Before We Kiss

Ryan hung on as if he would never let go. Fayrene breathed in the scent of him and knew she’d been a fool for too long.

“I’m sorry,” she said, drawing back enough to see his face. “I’m stubborn, and when I get an idea in my head I won’t let it go. Sometimes that’s a good thing, but sometimes it’s a pain in the butt. Like with my plan. When I said I wanted my business to grow before we got married, I meant it. But now I don’t want to wait. I love you, Ryan. I want to get married now. Only I didn’t know how to say that and I really wanted you to be the one to propose. Now I’m not even sure why. I guess I was telling myself that if you really loved me, you could read my mind. But that’s ridiculous.”

She paused to draw in a breath. “Oh, and Mayor Marsha said Caramel is our dog and I’d really like to keep her.”

Ryan studied her. “Wow. Okay. That’s a lot to take in.” He took the dog from her and set Caramel on a padded chair, then pulled Fayrene into his arms.

“I love you. I want to be with you. I hope you know that.”

She nodded and sniffed. No way she was going to cry and ruin this. “I know.”

“But I can’t read your mind.”

“I know that, too.”

“Is this why you invited Montana and her husband over?”

“Yes. And Pia and Raoul. And why I thought the Score weekend would be so good. I was trying to show you how great it would be to be married.”

“I already know it’s great. Because I get to be with you every day.” He cupped her face in his hands and gently kissed her. “Fayrene, you’re my world. I want to be with you always.”

He released her and walked around to his desk. He pulled open the bottom drawer and reached behind the hanging files. Then he pulled out a box from Jenel’s Gems.

“I bought this the day you told me you loved me,” he said. “I was going to wait for however long you wanted, but I also wanted to make sure I was ready when I finally got to do this.”

He stepped in front of her, then dropped to one knee. “Fayrene Hopkins, will you marry me?”

She nodded. Her throat was tight and the tears were just so close. “Yes,” she managed. “I love you.”

He rose and kissed her. “I love you, too.”

He opened the box. She stared at the most beautiful round solitaire she’d ever seen. The ring was perfect. Simple and elegant. He slid it on her finger and kissed her again.

After a couple of minutes, he drew back and picked up Caramel.

“I’m thinking flower girl,” he said. “Can’t you see her in a little dress with lots of bows?”

“I love it,” Fayrene said. “And you.”

“I love you, too.” He glanced at the dog. “Ready to make us your family?”

Caramel yipped once, then gave them both kisses. Ryan chuckled.

“I have to make a call,” he said. “Then let’s get out of here.”

“Where are we going?”

“Anywhere we can be alone. I just have to phone Joe and tell him I won’t be available for the rest of the day.” Ryan chuckled. “And maybe not tomorrow, either.”

CHAPTER EIGHTEEN

“CAN I HELP YOU?” Sam asked as he glanced up and saw a little girl standing in the doorway to his office. She was thin, with bright red hair and pretty green eyes. He would guess she was seven or eight. He remembered he’d seen her before. About painting a box, maybe.

“Chloe?” he asked.

She nodded. “I’m looking for Kenny.”

“Okay. I can take you to him.” Poor Kenny, dealing with a very young crush.

“Thank you,” Chloe said politely. “My mom is Bailey Voss. She works for Mayor Marsha.” Chloe sounded proud of that fact. “I’m in the Future Warriors of the Máa-zib. Angel and Taryn are our grove leaders. Kenny helped me with knots and my friend’s jewelry box.”

“I remember,” Sam said as he led her down the hall. “His office is this way.”

Sam ushered Chloe inside. “You have a visitor.”

Kenny looked up from his computer. His brows drew together. “What’s up?”

Chloe smiled. “Hi, Kenny.”

Kenny looked both pleased and terrified. “Uh, hi, Chloe. What’s up?”

Sam was about to leave when Chloe spoke.

“We’re having a barbecue this weekend and I want you to come.”

