In The Stars (Main Street Merchants Book 6) Read online

  “What?”

  “With all those herbs in there, this is the best-smelling fire ever.”

  Alana took a whiff. Sure enough—lavender, sage, mint. She started to giggle. “You’re right. It does smell pretty good.”

  A few minutes later, Chief Simmons walked over to them. “We’re doing everything we can,” he said. “I’m afraid it’s going to be a total loss, though.”

  Alana nodded. “I figured as much. Do you have any idea what caused it?”

  “Not at this point. Judging from the age of the building, though, my guess is that it’s an electrical issue. We’ll know more after the flames are out.” He turned to Julia. “You’ll be glad to hear that it looks like minor damage to your place, just the wall.”

  “That is good news.” Julia gave Alana’s shoulders another squeeze. “I’m so sorry. I wish I could do something.”

  “Just inhale the good smells with me.”

  They watched until the fire was completely out. A small crowd had gathered across the street, mostly owners and employees of the other shops, and they came over to speak with Alana and pledge their support for anything she needed. Then they melted into the background, staying out of the way. Alana felt rooted where she was, though. She couldn’t leave her place to burn up all alone.

  She’d designed every square inch of every aisle. The shelving had all been made to her specifications. She’d driven the folks at the hardware store mad with how she kept changing her mind about paint colors. Every product had been personally chosen—she never carried anything she couldn’t personally vouch for. Gone. All gone.

  “Alana!”

  She looked up to see Rory and Morgan running toward her. Morgan threw her arms around her and hugged her tight. “Oh, my gosh,” she said into Alana’s hair. “I can’t believe it. I’m so sorry.”

  “How did you know?” Alana asked.

  “Jesse from Climb Every Mountain called us,” Morgan said. She took a step back. “The fire looks pretty bad.”

  “Yeah, Chief Simmons says it looks like a total loss.”

  Morgan’s eyes grew wide. “Does that mean, nothing but rubble, or does that mean, there will still be a shell, or what?”

  “He didn’t get that specific. Either way, I just . . .” The lump in her throat refused to let her keep talking. She swallowed hard, but it didn’t help.

  Rory put his hand on her shoulder, and none of them spoke for several long minutes. There really was nothing to say.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Alana was disoriented when she woke up. She couldn’t figure out why she smelled like smoke or why she was in bed when it was clearly afternoon. Then she sat up with a start, remembering everything. Her shop had burned down. She hadn’t gone back to bed until after eleven o’clock that morning. She had insurance claims to fill out. Everything was gone.

  She sat there, feeling numb, until her phone rang.

  “Alana, what’s going on? I saw something on the news about a fire. Was that your shop?”

  “Hi, Adam. Yes, that was my shop. It’s gone. The whole thing.”

  “I’ll be right there.” He hung up before she could say another word.

  If Adam was coming, she’d better get in the shower. She turned on the water full blast and stood under the spray. As her hair got wet, it released even more of that lavender smoke smell, and she cried, her tears mixing with the shower water.

  She dried off and dressed, then brushed her hair automatically. She didn’t bother to look in the mirror. She knew what she’d see, and she’d rather not. By the time the knock came at her door, she was mostly ready for it.

  “Oh, Alana,” Adam said, taking her in his arms. “I drove past the shop on the way here. I can’t believe it.”

  “Neither can I,” she said, leading him over to the couch. “They came and got me at three this morning. I still have paperwork to fill out and all kinds of other stuff, but they told me to get some rest and we’d finish it later today.”

  Adam held her against his chest, heedless of the wet spot her damp hair must be making on her shirt. “I’m glad nothing happened while you were in the building.”

  “That hadn’t occurred to me, actually. Yes, there’s a lot to be grateful for.”

  Adam paused for a long moment. “And Rusty? Where is he?”

  “He left for home yesterday morning.”

  She felt him nod. “I hope he had a safe trip back.”

  They sat there quietly for some minutes. Then Adam said, “I bet you’re hungry. Can I make you something?”

