Now That I've Found You by Bella Andre

  Summer Lake looked like the kind of place where everyone knew one another--and had one another's backs too. Where kids grew up together jumping off the dock in summer, building snowmen in winter, and high school sweethearts became husband and wife in a sweet ceremony on the beach with everyone in town celebrating their love.

  Longing settled deep as Rosa imagined what it would be like to live here. She couldn't stop herself from spinning off into a fantasy of living in one of the lakefront cottages, stitching art in an upstairs studio at a gallery on Main Street, chatting on the sidewalk with friendly faces. Drake was in every frame of her daydream, of course. Waking up in his arms every morning. Creating with him. Dancing on the beach as the sun set. Skinny-dipping at midnight beneath the stars and making love in the lake.

  Oscar shook himself, splattering her with enough water and sand to bring her back to reality. One where she was an infamous star who still needed to deal with an endless stream of naked pictures, not to mention her fractured relationship with her mother.

  But even as she tried to remind herself of all the reasons her daydream could never become a reality, she couldn't silence a voice inside her head that was saying, Why not?

  All along Drake had believed she could make a change, that she was strong enough to do whatever she truly wanted. Slowly, during this week with him and Oscar, she'd started to believe too. At least, until she'd stumbled into a fresh freak-out this morning.

  But she was still standing, wasn't she? She hadn't fallen completely apart again.

  Oscar tugged her forward into town, taking her close enough to be able to read the Lakeside Stitch & Knit sign on the awning of one of the stores. Suddenly, all she wanted was to lose herself in beautiful yarn and thread. She still had a few twenty-dollar bills in her pocket and would love to add some reds and oranges to the blue and green threads she'd been playing with all week.

  But she didn't have her big sunglasses on, or with her. And even if she did, Oscar was a massive enough presence that they weren't exactly going to go unnoticed. The odds of someone on the pretty main street discovering her were fairly high.

  Yesterday, she would have turned around. Wouldn't have dared set foot in a small-town street, let alone a yarn store. But once upon a time she'd been a strong, confident person, hadn't she? And even if at eighteen she hadn't truly understood the ramifications of her career choice, she'd chosen it. No one had pushed her into it, and she wouldn't lay that blame on her mother or the network. Staying on TV for five years had also been her choice.

  Only a few days ago, she hadn't recognized the strength Drake portrayed in his paintings--had even doubted his vision of her. But as she peeled back the layers of shame about the pictures, with Drake supporting and loving her through every single step, she finally saw that her strength was still here.

  She was still here.

  And she was finally ready to reclaim her life. Every last piece of it, from career to family to love.

  She'd start, Rosa decided, by walking into Lakeside Stitch & Knit with her head high and getting her hands on some pretty new thread. Thread that she was going to make art with. Art that she was going to stop belittling by calling it a hobby.

  Funny how things could feel so unclear for so long. Until suddenly they weren't anymore.

  Rosa had hidden long enough. Not only during the past week, but by hiding who she really was all these years.

  The walk she and Oscar had been taking through the woods had been slow and meandering. Now, purpose underlay her every step. Her heart was pounding hard, and she couldn't lie and say she wasn't scared. But she was going to push through that fear for once, rather than letting it continue to control her.

  "Be a good boy while I go into this store," she said to Oscar as she tied his leash to a lamppost right outside the store. She could have sworn he nodded at her before lapping at a bowl full of water that some nice dog lover had put outside. She gave him a pat on the head. "I won't be too long."

  She wouldn't have said she was cool as she walked into the store, but she wasn't on the verge of passing out either. The moment she crossed this threshold was her fresh start. No more running. Not from strangers. Not from the press. Not from her family.

  And especially not from herself.

  Surrounded by shelves, bins, and baskets of yarn, a lovely gray-haired woman sat in the middle of the room on one of the very comfortable-looking chairs, knitting what looked like a cable sweater in a seafoam green yarn.