Simple words. A common and uncomplicated invitation. Only it wouldn’t be that for Kenny, he thought. Not unless he and Bailey were friends and she had a clear understanding of how things were. Sam hesitated, not wanting to intrude, but needing to know if he had to protect his friend.

“Do I know your mom?” Sam asked.

Kenny answered. “She works for Mayor Marsha. Red hair, green eyes. Tall. Pretty.”

“You know her,” Chloe said confidently. “And if you don’t, you can meet her at the barbecue. We’re going to have lots of people over. It’ll be really fun. Mom makes great cakes. Everybody likes cake.”

“What about your dad?” Sam asked, wanting to help his friend. But as the words came out, he remembered what Allison had said the last time she’d been at Score.

Chloe’s happy expression faded. “He was a soldier. He died last year.”

“I’m sorry,” Sam said automatically, thinking while that was tragic, Kenny’s problem was more immediate.

“Thank you.” Chloe looked at Kenny. “Can you make it?”

Kenny was a big guy. Well over six feet with plenty of muscle. He could run like the wind and had magic hands that could catch anything thrown at him. But right now he looked incapable of moving. He was trapped by a seven-year-old girl who had no idea what she was asking.

“Kenny’s not going to be in town this weekend,” Sam told her.

“Oh. That’s too bad.”

“Yeah, it is.” Sam motioned for her to follow him. “We need to let him get back to work.”

Chloe sighed. “Maybe another time.”

Kenny’s mouth formed a straight line. “It was nice to see you,” he told Chloe, rather than respond to the invitation.

Sam saw the girl out, then returned to his friend’s office.

“I’m sorry, man,” he said. “I didn’t know why she was here. She was here before and I figured it was a town thing.”

“Yeah. That makes sense.” Kenny shifted in his seat. “No problem.”

Sam hesitated, wanting to say more. But what? Kenny had his demons. All Sam could do was offer cover when possible.

He returned to his office, still not sure why Chloe kept coming by. Was she looking for a substitute dad? If so, Kenny was the wrong guy. He might look like a good candidate on the surface, but it didn’t go further than that. The last thing he needed in his life was a woman with a kid that wasn’t his. That would be beyond cruel.

* * *

DELLINA VOWED SHE would not freak out. She’d done more with less, she reminded herself. The fact that she couldn’t remember when didn’t matter.

“Over there,” she called out to the catering staff she’d hired to help with the event. “Stack the plates at the end of the buffet.”

She turned and eyed the flowers on display. They were beautiful and fresh. Most important, they were practically fragrance free. Few things could destroy the desire to party faster than the overwhelming scent of too many fragrant flowers.

The party was being held in the Condor Valley Winery. The main floor was perfect for entertaining. The rustic decor added charm, while the open area allowed for plenty of mingling. She’d set up the buffet along the wall opposite the tasting bar.

Pulling together Fayrene and Ryan’s engagement party with less than forty-eight hours’ notice had been a challenge but the outcome was worth it. Word had gone out to all their friends. Dellina had arranged for the catering and serving staff. Ana Raquel and her husband took care of the food and the drinks were easy. Tonight the choices would be coffee, tea, soft drinks and Condor Valley wines.

Ana Raquel came out with a large tray in her hands. It was covered with rows of tiny sandwiches. Dellina helped her place it on one of the buffet tables.

“The puffs are ready to go in the oven,” her sister said. “We’re also doing mini quesadillas. Dessert is more complicated. I wanted to do a wedding cake, but there wasn’t time, so I called the bakery and they had several undecorated sheet cakes. They’re going to do two layers with a chocolate buttercream filling for each level. We should get about four layers in total.” She shrugged. “It’ll kind of look like a wedding cake. Square rather than round, which is okay. They’ll cover it with vanilla frosting, then drizzle chocolate ganache over it. Not exactly elegant, but it will work.”

Dellina hugged her sister. “Thank you,” she said earnestly. “I couldn’t have pulled this together without you.”

