He should have kept his mouth shut…should have pretended none of it mattered…shedidn’t matter…
And that his vow to visit her was just the line he used to get what he wanted…to gether.
If he’d lied about that, then maybe his old man wouldn’t have threatened him, and maybe Ian and Katie would’ve stood a chance.But Stafford Finnegan wasn’t successful because he understood finance.The man knew how to find a person’s vulnerable spot, and Katie had been Ian’s most vulnerable spot.
Ian snuffed out the memories, grabbed his ND Manufacturing ball cap, shoved it on his head, and cursed the man who didn’t know the meaning of kindness or compassion.Ian had walked away from Katie that day, blocked her calls, forced himself not to reach out…not because he didn’t love her.He’d done it because hedidlove her, and it was the only way to protect her.
But he hadn’t been able to one hundred percent pull away and that’s where Dolly Finnegan had come in.Jack might play his feelings close to his heart, but not Dolly.No, Jack’s wife believed in romance, love, and mending broken hearts.Too bad she hadn’t been able to mend his.
I know you still care,she’d said.Or you wouldn’t be so desperate to find out what she’s up to...
Ian had let a bit of truth slip through his defenses.I want to make sure she’s okay.
Do you, now?Why don’t you pick up the phone and ask her yourself?
I can’t.
I see.There’d been a long pause, and then a quiet,Is your father behind this?You see, something isn’t right.He’s been calling Jack quite a bit, asking about the cabin and such.The man hasn’t asked about that place in years.That in itself is very strange and makes me wonder.
Dolly, please don’t ask.
Too long of a pause, followed by a sniff.You love her, don’t you?You don’t have to answer because I know you won’t.Another sniff, a clearing of her throat.The sadness in your voice says it all.Let me know how I can help.I’m putting you two on my prayer list and maybe one day you and Katie will be together again.
Yeah, probably not.There was too much baggage between them to start over.A guy doesn’t just ghost a woman he promised a life with and then show up ten years later and ask for a do-over—especially if the woman’s Katie Layton.Besides, they had their own lives now…they were different people…it would never work anyway.
But some nights as he sat in the dark, listening to jazz and drinking a beer, he let his brain wander down the “what-if” road.He could shut the wondering down as long as emotion didn’t creep in.The problem was that his damnable heart tried to keep the “what ifs” going, and once or twice, almost pushed him to pick up the phone.He’d always resisted.What was the point?She’d never forgive him, even if he’d done everything to protect her—andshe had a boyfriend.Didn’t she always have a boyfriend?Sure seemed that way, according to Dolly, who didn’t want to share that information, but appeared honor-bound to do so.Call her, Ian.Please.The man she’s seeing is full of hot air and nonsense.
He would have stayed away from Magdalena and Katie if he’d had a choice.It’s not like he hadn’t read every newspaper and magazine article about her, seen the photos, and listened to a podcast several months ago.Despite the ten-year absence, he knew what she looked like, sounded like, how she wore her hair, and the outfits she preferred.But getting close enough to inhale her citrus scent, spot the gray flecks in her whiskey-colored eyes?Thatwas dangerous territory.
Life would have continued as it had the past several years, and no one other than Nate and Christine Desantro would have to know Ian had invested in Katie’s company.His father didn’t have many decent traits, but Ian had inherited the man’s uncanny ability to see an investment opportunity.Unlike his father, he put his money into people and products he believed in.When the residents of Magdalena started donations for the renovations to an outbuilding that would enable Katie to create her soups in an industrial kitchen, Dolly notified him.That’s when Ian contacted the Desantros with his plan to cover the balance for the renovation.As expected, Nate didn’t like the idea of subterfuge.Why can’t you man up and confront her yourself?Are you playing with her?And of course,You better not be toying with Katie or you’ll answer to me.Christine, his wife and the owner of an investment firm, calmed him down and explained the downside of revealing his identity.Nate eventually agreed, but not without a reminder,Do not toy with her.
That conversation had taken place eight years ago, and other than the initial renovation payment, Katie’s Soups had supported itself.Ian continued to invest in companies he believed in, but most of his time was spent on his true passion: building performance car engines.He loved the complexity, the problem-solving, the engineering challenge.Much more predictable than a relationship.
However, when he learned from his right-hand man, Lawrence Pickett, that Katie’s Soups had been approached by a national chain for country-wide distribution, he knew they’d need a bigger building, more people, and machines to satisfy production demand.This was Katie’s chance, and he owed her this.
Ian contacted Christine Desantro and told her he wanted to fund the expansion but as a “silent” investor.It’s her opportunity to get these soups in every kitchen throughout the country.This company deserves it.Pause and a quiet,She deserves it.Going forward, you’ll work with Lawrence Pickett, my CEO, and he’ll be the point of contact for Katie’s Soups.
According to Lawrence, Katie was so excited to hear there’d be a way to increase production to make her soups available nationwide that she didn’t ask many questions about the investor.In fact, she didn’t seem to care, other than to inquire about timelines, location, and equipment.That’s exactly what Ian had counted on.The company had a great product, and with proper marketing and increased exposure, Katie’s Soups could explode.
An old building in Renova was the location selected to expand operations, and within five months, the facility cranked out truckloads of soup.Within seven months, Katie’s Soups hit grocery stores across the country.Six weeks after that, Katie Layton appeared on local radio and television networks and podcasts.
The first time Ian watched her on a podcast, he couldn’t take his eyes off the screen.Her voice, the smile, the hand gestures…the contagious laugh that wasn’t contrived or forced.She was beautiful, poised, engaging, and yet there was a small part of her that appeared untouchable.Unapproachable.Had he imagined that or did it exist?
He watched every podcast, every talk show, every interview, and still, he couldn’t find his answer.Had he been a part of creating her aloofness?Was his abrupt disappearance responsible in some small way?If only he could have explained the reasons for his actions…tell her he’d done what he had to protect her.But he couldn’t, not then and not for years after that.All he could do was help her achieve what she deserved—success with her company.And happiness?The only way to do that last one was to stay in the background, watch her success, and be grateful for the moments when he could study her voice, her face, and wish things had been different.
She must hate him, or maybe she never thought of him anymore.Maybe he didn’t matter and hadn’t in years.He couldn’t say the same, though he’d spent a fair amount of time in the early years trying to convince himself he could move past her with a long-haired, curvy brunette who almost resembled Katie.Not even close.Same with the next one.And the one after that.By the fifth, he realizednobodywas like Katie, even if he wanted to pretend they were.
It didn’t help that Dolly continued to provide updates on his ex’s personal life a.k.a.current boyfriend.He’d thought about stopping her several times, admit the information was not good for his state of mind, but he could never quite say the words.
She’s seeing someone, but I don’t think it’s serious.Some businessman in Renova.
Maybe it’s serious?I hope not…Big sigh and a sad,That man is nothing like you.
What could she possibly see in him?
Months later, Dolly had an update.The businessman is gone.I asked her about it, and she said some people are meant to be alone.She wants to concentrate on her business.Dolly had dropped in a soft,Maybe you could reach out to her?
Yeah, maybe.What would that even look like?He could tell her about his father’s blackmail, including the threats against her and Jack.She might understand that he’d done it for her, but then what?
