Hawthorne Harbor Box Set

by Elana Johnson

  She was planning another trip up to Seattle for the holidays, and Bennett picked up his phone and called her. She’d been working in her studio, producing a few paintings and a few pots and selling them in an online shop. Mabel had also agreed to house several pieces as a permanent display at the Mansion, and Jennie had sold enough to keep herself in Hawthorne Harbor for another month.

  He wouldn’t be surprised if she was elbow-deep in clay and couldn’t answer. But she did, with “Hey, Bennett.”

  His whole body turned soft at the sound of her voice. “Hey there, beautiful.”

  “What’s up?”

  He straightened, spurred on by the tone of her voice, which said she was busy but had answered anyway. “So when are you going to Seattle?”

  “I’m driving up on the twenty-third,” she said. “I’ll be back on the twenty-seventh.”

  “So could we celebrate Christmas together on the twenty-second?”

  “Yeah, sure. You know I can’t cook, right?”

  Bennett chuckled. “I’m aware. But let’s have dinner at my place. I’ll grab something and we can exchange gifts.” His throat turned dry at the thought of giving her an engagement ring in just eight days.

  “Sounds great. You’re not working today, right?”

  “Just in the shop.”

  “So when I finish these pots, let’s go get something to eat.”

  “Just text me.” Bennett got back to work after the call ended, determined to have the best early Christmas celebration in history. And that meant a phone call to Mabel to order a dinner for two from her kitchen and to ask about the paintings Jennie had left on display at the Mansion.

  “There are several,” Mabel said.

  “Great, I’ll come pick one out later today.”

  “So you want a dinner for two for the twenty-second. From the wedding menu.”

  “That’s right.”

  Mabel sighed, but it was filled with all kinds of happiness. “I’m so glad you didn't let her push you away.”

  Bennett chuckled and watched the dogs roll around on the grass. “I almost did, Mabel. She was gone for a while there.”

  “But she came back.” Sadness touched her words now, and Bennett wondered what was behind them.

  “Yes,” he said. “She did.”

  “I’m happy for you two.”

  “Thank you, Mabel.” Bennett hung up and faced the next item that needed to be accomplished before his romantic evening: finishing the jewelry box.

  “Jennie,” he said under his breath as he measured and made marks on the wood. “Will you marry me?”

  He shook his head. “No, gotta say I love you first.” He took a deep breath and took the measured and marked wood over to the table saw. “Jennie, I love you.” He looked out the open door of the wood shop to the cloudy sky beyond. “I love you so much. Will you do me the favor of being my wife?”

  Yeah, he didn’t like the order of those words either, and the shrill shriek of the saw forced him to focus on the task at hand, lest he lose a hand.

  Maybe presenting her with the gift would be enough. Maybe he didn’t have to actually say the words.

  He glued and clamped the small pieces together, knowing full well he’d need to say the words. Honestly, they shouldn’t be so stressful. He’d said them before.

  But not to Jennie, and that was the real difference.

  Chapter Twenty-Eight

  Jennie clutched her present nervously, wishing she’d taken the time to unwrap it and re-do the job so it was prettier. She shouldn’t have trusted Marge at the hardware store with her gift-wrapping needs, but it had been a free service. Still, the white paper with black wrenches all over it didn’t seem all that festive, and Jennie felt like it was a dead giveaway as to what was inside.

  She knocked on Bennett’s carport door and went in, admitting defeat. She couldn’t change the paper now.

  Soft music played from the speakers in the living room, and the scent of roasted meat and something sweet hung in the air.

  “Bennett?” she called, glancing around. His house was definitely clean, though it felt lived in too.

  “In the bedroom,” he called from the hall directly in front of her. “Be out in a sec.”

  At least she could prolong the moment until he saw the hideously wrapped present.

  She walked into the living room, where both dogs wore a festive red and white bandanna around their necks. She put her gift under Bennett’s tree, where several more waited. She hoped they weren’t all for her, as she only had the one for him.

