Must Love Babies
Page 32
“That’s good, as long as they remember to head here for their dresses.” Not one to beat around the bush, Lettie asked, “Brant there?”
“Across the hall from us, and he had those kids glued to his every word. Every boy there wanted to be him, and every girl there wanted him.”
Lettie guffawed. “Something’s put a little extra sparkle in those eyes of yours.”
Molly hung two of the gowns, and then, a third bagged one in her hands, she dropped onto the love seat. “My dad came to our last presentation. Brant arranged it.”
“I’m not surprised.”
“No, me either.” Molly sighed. “Dad took me for a malt afterward.”
“Oh, honey.” Lettie sat beside her and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. “I know how much that means to you.”
“We had the talk we should have had years and years ago.”
The huge weight she’d carried for so long slowly dissolved. Brant had walked out after their fight, but he hadn’t quit caring. And wasn’t that a wonderful thing?
She and Lettie sat quietly for a few minutes, then Molly asked, “How’d things go here?”
“Beautifully. I sold two nighties, a pair of shoes, one of those pretty little clips for the hair, and you have an appointment for a wedding gown.”
“Not bad, Superwoman.”
Chapter 27
Brant had told her he loved her. Twice.
Argh, and she’d been so stupid. So…so…closed-minded. Like her mother. She’d learned a lot from her talk with her dad: the value of being honest and up-front and the need for trust—that five-letter word Brant kept throwing out there.
Her parents hadn’t been honest and open…nor had she. Not even with herself.
That would start today with a phone call to her mother, the hardest she’d ever made. Curled up on her sofa with Bubbles sprawled beside her, she picked up her cell.
Her mother answered on the first ring. “Hi, sweetie. I hadn’t expected to hear from you tonight. How’s my favorite daughter?”
“You mean your only daughter.”
“Yes, that one.”
“She’s a little confused, Mom. Dad and I had a long talk today.” Steeling herself, she shared the discussion with her mother.
Complete silence met her on the other end.
“Mom?”
“Everything he said was true. Will you hear my side of the story?”
“Please.”
Her mother spilled it all, held nothing back. When she finished, she said, “I made two huge mistakes. The first was asking your father to leave. I compounded that by not telling you the truth, letting him shoulder the blame. The longer I waited, the more impossible it became to make things right—with him and with you. I made the same mistake he’d made, the one I destroyed our marriage over.”
After a few quiet sniffles, her mother said, “I still love the man. I ruined three lives, didn’t I?”
“You put a really big dent in mine, but the real damage was to you and Dad.” She took a deep breath. “Have you ever thought about calling him, telling him how you feel?”
“Only every day, but it’s too late.”
“I don’t think so. Promise me you’ll call him.”
“He won’t talk to me, honey.”
“You might be surprised. I have to go. There’s something really important I need to do. And Mom, let me know what Dad says, okay?”
“I will. I love you, Molly.”
“Love you, too.”
Molly hung up more than a tad shaky. That had been rough.
She tossed her phone on the coffee table. Okay, so much for her parents’ love life. Now for her own.
“He did say he loved me, Bubbles.” She ran a hand over her cat’s silky back. “But does he still love me? If he meant it, then yes. True love doesn’t come and go that quickly.”
Still, she bit her lip.
*
Molly drove to Wylder Rides.
The bay door was open, so she stuck her head inside. Brant stood in the middle of what looked like a giant metal jigsaw puzzle.
“What are those?”
“Some of our tools. I’m trying to organize them.” Hands on his hips, he asked, “You want something?”
Oh, did she ever. Deciding not to tip her hand yet, she shrugged. “I was driving by and thought I’d stop.”
“Why?”
Okay, this might be harder than she’d imagined. “Actually, I came to thank you.”
“Thank me?”
“My dad and I had a long-postponed talk. I know you were behind that, so yes, thanks.”
“No big deal.”
“I disagree.” She held up a U.S. Postal Service box. “This was outside.”
“Toss it on the desk in my office.”
“You don’t want to open it now? See what it is?”
“It’s probably the hardware for our rack. They forgot to send it with the other parts.”
“Oh. See you later, then.”
“Yeah.”
She took one step into the office and faltered. There was no furniture yet, but he’d put up molding and a chair rail in a rich cream to match the top portion of the wall. And below the chair rail? Soft brown.
Tears welled in her eyes, eyes the same shade as the wall.
