Celebrate in Good Hope (Good Hope #22)

Chapter 26

“It’s good to have you back.” Krew steepled his fingers and studied Boone, his gray eyes sharp and assessing.

Boone shifted in his seat. Having Krew ask to see him wasn’t the same as being called to the front office, but Boone still had to fight to project an aura of calm. “It’s good to be back.”

“Is it?” Krew arched a dark brow. When Boone didn’t immediately respond, Krew continued. “You don’t seem fully here. Are you still in pain? Or is it something else?”

“The pain is gone,” Boone confirmed.

The coach leaned forward, his gaze never leaving Boone’s face. “Look, you’re at a crossroads. Physically, you’re ready, but this game is more than physical. You’ve got to be mentally ready.”

Boone nodded.

“It’s not fair to your teammates or the Grizzlies franchise to have players on the squad who aren’t leaving it all out on the field.”

When Boone had walked into the weight room after being cleared by the doctors and heard the good-natured jeers and cheers from his teammates, he hadn’t been able to help but grin. Being on the field again, evading a defender, catching a long pass and scoring had been familiar.

In many ways, being back with the team had felt like coming home.

On the other hand, it felt as if something was missing.

Not something , Boone thought. Someone . In only a handful of weeks, Roe had become an integral part of his life.

Now she was back in Good Hope, and he was here.

“I would give you more time off if I could, but we don’t have that luxury.” Krew met Boone’s gaze. “So, it’s decision time. Are you ready to be a Grizzlies player again or not?”

Six long weeks had passed since Boone had left Good Hope. He and Roe had talked and texted, but it wasn’t the same as having him here. He’d hoped to return for Dakota’s wedding, but that hadn’t happened.

Dakota’s parents hadn’t spared any expense on her Valentine’s Day wedding. But it wasn’t the amazing flowers or gorgeous dresses that Roe would recall when she thought of the ceremony. It was the love in Nolan’s eyes when he saw Dakota walking toward him on her father’s arm.

It was the joy on Dakota’s face when her new husband whirled her around the ballroom of the Bayshore Hotel. The fantastic food and open bar were wonderful, but the love wafting in the air made this reception special.

With great effort, Roe managed to keep her sadness under wraps. Thankfully, none of the bridal party knew how special Boone had been to her or what his leaving had cost her emotionally.

Roe had been determined that all the pre-wedding festivities, culminating in the wedding and reception, would be joyful. Dakota deserved nothing less .

Sitting alone at one of the round linen-clad tables, it seemed to Roe that everyone was here with someone, while she was once again alone.

When sadness once again threatened to overtake her, she told herself to get a grip. If she was going to make this long-distance relationship work, she had to accept that Boone’s schedule would be flaky, and he wouldn’t be able to attend every event.

So, Roe kept her happy face on, waiting for the moment when she could leave. Instead of heading to the cabin with the other bridesmaids and Dakota’s parents and brothers, Roe had told Dakota she would spend the night in the apartment over Blooms Bake Shop.

Ami had told her to sleep there a couple of nights and let her know if the apartment was what she was looking for.

Dakota had been okay with her staying at the apartment. She and Nolan had a suite at the Bayshore. In the morning, they would head to Chicago to catch a plane to Fiji.

Roe was edging toward the door when she ran into Dakota’s father. She couldn’t believe this handsome man was old enough to be Dakota’s dad. Because of his team responsibilities, Krew had barely arrived in Good Hope before last night’s rehearsal.

Dakota had mentioned earlier today that her dad would return to Denver in the morning.

Krew’s smile came quickly when he saw Roe. “Leaving so soon?”

“It’s a fabulous party.” Roe’s gaze slid to the dance floor, where Dakota danced with her head against Nolan’s chest.

She remembered Gladys’s party and how good it had felt to be in Boone’s arms. Roe shoved aside the memory and focused on the man before her.

“Thank you again for letting me stay in your amazing cabin. It’s a gorgeous home.”

“It is pretty nice,” Krew agreed, “but impractical—at least for my family. I had hoped we could all gather here regularly, but with everyone’s schedule, I can already see it won’t work.”

“You could rent it out.”

