Small Town King: A Single Dad Romance (Carlisle Cellars Book 3)

by Fabiola Francisco

  “You’ll let me help you any way you need?” I whisper.

  “Yeah.” She nods.

  “Good, now let’s go back inside so you can see your mom.” I hold her hand and wipe away the tear stains before leading her back into the room and spending the day with her and getting to know her parents better.

  Chapter 33

  Magnolia

  I wipe my hands on my dusty jeans and toe off my sneakers on the back porch of my parents’ house. My mom’s been home for a few days, and she’s slowly recovering. Thankfully, the new pump is working properly after monitoring it closely, and she’s up and about, though taking it slow like the doctor suggested.

  I’ve been helping at home and on the ranch. It’s been nice to be back, but I’ll admit I miss Willow Creek. I miss Brett, Charlie, and Chloe. I miss seeing Lucy during my coffee fix and chatting with June. I’ve realized these last couple of weeks that I’ve made a home for myself in that small town without even realizing it. But my place is here for now.

  I haven’t seen Brett since he drove out this way for the day, which was a shock to see him sitting there laughing with my parents as if they’d known each other forever. My mom is smitten with him, and my dad gave me a grunt of approval. We talk on the phone every night, but I feel like I’m letting him hold on when things are so uncertain right now. I feel like I’m pulled in two directions by no one’s doing but my own. I’m torn between my duty as a daughter and the direction my heart wants.

  “Hey, Mama,” I kiss her cheek where she sits on the sofa, working on another crossword puzzle.

  “Hi, sweetie. How’re things out there?” She smiles up at me.

  “Good. The cattle are locked up in their pen, and Daddy and Greg are checking the fence line. I’m gonna prepare lunch.”

  “I’ll help you.” She puts the crossword magazine beside her, but I stop her.

  “It’s okay, Mama, I got it. I’m gonna make pork chops and roasted veggies. Is that okay?”

  “I’ll help you,” she repeats, standing. “I’m perfectly capable of making lunch. The only reason I’m letting you think you’re in control is because you’re too stubborn, and I don’t want to argue with stubborn right now. So put on your apron and meet me in the kitchen.” She passes me and heads into the kitchen while I stare at her back in surprise. I can’t help the laugh that escapes me.

  “You’re ridiculous,” I say, tying the apron she instructed me to wear as she does the same.

  “But I’m still your Mama.” She crosses her arms and lifts a brow.

  “That’s true.” I kiss her cheek and open the fridge, bringing out the pork chops.

  “How’s Brett?” she asks for the millionth time. I’m glad that my parents liked him, though I wish they had met under different circumstances.

  “Good.” I grab potatoes and begin peeling them. My mom works on the other veggies, peeling and cutting carrots and peppers.

  “I like that young man.”

  “You’ve told me about a hundred times,” I tease.

  “Oh, shush.” She swats me. “When will you be heading back?” She looks at me out of the corner of her eye.

  I stop mid-peel, keeping my eyes on the potato. “I don’t know,” I mumble.

  “Magnolia…” Her voice is full of conviction, so I ignore her to not deal with whatever she’s going to tell me. “Look at me,” she demands.

  When I don’t, her hand reaches over and grabs my chin until I’m facing her. Her lips are pursed as she stares at me. “You’re going to have to return soon.”

  “Not until you’re fully recovered.” I’m firm in that decision.

  “I am recovered,” she says. “You act like I can’t do anything.”

  I sigh and drop the peeler on the counter and turn to look at her. Tilting my head, I arch a brow.

  “Mama, the doctor said you still have to take it slow. Dad works a ton as it is. He can’t handle all of it on his own or only with Greg. I can help at the moment since I don’t have a job. Let me at least feel like I’m helping in some way if I can’t give you money.”

  “You’ve done so much for us already. You’re our daughter, not our parent. Sweetie, I love you, which is why I want you to live your own life.” She looks at me with soft eyes full of love.

  “I can’t just leave you,” my voice rises in desperation.