Ana Raquel grinned. “I know. I’m amazing.” She laughed. “Greg’s done most of the work. He’s brilliant in the kitchen.” She hugged Dellina back. “I love you, sis, but I gotta go.”

She waved and raced back to help with the final preparations.

Dellina made one more round to check on everything, then ducked into a nearby office to change. Normally she wasn’t concerned about what she was wearing. Her job was to disappear into the background. But this party was different.

She pulled off her jeans and T-shirt, then slipped into the simple navy sheath she’d brought. She exchanged flats for strappy sandals and put on gold hoop earrings. There was a mirror on the wall and she used that to touch up her makeup. She carried her overflowing tote to her car and locked it inside, then went back into the winery. A quick check of her watch told her that guests would start arriving any second.

She’d barely registered that fact when Fayrene and Ryan walked in. Her sister rushed over to her and showed off her beautiful engagement ring.

“It’s perfect,” Dellina told her.

“I know. I’m so happy. Isn’t Ryan wonderful?”

“He is.”

Ryan joined them and kissed Dellina’s cheek. “Thanks for all this,” he said. “I can’t believe you got an engagement party together so quickly.”

“It’s what I do. I’m glad the engagement is official.”

“Me, too,” Fayrene said, her expression impish. “It took me long enough to come to my senses and realize I had to ask for what I wanted.”

Ryan took her hand in his and kissed her knuckles. “We’re together now, my sweet. That’s what matters.”

Dellina smiled, happy for both of them. She glanced past them and saw several guests arriving.

“Go mingle,” she said, shooing the young couple toward the front doors of the winery. “Accept congratulations and drink champagne. I have a designated driver for you, so not to worry.”

Fayrene hugged her sister again. “Thank you,” she whispered. “For everything. I love you.”

“I love you, too.”

Dellina watched them go. Although she still had a million things to do, she gave herself a second to revel in her sisters’ happiness. They were both settled. Happy, successful and in love. When her parents had died, Dellina had been overwhelmed by the sudden responsibility of two younger siblings. They’d all gotten through it together. They’d stayed close and connected. She had a feeling her parents would be proud of all three of them.

She turned toward the kitchen, prepared to tell Ana Raquel that the guests had started arriving, but her sister and Greg were already walking toward the buffet with large serving dishes. Dellina sighed. She loved it when a plan came together. When she had to—

The back of her neck prickled. She glanced over her shoulder and saw Sam had arrived. In the few seconds before he saw her, she took in the sight of him. Her stomach did a little shimmy, her girl parts quivered in anticipation and her heart... Well, her heart was overflowing with love. Maybe falling for him was a mistake. Maybe she would regret it later. But right now loving Sam was the best part of her world.

* * *

SAM HADN’T BEEN to the Condor Valley Winery before. He liked the use of wood and high ceilings in the tasting room and looked forward to trying the wine.

He still had trouble believing that only a couple of days ago Fayrene had been waffling about telling Ryan her true feelings, and now they were engaged and there was a party to celebrate the happy couple. Things moved fast in this town. Obviously Fayrene had come clean about wanting to move up the wedding. Sam wasn’t surprised Ryan had been enthused about getting engaged. He obviously loved Fayrene. But pulling a party together this fast?

That was Dellina’s doing, he thought as he searched for her in a crowd. She knew how to make the magic happen.

He spotted her talking to Josh Golden and his wife. Charity? Sam wasn’t sure. He knew she was the city planner and that they had a couple of kids.

He let his gaze linger on Dellina. She was smiling as she talked. Moving her hands. She always listened intently, as if whoever was speaking was the most interesting person in the world. She had a way with people. And a way with him.

He liked her. He liked being around her. Taryn and Jack hadn’t been subtle in their advice. It was just a matter of time until Kenny took him on. It wasn’t that he didn’t want a happy ending with a beautiful, funny, sexy, caring woman like Dellina. It was that he didn’t think it was possible. Their relationship was going to end badly. The trick was putting off that end as long as possible.