The Bachelor's Brighton Valley Bride (Return to Brighton Valley) (16 page)

“No, I got it from spending time with you and with the kids and
with all the people in Brighton Valley. You made me look at my past and put that
lonely and awkward geek to rest once and for all. You also made me look at my
future and the fact that the only future I want is one with you and the kids in
it.”

“But what about Geekon and your business and your condo and
your jets and all that? You can’t really mean to give that all up just to move
to some farm in Brighton Valley with us.”

“First of all, it’s not just some farm. It’s where I want to
be. Secondly, I’d give everything up if it meant I could be with you. There are
some things that money can’t buy—like love and a real home.”

Megan’s heart swelled to the breaking point, and tears welled
in her eyes until they overflowed.

Clay cupped her face, and his thumbs brushed her cheeks, drying
her tears. “I’m not going anywhere. And I’ll wait forever, if that’s what it
takes, for you to realize that the man you see right now is the man that I
really am—the man that I’ll always be. And the man who loves you.”

A loud pop sounded overhead and the sky lit up as people around
them oohed and aahed. But Megan couldn’t look at anything other than the man who
was now kneeling before her.

“Marry me, Megan. I love you, and I’ll spend every day of the
rest of our lives proving it to you.”

As the sky erupted in a blaze of brilliant sparks and bangs,
Megan got to her knees and nodded yes. Then she wrapped her arms around Clay’s
neck. “I love you, too.”

Then they kissed deeply and passionately for all of Brighton
Valley to see—a bonus to the fireworks show.

When the display ended and the band started back up, laughter
bubbled up inside her, bursting forth. She’d never been happier, freer to love
and be loved.

“Besides,” Clay said with the confidence of a man who had just
won his woman’s heart, “it’s not like I’m giving up anything. In case you
haven’t noticed—” he nodded toward the band on stage “—I can afford to fly in
almost everything I need right here to Brighton Valley.”

“Hmm,” she said. “What are you doing on Monday?”

“I can clear my calendar. What do you need?”

“I have my first business meeting in Dallas, and I’m a little
nervous about going by myself. I’d like someone to sit with me. Not to do the
negotiating, mind you. But to have my back and to make sure I don’t give away
the farm—so to speak.”

“You bet, honey. I’ll even fly you to Dallas. I’ll be your
coach or your executive assistant or your man Friday. Whatever you want,
whatever you need, just say the word.”

Before she could utter a response, Lisa and Tyler ran up to
their blanket.

“Are you friends again?” Lisa asked. “Did you both say sorry
and make up?”

“You don’t kiss someone like that if you didn’t,” said
Tyler.

“We’re better than friends,” Megan said.

“What’s better than that?” Lisa asked.

Clay turned to the kids. “I just asked your mom to marry me.
But I should ask how you guys feel about that, too, because I’d like to join
your family—if you don’t mind. And that would make me your stepfather.”

“No way,” Tyler said.

Megan turned to her son, who’d once thought Clay hung the moon.
What was he possibly going to object to?

“We don’t want you to be our stepdad,” the boy said. “We want
you to be our dad. And we want to be your kids.”

Clay burst into a grin. “I can’t think of anything I’d like
more.”

As the kids plopped down beside them, Megan threw her arms
around Clay’s neck and kissed him again with all the love in her heart, just as
another boom went off, framing them with a colorful burst of fireworks.

Epilogue

I
t was a perfect day for an outdoor wedding, and no expense had been spared. Even the weather, which could be a little unpredictable in the fall, had cooperated, sending a nearly cloudless sky and temperatures in the mid-seventies.

A landscaper had laid sod last week near the orchard, where a party rental company had set up a gazebo, white covered chairs for the ceremony, and a bandstand, a dance floor, and tables and chairs for the reception. They’d also kept a florist and a caterer busy, as well as happy.

Megan, her mom and Zoe, who’d all worked hard on the decorations, were pleased with the way it had turned out. And so was Clay. He supposed you could say it had all the trappings for an elegant yet down-home wedding. And that it was where country charm met sophistication, which was good, because that was how their guest list read.

They’d invited his closest employees, like Zoe and others he wanted to be there. And then there were important business associates he thought they should include.

