A Valentine's Proposal--A Clean Romance

  A fake engagement?

  Nelson had really tried to arrange a fake engagement?

  That could have worked. The big thing for now was to show a romantic proposal, one that would entice people from out of town to come here.

  Mind buzzing again, Mariah asked, “Rachel said no?”

  “She had good reasons. I hadn’t thought it through.”

  It was a little smidgen of hope. A possibility. If there was someone else who would agree to a fake proposal with Nelson...

  Someone desperate. Someone motivated.

  Mariah knew of only one person right now that desperate and motivated. But could she make it work?

  “I’ll do it.”

  Nelson’s brow creased. “You’ll do what?”

  “I’ll accept your fake proposal. We can get engaged for Valentine’s Day.”

  Dear Reader,

  This new series, Cupid’s Crossing, was inspired by my Heartwarming editor’s wish list. My brain connected a small town and holidays and added in the humor that I find makes everything go better.

  Carter’s Crossing is a small place a few hours’ drive from large cities like New York and Boston. Abigail Carter, matriarch of the Carter family, has the idea of converting the former mill town into a destination for romantic events: proposals, weddings, weekend getaways. This three-book series follows the transformation of the town from Carter’s Crossing to Cupid’s Crossing.

  Abigail reaches out to a former college beau, who sends his granddaughter, Mariah, a wedding planner, to spend a year launching the plan. Mariah decides that staging some events for Valentine’s Day would be a great way to kick off the town’s new business.

  Most of the town is on board, except for Abigail’s grandson Nelson, the local vet. Fortunately, Cupid has some tricks up his sleeves, including a Great Dane, some rescue horses, as well as a can’t-live-with-them, can’t-live-without-them group of friends.

  Cupid has his own plans for his namesake town.

  Happy reading!

  Kim

  A Valentine’s Proposal

  Kim Findlay

  Kim Findlay is a Canadian who fled the cold to live on a sailboat in the Caribbean and write romance novels. She shares the boat with her husband and the world’s cutest spaniel. Bucket list accomplished! Her first Harlequin Heartwarming, Crossing the Goal Line, came about from the Heartwarming Blitz, and she’s never looked back. Keep up with Kim, including sailing adventures, at kimfindlay.ca.

  Books by Kim Findlay

  Harlequin Heartwarming

  A Hockey Romance

  Crossing the Goal Line

  Her Family’s Defender

  Visit the Author Profile page at Harlequin.com for more titles.

  To LeAnne, Amanda, Adrienne and Johanna, who helped to bring this series to life.

  Contents

  CHAPTER ONE

  CHAPTER TWO

  CHAPTER THREE

  CHAPTER FOUR

  CHAPTER FIVE

  CHAPTER SIX

  CHAPTER SEVEN

  CHAPTER EIGHT

  CHAPTER NINE

  CHAPTER TEN

  CHAPTER ELEVEN

  CHAPTER TWELVE

  CHAPTER THIRTEEN

  CHAPTER FOURTEEN

  CHAPTER FIFTEEN

  CHAPTER SIXTEEN

  CHAPTER SEVENTEEN

  EXCERPT FROM COMING HOME TO TEXAS BY KIT HAWTHORNE

  CHAPTER ONE

  THE IDEAS WERE pinging nonstop. Fizzing with excitement, Mariah pulled into an empty parking lot, grabbing the tablet beside her and opening up the map app. With the limited parking here in Carter’s Crossing, they’d need to set something up with trains, or planes, to get larger parties here, or people without cars from cities like New York or Boston. Where was the closest train station? Airport? How would they convey people from there? Limo? Convertible in the summer? No, that would only be for the big budget events. Maybe a shuttle bus? They’d have to arrange for a van for luggage...

  Absorbed in her thoughts, her surroundings faded until a voice near the open car window broke through her concentration.

  It had an impatient edge, as if this wasn’t the first attempt to reach her.

  “Can I help you?”

  Mariah’s head snapped up, and she shrieked.

  The big head, the teeth, the tongue...it took her a moment to place the unexpected image.

  A Great Dane, drooling into her car. She backed farther into her seat before the big nose snuffled her ear.

  “He’s friendly.” It was the same voice, and Mariah finally caught sight of the man attached to the dog.

  He was at the other end of a leash. Tall, dark hair, wearing blue scrubs for some reason. He was also good-looking, but the smirk on his face canceled out most of the benefit of a strong chin and high cheekbones. The smirk annoyed her. She wasn’t afraid of dogs; she’d just been startled.

  “I’m sure he is. I’d still rather not wear his saliva.”

  Okay, maybe her voice was a little...curt, but this was an expensive suit and she already had some drool on her sleeve. Her pulse was racing from the shock.

  The dog’s head retreated as the man pulled on the leash.

  “Back off, Tiny.” He pushed the dog behind him and leaned toward her. “We didn’t mean to startle you. Just wanted to help you find your way.”

  Mariah’s fists clenched on the map. This man didn’t know her. He didn’t know her hot buttons, or the number of times she’d been offered unsolicited directions. He probably didn’t even realize the assumptions behind that offer. She had literally navigated around the globe, and she could certainly make her way around a town so small it had only one stoplight.

