Whatever We Are: A Highland Springs Romance (Whatever Series Book 3) Read online

  “This, my angel…” He wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her close while he dangled the key in front of her face. “…represents the key to my heart. It’s yours now and forever.”

  “Oh, Tucker.” It wasn’t a marriage proposal, but it was very close. More than that, though he hadn’t said the words, it proved that he loved her. His feelings ran much deeper than just friendship. She lifted the key from his fingers and kissed it before smothering it in her hand. “That was so sweet. Thank you. And you have my heart, too.”

  He kissed the hand holding the key and tugged her closer. “I guess you better keep me around until next Christmas.” He brushed his lips across hers.

  “And the Christmas after that.” She slipped her arms around his neck, rising taller in her heels, and kissed him tenderly.

  “And the next Christmas.” His tongue prompted her lips open.

  “And the next.” Her tongue tangled with his as they fell against the wall, kissing as if they had nowhere to go.

  TWENTY-ONE

  “Thirty minutes late isn’t so bad, is it?” Liza asked, clenching her bottom lip between her teeth, as they entered the hotel ballroom to rousing applause. The band had stopped their song for a high-speed drum roll ending with a crash of the cymbals.

  “Ladies and gentleman, Mr. and Mrs. Claus have arrived,” Arthur announced through the stage microphone, “looking a bit different than the last time we saw them. Let the party begin!”

  Arthur signaled them to the center of the room as the band began “White Christmas,” the traditional first dance of the Christmas couple at the Mistletoe Ball. For several minutes, the crowd circled the dance floor, watching as Tucker and Liza swayed to the music.

  “Everyone’s watching you,” he sang in her ear.

  “And you.”

  “No way, not with you in that dress.”

  She grazed her fingers inside the collar of his crisp white shirt, tickling the back of his neck. She had never dreamed she’d be in his arms, falling deeper and deeper in love in the middle of the dance floor under the enormous ball of mistletoe where later they would have their official kiss. Maybe Christmas wasn’t cursed after all. She had the key—her new lucky charm—tucked inside her clutch, and knew that nothing or no one could ruin this night. Right now, with Tucker’s strong hands splayed against her bare back, she felt fearless, confident, and convinced she was the luckiest girl in the world.

  Several songs later, they wandered toward the bar, greeting guests as they passed. Kate and Brody were seated at a table with Virginia and Arthur. Virginia rose from her seat and gave them each a big hug.

  “Don’t you two look splendid? I love your hair, honey. Sure beats those crazy colors.”

  “Gram!” Kate rushed to Virginia’s side and grabbed her elbow.

  “You know it’s true. Liza’s too darned pretty to have pink hair.”

  “Gram, you really shouldn’t—”

  “It’s okay, Virginia. I appreciate your honesty.”

  “Brody and I are going to the bar. What can I get you?” Tucker asked, slipping his arm around Liza’s waist.

  “White wine.”

  “You got it.” He patted her beaded bottom and followed Brody across the room.

  “Are you enjoying your big night?” Kate asked.

  “Absolutely. I never thought I’d say that.”

  “See, I knew you and Tucker would have a good time being Mr. and Mrs. Claus. That’s why I nominated him,” Virginia said.

  “Who would have guessed he’d pick the girl who hates Christmas to be Mrs. Claus?” Kate chuckled, tipping her wine glass to her lips.

  “I’m warming up to the holiday after all.”

  “And warming up to Tucker?”

  “You could say that.”

  “Are you ready for the big announcement later?” Virginia glanced over her glasses frames, her brows arched and a playful grin on her face. “I think you’ll be surprised.”

  “Surprised?” Liza’s heart dropped. She didn’t like that word surprised. “I’m hoping to hear the committee say the castle will be saved.” And her name attached to the winning bid.

  “I don’t think you have anything to worry about, honey. Arthur and I made sure that old building will continue to stand.”

  “So, are you telling me…?”

  “I’m not telling you anything. I’m sworn to secrecy.” Virginia drew a cross over her heart and her finger across her lips. “I just can’t wait to see your reaction, that’s all.”

