Harlequin Heartwarming May 2016 Box Set (30 page)

CHAPTER SEVEN

B
Y
THE
TIME
Caleb picked Grace up from the Main Street Cheese Shoppe, she was holding a woven picnic basket lined with a red-and-white-checked cloth.

“Looks mighty fancy for a picnic,” he said.

“A nice presentation always makes good food taste even better.”

He thought Grace looked pretty sweet herself in pale yellow pants and a matching cotton sweater. She'd pulled her long dark hair up into a ponytail. About as casual as he'd ever seen her. He liked it, made him feel more in tune with her somehow.

He took the basket from her and swung it in the back of his truck, laying it on top of the plaid blanket he'd appropriated from his daughter's sweat lodge. Helping Grace into the passenger seat wiped away thoughts of anything but the woman. As she brushed by him, her hair smelled real nice, like fresh lavender when a breeze blew through the yard. Reluctantly letting her go, he rounded the truck and got in on the other side.

“So where do you keep your boat?” she asked as he pulled from the curb.

“I don't own. I rent from McClintock Boat, Bait and Tackle.”

“Oh, John McClintock's place. I met him and Margaret Becker at the Cheese Shoppe,” Grace said. “Priscilla told me they've been an item since Margaret's niece Kristen Lange Novak came back to work at Margaret's quilting shop a couple of summers ago.”

“Proof that romance can happen at any age.”

“So you're a romantic?” she asked.

“Try
hopeful
.”

Grace laughed. “We have something else in common.”

“See, it's working already.” Caleb grinned.

He really liked Grace Huber. There was an easiness about her that made him feel good.

“It's a perfect day, don't you think, for an outing on the lake?” Grace said.

“Perfect,” he agreed, swallowing hard.

Hopefully, some time spent in nature with charming company would distract him from his problems, at least for a few hours. Grace deserved his undivided attention, just as he deserved hers.

Within a few minutes, they'd arrived at McClintock's business and left the truck parked in the lot at the top of the slope.

When they went down to the landing, John McClintock greeted them personally. “Going out on the lake, are you? Good thing I saved this last boat for you.” He winked at them. White-haired with bright blue eyes, the man was in his midseventies, retired and running a small, cherished business that kept him vital.

“Thanks, John. I appreciate it.”

Margaret Becker was there, too. “Caleb. And Grace.” Her eyebrows shot up as if in pleased surprise. “Good to see you both. Together.”

Caleb grinned at her. “Sorry I haven't had that chance to call you about teaching those combined workshops yet.”

“We still have a couple of weeks before we have to submit the proposal for a short-term project between summer and fall sessions. Maybe we could get together to talk about it next week.”

“Sounds like a plan. I have an early morning class on Tuesday. Would you be free around ten thirty?”

“Perfect,” Margaret said. “We can meet in the faculty break room.”

That settled, they got down to the business of renting the sole boat tied to the dock.

“Stay out as long as you like,” John said once they had climbed aboard. “If I'm closed when you bring it back, just make sure it's secure.”

Caleb gave him a one-finger salute. “Will do.”

Releasing the line and pushing away from the dock, he took over the oars and began rowing. The boat quickly shot toward the middle of the lake. Grace had draped herself backward, her face lifted up to the sun. She looked so pretty, relaxed as she was, that it made his gut tighten a bit.

Then she said, “So Margaret has some ideas for the two of you to combine your teaching areas in a class?”

“Apparently. Makes sense, especially for a late-summer workshop, perfect weather for going on excursions.”

“So you would help them identify plants, and Margaret would then take over when they drew them?”

“I'm guessing that's her idea.”

Grace nodded. “You'll give your students a new appreciation of nature.” She liked the fact that he was willing to try different things. They had that in common.

“I keep looking for ways to get my students invested in conservation.”

“What? They aren't all enthusiastic?”

Caleb pulled at the oars and the boat flew across the calm water. “Most of them take my beginning class to fulfill their biological science requirement. They choose it rather than having to dissect small animals.”

Grace shivered. “Oh, I wouldn't like that, either. But if I took your class it would be because I was truly interested.”

“You would take a beginning class?” he asked.

Did that mean she was really thinking about it? Because she was considering staying in the area? The idea warmed Caleb toward her even more.

“Possibly. Assuming I'm still around.”

He let the subject drop for a while, simply taking pleasure in the sun and the breeze blowing over them. Taking more pleasure in watching Grace, who seemed to absorb the experience as if it was her first time flying across a lake in a rowboat. He doubted that was true, because she was an outdoor person. Liked hiking and birding, so no doubt any kind of boating was on her list, as well.

They skimmed the smooth waters and quickly reached the nature center. Caleb was glad to see that the small dock was free. They would have the picnic area to themselves. Alone with Grace Huber...he had to admit this was perfect. He tied up the boat and helped her out, then picked up the basket and blanket and led the way to a flat area that would give them a spectacular view of the lake and the houses lining the shore.

Spreading the blanket, he asked, “What about Phase 2 for Green Meadows? Do you think you'll go ahead with it?”

“Still under consideration.” Grace sat and pulled the basket to her, then set out paper plates and plastic cutlery.

“What would be the downside?”

“Lack of sales.” She spread out the largesse of goodies—sandwiches and small containers of potato and fruit salad, plus a couple of sample cheeses and crackers, along with cans of soda and packets of gourmet cookies. “Only half of what we've built so far is sold or rented. Things were going at a good clip until the past week or so. We need to be further along to make the time and monetary commitment.” A shadow crossed her face. “The reason we don't need any adverse publicity.”

Wondering if something negative had hit the press, he didn't want to ask and ruin the afternoon, so he sat across from her and kept his silence on the matter as he heaped his plate with a little of everything.

