Opening Her Heart

by Deb Kastner

  Physically, Jake was a good deal larger than Vic. Not that there was any way Jake would ever let it turn into a wrestling match, but should that happen, Jake knew he would win hands down. But it wouldn’t come to that. Jake’s glare was more than enough to make Vic stand down.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, I appreciate your time here tonight,” Jake said smoothly. “And I appreciate the extra time you’re giving me to speak with you. You’ve probably all guessed that when I first came to Whispering Pines, my job was to figure out what we’d need in order to make Marston’s resort a reality.”

  He paused and shot one of his award-winning smiles, first toward the crowd and then toward Avery, although she clearly wasn’t buying it for a second.

  “But then I met everyone. I shared in your church worship and fellowship. I visited your shops and restaurants—Johnson’s Sporting Goods and Sally’s Pizza, where I was treated not as a customer but as a friend. And I can’t begin to describe what that meant to me and my family.”

  He shook his head at all the pleasant memories. “I was absolutely amazed that you all even let the Winslows train their dogs around town, including in church. That takes a special kind of town.”

  After a slight bit of definitely suspicious and lightly scattered applause, Jake lifted his hands to quiet the room.

  “I realized what I was doing—what Marston was doing—would change everything here. Everything that makes this town special. All the things I really liked about Whispering Pines would go away within months of opening of the resort. So I decided for once in my life I needed to stand up and be honest with myself—and you—about what this really means.

  “I went back to some of the towns where Marston has built their resorts and interviewed actual residents to find out the truth about what really happens when Marston moves in. I was surprised by what I heard, and I’d like to share that with you now.”

  As he turned on his PowerPoint presentation, he glared down at Vic, daring him to speak up or try to stop him. The lawyer looked as if he wanted to but thought better of it.

  Jake’s presentation wasn’t nearly as long as Marston’s had been. Mostly it was faces and sound bites. Real people with real problems caused by Marston resorts moving into their small towns. Not a lot of fancy graphs and tables, although he did share some data on the damage Marston had done.

  After he turned off the presentation, he turned to the council. “That’s the truth. People—and whole towns—have been wrecked by Marston. Not only that, what Avery shared with you tonight is absolutely true. Endangered plants and animals aren’t even a blip on Marston’s radar. They may pretend to care about the environment if it gets them what they need, but at the end of the day, it’s all about the bottom line.”

  He glanced at Avery, wondering how she was taking all of this. It was all for her, of course. If not for her blowing into his life like a hurricane, he would never have seen Whispering Pines through her eyes. He wouldn’t have realized he was making the same mistakes he’d been making for years and realized the way he was hurting people in the process.

  He’d been completely blind to what Marston was doing—what he’d been doing. But now he knew the truth, and he was going to stand for that truth, even though it was definitely going to cost him his job.

  He had other ideas about how to spend his time, though. Better ways.

  His future lay completely in the hands of the woman across from him, who’d stood up when he finished his presentation, her hand across her throat and a stunned expression on her face.

  He’d definitely surprised her.

  He’d meant to, which was why he hadn’t said anything before now. In hindsight, perhaps that hadn’t been the best way to handle it. She’d had to sit through Vic’s presentation believing he was slicing her to bits.

  But the council and the crowd had needed to see Marston’s bogus presentation so that when they saw what Jake submitted as the truth, they would recognize that they were being taken and understand exactly why they needed to reject Marston’s offer posthaste, however tempting a temporary jolt in their economy might be in the short term.

  The fate of Whispering Pines depended on the mayor and the council knowing and acting upon the truth.

  And Jake depended on Whispering Pines staying the way it was. Because he’d come to love this small town with all its friendly people, the small, welcoming community church and, most of all, the Winslow family.

  Avery in particular.

  He planned to have his own family—him, his mother and Lottie—call Whispering Pines their permanent home.

  But first, there was something he had left to do.

  Chapter Fourteen

  Avery was shocked beyond words. Fortunately, no one had called upon her to speak, so she had time to gather her wits about her.

  When Jake had stood up, she was expecting her worst nightmare to come to life. Vic had done a reasonable job of presenting Marston’s side of the issue, but that was nothing next to what she knew Jake would be able to do when given the opportunity. He’d taken the time to get to know the people of Whispering Pines. He wasn’t just a face who’d suddenly appeared to argue a point. He was someone they’d spoken with, worshipped with, fellowshipped with. His opinion would make a difference.

  She’d believed he would bring it home.

  That he would close the deal once and for all.

  He’d closed the deal, all right.

  There was no way Marston would be building in this town. Not after everything Jake had just done to save it. Not one council member would listen to a word Vic or any of the other Marston lawyers had to say, nor would they give any weight to the presentation Vic had given.

  All those lawyers in their fancy suits and leather briefcases were sitting in their seats looking at least as dumbfounded as Avery felt. One of their own had turned on them in a major way.

  They had nothing left to say, no way to turn this to their advantage. Jake had made sure of that.