  “Jeez, Gram, why don’t you go ahead and tell us already?”

  “Nope, you couldn’t pry it out of me.”

  “Couldn’t pry what out of you?” Diana had zoomed in like a stealth bomber and joined the conversation. “Is there a big secret you’re dying to spill?”

  “Hello, Diana.” Virginia squeezed her hand while Kate and Liza stood silently. “Don’t you look nice?”

  “Thank you, Virginia. It’s couture.”

  “It’s what?”

  “Couture. Designer, one of a kind.”

  “Oh, I’ve heard of that. They don’t sell that around here.”

  “Of course not. I bought it in New York.”

  “Seems like a long way to travel just to buy a dress.”

  “I wanted something unique. Something you don’t see everywhere.” Diana’s artificial lashes blinked rapidly as she cast a glance down the length of Liza’s gown. She never failed to find a way to put Liza down, but even her snide remarks couldn’t ruin the night.

  “Well, my dress came from JC Penney and it’s just fine by me.” Virginia ran her hands over her hips and gave Kate and Liza a conspiring wink. “I think I’ll get myself a plate. Talk to you girls later.”

  Virginia shuffled away and Liza started to follow, but Diana laid her hand on her arm, stopping her escape.

  “I guess I walked up too soon. It sounded like Virginia was about to tell you who won the bid on the castle.”

  “No, she swore she wouldn’t tell anyone,” Kate said.

  “Well, it doesn’t matter. Bridges Enterprises lost out, so I hear. The narrow-minded committee wanted to save the castle for historical reasons even though everyone can see it’s a monstrosity.”

  “How do you know Bridges lost out?” Liza asked, trying to contain her excitement. If they were officially eliminated, that improved her odds dramatically.

  “Someone on the committee—I’m not naming names—gave Bret a call this morning, giving him a heads-up. He didn’t want him to be humiliated in public with the announcement.”

  “That was very considerate of this mysterious member.” Kate leaned closer to Diana and spoke just above a whisper. “Did they say who may have won?”

  “Only that it was between Tucker and Liza.”

  “Tuck—what?” Liza’s stomach sank to her knees. Surely Diana was mistaken.

  “You and Tucker were the only other bids and both wanted to save the castle.”

  “You put in a bid for the castle?” Kate’s reaction was one of surprise rather than shock. “That’s where you’re putting your gallery?”

  “That’s the plan but, Diana, I think you got your information wrong.” Liza’s throat tightened as her chest clenched with fear. Tucker hadn’t bid on the property. Surely, he would have told her as many times as they’d discussed it lately. He knew it was her dream location for the gallery. He wouldn’t bid against her.

  “Oh, I’ve got the right information. Tucker wants to put in a pub and build a bunch of stores on the lot, like a retail plaza. I overheard him talking with Arthur about it at our Christmas party.”

  “Tucker wouldn’t do that. He would have told me.”

  “Uh oh, is there trouble in paradise? Your boyfriend keeping secrets?”

  “Shut up, Diana. Kate?” Liza’s eyes darted to her sister-in-law, hoping she would see doubt and confusion, but her face was tipped to the floor, her expression hidden behind her flowing hair. “Do you know anything about this?�
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  Kate raised her head, sadness etched across her face. “No, I don’t. I swear. I’m just so surprised. Tucker wants to start a pub and you want to open your gallery? If this is true, Liza…I’m so sorry.”

  “Do you think it’s true? He wants to put up a bunch of buildings and turn the castle into a bar?”

  “According to our source…” Leaning close, Diana spoke in a stage whisper. “It’s not your run-of-the-mill bar, but a really nice pub. It’s supposed to be just like you’d find in England.”

  “Oh my God, and he didn’t even tell me.”

