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One of the best decisions he’d made in his life was flying to Montana and asking Grace to help convince Emmett to finish his painting in time for the exhibition.
Sam nodded to himself as he paid for a couple of shirts from a menswear store in Billings.
He’d expected his mission to be simple – persuade Grace to help him, then return to Seattle ASAP.
But it hadn’t worked out like that.
Once he’d seen her again, he knew he didn’t want to be anywhere else.
Grace stating she’d wanted to buy the bookshop in Spring River Bend had momentarily derailed his new plans – making her an offer she couldn’t refuse and reinstalling her in the art gallery in Seattle. But her eyes had lit up when she’d told him about the bookstore, and he’d vowed to himself he’d do whatever he could to help her.
Even if it meant putting her interests above his own.
Because how could he see her if she stayed here, in Montana, and he lived in Seattle? A weekend relationship was something he wasn’t interested in.
But how could he have a relationship with Grace? He was ten years older than her. Ever since she’d started working at the art gallery, he’d told himself she was a kid just out of college and not to go there. Even when it killed him when she smiled shyly at him.
He’d known instinctively when he’d met her for the first time that she was nothing like his ex-fiancée Lana. He’d met Lana two years before he’d met Grace and had thought Lana had loved him for himself. It was only when he’d overheard her talking on the phone to one of her girlfriends, boasting about becoming Mrs. Hartwell and the life she would lead, being seen by all the right people and networking with potential clients, that he realized she loved his money more.
He’d broken up with her, telling her to keep the ring that he considered tainted, and had immersed himself in his work. Until Parker hired Grace.
Then, he’d forced himself to stay away from the gallery as much as he could, trusting that Parker was doing a good job. And for the most part he was – only now Sam realized it had been with Grace’s help. After Grace had quit, he’d realized his brother either needed another assistant like Grace, or Sam himself needed to step in more.
But visiting the gallery after Grace had resigned was almost as painful as when she’d been working there.
He had it bad.
Sam grimaced, slamming the car door as he started up the engine. He’d only packed a couple of changes of clothes, but now he’d decided to stay a few days longer, he’d needed some more outfits.
Jasper was supposed to be coming to the bookstore this afternoon to show Grace everything she needed to know as the new owner.
There was no way he was flying back to Seattle until he made sure Grace was comfortable in her new role.
And after that?
The pain at never seeing her again tore at his gut. It had been one year and three and a half weeks since she’d quit the gallery. Plus another month before that, when he’d had to go to the Bahamas. When he’d returned, he’d been shocked that she’d resigned like that.
But why wouldn’t she? He admitted to himself that inheriting a ranch with her sisters was an excellent reason to quit.
And now he was here, in this small town in Montana, not even having the strength to check himself into a hotel in Billings. No, instead he was still staying in Grace’s B & B cabin. It was torture being so close to her and not feeling he could make a move on her, but it was even worse being apart from her as the last fourteen months had shown him.
What was he going to do?
***
“Of course you’ll still receive a third of the profits,” Harriet declared. The three sisters sat around the farmhouse kitchen table.
“Harriet’s right,” Tess, the eldest sister, said.
“But I won’t be able to help much except on the weekends and make the breakfasts during the week,” Grace told them, loving the fact that her sisters were so supportive of her purchasing the bookshop.
“We could share the breakfast duties.” Harriet’s eyes sparkled. “You could do three days per week and I’ll do four – it will mean I’ll have more time in the mornings with Coop.” She giggled and blushed. Since Harriet spent most of her nights in her fiancé’s cabin, Grace guessed her sister meant more time in bed with Coop.
“We’ll create a new roster,” Tess added. “Harriet and I can clean the cabins and check in guests during the week, and we’ll both help on the weekends as well.”
“Your share of the profits will help with the store,” Harriet remarked.
Grace nodded, knowing that the money she’d receive from their B & B business would help her cash flow situation – in the short term, at least. Although repaying Jasper five-hundred-and-fifteen-dollars per month had seemed very reasonable, now that she had rent and utilities to factor in, as well as paying herself a wage, the prospect of being a business owner suddenly seemed a little daunting.
“You guys are the best.” Grace smiled, filled with love for her sisters. Moving to the ranch last year had seemed like an exciting adventure at the time, then it had become worrying with their dire financial situation. But now everything had turned around, and she couldn’t imagine living anywhere else.
Not even in Seattle – with Sam. Because Sam was just a dream. This was reality.
***
Sam was still here. Grace opened up the shop, Sam right on her heels. Yesterday, he’d gone into Billings, then he’d arrived at the store after lunch, just after Jasper had turned up to show her the little things she would need to know as the owner.
