Smitten Book Club

by Colleen Coble

  “I trusted him, and finding out he’d hidden things from me kind of made me suspicious. I carried those feelings over to you because Curtis had said some things about you over the years . . .”

  “Like . . . ?” Gage could imagine. But he’d rather know the truth.

  She winced, then shook her head. “It doesn’t matter. It’s no excuse. I’d spent enough time with you to know better.” She gave a wry smile. “And I should know by now I can’t trust everything Curtis said.”

  He regarded her, his ire having cooled at her explanation. It didn’t excuse her behavior, but it made sense now. “We were rivals in high school, he probably told you.”

  “He said you took his spot on the football team.” She shrugged. “Stole his girlfriend.”

  He gave a harsh laugh. “We competed for the same spot on the football team. I earned that position. And the girl . . . she was never interested in him. They’d been friends, only he wanted more. This was all so long ago.”

  She bit her lip. “Did you put up roadblocks when we were trying to open our store?”

  “What? No.” What had the man told her? His ire was building again. He stuffed it down. He wasn’t going to denigrate her dead husband.

  “And you never stole our customers either, I’m guessing.”

  He unclenched his jaw. “That’s not who I am, Molly. I play fair. There’s room in this town for both of us.”

  Something flashed in her eyes before she looked away. He wondered what that look was about.

  She crossed her arms over her chest as if needing a shield. But she met his eyes. “I believe you. And I’m sorry I said all those things. Sorry I believed the worst about you. Clearly I have some . . . issues to work out.” Her eyes dropped to the floor. “But that’s not your problem. I’ll get out of your way.” She turned and grabbed the handle. “Thanks for hearing me out, Gage.”

  The door opened, and she slipped through it, shutting it behind her. The bell tinkled good-bye for him.

  His heart hammered in his chest, fast and hard. The store felt quieter, emptier, lonelier than it ever had. Molly filled his world with fun. Laughter. She filled his heart with love. Was he going to let her walk away because she’d made a mistake? Because she’d believed her late husband? Because the man she’d trusted had betrayed that trust? Yeah, she had issues. But didn’t they all?

  He reached for the door.

  Molly blinked against the sting of tears as she left the store. Well, what were you hoping for, Molly? A proposal? At least he hadn’t looked at her with those cold, hard eyes. Well, at least not by the time she’d left.

  Still, she was unsettled. Apologizing had been the right thing to do, but she’d thought it would bring her peace. Why did she only feel hollow inside?

  She thought of the gold ore, now sitting securely in a safe. She’d thought money would solve all her problems, but it didn’t, did it? The most important things in life were priceless. Love couldn’t be bought or sold.

  But it could be lost. She swallowed hard against the knot in her throat as she reached for her car door.

  “What if I want to?”

  Molly spun at the sound of his voice, her sandals grinding pebbles into the pavement. He stopped at the curb, his skin golden in the twilight. A breeze ruffled his hair, mussing it. She got lost in thoughts of straightening it with her fingers.

  “What?” she asked when she got her brain back.

  He stepped off the curb, took another step. His eyes weren’t hard now. They were as soft as warm butter. “What if I want to make it my problem?”

  Molly’s heart skittered across her chest, slammed into her ribs. Did he mean—?

  One more step closed the gap. “I’ve never met anyone like you, Molly.”

  She thought of Saturday’s tirade. No doubt.

  He tipped her chin up, and she fell headlong into his eyes. They were more than soft now. They were warm, simmering, melting her from the inside out.

  His thumb traced along her jaw, making her knees go weak. “You’re smart. You’re caring. You’re beautiful and adorable, and I’m just going to say it . . . I’ve fallen in love with you.”

  Her lungs emptied. Her eyes burned. Her throat closed up around any words she may have squeezed out.

  “You hear me, Molly? I love you. I’ve been miserable all week.”

  “Me too. I’m so sorry—”

  He put his finger over her lips. “Forgiven.”

  Her lips tingled under his fingers. His eyes repeated his words verbatim. He loved her. Despite her goofy ways. Despite her behavior. Despite her distrust.

