Stacey Joy Netzel Boxed Set (27 page)

Looking anywhere but at her, he lifted his
shoulder as if it were no big deal. “The brooch belonged to your
family. Once I discovered it was the original and not a copy, I
didn’t feel right keeping it.”

“Was the broker’s fee enough to save your
shop?” she asked.

Now his gaze narrowed on hers. “How do you
know about my shop?”

“I stopped by the day after the snowstorm
and overheard you talking to your brother. Was it enough?”

He nodded once.

Before she could say anything more, her
mother stepped close and pulled her into a hug. Against her ear,
she whispered, “Ease up, sweetheart, he’s a good guy. And, by his
own admission, he’s a sucker for blue eyes.”

Jake gave Clara a strained look when she
turned and hugged him, too. She stepped back, reached up to pat his
cheek with a reassuring smile, and then addressed the both of them
with a hopeful grin.

“Are we done here then? My date has been
very patient, but I don’t want to push it.”

Loral gaped at her mother, and then leaned
over to look past her shoulder. Jake saw her eyes widen as she
spotted Phil Harper at a table across the room, watching their
exchange with unconcealed interest.

“Isn’t that the man who bought the
dragonfly?” she asked.

“Yes. He negotiated dinner into the deal.
Isn’t it romantic?”

Jake’s stomach lurched at the thought of
being alone with Loral. “You two should join us,” he suggested to
Clara.

Clara gave him a knowing look. “Nonsense.
You two have a lot to talk about, I’m sure. And I’m going to enjoy
the first date I’ve had in over ten years. You don’t mind, do you,
Loral?”

Appearing somewhat dumbfounded, Loral shook
her head.

“Thank you, dear, and Merry Christmas.” With
a teasing grin and a wink over her shoulder at them, she added,
“Don’t wait up.”

Pure astonishment reigned in Loral’s
expression as she watched her mother’s departure. Once her mother
joined Phil, Loral’s cheeks flushed and she cast a self-conscious
glance around the glittering room.

“I’m sorry, Jake. For what I said, and for
coming here like this. I...” She blinked and moved as if to brush
past him. “I should go.”

The combination of misery and remorse in her
voice gave him the courage to stand in her way. “You’re not going
anywhere.” He gestured toward the semi-private curved booth. “Sit.
Stay.”

She smiled, then sniffled as a tear cascaded
from her lashes. “What, are you going to throw me a bone?”

He couldn’t help lifting his hand to wipe
her moist cheek. “I didn’t mean it to sound that way. Loral,
please…?”

Her earnest aqua blue gaze searched his.
“You’re sure?”

“Would the begging be more effective on one
knee?”

“No—of course not. I just wanted to—”

He hitched up his pant leg and prepared to
kneel. She huffed out a breath and slid into the booth, but not
before he glimpsed another smile. Good. Progress.

The sound of tearing cloth reached his ears
at the same moment she froze. He watched her reach back to feel the
seat of her jeans, and then she twisted around while lifting up a
flap of torn material.

Lace edged black satin flashed before her
hand slapped the material back in place. A sensual rush of
awareness accompanied Jake’s slide into the booth next to her, but
she immediately pushed on his shoulder.

“Move. Let me out.”

“Not on your life.”

“Jake, I need to change,” she insisted.

“You’re fine.”

“But the dress—”

“We’ll save it for another night.”

“You don’t understand, the dress is in the
limo.”

She started to scoot around the long way,
but he caught her hand and pulled her back.

“Jake,” she pleaded. “I look
ridiculous.”

“You look perfect.”

Shifting closer, he leaned forward and
smothered any further argument with a kiss. He wrapped one arm
around her back, bringing her closer and increasing the pressure of
his lips to counter her initial surprise withdrawal. Seconds later,
her fingers crushed the lapels of his suit coat, giving her
leverage to return his kiss with the enthusiasm he’d missed every
moment since walking out her door a week ago. God, how had he
managed without her for so long?

Distantly, his consciousness reminded him of
where they were. The potted plants partially concealing their booth
didn’t give him near the privacy he craved. With reluctance, he
gentled the kiss before putting some distance between them.