Krew shook his head, then an odd look filled his eyes. “I sold it.”

Roe blinked. “You did?”

She wasn’t sure why the news hit her so hard. Although she’d driven away from a number of houses during her lifetime and had missed a few, this place held a special place in her heart.

This was where she and Boone had met. Where they’d fallen in love…

Krew’s phone pinged.

“I’ll let you take that and?—”

He lifted a hand. “Hold on a sec, if you don’t mind.”

Glancing down at the screen, a slight smile tipped his lips. “There’s someone in the lobby for you.”

“For me?” Why would someone from the hotel staff be contacting Krew?

“In the lobby,” Krew repeated.

“Ah, okay, thanks.” Roe hurried out of the ballroom and down the hall, her heels clicking on the marble floor.

Reaching the lobby, she glanced around. When she saw who was waiting, her heart stopped. She wanted to run to him, to fling her arms around him and never let go.

Instead, she remained where she stood, unable to move. Her legs felt mired in concrete. Thankfully, her voice still worked.

“Boone,” she called out.

His head jerked around. She knew the instant he saw her, because his entire face lit up, and he covered the distance between them in several long strides.

His arms were around her, and her world, which had been thrown off its axis when he’d left Good Hope, righted itself.

He kissed her, and she kissed him back with all the love in her heart .

Joy bubbled up and spilled over. “You were able to come after all.”

“I’m back.” His gaze met hers. “I told you I’d find a way.”

“How long can you stay?”

“I’m not going back to Denver.”

“What?”

“I’ll explain it all.” Taking her hand, Boone tugged her to a nearby settee and pulled her down next to him.

Even when she sat beside him, he didn’t release his hold on her hand. That was fine with Roe. She didn’t want to let him go. Not again. Not ever.

“I’ve missed you so much.” Despite her efforts to steady it, her voice shook with emotion, and her lips trembled.

Lifting his free hand, he brushed back a tendril of hair with the side of his hand. “Not as much as I’ve missed you.”

Roe’s breath came out on a shudder. If this was a dream, she didn’t want to wake up.

“I retired,” Boone explained. “It was time to say good-bye to the NFL and hello to the rest of my life.”

“I don’t understand.” From the look on Boone’s face, he considered it a positive, but she wasn’t sure.

“The details aren’t important. What is important is I’m now free to live wherever, and do whatever, I want.”

Roe breathed slowly in and out. Was he saying what she thought—hoped—he was? The air between them, which had crackled with electricity, took on an air of watchful waiting.

“I want to live here in Good Hope with you, Roe. I accepted Clay’s offer to be the high school football coach, and I’m going to finish writing my book. When that one’s done, I’m going to write another.”

“Those are big decisions.”

“Yes. And no.” Boone smiled. “On the way back to Denver, I found that scrap of paper from the Christmas party.”

“The fortune cookie one? ”

He smiled. “That’s the one.”

Her mind had gone blank after he’d said he wanted to live in Good Hope. With her. “Remind me what yours said.”

“‘True love is not something that comes every day. Follow your heart—it knows the right answer.’”

Roe cocked her head.

“Don’t you see? It was all meant to be. Me coming to recuperate in Good Hope, the cabin being double-booked and us getting to know each other.” His gaze searched hers. “I realized I was ready to turn the page and start a new chapter in my life. I’ll coach, and I’ll have time to write my book. Best of all, I’ll be able to build a life with the woman I love.”

Though Roe’s heart had begun to sing, she was still afraid to hope. “You really are staying.”

For the first time, he appeared unsure. “Only if you want me to.”

“Yes, oh, yes.” Roe flung her arms around his neck and held on tight. “I’m never letting you go.”

Standing off to the side, the three women studied the couple.

“You know he bought Krew’s cabin for them.” Gladys tossed the words out there as if it was common knowledge, pleased when Ruby and Katherine glanced at each other and then back at her, clearly startled.

“I didn’t even know it was for sale,” Ruby sputtered.

“Who’d you hear that from?” Katherine demanded.

Gladys’s lips curved as she thought of Ruby’s crow analogy. “Let’s just say a little birdie told me.”

Thank you for joining Roe and Boone on their journey.