Prince Charming Wears a Badge

by Lisa Dyson

  “Are you okay?”

  Poppy shrugged. “Not really.”

  “We make quite a pair.” Callie hadn’t told Poppy why she was going home tomorrow, but she had to know that Tyler and Callie had reached an impasse. “Is it Gino?”

  “Isn’t it always a man?”

  “That’s because they think they should be in charge of us.”

  Poppy’s eyes widened. “They do, don’t they?” She sipped her tea. “Gino has no idea why I won’t marry him. He won’t listen, no matter how often I explain it.”

  “I get it. Tyler went behind my back to speak to my therapist. He thought he knew better than I did what my therapist should know about my life.”

  Poppy shook her head. “At least he thought he was doing something to benefit you. Gino didn’t take me into consideration at all when he bought the Lincoln Hotel.”

  “You can’t come up with a compromise?” Callie asked, glad to focus on someone else’s problems instead of her own. “Are you really in direct competition with each other?”

  “We both provide meals and lodging.”

  “But won’t they be different and each attract different customers?”

  Poppy seemed to mull over the question. “I’m looking for typical bed-and-breakfast clientele.”

  “And isn’t he making the Lincoln Hotel a high-end inn? With a spa and an exercise room? It doesn’t even sound like you’re in the same price range.”

  “I never thought about it that way.”

  “That really surprises me, Poppy. From what I’ve seen, you’re pretty smart about business.”

  Poppy chewed her lower lip, seeming to think about Callie’s observation. “I guess I was too busy being mad about him not hearing me when I talked about making this house into a B and B. That it’s been my dream for most of my adult life.”

  “So what are you going to do now?” Callie asked.

  Poppy pushed her chair back and took her cup to the sink. “I need to talk to Gino.”

  “What are you going to say?”

  Poppy’s grin started slowly and grew. “That I think with some ground rules, we might be able to coexist in Whittler’s Creek. And I might just accept his marriage proposal.”

  At least Callie had been able to help Poppy and Gino. Because she and Tyler simply had irreconcilable differences.

  *

  POPPY RACED TO her bedroom to freshen up before heading to the Lincoln to see Gino. He had moved his things into his suite there after she’d turned down his marriage proposal.

  She drove as quickly as possible, parking in the lot behind the hotel. Because it was after ten at night and all the workers were gone, leaving Gino alone in the hotel, the front doors were locked tight.

  Poppy stood outside, wondering what to do. She looked up at the fourth floor where Gino’s suite was located. There was a light on, so he was still awake. He’d never hear her if she yelled from the street. So she pulled her cell phone from her purse and texted him.

  I came to talk. At the front door of the Lincoln.

  He must have taken the steps down because he arrived to unlock the front door faster than the ancient elevator would have gotten him there.

  He wore jeans, a threadbare T-shirt and a tentative smile on his face as he welcomed her inside and locked the door again.

  “Let’s go upstairs,” he suggested, leading her to the elevator.

  They were silent as they rode the sluggish elevator up to the fourth floor and then walked down the hall to his suite. “Come this way.” Gino walked through the living area to a doorway. He stepped aside so she could enter.

  She hadn’t seen the suite before, but as soon as she walked into the bedroom she couldn’t help noticing that the furniture was the same as in her own bedroom. The linens were the same, as were the lamps and other details.

  “This looks like my bedroom,” she said, taking in every detail.

  “I tried my best,” he said. “I took pictures and attempted to duplicate the room. I know you redid your bedroom when you expanded into the attic, and I wanted you to be just as comfortable when you’re here.” He walked over to a framed picture on the nightstand. “I even had this family picture copied. The frame isn’t exactly the same, though.”

  Poppy’s eyes blurred with tears. “I can’t believe you did all this.”

  “I was going to show you after dinner on the roof, but we never got that far.”

  Poppy nodded.

  “You said you wanted to talk?” Gino sounded hopeful, which gave her the incentive to tell him her ideas.

  “Yes, I’d like to talk.” They returned to the living area and Poppy sat at the end of the couch. Gino chose the chair closest to her.

  “Would you like a drink?” he asked.

  “No, thank you.” She wasn’t sure now where to begin. “I talked to Callie tonight and she pointed out that your inn and my B and B will attract different customers.”

  His eyebrows lifted. “That’s true.”

  She swallowed and continued. “There are some things I think we could work on to make sure we’re both operating successful businesses, but we need to come to an agreement first.”

  “I’ll agree to anything,” he said. “I’ve actually been coming up with some ideas of my own, trying to figure out how to resolve this issue between us.”

  Poppy was glad to hear that. “The biggest issue for me is that you haven’t listened to what I want and need. You make decisions based on what you think I want or need.”

  Gino digested her words. “You’re absolutely right. And there’s actually something I’d like your opinion on right now.” He rose and walked to a small desk in the corner of the room. He picked up a folder and brought it over to her. Then he sat next to her on the couch. “Take a look.”

  She opened the folder and saw a résumé. “What’s this?” Below it was another résumé.

  “Those are people applying for positions at the hotel like innkeeper and assistant innkeeper.”

  “Why are you showing me this?”

