“Without discussing it with me?”
“I knew what you’d say.”
She cocked an eyebrow at him. “Really?”
“Yes, and Mac sweetened the deal this morning.”
“How?”
“This,” Harley said, slapping down a piece of paper. “It’s yours if you want it.”
“What is it? Come on. Give me the short version.”
“It’s a job. For you. Teaching set design. They’re starting a new cinema program. They’ll be teaching directing, producing, lighting, and all that stuff. But the one thing they didn’t have was a famous, top-notch set designer. If you accept, then they do.”
Color rushed to her face, and tears to her eyes.
“Hey, this is supposed to be a good thing.”
“These are happy tears.”
Harley fished his handkerchief out of his pocket and handed it to her. “Think how great that could be. We’d both be working at Kensington. We could have our kids, be around to raise them, live in a beautiful, small town…”
“We could buy an old Victorian house and fix it up.”
“Anything you want, honey. Anything. So, you’ll take the job?”
“I really should talk to him first.”
“That’s where we’re headed. To meet with Mac. So you can sign on the dotted line.”
“This is so wonderful. I never imagined. You did this for me?”
“For us, Shy. For us. And for our kids.”
“How many did you want to have?” she asked, shooting him a doubtful look.
“Let’s start with one, go to two, and wait and see.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
“You’ll do it?”
She nodded.
“Oh, I picked up something in town today. For you.” He opened the small box and displayed a gorgeous, six-carat marquis shaped, diamond ring. Shyla could only gasp as she stared at the glittery gem. “You have to wear it. Can’t have other guys coming on to you.” He slipped it on her finger.
She stared at her hand, grinning. “It’s gorgeous, Harley. Just perfect.”
“Good. It’s a little big. We can have it resized in Willow Falls.”
“Willow Falls. What a lovely name.”
“You can teach in the winter and do your set design in the summer.”
“Are you saying I can have it all?”
“I guess I am.”
“As long as we’re together, then I have it all.”
“Me too. Come on, lady, let’s get on the road,” he said, opening the car door for her.
She snuggled down into the seat, closer to him. He glanced over at her blue eyes shining, her blonde hair curling around her shoulders. She was the most beautiful woman he’d ever seen. With Shyla at his side and the new job, he was ready for anything.
“Let’s start over—together. Time for chapter two,” he said, steering into the left lane.
“Chapter two. I like that. I like that a lot.”
Epilogue
“He’ll never guess,” Trunk said to his wife, Carla.
“Is everything here? The tent, the band, the caterer?” She paced.
“Yeah, yeah. Stop worrying. It’ll be fine. Bull and I took care of everything.”
“I helped too,” piped up Tuffer Demson.
“Me too,” said Lawson Breaker.
“You guys did. Here are two checklists. Go. Make sure everything’s being done right.”
“Should we check back with you?” Breaker asked.
“Of course,” Trunk said.
“This is one of the nicest things you’ve ever done,” Carla said, taking a sip of her lemonade and ginger ale concoction, known as the Carla Special.
“Aw. It’s nothing. Poor guy.”
Carla raised her hand. “It sucks, I know. But he’s got a brand new life now.”
“I’ll miss him.”
“He’ll be back.”
Tuffer went out front and put up a sign. Breaker helped him get it straight.
Trunk checked his watch. “Just three hours, guys.” He drew his wife to him and waited for his teammates to arrive.
**THE END**
Watch for the last book in the series: OVERTIME, coming soon.
About the Author
Jean Joachim is a best-selling romance fiction author, with books hitting the Amazon Top 100 list since 2012. She writes contemporary romance, which includes sports romance and romantic suspense.
Dangerous Love Lost & Found, First Place winner in the 2015 Oklahoma Romance Writers of America, International Digital Award contest. The Renovated Heart won Best Novel of the Year from Love Romances Café. Lovers & Liars was a RomCon finalist in 2013. And The Marriage List tied for third place as Best Contemporary Romance from the Gulf Coast RWA. To Love or Not to Love tied for second place in the 2014 New England Chapter of Romance Writers of America Reader’s Choice contest. She was chosen Author of the Year in 2012 by the New York City chapter of RWA.
Married and the mother of two sons, Jean lives in New York City. Early in the morning, you’ll find her at her computer, writing, with a cup of tea, her rescued pug, Homer, by her side and a secret stash of black licorice. Jean has 30+ books, novellas and short stories published. Find it here: http://www.jeanjoachimbooks.com. Sign up for her newsletter, on her website, and be eligible for her private paperback sales. Sign up for her newsletter here:
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Jean-Joachim Author/221092234568929?sk=app_100265896690345
Harley Brennan, Running Back Page 22
