Cole paced in his office, shoving one hand through his hair while the other hand played with the change in his pocket. He hated feeling like he had forgotten something.
“Dang it, Stanton. Would ya stop pacin’ around like someone forgot to let ya out of your cage? You’re making me go cross-eyed.”
Cole stopped moving as Luke’s words penetrated his thoughts. He realized he’d been questioning the poor bastard for hours, quizzing him on his knowledge, his background, his future plans. All things Cole had known—both intellectually and in his gut—for years.
“Ya flew me out here on the red-eye to take your place. I’ll do you proud. You have my word.”
“I know, Luke.”
Luke put his hand on Cole’s shoulder.
“Look, Stanton. I’ve been workin’ with ya since you were practically in diapers. You can trust me with this project. With any project.”
“I have no doubt.”
“I know ya hate letting go of the reins, but a business ain’t gonna love ya back. Go to your woman.” Luke smiled, and Cole felt as if he had been punched in the gut. “Hurry before she figures out she’s too good for your sorry ass.”
“You’re right. And thank you.”
A business ain’t gonna love ya back.
The man was truly brilliant.
Cole knew he had made the right choice bringing Luke and his wife over here. They were excited for the change, for the challenge, and Cole’s clients had eventually relented when he assured them that Cole himself would be available via video conferencing for all consulting, while Luke would handle the hands-on part of the business.
He had nearly convinced himself that he didn’t need Ava. But when she sent him that one simple text—a picture text of her holding Hope while Hope held out a daisy toward the camera—he knew he had to have her.
She didn’t say anything. He didn’t either.
He wanted to surprise her.
“I’ll keep ya up-to-date on every tiny detail. With all the technology these days, ya won’t even feel out of touch. You’ve got my word, Stanton.”
Cole felt the weight of the company leaving his shoulders as he emphatically shook hands with his trusted employee.
All the wasted time he could have been spent loving Ava, building a world with her.
He couldn’t live in the past. He couldn’t hold on to regret. All he could do was apply the same passion he had used as a foundation for his company to building the best life possible with Ava.
He didn’t allow himself to think that she could reject him.
He had a few more meetings to suffer through, and then he’d be on his way.
He was a man of action, not one who waited around for his luck to turn or to win a jackpot.
He had to take a chance on Ava.
***
“Mrs. Armstrong, I understand how you must be feeling. I know you counted on Nolan remaining with me as he repeats kindergarten next year, and my resignation came very suddenly.” Ava wiped away the tear that blazed a trail down her cheek, grateful beyond words that this conference was taking place over the phone and not in person.
She’d miss everything about this job. The parents. The staff. The classroom. The curriculum. The kids. Oh, god, how she’d miss the kids.
But she missed Cole more.
And he was irreplaceable.
She cleared her throat and shifted her brain back to teacher-mode.
“Let me tell you, though, that Nolan is a strong child, and children are incredibly resilient. I can speak to you over the summer about some ways to ease his transition. And I know exactly who I’ll recommend for his placement.”
Ava took a calming breath as she wrapped up the tearful conversation. She knew she had been valued, but she couldn’t believe the uproar her resignation had caused.
She rubbed her sore ear, sure it would rot off after spending the entire week returning calls to parents of her current students, reassuring them that she’d be finishing off the school year. Prospective parents who really, really, really wanted her as their child’s kindergarten teacher next year flooded her inbox and haunted her dreams. Members of the school board had to hear every detail of why she’d be leaving, and what could they do to make her stay? One member even followed her into the teacher’s bathroom earlier that day—and it was a one-person bathroom!
Ava never imagined she’d be so popular.
She smiled as she reflected on the past school year. Her fingers caressed the class picture that was framed and displayed proudly on her end table. She’d never forget every sweet, innocent face.
The principal, Mrs. Guyotte, assured Ava there’d always be a place at the school for her to return to should she decide to come back. Immediately upon issuing the offer, however, Mrs. Guyotte said she only had to look into Ava’s eyes to know Ava made the right decision.
Ava’s heart warmed as she remembered the tight, maternal hug Mrs. Guyotte had given her earlier that morning. She had been disappointed since Ava had been chosen to be curriculum lead, but she seemed to understand.
