Chapter One

“We need a new name,” my sister said with a solemn tone. She stared up at the tattered sign above the bakery we’d both spent so much time in as a child.

“What’s wrong with the name?” I asked.

Kayla swept her dark auburn hair from her shoulder as she contemplated my suggestion.

“Everyone knows this place as Nanny’s Cupboard,” I pointed out.

Kayla sighed. “Lucy, this is our place now. We have to make it our own.”

I watched her unlock the front door. I stood at the entrance as she walked inside. It felt strange without Nanny there. I still couldn’t believe she was gone.

Kayla ran her hand along the top of the stainless steel counter. Her eyes were bright blue in the sunlight, and as she turned toward me, it was obvious she was fighting back tears. This was her place, her dream. I wasn’t sure where I fit into it. Our grandmother left the place to both of us, but in reality, Kayla was the one who belonged here.

“This is your dream, Kayla,” I said softly, ready to bow out of the inheritance given to me.

“You said you wanted to open a business here,” she argued.

“Yes, one for my organic beauty products. Not a bakery. I don’t even know how to bake,” I laughed.

She rolled her eyes, but she knew it was true. She and our grandmother spent hours in this kitchen concocting up new and exciting desserts. I loved being up front, talking to the customers, but baking wasn’t my passion.

“Why can’t we do both?” she asked.

“A bakery and a beauty supply store?” I snorted.

“Why not?” she asked.

While I was away at college, gaining a degree in education, Kayla had been here, already knowing what her goal in life was and figuring out how to make it happen. I didn’t know what I wanted to do with my life until my third year into college, and unfortunately, it wasn’t in the education field. I wanted to make organic beauty supplies, using ingredients from my family farm.

I rushed home after graduation, started my own bee yard, and spent my time learning how to make scented soaps using goat’s milk and fresh herbs and flowers.

I’d worked hard on remodeling the old barn into my own studio apartment, building a greenhouse, and starting my business. Kayla had bought a house in town, just a few blocks from the bakery. She knew what she wanted. I finally knew what I wanted. How could the two dreams be combined?

“Bee-U-Tiful Bakery and Beauty,” Kayla boasted with a side smile.

“I like it,” I admitted.

My products were already branded with the Bee-U-Tiful name. My labels had a honeycomb background, and a cute bee flying over the name. But it felt as though she was selling herself short by offering me such a prominent position in the business name.

“What about, Eppes Sisters’ Creations?” I asked.

She sat down at one of the old booths. “I like it.”

“Then we can add Bee-U-Tiful Beauty Supplies, and Kayla’s Kakes on the window.” I finally started to get excited about the idea of having a storefront for my business.

“We have a lot of work to do,” she said, looking around the outdated bakery. “But she left us plenty of money to do what we need,” she added softly.

There was a savings account attached to the bakery, one that our grandmother had said we should use to make the place our own. I sighed as I remembered how hard I’d pushed her to make changes in the place. She loved it just the way it was, she’d say. But I knew now, she didn’t change anything so she could save that money to leave to us. She wanted us to be the ones who made the changes.

We spent the afternoon drawing up plans for the new building and working on ideas for marketing our new business. We decided to use a small section for my products, displaying them in the left window, while her cakes would be displayed in the right window. It was perfect, actually. I couldn’t wait to get started. 

By the time I left the bakery, my mind was swimming with excitement. I couldn’t wait to get back to the farm and start creating more products for the shelves we’d decided to buy. Kayla had all our grandmother’s original recipes, as well as the ones she’d helped her create. We decided to open the doors tomorrow morning, selling only her cakes until we were ready to remodel.

As I pulled up the long, dirt lane to my family’s farm, I noticed a strange vehicle parked next to the house. It was gold, an older model Cadillac, and once I was close enough to see the license plates reading ‘B Leive’, I knew it was my mother’s best friend Christine Collins.

