“When did you see her?”
Chase gestured to the barn. “While you were locked in your mad scientist workshop, I was schmoozing your girl.”
Nothing could have ticked Adam off more.
Chase immediately started laughing. It was a loud, knee-smacking laugh. “I’m just kidding. Chiiill.”
“You better tell me what game you’re playing.”
“I’m not playing a game. I went there to apologize last night.”
“Oh.” Some of the “ram your head into the counter” anger dissipated. “What did she say?”
Chase waited.
Adam could tell he liked playing this game with him. “Spill it.”
“She said you hurt her the most … because she thought you were being real.”
Like a sucker punch, the words knocked the wind right out of him. “Oh.”
Chase shook his head. “I don’t know what kind of apology you got planned, but you better do it quick if you want a chance.”
Adam thought about what Chase said. He realized he could use Chase’s help to do what he wanted to do for her. “Come on, bro. You’re going to help me with that apology.”
Chapter 29
As she closed up the shop and started putting away the flowers, Destiny had to admit she was a bit sad to be leaving.
It wasn’t just because her aunt and uncle and the whole town had been so good to her. Things between her and Adam felt unfinished. On some level, she’d been grateful when she’d seen the extra credit assignment show up in her in box. She’d done it, and sent it back to him. He’d informed her she had an A. So at least there was that. She would get to go on her exchange next year. She would have fun, play with her friends, and see Europe.
Why was there a nagging tug in her chest?
Something told her she should have done the art program. She should have at least applied for it. She looked at her watch. It was too late now.
After she finished putting away the flowers and locking up, she went to the back parking lot and saw that her aunt and the whole family had gathered there. Tears filled her eyes. She hugged each of them.
Uncle John checked his watch. “Stay one more night, Dez.”
“C’mon, come to church with us.”
She wanted to. She held each of the boys, but she knew it wouldn’t be any easier to leave tomorrow. Plus, her heart was vulnerable at the moment, and she didn’t know what to do about that. “Love you guys, and I’ll see you next month. I promise.”
An hour later, Destiny got to her apartment. She was relieved no one was there. Her friends weren’t coming back until tomorrow night, so she had the whole evening to relax, take a bath, and read. It felt heavenly.
She took her stuff inside, unpacked, and started some laundry. Then she went around the apartment, tidying up a bit.
She ran the bath, and as she was about to peel off her clothes and slip in, her mother called. She decided to do something she rarely did: she answered it.
“Destiny?” Her mother sounded surprised she’d answered.
“Hey, mom.” She turned off the bath.
“Have you seen the email?”
She frowned. What email?
“Destiny!” Her mother demanded with more panic and zeal than normal.
“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
“How could you not … oh my gosh! Destiny, the website is beautiful.”
Now she was completely confused. “What are you talking about?” she demanded.
Her mother was actually weeping now. Destiny could hear the sniffs and high hiccups.
“Mom, what?”
“You got into the art program in Paris!”
“What?” There had to be some misunderstanding.
More hiccups and weeping. “Oh, precious baby, I love that picture of the Easter mural. Your aunt told me you’d done it. It is gorgeous.”
She froze. Her heart racing, she went to her computer and flipped it open. “Send me the email.”
But her mother didn’t need to because it was in her inbox, too. Destiny opened the acceptance letter and then clicked on the website that she’d supposedly submitted. It showed all of her artwork from Aunt Faith’s house in banners across the top and bottom, and it displayed the Easter mural right in the middle.
Tears stung her eyes. Adam. She knew it had to have been him. No one else could have done it. She sniffed.
“Destiny,” her mother demanded. “Didn’t you know about this? How?”
“I gotta go, Mom. Love you, call you later.”
Destiny shut her computer and instantly went to Adam’s number and pressed it. Straight to voicemail. So she called the one person she knew would know where he was. “Yello,” Chase said after the first ring.
“Chase.” She was slightly out of breath from rushing around, getting her keys, and putting on her shoes.
“You’re already coming back to me?”
She grinned. “You wish.”
He laughed.
“Where’s your brother?”
He hesitated. “I’m guessing you saw his fancy website.”
“You knew?”
“Pshaw, we’re brothers. We know everything about each other.”
“Chase,” she pressed.
“Well, he is probably at the science lab, because it’s so quiet on a long break and he said he needed to get some GRE practicing in.”
“He’s here?”
Chase sighed. “He said there wasn’t any point in him hanging around in Snow Valley if I was feeling better—which I thought was quite offensive, if I may point out. Isn’t it enough just to want to bask in my presence?”
“Uh-huh.” Her mind was whirling with questions. “And he did the website?”
Chase sighed. “Look, why don’t you just go talk to him?”
“No.” She couldn’t. Not after what he’d done for her. She had to do something … more.
“Why?”
But she was already forming a plan. “Chase, remember that favor you owe me? Do you have a spare key to your apartment here?”
“The apartment? Yeah, under the turtle on the front porch. Why?”
“‘Cause I want to surprise him.”
“Oh, now you’re talking.”
