Magnolia Bride

by Tara Randel

  “Me neither.” She ruffled his hair. “When did you get so grown-up?”

  He ducked, brushing his hair back into place as he hurried out the door, almost running into Dane.

  “Someone’s late,” Dane said as he came inside.

  “School,” she told him, annoyed to find herself tongue-tied. Wearing a dark blue T-shirt, worn jeans and scuffed work boots, he kept his GQ air about him by holding his leather briefcase. Why did he have to be so gorgeous? A smile tugged at his lips, his eyes remained steady on hers. With both of them dressed so casually, it made things between them less professional and more personal. It wasn’t what she wanted. Nor did she want him looking at her as if she were the only woman on earth.

  She gestured at his attire. “Day off?”

  “No. Don’t normally take days off,” he stated. “Need some measurements to finish up my designs for the storefront. Then I’ll get started.”

  “Even though I asked you to give me a day?”

  He set his briefcase on a nearby table and crossed his arms over his chest. His wide, toned chest. “Have you thought about it?”

  “All night.”

  “And...”

  “You’re way too demanding.”

  “When I decide on a project, I like to get right to it.”

  She knew all about diving right into a job. She’d been guilty of doing it more times than she could count.

  “So?” he queried.

  “I agree.”

  “You could have given me your answer to begin with.”

  “What’s the fun in that?”

  He grinned and looked at the tabletop. “What’re you up to?”

  “Deciding on which equipment to buy for the shop.”

  “I’m glad Dorinda’s on board. This place is special to her.”

  Nealy’s heart skipped a beat. Not everyone got that about her grandmother. “Things should be in motion before she gets back from vacation and changes her mind.”

  “Speaking of vacations, have you heard from Juliet?”

  “She texted me a couple times. Said not to worry.”

  “But you are.”

  A note of melancholy tinged her voice. “Yes, I am. A little. She’s an adult and seems safe, but I still don’t know where she went or who she’s with.”

  “I might know who.”

  “Tell me.”

  “Josh Hamilton, head of landscaping and jack-of-all-trades at the hotel. He asked for vacation leave about the time Juliet disappeared.”

  “Why would she... Is she safe with him?”

  “Josh is a great guy. I’ve known him awhile. His work here is second to none and he’s well liked among the other staff. I got the impression he has real feelings for her, so I’m sure he’ll take care of her.”

  “Well, at least that mystery is solved.”

  She glanced at him, trying to reconcile this Dane with the boy he once was. She never would have pegged him to be concerned enough about Dorinda’s livelihood to base a business decision on her. Nealy didn’t like this glimpse of the caring side of Dane. It made him human, not the hard-hearted guy she’d purposely stayed away from all these years. “Thanks for thinking about my grandmother. You could have had an agenda and just gone ahead and opened a coffee place if you wanted.”

  “See, I’m not all bad.”

  True. He might have been a heartbreaker once, but the man Dane had become didn’t seem to trounce on other people’s feelings. Just hers.

  “So,” Dane said. “Let me show you what I’ve come up with for the storefront.” He withdrew sketches from his briefcase and motioned for her to follow him outside.

  “I want to cover the stucco with treated shingles. Make it more beachy-looking. Reframe the windows, add shutters. New light fixtures and a new sign.”

  She glanced at the faded plaque on the wall. It read Cuppa Joe in all capitals with a small carving of a coffee mug under the letters.

  “I hate to see the sign go.”

  “Don’t worry, we can hang it in the shop.” His crooked smile had her stomach in knots. “Hey, we’ll place it over the hole you made in the wall.”

  “It’s not a hole. And I planned on painting the shop anyway.”

  “Since you took all your pictures down, Dorinda needs something to replace the memories. Your granddad’s sign fits the bill.”

  She had to agree. The gesture was thoughtful and just plain nice. It was becoming more difficult to remember Dane was the bad guy.

  “To replace the current sign, I’ve made a few drawings for you to choose from. We can either hang the sign from the canopy like the other shops or place it over the door.”

  “Either sounds good.”

  She studied the sketches he offered her. “How’d you come up with this idea?”

  “Your grandmother once told me about a vacation she and your granddad took to New England. She admired the rustic architecture so I took the inspiration from her own descriptions.”

  “I’m impressed.”

  “Good. You can help me.” He pulled a tape measure from his back pocket. “Mind jotting down the numbers as I call them out?”

  “Sure.” She ran inside to get a paper and pencil then rejoined Dane. “Go ahead.”

  Dane measured and Nealy scribbled down the figures. A sense of déjà vu overtook her. When they’d been dating, they did everything together. They’d worked plenty of overtime at the hotel, for instance, just to be with one another. Whenever they handled the snack bar, they always made more sales than any of the other employees. If she had lifeguard duty, he would show up and play with the little kids, keeping them from the deep end. She’d helped him bus tables if it meant they could take off a few minutes early. Once, they’d made a good team. Been best friends. Now...she wasn’t sure what they were.

  “So, when did you get interested in building?”

