Violet

THE SMOKY BLUES

Mountains, music, love.

HE’S EVERYTHING

Karen Gregory has always been into big, take-charge, brooding alpha males. Not small, cute, second grade schoolteachers. Even though her marriage to Deke Gregory failed, she still thinks his type of man is what she wants. Or does she? When she returns to her hometown with the son her ex all but abandoned, she meets fellow teacher and singer Gary Jeffries, and finds herself falling for a man who is the antithesis of everything she thought she ever wanted. When Deke dramatically re-enters her life, Karen is faced with an impossible choice. Go back to her romantic ideal, and the father of her son, or stay with Gary?

BUT NOT HER IDEAL

Gary Jefferies knows he’s not what smokin’ hot, talented teacher and singer Karen Gregory wants. But he also knows that he is, by far, the better man for her and her son. Especially after meeting her arrogant, obnoxious ex. But shared history and a ten-year old child are strong ties to sever. Gary fears he’ll he lose Karen to her romantic ideal, even though Gary is the man she hasn’t yet realized she needs.

ALSO BY EMILY MIMS

The Smoky Blues series

Mist

Smoke

Evergreen

Indigo

Emerald

Mistletoe

The Texas Hill Country series

Solomon’s Choice

After the Heartbreak

A Gift of Trust

Daughter of Valor

Welcome Home

Unexpected Assets

Never and Always

A Gift of Hope

Once, Again

Other Romances

Season of Enchantment

A Dangerous Attraction

For the Thrill of It All

VIOLET

The Smoky Blues – Book Seven

Emily Mims

www.BOROUGHSPUBLISHINGGROUP.com

PUBLISHER’S NOTE: This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, places and incidents either are the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual events, locales, business establishments or persons, living or dead, is coincidental. Boroughs Publishing Group does not have any control over and does not assume responsibility for author or third-party websites, blogs or critiques or their content.

VIOLET

Copyright © 2018 Emily Wright Mims

All rights reserved. Unless specifically noted, no part of this publication may be reproduced, scanned, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of Boroughs Publishing Group. The scanning, uploading and distribution of this book via the Internet or by any other means without the permission of Boroughs Publishing Group is illegal and punishable by law. Participation in the piracy of copyrighted materials violates the author’s rights.

ISBN 978-1-948029-10-0

E-book formatting by Maureen Cutajar

www.gopublished.com

This book is dedicated to my late father, Paul William Wright, more often known as Billy. My father was a small man. He was as cute as a button and always had a smile on his face. More than one of my mother’s friends had crushes on him (very embarrassing for a ten-year-old girl). At the same time, Daddy was all man. It is no accident that, except for stature, my husband is very much like him. Daddy, this one is for you.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

Thanks to Edwin R. Floyd for another perceptive beta read. As always, thanks to JoAnne Soper-Cooke and the Boroughs staff for making me look so good. You folks are wonderful!

CONTENTS

Chapter One

Chapter Two

Chapter Three

Chapter Four

Chapter Five

Chapter Six

Chapter Seven

Chapter Eight

Chapter Nine

Chapter Ten

Chapter Eleven

Chapter Twelve

Chapter Thirteen

Chapter Fourteen

Chapter Fifteen

Epilogue

About the Author

VIOLET

Prologue

Thirteen years ago

A cool October wind lifted Karen Travers’s hair from her face and teased her nose with the tantalizing aroma of the warm popcorn in the carton she held. Neyland Stadium was packed tonight. The Tennessee Volunteers were beating the pants off Georgia, and the crowd was roaring after the last touchdown. Her best friend Caitlyn Murphy was on her feet cheering. Man, did you see that? Caitlyn crowed as she sat back down. That was some football.

Karen laughed. It sure was. She handed Caitlyn the carton of popcorn. Have some.

Don’t mind if I do. The ref blew his whistle signaling the end of the first half. The teams ran off the field to their respective locker rooms and the Volunteer band took the field. Caitlyn gestured with her free hand. These guys are good. She grinned as they went into their halftime show. Having fun?

Oh, you bet. It was really nice of you to have me up here this weekend, showing me around Knoxville and the campus and all.

So, did I accomplish my purpose and persuade you that UT’s the best school in the whole world, and you want to come here for college? Caitlyn smiled. I’d really love to have you here, you know. We could sing together again.

