Playing for Keeps (32 page)

“As a matter of fact, the horses are being held,” Noah said with a slow grin.

Olivia looked beyond him to the shiny white horse-drawn carriage waiting at the curb. “Where did you manage to get that?” she asked in a breathless voice, then realized that he was standing there looking positively delicious in a jet-black tux.

He shrugged his wide shoulders. “It was a pumpkin until just a few minutes ago. And that dude driving it was a mouse.”

“Of course it was.” She laughed softly. “So, you must be Prince Charming?”

He presented her with a deep bow. “I am the prince of Cricket Creek,” he announced in a deep voice that sent a hot shiver down her spine. He had a pink corsage in one hand and a yellow flip-flop in his other hand. “And I am here to see if this fits.”

“Have you tried everyone else in Cricket Creek?”

“I have. You are my last hope, although Mabel tried really hard to squeeze her foot in,” he answered with a grin. “May I come in?”

Olivia nodded. “You may.” She stepped back and allowed him to enter. When she got a whiff of his spicy aftershave she nearly swooned.

“Have a seat for me, please.”

Olivia gratefully sat down on the sofa, as her legs were about to give way. Her heart pounded when Noah knelt in front of her and gently took her foot in his hand. He eased the silver sandal off and then slipped the yellow flip-flop on.

“A perfect fit,” he announced and then looked up into her eyes. “I just knew it. So you have the other one?”

“Yes. Do you want me to wear them tonight?” Olivia’s heart was pounding so hard that she thought surely her teardrop necklace must be bouncing off her chest.

Noah shook his head slowly. “No,” he said. He reached inside his tux jacket, pulled out an envelope, and handed it to her. “This is where I want you to wear the flip-flops.”

Olivia opened the envelope with trembling fingers and then her eyes widened. “Hawaii?”

“I thought we would need some postplay recovery. Are you interested?” he asked and looked at her with such hope in his eyes that it touched her heart.

“Yes,” she answered softly.

“Excellent,” he said with a huge smile. “But first we have a ball to attend.” After he took the flip-flop off, he slipped the sandal back onto her foot and then reached for the cluster of tiny pink rosebuds accented with white baby’s breath and silver ribbon. “Your wrist, please.”

“Certainly.” Olivia smiled as she extended her arm and wondered when she was going to wake up from this dream.

Noah slid the corsage over her hand and up to her wrist. When his fingers brushed against her skin she felt a flutter in her stomach.

“Noah . . . I’m sorry that—” she began, but he put a fingertip to her lips.

“Livie, it’s okay,” he assured her, and when she shook her head in protest, he said, “No,
really
.” He rubbed his thumb across her bottom lip and looked into her eyes. “Hey, listen,” he continued softly, “you’ve always been about everyone else’s needs and feelings. Your father. Your students. This town. But tonight?” He stopped as if trying to gather his emotions.

“Yes?”

Noah took her hands in his. “Tonight, my beautiful princess, it’s all about you.” He tugged her gently to her feet and pulled her into his arms. After kissing her softly, he said, “I love you, Olivia.”

“Oh, Noah, I love you too.” She put her palms on either side of his cheeks. “And I will go anywhere with you. New York . . . the ends of the earth. It doesn’t matter. As long as I’m with you.”

Noah leaned in and rested his forehead against hers. His shoulders moved up and down and she knew he was gathering his emotions. Finally, he pulled back and looked at her. “It means the world to me that you said that, Livie. But you won’t have to leave Cricket Creek. I still have a few more surprises up my sleeve tonight. Are you ready?”

She gave him a soft, lingering kiss and then nodded. “I am ready.”

But before they headed out the door he took a step back and swept his gaze over her from head to toe. “You take my breath away in that dress.”

“And you are absolutely stunning in that tux, Noah Falcon.” She looked at the midnight blue piping on his shirt and the matching handkerchief tucked in his pocket. “You knew about the dress?” she asked and then raised her eyebrows. “Wait—you planned this entire thing, didn’t you?”

“I had lots of help.”

“Lots? Let me guess . . . Chrissie, Jackie, and Allie. Oh, and Madison! She set me up too.”

He nodded slowly. “Um, but you set her up, remember? Guess it was payback.” He gave her a sideways glance. “And I do have to admit to doing a bit of matchmaking of my own,” he boasted, rocking back on his heels.

