Of course, the real issue was the job in Charleston, and he had a feeling there was nothing he could say about that that would appease her. Turning it down might do the trick, but he hadn’t been able to bring himself to do that. He was holding off on that to use it as a last resort, a way to prove that she mattered more to him than any job, even an ideal one.
“What are you doing here?”
The icy question was spoken behind him. Apparently she hadn’t mellowed.
“Dana Sue insisted I come,” he said, drinking in the sight of her. Though she still looked angry, the dark circles under her eyes suggested she’d been sleeping no better than he had.
“Yet another person making decisions that affect me without discussing them,” she said bitterly. “I would have told her I didn’t want you here.”
“Apparently Dana Sue has a more generous spirit.”
“Look, you can stay or go, that’s up to you, but don’t stay on my account and don’t stay if you’re going to ruin it for everyone.”
“That’s definitely not my intention,” he said. “In fact, I was hoping to grab a minute alone with you.”
“Why?” she asked, her tone still unyielding.
“I have a gift for you,” he said.
For just an instant, she looked nonplussed. “I didn’t get you anything. Well, I did, but I returned it yesterday.”
“Actually you’ve already given me a gift,” he told her. “You brought something into my life I never expected. Look, I know I’ve really botched this up, but I swear to you that I had every intention of discussing the whole job thing with you as soon as I got home that night. I thought I could make you see that it was a great offer.”
“Yeah, I got that part. You might not have accepted, but it was plain you intended to.”
“I wanted to,” he corrected. “There’s a difference. Please tell me you know I think that you’re more important to me than any job,” he said.
She shook her head. “Sorry, I’m not getting that. Words are easy. Your actions speak volumes.”
“What about this action?” he asked, reaching in his pocket for a foil-wrapped package with bright red ribbon. “Will this convince you?”
She backed up a step, even as her eyes stayed glued to the package. “Tom?”
“Yes, Jeanette,” he said solemnly.
“What does that mean?”
He chuckled. “I think if you open it, the meaning will be clear.”
Her gaze narrowed. “Do you still want the job in Charleston?”
“I do, but it’s negotiable.”
She blinked at that. “Really?”
“You’re more important to me than any job. Look, I know I screwed up. I should have told you before I went to the interview, discussed what it might mean with you, but it all happened so fast. I’m sorry.”
“So, instead I got blindsided,” she said.
“Again, sorry.”
“If we’re going to be together, we have to talk things through, make big decisions together.”
“I know that. And if you will hear me out about the job and you still disapprove and think we can’t make it work, I’ll tell them I’m not taking it.”
“But you want it,” she said, sounding resigned. “That’s the truth, isn’t it?”
“Yes.”
“Then how can I be the one to ruin it for you?”
“Because you matter more.” He tucked his finger under her chin and forced her to look at him. “I mean that, Jeanette. You matter more!”
She seemed startled by his vehemence. “Okay, so say we can work through that, what about your parents? We’ve made some progress...”
“They’ll be here shortly to make a little more progress.”
Her eyes widened. “Your parents are coming here?”
He glanced at his watch. “In about fifteen minutes.”
“Does Dana Sue know you invited them?”
“Her idea,” he admitted. “I wasn’t clever enough or brave enough to think of it.”
“I see.”
“Do you really? We can make this work, Jeanette. I believe that with everything in me.”
She still looked doubtful. “I won’t leave Serenity,” she said.
“Did I ask you to?”
“This job you want is in Charleston. A move is implied.”
“But not absolutely necessary. I can commute. Or we can arrange our hours so we can split our time between both places. We already have the guesthouse at my parents’ place in Charleston and we can keep your house here.”
“You really have given this a lot of thought, haven’t you?”
He nodded. “Looking at things from every angle is one of my skills as a manager.”
“It may turn out to be a bit annoying in a prospective husband,” she noted.
“I’ll change,” he offered. “I’ll be obnoxiously single-minded, if that’s what you want.”
“Hardly.”
“Then tell me what you do want.”
“I want it all,” she admitted. “You, Serenity, my house and you doing what makes you happy.”
“You make me happy.”
“But you need to do work that’s satisfying, too,” she conceded, then sighed. “I suppose we can talk about commuting.”
“Thank you. Anything else we need to negotiate before you accept my proposal?”
She considered the question, her expression thoughtful. “You won’t grumble about Christmas ever again?”
“Never,” he said, then amended, “Well, other than having to deal with Howard if you volunteer me to help with the festival.”
“Acceptable,” she said.
“Ready to open your present yet?” he inquired hopefully.
She gave him an impish look. “Not just yet. My dad’s around here somewhere. I think you two should have a talk.”
“You want me to ask for your father’s
