Fall in Love Book Bundle: Small Town Romance Box Set

by Grover Swank, Denise

  “Just give her time,” he repeated. “She’ll open up.”

  “And if she doesn’t?” The two of us squared off. “What then?”

  “She will,” he insisted.

  “Fuck, man, you can’t know that for sure! And even if she does, what am I supposed to do ’til then, huh?”

  “Until then, Bennett and I will take care of her,” he gritted, his own anger beginning to show through that casual, laid-back veneer he wore. “We’ve been doing it her whole life. We aren’t going to stop now.”

  “And how the hell do you plan on doin’ that from fuckin’ Connecticut?”

  It was Bennett who answered that one. “I won’t be in Connecticut. I’m not going back with Jase.”

  The sound of someone sucking in a sharp breath shot through the room, and the three of us turned in tandem to find Farah standing in the open doorway of the bathroom.

  Her hair hung down in damp golden strands, her face was completely free of makeup, and she was dressed in a pair of cotton shorts and a tank. And fuck me, she still looked beautiful enough to make my dick stir to life.

  Chapter 23

  Farah

  “You’re staying?” I asked on a whisper that sounded like it had been ripped from my chest.

  “Put in my notice with your folks before I got on the plane yesterday. I’m officially retired, my sweet Farah.”

  “Oh my God.” I sucked in a breath so big it was a wonder there was any oxygen left in the room. Bennett barely had time to rise from his chair and brace himself before I launched across the room. “This is so amazing!” I cried, throwing myself into his arms. “This is the best news ever!” I pulled back, scanning the room and taking in the three most important men in my life. “We have to celebrate! Darla and Buck gave me the night off so I could hang with you guys. We have to do something really big. Oh!” I cried out when the idea hit me. “I’ll make dinner for everyone!”

  “No!” Bennett and Jase shouted at the same time with matching looks of fear etched into their features.

  “Oh come on,” I grumbled at their dramatics, rolling my eyes to the ceiling. “I’m not that bad of a cook.”

  “You gotta be kidding me.” A bark of laughter burst from Cannon’s chest, and I had a sneaking suspicion he was remembering the conversation we’d had about his own mother’s lack of cooking skill. “Hummingbird, you didn’t tell me you couldn’t cook.”

  “I can cook,” I argued, a glare pinching at my face as I pointed to Bennett and Jase. “Those two are just being big babies.”

  “Sweet pea,” my brother said in a placating tone that made me want to smack him, “remember when you got that wild hair up your ass to make Thanksgiving dinner for me and Ben all by yourself?”

  “I was fifteen!” I exclaimed, slamming my hands on my hips as embarrassment made my cheeks flush with heat. “And it wasn’t that bad.”

  “I was sick with food poisoning for three days! I nearly had to go to the hospital, I was so dehydrated from throwing my guts up.”

  From the corner of my eye, I caught Cannon pulling his lips between his teeth, no doubt in an attempt to keep from laughing.

  “Well, what about my chocolate chip cookies?” I asked, grasping at straws so Cannon didn’t think I was completely helpless. “I’ve been making them for you guys for years, and you’ve always said they’re delicious.”

  Bennett’s expression twisted into a wince that did not say good things. “Girl, those goddamn cookies always come out hard as bricks. Don’t know how you manage that, but I almost cracked a tooth the one and only time I tried to eat them.”

  My jaw dropped in affront. All these years, and these two jerks had been lying to me! “But—”

  “I couldn’t even get Puppy to eat them, and he ate his own shit, so what’s that tell you?”

  A sound that was a combination between a snort and a choke came from Cannon’s direction. “You named your dog Puppy?”

  “Not me.” Bennett pointed a finger in my direction. “That was all her.”

  When he turned to me and arched a single brow, I let out an exasperated sigh. “It wasn’t intentional. I found the little guy eating out of a dumpster and brought him home with me. Bennett raised him for me but said I could pick his name. I was having trouble thinking up a good one so while I was trying to decide, I called him puppy. It’s not my fault he thought that for his name and started answering to it.”

