by Debra Kayn
“You mean, I’m unconventional.” She stared out over the lawn. “I’m trying to grow up into what people expect. It seems like one week I’m making headway, and the next I do something that sets me back.”
“Whoa … who says being yourself is wrong?” John leaned back and tilted her face up to look into her eyes. “You shouldn’t worry about what other people think. Besides, I like you.”
“Gee, thanks.” She laughed and slipped out of his arms.
“No, Shauna. I mean it.” He grabbed her hand and kept her near. “You’re charismatic and free thinking. That’s appealing.”
“Yeah?” She thought it over. “I guess.”
“How about I buy you a drink in the lounge before we call it a night?”
“Deal.” She picked up their used clubs and put them back in the rack.
He took her arm and guided her along the path, back to the main building. Low-lying lights lit the way, and she tilted her head back and took in all the stars spackling the black sky. She stifled a yawn. Everything about tonight was perfect and yet, she felt like there should be something more. Nights were made for lovers, and John was more than attentive. She should be satisfied.
Inside the lounge, couples moved to the soft music of a live band. John led her to the bar, and ordered two glasses of wine. She shifted on her seat to look out at the dancers, her foot swinging to the music.
“Would you like to dance?” John asked.
She patted his leg. “No, that’s okay. I’m kind of tired. I think the excitement of today has caught up with me.”
John nodded. “It’s almost midnight. You’re going to have a hard time getting up for work in the morning.”
“I’ll live. I enjoyed myself tonight. It’s worth a few hours of lost sleep.”
Halfway through her wine, she yawned again. Setting the glass down, she leaned toward John. “I’m afraid the wine was a bad idea — it’s relaxed me too much. I’m not trying to be rude.”
“Of course not. Let’s call it a night and I’ll take you home.”
In no time, they were in the car and on the way to Shauna’s house. She reached over and held his hand. They rode in comfortable silence. Before she knew it, John had pulled up to the house, walked her to the door, and embraced her. She reached up and kissed his lips gently.
“Thank you for tonight. I had a wonderful time.” She smoothed the front of his shirt. “If there’s a next time, watch out. I’m going to conquer golf and surprise you.”
He ran his fingers through her hair and kissed her forehead. “You did great and there definitely will be a next time. I’ll call you soon, okay?”
“I’d love that.” She nodded. “Good night.”
“Night, Shauna.” He stepped away and jogged back to his car.
With a deep sigh, she went into the house. Making sure not to make any noise, she took off her heels and tiptoed down the hall. At her bedroom, the door across the hall opened. She stopped.
“Dad?”
“Did you have a nice time?” Tony Marino rubbed the top of his balding head.
She crossed the area and kissed her dad’s cheek. “Yes, I did. John’s a nice man.”
“He is.” Tony frowned. “You okay?”
“I’m fine, just tired.” She walked back to her room and paused at the door. “Good night, dad. I love you.”
“Love you too, buddy.” Tony disappeared back inside the master bedroom.
After taking off her makeup and slipping into an old T-shirt, Shauna climbed into bed. She closed her eyes. She really liked John, but she couldn’t muster up any excitement about any future dates. She heaved a sigh. I’m tired, that’s all.
She smiled into her pillow. Her dad was the best. How many fathers waited up for their twenty-four-year-old daughter after a date? He was the one thing keeping her from going out and purchasing her own home. Who was going to look out for him and make sure he ate and got enough rest?
Sure, he’d survived with her gone before, but he wasn’t getting any younger. She flipped over onto her side and pulled the blanket up over her shoulder. He’d never dated or showed any interest in getting married again after her mom left. Belinda Marino had ruined her dad’s life, and Shauna would never forgive her.
