by Hall, Karen
“I think I’d rather call it Vicki’s.” Jake turned her
about. “Vicki, I’ve been a complete ass. I should have asked you to marry me four years ago, but my parents--”
“Hush.” Victoria laid a finger on his lips. “I understand. And you’ve had your sister to worry about.”
“But if he’ll allow it, I’m going to ask Cyrus to let me stay in Tyler and work in the new store. I’ll take any job he offers, even if it’s sweeping floors. Just say you’ll give me another chance.”
The hope shining in his eyes outdid the stars above them and she wrapped her arms around him. “Are you asking me to marry you?”
He laughed and pulling her closer, leaned down to brush his lips against hers. “I always said you were the smartest woman I knew.”
“Even if it means tarrying in a tiny town like Tyler, Tennessee?”
“Alliteration again?”
She brushed a lock of hair away from his forehead. “Can you think of something better?”
“To paraphrase the Bible, whither thou stayest, I will stay,” he whispered. “Or something like that.”
Trying not to choke on her tears, Victoria said, “Well then, Mr. Dillon. Welcome home to Tyler, Tennessee.”
And then their kiss took away the need for more words.
***
The two men watched from the greenhouse a moment longer, then slipped back through the French doors leading to the parlor.
“You deserve an award for your performance,” James praised, shutting the door. “One would think you’d seriously hurt yourself. Where did you learn to do a fall like that?”
“Theatricals,” Cyrus chuckled. “Hated to lie, don’t you know, but since snow in Tennessee is rare, I thought I’d best create a situation where we couldn’t leave. I’d have found a way to keep Jake here if he’d tried to get back to Manhattan. That boy has been pining for your daughter for years. Never would have known, if he hadn’t got drunk one night this Spring and spilled out his heart.”
James laughed softly. “Took us long enough to put our plan together, didn’t it?”
“Well, I had those other stores to open,” Cyrus reminded him. “And dragging Jake all over the country watching me do it will help him when I name him co-manager of the new Haley’s here in Tyler. Remind me to send the doctor a case of his favorite wine for helping in our little charade.”
“Victoria can be as stubborn as an Army mule, never admitting when she’s been hurt,” James added, pouring them each a brandy. “It isn’t like her to leave her diary lying open. I’d never have known about Jake if I hadn’t seen his name on the page when I closed it. Well, ‘the course of true love never did run smooth to quote the Bard.”
Cyrus chuckled again. “I think it’s running smoothly enough now. After all, our lovebirds had help from the magic of the comet.”
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