Grace touched the pale pink blanket covering her leg. “I like it because it’s a princess color. I was going to wear the leg the hospital gave me, but it hurt too much. Will the leg you make hurt?”
Aidan shook his head. “It’ll be a perfect fit.” He thought of the picture Esme had sent Jackie and added, “Just like Cinderella’s glass slipper.”
Grace’s face lit up with an excited smile. “That’ll be awesome!”
Aidan pulled himself to his feet and smiled at Josh and Sandy. “How’s everything going?”
Sandy’s smile was just as excited as her daughter’s. “We’ve had our first meeting with Rebecca. She’s such a wonderful person. Next week, we fly to Manhattan to do the initial set of measurements and tests for Grace’s new leg. We can’t wait to get there.”
“You’ll be amazed at how quickly everything happens after the team has the details they need.”
After they’d finished speaking, Josh and Sandy shook his hand, and Grace high-fived him. Seeing their excitement made Aidan proud of what BioTech was doing. And even prouder of the motivation his brother had given him to make a difference in other people’s lives.
An arm settled around his waist, and he smiled at Jackie. “The auction’s amazing.”
“And so are you,” she whispered. “I spoke to Josh and Sandy yesterday. They said The Christmas Wish Program paid for Grace’s new leg, but we don’t have enough money to do that. Did you pay for it?”
Aidan looked over Jackie’s shoulder to make sure no one could hear them. “It was the least I could do. Otherwise, they would’ve been waiting for months. And that’s only if the trust sponsored Grace.”
Jackie sighed. “That was really kind and generous.” And with the lightest of touches, she kissed his cheek. “You have a big heart, Aidan Remington.”
As he gazed into her shining eyes, Aidan realized his heart had become even bigger since he’d met her. He’d fallen completely in love with Jackie—and he didn’t know what to do about it.
CHAPTER20
Jackie glanced at the stack of folders sitting on her desk, then back at her watch. Aidan was driving to Kalispell this morning, then catching a flight to New York. Before he left Sapphire Bay, he was coming to see her. But the minutes until he arrived had dragged by so much that she’d almost driven to The Lakeside Inn to see him. After a moment of indecision, her common sense had kicked in and told her not to be so impulsive.
At some point, she had to get used to not seeing him, and that time was now.
So, she’d stayed at home, buried her breaking heart in invoices and receipts from her store, and ignored the ticking clock on the far wall.
She still didn’t know if she’d made the right decision when she’d told Aidan she wouldn’t move. But she had her store, friends she adored, and a community that cared about her. For someone who’d never felt as though she belonged anywhere, they were precious gifts she couldn’t ignore.
With a deep sigh, she walked into the kitchen and headed to the pantry where her emergency rations were kept. If there was ever a time she needed an instant sugar rush, this was it—and her stash of caramel fudge from Sweet Treats would hit the spot nicely.
With a satisfied smile, she stood on tiptoes and reached into the back of the highest shelf. There, sandwiched between boxes of cereal and granola bars, was a small container full of deliciousness.
When the doorbell rang, her heart skipped a beat and she almost lost her balance. Leaving the fudge on the counter, she walked through the living room and into the entryway.
It could only be Aidan. No one else would visit her at eight o’clock on a Sunday morning, especially if they’d gone to the gala the night before.
Jackie opened the door and stared at the man she’d spent all night thinking about. The wind ruffled his hair and his blue eyes seemed to connect with her soul. She felt a pang in her chest, but tried to hide it with a smile.
“Hi, Aidan,” she said. “Come in.”
He stepped inside, and she closed the door behind him. They stood there for a moment, neither of them saying anything.
Jackie felt awkward, and shy, and everything she hadn’t felt in years. “Were you able to pack everything into your suitcases?”
“I had to buy an extra one but, luckily, Mabel had some in the general store.”
Jackie nodded and took a deep breath. “Would you like a cup of coffee before you drive to Kalispell?”
Slowly, Aidan shook his head. “I had coffee with my breakfast. I can’t stay long. The weather’s too unpredictable.”
“Have you checked to make sure the roads are open?” Jackie bit her bottom lip. The state of the roads was the last thing she wanted to talk to Aidan about, but her brain and heart were refusing to cooperate.
“I have an app that alerts me to any road closures.” Aidan stepped forward and held her warm, shaky hands in his. “I’ll miss you.”
