by MK Meredith
Darting her eyes toward Harper, Sage put her hand up in a silent plea for support.
“Oh, I agree,” Harper returned.
Throwing her hands up, she made a face, then grabbed another sheet of paper from her bag. “You know what? You two can go suck it somewhere else.”
She looked around the patio with a shake of her head. Her great aunt Clovis was walking up with Ida Beamon and Banon Edwards. That was a love match she’d never expected, but the smile on the old man’s face proved the magic of it all—his smile even resembled one of joy versus strain this morning. Grandie winked at her as they took a seat at another table. She wiggled her fingers in return, then turned back to her cousin.
“What in the heck is going on here? The Sweet and Savory’s patio is never this busy on a Sunday morning. Everyone’s usually nursing their Fifty Shades of Chocolate Espresso’s and walking in the park.
The newspapers flew one by one from the box, and she nudged Harper, who was whispering to Frankie. “They’re all in for a big surprise. That’s the last print newspaper for St. Helena. We’ll see just how much everyone loves it a month from now when the family’s noses are in their phones at the breakfast table instead of scouring through the paper together, making plans for the weekend.” She crossed her arms and sat back, feeling a little raw by the buzz of excitement.
Apparently, she’d been way off.
The people of St. Helena not only didn’t seem to mind the announcement of the change, but by the sound of their laughter, they loved it.
Memory bubbles of her grandfather popped about her head as a heavy weight settled in her belly. All this time, she really believed her comics had made a difference, that the paper had really brought the town together.
A fool didn’t even come close to how she felt.
Pressing her lips together, she tried to ignore the jovial chatter and focus on the drawing paper in front of her, but all she saw before her was nothingness.
And to think, she’d moved here with the idea that St. Helena held her answers to everything.
Ida’s laughter caught her attention, and she threw a glare four tables over.
“Wow, someone sure is grouchy this morning,” Harper noted.
Sage cringed. “I’m sorry. I just…”
Frankie took a big bite of a double-dipped chocolate bear claw while trying to dodge Mittens’s muzzle. “Just what?”
Sage looked back and forth between her cousin and her friend. Things may not have ended up as her perfect happy ending, but she was surrounded by family and she was getting published in the same house as The Far Side. The reality of it all hit her hard.
“I was going to say, I thought the paper meant more to the community, that Grandpa Horace meant more, but you’re here. Without even being asked, you’re both here with me.”
The two women grinned. “Of course we are.”
This time, Clovis’s happy cackle met Sage’s ears.
“What in the heck? That’s it…” She shoved up from the table. “I want to know what they think is so darned funny.”
Frankie pressed her lips together, but delight shone from her eyes. And delight never shone from that woman’s eyes unless she was on her bike, on Nate, or on her vineyard.
Marching over to the paper box, she inserted her money, then yanked down the door. Grabbing the paper, she shook it open and scanned through the pages. A sudden hush fell over the crowd as she turned to the last page. The comics.
“I don’t understand.” She shook her head. There, in the place where her comic was usually displayed…was a comic.
But she hadn’t submitted one.
The colors were the same, and Edward the gorilla was almost the same, but something was different. The title read, Even Big Dumb Animals Need a Second Chance. Edward was on his knees with a pleading grin, begging at the feet of a young woman with familiar chocolate brown eyes and matching hair.
The woman was reading the Sentinel, which boasted the headline, Sentinel to Keep Sunday Print. And in one of the gorilla’s hands was a group of red heart balloons that floated above their heads.
Tears stung her lids as hope flared in her chest. With a shake of her head, she turned back toward Harper and Frankie. “What does this mean?”
And there before her, on his knees, was Parker, holding a bunch of red heart balloons. Balloons printed with I love you.
“I made a mistake,” he said with nerves in his voice that she’d never heard before. “I came here ready to hightail it back to L.A. as soon as I arrived, but I’d never counted on falling for a romantic cartoonist who would challenge my very livelihood.”
His bright blue eyes pleaded with her to understand. “I said the wrong thing. A stupid thing. More than once, actually.”
She grabbed his hands. “Get up.”
The crowd sucked in a breath, and Ida mewed in delight.
“You love L.A. You aren’t looking for forever in Tiny Town.”
Parker cupped her face. “I am a big, dumb animal, remember? I was so focused on proving myself to my grandfather.”
They both looked at Banon, who winced and gave a small nod of his head.
“I was intent on saving the paper so much money that he couldn’t deny that I was the best, but in doing so, I was missing what you kept trying to tell me all along. This paper brings the town together. Just look around us.”
For the first time, she really took a look at everyone sitting around the Sweet and Savory Bistro. The De Luca men and their wives, the Baudouins, Grandie, Ida, and even Mittens. And so many, many more.
They were all there because of the paper.
“But this is the last one.” She held the newsprint to her chest and sniffed.
Brushing a tear from her cheek with his thumb, he grinned. “The St. Helena Sentinel is going digital.”
Her shoulders sagged.
He continued, “Monday through Saturday. But the Sunday paper will be beefed up and remain in print so it can continue to unite this community just the way your grandpa Horace had intended. Besides, you can clearly tell from the comic, I’ve fallen for you, too. There are hearts literally floating above my head.”
