Who Wants to Marry a Cowboy? (27 page)

Tess waved good-bye to the customer and Ainsley left the office and joined her at the workstation. “Why are you still working for me?” Ainsley asked. “You should have your own business by now. Do you want your own business? You’d be great at it.”

Tess’s face grew redder than a poinsettia and she avoided looking at her boss.

A spark of energy flicked in Ainsley’s stomach and hummed throughout her body. Perfect. “You’ve been looking into it, haven’t you? Oh, Tess, this is—”

“Please don’t be mad,” Tess interrupted. “I wouldn’t leave without making sure you’re okay, and I would find a place where we’re not in direct competition. I love working for you. You’re amazing and talented and you’ve been so good to me. I wouldn’t repay that by taking your customers.”

“Take them.” A sense of freedom enveloped her, like when she left her parents' house after a family dinner. Like closing Blooms at the end of Valentine's Day. Like being on horseback with nothing but open land in front of her.

Tess cocked her head. “What was that?”

“Take them. Take my customers. Take my shop.” Ainsley giggled, unable to hold back the giddiness. It couldn’t have been more perfect if she had planned it.

“Do you need to sit down?”

She shook her head. “I feel great. This is the best I’ve felt in a month.” She picked up the bouquet display book and waved it around. “I don’t want to do this anymore. You were right about the cowboy. For all of his bullheaded stupidity, Riley showed there’s more to me than what the world sees. I never minded the work, but now it’s not fun for me. I wouldn’t think of leaving my shop in anyone’s care but yours, Tess, not after you helped me build it.” She handed the book to the other woman. “Say you’ll do it. Or at least think about it.”

Tess pursed her lips, then gave a quick exhale and shook her head. “I can’t afford it.”

Ainsley waved her hand, dismissing the protest. “We’ll work something out. We’ll go to the bank and see what it can do for you. For us. And then Charleston Blooms will be yours.”

The woman rubbed the back of her neck, her fingers brushing her short hair. “You’re serious about this, aren’t you?”

“As serious as the prospect of my mother threatening me with some new man.” Ainsley was afraid the surge of electricity flowing through her blood would burn before her manager answered.

Tess bit her lower lip. “Are you sure? I have to talk to Ross, but I'm in if you’re really, really sure.”

Ainsley put her hands on her friend’s arms and made sure the woman looked at her. “I have never been more sure of anything in my life.”

Tess studied Ainsley’s face, her eyes darting back and forth, until a huge grin split her mouth. “Okay. Okay! But know you’ll always have a job with me.”

Ainsley squealed and hugged her friend, feeling the weight of a thousand orchids slide to the ground. The two women jumped around the small work area in celebration.

“What are you going to do?” Tess asked when they had calmed down.

“Whatever I want. I’m free! Volunteer more. Use that trust fund I’ve been avoiding for so long. Travel and see new things. I want to do something for me. Not for my mother or sister. This time, it’s all about me.”

R
emember we have a meeting with the bank after the store closes today, and with a lawyer after that,” Tess said to Ainsley the next Monday morning. They sat in Ainsley’s soon-to-be-former office before opening Blooms for the day, double-checking the transfer of ownership and loan papers. Bright sun shone through the window, competing with Tess’s exuberance to light up the darkened store. “That was a brilliant idea you had, bringing Edward into this. I don’t think the bank would have looked at me twice, otherwise.”

“This is so exciting,” Ainsley said with an enthusiasm she didn’t feel. She just wanted to get this done. “I can’t wait for you to start this new part of your life.”

Tess gave her a hug. “What are you going to do?”

“Nothing yet. I spent the weekend looking at European vacations.” Because Europe was far, far away from where she really wanted to go. “I have no plans and it feels really good.” If being lonely and heartbroken with nothing to do all day except think about it felt really good.

Tess opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by the phone. “Charleston Blooms.” She listened for a moment, then held out the phone. “It’s for you. Meagan something.”

“Meagan!” Ainsley said. “How are you? Where are you?”

“I’m back in Savannah, getting ready to move. Cookie and I decided to get married in three weeks,” Meagan gushed.

“Three weeks? Wow, that’s—”

“Fast, I know. But when you’re ready to start a new life, you want that life to begin as soon as possible.”

Ainsley fought the tears. Until she started living her plans, she had no new life. She had no old life. She had a boring rut of nothingness.

“Anyway, I’m calling because the wedding is happening too fast to send invitations. And I want you to be there, Ainsley. Say you’ll come.”

Apprehension gnawed a giant hole in her stomach and she had to take a deep breath to calm herself. “I don’t know if I can go back there, Meagan. I just don’t know.”

“I know it’s asking a lot,” her friend said, compassion filling her voice. “And I’ll completely understand if you say no.”

Her body screamed at her to take the offered out and she paced around the display counter, twisting the phone cord between her shaky fingers. She stared at her hand and frowned. “Of course I’ll be there. And I’d be honored if you’ll let me provide your flowers.” No one was allowed to rule her life but her.

Meagan protested. “No, I couldn’t ask you to do that.”

“You didn’t. Please let me. You were the one bright spot in my whole trip out there.”

