by LuAnn McLane
As Maggie led the way she smiled at the easy chatter between the cousins. When she had been their age, her life had been far different and she had had to put her own dreams on hold. Not that she regretted putting her son first, but now that Tristan was a successful, happy young man with a lovely fiancée, it was high time that she moved forward with her own aspirations. Her recent move from Cincinnati to Cricket Creek to help Tristan expand Whisper’s Edge was just what she needed to jump-start the rest of her life.
“Wedding Row was such a wonderful concept, Mia,” Maggie commented. “Your father and Nicolina did a fantastic job of blending the buildings into the surroundings.” She waved her arm in an arc. “You would have thought this had been here for many years instead of being a new construction. From the gas streetlights to the cobblestone paving, these shops have the quaint feel of Cricket Creek.”
“It’s just lovely,” Addison agreed as they rounded the corner to where the bridal shop was located. “Oh, Designs by Diamante! We’ll have to stop in and see Nicolina soon,” Addison said to Mia. “The necklace you sent me for Christmas was gorgeous. No wonder Uncle Mitch has to kidnap her from her work.”
“Nicolina does lots of bridal jewelry,” Mia said. “You could even put some of her pieces in your store.”
“Excellent idea,” Addison agreed.
Maggie hid her smile. Mia was doing much of the selling for her. “Addison, just so you know, there are plans to start a second phase called Riverside Row that will include a deli, an upscale pub, and several other restaurants. We also have interest from a high-end salon and day spa. Soon shopping on Wedding Row will be an all-day event and not just for brides.”
“Oh, that would be wonderful,” Mia said to Addison. “The only thing we’re lacking is additional places to hold receptions. The convention center and hotel will solve that issue, but that’s pretty far down the road. Dad has pulled way back from the full-throttle mode he used to be in all the time. But we can work on that later.”
“Oh!” Addison said as they stood outside the bridal boutique. “The display window already has a gown in it!”
“I did that last week,” Maggie said. “Pretty, isn’t it?”
“Oh yes. Especially the lighting. I’m enchanted. Let’s go inside!”
Mia gave her a nod. “Nice touch, Maggie.”
“Well, I also have a bit of my own agenda at stake other than just securing the lease. I thought if we got a bridal boutique here in Cricket Creek it would speed up Tristan and Savannah getting married. They bought a beautiful farmhouse overlooking the river but have yet to set a wedding date. Tristan has just been so busy with the expansion of Whisper’s Edge. But if I get Savannah in a dress we might just get the ball rolling.”
Mia gave Addison a nudge with her elbow. “Well, there’s another sale for you and another wedding to plan, and you haven’t even opened the doors yet.”
“You ladies are tag-teaming me,” Addison said with a laugh. “But I have to admit that I’m feeling pretty darned excited. Maybe having planned my own two weddings will pay off in an odd twist of fate.”
“You were married twice?” Maggie blurted out. “Sorry—not that it’s my business. I was just surprised since you’re so young.”
“Nope, I was only engaged twice. Never made it down the aisle.”
“Oh, well, I think you’d be splendid at running a bridal boutique.” Maggie wasn’t one to push but some instinct told her that something special was going on here. Maybe it was from years of showing homes, but she somehow could picture Addison owning a bridal boutique and doing quite well. She just had a lovely, serene way about her that would resonate with jittery brides. Maggie sighed inwardly. Not that she had ever been a bride, but she still got emotional at weddings and she really could not wait for Tristan to marry the lovely Savannah Perry. “It took my son a long time to find the perfect woman, so there’s time for you, Addison. The right one just hasn’t come along. But I’m looking forward to my son’s wedding. I’d like nothing better than to be a grandma,” Maggie said with a smile.
“A grandma? You don’t look old enough, Maggie,” Mia told her.
“You’re too sweet,” Maggie said as she opened the door with a flourish.
“Oh . . .” Addison said with a look at Mia. “You’re right—it’s ready to go.”
Maggie’s heels clicked over the gleaming hardwood flooring as she walked over and flipped on the lights and waited for the exclamation. She wasn’t disappointed. “The lighting over the racks against the wall will spotlight wedding dresses that will face the center rather than be crammed together. Overhead, the lights will be muted so as to give the dresses the attention they deserve.”
