The Sometime Bride

notes?”
    “Yes, ma’am,” Mary said, appearing at the threshold.
    “Great,” Carrie said, her grin as wide as the big outdoors, “because we’re slightly revising our project. Ready to dive in?”

    “You sure about this?” Colleen said, staring up at Mike in disbelief. “A four-bedroom house is a big investment for a bachelor.”
    Mike patiently shook his head. This afternoon, not even Colleen was going to sour his mood. “Already told you, Colleen, not going to be a bachelor that much longer.”
    Colleen dropped into her chair in shock. “You’re dead serious about this, aren’t you?” For the first time for as long as he could remember, Colleen lifted the dangling bifocals from her neck and shoved them up on her nose. “Shut the door, Mike.”
    Mike walked to the back of Colleen’s office and closed the door, giving the two of them privacy.
    “Have a seat,” she instructed when he returned.
    “Now,” Colleen said once he was seated. “Tell me honestly, what kind of trouble are you in?”
    “Trouble?”
    “Is the girl pregnant? Because, if she is—”
    “Pregnant? Holy cow! Pregnant, Colleen?”
    Colleen motioned downward with her outstretched palms. “Just calm down there, Mike. You won’t be the first one on my staff who’s gotten himself into a bit of a, uh…personal pickle.”
    “Colleen, I’m not asking you for money! I have enough for the down payment in my account. I’ve been saving it up for a while now for…for… Well, never mind. It’s not important anymore. What is important is that I’m not asking you for any special favors here. Only the standard cut on the price based on reduced commission since someone in this office is buying it. I don’t see the big deal. It’s accepted protocol. I’ve seen you authorize such sales at least a dozen times.”
    “So she’s not pregnant?” Colleen asked, as if she hadn’t heard a word.
    “Give us a couple of months,” Mike said, settling back in his chair.
    “How much is the house?” Colleen asked, sighing and eyeing him quizzically.
    “Two-forty.”
    Colleen raised her eyebrows. “Joint mortgage?”
    “Absolutely not,” Mike told her. “This one has to be all mine.” His to own and his to give away—with a full heart, Mike thought with a deep inner peace that spread from his heart to his belly.

    Carrie couldn’t believe her luck. There was a small store for sale just at the edge of trendy Seven Mile Beach. With all the major resort hotels nearby, the location couldn’t have been more perfect. The shop, just outside of George Town, was even guaranteed docking privileges. It couldn’t have been more perfect. Of course, as the store had formerly served as a knickknack-and-jewelry shop, they’d have some remodeling to do. Probably plenty of remodeling to do, given the bargain-basement price of the property, Carrie decided.
    Still, if the appraiser she’d contacted at the Grand Cayman bank came back with the report Carrie expected, the place was a steal. An investment waiting to happen. Carrie’s palms moistened at the possibilities. She couldn’t wait to see the look on Mike’s face.
    And yet, she’d have to proceed cautiously. Make certain he didn’t mistake this for some kind of handout and become offended. But Carrie had never planned to give him the money, only loan it—on a long-term repayment, low-interest basis like she had for each of her other clients. It could give him the chance he needed, if he wasn’t too darn proud to accept it.
    Carrie paused at that last thought, considering. What if he became furious at her intrusion? What if he accused her of trying to run his life? What if he truly couldn’t see that this was no sort of manipulation; it was a gift from the heart?
    Carrie slouched back against her high-backed leather chair and spun to face the window. She supposed it all depended on timing. First, they had to get beyond that proposal part, so Mike wouldn’t think she was trying to buy his affections. But when, oh when, was that proposal part ever going to waltz along?
    Mike had said to trust him. But for how long?
    She wondered if he’d even considered the wedding angle, or if he’d find using her premade arrangements tacky. To Carrie, it just seemed a terrible waste to let all that planning and expense go, just to reinvent the wheel.
    Well, they would sort all of that out soon enough. First things first. She’d found the ideal property for Mike’s dive shop, and if she didn’t