Catch of a Lifetime: A Cricket Creek Novel (32 page)

“I’m fifty-two years old, Arabella. The bloom is off the rose.”

“Shut up!” Bella narrowed her eyes at her mother. “First of all, you’re gorgeous. And second, you can fall in love at any age. Just look at Myra and Owen!” She leaned back in her chair and arched one eyebrow. “And I noticed how Mitch Monroe looked at you!”

“He is out of my league.”

“I can’t believe you just said that!” Bella’s bare feet hit the floor with a
smack
. She thought her mother was one of the most confident women she knew, and this admission stunned Bella. “Why in the world would you say that, Mom?”

“Bella, he’s a big-business tycoon. I’m from a poor Italian family and have only a high school education. I’m sure that he is used to a much more educated, sophisticated woman.” She wiggled her fingers in the air.

“I’ve always thought of you as sophisticated. Mom, you are beautiful, have style, and are supremely talented. I’m stunned that you would even say such a thing, much less believe it!”

Nicolina lifted one slim shoulder. “I put on a good show.”

“Oh, come on, Mom . . . really?”

“Bella, I was a struggling single mom for years.”

“You’re a talented jewelry designer!”

“
Pfft
. I sell my jewelry at craft shows!”

“Mom, you’ve created beautiful designs for how many brides and wedding parties?”

“For friends,” she argued.

Bella leaned forward. “It’s called referrals. Networking. Sure, it comes from friends and family at first, but then grows. Why are you selling yourself short? We’ve talked about opening a shop for years. You have a kick-ass Web site. Why are you hedging
now
?”

“Because before it was only talk . . . pipe dreams.”

“And now you’re facing possible failure.”

She nodded.

“So what if you do fail?” Bella asked softly. “Isn’t that better than never trying?”

“Bella, if I fail, I will have eaten up the savings that I’ve worked so hard all of these years to build up.”

“Money?” Bella gave her mother a level look. “That’s not really the reason, is it?”

“No.” Nicolina cupped her hands around the mug as if warming up cold hands. She finally shook her head slowly. “Oh, Bella, if I fail, the dream is gone. And then what do I have?”

Bella remembered her mother’s excitement when a new shipment of beads would arrive, or the joy of a finished necklace that turned out beautiful. She would often design late into the night and then have to go to work early the next day. Suddenly, it all made sense. “Oh, Mom, your dream got you through some tough times. Didn’t it?”

“I clung to it like a lifeline.” She reached over and took one of Bella’s hands. “I always hated the sacrifice you had to go through. “We ate lots of tomato soup and grilled-cheese sandwiches so that I could buy my materials. And I could never afford new clothes for you.”

“Mom, I never thought of our simple dinners as a sacrifice. I loved sorting through the colorful beads and watching you work. And my clothes?” She laughed. “You would sew trinkets to my jeans and make those amazing beaded headbands! All of my friends loved those headbands. Oh, Mom, my clothes were the coolest in school and nobody else had them.”

Nicolina smiled softly. “I had forgotten about those headbands.”

Bella tapped her fingers on the table. “You should think of having a children’s section in the store! Even little girls are fashion conscious these days. Those headbands would fly off the shelves. And beaded bracelets? Teenagers are wearing them halfway up their arms.” She bounced in her chair. “And Jessica is going to add a retail section at Wine and Diner for selling Kentucky-made items. You could start marketing your jewelry there to give yourself some exposure!”

Nicolina tipped her head to the side and her smile widened. “You’re getting me excited about this.”

“Mom, allow the excitement to melt away the fear fac
tor. Let me tell you something. This little town has some backbone. Instead of becoming another casualty of this economy, the people here have dug in their heels and are fighting back.”

Nicolina closed her eyes and inhaled deeply. “Bella, my heart is beating a million miles a minute.”

“We’re still a team, you know.” Bella’s voice was gruff with emotion. “I don’t have any money to contribute, but I’m still a mean bead sorter.”

When Nicolina opened her eyes, they were swimming with unshed tears. “I know I drive you crazy sometimes, but I love you, Arabella. More than anything in this world.”

“And I love you. No matter what happens in our lives, that will never change.” She had to clear her throat. “Now, can I fix you some breakfast?”

