Walker tugged at his bowtie as the stringed band played on the patio. Heaters created a perimeter out onto the lawn so the festivities could be carried outside as well as inside. Leo had invited more people than was normal, and Walker’s nerves about tonight threatened to eat him alive. Jaylyn was hiding upstairs, for now.

When he’d seen her in her snug red gown, they’d stolen a few moments so he could show her exactly how hot she made him in that damn fabric. When the time was right, he would make the announcement.

Georgette was there as well, but they kept their distance, only sharing slight smiles and waves from across the room. A month before, Leo approved of Walker being married and said before his son could even tell him he knew he’d eloped with Georgette Tindal. Walker faked looking surprised, worried for the secrecy, but Leo patted him on the shoulder and brushed away his worries.

“If you want to have a good life, son, you keep your wife happy. I saw the tweets along with everyone else. She was excited about a small, private wedding.”

“Thanks, Father,” he’d replied, sighing inwardly with relief that his father bought the ruse.

“You have truly surpassed my expectations. The lodge and the restaurant are yours.” He’d signed the papers and handed them over without another word. “I do expect you to make the marriage official at the party, of course, but for now, enjoy the honeymoon phase before the rest of the world invades your life.”

And that’s exactly what Walker had been doing, but not with Georgette. He went home that day and showed the papers to Jaylyn. She’d screamed and leapt into his arms, thanking him profusely for what he’d done for her, but she didn’t seem to understand what she had done for him. When they’d first met, she’d called him a coward, and back then, he had been afraid to stand up to his father and take control of his life.

No longer.

The weeks with Jaylyn as his wife were the best of his life. They were so close to being finished with this scheme of his. He shifted from foot to foot, wanting to come clean right now, but he had to wait for his father to give his annual speech. Then he would announce Walker breaking away from the main company and entering a new phase with a new wife by his side to help build up the business.

“Walker,” Georgette said when she neared him. “How is she?” she added in a whisper.

The people around them smiled and turned away, most likely to gossip about the choice to elope. Let them. They’d have more interesting things to talk about soon enough.

“She’s good. Probably less nervous than I am.”

“Don’t forget why you’re doing this,” she reminded him. “It’ll all be worth it.” She kissed his cheek and wandered back into the party.

Walker considered ducking inside and speaking to Jaylyn one more time, but this was his plan. He steeled his nerves. After tonight, he would be free from his father. The lodge would be his and the restaurant would be hers. He meandered to the bar, downed a bourbon, and checked his cell to see a text from Jaylyn. She said she loved him and no matter what came next, they would work it out.

The night before, they sat down to have a very blunt conversation in case this plan fell apart. If Leo found a way around the contract, they would let him keep the restaurant, but Walker was leaving the family business for good. Even if they had to start over, move across the country, and open a whole new restaurant, they would do it.

He debated on a second drink when Leo raised his glass over his head and the music stopped. “If I could have everyone’s attention, please?”

The guests moved to gather on the patio and in the backyard for Leo’s speech. Walker migrated towards his father’s side and shoved his hands in his pockets so no one would see them shaking.

“This has been a busy year for our company,” Leo started. “Walker took on his first project, and it has been one of the most successful in the history of this company. Profits are up, and within a year, we’ll make back everything we put into making the Sparrow’s Nest Lodge and Jaybird’s Roost restaurant into what they are today.”

Polite applause sounded at his words, and Walker smiled and nodded at their approval.

“In other news, my son will be branching away from the main company and officially taking over and staying in charge of the lodge and restaurant property.” More applause sounded and Walker knew what was coming next. “And as I’m sure many of you have heard, Walker has made a personal change in his life, but I’ll let him tell you about that himself. Walker?”

He cleared his throat and held up his hand in greeting, stalling until he was sure his voice wouldn’t give away his nervousness. He spotted Georgette in the crowd, texting on her phone. She gave him a thumbs up and he nodded.

“As I’m sure many of you have heard, I have searched for someone I could share my life with and who would help me build my own branch of the company.” He stared over the heads of the crowd and grinned when he saw a flash of red. “Would the new Mrs. Allard please join me up here?”

Every head turned to stare expectantly at Georgette, but Jaylyn broke away from the crowd in her red silk dress, her shoulders back and head held high. Walker held out his hand for hers and pulled her close so he could kiss her. She took a deep breath and smiled as she turned to face Leo and the rest of the guests.

“Who is this?” Leo snapped, confused.

“This is my wife,” Walker announced. “Everyone, I would like to introduce you to Jaylyn Allard, previously Jaylyn Wilson.”

“Wilson?” Leo stared between them. “As in the daughter of Darien Wilson?”

“Yes, that’s the one,” Walker answered. “Problem, Father?”

