Paradise Peak (New Americana 5)

“Yes,” Hannah whispered, smiling. “We are.” She pulled in a shaky breath. “But as glad as I am to hear that, and as much as I love you, I don’t want you to feel like you have to do this just because Red—”

“I love Red.” Margaret nodded, her voice growing firm. “I fell in love with him months ago but couldn’t face up to it because it would mean I’d have no choice but to let Phillip and Niki go. It felt too much like a betrayal.” She picked at a pleat in her skirt. “Red has always been so patient and understanding, and even if I didn’t mean to take advantage, I did exactly that. I just hope I’m not too late to tell him how sorry I am, and that I do truly love him.”

Hannah laughed through the tears pouring down her cheeks. “Red loves you too much to let you apologize.”

Margaret grabbed Hannah’s hands and squeezed. “Let’s hope so.” She looked around the foyer, nodding toward the dozens of photographs of Phillip and Niki lining the walls and adorning the table. “Will you help me take down the rest, and pack them away? I’d like to have a clean slate when I tell Red how I feel tonight.”

“On one condition,” Hannah said. At Margaret’s somber silence, she added, “No mini BLTs, and please, no more ham and cheese croissants.”

Laughing, Margaret hugged her. “No more cooking, period. We’ll just pack these away and freshen up for the dance.”

In agreement, Hannah removed photos from one wall while Margaret took them off another and they stacked them carefully on the foyer table, then transferred them to a sturdy storage container. They’d just secured the lid when someone knocked on the front door of the lodge.

“I’ll get it,” Hannah said, hugging Margaret once more, then jogging to the front door.

Vernon stood on the porch, a white rectangular box tied with a red ribbon in his hands. “Delivery for you, Ms. Hannah.”

Frowning in confusion, she took the box and tilted it one way, then the other, searching for a tag. “Thank you, but who’s it from?”

“Here’s the card.” Vernon smiled, a teasing light in his eyes, and placed a small, red envelope on top of the box. “See you at the dance.”

As Vernon left, she thanked him again, then shut the door and opened the card.

Dear Hannah,

There are so many things I want to tell you . . . (but with Gloria spying over my shoulder as I write, I doubt I’ll have the opportunity).

Hannah laughed.

So I’ll leave it at this: Wear this dress tonight if you want—but only if you want. You’re as beautiful on the inside as you are on the outside, so what you wear won’t matter. I still won’t be able to take my eyes off you.

Travis

Hannah opened the box and touched the blue dress inside, her fingers drifting over the silky material. “If I want . . .”

Oh, she wanted. She wanted Travis—loved him more than anything—and she wanted to share her life with him and add to their new family right here in Paradise Peak. It was time she gave herself a tough-love nudge and took a leap of faith for the bright future she hoped waited for her and Travis. Tonight would be the perfect time to tell him.

CHAPTER 13

Festive notes from acoustic guitars and Kate Carrollton’s soft, melodious voice filled the open field beside the stable. Bright stars and a full moon lit up the night sky, and the strings of lights Travis had arranged around the dance floor cast a gentle glow over the couples swaying to the slow rhythm of the music. Laughter, happy chatter, and the squeals of children playing nearby floated on the warm spring air, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves.

Everyone, that was, except Red.

“Whoever invented the necktie deserves a swift kick in the ass.” Red, standing on the grass by the dance floor, hooked a finger under the collar of his dress shirt and tugged. “A man can’t breathe—or think—properly with the damn thing on.”

Travis smiled by his side. “Nervous?”

Red frowned. “Maybe.” His mustache twitched. “I mean, where are they? This shindig started over half an hour ago, and I haven’t seen hide nor hair of Margaret or Hannah.”

Travis slid his hands in his pockets, hiding the tremors running through his fingers. “They’re probably just running behind. Bet they’re on their way out here now.”

Yeah. That was it. He leaned to the side and peered past Red into the dark stretch of field between the lodge and the dance floor, hoping for a glimpse of Hannah or Margaret strolling through the high grass toward them. But he didn’t see either one of them, and the gnawing ache in his chest grew.

“What if I pushed Margaret too far, too fast?” Red asked softly. “What if I blew my only chance to—”

“You did the right thing,” Travis said. “You were honest about how you felt, and up-front about what you wanted.” He looked away, watching a couple on the dance floor press closer together, smile, and whisper to each other. “That’s the only way to begin.”

Red blew out a heavy breath. “Lord, I hope you’re right.”