Taste of Tara Read online

  “Tara! You can’t leave!” he said, clasping her arms in his hands.

  Shock at seeing him gave way to happy surprise as he watched the emotions flit across her face. “Brett! What on earth are you doing here? I asked Ashley to let you know I overslept and I’d call you as soon as I made it through security. If I don’t hurry, I’ll miss my flight.”

  “I don’t care,” he said, unaware of a small crowd of onlookers watching to see what he would say and do as the driver of the town car set Tara’s bags beside her. He gave them a questioning glance, but Brett motioned for him to go. The man grinned and climbed back in his car, driving off.

  “Brett, I can’t catch another flight today if I miss this one and I need to get back home.”

  “Why?” Brett asked, sliding his hands up and down Tara’s arms. He stared into those entrancing green eyes that had haunted him from the first moment he’d gazed into their depths.

  “I have my job at the bakery and my family. Oh, and Ellen, although she let me know she’s planning to move downtown to a cute apartment she found last week. It’s only ten minutes from her office and five minutes from her favorite coffee shop. They have the best dark roast coffee. Their apple fritters aren’t even half bad, but their muffins tend to be a little dry.” Tara didn’t know why she rambled on like a brainless ninny. Not when the man of her dreams had followed her all the way to the airport and stood looking at her like he was prepared to sweep her into his arms again and carry her back to Cutler Springs.

  In spite of her nearly incoherent state the previous night, she recalled Brett doctoring her hand, carrying her up the stairs, and leaving her on her bed. She also remembered saying she loved him. Indulgently, he kissed her on the head, telling her he loved her, too.

  Although she really was about to miss her flight, that wasn’t the only reason she’d sprinted out of Magnolia Rose without offering everyone proper goodbyes. She needed to escape before she ran into Brett and had to face him after confessing her feelings for him. In spite of her exhausted state that loosened her tongue, she meant it. She did love him. With her whole heart. But it was crazy to entertain even the slightest hope he would return her feelings.

  He’d probably be nice about the whole thing, but she couldn’t face him. It caught her off guard when Ashley handed her a gift bag that she said was from Brett and encouraged Tara to call him.

  With no time to dwell on what the gift might mean, she stuffed it in her bag and sat tense in the backseat of the car as the driver careened through traffic to get her to the airport on time.

  Now, as she stood here with Brett, staring up into the warmth of his amazing blue eyes, she didn’t want to leave. If she did, she’d be leaving behind her heart right along with her dreams.

  In truth, there wasn’t anything she needed to return to in Oregon. It provided a means of escape, rather than face the rejection she knew would come from Brett.

  He was wealthy, gorgeous, and could have his pick of any woman. Why would he be interested in a pastry chef from Portland?

  “Why are you really leaving, and don’t give me more excuses.” Brett’s hands dropped to her waist and he drew her closer to him.

  Tara could feel the heat radiating off him as his hands slid up her back in a possessive caress. Uncomfortable under his intent gaze, she dropped her eyes, realizing the mistake in staring at his strong chin or even the golden hairs peeking out from the top of his buttoned cotton shirt. “I need to go, Brett. I’ll miss my flight.”

  “Then miss it. Hear me out and if you still want to leave, I’ll pay for a first class ticket on a flight tomorrow.”

  She raised one eyebrow and stared at him, wondering what he could possibly have to say. “Fine. I’ll listen.”

  He nodded. “Did you open the gift I left for you?”

  “Not yet. I was saving it to open on the plane.” Tara took the bag off her shoulder and set it at her feet, lifting the gift bag from inside. She removed the tissue and pulled out a small box that held a set of heart-shaped measuring spoons.

  “Oh, Brett! This is so sweet.” She looked up at him and smiled.

  He took the set of four measuring spoons from the box and set them in her hand. “Read them, Tara. Read what they say.”

  A heap of love was etched on the tablespoon. A spoonful of laughter decorated the handle of the teaspoon. A dash of kindness was on the quarter-teaspoon while the fourth-teaspoon read A pinch of patience. She smiled as she nestled the spoons together and set them in the box, tucking it back into her bag. “Thank you, Brett. I’ll always cherish them.”

