Ladd Springs (Ladd Springs, Book #1)

by Venetta, Dianne

  Nick was waiting for Delaney at the cabin when she arrived home. The sight of his car parked near Ernie’s was a welcome sight—more so than she could have imagined. Like a mountaintop breath of fresh air, the knowledge that Nick was here to help her through this maze of legal wrangling and emotional bribery eased her spirit. Throughout the entire ordeal, Nick had managed a calm mind, a firm hand—a can-do attitude. Unfortunately, it was more than she could say for herself.

  Delaney hurried up the last stretch of trail, looking forward to losing herself in his capable arms. She had dropped Felicity off at Travis and Troy’s home, securing Betty Ann Parker’s promise to drive Felicity home after dinner. In the wake of Casey’s tragedy, Felicity wanted to be with the boys. And Delaney? She wanted to be with Nick.

  He met her at the door with the warm hug she had been yearning for. “Delaney...” he murmured her name into the top of her head and squeezed her to him.

  She slid her arms around him, the hard line of his body warm and reassuring as she buried her face in his chest.

  Nick squeezed harder and asked, “Is she okay?”

  She will be, Delaney thought. But as it stood, Casey was facing an uphill battle. According to Ashley, this wasn’t the girl’s first experience with drugs. She’d dabbled with pills before, but never to this extent. “I hope so.”

  Nick pulled away and peered into her face. He brushed the hair from her eyes, glided his thumb over her cheek. “You look tired. Come in and let me get you something to eat.”

  The offer pulled a smile from her. Nick was in her home, offering her something to eat? She shook her head. Now there’s a twist! A twist she liked.

  It was a twist she liked. Nick helped Delaney pull the boots from her feet, taking the pistol from her as he escorted her inside and onto the sofa. He set her gun on the end table and settled in beside her. He gathered her in his arms and asked, “What’ll it be? Cornbread? Grits? What do you southern girls eat around here when in need of some comfort?

  Nestled in his warmth, Delaney laughed. “Would you know how to make either one?”

  “Not exactly.” Nick returned a sheepish grin, rendering his tough masculine features to boyish innocence. “It was a side of him she enjoyed. But I’m always game for experimenting. Found a half-baked loaf in the oven.”

  “Didn’t have a lot of notice when I left.” Delaney leaned into his shoulder, burrowing into the crux of his chest and arm. “Thanks for the offer to cook, but I’m not hungry.”

  “Glass of wine?” he asked. Pulling the elastic band from her hair, he stroked the length of it.

  She laid her head against him. Such a simple gesture, but she found it incredibly soothing. After their nights together, his tender way of lovemaking, she found him incredibly soothing. “I think I’d like to sit for a while.” She looked up at him. “If you don’t mind?”

  He gently pushed her head back. “Not a bit. This works perfectly for me.”

  The two sat in silence for several moments, the wooden interior of her cabin painted in gold as sunlight simmered into evening. Delaney contemplated the best way to broach the subject of Annie’s threat. The fact that she had the audacity to bring Jeremiah into the picture terrified Delaney. As Ernie’s direct descendent, Jeremiah Ladd was the one person Delaney feared could interfere with her daughter’s future with regard to Ladd Springs.

  “Why so tense, Delaney?” Nick asked, rubbing his hands up and down her arms, the length of her thighs. “What’s the matter?”

  Everything. She hugged him closer, relishing the solid feel of him, the warmth of his body. Nothing. Not with you by my side.

  Nick slid a hand along her cheek and pushed the hair away from her neck. He massaged the muscles along her neck and shoulders, his large hands pulling the tension from her, replacing it with desire. It felt good to have Nick touch her, but right now, she needed his brain. With a fierce squeeze, she pulled away from him—but not too far. She needed the feel of his body next to hers, the sense the two were connected, that they were a team. “Annie made some threats at the hospital this afternoon.”

  “Threats?” Black eyes and brows gathered like a building storm on the horizon. “What kind of threats?”

  Gazing into the depths of his dark gaze, hot, fluid—unreadable—Delaney hesitated. After all, she and Nick weren’t family. They might be becoming important to one another, but they weren’t family. She searched Nick’s eyes, as though she could detect the truth. She wanted to trust him, to build a future together. She knew Jeb had most likely been lying to save his own skin, but... After all, how much did she really know about the man?