  "You have to admit, sis. You aren’t the best at picking names.” Jase pointed to where my cat was napping on the bed. “I mean, Crash? What’s up with that?”

  "That’s beside the point,” I clipped quickly, lifting my chin in indignation so I didn’t have to answer my brother’s question. He was never to know the truth behind Crash’s name. “Before my family decided it was a good idea to point out my one and only flaw, we were talking about celebrating. Why don’t we go back to that? If you don’t want me to cook—which, FYI, I can totally do—then we need to think of something else.”

  “I’ll call and make a reservation at the Cattleman,” Cannon suggested. “Best steaks you’ll ever have.”

  “That’s perfect.” I felt my face growing soft as I smiled up at him. “Do you think Bev and Banks would want to join us?”

  “I can ask, but I’m sure they’d love to.”

  I clapped my hands in excitement. “Excellent.”

  I was just thinking that this day was already turning out to be one of the best I’d had in a very long time, and it had only just started, when my brother spoke, casting a shadow over my good mood. “Good, we’ve got the settled, but there’s something we need to talk to you and Cannon about, sweet pea.”

  Cannon slid beside me, hooking me around my waist and pulling me against him as I looked to Jase. “Well that sounds ominous. Is something wrong?” I’d never seen my brother so serious before, and as he leaned to brace his forearms on the table a feeling of dread pierced my happy little bubble.

  “After I got off the phone with you yesterday, I had someone look into Lance. I wanted to know why the hell he’d show up here, insisting on taking you home, when for most of your relationship, he couldn’t have given a shit whether you were there or not. Somehow, the Maryweathers have managed to keep a lid on the shit my guy dug up, but it’s only a matter of time before it becomes public knowledge, and when it does, that family’s fucked. But it explains why that bastard’s had a sudden change of heart.”

  A chill moved across my skin, causing me to press deeper into Cannon. “What did you find out?”

  “Maryweather Incorporated is bankrupt.”

  My chest expanded on an inhale so big, my lungs began to burn. “What?”

  “Apparently, Lance got in way over his head when his old man stepped down and appointed him as CEO. Things have been going downhill for longer than any of us could have suspected, but it seems he’s finally hit rock bottom. What he didn’t gamble away on one of his countless trips to Vegas, he lost on some shitty investments that no one with even limited knowledge of the stock market would’ve ever put money in. There’s nothing left. Every Maryweather department store will be closed down by the new year.”

  “Holy shit.” I blinked wide, bewildered eyes at my brother. “You’re kidding.”

  “Not even a little.”

  Cannon’s arm clenched, pulling my attention to him, and when I looked up, I saw his jaw was hard as stone. “Figure this is just statin’ the obvious, but he isn’t here ’cause he wants her back, is he? He’s here ’cause he wants her money.”

  Jase gave him a sullen nod. “Hit the nail right on the head, my man.”

  I looked to my brother, trying to piece together everything I’d just heard. “But . . . that doesn’t make any sense. Mom and Dad disinherited me.”

  The air in the room suddenly shifted. Everything went weird, and when I turned back to Cannon, I saw that hard expression had shifted into a full-blown rage. “Those motherfuckers disinherited you?”

  I nodded on a thic
k swallow, trying to give some relief to my parched throat. “It was just a threat when I broke off my engagement with Lance, but when I told them I was moving, they actually went through with it.”

  “But I thought you said you still had money.”

  “She has a trust that was set up by our grandfather.” Jase answered. “Our parents couldn’t touch it, and believe me, they tried. They got pissed, viewing what she did as an act of defiance. They reached out to their lawyers to see if there was anything they could do to revoke her access to that trust.”

  My head whipped around so fast, my hair went flying. “I-I didn’t know that,” I whispered. That knowledge was another cut added to the millions of others my parents had inflicted on my heart. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  Jase’s eyes held a sadness that squeezed at my chest. “I didn’t want to cause you any more pain, sweetheart. I knew nothing would come of it, and all it did was prove they’re as big of assholes as we already suspected. Don’t let them have that kind of power, Farah. I know it’s hard, but don’t hold onto this. Let it go.”