  Mayor Dillinger spoke up. “Jake, I’d like to thank you for being so candid with us this evening. I think we all know,” he said, gesturing to both the council and the townspeople, “what a sacrifice you’ve personally made to present this information to us tonight, and we want you to understand what it means to us that you chose to stand up and tell the truth.”

  “You’re gonna burn, Cutter,” Vic spit out.

  “Eh,” Jake said with a shrug. “This is Whispering Pines, Colorado, in late winter. All I’ve gotta do is stop, drop and roll and I’ll be good. The snow will extinguish any worries I might have.”

  Avery knew she was gaping. Did Jake seriously not realize what was happening here? He was as good as fired from Marston. The moment this meeting was adjourned, calls would be made, and Jake’s employment—something with enough benefits to make it possible for him to purchase Mustangs and high-end suits with obsidian cuff links—would be gone in an instant.

  She’d never witnessed an act of such bravery in her life. He had stood and told the truth, even if it meant his whole life would now crash down around him. The mayor was right. Jake had sacrificed himself for the good of the town.

  And yet he didn’t look as if he was the least bit bothered by that fact. That heartwarming half smile lingered on his face as his eyes momentarily caught hers.

  “Mr. Mayor, if you don’t mind, I have one thing left to say,” Jake said, his grin widening as his gaze swept the room.

  “Please.” The mayor gestured for him to keep the floor. “You’re more than welcome to continue.”

  “Avery Winslow,” Jake said, his soft Texas accent as warm and rich as honey.

  Avery started at the sound of her own name.

  “Avery Winslow,” he said again, “showed me and my family all about what living in a small town really means. She and her siblings opened their arms to us when they didn’t have to.” He stopped
as a slight chuckled emerged from his lips. “She really, really didn’t have to. And she had good reason to want nothing to do with me and mine, and she could easily have rejected us. Marston wanted to build right over the Meyers’ cabin, which, as many of you know, she wanted—wants—to turn into a bed-and-breakfast to assist the guests who are visiting A New Leash on Love to get a service dog.”

  He gestured at Sissy. “As you may have heard, my own family has benefited greatly from this service, so I know more than anyone just how important Avery’s goals are. The service dogs help so many people in so many ways. And though building a bed-and-breakfast is a longtime dream of hers, when all is said and done, her sweet, tender heart beats for the good of others.”

  He placed his palm over his heart and turned to Avery.

  “And my heart,” he continued, “beats for Avery.”

  Avery stood but felt as if she couldn’t move a muscle. Their eyes met, and she saw something glowing in his gaze she’d never seen before.

  Could it be?

  “Lisa Gibbons?” Jake called, and Avery’s best friend rushed forward, a pile of papers and folders in her arms.

  “Lisa has been so kind as to help me jump through the hoops of paperwork necessary to work out how Avery can purchase the Meyers’ cabin. I had no idea buying a house was so complicated.”

  Lisa giggled and threw her arms around Avery for a quick hug. Avery was so stunned at what was happening she still couldn’t move or speak.

  “But we have worked it out,” Jake continued, his tone sending waves of warmth and happiness through her. “The cabin has passed inspection, and it’s time to close on your dream house, Avery. You have a bed-and-breakfast in your future. Just sign on the dotted line, and it’s all yours.”

  “Jake,” she managed to choke out as tears burned in her eyes. “I—How did you—”

  “With a lot of help from your friends and neighbors,” Jake replied. “And I think you’ll discover when it comes to remodeling the cabin to suit your specific needs, you’ll find all the carpenters, plumbers and electricians you need, all willing to donate their services to the new bed-and-breakfast for A New Leash on Love.”

  Avery was seriously crying now, overwhelmed not only by Jake’s goodness in organizing this, but by all the people in this room right now, those who not only spoke love on Sunday mornings in church but showed it by the way they lived their lives.

  She was blessed in so many ways.

  And there stood Jake with his heartwarming half smile, drinking it all in and enjoying every moment of Avery’s surprise.

  But what about him?

  Had he given any thought to his own plans now that he was no longer working for Marston?

  He’d go find another position, she supposed. A man with his talent, skills and natural charm should be able to get any job he wanted, anywhere he wanted.

  And just like that, her moment of happiness was gone. Because she didn’t want him and his precious family to go away.

  Could she convince him to stay?

  * * *

  Jake had carefully planned every aspect of this evening, and so far it had gone off without a hitch. He’d been in cahoots with many of the helpful townspeople, and they’d all kept his little—okay, big—secret.

  He’d really won the day when he’d pulled the rug out from under Marston Enterprises. He’d thought at the time it would stress him out, losing his job and his way to provide for his family.

  But it hadn’t. If anything, it felt as if a heavy weight had been lifted from his shoulders as he realized that, for some time now, he’d known what he was doing just wasn’t right. Finally, he’d had the courage to stand up and say so.

  He’d approached Lisa to find out about purchasing the Meyers’ cabin. At first he’d thought to do it with his own money as a present to Avery, but Lisa had talked him out of that idea right quick. This was Avery’s dream, and she’d been working toward it all her life. It should be hers to claim.

  And now she could.

  Avery stared in confusion at the pile of legal papers Lisa had tossed onto the table, and then she looked from Lisa to Jake, her eyes wide.

