by Susan Hatler
She took a deep breath. “I’m sorry for making a play for Brody. I saw him getting interested in you, and I . . . got jealous. Brody’s such a good guy, and he’d never looked at me the way he looked at you. I wanted him back, but I never meant to hurt your feelings.” She gave me a pained look. “I had no idea Brody was in love with you until he told me.”
Her words jolted me, making me wonder if there was hope for us. “He said that to you?” I asked, then remembered he’d walked off without me. Not a sign of someone still interested.
She nodded, giving me a tentative smile. “Please accept my apology.”
“Done,” I said. “I understand where you were coming from and appreciate your honesty. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I need to go.”
As I turned to run up the rest of the stairs, she shouted, “Good luck!”
I turned and flashed her a brief smile. All I could do was hope Brody was still here, and that I hadn’t lost him for good.
Chapter Twenty-five
When I arrived in front of our mansion, I rushed across the lawn to the neighboring mansion, with my lungs burning, and a debilitating cramp in my side. Suddenly, I lost my footing and fell face-first into the grass. Ouch. Sprawled on the grass in a very unflattering way, I groaned as a burning sensation rushed across my cheek. I pushed the pain aside. I was on a mission.
I popped to my feet, hurried to the Mitchell mansion’s front door, and pressed the doorbell repeatedly. Nobody answered. My brows drew together in confusion. I assumed Greta and Scotty were home, but maybe they were . . . um, busy. I glanced around frantically, just in time to see Brody driving away in his truck. Where was he going?
For a moment, my heart sank. No, I wouldn’t let his hasty departure stop me from talking to him. I was an independent woman, who could handle anything life threw at me. I dashed back to our mansion, practically flying through the front door. I grabbed my car keys and purse off the entryway table, and then rushed to Wendy’s Mercedes SUV, which was parked out front. I started the car, slammed my foot on the pedal, and sped off after Brody.
As I drove along the twisting road beside the bluffs, I wracked my brain for places he could be going. His buddies were back at the beach, so wherever he was going had to be somewhere he could be alone. Except that my mission was to make sure he wasn’t alone. He would be with me.
I pulled out my phone, scrolled to his name, and tapped on his number. My heart rate thrummed while the phone rang. I heard a click, then Brody’s voice, “You’ve reached my phone, not me . . .”
Frustrated I hung up, and tossed the phone onto the passenger seat beside me. So he wasn’t going to answer my calls. Whatever. I was determined to find him. I’d apologize for all of the lame actions caused by my insecurities, admit my feelings for him—gulp!—and whatever happened wouldn’t be because I’d been too scared to open up.
As I swung the car toward downtown, I pulled into the parking lot at Scotty’s Seafood Restaurant, thinking of the first time Brody and I met. I hadn’t known anything about him, except that he was insanely hot. We’d grown so much since then, and I had to hope he’d give me another chance. Since his car wasn’t at Scotty’s, I kept driving.
I headed in the opposite direction, deciding to check for his car at the Inn at Blue Moon Bay. Our first official date there had been amazing, right down to the walk on the beach, and him reading aloud the legend of Blue Moon Bay. Just thinking about his lips pressing against mine sent shockwaves through my belly.
When I heard the loud thump, the car started to bump violently, and I suspected I’d blown a tire. Easing the car to the side of the road, I put on my hazard lights, checked for oncoming traffic in my rearview mirror, and then climbed out to assess the damage. Sure enough, the rubber of the tire sagged sadly around the hubcap. I wondered what I’d run over.
“Great, just what I need,” I muttered as I popped the trunk to pulll out my spare tire, lug wrench, and jack. I gathered rocks, placed them against the front and rear tires to secure the vehicle. As I removed the hubcap, my cell phone rang, and my heart leapt for joy.
When I checked the display screen, my dad’s name appeared across the screen, and my heart sank. I pressed the ANSWER button. “Hi, Dad,” I said then started loosening the lug nuts.
“Hi, Pumpkin,” he said, in a cheerful voice. “How are you?”
