A Match Made on Main Street

by Olivia Miles

  “Off to bed already?” Grace laughed, but the insinuation stung, and Jane told herself that this particular part of her weekday routine really needed to stop. And it would. Soon. Sure, it was more comfortable to live in pajamas, but the day was still young enough for people to stop by—people who were fully clothed and, unlike her, willing to go out in public.

  “It’s a dreary day,” she explained good-naturedly, taking Grace’s umbrella from her hand. “I have homemade minestrone soup if you’d like to stay for dinner.”

  Grace nodded and followed her into the kitchen. “Luke has a Board of Education meeting tonight,” she explained as she set her bag on the floor and slid onto a counter stool. From above them there was a thump and a scamper of feet. Grace laughed and pointed to the ceiling. “Is she dancing?”

  “I love my daughter, but I don’t think the Moscow Ballet is in her future,” Jane said with a rueful grin.

  “How was class today?”

  “Good,” Jane said pensively. It had actually been very quiet compared to previous sessions. She should probably view that as a good thing, considering how rambunctious the girls in one of her summer classes had been. Between the squealing and jumping, she’d had to start carrying a bottle of ibuprofen in her dance bag.

  Grace raised an eyebrow. “You don’t seem very sure about that. Has Rosemary been trying to set you up on more dates?”

  “Jeez, no.” Jane laughed. She’d allowed her boss to set her up on a series of eye-opening dates last spring, all of which confirmed her belief that she was better off alone. One of her dates hadn’t like children, and had consumed so much booze she’d had to tell the hostess to take his keys. Then there had been Brian. She had pinned so much hope on the man pitched as a bespectacled doctor. He was sweet, even if he had turned out to be a male nurse instead of a surgeon, but he didn’t make her heart flutter, and besides, he had now been in a long-term relationship since about a week after their dinner date. She’d tried to tell herself that was for the best, that she hadn’t felt that spark, but she couldn’t deny the part of her that felt the sting of rejection. The lack of attraction had clearly been mutual.

  So, yes, she was alone. Not by choice, but she would embrace it. What other choice did she have?

  “Rosemary thankfully hung up her matchmaking hat after she finally got Anna and Mark back together,” Jane said, smiling at the thought of her sister and Rosemary’s nephew living so happily together after years of stubborn silence. “If my little string of dates taught me anything, it’s that dating is no fun at all.”

  “You just haven’t found the right guy yet,” Grace encouraged.

  “Show me someone who is uncomplicated, committed, emotionally available, and crazy in love with me and my daughter, and then I’ll reconsider. Until then, I’m happy right here.”

  “At home in your pajamas.” Grace held her gaze.

  “That’s right.” Jane nodded. “I’ve had enough dating for one lifetime, thank you very much.”

  Grace gave her a stern look. “You know how I feel about that.”

  Yes, Jane did, and she wasn’t about to continue this conversation. Now that Grace was getting married and Anna was equally in love, it seemed both sisters were more focused than ever on seeing their youngest sister settled down and happy.

  “Yes, well, my classes were fine today,” Jane said briskly. She paused, wondering why she felt so bothered by the day. Enrollment capped at ten students per class, but her three forty-five Intro to Pointe class had just four students, and Rosemary had been unusually quiet when she’d left for the day.

  Oh, well, the session was just beginning, and seasonal colds were already going around. Perhaps a few of the girls had been sick, or would be late joiners. Surely they’d want to audition for The Nutcracker, after all.

  “It was very calm. Very… stress-free.”

  “With Rosemary?” Grace didn’t look convinced, and Jane had to laugh at that. Her boss could be demanding, but Jane was too grateful for the work to complain. If Rosemary hadn’t stepped in and offered her a teaching position at the studio last winter, she wasn’t sure she would have had the nerve to confront Adam on the affair. It was just the ray of hope she needed to prove to herself that she could stand on her own two feet. She’d given up any hope of a ballet career to marry when she was just nineteen, not to mention a college education. Her husband had been her life, and now she had to live one without him in it.

  Jane took a loaf of sourdough bread from a bag and set the oven to preheat. “So, to what do I owe the honor of your visit?”

  Grace’s eyes twinkled as she gave a slow smile. “I found Sophie’s flower girl dress.”

  “For real this time?” Grace had already changed her mind on her own wedding gown six times, and she was yet to commit to the flower arrangements, even with the big event only a few weeks away.

  “I just want it to be perfect.”

  “I know.” Jane felt bad for giving her sister a hard time. She’d been a bride herself once, caught up in all the little details that seemed so trivial now. She should have spent less time worried about flowers and more time worried about her future husband and the little voice that kept warning her to walk away. “Let me see what you picked out.”

  Jane hurried to the island and leaned in as Grace rummaged through a glossy bridal magazine, stopping at a picture of a little girl wearing a deep crimson ball gown in raw silk, with a thick ivory bow at the waist. After the chocolate brown option Grace had proposed last week, Jane knew that Sophie would be thrilled with the idea of wearing this dress.

  “Should we get Sophie?” she asked, grinning.

