Mountain Charm (21 page)

“First of all, let me say your writing is impressive. Your freelance pieces have received some wonderful feedback from our readers. Your editor, Beth, says you have a killer work ethic, and you come highly recommended by Steve Jenkins. While you left him in a tight spot when you refused to write your feature, he says he couldn’t help but be impressed that you stood your ground. He didn’t go into detail as to why you quit, and I didn’t ask. Maybe that’s a story you’ll tell me someday.”

Dylan said nothing, although it was nice to hear that Steve didn’t hate his guts.

“We need a columnist. Someone who likes to write human interest stories. From what I’ve gathered, that’s your strength. People share their stories with you because they trust you. They have faith that you’ll be professional and honest.”

Dylan glanced down at his watch.

Three minutes.

“It’s my understanding you’ve fallen in love . . . with this area of the state,” Charles remarked, smirking a little. “Your mom is under the impression you’d like to live close to the mountains. A full-time position here would allow for that. There would be some travel involved, obviously, but it’d be local. Perhaps some regional, depending on the season, but you’d never be far from home. How does that sound?”

Despite his aggravation—with both his father and his chatty mom—he couldn’t deny it sounded pretty good. He could live in Maple Ridge, write full-time, and build a future with Angelina.

Dylan couldn’t believe this messed-up, twisted universe. His first solid job opportunity, practically his dream job, and it was being offered to him by the man he hated most in this world.

“I can’t believe you’re the editor-in-chief of this newspaper.”

Charles grinned. “I can’t believe you’re a writer. You know what they say. The apple doesn’t fall far from the tree.”

It was the wrong thing to say, and Dylan jumped to his feet, his eyes flashing with anger.

“I am in love with an amazing woman, and I can’t stand to be away from her for more than a few hours at a time. You had a
wife
, and you deserted her. I am
nothing
like you.”

And with that, Dylan stalked out of the room, slamming the door behind him.

So much for controlling my temper.

Once he was back in his car, he leaned his forehead against the steering wheel and tried to control his breathing.

Dylan never expected to see his father ever again. He had hoped, of course. Every birthday. Every Christmas. Dylan had spent most of his childhood wondering if this would be the year Charles Thomas returned to the family he had left behind. But years passed, and Dylan had accepted that his father was never coming back. With acceptance came a sense of peace that had followed him all these years.

And now that peace was shot to hell.

Dylan fished his cell phone out of his pocket. He knew she was mad and would probably let his call go straight to voice mail, so he sent her a text instead

I need my best friend
.

When Angelina arrived at the house, she was surprised to find her mother sitting outside in her rocking chair. Dylan’s SUV was parked in the driveway, but he was nowhere to be found.

How dare he send me some mysterious text message and scare the crap out of me!

Angelina ran toward the porch. “Where is he?”

“He took Cash down to the pond,” Celia replied. “I know you’re upset with him, but he needs you. He’s stood by you—by
us
—so many times. It’s your turn.”

“Is he okay?”

“He will be.”

Angelina couldn’t handle any more cryptic messages, so she turned and sprinted toward the pond. Dylan was there, sitting on the grass. Her dog was lying next to him with his head perched in his lap.

He looks okay
, she thought, and she felt her body relax, just a little, as she approached the water.

“I think you love this pond more than I do,” Angelina said as she sat down next to him.

“Hi, sweetheart.”

“Hey.”

Dylan gazed across the water as he ran his fingers through Cash’s coat. “I do love it here. You can sit and listen to the birds and watch the water ripple with the breeze. It’s serene and calm. And that’s what I want. I want peace and tranquility in a world that is so completely screwed up.”

His tone was soft but cold, and it made Angelina wonder if there wasn’t more on his mind than just their argument from last night. Her suspicions were confirmed when he reached for her hand.

“I know you’re mad at me, but right now, I need to talk to my best friend. That’s why I’m here, even though you asked me to stay away.”

“I’m sorry I asked you to stay away. I don’t want that.”

“You don’t?”

Angelina shook her head, and he smiled.

A nearby frog caused Cash to awaken from his nap, and he jumped up, bolting straight toward the water. With him out of the way, Angelina moved closer. Relieved to have the contact, Dylan lowered his head, nuzzling her shoulder.

“What’s wrong?”

Dylan sighed heavily. “I had a job interview in Knoxville today.”

“That’s amazing! I didn’t know you had an interview.”

“I didn’t get the chance to tell you before . . . my latest arrest.”

Angelina squeezed his hand. “How’d it go?”

“Horrifically. The editor-in-chief is my father.”

Angelina’s eyes widened.

“What are the odds, right?” Dylan chuckled, but there wasn’t a hint of humor in his tone. “He offered me a job. A full-time position as a columnist.”

“That’s . . . incredible.”

“Of course, he never got around to officially offering it to me. He said something about me being just like him, and I—”

She closed her eyes. “And you lost your temper.”

“Yeah. And it’s something I have to work on. I know this. But to hear him compare the two of us . . . it just enraged me, Angelina. I’m
nothing
like him. I would never abandon my family.”

“I know you wouldn’t.”

