Page 61 of The Romance Adventure

Bean reads his reply. “‘It’s a guy from college. He just got some troubling news and could probably use a distraction. You’re the best distraction on the market.’ This is true,” Bean affirms. “I’ve hardly gotten anything done since you’ve been here.”

“Oh, except score that coffee deal and wait on Mr. Edmonton hand and foot. Also, let’s not forget the amazing mural that’s in progress out there.”

“Fair point. And for the record, I don’t wait on Mr. Edmonton hand and foot. I’m of service.”

“Like indentured servitude.”

“No, Isla. Of service, like how we’re called to help people. He doesn’t have a family. I don’t either, except you.”

What she’s saying becomes clear. “Oh, you think of him like a grandpa?”

She lifts and lowers her shoulder. “I make sure he doesn’t miss his appointments. Plus, I like his old war stories—and the romantic entanglements—even if I’ve heard them a dozen times.”

I nod, understanding what she means. From what I’ve gathered, Chip was quite the character, yet the McGregor brothers got caught up in their lives and seemingly forgot about him. I don’t like the idea of leaving a loved one lonely like that. We were with Aunt Olga until the very end, even though she was crotchety and would make us reheat her borsch every two minutes, complaining that it wasn’t hot enough even though it was molten.

My phone beeps again. “Oh, here it is. The request.” I flip the screen so my sister can see.

She reads, “‘Request #392: Can I have Robyn’s number?’” Her nostrils flare. “No. If you dare share it with him⁠—”

“That number three hundred ninety-two isn’t an exaggeration. If I can resist almost four hundred times, I think I can keep your digits to myself one more time.”

Bean gives me a narrow-eyed look of warning and exits to the front of the shop.

Jackie commented on how his friend is in trouble. Join the club, buddy buster. And I have a lot of distractions. Okay, perhaps that is an overstatement. My distraction is singular, but man, oh man, there’s a lot of Royal.

“I don’t have any customers. Let’s go find you something to wear,” Bean calls.

The door jingles and relief sweeps through me. I don’t want to go on a blind date, even though most of Jackie’s friends are good-looking. So is he, which is why I’ll never understand why Bean won’t give him a chance.

I wander to the front of Beans & Books only to see Magnus walking away with a paper cup and a paper bag in hand. If he overheard any part of our conversation, he’s the least likely McGregor brother to report back to Royal.

As I inspect the progress on the mural, including the spot where my paintbrush swerved off course when Dax called, I get a flash of brilliance. “Bean, why don’t we swap? You go on this date for me like I helped you out with the will and pretended to be you?”

“What’s the swap?”

“Um, I’ll hang out here and eat chocolate.”

“No. Jack thought this guy would be a good match for you. Wait. Don’t tell me he introduced you to Daxel?”

“No, and let’s never speak of him again.”

Bean straightens, then punches the air. “Do I need to bust out my sister bear gloves?”

“No, but you could go on this date for me. You still owe me. I could go to jail. That’s what Royal said.”

She winks. “Sure. Yep. I’m sure that’s what he said and a lot more. Love bird jail.”

“You need to get out more, which is why you’re meeting Jackie’s friend for the blind date.”

“Is that so you can meet up with Royal in secret? The flamingos are chirping.”

“Flamingos don’t chirp. They honk like geese.”

She winks. “By that, I mean, the flamingos are poised. You’ll see what I mean.”

“Okay, we are getting your head out of these books. You’re not making sense, Bean. And for the record, I am not interested in Royal.”

“Prove it. Go on the date Jack set up.”