For Love and Honor (13 page)

Chapter Seven

A
WEEK LATER,
A
IDEN
stepped from the shower, wrapped a towel around his waist, and went in search of something decent to wear that didn’t say camo or thread-bare cotton. Five days ago he’d been cornered in the cereal aisle of the Touch and Go Market by Gladys Lewis and Arlene Potter, president and co-president of the Sweet Apple Butter Festival committee. After they charmed him with compliments on his cereal choice—Cap’n Crunch original, not Crunch Berries—and thanked him for his service in the Army, they’d asked him to be a judge in the festival’s apple butter competition. Apparently the prior year there had been a controversy due to favoritism.

How could he refuse the two little blue-hairs? Especially when, mid-sentence, Gladys turned around and smeared a glob of crimson lipstick across her mouth so she’d look pretty for a soldier like him. Or so she said. So now, when he’d rather be enjoying the festivities from where he could blend into the background, he’d be thrust in the spotlight. With respect he would listen to all the nice things people had to say, while deep inside he thought of himself as a total screw-up. He’d failed his best friends. He’d abandoned his dog. And he’d disappointed Paige.

Jesus. He was batting a thousand.

He turned his attention back to matters he could control. There were two sides of clothing choices in his closet. Military and ultra-casual. Not much in-between. He grabbed a freshly laundered button-down shirt off a hanger and jammed his legs through a pair of khakis he’d swiped from Ben’s closet. A split second later he grabbed his keys, headed toward his truck, and prayed he would not be accused of favoritism if Paige had entered the contest this year.

A
WIDE VARIETY OF
SUVs, trucks, and economy cars were parked bumper-to-bumper along the curb at the Town Square—better known as the entertainment hub of Sweet. Whether it was a birthday party, a battle of the bands, or the Fourth of July picnic, it happened in the little park smack dab in the center of town. Though the latticework gazebo had seen better days and the trees were tall and ancient, the folks mingling around the grass lot filled the square with spirit and a sense of renewal.

Aiden glanced past the rainbow of canopies where vendors hawked everything from scented candles to homemade cinnamon rolls to handmade animal puppets. Over the brims of sun-deflecting Stetsons and ball-caps he scanned the area to find the banner that would lead him toward the judging area. He finally spotted it toward the gazebo where someone on the loud speaker called out the winner of the cake-walk. The huge crowd gathered in front of the area made him wonder if he might be late. A quick glance at his watch said he was right on time. As he started toward the crowd, the two charmers who’d conned him into the gig appeared like magician’s assistants.

“My, don’t you look handsome,” Gladys Lewis said through wrinkly lips smeared with carnation pink.

“We thought you might have worn your uniform,” Arlene Potter commented, giving him a questionable once-over.

“I apologize, ladies. I’m no longer a member of the military.”

“Good Lord.” Gladys gave her cohort a whack with her lace fan. “You knew that, Arlene.”

“I’m sorry.”

Not wanting to cause the elderly women to feel uncomfortable, Aiden flashed them both a smile.

“Too bad, though,” Arlene added with a wink. “Nothing hotter than a man in uniform.”

“Good heavens.” Gladys rolled her faded blue eyes. “Come on, young man. Pay no attention to her. She’s just getting old, and her marbles don’t always roll in the same direction.”

The women in their floral dresses and straw hats hooked their arms through his and led him through the crowd. As they drew closer to the gazebo, the festival attendees turned toward them and began to part like a gaping zipper. The whole scene felt odd and a prickle of alarm crept up the back of his neck. Had it not been for the friendly faces turned his way, he may very well have made a beeline in another direction.

“It’s okay, Lieutenant.” Gladys gave him a light pat on his arm. He looked down into the reassuring smile on her weathered face. “We’re just glad to have you home.” She gave a nod toward the gazebo. “Some of us more than others.”

When Aiden looked up he saw Paige in a floaty yellow sundress. Her hair had been pulled back in a long braid, tousled by the summer breeze. Her beautiful mouth lifted at the corners. Aiden swore he’d never seen anything prettier in his life. As she held her hand out for him to join her, his heart went warm and fuzzy.

Gladys and Arlene blended back into the crowd, and he took a few steps forward. It was then he realized Paige wasn’t reaching out to him. She was letting go of a yellow ribbon that slowly fluttered toward the ground. His gaze followed the ribbon down to the green grass and the large golden dog who sat back on his haunches like the most patient soldier.

Aiden’s heart leaped into his throat, and the ever-present ache in his chest disappeared. In a rush of disbelief, he dropped to his knees.

“Rennie!”