  “I’m not hungry, but thanks.”

  “I’d feel better if you ate just a little something.”

  “I have some yogurt in there.”

  Adam stood up. “Yogurt it is.”

  He not only brought her yogurt, but some granola—which made her smile—and some orange juice. “Just eat what you can,” he said. She did, surprising herself by finishing almost all of it. Adam watched her take every bite, almost as if he didn’t believe she’d really eat.

  “Now, I hate to say this, but I need to leave in a few minutes. I have surgery, but I had to come check on you. I just couldn’t believe it when I saw the news report. Then I saw that you texted—I guess I didn’t hear it. I’m sorry.”

  “I texted? I don’t even remember. Everything’s just blurry right now.”

  Adam leaned forward and kissed her forehead. “There. All better. Best prescription I can offer.” Then he lowered his mouth to hers and kissed her. “I’ll call you when I get out of surgery. Will you be all right?”

  “I will.”

  He stood up, but paused instead of walking away. “Listen, Alana. This is probably the worst possible time for me to bring this up, but I feel like it needs to be said. Something’s changed between us—something has shifted, and I’m pretty sure it has to do with Rusty. I don’t know what’s going on there, but I need you to know, I’m throwing my hat in the ring. I care about you a great deal, and I don’t want to lose you. I hope we can get back what we once had. Just think about it.”

  He left before she had a chance to reply, but that was just as well. He was right, but she didn’t have a reply to give him.

  * * *

  Hiking boots were good for more than just hiking. Alana carefully walked through the rubble of her shop, looking for anything that could be salvaged. Some of the other shop owners and employees were there too, and they were making a pile of undamaged things on the sidewalk. According to the inspector, the fire had indeed been caused by old, faulty wiring, and her insurance covered that. She could rebuild. She could replace everything, and she would. For now, she needed to mourn what she’d lost. She could celebrate what she’d regain when the time came.

  “Alana, what about this?”

  She turned at the sound of Rory’s voice. Her brother held up her electric plate, and she started to laugh. “Um, no. When I rebuild, I’m going to put in a little kitchenette with a tiny stove. Much better than that old thing.”

  Her toe hit the edge of something, and she bit back a sob. It was one of her comfy chairs. She loved those chairs more than any other furniture she’d ever owned. She’d held deep conversations in those chairs, daydreamed, plotted, planned. No new chairs could ever replace them, but she knew she’d have to give it a try.

  A car drove up the street and parked in front of her building. She didn’t think anything of it until she heard her name.

  “Rusty?” She took a few steps toward him, and he met her halfway. “What are you doing here?”

  “Morgan called me. I’m so sorry.” He looked around at all the destruction. “Why didn’t you call me yourself?”

  “I didn’t think to. I should have, I know.”

  “And you haven’t been answering your phone. I’ve been worried sick, and decided I’d better come get some answers and see how you are for myself. This is bad. I wasn’t expecting it to be so bad.”

  “I’m all right. I’ll rebuild,” she said, using the same li
ne she’d been telling everyone. The words were just rote, though, and not at all what she wanted to say. How could she tell him right here, in front of all these people, standing in the middle of debris and ash, how very happy she was to see him? How much she wanted to talk to him?

  He seemed to sense it. “Can we take a little walk? Let’s go to that park right over there.”

  Neither one said anything until they were seated side by side on a park bench. Rusty slid his arm around Alana’s waist and held her close. There it was—that closeness she’d been searching for with Adam earlier that day, but hadn’t found. “I’m so glad you’re all right,” he said. “Things could have been so much worse.”

  “That’s what Adam said.” She hadn’t meant to bring him up, but his name just slipped out. Rusty didn’t seem to care, though. He just gathered her closer.

  “Tell me what I can do to help,” he said. “I’m here as long as you need me.”

  “But you have patients. You just got back,” she protested, but he gently laid a finger on her lips.

  “I’m exactly where I want to be,” he said. “Just tell me what you need.”

