Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) (21 page)

The round three-layer cake, decorated in pink
fondant and embellished with piped white icing resembling delicate
lace, displayed a painter’s easel perched on top. The easel
supported an exact replica of one of Lia’s abstract paintings. Her
heart lurched. The painting had been one of her best ones from the
stolen batch.

“I received a post card from that gallery
doing your show. I reduced it and copied it onto edible film.”
Helen beamed.

“I’m awed. You’ve outdone yourself.”

Helen put the cake into a custom-made box and
set it on the counter. When Lia reached for the box, Helen grasped
her hand.

“Palm reading time.”

“Oh, no. That’s okay. I appreciate all you’ve
done. The cake is enough.”

“I didn’t listen to you when you ordered the
cake. I’m not listening to you now. Instead, I’m listening to
voices that have a message for you.”

Helen held tight to Lia’s wrist until she
relaxed and opened her fist.

“Stop human-doing and start human-being. What
you seek, you already have."

Perplexed, Lia turned the phrase over in her
head. “What does that mean?”

“I don’t know. I’m just the messenger. But if
you’re seeking something, you’re wasting your time because you
already have it. Best to figure it out what it is.”

Something in Helen’s voice shook her.
Thoughts raced through her brain like a computer processing on
overload, but no significant thought stood out. She had no idea
what Helen was talking about.

“Okay. Thanks again for the cake.” Troubled,
she quickly left the shop. When she crossed the threshold, she
vowed to tuck away all worries until tomorrow. Tonight was for fun,
and she intended to enjoy her date. However, going home and knowing
Lucas would be waiting had her spirits dancing on clouds. They
would have the talk that had been shoved aside by other pressing
things.

Yet, Helen’s words haunted her. The unsolved
puzzle would drive her crazy. Maybe Lucas could help find the
answer?

Once she and Karl set out on the final leg of
their journey to the restaurant, Lia searched for a subject of
conversation.

“I don’t mean to pry, but do you think your
time in Harvest will outlast that of your cousin?” she asked.

“He didn’t last long, did he?”

“Country life isn’t for everyone. With cold
winters, wind chills reaching well below zero, and the dry hot
summers, in excess of a hundred degrees, Kansas isn’t for the faint
of heart.”

“I assure you, I’ve got a big incentive to
make this work.”

“Something you care to share?”

“Well, first, tell me more about your friend
Zoë. That might make all the difference in the world.”

“Zoë? Hmm, let’s see. She’s funny. Full of
ideas to make money. She’s smart, but tries to hide that fact. A
good horsewoman. She used to barrel race as a kid and has
trophies.”

“Romantic interests?”

Lia raised her eyebrows and stared in Karl’s
direction. “Interesting question. That, sir, is something you’re
going to have to find out for yourself.”

Karl frowned. “I thought ladies liked to
gossip.”

“Gossip is one thing, prying into someone’s
love life—a different matter altogether.”

Karl cleared his throat. “I’m not above
gossip. Helen told me you definitely have a man in your life. If it
was me, I think I’d know. So, do you want to share?”

Lia blurted, “No. Absolutely not.”

Chapter 16

Lucas climbed up the wide wooden stairs and
scanned the ballroom. Anticipation danced a samba in his gut. He
made fists, then slowly unclenched his hands. If ever he wanted a
party to be a success, this one was it. A big
hurrah
for
Amelia. Tonight would forever remain an etched memory of
happiness.

“Lucas, glad you’re finally here. Start
lighting all the candles,” Zoë called to him while she placed
napkins on the tables. “Matches are in that bag on the side
table.”

He grabbed a box and began his assigned
task.

“Hey!” Craig called. “Get to work! You’re
late. Not much time before Amelia arrives.”

“With Karl,” Lucas muttered. “Got it
covered!” he called back.

Overhead recessed lights had been dimmed.
Strings of tiny white twinkling lights striped the walls,
illuminating the room with a magical ambiance.

Zoë had forced him and Craig to review a
decorating magazine in order to be more help with the party. She
decorated each large table with a centerpiece of miniature pink
roses, one of Amelia’s favorite flowers. Three cut-glass votive
holders surrounded a bulb-shaped flower vase. He’d voted for
cinnamon candles, but Zoë reminded him how they brought back strong
memories of Lia’s mother, and she had nixed that idea. They all
agreed sadness needed sweeping to the shadows.