Heartbroken. Scared. Hopeful. . . “Fine,” I replied, figuring my dad had enough problems in his own relationship to bother worrying about my love life. With the lug nuts loosened, I clenched my phone between my cheek and shoulder, set the jack in the appropriate spot under the car, and stared pumping the handle. “What’s up, Dad? I’m kind of in the middle of something here.”
He cleared his throat. “Well, you’ll be happy to know I’m calling with great news this time.”
“Oh?” My heart raced. I wondered if my mom had talked to him about her divorce decision, and why he’d consider that good news. I grunted as each pump lifted the car further off the ground.
“Your mom came home,” he said, relief and joy in his voice.
“She what?” I couldn’t keep the surprise out of my tone. I didn’t mean to be rude, but after everything she’d said to me about him ignorning her and problems with sex. Ew!
“Yes,” he confirmed. “She apologized for spending so much time with Junior,” he said, his tone indicating that “Junior” was not even a tiny threat. “Nothing untoward happened between them. She wanted attention, flowers, romance. All the things I wasn’t giving her. She wanted them from me, but didn’t know how to ask.” He paused. “She said she missed my enchiladas. I’m making them for her tonight,” he said, his voice practically giddy.
“Argh!” I grunted, as I yanked the tire off. The phone clattered to the pavement. I set the flat tire in the trunk, then scooped my phone up and checked to see if it was still fuctioning. Huh. Nothing but a little gravel dust.
“Olivia? Are you there?”
“Yep, I’m here.” Wiping the sweat off my forehead, I pinned the phone between shoulder and ear again as I lifted the spare tire into place. “I think it’s great you’re so forgiving, Dad.” I paused, a question circling my mind. “But how can you trust what she’s telling you?” I asked, wondering about my own situation with Brody.
He let out a sigh. “I know you might not understand what your mom and I just went through, but problems are rarely one person’s fault. She knows she should’ve talked to me instead of jumping ship. We certainly have a lot to work through. But I believe in her character.” He sounded so sincere I felt a surge of admiration for him. “If we don’t forgive each other and move forward, we might miss the best part.”
My eyes watered and I smiled through the tears. “I’m really happy you guys are staying together, and working on your marriage. I love you both so much.”
“We love you, too,” he said, as I tightened the last nut, then used the jack to lower the vehicle back down. “Oh, one more thing,” he said. “I’m taking next week off work, so your mom and I can take a cruise. Apparently, she’s always wanted to go on one.”
“Have fun,” I said, using the lug wrench to tighten the nuts. “Tell Mom hi for me,” I said, then ended the call. Tears had suddenly backed up in my throat, forming a tight ball. My parents had finally gotten their act together. Now it was time for Brody and I to do the same.
I set the jack and the lug wrench in the trunk, and climbed behind the wheel. As I started the car, I realized with a jolt that I hadn’t needed a car service or anyone else for help with the flat tire. I’d taken care of the problem all by myself. A feeling of pride swelled up within me.
I was an independent woman, which had been the point of the retreat. Now, I had the confidence to go after what, or who I wanted: the man of my dreams. And I was going to go after him with everything I had in me.
Chapter Twenty-six
I drove through the open gates and down the cobblestone driveway, approaching the grand circular entrance of the Inn at B
lue Moon Bay. I pulled into a parking space beside a Rolls-Royce, and got out of the car. Suddenly, I realized I shouldn’t have borrowed Wendy’s luxury vehicle to try to impress Greta. My skills as an event planner were top notch. From now on, I’d drive Chutney with pride and not worry about what others might think of my car.
Instead of going through the lobby, I hurried around the side of the building, and then strode across the manicured green lawn. As I flew down the steps toward the beach, my stomach clenched. I wondered if I was being ridiculously romantic thinking Brody would come to the location of our first kiss. It was quite possible he’d had enough of my insecurities and was moving on.
Dark clouds gathered above, matching my mood as I jumped off the last step and my feet hit the sand. Without a pause, I rushed toward the monument, and my breath caught it my throat. Brody stood facing the plaque. At first, I thought the handsome man might be part of my wishful imagination, but then his fingers traced the words on the plaque, and I knew he was really here.