Sage glanced up and grinned. She was afraid to speak, afraid to move, afraid it was all a dream. Love for Parker and the town of St. Helena washed over her, and she had to grab onto him to steady herself.
“I’ve been so miserable. You tried to call and you stopped by, but St. Helena…I…”
She closed her eyes to compose herself. “I wasn’t what you wanted. You wanted L.A. and probably someone with more designer on her sleeve than emotion.”
He shook his head, then pressed his lips to hers. A warm sensation of acceptance filled her heart and chest. “I want you, Sage. I want the way you see the world, the way you hope, the way you believe in the good and the happily ever afters. I was just too afraid to admit it, to disappoint you as I thought I had my grandfather.”
“And my art?”
“I’m sorry for what I said. I was a complete ass and clearly had no idea what I was talking about. Your art is brilliant.” He looked a bit sheepish. “I saw your studio.”
Her jaw dropped open.
“I know. I’m sorry, but I’d gone back to talk to you and you weren’t home, but the door wasn’t locked. It’s amazing, Sage. You…are amazing. St. Helena Sentinel needs the smiles you put on their faces every Sunday.”
Her heart turned over in her chest. “Even if the headliner is a gorilla named Edward?”
Parker kissed her again, and she sunk into it, ignoring the titters and “oohs” and “ahhs” all around her. “Especially with the gorilla, Edward. If things are going the way I hope they are, then he’s turned out to be the best wingman I’ve ever had.”
She wrapped her arms and heart around the man who had found his way inside and made her dreams about St. Helena come true. She winked. “We need to talk about a raise. The paper’s cartoonist has her own book coming out.”
“Sage, that’s
amazing!” He picked her off her feet and squeezed. “What’s it called?”
With her feet once again on solid ground—though, truth be told, she still felt like she was floating—she gave him a saucy grin. “Falling for Edward. It’s about this gorilla…”
She didn’t get to finish her story because Parker silenced her with a kiss that would surely make it into next Sunday’s paper.
And with her friends and family all around her, celebrating the special blend of love that could only be found on the vines of St. Helena, Sage’s own happily ever after had begun.
Acknowledgments
A huge thank you to Marina Adair. Not only is Marina a dear friend who has bonded with me over our love of peanut butter and our frustration with illness. She is a generous soul who loves to take her friends along the ride toward success. Thank you for inviting me along this wonderful journey into St. Helena Vineyards.
To my children and husband, otherwise known as my heart and soul, thank you for believing in me and always knowing I could do this even when I didn’t. I love you. To my big brothers, Tommy, Todd, and Billy—as goofy as I am, you’ve always held me up. To Paula, my sister of the heart, I’m forever in awe of you. And to my mom, who’s continued to mother me from the other side, I hope I have a fraction of your grace. Thank you.
Thank you always to my agent, Jill Marsal, for pushing me for more. It’s a lovely feeling to know I’m not alone in this dream of mine. Thank you to my editor, Jessica Snyder, you go above and beyond. Thank you to my copy editor, Jennifer Wiers Serevino at Twitching Pen. Thank goodness you’re so great at this because punctuation is not my strong point. Thank you Jessica Snyder and Julia Pierce for your eagle eyes while proofing this story. Thank you to the Romantics, your love lifts me up, and to my street team, MK & CO, for your friendship and for believing in me. I love everyone in this family, from the very first to the still-to-come.
One more exuberant thank you to the readers of this book. Experiencing life with you in this way is magical. I hope that at least one scene, one line, or simply one word resonates with each of you. And to my sisters and brothers in the fight against breast and all types of cancer. I know both sides, having lost my mom to breast cancer at a young age, and having survived cancer myself. My writing is one of the things that carries me through. I have many more books to write.
Thank you. Hugs, loves, and peanut butter,
MK
About the Author
MK Meredith writes single title contemporary romance promising an emotional ride on heated sheets. She believes the best route to success is to never stop learning. Her lifelong love affair with peanut butter continues. Only two things come close in the battle for her affections: gorgeous heels and maybe Gerard Butler…or was it David Gandy? Who is she kidding? Her true loves are her husband and two children who have survived her SEAs (spontaneous explosions of affection) and live to tell the tale. The Merediths live in the D.C. area with their large fur baby…until the next adventure calls.
Sign up for MK’s monthly newsletter, The Heat Sheet, for new releases and lots of fun!
More books by MK Meredith
International Temptation Series
A strong dose of decadence along with a side of tall, dark, and sexy in your favorite travel destinations.
Seducing the Tycoon (Drago and Chase) bk 1
TBD bk 2
Malibu Sights Series
There's no place like paradise and the happy ever afters found in the film industry of Malibu, CA.
Malibu Betrayals (Sam and Gage) bk 1
Malibu Secrets (Addi and Roque) bk 2
What Happens in Vegas Series (multi author series)
What happens when a romance convention descends upon Vegas? A whole lot of love!
Seducing Seven (Seven and Blake) bk 9
Connect with MK:
Website: mkmeredith.com
Twitter: twitter.com/MKMKMeredith
Facebook: facebook.com/MKMKMeredith/