Her lashes slowly lifted and her smile
dazzled. He cupped her cheek in his palm and brushed his thumb over
her red, glistening lips.

“Like I said, perfect. Some might even say
dignified.” He slid his gaze downward and teased her with a
grimace. “Well...except for the slippers.”

She laughed and shoved at his chest. “Oh,
shut up.”

“And let’s not forget the black satin
panties.”

Color rushed in, matching her cheeks to her
lips. Her gaze narrowed before she kneeled on the bench and leaned
forward. Anticipation of another kiss quickened his pulse, but her
lips bypassed his to tickle his ear.

“Watch it, or you won’t get to see these
panties for a long time.”

Her warm breath sent a shiver through him,
and then her knowing laugh made him groan.

“We can’t leave right now without your
mother figuring out exactly why, so before you drive me completely
crazy, maybe we’d better order.”

Looking entirely too pleased with herself,
she withdrew her hand and settled against the booth as she picked
up the menu. He was in the middle of scanning the appetizers,
hoping third time’s the charm for comprehension, when she sighed
and held her menu to her chest. He lifted an inquiring brow.

“About earlier…”

Jake began to shake his head, but she closed
the menu and set it on the table with a determined thump.

“I can’t help it, Jake. I need you to know
how sorry I am. I should’ve known better. Actually, I did, but like
you said, my stupid pride got in the way. Aside from not calling,
you’ve been amazing, and I—”

“Stop.” Setting aside his own menu, he took
her hand, and dug into the corner of his heart. “My mother died
last summer of cancer.”

Her eyes widened at his abrupt statement,
and then flicked in the direction of where her mother sat even
though they couldn’t see her through the plants. Jake squeezed her
fingers.

“Yes, I know. After we sold the dragonfly to
Mr. Harper, your mom told me what you two have been going though.
So, you see, while you may feel the need to apologize, I know where
it came from and there’s nothing to forgive.”

“I had no idea, Jake.”

“Which is why there will be no more
apologies. Promise me.”

Moisture brightened her eyes as she agreed
to his demand with a jerky nod.

“Now, will you accept
my
apology for
not calling?”

In the silence that followed his question, a
waitress arrived at the table with a bottle of champagne.
“Compliments of Mr. Harper.”

Jake held his impatience in check as the
woman poured a glass of the sparkling liquid for each of them
before setting the bottle in an ice bucket on the other side of the
table.

“Are you ready to order?”

He wasn’t near finished with their
conversation, but deferred to Loral. She pulled her hand from his,
flipped open the menu and made a show of looking at the items.
Suddenly she tilted her head toward him and caught his eye. He
didn’t say a word, just waited, and she turned back to the
waitress.

“Can we have a few more minutes,
please?”

“Of course. Take your time.”

Alone again, Loral shifted to face him in
the booth, her bent leg resting along the side of his thigh. “Why
didn’t you call.”

“Because I’m an idiot?”

“No.” She shook her head. “An hour ago, I’d
have agreed with you. Now I don’t buy it.”

“Figures.” He gave her a wry grin, fiddling
with his silverware. Explaining why he’d waited would reveal too
much, too soon, so he chose his words with care. “I should’ve
called you right away. I wanted to, but at the same time, I wanted
to finalize the deal so we could start fresh and not have all that
other stuff hanging over us.”

She leaned forward and laid a hand on his
leg. “That
stuff
is part of life and it’s always going to be
there in some form or another. I mean, the money will definitely
make things easier, but it’s not what’s making me happy right
now.”

His smile had nothing to do with the balance
of his bank account, either. “That mean I’m forgiven?”

“You going to call this time?”

“Honey, I’m going to call so often you’ll
quit answering.”

She laughed. “That’s not gonna happen.”

“Good.”

Instead of returning to his menu, Jake
reached to the middle of the table to pick up the item that had
arrived this afternoon via Fed-Ex and was now gift wrapped in gold
paper and tied with a black velvet bow.

“Now that that’s all settled, I have a
present for you.” It was hard to contain his anticipation as he
handed the box to Loral. “Merry Christmas.”

His excitement dimmed when she didn’t reach
to accept the gift. Her gaze met his, full of dismay. “But I have
nothing for you.”

