A polite knock at the door diverted her attention from her troubled thoughts. “Come in.”
Marie Ashley, David’s fiancée, walked into the room. “Are you ready?”
“I’ve been ready for weeks,” Judy said, rising from the bed. She slipped on a pair of comfortable shoes. “I plan to shop till I drop.”
“Me, too,” Marie said, her eyes shining. “David and I need so many things. Oh Judy, we’re going to be so happy.” She hugged her arms around her middle and sighed with ecstasy. “Did he tell you that I broke into tears when he proposed? I couldn’t even answer him. Poor David, I’m sure he didn’t know what to make of me, blubbering and carrying on like that.”
“I imagine he got the message when you threw your arms around his neck and started kissing him.”
Marie’s hands flew to her hips. “He told you!”
“Ten times the first day I was home,” Judy said cheerfully. “I don’t know who’s more excited, you or my brother.”
“Me,” Marie said unequivocally.
Laughing, they hurried down the stairs to the sports car Marie had parked out front.
The day was a busy one. True to their word, both women shopped until their feet ached and they couldn’t carry another package. They ended up back at the Lovin family home, bringing takeout Chinese food for dinner.
Judy deposited her shopping bags in the polished entryway. “Bently,” she called, “we’re home.”
A quick grin cracked the butler’s stiff façade as he regarded the pair of them. He already treated Marie like a family member. “Several wedding gifts arrived this afternoon,” he informed them primly.
“Here?” Marie asked, surprised.
“I can assure you, Miss Ashley, I did not haul them from your family’s home.”
“Where are they, Bently?” Judy asked, sharing a smile with Marie.
“In the library.”
“Come on,” Marie said eagerly, “let’s go check out the loot.”
Judy followed her soon-to-be sister-in-law into the book-lined room.
“I took the liberty of unwrapping them for you,” Bently said.
Judy and Marie paused in the doorway and gasped at the rich display of paintings and sculptures. Judy’s hand flew to her heart. Each piece was lovingly familiar; they were the things her father had sold in a desperate attempt to save the shipping line. The ones he’d surrendered piece by piece, prolonging the agony.
“All this?” Marie breathed. “Who? Who would possibly give us so much?”
Judy knew the answer even before Bently spoke.
“The card says John McFarland.”
Judy’s eyes drifted shut. John, her John.
“Why, he’s the man—” Marie stopped short. “Judy?” Her voice was low and hesitant. “Are you all right?”
Judy opened her eyes. “Of course. Why shouldn’t I be?”
“You look like you’re about to faint.”
“It’s from lack of nourishment,” Judy explained, her voice shaking. “You dragged me through half the department stores in Manhattan and didn’t feed me lunch. What do you expect?”
“I want you to tell me everything. Now sit down.”
Judy did because she wasn’t convinced she could remain upright for much longer.
“Bently, bring us some coffee, please.”
“Right away, Miss Ashley.”
Despite her misery, Judy smiled, finding a new respect for her brother’s fiancée. “I swear, within a year you’ll be the one running the family business.”
“I’ll have my hands full managing David,” Marie returned matter-of-factly.
The coffee arrived and Marie poured, handing Judy the first cup. “You don’t need to say much,” she began. “It’s obvious to me that you love him.”
Judy dropped her gaze. “I do. Unfortunately, my family hates him. They think he’s some kind of monster.”
“But you know better?”
“I do, Marie. He frightened me in the beginning—he can be terrifying. Believe me, I know he’s arrogant and stubborn, but as the weeks passed, I discovered that underneath he’s a man like every other man. One with hurts and doubts and fears. I learned how kind and generous he can be.”
“But, Judy, he forced you to live on that island.”
“It’s beautiful there. Paradise.”
“David and your father thought he was mistreating you.”
“Never. Not intentionally. Once I had a riding accident—my fault, actually, although John seemed to blame himself and—”
Marie gasped.