Instead of rushing into my barn loft, I decided to check in the house to say hello. Christine was one of my mother’s oldest and dearest friends, and it was always a treat to see her. She spent most of her time travelling, speaking to large groups about the powers of positivity. Her influence in the field of motivational speakers was exceptionally strong, and every time she visited, she left my mom in a better place.

“Is that Christine I hear?” I called out into the empty living room.

My mother and Christine’s voices carried down the long hallway from the kitchen. “Lucy?” Christine’s voice echoed through the old farmhouse until she appeared in the doorway.

“My sweet Lucy,” she said, opening her arms to embrace me for one of her amazing hugs.

She smelled of vanilla as she pushed my nose into her shoulder. “Look at you,” she said, pulling me back to give me a once over.

“What brings you here?” I asked, blushing from her complimenting eyes.

“Well, as a matter of fact, you do, Lucy,” she said with a warm smile.

“Me?” I asked, confused as to why her visit would have anything to do with me.

“Oh, yes,” she exclaimed, gripping my hands tightly into hers.

She pulled me into the kitchen where my mother was enjoying a cup of tea. My mother smiled at me endearingly as Christine guided me into a seat at the table.

“I have news,” Christine said. “Great news,” she added.

I looked at my mother, trying to get a jump on this surprise. Annette Eppes was solid as a rock, not allowing me even a glimpse into her mind. I stared at my mother, her dyed-blonde hair making her look so much younger than Christine, with her salt and pepper locks, who was actually a year younger than my mother.

“I met someone,” Christine blurted out, taking the seat next to me.

Her eyes were locked on to mine, her expression excited, but confusing to me. “That’s great,” I said, still wondering why this had to do with me.

I chuckled under my breath as she continued to stare at me so intensely.  Her energy was intimidating, which was making me nervous. Her grip was still tight on my hands, and her eyes still blasting through me. “I’m very happy or you,” I said softly, trying to gently pull my hands from hers.

She laughed. Her laugh was boisterous, wild, and infectious. She had the kind of laugh that you’d hear from several rooms away, and even though you didn’t know what was so funny, you’d laugh too.

My hands shook loose from hers as my laughter joined with hers, still not knowing what we were laughing about.

“Not a man for me,” she sighed. “I met the perfect man—for you.”

Oh, hell!

Christine Collins was notorious for her match-making skills. I had to admit her success rate had me intrigued, but with the bakery-and-beauty store, there was just too much going on right now for a man.

“I’m flattered. But I don’t need a man,” I said sternly.

“Of course you don’t need a man. I never set up people who aren’t ready for a real relationship,” she said with an eerie seriousness.

How did Christine Collins know if I was ready or not? I barely saw her, and when I did it was only for a short visit. She’d stop and say hello, sometimes stay a day or two before she was off to a booked hall where she’d speak about love, business, or even holistic healing.

“And I’m ready?” I laughed.

Her expression tightened as she stared into my eyes. “Yes. I believe you are,” she said.

My mother sipped her tea, barely lifting her blue eyes from the cup. I wondered how much she had told Christine about my life.

“After Jimmy, we were all proud of you for moving on with your life. You’re following your dreams, you’re finally on the right path,” Christine said.

Okay. It was obvious my mother told her plenty about my life.

I sighed. I pushed my head into my hands, giving myself a moment to absorb this intrusion into my love life.

“Jimmy was a deadbeat. I get it. But I have a lot going on right now,” I argued.

Christine pulled her phone from her designer bag, thumbed through her screen, and then pushed it toward me. “This is Silas,” she said proudly.

I took the phone from her, amazed at the image on the screen. He was muscular, chiseled, and wore a military haircut. The tight t-shirt he wore looked like it would shred from his body if he sneezed, and his dark, mysterious eyes that pierced through the digital image made my knees weak.

“He’s a hottie,” I admitted.

Christine laughed.

“Oh, honey, that picture doesn’t do him justice,” she said calmly.

My interest had been piqued. I hated to admit I was that shallow, suddenly interested by the man’s looks. “Where did you meet Silas?” I asked.

