“LAUREL.” MITCH SAT on the couch in the common room opposite her mother. He had a serious expression on his face and her design contract in his hands. “Come join us.”
Chilled, Laurel removed her jacket but put up her guard.
Her mother didn’t look happy and neither did Mitch.
“You hired a lawyer?” Mom scowled. Her clothes were as rumpled as her temper. “Does this mean you don’t trust me? Your own mother?”
“What do you think?” Laurel asked vaguely because she had no clue what was going on. She sat on the hearth and glanced at Mitch, at stern features and square shoulders. He gave nothing away. “Counselor.”
Mitch allowed the briefest of nods. “I looked at the contract as a favor to Laurel.” His words were as stiff as his backbone. “She doesn’t have to take my advice.”
“Good.” Her mother slapped her hands on her thighs. “I don’t need to hear anything from you, then.”
“But I’d like to hear what Mitch has to say.” Laurel’s fingers knotted in her lap.
Mitch dropped the thick contract on the coffee table. It landed with a resounding thud. “I wouldn’t sign it. This deal leaves the door open for Ashley to fire Laurel and hire another designer. Any other designer at any time.”
Despite the fire nearby, Laurel didn’t feel warm.
“It’s a good deal,” Mom said through gritted teeth. “She should be grateful.”
“It goes without saying that agents usually take fifteen percent,” Mitch continued.
“This is a very complicated situation.” Mom snatched up the contract, hugging it to her chest.
“You could design a dozen dresses and if this Xuri person isn’t happy, she doesn’t have to pay you any more than the initial signing bonus.” Mitch tsk-tsked. “If you sign this, you should go into the deal thinking you won’t see a dime more than your advance.” He leaned toward Laurel, his gaze serious and yet nonjudgmental. “Or rather seven cents more since your mom and sister are entitled to part of the pot.”
“Thank you for your opinion.” Mom stood, making it easier to look down her nose at Mitch and Laurel. “But this is between my daughters and me, and—”
“What would you suggest as an alternative?” Laurel asked Mitch.
“We can’t present an alternative,” Mom sputtered. “This contract was approved by Xuri herself!”
“But it wasn’t approved by me.” Laurel didn’t look at her mother. She was more interested in the guarded kindness in Mitch’s eyes.
Above them, the floor creaked. Behind Laurel, the fire crackled and a log fell apart.
“You know what I’d suggest,” Mitch said slowly.
Laurel nodded. She knew. He wasn’t suggesting marriage to him. “Protect my happiness.” Protect my heart.
Too late on the latter.
“Of all the foolish notions.” Her mother came to stand in front of Laurel, came to stare down on her with a look designed to defeat dissent. “Happiness? A million dollars won’t make you happy?”
A million dollars wouldn’t make her happy if she couldn’t be with Mitch.
“Mom, the only way I’ll sign that deal is if Ashley’s name isn’t attached and your take is fifteen percent.” And even then, Laurel wasn’t sure she wanted to sign the deal. She had no dress design ideas lingering at the back of her brain. Although ideas for baby quilts? Of those, she had plenty.
Mom glared at Mitch. Mitch bared his teeth at Mom.
No one seemed interested in Laurel. She stood, thanking Mitch for his input.
“Not so fast.” Mom caught her arm. “We need to talk about something else.” She shooed Mitch away, or perhaps she hoped he’d budge at her sweeping hand motion. “In private.”
He didn’t make a move to stand.
Her mother huffed. “Tell your guard dog that we need to discuss Wyatt in private.”
Mitch’s gaze darted to Laurel.
“I’ll be fine.” Laurel shook off her mother’s hold and gave Mitch the reprieve he was no doubt looking for.
When he’d shut his apartment door behind him, Mom leaned forward. “I need you to return to Hollywood with me and face the music. We’ll tell Wyatt first and see how it shakes out with his people. Then you and Ashley can do an interview together, one where you admit this was the first and only time you pretended to be your sister.”
Laurel dug her heels into the hardwood. “I can’t lie.” Not anymore.
Mom’s head bobbled around, although not a red hair on her head moved. “I don’t care about your recently rediscovered morals. We have Ashley’s career to think about.”
Laurel’s throat threatened to close. “A lie put me into this situation. I’m not going to get out of it with another one.”
“Are you saying Wyatt isn’t the father of those babies?”
“No. I’m talking about saying this was the first and only time—” air quotes “—I did the Twin Switch.”
