Small Town Boss

by Cheryl Michaels

  “You’re just confused. You’re wondering why I blew you off earlier.” She knew they had to talk about her hesitation, so they could move past it. “I get that.”

  “You know I think about you all day, every day,” he said, looking down at her. “I find myself counting down the hours ‘til I can get you alone again.”

  “Me too.” She linked her hands through his.

  “You turn me inside out.” He kissed the tip of her nose, making her giggle. “I lose focus. I lose control. I forget who I was before I met you.”

  Her breath stuttered when his words seeped in. He was telling her that she’d changed him. For the better. And she realized he’d done the same for her. Before, she had been someone’s wife, daughter, mother, teacher, and friend. But she’d forgotten who Claudia was when all of those titles were stripped away. Brady helped her remember.

  Pulling him close, feeling the tension in his body while he wrapped his strong arms around her, she whispered, “You brought me back to life. You know that, don’t you? Before I met you, I was dead inside. You revived me.”

  Brady seemed shocked by her words before he finally smiled. “I want to go on giving life to your dreams. Just tell me how to do that.”

  There were times in her life when she’d felt inexplicable love for another person: when she and her husband exchanged their wedding vows, when she looked into the eyes of her newborn babies for the first time, when she would tuck her kids in and they’d tell her they loved her just before she closed their door…

  But the love she felt for Brady right now was so intense and unexpected it took her breath away. “You already have.” She speared her hands into his hair as she smiled at him. “I dreamed of getting my life back someday, and you’ve given me that.”

  He closed his eyes before lowering his head to the crook of her neck. “I’m so scared you’re going to leave me.”

  Her heart broke when she thought of not being with him. “I can’t imagine leaving you.”

  “Earlier when I told you about my dream for the inn, finding someone to help me run it, not as my business partner, but as my life partner, you kind of shut down on me. What was that about?”

  He had every right to expect an explanation, but she couldn’t put into words the emotions tumbling around inside her when she thought of the scariest word in her vocabulary: forever.

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered. “I just need a minute.”

  “Sure. Take all the time you need.”

  She watched him cross the room and step outside as she tried to collect herself. She knew she had to join him, to say something that would explain what she was thinking and how she was feeling. If she didn’t try to make him understand, he never would, and the gap between them would continue to grow as he became more and more confused and disheartened.

  After taking a few deep breaths she squared her shoulders and stepped outside.

  He was sitting in one of the chairs, staring out at the water.

  “Brady, we need to talk.”

  He looked wary as she sat down beside him. “In my experience, when a woman leads with that, the news is never good.”

  She took a deep breath, staring into his clear blue eyes for a full minute before she said, “I love you.”

  “I love you too, baby.”

  “No, I mean I really love you. I love you the way I’ve loved the people who mean most to me in the world.” She wasn’t sure if she was making any sense, but she hoped she could make him understand. “I understand love, Brady. Some people don’t. But I do. I love my parents and grandparents. I loved my husband. And I loved my kids more than anything.”

  “I know, sweetheart,” he said, reaching for her hand. He ran his thumb over the inside of her wrist. “I know it killed you to lose them.”

  “It did, but that’s not what this is about. This is about us. When I lost them, I thought I could never, ever love like that again. But I was wrong.” Helping her to realize how wrong she was… that was the greatest gift Brady could have given her, whether he realized it or not. “I love you like that.” She rested her hand over his pounding heart, smiling. “You’re one of those people that I would do anything for.”

  “I feel the same way.” He raised her hand, kissing it. “I may not have the kind of experience you do with love. I’ve never been married or had children, but I do love my family, and I know what it means to be willing to go to the mat for someone you care about. I’d sacrifice anything, everything, for you.”

  She couldn’t believe Brady had been in her life such a short time, yet they felt so much for each other. Sometimes it felt scary, but at moments like this, it just felt right, like meeting him had been the next logical step in her life. “I can’t pretend I’m not terrified of being a wife and mother again, because I am.”