He didn’t have any family, but Megan did—her three brothers, their wives and children, plus relatives of her stepfather, Darrel. There were also the Brighton Valley locals they couldn’t leave out, like Sheriff Sam and Caroline; Sally the waitress; Mayor Ray Mendez and his wife, Catherine; Rick and Mallory Martinez; Hank and Marie Lazaro. Even the Franco sisters received an invitation.

They’d tried to keep the number down, but they’d still invited over two hundred people, and hardly anyone had declined.

Clay had surprised Megan’s mother and stepfather by purchasing them a house in one of the new developments near Wexler, where they had RV parking for their motor home. Of course, the couple had been thrilled to hear of the wedding and to learn they’d be able to have the dream house they’d wanted but thought they could never afford on their fixed incomes.

They’d said they would start the long drive back to Brighton Valley, but Clay had told them not to bother. Instead he sent the corporate jet to pick them up in Yellowstone and bring them to Houston. Afterward he’d send them back the same way.

In the meantime, he’d offered to buy the farm from Megan’s mother at more than the fair market price, which would provide her with a little nest egg.

Once the property was in Megan’s name, she would be able to expand the orchard and add any upgrades she wanted to the house. After the deal she’d made with Fowler Markets, she was going to need a bigger kitchen—industrial size, he suspected, because his soon-to-be wife had a better business head on her shoulders than he or the Fowler people had guessed.

She’d asked him to attend that meeting in early July, but she’d really needed only his moral support. In reality, she’d known her product and the value of it. And she’d held firm on the price and hadn’t let them take advantage of her.

He did step in afterward and insist that she use his legal team to approve the contract before she signed it, and she’d been grateful for that.

She might refer to herself as a rube at times, just as he might think of himself as a geek—but they were both so much more than what met the eye. And together they made one hell of a team.

Now here they were, ready to start their lives together. Not just husband and wife but a family.

Dressed in a brand-new designer tuxedo, Clay stood near the gazebo, the orchard in the background. To his left, wearing a matching tuxedo, was his best man—and the only choice he possibly could make to take that position. Tyler had been thrilled to be asked and hadn’t stopped grinning.

Clay suspected he was as happy to be getting a dad as Clay was to be getting a son.

As the music began, Lisa headed down the aisle wearing a peach-colored bridesmaid dress. It had taken her mother a lot of cajoling to get her to wear something “girlish,” but once she’d agreed, the tomboy had actually gotten into the whole wedding thing. She’d even gone so far as to let the hairdresser style her hair just like her mother’s.

The chords on the music shifted, and as the bridal march began, Megan started down the aisle between their seated guests.

If Clay had thought she was beautiful before, she was even more so today. Her cream-colored gown, a strapless vintage lace, fit her as though it had been made just for her. But then again, it had. Clay had asked Zoe to make sure she got exactly the gown she wanted, even if the designer had to make it personally.

Megan could have been a cover girl for a bridal magazine, with that mass of red curls piled up in an elegant swirl and a smile that turned Clay every which way but loose. His heart swelled to the point that he had to be standing an inch above the ground.

As Darrel Randall, Megan’s stepfather, handed her off to him, her dazzling smile nearly struck him blind.

Fortunately, he’d asked Pastor Skinner to keep the ceremony short and sweet. And within minutes they were saying their vows.

“You may kiss the bride,” the pastor said.

Clay took Megan in his arms and brushed his lips on hers. Had another kiss tasted as sweet? Had another promise meant so much?

When it was over, they turned to face their guests, and Pastor Skinner said, “May I be the first to introduce you to Mr. and Mrs. Clay Jenkins.”

Their guests, all 217 of them, clapped and cheered as Clay led his bride down the aisle to start their new lives as man and wife.

“I love you,” she said. “You’ve made me the happiest woman in the world.”

“Not as happy as you and the kids have made me.” Then he bent and kissed her softly yet thoroughly, letting her know that the geek in him had merged into the man—and that he’d finally found the one place in the world where he truly belonged now and forever.

* * * * *

Don’t miss the next book in
USA TODAY bestselling author
Judy Duarte’s new miniseries
RETURN TO BRIGHTON VALLEY

Joe Wilcox came to Brighton Valley for the sole purpose of delivering a letter to Chloe Dawson, the woman he believes was responsible for his Marine buddy’s death. But an accident results in amnesia, and Joe no longer knows why he’s in the one town he swore he’d never step foot in again. As Christmas approaches, a romance begins to blossom! But will it last when his memories return?

