Page 47 of Surrendering His Heart (Buena Hills #4)

Hallie worked hard to reel in her glee as she followed Christian through the door of his childhood home. You’re here to support him, not sneak away to explore your dream home.

“If I’d known you’d be this giddy, I would’ve brought you here weeks ago.” He dropped back to walk beside her through the entryway. Isla and Penelope had run ahead, searching for their grandma and aunt.

Hallie bit her bottom lip to stifle her grin. “It’s still crazy to think you grew up here.”

Christian made a noise that she thought was a chuckle but sounded more like a grunt. It was the first sign of amusement she’d managed to pull from him since he’d picked her up ten minutes ago.

He really wasn’t looking forward to this. She could practically feel the dread radiating from his body. If not for the cake platter she carried in both hands, she would’ve given the guy a hug.

Switching the plate of pumpkin spice cream puffs to his other arm, Christian placed his free hand along the small of her back to usher her past the entryway.

A simple chandelier lit the hallway leading to the back of the house.

They passed a small rectangular table along one wall, holding a porcelain vase of white roses.

Hallie slowed to look at the photos lining the blue-and-white wallpaper.

A large portrait of the Gustafson family, taken shortly before his father’s death judging by the kids’ ages, made up the focal point.

Pictures of Christian and Danica from infancy to graduation spanned out from it on both sides.

Isla and Penelope’s baby pictures also held spots of honor.

“You look like your dad,” Hallie said, switching her focus from the real Christian to the photo of his father. “It’s almost uncanny. ”

His mouth turned up a bit. “I like when people tell me I take after him. It kind of feels like he’s still here.”

“I wish I could’ve met him.”

Christian swallowed slowly, studying the picture. “He was a good man.” His voice cracked on the words.

“So are you.”

They stood silently in front of the portrait for several moments. Hallie didn’t push Christian to say more, neither did she tug him away. Understanding inched into her mind. He still deeply mourned his father, and yet his mom’s new man was waiting right outside to meet him.

“It’ll be okay.” She tilted her head to rest against his bicep. “But I understand now why today is so hard.”

His arm came around her, and he took a cleansing breath. Then his hand lowered to the small of her back again, an unspoken invitation to continue through the house.

As soon as they stepped into the bright kitchen, Hallie had to take a moment to appreciate the sheer beauty of the space.

Granite countertops lined both sides of the room, providing ample space to prepare food.

Glass-lined cupboards above displayed several sets of elegant dishware, with more space in the cabinets underneath the counters and center island.

The double oven would make baking for customers so much less time consuming.

This isn’t your kitchen. Still, her imagination was already latching onto the idea of getting her hands dirty in this room.

“It looks like everyone’s outside,” Christian said, popping the imaginary thought bubble housing her fantasy.

Sherry was rearranging the plethora of food dishes at a long table set up on the deck when they stepped outside. Her face lit up as Christian headed over.

“Oh, hey guys!” she said brightly as he kissed her cheek. She took the cream puffs from her son but smiled at Hallie. “You made it. I hope you’re hungry. We’ve got enough food to feed an army.”

Good thing too. The number of people roaming around the sprawling yard could form a decent-sized platoon. Hallie picked out Danica, Isla, and Penelope at the wooden playhouse by the fence—the only familiar faces in the group.

Hallie accepted a hug from Sherry, though she was unable to reciprocate due to the cake dish in her hands. “Where do you want this?”

“Let’s put both desserts over here.” Sherry moved a plate of sliced tomatoes, onions, and lettuce to the side to make room. She removed the tinfoil covering the cream puffs. “Ooh, these look good.” Plucking one off the top of the pile, she popped it into her mouth.

Christian arched an eyebrow at his mother. “You never let me eat dessert first.”

“Like that stopped you.” She winked at Hallie, reaching for the cake. “Let’s put that down right here. Thank you for bringing all this. You really didn’t have to.”

