Family Matters (DiCarlo Brides book 4) (The DiCarlo Brides)

by Tullis, Heather

  She nodded, feeling her mouth go dry and her heart start to speed.

  “I’m going to lay it out for you, so there’s no confusion.” He took her hand. “I love you. I want us to get married and make a family, have another a kid or two so Cleo doesn’t have to be an only child. I know you’re not ready yet, that it might take some time to prove to you that I’m not going to disappear. I’m not pushing for that now, but I wanted you to know that’s what I see, what I want so when you’re ready you won’t be left wondering. When I look at you and Cleo I see my future. There’s nothing that means more to me than that.”

  He didn’t get any more words out because she touched her finger to his lips, amazed at how much easier he’d made this for her. Funny that she still felt light-headed. “My turn. I’ve been fighting the way I felt for you almost from the moment we met. I’m pretty hard headed and I don’t always share what I’m thinking or feeling and I know that’s going to make me hard to live with sometimes.”

  “Sometimes?” he asked, teasingly.

  “Shush,” she smiled, feeling the love in her chest intensify. “I don’t know why you’d pick someone as messed up as I am, but after everything we’ve been through together I can say this much: I love you. I want to marry you too, and there’s no one else I’d rather make a family with, grow a family with. It’s you and me all the way, and you’re not backing out on me now, so don’t even think about it. I’d ask Cleo how she feels, but I think she’s made it pretty clear that she’s good with having you in our family.”

  He smiled and talked against the finger that still touched his lips. “I asked her last week how she’d feel about me marrying you. She said she’d like that.”

  Rosemary took her finger away and pressed a kiss to his lips instead. “I guess that explains why she’s been so pushy lately.” She slid around the edge of the table and he pulled her onto his lap so they could wrap their arms around each other.

  “Do you need the big fancy ceremony, or can we do it this spring?” He brushed the hair back from her face, his fingertips teasing her earlobe. “I don’t want to wait long. I want you both here every night.” He kissed her again, this time a little more urgently than before.

  “Sounds good to me.” She felt a thrill of mischief go through her. “I don’t need a big deal—just a big fancy dress and a thousand flowers and an absolutely perfect ring—you don’t happen to have ring already, do you?”

  He laughed. “Sounds like a simple ceremony. I kinda hoped it wouldn’t take the whole year to get you to see it my way, so I decided to be prepared.” He helped her off his lap, then led her into his room, retrieving a black velvet box from his nightstand drawer.

  Her heart fluttered. He’d been thinking ahead, hadn’t he? This was making things official—which both excited and scared her. When he popped the box open, she sighed. It was perfect.

  “I thought you would prefer something understated—in complete opposition of everything else that is you. Something that you can wear while you work,” he said, passing it to her.

  She pulled the ring from the box. It didn’t have a large stone, but a row of channel-cut diamonds circled the platinum band instead, creating a smooth surface that wouldn’t catch on the gloves she wore with messier mixes and dishes.

  “Do you like it?” he asked, as if uncertain.

  “Yes.”

  He smiled and slid it onto her finger and to her surprise, it fit.

  “It’s perfect.” She looked up at him, her heart pounding with excitement. “It’s so perfect. You’re so perfect for me.” She kissed him again.

  “I noticed how you changed the wording on that last one,” he said when they came up for air. “Only the ring is perfect?”

  She laughed. “Well, you’re crazy enough to want to marry me so you couldn’t possibly be perfect. And really, I just want a fabulous dress and our families at the ceremony. We can keep this a family matter.”

  “Now that sounds utterly perfect.” He kissed her again. “I’ll talk to Vince about that fairy cottage—maybe he can make it big enough for three of us.”

  She laughed and felt the echoes of all the bad decisions she’d ever made come back to her. Suddenly they made sense—they brought her here, and there was nowhere she’d rather be.