Instead of cinnamon, Zoë selected coconut,
mango, and ocean fragrances. She jokingly said she hoped those
scents didn’t somehow entice Lia into a seduction she’d regret. It
took tensile-steel strength on Lucas’s part not to set her straight
about Amelia’s private life. He wanted to shout,
She’s mine
,
but he’d had a few days to think and his future with Amelia now
seemed bleak.

The hard cold facts—she would lose the farm.
Then leave him.

He’d had an idea, but needed time for further
investigation, especially after his meeting yesterday. He had one
last idea to research, but it was a long shot.

Amelia needed cash. The boxes bringing in
extra income wouldn’t last her through the end of the year. The art
show might bring in money, maybe enough to pay for the spring
planting. The only remaining income source was the harvest, which
wouldn’t net enough after the mortgage payments and expenses to buy
out Craig’s entire share of the farm.

The inevitable had only been delayed.

Amelia would have to bend to Craig’s decision
and sell.

Maybe Craig had been right all along. Amelia
belonged in a loft in the city. He’d checked into suitable places
for her and compiled a list of five with living space. He planned
to offer to studio hunt with her. Above everything else, he had to
know she was safe no matter where she lived.

Over the last few days, he’d suffered like
crazy. Grief descended on him when the reality of Amelia’s future
became clear. His heart hung down to his knees. He’d faced battle
and come out alive. However, a life without the woman he loved
would be no life at all. He even considered moving away from
Harvest after Megan graduated from college. The pain of being so
close and yet so far from Amelia would kill him. If she found
someone else to love, another artist or someone in the city, a man
like Craig wanted for her, he’d die another death.

But tonight...they would have tonight. That
would have to be enough.

Lucas walked over to the leader of the band.
“Sounds good,” he said. “Remember, I want the third song to be
When a Man Loves a Woman
.”

“Sure thing,” the guitar player said. The
drummer gave a thumbs up.

Across the room, Craig tugged on a string.
Pink and white helium-filled balloons floated upward and hugged the
ceiling. Silver stars dangled from various lengths of white ribbon,
replacing the confetti Zoë had wanted everyone to throw when Lia
arrived. The owner of the restaurant put the kibosh on that idea,
saying it made too much of a mess.

“You okay, man?” Craig asked. “You’re
dragging. Not in the party spirit?”

“Lot on my mind.”

“Amelia is going to be surprised. I look
forward to seeing happiness written on her face.”

“Me, too.” Lucas nodded, forcing a smile. “I
want her to be happy.”

After Lucas finished lighting all the
candles, he paced from the small stage to the window overlooking
the parking lot, then back again. Guests began arriving. Zoë stood
at the top of the stairs and acted as the greeting committee.

Craig stepped behind the antique bar running
the length of one wall. “Want a beer?” he called out to everyone,
hoisting bottles in each hand. “Boulevard beers. Best beer from
Kansas City.” Several of the guests headed in Craig’s
direction.

Lucas continued to pace. As he approached the
window again, he caught Zoë’s stare. She scrutinized him as though
scanning his mind to read his thoughts. Lucas bristled. Harvest
didn’t need another psychic.

“Lucas.” Zoë waved him away from the window.
He joined her, smiling and greeting the next guests ascending the
stairs to Amelia’s surprise birthday party.

“If you pace like an expectant father, she
might see you through the window. Karl said he’d text me.” Zoë
chuckled. “Karl said, ‘the one-if-by-sea or two-if-by-land signal
went out with the last century.’ He’ll excuse himself and text me
when he and Lia are finished with dinner.”

“I want tonight to be perfect for her,” Lucas
said. “She’s had a run of bad luck. And, to make matters worse, I
checked the weather reports—you know I’m heading out Monday—there’s
strong speculation about a storm headed down from the northwest.
Blowing hard. That could hurt her crop—and everyone else’s—in a bad
way.”

“You sound like the voice of doom. Think
about that tomorrow. Not tonight. No worries now. By the way,
what’s up with you and Craig?”

“Nothing.”

“Really? Tonight’s the night you’ve decided
to start lying? Usually the two of you are thick as malt at the
drive-in diner. Now you’re here. He’s there, knocking back a
brew.”