“The chandelier in the center of the room is an elegant touch,” Mia said.
Addison nodded. “The lighted display cases are so pretty. I can envision adding some antiques, some vintage jewelry and gowns along with the new.”
Maggie walked over to the dressing rooms. “I know a woman living in Whisper’s Edge who makes exquisite bridal veils.”
“Oh, I love the idea of using local crafters.” Addison turned to Mia. “A display case with Nicolina’s jewelry would be fantastic.”
Maggie put her hand on Addison’s arm. “The concept behind having Wedding Row is for the shops to play off of and to promote each other. And if you decide to actually do some wedding planning we could add office space in the back.” Maggie knew that talking as if it was already a done deal often worked, but in this case she didn’t have to do much selling. Addison seemed quite taken with the whole thing and walked around with a sense of wonder on her pretty face.
“Oh, Mia, I . . . I think I want to do this!” She put a hand to her chest. “Funny that after two botched engagements, I would feel so drawn to opening a wedding boutique, but it just somehow feels right.”
“Oh, Addison, I would adore it if you moved here, so, like Maggie, I have my own agenda, but my heart is pounding too.” Mia smiled and pointed to the front window. “Just say yes to the dress!”
Addison laughed. “Yes!” She turned to Maggie. “As crazy as it seems I already know I want to lease the shop. I just need to go over the details with my mother to make sure this is doable for me.”
“Excellent,” Maggie said. “Do you want to go to the local bank? I can give you names.”
“Actually, I have a trust fund that was set up for my education but I didn’t have to use it because of scholarships. I also have stock in my parent’s company that I could borrow against. My mother will have the answers to the best way for me to go about this. I’ll talk to her and then we can get the paperwork in place.”
“Her mother is Melinda Monroe,” Mia explained. “You know, Melinda Knows Money?”
“Oh my gosh—I’m a big fan of your mother’s,” Maggie gushed, and it was true. “Now that you mention it, I can certainly see the resemblance! She shook her head. “I was a single mom and desperately needed help with my finances. Her books helped me save money for my son’s education and plan for the future. When you talk to her, tell her I said thanks!”
“I will,” Addison said with a warm smile. “Send me the paperwork and I’ll get things moving in the right direction.”
“Sounds good,” Maggie said briskly. “Now, would you like to lease the flat upstairs as well? I certainly love mine. And makes for an easy commute to work,” she added with a wink.
Addison smiled with pure delight. “Oh, I had forgotten about that! Yes!”
“You can park around the back of the building and enter there, but you can also go up the back steps from the shop. Follow me,” Maggie said. She loved the enthusiasm floating in the air. One of the things she relished about real estate was the joy of ownership or, in this case, the start of a new business. Maggie had never been just about the sale and liked to match clients to homes that they would be happy living in. Addison seemed sharp and savvy, not surprising, given who her mother and uncle were. When they reached the top of the stairs, Magg
ie switched on the lights.
“Oh my gosh—it’s gorgeous!” Addison spun in a circle as if trying to take it all in at once, but then hurried over to the floor-to-ceiling windows. “Oh, would you look at the view of the river? There goes a barge,” she said as if she’d just spotted the Queen Mary. “Oh, Mia, I can see the stadium to the left.”
“I love the open feel,” Mia said. “You could furnish it with a modern flair or with antiques.”
“Or an eclectic mix,” Addison agreed. “Wow, recessed lighting. Oh, and the kitchen is gleaming with stainless-steel appliances, but the exposed-brick wall to the left just warms everything up, don’t you think?”
“Did you see the loft guest bedroom?” Maggie asked.
Addison put a hand over her mouth and Mia squealed with delight, making Maggie forget to be businesslike. She chuckled. You’d never know these two young women came from privilege. Mia was a sweetheart and Addison seemed so grounded. It was hard to believe that two men had let her get away.
“You don’t like it at all, do you?” Maggie teased.
“I don’t like it. I love it,” Addison admitted, and then turned to Mia. “What was that dance we did in the diner?”
