Say You'll Never Love Me (33 page)

Man, she got that right.

Two of Cups
works in your favor because it shows opposites recognizing a bond and seeing commonalities. Twos are numbers of balance and finding common ground. A definite attraction and if you overcome the
Two of Swords,
she will listen to her heart instead of logic.

Eight of Coins
points to slow and steady progress, paying attention to detail, being dedicated to a task and making an effort. You can’t push and expect her to realize she loves you or you belong together. You must be patient. Gradually show her you may have a different belief system, but yet have much in common, and much to teach each other.

At least he’d done something right. He’d not pushed. Taken things slow. But patience was wearing thin because time was running out. As soon as the custody case ended, she’d leave. For all he knew, she was packing now.

Lovers Card
shows a bond, connection, feeling love and getting closer. Also, since it comes after the hard work of the
Eight of coins,
it shows there is a payoff here.

He wasn’t so sure about a payoff unless he changed her idea about happy endings. But according to her own prediction, he shouldn’t give up. And he wouldn’t. They belonged together. No doubt.

If he owned up to the bogus request, it would force her to admit it, too. Or she’d claim the reading skewed because it didn’t pertain to him. But it did. The information he’d provided was real. As sharp as she was, he expected her to be suspicious. Even call and confront him, but she hadn’t.

Maybe she liked her lifestyle so much, no matter what the cards showed, it wouldn’t be enough to change her. He’d given his best argument, and she’d still not come around. Beyond the phony inquiry, he didn’t have a plan. He’d made it clear the next move had to be hers, but it’d been days and his resolve was fading.

All the speculation gave him a headache. Just as he’d done a dozen times, he picked up his cell phone and scrolled to her name but couldn’t bring himself to call.

Out on the street, a flash of yellow caught his eye. A taxi stopped at the end of his drive, and when the door opened, Raynie emerged. His heart went into overdrive.
Calm down. Deep breaths.
Stay cool.
Not possible, because he was so glad to see her. Why was she in a taxi? Unsteady, she staggered, then continued up the walk. Was she drunk?

He’d let her push the buzzer twice before he answered. Didn’t want to seem eager. She’d figured out his little hoax and came to give him a piece of her mind. He waited. Counted. Steeled his shoulders and swung the door wide.

Before he could speak, she stepped inside and lit into him. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

Oh crap.
“I know it was wrong to send for a reading, but you have to admit even the cards say there’s something between us.”

She blinked as if confused.

“That’s why you’re here, right? The phony request?”

“It was you!” She moved closer. Placed her palms on his chest and clutched his shirt. “Those damn cards kept coming up the same. How does that happen? It doesn’t. That’s freaky.” She yanked him nearer and pressed her lips to his.

He slid his hand to the back of her neck and held her in place while he deepened the kiss, tasting whiskey. She
was
drunk, but he didn’t care. She was in his arms and that’s all that mattered.

She broke the connection and stared at her two hands still clasped around fabric. “You like this shirt?”

“I guess. Why?”

“Because I want it off.” She jerked, buttons flew in every direction, exposing bare chest. She buried her face against his sternum and spoke. “Maybe chapters are all we have. Just one here and one there. I’m a terrible guardian. I let Silbie stay over with a friend on a school night.”

She planted a kiss on his tattoo then licked him there. “Hmm, you smell good enough to eat. Nella should have used that line. Or should I say Allen because Nella is Allen. In the story, Charlotte is Charlotte, and Allen is Allen, but Nella, who’s really Allen, wrote the book.”

Her sweet mouth pressed against him ignited a fire that quickly moved south. “Okay. I’m having trouble following this conversation, but I like where it’s headed.”

She pulled away and paced, waving her hands in the air as she ranted. “I mean, you’re not Allen and I’m not Charlotte, but he reminds me of an older you. I’m nothing like her. She was normal and bought in to all that mushy romance stuff.”

He wanted to ask who Allen and Charlotte were but decided he’d be better off to let her keep going. She seemed to be working things out, so an interruption might not go in his favor. Besides, that Eight of Coins card said patience was in order.

She thrust a finger at him. “You’re a sneaky man. You and your picnics and sunflowers and prairie dogs and chocolate chip cookies.” She advanced, wobbled, then grabbed the waist of his pants to steady herself, and worked the button.

He started to help, but didn’t. She was on a roll, so he’d let this play out.

“Be still. You have a bad habit of starting and not finishing. You get me all worked up and then walk out. Well, not today.”

He stepped away. “Not a good idea. You’re drunk and I don’t want you to claim it was the alcohol talking.”

“You said to let you know when I decided what I wanted, so here I am. I’ve decided.”

“What? That you want to have sex? That’s not what I was talking about and you know it.”

“Get a pen and paper. I’ll spell it out for you.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes! Now do it! I’ve got to sit down a minute.”

She collapsed onto a stool, put her arm on the counter. “Number one.”

“Wait, I don’t have a pen yet.” He rummaged in a drawer, found a pencil, and wrote the first number. “Now I’m ready.”

“Number one,” she repeated. “I want you. Number two.” She hesitated as if gathering her thoughts. “Oh yeah. The Collin’s dropped the lawsuit. Number three. I want you.”

He jerked his head up. Damn, she was free to leave. Maybe that was what this visit was about.

