Her Charming Heartbreaker (25 page)

She cupped his face and
pressed her lips against his. “I am. With all my heart.”

He frowned.

“I’ve spent all this
time telling myself I had too much to do and couldn’t spare a
moment to think about wanting to see you again. But it was all I
could do. I thought about everything I’d miss out on, like having
an argument with you over nothing. Or nudging you awake in the
middle of the night because... just because.”

His phone rang. He
ignored it.

“Aren’t you going to
answer that?”

He shook his head. “I’m
busy.”

“It could be
important.”

“It can wait. Whatever
it is, someone else can take care of it.”

Then a hard fist
pounded on the front door.

“I told you they’d come
after you.”

“Don’t move.” Theo
sighed and went to open the front door.

Mitch was leaning
against the doorframe. “Is it all sorted out now? Or do I have to
stand out here all day waiting for you to come out?”

Eddie’s arms wove
around Theo’s neck. “Go away, Mitch. Can’t you see we’re busy.”

Mitch growled. “Oh,
crap. You’re going to make me wear a monkey suit.”

“He hasn’t asked me
yet. But he will.” Eddie reached past him and eased the door shut.
“Now, where were we?”

“I think I was saying
I’m staying, no matter what.” He looked up at the ceiling, and then
back down at her. “We’ve covered the contingency plan, I know you
like those. So in case you decide to run away, I’ll come too. What
else is there to discuss?”

“Maybe we should stop
talking.”

“There’s an idea.” He
brushed his lips against hers and smiled. “We could reconvene in a
few months’ time to discuss... what comes next. Although, you
should know, I won’t take no for an answer.”

Epilogue

“I can’t believe you
kept this a secret from me all this time.”

“I’ve had fun doing
it.”

“You’re really serious
about this.” Eddie stood in the middle of the vacant store that had
once housed a wool and quilting craft shop. It was now six months
since Theo had returned from L.A., the trip he’d made with Ben so
he could meet his father. “And you expect me to be your
partner.”

“You said you loved
me.”

Right after he had, and
on bended knee.

On his return, he’d
given her a diamond ring and only six months to get used to the
idea of marrying him.

She shook her head. “I
can’t believe you want to open a restaurant.”

“There’s a gap in the
market. We’ll fill it. It’ll be fun and you can have a new project
to focus on. You’re always threatening to quit your job at the
pub.”

“Yes, but… I don’t see
you running a restaurant. Sitting in one, wiling away the time,
yes, but running it…”

“It’s called
delegating, Eddie.”

“And what about your
parents. How will they survive without you as their manager?”

“They’ve been doing it
all these months. Besides, I can keep tabs on everything from this
end. And, if they really need me, they know where they can find me.
Now, we need to think of a name. Something elegant. Posh.”

“Bull. It would never
work in these parts. Then again… Actually, that has a nice ring to
it.”

“What does?”

“Posh and Bull.”

“This is supposed to be
a brainstorming session.”

Eddie watched Theo,
standing with his hands on his hips, his gaze skating around the
empty store, until it settled on her.

He shook his head. “No.
No. No.”

“I like it. It’s us.
I’ll trade you the white tablecloths for the name. It’s grown on me
now.”

“I never mentioned
wanting tablecloths.”

“You were about to say
you wanted peach,” she teased.

“I’d never choose that
shade. If I did, it would be damask.”

“White linen. And
that’s my final compromise.”

He shook his head.
“Fine. Posh and Bull and white linen table covers.”

“Hang on, that was too
easy.”

“Consider it a gift. I
always get to have my way with you.”

Remembering exactly how
he had had his way with her the night before, she smiled. “Add it
to the non-negotiable list.” She bit the edge of her lip.
“Actually, I nearly forgot. You need to add Wilbur. If we’re going
to set up house together and open a new business, then you might as
well know I don’t go anywhere without Wilbur.”

“Wilbur?”

“He’s my stuffed
toy.”

“Fine.”

