Renée’s story, and getting to know Summer Lake and its residents. If you’d like to leave me a review, I would very much appreciate it. And please consider letting your friends know about the book if you feel they might like it. If you’re interested in following the gang as they each find love, there are more books to look for:-
Emma and Jack in Love Like You’ve Never Been Hurt
Holly and Pete in Work Like You Don't Need the Money
Missy and Dan in Dance Like Nobody's Watching
Smoke and Laura in Fly Like You've Never Been Grounded
Michael and Megan in Laugh Like You’ve Never Cried
Kenzie and Chase in Sing Like Nobody’s Listening
Gabe and Renée in Smile Like You M
ean It
If you’d like to take a visit to Montana and meet a whole new group of friends, take a look at my Remington Ranch series. It focuses on four brothers and their friends – one of whom you may recognize – Missy’s big brother, Chance, is like a fifth brother to these guys ;0)
Mason is the first in the series. A second chance romance with the girl he loved and lost.
Shane will be out next. He’s the lovable rogue, who finally meets his match in Cassidy.
Carter and Beau will each be out next year.
So many books to write – so little time!
If you want updates you can sign up for the Newsletter. Don't worry I won't bombard you! I'll just let you know about upcoming releases, share a sneak peek or two and keep you in the loop for a couple of fun giveaways I have coming up :0)
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And I’m in the process of building a shiny new website at www.SJMcCoy.com
I love to hear from readers, so feel free to email, if you’d like. I’m better at that! :0) [email protected]
I hope our paths will cross again soon. Until then, take care, and thanks for your support—you are the reason I write!
Love
SJ
Semicolon
You may have noticed that the final sentence of the story closed with a semicolon. It isn’t a typo. Project Semicolon is a non-profit movement dedicated to presenting hope and love to those who are struggling with depression, suicide, addiction, and self-injury. Project Semicolon exists to encourage, love and inspire. It’s a movement I support with all my heart.
"A semicolon represents a sentence the author could have ended, but chose not to. The sentence is your life and the author is you." - Project Semicolon
This author started writing after her son was killed in a car crash. At the time I wanted my own story to be over, instead I chose to honour a promise to my son to write my ‘silly stories’ someday. I chose to escape into my fictional world. I know for many who struggle with depression, suicide can appear to be the only escape. The semicolon has become a symbol of support, and hopefully a reminder – Your story isn’t over yet
;
Contents
Dedication
Acknowledgments
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
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
A note from SJ
SemiColon
Table of Contents
Dedication
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
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
A note from SJ