  My mom smiles sadly. “You’re not leaving us,” she says, slowly shaking her head. “You’ll visit us, you’ll call daily, and you’ll continue to be our beloved daughter. Do you know what would make me better? Seeing you go on and live your dreams, do what you were born to do, be happy, fall in love. I want to witness all of this happening, but if you stay here, you’re limiting yourself. I won’t allow that nor be the reason for you to continue to put your life on hold.”

  “I don’t—” I begin to argue.

  She interrupts me. “The only reason you left to work in the field you love is because it would be financially helpful for us. When are you going to make a decision that’s just for you? And before you argue, no, that’s not being selfish; that’s being human. That’s living your life. Go, live, love, stumble and get back up. Your daddy and I are just fine. If we can’t pay fifty dollars a month, we’ll pay thirty. They’ll work with us.”

  I swallow thickly, staring at her. I know she’s right in part because I’ve always focused my life on helping them. When my mom got diagnosed with diabetes, I took it upon myself to play nurse and bank so they wouldn’t stress—so she wouldn’t stress, and it affect her more.

  “Give me a few more days.”

  “You have until tomorrow,” she says definitively.

  “Are you serious?” I stare at her in disbelief.

  She nods once. “Extremely. You’ll go back to your home tomorrow afternoon before the sun sets. We’ll call you if we need anything. You can come visit whenever you’d like. Bring Brett and the girls. I’m anxious and excited to meet those two.”

  “You’re kickin’ me out.” I cross my arms, eyes wide.

  “I’m giving you the push you need to soar.” She smiles, holding my face. “You deserve it, sweetie.” She kisses my forehead, and I close my eyes, inhaling her love.

  “I’m so glad you’re okay,” I choke out, hugging her.

  “Me too.” Her hand moves down my back in soothing strokes like she’s always done when I’m sick or upset.

  We finish preparing lunch in peaceful quiet, my mind racing with different ideas. I’ll have to get Lucy to help me with my website as soon as I return. I’m motivated to make my mom proud, and that means following my dreams. I may not have gotten the job as a camp counselor, but I’ll find something temporary in town while I get all my ducks in a row and find clients to help and work with.

  After lunch, I call Brett to see how he’s doing. My conversations with him have been my favorite part of the day. It makes me feel like I still have him close to me despite being apart. He’s been patient and understanding, which is a gift. I don’t think many men would react the way he has to all of this.

  While we talk, I look around my bedroom. Most of it is the same as when I was a kid. I never really updated it. I still have the pink and blue floral comforter and knitted blanket my grandma made for me when I was a child. Gone are posters I used to have on the walls. I took with me the wall decor I had here to decorate my apartment in Willow Creek, so some parts of my room feel empty.

  “So, your mom kicked you out?” I hear the amusement in his voice.

  “Yup,” I say dryly.

  “You know you’ll always be able to visit them. I’ll take you.” The way he speaks, making plans for the future that includes us together, makes my heart beat faster, and so many possibilities race through my mind.

  “I know,” I whisper. “And I know I’m not far if they ever have another emergency, but… I don’t know. It’s hard.”

  “Do you not want to come back?” His question is strained.

  “No, that’s not it.”

&
nbsp; “Magnolia…”

  “I want to go back, I just wish I could have it all in one place, but my parents’ lives are here on the ranch and in their hometown.”

  “And yours? Where’s yours?” He’s becoming defensive.

  I sigh, thinking through the fog in my mind.

  “If you’re not coming back, tell me now.” I’m surprised by his brash tone.

  “I’m going back tomorrow afternoon.”

  “I need to know… If your mom wouldn’t tell you to leave, would you come back? Return to me?” My heart breaks at the defeat in his voice now. No longer demanding and angry, Brett sounds sad.

  “I would,” I don’t hesitate. “I’d return for you.”

  “Are you sure?” his voice drops. “You know how I feel about you, about us. I want this. It was unexpected, but you’re perfect.”