  It was a struggle, but I managed to push the pain of their latest betrayal to the back of my mind.

  Sensing I’d gotten a lock on my rioting emotions, Jase continued, “What’s in that trust is more than enough to keep his company afloat, and I’m willing to bet he’s desperate enough to come here in the hopes of winning Farah back, and in doing so, possibly getting his hands on that money.”

  “Well, then he wasted what little money he has left on a plane ticket, because that’s not going to happen,” I bit back firmly.

  “Goddamn right, it’s not,” Cannon snarled. Dropping his arm from around me, he moved over to the bedside table and grabbed his phone.

  “Who are you calling?” I asked as he tapped at the screen.

  “Buddy of mine’s a deputy with the sheriff’s department. I’m puttin’ in a call and having that asshole kicked outta my goddamn state.”

  He put the phone to his ear and moved to the door, stepping outside to make the call to his buddy. I looked back to my brother and Bennett to see Jase had a shit-eating grin stretched across his face.

  “Don’t know if I made this clear already, girl,” Bennett said, breaking the silence that had enveloped the room, “but in case I didn’t, just wanted to let you know, I approve.”

  “Same goes for me,” Jase said on a chuckle.

  Well, there you had it. My family approved of Cannon.

  And just like that, the shadow that had been cast over my morning was pushed away, and the sun came shining through.

  * * *

  Cannon

  I stood with my arms crossed, my shoulders leaning against the side of my truck as I watched the scene unfold in front of me.

  Two sheriff deputies were currently escorting Lance Maryweather out of the posh hotel where he’d been staying. His face was stained an uncomfortable shade of red under the scrutinizing attention of everyone standing around.

  “This is fucking brilliant,” Jase muttered on a chuckle, lifting his phone and snapping pictures of the blustering prick as the deputies led him to his car.

  I kept my eyes on the asshole, but I did it smiling at Jase. And that smile only grew bigger when Maryweather turned and spotted us watching from a few yards away. Lifting my hand, I gave him a salute as he was being stuffed into the driver seat of his expensive-as-hell Audi.

  Holton broke away from the trio and headed in our direction, a smirk pulling at his mouth as he came to a stop a few feet away. “See you enjoyed the show.”

  “Sure as fuck did. Appreciate you helpin’ out.” I grabbed his extended hand and pulled him in, giving him a quick slap on the back.

  “Don’t mention it.”

  “Want you to meet a couple people,” I said, tilting my chin at the two men standing with me. “This is Farah’s brother, Jase, and her father, Bennett.” I felt Bennett stiffen beside me as I finished the introductions. “Guys, this is Holton Clarke.”

  He gave each of them a handshake. “Just call me Holt, everyone else does. Good to meet you.”

  “Likewise,” Jase returned.

  “Thanks for all of this,” Bennett said.

  “Not a problem. Deputy Miller will follow him to the airport and make sure he checks in for his flight,” he told Jase and Bennett before looking back at me. “If your girl has any more issues, just bring her down to the station, and we’ll set her up with a temporary restrainin’ order.”

  “You got it.”

  Holt headed back toward his cruiser, and Bennett stood tall, starting around the side of the truck toward the passenger door. “Guess we better get a move on. I’m sure you have to get to work, and Farah’ll have our hides if we aren’t back in time for lunch.”

  Jase followed suit, climbing in after the old man as I pulled open my door and hopped behind the wheel to hightail it back to Redemption. “I guess we should count ourselves lucky she isn’t cooking for us.”

  A huge smile stretched across my face as I turned the key and brought the engine to life.

  So my woman couldn’t cook, I could live with that. After all, she was pretty much perfect in every other way.

  Chapter 24

  Farah

  Cannon had taken off with my brother and Bennett in tow more than an hour ago, and even though I told myself there was nothing to worry about, I couldn’t help but fret. I hated the idea of them being anywhere near Lance, even if it was just for a short time.

