by Eliza Ellis
Parker continued, “Anyway, we’re better off as friends. I think we were a little too dependent on one another, you know? Then it became a crutch we couldn’t get rid of,” she said with another laugh.
“I’m happy that you’re happy.”
Parker’s eyes narrowed, and her lips curved into a devious smile. “Well, he’s all yours now. We both know you wanted him, don’t deny it.”
“Parker…” Kat’s neck warmed beneath her hood. “I…I wasn’t trying to steal him from you.”
“Oh, I know. I also know his grandmother was totally planning for you too. Muriel flat-out told me she was going to make it her life’s mission to see you marry my man. That woman is just the nastiest! If I ever had his kids—and that would’ve been a big ‘if,’ believe me—she would’ve never seen them. Like, ever. I would’ve had a judge issue a restraining order.”
“Parker! That’s excessive. Muriel…sorta means well.”
“Uh, that woman is excessive, and she did not mean well for me. Anyway”—she looked down at her phone she had pulled from her jacket pocket—“I’m already late. I’m meeting producers myself for a television spot for the company. Exciting!” She started to walk away. “Look, we’ve gotta catch up soon, okay? Love you, Kat!” She waved and disappeared into the building.
Kat shook her head. Parker was always on the go, even when they were kids. Of course, being in school for eight or nine hours a day kept the two of them close, but once graduation happened, Parker lived a different life, and Kat was just lucky to be a part of it every once in a while.
Drew…
Kat apologized to the driver, who had been practically standing at attention, waiting to open her door. She threw herself into the car and told the driver to get to the airport as quickly as he could. She had to get home.
And get to Drew.
If he was still there.
Chapter 20
I n an effort to shield herself, Kat had deleted Drew’s number. After searching through email messages between herself, Parker, and Drew, she found it. Now she was too scared to text him. What could she say? Sorry I lost touch with you for six months? I had to focus on my work. She would sound just like Parker.
And that didn’t turn out well.
Actually, it sounded like it had been the perfect solution—at least for Parker. Whether or not Drew had been satisfied with their breakup was a different story.
Instead, Kat decided to go to the spot on the lake to see if he had returned to build his home. When she arrived at the location, she saw a mailbox and a gravel drive. She smiled. So he did come home. Didn’t he? Susie hadn’t been much help, saying he’d been in and out of town. Kat’s mother had said Muriel wouldn’t tell her a thing because she was still mad at Kat for leaving town for so long and without so much as a goodbye.
Kat turned onto the drive, wishing another person hadn’t built here instead. It would be awkward to show up at the door looking for the love of your life and find someone else living there. She’d be labeled a crazy stalker psycho.
Kat’s eyes widened when the home came into view. It looked exactly like he had always said it would be. High-end log structure with three stories, a wrap-around front porch, and the front door in the softest yellow pastel.
She had picked that color when they were kids after spotting a yellow flower in a field and falling in love with the color and shape. They had agreed it would be the perfect color for the front door of their home.
He remembered…
Kat parked her car and walked up the beautiful stone steps that led to the porch. Rocking chairs and a hanging swing made a sitting area off to her left. She stopped and stared for a minute to take in the furnishings and the planters that hung off the porch railing. Everything looked as picturesque as the lake behind the home. Her eyes stung as her heart filled with joy for Drew.
“I got the home.”
Kat whirled and saw Drew leaning against the front doorframe. She didn’t even hear it open.
“Hi, Kat. I heard you come up the drive.”
She tried several times to say hello, but the word was stuck between her tongue and the roof of her mouth. Drew was dressed in plain jeans and a white t-shirt. His signature five o’clock shadow curved up his cheeks to his reddish-brown hair that looked slightly longer than it had been before she left. Her eyes trailed down his fitted shirt that hung over his waist.
Mouthwatering.
Like her desserts.
“Kat? What’s got your tongue?”
She had hated that joke when they were kids. “Hi,” she forced out.
He grinned and came forward. “Hello, beautiful. You look incredible.”
She did? She wore a navy blue pea coat with a matching hat. Underneath, she only managed black leggings and a long dark, blue top.
Drew laughed at her expression. “Yes, you do. Are you going to come inside? It’s a little chilly.” He rubbed his biceps. “I’m getting cold. It’s warm in here.”
Kat forced her feet to work. When she reached the door, he scooped her up into his arms and buried his face in the side of her neck.
“I missed you,” he breathed. “I…I thought you were mad at me.” He pulled back, uncertainty in his eyes.
“No…not mad at all. You bought me a bakery. How could I be mad?”
He smiled. “You still want it? Susie’s been over there a lot lately.”
Kat nodded. “She’s been helping me. I’m going to open it now that I’m back.” Kat ducked her head. “I didn’t know what to say after I left.”
“Doesn’t matter now. After you left, I went to London—”
“I just saw Parker in New York,” Kat rushed to say. “I’m…I’m not sorry you two didn’t work, but I am sorry if you’re still hurt.”
Drew chuckled. “Not sorry, huh? Thanks. What kind of a friend are you?”