Last night, he’d stayed in their B & B cabin – again. But he hadn’t been the only guest. A delightful couple in their sixties had occupied the other cottage, and this morning she’d cooked their breakfast – as well as Sam’s.
The handover period of the bookstore had been brief. After Jasper had shown her everything, he’d left, remarking that he and his wife had decided to leave Montana at the end of the week.
“Shouldn’t you be checking up on the progress of your exhibition?” She turned on the lights and placed her purse behind the counter.
“I called Parker last night. He’s back in Seattle and he’s received a message from Emmett saying the painting should arrive in a couple of days.”
“That’s good.” She smiled briefly as she thought of Emmett, glad that the artist had managed to complete his painting.
“Yeah.” Satisfaction edged his voice.
She raised her eyebrow. “Do you have any other artists who are late on their paintings you’d like me to talk to?”
“No.” He shook his head, a smile tugging the corners of his mouth. “But I like books, even though it seems e-readers might take over in the future.”
“So do I.” Her gaze flickered around the space, taking in all the paperbacks and hardcovers.
“You’re going to need an assistant.”
“What?” She wrinkled her brow.
“Since Jasper has departed – pretty hastily, I might add – you’re now running this store alone.”
“I’m sure I can manage.” The last couple of days had been pretty slow – which had been good in one way, as it meant she – Sam – she and Sam – had had time to finalize the vendor finance agreement. But now, lack of customers meant lack of income.
“I’m sure you can.” His eyes crinkled at the corners. “But you don’t want to be run off your feet. I think you should start looking for an employee. Don’t forget, you’re still helping to run the B & B.”
“I know.” This morning she’d gotten up thirty minutes earlier, just so she’d have enough time to make their real guests a decent breakfast. She didn’t count Sam as a guest – he was – Sam. Sexy. Sophisticated. Handsome. And totally unavailable. Her unrequited crush.
So why was he sticking around? She’d been surprised yesterday when he’d announced he’d be staying for a few more days, asking if the bed and breakfast cabin would still be available.
What else could she have said but the truth? She didn’t think she could ever lie to him.
“I think we should put an ad in the local paper,” he continued. “As well as a sign in the window.”
“We?”
“You,” he amended hastily. “And definitely check their references.”
“I know.”
“Sorry.” He looked abashed for a second. “I’m aware you practically ran the art gallery.”
“You are?” She risked a glance at him.
“Yeah.”
Just then, two customers came in, and Grace hurried to help them. The two ladies ended up buying a paperback each, as well as a tasseled bookmark from the stand next to the register. When the door jangled to announce their departure, Grace realized Sam was smiling.
“What?” she asked.
“Nothing. Except you seemed in your element.”
“I was,” she replied, returning his smile.
He stayed by her side for the rest of the morning. At first she was a little flustered having him there, but as the morning progressed, she became used to his presence. After all, they’d been together part of yesterday and the previous two days, when they’d flown to Wyoming and when Sam had gone over the store accounts and had drawn up the purchase agreement for the store.
After lunch, which he’d insisted on buying from the cafe for both of them and bringing it back to the shop, she wrote an ad for the local paper and also placed a Help Wanted notice in the window – using the same sign that Jasper had used when Grace had noticed it and applied for the job last year.
“Shouldn’t you be flying back to Seattle?” She finally voiced the question at lunch that had nagged her ever since she and Jasper had completed the handover.
“In a couple of days.” He shrugged. “There’s nothing pressing I have to attend to before then.”
“Oh.” She didn’t know why he was still here. His exhibition was back on schedule. He’d repaid her by going over the store’s accounts and putting together the purchase agreement to buy the bookshop. He’d even organized the signing of that agreement and the handover from Jasper, for goodness’ sake.
There was nothing else tying him to Spring River Bend or the ranch.
Was there?
She looked at him from across the counter. He now sat at one of the tables, seemingly engrossed in a psychological thriller he’d just bought. She’d protested, telling him he could have it as a gift, but he’d insisted on paying for it.
Why was he still here?
He hadn’t even kissed her. She’d thought they’d had a mini-moment in the B & B cabin, and another in the shop, but nothing had happened since then.
Perhaps he found Spring River Bend a restful place, and needed a few days off from his high-powered – or so Grace imagined them to be – business activities. She wasn’t sure what else he was involved in apart from the art gallery but Parker had mentioned when he’d first hired her that his brother Sam was busy with his business affairs.
She looked down at her peach wrap top. Since it was summer, she wore a beige skirt that, combined with the top, skimmed her curves instead of delineating every extra ounce. There was no way Sam would be interested in her as a woman. He was just being nice, that was all.
Tanya rushed into the shop, her eyes sparkling.