  She’d been questioned on that ability a few times too many.

  “I’m not lost.” She set down the tablet. She wasn’t lost. Planning was her forte. She knew exactly where she was and where she was going, and all she’d wanted was a few moments to work out the brainstorm she’d been hit with. This could be her best idea yet, and she wanted the chance to start working it out.

  “Just taking the scenic route?” he asked, still smirking.

  Oh, to be born with the confidence of those with a Y chromosome. He undoubtedly expected her to admit the map was just too much for her little ole brain and would gladly tell her where to go in that same smug tone...or maybe she was projecting, just a bit. Probably better not to leap to conclusions.

  Still, it wouldn’t hurt for him to learn to take a hint. If she needed help, she was perfectly capable of asking for it.

  So she smiled through gritted teeth and repeated, “I’m not lost, but I wouldn’t mind if you were.”

  She held the smile as the penny dropped and he lost his smirk.

  He backed off, hands in the air, Drooly backing up with him. To his credit, he didn’t call her a name, defend his niceness or tell her she was cute when she was sassy.

  Maybe she’d gone too far.

  “I’m gone. Good luck finding where you’re going.”

  She could do without the sarcasm, too. Yeah, she didn’t need to feel sorry for him, or his healthy ego.

  He turned to the building at the back of the small parking lot where she’d pulled in. The falling penny this time was for her. He was in scrubs, with a dog, and the sign on the building read Carter’s Crossing Animal Hospital.

  Okay, first meeting with a local didn’t go well. For a moment she considered apologizing.

  She checked the time. No, she needed to get going. She didn’t have time for him to explain how he hadn’t meant anything by it.

  Shoving the incident, and the tablet, behind her, she put the car in gear and turned left.

  This was an incredible opportunity. She was going to blow the socks off everyone, and then she’d have achieved her dream, all on her own. She was at the helm, and she was kicking butt and taking names.

  Fortunately, none of her plans required the assistance of the local vet.

  * * *

  NELSON CARTER WATCHED the car pull out of his parking lot. His empty parking lot.

  It was a Sunday afternoon, and the clinic wasn’t open. There were no other cars in the lot; just his clinic van. He was here because he’d been called in to help Tiny, the Great Dane.

  Great Danes were known to suffer from gastric torsion, as Tiny’s owner had read on the internet. Every time Tiny ate something he shouldn’t, which he did frequently, Nelson got a call in case Tiny was about to bloat and torque his digestive tract. To date, Tiny’s digestive tract was cast iron, but Nelson always responded.

  Tiny’s owner, Mavis Grisham, was a good friend of his grandmother’s, and devoted to her pet, who probably outweighed her by a good thirty pounds. Tiny was a happy, good-natured goof. After checking the dog out thoroughly, he’d taken Tiny for a walk, making sure the guy would survive his first taste of habanero sauce. Nelson was more worried about what would happen when that worked its way through Tiny than he was with what was going to happen while it was still inside the big dog, but he was due for dinner at his grandmother’s. Mavis would have to handle that.

  He also wondered why Mavis was using habanero sauce but was probably better off not knowing.

  Nelson had been about to retu
rn Tiny to Mavis when he’d noticed the out-of-state car in the clinic parking lot.

  Carter’s Crossing was a small town. It wasn’t on the way to anywhere else of any consequence, so few people other than locals were likely to drive through. Nelson knew all the locals. He’d grown up in Carter’s Crossing. Now that he was back, his practice covered more than just the town. Almost everyone here had an animal, either for business or pleasure. He’d quickly caught up on any new arrivals since he’d left.

  In Carter’s Crossing there weren’t any strangers.

  He’d guessed the driver of the out-of-state car was lost, and the map open on her tablet confirmed that she’d gotten confused on the back roads.

  His first impression had been good. She was pretty, with dark, shiny hair, a straight nose; her brow crinkled as she stared at the map like it was her best friend. He’d offered to help, thinking it would be a pleasant interlude to wrap up his day.

  She hadn’t been nice. Sure, Tiny’s face could be startling up close, so the yelp she’d made had been perfectly understandable, but that was no excuse to tell him to get lost. He’d only been trying to help.

  He’d learned the hard way not to push ideas or advice on anyone else, so he let her go. She’d find her way, or she’d ask someone else for assistance. As far as he was concerned, she could drive around in circles if she wanted.

  In fact, that would be a kind of poetic justice.

  He tugged Tiny toward the clinic van. He’d drop the drool monster off to his anxious owner, and then get himself cleaned up for dinner. His grandmother had requested his company because she had something she wished to discuss with him.

  His mood improved as he thought of Abigail Carter. She took her position as head of the Carter family, the family for whom the town was named, seriously. It had been a blow to her and to the town when she’d had to close the mill. Since then, she’d been trying to find a way to inject life and money into the local economy.

  Nelson had no idea how she’d accomplish that, but if anyone could, it would be his grandmother. He’d carefully avoided any involvement himself. He wasn’t going to be that guy anymore, the one who made plans and moved heaven and earth to get them done.