Look for
THE SOLDIER’S HOLIDAY HOMECOMING
On sale November 2014,
wherever Harlequin books are sold.

Keep reading for an excerpt from READY, SET, I DO! by Cindy Kirk.

We hope you enjoyed this Harlequin Special Edition story.

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Chapter One

H
ailey Randall sat alone at a table for two in the Hill of Beans coffee shop and brooded about what an idiot she’d been. Discovering her boyfriend had been using her had tumbled her usual sunny mood into stormy, overcast and dark. Hailey pressed her lips together and savagely broke off a piece of scone.

“You’re going to have to tone down that dazzling smile.”

Hailey glanced up and saw Cassidy Kaye, owner of Jackson Hole’s popular Clippety Do Dah Salon, stagger back with one hand shielding her eyes. “It’s—it’s blinding me.”

“Har, har.” Even as she spoke, Hailey’s lips twitched. “Shouldn’t you be hacking off somebody’s hair?”

“Your effusive welcome warms my heart. Why, yes, I’d love to join you.” Cassidy, dressed in skintight leopard-print leggings and a frilly purple shirt, dropped into the empty seat at the table. Today her bright gold hair was tipped in fuchsia.

“Have a seat,” Hailey said, even though her friend was already sitting, stretching one long leg over the other, a diamond ankle chain winking in the light.

“My ten o’clock canceled. Told me she came down with the stomach flu during the night.” The hairstylist shuddered. “Gave me all the gory details.”

“Details,” Hailey said pointedly, “you will keep to yourself.”

Cassidy grinned as she reached over and took a piece of Hailey’s cinnamon-chip scone. “I’m thrilled she didn’t come in. I can’t afford to get sick. Not with Daffy and me doing hair and makeup for the Finster wedding this weekend.”

Hailey lifted the latte to her lips. Cass was great with hair, but Hailey had a hard time seeing Daffodil, her waiflike assistant who moved like a closemouthed ghost, doing makeup. “Does Daff even wear makeup?”

“She doesn’t need beauty enhancements,” Cassidy said matter-of-factly then snagged another piece of scone. She lifted it to her mouth as her eyes narrowed on Hailey’s cup. “What kind of latte is that?”

“Cinnamon dulce.”

Cassidy gave an exaggerated roll of her eyes. “Cinnamon latte. Cinnamon-chip scone. You’ve got to shake things up a bit, kiddo. Be bold. Not quite so...predictable.”

Though Hailey couldn’t exactly see how ordering two favorite items qualified as predictable, she simply smiled. “Trust me. I have my moments.”

Cassidy nodded approvingly. “Like giving Josh the boot.”

Hailey’s smile vanished. She should have realized word would have gotten around by now.

“All I have to say is, about damn time.” Cassidy punctuated the announcement with a decisive nod.

Hailey had the feeling that would be most of her friends’ response. The few she’d already told about the split had seen Josh for what he was long before she had, which only made her feel even more foolish.

Until two days ago, Hailey had believed Joshua Gratzke had fallen for her and fallen hard. When she bumped into Josh—a former high school classmate—several months ago at the market, he’d made his interest clear. Though they’d never dated way back when, she’d always thought he was cute.

Those days at Jackson Hole High had been almost ten years ago. His face was leaner now, his dark hair shorter, but his smile seemed even more charming. He told her he’d returned to Jackson Hole after law school to consider his options.

With her only working PRN—as needed—at the hospital as a speech therapist, they’d had plenty of time to get reacquainted.

Plenty of time for him to take advantage
.

“I didn’t see it, Cass.” She met the hairstylist’s vivid blue eyes. “I foolishly believed he’d fallen head over heels. The fact that he wanted to hang out with my fam was a point in his favor. Sure, we spent extra time with Tripp. He’s my brother and we’re close. I never thought Josh was angling for a job in Tripp’s office.”

It still boggled Hailey’s mind that her big brother, the one who used to give her noogies, was now the mayor of Jackson Hole, Wyoming.

Cassidy’s eyes darkened, as if reliving old memories. “People disappoint us. Even those we think we know well.”

“I should have seen the signs,” Hailey murmured, almost to herself. “I must have had blinders on.”

“Don’t be hard on yourself. Josh was smooth.” Cassidy reached over and squeezed Hailey’s hand. “He almost fooled me.”

“
Almost
being the key word.”