“The Snoopy happy dance.”
“Let’s do it again!” Addison said.
“Come on, Maggie. Join us!”
Maggie hesitated for a fraction but then giggled like a schoolgirl. “Oh, why not?” A moment later all three were dancing in the middle of the big open space.
“Time to go to Sully’s and celebrate!” Mia announced. “Oh, and we need to come up with a name for your shop. Let’s get the party started!”
Maggie laughed with the girls as she locked up the building. “Addison, I’ll get the paperwork to you, and if you have any questions don’t hesitate to call.” She handed her a business card. “My cell phone is on there and I’ll pick up just about anytime of the day. Congratulations! I can’t wait to see the bridal boutique full of dresses!” She gave them both a hug and was still smiling after they left.
But as she closed up her office and headed up to her own loft apartment, she felt a stab of loneliness. She was so glad that she had made the decision to move to Cricket Creek to live near Tristan, but he was busy with the Whisper’s Edge expansion and spent much of his downtime with his fiancée. Although she also kept busy trying to list other property and lease the remaining shops in Wedding Row, her nights were often spent alone. Now that summer was arriving, Maggie would also work with the Chamber of Commerce, helping to place visitors in rental properties, and although she absolutely adored having her own agency, her social life left, well, a whole lot to be desired. Savannah had encouraged her to join some of the activities at Whisper’s Edge, but at fifty-three Maggie really didn’t feel as if she fit in with that crowd just yet, as lovely as the ladies of the retirement home were to her.
Maggie sighed as she thought of the day last week when she had bought the wedding dress at Violet’s Vintage Clothing with the intent of putting it in the display window. Violet, bless her heart, had thought that Maggie was getting married. “Not ever likely,” Maggie said with another little sigh.
“Oh, just stop,” she chastised her sorry self. It wasn’t like her to let blue feelings get a grip on her, and she straightened her spine. But when she opened the fridge she didn’t feel like cooking dinner. The freezer had a selection of frozen dinners, and she wrinkled her nose. “Yuck.”
“What you need to do is get the hell out of here and go out on the town,” she said out loud, as if hearing her own words would stiffen her resolve. Back in Cincinnati, she’d had her regular dining spots, hit an occasional happy hour where she would see friends, hobnob, and socialize. But it wasn’t as easy in a small town. Even though she’d been born in Cricket Creek, she’d left in a bit of a local scandal and hadn’t really kept in touch with anyone as a result. Coming home from freshman year of college pregnant would do that to you, especially when she had no idea who the father was. And it didn’t help that her own father hadn’t been supportive.
Maggie ground her teeth together. That was years ago. Tristan was a grown man, and her father was long gone. She thought about going up to Wine and Diner, where there was an elegant bar in the rear of the restaurant. She could sashay in there and maybe listen to the live music they had in the lounge most evenings. Have a glass of wine. Flirt.
What? Flirt? Did she even remember how? “Maybe I am ready for Whisper’s Edge retirement community after all,” she grumbled, and felt the sting of tears threatening. God, she knew she had so many blessings in her life, but she just needed something exciting to happen.
And she would kill for a hot, steamy kiss.
“Not likely to happen,” she grumbled again, and then decided she just might head over to Sully’s and buy Mia and Addison a martini. Not only would she be networking and could write it off, but it would get her out for the evening. Maggie snapped her fingers. “Yeah, that’s the ticket,” she said, and tried to pump herself up. Just when she’d talked herself into it, her phone rang on her business line.
“Maggie McMillan,” she answered in her best business voice.
“Hello, Maggie. This is, um, Rick. I mean, Richard . . . Rule. I’m interested in renting a vacation home for a week or so. Do you have anything available?”
7
Rules of the Game
“WELL, I HAVE A FEW SUGGESTIONS,” RESPONDED THE pleasant voice of Maggie McMillan. “Several bed-and-breakfasts, a newly remodeled lodge located near the marina, or I have a very nice secluded log cabin down by the river. I also have some furnished condos that we usually rent by the month, but I happen to know at least one is available by the week. It’s within walking distance to the baseball stadium and has a river view.”
