If Violet believed in reincarnation, she’d want to come back as a cat. Sleeping on a porch rocker at Hart House, the new resident cat, Sadie, yawned, uncurled into a long stretch and then snuggled back into the cushion. No doubt returning to whatever sweet dreams cats have.
Inside, the house already buzzed with activity.
“Don’t you look all rosy cheeked?” Her sister Heather pulled her into a tight hug.
Caught by surprise, Violet let out a short squeal. “I didn’t know you were coming.”
“Neither did I until late last night. Didn’t waste any time, hopped into my car and bunked in the guest room upstairs. And the best part, I don’t have to be back till Tuesday.”
“Morning.” Rose, Heather’s other sister, stretched like the kitty on the rocker. “Best night’s sleep I’ve had in ages. I’m starved.”
“At least someone got some sleep.” Heather flashed Rose a cheesy grin. “Now I know what people mean by snoring like a freight train.”
“I do not.” Rose reached around Heather to hug Violet. “Boy, has the lake air done you good.”
“She does look…” Heather searched for words.
Cindy came in from the kitchen carrying a large dish of Lucy’s buttermilk pancakes. “Try in love.”
“What?” Like a pair of matching bobble heads, Rose and Heather snapped around, gaping at their cousin.
Cindy shrugged. “Maybe infatuated, but my money’s on love.”
“What?” the two sisters echoed again, this time spinning around to look at Violet.
“Don’t look at me that way.” Shaking her head, she glared at her cousin Cindy. “The woman is delusional.”
“No she isn’t.” Carrying a platter of bacon, Poppy came in behind her sister Cindy. “And he’s in love too. Though I’m not sure he knows it yet.”
“Good grief.” Heather hefted her hands onto her hips. “You come home for one lousy week and fall in love? Who does that?”
“You!” Four voices, including Callie who had just come in the door, shouted in unified synchronization.
“Yeah, well.” A sly grin slid across Heather’s face. Violet loved how happy her sister looked since falling for Jake. Not that Heather had ever looked unhappy before. Mostly she was tired and overworked, standard operating procedure for a doctor, but now she always had a twinkle in her eyes.
Was that what Violet’s family saw in her? Did her eyes twinkle? Were they all correct? Could she be falling in love? Because she sure did feel like walking on a cloud. And every time she thought about Grant going his separate way, her stomach did an obnoxious flip that made her want to curl over and grip her gut.
“Whatever you girls are jawing over can wait.” Lucy carried her crowd-pleasing French toast casserole. “If you want your breakfast warm, you’d better get moving. The General and your grandmother are already inside drinking coffee with Mr. Whitaker.”
And this was why her cousins thought she was in love. She knew she was grinning like the cat that swallowed the canary. The tug of her cheeks was so strong her face almost hurt. And she couldn’t help any of it. The anticipation of sitting down to breakfast with Grant, of hopefully spending the rest of the day together, had her happier than when she’d learned her studio would be saved, and giddier than back in high school when the star of the football team asked her to prom. Oh hell. They were right. Now what?
***
Grant’s thoughts had been running a mile a minute. He’d taken more days than he should and like it or not, he needed to be at the office tomorrow.
“Ah, my girls.” The General pushed to his feet and out of sheer habit, Grant followed suit.
A parade of attractive women filed into the room. He recognized Callie, Cindy, and Poppy, but the striking redhead and another blonde were unfamiliar to him. Not that it mattered, the only face that had his heart doing an Irish jig was Violet. Damn, he didn’t want to leave tomorrow.
One by one, each woman gave the General a kiss on the cheek then stepped over and did the same with their grandmother.
“You haven’t met my other granddaughters, Grant.” The General waved toward the redhead. “This is Rose, Violet’s sister.”
Rose waved on her way to the buffet sideboard.
“And this is Heather—”
“My other sister.” Violet cut her grandfather off. “You met her fiancé at the hardware store.”
Grant nodded. “That’s right. Nice to meet you.”
“Same here.” Heather smiled.
