Luck at First Sight, page 2
With those words she turned and left Witch’s Brew. She resisted the urge to look back and see if Tristan had reappeared. Sage craved one more glimpse of the man who held her heart, but she didn’t want to make it harder on him. Until she figured what she wanted out she would keep her distance. She owed to Tristan, and to herself, to either embrace their love or make one last clean break. Until she knew which decision was best, she’d keep her distance. No matter how hard it would be to do so.
Chapter 4
Sage was gone. She’d barely said anything to him at all. Only ordered her coffee and had a brief conversation with Nicholas… He’d been too stunned to pay much attention to what they had discussed and now he wished he could have snapped out of it much sooner. Would he ever be able to function in her presence again? It seemed as if a piece of his soul had been ripped from his body when she left him.
At least he could leave the shop soon. Esmeralda would come in soon to take over and start decorating for the St. Patrick’s Day event they were holding later that evening. His phone buzzed in his pocket. Tristan retrieved it and glanced at the caller identification. His lips tilted upward at the sight of Gawain’s name and picture flashing on the screen. He clicked the green button without even thinking about it and then brought his cell up to his ear. “Slow day in Hollywood?” he asked with a hint of humor in his tone.
“Nah,” Gawain replied. “It’s one party after the next but I thought I’d take time out of my day to check on you. I hear there is going to be a Strange wedding soon. I know what that’ll mean for you.”
“Have you been talking to Percival?”
“Not really,” Gawain answered. “He shot me a text to call him when I was free and mentioned he was dating Amadea. The upcoming wedding may have come up but not much else.” He chuckled. “What is going on in Kismet Bay? The curse rearing its ugly head?”
Gawain had always hated the legend of Kismet Bay bringing lovers together. Tristan believed that had been one of the things that had driven his friend out of town after they graduated. He found almost immediate success as an actor and had been thriving ever since his big break. Tristan couldn’t recall the last time his friend had stepped foot in town. “Are you afraid the love bug will hit you?”
“Absolutely not.” Gawain snorted. “Love is never going to hit me.”
“Then prove it,” Tristan goaded him. “Come back for the wedding. Wait… If you’re so sure let’s take it a step farther than that. Nicholas needs another groomsman. You can fill in and be a part of the wedding.”
“That’s not going to happen,” Gawain said. His voice held a hint of reluctance that only made Tristan want to push him even more.
“I thought so—you’re afraid.” He shrugged nonchalantly even though Gawain couldn’t see him. It was more of a reflex than anything. “Don’t worry I won’t let Percival know you’re a chicken.”
“I’m not scared of anything.” Now Gawain sounded pissed. Good. That might actually work in getting his friend in town. He wanted to see Gawain and it would help to have someone around to help distract him from Sage. “Fine. I’ll be one of the stupid groomsmen, but I’m not coming to town until the night before the wedding. I already have a tux—probably one better than the rest of the wedding party will have.”
No doubt it would be a custom designer label tuxedo… “Wonderful,” Tristan said. He had goaded his friend into being in a wedding and Gawain would hate every second of it, but Tristan didn’t feel guilty. “I’ll let Nicholas know I solved his groomsman dilemma.” Gawain needed to face his problems and so did Tristan. While Sage was in town he’d talk to her. If he had any chance of moving on with his life he had to. He couldn’t keep waiting for her to return to him. What kind of life was that to live?
“I better not regret this,” Gawain nearly growled through the phone. “I have to go. I’m needed on set soon. Listen, I know that Sage is in town. Wedding planning is her thing—don’t let her dictate anything to you anymore. If you want the girl then go convince her you belong together. Otherwise let her go and move on. I know that may be easier said than done…”
“Say no more,” Tristan interrupted him. “I’m already on the same page as you are.” Probably farther in the proverbial book… “I’ll text you the info on the wedding and when you need to be here.” He paused a moment and then said, “and Gawain.”
“Yeah?” His reply was quick and the tone in his voice held a hint of inquisitiveness.
“Thanks, man,” Tristan said softly. Sometimes all a person needed was a good conversation with a friend to find perspective, and he found that with his chat with Gawain. He owed him more than his friend would ever know. “It’s nice to know you care.”
“Of course I do,” Gawain answered. “You and Percival are my two best friends. There’s not much I wouldn’t do for you.”
“I know.” Tristan felt much the same way. “Have fun with whatever movie you’re shooting now.”
They said their goodbyes and hung up. Tristan shot Nicholas a quick text about Gawain agreeing to be his fourth groomsman and then slid his phone back into his pocket. He had to make some plans to gain Sage’s undivided attention. For that to work he might need a little help. She was in town to help plan Holly’s wedding, and maybe, just maybe, Holly would take pity on him and help him with Sage. Holly was in love and wanted everyone to be as happy as she was. It might just work…
He retrieved his phone again and texted Holly. After several agonizing minutes she replied back. Tristan grinned at her response. It turned out Holly wanted to assist him more than he’d hoped for. She already had a plan in place and all he had to do was show up. He slid his phone back in his pocket and whistled as he headed toward the exit of Witch’s Brew. He nodded at Esmeralda on his way out and couldn’t help the smile that formed on his face. Maybe there was hope for him and Sage after all… If Holly believed they had a chance perhaps he should start believing it too. Maybe the magic of Kismet Bay was pushing him and Sage back together again or, possibly, he was a fool. Either way he’d find out the answer soon enough.
