Almost Like Being in Love

by Beth K. Vogt

  Why was she avoiding a conversation? What could her father do to her over the phone?

  Or rather, what could he do that he hadn’t already done?

  Flexing her fingers to stop them from shaking, Caron straightened her shoulders. “Hello, this is Caron Hollister.”

  “Caron. How are you?”

  Okay. They’d start with the basics.

  “I’m fine. Just wrapped up the tour.”

  “I trust that went well?”

  “Yes. Very well.”

  “Glad to hear it. Knowing you, I’m not surprised.”

  Even such an inconsequential compliment stalled Caron’s response. “Th-thank you.”

  “And Alex says you’re heading home now.”

  “Yes. I have a flight back on Sunday.”

  “Good. That’s why I’m calling. I tried reaching you on your cell, but you didn’t answer.”

  Caron hauled her handbag out from beneath her desk, digging through it to find her phone. Sure enough, there was a missed call from her father. She’d been so distracted she hadn’t even heard her cell phone ring.

  “Caron, are you there?”

  “I’m sorry. Yes. I’m here.”

  Her father’s tone transitioned from casual to businesslike. “Good. I was saying that I’d like you to come back and work for me again.”

  Caron dropped her phone onto the top of her desk. What? She couldn’t have heard her father correctly. How many times had she replayed her last day at work with her father? His don’t-be-foolish-enough-to-think-there’ll-be-a-job-waiting-for-you-here-when-you-realize-your-mistake response to her decision to quit.

  “Caron? I assume you haven’t found another job yet, have you?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Good. I was discussing plans for Hollister Realty Group with Nancy Miller. She asked me why I let such a valuable employee like you go.” Her father cleared his throat. “My explanation of the situation didn’t deter her from insisting I call you. We’d like . . . I’d like you to be part of the Hollister team again.”

  “But you said—”

  “It’d be wise if we both forget what we said the day I announced the partnership with Nancy Miller, don’t you think? Things can’t be unsaid, but we both know there are some decisions that can be undone. Your office is empty. Shall I tell Shelby to expect to see you next week?”

  Her father had done the unthinkable. He’d offered her a job with him again. Another chance.

  “I—I’d love to come back to work. To be honest, I have some ideas—”

  “Of course you do. We can talk about it next week.”

  “Wonderful.”

  “Have a good trip.”

  “Thank you.” Caron bit back the words Tell Mom I said hello. Best to keep family and business separate. “Goodbye.”

  She pressed her palms against her face, staring at the phone as if she expected it to ring again. When she picked up the receiver, someone would announce the whole conversation had been a joke. Or an exhaustion-fueled hallucination.

  Caron resisted the urge to twirl around in her chair, swallowing back a just-contained jubilant yell. How had this happened? She’d hoped the last few weeks would provide space enough to ease the tension with her father. She’d never imagined that coming to Colorado would be the way God worked reconciliation between them.

  • • •

  At the click of the front door closing, Kade rolled his shoulders and loosened his tie. What a subdued ending to all the planning, all the anticipation, and all the hard work that had gone into the Peak Tour of Homes. Weeks of mental and physical labor were over. No more people streaming through the rooms. No more splitting shifts with Mitch, networking with potential clients while maintaining their regular workloads.

  And no need to maintain a controlled distance with Caron. She’d done what he’d asked of her and staged the home with enthusiasm and creativity. It was no one else’s fault but his own that he wanted more with her. That he still wanted the future he’d lost two years ago.

  With a shake of his head, Kade dispersed the thoughts threatening to pull his emotions under. He may not have reason to celebrate, but Mitch did.

  Kade found his friend in the living room, his wheelchair facing the glass doors that led out to the backyard.

  “And that’s that.” Kade clapped Mitch on the back.

  “I never realized how much work was involved in a Tour of Homes.”

  “Nonstop people. Nonstop PR.”

  “Kingston’s house got a lot of good press.”

  “Eddie told me that one of the local news stations is coming through tomorrow.”

  “That’s great.” Mitch shifted his shoulders, positioning his hands on the sides of his wheelchair. “Well, I’m going to head home.”

  “Mitch. There’s just one more thing—”

  “Can we table it until tomorrow? Lacey’s making her world-famous grilled pizzas to celebrate the end of the tour—”

  “World-famous, huh?”

  “Yeah. As far as I’m concerned, they should be.”

  “Can I contribute a little something to the celebration?”

  “Okay.”

  “If you’ll just follow me.” Kade did an about-face.

  “Where are we going?”

  Kade waited to say anything until he stood next to the front door. “Right here.”

  “And we’re at the front door because . . . ?”

  “Because I need you to see this.”

  Kade pulled open the door to reveal the huge red bow he’d put in place just moments ago. A white envelope labeled For Mitch and Lacey was taped beneath it.

  “What is this?” Mitch never took his eyes off the bow and envelope.

  “I can understand your confusion. It’s not exactly what I promised to do when I found you a house.”

  Mitch shook his head, a grimace marring his face. “You have never been good at jokes, buddy.”

  “I would not joke about this.” Kade removed the envelope and handed it to his friend.

  “What is this?”

  “Open it.”

