Spotlight & Giveaway: Say I Do by Joan Kilby

Today it is my pleasure to Welcome author Joan Kilby to HJ!

Hi Joan and welcome to HJ! We’re so excited to chat with you about your new release, Say I Do!

To start off, can you please tell us a little bit about this book?:

Say I Do is a sweet, second-chance-at-love story, Book 2 in my Sweetheart, Montana series. Tourism director, Brianna Renton, is organizing the town’s first ever cherry blossom festival when her old flame, architect Angus Adams, comes home for a visit. Angus is roped into building the community hall where the festival is to take place, and Brianna is forced to work with him. As much as Brianna wants to forget the past, Angus has a way of reminding her of how good they were together.
 

Please share your favorite lines or quote(s) from this book:

Hearing Angus’s truck in the driveway, Brianna went to open the front door. The evening air was refreshed and almost balmy, scented with pine and cherry blossom.
From the porch, she watched him walk toward her in his button-down shirt, snug jeans and boots, with his dark hair slicked back. Tonight they were going to the dance, something they hadn’t done for years.
“Hey, cowboy.” Her heart beat a quick-stepping rhythm and every sense she possessed came alive.

What inspired this book?

Cherry blossoms! The town of Sweetheart is fictional but the Flathead Lake area, where it’s set, is known for cherry orchards in real life. If you’ve ever seen masses of cherry trees in bloom in the spring you’ll know how beautiful it is. On my bucket list is to visit Japan during their famous cherry blossom festival.

Log homes. Each book in this series revolves around the construction of a log home or building. All the main characters are connected in some way to Sweetheart Log Homes, a company owned by Brianna’s father and where Angus used to work.

How did you ‘get to know’ your main characters? Did they ever surprise you?

Brianna’s training is in IT but I was having a hard time turning that into a fun job I wanted to write about so I made her the town’s tourism director. It was only meant to be a stepping stone to her own consultancy so what surprised me was how much she loved planning and organizing the cherry blossom festival.

Angus grew up poor and had a long, hard road to achieve his dream of becoming an architect. Despite all he’s achieved, he still had self doubt when it came to Brianna. Unlocking those feelings was the key to bringing these two together.

What was your favorite scene to write?

My favorite scenes to write are lighthearted and fun but still reveal emotion. In the following scene Brianna and Angus talk about how their friends are trying to get them back together.

“Did you stay long at the barbecue?” Brianna asked.
“No, I left soon after you.” Angus paused. “Apparently some people are saying you took off early because we had a lover’s quarrel.”
“They won’t be saying that for long,” she assured him. “I’ve spent all weekend letting our friends know we’re not together.”
“It’s not sinking in,” Angus said. “Will and Garrett have been giving me advice on how to sweet talk my way back into your good graces.”
Curious, Brianna perched on the edge of the sofa. “What did they suggest?”
“Everything from dinner at the Montreau Hotel to flowers to a box of handmade chocolates,” he told her. “It’s clear the flowers didn’t work.”
“The flowers are beautiful, I love them,” she said quickly.
“Let’s move on to dinner, then,” he suggested, grinning.
She almost said yes, tempted by the banter and fun. When she was with him, it was too easy to forget that he wasn’t sticking around. “No, we haven’t reconciled.”
“Doesn’t mean we can’t.”
“You’re so stubborn.”
“Takes one to know one.”
The playground taunt made her laugh. He had a knack of dissolving her bad humor with silly remarks.
“You’d better go before we have to settle this with an arm wrestle and I embarrass you by beating you.” She walked him to the door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.”
He paused on the threshold, humor in abeyance as his gaze turned serious. “Bri?”
“Yes?” Darn it, she’d almost escaped without a direct hit to her heart.
“I never meant to hurt you.”
“I know,” she whispered. “I didn’t mean to hurt you, either.”
He bent his head and kissed her cheek. Mingled pain and joy flashed through her, and a yearning to be closer. But he was already easing away.
“Truce?” he said, his voice rough. He held out his hand for her to shake on that.
“Of course. We have to get through the rest of your time here.” But she kept her hands tucked beneath her armpits.
“Come on, don’t leave me hanging.” He offered her his hand again. “And don’t make me apologize for a peck on the cheek.”
“Oh, all right. Just don’t do it again.” She put her hand in his and his warmth and strength flowed into her.
“Next time you choose when we kiss,” he said.
She started to say there wouldn’t be a next time when she caught the gleam in his eye. “I see what you’re doing.” She gave him a little shove. “You are so annoying.”
“You are so easy to annoy.”
She closed the door on his grin before he could tease her into flirting some more. Then she leaned against the door, aware that her blood was fizzing. It was good to be friends with him again. Problem was, now that they were, it was going to be really hard to stop herself from wanting more.

