From Now On: Atlanta Belles Read online

  “I’m proud of you. That’s the right attitude.”

  “Don’t get too carried away. I’m far from achieving that goal, having only spent less than an hour with him while surrounded by a room full of people. Let’s see how I feel after spending an evening with him.”

  “I have faith in you, Whit… And in Cash. After seeing him today, my opinion of him is softening.”

  “That’s just because he’s nice eye candy.”

  “That might have a teeny bit to do with it.” Dixie laughed, picked up her handbag from behind the reception desk, and headed toward the door. “Have a nice time tonight. If you need to talk later, give a call. I’ll be up late.”

  After Dixie left, Whitney went upstairs and was greeted by a very excited Clarice. She didn’t take the little dog downstairs while she worked on Saturdays. It was way too busy in the salon. Not only would Clarice be underfoot, but Whitney wouldn’t be able to keep a close enough eye on her. She was much better off staying in the apartment, even if that meant the dog was a maniac when she got home. And today was no exception. Clarice raced from room to room, skidding across the floor and banging into a side table that held Whitney’s favorite Nippon vase. She’d started collecting the porcelain when she was a child and used to go to antique shows with her parents. If a piece was broken, it wouldn’t be easy to find a replacement.

  “Come on, crazy dog! Let’s go outside before I fix your dinner.” Whitney scooped up the Papillon and carried her downstairs, then set her out back on the patio. The dog scampered onto the grass. While Whitney waited for Clarice to do her business, her thoughts drifted to Cash. Dixie had been right about him being even better looking now than he had been when he was younger. He’d matured well, and not only physically. She’d been surprised by his good humor. In the old days, he might not have stayed quiet during the incident with Travis. She felt bad that Travis had to find out like that, that Cash was back, but maybe it was for the best. While she enjoyed his company, she’d known for a long time that their relationship would never progress any further. That magical spark just wasn’t there, and she knew it never would be.

  Clarice trotted over to her, and Whitney picked her up and carried her inside. When she was back upstairs, she fed the dog, then took a quick shower before dressing for her date.

  At seven o’clock on the dot, his car pulled into the parking lot. He’d always been punctual and that certainly hadn’t changed. She took one last look in the mirror, happy with the simple black dress that she’d chosen to wear.

  When she greeted him at the front door, she was equally pleased with his appearance. His khaki pants fit him perfectly, as did his button-down shirt.

  “Ready?” he asked, offering her his arm.

  She accepted it without hesitation. “Always the gentleman.”

  “Yep. Some things never change.”

  “I’m glad,” she said softly. She caught his questioning look but said nothing more as they walked to his car. He opened the passenger side door of a sparkly new silver Mercedes and helped her inside, then he walked around the front of it to the driver’s side. She watched him slide his large frame onto the seat with the agility of a jungle cat.

  Whitney studied the clear-cut lines of his profile, noting that he hadn’t shaved the three-day growth of beard that shadowed the lower half of his face. Had he left it there for her, knowing how much she loved it?

  His nearness made her senses spin, and she felt like a teenager going out on her first date. She’d better squash that unwelcome surge of excitement, or she could be opening herself up to more heartache. My goodness! We haven’t even left home yet.

  In an effort to shift her thoughts onto another topic, she leaned back against the soft leather seat and breathed in the new-car smell. “Guess you did pretty well for yourself in New York,” she said matter-of-factly, glancing at the Mercedes’ plush interior.

  “Yeah, I can’t complain.” He shot her a quick look before pulling out of the lot and driving down the street.

  The restaurant they were going to was off the beaten path, and she couldn’t remember how they’d discovered it years ago, but she was glad that they had, as it quickly become a favorite haunt of theirs while they were dating.

  When he took the turn away from Decatur Square, she said, “I see you haven’t forgotten how to get to Wahoo! Grill.

