Be Brave With Me

by J. B. Havens

  Chapter 45

  Drew

  It had been months since Meg left. Christmas would arrive in just a few, short weeks and he was in it up to his ears at work. He’d left the auto repair shop behind and finally gotten the permits, licenses, insurance, and a million other things he’d needed to get his business started. He was now the owner and operator of Brave Beginnings, LLC. His focus was on remodels, not new construction. He’d always loved the weight of a hammer on his belt, wood beneath his hands, and sawdust on his clothes. He’d hired his crew and they’d already made a great start. He’d used photographs of his own apartment to start his portfolio. His dreams were falling into place. It had taken a lot of hard work and many sleepless nights to get there. The stress had nearly done him in at first.

  He was finishing his morning coffee before heading out to the new job, a large property on the edge of town. Staring at the map in front of him, he traced Meg’s route as he did every morning. She was in California now; the last package he’d received was from L.A. He knew Route 66 ended in Santa Monica. Did she go there? He had to assume she did. Was she on the beach right now? The waves splashing along her feet, the sand clinging to her golden skin? Was she alone?

  He tried to ignore how those thoughts made his gut clench. She was still thinking of him, that much was obvious. If she was over it, them, he wouldn’t keep getting packages. Logic told him that, but logic often had nothing to do with emotion. He’d told her he’d wait, and he would. He was a patient man, but the weeks had turned into months.

  After rinsing his coffee mug and leaving it in the sink, he snapped his fingers to get Baby’s attention. It was his signal they were leaving. He decided to make a quick stop at Sally’s before heading to the job site. He had a feeling that if Meg had kept in contact with anyone around here, it was her.

  After opening the door for Baby to hop in, he stowed his tools and headed to Sally’s. He wasn’t sure what time she opened, but he’d take a chance she was at her shop.

  Pulling into her lot, he was pleased to see the lights on, even though the closed sign was still flipped over. He left the dog in the truck and rapped his knuckles on the glass of the door. Sally’s face came into view, her bright smile triggering his own in return.

  “Well good morning, Drew! To what do I owe this pleasure? I assume you’re not in need of a party dress. Unless there’s something you’re not telling me?” she teased.

  “No, ma’am. I was hopin’ you’d have a few moments free to talk.” Her attempt at humor would have normally gotten a laugh out of him, but he was too anxious right now.

  “Of course.” Opening the door wide, she ushered him inside before closing and relocking it behind him. “You’ll have to talk while I work though, I need to get this new display done before I open.”

  He followed her deeper into the shop, the sea of lace and frills sparkling all around him. He would never understand all this girly stuff, but he sure appreciated the results. He thought back to the two dresses Meg had purchased here. Yes, indeed, he really appreciated the results.

  “I don’t have a lot of time before I have to get to work myself; my boss is a jerk.” He laughed with her.

  “Being a small business owner is no joke. Go ahead, out with it.” She waved him to continue as she slid plastic off dresses that were hanging from a long rack in front of her.

  “Have you heard from Meg?” He tucked his hands into his pockets nervously.

  Her heavy sigh was answer enough, but he wanted a response. “Yes.” Turning to look at him, he was struck again by her beauty. Her milk chocolate skin shone under the lights, a small amount of makeup accenting her flawless features. She had the class of a beauty queen with the spunk of a southern belle, even though she was from up North. Nolan was an idiot.

  “She called me a month or so ago. We text regularly as well. She asked me not to tell you, but I made sure she understood I wouldn’t lie if you asked me directly.”

  “Is she comin’ back?” He took a deep breath into his stomach, terrified of her answer, but unable to stop himself from asking.

  “Oh, Drew, honey. I don’t know. She never speaks about anything beyond what she’s done that day or where she’s going next. Anytime I ask her, she avoids the question.”

  He slipped his cap off, running a hand through his hair before settling the hat back into place. “Does she ask about me?”

  “Yes.” Sally walked to him then, gripping his arms. “Have faith. She’s not gone, just . . . a little lost.”

