Calm—just stay calm. One step at a time.

  He poured the coffee, slow and steady, and stirred in a pinch of brown sugar. Just a pinch and no more, just the way she liked it. He’d watched Serena fix her coffee dozens of times, shaking sugar off the spoon till it covered just the tip. Stirring in that shot of sweetness for her first blissful sip. He breathed in and out, and in and out again. His heart quit its pounding, and he headed out front.

  “The place looks great,” said Serena. “Nice choice of flowers. So, you said you had some papers for me to—”

  “Coffee.” Will held it out to her. Serena hesitated a moment, then took the mug. She tried a sip, then another, and she let out a long sigh.

  “Mm...that’s so good.”

  “A pinch of brown sugar—not a spoon, just a pinch.”

  “You remembered.” Serena smiled faintly, a sad little smile that cracked Will’s heart in two. She took one more sip and set her mug on the counter. “Look, if this is an apology, it’s fine. You don’t have to do this.”

  “It’s not fine,” he said. “You deserve an apology. I spent all last month watching my dream slip through my fingers. Watching my clinic crumble around my ears. I was bleeding clients, my roof caving in—termites and floods, one thing after another needing patched up or else. And then there was Kenmore, the deadline closing in. I never thought we’d make it, not till we did, and that was the worst feeling—thinking I was trapped, all out of options.” He took a step forward, heart pounding anew. “I knew what that felt like, watching my future drain away. I knew how it hurt, and I did the same to you.”

  Serena’s eyes were glistening, tears like dew on her lashes. “What are you saying?”

  “I’m saying I’ve got a new lease on my dream, all thanks to you. And you deserve the same. You deserve someone who’ll support you, whatever you want to do. Someone who’ll cheer you on, cheer for your dreams.”

  “My dreams?”

  “I shouldn’t have assumed I knew what was best for you. You deserve to have options. To choose for yourself.” Will reached for the packet he’d picked up from the bank. He held it out to Serena, hardly daring to breathe.

  “What’s this?”

  “Look inside.”

  Serena peeked inside, and her brows shot up. “You want me to...apply for a loan?”

  “Only if you want to.” Will moved closer. He felt hot all over, his nerves in a tangle. He wanted to hold Serena, brush the tears from her eyes, but he couldn’t, not yet. Maybe not ever. “Listen, I—if Jack’s what you want, I’ll respect that. I know you have history, your whole marriage behind you. If you want to focus on that, I won’t hold it against you. But if you want to open that bakery, you could do that too. I talked to Doug Hawthorne, and it’s all in there. He walked me through what kind of loan you’d qualify for, and he printed out the paperwork. If you wanted to go for that dream, you could. Or you could work here again. Whatever you want.” Will reached for her hands. She was still clutching the papers, so he gripped her arms instead. “I want you to choose the life that suits you. I hope I’m in it, because I love you, but I’m not going to push you. It’s all up to you.”

  “All up to me...”

  “That’s right. It’s your life.” Will stood breathing hard, eyes fixed on Serena. He could feel her heart racing, quick as a bird’s. The clock on the wall was still ticking, but for Will, time had stopped. His life had ground to a halt, and it wouldn’t start again till Serena made her choice.

  Serena wanted to pinch herself. Was this real? Was she dreaming? She could still taste the coffee, bitter on her tongue—strong, black, and bitter, with just that faint hint of sweetness—exactly the way she liked it. Will had remembered. Who else ever had?

  “I don’t understand,” she whispered. “The bakery—you’re saying...”

  “I’m saying you could try. If that’s what you want to do.” Will took the papers back and spread them out across the counter. “You could get a small business loan, and it’d be tight at first. But you’d have the advantage of being the only bakery in town. Folks could go to you or drive out to Redfield.”

  Serena stared at the papers, but she couldn’t focus at all. She felt weak-kneed, exhilarated, like she’d just stepped off a roller coaster. When she opened her mouth, a nervous giggle burst forth.

  “I wasn’t even a good assistant,” she said. “You think I can do this?”

