by Zoe York
“Laney.” In contrast, his voice was rich and deep, loaded with confidence. But there was hope too, they shared that, and hearing all of that in just her name, the tears started. “Oh sweetheart, if you cry, you’re not going to hear the good part.”
“It’s all pretty good,” she whispered, stepping closer to take his outstretched hand.
“Delaney Calhoun, I’ve loved you since the seventh grade. I’m an idiot, so I didn’t realize it until I was twenty-two, and then I let you go, a bonehead move that I will always regret. You went on an amazing journey, and I’m sorry that I wasn’t there to support you. You didn’t need it, of course, but damn…I wish I hadn’t missed it. I don’t want to miss anything else. I want to be your rock. Your forever. You’re already mine. So I’m here now, on bended knee, asking you to be my wife.”
She was nodding before the ring magically appeared in his other hand, and he grinned as big fat tears fell on the sparkling solitaire.
“Will you marry me, Laney?”
The nodding and crying continued as she sank to her knees and he wrapped himself around her. “Is that a yes?”
“Yes! Oh my god, yes.” She kissed him hard on the mouth, then pulled back and bit her lip. “The backpack label will have to change.”
He sat back on his knees and she climbed on top of him again. Dinner was going to have to wait a bit longer.
Epilogue
Cars lined the road between Evening Lane Farm and the school house, and probably stretched just as far again on the other side.
“How many people do you think are over there?” Laney peeked out the window, looking toward her mother’s house.
Kyle came up behind her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “Too many. Let’s stay here and get naked instead.”
“It’s our engagement party. Our absence would probably be noticed.”
“It’ll go all night. We’ve got some time.” He nuzzled her neck and she turned in the circle of his arms. “We’re packing, it’s a decent excuse.”
Most of his clothes were already in Chicago. The furniture was all staying. They were keeping the school house so they’d have a private place to stay when visiting. “No one will believe it. You don’t have that much stuff.”
Claire and Eleanor had wanted to throw a huge party right after they got engaged, but since Kyle and Laney only had two weekends together each month, their mothers agreed to wait until the summer. Evening Lane was the obvious location. The boat was moved out of the barn to make room for a potluck lunch, and it seemed like everyone in the county had been invited.
They decided to walk over, as the closest parking spot was their own driveway, and a shiny black sports car had just blocked in Kyle’s pickup truck anyway.
“You made it, you bastard! I thought you were in France.” Kyle stepped forward and clapped Ty on the shoulder as they shook hands.
“Wouldn’t miss your engagement party, man. This is a big deal.” Their driveway interloper turned and flashed a brilliant smile in her direction. “Laney Calhoun, it’s been a long time. Congratulations.”
She returned the smile. “Thank you. I hear business is booming. Nice ride.”
He clapped his hands together and hooted. “Ain’t she, though? Just picked her up yesterday. A little bonus for selling out our subscription this year.”
The men talked shop on the walk up the road, and Laney listened with one ear. But the rest of her attention drifted to her surroundings, this place of big skies, dusty roads, fields filled with tall stalks of corn and endless rows of soybeans. There were probably two hundred people ahead at the farm, and she could hear them, but she could also hear the scuff of her boot against gravel, the hearty laughs of her fiancée and then right in front of her, a white butterfly fluttered by and she would swear she heard its wings.
Wardham would always be the home in her heart. But her heart had found a home in the man ahead of her, and with the dog loping along at his feet. As if he knew she was thinking about him, Buddy turned as if to tell her to hurry up, and she laughed quietly to herself. Her life before had been good. Nice. Pleasant. But now…it was so much better. It was real and sweet and complicated and precious.
Kyle entwined his fingers into hers as they arrived at the farm. Ted climbed on top of the picnic table and clinked his beer bottle with his keys. Everyone else joined in, making noise with whatever they had in their hands, and Kyle swept Laney into a kiss that would normally make church ladies blush, but today was greeted with cheers. He raised his hand, and the crowd quieted.