  “I understand that. When you lose as much as you did, especially all at once, it has to change you. Forever.”

  “I know it sounds crazy, but I’m having a hard time trusting what we have.”

  He reared back, frowning. “You don’t trust me?”

  “It’s not you,” she said, touching her jaw. “It’s this.”

  “I’m not following.”

  “When I got everything I wanted—the husband, kids, great job—I’m ashamed to admit I may have taken it for granted. I mean, getting married, having kids, getting a job, those are things everyone does, right? They’re not that special.”

  “I don’t know about that,” Brady said. “I think finding the one person you were meant to be with and creating a life from that love is pretty special. I also think that finding something you’re passionate about is pretty special.”

  And because Brady saw things the way she wished she had, she loved him even more.

  “You’re right, and I’ll never take that for granted again.” She pulled him close, inhaling deeply as she hugged him with all her might. “I’ll never take you or us for granted, I promise.”

  “Neither will I.” He kissed her neck.

  “But I will need some time to build trust. Not in you, but in what we have.” She knew that didn’t come out the way she’d intended when she felt him withdraw, shifting back.

  “Okay…”

  “That’s not what I meant.” She sighed. “I had faith that Trevor and I would be taken care of, that nothing bad would happen to us. I know that sounds silly because no one has the right to expect that. Maybe it was because we’d never been touched by tragedy. I’d never had someone close to me die, so I never spent much time thinking about how it would affect me.”

  “It’s not something any of us like to dwell on.” He bit his lip, looking hesitant. “But, sweetheart, you can’t go through life wondering when you’ll lose the people you love. It will happen. Death is inevitable. But so is life. This day, every day, is a gift, and we have to treat it as such.”

  He was right, but she wasn’t quite ready to jump on board just yet. At least not without a lifejacket. “Everything you’re saying makes sense. It does. But—”

  “You need a little more time before we decide where to go from here?”

  She nodded before he kissed her forehead.

  “Lucky for you I’ve got time on my side.”

  Ainsley and Claudia were messing up Shay’s kitchen while she dropped her son off at the high school for a game of pick-up basketball with some friends.

  “Where’s Chase?” Claudia asked, popping their first tray of cupcakes in the oven.

  “Shay said he had to work late, so we’ll have the place to ourselves tonight.”

  “Huh,” Claudia said, reaching for her water. “So you and Dave seemed to be getting pretty friendly at Rusty’s the other night. Did he ask you out?”

  “He did.” Ainsley swiped at a strand of hair stuck to her cheek before breaking a couple of eggs into her cake batter. “But I’m not sure if I’m ready to date yet.”

  “Because of the divorce?”

  “It’s not the divorce.” Ainsley sighed as she sat
on a tall stool at the breakfast bar. “It’s Bryce. Ever since we… reconnected, I haven’t been able to get him out of my head.”

  “Some men have that effect, don’t they?” Claudia said. Brady would undoubtedly fall into that unforgettable category, assuming she ever had to forget him.

  “They sure do.” Ainsley added her premeasured sugar and salt to the mix before combining the ingredients with a wooden spoon. “It’s not that I haven’t tried to forget him. I have, believe me.”

  “But you haven’t been able to?”

  “No.” She sneaked a quick peek at Claudia before she said, “I want to ask you something, but I’m afraid it’ll come off as callous or insensitive.”

  From what Claudia knew of her, Ainsley was sweet and considerate. Claudia couldn’t imagine she would say or do anything to offend her. “Ask.”

  “You’re sure it’s okay?”

  “Positive.”

  “How did you…?” Ainsley shook her head. “No, I can’t. Forget it.”

  “Ainsley, I want us to be friends. But we can’t be if you’re always walking on eggshells around me. So whatever it is, just ask. Please.”

  “Okay.” She bit her lip as she stared into her bowl. “How did you get over your husband? I mean, I know you loved him. So how did you give yourself permission to fall for Brady?” Looking panicked, she said, “I don’t mean to make that sound like a judgment. It’s not, I swear! I envy you. I just want to know how to forget about Bryce so I can get on with my life too.”

