Georgia On His Mind (Hope Valley Book 1) Read online

  Georgia on His Mind

  Belle Calhoune

  Hope Valley is a tight knit town nestled in the hills of Colorado. Known for its beautiful apple orchards, it is the home of the Hope Valley Cider Company, owned by the town’s founding family, the wealthy Somers family. With faith, friendship and family, the residents of Hope Valley strive to live the best life possible.

  Georgia Ballou: Born and raised in Hope Valley, Georgia has never quite recovered from losing the love of her life, Riley Somers. Almost four years ago, Riley ended their five-year relationship rather than commit to marriage and children. Devastated, Georgia tries to move past her disappointment, but she has never quite gotten over Riley. Now, Riley has returned to town, with secrets he’s keeping close to the vest.

  Riley Somers: A member of one of Hope Valley’s most prestigious families, Riley returns to Hope Valley after being away for several years. He harbors deep regrets about ending things with his former girlfriend and he wants to move back to town to head the family business. Although he feels that he may have let “the one” slip through his fingers, Riley has grown and matured over the past few years. If there’s a chance he can win back Georgia’s heart, Riley will seize the opportunity of a lifetime.

  Cover art by Elizabeth Mackey http://www.elizabethmackeygraphics.com/

  Copyright 2017 by Belle Calhoune

  All Rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any electronic or mechanical means, including photocopying, recording or by any information storage and retrieval system, without the written permission of the publisher and author, except where permitted by law.

  Dedication: For my beloved chocolate lab, Cognac, who has journeyed to the Rainbow Bridge. You gave us so much love and dedication. There will never be another dog like you. My steady companion. A faithful friend. I’ll miss you always.

  Dear Reader,

  Welcome to Hope Valley! This is a new series about the residents of a small Colorado town, made famous by a cider company owned by the Somers family. Riley and Georgia are two former sweethearts whose relationship ended when Riley wasn’t ready to embrace a lifelong commitment to Georgia. Now, Riley and Georgia are back in each other’s orbits and circling around each other.

  I truly enjoy writing reunion romances. This one has a twist and a few bumps in the road. I hope you enjoy the journey. I love Georgia’s optimism about love. Even though Riley has hurt her in the past, she’s still willing to give love another try. And Riley is a good guy. He never meant to hurt Georgia, but sometimes in life you have to act on faith and do what your heart tells you to do.

  Wisdom comes with age and experience. Both Georgia and Riley have learned from the past and are better people for their mistakes.

  I’ll be introducing other characters who live in Hope Valley over the next year.

  Blessings!

  Belle

  Bio:

  Belle Calhoune grew up in a small town in Massachusetts as one of five children. Although both her parents worked in the medical field, Belle never considered science as the pathway to her future. She began to gravitate toward romance books in her tween years. Growing up across the street from a public library was a huge influence on her life. Married to her college sweetheart, she is raising two lovely daughters in Connecticut. A dog lover, she has one mini poodle and a chocolate lab. Writing for a living is a dream come true. Working at home in her pajamas is one of the best perks of the job. Belle enjoys summers in Cape Cod, traveling and reading. A lover of all things French, Belle often dreams of her next Parisian adventure. Belle is the author of nine Love Inspired romance novels and the popular Christian romance series, Seven Brides, Seven Brothers, Secrets of Savannah and a multitude of other books and novellas.

  Table of Contents

  Chapter One

  Chapter Two

  Chapter Three

  Chapter Four

  Chapter Five

  Chapter Six

  Chapter Seven

  Chapter Eight

  Chapter Nine

  PROLOGUE

  Georgia tried to take slow breaths as she squatted in the back of the closet. The sound of her parents’ voices was getting louder by the second. Oh no. They were walking into their bedroom. As soon as she’d heard them in the far end of the hall, Georgia had dashed into the closet to hide. But now she was stuck. How had she gotten into this mess? She would catch it if Mama found her in the closet. She would know that Georgia had been messing around at her vanity table and using her Chanel dusting powder and the ruby colored lipstick she saved for special occasions.