Ava rubbed her temples. Her head pounded with the stress of last minute decisions. Grateful for the small bit of money she had saved since beginning to work full-time, she hoped it would be enough to get her to Cole and to support herself until she could find another job.
Yes, she was giving up a ton. But all she had to do was think of Cole and his dimples and the way he made her feel, and she jumped back on track.
She looked forward to making new memories with Cole. She’d rope him in and never let him go.
She rested her head on the arm of her couch and wondered whether his bed in Japan had bed posts.
***
“Cole, you have to fly in ASAP. Her last day of school is this week and you have to catch her before she leaves town.”
Cole held the phone away from his ear so Tiana’s shrieking wouldn’t completely damage his ear drum. He’d been hearing all week about all the time she’d been spending with Ava—shopping, dining, conversing about the future. He couldn’t contain the resentment that Tiana was the one spending all the time with his treasure.
“If you don’t get back here before her last day, she’ll be on a plane to Japan while you’re on your way here. The flight is like fourteen hours. Plus other travel time. Are you even listening?”
“I think everyone along the east coast can hear you, Ti.”
“I don’t know why she’s even bothering to try to work things out with you. I should tell her to forget about you.”
“Ti, I’m thankful for your concern, but why exactly are you so concerned? You were adamantly opposed to me ever contacting her after the summer thing.”
Silence on her part.
Relief on his.
“You need to understand that if you screw up this plan, she won’t have a doorstep for you to show up on because she’s giving up everything she has to be with you!”
“Calm down, Ti.” Air filled his lungs, insuring that his brain would be well-equipped to deal with his baby sister. Had he really ever thought she was adorable? “I have a few more loose ends to tie up here. Things keep popping up.”
“Didn’t you hire Luke to be you?”
“Yes.”
“You said he could handle the job, you gave him a big raise, now get home before you mess things up worse than I messed them up before.”
“What do you mean by that, Ti?”
Silence. Not so welcome this time.
“Ti?” He didn’t try to hold back the hostility in his tone. He didn’t like secrets.
“Please don’t hate me.”
He didn’t respond.
“Cole? You have to promise you won’t hate me. I was young and dumb.”
“You’ll always be young and dumb to me. And no, I’d never hate you.”
“Okay, so anyway. Do you remember the last weekend you and Ava spent together that summer?”
He’d never forget.
“I do.”
“Well, remember how she offered to transfer to a school near where you were setting up shop? And how she seemed weird to you when you told her not to?”
Ava had been out of sorts that weekend, and he couldn’t figure out why. She had asked him over and over again if he had read her letter, and he had. That was why he had picked her up that night—because she had left a note on his door telling him she was back from her week away and wanted to spend some special time with him.
But what did any of this have to do with Tiana?
He heard her sucking in a deep breath.
“She had written you a letter. A real letter, not the note on your door. I offered to leave it with you before she got back from her trip. I didn’t give it to you.”
“Why would she write me a letter? And why wouldn’t you give it to me? What am I not getting here?”
“The letter was her way of telling you she loved you. That she didn’t want to spend time away from you. That she’d do anything to make the relationship work, whether it be a long-distance thing or for her to transfer schools. When she was gone that week, she had filed paperwork to transfer.”
That weekend came rushing back to him as if he had lived it yesterday.
The hurt in her eyes. The way she had lit up when she first saw him, then ran off in tears. How she kept asking him about the letter. How she offered to transfer and he thought she was crazy—he’d never want her to change her plans for someone like him. Someone who didn’t deserve her. Someone who couldn’t guarantee he’d be there for her.
He hadn’t wanted her to uproot her life when he knew he didn’t deserve someone as pure and wonderful as her.
“All this time, she thought I read those words?”
Tiana sniffled over the phone line.
“Yes.”
“I have to go.”
“Cole—you promised you wouldn’t hate me.”
“I’ll call you later, Ti.”
He disconnected the call and ran out of the office as if a demon chased him.
Tiana’s interference mingled in his brain with his mother’s past words. Don’t think you have to control everything. You have to let others prove themselves sometimes, too.