  Claudia smiled. “Falling for Brady just kind of happened. I certainly didn’t plan on it. As for forgetting my husband, I haven’t. I never will. But that doesn’t mean the pain won’t diminish with time. I’m sure it will. The memories will fade a little as years pass without seeing his face.”

  Ainsley shook her head. “You’re right. When Bryce left Landon, I thought I’d never get over it.”

  “But you did,” Claudia said, pouring the second half of her batter into the prepared muffin tins. “You met someone else, you fell in love, and you will again. Right now it seems like Bryce is the only man in the world you could ever love, but that’s not the case.”

  “How do you know that for sure?” Ainsley asked, her eyes welling with tears.

  “Because he’s not here, is he?” Claudia hated hurting Ainsley, but she hated even more the idea of her new friend wasting precious time on a man who may never come back. “If he loved you as much as you clearly love him, he’d be here fighting for you. He’d do anything, face anything, to make it work with you.”

  “He’s such a coward!” Ainsley cried, sniffling. “Ugh, I hate him sometimes!”

  “We must be talking about Bryce,” Shay said, walking into the kitchen.

  “Hey, I didn’t hear the door,” Ainsley said, reaching for a paper napkin. “When did you sneak in?”

  “Just in time to hear you speak the truth.” She gave her friend a level look. “He’s not worth it. You know that, so why waste your tears on him?”

  Claudia knew that Bryce was still Chase’s best friend and business partner, so it couldn’t be easy for Shay to speak out against him.

  “No more!” Ainsley said, squaring her shoulders. “I don’t care if I ever see him again.”

  “Um, you will. Sooner rather than later,” Shay said, reaching into the fridge for a bottle of water.

  “What are you talking about?” Ainsley asked, wide-eyed, as she grabbed Shay’s arm. “He’s not back in town, is he?”

  “No, but he will be,” Shay said, bringing the glass to her lips. “For the wedding.”

  “The wedding?” Ainsley’s mouth dropped open before she snapped it shut again. “You and Chase have finally set a date? When are you getting married?”

  “The last Saturday in August.”

  “Surely you’re not talking about next month,” Ainsley said, looking stunned. “You can’t possibly plan a wedding in that amount of time.”

  “Why not?” Shay asked, looking smug. “We already knew we were going to have it at the inn and Brady gave us the go-ahead. It just so happens my best friend is a florist, so I’m pretty sure she can set us up with flowers.” She peeked around Ainsley, smiling at Claudia. “And I hear cupcake wedding cakes are all the rage right now.”

  Claudia was touched that Shay wanted to include her in their wedding. “Are you sure you want me? Maybe you should go with a professional?”

  “I’m positive.” Shay smiled. “If it’s not too much to ask?”

  “I’d be honored.” It felt like a symbol of their friendship and a way she could honor two people who meant so much to Brady.

  “Oh wow,” Ainsley said, throwing her arms around her best friend. “I’m so happy for you guys! I can’t believe it. You’re finally going to marry Chase!”

  “It’s about time, don’t you think?” Shay asked, giggling.

  “Way past due,” Ainsley agreed. “What about Nick? Does he know his parents are planning to tie the knot in a few short weeks?”

  “That’s part of the reason we picked that date,” Shay explained. “We wanted to do it before Nick starts back to school in the fall.”

  Looking slightly dejected, Ainsley asked, “Does that mean he’s planning to go back to Brockville?”

  “That is his home.” Shay’s gaze strayed to a built-in desk in the corner of the large kitchen. On top was a picture of her with Chase and Nick on either side of her. All three of them were sporting ear-to-ear grins. “Having this summer with him is more than I ever could have hoped for, and I know that we’ve formed a bond with him that will last the rest of our lives. It won’t matter whether he’s living in Brockville or going to college in another state, he’ll always be a part of our lives.”