“I’m having brunch with Mitch at Wine and Diner, so I’ll just have another cup of coffee.” She handed Bella her mug. “Speaking of Wine and Diner, have you heard how Jessica is feeling?”

“No.” Bella shook her head as she stood up. “But I plan on calling Madison in a little while.”

“I sure hope she’s okay,” Nicolina said. “She must have felt rotten not to have come over to Sully’s last night. Maybe she’ll be at the diner later.”

“I hope so,” Bella agreed. “I’m off today, so I plan on being lazy.”

“When I get back, I’ll be lazy with you.”

“Right . . .” Bella handed her the mug. “You don’t know how. But I’ll be glad to teach you.”

“Well, I think I’ll start my lazy day by taking a long, hot bath.”

“Excellent! Are you going to the game with me tonight?”

“Yes,” she said, and then flushed a little.

“Let me guess. You’re heading over there with Mitch?”

“Well, we will be checking out the shops available for
lease, and it simply makes sense to head there together. He, of course, is going to the game too so it’s only natural—”

“Mom!” Bella laughed as she cut her off. “You don’t have to explain yourself. It’s gorgeous out. Enjoy your day and your man.”

“He’s not
my
man.”

“He is for today.”

Nicolina smiled. “You know, you’re right.”

“And one more thing,” Bella said, causing her mother to pause at the doorway. “Nobody, and I do mean nobody, is out of Nicolina Diamante’s league. You got that, Mama?”

“Got it.” Her chin came up and she saluted, but her smile faltered just enough to let Bella know that this was still an issue with her mother.

“Good!” Bella shot her a smile, but it faded as soon as her mother left the room. She had always thought of her sassy mother as one of the strongest, most confident women she knew, and she had been floored by her mother’s admission. But after thinking about it, Bella could relate. The feisty attitude she put out there wasn’t always what she was feeling beneath the surface, and when David had cheated right under her nose, Bella’s self-worth had been shaken to the core. “Well, enough of that nonsense,” she muttered as she walked into the living room to tidy up the covers on the couch. It was about time to reclaim her self-confidence!

A little while later, Nicolina walked into the kitchen where Bella was stirring up ingredients for pancakes. “Making silver dollars?” Nicolina asked, bringing a smile to Bella’s face. Silver-dollar pancakes had been her most-requested breakfast as a child.

“Yes, with whipped butter and dusted with powdered sugar.”

“Sounds delicious.” Nicolina spun in a circle. “How do I look?” she asked casually, but looked closely at Bella.

“Mom, you’d look good in a burlap sack, but your tan jeans and tweed jacket are classy. Ralph Lauren?”

“Yes, on sale at an outlet.”

“And the chunky turquoise necklace adds a splash of color and a Western flair.” She gave her mother a thumbs-up. “When are you leaving for your date—I mean, business venture?”

Nicolina rolled her eyes. “I’m meeting Mitch in the lobby downstairs as soon as he texts me that he’s here,” she answered, and as if on cue, her cell phone beeped. She glanced down at her phone. “He’s here.” She put one hand to her chest and then looked up. “I’ll see you at the game!”

“Mom, don’t be nervous. You look amazing!”

Nicolina blew Bella a kiss and hurried out the door.

“Well . . .” With a smile, Bella turned back to the pancake batter and put it in the refrigerator before creeping down the hallway to see if Logan was awake. Just as she reached the door, it swung open.

“Eeek!”
Bella bumped into him with a surprised squeak. When her mouth brushed up against his warm chest, she stumbled backward and had to brace her hand against the wall for support. “You scared the daylights out of me!”

“I do live here, you know.”

Oh . . . did she ever. “You already know that I get startled easily.”

Logan folded his arms across his bare chest and leaned one shoulder against the doorframe. He looked sleep rumpled and delicious in low-slung black sweatpants. “Well, you were creeping up on me. Shouldn’t I be the one startled?”

“I wasn’t creeping up on you.” She pushed away from the wall.

“Sneaking in to kiss me awake?”

“You wish!” she sputtered, but the make-out session in the kitchen hung in the air between them.

“Yeah, I do.” He gave her a lazy grin, but then widened his eyes and mouthed
Is your mother here?

Bella gave him a shake of her head. She wanted to say
more, but the realization suddenly hit her that they were alone. All day . . .

“Oh, then you were coming into my bedroom to have your wicked way with me.” His lazy smile widened, and he reached up to scratch the dark gold stubble on his chin. “I get it now.”

