“Yes, it’s always good to hope someone’s dreams go up in flames.” I rolled my eyes and saw Hildie and Chance walking up the path.
My dad laughed and turned the volume back down on the television just as the doorbell rang.
I got an instant flutter and shot off the couch to answer the door where Hildie and Chance were both standing to greet me. Chance was holding a beautiful arrangement of flowers. Hildie had some papers rolled up under her arms, but she still pulled me in for a quick hug and kiss.
“Long time no see. Those reporters are relentless. There were six of them stationed outside of your shop when we drove by.” She shut her eyes and shivered. “Anything for a story.” She walked deeper into the small foyer, and her mouth parted as she looked up at the wood-slatted ceiling. “Such a beautiful home.”
My mom and dad came over, and I quickly introduced Hildie to both of my parents. Chance gave my mom the bouquet and my heart warmed.
As I expected, my mom was instantly drawn to Hildie. They began chattering their way to the kitchen right when Muppet cackled and nearly scared Hildie to death. She jumped at least two feet in the air, clutching her chest, and searching for the sign of the noise.
“Found a man,” Muppet exclaimed, craning her neck to see Chance.
“Dear, God. Can we not do something with that bird?” I hissed.
“Found a man,” she sang again.
Hildie’s gaze connected with mine and she chuckled. “Is she looking for a mate?”
“I think she found one.” I pointed at Chance and Hildie giggled.
“He’s always had a way with women,” she teased, following my mom into the kitchen.
“Is that the Heather that was engaged to Mark?” Chance asked, spotting the exclusive interview on television.
“Sure is.”
“Son of a bitch tried to take advantage of my daughter.” My dad shook his head in frustration. “And I had no idea.”
“Predators are stealthy. I’m sure their clients didn’t see it coming either.” Chance rested his hand on my shoulder, and I forced away all the feelings that wanted to pummel me into missing him before he had a chance to leave.
“What was your impression of Mark when you met him here?” my dad asked Chance, and I realized he was still trying to figure out how we all got conned by this family.
“You know that tingling you get in your knuckles and the tips of your fingers right before you’re about to land a good one?” Chance asked.
“I sure do, son.”
Chance nodded. “Well, it wasn’t easy to keep my hands to myself. I wanted to deck him, sir.”
“You’re a good man.” My dad squeezed Chance’s shoulder, and I realized my father truly meant it.
Chance was an amazing man, and he deserved to fulfill his dreams just as I had.
“Are we ready for dinner?” My mom walked into the great room and my father eagerly nodded.
“My wife makes the best chicken pot pie.” My dad rubbed his hands together, and I looked at Chance, who was watching me.
“What?” I whispered as my dad trundled into the dining room.
“You’re just so full of love. You may try to hide it, but I see it clear as day.”
I smiled and glanced at the bird. “Except for that thing.”
“I don’t buy it for a second. You’d miss Muppet if she weren’t part of your family.”
I twisted my mouth into a reluctant smile. “Probably and you’re right. She is a wise bird.”
“Birds of a feather. . .” he whispered.
I rolled my eyes and playfully pushed him back, but he swooped in and brought me in for a long and extremely perfect kiss.
“Found a man,” Muppet chirped, and I waved my hand at the bird as he held me tighter, but our kisses slowed.
“She’s not a very good wing woman,” I said.
“I don’t know. I think she’s had good taste so far.”
“You would.”
He kept his arms looped around my waist. “My mom has some exciting news.”
“Really?” Feeling a spark of excitement. “Does it have to do with your move?”
His expression slipped and he shook his head. “No.”
“Have you heard from Brad?”
“I have. He’s tentatively accepted my offer.”
“What’s it hinging on?” I asked.
“A couple of things on my end. I’ve got some issues with some of what Brad presented that I need to hammer out, but then it will be a quick round with financing and—”
“Are we eating without you two?” my dad called. “Should we just have your servings?”
“Only if you want to lose a finger, dad.”
“We can talk more later.”
I nodded in agreement even though I felt like my world was spinning slowly around me, and I was losing my orbit.
But I had to pull myself out of it. I’d known this was a possibility the entire time I let myself get emotionally entangled with Chance.
I took a seat next to Hildie and Chance sat across from my dad.
“Chance said you had some exciting news?” I took a sip of water as my mom loaded my plate with chicken potpie and I put the plate back in front of me.
“We got the final drawings back from engineering, and it seems like my dream is going to come true sooner than I thought.” She held up the papers that had been under her arm.
“What dream is that?” my mom asked, taking a seat at the table.
“Is it restoring the barn?” I asked Hildie and she nodded.
“Hildie has an old barn on her property that she’s been wanting to modify and turn into a lodge and—”
“Oh, so much more now.” Hildie squeezed my hand in delight. “We’re going to have eleven rooms upstairs, and downstairs, we’ll have a shop, a spa, and little barista area.”
Her eyes were shining with joy. “It’s going to expand our farm, and make it one of the top destinations for the islands.”
