You Belong With Me (31 page)

              Layla wrapped her arms around her soon to be daughter and soon to be husband and leaned her head against Stella’s. “Stella, I already feel like you’re mine. I’ll let you decide when you want to call me mommy. Okay?” she asked, surprised to feel her throat closing up.

              Stella put her small soft arms around Layla’s neck and held on tightly. “Okay mommy,” she said with so much feeling that Layla gave up fighting the tears and let them flow.

              Layla rested her head against Michael’s chest and held on tightly to the small glowing hope in her chest that life could be perfect sometimes.

Available Now Book 2 in the Love and Dessert Trilogy, I Belong With You

Sneak Peek At Chapter 1 in I Belong With You

Chapter 1- The Prayer

              Kit watched her sister Layla try on a bridal veil and smiled brightly even though her heart ached a little. She was still surprised that Layla was going to be the first of them to marry. Yes, she was the oldest, but she was also the one who had a deep aversion to men. Kit turned and glanced at Jane and couldn’t help grinning though. They were here to help Layla pick out a dress and there Jane was trying one on herself. Jane was the dreamer and the romantic. She’d been planning her wedding since she was three.

              Kit studied her little sister and hoped that Jane got her dream someday. Anyone looking at her would think Jane was the one getting married with her long, thick rich brown hair flowing down her back and her face glowing. Of course Jane would pick a dress that was over the top feminine and flamboyant. The word meringue kept popping into her mind. The dress had layers and layers of lace and satin so poofy people would have to lean over to hug her. It was absolutely perfect for Jane. The only problem was, Jane wasn’t the bride. Jane wasn’t even dating anyone.

              Kit shook her head and smiled as she walked over to a rack of dresses and lifted the one that had caught her eye as soon as they’d walked in the door an hour ago. It was form fitting until about mid-thigh and then flared out in an excess of material. She glanced at her sisters nervously, not wanting to be seen dreaming. But how could she not when the dress was not just calling to her – it was shouting. She casually walked over to a set of three mirrors and glanced quickly at Layla and Jane. Jane was still humming to herself and seeing her future wedding to her handsome prince in her mind. Layla was discussing styles and fabrics with the clerk. That left her with a few moments to herself. She quickly held the dress up to her front and stared into the mirror.

              Kit Kendall gazed at her reflection and smiled sadly. Her long wavy, glamorous red hair was dramatic against the stark white of the dress. Her hazel eyes looked serious but there was a touch of hope there too. Her wide, perfectly sculpted mouth curved up in a mocking smile. She tried to blink away the daydream, but it refused to leave. She was proud of being a realist. She might look romantic and played the part well, but her sisters knew the truth. She was the least romantic of the three sisters. So why was this dress, this symbol of dreams coming true and finding that one person in the world to love, why was it pulling at her? Why was she getting sucked in by a white dress and a lot of lace?

              Kit moved to put the dress back, but paused as she saw Layla doing the exact thing she was doing. Standing in front of a mirror and smiling. The big difference was Layla had found her dream. It hadn’t been easy. Not with Michael’s ex-wife Ashley throwing road block after road block at them. But Layla and Michael had done it. They’d found each other and decided not to let go. Layla. Her hard as nails, take on the world and every bad guy in it ex-social worker sister, had fallen hard for a single dad and his sweet little girl Stella.

              Ironically, even though Layla distrusted and disliked men, it had never stopped her from dreaming for everyone else. Kit on the other hand, had a hard time seeing castles or handsome princes anywhere. She smiled and flirted with every man she met, but knew in her heart they were just another heartbreak waiting to happen. Every man that had come into her life during her 24 years on earth had been a huge disappointment. It was a pattern that had started early and had repeated itself frequently. Fun and excitement, followed by betrayal and disappointment.

              Her father, Landon Kendall, had walked out on them when she’d been a young girl. He’d chosen a life of addiction over a life of love and family. Her first boyfriend Austin had sworn he’d loved her one day and then asked her best friend to prom the next week. She’d cried herself sick over him and had sworn to never trust a man again. And she’d been good to her word. Kit kept her relationships with men superficial, shallow and short.

