by Elsa Nickle
The Wyle group stopped in front of a midsize studio. Malia turned to Laurel, but her big smile faltered when she saw Laurel’s expression. “Hey, you can do this. I promised that you would love it, didn’t I?”
They had done so much for her today—the makeover, the excitement, the plane ride. Her body might have felt like it was suddenly made of lead, but the least she could do was go along with them.
So she put a smile on her face and was the first to step inside.
A sign at the front proclaimed the exhibit’s theme: Desert Beauty.
And as she walked farther in, the old familiar feeling settled over her; the awe, the wonder. Laurel was surprised she could still feel it. The art was so obviously good and tasteful that—quicker than she thought possible—she did get sucked in by the paintings, and her pain became less severe. The power of art was amazing. There was a photograph of a wrinkled and wizened cowboy, a close up, black and white shot that intrigued her. Next to that, a portrait of a cactus that used hundreds of unexpected colors and a million brush strokes. And next to that—
It was her painting.
The sunrise with the low horizon and the expansive sky. The one that was rejected.
The one she threw away.
Her heart swelled and she gasped in a breath. How was this possible?
She turned around to ask someone for an explanation, and there stood Ethan Wyle, wearing gray slacks, a crisp white shirt, and the biggest smile she’d ever seen.
Laurel’s hand flew up to her mouth. “Ethan! What on earth? What is going on?”
He stepped closer, and his smile dropped. “I hope you’re not mad.”
Her chest heaved as she tried to hold back her tears. “Mad? How could I be mad? I’m just—I—” She couldn’t finish her thought.
Ethan shifted closer still. “When I couldn’t get ahold of you, I tracked down your mom. She told me what happened. I looked for you at your studio, but I found this instead.” He gestured toward the painting.
Laurel shook her head. “But I threw everything away.”
He scoffed. “I know. I barely had room in my car for it all.”
Her heart leaped. “You saved everything?”
He shrugged. “Of course. One lady’s trash is another man’s treasure.”
Laurel couldn’t help it, she flung herself at him.
He grasped her tightly in his arms, one hand rubbing comforting circles on her back to calm her shaking.
When she finally pulled away to look at him, her eyes were shining. “Thank you.”
He nodded. “My pleasure, ma’am.”
Laurel gazed back at the painting, still wide-eyed with wonder. “But how—”
Ethan cleared his throat. “Remember how I told you about my friend, and how his wife owned a gallery in Scottsdale?”
Laurel’s head swam. “Yes.”
He spoke quickly. “Well, I knew Ralph had given you the boot, but if I learned anything while studying medicine, it was the value of a second opinion. I took pictures of some of your stuff, then sent them along to my buddy to see what his wife thought, and she loved them. She insisted on making space in her exhibit today since your paintings were perfect for her theme.”
Laurel raised her eyes to the ceiling briefly to try and stop her threatening tears. “Really? You didn’t have to bribe her or anything?”
Ethan looked at her like she was crazy. “Of course not. She knows how to make a good commission. Did you see how much this painting sold for?”
Like a flash, Laurel was over at the title plate. She read, “Bisbee Sunrise, Laurel Mills.” Satisfaction swelled up within her at the sight of her name, but she continued, “Oil on canvas. Oh my.”
The price was more than she would ever think to ask. And next to the price, the word sold.
A flush of wonder cascaded through her. She had a painting hanging in a gallery, and someone had bought it.
She stared at the placard so long that Ethan seemed to get nervous. He grabbed her hand. “Listen, your paintings didn’t have names, so I had to name them. I hope you don’t mind. And she sets the prices here, so there was no negotiating that. If you’re thinking about changing the—”
Laurel didn’t let him finish. She turned to him, grabbed his face, and kissed him. She didn’t care if they were making a scene; it was the happiest moment of her life.
Nearby, someone cleared their throat. Laurel turned to see the entire Wyle family standing a respectable distance back. Malia beamed. “I told you.”
Of course she would have known how happy this would make Laurel. She was an artist too. Laurel smiled at her. “Sorry about what I’ve done to your makeup job.”
Malia waved a hand. “It still looks perfect, actually. I have a lot of waterproof products.” She smiled. “Congratulations, Laurel.”
The rest of the group joined in, heaping on the praise. Then a voice came from behind her. “Congratulations, sweetheart.”
Laurel turned to see her mother nervously standing in a floral dress she’d worn to Laurel’s high school graduation. “Mom! I thought you were at work.”
Her smile was sheepish. “I took a sick day. When Ethan told me what was going on, I knew I had to help him. I couldn’t miss this.”
Laurel blinked, still recovering from the shock. “Well, thank you for coming. I—”
Laurel’s mom stepped in and gently hugged her daughter. “Honey, I’m so sorry for ever making you feel like you couldn’t do this. I always knew you were good. I should have expressed that more and supported your goals. I’ll do better, I promise. I’ll be there through the good and the bad. And look at this—” She gestured to the painting. “You did it. Your talent carried you through. I’m so proud of you.”