That would be fun, wouldn’t it? Although Caitlyn was two years older than Karen and already a college sophomore, the two of them had become fast friends singing together at mountain music and bluegrass venues in and around their hometown of Kingsport. Karen could envision them singing together in similar Knoxville venues. So, how’s the hunt for the perfect boyfriend going?

It’s not. Caitlyn glanced down at her plump curves. Being as how I’m nobody’s idea of the perfect girlfriend. She glanced over at Karen. You, on the other hand, will have no trouble finding the perfect guy.

According to Mom, none of them are perfect, Karen said dryly. Of course, Mom’s been snarky about men ever since Daddy walked out on her.

You think your dad was the perfect man?

Good Lord, no. He was a weak-willed, whining wuss who couldn’t take care of us if his life depended on it. Your dad?

No. Nice guy, but no. Not my idea of a perfect man.

Karen looked at her curiously. So what is your idea of a perfect man?

Caitlyn thought a minute. Good-looking, of course. I guess big, but he wouldn’t have to be. She glanced down again. Sensitive enough to know not to make thoughtless comments about my weight. Better yet, a guy who’s turned on by a plus-size figure. And a boatload of musical talent wouldn’t hurt. How about you? That fit your wish list?

No. On second thought, hell, no.

No? Caitlyn turned to her in surprise. You don’t want sensitive?

Not particularly. Karen thought a minute. Big. Strong. The kind who takes charge. Not particularly good-looking, if you want the truth. Powerful. Good bod. Great butt in a pair of jeans. Or out of them. She sighed. But mostly I guess I want a man who’ll take care of everything and make me feel safe and cared for.

Like your dad never did?

Something like that.

Are you sure? Caitlyn made a face. Sounds like you want a bossy alpha-male type. Great on the pages of a romance novel. Not so great to live with. Or so I hear.

He might be better to live with than you think. They debated the merits of their ideal man until the halftime show ended and the football players returned to the field.

Deep into the third quarter, Tennessee was still in the lead when Dwayne Gregory, a familiar face from Kingsport, came up the steps, followed by the most intriguing man Karen had ever seen. Big, tall, and blond, the stranger had bright blue eyes shining from a face that still had a summer tan.

He wasn’t conventionally handsome, not by a long shot, but his face was strong and commanding. His jaw was square, and if she wasn’t mistaken he had the body of a warrior under the jeans, T-shirt, and windbreaker. His laser gaze skimmed the crowd and landed squarely on her. He met and held her eyes, his expression unreadable when he caught her checking him out. She felt heat infuse her cheeks as he returned the favor.

Caitlyn leaned over and poked her in the ribs. I don’t know if that guy with Dwayne is your perfect man or not. But he sure as hell looks the part.

Karen sucked in her breath. He does, doesn’t he?

Dwayne lifted his hand and waved. Caitlyn Murphy, is that you? I haven’t seen you since you graduated and left town.

Caitlyn stood up for Dwayne’s hug. Good to see you, Dwayne. You decide to come here? You should have looked me up. Dwayne was between her and Caitlyn in school and had graduated this past May.

It was definitely on my to-do list. He turned to smile at Karen. Caitlyn recruited you yet?

Just about, Karen admitted.

Dwayne gave her a quick hug before turning to his companion. Ladies, say hello to my much older cousin, Deke Gregory. Deke’s already out of college and working in Atlanta. Deke, this is Caitlyn Murphy and Karen Travers.

Twenty-six is not old. Deke turned to Caitlyn. I was a few classes ahead of your sister Meghan. He then zeroed in on Karen. I’m so glad to meet you. His huge hand engulfed hers. Mind if we sit down?

Miraculously, there were two seats that had been empty since halftime right next to theirs. Without letting go of her hand, Deke took the seat beside her, leaving the other two for Dwayne and Caitlyn.

The football game was forgotten. Deke didn’t say much. He told her he’d gone to work for some government agency and liked the job. She’d barely paid attention. Sitting there with him, so tall and strong beside her, was enough to make her nerve endings tingle.

Once the game was over, he assumed command of the rest of the evening, treating them all to a meal at his favorite steak house. And at the end of the evening, when he got her phone number in Kingsport and said he’d come up and take her out, she felt like she’d died and gone to heaven.

Deke Gregory was everything she ever wanted in a man.

She’d found her definition of perfect.

Chapter One

Present Day

Karen Gregory shut the loaded dishwasher and wiped her hands on a dish towel. Barry, are you ready yet? she called up the stairs between gathering up the two totes holding the teaching paraphernalia she was taking with her to work this morning. I need to get you to Grandpa Donnie. I don’t want to be late.