The retriever’s massive paws dug into the earth, and within a warm flash of sunshine Aiden had his arms around his friend’s soft, silky neck. Rennie whined and wiggled and did a doggy happy dance. If dogs could smile, Rennie had a full-on grin. Aiden did, too, as Rennie’s long tongue slurped up the side of his face.

“I’ve missed you, boy.”

Aiden thought of all the nights he’d shared his cot with a scared little pup. One who’d grown so big Aiden had considered sleeping on the ground when that cot became too small for the both of them. They’d seen hell together. Shared sorrow. They’d even shared meals. He gave the dog a kiss on the top of his head and laughed at the exultant bark he received in response. With another lick to Aiden’s face, Rennie flopped down on his side and rolled over for a shameless belly rub.

Forgiven.

Just like that Rennie forgave him.

Aiden curled his fingers in the dog’s thick fur and did his best to hide the tears swimming in his eyes. When he looked up, Paige came toward him with Cricket prancing on a leash by her side.

Paige looked at him with those blue eyes and smiled. “Welcome home, Lieutenant Marshall.”

“Welcome home,” the rest of his community cheered.

If there had ever been any doubt of where Aiden belonged or who he belonged to or with, it dissipated right then and there.

He stood. “How did you find him?”

“
We
found him,” she said, “Eagerly waiting to be brought home to you.”

“We?”

She gave a nod to those surrounding them. “Sweet. All the people you went off to protect. All the people who’ve been waiting to welcome you home. They all came together and made this happen . . . because they know how much you love this dog. And because they love you.” She tilted her head back and smiled. “Of course, not nearly as much as I do.”

A smile burst from his heart as he looked at the faces surrounding him. “I don’t know how to thank you. Or how to repay you.”

“You owe us nothing in return, Lieutenant Marshall,” Bill McBride returned. “You’ve paid your dues. Just be happy.”

Aiden curled his fingers in Rennie’s thick fur, wrapped his arm around Paige, and gave the Vietnam vet who’d seen plenty during his own tour-of-duty a nod. “I’ll do what I can.”

Paige flashed him a smile then turned it toward the crowd. “All right. Y’all have seen enough. Judging starts in thirty minutes.”

As the crowd slowly dispersed, Aiden shook his head. “Do they always mind you like that?”

“If they want fresh pickles and crunchy lettuce on their burgers, they do.”

He smiled, gazed down into the passion and comfort in her eyes, and brushed a long tendril of honey-gold hair away from her face. His friends—better men than he—had not made it back home. He would not dishonor their memories by taking life and all it offered for granted. He was grateful to have an opportunity to love Paige for the rest of his life. And there was no time like the present to make that happen.
If
she’d still have him.

“I’m in,” he said.

Her soft golden brows pulled together. “In?”

“The partnership. I’m taking you up on your offer, if it’s still on the table.”

“Of course it is.”

“Good.” He tugged her closer. “Then I accept. On two conditions.”

“Which are?”

“I pay my half up front. Equal partners.”

“That’s one condition.” Her hand slid up to his shoulder. “What’s the other?”

“We make it permanent.”

She leaned her head back as though he’d offended her. “I would never offer you half the business if I didn’t expect it to be long-term.”

“Not the business. You and me.” He lowered his mouth to hers—not caring if they had an audience or if the whole world watched—and he kissed her with everything he felt in his heart. “We’re a good team.”

“Yes. We are.” Her warm fingers caressed the side of his face. “You know, you’re quite the negotiator. Maybe you should think about running for mayor in the fall.”

“Mayor?”

“Why not?” The music of her laughter danced across his skin. “You’ve proven to be quite a service-oriented kind of guy. Running the town should be easy after what you’ve been through.”

He nuzzled her sweet-scented neck. “I might be too busy.”

“You keep that up and I guarantee you
will
be too busy.”

A playful bark interrupted them and they both looked down to where Rennie was busy snuffling Cricket’s ear.

“Looks like Rennie’s quite at home here.” Paige laughed. “He might have even found love.”

“He’s not the only one.” Aiden caught Paige’s hand in his and kissed her fingers. “
You’re
home to me. And while I may never be the man I was before I left here—”

She pressed a finger to his lips. “That’s okay. I’m not the same woman.”

No she wasn’t. She was more. More than he ever expected. More than he deserved. She was a gift he’d treasure always.

“I love you, Paige. I always have. And I want to be with you for the rest of my life.” He gave her hand a squeeze. “Say yes.”

“It’s always been yes, Aiden.” She lifted to her toes, wrapped her arms around his neck, and kissed him. “Always.”