  "Welcome to Lakeside Stitch and Knit. I'm Olive. Can I help you find anything?"

  For a moment, Rosa couldn't find her voice. She took a deep breath and smiled at the woman. "Everything looks so beautiful. I just wanted to look around, if that's okay."

  "More than okay." Rosa was struck by how beautiful the woman was when she smiled. "The embroidery on your sweatshirt is exquisite. Did you do it?"

  "I did, but it's just a hob--" Rosa caught herself a split second before she downplayed her talent the way she'd just told herself she wouldn't. "Thank you. I love to stitch. I usually work on canvas, but this was all I had."

  "May I take a closer look?" Warmth, and something that felt an awful lot like happiness, filled Rosa's chest as the woman got up and moved closer. "You created all this with only two colors?" Olive was clearly impressed as she called out to a middle-aged woman who had just emerged from the back. "Denise, come take a look at this stunning embroidery done by--"

  "Rosa." She refused to let her voice shake. "My name is Rosa."

  "It truly is a pleasure to meet you, Rosa."

  If the other woman recognized her, she didn't give any sign of it as she came forward with a smile and an outstretched hand. "It's lovely to meet you, Rosa. I'm Denise." Her eyes widened as she looked down at the embroidery on the hem of the sweatshirt. "What beautiful artistry."

  There was that word again--artist. When Drake had said it to her, Rosa hadn't let herself believe he could actually mean it. Now, however, she wouldn't let disbelief win again.

  "Thank you." Graciously accepting the compliment felt a little easier the second time. "Your store is wonderful."

  "My mother and I love it. We're glad to hear that you do too."

  Rosa's heart tugged at the perfect picture Denise and Olive seemed to make as mother and daughter co-owning such a beautiful store. Had they ever fought? Ever felt so fractured that they wondered if they'd be able to repair their relationship? Or had things always been perfect between them?

  "I work with my mom too," she found herself saying. "At least, I used to."

  She was saying too much, but thankfully, another customer walked in to save her from herself, from sitting in one of the comfortable chairs with Olive and spilling her guts about absolutely everything while she stitched.

  "Christie," Olive called, "come see this gorgeous embroidery our new friend Rosa has done on her top."

  When a pretty woman with long, golden-brown hair and startlingly green eyes turned toward Rosa, she couldn't hide her shock. "Oh! Hi!" She quickly turned her attention to Rosa's sweatshirt. "Wow, this is incredible. I'd love to learn how to do something like that." She looked up at Rosa. "I'm sure it's way too hard for me, though, considering I'm still fairly new to knitting."

  "I can't knit at all," Rosa told her, trying with all she had not to worry that Christie had obviously recognized her. "Once you learn how to make and space the stitches, it's really just practice more than anything."

  "What about coming up with the design? How do you do that?"

  "I just try to take the vision I have in my head and bring it to life with the thread."

  "You make it sound so easy, but I'm sure if I tried it I'd be all thumbs."

  "Honestly, I could get you started in five minutes. Once you felt confident in the rhythm, the feel, of the stitches, you'd be well on your way."

  It wasn't until she said the words aloud that she realized just how true they were--not only for embroidery, but for everything in her life as well. Getting started
with something new was always the scariest part. The rest was just confidence and practice. Just like Drake had said during that first meal they'd shared together on the card table, when he'd asked, Are you sure it has to be hard?

  Olive leaned out to look through the front windows to where Oscar was relaxing in a patch of sun on the sidewalk. "Is that Drake Sullivan's big dog with you?"

  Rosa felt herself flushing. "We were taking a walk through the woods and couldn't resist coming into your store."

  "I don't mean to pry, honey," Olive said, obviously noticing her discomfort. "Although Drake would sure be lucky to be with a woman as lovely as you. I've always thought what a handsome young man he is, with a heart as big as his talent." She waved her hand in the air as if to push the tangential comments aside before continuing. "In any case, I was thinking if you were going to be in town for a little while longer, perhaps we could convince you to teach an art embroidery class."

