From Now On: Atlanta Belles

by Raine English

  “Sure. I was on my way to the break room.”

  Once they were seated at one of the tables and had a glass of iced sweet tea in front of them, Whitney said, “Cash was at the association meeting.”

  “Aaaand did you talk to him?”

  “Of course. I offered him the seat next to me.”

  “That’s my girl.”

  “Looks like things are back to normal. He accepted my apology, as well as my invitation to the cut-a-thon and mixer.”

  “I’m really happy to hear that, Whit.”

  “Yeah, and that’s not all. When it’s over, I’m gonna ask him upstairs and show him pictures of Mattie.”

  “Wow! You’re fixin’ to tell him Saturday night?” Dixie asked.

  “I don’t have much choice, do I? Seeing as Mattie’s coming home on Sunday.”

  “You’re doing the right thing. You know that, don’t you?”

  Whitney shrugged. “I guess. It’s just scary as all heck.”

  “Of course it is. But imagine the relief you’ll feel.”

  She took a deep tension-filled breath and blew it out. “I just hope he doesn’t hate me afterward.”

  Chapter 8

  Whitney’s mind was awhirl with a crazy mixture of anxiety and anticipation. She was like that every year on the morning of her charity event. Once things got rolling, her nerves settled down some, but right now, they were an erratic mess. She watched as Allie and Daisy, one of the nail techs, hung the giant poster on a wall in the reception area.

  The entire salon was decked out with fresh flowers that included irises, sunflowers, hibiscus, magnolias, and wisteria. The fragrance they gave off was intoxicating.

  Dixie, Annamae, Ella, and Harlene were the stylists taking part in the cut-a-thon. It was a fun-filled event that raised money for charity by offering discounted haircuts. Last year the proceeds came to over two thousand dollars, and that didn’t include what was made at the mixer’s auction. This year, Whitney hoped to raise more, as the money was going to juvenile diabetes.

  Bonnie came out of the break room with a pitcher of mint juleps for them to try, and Whitney called the entire staff up front. Each woman was poured a small glass.

  “This calls for a toast,” she said, holding hers out. “I couldn’t have gotten this event together without y’all. Here’s to the Belles!” She raised her glass and the others did the same, then they all took a sip.

  “Since it looks like everything’s under control, I’m going to go put on my party dress,” Whitey said with a laugh. “I’ll get up with ya in a little while.”

  Upstairs, she sat on the edge of her bed and reflected on the past week. So much had happened in so little time. She looked over at the picture of Mattie on her nightstand. Tomorrow, her little girl would be back home. She couldn’t wait to see her and hear all about camp. And while she was excited about that, fear knotted inside her at the thought of telling Cash tonight that he had a daughter. But there was no way around it. It had to be done. With a sigh, she went over to the closet and took out her strapless royal blue dress with the ruched bodice and changed into it. Next she put on her best blinged-up cowboy boots, ran a comb through her hair, fixed her makeup, and then went back downstairs.

  The band was setting up under a big white tent. A temporary dance floor had been erected, and someone was up on a ladder stringing little white lights from the tent rafters. The caterers had arrived and were covering the buffet table with platters of food. A barrel smoker was fired up, emitting a most delicious scent. Everything was going according to plan. Soon the place would be filled with people, then Whitney could relax and enjoy the event.

  * * * *

  When Cash arrived at Atlanta Belles, it was packed. People were lined up in the reception area waiting for haircuts. Country music blared through the screen door that led out to the patio. A girl wearing a cowboy hat and a T-shirt that was screen printed “I’m a Belle” offered him a specialty cocktail. He’d rather have a beer, so he passed.

  He went over to the reception desk and asked the woman behind it where he could find Whitney.

  “She’s out back, listening to Jimmy Sayer sing.”

  He spotted her right away at the edge of the patio. “Enjoying the music?” he asked, coming to stand beside her.

  She tapped her toe to the beat. “I am. It’s fabulous.”