“Okay, I’m done. Give
me the pen and I’ll sign the lease.”

“Posh and Bull,” he
said under his breath. “It seems like I’m making far more
concessions than you. And you still haven’t told me what Eddie
stands for.”

“I will. Someday. As
for Posh and Bull. Admit it, the name’s growing on you.”

“Actually, it is.” He
smiled and handing her his fountain pen, he turned so she could use
his back as support.

Eddie immediately
signed the agreement. “Now you sign.” She turned in time to hide
her smile.

“So, do you sleep with
Wilbur or does he sit in a corner of your bedroom? I’m not sure how
I’ll feel about a stuffed toy watching us.”

“Wilbur is used to
hanging high on the wall, so I’m thinking—”

“Wait a minute.
Wilbur?” His voice thickened and rose. “The boar? In our
restaurant?”

“The ink’s dried, Theo.
There’s no backing out now. I’m going to be co-owner of Posh and
Bull, and I’m going to marry you. It doesn’t mean I’m going to
change. I have to remain true to myself and—”

“I wouldn’t have it any
other way.”

* * * * *

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Keep reading for an
excerpt from Her Perfect Mismatch by Sonia Parin

Her
Perfect Mismatch

Sonia
Parin

Copyright © 2015 Sonia
Parin

Chapter One

When Elizabeth Charles
spotted the sign on the store window, she knew her bold move was
about to be tested. If she passed, she’d embrace her new life in
Eden. If she failed, she’d return to Melbourne with her tail tucked
shamefully between her legs.

“No one said this would
be easy.”

Over the last
twenty-four hours, she’d made three major decisions that would
impact the rest of her life. Each one had been validated by no less
than ten solid reasons to justify her leap of faith, and as she’d
agonized over each one, she’d felt a massive weight lifting off her
shoulders.

She had to do this for
herself. No excuses, no apologies because the alternative meant
sticking around until she was replaced by a newer, much younger
model. Younger than twenty-seven?

“It’s a sign,” she
insisted as she drove around the block. Turning into the main
street again, she slowed down and stopped behind a car that
appeared to be idling. Before she could think better of it, she
steered her car, front first, into a parking spot, killed the
engine and leaped out onto the sidewalk, her focus on the quaint
store window that beckoned her in.

This wasn’t just a test
of her commitment to moving on. This new life she craved demanded
the ultimate act of defiance.

Puff Donuts.

Elizabeth didn’t care
if they were only a poor imitation of the famous croissant like
donuts she’d heard so much about. She was beyond reason now. A
couple of years before she’d lived across the road from the New
York bakery which had first introduced the delightful pastries to
the world, but she hadn’t been allowed to indulge because she’d
been on a tight leash...

That was then, this is
now.

Her stomach perked
awake with the sort of demanding growl that refused to be pacified
by flourishing a stick of celery under her nose.

“If you’re serious
about doing this—”

She was. Absolutely.
And, yes, she’d do it. She would shed the last soul wrenching
vestiges of her previous life with an overdose of sugar and never
look back again.

* * *

“Girls, zip it for a
moment and listen up. There’s a right way and a wrong way of doing
this.” Mitch Faydon smiled at the twins sitting in the back seat of
their mother’s people mover.

Cocooned in safety
features, he thought wondering if his reputation could withstand
the damage. When Miriam Stewart had called that morning to ask a
favor, she’d known Mitch couldn’t say no. The women of Eden had him
eating out of their hands. Well, he had news for them. As of last
night, he’d sworn off the lot of them and the sooner they realized
that, the better. But that was neither here, nor there. Right now,
he needed to focus on the twins. “You’re never too young to learn,
girls. Make sure your car is in the right position, then check your
mirrors, look over your shoulder and slowly reverse—” Mitch slammed
his foot on the break, his eyes narrowing on the car that had come
from out of nowhere and was now occupying
his
parking
space. He growled under his breath. “Girls, cover your ears.”

“Why?” twelve-year-old
Aimee asked.