“I didn’t let my family know,” Judy said. “They would only have worried, and I couldn’t see any point in increasing their anxiety.”
“What happened?”
“I fell—it doesn’t matter. What does matter is that John was so wonderful to me. I’ve never seen anyone more concerned. He spent hours taking care of me. I think he slept in my room for at least two nights. Every time I woke up, he was there. I…I didn’t know any man could be so gentle.”
Marie smiled faintly. “What are you planning to do now?”
Judy held the coffee cup with both hands. “I…don’t know.”
“Do you want to go back to the island?”
Judy hung her head and whispered, “Yes. Nothing’s the same without John. I loved St. Steven’s, but, more important, I love John.”
“Oh Judy, your father…”
“I know.” She managed to keep her voice steady. “I think he’d rather die than see me go back to the island. John will always be the Beast in his eyes.”
“Give him time,” Marie suggested. “Look what happened with David and me.”
Judy wasn’t sure she understood. “I know David hasn’t seen anyone but you for a couple of years.”
“Five years, Judy. I waited five long years for that man.”
Judy had no idea the romance between them had been going on all that time.
“Because of the financial problems with the business, David told me it could be years before he’d be in a position to marry me or anyone. He said it was useless for me to wait.”
“How painful for you.”
“Oh, it gets worse. He broke off our relationship and suggested I marry someone else. When I refused, he insisted I start seeing other men. He made a point of introducing me to his friends, and when that didn’t work…” Her eyes were dull with pain.
“What happened?”
“I wouldn’t give up on him. I loved him too much. If he didn’t want to marry me, then I wasn’t getting married. There’s never been anyone else for me. Only David.”
“What did he do?”
Marie’s smile revealed a great sadness. “He said some cruel things in an effort to keep me from what he called wasting my life.”
Judy recalled her last night on the island and the horrible things John had said to her. He loved her; she was sure of it. But he’d never asked her to stay, never told her he loved her. Still, she knew he did…
“Of course, all his insults didn’t work,” Marie continued. “I knew what he was doing. But he couldn’t have gotten rid of me to save his soul.”
“I take it he tried.”
Marie’s mouth quivered. “Oh yes, for months. Inventive schemes, too, I might add, but I’m more stubborn than he took into account.”
Judy gripped her friend’s hand. “I hope he knows how lucky he is.”
“Are you kidding? I plan to remind him every day for the next fifty years. Now,” she said, taking a huge breath, “it’s your turn, Judy Lovin, to prove to a man that you mean business.”
Judy’s gaze rested on their clasped hands. “The night before I left the island, I found John…drinking. He told me he was glad to see me go.”
“What did you say?”
“Nothing.”
“Good.”
“Good?”
“Right. He didn’t mean it.”
“I know. He was hurting.”
Marie smiled. “The guilt’s prob
ably driving him crazy about now.”
Judy studied her brother’s fiancée. “What makes you say that?”
Marie gestured toward the array of wedding gifts that filled the library. “Look around you.”
“But—”
“No buts, girl,” Marie interrupted. “You’re going back to the island. And when you do, he’ll be so happy to see you, there won’t be a single doubt.”
Judy went pale.
“It’s what you want, isn’t it?”
“Yes, but Father and David…”
“Just who are you planning to spend the rest of your life with, anyway? Do you really believe they’ll appreciate your sacrifice? Do you think my family was overjoyed with me hanging around year after year?” Marie asked. “Good grief, no! They were convinced that unless I married David, I was going to become a permanent fixture at the old homestead.”
Judy laughed, despite her misery.
“My dad was practically bringing home strangers off the street to introduce to me. I’m telling you, between David and my father, I turned down two neurosurgeons, a dentist, three attorneys, and a construction tycoon.”
The thought was so ridiculous that Judy couldn’t stop laughing. Soon Marie joined her, and they kept it up until their sides hurt and tears rolled down their faces.
—
That one talk with her future sister-in-law gave Judy all the fortitude she needed to face an army of Charles Lovins. She chose her moment well—the reception following David and Marie’s wedding.
