The City Girl's Homecoming

by Kathy Douglass

  A smarter man would have kept her at a distance, but no one had ever accused his of being all that smart. Besides, how was he supposed to determine if she had what it took to stick around if he was never around her? And truthfully, the more time they spent together, the more he was convinced that she intended to make Spring Forest her permanent home.

  He held her for a long moment, then gently set her away from him and helped her into the truck. They drove to his house in companionable silence. He got the fire going in the grill, then helped Megan prepare the side dishes. They’d spent time together the past week and had joint meal preparation down to a science. Once the flames had died down, he put the steaks on the rack. The sizzle preceded the aroma by a few seconds and his stomach rumbled. While the steaks cooked, he took a seat at the patio table. Megan lit the candles on the table and then sat down beside him.

  “How is your business coming?” Megan asked.

  “Good. I got two more email inquiries in response to some advertising.”

  “Really? That’s great. Are you going to be able to get them what they need?”

  He nodded with satisfaction. “Yep. One is a catering company that specializes in corporate events, and the other is a new restaurant with twelve tables. Each business is small enough that I can handle everything on my own for the time being. I think I have a good system in place, but working with small, local businesses like these will help me work out all of the bugs. I want to make sure that I haven’t missed anything important before I start adding more clients.”

  Megan jumped up and squeezed him around the neck, then kissed his cheek. “I’m so happy for you. Once people get a taste of your food, they’ll be lining up around the block to buy it.”

  “You’re a bit biased, but I hope you’re right.”

  “Of course I’m right. I’m a woman.”

  He laughed, then told her more about his potential clients before checking the steaks. “Two more minutes ought to do it.”

  “Okay.” She went inside and brought out the salads and a pitcher of lemonade and set them on the table. Although he drank the occasional beer, he wasn’t much of a drinker. Megan didn’t drink alcoholic beverages at all. But then, given the way her family had been killed, he wasn’t surprised. In her situation, he wouldn’t drink intoxicating beverages either.

  The steaks were done so he put them on the plates beside the pasta salad. Once they’d begun to eat, he looked up at her. “Anything new and exciting going on in your life?”

  She frowned. “Well, it’s not necessarily new or exciting, but my landlord is selling the house that he’s renting to me.”

  “Wow. When?”

  “He’s going to put it on the market in about three weeks.”

  “That doesn’t give you much time to find something else.”

  “No. But he has offered to sell it to me if I’m interested in it.”

  “So, what are you going to do? Are you thinking about buying it?”

  “I’m not sure. I like the house, but it seems like a big commitment. And it’s so permanent. I’ve made so many changes in my life recently. I’m still trying to get my bearings. I’m not sure if buying the house would be the right thing to do right now. On the other hand, if I don’t, I’ll have to find another place to live. That’ll be a hassle.” She sighed. “I’m not sure what’s right for me.”

  As he listened, his hopes sank. She thought buying the house would be too permanent? Did that mean she wanted to be able to pick up and move again? If not, then why was she struggling to decide? To his way of thinking, it was an easy decision. If she really wanted to commit to living in Spring Forest, she’d buy the house. She’d told him that she liked it and that it felt welcoming. True, buying a house was a big deal, but it made more sense than renting for years.

  One thing was clear to him—she wanted to keep her options open—including the choice to leave the town and him behind.

  “What do you think I should do?”

  Buy the house and stay with me.

  “I can’t make that decision for you.” He’d tried to convince Deadra to stay and she’d ignored his pleas. For all her talk of being in love with him and wanting to spend her life by his side, she’d forgotten about him fast enough. She’d barely taken off his ring before she’d put on one from another man. Then she’d jumped on the first jet to Chicago and hadn’t looked back. Not that he was waiting to hear from her. When he was done with a relationship, he put the woman in the past. Deadra was securely in his past. But the lessons she’d taught him wouldn’t be fading anytime soon.

  “I don’t expect you to make the decision for me. But we’re friends. And friends discuss things and give their opinions. I promise I won’t blame you if it doesn’t work out. I just want to know what you think.”

  “Okay. I think you should buy the house.”

  She nodded. Her expression didn’t change so he didn’t know whether he’d given her the answer she’d wanted. But he’d given her an honest answer.

  “Okay. Why? I’ll probably put a pro and con list together, so I need all the arguments we can think of.”

  “That makes sense. Right off the top of my head I can think of several reasons. It’s a nice house and you seem happy there. It’s close to your job. And you won’t have to try and find another place to live, which you described as a hassle.”

  “Those are valid points. Thank you.”

  She picked up her knife and fork and began to tackle her dinner once more. “This has got to be the best steak that I’ve eaten in my life. Maybe you should think about handling both ends of the farm-to-table business and open your own restaurant.”

  “I don’t think my new client would appreciate the competition.”

  “Probably not.”

  He wanted to talk more about her thought process as it related to buying the house, but he didn’t want to press her. Besides, he wasn’t sure how he would react if she said that she was leaning toward not buying the house. He knew he might be reading more into this decision than he should. Not buying the house didn’t mean she had one foot out the door. It might mean she wasn’t looking to buy real estate right now. He needed to calm down. He had to stop comparing her to Deadra, who had never been happy in Spring Forest.