Coming, Mom. She could hear the toilet flush and water running in the bathroom sink. What’s Grandpa feeding me for breakfast? he called down the stairs.

Karen laughed. Barry had recently developed hollow-leg syndrome. That’s between you and Grandpa. If you smile real big you might talk him into taking you out for pancakes. But you need to get a move on.

She heard his footsteps running down the hall toward his bedroom and then her twelve-year-old son came thundering down the stairs dressed in his summer uniform of shorts and an irreverent T-shirt, today’s proclaiming Superhero for Hire. His blond hair, darkened by the water clinging to it, stuck up in spikes, and he wore a perpetual grin in a face that was a replica of her own but for the blue eyes. Gregory eyes, she called them, beaming from his tanned face.

He carried a backpack they had packed together last night containing, among other things, an iPad loaded with the adventure books her son practically inhaled, and the usual complement of games and videos. The iPad had put Grandpa Donnie back a pretty penny, but it was a surefire way to get Barry to abide by the afternoon rest period his doctor strongly recommended.

Okay, time to go, the child enthused.

Karen followed him out then put her teacher totes in the trunk. Minutes later they were on their way. The August sun was already hot, and for the thousandth time Karen rued the Tennessee school calendar that had teachers returning the first week of August and the kids reporting the week after.

They don’t have much choice, Caitlyn had explained. Once the snows start in the winter, the kids who live up on the mountains can’t get to school. You’ll enjoy the periodic days off in January and February courtesy of Mother Nature. The girls love those days. Caitlyn had recently married—a complicated story involving her sister’s widower, but they were happy and Caitlyn was raising her nieces and writing songs for the hottest acts in Nashville.

Still, a couple more weeks to settle in and unpack would have been nice. She had made the decision to leave the Maryland suburb that was close to D.C. and move back home to Tennessee in June, when yet another bout with asthma landed Barry in the hospital, and once again she’d coped with his illness by herself.

Come home, Donnie had insisted. You need to think of the here and now, not the if and when. You know you can get a job in Tri-Cities in a New York minute. And you’ll have both me and your mother to help you.

She had listened to her former father-in-law, packed her bags, put the Maryland house on the market and returned home. She’d rented a house a few blocks from her mother; the moving van pulled up to her roomy rental in Kingsport a mere month ago, just in time for Caitlyn’s wedding. Boxes still littered the living room and both of their bedrooms.

And, as Donnie had predicted, she’d landed a job in the Kingsport schools. She’d spent half of yesterday digging through the boxes looking for her teacher stuff, and still hadn’t located all of it. But she had made a good start with what she considered the absolute essentials.

Traffic was light and in a matter of minutes she was pulling up to Donnie’s attractive colonial, much like the one she’d rented, in the older neighborhood where her ex-husband had grown up.

Barry was out of the car before she could turn the engine off, and he made a beeline for the front door, where the man she still considered her father-in-law waited. Donnie and his late wife, Kathy, had been godsends during Karen’s increasingly troubled marriage to their son. A couple of years after the divorce that broke their hearts as well as Karen’s, Kathy had passed away.

Now, Donnie worked as a bartender in the upscale bar owned by Caitlyn’s husband and sister-in-law, and according to Caitlyn, charmed the older—and in some cases not so old—single ladies in the Tri-Cities.

Donnie engulfed Barry in a huge hug. How’s my favorite superhero this morning? he asked.

Good. Should I tell her now? Barry asked.

Donnie’s blue eyes twinkled. First thing I’m gonna do is say ‘hey’ to your mom and fix her some coffee. Then we’ll sit down and you can tell her what’s on your mind. He turned to Karen. You have time for a cup?

Karen checked her cell phone. Actually, I do. I was all nervous about getting ready on time and got us both up an hour earlier than I had to.

And then she rushed around like a chicken with her head cut off, Barry added. Whatever that means.

Donnie and Karen looked at each other. I’ll explain it to him later, Donnie volunteered.

Karen followed her father-in-law into his kitchen and watched while he made her a fresh cup. He glanced over at Barry, who was drumming his fingers on the counter.

Now? her son asked. Donnie nodded and Barry gave her his serious look. Mom. I have something to tell you.

All right. Shoot.

I’m not a little kid anymore, and I don’t want a little kid’s name, so from now on everyone has to use my real name. From now on I’m Brian. He titled his head to the left. Okay?