  The look on his face, the expression in his eyes, the feeling of his arm around her waist—her decision was made. “I need you to kiss me,” she said. “Just like you did in the canyon, just like I’ve dreamed of you doing since I was eighteen.”

  His mouth twitched. “Does this mean that you’ve chosen, then?”

  She pulled in a long, ragged breath. “Oh, Rusty, it’s you. It’s always been you.”

  After a low chuckle, he brought her in closer and lowered his mouth to hers. She grabbed onto his collar and held him there, soaking in every ounce of him. This. This was what she wanted. It had taken her long enough to decide something she should have known all along, but now it all made sense—all the memories, all the surfacing emotions. She’d needed time to heal, time to come to a place where she could open up her heart and really love.

  Rusty pulled back, but didn’t let her go. Instead, he rested his chin on her head. “So, this makes things a little complicated,” he said.

  “Complicated? I thought it made everything right and wonderful and perfect.” She closed her eyes and nuzzled under his chin.

  “Well, of course, but there are a few things to consider. Adam, for one.”

  “Adam.” Alana sighed. Oh, this would be hard. She didn’t want to tell him—she didn’t want to hurt him. She was grateful he had sensed that they were drifting apart. Maybe that would make it easier—if anything could make it easier.

  “And then there’s the small matter of our careers,” Rusty continued.

  “Our careers. Argh! I thought happily ever afters were supposed to be easier than this.” Alana sat up and looked into Rusty’s eyes. “What are we going to do?”

  Rusty leaned forward and put his elbows on his knees. “This is a tough call. I know how involved you are with the Aspen Ridge community, and it suits you. On the other hand, I don’t see enough animals here to create a new clientele for myself, even if all the puppies at Noah’s Ark got sick at once.”

  Alana nodded. Aspen Ridge was a ski resort town. With the exception of some dogs and cats, maybe a few birds, there weren’t many animals around. Rusty would have to drive a good twenty miles in either direction to find any ranches or farms, and she didn’t see how making him relocate was the best choice.

  “I’m going to rebuild,” she said, her decision made and definite. “But I’ll do it in South Dakota.”

  “What?” Rusty sat up and looked at her. “You’d do that?”

  “In a heartbeat. I’m all in, Rusty. You’ve got me whether you want me or not, herb shop and all.”

  He grinned. “Oh, I want you. I definitely want you. And I’ll help you build that shop and paint it and anything else you need.”

  She smiled and snuggled up to him again. “Perfect. Your first job is finding me some replacement comfy chairs.”

  Chapter Sixteen

  Alana had been asked to wait in the lobby outside Adam’s office, but she couldn’t sit still. She wandered around, looking at the paintings on the walls, watching the exotic fish in the tank and quoting lines from Finding Nemo to herself, and wishing there was a quicker way to get this over with. But she wouldn’t begrudge Adam’s patient a proper checkup, so she pasted on a smile and pretended to have all the time in the world.

  She’d been to see Melinda at home that morning and was so relieved to see that everything was going well. Melinda was tired and would be flat down for a couple of weeks, but she had a little more color in her face, and she said the pain was well under control. Her sister had taken over her kitchen and reorganized all the spices, but that wasn’t a bad thing because she’d then started cooking and baking up a storm—all Melinda’s favorites.

  “Alana.”

  She turned from the fish tank and smiled. Adam looked good in his blue shirt and white coat, but then, he always looked good. His looks had never once been an issue, even when she’d been angry at him. “Hi. Can I talk to you for a minute?”

  “Of course.” He motioned toward his office, and she took a seat in the corner. Maybe he had a sedative in one of those drawers, something that would make this a little easier.

  He didn’t sit on the rolling stool by the desk. Instead, he sat in the chair next to her and took her hand. “It’s always good to see you. What brings you by today?”

  “I wanted to take you to dinner tonight, but when I called, your nurse said you’re leaving for a conference at four, and I didn’t want to delay this, so I hope it’s all right that I’m here now.” She wished her mouth and her brain would work together to come up with something better to say.