Author’s Note

T
HE INSPIRATION FOR
Home Sweet Home
came from an article I read about Nowzad—a charity set up to relieve the suffering of dogs, cats, and even donkeys in Afghanistan. They provide and maintain rescue facilities for the care and treatment of these animals. I read the many rescue/reunion stories they have on their website, and my heart was deeply touched. For more information please check out their website at http://www.nowzad.com and donate if you can.

If you loved
Home Sweet Home

and want more from the wonderful Candis Terry,

continue reading for an excerpt from

SECOND CHANCE AT THE SUGAR SHACK,

the first in her sexy, funny, and oh-so-delicious
Sugar Shack series . . .

Available from Avon Books wherever e-books are sold

Kate Silver’s back in town, and her dead mother just won’t leave her alone.

Kate usually spends her days dressing Hollywood A-listers, but after her estranged mother dies she finds herself elbow-deep in flour in her parents’ bakery . . . in Deer Lick, Montana. She thought she’d left small-town life far, far behind, but it seems there are a few loose ends.

The boy she once loved, Deputy Matt Ryan, is single and sexy and still has a thing for her . . . and handcuffs.

Her mother, who won’t follow the white light, is determined to give maternal advice from beyond the grave.

And somehow Kate’s three-day stay has, well . . . extended. She never planned to fill her mother’s pie-baking shoes—she prefers her Choos thank you very much. But with the help of a certain man in uniform, Kate quickly learns that sometimes second chances are all the more sweet.

Chapter One

K
ATE
S
ILVER HAD
five minutes. Tops.

Five minutes before her fashion schizophrenic client had a meltdown.

Five minutes before her career rocketed into the bargain basement of media hell.

Behind the gates of one of the trendiest homes in the Hollywood Hills, Kate dropped to her hands and knees in a crowded bedroom
In Style
magazine had deemed “Wacky Tacky.” Amid the dust bunnies and cat hair clinging for life to a faux zebra rug, she crawled toward her most current disaster—repairing the Swarovski crystals ripped from the leather pants being worn by pop music’s newly crowned princess.

Gone was the hey-day of Britney, Christina, and Shakira.

Long live
Inara
.

Why women in pop music never had a last name was a bizarre phenomenon Kate didn’t have time to ponder. At the end of the day, the women she claimed as clients didn’t need a last name to be at the top of her V.I.P. list. They didn’t need one when they thanked her—their stylist—from the red carpet. And they certainly didn’t need one when they signed all those lovely zeros on her paychecks.

Right now she sat in chaos central, earning every penny. Awards season had arrived and her adrenaline had kicked into overdrive alongside the triple-shot latte she’d sucked down for lunch. Over the years she’d become numb to the mayhem. Even so, she did enjoy the new talent—of playing Henry Higgins to the Eliza Doolittles and Huck Finns of Tinsel Town. Nothing compared to the rush she got from seeing her babies step onto a stage and sparkle. The entire process made her feel proud and accomplished.

It made her feel necessary.

Surrounded by the gifted artists who lifted their fairy dusted makeup brushes and hair extensions, Kate brushed a clump of floating cat hair from her nose. Why the star getting all the attention had yet to hire a housekeeper was anyone’s guess. Regardless, Kate intended to keep the current catastrophe from turning into the Nightmare on Mulholland Drive.

Adrenaline slammed into her chest and squeezed the air from her lungs.

This was her job. She’d banked all her worth into what she did and she was damn good at it. No matter how crazy it made her. No matter how much it took over her life.

After her triumph on the Oscars red carpet three years ago, she’d become the stylist the biggest names in Hollywood demanded. Finally. She’d become an overnight sensation that had only taken her seven long years to achieve. And though there were times she wanted to stuff a feather boa down some snippy starlet’s windpipe, she now had to fight to maintain her success. Other stylists, waiting for their star to shine, would die for what she had. On days like today, she would willingly hand it over.

In the distance the doorbell chimed and Kate’s five minutes shrank to nada. The stretch limo had arrived to deliver Inara to the Nokia Theatre for the televised music awards. With no time to spare, Kate plunged the needle through the leather and back up again. Her fingers moved so fast blisters formed beneath the pressure.

Peggy Miller, Inara’s agent, paced the floor and sidestepped the snow-white animal shelter refugee plopped in the middle of a leopard rug. Clearly the cat wasn’t intimidated by the agent’s nicotine-polluted voice.

