Anything But Sweet (28 page)

He’d been afraid to let go.

She was right.

He wasn’t the only one who’d suffered from the losses. His mother had lost a husband,
a best friend, a lover, and her firstborn son. Jesse, Jackson, and Jake had lost their
big brother. And Diana’s parents had lost not one, but both their daughters. And yet
they’d all somehow managed to put one foot in front of the other and move forward.
He had not.

She was right.

His mother deserved to find happiness. And no one had the right to stand in her way.
His father had died. She hadn’t. She deserved to live and be happy.

Realization didn’t always come easy. Didn’t always come when it should. Since the
deaths, Reno believed his grief was a way to pay respect. To show his loyalty. But
all this time, he’d been nothing but a coward. Hiding behind the grief. Making excuses
for reasons not to live.

She was right.

He deserved to find happiness.

He glanced around the store. At all the thoughtful ways Charli had managed to preserve
the spirit of what had once been the heart and soul of his universe. Of what she knew
meant more to him than breath.

The realization came too late.

Charli was gone.

He’d lost again.

This time he had no one to blame but himself.

“I told her to leave it the way it was.”

Reno turned to find his mother in the doorway. Bright sunshine poured in behind her,
and church bells rang in the distance.

“I wondered,” he said, glancing up at a photo in the center of the new gallery. The
picture was of him and Jared sitting in a wheelbarrow laughing while their father
held the handles. “I remember that day.” He pointed to the photo and smiled. “Jared
and I thought we’d come down and give Dad a hand in the store. Guess we were more
trouble than help because Dad set us both in the wheelbarrow and wheeled us right
out the door.”

“I remember too. I took that photo,” his mother said. “I’d come down looking for you
two rascals. Right after I took that shot, your daddy wheeled you out to my truck
and tossed you both in the back with a smack on the behinds for scaring the living
daylights out of me with your disappearing act.”

Smiling, Reno nodded. “I remember.”

She closed the door and walked up to him. Cupped his cheek in her hand. “See that,
son? That’s what memories are supposed to do. They’re supposed to make you smile.
Warm your heart. They’re not supposed to tear you apart. Those memories—those smiles—keep
them alive.”

“That’s what Charli said.”

His mother nodded. Patted his cheek. “She wanted to put everything back the way it
was. Said she promised that’s what she’d do if you didn’t like the changes.”

“She did make that promise.”

“I told her to leave it. I think it looks wonderful.”

“So do I.”

“But that’s not what you told her.”

He shook his head.

“Why?”

“Because I didn’t realize until I stood in here this morning that these are all just
. . . things. They can’t bring someone back. And they can’t help you make new memories.
They’re just . . . objects.”

She smiled. “It’s so nice to see you finally get a clue.”

“Took long enough.”

“Better late than never.”

At the moment, he couldn’t agree. Because taking so long had now cost him more than
he’d been willing to lose.

“I’m sorry about last night,” he said, taking his mother’s hand. “I’m sorry to be
so selfish that I couldn’t see how lonely you’ve been.”

“I know, sugarplum.” She squeezed his hand. “I know.”

A sigh of relief expanded his chest.

“I’m probably going to date,” she said.

“Okay.”

She gave him a wistful smile. “I might even fall in love again.”

Surprised to discover how much that made him happy, he leaned down and kissed her
cheek. “I hope you do.”

Chapter 21

S
omething inside her had died.

Charli studied the little building in Lakeside, Oregon, that had been everything from
a grocery store to a video store. Currently, it was being operated as a restaurant.
A diner, to be exact. The exterior architecture was midcentury and the menu reflected
the era’s love of burgers, fries, and milk shakes. But due to the poor condition of
the building, it looked unappealing, and the customers had dwindled. Like the other
places she’d brought back to life, it needed her TLC.

Any other day, she could have come up with a quick design to make the best use of
what already existed. Today, she could not.

The production crew had rolled into town a few days before. She’d done some preliminary
sketches from photos the location scouts had given her. But as easy as black-and-white-tiled
floors with red 1950s soda-fountain accents might seem, Charli couldn’t get her mind
off a certain hardware store she’d left behind.

As she sat out front of the diner on the curb, the sun broke through a layer of clouds
and offered a ray of warmth on the late-summer day. Much to her surprise, the coast
in Oregon was much cooler than the beaches in Southern California. And the gloominess
did nothing to perk up her current funk.

She’d made a promise to Reno that she’d put the store back the way it was if he didn’t
like it. Well, he’d hated it. And then she’d skipped out of town, leaving it just
as it was. Jana—whom she’d not talked to since she’d left Sweet—had convinced her
that it would be fine. But Charli felt that she’d let Reno down.

And wasn’t that the crux of her funk.

In the end, they hadn’t aired the hardware store portion of the makeover. Any references
to Wilder and Sons or the Wilder family had been expertly cut as though they never
existed. Charli realized that was best. Later, down the road, she didn’t want to have
to see reruns that would remind her of what she’d thought she’d had with Reno, only
to be fooled once again.

She hadn’t gone back to the apartment to gather her things. T-shirts and tennis shoes
were easily replaceable. But the love she’d developed for Reno? Not so much. Somehow,
she’d move on without him. But it wouldn’t happen anytime soon.

In the meantime, she needed to find her happy place. After that, figuring out the
rest of her life should be easy cheesy. Then again, delusional was a very interesting
place to dwell.

She’d much rather be in Sweet.

While the crew inside the diner pulled down everything to the bare walls, Charli put
her head down, put pencil to paper, and began to sketch.