Brant came up behind her. His voice harsh, he said, “I followed your advice. Every morning, when I open that door, I’ll see you here. Not sure that’s such a good thing anymore.”
She turned. “I don’t know what to say.”
“Don’t say anything.” He stared at her a long minute. “I need to get back to work.”
She’d been dismissed.
Laying the box on the corner of the desk, she left.
*
Molly sat in her kitchen with a cup of tea, feeling sorry for herself. Outside, twilight deepened and streetlights came on. She’d done what she could.
Obviously, it hadn’t been enough.
When she heard the pounding on her door, both she and Bubbles jumped. She raced down the stairs and opened the door to Brant. Since the evening had cooled, he’d worn his leather jacket. Something about it and those close-fitting jeans always made her heart hammer against her ribs.
Without invitation, he slid past her and headed upstairs. “My turn to stop by to say thanks. You’ll never believe what was in that package today.”
She held her breath.
“My tickets to the Falcons’ games. Tyrone came through.”
“How can that be?”
He laughed. “Gotcha.”
Then he sobered. “Mol, when I opened that box and saw your list…You framed it and gave it to me.”
“I did.”
“Your last line of defense.”
Molly breathed a sigh of relief. She’d known he would understand. By handing her list to him, she’d left herself totally vulnerable. It was the biggest risk she’d ever taken.
He took her hand in his. “Did I ever share my philosophy on marriage with you?”
“Marriage?” She could barely breathe. “No, you didn’t.”
“I’ll do it now, then. As far as I’m concerned, marriage is a one-and-done deal. It’s a forever commitment.”
“I agree. Totally.”
“Good. I’ve also discovered recently that the woman I marry must love babies.”
“I do.”
“I know.” Staring into her eyes, he dropped to one knee right there in her hallway, her hand still in his. “I want you, Molly Stiles. I want us. I want to make a baby with you. Two or three or four babies. You decide. I love you, and I want to spend my life with you.”
She stared at him, speechless.
“Come on, Molly. Tell me yes. Say you’ll marry me. I’ll never give you reason to doubt me, and I promise I’ll stay with you forever…and then some.”
“Oh, Brant, I love you.”
“But will you marry me?”
“Yes. Absolutely, positively yes.”
“Now,
or do I have to wait three years?”
“Tonight, if that’s what you want.”
With a laugh, he stood, picked her up, and spun in a circle with her. “Every day won’t be perfect.”
“That would be pretty boring, wouldn’t it?”
“I hadn’t planned to do this tonight, Mol, so I don’t have a ring for you.” Removing his grandfather’s, he held it up. “Grandma Wylder gave this to Grandpa on their wedding day. It was given and worn in love,” he explained as he slipped it on her thumb, then folded her fingers around it. “Until I can get you another, this will have to do.” As they kissed, Bubbles crept from around the corner to wind in and out of their legs.
“Even Bubbles approves,” Molly murmured before pulling her soon-to-be-husband in for a long, hot kiss.
Chapter 28
The entire town of Misty Bottoms turned out for Wylder Rides’ grand opening. Sawyer Liddell, the sole reporter for the local paper, snapped photos and interviewed townspeople and visitors alike. The Bottoms Daily would have a record sellout tomorrow.
Sawyer, who’d made his way to the Wylders for a quick interview, said, “One more question.”
A group had gathered to listen to the three as they chatted with the reporter.
One of the girls in the crowd shouted, “Who are you dating?”
“Yeah,” another called out. “Tell us about your love lives. Inquiring minds want to know.”
“Not what I planned to ask,” Sawyer said, “but apparently we have a lot of single females in Misty Bottoms who’d like to know the answer to that question. Must be hard fitting that in around your work.”
Gaven shook his head. “The day I’m too busy for a love life is the day I’m too busy!” He grinned at the group and threw an arm around Brant. “This guy, though? He’s off the market, ladies.”
“I am,” Brant said, “and I couldn’t be happier. That makes it your turn, Tuck.”
Tucker shook his head. “I’m happy for you, Bro, but it’s not for me. I’m a lone wolf, and I like it that way.”
“Uh-oh. Them’s fightin’ words, big brother. You just tossed a challenge in fate’s face.” Gaven pointed a finger at him. “She’s out there now, rubbing her hands in glee, determined to prove you wrong.” Turning back to the crowd, he said, “She’s coming for him, isn’t she?”
The women hooted and gave him the thumbs-up.
