Chapter 19
Even though it was her day off from the tasting room, Ivy drove to her art studio long before the sun rose, ready to put in a few hours on her latest painting. During these past few months, she had been getting up early to paint, spending mornings working on her art before reporting to the tasting room for her day job. She did so because the rest of her hours were spent with Dax.
Summer was almost over, and only one more Harmony Hues night remained on the calendar. The town of Lost Creek and summer visitors had generously supported the series spotlighting local musicians and artists. Ivy had only sold one additional painting at the event, holding back everything else as Paloma and Arlo had suggested. Paloma was driving down for the final Harmony Hues and would arrive on Saturday morning. That’s why Ivy was eager to finish the painting she now worked on, hoping it would be among those Paloma chose to take back with her to Dallas.
Ivy had regularly texted pictures of her finished work to both her friends, and they all had high hopes that she would be able to quickly sell what she had worked on this summer. She still didn’t think she had enough paintings for an exhibit, but she would place herself in Paloma’s hands regarding that. Paloma got along well with Jameson Polk, her new boss in Dallas, and felt once Polk saw Ivy’s work, he might even offer to represent her.
She reached the studio and tossed on a smock so she wouldn’t get paint on her clothes. She wanted to keep them fresh because Dax would pick her up at eleven this morning. They would be picnicking at Lost Creek Lake, which had become a favorite spot of theirs. They had rented kayaks and paddleboats at Hill Country Sports, owned by Finley’s brother Ches and his wife Sally. Ches was still trying to talk them into renting a fishing boat, but Ivy didn’t want to think about having to bait a hook and clean fish afterward. Fortunately, Dax had never been fishing, being a city boy, and for now they simply ate their fish on a plate.
Sometimes, she found it hard to recall what her life had been like before Dax Tennyson entered it, though she was glad they had not met before she returned to her hometown. In Houston, she wouldn’t have found time to pursue a relationship with him, her responsibilities at the gallery keeping her too busy.
Ivy became lost in her painting and was startled when she heard a knock at the door. It was far too early for Dax to show up since he would be working his usual Wednesday morning shift at Java Junction. Curious as to who was here, she set down her brush and went to the door. Opening it, she found Harper waiting on the doorstep.
“Hi. Can I come in?” her sister asked.
“Of course,” Ivy said, motioning for Harper to enter.
Harper said, “I haven’t been a great sister to you this summer. I’ve been distracted by starting up my own business, supervising the construction of the event center, and having my head in the clouds because of Braden. Beyond our weekly dinners with Finley and Emerson, you and I rarely see one another.” She paused. “I want to do better in the future.”
Harper embraced her, and Ivy felt the love flowing between them.
“You’ve had a lot on your plate,” she told her sister. “It’s been the same with me. I told you that I’m trying to put together enough paintings for Paloma to see if she can persuade her boss to hold a showing for me in Dallas. Or at least have him agree to represent me and sell some of them. Between painting and working at the tasting room, I’ve been swamped.” She hesitated and then added, “I’ve also been seeing quite a bit of Dax.”
Ivy knew Harper wanted her to elaborate, but she really had no idea where to start. Instead, Ivy said, “Come look at some of the art I’ve been working on over the past few months since I’ve been back in Lost Creek.”
“I’ve already seen some of it in the square. You know I rarely go into town, skirting past it when I head to the winery each day, but I recognized your murals on the square on my way here just now. I stopped and looked at both before knocking on your door. Ivy, I didn’t know you had done these. Why didn’t you share that with me?”
“You’ve been incredibly busy.” She took Harper’s hand and squeezed it. “I also know how rough it was to have the rug pulled out from under you. You thought you were going to be married. Instead, you faced a deep betrayal by two people you loved. I wanted you to find your mojo again, Harper. Have the time to heal and look to the future. And you’ve done that. I’m in town a lot more than you are, and folks are excited about the event center’s opening. People are checking out your website, as well. I’ve been keeping tabs on those stats, the number of visitors hitting the site, and traffic is increasing daily.”
Ivy paused. “As important as Weddings with Hart has become to you, I understand how Braden is someone you wanted to spend most of your free time with. He’s great, Harper. I look upon him as a good friend and big brother. I think the two of you together rock.”
Her sister’s face softened. “I’m lucky. I could have moped around for months. Years. Coming back to Lost Creek to start my own business has kept me busy, though. The fact that Braden and I found one another and are so happy together is merely icing on the cake. I love him so much, Ivy. Way more than I did Ath. Having experienced what I have with Braden, I doubt my marriage to Ath would have lasted. Or it would have—and I would never have known the absolute joy I’ve found with Braden.”
Ivy showed Harper her paintings. She had almost fifteen completed now, once the one on her easel was finished, and that would only take another couple of days before it was done.
