I had no right to be jealous, really. I didn’t own him, and neither did she. But if either of us had any type of claim, it would be her—she was a part of his life in California, and even his parents wanted them together.
I was just some random Bluebell Cove townie. A blip. Someone he’d forget in a week’s time.
Easton nudged his head into my palm as I leaned against the kitchen entryway and stared at the blank space. Things would be back to normal soon, and that uneasy feeling would be gone.
When the knock at my door sounded, I laughed and yelled, “You know you don’t have to knock, Rachel—”
Only it wasn’t Rachel.
“Hey,” Rhett said, sleeves rolled up and two chairs slung over his shoulders. “Hope this is a good time.”
My stomach did that flip-flop thing again.
“And here I was thinking I’d need to post flyers for my missing dining set,” I joked, half in a daze.
Easton whined and rammed the back of my knees, knocking me from my wide-eyed stare.
“Sorry,” I mumbled, swinging the door wide and holding Easton back by his collar. We watched, sitting on the floor of the foyer, as Rhett carried the chairs to the kitchen and promptly left for the rest. After he lugged the table inside, I shut it and released Easton to sniff his new favorite person.
“Hey, buddy,” Rhett murmured, crouching so he could scratch him behind the ears.
“I think he likes you more than me at this point.” I shook my head at my traitorous dog as he flopped down before Rhett, tongue out and belly to the ceiling. Hopping to my feet, I peered curiously at the dining set that hardly looked like my own.
“Are you sure that’s mine?” I said, eyebrows raised. “Maybe this is another girl’s kidnapped furniture.”
Rhett looked up and patted the glossy, dark-stained surface. “I used the same stain as the floors on Marigold’s,” he replied, “Since you seemed to like it.”
“Yes,” I whispered, stepping forward to trace my palm across the table. “It doesn’t look like I found it on the side of the road anymore.”
He narrowed his eyes. “You what?”
“Nothing,” I quipped with a tiny smile, slipping into the nearest seat. It didn’t wobble or shake as I shifted.
Rhett stood and fiddled with the tabletop. “You could probably build a house on this now.”
“Hey, what’s this—” I pulled another chair closer to me, a gasp catching in my throat as I traced my fingertips over the back of the top rail. He’d engraved a network of tiny flowers and vines wrapping together and coiling to the sides in a flourish. “You did this?” I asked, already knowing the answer.
An unmistakable pink blush rose to his cheeks as he rubbed the back of his neck. “It’s nothing special.”
I blinked at him, then at the chair, then back to him. He had lost his mind. Whatever it was, it was most definitelyspecial.
Rhett crouched beside me, our hands brushing as he moved to inspect his handiwork. “I know it’s not the same as the floors in the shop, but I thought…” He trailed off and cleared his throat. “I figured it could be something to remember your grandmother by. My uncle wasn’t the sentimental type, so… I know how it must’ve felt.”
California or not, I was a goner.
“Thank you,” I whispered, “It couldn’t be more perfect.”
Rhett shrugged, shoulders slumping in that shy, boyish way that I’d come to know. If I didn’t move on, I’d throw my arms around him and beg him never to leave.
“I was meaning to talk to you today, but I figured you’d be busy,” I said, voice admirably firm.
It was his turn to raise an eyebrow. “Busy?”
I wanted to hide behind my hands. What was I supposed to say now?
“Er— I saw Claire at the cafe this morning. She insinuated… never mind.” My face had taken on a new shade of red. Fidgeting, I drummed my fingers on the table and tucked hair behind my ears even though it was gathered on top of my head.
After a beat of silence, the corners of Rhett’s lips began to quiver, like he was fighting a smile. “I told you, Georgie. We’rejust friends. And I will continue reminding her of that for as long as it takes.”
