You don’t have to do this,” Toby said, rubbing his hand up and down her arms.
“I want to do this.” Jane found his hands and weaved her fingers through his. She understood he wanted to protect her, but it was time for her to step out from behind her walls. And sharing her books with her hometown was a great place to start.
“It’s going to be fine,” she assured him. “I’m sure people will be surprised, but I want them to know.” For the last few weeks, the library had been promoting this mystery author event, touting the fact that attendees would get the chance to meet E. J. Mattingly—who had never made a public appearance—and have their books signed. Tickets had sold out, and they’d raised over three thousand dollars for the library. For Tanner’s library.
“This is part of who I am,” Jane said, and she’d never been prouder of that. Toby was proud of her too, he’d made it clear. He read everything she wrote, always giving her thoughtful feedback. “It’s part of who we are together,” she reminded him. “I don’t know what I would do without my favorite research partner.”
It didn’t matter what her cowboy was up to, all she had to ask to get Toby’s full attention was, “Do you think it’s possible to make love in a—” Regardless of how crazy the place she’d dreamed up was, Toby always did his best to prove it could be done.
“I like the research.” He leaned in closer. “In fact, maybe we should do some research tonight.”
“We have to. I was thinking about writing a canoe sex scene.” Since she and Toby had been spending pretty much every night together, her sensual imagination tended to run a bit wild.
“No problem,” he said, wearing her favorite grin. “Leave it to me. I’ll figure it out.”
She had no doubts.
Someone knocked and the door opened. “Are you ready?” Lucinda, who’d become Jane’s favorite librarian, asked. “Everyone is so excited. I don’t think they can wait much longer.”
“We’ll be right out,” Toby said, still shielding her in his arms.
“Okay. This is it.” Jane checked her mirror one more time.
“You look ravishing.” Toby brushed a kiss on her cheek. “And I’m so proud of you, sweetness.”
“Thank you.” She snuck an extra moment locked safely in his embrace and then took a deep breath, squared her shoulders, and found the signing pen she’d selected. Holding tightly on to Toby’s hand, she walked out of the room and followed the path to where they’d set up the line.
A collective gasp sent a hush over the crowd.
Lucinda stood at a small podium they’d set up. “It is my great honor to introduce you all to the incredibly talented E. J. Mattingly, otherwise known as Jane Harding.” She swung her arm out in dramatic presentation and a rowdy applause swelled.
“A local!” someone yelled. “A famous author is one of our own!”
“Jane!” Patti, her old friend from the gas station, frantically waved her arms from the middle of the line. “I always knew you were a talented writer! Oh, this is so exciting! I can tell everyone one of my dearest friends is an author!”
Toby gave Jane a look that cracked her up.
“Jane, would you like to say a few words before we start the signing?” Lucinda asked.
“I would love to.” She walked as gracefully as she could to the podium given her trembling knees. “Thank you all for coming here, for supporting the library. For supporting me.” Her voice sounded strange in the microphone. “As some of you may know, my goal is to write stories about strong heroines who are brave and feisty and independent. That is the kind of woman I’ve always wanted to be.” She paused to stare at the love of her life.
Toby gave her a wink and the grin he reserved especially for their sexy times.
“When I came back to Silverado Lake, someone very special showed me that is who I’ve always been, even when I felt lost. Thank you, Toby, for helping me find that part of myself. The part I’d protected. The part that needed to be free.”
A chorus of awwws moved up and down the long line.
Jane had to pause until the emotion cleared from her throat. “I also want my books to be about strong, close-knit communities,” she went on, smiling at all those faces staring back at her. “Growing up here, I didn’t appreciate this community the way I do now. I didn’t feel I belonged. But this summer I’ve realized it was fear holding me back. After my father died, I closed myself off to feeling much of anything, to embracing relationships.” Jane glanced at her mother, who was dabbing her eyes. “Being back here has helped me open up to both of those things. And I’m looking forward to building a life here.” She couldn’t wait to build a life with her love here. Her eyes met Toby’s again.
A month ago, she never would’ve dreamed her heart could hold so much love, and yet here she was, walking straight into a new life with Toby at her side.