Blurb:
Blurb: Caleb Daniels returns home to Texas after his wife has an affair and asks him for a divorce. When he temporarily goes to work for an ex-fraternity brother, he’s assigned to share an office with Aurora Prentiss. There’s only one problem: Rory and Caleb were high school sweethearts, but to please her father, Rory ended her relationship with Caleb soon after graduation.
Aurora Prentiss never stopped loving Caleb, but has always felt a filial respect to her father that makes her bend to his will. When Caleb returns, Rory thinks this may be her chance to make things right with him. The only problem? She's engaged to a man chosen by her father.
Will Caleb be able to forgive the woman who broke his heart years ago? And if he does, will Rory be willing to risk her relationship with her father, cancel the wedding to the fiancé she doesn't love, and finally make a life with the only man she’s always loved?
Extract:
The LORD’S lovingkindnesses indeed never cease, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; Great is Your faithfulness.
Lamentations 3:22-23
Chapter 1
Aurora Prentiss stared at the image on her laptop’s screen. Only one word came to mind. Ugly. No…two words. Unbelievably ugly. Her stomach churned. Never in a million years would she have chosen this design. The gold, silver, and pearl embossed lilies, hearts, and doves made the invitation look like something better suited to a funeral or a Las Vegas wedding rather than one at First Redeemer Presbyterian in Dallas.
She leaned her head in her hands and closed her eyes. Burton was right. Letting his mom choose their wedding invitation was a small concession, if it made her happy. Plus, after the ceremony was over, who would remember a piece of paper they’d received weeks earlier? Aurora could live with this…as long as his parents didn’t frame one and expect she and Burton to hang it in their new house. It was so ugly.
The alarm on her phone sounded. Time to gather her stuff and head to work. “If you’re on time, you’re late.” She whispered the mantra she’d heard from Dad her whole life. She took a deep breath to clear her head and shift gears. In with work, out with the wedding.
Checking off her mental “to do” list had made Aurora’s drive to work a blur. She flipped on her office lights. Everything was as she left it on Friday evening…except for a new computer someone had installed on the vacant desk in the corner. The entire sales and marketing staff were due for upgrades, but starting with a desk where no one worked seemed inefficient at best. Especially when she prayed old Computasaurus would wake up each time she wiggled its mouse.
A yellow sticky note on her computer screen invited her to a meeting with Jason. “My office. First thing. J” Although terse on paper, he was a generous and fair company president, and she enjoyed working for him. He simply didn’t believe in wasting time and effort on written communication. He preferred to express his thoughts face to face.
After placing her purse in the bottom drawer of her desk, she slipped her laptop onto a shelf in the credenza behind her and woke her aged computer. That would take time, so she headed down the hall to Jason’s office.
He beckoned her in as he continued his conversation in German with, most likely, one of their European distributors. He nodded. “Ja...” As she slipped into one of the leather chairs facing his desk, she picked up a copy of Science Today magazine. Thumbing through it, she tried to look completely enthralled in last month’s article about a new acne treatment so Jason wouldn’t feel as if she were eavesdropping.
Jason tapped his earbud, and then smiled at her. “Morning, Rory. Have a good weekend? Get a lot done for the wedding?”
“The invitations arrived.” She closed the magazine and returned it to the table. “Burton’s mom is having them hand-addressed by a calligraphy artist, and they should go out in a few weeks.”
“Well, from what I remember, that’s a big checkmark on the list.” He leaned back in his chair and folded his arms behind his head—his pose for when he wanted to downplay the importance of his next words. “I guess you probably noticed the new computer set up on that old desk in your office.”
She nodded.
“A college roommate of mine just returned to the States after being on the mission field for several years. I’ve asked him to help with the graphics and copy for the new catalog.” He leaned forward and planted his elbows on the desktop. “I hope you won’t mind sharing an office, just temporarily. He’s a really nice guy. I think you two’ll get along well.”
She loved Jason’s generous heart. He often used his business as a ministry. When he came across people who needed jobs, he’d find something for them, even if it was only temporary…until they could get back on track. The least she could do was support him.
Jason bolted up and grinned. “Hey, I'm meeting him for lunch. Want to join us?”
“I appreciate that, but I have a couple of wedding errands to run.”
“No problem. The busy bride.” He nodded and then winked. “Gotta take this.” He tapped his earbud.