  Her teeth began to chatter with fear. Georgia hated getting in trouble. Mama was nice unless you did something to cross her. Using her personal belongings was a sure-fire way to make her angry. Mama didn’t like being disrespected.

  Suddenly, she heard the footsteps getting louder, followed by the strained voices of both her parents. She clapped a hand over her mouth. She didn’t even want them to hear her breathing. “God, please don’t let me get caught.” She whispered the prayer to herself, over and over again.

  She could hear her parents’ conversation as clear as day.

  “But why? I don’t understand.” Her mother’s voice cracked. Georgia could tell she was crying.

  “There’s nothing to understand, Rosalie. I’ve fallen out of love with you. It’s that simple.” The sound of a dresser drawer slamming shut made her jump.

  “Please. Let’s just talk about this,” her mother pleaded. “You’re not making any sense.”

  “Let go of me! There’s nothing to talk about.” He let out a deep breath. “I’m not trying to hurt you. I just want out.”

  Georgia almost let out a shocked gasp. What in the world was her father talking about?

  “Out?” Her mother’s question came out sounding like a shriek. “What about the children? What will I tell them?”

  “Tell them the truth. That we’re getting a divorce.”

  Her mother let out a shriek. “No one gets divorced in Hope Valley, Benjamin. They stick it out and they work on their problems.”

  “Rosalie. I’m in love with another woman.” His voice sounded sad, Georgia realized. “There’s no way that can be worked out. And I’m afraid I can’t give her up.”

  “Who is it? That secretary of yours? Don’t think I haven’t noticed all her skimpy outfits and over-the-top makeup.”

  “You’re right. It is Lucy, although I don’t agree with the things you’re saying about her. She’s a kind woman with a good heart.”

  “Who doesn’t mind stealing another woman’s husband away from her?”

  Georgia shuddered at the anger laced in Mama’s voice.

  “You can’t steal a person, Rosalie. It’s that simple.”

  “How could you just walk away from your wedding vows?”

  “I know this is painful, Rosalie, but I have to man up. Lucy is pregnant. I’m sick about doing this to you and the kids, but I want to be with her. It’s over.”

  She heard their voices and they sounded more muffled as they moved out of the bedroom and down the hall. Georgia heard a scream then she clapped her hands over her ears. She didn’t want to hear anymore. Daddy was leaving! He’d said terrible, mean things to Mama. She began to cry softly so no one would hear her.

  Georgia stayed in the closet for hours. Her legs were cramped and she felt sick to her stomach, but she didn’t move a muscle. She couldn’t believe everything she’d heard sitting in the closet. Divorce? Her father had a girlfriend. His secretary! And they were having a baby. It sounded like the storyline from one of the soap operas her mother like to watch so much.

&
nbsp; But this wasn’t a soap opera. It was real life. Her life.

  God, I need you. I know You hear a lot of prayers. But right now I need You to hear mine. And answer it please. I don’t want my Mama and Daddy to get a divorce. I want them to stay together and love each other like they used to. I promise not to ask for anything else. Not even for Christmas. Just make things right in my family. That’s all I’ll ever need.

  By the time her mother found her, Georgia was practically delirious with fear, anxiety and sorrow. And she knew her life would never be the same again.

  Chapter One

  “Don't look now, but your past just walked in the door.” Her older sister's loud whisper forced Georgia Ballou to jab her elbow in Eden's side, causing her to let out a high pitched squeal. Considering the somber circumstances, it was highly inappropriate.

  Heat crept up her neck at the outraged glances several parishioners sent in their direction. She couldn't blame them, Georgia thought. They were at a funeral after all. The last time she checked, funerals were supposed to be full of reverence and solemnity. It was a time for mourning, not inappropriate chit chat.

