Maurie stared at the fading darkness of the freshly painted blue walls of her bedroom. The winter sun was finally coming up. Without looking at her phone, she guessed it to be nearly 6:00 a.m. The grand opening for Every Occasion’s storefront was in a few hours, and although she and Taffy had finished the final touches on the shop the night before, Maurie’s thoughts were like a merry-go-round.
After seeing Grant at the cemetery, Maurie had gone through some serious introspection, along with talking things out with Taffy. Maurie knew that she didn’t want to live life separately from the man she was falling in love with.
And it hadn’t helped when she’d arrived home at 10:00 p.m. to find her house completely finished and cleaned up. Grant had left a handwritten note.
Maurie,
Sorry I missed you tonight. I hope everything meets with your satisfaction. If not, please let me know. Best of luck with the grand opening. Julie will be getting the invoice to you in the next couple of weeks. No rush on payment.
Grant
Maurie had sunk into the kitchen chair after reading it the first time. Then she read it through again, this time paying attention to the strong, masculine handwriting that reminded her of the man behind the pen.
Now she closed her eyes against the encroaching dawn. Did she really blame Grant for calling the police that night? No. Dwelling on the what-ifs would only make her life harder. If she were truly to move forward, and use her shop’s opening as a new beginning, then she’d have to face her feelings about Grant.
Because she did love him.
And she didn’t want to lose him.
She knew too well what loss felt like.
Yet Grant’s confession had taken her back to the vulnerable place that she also knew too well. And her first instinct had been to push Grant away, to pretend that what he’d told her didn’t bother her, didn’t hurt her. But it had. And that was okay. Yet now, she wanted to move on from the painful parts of her past.
She checked her cell. Nothing from Grant—not that she’d expected it.
It was 6:05 a.m., and time to start fresh.
She got out of bed, drew on her robe, and went into the kitchen. She made herself a steaming mug of hot cocoa and then sat down to write to Grant. She would write it all down and then drop off the letter at his place. This way she couldn’t put it off any longer and she couldn’t keep chickening out.
Dear Grant,
Life has given us both lemons, but from our first encounters, you’ve been there for me. Somehow you saw something in me that I didn’t even see in myself. I need to thank you for giving a lonely little girl something to look forward to. For being an example of goodness and simple kindness...
Maurie continued the letter, writing two full pages, until her eyes were burning with tears. She hoped that Grant would feel her sincerity, and even if he ultimately rejected their relationship, he still deserved a thank you and her heartfelt apology.
It was nearly 7:00 a.m. when she located an envelope and left the house. Taffy would be awake soon, and Maurie wanted to have the letter delivered before any other distractions arose. She drew on her coat, then bundled into her car. The steering wheel was freezing, but she pulled out of the drive anyway.
It took less than ten minutes to get to Grant’s place, and when she pulled into his apartment complex, she gazed up at the windows that made up his place. She remembered how he’d let her sleep on the couch, and then how, on the following morning, she and Trent had spent one-on-one time together.
She climbed out of her car and crossed the parking lot, then walked to his apartment door. It was too early to knock, plus she’d said everything exactly how she wanted to say it in the letter. She wanted him to read it first. Then he could decide on the next move in their relationship, if he thought it was even salvageable.
Maurie tucked the letter into the seal of the door, near the bottom so that it wouldn’t be so obvious if someone walked by and became curious. She hoped no one would take the letter. There was no sign of an impending storm, so she had good reason to believe that Grant would probably find it within the next hour. She didn’t know what his next job would be, but she didn’t imagine him sleeping in too long on a Friday.
Maurie turned away from the apartment and hurried back to her car. It was still warm inside, and she started the ignition. Nerves jangled through her as she drove away from the apartment complex, but she knew she’d done the right thing.
Now she’d have to rush to get showered and presentable for the grand opening.
Her heart pounded at the thought of him reading her words, reading her own confession, but she continued to drive back home. With every minute that passed, she imagined Grant opening the door and finding her letter. Would he read it inside his place, or maybe while sitting in his truck? Would he call her or text her? Or maybe he’d do nothing.
An hour later, she and Taffy loaded the car with last-minute items, then drove to Main Street Café to pick up the ten dozen donuts they’d ordered. When they came out of the café, Maurie could see about fifteen people lined up in front of her new shop.
