Delivering History (The Freehope Series Book 4)

by Jenni M. Rose

  “How’s dinner then?”

  “We’ll see you there.”

  “This is the coolest thing that’s ever happened to me,” Jenna said, bouncing on her toes as they walked into the busy restaurant. “First Dylan offered me an internship and my parents actually said yes, and now this.”

  Alex slung an arm around her niece’s shoulder. “You’re smart and creative, J. I’m not surprised at all. Plus, you take after me so it only makes sense that everyone would think you’re amazing.”

  “I knew you’d say that. Whoa,” she whispered as they entered the restaurant. “This place is so awesome.”

  It was said with reverence and awe, which Alex totally understood. She’d done and said the same thing when Dylan had taken her to dinner there just a few weeks before. She glanced in the direction of the kitchen, where they’d sat at a special chef’s table, and felt a clench in her chest. Regret nipped at her heels every second of every day.

  Alex stepped to the hostess podium.

  “I have a meeting with Peter Fitch,” she said.

  The woman smiled genially. “You must be Ms. Walker.” She looked to Jenna. “And you’re…”

  “Head of marketing, Ms. Walker-Monroe,” Alex filled in, holding her face completely straight.

  She’d expected an almost snooty disdain, though she couldn’t say why. It probably said more about her that she just expected other people to be total douchenozzles all the time than it did about the hostess.

  Instead, the woman looked impressed, pleased with Jenna’s presence.

  “Welcome to Wave, Ms. Walker-Monroe. If you’ll both follow me.”

  They did, weaving their way through the restaurant. Jenna stopped in the middle, taking out her phone and snapping a picture, her thumbs flying across the screen as she walked and hurried to follow.

  The woman seated them at a table for four. “Peter will be right with you,” she said as she handed them menus. “Can I start you off with something to drink?”

  “Tonic water with lime,” Jenna said automatically, sounding more grown-up than Alex could handle.

  “Are you sure you don’t want a Shirley Temple? For old time’s sake?” Alex asked.

  Jenna let out a little laugh. “Why? You’ll just steal my cherries when I’m not looking.”

  Alex put on an affronted look. “I did not steal, I confiscated, and that was for your own good. Your uncle used to load the glass with twenty cherries. Believe me, you could spare a few.” She glanced at the hostess. “I’ll have what she’s having.”

  “Two tonic waters with lime.” The hostess said, sending them both smiles. “Knock em’ dead, ladies. They’re desperate to have you.” She winked at Jenna. “Both of you, so negotiate hard.”

  When she walked away, Alex and Jenna shared a look.

  “Looks like you’re going to be in high demand,” Alex commented.

  “I’ve already committed my summer to Charles, Greene, James, and Harrison. First order of business, get them to change the name of the company. If no one can remember it, they’re not calling,” Jenna noted. “But I’m keeping my options open.”

  Alex leaned back. “What are we talking for options here? College?”

  Jenna shrugged, almost hedging her answer. “Maybe. Maybe I’ll take a gap year or find a job to keep me occupied for a while. Auntie Beth says I’d love working on a ranch.”

  “You are not following in her footsteps,” Alex said heatedly. “No ranches. No cruise ships. In fact, no leaving home. You have to live in Freehope forever. You can move in with me—”

  “Your house burned down,” Jenna interrupted.

  “By the time you need to move in, it’ll be as good as new. Plus, by then, you won’t want to live with your mom and dad anymore anyway. You’ll need some freedom.”

  “Which is why I might want to take a gap year and explore my options.”

  Alex didn’t like the sound of anything Jenna was saying. She didn’t like the idea of Jenna out there, roaming the world without any direction. But she knew her niece better than that. Jenna always had direction, so she didn’t doubt she’d find something she loved. Alex just didn’t want her to find something she loved somewhere else.

  “Do me favor,” Alex said quietly, meeting her niece’s eyes. “Don’t let anyone talk you out of it, if that’s what you want.”

  Jenna gave her a solemn nod, aware of her aunt’s serious tone.

