“What about your business?”
“My business doesn’t matter right now. Rusty, you don’t want to move. I sensed it when you first told me about Amber moving away. You love your house. I don’t want to convince you to do something you might regret in the future. Not even for a bank full of money.”
He was floored. Up until this moment he’d been ready to buy this land and get started on building, telling himself he was excited about the prospect. But when she spoke the truthout loud, he knew she was right. Somehow she had figured it out before he did. “How did you know?”
“I’m very good at what I do. You need to tell Senior and Amber how you feel. I think you’ll be surprised by their answers.”
“I ain’t sure about that. They’re both awful settled on sellin’ the place.”
He followed her back to the gate, and she clicked the lock shut. Then she turned to him. “You owe me a date,” she said, as calmly as if they’d been talking about the weather.
“What?”
“I had the winning bid, so you’re obligated to go out with me.”
She’d shocked him again. “Are you serious?”
“Extremely serious. Are you free Saturday night?”
He was always free on Saturday nights. “You don’t have to do this, Harper,” he said. “I won’t hold you to the date. Let’s just forget about it.” How could he admit that he knew she and Brielle had used him? That he was acutely aware she didn’t really want to go out with him?
“Oh no, we can’t.” She waved her index finger at him. “We have alotto talk about. I’ll call you later with the details.” She walked to the Mercedes and got inside, then waved to him as she drove away.
He rubbed the back of his neck, still trying to figure out what had happened. He wasn’t buying the property. He possibly wasn’t moving at all. He was going on a date with Harper. He almost smiled, then stopped himself. It wasn’t adate. It was a “date.” And what did they have to talk about?Guess he would find out on Saturday. But he would keep his guard up and the time he spent with her short.
He climbed into his truck and dialed his sister’s number. “Hey, Amber. Got a few minutes to talk?”
***
After Harper got home from dropping off the key at Brielle’s, she called an emergency meeting of the CCs. That night they met at Knots and Tangles, and she spilled everything to her best friends, including what had happened at the auction and what went on with Brielle and Jack.
“You’ve been dealing with all that and didn’t tell us?” Riley asked, looking a little hurt.
“We could have helped you,” Anita said. Olivia nodded.
“I know. I thought I could handle everything myself.” She grabbed one of the coconut macaroons she made yesterday. She’d managed not to do any taste testing while she baked three batches, so she took a little nibble. Mmm, pretty good.
Olivia sat back on the lime-green couch. “So what are you going to do about your business?”
“Never mind her business,” Anita said. “What about Rusty?”
“You and Rusty.” Riley grinned. “I can see it.”
So could Harper. But could Rusty? She was less than sure. Still, there was only one way to find out, and claiming her date with him gave her an opportunity. That’s when shewould know if there was a future for the two of them. “I can’t believe I’m even thinking about dating again. I was so sure I’d spend the next ten or twenty years focusing solely on real estate. And my friends,” she added quickly. “Now all I want to do is relax, bake, go to church, spend time with my CCs, and—”
“Snuggle with Rusty.”
Everyone looked at Olivia, who was the least romantic of the group. “What?” she said, holding out her hands. “Anyone can see how much you like him.”
“You have this dreamy look when you say his name,” Riley pointed out.
“Really dreamy.” Anita sighed.
“Y’all are a mess!” Harper laughed.
“We’re your mess,” they all said in unison.
She wondered why she’d been so reluctant to turn to her friends earlier, instead of insisting to herself that she could handle things alone. “Will y’all help me plan my date?”