  “We all have issues, Molly. Do you care enough about me to work through them together?”

  She nodded, found the courage to speak. “I love you too, Gage.”

  His lips curled up the tiniest bit. “I was hoping you’d say that.” And then they were on hers, moving softly, slowly. They lingered over her, savoring. Her hand found his face, cupped the scruff of his jaw. She’d missed him so much. She drew in his familiar smell, sank into his warmth, lost herself in the melding of their mouths.

  He deepened the kiss, and she surrendered to it. He made her feel alive again. Priceless. Her heart raced with pleasure, her blood flooded through her veins, her head spun with desire. Kissing him was like coming home. How could that be?

  When he pulled away a moment later, he leaned his forehead against hers. His warm breath fanned her lips, teasing. His arms curled around her, pulling her close.

  “I really need to take you on a date,” he whispered.

  Her arms wound around him, her hands coming to rest on his back. “You owe me a home-cooked meal.”

  He smiled. “I do, don’t I?” He brushed her lips once more, then leaned away, meeting her eyes, his expression growing serious. “Don’t be mad, but I took care of the invoice. I know money’s no issue now, but you shouldn’t have to pay for an expense you didn’t see coming.”

  Molly shook her head. “I’m closing the store, Gage.” She’d known it was the right thing as soon as she’d said it to the girls.

  The corners of his lips fell. His eyebrows pushed together. “What? No.”

  She fisted his shirt in her palms. “Yes. It’s what I want. The store was Curtis’s dream, not mine. I want to find my own dream.” She told him about the job at the elementary school and about her interview.

  He regarded her, and she watched the news sink in. “This is really what you want?”

  “Yes.” She’d never been so sure of anything in her life. “Once I made the decision, it was like someone lifted a boulder off my shoulders. I was so busy trying to keep the business afloat, I never even thought about what I wanted.”

  “Music makes you happy.”

  “It does.”

  “And now you have the means to pursue it. Sounds like you’ve got it all worked out.”

  She trailed a finger down his face, still in awe that he was here. Holding her. “I do now.” She couldn’t believe she had his heart. That when she’d least expected it, love had seeped back into her life and filled her with joy again.

  Gage tipped her chin up. “What’s going on behind those big brown eyes?”

  She nearly melted at the look in his eyes. She could stare into them for the next fifty years or so. But there were other nice things to look at too. Her eyes trailed down his masculine cheekbones to his scruffy jaw, to the cleft in his chin, finally fixing on his lips. Nice lips. Soft, sexy, and most capable. She was suddenly missing them.

  “I was just thinking you should kiss me again.”

  His lips lifted, his eyes smoldered, pulling her in. “Yeah?” he whispered.

  “Yeah . . .” And she felt her own lips turn up as he did just as she asked.

  EPILOGUE

  Awarm breeze drifted across the darkened lake. Overhead, stars twinkled on a black palette that would soon be filled with bursts of color. A crowd had gathered around the lake, a boisterous mix of locals and tourists. Families clustered on blanke
ts, and couples sprawled across the grassy lawn. Children milled around, sparklers flickering from their fisted hands.

  The smell of fireworks hung in the air, bringing back memories of holidays past. Occasionally a firecracker popped and a firework or two sizzled and whistled. They were illegal, but that didn’t stop people from bringing them.

  Molly spread her quilt on the grassy slope between Heather and Paul and Lia and Joey. The fireworks would begin shortly, but she had her own fireworks planned, and she could hardly wait to set them off.

  “About time you guys got here.” Abby squeezed into a camp chair with Wyatt. “We had to fight the tourists off with Roman candles.”

  “Thanks for saving our spot.” Gage pulled the quilt corners and eased down beside Molly.

  “I’m so full,” Molly said. “Those char-grilled burgers should be outlawed.” Even now the smell of them wafting over from the picnic area made her want another.

  “You only had one,” Gage said.

  “Gage had three,” Noah said as Charlie flopped down beside him.

  Gage ruffled his hair. “Shh. That was our little secret, big guy.”

  “Must be nice.” Heather flipped her blond hair over her shoulder. “I have to watch my figure like a hawk.”