“All right,” Meagan agreed. They spent the next few minutes talking about different styles of flowers until everything was set, but Ainsley could tell there was something else her friend wanted to say.

“Riley’s Cookie’s best man,” Meagan ventured.

So there’d be no avoiding him, unless she hid in the foliage. “That’s so nice,” Ainsley said.

Meagan laughed. “Okay, I’m going to let you go. I have a lot of other calls to make. I’ll email you the wedding information and directions, okay?”

“Yes. I’m so happy for you, Meagan.”

“Me too. Good-bye.”

Ainsley put the phone back on the workstation and sighed. She certainly didn’t begrudge Meagan her happiness, but why couldn’t she have called after Ainsley had flown off to Paris?

She left her office and entered the dark store. Why hadn’t Tess opened?

“I saved something for you. Sort of a last good-bye.” Tess grinned and flicked the light switch. Two fluorescent bulbs flickered on while the others stayed off.

Shooting a smile at her manager, Ainsley went to the supply closet to wrest out the ladder. “Ah, Tess. You always know how to make me smile.”

“I’ll have to use you as a contractor to fix things up after I own this place.”

Tess could have changed the lights herself, but Ainsley enjoyed the physical labor. It was like leaving a part of her in the shop. She spent the rest of the day making sure everything in Blooms was ready for new ownership and when it was time to leave, she locked the door for the last time. Tears smarted behind her eyes, the emotion of giving up the business she had built up from nothing almost too much for her to contemplate. Knowing how unhappy she would be if she stayed solidified her resolve. “Let’s go.”

Edward and Ross met them at the bank, the two men a complete contrast to one another but comfortably standing together. As usual, Edward’s blond hair lay neatly in place and the knot in his tie was tight, but his normal ramrod-straight posture was more relaxed. Ross wore well-worn jeans and a clean t-shirt, dark hair framing wide cheeks covered in scruff. His eyes darted nervously to Tess and she greeted him with a kiss.

Using Edward and his knowledge of the financial community had made it easier for Tess and Ross to forge through the paperwork and prepare for the loan requests. All that was left was signing their lives away, and the business would be theirs.

The process took half an hour. Ainsley’s foot bounced nervously when she crossed her legs, and she half-hoped, half-dreaded something would go wrong. The tightness in her chest threatened to choke her until the couple signed the last of their papers. The loan officer rose, shaking hands with each and offering congratulations. The blood rushed back to her fingers and they tingled as she caught her breath.

The lawyer was next. Edward came along while Ainsley signed the forms that sold Charleston Blooms to Tess and Ross. Her hands shook but her signature was firm. She was ecstatic and free. And desolate and lost.

She declined the offer of a celebratory dinner, not wanting her conflicting emotions to dampen the mood. Edward squeezed her hand and she clung to the support while walking to his car. He dropped her off at home and she reveled in the idea of being alone with no one to disturb her. The answering machine blinked and she pressed the message button. Sophia requested her presence at dinner the next night. It would be a good time to tell her parents about selling the shop and her future plans to spend more time volunteering with Habitat for Humanity and wantonly spend the inheritance from her grandparents.

Dinner was promptly at seven. Ainsley pulled into the drive five minutes early and studied the unfamiliar maroon BMW in the long driveway. Grim foreboding settled in her belly. She turned the knob slowly and tiptoed into the house instead of announcing her arrival. She stopped at the entryway to the living room then risked a peek around the corner. An unfamiliar dark-haired man relaxed on the cream-colored sofa next to her father, both of them holding glasses of scotch.

“My daughter will be here any minute, Raymond.” Sophia’s voice floated to her and she had to stifle a snort. “I can’t wait for the two of you to get to know each other.”

Oh, for the love of orange soda. Her mother hadn’t even waited a month. Ainsley padded back to the door and closed it loudly, then approached the living room without the normal sense of trepidation that came with this kind of ambush. “Hello, Mother, Daddy,” she said, giving Sophia a kiss on the cheek.

“Ainsley, I’d like you to meet Raymond. He’s the son of one of my bridge partners, and moved to town to be closer to his parents. I thought you could show him around in the next few weeks.”

At least her mother had good taste in men. Raymond’s short and curly dark hair and friendly brown eyes might be appealing, but not to her. Apparently she preferred melting hazel eyes and a glowering attitude. He rose and she shook his hand. “I’m sorry you came to dinner tonight to meet a tour guide, Raymond. I won’t be able to help you much.”

“It’s nice to meet…” His voice trailed off and his gaze darted to Sophia.

“Ainsley.” Her mother’s voice held a familiar note of warning.

No one was allowed to rule her life but her any longer. Regardless of the bomb Sophia had dropped on this special occasion, Ainsley was ready for her.
Bring it on
.

“I know you want to perform this good
deed
.” And there it was. Her slight emphasis on the last word left no doubt what she was thinking.

A snort escaped before Ainsley could stop it. “Raymond, do you want to go out with someone who has to be blackmailed to do it?”

A flustered look crossed his face as he took a small step away from her. “No, I—”

“Didn’t think so.” Triumph soared through her with shameless delight and she turned back to Sophia. “What else you got?”