“Father,” she said, standing beside him in the receiving line. “I have something to tell you.”
He shook hands with a family friend before turning to his daughter. “Yes, Beauty?”
“I love John McFarland.”
She expected a bellow of outrage, anger…something other than his acceptance and love. “I suspected as much. Are you going back to him?”
Tears brimmed in Judy’s eyes. “Yes.”
“When?” His own voice sounded choked.
“Soon.”
“He’ll marry you?”
Judy chuckled and winked at her sister-in-law. “He’d better.”
Charles Lovin arched his eyebrows. “Why’s that?”
“I’m not taking no for an answer. Marie and I have a bet on which one of us is going to present you with your first grandchild.”
The older man’s eyes sparkled with unshed tears. “Then what are you doing sticking around here?” He hugged her fiercely. “Be very, very happy.”
“I know I will. You’ll come visit?”
“If he’ll allow it.”
Her arms tightened around him. “He will, I promise.”
—
The launch slowed to a crawl as it approached the dock of St. Steven’s. Two formidable security guards were waiting to intercept the unannounced intruders.
“Ms. Lovin?”
“Hello, Wilson,” Judy said, handing him her luggage. “Is Mr. McFarland available?”
The guard looked uncertain. “I believe he is. Does he know you’re coming?”
“No.”
He winced at that but didn’t hesitate to help her climb out of the boat.
“Will you see to it that my things are delivered to my room?” Judy asked.
“Right away.”
“Thank you, Wilson.”
—
By the time Judy arrived at the house, there was a small army of McFarland employees following her, all talking excitedly.
Sam arrived, breathless, from the stables. “Hot dog,” he cried, and slapped his knee. “It’s about time you got here.”
“I was only gone two weeks.”
“That’s about thirteen days too long!”
“How has he been?”
Sam rolled his eyes. “Impossible!”
Judy glanced around to see that several of the other employees were agreeing with Sam’s assessment.
“He’s fired me three times in the last week alone,” Wilson volunteered.
“Moi aussi,” the chef added, ceremoniously crossing his arms over his chest, greatly insulted. “He had ze nerve to suggest I return to cooking school.”
“Everything will be better now that Ms. Lovin’s here,” Sam assured the irate staff. “Next time you leave, though,” he warned Judy, “we’ll all be on that boat with you.”
Ms. Reinholt, who’d stayed to work at the new medical clinic, gave a decisive nod.
“I won’t be leaving,” Judy told them confidently.
A small cheer arose, and when she entered the house, she was met by a red-faced Avery.
“Ms. Lovin!” He looked stunned, flustered, then relieved. “Oh thank God you’re back.”
“Where is he?” she asked, resisting the urge to hug her friend.
“The library.” He pointed in the direction of the closed doors as though he expected her to have forgotten. “I tried to take care of him like you wanted,” Avery said, his words coming out in a rush. “Only Mr. McFarland, well, he didn’t take kindly to my concern.”
“I can imagine,” Judy said, grateful for such loyal friends.
Summoning her courage, she stood in front of the library doors. She found it fitting that he would be there. The last time she’d confronted him had been in the same room. But this time she planned to do all the talking.
She didn’t knock but opened the doors and stepped inside.
“I said I wasn’t to be disturbed!” John shouted.
Judy’s heart constricted at the sight he made, hunched behind a desk. He looked hard, his blue eyes devoid of any emotion except anger and regret. She noted the lines of fatigue around his eyes and the flatness of his mouth.
“John, it’s me,” she said softly, loving him so much that only strength of will prevented her from walking into his arms.
His head snapped up. His eyes went wide with questioning disbelief and he half rose from his chair. “Beauty.” He froze, as though he couldn’t decide what to do.
“Don’t, John.”
“Don’t?” he repeated, puzzled.
“Don’t ask me to leave. I won’t, you know.”