  “You keep that up, you’re gonna bite your lip right off.”

  At Poppy’s voice, I came out of the unpleasant thoughts and I quickly released my bottom lip from between my teeth, noticing it felt a bit raw. Letting out a sigh, I released the curtain and moved away from window that overlooked the parking lot.

  To get my mind off what the men in my life were up to this morning, I’d offered to help my friend with her morning chores for the inn, but I’d been too distracted to be of any assistance.

  “Sorry. I said I’d help and all I’m doing is getting in the way.”

  “You aren’t in the way,” she insisted, crouching down to tuck the sheet in at the foot of my bed. “I’m used to doing this by myself, but it’s nice to have some company.”

  “It’s just, shouldn’t they be back by now?” I asked as I grabbed the comforter and flicked it out over the mattress. “I mean, they’ve been gone a while.”

  She caught the other side, and we moved in tandem to straighten it out. “Nashville’s thirty minutes away, sweetie. I’m sure they’ll be back before you know it.”

  “I know,” I said on an exhale. “I just worry.”

  “You don’t have anything to worry about. Besides, I’m sure your brother’s more than capable of handling himself.” I looked across the mattress and noticed a flush had spread along Poppy’s cheekbones, staining them an attractive pink.

  At the dreamy look on my friend’s face, a devilish smirk stretched across mine. “That’s right. You met him and Bennett when they checked in last night.”

  She looked anywhere but at me while she worked meticulously to get the pillows in perfect order on the bed. “Uh, yeah. I mean, just for a moment.”

  “And? What did you think?”

  “What did I think about what?” she asked, still refusing to make eye contact as she beat on one of the decorative pillows.

  “About Jase.”

  Her throat bobbed on a swallow, and that pink on her cheeks grew darker. “He seems . . . nice.”

  Oh, this was just too good. “He is nice,” I said on a giggle. “Very nice. And single.” That finally got her attention, and when she looked up at me, her blue eyes were wide, and I couldn’t help but needle her a bit more. “You know, now that I think about it, you two would look super cute together.”

  “It’s not . . . that isn’t . . . I don’t . . .” she sputtered nervously.

  “Oh my god!” I cried, snatching the toss pillow from her hands before she busted the stuffing out of
it. “You totally have the hots for my brother!”

  “Do not!” She objected far too quickly, making it obvious she was lying. “I mean, yeah, sure, he’s attractive. But it isn’t . . .” She let out a snort and made a face. “That’s ridiculous.”

  I rolled my lips between my teeth to keep from laughing. “I bet he thinks you’re really cute too.”

  She was taken off guard, making it impossible to hide the hopefulness in her voice. “You think?”

  “Absolutely! You’re gorgeous and sweet and funny, and Jase has always had good taste. He’d see all of that right away.”

  Poppy shook her head like she was trying to dispel the thought of her and my brother together from her mind. “Whatever. I don’t even care. I’m not . . . that is, he lives in Connecticut, so it’s not like anything . . .” She jerked the pillow back from me and laid it in place with all the others against the headboard while blowing out a loud raspberry. “Can we just stop talking about this? I do not have a crush on your brother. And stop looking at me like that!”

  I tried and failed to temper my smile as I mumbled. “Okay. Whatever you say.”

  I let the subject drop, and worked alongside Poppy in silence, intentionally going as slow as possible in the hopes of keeping her in my room until my brother showed back up. We were nearly done when, fortunately, the door opened and Jase came sauntering through with Bennett right behind him.

  “Hey,” I greeted. “How did it go?”

  “Good as could be expected,” Bennett replied, dropping onto the small sofa that was pushed beneath the front window. Crash took full advantage and hopped up beside him for some pets.

  Jase moved over to me and planted a kiss on my cheek. “Maryweather’s on his way back to Connecticut as we speak, so I’d say it was a successful trip.” I noticed his gaze shift across the room just before a pleased expression slid across his face. “Hey. Poppy, right?”