  * * *

  Megan managed to keep the conversation light as she finished her dinner and dessert even as Cade’s words echoed in her mind. He wanted her to buy the house, thereby making a long-term commitment to live somewhere else. She’d thought they were growing closer. By necessity they’d spent time together while they took care of the cats and dogs. But they’d also begun to confide in each other. She’d told him things she hadn’t shared with anyone else, baring her soul. And he’d done the same. She’d begun to imagine them falling in love and maybe eventually getting married. Then she would move into his house on the farm, where they would live happily-ever-after. She’d have a family again.

  Once more she’d let her imagination get the best of her. They weren’t going to be together on his farm or anywhere else. Not if he wanted her to live in town.

  How many times was she going to be rejected before she learned her lesson? Each of her foster families had used her and then turned her away. And then Tim and his family had done the same. Oh, they hadn’t used her, but they’d kicked her out of the family and forgotten she’d ever existed. Each time she’d thought she’d found a family again, reality slapped her in the face. She wasn’t wanted.

  Maybe it was time to let that dream go once and for all and be satisfied with what she had. And she had a lot.

  She had good friends who she could count on in a pinch. Friends who liked being around her and who made her laugh. Not everyone could say that. Though she’d wanted him to be more, she could still count Cade as a friend. Maybe it was time to do that and stop expecting more from him.

  “Dinner was delicious. I know you
have to get up early and so do I. If you don’t mind, I’ll stop by before I go to work in the morning and pick up the dogs. That way I can get them to the shelter as soon as it opens. If I wait to come out here until after work, it’ll be too late.”

  “Why don’t I bring them around lunchtime? That way it’ll save you a trip.”

  “Can you call me when you get there so I can meet you?”

  “Don’t you trust me?” He winked so she knew he was joking.

  “Of course. I just want to tell them goodbye.” And she wanted to let them know that they would be okay in the shelter, and that it would lead to them finding wonderful new homes. She hadn’t had anyone to reassure her of that when she’d been moved from house to house. After a while she’d taken to reassuring herself as she stood on a strange doorstep, all her earthly goods in a bag at her feet. Those carefully chosen words of comfort hadn’t always been true for her, but maybe the dogs will be luckier.

  “I’ll call you when I get there.”

  He didn’t say as much as he dropped her at her car. As she drove away, she thought about how he’d wanted her to buy the house, and she couldn’t help wondering if she would ever be loved.

  That thought haunted her dreams, and for the first time since she’d moved to Spring Forest, she was plagued by nightmares. After tossing and turning most of the night, she rose with the sun and went to work early. Working was preferable to dwelling on the fact that Cade was never going to love her.

  She took a quick shower, toasted a bagel and brewed green tea, which she poured into her I Heart New York travel mug. The drive to the office was quick. As expected, the lights were off when she arrived, but that wasn’t a problem. Daniel had given her a key soon after she’d started to work for him. Juggling her briefcase and mug, she unlocked the door and turned on the light in the reception area before entering her office. While waiting for her computer to boot, she scanned her calendar for the week. When her eyes hit Saturday, she saw that she’d scribbled a note about a black tie fundraiser that would be held in Raleigh. The tickets were a gift from a client and she’d been waffling about whether or not to attend. At the time she’d been given the tickets, she’d been new to town and hadn’t known a soul. Now she wondered if Cade would go with her if she asked.

  She could absolutely picture Cade dressed in a tuxedo. With his broad shoulders, muscular chest and narrow waist, he would easily be the best-looking man there. That is, if he went with her. But first she had to invite him. Would she? That was the question. Of course she would. They were friends. She’d ask him this afternoon when the met at the shelter. But wondering whether or not he would agree to accompany her tied her stomach in knots.

  She forced that worry aside and got to work. She was busy finalizing the paperwork for the Whitaker sisters to give to the prosecutor so he could file charges against their brother when Emma stuck her head in.

  “Hey, you’re here awfully early.”

  Megan smiled and waved at her friend to come on in. “I was up early and didn’t see a need to putter around the house when there was work to be done. Besides, I need to run by the pet shelter around noon to drop off a couple of dogs. I’m not sure how long that’ll take, so I figured I’d get as much work done now as I could.”

  “How many animals have gone to the shelter so far?”

  “These two make nine out of sixteen. That only leaves seven on Cade’s farm.”

  Emma raised her eyebrows. “Cade, is it? Sounds like the two of you are getting closer.”

  Megan laughed. “Maybe.”

  “So you no longer think he’s the grumpiest man in Spring Forest.”

  Megan had forgotten she’d said that. “No. I just needed to get to know him better. And he needed to get to know me.”

  After looking at her watch, Emma stood. “Good. I need to get to work. I’ll see you later.”