What was the most difficult scene to write?

The difficult scenes to write are ones where that deal with their conflict. In the following scene Brianna and Angus are at a friend’s barbecue. What began as a fun day turns tense as they dig into their breakup five years earlier.

“Have you said anything to give people the impression we’re a couple again?” Brianna said to Angus, keeping her voice low so the other people at the table didn’t hear.
“I swear I didn’t,” Angus said. “In fact, I corrected Cody earlier when he said something similar.” He paused. “Would it be so terrible if they thought that?”
“Yes, since it’s not true,” Brianna said. “You’re leaving again in three weeks. Obviously, nothing’s going to happen. I don’t want our friends speculating. Or teasing, or asking questions.”
Angus set his fork down and studied her profile for clues. “Are you angry because I didn’t come back to Sweetheart to live?”
She turned to him, her gaze searching. “You used to talk about settling down here. When did you change? Don’t you miss your mom, our friends, this town?”
Did he miss her? Was that what she was really asking? “I do miss everyone. My preference would be to live here, but I have to go where the jobs are.” He paused. “Don’t you ever want to go further afield? You would have more opportunities.”
“I believe in making opportunities where I live,” she said. “I’ve tried other places. This is home.”
He nodded, acknowledging her point of view. “Don’t worry about what people think,” he said, returning to her earlier concern. “Our friends will eventually figure out that we haven’t reconciled.”
“Playing croquet as a team and eating together might not be the best way to get the point across,” Brianna pointed out.
“Do you want me to leave?”
“No, don’t do that,” she said. “Then everyone would think we had a fight.”
“Maybe that would be a good thing,” he said. “Show them how things really stand between us.” A touch of bitterness came through which he hadn’t intended.
Her eyebrows rose. “Is this where I slap your face and storm off?”
“What, so I’m the bad guy?”
“You were the one who left.”
“You broke up with me. You told me to go.” He glanced over at their friends. No one seemed to be listening, but he lowered his voice anyway. “I felt like you wanted to get rid of me. Were you ever really serious about me, or were you just—” He broke off, not wanting this to get ugly.
“What?” she demanded. “Say it.”
“Slumming until someone better came along.”
“Slumming?” Her mouth dropped open. “How can you say that? I cared about you. I was hurt by our breakup, too.”
“How was I to know when you didn’t say anything?”
“Neither did you.” She shook her head sadly. “Face it, Angus. Sweetheart is just a pit stop to you. Even now there’s a time limit on how long you’ll be here. Three weeks and you’re off again.”
“I’ve been offered a job too good to refuse,” he said.
“I know. I don’t blame you, I really don’t.” She pushed her half-eaten plate away. “You’ll have to excuse me. I’m going to go home. I think I’ve had too much sun.”
Angus watched her run into the house and could have kicked himself for his remark about slumming. Was she mad at him for not being committed to the town—or because he hadn’t committed to her? Yes, he’d been ambitious, but for them, as a couple. As a family. He’d wanted to marry her someday, but not until he could support her. Oh, he knew what she would say to that—she could support herself, thank you very much. But she didn’t understand how badly he needed to prove himself.