Mom’s eyes narrowed. “You’re making this impossible to pull off without hurting Ashley’s career.”
“And I’m sorry about that.” It made her sick to her stomach. “But if you talk to Ashley, I know she’d feel the same way. No more lies.”
“Let me get this straight.” Her mother’s eyes narrowed. “You think having Wyatt Halford’s babies is going to be something people won’t care about? That there will be no need for interviews to explain it away? That you’ll write his name on their birth certificates and it won’t be seen and leaked to the press?” Mom fell back on the couch and laughed in brittle chunks. “Even if I allowed you to hide out here, do you think reporters won’t find you? Do you think your lawyer friend can protect you from people who get paid thousands of dollars for photographs? You have a famous face. You can’t hide from this in some boutique in the boonies.”
Laurel swallowed thickly. “No more lies.”
Her mother was a master manipulator. She recognized the dead end they’d come to and took on a new attack as smoothly as a shark circled back for the kill. “Okay. What about your lawyer friend?”
Laurel glanced toward Mitch’s apartment.
“You care about him.” Her mother got up and sat next to Laurel on the hearth. “Him and that spark plug of a little girl.” She rubbed Laurel’s forearm. “Don’t do this to them. They’ll resent you for it. Those two and all the people in this sleepy little town.”
Odette, who eyed strangers suspiciously. She’d never emerge from her cabin.
Ivy, whose diner hosted schoolkids most of the day. Where would they go when the paparazzi descended?
Mack, the entrepreneur, would probably create and sell maps of places Laurel had been in town, assuming it was more by then.
And Mitch? He’d lock up the inn and refrain from telling Laurel she’d ruined the town. But it would be there in his eyes.
What about Gabby? She’d rebel against her loss of independence. Mitch would be forced to leave Second Chance. And it would all be because of Laurel.
She couldn’t do that to him. She couldn’t do that to anyone in town.
Laurel stood on shaky legs. “If I do this your way...”
“I’ll make adjustments to the contract.” Mom nodded, eyes glittering with triumph.
The thought of signing any design deal sent the fear of failure churning in Laurel’s stomach, but it wasn’t as sickening as the pain her obstinance would cause. “I won’t promise to sign anything.”
“Oh, you’ll sign. You can’t have Wyatt Halford’s babies without some financial leverage.” She brushed Laurel’s hair from her shoulders as if she was the most caring mother in Second Chance. “You need money in case Wyatt decides a woman who’d pretend to be someone else in order to sleep with him isn’t good enough to raise his kids.”
Laurel cringed in fear, turning away.
He can’t have my babies.
“We’ll talk more about this on the way back to California.”
IT WAS SATURDAY. And Saturday meant Mitch was making tuna casserole.
He’d expected Laurel to come talk with him after her mother chased him off, but she hadn’t shown up.
He boiled water and opened cans of tuna, mushrooms and peas.
Still no Laurel.
He put the noodles in the boiling pot and got out milk and cheese from the refrigerator.
Still no Laurel.
He drained the noodles, mixed everything together, topped it with bread crumbs and put it in the oven.
He heard voices in the common room and ventured out to see if it was the Dragon Lady, aka Laurel’s mother, or anyone else staying at his inn—anyone else being much preferable to talk to than Mrs. Monroe.
The Dragon Lady sat next to Gabby. “That is a gorgeous nose.” She admired a framed photo of Gabby from last Christmas that had been sitting on the check-in desk.
Mitch’s vision blurred.
“I know, right?” Gabby gingerly touched her still-swollen nose. “Everybody says it’s going to look just the same when the bruises go away, but I’m not convinced.”
Genevieve spotted Mitch, her nicey-nice smile hardening for a second before returning to nicey-nice. “Girls with noses like this land lots of television roles in Hollywood.”
Hollywood? Mitch nearly vomited in his throat.
“Really?” Gabby gushed.
“Gabby.” It was the pink dress all over again. His vision cleared. He successfully swallowed bile.
“Yeah, Dad?” She beamed at him with those raccoon eyes.
“I need you to make a salad.”
Gabby’s hand fluttered in Genevieve’s direction. “But—”
“Now.” He didn’t apologize for his bark.
His daughter flounced his way as if intent to make a dramatic exit. Instead, she stopped next to him and raised up on her toes to give him a kiss. “I know what she is, Dad. Give me some credit.”