She scooted her chair close to mine, gripped my arm, and smiled. “I was speaking at a business seminar, and he came up after to ask me a few questions,” she said.

I was relieved it wasn’t one of her motivational rooms filled with people looking to find love.

“He’s a first lieutenant in the US Air Force, and a pilot,” Christine boasted.

“So, what makes you think he is perfect for me?”  I asked.

She explained how she felt something when she met him, a ‘vibe,’ she called it. They talked about business briefly, but once she found out about his history, his hopes for the future, she knew instantly that he was my soulmate. I was trying to hold back my laughter from her over-the-top personality. “How do you know he is ready?” I asked.

“He is,” she said with a smirk. “He wants to open a crop-dusting business like his grandfather, so he loves the small town life. He loves animals, wants kids one day, and hasn’t found love because he’s been so busy with his military career. He did have one long relationship, just like you, but she ended up being an unmotivated gold-digger who only wanted to marry him so she could stay at home and spend his money,” she added all in one breath.

It was a lot to take in. He sounded like a genuine guy, and Christine did have an impressive record for creating perfect matches.

“I don’t know,” I stammered.

“I told him I’d give him your number, if you agreed,” she pushed.

“I’m going to be so busy with the new shop, I don’t think I’ll have time to even meet him,” I said.

“That’s no problem. He’s stationed at Sheppard’s AFB in Wichita Falls, Texas,” she said calmly.

“He’s over a thousand miles away,” I laughed.

I looked to my mother, who smiled warmly. “It’s the age of the Internet,” she offered.

“Yes. Skype is amazing for long distance relationships,” Christine said.

“I don’t know if I even want a relationship. But I do know I don’t want a long-distance relationship. How would that even work?” I asked.

I listened to my mother and her friend tell me how I shouldn’t let distance stand in my way of happiness. I didn’t even know this man, and in actuality, neither did Christine. Not really.

“He has a degree in agriculture. I doubt he’ll be planning a life-long military career,” Christine said. “Besides, when I showed him your picture, he lit up like a Christmas tree,” she added with a smile.

After some urging from both my mother and Christine, I finally agreed to at least talk to the man. Christine didn’t waste any time, swiftly grabbing her phone and texting him my number.

I didn’t even have time to absorb what was happening when Christine’s phone beeped. It was Silas, thanking her and telling her he would call me soon.

Soon? When was soon? I wasn’t ready for this.

“I have to get some work done,” I excused myself from the table.

Christine gave me one last hug before I fled from the house and secluded myself into the privacy of my barn loft.

My phone rang as I unlocked my door. The number had a nine-zero-four area code, causing my heart to race at the thought it may be Silas.

“Hello?” I answered.

“This is Silas. Is this Lucy?” a deep, sexy voice asked.

“Yes. This is her,” I said, working hard to swallow the lump in my throat.

“I received your number from Christine. I can’t talk, but wanted to introduce myself properly,” he said.

His manners were impeccable, and the tone of his voice riveting.

“I’ve heard wonderful things about you. But I have to admit, this is very strange to me,” I said.

“I understand. It’s strange for me too. But there was something about your picture that made me decide to go for it,” he said.

“Are you sure it wasn’t Christine’s persuasive personality?” I laughed.

“She can be a bit pushy, can’t she?” he chuckled.

“Oh, yes,” I admitted.

“Well, I’ll send you a picture of me so you at least know who you are talking to,” he said.

I was looking forward to having a picture on my phone, even though I’d already seen what he looked like. “Thank you,” I said.

“Can I call you later in the week, or possibly next weekend?” he asked politely.

“I would like that,” I said softly.

“You have an amazing voice, Lucy,” he said.

I giggled. His voice vibrated my entire body.

“I’ll talk to you soon, Silas,” I said, hanging up, and quickly catching my breath.

My phone beeped quickly after I hung up. It was a text from the same number. I opened it up, clicked the photo that was sent, and fell onto my bed. He was gorgeous. His dark eyes, chiseled features, and muscular body had me drooling. Why did he have to be in Texas?