Building Up to Love (5 page)

CHAPTER NINE

“It’s good to see you back,” Laura said.

“It’s good to be back. You look well,” Travis said.

“I feel pretty good. I’ll be glad to get these wraps off in a couple days. Don’t forget. No physical labor. You are a manager for the next week, nothing else. I’m going out for the day. See you tomorrow.”

The pattern continued for the entire week. Laura touched base with Travis each morning. They would discuss any issues or problems and then she would leave for the rest of the day. She appeared productive though, as one of the guest rooms in the house started to fill with paint colors, bed covers, window dressings, throw rugs, antique lamps, and knickknacks. Still, Travis couldn’t shake the feeling Laura was doing all she could to avoid him. He didn’t understand why. He thought they’d grown closer during their escapade and at the hospital.
Women.
He would never understand them.

He locked the house and headed for the hospital. Friday night and his idea of excitement was a follow-up appointment with Dr. Becca.

“Hey doc, is this what you call a hot Friday night?”

“Funny. I’m on rotation. It’s part of being a doctor in a small town, but I still love it. How are you?”

“Not bad. My ego is a bit bruised.”

“How so?”

“If I didn’t know any better, I’d say Laura has been avoiding me. She’s been away from the house all week.”

“Doing what?”

“Well, she’s shopping. But that’s not the point. She never did that before. She’s been too busy to meet with me at night. We go over our list in the morning and then she takes off.”

“She knows you’re still trying to heal and she’s trying to heal, and move forward with her business. I wouldn’t make too much of it.”

* * * *

Laura sat in a booth at the restaurant. It felt great to get the wraps off her hands. There were a few Bandaids on the deep cuts, the rest were healing well. She couldn’t believe she had agreed to another date—that blasted basket. She stopped by to visit with Tegan yesterday and pick up a few bottles of wine. Darn if she didn’t pull the irritating basket out again. Laura agreed to one more try from the basket, but no more. She drew Vince. He owned the restaurant where she currently sat. They decided to get together for a quick dinner and see how it went.
No harm in that,
she thought.

“Hey there, Laura,” Vince said. “I ordered us each the special.”

“Okay. What’s the special?”

“Clams, you’ll love it.”

“I don’t like clams. Mind if I order something else?”

“You’ll love my clams.”

The rest of the evening went along in about the same high-handed manner. At the end of dinner, Vince walked Laura out to her car. She got in and tried to start it. The car wouldn’t start.
Perfect,
she thought.

“No problem. I’ll take you home. You can arrange for your car to be towed tomorrow. Come on, my car is in the lot.”

Laura was too tired to argue. She followed Vince back to his car and told him where she lived.

* * * *

Travis went straight back to his grandparents’ home after his appointment. He needed to get started on the drawings his father wanted done and the changes he wanted for Laura’s Victorian. He worked on the office drawings for a couple hours and then shifted gears to the Victorian. He laid out the plans and his notes. He dug through his briefcase in search of the measurements he’d taken before he left for the afternoon.

“No, it can’t be. I left them upstairs on the table when Bill came over and started talking to me.” He looked at the time on his phone. It was still early, only eight o’clock. Since Laura said she’d be out for the evening, he could run over and get them now and she’d never know he had gone back. Or he could wait until tomorrow and make sure she would be home. He wanted to do the work tonight. He grabbed his keys and headed for the door.

He walked out into the driveway and noticed his granddad’s car parked behind his. Since he had all the keys on his ring and his granddad didn’t have a problem with Travis taking his car, he figured it would be easier to take Granddad’s car than to spend the time to shuffle them around.

* * * *

“Thanks for dinner and for the ride home,” Laura said. She tried to wedge her body in the doorway, but Vince nonchalantly, yet forcefully, pushed his way inside.

“My pleasure. Aren’t you going to offer me an after-dinner drink?” he asked, as he wandered around the foyer.

“I’m afraid I wouldn’t be very good company tonight. I’m pretty tired. I think my body is still recovering from the ordeal. How about a raincheck?” She knew full well this would be the only date with Vince. He was much too overbearing for her.

“I don’t know. Your body looks pretty good to me.”

All at once he spun on her. He pushed her against the door and using her body pushed the door closed.

“Fine. No drink. I at least deserve a goodnight kiss for buying you dinner.”

Before Laura could respond, he kissed her hard. She struggled and fought. Vince pulled back and smiled.

“Well now, you are a real wildcat, aren’t you?”

“You need to leave, right now,” Laura said.

“Or what?”

“Or I’ll scream.”

“Go ahead. Who do you think will hear you?”

Laura let out a scream before Vince finished his sentence. He slammed his hand across her mouth. She tasted blood.