A
ray of sunshine danced over the top of Charli’s bent head as Reno parked his truck
down the street from where the production crew of
My New Town
had set up shop. There were trucks and trailers everywhere. Commotion swirled around
the oblivious brunette sitting on the curb, working away with her pencil and paper.

His heartbeat tripped all over itself at the sight of her. Though it had been only
a week, it felt like an eternity since he’d held her in his arms.

If she’d take him back, he’d never let her go again.

She was worth any risk, and without her, he’d be miserable. He’d never told her how
he felt. But that was a mistake he’d never make again.

He got out of the truck, closed the door behind him, and walked down the street. She
didn’t notice him until he sat down on the curb beside her.

“I’m not sure I’m ever going to get this right,” she said, sliding the sketch pad
over onto his knee. “What do you th—”

She looked up. Obviously expecting someone else, her mouth dropped open. “Reno.”

He smiled. “Hi.”

Confusion and surprise swirled in her eyes. “What are you doing
here
?”

“Looking for you.”

“Why?”

“Because I love you, Charli.” As he slid his hands to the sides of her face, the declaration
set him free. “And I want to be here or wherever you are. I want to hold you so tight
that I can still feel you after you leave. Feel your heartbeat against mine. Feel
your breath against my cheek in the morning when I wake up.”

Her beautiful face crumpled, and tears filled her eyes. He took her hands in his.

“You were right. About everything,” he said. “I’ve been hiding for too long, thinking
it was safer. Easier. Thinking I would be disloyal to Jared, my dad, and Diana if
I continued to live when they couldn’t. But then you came into my life, and you yanked
the lid off that box I’ve been hiding in.”

“Well, I am pretty good for ripping things apart.” Her beautiful mouth lifted in a
tentative smile.

“You’re good for
me.
” His lungs expanded, and his heart soared with liberation. “And I want to be good
for you.”

“I . . . don’t know what to say.”

“Say you still love me.” His hands tightened around hers. “Say you’ll give me a chance
to prove myself to you.”

“Oh . . .” Her hand lifted, and her warm fingers caressed his cheek. “Reno, you don’t
have to prove yourself to me. I do love you.”

Relief and exhilaration filled that dark, empty space in his soul as he bent his head
and lightly touched his mouth to hers. “At Paige and Aiden’s wedding, I told you I
didn’t have all the answers. I told you I wouldn’t make promises. Well, I still may
not have all the answers, but I’ll definitely make a promise to love you for the rest
of my life. I’m so sorry I didn’t tell you before. I wanted to. But—”

Her fingers trembled as she pressed them to his lips. “There are no deadlines on telling
someone you love them.” And then she smiled. “But if you don’t mind, I’d like to hear
it again.”

“I’ll say it as often as you want.” He smiled all the way from his heart. “I love
you, Charlotte Brooks.”

I
n the back of the Hummer, Bear and Pumpkin were cuddled up as Charli instructed Reno
where to turn. The quaint little bed-and-breakfast where she’d been staying had
a beautiful ocean view and a romantic terrace. She didn’t think the nice couple who
owned the place would mind a few extra guests. Even if one of them had fur.

“Are you sure you’ve got someone to watch the hardware store while you’re gone?” she
asked.

“Got it covered.”

“And you swear you like the changes I made?”

He clasped his hand over hers and squeezed. “Love them.”

“And your brothers won’t mind doing your share of the ranching?”

“I’ve covered them a mess of times. It’s their turn.”

“I’ll admit. I am going to miss seeing you up on that horse with that hat and those
spurs on.” She smiled and leaned across the seat to steal a kiss. “You are one hot
cowboy.”

“If you like them that much, I’m sure I can arrange something.”

She laughed. “At least I’ll only have to wait a few weeks.”

“Where to after that?” he asked.

“Home.”

“Home?” He glanced at her, then turned into the driveway of the B&B. “You don’t have
another location after this?”

Her heart was so full she could hardly keep the smile to herself. “Didn’t I tell you?”

“Uh-uh.” His brows came together as he parked the Hummer and turned in his seat.
In the back, Pumpkin and Bear popped up and wagged their tails. “How about you tell
me now.”

“The show goes on hiatus.”

“For how long?”

“For me? Forever.”

One dark brow shot skyward. “Some clarification would be helpful.”

“I’m at the end of my contract. And I’m not going to return to the show.”

His head went back. “Why?”

“Because I have other plans.”

“Like?”

“I’ve always wanted to open my own antique-and-design shop. So I thought I might
put an offer on that ramshackle Victorian on Main Street.”

“In Sweet?”

“Yeah. I talked to your mom about my idea during our Margarita Fest. She might be
interested in becoming my partner.”

“Sounds like a great idea.”

“I’m thinking of naming the shop Miss Giddy’s Country Junk.”

“You’re naming it after a
goat
?”

“Of course,” she said, making the idea sound so logical.

He smiled. “So that means you plan to stay a while?”

“I told you I love it there.”

His dimples flashed. “And I love
you
there.”

“Me too.” She leaned toward him and ran her fingers up the buttons on his shirt. “Although
I hear Jackson moved back into his apartment, so it looks like I might need a place
to stay. Think you can be there for me?”

Her heart danced as he dragged her into his arms.

“For the rest of my life.”

About the Author

CANDIS TERRY was born and raised near the sunny beaches of Southern California and
now makes her home on an Idaho farm. She’s experienced life in such diverse ways as
working in a Hollywood recording studio to chasing down wayward steers. Only one thing
has remained the same: her passion for writing stories about relationships, the push
and pull in the search for love, and the security one finds in their own happily-ever-after.

Please visit her on the web at www.candisterry.com and connect with her on Facebook
and Twitter.

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