Angry water crashed against the shore with a loud rumble, so I doubted he could hear me coming up behind him. His golden hair was tousled by the wind, his strong jaw set, and his shoulders hunched. If I was the cause of his sadness, maybe I could be the one to wipe his sorrow away. I moved toward him on noodle-legs, my knees shaking as I walked.
He glanced up suddenly, and the shocked look on his face made me stop. I stood perfectly still, my heart racing, and I worried he’d turn me away.
“Olivia . . .” He blinked several times, staying rooted where he stood. He seemed genuinely surprised to see me, which gave me the horrible feeling he would’ve preferred seeing someone else. Gulp. “Wh—what are you doing here?” he asked, his forehead wrinkling. “What’s on your face?”
I put a hand to my cheek, feeling a bumpy rash. “Oh . . . I, uh, face-planted into your lawn. Not something I recommend trying. Doesn’t feel good,” I joked, wanting to kick myself for sounding so lame.
The corners of his mouth turned downward as he walked over, touched my forehead, then held his fingers in front of me. “This looks like grease.”
“Huh.” I stared at his hand, unable to imagine how crazy I must look right now. “I got a flat tire on my way here, so I had to pull over and put on my spare. I must’ve rubbed my forehead at some point. No biggie.” I shrugged, feeling more concerned over obviously needing a shower. I sucked in a breath. “I need to talk to you.” I lifted my chin. “I, um, spoke with Taylor.”
His face contorted. “I don’t know what she said, but—”
“No, wait.” I held my palms up, just as a huge wave crashed to the shore. “I’m here to say I totally get what you said when we came here on our date. You know, about the legend being tragic. Even though the girl in the story promised to love the guy forever, she didn’t believe in their love enough to make their relationship work.” I moved closer to the monument, touching the bronzed words. “Just like I didn’t stick around to make things work with you after I saw you kissing Taylor.”
“Wait a second. I did not kiss her, and I had no idea she still had feelings for me.” His jaw pulsed as he leaned over and pressed his hand against the monument. If one of us moved an inch, our fingers would be touching. I so wanted to do that, but I waited for him to go on. “She took me by surprise when she kissed me, but I pulled away immediately. I set her straight where she and I stood, and how I felt about you. I guess you didn’t stick around to see that part.”
“No, I didn’t,” I said, feeling ashamed of my insecurities. “But, I mean, Taylor’s flawless. She looks like she stepped out of a shampoo ad, even after she’s gone for a jog. My hair always looks like a frizzy mess.” I gazed up at the darkened sky, wondering if that was a hint of light I saw spearing through clouds. “Plus, she’s a firefighter. A freaking hero. And I work in the seafood department at The Market. I just got promoted there, by the way.”
The corners of his mouth twitched. “Is that so?”
“Seafood department head. Doesn’t that have a nice ring to it?” My joke felt flat, but I didn’t even care. Adrenaline pumped through my veins as I gathered the guts to say what I came here to tell him. “My insecurities have been my Achilles Heel,” I said, my eyes burning. “That’s why I never finished college, still work at the same job I find so boring, and why I didn’t show up for you that night . . .”
His eyes remained focused on me, but the vein on his temple throbbed.
“If I could go back in time, I would. I’d push past my fears, and be there for you—just like you deserve.” I gazed up into his blue eyes, which were stormy with emotion. “But I can’t. All I can do is move forward and say how sorry I am.” My throat tightened. “I’m so sorry.”
“I’m sorry, too.” He blew out a breath and pushed a hand through his hair. Little pieces stood straight up, making him look so unbelievably adorable.
I was having a hard time following his logic, though. “Why should you apologize?”
“You’re the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen.” He lifted my hand and held it between his “I should’ve made that clear. No woman, Taylor or otherwise, holds a candle to you.” His voice vibrated through me, sending a flurry of butterflies to my belly. “I promised we’d make our own legend . . .” He lifted my chin. “When you didn’t show up, I thought you’d bailed just like my mom.”
“I’m sorry.” I shook my head. “I wish I could take that back, but I’d never bail on you again. I hope you know that deep down,” I said, firmly. “What did you have planned for us that night? What was so important?”