“Really?” Her eyebrows shot up. “Who?”

He crooked his elbow in invitation. “Come with me, Princess, and find out.”

Olivia tucked her arm through his and they headed out the door to the awaiting carriage. But instead of going straight down the road to the high school, they took a scenic ride around town. She really did feel like royalty . . . well, Cricket Creek royalty anyway. People everywhere stopped and waved, prompting Olivia to ask, “Was I the only one in town who was in the dark about this?”

“Yep, that’s a pretty safe bet. Good thing we had to put this together so quickly or I’m sure you would have found out, being the busybody that you are.” Olivia laughed, but he looked at her with suddenly serious eyes. “This town loves you to pieces, Livie. Everybody jumped on the bandwagon.”

“Bless their hearts!” She swallowed hard. “I told you Cricket Creek is a town worth saving,” she added in a husky voice.

“And that’s what we’re going to do.”

“How?” Her eyes widened. “With the baseball complex?”

“Just sit back and let the evening unfold.”

Olivia smiled and tucked her arm through his. “Okay,” she answered and she truly felt like a fairy tale princess as they
clip-clop
ped through town. Finally, just as the sun was setting, they ended up in front of the gym entrance at the school. Noah helped her down and then tipped the driver.

As they strolled down the sidewalk to the gym doors, Olivia felt a sense of anticipation. “We’re late, so I guess everyone is inside,” she commented when no one was in sight.

“Waiting your arrival,” he replied, but then he paused at the double doors. “I do love you, Livie,” he said, but before she could reply he pushed the door open with a soft
whoosh
. . .

When they stepped inside it was pitch-black and silent.

Olivia’s heart pounded and her hand in his trembled. He gave her a reassuring squeeze. A moment later the ceiling came alive with hundreds of twinkling lights against a dark background looking like a star-filled sky. Olivia sucked in a breath and was overcome with emotion. Round tables covered in white linen with matching high-backed bow-tied chairs were squeezed together for a bigger than normal crowd. Lovely floral arrangements topped the tables, along with tiny votive candles floating in water.

And all eyes were on them!

The audience remained silent while they made their entrance, but when Noah leaned over and gave her a kiss they burst into wild applause. Olivia’s chest ached with emotion when it hit her that this had all been set up . . .
for her
. She looked out over the crowd of grinning students and then spotted a table with her father, Myra, Madison, Jason, and . . . Wait—Jessica Robinson in an evening gown next to a handsome man that she didn’t recognize. She looked up at Noah, and as if reading her mind he said close to her ear, “That’s Ty McKenna sitting next to Madison’s mother.”

“The baseball player?”

Noah nodded. “My efforts at matchmaking. I guess you’re rubbing off on me. Look!” With a big grin he pointed toward the stage, where a banner draped at the back read: CRICKET CREEK HIGH SCHOOL PROM 1996!

Olivia put a hand over her heart. “This is the prom night I never had!”

“From the fashion to the music, most of tonight will be a throwback to the nineteen nineties.” Noah pointed to the walls. “There are posters of movies and pop culture. They thought of everything.”

Olivia had to cling to his arm for support. “So much trouble for me?”

“It wasn’t trouble, Olivia.” He tilted her chin up. “More like so much love for a very deserving person.”

Olivia couldn’t keep a tear from sliding down her cheek. “I am blown away and the night has just begun.”

Noah smiled as he chased away the tear with his thumb and when she heard the collective sigh from the crowd another tear escaped. “You’re right,” he agreed as he pulled her onto the dance floor. “Olivia, this is only the beginning . . .” and she knew he wasn’t referring just to this night.

Noah led her to a microphone set up in the center of the dance floor and the lights went up. “Good evening, everyone!” he announced and his words were met with thunderous applause. “I want to thank everyone who pitched in and helped pull this off. It wasn’t easy to fool Olivia Lawson. She tends to know everything that’s going on in Cricket Creek.” He gave her a sideways wink and grinned and was caught with an elbow jab that had everyone laughing. “I know y’all are eager to eat and start dancing, but first I have a little announcement to make.” He glanced over at Ty and his grin got bigger. “Well, maybe I should say that I have a big announcement to make.”