And the hardest hit words, Don’t end up like your father.
His father. Alone and miserable, barking orders from his room at the rehab facility. Hooked up to machines and in and out of surgeries to repair his overworked heart.
Cole raced into his temporary apartment, tossing his clothes into a duffel bag, not even caring about the condition of his expensive suits.
He rehearsed the words he’d give to Ava.
After nearly a month of being away from her—a long, grueling, painful month—Cole knew he wouldn’t be above groveling.
His erection raged along with his mind.
Oh yeah. He’d grovel.
***
Ava silently thanked her college professor for the sage advice to wear sunglasses to the last day of school for the first few years.
The last day was always emotional, but this was worse. This was permanent.
Her body warred between anguish and excitement. Her eyes swelled with unshed tears, her throat tightened every time she allowed herself to think about what she was giving up. Yet, at the same time, her body burned with the need to be with Cole. Her toes curled in anticipation of showing up at his door.
She had never left the country—certainly not alone. But she was ready. (And thankful for the passport she had obtained when she had planned to travel to Europe for a honeymoon.)
A little hand pulled on her sleeve. Ava smiled into the shining eyes of one of her dearest students. Sadness lurked in the deep brown depths, and Ava’s need to comfort and protect was strong.
“Oh, Kaylee, honey. You’re going to do such a great job in first grade next year! I’m so proud of you.”
Kaylee had struggled for most of the year, and Ava knew instinctively that she’d continue to struggle throughout her school career. Ava had worked hard to give Kaylee a good foundation. Kaylee was one of those students who possessed such strong determination that she’d be successful no matter how hard she had to work. Ava would bet on it.
Hugging Kaylee, Ava felt fulfilled. Enriched.
Ava was ready. Ready to give up her stable life and travel into a new, dangerous, potentially rocky road.
Even as fears threatened to bust in and occupy her thoughts, Ava had a hard time thinking of Cole’s arms as being dangerous.
She couldn’t wait to surprise him.
Ava zoned out as Kaylee reluctantly rejoined her peers. Her mind immediately went to her happy place—where Cole’s hard body contrasted with the softness of hers. That sweet spot on his chest, just below his shoulder, where her head fit perfectly—as if it had been carved for her. His unique smell. His sound. His love.
Little voices intruded her thoughts.
“Miss O’Connor! Why do we have to leave you?”
“I want you to be my teacher for always.” Little Alison stood in front of Ava—arms crossed, jaw set, hazel eyes brimming with tears that threatened to spill.
“Oh, sweetie. Come here.” Ava opened her arms to welcome Alison into her embrace. She hugged the girl for a moment, then removed her sunglasses and called the rest of her students to the Circle Time carpet area.
The children filed over dutifully, eyes full of wonder. Ava catalogued every look on every face so she’d always have them in her memory bank.
She straightened her back and placed her hands on her lap, preparing to deliver her final speech as their teacher.
“My friends, today is the very last day of school for you. You won’t come back until the leaves are starting to change color.”
The class dutifully and accurately answered her questions about the seasons.
“What kind of fun things will you do over the summer, when the weather is hot?”
Numerous replies were called out, and when Ava was ready to move along, she used her skills as an early childhood professional to redirect the children to her speech.
“Next year you’ll have new teachers—teachers who look forward to meeting you; teachers who will have lots of fun stuff planned. They’ll teach you exciting new things. They’ll adore every one of you, just as I have.”
“But why can’t you be our teacher?” Alison piped in again, snuggling into Ava’s side.
Ava smiled and smoothed the hair on Alison’s soft forehead.
“Life is a great adventure, and you need to experience lots of different people and things to make the experience more enjoyable. Other teachers can show you things that I haven’t, and will give you new adventures. You’ll have so much fun!”
“My mommy says I can hug you next year in the hall.”
Ava looked into Kaylee’s eyes once again, wishing she hadn’t removed her sunglasses. She wanted to make eye contact with the kids, but she couldn’t let them see her cry. She was trying to reassure them, for goodness sake!
Change could be good for everyone.
Ava struggled to embrace this outlook, even though it was normally one she fervently believed in.