CHAPTER TEN

Travis’s head snapped up.
Laura
. He dropped his pile of papers and ran down the stairs, his calf sending shooting pains up his leg with each step. As he reached the landing he took in the scene. Vince had Laura pinned to the front door. His hand glued to her mouth. He stood inches from her, whispering who knew what. Travis leapt across the foyer in two strides.

“I’m gonna give you five seconds to step away from the lady and apologize,” Travis said.

“Bug off. I bought her dinner. I only wanted a kiss goodnight,” Vince said.

“Two seconds and you won’t be walking out.”

Vince pulled his hands off Laura, and held them up as a sign of surrender.

“There’s no problem here, buddy.”

“Funny, I think there is. Apologize to the lady,
now
.”

“Sorry for the misunderstanding.”

“If you are ever within fifty yards of her I’m gonna kick your ass from here to New York City—leave. Now.”

Vince flew out the door without another word.

Laura blew out her breath and crumpled to the floor.

“Laura, did he hurt you?”

“You mean other than a fat lip and my pride? It could’ve been so much worse…you were here for me when I needed you, thank you. Guess this makes us even.”

Travis reached down to pull her up. “I’m not keeping score. I’ll always be here when you need me. Let’s go into the kitchen and I’ll make you a cup of tea.”

“Forget tea, this calls for brandy,” she said.

He walked into the dining room and pulled the brandy decanter and a couple of snifters out of the buffet. He found Laura sitting in the main parlor on the loveseat. He poured the brandy and sat down beside her.

“Boy, you really can pick ‘em,” he said.

“That’s just it, I haven’t been picking them.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“You know the Tuesday Book Club?”

“Yeah.”

“Well, it’s really
The Love List
.”

“Excuse me?”

“None of the four of us had had a date in months. We all have single guys who are friends, so we wrote down their names and put them into a basket. We promised we’d pick a name and ask the guy on a date.”

“I get it. So Tegan, Chloe, and Becca all found their true loves and you kept drawing from the basket. Okay, then how come my name wasn’t in the basket?”

“It was.”

“No one asked me for a date.”

“Because I picked your name, but before I got the chance to ask you for a date you came to my place and filled out a job application—I don’t date employees. But it’s all a moot point now, because you are obviously not single.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Don’t try to deny it. I saw her at the hospital. Brunette, beautiful, and kissing you.”

“Yes, she is beautiful and I’ve known her since the day I was born. She’s my sister. Now the pieces are falling into place. Women.” Travis shook his head. So that’s why you’ve been avoiding me all week. Not wanting to get together to discuss the house. You thought I’d been hiding my lover from you, right?”

“You never mentioned a sister. You didn’t tell me she was coming when I was with you earlier that day.”

“That’s because I didn’t know. It was a surprise. She flew out from New York because she was so worried about me after she spoke with our parents, she wanted to see me for herself.”

Travis put his snifter on the coffee table and took Laura’s from her hand. Then he gently took her shoulders in his hands and turned her toward him. He leaned in slowly and placed a feather light kiss on her soft lips. The entire time her gray eyes were transfixed on his. He pulled away slightly and waited for her reaction which came in the next instant. She claimed his lips, their tongues entwined and heat rose between them.

“Consider this my two weeks notice,” Travis said. 

CHAPTER ELEVEN

Laura stood out on the front lawn and watched as the white lights on the old Victorian lit up for the first time. Her dream became a reality, thanks to Travis’s help and her determination. She hugged herself as tears welled up in her eyes. Tonight marked the beginning of her new journey:  the grand opening of
Tate’s Bed & Breakfast.
Life couldn’t be more perfect.

The house was restored to its original glory, but this time with all the modern advantages. All four floors featured bay windows, turrets, and decorated rooflines. She especially loved the oversized wraparound porch; she’d spent weeks scouring the internet looking for the perfect ornamental trim.

The cherry on top was ironically on the bottom: the hidden cellar full of moonshine. Laura learned through family and research that her ancestors did indeed make moonshine once upon a time. They were losing the house, so they supplemented their income with bootleg whiskey. The cellar was carved out after the house was built, and the false floor installed to hide their illegal activities. Travis was successful at obtaining all the permits needed. He spent weeks and weeks surveying and excavating the secret sub-basement. He shored it up, and locating the outside entrance.

The cellar was their big draw, the tour of the Tate family bootleggers’ cellar. Laura and Travis redesigned the basement. They built a small, closed-off storage area right under the stairs. The rest of the basement showcased the era of the roaring twenties, complete with tommy guns and mannequins in zoot suits and flapper dresses. They even built a small bar in a prohibition theme. She adored it.

“Hey sweetie, you look beautiful tonight. Are you ready for this?” Travis came up from behind and wrapped his arms around her and nibbled on her shoulder.

Laura wore a long lavender gown that clung to her curves and featured a plunging back. 