  “Ladies!” Peter Fitch appeared at the side of the table, hand outstretched in their direction.

  There was another man with him, a serious-looking suit who looked like he was a hundred years old.

  “My business manager, Bill Fitch,” he motioned to the old guy, who held out his hand robotically.

  Alex stood, shaking both of their hands and introducing Jenna. “My head of marketing, Jenna Walker-Monroe.”

  “Walker?” Peter noted, eyeing them speculatively.

  “My niece,” Alex confirmed.

  “Nice to meet you,” Jenna told them both brightly.

  “She’s a baby,” Bill said, his lip curled, looking her up and down. “She can’t be head of anything.”

  “Dad,” Peter warned, motioning them all to sit. “Don’t mind him. He’s a bit set in his ways. I was hoping this meeting would show him some new ideas and where technology is headed.” He motioned with his head to Jenna and sent Alex a smile. “Looks like it’s a family affair.”

  A waitress delivered their tonic waters and Peter almost looked offended.

  “You’re welcome to order off the wine list,” he offered. “We have some delicious dinner pairings.”

  “I’m too young and Auntie Alex is too pregnant,” Jenna offered, a wince crossing her face as soon as the words left her lips. “Sorry.”

  Alex shrugged. “Can’t hide it too much longer anyway.”

  Peter leaned in and whispered, “Dylan James?”

  And in that moment, Alex almost wished she could say yes. She’d severed the tie that they’d had, that easy, affable relationship they’d been building. If she was carrying his baby, she’d have an excuse to talk to him or call him and apologize.

  Instead, she bucked up and told the truth. “Actually, it’s not even mine. I’m just carrying it for my sister and her husband.”

  “Really?” Peter asked, seemingly fascinated.

  “Really,” she confirmed. “So, no wine for me and Jenna’s a few years away from being able to say yes.”

  “She’s really your head of marketing?”

  Alex nodded. “Does all my social media and branding.”

  “The hashtags?”

  “All Jenna’s doing.”

  “The caricature? The whole Bad Girl of Sweets thing?”

  “I bake and deliver,” Alex told him. “The rest is her.”

  Jenna looked almost embarrassed at the attention.

  “I don’t understand any of this new technology,” Bill complained. “Kids and their phones, not even looking at each other anymore.”

  Jenna slid her chair a little closer to him and took out her phone. “It’s a little more than that. See this?” She pointed and showed him the screen.

  He took out his cheater glasses and put them on. “It’s the chandelier from the dining room.”

  Alex recalled Jenna taking a picture of something as they’d been seated.

  “So, see, I posted a video of it here.” She pointed at something else. “And this is how many times people have watched the video. I have a lot of followers, plus I used a couple hashtags that will draw more attention to me, the video, and the restaurant. It’s like a snowball effect. It isn’t just about what I’m looking at on my screen; it’s my way of telling my friends where I am and what I’m doing, and letting them share that moment with me.”

  “She’s really good at this,” Peter noted quietly as Bill asked Jenna another question and she patiently explained it. “A total pro. How old did you say she is?”

  “Sixteen.”

  “Do I
have to consider child-labor laws?” Peter said on a laugh.

  “She’s already taken a summer internship with Dylan James’s firm, so you’ll have to get in line.”

  “Unreal.”

  Bill slid his phone out of his pocked and showed it to Jenna. “Can you show me how to do that?”

  “Of course,” Jenna smiled. “Let’s make you an account and I’ll show you how to Snap. We’ll take a selfie.”

  Peter chuckled. “Looks like you and I are on our own.”

  “I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t dying to know what Peter Fitch could possibly want from me.”

  Nearly two hours later, Alex knew what Peter Fitch wanted from her and it was almost too good to be true.

  While he was a world-class chef, with a huge name in the culinary world, his pull with the younger generation was next to zero. His social media was D.O.A, a complete bore, and he knew it. While she didn’t have his notoriety, she had the following he wanted to tap into.