  “I know. I just . . .” He trailed off, the words hard to get out. “I miss her.”

  “She misses you, too. Why do you think she keeps sending you boxes? She doesn’t want you to forget her. So don’t.”

  Nodding, he thanked her and headed out the door, off to work, determined to shove thoughts of Meg back into the recesses of his mind for now.

  Chapter 46

  Meg

  The days in Southern California have turned into weeks. Each morning Boomer and I walk along the beach. He chases waves and seagulls, while I think about whether I’ve honored Brandon appropriately and what my next chapter looks like. Answers never seem to come.

  It’s December. Holiday decorations are all around me, although the beach is the opposite from a winter wonderland. I see families smiling and preparing for holiday activities, while I’m surrounded by solitude and loneliness, except for Boomer. Thank God for Boomer and my journal. Both have helped me get through the long lonely days and nights. I take a sip of my coffee and sit cross legged in the sand and look out across the Pacific. As I stare at that point in the distance where the water and sky seem to meet, a vision of Drew appears. With a grin and a twinkle in his eye, he calls out to me. “Come home, darlin’. It’s time to come home. I miss you.”

  I pull out my phone and plot a new course. I can be back in Mississippi in two or three days. Suddenly anxious to leave, I clip Boomer’s leash on and head back to my beach rental to pack up.

  Chapter 47

  Meg

  I pass the sign welcoming me to Green Springs. Feeling the last bit of weight lift from my chest, I pull into the familiar motel and park in my old spot. I don’t see his truck, and I’m kinda glad. I need a few moments before seeing him and see him I will. He’s it, the reason, my motivation. I left to finish my list, to honor Brandon. That’s over now. My attachment to Brandon faded a little more with every stop I made and every tour I’d gone on. Our goodbye took me across the country, but now I’m back where I belong.

  Leaving my bags in the car, I let Boomer out to pee, and we make our way to the office. I’m hoping to find Nana, also hoping she doesn’t whack me a good one with the long handled wooden spoon she keeps under the desk. If she does, well, I’ll take my licks. I tell Boomer to stay and pull open the door, The familiar scent of lemon furniture polish, with holiday scents mixed in, greets me as I step inside.

  Nana isn’t at the desk, but I know she’ll be out in a moment. I can hear the ringing bells of Wheel of Fortune playing in the back office. I wait by the desk, nerves settling into my gut. This could go very badly.

  I hear her walking out and I brace myself for her anger. “Meg?” Her voice cracks slightly with an emotion I can’t name.

  “Hi, Nana.” I smile, hoping I don’t look as scared as I feel. She doesn’t give me a chance to say anything else before she steps around the counter and pulls me into her arms.

  “I’m so glad you came home, child.”

  “You are?” I’m shocked to my core.

  “Drew needs you. He’s been doing better since he’s been getting your packages in the mail. He’s been holding out hope for you to return, but it’s wearing thin. He’s at a job site on the other side of town today. They’re renovating a house for the new owner of the grocery store.”

  “Yes, ma’am.” Tears burn in my eyes. I try to swallow the lump in my throat, but it’s too big.

  “You’re here to stay.”

  It’s not a question.


  “Yes.”

  “Go. Find Drew. Knock his socks off. Give me some great-grandchildren.”

  Laughing, I wipe the tears from my cheeks and hug her tightly. The tires of the Jeep chirp as I peel out of the parking lot. I drive like a mad woman to the jobsite, following the directions Nana gave me. I pull off alongside the road, parking a distance back from Drew’s black truck. Just seeing the truck makes my heart start knocking and my palms sweat. I remember all too well some of the things we’d done in that truck. I sit for what feels like hours, watching the crew moving around the site. Men come and go out of the house. I’m starting to realize Drew has followed his heart and reached for his dream.

  Steeling my nerve, I get out. I don’t make it past his truck. There’s a logo on the side, Brave Beginnings, LLC. He named his company for us. I stand near the front of his truck, searching.