Would you say this book showcases your writing style or is it a departure for you?

Say I Do showcases my writing style in that it’s realistic and emotional but with a light touch and a dash of humor. I’m writing sweeter books these days which is a departure from the past.

What do you want people to take away from reading this book?

Reconciliation is the overarching theme of the series, including Say I Do. The take away is that no matter how much you’ve been hurt by someone in the past, if there’s true love at the heart of the relationship, with good communication you can heal the wounds and come together again.

What are you currently working on? What other releases do you have planned?

I’m currently working on Book #3 in this series. Single mom Sarah Mills is hired to manage the boutique resort owned by retired pro football player Daniel Hunter. Daniel was Sarah’s ‘one who got away’ and her late husband’s brother and they share a huge secret about the past. They’ve got so much baggage they need to book a separate room just to hold it all! It will be out in 2022.

Thanks for blogging at HJ!

Giveaway: An ebook copy of Say I Do & 3 Tule ebooks

To enter Giveaway: Please complete the Rafflecopter form and Post a comment to this Q: In Say I Do, Brianna’s job is to promote the town of Sweetheart and the Flathead Lake area, known for boating, hiking and other outdoor activities. When you go on vacation what’s your favorite activity? Tell me in the comments below for a chance to win a print copy of Say I Do.

 
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Excerpt from Say I Do:

“The cherry blossom countdown has officially begun!” With a flourish, Brianna Renton posted a photo of cherry blossom buds to the tourist website for Sweetheart, Montana. As the new tourism director, she was initiating the first annual cherry blossom festival.
“Stage one is a round green bud,” Sarah, her assistant, read over her shoulder. “Over the next three weeks or so, the florets emerge, the stems elongate, and by stage six, the blossoms are full blown with white petals.”
“We’ll take weekly photos as the blossoms emerge and invite the townsfolk to post their own photos,” Brianna said. “If the weather’s good and all the stars align, the orchards will be at peak bloom just in time for the festival in three weeks.”
“Awesome.” Sarah’s shiny mahogany-dark hair swung around her shoulders as she straightened. “I’ve been looking at websites of Japanese cherry blossom festivals. Their cherries are ornamental, not like our eating cherries, but we could get some ideas from them.”
“Show me.” Brianna followed Sarah to her computer. There, she flipped through page after page of flowering cherry blossom orchards. “It’s a massive event over there. Even small towns not much bigger than Sweetheart get thousands of visitors every year.”
“The town hosting this website could be our sister city.” Sarah was half-joking.
“That’s a terrific idea,” Brianna said, seizing on it. “I’ll write to their mayor and suggest it. While I do that, can you post a photo of their blossoms on our blog? In return, I’ll send them a link to our site. Nothing may come of it, but it’ll be fun.”
“This cherry blossom festival is going to be epic.” Sarah began to add the Japanese photos to their blog. “How’s the new community hall going, by the way? Will it be built in time for the festival?”
“It’s well underway,” Brianna assured her, as she began to compose an email to the Japanese mayor. “The foundations have been poured and the factory crew are cutting and notching the logs as we speak. It’s not a large building and is pretty basic. Plus, it’s prefabricated so, once building starts, it should go up quickly.”
“We’ve only got three weeks,” Sarah said—as if Brianna needed reminding. “The awards ceremony is being held there and the dance.”
“Sweetheart Log Homes always comes in on time and under budget,” Brianna said, quoting her father’s company slogan. Not that budget was an issue since they were building the hall for the town for free. “I just hope the cherry blossoms are as reliable.”
Despite her optimistic words, Brianna was actually a tad worried about the tight schedule. She badly wanted the festival to succeed and to make her mark in her new job. But her father’s business had expanded in recent years and their time was currently taken up by a large ranch construction project. If the hall wasn’t finished on time it would be a major embarrassment after she’d talked the town council into having the festival in the first place, and then urged them to hold it in the as-yet-unbuilt hall.
After sending the email, Brianna rose from her computer, stretched out the kinks in her shoulders, and then gathered her blonde curls into a messy knot on the top of her head. She wandered out of the office she shared with Sarah and into the public information center, nodding to the volunteer on the desk who looked up and smiled before going back to her computer.
The tourist center occupied one half of the lower floor of a Queen Anne residence renovated for commercial use. Racks of glossy brochures of local attractions and activities stood in orderly rows, maps of the town and the surrounding area were affixed to free-standing dividers, and the walls were adorned with posters of Flathead Lake, cherry orchards, and the many heritage buildings in the quaint small town.
“Do you think we could fit a display of cherry products in here?” she said to Sarah, who had followed her out. “It would be good to promote local producers.”
“Sure, I’ll move some racks.” Sarah straightened a pile of pamphlets that had slipped sideways. “By the way,” she added, in an overly casual tone that Brianna recognized instantly. “My cousin Dave is in town for the weekend. Do you feel like meeting us at the tavern tonight?”
“Thanks, but I can’t,” Brianna said, equally casually. This wasn’t the first time Sarah had tried to fix her up with someone. Brianna dated occasionally but mostly she tactfully declined invitations.
“Have you already got a date?” Sarah looked both surprised and hopeful.
“No, I have to contact the stall holders for the festival and confirm who is coming.”
“It’s Friday night,” Sarah protested. “I can help you with that on Monday.”
“The artisans and producers work during the day so it’s best done in the evening,” Brianna said. “I don’t mind. I know most of them so we have a chat.”
Turning to the plate-glass window, she gazed across Finley Road, a busy thoroughfare that ran between the town and Flathead Lake. On the shores of the lake, Finley Park stretched from the public pier at the north end to the building site for the community hall at the south end. In between, were wide green lawns dotted by picnic tables beneath shady trees and a central gazebo. The lawns sloped down to a sandy beach. It was too cold for swimming but the spring sunshine had coaxed a group of moms and their small children out to play.
Brianna’s gaze drifted to the pier where small boats could be rented for fishing. Seeing them always made her think of Angus, who had been a keen fisherman. He often used to go out at dawn or dusk with a thermos of coffee or a few cold beers. Did he miss those peaceful times on the lake? Or was the fishing better in California?
“How long are you going to pine over Angus?” Sarah came up beside her and touched her shoulder. “You always look at the boats when you think of him.”
“Do I?”
