Excerpt
As much as she protested that she disliked the business end of the business, she had a head for it. Better than he did himself, Nicholas admitted with cheerful satisfaction when he looked in on her later.

“Yeah, you’re just saying that so you can scrape it off your boots onto my floor!” she retorted promptly.

“And now I’ll take my cleaner boots up to the house and get ready for rehearsal. Sure you don’t want to come? You’d make Thomi’s day if you did!”

Stormi shook her head. “Said I’d sit and take donations for her. Anything, but set a foot on stage—even for her!”

“Heard that before,” Nicholas mused. “She’ll be opening the show.”

“Anetra? You’re kidding! Thought she said she'd do one set, and that’s it?”

“Yes, well, apparently, Jaimee has a love for the accordion. Polkas perk her up when she’s feeling bad. She called earlier this afternoon and begged me to persuade Anetra to play first. In case she couldn’t stay for the whole afternoon.” He smiled apologetically. “I couldn’t tell her no.”

“When you going to tell her? Tonight?”

“Or tomorrow. Definitely by Sunday afternoon!”

“Uh-huh. I foresee some fireworks, Sunday afternoon!”

“Yes, but she loves me,” he answered with cheerful confidence as he headed for the door. “She’ll forgive me!”

Storm watched him leave, shaking her head as he went out. Probably only take one of his lazy, apologetic glances and a deep kiss. Would work for her! Her vision of this scenario changed, becoming not Nick and Anetra, but she and Geoffrey. long, deep, sweet kisses . . . arms that held her protectively and possessively, yet gently. Slow hands that knew precisely what would make her—

A green bill fluttered down in front of her. A one-hundred dollar bill that settled upon the ledger open before her. Startled, she lifted her gaze from it to its owner. And drew in a deep breath. Her heart skipped a beat, then settled into a slow thud.

“For your thoughts. Looked as though they must be worth more than a penny!”

Her color deepened still more. Goodness, when had he gotten back? And where was Helene? Or—had he actually kissed her off? Not one to assume anything where it concerned Geoffrey, she inquired in a perfectly composed tone, “Aren’t you going to rehearsal with the others?”

Shoving a pile of papers aside, he perched upon a corner of the desk. Something else he’d never done before—not while she’d sat at it, at any rate! “Not tonight. Enjoy your day with my little brother?”

“Yes, actually, I did.”

He gave a slight nod. “He’s entertaining. But, not, I think, as entertaining as your daydream. Who were you with? Thought it could be me, but—” He tossed a blue envelope down before her where it covered the hundred-dollar bill. “Could be him!”

The envelope was open and several photos spilled out. Photos of Lawron alone. Of them together. In a few shots, Kailey embraced him, kissing his cheek. But, as much as she was happy to have them, she discovered she couldn’t bear looking at them long. The guilt, grief, and pain wouldn't permit it. Scooping them up, she stuffed them back into the envelope. Pushed it away, along with the hundred-dollar bill.

It was just too soon. Just . . . too soon.