McFarland heard the catch in her voice and sank back into the leather chair. How well she knew him; the words had dangled on the tip of his tongue. He’d been about to demand that she go right back to where she’d come from. It wasn’t what he wanted, but he had to protect her from himself.
Judy moved farther into the room. “David’s wedding was beautiful, and ours is going to be just as special.”
“Ours?” he mocked.
“Yes, ours! You’re marrying me, John McFarland.”
“You’re sure taking a lot for granted.”
“Perhaps.”
“Judy, no.” He wiped his face and wondered if he was dreaming. He wasn’t. “Don’t do this. You’re making it difficult to send you away.”
She met his eyes boldly. “I plan on making it impossible.”
He said nothing for the longest moment. “Judy, there’s someone better for you in New York. Some man who’ll give you the kind of life you deserve. Some man your father will approve of. He’s right—I am a beast.”
She planted her hands on his desktop, remembering everything Marie had gone through for David. “I only want you.”
“Forcing you to come here, to live on the island, was a mistake.”
His face revealed nothing, but she felt the powerful undertow of his emotions.
“It’s not a mistake for me to love you, John.”
He flinched as though she’d struck him.
“I’m not good enough for you,” he told her in a hard, implacable voice. “The things I did to your family…the things I did to you.”
“Coming to this island was right for me. You’re right for me. I love you. All I ask is that you love me in return.”
Again he flinched, and his jaw tensed. He reached out to stroke her cheek. “I’ve loved you from the moment you showed me how you’d tamed Midnight.”
&n
bsp; With her gaze holding his, Judy walked around the desk.
McFarland stood.
She slipped her arms around his neck and leaned in to him. “Oh John, life doesn’t make sense without you. I had to leave you to learn that. There’s no one else for me, no other place I want to be but here.”
“Judy.” His fingers plowed through her hair as he slanted his mouth over hers. He kissed her again and again, as though it would take a hundred years to make up for these past two weeks.
“I live in a tropical paradise and it was winter without you,” he breathed into her hair.
“It’s summer now,” she whispered.
“Yes,” he said, his voice raw. His hand was gentle on her hair. “I love you, Beauty. But I don’t know why you’d want to marry a beast.”
“I have my reasons,” she said as she lovingly pushed him back into his chair. “There’s a small wager I need to tell you about.”
“Oh?” He pulled her into his lap and she leaned forward and whispered it in his ear.
The sound of McFarland’s laughter drifted through the library doors, and the seven who’d gathered there sighed contentedly.
Winter had left the island, never to return.
From that moment, the people of St. Steven’s liked to tell how the Beast was gone forever.
Beauty had tamed him.
BALLANTINE BOOKS BY DEBBIE MACOMBER
Any Dream Will Do
If Not for You
A Girl’s Guide to Moving On
Last One Home
Rose Harbor Inn
Sweet Tomorrows
Silver Linings
Love Letters
Rose Harbor in Bloom
The Inn at Rose Harbor
Blossom Street
Blossom Street Brides
Starting Now
Christmas Novels
Merry and Bright
Twelve Days of Christmas
Dashing Through the Snow
Mr. Miracle
Starry Night
Angels at the Table
For a complete list of books by Debbie Macomber, visit her website at debbiemacomber.com.
About the Author
DEBBIE MACOMBER, the author of Any Dream Will Do, If Not for You, Sweet Tomorrows, A Girl’s Guide to Moving On, Last One Home, Silver Linings, Love Letters, Mr. Miracle, Blossom Street Brides, and Rose Harbor in Bloom, is a leading voice in women’s fiction. Thirteen of her novels have reached #1 on the New York Times bestseller lists, and five of her beloved Christmas novels have been hit movies on the Hallmark Channel, including Mrs. Miracle and Mr. Miracle. Hallmark Channel also produced the original series Debbie Macomber’s Cedar Cove, based on Macomber’s Cedar Cove books. She has more than 200 million copies of her books in print worldwide.
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