  She turned, her nerves firing through her on all cylinders. She really needed to stop fretting over this. It was Christmas, and there were more important things the two of them could do to build memories.

  Her eyes landed on the huge painting—the huge, brand new painting—that now hung on Bennett’s wall. It had not been there last week, and it fit like she’d been commissioned to paint it just for that spot.

  She stepped around the back of the couch, the front door to her left and the dining room to her right, and admired the painting.

  She’d loved this one when she’d swept the bright reds and golds and oranges of the sunset over the ocean.

  He came out of the hall and spied her standing there. “Oh, you found my new painting.”

  Jennie glanced at him, at that little grin on his face, and looked back at the scene she loved so much. “I would’ve given it to you.”

  He put his arm around her waist and pulled her right into his body. “Nah. I can afford to buy it, and I needed to see Mabel anyway.”

  “About what?” she asked, her heart ba-bumping in her chest. Had he scheduled the Mansion for their wedding? Jennie herself had thought about doing it every day since she’d been back in town. Printing off the reservation and putting it in an envelope for his Christmas gift.

  She wanted him to know she was ready to try the whole getting married thing again. She wasn’t afraid of marriage. No, she was terrified of sending announcements, finding the perfect dress, getting all dolled up, and showing up to find the groom had bolted.

  But Bennett wasn’t Kyle, and she wanted him to know she trusted him.

  She hadn’t set the reservation though, somehow wanting a ring on her finger before she did.

  “Mabel made our dinner tonight,” he said, his lips dangerously close to her earlobe. “Do you know what this painting is called?:

  Of course she did. “Romance in Red,” she said.

  “It fits here, don’t you think?”

  Jennie did think so, so she nodded. “Should we eat first, or do gifts first?” she asked.

  Bennett took a deep breath and turned her toward him. He gazed down at her, all the love and happiness in the world right there in his eyes for her to see.

  “I’m starving,” he said. “Let’s eat first.” He laced his fingers through hers and led her over to the kitchen. “So I asked Mabel to make us a Christmas feast for two, with items from her wedding menu.” He cut her a quick glance, and Jennie’s heart did a little quickstep in her chest.

  “So let’s see what she sent us.” He lifted a piece of paper from its spot next to a tower of foil containers. “Herb-crusted chicken with mashed potatoes, baby carrots, and heir covert.”

  He put the sheet down. “I don’t even know what that means.” He laughed, and Jennie thought it was the greatest sound in the world.

  “Green beans,” she said. “And that sounds divine.” She was hungrier than she thought.

  Bennett didn’t go back to the paper. He got down plates and pulled open a drawer to get silverware.

  She started unveiling the food to find one filled with a delicious-looking stuffing that had walnuts and smelled like sage. “Gravy,” she said, marveling at the golden color of it. “And this paper says there’s cheesecake for dessert.”

  “Ah, that must be this one.” Bennett pulled a rectangular foil pan out of the fridge, and sure enough, when he peeled back the lid, there was an entire chee
secake, along with strawberry and chocolate sauces, and fresh berries to go with it.

  “There’s no way we can eat all of this,” Jennie said with a smile. “And I didn’t think we’d do a whole dinner at our wedding.”

  That got Bennett’s attention, and he set the plates on the table. “No? You just want to do a reception?”

  “The menu will be different. I know Mabel does a crepe bar as one of the choices.” Jennie brought over the silverware, napkins, and cups. “It’ll be cheaper.”

  “I don’t care how much it costs,” Bennett said, his voice low. “Remember how I don’t have a mortgage?”

  Jennie remembered, but she wasn’t sure she needed to feed the whole town as part of their wedding celebration.

  “Just don’t make a decision based on money,” he said, meeting her eye. “Okay?”

  “Okay,” she said simply. They moved all the food to the table and sat down beside each other. The stillness of this small town hit Jennie like a load of bricks, and she was so grateful to be back where there wasn’t so much traffic, so much busyness, so many people.