He searched for Georgette in the crowd. “No…no, you married her.”

“Sorry, but I didn’t. Georgette and I didn’t exactly get along in that way.”

“I will not allow this. You cannot marry her.”

“We’re already married,” Walker reminded him. “And you said if I found someone else, it wouldn’t be a problem. Jaylyn is that someone else.”

Leo’s face paled as he yanked his glasses off his face. “She is the daughter of a man you ruined. You truly think she married you because she loves you? She wants the restaurant back.”

“Of course she does,” Walker snapped. “We took her family’s legacy away from them as if it was nothing. You never think about the people you hurt while doing business, but I do. I don’t want to run my life or my business the way you have.” He held Jaylyn’s hand firmly in his. “This is the path I want to take with my life, by marrying someone I love.”

Whispers sounded in the crowd, but Walker tuned them out. No one here mattered except Jaylyn.

“I won’t let you do this,” Leo seethed.

“Too late. You signed the contract and there’s no way to get out of it. I checked.”

Leo pointed an accusing finger in Jaylyn’s face until Walker moved between them. “You—you did this to him. You manipulated him.”

“No,” she responded. “I hated your son when I first met him because I assumed he would be like you, but he’s not. Maybe it’s time you take a look in the mirror and then look at your son, see how great he is. I fell in love with him. Even if you destroyed my father’s restaurant, I’d still love him, so get off your high horse and come back to the real world.”

Walker’s chest swelled at her words, giving him the strength he needed to tell his father, “You can either accept my life and my wife, or you can choose not to see me again. It’s up to you, Father. Please,” he said, turning to the guests, “enjoy your drinks and have a great rest of the evening.”

He started walking away, Jaylyn on his arm.

“Walker. Get back here. We are not finished discussing this.”

“You might not be, but I am,” he called over his shoulder, not hesitating. He didn’t stop until they reached his truck and he opened the passenger side door for Jaylyn. “Where are we going?” she asked as he helped her inside.

“One more surprise for you,” he said. “Settle in for the ride.”

* * *

Jaylyn wanted to yank the blindfold off her face, but Walker had already threatened to turn the truck around three times if she did it. “Do I get a hint?”

“Stop trying to ruin the surprise.”

“You’ll wear me out with surprises,” she murmured. “Seriously, Walker, where are we going?”

The truck turned and she heard him put it in park. “We’re here.”

The door opened and closed and then hers was opened. A rush of chilly night air hit her, but he slipped his jacket over her shoulders and led her across a hard surface. Parking lot. She nibbled on her lip as he said to wait so he could open a door. Warmth surrounded her and she sighed in relief to be out of the cold.

“Now you can look,” he said and removed the blindfold.

Jaylyn’s hand flew to her mouth as she stared around Jaybird’s Roost, empty except for Mariah, Hannah, and Frankie. Walker placed something in her hand.

“These are yours now,” he said, closing her fingers over the keys. “It’s your restaurant.”

There were no words to say how much this meant to her, so she kissed him instead. She kissed him until those present cheered and whooped. She kissed him until they were breathless and another voice announced dinner was served.

“John,” she said and hurried over to hug the other chef.

“It’ll be good to have you back,” he told her sincerely. “Your dad would be beyond thrilled.”

“You staying on?”

“What do you think? I’m not competing against you for business,” he teased and kissed her cheek. “Now, food. Time to eat and celebrate. Jaylyn is back.”

She wandered back into the kitchen as John served the food. Walker followed her. She ran her hands along the counters with relief that this incredible journey was over only to start another one.

“Are you happy?” he asked.

She spun around and hugged him. “You have no idea.” She’d waited for weeks to share another piece of news, wanting to be sure this plan worked the way it was meant to. “Good timing, too. I’ll have a few months to get the kitchen in good shape before I have to step away from it again.”

“Step away?” His brow furrowed. “What do you mean?”

“I imagine it’ll be hard to maneuver around this kitchen when I’m nine months’ pregnant.”

He gulped and paled, and she worried for a second he would pass out. “Pregnant? You’re…you’re pregnant?” She nodded and he whooped with joy, picking her off her feet to swing her around. “I’m going to be a dad. We’re going to have a baby.”

“What?” Mariah yelled from the dining room. “Baby. She’s having a baby.”

Walker kissed her and picked her up to carry her back out to the dining room. Champagne was poured and the rest of the night was spent dancing and laughing together with the knowledge that their family was growing. Jaylyn wasn’t worried about Leo. During their scene in the yard, she saw his love for his son plain on his face. He’d be by sooner or later, and she would welcome him with open arms. Life was too short to hold grudges. Walker led her out to the makeshift dancefloor for a slow waltz, and they held each other close as the rest of the world passed them by.