Winning Her Forever

by Harmony Evans

  He left the office, excited about the prospects of working on what could be one of the most important community developments they’d ever done.

  He pulled out his phone to check his email and see if Sonya had sent her contact information, as he’d instructed all of the students to do. Many of them had, but not her.

  After a frustrated groan, Trent closed his eyes. A sad fact occurred to him. There was no woman he cared about deeply enough to share the good news in his life. That had never really bothered him until now.

  Sonya was off-limits for a serious relationship, at least until the class had concluded. If her car hadn’t broken down, he wouldn’t have had the opportunity to spend an evening with her.

  He turned on the ignition and thought about the missing shingles on her roof. He wasn’t a licensed inspector, but he could have offered to take a look at the interior and exterior of her home himself.

  He’d been waiting his entire life for the right woman to cross his path. Now, all he had to do was discover if that woman was Sonya.

  * * *

  Sonya plucked some stray sticks from the front yard, just for something to do, while Liza Marbet, a local architect, gathered her thoughts.

  The two women had met in line at Ruby’s Tasty Pastries, a popular bakery in Bay Point, and had struck up a conversation. They’d decided to have coffee together and became friends.

  It saddened her that she’d been so busy trying to build her dance career that she’d lost touch with her childhood friends. Most of them had moved away. Although Liza was very busy, she’d agreed to take a look at the house and give her opinion.

  The wind was calmer than her nerves as the afternoon sun filtered through the tall California sycamores dotting the front yard.

  She didn’t know why she was so anxious. Maybe it was because when she thought about all that had to be done, there was a tickle of regret that she’d even undertaken the responsibility at all. Her temples pulsed every time she thought about the eight-hundred acres of land behind the two-story farmhouse-style home.

  She deposited the twigs into a larger pile under the tree, and then she walked up the stairs to the porch. After washing her hands, she returned outside.

  Her mood turned ambivalent when she thought about the memories within those four walls, some good, some not so good. Over the years, she’d dealt with both in her own way. Now that she was no longer dancing professionally, Trent Waterson could be the perfect distraction.

  “This house has good bones,” Liza announced, joining her on the porch.

  Sonya exhaled in relief and gestured to one of the wicker chairs. “You really think so?”

  “Yes, but you should get a professional inspection of the interior and exterior.”

  She poured two glasses of iced tea and handed one to Liza. “I got some recommendations from someone in town.”

  Liza sat down and raised a brow. “Who from?”

  Sonya hesitated for a moment. “Trent Waterson.”

  Liza waved a hand in front of her face. “Uh-oh, handsome and single.”

  “That’s a bad thing?”

  “Not at all. I actually know him well. He and his crew bulldozed an old motel to make way for my husband’s cosmetic surgery clinic. He’s very professional. How did you meet him?”

  “He’s teaching a class on home repair for women at the community college. I thought I would try to do some of the work around here myself.”

  “And start your dance studio at the same time?”

  Sonya issued a wry grin. “Multitasking at its best.”

  Liza peered over both armchairs and under the seat cushion.

  Sonya furrowed a brow. “What are you looking for?”

  “A bundle of energy,” Liza said in a serious tone. “With everything on your plate, you’re going to need it. Are you thinking of selling?”

  “No. My aunt says we’ve had some interested buyers in the past. The value is in the land.”

  “It’s a lot of work for one person.”

  “Not really.” Sonya laughed, even though she knew deep down it was true.

  She raised her glass of iced tea in the air. “All I need is a hammer, some nails—”

  Liza cut in and raised her glass, too. “And a man like Trent to get the job done right.”

  “No!” Sonya said sharply. “I can do this on my own.”

  Her voice softened at Liza’s frown. “At least, I want to try.”

  Liza nodded and finished the rest of her iced tea before responding. “I understand. When I moved to Bay Point, it was a chance for me to do things my way. And I didn’t want anything or anybody to prevent me from doing what I’d come here to do.”

  Sonya tapped the top of her head with one finger. It was a habit she’d developed over the years to check that her ballerina bun was neat and secure, most often prior to performances. Now, when she did that, the internal voice that whispered, You’re not performing anymore, and that’s okay, got stronger and stronger.

  No one was watching or clapping or standing outside the stage door waiting for her autograph. She was an audience of one, responsible only for herself. That fact both scared and motivated her.

  “Have you been successful?” Sonya inquired.

  “Yes,” Liza said and started to giggle. “I’m laughing because, at the time, I didn’t think I would have any clients, and look at me. I’m so busy I can barely catch my breath.”

  “But you did catch a husband,” Sonya teased.

  “Oh, no, he caught me. Our relationship started out all business, but I think we both knew, deep down, that something special was brewing between us.”

  “You’re a lucky woman, and a soon-to-be mom!”

  “Thank you. I didn’t expect to fall in love with my client, but I did, and I’m gloriously happy.” Liza patted her baby bump. “What about you and Trent?”

  “I hardly know him.” Sonya widened her eyes. “He’s just a guy who happens to be teaching my class and who happens to be—”

  “Available,” Liza said. “At least that’s what I’ve heard.”