  “Well, well, well. The so-called relationship of yours seems to have run aground. I guess it’s not going to be a very Merry Christmas for you.” Diana sashayed away with a shrill laugh, clearly proud she’d given Liza the shock of her life. The pain in Liza’s chest made her double over. She pressed her fist into her diaphragm and concentrated on taking slow, steady breaths. The curse of Christmas had returned, putting a halt to her happiness. When the pressure subsided, she stood up straight and looked around the ballroom for Tucker. She found him standing near the bar, deep in conversation with Travis and Brody, a content smile on his face. How could he have kept this from her?

  Her gaze then landed on Diana, whose hands waved in the air as she told a story to a group of Highland Springs’ “who’s who,” satisfaction and pleasure sparkling in her eyes. Once again, her Christmas—no her happiness—was ruined. She was so sure the curse had lifted. The key, and the love she felt for Tucker and from him, would protect her from anything bad happening.

  Her eyes drifted back to Tucker, who caught her stare and blew her a kiss followed by a wink. How could he play the sexy boyfriend knowing he’d kept this from her? When she looked again at Diana, she received a smug, wry grin and a nonchalant shrug of her shoulders. How many times had she seen that gesture before? Their whole lives, Diana seemed to celebrate whenever something bad happened to Liza. Well, she could swim around in her pool of satisfaction. She couldn’t be bothered with Diana’s reaction. She needed to focus on Tucker and why he had done this to her.

  “I need some air.” She wobbled around toward the door.

  “I’ll come with you,” Kate said.

  “No, that’s okay. You stay. I just need to get out of here.” On unsteady legs, she rushed toward the door, weaving between gyrating bodies on the dance floor. She had just cleared the crowd when Tucker stepped in front of her.

  “Babe, where are you going?”

  “Outside.”

  “It’s like zero degrees out there. I’ll go with you. You can wear my jacket.”

  “No.” She turned around to face him, whose sweet smile seared her heart. He had known about her gallery plans for over a week and hadn’t bothered to confess that he too had submitted a bid. He’d never kept secrets from her before. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

  “Tell you what?”

  “Come on, Tucker. I know all about your plans to turn the castle into a pub.”

  His face turned pale white and he swallowed deeply. When was he planning to tell her? After he was awarded the bid?

  “Well?” She crossed her arms and glared, willing him to man-up.

  “How did you find out?”

  “Diana. Who else? She couldn’t wait to gloat over another failed Christmas.”

  “It’s not a failed Christmas. We’re having a great time.”

  “You may be, but I just found out the man I love has been keeping secrets and trying to undermine my plans for an art gallery.”

  “The man you—”

  “You know what that building means to me. I’ve shown you the drawings, explained the layout of the sculpture garden. All this time you didn’t bother to tell me you wanted to cover the entire block with retail space and open a pub.”

  “It’s not like that.” He gathered her shoulders in his hands and bent down to her eye level. “Let’s get back to the part about how you love me.”

  “Tucker! Oh my God. I’m talking about trust or the lack of it. I trusted—”

  “Ladies and gentleman, may I have your attention?” Her tirade was cut off when Arthur’s voice came over the microphone. “Is everyone having a good time?” The crowd responded with a hearty cheer.

  “Before we have the traditional kiss under the mistletoe, I’d like to make a special announcement. As you all know, the mayor appointed a committee to review plans for the abandoned castle and award the winning proposal tonight at the ball. It’s sort of a Christmas gift to the town.”

  “I don’t think I can listen to this.” She turned toward the door, but Tucker wrapped his arm around her shoulders, forcing her to stay.

  “We had three interesting proposals, each with their own merits. But the committee felt it important to save the historical building, which has sat on that corner since the early nineteen hundreds. We also wanted to see the entire block put to good use, generate needed tax dollars, and enhance the appearance of our downtown.”

  “Tucker, let me go.”

  “No, you have to hear this.”

  “It is with great pride I announce the unanimous decision that the project be awarded to Tucker Callum…” As the ballroom erupted in applause, Liza thought she would be sick. Her stomach roiled as her dream of an art gallery inside the castle was crushed by the man she thought she loved. As if in a trance, she struggled out of his grasp and slogged toward the door.

  “…and Liza Fisk for their proposal to turn the castle into an art gallery.”