  He shot her a dazzling smile. “Of course not. There are a lot of things I haven’t forgotten.” The implication of his gaze made the air around them seem electrified, and she knew she’d better rein in her emotions if she didn’t want to fall victim to his charm.

  “I heard your office is down the street from where Atlanta Belles used to be,” she said, shifting the subject to one she hoped would be safe.

  “That’s right. It’s temporary, though. I’m looking for something similar to what you have—a big old house. That Victorian is fantastic.”

  “It is. I lucked out. It had been for sale for a long time, but it needed a lot of work. I think its size was a deterrent too. As soon as the For Lease sign went up, I was all over it. My plan, though, is to purchase it, and, hopefully, that’s not too far down the road.”

  “I think that’s a great plan. I don’t see how you can go wrong with that place.”

  She smiled over at him. “Thanks! And good luck with your search.”

  “I only just started, and I’m not in a huge hurry. Although, my preference is to move sooner rather than later.” Cash pulled down a side street and was able to grab a rare empty space, impressing her with his parallel parking mastery.

  Inside, he impressed her again by having called ahead so that they could be seated right away. Wahoo! didn’t take reservations for small parties, but they did take call-aheads, and walking in without one on a Saturday night could mean a very long wait.

  There were three different seating areas. The main section was nice because it gave a view to the open kitchen. The second was an enclosed patio with brick floors and a view of the outdoors, but it could get pretty noisy, making conversation difficult. The third, and her favorite, depending upon the weather, was the charming and quaint outdoor patio. Whitney was quite happy when the hostess led them out there. It was a beautiful June evening with a gentle breeze, making it the perfect night for outdoor dining. After they were seated, Cash ordered a bottle of California Pinot Noir.

  When the waiter brought the bottle, he also had a basket of bread that included garlic olive oil for dunking.

  Once their wineglasses were filled, Cash said, waving away the menus, “We know what we’d like to order. We’ll have the calamari to start. And for entrees, she’ll have the Ahi tuna, and I’d like the seared sea scallops. We’re not in a rush, though, so please hold off on putting in the order.”

  Some women might not like having a man order for them, but Whitney found it very attractive. One of the things she’d always loved about Cash was his take-charge style.

  After the waiter left, Cash leaned back in the chair and took a sip of the wine. “Very nice,” he said quietly, almost to himself, then said to Whitney, “I’m so happy that you agreed to have dinner with me.”

  The way his blue eyes delved into hers made Whitney blush. “I’m glad you invited me. I hated the way that things ended between us.”

  “I did too. I never stopped thinking about you, or wishing that things could’ve been different.”

  She took a deep breath and let it out slowly as memories came flooding back. As she stared across the table at him, it almost seemed as if the past seven years had never existed and they were just out on a typical Saturday night. But those years did exist, and she had a child to prove it. One that she had to figure out a way to tell Cash about. Just not tonight. It was way too soon. Once they were on steadier ground, she’d break the news to him.

  “I was a fool, Whit,” he added. “You were—are—more important to me than a job. I know it’s not a good excuse, but I was young and blinded by the offer of wealth and success. And even th
ough I did achieve those things, a big part of my life is missing that only you can fill.” He reached across the table and took hold of her hand, rubbing his thumb over the top of it. “I hope I’m not coming on too strong, especially knowing that you’re involved with Travis. But I’m guessing that you’re not that serious about him or you wouldn’t have let him leave the salon the way he did yesterday. Am I right?”

  Whitney swallowed hard and nodded. Her heart was pounding a mile a minute. She hadn’t expected this. And she sure as heck wasn’t sure how she felt about it. Not that she hadn’t dreamed a million times about Cash discovering that he’d made a mistake, but to have him there in the flesh was another story, and it was too much to take in right now.

  He must’ve picked up on her confusion, because he said, “You don’t need to say anything. It’s just, you know me, I’ve never been one to beat around the bush. I speak my mind and worry about the consequences later.” He chuckled, then with his free hand took another sip of wine.