He slanted her a grin, cupping her cheek. “Have I told you lately how brilliant you are?”
“Not nearly enough.” She skipped off.
Mitch waited until Gabby went into their apartment and closed the door before he confronted the Dragon Lady verbally, without barking.
“I suppose you don’t want me to put ideas in your daughter’s head.” Laurel’s mother was a shrewd operator, able to smile warmly as she read his mind.
Mitch hadn’t survived years in the court system to back down at the first challenge. “I suppose you’d like to sleep in a bed tonight and not out in Holden’s car.”
She kept smiling, the way opposing council sometimes did when they thought their next play overruled Mitch’s defense. “We can do a deal. I won’t put ideas into Gabby’s head if you won’t put ideas in Laurel’s.”
He shook his finger at her. “You underestimate Laurel’s intelligence and her talent.”
“And you underestimate her need to protect people, like Ashley...her children...and your sweet, sweet little girl.” Genevieve sighed. “Gabby would shine like a diamond on-screen.”
Mitch couldn’t look at Mrs. Monroe. She didn’t get it and regrettably, never would. He stared out the window at the delicate snowflakes and the snow-covered pines. He had to remind himself that there was beauty in the world that power-hungry people like Genevieve Monroe couldn’t touch. Because if he didn’t remind himself, he might lose his cool and say things he didn’t want his daughter to hear.
Mitch forced himself to face her. “I have a sleeping bag I can loan you, but you might want to buy a pair of snow pants from the general store before it closes.”
“You’re bluffing.” She fidgeted, unsure.
The door to Zeke’s bedroom opened and the cowboy hobbled out on one crutch. “He’s not bluffing. And after having to listen to you all afternoon, I’d be happy to escort you outside.”
The Dragon Lady took in Zeke’s walking cast and his single cowboy boot, and shook her head. She stood and headed for the stairs.
“Mark my words, gentlemen. When the roads are clear, I’m taking Laurel home to California. Don’t test me or I’ll make sure Holden sells this place to a developer who’ll make me look like Glinda the Good Witch.”
Her footsteps receded.
Mitch caught Zeke’s eye. “Tell me everything you heard.”
“YOU STOLE MY KEYS.” Mitch climbed the slope to reach Laurel midmorning on Valentine’s Day.
Laurel had known she couldn’t leave town without talking to Mitch one more time, but she’d been avoiding him.
He reached her, standing tall, his dark hair ruffling in the breeze. “Please tell me you didn’t shovel snow off this porch.”
“I asked Roy first thing this morning.” And then Laurel had pulled a small bench onto the mercantile porch so she could stare out at the valley, enjoying the breathtaking beauty one last time.
“You didn’t answer your door last night when I knocked.” Mitch settled onto the bench next to her.
“I’m going home with my mother.” Leaving happiness and hotness behind.
The babies were I-smell-bacon unhappy.
“Please don’t tell me that decision makes you feel better.” When she didn’t deny it, Mitch put his arm around her, resting his hand on her hip. “It doesn’t make me feel better. For the record, it makes me want to shout at something.”
Laurel refused to look at him, at the good man she was giving up for the good of all involved. “Mitch, you don’t understand.”
“Oh, I understand all right. In your head...” He touched her temple with his. “You believe going back is the best way to protect everyone you care about. Ashley and her career. Your babies. Maybe even me and Gabby.”
He read her all too well. “But if you know this, then you realize it isn’t the right thing to do.”
“Have you forgotten what’s important in life? The joy of becoming a mother? The passion for a business in a place that your grandfather loved? Putting the needs of your kids first? Thinking about what makes you happy?” He whispered in her ear. “Like the love of a good man?”
“Mitch, it’s much more complicated than you make it sound.”
“Is it?” He pulled her closer, his voice enticing. “You’re up here because you love this spot and you don’t want to leave.”
“Yes, but—”
“You’re in my arms because you love me and you don’t want to leave.”
“Yes, but—”
“If your biological baby daddy was Joe Schmo from Cleveland, you wouldn’t leave.” He edged apart from her so he could turn and take her gloved hands in his, so he could stare into her eyes and she could see into his. “You wouldn’t leave this valley. You wouldn’t leave Second Chance.” His voice dropped to a whisper. “You wouldn’t leave me.”
He was right.
He was right, and he knew it. But that didn’t change anything.