  “Well, let’s see if you’re as good a dancer as you used to be.” He grabbed hold of her hand and led her onto the dance floor as the band began to play a perfect two-step. Neither of them missed a move, and he was taken back to the days when they used to frequent honky-tonks.

  “That was fun,” she said after the song was over.

  “I enjoyed it too.” His eyes were bright with merriment. “Want to get a drink?”

  “I’d love to. The mint juleps are delicious.”

  They walked over to where a bar had been set up next to the buffet table. After they had their drinks, they decided it would be a good time to get some food as well. They sat at a café table under one of the smaller tents, and while they ate, reminisced about all the fun things they used to do together.

  Later, Whitney introduced Cash to many of her regular customers as well as nearby business owners who had stopped by to partake in the festivities and make a donation to juvenile diabetes. The auction was a huge success, making her earlier prediction that they’d do better than last year a near certainty.

  Before she knew it, the sun began to set behind the pecan trees and the crowd had dwindled. Many of those who remained were on the dance floor, and when a slow song was played, they joined them.

  Cash’s arms encircled her, one hand in the small of her back. She rested her head on his shoulder, sinking into his cushioning embrace. Her body tingled from the contact, and she wished that they could stay like this forever. But too soon, the song ended, and she needed to say good night to her guests.

  Cash headed to the bar to get one last beer, while she went over to a group of women she knew through her board activities. She had just arrived when she heard a child yelling, “Mommy, Mommy!” She looked over at the patio and saw Mattie running toward her.

  Whitney gathered her little girl into her arms, holding her snugly. “I missed you so much, sweetie,” she said against Mattie’s soft brown hair. “But I didn’t expect you until tomorrow. Is everything okay?”

  “I’m okay, Mommy. Tammy’s not, though. She’s sick.”

  Whitney looked past Mattie to Andrea Hart, Tammy’s mom. “I got a call from a camp counselor telling me Tammy had a fever and was vomiting, so I decided to pick up the girls a day early. I hope you don’t mind. I didn’t want to bother you, knowing you were busy with your charity event.”

  “Of course I don’t mind. I’m sorry to hear Tammy’s not well.”

  “I’m sure she’ll be fine in a few days. Chuck’s playing nurse, and you know how that goes, so I better get home.” She squeezed Mattie’s shoulder. “Bye, honey.”

  “Bye, Mrs. Hart.”

  As Andrea turned around to leave, she nearly bumped into Cash, who was standing behind her. When his eyes met Whitney’s, his expression darkened with an unreadable emotion.

  Her heart thumped madly as she scrambled for words, but none would come.

  Cash’s gaze focused on Mattie. “This is your daughter?” he asked sharply.

  “Yes,” Whitney croaked.

  “How old is she?” A sudden thin chill hung on the edge of his words.

  Mattie tilted her chin up, and her marine-blue eyes, the exact same color as his, studied him. “I’m six, she said, holding up her fingers. “But I’ll be seven on Wednesday.”

  His face was a glowering mask of rage, and without saying another word, he turned and walked away.

  “Mommy, who was that man?” Mattie asked. “Was he a friend of yours?”

  Whitney swallowed hard, trying to manage an answer, but instead said, “Honey, why don’t you run upstairs and get Clarice? She’ll be so excited to se
e you. Besides, she’s been cooped up all day.”

  Mattie took off at a gallop, and when she was gone, the tears that Whitney had been fighting fell onto her cheeks. Her worst nightmare had become a reality. The secret that she’d kept for seven years had cost her the only man she’d ever loved.

  Chapter 9

  Cash stared out his office window but didn’t notice the beautiful sunny day or that a car had just pulled into the parking lot. These past few days since Whitney’s charity event had been the worst of his life. And the dark shadows beneath his eyes showed the tortured disbelief that she could have kept his daughter from him for seven years. Why would she do that? That wasn’t the Whitney that he knew and loved. What happened to that honest, levelheaded young woman of yesterday? Maybe she never really existed. Maybe he never really knew her at all. Tormented by conflicting emotions, part of him wanted to demand an answer, and the other knew how useless that was. She’d tried to contact him a few times, but he’d refused her calls.