Karen smiled. Her little man. Okay. Brian. He looked over to his grandfather, who gave Brian a thumbs up, and, apparently satisfied he’d had his say, he ran into the family room, plopped down on the couch, and opened his iPad.

While Karen sipped her coffee, Donnie explained, He brought it up a few days ago, and I told him it was fine with me, but he had to talk to you. He asked if he could do it while I was here, and I told him yes. I guess he thought he needed backup.

It was times like these that Karen resented Deke the most. Their son didn’t have a father he could rely on, so he leaned on his grandfather. She was so grateful for Donnie she couldn’t speak, so she nodded her head and took another sip of coffee. I’m glad he has you, she whispered.

Donnie squeezed her fingers then saved her from the melancholy that threatened to swamp her. So what can I do with him today that’s safe? Is taking him swimming too strenuous?

She shook her head. It shouldn’t trigger an asthma episode.

I wasn’t worried about the asthma. I was more worried about, you know, the other.

You can say it. Brian has a heart defect. It’s not that big a deal these days. He’s doing well, really.

I know that up here. Donnie pointed to his head. But sometimes I have a hard time believing it here. He pointed to his heart. It always terrified Deke so bad.

It always embarrassed him, you mean, Karen snapped before she could help herself. That his son was born less than a macho replica of himself. Sorry, she added sheepishly. I didn’t mean to snark at you.

Donnie’s lips twitched. Ask the lady what she really thinks. Sadly, you’re probably right.

And then it didn’t help when Brian stayed small and looked exactly like me. Karen laughed ruefully. No alpha man like Deke wants a son to look like his tiny wife or her little bitty side of the family. She sighed. I wonder what Deke would think of him now. She glanced over into the family room. He surprises me every day.

It might be different, now that he’s older. Donnie leaned against the counter and sipped his coffee. Brian has grown into his own person in the last few years. Cute and funny and the wickedest sense of humor I’ve ever seen on a twelve-year-old. The question is, what would Brian think of Deke? Hero worship?

Not anymore. Somehow the topic came up last night. He resents Deke big time these days. He says his dad disappeared without even caring enough to tell him good-bye.

Does he understand the nature of Deke’s job? That he could be called away at a moment’s notice? Even when you were still married, more than once, you told me you came home to find he’d taken his go bag and left. It was harder after you and he were divorced. He couldn’t always reach you to tell you he was leaving.

Donnie, the boy’s twelve years old. All he knows is his father effectively disappeared three years ago, and he doesn’t know what’s going on or if his father’s even still alive. Hell, none of us know.

Nobody from that mysterious agency has ever contacted you about where Deke is or what he’s doing?

Don’t you think you’d have been the first to know if I’d heard from them? The only reason I think he’s still alive is because I get a child support deposit in the bank every month. I contacted the agency when I moved and sure enough, it appeared in my new account here in Kingsport, right on schedule. But anything else from them? Zero. Zilch. Goose egg. Nada. He may be long dead and they’re covering. She covered Donnie’s hand with her own. I’m sorry Kathy died not knowing.

Donnie’s lips tightened. So am I. It weighed heavy on her heart. But she died knowing you and Brian loved her. And she adored that child. A small smile touched his lips. We all do. He glanced up at his wall clock. And you probably need to get a move on.

Oops. That I do. Anyway, the swimming will be fine so long as he doesn’t overdo. Just be sure he gets a bit of a rest in the middle of the day. And thanks.

Any time.

She blew Brian a kiss and was out the door. Traffic was still light and in a few minutes she arrived at Wentworth Hills Elementary School. The big, sprawling building was perched on a hill and, like most of the other structures in the foothills of the Appalachians, was multilevel with entrances and exits on both the bottom and top floors.

As she parked her CX-5 in the teacher parking lot, a shiny new Toyota Tacoma pulled in and parked a few cars down. A fresh-faced young man hopped out of the cab, and after gracing her with a face-splitting smile and a friendly wave, started up the sloping sidewalk toward the front door. Good grief. Who was he? Karen watched him disappear into the building. He’d parked in the teacher lot like he belonged there. But he sure as hell didn’t look old enough to be on the faculty.

Shrugging inwardly, Karen carried her totes into the school and dropped them off in her new classroom before reporting to the inevitable lengthy and boring faculty meeting that was part and parcel of the first teacher workday of the new school year.

This was her seventh year as