  He’d proposed a collaboration: she getting her name into a wider culinary crowd, taking on guest spots as pastry chef, at a number of big-name restaurants in Boston, including his, and him being featured on her social media and building his brand.

  He’d been specifically interested in a video Jenna had posted last week that had picked up some good steam: a time lapse of Alex making a naked coffee crunch cake. People loved videos. They’d already filmed a new one where Alex made a honeycomb pie. Jenna was editing it and would release it over the weekend.

  “So, you’ll work with me on the party as a start? They’re younger clients so they just want their guests to be wowed, no special requests,” Peter asked as he walked her and Jenna out of the restaurant.

  Jenna and Bill took another selfie behind them, the filter on Bill’s phone playing disco music and adding sunglasses to both of their faces.

  “Yes,” she agreed, though she wanted to make sure anything they agreed on was put into writing. “If you don’t mind, before we get too far, I want to have the contracts drawn up, so that everything is spelled out.”

  “Smart,” Peter noted. “I’ll email you in a few days and we can put everything through lawyers. Make sure it’s all kosher and we’re in agreement on the terms.”

  She held out his hand to shake. “I really appreciate you thinking of me for this.”

  He smiled and took her hand in his. “If Dylan James hadn’t already sold me on how good you are, this would have sealed the deal.”

  Alex took her hand back. “And when exactly did Dylan put this good word in?”

  “He called me a few days ago,” Peter told her, trying to extract his father from Jenna’s side. “He’s a good guy, great reputation. If he says you’re the real deal, I believe him, but like I said, you and Jenna are quite the team. You sell yourselves.”

  A few days ago?

  Jenna met her aunt’s eyes with a soft understanding, something she obviously inherited from Andy. It was a trait Alex herself worked at, being empathetic enough to intrinsically know how words will affect someone you love. Jenna had that in spades.

  They said their goodbyes and walked the short distance to the car, silence surrounding them. Alex didn’t know where Jenna’s thoughts were, but she was acutely aware of where her mind was.

  Squarely on Dylan. He’d been quiet since the afternoon she’d walked out of his condo. He’d told her in no uncertain terms that he wasn’t going anywhere, but he certainly hadn’t shown back up. It was the space she’d asked for, but hearing Peter’s words, that Dylan had been singing her praises, basically working on a career-changing deal for her, even after she’d overreacted, was the last straw.

  She couldn’t stay away from him any longer. It was time to put her hat in her hand and go to him.

  Alex scowled, annoyed. Apologizing was her least favorite thing to do, but she’d suck it up if it meant maybe getting Dylan back.

  “I can drop you off,” Jenna said, linking her arm with Alex’s as they walked. “I’ll go straight home, no side trips to see older boys you don’t approve of.”

  “Men,” Alex corrected.

  “Traffic won’t be bad at this time of night and I’m wide awake.”

  “I should make sure you get home okay,” Alex said, rethinking her priorities. “But maybe we can make a pit stop?”

  “I think a pit stop sounds perfect,” Jenna agreed. “Everyone that loves you will think a pit stop is exactly what you need in your life.”

  “Am I a hot topic of conversation these days?”

  Jenna laughed. “Between the baby, the billionaire, and the fire? You’re about all anyone talks about.”

  Jenna waited in the car when they got to Dylan’s. Alex could see some lights on inside and hoped that meant he was home. Even if she didn’t want to apologize, it would be worth it, if it meant they could go back to whatever it was they were before.

  She took a deep breath and rang the doorbell, straightening her spine and ordering herself not to fidget. For a long time, what felt like too long, there was nothing but silence inside and she began to lose hope, but eventually she heard footsteps nearing the door.

  Alex held firm, hands fisted at her side, her spine straight.

  He was as glorious as he was the first time she’d seen him in The Bean. His blond hair looked a little disheveled, but his dress shirt, rolled up at the sleeves, under his vest looked impeccable, despite his loosened tie. His dark eyes widened in surprise when he saw her.

  “Hi,” she said simply.