              Her latest disaster Jake, had been just another slap in the face. Although she hadn’t been stupid enough to open her heart to him, she had expected him to keep his word about the showing he’d promised her. He had told her over and over again what an amazing artist she was, how she moved him with her passion and her talent. How, with his guidance, she’d be a star in the art world. And she’d believed him. She’d even considered marrying him. She felt a wash of shame when she remembered that. It had been more of a career decision than a love decision and she thanked God every day that things had fallen apart before she’d gotten in over her head. But then he’d changed his mind and thrown her over for a trashy little sculptor who thought feathers and crushed soda bottles were the essence of life. The sad thing was she hadn’t even been surprised.

              Her memories of past failures and past relationships faded though as she continued to stare at her image in the mirror. The woman in the mirror looked self-assured. She looked confident, beautiful and at peace. That couldn’t be her could it? During the past few months, she and her sisters had come together to take over their grandmother’s bakery. They’d had so many chances to sell, but they’d agreed they all wanted to stick together and make it work. And now, Layla was an accomplished dessert maker, Jane’s unique and flavorful cupcakes were becoming everyone’s favorite guilty pleasure, and she was famous for her sourdough bread. She’d always dreamed of becoming famous for her paintings, so being famous because of bread was a little surreal.

              Kit frowned and turned side to side, trying to picture what the exquisite dress would look like on. She bit her lip and closed her eyes and allowed herself a little wish. She’d given them up so long ago, she’d almost forgotten how, but holding the dress in her arms and seeing her saddest sister happy again was making her a little irrational. She was too old for silly wishes. She’d been through too much and her heart was too cold, but today, right now this very minute, she was going to do it. She was going to wish for something she’d sworn off and relegated to Disney movies and the naive. She was going to wish for a happy ending.

              She was going to wish for love.

              How incredible and amazing would it be if she were the bride standing here picking out the perfect dress? What would it feel like to be cherished and loved by a man who was willing to swear in front of friends and family and God to forsake all others and love her and only her? And then actually do it?

              She glanced at Layla and felt her heart warm, knowing that her sister had found that. Michael Bender was so in love with Layla that when she walked in the room, it was impossible for him to notice anyone else. She’d never seen a man so in love before. Lust? Yes. She’d seen plenty of that. But love? Real, true love that deepened and was kind and giving? Maybe never. This might actually be the first time she’d witnessed it.

              Oh how she wanted that too.

              She’d never actually been all the way in love before. She’d been charmed, she’d been attracted, she’d even been a little obsessed that one time in college. But love? That was different. That was in a category all by itself. And she’d never even come close. But then neither had Layla and look at her now.

              Layla laughed at something the clerk said and then disappeared into the changing room with a new dress to try on. Layla Kendall was a woman surrounded, submerged and drowning in love. And if a miracle like that could happen to Layla, then couldn’t it happen for her too?

              Kit looked back at her reflection and noticed her face was softer now, her eyes were wide and the hope that she liked to shove to the back and hide in a corner was moving its way to the front, making her eyes bright and shining and her lips turn up in a real smile. Maybe life would surprise her? Please God, let there be a man out there somewhere who would love her the way Michael loved Layla. Kit closed her eyes and sighed. She’d gone from a wish to a prayer. Maybe that was the first step in turning a wish into reality?

              “Wow. That would look amazing on you.”

              Kit jerked out of her daydream and looked over her shoulder at Jane who was swishing toward her in her over the top Cinderella wedding dress.

              “It’s like someone designed it with you specifically in mind,” Jane said reaching out to touch the fabric with a finger.

              Kit shrugged and tried to laugh. “I was just thinking how cute it would look in an icy blue or pale pink for a bride’s maid’s dress,” she said lightly as she blushed bright red at being caught.