“Do you?” Dylan asked, his voice laced with uncertainty as he gazed into her bright blue eyes. “Do you know I’d never desert you? I’d never deliberately hurt you? It doesn’t matter if the spell is designed to keep me devoted and faithful. I am not Nathaniel Rose. I am not Adam McDonald, and I am most certainly not Charles Thomas. I know I’m not perfect, but I would never . . . I could never . . .”

“I know.”

It was overwhelming, the need to be as close to him as she could possibly be. Without thinking twice, Angelina crawled into his lap, and Dylan enveloped her in his arms. His eyes flickered to her mouth, and she leaned in, kissing him softly.

“Don’t be mad at me,” he murmured.

“I’m not mad.”

He smiled against her lips—his first honest smile all day—before kissing her once more.

“Am I really your best friend?” Angelina asked.

“Yes, you are. Not that I have many friends back home. I worked crazy hours and was always on the road. But yeah, you’re my best friend. Isn’t that how it’s supposed to be when you love someone?”

Angelina thought of her parents. They’d definitely been best friends throughout their marriage. She’d always wanted that kind of love, and now she had it.

 “Yes, that’s how it should be.”

Dylan rubbed his nose against hers. “I hate when we fight.”

“Me, too.”

They held each for a while until she finally asked what he was going to do about his father.

“I don’t know,” Dylan admitted with a sigh. “The job opportunity is incredible. I just don’t know that I can stand working for him.”

“I understand, but even if you don’t accept the job, what will you do? Obviously, he wants to get to know you.”

“He had his chance to get to know me. He blew it.”

Angelina’s eyes softened, and he couldn’t ignore the sadness there.

“You think I should?”

She shook her head. “I can’t answer that. You just . . . you don’t know what I’d give to have one more conversation with my father. Just one. Your dad is offering you a dream job. He didn’t have to do that, and I think it proves that he wants to try to make amends. Family is so important. You could wake up tomorrow and he’d be gone forever, and you would have missed your chance. I can’t tell you what to do, but I do think you should think about it.”

Dylan pressed his forehead to hers.

“Okay, I’ll think about it.”

She smiled, and they sat in a comfortable silence as they watched Cash chase frogs around the pond. He never caught them, but whether that was because the frogs were much too fast or because Cash just enjoyed the chase was a mystery.

Angelina played with the hair along the nape of his neck. “I know it’s been a crazy day, but I need to ask you something.”

“You can ask me anything.”

“I need a date for Maddie’s wedding. Interested?”

Dylan chuckled. “Very interested. Do I need a tux?”

“Nope, just a suit is fine,” she said, smiling. “They’ve rented a chapel in Gatlinburg and reserved a block of rooms at one of the hotels for the guests. Mom isn’t up to making the trip, so I was thinking we should tell Maddie we need . . . a room.”

Dylan grinned.

Room.

Singular.

His hold tightened around her waist. He was far too excited as to where this conversation might be leading.

“I would be honored to be your date, and I think a
room
is a very good idea.”

Neither said it, but both were thinking the exact same thing.

This wedding was going to be a monumental occasion for one happy couple.

And it wasn’t the bride and groom.

Candlelight shimmered along the altar, casting a soft glow inside the mountain chapel. Maddie had wanted a small ceremony, so the tiny church was the perfect solution to seat the thirty friends and family who’d been invited to the wedding.

At the bride’s request, Angelina was standing in the shadows in the back of the chapel, checking to see if the groom had arrived. Nick was easy to find—standing at the altar with his brother and the minister. His smile was wide and nervous as he fidgeted with his tie.

Angelina couldn’t resist scanning the crowd, and her pulse quickened when she spotted Dylan sitting in the second row.

Tonight was the night.

Neither of them had verbalized it, but over the past few days—and with the promise of a weekend all to themselves—their kisses and touches had become more passionate than ever.

Angelina was nervous, absolutely, but there wasn’t a doubt in her mind that this man was the one.

And tonight, she would tell him.

And show him.

Focus, Angelina. You have duties to fulfill.

Taking a deep breath, Angelina made her way back to the little dressing room and found the bride standing in front of the full-length mirror, adjusting her veil. While the maid of honor was a bundle of nerves, the bride was calm and serene as Felicia, the wedding coordinator, darted around the room in her pencil skirt and five-inch heels, barking orders into her cell phone. That was another great thing about using the Gatlinburg chapel. The wedding details that normally drove a bride insane—the flowers, the reception, and even the photographer—were all handled by the staff. All Maddie had to do was show up in her dress and make sure Nick arrived at the church on time.

“He’s out there,” Angelina confirmed with a grin.

Maddie’s smile was bright. “How does he look?”

“Nervous. Handsome.”

Maddie sighed happily and gazed at herself in the mirror. “You’re next, you know.”

“Next?”

“All of this,” Maddie said, waving toward the flowers and the dress. “You’re next.”

“Hmm. I don’t know about that.”

“Please. He loves you. You love him. It’s time you told him, by the way. I know you hate his temper, but good grief, he’s allowed to have a flaw. Don’t let one stupid imperfection ruin all of the other perfect moments that made you fall in love with him. He loves you, Angelina. He loves your mom. He will be faithful and devoted and treat you like a princess. That’s what you wanted when you cast the spell, wasn’t it? Your very own Prince Charming?”