Real Men Don't Break Hearts (18 page)

“I suppose you tried to talk him out of seeing Roseanne,” she said.

Nate snorted. “You think he’d listen to his kid brother? He didn’t care.”

But Nate did. He cared that his brother had made a cuckold of poor Mr. Cummings. Even though the affair had never become public knowledge, still it had bothered Nate. She stared up at him as realization burst over her like a thousand-watt light.

“Is that why you bought the building from Mr. Cummings? You were trying to make up for what Robbie did?”

He shrugged, keeping his profile turned away from her. “I thought it’d be a good investment. Didn’t realize a teenager was going to ram a stolen car through it.”

He didn’t fool her one bit. It had always puzzled her why someone as business-savvy as Nate had bought Mr. Cummings’s building, and now she finally knew why. Even though Robbie was long dead, and Mr. Cummings long divorced, still he felt compelled to set things right, if only in his own mind.

“Well, it was a very generous thing to do anyway,” she said. “Mr. Cummings needed to sell that building to fund his retirement. You came along at just the right time.”

His mouth twisted sardonically. “Yes, my timing is impeccable, isn’t it?”

There was a tense pause. Nervously, Ally said, “I see you’re very popular with the mayor now.”

He grunted. “That’s me. Mr. Popular at the moment. With
some
people, at least.”

Ally took a step back. She shouldn’t be alone here with him. “Uh, well, this has been interesting.” She backed farther away from him until she found the path again. “I think I’ll go back there.” She tilted her head in the direction of the noise coming from the other side of the garden.

He didn’t try to stop her. She retraced her steps, and when she reached a bend in the path she paused to glance back at Nate. He was still in the rose garden, but he wasn’t looking at her. Instead he was gazing at the blood red roses surrounding him, a frown on his face, as if he couldn’t work out how he’d gotten there.

“Why did you tell that friend of yours she could take over our shop?” Nana adjusted her glasses and scowled across the table to where Ally sat finishing her oatmeal. It was only seven thirty in the morning, but Nana had already driven over, hell-bent on quizzing Ally before she had a chance to escape to Canberra.

“If you’re talking about Tyler, then why shouldn’t she?” Ally countered. “And ‘our shop’ doesn’t exist anymore.”

“But we were the tenants there. We should get first option when the building is repaired.” She crimped her lips at the glossy brochure sitting in front of Ally’s bowl. “I don’t know why you want to waste your time at university when you have a solid business right here. Which you seem so eager to give away to that Tyler Jones.”

Ally set down her spoon with a sudden clunk and pressed her hands against the table edge. “Tyler is one of my best friends, Nana, and I won’t have you talking about her like that. And if I don’t want to continue with the gift shop then you have to respect my wishes.” As her grandmother sat there open-mouthed, Ally pressed on. “And furthermore, Tyler has my best wishes starting up this art gallery and coffee shop. I think it’s a great idea. I used to think of opening a coffee shop myself.”

She stood to carry her empty bowl to the sink, then returned to the table to pick up the brochure detailing the open university day she was about to attend. The sight of her grandmother’s stunned expression sent a twinge through her, but she wouldn’t allow herself to backtrack. Not now. She was in charge of her own life now, no one else.

“Well, Nana?” She slung her bag over her shoulder and picked up her car keys. “Are you going to wish me luck before I leave?” She waited, but her grandmother just sat there not saying a word. Ally turned to go. A second later she heard a chair scraping back, and then her grandmother was at her side.

“Oh, lovey, I’m so sorry. I guess I’m not used to change. Set in my ways, I suppose.” She gripped Ally’s arms, her eyes watering. “Good luck in Canberra. I hope you find something right for you.”

“Thanks, Nana.” Ally squeezed her back, swallowing down the lump in her throat. “I hope so, too.”

She slipped out the house and hurried to her car. But when she’d driven down the street and turned the corner, she found herself slowing down. It was another gorgeous day, and she couldn’t help but be soothed by the spring weather. She cruised toward the town center, noticing the flowers, the trees, the mothers and children ambling along. Soon she passed her old shop, and that got her mulling over Tyler’s business idea. The site was ideal for what her friend had in mind, and a warm, welcoming art gallery and coffee shop would do well here in Burronga. Tyler’s proposition
was
good, but so was the idea of going to university.

She hooked the first left and continued on with no route in mind. She didn’t really have time to spare, but she had a curious hankering to tour her hometown. When she reached Clifton Gardens a sudden impulse made her pull over, and she got out to walk through the wrought-iron gates of the park. Just past the entrance she halted at Colonel Clifton’s statue. She must have passed it a thousand times without really noticing it, but today it looked remarkably different. The missing tail had been reattached, and the entire statue gleamed.