Kat swallowed, wetting her drying throat as the words played in her head. She worked up the courage to say them. His arms were still firmly around her waist, and she had her hands locked at the nape of his neck. The longer she rested against his warm body, the more at home she felt.
There were only two possible answers: either he wanted her, or he didn’t.
“The kind that loves you,” she whispered and then held her breath. She watched emotion swirl in his eyes until she read what she hoped was happiness.
His gaze dropped lower, and Kat’s heart nearly burst from her chest. He leaned in and captured her lips with his.
Kat moaned and buried in closer, allowing him to squeeze his arms around her a few inches more. They stood at the door for untold minutes exploring, tasting, sighing each other’s names. Drew finally pulled her into the home.
“Sorry,” his throaty voice said against her neck as he placed another kiss there. “I forgot I was cold.”
“I’m not cold.”
“Neither am I.” He kicked the door closed with his foot and found her lips again.
Kat felt like the warm, smooth center of a freshly baked cream-filled donut. And Drew tasted as sweet as one of her pastries. Had he been eating them before she came?
He lifted her into his arms and kissed her again. “Let me show you the house,” he said and placed a trail of kisses along her jaw.
“You can’t see!” Kat giggled and tried leaning back.
“Get back here,” he ordered gruffly. “I can see just fine.”
She placed her lips firmly against his, cupping his cheeks. “Drew…”
“Parker was never really right for me,” he started, breathy. “I never should’ve asked her.”
“It doesn’t matter now,” Kat responded earnestly, keeping her gaze locked with his. “She’s happy. She loves her work. That’s where she’s at right now.”
He nodded. “I know. I’m happy for her.” He glanced down. “You want to get out of that jacket? It’s scratching my arms.”
“Oh!” He set her down. “It’s wool.”
“I’m allergic,” he said with a c
hortle.
“Sorry about that.”
“You didn’t know.”
She had worried if they knew enough of each other to be truly in love. Well, they didn’t have to marry each other right away.
After removing her jacket, Drew hung it and her hat inside the entryway closet. He then offered his hand, which she took, and he began showing her around the home. The open living room-dining room combination led into a state-of-the-art kitchen Kat started drooling over. She saw a box from Susie’s bakery on the counter.
Kat picked it up with a smile. “I thought I tasted dessert.”
His arms came around her from behind, and he settled a kiss on her cheek. “They’re still great, but I can definitely tell the difference when you make them.”
“You cannot!”
“I can,” he protested.
“Well, we better not tell Susie. She’ll ban you from the shop.”
“Never.” He kissed her cheek again.
“Drew, this kitchen is phenomenal.”
He leaned back and walked around the island, surveying the design. “I confess, I thought about you when I built it.”
Kat’s mouth dropped.
His gaze met hers. “Do you really like it?”
Kat enthusiastically nodded. She eyed the stainless steel gas oven and then the refrigerator next to a set of double ovens. “I do. You made some excellent choices on the appliances.”
“I had help from Susie.”
Kat ran her hands along the cool, sleek white marble countertops, grained with strips of grey and gold. “She knows her stuff.”
“You said she was helping you with the bakery?”
Kat nodded. “I won’t be working for her anymore. I…I have my own television show, and I’ll be opening the bakery.”
“Wait, back up. You have your own television show? Susie didn’t mention that. She said you were doing an apprenticeship with Chef LeBooboo.”
Kat bellowed. “LeBleu!”
“Yeah, that’s what I said.” He took her hand and pulled her out of the kitchen and into a cozy den as she continued to laugh. “How was it?”
Kat closed her eyes, memories of succulent dishes she made coming back to her. “Wonderful. I learned so much. I owe Susie everything.”
“Do more than desserts now, or what?”
Kat nodded. “I do, I do. I can scramble eggs now and microwave bacon.” She squealed when he gave her a bear hug and gently bit into the side of her neck.
“You’re hilarious.” He led her out to the screened-in back porch. “Now you can use my state-of-the-art, high-end kitchen and make me a sandwich.” He grinned devilishly.
“Very funny. It really was the most amazing thing that’s happened to me.” She held his face close to hers. “Outside of you?”
“Is that a question?”
“I’m not sure of the answer,” she whispered. Fear chilled her spine although the porch felt as warm as the house. But she didn’t care. She wanted him and had to risk getting hurt or she’d regret it forever.
He kissed her full on the mouth. “You’ve always had me, Katrina. Just like you have the necklace.” He looped a finger through it. “Always have.” He pulled his own half of the heart from beneath his t-shirt. He grinned.
“You still have yours!”
“Of course I do. I never wore it because, you know, I’m a guy and all.”
Kat snorted.
His eyes looked fearful. “Where are you going next?”
“Nowhere. Not any time soon. I promise.”
He let out a breath. “Good.” He looked up. “Because there’s kind of a place I’d like to take you.”
She slapped him on his deliciously hard left pec. “You are not taking me to bed the second I get back! Andrew!”
His cheeks turned bright red. “No! Not…not right this second.”
“But you looked up! I’m assuming your bedroom is on the second floor.”
“Well, yeah, it is, but I wasn’t thinking about that. You want to see it though?”