Her mother’s schooled features gave nothing away. “Raymond, would you excuse us for a moment, please?”

“Of course.” His body relaxed and he gave a polite nod.

Ainsley let herself be led into the sterile kitchen. Filet mignon waited on the stovetop, filling the room with its mouthwatering scent. Too bad she wouldn’t be staying for dinner. Normally she dreaded one of these lectures, but Cecelia’s advice to not put up with this shit anymore was her new mantra. Freed from the bondage of her business, she couldn’t wait to see her mother’s reaction when she realized she had no leverage.

“Ainsley, have you forgotten what I can do?”

“I haven’t, Mother, and frankly, I just can’t believe you’d do that to Tess. Even you’re not that cruel. Hasn’t the poor woman struggled enough?”

The sight of her always-incontrol, dominating, firmly structured mother thrown off balance made Ainsley giggle. She was free. Nothing Sophia could do now would have any effect on Ainsley’s decisions.

“Are you drunk?”

“Stone cold sober.” Settling in to the bliss of victory, she took a deep breath. “I sold Blooms, Mother. Tess owns it now. I hope you enjoy your new tenant.” With buoyant steps, she cleared out of the kitchen.

Or tried to. “Ainsley.” The note of uncertainty, something she had never heard before in Sophia’s voice, stopped her. She returned to the kitchen.

“We need this,” Sophia whispered. “Your father made some bad investments a few years ago, and we haven’t been able to recoup our losses. You don’t know what it’s been like, living among the poor and desolate.”

“You mean the middle class,” Ainsley said.

“Edward and his family were the best chance we had to show our friends we’re still who we used to be. Raymond can provide that same security. I can’t go back, Ainsley. And it’s your filial duty to help us.”

“The hell it is!” No one was going to tell her how to run her life. “I’ve been supporting myself since halfway through college. I didn’t make the investments. I didn’t buy a building for blackmail, for goodness’ sake. Don’t you think, growing up, that I would rather have had my mom and dad around instead of a nanny or a cook?” She approached her mother cautiously, then wrapped her arms around Sophia’s thin frame. “I love you, Mother. But I’m not going to let you live my life for me anymore.” A pang of guilt flickered in her stomach for letting Sophia think Edward wasn’t going to be a part of their family, but the engagement was Cecelia’s news, not hers. Her mother remained in the kitchen and Ainsley said good-bye to her father and the new cash cow and escaped through the entryway.

Another car pulled into the drive and Ainsley saw the headlights through the front window. No way was she going to subject herself to another suitor. She ducked down the hallway before anyone could get to the door.

“Ainsley’s car is here,” Cecelia noted as she and Edward pulled up the circular drive of Bennett and Sophia’s house.

“That’s your sister, right?” He grinned over at her, his heart warming at the sight of the ring on her finger. His ring. He still couldn’t believe his good fortune.

She gave his shoulder a playful shove while he parked the car. He clasped her hand as they made their way around an unfamiliar maroon vehicle. Edward held the front door open for her and caught the flash of a woman darting down the side hallway. He said nothing, but exchanged a small smile with his fiancée. She had seen her sister, too.

Cecelia’s grip tightened on his hand when they heard her mother’s sharp and unhappy voice sniping in the living room. “This should be fun.”

He stopped before the three steps that led down into the room and wrapped an arm around her waist, pulling her against him. “If we do it together, we can face anything.”

“Even Sophia on a rampage?” Cecelia pressed a small kiss on him before stepping away and clutching his hand. She took a deep breath and stared straight ahead.

“You’re nervous about this?” Edward grinned. “You are the most confident, sophisticated, beautiful woman I know. And you’re scared of your mother?”

“I’ve been a good actress for many, many years.” She offered him a tremulous smile and he fell more in love with her than before.

“There’s two of us now. We’re a united front.”

“If you two are done whispering, feel free to join us,” Sophia snapped, striding into view. “Cecelia.”

“Mom.” The two women kissed air near each other.

Sophia turned to Edward. “I wasn’t expecting you, Edward. It’s good to see you again.”

He leaned forward and kissed her cheek, then she turned and led them into the room. The presumed owner of the BMW sat next to Bennett on the couch, discussing the economy. Without asking, Sophia made Edward his usual rum and coke and brought Cecelia some bottled water, then sat on the other sofa, taking the only two-seated space available. His fiancée grinned at him and flung herself into the remaining chair.

“Ray Taylor! Is that you?” Cecelia studied the stranger, who turned his head in surprise.

“Cecelia!” They rose to hug, the embrace lifting her from the floor. Edward watched the exchange with something akin to anxiety. The betrayal. It was beginning already.

“What are you doing here?” She kept a hand on Ray’s arm, her animated face a picture of pleasure.

“Sophia invited me to meet her daughter. I didn’t realize she meant you.”

Cecelia laughed. “Not me, I don’t think. Have you met Edward Anders?”

He extended his hand and assessed the competition in front of him. Cecelia’s familiarity with this man left Edward unsure of himself and his situation with her. Ray was handsome, refined, and Edward couldn’t have faulted her if they had been together at some point. “I’m her fiancé.”