Chapter Eleven
“I’ve rounded up five people, besides myself, who’ve committed to coming to Cottage Grove during the twenty-seventh through the thirtieth of September.” Grayson handed a sheet of paper over the desk to Shauna. “Two of them wanted reservations at the hotel here in town, and I’ve already reserved the top floor for them in my name so no one questions their arrival before you make the big announcement. It’s not uncommon for me to host out of town guests at the hotel, so we’re safe there. I just hope that’s enough rooms for their entourage. Gary, Dominic, and Bruce will be more comfortable staying at my house.”
“Great.” She passed over several envelopes. “Since you’re in contact with your friends, you can pass along the updated schedules and what will be asked of them down to the smallest details.”
“Fine. What’s next?” Grayson asked.
“I go public.” She wrinkled her nose and placed her hand on her stomach. “It’s make it or break it time with the business owners and the city council. I know they’re going to throw all the problems this will cause within the community out in the open, but I’m prepared.”
“What happens if they turn you down?”
She grinned. “I won’t let them.”
“Then why are you nervous?”
“Honestly?” She leaned her elbows on the desk and cradled her head. “I feel like I’m still proving myself on the job. Everyone still views me as Tony Marino’s wild child. This is important to me, and I want to show everyone how I’ve grown up and I’m no longer the irresponsible kid who ran unsupervised in the neighborhood because her dad was too busy keeping a roof over her head.”
“I think you put too much emphasis on your childhood.” Grayson tapped the folder against his knee. “Your dad did his best.”
“I know that, but … ” She shook her head.
“But what?”
“Haven’t you ever noticed how no one ever outruns their past in Cottage Grove? I imagine William Turner, the oldest living resident, is reminded daily of the time he hid the mascot at Cottage Grove High when he was sixteen. The man’s almost a hundred years old, and people don’t let him forget.” She glanced out the window. “According to everyone, I’m still the poor girl who made a fool out of herself over a guy after her mother ran away.”
The silence in the room had her wishing she could take her confession back. She rolled backward in her chair and prepared to stand when Grayson cleared his throat, stopping her.
“I don’t hold that against you.”
She laughed bitterly. “Oh, yes you do. How many times have you thrown my actions in my face since I’ve been back?”
He nodded in agreement. “I shouldn’t have done that, and I apologize.”
“Well … ” She hid the fact she wanted to throw her arms around him in thanks. “I appreciate that, and I am sorry. If I could turn back time, I would’ve done things differently.”
“No.” His eyes softened. “To do so would’ve changed the woman you turned out to be.”
Simple words that shouldn’t have meant anything to her. But there they were, out in the open. Her breath caught and she was glad she was sitting down. It was the first sign that she was doing the right thing by coming back to Cottage Grove and putting herself back in Grayson’s life.
“I — ”
The intercom buzzed. “Ms. Marino?”
She held up a finger, wanting Grayson to wait while she answered the call. “Yes, Ella?”
“Everyone is gathered in the conference room, and ready for you.”
“Thank you. I’ll be right there.” She looked to Grayson and raised her brows. “Well, this is it. Wish me luck.”
He stood up as she stepped around the desk. “You won’t nee
d luck. They’ll be falling over themselves wanting to help.”
“I hope so.” She swiftly inhaled. “I’m afraid they’ll say no and I’ll never find out if I can pull this off.”
“Don’t be. Think of them all naked, listening to every word you say.” He gave her his lopsided grin.
She dropped her gaze to the front of his shorts, and squeezed her eyes shut when she realized what she’d done. He chuckled, and hooked his finger under her chin, raising her face. A shimmer coursed through her spine and she met his gaze.
“Good luck,” he whispered, right before he kissed her.
He took her lips with a gentleness that surprised her, savoring, tasting, and enjoying her. Her mouth opened and jubilation swept her away. The shock value alone had her forgetting the task ahead of her, waiting in the other room. The fear of failure disappeared for that brief moment.
She let herself melt under his caress, an intimate tango between his full lips and hers. The kiss went on through her sigh and his groan. She slipped her hand under the hem of his shirt, her fingers sprawling against his skin, so hard and hot.
