the area.”
Nadya leaned back in her chair and tried not to show how nervous she was to hear their answer. The idea had holes big enough to drive a truck through, but it could quite possibly work. If people had to drive up to Dale to go on the trail rides, they’d stop in the general store for lunch and buy gas at Al’s and get ice cream at the Tasty Treat. Maybe other businesses would want to make a go of it in Dale because there’d be a rotating customer base.
It might not save Dale, but it couldn’t hurt.
“It’s an interesting concept. Send us a proposal and we’ll toss it around.” Winston handed her a business card with both of their email addresses on it.
“Thanks, I will.” She stood and offered her hand. “I won’t take up any more of your time. Thank you for meeting with me, and I’ll send you that proposal as soon as I can.”
“I’m…we’re glad you came,” Winston said. “And if you ever want to see if you have a knack for horses, we’d love to show you around the stables. It’d be a shame to waste the gift if you have it.”
Nadya recognized it for the olive branch it was and grasped it. “Thanks, I’ll take you up on that soon. I’m looking for office space in Canton, so I’m in the area a lot.”
“We’ll look forward to it.” Lloyd opened the door for her. “When’s the wedding, if you don’t mind me asking?”
“November. We have to wait for the matron of honor to have her baby.”
“That’s coming up soon. So you’re planning a wedding, renting office space and coming up with a business plan too? You’re one busy lady.”
“It keeps her out of trouble,” J.T. said.
“Oh, Miss Sarov, Nadya,” Winston stopped her as she was about to walk down the hall.
“Yes?”
“Your middle name is Grace, right?”
“Yes, it is. Why?”
“That was our grandmother’s name. Daddy always said she had a way with horses too. I guess your mama knew that and named you after her.”
Her throat clogged with tears. “Thank you.”
J.T. kept quiet on the ride home, and she appreciated the opportunity to collect herself. Finally, she said, “I guess my mama wanted me to have a little bit of my father, after all.”
“That was pretty thoughtful of her considering how he treated her.”
“I know. I always thought she picked Grace because it went with the meaning of my name.”
“What does Nadya mean?”
“Nadezhda is Russian for hope. Get it, hope and grace?”
“It fits. You’ve brought grace into my life and hope into Dale.”
“Who knows, maybe if this works they’ll even reopen the secondary school.”
“Then we’d better go make out behind the bleachers while we still can.” J.T. kissed her hand as they crossed the town line.
Sometimes you really could come home.
About the Author
Arianna Hart lives on the east coast with her husband, three daughters and two Siberian Huskies. She loves to read, write, and listen to live music. She can be reached on Facebook, Twitter, and loves to hear from readers at ariannahart212@gmail.com.
Look for these titles by Arianna Hart
Now Available:
Snowy Night Seduction
Dark Heat
Spitfire
Surprise
Take Your Medicine
A Man For Marley
Devil’s Playground
Leap of Faith
Waking Up
She can’t fight her way out of a paper bag—but she might just talk him out of his heart.
Leap of Faith
© 2008 Arianna Hart
Dr. Jane Farmer, a marriage and family therapist and the host of a public radio station talk show, likes her life calm, controlled and on schedule.
But after she accepts a package for her mysterious neighbor, Lex D’Angelo, her well-ordered life goes out the window. Now she’s on the run from gun-toting goons and putting herself in situations her lady-like upbringing never prepared her for.
Former FBI agent Lex D’Angelo can’t believe he’s stuck on a mission with his uptight neighbor. How is he going to solve a case that killed one of his former lovers when he has to rely on a psychologist? What’s she going to do—talk the gun out of the bad guy’s hands?
But as the situation gets more dangerous, Jane shows strength he never expected. Now Lex isn’t so sure that she isn’t the right woman for the job—and his heart.
Enjoy the following excerpt for Leap of Faith:
“Would you slow down? I’m going to fall if you keep pushing me like that.”
“Then move faster.”
She practically ran through the shoe department to a door marked Employees Only.
“We can’t go in here. It says employees only.”
“So arrest me. We need to get out of here without our buddies in