“O-oh?”
“I missed not knowing what you’re reading. What book has your attention now?”
“I’m not sure how I feel about it yet, but I startedWide Sargasso Seaby Jean Rhys.”
A smile tugged at his lips.“Have all beautiful things sad destinies?”he recited in an achingly gentle voice. My heart soared. He’d read it. “That won’t be your fate, pretty Lola.”
“I’m n-not pretty.”
“No?” His finger lightly traced the hem draped over my knee. “I think you’re absolutely stunning.”
My heart cracked so hard against my ribs I was sure he could hear it. “Y-you, um, look great, too.” I gulped. “I like your shirt.”
“You do? It’s, uh…” He coughed into his fist, and lowering his voice, his tone almost seductive, he added, “It’s organic linen.”
I giggled. “It’s nice. It suits you.” I pushed up my glasses, nerves getting the better of me. “It matches your eyes.”
Ruth snorted.
Aiden shot a warning glance over his shoulder. “Ruth, mind your business. Talk to Ryan about his horses.”
“What?” Ruth squealed, excited eyes flying back to the farmer.“Horses?”
Ryan nodded. “We have three horses on the farm. Well, four, actually. I helped birth a foal this morning. We named her Dolly. She’s a real beauty.”
“Aiden, did you hearthat?” Ruth clapped her hand against her cheek. “Ryan has horses!”
Aiden smirked. “Imagine that.”
Ryan turned hopeful eyes to the woman beaming next to him. “Do you like horses, Miss Ruth?”
She scoffed. “Do I like horses…”
She sat on the edge of her seat, lost in a never-ending stream of excited chatter with the farmer. She was like pure sunlight when she was happy, and Ryan basked in the glow with a smile bigger than I’d ever seen on his face.
I bumped my shoulder into Aiden’s and whispered, “And Ruth thinks she’s the only matchmaker in the room.”
Aiden didn’t laugh at my joke like I expected. “I truly am sorry about all this. Ruth… Her interfering…” He sighed. “Once she gets an idea in her head…”
“She’s determined? Stubborn? Doesn’t listen to anyone because she knows best?” I tapped my chin. “This sounds an awful lot like someone else I know.”
Aiden grunted.
“So, in your constant battle of wills, which of you backs down first?”
“Me.”
“Every time?”
“Every damn time.”
“Have you ever beaten Ruth at Scrabble?” A slow grin spread across my face. “Or do you let her win that, too?”
“Let her win? In my dreams. It’s a triumph worth crowing over for months when I finally beat her.”
Proud, I lifted my chin. “I’ve beaten her.”
Aiden’s mouth dropped open. “Bull.”
