Forever Saved - Kathleen Brooks

Prologue

Three months ago . . .

“But we’re meant to be together.”

Stella knew this was going to be hard, but it had to be done. She’d wasted seven months on Rick Hudson and that was six months and three weeks too long.

“I’m sorry, but I have to focus on expanding my business. I can’t devote the time or attention our relationship needs. It’s not fair to you so we just have to step back. Permanently.”

Stella had met Rick at a Lexington bar on a night out with her friends. She’d been swept up in his sexy charm and suavely complimentary nature. He wasn’t the type of guy Stella usually found attractive and that had appealed to her. He wasn’t into the outdoors like she was. Instead, he much preferred weightlifting in a gym. His hands were dirt free while hers was always covered in it. He was all about climbing the corporate ladder while she ran her own small business.

While the differences between them seemed like novel perks at first, they soon became the reason their relationship was doomed to fail. First, Stella owned her own business, consisting of a floral shop and a recently purchased farm so she could open her own nursery and garden center. Dirty hands, muddy boots, and the love of the outdoors was her way of life. For her to have to beg to go on a hike or suffer through yet another “date night” at the gym was simply not her thing.

Further, while it had been endearing at first, the compliments Rick always gave her began to feel like a sales job. Then Stella began to notice he couldn’t stand not being the center of attention. Yes, he drove a fancy car. Yes, he had a solid income. Yes, he knew everyone in Lexington with a big name, especially those in the sports world. No, she did not want to hear about it every hour of every day.

“But you were to be my date to the Lexington Baller Charity Event tomorrow. I even picked out your dress and it complements my tux perfectly. How is it going to look for me to show up alone?”

Stella took a calming breath. He just didn’t see what he did all the time: turn everything into a “how will this help me” situation. He wasn’t upset they were breaking up. He was upset because he wouldn’t have a matching date on his arm tomorrow.

“What about that pretty brunette from the gym? The dress would fit her.”

“Which one? There’s the one who always wears her hair in a ponytail, the one who has those really expensive tennis shoes, or the one who wears that sports bra. You know the one.”

Stella had been sarcastic, but the way Rick’s brown eyes lit up, she was pretty sure the society rag’s pictures would have Rick and Brunette Number 3 featured in them.

“I think they’re all beautiful and any one of them would look great in the dress. Best of luck to you, Rick.” Stella held out the box of things he’d left at her place and shoved it forward so he’d have to take them.

“You’ll live to regret this, Stella Winters. Women like you end up with filthy farmers who only scrape by with a small living. You could have had all of this.” Rick waved behind him to the obnoxiously largest house in their subdivision.

That was another reason Stella’s creep-radar had gone off. Rick had bought the most ostentatious house in the whole development, right down the street from her, after one month of dating so they could “be closer and spend more time together.” It had seemed sweet at the time, but now it just gave her the shivers—the way he pointed out that he owned the largest house around . . . to everyone, the way he refused to park his hundred thousand dollar sports car in the garage because he wanted to show it off. And now she was stuck just down the street from him.

That settled it. She needed to move.

A minivan pulled up to the curb and Stella let out a sigh of relief at the sight of her brother and niece arriving. Rick groaned when he saw them because her brother, Karl, didn’t swallow the BS Rick tried to feed him. Neither did April, who was very perceptive for a three year old.

“We’re not done talking about this,” Rick rushed to say before he spun around and stormed off.

“Are you leaving, Mr. Wick?” April asked in her