Rory stood and headed back down the hall. Well, she’d gotten six months alone in this office after Kelly left. But she’d known that wouldn’t continue. And at least she’d be sharing with a guy. She wouldn’t be as tempted to chat with him as much as she would with a woman.
She rounded the door into her office. In the few minutes she’d been gone, one of her coworkers had set a huge arrangement of mixed spring flowers on her credenza. She slid the card out of the envelope, but she knew who’d sent them.
Three months from today you’ll become Mrs. Cransford. I love you more now than I did yesterday, and the day before that, and the day before that… Burton
Though overdone and filled with dreaded gladiola, the arrangement was glorious. And the card was sweet, even if the order and his dictated sentiment had been called in to the florist by his secretary. He was a busy man, and he had a whole staff of people to take care of both business and non-business tasks. The fact that he’d even remembered to have Mary order them today provided evidence of his thoughtfulness.
She sat and scooted her chair up to the desk. As she entered her computer password, a knock sounded on the door, and Mia stepped into the office.
“Morning. I just had to come see for myself.” She dropped into the chair next to the bookcase. “Well, they’re just as beautiful…and huge…as everyone downstairs said. You’re the envy of the office.” She pulled her phone out of her pocket and snapped a picture. “Just a little motivation for Drake.”
Rory grinned. “As if he needs any. He’s such a sweetheart.”
Mia nodded. “Yes, he is.”
“Oh, you’ve got to see this.” Rory reached into the credenza and pulled out her laptop. After opening it, she turned the screen so Mia could see the image of the invitation. “This came by email last night.” As she held the screen toward Mia, her friend’s blue eyes widened.
Mia took the laptop from Rory and leaned close. “Oh, my…they’re so, um—”
“Awful.” A knot rose in Rory’s throat. “I think that’s the word you’re looking for.”
“I wouldn’t say ‘awful.’ They’re just…not you.” She stood and handed the laptop back. “You’re getting practice at being a good daughter-in-law. And…you’ll still be married, no matter what the invitations look like.” She winked and then headed over to the doorway. She paused at the vacant desk. “What’s up with the new computer?”
“One of Jason’s college roommates needed a job. We’re going to be working together on the new catalog.”
“Text me all the details once he starts.” She winked. “Have a good one.”
So Mia had confirmed Rory’s impression of the invitation. She closed the laptop. She’d deal with it later. Time to work.
First email. Then she’d start on next month’s newsletter.
***
Caleb didn’t even open the menu. He hadn’t had Tex-Mex in over a year, and he knew exactly what he wanted. Cheese and onion enchiladas…topped with tons of chili. None of that red sauce stuff.
He turned as the bell above the restaurant door sounded. Jason waved. When he reached the table, Caleb stood and pulled his friend into a hug.
Jason grinned. “Great to see you, man. Almost didn’t recognize you with the beard. Plus you’re skinny. Been on a diet?”
“Yeah. The missionary diet.” They slid into the booth. “But I’m getting ready to change that.” He raised his hand and motioned to the server.
They ordered, and then Jason leaned back in his chair. “Glad you called me. I can always find room for a fraternity brother. Especially one who’s a hard worker, and who just happens to have an MBA. We’ll take you on as contract labor until you figure out if this is going to be a good fit. I’d love for it to be permanent, though, to have you hop on the bus.”
“Thanks. I owe you one.” Caleb dunked a tortilla chip into the salsa and shoved it in his mouth. He’d missed this.
“Nobody’s keeping score. Besides…you’re the only reason I passed that final in Econ. Staying up all night helping me cram.”
“What’s a brother for?
***
Stuffed with enchiladas, Caleb’s stomach approached the bursting stage. But the Tex-Mex was worth the pain. He followed Jason down the hall toward the last office on the right.
Jason stopped and leaned toward him. “So…you’ll be sharing an office with Rory. Her strength lies in carrying out—meticulously, I might add—any ideas given to her. If you provide her with the germ of a thought, she’ll race ahead and take the gold.”
The two stepped through the door. A huge flower arrangement provided the backdrop as a beautiful brunette stood and smiled.
“Cale, this is Rory Prentiss. And Rory this is—”
Caleb’s gaze locked onto the chocolate eyes of his office mate. His heart plummeted. “Been a long time, Aurora.”
Purchase Links:
Google Books: Always&OnlyGoogle
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