  “You were an amazing assistant.” Will turned her to face him, his voice rough with emotion. “I mean, at first, you were awful, but you never stopped trying, and look what you did.” He made a vague, sweeping gesture, nearly knocking the flowers off the counter. “You got me those ceiling tiles almost for free. The paint on the walls, the plumbing, the wiring—don’t you know, without you, I’d have gone broke halfway through the renovations? I’ll still have a tough year getting on solid ground financially, but the point is I’ll have that year, all thanks to you.” He grasped her hands tight, so tight it almost hurt. “Serena, you did this. You gave me this chance. Just think what you’d do with a place of your own.”

  Serena closed her eyes. She could picture it already, her window display—a rolling sugar lawn dotted with buttercream flowers, a macaron river winding around a cake village. She’d need new lighting, but she could install that herself. And a sign, something cheerful, something bright.

  “I’m sorry,” she said. She looked down, ashamed, but Will bent to catch her eye.

  “Sorry? For what? If it’s not what you want—”

  “It’s not that.” Serena’s eyes stung. “It’s... I pushed you away too. I’ve been scared all my life, scared I wasn’t enough. Scared Ma was right—Ma and Jack both.” She lifted her head. She was done lying down, done hiding away. “I’m sick of that voice,” she said. “Sick of that little voice saying a career’s not for me. Telling me where I belong, what I can and can’t do. Maybe I will fail, but I want to try. I want to be brave for once, and go for what I want.”

  “And you want the bakery?”

  “The bakery, sure. But I’m saying I want you.” She pulled Will closer, close enough to feel his warmth. Close enough to smell his shampoo, and a hint of burnt coffee. “You’ve always believed in me, even when I couldn’t believe in myself. I want to go after my dream, and I want to do it with you.”

  Will’s whole face lit up, his joy almost blinding. He gathered Serena into his arms and kissed her till her head spun. She found herself laughing, too full of happiness to hold it all inside. Will laughed along with her, a deep rumble in his chest.

  “I’ll never let you regret this,” he said.

  “Then kiss me again.”

  Will did—a deep kiss, a tender kiss that went straight to Serena’s head. She floated in his arms, weightless and free. She felt like she’d shed a great burden, a great heavy anchor that’d held her down all her life. She’d won her life back, and Will as well. She kissed him back fiercely, with all the passion she had.

  “I love you,” she whispered, when they broke apart at last.

  “I love you more.” Will stood back and studied her, taking her all in. A slow smile spread over his face. “Let’s close up early,” he said. “Drink a toast to our future.”

  Serena chuckled. “You got anything to drink?”

  “Sparkling water, maybe?”

  “Sounds good to me.” She took Will by the hand, and a thrill raced through her. This was her turning point, the start of her next chapter. Her biggest challenge lay before her, and she couldn’t wait to get started.

  20

  Serena stretched out in bed with a contented sigh.

  “I love days like this,” she said. “When it’s freezing outside, but I’m safe in bed. The snow’s swirling everywhere, the wind’s howling down the chimney, but I’m tucked up all cozy in my little nest.” She burrowed into Will’s side, savoring his warmth. He ran his fingers through her hair, all slow and lazy.

  “I could stay here all day,” he said.

  “I never noticed before, but it smells so good here.” Serena drew in a deep breath and held it in her lungs. “Like fresh-cut firewood and...I don’t know. A really good breakfast with all the trimmings. Coffee and OJ, eggs and bacon, sausage patties.”

  “I do love my breakfast. Most important meal of the day.” Will ran his hand down her body, raising goosebumps down her side. “I’ll cook breakfast for you someday. Everything you just said, plus a side of home fries.”

  “Mmm...can’t wait.” Serena licked her lips, but it was hard to focus on breakfast with Will stretched out beside her, all warm and rumpled, and naked under the sheets. She traced the contours of his chest, then down over his belly. Her hand settled on his hip and a fierce excitement ran through her. He was hers, really hers, no turning back. And she was his, and the thought brought her comfort—the thought of waking up next to him, cooking breakfast together. She saw it all clear as day, Will flipping pancakes, Nathan snatching one midair. Herself at the table, braiding Julie’s hair. Luna’d be underfoot, begging for scraps. Will wouldn’t give her any, but one of the kids would cave and sneak her a bite of sausage.

