“I was in there the day before I picked you up from the airport. It’s a little—”
“It’s abigmess. You know it. I know it. I think the whole town knows it.”
“I wouldn’t count on that.” He took a sip of tea. When he set down the glass, he said, “I’m not sure there are many people left who shop locally.”
She thought about that for a moment, then realized he was right. Other than the Bosom Buddies—who, in addition to coming to the shop on Thursday nights, individually stopped by at different times during the week—she hadn’t had more than two customers, and neither stayed very long or purchased anything.
“I’ve been working on the inside of Mimi’s store,” she said. “I want it to be organized and functioning more by the time I go back to New York.”
He lifted his gaze to hers, and she thought she saw a faint grimace. “Does it matter what the store looks like inside if there aren’t any customers?”
He was right, of course. Even if the shop was pristine on the inside, the outside still showed neglect. “Would refurbishing the outside help?”
“It can’t hurt. Knots and Tangles isn’t the only one that needs some TLC. Every building on that street does.” He sighed again, then waved his hand. “Sorry. I didn’t mean to hijack the conversation. We’re here to talk about Erma’s house, not the decline of Maple Falls. Are you ready to draw up that agreement now?”
“What agreement?” The kitchen door swung open as Mimi rolled into the room.
Riley jumped, then spun around in her seat. Mimi had excellent hearing, but she wouldn’t have been able to discern their conversation unless she had been nearby. “Don’t tell me you were eavesdropping.”
“Of course not,” she said, sounding offended. “I needed a drink of water, and I justhappenedto hear you talk about an agreement.”
“You justhappened.” Hayden smirked, but the twinkle reappeared in his eyes. “Did youhappento hear anything else?”
Mimi rolled over to the table. “As a matter of fact, I did. You two shouldn’t talk so loudly.”
“Maybe you shouldn’t park yourself right outside the door,” Riley pointed out.
“Never mind about that.” Mimi moved her gaze from Riley to Hayden. “I don’t like secrets. Tell me what’s going on, or I’ll take my lemon cookies and give them to someone who deserves them.”
“Ouch.” Hayden put his hand over his heart. “You got me right here with that, Erma.”
Riley looked at him, and he turned to her. Her toes curled at the teasing yet genuine smile on his face. She’d never been more attracted to him than in that moment. Something shifted inside her. This wasn’t just physical attraction or appreciation of Hayden’s kind nature. He might be helping her out because he felt guilty over Mimi’s broken leg, but she could see that he cared about her grandmother. That meant more to her than anything. Hayden’s heart far surpassed his handsome exterior.
“Well?” Mimi said. “Spill.”
Riley pulled her gaze away from Hayden. “I want to fix up your house,” she said, knowing it was pointless to skip around the truth when her grandmother was in a demanding mood.
“Wewant to fix it up,” Hayden added.
“Bless your hearts.” Mimi’s eyes turned soft. Then she raised her chin. “My house is fine.”
“Your roof is fixin’ to spring a leak any day.” Hayden pointed to the ceiling. “About right there.”
Mimi blanched. “It is? I had no idea. I guess I’ll call a roofer in the morning.”
“I can recommend a couple people,” Hayden said. “You should get more than one estimate. We also sell roofing materials at the store. I can get you a good deal once you decide on a roofer.”
“All right,” Mimi said. “Sounds good. What else have you two been planning to do?”
Riley watched as her meeting with Hayden suddenly turned into a powwow between him and her grandmother, with neither acknowledging her as they talked about not only the jobs that needed to be done but also the budget and the timeline. She waited for them to include her in the conversation, but after a few minutes she felt invisible. Normally she would have been okay with that, but suddenly it rankled.
“Hey,” she said, interrupting. “This was my idea. Remember?”
“And it’s a good one.” Mimi patted Riley’s hand, then turned back to Hayden. “Now, what were you saying about stain colors?”
Riley’s gaze darted between her grandmother and Hayden, her fists clenching under the table, her face growing hot. For some bizarre reason she wasn’t thinking about house repairs or business rehab. Instead, painful memories flooded her—feeling like an outsider at every school she’d attended, which had been too many to count until she was in high school. Never fitting in with the New York art crowd or various social events she’d attended with Melody. Although she enjoyed lunch the other day with Anita, Harper, and Olivia, she still didn’t feel like a part of their group. She’d sat in silence as they talked about people she didn’t know or had barely known. And now, even in her grandmother’s kitchen, she was feeling shut out of her own plan.
Worse, she was familiar with the bitter knot forming in her stomach and the hot ache suffocating her head. She’d experienced those sensations over and over growing up. Loneliness. Abandonment.They don’t care what I think. They don’t care aboutme.