“Oh, Grace, I just saw your sign in the window! Is your boss hiring?”
Pulled out of her reverie, Grace blinked, then concentrated on what her friend was saying. Out of the corner of her eye, she noticed Sam putting down his book and looking at the two of them with interest.
“I bought this place two days ago.” Grace smiled.
“That’s awesome!” Tanya’s excited voice was almost a squeal. She looked around, as if searching for someone. “Where’s Jasper?”
“He’s already left,” Grace told her. “He and his wife are moving to California at the end of the week.”
“Wow. That was fast.” Tanya sounded admiring, then snapped her lively gaze back to Grace. “I’d love to apply for the job here.”
“Sure.” Grace pulled out a drawer behind the register, wondering if her former boss had tucked away any spare application forms from last year. She’d been so aware of Sam this morning as well as being conscious that today was her first proper day of being a business owner, that she hadn’t thought about organizing application forms for potential employees.
She was in luck.
“Fill this out.” Grace gestured to Sam’s table and plucked a pen off the counter and handed it to the girl. “Or you can sit at the table in the back if you like.”
“Thanks.” Tanya grinned, and hurried over to Sam’s table.
He smiled at the girl, then resumed reading his paperback.
A few minutes later, Tanya gave Grace her application.
“Is the job part-time? Because I’m working fifteen hours per week at the café.”
“It is.” Grace nodded as she read the application form. Everything looked good. Tanya had included two references, one of whom was Harriet’s boss at the coffee shop.
“That would be perfect,” Tanya said, then her face fell. “As long as the hours here worked with my hours at the café.”
“I’m sure we can organize something to suit us both,” Grace told her. “I just need to check your references,” she added, conscious of Sam’s interested gaze on her once more.
“I understand.” Tanya pointed to the application form. “I put my cell phone number on there, so you could call me as soon as you make a decision?”
“Of course I will,” Grace said, suddenly aware that this was the first time she’d ever hired someone. It would be fun to work with Tanya, and if she already worked fifteen hours across the square, she mightn’t want to work twenty-five hours per week here, which meant Grace could save a little money on staff.
“It would be great if I worked here.” Tanya’s gaze fell to the tasseled bookmarks on the counter. “Oh, these are so pretty.”
“I think so too. In fact, I’m going to order some more this week.”
“I saw some butterfly bookmarks in a store in Billings last week. Maybe your customers would buy those here?” Enthusiasm sparkled on Tanya’s face.
“Good idea.” Grace pulled out a distributor catalog. “I’ll see if they’re listed in here.”
Grace and Tanya looked at the brochure for a few moments, Grace feeling comfortable in the other girl’s presence. Maybe she should hire her on the spot. Yet, at the same time, she was conscious of Sam in the background, knowing what he’d say if she did so.
“I have to go.” Tanya checked her watch. “You’ll let me know about the job?” She looked hopeful.
“Definitely.”
As soon as Tanya left the shop, Grace started dialing Tanya’s first reference.
“She’s a livewire, that’s for sure.” Sam’s voice broke the sudden silence.
“Harriet says she’s popular with the coffee shop customers,” Grace replied. A second later, she spoke to Tanya’s reference, relieved after the short phone conversation that Tanya checked out.
A few minutes later, after speaking to the manager of the café, Grace had made her first hiring decision.
“I’m going to offer her the job,” she told Sam, who still sat at the table.
“Good.” He nodded.
When Grace called Tanya, she had to hold the phone away from her ear as the other girl squealed in excitement. They made arrangements for Tanya to come in tomorrow to discuss her hours so they wouldn’t clash with her café job.
“It’s lucky I hadn’t placed the newspaper ad yet,” Grace said, as pulled down the Help Wanted sign in the window.
Before Sam could say anything, his phone rang, a loud Brring Brring sound. She realized she hadn’t heard it before and assumed he’d had it in silent mode.
He excused himself as he took the call, moving down to the rear of the shop.
It was convenient there weren’t any customers at the moment, but she hoped that would change. Maybe Tanya had a ton of friends who loved reading? Grace would ask her tomorrow.
Sam emerged from the back of the store, looking chagrined.
“Grace, I have to leave. There’s a problem in Seattle – my assistant’s daughter has gone into labor early and she wants to be there for her.”
She hadn’t even realized he had an assistant.
“Of course.” She smiled in understanding. “Go.”
“I’ll grab my stuff from the cabin and catch the first flight to Seattle.”
She nodded.
He leaned across the counter until their lips were only an inch apart.
“I’ll come back after the exhibition.”
“You will?” She murmured.
“Yes.” He made it sound like it was the most obvious thing in the world.
And then his lips slanted over hers, and she was lost.