  He was happy as things were, handling the care of the animal population of Carter’s Crossing and surrounds. He had his horses to fill up his spare time and energy. He had his grandmother for dinners and nagging, and friends to keep him company. He was good.

  He wasn’t going to hurt anyone again trying to get what he wanted. Even if all he wanted was to give someone directions to wherever they were going.

  * * *

  MARIAH’S JAW DROPPED. The house was beautiful.

  Abigail Carter had given her careful directions to find it, and honestly, the town was small. For someone who’d grown up traveling the world on a sailboat, finding the largest house in Carter’s Crossing wasn’t a challenge. She’d driven all through the town, examining it for potential. The town had charm and beauty in abundance, and she and Abigail could build on that.

  She drove through the gates and up the drive before pulling to a stop in front of the immaculately maintained Victorian; its sloping yard carefully manicured. There was a huge wraparound porch decorated with harvest touches. This place was ready for promotional photos as it was, without any additional work. She pictured it with snow and Christmas decorations. It would be gorgeous.

  She was creating the publicity materials in her head already. This was the kind of thing that would make Carter’s Crossing a romantic destination worth the travel. The excitement was fizzing again.

  The front door opened, and a tall, elegant, silver-haired woman came out, smiling in welcome at Mariah as she exited her car. The woman was dressed in wool pants and a silk shirt with a sweater knotted over her shoulders. Her hair was pulled back, and her makeup was perfectly applied. In a town this size, she was a surprise.

  Mariah was glad she’d worn her suit.

  “You must be Mariah. How lovely to see you.”

  Even her voice was charming. Mariah had had some doubts about this partnership her grandfather had set up for her, but first impressions were positive.

  “Yes, I’m Mariah Van Delton. Thank you so much for inviting me here, Mrs. Carter.”

  The woman shook her head. “Abigail, please. We’re partners in crime now.”

  Abigail came down the steps and enveloped her in a scented embrace. She then stood back and cocked her head as she examined Mariah.

  “How was your drive? Any problems finding your way?”

  Mariah thought of the man with the dog and shook her head. “Not at all. You have a lovely town.”

  “Let me know, before I get myself carried away, am I crazy, or do we have a chance?”

  Mariah reined in her own excitement. “I’ve just got here. There’s still a lot to consider.” Seeing Abigail’s face fall, she added, “But this place has already given me ideas. Big ideas. I just won’t tell Grandfather until we’ve worked the details out.”

  Abigail’s face lit up. “I’m so glad. Now, do come in. Do you have a lot to carry? I can ask Nelson to bring your things in when he gets here, or tomorrow I have the staff to deal with it.”

  Staff made sense. This house must require a lot of upkeep. Mariah wasn’t sure who Nelson was, but she was perfectly able to carry her own luggage.

  “I didn’t bring a lot, so I’m quite capable of handling it.”

  Abigail shot her a look. “Of course you are. I’m undoubtedly capable of mowing this lawn, but I would rather someone else do it. Sometimes accepting help is...strategic.”

  Mariah paused. At that moment it was all too clear that Abigail had been not just a beautiful woman, but a clever one, as well. Anyone who underestimated her would find themselves in trouble. Mariah made note.

  Mariah hadn’t brought much with her because she’d had some serious concerns about her grandfather’s decree that she should stay with his old college friend. Even if she was confident she could make this plan for Carter’s Crossing work, she didn’t necessarily want to be sharing a home with someone she’d never met before. But the house was so large that there’d be no problem with a lack of privacy. She already felt sure that she and Abigail could work together. She should have known that her grandfather’s friend would be up to this. He hadn’t built his business empire by being wrong.

  “Let me at least take your briefcase and I’ll show you to your room.” Abigail held out a hand.

  Mariah passed it over and grabbed the two bags from the trunk. “Thank you again for offering me a place to stay.”

  Abigail, holding the door open for her, waved that aside.

  “This place is much too large for one person. And I’m grateful for your help, and for Gerry sending you.”

  Gerry? Right, her grandfather. No one had called him anything but Gerald as far as Mariah knew.

  “I’m happy to be here, and I’m excited about the project.”

  Abigail’s eyes were sparkling. “Excellent. I expect we can accomplish great things together. I’ve put you on the second floor, at the other end of the house from me so that we each have our own space. I’m sure we’ll soon be heartily sick of each other and need a retreat.”

  Abigail led her upstairs to a room overlooking the lawn at the back of the house. “I apologize. The room doesn’t have an en suite, but there’s only the two of us in the house, so the bathroom next door is all yours. Take a few minutes to settle in. I’ll be waiting on the porch. I want to enjoy the last of the warm days before the cold keeps us all huddled indoors. We’ll eat once Nelson gets here. He shouldn’t be long.” She glanced at the delicate gold watch on her wrist.

  Mariah wasn’t sure if Nelson would be serving the meal or eating with them, but she hoped his presence wouldn’t interfere with talking to Abigail. The idea she’d been struck with when she drove around Carter’s Crossing had inspired her. She’d wanted to blurt it out as soon as she arrived, but this was important. She had to be sure she’d thought it through first.

  She weighed the pros and cons in her head again. She had a lot riding on this job. She needed it to be perfect.