by Lisa Hughey
Although she was working for her Fairy Tale companies full time and no longer involved in the day-to-day dealings of her dad’s office, Tracy had used her short experience as a waitress living on a very tight budget to champion for wage equality. She’d convinced her father to change his position on several issues.
She was going to start working on her brother next.
“Already planning your pitch to the newly elected representative?”
“You know it.”
Colt tugged her into the living room and onto her favorite French settee, which they’d moved from her condo in Boston. He pulled her onto his lap and nuzzled her neck. “How was your afternoon?”
She leaned against him with a trust that still took her off guard. “I spent the entire afternoon on Zoom meetings and interviews.”
The app was going gangbusters. She was planning on taking the company public so that they could change the business model to reach more people. She’d convinced her board to start another offshoot business, childcare for single parents going on dates. They were still working out details, like insurance and what to name that branch.
She was hiring new CEOs left and right to run each individual business, while she retained control over the wedding planning business.
The Thayer Family Foundation had also begun funding for women without a safety net.
They were searching for organizations who would benefit from their grant money. She’d also discussed with her parents that she wanted to direct policy but not run the foundation. They were looking to hire someone to help out her mother, who would ultimately take over the director position so that Tracy could also have a personal life.
Tracy had spent quite a bit of time talking to her mother. She’d never understand her choices, but her mother was happy for Tracy and she’d told her to put her relationship first.
“Don’t forget. After our meeting with Preston, we’ve got dinner at the Speakeasy with Phoebe and Sam and Audrey and Griff.”
The doorbell rang.
Colt lifted her to her feet and then headed for their bedroom. “I’ll just change out of this suit and be right back.”
As the weather grew colder, he’d switched out his cargo shorts and short-sleeved Henleys for jeans and flannel shirts. But he still wore that bit of scruff on his face.
But her absolute favorite outfit was his chef jacket. Every time he wore it, she felt a swell of gratitude and hope for the future. Besides the fact that he cooked incredible meals just for her on a regular basis, he was cooking for himself again. And his vibe was happy and engaged.
Some days she felt as if she were living in a fairy tale.
The kind she’d dreamed of when she was younger. Except now she knew that wasn’t quite right.
Because a fairy tale was a fantasy. Falling in love was just the beginning. Working out the kinks in a true relationship took time, effort, compromise. And most of all love.
Colt
A few hours later, a gust of wind ushered them into the Speakeasy.
The blackboard sign at the entrance read: “Life is a one-time offer, use it well.”
Kaitlyn, one of the new hostesses, seated them at a table near the stage.
They waved to some regulars at the bar and Tracy told him about her day while they waited for everyone else to arrive.
Watching her talk animatedly, Colt let the swell of love roll through him. The most favorite part of his day was the end when they chatted about what they’d done.
Moving in together full time hadn’t been without its challenges. Tracy had more makeup and beauty supplies than all his sisters combined. And she was not neat. Her stuff covered every available inch of counter in the small bathroom.
But he loved to sit and watch her get ready in the morning.
Then once she was all put together, he would frequently tug her back to bed and proceed to untidy her. Melding their lives had taken compromise on both their parts, but he was one hundred percent all in. He hadn’t even thought about a drink or cigarettes. They didn’t keep any liquor in the house, but they were frequent patrons of the Speakeasy.
Matteo poured a glass of Sancerre for Tracy and an iced tea for Colt and plopped a lemon in it.
You could take the girl out of France but not the France out of the girl. He was planning to surprise her for Christmas. He’d gotten them tickets to Paris in the spring, and if all went according to plan, he would propose to her at his favorite restaurant.
But that was for the future.
“I had an idea for Thanksgiving. Why don’t I see if we can rent the upstairs for our family dinner? There’s plenty of space to spread out and I can use their kitchen since ours might be under construction.” At last count, they were up to twenty-four people.
“Oh! I love that.” She tapped her lips, already planning. “I was going to check with Mrs. Beasley and see if we can put everyone up at the Three Bears.”
He wanted to be around for the meeting between Mrs. Beasley and her parents. “That would be…interesting.”
“True story.” She laughed and changed the subject. “Can’t wait to see what Belle has for specials tonight.”