  Nick moved the hair from her eyes. “Talk to me, Delaney. Something’s going on, I can see it.”

  “Annie threatened to call Jeremiah.”

  “Jeremiah?”

  “Ernie’s son.”

  “I thought you said no one would call him?”

  Delaney didn’t like the sudden pour of concern into Nick’s eyes. Tentatively, she revealed, “Annie says Ernie doesn’t have the power to transfer title to Felicity without his son’s approval. Something about the fine print.”

  Nick stiffened. “And you believe her?”

  “I don’t know,” she answered meekly.

  “Listen,” he said, and pulled her up from the sofa. “Enough of this negative talk. We’ll deal with things when and if they arise. In the meantime, I have something for you.”

  She paused, swamped by confusion. “Have something for me?”

  “Yes. I’ve been waiting for the right time, but there doesn’t seem to be a right time around here.”

  Delaney followed Nick over to the kitchen island where his briefcase sat. He reached into the outer pocket of the soft leather bag and pulled out a small velvet box. A quick lump formed in her throat. Oh my—was he proposing? Her pulsed skyrocketed through her chest, her limbs. He opened the box, and her heartbeats fluttered wildly. Inside laid a gold pendant. “Nick?”

  “I had this made from the gold piece I chipped off from the rock in the woods.” Nick pulled it free, gathering the delicate chain in his fingers. “It’s a wishing well.”

  “A wishing well?” she asked, trying to unravel the odd look in his eyes.

  “Yes.” He unclasped the chain and placed it around her neck. The brush of his fingers tingled across her skin as they secured the chain behind her neck. Drawing his hands forward, he tenderly held her face and gazed into her eyes. “I want you to think about all your hopes for the future, all the possibilities that await you in life.”

  Delaney touched the petite chunk of gold at her collarbone, the metal cool and heavy against her skin, heedless to the tremble of her hand. “You had this made?”

  He nodded. “After I had it tested for authenticity, I had the jeweler in town form it into a wishing well.” Admiring the piece, he said, “He does good work.”

  Delaney laughed nervously and fiddled with the pendant, she said, “He’s been there for years.”

  “Well, it looks great.” Nick dropped his gaze to her lips. “You look great,” he murmured, then kissed her, soft and sweet. Delaney’s insides melted and she privately scorned her ridiculous leap to conclusion. Propose. They’d only been together a few weeks!

  But truth be known, Delaney would have said yes.

  Nick’s dark eyes moved between the pendant at her breast and her face. He rubbed his thumb over her fingers and murmured, “Diamonds would suit you, too.”

  # # #

  The End

  Delaney’s Southern Cornbread

  2 cups yellow cornmeal

  2 cups buttermilk

  3 TBSP melted bacon drippings, extra to grease pan

  1 egg

  1 tsp baking soda

  1/2 tsp salt

  1/4 cup vanilla pudding mix (optional ~ to add moisture)

  2 TBSP sugar (optional ~ for the sweet tooth!)

  Preheat oven to 400°F. Grease bottom and sides of 10” cast iron skillet with bacon fat. For crispier cru
st, pre-heat skillet for 10 minutes before adding batter. Mix all ingredients above together and pour into greased pan. Bake for 30 minutes.

  Serve warm. 8 servings.

  ***Mind you there are tons of variations for this recipe, like adding bacon bits, fresh corn kernels, jalapeño peppers ~ but whatever you do, don’t tell my mother I added sugar and pudding mix, ‘cause she’ll have my hide!

  However, there’s one modification she will approve and that’s Grandma Lulu’s way. Combine the buttermilk, cornmeal (self-rising), salt and pepper and whisk until smooth. Heat a small cast iron skillet to medium on stove top. Melt a slice of butter in pan, then pour a 1/4 cup of batter into the pan, spreading it out pancake style.

  Cook several minutes or until bottom is golden brown, then flip (I add another swatch of butter before the corn cake hits the pan for the second time!). Cook until underside is golden brown (won’t take long), then remove from pan and eat immediately!