  “What is this?” she queried again, either not understanding or more likely refusing to believe what was right in front of her eyes was true.

  “Your dream come true, sweetie,” Lisa offered. “Thanks to your man Jake here, all you have to do is sign, and we’ll close on the cabin first thing tomorrow morning.”

  Your man Jake.

  Wow, that sounded good.

  And that’s what he wanted most of all.

  “So, sign already,” he said, his voice rough with emotion. He cleared his throat and pulled a pen from the inside pocket of his suit jacket, handing it to her with a flourish.

  Avery met his eyes, and their gazes held for a long moment before she took the pen from him and scribbled her name multiple times where Lisa indicated.

  Jake stood back and let her have her moment, knowing the tears in her eyes were happy tears.

  “I—I—” she stammered when Lisa announced the cabin was really and truly hers. She turned to the crowd. “Thank you. Thank you all for everything. Not just for the cabin, but for allowing me and my siblings to train our dogs around town. You all mean everything to me, and I’ll never forget what you’ve done for me tonight.”

  The applause was deafening, and it warmed Jake’s heart until he thought it might burst from pride. This woman deserved all this and more, and he hoped that by God’s good pleasure, he could be the one to help give it to her.

  He’d made it through Marston’s presentation, even with his former Marston comrades glaring daggers at him. They had never been friends, anyway—not like the ones he’d made in Whispering Pines. He’d been able to stay focused for when it was his turn to tell the truth and expose Marston for what it was.

  He’d watched in the background as Avery was given her dream cabin, ready to build her bed-and-breakfast.

  More than anything, he longed to be at her side for that.

  To be at her side for always.

  As the applause started to die away, Jake pulled a velvet ring box from the inner pocket of his suit jacket and knelt just behind the woman he loved.

  “Avery,” he said, his throat closing around the word.

  When she turned, she didn’t immediately see him kneeling in front of her, a ring box open to display a large diamond solitaire surrounded by smaller stones that set off the larger diamond perfectly.

  Then she looked down, met his gaze and cried out in surprise.

  “Oh!”

  Her hands went to her face, covering her expression so he couldn’t tell what she was thinking.

  It was too late for him to back out now, after coming this far.

  “Avery,” he said again. “I—don’t have a job.”

  What a stupid thing to say. He was completely blowing this.

  “What I mean to say is that—that is, I want to—”

  “Yes,” she exclaimed, holding out her left hand to him. Her face was glowing, and the love in her eyes was shining through to him in a way even words could not. “Absolutely yes, yes, yes!”

  Jake felt as if someone had let all the air out of his body. Every muscle relaxed as he slid the ring onto her finger.

  The crowd was cheering so loud he could barely hear himself think, which he supposed was okay, since he was having trouble putting together a single thought, anyway.

  “Stand up, you,” Avery said, pulling him to his feet.

  He stood and held her hand up, admiring the way the diamond sparkled in the light. He kissed the spot where the diamond sat. Then Lottie ran to him and launched herself into his arms.

  “Hey, Lottie, what do you think of this ring?” he asked.

  “Sparkly!”

  “It sure is beautiful, isn’t it?
” Avery agreed. “Do you know what it means that Daddy gave me this ring?”

  “He wants to marry you and make you part of our family,” she announced, almost as if she was reading a definition out of a dictionary. “Except he didn’t.”

  “Didn’t what, sweetie?” Jake’s mom asked, joining them in the middle of the aisle.

  “Daddy didn’t ask Miss Avery to marry him. He needs to watch some of my cartoons so he can see how to do it like the princes do.”

  Jake’s face heated. He’d had every word and motion planned out in advance, but the second he’d dropped to one knee he’d become a blithering idiot. He’d blown the whole thing so badly even his three-year-old daughter had noticed.

  And of course he’d decided to propose in front of the whole town.

  Way to go, Cutter.

  Avery chuckled. “Those princes do have a one up on the rest of us, don’t they? But that’s okay. I understood what your daddy was trying to say, even if he didn’t say the words. I can’t think of anything I’d like more than to become part of your family. But first I want to know what you think about it, Lottie. It’s important to me that you want me to be part of your family, too.”

  “I get to keep Sissy, right?” she asked.

  “Of course. She’s a member of your—uh—our family, too.”

  Jake grinned so hard he thought his face might split, and that was nothing to say of the way his heart welled in his chest.

  Our family.

  She couldn’t have said anything in the world that sounded better to him.

  “Avery, honey,” he said, drawing her attention back to him and framing her face with one hand.

  She looked up at him with so much love in her eyes, he counted himself the most blessed man in the world. And he wanted to tell her so.

  He ran his thumb across her cheek as he spoke. “I messed this up big-time. I had it all planned out what I was gonna say, all these big declarations about my feelings and how I can’t live without you, and then my tongue got all twisted in knots, and I forgot everything. I love you, Avery. I think I have for a while now, although it’s taken some time to get into this thick skull of mine. You’ve changed my life, sweetheart, and all for the better. I want to share everything with you. My heart. My family.”