  “After we went our separate ways.” He was focused on Nealy. Waiting for a response? She kept her mouth shut. “I went to live with my uncle and he introduced me to construction and remodeling and how to do it profitably. You remember Uncle Hank, right?”

  How could she forget? He never approved of Dane and Nealy getting serious so fast and made his displeasure known.

  “I remember. He’s the reason we always met at Swindler’s Ice Cream Shop.”

  “He’s still as opinionated as ever.”

  “Good to know.” She didn’t plan on engaging him in conversation while in town.

  “Anyway, I went to live with him and my aunt. They helped me straighten out my life. I needed a job before I started college, so I did grunt work for my uncle’s business. I loved it and learned every aspect of rehabbing and saving old structures.”

  “And now you’re the boss.”

  “Part owner.”

  “An impressive climb for a guy who didn’t know what he wanted to do when he grew up.”

  “You’re one to talk. You had no clue what to do after high school, either.”

  “As long as I didn’t have to go to law school, anything would do.”

  He chuckled. She’d shared her aversion to anything law-related when they were dating.

  “So how’d you end up planning events?”

  “I sort of fell into marketing in school. Got a few gigs pushing new products and got hired by a beverage company. The company moved to L.A., I followed. I had a friend who needed help with a party and I did such a good job she asked me for help again. Soon after, I discovered I had a natural talent for coordinating events. Fast-forward to Milestones by Crystal, where I work now.”

  “I’m going to have to return the impressive compliment. I researched you online. You’ve done some amazing stuff.”

  “Thanks. It took a while, but once I found somethin
g I loved, I went all in. You know me, no half measures once I commit.”

  After she said the words, she realized Dane might think she meant him. She had, years ago, but not now.

  He called out the last number. “Finished here.”

  “Thanks, Dane.”

  “Don’t thank me until after I tell you about the events scheduled at the hotel.”

  As much as she didn’t want to spend long hours with Dane, fixing the shop would keep them in close proximity and the events at his hotel would also throw them together. He was right, with his background and experience he would make the to-do list at the shop disappear quickly. And deep down, she did feel a little guilty about Angela quitting as the hotel’s event coordinator. Since a teensy part of the reason Angela left might have been her fault, in good conscience, Nealy couldn’t turn him down. She’d always prided herself on her commitment. Loyalty. And while she didn’t work for Dane, her involvement had put him in this bind.

  “Two events?”

  “A ladies’ tea and a wedding rehearsal.”

  She cringed when he said wedding.

  “I know you said weddings aren’t your thing, but the wedding is pretty much under control.”

  “Then why do you need me for the rehearsal?”

  “I explained the current situation to the bride and she wasn’t overjoyed. She didn’t hire a wedding planner because she and Angela were so in sync. I got the feeling she’d prefer to deal with a female coordinator more than she would me, so I wanted you to fill in.”

  “What about the wedding? Won’t she expect me to be there?”

  He looked down at his feet, then back to her. “It’s right before you head for L.A. I figured you’d have a lot to do.”

  “Oh.” Awkward. “When is the tea party?”

  “Noon this Saturday. Most of the planning is finished, but if you wouldn’t mind swinging by the hotel later today, we can go over the particulars to see if we need to make changes. Saturday we’ll simply have to stand by to make sure the tea runs smoothly.”

  “Sounds like you have everything under control. You need me why?”

  He grinned. “You aren’t getting out of this.”

  “Oh, all right,” she grumbled, trying to ignore the pleasure she felt at the thought of them working together again.

  Why couldn’t he have felt the same about their marriage? That there was no way of getting out of it.

  When they first were flirting, then dating, she’d been the one to push the issue of getting serious. When they’d gotten married, she never looked back because, let’s face it, she took their relationship to heart. Enough to commit to forever. But if Dane had concerns, she never gave him time to think them through. If they’d taken their relationship slower, maybe he wouldn’t have ended up taking matters into his own hands.

  She’d never know for sure.

  Nealy took a step backward on the sidewalk to take in the building. “Poor Cuppa Joe. This place has no idea what we have lined up.”

  Dane chuckled. “Times change, Nealy. We have to go with the flow or get left behind.”

  She glanced at him. “You’re also a wise man?”

  “It’s funny how life experience can shape the decisions we now make as adults.”

  “Like an annulment?”

  “Not necessarily, but that’s part of our past.”

  “And we’ve moved into the future.”

  “Does that mean you forgive me?”

  She pondered his question. At the mention of the annulment, her anger level hadn’t gone off the charts. So maybe Dane was right. The future did change how we looked at things. Dane wasn’t the horrible villain she’d typecast him. He’d grown up. Become successful. Thoughtful. A good guy. If Dane could get over the past, she should, too.

  “Yes. I do.”

  Relief flickered in his eyes. “You don’t know how much hearing you say those words means to me.”

  “We were kids. You were right when you said we rushed into marriage. We hadn’t been thinking.”

  “No, but we had good times together.”

  Yes, they had.

  That magical summer Dane had been all hers. As much as the summer had ended in pain, there were still lots of good times to remember. Nights at the bonfire. Sneaking into the hotel pool after hours. She hadn’t allowed herself to think about those times. Maybe the healing had started by coming home. Seeing Dane again. She’d needed to get over herself and now was as good a time as any.