“I didn’t expect you would. However, one
kiss after you’ve opened it will be more than sufficient.”

She rolled her eyes, but her smile returned
as he placed the box in her hands.

“Open it,” he prompted.

Her fingers toyed with the tail end of the
bow, but instead of pulling the velvet off, she dropped her hands
in her lap and lifted her gaze. “Honest to God, your shop really is
okay?”

Jake sighed, but gave the honest answer she
requested. “I’ll need to do come creative thinking in the next
couple months to increase sales, but for now, yeah, I’m good.”

She regarded him for another moment. Seeming
satisfied he’d told the truth, she removed the bow from the box and
lifted the lid. Nestled on a bed of more black velvet was the
dragonfly brooch. He heard her indrawn breath, watched her trace
the delicate wings with her finger. Her expression of wonder was
present enough for him.

Then those big blue eyes lifted to his, full
of confusion. “But I thought you sold it?”

“Look at the back.”

She turned the piece over. Jake caught a
glimpse of her smile before her hand covered her mouth.

“
Marcus Widener
. You had a replica
made.”

“Based on the dragonfly legend, it seemed
fitting. New beginnings and all.”

“It’s absolutely perfect, Jake. Thank
you.”

She leaned forward and brushed her lips
across his cheek before replacing the brooch in the box. He waited
for more, the gift had to get him more, but after setting it on the
table next to her place setting, Loral picked up her menu.

His gaze narrowed. “Really? That’s it?”

“The waitress will be back any moment,” she
said.

“Oh, come on. That kiss was insulting.”

Her soft, sultry laugh told him she’d teased
on purpose. Down went the menu. Next thing he knew, she was in his
arms, kissing him for all she was worth. Having just increased her
net worth, it was one hell of a kiss.

He had trouble catching his breath when she
sat back, and he shifted to a less confining position.

“Better?” she asked with a knowing grin.

Lord help him. He took a deep breath, ran a
hand through his hair to restore some order, then gave her a
crooked grin. “In the future, I will expect your undying love and
devotion, but for now, yeah, I guess you’re off the hook.”

Moisture shimmered in her eyes,
contradicting the sassy smile she gave him. “Aw, you really do like
me.”

Emotion rushed forward with dizzying speed,
blindsiding him. “I love you, Loral.”

His heart stopped, then raced.
Shit
.
He shouldn’t have said that. Not now. Not yet. God, he really was
an idiot. But then he noticed her playful smile held something
more, and he held his breath.

“Funny how the future can arrive—” she
snapped her fingers “—just like that.”

With his heart near bursting, he leaned
forward to bask in the naked emotion shining in her eyes. “Say
it.”

“I love you, Jake.”

“Now, you’re definitely off the hook.” He
pulled her into his arms once more and whispered against her lips,
“Merry Christmas to me.”

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You
may kiss the bride.”

Misty eyed, Loral smiled at Jake, captivated
by the light and love shining in his amber eyes. It’d been an
amazing seven months and still, each day, she knew the best was yet
to come. Today only reinforced that fact.

The minister held up a hand to quiet the
small crowd of cheering family and friends.

“May I present to you, Mr. and Mrs. Phillip
Harper.”

The bride and groom broke their kiss and
turned to face the church, a picture perfect couple after a
fairytale courtship. Her mother beamed on the arm of her husband as
Loral stepped forward to hand over the lilac-colored bridal bouquet
she’d held as maid-of-honor. The roses matched her mother’s dress
perfectly, a color she’d chosen to honor their
love-at-first-sight.

She gave her mother a quick buss on the
cheek and whispered, “Congratulations, mom.”

“Thank you, dear.”

As the newlyweds started down the steps, the
best man stepped forward to offer his arm to Loral.

“Ready, Mrs. Coburn?”

“Always, Mr. Coburn.”

Yes, it had been quite the seven months.
Jake had proposed in the lush, tropical greenhouse at the botanical
gardens in January. They’d gotten married in a small ceremony on an
unusually warm Spring day in April. And in May, Loral’s unsinkable
dream of opening
Dragonfly Dreams
came true.