If she did, it wouldn’t be surprising. Angus had been a part of her life for as long as she could remember—her playmate as a kid growing up in Sweetheart and her unrequited crush as a teenager. After high school, she’d gone away to college, and then worked in other states and traveled. In her late twenties, she’d come home and found Angus had a job in her father’s factory. She’d been thrilled when they’d started dating and things seemed to be getting serious. But less than a year later, he’d won a scholarship to a prestigious college in California to study architecture. She’d urged him to go—how could she hold him back?—and broken off their relationship to set him free. Now, five years on, her dreams of making a life with Angus were buried deep in a recess of her heart that she kept locked at all times.
“I’m worried about you,” Sarah added. “All work and no play isn’t good for anyone.”
“I love my work,” Brianna insisted, turning away from the window. “I enjoy being busy. I have way too much to do to pine over Angus. Just to ease our minds, I’ll check with Blake about the community hall.”
She fished her phone from the pocket of her dress and punched in the number of her father’s partner. It rang a few times and went to voicemail. “Hey, Blake, it’s me,” she said, leaving a message. “What’s the word on the hall? No pressure or anything.”
Then she glanced at the time and was startled to see it was nearly six p.m. “It’s past quitting time,” she said to Sarah. “Don’t you have to be somewhere?”
“Oh, my goodness, you’re right. I’ve got to pick up Jeffy from Mom’s place and the sitter is coming at six thirty. I’m out of here.” Sarah went back to their office for her purse and jacket and then headed for the exit. “See you in the morning for a run?”
“You bet,” Brianna said.
The volunteer was leaving, too. Brianna locked up and went out through the small lobby and across to her favorite vintage clothing boutique which occupied the other half of the ground floor.
Kylie, the owner, was also closing for the day. “Hey, Brianna. I got a new consignment of clothes. I’m still unpacking but stop in next week and have a look.”
“I’ll do that.” She asked after Kylie’s elderly father, and the pair chatted for a few minutes before parting. “Have a good weekend.”
Brianna crossed at the traffic light at the corner of Swan Street and Finley Road and walked through the park to where she’d parked her car. The moms and kids had gone but couples were strolling hand in hand, and out on the lake, a windsurfer skimmed the rippling surface. As she walked, she unzipped her puffer jacket halfway, feeling the unseasonably warm weather. With cherry blossom season fast approaching, spring was in the air.
Over at the pier, a rental boat had just returned to the dock. A man slipped the painter over a bollard and jumped out of the boat and onto the wharf. The sun was behind him, so she could only see his outline, but something about the way he moved reminded her of Angus. She shook her head. No, it was the power of suggestion. She only thought she saw a resemblance because she and Sarah had been talking about him earlier.
Her phone rang. It was Blake, calling back. “I’ve got good news and bad news,” he said.
“Give me the bad first.”
“It comes in two parts,” Blake said. “I have to stay onsite at the ranch build for a few weeks. Would you be able to take over project managing the community hall?”
“Sure, I guess so,” she said, even though it meant adding to her already substantial workload with the festival. “You’ve got everything organized. I just need to tick boxes, right?”
“Sort of. The second part of the bad news is that the foreman of the construction team for the hall has to go into the hospital for a procedure. It’s not serious but he’ll be off sick for a couple of weeks.”
“Oh, no.” Brianna shut her eyes briefly, and then rallied. “The good news?”
“I might have found someone else to take over as foreman.”
“Who is he, or she?” she asked. “Is this person qualified? There’s a lot at stake.”
“If anything, he’s overqualified. He’s an architect but he also has hands-on experience in all facets of log home construction.” Blake hesitated. “As a matter of fact, he used to work for us.”
Brianna’s stomach did a funny flip-flop. It couldn’t be, surely. “Who is he?”
Blake was silent.
“Just tell me.” Her gaze flicked to the man who had returned the boat. He was no longer on the wharf but weaving through the parking lot, opening the door of a white SUV. He was too far away to identify for certain, but she knew that loose-limbed, athletic walk.
“It’s not…” She swallowed. “Is it Angus?”
“Yeah,” Blake said. “He graduated last year, top of his class. Did you know that?”
“Uh, no, I didn’t.”
“Nothing’s set in stone but your dad is going to talk to him about it,” Blake went on. “Would you be okay with us hiring him? If you take on project managing the hall you’ll have to work closely with him.”
“I… I don’t know.” She could hardly think. “Is he, has he moved back here?”
“He’s only in town for three weeks, to visit his mother before he starts a new job in Sacramento,” Blake said. “The timing couldn’t be better from our point of view.”
“And he’s willing to work on his vacation?”
“That we don’t know yet. I’m sounding you out.”
“I’ll have to think about it and call you later.”
“Talk directly to your dad,” Blake said. “I won’t be around much now that the ranch house project is starting.”
Brianna hung up, not knowing what she felt. Five years ago Angus had left with barely a backward glance. Now he was home, and he hadn’t even called her. Well, she had broken up with him, after all.
Could she work with him? It wouldn’t be easy but she had a responsibility on several levels to get the job done. If Angus was the only person available who could get the community hall built on time for the festival, did she even have a choice?