  He stared back, and to her dismay, they were standing mere inches apart. She caught a whiff of his spicy cologne. His vibrant whiskey-colored eyes still caught and held her attention. Dane had grown up. So had Nealy. And if she could be here, have a decent conversation with him, maybe she could put all her animosity behind her, once and for all.

  But that didn’t mean anything else should happen between them. “Don’t get any ideas, Dane. Our relationship ended a long time ago. This is solely business.”

  Dane’s intent expression closed and the edge in his voice brought them back to reality. “I’ll see you at my office later?”

  “Yes, I’ll stop by.”

  “Excellent.” His hard gaze relented a bit. “Maybe afterward I’ll take you for an ice cream.”

  She laughed. “Nice try, but I think those days are over.”

  He winked and walked away.

  * * *

  LANIE TOOK A deep breath as she stood outside her husband’s office. Her impromptu lunch surprise would catch him off guard since he always ate in the office. Not today.

  She rapped her knuckles on the door and swung it open. “Knock. Knock.”

  David’s surprised expression quickly morphed into full-blown concern. “Lanie. What’s wrong?”

  “Nothing is wrong. I came by to take you to lunch.”

  He blinked. “Lunch?”

  “Yes. The meal we eat at noon.”

  “But I brought my lunch. You watched me make it this morning.”

  She tried to contain her exasperation. “And it looked boring so I decided to shake things up.”

  He didn’t say a word.

  “Well?”

  “I have work to do.”

  “And work will still be here when we get back.” She came forward into his office and took hold of his arm to tug him to his feet. “Just say, ‘Thank you, Lanie.’”

  “Wait. Let me get my jacket.”

  “No need. It’s a lovely day. You’ll be fine.”

  She dragged him down the hall and through the reception area, waving at the puzzled receptionist. “David will return after lunch.”

  Once outside, Lanie led David to her car. She opened the passenger door to remove a large wicker basket and held it up. “Lunch.”

  “This is unusual,” David said.

  “It shouldn’t be,” she answered, taking his hand in hers. “Let’s go to the park.”

  Eating lunch with her husband should be a normal occurrence, but she and David were at different law firms and rarely saw each other until after hours. She handled mostly estates and wills for a small firm, while David handled higher-profile cases like workplace compensation claims and companies suing each other. They’d both established a clientele and worked crazy hours, which Lanie had grown tired of. She wanted to quit the mundane lifestyle they’d transitioned into and go back to the exciting time when their love had been new.

  They stopped a few blocks away at a small, well-tended grassy nook not far from the marina. She claimed an empty picnic table and put down the basket, inhaling the fresh sea air. A young woman jogged by, pushing a sleek stroller with a sleeping infant inside. Squirrels darted across the branches of the large oak providing them shade. Why didn’t they come here more often?

  Lanie laid out th
e food she’d ordered from the Pointe Cafe. “Go ahead. Eat,” she instructed her husband as he stared at the spread before them. “I got some of our favorites.” Warm pressed Cuban sandwiches, savory potato salad and fresh baklava awaited them.

  David filled his plate and started eating. Lanie smiled. Getting David out of the office was a first step. He did have a tendency to be preoccupied with what was happening at the office, which left precious little time to spend with family.

  They ate in silence for a few moments until David put down his fork, wariness in his eyes. “I can’t stand it any longer. What’s going on?”

  “Nothing? Can’t a wife take her husband to lunch?”

  “We haven’t gone to lunch since... I can’t remember. When we first started working?”

  “Probably. Then we had Davey and you were building your practice. We’ve gotten so busy, we’ve forgotten what a good time we had those first years of marriage.”

  The muscles tightened along his jaw, a sure sign Lanie had hit a sore point. “Are you saying I’m not fun?”

  “No. I’m saying we’ve let our marriage fall into a rut. We don’t do things together, just to be together. When was the last time we got in the car and drove along the coast to stop at a restaurant or spent a lazy afternoon together?”

  “Since we acquired a mortgage, two cars and a son who is growing so fast we spend all our money on food and clothing.”

  “Not all of it.” She pouted. “See, this is what I mean. What happened to spontaneity? We have good jobs, but you worry about finances and we never see each other long enough to talk about our day. We’ve gotten to the point in our careers where we are stable and secure, yet we never do anything for just the two of us.”

  “It’s called growing up, Lanie. We aren’t kids anymore.”

  “I don’t want to be a kid again, but I do miss the way we couldn’t stand to be apart. In college, we were always together. We couldn’t wait to get married and start our lives. What happened to those people?”

  “Like I said, we took on responsibilities. Maybe getting married young kept us from sowing our wild oats.” He looked out over the boats swaying in the water. “Something we both missed out on.”

  “I didn’t want to sow oats. I wanted to be with you.” She paused and took a breath. “The other night, at dinner with the senator’s family, you seemed interested in what living in California could offer. I know I shut you down right away, but would you want to start over somewhere new?”