  She took a sip too, only to notice her hand was shaking. With perfect timing, the waiter arrived with their calamari, causing Cash to let go of her.

  “These look delicious.” He dipped one into some hoisin sauce, then took a bite. “And they are. Come on, try one.”

  Now that that intense conversation had ended, she realized how hungry she was and placed a few onto her plate. To keep things light, she asked him about New York, and he was eager to answer her questions. His stories about Times Square left her giggling and wide-eyed with wonder.

  By the time their dinners arrived, they were both relaxed and ready to dig into their food. While they ate, she entertained Cash with a few hilarious experiences of her own involving the salon and its patrons that left them both teary-eyed from laughter. When she’d agreed to have dinner with him, she never imagined that she’d have so much fun.

  On the way home, they were still joking, but when Cash parked the car in front of her house, things got serious again. She was more prepared this time, though. Having just spent three hours with the love of her life made her realize maybe they had a shot at a second chance.

  “I want you to know that I approached my uncle about opening an office in Atlanta. I had a feeling that he’d go for it, since this is where he got his start, and I’d proven to him that I was ready to venture out on my own. Of course, it helped, I’m sure, that he knew my eagle-eyed mom would be there to report anything I might have forgotten to tell him.”

  “Is she going to work for you?” Whitney asked, remembering how Cash had told her years ago that Eve had worked the front desk when Galloway Realty had first opened. His dad and uncle had been partners back then, until the accident changed everything. Jack Galloway had been killed in a hit-and-run, leaving five-year-old Cash fatherless and his mother a widow. Whitney couldn’t imagine what Eve must’ve gone through, trying to raise her son alone while grieving the loss of her husband. At least Jack had left her well off so that she didn’t need to work. But she’d continued on at the company, maybe because it kept her busy, until Hunter closed the business and moved to New York. It was because of all that Eve had gone through that Whitney had overlooked most of the woman’s interfering ways. Her threats regarding Mattie were a different story, however.

  Whitney had been conflicted about whether or not to tell Cash about the baby as soon as she found out she was pregnant—eight weeks after he’d left Atlanta. She knew he had a right to know, but part of her was afraid to make that call. He’d just started his dream job in the most fabulous city in the world. What would that do to him to find out that he was going to be a father? Cash took responsibility very seriously. But at twenty-four, he had the world at his feet, and a baby sure wouldn’t fit into it. What if he’d moved back to Kirkwood out of obligation and they’d gotten married? She’d had no doubt that he soon would’ve come to resent her and Mattie. What kind of life would that have been for the three of them? She’d visualized arguments and lots of unhappiness. But despite those fears, she’d decided to let him know. How ironic that the very day she was going to pick up the phone, Eve Galloway paid her a visit.

  The woman had been dressed to a T, wearing a white designer suit and Jimmy Choo heels, in complete contrast to Whitney’s sweats and oversized shirt. Eve had just come from a country club luncheon, where she’d learned that Whitney was pregnant. Her feelings about Cash knowing ran parallel to Whitney’s. However, they went a step further. Eve was convinced, beyond a shadow of a doubt, that knowing about the baby would destroy his life, and there was no way she was going to let that happen. So she threatened to ruin Whit’s business if she told Cash, leaving her no choice but to comply. She’d poured everything she had into Atlanta Belles. How could she support a newborn baby with no money and no job? She couldn’t even go to her parents for help. They’d retired to central Florida a few years earlier and were enjoying their senior years at The Villages. No, it was her problem to deal with, and she’d done the best she could. It might wind up biting her in the butt now that Cash was back, but there was nothing she could do about it. The past was the past. She needed to deal with the future.

  “I don’t think so. She’s got a pretty busy social life. I doubt she’d find time to fit work into it,” Cash said, jolting Whitney back to the present.

  “What?” She gazed at him questioningly.

  “You asked me if my mom was going to work for me?”

  “I’m sorry, I think all that food and wine has made me groggy,” she fibbed.

