“Oh, we do,” Rosie assured. “But I’m not buying it. Hence the need to talk away from the others.”
Uh-oh. Rosie saw right through them. Isabelle wasn’t really surprised. She and Zach were so antagonistic.
“Not only did you look all twitterpated yesterday… today, too, actually,” Rosie continued, leaning against the wall, “but you looked happy.”
Had she? Isabelle didn’t recall feeling happy. She recalled being upset with how they were playing matchmaker and making comments that had made her feel as if she were an old maid.
“But Zach is military.”
“Not active.” Isabelle stunned herself as much as Rosie, whose eyes had widened at the defensive comment.
“Active, not active. That’s never mattered. So, last night I was telling Lou that something was up.”
Isabelle winced. They were barely started and already had been figured out.
“Then I realized the truth on why you’re rushing into a relationship with a man who you usually wouldn’t give the time of day. Not that he’s not gorgeous, mind you, because he is, but I’m worried about you.”
Wavering back and forth on just how much Rosie had figured out, Isabelle chose her words carefully. “I’m fine, Rosie. I promise. Sure, it’s going to be different, but I’m happy for Sophie.”
“Oh, I don’t doubt that,” Rosie assured. “You’ve always wanted what’s best for your sister and been willing to sacrifice yourself to make that happen. But what I want to know is if that’s why Zach is really in the picture?”
“Is that why you think he’s in the picture?”
“To convince Sophie that you’re happy and going to be just fine when she moves out?” Rosie gave her a pointed look. “It wouldn’t shock me.”
Rosie’s tone set Isabelle’s brain into motion. “What has Sophie said to you?”
The older woman’s face flushed. “Nothing.”
“Something,” Isabelle corrected, chest tightening. Sophie was worried about her? That wasn’t the way of their world and shouldn’t be now. Isabelle was the one who did the worrying, not the other way around. “You let my sister know that I am ecstatic over her marriage to Cole and that she has nothing to worry about where I’m concerned. I’m good. Better than good. I’m great.”
Rosie’s drawn on brow lifted. “Then you’re not using Zach?”
“Using him?” Her jaw dropped. “Did you seriously just accuse me of using Zach?”
“I saw how that young man looked at you yesterday. He’s falling hard, probably because you plied him with my cinnamon bread, even though we both know that you’d never give your heart to someone with a military background. The poor man doesn’t realize you’d never trust enough to let that happen.” Rosie sighed. “My bread has him blinded.”
Isabelle rubbed her temple. “Let me get this straight… you’re warning me not to break Zach’s heart?”
The irony of it made her want to burst out laughing.
“Well, of course, I don’t want you to break his heart.” Rosie fluttered her lashes. “Although he says the right things and smiles freely, there’s something haunted in his gaze that tells me there’s more than what meets the eye.”
“I’m sure you’re right, Rosie.” There was a lot more to Zach than what met the eye.
Hysteria bubbled inside her, threatening to tumble free. As if a small-town someone like her could hurt a seasoned soldier like Zach. How did that even work that Rosie was worried about him? The Butterflies were her friends. She was the hometown girl and Zach, the stranger. Shouldn’t they be worried that he’d hurt her? Did they think her so emotionally invincible that she couldn’t fall for someone?
She could fall. She had fallen and look where that had gotten her? Realizing she’d just admitted that Greg’s ending things with her had hurt more than she’d ever let herself acknowledge, Isabelle winced, then forced a smile at the woman watching her closely.
“You have nothing to worry about, Rosie. I’m not going to hurt Zach.” He’d have to really care for that to happen. Their relationship wasn’t real.
*
So many peoplefilled the Harvey Farm event barn that Zach wondered if the entire town had shut down for the shower. If so, they’d done so happily. Laughter rang out, breaking above the constant conversation hum. The food was good enough to make everyone smile. Ruby hadn’t been kidding when she’d bragged about it.
Sitting next to him at an upfront table, Isabelle stretched to lean close, as if she was telling him something private. “What were you and Sophie talking about earlier?”
Her breath tickled his ear, causing goosebumps to prickle his skin. He’d stuck close, watching her fret, trying to meet her sister’s needs before Sophie had even realized there was a need. This was their first semi-alone moment, and she hadn’t hesitated to seize it.