  “Tara, these spoons aren’t just measuring spoons.” Brett grabbed her hands in his again. “The title of the set is ‘Love Beyond Measure.’ That’s what I feel for you. Love beyond measure. Love that is beyond anything I ever imagined feeling. I don’t want you to leave, honey. I want you to stay. Stay and be my wife. Please, Tara. If you fly back to Portland, I’ll just follow you there. I know we haven’t known each other that long, but the moment I set eyes on you, I knew you were the one for me. It’s crazy and doesn’t make sense, but it’s absolutely true. Please, don’t leave. Stay here, with me.”

  Tara blinked at him, as though she couldn’t believe his words.

  Deflated, Brett released her hands and took a step back. Before he took a second, Tara was in his arms, pulling him close as she murmured, “yes, yes, yes!”

  Surprised, he wrapped his arms around her. “You mean it? You’ll stay?”

  “Yes, I’ll stay and yes, I’ll marry you,” Tara said, laughing as Brett picked her up and swung her around.

  The crowd around them clapped and cheered when Brett lowered Tara just enough to kiss her until they both were breathless.

  “Let’s go home,” Brett whispered against her lips. He kissed her one more time, ready to begin their happily ever after.

  Epilogue

  One Year Later

  “This is better than any dream I could ever imagine,” Tara said, sitting on Brett’s lap as they watched the sun set from their front porch at Cutler Springs Farm.

  “I’m glad you think so, honey, because you’re better than any dream I ever had.” Brett nuzzled his way along her neck then captured her lips in an unhurried kiss full of promise.

  “You say the sweetest things, husband of mine.” A contented sigh rolled out of her and she returned his kiss, looping her hands behind his neck. “Happy Anniversary, Brett. It seems like just yesterday you chased me down at the airport and talked me into staying.”

  He gave her a cocky grin. “You wanted to stay. As my mother and Ashley both told me, you just needed a compelling reason to agree to it.”

  “And there isn’t anything more compelling to me than you,” she kissed him again then raised her head.

  “Maybe it was Stuart’s offer to hire you that tipped the scales,” Brett teased, rubbing his hands soothingly up and down her back.

  Tara sat up and popped him on the shoulder. “You know that’s not true, although I was more than happy to accept the position of pastry chef at his restaurant. He’s so fun to work for and it’s hard to deny his new sous chef is adorable.”

  “Who buys a baby a chef’s coat, anyway?” Brett asked.

  Tara laughed, recalling how cute little Catherine looked in her chef’s coat and hat when Stuart brought her to the restaurant. She sighed, contentedly leaning against the man she loved with all her heart. “Honestly, Brett, there’s nothing I wanted more than to stay here, with you. So thank you for making me your wife and surrounding me with your love.”

  “You’re most welcome.” Brett reached beneath the rattan chair where he sat and lifted a wrapped package. “This is for you.”

  “What is it?” Tara asked, taking the gift from him and untying the ribbon, then removing the paper. “Oh, Brett. Where did you find this?” Reverently, she ran her hand over the cover of a first edition copy of Gone With the Wind. “It’s perfect.”

  “It belonged to my grandmother. I was in the lib
rary at Mom and Dad’s house a while back and happened to notice it there. You’ll see it was even signed by Margaret Mitchell. I think Grandma would be extremely pleased for you to have it, especially since your love for that story is what brought you to Atlanta in the first place.”

  “Thank you, Brett. I love it.” Tara clutched the book to her chest then set it on the nearby table and wrapped her hands around the back of his neck, twining her fingers in his thick golden hair. “I have a gift for you, too, but it isn’t something you can unwrap and you’ll have to wait a while to hold it in your hands.”

  “Oh? What is it?” he asked, leaning back to look her in the face. Humor mingled with love in her expressive green eyes.

