Chapter Ten
“Have you seen Tara?” Brett asked Ashley and Wade as they sat on the back porch, sipping coffee and eating leftover lemon tarts for breakfast. Most of the guests had already packed and left, driven to the airport by a service Ashley hired. A few stragglers would go that afternoon. When they left, the house would return to its quiet, restful state, at least until the next event in December.
Ashley smiled and patted the seat next to hers. “I checked on her about an hour ago because it’s unlike her not to be up early. She was still sleeping.”
He removed his hat and set down a small gift bag he carried in one hand before taking the seat she indicated. Ashley poured a cup of coffee and handed it to him then passed him a tray full of pastries and desserts. He selected a piece of peach pie, taking a bite.
Wade wiped his mouth on his napkin and looked at Brett. “As always, we appreciate you supplying your beautiful horses and overseeing anything to do with them during the event, Brett. And the million other little things you do to help out. I heard you even bandaged Tara’s hand last night. Thank you for that.”
Brett shrugged. “It’s my pleasure, although I am a little worried about Tara. I found her practically collapsed in the kitchen last night after everyone had gone.”
“Oh, goodness!” Ashley said, her hand fluttering to her throat. “I knew I should have gone down to make sure everything was fine before we went to bed, Wade.”
“We both should have. Tara did such an amazing job yesterday, far above and beyond what she signed on to do here.” Wade scowled. “If I’d known Jonas would have a mental breakdown on the day of our ball, I most certainly would not have agreed to have him work here. Stuart wanted to make sure he could handle all types of events before he turned him loose to oversee one on his own.”
“I guess we all got the answer to that question.” Brett set down the fork in his hand and looked to Ashley. “Have you heard from Stuart? How is his wife doing?”
“She had a very long, difficult labor, but they welcomed a beautiful baby girl into the world late last night. They named her Catherine.” Ashley smiled and nodded to Wade. “When we spoke with Stuart, we filled him in on what transpired yesterday in the kitchen. He didn’t seem as shocked as he might have about Jonas, but he was extraordinarily pleased to know Tara stepped up and took charge.”
“I don’t know how she did it, but that was one of the finest meals we’ve ever served at the ball. The guests just raved about it.” Wade took a sip of his coffee then tossed Brett a thoughtful look. “Any chance you can convince her to stay in the area? We’d love to hire her for all of our events.”
Ashley hastened to agree. “She truly is wonderful, Brett. All the staff seems to like and respect her, she cooks like a dream, and if I didn’t know better, I’d think she was a real southern girl at heart. She truly did make a fabulous Scarlett. With that black hair and those snapping green eyes, she had all of us convinced Scarlett really had come to visit the afternoon she entertained our guests.”
Brett smirked. “I think she is a southern girl at heart, even if she was born in Oregon. As for getting her to stay here, I’m not sure she’s interested in being convinced. I’ve tried, but she’s assured me she has to return to Portland and her life there. I’ll give it another shot, but I’m not making any promises.”
Wade chuckled. “I think the promises you need to make are to her, not us, but we wish you luck in your endeavors.”
They spoke for a few minutes more while Brett ate pie and drank coffee then he stood and settled his hat back on his head. “I’m going to take a load of horses home then come back for the rest. If you see Tara, will you let her know I’m looking for her and give her this?” He handed Ashley the gift bag.
“We certainly will, Brett. As soon as she is up, I’ll be sure to have her give you a call.” Ashley gave him a knowing smile. “Between your good looks and charm, you can figure out a way to win her heart.”
“I do believe you’ve turned into a hopeless romantic, Ashley.” Brett waved then jogged off in the direction of the stables where he’d left his pickup and horse trailer. He’d already hauled two loads of horses home and had checked at the house with each trip to see if Tara was up and about.
Two hours later, he took the last load home and sent Tara a text message. Ashley said she was still sleeping and had no plans to wake her because the woman had been clearly exhausted.
Brett wouldn’t argue about Tara needing to rest, but the longer he had to wait to see her the antsier he became.
Randa Cutler stepped next to him as he stood with one foot propped on a fence rail, watching the horses he’d just turned into the pasture. “Come inside and have some lunch, baby. You can fret and fuss after you have a good meal.”
He scowled at his mother. “How do you know I’m fretting or fussing?”
She laughed and looped her arm around his, pulling him along with her. “Because your jaw is set like it always is when something is bothering you and you’ve got that brooding look on your face that is going to give you wrinkles across that handsome forehead if you aren’t careful.”
“I don’t care about wrinkles, Mom, but I…” A long, frustrated sigh rolled out of him.
“Yes? You what, Brett?” Randa stopped on the back step and stared up at him.
“I just don’t want Tara to leave and I don’t think she wants to stay.”
Randa smiled and patted his cheek. “Then give her a very compelling reason to change her mind.”
After lunch with his parents, Brett tried to keep his thoughts and hands busy by doing some work in the old barn. By two o’clock, he still hadn’t heard from Tara. He sent her another text message and received no reply, so he drove over to Magnolia Rose, intent on seeing her. He didn’t care if she was still sleeping, he just had to make sure for himself that she was okay.
As he turned down the lane, the town car Ashley and Wade provided to transport guests barely slowed to make the turn onto the road and zoomed off in the direction of the city. Brett assumed one of the guests was probably late to catch a flight. He didn’t give it another thought as he drove to the house and parked.
He hadn’t even stepped out of the pickup when Ashley ran down the steps toward him at the same moment his phone chimed with a text.
“Brett! I just sent you a message, but Tara woke up and realized she was about to miss her flight.” Ashley appeared quite distraught. “She hardly gave us a chance to say goodbye before she raced out of here. I did give her your gift bag and she said she’d call you from the airport. If you hurry, you can catch her. Oh, if you do talk to her, tell her Stuart wants to speak with her. I think she’ll want to hear what he was to say.”