  “I’m positive.” I blink back tears and take a deep breath, so he doesn’t pick up that I’m holding it in. “I feel the same way, Brett. That’s no secret. The last few months, getting to know you, then spending time together without fear or worry that I was doing something wrong, your support while I’ve been here…it’s priceless. I can’t put into words what it means to me.”

  “Good.” I can imagine him nodding, and I smile. I know his quirks and body language.

  “I’ll see you tomorrow. No arguments. My mom will keep the girls. I’ve missed you.”

  I don’t bother arguing. He’s more stubborn than I am, and that’s saying a lot.

  “Okay.”

  “I miss you,” he finally says. His voice is soft, and I feel it deep in my soul.

  “Same,” I smile. “How’s everything at work?”

  “Good, we’re ahead of schedule. We have the grand opening set for before the Fourth of July. We’re going to invite the town and our past customers. It’s gonna be a big event. You’ll be there, right?”

  “Of course.”

  “Good, we’re going to inaugurate our new chapter, toast to new beginnings while maintaining our tradition. Miles is working on most of it.”

  “That’s great.” I scoot down on the bed, getting comfortable.

  Brett and I talk for a bit longer before he gets called into a meeting, and I wander out to help my dad finish up for the day.

  I look around the ranch. I’m going to miss this place. In a way, it feels like I’m leaving it for the first time again. Tonight, I’m going to get together with Grace since it’s my last night here. I think back to what Brett told me earlier about the winery. Toasting to new beginnings sounds nice.

  “Call when you arrive.” My mom hugs me for the fiftieth time in the last twenty minutes.

  “I will, promise.” I hug her back. “And you’ll call if you need anything. I’m a short drive away.”

  “We will.” She smiles, wiping under her eyes.

  “Don’t worry. I’m takin’ good care of her,” my dad says proudly, wrapping his arm around my mom’s shoulder.

  “I know you are, Daddy.” I lean in and kiss his cheek.

  “Maybe y’all can come down for the winery opening.” I mentioned it to them yesterday, and they seemed receptive.

  “That’d be fun. We can spend the holiday with you over there.”

  “Yeah.” I nod at my mom’s words.

  I kiss them each again and head to my car before I break down and worry them. I took time to reflect last night, and my mom was right. Of course she was; she’s always right. I should know better than to argue with her. I can see myself making a great life with Brett and Charlie and Chloe. I can see us being a family in the future. In order for that to happen, I need to take the steps necessary in that direction.

  I drive away, grateful for my parents, that my mom’s health is on the up, and that I’m going home to a man that has taught me so much, beginning with what love really feels like. Confident that this is the right direction my life must take, I honk and wave out the window at my parents, ready for this next chapter. As scary as it may seem, I know it will also be beautiful.

  Chapter 34

  Brett

  I watch Magnolia get out of her car and walk into Beauty and the Books. June called her to stop by when she arrived from Cedar Springs, and I’m hoping I can convince her to go straight to my place from here. I check my email on my phone a moment so I can give them time to talk before walking in.

  When Magnolia told me she was coming back today, I cleared my schedule and asked my mom to keep the girls. It helps that it’s Friday, and they don’t have school tomorrow. I’ve missed Magnolia, but when I heard her speaking yesterday, I became worried that she may not want to still live here. Her family is important, and I understand the depth of that love.

  She’s become important to me—more than simply important. I never saw myself with another woman, never even wanted to imagine what that’d be like. I was closed off and shut everything off. I robotically took care of Charlie and Chloe, went to work, saw my family, and repeated the cycle.

  But this woman, smart, kind, and beautiful, I’m sure, was made for me. She’s a gift. I’ve lost a lot in my life, and I never thought I’d be this man again. I never thought I’d be planning a life with anyone who wasn’t Ella, but now I am because at some point, between getting upset that Magnolia told me I was hiding behind my work instead of being there for my daughters and observing her help my daughters heal, I developed deep feelings for her.