“Just do it.”

“Are you going to swear
because that lady took your parking space?” her sister Belle
asked.

“You were dawdling. Mom
says never to do that. In life, you have to be decisive,” Aimee
said.

Mitch unclenched his
jaw. “We’ll find another parking space.”

“That’s called a
strategic retreat. Our dad is very good at it,” Belle said.

“I’m too hungry to go
searching for the culprit. Even if she was in the wrong. And she
was.” It just wasn’t worth it. This wasn’t about backing down. This
was about giving himself some breathing space. He’d chill out for a
while. Hang out with the boys. Leave the women of Eden to their own
devices. Everyone knew him as the go-to-guy for a fun time. Well,
no more...

As he drove around the
block, Mitch couldn’t help thinking he was going about this the
wrong way. Why should he stop enjoying—

He brushed his hand
across his face.

He was the injured
party. He’d been used. He’d been cheated on...

The words felt like
canon shots in his mind. It was now or never. He had to fire up his
determination. Stick to his guns. But first, he’d regroup. He might
even redefine himself. He’d never set out to become the bad boy of
Eden—

“The other parking spot
was right outside the café,” Aimee complained.

“Don’t be such a wimp.
It’s only a short walk. We can work on our appetites. Come on, I
promised your mother I’d feed you breakfast.” He took hold of their
hands and tugged them along the main street and toward Joyce’s
Café.

Everyone had made an
early start getting into town, making the best of the last days of
summer. Heads turned. People smiled and greeted them. More heads
turned. Someone had the gall to stare at him with her mouth gaping
open and he was sure he saw a cell phone pointed in their
direction.

Yes, time to show the
women of Eden there was more to him than met the eye. The local
high school English teacher had gone to Melbourne for the day to
visit her mother in hospital and she’d entrusted Eden’s bad boy
with her precious twin daughters for the day. The news would spread
in no time. And he might as well cash in. Parade the twins from one
end of the main street to the other, let the whole world see he
could be a regular guy too.

“Look! That’s her,”
Aimee said and pointed toward the café. “The parking thief. Are you
going to tell her off?”

Mitch swallowed back
the growl he felt swirling in his throat and propelled the girls
inside the crowded café. As they strode in, he sent his gaze toward
the offender. She sat with her back to the door, her strawberry
blonde locks tied into a knot at the nape of her neck, her long
fingers tapping on the table. She looked to be on the verge of
making a major decision. Either that or she wore her guilt with
frustration.

“Take a good look at
her, girls. She’s the type who gives all women a bad name.”

“Are you sure you want
to have breakfast here, Mitch?” Belle’s big brown eyes filled with
empathy. “She pierced your male ego.”

Her sister Aimee rolled
her eyes. “Mom’s been listening to one of her audio books in the
car and Belle’s picking up all this nonsense, well, that’s what dad
calls it, right before he disappears into his man cave. Do you have
a man cave, Mitch?”

“It’s not nonsense. Men
are complex, multi-layered, sensitive—” he tugged on their hands.
“Come on, let’s order some Puffy Donuts,” he said hoping to steer
their attention away from him.

“Puff not puffy. And
what exactly are they?” Aimee asked.

He wasn’t sure but if
Joyce had gone to the trouble of advertising them, they’d have to
be good.

“Mom will get cranky if
she knows we didn’t have a proper breakfast,” sensible Belle
said.

Aimee broke free of his
hold and made a beeline for a table by the window. Right next to
the parking snatcher.

Mitch set his jaw into
a tight clench and headed toward the opposite side of the café but
couldn’t see a single vacant spot. Slanting his gaze down at Belle,
he caught her raised eyebrow look.

“All right, come on.”
As they wove their way around the tables, he nodded hello to a few
people but didn’t stop to chat. Reaching the table Aimee had
settled at, he pulled out a chair for Belle and then sat next to
her.

“Just the man I wanted
to see,” Joyce, the café owner, said as she approached. “I have a
bone to pick with you.”