“Are they here for us?” Taffy asked.
“I think so.” Maurie couldn’t imagine why else a group of people would be standing out in the cold.
“Oh. My. Heck!” Taffy continued. “My fliers worked!”
Maurie laughed at that as a thrill buzzed through her. The small crowd looked to be a mixture of locals as well as the touristy ski bunnies. “Let’s go. We’re opening early.”
Taffy squealed and climbed into the car.
Maurie headed down the road and drove to the rear parking lot. Half of the parking spaces were already filled, and she parked closest to the rear door of the shop. They carried in the donuts, and even though it was almost an hour before the official opening, Maurie wasn’t going to let potential customers stay out in the cold.
“I’ll get the hot-cocoa machine heating up,” Maurie said. “Can you arrange the donuts, then we’ll open the doors?”
Taffy flipped on all the lights, then made quick work of setting out the first couple boxes of donuts on the table they’d decorated with all things Valentine’s. Next, Taffy headed to the front door and unlocked it. “Come in, come in! Free hot chocolate and donuts. And don’t miss out on the fifty-percent-off coupon we’re offering today. Valentine’s Day is tomorrow, folks!”
Maurie could only grin at Taffy’s enthusiasm. Maurie crossed to the entrance and greeted the customers too, one by one, introducing herself and explaining what her store was all about.
“The place is gorgeous,” one woman said. “I’ll have to get my mother down here. She’s going to love it.”
Maurie had never smiled so much. Even local business owners stopped by, introducing themselves and complimenting the place. Around mid-morning, the realtor Jeff Finch stepped inside.
“I love it,” he declared, and he enthusiastically shook both Maurie’s and Taffy’s hands. He gave Maurie a box of chocolate truffles. “Something for you, although you’re probably stocked to the gills with stuff like this.”
“I love truffles,” Maurie said. “Thank you.”
Jeff smiled, then became caught up in a conversation with another customer.
Maurie surveyed the customers with pride. Several sales had already been made, and she’d helped a few customers put together custom orders. An older couple was poring through her catalog of gift-basket ideas.
Everyone who stopped in seemed friendly and excited for the new store addition to Pine Valley. Maurie helped herself to a donut and had her own cup of hot cocoa—or two.
The time sped by, and soon it was nearly 2:00 p.m. Maurie had been so busy that she hadn’t been worrying about her letter to Grant and what he thought of it. She was grateful for the business. The customers seemed to come in spurts now, so during a quieter interval, Maurie told Taffy, “You can take a break if you want. Why don’t you grab us a couple of sandwiches from the café down the street?”
“Ah, so my break is getting you food?” Taffy laughed.
Maurie smirked. “Don’t tell me you’re not hungry.”
“I’m starving,” Taffy said.
“Okay then. Ham and Swiss on country sourdough sounds good.”
Taffy nodded. “I’ll get the same for me.”
“And maybe a Diet Coke.”
“Got it,” Taffy said. “Should I get more donuts?”
There was only one box left, a testament to the number of visitors they’d had. It was amazing, really. “Maybe one more box,” Maurie folded the two empty boxes on the table. She checked the contents of the hot-cocoa machine.
“Uh, Maurie,” Taffy said, “you might want to change your lunch order.”
Maurie looked over to see a man opening the shop door. Her pulse jumped. His tall form dominated the doorway as he stepped inside. Grant’s lake blue eyes focused on her. He held the hand of a little boy—Trent—who carried a large sack with Main Street Café printed on the side.
In Grant’s other hand was a bouquet of red roses.
“Grant,” Maurie said, not realizing she’d spoken out loud until Trent spoke.
“It’s Maurie, Daddy,” Trent said, tugging on his dad’s hand.
“Yeah,” Grant said; his blue eyes studied Maurie’s. His expression was wary, perhaps even vulnerable. He wore a black sweater that only emphasized his broad shoulders, and his jeans were well-worn, faded. She guessed he hadn’t shaved that morning, because stubble shadowed his face.
“Look at the donuts,” Trent blurted.
One of the customers asked Maurie a question, but Taffy intervened.