Goodbye sex. “So you get to keep Silbie?”

“Yes. Number three. I want you.”

“I already have that at number one. Should I move it to number three?”

She pursed her lips. Narrowed her eyes. “No, that’s okay. It bears repeating. Number five.”

He held fingers in the air and wiggled them. “Four. We’re at number four.”

“Oh, okay.” She straightened and attempted to rest her chin in hand, it slid off, but with a second try, she landed it. “I sold my shop and I’m staying here. Should that all be the same number or two?”

“Wait. You’re not leaving?”

“Nope. I mean, yep. I don’t know which answer works with that. No, I’m not leaving or yes, I’m not leaving. Which is it? Anyway, I’m staying.”

“Five. This is the best one. I’m not going to make you say you’ll never love me.”

He crossed his arms over his chest. It was wrong for him to make her suffer, but she deserved it for what she’d put him through. Besides, he’d practiced this moment in his head a hundred times. “Not necessary. Now that I’ve had time to think about it, I can say it and mean it.”

Her mouth dropped open, but she didn’t speak. Tears rolled down her cheeks. Then she leaned forward and cried. “I waited too long. I keep making terrible mistakes. I don’t deserve to be happy. That’s why I’m not and never will be.”

“Raynie, look at me.”

She bit her bottom lip and gazed up at him. “No, it’s okay. I understand. I was right all along. We’re not meant to be together. The cards said so, but they were wrong.” She stood. Placed her hand on the counter to steady herself. “I should go. I’m sorry . . .”

He stepped closer. “Rosebud, hush and listen. I’ll never love you . . . less, only more . . . each day for as long as I live.”

She blinked and placed a hand to her head. “What?”

“I said I love you. I don’t know when it happened, but it did, and I think you love me, too, but you’re just too damn stubborn to admit it.”

She vaulted into his arms. “No. I’ll admit it. I love you. I’ve been miserable without you. I want happily-ever-after. I want it with you.”

He held her tighter. “Did you just propose?”

She jerked away and blinked again. “Yes. No. Yes.”

He smiled and remembered the moment he fell in love with her. “Is it multiple choice?”

RAYNIE STOOD AT
the end of the aisle and took it all in. Jared put his hand over his heart as if to keep it in his chest. She’d chosen an untraditional dress. Blush in place of white. A sleeveless silhouette with a blossoming hem, hand embroidered roses and vines, plunging V-neckline, and revealing back to show off the tattoo he loved so much. The way he was looking at her made her bare toes curls into the carpet.

His parents sitting on one side and hers on the other, looked . . . normal. The housewife and the architect. The nudist with the young husband. And the marijuana farmer on Raynie’s arm.

Turned out, her fear of not fitting into Jared’s family had been a waste of time. She and Maggie formed a fast friendship. Elizabeth and John loved Silbie, and Jared’s mother had told Raynie she’d never seen Jared happier.

Nobody could ask for a more perfect August day. Fluffy clouds danced across a crystal blue sky, while a slight breeze stirred enough to carry the scent of flowers, but not a speck of dust.

Best friend, Quinn was radiant. Pregnancy agreed with her. Molly slept on her dad’s shoulder, and Dak looked miserable. Weddings weren’t his thing, but he’d do whatever it took to keep Quinn happy.

Mr. Remmus winked. He’d gotten his muse back and started a new book. Ironically, the characters met in a church parking lot. Raynie couldn’t wait to read it.

St. Paul’s Episcopal Chapel had been the natural choice for the ceremony and had never looked more beautiful. The minister had said as much.

Filled with roses, greenery, and baby’s breath, white wicker pockets hung from each pew. Staggered columns held massive baskets of leafy ferns, flanked by candelabrum. Urns mixed with pink roses, white lilies, and sunflowers sat on either side.

Raynie wore her hair the same as the first time Jared saw her, but had intertwined fresh flowers. He’d told her it was the odd hairdo that had taken his breath. Any woman with that many styles going on at the same time had to be the most interesting he’d ever met.

She’d never seen him more handsome. His dark hair and blue eyes a sharp contrast against the gray tuxedo. Next to him, the angel in her life, Silbie.

Tears rimmed Raynie’s eyes. Waiting at the end of the aisle before her, stood the first chapter of her happily-ever-after. And she finally believed it possible.

Award winning and Amazon Best-Selling author, Ann Everett embraces her small town upbringing and thinks Texans are some of the funniest people on earth. When speaking to writing groups, businesses, book clubs, and non-profit organizations, she incorporates her special brand of wit, making her programs on marketing, self-publishing, and the benefits of laughter, informative and fun.

She lives on a small lake in Northeast Texas where she writes, bakes, and fights her addiction to Diet Dr. Peppers.

Ten more things about Ann

She’s been married to the same man since dirt, but introduces him as her “current” husband.

She loves shopping at thrift stores, because nobody loves a bargain more than she does.

She doesn’t remember her first kiss. Maybe hypnosis would help.

She hates talking on the telephone . . . so don’t call.

A really sharp pencil makes her happy . . . part of her OCD.

She secretly wants to get a tattoo. Shh . . . don’t tell anyone.

A charter member of National Honor Society in high school remains one of her proudest moments. . . . she still can’t figure out how that happened.

She’s thankful wrinkles aren’t painful.

She sucks at math.

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