  She halted her escape. A cold shiver coursed down her spine. Had she heard Arthur right?

  “Take a look at the screen behind me. This is the architect’s rendering of the winning proposal.”

  She heard the whir of a motor and turned to see a large, white screen descend from the ceiling. A photograph of the castle appeared on the screen with a sign over the double doors The Fisk Gallery. In the foreground and on one side of the building were landscaped areas adorned with Roman and modern sculptures, almost identical to her drawings.

  “Now, on the east side of the lot, Tucker and Liza plan to build a traditional English pub with a beer garden open during the summer months, along with four additional retail spaces.” Arthur clicked the remote and the image changed to a central Tudor building flanked on both sides with additional stores in the same architectural style.

  “What do you think, folks?”

  Applause and whistles echoed off the ballroom walls as her fisted hands turned numb. She looked at Tucker, still standing near the door, with his hands stuffed in his pockets, looking a bit sheepish, but with a wide, proud grin on his face. Did he think just because the castle had the Fisk Gallery plastered over the doorway, that she could forgive his deceit? For the past six days, he hadn’t bothered to tell her he had bid on the building and now he assumed his fancy drawings would be acceptable to her? The night she told him about the gallery he asked if she could handle it. Obviously, he didn’t think so or he wouldn’t have had these plans drawn. She wanted and needed to do this on her own, but he had taken the chance away from her because he doubted she could handle it.

  “Well? What do you think?” He ran his hands down her arms and gathered her hands in his. “You and me? Partners in the castle project?”

  “Tucker, this was my gallery, my dream.”

  “I thought you’d be happy. That’s what the key represented. Our business partnership.”

  A business partner? What an idiot she was to think he loved her and was planning to propose. That key wasn’t the key to his heart; it was for his stupid pub—which he had kept secret—and his ambush of her castle.

  “It was supposed to be my project. I mortgaged my house.”

  “Well, I sold mine and moved into a camper. You’re not the only one who has sacrificed for this project. I did this for you.”

  “You didn’t do this for me.” She shook out of his grasp and pulled the key from her clutch. “Take your key. We’re not business partners. You and me, whatever we
are—were—it’s over.”

  TWENTY-TWO

  The doorbell wouldn’t stop ringing. Liza squeezed her head between two pillows and curled up like a shrimp. When would he get the hint she didn’t want to see him or talk to him? Every hour, on the hour, she received a text or a phone call, and twice he’d pounded on her door. She had stuffed his clothes into a box and set it on her porch, so there was no reason for Tucker to be here. The shrill tone penetrated through the stuffing, jangling her nerves. Why wouldn’t he stop?

  “Go away, Tucker!”

  The ringing stopped and a fist pounded on the door. No, it was two fists.

  “Open up, Liza. We know you’re in there.”

  Kate was at her door and she wasn’t alone. Liza really wasn’t in the mood to listen to her brother tell her what a big baby she was being. But, if she didn’t answer the door, they would never go away. She dropped the pillows to the floor and tugged her slippers on. As she shuffled to the door, a painful twinge shot through her lower back. She ached all over from too many hours spent on the couch. Sleeping alone in her bed brought back heartbreaking memories.

  “It’s about time.” Kate barked as she and Riley huddled on her porch, shivering. “I should’ve brought my key. I didn’t expect you to leave us out here to freeze.”

  “Sorry. I thought it was Tucker.”

  She shuffled back to the sofa and curled up in the corner, pulling a cotton throw over her shoulders.

  “Gram sent us to stage an intervention.”

  Kate plopped beside her and Riley sat on the coffee table. They had her cornered and she didn’t have any choice but to listen.

  “Where’s Brody?”

  “Down at the house. He says he’s staying out of it.”

  “Coward.”

  “It’s been two days.” Riley laid her hand on Liza’s shoulder. “You can’t stay holed up here in your pajamas.”

  “Got a better idea?”

  “Yes, you need to talk to Tucker.”

  “Gram says the committee is waiting for you to sign the papers so the project can move forward.”