  Being in Bennett’s home with just him and the dogs felt as peaceful as anything Jennie had ever done, and after her first bite of creamy, buttery mashed potatoes, she said, “I think we should serve dinner at the wedding.”

  Bennett nodded and smiled, piling up a carrot, a bit of potato, and a bite of chicken all together on his fork. “So we’ll do the ceremony on the beach. Dinner at the Mansion, reception after that.”

  “Sounds like a lot,” Jennie said.

  “It’s a wedding,” Bennett said. “It’s the first day of the rest of our lives together. It’s meant to be a lot. To celebrate.”

  Jennie took another bite, the flavor of the stuffing and the chicken together enough to make her moan. “I want to sample all the food at the Mansion before we make a decision.”

  Bennett chuckled, and said, “I’m sure we can make that happen.”

  She ate until she was so full she couldn’t take another bite. Bennett lit a fire and turned toward her, that romantic music still lilting through the air. He really did know how to put together a fun, flirty evening for the two of them.

  “Presents?” he asked, only a sliver of nerves in his expression.

  “Sure,” she said. “But you go first.”

  He nodded and turned to the tree, catching sight of the hideous gift she’d brought. Heat filled her face when he laughed and lifted it up. “I can’t wait to open this.”

  She shook her head and smiled too, glad when he presented her with a box that was much bigger than something that might hold a ring.

  He sat beside her on the couch and said, “Open it.”

  Jennie lovingly took off the silver ribbon and slid her fingertips under the flap of paper he’d taped down. As the wrapping came off, she found a stunning jewelry box.

  “Oh, Bennett.” She traced her fingers along the edges, admiring the beauty of the redwood and the way he’d brought out the natural grain with a light stain.

  “It’s wonderful.”

  “I know you don’t wear a whole lot of jewelry,” he said, practically tearing the box from her hands before she could open it and see the intricate compartments inside. Knowing him, there would be a dozen of them, all perfectly sized for certain pieces.

  Before she knew what was happening, he slid to the floor, both knees hitting it as he set the box on the couch beside her and taking the lid off in one motion.

  “But I’m hoping you’ll wear this.” He plucked a ring from the box and held it toward her. “Jennie, I’m madly in love with you, and I want to marry you. What do you say?”

  Jennie took in the plainness of the ring, noting that he’d only bought a band and she’d get to pick out her own diamond. She drank in the hopeful sight of him before her, kneeling, begging her to be his.

  She wanted to hold onto this moment forever, so she took one more breath before a smile burst onto her face and she said, “Yes.”

  Bennett grinned too and put the ring in his palm. “It’s just a gold band. We can go get a ring in the morning before you go to Seattle. Or when you get back. Whenever.” He slipped it onto her finger, sure and shaky at the same time.

  She admired it, and then him, and she leaned forward to take his face in her hands and kiss him—kiss her fiancé for the first time.

  “I love you,” she whispered against his lips, glad she’d found the courage to get out of her own way so she could have this brilliant, beautiful man in her life.

  “And I love you.” He kissed her again, and she hoped she could distract him from her gift for a while.

  But nope. He pulled back quickly and reached for it before re-taking his spot beside her on the couch. “So I’m assuming this is for me.”

  “I didn’t even bring anything for the dogs,” she said, foolishness rushing through her.

  “Oh, don’t worry about them.” Bennett cast them a quick glance. “I’ve got about five things for each of them come Christmas morning.”

  Of course he did. Jennie giggled and said, “Look, it’s the thought that counts, right?”

  “Are you kidding?” he asked. “I just proposed. This better be amazing.” He shook it, and Jennie loved the playful look on his face.

  “Just open it and put me out of my misery.”

  He laughed and tore the paper off, not even trying to preserve it, because wrapping that ugly should be burned.

  “Hey, it’s a miter saw,” he said, wonder and happiness in his voice. “How did you know I needed a new one?”

  “Oh, you know.” She shrugged one shoulder. “Intuition.”