From out of nowhere an annoying sound persisted. A sound she knew well. Damn, damn, damn. She cleared her throat. “I’m coming, Ella. You can shut off the intercom.”
She pulled away and rested her forehead against his chest. “I have to go.”
“Mmm.” He cupped her face and tilted her chin, placing one more kiss upon her lips. “Go blow them away.”
She straightened her dress and smoothed her hair. She laughed, the sound more hysterical than a womanly giggle. She blew out her breath, shaking her arms and loosening the tension. I’ll show them all I can do this.
She looked at Grayson and groaned. God, he was the best kisser.
How was she supposed to walk into the room and pretend to know what she was doing when Grayson wiped every single intelligent thought from her head? She patted her cheeks, brushed her hair behind her shoulders and stepped forward, doing her best not to look at him. She’d conquer the meeting because more than ever, she needed to prove herself.
Shauna walked down the hall with a purpose in her step, flung open the door, and smiled. “Thank you all for coming. I know this meeting was on short notice, but what I have to say will hopefully make up for the inconvenience.”
She glanced from one city council member to the next, around the board table, staring back at her and expecting a miracle. Not wasting a second, she stood at the head of the table and passed a bundle of folders to Mr. Stephenson on her right.
“As you know, hard economic times have hit every person in Cottage Grove. From the outlet stores and independent bookstores, to Les’s Tire Shop and Peggy Lee’s Preschool. The young are growing up and instead of settling down in Cottage Grove, they’re reaching out to the neighboring communities for employment. We need to create jobs and opportunities at home, before we can solve the money problems.” She paused and swallowed. “To do that, we need our local companies to grow and demand in supplies to steadily climb, and we need to find a way to bring money to Cottage Grove.”
“That’s all common knowledge, Shauna, but times have changed. We can no more keep the young adults from moving away than we can make Cottage Grove more appealing without the funds to support a huge project.” Dan Winters tossed his pen on the table and crossed his arms.
Mrs. Bakkersten clasped her hands on the table. “Dear, you’ve been away for a while, and we’ve tried everything we could think of to turn things around. Nothing has worked, and we’ve only dug ourselves into a deeper debt.”
Shauna smiled, when what she really wanted to do was slink out of the room and forget about her whole plan. She motioned toward the folders, and then sat down.
“The documents I’ve handed you contain my proposal. I think all of your suggestions have been honorable and have pushed things into the right direction to bring life back into Cottage Grove, but we need something … big. Something that’ll not only keep the younger generation around by creating more jobs, but that will supplement our revenue by boosting tourism.” She removed a sheet of paper and held it up. “Please take a look at page three.”
“What’s this?” Dan frowned.
“This is a list of celebrities, well known around the world, who have volunteered to come to Cottage Grove. They’ve also agreed to host charity events for the locals and bring in added entertainment.” She pulled out another list. “Page four consists of the activities that will be offered.”
“Hold on now, missy.” Mrs. Bakkersten shook her head. “Do you realize what will happen bringing in so many celebrities? Where will they stay? We don’t even have enough law enforcement officers to handle extra traffic, not to mention public safety. I don’t know how you can promise to have these people come when there’s no money to offer them for their work.”
“I understand your concerns.” Shauna nodded. “Each celebrity will arrive with a full team of personnel, plus I’ve received a bid from a security firm to direct traffic and oversee the school and the field north of town, where the majority of events will be held. The only ones who will require a different location are Grayson Schyler, who has already agreed to account for the tennis center, and Bruce Coldwell, who will require the use of the lake for four hours. I’ve already talked to the county, and they’ve agreed to accommodate up to five hundred people without any added fees. If more show up, Bruce has agreed to stay an extra day so the crowd and safety won’t be a concern.”
“Humph.” Mr. Stephenson pursed his lips. “What about the hotels, campgrounds, and local stores? Will they be able to keep up with the throng of people bound to come to town? What about media coverage?”
