The Waitress's Secret

by Kathy Douglass

  “None of this is your fault. I was attracted to Arden from the beginning. I spent time with her because I wanted to. And I’m not angry at you. Okay? Now I do need to get going. I have a bunch of paperwork waiting for me.” He dropped a kiss on his sister’s forehead, then headed out the door.

  The restaurant was quiet when he arrived and headed to his office. The walls were a bright white, and framed photos of the restaurant in various stages of construction were hung in such a way that he could see them from his desk. They normally filled him with a sense of pride at what he’d accomplished. Today he felt nothing.

  He raised the window to allow in fresh air, as well as sunlight. He’d wasted enough time stumbling around in the dark having his own personal pity party. His kindhearted sister blamed herself for his poor judgment. That was unacceptable.

  He rubbed his hand across his chest. Arden was out of his life. She’d gotten that message. Now he had to find a way to get her out of his mind. And then maybe he’d figure out a way to get her out of his heart.

  He turned on his computer and opened the shift schedule. Before he could make changes based upon the number of advance reservations, his desk phone rang, its shrill sound shattering the silence. He idly checked the caller ID. What did Joni want now? Surely she wasn’t checking on him again. Enough was enough. He let the call go to voice mail. A few seconds later there was a knock on his open office door. Looking up, he saw Marcus standing there. “What’s up?”

  “Sorry to disturb you, but Joni called and said to check your email. She sent you something she wants you to see right now.”

  “I’ll get to it later.” Brandon said, continuing to work.

  Marcus stood there. Clearly Joni had told him not to leave until Brandon had done what she asked.

  “Fine,” Brandon huffed, then pulled up his email, opening the one from Joni. She hadn’t written anything but had sent a link to an article. Curious, he clicked on it. It was a short video. He waited until it started. It was Arden. She was descending stairs of what looked like a government building surrounded by her family, a woman dressed in a suit by her side. Reporters called out questions to her and the cameras tightened to a close-up. She nibbled her bottom lip.

  Despite the fact that he was still angry with her for not being honest, his heart clenched at the sight of her discomfort. A part of him he couldn’t ignore wished he was there to stand between her and anything that hurt her.

  His eyes hungered for her. It had been so long. She was as beautiful as he remembered, if slightly thinner. Her hair curled softly around her face and her eyes seemed to reach out and stare directly at him. In a moment, she got into a black sedan and sped out of sight.

  The camera then turned to a reporter holding a microphone. “And there you have it. Arden Wexford, daughter of Winston Wexford, owner of Wexford Industries, leaving a meeting of the Baltimore school board where she testified against her former principal.”

  The reporter droned on for a minute, repeating information Arden had already shared with Brandon. He knew how hard having this information go public had to be for Arden. She guarded her privacy fiercely. And she had just put the most embarrassing moment in her life out there for people to discuss and decide if she was telling the truth. All because she believed secrets were dangerous. She hadn’t known that before coming to Sweet Briar, so obviously she had grown. Good for her.

  But what did that have to do with him? Did he care? Did she even care about him anymore?

  Suddenly filled with energy, Brandon headed for the kitchen. He did some of his best thinking while cooking. And he had a lot of thinking to do. For the first time since Arden had left, he believed he could do some of his best creating.

  One cutting-edge recipe for salmon later, Brandon had thought enough to realize he’d been wrong. Arden wasn’t a self-centered rich girl looking for fun at his expense. She was a kind, loving woman who’d done what she thought best to protect herself. He was willing to admit that his past with Sylvia had affected the way he viewed all women, including Arden. If he felt justified in doing that, then surely she was justified in looking at men through the same lens as she’d seen her ex-boyfriend. Certainly she wouldn’t be wrong in putting the lessons she’d learned in the past to use.

  He was able to admit that one of the lessons she’d learned was that some people would sink to the lowest levels if they thought they could profit from it. Most people were honest, but there were enough greedy ones out there to make a wealthy woman wary. She’d be foolish not to be cognizant of that and to act accordingly. He didn’t trust anyone blindly, so why should he expect her to? Arden was a product of her past, the same as he was.

  As hard as it was to admit, her decision to use a fake name didn’t have anything to do with him. She hadn’t even known him, so it was a bit ridiculous to expect her to know his character.

  Maybe it was time for them both to break away from their pasts and take a leap of faith. His parents might have the right idea, after all. Although he wasn’t interested in dating any of the women they shoved in his path, they were right to urge him to get on with his life. It was time. Now he had to convince Arden to give him another chance.

  * * *

  Brandon stifled the urge to barge into Blake Wexford’s office, waiting instead for the secretary to announce him. Once he’d reached the conclusion that Arden hadn’t committed an unforgivable act, he’d wanted to get to her as soon as possible so they could start over. He first spoke to Joni, who’d been relieved that he was willing to give love a chance. She’d confessed that she missed her new friend horribly and urged him to do whatever was necessary to win Arden’s heart again.