Harper flipped through the stack of canvases leaning against the wall. “These are incredible, Ivy. I always knew you had talent. Maybe I took it for granted when we were growing up. It was just an Ivy thing. A part of you. You must have really suffered during those years in Houston, not having time to paint.”
“Now that I’m back to painting again, it lets me see how unhappy I was the years I walked away from my art. I had always thought I’d return to painting at some point, but that day never arrived in Houston, thanks to Lawson Everhart being a slug and making me do his job and mine. The horrible event which happened to you was the catalyst which woke me up. It enabled me to quit my job and come back to Lost Creek. I’m finding myself here, Harper. Both as an artist and a person. It makes me wonder why I ever left Lost Creek in the first place.”
“Well, there was this little thing called college that called us away,” her sister pointed out. “I know what you’re saying, though. This place is special. Maybe we appreciate it more now for having left it. We’re both returning home and see Lost Creek with mature eyes now. I can’t imagine living anywhere else. I know Mom and Dad were proud of what we did in the years after college, but they are so happy to have both of us home again. I’ll admit that I have felt slightly guilty, knowing neither of us wished to take over the winery. Now, however, you’re involved with the tasting room. I’ll be managing the event center. And Braden is in charge of the wines. I feel we have all major areas covered.”
Harper smiled. “I’m glad I stopped by this morning. It was wonderful to see the paintings you’ve been working on. You’ve been gone a lot, but then again, so have I. I promise to spend more time with you in the future. For now, though, I’ve got to do whatever I can to ensure that Weddings with Hart is kicked off with a bang. Have you been to the event center or tasting room lately? They’re really coming along.”
“I have. I think they’ll both be finished before the deadline. Probably within the next two weeks, I’ll start interviewing for staff to work the gift shop. It’s going to be great. We both have a lot to be proud of, Harper.”
Ivy walked her sister to the door, and they embraced again. “Thank you for stopping by, I’m glad you like what I’ve produced. It’s nice to have the Harper stamp of approval.”
“I’m wild about all your paintings, but especially the one of Lost Creek Rock. I’ve shared the legend of it with Braden. It’s always been such a mysterious, romantic place. You captured its essence beautifully.”
After Harper left, Ivy went to the painting of Lost Creek Rock, thinking of the stories about Ekta, the beautiful Native American daughter of a tribal chief and how Tarak and Tosawhi fought to the death, seeking her hand. Ivy separated the painting from the others Paloma would review, setting it aside. This would be her wedding gift to Harper and Braden. She didn’t know when they would marry, but her gut told her it would happen sometime soon. They were certainly soul mates. While most people might think things had happened between them too quickly, Ivy understood both had suffered painful breakups in the past before they had found one another. She didn’t see either of them wasting time when they could be together. It wouldn’t surprise her if they married by the end of the year.
She loved Lost Creek Rock, though, and decided she would paint it from a slightly different angle, wanting it to be part of the collection Paloma’s gallery would hopefully sponsor.
Ivy went back to her current work-in-progress, getting more done on it than she had expected, knowing she would be able to finish up on it by tomorrow. She came to a good stopping point and cleaned her brushes and put away her paints, knowing Dax would be here any minute. She was proud of the fusion nights he had sponsored this summer, bringing attention to so many different painters, sculptors, potters, and jewelry makers, along with various musicians. Though he had thought to put the idea of forming a band on hold, Dax had found he had much in common with a few of the musicians who had played on several of the Harmony Hues nights.
That had led to him recently forming a band, which practiced Tuesday nights after Java Junction closed and Sunday afternoons in the drummer’s garage. Ivy had gone to the three Tuesday night sessions, watching the band start to feel its way as they got to know one another musically and personally, finding their strengths and weaknesses. The drummer had a decent voice and sang lead on a few of the songs they’d practiced. For the most part, Dax was their lead singer and guitarist. The band also included a bass player and keyboardist. They had worked on a few of Dax’s original songs, as well as covers from rock to country. Ivy was thrilled that Dax had fallen in love with country music. His voice was a natural fit for it.
She heard a light tap on the door and went to answer it, pulling Dax inside the apartment, where she gave him a slow, lingering kiss.
“You keep kissing me like that, and I’ll forget all about the picnic we’re supposed to go on,” he flirted.
“I’ve been painting since a little after six this morning, and I didn’t take time for breakfast,” she told him. “I need food in me.” Smiling seductively, she added, “Before I need you inside me.”
He pulled her to him, laughing. “Aren’t you a little saucy minx,” he said, kissing her again before releasing her. “Food’s in the truck. So is a blanket. All I need is the girl to complete everything I need for a successful picnic.”
“This girl is all yours,” Ivy said, wrapping her arms about his neck and kissing him again.