“Could you text me your address and then text Adam in an hour and tell him you’ve come back and you need some help?”
Chase let out a barking laugh. “Oh man, he’s gonna be ticked.”
“I know.” Destiny grinned. She knew she would find Adam Moon, and she’d get that kiss if it was the last thing she did.
Chapter 30
Adam wasn’t good at waiting for things. His brother had often told him he’d never have cut it in rodeo, because waiting before you go on is the longest couple minutes of your life. Adam would have gotten tired of it and chucked the whole thing. Probably true, Adam mused.
He pulled up the website he’d made for Destiny again. It was done with black as the base color, which made all the portraits he’d uploaded pop even more. He’d pinned the portraits at the top, and the landscapes scrolled across as banners on the bottom. He’d even found a picture of her off of Facebook and uploaded it to the bio. Her aunt Faith had helped him write the content.
When Destiny had said she had to have her portfolio uploaded by a certain date, and then everything had fallen apart, all he’d been able to think of was doing this for her. Helping her.
As Chase had helped him pull the pictures out of the frames and snap photos of them, he’d repeatedly reminded Adam it was totally contrary to how he normally was. Chase had been as excited as he was. Adam could tell. Something had changed in Chase; he seemed more at peace after getting closure.
Adam still wished he would have just run after Destiny and grabbed her and kissed her good and long that morning at the hospital. Maybe he’d look her up. Or show up at her apartment. He’d found her address on Facebook, which he wanted to talk to her about. She shouldn’t keep so much personal information o
nline.
He checked his own email, wondering if he’d get into the new grad school he’d applied to for next year. It hadn’t been a school that he’d ever thought about before, but lately, his life seemed full of new surprises.
Nothing. Of course there’d be nothing; he’d just applied and it was still the weekend.
Focusing, he pulled up the GRE training and dived in.
Fifteen minutes later, the vibration of his phone buzzing pulled Adam out of his GRE training. Yanking out his ear buds, he scowled when he saw his brother’s number. If it wasn’t an emergency, Chase would have simply texted—but calling was never a good sign. “Hey.”
“Sorry to call you.”
Concern filled Adam. It wasn’t like Chase to apologize for anything. “What’s wrong?”
Chase moaned.
“What?” Adam began gathering his GRE materials together and shoving them in his backpack. He didn’t want to drive back to Snow Valley tonight … but if his brother needed him, that’s what he’d be doing.
“I shouldn’t have driven to Billings tonight. I’m feeling a little woozy.”
“You’re here?”
“I’m at the house, but my head starts to spin when I sit up.”
Tugging the zipper into place, Adam slung it over his shoulder and grabbed his ear buds, shoving them inside his jeans pocket. “Hang tight, I’m headed your way.”
“Sorry.”
It wasn’t fine, but brothers had a code. “Don’t worry about it.”
He pushed the end button and quickly took the steps down to the first floor. He slipped out the door and started into a jog toward his car. It wasn’t like Chase to call over silly aches and pains. His brother had been rodeoing so long, Adam couldn’t count the number of times Chase had been banged up … but Chase wasn’t a wimp.
Getting in his car, Adam zoomed out of campus and toward the small older home he shared with Chase. It was already dark out, and Adam glanced at the car dash. Eight-thirty. He’d planned on studying until midnight, but that obviously wasn’t happening.
He pushed away his worry about keeping to his practice schedule and focused on Chase. Why had he driven all the way to Billings, anyway? He’d told Adam he was going to stay for church and then say hello to his parents before heading back. Someone had to take care of the farm stuff. And now Adam wondered who was going to milk the cows tonight.
Frustration built inside of him. Why had Chase left? He should have just stuck to the plan. He’d probably had to ask Mr. Haven for help. Adam’s mind flashed instantly to Destiny. The topic he’d been trying not to think about all day.
Slowing, he turned into their driveway and noticed the blinds were closed, but there was a glow inside the house. Turning off the car, he pushed out the door and grabbed his bag. If Chase was okay, he could still do a couple test practices. He took the deck steps two at a time, almost not noticing the rose petals that were in front of the door.
Then he stopped, staring at a huge pile of rose petals on the mat. He narrowed his eyes and pushed the door open. “What in the heck are you doing—?”
He saw her. Destiny. She stood next to their tiny table for two. A white tablecloth was draped over it, and a candle sat in the center.
All the breath went out of him.
The side of her lip quirked up. “Hey.”
He looked around. “Where’s Chase?”
She didn’t move. “He’s in Snow Valley.”
“What?”
“He’s fine.”
Adam took in the way Destiny was dressed: the same tall chunky heels she wore in the flower shop the day she called him for help, her hair down and long, a turquoise dress. She was beautiful—the most beautiful girl he’d ever known. And it wasn’t just the way she looked. It was everything about her.
She grinned. “We missed the Easter ball tonight.”
He stammered. “I didn’t know if you’d still want to go.”
Turning, she picked up a large, poster-sized canvas covered with a sheet. She propped it on the table. “I brought something for you.”