Laurel looked to the ceiling again in an attempt to staunch the threatening tears. This had been an overwhelming day. “Thank you, Mom. I love you.”
“I love you too.” And just as tenderly as her mother had hugged her, she let her go.
It was becoming apparent that their party was stopping the flow of traffic in the room, not to mention causing multiple scenes. Laurel withdrew from the wall and stepped to the group. “Thank you all so much. I don’t know what I did to deserve this, but you’ve made me so happy.”
Skye piped up. “We’re not done here, though. You haven’t even seen your other two paintings yet.”
Laurel turned to Ethan, who bit down on a smile and shrugged. “My buddy’s wife really liked your art.”
They led her to another of her paintings, an acrylic of a cottonwood tree that hadn’t sold yet, and then, around a corner to the portrait of the Wyle boys.
Her face flamed scarlet. “She chose this one? I mean, I’m not very good at portraits.” There was also something embarrassing about being caught painting their family, but Laurel didn’t mention that.
Jax stepped up. “What are you talking about? I look amazing.”
Malia hit his stomach. “Spoken like a true narcissist.”
“By the way, this one got purchased too.” Dillon smiled.
Laurel was at the name plate in a flash. “Julie’s Boys.” She swallowed against the wave of emotion she felt at what Ethan had named the painting.
Landon cleared his throat. “We bought this one.”
Laurel looked around the group, not knowing how to feel. “That’s crazy. I would have given it to you—”
“If you hadn’t thrown it in the trash,” Ethan muttered.
Kitty shook her head. “It was chosen for the exhibit, and we really want to bring it back to the ranch. So we all pitched in.”
Laurel wasn’t sure how much more her heart could take. “I could have painted you another one.”
“And you still can.” Malia patted her shoulder. “But we were happy to buy it. You have some serious skill.”
Laurel could have died happy, right there in that random studio in Scottsdale. But Malia turned to the group and said, “Who’s hungry? There’s a gastro pub nearby that looks pro
mising.”
Her excitement about dinner rippled through the group, and although Laurel was truly starving, she couldn’t tear herself away from the painting. Soon, just she and Ethan stood in the gallery, side by side.
He slid his hand into hers. “I think we’re even now.”
Laurel laughed and gave him a strong side eye. “Actually, I think I owe you more now than ever.”
He glanced at their entwined fingers. “I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. You didn’t take anything that I wasn’t willing to give. You don’t owe me anything.”
She turned to face him fully. “I feel like I do.”
Ethan’s gaze ran from her face down to her toes, then back again. “You don’t. You helped me in more ways than you know.”
Laurel dropped her eyes and shook her head.
He stepped toward her, taking both of her hands in his. “Listen, I’m staying in Bisbee.”
Waves of euphoria rose up inside her, threatening to buckle her already weak knees. “Really?”
A dimple appeared on his cheek. “Definitely. I’m sticking around and following my dreams there. I’m finally at the bottom of the right ladder.”
He was staying. He had done all of this for her, and he was staying.
There was so much joy and hope inside Laurel, it was almost painful. All her dreams were coming true. Everything was possible.
Ethan fixed her with his soulful eyes. “Laurel—I know what I want, but what do you want?”
She squeezed his hands and raised her face to his. “This.”
And she kissed him again.
A Note From The Authors
We sincerely hope you enjoyed our book! Writing it was definitely a labor of love. Whom, you might ask, is it that we love? You, Dear Reader. Our goal throughout the entire writing process was to make you smile. If you liked it, please consider leaving a review.
Sneak Peek
Date With A Cowboy
Preston Wyle took a deep breath and shook out his hands in an attempt to calm his nerves. It only worked so much. His heart raced. In a good way, but still. He couldn’t relax. He stood out on the sidewalk in front of the restaurant, sweating in his suit jacket. Bisbee, Arizona, didn’t get as hot as Phoenix in the summer, but wearing a dark suit in ninety-degree heat was no joke. Or was it nerves making him sweat?
He took the small, square velvet box from his pocket and popped it open. The ring inside wasn’t large—a simple white-gold band with a half-carat diamond. Leanne liked things a little flashier, but Preston was sure she wouldn’t mind the modest ring. She knew he couldn’t afford anything too fancy. He snapped the lid shut, slipped the box back into his pocket, and patted it once, making sure it was safe and sound. A small smile crept over his face. He was really doing this. If only she’d get here.
Disappointment flared when the sun dipped behind the hills. He’d wanted to pick Leanne up, bring her flowers, and watch the sun set over a picnic dinner in the gazebo at the ranch. But Leanne had to work late, so she’d asked him to meet her in town. She’d picked the restaurant, too. It was the nicest one in Bisbee. It wasn’t his favorite, but at least the atmosphere was romantic.
After pacing back and forth a few times, he looked at his watch. Again. Like he’d done every ten seconds for the last fifteen minutes. He tried not to get annoyed. Leanne’s work schedule was a little erratic. He knew that. But it was their six-month anniversary. You’d think she’d make an effort to show up on time. Five more minutes, and they’d lose their reservation.