Kat laughed. Yes! Yes, she wanted to see where she hoped to spend the rest of her nights in, but she kept that secret wish to herself.
“I was thinking,” he continued, “that we should go to your bakery.”
Her brows came together. “My bakery? Now?”
He nodded. “Why not?”
“Okay…”
“Great. I’ll grab your coat.”
In minutes, they were standing outside of a bakery that left Kat speechless. All the designs she and Susie were discussing had already been implemented. Kat had thought she would have had to start the renovation as soon as she returned, but it looked like Susie—or someone—had been doing it all along.
Not only that. Her mother, Muriel, and Susie stood inside, waving at the two of them.
“One of the reasons why I didn’t reach out to you after you left is because I figured I couldn’t keep this a secret,” Drew said from beside her. He wrapped and arm around her waist, pulling her taut against him. “Susie said you’d be back, and…I didn’t know if you’d want me, but I figured I’d hang around to find out. Plus, I had a house to build for us.”
Kat stared at him. “Drew, thank you!” She threw her arms around him, tears coursing down her cheeks.
“You and Susie did the hard work. My crew and I enjoyed this project. Did I tell you? I’ve quit the investing business—at least, I’ve sold my shares in the company and started my own construction firm here. I build projects I care about and I get to flip homes on the side. It’s really what I’m good at. ”
If his home was any indication, he was absolutely right.
Kat and Drew stepped inside and greeted everyone. As Kat walked around her new bakery, she noticed a few of the cabinetry details were similar in style to what was at Drew’s home. Kat pulled Susie aside.
“Susie?”
“Hmm?” She looked at her all innocent-like.
Kat narrowed her eyes. “When you were asking about furnishings and design, it wasn’t just for this place, right?”
“I don’t know what you’re talking about. Of course it was for this place. Don’t you see everything you picked?”
“I was just at Drew’s, and—”
Susie laughed. “Uh, yeah. He wanted to know what style you preferred because you two are getting married.”
“Wait, what?” Her gaze shot to Drew’s, who winked and grinned at her from over the head of his grandmother.
“He said you two got engaged when you were eight. So glad that Parker is out of the picture. I mean, I know she’s your friend and all, but you and Drew belong together, no question. You’re good with your hands, and he’s good with his.” She winked and chortled.
“Susie!” Kat hissed.
“You don’t know yet? Weren’t you just at his place?”
Kat groaned and covered her hot cheeks.
Susie continued to laugh. “You know I’m only teasing you.” She kissed Kat’s hand that still covered her cheek. “Welcome back. I’m glad you love it. But you do have some people here who would love it if you’d get back in the kitchen and whip us up something to eat. You’ve mastered steaks, right?”
Kat laughed. She had learned from one of the best and could definitely sear a steak.
Her mother came over and squeezed Kat’s middle. “Hi honey. It’s so good to see you. And I noticed you didn’t come straight home when you arrived.” She pursed her lips in false disapproval and shook her head. “Finally got your Steven, huh?” she whispered.
“Hi, Mom.” Kat returned her hug. “I think so,” Kat said, her cheeks burning from her grin.
“I knew you could do it, honey. I knew you would go after what you wanted.”
Kat laid her head on her mother’s shoulder, and held her tight. The woman had been right. In under a year her life had dramatically changed. The stronger her belief in herself and what she was capable of, the more doors opened. She couldn’t imagine what her life would be like a year
from now.
Married to Drew? Perhaps carrying his child?
In an hour, she had a few mini cakes cooling on the counter and eager family and friends waiting to eat them.
Drew stood behind Kat as she fed him one of the desserts she had created under the tutelage of Chef LeBleu.
“I think I like this one the best,” Drew said, licking a touch of strawberry from his lips.
Kat rotated until she faced him full on. “Thank you for doing this. For everything.”
“Thank you for being my friend. For supporting me.”
“You’re supposed to be doing this on one knee, you idiot,” Muriel said from her table. “Kat, I’m glad you’re back, because I was really mad at you.”
Mary slapped her friend’s arm and shushed Muriel.
“I’m sorry, Muriel. But I’m here now,” Kat said, smiling at her mother’s friend.
Muriel harrumphed.
Drew and Kat walked hand in hand from around the counter, and Drew got down on one knee. By the time he had finished his short speech, Kat could barely see him through the tears in her eyes.
But she was finally able to shout “yes!”
Epilogue
Spring had come early for their town and with it an abundance of wildflowers in a field a short distance from Drew’s home. The air was still cool, but the rays of the noonday sun skipped across the lake waters and warmed the bulbs of daffodils that were still bursting through dirt to bloom.
Susie, Muriel, and Mary had spent the better part of the week moving Kat’s things into Drew’s home and softening the masculine style until it suited both of their needs. Last night, Kat spent her final day as a single woman. Today, she would be spending the night in her forever home with the man that she loved more than anything.
Drew smiled from the flower-covered archway—the same one Muriel said she borrowed from the reenactment society’s shed. Muriel sat in the front row beside her son and daughter-in-law. Drew had told Kat that the relationship between his parents and Muriel hadn’t fully healed, but it was definitely on the mend.