“Ha! In your dreams.”

“As a matter of fact, you were in my dreams.”

“You’re making that up.”

“No, Bella, I’m not.” His teasing grin faded and he pushed away from the doorframe. He headed over to her and tucked a finger beneath her chin, tilting her face up. “All I can think about is having you in my damned arms, and last night I dreamed that you were in my bed with me.” He sighed. “But I woke up and my arms were empty.”

“Well, maybe we should do something about that,” she suggested.

“You don’t have to ask twice.” When he scooped her up into his arms she yelped, causing Logan to laugh. “I really need to have you make noises other than squeaking.”

Bella laughed with him, but when he gently placed her in the middle of his bed, she looked up at him with serious eyes. Before, they had been caught up in the moment. This was different.

Logan eased onto the bed beside her and traced a fingertip over her bottom lip. “Hey, if you don’t want this . . .”

Bella reached up and cupped his cheek with the palm of her hand. “I’m just afraid of you leaving, Logan. And you know it’s going to happen. Now my mother is seriously thinking of moving here and opening a jewelry store. It’s been her dream—no,
our
dream—for years.”

“Bella, I don’t expect you to leave here. Granted, being the girlfriend of a professional athlete isn’t easy, but if you truly care for someone, you can give them the freedom to pursue their dream and eventually have a great life together.”

Bella’s brain tripped over the word
girlfriend
, but she managed to nod. “I agree,” she replied softly, and rubbed the pad of her thumb over his cheekbone.

“And it makes coming home so much better.” He smiled and then dipped his head and captured her mouth with a sweet kiss. “God, it feels so good having you in my arms. Baby, you have no idea how much I’ve wanted this.”

The sincerity in his eyes had Bella melting against the plump pillows. “Me too,” she said, and wrapped her arms around his neck. He kissed her again, but this time with white-hot passion that took her breath away. She moved her hands over his wide shoulders and down to his rock-hard biceps. She arched her back in an effort to get closer.

“These clothes have to go,” Logan said, and quickly shed his sweatpants.

Bella swallowed hard when she came up to her elbows and took in the beauty of his naked body. He had the physique of an athlete . . . but whip-cord strength rather than bulk. Watching the ripple of muscle beneath golden, tanned skin when he moved made a hot shiver slide down her spine. “Logan, you are one gorgeous man,” she breathed, and then came up to her knees.

“And you are a beautiful, sexy woman, Bella,” Logan said, and tugged her shirt over her head in one smooth move. Her breasts were bare, and when he cupped them in his big, strong hands, she sucked in a quick breath. “But as banging as your body is . . . it’s
you
that I’m falling for.” He looked into her eyes. “And as much as I want to make it back to the big leagues, having you in my life makes me want it even more. But oddly enough, on the other hand, it makes it okay if I fail.” He shook his head. “Does that make any sense?”

“Yes.” Bella nodded firmly. “It does.”

“And I’ve never felt this strongly about a woman before,” he admitted with such emotion that Bella felt tears spring to her eyes. “But enough of that sappy stuff,” he said
in true Logan form. “Time for some action!” he declared with a grin, then tugged her flannel lounging pants down to her knees. “Dear God,” he said when he saw her little pink thong. “That’s a picture that’s going to haunt me when I’m on the road.”

Bella laughed and pulled her pants the rest of the way off and kicked them to the floor before easing back down onto the pillows. When he joined her on the bed, his warm skin slid against hers, making her moan. She shoved her fingers into his shaggy hair that she loved so much and kissed him like there was no tomorrow.

But there was tomorrow, and then the next day and the next . . .

She suddenly knew what it felt like to have somebody in her life who wanted a future together, and it felt amazing. She kissed him deeply, hotly, and with more love than she knew ever existed.

“Do we need protection?” he whispered in her ear.

“No,” she answered, and wrapped her legs around his waist. He entered her with one sure stroke, making her cry out with the sheer joy of having him inside her body. He rocked into her with an easy rhythm and murmured words of love in her ear.

“Oh!” Bella’s heart thumped harder and her body tingled with sweet heat as her pleasure climbed . . . intensified. She wrapped her arms and legs around him tightly and arched her back, urging him to go faster, deeper, until she exploded with pure pleasure, taking him right along with her.