  She laughed and leaned close to him, dropping her voice to a sultry whisper. “I don’t know yet if we’ll need to redecorate a room in pink or blue, but we definitely need to find a crib and stock up on diapers. Your gift, my hunky cowboy, is the baby we’ll welcome into our family in seven months.”

  He whooped in excitement then splayed a hand protectively over her belly. When he raised his gaze to hers, it held unbridled love and rapt adoration. “That is the best anniversary gift you could ever give me, Tara. I love you so much. I have from the moment you ran down the street, right into my arms and heart.”

  “And I love you, Brett, today, tomorrow, and always. With a love beyond measure.”

  Magnolia Bliss

  When I considered what recipe to use for Tara’s famous Magnolia Bliss, I couldn’t find just the right one. I experimented with some ideas, created a few new recipes, but rejected them all.

  Then I recalled this delicious recipe, originally titled Peaches and Cream Cheesecake. My cousin’s fabulous girlfriend, Brenda, shared this recipe with us and we love it! It is so good, easy to make, and offers the perfect finish to a spring or summer meal. I hope you enjoy it, too, and experience a little decadent bliss!

  Magnolia Bliss

  Crust:

  ¾ cup flour

  1 teaspoon baking powder

  ½ teaspoon salt

  1 small package dry vanilla pudding mix (not instant)

  3 tablespoons butter, softened

  1 egg

  ½ cup milk

  2 large cans of peaches (or 3 cups of fresh fruit of your choice)

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

  Grease the bottom and sides of a 9-inch deep dish or 10-inch pie pan.

  In a large mixer bowl, combine all ingredients except peaches. Mix at medium speed for two minutes then pour into prepared pan. Top with peach slices, reserving the juice. (If using fresh fruit, sprinkle with 1/3 cup sugar and let rest for approximately ten minutes before spooning onto crust. There should be juice in the bottom of the bowl. Reserve it for the filling.)

  Filling:

  1 8-ounce package cream cheese, softened

  ½ cup sugar

  3 tablespoons reserved juice

  Combine in a mixing bowl. Beat for two minutes at medium speed. Spoon to within one inch of the edge of the crust, but make sure you don’t go all the way to the edge.

  Topping:

  1 tablespoon sugar

  ½ teaspoon cinnamon

  Combine and sprinkle over cream cheese filling.

  Bake for 30-35 minutes, until crust is golden brown. The filling will appear soft. Cool then refrigerate. Serves approximately eight.

  Author’s Note

  When I was asked to participate in this series, I did a little happy dance in my office. I loved the idea of having a set of books tied together with the theme of Atlanta. But there was another reason I was thrilled to participate.

  My only experience in Atlanta leading up to the creation of this story happened years ago as I raced through the airport in a business suit and high heels, desperate to catch a connecting flight.

  However, like Tara, I’ve always been a big Gone With the Wind fan. My own dog-eared copy of the book is one I picked up at a used bookstore when I was in high school. It has been well loved through the years. Every time I read it, I experience an urge to see the places mentioned in the story first hand.

  By writing Taste of Tara, I got to visit virtually many locations I’ve always wanted to see. Through Tara’s experiences, I imagined being in Atlanta, sipping sweet tea on the veranda at Magnolia Rose, or visiting the Cutler family’s horse farm. I envisioned what it would be like to emulate Scarlett in her beautiful barbecue dress and sit outside among a bevy of admirers.

  For those of you who are also GWTW fans, I hope you took note of the names in this book. Other than Brett Cutler (a little play off Rhett Butler), all the character names in this story are from GWTW. How fun is that?

  I hope you enjoyed the story and will read all the books in the series. In fact, you can get a sneak preview of the next sweet Magnolia story by Jennifer Peel if you turn the page!

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  Hit and Run Love — A Magnolias and Moonshine Novella, Book #20

  Uh, wow. We were supposed to be saying goodbye, but his kiss felt more like forever. And part of me wished. . . . I was having a hard time thinking. Harrison ran his hands through my blonde hair and kissed me deeper. Suddenly I didn’t care if my roommate or anyone in my apartment complex walked by to see our display of affection. I let the high heels I was holding drop so my hands were free to wrap around this man. The man who had flirted with me all semester, but hadn’t asked me out until two months ago. I had been hesitant to say yes, knowing graduation was looming and we were each going our own way. He was headed to Samford in the fall, and I was going to D.C. for a summer legal internship before I started at Tulane in August.