Lucas shook his head. “We’re not on the same
page about something.”

“I’m guessing that something has to do with
Lia.”

“Yeah, but you’re going to have to pry the
information out of Craig. I’m trying to protect Amelia, only Craig
doesn’t see it that way.”

Zoë eyed him hard. “I think you like her. In
fact, I’m a gambling woman. I think
love
is a better
word.”

Lucas frowned. “So Harvest now has two
mind-reading women? Is there something funny on those postage
stamps you lick each day that’s making you hallucinate?” He refused
to confirm or deny her probing. The less he said the better.

Zoë smiled. “Play it your way. Is it possible
for two hardheaded mules to close their eyes, shut out the past,
and join forces?”

“Mules?”

“I intend to give you and Craig a big shove.
You need to step up for Lia and join forces with her against Craig.
I’m going to find out what’s brewing with Craig besides what he’s
drinking.”

“I think the truth is going to carry the
stench of a pig farm.”

Helen entered the downstairs foyer and
ascended the stairs toward them.

“Helen, I need your help. I need a minute
with the guys. Will you greet the guests and let them know they can
take a seat?”

“Oh, my, Zoë. What a magical setting!”

Zoë winked. “Thanks, Helen. That’s what we’re
going for. Excuse us, please.”

Lucas looked down where Zoë had linked her
arm with his. “Now, I can handle the truth. Unlike Lia, I
will
fight dirty. Come with me.”

Warily, Lucas marched beside Amelia’s best
friend. Somewhere over the years, the hellion had become a savvy
woman. They crossed the ballroom to the bar where Craig played
barkeep.

“Craig, how did Lia like the birthday present
you got her?” Zoë asked, parking herself on a tall stool. Lucas
moved behind the stool next to her and remained standing.

“She was in too much of a hurry to get out
the door with your boy Karl. Never opened it.” Craig held up a
longneck bottle. Lucas shook his head.

“Is that what’s got you twisted tight?” Zoë
asked.

“Twisted how?”

“What’s up with you and Lucas? Why aren’t the
two of you hamming it up with the band? Or singing your college
fight song, or whatever other crazy male-bonding things you do when
turned loose in town for the night?”

“It doesn’t concern you,” Craig replied
quietly.

“If it concerns Lia, if it’s something that’s
going to hurt her, it concerns me. I’m her best friend. You’ve had
Lucas doing your dirty work for the last year. You better come
clean.”

“What did Lucas tell you?” Craig eyed Lucas
suspiciously.

“A little of this. Some of that. I’m giving
you the chance to tell me your side of the story. Maybe I can
help.”

“Lucas told you!” Craig shouted. Zoë jumped.
Lucas glanced around. It appeared no one else had heard the
exchange over the band’s warm up.

“Well…” Zoë paused.

“Selling the farm is in Amelia’s best
interest.”

Zoë pounded her fists on the bar.

Lucas stepped aside when shock hit Zoë full
force. He’d warned her, but now wasn’t the time to remind her of
that.

“Sell? The hell you say! You trying to kill
your sister?”

“She can’t make it. She’s not superwoman, no
matter what she thinks.”

“Have you told her yet? Tell me you haven’t
ruined her birthday.”

“I’m not that callous. Tomorrow morning I’ll
tell her. I’ve got a buyer waiting.”

Zoë stood on the rungs of the stool, reached
across the bar top, and slugged Craig in the arm. “You’ll crush her
with the news, then run back to St. Louis. When did you get so cold
and cruel?”

Craig scowled. “I’m not cold or cruel.” His
voice was deadly calm. He planted his palms on the bar and leaned
across, pinning Zoë with a stare. “I promise you, I’m trying to
keep her from what happened to the Dwyers. I couldn’t bear it if
she lost the farm. That would be a shame she couldn’t live with.
Best to sell before it’s ripped away. Better for her to transition
back to the city.”

Zoë sputtered. “You—” She jumped down from
the stool. Her heels clacked on the wooden floor. She stormed away,
but suddenly turned and shot a piercing glare at Craig. “Lucas, you
can’t let this happen.”

Lucas nodded. Zoë lifted her chin and squared
her shoulders as she headed in Helen’s direction.