  Something told her Libby Somers wouldn’t mind. Her sense of humor had been legendary. Although she had hailed from a very prestigious family, she’d never taken herself too seriously. She had been a fine and wonderful woman. She had been Georgia’s friend.

  The whole town of Hope Valley, Colorado had turned out for the service. She couldn't very well avoid it, no matter how much she wanted to, especially since Libby Somers had been the town's social butterfly and grand dame with connections to every single person in town. She had been heavily connected with Hope Valley Church and a huge donor to all of its programs. Everyone loved Libby. With her generous heart and sly sense of humor, she'd nudged her way into the hearts and minds of an entire community. It didn't hurt that she’d owned half the town and served two terms as the town's Mayor. The likes of Libby Somers would never pass this way again. Of that she was certain.

  Try as she might, Georgia couldn't distract herself from the pressing issue at hand. Her past in the form of Riley Somers had just walked down the center aisle of Hope Valley Church and seated himself with the large Somers clan. She shrunk down a little in the pew, sending a prayer to the Good Lord Almighty that Riley wouldn't be able to spot her in this standing room only crowd.

  Don't look at him. Don't even spare him a glance. Too late. Against her will her gaze swung toward him, scanning the back of him the same way she would read a newspaper. Not a single detail escaped her scrutiny. Everything about him was achingly familiar. The wavy dark hair. The strong line of his neck. The broad shoulders. The dark jacket encasing his rugged frame. Everything about him resonated with her. She felt goosebumps pop up on her flesh and she locked her arms in front of her in response, rubbing them as a way of shaking off the chill. Whatever would she say to him anyway? Hi, Riley. How's life been treating you since you walked out of my life? Seeing anyone these days?

  Who was she kidding? She couldn't drag her gaze away from him if she tried.

  For the entire length of the service Georgia found her gaze returning to Riley. Even though she was filled with dread at the prospect of coming face to face with him, a part of her wanted him to turn around. She wanted to lock gazes with him, to see those magnetic blue eyes widen with surprise when he saw her. She needed to see if he was as unsettled by her presence as she was by his close proximity. Maybe he wouldn't even care, a little voice buzzed in her ear. From the rumors she'd heard around town, Riley had settled down in a small town in upstate New York. It was miles and miles away from the Colorado River town they'd both grown up in.

  When the children's choir started singing “On Eagles Wings” her eyes became misty and she reached for her sister's hand. This song had special meaning for them, going all the way back to childhood and their days in the Hope Valley Church choir. When Riley got up to read a Bible passage she felt her palms moisten. He'd always had this effect on her if she was being honest with herself. He'd been her first junior high school crush, then years later her first serious boyfriend, as well as the man she'd hoped to one day marry.

  Rather than propose to her, Riley had left Hope Valley for a life far away from her and his entire family.

  Georgia sucked in a deep breath as Riley's deep, rumbling voice washed over her as he recited a passage from Corinthians. It had been so long since she'd heard that familiar tone. Once they'd broken things off he'd quickly left town, which hadn't given them any time to work things out. After five years together, Georgia had given him an ultimatum. Marriage or bust. Her cheeks blushed to remember Riley telling her he didn’t want to get married. And he hadn’t been certain about kids either. It had broken her heart.

  Neither one of them had made an effort to keep in touch. For Georgia, it would have been too painful to treat him as just a friend when she'd loved him for as long as she could remember. She wasn’t that type of girl. How could she stand by and watch him get married someday to someone else? It would have broken her.

  Even though she'd fallen out of love with him over the course of the past few years, it still felt as if a heavy weight lay lodged in her chest. It still felt as if there was unfinished business between them.

  Some things a person just never got over. Losing Riley Somers was one of those things.

  As the service concluded, Georgia watched as the Somers family solemnly lead the congregation out of the church. Riley's hands were crossed in front of him and his head was bowed as he walked towards the back of the church. He was surrounded by family members. When it was time to exit her pew she stood frozen, unsure of what her next move should be. She could dart out the entrance by the front of the church or head downstairs to the lower level until everyone had cleared out. Heat rose to her cheeks as she realized the lengths she would go to in order to avoid coming face to face with Riley.