  All I can say is “Yum.” My family thought this method tasted like a regular pancake and I could only shake my head in wonder. Those kids are crazy as a dizzy goat, I tell you. Plumb crazy.

  Thank you for reading Ladd Springs. As an author, reviews are a wonderful way to help future readers discover my books. Will you take a moment to review Ladd Springs?

  Ladd Springs Amazon page

  Appreciate your time and effort on my behalf!

  Check out the next book in the series…

  Ladd Fortune

  About the Author:

  Dianne Venetta lives in Central Florida with her husband, two children and part-time Yellow Lab Cody-boy! An avid gardener, she spends her spare time growing organic vegetables, surprised by what she finds there every day. Who knew there were so many amazing similarities between men and plants? Women, life and love and her discoveries provide for never-ending fun on her garden blog: BloominThyme.

  You can also find her on twitter @DianneVenetta and facebook.com/DianneVenetta. Plus, learn how you can become a member of her street team, Bloomin’ Warriors, where you’ll be eligible for special discounts, advance excerpts, author swag and unique gift items throughout the year. For full details, be sure to check out her website,

  Dianne Venetta

  Other novels by Dianne Venetta

  Romantic Women’s Fiction

  The Gables Trilogy:

  JENNIFER’S GARDEN

  LUST ON THE ROCKS

  WHISPER PRIVILEGES

  Women’s Fiction

  CONDEMN ME NOT

  Mystery/Romance

  Ladd Springs Series:

  LADD SPRINGS #1

  LADD FORTUNE #2

  LADD FORTUNE #3

  LADD HAVEN #4

  LOSING LADD #5

  Available December 2013

  Read an excerpt from LADD FORTUNE…

  Chapter One

  Lacy Owens tamped down the flutter of pulse skirting through her chest. Parked across the street from the salon, she stared at the day spa, the mirrored glass display window splashed with fancy lettering. Trendz. Inserted between a sandwich shop and an insurance office, it was painted glossy black and stood out like a bald eagle in a blue sky. The hoagie shop to the right had been there for as long as Lacy could remember, its exterior faded to drab beige. The insurance agency was new and remarkably boring, its window marked by white block letters spelling out the company name and agent. Beyond the building, the green hills of Tennessee rose into the sky, a batch of patchy white clouds floating lazily in the distance.

  Would Annie be happy to see her? Would she be angry? Lacy’s breathing grew shallow. The temperature in the car was rising, heat pressing in on her. Their reunion could go either way. Knowing Annie, she’d try and toss her baby sister out on the sidewalk with a kick to the rump—which would hurt, in more ways than one.

  While Annie might throw her out on sight, Lacy had to try. It was meant to be. She knew it the minute Jeremiah Ladd walked into the lounge, announcing to his girlfriend, Loretta Flynn, they were headed for Ladd Springs. Ladd Springs. Tennessee. Home.

  It was her opportunity. The stars were in alignment. That very day her horoscope said it was time for a return to the fold. Lacy nibbled at her lip, fiddled with the steering wheel. Atlanta had never been home. Atlanta had been her escape.

  A woman pushed out through the front door of Trendz, her brown hair straight and shiny in the midday sun, her clothes fitted and chic. Lacy wondered if the woman had had her nails done. Was Annie in there? Lacy glanced at the clock on her dashboard. Three o’clock. She slid her gaze back to the salon. Annie would have to be, wouldn’t she? She still worked full-time, didn’t she?

  Nerves sputtered and popped. Grabbing a slim leather purse from the passenger seat, Lacy pushed opened her car door and headed in. It was now or never. Hopefully, Annie would understand. Hopefully, she’d forgive her. Hope was all she had. As Lacy crossed the street, her legs felt boneless, like she’d dissolve into a mess on the street, this instant. It was a wonder she could even walk! But walk she would. She’d walk straight into that salon and face her sister, once and for all. It was time. This mess between them had gone on too long and it had to stop.

  Lacy opened the salon door and was immediately sucked in by the strong scent of hair products, nail polish and perfume. Her heart thudded as she scanned the salon’s interior. A line of mirrored stations manned by a bevy of women dressed in black created a corridor down the center. Each stood by their chairs wielding blow dryers, flat irons and scissors over their clients. From above, drips of blue hung down in the form of ceramic lighting. Lacy thought the subtle hues very modern, very sophisticated. Venturing in a few steps, she noticed the nail station was empty. Her spirits fell. No Annie. She heaved a sigh, eyeing the receptionist who sat smiling behind her check-in desk. She was a perky young blonde who didn’t look a day over fifteen.