  “I won’t keep you much longer.” Cash draped his arm across her shoulders and leaned in toward her.

  A second later, his mouth was on hers, covering it hungrily. His lips were more persuasive than she cared to admit, and shivers of desire raced through her. She kissed him back with a hunger that she’d kept buried for a long time, succumbing to the forceful domination of his mouth.

  When their lips parted, she just stared at him, not wanting to say something that might break the spell she’d been put under.

  He ran his finger across her mouth, still warm and moist from his kiss. “I’m not going anywhere, Whit. Not ever again. I’m here to stay, and I want us to start over. I don’t expect an answer tonight. Just think about it. Think about giving me a second chance.”

  Before she could say a word, his mouth was on hers again. Only this time, his kiss was light as a feather. “I had a wonderful time tonight,” he whispered against her lips. “Come on, I’ll walk you to the door.” And then he was out of the car and opening the passenger door.

  He helped her out, and then they walked hand in hand up to the front porch. When she put the key in the lock, Clarice started barking.

  “What kind of dog is that?” Cash asked.

  “A Papillon.”

  “Those cute little things with the huge furry ears?”

  “Yep. That’s Clarice.”

  “I can’t wait to meet her.”

  Whitney hoped he’d feel the same way about Mattie. All she needed was to get up the courage to tell him about her. “Thanks for tonight. Good night,” she said softly.

  He kissed the tip of her nose, then turned around and walked back to his car.

  Whitney entered the house like she was floating on a cloud. A little while later, she climbed into bed and fell asleep with a smile on her face.

  Chapter 4

  Cash woke in the morning feeling more well-rested than he had in years, and he had Whitney to thank for that. Dinner last night had gone a hundred times better than he’d hoped. When she suggested they eat at Wahoo! Grill, he was elated. With their history there, he’d had a feeling he could break through her shell and get her to move beyond the past, but he’d had no idea it would happen so quickly. It was just like old times, laughing and joking and simply enjoying being together. And when he’d kissed her sweet lips, fireworks had erupted inside him. Now he just had to continue to play his cards right, and before long they’d be back together, and this time when he proposed, nothing was going to prevent h
im from going through with the wedding.

  He whistled cheerfully as he stepped into the shower, not even minding that, as usual, the water temperature fluctuated between too hot and too cold. Cash was confident he wouldn’t be in this old rental much longer. He’d taken it on a month-to-month basis until he could find a permanent place to live. He hated being unsettled, but that came with the territory when moving nearly one thousand miles.

  After he dressed, he had a quick breakfast, then headed over to the office. Neither Lee nor Sally was in yet, but there was a file folder open on his desk with photos of properties. Lee must’ve come back sometime yesterday and put it there so that Cash could take a look.

  He settled into his big, soft leather chair and flipped through the pictures, stopping cold when he spotted Whitney’s gorgeous Victorian. Why was that mixed in with photos of places they might be interested in purchasing? A feeling of dread swept over him, but he pushed it away. No harm had been done. Lee had just taken some pictures, but Cash needed to straighten him out. It was a huge waste of time to be photographing houses that weren’t on the market.

  He’d just finished going through the rest, having pulled out two that were possibilities, when the front door opened and Lee strolled inside.

  “Morning, Cash. Sally’ll be right in. She stopped to get us some coffee and donuts.”

  “Great. Thanks. Hey, why’s this in here?” He held up the picture of Whit’s blue Victorian. “I don’t want you bothering with places that aren’t for sale.”

  “I’m not. It’s just that that property seems perfect. Hunter thinks so too. Besides, the owner seems willing to do a deal if the tenant isn’t in a position to buy it. There’s no contract involved, just a verbal. Apparently the current occupant has showed interest in purchasing, but you know how that goes. The highest offer…”

  “Whoa, hold on there.” He slapped the picture down on the desk. “What exactly are you saying? You went to my uncle about this, and he already contacted the property owner?”