The Perfect Indulgence (18 page)

“Of course I am.” He took her into his arms. She resisted firmly—for about one thousandth of a second. “It’s just what I do.”

“Humph.”

“Thank you for your apology, but it was completely unnecessary. All you’ve done as far as I’m concerned is remind me that the world was not put here for my amusement. And I want you to know that I know that. In fact, I’ve been doing a lot of thinking.”

“Ooh, gosh, that must hurt.”

He gave her the look she deserved. “Here’s what I’m thinking. You and Zac are both going to school in the fall. After my grades at UConn the last semester, I have no idea what kind of place would take me, but by then I’ll be ready to try.”

Summer smiled so wide her mouth hurt, and it still didn’t feel wide enough. “Oh, Luke, that’s wonderful. As long as it’s really what you want.”

“It is. But wait, there’s more. With Zac gone, that means there will be an empty bedroom here. It makes no sense for you to be sleeping in a living room. If you and I are still able to stand each other in September, I think you should live here, rent-free.”

She gaped at him, her mind spinning. Part of her wanted to jump at the chance to save that much money; the other was immediately rejecting the idea of accepting charity. “Luke, you can’t—”

“Actually, I can. And Zac thinks it’s a great idea, too.”

She stared at him, bewildered by the depth of his generosity to a woman he considered just a friend.

And then her brain came up with another possibility.

“Are you asking me to move in with you?”

“Yes. Either as friends. Or...” He took in a long breath. “The truth is, I want to be the guy you’ve always fantasized about. Because you’re that for me.”

Giddy with joy, somehow Summer managed to make herself look horrified. “Your fantasy is that I’m a
guy
?”

“Summer.”
He faked outrage, tightening his arms around her. “That was really hard to do, and now you’re making fun of me?”

“Of course I am.” She reached up on tiptoe to kiss him, and the kisses were as warm and wonderful and sweet as she remembered, only this time there was no fear that Luke Arnette would be trouble. Deep down in her soul she sensed that he was the man for her. Forever.

“It’s just what I do.”

15

T
HE
V
ALENTINE
’
S
D
AY
event at Slow Pour was turning out to be a smash. Almost. The morning’s cloudy skies had cleared to brilliant blue. The tent outside was crowded, and people even spilled onto the sidewalk, sipping coffee and eating pastries, trusting that if any proposals happened they’d be able to see.

Two local papers were there, and a
USA Today
reporter, in the area for a story on Central Coast wines, had stopped by to check out the scene and have a tall latte with a heart-shaped peanut-butter brownie. Four photographers and hundreds of cell phones were at the ready. The red carpet stood empty in the middle of the tent, where Chris had laid it that morning.

All they needed was the first proposal.

It was early yet—the event had only been on for an hour, and they had two more to go. She wasn’t panicking.

Zac wasn’t there. She hadn’t really expected him to be. Their talk late last night had been really hard on both of them, but Chris still felt strongly that she’d made the right decision. Every time she wavered, she remembered what he’d said on the drive up to Jackie’s friend’s house—if he had serious feelings about a woman, nothing would stop him from trying for forever.

Apparently she’d stopped him.

“Hey, Chris.” Eva tapped her on the shoulder. Today she had on red leggings and red ankle boots with a pink shirt covered in red-and-white polka dots. Heart-shaped pins held up her wavy blond hair. Trust Eva to have more than one outfit suitable for Valentine’s Day. “Jinx said the event at NYEspresso is going really well. The pastry-chef thing got great buzz and people are flocking to the café. I admit, I’m glad I’m here, though. This is totally exciting.”

“Any chance you can get Ames to propose and start things off?”

She snorted. “
That’s
not going to happen. Totally not his style to make it a public event. But you’re right, it would be perfect. Getting engaged at my own shop? I’d love that.”

Her shop. Ames was starting his new job two weeks from Monday. Eva was flying back to New York tomorrow to pack up her stuff and help Ames pack his, and then she was coming back for good. She wanted to put her house in Carmia on the market and start looking for a place for the two of them right away.

Chris would have to start packing soon.

The crowd noise swelled into a roar of approval. Chris craned her neck toward the center of the tent. Was someone proposing?

Yes!

“Eva.” She grabbed her twin’s arm. “Man on the carpet! Come on, let’s go.”

Eva squealed with excitement. “Awesome! You’ve done it!”

They pushed their way to a spot with a good view, since she and Eva would be in charge of handing out the free coffee certificates. The beaming couple in the center of the carpet was instantly familiar.

“Gus and Pammy!” Chris thumped a hand to her chest. “Oh, my gosh!”

“Already? You have got to be kidding me.” Eva’s voice sounded in her ear. “Didn’t they just meet?”

Chris nodded, totally enchanted. Gus was on both knees, hands clasped over Pammy’s, his eyes glowing with love. The crowd quieted.

