“Worth it.” He kisses my cheek, then goes inside the room to set his bags down while I cross the hall and close the door to my bedroom behind me. Even though I trust him, I still flip the lock so I can change. This is the first time I’ve had a man I’m seeing in my guest room. Most of the time, it’s just been my brother, Zane, or one of the guys.
Everyone except Sawyer. He’s never stayed here, and now I can’t help but wonder if it’s because he’d been trying to keep whatever distance he could.
Axel, the stray cat Sawyer found living in the engine cavity of an old car he towed, looks up from where he’s sleeping on the sherpa blanket at the edge of my bed. “Hey, buddy. We have company.” I gently run my fingers over his orange fur, and he starts purring, rolling onto his back and showing his belly.
This guy is probably the only cat in the world who loves having his belly rubbed. As they do more times than not, my thoughts drift back to Sawyer. He may never have stayed here, but he did come over all the time for dinner and old movies.
We’d stay up late, eating popcorn and laughing.
Those were the days.
And now my heart aches whenever I think of him.
Bowing my head, I close my eyes and try to push the thoughts of him out of my mind.
Lord, please help me let him go. You have blessed me with so much, including this wonderful man who cares for me. Please calm my anxious heart, and help me to be content. In Jesus’ name I pray. Amen.
Moving quickly, I change into a white sundress, then pull a lavender cardigan over the top. After slipping into a pair of brown, strappy sandals, I run a brush through my hair and reapply my mascara. Then, I grab my purse and head back into the hallway.
Jack is not in the spare room, but when I step into the living room, I see that he’s changed into dark jeans and a blue button-down shirt. He’s looking out of my balcony doors, toward Sawyer’s shop.
My heart hammers. Is he out there? Is that why Jack is looking?
“Ready?” I ask.
He turns toward me, and his grey eyes shine brightly. “You look fantastic.”
“You already said that.”
“It deserved to be said a second time.”
He starts for me again, so I quickly grab my keys and head for the door, hoping to get a distraction in before he reaches for me again. Ugh, come on. He’s my boyfriend and a man I trust completely.
Just to prove to myself that I can be in control of my own mood, I reach out and thread my fingers through his as we head down the stairs and through my empty coffee shop.
“How is business?” Jack asks as I lock up behind us.
“Really good. With the hotels and the B&B completely booked for the Shrimp and Grits Festival, I’ve been even busier than normal.”
“Shrimp and Grits?”
I laugh and climb into my car. “It’s a lot more fun than it sounds.”
“Well, good. Because it sounds fun.”
See, he’s so sweet. “You’ll see what all the fuss is about tomorrow.”
“I’m looking forward to it.”
As I pull out of my parking spot and head down Main Street toward my mom’s house, I go over all the reasons Jack is perfect for me.
He’s kind.
Reliable.
Even-tempered.
And, best of all, he doesn’t hide something from me, then get angry when I can’t read his mind.
