Walking on Sunshine (23 page)

Garret felt sadness wash over him. “You're right and I'm sorry. I suppose I was afraid that you'd react the way you just did and I wanted to hold on to you for as long as I could. But all you have to do is say the word and I won't go.”

“I will never do that.”

“And you will never go with me.”

She nodded. “I'm sorry, Garret. I'm just a small-town girl. I would never fit into that lifestyle.”

“Lifestyle?”

“A big city in a foreign country.”

“You'd be with me. And I do believe once you're there, you'll truly love it. There is so much to see and do and we'd do it together. It would be an adventure,” he said, but when she didn't budge he sighed. “Okay.” He took her hands. “But the offer remains open if you want to join me. I love you, Mattie. And I hope someday you'll realize just how much.”

“And I love you enough to let you go. Garret, you've enriched my life and given me confidence. But this is only the beginning for you. London . . . and then what? I won't hold you back, but I can't come with you either.”

“God, why does this feel like good-bye?” He felt panic at the thought. “I wish this offer had never come my way. Mattie, I'm going to turn it down!”

“No . . . don't say that. You must go. I'll make it easier by leaving.” She went up on tiptoe and gave him a kiss and then she turned and walked away.

Garret felt as if his heart were being ripped out of his chest. He didn't think it was even possible to hurt this much. He pictured them walking hand in hand through the streets of London. He knew without a doubt that she'd love the beauty of Notting Hill and the vibrancy of Portobello Road, famous for its shops and fresh markets. He smiled, thinking she'd go crazy in Hummingbird Bakery, but then shook his head. She'd made her position clear and he'd respect her decision.

Garret tossed back the rest of the bourbon and then took his cell phone out of his pocket. It was time to give Russ Randall a call.

Crazy Little Thing Called Love

“M
ATTIE?”
L
AURA
L
EE CALLED. “
A
RE
YOU HERE?”

“In the back by the books,” Mattie shouted, and a moment later Laura Lee found her.

“You're reading mysteries?”

“I'm sick of romance.”

“You are such a liar.” Laura Lee sat down on the floor beside her and patted her leg.

“Easy for you to say. You're happily engaged.”

“And you've been asked to go to London with a man who adores you. And here you sit for the past two weeks sad and depressed ever since he's been gone. At least call him, Mattie.”

“I can't!”

“Pardon me if I don't feel sorry for you. You're feeling sorry for yourself enough for both of us.”

“We've gone over this a million times. I can't leave this restaurant! Where would the breakfast crowd go? Who would cook for the fishing tournament coming up? Who would take care of the books? Order the bait? Who would—”

“Me.”

“What?” Mattie stopped her rant in midsentence.

“Now that Shane fired me and has a housekeeper doing all my work, I'm bored stiff.”

“And you'd want to get up at the ass crack of dawn and cook breakfast?”

“I'd have Shane help me.”

“Right . . . a famous country singer slinging hash and waiting tables. That's funny.”

“It is kinda funny. He'd love it.”

“Ha, sure he would.” Mattie pretended to read the back jacket of the book, but she felt a little flash of excitement.

“He wants to do it.”

Mattie gave up all pretense of reading. “How do you know this?”

“I asked him.”

“Laura Lee!”

“Hey, the man is at my beck and call. What can I say?” She glowed with such happiness that Mattie couldn't be angry with her.

“Can he even cook?”

Laura Lee grinned. “He's been having a ball practicing. He can flip pancakes like a pro and crack eggs with one hand. Mattie, you know the whole town will be knocking down the door when they know that Shane will be working here as a short-order cook.”

Mattie shook her head. “And what do I pay him? And you? Minimum wage?”

“No, we want to give to the literacy fund that you have here at the shop.”

“And you'd do this for several months? What if Shane has commitments?”

“Danny and Mason said they'd help out,” Laura Lee insisted. “And Bubba too.”

“Why do I think there's more?”

Laura Lee pressed her lips together. “I might have talked to Miranda.”

“Mom?”

“Is there any other Miranda I'd tell?”

“Oh, let me guess, she's hoping I'll finally get married and give her the grandchild she's been complaining about not having?”

“Yeah . . . ,” Laura Lee admitted with a guilty wince.

“Oh, don't even try to act all sorry. You've been plotting this behind my back!”

“Mattie, I know this isn't just about the restaurant or stocking bait. This is about change. Traveling across the ocean and living away from everything you've ever known. And about this crazy little thing called love.”

“Yes.” Mattie closed her eyes and sighed. “I'm scared out of my skin. But I miss Garret so much I can't even tell you.”

“You don't have to tell me. It's written all over your pretty face. Mattie, I miss that bright smile of yours. You should go.”

“Maybe he's over me.”

Laura Lee shook her head. “I have it on good authority that he's miserable without you.”

“Who?”

“Can a girl get a cup of coffee around here?” shouted a woman with a clipped English accent.

