Heat rushed to Tresia’s cheeks as Lucy turned to her, a big grin on her face. “So, the marshal kissed you.”
“It was nothing,” Tresia insisted, but it wasn’t nothing. It was everything and more.
“Doesn’t sound like nothing.”
Tresia narrowed her eyes as she dropped her drawstring purse and the Emporium’s ledger on Lucy’s kitchen table and took a seat. “Don’t be getting any ideas, Lucy Hart. It was just an innocent kiss. I don’t think he even meant it.” Oh, it was so hard to lie to her friend. She’d never done so before, but she really couldn’t have Serenity’s matchmaker believe she’d succeeded again—even if it were true.
Falling in love with Devlin Goodrich just wasn’t in The Plan. At least, that’s what she kept telling herself, though, in truth,it was a little too late. Even she had to admit her heart beat a little quicker whenever he looked at her or accidentally touched her. And that kiss! She still felt it…as well as the guilt that kiss had brought. She was betraying everything, her plan, Brett’s memory, and yet, she felt a spark of hope that he might feel the same way. It was impossible to be certain. There were times when she caught him watching her, the expression on his face unreadable, but there was a warmth in his smoky blue eyes that spoke volumes.
She just had no idea what she should do about it.
“Tell me everything,” Lucy insisted as she poured a cup of coffee for her then set it down in front of her.
Tresia felt her cheeks become a little hotter. At this rate, she’d probably burst into flames. “There’s nothing to tell.”
Lucy laughed. “If there’s nothing to tell, why is your face all red?”
“I’m in love with him, Lucy!” She stifled a groan, wondering how she could have let this happen. “I don’t want to be.”
“Why not? He’s a good man.” Lucy sat in the chair opposite her. “You’ve said so yourself.”
“He is a good man, but he’s not part of The Plan. You know that.”
“Why couldn’t he be?” Lucy asked, her voice gentle and full of compassion, perhaps realizing that laughter was not appropriate at this moment.
“I don’t know if he feels the same.”
“He kissed you.”
Tresia fiddled with the spoon, unable to meet Lucy’s gaze. “That doesn’t necessarily mean anything.”
“Are you sure?”
She stopped playing with the spoon and settled it neatly on the saucer. “No, I’m not sure of anything at this moment.”
“There’s more, isn’t there?”
“I’ve been going through the newspapers and there are a few opportunities. One of them is in Philadelphia. The other is in San Francisco.”
Lucy raised a dark eyebrow but didn’t say anything. Her eyes were warm and understanding though as she reached across the table and laid her hand on hers.
“Two months ago, I thought I was ready for that challenge, but now, I’m not so sure.”
“Why?” Lucy asked.
“I’d have to move. Which would mean leaving Serenity, leaving the possibility of Sullivan’s, leaving…them. I don’t know if I can now.” She bit her bottom lip, not hard enough to draw blood, but hard enough to hurt. “Because I do love him. Love them both and moving…” She paused, unable to find the words to truly convey what she was feeling and then it hit her, like her heart suddenly started beating after being still for so long. “I don’t want another store in another place. I wantmystore. I want things how it used to be. I miss Brett. And my father. Sullivan’s kept them alive for me, but I feel like…I feel like I’m betraying all their memories as well as my own by even thinking of leaving.” Her throat constricted, making it a little difficult to speak. “And by loving him.”
“I understand.”
She stared at the woman who was her closest friend, the sister she’d never had, and wondered how she could possibly understand. “Do you really?”
“Yes, of course.” Lucy squeezed her hand then let go. “Sullivan’s was your life, as it was your father’s. You spent all of your time there when you weren’t in school after your mother passed. It was your solace. Your place of comfort. Working beside your father helped you heal. And then Brett came into your life when your father hired him. All of your happy memories are wrapped up in that place. And then, it all changed,and it must hurt to see what Arnold and Willetta are doing to it.” She sighed and even her eyes seemed to glow with unshed tears. “I would feel the same if something happened to Montaña del Trueno, even though I don’t live there anymore.”
“Why did you do this to me, Lucy?”
“Do what?”
“Offer me the job of taking care of Avery.” Tears burned her eyes and she looked out the kitchen window at the little girl she’d fallen for. “If I had never taken this job, Sullivan’s would still be thriving.”
