by Nicole James
“Thank you. I suppose we could do that.”
“Perhaps we can schedule some time next week?”
She nodded. “All right.”
“Wonderful. I’ll be in touch. Oh, and one other thing. The magazine was interested in shooting a calendar with you and Liam.”
“Really?”
“I don’t think you realize, you two are the “It Couple” in the tattoo world right now. You both should capitalize on that while you can.”
“We’ll let you know,” Liam told him. He didn’t want everything to overwhelm Velvet.
Ryan nodded, his gaze shifting between them. “They’ll need to know on that by the end of the month, deadlines and all that. Well, I’ll give you time to think it all over. I think you have some amazing opportunities in front of you. I’ll be in touch.” Ryan stood and shook their hands, then shook Jameson’s. “Jameson, thank you for your time and for the use of your office.” He turned to Velvet. “I look forward to hearing from you.”
While Jameson walked Ryan out, Liam caught Velvet’s face in his hand and turned her to meet his eyes. “That’s some offer. What do you think?”
“I don’t know. I’ll have to think about it long and hard. I don’t want to jeopardize what we have.”
“And how would it jeopardize it?”
She shrugged. “It’s a lot to put out there. My past, my family, the crimes they’ve committed… I just don’t know.”
Liam nodded. No way in hell was he going to push her into this; he didn’t care how much it paid. He glanced down at his watch.
“You got someplace you have to be, brother?” Rory asked.
“Actually, I do.”
Velvet frowned. “You do?”
“Yeah, I, uh, had something planned today, someplace I wanted to show you.”
“What?”
“Let’s take a walk, and I’ll show you.” They stood, and he turned and patted Rory’s knee. “I like that riff. You got words to go with it?”
Rory put the guitar aside and stood. “Nah. I struggle with songwriting. Not my strong suit.”
“Maybe you just haven’t found the right topic yet. Dig deep, brother. I’m sure there are a bunch of great songs in there.” He tapped Rory’s chest with his fist.
“Thanks.”
“See ya later.”
Liam and Velvet exited the shop, and he drew her to the right. “This way.”
“Where are we going?”
“It’s a beautiful day, and it’s only a short walk. You’ll see.” They walked hand in hand through town. Liam glanced over at Velvet. “Do you like this town?”
She smiled brightly at him. “I love it. You’re here.”
“I mean the town itself.”
“I love this area. Main Street has so many great shops and restaurants. It’s really a happening area, especially with the street fairs and farmers market.”
They walked two blocks and Liam stopped them on the corner. “We’re here.”
“What’s here?” She looked around.
He nodded to the business on the corner. “This used to be Randall’s Western Wear. Place has been here for thirty-seven years. Old man Randall died last year and his son has no interest in the business. They finally closed the doors last week.”
“O-kay, and…?”
He pointed up to the sign in the multi-paned bay window. “Can you read that?”
She studied it. “Re-tail Sp-ace… I don’t know those other words on the second line.”
“It says Retail Space Available For Lease.”
“For the coffee shop, you mean?”
He nodded, smiling. “It’s a perfect location.”
“Yes, but those are usually so expensive.”
“Mr. O’Rourke?”
Liam turned to see the woman he’d been expecting. “Yes, ma’am.”
“I hope I’m not late. I had a showing in Fruita this morning.”
“Not at all. You’re right on time. We just got here.”
He caught the confused frown on Velvet’s face.
“Velvet, this is Janet Parker. She’s specializes in commercial real estate.”
The woman extended her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Velvet. Liam’s told me what you’re looking for and I think this could fit the bill. It just became available and it’s a hot property.” She jangled some keys in the lock and swung the glass door open, flipping on the lights. “The place has only been vacant two days. You’re the third showing I’ve had. If you like it, we should probably move fast. Locations on this part of Main Street never last long.”
Liam and Velvet followed her inside.
“Being that it was a western wear store, its kind of rustic as you can see with wood planking for flooring and the stone fireplace on that wall. I think it has a certain sort of charm though especially with the bay window in front and the multi-paned glass.” She looked at Velvet. “Do you think this would suit your needs? Is the space large enough for you?”
Velvet studied the space and nodded, her eyes glazing over.
Liam glanced over at Ms. Parker. “Could you give us a moment?”
“Of course. I’ll be outside making some phone calls. Take as long as you need.”
After she’d exited, the bell that still hung over the door jingling, Liam turned back to Velvet and pulled her to him. “Baby, what’s wrong?”
She looked up at him and shook her head. “It’s perfect.”
“Then what’s the problem?”
She shook her head, and then blew out a breath. “For my coffee shop to be successful, I have to have customers.”
Liam frowned. “You will. The location is amazing and—”
She cut him off. “Liam, if I do the book, would people in town think differently of me? Would they ever let me put my past behind me? Would they ever accept me into the community? Because if they don’t, how will my business ever succeed? And yet, I need the book money to make that dream come true, don’t I? It’s a catch-22, isn’t it?”
“Velvet, you’re worrying about things that haven’t even happened yet.”