“Get real, Gav. You make your own fate,” Tucker argued.
“We’ll see, won’t we?” Gaven grinned. “You’ve got the house, Tuck. Now all you need is a bride to carry over the threshold.”
Sawyer laughed. “Thanks, guys.”
“Be sure you include that part about Tuck in your article,” Gaven prodded.
“You’re so juvenile,” Tucker said.
Molly smiled, then wandered through the crowd.
Frank was there, holding court, showing everyone around and pointing out the “new-fangled technology” the “boys” had added.
“You’d think he still owned the place,” Lettie said.
“He’ll always be welcome here,” Molly said.
“We’ll see. He’s liable to wear out that welcome mat soon enough,” Lettie predicted.
“I don’t think so.” She wrapped an arm around the older woman’s waist, and together they strolled through the crowd. Tansy’s beautiful cake, a replica of the shop, complete with the Mobil sign, the old-fashioned gas pumps, and Lug Nut, had been gushed over and was now being enjoyed by the townspeople.
Cricket and Jenni Beth had stuck with vintage for the decorations and used old oil and gas cans for vases. And the coup de grâce? A few of the Wylder Rides’ celebrity clients had driven into town with motorcycles and cars the brothers had restored for them. They parked them around the lot, along with Lem Gilmore’s partially restored El Camino and the as-yet-to-be-started barn-find Corvette.
Moonshine and Mint Julep, Darlene’s dogs, wore black-and-white sweaters and looked like walking checkered flags. Dee-Ann and Kitty wandered around with huge smiles on their faces and refilled platters of sandwiches and appetizers from the diner.
Lainey, looking healthy and happy, had come with Jax and her parents. Penny barely needed her cane, and Neal never left her side. Molly spotted her mother and father, who’d started dating again, sitting on a bench outside the bay area.
Even Annabelle and Willow had come. Jeremy seemed to be having a tough time keeping his eyes off Annabelle’s niece.
But the true stars of the day were the Wylder brothers themselves. An aura of sexy competence mixed with a take-charge attitude surrounded them. They were so much alike, yet little differences marked each as his own man.
Gaven was a flirt through and through. Molly felt sorry for the woman who fell for that one. He wore a cloak of carelessness, yet Molly knew how hard he worked and how deeply he cared for his family. She also knew he had magic hands when it came to cars. He wore his sun-streaked hair a tad longer than Brant’s, and even though today was a big deal, he’d shown up in worn jeans, a Wylder Rides T-shirt, and black Converse sneakers. He played the bad-boy card to the hilt.
Tucker, the oldest, was an ex-Marine, and that about said it all. His dark hair wasn’t quite as high and tight as in the photos she’d seen of him when he’d been active, but it was a whole lot shorter than his brothers’. Unlike the others, he had his mother’s brown eyes. The smartly creased khakis and black polo shirt showcased a hard body.
And then there was Brant. So responsible and steady, he’d put his heart and soul into making today happen. He took care of what was his, regardless of the cost. There was a toughness about him, but Molly had seen his vulnerable side, too, and knew it ran every bit as deep.
He looked so good today in his Sunday jeans and a long-sleeved white shirt. The cuffs were rolled up and showed a smattering of dark hair. She loved his hands and his strong arms. She loved even more that they’d hold her every night for the rest of her life as she fell asleep.
Feeling his gaze, Molly looked up into two pairs of green eyes.
With Jax riding his hip, Brant put an arm around Molly and drew her close.
Bachelors, babies, and forever love. Life didn’t get any better.
About the Author
Lynnette Austin loves long rides with the top down and the country music cranked up, the Gulf of Mexico when a storm is brewing, and an iced coffee while she writes or reads in her local coffee shop. She divides her time between southwest Florida’s beaches and Georgia’s Blue Ridge Mountains. Having grown up in a small town, that’s where her heart takes her, to those quirky small towns where everybody knows everybody…and all their business, for better or worse. Visit Lynnette at authorlynnetteaustin.com.
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In this fresh, poignant series about rescue animals, every heart has a forever home.
By Debbie Burns, award-winning debut author
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For more Debbie Burns, visit:
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“Lynnette Austin has made her mark on contemporary romance.”
—Night Owl Reviews for Picture Perfect Wedding
For more Lynnette Austin, visit:
sourcebooks.com
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“Chase just gets better and better.”
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For more Samantha Chase, visit:
sourcebooks.com
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