She moved on and came to the spot where Paige Kerrigan had accosted her just a few weeks ago. She recalled how Nate had suddenly appeared, anxious about the two of them meeting. He’d been anxious for
her
. Her heart contracted in a corkscrew of bittersweet realization. How sweet of him to be worrying about her. A month ago she would have scoffed at anyone describing Nate as sweet, but now she knew better. She knew the caliber of man he was. Beneath the driven assurance, he had a unique moral compass that led him to do extraordinary things.

Nate had come back to Burronga to carve out the life that would satisfy him. Everyone had thought him crazy to give up his successful city lifestyle, but he’d been brave enough to ignore them. That had taken courage.

Just like it must have taken courage to ask her to move in with him. And she had been a coward to turn him down, just because she was afraid he didn’t love her. And then, when she’d suspected he
did
love her, she’d been even more afraid of being dumped by him. How screwed up was that?

Nate hadn’t come out with the words
I love you
, but everything he did spoke volumes. From when he’d thought she needed protection from Paige, to when she’d really needed him during Jess’s crisis, he’d been there for her. He cared for her in a way Seth never had. Seth had
said
he loved her, but his actions said otherwise. Just about every man in her life had turned out to be something else, whereas Nate was the real deal. With Nate, what you saw was what you got. He was straight, honest, a man who walked the walk.

He was everything she’d ever dreamed of and hoped she’d find. He was a real man she could love forever.

A groan of utter frustration spiraled out of her, startling a flock of pigeons as she spun round and hurried toward the gates.

Ally didn’t expect Nate to be home, as he usually started work at seven, but she drove to his place anyway, where the sight of his pickup truck in the driveway made her break out into a light sweat. The feeling of suffocation intensified as she approached the house. Muffled sounds of laboring came from around the side. Tension screwed up the pit of her stomach. She walked past the corner of the house and stopped dead.

With a pickaxe gripped between his hands, Nate was tearing into a tree stump as if it were a demon. His shoulders bulged, and the blade whistled through the air to sink deep into the wood with a heavy
thunk
. Ally winced. Was Nate envisioning her face on that tree stump?

She must have made some noise because he straightened up abruptly, eyes zeroing in on her like a tracking beam. Beneath the dirt and sweat, his face was as impassive as rock. Resting one palm on the handle of his pickaxe, he wiped his forearm across his slick brow.

“What’re you doing here?” His stony gaze scoured her from head to toe. “Shouldn’t you be heading to Canberra for your open day?”

She swallowed, trying to moisten her dry mouth. “I postponed it.”

He didn’t react as joyfully as she’d hoped. His expression remained steely. The damp T-shirt clung to his broad shoulders, while his salty tang curled deep into her senses. He was beautiful, and she was crazy for him.

“Why? Got cold feet?” He stripped off his work gloves and slapped them together. The sharp clap woke up Porkchop, who sat back to scratch his ear.

“No, but I was driving around Burronga and—and I realized there was something far more important for me to do today.” She took a couple of steps toward him, her legs wobbling. “Nate, I’m talking about you. You’re more important to me than anything else.”

He gave her a blank stare. “Gee, I’m flattered.”

Oh, boy. He wasn’t going to make this easy for her.

“I know I hurt you, and I’m so, so sorry. I was wrong to turn you down, but you took me by surprise, and I was frightened. Frightened of being hurt by you.” The words had tumbled out in a rush, but now she tried to slow down. “But I want to take that risk, Nate. I want to be a part of your life, and I want you to be a part of mine. Will you give me another chance?”

The corners of his mouth turned down. “So you’re willing to take a huge gamble on a no-hoper like me, are you? I’m just a donkey in the Grand National.”

She pressed a palm against the bilious heaving in her stomach.
I’m going to be sick
.

“That day you asked me to move in with you, I turned you down because I thought you didn’t really care about me, that you didn’t…love me. But—but yesterday at Mr. Cummings’s party I thought maybe you did, and that made me even more afraid…”

Nate shook his head slowly. “Ally, I’m a guy. I don’t understand most of what you just said.”

She wrapped her arms around herself. “I know. I don’t understand it myself.” She gulped hard. “But what I do know is that I don’t want to make the mistake of losing you just because I’m afraid you won’t love me enough.”

His voice dropped, hoarse with strain. “Ally, I offered you the key to my house. Didn’t that tell you loud and clear how I feel about you?”

Her heart pounded like a giant drum in her ears. She stared up into his beautiful brown eyes so filled with love and tenderness it was impossible to mistake.