  Bennett cocked one eyebrow. “Who told you at the hardware store? Rusty? Or Walt?”

  “Rusty,” she said with a laugh. “Apparently, you spend a lot of time in the aisles making wishlists.”

  “I do not.” He gazed down at the saw again. “But I did have my eye on this saw. Thank you, love.” He kissed her again, and Jennie felt as if her heart would burst with love for him.

  “So,” he said, pulling her back onto the couch with him. She tucked her feet up under her body. “What date do you want me to book with Mabel?”

  “Let’s do early June,” she said. “I mean, if you can get that time off.”

  “It’s high fire season in the wild,” he said. “But I’m not on the wildfire crew. Sometimes it’s a bit tricky to get time off though, as we lose some of our guys.” He kneaded her closer, pressed his lips to her forehead. “But I’ll talk to the chief right away and put in a request.”

  Jennie snuggled into him, thinking he was the best present she could ever get. “I love you,” she whispered. “I’m so glad you took me back.”

  “Sweetheart, I’d do it all over again.” He sat up and looked at her, right into her eyes. “You know that, right? I’d do whatever I had to in order to be with you.”

  Warmth filled her from head to toe. “I know.”

  “I love you.” He matched his mouth to hers, and Jennie let herself fall into the love and passion of his kiss, knowing she’d have a wonderful life with Bennett Patterson, the man she’d loved for so long.

  * * *

  Read on for a sneak peek of THE OFFICER’S SECOND CHANCE, featuring Trent, a K9 cop, and the general contractor he hires to build his deck. Available now in Kindle Unlimited.

  Bennett and Jennie got their second chance romance! If you liked this book, please leave a review for it today.

  Join Elana’s newsletter to get deals on her books, notices of new releases, and free books.

  Sneak Peek! The Officer’s Second Chance Chapter One

  “Trent, party of two?”

  Trent Baker stood, wondering if he could get out of this date before it really started. Kathy was a brunette—his only requirement for his friends, who had been setting him up on dates for a couple of months now—but she wasn’t anything like the kind of woman he wanted to spend more than five minutes with.

  He knew, because they’
d been waiting for a table at the steakhouse for twenty minutes and he’d stopped talking halfway through.

  But he didn’t ask Kathy for a raincheck, because he’d never cash that in. And she didn’t act like she wanted to leave either. Maybe she just wanted ribs or the killer delicious rolls at Stan’s.

  Trent thought at least he’d eat well tonight, but he wouldn’t be getting a second date.

  Kathy carried the conversation, and Trent felt himself loosening up a little bit as drinks came, and then main dishes. He laughed with her when a couple on the dance floor started doing a professional swing and took a long drink from his soda, thinking maybe he just needed to open his mind to women he didn’t immediately click with.

  Her phone went off, and she said, “Do you mind?”

  “Go ahead.” He had his phone on the table too, because his six-year-old son, Porter, could need him at any moment.

  Of course, his sister who watched the boy had never interrupted one of Trent’s dates yet. But Kathy didn’t know that, so Trent’s phone sat on the table, screen up.

  Kathy twittered over something on her device, and she looked up and said, “It’s my boyfriend.”

  Boyfriend.

  The word echoed through Trent’s head, and he blinked at the woman across from him. Her thumbs flew across the screen and the look of joy on her face couldn’t be anything but sincere.

  “Boyfriend?” Trent finally asked, employing his police officer voice. Maybe not the one he used on his four German shepherds while he worked on their K9 training, but close.

  Very close.

  Kathy looked up, surprise on her face. “Yeah, Bruce?”

  As if Trent should know who Bruce was. Trent had been back in Hawthorne Harbor for four years, and sure, he worked for the police department. But he certainly didn’t know every citizen in town.

  “How long have you and Bruce been dating?” Trent put his napkin on the table, ready to flee this disaster. Ready to simply be a single dad for the rest of his life. He could raise Porter. He could. He could find some way to ease the loneliness in his life. He could.