Tessa pulled away from him and turned around with a smile as bright as the sun. “Ms. Grant, this is my boyfriend River, and he’d be happy to take you to Aspen Cove if you pay for the gas.”
Sosie looked at the van, which seemed held together by the stickers and a few strategically placed wires.
“I’m in.” She would have strapped herself to the back of a moped if it was going her way.
River took her bag and tossed it in the back. When he grabbed for the painting, Tessa yelled, “No, apparently, that picture is worth a fortune.”
River looked it over. “Some people will pay anything for crap.”
Sosie laughed. She tucked the picture in the back of the van on top of the mattress that she didn’t want to think about and moved back to Tessa.
“Thank you.”
The girl blushed. “No problem, I’m a sucker for love.” After a quick hug of appreciation, Sosie climbed in the passenger seat, littered with empty organic yogurt containers. She kicked them aside, making room for her feet, and shut the door.
While Tessa gave River an over the top goodbye kiss, Sosie pulled out her phone and tried Baxter again. If she was lucky, she’d get him in one of the few places where a bar or two popped in.
It went directly to voice mail. She sighed and hung up. Instead, she texted him.
You promised to never leave me. I need to talk to you. I’m on my way. I love you.
River climbed into the driver’s seat and turned the key. The van spit and sputtered, then died.
“Don’t worry, she’s a finicky girl, but she’s never let me down.” He reached his hand out and rubbed the dash like it was a lover. He pumped the gas twice and twisted the key again; it growled and groaned and caught. The van coughed and passed clouds of dark smoke for the first block, but they were on their way.
“Care to listen to music?”
She nodded. Music would at least occupy her mind. “Sounds great.”
He turned the knob of the old radio and tuned into a station playing Bob Marley. Of course, it would be One Love because she was on her way to hers.
They made decent time until they hit the mountain roads. The van bogged down as they climbed in elevation.
River spoke words of affirmation to his van, which he called Buttercup. “Come on, baby, come on. You can do it. At the top, you get to coast until the next climb.”
Sosie was questioning her decision to climb into a van that was probably rescued from the junkyard.
Buttercup made it to the crest and coasted over several hills for the next two hours, but the final pass proved to be a challenge. They were chugging along when a loud pop sounded, and River struggled to keep the beast on the road.
“Well, I think that might end our adventure.” He pulled the limping vehicle to the side of the road and exited. “Yep,” he yelled. “Tire’s blown.”
“No, no, no,” she chanted, climbing out to look. “Don’t you have a spare?”
He laughed. “I can’t afford a spare.” He looked up at the big pines looming over them like giants. “This seems as good a place to bed down for the night. I’m sure we can flag someone over in the morning.”
“Bed down. No way. I have to get to Aspen Cove.” She marched to the passenger side and got her purse. A look at her phone told her they were in a dead zone.
She opened the back of the van and took out her suitcase. Tossing it to the ground, she opened it and began removing her clothes. “Do you think Tessa would want these?” She held up several shirts and pants, things that had cost a fortune in their day, but didn’t have any value to her now.
“Not sure, but you can leave them behind.” He picked up a sexy nightgown and smiled. “Now we’re talking.”
“That one is coming with me.” She snatched it from him and tucked it back into her bag. Once she had room for the canvas, she tucked it into the empty side and closed it back up.
“You’re not going to walk, are you?” He pointed to her heels.
She growled and opened her suitcase again to change into her checkered Vans. “I’m getting to Baxter one way or another. Even if I have to ride a grizzly into town, I’m going.”
“Right on.” He rummaged through the trash cluttered space between the seats and pulled out a bottle of water and a bag of nuts. “You’ll need to keep up your energy. You’ve got about twenty miles to go.” He held up the baggie of nuts. “These are from the pines around here. I picked them and toasted them myself.”
“Are they safe?”
“The animals eat them.”
Animals ate their own poop at times too, but she didn’t have time to argue. She pulled out the twenties she had in her wallet. Funnily enough, she’d folded them in half twice like she learned from LightHouse. “This is all I have on me. I’m sorry to leave you stranded.”
“It’s all good.” He pointed to the van. “I’ve got a sweet mattress and some weed. I’ll be fine. If you make it to Aspen Cove, can you call Tessa and tell her where I am?”
If I make it?
“I will make it, and as soon as I get a signal, I’ll call her.”
Sosie set off on the longest walk of her life. How far would she travel for love? To the ends of the earth.
Chapter Twenty-Two
Baxter woke with his head pounding and his heart aching. Once he left the gallery, he headed straight home. At one point, he considered turning around and going back, but begging wouldn’t be good for either of them. It would guilt her into staying, and it would make him feel like she stuck around to make him feel better. Sosie was that kind of woman; she was kindhearted and loving and giving. Hell, she’d bought her mom a home and sent her brother to rehab when she was at her lowest. She put others first, and he didn’t want her to sacrifice her future for him.
