The Return Page 12

Jacob laughed and kissed her again. “I’ll go anywhere in the world you want, sweetheart, just as long as I’m with you.”

  A MONTH LATER, JACOB let out a groan as he sank down onto his new couch, the only piece of furniture (aside from a television now mounted on the wall) that he’d bought new when he moved into his apartment. The rest of the small place was furnished with what he’d kept from his grandfather. Bed. Bureau. Table with two chairs. And a hand-carved rocking chair near the window that Ria adored.

  Jacob liked his new place, although he was still trying to work on the kitchen in his spare time. Most of his time and effort was being spent on the commercial property, fixing up the currently occupied storefronts and the ones he was trying to lease. He already had two new renters—one that had already opened a “primitives” shop and one was a chiropractor who wanted to move her practice from a nearby town to Azalea. Jacob already had more money coming in, in addition to what he’d saved from the past few years’ worth of fishing hauls. When they closed on the sale of his grandfather’s house in a couple of weeks, he’d have even more savings.

  He was in good shape for the next couple of years, at which time he’d have to have either made the downtown property profitable or else found something else to supplement his income.

  He wasn’t particularly worried. Ria and her friends had some great ideas for this block. He was going to start slow, but he was excited about possibilities. He still went to bed every night exhausted from a day’s worth of hard work, but he woke up the next morning excited. Looking forward to what would come next.

  He’d never known life could be lived like that.

  Ria had come over a few minutes ago, and she came out of the bathroom looking gorgeous and relaxed in a pair of leggings and an oversized pink top.

  He gave her long legs an automatic ogle as she approached, and she giggled as she settled beside him.

  “I got sandwiches from Anna’s,” he told her. “I know it’s my turn, but I was too tired to cook.”

  “That’s fine with me. It’s been a long week for me too. Plus you’re going to have to do a bunch of grilling tomorrow for your cookout.”

  Jacob wasn’t sure how it had happened, but he’d somehow ended up being the host at a cookout this weekend. It wasn’t a huge affair. Just a casual get-together of friends of his and Ria’s (more hers than his since he was still working on making real connections there). But Madeline was coming, along with Skye and her one unmarried brother. Fitz, who Jacob had discovered he really liked, said he’d stop by for sure. And Ria was trying to talk Belinda into making an appearance.

  “Oh,” he said, remembering something. “I was talking to Ken this morning, and I invited him to come if he wanted. It’s not his weekend with his daughters, and I don’t think he has much of a social life.”

  “That’s good. I like Ken. It should be a good group. You do feel okay about having everyone over, right?”

  He frowned down at her, trying to read what was underlying her question. “Of course. Why wouldn’t I?”

  “I don’t know. It’s just that you’ve kind of been thrown right into the middle of Azalea—because you’re dating me. And I just want to make sure you don’t feel like it’s too much. Like I’m pressuring you into—”

  “Oh my God, Ria, of course not.” He laughed and nuzzled her hair, pulling her closer to his side and leaving his arm around her. “I want this. All of this. I haven’t had it in a really long time. You’re not pressuring me into anything.” He paused, a little hesitant about saying something so vulnerable. But he said it anyway. “Everything that comes with you, sweetheart, is a gift.”

  Her face twisted with obvious emotion, and she stretched up to kiss him. The kiss took a decidedly carnal turn, and it wasn’t long before he’d taken all of Ria’s clothes off and he had her straddling his lap, naked and eager as she rode him. (She was the one who thought about making him sit on a throw blanket so they didn’t mess up his new couch.) He made sure she came before he did, and he sprawled out on the couch afterward, holding her warm body tightly against his.

  He honestly hadn’t known it was possible to be so perfectly satisfied.

  Just as he was processing that rather sappy thought, his stomach growled loudly.

  Ria giggled. “I guess that’s a sign that we should eat.”

  “In a minute,” he murmured. “Let me hold you a little longer.”

  She lifted her head to gaze down at him, her warm, generous heart spilling over in the look.

