All I've Waited For by Lindsay Harrel (classic books for 13 year olds .TXT) 📕

“Happy enough.”

She threw her hands in the air. “What does that mean?”

“It means that even if I don’t love her like everyone thinks I should, I’ll still be happy.” He ground out the words, cringing a bit as Ashley’s eyes widened. But it felt good to tell her the truth. Might as well. In fact, he should have done it long before now. “Look, you might not agree, but marrying Claire means security for her family and mine. It’ll allow me to save the vineyard.”

Silence reigned between them for what seemed like an eternity. Ashley blinked. “You’re marrying her because of the vineyard?”

“It’s not just the vineyard. It’s Dad. Doing this saves him the stress of overwork, which could add years to his life.”

Her hand absently stroked Mia’s back. “It’s very noble of you to want to save your family, but your dad would never be okay with you selling yourself to do it. I’ve got to assume he has no idea.”

“And it’s going to stay that way.” He sighed. “I appreciate the concern, but I’ve got this figured out. Partnering with Claire is the only way for us both to get what we want.” The irony of saying that to Ashley slapped him upside the head.

Because if he really let himself think about what he actually wanted, what his heart craved …

“What does she get out of it?”

“She’ll inherit her family’s vineyard once she’s married. Her grandpa isn’t well either.”

Ashley’s hand stilled. “Derek, it’s not your job to fix this for your family.”

“If not me, then who? You know you’d do the same thing for your family. I figured you, more than anyone, would understand.”

“I—”

“After all, you’re the one who’s sacrificing all her sleep, all her time, for things she doesn’t really want.”

“That’s not true. I’m working hard so I can buy the business from Kyle.”

“What about the festival? And the family reunion? And Ben’s wedding? Where do those fit into your dream?”

Her eyes flashed. “I just love people. I want to make them happy.”

“How’s that working out for you, huh? There’s a difference between loving people and being a doormat.” A tiny sliver of guilt pricked his heart as the words left his lips. “Sorry. That came out harsher than I intended.”

“Sounded like exactly what you wanted to say.” She stood, her end of the quilt sliding off of her legs. “I am not a doormat, Derek Campbell. And I may be overbooked, but at least I’m not so focused on one thing to the detriment of all others.”

“The other things don’t matter as long as the most important one is taken care of.”

“So your heart doesn’t matter? What you want doesn’t matter?”

“No.” He swallowed hard. “They don’t.”

Mia turned in his arms but stayed asleep.

For the second time that evening, Ashley’s shoulders deflated. She pressed her lips together, and her hands became fists at her side. “That’s where you’re wrong. You’re going to wake up someday and realize they matter very much. But by then, it’ll be too late.”

Pivoting, she walked back inside the house.

And with her exit, the clouds shifted overhead, covering the stars and shrouding the vineyard in darkness.

Chapter 12

Too bad cloning machines were not a thing. Because if there were two of her, Ashley might actually have a shot at finishing her to-do list this week.

Kyle would be no help—he was out of town visiting his sister again. Probably keeping the idea of his niece as successor in his back pocket in case Ashley failed miserably.

Which, at this rate? She just might.

Rubbing her temples, she stared at her office computer. The proof for Ben and Bella’s invites had finally come through, and she needed to approve it ASAP if there were any chance of getting the invitations delivered in a timely fashion. But when she’d forwarded the email to Bella this morning, her future sister-in-law had texted back that she was in Los Angeles visiting her mom for the day and couldn’t see the print very well on her phone and could Ashley double-check the info and get it sent off?

“There’s a difference between loving people and being a doormat.” Two days later and Derek’s words still stung. Things usually hurt the most when they smacked of truth.

Maybe she really shouldn’t have said yes to so many things. Too late now. Besides, given the last-minute nature of the wedding, Ben and Bella’s timeline was already tight with the printer. The sooner they turned the proof around, the better.

Enlarging the picture the printer had sent her, Ashley studied the details of the invitation. The font appeared to be the same loopy and formal selection Bella had made and—

“I’m guessing you haven’t eaten yet today.”

She glanced up to find Shannon in the doorway carrying a personal-size pizza box from Froggies, which her parents owned. “Does half a granola bar count?” Glancing at the clock, she grimaced. How was it three o’clock already? At this rate, she’d be here until ten or eleven, easy.

“Nope.” Shannon stepped inside and shut the door behind her. Eyeing Ashley’s less-than-pristine desk, she quirked an eyebrow. “Where should I put this?”

“Here.” Opening a desk drawer, Ashley swept a stack of files inside. “You’re a lifesaver.”

After plopping the pizza box onto the now-empty spot, her cousin settled into the chair opposite the desk. “I thought I’d stop by on my way home from work since you weren’t at Baker Family Dinner last night. I’ve missed you.”

“I’ve missed you too. And last night I had to run a twenty-fifth-anniversary party.” Truth be told, Ashley had been grateful for the excuse to avoid further questions from Bella after that embarrassing display in the inn’s courtyard four days ago. She opened the pizza box, steam puffing against her face as she breathed in the alluring scent of the best pizza on the West Coast. “How was work today?”

“Oh, most of the same.” Shannon picked at what looked like a bit of glitter glue