  “Because I’d like to offer you a deal. If you’re running a B and B alone, then you’ll never be able to take time off. Same goes for me. So I’m suggesting we share an assistant innkeeper.”

  She considered the idea. “So it would be a full-time position, but we’d each get the person twenty hours a week?”

  “Right.” He held up a hand. “But if you don’t like the idea, it’s okay. I can hire someone part-time just for the inn.”

  “It’s not that I don’t like it, I had just been thinking that I’m not sure I can afford a second part-time employee.”

  “A second?”

  She grinned. “I was hoping we could hire a chef that would handle the food at both places. Not that I don’t want to cook sometimes, but after we’re married it would be nice to not have to run back to my house to make breakfast for guests.”

  “Married?” Gino’s jaw dropped and she loved his reaction.

  “Unless you’ve changed your mind?”

  “N-not at all,” he stammered. “But I never got around to asking you.”

  Poppy looked at him wide-eyed and waited.

  He jumped up from his seat and went to a drawer in the desk. He returned with a small box and gingerly got down on one knee.

  “On one condition,” Poppy said.

  “I haven’t asked yet,” Gino joked. Then he sobered. “What’s the condition?”

  “That you listen to me. I know you’ll mess up sometimes and I have my faults, too. But I need you to work hard at hearing what I want and not deciding for me.”

  Gino took her hand. “I promise to do my best.” He groaned and shifted positions slightly. “Now can I ask you? My knees aren’t made for this.”

  Poppy laughed. “Now.”

  “Poppy, you are and always have been the love of my life. Please marry me and make me the happiest man alive.”

  “Gino, I love you with all my heart and I would be honored to marry you.”

&n
bsp; He fumbled with the ring box and placed a gorgeous sapphire in a silver setting on her finger. “I love you,” he said and then kissed her to seal their promise.

  *

  A WEEK AFTER Callie returned home and forced herself back into her usual routine, she arrived at her condo from work to a message on her home phone. She tried not to hope it was Tyler—she hadn’t heard from him since she’d left Whittler’s Creek.

  The message was from Andrew. Her heart sank in disappointment. What could he possibly want? She could delete it and never think about it again. Her finger hovered over the delete button before moving to the play button.

  “Um, hey, Callie. It’s Andrew. Andrew Slater.” As if she didn’t know her scumbag ex-boyfriend by his voice. “I’m calling to tell you that you were right about the vase.”

  Callie’s eyes widened. Not a sentence she’d ever expected to hear from Andrew.

  “You didn’t break it. I found out last week that Lori was the one who broke it.” Lori must be the woman Callie had caught Andrew in bed with. “She accidentally knocked it over right after you left my apartment that day. When she found out its value, she decided to let you take the fall. So, anyway, just thought you should know.”

  No apology, no nothing. Typical Andrew. She should probably see if she could sue him for false arrest and get her money back, but she’d rather not ever see him again.

  She changed out of her work clothes and into running clothes. Connecting her ear buds to her phone and attaching the phone to her upper arm, she headed outside. There was a school a few blocks away where she liked to do laps on the track. She stepped from the air-conditioned hall of her condo building into the unpleasant mugginess outside.

  And there, standing on the steps leading to her building, looking as gorgeous as ever, was Tyler.

  Her mouth went dry.

  “Callie.”

  The sound of her name coming from him nearly did her in. She reminded herself to be strong. He’d hurt her. He’d disrespected her. She needed to remember that he’d had power over her and he’d used it against her.

  “I’m afraid you’ve come at a bad time.” She struggled to keep her tone neutral. “I’m on my way out. Besides, we have nothing more to say to each other.”

  “I disagree.” He stepped closer. “I’ve thought a lot about what you said. You were absolutely right about me overstepping when I talked to your therapist.” He took a breath. “But I’d do it again if I had to.”

  Callie’s eyes widened in astonishment. “Well, now I know we’re done here.”

  She tried to go around him, but he caught her arm.

  “I’m not explaining this very well. Can we go inside and talk?”

  “No, here is fine.”

  He looked into her eyes. “When I said I’d do it again, I meant that I love you enough to do something you don’t like. I’ll do whatever it takes to make you happy. And at the time, pushing you to face your past by revealing something to your therapist was the only way I could see that happening.”

  “But you still don’t understand,” she said vehemently. “I don’t need protection. I’ve taken care of myself my entire life. I did what I had to do to protect myself against my stepmother and stepsister.” She got louder and angrier the more she spoke. “I even accepted a plea deal to protect myself against my ex-boyfriend. I can take care of myself.”

  “And you still don’t understand,” he said, repeating her words. “You don’t have to do everything on your own.”

  Her eyes widened. “But I don’t know how to do it any other way.” She was speaking the truth from her heart and it felt unbelievably good to let out her frustration.

  “I can’t say I understand completely, but you’ve got to know that I’ll try my best to do what you want. I don’t necessarily need to protect you, but I want to be there for you when you need it and also when you don’t.” He ran a hand down her upper arm and his tone softened. “I love you more than I ever thought I could, Callie. Please give me a second chance to show you we can be equal partners in this relationship.”