  Spilling over for him.

  Then she said, “As far as I’m concerned, you can hold me as long as you want.”

  That was the plan. Jacob was planning to hold on to her for the rest of their lives.

  Epilogue

  THREE MONTHS LATER, Ria, Skye, and Madeline were working late on a Friday afternoon. They were doing the flowers for a wedding the following day, and that always meant a rush of work on the day before.

  Since it wasn’t a particularly elaborate wedding, they had most of it under control. As soon as they finished the final bouquets, all that would be left was the setup at the church the next morning.

  For the third time in the past thirty minutes, Ria glanced at the clock, hoping they’d be done in time for her to grab a quick shower before her date with Jacob that evening. They spent most evenings together now and almost always spent the night at either one or the other of their places. But he’d made a big deal about asking her to go that evening, and she wanted to make sure she looked nice.

  If worse came to worst, she’d text and say she was running a few minutes late. Hopefully he hadn’t made reservations at a restaurant that would be thrown off by a short delay.

  “You can just take off,” Madeline said when Ria turned back to the bridal bouquet she was wrapping. “Skye and I can take care of the bridesmaid’s bouquets. You’ve got all the flowers sorted already, so we can just wrap them off. No problem.”

  Ria hesitated, torn and tempted both. “I shouldn’t leave y’all with—”

  “Go!” Skye said loudly. “You’re going to drive us crazy with your antsiness.”

  “I haven’t been antsy.” Ria frowned. “Have I?”

  “Maybe a little,” Madeline admitted with a laugh. “So Jacob has something big planned for tonight.”

  “I don’t know. He just made a point of asking me. Said it was a surprise. He’s not always super romantic that way, so I didn’t want to... Are you sure?”

  “Yes! It’s fine.” Skye took the bridal bouquet from Ria’s hands and wrapped the last bit of the stem as she spoke. “We’ve done millions of these bouquets over the years. We’ve got it.”

  “Millions might be a bit of an exaggeration, but we definitely know what we’re doing.” Madeline smiled and put a soft hand on Ria’s arm. “Seriously. Go have fun with Jacob tonight.”

  “And you’re really okay?”

  Madeline evidently understood Ria’s shift in tone and expression. “I’m fine. How many times do I have to say it? Josh and I have been broken up for almost three months. I really don’t care if he has a date tonight. Good for him. Maybe now everyone in town will stop thinking I broke the guy’s heart.”

  “I’m not worried about his heart. I’m worried about yours.”

  “I know. But my heart is doing just fine. I feel like I’ve left him completely behind at this point. I’m ready for something new—as soon as that thing makes itself known to me. The truth is I did love him, but I’m not sure if I was really in love with him. Honestly, I don’t even miss him. Is that bad?”

  “No, it’s not bad. It’s good. And it’s confirmation that you did the right thing by ending the relationship, even though I know it was really hard for you.” Ria relaxed and stood up. “Okay. I’ll leave so I can take a shower and be ready on time for Jacob. Thanks, you guys. You’re the best.”

  Madeline rolled her eyes. “Don’t get mushy on us. Save the mushiness for Jacob.”

  Ria figured that was very good advice. />
  JACOB PICKED HER UP at seven on the dot, and he surprised her by driving out of town and to the little park by the lake nearby.

  “What are we doing here?” she asked, looking around at the nearly empty parking lot. She was starting to get an idea, and it made her heart race in excitement. “The park closes as soon as it gets dark.”

  Jacob’s hazel eyes were soft and warm. “Sweetheart, you know perfectly well we’re not here to go to the park.”

  She gulped. “Oh. Our spot?”

  “Our spot.”

  They got out of Jacob’s grandfather’s old pickup truck—which he’d been driving ever since he’d returned—and walked toward the hill on the other side of the lake. Ria was wearing a cute little dress and her favorite pair of high boots. Not exactly ideal for a walk up a hill, but it wasn’t a steep grade or any great distance. She did fine. She didn’t need Jacob’s supportive hand on her back, but she enjoyed it anyway.