              Jane stared at her doubtfully. “Yeah right. Go try it on.”

              Kit bit her lip and shook her head. “No way. This is Layla’s day. It’s one thing to daydream and another to be trying on dresses,” she said dryly as Jane’s lips turned down in a pout.

              Jane raised an eyebrow and put her hands on her hips. “We’re here to have fun. Layla doesn’t mind if I play dress-up. Come on Kit. Don’t be an idiot. Go try it on,” she urged, pushing her firmly toward a changing room.

              Kit frowned and felt like kicking her little sister, but there was so much lace in her way, she’d never feel a thing. “Jane, you little brat. Stop it!”

              Jane grinned and put both hands on her sister’s back, propelling her toward an open door. Kit was pushed inside and winced as the door was slammed into place.

              “I’m not letting you out until you try it on,” Jane called through the door.

              Kit glared at the door and sighed. Jane, the youngest of the Kendall sister’s was definitely the baby of the family. She loved getting her way. Kit turned and glanced at the small room she was in and noticed a bowl of wedding mints sitting on a beautiful, ornate table. The lighting was soft and the romantic music playing in the background was all meant for one purpose. Setting the stage for a fairy tale.

              Fine, she could play dress up. But not because she really wanted to try the dress on. It was really only to get Jane off her back. She hung the dress on the peg and slipped her clothes off quickly. Within five minutes she was zipping up the dress and stepping toward the mirror. Her head tilted as her mouth fell open slightly in surprise. Her throat tightened and she swallowed back a sigh of pure feminine yearning.

              This was her dress.

              Kit let a shaky breath out and turned and opened the door. She walked out and came face to face with Layla. Layla looked at Kit in surprise at first, but then her face split into a wide happy grin.

              “Kit, you are buying that dress. Today,” she said with a shake of her head.

              Jane nodded her head and sighed happily. “Kitty, it was made for you.”

              Kit winced at the use of her childhood nickname and smiled sheepishly at her sisters. “Don’t be ridiculous you guys. I was just playing around. Of course I’m not going to buy a wedding dress. That would be crazy,” she said softly, catching a look at herself in the mirror.

              The clerk walked up and smiled calculatingly. “Many women buy their wedding dresses years before they even get engaged. If you find the perfect dress now and let it go, it might not be there later when you need it.”

              Jane’s eyes went big and she stared down at her own dress. She caressed the lace and bit her lip. “I have to have this dress,” she whispered to herself.

              Kit blushed and ran her hands through her hair. “I couldn’t possibly buy a wedding dress! I mean, I love it. It’s the most gorgeous dress I’ve ever seen in my life. And if I ever did fall in love and decide to get married, this is the only dress I’d want to get married in, but it’s too silly. Right Layla?” she said, turning to her sister desperately, wanting to hear cold, hard logic.

              “Kitten, if you don’t buy that dress today, I’m going to buy it for you. You can’t leave this shop without that dress,” Layla said, her eyes lighting up as she walked over to Kit. “Look in the mirror Kit. You’re so beautiful. You look like a woman ready to fall in love,” she said softly.

              Kit blushed brighter and looked down at her hands. “What if I don’t Layla? What if it never happens for me? I mean, I still can’t believe it happened to you.”

              Layla hugged her tightly and pushed a strand of red hair out of her eyes. “Sweetie, I promise love will find you. I don’t know how and I don’t know when and I don’t even know who. But Kit, you were born to fall in love and fall hard.”

              Kit stared hard at the mirror as Jane came to stand on her other side. “It’s true Kit. You just need the right man. A good man. You’ve never had one of those before.”

              Kit laughed sadly and rubbed the goose bumps on her arms. “Maybe you’re right. Maybe I should buy this dress,” she said softly. “It’ll be my symbol of hope. Hope that there’s someone out there for me.”

              Layla and Jane squealed and jumped up and down while Kit grinned and joined them. A few minutes later after the sisters had settled down Kit frowned and stared at Layla.