“Thank you all, so much. It means a lot to Laney and me that everyone is so happy about our engagement.”
“When’s the wedding?” someone catcalled from the back of the crowd.
Kyle laughed and shook his head. “I’m trying to convince my bride to run away with me to Jamaica for that. If our mothers have anything to say about it, I’m sure it will be right here, next summer.”
A few people murmured about hurrying up, and Laney stiffened. She didn’t want to get into twenty questions about when they were going to have children. Kyle stroked her back and smiled. “There’s no hurry, folks. I’m really enjoying being engaged to this beautiful woman, finally—” cheers sounded loudly to that pronouncement “—and when we exchange vows, it’ll be when it’s right for us.”
Claire was the first to hug the bride-to-be, which started a chain reaction that suspiciously resembled a receiving line. An hour later, Laney had talked to almost everyone there. A few people tucked envelopes of money into her pocket, which she found quite touching, and no one asked the baby question.
She made her way to the barn, her stomach growling. She’d seen people walking around with plates of Mrs. Frid’s secret meatballs, and she hoped there were some left. Ted was there, along with a handsome young man.
“Laney, have you met Liam yet?” She’d just forked a meatball into her mouth, so she shook her head. “My sister’s boy. He’s come to stay with me for the summer. He’s looking to buy property here.”
Liam shook his head and laughed. “Uncle Ted, you gotta stop introducing me as a boy.”
She chuckled and accepted his outstretched hand. “Nice to meet you.”
“Congratulations. I’ve heard a lot about you, and your family.”
“Thanks. Have you met my mom and my sister yet? They’re both around...” Laney swiveled her head in vain. “They’re somewhere. What kind of property are you looking for?”
“I’m not sure. I’ll know when I see it. Maybe a duplex, something I could fix up and rent out.”
She felt Kyle approach before he spoke. “Hey, you must be Ted’s nephew.”
“Word travels fast, eh?” Liam nodded.
“Mrs. Wilson told me that the young newcomer was hitting on my woman.”
Laney smacked Kyle lightly on the stomach. “I told you not to call me that in public.”
He growled in her ear, and she grinned at the other two men. “Excuse me, gentlemen, I need to have a word with my fiancée.” She laid a quick kiss on Kyle’s jaw. “But first, I need to eat something.”
They loaded up plates of food and settled on straw bales just outside the barn.
“This is overwhelming,” Laney said, taking in the celebration. “There’s a lot of love in this town.”
“There’s a lot of love on this straw bale too,” Kyle murmured.
“I’m being serious.” He shot her a look that said, So am I. She didn’t doubt it for a second. He’d proven his love for her many times over the last few months, even though he didn’t need to. “Aren’t you going to miss this place, though?”
He took a long, slow drink of beer. She appreciated that he didn’t blow off the question. It’s not like Chicago had ever been his dream. He was leaving almost all of his life goals behind when they headed out tomorrow.
“If we never came back again, then I’d miss it. If this was the last Wardham potluck for me, I’d be sad. But we’ll be back for holidays and the odd vacation.�
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“Not every vacation?”
He shook his head. “No. I’m being serious now too, Laney. Our next vacation isn’t going to be shared with our family, or spent driving between Chicago and Wardham. You want to know what I’m excited about?” Her breath caught in her throat. She did, she really did. He took another sip of beer and gave her a smoldering look. “You. A string bikini. A private beach.”
She bit her lip. “That sounds perfect.”
“I’m telling you, sweetheart...Jamaica. Or Hawaii. I’m not picky. We don’t need to tell them.” He nodded toward their mothers. “Let them plan a big party. Let’s just go away and get married, just the two of us.”
He slid his lips across hers and she nodded. His plans were always the best.
Letter To My Readers
Dear Reader,
I hope you enjoyed Laney and Kyle’s story. If you did, please share this book with a friend, and share a review with the world – on Goodreads, at the e-store you bought this copy…everywhere! If you sign up for my mailing list, you’ll be the first to receive an opportunity to read my next book, in advance of publication. Visit www.zoeyork.com and sign up today!
