Chapter 32
DOVE
“He’s just like Rocky,” Darcy cries as we cling to each other in the middle of Lagniappe.
Tears spill onto my cheeks, and I watch my Mav with blood all over his face yelling my name into the camera and saying he’s coming for me.
“It’s his favorite movie,” I snort, holding my hand over my snotty nose.
Joy surges through my chest at the sight of them skating around with that giant trophy, kissing it, passing it around, and hugging each other. I know how much it means to all of them and how hard they worked. It’s so special to have had just a little part of it.
The group of locals in the bar crowd around us slapping our backs, and even Mr. Georgia gives me a handshake.
“Good game,” he says, and I thank him.
My cheeks hurt from smiling so hard. Things might be falling apart at home, but at least here, one half of our equation is working.
My man just won the Cup.
On the bar, my phone bounces with all the vibrations. I scoop it up to see the screen covered in texts from Gina and Haddy. They’re all saying I should be here, and they need me here.
Then the screen changes color with a FaceTime call from Maverick.
“Maverick!” I yelp as his face appears on the screen. “Congratulations! I’m so happy for you!”
His hair is wet, and his face is clean. It looks like he’s in the middle of a shower. I hustle out the side door to the small patio off the restaurant and bar so we can talk.
“The guys are spraying champagne everywhere,” he laughs, his hazel eyes sparkling.
I can’t help a laugh, and more tears fall onto my cheeks. “You were incredible tonight.”
“How are you doing?” His expression grows more serious, and I see him walk from the room to a more private area. “You okay?”
“Yes, yes!” I shake my head. Then I realize and nod quickly. “Don’t worry about me right now. Enjoy this night. It’s huge!”
“You should be here.” His voice is quiet, and I hiccup a breath.
“It’s okay. I’m there in spirit.”
“I love you. Everything’s going to work out, okay? You trust me?”
I’m not sure he’s aware of what we’ve discovered, of how bad things have gotten. I don’t know if he knows what Sawyer is doing and the talks they’re having. Still, what happened tonight is so much bigger.
“Yes.” I tilt my head to the side. “I’ll always trust you. I love you.”
The room explodes with people yelling and grabbing his arm. His smiling face is on my screen, and he’s saying something when it cuts off.
I can only imagine they’ll be up all night celebrating. Walking slowly through the courtyard, I exit through the wrought-iron gate. I text Darcy, telling her to split the check, and I’ll send her my half on the money app.
I’m so happy for the guys and for everyone celebrating, but a quiet has settled in my chest. Perhaps this chapter has closed, but if there’s even a chance of saving it, I’m willing to listen. What choice do I have?
“We’ll start with the beef carpaccio and a glass of the Beaujolais Nouveau for each of us.” Corey holds the large, black folder in his hands.
“Of course, sir.” The waiter does a little bow. “I’ll get that in and be back for the rest of your order.”
After a restless night’s sleep, I almost canceled this meeting with Corey. Perhaps Uncle Sawyer is right, and it’s time to let it all go. It simply hurts too much to imagine all my beautiful trees cut down and ground into pulp.
Is it possible Corey might prevent it from happening? Would he do that for me? Perhaps it doesn’t have to be a barter, and I can convince him to save the trees for all of us, everyone in Harristown. LaGrange Orchard is part of everyone’s legacy.
When I told Mom what I was doing, she made some comment about him being just like Digger, but there’s only one reason I’m here, to speak for the trees. I’m the Lorax, after all.
“I must say, you are very elegant, Dove.” He leans back in his chair, exhaling a sigh as his eyes glide up and down my body creepily. “You were made for the finer things.”
I don’t know what kind of act he’s putting on. We both grew up in one of the smallest towns in a small state far, far away from New Orleans or Dallas.
“The things I have are fine to me,” I answer calmly.
It’s a nice restaurant, so I wore a dress. It’s a simple gray sheath that ends below my knees. My hair is tied back in a French twist, and I only applied mascara and pink lipstick.
It’s about as basic as you can get.
“Of course they are, which is why you’re so perfect.” He sighs, tilting his head.
“Cut the crap, Corey.” I shift in my chair. “We both know why I’m here, so you might as well get on with it.”
The waiter glides up at that very moment with two glasses of pale red wine and a bowl of what looks like raw meat. My upper lip tenses, and the fellow looks expectantly from Corey to me.
“Ah, give us a little longer, please,” Corey says.
“Absolutely.” The man bows and scurries away.
I lift my wine glass and take a sip. Corey spoons the meat onto a piece of bread and takes a big bite, making a show of how delicious he thinks it is.
“You should try this.” He points to the platter.
“I’d rather talk turkey,” I say, giving him a quick smile.
He touches his mouth with the napkin as he shakes his head. “I do adore your sense of humor.”
I do my very best not to roll my eyes as I wait, not wanting to give him any reason to prolong this dinner.
“Since you insist.” He puts the napkin in his lap again and places both hands on the table. “As you know, my older brother has made your uncle an offer he can’t refuse to buy the orchard.”
My chest roils, and I shift in my seat. “He plans to purchase the orchard, grind it down, and replace all the peach trees with soybeans.
“Something like that.” Corey callously flicks his wrist. “I couldn’t care less about farming.
I have no idea what he’ll do. However…” He emphasizes that word.
“I might be able to convince him to keep a few of the peach trees, since they’re such a historic part of the town.