Laura Lee grinned. “Her.” She pushed up to her feet. “Follow me.”

“Hello?”

“Coming, Teresa,” Laura Lee said with a laugh. “Just hold your horses.”

“You knew she was coming over?”

“I decided I needed a plan B if I couldn't convince you.”

Curious, Mattie followed Laura Lee to the front of the restaurant. A curly-haired woman dressed in a bright red peasant blouse and retro jeans shot Mattie a big smile.

“Mattie, meet Teresa Bennett, receptionist and backup singer for My Way Records.”

Teresa extended her hand. “Hello, Mattie. It's nice to meet the girl who captured Garret's heart.”

Mattie shook Teresa's hand. “You're friends with Garret?”

“I was in his father's band back in the day. I've known Garret all his life. I'm also friends with his mum. I met Laura Lee a couple of weeks ago when a group of us from My Way Records all went to dinner at Wine and Diner.”

“I tried to get you to go, remember?” Laura Lee said to Mattie.

Mattie nodded.

“But you won't do anything but mope around,” Laura Lee added.

“That's why I'm here,” Teresa said, and then sat down on a round stool. “We need to have a chat.”

Mattie went around the counter and poured three cups of coffee and then rested one hip against the counter. “Okay, Teresa, I'm all ears.”

“Well, darling, it's quite simple really. Garret is utterly miserable without you.” She glanced at Laura Lee. “And I'm told that you're miserable without him too.”

Mattie shook her head and looked down at her coffee mug. “It's not that simple.”

“Oh, but it is. You need to be together.” She shrugged and took a sip of her coffee.

“She's right,” Laura Lee said quietly.

“Would you two quit staring at me?”

They both answered with shakes of their heads.

“I've booked you a flight,” Teresa finally announced in a matter-of-fact tone. “Laura Lee gave me all your personal information.”

“What?” Mattie stood up straight. Her heart thudded.

“You leave tomorrow morning,” Teresa said. “So you'd best start packing.”

Mattie opened her mouth to protest but then snapped it shut. They were right and it was pointless to argue.

Teresa reached down and pulled a packet out of a tote bag. “This has everything you'll need. Addresses, instructions. Read it over and if you have any questions let me
know.” She placed the packet on the counter and Mattie looked at it, knowing that her future was in that envelope.

“Does Garret know any of this?”

Teresa smiled. “Not a thing. And I think it's brilliant to keep your arrival a surprise.”

Mattie glanced around the restaurant.

“Don't worry, Mattie,” Teresa said to her. “I'm on board to wait tables if needed. We've got you covered, love.”

Mattie looked at them both and then burst into tears.

Laura Lee and Teresa jumped up and hurried behind the counter. They hugged and cried and then ended up laughing.

Mattie swiped at tears and then crossed her hands over her chest. “I'm overwhelmed.”

“I just wish I could be there to see the look on Garret's face,” Teresa said.

“I want to see a selfie of your smiling faces,” Laura Lee said.

Mattie nodded. “I'll take one. Oh my gosh, I think my heart is going to beat right out of my chest.”

Laura Lee made shooing motions with her fingers. “Go and start packing. Teresa and I will be here bright and early to pick you up. You're leaving out of Nashville.”

“And Laura Lee is going to spend the night and we're going to paint the town red,” Teresa added with a laugh. “It's going to be fantastic.”

Mattie laughed. “I'm sure it will be.” After one last group hug Mattie hurried out the door and ran all the way back to her cabin.

Tomorrow she was leaving for London!

With a Little Help from My Friends

G
ARRET S
TROLLED DOWN
P
ORTOBE
LLO
R
OAD IN THE
heart of Notting Hill, thinking that perhaps the colorful, vibrant surroundings would put him in a better mood. Saturdays were jam-packed with both locals and tourists, since the trading in Portobello Market was in full swing. He started at the southern tip of the market and browsed the antiques stalls, picking up a bric-a-brac here and there but unable to muster up much interest. He headed down the hill to the intersection of Westbourne Grove and Elgin Crescent to the heart of the antiques section, thinking he might want to pick up a little something for his mum. After purchasing a lovely rose pin, he spotted a ceramic Irish setter that looked just like Rusty. Unable not to, Garret bought the small dog and wished for the millionth time that Mattie was with him.

Garret thought about taking a picture of the dog and sending it to Mattie as an excuse to contact her, but he refrained. He wondered, though, what she was doing right this minute. With a sigh he continued on until he
came to the fruit and vegetables stands, his favorite part of Portobello Market. Wheelbarrows overflowing with produce, fishmongers, bread stalls, cakes, and cheese were a throwback to years gone by. Owners shouted out their prices, and bargains were to be had near the end of the day. Garret bought a loaf of crusty French bread and a hunk of cheddar cheese, thinking he would munch on the simple meal while watching some auditions of potential contestants on
Sing for Me
. He added a bunch of grapes and a couple of apples to his stash and then couldn't resist a red velvet cupcake swirled with decadent icing.

