Page 46 of A Package Deal

Chet looked at Nelie. Jackson had a good solution, but this was her decision to make. “Is this what you want?”

“If the world is my oyster, yes.” The longing in her eyes about slayed him.

“You’ll have the spotlight on you,” he reminded her, and she nodded.

“It’s like a Band-Aid. Better to rip it off all at once,” Nelie said, and he heard the forced cheer in her voice.

“Their bombshell is a bit more than a Band-Aid.” Chet scooped up a big spoonful of bread pudding, wishing there was more whiskey in the sauce, and shoved it into his mouth, chewing slowly and buying time to think. He didn’t want to hang Nelie on the grapevine, but she wanted it.

There wasn’t a disingenuous bone in Nelie’s body and pretending to be something she wasn’t wouldn’t sit well with her. Feeling like she was lying to everyone would eventually eat her up. The news story would make her uncomfortable, but he knew she wanted to live in the truth.

She wouldn’t want to pretend that Jackson and Pris were close acquaintances. That Mrs. Hart was just an old friend of the family. This was her family. The townspeople needed to know Nelie belonged with the Harts just as much as she belonged with him and the girls.

Chet couldn’t bury the truth. But if he turned their request to his advantage, he could protect her and make it easier for her. He smiled slowly and looked around the table. Several eyebrows popped up. He didn’t know if they were concerned or amused. With their hint of arrogance, it was probably the latter. But they were wrong. He held all the cards, and he wouldn’t agree unless they accepted his terms.

“I’ll do it, but I have several conditions. When the paper comes out, Nelie and I will be on vacation. And when we’re gone, you’ll pack and move everything out of her apartment to my house.” Nelie gasped.

“Oh, can I buy the furniture?” Pris asked, lighting up like a Christmas tree as she bounced and clapped in her seat.At least I made someone happy, he thought, seeing Nelie’s frown.

“Free labor and you take the focus off her and point it at the rest of us,” Jackson said, summarizing the plan. He didn’t sound annoyed, but he wasn’t as over the moon as Pris was.

“No, the story will put the spotlight where it belongs, on me, your grandmother, and Gus,” Suzanne said.

“And, hopefully, by the time we get back, the grapevine will have petered out or something new will have come along,” Chet said.

“That sounds like a good plan, Chet,” Mrs. Hart said.

“So, you agree to my terms?” Chet asked and everyone nodded, except Nelie.Shit.

“Can I have a word with you?” she asked, pushing back from the table. “In private?”Double shit, he thought.

Nelie threaded her fingers through his and he followed. Over her shoulder, she said, “And, yes, Pris, we’ll figure out the furniture.” Chet relaxed. Maybe he wasn’t in as much trouble as he thought he was. Maybe she wanted to thank him privately with a brain-zapping kiss.And maybe pigs will fly, he thought as she turned and stared at him.

“You ambushed me.” She poked him in the chest. Chet caught her finger and pressed her hand against his chest.

“Felt more like gentle coercion to me,” he said, and she narrowed her eyes.

“I didn’t appreciate your taking over and dragging me back to your cave.”

“I thought you liked my cave.” He had taken over, but he wouldn’t admit it.

“I do, but it’s hard for me to say what I want when other people step in and voice their opinions first.”

He pulled her close, and she didn’t fight him. “I’m sorry, sweetheart. I didn’t know. I’ll do better next time. I didn’t mean to take away your agency.”

“Said every knight in shining armor riding in on his white horse,” she mumbled against him. “I didn’t need saving. You didn’t need to manipulate things.”

“If it’s a crime for me to want to help you, then lock me up and throw away the key,” he growled, and she looked up at him. “I love you, Nelie.” Her face softened.

“I love you, too.” He’d never tire of hearing her say that. Chet’s mouth dropped to hers. She tasted of cinnamon, sugar, whiskey, and forever. Nelie whimpered and Chet broke the kiss. He didn’t want to be caught making out like hormone-fueled teens in her grandmother’s back hall. She huffed, and he chuckled at her frustration.

“And you’re just going to have to deal with it,” he said, resting his forehead against hers.

“Deal with what?”

“People loving you and supporting you and wanting the best for you, no matter what you decide that is.”

“I think I can deal with that as long as you’re next to me.” She kissed the corner of his mouth. “I don’t want to wait. I know I promised my dad no elopement, but could we look at rings?” she whispered as her palms slid down his chest and her fingers fiddled with a button on his shirt.

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