Lots of readers have asked me whose story is next. Many have guessed that Evie and Liam are going to get together, and they aren’t wrog…but that’s in Book No. 3. Up next is Karen Miller, who runs the Wardham Grocery for her parents, while they gallivant across North America watching her brother play hockey. Karen’s the heart of Wardham, and in her book, we’re going to see a lot more of the town and the people who live there. We’ll also meet Paul Reynolds, a new police officer at the Wardham detachment. Intense and private, Paul has recently moved to Wardham for a more family friendly job, leaving behind a career as a homicide detective in the city. He only has his ten year old daughter a few nights a week, and he doesn't want any distractions or drama while he tries to repair their relationship. Where Their Hearts Collide will be released in Fall 2013. I can’t wait to share it with you!
Happy reading,
Zoe
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
aka The People Who Rock My World
There’s a long list of people I need to thank.
My husband, who didn’t even blink when I said I wanted to write a romance novel. Or when I wasn’t even finished this one and I told him that it was going to be a series, and I’d plotted out the next four books. I’d say I was sorry for typing my way through all those episodes of Castle and New Girl, but we both know I’d be lying. Thank you. I love you muchly.
Rachel, who was the very first person to read Laney & Kyle’s story. I will never forget the thrill of reading your email.
Lori, who cried in McDonald’s when she finished the inserted chapter. You were my first fan, and that means the world to me.
Andreana, who asked if she could add the book on Goodreads. Yes, now you can! And holy crap, isn’t that cool?
Natalie, who has heard more random plot meanderings than anyone else, and has always been up for those conversations, even when they didn’t really go anywhere.
My mother-in-law, because she caught a bunch of typos, and sorted me out on the teaching details. Any mistakes that remain are my fault, not hers. In the same breath, I need to thank my father-in-law, for picking up my kids from school, making me dinner, and listening to me yammer on about anything and everything.
My sister, who has talked about the business of publishing with me more than anyone else. Thank you for your patience!
Hannah, another early confidant, who took yet another career turn idea totally in stride. You are a steadfast friend.
Nadia, Shandy and April, who all took a turn at beta reading. Thank you for your feedback, it helped make this book better.
Cora and Molly. I wasn’t sure about the idea of critique partners until I found you. Now I get it. Thank you for pointing out where I said the same thing in triplicate, misused big words, skipped little words, and made up my own rules for punctuation. Thank you for reading my long ass emails about the series arc, business plans, and the occasional crisis of confidence.
People on the internet! More awesome folks than I ever expected.
Twitter friends, especially those who did #1k1hr challenges with me across January and February, and anyone who talks about being a feminist romance writer.
The amazing members of the kboards, Absolute Write and Romance Diva forums, who are an astounding wealth of publishing knowledge, but most of all, are passionate cheerleaders for the art of writing.
The women of TB, without whom I wouldn’t have thought to search for an online writing forum in the first place.
And finally, my readers. Everyone who has bought this book, joined my mailing list, written a review, tweeted or blogged or posted on Facebook…I can’t thank you enough for your support. I love to hear from you!
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Zoe York lives in London, Ontario with her young family. She has an English degree and works at a university, so it was probably a foregone conclusion that she’d write a romance novel one day. What Once Was Perfect is her debut novel.
www.zoeyork.com
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DEDICATION
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four
Chapter Five
Chapter Six
Chapter Seven
Chapter Eight
Chapter Nine
Chapter Ten
Chapter Eleven
Chapter Twelve
Chapter Thirteen
Chapter Fourteen
Chapter Fifteen
Chapter Sixteen
Chapter Seventeen
Chapter Eighteen
Epilogue
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
TABLE OF CONTENTS
COPYRIGHT
COPYRIGHT
Copyright © 2013 Zoe York
All rights reserved.
ISBN-13: 978-0991973620 (RRKY)
ISBN-10: 0991973623