  “May I help you?” the girl asked.

  “Um...” Lacy hesitated. She looped short curls of hair behind an ear. Should she ask about Annie? Should she leave her name, thus warning her sister of her arrival?

  Absolutely not. A surprise visit was best, sort of a spontaneous reunion where she could gauge her sister’s reaction on the spot and respond accordingly. “Well...” Lacy paused, suddenly second-guessing her entire scheme. “I was wondering about having my nails done.”

  “Great! We have a nail tech who’s the best in the business.”

  Lacy didn’t doubt it. When she and Annie were kids, her older sister forever practiced on her nails, creating stripes, polka dots—the works. Lacy had always been amazed by her sister’s uncanny ability to “stay within the lines” as she painted and wished she could have done as well, but she never could. Polish forever smudged and dripped. Annie was good with hair, too. Lacy could apply makeup, but hair and nails were Annie’s area of expertise. “Hm,” she hedged, “do you happen to know her name?”

  The receptionist looked at her queerly.

  Dingbat—of course she did! She worked here, didn’t she? Flummoxed, Lacy clarified, “I mean, I want to make sure it’s the same woman my friend recommended.”

  “Annie Owens. Is that who you were looking for?”

  Lacy’s heart raced at the confirmation. She nodded.

  Flipping through pages in her appointment book, the receptionist said, “She has availability Friday afternoon, and then next week.” She dragged her pencil lightly down the page and said, “Tuesday morning and Wednesday afternoon.” Checking with Lacy, she asked, “Will any of those work for you?”

  But Lacy didn’t answer. In the back of the salon, Annie had emerged and currently stood immobile in the center aisle. Dryers whirred, conversation chattered, but Annie only had eyes for Lacy.

  Lacy gulped. Without looking at the young woman, stammered, “Um, let me think about it, okay?”

  “Sure thing,” the receptionist replied.

  Annie came to life and approached Lacy with a hard line in her gaze, a chop to her step. Familiar blue eyes bore into her.
Annie’s wrath arrived ten steps ahead of her, followed by a sharp whoosh of displeasure, which strummed in the air around them as the woman stood face-to-face. “What are you doing here?”

  Despite her sister’s animosity, Lacy thought Annie looked good. Her hair was shorter now, cut into a cute pageboy, her black-clad figure trim. Her makeup was flattering in shades of pink and other than the vile look in her eyes, Lacy discovered her sister had grown into an attractive woman. “Hi, Annie.” Lacy gave a short wave, flushing with an uncomfortable awkwardness.

  Apparently catching onto the underpinnings of anger between Lacy and Annie, the receptionist closed her book and busied herself with something on her desk.

  “I asked you a question,” Annie repeated flatly.

  Lacy shuddered beneath the caustic tone. People could hear her! “I wanted to let you know that I’m back in town,” she ventured softly.

  “Why?”

  “Um...” She bit her lip, averting the gaze of the receptionist, the inquisitive glances from hairstylists. “Because we’re family, why else?”

  “Is Jeremiah with you?”

  Without thinking, Lacy nodded.

  Loathing poured into Annie’s expression. “So you two are still together.”

  “No!” Lacy exclaimed, pressing a hand to her chest. “Oh, no, we’re not together at all!”

  Annie’s eyes narrowed to slits. “Then why would he be here same time as you? Coincidence?”

  “No. He’s with my friend Loretta. Loretta Flynn.”

  “Your friend?” Annie asked, disbelief crawling through her eyes.

  “Yes, yes—we work together at a lounge in Atlanta.” Or did. She’d quit on her way out the door as she headed home for Tennessee. “That’s how I know he’s here. He told Loretta he was coming home and I...I...” Lacy didn’t know exactly how to say it. I needed an escape? I wanted to come back home? By the icy nature of Annie’s reception, it didn’t seem like her sister much cared why Lacy had returned. Only that she had—and it wasn’t good news.