  Megan’s morning went smoothly, but she jumped in anticipation each time her phone rang. Silly as it was, she watched the clock as she waited for Cade to call. She had it bad and as the old saying went, that wasn’t good. Despite her nerves, she did manage to have three intelligent business conversations, one with another attorney and two with clients.

  Promptly at noon her phone rang. Her voice was breathless as she said hello and she pinched herself, hoping the pain would chase away the nerves.

  “Hi. I’m on my way to the shelter. I should be there in a few minutes. Don’t rush, I’ll wait for you to get there.” Unlike hers, Cade’s voice was strong and steady.

  “I’m leaving now.”

  “See you then. Bye.”

  “Bye.” She hung up the phone. She’d hoped for something more personal. He hadn’t even asked how her day was going. Still, it was ridiculous to be disappointed. They didn’t need to have a long conversation now. They’d see each other in under half an hour.

  Megan grabbed the paperwork she needed to drop off to the Whitaker sisters and tossed it into her briefcase. She’d talked to them this morning to let them know she would be bringing by the documents today. Megan had kept her promise and hadn’t put pressure on Birdie or Bunny. In fact, she hadn’t mentioned it again. Perhaps Doc J had talked to them about it. He had been really concerned about their welfare. Whatever the catalyst, Megan was glad they’d reached this decision. No one should get away with taking advantage of these two sweet women. Birdie and Bunny protected animals and helped them find their forever homes. The sisters deserved to be protected as well.

  She waved to Emma and headed for the shelter. As she got nearer, butterflies began fluttering in her stomach. This was getting ridiculous. Cade wasn’t the first man she’d ever been attracted to. Tim had been good-looking and she’d found him quite appealing. Yet despite the fact that he’d been her fiancé, she’d never reacted to him this way. She was positively giddy in anticipation of seeing Cade again.

  And it was more than the physical attraction she felt for Cade. It was everything about him. It was the way he took care of his father and included Reginald in his life. It was the way he cared for Mrs. Crockett’s animals when he was under no obligation to do so. It was the way he listened to her and held her in his arms after she’d broken down. Cade’s kindness was even more attractive than his gorgeous body, which was saying something. Was it any wonder she was falling in love with him?

  She inhaled deeply as the thought reverberated in her mind. Did she just think that she was falling in love with Cade Battle? It was okay if she liked and admired him. She didn’t even mind if she had a crush on him. But she didn’t like thinking she was in love with him. Not when he wasn’t thinking along the same lines.

  Sure, he’d kissed her a couple of times. If she was fifteen or sixteen she might make the mistake of thinking that meant he felt something special for her. But she was twenty-eight and knew better than to read more into a few kisses than was intended. A kiss wasn’t a commitment to her. That he wanted her to buy a house was proof that he wasn’t trying to establish a long-term relationship with her. If he’d been interested in her he wouldn’t want her to settle into a home somewhere else. He’d want her with him. Which was why she couldn’t start thinking about falling in love with him. They were friends, just friends.

  Despite her lecture to keep her cool, Megan touched up her lipstick and brushed her hair before she got out of the car. Cade wasn’t there yet, so she went inside the shelter. After talking with the volunteer at the desk, she went to the back where the animals were being housed. They all looked happy and well cared for. They were clean and appeared healthy. She knew Tiny and Gumball would be safe and loved while they waited for their new families to find them. She couldn’t ask for more.

  “Hey.”

  Megan jumped and turned at the sound of Cade’s voice. He was dressed in his customary jeans and long-sleeved shirt. Even though she’d been expecting him, her heart began to pound in her chest. “Hi.”

 
Tiny and Gumball were on leashes beside him, and she knelt down and gave each dog a hug. She felt her eyes well with tears. She tried to blink them back but a couple of them fell. This wasn’t going to be easy.

  “Hey, they’re going to be fine. They’re going to find their forever homes and be loved for the rest of their lives.”

  She sniffed. “I know that. I was just telling myself the same thing. That’s why I don’t understand why I’m reacting this way.”

  “No? I do.” He wiped a tear from her cheek. “It’s because you love them.”

  “I do. And I’m going to miss them.”

  “So will I. Which is why it’s important that we all get the opportunity to say goodbye.”

  “Thanks for being here.”

  “Of course.”

  The dogs began licking her face. Laughter bubbled up inside her and she sat on the floor, not caring if her black suit pants got dirty. Never in her life would she have imagined such a scene. Tiny climbed on her lap and she rubbed him, then gave him a big hug. Not to be outdone, Gumball nudged her elbow until she lifted her arm and let him join in the group hug.

  Megan held them for a while, rubbing their soft fur and scratching behind their ears. “I’m going to miss you guys so much.”

  They barked in reply, then jumped off her lap. Apparently their goodbyes had been said and they were ready to start the next adventure in their lives. Cade gave them a last rub and then helped Megan to her feet. Instead of letting go of her hand as she had expected, he held on and gave it a gentle squeeze. A teenage volunteer had joined them while they were saying goodbye, and he stood by silently. Cade handed the kid the leashes, and Megan watched as the teen led the dogs to the back of the shelter where they’d live until their new families found them.