  "Me?" Instantly, the familiar panic bubbled up. "Teach a class?"

  "I can tell you for a fact that Christie isn't the only one who would like to learn about your techniques. I would too. And if we posted a picture of your work on our website and in the local paper, it would be a packed house in here, no question."

  "I don't--" Rosa shook her head. "I'm not sure..."

  "My mother doesn't mean to pressure you," Denise said. "Why don't you take some time to think about it and let us know if you feel comfortable setting something up?"

  Rosa appreciated that Denise was giving her a way out, but she'd just spent the past week taking time and thinking about it. Just minutes before walking into the store, she'd decided she was done running. Done hiding. Done worrying about how difficult it would be to make a fresh start--and just make one already.

  This was her chance. So even if she was scared, she needed to take it.

  "I'd love to teach a class." She could feel Christie's surprise, even as the other woman tried to hide it. "But before we schedule it, you should know a few things about me, because I'd hate for your customers to get upset about your being connected with me."

  "What could they possibly have to be upset about?" Olive asked, her brow furrowed in confusion.

  "Nothing." Denise's fierce tone took them all by surprise. "Not one damned thing. I'm very sorry for what that creep did to you, Rosa."

  Tears jumped into Rosa's eyes before she could stop them. She wiped them away with her fingertips. "I am too. But I'm done hiding now. Done feeling like it's my fault."

  Denise's arms drew her in, held her tight. "We're all on your side."

  Christie nodded vigorously. "We were high-fiving each other over at the inn when we saw what Smith Sullivan said to the press--about how he'd never work with any of them again if they ran any more stolen pictures of you."

  "You're all so kind." The strength of the women around Rosa helped feed her own strength. She turned to Olive. "I have a few big things to deal with before I can be certain of my schedule, but I can tell you that even though I've only been in town a few hours, I already know I'd like to stay at Summer Lake for as long as I possibly can."

  "Wonderful. Any help you need on any front, you know where to come." Before Rosa could start blubbering again, Olive said, "Now, you take your time browsing." She put a hand on Rosa's shoulder and led her over to a display against the right wall full of sumptuous color and luxurious texture. "You might want to start with this silk floss we just brought in from Italy. Nothing better to work your way through the ups and downs of life, if you ask me. And I should know..."

  With a firm squeeze of her shoulder, Olive left Rosa to marvel at her luck in finding so much support everywhere she went from women she'd never met before, like Suzanne and these three wonderful women in the knitting store. And most of all, she marveled over finding Drake.

  The man she loved.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Rosa felt a million times lighter as she and Oscar walked back through the woods to Drake's father's house. As she'd said to the lovely women in the yarn store, she still had plenty to deal with. But even if her load hadn't yet changed, her perspective on it had. She was ready. Finally ready to face it all head on, no matter how difficult it might be.

  But first, she needed to talk to Drake. She needed to tell him how much he'd meant to her from the moment he'd found her drenched and scared on the side of the road in the middle of a rainstorm. She needed him to know just how much she loved him. And she needed him to know that she was finally brave enough to trust that their love could last through any firestorms that might come her way in the future.

  Oscar seemed just as happy as he lazily splashed through puddles and loped after squirrels and birds. Every few minutes, he'd saunter back to her side and nuzzle her hand.

  "You feel it too, don't you? It's home."

  She knew he couldn't really understand her--and certainly couldn't answer--but yet again, it felt like he did when he licked the palm of her hand, then gave her a big doggy grin.

  "You're such a big part of it," she told him. "You and Drake."

  The beauty of the Adirondacks, the incredibly kind welcome of the women in the yarn store, the silence broken only by the chirp of a bird and the croak of a frog--those were all big things. But the man she still couldn't believe she'd found, and his big sweet dog, were what completed her. Truly and deeply, in a way she'd never thought possible.