  Delphi got out of her car on the narrow mountain road and sighed in relief as she saw the sign in the window of the photography studio. She’d found the right place, but it was closed. She checked her watch. “Looks like punctuality is going to be a problem.” She was just on time for her appointment, so if he showed up in the next couple of minutes, she wouldn’t hold it against him. She still hadn’t fully accepted her decision to bow to her father’s will and move to Colorado, but that didn’t mean she shouldn’t act like a professional. Thirteen months and she could have her old job back in New York—her old boss had promised. Or she could do anything she wanted with her inheritance. Right now Vienna was sounding better every minute.

  The low rumble of a motorcycle reached her ears and she turned toward it, soaking up the late-July sunshine as it hit her face.

  A gray and charcoal bullet bike came to a stop behind her car, the BMW sports model made her salivate. The lean, black-leather-clad man straddling it wasn’t hard to look at either, she decided when he removed the helmet to show a shock of sun-bleached hair and brown eyes. It wasn’t the kind of face women swooned over, but the planes and angles of his jaw were definitely appealing. She doubted he had trouble getting dates. He wore a button-down shirt in deep blue under his leather jacket and blue jeans. A sharp contract to her Ralph Lauren office wear, which was a blush pink today.

  “You must be Delphinium,” he said as he got off the bike. His eyes flicked over her, reservation in every tick of his face.

  “Call me Delphi.” She crossed to him, intrigued by the punch of attraction she felt when his gaze met hers. “So you’re Jeremy?” Better and better, she thought as she extended a hand for a shake. As DiCarlo Resort’s events coordinator, she’d be spending lots of time in this man’s company in the future—if his work passed muster.

  His hand surrounded hers with warm firmness, though he didn’t return her smile of pleasure at the meeting. “Guilty as charged. Sorry about not being here when you arrived.” His manner was distinctly cool as he tucked his helmet under his arm and turned toward the store. “I usually run early.”

  “Good to know.” She took a step down from her warm greeting. No need to be effusive if he was going to act like that. And she’d see for herself how punctual he generally was.

  They walked in and she took in the warm red tone of the wall behind the counter, the contrasting off-mustard color of the others. It shouldn’t have worked, but it did. If he’d done the decorating, he had a good eye. And, she decided, if the portraits on the walls were any indication of his skill, that good eye extended to his work behind the camera as well.

  He deposited the helmet behind the counter and turned to her, his hands on his hips and a bit of a sneer on his all-too-kissable lips. “Just to clear the air,” he said, “I’m not looking for marriage, no matter how much money your father left you.”

  Stymied by his declaration, she shifted to stare at him. “I don’t recall proposing.” What was with the men in this area? Just because Cami seemed happy to hook up with Jeremy’s best friend, didn’t mean she was looking for love. She still had a boyfriend back home, though she wasn’t sure how long that was going to last.

  “I saw the way you looked at me when I pulled up.” He slid his hands into his pockets and crossed to her. “I know interest when I see it in a woman’s eyes.” He stopped about a foot away from her, challenging her to deny it.

  His arrogance totally floored her, and made her want to make him squirm, so she decided to let him have it. “I was looking at your bike. That’s the BMW S1000RR, isn’t it? Do you race? Because I can’t imagine why else you’d own a bike that’s been known to clock in the 180 mile-per-hour range. And what do you think of the ra
in setting? Have you had a chance to try it out yet?” What she wouldn’t do to get a chance to drive a bike like that. Hers was pretty sweet, but it was getting old and it wasn’t even in the same orbit as his.

  He blinked a few times in surprise and when he answered, his words were a little halting.“Yeah, the rain setting comes in handy on these windy mountain roads. And I’ve been known to join a race or two.”

  Feeling triumphant at managing to take him by surprise, she smirked. “It’s a hot ride.”

  “Yeah.”

  “And for your information,” she said with as much ice as she could muster. “Your bike is way hotter than you are.” She gave him two heartbeats to absorbed that before she gestured to the counter. “Now that we’ve got that out of the way, are you going to show me your portfolio or not?”

  His shock lasted only a second more before he appeared to shake it off and moved to grab a big binder. “Of course. That’s what you’re here for.”

  “Yes. It is.” Delphi didn’t think she imagined his gratitude for the change of subject. She decided to be the bigger person and focus on work. For now. There would be plenty more chances to make him squirm in the future.

