Empty Net Read online

  “I also like these cupcakes, they are wonderful,” he said picking up a Reindeer cupcake that Audrey had spent all night making. They were a dyed red white cake with a green mint icing. She had made little reindeer out of pretzels and chocolate. She knew Tate and Aiden would devour them, but what surprised her was that her father also did.

  “Thanks, Daddy,” Audrey said, pride filling her from the inside out. It wasn’t every day that her father complemented her and Fallon. When he did, they savored it like the finest Rocky Top wine.

  “Shouldn’t she open a cupcake shop, Dad? I think she would be fantastic at it,” Fallon said. Audrey quickly looked over at her sister, an uneasy feeling creeping over her. What was she doing? Was she nuts? Audrey looked over at her father, seeing him give Fallon a confused look.

  “Why would she do that? The economy is crap right now, and she already has a career,” he answered and Audrey’s heart sunk. She didn’t know why, she knew that was what he was going to say, but still. It broke her that he didn’t think she could do it. That she couldn’t succeed.

  You’ll never make things happen for yourself.

  The hell she wouldn’t!

  “But everyone is looking for a little piece of happiness,” Audrey found herself saying. Her heart was pounding against her chest, but she didn’t care. Everyone looked at her as she went on, “If their happiness is in a three dollar cupcake, people will buy it.”

  William’s gaze was questioning, and out the corner of her eye she could see Fallon with a bright smile as Nora stood with her lips parted in shock.

  “Have you thought of this?” William asked.

  Audrey shrugged her shoulder, “I have, it is a dream of mine.”

  “Really?” Nora asked, “I always thought it was a little hobby.”

  “No,” Audrey said shaking her head, “I would like to make it a business, but I don’t know if I can be successful,” she said slowly, glancing up at her father.

  “You’d want to leave Rocky Top for a cupcake shop?” William asked in bewilderment.

  “Yes.”

  The patio door opened and Tate, Lucas, and Aiden came running in. Aiden’s nose was red, dripping with snot. Lucas and Tate were no different; matching red and snot noses. They sure were a sight to see. Tate smiled, coming towards her, and wrapping her up in his arms. When he ran his cold nose on her neck, she squealed trying to get away, but he wasn’t letting go.

  “Tate!” she giggled. She forgot that she was in a room filled with her family and when she noticed, she didn’t care. She was happy. Tate kissed her jaw and when he smiled down at her, she couldn’t stop the wide grin that almost broke her face. She loved his gap, she always had. She remembered when it would draw all her attention, but it was different now. It was his whole face that got all her attention. It wasn’t that she didn’t love his gap, she loved it, but it was overshadowed by the happiness on his face. He honestly blew her away.

  He moved his hand up, cupping her face before kissing her nose. “Are you having a nice Christmas?” he asked, nuzzling his nose against her cheek. It was new to have a man love on her in front of her family and when she sneaked a look at them, they were all watching her with loving grins. They wanted her to be happy.

  “I am, are you?”

  Tate nodded, “It has been one of the best.”

  Audrey smiled, kissing his lips. He made her deliriously happy. Who would have thought, a month ago, she didn’t want to be with him?

  What an idiot!

  When they parted, Audrey laid her head on his chest and then looked over at her family. Fallon smiled, leaning against the island of her kitchen, her eyes dancing with mischief as she watched them. She made Audrey nervous. She didn’t like the way Fallon was grinning or the way she was eyeing Tate and when the next words left her lips, she knew her intuition was right.

  Fallon was up to no good.

  “So Tate, we were just talking about Audrey opening a cupcake shop, what do you think?”

  Tate looked up, and smiled, “I think it is a great idea. Audrey makes wonderful cupcakes.”

  Everyone nodded, but William. Audrey looked over at her father as he took in a deep breath, and she knew this was about to be a fight.

  “Yes, but, Tate,” William said, “don’t you think this economy is crap and new businesses are not doing well?”

  “I don’t disagree with you, William, but this is about Audrey living her dream. I bet people told Patrick Roy that he would never have a shut out during a game, and he did it 23 times in one season.” Tate smiled, glancing down at Audrey before he looked back up at William and continued, “Why should we tell Audrey all the things that could cause her to fail when there are so many things that could cause her to succeed?”

  “Like what, Tate?” William asked, crossing his arms, “What makes you believe she would succeed?”

  Tate looked down at Audrey and winked, “She can do anything she sets her mind to, and I, for one, will be behind her 100%. I believe in her. I am surprised you don’t.”

  Audrey looked up at her father to see his shocked expression. She was pretty sure no one but Fallon stood up to her father. Knowing that Tate had only been dating Audrey for little over a month and he was ready to go to bat for her, made her love him even more.

  “I do believe in my daughter, Tate,” William said with narrowed eyes, “I am having a hard time seeing how she thinks starting a cupcakery is a better career choice than working in a company that has been around for decades.”

  “Because it doesn’t make her happy,” Tate said, moving away from Audrey, “Shouldn’t she do something that makes her happy, that gives her a reason to go to work?”

  William glanced over at Audrey, “You don’t love Rocky Top?”

  Audrey felt the cold hard stare of her father but even with fear settling in her bones, she didn’t have to think of her answer. “No, I hate it, Daddy.”

  Nora took in a sharp breath as William shook his head, “I don’t believe it. This conversation is over.”

  “No, it is not, Daddy,” Audrey said, taking a step forward. “I love you. I do, Daddy, so much but I hate Rocky Top. I’m not Fallon. I don’t breathe wine. I breathe cupcakes. I want my own place. I want to make people happy with my little creations, and I want to be happy.”

  William looked away and took in a lung filling breath, letting it out in a whoosh. “Don’t you want me to be happy, Daddy?”

  “Of course I do, Audrey Jane, but I want to you succeed and I don’t feel this is a successful business.”

  Audrey stood tall, shaking her head, “I’m gonna succeed, I’ll show you.”

  William met her rebellious stare and shook his head, “You’re going to do it aren’t you? Against my wishes, and against my business knowledge and experience. You’re still going to continue pursuing this insane idea.”

  She nodded, a grin pulling at her lips. She had never been so sure of something in her life. Everything was falling in place, she had the guy, the home, the closet, and now all she needed was the career. She had worked so hard for her father over the years and even though she hated Rocky Top, she didn’t regret those years. They would only help when she did what she had always dreamed of, but she was done with Rocky Top. She had always stood back, let things happen, like Fallon said. Well, not today. Today Audrey was going to do something to better herself. Glancing up at Tate, who smiled and nodded his head as he squeezed her hand, Audrey smiled. She looked at each of her family members, seeing their supportive faces before her gaze met her father’s angry stare. Even if he scared her and there was a chance he may be right, Audrey knew she was doing the right thing.

  “Yup, I quit, Daddy. I’m gonna follow my dreams.”

  ~*~

  Audrey lay on her stomach, naked and spent, cuddling into her pillow as Tate crawled back into bed. He lay across her back, moving his arm around her waist and his other beneath her head as she smiled. He was heavy, but she didn’t care. She loved the way he wanted to be nea