  Her heartbeat jumped when the house came into view in the curve of a cove. She hoped things had gone okay between Drake and his brother after she'd left, that they'd found a way to work things out.

  But even if they hadn't, she wouldn't let that scare her away. No, she'd simply pull up her big-girl pants and convince Alec to come around. She'd show him she wasn't some empty-headed girl from a reality TV show, but someone worthy of his brother's love.

  Same went for Drake's father. When she finally met him--soon, hopefully--she wouldn't let any negative first impressions win.

  "Rosa."

  She gave a little yelp when Alec appeared suddenly from out of the trees.

  "Whoa," he said, "I didn't mean to scare you."

  "I'm okay." She would be, anyway, once some of the adrenaline coursing through her drained away. "I didn't hear you coming."

  "When we were kids, the four of us used to play a game where we tried to sneak up on each other. I was always good at it." It struck Rosa how much nicer--and slightly less cocky--Alec was when talking about his family. "I want to talk with you before you go in."

  "I want to talk with you too." She'd let enough people insult her. Starting now, she wouldn't let anyone else roll over her. Letting the steam rise rather than bottling it up the way she always had before, she said, "I know you think you might know me from TV, but you don't know the first thing about me."

  "You're right, I don't," he said, surprising the heck out of her for a second time in a matter of seconds. "I was an ass when Drake introduced us. There's no excuse for my behavior, but I hope you'll accept my apology."

  "That's a pretty fast about-face." Even if she didn't want to, she couldn't help but be wary. "Especially when you still don't know me, still haven't talked to me for more than thirty seconds."

  His eyebrows went up as if she'd surprised him by not automatically accepting his apology. Surprised and impressed him, actually. "My brother wouldn't tell all of us he's in love with you if you weren't worth falling for."

  "He told the three of you that?" She'd never met anyone like Drake--so open, so unafraid, so willing to stand up for what--and who--he believed in.

  "Nearly rearranged my face while he was at it." Alec ran a hand over his jaw as if to make sure the very well-aligned bones were still intact. "Will you accept my apology?"

  Still reeling from the fact that Drake had told all of his siblings he loved her while she was gone, she nodded. "You were an ass, but I'm willing to forget about it and start over if you're willing to forget what you've seen on TV and take me as I am now."

  But Alec was obv
iously wary too, because instead of simply agreeing, he said, "Whoever you are now, I sure as hell hope you're in love with him too. None of us want to see the same thing happen to Drake that happened to our father."

  "It wouldn't." She was certain of it. "He's too strong. Too solid. And he has all of you."

  "You're right that we'll always have his back, no matter what. And we'll also do whatever we need to protect him." Alec looked her hard in the eyes. "But right now I need to know--are you going to stay or go?"

  "I want to stay." It was the second time today she'd made that statement. And each time it had felt right. Scary too, but that seemed to be par for every single course she was on right now. "I've got a lot to take care of, though."

  "Drake is already on your side. Now the rest of us are too." His grin was probably irresistible to every woman on the planet. But not her. Because her heart was already taken. "Whatever you need, just ask."

  Was it really that easy?

  Before today she would have doubted, would have been cynical. But she was tired of second-guessing every single thing, so she decided to push her bravery another step forward by taking Alec's statement at face value.

  "Okay. Thank you." She was glad they'd cleared the air, but she was now more desperate than ever to talk to Drake so that she could tell him everything she was thinking, feeling. So that he would know just how much she loved him right back.

  As if she had conjured him out of sheer desire, Drake emerged a moment later through a grove of trees. "There you are."

  Joy blasted through her, head to toe, just looking at his smiling face. And when he grabbed her and kissed her as if she'd been gone two years instead of only two hours, she was surprised that her heart didn't simply explode out of her chest in an array of multicolored fireworks.

  When he finally let her up for air, her knees were wobbly enough that she needed to hold him so she didn't simply melt to the ground in a puddle.

  "That's one hell of a greeting," Alec mused in a voice laced with humor.