  After assuring himself that Marcus could handle the restaurant for a couple of days, Brandon had tossed a change of clothes in a bag and hopped on the first plane to Baltimore. On the flight he’d prepared what he hoped was a speech that would convince Arden to forgive him and give them another shot. He hadn’t quite worked out the details of how a relationship between them would work, given the fact that they lived in two different cities. He just knew that if she was willing, he would try.

  “Mr. Wexford will see you now.”

  Rising, Brandon followed the woman through the quiet hallway to an open door. She stepped aside and gestured for him to enter. He thanked her and went in. He was surprised to see Arden’s other brother, as well as her father. Obviously, this was going to be a family meeting. Good. That would save him some time. If they thought to intimidate him by their greater number, they were sadly mistaken.

  “Thanks for seeing me,” he said, extending his hand.

  “My curiosity got the best of me,” Blake said as he shook Brandon’s hand. “You remember my brother, Jax. And this is our father, Winston Wexford.”

  Brandon shook each of the other men’s hands. Blake offered drinks, but they all refused.

  “So, what brings you to our fair city?” Winston asked once they were all seated.

  “I’m here about Arden.”

  “Really? The last I heard you didn’t want anything more to do with her,” Jax said. “You not only let us know that loud and clear, you were blunt about that to her, too.”

  Brandon remembered the unshed tears glistening in Arden’s eyes the last time he saw her, and his stomach knotted. “I regret the way I talked to Arden. That’s not one of my proudest moments.”

  “Blake. Jax. Give us some privacy, would you?” Winston said.

  “You’re kicking me out of my office?” Blake asked in apparent disbelief.

  Winston smiled. “Think of it as a chance for you to take a break.”

  Blake sighed and followed his brother out of the office. Brandon watched them go, wondering just what the elder Wexford was about to say that he didn’t want his sons there.

  “What do you mean you’re here about Arden?”

  Bran
don rubbed a hand over his chin. Winston didn’t strike him as the kind of man who would appreciate someone beating around the bush, so he decided to cut to the chase. “I hurt her badly. I want to set things right.”

  “What do you mean by right?”

  “I love her. Setting things right would involve making sure she knows that.”

  Mr. Wexford’s eyebrows shot up and he nodded. “Is that so?”

  “Yes.” Was that a hint of a smile on the older man’s face? “You don’t know me, but I’m prepared to tell you anything you need to know.”

  “I already know everything I need to about you. Arden and I had many talks. And then there are my sons. They’ve told me plenty. But to be honest, you showing up here tells me more about your character than anything else.”

  “So that’s it?”

  “I trust my instincts. They haven’t led me astray very often. And my sons are very protective of their sister. They wouldn’t have left this room if they thought you were up to no good.”

  “That other guy fooled them.” And he had hurt Arden in the process.

  “No, he didn’t.”

  Brandon couldn’t believe it was this easy. He’d come prepared to do battle for the right to be with Arden. “So you aren’t going to threaten me with a fate worse than death?”

  “Is there one?”

  “Yes.” He looked directly into Mr. Wexford’s eyes. “Living without Arden.”

  That answer seemed to satisfy Arden’s father.

  “So what’s your plan?”

  “I’m still working on the details, but I know it will involve begging.”

  Winston laughed. “Throw in some chocolate and you just might have a chance.”

  * * *

  Arden rode the elevator to the top floor that housed her father’s office, silently rehearsing her speech. Packing had taken longer than she’d anticipated, so it was already nearly three. She wouldn’t be able to leave until tomorrow, but since she wanted to start out early, she’d say her goodbyes now.

  The conversation with her mother had gone better than she’d expected. Then again, Lorelei was a romantic at heart. Not that she wouldn’t have let Arden know if she disagreed with her decision to return to Sweet Briar. Lorelei had seen how unhappy Arden had been with the way things ended with Brandon.

  She could still hear her mother’s words. Give it everything you have. If it doesn’t work, then at least you’ll know you tried. Only then will you be able to go forward, even if your heart hurts for a while. She just hoped her father agreed.

  When she stepped from the elevator, she saw Jax and Blake huddled together in a corner. Odd, considering they each had their own office.

  “What are you guys doing?”

  “What does it look like?” Jax asked.

  “Like you’re loitering in the hall, waiting to pounce on some unsuspecting passerby.”

  Blake muttered something that sounded like, “Close.” Was he pouting?

  “What are you doing here?” Jax countered.

  “Actually, I’m here to see you guys and Dad. Can we go to his office?”

