On A Night Like This (The Callaways) (31 page)

"I don't want you to go back to New York, Sara," Aiden said, shocking her with the words. "You asked me to give you a reason not to go."

"I remember. You couldn’t come up with one."

"I could; I was just afraid to say it, and to be fair, you didn't give me much time."

"You've had more than enough time, Aiden." And she was not referring to their most recent conversation.

"I know that," he said, a small smile playing around his lips. "I've been a little slow, but I hope it's not too late. I love you, Sara."

Her heart stopped. Her breath caught in her chest. She could not have heard him correctly. "Say that again."

"Really? You didn't hear me the first time?"

"I want to hear it again."

He grabbed both of her hands and squeezed them tight. "I love you, Sara."

"No, you don't," she said immediately, shaking her head. "You don't do love. You told me so. You told me so a lot!"

"I was trying to convince myself as much as I was trying to convince you."

"You've had an emotional few weeks, Aiden. You lost your friend. You're in pain. You're lonely. You're not thinking straight. You'll wake up in a week and wonder why the hell you told me such a lie."

"Stop trying to talk me out of it," he said forcefully. "Everything you said is true, but I know what I'm saying. I know what I'm feeling. You're the one I want. And if I have to tell you again in a week or a month or a year or every day for the next fifty years, then I'll do that. I'm not going to change my mind. I've never told a woman I loved her. You're the first and the only."

"Really, Aiden?"

He met her gaze head on. "Really. I'm putting myself on the line for you. It's your turn now, Sara. You can say no. You can walk away. It's your call."

"It just seems unreal," she said. "You've always been this amazing possibility for me, but that possibility has never really been within my reach."

"I'm right here, and you can touch me wherever you want."

She gave him an emotional smile. "I'm starting to believe you."

"Good. I'll admit that my love doesn't go back as far as yours does. But I've always cared about you, Sara. I pushed you away all those years ago not only to protect you, but also to protect myself. Even then, I sensed that you had the potential to turn my life upside down, and I couldn't take that risk. I wasn't ready for you then."

"And you're ready now? You have to be sure, because I can't start something with you, Aiden, if you're not willing to go all the way. I don't just want to be your lover, I want to be your—everything." She laughed and cried at her choice of words. "God, I feel fourteen again. That sounded really stupid."

He grinned. "It sounded wonderful. I can commit, Sara. I just never wanted to before. But I want to commit to you. I love you," he repeated.

Her heart filled with tremendous joy. "I really hope I'm not dreaming right now."

"If you are, then I am, too."

"It's crazy."

"No, it's not crazy. You're an amazing woman. You're smarter than just about everyone I know. You're beautiful, kind, and incredibly generous."

"I like those words better than cute and quirky, but I think you left something out."

He laughed. "How about you're sexy as hell and every time I see you, I want to rip your clothes off?"

"Much better." She gave him a wicked smile. "And just so you know, I feel exactly the same way every time I see you." She paused. "But it's not just physical attraction for me, either. I've admired you for as long as I can remember. You're one of the most amazing people I've ever met, and the reason I've stayed single all these years is that somewhere in my heart I was hoping we'd run into each other again. Emma is going to think I'm nuts!"

"Probably. She doesn't see me the way you do. But my family will be thrilled to see us together. They love you, too." He lowered his head and gave her a tender kiss that was filled with promise. Then he lifted his gaze to hers. "I want to be your everything, Sara." He paused. "Wait, is that a song title?"

"Probably," she said with a laugh. "I came up with that line when I was writing in my teenage diary. I never imagined I'd actually say it out loud and that you wouldn't run away or burst out laughing. But here you are."

"Here I am," he repeated. "I'm not laughing, and I'm not going anywhere. You're
it
for me. And just so you know, my future is wide open. If you want to live in New York, I'll go back there with you."

She was incredibly touched by his generosity. "You? My nature guy in the urban jungle?"