“All right, let’s talk about something that has already happened—the damage I’ve done to you and your family. Liam, maybe it would be best for everyone if I didn’t stay in town.”
“That’s bullshit.”
“Is it? What happens when everything about my brother’s trial comes out? Maybe I’ll never be accepted in this town after everything that’s happened.”
“And maybe you will be.” He took her upper arms in his hands. “Velvet, you are not your brother, and no one is going to hold you accountable.”
“I don’t know. This is a big gamble.”
“The biggest gamble I ever made in my life was going after you, and it pays off every day I am with you. I swear to you, this is going to work.
She studied him. “You seem so sure.”
“I am sure. When something feels right you don’t question it.”
“I’ve always wanted to be accepted, to ‘belong’ in a community. I’m just worried that in this town I’ve got more to overcome than I would in another town.”
“Velvet, it’s not just about you anymore. I’m in this, too.”
“I realize that.”
“Do you? I have family in this town. We have a business in this town. We have roots. I have every reason to want to stay here, but if you’re telling me it’s a choice between you and staying in Grand Junction, then I’ll pack my bags and leave it all to be with you. Because I love you, I would do that. I guess I’m hoping you won’t make me make that choice.”
“I would never want to make you leave your home and family and work.”
“So what are you saying? Because whatever we do, we’re doing it together. I love you, Velvet.”
“I love you, too, Liam.”
“Then say yes, to me, to Grand Junction, and to making all your dreams come true—together.”
But still she worried that she was going to be a bad influence
in the eyes of the town, and she wasn’t sure she could do that to Liam and his business. She’d always wanted to be accepted by the town, not shunned.
“I’m standing here, willing to risk it all for you. You have to be willing to take that risk with me, Velvet. Together we can do anything. Because our love is worth any risk we have to take.”
“I love that you make me feel like anything is possible.”
“Because it is possible, as long as we’ve got love, and each other, anything we want is possible. So let’s sign the lease and walk down the street to the jewelry store and put a ring on your finger.”
She burst out in happy tears and hugged him. “Yes, yes, I want all those things.”
EPILOGUE
Liam—
I swung the ax up and brought it down with driving force, the handle gliding through my palms until the blade sunk deep into the bark of the spruce tree. I yanked it out with a jerk, the muscles in my arms flexing. A couple more swings, and the tree toppled over. Wiping the sweat from my brow with the back of my glove, I bent and grabbed the trunk and drug it down to where I’d parked my truck and hefted the tree into the bed. We’d had a dusting of snow last night, just enough to leave a trail of my boot prints.
Jumping in the cab, I pulled my buckskin gloves off and started the engine, imagining the smile I hoped the tree would put on Velvet’s face when she saw it. She’d hinted around about it, but I’d been vague and noncommittal. I wanted it to be a surprise.
I drove into town. Lights were already strung across Main Street and had been since Thanksgiving. Every tree along the sidewalk was lit. I loved when the town decorated. It looked beautiful at night, like driving through a tunnel of lights.
I parked in front of Coffee on the Corner and hopped out. Dropping the tailgate, I grabbed the tree. It slid across the bed liner without a single dropped needle. That was the awesomeness of a fresh cut tree, that and the fabulous scent.
The tree was eight feet and I had to wrangle it in the front door, but with the help of a customer who held the door for me, I managed. The ceilings inside were twelve feet high and I knew she’d need a tree big enough to fill the space.
I stopped just inside the door, standing the tree up with a thunk.
Velvet had just finished waiting on a customer, and when she saw me, or maybe my gift, her face lit up. She ran around the counter, and I caught her to me as she threw her arms around my neck. “You brought me a tree!”
“You dropped enough hints. Did you think I was dense?”
She pulled back and kissed my mouth. “Of course not.” Her eyes swept over it. “It’s gorgeous, and it smells so good.”
“Where do you want it? In the front bay window or back by the fireplace?”
She bit her lip. “I think by the fireplace. That way it’s near the children’s reading corner. I don’t want to block the window or have to rearrange the tables. People love sitting near the bay windows and people watching.”
“You got it, babe.” I carried the tree to the back and leaned it against the wall. Then I went to the truck and carried in the big stand. When I had it all set up, Velvet came and admired it.
“It’s perfect, Liam.”
“Glad you like it.” I pulled her against my hip and kissed the tip of her nose. “The place looks great. You really went all out decorating. I suppose I shouldn’t be surprised, considering how you had the place fixed up for Halloween.”
“Well, it was my opening month, and I wanted this place to be a place that kids wanted to visit.”
I glanced around. True to her word, she’d put in a children’s reading corner with a big colorful rug and several soft beanbag chairs. The walls were lined with shelves full of children’s books. There were also several cozy stuffed chairs for parents to sit and read to the younger ones. “Well, you managed that.”
On Halloween she’d outdone herself with decorations, turning the shop into something right out of Harry Potter. Then she’d had a Halloween party with free apple cider and cookies for children, inviting them to come down in their costumes for special prizes. It had been a huge hit with not only the kids, but the parents as well, who were always looking for something fun to do with the little ones. The community had looked past her tattoos and accepted her wholeheartedly.