  Claudia couldn’t help but think of the blessing Shay and Chase had been given: a second chance with their child. She would give anything for that, but since it wasn’t possible, she wondered if a second chance to be a mother would be too much to hope for…

  Chapter Fifteen

  Brady was walking through the park, holding Claudia’s hand, when he spotted an old friend. He’d known Julia would be there since she was the town’s new mayor, but looking at her through Claudia’s eyes made him uneasy for one simple reason—the woman was stunning. There hadn’t been anything between them in a long, long time, but if he had to claim one real ex-girlfriend, it would have to be Julia.

  “Oh my goodness!” Julia said, sneaking away from the group she’d been talking to when she spotted him. “Brady Wright, get over here. I haven’t seen you in forever. Where have you been hiding?”

  Brady released Claudia’s hand long enough to give Julia a quick hug. “Uh, hey, Jules. Nice to see you.”

  The beautiful brunette smiled at Claudia. “I don’t believe I’ve seen you around before. Are you new to town?”

  “Claudia’s been working for me at the inn,” he said, slipping his arm around Claudia’s waist so Julia would understand she was more than just his employee.

  “Oh.” Julia smiled, her gaze drifting between the two of them. “Well, it’s always nice to see a new face.”

  “Julia’s the new mayor,” Brady explained to Claudia.

  “Really?” Claudia asked, raising an eyebrow.

  “I know what you’re thinking,” Julia said with a laugh, touching Claudia’s arm. “I don’t look old enough, right? Don’t let that fool you. My daddy was the mayor, so I’ve lived and breathed municipal politics since I was this high.” She touched her hand to her thigh. “Some say it was a pity vote, since my father campaigned hard on my behalf when he was ready to retire, but I’m determined to prove to everyone that I’m every bit as committed as he was.”

  “Those who know you have no doubt in your abilities, Jules. You’re as tenacious as you are beautiful.”

  “You say the sweetest things,” Juliette said, patting his chest. “Doesn’t he now?” she asked Claudia.

  “He sure does,” Claudia muttered.

  Being friend
ly came as naturally to Brady as breathing. He didn’t think anything of it, but Claudia clearly did. “Um, you haven’t seen my mother around here, have you?” he asked Julia, knowing that would be the perfect excuse to escape.

  “Yeah, she’s right over there,” Julia said, pointing at a group of ladies wearing colorful sunhats. “With some of her friends from the church.”

  “Great, I’ve got to speak to her about something. Will you excuse us?”

  “Of course, honey. Just make sure you save me a dance later, okay?”

  “Uh, yeah, sure.” Though he couldn’t see that happening, he didn’t want to be rude.

  “Nice meeting you, Claudia,” Julia said, smiling. “If you plan to stick around and find you have some extra time on your hands when the inn slows down in the fall and winter, we could always use help on one of our committees.”

  “I’ll keep that in mind,” Claudia said, smiling as she extended her hand. “It was a real pleasure.”

  Brady expected a tongue-lashing when he finally managed to find them a little space under the shade of an old oak tree. Gripping Claudia’s upper arms, he said, “Hey, I’m sorry if that was awkward. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable. Julia’s an old friend and—”

  “Old friend or old girlfriend?”

  Brady felt heat creeping up his neck. “Uh, we dated for a while.” His grip on her tightened when he whispered, “But there hasn’t been anything between us in years, I swear.”

  She laughed, patting his chest. “Relax. I’m not upset just because your ex-girlfriend is beautiful.” She glanced over her shoulder. “And seems smart and sweet to boot.”

  Brady couldn’t argue that Julia was all of those things, but what he’d felt for her couldn’t compare to what he felt for Claudia.

  “I’ve been thinking about this a lot,” she said, hooking her thumbs through his belt loops. “If I got upset every time I met someone you’ve dated or someone who’d like to date you, I’d waste an awful lot of time and energy, wouldn’t I?”

  “I guess you would,” he said, wrapping his arms around her. “Then you’re not mad?”