  “First, I need you to be honest with me, Tyler. Always. Don’t go behind my back like you did with my therapist.”

  He nodded. “I promise. At the time I thought it was for the best, but I can see how you would see it as me using my position to control you.” He paused. “Just like your ex.”

  Her eyebrows rose. “Exactly.”

  “I’m sorry.” He sounded sincere. “I truly am. And I promise I’ll trust you to know what’s best for you, even if I don’t agree.”

  “Apology accepted.” She held up a finger. “By the way, you were right.”

  “I was? About what?”

  “After my therapist heard everything I went through, he’s been able to help me work through it.”

  He smiled. A sad smile, probably because he understood how difficult living through her childhood again had been for her.

  “I joined a boxing gym,” she announced, realizing she was changing the subject.

  He blinked. “What?”

  “After slamming your front door last week and beating on my steering wheel, I realized how cathartic it was to have a physical outlet for my frustration and anger.”

  “So you joined a boxing gym?”

  “Yes, I’m learning how to punch. It feels really, really good.”

  “Are you planning to punch me?”

  She looked at him for several seconds. “I might feel like punching you, but I never would. I’ll take my anger out at the gym.”

  “Does that mean you’ll give us another chance?”

  She pursed her lips. “Only if I can thank you first.”

  “Thank me for what?”

  “For showing me that running away when life becomes unmanageable isn’t the solution. It took me a while to understand why you talked to my therapist. I’ve never had anyone on my side before and it might take some time for me to get used to it.”

  “Then, you’re welcome, and you can have all the time in the world because I’m not going anywhere.”

  The fact that he was standing in front of her, even after everything he knew about her, seemed to prove his statement. “I’m glad.” She gave him a tentative smile and really meant what she said.

  Then he kissed her so passionately that her legs nearly gave out.

  EPILOGUE

  BY THE TIME Alexis and Madison participated in their school’s Holiday Pageant in December, Callie and Tyler had gotten into a routine. Callie looked over at Tyler sitting next to her in the school’s cafetorium and smiled. She slipped her hand into his and he squeezed hers.

  They’d started off with their original plan for Callie to visit on weekends, but the time went by too quickly. Then one day about a month ago she woke up and had an astounding revelation. Her job meant less to her than Tyler and his girls did. So she went to her superior and asked if she could telecommute. He wasn’t thrilled, but the other choice would have been for her to leave and find another job.

  Now that she worked from home—she considered Tyler’s house her home more than her condo ever was—she was able to get the girls to and from school. She could even get them started on homework before Tyler got home.

  She continued to volunteer at the women’s shelter since new residents arrived more frequently than she’d ever imagined. Working one-on-one with the women gave her a feeling of satisfaction and pride she hadn’t experienced in her successful career.

  “Aren’t they adorable?” Poppy whispered to Callie and Tyler during the applause. She and Gino were sitting in the row behind them.

  Gino leaned close and added, “They’ve been practicing their songs for weeks. I think I know them by heart.”

  “Shh,” Poppy said to him. “They’re ready to sing the next one.”

  Poppy and Gino were each enjoying success in their businesses. Keeping Poppy’s a homier bed-and-breakfast and Gino’s Lincoln Hotel a high-end establishment had been a wonderful compromise. Sharing the chef and an
assistant had also allowed them more time together. Poppy had even accepted Gino’s marriage proposal, although they hadn’t set a date yet.

  The girls had been more than hinting about Tyler and Callie getting married, especially once Poppy and Gino announced their engagement.

  Callie was in no hurry to change their current arrangement, at least for now. One thing she’d learned during their time together was that she could be a pretty good mom to Alexis and Madison and any future children she and Tyler might have.

  Her dad, sitting on her left, whispered, “I’m sorry I missed so much of your childhood.”

  Callie looked at him, moved by the emotion she saw in his face. She patted his hand. “I know, Dad. I’m glad we’re getting this time together now and that you’re getting to know Eric, as well as Alexis and Madison. They need you in their life as much as you need them.”

  Wendy and her son had moved in with Callie’s dad now that her stepmother was in a nursing facility. Ellen’s health had declined and she was rarely coherent. Callie thought the arrangement between Wendy and her dad was a good one for both of them. Wendy no longer feared her husband since he’d gone to prison and wouldn’t be eligible for parole for several years. Testifying against him hadn’t been necessary because he’d been offered a plea deal. They’d revisit Wendy and her son’s living situation when and if her husband was paroled.

  Callie glanced at Tyler again. He caught her and winked at her. She smiled back, loving this man with her entire being.

  His girls might obsess about princesses and think they needed to be “saved” by a prince to be happy. But Callie was proud that she’d saved herself from her unhappy childhood by leaving town and making a successful life for herself. To top it off, she’d been lucky enough to return to find an amazing prince of her own.

  For the first time in her life she was surprisingly happy in the town where she’d grown up. Callie had never thought that would be possible, but she was extremely glad she’d returned to Whittler’s Creek to find her happily-ever-after.

  *

  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE GOOD MOM by Cathryn Parry.

  Get rewarded every time you buy a Harlequin ebook!