“Pammy, you are the sunshine of my life. You give me hope to carry on. You are the wind beneath my waves. I love you. Will you marry me?”

“Oh, yes, Gus. Oh, my gosh, yes.” Pammy had her hands to her face, tears sliding over her fingers.

“All right!” Gus got to his feet, pulled her up and dipped her, kissing her as if it was the last thing he’d be allowed to do on earth. Cameras and flashes went off all around. The crowd erupted into cheers.

Chris clapped and yelled along with everyone else, brushing away her own tears. The way Gus had looked at Pammy... Oh, boy.

She’d better give them the certificates right away or she was going to start sobbing.

Stepping onto the carpet, she held up her hand for the crowd to quiet down. “Gus and Pammy, congratulations! Eva and I and all the staff at Slow Pour wish you a long and happy marriage. This certificate is good for one free coffee for each of you every day for a year.”

The crowd applauded again. Chris hugged Pammy and then Gus, who picked her up off the ground and swung her around until she feared she was going to lose her lunch.

“Thanks, Chris.” He put her down, looking so happy and so handsome she got choked up all over again. “Neither of us drinks coffee. I just really wanted to ask Pammy to marry me.”

“How about a year of free Suja Juice?”

“Whoa!” He nodded and raised his hand for a high five. “Excellent.”

Chris grinned and gave his hand a resounding smack. “You go, dude.”

“By the way, Bodie called me finally. He’s fine. He said he just got tied up. I think I’ll—”

“Gus!” Eva launched herself at him. “Congratulations!”

“Thanks, coffee lady.”

Eva congratulated Pammy, then the happy couple made their way into the crowd to accept backslaps and high fives from friends and strangers alike.

Chris stood watching them, giving in to a shuddering sigh and a little sniff.

Eva gave her a strange look. “Since when have you been such a romantic?”

“Me?” She shrugged.
Since I met Zac.
“I don’t know. I’m just emotional these days.”

“Uh-huh.” Eva nodded sagely, tapping her finger on her chin. “Do we know why?”

“Yeah, we do.” She gave her twin a sad smile.

“And what does that tell you about—”

“Hey, ladies.” Ames joined them, looking handsome in a crisp blue shirt and khakis. He slipped his arm around Eva, who lit up like a Christmas tree. “Wasn’t that great? You got one.”

“It was fabulous. I hope they make it.” Eva put her arm around Ames and gave him a squeeze. Her face changed. “Ow. What is that? You have something sharp in your pocket.”

“Oh, yeah?” He winked at Chris, who smiled politely, having no idea what was cute and mysterious about jabbing your girlfriend. “What do you think that’s about?”

“
I
don’t know. It’s
your
pocket.” Eva moved away and swatted at a square bulge in his pants.

“Let me see.” He rummaged around, then with a flourish, pulled out a black velvet box. “Oh, hey, yeah, I wondered where that went.”

Eva gasped. “Ames!”

“Man on the carpet!” Chris could barely get the words out. Her sister was about to get engaged! She was bursting with happiness.

Ames knelt. Eva immediately sank down with him and they joined hands, gazing rapturously at each other. A soft
ooh
spread over the crowd before it quieted into electric anticipation.

“Eva, you have brought so much joy and laughter to my life.”

“You know we already get free coffee?” Eva’s eyes were sparking equal parts mischief and joy.

“Wait, really? Jeez, what am I doing here?” The crowd laughed. Ames waited, gazing at Eva, who was gazing back at him, their expressions so full of love that Chris started bawling again. They were going to be happy forever. She wasn’t going to be able to take much more of this. At least she’d been smart enough to wear waterproof mascara.

Gradually the crowd settled again.

“Eva Meyer, love of my life, will you marry me?”

“Yes, yes and yes, Ames Cooke. I can’t think of anything I’d rather do.”

More cheers, more excitement, more clicking cameras aimed at the kissing couple.

“Hey, Chris, are you okay?” A slender arm enveloped Chris in a fierce hug.

“Aw, Summer, thanks.” Chris wiped her tears, glad to see Luke standing next to Summer. The two of them looked happy and right together. “This is really perfect. And a bit brutal.”

“I know, it really must be. But you’ve done so much for Slow Pour today and for Carmia, too. We’re going to miss you.
I’m
going to miss you.”

“No, stop!” Chris was half laughing, half crying. “Please, have mercy on the tear ducts.”

“It’s going great.” Luke nodded, smiling crookedly. “I’m sorry I couldn’t get Zac to come by. He said he had stuff to do.”

“Oh.” She nodded. “I understand.”

All too well. He didn’t want to see her. And with her emotions set on ultraturmoil right now, she didn’t think she could handle seeing him, either. She wasn’t even sure she could make it through the rest of this event.

She did. By the time darkness fell, two more proposals had been made and accepted, and finally the last of the stragglers had gone home. Chris had sent Ames and Eva off to celebrate. Ames’s plans included a fancy dinner in San Luis Obispo and spending the night at an incredible resort hotel on a cliff overlooking the ocean.

