Her Heart's Desire (Sunflower Series Book 1) (22 page)

“I want to be there when you tell her,” Lucas
said to Craig.

“Sure.”

“One more thing. You have to put it off until
Monday evening.”

“I’ll be back in St. Louis. Nope. Tomorrow. I
can’t do this over the phone. That would be cold and cruel. You
know I have Amelia’s best interest at heart.”

“For the sake of our friendship, I need until
Monday evening.”

“Our friendship is on the line? What are you
saying?”

Zoë raced up and interrupted. “Karl just
texted. He’s walking Lia over in ten minutes.”

“Everyone, quiet,” Craig hollered, coming
around from behind the bar and standing next to Lucas.

Lucas gave the band a kill-it sign, and the
music faded away.

“Lia and Karl are on their way. Remain
quiet,” Zoë called to the crowd. “Wait until she’s at the top of
the stairs and removes the blindfold before yelling surprise!”

Lucas nudged Craig with his elbow. “Before
you tell Lia about the buyer, I have something important I need to
share with her.”

“What?” Craig shook his head. “This is all
too cloak-and-dagger for me. What’s up?”

Lucas scanned the room. Footsteps in the tile
foyer below echoed up the stairs. More guests appeared. Any minute
now, Amelia would arrive. This was his chance.

Lucas held out his hand to shake Craig’s.
“Put it there,” he said. “We’re going to be brothers-in-law.”

Craig’s mouth gaped. Lucas slapped him on the
back. “I love your sister. I can’t let you take the farm from her.
I’m going to ask Amelia to marry me. Together, we’ll fight
you.”

Chapter 17

At the restaurant, Lia opened her menu, but
before ordering, Karl took over. He requested the most expensive
items on the menu, never bothering to ask what she might enjoy.
Good thing she wasn’t allergic to peanut sauce on her salad or blue
cheese on her filet. He did, however, have a fine palate for wine
and ordered a highly ranked bottle of California cabernet.

Lia glanced through the window. Lavender,
pink, and orange shone against the sky’s pillowy clouds. Streaks of
silver shot upward, fanning across the horizon as the sun trailed a
path toward dusk. The grandeur of nature teased the eye with ten
shades of green in the fields. The river darkened as light
disappeared. Lia itched to paint as Karl chattered on like a
streaming news banner on CNN.

She shivered from the air conditioning
blowing down the back of her neck and pulled her wrap over her
shoulders. Bringing her attention back to Karl, she smiled and
nodded in all the right pauses during the non-stop monologue, and
remained utterly polite after realizing the man’s genuine
fascination with her best friend. The date with Karl would be over
soon. Yet, for a reason unknown to her, every time she tried to
suggest they leave, Karl started in on another question about some
obscure fact about Harvest.

“Yes, Zoë can trace her roots back to the
covered wagons rolling along the Santa Fe Trail.” Lia dabbed the
corners of her mouth with a cloth napkin.

“She’s got a great sense of humor.” The man
actually beamed.

“Our Zoë is a tickle a minute.” Raising her
wine glass, Lia waited for the last drop to dribble into her mouth.
“Thank you so much for dinner, Karl. Let me go to the ladies’ room
before we depart.” Without being rude, she couldn’t have been more
direct. She rose and left the table.

On the drive to the restaurant, Karl had
spoken excitedly about his new afterschool basketball coaching
responsibilities and how much he enjoyed getting to know the
farmers and townsfolk. When he took a breather, he asked about her
art. It seemed Zoë had mentioned it to him. When Lia finished her
first sentence, he dove in, explaining he didn’t understand art
critics. Instead, he took a like-it-when-I-see-it approach to
things he hung on his walls. His tastes, he confessed, tended to
modern abstract. Bold colors. Decisive lines. He had even tried to
impress her with his explanation of energy art. Then, he’d asked,
if she would consider painting a mural on the side of the farm
store. He had in mind a colorful checkerboard of different species
of roosters. He couldn’t pay her, but advertising her work could be
their trade.

She contemplated his offer momentarily, not
wanting to offend, before replying, “I’m not sure I’m qualified to
tackle that type of project. I’ve only painted the side of a
building once. Someone with more experience would probably better
suit your needs, but thank you for thinking of me.”

His dismay lasted barely a second before he
changed the topic of conversation. She had helped herself to more
wine while he talked on—the subject remained everything Zoë.