  “You can't run from this, Georgia.” Her sister's gentle voice buzzed in her ear. “It’s bound to happen sooner or later.”

  She turned in Eden's direction. Her sister's beautiful features were drawn tight. The green eyes she knew so well shimmered with loving concern. She swallowed past the lump of emotion sitting in her throat. “I don't want to run. It's just that—.” Her voice trailed off, eaten up by doubt and nervousness. “I'm not sure I can face him.”

  “Yes, you can,” Eden said in an encouraging tone. “You're way stronger than you realize.”

  Strong? For so long she'd felt the very opposite. When she'd lost Riley her entire world had turned upside down. Ever since that moment she'd been trying to get her life back in order. Some days it felt like it was still a huge, colossal mess.

  “I don't feel very strong,” she mumbled, giving voice to her secret shame. Ballou women were fierce and brave, going back generations to the original settlers who landed in Colorado. It was embarrassing to admit how far she'd fallen. Not many knew it, with the exception of Eden and a few close friends, but she suffered from slight anxiety. At the moment her palms were moist and her heart was beating like a jack hammer.

  Eden reached for her hand and clasped it with her own. “It'll be fine. You can do this. I believe in you.” I believe in you. She smiled at Eden as the sound of her mother's voice echoed in her ears. Those were Mama’s words, uttered at the slightest provocation. If they'd had a bad day as kids, their mother would whisper those words as she cradled them in her loving arms. And even now, as she struggled with multiple sclerosis, their mother served as their biggest cheerleader. Mama could be fierce, but she was incredibly loving.

  Once they exited the church they were swept up with the crowd of parishioners who were paying their respects to the Somers. Riley stood with his family, looking way more handsome than he had a right to look. Their eyes met, and despite the wild urge to run in the opposite direction, she took a few steps towards him, meeting him halfway. He gifted her with a warm smile, showcasing white, even teeth. In another life, Riley could definitely charm folks a
s a politician or the star of an ad campaign.

  Suddenly, it was just the two of them standing in front of each other.

  He reached out and clasped her hand. “Georgia. Thanks for coming.”

  “I'm so very sorry about Aunt Libby. She was an amazing woman,” she murmured. “I admired her very much.” It felt a little surreal to be standing here with Riley after all this time.

  A semblance of a smile tugged at his lips. Those perfectly shaped, achingly familiar lips. The ones that used to kiss her so tenderly.

  “It's hard to believe she's gone. I keep expecting to hear her voice scolding me about something or other. She was a big fan of yours, Georgia. She always spoke highly of you.”

  “She was very good to me,” she murmured. “Even when she was telling me off about something, she'd turn around and ask me if I needed anything.” She'd never forget Libby's many kindnesses over the years. Some of them had occurred during her darkest hours. She would miss her friend terribly.

  Riley let out a soft chuckle. “That was Aunt Libby. Tough as nails, but a sweetheart through and through.”

  “When did you get in?” She almost bit her tongue for asking, since she'd promised herself she wouldn't layer their conversation with anything other than comments related to Aunt Libby and her passing. When it came to Riley, curiosity always got the best of her. Still.

  He quirked his mouth. “We just got in late last night.”

  We? A pain gripped her low in her belly. She felt herself sway a little. Riley using the word we signified something that she might not be able to handle. We could mean a girlfriend. Her stomach twisted. Or a wife. No! Surely someone would have told her if he'd gotten married. Aunt Libby would have made sure she’d known about it.

  “Georgia, there's something I need to tell you—.”

  Riley's anxious expression sent warning bells clanging through her head. The last time he'd spoken such words to her he'd been announcing his intention to leave Hope Valley and place their relationship on ice. Just the ragged sound of his voice caused painful memories to sweep over her. A feeling of déjà vu crept over her. She felt like running in the opposite direction.