  “October is kind of cool for sex on a blanket,” she said with a teasing smile. “In case that’s what you had in mind.”

  He gave her an exaggerated narrowed-eyed glare that made her giggle.

  He wasn’t carrying a blanket. He wasn’t carrying anything. She wondered where he was imagining they’d sit when they got to their spot. Surely he wasn’t picturing them sitting for any length of time on the ground on a cool autumn evening.

  He’d planned tonight, however. He’d probably left a blanket and bottle of wine or something up at their spot. Something good was going to happen this evening. She could feel it.

  She was ready for it.

  The past three months had been the best of her life. After Jacob had returned from Alaska ready to commit to her, she’d had no more doubts. This was real, and it was going to last. She could count on it. Invest in it. Rest her heart in it.

  Maybe nothing was certain in life, but she was sure of Jacob at least.

  When they reached the top of the hill and circled around one of the big boulders, Ria froze, her breath caught in her throat.

  Jacob had done more than leave a blanket and a bottle of wine.

  There was indeed a blanket, spread out and covered with a lovely picnic, crystal glasses, and a chilled bottle of champagne. And the whole spot was surrounded by lit candles and pink roses.

  “Jacob!” she gasped, her eyes flitting between the beautiful scene and Jacob’s slightly sheepish smile.

  “I wanted to make it perfect,” he said, his voice slightly hoarse from what she knew was emotion.

  “It is perfect! How did you get all these candles to stay lit for all the time it took to pick me up?” Maybe that was the most insignificant of details, but that was the question that came to her first.

  “I didn’t. Fitz lit all the candles.” Jacob glanced at his watch. “Exactly four minutes ago. We had to practice to work out the timing.”

  She’d raised a hand to cover her mouth, and now she made a little giggle behind it. “You practiced?”

  “Of course. I told you. I wanted it to be perfect.”

  “What exactly did you want to be perfect?”

  His mouth twisted slightly. “You know.”

  “So you aren’t going to... going to say it?”

  “Of course I’m going to say it.” He cleared his throat. Looked just slightly self-conscious as he lowered himself to one knee.

  Ria made a ridiculous little squeak. Her heart felt like it might just race out of her chest.

  Jacob’s heart was in his eyes as he said, “I love you, Ria Phillips. I’ve never loved anyone else, and I never will. You forgave me when I didn’t deserve it, and I’ll spend the rest of my life making sure you never regret it. So will you marry me?” He held out a pretty diamond ring in a small box.

  She hugged her arms to her chest, shaking helplessly. She tried to speak but couldn’t force a sound out through the lump of emotion in her throat.

  After a few moments, Jacob’s hand holding the ring wobbled slightly. “Is it too soon?”

  The slight concern on his face and in his voice broke the tension holding her response back. She burst out, “No! I want to marry you so much! I say yes. Yes, yes, yes!”

  His face softened in a shattering kind of relief. He reached out both arms, and she went into them.

  It was a few minutes before they extricated themselves from their embrace enough for Jacob to slip the ring on her finger.

  Perfect. She giggled and cried just a little when she saw it on her hand.

  “So it’s really not too fast?” Jacob asked, reaching over for the champagne and popping the cork. “I know three months isn’t that long.”

  “No. It’s not too fast at all, and we’ve been together way, way longer than three months. To tell you the truth, I kind of felt ready as soon as you returned from Alaska, but I’m glad we had these months to be together. To get used to being a couple. Now feels like exactly the right timing.”

  “That’s what I thought too.” He handed her a glass and then leaned against the boulder, pulling her to his side and keeping his arm around her. “I wanted to ask you right away, but I made myself wait. Now I’m glad I did.”

  She leaned over to kiss his jaw. “Me too.”

  They stayed in their spot for most of the evening, eating, drinking, laughing, kissing, and making plans for their future. Ria couldn’t remember ever being happier.