“I wasn’t prepared for that,” she whispered. “I just never thought someone like you would ever fall in love.”

“Well, it doesn’t happen too often.” His voice was rough and not quite steady. “So you’ll forgive me if I don’t express it very well.”

“Oh, Nate.” The fire in his eyes expressed his feelings all too well. How could she have been so blind not to have seen this earlier? She moved toward him, praying he’d give her one last chance, and when his arms opened, her heart overflowed. She fell into his arms, reaching for him, whispering fiercely, “I love you, Nate. So much it scares me. I don’t ever want to be apart from you.” Eyes shut tight, she pressed her forehead hard against his. “I love you more than words can ever say.”

The sensation of his arms pulled tightly around her filled her with a powerful warmth, a conviction that this was where she belonged. She could feel his heart thudding against her ribs, the most delightful sound.

He stroked her hair and cheeks, his blazing eyes as moist as hers, before he lowered his mouth to hers in a kiss filled with infinite tenderness. She drank it in, knowing she’d never be fully satiated. His arms wrapped around her as his mouth drifted over her cheeks.

“I love you, Ally.” His muttered words sent her spirits soaring.

“And I love you for saying that, but you don’t have to tell me. I already know.”

“Huh.” He shifted his stance and growled into her neck, “The hell you’ve put me through… You’ll have your work cut out making it up to me.”

She sucked in the earthy, salty smell of him deep into her lungs, holding fistfuls of his T-shirt. “You’ve got it, darling.”

He kissed her again, harder this time, an erotic edge to his caress, squeezing every inch of her body against his, his mouth both demanding and giving.

“What’s going to happen now?” he asked when they had to break free for air. “Are you still going to go off to Canberra and become a student?”

“I—I’m not sure now.” The thought of being apart from Nate made her stomach queasy, but just because she was madly in love with him didn’t mean her brain had shut down completely. “Would you mind very much if I did?”

“I’d mind like crazy, but I’d also be very proud of you.” He pulled her closer. “What are you planning to study?”

“I thought history or commerce…” Her smile wobbled. Canberra was only two hours away, but how could she be separated from him for so long? “But Tyler’s idea of the art gallery and coffee shop appeals to me as well.”

His eyes warmed. “I’ll admit I prefer that idea, but it’s up to you, honey. Whatever you decide, I’ll be here, pining for you.”

“Pining for me! I’d like to see that.”

“Let me give you a demonstration right now.” Grinning, he clasped her hand in his, and together they walked toward the house. On the porch they paused in front of the door.

Nate turned to her. “Welcome to your new home, Ally.”

“Do you still have that key for me?”

“Yeah, but I’m not going to just hand it to you. You’ll have to earn it first, sweetheart.”

The devilish spark in his eyes had her smiling wide. “What did you have in mind?”

“Why don’t I surprise you?”

And with that he scooped her into his arms and carried her inside.

Epilogue

Three months later

Ally squeezed Nate’s hand as they approached the building. Ahead lay her former gift shop, transformed from the crash site it had been into an airy gallery and coffee shop. Ally and Tyler had worked hard to get everything ready for the grand opening tomorrow. Now, after dinner at home, Nate had suggested an evening drive, and it seemed inevitable they ended up here.

“I can’t believe it’s actually happening,” she said as she unlocked the front door.

Nate brushed his fingers across her cheek. “You’re sure it’s what you want? You’re not just doing this because of me?”

“Sweetheart, we’ve discussed this so many times.” Turning to him, she wound her arms around his neck. “I can still go to university in the future, but now
this
is what I want.
You’re
what I want—forever.”

His eyes lit up, suffusing his face with tenderness, and as always she felt her insides start to melt. As they shared a loving kiss, she knew she’d made the right decision. Eventually Nate lifted his head. “Are we going inside, or are we heading home?”

“I’ll just take a quick look.” And then she’d hustle him into bed quick smart. Entering the store, she stopped short in her tracks. “Oh, what’s happened here! What’s all that soap doing on the floor?”

She darted forward to where the bars of their luxury goat’s milk soap lay scattered. Had someone broken in? Then, as she was still puzzling, she saw that the soap had been laid out to form a sentence:
Will you marry me, Ally?

Her heart leaped into her throat as she spun round to meet Nate’s unusually anxious gaze. “Uh, there wasn’t enough soap to spell out: I love you from the bottom of my heart, and I never want to be apart from you.” He hesitated, his eyes intense and questioning. “Well, darling?”

Her entire body was trembling with shocked delight. Too choked to speak, she crouched and used the bars of soap to spell out:
Yes!

As she rose to her feet, Nate lifted her into his arms and spun around, his face blazing with the same jubilation soaring through her.