“That sounds absolutely fabulous,” my mom gushed. “Doesn’t that sound great, dear? I can’t wait to stay.” She eyed my dad and he happily nodded.
“It will take ten months give or take for construction to be complete, but you must come over sooner. My home is always open.”
I looked at the plans and my heart squeezed with excitement for Hildie. This was definitely her passion project, but the space looked beautiful.
“The rooms look like they’re going to be really spacious.”
“Each will be a suite of about four hundred square feet.” Hildie nodded. “But you must come sooner. In the spring, when all the roses begin to bloom is one of our most beautiful times.”
“Maddie never stops talking about how lovely your farm is.” My mom smiled. “I think it would be a lovely trip. Thank you.”
“Well, I can’t wait to include more of Maddie’s tea. It has been such a successful addition to what we offer customers.”
“Thank you.” I took a bite of chicken potpie and sure enough, the gravy landed right on my white shirt. I quickly dabbed at the stain, but it was too late.
“That’s what stain remover is for,” Hildie assured me.
“I really need to start buying stock in those companies.”
“Always buy what you know and use.” She grinned.
“So how are you two holding up with everything from your hometown?” Hildie asked.
I always appreciated her bluntness.
“Whoosh,” my dad said, shaking his head. “I had no idea what a bunch of slinky, slimy people we had slithering around our town, not to mention around our daughter.”
“We’re all in shock, I’d say.” My mom cocked her head, and her eyes settled on me as if she was finally seeing me as the woman I’d become. “We’re so proud of our daughter for carrying herself with such poise. We’re really blessed with both of our children. They’re settled, happy, and walking the right path.”
“What more can we ask?” Hildie agreed, smiling at
Chance.
“Well, thank you. I think I need to stop by more often so my ego can recover from these latest kicks in the gut.” I chuckled.
The doorbell rang, and I glanced out the window, not seeing anyone in the immediate vicinity.
“Were you expecting anyone?” I asked my mom.
“Not a soul.”
I stood up and walked over to the door and stood on my toes to peer through the glass. I didn’t see anyone, but I opened the door to see a man jump out from behind a bush to snap a photo of me before running away.
I spun around slowly only seeing spots all around me from the bright light of the flash.
“Maddie, are you okay?” Chance was instantly by my side.
“Some jerk just jumped out of the shrubs and got a photo.” I let out a sigh and looked down at the gravy on my shirt. “And of course, this is what I’ll look like on the pages of whatever tabloid that’s for while Heather has it goin’ on with perfect hair and lips on national television.” I huffed.
“You’ve got it goin’ on. In fact, you’re perfect in every way,” Chance said softly, tipping my chin up and gently bringing his mouth to mine. Another flash went off from down the driveway and Chance broke away slowly.
“Maybe they’ll use that pic instead,” I whispered, looking up into Chance’s eyes seeing the same longing I felt stirring deep inside.
It was going to be tough watching him go.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Sure enough, my image made the grocery store tabloid, brown gravy and all. Thankfully, if you turned the page, you could also get a glimpse of an extremely sexy man holding me in his arms and kissing me. Got to love the tabloids making news where none existed.
I was kind of surprised at just how good we looked together. I did learn that the more I avoided the reporters, the less interested they became until one day, I opened the front door of my house, and they just weren’t there any longer.
The strange thing was that my tea sales had gone through the roof because the only things they could report on were my name, age, and shop name.
All in all, it could have been much, much worse.
I poured myself a cup of tea in my kitchen and sluggishly wandered into the living room in a pair of my worn red flannel pajamas and matching slippers when a knock sounded at the door.
I cursed myself for jinxing the whole reporter thing and slunk to the window where I peered out through the curtains. There was a man holding the largest bouquet of red roses I’d ever seen, and my heart nearly tumbled out of its chest.
After all, it was Valentine’s Day and I hadn’t had a Valentine’s in years. I quickly made my way to the door and opened it wide. Chance was going to be coming over in a few hours to pick me up for our trip to the cabin.
“Delivery for Miss Maddie Wildes,” the deliveryman said.
“That’s me.”
He handed me the bouquet, and I was about to shut the door when he shook his head.
“I wouldn’t do that. I have several more vases to bring up.”
“Oh,” I said, surprised and somewhat tentative. “Okay.”
I sat my bouquet on the table and reached for the card.
Maybe I should have said it first in person, but I love you Maddie.
My heart filled with so much love it felt like it could literally burst from happiness.
“Miss?” I turned around to have the man holding two more bouquets.
“Thank you. They’re absolutely beautiful.” I grabbed one and put it next to the other and took the third bouquet from the man and began to shut the door with my foot.
“I’m still not done.” He turned around and jogged back to the white van while I stood in absolute shock, pulling out two more cards.
I love you more and more each day.
And every second I’m without you,
I realize how much more I love you
The deliveryman knocked lightly on the door holding two more arrangements as beautiful as the other three.
“Is that it this time?” I asked.
“Afraid not.” He smiled and turned back to his truck.