  There he is.

  Drew.

  He has a navy blue ball cap on backward and I realize with a start, it is the Route 66 hat I sent him. He’s standing near a table, looking at papers strewn across the surface, a tool belt slung low on his hips. He turns his head to say something to the man next to him and I’m surprised to see a fuller, longer beard. He’d kept it trimmed before and now it seems he just let it go. It looks sexy on him and I can’t help but wonder what it would feel like on the skin of my thighs. I bury my hands into the pockets of my jeans, forcing myself to stop fidgeting.

  I take a step.

  Then another.

  My heart feels like it’s beating out of my chest and I keep wiping my palms on my jeans, over and over, not knowing what to do with them. Five more steps bring me to the edge of the yard. Ten more will put me at Drew’s side. I watch in fascination as he pulls his hammer from his tool belt in a smooth and practiced motion. The act is so masculine my stomach flips over. Like watching a guy drive stick in a sports car, it makes the woman in me take notice. The man standing beside Drew meets my eyes. A confused expression crosses his rugged features before he speaks.

  “Ma’am, can we help you?”

  I open my mouth to respond, but the words die in my throat. Drew turns and spots me. The hammer falls out of his hand, onto the ground.

  “Uh, you dropped your hammer,” I say dumbly, pointing at the grass next to his work boots.

  “Fuck me,” he gasps, striding closer to me, closing the distance between us rapidly. I think I’m going to throw up.

  “Now who has the filthy mouth?” I grin, unable to stop myself.

  “Are you really here?” His hands cradle my face as his eyes, the color of the sea, stare deeply into my own.

  “Yes,” I reply, gripping his forearms with both hands, holding on for dear life. “I’m really here.”

  “Why?”

  “Isn’t it obvious?” I smile lightly, my anxiety ratcheting up a few degrees. What if I’m too late? His hands leave my face, and he takes a step back.

  “No. It’s not.” Crossing his arms over his broad chest, he waits. “Assume I’m a dumb ass. Spell it out for me.”

  I laugh softly, not able to imagine Drew as anything but fiercely intelligent. “I’m being brave. I’m here to stay. If you’ll have me.” My voice cracks on the last words, betraying my inner turmoil.

  “Is your journey over then?” He relaxes his arms, resting his thumbs on the buckle of his tool belt.

  “No.” I swallow, tears again burning in my eyes. I blink rapidly, desperate to dispel them. I look at my feet, scuffing the toe of my boot against the grass. “I think my journey has just begun,” I whisper, too scared to look at him.

  “Meg.” I glance up at him, thankful I find acceptance there. I see need flaring in his eyes as they roam down my body, taking me in. I can feel him looking deep inside me, searching my soul. His hands reach out, grabbing me by both pockets of my jeans and jerking me against his body. I sigh in bliss; I’d missed this so much. His heat and strength against me, he cradles my face in his big hands. “Thank you for the gifts,” he whispers, his mouth a mere breath from my own.

  “I didn’t want you to forget me.”

  “Impossible.” His lips brush against mine, so soft I almost think I am imagining it. “I could never forget you.”

  “I thought maybe you’d wish you had.”

  His kisses me then. Hard and seeking. I moan into his mouth and my hands slide down his arms and along his chest. I fist his T-shirt in both hands.

  “Never, darlin’, I’ve been waitin’ for you to come home.”

  “I don’t deserve you and I don’t know if this will work between us, but I’m too selfish to let you go,” I say against his lips. He tastes just like I remember. Coffee and his own unique blend that I can’t describe.

  “I’m too selfish to let you.”

  He bends slightly, gripping me by the backs of my thighs and lifting me up. I wrap my legs around his waist and bury my hands in his hair, knocking his hat onto the ground. I kiss him again, our tongues dueling and fighting. I groan again, the feel of him, his smell, the sound of his breathing, all coming together around me in a chorus of want and need.

  Love.

  “I love you, Drew.”