On and on, the committee asked questions, arguing their point, and each time she answered them with a growing confidence. The tension across the back of her shoulders eased, and she sat back and crossed her legs. By the time Ella came in and announced she was going home, each person had shaken Shauna’s hand and congratulated her on a job well done.
They left the building with a new sense of spirit and hope for Cottage Grove. Shauna waited five minutes after the last car pulled out of the parking lot, and locked the door. Weeks of worry and stress had her wound up, and she was exhilarated. Too wired to go home, she headed out of town to Grayson’s house to share the news.
Chapter Twelve
The interior beyond the locked glass doors at the tennis center lay dark. Without wondering what to do, Shauna walked around the building to the paved lane that led to Grayson’s house.
Lights lined the asphalt driveway, guiding her toward the front door of the two-story colonial brick house as if they were personally urging her forward. She stepped up on the porch and rang the doorbell. A melodic chime sounded off inside.
A few seconds later, Grayson answered the door, a phone held to his ear, and motioned for her to enter. She crossed the threshold and followed him deeper into the house. That’s when the magnitude of what she’d done hit her smack in the chest and left her unsure of what to do next.
She’d invaded Grayson’s private domain. In all the time she’d known him, she’d never met him on his own turf. She’d respected his privacy.
“Call me tomorrow, and I’ll give you my final answer.” Grayson stared at her, but talked on his phone. “Okay. Talk to you then. Bye.”
She bit the inside of her cheek, waiting for him to yell at her for trespassing.
“How did the meeting go?” He set the phone on the end table and motioned for her to sit down.
“Great.” She remained standing. “You know, this wasn’t such a brilliant idea. I didn’t think my idea of coming here to see you all the way through. I’ll go, and leave you alone. Maybe, you can call me tomorrow … at work, if you have time.”
“Wait.” He frowned. “You were all excited when I opened the door and now you look upset. What happened?”
“Nothing. I’m happy. I wanted to share with you that the committee’s given me their wholehearted approval o
n the planned benefit. That’s all. I also wanted to thank you. I think it helped, mentioning that you were helping me.” She gazed around the room. “I’m sorry. I shouldn’t have come here and interrupted you.”
The one lamp in the room lit the area enough to see she was out of her element. This wasn’t the average house with the mismatched couches and a stack of newspapers beside the recliner.
All leather furniture dotted the room, accented by red throw pillows. The floor to ceiling rock fireplace displayed two golden tennis rackets on the mantel. She squeezed the cushion of a nearby chair and sighed. Soft and plush, the leather pliable under her fingers screamed money.
“Shauna?”
“Yes?” She jerked her hands away and clasped them in front of her.
“Don’t you think that good news calls for a celebration?” He cocked his eyebrow. “I was getting ready to open a bottle of wine. How about staying and having a glass with me?”
Buck up. This is my dream. I’m standing in the middle of Grayson’s house, and he’s inviting me to stay. “Are you reneging on your advice you gave me about not drinking? You know how I get.” She lifted her shoulder and grinned. “What was it you said … I go crazy when I drink?”
“I think I can handle you.” He laughed. “Besides, you deserve something nice after all the hard work you’ve put into the project. I don’t think Cottage Grove has any idea the magnitude your idea is going to help them.”
“Okay. Sure, why not. Maybe one glass.” She stepped over and sat on the edge of the chair before her legs gave out. “I hope you’re right. I really do want to help bring back the jobs that were lost around here. Dad’s told me about some of the heartbreak, and the amount of foreclosures that’ve happened since the plant closed.”
“It’s true.” He held up his hand. “Hold on. I’ll go get the wine.”
She barely had time to catch her breath, and he was back, handing her a full wine glass. In her hurry to calm her nerves, she almost sloshed the wine over the rim but got it to her mouth in time to save her from making a mess.