  Kade bit back a smile as Mitch opened the envelope and slid out the check. Stared at it and then looked at him. “Kade . . . what is going on?”

  “You’re a homeowner, Mitch. Well, you are if you want this house.” The grin he’d been hiding threatened to split his face. “That is your down payment. And Eddie Kingston is dropping the price of the house by a hundred thousand dollars.”

  “What?” Mitch’s hand shook. “How did you do this?”

  “I can’t take all the credit. Caron started the process. She drafted a fund-raising letter and Miriam sent it out. To family. Classmates. Other Rangers. Donations flooded in. People spread the word. And when I approached Eddie with the idea . . . well, he didn’t hesitate. He’s former military. There’s military all through his family. His niece is hoping to make it into the naval academy.”

  Mitch dropped the check into his lap, covering his eyes with his hand.

  “Hey—” Kade crouched beside the wheelchair, gripping the arm. “What’s going on? I thought you’d be happy—”

  “How do I . . . accept this?”

  “Don’t overthink what you’ve been given. People wanted to do this. Everyone was excited to help you and Lacey.” Kade waited until his friend made eye contact with him. “Say thank you. Buy the house. Set a wedding date with Lacey. You’ve both waited long enough, don’t you think?”

  “Yeah. Yeah, we have.” Mitch replaced the check in the envelope. “Looks like Lacey and I are going to be celebrating a lot more than the end of the tour tonight.”

  Kade rose to his feet. “Then I won’t keep you.”

  Mitch gripped his hand. “Thank you, Kade. You don’t know what this means for me . . . for Lacey . . .”

  “You’re welcome. Now go on home. Surprise your girlfriend.”

  “You mean my bride-to-be.”

  “Oho! Are you proposing tonight, too?”

&
nbsp; “Not tonight. But soon.” Mitch exited through the door Kade held open. “Soon.”

  Kade followed Mitch out to his specialized van, waving one final goodbye. Maybe one day he would know how his friend felt. When suddenly what you wanted—who you wanted—became a beautiful certainty.

  THIRTY-FIVE

  Margo stood in the doorway of the guest bedroom, her lips pressed together into a thin line. Caron tried to ignore her friend’s silence as she folded another blouse and laid it on top of the clothes already placed in her suitcase on top of the bed covered with clothes waiting to be packed.

  As Caron selected another top, Margo shifted her stance, a deep sigh invading the room.

  “Oh, for goodness’ sakes, Margo. Say something.” Caron shook out the blouse with a sharp snap of the silk material. “Your just standing there and sighing is torture!”

  “I can’t believe you’re really doing this.”

  “Doing what? Packing? It’s what people do before they get on an airplane and fly back home.”

  “Ha ha. You’re hysterical. You know what I mean.”

  “No, I don’t know what you mean. I’m packing. I’m going home. It was the plan all along.”

  “But you love—”

  “Alex. I love Alex. And I’m working with my father again.”

  “And that’s the most ridiculous part of all. Why are you going back to work for your father? When you talked about how much you enjoyed staging the house, I thought maybe you were thinking about being a home stager.”

  “I still am. I’m going to talk to my dad about eventually transitioning out of being a Realtor and becoming the company’s home stager.” Caron added a dress to the suitcase. “I can work as a Realtor while we build up that part of the business. It won’t happen overnight.”

  “And you’ll marry Alex and live happily ever after—”

  “Margo, you’re marrying the man you want to marry. Why can’t I do the same thing?”

  “Because you’re marrying the wrong guy!”

  “Well, you don’t get to decide for me, do you?”

  “Does Kade know about any of this?”

  “It’s been the plan all along, so yes, he knows I’m leaving. He doesn’t need to know anything else.”

  Margo shook her head. “Did you say goodbye?”

  “Not exactly.”

  “And what does that mean?”

  “He was still at Eddie Kingston’s house when I left Friday. And I didn’t see him today while we un-staged the home. Eddie came by and thanked me for everything.”

  “So you’re going to do it again?”

  “Do what again?”

  “Leave Kade without having the decency to say goodbye.”

  “We are not in a relationship—”

  “You worked for the man for almost a month, Caron. You say goodbye.”

  “Fine. I’ll call him—”

  “Face-to-face. Finish it right.”

  “I’m packing.”

  “You’re being a coward.”

  She whirled around to confront her friend, rather than continue the conversation by talking over her shoulder. “What do you expect me to do? Call him and ask to come over to his condo to say goodbye?”

  “No. Just drive over there. Tell him thank you for the job. Say goodbye. It’s called closure.” Margo was almost pleading with her. “You’re going to see him in a few weeks again, you know, when you come out for my wedding. Ronny and I decided to invite him because he’s helped us so much with house-hunting. Maybe if you do this the right way now, things will be less messy then.”

  “I need to pack—”

  Margo shouldered her way in front of the suitcase. “I can finish this. But I can’t say goodbye to Kade Webster for you.”

  • • •

  His life was almost back in order.

  Kade shut his bedroom door, where his furniture was in place. He pressed his hand against his lower back, where an unexpected hot twinge had slowed his movements as he’d made up the bed with clean sheets. Sleeping on the couch had ensured the success of the tour, but too many nights he fought faint memories of Caron sitting beside him, her fingertips caressing the side of his face.

