A Journey by Chance
Page 30
“Why not?”
“I wanted you to take time to think about it.” His unemotional tone raised an invisible barrier, making him unapproachable. “A long time.”
“What is there to think about?”
He shrugged. “How much rent to charge.”
“I don’t want to charge rent.”
“Property taxes aren’t cheap here in Podunk County. I should at least pay for those.”
She blinked.
“Then there are the other implications.” He paused.
“Your vote.”
“Yes, there is that, but who knows what’ll happen once the Village board gets hold of it? That no longer matters. I mean, in essence I don’t have a home here anymore anyway.”
“It’s still your home! You don’t have to leave! I’ll sell it back to you for a dollar after the vote!”
“That wouldn’t exactly be proper, would it? And I don’t know anyone else who appreciates this land as much as you—”
“Brady Olafsson! You can’t go around giving away 122.7 acres! It’s too…too extravagant!”
“I can do whatever I please with it. Don’t you want it?”
“No!” she cried.
He lowered his eyes and set the flute on the log.
“I only want—” She bit her lip and swallowed the shrill tone. “You,” she whispered. “I only want you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you.”
Whether it was a shout or Homer’s excited barking or merely an inexplicable sense of the majestic oaks clapping audibly, she didn’t know, but the woods pealed with a tangible joy. Brady ran to her, caught her in his arms, and laughed as he swung her around.
“Then why, dear girl,” he lowered his face and his lips grazed hers, “are we talking about rent?”
“I thought maybe you just wanted the vote.”
“How could you—? Oh, Gina.” He kissed her soundly. “Convinced?”
She smiled. “Almost. Better try again.”
“Just a minute. Homer!” He pointed a finger at the dog and spoke sternly. “Quiet. Now,” Brady turned to her and slid her cap around backward, “where were we? Ah, yes, convincing you.” His second try took a bit longer. “Satisfied?”
Held in his turquoise gaze like this, how could she ever not be? But there was something. “Brady, are you really willing to leave here and move to Seattle?”
“Sweetheart, when you told me goodbye Saturday night, I came home and suddenly I knew it wasn’t home anymore. It never would be again without you. And I saw that you were right. I was being selfish about holding on to this place. Giving it up was the only way I could think of to prove how much I love you. All I need is my laptop, a plane ticket to wherever you are, and a prayer that you’ll give us a chance.”
“And a dog carrier for Homer.”
He grinned.
She kissed his cheek. “I love you, Brady Olafsson. And I’ll give us a chance on one condition.”
“What’s that?”
“That you stop the references to Podunk. After all, this is my hometown.”
“Hometown?” His grin widened. “Meaning?”
“Meaning I’m giving up the Seattle job. How else can I prove just how much I love you?”
The woods sang with their laughter.
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Sally John
THE OTHER WAY HOME SERIES
A Journey by Chance
After All These Years
Just to See You Smile
The Winding Road Home
IN A HEARTBEAT SERIES
In a Heartbeat
Flash Point
Moment of Truth
THE BEACH HOUSE SERIES
The Beach House
Castles in the Sand
Beach Dreams
(by Trish Perry)
Harvest House Publishers
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DETECTIVES
Cat’s Pajamas
What the Cat Dragged In
When the Cat’s Away
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SMART CHICK
MYSTERY SERIES
The Trouble with Tulip
Blind Dates Can Be Murder
Elementary, My Dear Watkins
MILLION DOLLAR MYSTERIES
A Penny for Your Thoughts
Don’t Take Any Wooden Nickels
A Dime a Dozen
The Buck Stops Here
A Quarter for a Kiss
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THE AUSTEN SERIES
First Impressions
Reason and Romance
Central Park
Amanda
Northpointe Chalet
Possibilities
THE DEBUTANTES
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Lorna
Susan Page Davis
Frasier Island
Finding Marie
Susan Meissner
A Window to the World
Remedy for Regret
In All Deep Places
Seahorse in the Thames
RACHAEL FLYNN
MYSTERY SERIES
Widows and Orphans
Sticks and Stones
Days and Hours
Sally John
THE OTHER WAY
HOME SERIES
A Journey by Chance
After All These Years
Just to See You Smile
The Winding Road Home
IN A HEARTBEAT SERIES
In a Heartbeat
Flash Point
Moment of Truth
THE BEACH HOUSE SERIES
The Beach House
Castles in the Sand
Beach Dreams
Brandt Dodson
COLTON PARKER
MYSTERY SERIES
Original Sin
Seventy Times Seven
Root of All Evil
The Lost Sheep
Siri Mitchell
Moon Over Tokyo
George Polivka
TROPHY CHASE TRILOGY
Legend of the Firefish
The Hand That Bears the Sword
Battle of the Vast Dominion
Craig Parshall
Trial by Ordeal
THE THISTLE AND THE CROSS SERIES
Crown of Fire
Captives and Kings
Sons of Glory
CHAMBERS OF JUSTICE SERIES
The Resurrection File
Custody of the State
The Accused
Missing Witness
The Last Judgment
Roxanne Henke
The Secret of Us
COMING HOME TO BREWSTER SERIES
After Anne
Finding Ruth
Becoming Olivia
Always Jan
With Love, Libby
B.J. Hoff
Song of Erin
MOUNTAIN SONG LEGACY
A Distant Music
The Wind Harp
The Song Weaver