  Flowers everywhere.

  Literally everywhere. Five vases spanned the wall of Pat’s diminutive, enclosed patio, another sat atop a small table, and a dozen more covered the brick floor. Roses, lilies, daisies, car-nations—a floral menagerie of pink, yellow, purple, red, blue, and white. And if that wasn’t enough, rose petals dotted the ground. Thank goodness the patio wasn’t large, or Pat would have emptied his entire savings filling the space.

  “Wow.” What else could Taycee say? As a florist, she loved flowers—breathed them in and used them in creations every day. But this display was something else. Something else entirely.

  “Do you like it?” There was apprehension in Pat’s voice, the desire to please. “I know you love flowers, so I thought I’d get you some of everything.”

  And he had. Even sunflowers. Yikes.

  “It looks like my shop,” Taycee managed.

  Pat grinned, showing his two dimples. “Exactly what I was going for. I’m glad you noticed. I wanted it to feel like home.”

  But she didn’t live at her shop. She worked there. And at the end of the day, Taycee only brought home a small bouquet, and for good reason. There can be too much of a good thing. Way too much. The proof surrounded her.

  Although it was sweet of Pat to go to all of this trouble, dates with him were becoming increasingly romantic and extravagant, which wasn’t okay. Taycee didn’t want him thinking they were serious or spending this kind of money on her. “Pat, I, uh . . . don’t know what to say.”

  “Say you’ll marry me.” Pat knelt in front of her, mashing a few red rose petals under his knee.

  Taycee froze. Oh no. Not this. Not now. How did she not see this coming? If she had, she’d have ended the relationship weeks ago—before Pat had gone to all this effort. Before she’d have to tell him no.

  Taycee shook her head back and forth in slow motion. How could she tell such a nice guy that she didn’t feel the same way? That she never would. This was exactly why Taycee had always ended relationships before they reached this point. To avoid moments like this.

  “Taycee, I love everything about you—from your love of flowers and the outdoors, to your kindness, your beauty, and your smile. You are everything I’ve wanted to find in a wife. Please say yes.”

  Taycee bit her lip. She should have said something before he launched into the obviously prepared speech. Now it would be even worse.

  “Pat.” Taycee pulled him to his feet. His hands tried to circle her waist, but she held on to them, keeping space between them. “Listen. I think you’re a great guy. One of the best, actually. But—“

  “Don’t say but,” Pat said, freeing his hands so they could frame her face, with his thumb resting against her lips, shushing her. “Please don’t say but.”

  “I’m sorry,” she whispered against his thumb.

  The light faded from blue eyes that always glowed with happiness. Because that’s who Pat was. Ever and always happy, with a ready smile and dimples that appeared often. But now only sorrow remained—a sorrow that bored a hole into Taycee’s heart and made her want to run away. “I’m so, so sorry.”

  A slight nod and he took a step back, his eyes pleading with her to stop him. Another step and he was gone, leaving Taycee alone on his back patio. The front screen door slammed shut, and a car engine rumbled in his driveway. As the sound faded off down the street, Taycee sighed and located a pad and pen on his kitchen counter.

  Pat, I hope you’ll find a girl sometime soon who’s worthy of you and these beautiful flowers. I’m so flattered that you thought that person was me, but it’s not. Trust me, there’s someone better for you out there. I will always think the world of you.

  Leaving the note on the patio, Taycee walked through the empty apartment and out the front door to her white Toyota Camry. She would miss Pat and his quick, boyish smile—but not enough. It was never enough. Not when a vivid image of dark brown eyes still frequented her dreams.

  For crying out loud, it’s been ten years! Forget him already! He’s gone and won’t be coming back. He lied to you. Broke his promise. Deal with it and move on.

  But at the back of her mind, Taycee worried that he’d ruined her. That no matter how nice, how smart, or how handsome a guy was, he wouldn’t be able to erase the memory of Luke Carney—someone who’d left their small Colorado town nearly a decade ago, took her heart with him, and had never come back. Sometimes Taycee felt like hunting him down just so she could punch him hard in the face. More than once, like one of those scenes in a movie. That’s for leaving and never coming back. That’s for breaking your promise. And that’s for breaking my heart!

