The Bluebird Bet Read online

  Elaine had been sitting on the dock for days, trying to solve this problem. Having Wanda Blankenship deliver it to her in the bathroom of the Tall Pines art gallery took some adjustment. “Wanda, you’ve just saved my life. Or my sanity anyway.”

  Wanda nodded and yanked open the door to usher Elaine out.

  The crowd faded as Elaine worked her way across the gallery, her eyes locked on Dean. She was so proud of him. He may have thought he’d been admitting to weakness, but what he’d done tonight showed just how strong he was.

  “Yeah, she’s got a hold on the demo everywhere but the kitchen,” Nick said, “but we’ll have to start next week. Can’t put it off much longer. Maybe the work will distract me from my heartbreak over postponing the marina.” Nick sipped his drink. Andi must have given him a look because he said, “What? What did I say?”

  “I wasn’t sure what I was waiting for, but now I know,” Elaine said and forced herself to hold her ground as the men turned to stare at her. “Dean, I need your help with one more project. Can you come out tomorrow?”

  “I’d like that,” Dean said and glowered at the circle surrounding them, sending a clear “beat it” message. “What’s the hold up? Trouble at the bank?”

  Elaine shrugged. “I couldn’t quite get over the feeling that...” She took a deep breath. “Well, I was afraid the wrong person won.” She pinched her nose when the sting of tears returned. “I didn’t want to do anything that can’t be undone. Not yet. But now I know exactly how to fix this.”

  Dean wrapped his hand around hers and pulled her to the corner. The whole room was still watching them, but it felt less exposed.

  “What are you talking about?” Dean rested both hands on her shoulders. “You won because you have a solid plan, one that will attract families, all types of families.” He snorted. “I was building my own clubhouse.”

  “How could you leave?” Elaine tangled her fingers together. “Never mind. I didn’t mean to say that.” Before he could answer, she said, “No, yes, I did. Why didn’t you stay when I asked you to?” She shrugged off his hands. “I needed you to stay.”

  “And I needed some space. Just to figure out...” His gusty sigh made her realize she couldn’t hear another trickle of conversation from anyone else. She checked over her shoulder and watched the frontline of the crowd spin around as though there was no way they’d been watching.

  “I had to make sure this decision was going to stick,” Dean said. “I needed to figure out who I was going to be now that I’m home.”

  “I should have dropped out of the competition.” Elaine squeezed her hands together. “My practice here is enough, and I want you to stay.”

  Dean narrowed his eyes and then slowly said, “You... You would give up? You’re going to...give me a pity win? Forfeit the game?”

  “No, not now. What I have is even better, but I need you to stay. I need to know you’re safe. I want you to have the dock when you need it. I only want...” You to be happy. She couldn’t say it, but she had the feeling he understood anyway. “Please. Meet me on the dock tomorrow.”

  Ignoring the crowd, he bent and pressed a kiss against her lips. She had to smile at the low “aww” that swept through the crowd.

  And for the first time since he’d walked away, she was certain. The upsetting confusion was gone. She was going to get everything she wanted.

  * * *

  DEAN PARKED NEXT to the giant tree in front of the Bluebird, Elaine’s car in what he’d started to think of as her usual spot. He slid out and studied the building for a minute, happy it looked just as beautiful as it always did in his memories.

  He owed that to Elaine.

  She didn’t call him or turn, but he could see her standing at the end of the dock and the anxiety—the tension that had started to fray his nerves the minute she’d asked him to stay and he’d left—finally settled. Dean slowly walked to meet her.

  “First, I want to apologize,” Dean said as he sat next to her. “I should have explained that I just needed time. I always intended to come back, but I wanted to have myself together. That’s been my struggle all along.”

  Elaine held out a small binder. “As grand gestures go, beginning with an art show and ending with a kiss was impressive.” Then she smiled. “It’s nice to know you have the romantic gesture in you, but a phone call would have worked just as well.”