  Paul drew Heather close and planted a kiss on her head. “Never mind that. I’ll do the watching.”

  Lia elbowed Joey. “Men. They can eat as much as they want. It’s so unfair.”

  Joey rubbed his flat stomach. “Hey, what did I do?”

  Gage lit a sparkler, and it danced to life in his hands.

  “I want one!” Noah reached for the stick.

  Gage questioned Molly with a look and she nodded.

  “Hold it over the grass, away from your body,” she said.

  They were spending a lot of time together lately. Gage would come for dinner or they’d go to his house. Noah loved his property. With a pond and acres of hills, it was a little boy’s wonderland.

  Gage was good with her son. Friendly, but not pushy. So authentic. And he was always good to her. Her thoughts turned to their good-night kisses, and her heart squeezed. She was falling more in love with him every day.

  Last night he’d taken them out to eat to celebrate. The principal had called and it was official: Molly was the new music teacher. She settled back on her elbows, gratitude welling up in her, overflowing. Thank you, God. You’ve blessed me more than I can say.

  A year ago she was a mess. A year ago she’d sat numbly through the fireworks, feeling as if she’d never be happy or whole again. Today she looked at the people God had put in her life and wondered how he’d returned her joy so quickly and completely.

  “Should be a good display,” Wyatt said. “Supposedly it’s the most we’ve ever spent.”

  Gage lit another sparkler and held it out beside Noah’s. “The town coffers are pretty healthy these days.”

  “So are someone else’s.” Abby gave Molly a look. “What are you going to do with all those riches, Ms. Moneybags?”

  “She’s already donated half of it,” Heather said.

  “No, I haven’t.” She’d been thrilled to turn a hefty check over to the fire department, though. And the library.

  “I was over at the firehouse yesterday,” Wyatt said. “The guys are really grateful.”

  “I could never repay them for all they’ve done.”

  “Well, we at the library appreciate your generosity, let me tell you. I can hardly wait to get the new genealogy wing up and running. We decided to name it after Pearl Chambers.”

  “She’d definitely approve,” Heather said.

  Gage met Molly’s eyes, raising his brows. He was as eager as she to share the news.

  “There’s one more project I decided to fund,” Molly said.

  Abby gathered her brown hair into a ponytail and slapped a band around it. “Girl, you better keep some of that money for yourself.”

  “This is kind of for me too. It’s for all of us.” She looked at the girls one by one, a brow tweaked, enjoying the moment.

  “What have you done?” Lia asked.

  Abby narrowed her brown eyes. “She’s definitely up to something.”

  “What is it?” Even the waning light couldn’t conceal Heather’s excitement.

  “I just wanted to thank you girls. I never would’ve found the gold without you.”

  Lia tilted her head. “Oh, honey, you don’t have to—”

  “Tell us already!” Heather was ready to pop off her blanket.

  Molly met Gage’s eyes, and they shared a smile. Then she looked at her friends. “Girls . . . we’re going to Hawaii.”

  “What?” Heather practically screamed.

  “No way,” Abby said.

  “Are you serious?”

  Molly pulled the brochures from her purse and handed them to the girls. “Seven days in paradise . . . I was thinking winter break just after Christmas.”

  “I’m so there!” Heather said.

  “Do I get to go?” Noah asked, too mesmerized by the spitting sparkler to spare a glance.

  “This is just for the girls, big guy,” Gage said. “Maybe you can come to my place. We can go ice fishing on the pond.”

  Noah watched his sparkler fizzle out. “Sweet!”

  They’d already talked it over. Gage was planning to take some time off while she was gone.

  “Charlie will be with his grandparents,” Heather said. “This is perfect!”

  “And we’ll both be off school.” Lia smiled at Molly.

  Heather grabbed Molly into a big hug. “I can’t believe we’re going to Hawaii!”

  Lia joined in. “I can’t wait!”

  “Oh, what the heck.” Abby fell onto the huddle, instigating giggles from them all.

  “Thanks, Molly!”

  “You girls are the best.”

  “We’re going to have a great time!” Heather said. “Sun, surf, and sand.”