  Had he dreamed that?

  He hadn’t dreamed their water battle. Or their kisses. There was no doubting the passion that flared between them. Or how Caron’s rejection extinguished it.

  And come tomorrow, she’d be back in Florida and he could breathe again, with thousands of miles between him and all the ways she still tempted him.

  The sound of his doorbell detoured him from the kitchen to his front door. It was almost nine o’clock. Who would be—

  “Hello, Kade.” A hesitant smile accompanied Caron’s greeting.

  Kade gripped the door. “Caron. I wasn’t expecting you.”

  “Yes. Well, I hadn’t expected to come over, but—” She tilted her head. “May I come in?”

  No.

  “Sure.”

  With a wave of his arm, he ushered her past him. He closed his eyes, forcing himself to ignore how good she looked in a pair of casual black jeans and a scooped-neck top, her blond hair loose around her face.

  He sat on the back of his couch while Caron stood in the area between his living room and dining room, twisting the strap of her leather purse.

  “I, uh, assume the crew delivered your furniture.”

  “Yep. Set it up for me, too. I’ll be a happy man tonight, sleeping in my own bed.”

  Caron’s soft laugh almost slipped past his defenses. Almost. “I imagine the couch gets old after a few days.”

  “Well, we all had to do our part to make the Tour of Homes a success.” Kade nodded. “And it was that. Thank you.”

  “You’re welcome. I loved being a part of this project, Kade. Thank you for asking me to help.”

  “I knew you could do it.”

  “You’ve always believed in me . . . and that means a lot.”

  “You’re welcome.”

  Not that believing in her—loving her—was enough . . . because she was here to say goodbye.

  The reality caused Kade to stand, as if he could ground himself by placing his two feet on the floor.

  “I came to say—”

  “Don’t.” With two quick strides he closed the space between them. “Don’t do it.”

  “Don’t say goodbye?”

  “Would it make any difference if you knew I still loved you?”

  “Kade—”

  “Because I do.” He grasped her shoulders, pulled her close enough so that he could see how her topaz-brown eyes widened. “I love you, Caron.”

  Without waiting for her response, without asking for permission, Kade kissed her, allowing his hands to slide down the soft skin of her bare arms, reaching around her to pull her close. For a moment, Caron stiffened, but then her lips softened beneath his as she returned his kiss. As her hands stole up and gripped his shoulders, Kade began to lose himself in their kiss . . . the warmth of Caron’s body against his . . .

  But then she groaned and pushed against him, stepping away, one hand pressed against the side of her face. “Kade . . . no. We can’t do this . . . I’m going back to Florida.”

  He covered her hand with his own, even as her words chipped away at his courage. “Stay with me, Caron. We’re good together. You know we are.”

  “There’s Alex . . .” Her glance wavered. “And my father.”

  Kade’s hand dropped to his side. He’d expected Caron’s heart might waver between him and her boyfriend—but the mention of her father hit him like she’d thrown a bucket of cold water in his face. How was he supposed to know he was fighting not one but two opponents? “What does your father have to do with this?”

  “My father called and offered me a job again.”

  “Oh, that’s rich.” Kade pressed the heel of his hand against his forehead. “A month after you quit working for him—after you declared your independence—and you’re ready to go back to work with Daddy.
”

  “Kade, after slamming the door in my face, my father called and asked me to come back. You know what my father is like. He never changes his mind about anything.”

  “You’re right. I do know your father, Caron. Well enough to know he never does anything that doesn’t benefit him.”

  Caron’s words were a ragged whisper. “Can’t you be happy for me? I’m getting my dream.”

  “You ask too much of a man, Caron. I’ll give you this—at least this time you had the decency to tell me why you were leaving.” Kade turned his face away as he moved past her. “I’ll save you the need to say goodbye.”

  • • •

  The gate for her upcoming flight was empty, but the automated sign confirmed she was at the right location, despite the rows and rows of empty seats. Caron separated herself from the ever-moving crowd of people still searching for their gates—hauling carry-on luggage, clutching insulated cups of coffee, some so disheveled they looked as if they’d spent the last week lost in the airport with no hope of rescue. With a sigh that deflated her shoulders, she deposited her tote on a chair facing the expansive windows.

  With a muffled roar of its jet engines, a single plane backed away from the row of other airplanes, a lone man wearing an orange safety vest and protective headgear motioning the pilot to continue moving toward the runway. The area outside where her plane would arrive stood empty. What with allowing more than enough time to return the rental car and get through security—and just needing to get out of Colorado—three hours stretched before Caron before her departure for Florida.

  Too much time to think.

  Not that she hadn’t done just that ever since Kade had left her standing in his apartment, disappearing into his bedroom, slamming the door behind him.

  “Why didn’t you go after him?” Margo followed her outside to the rental car as Caron stowed her luggage in the trunk.

  “What? Knock on his bedroom door and continue a useless conversation?”

  “Yes.”

  “Why?” Caron faced her friend, arms folded across her chest.

  “Caron, come on! You still have feelings for Kade! You know you do.”