Love in Bloom, page 26
“Miller should be here any minute. He went to borrow Gus’s trailer,” Eric said. Rica helped herself to a bottle of water and surveyed the pile of boxes. It wouldn’t take long to load the trailer and then unload it back at her bungalow. She finished her drink as Miller drove up with the trailer bouncing behind him.
Rica stretched her arms overhead and twisted from side to side to loosen up her muscles. She saw Wren above them on the landing, watching Miller get out of his SUV.
“Are you done thinking?” Miller yelled up at Wren. He sounded irritated.
“Yes,” Wren shouted down. Rica felt Parker at her side.
“Well, this ought to be interesting,” he muttered as he cracked open a bottle of water.
“Do you know something?” Rica quietly asked.
“Maybe, maybe not, but I have a hunch. Keep your fingers crossed.”
“Where to, Wren?” Miller asked. Rica stole another glance at her new business partner. Miller was usually calm and collected, but now he seemed anxious and aggravated.
Eric turned and answered him. “Emily’s bungalow. Dude, pay attention. I told you that already.”
“My bungalow now,” Rica said under her breath. She wondered how long it would take everyone to stop calling it Emily’s bungalow.
“Courage over comfort, Ginge,” Miller said, ignoring everyone except Wren.
“Did you mean what you said yesterday?” Wren shouted down at Miller.
“Every word,” Miller said. Rica saw him place his right hand over his heart. This is like watching a tennis match but with verbal volleys, Rica thought as she swiveled her head up to see what Wren would say.
“Well, then, Counselor. If your offer’s still on the table, I’d like to accept.”
“You won’t ever regret it. I promise,” Miller said.
“Is that your new goal?” It sounded like Wren was teasing Miller. What is going on? Rica dared a look at Parker. He must have seen the confusion on her face because he smiled and gave her a thumbs-up.
“Yes, ma’am,” Miller answered.
“Are we moving or making googly eyes at each other all day?” Croix asked as he picked up a box and moved toward the trailer.
“Miller’s! We’re moving my stuff to Miller’s!” Wren flew down the steps. Miller caught her at the bottom and her legs swung out as he twirled her around.
“When did this happen?” Rica asked Wren over everyone’s congratulations and endless questions.
“It’s been a slow development,” Wren admitted.
“For you, maybe.” Miller tugged at Wren’s short ponytail and kissed her again. “I’ve been in a relationship with you ever since we shared a chair at the Galley.”
“Sounds like a story,” Parker observed.
“We’ll tell you about it over pizza tonight, after we get everything moved to our place,” Miller promised.
“So, she was your mystery girl?” Parker asked. “The one you turned down the partnership for?”
“Yep, and it’s the best decision I ever made.” Miller pulled Wren closer to him. “This way I get to be my own boss, and I get to do it with one of my oldest friends and with a new friend. With Croix’s accounting and tax experience, Rica’s financial planning skills, and my business and family law background, Fortress Advisers is just what Haven needs.”
Rica didn’t know who looked happier, Miller or Wren.
“Rica, I hope you’re not upset about me not moving in,” Wren said with a small pout on her face. Rica could tell it was just for show, but she appreciated the effort.
“How can I be when I’m so happy for you? For both of you. I’ll miss you, though,” Rica admitted.
“I’m not going anywhere.”
“You know what she means,” Krista said. “When you’re in a relationship, friends sometimes get shuffled to the side. Now that Emily’s married, hopefully we can get her back.”
“Well, don’t get your undies in a bind over me. I hope you’ll be seeing plenty of me. Miller offered me Fortress’s part-time office manager position, and if it’s okay with you and Croix, I’d like to accept.” All eyes were on Rica.
“I think that’s a great solution,” Rica said. “Croix?”
“Ditto, but no PDA in the public areas. We’re serious professionals, after all.” Croix grabbed another box and moved toward the trailer.
“Does that mean I can kiss Wren in the break room?” Miller shouted after him. Croix set the box in the trailer and turned. “I’m not going to argue with you on this. You’ll want everything defined to within an inch of its life. Do not kiss Wren, or do anything else with Wren, if there’s a snowball’s chance in hell I’m going to interrupt. I don’t want to see that.” Croix grabbed another box and hauled it toward the trailer.
“I second that,” Parker said.
“If anyone gets to second it, it should be me. I work there.” Rica bent over and picked up a box, but Parker took it away from her.
“I do, too. Handi Andi hired me to work on Fortress’s remodeling crew. I’ll be starting bright and early tomorrow morning.” Parker walked away with the box, and Rica resisted the urge to collapse onto the one at her feet.
It was bad enough seeing Parker occasionally, with the crush she had on him, but it would be a disaster on a daily basis. She’d have to do everything she could to work from home until the new offices were done. Seeing Parker Thorpe daily was the last thing her heart needed.
It took even less time to load the trailer than it had to empty Wren’s apartment. Rica handed out the remaining water bottles and then sat on Miller’s tailgate with Krista. They started a blow-by-blow analysis of this morning’s events.
“Hey, Rica,” Croix interrupted. Rica turned and looked at him. “Since you’ve lost Wren as a roommate, maybe Parker should move in so he can avoid his floating deathtrap this winter.”