"As long as I'm in your bed at night, I don't much care where I am during the day. And I'm sure New York has some nature somewhere. It also has a fire department."

"I am tremendously touched by your offer, but I don't want to go back to New York," she said. "I want to start something new. I want to find what's really right for me. And I can do that here in San Francisco. Or maybe even in Redding."

"I doubt you'll find a big law firm there."

"I can always open my own firm. I like the idea of being the boss. And there's a magical pool in a nearby forest that's just perfect for swimming."

"I don’t want you to give up anything for me, Sara."

She squeezed his hands, gave him a loving smile, and said, "I don't want you to give up anything for me, either. We'll figure it out together."

"I like the sound of that. Now would you just kiss me already?" he said.

"Hey, I think that was my line."

He cut off her protest with one kiss and then another, their passion even stronger, because it was backed by love. She'd finally gotten the man of her dreams, and he was more than worth the wait.

The End

Dear Readers:

I hope you enjoyed Sara and Aiden's story! I can't wait to bring you more stories featuring each and every one of the Callaways. I might even throw in a few cousins, because this is such a fun family to write about. Romance, love, mystery and adventure—the Callaways have it all!

In book two of the series, Emma, the arson investigator, will be the star, and she's going to have her hands full with a sexy detective, a determined ex-boyfriend, a missing nun, and a mysterious firebug who seems to be setting fires at places that all mean something to Emma. The rest of the Callaway clan will also be back in full force with new story threads for Burke, Nicole and Ryan, and Aiden and Sara. You'll also meet Drew, another one of the sexy Callaway brothers.

Book two will be released at the end of March 2013.

In the meantime, I hope you'll enjoy the following excerpts from WHEN WISHES COLLIDE (Wish Series #3) and RYAN'S RETURN, two of my bestselling books.

Happy Reading!

Barbara Freethy

Excerpt: When Wishes Collide

Barbara Freethy

© Copyright 2012 ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

Prologue

July …

Adrianna took off her white long-sleeved chef's coat and tossed it into the laundry basket in the break room of Vincenzo's Restaurant. She then released her long, brown hair from a constricting tie, feeling an immediate release of tension, as the waves cascaded down her shoulders. It had been a long, exhausting night in the kitchen, but it was the kind of exhaustion she loved. Becoming a chef had been her dream since she was a little girl, and at twenty-eight she was beginning to make a name for herself.

Lindsay Rogers entered the room and gave her a tired smile. The tall, willowy blonde was one of the sous chefs and also a good friend, which sometimes surprised Adrianna, because they were as different in personality as they were in looks. Lindsay was outgoing, funny, and while she liked her job, Lindsay wasn't particularly ambitious. Adrianna had a quieter sense of humor and was far more focused and driven. But then she hadn't had time for a lot of fun in her life. Survival had been her single focus for as long as she could remember. One day, she wanted to get to that place where she could relax, take a breath, look around and see what she'd been missing. But that day wasn't today.

"That last party took forever to leave," Lindsay said, as she removed her jacket. "Toast after toast until they were all drunk. Will had to call two cabs to get them out of here."

She smiled. "They were having a good time. That's what it's all about." Nothing made her happier than watching people enjoy her food and enjoy themselves.

"I guess." Lindsay rolled her head around on her shoulders.

"We're lucky business has been so good," Adrianna added. "The winter was very slow."

Throughout January and February, she'd been worried that the restaurant might have to close because the owner and executive chef, Giovanni Ricci, was having health problems. Fortunately, his nephew, Stephan, had stepped in and taken over, turning things around in just a few months. She missed Giovanni's tutelage in the kitchen, but because of his absence she'd also gained more responsibility. Her life always seemed to be a mix of good and bad.

"The customers are coming because of you," Lindsay said as she stepped up to the mirror to apply some lip gloss. "Your reputation is growing. Stephan is about a day away from making you executive chef."

"I'm not so sure about that. In sixty years, Vincenzo's has never had an executive chef who wasn't a Ricci."