When a hush fell over the room, Noah took Olivia’s hand but then had to pause when he was hit with an unexpected wave of emotion. Finally, he took the microphone in his hand and began.

“As most of y’all know, I came back here to my hometown when my character, Dr. Jesse Drake, was blown to smithereens on
Love in the Afternoon
. Well, the secret got out that my acting skills needed some serious sharpening, so I decided to come to Cricket Creek to try out for
Just One Thing
, the heartwarming and funny play written by our very own Madison Robinson.” He looked over to Madison and raised his palm for her to stand. When she bowed, she was met with another round of thunderous applause.

Noah grinned. “She took a chance on giving me the lead, and with the help of Olivia the two of them managed to whip me into shape. Let me tell ya, it wasn’t easy, but I am proud of our work and I’m excited that opening night is next week.” When he paused and swallowed hard, Olivia gave his hand a squeeze. “When I arrived back in town, I was so thrilled to get cookies at Grammar’s Bakery, an ice cream at the Dairy Hut, and pizza at Papa Vito’s. There are so many memories here for me . . . I could go on all night. But I was saddened to see so many businesses struggling.” He shook his head. “The marina is in trouble and the beautiful high-rise that I’m living in by the river is barely hanging on.” When the audience fell silent, he inhaled a shaky breath and then smiled while raising his fist skyward. “But y’all refuse to give up!” His declaration was met with cheers and whistles. “Myra’s Diner is being remodeled and turned into the upscale Wine and Diner. Madison’s play is sold out.”

He looked at Olivia and smiled. “Of course, I was told by someone I won’t name that if I was going to be in this play I had better take it seriously or my butt would be kicked.”

“Noah!” Olivia hissed, and when the mic picked up her voice the crowd erupted into laughter.

“I know.” Noah nodded at the crowd and then angled his head at her. “I was pretty darned scared, so I thought I’d better take saving this town a step further and build a baseball complex down by the river,” he announced and the crowd cheered like crazy. “With the help of my friend Tyler McKenna, who is here with us tonight, and Mitch Monroe, an investor friend, we hope to be breaking ground just as soon as we get through all of the permits and red tape. If all goes well—and so far it has—next summer we will have a professional baseball team in Cricket Creek, Kentucky!”

While the crowd cheered Noah looked at Olivia, who beamed back at him. The love shining in her eyes warmed him to his toes. He held up his hand for silence. “Olivia Lawson told me that this town needed saving. She said that Cricket Creek wasn’t just buildings and businesses but a community and a way of life that needs to be preserved. I couldn’t agree more!” The crowd cheered again, and he nodded to Madison, who reached under the table. When she walked toward him with a big metal sign, everyone quieted down and waited.

“Thanks, Madison,” Noah said, keeping the sign turned away from the crowd. “I’ve always been thankful for the support I’ve gotten from Cricket Creek, and when I rode into town the welcome sign reading CRICKET CREEK, KENTUCKY, BIRTHPLACE OF NOAH FALCON made me grin with pride. But I have a new sign that I want erected,” he said and after glancing at Olivia he flipped it around. “This isn’t just where I was born. This is the home of Noah Falcon! So I changed the word “birth-place” to “home.” It’s official. I’m back!”

The crowd came to their feet. Noah handed the sign back to Madison and then pulled Olivia to his side. “Now let’s get this party started!” he shouted. In the crazy cheering he didn’t notice the arrival of Chrissie, Jackie, and Allie until Chrissie reached up and took the microphone.

Chrissie bounced her palms downward. “Would y’all please have a seat? Thanks!” she said and then smiled over at Noah and Olivia. “Just a few weeks ago Mr. Noah Falcon came roaring down Main Street in that flashy red convertible of his and woke up this sleepy little town. All I can say about that is that we sure needed it!”

 

Olivia joined in the laughter, but she looked over at her father and gave him a slight nod before putting her arm around Noah and hugging him closer.

Chrissie pointed at the banner behind her. “And while we are grateful to Noah Falcon for all he has done and what he is going to do, tonight’s prom is in honor of Olivia Lawson, who has been dedicated to her profession and this town. No one works harder or cares more,” Chrissie said, and once again everyone in the entire room came to their feet.

Olivia was glad to have Noah’s strong arm around her because she was overcome with emotion. She brushed a tear away and waved to the crowd.