“Hell, no!” Parker said, without looking her way. Good thing, too, since he probably would have seen the panicked look on her face. Heck, the international space station probably caught it. “I love my boat. It only costs me $350 a month, and when I’m bored, I can untie it and take a mini-vacation exploring the Poplar River.”
“All right, Huckleberry Finn, but what happens in the winter?” Krista asked. Rica was curious, too, especially after seeing his boathouse firsthand. Was that really only yesterday?
“That’s easy. I cover it with a plastic cold-weather cover and run space heaters. It stays nice and toasty. I’m able to wear shorts and a T-shirt.”
“But I thought boats had to be pulled out of the water because of the ice?” Rica couldn’t help but ask.
“Mine has a steel hull and with the current of the river, ice isn’t a problem. Really, my houseboat is the best of everything. I’ve got a cheap place to stay in between assignments, and I can come and go as I please.”
“Even though I’m in real estate, this sounds good to me,” Eric said.
“I still think it’s a deathtrap,” Croix argued.
“How much longer are you going to be in town?” Miller asked Parker.
“At least another month. I’m on a leave of absence. That human trafficking piece burned me out. I need to let the niceness of Haven soak in before heading back to the ugliness of the world.”
“It was an excellent article. Disturbing and eye-opening. You should be proud of yourself.” Miller thumped Parker on the back.
Rica silently agreed. While Parker’s article covered human trafficking in the US, he’d focused on the Iowa State Fair, known for its trafficking. He’d referred to it as the heart of darkness in the heartland of America. As with all of Parker’s articles, it was unbiased, thorough, and in-depth, sometimes too in-depth. A reader learned the story behind the story, and, most important, how they could change the future. Parker’s piece had included nationwide resources and tips on how to spot potential trafficking. Things like dollar-sign and bar-code tattoos behind someone’s ears or them not knowing what city they were in. She didn’t blame him for wanting to spend more time in Haven after all that he’d seen firsthand.
“I am, now that Congress has taken notice and we might see some action on it.” Parker tugged at the closest tie-down, making sure it was snug. “Should we get this show on the road?” He looked at Rica and Krista for a moment before saying, “You know, I don’t mean to sound sexist, but you two look beat. I think Croix, Eric, and I can handle unloading, especially if Miller lets go of Wren. Why don’t the two of you go?”
“For future reference, Parker, I don’t like to be told what to do. But I’m going to agree with you this time.” Krista slid off the tailgate and Rica followed her. “This wedding weekend did me in. I need a good night’s sleep and a promise that no one else will get married in the next year.”
Rica and Krista gave Wren a hug as they left. Miller invited them over for homemade pizza that evening, but they both declined. Krista was going straight to bed, and Rica was planning on an early night too.
Keep reading Love in Chaos.
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Love in Bloom
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Love in Chaos
After raising her four younger siblings, Rica can't wait to live her life to the fullest. But as her teenage sister returns desperate for a place to live, Rica feels her life plan and her freedom slipping further away. Parker’s hard-hitting articles leave the journalist with emotional scars. So, he calms his nerves on his houseboat despite his simmering crush on the beautiful Brazilian, Rica. But his quest for R&R goes sideways when he learns he’s the single father to a two-month-old baby. After a tragic accident leaves Parker and the infant homeless, Rica’s sister ignores the awkwardness and invites them to move in. As the two loners become a blended family, close-quarters lead to more than Rica planned on. Rica opened her home, but will she open her heart?
Love Under Construction
Andi’s due for some fun. Who better than drool-worthy Eric Ball? The family feud should guarantee a fling, not a relationship. But when she discovers his lies, will it take a wrecking ball to any hope they have to build a future together?
Love on the Line
Biathlon training taught Alex how to take advantage of an opening, but London isn’t giving him any room to make his move. He wants both her and gold, but she’s convinced she’ll ruin him and his company’s success. Can London overcome her fears to support Alex’s Olympic dreams? Will they both go the distance when their love is on the line?
Love at Last
Croix's confirmed bachelor’s life takes a chaotic turn when a disaster forces him to share his safe space with his best friend’s older sister—the woman whose long-ago kiss he can’t forget. Krista has secretly loved him for years, but he’s made it painfully obvious he isn't interested. Because of her age and her doctor’s warning, she knows she’s running out of time—until she makes a drastic decision that will change both their lives forever. When forced proximity exposes buried desires, do they have the courage to see themselves and each other in a new light? Maybe it’s time for love, at last.
Billionaire's Sweetest Deal
Swear off men? That's a piece of cake for Josie Wright, coffee roaster extraordinaire and owner of eleven much-loved coffee houses. She’d much rather spend her energy on protecting her younger brother and growing her thriving, if somewhat monotonous, business. Children and a family of her own would be nice, too, but she’s wary of risking her heart again. Being blackmailed into marriage by Gabe Kane, her friend and younger brother’s employer, wasn’t in her plan. But then again, neither was falling in love with him, even though he might steal her business right out from under her nose.
About Author
Beth Gildersleeve lives for a happily ever after. When she isn’t plotting or writing, she’s busy Googling answers to her adult daughters’ questions (they still think she knows everything), finding misplaced items for her husband of thirty-plus years, serving her rescued dogs’ needs, losing at Words with Friends, and searching for the last three books to complete her Betty Neels collection.
You can connect with her at:
bgildersleevebooks@gmail.com
www.bethgildersleeve.com
Beth Gildersleeve, Love in Bloom