Hallie shoved the tips of her fingers into the front pockets of her jeans. “I wanted to. Family gatherings are so much better with dessert.”

Sherry laughed. “I can’t argue with that.”

A dark-haired woman wearing a navy cardigan over a polka dot ruffled blouse walked up to the table, holding the hand of a small boy in a baseball cap. “Sherry, do you mind if I get Joey something to hold him over until we eat? He skipped his snack.”

“Not at all.” Sherry smiled at the boy who hid his face behind his mother’s straight-legged jeans. He looked to be a little older than Penelope. “It’s so hard for the little ones to wait.”

“Thanks. Wow, that’s gorgeous,” the woman said as Sherry took the cover off the platter, revealing the cake’s red-and-yellow swirled mirror glaze. “Did you make it?”

Sherry shook her head. “Hallie did. She’s an excellent baker. You should’ve seen the birthday cake she made for Isla.”

“I can’t wait to try it.” The woman extended a hand. “I’m Jenna, by the way. Paul’s oldest daughter.”

Hallie returned the greeting, but it was Sherry who made the introduction. “Where are my manners? This is my son, Christian, and his girlfriend, Hallie.”

Girlfriend? Being addressed that way for the first time bathed her whole body in warmth. She glanced at Christian, gauging his reaction. He met her gaze, the same question hanging in his eyes. She gave him a reassuring smile.

Joey tugged on Jenna’s cardigan, and she shifted her attention to his pleading eyes. “Okay, okay, buddy.” To the adults, she said, “I better get him a snack.”

She walked off and Sherry linked arms with Hallie, speaking to Christian. “Let me introduce you to Paul. He’s been anxious to meet you.”

As Hallie was being pulled away, she latched onto Christian’s hand, dragging him with her.

He followed stiffly. Their steps took them over to the man working the grill on the far side of the yard.

His jeans and short-sleeved button-down gave him a casually friendly air.

Or maybe that was caused by the smile lighting his face when Sherry walked up to him.

Whatever the reason, Hallie liked him immediately.

“Paul.” Sherry wrapped her arm around his waist. “I’d like you to meet my son, Christian.”

Paul pushed his sunglasses up to rest on top of his head. Though his hair was still dark, the gray peppering through it made him look distinguished and polished. “Good to meet you, Christian. Your mom has told me so much about you. I’m assuming those sweet girls belong to you?”

“They do.” Christian accepted Paul’s offered handshake, and even gave him a smile, though Hallie could sense the discomfort emanating from it. He’d put on his cloak of composure, the mask she now recognized as his way of protecting himself through tough situations.

She feared he was in for a long afternoon.

After most people had finished eating and resumed their chosen activities, Hallie found herself sitting on a lawn chair across from Jenna, matching dessert plates in their laps.

Sometime earlier, Christian had disappeared to help Penelope use the bathroom, but the child had already rejoined the unorganized soccer game playing out a few feet from where the women sat. Her father was still missing.

“Hallie, this cake is incredible.” Jenna sliced off another bite of the delectable cranberry-orange mousse. “I just want to eat the whole thing.”

“I’d probably join you. It’s really hard not to sample it whenever I make it.” Hallie took her last bite.

“Do you work in a bakery?” Jenna’s question caught Hallie with her mouth full, leading to the typical awkward pause as she chewed. “Sorry.”

Hallie waved away the apology and swallowed. “I started a home bakery back in college.”

“A self-made woman,” Jenna said brightly. “I like it.”

Self-made? Hardly. More like an insignificant entrepreneur, attempting to figure out her place in the business world.

“Do you still do that?” Jenna asked, scraping her plate clean with her fork.

“Yeah.” Hallie set hers on the grass beside her chair before picking up her water glass. “I’m trying to scale up now that I’ve graduated, but it’s a lot harder than I expected.”

Jenna hummed in understanding. “I get that. The entrepreneurial world is challenging. Our family is in real estate. My dad managed to build the company from the ground up. He claims he knew nothing about owning a business before he started. He only wanted to be his own boss. And now it’s a whole family empire. ”

Hallie took a drink of water, processing Jenna’s words. Was she just making conversation?