“She still lives in Boston,” the General continued. “But as soon as the new cardiac care wing is built at our hospital, she’ll be close to home again.”
Now waiting her turn at the sideboard, Heather blew out a slow sigh. “Can’t happen soon enough. Ground breaking is in a few weeks.”
From there, the line formed at the buffet where the second round of breakfast fare was spread out. He and the Harts had enjoyed the first round, and even though he’d eaten his full, he stood for seconds and the chance to stand by Violet. Lady, or was it Sarge, rose from beside the General and followed him. “Sleep well?” he asked softly.
“Mm. Very.” She reached for a plate, sidestepping the other dog.
“I do believe this will be the first Sunday supper in a very long time that all three Preston girls will be joining us.” Fiona grinned sweetly, dabbing the corners of her mouth with a napkin. “Rose, how did you manage to escape?”
“A shipment from the upcoming Egypt exhibit got delayed in arrival due to off season storms and then tangled up in customs.” Carrying a dish loaded with enough food to feed a man twice her size, Rose headed for the empty seat beside Grant, bumped against a golden retriever and stepped aside taking the seat next to her grandmother instead.
Good dog.
“No point in watching my blood pressure rise waiting for it to clear,” Rose continued. “When Heather phoned she was coming up, I hitched a ride.”
“And we’re so happy you did.” Fiona Hart had a smile that could light a room. And from what Grant could see, all the granddaughters inherited it. “What about you, Heather? It’s been a few weeks since you broke away.”
Heather stabbed at a pancake with a large serving fork and plopped it atop another already resting on her plate. “I’m still not sure how it happened, but my surgical schedule is clear till Wednesday morning.” The other dog escorted her to the table, nudging her toward two empty seats the way he might if she were vision impaired.
“Well,” the General set his coffee mug down, “whatever brings my girls home is fine with me.”
“Good morning.” The man Grant had met at the hardware store came hurrying in. The wave of his hand seemed to be in salutation for the room, but his eyes were on one woman, and the broad smile that spread across his face was clearly meant for only Heather. Eyes locked, he took the empty seat beside her and below the table two hands quickly linked.
Grant had seen plenty of happy couples in his lifetime, but he was pretty sure if they didn’t look away soon the heat in their gaze might be enough to set the whole room on fire. Despite Heather’s claims to not knowing how it happened, Grant suspected the reason for the three day break in her schedule had just sat down beside her. A short bark and a tail thump, the dog trotted back to the line at the buffet.
What he now recognized as Violet’s ring tone sounded.
“Sorry.” She set her plate down on the sideboard. “I’m expecting an important call about my studio.” Smiling quickly at him, she hurried from the room and stood just outside the doorway.
Placing a few token items on his plate, Grant retook his seat, doing his best to listen in over the hungry clatter of silverware and the animated conversation in the dining room. According to Heather, the new cardiac wing would be in construction for about a year. Fiona hoped they weren’t planning on waiting that long for a wedding. And it sounded like Violet agreed to meet with the design team the next morning.
“Good news, dear?” Fiona Hart slid her knife and fork closed as her granddaughter entered the room.
“Yes. I’m meeting with the architect and engineer at ten thirty.” Quickly Violet served herself some eggs and wheat toast and hurried to take the seat beside Grant. “The man I spoke with sounded very nice and already seemed to have a good handle on what I need as well as eager to have me up and running soon.”
“Stan’s a good man.” Grant nodded before realizing what he’d just said.
Violet’s fork hit the plate. “Did I mention his name?”
“Uh…” Grant scrambled for a way to get his foot out of his mouth. Nothing was coming to mind.
A deep crease formed between Violet’s brows. “I did not.”
The General cleared his throat and directed his words to Grant. “You’re welcome to use my office if you would like.”
“Yes sir. Thank you.” Grant pushed to his feet and extended a hand to Violet. “If you wouldn’t mind coming with me. I have something to explain.”
Lips pressed tightly together, for a few moments it looked as though Violet would refuse. Air filled his lungs again when she nodded and led the way out of the dining room.