She locked the studio’s door and accompanied him to his truck. As Dax drove the short distance to Lost Creek Lake, Ivy went through the items in the picnic basket.
“Sandwiches. What kind?” she asked.
“Ham and turkey on one. Roast beef for the other. And before you say anything, I know you like both, so I had the deli cut them in half. So we can have half of each.”
“Smart man. Ooh. A cheese plate. Someone’s been to The Cheese Connoisseur.”
“I’m hooked on that place, thanks to you. I added the berry pack to my order. You should find raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries, along with crackers for the cheese.”
He patted a cooler sitting on the floorboard behind him. “A bottle of wine and waters are chilling in the cooler. The wine is that red blend we both like.”
“My, Dallas. You are definitely wining and dining me today.”
He reached for her hand and brought it to his lips, pressing a tender kiss against her knuckles. “I want the best for my girl.”
They reached the lake and parked. The late August day was hot. While she saw a few boaters out on the lake, the picnic area was abandoned.
“Want a table, or we can find a spot in the shade over there.”
“It’s not a picnic unless you eat on a blanket,” she declared, gathering the blanket in her arms.
Dax took care of collecting the rest, and soon their feast was spread before them. They skipped from topic to topic, mostly talking about the final fusion night coming up in three days.
“Are you sure you should bring them to an end?” she asked. “They’ve turned out to be so popular.”
“I think we’ve featured enough artists and musicians in the area for now. You don’t want to oversaturate your market. Deke has signed several new clients from these nights, so their work will be available at his gallery. As far as musicians go, I’m going to feature different musicians on Wednesday and Saturday nights at Java Junction throughout the fall and winter. Only one artist per night, so they can really delve deeply into their inventory of songs.”
“Will you perform any of those nights?”
He nodded. “Singing in public is now in my blood. I’m comfortable with it. I’ll continue taking one voice lesson a week with Sylvia, just to keep me on my toes. She’s a great sounding board, and I’ll play my new songs for her, as well as polish some older ones and even a few covers. Sylvia actually came to band practice on Sunday.”
Ivy giggled. “I would’ve liked to have been a fly on the wall to hear her comments. Too bad I work Sunday afternoons.”
“As always, she didn’t pull any punches. But that’s what I like about her. She doesn’t criticize just because it’s expected. Yes, she does give notes for us to work on, but she’s also effusive with her praise when she thinks it’s deserved. If I ever need a female singer, I may twist her arm to make a guest appearance with us. As it is, I’ve talked her into performing a duet with me Saturday night.”
“That’s terrific. Have you decided what to name the band, Rural Rockers or the Lone Star Rebels?”
“I shared those two names with the other band members. We’re still deciding.”
“I know you’re just starting to get your feet wet with the band, but Harper will be needing some live entertainment to play wedding receptions, so keep that in mind.”
“You said her center should be open by November?”
“That was the target date. Surprisingly, the construction manager has indicated it might be a month sooner. Then Harper will start booking events right away.”
“We would need another few months to really gel before I’d be comfortable asking people to pay to have us play their receptions and parties. Maybe by the end of the year—say, December—I could pitch to Harper. Have her come listen to us play and see if we’re what she might be interested in.”
“She will be,” Ivy encouraged. “Although I’ve only been to a handful of your practices, everyone is talented. It’ll just take time for you to come together.”
Dax slipped his arm about Ivy’s waist. “You build me up every single day. Make me feel good about myself and this life I’m now a part of in Lost Creek.” He gazed at her, his love for her obvious in his eyes. “I’m the luckiest guy in the world. I have Java Junction. I’ve got new friends. And most important of all, I have you, Ivy. You’re at the center of everything I am. Everything I do.”
He kissed her deeply, a kiss full of unspoken promises and a passion which burned just below the surface.
Capturing his face in her hands, Ivy said, “I love you more than I ever thought possible, Dax Tennyson. My life is richer and fuller than it ever has been. All because of you.”
He tucked a lock of hair behind her ear. “I’d make love to you right now on this blanket, but I don’t want to give any of the boaters or fisherman out there a free show. How about we head back to my place? I’m melting in this heat. We could both use a shower.”
“So, you want shower sex, Dallas?”
His smile turned wicked. “And then some, Professor. If I can’t get you to scream my name at least half a dozen times, I’m not doing something right.”
She arched her brows. “Half a dozen? Someone has an extremely high opinion of himself.”
Grinning, Dax said, “We’ll stop counting at six.” His smile broadened. “But I’ll bet the number when we finish is higher. Way higher.”
He pushed himself to his feet, holding out a hand and pulling her to hers.
“Let’s see just how good you are, Mr. Tennyson. For me, I think it’ll be a win-win.”