  “She had better like it,” Grace said. “These dresses take at least three weeks to arrive. I’m really cutting it close.”

  Jane grinned. “Sophie! Sophie, come on downstairs. Aunt Grace has something to show you!”

  Soon there was a thump, heavy enough to make the sisters wince and then giggle, followed by a pounding of small feet down the wooden stairs.

  “What is it, what is it?” Sophie announced breathlessly as she scampered into the kitchen.

  “You’re in your pajamas, too, I see,” Grace remarked, taking in the pink nightgown with the ruffle trim. She gave Jane a pointed look, and Jane pulled in a deep breath, telling herself not to let it get to her. So, yes, she had become a bit of a hermit in the months since Adam had moved in with his girlfriend, but could anyone blame her? Her husband had cheated on her, lied to her, and then proceeded to move in with his mistress just three miles across town. Briar Creek was small and word traveled fast—even if she was the wronged party, and even if she did have the support of many, she didn’t need the sympathy. Or the reminder. She just wanted… She popped the bread into the oven and set the timer. She just wanted to feel safe, she supposed. And what better way to feel that way than to stay home, surrounded only by those you let in?

  “Sophie, look at this dress,” Jane said. “Do you want to wear that when you’re a flower girl?”

  Sophie jutted her chin at the picture Grace held up and shook her head. “I’m going to wear a blue flower girl dress.”

  Jane and Grace exchanged a look of alarm. This was at least the eleventh dress Grace had fallen in love with, usually before finding one she loved even more the next day or, in the case of the chocolate brown gown, to have it be boycotted by the flower girl herself. Time was running out for further indecision. This dress was going to have to work.

  “But honey, Grace and Luke are having fall colors for their wedding. Remember how we looked at those pretty red and orange flowers?” And the green ones, and the purple ones…

  “But my flower girl dress is blue! Blue velvet! Kristy said so.”

  Jane slid her eyes to Grace, who stared at her, not blinking.

  “What do you mean Kristy said so?” Grace pressed gently, when it became clear Jane was unable to ask.

  “Kristy showed me my dress. It’s blue velvet with flowers around the neck.”

&nb
sp; Jane was having trouble breathing. Her chest felt tight, and her heart was pounding. She stared at Grace, willing her oldest sister to make this right, to clear this up. Grace bit down on her lip, studying her niece, confusion knitting her brow.

  “Kristy said you’re going to wear a blue dress for my wedding?”

  “No! For her wedding!” Sophie cried, frustration causing her plump little cheeks to grow pink. “When she marries Daddy!”

  Jane felt the blood rush from her face, and for a moment she thought she might be sick. Or faint. She slumped into a chair, listening to Grace make cheerful conversation with Sophie in a blatant attempt to smooth over the situation, but her mind was spinning. Adam was getting married—to the woman he had left her for! He had strayed from their marriage, ripped apart their family, and yet he was ready to settle down with a new wife, live the life they should have shared and could have—if he’d loved her.

  Tears prickled the back of her eyes, but she blinked quickly, refusing to let them fall in front of Sophie. There would be plenty of time to cry tonight—God knew she wouldn’t get any sleep now, ultra-soft flannel pajama pants or not.

  It was so easy for Adam. He’d gotten bored of one wife and quickly found another. He didn’t have to live with an emptiness in his heart, or think of something funny that had happened that day and find there was no one in the bedroom to tell it to—and that it was too late to pick up the phone and call someone. He didn’t have to stand at the playground on a Saturday afternoon and watch other smiling couples push their child on the swings, feeling like his heart was twisting with each breath—because Adam was actually one of those happy couples!

  He’d moved on. He’d found someone. He didn’t have to go on dates, try on new people, see if they fit. While she… she was still trying—in vain, it would seem—to make sense of her new life, the life she hadn’t chosen, and to forget the one that had been taken from her.

  “Jane?” Grace’s voice was overly bright, her smile bared, her green eyes electric. “Why don’t we have some of that delicious soup?”

  “I’ll set the table!” Sophie volunteered. She took three placemats from the basket on the counter and began arranging them on the pedestal table. “Daddy said it’s important for me to help, so I can show a good example.”

  What was she talking about? Jane moved slowly to the slow cooker and lifted the lid, feeling her stomach stir from the aroma. She couldn’t eat if she tried. Adam was living the easy life, wasn’t he? No harm done, on he went. No regard for her, or the damage he had caused. No glance back. Must be nice. Must be nice indeed.

  “Daddy said I’ll have lots of responsibility when the new baby comes.”

  The glass lid fell from Jane’s hand, shattering in the ceramic sink. Grace’s hands were on hers instantly, but she wasn’t cut. Not physically at least.

  “What did you just say, Sophie?” she managed, even though she didn’t want to know, she didn’t want to know anything.

  “There’s going to be a baby, Mommy!” Sophie’s eyes danced with excitement. “I get to be a flower girl! And a big sister!”