Perhaps the shed could be a small museum with a memorial garden. ”
I swallow the anger in my throat. “A few of the trees.”
“That’s my proposal.” He reaches into the breast pocket of his coat, taking out a small, turquoise blue pouch and sliding it across the table to my hand. “All you have to do is say yes, and it’s done.”
The room falls silent, and I realize everyone in this place knows what’s going on. He told them he was going to propose to me, and they’re all waiting for me to say yes so they can clap and cheer.
I look down at the blue velvet pouch, not touching it. “That’s it?”
Corey’s brow falls, and he frowns at me. “What did you think? I texted you as much in January.”
“In January, your offer was for the entire orchard, not a small memorial garden.”
His voice turns sarcastic. “It’s still saving your damn trees.”
Blinking rapidly, I shake my head. “You’re asking me to marry you for a memorial garden?”
His nostrils flare, and he shrugs. “It’s better than nothing.”
I don’t even move. My eyes narrow, and I speak slowly. “What if I want more?”
“My God, Dove, must you always be so impossible? You’re an intelligent woman. You must know that something is better than nothing.”
I’m about to point out his proposal is nothing when a commotion breaks out behind us. I hear loud male voices, and our waiter is arguing with someone.
“Excuse me, sir, but you can’t come in here right now.”
“Like hell I can’t.” I know that voice, and I’m out of my chair at the sound.
Turning, I have to catch my breath when I see Maverick standing in the middle of the restaurant.
He’s dressed in a tailored gray suit, and his hair has been cut.
It’s still a little long and shaggy, and a small bandage is above his left eyebrow.
The glasses are on his nose, and when he smiles, that dimple I love pierces his cheek.
A whimper slips from my throat as I run into his arms. “Maverick,” I sigh as he hugs me firmly against his chest. “You’re here.”
His warm lips press against my head, my temple. “I told you I was on the way.”
Lifting my face, I look up at him, and his smile is the best thing I’ve seen in weeks. “I’m so glad to see you.”
He leans down to cover my lips with his, and our mouths part. His tongue slides to mine on a warm caress, and my knees turn to liquid. He could toss me over his shoulder right now and carry me all the way to the house, and I’d only smile and rest my elbow on his back.
“What’s the meaning of this?” But of course, there’s Corey. “How dare you burst in here and interrupt our dinner this way?”
Maverick exhales a laugh, gazing into my eyes, his arms still around me. “This guy.”
I shake my head, turning to face Corey, who is now on his feet.
“It’s over, Hayes.” Maverick takes my hand, lifting it in his. “All of it.”
“What are you talking about?” Corey blusters, reminding me of a disgruntled chicken.
“I bought LaGrange Orchard—the land, the house, the trees…” Maverick takes a folded blue paper from his coat pocket.
My breath catches, and I turn to face him. “You did what?”
He steps closer, handing it to me. “I bought it, but only under the condition that it be gifted back to you and your family.”
“How…?” Tears are in my eyes, but I’m doing my best to hold them back.
“I’m not sure exactly,” Maverick chuckles. “I told my lawyer to do it, and he did.”
“But… why?”
He grins, reaching up to wipe the tear off my cheek. “Because I love you. I won the Cup, and now I’m going to retire and move here, marry you, and grow peaches.”
I step closer, and he wraps his arms around me, pulling me to his chest.
Shaking my head, I smile up at him. “But you don’t know anything about growing peaches.”
“You’ll have to teach me.”
“I’m not even sure we can anymore.”
“We won’t stop until we do.” He leans closer, whispering in my ear. “Last I checked, my fiancée has some innovative ideas for how we can get things going again.”
“Oh, Maverick.” I lean forward, pressing my cheek to his chest and wrapping my arms around him so tightly. “You love this place as much as I do.”
He puts a large hand on the back of my head, holding me close. “I always have.”
My head tilts back, and I laugh through my tears. “Then I guess I have to marry you on the spot.”
“I’ll take that as a yes.”
We step back, ready to walk out hand in hand when Corey stands out of his chair so quickly, it falls backward with a crash.
“How dare you?” He walks over, grabbing my upper arm and jerking me away from Mav’s side. “Dove is my fiancée. I asked first.”
In a blink, Mav has him by the lapels of his coat, jerking him onto his toes and speaking into his face. “Don’t you ever touch my Dove again. Do you understand?”
He gives Corey a shake, and the idiot is dumb enough to snivel, “Or what?”
Mav exhales a laugh, lowering him to his feet and dusting off Corey’s shoulder. “There’s a nice, big, stinky dumpster out back. I’ll be happy to toss you right into it.”
“Are you threatening me?” Corey looks around the restaurant. “You all heard him!”
It’s more than I can bear. I snatch the bowl of peach cobbler off the dessert cart and walk straight up to him, turning it upside-down on top of his head.
The thick syrup quickly runs down his face and peaches fall onto his nose and suit.
“Ugh!” Corey shouts, wiping the sticky mess out of his eyes. “What have you done?”
“I am not your fiancée, and I never will be.” Then I turn to look around the restaurant at the people doing their best not to laugh, asking loudly, “Did y’all get that?”
Mav snorts a laugh, grabbing me around the waist and tossing me over his shoulder. “Come on, firecracker. Let’s get out of here before we get into trouble.”
I prop my elbow on his shoulder, giving everyone a defiant smile as he carries me out of the room. Until a few ladies start to clap, and some men start to laugh, and I break and start to laugh, too.