He’d shared his collection of sort-of-dates
with Zoë. He recounted her impish smiles and girlish giggles and
other angelic qualities, most of which she had rarely witnessed in
her friend. However, what hooked her attention was how his face lit
up whenever he mentioned Zoë’s name. It didn’t take a Saturday
sportscaster to give her the score. Karl had it bad for her best
friend. Over the top. Intense infatuation. Maybe even falling in
love.

“Who am I to interfere with the course of
Cupid’s arrow? Karl and Zoë would make a cute couple,” she said to
her reflection in the mirror as she washed her hands.

But Zoë hadn’t said a single word about any
dates with Karl. Was it because of tonight? Because she’d asked out
Karl before Karl had a chance to experience Zoë’s farm-girl charm?
She couldn’t wait to call Zoë for a chat.

“Sorry to be so long,” she said returning to
the table. Karl rose and tried to pull out her chair for her, but
she stood behind the chair with no intention of sitting again.
Through the window, the gas streetlights flickered on around the
memorial commemorating the Lewis and Clark expedition stop along
the Missouri River. Lia blinked and looked again. Her brother stood
by the river, his hands shoved in his pockets, rocking back and
forth on his heels. She’d never been happier to see him. She wanted
to run to him and demand he take her home.

“Karl?”

“Oh. I’m sorry, I’m hogging the conversation.
Tell me when you and Zoë met.”

“Could that wait? I think I see my brother,
and I’m concerned about him. Craig said he had no plans to leave
the farm. Lucas and he were going to hang out. I’ll be just a
minute. I’m going to speak to him.”

“No.” Karl’s sharp tone surprised her.

“Excuse me?”

“Ah. I mean. I’ll join you.”

“I’ll only be a minute.”

When she reached for her purse, Karl locked
his hand around her wrist. “It’s safe with me.” Uneasiness slid
down her spine. She nodded. He let go. She grabbed her purse, and
practically sprinted for the front door with Karl hollering after
her, “Wait!”

Out the door and down the sidewalk, she
crossed the street before calling out to her brother. “Craig!”

He turned, folded his arms over his chest,
and huffed out a breath. “What are you doing here?” he
demanded.

After a few quick steps, she slowed and
walked. “I could ask you the same thing.”

“Did you ditch Karl?”

“How did you know?”

“We have to go find him. He’s got your
birthday cake.”

Lia twisted her mouth to one side, cocked her
head, and closed one eye. “What are you up to?”

“Nothing.”

“Liar. How did you know about the cake?”

“Helen phoned me.”

“Great! You find Karl. Get my cake. I’m going
to the Rooftop for a drink. Maybe two. Then, you, big brother, can
be the designated driver and take me home.”

His shrug and nod made her more suspicious.
His robotic behavior worried her. Something was wrong, but he’d
shut her out. “Where’s Lucas? I thought you’d be with him.”

“He’s...I don’t know where he is this
minute.”

Lia paused. No music filtered down from the
Riverview’s Rooftop lounge. “Is there a band tonight?” She pointed
to the rooftop. “I don’t hear any music.”

“I’m sure something is happening there. Go on
up. Meet you there in a few.”

“I’ll have one drink and then we’ll go, but
promise to keep Karl away from me. He’s infatuated with Zoë, but
he’s a bit odd for me.”

“Let’s go.” Craig wrapped his arm over her
shoulder and walked her in the direction of the restaurant. “Since
I’m a great brother, I’ll do your dirty work. I’ll be up in a
minute to collect the birthday girl.”

As Lia climbed the inside stairs to the
ballroom, a band struck up a fast-paced tune. The lights and
decoration came into view before she reached the landing. Taking it
all in, her breath caught in her throat. Balloons, ribbons,
dangling stars, tables draped in white linens. This wasn’t the
Rooftop’s usual Saturday-night band jam. This was a party,
someone’s private event.

“Surprise!”

People popped up from behind tables like
jack-in-the-boxes. The band played
Happy Birthday
. Everyone
sang. Stunned, Lia froze in place. Friends and neighbors followed
up with
For She’s a Jolly Good Lady
and concluded with
How Old Are You Now?

Folks began calling out, “Happy Birthday,”
and the band began to play again.