Brett climbed back into his truck and sped to the road. Like Tara’s driver, he barely slowed as he made the turn and headed in the direction of Atlanta. He floored the accelerator but was already in heavy traffic before he caught sight of the town car weaving in and out of cars, making its way to the airport.
He followed it as it took the airport exit. When it stopped to let Tara out at the curb with her luggage, Brett pulled up behind it and jumped out, racing over to the woman he loved.
“Tara! You can’t leave!” he said, clasping her arms in his hands.
Shock at seeing him gave way to happy surprise as he watched the emotions flit across her face. “Brett! What on earth are you doing here? I asked Ashley to let you know I overslept and I’d call you as soon as I made it through security. If I don’t hurry, I’ll miss my flight.”
“I don’t care,” he said, unaware of a small crowd of onlookers watching to see what he would say and do as the driver of the town car set Tara’s bags beside her. He gave them a questioning glance, but Brett motioned for him to go. The man grinned and climbed back in his car, driving off.
“Brett, I can’t catch another flight today if I miss this one and I need to get back home.”
“Why?” Brett asked, sliding his hands up and down Tara’s arms. He stared into those entrancing green eyes that had haunted him from the first moment he’d gazed into their depths.
“I have my job at the bakery and my family. Oh, and Ellen, although she let me know she’s planning to move downtown to a cute apartment she found last week. It’s only ten minutes from her office and five minutes from her favorite coffee shop. They have the best dark roast coffee. Their apple fritters aren’t even half bad, but their muffins tend to be a little dry.” Tara didn’t know why she rambled on like a brainless ninny. Not when the man of her dreams had followed her all the way to the airport and stood looking at her like he was prepared to sweep her into his arms again and carry her back to Cutler Springs.
In spite of her nearly incoherent state the previous night, she recalled Brett doctoring her hand, carrying her up the stairs, and leaving her on her bed. She also remembered saying she loved him. Indulgently, he kissed her on the head, telling her he loved her, too.
Although she really was about to miss her flight, that wasn’t the only reason she’d sprinted out of Magnolia Rose without offering everyone proper goodbyes. She needed to escape before she ran into Brett and had to face him after confessing her feelings for him. In spite of her exhausted state that loosened her tongue, she meant it. She did love him. With her whole heart. But it was crazy to entertain even the slightest hope he would return her feelings.
He’d probably be nice about the whole thing, but she couldn’t face him. It caught her off guard when Ashley handed her a gift bag that she said was from Brett and encouraged Tara to call him.
With no time to dwell on what the gift might mean, she stuffed it in her bag and sat tense in the backseat of the car as the driver careened through traffic to get her to the airport on time.
Now, as she stood here with Brett, staring up into the warmth of his amazing blue eyes, she didn’t want to leave. If she did, she’d be leaving behind her heart right along with her dreams.
In truth, there wasn’t anything she needed to return to in Oregon. It provided a means of escape, rather than face the rejection she knew would come from Brett.
He was wealthy, gorgeous, and could have his pick of any woman. Why would he be interested in a pastry chef from Portland?
“Why are you really leaving, and don’t give me more excuses.” Brett’s hands dropped to her waist and he drew her closer to him.
Tara could feel the heat radiating off him as his hands slid up her back in a possessive caress. Uncomfortable under his intent gaze, she dropped her eyes, realizing the mistake in staring at his strong chin or even the golden hairs peeking out from the top of his buttoned cotton shirt. “I need to go, Brett. I’ll miss my flight.”
“Then miss it. Hear me out and if you still want to leave, I’ll pay for a first class ticket on a flight tomorrow.”
She raised one eyebrow and stared at him, wondering what he could possibly have to say. “Fine. I’ll listen.”
He nodded. “Did you open the gift I left for you?”
“Not yet. I was saving it to open on the plane.” Tara took the bag off her shoulder and set it at her feet, lifting the gift bag from inside. She removed the tissue and pulled out a small box that held a set of heart-shaped measuring spoons.
“Oh, Brett! This is so sweet.” She looked up at him and smiled.
He took the set of four measuring spoons from the box and set them in her hand. “Read them, Tara. Read what they say.”
A heap of love was etched on the tablespoon. A spoonful of laughter decorated the handle of the teaspoon. A dash of kindness was on the quarter-teaspoon while the fourth-teaspoon read A pinch of patience. She smiled as she nestled the spoons together and set them in the box, tucking it back into her bag. “Thank you, Brett. I’ll always cherish them.”
“Tara, these spoons aren’t just measuring spoons.” Brett grabbed her hands in his again. “The title of the set is ‘Love Beyond Measure.’ That’s what I feel for you. Love beyond measure. Love that is beyond anything I ever imagined feeling. I don’t want you to leave, honey. I want you to stay. Stay and be my wife. Please, Tara. If you fly back to Portland, I’ll just follow you there. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but the moment I set eyes on you, I knew you were the one for me. It’s crazy and doesn’t make sense, but it’s absolutely true. Please, don’t leave. Stay here, with me.”
Tara blinked at him, as though she couldn’t believe his words.
Deflated, Brett released her hands and took a step back. Before he took a second, Tara was in his arms, pulling him close as she murmured, “yes, yes, yes!”
Surprised, he wrapped his arms around her. “You mean it? You’ll stay?”
“Yes, I’ll stay and yes, I’ll marry you,” Tara said, laughing as Brett picked her up and swung her around.
The crowd around them clapped and cheered when Brett lowered Tara just enough to kiss her until they both were breathless.
“Let’s go home,” Brett whispered against her lips. He kissed her one more time, ready to begin their happily ever after.