He’d taken two steps into the room when she closed the door behind them and whirled about to face him. “You got one of your investors to buy my building, didn’t you?”
“Not exactly.” Hooking his hand around the back of his neck, Grant contemplated the best words for what he wanted to say. From the fire burning in her gaze, he wasn’t sure any words would do.
Violet crossed her arms. “Then exactly what?”
Like yanking a Band-Aid off, fast and to the point was probably best. “I bought the building.”
“You?” Violet’s eyes rounded wide.
He nodded. “With the name of your studio it wasn’t hard to find the property address or track down the owner.”
“Why?” Incredulity stared back at him. He supposed that was better than anger.
Sucking in a fortifying breath, he took a step in her direction. “I would think that was obvious.”
“Considering how much work the building needs, and that I’m getting a whole new studio, and that my rent is not going up, it doesn’t sound like a very sound investment.”
“It’s not a bad investment. It’s a good neighborhood.”
She moved a step closer to him. “Not bad, but not good?”
“More like delayed return.”
Her brow buckled with confusion. “I may prefer the simpler things in life: a fire on the beach, watching the sunset at Eagle Point, or Sunday supper with the family, but I’m a banker’s daughter. Either the math works or it doesn’t.”
“Some things are more important than math.” He inched forward.
“Or money?”
He nodded and took the last step bringing him in front of her. “Or money.”
Violet blinked. He could see the wheels turning in her head. What he didn’t know is what conclusion she was coming to. Not realizing until this very second how much it would hurt if she turned and walked away, he carefully placed his hands on her forearms, slid them down along each arm, and folded his hands around hers.
“I don’t get it,” she muttered.
“I suppose it’s rather simple. Some things are more important than making money.” After coming face to face at the warehouse with a life threatening situation, he’d finally learned what really mattered most. Not the toilets or his business or making money—Violet.
Her brows rose high on her forehead and his heart kick started when her fingers linked with his and she smiled. “So, what you’re saying is there’s a balance to life?”
“Yeah.” He nodded. “I guess I am.”
“So the lake worked its magic on you.”
He shook his head. “Not the lake.”
Again, that confused crinkle appeared on her forehead.
“You did.”
Eyes rounded, circling those beautiful cobalt eyes in a white rim.
He tugged her close against him and gently pressed a brief sweet kiss to her lips. Still close enough to feel her warm breath on his face, he squeezed her hands. “I don’t think I could handle losing you.”
“You don’t?” Her voice sounded barely above a whisper.
Shaking his head, he muttered just as softly, “I don’t.”
An easy smile bloomed. “Good.”
“Good?” Now he felt confused.
“Because I don’t want to lose you either.”
Letting go of her hands, he slid his arms around her waist, delighted when she looped hers around him. “We have an office in Boston.”
“You do?” her smile widened.
He nodded. “And there’s this new project I’ve taken on that’s going to keep me there for a while.”
“There is?” She tightened her hold on him.
His breath caught for a moment at her nearness. “Is it too soon to mention I love you?”
“Probably.” She smiled. “But don’t let that stop you.”
“I love you, Violet Preston.”
Violet’s lips fell too briefly on his before she tilted her head back and stared up at him. “And I love you.”
Grant held back a knowing chuckle. “I think very soon we’re going to make my grandfather a very happy man.”
“Your grandfather?”
“For years he’s encouraged me to find a good woman and settle down. Wait till he finds out I found a great woman.”
Violet giggled.
“What’s so funny?”
“Considering it’s his fault you’re here at all, I just thought it funny that we found each other.” Violet brushed her hand against his brow. “You’re frowning. Change your mind about me already?”
He squeezed her tight. “Not on your life. You’re stuck with me.”
A bark sounded from the doorway. Sitting like a couple of sentinels, Sarge and Lady wagged their tails in contented synchronization.
“Life doesn’t get much better than this.” Violet smiled up at him.
Running his fingers through her hair, he leveled his gaze with hers. “You ain’t seen nothing yet.”