Happiest face in place, she hoped for her own sake that her smile would be contagious.
“Well, honey, I won’t be here next year. But I’d love for you to make me some pictures. Mrs. Guyotte promised me she’d mail things like that to me. I’m moving far away to a place called Japan. Let’s find it on the map.”
She brought the globe to the circle, tracing the route from New Hampshire, USA to Japan.
The children stared with wide eyes, unable to believe that a teacher could have any sort of life outside of school. Patrick even stopped fiddling with the blocks on the shelf long enough to stare at her in total disbelief.
It had taken her forever to convince them that teachers didn’t sleep at school, and that the sensory table was definitely not her bed.
Ava couldn’t contain her joy as each set of chubby arms tried to wiggle their way around her waist; every child claiming a part of her body. She loved these children as if they were her own. And she hoped Cole would want to be with her forever so they could have a big family. Maybe sooner than later.
But she was getting ahead of herself.
“Miss O’Connor, you’re not married, right?” Cameron held her hand in his own, studying her fingers for a ring that would match his mother’s. He had gone through this same routine on a weekly basis throughout the year.
For the first time, Ava allowed herself to imagine Cole placing a ring on the left finger that Cameron was fiddling with.
“No, hon. Not yet.”
“You’re supposed to marry me, right, Miss O’Connor?”
Patrick began to jump up and down, pointing at the doorway. “She’s not gonna marry you, Cameron. She’s gonna marry him!”
Wondering who she was being paired up with this time, Ava turned in the direction of Patrick’s pointing. Filling up the doorway—taking more than his fair space, as usual—was none other than the man she had planned to surprise.
The room closed in on her as if she had become trapped in a distorted realm. Sounds of children wavered in and out. Colors whirled around her—twisting, contorting, lengthening.
Her teacher brain kicked in and alerted her to Cameron’s pouting and Patrick’s teasing. She moved into action, prepared to redirect and comfort her students.
And then she allowed herself to breathe.
Shock had nearly rendered her useless.
Maybe Cole was a hallucination. There was no way that Mrs. Guyotte was actually standing beside the man of her dreams. No, the crooked smile on her principal’s face and the load of motherly pride had to be from something else. Something less Cole-ish.
She chanced a glance at the doorway. Nope. Not a hallucination. A living, breathing, smiling, confident Cole.
The one man who could inspire this breathlessness.
The one man she had changed her life to be with.
The one man who had no idea what changes she had made to be with him, since she hadn’t spoken to him in weeks.
The one man who could sweep her off her feet and make her forget her troubles.
Why was he here? In her school? In her classroom?
In her country?
***
Confidence had always been his thing, but standing here, in her kindergarten classroom, had him feeling like an insecure schoolgirl. Every nerve ending in his body screamed for him to rush to her, to pull her into his arms and to love her so fiercely she’d never try to escape or avoid him again.
After not seeing or speaking to her for so long, he didn’t trust his body to behave appropriately in front of a classroom full of kids.
Mrs. Guyotte cleared her throat and pushed him—not a gentle nudge, mind you, but a full-forced, military shove—into the classroom. When he found his footing again, he walked toward Ava.
His beautiful Ava.
Her honey brown hair was braided neatly on both sides, showing off the glistening highlights the sun had gifted to her. In her element, surrounded by kids, she radiated joy and youth. As he got closer, he grew concerned at her bright and shiny eyes, reddened with unshed tears.
He knew the tears were not tears of joy for him.
They were tears of mourning for everything she had been prepared to give up.
To be with him.
He didn’t deserve her. He knew the truth as surely as he knew that he’d never stop trying to make himself better so that one day he might come closer to deserving her.
Lucky for him, Mrs. Guyotte had been principal of this school since he was a student here. He had spent many Christmas breaks doing projects around the school as a community service (and as an excuse to take a break from the family), and she had always stayed in touch with him. When he called her with his crazy plan, she was all for it. She had promised to be there to personally let him into the school so word didn’t have a chance to spread. Mrs. Guyotte had been more focused on keeping his visit a surprised than he had been.
