Page 64 of Our Now and Forever

Lorelei looked at Snow. “Did she just curse me?”

Snow rolled her eyes. “Can we focus here? I think blue might be a good idea, but a pretty blue and only on the bottom along the front of the display case and counter. The wall behind should be white, and we’ll put the logo really big in the center, with the coffee menu on one side and the dessert menu on the other.”

“Yes,” Lorelei said. “I can see that working.”

Snow smiled as the plans fell into place. Sharing the good news with Lorelei on Saturday afternoon had been the highlight of her year. Though reuniting with her husband stood to take the lead in that race, provided the two of them could overcome the speed bump that was Vivien McGraw.

“Are we ready to break ground on this café or what?” Caleb asked, sneaking up on Snow and wrapping his arms around her.

Speak of the devil. Snow leaned into her husband, letting the rush of having him close fill her senses. “We’ve decided on the location and color scheme so far.”

“You mean you don’t have blueprints and a construction crew lined up yet?” he asked, squeezing her tight.

Snow wiggled out of his grasp. “We have a rough drawing and a good start on the menu.”

He slid his hands into the pockets of his khakis. “I still get to be taste-tester, right?”

As his exit date was still in question, Snow said, “We’ll see. Now, what are you doing here in the middle of the afternoon?”

“Can’t I stop by to see my pretty fiancée?”

“You can, but I know you’re up to something, so spill.”

This time he couldn’t distract her with sex. She should have confronted him in public before now.

“You got me,” he said, taking her hand and twirling her around the floor. “I’m here to say hurry home this evening because you have a hot date.”

They didn’t make a habit of going out on weeknights. “On a Wednesday? I’ve got this café to plan and holiday displays and sales to figure out.”

“Business can wait. Tonight we celebrate your auction triumph.” Addressing the other two women, Caleb added, “Lorelei, you and Spencer will be joining us. And Carrie, if you’re up to it, Cooper has agreed to bring you.”

“I don’t think twirling around Brubaker’s is for me,” Carrie answered.

“Nope,” Caleb said. “Not Brubaker’s. The men know where we’re going, and you ladies will find out when we get there.”

“Look at the boys getting all take-charge-y,” Lorelei mumbled. “And what time should we obedient women be ready?”

“Seven thirty should do it.”

Carrie arched her back and said, “I hope Cooper has taken his vitamins because I can barely stay awake past nine these days. He’s going to be carrying me to the car before the night is over.”

Caleb grew serious. “This night is for Snow, and I promise, you ladies are going to want to be there.”

Lorelei and Carrie exchanged a look while Snow’s heart skipped a beat.

“You’ve reeled us in, hot stuff,” Lorelei said. “We’ll be there.”

He shouldn’t have given Snow such a hard time about being anxious the day of the auction, because tonight was Caleb’s turn to be a sweating mass of nerves. He’d set this up with the certainty that Snow would love it, but the closer they got to the Second Chance Saloon, the more he questioned his decision. She’d told him she didn’t sing anymore, but Snow had loved being on stage back when they were dating. The joy on her face translated to anyone watching. He wanted her to know that their marriage didn’t mean she had to give up on her dream.

“What are we doing here?” Snow asked as Caleb parked the Jeep in front of the country bar. The Second Chance was smaller than Brubaker’s, and it looked at least twenty years older.

“I told you,” he said, “you’ll find out soon enough.”

“If you wanted to dance, we could have gone to Brubaker’s. There was no reason to come to the edge of the county.”

Caleb took her face in his hands. “We’re not here to dance, Snow. You’re here to sing.”

Amber eyes went wide. “What?”

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