  Lately, dating had become an almost frenzied quest to find a guy who could free her from the shackles of Luke’s memory—someone who could make her feel something stronger than respect and like. Someone who could make her want to say “yes.”

  But it was no use. Taycee only ended up hurting unsuspecting guys. Guys who didn’t deserve to be hurt. Like Pat.

  Well, no more. It had gone too far this time, and Taycee was through. Through with flirting. Through with dating. Through with trying. Maybe if she moved on with the rest of her life, Luke’s memory would move on, too.

  * * *

  The Bloom Boutique, a refurbished cottage on Main Street, charmed Shelter Springs with its flower lined walkway and yellow siding with white trim. It exuded cozy, and the moment it hit the market three years earlier, Taycee had been first in line to make an offer. Now, it was hers.

  The bells on the front door jingled.

  “Be right there!” Taycee called from the back.

  “No need,” a light, breezy voice announced. Jessa McCray waltzed through to the back room and hopped up on the counter next to Taycee, swinging her strappy sandaled feet and showing off her pedicure. Always dressed to impress, with her short, highlighted blonde hair, she never looked anything less than stunning.

  Taycee pushed one last sunflower into the green foam and stepped back to study the arrangement. Perfect.

  “It’s gorgeous. Who’s it for?” Jessa asked.

  “Mr. Benion.”

  “Our old biology teacher?”

  “One and the same.”

  “Why?” Jessa’s perfectly tweezed arched eyebrows drew together. “Unless . . . wait. Don’t tell me he’s actually dating someone.”

  A laugh escaped Taycee’s mouth. Jessa sounded so shocked, as if no one in their right mind would ever go out with poor Mr. Benion. “You didn’t hear it from me, but when he ordered the arrangement, he asked if I knew what Maris’s favorite flowers are.”

  Jessa’s jaw dropped, as well as her voice. “Shut up. Are you serious? Mr. Benion and Maris?”

  Taycee shrugged. “Who knows? I just do as my customers ask.”

  “You never do as I ask.”

&
nbsp; “I meant my paying customers.”

  Jessa let out an exaggerated sigh. “And you call yourself a friend.”

  “Your best friend, and don’t you forget it,” Taycee said as she pushed in the plastic card holder and slid the white envelope into place.

  “Um, yeah . . .” Jessa hedged. “Funny you should mention that.”

  “Why?” Taycee said, wary. It had been awhile since Jessa had played the “best friend” card, and it wasn’t a good thing when she did. Her favors were never small.

  “I’m actually here to call in a little favor.” Jessa bit down on her lower lip, moving it back and forth between her teeth.

  “What’s up?”

  Jessa hopped down from the counter and focused her light brown eyes on Taycee. “Remember in high school when you snuck out past curfew to meet David at the movies?”

  “Uh . . . yeah.” Oh no, not this. Not the favor of all favors. Taycee had secretly hoped it had joined the archives of forgotten memories. If only she could be that lucky.

  Jessa stepped closer. “And remember how your parents called my house, and I lied for you and told them you were studying with me?”

  “Maybe.”

  “And remember how you promised me you’d do anything to pay me back?”

  “That part’s a little hazy.” Why oh why had she ever made such a promise? Especially knowing full well Jessa would never forget and it would come back to haunt her one day. Today, as it turned out.

  Jessa picked up a discarded sunflower and plucked the petals one by one. “Hazy or not, I’m calling in that promise, best friend of mine.”

  Taycee grabbed the sunflower from Jessa, saving the remaining petals. “Sorry, but I think there’s a clause somewhere that states all promises are null and void after seven years.”

  “Not a chance.” Jessa smirked. “Those kinds of promises never expire. Besides, it’s too late anyway.”

  Oh no. What did Jessa do now? “Too late for what?”

  “To say no.” Jessa shrugged as if it were no big deal. “You’re already committed.”