  We both fought those feelings for our own reasons. Magnolia’s fight had to do with her job. Mine was laced with guilt, confusion, and stubbornness. But seeing the shy woman at the first wine pairing event at the bookstore, having coffee when I ran into her at the grocery store, and going to the winery with her as part of Charlie and Chloe’s healing, she opened me up, made me feel again.

  At some point throughout everything that’s happened in these past months, I fell in love with her. Something I thought was impossible for me. I already fell in love once, married that woman, had her children, and she died.

  I thought it was a one-time deal, yet here I sit in my car, waiting for a woman who peacefully stormed into my life. It was a total contradiction, but it happened.

  Finally, I step out of my car and head to the bookstore, seeing June and Magnolia talking animatedly through the window before pulling the door open. They both turn to look at me. June smiles, but Magnolia…she beams, lighting her entire face. She’s absolutely stunning.

  “Hey,” I say with a smirk.

  “Hi.” Magnolia looks at me with soft eyes.

  I walk toward her and notice June slip away. Thank goodness for her intuitive nature and for leaving us alone a moment. Magnolia faces me, and I hold her face with my hands, smashing my lips to hers in a bruising kiss. Her hands wrap around my back, and she presses into me. As soon as our tongues touch, I deepen the kiss, needing to taste her. Instead of losing control, though, I take my time feeling her. Despite seeing her for a few hours in the couple of weeks she was gone, it feels like I haven’t seen her in months.

  Slowing down, I peck her lips a few times before resting my forehead on hers and catching my breath.

  “God, I missed you,” I murmur.

  Her hands clutch my t-shirt, and she nods against me. “Me too.” Magnolia blinks up at me. “What are you doin’ here?”

  “I came to see you.” I wink.

  “You knew I was here? Are you stalking me?” She raises an eyebrow.

  Chuckling, I shake my head. “June told me you’d be here. I knew she wanted to talk to you.” I lift my brows because I’m hoping that my intuition is right. “And I wanted to see you.”

  “I’m glad.” Magnolia hugs me, burying her head in my chest. I hold her tightly, inhaling her sweet perfume, and kiss the top of her head.

  “I’m also hoping you’ll have dinner with me,” I lean back to stare into those gorgeous ice-blue eyes.

  “Of course. I just need to go home and change. I stopped here before getting home.”

  “Nah, you’re perfect.” I
look down her body. She’s wearing an oversized t-shirt and jean shorts that show off her long legs.

  Magnolia scrunches up her nose. “I rather change if we’re going to dinner.”

  I kiss the tip of her nose. “I cooked, so we’re going to my place.”

  Her eyebrows shoot up, but she attempts to control her reaction. I chuckle and kiss her soft lips. “Finish up with June, and let’s go.”

  “Will the girls be there?” she smiles.

  I shake my head. “It’s just us tonight,” I say quietly.

  “Oh…” Magnolia shivers, and I smirk.

  “Yeah, babe.” I kiss her again and step back before I lift her on the counter and do what I really want.

  “Okay…” she nods.

  June returns with a knowing smile.

  “We’ll talk some more tomorrow,” she tells Magnolia.

  “Okay, thank you,” she returns the smile and looks at me. “Ready?”

  “Come on. Bye, June,” I wave at her over my shoulder and leave her giggling to herself.

  “Leave your car here.”

  “But—”

  I press a hard kiss to her lips. “Trust me. It’ll be okay here for a night.”

  “A night?” Her eyes widen.

  “Yeah, babe. You’re mine tonight.”

  Her eyes darken, and a myriad of emotions pass through her face.

  “Let me grab my bag then,” she finally says.

  “Hurry.” I smack her ass playfully, and she yelps, her face turning red as she looks at me with surprised eyes.

  I wink. It feels fucking amazing to have her here, to take her to my place for the first time, to bring her completely into my life.

  Once we’re seated in the car, I keep my hand on her thigh as I drive us toward my house. I don’t miss the way she shifts and shivers while she looks out the window.

  “How was your drive?” I break the silence

  Magnolia turns to look at me with a smile.