Tasting a cheese new to him, he said, “This is really a treat. You went to a lot of trouble.”

“You can thank Priscilla for that. I gave her free rein, just told her to pick whatever she thought would be good.”

They clinked sandwiches together as if in a toast and started eating. Caleb hadn't realized how hungry he was until he'd nearly wolfed down the first half. He guessed he hadn't been eating too well the past few days. But being with Grace gave him an appetite. Realizing she'd barely eaten half of what he had, he slowed down so she could catch up to him. And he decided to broach the topic he'd been avoiding.

“So are you really worried about adverse publicity?” he asked.

She shrugged. “Interest in the available units actually has slowed down this week. I'm hoping spring vacation just pulled potential buyers and renters in different directions with the kids out of school and all.”

“Good point.” Caleb took another bite of his sandwich and thought about the single problem he could see. “What about the guy from Spooky Tours? Has he been back?”

“Not yet. Not a tour per se. At least I haven't spotted that old bus of his. But I suspect we haven't heard the last of him, considering he's managed to have someone distribute fliers all over town.”

He hadn't known that. His concerns had been far more personal the past week. Even when he tried his best, he couldn't keep Angela's unhappiness out of his thoughts. But he would make an even greater effort this afternoon for Grace's sake.

“So what if it doesn't happen?” he asked. “Phase 2?”

She shook her head. “Then I'll be done here in Sparrow Lake.”

And here he was just getting to know Grace. “So you'll go on to your next project.” The thought of her leaving saddened him.

“There is no next project.” She frowned. “Not a
green
project that I can get behind.”

“I thought that was your dream.”

“Yes, mine, but not my father's. His dream is to retire and leave Walworth Builders in my hands.”

He could see that she didn't look happy at the thought. “I sense your lack of enthusiasm for that plan.”

“I never wanted to be CEO. Not of anything.”

“But you're considering it.”

“I don't see that I have a choice,” she admitted. “I'm the only Huber left to take over. Unfortunately Dad doesn't appreciate my slant on our work or my hopes for the company's future.”

“You don't have to work for him, do you? Any number of green companies would be glad to have you.” Being an environmentalist himself, Caleb appreciated Grace's dreams. “Living up to your father's aspirations instead of your own is very generous of you, but maybe misguided where your own desires are concerned.”

Her voice took on a slight edge when she said, “Loyalty is never misguided.”

“I'm just thinking it's making you unhappy.”

“You don't understand the big picture.”

Caleb realized that was true. And that maybe—if he wanted to get to know her better—he needed to understand what she meant. “So tell me about it.”

“Dad has done everything for me since my brother died and Mom couldn't cope. She left us. I was a mess. Got into trouble. May have gotten into
serious
trouble if Dad hadn't saved me. I was going off the deep end, and he pulled me back.”

The way he was trying to do with Angela, Caleb thought. No wonder Grace was so understanding and supportive of his daughter. She must identify with her.

“He sounds like a good father.”

“A
great
dad. He made me see that my life wasn't over, and that what I did with it mattered.”

“It
does
matter. But it should be something
you
want to do, not something he wants
for
you.”

“It's kind of a moot point.” She shrugged again, as if she had no control over the situation. “I'm an amateur at all this green stuff anyway. I mean, I've been reading a broad range of experts and I've been trying to incorporate the best ideas. I may be learning as fast as I can, but I don't know enough to be a true environmentalist. I'm just playing with the idea at Green Meadows.”

“It seems to me you've done a great job there,” he insisted. Obviously, she was learning fast.

“Thanks.”

“And it would be a terrible waste of your drive and desire if you gave it up simply to fulfill someone else's dream.”

“It's a complicated situation.”

“But you need to do what's best
for you
even if your father doesn't agree. You have to take a stand.”

Irritation crossed her features. “I'm sorry, but you just don't get it.”

This time she sounded annoyed with him, making Caleb back off once again. “Apparently not,” he muttered, diving into a second sandwich. The last thing in the world he wanted to do was create more strife in either of their lives. He just wanted a chance to enjoy being with her.

If that was even possible now.

The atmosphere between them had suddenly thickened. His fault for not minding his own business, he guessed. But he couldn't help himself when he saw what a strong love for the land Grace had. Environmentalism was his passion, and he'd finally met a woman he liked who shared it. He thought she had a real feel for successfully taking her father's company in a new direction.

Why couldn't she see that and follow her own heart?

* * *

I
RONIC
THAT
C
ALEB
was pushing her to defy her father when he was having the same problem with his own daughter. Angela wanted to be an artist and Caleb wanted his daughter to do something practical. In some ways, the two men were a lot alike. But both were devoted to their daughters, and that part she appreciated.

That both of them were telling her what to do now...not so much.

Her mood had been spoiled for a moment, and it was clear Caleb recognized that. His continuing to eat in silence bothered her. They'd had a lovely rapport going and she wanted it back. Talking about the potential for Phase 2 wouldn't hurt anything.

“Seeing your house gave me some ideas for Phase 2,” she said.

“What kind of ideas?”

“Possibly building a half-dozen A-frames similar to yours in a heavily wooded area. That would appeal to a different type of resident than we have now.”

“Sounds wonderful.”

The return of Caleb's smile was wonderful, too, and warmed her inside.

Relaxing, Grace leaned in closer to him. “I'd just worry about how much of the wooded area I would have to clear.”

“I'm the wrong guy to ask about that. I had my place built in a clearing that already existed, so I didn't have to remove any trees. I don't know much about planning construction myself, even if I know how to do the grunt work of building. I assume you have someone who could advise you.”

“I do. Several someones, probably. It's just a little early in the game, since I don't even know if there will be a Phase 2.”