  “Not for me. The biggest mistakes deserve the best apologies.” He bumped her shoulder. “In case you missed it, I’m extremely sorry I reacted the same way I always have when things are overwhelming. All I need is this spot. And you.”

  She nodded. “It’s nice to hear that as I have a solid business proposal for you, one I wouldn’t trust to just anyone. No, the partner I want has to love the Bluebird. And if he decides to skip town, I will ask Jackie for his attorney recommendation.” She narrowed her eyes at him, but her lips were twitching. He took the binder she was holding.

  “Why do I have a feeling that I’m about to lose another race I didn’t know we were running?” He slowly opened the binder. On the front was a picture of the cove with a drawing of a beautiful marina. It was nothing like the bare bones one he’d proposed.

  The building itself was split in two parts, one next to the boat slips with gas pumps out front and a small window for sales. The other side, the one facing the lake, had walls of giant windows. “Is this a restaurant?” He thought he could see a few tables on the drawing.

  “Yes. Or a grill. Whatever you think is best.” Elaine trailed her feet through the water.

  “So this is your plan for next year?” Dean turned the pages and studied her information. Her outline was sketchier than the forecast he’d pulled together, but she’d included bids from Nick.

  “Or this year. Whenever you can get it done.” She shrugged. “I’ll handle the inn. You work on the marina.” She turned her head to look at him. “Together, we’re going to build an amazing place.”

  Dean looked out over the cove while he considered her plan. Moving it out would cost more, but the view in front would remain almost untouched. He’d have to work with his father over the details of who would own that land, but the location was better. The business would be brisker. And she was absolutely right.

  When he turned to say so, she just nodded. “I know. Brilliant, right? I can’t help it. It just comes to me.” She rolled her eyes. “And Wanda Blankenship will never let me hear the end of this, especially after I smoke her in the next race.”

  He flipped slowly through the pages again. “But you could have it all. To yourself. Just like you imagined.”

  “Or I could get smarter, realize the first plan sometimes needs adjustments.” She smiled up at him. “This place, it doesn’t work without you. No matter what happens in the future, the Collins men belong here. And I need to know you’re safe. Then I can be happy.” She blinked rapidly.

  “You know what I need?” Dean brushed her curls away from her face and straightened her glasses. “Time to prove I mean what I say when I promise I’m never going to leave you. Ever. Not when you run off in the woods. Not when you beat me at a race I don’t know we’re running. Not when you work too hard or too long. Bluebird or not, I’m not leaving you. I need you, and I’m sure I always will. I was confused, forgot for a minute that home was about more than the building. I have plans. You’re in them. The Bluebird is in them. And if we can work this out, that marina is going to rock.”

  She threw her arms around his neck. “Fine, but don’t forget to schedule some time for all the climbing and hiking and death-defying stunts I’m going to hire you for. I want to do a kid’s science camp and maybe a survival skills weekend now and then. I won’t be able to do it all myself.”

  Dean frowned as he considered that. “Sure, I can see taking a small group of boys out, showing them some basics, maybe camping overnight.
”

  “Actually, I was thinking girls.” She shrugged. “But both is the right answer.”

  “There could be a lot of giggling,” Dean murmured. “I might have to charge more.”

  “Just tell the boys to keep it down,” she said and rolled her eyes. “Hailey and her friends, they’re going to show you.”

  “And you, Dr. Watson,” Dean said as he pulled her closer, “will you be joining us? I could show you how to tell north from south. Maybe keep you from getting lost.”

  “It’s a good thing I love you, Dean Collins,” Elaine murmured as she moved closer to press her lips against his. “You’ll have to remind me why when I forget.”

  Before Dean could reply, they heard a low-pitched warble. Elaine smiled and squeezed her eyes shut. “That’s a bluebird, right? They’re back. I thought I heard them earlier this week, but I wasn’t sure. What do you think did the trick?”

  “Elementary, my dear Dr. Watson.” Dean laughed as she rolled her eyes. “They came home.”