“Can’t you hurry that up, Kate?” Peggy tapped the Cartier on her wrist with a dragon nail. “Inara’s arrival has to be timed perfectly. Not enough to dawdle in the interviews and just enough to make the media clamor for more. Sorry, darling,” she said to Inara, “chatting with the media is just not your strong point.”

Inara made a hand gesture that was far from the bubble gum persona everyone in the industry tried to portray with the new star. Which, in Kate’s estimation, was like fitting a square peg into a round hole.

“Kate?” Peggy again. “Hurry!”

“I’m working on it,” Kate mumbled around the straight pins clenched between her teeth. Just her luck their wayward client had tried to modify the design with a fingernail file and pair of tweezers an hour before showtime.

“Why do I have to wear this . . . thing.” Inara tugged the embossed leather tunic away from her recently enhanced bustline. “It’s hideous.”

The needle jabbed Kate’s thumb. She flinched and bit back the slur that threatened to shoot from her mouth. “Impossible,” she said. “It’s Armani.” And to acquire it she’d broken two fingernails wrestling another stylist to the showroom floor. She’d be damned if she’d let the singer out the door without wearing it now.

“Inara, please hold still,” the makeup artist pleaded while she attempted to dust bronzer on her moving target.

“More teasing in back?” the hair stylist asked.

Kate flicked a gaze up to Inara’s blond hair extensions. “No. We want her to look sultry. Not like a streetwalker.”

“My hair color is all wrong,” Inara announced. “I want it more like yours, Kate. Kind of a ritzy porn queen auburn.” She ran her manicured fingers through the top of Kate’s hair, lifting a few strands. “And I love these honey-colored streaks.”

“Thanks,” Kate muttered without looking up. “I think.” Her hair color had been compared to many things. A ritzy porn queen had never been one of them.

“Hmmm. I will admit, these pants seriously make my ass rock,” Inara said, changing gears with a glance over her shoulder to the cheval mirror. “But this vest . . . I don’t know. I really think I should wear my red sequin tube top instead.”

Kate yanked the pins from her between her teeth. “You can
not
wear a
Blue Light Special
with Armani. It’s a sin against God.” Kate blinked hard to ward off the migraine that poked between her eyes. “Besides, the last time you made a last-minute fashion change you nearly killed my career.”

“I didn’t mean to. It’s just . . . God, Kate, you are so freaking strict with this fashion crap. It’s like having my mother threaten to lower the hem on my school uniform.”

“You pay me to threaten you. Remember?”

“I pay you plenty.”

“Then trust me plenty.” Kate wished the star would do exactly that. “Once those lights hit these crystals, all the attention will be on you. You’re up for the new artist award. You should shine. You don’t want to end up a fashion tragedy like the time Sharon Stone wore a Gap turtleneck to the Oscars, do you?”

“No.”

“Good. Because that pretty much ended her career.”

Inara’s heavily made-up eyes widened. “A shirt did that?”

“Easier to blame it on a bad garment choice than bad acting.”

“Oh.”

“Kate? Do you want the hazelnut lipstick?” the makeup artist asked. “Or the caramel gloss?”

Kate glanced between the tubes. “Neither. Use the Peach Shimmer. It will play up her eyes. And make sure she takes it with her. She’ll need to reapply just before they announce her category and the cameras go for the close-up.”

“Kate!” Peggy again. “You have got to hustle. The traffic on Sunset will be a nightmare.”

Kate wished for superpowers, wished for her fingers to work faster, wished she could get the job done and Inara in the limo. She needed Inara to look breathtaking when she stepped onto that red carpet. She needed a night full of praise for the star, the outfit,
and
the stylist.

Scratch that. It was not just a need, it was absolutely critical.

Inara’s past two public appearances had been disasters. One had been Kate’s own oversight—the canary and fuchsia Betsey Johnson had looked horrible under the camera lights. She should have known that before sending her client out for the fashion wolves to devour. The second calamity hadn’t been her fault, but had still reflected on her. That time had been cause and effect of a pop royalty temper tantrum and Inara’s fondness for discount store castoffs. It may have once worked for Madonna, but those days were locked in the fashion vault. For a reason.

Kate couldn’t afford to be careless again. And she couldn’t trust the bubble gum diva to ignore the thrift store temptations schlepping through her blood. Not that there was anything wrong with that for ordinary people. Inara did not fall into the
ordinary
category.

Not anymore.

Not if Kate could help it.

As soon as she tied off the last stitch, she planned to escort her newest client right into the backseat of the limo with a warning to the driver to steer clear of all second-hand clothing establishments along the way.

“This totally blows.” Inara slid the shears from the table and aimed them at the modest neckline. “It’s just not sexy enough.”