“Welcome home, son.” Gordon Renton shook Angus Adams’s hand, adding a friendly clap on the back.
“Good to see you again, sir,” Angus greeted him warmly.
Gordon was his ex-boss, mentor, and Brianna’s father. So naturally, when he’d received Gordon’s text asking him to come see him at his office, he’d responded at once.
“Sit down.” Gordon gestured to a chair. “Blake told me you were in town.” With his rimless glasses and comfortable cardigan, he looked much the same as Angus remembered although his gray hair was thinner on top and a few more wrinkles creased his amiable features.
“I’m here to visit my mother for a few weeks,” Angus said. “It’s been a long time. How have you been?”
“I’m well, thank you,” Gordon said. “So you got your degree in architecture. Good for you. When did you finish?”
“Last December. I did an extra semester in business management.” Angus’s gaze drifted to the open doorway. He could just see the pleasant, middle-aged woman behind the counter in the outer office. “You have a new receptionist.”
“Trish has been working here for about a year,” Gordon said. “She’s very capable.”
Brianna had sat behind that desk when Angus had last worked for Sweetheart Log Homes. He could still recall the first time he’d seen her after she’d been away for years. It had been Christmastime and carols had been playing in the background. She’d looked up at him with bright blue eyes, wild blonde curls, and an impish smile and held out a plate of her home-made Santa cookies. He’d been instantly smitten.
As the daughter of the biggest employer in town he’d always considered Brianna out of reach for a guy like him who’d grown up on struggle street. So he’d been blown away when she’d sashayed down to the factory one day and as cool as you please, had asked him out. They’d started dating and he’d fallen head over heels. He’d thought she felt the same. They’d even shared in roundabout ways their views on marriage and children. But once he’d heard about the scholarship, she couldn’t seem to get rid of him fast enough. It still pained him to remember what he’d had, and what he’d lost.
“Brianna was never going to be satisfied working reception for long, not with her degree in IT,” Gordon went on. “She works for the town now, starting up the new tourism department, but she still helps us out with project management on occasion.” He moved a pen aside and folded his hands on top of his desk. “Which brings me to what I wanted to see you about.”
“Oh, yes?” Angus felt a stirring of interest. Anything to do with Brianna got his attention. Was she still single? Would it sound strange to ask?
Instead of getting to the point, Gordon scrutinized Angus’s professional attire—neat button-down shirt and smart pants—and frowned. “You’re no longer a construction worker. You might not be interested in what I’m about to propose.”
“I’m open to listening.” Then, because Gordon’s proposal sounded like a possible job offer, he added, “I should say up front that I’m only in town for three weeks before I start my new job in Sacramento with Coates Construction.”
“So, it’s true what Blake told me. You’re working for John Coates, my biggest rival?” Gordon’s tone was part disappointment, part reproach.
“He’s based in Polson so not my day-to-day boss, but yeah.” Angus shifted uncomfortably beneath Gordon’s gaze. “While I was at college, I worked for the Sacramento office on weekends and during summer vacations.”
“I always thought you would come back to work for us when you finished college,” Gordon said. “Sweetheart Log Homes has been growing steadily since Blake came on as partner. We were hoping you’d be part of our success.”
“I hoped I would, too, if you had a suitable position available. Even though it’s been years…” Angus paused to untangle his thoughts and get the words out straight. “To tell you the truth, when Brianna broke up with me, I thought it might be awkward, me working for you.”
“Possibly.” Gordon’s frown deepened.
“I haven’t signed a contract yet, but John Coates turned away a long list of applicants to hire me.” Even though Gordon had more or less confirmed his suspicion that working for him would be problematic, regret gnawed at Angus’s insides. “I’ve made a verbal agreement.”
“My fault for not speaking to you sooner,” Gordon said. “You have to do what’s best for you.”
“I appreciate you saying that. Oh, by the way, I have something for you.” Angus picked up the small cooler at his feet and set it on the desk.
Gordon lifted the lid and his eyes lit. “A trout. You know how much I like fresh fish.”
“I caught it this afternoon,” Angus said. “It’s a small token of my appreciation for, well, everything you did for me in the past. You were a great boss. Whatever happens, I hope you and I can remain on good terms. For old times’ sake.”
“I wouldn’t want it any other way.” Gordon regarded him warmly for a moment. “How is your mom? We don’t see her much these days. Now that she’s working at the realty office, she’s very busy.”
“She’s fine, loves her new job, and sends her best wishes.” After his dad’s death in a helicopter crash when Angus was a toddler, his mom had gone to work cleaning houses for the Rentons and the Starrs and other prominent Sweetheart families. Angus wasn’t ashamed of how he’d grown up but he’d never quite felt on an equal footing with the other kids in town. Both he and his mother had moved up in the world but those old feelings of being lesser were hard to shake.
“Glad to hear it. Now let’s get down to business.” Gordon set the cooler on the floor. “We’re in a bind, Angus. I know you’re here to see your mother and have a vacation before you start your new job, but I wonder if you could do us a favor? It should be possible within the time frame of your stay in Sweetheart.”
“Anything,” he said, and meant it. Between him getting a job in Gordon’s factory at age sixteen, and his mom’s cleaning work, they owed practically everything they had to Brianna’s family. A thought about what Gordon might need him for made him lean forward. “Are you doing something with that big piece of waterfront property you own north of Sweetheart?”