“Trust me when I say I’ve had much more experience with slimy men than you.” Cassidy’s lips lifted in a wry smile. “My internal radar is primed to spot ’em at a hundred paces.”

“I won’t make the same mistake again.” Her appetite gone, Hailey shoved the plate containing the scone in front of Cassidy. She refused to waste one more second on Josh. “Tell me all about Susan Finster’s wedding.”

“She, or rather her mommy-dearest, insisted on the works.” Cassidy leaned back in her chair. “Made it clear if I couldn’t do all, she’d take her business elsewhere.”

“If you end up needing help, let me know.” Hailey forced a casual tone, not wanting to put her friend on the spot but determined to make her interest clear. “I used to work as a cosmetics consultant in college and really enjoyed it.”

Cassidy dropped the scone to the plate, leaned forward. The gaze that pinned Hailey had a predatory gleam. “Seriously?”

“Everyone said I had the knack.”

“No, I mean, are you serious about helping?”

“Totally.” Hailey found herself pleased by Cassidy’s reaction. “I’d love to help.”

“I cannot friggin’ believe it.” Cassidy bopped herself in the head with the heel of one hand. “I’ve been beating my brains out for weeks trying to think of someone and here, you’ve been right under my nose.”

“Glad to know I’m not the only one who misses the obvious.”

Hailey’s dry tone brought a smile to Cassidy’s lips. The hairstylist straightened in her seat and leaned forward. “I want us to work together, Hailey.”

“Talk about ordering a cake before you know if the flavor suits you.” Hailey kept her tone light even as her heart started to rev. “You don’t know if I have talent.”

“One look at you tells me you’re great with makeup.” Cassidy waved away Hailey’s concern using a hand tipped with royal-blue nails. Those who didn’t know her well often dismissed the salon owner as the crazy artistic type. But ten minutes with her was all it took to know this was a savvy businesswoman, determined to grow her already thriving business. “I’ve had clients come in with suggestions you’ve given them about their hair and you’ve been spot on, especially with color.”

Hailey flushed with pleasure. It was true her friends often asked her opinion on what they should do with their hair. “You really want me to work for you?”

“No, not really.” Cassidy studied her thoughtfully. Tapped a long fingernail against her bright pink lips.

“
With
me,” Cassidy clarified. “A partnership.”

Blood coursed through Hailey’s veins. She saw herself working with clients, offering advice and instruction on makeup and hairstyling changes that would enhance a woman’s natural beauty. She wanted to seize this opportunity and run with it. But she made herself slow down. Josh had taught her that if something seemed too good to be true, it was best to take a step back. “Why a partnership?”

“You need to think of this venture as yours. I want you to use your social connections to help this new business fly.”

The chill that swept through Hailey cut deep, all the way to the bone. “I thought you wanted my expertise, but all—”

“Don’t get on your high horse.” Cassidy gave a dismissive wave. “This is a new venture. I’ll be bringing my years in business, my license and
my
connections to the table. You’d be providing a keen eye, your experience with cosmetics and
your
connections.”

Hailey tamped down her anger and focused on the facts. After a couple of seconds, she let out a breath and nodded. “I guess that makes sense.”

“Certainly does.” Cassidy pushed back her chair. She stood there for a moment, a curvaceous woman who commanded attention. “We can discuss particulars when you’ve decided you’re interested.”

“Don’t you mean
if
I decide I’m interested?”

“We’re both champing at the bit to get this thing rolling.” Cassidy grinned. “It’s just I already know it. You have to think it through before you realize I’ve dropped a sweet deal right in your lap.”

The bell over the door jingled and Winston Ferris strolled into the shop, cell phone to his ear. Hailey’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of her good-looking neighbor.

Tall, with an athletic build, Winn had the confident demeanor of a person used to giving orders. His dark hair was cut stylishly short and though his handsome face would draw any woman’s attention, it was his steely hazel eyes that defined him.

“I need to get back to the salon.” Cassidy gestured with her head toward Winn. “I’ll leave you to canoodle with your new boyfriend.”

Hailey pulled her brows together. “Winn is my neighbor not my boyfriend.”

Cassidy merely gave a wink and strolled away, a broad smile on her pouty pink lips.