  And the next day they got to tell everyone in town that Azalea’s most tragic love story had finally gotten a happy ending.

  AUTHOR’S NOTE: The Second Chance Flower Shop series continues with the second book, The Rebound. You can find an excerpt from it on the following pages.

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  Excerpt from The Rebound

  MADELINE ENDED UP HAVING a fabulous day. She got to Richmond around lunchtime, so she went to one of her favorite restaurants and had lunch before heading to the store. There, she spent two hours and ended up buying an armful of book. Only two were higher than her normal price range, so the purchases didn’t even make her feel too guilty.

  She stopped for a frozen coffee drink for the drive home. The sun was out. The day was deliciously warm with a touch of autumn briskness in the air. She rolled down her windows and turned music up loud, singing with some of her favorite songs on the drive home.

  Most of the route was a two-lane country road without much traffic. It was mostly straight and mostly flat, so nothing slowed her down.

  So, yes, she was driving too fast. She’d been having fun. Feeling as wild as it was possible for her to feel.

  Free.

  And it all came crashing down like a load of bricks when she saw flashing lights on the car behind her.

  Damn it all to hell. She knew the car that belonged to those flashing lights. It was the county sheriff, and he was pulling her over for speeding.

  She slowed down and pulled over onto the shoulder immediately, taking a few deep inhales and trying to control her suddenly ragged breathing. She was a rule-follower by nature. She’d never gotten a speeding ticket before. And stupidly it was the idea of being caught doing something wrong that upset her a lot more than the fine she’d have to pay.

  She should have known her one pitiful attempt at freedom would end like this.

  With Ken Harley giving her a ticket.

  Ken had been elected sheriff five years ago and reelected last year. She’d known him most of her life, since he’d been a sheriff’s deputy when she’d been a teenager. He was a nice-looking, easy-going man in his mid-thirties. Although he was older than them, he occasionally hung out with her social group, since he was friends with Ria’s fiancé, Jacob.

  It was pretty em
barrassing that he’d just caught her speeding.

  She looked back in her rearview mirror and saw he was getting out of the blue, unmarked sedan he always drove.

  He was a big man with broad shoulders, long legs, and thick thighs.

  She gulped, looking at him approach in her side mirror. She wasn’t sure why she was thinking about the breadth of his thighs, but they looked very fine in the tan trousers.

  The uniform also consisted of a brown button-down shirt and a jacket with a sheriff’s star on the chest. It wasn’t the most attractive of outfits, but he managed to wear it well. He had light brown hair that gleamed gold in the sun. It looked like he needed to shave.

  She stared at him speechlessly as he approached her window.

  When the holy hell had Ken Harley gotten so hot?

  She was in such a jittery state that she didn’t realize her window was still rolled up until he leaned over and tapped on the glass.

  Her cheeks burning, she rolled it down. “Sorry. Sorry. Sorry.”

  Oh, she was brilliant when she was flustered. No doubt about that.

  His expression was perfectly sober, but there was a clever gleam in his eyes as he bent over further to talk to her through the window. “What’s going on here, Ms. Jenkins.”

  He always called her that. He had since she was sixteen years old. Even though she was used to it, for some reason it bothered her today. Like he was treating her like a boring old spinster instead of an attractive young woman.

  She wasn’t as pretty as Skye or Ria. At least she’d never believed herself to be. She had shoulder-length hair in a medium blond, steel-gray eyes, and a curvy figure. She wasn’t bad looking, but she also wasn’t gorgeous.

  But still... Ken didn’t have to treat her like he would his grandmother.

  “Nothing’s going on.” Because she was off-balance, her tone was a bit more defiant than it normally would have been. “I was driving too fast. Go ahead and give me a ticket.”

  Ken’s eyes were very blue. Much bluer than she’d realized before. They scanned her face with a close scrutiny that left her feeling confused and vulnerable. “It’s not like you to speed. So why don’t you tell me what’s bothering you so we can take care of it?”