Trent tugged his dad across the store space toward the refreshment table, where Maurie stood. Her breath went shallow. Grant was here, and he’d brought flowers. Were the flowers to celebrate the grand opening, or were they more ... personal? Had he read her letter? He must have. Did she dare believe that he wasn’t here just because of the grand opening or the fact that Trent was really excited about donuts?
Grant glanced down at his eager son reaching for a donut. “You need to ask, Trent.”
“Can kids have the donuts?” Trent asked, turning his pleading eyes to Maurie.
“Of course,” Maurie said, a smile blooming on her face as her pulse raced. She met Grant’s gaze. “If it’s okay with your dad.”
“Sure,” Grant said, not taking his gaze from Maurie’s.
“Yippee!” Trent said, and he set the sack he carried on the table, then grabbed for a donut.
“Keep the napkin with it,” Grant said. “And try not to make a mess.” His tone of voice wasn’t a reprimand, but full of affection.
A warm shiver shot through Maurie as Grant took a step closer to her. She caught his clean, spicy scent. She wanted to close her eyes, to breathe him in. But there were other customers in the store, not to mention his kid.
“Did you get my letter?” she whispered.
His mouth curved slowly. “I did.”
Maurie’s knees felt all watery.
“Daddy, can I have hot chocolate too?” Trent asked.
Grant glanced down at his son. “Sure. And I can promise, it’s really good.”
“I can fix you a cup.” Taffy’s voice came from somewhere—Maurie wasn’t really sure, because Grant had taken another step closer so she had to tilt her head to meet his gaze.
“We brought you lunch,” Trent continued, “and my daddy got you flowers for Valentine’s.”
Grant smiled, and Maurie’s heart hitched.
“He’s right,” Grant said.
“Lunch and flowers?” Maurie said, returning his smile. “How did I get so lucky?”
Grant reached for her hand, and the touch of his warm fingers made goose bumps skitter along her skin. There was no doubt. He was here for her.
“Aren’t you going to give her the flowers, Daddy?”
Grant’s chuckle was low, and Maurie’s cheeks went hot.
His fingers caressed hers, and Maurie thought she might melt right there on the spot.
“So...” Grant said in a low voice. “I was wondering if you had plans tomorrow—for Valentine’s Day. I mean, after the shop closes. So I guess it would be night.”
“I don’t have plans,” Maurie said in a soft voice.
“I have Trent for the weekend, so it would be the three of us.” He was watching her carefully, as if to gauge her reaction. “If Taffy wants to come too, then it would be four of us.”
“Unless you’re too tired,” Trent piped up. “My dad said you’ve been working a lot, and that opening a store is a super big job.”
“Well,” Maurie said, looking down at Trent, if only to get a break from Grant’s intense gaze and the way it was making her pulse rate double, “I have been working really hard.”
Grant squeezed her hand, and she met his gaze again.
“But I’d love to go out with both of you,” she said.
He grinned, and Trent said, “Yippee.”
Maurie smiled. Today she’d officially broken whatever smiling record she had.
“And these are for you, in case you were wondering.” Grant winked and held up the roses.
Maurie laughed and took the bouquet with her free hand. “Thank you. They’re beautiful.” She breathed them in, closing her eyes for a moment.
“Does that mean she likes them, Daddy?” Trent said.
“Yes, I believe it does,” Grant said in an amused tone.
Maurie opened her eyes, only to be caught up in Grant’s intense gaze again. Taffy’s voice murmured in the background while she chatted with a customer, and Trent might have asked another question, or a dozen. But Maurie felt herself unable to stop staring at the man about whom she hadn’t been able to stop thinking for weeks, perhaps years.
Maurie placed her hand on his chest, lifted up on her toes, and kissed his cheek.
Grant raised his brows as she drew away, then he took the roses from her and set them on the refreshment table. Next he slipped his hands around her waist, and he leaned down. Close enough to kiss her. Which he did. On the mouth. And Maurie kissed him back, even though they were standing in the middle of her shop, surrounded by people. Despite the public setting, he pulled her closer and deepened the kiss.
Kissing Grant was so much better than the best hot cocoa, a store full of customers, or beautiful flowers.
When Grant lifted his head, he was grinning, she was blushing, and the customers were clapping.