  Jane swallowed the lump in her throat, trying to process everything, waiting for the wounds to seal shut again. She’d told herself she was better alone, that she preferred it that way. If she didn’t give her heart away, it couldn’t be broken. This was a fresh reminder.

  Grace’s hand was still tight on hers. “You sure you don’t want to give dating another try?” she asked half-heartedly, but concern darkened her eyes.

  Jane nodded firmly, but the tug in her heart said otherwise.

  Fall in Love with Forever Romance

  A SCOUNDREL BY MOONLIGHT

  by Anna Campbell

  Justice. That’s all Nell Trim wants—for the countless young women the Marquess of Leath has ruined with his wildly seductive ways. But can she can resist the scoundrel’s temptations herself? Check out this fourth sensual historical romance in the Sons of Sin Regency series from bestselling author Anna Campbell!

  SINFULLY YOURS

  by Cara Elliott

  Secret passions are wont to lead a lady into trouble… The second rebellious Sloane sister gets her chance at true love in the next Hellions of High Street Regency romance from bestselling author Cara Elliott.

  A GOOD ROGUE IS HARD TO FIND

  by Kelly Bowen

  The rogue’s life has been good to William Somerhall, until he moves in with his mother and her paid companion, Miss Jenna Hughes. To keep the eccentric dowager duchess from ruin, he’ll have to keep his friends close—and the tempting Miss Hughes closer still. Fans of Sarah MacLean and Tessa Dare will fall in love with the newest book in Kelly Bowen’s Lords of Worth series!

  WILD HEAT

  by Lucy Monroe

  The days may be cold, but the nights are red-hot in USA Today bestselling author Lucy Monroe’s new Northern Fire contemporary romance series. Kitty Grant decides that the best way to heal her broken heart is to come back home. But she gets a shock when she sees how sexy her childhood friend Tack has become. Before she knows it, they’re reigniting sparks that could set the whole state of Alaska on fire.

  SUGAR ON TOP

  by Marina Adair

  It’s about to get even sweeter in Sugar! When scandal forces Glory Mann to co-chair the Miss Sugar Peach Pageant with sexy single dad Cal MacGraw, sparks fly. Fans of Carly Phillips, Rachel Gibson, and Jill Shalvis will love the latest in the Sugar, Georgia series!

  A MATCH MADE ON MAIN STREET

  by Olivia Miles

  When Anna Madison’s high-end restaurant is damaged by a fire, there’s only one place she can cook: her sexy ex’s diner kitchen. But can they both handle the heat? The second book of the Briar Creek series is “sure to warm any reader’s heart” (RT Book Reviews on Mistletoe on Main Street).

  OWN THE WIND

  by Kristen Ashley

  Only $5.00 for a limited time! Tabitha Allen is everything Shy Cage has ever wanted, but everything he thinks he can’t have. When Tabby indicates she wants more—much more—than friendship, he feels like the luckiest man alive. But even lucky men can crash and burn… The first book in the Chaos series from New York Times bestselling author Kristen Ashley!

  FIRE INSIDE

  by Kristen Ashley

  Only $5.00 for a limited time! When Lanie Heron propositions Hop Kincaid, all she wants is one wild night with the hot-as-hell biker. She gets more than she bargained for, and it’s up to Hop to convince Lanie that he’s the best thing that’s ever happened to her… Fans of Lori Foster and Julie Ann Walker will love this book!

  Thank you for buying this ebook, published by Hachette Digital.

  To receive special offers, bonus content, and news about our latest ebooks and apps, sign up for our newsletters.

  Sign Up

  Or visit us at hachettebookgroup.com/newsletters

  Contents

  Cover

  Title Page

  Welcome

  Dedication

  Acknowledgments

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Epilogue

  A Preview of Hope Springs on Main Street

  Fall in Love with Forever Romance

  Newsletters

  Copyright

&
nbsp; Copyright

  This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places, and incidents are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, or persons, living or dead, is coincidental.

  Copyright © 2015 by Megan Leavell

  Excerpt from Hope Springs on Main Street copyright © 2015 by Megan Leavell

  Cover image by Shane Rebenschied

  Design by Elizabeth Turner

  Cover copyright © 2015 by Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  All rights reserved. In accordance with the U.S. Copyright Act of 1976, the scanning, uploading, and electronic sharing of any part of this book without the permission of the publisher constitute unlawful piracy and theft of the author’s intellectual property. If you would like to use material from the book (other than for review purposes), prior written permission must be obtained by contacting the publisher at permissions@hbgusa.com. Thank you for your support of the author’s rights.

  Forever

  Hachette Book Group

  1290 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10104

  hachettebookgroup.com

  twitter.com/foreverromance

  First ebook edition: April 2015

  Forever is an imprint of Grand Central Publishing.

  The Forever name and logo are trademarks of Hachette Book Group, Inc.

  The Hachette Speakers Bureau provides a wide range of authors for speaking events. To find out more, go to www.hachettespeakersbureau.com or call (866) 376-6591.

  The publisher is not responsible for websites (or their content) that are not owned by the publisher.

  ISBN 978-1-4555-5720-2

  E3