  He didn’t turn around when his door opened, or even when he heard Dixie’s voice saying, “There’s something you need to know.”

  It wasn’t until she said, “It was your mother, bless her heart, who was responsible for Whitney not telling you about Mattie,” that he spun his chair around.

  “Is that true?” He gave her a hostile glare.

  With her hands on her hips, she confronted him. “Of course it’s true. Your mother threatened to ruin Whit’s business. So what was she to do, raise a child without an income or a roof over her head? Eve was afraid if you knew you had a daughter that you’d come running back here and your life would be destroyed. Guess she figured she knew what was best for you.”

  His brain was in tumult, trying to comprehend what he was hearing. “This is all my mother’s fault.” Anger roiled inside him like a dam about to burst.

  “Look, you can deal with your mom later. What you should do right now is go over to Whitney’s. She’s having a party for Mattie. You need to be there. That little girl shouldn’t go through one more birthday without her father.”

  Dixie was right. He’d been so wrapped up in his emotions that he hadn’t even realized it was Wednesday.

  “What about Whitney? Do you think she’ll mind if I’m there?” he asked, grabbing his keys off the desk.

  Dixie let out an exasperated sigh. “I hope this is the last time I have to play mediator for you two. She’s crazy in love with you, just like you are her. Now stop wasting time. Get over there and show her some sugar.”

  * * * *

  Whitney had just finished putting the candles on the cake when Clarice started barking and racing around the patio.

  Mattie clapped her hands together. “Dixie must be back.”

  Whitney had forgotten to get ice cream, so when Dix offered to go get it, she didn’t argue. She already had enough to do as it was. However, when the good-natured redhead returned, she wasn’t alone. Cash was with her. Whitney’s mind spun with bewilderment, and all she could do was stare.

  Mattie yanked on her sleeve. “Look, Mommy! It’s the man from your party. Who is that man? He looks a lot like me. We have the same color hair and the same color eyes.” Mattie scrunched up her face as she studied him, and it was quite evident that she was perplexed.

  Cash walked over to her and got down on his knees, taking both of her chubby little hands in his. “That’s because I’m your father.”

  Mattie’s eyes grew wide as saucers. “You are?” She looked over at Whitney, whose eyes were misted with tears. “Then where’ve you been? If you’re my daddy, aren’t you supposed to be married to my mommy?”

  Whitney gasped, but she was even more shocked at the tenderness in Cash’s expression, and when he said, “Yes, Mattie I am, and your mommy and I will be taking care of that very soon,” her heart sang with delight.

  “Yay!” Their daughter jumped up and down. “But can we celebrate my birthday first?”

  Dixie stepped up and took Mattie by the hand. “Yep, we sure can, and let’s start by getting some bowls for the ice cream.”

  When they disappeared inside the house, Cash got up, and in one forward motion, Whitney was in his arms. She relaxed, sinking into his embrace, and was conscious of where his warm flesh touched her. Her skin tingled at the contact.

  “I meant what I said about us getting married. That is, if that’s okay with you,” he whispered into her hair.

  She put her arms around his neck. “What do you think?”

  Sunlight glimmered over his handsome face like beams of golden radiance. “I think from now on, no more secrets, no more putting work before us, and no more being apart…ever.”

  Whitney couldn’t agree more, and for the first time in years, she was fully alive and blissfully happy. She offered him her lips, and his kiss sent new spirals of ecstasy through her. The past was forgotten and the future an open door. One the three of them would enter together as a family.

  The End

  Thank you for reading FROM NOW ON. If you enjoyed this novella, please recommend and review the book. To learn about new releases, promotions, and giveaways, please join the Raine English newsletter at http://bit.ly/RaineEnglishNews. When you sign up, you’ll receive a FREE ebook.

  Acknowledgements

  Thank you, as always, to my editor, Linda Ingmanson. Somehow, she manages to find time for me, even when it’s not convenient. She’s a lifesaver, and I appreciate her more than she probably knows.