Lia turned when warmth caressed her shoulder.
Lucas stood behind her with Craig next to him holding her cake.
Karl grinned from ear to ear and scanned the room. When he
apparently found his target, he held up his arms as though shooting
a bow, pointed at Zoë, who played along and took the arrow to her
heart. Next to her stood her brother Seth scowling. Lia waved to
them and blew a kiss.

“Surprise, Lia! Happy birthday,” Zoë shouted.
When she applauded, everyone else joined her. Megan whistled
loudly.

“Thank you. I’m very touched,” Lia tried to
shout above the roar.

“Happy Birthday, Amelia,” Lucas said, pulling
her into a hug. She stiffened for a moment. Lucas’s display of
affection would set ears burning and tongues wagging, but that
didn’t stop warmth from rippling all the way to her toes. When he
didn’t quickly release her, but hugged tighter, she hugged him
back. There was no reason the folks of Harvest couldn’t know she
was in love.

Lucas kissed her forehead. Lia blinked back
tears. “Thank you,” she managed to say without her voice
breaking.

“Speech!” everyone cried.

Lia groaned. “I’m speechless. Thank you!
Thank you for coming out. Let’s party.”

Craig stepped forward with the cake and
addressed the crowd. “Check out this cake Helen made.” Craig
pointed to it. “Thank you, Helen, for all your help. The buffet is
now open. Let the bartender know your brand of poison. Thank you
for coming. Please enjoy. And, happy birthday, Amelia!”

The band began a slow ballad, and folks began
to mingle. Lia gazed at the group, dumbfounded. Happy didn’t
capture her pulsing emotions. A little guilt rubbed her conscience
over her rudeness to Karl, but she figured he’d forgiven and
forgotten her when he pulled Zoë to the dance floor.

“I’m claiming the first dance,” Craig said.
“Let me put this cake down. I know Dad always did the first dance,
but I’m here instead.”

Craig led her in a country two-step.

“It smells so good in here,” Lia said taking
in the tropical scents. “I’m sure Zoë had a hand in this.”

“Yep. Listen, I’ve got really good news to
share with you tomorrow before I leave. Tonight we celebrate you
and your future.”

“What are you talking about?”

Craig flashed a boyish grin. “Relax. Have a
great time tonight. Zoë, Lucas, and I worked hard to pull this off.
Okay, Zoë did most of the work, but I paid for it. You were
surprised, weren’t you?”

His eagerness made him appear more at ease
than she’d seen him in the last year. Although an uneasy suspicion
tickled the back of her neck, she wouldn’t purposely hurt Craig
with a catty remark. “A complete surprise. Thanks. It means a
lot.”

As the band ended the song, without missing a
beat, they launched into Reba McIntyre’s song,
You Lie
. Karl
cut in.

“I’m sorry for the deception, but Zoë and the
guys recruited me.”

“Was that before or after I asked you out?”
Lia asked, wondering why Zoë was so infatuated with Karl.

Karl didn’t respond right away. He swung her
into a twirl. “After. Right after we set up our date.”

Seth approached. “I’m cutting in.”

Lia waved at Karl and smiled at Seth. “I’m
glad you came. How’s the home visit going?”

“Let’s just say I’m glad I’m leaving
tomorrow. I don’t miss harvesting. I wanted to wish the birthday
girl good wishes.” Seth leaned in and kissed her cheek. “I hope the
coming year delivers your heart’s desire.”

“Thank you. Don’t be mad when I say you’ve
grown into quite the gentleman.”

Seth winked. “I try. Let me get you a drink.
Zoë brought a bottle of champagne. How about a glass?”

“Wonderful,” Lia murmured. She and Seth moved
off the dance floor. Standing back, she gazed at the people, all of
whom were woven into the fabric of her life. Most of them had known
her since she was a small child, or at least as far back has her
memory allowed. She could never leave Harvest. Her past, present,
and future could be found at only one address.

A hand on her shoulder startled her from her
thoughts.

“Were you surprised?” Lucas whispered. He
stood behind her. Heat emanating from him warmed her, sending a
shiver of delight through her body. Her thudding heart beat double
time to the beat of the band. Lucas tangled his fingers in hers,
guiding her to the dance floor. The band hit the first licks of
When a Man Loves a Woman
. He pulled her close, and she
relaxed, laying her head against his shoulder. They swayed
together. People moved off the dance floor until only she and Lucas
remained. A mirrored ball turned and cast prisms of white light
around the room, making the hanging silver stars glow.