  Sonya made a sound in the back of her throat. “I was going to say, very experienced.”

  “Oh, how would you know?” Liza asked, flashing a lighthearted smile.

  “I don’t, unfortunately, but I wish I did.” Sonya covered her mouth. “Oh, my goodness, did I just say that?”

  Liza grinned. “You bet you did, and I can’t blame you. If I weren’t married, I would go for him. He’s gorgeous, and a really good guy, from what I’ve heard.”

  Sonya thought back to Violet’s comment at the first class, but she wouldn’t dare repeat it. She wasn’t a gossiper, like many of the people in town.

  “That’s good to know,” she murmured. “But I don’t have time for a relationship right now.”

  “So where does that leave me?” Liza asked with her hands on her hips.

  Sonya burst out laughing. “Oh, don’t worry. I have time for friends, just none for men.” She extended a small tray of lemon biscotti to Liza, who selected one.

  “A man like Trent could change your mind.”

  “Perhaps, but I’m not in a rush.”

  “One piece of advice?” Liza asked.

  Sonya bit into a biscotti and nodded. “I’ll take it.”

  “If it feels right, don’t question it and don’t wait. True love works on its own timetable.”

  “How will I know?”

  “Trust me, when you fall in love with the man you’re supposed to be with, you won’t even have to ask. You’ll just know.”

  She thought about Dewayne, the man who she’d thought she loved and felt a rush of guilt. She’d lost count of how many times he proposed, and each time, she refused. She guessed she had a touch of heartbreaker in herself, so how could she possibly judge Trent?

&
nbsp; Liza snagged another biscotti from the tray. “So do you miss life as a ballerina? It must have been so exciting.”

  “It was, at first, a dream come true, but the reality was that the only thing I had control over in my career were my own two feet.

  “Ow!” She slipped off her tennis shoes. “It’s not as glamorous as everyone thinks.”

  “Whoa,” Liza exclaimed. “Your feet are...”

  “Beat-up, I know,” Sonya exclaimed, more from the sudden pain, than Liza’s comment. “Battle scars.”

  She grabbed some massage oil from a small table on the porch. She kept the small bottles scattered around the house so that she could address the pain whenever and wherever it struck without warning.

  “Sorry. Do you mind?” Sonya asked. She slathered some on her feet. “I usually walk around barefoot at home, because I never know when the pain is going to hit.”

  She crossed one leg over her knee, and then the other, rubbing her feet until the pain subsided. She refused to take medication, preferring the healing balm of touch.

  “That must be awful.”

  “Yoga helps a great deal.” She gritted her teeth and flexed her red-painted toes. “So do pedicures.”

  Liza tapped one finger to her lips. “Hmm, I wonder if Trent gives good massages.”

  “You’re evil,” Sonya joked. She wiped the oil from her hands with a clean tissue. “What am I supposed to do, just go up to the man and ask him to work his magic on my ten little piggies?”

  “Ha! Just promise me that you won’t put a damper on any of his attempts to woo you. I’ll bet he’ll surprise you.”

  Sonya got up and brushed the crumbs from her lap and invited Liza inside to talk about design treatments for the interior of her home.

  For the first time today, she doubted her friend’s words. Other than Dewayne, Trent Waterson was probably just like any other man she’d ever dated. Sweet and caring all the way until he got her into bed, and then unavailable and aloof when he got out of it.

  Sonya was used to pain, both emotional and physical.

  When she was a little girl and a beginner student at Miss Celia’s House of Dance, she did her first pirouette in her pretty pink ballet shoes and her heart had been full of joy. Her mother had applauded with enthusiasm and proud tears in her eyes, but her father had not. He just looked angry.

  One night, after a performance, she’d overheard an argument between her parents. While her mother insisted that Sonya was learning poise and grace, which would serve her well as she grew up, her dad felt like too much money was being wasted on lessons and costumes, with too little to show for it.

  Though her heart was torn to pieces from the lack of acceptance from her father, she’d refused to cry or give up her love for dance.

  Whenever she thought about giving up on anything, she channeled the same energy and will to succeed that she’d had as a child. Her plan now was to stay focused on fixing up her property and making her new business a success. There would be little time for a relationship, and, therefore, even less chance to be hurt.

  Chapter 5

  Sonya watched red and gold leaves chase each other down the middle of Ocean Avenue as she waited in front of Sal’s Hardware. She had hoped that the store would open early so that she could navigate the aisles before Trent and the rest of the class arrived. But although the lights were on, the door was still locked.

  A sudden breeze swirled granules of sand from the sidewalk around her feet as she peered in the shop window. There were a variety of small tools hung up on a beige pegboard, an old-fashioned rusty push mower, as well as a small sign advertising 20 percent off paint and painting supplies.

  She bit her lip with worry, wondering what she would do when the store opened, besides walk up and down the aisles in an utter fog. The decision on what project she should tackle first still befuddled her, so she hadn’t emailed her choice to Trent. Nor had she provided her contact information.