He almost called her last night because going to bed wasn’t the same without hearing her tell him she loved him, and he was certain she did, but when he looked at his phone, the battery was dead.
He rolled onto his back and took several breaths.
“I lived without her before, and I’ll live without her again.” The words sounded hollow because living without Sosie wasn’t living at all.
He glanced at his phone to find several messages. His heart soared when he listened to the voice mail.
Baxter, call me. It’s not what you think.
What the hell? He jumped up from the bed and dialed her number.
“You’ve reached Sosie, you know what to do.”
He tugged on his jeans and scrolled through her texts.
You promised to never leave me. I need to talk to you. I’m on my way. I love you.
The time the text came in was over five hours ago. If she were on her way, she’d be there. He pulled on a shirt, slipped on his shoes, grabbed his keys, and ran down the stairs. He nearly ran Katie over on his way out.
“Have you seen Sosie?”
She shifted the supplies in her hands and opened the door to the bakery. “No, she hasn’t been back that I know of.”
“Thanks,” he ran around the building and into the diner. He scanned the room, looking for the prettiest girl in the world, but she wasn’t there.
“Can I get you something, Baxter?” Aunt Maisey asked.
“Looking for Sosie. Have you seen her?” His aunt looked at him with concern. “I thought she went back to Denver.”
“She did,” he turned to leave but called a thanks over his shoulder.
He jogged back to his truck and took off toward the studio. When he got there, the lights were off, and no one was in the building.
Sitting in his truck, he ran through all the options he had. He didn’t know anyone in Denver who could check in with her. The only name that came to mind was Theresa, but she didn’t like him much, and he was certain she wouldn’t give him any information.
Without options, he looked her agency up and dialed.
“Branton Agency, this is Melissa, can I help you?”
“Can I speak to Theresa, pl
ease?”
“Who’s calling?”
“Baxter Black.”
There was a moment of silence while she put him on hold, and then the phone clicked over.
“Calling to gloat?”
“What? I don’t know what you’re talking about.”
He heard the woman let out a growl. “Sure, you do, she chose you over everything. I handed her a perfect life on a silver platter, and she wanted you instead.”
His insides twisted. Something was very wrong. “What the hell are you going on about?”
“Sosie left the gallery to go after you. She chose love over a life that would bring her everything.”
His heart filled to bursting. She’d chosen him. “Where is she?”
Several long seconds passed. “Isn’t she with you? I would have sworn she would have checked out of the Brown Palace and headed straight for Aspen Cove.”
He hung up without saying another word. His next call was to the Brown Palace Hotel. “Sosie Grant’s room, please.”
“I’m sorry sir, Ms. Grant checked out last night.”
“Are you sure?”
The woman’s voice got muffled. “Yes, I’m sure. Tessa was in a titter about how her boyfriend was driving Sosie to Aspen Cove to chase love. The girl is such a romantic.”
“Thank you.” He put his truck in gear and headed back toward Denver. All clues pointed to her returning, but she never made it, so something had to have happened.
He wound through town and hopped on the highway that led to Denver. About six miles in, he saw her walking on the soft shoulder, looking like she’d run a marathon. Behind her, she tugged her suitcase. She didn’t notice him slow down and pull a U-turn to come up behind her.
He rolled down the window. “Hey, lady, do you need a ride?”
She stopped and looked up. Beads of sweat poured down her face, and smudges of road dust streaked her cheeks.
“Baxter?” Her voice was gravelly. “Is that you?” She rubbed her eyes as if she were seeing a mirage.
He was out of the truck in seconds, sweeping her into his arms. “You crazy woman. What are you doing?”
“I’m trying to get back to you. Do you have any idea how hard it’s been?” She lifted her tennis shoe. “These are not made for rough terrain.” She pointed to the torn seam on her blue dress. “Not really hiking clothes either.” She pressed her lower lip out in a pout. “And about five miles back, I dropped my pine nuts, and a damn squirrel came out of nowhere and swiped the whole bag.” Her voice quivered, and her shoulders shook. “Take me home.”
“You got it.” He put her bag in the back of the truck and helped her inside.
As he drove, he held onto her hand, afraid if he let go, she’d disappear.
“What happened Sosie? I thought you would head to Paris with that Myron guy.”
“When we get home, the first thing I’m doing is kissing you, but after that, I’m beating some sense into you. Why would I choose him when I have you?”
Baxter gripped the wheel so tightly his knuckles tingled. “He can give you everything you ever wanted.”
She shook her head. “No, he can’t give me your love. That’s all I want. All I need.”
“But Theresa said—”
“Theresa is an idiot. Why you listened to her, I don’t understand. You could have asked me.”
He felt like an idiot. He should have asked her.
“I didn’t want you to sacrifice your career for a life with me.”
“Isn’t it time I sacrificed my career for a life? I’ve been waiting for you to show up for years. Why did you take so long?”