Feeling a bit of a rumble in his stomach, Garret was anxious to get home and dig into the bread and cheese, so he walked through the Westway Fashion Market without stopping to browse. He turned down Palace Court, where his flat was located in a grand period building. Although not spacious like his cabin in Cricket Creek, the flat came fully furnished with a fitted kitchen and shower room. A winding staircase led to a loft bedroom, and he had a small terrace with a fantastic view. He was within walking distance to the Tube, shops, and restaurants. He thought that Mattie would have found it simple to get around within no time at all. “Not that it matters,” he said under his breath.

Juggling his packages, Garret dug into his pants pocket for his keys. Nearly dropping everything, he finally opened the door and headed straight for the galley kitchen. He eyed the bottle of red wine but decided it was a bit too early in the day but it would taste nice later on while he worked. He broke off a hunk of the bread and was about to slice into the cheese when he decided that he wanted to change into something comfortable and maybe drink that glass of wine after all.

While nibbling on the crusty bread he walked into his bedroom and then stopped in his tracks. His heart thudded and he forgot to swallow.

Frowning, Garret walked into the reception room but found nothing out of place. And then he heard another
sort of rustling sound. Tipping his head, he looked at the spiral staircase.

*   *   *

Mattie was curled into a cute little position on top of the bed. She hadn't turned down the covers, so she most likely hadn't planned on falling asleep. Her blond hair fanned out over the deep red pillow and he could hear the soft sound of her breathing. He spotted several suitcases to her left and he smiled. From the looks of it she planned on staying for quite a while. For a moment he could only stand there and watch over her, not quite believing his eyes. Because she had obviously had a key, her arrival was a conspiracy that had Teresa Bennett written all over it. His mum had most likely had a hand in this as well.

“Mattie . . . ,” he whispered, not wanting to startle her awake. She stirred but didn't open her eyes. Unable not to touch her, Garret walked over to the bed and sat down. At the movement of the mattress Mattie's eyes opened and she looked at him in dazed surprise.

“Garret?” Her voice, husky with sleep, slid over him like a warm caress.

“I think I'm the one who is supposed to be surprised.” He smoothed her hair back from her cheek, loving the feel of her skin beneath his fingers.

“I didn't mean to fall asleep, but you were taking forever to get here.”

“Sorry, love, I would have run all the way if I'd known you were in my bed.”

She gave him a sexy, sleepy smile. “That would have ruined the surprise.”

“How did you find me?”

“With a little help from my friends,” she said with a grin.

“And why did you decide to come?”

“Because I couldn't live another day without you.”

Her quiet admission went straight to his heart. He ran his fingertip over her bottom lip. “And what about the restaurant?”

She chuckled. “There's, like, an entire crew of people taking it over. Shane, Laura Lee, my brothers . . . Teresa. My parents are coming home to pitch in. Can you believe it?”

“Yes. They all love you, Mattie.”

“They do, don't they?” Her smile trembled and then she sat up, suddenly fully alert. “I've read a whole stack of books on the plane ride over here. I am a walking encyclopedia about London, especially Notting Hill. You have to take me everywhere.”

“I will take you anywhere your little heart desires.”

“I like the sound of that.”

“And speaking of desire . . .” He leaned in and captured her lips in a sweet lingering kiss. “God, I've missed you so, Mattie. I thought about you constantly,” he said. “Oh, and I bought you a present at Portobello Market. Stay right there, I want to go get it for you.”

Garret hurried down to the kitchen and took the little ceramic dog out of the paper bag. Taking the steps two at a time, he sat down on the bed and handed the present to her. “Rusty,” Garret said with a chuckle.

“Oh my gosh, it looks just like him.” Mattie shook her head. “He and I moped around Mayfield Marina like lovesick fools. It was like we had these little gray storm clouds hanging over our heads.”

“Ah, no more progress with Abigail?”

“Not other than looking back at him while the boat chugs away, I'm afraid.”

“I think there's hope, then.” Garret looked above Mattie's head. “I don't see a storm cloud.”

“Nope . . . from now on I'm walking on sunshine.”

“Brilliant,” Garret said, and then pulled her into his arms. “And I'll be walking right there by your side.”

“Well, you're going to be walking all over London while I ask a million questions.”

“And I'll answer each and every one. It's going to be an adventure, love. I cannot wait.” He looked down at
her pretty face and said, “I also can't wait to make love to you, Mattie. I want you in my arms.”

“You're reading my mind. But we have to do one more thing.” She reached over to the nightstand and located her cell phone. “We have to send Teresa and Laura Lee a selfie.” She held up the phone. “Ready? Smile!”

They captured the moment of happiness and sent their radiant smiling faces from London, England, back to Cricket Creek, Kentucky.

Garret leaned in and gave Mattie a kiss. “Let the adventure begin.”