Chapter 5
Sage was pissed. She’d dealt with a lot of difficult brides as an event planner, but her own sister was the worst one she’d ever had the misfortune to work with, and she wasn’t even being compensated for her work. The things she did for her sister… She didn’t want to visit Prosperity Vineyard to see if it would make a good enough place to hold the wedding reception. If that was where Holly wanted to hold it Sage could find a way to make it work. It seemed a tad redundant to look at everything in person, but whatever, she’d go through the motions for Holly.
What she really wanted to do was find Tristan. She hadn’t stopped thinking about him all day and now that she’d made a decision all she needed to do was act on it, but she couldn’t. Not until she did this one little thing for Holly. It had been years since Sage had visited the vineyard and she wasn’t sure what changes her cousins had made to it. Leilia and Caprecia sold wine from the vineyard at Grape Flavors winery. The last time she’d talked to Caprecia she’d mentioned the extensive expansions that they were making to some of the outer buildings. One of them might be good for the reception.
She turned into the long drive that led to the main house and parked in front of it. Sage killed the engine and stepped out of the car. She narrowed her gaze and stared at the house. A light was on inside. Someone must have come up, but she didn’t see any other vehicles. Holly had said no one was going to be there. Their cousins didn’t often stay at the main house and mostly chose to stay in town. Who could be at the vineyard now?
She grabbed the keys out of her purse and headed to the front door. Sage wasn’t sure if it would be locked or not with someone inside but figured she should be prepared. Once she reached the front door she tried the doorknob and it turned. Well… That answered one question. She slipped the key back into her purse and went inside to investigate. Most of the lights were off but there was a soft glow coming from the dining room. Almost as if it were being illuminated with candles… Sage walked slowly toward the dining room and stopped short at the entrance. When she drove to the vineyard she never expected to find the one person she wanted to actually see there.
“It’s about time,” Tristan said. “I’ve been waiting for you.”
“I don’t understand…” What the hell was going on? Had Holly set her up? “How did you know I’d be here?”
“Your sister and I had a meeting of minds.” His lips quirked upward into a sexy smile. “More like she set this up and told me where to go. She was a few steps ahead of me as I was already trying to find a way to be alone with you.” He took a step forward. “I hope you aren’t too mad.”
She should be irate. On the drive up to the vineyard she’d been cursing her twin sister’s existence. Now she wanted to kiss her. This was exactly what she needed. Why had she been denying what she really wanted all this time? She still had a few things to work out, but in the meantime she could explore some other possibilities with Tristan. She lifted an eyebrow and said, “Why would I be mad?”
“Well,” he said slowly. “Because your sister tricked you.”
“Did she?” Sage tilted her head to the side, then twirled her gaze around the room. “This wasn’t a bad idea of hers. The main house isn’t exactly fit to hold hundreds of people but it definitely has potential for other events. It gives me ideas.” And suddenly she knew what she wanted to do with her business. She didn’t need to be in a big city to run it.
“What kind of ideas?” There was hesitation in his voice and she should alleviate it. She would, but not just yet.
She turned to meet his gaze. Tristan shoved his hands into his pocket and stood there—waiting. For her. He didn’t make a move or push is own desires on her even though it was clear he wanted her. He’d always put her needs before his own. It was one of the reason she loved him.
Sage strolled toward him with a slight sway to her hips. When she reached him she lifted her hand and trailed her fingers over his cheek. “Why do you love me?” There was no doubt he still did. He was there. Waiting. Hoping. She didn’t deserve him.
He swallowed hard and said huskily, “The why doesn’t matter. I love you and that is the beginning and end of everything. Without you I’m only half a person.”
“That’s sweet,” she whispered. “I’ve been lost without you too. I never should have left.”
“No,” he agreed. “But I understand why you had to.”
She stepped even closer and lifted her arms to wrap them around his neck. “Kiss me,” she demanded.
“Whatever the lady wants.” He leaned down and pressed his lips to hers. It was like coming home and finally feeling as if she belonged. Kismet Bay had worked its magic. That was why she’d avoided returning for so long. She’d known if she came back she’d never be able to leave Tristan again. It had been hard enough the first time.
She stepped back even though it nearly killed her to do so. “I do love you.”
“I know,” he replied and caressed her hair with the tips of his fingers. “Tell me we can make this work. I don’t want to lose you again.”
She nibbled on her bottom lip and then smiled. “We can. It might take some wrangling with my business, but I think I can stay in Kismet Bay most of the time. I have a really good assistant I can give a promotion. She can handle things in the city and I’ll run things here. I’m going to see if my cousins will let me work out of the vineyard. Being here gave me an idea on taking my business to a new level.”
His lips tilted upward. “You’re really going to stay?”
“Yes,” she answered. “But I’ll still need to go to the city occasionally…”
“When you do I’ll go with you. Esmeralda can handle the coffee shop when I am gone. I don’t want to be separated from you ever again.”
She felt the same way. Maybe her going into the coffee shop had not been bad luck after all. Seeing Tristan earlier had been luck at first sight. It had showed her that loving him was the best thing that had ever happened to her and she would never walk away from him the way she had before. This was where she belonged—in his arms and in Kismet Bay.
Afterword
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About The Author
USA TODAY Bestselling author, DAWN BROWER writes both historical and contemporary romance. There are always stories inside her head; she just never thought she could make them come to life. That creativity has finally found an outlet.
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Growing up she was the only girl out of six children. She is a single mother of two teenage boys; there is never a dull moment in her life. Reading books is her favorite hobby and she loves all genres.
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Heart’s Intent
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Kismet Bay
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Luck At First Sight
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Dawn Brower, Luck at First Sight