  “Oh. One of those talks.” He let go of her hand and leaned back. “I’m guessing this has something to do with Rusty.”

  “It does.” She took a deep breath. “I’m in love with him, Adam. I always have been, even when I tried so hard to tell myself I wasn’t. And now, he’s finally come to his senses and realized that he loves me too.” She chuckled, trying to take the tension out of the moment, but it didn’t work.

  Adam pressed his lips together and nodded. “Maybe I shouldn’t have been so understanding about his visit.” He kept his tone light, just as she had done, but the words still struck hard.

  “I’m so sorry, Adam. I know it sounds trite, but I honestly didn’t mean to hurt you. I had no idea Rusty would be coming back into my life when you and I started dating, and for what it’s worth, I loved every minute I spent with you. You’re an amazing man.”

  Adam rubbed a hand across his mouth and down his jaw. “I don’t suppose it would do any good for me to point out all the flaws in this logic or to ask why it took him this long to come find you or anything like that.”

  Alana shook her head. “I’m sorry. My mind is made up.”

  Adam stood and crossed the room to look out the window. “I’m not going to hunt him down and challenge him to a duel, but I sure wish I could. Alana, do you really know what you’re doing? Is this really the right choice? I know I’m not perfect, but I believe I have a lot to offer, and I think we could have been very happy.”

  And that was the biggest problem right there. She thought the same thing. But Rusty . . . he had her heart. It could never really belong to Adam because so much of it had already been given away.

  “I know it’s right,” she said after a long pause. “And you do have a lot to offer. I’m just not the one you should give it to.”

  Adam turned from the window and put his arms across his chest. “I want you to be happy. And if that means seeing you with someone else, I guess I’ll have to accept that. I won’t throw confetti at your wedding, but at least I won’t poison the punch.”

  “Thank you, Adam. I know I don’t deserve your forgiveness, but thank you for offering it anyway.”

  He shook his head. “This isn’t a matter of forgiveness. I know you weren’t trying to hurt me, and you can’t help but fall back in
love with the man you loved before. I’m deeply disappointed—very much so—but yes, I do want to see you happy.” He glanced at his watch. “And I have to get ready for that conference, so . . .”

  “I’ll leave now.” Alana stood up and placed her hand on his arm. “Good-bye, Adam.”

  “Good-bye.” He squeezed her hand where it lay on his sleeve, then turned and left the room.

  Alana closed her eyes. Oh, that had been hard.

  * * *

  Rusty was waiting for her in her apartment when she got back from Denver. “How’d it go?” he asked.

  “I don’t even know how to describe it. He took it well, but I hurt him, and it hurt me, and . . . will you hold me?”

  “Of course.” Rusty opened his arms, and she walked into them.

  “Now what?” she asked after a long moment of enjoying his warmth and the smell of his cologne.

  “Now I think we start making plans for the rest of our lives. While you were gone, I called a friend of mine who’s a real estate agent, and he’s putting together a list of possible locations for your new store. We need to call your parents—and mine—and tell them the good news. Oh, and I think we ought to eat dinner.”

  “Dinner sounds fantastic.”

  “I thought it would.” Rusty rubbed his thumb across his knuckles. “I might have found some replacement chairs on a furniture store website, but we’ll have to go in and sit on them personally to be sure. And . . .”

  “And what?”

  He grinned. “Oh, I might have a little surprise for you.”

  “Another one? I was only gone three hours.”

  “I maximized my time.”

  She shook her head, amused. “So what’s this surprise?”

  “I’m not going to tell you. Why don’t you go change, and I’ll take you up to the lodge for dinner?”

  He looked very suspicious. Alana didn’t trust him for a second. “All right, I’ll go change. But then I want to know what my surprise is.”

  “I have nothing to say.”

  She walked into the bedroom, still shaking her head. Her red dress would work for tonight—she didn’t think she could ever wear the silver one again, after wearing it to the symphony with Adam. It held too many memories.