Chris, Summer and Luke had cleaned up and put away everything but the tent and the red carpet. The rental company would come pick up the tent on Monday. The red carpet Chris had decided to leave as a temporary tribute to the four couples who had committed to each other here today. When word got around she expected people who had missed the event would come by to gawk.

“Thanks, guys. Go home. You’ve been fabulous. I’m going to do one last check inside.”

“Okay.” Summer hugged her long and hard. “Luke and I are going to hang out at my house, make dinner and watch TV. You’re welcome to come over.”

Chris smiled.
Oh, Lord.
The offer was incredibly sweet, but it meant she’d become the single woman everyone felt sorry for. “Thanks, but I’m exhausted. I’ll be fine at home.”

Eva’s home. Chris’s home was thousands of miles away, and she suddenly missed it something fierce.

Almost as much as she missed Zac.

“If you’re sure.” Summer hugged her again. “If you change your mind, just call. Seriously, we’ll just be hanging out.”

“Thanks, Summer.” The back of Chris’s head was aching from forcing so many smiles. She just wanted to curl up alone on the couch and cry herself into puffy-faced hideousness. Then, phoenix from the ashes, she’d rise up again and be okay.

That was the plan, anyway.

After Summer and Luke left, she went back into Slow Pour for her purse, lingering by the table where she’d first met Zac back in October, and had been both strongly attracted and strongly annoyed by everything he did. He’d practically bullied her into taking a walk to the beach that day, showing her the special peaceful place on the cliff where she’d been so many times since to meditate. From that first meeting he’d seen what she needed and tried to give it to her.

To repay him, she’d fought or denied her true feelings, bristled whenever he spoke to her, and once she started to understand and change, she’d given all the credit to herself and the Peace, Love and Joy Center.

She owed him so much. Before she left, she’d make sure to speak with him and let him know how much his support had meant to her.

How much
he
meant to her?

Chris closed her eyes. She wasn’t going there. What was the point?

She opened the office, got out her purse and did the final check on the store before turning the sign to Closed and locking up. Outside, she wandered over to the tent, dimly lit by nearby streetlights. The red carpet beckoned her. She stood next to it, reliving the special, intimate moments the four couples had shared with Slow Pour and with Carmia.

The deep ache in her chest intensified. She lowered her head, feeling tears coming again. Again! This was getting to be a habit, and would continue, she suspected, until she was back home once again and could immerse herself in the crazy hustle of New York and her business.

“Chris.”

Her head jerked up and her heart took off.
Zac.

He ducked under the roof flap of the tent and walked toward her, stopping on the other side of the carpet, hands on his hips, looking big and solid and absolutely wonderful. “I’m sorry I missed your event.”

“Oh, that’s...” She had to clear her throat. “That’s okay. It was great, though. Four couples got engaged.”

“Yeah, Luke texted me. He told me about Eva and Ames. And Gus. That’s great.” He nodded. Nodded again.

Oh, Zac.
Chris felt as if she was going to explode from all the feelings fighting inside her.

A sudden breeze blew through the tent, bringing the cool, damp smell of incoming fog. Apparently the clear skies weren’t going to last much longer.

“I wanted to talk to you, Chris.” He was calm, as usual, watching her intently. She’d come to love both of those things about him. “I figured if I showed up earlier you’d be a little busy.”

“Just a bit.” She wrapped her arms around herself, bracing for another draining conversation.

“In all the time we’ve been together, you’ve been searching for ways to be as emotionally honest with yourself as possible.” His voice cracked. “But I haven’t been emotionally honest with you.”

“Oh.” Her head sagged back down toward her chest.
No more, no more.
No more emotions today. No more complications. She felt as fragile and doomed as a soap bubble heading for a rosebush.

Pop. The end.

Zac’s feet took a step forward, to the edge of the carpet.

“Zac...”

“I love you.”

Chris’s head rose. Her eyes widened. Her lips parted. Had she just heard him say what she’d just heard him say?

He was looking at her tenderly, his blue eyes warm, his face solemn and incredibly sweet. “I love you, Chris. I’ve known for a long time. I should have told you before.”

She needed to say something. But what? How would this change anything? What if she—

Shut up, Chris.

“I love you, too, Zac.”

It was so simple.

The second the words were out of her mouth, she felt as if ten tons of misery lifted off her shoulders and shot straight up and exploded into fireworks, lighting the sky with stars of blazing color.

Yes, she was getting the hang of this romantic thing.

It took about half a second for her and Zac to cross the carpet and find each other in the middle. A fraction of that time for their arms to encircle one another, for their mouths to meet.

The fireworks were still exploding, but this time inside her head and inside her heart.

“Zac.” She couldn’t stop kissing him. The Carmia public-works department would find them still like this in the morning.