I took both beautiful arrangements and sat them on the table, tugging on the two cards and began to read.
And how much more I need you.
I need you in my life, Maddie Wildes.
One way or another we will make this work, my love
My heart was pounding in my chest, and I heard another little knock on the door, only this time it wasn’t the deliveryman.
It was Chance striding into my home holding the largest rose arrangement of them all.
“I love you, Maddie Wildes.”
“I love you too, Chance Harlen.” I ran over to him just as he put the arrangement on the floor, and I dove into his arms. It felt like if he didn’t hold me down I might float away.
“We’ll make this work. One way or another, I’m not going to let the best thing to ever happen in my life slip away.” He pulled me deeper into him, kissing my hair, and holding me tight. “I hope I’ve made up for all the Valentine’s Days we’ve been apart.”
“You’ve more than made up for that, Chance.” I brought in a deep breath of everything Chance and roses. “You’ve made me believe in love again.”
“You’ve shown me what love can be, Maddie.” Both of his hands cupped my face as he brought his mouth to mine. It felt like seconds but minutes passed with each deepening kiss.
I didn’t know how my luck had managed to turn, but I was grateful that I was standing on an island far, far away with a man who I was deeply in love with.
“We should probably get going,” he said softly. “A storm is coming in.”
“Trapped in a cabin with you for the night?” I wiggled my brows. “Now that I could get behind.”
He gave me one last kiss, and I spun around to head up the stairs.
“I need to shower and I’ll be ready to go in ten minutes.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I turned around on the steps and saw the sea of roses and the man I’d finally let myself fall in love with. It was a picture-perfect moment and a memory I’d always treasure.
“Thank you for the roses.”
He looked up at me and smiled. “Get going or I’ll follow you up there and we’ll never leave.”
“Is that all bad?”
He let out a low growl and my insides immediately warmed as I jogged up the rest of the steps and thought about how much my life had changed in a couple of short months.
I took a quick shower, grabbed my suitcase and met Chance downstairs. He was sitting in the kitchen, reading over one of my cooking magazines.
“I’ve been dying to try that.” I pointed at the apple sausage stuffed chicken breasts.
“Sounds delicious.” He stood up and slid his arm around my waist. “You ready?”
“Bag is by the door.” I gave him a quick kiss before we walked through the house, and I turned off all the lights and we locked up.
“My second road trip with you and I promise to stay awake.” I glanced in his direction and he grinned.
“Promises, promises.” He loaded my suitcase into the trunk and I crawled into the passenger’s seat.
“We’ll probably get there in two hours, depending on the weather conditions and the roads,” he said, climbing in.
“I slept extra well last night so I should be as bright-eyed as they come.”
We pulled out of my driveway, and I stared out the window at the town I’d come to call my own, but today, everything looked a little happier, a little more cheery. We drove by the florist where Nattie, no doubt, was exhausted and being kept extremely busy thanks to the holiday and Chance.
The ferry crossing was a breeze. It wasn’t until we began winding up the mountain road that my pulse pounded a bit. Snow began falling, a little earlier than expected, making the roads slippery as snowplows worked to clear the road.
“This is certainly one way to keep me up.” I laughed, glancing at Cha
nce. “Scare me to death on the way to our destination.”
“I’ve gotta keep you on your toes.” Chance ducked his head a little lower. “Check out the icicles.”
I craned my neck to see the frozen waterfalls against the rocky cliff faces.
“Wow. Gorgeous.” I relaxed a little as I took in the beauty the snow had to offer instead of the treacherous conditions, but by the time we pulled off the highway, I was a frazzled ball of nerves.
It didn’t help that the road we turned onto looked to be one lane with a narrow passage for our car to fit through.
“The destination will be worth the journey.” Chance said, gripping the wheel.
“With you, I don’t doubt it.”
I drew in a deep breath as we drove between the snow walls, and I thought about him moving to Portland. I knew I’d be able to work my schedule to go visit. That wasn’t really my worry. It was the everyday things I’d miss. Like the times he’d stop by to bring me a sandwich at the shop, or when I would make a delivery to Hound, and he’d take me to Billy’s and we’d splurge on a hot dog.
It was going to be the little moments I missed most about not having him around.
“You’ve gone awfully quiet,” he said, following the narrow road through an endless amount of snow.
“Just thinking about how much I enjoy your company.” I rolled my head on the seat and looked over at him. “I’ve gotten really fond of you.”
“I never thought I’d hear those words.” Chance’s smile grew, but he didn’t dare pull his gaze away from the road.
“Yeah, right. You had to know you threw me a curveball right away.”
“I had a hunch that your platonic plan might backfire.” He slowed the car as we came upon a particularly tight spot. “At least, I hoped it would.”
“That’s rotten.”
“Isn’t it?” He laughed, and I turned my attention to the road in front of us when a small cabin with a bright red door came into view.
“Is that the place?” I asked.
“It is.”
Chance at Love on Mystic Bay (Island County Series Book 6) Page 19