Ava’s flushed cheeks and swollen lips—a product of her nervous chewing—coupled with the swarm of children wrapped around her like a pig-in-a-blanket, had her looking every bit the goddess.
He craved her.
He would claim her.
She’d be his.
Mrs. Guyotte called the children toward her, telling them something about an early recess. They bounced away from Ava, clearing the way for him to make his move.
After flight delays, traffic holdups, and difficult decisions to make in the jewelry store, Cole thought he might not make it to her on time. Thankfully he had been able to see her in this element.
Ava rubbed her hands on her khaki skirt. Her eyes darted every which way before they settled on his face.
Questions clouded her eyes. She started to speak, then stopped.
He wished he could read her mind.
She wiped away tears with the back of her hand. The primal urge to put a smile on her face startled him.
He reached for her.
No words necessary.
The minute their lips met, sparks ignited.
He had to stop himself from consummating their reunion then and there.
Some boundaries were important, he supposed.
Ava looked up at him, her hands still clutching his arms. For once, he didn’t try to keep her from seeing his feelings in his face.
He had nothing to hide.
“What are you doing here? You’re supposed to be in Japan.”
He pulled her closer until they were perfectly aligned. The velvet box in his pocket burned into his thigh.
“I came to stop you from leaving this place where you’re so loved.”
“I have a plane ticket. To Japan. It cost me a fortune.”
“I’ll buy it from you.”
“That’s not what I meant. I mean, I was coming to you. I quit my job. Got my landlord to release me from my lease. Got Karly to agree to watch Bear until we could finish all the requirements to have him exported to Japan. Oh my god, what’s happening?”
She brought her shaking hand to her forehead and he watched the color drain from her face.
“You won’t need that apartment, and Mrs. Guyotte quite joyfully ripped the job posting off the staff bulletin board.”
“What?”
“No one in their right mind would willingly let you go.”
“Cole. You don’t understand.”
“I understand perfectly. You can’t leave here. The work you do here in one day is more important than the work I could do in a lifetime. And I don’t want to live a lifetime without you.”
“Cole…”
He put a finger over her lip, then kissed her nose.
“You have no idea what it means to me that you were willing to give up so much to be with me. I was a fool. A complete idiot. What did you call me before? Oh, right, a poopyhead. Thinking I could leave you here and be okay? Thinking I could live my life anywhere without you?”
She opened her mouth. Then snapped it shut. He marveled at her speechlessness. He thought for sure she’d jump on the poopyhead bandwagon.
“I couldn’t wait another minute to tell you how I feel. I love you. I’ve loved you since the first time you swung back too far and almost hit me with a hammer.”
She laughed through her tears.
“Without a doubt, you’re the best thing ever to come into my life. I don’t have a single question about it. I can’t tell you how much it tore me up when you were with another man. I should have fought for you then, but it took me being half a world away to realize how much I need you in my daily life.”
Tears flowed down her cheeks. He caught them in his hands.
“I’m ready to go to Japan with you, Cole.”
He shook his head. She closed her eyes.
He cupped her chin, forcing her to look at him.
“I can’t have you give this up. I’m staying here. With you. If you’ll have me.”
“What about your job? You worked so hard to get that contract.”
“I’ve worked hard to build a team I can trust. I’m learning to delegate, to let others help me with my responsibilities. I’ll have to fly out there on occasion, but most of what I’m needed for can be done long-distance.” He paused, fully realizing how much power she held over him. “I need to be here with you. And Bear would never forgive me if I took you away from him for any length of time.”
She shook her head vehemently, shocking him. Hadn’t she been willing to come to him? She should be happy with this turn of events.
Dammit, he’d never understand women.
“You can’t stay here, Cole. You hate this town.”
“I don’t hate this town.”
“Healing Springs holds you back. You’ve never wanted to be under your father’s shadow. You’ve told me that a million times.”
“Yes, when I was young and self-centered and moronic, I thought that. I’ve worked to build my business. My reputation. I have this new consulting branch under my name now, too. And you know what? I don’t care about any of it nearly as much as I care about feeding ducks in the town common. With you. With our future children. With your howling maniac of a dog.”
“I don’t want you to resent me someday.”