He pulled into town and parked behind the apartment. When he killed the engine, he turned to her. “I’ve been looking for the right woman in the wrong place. Who knew she’d show up on my doorstep?”
“Will you share your life with me, Baxter?”
He chuckled. “Is that a proposal?”
“Would you say yes if it was?”
He rubbed his chin. “Do you have a ring?”
She looked behind her at the suitcase in the truck’s bed. “No, but I have a painting worth a hundred grand.”
His jaw nearly hit his chest. “You brought the painting?”
She unbuckled and scooted next to him. “It was yours.”
“But it said it was reserved. I thought you’d sold it.”
She straddled his lap. Pressed between the steering wheel and him, there wasn’t much room for maneuvering.
“It was always yours. I gave it to you.”
He cupped her cheek. “Not really, I kind of claimed it.”
“True, but it was yours from the day you saw it.”
He pressed his lips to hers. “You were mine from the day I saw you.”
“Liar, you didn’t even like me.”
“I didn’t know you, but that first night I climbed into your bed to comfort you ... I knew I’d never want to leave.”
“That’s the night I fell in love. You showed me more compassion and caring than I’ve ever known.”
“You look exhausted.”
“I’m totally spent and ready for bed, but not for sleep.”
He looked into her eyes and saw passion and fire there. “Let’s get you cleaned up, fed, and fully satisfied.”
She frowned. “Do you have to work today?”
He shook his head. “No, I don’t have to work, but, I will work all day pleasing you, and then wake up tomorrow and do it again.”
He opened the door and climbed out of the cab with her attached to him. She raised her legs to wrap them around his waist and held on tightly to his neck. He made it halfway to the door before he turned around.
“I should get my ring before someone steals it.”
She laughed so hard, she couldn’t hold on to him and slid down his body. “So, is that a yes?”
“Are you really asking?” He grabbed her suitcase and carried it upstairs.
“Are you saying yes?”
He patted her bottom. “Get upstairs, future Mrs. Black.”
She squealed and ran up the stairs in front of him.
How did his life move from colorless to filled with every hue under the rainbow? It was because a blind artist filled her paintbrush with love and brought brightness into his life.
Chapter Twenty-Three
One week later.
“What do you think?” She danced around the living room of her new home.
“Are you sure we should put that picture on the mantel?” Baxter asked. “I mean, it’s worth a fortune.”
She shook her head. “It’s only worth what someone will pay for it.”
“I know, and you said someone offered you a hundred grand.”
“Do you want to sell it?” She knew if he did, Baxter could afford all the bells and whistles he ever dreamed for their home. Their home.
“No way, this picture has more emotional value than it could ever have monetary value. You painted it on the first day of the rest of your life.”
“No, that day was when I made you wear your mashed potatoes and gravy.”
“True, but the answer is still no. I love what it represents. It was a new beginning. You took a risk on me, and yourself, and now we have a painting worth more than the house it’s hanging in.”
She moved to him and wrapped her arms around his waist. “Not true, there’s no value great enough to put on a house filled with love.”
She moved through the living room, full of furniture from her apartment. It was fine for now, but as they grew together, they would make everything theirs.
“Are you ready to head to lunch with the band?” Samantha had invited everyone who rented space at The Guild Creative Center to lunch catered by Dalton.
He frowned. “I’m not sure I want to share you with anyone. Did you know that Red had the hots for you that day you helped with his house?”
“Really?” She took her bag from the coffee table and slung it over her shoulder.
�
�Yes.” He followed her to the door.
“He’s not really my type. I like them tall, dark, and dashing. They have to be able to tell aqua from turquoise and tomato red from scarlet. They have to kiss like Romeo and make love like a god. It also doesn’t hurt if they can cook a meal or do a load of laundry. The icing on the cake is when they value their woman more for the love she brings than the art she sells. Add to that, the skill of making her see everything so clearly when she couldn’t see at all—that’s pure relationship magic.”
“Just call me Houdini.” They climbed into the truck and drove toward The Guild Creative Center. On their way, they passed Axel’s house.
“Is that Mercy?” Sosie watched the woman tuck a pair of pink lace panties in the chain-link fence.
Baxter slowed, and Mercy’s eyes opened wide. She tugged the panties free and moved down the sidewalk, pulling the other ten pair from between the links.
Baxter rolled down his window. “Everything okay?”
“Disgusting. Can you believe women leave their underwear on the fence?” She huffed. “There are children in this neighborhood.” She opened the neighbor’s trash can and tossed them all inside. “Somebody has to be the voice of reason.”
“Carry on,” Baxter said. He drove forward, but Sosie turned around to see Mercy pull the pink panties from the trash can and tuck them into the fence before she ran off.
Find out if Mercy can snag a rock star in One Hundred Lessons
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One Hundred Glances (An Aspen Cove Small Town Romance Book 14) Page 16