  She was officially late on two assignments, something that had never happened to her before. She was the kind of student that always turned everything in either early or on time. Her stomach flipped in a mix of annoyance and anticipation. She’d been an A student all through high school and college, and even though this was a pass/fail class, she wanted to do well.

  Old-fashioned copper streetlamps with the blue-green patina of age lined both sides of the two-lane road. She stepped out from under the store’s red awning and leaned against one, turning her face eastward.

  The sun’s warmth always made it seem like nothing could go wrong with her day. The beaches of Bay Point were close by, and every time she inhaled the salty air, it renewed her spirit more than the most strenuous yoga positions.

  “Falling asleep on me already?”

  Her eyes snapped open at the low baritone voice floating toward her.

  Trent held up a plain white, green-sleeved paper cup she recognized from Ruby’s Tasty Pastries.

  “This should help keep you awake. Regular roast, two creams, no sugar, but only if you promise not to spill it on me this time?”

  He bowed, and she found the gesture charming, despite his reference to the way they’d first met.

  “And ruin your pristine white T-shirt? Not a chance.”

  She wouldn’t want anything to get in the way of the fabric that stretched perfectly across his well-formed pectorals, moving with him as he lifted his arm to take a sip of his coffee.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, his lips turned up into a smile. “I wore it just for you.”

  She forced herself to look away from his upper body and into his eyes. “Very sweet of you,” she beamed as she took the cup from him, deliberately trying to hide her pleasure, but knowing she was probably not doing a very good job of it.

  “How did you know what I liked?”

  “Which one, the shirt or the coffee?”

  Sonya rolled her eyes. “The java, of course.”

  “I asked the owner herself.”

  Ruby was famous around town for her ability to remember the likes and dislikes of her regular customers. It was one of the reasons why her shop was so popular, besides the delicious baked goods.

  “Ah! How could I have forgotten?” Sonya flipped open the tab on the cover and took a careful sip. It was hot and tasted delicious, but it needed pastries to make it perfect. “No buttery croissants, no apple-crumb danish?”

  “Demanding, aren’t we?” He grinned and pointed to a warning sign on the front of the store. “No food, no pets.”

  “No shirt, no service,” she finished aloud. “Too bad.” She frowned.

  “Which part of that disappoints you the most?”

  “Since I don’t have a pet, no food,” she responded with an innocent smile.

  “Is there a reason why you’re wearing such a pretty dress to the hardware story today? Are you going to a party afterward, or on a date?”

  “Neither.” She leveled her gaze at him and kept her tone serious. “I wear dresses as often as I can. I love the freedom of movement they give me.”

  She took a step forward and almost twirled around to show him what she meant, but decided it was wiser to step back under the protection of the awning.

  “You look beautiful in it.”

  She hitched in a breath at his compliment. “Are you flirting with me?”

  “Yes, is there a reason why I shouldn’t?”

  She gave him a sweet smile. “Aren’t you afraid of being seen as playing favorites? Bringing me a coffee, choosing your clothes just to impress me.”

  He held up his hands. “Is that a crime? There’s nobody here but you and me. Besides, class doesn’t start for another ten minutes. Why are you here so early? Could it be that you missed me?”

  “Is there something wrong with being punctual?”

  “Not at all, I was just h
oping it was because you missed me.”

  “I don’t like school that much,” she teased. “But I always loved field trips when I was a kid. I guess that’s one reason why I suggested this visit to the hardware store in class. I’m almost ashamed to admit I’ve never been in one. I lived in a luxury apartment in San Francisco, so any repairs were taken care of by the management company.”

  Whenever something was broken, her father had always hired a repairman, but only after he’d attempted to fix it himself. She chuckled inwardly to herself, realizing that was one thing they had in common. There wasn’t much else.

  “I’ve been coming to Sal’s since I was a little boy. He used to sell these toy tool belts, and I would ride my bike downtown after school and stare at them in the window. The best Christmas I ever had was when I found one under the tree.”

  Sonya wondered what Trent was like as a little boy. “Is that what got you interested in building things?”

  “No, it was just something I needed to do. As a kid, I was constantly stacking things on top of one another, like blocks or those little wooden logs. I have a degree in construction engineering, but I prefer to be hands-on, building the homes of my customer’s dreams. I guess I just wanted to make a mark in this world.”

  “That’s wonderful. It sounds like you’re happy with your choice of career.”

  He nodded. “It’s hard work, but I am. Maybe someday I’ll show you a few of my projects and take you for another motorcycle ride. What do you say?”

  Her heart beat just a little faster. Trent had just asked her out on a date, and even though she wanted to accept, she wasn’t sure that she should.

  “Maybe.” She smiled. “But don’t you think I should do my homework first?”

  Trent wrinkled his brow in confusion, and she giggled.

  “I didn’t turn in my project idea, because there’s so much to do in my house that I don’t know what to start.”

  His face relaxed into a grin, and she knew he understood. “I can help you prioritize. Do you have the list with you?”