One and a Half Regrets: A Sweet, New Adult Romance (Love by the Numbers Book 1)
Page 18
“Your part of the insurance money.” He hands it to me and I glance down to see the sum of my life’s savings, everything I’d used to support the Auld Rogue, here in my trembling hand. “We sold off most of the bar fixtures to cover it.”
“Keep it.” I thrust it back at him. “Ma says she’s renovating.”
My brother turns red. “Uh…actually, we both are.”
“Someone needs to fess up. What is going on here?” I’m rocking Cadence on my hip so fast, she’s about to get whiplash, but my sweet baby girl loves it. She’s cooing every time the breeze hits her hair.
“Here, let me take her.” Liam comes back in and brushes his hands on his jeans, before reaching for our daughter.
I’m furious.
“I know losing the Rogue is hard, but you can’t do this.” As the last words tumble out, I realize that I’m talking about more than the pub. I’m talking about myself. About shutting Liam out, keeping Cadence from him, and ignoring my own career goals for everyone else. It’s not healthy—and it’s no way for any of us to live. “We can’t keep repeating our mistakes.”
“We’re not, Beth.” Cormack and Ma exchange guilty looks, then say together, “We’re opening a coffeehouse.”
“Holy cow.” Liam whistles through his teeth.
I’m stunned. “I…did not see that coming. Pat?”
“Learning to become a barista.” A grin splits his broad face. “Think of it as a growth career move.”
“It’s perfect.” Ma is practically beaming. “We’ll set up comfy chairs near the front, the barista counter over here. I’ve already spoken to a few local bakeries interested in providing treats. Some bookshelves for merch over here…” She wanders off, waving and pointing.
“What is going on here?” I ask my brother.
“Ma decided she can’t own a pub. It’s not part of the twelve-step program.”
“She finally agreed to sign up?”
“Yep.” My brother is beaming. “She’s got a new lease on life…and so does this place.”
“You’re both crazy,” I murmur to Cormack. “The city wants to tear this place down.”
“Yeah, about that. Thanks to the fire, a gal from the city landmark committee dropped by. Turns out this place was built by A.J. Jakob.”
“Who the heck is A.J. Jakob?” I shift Cadence to my left hip so she can tangle the other half of my hair.
“A bigtime architect from the 40s.” He gestures to the pile of rubble in the corner. “They found the original cornerstone under some repaired bricks when they were clearing out the fire damage. Beth, this place is a local landmark. The city can’t tear it down, even if they wanted to.”
“So, the Auld Rogue will rise again as a coffee house.” I still can’t believe it. “I guess it’s not much different for me to work serving coffee instead of liquor.” Maybe we can keep the stage and I can play on it sometimes. I’ll have to let DeSilva know but—
“Not exactly.” Cormack shuffles his feet in the ash. “Ma and I have worked out the details, but the important part is that you’re free, Beth. Free to pursue any and every dream that you might have.”
“That’s…” Terrifying? Amazing? Unbelievable? “Wonderful.”
“Wow, Ms. MacGuire. That’s really great. Let me know if there’s anything I can do to help.” Liam nods. I can tell from the light in his eyes, he really means it.
“Wouldn’t mind a bit of music here and there. Unplugged of course. We don’t want to scare customers away from our grand reopening.” Ma sniffs, but there’s a fond look in her eyes.
And suddenly, there’s a huge weight lifted from my shoulders. Sure, we still have to watch out for Ma on her road to recovery, but she and Cormack will be working together which leaves me time to tend to my own child and my soon-to-be husband.
And the music that brought us together.
“Cormack, did you tell her the best part?” Ma returns to us, her head swimming with dreams instead of booze. “The new name. We’re calling it Magic Beans.”
I mask a laugh with a fake cough. “Magic Beans?”
“Get it, girlie? Because of the coffee? Magic Beans,” she repeats. “It’s perfect!”
My mother traded the Auld Rogue for Magic Beans. “Magic Beans,” I say with a smile.
“Beans!” Cadence burbles.
We all gasp and then burst out laughing. My daughter’s first real word. Beans.
“That’s right, love.” Ma produces a sketch of a coffee mug with a leprechaun peeking behind it. “See the little magic fella?”
I’ve never heard her use that sing-song voice before, but with her laughing and talking and Cormack puffed up with pride, I realize that I’ve got my whole life ahead of me. Liam moves to my side, his hand warm on my back, and we kiss and cuddle our daughter. The world seems shiny and brand new. The perfect start to a new beginning. A life that includes Liam, my family and all the music in the world, if I want.
And I do.
Like the book? Want more?
Check out this preview for TWO WEEKS’ VACATION (Finn & Alex):
I’m no saint, not like Zane. Not like my ex, either. She tried to do the right thing, even when I couldn’t.
Nope, I’m the one strutting around, slinging guitar licks and turning everything to shit.
Our relationship just wasn’t going to work, and when we split, it tore the band apart.
Now, everyone is taking sides.
DeSilva says I gotta fulfill the band’s reputation and even my best bud—Zane Wylder seems to be against me, which just goes to show how messed up I really am.
So, I’ll take my supposed honeymoon, make things right. I just never counted on actually falling in love. Not on vacation, anyways.
TWO WEEKS’ VACATION releases August 2016. Sign up to be notified of the next Love by the Numbers release and I will email you with the link when it’s available at a discounted price!
About the Author
J.A. Coffey writes both sizzling contemporary romance and epic historical fiction with compelling characters that stay with you long after you turn the last page.
A complete cupcake addict, when she isn’t writing or reading, she can be found hunkered over her laptop in a European coffeehouse, test baking desserts, or “feathering her nest” with spruced up flea market finds. A 2014 Indie Book Awards Finalist and former RWA Golden Heart finalist, J.A. is currently working on her latest novel and trying not to get cupcake batter on her keyboard.
Find more recipes for this and other books at www.JACoffey.com. Be sure to sign up for COFFEY TALK, for more chances to get more recipes and free books and promotional giveaways.
Look for these other books by the author:
Contemporary Romance
Southern Seductions series
Liar Liar
Pants on Fire
Hell on Heels
Double Dog Dare
Up All Night (Coming soon!)
Carly Phillips’ Dare to Love Novellas
A Daring Desire
A Daring Engagement (September 2016)
Melody Anne’s Anderson Dynasty Novella
One Sweet Summer (also Love by the Numbers)
LOVE BY THE NUMBERS NOVELLA SERIES (SWEET)
One and a Half Regrets
Two Weeks’ Vacation
Three Little Words
Four-Footed Matchmaker
Five Days in Paradise
Historical Fiction
Hetaera: Daughter of the Gods
Semiramis: Queen of the Night (Coming soon!)
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