He kissed her to quiet her, but got easily caught up in the mingling of their emotions. This moment was the perfect example of everything he needed. All of it revolved around her.
He broke the kiss, eager to pose an important question. He smiled at her disappointed sigh.
Her eyes widened as he stepped back and pulled the small, black box out of his pocket. Pushing a kid-sized chair out of his way, he bent down on one knee. Her hands flew to her mouth, but she never broke eye contact.
“Ava, I love everything about you. I love the way you use chocolate as a crutch, the way your face lights up whenever you see a child, the passion you give to me. I know I may never be the man who deserves you, but if you’ll stay by my side, I’ll give the world to you.”
He opened the box, mesmerized by the beauty in her face as the brilliance of the diamond cast light onto her.
He had selected the setting specifically for Ava. The emeralds flanking the sides of the diamond reminded him of her eyes. The diamond promised commitment. The platinum band was unbreakable. Just like their bond.”
“Ava O’Connor, would you do me the honor of becoming my wife? Will you marry me?”
Silence. The doubt he saw flickering over her face when she was trying to make sense of his surprise was long gone, replaced now with a look of sheer joy and adoration. A look he hoped never went away.
He waited for her answer, wanting to sweep her out of this school and into his rental car so he could seal the deal properly.
He figured they could start negotiations about when to start their family after an intense session of lovemaking.
His leg began to cramp, but he waited patiently for her to verbalize her answer.
“Ava, please be my wife.”
“Yes. Yes!”
He stood to his full height and lifted her hand so he could place the ring on her finger. A perfect fit.
Her breasts swelled against the tight fabric of the red and white button down shirt she wore. He couldn’t wait to free them from their prison and hold them captive in his hands and mouth.
“I love you, Ava.”
“I love you, Cole. More than you’ll ever know.”
“I think I have a pretty good idea.”
“Don’t seduce me here. I’m working, you know.”
“Oh, I know. But I have after-school plans for you, young lady.”
She gave him a look that made him feel naughty for flirting with the teacher.
“So was it Tiana who told you my plans?”
“Do we have to talk about my sister now?”
“She ruined my surprise!”
“Ava, even if she never told me a thing, I’d be here now.”
“Did she tell you about the letter?”
“Yes. And I’m sorry. So sorry that you felt abandoned or unloved by me. I may not have realized then what I realize now, and maybe back then I wouldn’t have been ready. But I am now. I love you. I desire you. I want to spend the rest of my life with you and our future children.”
His hand rested on the flat planes of her abdomen, where he hoped many children would bloom.
He bit the inside of his cheek to keep from laughing at himself. Months ago, having a family wouldn’t have occurred to him. Now he couldn’t wait.
“And how soon do you think we should plan for these future children?” Ava giggled, joy dancing in her glossy eyes.
Her fingertips grazed his arm as he held her belly.
“As far as I’m concerned,” he shrugged, “we could begin as soon as possible.”
He pretended to consider the question more carefully.
“At the very least, we should get in as much practice as possible before the wedding.”
She threw her head back and laughed. He kissed her neck until her giddy laughter turned to moans of pleasure.
“Hey, I’m still on the clock, you know.”
“How much longer?”
She looked over his shoulder at the clock on the wall.
“Five minutes. But I have to say goodbye to my kids.”
“I’ll wait for you. Just don’t take too long.”
He winked so she’d know she could take as long as she needed, then pressed himself to her so she’d know exactly what he had in store for her.
“Maybe we should wait until after the wedding.”
He cleared his throat.
“Kidding!”
She reached around and pinched his ass.
“I have to go show off my ring.” She kissed him on the cheek and pulled away. “Oh, when should I tell them we’re planning the wedding for?”
“I haven’t given it much thought. What do you think?”
“Well, we’re not getting any younger, you know!”
“Did Mrs. Reynolds tell you that?”
They laughed together, knowing very well that she had.
“Well you’re out of school as of today, and my schedule is clear. So how about before the summer is over we make you Mrs. Cole Stanton?”
“Best plan ever.”
In the back of his foggy, love-drenched mind, the ringing of the school bell signaled the end of the school year and the beginning of their life together.