The woman answered her question in the next breath. “I’m sure he’d be happy to offer you some advice on how to get things rolling.”

“Really?” Hallie could use a little help.

Okay, a lot of help .

“I don’t see why not. He’s taken a lesser role in the company now that he’s close to retiring, so he has more time. And he’s pretty passionate about helping fellow businesses. Especially small ones.”

Excited jitters danced around in Hallie’s stomach.

Maybe there was hope for her business after all.

“That would actually be really helpful. I’ve built a decent name around town, but there’s only so much I can do to spread the word without a physical location to send people to.

I’d like to save up for a space to expand. I just don’t know how.”

“It sounds like you need an investor to help with the start-up costs.”

“Christian suggested that too. I just don’t know where to find one of those.” Mentioning Christian’s name reminded her that he still hadn’t come back outside. Was he okay? Maybe she should go check on him.

“I might be able to help,” Jenna said.

“How?” Hallie asked, momentarily setting her worry over Christian’s whereabouts aside.

Jenna smiled at her eagerness. “When my mom passed, my dad set up a foundation in her memory. She had a real passion for small businesses—she always bought locally, never at the big chain stores. Once I finished my PhD, my dad put me in charge of the committee.”

“What kind of foundation is it?” Hallie clamped down on the hope sparking in her mind.

Jenna placed her plate on the grass before leaning forward to rest her forearms on her thighs.

“We give grants to small business owners needing a little boost. And we offer mentoring in marketing and other areas to help them succeed. Hearing you talk about your bakery, and after sampling this delicious cake, I think you’d be the perfect candidate. ”

Hallie brought her hand to her mouth to keep her jaw from dropping. “Really? That’s fantastic!”

“We get hundreds of applicants from all over the state of California,” Jenna continued, “and we can only award two per year, so I can’t guarantee you’ll be chosen right away. But you should definitely apply. I can send you an application next week.”

Hallie didn’t know what to say. “Okay … I’ll do that. Thank you.”

“Of course,” Jenna said. “In fact, what’re you doing next month?”

Next month? “I’m going home to visit my family for Christmas, but other than that, my schedule is pretty open. Why?”

A toddler ran over and patted her mom’s legs.

Jenna lifted her onto her lap. “Our foundation’s Christmas party is the second Friday in December.

We’d selected a bakery down in Newport to cater the desserts, but they just backed out this week because of a food handling issue. You have a permit, right?”

“Of course. It’s all current.”

“Great. How would you like the gig?”

Just like that? Hallie had to take a beat to keep herself from bursting. This was the break she’d been hoping for. Who knew that crashing Christian’s family barbecue would lead to the chance of a lifetime? Just wait until I tell him!

As she and Jenna fine-tuned the details, her ears picked up on Isla’s laughter nearby and she shifted her gaze to the soccer game.

Isla kicked the ball past one of Paul’s older grandsons, a boy who looked to be around ten.

He made a show of missing the save, flopping onto the ground to the girl’s delight.

Some of Hallie’s excitement dimmed. If this opportunity came to fruition, she’d have a lot of work ahead of her to get things rolling.

Sure, the grant wasn’t a foregone conclusion.

In fact, Jenna had been upfront about the likelihood of her not being selected, especially in the first year.

But if she did, it had the potential of accelerating her business dreams. And changing her life.

And based on the expectations Jenna laid out before her, the foundation Christmas party next month would be the biggest event Hallie had ever catered.

She’d no longer have the time to watch the girls. Her stomach sank. How would this opportunity affect Hallie’s relationship with them in the long run? Would her leaving crush them irreparably? Especially Isla, who’d begun to thrive in only a couple weeks ?

And what about Christian? How could she tell him she could no longer help?

It was only supposed to be temporary.

Then why did the idea of pursuing this chance feel like abandoning them all?