  Also, a huge thank you to Ciara Knight for inviting me to be part of the Magnolias and Moonshine Series. I’m honored to have been included with such a talented group of authors.

  Magnolias and Moonshine List

  The Sassy Bride by Ciara Knight

  Her Hero by Hildie McQueen

  Hurricane Bride by Beth Williamson

  The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler

  Sweet Love of Mine by Lindi Peterson

  Moon Over Atlanta by Kymber Morgan

  Georgia on My Mind by Amanda McIntyre

  It Could Happen to Us by Lucy McConnell

  SEAL You in My Dreams by Sharon Hamilton

  Magnolia Mystic by Lisa Kessler

  Anxious in Atlanta by Kristen Osbourne

  Southern Secrets by Susan Carlisle

  Out-lanta by Tina DeSalvo

  From Now On by Raine English

  Sweet Georgia Peach by Amelia Adams

  Maybe Baby by E. E. Burke

  A Kiss is Just a Kiss by Melinda Curtis

  Heat Wave by Merry Farmer

  Taste of Tara by Shanna Hatfield

  Hit and Run Love by Jennifer Peel

  Read on for an excerpt from the next in the Magnolias and Moonshine Sweet books…

  Sweet Georgia Peach

  by

  Amelia C. Adams

  Chapter One

  London Russell pulled her suitcase into the lobby of the Atlanta Hyatt Regency Hotel and took a deep breath. She could smell hairspray and perfume and ambition in the air—yep, smelled like a beauty pageant, all right. A huge banner welcomed all the contestants for Miss Sweet Georgia Peach, mothers and daughters buzzing around the check-in table like hornets around a hive. She’d thought she’d left all this behind her, but no—here she was again for one last shot before she was considered too old.

  “London! Why, as I live and breathe!” Taffy Johnson bustled up to her, dressed in purple from head to toe in a linen pantsuit. If anyone could be called a stage mother, it was Taffy—she was more invested in her daughter Lacey’s success than Lacey was herself. She gave London an air kiss on each cheek and then stepped back to survey her. “I haven’t seen you since you won Miss Mint Julep. Where have you been?”

  “Finishing up some college courses,” London replied. “I’ve decided—”

  “I’ve always wondered why we’ve never seen you at Miss Atlanta,” Taffy barreled on, not even registering that London had spoken. “Surely you’ve qualified several times, with all those tiaras you’ve won.”

&
nbsp; “I just—”

  “Of course, Lacey has almost as many!” She laughed delicately. “Why, we had to get a whole new glass-fronted bookcase to hold them all. I put it in the parlor. I figured that wasn’t as ostentatious as the front room, but Big Daddy said we should put it in the front yard and show off to the neighborhood! You remember Big Daddy, don’t you, London?”

  Indeed she did. No one could meet Lacey’s father and not remember the experience. She didn’t have the chance to reply, though, because Taffy was still going.

  “Where’s your mother? Isn’t she here with you? And I heard your sister married a fabulously wealthy rancher and moved to Idaho. Good for her. I always knew she’d make something of herself.”

  “Mom’s at a meeting for her charity,” London finally managed to squeeze in. “And Amber’s husband isn’t fabulously wealthy, but he is a rancher. And he teaches rock climbing.”

  “Oh.” Taffy seemed a bit put out. “A rockclimbing rancher? That seems a little odd, doesn’t it? But never mind—I’m just so glad to see you. We’ve missed you on the pageant circuit. We never feel like the competition’s stiff enough unless you’re here.”

  London accepted that as the subtle compliment it was. “Thanks. It’s good to see you too. Tell Lacey I’ll catch up with her later, all right?”

  “Of course. Take care now!” Taffy scuttled back off the way she’d come from, looking like a lavender cupcake.

  London checked into her room at the hotel, asked the bellhop to take her suitcase upstairs for her, and then walked over to the registration table to check in. Her mother would be arriving later with her dress bags—she’d had them in storage for the last year, and they’d needed a little freshening up at the dry cleaner’s.