Tears filled her eyes. “You don’t know what a circus my life could become if the situation with Wyatt isn’t handled right. He could call me unfit. He could try to take my babies away from me. He could ruin Ashley’s reputation, her credibility, her career.”
“Laurel Monroe, I’m here to tell you that’s not going to happen.” He sounded so certain. “And if by chance it does, I don’t care. I love you. I love how you like to dress up. I love that you’re creative enough to make things from scratch. I love that you want everyone to be happy and get along.”
“But—”
“I love you. That’s all that matters.” His gaze was kind and yet filled with regret. “I should have remembered how much I loved you when all your knots unraveled. I underestimated you, how good a person you truly are and what a positive example you’ve been. I also underestimated Gabby. I’ll be apologizing to you both for the rest of my life.”
The babies fluttered happily.
“The point is, I love you. I can’t live without you.” Mitch dropped down on one knee. “And I’m no slouch in the legal department. Your mother has a plan? So what.” He shrugged. “Shane and I have a plan, too. And do you know what it involves?”
“Please don’t tell me you’re going to kidnap Wyatt and bring him to Second Chance.” She was joking through her tears. Mitch loved her. He was willing to endure the circus that came with the Hollywood Monroes.
Not that she was going to let him, but she loved him for suggesting it.
“Kidnapping? That’s close, but no. I want to marry you. Let me rephrase. I have to marry you, because I can’t live without you. And when Ashley brings Wyatt to our wedding—as her date—”
“Oh, Mitch. No. He’ll think that they... That he... And then she...”
“Ashley can handle herself,” he reassured her. “At least, that’s what she told Shane when we spoke on the phone this morning.”
Laurel’s spine straightened. “You called Ashley?”
“Technically, Shane called Ashley. Woke her up at 5:00 a.m. Explained that you needed her help, for once, and she was ready to put Wyatt on a plane tomorrow.” His gaze turned sly. “That is, if we were going to get married tomorrow.”
“Oh, Mitch.” He stole her breath.
“That is, she could have gotten him on a plane if Wyatt was in town.”
“He’s not in LA?”
“Nope. Apparently, he just left to shoot an action movie in South America and won’t be back for four months.” He squeezed her hands. “So you see, if you let your mother drag you back to California, it would’ve been for nothing. The man isn’t even there.”
If he thought that relieved her stress, he was wrong. “Four months.” Her voice rose louder than his had ever done since she’d come to Second Chance. “I’m going to have to live with uncertainty for four months?” She stood. “I need to fly to South America.”
“Hold up.” Mitch drew her into his lap. “I’ve been talking about love and marriage, and you’ve said nothing.”
She kissed his cheek. “I said a lot.”
“Nothing about love,” he grumbled.
He loves us. The babies swooned.
“I love you, Mitch.” Laurel removed her gloves and framed his cheeks with her hands, needing to touch him skin to skin. And then she pressed her lips to his, needing the reassurance of his kiss. “Why wouldn’t I love you? You remind me of what’s important when I get all tangled up in protecting others and keeping the peace. You remind me that I’m important.”
“You’re one of the most important people in my life,” he murmured, touching her nose with his. “Let me help you with this. We can face this together, I promise.”
She closed her eyes, knowing she should refuse, but unable to do so. “All right, Mitch. I love you. I love that you aren’t afraid to stand up to people in power. And I love that you aren’t afraid to extend an olive branch and admit that you’re wrong.”
He drew back slightly. “I was wrong? When?”
“You were wrong about me opening a boutique in the mercantile. If I stay, it can’t fail. Even if it doesn’t make much money, it’ll be a place that brings happiness to me.”
“I was wrong,” Mitch admitted with a broad grin. “If it brings you happiness, it is a huge success.” He kissed her briefly. “Are you sure you don’t want to pursue that dress design contract?”
“There will have to be a new set of terms.” His eyes softened, and his smile was the kind one that had won her heart weeks ago.
“Now, that’s exactly what a lawyer would say.”
He made her forget complications. He reminded her to be happy. How could she ever have considered leaving him?
“Marry me, Mitch Kincaid. Marry me and my babies.”
His smile turned wicked. “I thought I was the one doing the asking.”
“Humor me.”
“Yes.” He lowered his lips to hers and kissed her long and slow, as if they sat on a warm beach in the Bahamas and not on a cold, snowy slope in Second Chance, Idaho. “Yes.”