The coffee shop was cheerfully decorated and very inviting and soon became a real gathering place. Velvet was in her element.
And now as I looked around at what she’d done for the children in decorating for Christmas, I knew this place was going to be somewhere they remembered from their childhood long after they’d grown up.
She had a toy train running around the shop up on shelving that she’d had my brothers and I install when we remodeled the place for her. She wouldn’t tell me what it was for, but had insisted on it. It was a big hit with the kids.
There were decorations everywhere, Santa figures and snowmen and elves galore. Combine that with the smell of her fabulous coffee drinks and the baked goods she sold, and the place was a hit.
The bay windows were frosted with fake snow, and a sandwich board sign out on the sidewalk noted the coffee of the day. Today’s was Peppermint Swirl.
A child ran up to us and tugged on her apron. “Miss Velvet, I can’t reach the mailbox slot to drop my letter to Santa.”
She squatted down and looked at the letter the child had written at the small round table in the children’s reading corner. Velvet had asked me to create a mailbox on a stand that said North Pole on it so the children could mail their letters.
“Well, come with me. I’ll help you.” She took the little girl with her bouncing blonde ringlets and walked her over to the box. “We need to fold it and put it in an envelope so it fits.”
I watched my angel as she helped the child mail her letter. My heart was full to bursting, seeing the joy on her face. My Velvet had longed to be accepted in the community. She’d achieved that and more. She wasn’t just accepted, she was loved.
Pam from the animal shelter walked over to me. Her eyes on Velvet, she leaned close. “Everyone loves her, Liam. The children, their parents, the whole town… You should be proud.”
“I am.”
“You look happy.”
I nodded. “You don’t have to look too far to see the reason why.”
She smiled and patted my cheek. “We’re having a holiday adoption fair at the shelter next weekend. You’ll be there?”
I pulled her against my side for a hug. “You know I will.”
“I’ve got a cute little tabby cat that just came in. I think it would look really cute curled up in front of that fireplace. She could be the coffee shop cat.”
I grinned. “Oh, Lord. You show her to Velvet, we’ll be taking it home for sure.”
“That’s the plan. I’ll see you later.”
Pam walked toward the front door, and my eyes shifted to Velvet. She was so good with the kids that came in here, always squatting down to their level and talking to them, always that big smile on her face. The funny thing about kids, they didn’t see the tattoos; they saw her, recognizing innately the good person she was underneath. I knew someday she’d make a wonderful mother.
A few minutes later she returned to my side.
She went up on her toes and kissed my lips. “Thank you for my tree.”
I caught the back of her head and brought her in for longer kiss. I released her, and she made a purring sound. “That’s just a preview of what you’re going to get when you get home tonight.”
She gave me a saucy wink that promised all kinds of things. “Oh, honey, you have no idea.”
“Hmm, I may have to leave the shop early tonight.”
She smiled up at me and tucked a folded piece of paper into my flannel shirt pocket and patted her hand over the pocket. The diamond ring she’d picked out at the jewelry store down the street, sparkled. We’d gotten married outside at the farm, and although I wanted to give her a big wedding, she’d wanted it simple. I loved her, and I’d
give her anything she wanted, so we’d kept it simple with just my immediate family.
I glanced down and frowned. “What’s that? Another honey-do list?”
“Nope. Just a little note for you to read later.”
I started to pull it from my pocket, but she stopped me, insisting, “Later.”
I noticed the paper she’d written it on was the cute stationary she’d put out on the kid’s table for them to write their letters to Santa. Apparently she’d just written it a few moments ago.
She’d been working hard the last few months learning to read and write, and I was so proud of her. I helped her whenever I could. I knew the fact that she’d spent her life illiterate was especially painful for her and that was one of the reasons she was so intent on having the children’s reading corner at the coffee shop. She wanted to provide easy access to books in a place that was fun for both parents and kids to come and hangout.
“All right, weirdo, I’ll read it later.”
“Get out of here. I have to get back to work.”
“Yes you do. Go make us some money.”
“Love you.”
“Love you, too, babe.”
I walked out to my truck and got behind the wheel. I pulled out onto the street, but I didn’t make it farther than the red light before I dug the note from my pocket and read it.
Liam—
When I was a girl, I always hoped that one day someone would walk into my life and get it right where everyone else got it wrong.
I hoped that one day I’d finally meet someone who wanted to help me grow in life, someone I could finally trust with everything.
And I hoped that one day I’d have my best friend, my biggest supporter, and my lover all wrapped up in one person.
That day arrived the day I met you.
I love you, Liam, with all my heart.
—Velvet
My eyes glazed over as I stared down at the words. Her handwriting was still childish and inexperienced, but I would treasure this note all the rest of my days.
A car horn blared behind me, and I glanced up to see the light had changed to green. My boot slipped off the brake pedal and I gave the old truck some gas. I looked around my town; joy soaring through my veins, truly happy with a feeling of belonging that I had been missing for a long time. Everything in my life was finally settling perfectly into place.