“What? No.” Gordon shook his head. “I have no plans for that at the moment. It deserves something really special and anyway, developing it couldn’t be done in three weeks.”
“No, of course not,” Angus said, sitting back again.
“We’re building a community hall down by the lake,” Gordon said. “Unfortunately, the foreman has to take sick time and Blake is tied up with another big job. Brianna is comanaging the build but her time is limited by her tourism work. We need someone competent and experienced to oversee the actual construction. The slab has been poured and the prefab is nearly done. It’s a matter of stacking the logs and supervising the subcontractors, making sure everything’s done according to code. You could do it in your sleep. In fact, you might think it’s beneath you. The company is building it as a gift to the town but we would pay you well, of course.”
“I’d be happy to do it,” Angus said without hesitation. “I don’t want any recompense. It would be an honor to give back to you and to the town.”
“That’s very generous of you but not necessary,” Gordon said.
“Seriously, I’d be happy to donate my time and labor,” Angus said. “It would give me something productive to do during the day when Mom’s at work. And it’s not beneath me. I don’t mind getting my hands dirty.”
“That’s terrific. There’s just one slight hitch.” Gordon picked up his pen again and tapped it on his desk. “I would hire you in a heartbeat. Blake, too. We know the quality of your work, and your work ethic. No qualms at all in that regard.”
“But you’re worried about how Brianna will react?” Angus guessed when Gordon didn’t go on.
“You would have to liaise with her.” Gordon paused. “Have you talked to her yet? Does she know you’re in town?”
“Not yet.” He’d wanted to call but had been afraid of a rebuff.
“Blake broached the possibility of hiring you with her, but she needs to think about it,” Gordon said. “I don’t want this to be awkward for either of you.”
“It won’t be a problem for me.” Angus would rather mortgage his soul than have Gordon Renton think he wasn’t capable of delivering on any task.
“Anita and I were real sorry things didn’t work out between you and Brianna,” Gordon added.
Was he? Angus had always worried that his old boss hadn’t been keen on him dating his daughter, given the disparity in their respective families’ social standing and means. So worried that Angus had insisted he and Brianna keep their relationship secret at first—until their attachment became so obvious they couldn’t hide it any longer.
“I was, too, sir.” Whatever Gordon’s true feelings were, words couldn’t describe how sorry Angus was. He’d not only lost the woman he loved, but for five years he’d never felt able to return to his hometown, even to visit his mother. Instead, his mom had come to see him in California.
“Just a friendly word of caution, Brianna’s not into dating these days,” Gordon added. “In case you were thinking of taking up with her again.”
“I imagine that if I did the build, I would be too busy for socializing,” Angus said. “Anyway, she was very definite when she broke up with me.”
“Emotions are best left outside the workplace.” Gordon went on, apparently determined to spell it out. “It’s all fine and dandy when relationships go smoothly but if it went south again…” He shook his head at dark imaginings. “I wouldn’t want personal friction to get in the way of the success of the project. This is Sweetheart Log Homes’s first commercial build. It may be small but it’s important, especially to Brianna. We agreed to it mostly for her sake. She’s initiated this cherry blossom festival and she’s got a lot riding on having the hall ready in time for the ceremonies.”
“I understand.” Back off his daughter and don’t screw up the build. There was no other way to interpret Gordon’s words.
Frowning, Gordon tapped his pen some more. “She was hurt by your breakup.”
“I’m not sure if you know this, but I was planning to turn down the California scholarship and go to the local college so we could stay together. Then out of the blue, she broke up with me.”
In fact, he’d been about to ask her to marry him when she’d blindsided him by telling him in no uncertain terms that they were through, end of discussion. After that he’d been glad of the chance to go far away. Foolish romantic that he was, he’d kept the engagement ring he’d bought her and before coming back to Sweetheart he’d strung it on a chain to wear beneath his shirt. A talisman of hope, even when there was no hope.
“I don’t know the ins and outs of what happened between you two but I’ve said my piece so let’s leave it at that.” Gordon’s face cleared and he became businesslike again. “Meet Brianna at the site Monday morning at ten a.m. You can sort it out between you whether you can work together.”
“I’m sure she and I can come to an amicable arrangement,” Angus said again.
“Are you?” Gordon asked, one eyebrow cocked.
Angus shook his head with a rueful grimace. “Not even a little bit, but it won’t be for lack of trying.” He rose and shook hands. “I appreciate your time, Mr. Renton. Tell Mrs. Renton hey for me.”
When he reached the door, Gordon said, “Oh, and Angus?”
Angus turned back. “Yes?”
“Call me Gordon.”
“Yes, sir.” He gave his head a shake. “I mean, Gordon.”
Outside in the parking lot, Angus drew in a big breath of clean mountain air scented with freshly sawn Western red cedar. It was good to be back. Monday was only two days away. Whatever happened with the community hall, five long years apart from Brianna were about to come to an end. He couldn’t wait to see her.
He felt for the bump beneath his shirt and the chain attached to the diamond engagement ring. He didn’t know if she still cared, but he certainly did. He’d repressed his feelings for years, but always at the back of his mind he’d clung to the belief that they would get back together some day. Now that he had his degree and a good job, he could finally offer her the future they’d dreamed of so long ago—if only he wasn’t too late.
She isn’t dating. Gordon had said that to discourage him, but Angus took it as a good sign. It meant she hadn’t found anyone else.