"That's true, but while Stephan is a competent chef, he's better in the front of the house. He loves to market and greet customers. You're the one who makes the magic in the kitchen, and Stephan is smart enough to know that. You're pretty much doing the job anyway," Lindsay added, as she turned around. "And you know Will is talking you up to Stephan every chance he gets."

"He's been very supportive," she said. Will Grayson was the head bartender, and her boyfriend, although, it still felt a little strange to think of him in those terms. She and Will had been friends for four years until a coworker's wedding reception and a lot of champagne had taken them from friends to lovers.

"Speaking of Will -- he seems distracted lately," Lindsay said. "Is something going on with him?"

"Nothing that I know about. He was probably just stressed with all the big parties we had tonight."

"You're right. You need to take him home and make him feel better, as only you can," Lindsay said with a teasing smile. She moved away from the mirror, grabbed Will's jacket off the coat rack and tossed it to Adrianna.

As the jacket flew through the air, something fell out of one of the pockets onto the floor.

Lindsay and Adrianna both reached for it at the same time, but it was Lindsay who came up with the blue velvet box.

"Oh my God," Lindsay said, meeting Adrianna's gaze. "Will is going to propose to you."

Adrianna stared at the ring box in shock and wariness. "No. It's way too soon."

"You've been friends forever."

"But not boyfriend, girlfriend. That's new. Don't open it," she warned as Lindsay's fingers toyed with the lid.

"Why not? Don't you want to see the ring?"

"We don't know that it's an engagement ring. It could be something else."

"Only one way to find out."

"No." She shook her head and scrambled to her feet, worry and panic running through her. She wasn't ready for an engagement, for marriage, or even for a promise. She didn't want Will to give her a ring of any kind.

"If it's a bad ring, you'll have a chance to compose your reaction when he shows it to you," Lindsay said practically, as she stood up. "You don't want to have a look of disappointment on your face. I know you would try to be polite, but let's be real, a sucky ring is not the way to start out a marriage."

"I don't want to see it," she said quickly.

Lindsay frowned. "What is wrong with you?"

How could she explain to someone who was as easy and casual about love as Lindsay that for her love, marriage, and family was a huge dream but also a terrifying proposition? She'd locked her heart away a very long time ago, and while Will had been chipping away at her resolve to stay detached, he wasn't even close to breaking through. How could Will think otherwise?

"Please, put it away before he comes in here," she said shortly.

"Okay, okay, calm down." Lindsay slipped the ring box back in Will's jacket pocket and hung the jacket on the rack. "There -- it's out of sight. And we'll pretend we never saw it."

"Good," she said, blowing out a breath.

"Can I ask why you're so rattled? I thought you and Will were happy together." Her gaze narrowed thoughtfully. "Don't you want Will to propose? I thought you two were getting along really well."

"I haven't thought about it. It's all about work for me right now. And I thought it was for him, too."

"Oh, I don't think so, Adrianna. Will isn't as driven as you are, but then nobody is." Lindsay gave her a soft smile. "I'm going to go. I have a late date. It's Jack – as in Jack who gives me a heart attack because he's so hot."

"Lucky you," she said, thrilled that the conversation was no longer about her.

"Call me tomorrow. I want to know what happens with the ring."

As Lindsay left the break room, Adrianna stared at Will's jacket for a long moment. Maybe it wasn't what she thought. Perhaps the ring belonged to someone else. He might be holding on to it for one of his friends.

Despite her rationalization, there was still a gnawing feeling in the pit of her stomach. Will had always been the one after her, the one pushing for more. But he also knew her better than anyone else, so he had to know she wasn't ready.

With a sigh, she grabbed her own coat and bag and returned to the kitchen. The room was empty. Everyone had left, except for Will, who was staring at his phone with an odd expression on his face.

"Everything okay?" she asked.

He looked up and nodded, but his gaze was distant, as if he were thinking about something else.

"Are you sure?" she prodded.

"I need to talk to you, Adrianna."