"I'm sorry, Arabella," Jimmy said gently. "I didn't come here to upset you."
"Oh, Jimmy, I know that."
"I had to come because I love my brother. And I love you too. You and Grady belong together, and now that the concert is two weeks away I'm afraid you'll leave afterward. It will send Grady into a tailspin." He gave her a level look. "And that's putting it mildly."
"I'm aware of that too." The ache in her chest grew heavier. She didn't know how she could deal with not being with him.
"I don't see how anything else in life could be more important than what the two of you have. Not many people get to experience the kind of love you share." He patted his chest. "The closest comparison is my parents. And it's a damned good example of how tomorrow isn't a guarantee." He reached over and gave her arm a light squeeze. "So why waste another second?"
Arabella paused and tried to explain. "Jimmy, after leaving Heartbeat, I continued with my career in choreography. But to be honest, I lost some of my enthusiasm." She gave him a wry smile. "Nothing compared to the fun I had with you guys, and I just couldn't find that same spark. But I invested all the money I made in choreography into Hip, Hop, Health. If I sold the company, I would be lucky to break even, coming out with nothing. And then I would be starting at ground zero."
Jimmy shrugged. "So?"
"Are you serious?" Arabella sat back and looked at him in wonder. "All those years of hard work would be gone in an instant." She snapped her fingers. "I've used up every available line of credit. I'm hanging on by the skin of my teeth, and my only option is to take on this investor who is like the partner from hell."
"Who is it?"
"Maxine Morgan."
"That holistic guru chick?" His face registered surprise.
"Yeah." Arabella put her hands to her cheeks and nodded. "She was supposed to be a silent partner, but she never shuts up. Never." Arabella left out the part where she was supposed to cut her ties with Heartbeat or lose Maxine's investment. "It's her way or the highway."
"Then replace her with me." Jimmy tapped his chest.
"I can't ask you to invest money when there's still no guarantee of success. I got in over my head and I'm not going to ask you to take that risk for me."
"You didn't ask. I offered and I'm leaving it on the table."
When he pushed up to his feet, Arabella stood and gave him a warm hug. "Thank you."
Jimmy took a step back and put his hands on her shoulders. "It would make all of us happy if you stayed. And, of course, one Heart brother in particular."
"Are you sure Grady didn't put you up to this?" she asked, more as a joke than as a real question.
"Absolutely not. I might not be as loud and outspoken as my crazy brothers, but nobody puts me up to anything." He grinned. "I just need a happy ending for my book so they'll make it into a movie."
///
"I want Anna Kendrick to play me."
"Hmmm . . ." Jimmy rubbed his chin. "Good choice," he said, but then his smile faded. "Look, I understand where you're coming from with your business . . . and all the rest. And I get that you're scared. But in my experience, the things we're most frightened of are the things that are most worthwhile in the end."
Arabella shook her head. "No wonder you're such an amazing songwriter." She stood on tiptoe and kissed him on the cheek. "Thank you, Jimmy. I'll think about everything you said."
"Well, do this for me. Just make a list of all the things taking up time in your life and ask yourself which is the number one thing you cherish the most, and then you'll have your answer. If something else is in the way of that one thing, then you need to cross it off the list. Does that make sense?"
"It does and I will," she promised softly.
After Jimmy left, Arabella walked over to the wooden railing and stood there for a long time, soaking up the warmth of the sun and the scent of the sea. She knew that being here in her dream house, built for her by the only man she had ever loved, was a gift that not many people ever got in their lives. She had a second chance with Grady and she'd be a fool not to take it.
Arabella thought of her parents, who'd stayed together for all the wrong reasons, and of Grady's parents, who'd adored each other only to have their lives cut short. Both she and Grady were haunted by fear that should be put to rest. She knew she couldn't take Jimmy up on his generous offer. Risking the money of one of her friends or family members wasn't something she was willing to do, so she scratched that option off the list.