She picked up Clarice from her lap, then pushed her chair out to stand. “I’m sorry, Dix. I don’t want to talk about this right now. I really do have a headache. All I want is to go upstairs, have a quick dinner, and then go to bed. I’ll see you in the morning.”
Dixie opened her mouth, and then snapped it shut. She headed to the front door, but before opening it, turned and waved good-bye.
Whitney waved back, hating to have been so abrupt with her friend. But she wasn’t about to discuss Cash. It was bad enough that she had to cut his hair tomorrow. If Allie had taken his number down, like she was supposed to, Whitney would’ve canceled the appointment. Instead, she had to hold her nose and get through it. And rehashing the past with Dixie would’ve only made her appointment with him more difficult.
After locking up the shop, she climbed the grand staircase up to her second-floor apartment, running her hand over the centuries-old white oak railing. When she reached the top, she glanced down at the magnificent foyer, aglow with the rich amber tones of the intricately carved woodwork. Never once had she regretted becoming a businesswoman. It was difficult at times, to be sure, but she’d been raised to be an independent, strong woman, and to give that up for a man wasn’t in her DNA.
With a sigh, she put Clarice down, and the dog scampered into the kitchen. Whitney followed, and the little Papillon impatiently jumped around her legs as Whitney fixed the dog’s food. While Clarice was eating, Whitney went over to the refrigerator to figure out what to have herself. Her choices were limited since she’d thought she’d be going out to dinner with Travis and had planned to grocery shop after work tomorrow.
She took out a loaf of bread and a jar of grape jelly, then took the peanut butter out of the bottom cabinet and proceeded to make a sandwich. As she ate, she stared out the kitchen window to the patio below and then past a gorgeous magnolia tree out to the pecan grove where they’d had the photo shoot. It was so beautiful and peaceful there. Usually when she looked out at it, all the stresses of the day faded away, but not tonight. Tonight, she had a knot in her stomach the size of a grapefruit. Why had Cash come back into her life?
She knew that someday, during one of his trips to visit his mom, she might run into him. But she never imagined that he’d book an appointment at her salon. It might’ve been over seven years ago that he moved to New York City, but she wasn’t prepared to talk to him. Maybe she never would be… Too much had happened between them. Although her anger had disappeared years ago, the wondering what might have been never went away. Cash had a right to pursue his dream, just as she had. The problem was she’d had no idea that dream involved moving across the country. If only he’d told her earlier…before she’d opened Atlanta Belles and poured her heart and soul into the business. Had he really expected her to give it up? She’d often wondered that over the years. Maybe asking her to go with him had been a ruse. Maybe he’d known she wouldn’t and that gave him an easy way out of their engagement. She’d probably never know the answer to that. However, cold feet and the offer of a lifetime was most likely what had happened.
Cash’s dad had died when he was a boy, leaving his Uncle Hunter as his only male role model, so it really wasn’t that much of a surprise that Cash took him up on his offer to join the mega-successful Galloway Realty Group. What was shocking was that he’d taken so long to tell her.
Whitney took the last bite of her sandwich, swallowing hard as she pushed those painful memories aside. There was no way out of it. She was going to see Cash tomorrow, so she’d better come to grips with it.
After she cleaned up the kitchen, Whitney took Clarice outside to do her business, then made sure all the doors were locked before heading back upstairs. Although she felt drained and wanted nothing more than to climb into bed, she took a shower first, letting the hot water wash away some of her stress.
As Whitney combed through her long blonde hair, she glanced at the photo on her dressing table. Mattie’s hair was brown like her father’s. She had his blue eyes too. But she had Whitney’s pale skin tone and wide smile.
Whit set the comb down and picked up the picture. The house was so quiet without the little six-year-old running around, and Whitney missed her terribly. She’d only been gone a few nights and had nine more to go. It was going to be torture being away from her for so long, but Mattie had begged to go to overnight camp with her best friend, so how could Whitney refuse? Besides, she’d remembered how much she’d loved going to the same camp as a child. And it was just two hours north of Atlanta, so if Mattie needed her for any reason, she could hop in the car and be there soon. She doubted that would be the case, though. Mattie had the same strong, independent streak as she did.
She ran her finger over her daughter’s cute button nose, then set the frame back down on the dressing table. It was a good thing Mattie was at camp, because Whitney had no idea how to tell her that her father was in town. And she certainly had no idea how to broach the subject with Cash.
***Excerpt of FROM NOW ON by Raine English, Magnolias and Moonshine Series, Volume 14…***
Afterword
The Sassy Bride by Ciara Knight
Her Hero by Hildie McQueen
Hurricane Bride by Beth Williamson
The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler
Sweet Love of Mine by Lindi Peterson
Moon Over Atlanta by Kymber Morgan
Georgia on My Mind by Amanda McIntyre
It Could Happen to Us by Lucy McConnell
SEAL You in My Dreams by Sharon Hamilton
Magnolia Mystic by Lisa Kessler
Anxious in Atlanta by Kristen Osbourne
Southern Secrets by Susan Carlisle
Out-lanta by Tina DeSalvo
From Now On by Raine English
Sweet Georgia Peach by Amelia Adams
Maybe Baby by E. E. Burke
A Kiss is Just a Kiss by Melinda Curtis
Heat Wave by Merry Farmer
Taste of Tara by Shanna Hatfield
Hit and Run Love by Jennifer Peel
About the Author
USA Today bestselling author Kirsten Osbourne knows how to write romance. Each book is an experience that transplants the reader, indulging them in decadence, intense emotion and sweeping love.
Hailing from the state of Wisconsin, she has lived in Texas for over thirty years as a mother, writer, and wife. Married to the love of her life for more than fifteen years, she knows that true love exists and shares that vision with the world.
She writes contemporary and historical romance as well and also ventures into the realm of paranormal romance. She invites you to join her in her world of fantasy, love, and make believe, no matter the location, where there is always a happily ever after at the end.
@AuthorKOsbourne
Kirsten Osbourne
kirstenandmorganna.com
Anxious in Atlanta: At the Altar Book 12 (A Magnolias and Moonshine Novella 11) Page 9