  “I’m bringing a boatload of books,” Abby said.

  Lia pulled away. “I’m going to lie in the sun and be lazy for seven days straight.”

  “Go ahead and leave us,” Joey said, waving them away martyr-like.

  “Don’t worry about a thing,” Paul said.

  “We’ll be just fine.”

  “Oh, you big babies,” Heather said, laughing. “We’ll come back rested and happy. That will be its own reward.”

  A boom sounded and a flare shot up. A red starburst flared over the night sky.

  “It’s starting!” Charlie bounced up and down on the blanket.

  They hushed as patriotic music drifted across the lake, and another loud boom echoed through the night, a cluster of starbursts filling the sky overhead. The crowd oohed and aahed.

  Gage lay back on the quilt and patted his stomach. Molly rested her head there as Noah claimed an open spot, mimicking Gage’s position, right down to the folded arms and crossed ankles.

  Molly felt the booms reverberate through her body as she watched the sky fill with color. Beneath her, Gage’s taut stomach moved soothingly up and down with his steady breathing. He reached out and drew his fingers through her hair, and a shiver passed through her.

  As excited as she was about the trip to Hawaii with the girls, she was even more excited about her future. About her life, right here in Smitten with the people she loved. Going away was fun, especially when the destination was paradise, but she couldn’t imagine a place she’d rather come home to. Or a man she’d rather find waiting.

  She turned and found Gage looking at her, those blue eyes reflecting the colors in the sky. His lips tilted in a private smile, and she couldn’t stop one of her own. No, her treasure, the real kind, the lasting kind, was right here in Smitten.

  READING GROUP GUIDE

  1. Which heroine (Heather, Abby, Lia, or Molly) could you most identify with? Why?

  2. Pearl’s book of advice was a bit outdated. If you could write your own piece of advice about how to capture a man’s heart, w
hat would it say?

  3. Heather guarded her heart from Paul because he’d hurt her once before. How do you know when it’s wise to guard your heart? Discuss a time you’ve found yourself in a similar situation.

  4. Have you ever had to rebuild trust in someone? Discuss the process and each person’s responsibility in that process.

  5. Abby lived an excitement-free life. What’s the most adventurous thing you’ve ever done? What adventures still remain on your bucket list?

  6. Abby was a Jane Austen fan. Which of Austen’s heroines do you think Abby is most like?

  7. Joey needed to forgive the man who killed his late wife. Discuss the process of forgiveness. What does it mean? Who benefits?

  8. Joey reached a place where he wasn’t willing to forgive, but he was “willing to be made willing.” Discuss a time when you’ve been in that place. What did you learn?

  9. Molly’s late husband, Curtis, broke her trust and that trickled over into her relationships with Gage and God. Have you ever experienced something similar?

  10. Molly came to realize that the most important treasures are priceless. Name some of these things. Is there a treasure you’ve been searching diligently for?

  ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

  What a joy it’s been to work on the Smitten series! The idea for Smitten Book Club was conceived in a beautiful Indiana log cabin (we pretended it was Vermont) and met with much enthusiasm by our publishing team.

  As with every book, Smitten Book Club is the result of a lot of hard work done by many peiople. We are so blessed to work with HarperCollins Christian Publishing. They’ve been supportive of the Smitten series from the start, and their enthusiasm has been contagious. Thanks to the entire team led by Daisy Hutton: Ansley Boatman, Katie Bond, Amanda Bostic, Sue Brower, Ruthie Dean, Laura Dickerson, Jodi Hughes, Ami McConnell, Becky Monds, Becky Philpott, Kerri Potts, and Kristen Vasgaard.

  A special thanks to our editors Ami McConnell and LB Norton. Their expertise is truly outstanding; we’re so glad you have our backs!

  We’re grateful to our agents, Karen Solem and Lee Hough, who were a huge help with this work and many others.

  Denise would like to thank Beth White for her help with all things piano-related. Her husband Kevin assisted her on the business portion of her story, and Gray Stevens (whose name may appear in a future Denise Hunter novel!) from Vermont Outdoor Guide Association answered her questions about becoming an outfitter. Any mistakes are hers alone.