“I’m here!” Leanne hurried over to Preston and gave him a quick kiss. “Sorry I’m late. My boss kept me after to talk to me, but I have fantastic news!”
When she shot him a dazzling smile, his irritation melted away. She looked stunning in her little black dress with her long blonde hair curling around her shoulders. How a humble rancher like himself ever snagged such a beautiful, sophisticated woman was beyond him, but he wasn’t complaining. She was breathtaking. And right now she was glowing with excitement.
“You got a promotion?” Preston asked, guessing at her giddiness.
She beamed. “I did! I’ll tell you all about it over dinner.”
Preston took her hand and led her into the restaurant. “I have a surprise for you, too.”
After they ordered their food, Leanne grinned. She was squirming in her seat, still bubbling with anticipation, as if she were the one with the ring in her pocket. “You said you have a surprise for me?” she asked, flashing him a smile that hit him right in the chest. It was the smile that had knocked him off his feet the first time they met. The smile he’d fallen in love with before they ever even said hello.
“You first.” Preston was anxious, but he could tell she was excited to share her news. “Tell me about this promotion. Is it management, like you hoped for?”
Leanne clasped her hands together under her chin, shaking like she could burst from excitement at any moment. “It is!” she squeaked. “Ever since I got my degree, my boss has been helping me look for opportunities. He has a friend who’s a general manager for a Marriott in Tucson. I had a phone interview with him today, and he hired me on the spot for the assistant manager position!”
Preston started to congratulate his girlfriend until what she said sunk in. “Wait a minute. Do you mean the job is in Tucson?”
For the first time since she got there, some of the brightness in her expression dimmed. “Yeah,” she said slowly, guiltily.
Apprehension crept in. Preston suddenly had a bad feeling. “That’s over an hour and a half from here. You can’t commute three hours every day.”
She bit her lip. “Well…I plan to move there.”
Preston’s heart dropped into his stomach. She wanted to move? To Tucson?
Sensing his panic, Leanne reached across the table and covered his hand with hers. “This is a big deal for me. It’s a full-service hotel with a worldwide chain. There will be endless opportunities for advancement. It’s more than just a job; it’s the start of a career.”
Preston wanted to be happy for her, but he could hardly think past the roaring in his ears. She was going to leave? “Just like that?” he croaked, swallowing back the emotions clogging his throat. “You’re going to move to Tucson? How long have you been considering this option?” His voice rose a little with each question. “Were you even going to tell me?”
Preston took a breath and held it until he could speak at a polite volume. He didn’t want to lose his temper, but moving was something you discussed with your significant other. Wasn’t it? He was angry that she could decide something so important without even mentioning it to him. No, he was more than angry. He was hurt.
Leanne frowned in response to his irritation. “I only found out today. You’re the first person I’ve told.”
Preston shook his head, frustration making it hard to focus. “But how long have you been thinking of leaving Bisbee? You had to have at least considered it if you applied to places in Tucson.”
Leanne sat back with a sigh. It was as if with that one movement she was pulling away from him, taking their future with her. “Why do you think I worked so hard to get my degree, doing online classes for three years straight without a break?” she said, her own voice laced with annoyance. “So I could get out of here. I don’t want to spend my life in this tiny town. I want to live in the city. There’s no future for me here.”
Preston didn’t want to sound like he was whining, but he had to ask, “What about us? What about our future?”
Leanne’s face softened. “If I find a place on the south side of the city, I’d only live an hour or so from the ranch. It wouldn’t be ideal, but we could make it work. We live half an hour apart as it is.”
Preston shook his head. How had this night gone so disastrously? “I don’t want to live an hour apart. I don’t want to live apart at all.” He raked his hand through his hair. “This isn’t how I wanted to do this, but…” He reached into his pocket and pulled out the
box. It was now or never.
Leanne gasped when he revealed the engagement ring. Her eyes widened, and her hand went to her throat. Preston couldn’t read the emotion beneath her shock. Was it joy or dread? He swallowed hard, and his hands started to tremble, but he had to plow on. “I love you, Leanne. These last six months with you have been some of the best of my life. I want to build our future together. Will you marry me?” When she didn’t respond right away, he added, “Please?”
Leanne’s gaze bounced back and forth between Preston and the ring. The longer she stared, the easier it was to see the disbelief on her face. She blinked twice, then asked, “Are you serious?”
Preston’s stomach lurched. That wasn’t a yes. Not even close.
How could he be so wrong about this? He couldn’t have misjudged their relationship that much. Could he? “I think the diamond answers that question, doesn’t it?”
Leanne snapped her mouth shut and shook her head as if trying to clear the surprise from it. “Preston, I’m only twenty-one years old. You’re twenty-two.”
“That’s not too young if it’s right.”
Maybe it was uncommon for people to get married this young, but Preston was an old soul. With the million and one responsibilities he had on the ranch and losing his parents at twelve years old, Preston had grown up before his time. He’d had to. There was too much work to do. It had made him mature for his age.
“If it’s right?” Leanne let out one incredulous bark of laughter. “We’ve only been together for six months. How could we possibly know if it’s right?”