  A soft whine drew her attention, and Serena raised herself on one elbow. “Someone’s lonely out there.”

  “She gets a tad butthurt, being locked out.” Will sat up as well, sheets pooling in his lap. “Cool your jets, sweetheart. We’ll be out in a minute.”

  “Two, tops. Have you seen my pants?” Serena felt around for them and came up with Will’s boxers. “Cute, but not quite my size.”

  “I got ’em,” said Will. “Oops, these are mine too.” He tossed his own jeans aside and climbed out of bed. Serena admired the view as he cast about for her pants, the long line of his back, his tight ass and firm thighs. She ran a nail down his spine just to see him shiver.

  “Mm, that feels—hey. How’d these get up there?” He plucked her pants off a high shelf and tossed them on the bed. Serena wriggled into them and reached for her shirt. Outside, Luna was panting, scratching at the door.

  “You think maybe she’s hungry?”

  “Who, Luna?” Will perched on his desk to pull on his own jeans. “I think she’s just bored. Besides, I don’t want to overfeed her. She’ll get tons of snacks this evening, out at the ranch.”

  “You’re going out there tonight?” Serena swallowed her disappointment. She’d hoped to invite Will to her place for dinner with the kids. Still, there’d be other nights, after Christmas, or—

  “We’re doing kind of a dry run for Christmas dinner. Juniper got this cookbook, all Christmas stuff. She wanted to test out the turkey before the big day.” Will paused halfway through buttoning his shirt. “Actually, I was thinking, I know you and the kids’ll be doing Christmas with your parents. But if you’re not busy tonight, we could have our own pre-Christmas together.”

  “Juniper wouldn’t mind?”

  “You kidding me? She’d love it.”

  “Then, it’s a date.” Serena stood up, but Will moved to intercept her.

  “You missed a button,” he said. He unbuttoned her blouse with infinite care, and Serena’s heart melted as he buttoned her up. She rose up and kissed him, and his lips welcomed hers. He held her gently, one hand on her back. When he pulled away, he was smiling, and Serena smiled back.

  “Can we make a little pitstop before we pick up the kids from Mrs. Brown’s?”

  “What’d you have in mind?”

  “Just a quick walk. You’ll see.” Serena took Will by the hand and led him from the room. Luna bounced up to meet them, and Serena knelt to pet her.

  “You want to come for a walk, Luna? Wanna play in the snow?”

  Luna yipped, excited, and buried her face in Serena’s chest. Serena scratched her till she wiggled, and Will shook his head.

  “Remember when you were scared of her?”

  “Barely.” She tickled Luna under her chin. “Who could be scared of you? Such a good girl.”

  Luna grinned ear to ear, and Serena grinned just as wide. She went out to the kitchen and grabbed Luna’s leash from its hook. Luna held still just long enough to clip it on, and then she was dancing, anticipating her walk.

  “After you, then,” said Will, shrugging into his coat. “Since you know where we’re going.”

  Serena led them down the stairs, up Main and around the corner. She stopped in front of Gran’s bakery, now dark and deserted.

  “I wanted a real look at it. At what I’m getting into.” She pressed close to the window, peering inside. She felt like a kid on Christmas morning, shaking her presents for a hint at what’s inside.

  “I want one of those swinging signs, like at the Good Beet. Only mine’ll be a teddy bear holding a big, swirly cupcake. One dipped in sprinkles, with a cherry on top.”

  “That’ll be great,” said Will. “And you could get Juniper to do a mural, up there above the sign. Like a big pile of cookies, or a—what do you call those things you see at Thanksgiving, the big horn things with the food pouring out?”

  “A cornucopia?”

  “Yeah, one of those, but with treats pouring out.”

  Serena smiled. She could see it already, bright, luscious colors spilling across the building’s façade, hinting at the sweet feast laid out inside. She’d have cookies and cakes, fancy bread, hot cross buns, treats of every description, in every color of the rainbow. The smell of baking would drift out like a warm hug, a promise of comfort wrapped in buttercream.