While she studied the menu board, Colt took a deep breath. His heart was pounding and his hands were a little unsteady.
He was unaccountably nervous. Maybe he should have done this at home, but he thought that giving her this gift at the Speakeasy was only fitting.
“I have a surprise for you.” Not the Paris tickets. Those he would definitely give her in private.
“A surprise,” she said slowly.
His girl was not a fan of being surprised but in this case he thought she would be okay. Turned out that planning really was her nature. She liked to be able to consider all the different angles of a situation before making a decision.
Becoming Cee-Cee had allowed her to relax some, but she couldn’t completely turn off that part of her personality.
“I got the mock-up of the labels.” Colt had been developing recipes for gluten-free savory and sweet sauces and luxurious spice rubs with exotic ingredients based on his travels and kitchen experiences.
He had also expanded his garden, digging larger plots to plant vegetables and herbs for test recipes. Whatever he didn’t use would go to Noah at the food bank. It was win-win for everyone.
He handed her the envelope with the sample labels.
He loved how they turned out.
She pulled them out of the envelope, then raised her gaze to his. “Cee-Cee’s Kitchen?”
He’d thought long and hard about names and meanings and his life’s purpose. “Yes.”
He loved everything about the labels. The graphic designer had created a logo depicting a small whisk topped with a princess crown and leaning against a larger whisk wearing a chef’s jacket and toque.
“But…I don’t cook.”
“If Cee-Cee hadn’t come along, neither would I.”
She was already shaking her head. “You would have gotten back in the kitchen eventually.”
He wasn’t so sure.
Now Colt was still catering some events but as the business grew, people were bringing in their own chefs. Word was, Alec had a line on a catering manager. Which thrilled him. He’d done a few client meetings but they definitely were not his forte.
He hadn’t completely changed and sometimes he had to dig deep to find his patience.
Colt reached for her hand and laced their fingers together. He brushed a kiss over her knuckles. “Cee-Cee gave me the impetus to start living again.”
“I’m so grateful every day that I decided to stop in Colebury.”
“Best decision ever.” A little over a year ago he’d been at rock bottom. Sick and sick at heart and he’d stayed that way, a grumpy hermit who had no desire to wander outside his small existence. Until this crazy, sweet, big-hearted woman had stopped in the Speakeasy—by chance—on the same afternoon as him and somehow burrowed into his life.
She was nothing like his f
irst impression. “I love you.”
She flushed. Like she did every time he said it. As if she still couldn’t believe it. He would spend every day of the rest of his life proving to her how much he loved her.
“I love you too,” she said softly, love shimmering in her blue eyes.
“Our life might not be fairy tales and roses and woodland animals singing but—”
“It’s perfect,” she defended hotly.
“It’s perfect for us.”
T H E
E N D
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Thank you for reading Sideways by Lisa Hughey! There’s also a bonus epilogue, and you can get it right here.
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You can get all the links to the next Speakeasy books right here. Or turn the page for more great recommendations for Lisa Hughey and World of True North titles!
You Will Also Enjoy…
The Speakeasy Series:
Touchstone by Karen Stivali
Heartwood by J.H. Croix
Homecoming by Rebecca Norinne
Wildflower by Mae Wood
Firefly by Krystyna Allyn
Starlight by Christine DePetrillo
Stargazer by Wendy S. Marcus
Safeguard by Stephanie Rose
Lisa Hughey’s Books Include:
How did high school friends, Britt and Pete, get together after connecting at their high school reunion?
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She Feels Like Home, Book 3 of the Billionaire Breakfast Club Series
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Want to find out how Tracy set up D’Andre and Elise?
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Everything He Wants, Book 2 of the Billionaire Breakfast Club Series
Acknowledgments
Thank you to Sarina Bowen for allowing me to participate in the True North world. Working on the Speakeasy series has been so much fun.
Thanks as always to Deb Nemeth for being an awesome editor!
Thanks to the BBB for our weekly motivational sessions. I am grateful to have you in my life.
Thanks to my family. I love you all.
Last, but not least, thanks to Jane, Jenn, and Natasha at Heart Eyes Press for the information and guidance. You are awesome.