  EPILOGUE

  Six months later

  “I NEVER WOULD’VE thought my mom could have a second career as a wedding planner. Who knew she could take on bridezillas and win?” Elaine ducked behind Dean when her mother turned toward them. She’d been fussing with table settings for ages. Every guest had a full place setting. That would have to be good enough.

  “It’s scary how skilled she is at this.” Dean pulled her arms around his middle and waved cheerfully at her mother.

  “I know. It’s another ‘solid revenue stream’ or so Edna says.” She rested her forehead on his back and closed her eyes. “I think you’re right about hiring someone to help me keep track of all these streams of income. Your adventure tours. My kids’ camps. Now the wedding venue my mother has carved out of white picket fence and the new gazebo. It’s a lot.”

  Dean turned and pulled her against his chest. She straightened his pale blue tie. “You really do clean up nice.”

  He nodded. “I know.”

  “Stop standing around and grinning at each other,” her mother snapped as she trotted up the front steps. “Andi and Mark deserve a perfect wedding. Get a move on. Go make sure the cabin’s prepared.” She disappeared inside, and Dean tugged Elaine’s hand until she followed him down the steps.

  “Are we running away?” Elaine said. “Do you have the keys to the RV? Your dad will never miss it.” She laughed as she hurried to keep up with him.

  “As long as we don’t steal the boat, we’d get a sound head start, but first I want to show you something.” Elaine checked over her shoulder to be certain her mother couldn’t see them.

  “Look.” He pointed at a bright blue flower. “The morning glory seeds you planted. The vines are blooming.” He pressed a sweet kiss against her lips. “Thank you for bringing back the flowers and the birds and everything about this place that made it so special.”

  “We did it. Together.” Elaine wanted to say the right thing, but she couldn’t. He was everything she’d been looking for without realizing it.

  “You know, I think I’m going to cry.” Elaine blinked rapidly. “I don’t want to, but I am.”

  Dean straightened his tie, the one he’d been fidgeting with all day. It was his only tie, actually. Hiking, climbing, running, fishing, none of them required business attire. “All right. I have a problem we need to solve. That will help, right?”

  “I hope so.” Elaine sniffed. Dean knelt on the grass, and she almost warned him about stains but she’d been really trying to get control of her bossy voice lately. He picked up a stick like he was about to draw a diagram so she bent to see better.

  “Here’s what I’m wondering. If we run away to Vegas, will your mother change the locks? Lead a mutiny against us?” He shook his head. “She’s the best wedding planner around.”

  Elaine frowned and then covered her mouth with both hands when he pulled out a diamond ring. She had to take deep breaths before she said, “Yeah, she’s good with revenge. I’m not sure I’d want to go to war with her.”

  Dean frowned. “I guess we’ll have to get married here, then. At least we know how to do it now.”

  Elaine couldn’t look away from his face as images of their future floated through her mind. They’d argue over painting and repairs and expansion. His father would fillet fish from their beautiful new gazebo. Her mother would hunt them down anytime she needed boots on the ground. They’d probably have a daughter that broke every bone in her body and a son who collected rocks in his pockets. And they’d end every day rocking on the front porch.

  She couldn’t answer him. She held out her hand.

  “So that’s a yes?” Dean slipped the ring on her finger, and the crowd that had gathered behind them, no doubt marshaled by her mother, erupted in cheers. Edna was there with pink hair to match her pink floral dress. Sue and all the Shady Ladies watched from the front porch. Elaine could hear Andi cheering from the second-floor window.

  “Now then, let’s race to the cabin. Want to? I’ll even let you win.”

  Elaine was laughing too hard to see as she ran behind him, trusting him to get them where they needed to be.

  * * * * *

  You’re always welcome in the town of Tall Pines! Don’t miss A MINUTE ON THE LIPS, the first book in Cheryl Harper’s WELCOME TO TALL PINES miniseries, available now!

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  ISBN-13: 9781460378991

  The Bluebird Bet

  Copyright © 2015 by Cheryl Harper

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  This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously, and any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, business establishments, events or locales is entirely coincidental. This edition published by arrangement with Harlequin Books S.A.

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