“Remember I told you that Heather, my captain’s widow, had left me a voicemail? Well, I called her back. After talking to you, opening up with you, I finally felt ready to let go and do what she wanted.” He paused, giving me a somber look. “I arranged for a boat, so we could take his ashes out sea.”
Nausea hit me hard. “Oh, Brody. I’m so sorry I missed being there for you. I should’ve held your hand, supported you—”
“I didn’t spread his ashes.” He gave me a bashful look. “Spreading his ashes and letting him go . . . is going to be very hard for me. As hurt as I was that you blew me off, I didn’t want to spread his ashes without you.” His eyes seemed to water a moment. “So, you’ll go with me?
“Of course,” I said, feeling humbled that he’d want to share such a special and difficult moment with me. “Whenever you’re ready, we’ll go.” I squeezed his arm. “Now you see that you don’t have anything to be sorry about?”
“Yes, I do.” He laced his hand through mine. “I lied to you,” he said, sending tremors of fear skittering through me. His fingers tightened. “I told you when I loved someone I’d never leave them. Then I left you alone. Feeling insecure.” He cupped my face with his strong hands. “I will never do that again. I love you, Olivia.”
“I love you, too, Brody,” I said, meaning each and every word. My heart leapt as he took me in his arms, pulled me against him, and kissed me.
The sky rumbled above then the clouds showered us with cold rain. We pulled apart, laughing. As the rain drenched us, I stayed in his arms, staring at his eyes. I could see the feelings he had for me shining in his beautiful blues. I wondered how I’d been so blind to his true feelings before. I rose up on my tippy toes and kissed the man of my dreams. In the coldness of the rain, his mouth was warm and sweet, as he pressed his lips to mine again and again.
In his kisses, I finally figured out how an independent woman could still have romance in her life. She had to let go of past pain and heal in the comfort of friendship. When the right man came into her life, no matter if the timing was perfectly imperfect, she needed to write her own legend, and let nothing stand in her way—and that’s exactly what I planned to do.
Epilogue
I scooted onto the same barstool I’d sat on at Scotty’s Seafood Restaurant when I’d first met Brody, feeling bittersweet that tonight was the retreat’s last dinner. The luxury beach retreat hadn’t gone exactly th
e way I’d pictured, but I’d loved being The Date Escape event planner, and was sad our time together was coming to an end.
As a group, we’d invited our neighbors tonight—and even some local friends—and this felt like one of those special nights to remember in life. I gazed out at the setting sun over the bay, and at the tiny sparkles of light glinting on the waves as they washed gently against the shore. The storm had passed through quickly, leaving clear skies and sunny days ahead.
Brody positioned himself behind the bar and turned to me. He gave me a very sexy grin. “What can I get for you, lovely lady?”
“Hmm . . .” I giggled, tapping a finger against my chin. “What would you recommend for an independent woman who’s fallen in love?”
“I have just the thing, in fact.” With a twinkle in his eye, he grabbed the shaker, then reached for a bottle behind the bar. “I’m calling this one, The Perfect Kiss.”
I raised a brow. “You make these drinks up as you go along. Don’t you?”
“Shh.” He winked at me. “Bartender’s secret,” he said.
“I’ll take one of those, please,” Wendy said, suddenly appearing by my side. We exchanged a quick hug as Brody mixed our drinks. She hopped up on the barstool beside me, smoothing the skirt of her black cocktail dress. “I’m glad to hear the retreat was a success. I see you got over your need to be independent without a man.”
“Pretty much.” I laughed, twisting in her direction. “I’d been so wrapped up in Greta’s book and focusing on not getting my heart pummeled again, that I ended up hiding behind my career. Well, the full-time career I’d wanted, anyway.” My chest tightened a little. “As of now, Greta’s not scheduling any more of The Date Escape women’s retreats. So, it’s back to pushing seafood at The Market for me, while marketing Olivia’s Occasions,” I said, my tone finally laced with something other than disappointment. Maybe, hope.
She patted my arm. “Give your business time to take off. It’ll happen,” she said, then looked around the room. “You could’ve done a lot worse than two weeks in a luxurious mansion, coming away with a boyfriend, and reuniting with Charlie.”