  “It’s going to be perfect,” she breathed.

  “You’ll make it perfect,” said Will. He slipped his arms around her, shielding her from the cold. Serena leaned into his warmth, and she felt content.

  Luna launched herself up the driveway the minute Will pulled to a stop, Nathan and Julie racing close behind. The rest of the kids clattered out to join them, nearly tripping over each other in their haste to pet Luna.

  “That’s one happy dog,” said Serena. “Look at her basking in it, soaking up all that love.”

  Will squeezed her hand. “It’s all love out here.”

  Serena smiled at that, and Will’s heart swelled with joy. She was glowing, just radiant, and if he’d had any doubts—any lingering fear she might change her mind—that was resolved now. He’d seen her happy before, out on their first date, on the sleigh ride, but this was different. This was deeper, like she’d let down her guard and he was seeing all she was.

  “Hey there, you two.” Juniper had appeared on the porch, Scarlett in tow. They were both sporting aprons, both dusted with flour. Juniper waved her spatula, beckoning to Serena. “We’re making baked Alaska. Want to come help out?”

  Serena’s brows went up. “Baked Alaska? That’s ambitious.” She glanced at Will. “Mind if I go?”

  “Knock yourself out.” Will bent to kiss her, a quick, gentle peck. “I thought I’d go find Dad. He gave me some good advice recently. I owe him my thanks.”

  “Oh, yeah? What advice?”

  “I’ll tell you all about it later. After dessert.” Will swatted her lightly across her ass. Serena flounced off laughing and vanished inside. Will followed more slowly, in a sort of happy daze.

  “Hey, Denver. Seen Dad?”

  Denver barely glanced up from tickling Luna’s belly. “In the living room,” he said. “Stealing candy canes off the tree.”

  “Thanks, bud.” Will ruffled his hair and headed inside. Dad was right where Denver’d said he’d be, sucking a candy cane like some overgrown kid. He looked up when Will entered and cracked a wide smile.

  “So, I’m guessing it all worked out?”

  “Beyond my wildest dreams.” Will sat down next to him and stretched out his legs. “I’ve got to thank you,” he said. “You cut to the heart of things, made me see where I—”

  “I gave you a kick up the backside,” said Dad. “Everyone needs one sometimes, and I’ve got big boots.” He took a bite of his candy cane and crunched it between his teeth. “But it’s good to see you so happy. Not just you, but all three of you, putting down roots. I was worried after your mom passed away. Thought we might never manage to really feel like a family again, but look at us now.” He gestured around him, at the mountain of presents stacked under the tree, the long line of stockings marching across the hearth. “All my boys, all their sweethearts. All my grandkids.”

  Will blinked, eyes prickling. Serena’s laughter drifted from the kitchen, mingling with Scarlett’s and Juniper’s. Out front, the door slammed, and Alex called out a greeting. Travis yelled out as well, and Dad gave a snort.

  “Speak of the devil...”

  “Will, hey, you made it!” Alex poked his head in, all dusted with snow. “I saw the kids out front, and I was just saying we’re gonna need a bigger table.”

  “And I said we don’t have one, but we’ve got extra chairs.” Travis pushed in beside him and stabbed a finger at Will. “Want to help grab a few from the barn?”

  “I could do that,” said Will. “Need anything, Dad?”

  “Not that I can think of.” Dad reached for his paper and shook it out. “You boys scrape your boots off before you come back inside.”

  The three of them set out for the barn, Travis forging ahead, Alex and Will strolling behind. Alex nudged Will roughly as they headed up the path.

  “You know we’ve got your back, right?”

  “’Course I do. Why’d you ask?”

  “Dad told me about the clinic, how you nearly went broke.” Alex nudged him again, an elbow to his ribs. “Next time, you come to us, whatever you need.”

  “There won’t be a next time, not if I have anything to say about it.”

  “But if there is?” Alex’s expression had turned serious. Will let out a sigh.

  “If there is, I’ll call you.” He found himself smiling in spite of himself. “I’ve realized now, I’ve got to get better at asking for help.”