* * *

“It’s a setback, nothing more.” Winn absolutely refused to let his emotions show on his face as he listened to his boss’s rant. He prided himself on his self-control, even if it wasn’t always easy. He gave a short nod of acknowledgment to Cassidy Kaye as the business owner strolled past him on her way out the door, a flamboyant leopard with pink hair and a hot body.

His boss finally ran out of air and abruptly disconnected. Winn pocketed the phone. It was never easy telling a man accustomed to getting his way that the golf-course development they’d spent months trying to get approved had hit another snag. The final vote on the project was delayed. Again.

Forget the coffee, Winn thought. A stiff shot of whiskey would better suit his mood.

But when he saw Cole Lassiter standing behind the counter, Winn changed his mind. Cole was a driving force in Jackson Hole and walking out of his shop once he’d been seen wouldn’t be a smart move. Winn was all about smart moves.

“Cole.” Winn offered a smile to the man behind the Hill of Beans coffee-shop empire. “What’s the head honcho doing working the counter?”

“Learning the challenges my people face,” Cole said easily. “I work each position periodically. Since this store is in the town where I live, it’s easy to do here.”

Anyone seeing Cole, with his shaggy dark hair and green apron over casual shirt and jeans, would never peg him for a successful entrepreneur. Unless they looked in his eyes and saw the sharp gleam of intelligence and a hint of a take-no-prisoners brawler beneath the civilized facade.

“Makes sense.” Winn lifted the briefcase. “I thought I’d grab a cup of caffeine and look over some reports.”

“Just coffee then?”

“Black and strong.”

“Coming right up.” Cole turned toward the stainless-steel machine.

Winn used the moment to glance around the shop. To his way of thinking, networking was a 24/7 thing. Unfortunately, with ten o’clock being right between the morning crowd and lunch rush, the place was fairly quiet.

His gaze had almost made it around the dining area when it locked on the petite blue-eyed blonde dressed casually in jeans and a hot-pink hoodie. The sight of her made him smile.

Hailey Randall. His next-door neighbor. Alone.

Winn had been hoping to speak with her for days. Though he told himself—again—that her personal life was none of his concern, once he got his coffee, he headed straight across the dining area to her table.

She looked up from her phone as he approached, her welcoming smile bringing an unexpected shot of light to his day.

“May I join you?” he asked politely.

She gestured to the empty chair. “Please do.”

“I didn’t expect to see you here this morning.”

“Ditto,” she said with an impish grin, relaxing against the back of her chair. “I haven’t seen you around lately. Were you out of town again?”

Winn took a sip of his coffee before answering, and was impressed by the rich, robust flavor. No wonder Hill of Beans was so successful.

“I was helping put up hay at my dad’s ranch.” Winn took another long drink and felt some of his tension ease.

“That’s hard work.” A doubtful look crossed Hailey’s pretty face. “You don’t seem like the physical-labor type to me.”

“I don’t know whether I should be insulted or flattered.” Winn chuckled. “The truth is, I enjoy getting hot and sweaty as much as the next guy.”

There’d been no intent to be suggestive, but for a second there was...something in the air. A spark, an awareness that he’d experienced before but had ignored. After all, Hailey was not only seven years younger than he, she was his neighbor. More important, he considered her a friend. One of the few he had in Jackson Hole.

That was why he had to be honest with her. Though he realized Hailey and Josh had only been dating steadily a couple of months, the guy was another Vanessa.

He’d tried to tell himself her jerk of a boyfriend was none of his business and to just let it go. Then he would think of Vanessa, a woman he’d dated for almost a year. A woman he thought he might love. A woman he trusted, who’d slept with another man when they were supposedly in a monogamous relationship.

Winn wished someone had told him the score. Hard as it would have been to hear, it would have saved him a lot of grief.

“I have something to tell you.”

“If you’re going to say you’re quitting the business world to be a rodeo clown, give me a sec to order a double shot of espresso,” she said with a teasing smile. “After the putting-up-hay revelation, I can’t take another shock. Not without a hefty dose of caffeine.”

Winn laughed and shook his head. From day one, Hailey had enchanted him. How could anyone not be charmed by this woman, with her winning smile and sunny personality? That was why he’d put off the task he now faced. The last thing he wanted was to bring her pain. “It’s not about me. It’s about Josh.”

The man’s name tasted foul on his tongue.

Her smile wavered, just a little. When she picked up her cup and took a sip, her hand trembled, as well. “What about him?”

“He’s not the man you think he is—”