  “We can, but he’s not there.” Blake folded his arms over his chest.

  “How do you know?”

  “Because he just kicked me out of mine.”

  Goodness. He was pouting. Arden barely kept herself from laughing. The men in her family tended to be territorial about the craziest things. “Okay. Then let’s go there.”

  “Why? What’s so important?”

  Arden sighed. She could practice on her brothers. “I’m going back to Sweet Briar.”

  “Why?” Jax straightened.

  “The short answer is because that’s where Brandon is.”

  “What’s the longer answer?”

  “I ran. I should have stayed and fought for us, but I didn’t.”

  “So, you’re going to just go back there unannounced?” Jax asked, his eyes narrowed.

  “Yes. And I’m going to make him listen no matter how long it takes.”

  Blake looked over her shoulder. “I have a feeling it’s not going to take all that long.”

  Arden turned and gasped. “Brandon.” Her voice was reduced to a whisper. “What are you doing here?”

  “I’ve come for you.”

  Her heart leaped at his words, yet she couldn’t give it free rein. Not yet. “For me? But I thought... I thought you didn’t want me.”

  He stepped closer and held out his hand. She automatically took it and let him lead her to the reception area and away from her family’s eyes. “I want you, Arden. You have no idea how much. I just needed to work through my own issues. I accused you of not trusting me, when I didn’t trust you as much as I proclaimed. I’m sorry for that. I hope you can forgive me.”

  “I didn’t know about your past when we met. But I am sorry for not telling you my real name sooner.”

  “A rose by any other name would smell as sweet. I believe Arden Wexford is just as perfect as Arden West.”

  “I’m not perfect. I’ll make mistakes.”

  “So will I. But if we forgive as easily as we want forgiveness, everything will be okay.”

  Arden nodded. “I can.”

  “You obviously came here to see your family. I can wait while you talk to them.”

  “I was only going to tell them goodbye. I was on my way to Sweet Briar in the morning to convince you to give us another chance.”

  He smiled and it was as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “How long were you planning on staying?”

  “As long as it took to make you love me.”

  Brandon leaned in closer, his fingers gently cupping her face, his thumb teasing her lower lip, making her want to fall into his arms. “What’s your plan?”

  “I didn’t think that far.” Her voice was a mere whisper.

  “Good thing I did. We can go with my plan.”

  “Which is?”

  “First I make sure you know I love you. Then I convince you to stay forever.”

  Forever. It had a certain ring to it. “Sounds like a perfect plan to me.”

  His lips curved into a sexy smile before they covered hers. Forever might not be long enough, but it was a perfect start.

  * * * * *

  If you loved this story, don’t miss the first book in the

  SWEET BRIAR SWEETHEARTS, by Kathy Douglass

  HOW TO STEAL THE LAWMAN’S HEART

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  Keep reading for an excerpt from THE MAVERICK’S BRIDE-TO-ORDER by Stella Bagwell

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  The Maverick's Bride-to-Order

  by Stella Bagwell

  Chapter One

  “You want to do what?”

  Zach Dalton pushed back the brim of his black Stetson and leaned slightly toward the woman sitting on the opposite side of the cluttered desk. Long, curly hair created a brown cloud around her head while a pair of deep blue eyes stared at him with confusion.

  Tightening the rein on his patience, Zach carefully repeated his request. “I want to put a classified ad in the paper. The wanted section to be more exact. Or does The Rust Creek Falls Gazette have a wanted section in its classifieds?”

  “Look, Mr.—what is your name?” she asked, her pencil hovering above a small scratch pad.

  “Dalton, ma’am. Zach Dalton.”

  Her bare lips formed a perfectly pretty O, but Zach allowed himself to admire the sight for only a few seconds. He wasn’t about to let this dizzy woman distract him from his objective. Zach was on a mission. He knew exactly what he wanted and had already decided the best way to go about getting it.

  “Dalton? Are you related to the other Daltons who live around here?” she asked.

  “That’s right. There’s a bunch of us, ma’am. I’m related to all of them.”

  The phone on the desk began to ring, and while she eyed it with an annoyed glare, a male voice in a back room yelled, “Are you asleep out there, Lydia? Pick up the damned phone!”

  “Excuse me, Mr. Dalton. I’ll be with you in a moment,” she promised.

  While she answered the phone, Zach turned and looked through a dusty plate glass window at North Main Street of downtown Rust Creek Falls, Montana. This early-September morning, the sun was shining warmly, kissing the changing leaves on the trees that grew at intervals along the concrete sidewalk. The slow, two-lane traffic was made even slower by a pair of big cattle trucks working their way to the main highway leading to Kalispell. With autumn weather soon coming, the ranchers were already sorting and selling, preparing for the long, cold months ahead.