“Stop that!” Kate’s heart stopped. She grabbed the scissors and tucked them beneath her knee. “Tonight is not about selling sex. Leave that for your music videos. Tonight is about presentation. Wowing the critics. Tomorrow you want to end up on the best-dressed list. Not the
What the hell was she thinking?
list.”

Inara sighed. “Whatever.”

“And don’t pout,” Kate warned.
Or be so ungrateful.
“It will mess up your lip liner.”

“How’s this look?” the makeup artist asked, lifting the bronzer away from one last dusting of Inara’s forehead.

Kate glanced up mid-stitch. “Perfect. Now, everybody back away and let me get this last crystal on.”

“Kate!”

“I know, Peggy. I know!”

Kate grasped the leather pant leg to keep Inara from checking out the junk in her trunk again via the full-length mirror. She shifted on her knees. A collection of cat hair followed.

Once she had Inara en route, Kate planned to rush home and watch the red carpet arrivals on TV. Alone. Collapsed on her sofa with a bag of microwave popcorn and a bottle of Moët. If the night went well, the celebration cork would fly. If not, well, tomorrow morning she’d have to place a
Stylist for Hire—Cheap
ad in
Variety
.

Kate pushed the needle through the leather, ignoring the hurried, sloppy stitches. If her mother could see her now, she’d cringe at the uneven, wobbly lengths. Then she’d deliver a pithy lecture on why a career in Hollywood was not right for Kate. Neither the Girl Scout sewing badge she’d earned as a kid nor the fashion award she’d recently won would ever be enough to stop her mother from slicing and dicing her dreams.

Her chest tightened.

God, how long had it been since she’d even talked to her mother? Easter? The obligatory Mother’s Day call?

In her mother’s eyes, Kate would never win the daughter-of-the-year award. She’d quit trying when she hit the age of thirteen—the year she’d traded in her 4-H handbook for a
Vogue
magazine.

Her mother had never forgiven her.

For two long years after high school graduation, there had been a lull in Kate’s life while she waited anxiously for acceptance and a full scholarship to the design school in Los Angeles. Two years of her mother nagging at her to get a traditional college degree. Two years of working alongside her parents in their family bakery, decorating cakes with the same boring buttercream roses, pounding out the same tasteless loaves of bread. Not that she minded the work. It gave her a creative outlet. If only her mother had let her shake things up a little with an occasional fondant design or something that tossed a challenge her way.

Then the letter of acceptance arrived.

Kate had been ecstatic to show it to her parents. She knew her mother wouldn’t be happy or supportive. But she’d never expected her mother to tell her that the best thing Kate could do would be to tear up the scholarship and stop wasting time. The argument that ensued had led to tears and hateful words. That night Kate made a decision that would forever change her life.

It had been ten years since she’d left her mother’s unwelcome advice and small-town life in the dust. Without a word to anyone she’d taken a bus ride and disappeared. Her anger had faded over the years, but she’d never mended the damage done by her leaving. And she’d never been able to bring herself to come home. She’d met up with her parents during those years, but it had always been on neutral ground. Never in her mother’s backyard. Despite her mother’s reservations, Kate had grown up and become successful.

She slipped the needle through the back of the bead cap and through the leather again. As much as she tried to ignore it, the pain caused by her mother’s disapproval still hurt.

Amid the boom-boom-boom of Snoop Dog on the stereo and Peggy’s non-stop bitching, Kate’s cell phone rang.

“Do
not
answer that,” Peggy warned.

“It might be important. I sent Josh to Malibu.” Dressing country music’s top male vocalist was an easy gig for her assistant. He’d survived three awards seasons by her side. He could walk the tightrope with the best of them. But as Kate well knew, trouble could brew and usually did.

Ignoring the agent’s evil glare, Kate scooted toward her purse, grabbed her phone and shoved it between her ear and shoulder. Her fingers continued to stitch.

“Josh, what’s up?”

“Katie?”

Whoa.
Her heart did a funny flip that stole her breath.
Definitely not Josh.

“Dad. Uh . . . hi. I . . . haven’t talked to you in, uh . . .”
Forever.
“What’s up?”

“Sweetheart, I . . . I don’t know how to say this.”

The hitch in his tone was peculiar. The sewing needle between her fingers froze midair. “Dad? Are you okay?”

“I’m . . . afraid not, honey.” He released a breathy sigh. “I know it’s asking a lot but . . . I wondered . . . could you come home?”

Her heart thudded to a halt. “What’s wrong?”

“Katie, this morning . . . your mother died.”