  Two law students. Two different schools. Alabama and Louisiana weren’t that far apart, and we both had family in the Atlanta area where we lived now, so maybe this didn’t have to be goodbye. I let that thought settle in as he kissed my neck.

  No, no. Clean breaks. But wait, he missed a spot near my ear. Ahhh, he got it. I pulled on his shirt and we fell against the door. He pressed his body against mine before his lips made their way back to my mouth. His lips were always soft and warm. Not like we had kissed a lot, and we had never kissed like this. We both had been cautious about starting a fire that would have to be extinguished. But now I was feeling the heat.

  “Kallie.” He skimmed my lips.

  “Yes?” I was finding it hard to catch my breath.

  “I want to tell you something.”

  “It’s only a five-hour drive between Birmingham and New Orleans.” Why did I say that? I was supposed to be sensible. Law school and relationships didn’t mix. I came from a whole string of lawyers who had warned me. But it was possible. Grandma and Grandpa had survived, though Grandma did say she wanted to kill him on a few occasions. But we were talking long distance. Long distance was never good.

  He laughed low and kissed my lips one more time. “I was thinking along those same lines, except I was going to say Atlanta is only seven hours from you.”

  I pulled away and gazed into his smiling blue eyes. “By the time I’m at Tulane, you’ll be starting school in Birmingham.”

  He ran the back of his hand down my cheek, causing me to shiver in the warm spring air of Georgia. He smiled at my reaction. He was so handsome. He had become more so, the better I had gotten to know him the last few months. It didn’t hurt that he looked like Jensen Ackles’ twin brother.

  He kept caressing my cheek. “Your skin is so soft.”

  I reached up and took his hand. “What were you going to tell me?”

  He grinned. “You make it hard to focus. I was going to tell you I decided against law school.”

  “What? Why? You scored a 170 on the LSAT.” I was jealous. I only scored 164, which was completely respectable, but he could have gone to any law school he wanted.

  He kissed my nose and chuckled. “Six points better than you.”

  “Thanks for the reminder. But tell me, why the change?”

  He took both of my hands in his, brought them up close and kis
sed them. No one but him had ever kissed my hands, and I liked it. I liked him. “I want to help my community.”

  “Then become a public defender.”

  “Hopefully I can help some of them before they ever need one.”

  I tilted my head. “So what are you going to do?”

  “I’m going to the police academy.”

  No. Not that. Anything but police officer. I pulled away my hands. “It’s getting late. I need to finish packing.”

  He narrowed his eyes. “You don’t think it’s a good career?”

  I stood up on my tiptoes, hoping he didn’t notice my misted eyes. I kissed his cheek. “It’s a noble choice. Be safe.”

  I ran into my apartment then slid against the closed door until I was crying into my knees. I could hear Harrison say he would call me. I wouldn’t be answering.

  The words “be safe” rang in my ears. I had said them to my dad every day before he left for work with his badge on, until the day after he didn’t come home. The day the call came. A routine traffic stop, a police officer dead. My police officer, my hero, the first man I ever loved. He was gone. I was thirteen. I vowed then to never again give my heart to a man who wore blue.

  To read more, click here.

  Thank you for reading Taste of Tara.

  If you liked this story and are willing to write a review, I’d be very appreciative. Reviews are so important to authors, and as you know, they are important to readers too. Thank you for considering it!

  Check out all the books in the Magnolias and Moonshine series:

  The Sassy Bride by Ciara Knight

  Her Hero by Hildie McQueen

  Hurricane Bride by Beth Williamson

  The Wedding Charm by Susan Hatler

  Sweet Love of Mine by Lindi Peterson

  Moon Over Atlanta by Kymber Morgan

  Georgia on My Mind by Amanda McIntyre