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“I’m not kidding, Mason.” He points a finger at me. “You’re going to fix this and you’re going to fix it today!”
I put my hands up as if in surrender and I salute him. “Yes sir, o’ Captain my Captain.” He glares at me, and amazingly a chuckle escapes my lips. “Tell me about this plan that you and Leah have cooked up.”
“You know my sister and her obsession with romance novels. Well we’ve come up with the absolute perfect grand gesture for you. If that doesn’t work then we're going to kidnap the both of you and shove you together until she comes to her senses.” I stare at him and laugh. I don’t mind the idea of being trapped with Emily but I’m pretty sure she’ll have a thing or two to say about it, and I doubt they’ll be very ladylike.
“Okay. So let’s hear about this grand gesture.”
Jack starts to explain to me what he and Leah have come up with and I can’t help but be impressed. If it doesn’t work, then I look forward to being trapped with Emily for however long is necessary. It’s a sacrifice I am more than willing to make. Apparently Jack and Leah have already stocked the lake house with a month’s worth of supplies.
I pray it doesn’t take that long, but with Emily you never know.
Chapter Twenty
Emily
Leah was right. Gettingout of the house is exactly what I needed. I’m not working today but I’m sitting at one of the tables near the window with a warm cup of tea between my hands. The smells of fresh pastry and the chatter of customers shopping for books is a healing balm to my soul. Books and Brew is my way of creating a place where people can discover far off lands, fall in love, or solve a mystery. I feel the love and joy that is alive in this place.
Mrs. Robinson stopped in for her monthly book restocking. She didn’t bring up Mason. No one has. Sometimes living in a small town that thrives on gossip is a blessing. The town can’t stop humming about the past weekend though. Everyone benefited from Mason’s old team doing their fundraising eventin town. I smile just thinking about how it positively affected all the businesses.
The smile changes as Mason once again pops into my mind. He’s never far from my thoughts. Being at the lake house gave me some time to think about everything that happened, and more importantly, what everyone said to me. By everyone I mean Leah, Jack, Adam, Lily, and Mike. Not to mention any townspeople who decided to talk a bit too loudly while having conversations about Mason and I.
I know now that it was my own insecurities and fear that made me react the way I did when I saw Mason and Julia. According to the Cottage Grove’s rumor mills there were bets on how long it would take for the two of us to realize how we both felt.
My smile widens and my heart lifts in knowing that even if I can’t trust my perceptions, I have always been able to trust the townspeople of Cottage Grove. They’re like my own little magic eight ball. If I asked the question “Is Mason Sanderson in love with Emily Stewart?” I would get the response of “Without a Doubt.” I chuckle.
I will talk to Mason, I just need to get ready to grovel a bit. My heart aches when I think about how I sent him away from the lake house. I was so stuck in my feelings and fears that I couldn’t hear him out. I feel like the biggest fool and I’m so embarrassed. Once I can get my pride out of the way, I’ll talk to him.
Wee woo, wee woo, wee woo.
Mr. BoJangles must’ve gotten into a tree again. Thank goodness for that cat, otherwise the fire department would have a lot less to do.
Wee woo, wee woo, wee woo.
The sound gets louder as the truck gets closer which is strange because I didn’t hear anyone talking about something going on on Main Street. Suddenly the fire truck pulls up in front of thestore and I see the guys flying off of the truck and running into the store.
Oh my goodness! Is there a fire in the kitchen?!
“Leah!” I yell in a panic but when I catch her face I see a smirk and I feel my breath catch just as my heart starts to try and hammer its way out of my chest.
She’s looking at the door behind me. I turn around to see Mason, standing in his full bunker gear, filling the doorway. He’s there holding a bouquet of dark pink tulips and a determined, but nervous look on his face. I feel my face split into a smile and I hear the crowd around me “awwww” as they watch the interaction.
I’m going to say that Mason and I are the only two in all of Cottage Grove who didn’t know what was going to go down at Books and Brew today.
Mason responds to my smile with one of his own as we both slowly start to walk toward each other.
“Emily, I’m so sorry—”
“Stop,” I cut him off as I throw myself into his arms and kiss him. He catches me and pulls me tightly to him and kisses me back. My entire body is suddenly vibrating, and every nerve ending is fully alive. In this moment it's only Mason and me. The sounds from the room break through my love dazed haze, and I hear cheering and clapping in the background. I can’t stop the laughter from bubbling up.
The smile breaks free and I pull my head back to look directly in Mason’s chocolate brown eyes.
“I’m so sorry for how I treated you. I know I was being a complete idiot but I couldn’t stop myself. I love you so much, Mason. I always have.”
“Yeah you do,” he says with a teasing glint that melts my insides. Then his look turns serious and he whispers. “You never have to worry about me walking away from you. When I leftCottage Grove for college I had every intention of leaving you behind with it, but I couldn’t. There is no other person for me. I love you, Emily. Will you be mine?”
My knees go weak and I feel tears slip from my eyes. This time not tears of sadness but joy. Mason gently wipes the tear from my face and kisses my cheek.
“I never thought you’d ask,” I whisper as his lips capture mine in a kiss that has the entire town hooting and hollering.