“Definitely. Are your parents going to be able to make it?” She turned in his arms. He looked stunning in a midnight blue suit and dark purple shirt open at the neck.

“Mom said she’ll make sure of it. She can’t wait to meet you in person.”

“Did you get your office fixed the way you want it?”

Since Travis moved in with her a few weeks earlier, she’d insisted he convert the empty room next to her office for his own.

“I’m all set. The hardest part tonight will be explaining to my father that I’m staying in Vine Grove. I can still be on the board and do my projects, but I refuse to run the day-to-day operation of the company.”

Laura saw cars roll up to the curb. Tegan and her beau, August stepped out first and she walked over to greet them. Soon after, Chloe and Mitch along with Becca and Chase strolled in. Tegan brought along a bottle of champagne and Laura’s guests followed her into the kitchen while she popped the bottle. Travis filled the flutes and passed them around.

Then the others looked at Laura.

She smiled. “I was beginning to think that darn basket was cursed.”

“Ah, but it wasn’t. You picked the man you were meant to be with the very first time,” Becca said.

Laura smiled. “I guess you’re right.”

They all lifted their flutes and looked at Laura.

“Here’s to building up to love,” Laura said.

“And let’s not forget…to
The Love List
,” Tegan said.

Look for the other stories in

The Love List

Love Uncorked

Jennifer Conner

Story 1

Tegan Taylor is the owner of the  Que Syrah Syrah wine shop in Vine grove, the heart of wine country. After her plan of starting a book club to meet single, local men falls flat, her new found friends come up with The Love List. Each dropped a name of a nice guy their friends may like but just not a guy they’d date. Or think of romantically.

Tegan chooses Richard. After one disastrous meeting with him, Tegan wonders if The Love List isn’t a terrible idea.

Richard’s a jerk. But, when handsome Australian cowboy, August, shows up, things may take a turn.

Read book one in the Love List Series as Tegan, Chloe, Laura and Becca try to find love in a small town.

Love Found Me

Sharon Kleve

Story 2

When it’s Chloe Miles turn to pick a name out of The Love List she hadn’t expected to find true love. She just wanted to go on a date with a nice, available guy. Not one who drank too much, or was unemployed and wanted to stay that way. Or especially one who didn’t know what monogamous meant.

Mitch Brodin didn’t know his heart was in the hands of The Love List. His Fate set the moment he set foot into Roy’s Pet Rescues looking for advice on how to care for new born kittens.

Chloe is vivacious, unpredictable, and tons of fun, while he is methodical, predictable, and well... cynical. He surely hadn’t planned on falling in love. But that’s what you get when you’re not looking for love.

Blind Tasting

Angela Ford

Story 3

Dr. Rebecca Miller (Becca) thought her life was complete in New York. After three long shifts at the

hospital all she wanted was to crawl into bed next to her fiancé. Shocked to find her best friend already

there she packs her bags and transfers to a small town in Washington wine country. Devastated and alone, she discovers the wine shop Que Syrah Syrah. She figures the next best thing

to a best friend is a good bottle of Chardonnay. Inside she meets Tegan Taylor, the owner of the shop. Tegan invites her to the wine tasting for singles. Only four women show and the Tuesday night Book Club begins. After six months, they spice it up and change it to The Love List. They each pick a name of an eligible bachelor in town they may not date but their friends may.In the heart of wine country, four friends create The Love List; looking for love.

Becca’s pick is Chase Tanner, a local firefighter she’s met a couple of times. There’s something about him that allows her senses to breathe again. A fire brings Chase under the doctor’s care and into her heart. The love list seems to be working for Becca until Chase discovers the list and believes to be fooled. Will Becca be able to convince him she does love him?

Building up To Love

Joanne Jaytanie

Story 4

A small town can be a quaint, friendly place to call home. It can also be an impossible place to find a date. When Tegan, the owner of Que Syrah Syrah wine shop starts a Tuesday night singles-mingle, Laura, Chloe, and Becca are the only attendees—not a single man in sight. They continue to meet every Tuesday, but secretly change their name to The Love List. Each woman writes the name of a few single men who they know and drop them into a basket. All four women draw from this basket and promise to ask the man they have drawn on a date. The Love List seems a success as one by one the women find their true love. Except in Laura’s case, date after date she is plagued with losers. She is certain the basket is cursed.

Travis Jerome comes to Vine Grove to help his ailing grandparents. He notices a “Help Wanted” sign outside of a Victorian house and jumps at the chance to get back to his roots and have the feel of a hammer in his hand. He gets an extra bonus when he meets the attractive owner of the home, Laura Tate. Unfortunately she doesn’t appear to have the least bit of interest in him.

Love isn’t always impossible to find, sometimes it can be right in plain sight.