  “Hey.” He stood there, hand on the door, staring at her.

  Ready to get it out of the way, she braced herself and let what she had to say fly. “I’m sorry I walked out on you without hearing what you had to say. I took what Grant had to say and applied it to you, like those were your thoughts, even though you’ve never said anything like that to me before and you’ve never made me feel that way. I mean, I keep reminding everyone that I live in crazy pregnant-lady land, where nothing is the way it seems. You walked into my life like a coffee-avenging angel and were all-in, not even looking back, yet I know you can do better.”

  “Lexi,” Dylan said, his tone chiding.

  “I know it. You know it. Your partners know it. I might not be trapping you the way they thought I was, but I jumped right to that conclusion with them. That you being with me is settling—”

  “It is not,” he said heatedly.

  “It kind of is. I don’t have some fancy education and my parents were both school teachers and I’m not rich, which seems like something I need to be just to be on the same level as you. Because I’m intimidated as hell, Dylan. Seriously. Not because I actually care about the money, but I don’t want you to think I want it, that it’s the reason I’m here. And I worry that I’m just plain, old not enough for you.”

  “Can I kiss you now?”

  “No!” she argued. “And then I get a call from Peter Fitch and he offers me an opportunity that could change my life, and it’s because even though I rode out of here on my high horse, you still made that phone call. For me.”

  “Of course I did. I told you I wasn’t letting you go that easily; Lex and I meant it. You need a hand up? If I can’t give it to you, I’m damn sure going to find someone who can. When can I kiss you?”

  “When I’m done apologizing,” she insisted.

  “I think you’ve done enough,” he growled, taking the step so they were chest to chest, and wrapped a hand around her neck, pulling her close. “I forgive you. I missed you. Kiss me.”

  He smelled like heaven and tasted even better, like everything she’d been missing without him in her life. Sunshine and rainbows and all that shit. His lips were soft and teasing, savoring their reunion as if it were precious, the most important thing he could grasp physically. His tongue gently swiped her lower lip as he fully embraced her, his hand sliding way down south to latch onto her butt.

  Her car horn sounded, loud and startling. “Hands!” Jenna yelled, a laugh in her voice.


  Dylan lifted his head, his coffee-colored eyes taking her in. “You brought company.”

  “My marketing director and I just had an important business dinner. We were on our way home when we decided to stop in here,” Alex explained.

  He eyed the car, a small smile on his lips. “Your marketing director, huh? How did Peter and Bill handle that?”

  “Peter loved her and Bill got himself a SnapChat account over dinner.”

  “So, it went well?” he asked.

  She nodded. “It did. Thank you.”

  Dylan shook his head. “Give me a second.”

  He disappeared for a quick moment but came back out, keys in hand. He locked the door and escorted her down the walkway.

  “What are you doing?” she asked.

  “Following you and Jenna home.”

  His words warmed her because it’s exactly what she’d have wanted. She couldn’t let Jenna drive home alone but she didn’t want to lose the time with Dylan.

  “If you go to the bar when we get into town, I’ll come get you. I’m staying in Andy’s old apartment upstairs.”

  “I thought you were with Beth?”

  “That didn’t last long. Long story.” She pressed a kiss to his cheek. “See you when I get there.”

  “Be careful,” he said, sending Jenna a wave before heading off to his car.

  Alex slid into the passenger seat, a smile spread from ear to ear.

  “Good pit stop?” Jenna asked playfully.

  “Seems like it.”

  “Good. I like how happy you look when Dylan is around.”

  “Yeah?” Alex asked. “I look happier?”

  “Content,” Jenna clarified. “You know, Julia Hawkins has this whole thing with the word happy. She has all these word charts that shoot off of the word happy. Thrilled, excited, enthusiastic, you know what I mean? I’d say the word I’m looking for is content.”

  Alex thought about how she felt when she was with Dylan compared to not being with him.

  She decided, after careful consideration, that content was the perfect word for how she felt when Dylan was in her life.

  Content.