  He growls against my lips, walking us through the yard to his truck. “Carry on boys, I have business to attend to at home,” he shouts over his shoulder. The sound of applause, shrill whistles, and catcalls reach my ears. I laugh as pure joy bursts through me.

  “Oh, God,” I groan, my face flaming with embarrassment.

  “Say it again.” Drew demands as he leans me up against the side of his truck, pinning me in place with his body.

  “Oh, God?” I tease.

  “Woman.” He tucks his face into my neck, biting softly. “Say it.”

  “I love you.” His eyes bore into mine; I’ve never seen him look so intense.

  “I love you, too. You’re it for me, and you have been since that night I knocked on your door. I need you. I want a life with you, I want to build my business with you, and maybe we’ll adopt a couple dogs and a kid or two.”

  “Drew.” I fuse my mouth to his, unable to get enough of him. I never want to let him go again. I bite his bottom lip, relishing the way he reacts, rocking his hips forward, rubbing his arousal against me. Hard. I hiss, rubbing against him in response. My body heats and my panties are soaked. “You still owe me wall sex. Oh, and about the dog . . . I’ve already got that covered.”

  He throws his head back and laughs, then slides me down his body. “Come on. I’m taking you and the dog home.”

  Epilogue

  Eighteen Months Later. . .

  Drew let out a shrill whistle. “C’mon, team, we’re gonna be late!”

  “Comin’, Daddy!” Their young son Marcus came toddling out the front door, followed closely by Meg and their two rambunctious German shepherds. Since they’d adopted Marcus the year before, their family now felt complete. The moment Drew and Meg saw him, they knew he was their son. After seemingly endless legal battles and mountains of paperwork and home visits, they’d finally been able to give him the Moyer name.

  As they all piled into the truck, Meg explained patiently to Marcus. “You guys are going over to Nana’s, while Daddy and I show Aunt Sally and Uncle Nolan some houses.”

  “Nana give me cookies?”

  Drew chuckled and tousled Marcus’s soft, jet-black curls. “You know Nana always has a fresh batch of cookies waitin’ for you.”

  Over the last year, Brave Beginnings had become quite successful, and with Meg’s design talents complementing Drew’s skills at demolition and construction, they were making a name for themselves renovating old and historic homes all over Green Springs. Having recently completed restoration of an old farmhouse outside of town to serve as their forever home, they were now eager to help Sally and Nolan find the home of their dreams. It would be interesting to see if those two opposites could agree on design and decor.

  It was a challenge they looked forward to. They’d already been through so much, helping
the couple, who’d become like family, pick out wall colors and flooring would be easy. Together they could overcome anything life threw at them, because they knew no matter what, they’d be brave together.

  The End

  Coming Soon: Sally and Nolan’s story in Book 2 of the Finding Love in Green Springs Series.

  About the Authors

  J. B. Havens grew up in central Pennsylvania. Her love of books started when she was young, reading the Little House on the Prairie books and Goosebumps, and graduated into Laurell K. Hamilton's Anita Blake series. Her favorite books span the spectrum of genres, everything from Stephen King's The Stand to Mark Tufo’s Zombie Fallout series and all the way to the romance. She’s a wife and mother of three. When not with her family, she’s writing, researching, or furiously reading on her kindle. She has a serious love affair with iced coffee, a good Philly cheesesteak, and hockey.

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  CA Miconi began reading at the age of five and has never stopped. Her childhood was filled with multiple readings of Gone with the Wind, the ultimate tragic romance. CA got her own happily ever after when she married her retired military hero, Gary, in 2010. She began her author services company, Lucky 13, in 2015 as a result of her love of reviewing, sharing, and talking about her favorite books, mostly romantic suspense and stories featuring strong alpha heroes, especially law enforcement and military. CA also hosts and sponsors author and reader events, and never dreamed she’d one day attend as a signing author. When she’s not reading, writing, or working with authors, CA enjoys traveling, spending time with her grandchildren, boating, motorcycling, and cheering on her beloved Baltimore Ravens.