His heart hammered inside his chest. “For me?” Tentatively, he took a step closer.
She nodded. “For you.” She pulled off the sheet.
It was him. Throwing the football, his arm cocked back, his eyes determined. But … it was more than him. It was a better version of him. Strong. Fierce.
He glanced back to Destiny. Tears were streaming down her face. “You forgot this picture for the website,” she managed to say.
He couldn’t help the emotion in his throat. Staring at her, Adam knew he would never be the same. Before, he’d known that she was different, that he had feelings for her. But he didn’t know he loved her. Not really. Not in the share-your-entire-life kind of way. But he knew now. “I love you,” he blurted.
Then she was in his arms. Before he realized it, he’d dropped his bag and he was holding her, smelling her, enfolding her into him, never wanting to let go.
Pulling back, her eyes fluttered. “Why didn’t you kiss me? What did you mean when you said you didn’t want to win a bet?”
Leaning down, he gently brushed his lips to hers. Fire burned into him.
She grinned and let out a light laugh. “You didn’t answer my question.”
“I wanted you for keeps, not for some stupid bet.”
Her face lit up. She reached up and laced her hands around his neck, pulling him into another kiss.
He loved the way the whole world stopped in this moment. It was just her. And him. Them. Together.
Gently pulling back, he grinned down at her. “You must have gotten in.”
She grinned. “I got in.” She frowned. “But I don’t want to leave you.”
The center of his chest surged with warmth. “Really?”
“Really.”
“What if you don’t have to?”
“What?”
Softly, he touched her hair and then pulled her back into him. “What if I looked online and found that your school has a strong computer science program?”
Yanking back, she laughed. “Are you serious?”
He nodded, loving the excitement in her eyes. “It’s not for sure, but I applied. It’s for a one-year master’s program.”
“No way.”
He held her close. “So it looks like I could be going to Europe next year … that is, if you’ll have me.”
Kissing him, she pulled back. “Only if I get to keep you too.”
He laughed, then got serious, searching her eyes. “Okay, we’ll keep each other.”
Additional Works
By Taylor Hart
Sweet Romance Books
About the Author
Taylor Hart
Taylor Hart has always been drawn to a good love triangle, hot chocolate and long conversations with new friends. Writing has always been a passion that has consumed her dreams and forced her to sit in a trance for long hours, completely obsessed with people that don’t really exist. Taylor would have been a country star if she could have carried a tune—maybe in the next life. Find Taylor at:
www.taylorhartbooks.com │ Twitter: @taylorfaithhart │ Facebook: Taylor Hart
Sealed with a Kiss
Kimberley Montpetit
Chapter 1
The dance studio was stifling and muggy—and it was only the first weekend of March. Pouring rain came down in sheets outside the studio windows, steam rising from the ground. The thick rain and lowering gray clouds of New Orleans made me claustrophobic.
This city called the Big Easy was the extreme opposite from the big skies of Montana where I could see a hundred miles every direction; the air crisp and clear, not cloying and sticky.
But my hometown of Snow Valley was small, confining and gossipy. Emotionally claustrophobic, if not physically.
Pulling at the neckline of my leotard, the fabric peeled away from my skin in sweaty puckers. I gulped down half a bottle of water and practiced the battement turns for the Grand
Pas ensemble dance with the corps de ballet in Act 3 of Swan Lake. The ballet opened the first week of April, right after Easter at the lavish theater, The Orpheum.
Newly redecorated with loads of gold trim, the gorgeous performing theater would feel like we were dancing in Paris itself. I was thrilled to pieces. Swan Lake would be my first full-length production on stage with the New Orleans Company, not in the wings as a second or third extra, but on stage for two weeks and twelve performances.
Flutters caught at my stomach. It still felt unreal, despite the sore muscles and broken toenail I had to tend every night after practice.
The second hand on the old-fashioned wall clock above the practice barre inched forward like a slug.
Two nights ago Pastor James—my James—had flown into town. His fourth trip to New Orleans since we’d begun dating fifteen months ago at Christmas time. I’d gone home a few times to visit him and my family in Snow Valley, but being apart was getting harder and harder. Although I preferred him coming to New Orleans where my mother didn’t hover and we weren’t exposed to the small town’s quirks and blather.
Dating the pastor had its drawbacks.
I had tickets for us to Oak Alley, one of the finest antebellum plantations on River Road for the last four o’clock tour. I’d come into the studio earlier than usual so I could get off a couple hours sooner, but if this rain kept up we wouldn’t be admiring the rose gardens.
I wondered if James wanted to hold a baby gator on the swamp tomorrow.
Male arms suddenly gripped my waist and swung me around the polish wood floor. “Prima ballerina Jessica Mason rises into the air, and then performs a perfect arabesque penché!”
My arabesque leg was straight up toward the ceiling in a split parallel to my body. My torso leaned forward while I stared straight into the eyes of Alonso Bellomini who was down on one knee, his hands firm about my waist. Our faces were so close I could see the gold flecks of color in his brown eyes.
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