Page 16 of The House on Blueberry Lane

The one thing Jaye knew was that the way Velvet had left—just picking up and leaving without so much as a goodbye—meant she didn’t believe he could change. She saw him as a hopeless case, that he would always be incapable of falling in love, settling down and marrying.

And he would be the first to admit that had been true. He recalled often seeing the pain in his father’s eyes, especially around the holidays. Pain that Jaye had felt for his father. It was years before his father opened himself up to love someone again. Jaye was glad when Arlene had come into not only his father’s life, but his three adult sons’ lives as well. He would admit they’d been cautious, but it didn’t take long to see that Arlene was just what Jack Colfax, Sr., had needed in his life. He was glad his father had been able to see it as well and hadn’t refused love like Jaye had done.

He knew that he had several people rooting for him—his father and brothers, and the entire Steele family who was like a second family to him. They’d tried to warn him of the mistake he’d been making by taking Velvet for granted and not admitting to himself what she’d come to mean to him. Losing her was his fault and he rightly took the blame. Just like he would do everything in his power to get her back.

He had started on the final side of the building when he saw Velvet walk out of the house to get into her car. He refused to pretend not to see her and when he glanced over at her—even at a distance of what had to be a good twenty feet—he could pick up on the sizzle between them when their gazes connected.

She looked good in a pair of slacks and a pretty blouse. Because it was January and the air was rather cool, she’d thrown a shawl around her shoulders. Shoulders he loved touching, kissing, caressing...

“Hello, Velvet,” he said. He had gone along with her formality BS yesterday, but he wouldn’t today.

Jaye could feel her slight hesitation before she said, “Hello, Jaye. You are busy this morning.”

He smiled. “Yes, I like working with my hands.” Of course, she knew that.

“Well, I’m sure Delisa will appreciate it.”

“I’m sure she will.”

“Well, have a nice day,” she said, getting in the car.

“You, too.”

He watched her drive away and swore even with the distance that had separated them, he could inhale her heated scent. He recalled other days when he had watched her leave and how he would wait anxiously for her to return.

Like he would be doing today.

“I LOVE THE way you’re wearing your hair today,” Ashley Sullivan complimented Velvet as she took the chair across from her at the table. The meeting had ended and now they were enjoying the desserts, compliments of LaFreda McEnroe who had moved to town almost a year ago and opened Catalina Cove Bake Shop.

Velvet smiled. “Thanks.” On most days, it was just easy to wear her hair pulled back in a tight bun. Of course, her wearing it down today had nothing to do with the fact that Jaye always liked it that way.

“I understand the hottie banker is your neighbor.”

This wouldn’t be the first time someone had mentioned that she and Jaye were neighbors. Nor was this the first time some woman, married or single, had referred to Jaye as the hottie banker. “Yes, but I rarely see him.”

“It still must be nice. I heard he’s turned a lot of the brazen women in town away, letting them know he was a man who didn’t like being chased.”

“That’s what I heard,” Velvet said. Ruthie swore that the reason Jaye had been so taken with her was because she hadn’t gone after him. He had gone after her.

Velvet decided to change the subject before the other women, who’d attended the meeting and were now gathered around the dessert cart, joined them. The last thing she wanted or needed was a continued discussion of Jaye. “How are the twins?” she asked. Ashley and her husband, Ray, had adorable twins, a boy and a girl.

“They are two-year-old busy beavers,” Ashley said with a huge grin on her face. “I can’t take my eyes off them for a second, but I’m loving every minute of motherhood.”

“Obviously,” Vashti Grisham said. She smiled, taking a seat next to Ashley. Vashti’s husband, Sawyer, was the cove’s sheriff. A man Velvet thought was a very likable guy.

When Ashley gave Vashti a Cheshire grin, Velvet felt like she was missing something. Evidently, she wasn’t the only one. Bryce Witherspoon Chambray joined them at the table and asked, “Okay, Ashley and Vashti, what gives?”

Before anyone could answer, Sierra, who approached the table with a plate of brownies, called out, “Wait, don’t leave me out.”

“We want to hear, too,” Sierra’s sister, Dani, said, as she, Donna Elloran and Vaughn’s sister, Zara, hurried over to the table. Dani and Zara had arrived in town for the weekend to attend Sierra’s bridal meeting.

Velvet scooted over to make room for them. When everyone was seated and looking at Ashley expectedly, she beamed and said, “Ray and I are having another baby.”

There were cheers, clapping and hugs. And because there had been an emotional catch in Ashley’s voice when she’d made the announcement, Velvet figured there was a lot more to Ray and Ashley increasing their family than Velvet was privy to. But it didn’t matter. She was happy for Ashley. Velvet pushed the thought from her mind that just like she would forever be a bridesmaid and not a bride, chances were she would never be a mother, either.

An hour or so later on the drive back home, Velvet gave herself a pep talk. At some point the conversation had shifted to the wonderful men the women were married to. It seemed that she and Zara were the only single ones in the group. Sierra didn’t count since she was engaged to marry Vaughn soon.

Velvet knew that she was the only person who controlled her destiny. She could understand not wanting to get involved with anyone when she’d first moved to the cove, but there was no reason she shouldn’t be dating now, was there? Like she constantly told Ruthie, she’d gotten over Jaye and there were a number of nice single guys in town. However, it seemed after being turned down several times, they no longer asked.

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