Excerpt. © Reprinted by permission. All rights reserved.
 
 

Book Info:

She’s been over him for years, until he returns home…

In her new role as tourism director, Brianna Renton intends to put Sweetheart, Montana, on the map with the first annual Cherry Blossom festival. She’s also supervising the build of a new community hall by her father’s log cabin construction company. But the project is stalled and an unexpected visit from a former employee could be the answer to Brianna’s prayers. Except he’s her ex.

Angus Adams never forgot Brianna. When they were together, he put her on a pedestal and was determined to win her hand by proving himself and working hard to eventually buy into a partnership with her father’s company. He accepted a scholarship at a prestigious university to get his architecture degree, planning to return for Brianna, but she broke up with him the week before he left with no explanation.

Saying yes to helping her during his vacation is easy. Trying to win her heart while protecting his own is much harder.

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Meet the Author:

Award-winning author Joan Kilby writes sweet, sexy contemporary romance with a touch of humor. When she’s not working on a new book Joan can often be found at her local gym doing yoga, or being dragged around the neighborhood by her Jack “Rascal” terrier. Her hobbies are growing vegetables, cooking, traveling and reading–not necessarily in that order. Happily married with three children, Joan lives in Melbourne, Australia. She loves to hear from readers so feel free to drop her a line. For contact details and more info on Joan’s books, go to joankilby.weebly.com.
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