“Interesting,” Rick said. The sound of her low-pitched, sultry tone was somehow soothing—a good thing, since he was in a helluva bad mood. “Can you tell me some details about the cabin?”
“Sure, just give me a minute to get to my desk and pull up the information.”
Finding out that his own publicist had started a rumor that Rick had been having an affair with his son’s fiancée would put anybody in a foul mood. When he’d confronted his now former publicist, the jackass had said that Rick needed to ramp up his bad-boy image if he wanted to have a shot at another world tour. To make matters worse, Garret refused to deny the accusations, since he’d landed a role on a Big Brother–knockoff reality show and wanted to boost the ratings.
Rick had been fond of Addison Monroe and wanted to assure her that he wasn’t a part of this fiasco. But Garret refused to give him Addison’s phone number, so Rick had decided he would track Addison down and personally apologize for whatever damage he’d done to her reputation—if she wanted, he could even make a public statement denying everything. The tabloids were going to have a field day with this sordid lie. Rick couldn’t believe that Garret wouldn’t do the right thing and squash the rumors and it made Rick furious. Unfortunately, firing his publicist led to the man spitefully mouthing off to the media that rock star Rick Ruleman was going off the deep end.
Screw the world tour, and shame on Garret.
Unfortunately, Addison had disappeared a week ago and no one seemed to know where she was hiding out, not that Rick could blame her. Rick had his manager do some serious digging and he’d turned up a Facebook post by Addison’s cousin Mia Monroe saying that she was superthrilled to have her cousin in town for a visit. Mia lived in Cricket Creek, Kentucky. Bingo.
“Mr. Rule?” asked the pleasant voice.
“Yes?”
“You’re in luck! The log cabin is indeed available weekly. It’s spacious, with cathedral ceilings, a stone fireplace, and lovely furnishings. The wraparound porch has a river view and there’s a hot tub to relax in. In a word, it’s gorgeous.”
“Sounds like it.”
“Oh yes, and you have the privacy of the wooded location, but the drive up into Cricket Creek is fairly short, so you ha
ve the best of both worlds. I can send you the information along with pictures. If you like it, I can hold it for you. I’d just need a credit-card deposit and some information.”
Damn . . . he didn’t want her to know his real identity. If word got out he was heading to Cricket Creek, he’d blow Addison’s cover and have paparazzi crawling all over the place. He’d have to wait until tomorrow and have his manager book it for him. He gave her Phil’s e-mail address. “Thanks. I’ll check it out and get back to you.”
“Sure thing. Let me know if I can be of any other help.”
“I will. Thanks a lot.”
After ending the call Rick leaned back in his leather office chair and blew out a long sigh. He ran his hand over his scruffy signature beard and then shoved his fingers through his shoulder-length hair, artfully cut to frame his face. He had a small gold hoop earring in one ear and wore black leather almost every day. More often than not he had a young, busty blonde on his arm whenever he went out on the town, which was just about every night.
Rick pinched the bridge of his nose with his thumb and index finger. Living the life of a rock legend was damned tiring. He’d been ready to head out for the night when a picture of him and Addison embracing flashed across the television screen. Rick remembered when the embrace happened . . . on the night his son had announced his engagement to Addison. But clearly some hotshot pop-news reporter had dug it up to throw fuel onto the rumor that Rick was responsible for his son’s broken engagement.
Rick sighed again and looked down at the big combat boots he almost always wore. They were heavy. The buttery-soft black leather pants were clingy and hot. His beard itched. And his long-ass choppy hair was ridiculous. But the long hair, bearded face, and leather were part of his brand, his style. Who he was . . .
Or was it?
“Hell, no.”
Was it ever?
Rick clenched and unclenched his fists, thinking, brooding. Wondering how his life had come to . . . this. Pretending until he didn’t even know who the hell he truly was anymore. He started humming the slow, soulful original version of his first breakout hit single, “Jagged Edge.” But his record label had wanted hard rock, and at eighteen who was he to argue? After “Jagged Edge” went platinum, his future was set. He’d had to work harder at a style of music that didn’t come as naturally and often felt as if he were playing a role instead of living his life. But money and fame were difficult to turn down.
